JP2012098060A - In-vehicle information display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically switch pieces of information to be displayed as soon as predetermined conditions are met without waiting a user's operation.SOLUTION: An in-vehicle information display device: acquires pieces of information by executing a plurality of application programs from an external server via a communication network, respectively; selectively displays different pieces of information of the respective application programs on a plurality of display units whose number is less than the number of the application programs; associates the respective pieces of information with display priority changing according to time; and selects pieces of information with high display priority to display them on each of the display units.

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle information display device, and more particularly to an in-vehicle information display device that performs data communication with a server outside the vehicle to acquire and display information.

In an in-vehicle information display device such as a car navigation device that performs data communication with a server outside the vehicle by wireless or the like, a plurality of application programs (hereinafter simply referred to as applications) are executed in parallel. Can acquire data from servers connected to the in-vehicle information display device via a communication network, and display different information for each application (for example, see Patent Document 1). For example, such information includes traffic jam information and weather information.
The information to be displayed is updated as needed under the circumstances where data communication is possible, and the latest information is displayed.
By the way, an in-vehicle information display device may cause a user to select and display information to be displayed due to restrictions on display space.

JP-A-11-334483

In the conventional vehicle-mounted information display device, the vehicle may deviate from the communicable region. In such a case, the information selected by the user is not updated, and old information continues to be displayed endlessly. There is a problem that information that is not displayed even though the information is updated due to being not selected by the user.
Even in such a situation, it is possible to switch the display status by manual operation by the user, but depending on the distance to the destination and the running status of the vehicle, the user cannot perform the operation and the display status can be changed. There was a problem that information that could not be switched and displayed meaningless information was displayed.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to automatically switch information to be displayed as time passes without waiting for a user operation in an in-vehicle information display device capable of performing data communication with the outside. It is in providing the vehicle-mounted information display apparatus which can do.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention obtains information from an external server via a communication network by executing a plurality of application programs, and displays the application program on a plurality of display units having a smaller number than the application program. In the in-vehicle information display device that selectively displays different information every time, each information is given a display priority that changes according to time, and information with a high display priority is selected and displayed on each display unit. It is characterized by that.
According to the above configuration, information with a high display priority is displayed on the display unit among the information with display priority that changes according to time. Information is selected and displayed on the display.

In this case, an update unit that updates the information may be provided, and the display priority may be changed based on an elapsed time from the previous information update.
According to the above configuration, since the display priority changes based on the elapsed time from the previous information update, the information to be displayed is selected with a higher display priority according to the elapsed time from the previous information update. Displayed.

In addition, the display priority may be changed based on a non-display time during which the information is not displayed.
According to the above configuration, even for information that is not selected based on the display priority and is not displayed, the display priority changes based on the non-display time, and the information to be displayed has a high display priority. It is selected and displayed.

The display priority may be changed in relation to a preset distance to the destination.
According to the above configuration, the display priority changes in relation to a preset distance to the destination. For some information, the longer the distance to the destination, the higher the display priority, or Since the display priority is either higher as the distance to the ground is shorter, information with higher display priority is selected and displayed in conjunction with the distance to the destination.

Further, the display priority may be changed in relation to the remaining amount of power energy mounted on the vehicle.
According to the above configuration, the display priority changes in relation to the remaining amount of motive energy mounted on the vehicle, and for some information, the higher the remaining amount of motive energy, the higher the display priority, or Since the display priority is either higher as the remaining amount of motive energy is smaller, information with higher display priority is selected and displayed in conjunction with the remaining amount of motive energy.

  According to the present invention, by executing a plurality of application programs, information is obtained from an external server via a communication network, and different information for each application program is selected on a plurality of display units having a smaller number than the application program. In-vehicle information display devices that display automatically, information with high display priority that changes according to time is selected and displayed on each display unit, so it should be displayed over time without waiting for user operation Information can be switched automatically.

It is a general | schematic structure block diagram of the car navigation apparatus as a vehicle-mounted information display apparatus. It is an operation processing flowchart of an embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the parameter and evaluation coefficient in a certain time. It is explanatory drawing of an example of an information display screen. It is explanatory drawing of the parameter and evaluation coefficient after predetermined time passes, after displaying information.

Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a car navigation device as an in-vehicle information display device.
As shown in FIG. 1, the car navigation device 10 includes a GPS unit 11, a gyro unit 12, and an interface (I / F) unit 13 to which a signal indicating the running state of the vehicle is input from the vehicle side on which the car navigation device 10 is mounted. , Storage unit 14, operation unit 15, display control unit 16, display unit 17, audio output control unit 18, audio output unit 19, wireless network control unit 20, VICS (trademark registration) (Vehicle An information and communication system) receiving module 30 and a control unit 21 for centrally controlling these units are provided.

The GPS unit 11 receives GPS radio waves from GPS satellites via the GPS antenna 11a, and obtains the position coordinates indicating the current position of the vehicle and the traveling direction from the GPS signals superimposed on the GPS radio waves by calculation.
The gyro unit 12 includes a gyro sensor (not shown), and outputs relative vehicle orientation information detected by the gyro sensor to the control unit 21.
A parking brake signal PS and a vehicle speed pulse signal SP are input to the interface unit 13 as signals indicating the running state of the vehicle from the vehicle side. Signals indicating the traveling state of these vehicles are output to the control unit 21, and the control unit 21 is based on the parking brake signal PS and the vehicle speed pulse signal SP and the vehicle is currently traveling. Or whether it is stopped.

The storage unit 14 includes a hard disk drive device having a recording medium having a relatively large data storage area or a CD / DVD drive device.
In addition to the plurality of operation buttons 15a1 to 15an, the operation unit 15 further includes a touch panel 15b disposed on the front side of the display panel 17a of the display unit 17, and a user is displayed on the display panel 17a. When the touch panel 15b is touched with a finger or the like in association with the various button displays, a signal indicating the touched location is input to the control unit 21. Thereby, the control part 21 specifies which button the user touch-operated compared with the position of the various button display currently displayed on the display panel 17a.

  The display unit 17 includes the above-described display panel 17a. The display panel 17a can be configured using, for example, a liquid crystal display panel, an EL (Electro Luminescent) display panel, or the like. The display control unit 16 includes a drawing processor (not shown), receives a drawing command including display instructions such as map information and button display from the control unit 21, and controls the display unit 17 to perform display based on the drawing command. To do.

The audio output control unit 18 includes a D / A converter, an amplifier, and the like (not shown), converts a voice data signal for route guidance into digital / analog, amplifies it with an amplifier, and an audio output unit 19 composed of a speaker or the like. Through the vehicle interior.
The wireless network control unit 20 includes a wireless antenna 59a, establishes wireless communication with an access point (not shown), connects to the communication network via the access point, and other devices such as an external server connected via the communication network Controls data transmission / reception to / from.
The VICS receiving module 30 receives the broadcast wave by the receiving unit 30b via the antenna 30a, acquires the traffic information superimposed on the FM multiplex broadcast wave, and outputs it to the control unit 21. Here, the traffic information superimposed on the FM multiplex broadcast wave is, for example, traffic information in units of prefectures, and is traffic information several tens km to several hundred km ahead. This traffic information is current road traffic information collected, processed, and edited by the road traffic information communication system center (VICS center), and includes current traffic jam information.

  The control unit 21 centrally controls each part of the car navigation device 10, functions as a work area of the CPU 21a, temporarily stores various data, a RAM 21c, various control programs executed by the CPU 21a, and A ROM 21b in which data is stored in a nonvolatile manner is provided, the current location and traveling direction of the vehicle are specified based on the detection results of the GPS unit 11 and the gyro unit 12, and a map around the current location is displayed. In addition, when the information for setting the destination or the destination is input by executing the route guidance application, the control unit 21 guides the route to the destination or returns to the departure point. Is searched, displayed on the map, and route guidance processing to return to the departure point to the destination or via the destination is executed.

Here, the update condition parameters for updating the display will be described.
In the present embodiment, as the update condition parameter, the non-display time that is the time elapsed until the present without displaying the screen of each display target information (or the application that handles the display target information), the distance to the destination, the destination Relevance with each display target information (or application that handles display target information) related to the distance to, the remaining amount of fuel (remaining power energy), each display target information about fuel remaining (or an application that handles display target information), and Relevance and other weighting factors. As other weighting factors, for example, a value corresponding to the display priority of each information itself is set when the elapsed time is not considered.
In the present embodiment, the update condition parameter is handled as having a higher display priority as its value is larger, but can be handled as having a higher display priority as its value is smaller.

Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart of operation processing according to the embodiment.
In this case, data communication is performed for each application. As the application, for example, a traffic jam information display application that displays traffic jam information based on traffic jam information data, or parking lot information is displayed based on parking lot information data. Parking information display application, News display application that displays news information based on news information data, Weather forecast display application that displays weather forecast information based on weather forecast information data, Gas station information based on gas station information data A gas station information display application to be displayed.

First, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the data communication timing has been reached for each application (step S11).
If it is determined in step S11 that data communication is possible, it is determined whether or not data communication is actually possible (step S12). Specifically, it is determined whether or not the subject is in the communication area and has sufficient radio field intensity to perform data communication.

If it is determined in step S12 that data communication is not possible (step S12; No), it is determined whether or not the data subject to data communication is being displayed (step S13).
If it is determined in step S13 that the data subject to data communication is being displayed (step S13; Yes), the process proceeds to step S16, and the process proceeds to a data update process based on a series of priorities.
If it is determined in step S13 that the data subject to data communication is not being displayed, the process returns to step S11 and the same control is performed thereafter.
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S12 that data communication is possible (step S12; Yes), the control unit 21 operates the data communication function of each application, and a corresponding external data server (external server) or the like. Is accessed and data communication is performed, and information data corresponding to the application is received (step S14).
Then, the received information data is decoded, and the information included in the information data is displayed on the display panel 17a of the display unit 17 (step S15).
Next, the control unit 21 determines whether or not a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute) has elapsed since the information was displayed on the display panel 17a of the display unit 17 (step S16).
If it is determined in step S16 that the predetermined time has not elapsed since the information is still displayed on the display panel 17a of the display unit 17, the process proceeds to step S11 again because there is no need to replace the display information described later. Thereafter, the same processing is performed.
If it is determined in step S16 that a predetermined time has elapsed since the information was displayed on the display panel 17a of the display unit 17 (step S16; Yes), the distance to the destination in the route guidance, each application and the destination Information such as the degree of relevance, the remaining amount of gasoline (corresponding to the remaining power energy), the degree of association between each application and the remaining amount of gasoline (step S17). In this case, the predetermined time for acquiring information may be different for each application.

Here, as an example of the degree of relevance between each application and the distance to the destination, in the case of the traffic information display application, the farther the distance to the destination, the greater the influence of the traffic (because it is affected many times) It is considered that the degree of relevance is high, and the closer the distance to the destination is, the less affected the traffic jam is, so the degree of relevance is low.
In addition, for the parking information display application, if the distance to the destination is far away, information is not required, so the degree of relevance is considered low, and if the distance to the destination is short, information is required. Therefore, the degree of relevance is high.

  In addition, regarding the news display application, since the distance to the destination is not very relevant, the degree of relevance is always low. Regarding the weather forecast display application, the closer the distance to the destination, the more information is required. Therefore, the degree of association is high, and the degree of association is low as the distance to the destination is long. As for the gas station information display application, since the distance to the destination is not very relevant, the degree of relevance is always low.

  In addition, as an example of the degree of association between each application and the remaining amount of gasoline, in the case of a traffic jam information display application, in the case of traffic jams, it is thought that more gasoline will be consumed and affected greatly, so the degree of association is high When there is no traffic jam, the relevance level is low because the remaining amount of gasoline is not greatly affected. In addition, regarding the parking lot information display application, since the remaining amount of gasoline is not very relevant, the degree of relevance is always low.

In addition, regarding the news display application, since the remaining amount of gasoline is not very relevant, the degree of relevance is always low. The weather forecast display application is also not related to the remaining amount of gasoline, so it is usually said that the degree of relevance is low. However, if the weather forecast is extremely hot, etc. The amount is considered to increase, so it is considered highly relevant.
As for the gas station information display application, the lower the gasoline remaining amount, the more information is required, so the relevance level is high. The higher the gasoline remaining amount, the less the need for refueling. It is said.

  Subsequently, the control unit 21 determines the elapsed time since the information update, the non-display time for each application, the distance to the destination, the degree of relevance for the destination for each application, the remaining amount of gasoline, the remaining amount for gasoline for each application. Degree and weighting coefficient are obtained as parameters, display priority is calculated for each application, and display priority of display of information corresponding to each application is determined (step S18).

In this embodiment, the display priority is obtained as the product of the above parameters, and the determination is made that the higher the evaluation coefficient is, the higher the priority is.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of parameters and display priorities at a certain time.
More specifically, in the case shown in FIG. 3, for the traffic information display application, the elapsed time from the time of information update = 5 minutes, the non-display time for each application = 2 minutes, the distance to the destination = 1 ( = Distant), Relevance to destination for each application = 5 (high), Remaining gasoline = 1 (= Remaining), Relevance to remaining gasoline per application = 2 and Weight coefficient = 3 As a product, display priority = 300. Similarly, the display priority in the case of the parking information display application = 5, the display priority in the case of the news display application = 20, the display priority in the case of the weather forecast display application = 30, and the case of the gas station information display application. Display priority = 6.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the information display screen.
FIG. 4 shows a case where information corresponding to three types of applications can be displayed on the display screen. On the left side of the display screen 17b of the display panel 17a of the display unit 17, a route guidance screen is displayed. 17c is displayed, and in the first information display part A1 on the right side, the traffic information display application, which is the first application with the highest display priority of display, displays the traffic information, and in the second information display part A2, The weather forecast display application, which is the second application with the second highest display priority, displays a display button for displaying the weather information, and the display priority of the display is displayed in the third information display unit A3. The news display application, which is the third highest third application, displays a display button for displaying news information.
As a result, the user can easily acquire such information. For example, the driver who is the user determines that the influence of the traffic jam state is low at the present time, or the latest information such as weather information and news information. Information is displayed and acquired.
A button display area 17d on which various buttons for shifting to another operation mode are displayed is arranged at the lower right side of the display screen 17b of the display panel 17a of the display unit 17.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of parameters and display priorities after a predetermined time has elapsed since the information was displayed.
Further, when the time has passed and the state shown in FIG. 5 is reached, for the traffic information display application, the elapsed time from the time of information update = 1 minute, the non-display time for each application = 1 minute, until the destination Distance = 2 (= slightly far), relevance to destination for each application = 2 (slightly low), remaining amount of gasoline = 4 (= slightly less remaining), relevance to remaining amount of gasoline per application = 1 The weighting coefficient is 3, and the display priority is 24 as the obtained product. Similarly, display priority in the case of a parking information display application = 50, display priority in the case of a news display application = 6, display priority in the case of a weather forecast display application = 8, and in the case of a gas station information display application. Display priority = 90.

Therefore, when it is possible to display three types of information on the first to third information display portions A1 to A3 of the display screen, a gas station information application, a parking lot information application, and a traffic jam information display application Information will be displayed for these three applications.
Thereby, the driver who is a user can change a drive plan easily so that it may go to a parking lot or a gas station as needed, seeing a traffic congestion state.
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the freshness of information (whether it is more up-to-date information), the traveling state of the vehicle (for example, whether the vehicle is traveling near a destination for route guidance) ) Or the state of the vehicle (for example, whether there is a remaining amount of fuel) or the like, the information required for the driver (or passenger) who is the user is preferentially displayed. Even a small in-vehicle information display device can display and acquire more useful information, improving the usability of the user.

10 Car navigation device (in-vehicle information display device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 GPS unit 12 Gyro unit 13 Interface part 14 Memory | storage part 15 Operation part 16 Display control part 17 Display part 17a Display panel 20 Wireless network control part 21 Control part 30 VICS receiving module A1-A3 1st-3rd information display part (display) Part)

Claims (5)

By executing a plurality of application programs, information is acquired from an external server via a communication network, and information different for each application program is selectively displayed on a plurality of display units having a smaller number than the application program. In the in-vehicle information display device,
Each information is associated with a display priority that changes according to time, and information with a high display priority is selected and displayed on each display unit.
An in-vehicle information display device characterized by that. The in-vehicle information display device according to claim 1,
An update unit for updating the information;
The in-vehicle information display device, wherein the display priority changes based on an elapsed time since the previous information update. In the in-vehicle information display device according to claim 1 or claim 2,
The on-vehicle information display device, wherein the display priority changes based on a non-display time during which the information is not displayed. In the in-vehicle information display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The in-vehicle information display device, wherein the display priority changes in relation to a preset distance to a destination. In the in-vehicle information display device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The in-vehicle information display device, wherein the display priority changes in relation to the remaining amount of power energy mounted on the vehicle.

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