EP0609111A1 - Method and device for consulting traffic information - Google Patents

Abstract

Method of consulting selected traffic information relating to an itinerary programmed from the start point D of a vehicle, and from its arrival point A, characterised in that with the itinerary is associated the segment DA which can be read on any road map, and in that onto the segment are projected, orthogonally, the points bi of this map forming the subject of the selected messages, in such a way as to have available a segment DA, on which the projections Bi of the points bi are aligned, according to a geometric arrangement, representing the location of traffic problems with respect to the itinerary. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to the technical field of assistance in driving vehicles, in particular road vehicles, by receiving and operating in real time, traffic information. More specifically, it relates to a method and a device ensuring the rational exploitation on board of a vehicle, of information received by radio, at a standstill or during the journey.

The integration of traffic information reception and display systems in a road vehicle driving station has already been the subject of numerous patent publications. The applicant's publication FR 2 656 966 describes in particular a management and control system for on-board communication devices, including a driving assistance device. The vehicle is equipped for this purpose with a "management and control unit", with which various on-board devices communicate permanently, by exchanging coded messages, while an "instruction unit" receives orders from the user, and transmits these to the "management unit".

The reception and operation of traffic information broadcast by radio, in particular on RDS channels, is also a known provision. In its patent application FR 92-12609, not published to date, the applicant proposes on this subject a method and a device for assisting driving by receiving and using traffic information, according to which the driver simultaneously controls the choice of a route or a defined geographic area and listening to or consulting information relating to it, selected using appropriate "filtering". In addition, the driver can operate other on-board communication devices simultaneously (cassette or compact disc player, radio telephone, etc.), and control the restitution devices common to all of these devices. , such as speakers or video display screens. The device described in this document notably includes an information decoder road, integrated into the car radio, and a screen for viewing the selected messages, located near the dashboard.

• l'énoncé du nom des rues n'est généralement pas suffisant pour permettre à l'utilisateur de déterminer si l'information reçue concerne ou non la partie du trajet restant à parcourir,
• les informations sont retransmises dans un ordre qui ne correspond pas forcément à celui de l'itinéraire, et
• l'utilisateur n'a pas la possibilité de sélectionner les informations reçues, en fonction de la position de son véhicule sur l'itinéraire.

In the absence of any particular provision, when the driver "calls" the messages broadcast by the RDS station, these messages, "stacked" in the decoder as and when they are broadcast, are retransmitted to him in their chronological order of broadcast. In practice, the real-time processing of this data on board the vehicle poses certain difficulties relating to the following points:

• the wording of the street names is generally not sufficient to allow the user to determine whether or not the information received relates to the part of the journey remaining to be covered,
• the information is retransmitted in an order which does not necessarily correspond to that of the route, and
• the user is not able to select the information received, depending on the position of his vehicle on the route.

The present invention aims to remedy all of these difficulties.

It relates to a method for consulting selected traffic information, relating to a route programmed from the starting point D of the vehicle and its arrival point A. This method is characterized in that it is associated with the route a segment DA, readable on any road map, and in that we project orthogonally on it the points b _i of this map which are the subject of the selected messages, so as to have a segment DA, on which the projections B _i of the points b _i are aligned.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the route is programmed using at least one intermediate point I, and the points b _i are projected orthogonally on the segments b, before projecting on the axis DA these segments, so as to have a segment DIA, on which the projections B _i of the points b _i and those of the intermediate points I are aligned, according to an arrangement geometric, representative of the location of traffic problems in relation to the route.

The invention also relates to a consultation device for the implementation of this method. This device is characterized in that it comprises means for programming a route from its starting point D, from its arrival point A and from at least one intermediate point I, an information receiver, a geographic database, and processing means suitable for ensuring the display on a display screen, on the one hand of the traffic information proper, and on the other hand of information relating to the location of the selected traffic information , relative to the route.

• la figure 1 est un schéma général montrant l'implantation d'un système d'aide à la conduite sur un poste de conduite,
• la figure 2A propose une première représentation graphique d'un itinéraire, mettant en évidence la situation des problèmes de circulation par rapport à celui-ci,
• la figure 2B illustre le "dépliage" de l'itinéraire de la figure 2A, et
• les figures 3, 4 et 5 se rapportent au dispositif de consultation, proposé par l'invention.

Other particularities and advantages of the invention will appear clearly on reading the following description of a particular embodiment thereof, in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

• FIG. 1 is a general diagram showing the installation of a driving assistance system on a driving position,
• FIG. 2A provides a first graphical representation of a route, highlighting the situation of traffic problems with respect to it,
• FIG. 2B illustrates the "unfolding" of the route of FIG. 2A, and
• Figures 3, 4 and 5 relate to the consultation device, proposed by the invention.

In Figure 1, there is shown by way of nonlimiting example, a driving position 1, of a motor vehicle, provided with an information reception device 2, integrated for example into a conventional car radio, which comprises in particular a selection button 3 and a "delete" button 4, the function of which is explained below. Under the radio receiver 2 there is a card reader magnetic or floppy disks 5 in which geographic databases and route programming means, for example a 5 ′ keyboard, are stored in memory. Finally, a central processing unit (not shown) is capable of establishing a route and of imposing operating instructions on the receiver of the 2, such as the filtering of information relating to a particular geographic sector, determined to from the established route. In the example described, the display screen 6, ensuring the display of the messages, is placed above the receiver 2, and to the right of the steering wheel 7, one of the branches of which has not been shown, in order to leave appear a satellite under steering wheel 8, provided in particular with a selection dial 9 and sound adjustment means 10.

In a known manner, the programming of a route can be carried out by introducing into the device a starting point D, an ending point A, and possibly one or more intermediate points I. Furthermore, the thumb wheel 9 of the satellite under steering wheel 8, or the selection button 3, allow the driver to scroll through the screen 6, the available information. As indicated above, in the absence of any particular provision, the information will be returned to the user according to their chronological order of distribution, which does not necessarily correspond to the order in which the vehicle approaches the corresponding points on the route. To avoid this discrepancy, the present invention proposes to order the consultation of messages according to the priorities of the user. It also proposes to integrate into the content of the information displayed, a component relating to the "localization" of each traffic information on the route, and to conceal the information relating to the part of the route, already traveled. .

Referring to FIG. 2A, relating to a route defined by its starting point D, an intermediate point I and its arrival point A, it can be seen that it is always possible to graphically represent a route programmed from these data, by two segments DI and IA, forming an angle DIA on any geographic map. Inside the filtering corridor 11, delimited on the diagram by the perimeter 12, four points b₁, b₂, b₃, b₄ concerned appear by circulation problems, as well as their orthogonal projections, B₁ B₂, B₃, B₄, on the DI and IA segments. If the corresponding messages are restored in chronological order of distribution, the driver will for example have information on b₁ first, whereas this in fact concerns the last of the traffic problems affecting the route.

When the angle DIA is unfolded in accordance with FIG. 2B, it becomes easy to transpose the diagram obtained on a display strip 13, integrated for example into the screen 6. This arrangement, illustrated by FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, amounts to delimiting two zones 13, 14, on the display 6, the first 14, being devoted to the display of the messages proper, and the second 13, to their location on the route. On the slide 13 of Figure 3, we easily "read" the situation of points B₁, B₂, B₃ and B₄, relative to the DIA route. In the case where the user has programmed one or more intermediate points I, the points b _i will be projected onto the corresponding segments DI, II and IA, then the segments DI, II and IA will themselves be projected onto the axis DA , in order to benefit from a geometric arrangement of points B _i and I on the axis DA, representative of the location of traffic problems with respect to the route.

The invention therefore provides that the device spontaneously transmits the messages in the order resulting from the "projection" of the points concerned on the route, and the "unfolding" thereof. Furthermore, the driver has the possibility of selecting information, by moving the cursor 15, along the strip 13. This selection can be made for example from the wheel 9 of the satellite under the steering wheel 8, or the button selection 3 of the receiver 2. Thus, in the example of FIG. 3, the message selected by the cursor 15 relates to the point B₂, while in FIG. 4, it relates to the intermediate point I.

FIG. 4 illustrates a particular arrangement of the invention, intended to conceal the messages corresponding to certain points of the route (here, point B₂ in FIG. 3), in order to transmit to the driver only information relating to part of the route. This arrangement is implemented by the user by placing the cursor 15 on a point B _i (or point I), and pressing the "delete" key 4 of the receiver 2. In this case, all the messages relating to the points to the left of cursor 15, will not be retransmitted. On the other hand, if the vehicle is also equipped with a location system, capable of locating the vehicle itself, in relation to its route, it can be provided that the "deletion" concerns all of the points exceeded, regardless of cursor position.

Finally, when two points B _i are brought together, it may be wise to avoid any risk of confusion, to group them on the slide 13. Such a grouping, illustrated by FIG. 5 for points B₃ and B₄, is then advantageously supplemented by the display on the screen of the subscript or sequence number 16 of the message displayed, in the series of grouped messages.

In conclusion, it should be emphasized that the invention allows the user to have available messages in the order in which he encounters the corresponding traffic problems, while immediately locating these problems on his route, and possibly in relation to the position. of his vehicle on it.

Claims (12)

1) Method for consulting, selected traffic information, relating to a route programmed from the starting point D of a vehicle, and from its arrival point A, characterized in that it is associated with the route a segment DA readable on any road map, and in that the points b _i of this map are orthogonally projected on this map which are the subject of the selected messages, so as to have a segment DA, on which are aligned the projections B _i of the points b _i , according to a geometric arrangement representative of the location of the traffic problems with respect to the route. 2) A consultation method according to claim 1, characterized in that the route is programmed using at least one intermediate point I, and in that it is projected orthogonally on the segments DI, II and IA, the points b _i , before projecting these segments onto the axis DA, so as to have a segment DIA, on which the projections B _i of the points b _i and those of the intermediaries I are aligned, according to a geometric arrangement representative of the location of traffic problems in relation to the route. 3) Consultation method according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the traffic information is transmitted to the user, according to the order of points B _i and I, on the segment DA. 4) Consultation method according to claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the user can consult the information of his choice. 5) Consultation method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the user can give up information relating to a part of the route. 6) A consultation method according to claim 5, characterized in that the user can renounce information relating to the points that the vehicle has passed. 7) Consultation device for the implementation of a method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises programming means (5 ') of a route from its starting point D , from its arrival point A and possibly from one or more intermediate points I, an information receiver (2), a geographic database (5), and processing means suitable for ensuring the display, on a display screen (6), on the one hand the actual traffic information, and on the other hand information relating to the location of the selected traffic information, with respect to the route. 8) Device according to claim 7, characterized in that a part of the screen (6) is assigned to a strip (13) allowing the location, on the segment DA, of the intermediate point I, and of the points B _i , being the subject of selected traffic information, and in that the strip (13) includes a cursor (15), making it possible to select a point B _i or the point I. 9) Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the cursor (15) is actuated by the wheel (9), of the satellite under steering wheel (8). 10) Device according to claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the cursor (15) is actuated by a selection button (4), of the receiver (2). 11) Device according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that it comprises a delete key (4), allowing the user to give up certain information. 12) Device according to one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that several points B _i close together can be grouped on the strip (13), the display then being supplemented by the index (16), of the message displayed, in the series of grouped messages.

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