JP2008109705A - Information communication equipment for traveling body - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To transmit and receive information by preventing interference without causing increase in facility load, even when a plurality of transmission spots of vehicles exit closely. <P>SOLUTION: A transmission vehicle A transmits information with a frequency f1 set by a grid G1. A transmission vehicle B transmits information with a second frequency f2 set by a grid G2. A reception vehicle M receives information with the frequency set, by the grid selected by a user from among the grids G1 and G2. For example, when a transmission frequency is set to the frequency of the grid G2, the reception vehicle M receives the information transmitted from the transmission vehicle A. The channel for transmission and reception is set for every grid; and even when information is transmitted from the plurality of transmission and reception vehicles, interference does not occur. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information communication apparatus for a mobile unit that communicates various information such as traffic conditions and weather between vehicles and vehicles, between vehicles and electronic signs, and between vehicles and centers.

  Examples of information communication devices for mobile bodies such as vehicles include a traffic jam information detection device, a traffic jam information system, and a traffic jam information reception display device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-259387. The purpose of this is to easily detect traffic jam information without providing any facilities on the road side. FIG. 15 shows an outline thereof, and the vehicle 1 is provided with a traffic jam information detection device 2 and a traffic jam information reception display device 3. The traffic jam information detection device 2 detects the current position of the own vehicle every moment by GPS navigation or the like. And every time it passes through the preset travel section, the time required for the travel section is obtained by itself. This required time is transmitted to the traffic information center 4 by radio together with the identification number of the traveling section that has passed.

  The traffic information center 4 receives and accumulates the travel section identification number and its required time transmitted from each vehicle 1 by radio. And the latest required time for every driving | running | working area is transmitted to the surrounding vehicle 1 on radio. The traffic jam information reception display device 3 mounted on each vehicle 1 receives information transmitted from the traffic information center 4. Then, the required time corresponding to the travel section designated by the driver or the like is selected and displayed.

  However, in the background art as described above, when the locations where vehicles transmit are dense, if the vehicles transmit at the same time, radio waves will cause interference, and the traffic information center will collect information well. I can't. In order to avoid this, even if a different communication channel (communication line) is assigned to each vehicle, a considerable burden is imposed on the communication equipment in the traffic information center 4. In the background art, communication is performed between the vehicle and the center. However, depending on the content of information, it may be more convenient to perform direct communication between the vehicle and the vehicle. In such a case, the receiving vehicle cannot keep up with its communication equipment burden.

  The present invention pays attention to the above points, and is to transmit / receive information without causing interference even when transmission points of a plurality of vehicles are concentrated. Another object is to perform transmission / reception of information without causing an increase in communication facility burden.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention sets a position information measuring means for measuring position information of a moving body and a communication channel for receiving information transmitted by a vehicle surrounding the moving body, and the setting is performed. Information receiving means for receiving the transmitted information using a communication channel, wherein the information receiving means uses the measurement result to enter an intersection or When it is determined that the mobile body has passed through a preset position for each lane of the entering road, the communication channel is set to a preset communication channel for the road entering the intersection or the lane of the entering road. It is characterized by doing.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, a position information measuring unit that measures position information of a moving body and a communication channel for receiving information transmitted by a vehicle around the moving body are set, and the set communication channel is used. A mobile information communication device comprising: an information receiving unit configured to receive the transmitted information, wherein the information receiving unit uses the measurement result and the position of the mobile unit enters an intersection. Alternatively, when it is determined that the distance is less than a predetermined distance from a preset position for each lane of the approaching road, the communication channel is set to a preset communication channel for the road entering the intersection or the lane of the approaching road. It is characterized by doing.

The main forms of the present invention include the following.
(1) Position information measuring means for measuring position information of a moving body; channel setting means for setting a communication channel for information transmission using the measurement result obtained by this; information using the communication channel set thereby A mobile information communication device comprising: an information transmitting means for transmitting.
(2) Position information measuring means for measuring the position information of the moving body; channel setting means for setting a communication channel for information reception using the measurement result obtained therefrom; using the communication channel set thereby, An information communication device for a mobile body, comprising: an information receiving means for receiving information transmitted from the mobile information communication device according to (1).
(3) Channel setting means for setting a communication channel for receiving information; information receiving means for receiving information transmitted from the mobile information communication apparatus of (1) using the communication channel set thereby. A mobile information communication device.
(4) The mobile information communication device according to (2) or (3), wherein the channel setting means sets the communication channel by sequentially switching.
(5) The channel setting means performs channel setting by selecting a corresponding one of communication channels assigned corresponding to a specific point set in advance. (4) The mobile information communication device according to any one of (4).
(6) The channel setting means performs channel setting by selecting a corresponding one of communication channels assigned corresponding to roads or lanes. ) Any one of the mobile information communication devices.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

  According to the present invention, since the communication channel is set according to the position information such as the specific point and the lane, the information is received without causing interference even when the transmission points of a plurality of mobile objects are crowded. be able to. In addition, as compared with the case where a communication channel is set for each mobile unit, information can be transmitted and received without causing an increase in communication facility burden.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail based on examples.

  First, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described in detail. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to vehicle-to-vehicle communication. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, it is assumed that transmitting vehicles that transmit information in a certain area are A and B, and that a receiving vehicle that receives information is M. When the transmission vehicle A enters a certain range centered on the grid G1 (point coordinates X1, Y1), which is a specific point set on the road R1, passes through the grid, or approaches a certain distance to the grid, Send or send information. The transmitting vehicle B enters a certain range centered on the grid G2 (point coordinates X2, Y2), which is a specific point set on the road R2, passes the grid, or approaches the grid by a certain distance. And send or send information. The transmission frequency at this time is a value set for each grid G1, G2. As the transmitted information, for example, vehicle position information is applicable. The receiving vehicle M is traveling on the road R3.

  FIG. 3 shows a state when information is received in the receiving vehicle M. The transmitting vehicle A transmits information at the frequency f1 set in the grid G1. The transmitting vehicle B transmits information at the frequency f2 set in the grid G2. In the example shown in the figure, the receiving vehicle M can receive both signals of the frequencies f1 and f2. The receiving vehicle M sets the receiving means to the frequency set in the grid selected by the user among the approaching grids G1 and G2. For example, if it is set to the frequency of the grid G1, the receiving vehicle M receives the vehicle position information of the transmitting vehicle A. The received position of the transmission vehicle A is displayed together with a map on the display device of the navigation system, for example. As described above, since the transmission / reception frequency, that is, the communication channel is set for each grid, even if information is transmitted from a plurality of transmission vehicles, the information can be received without causing interference.

  Next, the configuration of the mobile information communication apparatus according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The information communication apparatus 10 is configured with a transmission / reception control unit 11 as a center. The information communication apparatus 10 also includes a transmission unit 12 that transmits radio waves and a reception unit 14 that receives radio waves. Each of the transmission unit 12 and the reception unit 14 includes frequency setting units 12A and 14A. In addition, a memory 16 is provided, and the memory 16 stores a frequency setting table 16A. Further, the apparatus 10 is provided with a map database 17. The map database 17 is for displaying a map on the display unit 18. Furthermore, a position measuring unit 20 and an input unit 22 are also provided. The transmitter 12 is, for example, an SS (spread spectrum communication system) radio device or other known transmitters.

  Among the above-described units, the transmission / reception control unit 11 is configured by, for example, a CPU, and has a function of performing transmission / reception and other controls based on on / off of a transmission flag FGS, a reception flag FGR, and a grid setting flag FGG, which will be described later. Yes. The transmission frequency of the transmission unit 12 can be changed and set by the frequency setting unit 12A, and the reception frequency of the reception unit 14 can be changed and set by the frequency setting unit 14A. In this embodiment, the transmission frequency and the reception frequency can be set separately and independently, but the configuration can be simplified by changing both to the same frequency (the communication channel is the same for transmission and reception). May be used.

  The memory 16 stores a program of a control operation executed by the transmission / reception control unit 11, and a work area necessary for the control operation is also secured. As shown in FIG. 4, the frequency setting table 16A of the memory 16 is a table in which point coordinates of a large number of grids G1, G2, G3,. The map database 17 is configured by, for example, a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM as is known in navigation devices. The position measurement unit 20 has a function of measuring the own vehicle position by a method such as a GPS method or a self-contained navigation. The input unit 22 is configured with appropriate buttons such as a button switch, a touch panel, a remote control switch, a joystick, and a microphone (voice input) of the display unit 18.

  Note that the position measuring unit 20 and the map database 17 generally constitute a navigation device, and the information communication device 10 according to this embodiment can be incorporated as a part of the navigation device. The configuration shown in FIG. 1 is common to the transmitting vehicle and the receiving vehicle.

  Next, the overall operation of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 shows a main part of each of the transmitting vehicle and the receiving vehicle among the information communication devices in the transmitting vehicle and the receiving vehicle. In addition, among the configurations common to both, reference numeral S is assigned to each part on the transmitting vehicle side, and reference numeral R is assigned to each part on the receiving vehicle side. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, it is assumed that the transmitting vehicles A and B are traveling toward the grids G1 and G2, respectively, and the receiving vehicle M is approaching the grids G1 and G2. The point coordinates and transmission / reception frequencies of the grids G1 and G2 are stored in the frequency setting table 16A as shown in FIG.

  First, the process in which the transmitting vehicles A and B transmit information will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In each vehicle, the position of the vehicle is measured by the position measuring unit 20 as needed. In the transmission vehicles A and B, the user (driver) sets information transmission using the display unit 18S and the input unit 22S, and the transmission flag FGS of the transmission / reception control unit 11S is turned on (step S10). . Then, the transmission / reception control unit 11S of the transmission vehicles A and B compares the own vehicle position measured by the position measurement unit 20S, the point coordinates of the frequency setting table 16AS, and the vehicle surrounding map read from the map database 17S. (Step S12).

  Then, it is determined whether or not a grid exists within a radius L centered on the vehicle position (or whether or not there is a grid within a distance L in the vehicle traveling direction from the vehicle position) (step S14). As a result, when a grid exists, the frequency corresponding to the grid is read from the frequency setting table 16AS (step S16). For example, since the position of the grid G1 in FIG. 2 is (X1, Y1), the frequency f1 is read as shown in FIG. Further, since the position of the grid G2 is (X2, Y2), the transmission frequency f2 is read out. The same applies to the other grids.

  The transmission / reception control unit 11S sets the transmission frequency to the frequency of the corresponding grid by the frequency setting unit 12AS of the transmission unit 12S. In the example of FIG. 2, in the transmission vehicle A, the transmission frequency is set to the frequency f1 of the grid G1. In the transmission vehicle B, the transmission frequency is set to the frequency f2 of the grid G2. And vehicle position information is transmitted thru | or transmitted from the transmission part 12S by this set transmission frequency (step S18). That is, in the transmission vehicle A, the own vehicle position information is transmitted at the frequency f1, and in the transmission vehicle B, the own vehicle position information is transmitted at the frequency f2. Thereafter, the transmission flag FGS is turned off (step S19).

  Next, a process in which the receiving vehicle M receives information will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. On the receiving vehicle side, when the user (driver) selects the grid setting menu, the grid setting flag FGG of the transmission / reception control unit 11R is turned on (step S20). Then, the transmission / reception control unit 11R displays the grid G1, G2, and the grid setting pointer P together with the vehicle position M and the surrounding map on the display unit 18 (step S22). FIG. 16 shows an example of this display. In the example of the grid setting pointer P shown in the figure, it is a cross-shaped pointer. Then, the user moves the screen of the display unit 18R by operating a joystick or the like as the input unit 22R, and designates a grid that requires information (step S24). For example, when the pointer P is moved to or near the grid G1 and a confirmation button (not shown) of the input unit 22R is pressed, the grid G1 is set as an information acquisition grid.

  In the transmission / reception control unit 11R, the frequency setting table 16AR is referred to, and the transmission / reception frequency f1 of the determined grid G1 is read (step S26). Then, the transmission / reception control unit 11R sets the reception frequency to the frequency f1 of the corresponding grid G1 by the frequency setting unit 14AR of the reception unit 14R (step S28). Thereafter, in the transmission / reception control unit 11R, the reception flag FGR is set to ON (step S30), and the grid setting flag FGG is set to OFF (step S32).

  Next, in the receiving vehicle M, an information reception processing routine shown in FIG. 8 is executed. That is, information is received by the receiving unit 14R while the reception flag FGR is on (step S36). In the example described above, since the reception frequency is set to f1, the information transmitted from the transmission vehicle A, that is, the vehicle position of the transmission vehicle A is received (step S37). The received information is displayed on the display unit 18R (step S38). FIG. 9 shows an example of such display. Thus, the position of the transmitting vehicle A is displayed together with the receiving vehicle M.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, the transmission frequency of the transmission vehicle, that is, the communication channel is set for each grid. And the receiving frequency of a receiving vehicle is set corresponding to the grid which requires information acquisition by a user. For this reason, even if there are simultaneous transmissions from a plurality of grid areas, since the frequencies are different, information can be received well without causing interference. According to the example of FIG. 3, even if the transmitting vehicles A and B transmit information at the same time, the transmission frequency is f1 and the other is f2. Can be received. Moreover, it is not necessary to set a frequency for each transmission vehicle, and the information communication apparatus 10 can be realized with a simple configuration. The same is true when there is an information communication device such as a center or an electronic sign at the position of the receiving vehicle M.

  Modification of Embodiment 1 In the above embodiment, the position information is transmitted from the transmitting vehicle, but any information may be transmitted. For example, information indicating ON / OFF of the wiper, passage time information at a specific point, brake operation frequency information, and traveling speed information may be used. Moreover, in the said form, although transfer of the information between vehicles was handled, you may make it receive information with an electronic sign or an information center instead of a receiving vehicle. For example, an electronic sign or a center receives wiper on / off information to judge and display the weather, and judges and displays traffic congestion by statistical processing from brake operation frequency information and travel speed information.

  Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described. In the said form, although the frequency in a transmission vehicle was set for every grid, in this form, it is set for every road or lane. In addition, information from a large number of transmission vehicles is received by changing the frequency in a time-sharing manner.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 10, it is assumed that a plurality of transmitting vehicles C to G and a receiving vehicle N are about to enter an intersection 50 that is one of specific points. When the transmitting vehicles C to G approach the intersection 50, the transmitting vehicles C to G transmit their own vehicle position information at frequencies fc to fg respectively set in the traveling lane. On the other hand, when the receiving vehicle N approaches the intersection 50, the receiving vehicle N sequentially switches the reception frequency to the frequency set for each lane at regular time intervals. For example, fc is first, fd is next, fe is next, and so on. By doing in this way, the positional information transmitted from each transmission vehicle C-G of a driving lane is received sequentially in a time division manner. And each vehicle is displayed on the map of the intersection 50 based on these received information. As a result, the position of the vehicle entering the intersection 50 is determined.

  The above operation will be described in more detail. FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of the position information transmission processing routine. In the transmission vehicles C to G, the transmission flag is turned on in the same manner as described above (step S10), and the vehicle position and its surrounding map are compared (step S42). Next, the transmission / reception control unit 11S determines whether or not it has passed through a preset position (grid) (step S44). As the preset position, for example, an appropriate position before entering the intersection 50 is set. Note that it may be determined whether the distance between the intersection 50 and the transmission vehicles C to G is equal to or less than a preset distance.

  Next, when the vehicle has passed the grid or is less than or equal to the predetermined distance from the intersection 50, the transmission / reception control unit 11S determines the lane in which the transmission vehicles C to G are traveling (step S46). This determination is made by comparing the map data in the map database 17S and the vehicle position by the position measurement unit 20S. Alternatively, the determination may be made by another known lane recognition device (for example, a device that recognizes a traveling lane by processing an image obtained by imaging a road surface). Thereafter, the transmission / reception control unit 11S refers to the frequency setting table 16AS and reads the corresponding frequency (step S48).

  FIG. 12 shows an example of the frequency setting table 16AS in the present embodiment. This example corresponds to the intersection in FIG. 10 described above. In FIG. 12, the approach source roads with respect to the intersection 50 are Ra to Rd. Among these, the roads Ra and Rc are one-lane roads, and Rb and Rd are two-lane roads. The number in the lane column is given in the order of the intersection approach lane viewed counterclockwise with the intersection 50 as the center, for example. For example, the lane of the receiving vehicle N is the lane 2 of the road Rb, and the transmission / reception frequency is f3. In each of the transmission vehicles C to G, the own vehicle position information is transmitted at the frequency read in this way (step S50).

  Next, the positional information reception processing routine will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Similarly to FIG. 11, the reception flag FGR of the transmission / reception control unit 11R is turned on when the reception vehicle N passes through a preset position (grid) (step S60). Then, a counter is set for the number of lanes entering the intersection 50 (step S62), and the transmission / reception frequencies of the corresponding lanes are read from the table 16R in an appropriate order, for example, in the clockwise order around the own vehicle (step S64). Then, the frequency setting unit 14AR sequentially changes the reception frequency of the reception unit 14R (step S66), and sequentially receives information from each transmission vehicle at regular time intervals (steps S68 and S70).

  The received positions of the transmission vehicles C to G are displayed on the display unit 18R of the reception vehicle N. For example, FIG. 14 is an example of such a display. In this example, not only the position information of each of the transmission vehicles C to G but also the speed information is received, and these are also displayed together.

  The present invention has many embodiments, and various modifications can be made based on the above disclosure. For example, the following are included.

  (1) In the above embodiment, the communication channel is changed by changing the frequency according to the grid or lane, but other than the frequency, for example, any combination of phase, amplitude, or frequency / phase / amplitude, etc. Any communication method may be used as long as a communication channel in which interference does not occur can be set. The present invention can also be applied without distinction between digital and analog.

  (2) As the information to be transmitted / received, in the above embodiment, the position of the transmitting vehicle, the information indicating the wiper on / off, the passing time information of a specific point, the brake operation frequency information, the traveling speed information, etc. are mentioned, It can be applied to various information such as temperature and pressure.

  (3) In the above embodiment, the information obtained from the moving body is displayed on the receiving side. However, appropriate output such as voice output or printout may be performed as necessary.

  (4) The present invention device may be included in the navigation system. Moreover, in the said form, although this invention was applied to the vehicle as a mobile body, it is applicable to other various mobile bodies.

  (5) In the first embodiment, it has been described that a vehicle that has approached the grid a certain distance (or has passed through the grid) transmits position information and the like on a channel (frequency) corresponding to the grid (see FIG. 6). ), When a plurality of vehicles approach the same grid (or pass through the same grid), there is a risk of interference. Therefore, a vehicle approaching a certain distance to the grid determines whether or not surrounding vehicles are transmitting on the same channel before transmitting the vehicle position on the channel corresponding to the grid. Wait for the transmission to finish before performing its own transmission. That is, step S15 for determining whether or not the surrounding vehicle is transmitting at the same frequency is provided between step S16 and step S14 in FIG.

  FIG. 17 is obtained by adding step S15 to FIG. If it is determined in the same step that the transmission is in progress, the process proceeds to step S16 (Yes in step S15). On the other hand, if it is determined that the transmission is not in progress, the processes in and after step S16 are performed until the transmission of the surrounding vehicles is completed. It waits without performing (No in step S15).

  In addition, the judgment whether the surrounding vehicle is transmitting on the same channel is performed by automatically setting the frequency corresponding to the grid as the reception frequency when approaching a certain distance to the grid (or passing through the grid). It can be carried out. That is, when information from another vehicle is received at the set reception frequency, it is determined that the surrounding vehicle is transmitting at the same frequency. As described above, when the neighboring vehicles are transmitting at the same frequency in step S15, waiting for the completion of the transmission to transmit the position information and the like will not cause interference.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the information communication apparatus of this invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the frequency setting table in the said embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the main action elements of a transmission vehicle and a receiving vehicle. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an information transmission processing routine in the first embodiment. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a grid setting processing routine in the first embodiment. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an information reception processing routine according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a receiving vehicle in the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the effect | action of Embodiment 2. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an information transmission processing routine in the second embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the frequency setting table in Embodiment 2. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an information reception processing routine according to the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a receiving vehicle in the second embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of background art. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation in the first embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the main operation | movement of another form.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Information communication apparatus 11 ... Transmission / reception control part 12 ... Transmission part 12A ... Frequency setting part 14 ... Reception part 14A ... Frequency setting part 16 ... Memory 16A ... Frequency setting table 17 ... Map database 18 ... Display part 20 ... Position measurement part 22 ... Input unit 50 ... Intersections A to G ... Transmission vehicle FGG ... Grid setting flag FGR ... Reception flag FGS ... Transmission flags G1, G2 ... Grid M, N ... Reception vehicle P ... Grid setting pointers Ra-Rd ... Entry road R1- R3 ... Road X1, X2 ... Point coordinates

Claims (10)

Position information measuring means for measuring position information of the moving body;
Information receiving means for setting a communication channel for receiving information transmitted by a vehicle around the mobile body, and receiving the transmitted information using the set communication channel;
In an information communication device for a mobile body comprising:
The information receiving means includes
When it is determined using the measurement result that the mobile body has passed through a road entering the intersection or a preset position for each lane of the entering road, the road or the approach entering the intersection through the communication channel A mobile information communication device, wherein a communication channel set in advance is set for each lane of a road to be operated. Position information measuring means for measuring position information of the moving body;
Information receiving means for setting a communication channel for receiving information transmitted by a vehicle around the mobile body and receiving the transmitted information using the set communication channel;
In an information communication device for a mobile body comprising:
The information receiving means includes
When it is determined using the measurement result that the position of the moving body is equal to or less than a predetermined distance from a road that enters the intersection or a preset position for each lane of the road that enters the intersection, the communication channel is set to the intersection. An information communication device for a moving body, which is set to a communication channel set in advance for each road entering the road or each lane of the road entering the road.   The information receiving means reads a communication channel from a frequency setting table in which a preset position for each road or lane of the intersection and a communication channel corresponding to the preset position are set, and the read communication channel The mobile information communication device according to claim 1, wherein the transmitted information is received using a mobile phone.   The mobile information communication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the information receiving means sequentially sets communication channels.   The mobile body according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the information receiving means sequentially switches to a communication channel set in advance for each road or lane of an intersection where the mobile body enters at regular time intervals. Information communication device. The preset position is set on a map database,
The information receiving means compares the measurement result with the preset position, and the moving body passes the preset position, or the position of the moving body is a predetermined distance from the preset position. It is judged whether it became the following, The information communication apparatus for mobile bodies in any one of Claims 1-5 characterized by the above-mentioned.   The mobile information communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an information output unit that outputs information received by the information receiving unit.   8. The mobile unit according to claim 1, further comprising an information transmission unit that transmits information using the set communication channel using a measurement result of the position information measurement unit. Information communication device.   The information transmitting means determines whether or not the surrounding vehicle is transmitting information on the same transmission channel when the moving body approaches the intersection. 9. The information communication apparatus for a mobile unit according to claim 8, wherein information is transmitted after waiting for the end.   The information transmitted / received by the information receiving means or the information transmitting means is at least one of position information, speed information, passage information at a specific point, brake operation frequency information, and wiper on / off information on the transmitting side. The mobile information communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

Images