JP2006031328A - Traffic information communication system, method, program and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a traffic information communication system equipped with the function of displaying pieces of traffic information on each on-vehicle information terminal device as information useful to drivers while arranging the pieces of information orderly, in an inter-vehicle radio network formed by the on-vehicle information terminal devices of automobiles during driving. <P>SOLUTION: A reception part 26 of the on-vehicle information terminal device 18 in one's own vehicle 2 receives other vehicles' traffic information INF 30 or the like from one or more other vehicles 30 or the like to be linked within the inter-vehicle radio network 15. A transmission part 24 transmits the one's own vehicle's traffic information INF 2. A display part 28 displays on a display monitor and in a predetermined display method image information about areas around the other vehicles 30 or the like which is included in the other vehicles' traffic information INF 30 or the like coming from the other vehicles 30 or the like running in front along the direction of travel of the one's own vehicle 2. The predetermined display method enables the pieces of the other vehicles' image information to be arranged and displayed using a perspective arrangement method according to the distances or angles between the one's own vehicle 2 and the other vehicles 30 or the like. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a traffic information communication system using a wireless network configured to include a plurality of in-vehicle information terminal devices.

  In recent years, the importance of ad hoc wireless networks formed in ad hoc between various wireless terminals has been recognized. As described in Non-Patent Document 1, an ad hoc wireless network does not require a fixed network, and a wireless base station and an access point are not necessary. For example, people in different cars (except for the driver while driving) can communicate with each other by using a mobile phone, but this wireless communication requires a fixed wireless base station. And Therefore, an ad hoc wireless network formed by traveling vehicles has been developed in which a transceiver is built in a vehicle and wireless communication is performed directly between vehicles without going through a wireless base station.

C-K. By Toh, translated by Structural Planning Laboratory, "Ad Hoc Mobile Wireless Network-Protocols and Systems", published on May 31, 2003, the first edition, published by Structural Planning Laboratory, Kyoritsu Publishing Co., Ltd.

  As described above, when an ad hoc wireless network is formed by traveling vehicles, various information is transmitted and received between the traveling vehicles, specifically between the in-vehicle information terminal devices. In such an ad hoc wireless network, it is necessary for each in-vehicle information terminal device itself to organize and display traffic information received from other in-vehicle information terminal devices. When using a server outside the ad hoc wireless network, traffic information that is well-ordered and organized by fully utilizing the functions of the server, for example, traffic information such as a road map in which the congested portion is displayed in red, is displayed. can do. However, there is a problem that it is extremely difficult to provide each vehicle-mounted information terminal device in the ad hoc wireless network as described above with a function like the server that organizes traffic information in order and displays it as useful information for the driver. there were.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problem, and in a wireless network formed by including in-vehicle information terminal devices of a running car, traffic information is transmitted to each in-vehicle information terminal device. The object is to provide a traffic information communication system or the like that is provided with a function of orderly organization and display as useful information to the driver.

  The traffic information communication system of the present invention is a traffic information communication system using a wireless network configured to include a plurality of in-vehicle information terminal devices, and the in-vehicle information terminal device is mounted with the in-vehicle information terminal device. The vehicle information acquisition means for acquiring own vehicle information including the position of the vehicle and the traveling direction of the vehicle by the navigation system, and image information around the vehicle on which the in-vehicle information terminal device is mounted are acquired by the imaging device. An image information acquisition means, a transmission means for transmitting own vehicle traffic information including the own vehicle information acquired by the own vehicle information acquisition means and the image information acquired by the image information acquisition means via a wireless network; Other vehicle traffic information including other vehicle information including the position of the other vehicle on which the in-vehicle information terminal device is mounted and the traveling direction of the other vehicle, and image information around the other vehicle. Based on the receiving means for receiving via the line network, the own vehicle information acquired by the own vehicle information acquiring means, and the other vehicle traffic information received by the receiving means, other vehicles included in the other vehicle traffic information And display means for displaying surrounding image information on the image display device.

  Here, in the traffic information communication system of the present invention, the display means is based on the own vehicle information acquired by the own vehicle information acquisition means and the other vehicle traffic information received by the receiving means. The other vehicle traffic information corresponding to one or more other vehicles traveling forward in the traveling direction of the host vehicle is obtained, and the other vehicle traffic information corresponding to the one or more other vehicles is included in the other vehicle traffic information. Image information around one or more other vehicles can be displayed on the image display device in a predetermined display format.

  Here, in the traffic information communication system according to the present invention, the predetermined display format is determined according to each distance between the own vehicle and the one or more other vehicles. The surrounding image information can be arranged and displayed on the screen of the image display device in an arrangement form based on perspective.

  Here, in the traffic information communication system according to the present invention, the predetermined display format is the one or more other vehicles, the image information of the surroundings of the vehicle traveling on the same lane as the own vehicle. And arranged according to geometric perspective according to each distance between the vehicle and the one or more other vehicles, and travels on a lane different from the own vehicle, which is the one or more other vehicles. The image information around the vehicle is set to an angle formed by each distance between the own vehicle and the one or more other vehicles and a direction from the own vehicle and the own vehicle to the one or more other vehicles. It can be arranged and displayed by geometric perspective as a corresponding display size.

  The traffic information communication method of the present invention is a traffic information communication method using a wireless network including a plurality of in-vehicle information terminal devices, the position of the vehicle in which the in-vehicle information terminal device is mounted, and the vehicle A vehicle information acquisition step of acquiring vehicle information including a traveling direction by a navigation system, a transmission processing step in which the in-vehicle information terminal device transmits information via the wireless network, and after the transmission processing step or The in-vehicle information terminal device includes a reception processing step in which information is received via the wireless network, and the transmission processing step includes a step in which the in-vehicle information terminal device is arranged around a vehicle on which the in-vehicle information terminal device is mounted. An image information acquisition step for acquiring image information by the imaging device, the own vehicle information acquired in the own vehicle information acquisition step, and the image information acquisition step. And transmitting the vehicle traffic information including the image information acquired in the step via a wireless network, wherein the in-vehicle information terminal device is mounted with another in-vehicle information terminal device. Receiving the other vehicle traffic information including other vehicle information including the position of the other vehicle and the traveling direction of the other vehicle and image information around the other vehicle via a wireless network; A display step of displaying image information around other vehicles included in the other vehicle traffic information on the image display device based on the own vehicle information acquired in the vehicle information acquisition step and the other vehicle traffic information received in the receiving step. It is characterized by comprising.

  Here, in the traffic information communication method of the present invention, the display step is based on the own vehicle information acquired in the own vehicle information acquisition step and the other vehicle traffic information received in the reception step. The other vehicle traffic information corresponding to one or more other vehicles traveling forward in the traveling direction of the host vehicle is obtained, and the other vehicle traffic information corresponding to the one or more other vehicles is included in the other vehicle traffic information. Image information around one or more other vehicles can be displayed on the image display device in a predetermined display format.

  Here, in the traffic information communication method according to the present invention, the predetermined display format is determined according to each distance between the host vehicle and the one or more other vehicles. The surrounding image information can be arranged and displayed on the screen of the image display device in an arrangement form based on perspective.

  Here, in the traffic information communication method according to the present invention, the predetermined display format is the one or more other vehicles, the image information of the surroundings of the vehicle traveling on the same lane as the own vehicle. And arranged according to geometric perspective according to each distance between the vehicle and the one or more other vehicles, and travels on a lane different from the own vehicle, which is the one or more other vehicles. The image information around the vehicle is set to an angle formed by each distance between the own vehicle and the one or more other vehicles and a direction from the own vehicle and the own vehicle to the one or more other vehicles. It can be arranged and displayed by geometric perspective as a corresponding display size.

  A program of the present invention is a program for performing processing of an in-vehicle information terminal device in a traffic information communication system using a wireless network configured to include a plurality of in-vehicle information terminal devices, the computer of the in-vehicle information terminal device The vehicle information acquisition means for acquiring the vehicle information including the position of the vehicle on which the vehicle information terminal device is mounted and the traveling direction of the vehicle by a navigation system, and another vehicle information terminal device are mounted. Receiving means for receiving other vehicle traffic information including other vehicle information including the position of the other vehicle and the traveling direction of the other vehicle and image information around the other vehicle via a wireless network, the host vehicle information Based on the own vehicle information acquired by the acquiring unit and the other vehicle traffic information received by the receiving unit, image information around other vehicles included in the other vehicle traffic information is displayed. Is a program for functioning as display means for displaying on the display device.

  Here, in the program of the present invention, the display means is based on the own vehicle information acquired by the own vehicle information acquisition means and the other vehicle traffic information received by the receiving means. Other vehicle traffic information corresponding to one or more other vehicles traveling forward in the traveling direction of the host vehicle is obtained, and the one or more vehicles included in the other vehicle traffic information corresponding to the one or more other vehicles Image information around other vehicles can be displayed on the image display device in a predetermined display format.

  Here, in the program of the present invention, the predetermined display format is an image around the one or more other vehicles in accordance with each distance between the host vehicle and the one or more other vehicles. Information can be arranged and displayed on the screen of the image display device in an arrangement format based on perspective.

  Here, in the program according to the present invention, the predetermined display format is the one or more other vehicles, the image information of the surroundings of the vehicle traveling on the same lane as the own vehicle, and the own vehicle and the 1 Around the vehicle that is arranged and displayed by geometric perspective according to each distance between the vehicle and one or more vehicles, and that travels on a lane different from the host vehicle. Image information according to the distance between the host vehicle and the one or more other vehicles and the angle formed by the host vehicle and the direction from the host vehicle to the one or more other vehicles. The size can be arranged and displayed by geometric perspective.

  Here, in the program of the present invention, image information acquisition means for acquiring image information around the vehicle on which the in-vehicle information terminal device is mounted, an own vehicle information acquired by the own vehicle information acquisition means, Transmission means for transmitting own vehicle traffic information including image information acquired by the image information acquisition means via a wireless network can be further provided.

  The recording medium of the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium on which any program of the present invention is recorded.

  According to the traffic information communication system and the like of the present invention, the receiving unit of the in-vehicle information terminal device of the own vehicle receives other vehicle traffic information from one or more other vehicles, and the display unit displays the front of the traveling direction of the own vehicle. Each image information included in the other vehicle traffic information from the other vehicle traveling can be displayed on the display monitor in a predetermined display format. As the predetermined display format, the image information of the other vehicle can be arranged and displayed in the arrangement format based on the perspective according to each distance between the own vehicle and the other vehicle. For this reason, it becomes easy for the driver of the own vehicle to intuitively grasp such a road situation when another vehicle is traveling ahead of the other vehicle. For this reason, if there is one or more other vehicles to be linked in the inter-vehicle wireless network, the driver of the own vehicle is organized in order based on the distance between the own vehicle and the other vehicle. There is an effect that traffic information can be obtained.

  Hereinafter, each embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a traffic information communication system 1 in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numerals 2, 30 and 31 are automobiles (vehicles), 3 is a driver of the automobile 2, 4 is a camera (imaging device) that captures image information around the automobile 2, and 8 is a position of the automobile 2. GPS (Global Positioning System) antenna, 10 is a navigation system connected to the GPS antenna 8, 6 is a display monitor (image display device) connected to the navigation system 10, and 12 is an antenna such as a diversity antenna. , 14 is a receiver that receives signals from the outside via the antenna 12, 16 is a transmitter that transmits signals to the outside via the antenna 12, and 18 is the camera 4, the navigation system 10, the antenna 12, and the receiver 14. An in-vehicle information terminal device 19 connected to the transmitter 16 is a function block indicating functions (described later) of the in-vehicle information terminal device 18. It is a lock. Hereinafter, the automobile 2 is the own vehicle, the automobiles 30 and 31 are the other cars, and the other cars 30 and 31 (hereinafter referred to as “other cars 30 etc.”) are the same as the in-vehicle information terminal device etc. As shown). In FIG. 1, only two cars 30 are shown as other cars 30 and the like, but this is for the convenience of the drawing, and the number of other cars 30 etc. is not limited to two.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 15 denotes a wireless network configured to include a plurality of in-vehicle information terminal devices 18 and the like. Here, the wireless network configured by including a plurality of in-vehicle information terminal devices 18 and the like is an ad hoc wireless network configured by a plurality of in-vehicle information terminal devices 18 and the like, a roadside wireless communication device, or a roadside repeater (both of which are not 1), one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-one, and many-to-many wireless networks between a plurality of in-vehicle information terminal devices 18 and the like. In the present specification, a wireless network including a plurality of in-vehicle information terminal devices 18 having the above-described meaning is referred to as an “inter-vehicle wireless network”. In the following, a case where the inter-vehicle wireless network 15 is an ad hoc wireless network will be mainly described, but it is needless to say that the case where the vehicle-to-vehicle wireless network 15 is the above wireless network including a roadside wireless communication device or a roadside repeater is also described. A typical transmission path (link) of the inter-vehicle wireless network 15 is a peer-to-peer one-to-one peer type without using a server or the like in a communication center or client-server type model. There are two types of links: a link directly configured by communication and a link based on a so-called bucket relay system that is secondarily transmitted through the link. As a wireless transmission method of the inter-vehicle wireless network 15, an ad hoc mode of IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11, which is a common standard for a wireless local area network (LAN), is used. be able to. In this ad hoc mode, each station (Station: STA) in the same basic service set (BBS) can directly communicate with an equivalent STA in the same BSS. Therefore, if the in-vehicle information terminal device 18 and the like are regarded as STAs in the BSS, each in-vehicle information terminal device 18 in the same BSS can directly communicate with each equivalent in-vehicle information terminal device in the same BSS. As another wireless transmission method, a Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication protocol can be used. In Bluetooth (registered trademark), communication can be performed by configuring a piconet with a certain compatible device as a master and other compatible devices as slaves. Therefore, for example, the in-vehicle information terminal device 18 of the own vehicle 2 becomes a master, and the in-vehicle information terminal device such as the other vehicle 30 becomes a slave to configure a piconet to perform communication. Since a master of a certain piconet can be a slave of another piconet, a link based on the above-described bucket relay method can be easily configured. Further, as another wireless transmission method, a UWB (Ultra Wide Band) wireless method can be used. In the UWB wireless system, ad hoc communication between portable information terminals can be performed at high speed using a wide frequency band from a microwave band (3 GHz to 30 GHz) to a millimeter wave band (30 GHz to 300 GHz). Therefore, inter-vehicle communication between the in-vehicle information terminal device 18 and the like can be realized at high speed.

  Next, functions of the in-vehicle information terminal device 18 and the like will be described. The functions of the in-vehicle information terminal device 18 and the like include a vehicle information acquisition function for acquiring information related to the vehicle (vehicle information), a transmission processing function for transmitting the vehicle information and the like via the inter-vehicle wireless network 15, and others. The vehicle information (other vehicle information) and the like are received via the inter-vehicle wireless network 15 and can be divided into reception processing functions for performing various processes. As the own vehicle information acquisition function, as shown in the function block 19 of FIG. 1, the own vehicle information including the position of the own vehicle 2 on which the in-vehicle information terminal device 18 and the like are mounted and the traveling direction of the own vehicle 2 is GPS. A vehicle information acquisition unit 20 (vehicle information acquisition means) that is acquired by the antenna 8 and the navigation system 10 is provided. Here, the position is an absolute position (latitude, longitude) on the earth as used in a normal navigation system, and the direction can be obtained from the position of the host vehicle 2 immediately before and the current position. The transmission processing function includes an image information acquisition unit 22 (image information acquisition unit) and a transmission unit 24 (transmission unit) as shown in the function block 19 of FIG. The image information acquisition unit 22 acquires image information around the host vehicle 2 on which the in-vehicle information terminal device 18 and the like are mounted, by the camera 4. For example, by installing the camera 4 in the traveling direction of the host vehicle 2, the road condition in the traveling direction of the host vehicle 2 can be acquired as surrounding image information. When the host vehicle 2 and the other vehicle 30 are not in the road but in a parking lot or the like, the parking lot situation in the traveling direction of the host vehicle 2 can be acquired as surrounding image information. The transmission unit 24 uses the transmitter 16 and the antenna 12 to transmit the vehicle traffic information INF2 including the vehicle information acquired by the vehicle information acquisition unit 20 and the image information acquired by the image information acquisition unit 22. It transmits via the network 15.

  Next, as a reception processing function, as shown in the function block 19 of FIG. 1, the reception unit 26 (reception unit) and the display unit 28 (display unit) are provided. The receiving unit 26 receives other vehicle information including the position of the other vehicle 30 and the traveling direction of the other vehicle 30 on which other in-vehicle information terminal devices (not shown) are mounted, and image information around the other vehicle 30 and the like. Other vehicle traffic information INF30 or INF31 (hereinafter referred to as “other vehicle traffic information INF30 etc.”) is received using the antenna 12 and the receiver 14 via the inter-vehicle wireless network 15. Similarly to the above, by installing a camera (not shown) such as the other vehicle 30 in the traveling direction of the other vehicle 30 or the like, the road condition or the parking lot condition or the like in the traveling direction of the other vehicle 30 or the like can be determined. It can be received as surrounding image information. Based on the own vehicle information acquired by the own vehicle information acquisition unit 20 and the other vehicle traffic information INF30 received by the reception unit 26, the display unit 28 is arranged around the other vehicle 30 included in the other vehicle traffic information INF30. The image information is displayed on the display monitor 6. The other vehicle traffic information INF30 or the like may be transmitted from any of the front, rear, left, right, and opposite directions of the host vehicle 2.

  The display unit 28 is based on the own vehicle information acquired by the own vehicle information acquisition unit 20 and the other vehicle traffic information INF30 received by the receiving unit 26, in particular, of the other vehicle traffic information INF30, etc. The other vehicle traffic information INF30 corresponding to one or more other vehicles 30 traveling forward in the traveling direction can be obtained. Specifically, first, the traveling direction of the other vehicle 30 included in the other vehicle traffic information INF30 and the like is compared with the traveling direction of the host vehicle 2 included in the own vehicle information, and the other vehicle traffic information INF30 having the same traveling direction is compared. Select etc. Next, based on the position of the other vehicle 30 included in the selected other vehicle traffic information INF30 and the position of the own vehicle 2 included in the own vehicle information, the traveling direction of the own vehicle 2 and the other vehicle from the own vehicle 2 Each angle formed by the direction to 30 etc. is obtained. The angle can be determined arbitrarily. For example, when looking down on the own vehicle 2 or the like, if the counterclockwise direction is + and the clockwise direction is −, the other vehicle 30 or the like whose absolute value of the angle is <90 degrees is that of the own vehicle 2. The other vehicle 30 or the like traveling forward in the traveling direction and having the absolute value of the angle = 90 degrees is traveling in parallel, and the other vehicle 30 or the like having the absolute value of the angle> 90 degrees is traveling by itself. It can be identified that the vehicle is traveling behind the vehicle 2. Based on the identification, the display unit 28 can display image information around one or more other vehicles 30 traveling forward in the traveling direction of the host vehicle 2 on the display monitor 6 in a predetermined display format. . FIG. 2A shows the positional relationship between the own vehicle 2 and the other vehicle 32 in the first embodiment of the present invention. 2A, reference numeral 40 denotes a boundary between the lane of the road on which the host vehicle 2 and the other vehicle 32 travel and the opposite lane, and 42 is installed in front of the lane on which the host vehicle 2 and the other vehicle 32 travel. The sign P1 is the position of the host vehicle 2 acquired by the host vehicle information acquisition unit 20, and the symbol A on the host vehicle 2 side is the traveling direction of the host vehicle 2 acquired by the host vehicle information acquisition unit 20. The receiving unit 26 receives other vehicle traffic information INF32 including the position P2 of the other vehicle 32, the traveling direction A, and the surrounding image information Im2. As shown in FIG. 2A, the host vehicle 2 and the other vehicle 32 are traveling in the same traveling direction A, and the distance between the two vehicles is R (P2, P1). In FIG. 2 (A), only the other vehicle 32 is shown as a vehicle traveling forward in the traveling direction of the host vehicle 2. However, this exemplifies a situation in which the vehicle including the in-vehicle information terminal device 18 or the like that is a link target in the inter-vehicle wireless network 15 is only the own vehicle 2 and the other vehicle 32. Of course, an automobile equipped with an in-vehicle information terminal device that is not subject to the above may be traveling in front of another vehicle 32.

  FIG. 2B shows an image 50 displayed on the display monitor 6 of the host vehicle 2 in the case of the positional relationship shown in FIG. In FIG. 2B, portions denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. As described above, by installing the camera (not shown) of the other vehicle 32 toward the traveling direction A of the other vehicle 32, the receiving unit 26 of the own vehicle 2 shows the road condition in the traveling direction A of the other vehicle 32. The image information Im2 around the other vehicle 32 can be received. Since the other vehicle traffic information received by the receiving unit 26 is only the other vehicle traffic information INF32 from the other vehicle 32, the display unit 28 is one or more other vehicles that travel ahead in the traveling direction A of the own vehicle 2. The image information Im2 included in the other vehicle traffic information INF32 is displayed on the display monitor 6 in a predetermined display format. As the predetermined display format, for example, the display coordinate position G (R (P2, P1)) on the image 50 is determined based on the distance R (P2, P1) between the two vehicles, as shown in FIG. The image information Im2 can be displayed with the display coordinate position G (R (P2, P1)) at the upper left. The distance R (P2, P1) between the two vehicles is the position P1 of the own vehicle 2 included in the own vehicle information acquired by the own vehicle information acquisition unit 20 and the other vehicle 32 included in the other vehicle traffic information INF32 received by the reception unit 26. Based on the position P2. As a result, the driver 3 of the own vehicle 2 can view the image information Im <b> 2 captured by the camera of the other vehicle 32 in front of the own vehicle 2 on the display monitor 6. When the other vehicle 32 is a large vehicle such as a large truck or bus and the own vehicle 2 is a normal passenger car, the driver 3 of the own vehicle 2 often cannot grasp the road condition ahead of the other vehicle 32. If a large vehicle is running in front of the other vehicle 32 even after overtaking the other vehicle 32, it is generally safer to refrain from overtaking the other vehicle 32. According to the first embodiment of the present invention, the driver 3 of the own vehicle 2 can view the image information Im2 captured by the camera of the other vehicle 32 on the display monitor 6 of the own vehicle 2. For example, although the boundary object 40 and the sign 42 are displayed in the image 50 of FIG. 2B, it is displayed that there is no automobile in front of the other vehicle 32. The driver 3 can obtain extremely useful information when determining whether to pass the other vehicle 32 or not.

  FIG. 3A shows another positional relationship between the own vehicle 2 and the other vehicle 32 in the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3A, portions denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. The difference between the positional relationship shown in FIG. 3 (A) and the positional relationship shown in FIG. 2 (A) is that the other vehicle 32 is at a position P3 ahead of position P2 with respect to the own vehicle 2 in the traveling direction A. Therefore, the distance R (P3, P1)> R (P2, P1) between the two vehicles is satisfied.

  FIG. 3B shows an image 51 displayed on the display monitor 6 of the host vehicle 2 in the case of the positional relationship shown in FIG. In FIG. 3B, portions denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. Similarly to the above, the receiving unit 26 receives the other vehicle traffic information INF32 including the position P3 of the other vehicle 32, the traveling direction A, and the surrounding image information Im3. That is, the receiving unit 26 of the own vehicle 2 can receive the road condition in the traveling direction A of the other vehicle 32 as the image information Im3 around the other vehicle 32. Since the other vehicle traffic information received by the receiving unit 26 is only the other vehicle traffic information INF32 from the other vehicle 32, the display unit 28 is one or more other vehicles that travel ahead in the traveling direction A of the own vehicle 2. As the surrounding image information, image information Im3 included in the other vehicle traffic information INF32 is displayed on the display monitor 6 in a predetermined display format. As the predetermined display format, the display coordinate position G (R (P3, P1)) on the image 51 is determined based on the distance R (P3, P1) between the two vehicles as described above, and FIG. As shown, the image information Im3 can be displayed with the display coordinate position G (R (P3, P1)) at the upper left. Since the distance R (P3, P1)> R (P2, P1) between the two vehicles, the display coordinate position G (R (P3, P1)) is higher on the image 51 than G (R (P2, P1)). Show it. As described above, the driver 3 of the host vehicle 2 displays the image information Im2 and Im3 captured by the camera of the other vehicle 32 as display coordinates corresponding to the distances R (P3, P1) and R (P2, P1) between the two vehicles. It can be seen at positions G (R (P3, P1)), G (R (P2, P1)). Accordingly, the driver 3 of the host vehicle 2 can obtain traffic information that is ordered and arranged based on the distance R between the two vehicles.

  In the above description, taking the positional relationship between the own vehicle 2 and the other vehicle 32 on the road as an example, the camera (not shown) of the other vehicle 32 is installed in the traveling direction A of the other vehicle 32, and the own vehicle The second receiving unit 26 receives the road condition in the traveling direction A of the other vehicle 32 as image information Im2 around the other vehicle 32 and the like. However, in consideration of the positional relationship between the own vehicle 2 and the other vehicle 32 in a parking lot or the like, the camera of the other vehicle 32 (not shown) is rotated so that the surroundings of the other vehicle 32 can be photographed. The second receiving unit 26 may sequentially receive the parking situation around the other vehicle 32 as image information around the other vehicle 32. In this case, the display unit 28 displays, as a predetermined display format, image information in front of the other vehicle 32 on the upper part of the image 50 and the like, and image information on the left side of the other vehicle 32 in the left part of the image 50 and the like. Alternatively, it is possible to use a format in which image information on the right side of the other vehicle 32 is displayed on the right part of the image 50 and the like, and image information on the rear side of the other vehicle 32 is displayed on the lower part of the image 50 and the like.

  As mentioned above, according to Example 1 of this invention, the vehicle-mounted information terminal device 18 acquires the own vehicle information acquisition function which acquires own vehicle information, and the transmission process function which transmits own vehicle information etc. via the wireless network 15 between vehicles. And a reception processing function for receiving other vehicle information and the like via the inter-vehicle wireless network 15 and performing various processes. The own vehicle information acquisition function acquires own vehicle information including the position of the own vehicle 2 on which the in-vehicle information terminal device 18 and the like are mounted and the traveling direction of the own vehicle 2 by the GPS antenna 8 and the navigation system 10. Part 20. The transmission processing function includes an image information acquisition unit 22 and a transmission unit 24. The image information acquisition unit 22 acquires image information around the host vehicle 2 on which the in-vehicle information terminal device 18 and the like are mounted, by the camera 4. The transmission unit 24 uses the transmitter 16 and the antenna 12 to transmit the vehicle traffic information INF2 including the vehicle information acquired by the vehicle information acquisition unit 20 and the image information acquired by the image information acquisition unit 22. It transmits via the network 15. The reception processing function includes a reception unit 26 and a display unit 28. The receiving unit 26 receives other vehicle information including the position of the other vehicle 30 and the traveling direction of the other vehicle 30 on which other in-vehicle information terminal devices (not shown) are mounted, and image information around the other vehicle 30 and the like. Other vehicle traffic information INF30 and the like are received using the antenna 12 and the receiver 14 via the inter-vehicle wireless network 15. The display unit 28 displays image information around the other vehicle 30 included in the other vehicle traffic information INF30 on the display monitor 6 based on the other vehicle traffic information INF30 received by the receiving unit 26.

  The display unit 28 displays image information around one or more other vehicles 30 traveling in front of the traveling direction of the host vehicle 2 among the other vehicle traffic information INF30 received by the receiving unit 26, in particular. It can be displayed on the display monitor 6 in a display format. The display unit 28 displays image information Im2 included in the other vehicle traffic information INF32 in a predetermined display format as image information around one or more other vehicles traveling in front of the traveling direction A of the host vehicle 2. Display on the monitor 6. As the predetermined display format, for example, the display coordinate position G (R (P2, P1)) on the image 50 is determined based on the distance R (P2, P1) between the two vehicles, and the display coordinate position G (R (P2) , P1)) can be displayed at the upper left, and the image information Im2 can be displayed. Since the driver 3 of the host vehicle 2 can view the image information Im2 captured by the camera of the other vehicle 32 in front of the host vehicle 2 on the display monitor 6, for example, when determining whether to overtake the other vehicle 32 It is possible to obtain extremely useful information. Accordingly, the driver 3 of the host vehicle 2 can obtain traffic information that is ordered and arranged based on the distance R between the two vehicles. As described above, in the inter-vehicle wireless network 15 formed by the in-vehicle information terminal devices 18 and the like of the traveling vehicle, the traffic information is ordered and arranged in the in-vehicle information terminal devices 18 and the like as images useful for the driver 3. It is possible to provide the traffic information communication system 1 provided with a function of displaying the information Im2 and the like.

  In the first embodiment described above, a case has been described in which the own vehicle 2 and the other vehicle 32 are the only vehicles equipped with the in-vehicle information terminal device 18 and the like that are linked in the inter-vehicle wireless network 15. In the second embodiment, a case where there are a plurality of other vehicles to be linked in the inter-vehicle wireless network 15 will be described.

  FIG. 4A shows a positional relationship among the own vehicle 2, the other vehicle 32, and the other vehicle 30 in the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4A, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 3A indicate the same elements, and the description thereof is omitted. The positional relationship shown in FIG. 4A differs from the positional relationship shown in FIG. 3A in that the other vehicle 32 is at a position P4 in front of the traveling direction A of the host vehicle 2 and the other vehicle 30. Is at a position P5 ahead of the traveling direction A of the other vehicle 32, and therefore, the distance R (P4, P1) between the own vehicle 2 and the other vehicle 32 <the distance between the own vehicle 2 and the other vehicle 30. The distance R is (P5, P1).

  FIG. 4B shows an image 52 displayed on the display monitor 6 of the host vehicle 2 in the case of the positional relationship shown in FIG. In FIG. 4B, portions denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. As in the first embodiment, the receiving unit 26 of the host vehicle 2 receives the other vehicle traffic information INF32 including the position P4 of the other vehicle 32, the traveling direction A, and the surrounding image information Im4. That is, the road condition in the traveling direction A of the other vehicle 32 can be received as the image information Im4 around the other vehicle 32. Further, in the second embodiment, the receiving unit 26 of the own vehicle 2 receives the other vehicle traffic information INF30 including the position P5 of the other vehicle 30, the traveling direction A, and the surrounding image information Im5. That is, the road condition in the traveling direction A of the other vehicle 30 can be received as the image information Im5 around the other vehicle 30. Since the other vehicle traffic information received by the receiving unit 26 is only the other vehicle traffic information INF32 and the other vehicle traffic information INF30, the display unit 28 displays one or more other vehicles traveling ahead in the traveling direction A of the host vehicle 2. The image information Im4 and Im5 are displayed on the display monitor 6 in a predetermined display format. As a predetermined display format, image information around the other vehicles 32 and 30 is determined according to the distances R (P4, P1) and R (P5, P1) between the host vehicle 2 and the other vehicles 32 and 30. Im4 and Im5 can be arranged and displayed on the screen (image 52) of the display monitor 6 in an arrangement format based on perspective.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 4B, the image information Im4 sent from the other vehicle 32 at a short distance from the own vehicle 2 is displayed in a large size on the lower part on the image 52, and the other vehicle 30 at a long distance is displayed. The image information Im5 sent from the image information is displayed on the upper part of the image 52 in a size smaller than the image information Im4. The upper left display coordinate position G (R (P4, P1)) of the image information Im4 and the upper left display coordinate position G (R (P5, P1)) of the image information Im5 have vanishing points as in the normal perspective method. What is necessary is just to arrange | position so that it may exist in the upper part on the image 52. FIG. As shown in FIG. 4B, an image of the other vehicle 30 traveling in front of the traveling direction A of the other vehicle 32 is displayed in the image information Im4, and a traveling direction of the other vehicle 30 is displayed in the image information Im5. It is shown that there is no automobile in front of A. Since the image information Im4 and Im5 are arranged and displayed based on the perspective method, the driver 3 of the own vehicle 2 can easily intuitively grasp that the other vehicle 30 is traveling ahead of the other vehicle 32. ing. As a result, the driver 3 can recognize from the image information Im4 that the other vehicle 30 is traveling ahead of the traveling direction A of the other vehicle 32, and the vehicle 3 is ahead of the traveling direction A of the other vehicle 30. Can be understood that does not exist. If the image information Im4 and Im5 are arranged far enough in perspective, the driver 3 must have a sufficiently safe distance between the other vehicles 32 and 30 even if the driver 3 passes the other vehicle 32. Therefore, the driver 3 can obtain extremely useful information when determining whether to overtake the other vehicle 32 or the like.

  In the above description, the geometric perspective method using a vanishing point as a perspective method is taken as an example. However, other perspective methods can be used as the perspective method used by the display unit 28. For example, the image information Im4 sent from the other vehicle 32 at a short distance is clearly displayed, and the image information Im5 sent from the other vehicle 30 at a long distance is displayed relatively lower than the Im4. The so-called air perspective method can be used. In this case, the size of the image information Im4 or the like is arbitrary and may be the same or different. Alternatively, the image information Im4 and Im5 are displayed so as to be slightly shifted and overlapped, and the overlapped portion is erased from the image information Im5 sent from the other vehicle 30 at a long distance. Can also be used. In this case, the size of the image information Im4 or the like is arbitrary and may be the same or different. Further, an air perspective method and / or an overlapping perspective method may be used in combination with the geometric perspective method.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the traffic information communication system 1 of the present invention is applied even when there are a plurality of other vehicles to be linked in the inter-vehicle wireless network 15. Can do. The receiving unit 26 of the host vehicle 2 receives other vehicle traffic information INF30 and the like from a plurality of other vehicles 30 and the like. The display unit 28 displays each image information Im4 included in the other vehicle traffic information INF30 from the other vehicle 30 traveling in front of the traveling direction A of the host vehicle 2 on the display monitor 6 in a predetermined display format. As a predetermined display format, image information Im4 and the like of the plurality of other vehicles 30 are arranged and displayed in an arrangement format based on the perspective according to each distance between the host vehicle 2 and the plurality of other vehicles 30 and the like. can do. For this reason, when the other vehicle 30 is traveling ahead of the other vehicle 32, the driver 3 of the own vehicle 2 can easily grasp such a road situation intuitively. As described above, the traffic information communication system 1 of the present invention can be applied even when there are a plurality of other vehicles to be linked in the inter-vehicle wireless network 15, and the driver 3 of the own vehicle 2 Traffic information arranged in an orderly manner can be obtained based on the distance between the vehicle 2 and the other vehicle 30 or the like.

  In the first and second embodiments, a description will be given of a case where an automobile including an in-vehicle information terminal device 18 or the like that is a link target in the inter-vehicle wireless network 15 is traveling ahead of the traveling direction A of the own vehicle 2. did. In the third embodiment, a case where the vehicle 2 is traveling in the left and right front in the traveling direction A will be described. For this reason, the lane which was not touched in Example 1 and 2 is specified.

  FIG. 5A shows a positional relationship between the own vehicle 2 and the other vehicles 30 to 32 in the third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5A, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 4A denote the same elements, and the description thereof is omitted. As shown in FIG. 5A, the other vehicle 30 travels in a position P8 in the same direction as the traveling direction A of the own vehicle 2 and on the right lane (passing lane) 44 of the own vehicle 2. The other vehicle 32 travels in the same direction as the traveling direction A of the host vehicle 2 and on the front position P7 on the same lane (traveling lane) 46 as the host vehicle 2, and the other vehicle 31 travels in the traveling direction of the host vehicle 2. The vehicle travels in a position P6 on the left lane (traveling lane) 48 of the host vehicle 2 in the same direction as A. The distance relationship between the four automobiles is as follows: distance R (P8, P1) between own vehicle 2 and other vehicle 30> distance R (P7, P1) between own vehicle 2 and other vehicle 32> own vehicle The distance R between the vehicle 2 and the other vehicle 31 is R (P6, P1). The angle between the host vehicle 2 and the other vehicle 30 is −α degrees when the angle method described in the first embodiment is used, and the angle between the host vehicle 2 and the other vehicle 31 is + β degrees. Since the angle between the own vehicle 2 and the other vehicle 32 is 0 degree, it is omitted in FIG.

  FIG. 5B shows an image 53 displayed on the display monitor 6 of the host vehicle 2 in the case of the positional relationship shown in FIG. In FIG. 5B, portions denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. As in the first and second embodiments, the receiving unit 26 of the host vehicle 2 receives the other vehicle traffic information INF30 including the position P8 of the other vehicle 30, the traveling direction A, and the surrounding image information Im8. That is, the road condition in the traveling direction A of the other vehicle 30 can be received as the image information Im8 around the other vehicle 30. Further, the other vehicle traffic information INF32 including the position P7 of the other vehicle 32, the traveling direction A, and the surrounding image information Im7 is received. That is, the road condition in the traveling direction A of the other vehicle 32 can be received as the image information Im7 around the other vehicle 32. In addition, the receiving unit 26 of the own vehicle 2 receives the other vehicle traffic information INF31 including the position P6 of the other vehicle 31, the traveling direction A, and the surrounding image information Im6. That is, the road condition in the traveling direction A of the other vehicle 31 can be received as the image information Im6 around the other vehicle 31. Since the other vehicle traffic information received by the receiving unit 26 is the other vehicle traffic information INF30, INF32, and INF31, the display unit 28 is located around one or more other vehicles traveling forward in the traveling direction A of the own vehicle 2. As image information, image information Im8, Im7, and Im6 are displayed in a predetermined display format. As the predetermined display format, the image information Im7 around the other vehicle 32 traveling on the same lane 46 as the own vehicle 2 is geometrically set according to the distance R (P7, P1) between the own vehicle 2 and the other vehicle 32. Place and display by academic perspective. On the other hand, the image information Im8 around the other vehicle 30 that travels on the lane 44 different from the own vehicle 2 corresponds to each distance R (P8, P1) and the angle −α between the own vehicle 2 and the other vehicle 30. Similarly, the image information Im6 around the other vehicle 31 traveling on the lane 48 different from the own vehicle 2 is set as the display size, and the distance R (P6, P1) and the angle + β between the own vehicle 2 and the other vehicle 31 are used. As a display size according to the above, it is arranged and displayed by geometric perspective.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 5B, the image information Im8 sent from the other vehicle 30 traveling on the right lane 44 at the farthest distance R (P8, P1) from the own vehicle 2 is displayed on the image 53. It is arranged in the upper right part of and is displayed in a small size. The image information Im7 sent from the other vehicle 32 traveling on the same lane 46 at the distance R (P7, P1) is arranged in the center on the image 53 and displayed in a size larger than the image information Im8. The image information Im6 sent from the other vehicle 31 that is the shortest distance R (P6, P1) from the own vehicle 2 and travels in the left lane 48 is arranged in the lower left part on the image 53 and is smaller than the image information Im7. Is displayed. The upper left display coordinate position G (R (P8, P1)) of the image information Im8, the upper left display coordinate position G (R (P7, P1)) of the image information Im7, and the upper left display coordinate position G (R of the image information Im6. (P6, P1)) may be arranged by geometric perspective as a whole while corresponding to the left and right on the image 53 according to the left and right of the traveling lane. However, since the image information Im7 sent from the other vehicle 32 traveling on the same lane 46 as the own vehicle 2 is displayed in the largest size, the other vehicle 31 traveling at the position P6 closer to the own vehicle 2 than the other vehicle 32 is displayed. The sent image information Im6 is displayed smaller than Im7. For example, when the other vehicles 30, 32 and 31 are all traveling in parallel, the image information Im7 is arranged at the center of the image 53 and displayed in the largest size, and the image information Im8 is arranged on the right side of Im7. The image information Im6 is arranged on the left side of Im7 and displayed in a size smaller than Im7.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the image information Im8 indicates that there is no automobile ahead of the traveling direction A of the lane 44 in which the other vehicle 30 travels, and the image information Im7 It is indicated that there is no automobile ahead of the traveling direction A of the lane 46 where the other vehicle 32 travels, and an image of the other vehicle 30 traveling in front of the right lane 44 is displayed, and the image information Im6 includes Indicates that there is no automobile ahead of the traveling direction A of the lane 48 in which the other vehicle 31 travels, and an image of the other vehicle 32 traveling in front of the right lane 46 is displayed. Since the image information Im6 and Im8 are displayed in a size smaller than the image information Im7 while corresponding to the left and right on the image 53 according to the left and right of the lane in which the vehicle travels, and are arranged and displayed by the geometric perspective as a whole. The driver 3 can easily intuitively grasp the traveling conditions of the other vehicles 30, 32 and 31 as a whole. As a result, even if the own vehicle 2 approaches the large other vehicle 32 and the driver 3 of the own vehicle 2 is in a situation where the other vehicle 30 is hidden behind the large other vehicle 32 and cannot be seen, the driver 3 The other vehicle 30 can be recognized in the image information Im7. Therefore, the driver 3 can obtain extremely useful information when determining whether to pass the other vehicle 32 or not.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, even when a plurality of other vehicles to be linked in the inter-vehicle wireless network 15 are traveling in the left and right front of the traveling direction A of the host vehicle 2, The traffic information communication system 1 of the invention can be applied. The receiving unit 26 of the host vehicle 2 receives other vehicle traffic information INF30 and the like from a plurality of other vehicles 30 traveling in the same lane 46 as the host vehicle 2 or different lanes 44 and 48, respectively. The display unit 28 displays the image information Im4 and the like included in the other vehicle traffic information INF30 and the like from the other vehicle 30 and the like traveling in the traveling direction A of the same lane 46 or different lanes 44 and 48 as the own vehicle 2. Is displayed on the display monitor 6 in an arrangement form based on the above. As the arrangement format based on the perspective method, the image information Im7 around the other vehicle 32 traveling on the same lane 46 as the own vehicle 2 is arranged by the geometric perspective method as in the second embodiment. On the other hand, for the image information Im8 around the other vehicle 30 traveling on the lane 44 different from the own vehicle 2 or the image information Im6 around the other vehicle 31 traveling on the lane 48, the other vehicle 32 traveling on the same lane. Is smaller than the display size of the surrounding image information Im7 and is arranged and displayed by the geometric perspective method. Since the image information Im6 and Im8 are displayed in a size smaller than the image information Im7 while corresponding to the left and right on the image 53 according to the left and right of the lane in which the vehicle travels, and are arranged and displayed by the geometric perspective as a whole. The driver 3 can easily intuitively grasp the traveling conditions of the other vehicles 30, 32 and 31 as a whole. As described above, the traffic information communication system 1 of the present invention is applied even when a plurality of other vehicles to be linked in the inter-vehicle wireless network 15 are traveling in the front left and right of the traveling direction A of the host vehicle 2. The driver 3 of the own vehicle 2 is organized in an orderly manner based on the distance between the other vehicle 32 traveling on the same lane 46 as the own vehicle 2 or the other vehicle 30 traveling on a different lane 44 or the like. Traffic information can be obtained.

  In the fourth embodiment, a case where the first to third embodiments are combined will be described. That is, a plurality of vehicles including an in-vehicle information terminal device 18 or the like that is a link target in the inter-vehicle wireless network 15 travels forward on the lane 44 on which the host vehicle 2 travels, and different lanes 46 or the like. A case where the vehicle is traveling also in front of left and right will be described.

  FIG. 6A shows the positional relationship between the own vehicle 2 and the other vehicles 30 to 33 in the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6A, portions denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. The positional relationship shown in FIG. 6 (A) is different from the positional relationship shown in FIG. 5 (A) in that the other vehicle 33 is on the same lane 46 as the own vehicle 2 and the other vehicle 32 and the other vehicle. 32, a position P9 ahead of the direction of travel A. Therefore, the distance R (P9, P1) between the host vehicle 2 and the other vehicle 33> the distance R between the host vehicle 2 and the other vehicle 32. (P7, P1). Since the angle between the own vehicle 2 and the other vehicles 32 and 33 is 0 degree, it is omitted in FIG.

  FIG. 6B shows an image 54 displayed on the display monitor 6 of the host vehicle 2 in the case of the positional relationship shown in FIG. In FIG. 6B, portions denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. Hereinafter, a description will be given focusing on differences from the third embodiment. In addition to the case of the third embodiment, the receiving unit 26 of the own vehicle 2 receives the other vehicle traffic information INF33 including the position P9 of the other vehicle 33, the traveling direction A, and the surrounding image information Im9. That is, the road condition in the traveling direction A of the other vehicle 33 can be received as the image information Im9 around the other vehicle 33. Since the other vehicle traffic information received by the receiving unit 26 is the other vehicle traffic information INF33, INF30, INF32 and INF31, the display unit 28 displays one or more other vehicles traveling ahead in the traveling direction A of the host vehicle 2. As the surrounding image information, based on the distance and angle between the other vehicle 30 and the own vehicle 2, the image information Im9, Im8, Im7, and Im6 are arranged based on the perspective as described in the third embodiment, and Displayed on the display monitor 6 according to the display size. However, since the other vehicle 33 exists in front of the other vehicle 32 unlike the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6 (B), the image sent from the other vehicle 33 in addition to the case of the third embodiment. Information Im9 is arranged and displayed on the upper part of the image 54 by geometric perspective.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, it is indicated in the image information Im9 that there is no automobile ahead in the traveling direction A of the lane 46 on which the other vehicle 33 travels. In the image information Im8, it is shown that there is no automobile in front of the traveling direction A of the lane 44 in which the other vehicle 30 travels, but unlike the third embodiment, the vehicle travels in front of the left lane 46. An image of the car 33 is displayed. In the image information Im7, an image of the other vehicle 30 traveling in front of the right lane 44 is displayed, but unlike the third embodiment, the other vehicle 33 is in front of the traveling direction A of the lane 46 in which the other vehicle 32 travels. It is shown that it is running. In the image information Im6, as in the third embodiment, it is indicated that no vehicle is present in the traveling direction A of the lane 48 on which the other vehicle 31 travels, and the other vehicle traveling in front of the right lane 46 32 images are displayed. As in the third embodiment, the image information Im6 and Im8 are displayed with a size smaller than the image information Im7 and correspondingly arranged by the geometric perspective method while corresponding to the left and right on the image 54 according to the left and right of the lane in which the vehicle is traveling. Yes. Further, the image information Im9 and Im8 are arranged and displayed at the upper part and the center part of the image 54 based on perspective. For this reason, the driver 3 of the own vehicle 2 can easily intuitively grasp the traveling state of the other vehicles 30, 32, 31 and 33 as a whole. Since the driver 3 can recognize the other vehicle 33 in the image information Im7, it is possible to obtain extremely useful information when determining whether to pass the other vehicle 32 or the like.

  As described above, according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle including the in-vehicle information terminal device 18 or the like that is a link target in the inter-vehicle wireless network 15 moves forward on the lane 44 on which the own vehicle 2 travels. The traffic information communication system 1 of the present invention can also be applied to a case where a plurality of vehicles are traveling at the same time and are traveling in front of left and right such as different lanes 46. The receiving unit 26 of the own vehicle 2 receives the other vehicle traffic information INF30 and the like from a plurality of other vehicles 32 traveling on the same lane 46 as the own vehicle 2 or a plurality of other vehicles 30 traveling on different lanes 44 and 48, respectively. Receive. The display unit 28 is included in other vehicle traffic information INF30 from a plurality of other vehicles 32 traveling in the same lane 46 as the own vehicle 2 or from other vehicles 30 traveling in the traveling direction A of different lanes 44, 48, etc. Each image information Im4 to be displayed is displayed on the display monitor 6 in an arrangement format based on perspective. The arrangement form based on the perspective method can be performed by a combination of the arrangement forms in the second and third embodiments. As described above, a plurality of vehicles including the in-vehicle information terminal device 18 or the like that is a link target in the inter-vehicle wireless network 15 travel in front of the lane 44 on which the host vehicle 2 travels, and different lanes 46. The traffic information communication system 1 of the present invention can also be applied to a case where the vehicle 3 is traveling forward and left and right, and the driver 3 of the host vehicle 2 is driven by another vehicle 32 traveling in the same lane 46 as the host vehicle 2 and The traffic information arranged in an orderly manner can be obtained on the basis of the distances between the vehicle 33 and other vehicles 30 traveling on different lanes 44 or the like.

  In the first to fourth embodiments, one or more cars equipped with the in-vehicle information terminal device 18 and the like that are linked in the inter-vehicle wireless network 15 travel forward in the traveling direction A of the host vehicle 2. Explained the case. In the fifth embodiment, no vehicle equipped with the in-vehicle information terminal device 18 or the like that is a link target in the inter-vehicle wireless network 15 is traveling forward in the traveling direction A of the own vehicle 2. However, a case where another vehicle is traveling on the opposite lane side will be described.

  FIG. 7A shows the positional relationship between the own vehicle 2 and the other vehicle 34 in the fifth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 7A, portions denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7A, the own vehicle 2 is traveling in the direction of travel A along the lane 44, but the other vehicle 34 is traveling in the direction of travel A of the own vehicle 2 along the opposite lane 43 of the own vehicle 2. Is traveling in the opposite direction B. The position of the other vehicle 34 is P10, the distance to the own vehicle 3 is R (P10, P1), and the angle is −γ degrees.

  FIG. 7B shows an image 54 displayed on the display monitor 6 of the host vehicle 2 in the case of the positional relationship shown in FIG. The receiving unit 26 of the own vehicle 2 receives the other vehicle traffic information INF34 including the position P10 of the other vehicle 34, the traveling direction B, and the surrounding image information Im10. That is, the road condition in the traveling direction B of the other vehicle 34 is received as image information Im10 around the other vehicle 34. The other vehicle traffic information received by the receiving unit 26 is only the other vehicle traffic information INF34. The display unit 28 compares the traveling direction B of the other vehicle 34 included in the other vehicle traffic information INF 34 received by the receiving unit 26 with the traveling direction A of the host vehicle included in the host vehicle information, so that the other vehicle traffic information is displayed. It can be identified that the INF 34 is not sent from another vehicle traveling ahead in the traveling direction A of the host vehicle 2. As a result, since the image information around one or more other vehicles traveling in the forward direction A of the host vehicle 2 has not been received, the display unit 28 displays an image 55 as shown in FIG. A message 60 “There is no other vehicle traffic information that can be received from the traveling direction” is displayed on the display monitor 6. As described above, the display unit 28 can prevent the image information Im10 from the other vehicle 34 traveling in the oncoming lane from being automatically displayed based on the traveling direction B included in the other vehicle traffic information INF34.

  The meaning of “receivable” in the message 60 means that a vehicle equipped with the in-vehicle information terminal device 18 or the like to be linked in the inter-vehicle wireless network 15 as described above is in the traveling direction A of the host vehicle 2. This means that no vehicle is running in front of the car. A vehicle equipped with an in-vehicle information terminal device 18 or the like that is subject to a link in the inter-vehicle wireless network 15 in front of the traveling direction A of the host vehicle 2 while the host vehicle 2 is traveling. May appear. For this reason, the message 60 is not displayed immediately when there is no other vehicle traffic information that can be received, and the message 60 is displayed when there is no other vehicle traffic information that can be received even after a predetermined time has elapsed since that time. You may make it display. Instead of using the passage of a predetermined time, traveling of a predetermined distance may be used.

  As described above, according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle including the in-vehicle information terminal device 18 or the like that is the target of the link in the inter-vehicle wireless network 15 is in front of the traveling direction A of the own vehicle 2. The traffic information communication system 1 of the present invention can also be applied to a case where one vehicle is not traveling but another vehicle is traveling on the opposite lane side. The receiving unit 26 of the own vehicle 2 receives the other vehicle traffic information INF 34 of the other vehicle 34. Since the image information around one or more other vehicles traveling ahead in the traveling direction A of the host vehicle 2 has not been received, the display unit 28 reads “There is no other vehicle traffic information that can be received from the traveling direction.” Is displayed on the display monitor 6. As described above, the display unit 28 can prevent the image information Im10 from the other vehicle 34 traveling in the oncoming lane from being automatically displayed based on the traveling direction B included in the other vehicle traffic information INF34. As a result, the driver 3 of the own vehicle 2 can avoid automatically seeing other vehicle traffic information from the other vehicle 34 traveling on the opposite lane 43 of the own vehicle 2, and from the traveling direction A of the own vehicle 2. Since it is possible to know that there is no other vehicle traffic information that can be received, it is possible to obtain orderly and organized traffic information.

  In the fifth embodiment, when a vehicle including the in-vehicle information terminal device 18 or the like that is a link target in the inter-vehicle wireless network 15 is not traveling forward in the traveling direction A of the host vehicle 2 Explained. In the sixth embodiment, no automobile equipped with the in-vehicle information terminal device 18 or the like to be linked in the inter-vehicle wireless network 15 is traveling forward in the traveling direction A of the own vehicle 2. A case where one or more vehicles are traveling in the traveling direction A behind or in parallel with the host vehicle 2 will be described.

  FIG. 8A shows the positional relationship between the own vehicle 2 and the other vehicles 30 to 32 in the sixth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 8A, portions denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8A, the other vehicle 35 travels in parallel with the host vehicle 2 at a position P22 on the lane 44 on the right side of the host vehicle 2 in the same direction as the traveling direction A of the host vehicle 2. ing. The other vehicle 36 is traveling in a rear position P21 in the same direction as the traveling direction A of the own vehicle 2 and on the same lane 46 as the own vehicle 2. The other vehicle 37 travels at a position P20 in the same direction as the traveling direction A of the own vehicle 2 and behind the own vehicle 2 on the lane 48 on the left side of the own vehicle 2. The distance relationship between the four automobiles is as follows: distance R (P22, P1) between own vehicle 2 and other vehicle 35 <distance R (P20, P1) between own vehicle 2 and other vehicle 37 <own vehicle 2 The distance R between the vehicle and the other vehicle 36 is P (P21, P1). The angle is −δ (= −90) degrees between the host vehicle 2 and the other vehicle 35, and is + ζ degrees between the host vehicle 2 and the other vehicle 37. Since the angle between the own vehicle 2 and the other vehicle 36 is 0 degree, it is omitted in FIG.

  FIG. 8B shows an image 53 displayed on the display monitor 6 of the host vehicle 2 in the case of the positional relationship shown in FIG. In FIG. 8B, portions denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. The receiving unit 26 of the own vehicle 2 receives the other vehicle traffic information INF35 including the position P22 of the other vehicle 35, the traveling direction A, and the surrounding image information Im22. That is, the road condition in the traveling direction A of the other vehicle 35 can be received as the image information Im22 around the other vehicle 35. Further, the receiving unit 26 of the own vehicle 2 receives the other vehicle traffic information INF36 including the position P21 of the other vehicle 36, the traveling direction A, and the surrounding image information Im21. That is, the road condition in the traveling direction A of the other vehicle 36 can be received as the image information Im21 around the other vehicle 36. In addition, the receiving unit 26 of the host vehicle 2 receives the other vehicle traffic information INF37 including the position P20 of the other vehicle 37, the traveling direction A, and the surrounding image information Im20. That is, the road condition in the traveling direction A of the other vehicle 37 can be received as the image information Im20 around the other vehicle 37. Other vehicle traffic information received by the receiving unit 26 is other vehicle traffic information INF35, INF36, and INF37. The display unit 28 compares the position P22 of the other vehicle 35 included in the other vehicle traffic information INF35 received by the receiving unit 26 with the position P1 of the own vehicle included in the host vehicle information, thereby It can be identified that the information INF35 or the like is sent from another vehicle that travels in parallel or behind the vehicle in the traveling direction A of the vehicle 2. As a result, the display unit 28 determines that there is no image information around one or more other vehicles traveling ahead in the traveling direction A of the host vehicle 2. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8B, the display unit 28 displays a message 62 “Other vehicle image display mode from the rear” on the display monitor 6, so that the other vehicle 35 and the own vehicle 2 The image information Im20, Im21, and Im22 are arranged in the arrangement form shown below based on the distance and the angle, and are displayed on the display monitor 6.

  That is, the image information Im21 sent from the other vehicle 36 behind the same lane 46 as the own vehicle 2 is displayed in a large size at the lower part on the image 56. If another vehicle (not shown) is traveling in a position P23 (not shown) that is in the same lane 46 as the host vehicle 2 and further behind the other vehicle 36, it is sent from the other vehicle. The image information Im23 is displayed below the image information Im21 in a size smaller than the image information Im21. The upper left display coordinate position G (R (P21, P1)) of the image information Im21 and the upper left display coordinate position G (R (P23, P1)) of the image information Im23 have a vanishing point at the lower part on the image 56. May be arranged as follows. Image information sent from another vehicle traveling on the same lane 46 is sent from another vehicle traveling at a short distance in the same manner as displaying image information sent from another vehicle traveling ahead. The displayed image information is displayed in a larger size and arranged in the center.

  On the other hand, the image information Im22 sent from the other vehicle 35 traveling in the right lane 44 in parallel with the host vehicle 2 is superimposed on the right side on the line 64 indicating the position in parallel with the host vehicle 2. The image information is displayed in a size smaller than Im21. The image information Im20 sent from the other vehicle 37 traveling on the left lane 48 of the host vehicle 2 and in the left rear is on the left side on the image 56, above the image information Im21, and from the image information Im22. It is arranged at the bottom and displayed in a size smaller than the image information Im21.

  As shown in FIG. 8B, the image information Im21 indicates that the host vehicle 2 is traveling ahead of the traveling direction A of the lane 46 in which the other vehicle 36 travels. Further, it is shown that the other vehicle 35 is traveling in the right lane 44 of the host vehicle 2 and the other vehicle 37 is traveling behind the left lane 48. In the image information Im22, it is shown that there is no automobile ahead in the traveling direction A of the lane 44 on which the other vehicle 35 travels. In the image information Im20, it is shown that there is no automobile ahead of the traveling direction A of the lane 48 where the other vehicle 37 travels, and the own vehicle 2 traveling ahead of the right lane 46 is shown. . From the image 56 described above, the driver 3 of the own vehicle 2 can easily grasp the traveling conditions of the other vehicles 35, 36 and 37 as a whole intuitively. In particular, even when the other vehicle 37 traveling on the left rear side of the own vehicle 2 is traveling in a position that is difficult to check with the rearview mirror of the own vehicle 2, the other vehicle 36 is sent from the other vehicle 36 behind the same lane 46. Since the other vehicle 37 is reflected in the image information Im21, the driver 3 can easily recognize the presence of the other vehicle 37. Even if there is no other vehicle 36 behind the same lane 46, the driver 3 can easily recognize the presence of the other vehicle 37 because the own vehicle 2 is reflected in the image information Im20 from the other vehicle 37. Can do. Therefore, the driver 3 can obtain extremely useful information when determining the timing for changing the lane.

  As described above, according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle including the in-vehicle information terminal device 18 or the like that is the target of the link in the inter-vehicle wireless network 15 is 1 ahead of the traveling direction A of the own vehicle 2. The traffic information communication system 1 of the present invention can also be applied to the case where one or more vehicles are traveling in the traveling direction A behind or in parallel with the host vehicle 2 although the vehicle is not traveling. The receiving unit 26 of the own vehicle 2 receives the other vehicle traffic information INF 35 and the like traveling in the traveling direction A behind or in parallel with the own vehicle 2. Based on the other vehicle traffic information INF 35 received by the receiving unit 26, the display unit 28 determines that there is no image information around one or more other vehicles traveling ahead in the traveling direction A of the host vehicle 2. Therefore, the display unit 28 displays the message 62 “Other vehicle image display mode from the rear” on the display monitor 6 and displays the image information Im22 and the like included in the other vehicle traffic information INF35 and the like in the following arrangement format. Arrange and display on the display monitor 6. That is, the image information Im21 sent from the other vehicle 36 behind the same lane 46 as the own vehicle 2 is displayed in a large size at the lower part on the image 56. Image information sent from another vehicle traveling on the same lane 46 is sent from another vehicle traveling at a short distance in the same manner as displaying image information sent from another vehicle traveling ahead. The displayed image information is displayed in a larger size and arranged in the center. On the other hand, the image information Im22 sent from the other vehicle 35 traveling in the right lane 44 in parallel with the host vehicle 2 is superimposed on the right side on the line 64 indicating the position in parallel with the host vehicle 2. The image information is displayed in a size smaller than Im21. The image information Im20 sent from the other vehicle 37 traveling on the left lane 48 of the host vehicle 2 and in the left rear is on the left side on the image 56, above the image information Im21, and from the image information Im22. It is arranged at the bottom and displayed in a size smaller than the image information Im21. Even when the other vehicle 37 traveling on the left rear side of the own vehicle 2 is traveling at a position that is difficult to confirm with the rearview mirror of the own vehicle 2, an image sent from the other vehicle 36 behind the same lane 46 Since the other vehicle 37 is reflected in the information Im21, the driver 3 can easily recognize the presence of the other vehicle 37. Therefore, the driver 3 can obtain ordered and organized traffic information when determining the timing of changing the lane.

  The in-vehicle information terminal device 18 in the traffic information communication system 1 described in the first to sixth embodiments includes the image information acquisition unit 22 and the transmission unit 24 that are transmission processing functions. However, the in-vehicle information terminal device of the host vehicle 2 may be a type of in-vehicle information terminal device A (not shown) that does not include a transmission processing function. Since the in-vehicle information terminal device 18 such as the other vehicle 30 has a transmission processing function, the other vehicle traffic information INF 30 and the like are transmitted via the inter-vehicle wireless network 15. Since the in-vehicle information terminal device A of the own vehicle 2 includes the own vehicle information acquisition unit 20 and the reception processing function (the reception unit 26 and the display unit 28), the reception unit 26 receives the other vehicle traffic information INF30 and the like, Thereafter, as shown in the first to sixth embodiments, the display unit 28 may display on the display monitor 6.

  As described above, according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention, the in-vehicle information terminal device of the host vehicle 2 can be the in-vehicle information terminal device A that does not include the image information acquisition unit 22 and the transmission unit 24. Since the in-vehicle information terminal device A includes the own vehicle information acquisition unit 20, the reception unit 26, and the display unit 28, the display unit 28 displays on the display monitor 6 as shown in the first to sixth embodiments. Can be performed. Therefore, even when the in-vehicle information terminal device A that does not include the image information acquisition unit 22 and the transmission unit 24 is used, the driver 3 obtains orderly and organized traffic information via the inter-vehicle wireless network 15. Can do.

  9 to 12 are flowcharts showing the flow of the traffic information communication method of the present invention or the function of the program. As shown in FIG. 9, the in-vehicle information terminal device 18 first displays the own vehicle information including the position P1 of the own vehicle 2 in which the in-vehicle information terminal device 18 is mounted and the traveling direction A of the own vehicle 2 as a navigation system. 10 (vehicle information acquisition step, step S10). Next, the in-vehicle information terminal device 18 transmits information via the inter-vehicle wireless network 15 (transmission processing step, step 20). After or prior to the transmission processing step (step S20), the in-vehicle information terminal device 18 receives information via the inter-vehicle wireless network 15 (reception processing step, step S30). That is, the reception processing step (step S30) may be performed after the transmission processing step (step 20) (the flowchart on the left side of FIG. 9), or conversely, the transmission processing step (step S20) after the reception processing step (step 30). ) May be performed (flow chart on the right side of FIG. 9). If possible, the reception processing step (step 30) and the transmission processing step (step S20) may be performed in parallel.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in the transmission processing step (step S <b> 20), the in-vehicle information terminal device 18 acquires the image information Im <b> 1 around the own vehicle 2 in which the in-vehicle information terminal device 18 is mounted by the camera 4. (Image information acquisition step. Step S22). Next, the vehicle traffic information INF2 including the vehicle information acquired in the vehicle information acquisition step (step S10) and the image information Im1 acquired in the image information acquisition step (step S22) is transmitted via the inter-vehicle wireless network 15. Transmit (transmission step; step S24).

  As shown in FIG. 11, in the reception processing step (step 30), the in-vehicle information terminal device 18 has a position P <b> 2 of the other vehicle 30 in which the other in-vehicle information terminal device is mounted, and the traveling direction of the other vehicle 30, etc. Other vehicle traffic information INF30 and the like including other vehicle information including A and surrounding image information Im2 and the like of other vehicle 30 and the like are received via the inter-vehicle wireless network 15 (reception step, step S32). Next, based on the own vehicle information acquired in the own vehicle information acquisition step (step S10) and the other vehicle traffic information INF30 received in the reception step (step S32), the other vehicles 30 included in the other vehicle traffic information INF30 etc. The surrounding image information Im2 is displayed on the display monitor 6 (display step, step S36). The other vehicle traffic information INF30 and the like received in the reception step (step S32) in the own vehicle 2 is information transmitted in the transmission step (step S24) in the other vehicle 30 and the like, and the reception step (step S32 in the other vehicle 30 and the like). The other vehicle traffic information INF30 and the like received at) is information transmitted in the transmission step (step S24) in the own vehicle 2.

  The specific processing in the display step (step S36) is the same as the function of the display unit 28 described in the first to seventh embodiments, and thus the details are omitted. In the display step (step S36), among the other vehicle traffic information INF30 and the like received in the reception step (step S32), the surroundings of one or more other vehicles 30 and the like that travel ahead in the traveling direction A of the own vehicle 2 are displayed. Image information Im2 and the like can be displayed on the display monitor 6 in a predetermined display format. The predetermined display format is based on the distance R between the host vehicle 2 and one or more other vehicles 30 or the like. Can be arranged and displayed on the screen according to the arrangement format based on perspective. The arrangement format based on the perspective method is that one or more other vehicles 30 or the like and the image information Im7 around the other vehicle traveling on the same lane 46 as the own vehicle 2 is arranged by the geometric perspective method. Other vehicle 30 that travels on the same lane 46 as the vehicle 2, such as the other vehicle 30, etc., and the surrounding image information Im8 etc. of the other vehicle 30 that travels on the lane 44 or 48 different from the own vehicle 2. It can be arranged smaller than the display size of the surrounding image information Im7 and the like by the geometric perspective method.

  FIG. 12 shows a fifth embodiment (an automobile equipped with an in-vehicle information terminal device 18 or the like that is a link target in the inter-vehicle wireless network 15 travels forward in the traveling direction A of the own vehicle 2). It is a flowchart for explaining the reception processing step (step S30) corresponding to the reception processing function in the case where the other vehicle is traveling on the opposite lane side. In FIG. 12, the processing blocks denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. As shown in FIG. 12, after the receiving step (step S30), one vehicle traveling ahead in the traveling direction A of the own vehicle 2 based on the other vehicle traffic information ING32 and the like received in the receiving step (step S30). It is determined whether the image information around the other vehicle is received (step S33). If it is determined in step S33 that it is desired to receive image information around one or more other vehicles traveling in the forward direction A of the host vehicle 2, the process proceeds directly to step S35 and a predetermined message such as “travel direction” A message 60 “There is no other vehicle traffic information that can be received from” is displayed on the display monitor 6 (step S35), and the processing may be terminated. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 12, it is first determined whether or not a predetermined time has passed (step S34). If it is determined that the predetermined time has not passed, the process can be repeated by returning to the receiving step (step S32). . When it is determined in step S34 that the predetermined time has elapsed, the predetermined message “There is no other vehicle traffic information that can be received from the traveling direction” is displayed on the display monitor 6 (step S35). The process may be terminated. If it is determined in step S33 that image information around one or more other vehicles traveling in the forward direction A of the host vehicle 2 has been received, the display step (step S36) described in FIG. 11 is performed. The process is terminated. Instead of using the passage of the predetermined time in step S34, traveling of a predetermined distance may be used.

  According to the eighth embodiment of the present invention, the flow of the traffic information communication method of the present invention or the function of the program is shown in the flowchart. The function of the program of the in-vehicle information terminal device A in the seventh embodiment (when the in-vehicle information terminal device of the host vehicle 2 is the in-vehicle information terminal device A that does not include the image information acquisition unit 22 and the transmission unit 24) is shown in FIG. The flowchart shown in FIG. 11 and the flowchart shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 (however, the flowchart on either the left side or the right side of FIG. 9) in which the transmission processing step (step S20) is removed.

  FIG. 13 shows the internal circuit of the computer of the in-vehicle information terminal device 18 or A of the own vehicle 2 or the in-vehicle information terminal device such as the other vehicle 30 that executes the computer program of the present invention for realizing the above-described embodiments. FIG. As shown in FIG. 13, the CPU 71, ROM 72, RAM 73, image control unit 76, controller 77, input control unit 80 and external interface (I / F) unit 84 are connected to a bus 86. In FIG. 13, the above-described computer program of the present invention is recorded on a recording medium (including a removable recording medium) such as a ROM 72, a disk 78a, a CD-ROM, or a DVD 78n. The computer program of the present invention is loaded into the RAM 73 from the ROM 72 via the bus 86 or from a recording medium such as a disk 78a, CD-ROM or DVD 78n via the controller 77 via the bus 86. The input control unit 70 is connected to an input operation unit 82 such as a numeric keypad and performs input control and the like. The VRAM 75 that is an image memory has a capacity corresponding to the data capacity of at least one screen of the display monitor 6 such as the in-vehicle information processing apparatus 18, and the image control unit 76 converts the data in the VRAM 75 into image data. It has a function of sending to the display monitor 6. The external I / F unit 84 has an input / output interface function when communicating with the inter-vehicle wireless network 15.

  As described above, the CPU 71 executes the above-described computer program of the present invention, whereby the object of the present invention can be achieved. The computer program can be supplied to the computer CPU 71 in the form of a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD 78n as described above, and a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD 78n on which the computer program is recorded is also recorded in this manner. It constitutes the invention. As a recording medium on which the computer program is recorded, for example, a memory card, a memory stick, an optical disk, an FD, or the like can be used in addition to the recording medium described above.

  As an application example of the present invention, the car navigation device can be applied with the in-vehicle information terminal device 18.

It is a figure which shows the traffic information communication system 1 in Example 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship etc. between the own vehicle 2 and the other vehicle 32 in Example 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the image 50 displayed on the display monitor 6 of the own vehicle 2 in the case of the positional relationship etc. which are shown by FIG. 2 (A). It is a figure which shows another positional relationship etc. between the own vehicle 2 and the other vehicle 32 in Example 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the image 51 displayed on the display monitor 6 of the own vehicle 2 in the case of the positional relationship etc. which are shown by FIG. 3 (A). It is a figure which shows the positional relationship etc. between the own vehicle 2, the other vehicle 32, and the other vehicle 30 in Example 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the image 52 displayed on the display monitor 6 of the own vehicle 2 in the case of the positional relationship etc. which are shown by FIG. 4 (A). It is a figure which shows the positional relationship etc. between the own vehicle 2 and the other vehicles 30 thru | or 32 in Example 3 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the image 53 displayed on the display monitor 6 of the own vehicle 2 in the case of the positional relationship etc. which are shown by FIG. 5 (A). It is a figure which shows the positional relationship etc. between the own vehicle 2 and the other vehicles 30 thru | or 33 in Example 4 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the image 54 displayed on the display monitor 6 of the own vehicle 2 in the case of the positional relationship etc. which are shown by FIG. 6 (A). It is a figure which shows the positional relationship etc. between the own vehicle 2 and the other vehicle 34 in Example 5 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the image 54 displayed on the display monitor 6 of the own vehicle 2 in the case of the positional relationship etc. which are shown by FIG. 7 (A). It is a figure which shows the positional relationship etc. between the own vehicle 2 and the other vehicles 30 thru | or 32 in Example 6 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the image 53 displayed on the display monitor 6 of the own vehicle 2 in the case of the positional relationship etc. which are shown by FIG. 8 (A). It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the traffic information communication method of this invention, or the function of a program. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the traffic information communication method of this invention, or the function of a program. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the traffic information communication method of this invention, or the function of a program. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the reception process step (step S30) corresponding to the reception process function in Example 5. It is a block diagram which shows the internal circuit 50 of the computer of the vehicle-mounted information processing apparatus 22 or the mobile telephone 40 which performs the computer program of this invention for implement | achieving each Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Traffic information communication system, 2 Car (own vehicle), 3 Driver, 4 Camera, 6 Display monitor, 8 GPS antenna, 10 Navigation system, 12 Antenna, 14 Receiver, 16 Transmitter, 18 In-vehicle information terminal device, 19 functional blocks, 15 inter-vehicle wireless network, 20 own vehicle information acquisition unit, 22 image information acquisition unit, 24 transmission unit, 26 reception unit, 28 display unit, 30, 31, 32, 33, 3435, 36, 37 other Automobile (other cars), 40 borders, 42 signs, 43, 44, 46, 48 lanes, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56 images, 60, 62 messages, 64 lines, 70 internal circuits, 71 CPU, 72 ROM, 73 RAM, 75 VRAM, 76 image control unit, 77 controller, 78a disk, 78n CD-ROM, 80 input control unit, 82 input operation unit, 84 external I / F unit, 86 bus.

Claims (14)

A traffic information communication system using a wireless network configured to include a plurality of in-vehicle information terminal devices,
The in-vehicle information terminal device is
Own vehicle information acquisition means for acquiring own vehicle information including the position of the vehicle on which the in-vehicle information terminal device is mounted and the traveling direction of the vehicle by a navigation system;
Image information acquisition means for acquiring image information around a vehicle on which the in-vehicle information terminal device is mounted by an imaging device;
Transmitting means for transmitting own vehicle traffic information including the own vehicle information acquired by the own vehicle information acquiring means and the image information acquired by the image information acquiring means via a wireless network;
Other vehicle traffic information including other vehicle information including the position of the other vehicle on which the other in-vehicle information terminal device is mounted and the traveling direction of the other vehicle and image information around the other vehicle is transmitted via the wireless network. Receiving means for receiving,
Based on the own vehicle information acquired by the own vehicle information acquisition means and the other vehicle traffic information received by the receiving means, image information around other vehicles included in the other vehicle traffic information is displayed on the image display device. A traffic information communication system comprising display means.   The traffic information communication system according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is configured to display the other vehicle traffic information based on the host vehicle information acquired by the host vehicle information acquisition unit and the other vehicle traffic information received by the receiver. The other vehicle traffic information corresponding to one or more other vehicles traveling forward in the traveling direction of the host vehicle is obtained, and the other vehicle traffic information corresponding to the one or more other vehicles is included in the 1 A traffic information communication system characterized in that image information around other vehicles or more is displayed on an image display device in a predetermined display format.   3. The traffic information communication system according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined display format is a surrounding of the one or more other vehicles according to each distance between the host vehicle and the one or more other vehicles. The traffic information communication system is characterized in that the image information is arranged and displayed on the screen of the image display device in an arrangement format based on perspective.   3. The traffic information communication system according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined display format is the one or more other vehicles and image information around a vehicle traveling on the same lane as the own vehicle. A vehicle that is arranged and displayed by geometric perspective according to each distance from the one or more other vehicles, and that travels on a different lane from the own vehicle. Image information around the vehicle according to each distance between the host vehicle and the one or more other vehicles and an angle formed by the host vehicle and the direction from the host vehicle to the one or more other vehicles. A traffic information communication system, wherein the display size is arranged and displayed by a geometric perspective. A traffic information communication method using a wireless network configured to include a plurality of in-vehicle information terminal devices, including own vehicle information including a position of a vehicle in which the in-vehicle information terminal device is mounted and a traveling direction of the vehicle The vehicle information acquisition step acquired by the navigation system, the transmission processing step in which the in-vehicle information terminal device transmits information via the wireless network, and the in-vehicle information terminal device after the transmission processing step or prior to the transmission processing step A reception processing step of receiving information via a network,
In the transmission processing step, the in-vehicle information terminal device
An image information acquisition step of acquiring image information around a vehicle on which the in-vehicle information terminal device is mounted by an imaging device;
A transmission step of transmitting own vehicle traffic information including the own vehicle information acquired in the own vehicle information acquisition step and the image information acquired in the image information acquisition step via a wireless network;
In the reception processing step, the in-vehicle information terminal device
Other vehicle traffic information including other vehicle information including the position of the other vehicle on which the other in-vehicle information terminal device is mounted and the traveling direction of the other vehicle and image information around the other vehicle is transmitted via the wireless network. Receiving step
Based on the own vehicle information acquired in the own vehicle information acquisition step and the other vehicle traffic information received in the reception step, image information around other vehicles included in the other vehicle traffic information is displayed on the image display device. A traffic information communication method comprising: a display step.   6. The traffic information communication method according to claim 5, wherein the display step is based on the own vehicle information acquired in the own vehicle information acquisition step and the other vehicle traffic information received in the reception step. The other vehicle traffic information corresponding to one or more other vehicles traveling forward in the traveling direction of the host vehicle is obtained, and the other vehicle traffic information corresponding to the one or more other vehicles is included in the 1 A traffic information communication method, comprising: displaying image information around other vehicles in the predetermined display format on an image display device.   7. The traffic information communication method according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined display format is a surrounding of the one or more other vehicles according to each distance between the host vehicle and the one or more other vehicles. The traffic information communication method is characterized by arranging and displaying the image information on the screen of the image display device in an arrangement format based on perspective.   7. The traffic information communication method according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined display format is the one or more other vehicles and image information around a vehicle traveling on the same lane as the own vehicle. A vehicle that is arranged and displayed by geometric perspective according to each distance from the one or more other vehicles, and that travels on a different lane from the own vehicle. Image information around the vehicle according to each distance between the host vehicle and the one or more other vehicles and an angle formed by the host vehicle and the direction from the host vehicle to the one or more other vehicles. A traffic information communication method, wherein the display size is arranged and displayed by a geometric perspective. A program for processing an in-vehicle information terminal device in a traffic information communication system using a wireless network configured to include a plurality of in-vehicle information terminal devices, the computer of the in-vehicle information terminal device,
Own vehicle information acquisition means for acquiring own vehicle information including the position of the vehicle on which the in-vehicle information terminal device is mounted and the traveling direction of the vehicle by a navigation system;
Other vehicle traffic information including other vehicle information including the position of the other vehicle on which the other in-vehicle information terminal device is mounted and the traveling direction of the other vehicle and image information around the other vehicle is transmitted via the wireless network. Receiving means for receiving
Based on the own vehicle information acquired by the own vehicle information acquisition means and the other vehicle traffic information received by the receiving means, image information around other vehicles included in the other vehicle traffic information is displayed on the image display device. A program for functioning as a display means.   The program according to claim 9, wherein the display means includes, based on own vehicle information acquired by the own vehicle information acquisition means and other vehicle traffic information received by the receiving means, of the other vehicle traffic information. Other vehicle traffic information corresponding to one or more other vehicles traveling forward in the traveling direction of the vehicle is obtained, and the one or more vehicles included in the other vehicle traffic information corresponding to the one or more other vehicles A program for displaying image information around another vehicle on an image display device in a predetermined display format.   11. The program according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined display format is image information around the one or more other vehicles according to each distance between the host vehicle and the one or more other vehicles. Is arranged and displayed on the screen of the image display device in an arrangement format based on perspective.   11. The program according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined display format is the one or more other vehicles, and image information around a vehicle traveling on the same lane as the own vehicle is displayed on the own vehicle and the one vehicle. According to the distance from the other vehicle, the geometric perspective is used for display, and the one or more other vehicles around the vehicle running on a different lane from the own vehicle. Display size of image information according to each distance between the own vehicle and the one or more other vehicles and an angle formed by the own vehicle and the direction from the own vehicle to the one or more other vehicles A program characterized by arranging and displaying as geometric perspective. The program according to any one of claims 9 to 12,
Image information acquisition means for acquiring image information around a vehicle on which the in-vehicle information terminal device is mounted by an imaging device;
The apparatus further comprises transmission means for transmitting own vehicle traffic information including the own vehicle information acquired by the own vehicle information acquisition means and the image information acquired by the image information acquisition means via a wireless network. program. A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to any one of claims 9 to 13 is recorded.

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