FR2941082A1 - Traffic information e.g. road repair information, supplying method for e.g. fixed dynamic guiding device of car, involves transferring collected information to fixed dynamic guiding device so as to calculate dynamic paths - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves collecting traffic information with a format identical to a predefined format, by a communication equipment (UE) that is connected to a wireless telecommunication network (RC) via a wireless/radio connection i.e. Bluetooth. The telecommunication network is arranged nearer to a server (SI) accessible via the network. The collected information is transferred to a fixed dynamic guiding device (DG) so as to calculate dynamic paths. The communication equipment is a fixed/portable computer, a fixed/mobile/cellular telephone, or personal digital assistant. The wireless telecommunication network is a terrestrial mobile network i.e. public land mobile network, a public switched telephone network, a satellite network or a hybrid network. An independent claim is also included for a guiding device for a motor vehicle, including a calculation unit.

Description

The invention relates to the dynamic guidance of motor vehicles with traffic information. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to dynamic guidance of motor vehicles with traffic information. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As is known to those skilled in the art, the dynamic guidance consists in Zo calculating and adapting, in real time, by means of a guidance device, trips to given destinations, as a function, in particular, of traffic information. which are representative of current external events on sections of road, such as a traffic jam, accident, fire, work or weather problem. The traffic information is currently transmitted to the guidance devices, which are embedded in motor vehicles, on a radio channel of the FM band and / or on a radio channel of a non-wired (tele) communication network (s). that can not receive these motor vehicles. It will be noted that currently the transmission of traffic information on a radio channel of the FM band can be done by means of messages conforming to the RDS-TMC protocol (Radio Data System - Traffic Message Channel - it will be noted that in the context of the future digital radio it should be done soon with an evolution of the RDS called TPEG 25 (Transport Protocol Experts Group)). In this case, the reception of the messages is generally carried out by the tuner of the car radio of the motor vehicle. It will also be noted that the radio channel may belong to a terrestrial (eg GSM, UMTS or CDMA 2000) or satellite (or even hybrid) satellite (terrestrial or terrestrial relay network with relays). satellite). In this case, the reception of the traffic information is done either by means of a communication module which comprises the guidance device, or by means of communication equipment (mobile telephone or digital personal assistant (or PDA) communicating). which belongs to a passenger of the motor vehicle in which is implanted the guiding device and who can communicate with the latter via a proximity link (for example Bluetooth type). For various reasons, it may happen that the traffic information that is transmitted at a given moment does not reach, at least immediately, at a guide device which is embedded in a motor vehicle. The path that is calculated dynamically by this guiding device may then prove to be unsuitable, or even unsuitable. Moreover, many portable guidance devices (or nomads), which are transported by passengers of motor vehicles to be placed temporarily in the latter, being unable to receive traffic information transmitted by wave according to the one of the two aforementioned channels, they can not calculate paths dynamically. The aim of the invention is to improve the situation by proposing a method for feeding traffic information (substantially in accordance with a predefined format) with a dynamic guidance device, whether or not it is able to receive traffic information. transmitted by wave. This method is characterized in that it consists in: - recovering traffic information, which has a substantially identical format to the predefined format, by means of a communication equipment, able to connect to a network of (tele) communication (s), at least one server that is accessible via this network (tele) communication (s), then - to transfer in the guide device at least some of the traffic information retrieved so that it can use to calculate dynamic paths. The method according to the invention can comprise other characteristics that can be taken separately or in combination, and in particular: at least some of the traffic information, which has been recovered by the communication equipment, can be transferred to a medium; storing digital data, and then transferring this traffic information, which has been transferred to the digital data storage medium, from the latter to the guidance device; alternatively, at least some of the traffic information, which has been retrieved by the communication equipment, may be transferred directly from the latter to the guidance device; - Traffic information can be automatically retrieved by connecting the communication equipment to the server, and at least some of the retrieved traffic information can be selected to transfer to the guidance device only the traffic information that has been selected; the traffic information to be recovered can be selected from among (at least) information relating to recurrent traffic jams or delays, information relating to work, meteorological information, and information relating to load shedding routes; at least some of the retrieved traffic information may be associated with schedules and / or validity dates, so that they may be used by the guidance device only during their associated schedules and / or validity dates; the retrieved traffic information which is associated with validity dates prior to the current date can be automatically deleted from the guidance device; a user can delete in the guidance device retrieved traffic information which he deems unnecessary (or obsolete); a user can add to the retrieved traffic information traffic information that he deems useful before it is transferred to the guidance device.

The invention also proposes a device, dedicated to guiding a motor vehicle, and comprising calculation means responsible for dynamically calculating paths based on traffic information having a predefined format. This device is characterized by the fact that: - it comprises coupling means adapted to receive by transfer of traffic information, having a substantially identical format to the predefined format and recovered by means of communication equipment (able to connect a network of (tele) communication (s)) with at least one server accessible via this network (tele) communication (s), for their local storage in storage means, and - that its means of computation are arranged to use the traffic information retrieved, transferred and stored locally, in order to calculate dynamic paths. The device according to the invention may comprise other characteristics that can be taken separately or in combination, and in particular: its coupling means may comprise a reader that is clean, firstly, to receive at least partially a storage medium; of digital data in which at least some of the traffic information retrieved by the communication equipment has been transferred, secondly, to read the traffic information retrieved and stored in the digital data storage medium, and a third part, to store in the storage means the read traffic information; in a variant, its coupling means may comprise receiving means, on the one hand, adapted to receive communication equipment, by transfer, at least some of the traffic information that it has retrieved, and secondly, storing in the storage means the received traffic information; its calculation means can be arranged, in the presence of traffic information retrieved and associated with schedules and / or validity dates, so as to use this traffic information only during their schedules and / or validity dates associated (e) s; its calculation means can be responsible for automatically deleting storage means the retrieved traffic information that is associated with validity dates prior to the current date; it may comprise interface means arranged to allow a user to delete in the storage means retrieved traffic information that he deems unnecessary; it can be arranged to receive traffic information that is transmitted over a radio channel of the FM band that can receive the motor vehicle and / or on a radio channel of a (non) communication network (s) not wired that can receive the motor vehicle or that he can receive himself. In this case, its calculation means are arranged to use the traffic information received in order to calculate dynamic paths. Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 schematically and functionally illustrates a communication equipment coupled to an information server traffic, via a network (tele) communication (s), and a USB type key to be connected to a first example of a guide device according to the invention embedded in a motor vehicle, and - Figure 2 illustrates schematically and functionally communication equipment coupled to a traffic information server, via a network (tele) communication (s), and a second example of a guide device according to the invention intended to be transported and then embedded in a motor vehicle. The attached drawings may not only serve to complete the invention, but also contribute to its definition, if any. The invention aims to provide a method for supplying traffic information with a dynamic guidance device (D) implanted (or intended to be placed) in a motor vehicle. In what follows, it is considered, by way of non-limiting example, that the motor vehicle is a car. But, the invention is not limited to this type of motor vehicle. It concerns indeed any motor vehicle that can circulate on listed traffic lanes and for which trips can be calculated dynamically. Therefore, it may also be a truck, a bus, a motorcycle, a commercial vehicle, an agricultural machine, or a construction machine, for example. As is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1, the implementation of the supply method according to the invention of a DG or DG 'guidance device requires, in addition to the latter (DG or DG'), the existence at least one UE communication equipment, one RC communication network (s) and one IS traffic information server. The network (tele) communication (s) RC allows access, possibly via the Internet, to the server SI in which are stored traffic information to be retrieved (by download), possibly automatically.

The UE communication equipment is arranged to connect to the network (tele) communication (s) RC to be able to recover from the server SI, possibly automatically, traffic information. Any type of UE communication equipment capable of establishing communication with at least one network of (tele) communication (s) RC is concerned by the invention. Therefore, it may for example be a fixed or portable computer, a fixed or mobile phone (or cellular), or a digital personal assistant (or APN) communicating. In the nonlimiting example illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the UE communication equipment is a fixed computer which is connected to a (tele) communication network (s) RC of the type switched telephone network (or PSTN) offering by example access to the Internet. But, the invention is not limited to this type of network (tele) communication (s). It concerns indeed any type of network (tele) communication (s) to which can connect communication equipment to access at least one server (or site) traffic information. Therefore, it may also be a network of (tele) communication (s) not wired, such as a terrestrial mobile network (PLMN type) or a satellite network or a hybrid network (satellite and terrestrial) . As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the UE communication equipment (here a fixed computer) comprises, for example, an application module MR responsible for retrieving traffic information from the server SI via the (tele) communication network (s). ) RC. This application module MR is preferably made in the form of software modules (or computer). Note that the recovery can be done automatically at the launch of the application module MR or under the control of the person who wants to retrieve traffic information, once the application module MR launched and connected to the server SI. It is important to note that any type of traffic information can be retrieved by UE communication equipment from one (or more) IS server (s). However, the traffic information can not be used immediately (that is to say at the time of their provision) by a guidance device DG or DG ', it is preferable that they have a recurring character or a relatively long validity period (typically at least a few hours) or a predictive (or anticipatory) character. Thus, it may for example be information relating to recurrent traffic jams or slowdowns, information relating to work, meteorological information, or information relating to load shedding routes (or routes bis). It is also important to note that the invention relates to any type of dynamic guidance device intended to be fixedly installed in a motor vehicle V (DG) or to be transported by a passenger of a motor vehicle V to be placed temporarily in the latter (DG '). In the latter case the DG guide device is portable (or nomadic) type. Furthermore, the invention relates to any type of dynamic guidance device, fixed (DG) or portable (DG '), whether or not it is able to receive traffic information transmitted by wave. It is recalled that certain DG or DG 'dynamic guidance devices are arranged so as to use traffic information which has a predefined format and which is transmitted on a radio channel of the FM band that can receive their motor vehicle V thanks to a radio receiver and / or a radio channel of a network (tele) communication (s) wireless they can receive or that can receive their motor vehicle V through a wireless communication module. The transmission on a radio channel of the FM band may for example be provided by a public or private radio broadcast network (or infrastructure), possibly satellite or hybrid, for example according to the RDSTMC protocol (Radio Data System ù Traffic Message Channel). The transmission on a non-radio radio channel can for example be done by means of a data broadcasting network (or infrastructure) or a mobile (or cellular) network. It will also be noted that a dynamic guidance device D, according to the invention, is capable of locating itself (positioning) by means of positioning information which is for example provided to it by a satellite positioning system, for example the system GPS (Global Positioning System), or by a network of (tele) communication (s) not wired. The feeding method according to the invention comprises two main stages. A first main step is to recover from at least one server SI traffic information that has a substantially identical format to a predefined format (that is to say comprehensible and exploitable by dynamic guidance devices DG or DG ' ). This recovery is done by means of a UE communication equipment (here a fixed computer) which is of the type of the one presented above and therefore which is able to connect to a network of (tele) communication (s) offering RC access (possibly via the Internet) to the IS server. As indicated above, the recovery is done by launching (or running) the application module MR of the communication equipment UE, which is specifically designed for this purpose. Note that an application module MR may be optionally arranged to allow a user to select certain traffic information. This selection can be done in at least two ways. A first way is to launch (or execute) the application module MR to automatically retrieve traffic information from the (of) an IS server accessible by the network (tele) communication (s) RC to which is connected its communication equipment UE, then to select by means of the human / machine interface of the latter (UE) at least some traffic information that it has automatically recovered. A second way consists in launching (or executing) the application module MR to access the (to a) server SI via the network of (tele) communication (s) RC to which its communication equipment UE is connected, then to select in the server SI (for example manually), by means of the man / machine interface of the UE communication equipment, at least some of the traffic information that it makes available to users (possibly subscribers), and finally to repatriate ( download) in the UE communication equipment the selected traffic information.

The selection of traffic information may for example be done by ticking a box which is located next to a line dedicated to the definition (in the form of an easily understandable sentence) of this traffic information and which is displayed. on the screen of the UE communication equipment under the control of the application module MR. For example, such a sentence may be in the form of work at location X from 16 July 2008 to 10 October 2008, or closure of section Y from 22H00 to 5H00 every working day between 16 July 2008 and 10 October 2008, or even red level traffic in the Rhône Alpes region from Friday evening August 29th, 2008 at 10:00 pm until Sunday evening August 31st, 2008 at 10:00 pm.

It will be understood from the foregoing that at least some of the traffic information that is retrieved from an IS server can be associated with validity schedules (start and end times, or only termination times) and / or dates of validity (date of commencement and date of termination or 3o only date of termination). It will also be noted that an application module MR may possibly be arranged in such a way as to enable a user to add to the traffic information which is retrieved, by means of the man / machine interface of his communication equipment UE, information of the user. which it considers useful (or relevant), for example because of its personal knowledge or information provided by third parties. A second main step of the method according to the invention consists in transferring to a DG or DG 'guiding device at least some of the traffic information which has been retrieved by a UE communication equipment (in a first main step), so that that the calculation module MCL included in this guidance device DG or DG 'can use them to calculate dynamic paths.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the DG or DG 'guiding device comprises MCG coupling means which are arranged to receive by transfer the traffic information retrieved by a UE communication equipment, and MS storage means. (Such as for example a memory or a database) coupled to the coupling means MCG and the calculation module MCL and responsible for storing the traffic information retrieved and received by the coupling means MCG. The invention does not relate to the calculation of dynamic paths, so it will not be described here. This is a calculation which is similar to that performed by the calculation module of a conventional dynamic guidance device from traffic information received on a radio channel of the FM band or on a radio channel a network of (tele) communication (s) not wired. It will be noted incidentally, as illustrated in non-limiting manner in FIG. 1, that a DG or DG 'guide device, according to the invention, may optionally be arranged to receive on an EIT input traffic information according to the predefined format received. by the vehicle on a radio channel of the FM band or on a radio channel of a (non-wired) (tele) communication network or by itself on a radio channel of a network of (tele) communication (s) not wired (if it is equipped for this purpose). In this case, the calculation module MCL DG or DG 'guidance device is arranged to calculate dynamic paths with the traffic information received on the EIT input of its guidance device DG or DG' and with the information traffic recovered by a UE communication equipment and transferred into its DG or DG 'guidance device.

If any traffic information received on the EIT input is substantially of the same type as the traffic information retrieved and received by the coupling means MCG, they are preferably stored in the storage means MS of the DG or DG guidance device. .

It will be noted that the traffic information received on the EIT input and / or the traffic information retrieved and received by the MCG coupling means may possibly be coded in such a way that it can only be used by persons subscribed to a supply service. information.

The transfer of the traffic information recovered (and possibly selected) can be done in two ways depending on the type of the guidance device DG or DG '. A first way, illustrated in FIG. 1, concerns the DG guidance devices which are fixedly installed in motor vehicles V. This first way consists in transferring at least some of the traffic information that has been retrieved by a UE communication equipment ( that is all or only selected ones) to SS digital data storage medium, then to transfer this traffic information, which has been transferred and stored in the digital data storage medium SS, of this last (SS) to a DG guidance device. Any type of SS digital data storage medium can be used as soon as its content can be read (and extracted) by corresponding MCG coupling means of a DG guidance device. Thus, and as illustrated in FIG. 1, the support SS can be in the form of a USB key conventionally comprising a female USB connector C1 capable of being connected to either a male USB connector C2 forming part of the communication equipment. UE for storing the traffic information that has been retrieved and possibly selected by means of the latter (UE), or to a male USB connector C3 forming part of the coupling means MCG of a DG guidance device for the transfer traffic information retrieved, transferred and stored to the storage means MS of said DG guidance device. In this case, the coupling means MCG comprises a male USB connector C3 coupled to an ML reader capable of reading and extracting the traffic information stored in a USB stick SS whose connector C1 is housed in the male USB connector C3, and transmitting to the storage means MS the extracted traffic information for local storage. In a first variant, the support SS could be in the form of a memory card, for example Compact Flash, SD-HC, Mini SD, Micro SD, XD or Memory stick. In this case, the MCG coupling means (and the UE communication equipment) comprise a memory card reader adapted to receive the memory card in order to read and extract the traffic information that it stores, and to transmit to the MS storage means extracted traffic information for local storage. In a second variant, the support SS could be in the form of a compact disc (preferably rewritable). In this case, the MCG coupling means comprise a compact disc player adapted to receive a compact disc in order to read and extract the traffic information that it stores, and to transmit to the storage means MS the extracted traffic information. for local storage.

A second way, illustrated in FIG. 2, relates to the DG 'portable (or nomadic) guidance devices which are transported by the users and placed temporarily in their motor vehicles V. This second way consists in transferring at least some of the information of traffic that has been retrieved by UE communication equipment (ie all or only selected ones) to a DG guidance device. The transfer is done by means of a proximity link LP which can be a wired connection (connection cable, for example of the USB or HDMI type) or, as illustrated without limitation, a non-wired link (or radio), 3o by example of Bluetooth type. In the case of a wired link, the communication equipment UE and the coupling means MCG DG 'guide device must each include a connector corresponding to the type of connection cable used. The MCG coupling means DG 'of the guide device must further comprise a receiving module capable of receiving the traffic information transferred by the communication equipment UE via the connection cable and transmitting to the storage means MS the information of traffic extracted for local storage. In the case of an LP radio link, the communication equipment UE and the coupling means MCG DG 'guide device must each include a transmitter / receiver ER1 or ER2. The transmitter / receiver ER2 of the coupling means MCG is arranged to transmit to the storage means MS of its guidance device DG 'the traffic information it receives, by transfer, from the transmitter / receiver ER1 of the equipment EU communication, with a view to their local storage. It will be noted that when certain traffic information, retrieved and stored in the storage means MS of a DG guidance device, are associated with validity times and / or validity dates, the calculation module MCL can be arranged to use this traffic information only during their associated validity times and / or their associated validity dates. In this case, the calculation module MCL can also be and possibly arranged so as to automatically delete storage means MS from its DG guidance device retrieved and stored traffic information that is associated with validity dates prior to the date In progress. It will also be noted, as illustrated in non-limiting manner in FIGS. 1 and 2, that a DG guidance device, according to the invention, may possibly comprise human / machine interface means MI arranged in such a way as to allow a user to delete in the storage means MS (possibly before their date of termination) of the recovered and stored traffic information which it deems to be useless (or irrelevant or obsolete), for example because of its personal knowledge or information provided by some thirds. The invention is not limited to the embodiments of dynamic guidance device and feeding method described above, only by way of example, but it encompasses all variants that may be considered by those skilled in the art within the scope of the claims below.

Claims (16)

REVENDICATIONS1. A method for supplying traffic information of a guidance device (DG, DG '), providing a dynamic path calculation function using traffic information having a predefined format, for a motor vehicle (V), characterized in that it consists of i) recovering traffic information, having a format substantially identical to said predefined format, by means of a communication equipment (UE), able to connect to a (tele) communication network (s) ( RC), at least one server (SI) accessible via said network (tele) communication (s) (RC), then ii) to transfer in said guide device (DG, DG ') at least some of said information recovered traffic so that it can use them to compute dynamic paths. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least some of said traffic information, retrieved by said communication equipment (UE), is transferred to a digital data storage medium (SS), then said data is transferred. traffic information transferred in said digital data storage medium (SS) from the latter (SS) to said guidance device (DG). 3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least some of said traffic information, retrieved by said communication equipment (UE), is transferred directly from the latter (UE) to said guiding device (DG '). . 4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that one automatically retrieves traffic information by connecting said communication equipment (UE) to said server (SI), then selected at least some information of traffic recovered in order to transfer to said guidance device (DG, DG ') only said selected traffic information 30. 5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that one chooses said traffic information to be recovered in a group comprising at least information relating to plugs uralentissements recurrent, information relating to work, meteorological information, and information relating to off-loading routes. 6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least some of said traffic information retrieved are associated with schedules and / or dates of validity, so that they are not used by said guiding device (DG, DG ') only during their associated schedules and / or validity dates. 7. The method as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the retrieved traffic information associated with validity dates prior to the current date is automatically deleted in said guidance device (DG, DG '). 8. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a user removes in said guidance device (DG, DG ') recovered traffic information it considers unnecessary. 9. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a user adds to said traffic information retrieved traffic information it considers useful, before they are transferred to said guide device (DG , DG '). Guiding device (DG, DG ') for a motor vehicle (V), comprising calculation means (MCL) arranged for dynamically calculating paths according to traffic information having a predefined format, characterized in that it comprises coupling means (MCG) adapted to receive by transfer of the traffic information, having a format substantially identical to said predefined format and recovered by means of a communication equipment (UE), able to connect to a network of (télé) communication (s) (RC), at least one server (SI) accessible via said network (tele) communication (s) (RC), for their local storage in storage means (MS) ), and in that said calculating means (MCL) are arranged to use said traffic information retrieved, transferred and stored locally so as to calculate dynamic paths. 11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that saidmeans of coupling (MCG) comprises a reader (ML) own i) at least partially receive a digital data storage medium (SS) in which have been transferred some at least said traffic information retrieved by said communication equipment (UE), ii) reading said traffic information retrieved and stored in said digital data storage medium (SS), and iii) storing in said storage means (MS) said traffic information read. 12. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that said coupling means (MCG) comprises reception means (MR) i) adapted to receive said communication equipment (UE), by transfer, at least some of the traffic information. recovered, and ii) storing in said storage means (MS) said received traffic information. 13. Device according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that said calculating means (MCL) are arranged, in the presence of recovered traffic information, associated with schedules and / or dates of validity, for n ' use this traffic information only during their associated schedules and / or validity dates. 14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that said calculating means (MCL) are arranged to automatically delete said storage means (MS) retrieved traffic information which are associated with validity dates prior to the current date. . 15. Device according to one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that it comprises interface means (MI) arranged to allow a user to delete in said storage means (MS) recovered traffic information qu he thinks he has become useless. 16. Device according to one of claims 10 to 15, characterized in that it is arranged to receive traffic information transmitted on a radio channel of the FM band that can receive said motor vehicle (V) and / or on a radio channel of a network (tele) communication (s) not wired that can receive said motor vehicle (V) or that it can itself receive, and in that said means of calculation (MCL) are arranged to use said received traffic information for calculating dynamic paths.