Abstract: A communication assistance apparatus assists the communication between a mobile terminal and an in-vehicle apparatus connected to various units of a vehicle, and includes a proximity wireless interface and a retaining portion. The proximity wireless interface is connected to the in-vehicle apparatus in order to receive, by proximity high-speed wireless communication, data from the mobile terminal and transmit, by proximity high-speed wireless communication, data from the in-vehicle apparatus to the mobile terminal. The retaining portion is disposed in a vehicle compartment of the vehicle to retain the mobile terminal so as to establish proximity high-speed wireless communication between the proximity wireless interface and the mobile terminal.

Abstract: A volume control device for controlling a volume of an audio system includes a volume control unit and a volume resetting control unit. The volume control unit executes a volume control when a reception of an incoming call by a telephone is detected while an audio device of the audio system is in use. Here, the volume control unit changes the volume of the audio device from a present level to a first level that is lower than the present level. The volume resetting control unit executes a volume resetting control when an end of a call by the telephone is detected. Here, the volume resetting control unit changes the volume from the first level to a second level if the present level exceeds a reference value.

Abstract: A navigation device stores road data that includes positions of toll roads where payback of a part of a toll is provided based on a used distance of each of the toll roads. The navigation device computes a traveled distance of the relevant toll road to thereby compute the used distance of the toll road based on the computed traveled distance. Thus, the used distance of a toll road can be accurately computed, even when a vehicle travels a loop line within the toll road by multiple circles. Information that relates to the payback and includes the used distance of the toll road is then transmitted to a center to thereby receive a partial payback of the toll.

Abstract: A navigation device stores road data that includes positions of toll roads where payback of a part of a toll is provided based on a used distance of each of the toll roads. The navigation device computes a traveled distance of the relevant toll road to thereby compute the used distance of the toll road based on the computed traveled distance. Thus, the used distance of a toll road can be accurately computed, even when a vehicle travels a loop line within the toll road by multiple circles. Information that relates to the payback and includes the used distance of the toll road is then transmitted to a center to thereby receive a partial payback of the toll.

Abstract: A stolen-vehicle monitoring system monitors a present position of a stolen-vehicle via radio communication between a monitor station and a vehicle-mounted device. When the vehicle-mounted device detects a vehicle theft, it automatically interrupts on-going communication between a car phone of the stolen-vehicle and an external phone if the car phone is being used for other than the monitor station and for low priority processing, and then dials to the monitor station to transmit present position information of the stolen-vehicle. When the monitor station calls the vehicle-mounted device, it interrupts on-going communication of the car phone and switches the communication to the monitor station to transmit the present position information to the monitor station.

Abstract: A stolen-vehicle monitoring system monitors a present position of a stolen-vehicle via radio communication between a monitor station and a vehicle-mounted device. When the vehicle-mounted device detects a vehicle theft, it automatically interrupts on-going communication between a car phone of the stolen-vehicle and an external phone if the car phone is being used for other than the monitor station and for low priority processing, and then dials to the monitor station to transmit present position information of the stolen-vehicle. When the monitor station calls the vehicle-mounted device, it interrupts on-going communication of the car phone and switches the communication to the monitor station to transmit the present position information to the monitor station.

Abstract: An automatic toll charging system communicates by radio between roadside units disposed on each gate of a toll road and a vehicle-mounted unit mounted in a vehicle, and automatically charges a toll in a range from an entrance gate to an exit gate. In this system, an IC card is inserted in the vehicle-mounted unit , and payment information recorded in the IC card and entrance information received from a roadside unit, disposed at the entrance gate are recorded in the information recording part of the vehicle-mounted unit. In addition, the entrance information recorded in the information recording part is transmitted to the roadside unit disposed at the exit gate, and a toll payment process is executed. The entrance information is recorded in the IC card as a backup so the toll payment process can be executed even if a function of the vehicle-mounted unit is performed improperly.