Abstract: A system which automatically makes a travel plan by using on-vehicle or portable terminal. The system can prepare a travel plan in which the concrete destination and route are specified when rough positional and temporal conditions are inputted. The objective area and schedule inputted through the terminal are transmitted to an information center. At the information center, a basic frame of the travel meeting the received conditions is prepared. For a day trip, an example of the basic frame is “departure-walk-lunch-amusement park-night view-return”. After the basic frame is prepared, concrete facilities meeting the actions are specified by making access to a data base. The specified facilities are inputted to the basic frame, and thus a concrete plan is completed. The completed plan is supplied to the terminal and displayed on a display to the persons who want to travel. The completed plan is further supplied to a navigation system and the system guides the persons in accordance with the plan.

Abstract: A portable electronic information device with superb portability and/or amusement value is provided. This device A is a portable electronic information device A having an external housing 1 that can be equipped in a car, and the device A is provided with expression means 7, 8 and 9 for performing actions that can be sensed by the user of the vehicle, in accordance with vehicle status information of the vehicle or output signals from sensors 4 or 5 equipped inside external housing 1, and thus delivers superb amusement value. This device also functions as a vehicle key, providing high portability, and enabling information to be shared with a home computer, thus providing a high level of convenience.

Abstract: An in-vehicle device, a vehicle, and a vehicle information processing method, which are used, for example, to assist in driving an automobile and can properly communicate a vehicle situation to a driver. Methods and mechanisms express user's handling of the vehicle by virtual feelings on the assumption that the vehicle has a personality, and displays the virtual feelings by facial expressions of a predetermined character.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an in-vehicle device, a vehicle, and a vehicle information processing method, which are used, for example, for assisting in driving an automobile and can properly communicate a vehicle situation to a driver. The invention expresses user's handling of the vehicle by virtual feelings on the assumption that the vehicle has a personality, and displays the virtual feelings by facial expressions of a predetermined character.

Abstract: A portable electronic information device with superb portability and/or amusement value is provided. This device A is a portable electronic information device A having an external housing 1 that can be equipped in a car, and the device A is provided with expression means 7, 8 and 9 for performing actions that can be sensed by the user of the vehicle, in accordance with vehicle status information of the vehicle or output signals from sensors 4 or 5 equipped inside external housing 1, and thus delivers superb amusement value. This device also functions as a vehicle key, providing high portability, and enabling information to be shared with a home computer, thus providing a high level of convenience.

Abstract: A radio station tuning system enables a radio receiver installed in a vehicle to be automatically tuned to a radio station offering a desired program. In the system, a controller receives data recognized by a speech recognizing unit and a current position of the vehicle detected by a navigation unit, provides the data to a communication unit, turns a radio receiver on or off, and tunes the radio receiver to a desired radio station. The communication unit sends data to a base station data via a vehicle telephone line. Receiving the data, the base station has access to its data base storing program data (e.g. broadcasting time, frequencies and so on), retrieves desired data, and transmits them to the vehicle. The controller automatically tunes the radio receiver to the desired radio station on the basis of the received data.

Abstract: A vehicle data processing system is provided which, even if an on-vehicle data processor such as a navigation system or the like is not active, can input the necessary data into the system at an operator's home or the like. A vehicle includes a data processor and an input unit is independently located in the operator's home or other place. Data of destination and the like inputted into the input unit are transmitted to an information center wherein they are stored in a storage unit. When a sensor in the information center senses that the data processor on the vehicle has become active, the input data are transmitted from the input unit to the data processor.

Abstract: A vehicle data processing system is provided which, even if an on-vehicle data processor such as a navigation system or the like is not active, can input the necessary data into the system at an operator's home or the like. A vehicle includes a data processor and an input unit is independently located in the operator's home or other place. Data of destination and the like inputted into the input unit are transmitted to an information center wherein they are stored in a storage unit. When a sensor in the information center senses that the data processor on the vehicle has become active, the input data are transmitted from the input unit to the data processor.