FR2652413A1 - Computerised system with road software integrated on vehicles for road guidance with display and direct simulation on screen - Google Patents

Abstract

Computerised road guidance system for vehicles. The invention relates to a computerised road guidance system for vehicles using a microcomputer according to Fig. 1/2, with a central processing unit (1), keyboard (2) and optionally light pen (3) or mouse (4), with one or more reading devices (5) for data recording media (magnetic or non magnetic), with a flat screen (6) ergonomically integrated with the vehicle. This system allows direct reading; on the screen (6) with particular display of a road route on a road map or any other plan, after input of the departure and arrival points and optionally of intermediate "via" points. After the start, a moving marker (7) simulates the oriented position of the vehicle during its journey, in conjunction with the data recording medium (8), a kilometre counter (odometer) (9) and with an orientation system having cardinal points (10) (compass, etc.). The system gives the possibility of making corrections to the simulated position with respect to the true position. The road indications visualised on the screen (6) can be supplemented by additional information in the form of a page (video, display) screen. The computerised system may furthermore act as a support for a conventional on-board computer (11) for displaying the indicators (controls) of the vehicle in question.

Description

 The present invention relates to fig. 1/2 and 2/2, a computerized route guidance system by microcomputer for all types of vehicles. It can be designed by ergonomic integration into the vehicle of conventional computer hardware and comprising in particular a central unit (1) comprising the software (16) and a random access memory (14), a control keyboard (2) to which can be added an optical pencil (3) or a mouse (4), one or more magnetic or non-magnetic computer media readers (5) with an orientable flat display screen (6) which can be eclipsable, with simulation on the screen (6) of the theoretical position of the vehicle by moving mobile reference (7).

 These assemblies integrated ergonomically in the vehicle are managed by the central unit (1) whose power and storage capacity can be variable. The power supply of the complete system can be carried out via a battery (12) either from the vehicle itself or from a particular rechargeable battery via the engine drive of said vehicle.

 The traditional route guidance is carried out by reading the user of conventional paper-based maps or road plans, which is neither comfortable nor practical and requires research that is sometimes long and tedious, an often significant loss of time and errors which may be significant.

 The present invention overcomes these drawbacks and ensures the comfort and safety of the user by direct reading on the screen (6) with a particular display of a road journey on a road map, city map or the like, displayed on this said screen (6) after processing by reader (5) of the corresponding computer medium (8) and input, according to screen page "1" to "5", via the keyboard (2), the optical pencil (3) or the mouse (4), starting, ending and possibly "via" points, which represent the different stages desired by the user. The computer support (8) provides the computer system, in addition to the map or the plan itself, with all the indications concerning the scale and the orientation of the map or plan with respect to the cardinal points.

 The different computer supports (8) can be designed according to traditional maps and plans at different scales and can include international, national, regional, departmental, cantonal, local road maps, city plans with or without suburbs, boroughs, neighborhood and taking into account traffic directions.

 The system allows the reading of one or more of these computer media by means of one or more readers (5), the use of which can be selective, which introduces a notion of logical sequence of guidance by selection of scales of maps, or plans, or series of maps or plans.

 The computer system allows the simulation of the theoretical oriented position of the vehicle by a mobile marker (7), arrow or other, on the displayed map and the particular route displayed on the screen (6) during the entire journey after entry by through the different control means (2), (3) or (4) of the starting and finishing points and possibly of the different places of passage "via". The simulation being provided on the one hand by the computer support (8) defining the scale and the orientation of the map or of the plan considered according to the cardinal points, and on the other hand by a distance odometer system (9 ) of the vehicle or separate, and in connection with a cardinal orientation system (10), compass or compass, connected to the computer system. The vehicle itself being oriented by fixing on said system (10) compass or compass , the coordinates of the vehicle; front, rear, left, right).

 The computer system also allows the correction of the simulated theoretical position, displayed on the screen in real position (7) by simple user validation intervention using the keyboard (2), the optical pencil (3) or mouse (4) or validation by special key (13); the display of the simulated theoretical location (7) taking place in a logical relationship between the mileage carried out and the scale of the map provided by the computer support (8) and according to precise road reference points (city, village, motorway exit .

 Any deviation or departure from the particular route displayed on the screen (6) is signaled to the user by the computer system by means of a signal which may be audible or visual with particular display on the screen (6). .

 The system being equipped with a random access memory (14), called "working", can take into account a certain number of additional information provided by the IT support (8) being processed or by the user by the middle of the keyboard. This various information, in the form of a screen page, which may be of a kilometer order, of road, geographic, seasonal, climatic, tourist, professional location, the "road map" to follow, landmarks by numbering or other computerized maps complementary or retail.

 The computer supports (8) can be designed according to the principle of road maps, road maps or traditional detailed cities on different scales and can include international, national, regional, departmental, cantonal, local, suburban, city road maps. , district and even district and can take into account the directions of traffic and the intensity of traffic according to the schedule integrated by the user using the keyboard (2).

 If the user performs a route variant, by mistake or not, in relation to the pre-programmed program, any departure from the displayed route is signaled to the user by means of the simulator or mobile marker (7) by a signal which can be audible or, and visual.

 On the other hand, the computer system can be connected and used as a support for the on-board computer of the vehicle and makes it possible to carry out by screen display all the technical checks of the vehicle considered.

 The present invention gives the user the comfort and safety of road traffic, on the one hand it is guided throughout the selected route to perform, its theoretical position is permanently displayed and can be corrected in actual position according to road markers, cities, crossings, exits, by simple validation by command of a keyboard key (2) or a specific confirmation or validation key (13). The system is particularly effective for guiding in large agglomerations not known to the user. On the other hand, computer media (8) can inform the user via various screen pages of any road difficulties that may be encountered and this according to the date and possibly the time of movement of the user on the programmed route; indeed certain roads or road sections can or must be avoided by the user for seasonally known climatic reasons.

 Using the computer system mentioned above is very simple. The vehicle being equipped with the computer system, the user chooses the computer medium (s) (8) in the form of maps, floppy disks, discs, as he would choose road maps or city maps corresponding to the journey to be made.

 Wanting to move from an agglomeration "A" to an agglomeration "B", passing through a third agglomeration "C", the user will choose the computer support NO X corresponding to the map ensuring the road coverage of the journey from A to B via C.

Before going to a street address "R" in the agglomeration "B", the user will also take the IT support NO "Y" corresponding to the agglomeration "B".

 Installed in his vehicle, the user ensures the functioning of the computer system and introduces into the reader (s) the computer support (s) "X" and possibly "Y".

The screen displays "Menu" according to screen 1. The user can program the desired route. On the one hand by calling the "Entry" screen page by pressing the corresponding keyboard key number "2". In this case, the screen displays "Entry" according to screen page "2" and the user carries out, using the keyboard (2), the entry of the desired journey with possibly date, possibly departure time, starting point of the journey "A", the destination of the journey "B", the desired passing point "C", the destination address at "B", street "R" and possibly the user chooses the type of preferential journey proposed by the screen page "2". The entry completed and confirmed the computer confirms, via the IT support and by display on the same screen page
N02, that the requested route is well covered by the computer support "X" introduced in the reader and offers the user the possible use of other computer supports with a more detailed representation of X1 to Xn, as well as the possible computer supports destination or crossing agglomerations "Y" and "Z". On the other hand, the programming of the journey can be carried out by the user using the optical pencil (3) or the mouse (4) by validating the points "A", "B" and "C" on screen 5 (x) and or 5 (y) after calling screen page "5" defined by screen page "1", either by pressing the keyboard key 5 and by optionally selecting the reader "X" or "Y" if the vehicle is equipped with several readers The entry completed, the user validates it taking into account the entry and the information corresponding to the page -screen "2" in the RAM. The user can call up various screen pages for information according to screen page "1". The key 3 of the keyboard calls up with screen display the screen page "3" corresponding to the road map, the key 4 of the keyboard calls with screen display the screen page "4" corresponding to general information which may include subroutines which can be called up by keyboard and which can give the user an index of road maps and plans, as well as a whole range of information.

 The N05 key on the keyboard calls up the screen page "5" corresponding to the selected road map or city map with screen display. The keyboard key N06 calls up the screen page "6" with specific information which may include subroutines. The screen page "7" called up by the keyboard key N07 can display all the technical checks of the vehicle in connection with a traditional on-board computer or not, and so on until "n".

 For the journey from "A" to "B" via "C" having as address the street "R" in the place of destination "B", the user, after entering, validates the actual departure either by a keyboard key (2 ) or with a particular key (13) the mobile marker (7) simulating the vehicle, is displayed oriented on the screen (6) and corresponds to the effective orientation of the vehicle according to the cardinal points. The screen image representing the road map being itself oriented along the cardinal points, the user can immediately see the direction and direction to follow. The computer system, and therefore the mobile marker (7) being connected, d '' on the one hand to an odometer (9), and on the other hand to the scale of the road map through the computer support, the mobile marker (7) moves on the screen (6), therefore in the road map, in the same way as the vehicle travels on the programmed route.

 In order to possibly compensate for the kilometric differences between the theoretical distances and actual distances, validations using a keyboard key (2) or a particular key (13) are or may be provided depending on the scale of the road map and the distances traveled with logical validation tolerances for these functions. The validations or positioning of the mobile marker (7) serving as a simulator are or can be provided according to fixed road markings such as entrances to large or small agglomerations, crossings, motorway exits, etc.

 In the above-mentioned journey from "A" to "B" entered according to screen page "2", the "route plan" according to screen page "3" provides for possible non-compulsory validations. The journey from "A" to "B" passes through various agglomerations "a", "b", "c", "C", "d" and "e" before arriving at "B". If the distance from "A" to "a" is theoretically according to screen page "3" of 25 km and if the vehicle has actually carried out to connect "A" to "a" 27 km, validation, using the special touch (13) of this section of route, can be done at the entrance of the agglomeration "a".

 By this validation, the mobile marker (7) or simulator is returned to the real position, ie at the entry of "a". The validation of "a" is authorized by the computer and the IT support in logic with the scale and the distance concerned, that is to say more or less ten percent of the theoretical distance. The possibility of validation can be displayed in a particular way on the screen (6) according to screen page 115 with possible flashing or slight audible signal.

 The user having made the journey arrives at "B". He can validate the entry of the vehicle at "B" and can select the reader "Y" while remaining on the screen page "5" now representing the map of the agglomeration "B". The vehicle remains simulated by the reference (7) whose movement on the screen (6) will be faster due to the change of scale brought by the computer support "Y" selected at the entry of "B".

 The random access memory having taken into account the path "A" to "B", the entry of the vehicle to "B" is therefore defined and the simulation by the movable reference (7) is therefore also defined. The screen page "5" of the computer support "Y" represents the map of the agglomeration "B" and the route to be followed by the user to reach street "R" passing through streets "f", "g "," h "," i "and" j ". In the event of an error and exit from the journey by the user, a signal, which may be audible or visual, alerts the user, who, by simple and rapid verification on the screen, realizes this via the mobile simulator or marker (7) which has left the programmed route. The user can correct the real route to resume the programmed route or follow another direction to get to "R", because the moving marker (7) simulates the theoretical position of the vehicle in the "B" agglomeration. The user can also validate his theoretical positions in real positions when passing from streets "f" to "j", or even program a new real position using the keyboard (2).

The computer system according to the invention also allows the user to obtain road information concerning the desired journeys and the possible integration of the travel date and even the time also makes it possible to avoid roads with traffic made difficult. by congestion at regular frequency, or to avoid roads made dangerous or difficult to pass for climatic reasons (snow, ice, etc.)
The computer system according to the invention is particularly intended for users making a large number of road trips or in built-up areas and in particular in large and very large built-up areas.

Claims (5)

 1) The computerized route guidance system for vehicles by microcomputer is characterized according to fig. 2/2 in that it comprises a central unit (1) provided with a graphics card, a color card, a memory medium (16) fixed or not containing the data processing software, and equipped with '' one or more readers of computer media (5) magnetic or not (cards, floppy disks, discs ...), a screen (6) on which are visualized, in the form of road maps or corresponding plans, the media or computer (8) chosen, with control keyboard (2) and or optical pencil (3) and or mouse (4) for any selection, entry and correction. The assembly can be ergonomically integrated, orientable, eclipsable or not inside the vehicle. Power can be supplied by means of a vehicle battery (12) or autonomous rechargeable battery via the vehicle engine.  2) The computer system according to claim 1 is characterized in that the computer equipment on board the vehicle allows the reading of computer media (8) pre-programmed, viewable on the screen (6) in the form of road maps, road maps or city maps or in the form of road tables (road map) or in the form of a geographical definition of places, with information from or from computer supports (8) corresponding to a specific selection, global road map on a small scale or large-scale detailed road map or city map with suburbs or detailed city map or detailed neighborhood map.  3) The computer system according to claims 1 and 2 is characterized in that the computer media (8) given in reading to the central unit (1) give and define the scale, as well as the orientation according to the cardinal points of the card or of the plane corresponding to the selected computer medium (8).

 'n - General information n + 1 Information back to menu Screen page 5 v ~ "X" ~ Screen page 4 1 - Index of road maps 2 - Geographic information 3 - Seasonal information 4 - Climatic information # 5 - Tourist information 6 - Professional information Information: Plan "B" IT support N ty  (Validation entry "B")  km.theor. actual km.total km - "A" Validation 0 0 0 - "a" Validation (22/28) 25 27 25 - "b" Validation (27/33) 30 29 55 - "c" Validation (32/38) 35 36 90 - "C" Validation (9-11) 10 10 100 - "d" Validation (36-44) 40 41 140 - "e" Validation (13-17) 15 15 155 - "B" Validation (90- 110) 100 103 255  IT SUPPORT N "X" Screen 3  INPUT - Date ...... [month 1 day - Time - Departure from: "A" - Destination at: "B" - Via: "C" - Via - Address A: - Address B: street "R" - Address C: - Address N: - Shortest route - Fastest route - Main routes route 1 ± - Tourist routes route - Most comfortable route - Requested route ... IT support: "X" confirmed - Detailed route .. IT support Na X1 to Xn - Plan "B" ... IT support N "Y" - Plan "C" ... IT support N "Z" - Plan "- Plan" - Plan "  Screen 2 Selection ~  MENU 1 - Menu 2 - Entry - trip information 3 - Road map 4 - General information 5 - Map - map - (selector) 6 - Specific information 7 - Vehicle control 'n - Screen 1  Pa I

Screen page 5 ~ "Y"  9 Odometer 10 Orientation system with cardinal points 11 On-board computer 12 Battery 13 Confirmation or confirmation button 14 RAM or working memory 15 Command selector 16 Data processing software support  8 IT support  7 Movable mark  6 Flat screen  5 Reader (s)  4 Mouse  3 Optical pencil  2 Keypad  1 central unit  Legend fig. 2/2  9 Odometer 10 Orientation system with cardinal points 11 On-board computer 12 Battery  8 IT support  7 Movable mark  6 Flat screen  5 Reader (s)  4 Mouse  3 Optical pencil  2 Keypad  1 central unit  Legend fig. 1/2