JP2002168640A - Car navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a car navigation system which deals with a case where a vehicle within a group deviates from the route, while the vehicles are running as a group in a plurality of vehicles. SOLUTION: A leader vehicle is decided in advance. Other vehicles periodically receive positional information on the leader vehicle via a communication means by a PHS or a portable telephone 7. When the position of the leader vehicle and the position of an own vehicle become a definite value or more, a warning message is displayed on a display part 12, the warning message is transmitted also to the leader vehicle, and a route which catches up the leader vehicle is calculated and set.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a car navigation system for an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the development of navigation systems used in automobiles has been extremely advanced, and the position as an indispensable device for automobiles is being established. A number of related patent applications have been found. For example, JP-A-8-202
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 996 discloses an arrangement in which an accurate current position is obtained by using the current position of another vehicle located at a position where direct reception is not possible and a vehicle located therebetween as a relay vehicle, and the current position is exchanged with each other. Also, JP-A-10-18
Japanese Patent No. 5595 discloses a method of using a communication means such as a mobile phone to acquire the position information of another vehicle without passing through a host, and further arbitrarily select and increase or decrease the number of other vehicles with which communication is performed. Can be done.

[0003]

However, the techniques disclosed in the above two publications merely obtain the position information of a vehicle other than the own vehicle, and obtain the desired information based on the position information of another vehicle. Is not provided. For example, if one vehicle deviates from a companion's vehicle that accompanies you during touring on a motorcycle or car, even if you need the location information of your fellow vehicle to join again,
In unknown lands, it is often impossible to join well because the location of the landmark itself, such as a contact mark, cannot be recognized. An object of the present invention is to provide a stray child detection and chasing function by a car navigation device useful in such a case, which is not provided by the conventional technology.

[0004]

According to the present invention, the leader's vehicle is determined in advance, and other vehicles periodically receive the position information of the leader's vehicle via a PHS or a cellular phone, and receive the information of the leader's vehicle. A warning message is displayed when the distance between the position and the own vehicle position is equal to or more than a certain value, and a warning message is also transmitted to the leader's vehicle.

[0005] The route to the leader's vehicle is automatically calculated. Further, since the leader's vehicle is also moving, if the leader's vehicle has moved a certain distance or more from the own vehicle position, the route to the leader's vehicle is recalculated again.

By repeating this, it is possible to catch up even if there is a delay or deviation, or even if the delay or deviation is repeated. If a warning message is displayed on the leader's vehicle, the speed can be reduced and the vehicle waited.

Further, if the route information of the leader vehicle is received in advance at the time of departure, it is possible to issue a warning when leaving the route without receiving the position information of the leader vehicle at regular intervals. Fees can be saved. In this case, when the leader vehicle reroutes, the leader vehicle distributes the new route to other vehicles.

Further, when the vehicle deviates, the position of the leader vehicle is added as an intermediate point to the original route without following the leader vehicle, thereby following the leader vehicle while leaving the first course. It is also possible.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS According to the first aspect of the present invention, a navigation device and a vehicle are provided for a plurality of vehicles.
A wireless communication means such as an HS or a mobile phone is provided, and a leader vehicle among a plurality of vehicles periodically transmits own vehicle position information to another vehicle by a wireless communication means, and the other vehicles transmit the position of the transmitted leader vehicle. The information is received by the wireless communication means and the distance between the own vehicle position and the leader vehicle is calculated, and when the distance exceeds a predetermined value, a warning message is displayed on a display provided in the own vehicle. It is configured to set and guide a route that catches up with the leader vehicle, and has an operation of recognizing that a vehicle that is more than a predetermined distance from the leader vehicle recognizes it and facilitating following the leader vehicle.

[0010] According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the above-mentioned aspect, when the leader vehicle moves a predetermined distance or more from the position of the own vehicle, a route that catches up with the leader vehicle is set again. Yes, the vehicle starts chasing the leader vehicle, but has an effect of facilitating following the leader vehicle even when the vehicle is further separated.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a plurality of vehicles are provided with a navigation device and wireless communication means such as a PHS or a mobile phone, respectively, and a leader vehicle among the plurality of vehicles is directed to another vehicle. A display device that transmits travel route information in advance by radio communication means before departure, and a warning message is provided to other vehicles when the travel position of the vehicle deviates from the route of the transmitted travel route information by a predetermined distance or more. To display to the leader vehicle by wireless communication means, and set and guide the route to catch up with the leader vehicle, and perform regular wireless communication with the leader vehicle. Therefore, the present invention has an operation of easily following the leader vehicle while reducing telephone charges.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of vehicles are provided with a navigation device and a wireless communication means such as a PHS or a mobile phone, respectively. The position information is periodically transmitted by the wireless communication means, and the other vehicles receive the transmitted position information of the leader vehicle by the wireless communication means, calculate the distance between the own vehicle position and the leader vehicle, and determine the distance. If the value is equal to or more than the value, or the leader vehicle among the plurality of vehicles is directed to another vehicle, the traveling route information is transmitted by radio communication means before departure in advance, and the other vehicles are transmitted from the route of the transmitted traveling route information. If the traveling position of the own vehicle deviates by more than a predetermined distance, in any one of the other vehicles, the position of the leader vehicle is used as a relay point on the original route without using the position of the leader vehicle as the destination. Is added so that the vehicle follows the leader vehicle while leaving the first course. Since the course is not changed, the driver can easily follow the leader vehicle with little confusion. It has.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a circuit according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an antenna for receiving a GPS signal from a satellite. 2 is a GPS unit for processing a GPS signal received by the antenna 1, 3
Is a self-contained navigation unit including an azimuth sensor and a distance sensor, 4 is an operation input unit, 5 is a map information supply media unit including a CD-ROM drive and the like, 6 is a communication interface unit, 7 is a portable telephone, and an antenna. 8 is used for transmission and reception. Reference numeral 9 denotes a ROM that stores a calculation program, 10 denotes a CPU that performs various calculations, 11 denotes a RAM that stores calculation results and the current position of another vehicle, 12
Denotes a display unit composed of a liquid crystal display or the like, 13 denotes an audio output unit, and 14 denotes a timer. In this embodiment, four vehicles equipped with a navigation system having the same configuration are grouped, and one of them is a leader vehicle,
The other vehicles are A, B, and C.

The operation of the system using the car navigation device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation in which the car navigation device provided in the leader car according to the first embodiment of the present invention periodically transmits its own vehicle position to other cars (cars A, B, and C). 14 operates from t = 0 (S101), checks whether a predetermined time has elapsed t = T (S102), and if the predetermined time has elapsed, checks whether the own vehicle position has been transmitted to the vehicle A (S103) and notifies If not completed, the telephone number of the vehicle A is dialed using the portable telephone 7 (S104), and it is checked whether or not communication is possible (S105). Is transmitted (S106), the notification of the notification to the vehicle A is stored (S107), and then the presence or absence of the departure warning message from the vehicle A is checked (S108), and if received, it is displayed on the display of the display unit 12. Table And (S10
9) Check whether or not the notification to all the vehicles is completed (S)
110) If completed, return to S101 again and repeat. If not, the process returns to S103 and repeats.
Therefore, it is possible to know the deviation of the vehicle A in the leader vehicle.

In S103, if the own vehicle position has been transmitted to the vehicle A, it is checked whether the own vehicle position has been transmitted to the vehicle B (S111). If the notification has not been completed, the telephone number of the vehicle B is changed to the portable telephone. 7 is dialed (S112), it is checked whether or not communication is possible (S113). If communication is possible, latitude and longitude information is transmitted (S114), and vehicle B
Is stored (S115), and it is checked whether a deviation warning message has been received from the vehicle B (S11).
6) If received, it is displayed on the display of the display unit 12 (S117), and it is checked whether or not the notification to all vehicles has been completed (S110).
Return to 1 and repeat. If not, the process returns to S103 and repeats.

If the own vehicle position has been transmitted to the vehicle B in S111, it is checked whether or not the own vehicle position has been transmitted to the vehicle C (S121). If the notification has not been completed, the telephone number of the vehicle C is entered into the portable telephone. 7 (S122), and checks whether or not communication is possible (S123). If communication is possible, longitude and latitude information is transmitted (S124), and vehicle C
Is stored (S125), and it is checked whether a deviation warning message has been received from the vehicle C (S12).
6) If it has been received, it is displayed on the display of the display unit 12 (S127), and it is checked whether or not the notification to all the vehicles has been completed (S110).
Return to 1 and repeat. If not, the process returns to S103 and repeats.

If it is determined in step S105 that communication is not possible, the communication with vehicle A is terminated, and the process proceeds to step S111 for communication with vehicle B. In step S113, if communication is not possible, communication with vehicle B is disabled. The communication is terminated, and the process proceeds to S121 for communication with the vehicle C.

If no warning message has been received in S108, S116, S126, S
Proceed to 110.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation when the car navigation device provided in another vehicle according to the first embodiment of the present invention receives the position information transmitted by the operation of FIG. 2, and shows the position of the leader vehicle. It is checked whether or not information has been received (S201). If the information has been received, the positions of the leader car and the own car are simultaneously displayed on a map, and the distance between the two is displayed as distance (S202). It is checked whether the value is equal to or greater than the predetermined value (S203). If the value is equal to or less than the predetermined value, the process is terminated without any problem. The route is transmitted (S205), and a route to the leader car is set (S206). As described above, according to the first embodiment, a predetermined distance or more from the leader vehicle,
The distant vehicle recognizes this, and can easily follow the leader vehicle.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an operation of transmitting a route set by a car navigation device provided in a leader car to another car according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. 1 is similar to the block diagram of FIG. In the flowchart, it is checked whether or not the route has been set (S301). If the route has been set, the route information is transmitted to another vehicle and the process ends (S302).
If not, another operation process is performed (S30).
3).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation when the car navigation device of another vehicle according to the second embodiment of the present invention receives the route information transmitted by the operation of FIG. 4, and determines whether the route information has been received. (S40)
1) If there is no reception, other operation processing is performed (S41)
0), and then return to S401. If there is a reception, the received route information is set as a guidance route and route guidance is performed (S402). During the route guidance, it is checked whether or not the distance between the own vehicle position and the route information exceeds a certain value (S40).
3) If the distance is equal to or less than the predetermined value, the process ends. If there is, a warning is issued (S404), and it is checked whether or not reroute setting has been instructed (S405). If there is, it is further checked whether or not the setting of the route to return to the original route has been instructed (S406).
If there is an instruction, a route returning to the original route is set and guided (S407). If there is no instruction, it is checked whether or not a route setting to the destination has been instructed (S408). Set route and guide to (S40)
If 9) is not found, the process returns to S406. As described above, according to the second embodiment, since the route information of the leader vehicle is received in advance at the time of departure, it is not necessary to receive the position information of the leader vehicle at regular intervals, and when the vehicle leaves the route, A warning is issued so that telephone charges can be saved. In this case, when the leader vehicle reroutes, the leader vehicle distributes the new route to other vehicles, so that the vehicles A, B, and C can always follow the route set by the leader vehicle.

(Other Embodiments) It is possible to combine the functions of the second embodiment with the functions of the first embodiment. That is, in the vehicles A, B, and C, the route information of the leader vehicle is received in advance, and the route information is set as the guide route. Ask. When the vehicles A, B, and C depart from the leader vehicle by a certain distance or more, or deviate from the guidance route, the vehicle position of the leader vehicle is not set as the destination, and the position of the leader vehicle is set as a relay point on the original route. By adding, it may be configured to chase the leader vehicle while leaving the first course. Since the course is not changed, it is possible to easily follow the leader vehicle with little confusion of the driver.

In the leader vehicle, when the warning message is displayed, it is possible to recognize that the other vehicle has been delayed or deviated, so that it is possible to reduce the speed and wait for the other vehicle.

[0025]

As described above, according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, it is possible to chase even if deviations are repeated, and it is possible to obtain an advantageous effect of making it easy to follow difficult group running. . Further, according to the third aspect, it is possible to reduce the telephone charge and perform the group traveling at low cost. Further, according to the fourth aspect, the driver can easily follow the leader vehicle with little confusion of the driver, and an advantageous effect can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a circuit according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the car navigation device provided in the leader car according to the first embodiment of the present invention periodically transmits another car (car A,
B, C) is a flowchart showing the operation of transmitting the vehicle position to

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation when the car navigation device provided in another vehicle according to the first embodiment of the present invention receives the position information transmitted by the operation of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of transmitting a route set by a car navigation device provided in a leader vehicle to another vehicle according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation when the car navigation device of another vehicle according to the second embodiment of the present invention receives the route information transmitted in the operation of FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 GPS unit 3 Self-contained navigation unit unit 4 Operation input unit 5 Map information supply media unit 7 Portable telephone 12 Display unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of vehicles each having a navigation device and wireless communication means such as a PHS or a mobile phone, and a leader vehicle among the plurality of vehicles periodically transmits its own vehicle position information to another vehicle. The other vehicle receives the transmitted position information of the leader vehicle by the wireless communication means and calculates the distance between the own vehicle position and the leader vehicle, and when the distance becomes equal to or more than a predetermined value. Is a car navigation device characterized in that a warning message is displayed on a display provided in the own vehicle, and a route to catch up with the leader vehicle is set and guided. 2. The car navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the leader vehicle further moves from the own vehicle position by a predetermined distance or more, a route to catch up with the leader vehicle is set again. 3. A plurality of vehicles each having a navigation device and a wireless communication means such as a PHS or a mobile phone, wherein a leader vehicle among the plurality of vehicles is directed to another vehicle and transmits travel route information before departure in advance. Transmitted by wireless communication means, the other vehicle displays a warning message on a display provided in the own vehicle when the traveling position of the own vehicle deviates from the route of the transmitted traveling route information by a predetermined distance or more, and A car navigation device characterized by transmitting to a leader vehicle by wireless communication means, and setting and guiding a route to catch up with the leader vehicle. 4. A plurality of vehicles each having a navigation device and wireless communication means such as a PHS or a mobile phone, and a leader vehicle among the plurality of vehicles periodically transmits own vehicle position information to another vehicle by the wireless communication. The other vehicle receives the transmitted position information of the leader vehicle by the wireless communication means and calculates the distance between the own vehicle position and the leader vehicle, and when the distance becomes equal to or more than a predetermined value. Or the leader vehicle among the plurality of vehicles directs travel route information to the other vehicle in advance by the wireless communication means before departure, and the other vehicle transmits its own vehicle from the route of the transmitted travel route information. In the case where the traveling position deviates by a predetermined distance or more, in any one of the other vehicles, without using the position of the leader vehicle as the destination,
A car navigation device characterized by adding a position of a leader vehicle as a relay point to an original route so as to follow the leader vehicle while leaving the first course.