Patent Publication Number: US-2005138025-A1

Title: Information distribution system and information distribution method

Description:
The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-425512 filed on Dec. 22, 2003 including the specification, drawings and abstract are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of Invention  
      The present invention relates to an information distribution system and a program for information distribution method.  
      2. Description of Related Art  
      A conventional navigation system is formed by connecting a navigation apparatus and an information center via a network. The conventional navigation system distributes news as information from a predetermined distribution station to the navigation apparatus via the network by using the information center as an information station. Therefore, it is possible to display news on a display screen of the navigation apparatus or output news from an audio output unit. (Refer to, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-109771).  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In the conventional navigation system, for example, since a plurality kinds of news are distributed by plural distribution stations, the same news of some topics that are distributed by more than one distribution station may be downloaded in the navigation apparatus.  
      Thus, various exemplary embodiments of this invention provide an information distribution system and information distribution program to avoid downloading the same news from more than one distribution station.  
      Various exemplary embodiments of the invention provide an information distribution system, including a controller. The controller searches for a route based on a predetermined search condition. The controller selects an information distribution point on the searched route based on an information distribution area, compares information to be distributed, and selects information to be distributed based on the result of the comparison.  
      Various exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a method for information distribution. The method includes searching for a route based on a predetermined search condition. The method further includes selecting an information distribution point on the searched route based on an information distribution area, comparing information to be distributed, and selecting information to be distributed based on the comparison. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of the navigation system according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the navigation apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart showing an information distribution method according to the first exemplary embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 4  is a diagram showing the news distribution condition according to the first exemplary embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a main flow chart distribution method according to the first exemplary embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 6  is a diagram showing an information comparison method according to the first exemplary embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 7  is a flow chart showing a reception method according to the first exemplary embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 8  is a flow chart showing an information distribution method according to a second exemplary embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 9  is a flow chart showing an information distribution method according to a third exemplary embodiment of the invention; and  
       FIG. 10  is a flow chart showing an information distribution method according to a forth exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
       FIG. 1  shows a functional block diagram of the navigation system according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the navigation apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the invention.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1 , for example, a personal computer  61  an information center  62  and a navigation apparatus  14  are connected, for example, via a network  43 .  
      The information center  62  may include a controller  63  and a memory  64  (such as, for example, a database) that is connected to the server  63  to record navigation data indicating navigation information. The information center  62  can provide a site for providing various kinds of information of a predetermined provider other than navigation data.  
      The information center  62  is capable of receiving not only traffic information including, for example, congestion information, restriction information, parking lot information, traffic accident information, and service area crowded condition that are transmitted from a traffic information transmission center as a traffic information provider, for example, VICS® (Vehicle Information and Communication System)(not shown). The information center  62  is also capable of receiving general information such as news, weather forecast and private information such as, for example, mail. The information center  62  is capable of receiving display information that can include, for example, TV programs and the like, content information such as a music program and the like. The display information and content information may be distributed from, for example, a broadcast and/or a content distribution agency as another information provider. Therefore, it is possible to send various kinds of information such as, for example, traffic information, general information, personal information, and/or content information in the form of, for example, text data, audible data, and/or display data to the personal computer  61  or the navigation apparatus  14  via the network  43 , either before or after the information is recorded in the memory  64 .  
      Furthermore, although, for example, an internet may be used as the network  43 , the network  43  may be, for example, communication system including a wireless LAN or a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), an intranet, a portable phone system network, a telephone line network, a public communication line network, and/or a private communication network. Further, the network  43  may be, for example, a communication system using CS broadcasting, BS broadcasting, ground wave digital TV broadcasting, and/or FM multiplexed broadcasting. The network  43  may also include, for example, a communication system such as non-stop electronic toll collection system (ETC) used in intelligent transport system (ITS) and/or dedicated short-range communication (DSRC).  
      The controller  63  may include, for example, a CPU, a MPU (not shown) as a control unit, and may include, for example, a RAM, a ROM, a flash memory (not shown). Further, for example, a magnetic disk, such as a hard disk (not shown), may be disposed as a recording medium.  
      Map data for displaying a map, intersection data related to each intersection, node data related to a node point, road data related to road, search data for searching a route, and/or facility data related to various kinds of facility may be recorded as navigation data in the memory  64 . Note that, data related to the road attribute, such as, for example, data representing general roads such as national roads, prefectural roads, narrow streets, data representing highway/toll roads such as express roads, urban express roads, and/or toll roads may be included in the road data.  
      The controller  63  may receive traffic information transmitted by, for example, the road traffic information center and receive general information. The controller  63  may record the received information in the memory  64  as primary information, statistically process the primary information, create statistical data constituting of historical information (for example, a congestion history, congestion forecast information) and record the statistical data in the memory  64  as secondary information. With respect to creating the secondary information, it is possible to add details such as, for example, date, day of the week, weather, coincidence with various kinds of events, season, and/or facility information to the historical information by referring to the received general information.  
      The personal computer  61  may be set at a familiar location for an operator, for example at the user&#39;s home. The personal computer may be functionally divided into, for example, a controller  71  (such as a CPU) as a control unit, a display section  72  for notifying the operator of various kinds of information, an operation section  73 , a memory unit  74  as a recording section, and/or a communication section  75 . The communication section  75  may contain a modem (not shown) for connecting the personal computer  61  to, for example, the information center  62  and/or an access point (not shown) for connecting the personal computer  61  to the navigation apparatus  14  via a communication section  38  by means of, for example, wireless LAN.  
      Although according to the present exemplary embodiment, the personal computer  61  may be a user terminal, it may also be, for example, a home server, an electronic notebook, a portable phone, a portable terminal, a PDA (personal digital assistant), a TV phone, and/or a game machine instead of the personal computer  61 .  
      Although, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the controller  71  may be a CPU, for example, an MPU may be used instead of the CPU. As the display section  72 , for example, CRT display, a liquid crystal display, and/or a plasma display may be used. Further, as an operation section  73 , it is possible to use, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a bar code reader, a remote control unit, a joy stick, a light-pen, and/or a stylus pen. The display section  72  may be made to function as an operation section by means of, for example, a touch panel formed on the display. Operational regions such as various kinds of keys, switches, buttons and the like may be formed on the display and touching the operational region may enable an input.  
      The memory  74  may include, for example, a RAM, a ROM, and/or a flash memory. A magnetic disc (for example, a hard disk) may also be disposed. It is also possible to use, for example, a flexible disc, magnetic tape, magnetic drum, CD-ROM, CD-R, MD, DVD, optical disc, MO, IC card, optical card, memory card or the like instead of the hard disk as an external storage unit. In conjunction with a hard disk, the recording unit  74  may include a reading unit for reading out data recorded in the hard disk and a writing unit for recording data.  
      The navigation apparatus  14  may be, for example, a portable terminal device and/or a vehicle on-board device mounted on a vehicle. The navigation apparatus  14  can include a controller  17 , a memory  16 , and/or a communication section  38 . Although according to the present exemplary embodiment, the navigation apparatus  14  may be used as a portable terminal device, various kinds of terminal devices may be used (described above) instead of the navigation apparatus  14 .  
      The hot spot  45  may be any location that allows the navigation apparatus  14  to communicate with the network  43 . The hot spot  45  may be, for example, a restaurant or other public/retail facility with an access point (not shown) for forming a wireless LAN  44  connection. Thus, the navigation apparatus  14  can be connected to the network  43  by accessing to the access point. According to this exemplary embodiment, the navigation system includes, for example, one or more of the navigation apparatus  14 , the network  43 , the wireless LAN  44 , the hot spot  45 , the personal computer  61 , and/or the information center  62 .  
      Next, the navigation apparatus  14  will be described with reference to  FIG. 2 . The navigation apparatus  14  can include a GPS sensor  15  as a current position detector that detects a current position of the navigation apparatus  14  by receiving an electronic wave generated by an artificial satellite; a memory  16 , for example, for recording various kinds of data other than the above mentioned navigation data; a controller  17 , for example, for various kinds of arithmetic operation processing based on various kinds of program and data; an azimuth sensor  18 , for example, for detecting a direction of the navigation apparatus  14 ; an operation section  34  for executing, for example, predetermined input by user&#39;s operating as a first input section; a display section  35  for executing, for example, display on a screen (not shown) to notify the user; an audio input section  36  for input by, for example, voice; an audio output section  37  for notifying the user various kinds of information by, for example, voice; and/or a communication section  38  as, for example, a transmitting-receiving section. The operation section  34 , the display section  35 , the audio input unit  36 , the audio output unit  37 , and/or the communication section  38  may be connected to the controller  17 . Further, a vehicle speed sensor  39  may also be connected to the controller  17 .  
      As a recording medium, for example, a hard disk may be disposed in the memory  16 . Note that, the external recording devices described above may be used as a recording medium instead of the hard disk. Further, the reading unit and the writing unit described above may be disposed in the data recording section  16  in conjunction with the hard disk.  
      The controller  17  may include a CPU  31  which works as a control unit, for example, controlling the navigation apparatus  14 , a RAM  32 , for example, a DRAM, SRAM, MRAM, and FeRAM, which may be used as a working memory for the CPU  31 , a ROM  33  that can record various kinds of programs, and a flash memory (not shown).  
      Although the ROM  33  can record various kinds of program while the memory  16  records various kinds of programs and data, the memory  16  can also record the programs and data. In this case, the programs and data can be read out from the memory  16  and written into the flash memory. Therefore, the program and data can be updated by replacing, for example, the memory (e.g., a hard disk). If an automatic transmission control unit for controlling an automatic transmission (not shown) loaded on a vehicle is installed, the memory can also record the programs and data for controlling the automatic transmission control unit. Further, the program and data can be received via the communication section  38  to be written into the flash memory.  
      A microphone, for example, can be used as the audio input section  36 . The audio output section  37  may include a voice synthesizer and a speaker. Information may be output with voice synthesized by the voice synthesizer. Note that, it is possible to output not only voice synthesized by the voice synthesizer but also various kinds of sound and information recorded in advance in a tape, memory or the like.  
      The communication section  38  may include a beacon receiver for receiving various kinds of information from the traffic information transmission center in the form of, for example, electric wave beacon and/or light beacon via, for example, an electric wave beacon unit and/or a light beacon unit disposed along a road. The communication section  38  may also include an FM receiver for receiving FM multiplexed broadcasting via FM broadcasting station. Thus, the beacon receiver can receive traffic information and the FM receiver can receive the traffic information as well as general information as FM multiplexed information.  
      Further, the communication section  38  may obtain, for example, traffic information and/or general information via, for example, the network  43  and/or the information center  62 , as well as access to a web page of a content provider via, for example, internet by using the information center  62  as an information station to obtain, for example, personal information and/or content information. In this case, the communication section  38  may be connected with the information center  62  via, for example, an access point (not shown), and/or an internet. Note that, the communication section  38  may function as a current position detecting section and can detect a current position by receiving position information based on, for example, electric wave beacons and/or light beacons.  
      The navigation apparatus  14  and the personal computer  61  may be connected to each other by wireless LAN which enables bi-directional communication. For that purpose, the communication section  75  may be provided with access points as described above. Slots (not shown), such as, for example, PCMCIA slot and/or PC card slot may be formed in the communication section  38 , so that a radio card is inserted into the slot. Although according to the present exemplary embodiment, the navigation apparatus  14  and the personal computer  61  are connected to each other by wireless LAN, according to various other exemplary embodiments, the navigation apparatus  14  and the personal computer  61  may be connected by wired LAN. According to those embodiments, the communication section  75  may be provided with, for example, hubs (not shown), so that the hubs and the communication section  38  are coupled detachably by a cable.  
      Note that the CPU  31 , the controller  71 , the personal computer  61 , the controller  63 , a server of a provider, and/or the controller  17  work independently or are combined to function as a computer based on, for example, predetermined programs and data.  
      Next, the operation of the navigation system having the above-described structure will be described with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . For the purpose of this example, it is assumed that the navigation system is distributing the news as information.  FIG. 3  is a flow chart of an information distribution method according to the first exemplary embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 4  is a diagram showing the news distribution condition according to the first exemplary embodiment of the invention.  
      First, if an operator inputs a departure point Ps and a target destination Pg by operating the operation section  34  of the navigation apparatus  14  ( FIG. 2 ), the CPU  31  searches for a route, in which the departure point Ps and target destination Pg, for example, are set as the search condition, and the search condition is transmitted to the information center  62  ( FIG. 1 ).  
      The search condition is received by a communication section (not shown) in the information center  62 , and the controller  63  reads out the search data and the statistical data by referring to the memory  64 , and reads traffic information transmitted by the traffic information transmission center so as to obtain information necessary for searching a route. Subsequently, the controller  63  searches for a route based on, for example, search data, traffic information, and/or statistical data according to the search condition.  
      Since the navigation apparatus  14  may include the communication section  38 , it is possible to access the wireless LAN  44  via access points while a vehicle drives in communicable area near by the hot spot  45 , and connect the navigation apparatus  14  to the network  43  via the access points to communicate with the information center  62 . Therefore, various kinds of information, for example, traffic information, general information, personal information, content information can be received.  
      When a route is searched by the route search processing means (Step S 1 ), the controller  63  refers to the memory  64  to search for a point hi (i=1, 2, . . . ) that enables news distribution along the searched route (Step S 2 ), that is, from a communicable area near by the hot spot  45  on the search route Rt. Note that the memory  64  records, for example, the coordinate indicating the position of hot spot  45 , ID number, password, encrypted key and the like for accessing to the access point of the hot spot  45  as a hot spot data.  
      A plurality kinds of news, for example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , may be distributed from plural distribution stations of providers via, for example, the information center  62 . A first area AR 1  and a second area AR 2  are defined along the length of the search route Rt as distribution areas of news. There is also formed a third area AR 3  and a fourth area AR 4  divided by changeover point Pc. The first area AR 1 , for example, is set as the news distribution area of Europe, the U.S., and Asia. The second area AR 2 , for example, is set as the news distribution area of Europe. In both cases, news is distributed from each distribution station in a wide area, and all area AR 1  news and all area AR 2  news can be downloaded at any point hi on the search route Rt. The third area AR 3 , however, is set, for example, as the news distribution area of France and the forth area AR 4  is set as, for example, the news distribution area of Germany. In both cases (AR 3 , AR 4 ), news is distributed from each distribution station in a smaller area, and French news can only be downloaded at points h 1  and h 2  on the search route. Rt. German news can only be downloaded at points h 3  and h 4 .  
      Subsequently, the controller  63  sets a predetermined point of each point hi in each news distribution area as a distribution point to download news. That is, the controller  63  sets the nearest point hi as a first distribution point (Step S 3 ), determines whether there is a changeover point Pc for distribution area short of remaining points h 2 -h 4  (Step S 4 ), and if there is a changeover point Pc (Step S 4 =YES), picks out a point h 3  beyond the changeover point Pc (Step S 5 ), and sets the picked out point h 3  as a next distribution point (Step S 6 ). As described above, the controller  63  sets distribution points in each distribution area zoned by the changeover point Pc.  
      As described above, when a route is searching for and distribution points are selected, the server  63  may transmit, for example, route data indicating the search route Rt, map data indicating surrounding map of the search route Rt, and/or audio output data for guiding the search route Rt by the audio output unit  37 , each as route guidance data indicating route guidance information, then may transmit the distribution point data indicating distribution point information to the navigation apparatus  14 .  
      According to the present exemplary embodiment, the controller  63  can search for a route based on, for example, search data, traffic information, and/or statistical data. According to various exemplary embodiments, a route may be searched, based on only the search data. In this case, the controller  63  transmits route data indicating a search route Rt to the navigation apparatus  14  as route guidance data.  
      According to the present exemplary embodiment, route guidance data may be transmitted to the navigation apparatus  14 , if an operator inputs a departure point Ps and a target destination Pg by operating the operation section  73  in, for example, the personal computer  61 . Alternatively, route guidance data can be transmitted to the personal computer  61  and transferred to the navigation apparatus  14 .  
      According to the present exemplary embodiment, audio output data may be transmitted from the information center  62  to the navigation apparatus  14 . According to various exemplary embodiments, the audio output data may be recorded in the memory section  16  of the navigation apparatus  14  in advance. In this case, audio output data does not need to be transmitted to the navigation apparatus  14  as route guidance data.  
      If route guidance data and distribution point data are transmitted by the controller  63 , the CPU  31  in the navigation apparatus  14  may receive the route guidance data and the distribution point data and may download the route guidance data and the distribution point data into, for example, a flash memory and record them.  
      Next, in order to execute route guidance, the CPU  31  may read out route guidance data from the flash memory, form a map screen on the display section  35  based on the route guidance data, indicate a current position, surrounding map, and direction of the navigation apparatus  14  on the map screen, display a search route Rt in a surrounding area of the current position, and/or notify a user of the search route Rt through a message from the audio output section  37  with voice. Accordingly, the user can drive a vehicle following the current position, surrounding map, direction of the navigation apparatus  14  (vehicle) and/or search route displayed on the map screen or notified with voice.  
      Note that, if the operator does not input a departure point Ps and a target destination Pg, route search processing may not be executed in the information center  62  and the controller  63  may transmit only map data to the navigation apparatus  14 . Then the CPU  31  in the navigation apparatus  14  may execute display processing, form a map screen on the display section  35 , and/or display a current position, a map of a surrounding region and a direction or the navigation apparatus  14  on the map screen. Further, the map data may be recorded in the memory  16  in advance without transferring the map data from the information center  62  to the navigation apparatus  14 .  
      If the vehicle arrives at any distribution point hi while the vehicle drives along a search route Rt, it may be possible to download news distributed from plural distribution stations. For example, all area news, news of Europe, and news of France can be downloaded at the point h 1 , and all area news, news of Europe, and news of Germany can be downloaded at the point h 3 . Therefore, some of the same news may be downloaded from each distribution point along a route.  
      Thus, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the information center  62  can compare news distributed from each distribution station and avoid distributing identical or substantially similar news to the navigation apparatus  14 .  
       FIG. 5  is a main flow chart showing a distribution method according to the first exemplary embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 6  is a diagram showing an information comparison method according to the first exemplary embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 7  is a flow chart showing a reception method according to the first exemplary embodiment of the invention.  
      First, the controller  63  ( FIG. 1 ) may read out a news list which contains already distributed news in form of a list from, for example, a RAM (Step S 11 ). Subsequently, the controller  63  may compare the contents of the already distributed news and the new news to be distributed (Step S 12 ), and execute text matching by, for example, each sentence in the news to determine whether or not the news to be newly distributed substantially corresponds with the already distributed news (Step S 12 - 1 ).  
      Next, the controller  63  may select only that news to be distributed whose contents does not substantially correspond to the already distributed news and transmits the selected news to the navigation apparatus  14  (Step S 13 ). Thus, as described above, it is possible to distribute only that news whose contents does not substantially correspond with any news that has been previously distributed to the navigation apparatus  14 .  
      The CPU  31  in the navigation apparatus  14  may then receive the news distributed from the information center  62  (Step S 21 ) and, for example, download the distributed news into a flash memory.  
      As described above, the distribution point is selected in each distribution area zoned by changeover point Pc ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ). Thus, substantially the same news will not be downloaded at a plurality of distribution stations.  
      Further, even when all of the news at a distribution station is not substantially the same, but some news is substantially the same, the information center  62  may compare the contents of the news to be distributed with the already distributed news, and distribute only that news whose contents does not substantially correspond with the already distributed news. Thus, substantially corresponding portions of new news will not be downloaded from a plurality of distribution stations.  
      Although, according to the present exemplary embodiment, news content may be compared by, for example, executing text matching of each sentence, it is possible to compare, for example, parts of speech (as is the case of voice synthesizing) keywords, personal names, and/or numbers. Additionally, because an effective duration is set for news, if the effective duration for news in the news list described above is expired, news to be newly distributed may be distributed.  
      Next, the second exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 8  is a flow chart showing an information distribution method system according to the second exemplary embodiment of the invention. According to this exemplary embodiment the navigation apparatus  14  ( FIG. 2 ) may be a portable terminal device as well as a vehicle on-board device and the distribution point is set after route guidance processing is started, while the vehicle drives. Thus, for the purpose of this example, it is assumed that a route has already been searched for.  
      When the route guidance is started (Step S 31 ), the CPU  31  may search for a distribution point in a traveling direction of the search route Rt (Step S 32 ). Therefore, the CPU  31  refers to the memory  16  and, for example, evaluates the stored hot spot data. The CPU  31  continuously searches for a news distribution area (communicable area of a hot spot  45  on the search route Rt) and sets that area as the distribution point hi. Note that the memory  16  may record the coordinate indicating the position of, for example, the hot spot  45 , ID number, password, and/or encrypted key for accessing to the access point of the hot spot  45  as a hot spot data.  
      If such a point is found in the traveling direction of the search route Rt (Step S 33 =YES), the CPU  31  may determine whether the point is in the same distribution area as a previously selected distribution point. If the point is in the same distribution area as previous point (Step  34 =YES), the CPU  31  may determine whether a current time is within an effective duration of the news downloaded from that previous point (Step S 35 ). If the current time is within the effective duration of previous news (Step  535 =YES), the point is not selected as a distribution point. If the point is not in the same distribution area as previous point (Step  534 =NO) or the current time is not within the effective duration or previous news (Step  535 =NO), the point is selected as a distribution point. Subsequently, the controller  63  distributes news to the navigation apparatus  14  at the set distribution point in the same manner as the first exemplary embodiment (Step S 36 ).  
      As described above, if a point is in the same distribution area as a previously selected distribution point, that point is selected only if the current time is not within an effective duration of previously distributed news. Thus, substantially the same will not be distributed from a plurality of distribution stations.  
      Next, the third exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 9  is a flow chart showing an information distribution method according to a third exemplary embodiment of the invention. According to this exemplary embodiment, the navigation apparatus  14  ( FIG. 2 ) may be a portable terminal device as well as a vehicle on-board device and new news to be downloaded may be compared with already downloaded news prior to, or during, download. Thus, only new news whose content does not substantially correspond with already downloaded news.  
      The CPU  31  may read news (Step S 41 ) and determine whether there is news to be downloaded (e.g., is there a distribution point in communication range with at least one different news distribution area than the previously selected distribution point) (Step S 42 ). If there is news that needs to be downloaded, the CPU  31  compares the contents of the new news to be downloaded with the already downloaded news (Step S 43 ), and determines whether there is already downloaded news which substantially corresponds with the new news to be downloaded (Step S 44 ). If there is only news that substantially corresponds with new news to be downloaded (Step  544 =NO), the CPU  31  does not download that news (Step S 45 ). If there is news whose contents does not substantially correspond with already downloaded news (Step  544 =YES), the CPU  31  may download the non-substantially corresponding portion of the new news (Step S 46 ).  
      Note that in this case, the amount of news to be distributed may be preliminarily notified from the information center  62  ( FIG. 1 ) as an information provider to the navigation apparatus  14 , and page counts such as 1/3, 2/3, 3/3 . . . may be included.  
      As described above, new news to be downloaded is compared with already downloaded news and only the portion of the new news whose contents does not substantially correspond with the already downloaded news is downloaded. Thus, only new news whose content does not substantially correspond with already downloaded news is downloaded.  
      Next, the fourth exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 10  is a flow chart showing an information distribution method according to fourth exemplary embodiment of the invention. According to this exemplary embodiment, the information center  62  ( FIG. 1 ) serves as an information provider and the controller  63  compares all news to be distributed (Step S 51 ). Subsequently, the controller  63  selects the news with substantially corresponding content (Step S 52 ). The controller  63  then determines whether the new news to be distributed is related to already distributed news (e.g., a follow-up story) (Step S 53 ).  
      For example, even if the new news to be distributed and the already distributed news share same keyword or personal name, the controller  63  determines the new news to be related, for example, if numbers following a keyword are different. For example, if the already distributed news says “Japan league is now in the top of the second inning . . . ” and the news to be newly distributed says “Japan league is now in the bottom of the ninth inning . . . , ” the number “second” is different from “ninth” following the keyword “Japan league.” Therefore, the news to be newly distributed is determined to be related.  
      Additionally, for example, if it is determined contents of the news to be distributed substantially corresponds with already distributed news, the new news to be distributed may be determined to be related if an effective duration of the already distributed news has expired. For example, if news which was already distributed in 9:00-15:59 says “The storm No.10 in Okinawa is going up north . . . ” and another news which was newly distributed in 16:00-20:59 says “The storm No.10 is now in the mainland . . . ”, the effective duration of the already distributed news may be considered expired although the number “10” following the keyword “storm” is same. Therefore, the news to be newly distributed is determined as related.  
      If the new news to be distributed is related (Step S 53 =YES), the controller  68  determines whether there is any related news distributed from the distribution station which distributed the already downloaded news (Step S 54 ). If there is such news (Step S 54 -yes), news from the distribution station which distributed that the already downloaded new news is selected and distributed (Step S 56 ).  
      Further, if the new news to be distributed is not related (Step S 53 -=NO), the controller  63  distributes that new news from a distribution station which distributes the most news for a keyword within that new news (Step S 55 ). Note that, alternatively, if the new news to be distributed is not related, it is also possible to select a distribution station which has a small news distribution area or select a distribution station with the news of the greatest length (e.g., more detailed).  
      As described above, if there is news whose contents substantially corresponds with any of a plurality of new news to be distributed, the new news from a same distribution station is selected if that news is related. When the news is not related, new news may be selected from the distribution station which distributes, for example, many number of similar news, news from the distribution station which has small news distribution area, and/or news with great length. Thus, news with substantially corresponding content will less likely be downloaded from different distribution stations.  
      While various features of this invention have been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments outlined above, various alternatives, modifications, variations and/or improvements of those features may be possible. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.