JP2006301819A - Information providing system, information processor, information terminal, information processing program, information notification program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information providing system capable of automatically notifying a driver about proper road traffic information at an appropriate timing without needing any special equipment. <P>SOLUTION: Road traffic information collected by a traffic information collection network 3 is gathered and data-processed for every road and block in a batch by a traffic information processing system 4. The driver connects to traffic information processing system 4 by using a portable telephone set 2 before driving, and transmits a road name and block whose traffic information the driver wants to have provided. The traffic information processing system 4 selects only the traffic information desired by the operator, and transmits it to the portable telephone set 2. The portable telephone set 2 makes determination from a distance between the current location and the generation location of the received traffic information, and notifies the driver of the traffic information at a proper timing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information providing system for providing road traffic information to a user, an information processing device, an information terminal device, an information processing program, and an information notification program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a road traffic information communication system (hereinafter referred to as VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System)) is used as a system for providing road traffic information to a driver of an automobile. VICS collects and edits road traffic information and various regulatory information monitored by vehicle detectors installed by road managers and prefectural police at the VICS Center, via media such as FM multiplex broadcasting, radio wave beacons, and optical beacons. This system is provided to the driver.

  When the media providing VICS is FM multiplex broadcasting, it can be received within an audible range of 10 km to 50 km from the transmitting antenna, and wide area road traffic information is provided in units of prefectures. On the other hand, if the media providing the VICS is a radio beacon, it can be received only within about 100 m from the roadside device that delivers the radio beacon. If it is an optical beacon, the range is within a few meters from the roadside device that delivers the optical beacon. However, it provides more detailed road information than FM multiplex broadcasting.

  The occurrence position of the event indicated by the road traffic information provided by the VICS (hereinafter referred to as VICS information) is the secondary mesh coordinate system, the link number defining the section between the adjacent road intersections, and the link end position. It is expressed using the distance from. Therefore, in order to specify from the VICS information where the event has occurred on the road, it is necessary to link with the above-described map information having the secondary mesh coordinate system and link number information.

  Conventionally, a car navigation system is mounted on a vehicle, and VICS information and map information are linked with the car navigation system. The car navigation system selects VICS information necessary for the driver based on the current position and traveling direction of the vehicle, and notifies the driver of appropriate VICS information at an appropriate timing.

Note that Patent Documents 1 to 5 are known as prior art references related to the present application.
JP 2001-243141 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-250026 JP 2002-366839 A Japanese translation of PCT publication No. 2002-530746 JP 2003-242169 A

  However, in order to receive VICS information, it is necessary to attach a VICS receiver to the vehicle. Furthermore, in order to identify where on the road is occurring from the position information indicated by the VICS information, a mechanism for linking to map information by a car navigation system or the like is necessary. In addition, even if the vehicle is equipped with facilities for receiving and interpreting VICS information, there is no means for obtaining detailed road traffic information in areas where radio beacons and optical beacons are not installed on the road. In order to do so, it was necessary to develop and expand on-road equipment.

  On the other hand, road traffic information can be obtained by connecting to the Internet from a wireless terminal such as a mobile phone as long as it is in an area where radio waves reach, and even if the vehicle cannot receive VICS information, the latest road traffic information can be searched. It is possible to browse. However, it is forbidden in Article 71-5-5 of the Road Traffic Law that the driver operates the wireless terminal while driving and searches and browses the latest road traffic information. In addition, in the method of performing a search on the Internet by operating a wireless terminal, it is difficult to select only information required by the driver.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to automatically notify the driver of appropriate road traffic information at an appropriate timing without requiring special equipment such as a VICS receiver. It is to provide an information providing system capable of.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the invention according to claim 1 collects road traffic information and an information terminal device having current position measuring means for measuring the current position of the own device. An information providing system comprising an information collecting means and an information processing device having information providing means for providing road information collected by the information collecting means to the information terminal device, wherein the information terminal device is a road Selection condition transmission means for transmitting a name and / or road section selection condition to the information processing device, and information for receiving the road traffic information provided from the information processing device and / or a priority given to the road traffic information From the information of the receiving means, the generation position of the road traffic information received by the information receiving means, and the current position of the own aircraft measured by the current position positioning means, the generation position of the road traffic information is Information generating position determining means for determining whether the current position of the own aircraft is on the traveling direction side of the own apparatus, and the road traffic information determined by the information generating position determining means to be on the traveling direction side of the own apparatus On the other hand, information for determining the timing of notifying the user of the own aircraft based on the relative distance between the generation position of the road traffic information and the current location of the own vehicle and / or the priority given to the road traffic information Notification determining means, and information notifying means for notifying the user of the own device of the road traffic information according to the timing determined by the information notification determining means, wherein the information processing device is transmitted from the information terminal device A selection condition receiving means for receiving the selection condition; and an information selection means for selecting road traffic information based on the selection condition received by the selection condition receiving means from the road traffic information collected by the information collecting means. When, it is characterized in that it comprises a, and information transmitting means for transmitting to the information terminal device granted priority to the selected road traffic information and or the road traffic information by the information selecting means.

  The invention according to claim 2 is an information processing apparatus comprising information collecting means for collecting road traffic information and information providing means for providing road traffic information collected by the information collecting means, wherein the road name and Or selection condition receiving means for receiving road section selection conditions, and information selection means for selecting road traffic information from road traffic information collected by the information collecting means based on the selection conditions received by the selection condition receiving means; And information transmission means for transmitting the road traffic information selected by the information selection means and / or the priority given to the road traffic information.

  Further, the invention according to claim 3 is an information terminal device having a current position positioning means for measuring the current position of the own machine, a selection condition transmitting means for transmitting a road name and / or a road section selection condition, Information receiving means for receiving the road traffic information and / or the priority given to the road traffic information, the generation position of the road traffic information received by the information receiving means, and the current position of the own aircraft measured by the current position positioning means Information generation position determination means for determining whether the generation position of the road traffic information is on the traveling direction side of the own aircraft from the current position of the own aircraft, and the information generation position determination means For the road traffic information determined to be on the traveling direction side, based on the relative distance between the generation position of the road traffic information and the current position of the aircraft and / or the priority given to the road traffic information , Your own advantage Information notification determination means for determining the timing to notify the person, and information notification means for notifying the user of the own vehicle of the road traffic information according to the timing determined by the information notification determination means Yes.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, information is collected in a computer by an information collecting procedure for collecting road traffic information, a selection condition receiving procedure for receiving a road name and a road section selection condition, and the information collecting procedure. Information selection procedure for selecting road traffic information based on the selection condition received in the selection condition reception procedure from road traffic information, and the priority given to the road traffic information selected in the information selection procedure and / or the road traffic information The information transmission program for performing the information transmission procedure which transmits a degree.

  Further, the invention according to claim 5 is an information terminal device having a current position measuring means for measuring the current position of the own device, an information collecting means for collecting road traffic information, and road traffic information collected by the information collecting means. An information providing system having an information providing means for providing information to the information terminal device, wherein the road traffic information is represented using a distance marker, and the information The terminal device is arranged in ascending order or descending order of distance markers provided by the information processing device and selection condition transmitting means for transmitting the current position of the own device, road name and / or road section selection conditions to the information processing device. Information receiving means for receiving the replaced road traffic information and / or the priority of the road traffic information, and the road traffic information received by the information receiving means from the current position of the own aircraft On the side, and based on the relative distance between the generation position of the road traffic information and the current position of the own machine and / or the priority of the road traffic information with respect to the information closest to the current position of the own machine Information notification determining means for determining a timing for notifying the user of the information terminal device, and information notifying means for notifying the user of the information terminal device of the road traffic information according to the timing determined by the information notification determining means; The information processing device is transmitted from the information terminal device and information rearranging means for rearranging the road traffic information collected by the information collecting means in ascending or descending order of the distance markers of the road traffic information. Based on the selection condition received by the selection condition receiving means from the selection condition receiving means for receiving the selection condition and the road traffic information sorted by the information sorting means. Information selection means for selecting road traffic information that coincides with the road name and / or road section and that is generated on the traveling direction side of the current position of the aircraft, and various road traffic selected by the information selection means And / or information transmitting means for transmitting the priority of the road traffic information to the information terminal device.

  The invention according to claim 6 is an information processing apparatus comprising information collecting means for collecting road traffic information and information providing means for providing road traffic information collected by the information collecting means, wherein the road traffic The information includes an information rearrangement means for rearranging the road traffic information collected by the information collection means in ascending or descending order of the distance traffic information of the road traffic information, and the current position. Based on the selection condition received by the selection condition receiving means from the selection condition receiving means for receiving information, road name and / or road section selection conditions, and the road traffic information sorted by the information sorting means, Information selecting means for selecting road traffic information that coincides with the road name and / or road section and that is generated on the traveling direction side with respect to the current position information, and the road selected by the information selecting means It is characterized in that it comprises a, and information transmitting means for transmitting the priority of the traffic information and or the road traffic information.

  The invention according to claim 7 is an information terminal device having a current position positioning means for measuring the current position of the own device, and transmits the current position of the own device, a road name and / or a road section selection condition. Among the road traffic information received by the selection condition transmitting means, the road traffic information rearranged in ascending or descending order of the distance marker and / or the priority of the road traffic information, and the road traffic information received by the information receiving means, Relative to the current position of the own aircraft and the current position of the own aircraft, relative to the information that is generated in the traveling direction side of the own aircraft and closest to the current position of the own aircraft Based on the distance and / or the priority of road traffic information, an information notification determination unit that determines a timing to notify the user of the own device, and the road traffic to the user of the own device according to the timing determined by the information notification determination unit information Is characterized in that it comprises an information notifying means notifying that a.

  The invention according to claim 8 is a selection condition transmission procedure for transmitting to the computer a current position positioning procedure for positioning the current position of the own apparatus and a selection condition for the current position, road name and / or road section of the own apparatus. Among the road traffic information rearranged in ascending or descending order of the distance marker and / or the information reception procedure for receiving the priority of the road traffic information, and among the road traffic information received in the information reception procedure, Relative distance and / or road between the generation position of the road traffic information and the current position of the own machine with respect to the information that occurs on the traveling direction side of the own machine from the current position and is closest to the current position of the own machine Based on the priority of traffic information, an information notification determination procedure for determining the timing to notify the user of the own device, and the road traffic information to the user of the own device according to the timing determined in the information notification determination procedure The information notification program for executing the multicast notification procedure, a.

  According to the present invention, since road traffic information is received using an existing wireless terminal such as a mobile phone, the driver can provide road traffic information even in a vehicle not equipped with a VICS receiver or a car navigation system. Can receive. In addition, the driver can obtain detailed road traffic information anywhere within an area where radio waves reach, and is not limited to an area where a VICS roadside device is installed unlike the prior art. Furthermore, from the road traffic information acquired by the wireless terminal, only appropriate information is automatically selected according to the current position and traveling direction of the vehicle, without requiring the driver to operate the wireless terminal, It is possible to notify the driver of the latest road traffic information at an appropriate timing.

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an information providing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a mobile phone 2 (information terminal device) owned by a driver is placed in a car 1. The road on which the automobile 1 travels is equipped with facilities such as an emergency call communication terminal 31, various sensors 32, and a fixed point camera 33, and information from these facilities is transmitted to the road traffic information collection network 3.

  The road traffic information processing system (information processing apparatus) 4 receives road traffic information from the road traffic information collection network 3 and transmits the received road traffic information to a network 5 such as a mobile phone. A global positioning system satellite group (hereinafter referred to as a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite) 6 is a set of satellites used in a GPS system that accurately determines its position using radio waves from an artificial satellite. .

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the mobile phone 2 and the road traffic information processing system 4 in the information providing system shown in FIG. A GPS receiving unit 201 in the mobile phone 2 receives radio waves from the GPS satellite 6. A GPS processing unit (current position measuring means) 202 calculates position information on the position of the mobile phone 2 from information received by the GPS receiving unit 201. The main control unit 203 manages the processing of each block in the mobile phone 2.

  The display unit 204 is a liquid crystal display that displays images, characters, and the like based on signals input from the main control unit 203. The main operation unit 205 has a numeric keypad and function keys, and takes a user instruction input and outputs it to the main control unit 203. The notification unit 206 includes a speaker, a vibrator, a light emitting diode, and the like, and notifies the user of an incoming call or mail reception by sound, vibration, light, or the like. The modem 207 modulates the data input from the main control unit 203 into a carrier and outputs it to the transmission / reception unit 208, and demodulates the signal received by the transmission / reception unit 208 and outputs it to the main control unit 203. is there. The transmission / reception unit 208 wirelessly transmits the signal modulated by the modulation / demodulation unit 207, and receives a signal wirelessly transmitted from another mobile phone or the road traffic information processing system 4.

  A road traffic information accumulating unit (information collecting means) 41 in the road traffic information processing system 4 accumulates received road traffic information. The road traffic information data processing unit 42 processes the information stored in the road traffic information storage unit 41 and converts it into data to be transmitted to the mobile phone 2. The road traffic information data distribution unit (information transmission means) 43 transmits the road traffic information processed by the road traffic information data processing unit 42 to the network 5 of the mobile phone. The user information management unit 44 manages the connection with the mobile phone 2 and holds information such as login / logout from the mobile phone 2.

Next, the operation of the above-described first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 2, a road traffic information accumulation unit 41 in the road traffic information processing system 4 accumulates the road traffic information received from the road traffic information collection network 3, organizes the accumulated road traffic information, and periodically creates a master file. create. Here, as the road traffic information, the information provided in the current system such as VICS can be used, and the position information indicating the occurrence position of the event is added to the information code indicating the event of the road traffic information. It is stored in the road traffic information storage unit 41 in the form. The position information is represented by a road name / direction and a distance marker unique to each road. A distance indicator indicates the distance from a predetermined starting point determined on a road or railway line. It is used by road managers to identify the location, and is also easy to see for general passers-by on highways. The location on the route can be specified easily.
However, the position information is not limited to a distance marker, but may be in the same format as the VICS position information. If it is not a distance marker, the road traffic information data processing unit 42 converts it into a distance marker.

  The road traffic information data processing unit 42 creates an information provision file for each road / direction based on the master file created by the road traffic information storage unit 41. The information provision file is composed of an information code indicating an event of road traffic information and position information (road name, distance indicator, etc.) indicating the position of the event. You may create by the unit. Further, the road traffic information data processing unit 42 converts the position information represented by the road name / direction and the distance mark specific to each road into position information in latitude and longitude.

  Here, the road traffic information data processing unit 42 converts the information into latitude / longitude information because the mobile phone 2 of the present embodiment that receives the information providing file is represented by latitude / longitude using GPS or the like. This is because it is assumed that the relative distance between the current position and the event occurrence location is calculated. When the configuration of the present embodiment is realized using a mobile phone whose current position can be specified as a distance marker, the road traffic information data processing unit 42 needs to convert the position information into latitude / longitude information. There is no. Further, when the road traffic information does not use a distance marker as an event position and uses latitude / longitude, it is not necessary to convert the position information into latitude / longitude information. The road traffic information data processing unit 42 updates the information providing file at the timing when the master file is updated.

  The road traffic information data distribution unit 43 exchanges information with the user information management unit 44 and determines which information providing file is transmitted to which mobile phone. In the present embodiment, a method in which the mobile phone 2 connects to the road traffic information processing system 4 is adopted, and the mobile phone 2 receives a road name / section (starting point / Specify the end point. The user information management unit 44 manages the information of the connected mobile phone and the type of information providing file to be transmitted to the mobile phone, and transmits the information to the road traffic information data distribution unit 43.

  Based on the information from the user information management unit 44, the road traffic information data distribution unit 43 transmits each information providing file to all mobile phones that need it. When the information providing file is updated, the information providing file is transmitted to all the mobile phones that are using the information providing file. Note that, in the update of the information providing file that accompanies the regular update of the master file, the information providing file that does not change before and after the update is not transmitted.

  Next, a procedure for receiving road traffic information with the mobile phone 2 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, the driver operates the mobile phone 2 to log in to the road traffic information processing system 4 before starting driving (step S301). When logging in, information specific to the mobile phone 2, such as a telephone number or an IP address, is transmitted to the road traffic information processing system 4.

  When the login to the road traffic information processing system 4 is completed, the driver designates a road name / section for which road traffic information is desired and transmits it from the mobile phone 2 to the road traffic information processing system 4 (selection condition transmission means, step S302) Waiting for reception of the information providing file (information receiving means, step S303). Thereafter, the driver does not need to operate the mobile phone 2, and the driver places the mobile phone 2 in the vehicle and starts driving the automobile 1.

  When the transmitting / receiving unit 208 of the mobile phone 2 receives the information providing file from the road traffic information data distributing unit 43 of the road traffic information processing system 4 (step S303: Yes), each event stored in the information providing file is received. From the occurrence position (latitude / longitude information) and the current position information (latitude / longitude information) of the mobile phone 2 calculated by the GPS processing unit 202 from the information received by the GPS receiving unit 201 of FIG. The main controller 203 calculates the relative distance to the generation position (step S304 in FIG. 3). The calculation of the relative distance to the event occurrence position is performed at regular intervals (time or mileage), and it is determined that an event that increases the relative distance each time it is calculated is not necessary for the driver (information generation position determination Means, step S305: No), the event information is deleted (step S309).

  If the relative distance to the event occurrence position does not increase and it is determined that the information is necessary for the driver (step S305: Yes), then the timing for notifying the driver of the event is calculated (information notification) Determination means, step S306). In FIG. 1, for example, when the automobile 1 is at the position indicated by L0, the mobile phone 2 receives the information providing file describing the road traffic event A from the road traffic information processing system 4, and It is assumed that the cellular phone 2 notifies the driver when approaching within 300 m. At this time (the position of L0), since the relative distance between the automobile 1 and the event A is 300 m or more, the mobile phone 2 does not notify the driver (No in step S306 in FIG. 3).

  Thereafter, when the automobile 1 continues to travel and reaches the position indicated by L1, it is 300 m from the point where the event A occurred, and therefore the mobile phone 2 notifies the driver of the information on the event A (information notification means, FIG. 3). Step S307). Here, it is desirable that the notification means not only displays information on the display unit 204 of FIG. 2, but also performs voice guidance, generation of alarm sound and vibration at the notification unit 206, blinking of the light emitting diode, and the like. Note that the timing of notifying the driver may vary depending on the type of event. For example, when a priority is set for each traffic information, a method of setting a higher priority for information on traffic closure than information such as a traffic jam and notifying the driver earlier can be used.

  Further, when the automobile 1 continues to travel and reaches the position L2 beyond the point where the event A occurs (step S308: Yes in FIG. 3), the mobile phone 2 deletes the information on the event A (step S309). Here, with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, a method for determining whether or not the occurrence point of the event A has been exceeded will be described. In FIG. 4, the relative distance between the occurrence position of the event A and the mobile phone 2 is calculated every fixed time interval t seconds, and the time when the mobile phone 2 notifies the driver of the event A is T0. In step 305 in FIG. 3 for determining whether the event is necessary for the driver, the absolute value of the relative distance is used. In step S308, the relative distance (hereinafter referred to as vector information) is obtained by combining two pieces of information, the latitude difference and the longitude difference. Will be referred to as a relative distance vector).

  The main control unit 203 in FIG. 2 calculates the inner product of the relative distance vector at each time and the relative distance vector at the previous time, and the sign of the calculation result of the inner product has changed from plus to minus or zero. The time is determined to be the time when the event A occurred and the event A information is deleted. Specifically, at time T1 in FIG. 4, the main control unit 203 calculates the inner product of the relative distance vector V1 at time T1 and the relative distance vector V0 at time T0 immediately before (t seconds before). Since the relative angle between V0 and V1 is less than 90 degrees, the sign of the inner product result of V0 · V1 is positive. Next, the result of the inner product of V1 and V2 at time T2 is minus because the relative angle between V1 and V2 is 90 degrees or more. In this case, it is determined that the event A occurrence point has been exceeded at time T2, and the main control unit 203 ends the notification to the driver and deletes the event A information.

As described above, in step S308 in FIG. 3, the determination is performed using the fact that the direction of the relative distance vector greatly changes before and after the occurrence point of the event A. However, when the road is greatly bent near the occurrence point of event A, it may be impossible to detect that the occurrence point of event A has been exceeded by the determination method based on the inner product calculation described above. Therefore, after the mobile phone 2 notifies the driver of the information, the second determination method of deleting the event A information when the mobile phone 2 is away from the occurrence point of the event A by a certain distance or more is combined with the determination method by the inner product calculation described above. Used in step S308 of FIG.
When the position determination of the own aircraft is impossible or the positioning error is large and the sign of the inner product result of the vector cannot be confirmed to be negative or zero before and after passing through the occurrence point of the event A by the second determination method. Is also an effective means.

  Specifically, in FIG. 5, the result of the inner product calculation V1 and V2 at the time T2 when the event A has occurred is relatively positive because the relative angle between V1 and V2 is less than 90 degrees. It is determined that the event A has not passed through the point where the event A occurred. Similarly, the sign of the inner product calculation V2 · V3 at time T3 is also positive. However, since the position of the mobile phone 2 at time T3 is a position away from the occurrence point of the event A by a certain distance (300 m) or more, the main control unit 203 determines that the event A occurrence point has passed and determines that the event A Delete information.

  Returning to FIG. 3, when the event A information is deleted in step S <b> 309, the processing for one event in the information providing file ends. Actually, the procedure from step S304 to step S309 is performed for all the events stored in the information providing file. When the above is completed, the process for receiving one information providing file is completed, and thereafter, every time an information providing file is received from the road traffic information processing system 4, steps S303 to S310 are repeated.

  When the automobile 1 arrives at the destination and ends the reception of the information providing file (step S310: Yes), the driver operates the mobile phone 1 after driving to log out from the road traffic information processing system 4 ( Step S311). As a logout method, the road traffic information processing system 4 incorporates the end point position of the section designated as the section that the driver desires to receive the road traffic information at the time of log-in into the information providing file, and uses the same method as in step S308. A method of automatically logging out from the road traffic information processing system 4 when the main control unit 203 in the mobile phone 2 confirms the passage of the end point position is also conceivable.

  As described above, the first embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. However, according to the conventional VICS or car navigation system in that map information is not required for the processing of the mobile phone 2. It is very different from the road traffic information provision system. The mobile phone 2 of the present embodiment can be realized simply by introducing application software capable of executing the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 into a conventional mobile phone. In addition, even a mobile phone that does not have a GPS positioning function can perform processing similar to that of the mobile phone 2 of the present embodiment by combining with a device having another GPS positioning function.

  Subsequently, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 6, and 7. In the second embodiment, the configuration is the same as the configuration in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. Hereinafter, the operation in the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the road traffic information system 4 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the mobile phone 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. First, the driver operates the mobile phone 2 to log in to the road traffic information system 4 before driving (step S601 in FIG. 6 and step S701 in FIG. 7). When the login is completed, the mobile phone 2 transmits the current position of the mobile phone 2 calculated by the GPS processing unit 202 of FIG. 2 to the road traffic information system 4 in addition to the road name / direction for which road traffic information is desired ( The selection condition transmitting means, step S702 in FIG. 7), and reception of the information providing file are awaited (step S703). Thereafter, the driver does not need to operate the mobile phone 2, and the driver places the mobile phone 2 in the vehicle and starts driving.

  On the other hand, the road traffic information processing system 4 that has received the information from the mobile phone 2 adds the current location of the mobile phone 2 to the information providing file corresponding to the road name / section designated by the mobile phone 2 and An individual information providing file (hereinafter referred to as an individual information file) to be transmitted only to the telephone 2 is created (step S602 in FIG. 6).

  In creating the individual information file, first, the road traffic information stored in the file is rearranged at the occurrence point of the event indicated by the road traffic information (information rearranging means). After the rearrangement operation, the road traffic information is arranged in the order from the start point to the end point of the road section managed by the individual information file. Next, the received current position of the mobile phone 2 is inserted into the individual information file as one piece of information. When it is determined from the position information of the mobile phone 2 that the automobile 1 is traveling in the road section of the individual information file, the insertion position is inserted at an appropriate position according to the above-described rearrangement order. Thereafter, since the road traffic information on the origin side from the current position of the mobile phone 2 becomes road traffic information in the direction opposite to the traveling direction of the automobile 1, it is deleted from the individual information file. On the other hand, when it is determined from the position information of the mobile phone 2 that the car 1 is not traveling in the section of the individual information file, the information is inserted at the most starting point of the individual information file and the information in the individual information file is not deleted. .

  In this method, road traffic information unnecessary for the driver is deleted in advance on the road traffic information processing system 4 side, so that the amount of information transmitted to the mobile phone 2 can be saved. In addition, the processing amount in the mobile phone 2 can be reduced as compared with the first embodiment.

  When the creation of the individual information file is completed, the road traffic information processing system 4 transmits the individual information file to the mobile phone 2 (step S603 in FIG. 6). The processing of the mobile phone 2 that has received this individual information file (steps S703 to S710 in FIG. 7) is almost the same as the processing in the first embodiment (steps S302 to S310 in FIG. 3), and is different. The only difference is that the process of step S304 that determines the necessity of the road traffic information from the transition of the relative distance to the event occurrence point indicated by the road traffic information is not necessary.

  Returning to FIG. 6, if the master file created by the road traffic information storage unit 41 in FIG. 2 is updated after the individual information file is transmitted, whether there is a change in the road traffic information in the section managed by the individual information file. Confirmation is made (step S604). If there is no change (step S604: No), the individual information file is not transmitted, and it waits until the master file is updated again. On the other hand, if there is a change (step S604: Yes), the mobile phone 2 is notified that the road traffic information has been updated (step S605), and the current position information is acquired from the mobile phone 2 again (step S606). .

  The obtained position information of the mobile phone 2 is inserted into an appropriate position in the individual information file in the same manner as in step S602, and if there is no change from the position information of the mobile phone 2 to the end point side, it is determined that the driver is not affected ( Step S607: No), the individual information file is not transmitted. On the other hand, if there is a change on the end point side from the position information of the mobile phone 2, it is determined that the driver is affected (step S607: Yes), and the individual information file is transmitted to the mobile phone 2 (step S608). Thereafter, while connected to the mobile phone 2, Steps S <b> 604 to S <b> 608 are repeatedly executed to transmit the latest road traffic information to the mobile phone 2.

  When the automobile 1 reaches the destination and does not need to receive provision of road traffic information, the driver operates the mobile phone 2 after driving to log out from the road traffic information processing system 4 (step S609 in FIG. 6: Yes). , Step S710 of FIG. The logout method may be performed when it is determined that the mobile phone 2 has passed the end point of the individual information file, as in the first embodiment.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, but the specific configuration is not limited to the above-described two embodiments, and it is possible to make design changes without departing from the gist of the present invention. . Furthermore, the above-described two embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, even if some structural requirements are deleted from all the structural requirements shown in the above two embodiments, the problem described in the column of the problem to be solved by the invention can be solved, and is described in the column of the effect of the invention. When an effect is obtained, a configuration from which the configuration requirements are deleted can be extracted as an invention.

  In the above two embodiments, wireless communication is used as a communication line. However, it may be realized by wired communication, a combination of wireless communication / wired communication, or the Internet or other public line system. Furthermore, a PHS base station, a mini FM station, the Internet, or the like may be used as a relay base station that transmits information to a communication terminal used by the driver. Furthermore, the communication terminal that receives information need not have a function as a telephone.

  Still further, the road information received by the road traffic information system 4 may be not only information indicating the generation position with a distance marker but also information indicating the generation position with other means (latitude, longitude, etc.). Furthermore, the information to be notified to the driver may be not only road traffic information but also evacuation guidance at the time of disaster, guidance on tourist attractions, introduction of events, and the like.

  The present invention is suitable for use in an information providing system that provides traffic information to a user.

It is the schematic which shows the information provision system concerning embodiment of this invention. It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the mobile telephone 1 and the road traffic information processing system 4 of FIG. It is the flowchart which showed the process of the mobile telephone 2 concerning 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the process in step S306 of FIG. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the process in step S306 of FIG. It is the flowchart which showed the process of the mobile telephone 2 concerning 2nd Embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed the process of the road traffic information processing system 4 concerning 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Automobile 2 ... Mobile phone (information terminal device)
3 ... Road traffic information network 4 ... Road traffic information processing system (information processing equipment)
5 ... Mobile phone network 6 ... Global positioning system satellites (GPS satellites)
41 ... Road traffic information storage (information collection means)
42 ... Road traffic information data processing unit 43 ... Road traffic information data distribution unit (information transmission means)
201: GPS receiving unit 202 ... GPS control unit (current position measuring means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 203 ... Main control part 204 ... Display part 205 ... Main operation part 206 ... Notification part 207 ... Modulation / demodulation part 208 ... Transmission / reception part

Claims (8)

An information terminal device having a current position measuring means for measuring the current position of the own device, an information collecting means for collecting road traffic information, and an information providing means for providing the information terminal device with the road traffic information collected by the information collecting means In an information providing system composed of an information processing apparatus having
The information terminal device
A selection condition transmitting means for transmitting a road name and / or a road section selection condition to the information processing apparatus;
Information receiving means for receiving the road traffic information provided from the information processing device and / or priority given to the road traffic information;
From the information on the generation position of the road traffic information received by the information receiving means and the current position of the own apparatus measured by the current position positioning means, the generation position of the road traffic information is determined from the current position of the own apparatus. Information generation position determination means for determining whether the vehicle is in the traveling direction side,
Relative distance between the generation position of the road traffic information and the current position of the own aircraft and / or the road traffic with respect to the road traffic information determined by the information generation position determination means to be in the traveling direction side of the own aircraft Information notification determination means for determining the timing of notification to the user of the own machine based on the priority assigned to the information;
Information notification means for notifying the user of the own device of the road traffic information according to the timing determined by the information notification determination means;
With
The information processing apparatus includes:
Selection condition receiving means for receiving the selection condition transmitted from the information terminal device;
Information selection means for selecting road traffic information based on the selection conditions received by the selection condition reception means from the road traffic information collected by the information collection means;
Information transmission means for transmitting the road traffic information selected by the information selection means and / or the priority given to the road traffic information to the information terminal device;
An information providing system characterized by comprising: In an information processing apparatus having information collecting means for collecting road traffic information and information providing means for providing road traffic information collected by the information collecting means,
A selection condition receiving means for receiving a road name and / or a road section selection condition;
Information selection means for selecting road traffic information based on the selection conditions received by the selection condition reception means from the road traffic information collected by the information collection means;
Information transmission means for transmitting the road traffic information selected by the information selection means and / or the priority given to the road traffic information;
An information processing apparatus comprising: In an information terminal device having a current position positioning means for measuring the current position of its own machine,
A selection condition transmitting means for transmitting a road name and / or a road section selection condition;
Information receiving means for receiving road traffic information and / or priority given to the road traffic information;
From the information on the generation position of the road traffic information received by the information receiving means and the current position of the own apparatus measured by the current position positioning means, the generation position of the road traffic information is determined from the current position of the own apparatus. Information generation position determination means for determining whether the vehicle is in the traveling direction side,
Relative distance between the generation position of the road traffic information and the current position of the own aircraft and / or the road traffic with respect to the road traffic information determined by the information generation position determination means to be in the traveling direction side of the own aircraft Information notification determination means for determining the timing of notification to the user of the own machine based on the priority assigned to the information;
Information notification means for notifying the user of the own device of the road traffic information according to the timing determined by the information notification determination means;
An information terminal device comprising: On the computer,
Information collection procedure to collect road traffic information,
A selection condition receiving procedure for receiving a road name and / or a road section selection condition;
From the road traffic information collected in the information collection procedure, an information selection procedure for selecting road traffic information based on the selection condition received in the selection condition reception procedure;
An information transmission procedure for transmitting the road traffic information selected in the information selection procedure and / or the priority given to the road traffic information;
Information processing program to execute. An information terminal device having a current position measuring means for measuring the current position of the own device, an information collecting means for collecting road traffic information, and an information providing means for providing the information terminal device with the road traffic information collected by the information collecting means In an information providing system composed of an information processing apparatus having
The road traffic information is
The location of occurrence is represented using a distance marker,
The information terminal device
A selection condition transmitting means for transmitting the current position of the own machine, a road name and / or a road section selection condition to the information processing device;
Information receiving means for receiving the road traffic information provided from the information processing device and rearranging the road traffic information in ascending or descending order and / or priority of the road traffic information;
Of the road traffic information received by the information receiving means, the road traffic information for the information that is generated on the traveling direction side of the own machine from the current position of the own machine and that is closest to the current position of the own machine Information notification determining means for determining the timing of notifying the user of the information terminal device, based on the relative distance between the occurrence position and the current position of the aircraft and / or the priority of road traffic information;
Information notification means for notifying the user of the information terminal device of the road traffic information according to the timing determined by the information notification determination means;
With
The information processing apparatus includes:
Information rearranging means for rearranging the road traffic information collected by the information collecting means in ascending or descending order of the distance markers of the road traffic information;
Selection condition receiving means for receiving the selection condition transmitted from the information terminal device;
Based on the selection conditions received by the selection condition receiving means from the road traffic information that has been sorted by the information sorting means, information that matches the road name and / or road section and from the current position of the own aircraft Information selection means for selecting road traffic information generated on the traveling direction side,
Information transmission means for transmitting various road traffic selected by the information selection means and / or priority of the road traffic information to the information terminal device;
An information providing system characterized by comprising: In an information processing apparatus having information collecting means for collecting road traffic information and information providing means for providing road traffic information collected by the information collecting means,
The road traffic information is
The location of occurrence is represented using a distance marker,
Information rearranging means for rearranging the road traffic information collected by the information collecting means in ascending or descending order of the distance markers of the road traffic information;
Selection condition receiving means for receiving current position information, road name and / or road section selection conditions;
Based on the selection conditions received by the selection condition receiving means from the road traffic information sorted by the information sorting means, the information matches the road name and / or road section and progresses more than the current position information. Information selection means for selecting road traffic information generated on the direction side;
Information transmission means for transmitting the road traffic information selected by the information selection means and / or the priority of the road traffic information;
An information processing apparatus comprising: In an information terminal device having a current position positioning means for measuring the current position of its own machine,
Selection condition transmission means for transmitting the current position of the aircraft, the road name and / or the selection condition of the road section;
Information receiving means for receiving road traffic information rearranged in ascending or descending order of distance markers and / or priority of the road traffic information;
Of the road traffic information received by the information receiving means, the road traffic information for the information that is generated on the traveling direction side of the own machine from the current position of the own machine and that is closest to the current position of the own machine Information notification determination means for determining the timing of notification to the user of the own machine based on the relative distance between the occurrence position of the machine and the current position of the own machine and / or the priority of the road traffic information;
Information notification means for notifying the user of the own device of the road traffic information according to the timing determined by the information notification determination means;
An information terminal device comprising: On the computer,
A current position measurement procedure for positioning the current position of the aircraft;
A selection condition transmission procedure for transmitting the current position of the aircraft, the road name and / or the selection condition of the road section;
Information reception procedure for receiving road traffic information rearranged in ascending or descending order of distance markers and / or priority of the road traffic information;
Of the road traffic information received in the information reception procedure, for the information that is generated on the traveling direction side of the own machine from the current position of the own machine and is closest to the current position of the own machine, the road traffic information An information notification determination procedure for determining the timing of notification to the user of the own machine based on the relative distance between the occurrence position of the machine and the current position of the own machine and / or the priority of the road traffic information
An information notification procedure for notifying the user of the own device of the road traffic information according to the timing determined in the information notification determination procedure;
Information notification program to execute

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