Abstract:
Navigation systems for providing route guidance to a destination for a user are presented including: an information provider configured to provide a program for performing processing of a voice command and a grammar associated with the route guidance, the information provider including, a transmitter for sending the program, and an informing means for notifying the user of the program; a terminal device for providing the route guidance to the user, the terminal device including: a receiver for receiving the program from the information provider, a speech recognition unit for enabling the voice command and the grammar, a navigation executing unit for realizing a navigation function in response to the voice command; and a server, where the server is configured to provide data associated with the program to the information provider.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM TO FOREIGN APPLICATION 
       [0001]    A claim for priority is hereby made under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §119 for the present application based upon Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-66368, filed on Mar. 14, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a navigation system and a program thereof for providing route guidance to a destination upon receipt of an operation command including a voice command. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    In recent years, there has been a car navigation system that is equipped with a speech recognition function and can be operated by voice commands. A user can operate a car navigation system of this type by speaking voice commands. This is very useful in that the user can use the system even during driving. 
         [0004]    Patent Document  1  discloses a navigation apparatus capable of setting a route again even during route guidance. When a speech recognition unit, a remote control unit, or the like is operated under predetermined conditions, this navigation apparatus allows input of a command for selecting a route different from that already set. 
         [0005]    Patent Document 2 discloses a technique of obtaining an image from inside or outside a vehicle, performing character recognition on the obtained image to support input to a vehicle-mounted information device, such as a navigation apparatus, thereby reducing burdens on an operator. 
         [0006]    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-56228 
         [0007]    [Patent Document 2] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-67407 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates an overall configuration of a navigation system to which the present embodiment is applied. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates a functional configuration of an information provider according to the present embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates a functional configuration of a terminal device according to the present embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates a functional configuration of a service controller in the terminal device according to the present embodiment. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  illustrates a functional configuration of a server according to the present embodiment. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  illustrates a system configuration of the case where sales services of a shop are provided by applying the navigation system of the present embodiment. 
       
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    Problems to be Solved by the Invention: 
         [0015]    A navigation system that can be operated by voice commands is convenient in that, since it can be operated by speaking an appropriate command, it can be used even during driving. However, a large number of commands are required to perform various operations only by speaking voice commands. Since the operator has to memorize these voice commands in advance, it is not easy for the operator to handle the navigation system. 
         [0016]    Additionally, with the existing techniques, different voice commands are prepared for different types of navigation systems. Therefore, for example, when a user drives different cars for work and personal use or drives a rental car, if different types of car navigation systems are mounted on these cars, a great burden is placed on the user because the user has to use different voice commands for different car navigation systems. 
         [0017]    An object of the present invention is to solve the problems described above and to provide a navigation system that can save users the trouble of memorizing voice commands and can provide a variety of services. 
         [0018]    Means for Solving the Problems: 
         [0019]    To achieve the object described above, the present invention is configured as a navigation system described below. The navigation system includes a terminal device having a navigation function and configured to receive a voice command as an operation command, and a receiver configured to receive data for use in recognizing a specific voice command. The terminal device includes a storage unit configured to store the data received by the receiver, and a speech recognition unit configured to perform speech recognition using the data stored in the storage unit. 
         [0020]    More preferably, the receiver further receives a program describing processing to be executed in response to the specific voice command; and the terminal device further includes a program executing unit configured to execute, when the specific voice command is received, the program received by the receiver to control operation of the navigation function. 
         [0021]    Another navigation system of the present invention includes a terminal device having a navigation function and configured to receive a voice command as an operation command, informing means for informing a user using the terminal device of a specific voice command for causing the terminal device to provide route guidance to a specific destination, a transmitter configured to transmit data for use in recognizing the specific voice command and information for the user to receive a specific service at the specific destination, and a receiver configured to receive the data and the information transmitted from the transmitter. The terminal device includes a storage unit configured to store the data and the information received by the receiver, a speech recognition unit configured to perform speech recognition using the data stored in the storage unit, and an output unit configured to output the information to the user. 
         [0022]    More preferably, the navigation system further includes a management server configured to check whether the specific voice command has been used in the terminal device. The management server may be configured to further check whether the specific service has been executed. The terminal device further includes a transmitting unit configured to transmit, to the management server, information indicating that the specific voice command has been used and information indicating that the specific service has been executed. 
         [0023]    Alternatively, the navigation system further includes a management server configured to check whether the specific service has been executed at the specific destination, and a service providing server configured to provide the specific service. The service providing server transmits, to the management server, information indicating that the specific service has been executed. 
         [0024]    When the navigation system includes one of the management servers described above, the management server may serve as a charging server configured to perform charging, at a predetermined time point, to collect a fee from a provider of the specific service. 
         [0025]    The present invention can also be realized as a program product that causes a computer to perform various functions of the navigation system described above. This program product can be provided by storing and distributing it in an optical disk, a magnetic disk, a semiconductor memory, or any other recording medium or distributing it via a network. 
         [0026]    In other embodiments, navigation systems for providing route guidance to a destination for a user are presented including: an information provider configured to provide a program for performing processing of a voice command and a grammar associated with the route guidance, the information provider including, a transmitter for sending the program, and an informing means for notifying the user of the program; a terminal device for providing the route guidance to the user, the terminal device including: a receiver for receiving the program from the information provider, a speech recognition unit for enabling the voice command and the grammar, a navigation executing unit for realizing a navigation function in response to the voice command; and a server, where the server is configured to provide data associated with the program to the information provider. In some embodiments, the transmitter is configured to provide a data transmission mechanism that may be selected from the following without limitation: a dedicated short range communication mechanism, an active radio frequency identification mechanism, and a frequency modulation multiple wave mechanism. In some embodiments, the terminal device further includes: a profile database for storing a user profile; a media database for storing information corresponding with media set by the user as unnecessary media; and a filter unit for determining when the program is provided to the user based on data corresponding with the profile database and the media database. In some embodiments, the server further includes: an information providing server for providing data associated with program changes to the information provider; a data distributing server, where the data distribution server is configured to receive the authentication data from the information provider, where in response receiving the authentication data, the data distribution server is configured to provide a requested data to the information provider, and where, the data distribution server is configured to receive data from the terminal device; and a charging server for performing charging based on use of the voice command associated with the program. 
         [0027]    In other embodiments, methods for providing route guidance to a navigation device including: causing a server to send a program for performing processing of a voice command and a grammar associated with the route guidance; causing an information provider to receive the program; causing the information provider to transmit a notification to a user such that the user is informed of an availability of the program; if the user utilizes the voice command, causing the navigation device to determine the route guidance associated with the program. In other embodiments, computing device program products for providing route guidance to a navigation device are presented including: a computer readable medium; programmatic instructions for causing a server to send a program for performing processing of a voice command and a grammar associated with the route guidance; programmatic instructions for causing an information provider to receive the program; programmatic instructions for causing the information provider to transmit a notification to a user such that the user is informed of an availability of the program; if the user utilizes the voice command, programmatic instructions for causing the navigation device to determine the route guidance associated with the program. 
         [0028]    Advantages: 
         [0029]    With the present invention configured as described above, by providing a voice command that is necessary for providing a specific service and also by providing data and a program that are necessary for processing using the voice command every time the service becomes available, it is possible to realize a navigation system that can save users the trouble of memorizing voice commands and can provide a variety of services. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0030]    Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. 
         [0031]    The present embodiment is applicable to a car navigation system mounted on a vehicle, a navigation system including a portable information terminal (e.g., mobile phone), and the like. The following description refers to the case where the present embodiment is applied to a car navigation system. 
         [0032]    System Configuration: 
         [0033]      FIG. 1  illustrates an overall configuration of a navigation system to which the present embodiment is applied. 
         [0034]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the navigation system of the present embodiment includes an information provider  100 , a terminal device  200 , and a server  300 . The information provider  100  and the terminal device  200  are connected to each other via various wireless communication means. The terminal device  200  and the server  300  are connected to each other via a wide area network including a wireless network. The information provider  100  and the server  300  are connected to each other via a wide area network of any type. 
         [0035]    In the present embodiment, the information provider  100  transmits, to the terminal device  200 , a program for performing processing corresponding to a voice command and a grammar for use in speech recognition. At the same time, by using a communication means such as a sign, the information provider  100  informs a user using the terminal device  200  of a voice command. When the user speaks this voice command, the voice command is recognized and the program is executed. Additionally, in the present embodiment, in processing of the program obtained from the information provider  100 , the terminal device  200  performs data exchange with the server  300 . This enables the user to receive various services. 
         [0036]    Functions of Information Provider  100 : 
         [0037]      FIG. 2  illustrates a functional configuration of the information provider  100 . 
         [0038]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the information provider  100  includes a command informing means  110  and a data transmitting device  120 . The command informing means  110  informs a user using the terminal device  200  (i.e., a passenger of a vehicle) of a voice command. The data transmitting device  120  transmits information to the terminal device  200 . 
         [0039]    The command informing means  110  is a means for informing the user using the terminal device  200  of a voice command. Example of the command informing means  110  include various media, such as an advertising display (e.g., sign) and a notice board for displaying traffic information or other information. The command informing means  110  may be an audio-based medium, such as radio broadcasting. 
         [0040]    The data transmitting device  120  is a device that transmits various types of data for processing voice commands in the terminal device  200 . The data transmitting device  120  includes a data storage unit  121  that stores data and a transmitter  122  that transmits data. The data to be transmitted includes a grammar for recognizing a voice command, a program (hereinafter referred to as service program) for executing a service according to a voice command, and a media ID and/or positional information for identifying a medium (e.g., sign) serving as the command informing means  110 . A preferable mechanism of data transmission is a mechanism that allows the data to be transmitted only to the terminal device  200  located within a given distance from the transmitter  122 . Examples of such a data transmission mechanism include dedicated short range communication (DSRC), active radio frequency identification (RFID), and transmission through frequency modulation (FM) multiple waves. 
         [0041]    Functions of Terminal Device  200 : 
         [0042]      FIG. 3  illustrates a functional configuration of the terminal device  200 . 
         [0043]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the terminal device  200  is a vehicle-mounted device mounted on a vehicle and includes a navigation executing unit  210  for realizing a navigation function, a service controller  220  that performs control for services provided in the present embodiment, a service-program executing unit  230 , and a service program database (DB)  240 . The terminal device  200  further includes a speech recognition unit  250  and a grammar DB  260  for performing speech recognition. While not specifically shown, the terminal device  200  further includes input means (e.g., buttons) for manually performing input of various commands and setting operations and display means (e.g., liquid crystal display) for displaying various types of information, such as maps. The terminal device  200  is provided with a network interface for access to the server  300  via a wide area network. It is preferable that the network interface be one which allows wireless access to the wide area network. Examples of the network interface include a wireless local area network (LAN) card and a mobile phone. 
         [0044]    Also as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a receiver  270 , a global positioning system (GPS) sensor  280 , and a voice input device  290  are connected to the terminal device  200 . The receiver  270  receives data transmitted from the transmitter  122  included in the data transmitting device  120  of the information provider  100 . The voice input device  290  is used for input of voice commands. 
         [0045]    The navigation executing unit  210  is realized by a program-controlled central processing unit (CPU) and storage means, such as a memory and a magnetic disk. The navigation executing unit  210  includes a destination setting section  211  for setting a destination using map data and an arrival determining section  212  for determining whether the vehicle has arrived at a destination on the basis of map data and positional information provided by a GPS. While not specifically shown, the navigation executing unit  210  includes a storage device (e.g., magnetic disk device (HDD)) for storing map data and has a display control function for displaying, on the display means, a map generated from map data, a current position, a destination, a route, various messages, and the like. 
         [0046]    The service controller  220  is realized by a program-controlled CPU and storage means, such as a memory and a magnetic disk. The service controller  220  obtains data from the information provider  100 , performs data exchange with the server  300 , and performs control for receiving services. Of the data received from the information provider  100 , a service program and a grammar are stored in the service program DB  240  and the grammar DB  260 , respectively, by the service controller  220 . The other functions of the service controller  220  will be described in detail later. 
         [0047]    The service program DB  240  is realized by a storage device, such as a magnetic disk device (HDD), and holds a service program received from the service controller  220 . This service program is read and executed by the service-program executing unit  230 . The grammar DB  260  is also realized by a storage device, such as a magnetic disk device (HDD), and holds a grammar received from the service controller  220 . The speech recognition unit  250  refers to this grammar to perform speech recognition. 
         [0048]    The service-program executing unit  230  is realized by a program-controlled CPU, a memory, and the like. The service-program executing unit  230  reads and executes a service program stored in the service program DB  240 . Specifically, on the basis of the service program, the service-program executing unit  230  operates the destination setting section  211  of the navigation executing unit  210  to set a destination and causes the navigation executing unit  210  to execute route guidance. When the vehicle arrives at the destination, the service-program executing unit  230  receives an arrival notice from the arrival determining section  212  and executes specific processing, such as issuing of coupons, as described below. 
         [0049]    The speech recognition unit  250  is realized by a program-controlled CPU, a memory, and the like. The speech recognition unit  250  refers to a grammar held in the grammar DB  260  to analyze voice input via the voice input device  290 , thereby recognizing a voice command. The recognized command is transmitted to the service-program executing unit  230 , which executes a service program upon receipt of this command. 
         [0050]    The receiver  270  is a receiving device using a communication method corresponding to the transmitter  122  included in the data transmitting device  120  of the information provider  100 . The receiver  270  receives data transmitted from the transmitter  122  and transmits the received data to the service controller  220 . 
         [0051]    The GPS sensor  280  is a receiving device of a so-called GPS. The GPS sensor  280  receives radio waves from the Navigation Satellite Timing and Ranging (NAVSTAR) satellites to obtain information about the current position. The GPS sensor  280  transmits the obtained information to the navigation executing unit  210  and the service controller  220 . 
         [0052]    The voice input device  290  is a microphone, which converts voice of the operator of the terminal device  200  into an electric signal and transmits the signal to the speech recognition unit  250 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 4  illustrates a functional configuration of the service controller  220 . 
         [0054]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the service controller  220  includes a communication control unit  221 , a filter unit  222 , and a data management unit  223 . The service controller  220  further includes a profile DB  224  and a media DB  225 . The profile DB  224  holds profile information of the user of the terminal device  200 . The media DB  225  holds information for performing individual filtering on a medium by which a voice command is indicated in the information provider  100 . 
         [0055]    The communication control unit  221  receives data received from the information provider  100  via the receiver  270  and positional information received via the GPS sensor  280 , and transmits the received data and positional information to the filter unit  222 . Additionally, the communication control unit  221  transmits and receives data to and from the server  306  via the network interface provided in the terminal device  200 . 
         [0056]    The filter unit  222  performs filtering on data received from the communication control unit  221  and transmits, to the data management unit  223 , data that can be used by the user of the terminal device  200 . Here, the filter unit  222  refers to the profile DB  224  and the media DB  225  and performs filtering on the basis of positional information received via the GPS sensor  280 . The filtering can be performed using existing techniques. 
         [0057]    The profile DB  224  holds a user profile, including sex, age, hobbies, and preferences. On the basis of this profile information, the filter unit  222  selects data in which the user might be interested and transmits the selected data to the data management unit  223 . 
         [0058]    The media DB  225  holds information about media (e.g., advertisements) set by the user as unnecessary media. When voice content corresponding to data received from the communication control unit  221  is that provided by a medium identified by information held in the media DB  225 , the filter unit  222  does not transmit the data to the data management unit  223 . 
         [0059]    On the basis of positional information obtained by the GPS sensor  280  and according to the current position of the vehicle (or terminal device  200 ), the filter unit  222  transmits data received from the communication control unit  221  to the data management unit  223 . For example, only when the current position is within a given distance from a position at which the vehicle (or terminal device  200 ) is located when the data is received by the receiver  270 , the filter unit  222  transmits the data to the data management unit  223 . The filter unit  222  may use an internal clock or the like in the terminal device  200  to measure time elapsed after the data is received by the receiver  270 . Then, for example, only when the time elapsed is within a given period of time, the filter unit  222  transmits the data to the data management unit  223 . 
         [0060]    The data management unit  223  performs installation, updating, and deletion of data and programs in the service program DB  240  and grammar DB  260 . Specifically, every time a new program or data is received via the filter unit  222 , the data management unit  223  installs the received program or data in the service program DB  240 , updates a program held in the service program DB  240  with the received program, and similarly stores the received data in the grammar DB  260 . If policies, such as deletion conditions, are defined for such data or programs, the data management unit  223  deletes the data or programs according to the policies. 
         [0061]    In the configuration described above, on the basis of positional or temporal information, the filter unit  222  controls whether to transmit data received from the data transmitting device  120  to the data management unit  223 . However, the service controller  220  may store data in the service program DB  240  and the grammar DB  260  without performing control on the basis of positional or temporal information. In this case, it is possible that the service-program executing unit  230  controls whether to execute a service program on the basis of positional or temporal information. It is also possible to describe, in a service program itself, such that execution control based on positional or temporal information is performed for specific processing. 
         [0062]    A program that realizes, in cooperation with a CPU (hardware), the above-described functions of the navigation executing unit  210 , service controller  220 , service-program executing unit  230 , and speech recognition unit  250  in tile terminal device  200  is provided, for example, by storing and distributing it in a recording medium, such as an optical disk, a magnetic disk, or a semiconductor memory or distributing it via a network. 
         [0063]    Functions of Server  300 : 
         [0064]      FIG. 5  illustrates a functional configuration of the server  300 . 
         [0065]    The server  300  illustrated in  FIG. 5  includes a plurality of sub-servers corresponding to respective functions to be realized. For example, the server  300  includes an information providing server  310 , a data distributing server  320 , and a charging server  330 . 
         [0066]    The information providing server  310  provides, via a wide area network to the data transmitting device  120  of the information provider  100 , various types of data transmitted from the information provider  100  to the terminal device  200 . If a voice command or a service provided by a predetermined information provider  100  is changed, the information providing server  310  transmits new data to the data transmitting device  120  of the information provider  100  to cause the data transmitting device  120  to perform updating. 
         [0067]    The data distributing server  320  holds data equivalent to data transmitted from the information provider  100  to the terminal device  200 . In response to a request from the terminal, device  200 , the data distributing server  320  transmits the requested data to the terminal device  200 . In this case, the data transmitting device  120  of the information provider  100  does not transmit substantial data, such as a grammar or a service program, but transmits, for example, authentication data serving as a trigger. The service controller  220  of the terminal device  200  obtains data serving as a trigger, transmits the obtained data to the data distributing server  320 , and obtains substantial data from the data distributing server  320 . 
         [0068]    The charging server  330  is a management server that manages use of voice commands and data provided by the information provider  100  and performs charging according to the use. For example, the charging server  330  checks whether a specific voice command provided by the information provider  100  has been used. Then, when the voice command is actually input to the terminal device  200 , the charging server  330  performs charging according to the use of the voice command. Alternatively, when a specific destination is set by the service-program executing unit  230  and if the vehicle arrives at the destination or a specific service is executed at the specific destination, the service-program executing unit  230  can perform charging in response to the occurrence of such an event. 
         [0069]    Operations: 
         [0070]    Next, specific operations of the navigation system of the present embodiment will be described. 
         [0071]      FIG. 6  illustrates a system configuration of the case where sales services of a shop are provided by applying the navigation system of the present embodiment. 
         [0072]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a shop  400  that executes sales services and a shop server  410  of the shop  400  are added to the information provider  100 , terminal device  200 , and server  300  shown in  FIG. 1 . The shop server  410  is connected to the charging server  330  in the server  300 . Of the sub-servers of the server  300 , only the charging server  330  is shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0073]    The command informing means  110  of the information provider  100  is a sign that displays advertisements for the shop  400  and items sold at the shop  400 . Specific phrases, such as sales messages, described on the sign are set as voice commands. 
         [0074]    In the example of  FIG. 6 , there is introduced a mechanism for recognizing that a voice command provided by the command informing means  110  has been used and the user has been guided to the shop  400 . Specifically, for example, only when the voice command has been used, the user of the terminal device  200  is informed of specific information, such as a keyword. Then, when the user tells a clerk the specific information at the shop  400 , it can be confirmed that the voice command has been used. Alternatively, by performing direct data exchange between the terminal device  200  and the shop server  410  via the network, the terminal device  200  may inform the shop server  410  that the voice command has been used. 
         [0075]    To encourage the user of the terminal device  200  to use a voice command provided by the command informing means  110 , a special service (incentive) may be provided to the user when the voice command is used. For example, if a coupon is issued as an incentive, the user may use the voice command to use the coupon. Then, if the coupon is used, it is possible to determine that the voice command has been used. The coupon may be issued either when the voice command is used or when the vehicle arrives at the destination set on the basis of the voice command. 
         [0076]    The charging server  330  performs data exchange with one or both of the terminal device  200  and the shop server  410  to manage execution of services at the shop  400 . Then, as a result of use of a voice command provided by the information provider  100 , when it can be confirmed that a service at the shop  400  has been executed, the charging server  330  performs charging to collect the advertisement fee from the shop  400 . 
         [0077]    Hereinafter, there will be described a specific scenario where the system of  FIG. 6  is used. 
         [0078]    The shop  400  is a fast-food shop (called XXX). The sign serving as the command informing means  110  of the information provider  100  displays a message “I want to go to XXX” as a voice command. 
         [0079]    When the vehicle with the terminal device  200  passes near the data transmitting device  120  of the information provider  100 , data including a service program and a grammar is transmitted from the data transmitting device  120  and received by the terminal device  200  via the receiver  270 . In the terminal device  200 , the service program and the grammar included in the received data are stored in the service program DB  240  and the grammar DB  260 , respectively. 
         [0080]    Next, a passenger (hereinafter referred to as user) of the vehicle finds the sign serving as the command informing means  110 , recognizes the voice command on the sign, and says “I want to go to XXX” to input this voice command to the terminal device  200 . Then, the speech recognition unit  250  of the terminal device  200  refers to the grammar DB  260  to perform speech recognition, thereby recognizing the voice command. On the basis of the result of this speech recognition, the service-program executing unit  230  reads and executes the service program stored in the service program DB  240 . Specifically, the navigation executing unit  210  is controlled, the shop  400  is set as a destination, and route guidance is performed. Additionally, a coupon for receiving a special service from the shop  400  is issued. This coupon is provided to the user, for example, by displaying a number or an ID unique to the coupon on the display means or by outputting such a number or ID as voice. 
         [0081]    Next, the vehicle with the terminal device  200  arrives at the shop  400  and the user purchases an item at the shop  400 . The shop  400  cannot determine whether the user has used the voice command only on the basis of the fact that the user has purchased the item. However, if the user uses the coupon (i.e., the user tells a clerk the number or ID unique to the output coupon), the shop  400  can determine that the voice command has been used. 
         [0082]    After the use of the coupon is registered in the shop server  410  at the shop  400 , the registered information is transmitted from the shop server  410  to the charging server  330  in the server  300 . Upon receipt of this information, the charging server  330  performs charging to collect the advertisement fee from the shop  400 . 
         [0083]    Instead of being transmitted from the shop server  410  to the charging server  330 , the information indicating that the coupon has been used at the shop  400  may be informed by the terminal device  200  to the charging server  330  via the network interface. Alternatively, depending on the type of service provided, data exchange may be performed between the terminal device  200  and the shop server  410  such that the terminal device  200  or the shop server  410  recognizes the fact that the service of the shop  400  has been executed as a result of use of the voice command and informs the charging server  330  of the fact. 
         [0084]    Instead of obtaining information about execution of the service from one of the terminal device  200  and the shop server  410 , the charging server  330  may obtain the information from both the terminal device  200  and the shop server  410  and compare the information from the terminal device  200  with that from the shop server  410 . In this example, charging is performed when a service is executed at the shop  400 . However, use of a voice command may also be charged. In this case, upon input of a voice command, the terminal device  200  informs the charging server  330  that the voice command has been used. In response to this information, the charging server  330  executes charging to collect the advertisement fee from the shop  400 . Since thus charging is performed in two steps (i.e., first for use of a voice command and then for execution of a service), it is possible to perform charging according to the degree of use of information provided by the information provider  100 . 
       Other Applications of the Present Embodiment 
       [0085]    The navigation system of the present embodiment is applicable not only to a so-called car navigation system that outputs routes to a vehicle-mounted device (such as that described above) to provide route guidance. Today, portable navigation devices are available, and navigation services that provide route guidance by using easily portable information terminals (e.g., mobile phones) are widespread. Therefore, it is possible to apply the present embodiment by using any of such information terminals as the terminal device  200 . 
         [0086]    For example, when a mobile phone is used as the terminal device  200 , the navigation executing unit  210 , the service controller  220 , the service-program executing unit  230 , and the speech recognition unit  250  are realized by a program-controlled CPU of the mobile phone. The service program DB  240  and the grammar DB  260  are realized by a memory in the mobile phone. Functions of the receiver  270  connected to the terminal device  200  may either be realized by using a communication function of the mobile phone or by incorporating a wireless LAN function into the mobile phone. The existing GPS function of the mobile phone can be used to realize functions of the GPS sensor  280 . A microphone of the mobile phone can be used as the voice input device  290 . 
         [0087]    Although the present embodiment has been described above, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to that described in the foregoing embodiment. For example, depending on-the type of service provided as a result of use of a voice command, it is possible, when a vehicle with the terminal device  200  arrives at a destination, to determine that the service has been executed and to perform charging. In this case, the determination as to whether the vehicle has arrived at the destination can be made by obtaining, from the terminal device  200 , positional information obtained by the GPS. It is apparent from the description of claims that other embodiments obtained by variously changing or modifying the above-described embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.