Abstract: A CPU of a navigation device includes a clock unit, a continuous driving time measurement unit that measures continuous driving time from a traveling start time, a course stage prediction unit, and a presenting information controller. The course stage prediction unit selects based on the traveling start time, a first transition determination reference time for transition from a “first stage” to a “middle stage” from prepared data of the first transition determination reference time and a second transition determination reference time for transition from the “middle stage” to a “last stage” from prepared data of the second transition determination reference time. The course stage prediction unit then predicts a course stage by comparing the continuous driving time with the selected transition determination reference times. Depending on the predicted course stage, the presenting information controller presents information convenient for a driver in the predicted course stage.

Abstract: A map image display apparatus for displaying a map image with at least one name for entering a command to change the map image, and switching the displayed map image, when accepting the command with the name designated, to a map image in a vicinity of the designated name. The apparatus includes a defined region storage device which stores information of a name-defined region indicated by the name, a center position thereof, and a display scale enabling displaying substantially the whole name-defined region within one screen; and a display target determination device which determines a map image to be displayed at the display scale with the center position of the name-defined region taken as a display center, referring to the stored information.

Abstract: A map image display device is configured and arranged to improve operability by enabling a map image of a location distant from a currently displayed map image to be appropriately displayed with a simple operation. The map image display device displays names that are subject to a user's input command superimposed on a map image, and, if one of the displayed names is specified, switches the map image to be displayed to a map image in the vicinity of the specified name. At this time, the map image display device selects as the name to be superimposed on the map image at least one distant map name that is not included in the map image to be displayed, and displays that selected distant map name superimposed in the map image peripheral part corresponding to the bearing from the center of the map image to be displayed.

Abstract: In information presentation controlling apparatus and method, a detecting section detects a running state of a mobile body and a running environment thereof, a mental fatigue calculating section calculates a mental fatigue that an operator of the mobile body (specifically, a vehicle driver) suffers due to an operation of the mobile body (an automotive vehicle) from a result of detection by the detecting section, a producing section produces the information to the operator of the mobile body, and an information presentation controlling section controls the information to be produced to the operator of the mobile body through the producing section in accordance with the mental fatigue calculated by the mental fatigue calculating section.

Abstract: A navigation device, installed on a vehicle to enable information to be provided to an occupant of the vehicle, includes a display section providing a display of an image to the occupant of the vehicle, a speech recognition section executing speech recognition processing for a voice input relating to a speech recognition object word that forms a word to be an objective for speech recognition, and an information providing processor section compelling a predetermined image to be displayed on the display section depending on a recognized content resulting through the speech recognition processing in the presence of recognition of the speech recognition object word resulting through the speech recognition processing.

Abstract: A CPU of a navigation device includes a clock unit, a continuous driving time measurement unit that measures continuous driving time from a traveling start time, a course stage prediction unit, and a presenting information controller. The course stage prediction unit selects based on the traveling start time, a first transition determination reference time for transition from a “first stage” to a “middle stage” from prepared data of the first transition determination reference time and a second transition determination reference time for transition from the “middle stage” to a “last stage” from prepared data of the second transition determination reference time. The course stage prediction unit then predicts a course stage by comparing the continuous driving time with the selected transition determination reference times. Depending on the predicted course stage, the presenting information controller presents information convenient for a driver in the predicted course stage.

Abstract: A navigation device includes a guide point selecting section selecting a guide point related to direction guide information among branch points on a travel path where a vehicle travels; a direction guide information generating section generating the direction guide information of the selected guide point; an output controlling section controlling output of the generated direction guide information; and an output section presenting the direction guide information. The direction guide information generating section generates the direction guide information in which the guide point is associated with display of the place name of the branch destination at the guide point.

Abstract: A map image display apparatus for displaying a map image with at least one name for entering a command to change the map image, and switching the displayed map image, when accepting the command with the name designated, to a map image in a vicinity of the designated name. The apparatus includes a defined region storage device which stores information of a name-defined region indicated by the name, a center position thereof, and a display scale enabling displaying substantially the whole name-defined region within one screen; and a display target determination device which determines a map image to be displayed at the display scale with the center position of the name-defined region taken as a display center, referring to the stored information.

Abstract: A navigation device, installed on a vehicle to enable information to be provided to an occupant of the vehicle, includes a display section providing a display of an image to the occupant of the vehicle, a speech recognition section executing speech recognition processing for a voice input relating to a speech recognition object word that forms a word to be an objective for speech recognition, and an information providing processor section compelling a predetermined image to be displayed on the display section depending on a recognized content resulting through the speech recognition processing in the presence of recognition of the speech recognition object word resulting through the speech recognition processing.

Abstract: A map image display device is configured and arranged to improve operability by enabling a map image of a location distant from a currently displayed map image to be appropriately displayed with a simple operation. The map image display device displays names that are subject to a user's input command superimposed on a map image, and, if one of the displayed names is specified, switches the map image to be displayed to a map image in the vicinity of the specified name. At this time, the map image display device selects as the name to be superimposed on the map image at least one distant map name that is not included in the map image to be displayed, and displays that selected distant map name superimposed in the map image peripheral part corresponding to the bearing from the center of the map image to be displayed.

Abstract: In apparatus and method for delivering road map data, a plurality of road map data are stored in a road map data storage unit, one of the road map data which corresponds to the road map data requested to be delivered from the road map storage unit is retrieved and delivered in response to a request to deliver the road map data to a movable body issued from the same movable body, a delivery history of each road map data is stored, and a charging process for the delivery of the road map data is carried out in such a way as to refer to the delivery history of the road map data stored and to charge an amount of money discounted from a predetermined amount of money at a rate of discount varied in accordance with a degree of an overlap in a case where the road map data presently delivered to the road map data delivery requested movable body includes a portion on which the road map data delivered to the same movable body in the past is overlapped.

Abstract: A navigation system 2 includes a map-gain timing judging part 15 to calculate a traveling speed the position of a vehicle detected by a GPS unit 13. A moving distance of the vehicle during the renewal of map is calculated by the traveling speed and a renewal time necessary for gaining the map information from the server 11 of a map information delivery apparatus 1. The system 2 further calculates a traveling direction of the vehicle by the position of the vehicle and also calculates a road distance from the present position of the vehicle to the margin of a map on display. When the road distance agrees with moving distance, it is started to gain a new map information from the server. Thus, when the vehicle reaches the margin of the map on display, the renewal of the map information is completed.

Abstract: In information presentation controlling apparatus and method, a detecting section detects a running state of a mobile body and a running environment thereof, a mental fatigue calculating section calculates a mental fatigue that an operator of the mobile body (specifically, a vehicle driver) suffers due to an operation of the mobile body (an automotive vehicle) from a result of detection by the detecting section, a producing section produces the information to the operator of the mobile body, and an information presentation controlling section controls the information to be produced to the operator of the mobile body through the producing section in accordance with the mental fatigue calculated by the mental fatigue calculating section.

Abstract: A navigation system 2 includes a map-gain timing judging part 15 to calculate a traveling speed the position of a vehicle detected by a GPS unit 13. A moving distance of the vehicle during the renewal of map is calculated by the traveling speed and a renewal time necessary for gaining the map information from the server 11 of a map information delivery apparatus 1. The system 2 further calculates a traveling direction of the vehicle by the position of the vehicle and also calculates a road distance from the present position of the vehicle to the margin of a map on display. When the road distance agrees with moving distance, it is started to gain a new map information from the server. Thus, when the vehicle reaches the margin of the map on display, the renewal of the map information is completed.

Abstract: In apparatus and method for delivering road map data, a plurality of road map data are stored in a road map data storage unit, one of the road map data which corresponds to the road map data requested to be delivered from the road map storage unit is retrieved and delivered in response to a request to deliver the road map data to a movable body issued from the same movable body, a delivery history of each road map data is stored, and a charging process for the delivery of the road map data is carried out in such a way as to refer to the delivery history of the road map data stored and to charge an amount of money discounted from a predetermined amount of money at a rate of discount varied in accordance with a degree of an overlap in a case where the road map data presently delivered to the road map data delivery requested movable body includes a portion on which the road map data delivered to the same movable body in the past is overlapped.

Abstract: Past program-selection history is stored as databases in a storage unit. When selecting a new program, a program that will be requested most at this moment by the user is predicted based on the databases stored in the storage unit, program information acquired by a program information acquisition unit, and current time information and current location information acquired by a time/location information acquisition unit, and the prediction result is used as a program selection index.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically arranging a program plan are disclosed as including a program plan arrangement section, which determines pertinent broadcasting stations, from which broadcasting radio waves are received, at respective locations on a selected route connected to the destination, on the basis of program tables of various broadcasting stations on the selected route, programs covering user's favorite genre and the current time at which the program plan is arranged, and arranges the relevant program plan. Based on such a program plan, an output changeover unit automatically changes over the broadcasting radio waves to be received by a receiver unit, in dependence on moving object's locations on the selected route, to allow the selected broadcasting programs to be outputted.

Abstract: An audio system and a method providing music, matched to driver's favorite, to the vehicle driver. Music related information is inputted into an information storage section, and favorite information with respect music is detected by a favorite information detecting section. The detected favorite information is analyzed by a favorite analysis section, and analyzed resultant data is stored in the information storage section. A music title, which is matched to the driver's favorite, is selected on the basis of the analyzed resultant data by a music selecting section, and is provided to the vehicle driver through a music providing section.

Abstract: An information system of a vehicle has a controller which is arranged to decide a danger point on a traveling road according to a traveling circumstance of the vehicle and to store the danger point for the next travel. The information system informs a driver that the vehicle approaches the danger point stored. Therefore, the information system can provide optimum information according to driver's driving skill to the driver.