JP2007263755A - Communication device, communication relay installation, communication method, communication program and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To acquire a scheduled time, when another moving body moving toward the same destination reaches the destination, or a scheduled necessary time, until another moving body reaches the destination. <P>SOLUTION: This communication device 110 is loaded on one moving body from among a plurality of moving bodies moving toward a prescribed destination. The communication device 110 is equipped with a receiving part 111, an acquiring part 112, and a transmitting part 113. The reception part 111 receives transmission request information, to the effect that transmission of information on the scheduled time, when reaching the destination is requested from another moving body which is different from one moving body among the plurality of moving bodies. The acquisition part 112 acquires information on the scheduled time by one moving body. The transmission part 113 transmits discrimination information for discriminating a moving body and the information on the scheduled time to another moving body. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device, a communication relay device, a communication method, a communication program, and a recording medium that transmit and receive information related to a scheduled time when a mobile object arrives at a destination.

  Conventionally, in a navigation device that is mounted on a moving body such as an automobile and performs route guidance to a destination, information on the current position of the other vehicle is obtained by performing data communication with the other vehicle, and the current position of the other vehicle is displayed. A technique for displaying on the upper map image or notifying the user by text or voice is used (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-62147 A

  However, for example, when multiple cars are heading to the same destination, people who have arrived at the destination first often want to know when the other car will arrive at the destination. An example is the problem that even if the current position can be grasped, the time when another vehicle arrives at the destination cannot be grasped.

  In addition, it is conceivable to predict the arrival time of the other vehicle based on the distance between the current position of the other vehicle and the destination, but the error of the predicted arrival time may increase because the speed of the other vehicle is unknown. The problem is given as an example.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a communication apparatus according to the invention of claim 1 is mounted on one mobile body among a plurality of mobile bodies that move toward a predetermined destination. And receiving means for receiving transmission request information for requesting transmission of information related to a scheduled time of arrival at the destination from another mobile body different from the one mobile body among the plurality of mobile bodies. Transmitting means for acquiring information relating to the scheduled time by the one moving body, and identification information for identifying the moving body and information relating to the scheduled time to the other moving body And means.

  A communication apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is a communication apparatus mounted on one mobile body among a plurality of mobile bodies that move toward a predetermined destination. Transmission means for transmitting transmission request information for requesting transmission of information related to a scheduled time at which the other mobile body arrives at the destination to another different mobile body, and transmission according to the transmission request information Based on the receiving means for receiving the identification information for identifying the other mobile body and the information on the scheduled time, the other mobile body based on the received identification information and the information on the scheduled time Output means for outputting a scheduled time of arrival at the destination.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the communication relay device includes a communication unit that transmits / receives information to / from a plurality of moving bodies that move toward a predetermined destination, and a control unit that controls the communication unit. Transmission request information that is a communication relay device, wherein the control means requests transmission of information relating to a scheduled time at which another mobile body different from the one mobile body arrives at the destination When the communication means receives the transmission request information, the communication means is controlled to transmit the transmission request information to the other mobile body, and is transmitted from the other mobile body according to the transmission request information. When the communication means receives the identification information for identifying the other mobile body and the information on the scheduled time, the identification information and the information on the scheduled time are stored in the one mobile body and the one mobile body. Yu And controlling the communication means to transmit at least one of device predetermined information terminal apparatus specified in THE.

  The communication method according to claim 7 is a communication method in a communication device mounted on one mobile body among a plurality of mobile bodies moving toward a predetermined destination, wherein the plurality of mobile bodies Receiving a transmission request information requesting transmission of information related to a scheduled time of arrival at the destination from another mobile body different from the one mobile body; and An acquisition step of acquiring information related to a scheduled time, and a transmission step of transmitting identification information for identifying the moving body and information related to the scheduled time to the other moving body. To do.

  The communication method according to claim 8 is a communication method in a communication device mounted on one mobile body among a plurality of mobile bodies moving toward a predetermined destination, wherein the one mobile body A transmission step of transmitting transmission request information for requesting transmission of information related to a scheduled time at which the other mobile unit arrives at the destination to another mobile unit different from the mobile unit, and according to the transmission request information And receiving the identification information for identifying the other mobile body transmitted and the information related to the scheduled time, and the other information based on the received identification information and the information related to the scheduled time. And an output step of outputting a scheduled time when the mobile body arrives at the destination.

  The communication method according to claim 9 is a communication method in a communication relay device that relays information communicated between a plurality of mobile bodies moving toward a predetermined destination, from one mobile body When the other mobile body different from the one mobile body receives transmission request information requesting transmission of information related to the scheduled time of arrival at the destination, the transmission request information is sent to the other mobile body. And when receiving the identification information for identifying the other mobile body transmitted from the other mobile body in response to the transmission request information and the information related to the scheduled time, the identification information And a step of transmitting information related to the scheduled time to at least one of the one mobile unit and a predetermined information terminal device designated by a user of the one mobile unit.

  A communication program according to claim 10 causes a computer to execute the communication method according to any one of claims 7 to 9.

  A computer-readable recording medium according to an eleventh aspect records the communication program according to the tenth aspect.

  Exemplary embodiments of a communication device, a communication relay device, a communication method, a communication program, and a recording medium according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Embodiment)
(Functional configuration of communication device)
First, the functional configuration of the communication apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the communication apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, the communication device 110 on the scheduled time transmission side and the communication device 120 on the scheduled time reception side will be described separately, but they may be configured integrally. Each of these communication devices is mounted on one mobile body among a plurality of mobile bodies that move toward a predetermined destination.

  First, the communication device 110 on the scheduled time transmission side in FIG. 1 will be described. The communication device 110 includes a reception unit 111, an acquisition unit 112, and a transmission unit 113. The receiving unit 111 requests a transmission request to request transmission of information related to the scheduled time of arrival at the destination from a communication device 120 described later mounted on another mobile body different from the mobile body on which the communication device 110 is mounted. Information (hereinafter, transmission request information) is received. The moving body is a vehicle body such as a car or a motorcycle. The destination is a point set in advance by the user. The predetermined destination is, for example, the same destination set by a plurality of moving bodies in common.

  The acquisition unit 112 acquires information related to the scheduled time at which the mobile body on which the communication device 110 is mounted arrives at the destination. Here, the information on the scheduled time of arrival at the destination is information on the scheduled time of arrival at the destination and prediction information necessary for predicting the scheduled time. As the prediction information, for example, the estimated required time information required for the mobile body equipped with the communication device 110 to arrive at the destination, the moving speed information of the mobile body, and the distance information from the current position of the mobile body to the destination Or information on the estimated arrival time at a destination set in advance.

  The preset arrival time information to the destination is set in advance by the user when the user intends to move the route so that the user arrives at the destination at a predetermined time. Time information.

  The transmission unit 113 includes, for the communication device 120 mounted on the mobile body that has transmitted the transmission request information, identification information (hereinafter referred to as identification information) for identifying the mobile body on which the communication device 110 is mounted, and an acquisition unit. Information on the scheduled time acquired at 112 is transmitted. The identification information for identifying the moving body is the number of the vehicle on which the communication device 110 is mounted, the name of the user of the vehicle, and the like.

  Next, the communication device 120 on the scheduled time reception side in FIG. 1 will be described. The communication device 120 includes a transmission unit 121, a reception unit 122, and an output unit 123. The transmission unit 121 transmits the transmission request information described above to the communication device 110.

  The receiving unit 122 receives the identification information transmitted from the communication device 110 and information related to the scheduled time. Based on the identification information received by the receiving unit 122 and information related to the scheduled time, the output unit 123 outputs the scheduled time at which another mobile unit arrives at the destination.

  Note that the timing at which the transmission unit 121 transmits the transmission request information to the communication device 110 includes, for example, the timing at which the mobile object equipped with the communication device 120 arrives at the destination in addition to the user's arbitrary timing. The timing of arrival at the destination is, for example, the timing at which the mobile body equipped with the communication device 120 enters a predetermined distance from the set destination. Specifically, for example, it is the timing when the moving body enters a range of 50 m from the destination. Further, the timing of arrival at the destination may be the timing when the estimated required time required for arrival at the destination is within a predetermined time. Specifically, for example, it is the timing when the scheduled required time is within one minute.

  In the description of FIG. 1, it has been described that each piece of information is directly exchanged between the communication device 110 and the communication device 120. However, each piece of information may be exchanged via a communication relay device such as a server device. For example, a communication relay device (not shown) may be provided, and transmission / reception of information between a plurality of moving bodies moving toward a predetermined destination may be relayed by the communication relay device.

  In this case, for example, the communication relay device includes a communication unit that transmits and receives the information and a control unit that controls the communication unit. The control unit controls the communication unit to transmit the transmission request information to the communication device 110 when the communication unit receives the transmission request information transmitted from the communication device 120. In addition, when the communication unit receives the above-described identification information and information related to the scheduled time transmitted from the communication device 110 according to the transmission request information transmitted from the communication unit, the control unit receives information related to the identification information and the scheduled time. The communication unit is controlled to transmit to the communication device 120.

  In the above description, the above-described identification information and information related to the scheduled time have been described as being transmitted to the communication device 120. However, in addition to the communication device 120, a predetermined information terminal device designated by the user, or communication You may transmit to both the apparatus 120 and the said predetermined | prescribed information terminal device. The predetermined information terminal device designated by the user is, for example, a mobile phone owned by the user or a personal computer having a data communication function.

(Contents of communication device processing)
Next, the contents of the processing of the communication apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing contents of the communication apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, first, the transmission unit 121 of the communication device 120 transmits transmission request information to the communication device 110 (step S201). The moving body is a vehicle body such as a car or a motorcycle. The destination is a point set in advance by the user. The predetermined destination is, for example, the same destination set by a plurality of moving bodies in common. The description of the information regarding the scheduled time of arrival at the destination is as described above.

  Note that the timing at which the transmission unit 121 transmits the above-described transmission request information includes, for example, the timing at which the mobile object equipped with the communication device 120 arrives at the destination in addition to the user's arbitrary timing. The timing of arrival at the destination is, for example, the timing at which the mobile body equipped with the communication device 120 enters a predetermined distance from the set destination. Specifically, for example, it is the timing when the moving body enters a range of 50 m from the destination. Further, the timing of arrival at the destination may be the timing when the estimated required time required for arrival at the destination is within a predetermined time. Specifically, for example, it is the timing when the scheduled required time is within one minute.

  Next, the receiving unit 111 of the communication device 110 receives the transmission request information transmitted from the communication device 120 (step S202). Subsequently, the acquisition unit 112 of the communication device 110 acquires information related to the scheduled time at which the mobile body on which the communication device 110 is mounted arrives at the destination (step S203). Here, although it has been described that the acquisition unit 112 acquires information related to the scheduled time after the reception unit 111 receives the transmission request information, the acquisition unit 112 may acquire information related to the scheduled time in advance. .

  Next, the transmission unit 113 of the communication device 110 transmits identification information for identifying the mobile body on which the communication device 110 is mounted to the communication device 120 and information related to the scheduled time acquired by the acquisition unit 112 ( Step S204). The identification information for identifying the moving body is the number of the vehicle on which the communication device 110 is mounted, the name of the user of the vehicle, and the like.

  Next, the receiving unit 122 of the communication device 120 receives the identification information transmitted by the communication device 110 and information related to the scheduled time (step S205). Subsequently, based on the identification information received by the receiving unit 122 and the information related to the scheduled time, the output unit 123 of the communication device 120 obtains information related to the scheduled time at which the mobile body equipped with the communication device 110 arrives at the destination. Output (step S206), the series of processing is terminated.

  In the description of FIG. 2, the communication between the communication device 110 and the communication device 120 is described as being performed directly. However, the exchange of information may be performed via a communication relay device such as a server device. For example, a communication relay device (not shown) may be provided, and transmission / reception of information between a plurality of moving bodies moving toward a predetermined destination may be relayed by the communication relay device. The details of the communication relay device are as described above.

  In the above description, the above-described identification information and information related to the scheduled time have been described as being transmitted to the communication device 120. However, in addition to the communication device 120, a predetermined information terminal device designated by the user, or communication You may transmit to both the apparatus 120 and the said predetermined | prescribed information terminal device. The predetermined information terminal device designated by the user is, for example, a mobile phone owned by the user or a personal computer having a data communication function.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the communication apparatus 120 is configured such that the other mobile object that moves toward the same destination arrives at the destination or the other mobile object reaches the destination. You can get the estimated time required to arrive.

  Below, the case where the communication apparatus concerning this Embodiment is applied to the navigation apparatus mounted in the vehicle is illustrated and demonstrated.

(Hardware configuration of navigation device)
First, an outline when the navigation device according to the present embodiment is mounted on a plurality of vehicles will be described. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an overview when the navigation device according to the present embodiment is mounted on a plurality of vehicles. In FIG. 3, the case where the vehicle 301, the vehicle 302, and the vehicle 303 are moving toward the same destination and the vehicle 301 first arrives at the destination will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, for example, when a vehicle 301 equipped with a navigation device to which the communication device according to the present embodiment is applied arrives at the destination, the vehicle 301 has not yet arrived at the destination, either directly or via the server device 304. Transmission request information is transmitted to vehicles 302 and 303 that are not present. In response to the transmission of the transmission request information, each of the vehicle 302 and the vehicle 303 transmits the identification information of the own vehicle and the information related to the scheduled time when the own vehicle arrives at the destination, either directly or via the server device 304. As a result, the vehicle 301 can predict how much the following vehicle 302 and the vehicle 303 will arrive at the destination.

  Next, a hardware configuration of the navigation device according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the navigation device according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 4, a navigation device 400 is mounted on a moving body such as a vehicle, and includes a CPU 401, a ROM 402, a RAM 403, a magnetic disk drive 404, a magnetic disk 405, an optical disk drive 406, an optical disk 407, and audio. I / F (interface) 408, microphone 409, speaker 410, input device 411, video I / F 412, display 413, camera 414, communication I / F 415, GPS unit 416, and various sensors 417 And. Each component 401 to 417 is connected by a bus 420.

  First, the CPU 401 governs overall control of the navigation device 400. The ROM 402 stores programs such as a boot program, a current position calculation program, a route search program, a route guidance program, a voice generation program, a map information display program, a communication program, a database creation program, and a data analysis program. The RAM 403 is used as a work area for the CPU 401.

  Here, the current position calculation program calculates the current position of the vehicle (current position of the navigation device 400) based on output information from a GPS unit 416 and various sensors 417, which will be described later, for example.

  The route search program searches for an optimum route from the departure point to the destination point using map information recorded on a magnetic disk 405 or an optical disk 407, which will be described later. Here, the optimum route is the shortest (or fastest) route to the destination point or the route that best matches the conditions specified by the user. The guidance route searched by executing the route search program is output to the audio I / F 408 and the video I / F 412 via the CPU 401.

  The route guidance program is read from the guidance route information searched by executing the route search program, the current position information of the vehicle calculated by executing the current position calculation program, the magnetic disk 405 or the optical disk 407. Real-time route guidance information is generated based on the map information. The route guidance information generated by executing the route guidance program is output to the audio I / F 408 and the video I / F 412 via the CPU 401.

  The sound generation program generates tone and sound information corresponding to the pattern. That is, based on the route guidance information generated by executing the route guidance program, the virtual sound source corresponding to the guidance point is set and the voice guidance information is generated. The generated voice guidance information is output to the voice I / F 408 via the CPU 401.

  Also, the map information display program determines the display format of the map information displayed on the display 413 by the video I / F 412 and displays the map information on the display 413 according to the determined display format.

  The magnetic disk drive 404 controls the reading / writing of the data with respect to the magnetic disk 405 according to control of CPU401. Data written under the control of the magnetic disk drive 404 is recorded on the magnetic disk 405. As the magnetic disk 405, for example, an HD (hard disk) or an FD (flexible disk) can be used.

  The optical disc drive 406 controls the reading / writing of the data with respect to an optical disc according to control of CPU401. The optical disc 407 is a detachable recording medium from which data is read according to the control of the optical disc drive 406. As the optical disc 407, a writable recording medium can be used. In addition to the optical disk 407, the removable recording medium may be an MO, a memory card, or the like.

  One example of information recorded on the magnetic disk 405 or the optical disk 407 is map information used for route search / route guidance. The map information includes background data representing features (features) such as buildings, rivers, and the ground surface, and road shape data representing the shape of the road. The map information is displayed two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally on the display screen of the display 413. Drawn.

  The road shape data further includes traffic condition data. The traffic condition data includes, for example, whether or not there are traffic lights or pedestrian crossings, highway entrances or junctions, length (distance) for each link, road width, direction of travel, road type (highway, Information on toll roads and general roads).

  The traffic condition data stores past traffic information obtained by statistically processing past traffic information based on seasons, days of the week, large holidays, and time. The navigation device 400 obtains information on a traffic jam that is currently occurring from road traffic information received by a communication I / F 415, which will be described later, and can predict a traffic jam situation at a specified time based on past traffic jam information. Become.

  In this embodiment, the map information is recorded on the magnetic disk 405 or the optical disk 407. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The map information is not recorded only on the information provided integrally with the hardware of the navigation device 400, and may be provided outside the navigation device 400. In that case, the navigation apparatus 400 acquires map information via a network through communication I / F415, for example. The acquired map information is stored in the RAM 403 or the like.

  The audio I / F 408 is connected to a microphone 409 for audio input and a speaker 410 for audio output. The sound received by the microphone 409 is A / D converted in the sound I / F 408. In addition, sound is output from the speaker 410. Note that the voice input from the microphone 409 can be recorded on the magnetic disk 405 or the optical disk 407 as voice data.

  Examples of the input device 411 include a remote controller including a plurality of keys for inputting characters, numerical values, various instructions, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, and the like.

  The video I / F 412 is connected to the display 413 and the camera 414. Specifically, the video I / F 412 includes, for example, a graphic controller that controls the entire display 413, a buffer memory such as a VRAM (Video RAM) that temporarily records image information that can be displayed immediately, and a graphic controller. Based on the output image data, the display 413 is configured by a control IC that controls display.

  The display 413 displays icons, cursors, menus, windows, or various data such as characters and images. As the display 413, for example, a CRT, a TFT liquid crystal display, a plasma display, or the like can be adopted. The display 413 is installed in a manner like the display unit 300a in FIG. 3, for example. A plurality of displays 413 may be provided in the vehicle, for example, for the driver and for a passenger seated in the rear seat.

  The camera 414 captures images inside or outside the vehicle. The image may be either a still image or a moving image. For example, a camera 414 captures the behavior of a passenger inside the vehicle, and the captured image is recorded on a recording medium such as the CPU 401 or the magnetic disk 405 or the optical disk 407 via the image I / F 412. Output to.

  The camera 414 captures the situation outside the vehicle, and outputs the captured image to a recording medium such as the magnetic disk 405 or the optical disk 407 via the video I / F 412. The video output to the CPU 401 is used, for example, for determining the specific behavior of the passenger. The video output to the recording medium is overwritten and stored as a drive recorder image.

  The communication I / F 415 is connected to a network via wireless and functions as an interface between the navigation device 400 and the CPU 401. The communication I / F 415 is further connected to a communication network such as the Internet via wireless, and also functions as an interface between the communication network and the CPU 401. The communication I / F 415 receives a television broadcast or a radio broadcast.

  Communication networks include LANs, WANs, public line networks and mobile phone networks. Specifically, the communication I / F 415 includes, for example, an FM tuner, a VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System) / beacon receiver, a radio navigation device, and other navigation devices. Get road traffic information such as rules. VICS is a registered trademark.

  The GPS unit 416 receives radio waves from GPS satellites and calculates information indicating the current position of the vehicle. The output information of the GPS unit 416 is used when the CPU 401 calculates the current position of the vehicle together with output values of various sensors 417 described later. The information indicating the current position is information for specifying one point on the map information such as latitude / longitude and altitude.

  The various sensors 417 output information that can determine the position and behavior of the vehicle, such as a vehicle speed sensor, an acceleration sensor, and an angular velocity sensor. The output values of the various sensors 417 are used for the calculation of the current position of the vehicle by the CPU 401, the measurement of the change in speed and direction, and the like.

  The receiving unit 111, the transmitting unit 113, the transmitting unit 121 of the communication device 120, and the receiving unit 122 of the communication device 110 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. With the CPU 401, RAM 403, GPS unit 416, and various sensors 417, the output unit 123 of the communication device 120 can realize the functions of the audio I / F 408, the speaker 410, the video I / F 412, and the display 413.

(Communication procedure of navigation device)
Next, an example of communication processing of the navigation device according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a communication processing procedure of the navigation device according to the present embodiment. Here, the vehicle 301, the vehicle 302, and the vehicle 303 described in FIG. 3 each have the navigation device 400 mounted thereon, and the situation where the vehicle 301 first arrives at the destination (step S501) will be described.

  The vehicle 301 that has arrived at the destination transmits transmission request information to the server device 304 (step S502). Specifically, transmission request information is transmitted from the communication I / F 415 of the navigation device 400 mounted on the vehicle 301 to the server device 304. Next, the server device 304 transmits the transmission request information received from the vehicle 301 to the vehicle 302 and the vehicle 303 (step S503).

  Next, the vehicle 302 and the vehicle 303 transmit the identification information of the own vehicle and information related to the scheduled time when the own vehicle arrives at the destination to the server device 304 (step S504). Specifically, the identification information and the information related to the scheduled time are transmitted from the communication I / F 415 of the navigation device 400 mounted on the vehicle 302 and the vehicle 303 to the server device 304.

  Next, the server device 304 transmits the identification information received from the vehicle 302 and the vehicle 303 and information related to the scheduled time to the vehicle 301 (step S505). Next, the arrival time information of the other vehicle received from the server device 304 is output to the user in the vehicle 301 (step S506), and the series of processing ends. Specifically, the information is output to the user by the speaker 410 of the navigation device 400 mounted on the vehicle 301 or by the display 413. Further, the output from the speaker 410 and the output from the display 413 may be combined.

  Here, the case where the arrival time information of another vehicle is output to the user via the display 413 in step S506 will be described. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a situation in which the navigation device according to the present embodiment outputs estimated arrival time information of another vehicle on a display. In FIG. 6, the display 413 of the navigation device 400 displays the positions of the vehicle 301, the vehicle 302, and the vehicle 303 on the road image 601 of the route guide map to the destination. The scheduled arrival time is displayed together with the vehicle identification information.

  In the description of FIG. 5, the exchange of information between the vehicle 301, the vehicle 302, and the vehicle 303 has been described as being performed via the server device 304. However, the exchange of these information is performed by the vehicle 301, the vehicle 302, and the vehicle 303. You may do it directly between. In this case, information is directly exchanged with each other by the communication I / F 415 of the navigation device 400 mounted on each of the vehicle 301, the vehicle 302, and the vehicle 303.

  In the description of FIG. 5, the transmission request information is transmitted to the server device 304 after the vehicle 301 arrives at the destination. However, the transmission request information may be transmitted at an arbitrary timing. Further, the transmission request information may be transmitted when the vehicle 301 enters a predetermined range from the destination or when the scheduled required time to the destination is within a predetermined time.

  Further, in the description of FIG. 5, it is described that the information regarding the scheduled time when the vehicle 302 and the vehicle 303 arrive at the destination is transmitted to the navigation device 400 mounted on the vehicle 301, but the information regarding the scheduled time is designated to the user. It may be transmitted to a predetermined information terminal device. The predetermined information terminal device designated by the user is, for example, a mobile phone owned by the user of the vehicle 301 or a personal computer having a data communication function.

  In the description of FIG. 6, the position of the vehicle on the route guide map, the vehicle identification information, and the estimated arrival time of each vehicle are displayed. In addition to this, the name of the current location of each vehicle and the arrival time at the destination are displayed. You may also display the estimated required time.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the navigation device 400 can be used until the other vehicle moving toward the same destination arrives at the destination or until the other vehicle arrives at the destination. It is possible to obtain the estimated required time. In addition, the scheduled time or the required time can be received not by the navigation device 400 but by, for example, a mobile phone owned by a user of the vehicle on which the navigation device 400 is mounted.

  The communication method described in this embodiment can be realized by executing a program prepared in advance on a computer such as a personal computer or a workstation. This program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a hard disk, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, an MO, and a DVD, and is executed by being read from the recording medium by the computer. The program may be a transmission medium that can be distributed via a network such as the Internet.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of a functional structure of the communication apparatus concerning this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the content of the process of the communication apparatus concerning this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary at the time of mounting the navigation apparatus concerning a present Example in a some vehicle. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of the navigation apparatus concerning a present Example. It is a sequence diagram which shows an example of the communication processing procedure of the navigation apparatus concerning a present Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the condition where the navigation apparatus concerning a present Example is outputting the arrival time information of another vehicle by a display.

Explanation of symbols

110, 120 Communication device 111, 122 Reception unit 112 Acquisition unit 113, 121 Transmission unit 123 Output unit 301, 302, 303 Vehicle 304 Server device 400 Navigation device 413 Display

Claims (11)

A communication device mounted on one mobile body among a plurality of mobile bodies moving toward a predetermined destination,
Receiving means for receiving transmission request information for requesting transmission of information on a scheduled time of arrival at the destination from another mobile body different from the one mobile body among the plurality of mobile bodies;
Acquisition means for the one moving body to acquire information on the scheduled time;
Transmitting means for transmitting identification information for identifying the mobile body and information on the scheduled time to the other mobile body;
A communication apparatus comprising: A communication device mounted on one mobile body among a plurality of mobile bodies moving toward a predetermined destination,
Transmitting means for transmitting transmission request information for requesting transmission of information related to a scheduled time at which the other mobile body arrives at the destination to another mobile body different from the one mobile body;
Receiving means for receiving identification information for identifying the other mobile unit transmitted in response to the transmission request information and information on the scheduled time;
Based on the received identification information and information on the scheduled time, output means for outputting a scheduled time at which the other mobile body arrives at the destination;
A communication apparatus comprising:   The communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the transmission unit transmits the transmission request information when the mobile body arrives at the destination.   The information on the scheduled time is information including at least one of scheduled time information arriving at the destination and prediction information necessary for predicting the scheduled time. The communication apparatus according to one.   The prediction information is information on a moving state including information on a scheduled required time until the moving body arrives at the destination, movement speed information on the moving body, and distance information from the current position of the moving body to the destination. The communication apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the communication apparatus includes information including at least one of arrival time information to the destination set in advance. A communication relay apparatus comprising: a communication unit that transmits and receives information to and from a plurality of moving bodies that move toward a predetermined destination; and a control unit that controls the communication unit,
The control means includes
When the communication means receives transmission request information that requests transmission of information related to a scheduled time at which another mobile body different from the one mobile body arrives at the destination from the one mobile body, the transmission Controlling the communication means to transmit request information to the other mobile unit;
When the communication means receives the identification information for identifying the other mobile body transmitted from the other mobile body in response to the transmission request information and the information related to the scheduled time, the identification information and the schedule The communication means controls the communication means to transmit information on time to at least one of the one mobile body and a predetermined information terminal device designated by the user of the one mobile body. Relay device. A communication method in a communication device mounted on one mobile body among a plurality of mobile bodies moving toward a predetermined destination,
A receiving step of receiving transmission request information requesting transmission of information related to a scheduled time of arrival at the destination from another mobile body different from the one mobile body among the plurality of mobile bodies;
An acquisition step in which the one moving body acquires information on the scheduled time;
A transmission step of transmitting identification information for identifying the mobile body and information on the scheduled time to the other mobile body;
A communication method comprising: A communication method in a communication device mounted on one mobile body among a plurality of mobile bodies moving toward a predetermined destination,
A transmission step of transmitting transmission request information for requesting transmission of information related to a scheduled time at which the other mobile body arrives at the destination to another mobile body different from the one mobile body;
A receiving step of receiving identification information for identifying the other mobile unit transmitted in response to the transmission request information and information on the scheduled time;
Based on the received identification information and information on the scheduled time, an output step of outputting a scheduled time at which the other mobile body arrives at the destination;
A communication method comprising: A communication method in a communication relay device that relays information communicated between a plurality of mobile bodies moving toward a predetermined destination,
When the transmission request information indicating that the other mobile unit different from the one mobile unit requests transmission of information related to the scheduled time of arrival at the destination is received from the one mobile unit, the transmission request information is Transmitting to other mobiles;
When the identification information for identifying the other mobile unit transmitted from the other mobile unit according to the transmission request information and the information about the scheduled time are received, the identification information and the information about the scheduled time are Transmitting to at least one of the one mobile body and a predetermined information terminal device designated by the user of the one mobile body;
A communication method comprising:   A communication program that causes a computer to execute the communication method according to claim 7.   A computer-readable recording medium having the communication program according to claim 10 recorded thereon.

Images