JP2012256277A - Communication destination identification server and communication target identification system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable acquisition of information from a certain communication destination.SOLUTION: A communication destination identification server receives position identification data including a position of a communication object device 200, an acquisition date and time of the position, and unique identification information for identifying the communication object device 200 to store identification information of the communication object device 200 and hold provided information from the communication object device 200. Further, after receiving a request signal including a retrieval position and date and time as retrieval conditions, the stored identification information is retrieved under the retrieval conditions included in the request signal to identify the communication object device 200 that is communicable and satisfies the retrieval conditions. Then, the provided information related to the identified communication object device 200 is sent to a communication destination designation device 100 which has sent the request signal.

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication destination specifying technique for specifying a communication target device that performs communication.

  Patent Document 1 describes a technology in which information is transmitted and received between vehicles by communicating between a vehicle and a vehicle based on a predetermined communication method.

JP 2010-259103 A

In the above prior art, each vehicle has a specification necessary for communication with the other party (other vehicle) that is trying to communicate, such as each other's communication means and address, and what information it has in advance. I need to know. For this reason, when the communication means and acquisition information in any vehicle are changed, there is a possibility that necessary information cannot be acquired from another vehicle.
The present invention has been made by paying attention to the above points, and has an object of making it possible to acquire information from a specific communication destination.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, according to one aspect of the present invention, a communication target device receives position specifying data including a position of a communication target device, an acquisition date and time of the position, and unique identification information that specifies the communication target device. Specific information is stored, and provided information from the communication target device is held. And when the request signal including the search position and date and time as a search condition is received, the stored specific information is searched with the search condition included in the request signal, and a communicable communication target device that satisfies the search condition is specified. The provision information relating to the identified communication target device is transmitted to the communication destination designating device that has transmitted the request signal.

  According to the present invention, the communication destination specifying server specifies the communication target device corresponding to this condition based on the search position specified from the communication destination specifying device and the specified date and time for determining the search position. The information provided from is transmitted to the communication destination designation device. As a result, the communication destination designation device can acquire the provision information provided by the communication target device through the communication destination specifying server.

It is a figure explaining the system configuration | structure which concerns on embodiment based on this invention. It is a figure explaining the process of the communication destination designation | designated apparatus which concerns on embodiment based on this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a communication destination designation | designated screen which concerns on embodiment based on this invention. It is a figure explaining the process of the communication destination specific server which concerns on embodiment based on this invention. It is a figure explaining the system configuration | structure which concerns on 2nd Embodiment based on this invention. It is a figure explaining the process of the communication destination designation | designated apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment based on this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a communication destination designation | designated screen which concerns on 2nd Embodiment based on this invention. It is a figure explaining the process (at the time of a communication destination candidate list information acquisition request) of the communication destination specific server which concerns on 2nd Embodiment based on this invention. It is a figure explaining the process (at the time of a data acquisition request) of the communication destination specific server which concerns on 2nd Embodiment based on this invention. It is a figure explaining the process of the communication object apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment based on this invention. It is a figure explaining the system configuration | structure which concerns on 3rd Embodiment based on this invention. It is a figure explaining the process of the communication destination designation | designated apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment based on this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a communication destination designation | designated screen (front) based on 3rd Embodiment based on this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a communication destination designation | designated screen (entire circumference) based on 3rd Embodiment based on this invention. It is a figure explaining the process of the communication destination specific server which concerns on 3rd Embodiment based on this invention.

Next, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(Constitution)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a communication target specifying system according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the communication destination specifying system includes a communication destination specifying server 300 and a plurality of communication target devices 200a and 200b. 200c (hereinafter referred to as a communication target device 200) and a communication destination specifying device 100.

"Communication target device 200"
The communication target device 200 of this embodiment is mounted on a vehicle. The communication target device 200 transmits the position specifying data to the communication destination specifying server 300 at predetermined intervals. The position specifying data is data including the position of the corresponding communication target device 200, the acquisition date and time of the position, and unique identification information (unique ID) for specifying the communication target device 200. In addition, the communication target device 200 transmits provision information such as vehicle information and traffic information of the vehicle on which the acquired communication target device 200 is mounted to the communication destination specifying server 300. The communication target apparatus 200 according to the present embodiment is configured to transmit probe information including the position specifying data and provision information at regular intervals.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the communication target device 200 includes a GPS receiver 201, a vehicle signal acquisition unit 211, a data logger 202, and a communication unit 203.
The GPS receiver 201 acquires current position determination information.
The vehicle signal acquisition unit 211 acquires vehicle information such as the speed of the vehicle on which the communication target device 200 is mounted.
The data logger 202 holds probe information including current position information, a vehicle signal, an acquisition date and time when the information is acquired, and a unique ID that identifies the communication target device 200.
The communication unit 203 periodically transmits holding information (probe information) held in the data logger 202 to the communication destination specifying server 300 at a preset time interval. The communication unit 203 and the communication destination specifying server 300 are connected to the Internet, for example. Communication may be performed through road infrastructure.

"Destination specifying server 300"
The communication destination identification server 300 includes a probe information database 301, a probe information acquisition unit 303, a communication destination identification unit 302, and a data processing unit 311.
The probe information database 301 holds position information and vehicle signals acquired by receiving from the communication target device 200 group, the acquisition time, and a unique ID for identifying the communication target device 200.

The probe information acquisition unit 303 receives probe information including position specifying data and provided information transmitted by the communication target device 200. Then, the probe information acquisition unit 303 accumulates the received probe information in the probe information database 301 as specific information for specifying the corresponding communication target device 200 in association with the unique identification information, for example.
The communication destination specifying unit 302 receives a request signal including the search position and date / time as a search condition from the communication destination specifying device 100. Then, the communication destination specifying unit 302 specifies the communication target device 200 by searching the stored specific information using the search condition included in the request signal and extracting the communication target device 200 that satisfies the search condition.

  The data processing unit 311 extracts provided information satisfying the request of the communication destination specifying unit 302 from the provided information received from one or more communication target devices 200 specified by the communication destination specifying unit 302. In this embodiment, speed information is extracted. Then, the data processing unit 311 transmits the extracted provision information or the processing information obtained by processing the provision information to the communication destination designation apparatus 100 that has transmitted the request signal. In the present embodiment, the data processing unit 311 processes the extracted provided information into a form that can be presented to the communication destination designation device 100. By processing in this way, the communication destination specifying server 300 provides information without specifying a communication target partner. Then, the data processing unit 311 transmits the processed information to the communication destination designation device 100 that has transmitted the request signal.

"Communication destination designation device 100"
The communication destination designating device 100 transmits a request signal to the communication destination specifying server 300, and receives the provision information data transmitted by the communication destination specifying server 300 in response to the request. Then, the communication destination designation device 100 provides the received provision information to the user by display or the like. The provided information is information obtained by processing information such as traffic information transmitted by a specific communication target device 200.

  The communication destination designation device 100 according to the present embodiment is configured by, for example, a web-based application that operates on a PC or a system that operates on an in-vehicle navigation system. In addition, the communication destination designating apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment uses the area on the map as position information to be transmitted to the communication destination specifying server 300, and the communication destination specifying server 300 obtains information on the average speed of the vehicle that is traveling in the area. The information is acquired and the acquired information is displayed to the user. In other words, the communication destination designation device 100 acquires probe information held on the communication destination identification server 300, and designates a function to be presented to the user and an area on the map by selecting an area on which to acquire information. With the function to do.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the communication destination designation apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes a communication unit 101, an input device 120, a condition designation unit 102, an output control unit 103, a map database 111, and an output device 130.
The communication unit 101 performs a communication process of transmitting information acquisition conditions (request signals) to the communication destination specifying server 300 and receiving information satisfying the specified conditions.

The input device 120 is a device for a user to input information. The input device 120 includes, for example, a microphone 121 and a touch panel 122.
The output device 130 is a device for presenting information to the user. The output device 130 includes, for example, a display 131 and a speaker 132.
The map database 111 holds map information.
The condition designating unit 102 has a function of designating an area on a map in order to designate an acquisition condition for necessary information among information on the communication destination specifying server 300 via the input device 120.

Next, processing of the communication destination designation device 100 for designating the communication destination will be described with reference to FIG.
The communication destination designation device 100 operates when an operation request for the communication destination designation function is input (S1100). When activated, the process proceeds to step S1101. The said operation request | requirement is input according to a user's operation.
In step S1101, a map around the current position is displayed on the display 131, and a selection is requested from the user.
Next, in step S1102, a point where the user has selected an area on the map using the touch panel 122 is acquired. For example, position information that identifies the map being displayed on the display 131, for example, position information that includes the latitude and longitude of the upper left corner of the map and the scale information at that time is acquired.

In step S1103, a request signal including the acquired position information and current time is transmitted to the communication destination specifying server 300 as a communication destination condition. At this time, it is assumed that speed information is requested as provision request information.
In step S1104, the provision information transmitted by the communication destination specifying server 300 in response to the request signal is acquired. In the present embodiment, for example, as information acquired from the communication target device 200, the speed of each vehicle that passes through the designated area is processed, and the average speed of each vehicle that passes through the designated area is received.
In step S1105, the received information is displayed on the display 131. Thereafter, the process ends (S1106).

In addition, in the communication destination specific server 300 of this embodiment, it was set as the structure which presents the average speed of the vehicle which passes a designated area. Alternatively or in combination, the communication destination specifying server 300 can select information to be acquired so that it can be selected to present the fuel consumption, vehicle type configuration, number of vehicles passing within a certain time, etc. It may be configured as follows.
In the present embodiment, the current time is set as the information acquisition designated time. The designated time for information acquisition may be a past date and time.

  FIG. 3 is an example of a screen display example in the communication destination designation device 100 when the information to be acquired can be selected and the date and time conditions can be designated. Reference numeral 1001 in FIG. 3 denotes a display area of the display 131, which displays a map. On the area display, the date designation area (1003), time designation area (1004), and acquisition information type designation area (1005) are set as areas for designating conditions for obtaining information. The acquired information type designation area has a configuration in which an average speed, fuel consumption, vehicle type configuration, and the like can be selected by a list selection method. When the user designates a point on the displayed map (for example, touch with a finger), the corresponding area is highlighted to indicate selection (1002). After selection, pressing the OK button (1006) completes the selection. The selected area information and acquisition conditions are transmitted to the server. In this example, data within a certain radial distance centered on the specified position is acquired as the specified area. As the designated area, a road may be designated, or an area separated by a rectangle may be designated.

Next, the processing of the communication destination specifying server 300 will be described with reference to FIG.
When a data acquisition condition (request signal) is received from the communication destination specifying apparatus 100 (S1301), the process proceeds to step S1302.
In step S1302, the communication destination specifying unit 302 extracts data satisfying the specified conditions (position and time range) from the probe information held in the probe information database 301. For example, when the average speed of the traveling vehicle is requested and the date and area are specified, the vehicle having the history information that has passed the specified latitude / longitude range area within 10 minutes before and after the specified time (communication target) The speed information acquired from the apparatus 200) is extracted.

In step S <b> 1302, when extraction of information that satisfies the conditions is completed, the data processing unit 311 processes the provided data acquired from the communication target device 200 in a form that can be provided to the communication destination specifying device 100.
In step S1304, the processed provision data is transmitted to the communication destination designation apparatus 100.
In step S1305, it is determined whether there is untransmitted data. If untransmitted data exists, the process proceeds to step S1304 to continue data transmission. On the other hand, when the transmission is completed, the process proceeds to step S1306 to end the process.

(Operation other)
The communication target device 200 periodically transmits to the communication destination specifying server 300 probe information including position information, vehicle information, and information acquisition time of the vehicle on which the communication target device 200 is mounted.
The communication destination specifying server 300 stores the acquired probe information in the probe information database 301 as it is or after being processed.
On the other hand, the communication destination designation device 100 transmits a request signal including area information designated as position information and acquisition time as search information to the communication destination identification server 300.
The communication destination specifying server 300 processes and provides provided information from information provided by a vehicle that satisfies the acquired request information. In the present embodiment, the provisional information is the average speed of a vehicle that has traveled around the time when the designated area is designated. Then, the processed provision information is transmitted to the request destination communication destination designation device 100.

The communication destination designation device 100 provides the provision information received in response to the request to the user who operates the communication destination designation device 100.
As a result, the communication destination specifying device 100 can acquire information provided by the vehicle (communication target device 200) specified by the specified position and time through the communication destination specifying server 300. Moreover, the confidentiality of the information provision destination is ensured by processing the provided information to be acquired.
Here, the probe information acquisition unit 303 constitutes a communication target information acquisition unit, an information storage unit, and a provision information holding unit. The data processing unit 311 constitutes an information transmission unit.

(Effect of this embodiment)
This embodiment has the following effects.
(1) The probe information acquisition unit 303 receives position specifying data including the position of the communication target device 200, the acquisition date and time of the position, and unique identification information for specifying the communication target device 200. The probe information acquisition unit 303 stores the received position specifying data as specifying information for specifying the communication target device 200. The probe information acquisition unit 303 receives and holds the provision information from the communication target device 200. When the communication destination specifying unit 302 receives a request signal including a search position and a specified date and time as a search condition, the communication destination specifying unit 302 searches the stored specific information using the search condition included in the request signal and satisfies the search condition. 200 is specified. The data processing unit 311 transmits the request signal with at least one of the provision information received from the one or more communication target devices 200 identified by the communication destination identification unit 302 or the processing information obtained by processing the provision information. It transmits to the communication destination designation device 100.

Further, the communication target device 200 includes a position acquisition unit that acquires the position of the communication target device 200, a position acquired by the position acquisition unit, an acquisition date and time of the position, and unique identification information that specifies the communication target device 200 Data is transmitted to the communication destination specifying server 300.
Then, the communication destination specifying device 100 transmits a request signal including the search position and date and time in the search state to the communication destination specifying server 300, and the communication target device 200 that satisfies the search condition from the communication destination specifying server 300 transmits. Receive the provided information.

  According to this configuration, the communication destination specifying server 300 specifies the communication target device 200 that satisfies this condition based on the search position specified from the communication destination specifying device 100 and the specified date and time for determining the communication position. The provision information from the destination target device is transmitted to the communication destination designation device 100. As a result, the communication destination designating device 100 can acquire the provision information provided by the communication target device 200 through the communication destination specifying server 300.

(2) The communication destination specifying server 300 processes the provided information satisfying the conditions in accordance with the request from the communication destination specifying device 100 so that the individual communication target device 200 is not specified, and the processed information is requested. It transmits to the communication destination designation device 100.
According to this configuration, the communication destination specifying server 300 processes the information uploaded from the communication target device 200 into a form in which the individual communication target device 200 cannot be specified and provides the information to the communication destination specifying device 100. As a result, the user of the communication target device 200 and the communication destination designation device 100 can communicate (transfer information) without revealing their personal information.

(3) The communication destination designation device 100 acquires an area on the selected map information, and uses the acquired area as the search position.
According to this configuration, the communication destination specifying server 300 specifies the communication destination based on the position information specified by the communication destination specifying device 100. Therefore, the communication destination designating device 100 can find the communication destination only by designating the position on the map when it is desired to communicate with the communication target device 200 existing at a specific position.

(4) At least one of the communication target devices 200 is mounted on a vehicle that is a moving body.
According to this configuration, when the communication target device 200 is mounted on a vehicle, the vehicle information and the traffic information acquired by the vehicle can be transmitted.
In addition, since the communication target device 200 is an in-vehicle system mounted on a vehicle, the communication destination designation device 100 or a user thereof knows the individual ID of the communication device possessed by the vehicle on which the communication target device 200 is mounted. Even without this, it is possible to communicate with the driver in the vehicle and the in-vehicle device or to acquire information obtained from the in-vehicle device.

(5) The communication destination designating device 100 transmits the type of provision information desired to be acquired from the communication target device 200 to the communication destination specifying server 300. The communication destination specifying server 300 transmits the type of provision information received from the communication destination designation device 100 among the provision information received from the communication target device 200 to the communication destination designation device 100.
The communication destination designating device 100 can obtain necessary information by designating the type of information desired to be obtained from the communication target device 200.

“Second Embodiment”
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, about the structure similar to the said embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and demonstrated.
The basic configuration of the present embodiment is the same as the configuration of the first embodiment as shown in FIG. Although the data processing unit 311 described in the first embodiment is not illustrated, the data processing unit 311 may be provided. In the following descriptions, only processing units necessary for main processing of the embodiment are described. The same applies to other embodiments.

  However, in the present embodiment, the communication destination designating device 100 has a function of displaying a list of communication target devices 200 capable of designated communication. The communication target device 200 is an in-vehicle information system. The communication means after the communication destination is determined is performed via the communication destination specifying server 300. Further, the communication destination designating device 100 of the present embodiment is a web-based application that operates on a PC, a system that operates on an in-vehicle navigation system, or a system that operates on a smartphone, for example.

(Constitution)
"Communication target device 200"
As illustrated in FIG. 5, the communication target device 200 according to the present embodiment includes a GPS receiving device 201, a video photographing unit 213, a data logger 202, and a communication unit 203.
The GPS receiving device 201 is a receiving device for determining the current position.
The video photographing unit 213 acquires a video around the vehicle captured by the camera 212. The camera 212 is mounted on the vehicle and captures an image around the vehicle.
The data logger 202 holds position specifying data including the position determination result using the GPS signal obtained from the GPS receiver 201 and the acquisition date and time.

The communication unit 203 transmits the position specifying data in the data logger 202 and the captured video acquired by the video shooting unit 213 to the communication destination specifying server 300 connected to the Internet.
In the present embodiment, the communication target device 200 normally transmits position information (position specifying data) to the communication destination specifying server 300 and receives a video request from the communication destination specifying server 300 at regular intervals set in advance. Is configured to transmit the video captured by the camera 212 to the communication destination specifying server 300. Actually, probe information is constituted by the position specifying data and the vehicle information, and the probe information is uploaded at regular intervals.

"Communication destination designation device 100"
The communication destination designating apparatus 100 designates a map display area, a function for inquiring the communication destination specifying server 300 whether or not a vehicle that can be a communication target exists in the designated area, and a target vehicle as a result of the inquiry Has a function of displaying this on a map. Further, the communication destination designating device 100 transmits a function for identifying a vehicle to transfer video from the displayed vehicles through the communication destination identification server 300 and a video request signal from the identified vehicle to the communication destination identification server 300, And a function of receiving and displaying a video from a designated vehicle through the communication destination specifying server 300.

The communication destination designation apparatus 100 includes an input device 120 such as a microphone 121 and a touch panel 122 and an output device 130 such as a display 131 and a speaker 132. The communication destination designation device 100 includes a condition designation unit 102 and an output control unit 103.
The condition specifying unit 102 displays a map and causes the user to select an area on the map through the input device 120. This selection is for specifying an acquisition condition for necessary information among information on the communication destination specifying server 300. The condition specifying unit 102 transmits a request signal including the specified area to the communication destination specifying server 300 via the communication unit 101. Moreover, the condition designation | designated part 102 inputs the information which selected the vehicle which acquires an image | video from the vehicle displayed on the map, and transmits the input selected vehicle information to the communication destination specific server 300. FIG.

The map database 111 holds map information in order to display a map.
The output control unit 103 presents information acquired from the communication destination specifying server 300 to the user using the output device 130.
The communication unit 101 performs processing for transmitting information acquisition conditions to the communication destination specifying server 300 and receiving information satisfying the specified conditions.

"Destination specifying server 300"
The communication destination identification server 300 includes a probe information database 301, a probe information acquisition unit 303, a communication destination identification unit 302, and a video transfer unit 312.
The probe information database 301 holds the probe information including the position information and the vehicle signal transmitted by the communication target device 200 through the probe information acquisition unit 303, the acquisition time, and the unique ID.

The communication destination specifying unit 302 specifies a group of vehicles (= communication target device 200) that satisfies the conditions specified from the probe information database 301 in accordance with a request from the communication destination specifying device 100, and provides information provided by the specified vehicle. It transmits to the communication destination designation device 100. Further, the communication destination specifying unit 302 issues a video transfer request to the vehicle selected by the communication destination specifying device 100.
The video transfer unit 312 sequentially transfers the video uploaded from the vehicle that transmitted the video transfer request to the requested communication destination designation device 100.

Next, processing of the communication destination designation device 100 will be described with reference to FIG.
When receiving an operation request for the communication destination designation function (S2100), the communication destination designation device 100 proceeds to step S2101.
In step S2101, a map is displayed on the display 131 so that a display area can be selected.
In step S2102, when it is detected by the user's operation that the area in which the vehicle information existing in the area is to be searched is displayed by scrolling or enlarging the map, the communication destination designation device 100 requests the list information in the area. In order to do this, the position information (for example, the latitude and longitude of the upper left corner and the scale) of the area being displayed is transmitted to the communication destination specifying server 300.

In step S2103, information (here, the position of the vehicle existing in the designated area and the unique ID of the vehicle-mounted device) obtained from the communication destination that satisfies the conditions is received from the communication destination specifying server 300. When all the information has been acquired, the process proceeds to step S2104.
In step S2104, the received information is displayed on the display 131 so as to be superimposed on the current map, and the position of the corresponding vehicle is displayed to allow the user to select an arbitrary vehicle. An example of the position display of the corresponding vehicle in this embodiment is shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, a map is displayed on the display area (2001), and the positions of vehicles that can currently communicate are displayed as ☆ marks on the map (2002).

In step S2105, when the selection of the vehicle on the map by the user is detected, a unique ID for identifying the vehicle is transmitted to the communication destination designation server together with the video request signal.
In step S2106, if the transfer of the video from the vehicle (communication target device 200) designated through the communication destination specifying server 300 is started, the transferred video is received.
In step S2107, the received video is displayed on the display 131. The video transfer is continued until an instruction from the user is given.

That is, in step S2108, it is determined whether or not a video transfer stop instruction is input from the user or video transfer information is input. If the condition is satisfied, the process moves to step S2109 to stop receiving the video and end the process. If the condition is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step S2106 to repeat the video reception and display processing.
Here, in this embodiment, the case where the video is transferred in real time with the current time as the information acquisition designated time is illustrated. Instead of this, a past date and time may be designated. In this case, the video stored on the communication destination specifying server 300 corresponding to the specified time may be received from the server.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a description has been given of the configuration in which a list of a plurality of communicable vehicles is displayed from the displayed map area, and video transfer is performed after one vehicle is selected from the list. If the number of vehicles that can transfer video is small (when the number is preset (for example, three) or less) and the communication speed is sufficiently secured, all the vehicles without the vehicle selection process (S2103 to S2105) May be transferred to the communication destination designation device 100.

"Destination specifying server 300"
Among the processes of the communication destination specifying server 300, the process of receiving and holding the probe information including the position specifying data from the communication target device 200 is the same as that in the first embodiment.
Next, of the processing of the communication destination specifying server 300, the operation when a communication destination vehicle list request in the specified area is requested from the communication destination specifying device 100 will be described with reference to FIG.
When receiving the data acquisition condition from the communication destination specifying device 100 (S2201), the communication destination specifying server 300 proceeds to step S2202.

In step S2202, the communication destination identifying unit 302 extracts data (probe information) satisfying the specified condition from the probe information held in the probe information database 301. At this time, the communication destination designating device 100 designates position information of the designated area (latitude / longitude and scale of the upper left corner) and designated date / time as a search condition. Based on this search state, for example, within 10 minutes before and after the specified time, probe information including latitude and longitude information within a predetermined distance set in advance from the specified latitude and longitude is extracted. The fixed distance at this time is calculated according to the designated scale. Then, the vehicle and the current position information corresponding to the extracted probe information are extracted.
In step S2203, the unique ID for identifying the extracted vehicle and a list of information on the current position of each vehicle are transmitted to the communication destination designation apparatus 100 (S2203). Then, transmission of all data (S2204) ends the processing (S2205).

Next, of the processes of the communication destination specifying server 300, a process when receiving selection information of a vehicle (communication destination apparatus) from the communication destination specifying apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG.
Upon receiving the unique ID of the selected communication destination vehicle (communication target device 200) from the communication destination specifying device 100 (S2301), the communication destination specifying server 300 proceeds to step S2302.
In step S2302, a connection request for video transfer is made to the selected communication destination vehicle.
When the completion of connection for video transfer is detected in step S23303, video reception processing (S2304 to S2305) and received video transfer processing (S2306 to S2308) are performed.

The video reception process (S2305) continues until there is a transfer stop instruction from the communication destination designation device 100 or a transfer stop request is received from the transfer source vehicle (S2304).
In the video transfer process (S2308), untransmitted data exists (S2307), and this is continued until there is a transfer stop instruction or a transfer stop request is received from the transfer source vehicle (S2304). If there is an instruction to cancel, the process ends (S2309).

Next, processing related to video transfer in the communication target device 200 will be described with reference to FIG.
When the communication target device 200 receives the video acquisition request from the communication destination specifying server 300, the communication target device 200 proceeds to step S2402.
In step S2402, the communication target apparatus 200 starts video shooting using the in-vehicle camera 212 (2402).
In the video image capturing process (S2404), an instruction to end video transfer is received from the communication destination specifying server 300, or the vehicle on which the communication target device 200 is mounted is turned off. The process continues until there is an instruction from the user (S2403).

Then, along with the start of video shooting, the shot video starts to be transmitted (uploaded) to the communication destination specifying server 300. In the video upload process (S2407), as long as there is a video that has not been transmitted (S2406), a video transfer end instruction is received from the communication destination specifying server 300 or the communication target device 200 is installed. This is continued until there is an instruction from the side of the vehicle on which the vehicle is mounted or the user, such as turning off the engine of the vehicle that is on (S2403).
Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

(Operation other)
In the present embodiment, first, the area on the map currently displayed by the communication destination specifying device 100 is transmitted to the communication destination specifying server 300 as the specified area. The communication destination specifying server 300 transmits information on the position of the communicable vehicle (communication target device 200) existing in the acquired corresponding area to the requested communication destination specifying device 100. The communication destination designation device 100 displays the position of the acquired communicable vehicle (communication target device 200) on the currently displayed map, thereby allowing the user to select a vehicle from any of them. When the selection information of the vehicle by the user is detected, the information of the selected vehicle is transmitted to the communication destination specifying server 300.

The communication destination specifying server 300 requests information on the camera video attached to the selected vehicle (communication target device 200) and transfers the received camera video information to the communication destination designation device 100. To do. The communication destination designation device 100 displays the transferred camera video on the display 131.
Here, the provision information transferred from the communication target device 200 in response to a request from the communication destination designation device 100 may not be a video. It may be an image or program software. This transfer process is effective when the capacity is large.
Here, steps S2201 to S2204 constitute a communication target device selection unit. Steps S2301 to S2309 and the video transfer unit 312 constitute an information transmission unit. The probe information acquisition unit 303 constitutes a communication target information acquisition unit, an information storage unit, and a provision information holding unit.

(Effect of this embodiment)
This embodiment has the following effects in addition to the effects of the first embodiment.
(1) The communication destination specifying server 300 transmits selection information for selecting the communication target device 200 specified by the communication destination specifying unit 302 to the communication destination specifying device 100 that has transmitted the request signal. Information on the communication target device 200 selected from the communication destination designating device 100 is received. The communication destination specifying server 300 transmits the provision information received from the selected communication target device 200 or the processing information obtained by processing the provision information to the communication destination designation device 100 that has transmitted the request signal.

  According to this configuration, the communication destination specifying server 300 presents selection information such as a list of communication target devices 200 capable of communication to the communication destination specifying device 100. For this reason, the communication destination designation device 100 can communicate with the communication target device 200 only by selecting the target communication target device 200 from the communicable communication target devices 200 presented in the list.

(2) The communication destination specifying server 300 receives the provision information from the specified communication target device 200 after transmitting the information of the communication target device 200 specified in response to the request to the communication destination specifying device 100. The provided information is transmitted to the communication destination designation device 100.
According to this configuration, the communication destination designating device 100 can acquire information uploaded by the communication target device 200 via the communication destination specifying server 300, and can exchange information with the communication target device 200. For this reason, for example, even when the communication target device 200 is not in a communicable state at the timing when a request is received from the communication destination specifying device, the communication destination specifying device is based on information uploaded by the communication target device 200 in the past. These information can be acquired.

“Third Embodiment”
Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, about the structure similar to the said embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and demonstrated.
The basic configuration of the present embodiment is the same as the configuration of the first embodiment as shown in FIG. The first and second configurations may be provided together.
However, the communication destination designating apparatus 100 of the present embodiment has a function of recognizing a moving body around its own vehicle position, and uses a method for requesting connection with the recognized moving body.
Reference numeral 400 denotes a mobile phone communication network which is an example of a mobile communication terminal.

"Communication target device 200"
Each communication target device 200 operates as an in-vehicle system having a GPS receiving device 201 for determining the current position. In addition, the communication target device 200 includes a position determination result using a GPS signal obtained from the GPS receiving device 201 and a data logger 202 that holds the acquisition date and time. When periodically uploading the probe information to the communication destination specifying server 300 connected to the Internet, the communication function of the communication unit 203 of the mobile phone is used.
The mobile phone is detachably connected to the in-vehicle speaker 132 together with the logger 202, and performs a call function as a hands-free phone. The call function is controlled by the call control unit 215 of the mobile phone.

"Communication destination designation device 100"
The communication destination designating device 100 has a function of recognizing the periphery of a vehicle and recognizing a surrounding vehicle or person, and a selection function that allows a user to select a partner to communicate with among the recognized vehicle or person. In addition, the communication destination designation device 100 has a function of inquiring the communication destination specifying server 300 about the telephone number of the selected partner, and a function of making a call to the specified partner using the acquired telephone number.

The communication destination designation device 100 has an input device 120 such as a microphone 121 and a touch panel 122 and an output device 130 such as a display 131 and a speaker 132.
The vehicle on which the communication destination specifying device 100 is mounted includes a camera 212 that can photograph the periphery of the vehicle. The communication destination designating apparatus 100 includes a periphery recognition unit 112 that recognizes surrounding vehicles and people based on images captured by the camera 212. The recognized result is displayed on the display 131 through the output control unit 103. If the recognition result is displayed on the display 131, the user uses the input device 120 to select the other party who wants to talk.

  At that time, the condition specifying unit 102 determines the current position using the GPS signal obtained from the GPS receiver 201. Then, the condition designating unit 102 sends the determination result and the acquisition date and time to the communication destination specifying server 300 through the communication unit 101 as a request signal. The communication unit 101 also receives communication partner information from the communication destination specifying server 300 and performs communication processing for transmitting from the call control unit 113 to the communication partner.

"Destination specifying server 300"
The communication destination identification server 300 includes a probe information database 301, a probe information acquisition unit 303, a communication destination identification unit 302, and a user information database.
The probe information database 301 includes position information, vehicle signals and acquisition times acquired by the probe information acquisition unit 303 from each communication target device 200, unique IDs of in-vehicle devices and mobile phones for identifying the communication target device 200, and other information. Holds probe information.

The user information database includes communication means (telephone, mail, IP designation, etc.) that can be used for communication by each communication target device 200 having the extracted unique ID, and addresses (telephone number, mail address) used for each communication means. , IP address) and the like.
The communication destination specifying unit 302 refers to the probe information database 301 and the user information database in accordance with a request from the communication destination specifying device 100, and extracts information that satisfies the specified condition. Then, the communication destination specifying unit 302 transmits the extracted information to the communication destination specifying device 100.

"Communication destination designation device 100"
Next, processing of the communication destination designation device 100 for designating a communication destination will be described with reference to FIG.
When the communication destination designation device 100 detects an operation request for the communication destination designation function (S3100), the communication destination designation device 100 proceeds to step S3101.
In step S3101, recognition of surrounding vehicles and persons is started based on the video from the in-vehicle camera 212 (S3101). When the recognition is completed, the recognition result is drawn on the display 131 in step S3102.

In step S <b> 3103, it is determined whether the user has selected a recognition target (vehicle or person) displayed on display 131 using touch panel 122. If not selected, the process returns to step S3101 to repeat the recognition and drawing until the user makes a selection. On the other hand, if selection is detected, the process proceeds to step S3104.
In step S3104, the vehicle position at the time of selection detection is determined. In step S3105, the relative distance and direction between the determined vehicle position and the selected recognition target are estimated from the image, and the position of the recognition target is estimated.

In step S3106, when the position estimation is completed, the communication destination designation device 100 determines the position (latitude and longitude) of the estimated recognition target (designated communication destination), the estimated time, and the type of the recognition target such as a person or a vehicle. It transmits to the specific server 300.
In step S3107, transmission information transmitted from the communication destination specifying server 300 is received in response to the transmission. The transmission information from the communication destination specifying server 300 is information on the communication means with the communication target device 200 that matches the search condition and the address (communication information) for each communication means.
Here, when the recognized vehicle does not have a communication function, a person does not have a mobile phone, or when the vehicle is not connected to the communication destination specifying server 300, an answer without communication means is obtained.

If it is determined in step S3108 that the target is not communicable, the process returns to step S3101. If communication is possible, the process proceeds to step S3109.
In step S3109, if there are a plurality of communication means and the request source communication destination designating apparatus 100 includes the communication means, the user is made to select the communication means.
In step S3110, when the selection is completed, access to the corresponding address is started. Thereafter, the process ends (S3110).

In this embodiment, since the communication target device 200 has a mobile phone, the phone function of the mobile phone and its telephone number, the mail function and its mail address, data communication, and the IP address for data communication, etc. Is returned as the communication means and address.
When communicating with a communication partner only through the communication destination specifying server 300, personal information such as an address may not be notified to the communication destination specifying device 100.
Here, in the above embodiment, a case where the periphery recognition process is performed on the communication destination designation device 100 is illustrated. Instead of this, an image may be sent to the communication destination specifying server 300 to perform vehicle recognition on the communication destination specifying server 300.

  13 and 14 are display examples of recognition results. The example of FIG. 13 is an example in the case where a camera that captures the front of the vehicle is used as the camera 212. In the example of FIG. 13, on the display screen (3001), an image of the vehicle ahead (3101a to c) and the result of recognition processing and recognition of the vehicle (3201a to c) are superimposed on the image. Is displayed. The recognized vehicle or person can be selected.

  The example of FIG. 14 is an example in the case where the camera 212 is an all-around camera for projecting four directions around the vehicle. In the example shown in FIG. 14, on the display screen (3001), the recognized vehicle (3102a to e) or the person (3103a to c) is viewed as an image of the positional relationship with the own vehicle position (3011) viewed from above. it's shown. On this image, the result of recognizing the vehicle (3202a to e) and the result of recognizing the person (3203a to c) are displayed in an overlapping manner, so that the recognized vehicle and person can be selected.

"Destination specifying server 300"
Next, processing of the communication destination specifying server 300 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
When the communication destination designating apparatus 100 receives a request signal including the position of the communication target apparatus 200 and its time, which are data acquisition conditions (S3301), the communication destination designating apparatus 100 proceeds to step S3302.
In step S3302, the communication destination specifying unit 302 extracts data of the communication target device 200 estimated to have passed the specified position at the specified time from the probe information held in the probe information database 301, and sets the ID thereof. Identify.

If there is no corresponding data in step S3303, the process proceeds to step S3304. If there is such data, the process proceeds to step S3305.
In step S3304, an error message that does not apply is transmitted, and the process ends (S3307).
On the other hand, when the corresponding data is found and the process proceeds to step S3305, the telephone number for making a call to the communication target apparatus 200 with the corresponding ID is extracted from the user information database.
Subsequently, in step S3306, the extracted telephone number is transmitted to the requested communication destination specifying apparatus 100, and the process ends (S3307).
Note that communication information for communication connection is not limited to a telephone number, and may be any information that can be communicated such as a mail address or an IP address.
Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

(Operation other)
In the present embodiment, the communication target device 200 is an in-vehicle information system or a mobile communication terminal such as a mobile phone.
The communication destination specifying server 300 is configured to hold the communication target device 200 individual information, and communication connection information for enabling the communication destination specifying device 100 and the communication target device 200 to communicate without going through the communication destination specifying server 300. It is set as the structure which provides. Further, the communication destination specifying server 300 notifies the communication destination specifying device 100 of a list of communication means that the communication target device 200 can use for communication, so that the communication destination specifying device 100 can select any communication means. The configuration.
As a result, the communication means after the communication destination is determined can be performed without using the communication destination specifying server 300.

Here, the communication destination designation device 100 of the present embodiment is configured by a web-based application that operates on a PC or a system that operates on an in-vehicle navigation system. In the present embodiment, a result of recognizing surrounding vehicles and people is displayed on the communication destination designation device 100, and when a recognized vehicle is selected, a telephone number inquiry is made to the communication destination specifying server 300, If a phone number is found, you can call the selected party.
Here, the user information 313 constitutes a communication target device information holding unit. The peripheral recognition unit 112 constitutes a recognition unit. The probe information acquisition unit 303 constitutes a communication target information acquisition unit, an information storage unit, and a provision information holding unit. The communication destination specifying unit 302 also serves as an information transmission unit.

(Effect of this embodiment)
This embodiment has the following effects in addition to the effects of the first embodiment.
(1) The user information 313 holds information regarding the communication target apparatus 200 that may transmit the provision information. Then, in response to a request from the communication destination specifying device 100, the communication destination specifying server 300 transmits information on the requested communication target device 200 to the requested communication destination specifying device 100.
According to this configuration, the communication destination specifying server 300 holds information related to the individual communication target device 200 in addition to the information transmitted (uploaded) from the communication target device 200. Therefore, according to the designation from the communication destination designation device 100, detailed information other than the information uploaded from the communication target device 200 can be provided regarding the communication target device 200 in a specific place or the like.

(2) In response to a request from the communication destination specifying device 100, the communication destination specifying server 300 sends communication information for directly connecting to the communication target device 200 specified by the communication destination specifying unit 302 to the communication destination specifying device. To 100.
According to this configuration, the communication destination specifying server 300 provides the communication destination specifying device 100 with an identification ID that enables communication with the communication target device 200 that satisfies the specified conditions using existing communication means. . For this reason, the communication destination designation device 100 can communicate with the communication target device 200 by the existing communication means.

  (3) The periphery recognition unit 112 of the communication destination designation device 100 recognizes at least one of the communication target device 200 and the mobile body that may be equipped with the communication target device 200 as a recognition target. . Then, the communication unit 101 of the communication destination designating device 100 identifies the communication destination device 200 or the moving object from the recognition target recognized by the recognition unit, and the information on the recognition target selected by the target selection unit. Send to server 300. The communication destination specifying server 300 specifies the communication target device 200 corresponding to the recognition target information received from the communication destination specifying device 100, determines whether the specified communication target device 200 is in a communicable state, and performs communication. When it is determined that the communication is possible, the provision information related to the communication target device 200 in the communicable state is transmitted to the communication destination designation device 100.

  According to this configuration, the communication destination designation device 100 recognizes a peripheral communication target device 200 or a mobile object that may be equipped with the device. When the communication destination designating device 100 selects the recognized communication target device 200 or a mobile body that may be equipped with the recognized communication target device 200, the communication destination specifying server 300 selects the selected communication target device 200. And information that enables communication with the communication destination designation device 100 is provided as provision information. As described above, the communication destination designating device 100 can communicate with an arbitrary partner only by selecting a partner to be communicated with from the communication target device 200 present in the vicinity or a mobile body that may be equipped with the device 200. it can.

(4) The communication destination specifying server 300 transmits, to the communication destination specifying device 100, list information for communication connection to the communication target device 200 specified by the communication destination specifying unit 302 in accordance with a request from the communication destination specifying device 100. To do.
According to this configuration, the communication destination designating device 100 can know the communication means that can be used by the communication target device 200 that wants to communicate via the communication destination specifying server 300. For this reason, the communication destination designation device 100 can communicate without knowing beforehand the communication means that can be used by the communication partner.

(5) At least one of the communication target devices 200 is mounted on the mobile communication terminal.
According to this configuration, since the communication target device 200 is mounted on a mobile communication terminal such as a mobile phone, the communication destination specifying device 100 or the user thereof specifies the mobile communication terminal. For example, the mobile phone number Even without inputting an e-mail address, it is possible to communicate with a mobile communication terminal such as the mobile phone or obtain information obtained from the mobile communication terminal.

The communication target device 200 may be the mobile communication terminal itself.
Here, in all the embodiments, the communication destination designating device 100, the communication destination specifying server 300, the communication target device 200, and the communication means after the communication destination is determined are not limited to this configuration, but replaced with the method shown in the other embodiments. It is also possible to configure in the form.
Further, the communication destination specifying server 300 is not limited to one. For example, a server system configuration in which servers are arranged for each area may be used.

100 Communication destination designation device 200 Communication target device 300 Communication destination identification server 301 Probe information database 302 Communication destination identification unit 303 Probe information acquisition unit 311 Data processing unit 312 Video transfer unit 313 User information

Claims (13)

A communication target information acquisition unit that receives position specifying data including a position of a communication target device, an acquisition date and time of the position, and unique identification information for specifying the communication target device;
An information storage unit that stores the position specifying data received by the communication target information acquisition unit as specific information for specifying the communication target device;
A provision information holding unit that receives and holds provision information from the communication target device;
When a request signal including a search position and a specified date and time as a search condition is received, a communication destination specifying unit that searches the specified information accumulated with the search condition included in the request signal and specifies a communication target device that satisfies the search condition When,
Information for transmitting at least one of provided information received from one or more communication target devices specified by the communication destination specifying unit or processed information obtained by processing the provided information to the communication destination specifying device that has transmitted the request signal. A transmission unit;
A communication destination specifying server comprising: The selection information for selecting the communication target device specified by the communication destination specifying unit is transmitted to the communication destination specifying device that transmitted the request signal, and the communication target selected from the communication destination specifying device for the transmission A communication target device selection unit for receiving device information;
The communication destination according to claim 1, wherein the information transmission unit transmits the provision information received from the selected communication target device or the processing information obtained by processing the provision information to the communication destination designation device that has transmitted the request signal. Specific server.   A communication target device information holding unit that holds information related to a communication target device that may transmit provided information, and a communication destination that requested information on a requested communication target device in response to a request from a communication destination designation device The communication destination specifying server according to claim 1, wherein the destination device is transmitted to a designated device.   The communication information for direct communication connection to the communication target device specified by the communication destination specifying unit is transmitted to the communication destination specifying device in response to a request from the communication destination specifying device. Communication destination specific server.   The list information of communication information for communication connection to the communication target device specified by the communication destination specifying unit is transmitted to the communication destination specifying device according to a request from the communication destination specifying device. Communication destination specific server.   After the information on the communication target device specified in response to the request is transmitted to the communication destination designation device, when the provision information is received from the identified communication target device, the received provision information is transmitted to the communication destination designation device. The communication destination specifying server according to any one of claims 1 to 5.   According to a request from a communication destination designation device, the provided information that satisfies the conditions is processed into a form in which no individual communication target device is specified, and the processed information is transmitted to the requested communication destination designation device. The communication destination specifying server according to claim 6. The communication destination specifying server according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
A position acquisition unit that acquires the position of the communication target device, and a position acquisition data that includes the position acquisition date and time of the position acquisition unit and unique identification information that specifies the communication target device. A target device;
A communication destination specifying device that transmits a request signal including a search position and date and time in a search state to a communication destination specifying server, and receives provided information transmitted from a communication target device that satisfies the search conditions from the communication destination specifying server;
A communication target specifying system comprising:   The communication target specifying system according to claim 8, wherein the communication destination designation device acquires an area on the selected map information, and uses the acquired area as the search position. The communication destination specifying device recognizes at least one of a communication target device that exists around the mobile device and a mobile object that may be equipped with the communication target device as a recognition target, and the recognition unit recognizes the recognition target device. A target selection unit that selects a communication target device or a moving body from a recognition target, and a communication unit that transmits information on a recognition target selected by the target selection unit to a communication destination specifying server,
The communication destination specifying server specifies a communication target device corresponding to the recognition target information received from the communication destination specifying device, determines whether the specified communication target device is in a communicable state, and determines that the communication is possible. In this case, the communication target specifying system according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the provision information related to the communication target device in the communicable state is transmitted to the communication destination designation device.   The communication target specifying system according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein at least one of the communication target devices is mounted on a vehicle that is a moving body. The communication destination designation device transmits the type of provision information desired to be acquired from the communication target device to the communication destination specifying server,
The communication destination specifying server transmits the provision information received from the communication destination designation device among the provision information received from the communication target device to the communication destination designation device. The communication target specifying system according to any one of the above.   The communication target specifying system according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein at least one of the communication target devices is mounted on a mobile communication terminal.

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