JP2016170484A - Inter-vehicle communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inter-vehicle communication system capable of understanding a selected communication target with increased ease.SOLUTION: An inter-vehicle communication system is a system that transmits and receives various kinds of information including a message between a subject vehicle and another vehicle as a communication target. The system comprises: an HUD (Head-Up Display) 14 that displays inside information on the subject vehicle and an outside view from the subject vehicle so as to be superimposed over each other; and an input device 15 that operates to select the other vehicle as the communication target and specifies a message to be transmitted to the selected other vehicle. Then, there are displayed on the HUD 14 together an indication of distinguishing the other vehicle selected by the input device 15 from others and the message to be transmitted to or received from the selected other vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an inter-vehicle communication system for communicating information including various messages between a host vehicle and another vehicle to be communicated.

  Conventionally, as this type of inter-vehicle communication system, for example, a system (apparatus) described in Patent Document 1 is known. In this system (apparatus), communication targets such as other vehicles and facilities are displayed on a liquid crystal display device or the like equipped with a touch panel mounted on the host vehicle, and predetermined for the communication target selected on the touch panel. I am trying to send a message.

JP 2014-35582 A

  By the way, in the above-mentioned system, while driving the host vehicle, it is possible to select other vehicles or the like to be communicated on the touch panel, but while the image displayed on the liquid crystal display device and the like is running Because of the difference from the scenery visually recognized by a passenger or the like, it is not always easy to grasp the selected communication target.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a situation, The objective is to provide the communication system between vehicles which makes grasping | ascertaining the communication object selected more easy.

Hereinafter, means for solving the above-described problems and the effects thereof will be described.
An inter-vehicle communication system that solves the above problem is an inter-vehicle communication system that transmits and receives various types of information including messages between the host vehicle and another vehicle that is a communication target. A head-up display that superimposes and displays an external scenery; and an operation unit that performs a selection operation of the other vehicle to be communicated and a message to be transmitted to the selected other vehicle, and is selected by the operation unit. An identification display of another vehicle and a message transmitted / received to / from the selected other vehicle are displayed together with the head-up display.

  According to the above configuration, the image including the identification display of the selected other vehicle displayed on the head-up display matches the external scenery of the host vehicle that is visually recognized by a passenger or the like while the host vehicle is traveling. Become. Therefore, not only the content of the message transmitted / received to / from another vehicle selected as the communication target but also the other vehicle itself selected as the communication target can be easily grasped through the head-up display.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of an inter-vehicle communication system. The flowchart which shows the process sequence of the message transmission process which the communication system between vehicles of the embodiment performs. The flowchart which shows the process sequence of the message reception process which the communication system between vehicles of the embodiment performs. (A) is a top view which shows an example of relative positional relationship of the own vehicle and a surrounding vehicle, (b) is the matching process performed between the own vehicle and other vehicles in the positional relationship shown to (a). The schematic diagram for demonstrating the content. The schematic diagram which shows an example of the display content of HUD (head-up display) by which the scenery outside the own vehicle and communication ID of the surrounding vehicle were superimposed and displayed. (A) is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the data structure of the message transmitted / received in normal broadcast type communication, (b) is the schematic diagram which shows an example of the data structure of the message transmitted / received in one-to-one type communication. The schematic diagram which shows an example of the display content of HUD on which the communication ID of the surrounding vehicle and the content of the message transmitted to the surrounding vehicle were superimposed and displayed with respect to the scenery outside the host vehicle. The schematic diagram which shows an example of the display content of HUD on which the communication ID of the surrounding vehicle and the content of the message received from the surrounding vehicle were superimposed and displayed with respect to the scenery outside the host vehicle.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a communication system between vehicles will be described with reference to the drawings.
The inter-vehicle communication system according to the present embodiment is mounted on a vehicle and transmits / receives various information including a message to / from surrounding vehicles (other vehicles) by inter-vehicle communication.

  Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the inter-vehicle communication system includes an information processing apparatus 10 that collectively executes various arithmetic processes when transmitting and receiving messages and displaying the messages. The information processing apparatus 10 is connected to an image acquisition unit 11 such as an in-vehicle camera or a laser radar that captures the front of the vehicle, and performs image recognition processing on image data input from the image acquisition unit 11 to perform peripheral processing. Get information about vehicle orientation and distance.

  The information processing apparatus 10 is connected to an in-vehicle communication device 12 that transmits and receives various types of information including messages to and from surrounding vehicles. The in-vehicle communication device 12 is connected to a GPS (global positioning system) 13 that detects the traveling position of the vehicle. The GPS 13 receives a GPS satellite signal for detecting the absolute position of the vehicle, and inputs the position information of the vehicle specified on the basis of the received GPS satellite signal to the information processing apparatus 10.

  Then, the information processing apparatus 10 includes information on the presence / absence, direction, and distance of a surrounding vehicle based on the image data input from the image acquisition unit 11 and the position information of the vehicle input via the in-vehicle communication device 12. The relative position of the surrounding vehicle with respect to the vehicle is acquired by performing a so-called mapping process. Further, the information processing apparatus 10 obtains image data indicating the destination or transmission source of the target message and the contents thereof when transmitting / receiving various information including the message based on the relative position of the surrounding vehicle thus acquired. Generate. Then, the information processing apparatus 10 displays the generated image data on a HUD (head up display) 14 provided on the windshield of the vehicle. The HUD 14 is a transmissive display device, and outputs and displays internal information of the vehicle used for driving support of the vehicle, for example, while allowing the external scenery of the vehicle to pass through. Therefore, the HUD 14 displays the internal information of the vehicle and the scenery outside the vehicle in a superimposed manner. The HUD 14 also displays the generated image data. The information processing apparatus 10 includes an input device that is a user interface (UI) that is operated by a vehicle occupant when selecting a partner vehicle for a message or specifying the content of a message to be transmitted to the selected partner vehicle. 15 is connected. Examples of the input device 15 include a rotary knob that designates selection candidates through a rotation operation, a joystick that designates selection candidates through a tilt operation, and a push button that designates selection candidates through a pressing operation. The information processing apparatus 10 is connected to a microphone 16 used for generating a message by voice recognition. The operation signal input from the input device 15 and the audio signal input from the microphone 16 are input to the information processing apparatus 10 and the processing result is displayed on the HUD 14.

  Moreover, the vehicle-mounted communication apparatus 12 is connected to the vehicle information gateway 17 connected to various vehicle-mounted control apparatuses via vehicle networks, such as CAN (controller area network), for example. The vehicle information gateway 17 inputs vehicle information collected from various in-vehicle control devices to the information processing device 10 through the vehicle network. The vehicle information includes a communication ID used when establishing communication between a plurality of vehicles, in addition to information on the speed and traveling direction of the vehicle.

  Next, among the operations performed by the information processing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, a specific processing procedure for message transmission processing from the own vehicle to the surrounding vehicle will be described. Here, the information processing apparatus 10 executes the message transmission process shown in FIG. 2 under the condition that the ACC (accessory) switch of the host vehicle is on.

  The information processing apparatus 10 starts transmission / reception of a so-called broadcast-type vehicle-to-vehicle communication system, which is a system that broadcasts various information including messages from the own vehicle to surrounding vehicles (step S10).

  In this broadcast type vehicle-to-vehicle communication system, the information processing apparatus 10 first carries out in-vehicle communication of information such as the position information of the own vehicle acquired through the GPS 13 and the speed, traveling direction, and communication ID of the own vehicle acquired through the vehicle information gateway 17. Broadcast to surrounding vehicles through the machine 12 (step S11).

  Next, the information processing apparatus 10 receives information such as the position, speed, traveling direction, and communication ID of the surrounding vehicle through the in-vehicle communication device 12 (step S12). Then, the information processing apparatus 10 grasps a list of communication IDs received from a plurality of surrounding vehicles based on the received communication IDs, and also the own vehicle and the surrounding vehicles based on the received positions, speeds, and traveling directions of the surrounding vehicles. Are arranged on a two-dimensional virtual canvas (step S13).

  Subsequently, the information processing apparatus 10 includes information on the azimuth and distance of the surrounding vehicle based on the image data acquired through the image acquisition unit 11, and information on the position, speed, traveling direction, and the like of the surrounding vehicle received in the previous step S12. So-called mapping processing is performed (step S14). As a result, the list of communication IDs of the surrounding vehicles grasped in the previous step S13 is associated with the surrounding vehicles detected based on the image data acquired through the image acquisition unit 11.

  In the example shown in FIG. 4A, there are four surrounding vehicles C2 to C5 around the host vehicle C1. Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, among these peripheral vehicles C2 to C5, an image acquisition unit in which two peripheral vehicles C3 and C4 existing side by side in front of the host vehicle C1 are mounted on the host vehicle C1. It is within 11 shooting ranges. Therefore, the host vehicle C1 detects the surrounding vehicles C3 and C4 by analyzing the image data captured by the image acquisition unit 11, and acquires information on the azimuth and distance regarding the surrounding vehicles C3 and C4. In addition, the host vehicle C1 grasps a list of communication IDs received from the four peripheral vehicles C2 to C5 through the in-vehicle communication device 12, and sets each of the grasped communication ID lists as “A” to “D”. Encode. Each of these communication ID lists is associated with position, speed, and traveling direction information received from the corresponding surrounding vehicle. In this example, by performing the above-described mapping process, the two peripheral vehicles C3 and C4 that exist side by side in front of the host vehicle C1, and the codes “B” and “C” of the corresponding communication IDs Are associated.

  Then, the information processing apparatus 10 superimposes display icons with codes of the corresponding communication IDs on the surrounding vehicles detected based on the image data captured by the image acquisition unit 11 based on the association in the previous step S14. Generated image data. Further, the information processing apparatus 10 outputs the generated image data to the HUD 14 for display (step S15).

  FIG. 5 shows an example of the display content of the HUD 14 in which the scenery outside the host vehicle and the communication IDs of the surrounding vehicles are superimposed and displayed. In the example shown in the figure, two peripheral vehicles C3 and C4 running side by side in front of the host vehicle are transparently displayed on the HUD 14 as scenery outside the host vehicle. Then, as described above, the display icons D1 and D2 for the two peripheral vehicles C3 and C4 and the corresponding communication ID codes “B” and “C” are superimposed on the scenery outside the host vehicle. It is displayed.

  Subsequently, the information processing apparatus 10 displays the message transmission destination on the display icons D1 and D2 in a state where the display icons D1 and D2 are superimposed on the scenery outside the vehicle and displayed on the HUD 14 in the previous step S15. It is made to select from the some surrounding vehicle matched (step S16).

  Similarly, the information processing apparatus 10 displays the message content from among a plurality of standard sentences in a state where the display icons D1 and D2 are superimposed on the scenery outside the vehicle and displayed on the HUD 14 in the previous step S15. Select (step S17). Note that, as described above, this message may of course be a character string obtained by recognizing the voice collected by the microphone 16 and converting the text into text.

  And the information processing apparatus 10 produces | generates the transmission packet containing the content of the message to transmit (step S18). As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the transmission packet P includes a header H1 including information related to the message destination and a data portion H2 including information related to the content of the message. The header H1 includes a one-to-one communication flag for specifying whether or not one-to-one type communication for performing communication only between specific vehicles among a plurality of vehicles is executed. In addition, the header H1 includes a communication ID of a communication partner for specifying the partner vehicle when the one-to-one communication is performed. As in the example shown in FIG. 6A, in normal broadcast communication, various information including a message is transmitted simultaneously from the own vehicle to the surrounding vehicle, and therefore the one-to-one communication flag is set to “OFF”. "Is set. Further, as long as the one-to-one type communication is not performed, the communication partner ID is also set to “none” (blank). On the other hand, as in the example shown in FIG. 6B, in the one-to-one type communication, the one-to-one communication flag is set to “ON” and communication for performing the one-to-one type communication is performed. In order to specify the other party, the communication ID of the other party is also set to “C”, for example.

  Next, the information processing apparatus 10 adds a mark for identification display to the surrounding vehicle (selected other vehicle) that is the destination of the message, and displays image data indicating the content of the message to be transmitted. The generated image data is output to the HUD 14 and displayed (step S19).

  In the example shown in FIG. 7, a square frame F1 is additionally displayed as the above mark on the surrounding vehicle C4 that is the destination of the message, and the message content to be transmitted is selected from the selection or voice “Leave blinker”. A text string F2 that has been converted to text is displayed. In the example shown in the figure, an arrow Y1 from the character string F2 toward the square frame F1 is also displayed between the square frame F1 and the character string F2.

  Thereafter, the information processing apparatus 10 determines whether or not the ACC switch of the vehicle has been turned off (step S20), and while the ACC switch is on (step S20 = NO), the information processing apparatus 10 performs steps S11 to S20. Repeat the process. On the other hand, when the ACC switch of the vehicle is switched off (step S20 = YES), the information processing apparatus 10 ends the message transmission process shown in FIG.

  Next, of the operations executed by the information processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, a specific processing procedure for message reception processing will be described. Here, the information processing apparatus 10 executes the message reception process shown in FIG. 3 under the condition that the ACC (accessory) switch of the vehicle is on. Note that this message reception process is the same as the message transmission process shown in FIG. 2 in that transmission / reception of the broadcast type inter-vehicle communication system is started prior to message reception in step S30 shown in FIG. Further, in steps S31 to S33 shown in FIG. 3, various information is bidirectionally communicated between the own vehicle and the surrounding vehicles, and the relative positions of the own vehicle and the surrounding vehicles based on the information obtained by the communication. The point that the relationship is arranged on the two-dimensional virtual canvas is the same as the message transmission processing shown in FIG. Moreover, in step S34-step S35 shown in FIG. 3, the list | wrist of the communication ID of the surrounding vehicle grasped | ascertained previously and the surrounding vehicle detected based on the image data acquired through the image acquisition part 11 are performed, The point that the associated communication ID is displayed superimposed on each corresponding surrounding vehicle is similar to the message transmission process shown in FIG.

  Then, the information processing apparatus 10 sets the one-to-one communication flag included in the transmission packet received through the in-vehicle communication device 12 to “ON”, and sets “own vehicle” as the communication partner ID included in the transmission packet. It is determined whether or not “communication ID” is set (step S36). That is, the information processing apparatus 10 determines whether or not the host vehicle is specified as a communication partner in the one-to-one type communication.

  Here, when the own vehicle is specified as a communication partner in the one-to-one type communication (step S36 = YES), the information processing apparatus 10 adds a mark serving as an identification display to a surrounding vehicle that is a message transmission source. At the same time, image data indicating the content of the message to be transmitted is generated. Then, the information processing apparatus 10 outputs the generated image data to the HUD 14 and displays it (Step S37). In addition, when the vehicle that is the transmission source is not in the forward field of view, it is displayed on the HUD 14 in an easy-to-understand manner using icons and the like so as not to hinder driving while clarifying the positional relationship with the host vehicle.

  In the example shown in FIG. 8, a square frame F1 is additionally displayed as a mark on the surrounding vehicle serving as a message transmission source, and a character string F3 “thank you” is displayed as the content of the message to be transmitted. Yes. In the example shown in the figure, an arrow Y2 from the square frame F1 to the character string F3 is also displayed between the square frame F1 and the character string F3.

  On the other hand, when the host vehicle is not specified as the communication partner of the transmission packet in the one-to-one type communication (step S36 = NO), the information processing apparatus 10 performs the process without generating the image data. Control goes to step S38.

  Thereafter, the information processing apparatus 10 determines whether or not the ACC switch of the vehicle has been switched off (step S38), and while the ACC switch is on (step S38 = NO), the processing of steps S31 to S38 is performed. Repeat the process. On the other hand, when the ACC switch of the vehicle is switched off (step S38 = YES), the information processing apparatus 10 ends the message reception process shown in FIG.

Next, the operation of the inter-vehicle communication system according to the present embodiment will be described below, particularly focusing on the operation when a message is transmitted between the host vehicle and the surrounding vehicle.
When sending a message between the host vehicle and the surrounding vehicle, if the message destination is displayed on the in-vehicle display or the like and an attempt is made to select the destination of the message or its contents, the passenger of the host vehicle keeps his line of sight ahead of the vehicle. It is necessary to remove it from the scenery outside and direct it toward the in-vehicle display. At this time, the image displayed on the in-vehicle display is different from the external scenery in front of the vehicle visually recognized by the occupant of the own vehicle, so that the surrounding vehicle that is the destination of the message is the surrounding vehicle located in front of the own vehicle. It is difficult to intuitively determine which one corresponds.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, the information processing apparatus 10 outputs and displays the image data indicating the message destination and the content on the HUD 14 which is an example of a transmissive display device. Therefore, the scenery outside the host vehicle and the communication ID of the surrounding vehicle are superimposed on the HUD 14 so that the surrounding vehicle that is the message destination on the display screen of the HUD 14 can be intuitively grasped. Become. In addition, since it is easy to grasp the surrounding vehicle that is the destination of the message, the accuracy and operability for selecting the partner vehicle through the input device 15 are naturally improved.

As described above, according to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The contents of the message transmitted / received between the rectangular frame F1 serving as an identification display of the surrounding vehicle and the selected surrounding vehicle are displayed by superimposing the internal information of the own vehicle and the scenery outside the own vehicle. This is performed together with HUD14. Therefore, the image displayed on the HUD 14 matches the scenery outside the host vehicle that is visually recognized by the passenger of the host vehicle while the host vehicle is traveling. For this reason, not only the contents of messages transmitted / received to / from the surrounding vehicle selected as the communication target but also the surrounding vehicle (other vehicle) itself selected as the communication target can be easily grasped through the HUD 14.

(2) Since the surrounding vehicle (other vehicle) to be selected can be easily grasped, the accuracy and operability for the selection operation of the opponent vehicle through the input device 15 are naturally improved.
In addition, the said embodiment can also be implemented with the following forms.

  In the above embodiment, as the input device 15, for example, the range of distance from the own vehicle can be variably set, and all the surrounding vehicles within the range can be selected. A device may be used.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Information processing apparatus, 11 ... Image acquisition part, 12 ... In-vehicle communication apparatus, 13 ... GPS (global positioning system), 14 ... HUD (head-up display), 15 ... Input device, 16 ... Microphone, 17 ... Vehicle information gateway .

Claims (1)

An inter-vehicle communication system that transmits and receives various types of information including messages between the host vehicle and another vehicle to be communicated,
A head-up display that superimposes the internal information of the vehicle and the external scenery of the vehicle;
An operation unit for performing a selection operation of the other vehicle to be communicated and a message transmitted to the selected other vehicle;
A vehicle-to-vehicle communication system characterized in that an identification display of another vehicle selected by the operation unit and a message transmitted / received to / from the selected other vehicle are displayed together with the head-up display.

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