JP2008078875A - Broadcast receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To select a channel of a receivable broadcasting station. <P>SOLUTION: Broadcast receiving sensitivity information, representing receiving sensitivity of a receiving broadcasting station at a running spot, accompanying the running of the self-vehicle, is collected and accumulated (S102), and the accumulated broadcast, receiving sensitivity information, is transmitted to an information center 2 (S106). Then, pieces of the transmitted broadcast, receiving sensitivity information, are totaled to update receivable areas by each broadcasting station, and a broadcasting station list is updated by using a broadcasting station list provided from the information center 2 which updates the broadcasting station list, in accordance with the updated receivable areas by each broadcasting station (S302). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a broadcast receiving apparatus that displays a receivable broadcast station at a vehicle position and receives a broadcast of a broadcast station selected from the broadcast stations displayed on the display device.

  Conventionally, there is a navigation device having a broadcast receiving function such as TV and radio. Among such navigation devices, there are devices that display a receivable broadcast station at the position of the vehicle based on a broadcast station list related to broadcast stations in various parts of the country to prompt the user to select a channel.

  However, the navigation device described above receives signals at the own vehicle position based on whether or not the own vehicle is located within the receivable area calculated from the antenna position, output power, antenna height, etc. of the broadcast station included in the broadcast station list. Since possible broadcast stations are displayed, for example, when the vehicle position is not included in the reception area obtained by calculation even if it is actually located in an area where broadcast can be received The station name is not displayed. In this case, there is a problem that the user cannot select a channel for this broadcast station.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to enable selection of a receivable broadcast station channel.

  A first feature of the present invention is that a receivable broadcast station at the own vehicle position is displayed on the display device based on the broadcast station list representing the receivable reception area for each broadcast station and the own vehicle position, and the display device A broadcast receiving device that receives a broadcast of a broadcast station selected from the displayed broadcast stations, and collects broadcast reception sensitivity information indicating the reception sensitivity of the reception broadcast station at the travel point as the vehicle travels. Broadcast reception sensitivity information storage means for storing, broadcast reception sensitivity information transmission means for transmitting broadcast reception sensitivity information stored by the broadcast reception sensitivity information storage means, and broadcast reception sensitivity information transmitted by the broadcast reception sensitivity information transmission means. The broadcast area list provided by the information center that updates the broadcast station list in accordance with the updated coverage area for each broadcast station is updated. A broadcast station list update means for updating the station list, is that with the.

  In such a configuration, the broadcast reception sensitivity information collected as each vehicle travels is aggregated to update the receivable area for each broadcast station, and the broadcast station list is updated according to the updated receivable area for each broadcast station. Since the broadcast station list is updated using the broadcast station list provided from the information center to be updated, the broadcast station names of receivable broadcast stations are displayed, and the receivable broadcast station channels can be selected.

  A configuration of a broadcast receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. This broadcast receiving apparatus is configured as a navigation apparatus 1. The navigation device 1 includes a position detector 10, a map data input device 11, an FM / AM tuner 12, a TV tuner 13, a display device 14, an audio output device 15, a transceiver 16 and a control circuit 17.

  The position detector 10 has sensors (all not shown) such as known geomagnetic sensors, gyroscopes, distance sensors, and GPS receivers, and specifies the current position detected by these sensors. Is output to the control circuit 17.

  The map data input unit 11 is a so-called map matching data or map data for improving the accuracy of position detection stored in the map data storage medium from a map data storage medium (not shown) in which the map data is stored. And various data including landmark data. The map data input unit 11 includes a hard disk drive and a DVD drive. The map data stored in the hard disk drive is updated by mounting a map disk storing the latest map data in the DVD drive. It is possible. The hard disk drive stores a broadcast station list to be described later.

  The FM / AM tuner 12 receives a broadcast from an FM radio or an AM radio broadcasting station according to a control signal from the control circuit 17 and outputs an audio signal to the control circuit 17. The FM / AM tuner 12 can also receive VICS information provided using FM multiplex broadcasting. The FM / AM tuner 12 has a function of detecting the reception sensitivity of the reception channel.

  The TV tuner 13 receives a broadcast from a TV broadcast station in response to a control signal from the control circuit 17 and outputs a video signal and an audio signal to the control circuit 17.

  The FM / AM tuner 12 and the TV tuner 13 in this embodiment each have a function of detecting the reception sensitivity of the reception channel.

  The display device 14 includes a display capable of color display such as liquid crystal and organic EL, and displays a video corresponding to a video signal input from the control device 17 on the display.

  The audio output device 15 includes a speaker that outputs audio, and outputs audio corresponding to the audio signal input from the control device 17 from the speaker.

  The transceiver 16 is a device for data communication with the information center 2 via a wireless communication network. The transceiver 16 may be configured as a data communication module incorporated in the navigation device 1 or may be configured using a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone.

  The control circuit 17 is configured as a computer including a CPU, a memory, an I / O, and the like, and the CPU performs various processes according to a program stored in the memory.

  As processing of the control circuit 17, a vehicle position calculation process for calculating the vehicle position, traveling direction and traveling speed based on a signal input from the position detector 10, and a map around the vehicle position from the map data input device 11. There is a map display process for reading data and displaying a vehicle position mark on a map around the vehicle position.

  The information center 2 has a database (not shown) that stores various data including the latest map data, and creates the latest map disk based on the various data stored in the database.

  The control circuit 17 in the present embodiment collects broadcast reception sensitivity information indicating the reception availability status of the receiving broadcast station at the travel point as the vehicle travels, accumulates it in the memory, and transmits the broadcast reception sensitivity information to the information center 2. Perform the process.

  Next, this process will be described with reference to FIG. When the ignition switch is turned on, the navigation device 1 is in an operating state, and the control circuit 17 starts various processes such as a vehicle position calculation process and a map display process. When the user performs an operation for receiving a broadcast by the FM / AM tuner 12 or the TV tuner 13, the control circuit 17 starts the process shown in FIG.

  First, the vehicle position, the traveling direction, and the traveling speed are specified (S100). Specifically, the host vehicle position, the traveling direction, and the traveling speed calculated by the host vehicle position calculating process are acquired.

  Next, broadcast reception sensitivity information is accumulated (S102). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, a broadcast including a receiving broadcast station (channel, frequency), reception sensitivity, reception point (latitude and longitude), date and time, traveling direction (traveling direction), and moving speed (traveling speed). Receive sensitivity information is stored in a memory.

  Next, it is determined whether it is a transmission timing (S104). In this embodiment, it is determined whether it is a transmission timing based on whether or not an operation for transmitting broadcast reception sensitivity information has been performed by the user.

  When the operation for transmitting the broadcast reception sensitivity information is not performed by the user, the determination in S104 is NO and the process returns to S100. Therefore, broadcast reception sensitivity information is accumulated in the memory as the vehicle travels.

  If the user performs an operation for transmitting broadcast reception sensitivity information, the determination in S104 is YES, and then the broadcast reception sensitivity information is read from the memory and transmitted to the information center 2 (S106). Return to.

  In this way, broadcast reception sensitivity information collected as each vehicle travels is transmitted to the information center 2.

  When receiving the broadcast reception sensitivity information transmitted from each vehicle, the information center 2 in the present embodiment aggregates the received broadcast reception sensitivity information to update the receivable area for each broadcast station, and for each updated broadcast station. The broadcast station list is updated according to the receivable area.

  Next, this process will be described with reference to FIG. The information center 2 first determines whether or not broadcast reception sensitivity information has been received (S200).

  When broadcast reception sensitivity information is not received, the determination in S200 is NO, and the determination in S200 is repeated.

  If broadcast reception sensitivity information is received, the determination in S200 is YES, and then the broadcast reception sensitivity information is totaled (S202). More specifically, the received broadcast reception sensitivity information is stored in the database, and on the basis of the received broadcast reception sensitivity information, for each received broadcast station, a point (receivable point), a traveling direction, as shown in FIG. The data that summarizes the moving speed is stored in the database.

  In the present embodiment, when broadcast reception sensitivity information is received from a plurality of vehicles and it is determined that a plurality of similar information related to a new receivable point is collected based on the broadcast reception sensitivity information, FIG. The data shown in is updated. In this way, for example, it is possible to prevent the data shown in FIG. 5 from being updated only when information regarding a new receivable point is collected by a certain vehicle because of favorable conditions.

  The receivable point is represented as an area where the reception sensitivity included in the broadcast reception sensitivity information is equal to or higher than a predetermined reference level.

  Next, a new reception sensitivity area is defined (S204). As shown on the left side of FIG. 6, when area E2 is added to the current reception sensitivity area E1 as a new receivable point by the summation of S202, a new one is obtained by the summation of S202 as shown on the right side of FIG. An area E3 including an area E2 added as a receivable point is added to the current reception sensitivity area E1 to define a new reception sensitivity area. In this way, a new reception sensitivity area (a new receivable area) wider than that in the past is defined based on data obtained by collecting broadcast reception sensitivity information.

  Next, it is reflected in the broadcast station list (S206). As shown in FIG. 7, the broadcast station list includes an area name (for example, Aichi), a broadcast station name (for example, Tokai Television Broadcasting), a location name (for example, Nagoya), a frequency (xx megahertz), and an output (x X kilowatt), antenna position (latitude and longitude), area (receivable area), and antenna height (xx meters).

  Next, the map data is updated (S208). Specifically, the map data in the database is updated to the latest map data, and the broadcast station list in the database is updated with the latest broadcast station list updated in S206.

  Next, the latest map disc including a new broadcast station list is created (S210). Specifically, the latest map disk is created using the latest map data and the latest broadcast station list stored in the database, and this process is terminated.

  The navigation device 1 according to the present embodiment performs map data update processing using the latest map disk created by the above processing. Next, map data update processing will be described with reference to FIG. When the latest map disk is loaded into the disk drive by the user, the control circuit 17 reads the program stored in the latest map disk and starts the process shown in FIG.

  First, the map data stored in the map data storage medium is updated using the latest map data stored in the latest map disk (S300).

  Next, the broadcast station list is updated (S302). Specifically, the broadcast station list stored in the map data storage medium is updated to the latest using the latest broadcast station list stored in the latest map disk, and this process ends.

  The navigation device 1 performs broadcast reception processing for receiving broadcasts from receivable broadcast stations using the latest broadcast station list. Next, the broadcast reception process will be described with reference to FIG. When an operation for receiving a broadcast by the FM / AM tuner 12 or the TV tuner 13 is performed by the user, the control circuit 17 starts the processing shown in FIG.

  First, the host vehicle position calculated by the host vehicle position calculation process is acquired to identify the host vehicle position (S400).

  Next, the broadcast station list is referred to (S402). The latest broadcast station list stored in the map data storage medium is referred to.

  Next, the receivable broadcasting stations are displayed (S404). Specifically, based on the broadcast station list and the own vehicle position, the receivable broadcast stations at the own vehicle position are displayed on the display device 14 so as to be selectable.

  Next, the broadcast of the broadcast station selected by the user's operation is received (S406). Specifically, the reception channel is set to the channel selected by the user's operation, and this process is terminated. Thereby, it will be in the receiving state which receives the broadcast of the set receiving channel.

  According to the configuration described above, the broadcast reception sensitivity information collected as each vehicle travels is aggregated to update the receivable area for each broadcast station, and the broadcast station list is updated according to the updated receivable area for each broadcast station. Since the broadcast station list is updated by using the broadcast station list provided from the information center that updates the broadcast station name of the receivable broadcast station, the channel of the receivable broadcast station can be selected. . Therefore, even if it is actually located in a receivable area where the broadcast can be received, it is possible to eliminate the situation where the broadcast station name cannot be displayed and the channel cannot be selected.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Based on the meaning of this invention, it can implement with a various form.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which a broadcast receiving device is configured by a navigation device having a broadcast receiving function has been described. For example, the broadcast receiving device is connected to the navigation device and can be operated by an operation screen of the navigation device. May be.

  In the above embodiment, in S102, broadcast reception including a receiving broadcast station (channel, frequency), reception sensitivity, reception point (latitude and longitude), date time, traveling direction (traveling direction), and moving speed (traveling speed) is received. In the above example, the sensitivity information is collected and transmitted to the information center 2. Further, the weather condition (rain presence / absence, wind speed, temperature, humidity) at the time of collection is collected and transmitted to the information center 2. Also good. In this way, by collecting and transmitting various conditions at the time of collecting broadcast reception sensitivity, the information center 2 grasps how the receivable area changes under what conditions, and more It is possible to accurately reflect the receivable area in the broadcast station list.

  Moreover, although the example which updates the newest broadcast station list using the newest map disc produced by the information center 2 was shown in the said embodiment, for example, the newest broadcast station list via communication from the information center 2 was shown. May be obtained to update the broadcast station list.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which it is determined whether or not it is a transmission timing based on whether or not an operation for transmitting broadcast reception sensitivity information has been performed by the user in S104 has been described. For example, the transmission timing may be determined based on whether or not a predetermined period has passed.

  The correspondence relationship between the configuration in the above embodiment and the configuration of the claims will be described. S102 corresponds to broadcast reception sensitivity information storage means, S106 corresponds to broadcast reception sensitivity information transmission means, and S302 corresponds to a broadcast station. This corresponds to list update means.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the broadcast receiver which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process which collects the broadcast reception sensitivity information in a travel point with the driving | running | working of the own vehicle, and accumulate | stores it in memory. It is a figure for demonstrating broadcast reception sensitivity information. It is a flowchart which shows the process which updates a broadcast station list. It is a figure for demonstrating the data totaled for every receiving broadcasting station in the information center. It is a figure for demonstrating the definition of a receiving sensitivity area. It is a figure for demonstrating a broadcast station list. It is a flowchart which shows a map data update process. It is a flowchart which shows a broadcast reception process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Navigation apparatus, 2 ... Information center, 10 ... Position detector,
11 ... Map data input device, 12 ... FM / AM tuner, 13 ... TV tuner,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 ... Display apparatus, 15 ... Audio | voice output apparatus, 16 ... Transmitter / receiver, 17 ... Control circuit.

Claims (1)

Based on the broadcast station list representing the receivable reception area for each broadcast station and the own vehicle position, the receivable broadcast stations at the own vehicle position are displayed on the display device and selected from the broadcast stations displayed on the display device. A broadcast receiving device for receiving broadcasts from broadcast stations,
Broadcast reception sensitivity information accumulating means for collecting and accumulating broadcast reception sensitivity information representing the reception sensitivity of the reception broadcast station at the travel point as the vehicle travels;
Broadcast reception sensitivity information transmission means for transmitting the broadcast reception sensitivity information stored by the broadcast reception sensitivity information storage means;
The broadcast reception sensitivity information transmitted by the broadcast reception sensitivity information transmission means is aggregated to update the receivable area for each broadcast station, and the broadcast station list is updated according to the updated receivable area for each broadcast station. And a broadcasting station list updating means for updating the broadcasting station list using the broadcasting station list provided from the information center.

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