Navigation system, and information server apparatus and communication terminal apparatus for the same, and method and program for changing a movable body in the same

An information server apparatus included in a navigation system comprising a fixedly installed information server apparatus and communication terminal apparatuses mounted one by one on a plurality of movable bodies for communicating with the information server apparatus via a mobile communication network, the system changing the movable bodies performing navigation by switching a connection between each of the communication terminal apparatuses and the information server apparatus, wherein the information server apparatus comprises;

• a receiving device for receiving information notifying at least either a start or a stop of any one of the plurality of communication terminal apparatuses;
• a connection controlling device for, based on the received information, performing at least any one of:
• connecting, as the communication terminal apparatus mounted on the movable body to be a subject of the navigation, any one of the communication terminal apparatuses to the information server apparatus;
• and disconnecting the communication terminal apparatus from the information server apparatus;
• and
• when one connection between one communication terminal apparatus and the information server apparatus is switched to another connection between another communication terminal apparatus and the information server apparatus, data, which is inherited from the one communication terminal apparatus and the information server apparatus in the one connection, is continuously used during the switched another connection.

A method of changing a movable body in a navigation system comprising a fixedly installed information server apparatus and communication terminal apparatuses mounted one by one on a plurality of movable bodies for communicating with the information server apparatus via a mobile communication network, the system changing the movable bodies performing navigation by switching a connection between each of the communication terminal apparatuses and the information server apparatus, wherein the method includes:

• a notification process of notifying the information server apparatus of information on either a start or stop of any one of the plurality of communication terminal apparatuses;
• a connection process of performing at least any one of:
• connecting, as the communication terminal apparatus mounted on the movable body to be a subject of the navigation, any one of the communication terminal apparatuses to the information server apparatus;
• and disconnecting the communication terminal apparatus from the information server apparatus;
• and
• when one connection between one communication terminal apparatus and the information server apparatus is switched to another connection between another communication terminal apparatus and the information server apparatus, data, which is inherited from the one communication terminal apparatus and the information server apparatus in the one connection, is continuously used during the switched another connection.

A program, embodied in a recording medium, for changing by a computer a movable body in a navigation system comprising a fixedly installed information server apparatus and communication terminal apparatuses mounted one by one on a plurality of movable bodies for communicating with the information server apparatus via a mobile communication network, the system changing the movable bodies performing navigation by switching a connection between each of the communication terminal apparatuses and the information server apparatus, wherein the program causes the computer to function as:

• a receiving device for receiving information notifying at least either a start or a stop of any one of the plurality of communication terminal apparatuses;
• a connection controlling device for, based on the received information, performing at least any one of:
• connecting, as the communication terminal apparatus mounted on the movable body to be a subject of the navigation, any one of the communication terminal apparatuses to the information server apparatus;
• and disconnecting the communication terminal apparatus from the information server apparatus;
• and
• when one connection between one communication terminal apparatus and the information server apparatus is switched to another connection between another communication terminal apparatus and the information server apparatus, data, which is inherited from the one communication terminal apparatus and the information server apparatus in the one connection, is continuously used during the switched another connection.

A navigation system comprises:

• a first navigation device which is portable and has a first communication device;
• a second navigation device which is installed in a mobile body and has a second communication device;
• and
• a server which is connected to the first and second communication devices and transmits navigation data for either of the first navigation device and the second navigation device,
• wherein, before turning off, the first navigation device transmits navigation data that is used while the first navigation device is performing to the server, and
• wherein the second navigation device receives the navigation data from the server after turning on and starts performing navigation based on the navigation data.