Japanese vendor Oki Electric Industry has been contracted by Japan's telecoms regulator to develop a navigation system for rental cars that relays location-based info to tourists on the fly as they drive through select areas.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) tapped Oki to build the so-called ISLAND (Integrated Spot Local Assistance & News Delivery) System for tourist drivers, which will be based on Oki's proprietary DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communications) wireless technology, in Uruma City, Okinawa Prefecture.
Oki has already developed DRSC technology for car navigation systems, leveraging GPS and roadside repeaters using 5.8-GHz wireless technology to create a safety network that alerts drivers when nearby pedestrians are crossing the road.
The same technology can also be used to set up a tourist information delivery system accessible from the GPS navigation dashboard. The DRSC repeaters can be used to relay updated information such as traffic information and location-based concierge information as the car drives past.
Moreover, the repeaters are self-contained units that are not networked together. The units update themselves by downloading on-board navigation data each passing car's GPS unit has been gathering.
Oki said the ISLAND project - which will also use its pedestrian-safety app - will run in Uruma City "from the fiscal year ending March 2009 to fiscal year ending March 2011".
Oki added it will be collaborating with auto maker Nissan and "related public institutions" in Okinawa Prefecture and Uruma City, as well as local public and private institutions such as the Information Industry Association of Okinawa.
The project is part of the MIC's plan to develop and promote "Ubiquitous Special Zones" - areas designed to showcase cutting-edge IT network technology and services at work in everyday situations, from healthcare to RFID tags for information on produce in fresh markets.
No financial details on the Oki contract were disclosed.