초록 ▼

A generation section for root guide information 25 retrieves a plurality of information elements from an information data storage section 23 and creates root guide information. Then, a generation part for guide information data blocks 26 reorganizes the root information into a plurality of guide inf

A generation section for root guide information 25 retrieves a plurality of information elements from an information data storage section 23 and creates root guide information. Then, a generation part for guide information data blocks 26 reorganizes the root information into a plurality of guide information data blocks including at least one information element from the root guide information. The guide information data blocks generated through reorganizing are sequentially transmitted from a radio communication unit 27 to an in-vehicle device 30. When it becomes impossible to execute route guidance using one type of guide information because of a breakdown in communication or the like, route guidance can still be executed by using guide information already received.

대표청구항 ▼

A generation section for root guide information 25 retrieves a plurality of information elements from an information data storage section 23 and creates root guide information. Then, a generation part for guide information data blocks 26 reorganizes the root information into a plurality of guide inf

A generation section for root guide information 25 retrieves a plurality of information elements from an information data storage section 23 and creates root guide information. Then, a generation part for guide information data blocks 26 reorganizes the root information into a plurality of guide information data blocks including at least one information element from the root guide information. The guide information data blocks generated through reorganizing are sequentially transmitted from a radio communication unit 27 to an in-vehicle device 30. When it becomes impossible to execute route guidance using one type of guide information because of a breakdown in communication or the like, route guidance can still be executed by using guide information already received. y an air/fuel ratio; and ii) dividing the results from step i) by a density of fuel to determine an amount of fuel consumed. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the analyzing further comprises processing the amount of fuel consumed to determine fuel efficiency. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the analyzing further comprises dividing the amount of fuel consumed by the distance traveled to determine fuel efficiency. 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter-related data also describes at least one of load, load multiplied by engine speed, load multiplied by a time interval, or load multiplied by engine speed multiplied by a time interval. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the load, load multiplied by engine speed, or a product thereof is summed to generate an integrated value. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the analyzing further comprises processing the integrated value to determine an amount of fuel consumed. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the analyzing further comprises multiplying the integrated value by a constant value to determine an integrated synthetic mass air flow. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the analyzing further comprises: i) dividing the integrated synthetic mass air flow by an air/fuel ratio; and ii) dividing the results from step i) by a density of fuel to determine an amount of fuel consumed. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the analyzing further comprises processing the amount of fuel consumed to determine fuel efficiency. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the analyzing further comprises dividing the amount of fuel consumed by a distance traveled to determine fuel efficiency. 23. The method of claim 1, wherein the analysis further comprises processing the vehicle's fuel efficiency to determine a secondary property of the vehicle. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the secondary property of the vehicle is one of tire pressure, status of a fuel-injection system, or fuel quality. 25. The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing the vehicle's fuel efficiency to a pre-determined parameter. 26. The method of claim 25, further comprising sending the vehicle's fuel efficiency or a property derived from the fuel efficiency to a user. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the sending comprises sending an electronic text, data, or voice message to a computer, cellular telephone, or wireless device. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the electronic text, data, or voice message describes the vehicle's fuel efficiency. 29. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the data or a property calculated therefrom on a web site. 30. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying fuel efficiency on a web site. 31. The method of claim 1, wherein the transferring involves serially transferring the data through an OBD-II connector or equivalent thereof in the vehicle to the wireless appliance. 32. A method for characterizing a vehicle's tire pressure comprising: generating parameter-related data from the vehicle that describes at least one of a plurality of vehicle parameters including: vehicle speed, fuel level, engine speed, load, mass air flow, manifold air pressure, odometer reading; transferring the parameter-related data to a wireless appliance comprising a wireless transmitter; transmitting the parameter-related data with the wireless transmitter over an airlink to a host computer system; analyzing the transmitted parameter-related data with the host computer system to calculate the vehicle's fuel efficiency, the analyzing comprising determining an amount of fuel consumed by the vehicle during an interval, determining a distance traveled by the vehicle during the interval, and calculating the vehicle's fuel efficiency by processing both the fuel consumed and the distance traveled during the interval; and processing the vehicle's fuel efficiency to estimate a tire pressure value. 33. A method for characterizing a vehicle's fuel-injection system comprisin g: generating parameter-related data from the vehicle that describes at least one of a plurality of vehicle parameters including: vehicle speed, fuel level, engine speed, load, mass air flow, manifold air pressure, odometer reading; transferring the parameter-related data to a wireless appliance comprising a wireless transmitter; transmitting the parameter-related data with the wireless transmitter over an airlink to a host computer system; analyzing the transmitted parameter-related data with the host computer system to calculate the vehicle's fuel efficiency, the analyzing comprising determining an amount of fuel consumed by the vehicle during an interval, determining a distance traveled by the vehicle during the interval, and calculating the vehicle's fuel efficiency by processing both the fuel consumed and the distance traveled during the interval; and processing the vehicle's fuel efficiency to characterize the vehicle's fuel-injection system. 34. A method for characterizing an amount of fuel consumed by a vehicle comprising: generating parameter-related data from the vehicle that describes at least one of a plurality of vehicle parameters including: engine speed, load, mass air flow; transferring the parameter-related data to a wireless appliance comprising: i) a microprocessor, and ii) a wireless transmitter in electrical contact with the microprocessor; integrating the parameter-related data over time with the microprocessor to generate integrated data; transmitting the integrated data with the wireless transmitter over an airlink to a host computer system; and analyzing the transmitted integrated data with the host computer system to determine the amount of fuel consumed by a vehicle. 35. A method for characterizing a vehicle's fuel efficiency comprising: generating data from the vehicle; transferring the data to a wireless appliance comprising a wireless transmitter; transmitting a data packet comprising the data with the wireless transmitter over an airlink to a host computer system; and analyzing the transmitted data with the host computer system to determine the vehicle's fuel efficiency, the analyzing comprising determining an amount of fuel consumed by the vehicle during an interval, determining a distance traveled by the vehicle during the interval, and calculating the vehicle's fuel efficiency from the fuel consumed and the distance traveled during the interval. 36. A method for characterizing the amount of fuel consumed by a vehicle comprising: generating data from the vehicle; transferring the data to a wireless appliance comprising: i) a microprocessor, and ii) a wireless transmitter in electrical contact with the microprocessor; integrating the data over time with the microprocessor to generate integrated data; transmitting the integrated data with the wireless transmitter over an airlink to a host computer system; and analyzing the transmitted integrated data with the host computer system to determine the amount of fuel consumed by the vehicle. 37. A method for characterizing an amount of fuel consumed by a vehicle comprising: generating data from the vehicle that describes a vehicle's fuel level; transferring the data to a wireless appliance comprising a wireless transmitter; transmitting the transferred data with the wireless transmitter over an airlink to a host computer system; and analyzing the transmitted data with the host computer system to determine the amount of fuel consumed by a vehicle. 38. A method for characterizing a vehicle's fuel efficiency comprising: generating data from the vehicle that describes a vehicle's fuel efficiency; transferring the data to a wireless appliance comprising a wireless transmitter; transmitting the transferred data with the wireless transmitter over an airlink to a host computer system; and analyzing the transmitted data with the host computer system to determine the vehicle's fuel efficiency. 1. An apparatus for providing route guidance information to a communication terminal, said apparatus comprising: means for extracting and reading out, from an information data storage unit, a plurality of information elements for use in route guidance, each of said information elements having an information class specified for classifying said elements; means for correlating each of said information classes to a guide level used as an indicator for sending said route guidance information; means for generating guide information data blocks using said plurality of information elements that were read out, each of said blocks including information elements correlated to one guide level; and communication means for transmitting, in a sequence according to said guide levels, said guide information data blocks as route guidance information. 2. An apparatus for providing route guidance information according to claim 1, wherein said means for generating guide information data blocks creates a block of guide information including information elements for visual guidance and a block of guide information including information elements for voice guidance, and said communication means transmits said block of guide information including information elements for voice guidance prior to transmitting said block of guide information including information elements for visual guidance. 3. An apparatus for providing route guidance information according to claim 1, wherein said information elements are classified by category, and said means for generating guide information data blocks creates a plurality of guide information data blocks such that each block consists of information elements of a same category. 4. An apparatus for providing route guidance information according to claim 1, wherein said means for generating guide information data blocks creates a plurality of guide information data blocks of different sizes, and said communication means assigns a higher transmission priority to the smaller size guide information data blocks. 5. An apparatus for providing route guidance information according to claim 1, wherein said means for generating guide information data blocks creates said guide information data blocks based on a history of deviation from the route directed by the route guidance information transmitted to the communication terminal. 6. An apparatus for providing route guidance information according to claim 1, wherein said means for generating guide information data blocks creates the guide information data blocks on the basis of communication conditions at said communication means. 7. An apparatus for providing route guidance information according to claim 1, wherein said means for generating guide information data blocks creates the guide information data blocks on the basis of a utilization history in said communication means. 8. An apparatus for providing route guidance information according to claim 1, wherein said means for generating guide information data blocks estimates the amount of time a vehicle will remain in a communication area and creates the guide information data blocks on the basis of the estimated amount of time. 9. An apparatus for providing route guidance information according to claim 1, wherein said means for generating guide information data blocks creates a plurality of guide information data blocks such that the information elements comprising each block contain the same information in different data formats. 10. An apparatus for providing route guidance information according to claim 1, wherein the means for generating includes a transmission terminal that is capable of controlling creation of the guide information data blocks in said means for generating at least one of guide information data blocks and a transmission sequence of the guide information data blocks. 11. An apparatus for providing route guidance information to a communication terminal, said apparatus comprising: a means for generating route guidance information which selects an information element type and creates route guidance information including information elements of the selected type, and a communication means for transmitting said route guidance information to a communication terminal, wherein said means for generating route guidance information selects an information element type based on a travel speed of the communication terminal. 12. An apparatus for providing route guidance information to a communication terminal, said apparatus comprising: a means for generating route guidance information which selects an information element type and creates route guidance information including information elements of the selected type, and a communication means for transmitting said route guidance information to a communication terminal, wherein said means for generating route guidance information selects an information element type based on a history of deviation from the route directed by the route guidance information transmitted to the communication terminal. 13. An apparatus for providing route guidance information to a communication terminal, said apparatus comprising: a means for generating route guidance information which selects an information element type and creates route guidance information including information elements of the selected type, and a communication means for transmitting said route guidance information to a communication terminal, wherein said means for generating route guidance information selects an information element type based on a storage capacity within the communication terminal. 14. An apparatus for providing route guidance information to a communication terminal, said apparatus comprising: a means for generating route guidance information which selects an information element type and creates route guidance information including information elements of the selected type, and a communication means for transmitting said route guidance information to a communication terminal, wherein said means for generating route guidance information detects the occurrence of telephone communication in said communication means and selects an information element type according to the detected occurrence. 15. An apparatus for providing route guidance information to a communication terminal, said apparatus comprising: a means for generating route guidance information which selects an information element type and creates route guidance information including information elements of the selected type, and a communication means for transmitting said route guidance information to a communication terminal, wherein said means for generating route guidance information selects an information type on the basis of a utilization history in said communication means. 16. An apparatus for providing route guidance information to a communication terminal, said apparatus comprising: a means for generating route guidance information which selects an information element type and creates route guidance information including information elements of the selected type, and a communication means for transmitting said route guidance information to a communication terminal, wherein said means for generating route guidance information estimates the amount of time a vehicle will remain in a communication area and selects an information element type on the basis of the estimated time. 17. An apparatus for providing route guidance information to a communication terminal, said apparatus comprising: a means for generating route guidance information which selects an information element type and creates route guidance information including information elements of the selected type, and a communication means for transmitting said route guidance information to a communication terminal, wherein said means for generating route guidance information selects an information element type according to an input limit for tran