US 7,518,533 B2
Navigation system and method, and computer program product
Hiroyuki Mafune, Saitama (Japan)
Assigned to Pioneer Corporation, Tokyo (Japan)
Filed on Jul. 21, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/895,105.
Claims priority of application No. 2003-200065 (JP), filed on Jul. 22, 2003.
Prior Publication US 2005/0055155 A1, Mar. 10, 2005
Int. Cl. G08G 1/123 (2006.01); G01C 21/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 340—995.23  [701/24; 701/25; 701/200; 701/202; 701/207; 340/995.19; 726/18] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A navigation system having a navigation apparatus, a server apparatus and a route information transmittance apparatus, which are capable of transferring and receiving information in bidirectional inter-communication via a communication network,
(i) said route information transmittance apparatus comprising:
an input device for inputting route search information indicating an instruction relating to a route search; and
a transmittance device for transmitting the inputted route search information to said server apparatus,
(ii) said server apparatus comprising:
a server side communication device for receiving the route search information transmitted from said route information transmittance apparatus;
an authentication device for authenticating whether or not the received route search information is available for said navigation apparatus; and
a search device for performing the route search on the basis of the authenticated route search information,
wherein said server side communication device further transmits search result information indicating a route searched by said search device to said navigation apparatus, and
(iii) said navigation apparatus comprising:
a terminal side communication device for receiving the search result information;
a route guidance device for performing a route guidance on the basis of the received search result information; and
a measurement device for measuring a current position of a movable body on which said navigation apparatus is mounted,
wherein said terminal side communication device transmits movable body position information indicating the measured position to said server apparatus after the route search information is authenticated as available,
said server side communication device receives the movable body position information, and
said search device performs the route search on the basis of the authenticated route search information and the received movable body position information.