FR2793621A1 - COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES, ESPECIALLY MOTOR VEHICLES - Google Patents

Abstract

The system comprises a stationary transmission / reception installation to the vehicles 38 and onboard transmission / reception installations in the vehicles. The routes (12) are subdivided into cells (14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) and each cell is associated with a fixed transmission / reception installation (32) connected to a subordinate system (34).

Description

The present invention relates to a communication system.

  ammunition for vehicles, especially motor vehicles

  mobile, comprising at least one transmission / transmission installation

  fixed reception for information to vehicles and transmission / reception systems on board vehicles, to communicate with at least one installation

fixed transmission / reception.

State of the art

  Multiple communication systems are already known

  cation for vehicles. So, for example, the systems

  navigation temes and / or integrated audio systems

  in vehicles can receive information if

  circulation rate. This information can be used

  as complementary services to radio stations, for example-

  pie the radio data system (RDF), the message traffic channel (TMC). It is also known to determine the instantaneous position of vehicles using a satellite navigation system (GPS). Finally, we can exchange

  very precise information between vehicles and installations

  fixed transmit / receive relationships along an em-

  borrowed by vehicles. This short point-to-point link is only used, for example, for accounting for

  tolls authorizing access to selected sections of the road.

  According to the telecommunications technique, it is known to subdivide a territory into radio cells and to communicate to a subordinate system, the instantaneous position of each of the different subscribers, that is to say to communicate the place where it is located in a radio cell. This allows the establishment of precise communications with the subscriber. At the same time, the subordinate system is designed so that, in the event of a change in position of a subscriber passing from a cell to

  the next cell, the communication link remains main-

outfit. Advantages of the invention

  The present invention relates to a communication system.

  munication for vehicles, of the type defined above character-

  rised in that the roads used by the vehicles are subdivided into zones (cells) and a fixed transmission / reception installation is associated with each cell, the various transmission / reception installations are connected to

  a subordinate system, and the transmitting facilities / -

  reception, fixed, respective, associated with the

  establish a communication link between the vehicles and the subordinate system depending on the position of the vehicles in

cells.

  The communication system according to the invention of-

  fre the advantage of being used, universally, for

  the different needs or necessities of communication of

  hicles in circulation. Like the roads taken by

  vehicles are subdivided into zones (cells), an installation

  fixed transmission / reception is associated with each cell and these installations are linked to a subordinate system; the communication between the vehicles and the subordinate system is made according to the position of the vehicle by a fixed transmission / reception installation associated with the cell in which the vehicle is located. Advantageously, it is possible to have a unitary communication system usable by all vehicles suitably equipped for the various information services. The communication established between the vehicles and the fixed transmitting / receiving installations, respective of the communication system, makes it possible to send precise information, that is to say defined according to the respective position of the vehicles, concerning for example the traffic condition, from the subordinate system to vehicles. In addition, the position of the vehicles can be

  signaled in a simple way by each vehicle to the system

  subject subordinate. Thanks to the unique installation of the

  communication along the vehicle traffic route

  you can extend the information services at any time

  training in services that do not yet exist or are not

  not currently used and which will be useful in the future.

  According to a preferential development of the

  vention, the different areas (cells) to which are

  associated each time with a fixed transmission / reception installation, are of relatively small dimensions for example

  with a radius of action preferably less than 100 meters.

  This means that a relatively long road is subdivided

  in a lot of small areas. This allows communication

  very precise cation, locally defined with vehicles.

  The smaller the areas corresponding to cells, the more precisely it will be possible to determine the position of the vehicles and provide precise information on the state of

traffic to vehicles.

  According to another advantageous development of

  the invention, when a vehicle leaves a neighboring area (this

  lule) or enters it, the communication between the vehicle and

  subordinate system will be through the installation of transmitters

  Fixed reception / reception of this new zone. This allows a

  permanent, uninterrupted communication between the sub-

  ordered and the vehicle. In particular, if the subordinate system

  given announces the vehicle in advance thanks to the position information obtained (or variable) from the vehicle, to the area

  next probable (cell) into which the vehicle will enter

  hicule, this allows to prepare the communication link so that immediately there will be an exchange of information, that is to say without any loss of time for identification

  possible between the vehicle and the transmission systems

  Respective local reception / reception.

  According to another preferential development of

  the invention, a fixed transmission / reception installation main-

  at the same time maintains a communication link with all

  vehicles in the respective area (cell).

  This advantageously makes it possible to transmit to all vehicles

  calculate the same information, for example concerning traffic conditions. Depending on the movement of the vehicles and their association with the different determined zones (cells), the

  number of vehicles simultaneously receiving a certain amount of

  training can vary, which allows very

  accurate to specific vehicles.

  In addition, preferably, thanks to the pas-

  of vehicles from a first zone to a second zone and the corresponding transfer from the communication link to the next fixed transmission / reception installation, at

  From the resulting cadences, we can draw conclusions

  traffic density and traffic flow clauses; these findings can be provided again in the form of information to vehicles in the available area. So almost simultaneously with the movement of different vehicles, thanks to the

  communication system according to the invention, there is a feedback

  traffic condition. This corresponds to a very efficient traffic monitoring and guidance system. Finally, according to a preferred development of the invention, the vehicles, being in the different zones (cells) (these vehicles are supposed to be provided with the appropriate equipment), can see their traffic behavior directly influenced. This allows, for example,

  a vehicle speed control in different zo-

  nes (cells) and, for a certain density of circulation, a certain state of circulation or a similar situation,

  establish reciprocal and defi-

  nor, between the different vehicles. Vehicles are like this

  virtually coupled and, through their adapted behavior,

  almost, they maintain the flow of traffic. According to other advantageous features of the invention: * the transmission / reception installations are integrated into the infrastructure installed along the road, in particular

  lighting installations, signage

  tion or similar means, * light guides ensuring the optical transmission of information provide the communication link between

  the subordinate system and the transmitting / receiving facilities

  ception, * the communication link between the transmitting / receiving installations and the vehicles is via a radio link, * the transmission frequency is located in a domain

higher than 10 GHz.

  Drawings The present invention will be described below from

  in more detail using exemplary embodiments

  shown schematically in the drawings in which: * Figure 1 is a schematic view of a subdivided road

  in cells and the associated communication system.

  FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a section of road and

  of the associated communication system.

  Description of the exemplary embodiments

  Figure 1 schematically shows a system of

  communication 10 for motor vehicles. A way of com-

  munication 12, such as for example highways, roads

  national or similar, is subdivided into different cells

  14 to 30. Each of cells 14 to 30 is associated with a locally fixed transmission / reception installation 32, for

  example, in the form of an antenna to transmit signals

  radio channels. Installation and scope of installations

  transmission / reception 32 is finally the definition of

  lules 14 to 30. These are, for example, dimensioned so that the supposed diameter d of a cell is less than meters. It is clear that one can also choose

  other cell sizes while respecting the system of

munication according to the invention.

  Cells 14 to 30 are arranged to cover

  screw the whole of path 12 without leaving a free gap.

  If necessary, there may be overlapping differences

your adjacent cells.

  The communication system 10 further comprises a subordinate system 34 linked by an installation

  transmission / reception 36 at the various transmission installations

  reception / reception 32. The subordinate system 34 may be a circulation guidance center, a circulation service

or something like that.

  The planned transmission / reception facilities 32

  in relatively large numbers for circulation networks

  relatively long, to achieve a division into small

  your cells in route 12, for example,

  integrated into existing infrastructure such as facilities

  lighting lations, traffic signs, pan-

  delimitation markers, traffic signs or the like. Because of the relatively small areas to be covered by each cell, it is possible to choose a transmission / reception power which is all the smaller. Figure 1 shows inside the cell 14, a motor vehicle 38 equipped with an installation

  transmission / reception 40 on board the vehicle for

  link up with some of the broadcasting facilities

  fixed reception / reception 32 inside cells 14 to 30.

  The communication system 10, according to the

  vention, performs the functions described below.

  The subordinate system 34 makes it possible to transmit to the different fixed transmission / reception installations 32,

  defined information that is issued by these facilities

  tions in the area of their cells 14 to 30. If in these

  conditions, a motor vehicle 38 arrives in any

  conch cell 14 to 30, the transmission / reception installation of the motor vehicle 38, can establish the link with the transmission / reception installations 32 in order to transmit or receive the information transmitted. As the location of fixed transmission / reception facilities 32

  is known, thanks to the subordinate system 34, it is possible to transmit

  be different information to different cells 14

  to 30 or certain groups of cells.

  This information can be road traffic information, warnings against blocked parts, weather conditions, construction sites,

  deviations or information of this type. The vehicle

  mobile 38 thus has up-to-date information at all times. Thanks to the relatively small cell size of the communication system 10, very precise and defined information can be provided. Thus, each of the vehicles 38 receives only the information which it actually needs and which corresponds to its respective position and, where appropriate, the following position will be communicated to it; thus, the exchange of information or data between the vehicles 38 and the transmission / reception installation 32 is limited to the minimum

  necessary. Superfluous information about, for example-

  ple, cells 14 to 30 very far from the ef- position

  vehicle 38, do not need to be received and processed. Motor vehicles 38 can also use the opposite transmission path to send information to transmission / reception facilities 32, which relate, for example, to the current situation of the

  circulation in the respective cells 14 to 30. This information

  mations are then made available by the 34 sub-

  ordered to the transmission / reception facility 32; this system

  34 can then provide corresponding information,

  rigged and updated or new information to the ins

  transmission / reception facilities 32 of the different cells 14 to 30 or even make the respective cells 14 to 30 or the cells revealed correspondingly 14 to 20 available. It is thus possible to have a bidirectional exchange of information between the subordinate system 34 and different

  motor vehicles 38 (communication links 37).

  In addition to the exchange of information concerning the traffic situation, the communication system 10

  also makes it possible to determine the position of a vehicle

  tomobile 38. As soon as a connection has been established between the

  motor vehicle 38 and transmission systems

  fixed position / reception 32, it is possible to determine, by the known position of the fixed transmission / reception installation 32, the

  variable position of the vehicle 38, namely at the level of each

  none of cells 14 to 30. Such determinations of posi-

  tion from all the participating vehicles 38, can be used, for example, to enter a traffic density or a similar situation. Correspondingly, the transmission of the link between the subordinate system 34 and the vehicle 38 to a transmission / reception installation 32 associated with a next cell makes it possible to tell the direction of circulation of the vehicle 38. By simultaneously entering the

  rate at which vehicles 38 alternate and pass through

  that once in the next cell in the direction of movement-

  You can determine the intensity of the traffic. This makes it possible to establish diagnoses concerning the development of circulation which can, in turn, be provided by

  the subordinate system 34 to the different vehicles 38.

  By means of the position signals supplied by the motor vehicles 38, it is possible to predict the entry of the vehicle 38 into the area of the following cells 14 to 30. This

  forecast can be used to maintain a communication link

  cation 37 easy between the subordinate system 34 and the different

  motor vehicle annuities 38; it makes it possible to initialize the transmission / reception installation 32 of the next cell 14 to 30 into which the vehicle 38 arrives, so that the communication link 37 can be received directly by

the motor vehicle.

  FIG. 2 shows a possible configuration of the communication system 10 in the form of an embodiment

  convenient. The same elements as in FIG. 1 carry the same

  my references and their description will not be repeated. The

  path or traffic path 12 is here a national road

  nale and cells 14, 16, 18 are provided at a

  turn. In the area of cell 18, following an accident

  tooth, circulation is stopped forming a plug

  nant, for example, four motor vehicles 38. A vehicle 38 ′ which enters the area of the curve cannot see the blockage which has occurred in the area of the cell 18. Thanks to the communication system 10 according to the invention , vehicles 38 transmit the traffic condition to

  the transmission / reception installation 32 of cell 18.

  This then communicates the information to the subordinate system.

given 34.

  Due to the position known in practice 32 of the cells upstream in the direction of movement, here the cells 14, 16, the subordinate system 34 can then communicate to them corresponding road traffic states, thus the transmission / reception installations 32 cells

  14, 16, immediately provide traffic information

  motor vehicles 38 'entering these cells

  the. This information signals, for example to a driver, via display elements, an obstacle to traffic. By means of appropriate equipment for motor vehicles, the corresponding information signals can automatically influence the driving of the motor vehicle 38 ′, for example by an automatic reduction in speed or by similar measures. To allow a definition of the diameter d of the various cells 14 to 30, it is very advantageous to use a transmission frequency used to transmit the information from the transmission / reception installations 32 to the motor vehicles 38. The known relationship according to

  which for the same transmission power, the more the

  quence is high and the weaker the range, allows to li-

  miter, with high transmission frequencies, for example greater than 10 GHz, very precisely the range of

  different transmission / reception facilities 32. This

  puts in particular to use the same frequencies of trans-

  mission in neighboring cells or in each second cell because, as the range will be weak, there will be no interaction.

  The coupling of transmission / reception facilities

  ception 32 on the subordinate system 34 to complete the communication links 37, is preferably done by a

  light guide system for optical transmission

  that information. These constitute a very

  effective for a large number of transmission / reception installations

  reception 32 to the subordinate system 34. By appropriate modulation of the information in optical transmission, it is preferably already possible to prepare the radio transmission of the information by the transmission / reception installation 32 in the system

  subordinate 34, so that the transmitting facilities

  sion / reception 32 will no longer have to perform complicated signal processing. These installations will then only include the appropriate opto-electric converters

  to convert information from the guide system to

  miere, between the transmitting / receiving installations 32 and the subordinate system 34 to obtain the radio signals at high

  frequency for exchange between transmitting installations

  reception / reception 32 and motor vehicles 38.

Claims (10)

R E V E N D I C A T I ON S   1) Communication system for vehicles, in particular   motor vehicles, comprising at least one installation   fixed transmitting / receiving function for information to vehicles and transmitting / receiving installations on board vehicles, for communicating with at least one fixed transmitting / receiving installation, characterized in that   * the roads (12) used by vehicles (38) are sub-   divided into zones (cells) (14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) and a fixed transmission / reception installation (32) is associated with each cell, * the different installation transmission / reception (32) are linked to a subordinate system (34) and   * transmission / reception facilities (32), fixed, res-   pectives, associated with cells establish a link   communication (37) between the vehicles (38) and the system   subordinate unit (34) according to the position of the vehicles (38)   in cells (14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30).   2) Communication system according to claim 1, characterized in that the different cells (14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) are small in relation to the length of the road (12).   3) Communication system according to any one of the re-   previous claims, characterized in that the diameter (d) of the cells (14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, ) is less than 100 meters.   4) Communication system any of the claims   tions, characterized in that when several cells (14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) pass through a vehicle (38), the communication link 1!   (37) automatically switches to the transmission / reception system respective ception (32).    ) Communication system according to claim 4, characterized in that the entry of the vehicle (38) into the respective cell (14, 16,   18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) is announced by the sub-   directed (34) to the transmission / reception installation (32),   which resumes the communication link (37).   6) Communication system according to any one of the re-   previous sales, characterized in that   the transmission / reception installations (32) maintain if-   simultaneously the communication link (37) with all the vehicles (38) which are in a respective cell   (14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30).   7) Communication system according to any one of the re-   previous sales, characterized in that   the subordinate system (34) derives the position information   tion of traffic from the alternation rate according to   which vehicles (38) pass through the cell each time   next item (14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30).   8) Communication system according to any of the   previous sales, characterized in that the transmission / reception systems (32) are integrated   in the infrastructure installed along the road (12), no-   particularly the lighting installations, the signboards or similar means.   9) Communication system according to claim 1, characterized in that   the subordinate system (34) allows, by the communication link   cation (37), a direct automatic action on the behavior ment of vehicles (38).   100) Communication system according to claim 1, characterized in that light guides ensuring the optical transmission of information provide the communication link (37) between   the subordinate system (34) and the transmitting installations reception / reception (32).    ) Communication system according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication link (37) between the transmission / reception installations (32) and the vehicles (38) is made by a radio link.   12) Communication system according to claim 11, characterized in that   the transmission frequency is located in a higher range laughing at 10 GHz.