Abstract: An information sharing system (1) including a plurality of on-vehicle diagnosis terminals (10) and one or a plurality of display terminals (20) and sharing diagnostic information over wireless communication. The terminals (10, 20) include a first determination unit S7, S8 and a second determination unit S34, S35 configured to determine whether or not predetermined times T1, T2 have passed from stored clock times C1, C2 at which data sets DS are acquired from the any of the other terminals (10, 20). When the predetermined times have passed, new data sets DS are acquired and the storing into an other-vehicle data storing unit 15B and a data storing unit 25A is performed. When the predetermined times have not passed, new wireless communication is established with communication units (13, 23) of the terminals (10, 20) capable of establishing wireless communication.

Abstract: A method for establishing a communication between a first communication device in a first vehicle and a second communication device in a second vehicle, the method including the steps of, determining whether a mobile phone service is available, obtaining, a current position information of the first vehicle, setting, by the first communication device, a communication mode of the first communication device into an access point mode, transmitting, by the first communication device, ID information and the current position information of the first vehicle, recoding, by the second communication device, the ID information and the position information of the first vehicle, transmitting, by the second communication device, the ID information of the first vehicle and position information of the second vehicle via a mobile phone to a service authority, when the second communication device fails to receive the position information of the first vehicle.

Abstract: A method for providing a preferred selection from menu using a customer profile, historical transaction data and environmental information is described. The method include capturing a facial image of a customer using a camera, extracting features from the facial image using a face recognition algorism running on a CPU, obtaining current environmental information from a website via computer network using a control algorism running on the CPU, storing transaction data associated with the customer in the database using a POS (Point of Sales) system, calculating a probability distribution of the preferred selection based on conditions including the customer profile, the environment information and transaction data stored in the database using the control algorism running on the CPU, and presenting the preferred selection to the customer in descending order from a largest value of probability to a lowest probability of the calculated probability distribution.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improved vehicle navigation using mobile communication device (e.g., phone) technology as a means for transmitting vehicle route data that has been updated as a result of changed or changing traffic conditions. A mobile communication device is connected between a vehicle and a remote server. Traffic information from both broadcast and mobile network sources is analyzed by the server, a difference(s) therebetween is detected, and the difference(s) is compared to a predetermined difference value. If the detected difference exceeds the predetermined difference value, difference information is extracted and used to produce updated route data, which is then transmitted via the mobile communication device to the vehicle. The transmission of updated route data is limited to only situations where there is a sufficient change in traffic conditions, and the data transmitted is preferably limited to only difference data so as to avoid exceeding mobile communication device plan limits.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improved vehicle navigation using mobile communication device (e.g., phone) technology as a means for transmitting vehicle route data that has been updated as a result of changed or changing traffic conditions. A mobile communication device is connected between a vehicle and a remote server. Traffic information from both broadcast and mobile network sources is analyzed by the server, a difference(s) therebetween is detected, and the difference(s) is compared to a predetermined difference value. If the detected difference exceeds the predetermined difference value, difference information is extracted and used to produce updated route data, which is then transmitted via the mobile communication device to the vehicle. The transmission of updated route data is limited to only situations where there is a sufficient change in traffic conditions, and the data transmitted is preferably limited to only difference data so as to avoid exceeding mobile communication device plan limits.

Abstract: A vehicle route guidance system is provided that may dynamically determine one or more possible destinations within a predetermined distance of a current location of a vehicle having the vehicle route guidance system. The vehicle route guidance system may determine respective routes to the one or more possible destinations and may access price information with respect to the one or more possible destinations. For each of the one or more possible destinations, the vehicle route guidance system may estimate a cost of fuel to be consumed by the vehicle to reach respective ones of the one or more possible destination based on received traffic information, a respective route, and vehicle fuel consumption information. The vehicle route guidance system may provide information for guiding the vehicle to one of the one or more possible destinations having a lowest total overall cost.

Abstract: A method of receiving information for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The method includes retrieving stored traffic information from a database and determining a communication period for receiving current traffic information from a service provider based on the stored traffic information. The method also includes receiving current traffic information simultaneously with other non-traffic information when the non-traffic information is being requested in order to limit the number of instances of communication with the service provider.

Abstract: A communicating device may determine a lack of wireless network coverage. The communicating device may repeatedly send a message via a narrow-band communication medium. One or more other communicating devices may receive the message via the narrow-band communication medium. Later, when a communicating device that received the message has the wireless network coverage, the message may be transmitted to an originally intended recipient via the wireless network. The intended recipient may send a reply message to one or more communicating devices via the wireless network. When a communicating device that received the reply message no longer has the wireless network coverage, the communicating device may send the reply message via the narrow-band communication medium to one or more other communicating devices. The communicating device, that originally sent the message, may receive the reply message and may present information from the reply message to a user.

Abstract: Methods, computing devices and systems may be provided for verifying and effectiveness of electronic coupons or electronic advertisements. A computing device, which may have navigation functions, may be located within a vehicle. The computing device may receive an electronic coupon or an electronic advertisement, which may be presented to a user via a display and may be sent to a nearby mobile device via a narrowband transmission. The computing device may determine whether a current location is proximate to a business associated with the presented electronic coupon or the electronic advertisement. The computing device may indicate to other computing devices within a system whether one or more separate or combined conditions are met with respect to the presented electronic coupon or the electronic advertisement. If the one or more conditions have been met, then a communication may be transmitted to a remote computing device executing an advertisement application.

Abstract: A communicating device may determine a lack of wireless network coverage. The communicating device may repeatedly send a message via a narrow-band communication medium. One or more other communicating devices may receive the message via the narrow-band communication medium. Later, when a communicating device that received the message has the wireless network coverage, the message may be transmitted to an originally intended recipient via the wireless network. The intended recipient may send a reply message to one or more communicating devices via the wireless network. When a communicating device that received the reply message no longer has the wireless network coverage, the communicating device may send the reply message via the narrow-band communication medium to one or more other communicating devices. The communicating device, that originally sent the message, may receive the reply message and may present information from the reply message to a user.

Abstract: A vehicle route guidance system is provided that may be dynamically determine one or more possible destinations within a predetermined distance of a current location of a vehicle having the vehicle route guidance system. The vehicle route guidance system may determine respective routes to the one or more possible destinations and may access price information with respect to the one or more possible destinations. For each of the one or more possible destinations, the vehicle route guidance system may estimate a cost of fuel to be consumed by the vehicle to reach respective ones of the one or more possible destination based on received traffic information, a respective route, and vehicle fuel consumption information. The vehicle route guidance system may provide information for guiding the vehicle to one of the one or more possible destinations having a lowest total overall cost.

Abstract: A method of receiving information for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The method includes retrieving stored traffic information from a database and determining a communication period for receiving current traffic information from a service provider based on the stored traffic information. The method also includes receiving current traffic information simultaneously with other non-traffic information when the non-traffic information is being requested in order to limit the number of instances of communication with the service provider.

Abstract: An operating device for controlling a display screen, which includes a rotatable operating member of cylindrical shape, and a slidable operating member having a cylindrical tip portion located above an upper end of the rotatable operating member. The diameter of an upper surface of the slidable operating member cylindrical tip portion is reduced relative to a diameter of a lower surface of the cylindrical tip portion, and the diameter of the lower surface of the slidable operating member cylindrical tip portion is equal to or less than a diameter of an upper surface of the rotatable operating member. An operating device is provided which prevents a misoperation in slide operation and rotation operation and improves operability.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation system is composed of first and second recording devices, first and second execution modules, and an install module. The first and second recording devices respectively store therein first and second computer programs used for vehicle navigation. The first and second execution modules respectively execute the first and second computer programs. The install module transfers data stored in the second recording device, including the second computer program, to the first recording device. The install module is allowed to operate during operation of the second execution module, while the first execution module is prohibited from operating during operation of the second execution module. The second execution module executes the second computer program by using transferred data which are transferred from the second recording device to the first recording device.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation system is composed of first and second recording devices, first and second execution module, and an install module. The first and second recording devices respectively stores therein first and second computer programs used for vehicle navigation. The first and second execution module respectively executes the first and second computer programs. The install module transfers data stored in the second recording device, including the second computer program, to the first recording device. The install module is allowed to operate during operation of the second execution module, while the first execution module is prohibited from operating during operation of the second execution module.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation system includes a hard disk drive, which stores an old navigation software set; an optical disk drive which is accessible to an optical disk which stores a new navigation software set; a first executing section which drives the hard disk drive; and a second executing section which drives the optical disk drive. An install section responds to a navigation instruction to control the first executing section to drive the hard disk drive such that a vehicle navigation is carried out based on the old navigation software set, when the optical disk is not available. Also, the install section controls the second executing section to drive the optical disk drive such that the vehicle navigation is carried out based on the new navigation software set and the first and second executing sections to drive the hard disk drive and the optical disk drive such that the new navigation software set is installed from the optical disk into the hard disk drive, when the optical disk is available.

Abstract: An operating device for controlling a display screen, which includes a rotatable operating member of cylindrical shape, and a slidable operating member having a cylindrical tip portion located above an upper end of the rotatable operating member. The diameter of an upper surface of the slidable operating member cylindrical tip portion is reduced relative to a diameter of a lower surface of the cylindrical tip portion, and the diameter of the lower surface of the slidable operating member cylindrical tip portion is equal to or less than a diameter of an upper surface of the rotatable operating member. An operating device is provided which prevents a misoperation in slide operation and rotation operation and improves operability.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation system is composed of first and second recording devices, first and second execution module, and an install module. The first and second recording devices respectively stores therein first and second computer programs used for vehicle navigation. The first and second execution module respectively executes the first and second computer programs. The install module transfers data stored in the second recording device, including the second computer program, to the first recording device. The install module is allowed to operate during operation of the second execution module, while the first execution module is prohibited from operating during operation of the second execution module.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation system includes a hard disk drive, which stores an old navigation software set; an optical disk drive which is accessible to an optical disk which stores a new navigation software set; a first executing section which drives the hard disk drive; and a second executing section which drives the optical disk drive. An install section responds to a navigation instruction to control the first executing section to drive the hard disk drive such that a vehicle navigation is carried out based on the old navigation software set, when the optical disk is not available. Also, the install section controls the second executing section to drive the optical disk drive such that the vehicle navigation is carried out based on the new navigation software set and the first and second executing sections to drive the hard disk drive and the optical disk drive such that the new navigation software set is installed from the optical disk into the hard disk drive, when the optical disk is available.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation system is composed of first and second recording devices, first and second execution modules, and an install module. The first and second recording devices respectively store therein first and second computer programs used for vehicle navigation. The first and second execution modules respectively execute the first and second computer programs. The install module transfers data stored in the second recording device, including the second computer program, to the first recording device. The install module is allowed to operate during operation of the second execution module, while the first execution module is prohibited from operating during operation of the second execution module. The second execution module executes the second computer program by using transferred data which are transferred from the second recording device to the first recording device.