JP2010176452A - Information processing distribution system, information processing apparatus, and information processing distribution method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently distribute and execute information processing by use of a plurality of information processing apparatus mounted in a moving body. <P>SOLUTION: In this information processing distribution system, an extraction means 711 of a first information processing apparatus 710A extracts request desire processing from specific information processing based on an arithmetic processing load situation. An inquiry means 713 performs, to a second information processing apparatus 720 selected by a server device 730, an inquiry of whether or not the request desire processing can be executed. A decision means 721 of the second information processing apparatus 720 decides execution possibility of the request desire processing in consideration of an arithmetic load situation, and reports a result of the decision to the first information processing apparatus 710A. Next, in the first information processing apparatus 710A, an execution request means 714 performs an execution request to the second information processing apparatus 720 having performed an affirmative answer to the inquiry. A request processing execution means 722 of the second information processing apparatus 720 executes the request desire processing, and sends an execution result back to the first information processing apparatus 710A. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing distribution system, an information processing apparatus, and an information processing distribution method.

  In recent years, along with an increase in information to be processed, a single information processing apparatus has become difficult to process, or even if it can be processed, processing that requires a long time for processing has increased. ing. And in the future, such processing with high calculation load tends to increase.

  In order to cope with such processing with a high calculation load, it is conceivable to improve the hardware capability of the information processing apparatus. However, in general, the information processing apparatus itself is expensive. In addition, when the information processing apparatus is mounted on a moving body, it is impossible to invest abundant processing resources because of demands for miniaturization and weight reduction. Thus, various techniques have been proposed for reducing the calculation load of the information processing apparatus by a method other than improving the hardware capability of the information processing apparatus.

  As a technique for reducing the calculation load, when performing navigation processing of a vehicle, a navigation device mounted on the vehicle transmits information on the destination and the current position to the server device, and the destination derived by the server device. There is one that obtains the intersection information and the moving direction of the moving route from the server device (see Patent Document 1: hereinafter referred to as “conventional example 1”). In addition, although not applied to a device mounted on a moving body such as a vehicle, as a technique for reducing a calculation load, in the case of performing image processing, the status of an information processing device that performs processing and an application to be executed Depending on the type of image data, there is one that specifies the resolution of the image and analyzes the image data at the specified resolution (see Patent Document 2: hereinafter referred to as “conventional example 2”).

JP 2002-286383 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-158982

  The technique of Conventional Example 1 described above cannot cope with information processing that cannot be executed by a server device arranged at a fixed position. For example, when searching for a moving route, a more appropriate moving route can be derived if the road traffic information such as detailed traffic jam information of the area where the moving body is moving can be taken into consideration. This detailed road traffic information is acquired from an optical beacon or radio beacon installed on a road by an information processing device mounted on a moving body such as a vehicle, and is a server device arranged at a fixed position. It is not possible to get it.

  The technique of Conventional Example 2 described above relates to an information processing apparatus that executes information processing that is allowed to change the accuracy of information. Therefore, it cannot be applied to information processing whose accuracy is not allowed to be changed according to the status of the information processing apparatus that performs processing and the type of application to be executed. In addition, the technique of the conventional example 2 includes a technique for distributing the calculation load among apparatuses that are assumed to be installed at fixed positions. However, as in the case of the conventional example 1, the technique is fixed. It is not possible to handle information processing that cannot be executed by a device arranged at a different position.

  By the way, there are usually many vehicles on the road. If a process with a high calculation load is executed in cooperation with a plurality of information processing apparatuses mounted on these vehicles, the calculation load on the information processing apparatus can be reduced without changing the accuracy of information to be processed. it can. In addition, information processing that cannot be executed by the server device described above can be executed by an information processing device mounted on the vehicle.

  For this reason, a technique that allows a plurality of information processing devices mounted on a moving body such as a vehicle to distribute and execute processing with a high calculation load and efficiently derive the execution result of the processing with a high calculation load. Is long-awaited. Meeting this requirement is one of the problems to be solved by the present invention.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is a new information processing capable of efficiently distributing and executing information processing using a plurality of information processing devices mounted on a mobile object. It is an object to provide a distributed system, an information processing apparatus, and an information processing distribution method.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the first information processing apparatus mounted on the specific mobile body and the at least one other mobile body different from the specific mobile body are mounted, and the first information processing apparatus and the short-range wireless An information processing distributed system that distributes and executes information processing with a second information processing device capable of communication, wherein the first information processing device desires to request execution of a part of the information processing Extraction means for extracting as a process; and the first mounted on another mobile body estimated to be able to maintain a distance from the specific mobile body capable of the short-range wireless communication over an execution period of the request request process. (2) inquiry means for making an inquiry as to whether or not the request processing is executable to the information processing apparatus; and when a positive answer is received as a response to the inquiry, the positive answer is given. Execution request means for requesting execution of the requested request process to the second information processing apparatus; and referring to the execution result of the requested request process returned from the second information processing apparatus that has received the execution request. Deriving means for deriving an execution result of the information processing, and the second information processing apparatus is capable of executing the request request processing based on the content of the request request processing that has received the inquiry. Determining means for answering the result of the determination to the first information processing apparatus; and when the request for execution of the request request process for which the determination means has made a positive answer is received, A request processing execution unit that executes a request request process and returns an execution result of the request request process to the first information processing apparatus.

  The invention according to claim 8 is an information processing apparatus that is mounted on a mobile body and capable of short-range wireless communication with another information processing apparatus mounted on at least one other mobile body different from the mobile body, Extraction means for extracting a part of the information processing as a request desired process to be requested for execution; and maintaining a distance from the specific mobile body capable of the near field communication over an execution period of the request desired process Inquiry means for making an inquiry as to whether or not the requested request processing can be executed with respect to the other information processing apparatus mounted on the other mobile body estimated to be; a positive answer as a response to the inquiry If received, execution request means for requesting execution of the requested request process to the other information processing apparatus that has made a positive answer; before being returned from the other information processing apparatus that has received the execution request An information processing apparatus characterized by comprising; with reference to the execution result of the request desired processing, and deriving means for deriving the execution result of the processing.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the first information processing apparatus mounted on the specific mobile body and the at least one other mobile body different from the specific mobile body are mounted, and the first information processing apparatus and the short-range wireless communication are mounted. An information processing distribution method used in an information processing distributed system that distributes and executes information processing with a second information processing device capable of communication, wherein the first information processing device is a part of the information processing. Extracting as a request desired process to be requested for execution; in the first information processing apparatus, maintaining a distance from the specific mobile body capable of the short-range wireless communication over an execution period of the request desired process An inquiry step for making an inquiry as to whether or not the requested request processing is executable with respect to the second information processing apparatus mounted on another mobile body estimated to be possible; and the second information In the physical device, based on the contents of the request processing requested in response to the inquiry, it is determined whether or not the request processing is executable, and the result of the determination is returned to the first information processing device. A determination step; in the first information processing apparatus, when a positive response is received as a response to the inquiry in the inquiry step, the request request is made to the second information processing apparatus that has made the positive response. An execution requesting step for requesting execution of processing; and in the second information processing apparatus that has made a positive response in the determination step, when receiving an execution request for the requesting request processing, A request process execution step of returning an execution result of the request request process to the first information processing apparatus; in the first information processing apparatus, the second information processing apparatus that has received the execution request; An information processing distribution method, characterized in that it comprises a; reference to the returned the requested desired process execution result, the deriving step of deriving the execution result of the processing.

It is a block diagram for demonstrating the structure of the information processing distribution system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the structure of the information processing distribution system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram for demonstrating schematically the structure of the information processing distribution system which concerns on 1st Example of this invention. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the structure of the navigation apparatus of FIG. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the structure of the vehicle-mounted apparatus of FIG. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the structure of the server apparatus of FIG. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the distributed process of the information processing in 1st Example. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the inquiry and execution request process of FIG. It is a block diagram for demonstrating schematically the structure of the information processing distribution system which concerns on 2nd Example of this invention. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the dispersion | distribution process of the information processing in 2nd Example.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description and drawings, the same or equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

[First Embodiment]
First, an information processing distributed system 700A according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The information processing distribution system 700A is a system that executes information processing in a distributed manner.

<Configuration>
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an information processing distribution system 700A according to the first embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the information processing distribution system 700A includes a first information processing device 710A, a second information processing device 720, and a server device 730.

Here, the first information processing apparatus 710A is mounted to a particular mobile MV _0, and moves together with the specific mobile MV _0. Further, the number of the second information processing devices 720 is one or more, and each of the second information processing devices 720 is mounted on the other moving body MV _p (p = 1, 2,...) And moves together with the other moving body MV _p. It is supposed to be. The server device 730 is disposed at a fixed position.

  And between 1st information processing apparatus 710A and 2nd information processing apparatus 720, when both apparatuses exist near each other, it is possible to perform near field communication. . In addition, data communication can be performed between the first information processing device 710A and the server device 730 and between the second information processing device 720 and the server device 730 via the network system NWS. It has become. Detailed information exchange between the devices will be described later.

<< Configuration of First Information Processing Apparatus 710A >>
In the first embodiment, the first information processing apparatus 710A includes an extraction unit 711, a selection request unit 712, an inquiry unit 713, an execution request unit 714, and a derivation unit 715.

  When the information processing execution request is made by the user of the first information processing device 710A, the extracting unit 711 performs processing of the information processing based on the subsequent processing load state in the first information processing device 710A. Are extracted as request-desired processing that the second information processing device 720 is requested to execute. The extraction result by the extraction unit 711 is sent to the inquiry unit 713 and the execution request unit 714 as request request processing information.

Examples of information processing for requesting the second information processing device 720 to perform a part of such processing include search processing for a plurality of detailed movement routes in the specific mobile object MV ₀ , image processing for a plurality of videos, and the like. When the information processing is a search process for a plurality of detailed travel routes in the specific mobile MV ₀ , the requesting request process searches for at least one travel route among the plurality of detailed travel routes. It becomes processing. When the information processing is image processing of a plurality of videos, the request request process is image processing of at least one of the image processing of the plurality of videos.

  Further, when the request processing is extracted, the extraction unit 711 sends an extraction report to the selection request unit 712.

When the selection request unit 712 receives the extraction report from the extraction unit 711, the second information processing apparatus that is an issue destination of an inquiry as to whether or not the request request process can be executed is issued to the server apparatus 730. A selection request of 720 is made. This selection request may specify the movement mode of the other moving body MV _{p on} which the second information processing device 720 is mounted according to the type of information processing. For example, other information processing, when a search process detailed plurality of moving route in the specific mobile MV ₀ represents, to move as a movement behavior of the other mobile MV _p, in the same direction as the specific mobile MV ₀ it is also possible to specify the moving body MV _p. The selection request is made before the execution request unit 714 requests the second information processing apparatus for request request processing.

The inquiry means 713 receives request request processing information that is an extraction result by the extraction means 711. Further, the inquiry unit 713 receives identification information of the second information processing device 720 described later from the selection unit 731 of the server device 730. Here, the second information processing device 720 selected by the selection unit 731 of the server device 730 maintains a distance at which short distance wireless communication with the specific mobile unit MV ₀ is possible over the execution period of the request processing. This is the second information processing device 720 mounted on at least one other mobile unit MV _p to be estimated.

  The inquiry unit 713 can execute request request processing on the second information processing device 720 selected by the selection unit 731 based on the identification information of the second information processing device 720 and request request processing information. Inquire whether or not. The contents of such request request processing include, for example, processing information regarding the processing capacity and processing amount necessary for executing the request request processing, as well as the type of request request processing such as detailed travel route search processing. ing.

  The execution request unit 714 receives request request processing information that is an extraction result by the extraction unit 711. The execution request unit 714 receives a response to the inquiry from the second information processing apparatus 720 that the inquiry unit 713 has inquired about. When the execution request unit 714 receives a positive response as a response to the inquiry, the execution request unit 714 requests the second information processing apparatus 720 that has made the positive response to execute a request request process.

  The deriving unit 715 receives the execution result of the request request process from the second information processing apparatus 720 that has received the request request process execution request. Then, the deriving unit 715 refers to the execution result of the requested request process and derives the execution result of the information processing.

<< Configuration of Second Information Processing Device 720 >>
The second information processing apparatus 720 includes a determination unit 721 and a request process execution unit 722.

  The determination unit 721 receives an inquiry from the inquiry unit 713 of the first information processing apparatus 710A as to whether or not the request request process can be executed. Then, the determination unit 721 considers the calculation processing capability and the content of the request request processing that are the processing amount necessary for executing the request request processing, the calculation processing capability in the second information processing device 720, and the future calculation load situation. Then, it is determined whether or not the request request process can be executed. Subsequently, the determination unit 721 reports the determination result to the first information processing apparatus 710A.

  When the request processing execution unit 722 receives a request for execution of the request request processing for which the positive answer has been made from the first information processing device 710 </ b> A when the determination unit 721 makes a positive response, Execute the desired process. Then, the request processing execution means 722 returns the execution result to the first information processing device 710A when the execution of the request request processing is completed.

<< Configuration of Server Device 730 >>
The server device 730 includes a selection unit 731.

The selection unit 731 receives a selection request from the selection request unit 712 of the first information processing device 710A. Upon receiving this selection request, the selection unit 731 recognizes the moving body MV ₀ as a “specific moving body”. In the following description, it is assumed that the “specific moving body” is the moving body MV ₀ .

When a selection request is received from a mobile body other than the mobile body MV ₀ on which an apparatus configured similarly to the first information processing apparatus 710A described above is received, the selection unit 731 displays the mobile body as a “specific movement”. Recognize as "body".

Further, the selection means 731 receives travel information from all of the moving bodies MV ₀ , MV ₁ , MV ₂ ,. Here, the “travel information” includes the passing position and the passing date and time of the moving body. When the mobile unit MV ₀ is recognized as a “specific mobile unit”, the selection unit 731 performs the specific movement over the execution period of the requested request process based on the travel information of the mobile units MV ₀ , MV ₁ , MV ₂ ,. The second information processing device 720 mounted on at least one other moving body MV _p located at a distance communicable with the body MV ₀ is selected. The selection result by the selection unit 731 is reported to the first information processing device 710A (more specifically, the inquiry unit 713) as identification information of the second information processing device 720.

  The travel information can further include route setting information currently set in the mobile body, route setting information set in the past, traffic jam information, and the like.

<Operation>
The operation of the information processing distributed system 700A configured as described above will be described mainly focusing on the distributed processing of information processing.

It is assumed that server device 730 receives travel information from specific mobile unit MV ₀ and other mobile units MV ₁ , MV ₂ ,... Every predetermined time.

<< Extraction process of request request process >>
First, the extraction process of the request request process will be described.

  When the user of the first information processing device 710A makes an information processing execution request, the extraction unit 711 of the first information processing device 710A performs the following arithmetic processing load situation in the first information processing device 710A. From the information processing, a request request process to be requested to be executed to the second information processing device 720 is extracted. The request request processing information thus extracted is sent to the inquiry means 713 and the execution request means 714 as request request processing information.

  Further, when the request processing is extracted, the extraction unit 711 sends an extraction report to the selection request unit 712.

<< Selection Processing of Second Information Processing Device 720 >>
Next, the selection process of the second information processing device 720 will be described. In the first embodiment, this process is mainly performed in the server device 730.

  Upon receipt of the extraction report, the selection request unit 712 of the first information processing device 710A issues a selection request for the second information processing device, which is an issue destination of the inquiry as to whether or not the request processing is executable, to the server device 730. To do.

In the server device 730 that has received this selection request, the selection unit 731 recognizes the moving object MV ₀ as a specific moving object. Then, the selection unit 731 communicates with the specific mobile unit MV ₀ over the execution period of the request request process based on the travel information of the specific mobile unit MV _{0 and} the travel information of the other mobile units MV ₁ , MV ₂ ,. The second information processing device 720 mounted on at least one other mobile unit MV _p at a possible distance is selected.

At the time of such selection, the selection unit 731 selects the second information processing device 720 mounted on the other mobile unit MV _p that moves in the same direction as the specific mobile unit MV _0. May select the second information processing device 720 mounted on the other moving body MV _p based on the passing position and the passing date and time of the moving body included in the travel information, The second information processing device 720 mounted on the other mobile unit MV _p may be selected in consideration of the existing route setting information, route setting information set in the past, traffic jam information, and the like.

  Thus, the identification information of the second information processing device 720 selected by the selection unit 731 is reported to the inquiry unit 713 of the first information processing device 710A.

<Distributed information processing>
Next, distributed processing of information processing will be described. In the first embodiment, this process is mainly performed in the first information processing device 710A and the second information processing device 720.

  The inquiry means 713 of the first information processing device 710A that has received the request processing information from the extraction means 711 and the identification information of the second information processing device 720 from the server device 730 is the second selected by the server device 730. An inquiry is made to the information processing device 720 as to whether or not the request request process can be executed.

  Next, in the second information processing apparatus 720 that has received an inquiry as to whether or not the request request process can be executed, the determination unit 721 has a request request that is the processing capacity and processing amount necessary to execute the request request process. It is determined whether or not the requested request process can be executed in consideration of the contents of the process, the calculation processing capability in the second information processing device 720, and the future calculation load situation. The result of this determination is reported to the first information processing apparatus 710A as a positive or negative answer.

  In the first information processing apparatus 710A that has received an answer to the above-described inquiry, the execution request unit 714, when the answer is affirmative, makes a positive answer based on the request processing information. The information processing device 720 is requested to execute requested request processing.

  Subsequently, in the second information processing apparatus 720 that has received the request for executing the request request process, the request process execution unit 722 executes the request request process. Then, the request process execution means 722 returns the execution result of the request request process to the first information processing apparatus 710A.

  In the first information processing apparatus 710A that has received the execution result of the requested request process, the deriving unit 715 refers to the execution result and derives the execution result of the information processing.

As described above, in the first embodiment, when the first information processing apparatus 710A receives an information processing execution request specified by the user, the request is made based on the subsequent arithmetic processing load situation. In the information processing, a request request process that is requested to be executed by the second information processing apparatus 720 is extracted. As a result of this extraction, if the request processing is present, the first information processing device 710A issues a request for selecting the second information processing device that is an issue destination of the inquiry as to whether the request processing is executable. To the server device 730. Upon receiving this selection request, the server device 730 recognizes the mobile body (mobile body MV ₀ ) that has transmitted the selection request as a specific mobile body, and can communicate with the specific mobile body MV ₀ over the execution period of the requested request process. The second information processing device 720 mounted on at least one other mobile unit MV _p is selected, and the selection result is reported to the first information processing device 710A.

  The first information processing apparatus 710A that has received the selection result inquires of the second information processing apparatus 720 selected by the server apparatus 730 whether or not the request request process can be executed, and responds to the inquiry. An execution request for request request processing is made to the second information processing apparatus 720 that has made a positive response as a response. As a result, the request processing is executed in the second information processing device 720, and the execution result of the request processing is returned to the first information processing device 710A. The first information processing apparatus 710A that has received the execution result of the requested request process refers to the execution result of the requested request process and derives the execution result of the requested information process. When deriving the execution result, if the first information processing apparatus 710A executes a part of the requested information processing, the execution result and the request request reported from the second information processing apparatus 720 are displayed. The execution result of the requested information processing is derived by combining the execution results of the processing.

  Therefore, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, information processing can be efficiently distributed and executed using a plurality of information processing devices mounted on a mobile object.

  In the first embodiment, the first information processing apparatus 710A further includes determination means and request processing execution means, and the second information processing apparatus 720 includes extraction means, selection request means, inquiry means, execution request means, and derivation means. By further providing the means, the first information processing device 710A and the second information processing device 720 can have the same configuration.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, an information processing distributed system 700B according to the second embodiment of this invention will be described with reference to FIG. This information processing distribution system 700B is a system that executes information processing in a distributed manner, similar to the information processing distribution system 700A of the first embodiment.

<Configuration>
FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of an information processing distribution system 700B according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the information processing distribution system 700B includes a second information processing device 710B instead of the first information processing device 710A, as compared with the information processing distribution system 700A of the first embodiment described above. And the point that the server device 730 is not provided. Hereinafter, this difference will be mainly described.

  Here, between the first information processing device 710 </ b> B and the second information processing device 720, it is possible to perform short-range wireless communication when both devices are close to each other. Yes. Detailed information exchange between the devices will be described later.

<< Configuration of First Information Processing Device 710B >>
The first information processing apparatus 710B is different from the first information processing apparatus 710A in that it includes a selection unit 716 instead of the selection request unit 712.

  In the second embodiment, the extraction unit 711 sends a selection request to the selection unit 716 instead of the selection request unit 712 when the request request process is extracted.

The selection unit 716 receives a selection request from the extraction unit 711. Upon receiving this selection request, the selection unit 731 acquires travel information of the specific mobile unit MV ₀ and from other mobile units MV ₁ , MV ₂ ,. Receive driving information. Then, the selection unit 716 communicates with the specific mobile unit MV ₀ over the execution period of the request request process based on the travel information of the specific mobile unit MV _{0 and} the travel information of the other mobile units MV ₁ , MV ₂ ,. The second information processing device 720 mounted on at least one other mobile unit MV _p at a possible distance is selected. The selection result by the selection unit 731 is reported to the inquiry unit 713 as identification information of the second information processing device 720.

<Operation>
The operation of the information processing distributed system 700B configured as described above will be described mainly focusing on the distributed processing of information processing.

<< Extraction process of request request process >>
First, the extraction process of the request request process will be described.

  The information processing distribution system 700B performs the request processing processing extraction process except that the extraction unit 711 sends a selection request to the selection unit 716 when the request processing is extracted. It is executed in the same manner as in the case of 700A.

<< Selection Processing of Second Information Processing Device 720 >>
Next, the selection process of the second information processing device 720 will be described. In the second embodiment, this process is performed in the first information processing apparatus 710B.

  When the request processing is extracted, the extraction unit 711 of the first information processing device 710B requests the selection of the second information processing device that is an issue destination of the inquiry as to whether the request processing is executable. Is performed on the selection means 716.

Upon receipt of this selection request, the selection means 716 acquires travel information of the specific mobile unit MV ₀ and travels from other mobile units MV ₁ , MV ₂ ,. Receive information. Then, the selection unit 716 communicates with the specific mobile unit MV ₀ over the execution period of the request request process based on the travel information of the specific mobile unit MV _{0 and} the travel information of the other mobile units MV ₁ , MV ₂ ,. The second information processing device 720 mounted on at least one other mobile unit MV _p at a possible distance is selected.

  The identification information of the second information processing device 720 selected by the selection unit 716 is reported to the inquiry unit 713.

《Distributed information processing》
Next, distributed processing of information processing will be described. In the second embodiment, this process is performed in the first information processing device 710B and the second information processing device 720.

  The distributed processing of information processing by the information processing distributed system 700B is the case of the information processing distributed system 700A of the first embodiment except that the inquiry unit 713 receives the identification information of the second information processing device 720 from the selection unit 716. And so on.

As described above, in the second embodiment, when the first information processing device 710B receives an information processing execution request designated by the user, the request is made based on the subsequent processing load situation. In the information processing, a request request process that is requested to be executed by the second information processing apparatus 720 is extracted. As a result of the extraction, if the request desired process exists, the first information processing device 710B has at least one other mobile MV that is within a distance communicable with the specific mobile MV ₀ over the execution period of the request desired process. The second information processing device 720 installed in _p is selected as the second information processing device 720 that is the issue destination of the inquiry as to whether or not the request processing is executable.

  In addition, the first information processing device 710B makes an inquiry to the selected second information processing device 720 as to whether or not the requested request processing can be executed, and makes a positive response as a response to the inquiry. In addition, the second information processing apparatus 720 is requested to execute request request processing. As a result, the request processing is executed in the second information processing device 720, and the execution result of the request processing is returned to the first information processing device 710B. The first information processing apparatus 710B that has received the execution result of the requested request process refers to the execution result of the requested request process and derives the execution result of the requested information process. When deriving the execution result, if the first information processing apparatus 710B executes a part of the requested information processing, the execution result and the request request reported from the second information processing apparatus 720 are displayed. The execution result of the requested information processing is derived by combining the execution results of the processing.

  Therefore, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, as in the first embodiment described above, information processing is efficiently distributed and executed using a plurality of information processing devices mounted on a mobile object. be able to.

  In the second embodiment, the first information processing apparatus 710B further includes determination means and request processing execution means, and the second information processing apparatus 720 includes extraction means, selection means, inquiry means, execution request means, and derivation means. The first information processing device 710B and the second information processing device 720 can have the same configuration.

  In addition, each of the first information processing device 710A, the server device 730 in the first embodiment, the first information processing device 710B in the second embodiment, and the second information processing device 720 in the first and second embodiments, A computer as a calculation means is provided, and the functions of each means described above can be realized by executing a program. These programs may be acquired in a form recorded on a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD, or may be acquired in a form distributed via a network such as the Internet. Can do.

  Embodiments of the information processing distributed system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In the following description and drawings, the same or equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

[First embodiment]
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference mainly to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of an information processing distributed system 100A according to the first embodiment. The information processing distributed system 100A is an aspect of the information processing distributed system 700A (see FIG. 1) of the first embodiment described above.

In the first embodiment, as information processing that may be the target of distributed processing, detailed search processing for a plurality of travel routes in the vehicle CR ₀ (hereinafter also referred to as “overall route search processing”). The request request process is assumed to be a search process (hereinafter also referred to as “partial route search process”) of at least one of the detailed plurality of travel routes.

<Configuration>
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the information processing distributed system 100A includes a navigation device 200A as the first information processing device 710A, an in-vehicle device 300 as the second information processing device 720, and a server device 400 as the server device 730. It has.

Here, the navigation device 200A is mounted on the vehicle CR ₀ as the specific mobile body MV ₀ and travels with the vehicle CR ₀ . In addition, there is at least one in-vehicle device 300, and each of the in-vehicle devices 300 is mounted on another vehicle CR _p as another mobile body MV _p (p = 1, 2,...), And the other vehicle CR _p It comes to run with. Moreover, the server apparatus 400 is arrange | positioned at the fixed position in a predetermined building, for example.

  Between the navigation device 200A and the in-vehicle device 300, short-range wireless communication can be performed when both devices are close to each other. The contents of data exchanged between the navigation device 200A and the in-vehicle device 300 will be described later.

A vehicle speed sensor 290 mounted on the vehicle CR ₀ is connected to the navigation device 200A. The navigation device 200 </ b> A performs data communication with the server device 400 via the network system 500. The contents of data exchanged between the vehicle speed sensor 290 and the server device 400 by the navigation device 200A will be described later.

A vehicle speed sensor 390 mounted on the other vehicle CR _p is connected to the in-vehicle device 300 described above. The in-vehicle device 300 performs data communication with the server device 400 via the network system 500. The contents of data exchanged between the in-vehicle device 300 between the vehicle speed sensor 390 and the server device 400 will be described later.

  The server device 400 can communicate with the navigation device 200 </ b> A and the in-vehicle device 300 via the network system 500.

<< Configuration of Navigation Device 200A >>
The navigation device 200A described above includes an extraction function for extracting requested processing from information processing, a selection request function for the in-vehicle device 300, an inquiry function for the in-vehicle device 300, an execution request function for the in-vehicle device 300, and an information processing result derivation function. have. As shown in FIG. 4, the navigation device 200 </ b> A having these functions includes a control unit 210 </ b> A, a storage unit 220, a wireless communication unit 230, and a road traffic information acquisition unit 235. The navigation device 200 </ b> A includes a sound output unit 240, a display unit 250, and an operation input unit 260. Furthermore, the navigation device 200A includes a travel information acquisition unit 270 and a GPS (Global Positioning System) reception unit 280.

  The control unit 210A performs overall control of the entire navigation device 200A. The control unit 210A will be described later.

  The storage unit 220 includes a hard disk device that is a nonvolatile storage device. The storage unit 220 stores various data such as navigation information (NVI). The storage unit 220 can be accessed by the control unit 210A.

  The navigation information (NVI) stores various data used for navigation such as map data, POI (Point Of Interests) data, and background data. These data are read by the control unit 210A.

  The wireless communication unit 230 includes an antenna (not shown). The wireless communication unit 230 processes the received signal received from the antenna and converts it into a digital data signal that can be processed by the control unit 210A. Also, the wireless communication unit 230 processes the transmission signal from the control unit 210A, converts it into a signal corresponding to the wireless signal, and sends it to the antenna.

  By using this wireless communication unit 230, the navigation device 200 </ b> A (more specifically, the control unit 210 </ b> A) can perform short-range wireless communication with the in-vehicle device 300.

  Further, by using the wireless communication unit 230, the navigation device 200A can communicate with the server device 400.

The road traffic information acquisition unit 235 includes an antenna (not shown). By using this road traffic information acquisition unit 235, the navigation device 200A can obtain traffic information provided by a road traffic information server (not shown) from an optical beacon installed on a general road and a radio beacon installed on a highway. Road traffic information including speed regulation and lane regulation information can be acquired. Road traffic information can be obtained using this road traffic information acquiring unit 235 has a forward direction of the vehicle information of the vehicle CR _0.

The sound output unit 240 includes a speaker and outputs sound corresponding to the sound data received from the control unit 210A. Under the control of the control unit 210A, the sound output unit 240 outputs guidance sound information such as search result information of a plurality of travel routes, the traveling direction of the vehicle CR ₀ , traveling conditions, traffic conditions, and the like.

  The display unit 250 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal panel, and displays an image corresponding to the display data received from the control unit 210A. The display unit 250 displays search result information, map information, guidance information, and the like of a plurality of travel routes under the control of the control unit 210A.

  The operation input unit 260 includes a key unit provided in the main body of the navigation device 200A and / or a remote input device including the key unit. Here, as a key part provided in the main body part, a touch panel provided in a display device of the display unit 250 can be used. In addition, it can replace with the structure which has a key part, or can also employ | adopt the structure input with a sound using a voice recognition technique in combination.

  When the user operates this operation input unit 260, setting of operation contents and operation commands of the navigation device 200A are performed. For example, the user makes an execution request for the entire route search process using the operation input unit 260. Such input contents are sent as operation input data from the operation input unit 260 to the control unit 210A.

The travel information acquisition unit 270 includes an acceleration sensor, an angular velocity sensor, and the like, and detects acceleration and angular velocity acting on the vehicle CR ₀ . The travel information acquisition unit 270 is used for data exchange between the navigation device 200 </ b> A and the vehicle speed sensor 290 mounted on the vehicle CR ₀ , and acquires speed data that is a detection result of the vehicle speed sensor 290. Each data obtained in this way is sent to the control unit 210A as travel data.

The GPS receiving unit 280 calculates the current position of the vehicle CR ₀ based on reception results of radio waves from a plurality of GPS satellites. Further, the GPS receiving unit 280 measures the current time based on the date / time information transmitted from the GPS satellite. Information on these current position and current time is sent to the control unit 210A as GPS data.

  Next, the control unit 210A will be described. The control unit 210A includes a central processing unit (CPU) and its peripheral circuits. The various functions described above are realized by the control unit 210A executing various programs. These functions include functions as the extraction unit 711, the selection request unit 712, the inquiry unit 713, the execution request unit 714, and the derivation unit 715 in the first embodiment described above.

Here, the control unit 210A acquires the travel data from the travel information acquisition unit 270 and the GPS data from the GPS reception unit 280 at predetermined time intervals to detect the passing position of the vehicle CR ₀ and The passage date and time is detected based on the timing result and the timing result of the internal timer. Then, the control unit 210A is the passage position and passage date, as the travel information regarding the vehicle CR _0, via the wireless communication unit 230 and reports to the server device 400.

  Further, the control unit 210A periodically receives detailed traffic jam information, speed regulation / lane regulation information from the optical beacon installed on the general road and the radio beacon installed on the highway via the road traffic information acquisition unit 235. Get the reason traffic information including etc.

  In addition, when the user of the navigation device 200A requests execution of the overall route search process, the control unit 210A determines that the in-vehicle device starts from the overall route search process based on the subsequent calculation processing load situation in the navigation device 200A. A partial route search process that is requested to be executed by 300 is extracted.

  In addition, as a result of this extraction, if there is a partial route search process, the control unit 210A determines whether the partial route search process can be executed for the server device 400 via the wireless communication unit 230. A request is made to select the in-vehicle device 300 that is the issue destination of the inquiry.

The selection request is, in the first embodiment, it is assumed that a specifies the other vehicle CR _p which move in the same direction as the vehicle CR _0. Here, the execution request by the user is sent to the control unit 210A as operation input data from the operation input unit 260.

  Further, the control unit 210A receives the identification information of the in-vehicle device 300 which is a report for the selection request described above from the server device 400. Then, the control unit 210A inquires of the in-vehicle device 300 selected by the server device 400 whether or not the partial route search process can be executed. The contents of the request request process to be inquired include, for example, processing capacity necessary for executing the partial route search process and process information regarding the processing amount.

  Further, the control unit 210A receives a response to the inquiry from the in-vehicle device 300 that has made the inquiry. When the control unit 210A receives a positive response as a response to the inquiry, the control unit 210A requests the in-vehicle device 300 that has made the positive response to execute the partial route search process. This execution request also includes information on the current position that is the start point of the route search process and the target position that is the end point.

Further, the control unit 210A executes a route search process that has not been requested to the in-vehicle device 300. Upon execution, the control unit 210A takes into account the navigation information (NVI) in the storage unit 220, detailed road traffic information in the forward direction of the vehicle CR ₀ obtained from the light beacon or radio wave beacon, etc. A travel route from the current position of the vehicle CR ₀ to the target position is searched.

  Further, the control unit 210A receives the execution result of the partial route search process, which is the execution result of the request request process, from the in-vehicle device 300 that has received the request for the request request process. Then, the control unit 210A refers to the execution result and derives the execution result of the entire route search process.

  Further, the control unit 210A notifies the server device 400 of the travel route determined from the execution result of the overall route search process via the wireless communication unit 230.

Further, the control unit 210A appropriately refers to the navigation information (NVI) in the storage unit 220 based on the travel data from the travel information acquisition unit 270 and the GPS data from the GPS reception unit 280, to the user. The navigation information is provided. The navigation information providing process includes (a) a map display for displaying a map of an area designated by the user on the display device of the display unit 250, (b) where the vehicle CR ₀ is located on the map, In addition, map matching which calculates which direction the vehicle is heading and displays it on the display device of the display unit 250 and presents to the user, (c) the display device of the display unit 250 regarding the traffic information received from the road traffic information server (D) Control for displaying guidance guidance on the display device of the display unit 250, and guidance guidance from the speaker of the sound output unit 240, which are performed in order to accurately advise the direction of travel, etc. Processing such as control for outputting sound to be performed is included.

<< Configuration of In-vehicle Device 300 >>
The in-vehicle device 300 has a function for determining whether or not the request request process can be executed and a function for executing the request request process. As shown in FIG. 5, the in-vehicle device 300 having these functions includes a storage device 310, a wireless communication unit 320, a road traffic information acquisition unit 325, a travel information acquisition unit 330, and a GPS reception unit 340. I have. The in-vehicle device 300 includes a control unit 350.

  Similar to the storage unit 220 in the navigation device 200A described above, the storage device 310 includes a hard disk device that is a nonvolatile storage device. The storage device 310 stores various data such as navigation information (NVI). The storage unit 310 can be accessed by the control unit 350.

  The wireless communication unit 320 includes an antenna (not shown) and the like, similar to the wireless communication unit 230 in the navigation device 200A described above. The wireless communication unit 320 processes a reception signal received from the antenna and converts it into a digital data signal that can be processed by the control unit 350. In addition, the wireless communication unit 320 processes the transmission signal from the control unit 350, converts the signal into a signal corresponding to the wireless signal, and sends the signal to the antenna.

  By using the wireless communication unit 320, the in-vehicle device 300 (more specifically, the control unit 350) can perform short-range wireless communication with the navigation device 200A.

  Further, by using the wireless communication unit 320, the in-vehicle device 300 can communicate with the server device 400.

Said road traffic information acquisition part 325 is provided with the antenna etc. which are not illustrated. By using this road traffic information acquisition unit 325, the in-vehicle device 300 acquires road traffic information provided by the road traffic information server from an optical beacon installed on a general road and an electric wave beacon installed on an expressway. Be able to. Road traffic information can be obtained using this road traffic information acquiring unit 325 has a forward direction of the vehicle information of the vehicle CR _p.

Similar to the travel information acquisition unit 270 in the navigation device 200A described above, the travel information acquisition unit 330 includes an acceleration sensor, an angular velocity sensor, and the like, and determines acceleration and angular velocity acting on the vehicle CR _p. To detect. The travel information acquisition unit 330 is used for data exchange between the in-vehicle device 300 and the vehicle speed sensor 390 mounted on the vehicle CR _p and acquires speed data that is a detection result of the vehicle speed sensor 390. Each data thus obtained is sent to the control unit 350 as travel data.

The GPS receiving unit 340 calculates the current position of the vehicle CR _p based on reception results of radio waves from a plurality of GPS satellites, similarly to the GPS receiving unit 280 in the navigation device 200A described above. The GPS receiver 340 measures the current time based on time information transmitted from a GPS satellite. Information on these current position and current time is sent to the control unit 350 as GPS data.

  The control unit 350 performs overall control of the entire in-vehicle device 300. The controller 350 includes a central processing unit (CPU) and its peripheral circuits. The various functions described above are realized by the control unit 350 executing various programs. These functions include functions as the determination unit 721 and the request processing execution unit 722 in the first embodiment described above.

Here, the control unit 350 acquires the travel data from the travel information acquisition unit 330 and the GPS data from the GPS reception unit 340 at predetermined time intervals to detect the passing position of the other vehicle CR _p and the GPS data. The passage date and time is detected on the basis of the time measurement result and the time measurement result of the internal timer. Then, the control unit 350, the passage position and passage date, as the travel information relating to the other vehicle CR _p, via the wireless communication unit 320 and reports to the server device 400.

  In addition, the control unit 350 periodically transmits the rational traffic information including detailed traffic jam information, speed regulation / lane regulation information, etc. from the optical beacon and radio wave beacon installed on the road via the road traffic information acquisition unit 325. To get.

  The control unit 350 receives an inquiry from the navigation device 200A as to whether or not the partial route search process can be executed. Then, the control unit 350 considers the calculation processing capability and processing amount required for the execution of the partial route search processing, and the calculation processing capability and future calculation load status of the in-vehicle device 300, and performs the partial route search. It is determined whether the process can be executed. Subsequently, the control unit 350 reports the result of the determination to the navigation device 200A.

In addition, when a positive response is made to the above-described inquiry, control unit 350 executes the process when receiving an execution request for the partial route search process from navigation device 200A. At the time of execution, the control unit 350 refers to the navigation information (NVI) in the storage device 310, detailed road traffic information in the forward direction of the other vehicle CR _p acquired from the optical beacon or the radio beacon, and the like. _A search is made within the range of the request for moving route from the current position of ₀ to the target position. The execution result of the partial route search process obtained in this way is returned to the navigation device 200A.

<< Configuration of Server Device 400 >>
The server device 400 has a function for selecting the in-vehicle device 300. As shown in FIG. 6, the server device 400 having this function includes a storage device 410, a transmission / reception unit 420, and a processing control unit 430.

  The storage device 410 includes a hard disk device that is a nonvolatile storage device. The storage device 410 stores various data such as route setting information (RSI). The storage control unit 430 can access the storage device 410.

In the route setting information (RSI), the travel routes set in the vehicles CR ₀ , CR ₁ , CR ₂ ,... Are stored. This route setting information (RSI) is read by the process control unit 430, and is used in the selection process of the in-vehicle device 300 described later.

  The transmission / reception unit 420 performs communication control with the network system 500. The transmission / reception unit 420 sends the data received from the network system 500 to the processing control unit 430. Further, the transmission / reception unit 420 sends the data received from the processing control unit 430 to the network system 500.

  By using this transmission / reception unit 420, the server device 400 (more specifically, the processing control unit 430) can communicate with the navigation device 200 </ b> A and the in-vehicle device 300.

  The processing control unit 430 performs overall control of the entire server device 400. The processing control unit 430 includes a central processing unit (CPU) and its peripheral circuits. The above functions are realized by the processing control unit 430 executing various programs. These functions include the function as the selection unit 731 in the first embodiment described above.

Here, the process control unit 430 receives the travel information of the vehicle CR ₀ from the navigation device 200A and the travel information of the vehicle CR _p from the in-vehicle device 300 via the transmission / reception unit 420 at predetermined time intervals.

  In addition, when a travel route is set in the navigation device 200A and the in-vehicle device 300, the processing control unit 430 receives information regarding the set travel route. Then, the process control unit 430 updates route setting information (RSI).

Further, the processing control unit 430 receives a selection request for the in-vehicle device 300 from the navigation device 200A. Upon receiving this selection request, the process control unit 430 considers the travel information of the vehicle CR ₀ , the travel information of the other vehicle CR _p , and the route setting information (RSI) over the execution period of the requested request process. , it maintains the vehicle CR ₀ and short-range wireless communication that is distance, and selecting an in-vehicle device 300 mounted in another vehicle CR _p estimated to be moving in the same direction as the vehicle CR ₀ To do.

Here, since the detailed road traffic information that can be acquired from the optical beacon and the radio beacon is the road traffic information in the forward direction, the road traffic information of the same content is acquired in the vehicle CR ₀ and the other vehicle CR _p . _Therefore, the movement mode of the other vehicle CR _p is set to the other vehicle CR _p that is estimated to be moving in the same direction as the vehicle CR ₀ .

In the present first embodiment, the selection of such a vehicle apparatus 300, the processing control section 430, the travel information of the vehicle CR ₀ and the other vehicle CR _p, and, from the Routing Information (RSI), the vehicle CR ₀ and the other vehicle CR Predict the moving direction of _p . Then, the processing control section 430, for example, the following (A), selecting a vehicle device 300 mounted in another vehicle CR _p corresponding to (B).
(A) Other vehicle CR _p that is currently setting a travel route and is moving in the same direction as vehicle CR ₀ at a position close to vehicle CR ₀
(B) Although no moving route is currently set, it is highly certain that the position close to the vehicle CR ₀ is moving in the same direction as the vehicle CR ₀ from the prediction result of the moving direction by the server device 400. Other vehicle CR _p

Here, the prediction of the movement direction of the other vehicle CR _p for which the movement route corresponding to (B) is not set is made by using the travel locus obtained from the current travel information of the other vehicle CR _p , the travel route set in the past, This is done by comprehensively considering the setting date and time. That is, if it is determined from the travel locus of the other vehicle CR _{p and} the travel route set in the past and its set date and time that the other vehicle CR _p is currently on the way home, no travel route is set. It is presumed that the other vehicle CR _p is moving in the reverse direction of the travel route set in the past. Then, the reverse direction if the same moving direction of the vehicle CR _0, the other vehicle CR _p is estimated to be moving in the same direction as the vehicle CR _0.

The determination of the certainty in (B) predicts whether or not the road on which the vehicle CR ₀ is traveling is congested. If it is congested, for the time being, the vehicle CR ₀ and the other vehicle CR _{Since p} moves in the same direction while being close to each other, it is determined that the certainty is high.

<Operation>
The operation of the information processing distributed system 100A configured as described above will be described mainly focusing on distributed processing when information processing is executed.

  As a premise, in the first embodiment, it is assumed that the in-vehicle device 300 that is the issue destination of the inquiry as to whether or not the request request process is executable is selected.

Further, it is assumed that server device 400 receives travel information from all of vehicles CR ₀ , CR ₁ , CR ₂ ,... At predetermined time intervals.

  In the distributed processing of information processing, when a request for execution of the entire route search processing is made by the user of the navigation device 200A, as shown in FIG. 7, first, in step S10, the control unit 210A causes the navigation device 200A to Based on the subsequent calculation processing load situation, a partial route search process that the vehicle-mounted device 300 is requested to execute is extracted from the entire route search process. If there is a partial route search process as a result of this extraction, the process in the navigation device 200A proceeds to step S11. If there is no partial route search process as a result of extraction, the process in the navigation device skips steps S11 and S13 and proceeds to step S16.

  In step S <b> 11, the control unit 210 </ b> A makes a selection request (SEC) for the in-vehicle device 300 that is an issue destination of an inquiry as to whether or not the partial route search process can be executed.

In the server device 400 that has received the selection request, in step S12, the processing control unit 430, as described above, the traveling information of the vehicle CR ₀ , the traveling information of the other vehicle CR _p , and the route setting in the storage device Considering information (RSI) in a comprehensive manner, the vehicle CR ₀ is maintained at a distance that enables short-range wireless communication over the execution period of the request request process, and moves in the same direction as the vehicle CR _0. The in-vehicle device 300 mounted on the other vehicle CR _p estimated to be present is selected. Thus, the identification information (SER) of the in-vehicle device 300 selected by the server device 400 is reported to the navigation device 200A via the transmission / reception unit 420.

  Subsequently, in the navigation device 200A, in step S13, the control unit 210A performs an inquiry and execution request process for the in-vehicle device 300. In the inquiry and execution request process in step S13, as shown in FIG. 8, first, in step S21, whether or not the control unit 210A can execute the partial route search process for the selected in-vehicle device 300. Make an inquiry (INQ). Thereafter, the process in the navigation device 200A proceeds to step S22.

  In the in-vehicle device 300 that has received the inquiry (INQ), in step S14 of FIG. 7, the control unit 350 determines the calculation processing capability and processing amount required for executing the partial route search process, and the in-vehicle device 300. It is determined whether the partial route search process can be executed in consideration of the calculation processing capability and the future calculation load situation. Then, control unit 350 reports the result of the determination (RPS) to navigation device 200A.

  In navigation device 200A, in step S22 of FIG. 8, it is determined whether control unit 210A has received an answer to the inquiry from in-vehicle device 300 or not. If the result of this determination is negative (step S22: N), the process of step S22 is repeated.

  On the other hand, when the result of the determination in step S22 is affirmative (step S22: Y), the process proceeds to step S23.

  In step S <b> 23, the control unit 210 </ b> A determines whether it is possible to request the in-vehicle device 300 for request request processing. If the result of this determination is affirmative (step S23: Y), the process proceeds to step S24.

In step S24, the control unit 210A issues a partial route search process execution request (REQ) to the in-vehicle device 300 that has made a positive response as a response to the above-described inquiry, and requests the in-vehicle device 300. The route search process for the part that has not been performed is executed. When executing the route search process, the control unit 210A refers to the navigation information (NVI) in the storage unit 220, detailed road traffic information in the forward direction of the vehicle CR ₀ obtained from the optical beacon or the radio beacon, and the like. Referring to the travel route from the current position of vehicle CR ₀ to the target position is searched. Thereafter, the process in the navigation device 200A proceeds to step S27.

In the in-vehicle device 300 that has received the execution request (REQ), the control unit 350 executes the partial route search process in step S15 of FIG. At the time of execution, the control unit 350 refers to the navigation information (NVI) in the storage device 310, detailed road traffic information in the forward direction of the other vehicle CR _p acquired from the optical beacon or the radio beacon, and the like. A travel route from the current position of ₀ to the target position is searched. The execution result (RST) of the partial route search process obtained in this way is returned to the navigation device 200A.

  In navigation device 200A, in step S27 of FIG. 8, it is determined whether control unit 210A has received the execution result (RST) of the partial route search process from in-vehicle device 300 or not. If the result of this determination is negative (step S27: N), the process of step S27 is repeated.

  On the other hand, when the result of the determination in step S27 is affirmative (step S27: Y), the process of step S13 ends, and the process proceeds to step S16 of FIG.

  If the result of the determination in step S23 is negative (step S23: N), the process proceeds to step S25.

  In step S25, it is determined whether the control unit 210A has inquired whether or not the partial route search process can be executed with respect to all of the selected in-vehicle devices 300 that are request candidates. If the result of this determination is negative (step S25: N), the process returns to step S21.

On the other hand, when the result of the determination in step S25 is affirmative (step S25: Y), the process proceeds to step S26. In step S26, the control unit 210A
The processing range is determined from the entire route search processing, and the determined processing is executed. Thereafter, the process of step S13 ends, and the process proceeds to step S16 of FIG.

  In step S16, the control unit 210A refers to the execution result of the partial route search process and derives the execution result of the entire route search process. When the partial route search process is not extracted in the process of step S10 described above, the execution result of the entire route search process is derived from the route search result executed by the control unit 210A. Further, when the process of step S26 described above is executed, only the route search result executed by the control unit 210A is derived.

  By executing the above processing, distributed processing related to route search processing is performed.

As described above, in the first embodiment, when the navigation apparatus 200A receives an execution request for information processing designated by the user, the requested information processing is performed based on the subsequent arithmetic processing load situation. Then, request request processing to be requested to be executed to the in-vehicle device 300 is extracted. As a result of this extraction, if there is a request request process, the navigation device 200A sends a request to the server apparatus 400 to select an in-vehicle device that is an issue destination of an inquiry as to whether or not the request request process is executable. To send. Upon receiving this selection request, the server device 400 selects the in-vehicle device 300 mounted on at least one other vehicle CR _p that is in a distance communicable with the vehicle CR ₀ over the execution period of the request request process, and displays the selection result. Report to the navigation device 200A.

  Upon receiving the selection result, the navigation device 200A makes an inquiry to the in-vehicle device 300 selected by the server device 400 as to whether or not the request request process can be executed, and gives a positive response as a response to the inquiry. The request request processing execution request is made to the in-vehicle device 300 that has performed the above. As a result, the request request process is executed in the in-vehicle device 300, and the execution result of the request request process is returned to the navigation device 200A. The navigation device 200A that has received the execution result of the requested request process refers to the execution result of the requested request process and derives the requested execution result of the information processing. In derivation of the execution result, when the navigation device 200A executes a part of the requested information processing, the execution result and the execution result of the request desired process reported from the in-vehicle device 300 are obtained. Overall, the execution result of the requested information processing is derived.

  Therefore, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to efficiently distribute and execute information processing using a plurality of information processing devices mounted on the moving body.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference mainly to FIGS.

  FIG. 9 shows a schematic configuration of an information processing distributed system 100B according to the second embodiment. The information processing distributed system 100B is an aspect of the information processing distributed system 700B (see FIG. 2) of the second embodiment described above.

  Also in the second embodiment, as in the case of the first embodiment described above, there is an overall route search process as information processing that may be the target of distributed processing. The description will be made assuming that the search processing is performed.

<Configuration>
As illustrated in FIG. 9, the information processing distributed system 100B includes a navigation device 200B as the first information processing device 710B and an in-vehicle device 300 as the second information processing device 720. That is, the information processing distributed system 100B is different from the information processing distributed system 100A of the first embodiment described above in that the navigation device 200B is provided instead of the navigation device 200A and the server device 400 is not provided. ing. Hereinafter, the description will be given mainly focusing on these differences.

<< Configuration of Navigation Device 200B >>
The navigation device 200B is different from the navigation device 200A described above in that it further includes a selection function for the in-vehicle device 300 and does not have a selection request function for the in-vehicle device 300. The navigation device 200B having these functions is different from the navigation device 200A (see FIG. 4) in that it includes a control unit 210B (not shown) instead of the control unit 210A.

  The control unit 210B performs overall control of the entire navigation device 200B. Like the control unit 210A described above, the control unit 210B is configured to include a central processing unit (CPU) and its peripheral circuits so that the various functions described above are realized by executing various programs. It has become. These functions include functions as the extraction unit 711, the inquiry unit 713, the execution request unit 714, the derivation unit 715, and the selection unit 716 in the second embodiment described above.

Here, like the control unit 210A described above, the control unit 210B acquires the travel data from the travel information acquisition unit 270 and the GPS data from the GPS reception unit 280 every predetermined time, and passes the vehicle CR ₀ . In addition to detecting the position, the passage date and time is detected based on the time measurement result in the GPS data and the time measurement result of the internal timer.

  Similarly to the control unit 210A described above, the control unit 210B periodically transmits detailed traffic jam information, speed regulation / Get rational traffic information including lane regulation information.

  Similarly to the control unit 210A described above, when a user of the navigation device 200B makes an execution request for the entire route search process, the control unit 210B is based on the subsequent computation processing load situation in the navigation device 200B. Then, the partial route search process that the vehicle-mounted device 300 is requested to execute is extracted from the overall route search process.

Further, the control unit 210B as a result of the extraction, if the partial route search processing is present, via the wireless communication unit 230, other vehicle CR ₁ to move the distance capable of performing short-range wireless communication, Receives driving information from CR ₂ ,. Then, the control unit 210B takes into account the travel information of the vehicle CR _{0 and} the travel information of the other vehicle CR _p , and the in-vehicle device 300 that is an issue destination of an inquiry as to whether or not the partial route search process can be executed. Select. Here, the in-vehicle device 300 selected by the control unit 210B maintains a distance capable of short-range wireless communication with the vehicle CR ₀ over the execution period of the request request process, and the same direction as the vehicle CR _0. an in-vehicle device 300 mounted in another vehicle CR _p which are estimated to move.

  Similarly to the control unit 210A described above, the control unit 210B inquires of the selected in-vehicle device 300 whether or not the partial route search process can be executed.

  Similarly to the control unit 210A described above, the control unit 210B receives a response to the inquiry from the in-vehicle device 300 that has made the inquiry. When the control unit 210B receives a positive response as a response to the inquiry, the control unit 210B requests the in-vehicle device 300 that has made the positive response to execute the partial route search process.

In addition, the control unit 210B executes a route search process that has not been requested to the in-vehicle device 300, similarly to the control unit 210A described above. During such execution, the control unit 210B refers to the navigation information (NVI) in the storage unit 220, detailed road traffic information in the forward direction of the vehicle CR ₀ obtained from the light beacon or radio wave beacon, and the like, A travel route from the current position of the vehicle CR ₀ to the target position is searched.

  Similarly to the control unit 210A described above, the control unit 210B receives the execution result of the partial route search process from the in-vehicle device 300 that has received the request for the request request process. Then, the control unit 210B refers to the execution result and derives the execution result of the entire route search process.

  In addition, the control unit 210B performs the navigation information providing processes (a) to (d) to the user in the same manner as the control unit 210A described above.

<Operation>
The operation of the information processing distributed system 100B configured as described above will be described mainly focusing on distributed processing when information processing is executed.

  As a premise, also in the second embodiment, the in-vehicle device 300 that is the issue destination of the inquiry as to whether or not the request request process can be executed is selected.

  In the distributed processing of information processing, when the user of the navigation device 200B makes an execution request for the entire route search processing, as shown in FIG. 10, first, in step S30, step S10 in the first embodiment described above is performed. Similarly, the control unit 210B extracts a partial route search process to be requested to be executed from the in-vehicle device 300 from the overall route search process based on the subsequent calculation processing load situation in the navigation device 200B. If there is a partial route search process as a result of this extraction, the process in the navigation device 200B proceeds to step S31. If the partial route search process does not exist as a result of extraction, the process in the navigation device skips steps S31 and S33 and proceeds to step S36.

In step S31, the control unit 210B receives travel information from other vehicles CR ₁ , CR ₂ ,... That travel a distance where short-range wireless communication can be performed. Then, the control unit 210B takes into account the travel information of the vehicle CR _{0 and} the travel information of the other vehicle CR _p , and the in-vehicle device 300 that is an issue destination of an inquiry as to whether or not the partial route search process can be executed. Select. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S33.

  Subsequent processing in steps S33 and S36 in the navigation device 200B is performed in the same manner as the processing in steps S13 and S16 in FIG. 7 in the first embodiment described above.

  Moreover, the process of step S34, S35 in the vehicle equipment 300 is performed similarly to the process of step S14, S15 of FIG. 7 in the 1st Example mentioned above.

As described above, in the second embodiment, when the navigation apparatus 200B receives an execution request for information processing specified by the user, the requested information processing is performed based on the subsequent calculation processing load situation. Then, request request processing to be requested to be executed to the in-vehicle device 300 is extracted. As a result of this extraction, if there is a request request process, the navigation device 200B is mounted on at least one other vehicle CR _p located at a distance communicable with the vehicle CR ₀ over the execution period of the request request process. The device 300 is selected as the in-vehicle device 300 that is the issue destination of the inquiry as to whether or not the request request process can be executed.

  Also, the navigation device 200B makes an inquiry to the selected in-vehicle device 300 as to whether or not the request request process can be executed, and makes a positive response as a response to the inquiry. Request execution of the requested process. As a result, the request request process is executed in the in-vehicle device 300, and the execution result of the request request process is returned to the navigation device 200B. The navigation device 200B that has received the execution result of the requested request process refers to the execution result of the requested request process and derives the execution result of the requested information processing. In derivation of the execution result, when the navigation device 200B executes a part of the requested information processing, the execution result and the execution result of the request desired process reported from the in-vehicle device 300 are obtained. Overall, the execution result of the requested information processing is derived.

  Therefore, according to the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment described above, it is possible to efficiently distribute and execute information processing using a plurality of information processing devices mounted on a mobile object. it can.

[Modification of Example]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made.

For example, in the first and second embodiments described above, the information processing is a search process for a plurality of detailed moving routes in the vehicle CR ₀ , but the type of information processing is a plurality of image processing such as a plurality of video images. Other information processing may be used as long as the information processing device performs information processing distributedly.

In the above first and second embodiments, since the information processing is a search process for a plurality of detailed moving routes in the vehicle CR ₀ , as the other vehicle CR _p equipped with the in-vehicle device that requests the request request process, The other vehicle CR _p moving in the same direction as the vehicle CR ₀ is selected. On the other hand, if there is no need to select another vehicle CR _p that moves in the same direction as the vehicle CR ₀ according to the type of information processing, communication with the vehicle CR ₀ is performed over the execution period of the request request process. If it is within a possible distance, for example, another vehicle CR _p that moves in the opposite direction to the vehicle CR ₀ may be selected.

In the first embodiment, the selection criteria (A) and (B) described above are adopted when selecting the other vehicle CR _p that is estimated to be moving in the same direction as the vehicle CR ₀ . However, the criteria for selecting the other vehicle CR _p are not limited to the above, and other criteria may be adopted.

  In the first and second embodiments, it is assumed that a partial route search process, which is a request request process, is requested to one in-vehicle device in the description of the operation. You may make it request | require the partial route search process regarding.

  In addition, the road traffic information acquisition unit and the road traffic information acquisition unit in the first and second embodiments can be configured by adopting a DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communication) method or the like.

  Further, in the present invention, for example, an advantage point by cooperating with the request request process is given to the in-vehicle device that cooperated with the request request process, and in the future, the in-vehicle apparatus and the request request process are requested to another in-vehicle apparatus. When doing so, the request may be given priority.

  In the first and second embodiments, the present invention is applied to an information processing apparatus mounted on a vehicle. However, the present invention can be applied to a moving body other than a vehicle (for example, a mobile phone). Of course.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the function of each means is realized by executing a program by a computer. However, all or a part of each of these means is incorporated in a dedicated LSI (Large Scale Integrated). circuit) or the like.

100A, 100B ... Information processing distributed system 200A, 200B ... Navigation device (first information processing device)
210A ... Control unit (extraction means, selection request means, inquiry means, actual
Line request means, derivation means)
300 ... On-vehicle device (second information processing device)
340 ... Control unit (determination means, request processing execution means)
400 ... Server device 430 ... Processing control unit (selection means)
700A, 700B ... Information processing distributed system 710A, 710B ... First information processing device 711 ... Extraction means 712 ... Selection request means 713 ... Inquiry means 714 ... Execution request means 715 ... Derivation means 716 ... Selection means 720 ... Second information processing apparatus 721 ... Judgment means 722 ... Request processing execution means 730 ... Server device 731 ... Selection means

Claims (10)

A first information processing apparatus mounted on a specific mobile body and a second information processing apparatus mounted on at least one other mobile body different from the specific mobile body and capable of short-range wireless communication with the first information processing apparatus Is an information processing distributed system that executes information processing in a distributed manner,
The first information processing apparatus is
Extracting means for extracting a part of the information processing as a request desired process to be requested;
For the second information processing apparatus mounted on another mobile body that is estimated to be able to maintain the distance to the specific mobile body capable of short-range wireless communication over the execution period of the request request process, Inquiry means for making an inquiry as to whether or not the request request process is executable;
Execution request means for requesting execution of the request request process to the second information processing apparatus that has made the positive response when a positive response is received as a response to the inquiry;
Deriving means for deriving the execution result of the information processing with reference to the execution result of the request desired process returned from the second information processing apparatus that has received the execution request;
The second information processing apparatus is
Determining means for determining whether or not the request request processing can be executed based on the content of the request request processing that has received the inquiry; and determining the result of the determination to the first information processing apparatus;
A request to execute the request request process and return the execution result of the request request process to the first information processing apparatus when the determination unit receives an execution request of the request request process for which a positive response has been made Processing execution means;
An information processing distributed system characterized by that. The extraction means extracts a part of the information processing based on a subsequent calculation processing load situation in the first information processing apparatus as a request desired process to be requested for execution,
The determination means determines whether or not the request request process is executable in consideration of a future calculation load situation in the second information processing apparatus;
The information processing distributed system according to claim 1.   The other mobile body on which the second information processing apparatus to which the inquiry is issued is mounted is selected from other mobile bodies that move in the same direction as the specific mobile body. Information processing distributed system. The information processing is a search process for a plurality of moving routes in the specific moving body,
The request request process is a search process of at least one travel route among the plurality of travel routes.
The information processing distributed system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein A server device capable of communicating with the first and second information processing devices;
The first information processing apparatus further includes selection requesting means for requesting the server apparatus to select a second information processing apparatus to which the inquiry is issued before requesting the request request processing.
When the server device receives the selection request, the server device includes a second information processing device mounted on at least one other mobile body located at a distance communicable with the specific mobile body over an execution period of the request request process. Selecting means for selecting and reporting the selection result to the first information processing apparatus;
The information processing distributed system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein   6. The information processing according to claim 5, wherein the selecting means selects a second information processing apparatus to which the inquiry is issued in consideration of travel information of the specific moving body and the other moving body. Distributed system.   The first information processing apparatus sends a second information processing apparatus mounted on at least one mobile body located at a distance communicable with the specific mobile body over an execution period of the request request process to the issue destination of the inquiry. The information processing distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising selection means for selecting as the second information processing apparatus. An information processing apparatus mounted on a mobile body and capable of short-range wireless communication with another information processing apparatus mounted on at least one other mobile body different from the mobile body,
Extraction means for extracting a part of the information processing as a request desired process for which execution is requested;
For the other information processing apparatus mounted on the other mobile body estimated to be able to maintain the distance to the specific mobile body capable of the short-range wireless communication over the execution period of the request request process, Inquiry means for making an inquiry as to whether or not the request processing is executable;
Execution request means for requesting execution of the request request process to another information processing apparatus that has made a positive response when a positive response is received as a response to the inquiry;
Deriving means for deriving the execution result of the information processing with reference to the execution result of the request desired process returned from the other information processing apparatus that has received the execution request;
An information processing apparatus comprising: When receiving an inquiry about process feasibility from the other information processing apparatus, it is determined whether or not the process related to the inquiry is executable based on the processing content specified in the inquiry, and the determination Judgment means for replying to the other information processing apparatus that made the inquiry;
When the determination means receives an execution request for a process for which an affirmative response has been made, the process that has received the execution request for the process is executed, and the execution result is used as another information processing that has performed the execution request for the process. Request processing execution means for returning to the apparatus;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: A first information processing apparatus mounted on a specific mobile body and a second information processing apparatus mounted on at least one other mobile body different from the specific mobile body and capable of short-range wireless communication with the first information processing apparatus An information processing distribution method used in an information processing distribution system that distributes and executes information processing,
An extraction step in which the first information processing apparatus extracts a part of the information processing as a request desired process to be requested;
In the first information processing apparatus, the first information processing apparatus mounted on another mobile body estimated to be able to maintain a distance from the specific mobile body capable of the short-range wireless communication over an execution period of the request request process. 2 an inquiry process for inquiring of the information processing apparatus whether or not the request request process is executable;
In the second information processing apparatus, it is determined whether or not the request request process is executable based on the content of the request request process that has received the inquiry, and the result of the determination is sent to the first information processing apparatus. A decision process for answering;
In the first information processing apparatus, when a positive response is received as a response to the inquiry in the inquiry process, an execution request for the request request process is made to the second information processing apparatus that has made the positive response An execution request process to perform;
In the second information processing apparatus that has made an affirmative response in the determination step, when receiving an execution request for the request request process, the request request process is executed, and the execution result of the request request process is obtained as the first request process. A request processing execution step of returning to the information processing apparatus;
A derivation step of deriving an execution result of the information processing with reference to an execution result of the request desired process returned from the second information processing apparatus that has received the execution request in the first information processing apparatus;
An information processing distribution method comprising:

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