Onboard information system

Provided is a technology for solving a problem of a high cost due to a redundant investment and improving the user's operability. An in-vehicle information system according to one embodiment includes: an in-vehicle information terminal to be mounted in a vehicle; a portable information terminal equipped with a touch panel for providing the in-vehicle information terminal with operation unit and communication unit; the operation unit for enabling a display screen of the in-vehicle information terminal to be operated by operating the touch panel of the portable information terminal when the portable information terminal is connected to the in-vehicle information terminal via an interface; and the communication unit for enabling external communication of the in-vehicle information terminal by using the communication unit of the portable information terminal.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to an in-vehicle information system (in other words, onboard—information system) in which an in-vehicle information terminal to be mounted in a vehicle and a portable information terminal that can be freely carried around are connected to each other.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, an information terminal has been multi-functionalized through the advancement of a communication technology, and a portable information terminal that can be carried around, such as a smartphone and a tablet terminal, has appeared on the market. The portable information terminal not only transmits and receives e-mails but also has, as its standard function, a browser function of acquiring a document file written in a markup language, such as HTML and XML, from a web server connected to the Internet to view a web page. A majority of such portable information terminals are provided with, in addition to a button input function, touch panel means for enabling an input operation to be performed by, for example, touching the screen with his/her finger.

Also in an in-vehicle information terminal, such as a car navigation system mounted in an automobile, in-vehicle information terminals for enabling, in addition to conventional route search and television watching functions, collection of various types of information, such as transmission and reception of e-mails, viewing of a home page, and electronic commerce which use the Internet communication, have come into the market.

Incidentally, most of the users who own the automobile also own, along with the in-vehicle information terminal mounted in the automobile, a portable information terminal having a function of transmitting and receiving data by wireless communication. In order to use the Internet communication on the in-vehicle information terminal, the communication function is necessary to add functions of Internet access, acquisition of the latest information, and e-mails. However, paying communication expenses only for the in-vehicle information terminal, such as a car navigation system, by the user is difficult because a high cost is required.

Accordingly, many users have come to adopt a method involving connecting his/her own portable information terminal and in-vehicle information terminal to each other via an interface, such as a wireless LAN, Bluetooth (trademark), and a cable, to provide the in-vehicle information terminal with the communication function with use of the communication function of the portable information terminal.

There are known several patent documents disclosing technologies relating to such communication system for communication among a plurality of devices.

For example, in Patent Document 1, there is disclosed a configuration in which a mobile phone is connected to an information device, screen information to be displayed on the information device is displayed on a display device of the mobile phone, and the information device is remotely operated via a network. The mobile phone of Patent Document 1 provides a technology capable of remotely operating the information device with a high level of operability with use of operation buttons of the mobile phone.

Further, in Patent Document 2, there is disclosed an example of a system in which a portable device is connected to a display device to make use of a communication function of the portable device. The display device of Patent Document 2 has an object to make use of the communication function of the portable device without a user operating in hand the portable device connected via an interface.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

Patent Documents

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

However, in each of the above-mentioned patent documents, a configuration in which two devices are used to display information is adopted, and hence there exist two display screens. As a result, the user needs to view both screens as appropriate, which is complicated for the user, and hence the user's attention may be undesirably distracted.

In a case where both of the portable information terminal and the in-vehicle information terminal are provided with touch panels, a cost to be paid by the user may be undesirably increased because a display that can be used as a touch panel is expensive. In this case, the user needs to make a redundant investment on devices of the same type, which is not efficient.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, this invention has an object to provide an in-vehicle information system including a portable information terminal for providing an in-vehicle information terminal to be mounted in a vehicle with simple operation means and an external communication function.

Means to Solve the Problems

In view of the above-mentioned problems, according to one aspect of this invention, there is provided an in-vehicle information system, including: an in-vehicle information terminal to be mounted in a vehicle; a portable information terminal equipped with a touch panel for providing the in-vehicle information terminal with operation unit and communication unit; the operation unit for enabling a display screen of the in-vehicle information terminal to be operated by operating the touch panel of the portable information terminal when the portable information terminal is connected to the in-vehicle information terminal via an interface; and the communication unit for enabling external communication of the in-vehicle information terminal by using the communication unit of the portable information terminal.

Effect of the Invention

According to one embodiment of this invention, it is possible to enhance the usefulness by unifying the display screens for displaying various types of information, and it is also possible to enhance the user's operability.

Further advantages and embodiments of this invention are described in detail in the following by way of description and with reference to the drawings.

MODES FOR EMBODYING THE INVENTION

Now, a description is given of an in-vehicle information system1according to preferred embodiments of this invention with reference to the drawings. Note that, the technical scope of this invention is by no means interpreted in a limitative manner by the embodiments to be described below.

First Embodiment

First, a description is given of an in-vehicle information system1according to a first embodiment of this invention with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, an in-vehicle information terminal100and a portable information terminal200are connected to each other and a touch panel201(operation unit) of the portable information terminal200is operated, to thereby realize control and operation of a display screen101on the in-vehicle information terminal100.

FIG. 1is a schematic diagram illustrating a specific configuration of the in-vehicle information system1according to the first embodiment of this invention. The in-vehicle information system1according to this embodiment includes: the in-vehicle information terminal100including the display screen101, a confirmation button102, and operation buttons103; and the portable information terminal200including the touch panel201and a home button202. In addition, icons203are displayed on the display of the touch panel201.

In the illustrated example, the in-vehicle information terminal100is a car navigation system, such as carrozzeria, and the portable information terminal200is a smartphone, such as iPhone (trademark). This invention is, however, not limited to this specific example. For example, a device having a relatively large display, such as a tablet terminal, may be used as the in-vehicle information terminal100, and any type of device may be used as the portable information terminal200as long as the device to be used is equipped with a touch panel, such as a game machine, a PDA, and a tablet terminal.

The in-vehicle information terminal100may include a positioning device, such as the GPS, and executes calculation of a route from a departure place to a destination when a route search is executed to display the calculated route result on the display screen101. As is widely known, here, a device with the GPS only receives information and does not transmit information, and hence the GPS differs from the Internet communication, which is available for use in this invention.

On the in-vehicle information terminal100, the display screen101realizes a function of displaying various types of information, such as displaying of information on a route to a destination, displaying of information on a current location, and viewing of a home page. In addition, the confirmation button102realizes an operation function, such as returning of the display screen101to a default one and reading of a received e-mail, and further, the operation buttons103realize a selection function, such as selection of contents and selection of a phone number. For example, when a user desires to acquire information on a route to a destination, the user uses one of the operation buttons103of the in-vehicle information terminal100to enter the destination, and the in-vehicle information terminal100calculates the route based on the entered information, such as the destination, under the control of a route search program and the like and displays calculated route candidates on the display screen101. When the user selects a desired route from among the route candidates with use of the confirmation button102, route guidance processing is executed. Note that, the in-vehicle information terminal100of this invention does not have a function of enabling a touch input.

On the portable information terminal200, various contents are displayed on the touch panel201, which is, for example, an LCD panel. When one of the icons203included in an image for a GUI is selected based on an input made by the user to the touch panel, a dedicated application specified by the selected one of the icons203is executed. To end the application, the user pushes the home button202.

On the portable information terminal200, transmission and reception of a radio signal compliant with the Internet Protocol are realized by various communication schemes. For example, the portable information terminal200performs communication by the third generation mobile communication, such as the CDMA scheme.

The in-vehicle information terminal100and the portable information terminal200are connected to each other via a wired or wireless interface, and are connected to each other via, for example, an interface, such as a wireless LAN, Bluetooth (trademark), infrared communication, and a cable, to transmit or receive a radio signal.

In the in-vehicle information system1of this embodiment, the in-vehicle information terminal100and the portable information terminal200are connected to each other so that, in addition to an operation using the confirmation button102or the operation buttons103, the touch panel201of the portable information terminal200is operated to realize selection of contents, selection of a phone number, and the like.

FIG. 2is a functional block diagram illustrating schematic functions of the in-vehicle information system1illustrated inFIG. 1. As illustrated inFIG. 2, the in-vehicle information terminal100according to this embodiment includes an input unit111, a control unit112, an in-vehicle communication unit113, a display unit114, and a storage unit115, and the portable information terminal200according to this embodiment includes an input unit211, a control unit212, an information terminal communication unit213, a display unit214, a storage unit215, and a communication unit216.

On the in-vehicle information terminal100, when information, such as a destination and a phone number, is input from the input unit111or the input unit211, the control unit112displays the input information on the display unit114in a visible manner, and uses a route map and a route search program stored in the storage unit115to calculate route candidates. The calculated route candidates are displayed on the display unit114. When the in-vehicle information terminal100and the portable information terminal200are connected to each other via an interface, the in-vehicle communication unit113and the information terminal communication unit213executes wired or wireless communication.

In this embodiment, when one of the icons203displayed on the display unit214of the portable information terminal200is pressed to activate a dedicated application, the in-vehicle communication unit113of the in-vehicle information terminal100and the information terminal communication unit213of the portable information terminal200are connected to each other via the wireless LAN. When information on this connection is transmitted from the information terminal communication unit213to the control unit212, the control unit212transmits to the display unit214an instruction to switch its screen display and also extracts a display screen for switching stored in the storage unit215to display the display screen for switching on the display unit214. When the user makes a touch input to the input unit211, information on this touch input is transmitted by the control unit212to the in-vehicle communication unit113of the in-vehicle information terminal100via the information terminal communication unit213. The above-mentioned connection may be realized with use of the cable.

When Internet access or the like is to be made on the in-vehicle information terminal100, an instruction is transmitted from the in-vehicle communication unit113of the in-vehicle information terminal100to the information terminal communication unit213of the portable information terminal200so that the in-vehicle information terminal100can perform communication to/from an outside with use of the communication unit216of the portable information terminal200via the control unit212.

Next, a description is given of an operation of the in-vehicle information system1according to the first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 3is a diagram illustrating an example of screen transitions of the portable information terminal200illustrated inFIG. 1.FIG. 4is a flow chart illustrating screen processing of the portable information terminal200in the in-vehicle information system1of this embodiment.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, the portable information terminal200displays a normal screen before its connection to the in-vehicle information terminal100. In other words, on the touch panel201, the normal screen on which the plurality of icons203are arranged in advance is displayed (S10). The portable information terminal200next determines whether or not cooperation with the in-vehicle information terminal100is established (S11), and when the cooperation is not established (NO in S11), does not change the screen of the touch panel201from its normal screen. For example, when the in-vehicle information terminal100and the portable information terminal200are connected to each other with the cable or when a specific one of the plurality of icons203of the touch panel201is selected to activate the system with use of the dedicated application, the cooperation between the in-vehicle information terminal100and the portable information terminal200is established (YES in S11). In this case, the portable information terminal200switches the screen of the touch panel201to display a screen dedicated to a touch input (S12). While the in-vehicle information terminal100and the portable information terminal200are connected to each other, various types of processing are performed while this screen display is kept as it is. Next, the portable information terminal200determines whether or not the cooperation with the in-vehicle information terminal100is canceled (S13), and when the cooperation is not canceled (NO in S13), does not change the screen of the touch panel201from its screen dedicated to the touch input. When the connection by the cable is canceled or when the dedicated application is finished, the cooperation between both of the information terminals100and200is canceled (YES in S13). In this case, the portable information terminal200switches the screen of the touch panel201to display the original normal screen (S14).

FIG. 5is a flow chart illustrating specific operation processing performed in the in-vehicle information system1according to the first embodiment of this invention.

When the in-vehicle information terminal100and the portable information terminal200are connected to each other via the interface in a wired or wireless manner (S20), the portable information terminal200displays the touch input screen on its touch panel201(S21). Further, the in-vehicle information terminal100displays a cursor on a predetermined position of the display screen101(S22). Next, when the user touches and operates the touch input screen of the portable information terminal200with his/her finger or the like (S23), the control unit212transmits via the information terminal communication unit213screen operation information to the in-vehicle communication unit113of the in-vehicle information terminal100. The in-vehicle information terminal100receives this screen operation information (S24), and moves the cursor displayed on the display screen101in accordance with the received operation information (S25). Based on the operation information, the in-vehicle information terminal100may also, for example, select a specific application displayed on the display screen101of the in-vehicle information terminal100or scroll the screen. Then, the movement information on the cursor is transmitted to the portable information terminal100via the in-vehicle communication unit113(S26).

FIG. 6is a diagram illustrating a configuration in which the in-vehicle information system1according to this embodiment is arranged in a vehicle. InFIG. 6, the portable information terminal200is connected to the in-vehicle information terminal100with use of the cable through a holder300. InFIG. 6, the in-vehicle information terminal100is fitted to an upper part of the center of the dashboard of an automobile and the holder300is arranged on a lower side, that is, on a driver's seat side. The portable information terminal200is accommodated into the holder300. In this embodiment, a connector is arranged inside the holder300, and through this connector, the holder300and the in-vehicle information terminal100are connected to each other with the cable. Accordingly, the portable information terminal200is accommodated into the holder300and the connector is inserted into a Dock terminal of the portable information terminal200so that the connection between the in-vehicle information terminal100and the portable information terminal200can be established. It should be understood that how to connect the information terminals100and200to each other and how to connect the information terminals100and200and the holder300to one another are not limited to the examples described above, and the information terminals100and200may be connected to each other by a wireless connection method.

This configuration enables the driver of the vehicle to operate the touch input screen displayed on the touch panel201of the portable information terminal200to transmit or receive an e-mail, search for a Web page, and view information contents such as viewing of a video, on the in-vehicle information terminal100.

According to the first embodiment of this invention described above, effects to be described below are achieved.

A first effect is that the operability of the in-vehicle information terminal100can be enhanced. This effect is achieved because the portable information terminal200can be used as an external mousepad for the in-vehicle information terminal100.

A second effect is that the cost of the entire system can be reduced in the in-vehicle information system1. This effect is achieved because the portable information terminal200equipped with a touch panel is connected to the in-vehicle information terminal100having a normal screen.

A third effect is that various types of processing, such as transmission/reception of an e-mail, viewing of a Web page, and electronic commerce, can be performed on the in-vehicle information terminal100. This effect is achieved because the in-vehicle information system1has the configuration in which the portable information terminal200is connected to the in-vehicle information terminal100so that the external communication function of the portable information terminal200is provided to the in-vehicle information terminal100.

Second Embodiment

Next, a description is given of a second embodiment of this invention. The second embodiment of this invention is a modification example of the first embodiment described above. In the following, in this embodiment, parts having the same functions as those of the parts described above in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions are omitted.

FIG. 7is a diagram illustrating an in-vehicle information system1according to the second embodiment of this invention. In this embodiment, an in-vehicle microphone104and an in-vehicle speaker105are connected to the in-vehicle information terminal100in such a manner that the in-vehicle microphone104and the in-vehicle speaker105can establish communication to/from the in-vehicle information terminal100.

It is preferred that the in-vehicle microphone104be provided to a steering wheel or an inner wall of a door in order to effectively collect a sound of a conversation of a driver or others. The in-vehicle microphone104can be used to operate the in-vehicle information terminal100by voice. The in-vehicle speaker105is, for example, a flat speaker, and is embedded into a ceiling surface of the interior, a front door on the driver's seat side, or the like to reproduce a voice of the other person on the phone.

FIG. 8is a functional block diagram illustrating schematic functions of the in-vehicle information system1illustrated inFIG. 7. In this embodiment, in addition to the components described above in the first embodiment, the in-vehicle information terminal100further includes a sound input unit116and a sound output unit117.

On the in-vehicle information terminal100, when the sound input unit116receives the sound of the conversation of the driver or others, the control unit112transmits via the in-vehicle communication unit113information on the received sound to the information terminal communication unit213of the portable information terminal200. On the portable information terminal200, the sound information received by the information terminal communication unit213is transmitted to the communication unit216to perform phone call processing. When the communication unit216receives sound information from a calling party, the control unit212transmits via the information terminal communication unit213the sound information to the in-vehicle communication unit113of the in-vehicle information terminal100. On the in-vehicle information terminal100, the sound information on the calling party received by the in-vehicle communication unit113is output by the sound output unit117. With this configuration, it is possible to perform substantial phone call processing on the in-vehicle information terminal100side. It is further possible to build a hands-free in-vehicle information system1in the vehicle.

FIG. 9is a diagram illustrating a screen display of the touch panel201displayed when a phone call is incoming to the portable information terminal200in the in-vehicle information system1illustrated inFIG. 7.FIG. 10is a flow chart illustrating specific processing for an incoming phone call performed when a phone call is incoming during the operation of the system.

InFIG. 9, in addition to the functions described above in the first embodiment, a phone call function of the portable information terminal200is used to make a phone call on the in-vehicle information terminal100with use of the sound input unit116and the sound output unit117.

In the in-vehicle information system1according to this embodiment, when the connection between the in-vehicle information terminal100and the portable information terminal200via the interface is established (S31), the touch input screen is displayed on the touch panel201of the portable information terminal200(S32). When a phone call is incoming to the portable information terminal200while the touch input screen is displayed (S33), incoming phone call information, such as the one illustrated inFIG. 9including the name and phone number of the calling party, is displayed on the screen of the touch panel201(S34). Further, the incoming phone call information is transmitted from the portable information terminal200to the in-vehicle information terminal100(S35), and the user can answer the incoming phone call by operating the touch panel201of the portable information terminal200, the operation buttons103of the in-vehicle information terminal100, or the like (S36). The user can finish a conversation by similarly operating the touch panel201, the operation buttons103, or the like (S37). Information on this finish of the conversation is transmitted from the in-vehicle information terminal100to the portable information terminal200, and the portable information terminal200receives the conversation finish information to perform predetermined processing, thereby ending the phone call processing (S38).

When making a phone call from the user of the portable information terminal200, the user can use an application or the like provided in advance to the in-vehicle information terminal100to input information on a called party. To input the information on the called party, the user can select a name and phone number of the called party from a database of the names and phone numbers, which are registered in advance in the storage unit115, or can use the confirmation button102or the operation buttons103, or the like to directly input the information on the called party. On the touch panel201of the portable information terminal200, the name and phone number of the other person on the phone are displayed with use of the information stored in the storage unit115of the in-vehicle information terminal100or the information stored in the storage unit215of the portable information terminal200.

According to the second embodiment of this invention described above, effects to be described below are achieved.

A first effect is that the phone call processing can be performed on the in-vehicle information terminal100side and further, the user can make a hands-free phone call. This effect is achieved because when a phone call is made or a phone call is incoming, the phone call processing is not performed on the portable information terminal200but is realized with use of the functions of the in-vehicle information terminal100.

Note that, this invention is not limited to the embodiments and examples described above. It should be understood that a person skilled in the art could arrive at various modification examples and improvement examples within the scope of this invention, and that those modification examples and improvement examples are included in this invention. For example, communication means of the portable information terminal200is used to make a conversation on the in-vehicle information terminal100side in this embodiment, but it is also possible to perform operations of making a phone call or answering an incoming call on the in-vehicle information terminal100to make a conversation on the portable information terminal200side.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-061523, filed on Mar. 19, 2012, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.