Patent ID: 7257485

Claim:
A navigation system connected with an information providing device via, respectively, a public network and a base station for short range communication, for receiving information transmitted from said information providing device, said navigation system comprising: map information storage means which stores information indicating a position of said base station and map data containing road data; route storage means which stores a route composed of at least one road; current position calculating means which calculates current position; first communication means connected with said base station; second communication means connected with the public network; and decision means which decides whether or not the route read from the route storing means passes through an area in which communication is possible by the base station read from said map information storage means, wherein, in cases in which it is decided that said route passes through the area in which communication by said base station is possible, said navigation system is connected with said base station using said first communication means after said area is reached, and in cases in which it is decided that said route does not pass through the area in which communication by said base station is possible, said navigation system is connected with said public network using said second communication means.