JP2019060879A - Communication device, information notification method, information notification program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a communication device or the like that can prevent messages to be frequently transmitted regardless of a cycle to detect whether the communication device is in the inside of a communication service area or the outside of the communication service area.SOLUTION: A communication device determines that a communication state is changed from the inside of a communication service area to the outside of the communication service area, or the communication state is changed from the outside of the communication service area to the inside of the communication service area, and gives notice of information indicating change in the communication state if it has determined that the communication state is changed. If it has determined that the communication state is changed although it has not been moved since it gave notice of the information indicating the change in the communication state, it does not notify a user of the information indicating change in the communication state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present application belongs to the technical field such as a communication apparatus capable of notifying a user of information indicating that a state in a communication area with or outside the communication area with an external communication device has changed.

  In recent years, an information providing service using a wireless communication technology called DSRC (registered trademark) (Dedicated Short Range Communications) has been known. In this information provision service, for example, communication equipment (roadside equipment) installed in the service area, parking area, etc., provides on-vehicle traffic in the communication area, traffic information in the surrounding area, sightseeing guidance, etc. with images and sounds. It is possible. The in-vehicle device detects whether it is in the communication range with the communication device, and when entering the communication range from outside the communication range, notifies the user of a message indicating that the communication range has been entered (for example, a message navigation screen To be displayed). In this type of technology, for example, in Patent Document 1, the user initially sets up two types of sound quality, vibration, and a flashing notification signal indicating whether or not it is in an area, and the mobile station according to the setting. Discloses a technique for informing the user from the wireless communication device main body. Further, for example, when recognizing switching to either the communication area / outside of the communication with the base station apparatus, the user is notified to the user by sound or vibration that switching to either the communication area / outside is made. Technology is disclosed.

Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 10-210549 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-307690

  By the way, at the boundary between the communication area and the outside of the communication area, since the communication area and the outside of the communication area are alternately detected, a message is frequently notified, resulting in inconvenience such as giving a sense of discomfort to the user. According to Patent Document 2, the clocking operation is performed when switching to either the communication area or the non-area, and the clocking operation is stopped when the clocking time (timer) returns to the original area again before reaching the set time. In this way, we have proposed a technology that can prevent frequent notification of switching within the communication range / outside when the radio wave state indicating the communication range / outside is unstable, and can eliminate the discomfort felt by the user.

  However, when the radio wave state indicating the communication area and the outside of the communication area is unstable, for example, even when the vehicle is parked and stopped, the on-vehicle device alternately detects the communication area and the outside of the communication area and notifies the message frequently. There is something to do. In the case of suppressing notification to the user using clocked time as in the technique of Patent Document 2, for example, when the vehicle is parked or stopped, depending on the relationship between the detection period and the set time outside the communication range and the communication range. , It can be difficult to prevent frequent notification of messages.

  Thus, the present application has been made in view of the above-described point, and an example of the problem is communication that can prevent frequent notification of a message regardless of the detection cycle outside the communication area and the communication area. Abstract: An apparatus, an information notification method, an information notification program, and a recording medium are provided.

  In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 is a notification means for notifying of information indicating that the communication state has changed from the communication area to the outside of the communication area or that the communication state has changed from the outside of the communication area to the communication area. The notification unit lastly notifies the information indicating that the communication state has changed, and then the communication state changes even though the communication device has not moved. The information indicating that the communication state has changed is not notified to the user.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the information notification method performed by the communication device, wherein the notification means of the communication device changes the communication state from the communication area to the outside of the communication area, or from the outside of the communication area to the communication area The notification step includes a notification step of notifying information indicating that the state has changed, and the notification step notifies the information indicating that the communication state has changed last time, although the communication device has not moved since the previous notification. When the communication state changes, information indicating that the communication state has changed is not notified to the user.

  The invention according to claim 4 is a notification means for notifying information indicating that a communication state has changed from out of communication range to out of communication range, or that communication state has changed from out of communication range to within communication range. The information notification program for causing the communication device to function as, wherein the notification means changes the communication state despite the fact that the communication device has not moved since the information indicating that the communication state has changed is notified last time. In this case, it is characterized in that the information indicating that the communication state has changed is not notified to the user.

(A) is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of communication apparatus S1 which concerns on embodiment of this application, (B) is a figure which shows the outline structural example of navigation apparatus S2 which concerns on a present Example. (A) is a flowchart which shows the information notification process in the system control part 18 of navigation apparatus S2 in Example 1, (B) is a figure which shows an example of the communication state change message displayed on the display. (A) is a flowchart showing information notification processing in the system control unit 18 of the navigation device S2 in the second embodiment, and (B) shows information notification processing in the system control unit 18 of the navigation device S2 in the third embodiment. Is a flowchart showing (A) is a flowchart which shows the information notification process in the system control part 18 of navigation apparatus S2 in Example 4, (B), (C) is a flowchart which shows an example of an area boundary caution guidance process. In Example 5, it is a flowchart which shows the information notification process in the system control part 18 of navigation apparatus S2.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present application will be described based on the attached drawings. First, the configuration and function of the communication device S1 according to the embodiment of the present application will be described. The communication device S1 can perform wireless communication with an external communication device (also referred to as a base station) installed outside the communication device S1. Such wireless communication can be performed, for example, using DSRC wireless communication technology, Bluetooth (registered trademark) wireless communication technology, ZigBee wireless communication technology, or the like. The communication device S1 is a device capable of notifying the user of information indicating that the state has changed from the communication range with the external communication device to the outside of the communication range, or changed from the outside of the communication range to the communication range. The communication device S1 is used, for example, by being incorporated into a navigation device mounted on a mobile object such as a vehicle or a ship. Alternatively, the communication device S1 may be incorporated and used in a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or a mobile phone.

  FIG. 1A is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the communication device S1 according to the embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 1A, the communication apparatus S1 according to the embodiment includes an acquisition unit 1, a recording unit 2, a determination unit 3, a comparison unit 4, and a notification unit 5. The acquisition unit 1 acquires position information indicating the current position of the communication device S1. For example, the acquisition unit 1 acquires position information (longitude and latitude) detected by a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver. The recording unit 2 records position information of the communication device S1 when information (hereinafter referred to as a “communication state change message”) indicating that the state has changed is notified from the communication device S1 to the user. The recording unit 2 may be configured to record time information indicating the time when the communication state change message is notified to the user together with the position information.

  The determination means 3 detects whether it is within the communication range with the external communication device or outside the communication range, and the state changes from the communication range with the external communication device to the outside of the communication range, or from the outside of the communication range To determine if the state has changed. The comparison unit 4 is recorded by the recording unit 2 when the position information acquired by the acquisition unit 1 is determined when the determination unit 3 determines that the state has changed, and when the communication state change message is notified to the user last time The position information is compared with The “position information acquired by the acquisition unit 1 when it is determined that the state has changed” is position information (hereinafter referred to as “current position information”) indicating the current position of the communication device S1. On the other hand, “position information recorded by the recording unit 2 when the communication state change message was notified to the user last time” is position information indicating the past position of the communication device S1 (acquired by the acquisition unit 1 in the past and recorded Among the position information recorded by the means 2, it is the latest (closest to the current) position information (hereinafter referred to as "past position information").

  The notification means 5 notifies the user of the communication state change message based on the comparison result by the comparison means 4. For example, in the notification unit 5, when the positions indicated by the respective position information (the current position information and the past position information) compared by the comparison unit 4 are not identical, or the distance difference between the positions indicated by each position information is less than a predetermined value If not, notify the user of a communication state change message. “The position shown in each position information is the same” means that the distance difference between the positions is “0”, that is, the communication device S1 is not moving. This makes it possible to prevent the user from being notified of the communication status change message when the position indicated by each piece of position information is the same. When an error or the like is taken into consideration, the distance difference may not be "0" even when the communication device S1 is not moving, so the distance difference between the positions shown in each position information is a predetermined value (especially limited However, the communication state change message is configured not to be notified to the user even when the distance is set to, for example, 2 m to 10 m or less. In addition, the notification means 5 may notify by displaying the said communication state change message on a display, and may notify by audio-outputting the said communication state change message.

  As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, when it is determined that the state of the communication device S1 has changed from being in communication with the external communication device to be out of communication, or has been changed from being out of communication to being in communication Compare the current position information acquired in step with the past position information recorded when the user was notified of the previous communication state change message, and notify the user of the communication state change message based on the comparison result Since the configuration is made, it is possible to prevent the frequent notification of the message regardless of the detection cycle of the communication area and the out of communication area.

  The notifying means 5 determines whether the position indicated by each piece of position information compared by the comparing means 4 is the same or whether the distance difference between the positions indicated by each piece of position information is equal to or less than a predetermined value. Regardless of whether the communication state change message is displayed on the display, the notification means 5 indicates that the positions shown in the respective position information compared by the comparison means 4 are not identical or the distance difference between the positions shown in the respective position information is If it is not equal to or less than the predetermined value, the user may be notified by outputting a communication state change message by voice. In other words, regardless of whether the position is the same or whether the distance difference between the positions indicated in each position information is less than or equal to the predetermined value, the communication state change message is displayed on the display while the position is Are identical, or when the distance difference between the positions indicated in the respective position information is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the communication state change message is configured not to be output as voice. In this configuration, if the user is not looking at the display, the user may not feel uncomfortable even if the message is displayed frequently, but even in such a case, the user may be notified if the message is frequently notified by voice. Is considered to be uncomfortable. According to this configuration, when the position indicated by each piece of position information compared by the comparison means 4 is the same, or when the distance difference between the positions indicated by each piece of position information is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the communication state change message Can be displayed, but notification of the message by voice can be suppressed.

  Further, the notification means 5 is a case where the position shown in each position information compared by the comparison means 4 is the same, or the distance difference between the positions shown in each position information is equal to or less than a predetermined value, A predetermined time (not particularly limited, for example, 30 minutes to 1 hour is set from the time indicated by the time information recorded by the recording means 2 when the communication state change message was previously notified to the user) The communication state change message may be configured to be notified to the user when it has elapsed. In this configuration, for example, even if the communication apparatus S1 has not moved, if it is desirable for the user to communicate the message if a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous notification (for example, the user has notified the previous message) If you forgot According to this configuration, it is possible to notify the user of an effective message while preventing the message from being notified frequently.

  In addition, the notification means 5 repeatedly changes between the communication area and the outside of the communication area within a predetermined time interval (not particularly limited but set, for example, to about 2 seconds to 10 seconds). If there is, it may be configured to notify the user of information indicating that it is at the boundary between the communication area and the outside of the communication area (hereinafter referred to as “communication area boundary message”). According to this configuration, it is possible to alert the user that the communication device S1 is at the boundary between the communication range and the outside of the communication range. Further, when the provided information (for example, various contents such as characters and images) acquired from the external communication device is being displayed, the notification means 5 does not change the communication state change message regardless of the comparison result by the comparison means 4 It may be configured to suppress notification to the user of. According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the user from, for example, obstructing the browsing operation by displaying the message while browsing the provided information.

  As described above, the information notification method in the communication device S1 causes the computer included in the communication device S1 to function as the acquisition unit 1, the recording unit 2, the determination unit 3, the comparison unit 4, the notification unit 5, etc. It may be configured to be performed by a notification program (software), or may be performed by the acquisition unit 1 including the hardware, the recording unit 2, the determination unit 3, the comparison unit 4, the notification unit 5, etc. You may configure it. The above information notification program is recorded so as to be readable by a computer on a recording medium such as a CD (Compact Disc), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), a BD (Blu-ray Disc), or an HD (Hard Disc). It may be configured to be read into the communication device S1 from the recording medium via the drive, or may be configured to be read into the communication device S1 by being downloaded from a predetermined server connected to the network. .

  Next, an example corresponding to the above-described embodiment will be described. The embodiment described below is an embodiment in the case where the communication device S1 of the present application is applied to a navigation device mounted on a vehicle and guiding traveling (movement) of the vehicle. Also, in the embodiment described below, the navigation device has a DSRC on-vehicle device function to receive DSRC's information provision service (for example, DSRC-IP system service), and the DSRC roadside device exists in the communication area. Wireless communication is performed with (an example of the external communication device).

  First, the configuration and function of the navigation device S2 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1 (B). FIG. 1B is a diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of the navigation device S2 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1B, the navigation device S2 includes a GPS reception unit 11, a sensor unit 12, a storage unit 13, a display unit 14, an audio processing unit 15, a communication unit 16, an operation unit 17, and a system control unit 18. Etc., and these components are connected to a bus 19 for transmitting data. Here, the system control unit 18 is an example of the acquisition unit 1, the recording unit 2, the determination unit 3, the comparison unit 4, and the notification unit 5 described above.

  The GPS receiving unit 11 receives navigation radio waves output from GPS satellites disposed on the satellite orbit and orbiting the earth via an antenna (not shown), and based on the received signals, indicates position information (longitude And latitude) and output to the system control unit 18 as GPS data. The sensor unit 12 is, for example, a speed sensor that detects the speed of the vehicle based on a vehicle speed pulse made up of pulse signals generated as the wheels of the vehicle rotate, an azimuth sensor (gyro sensor) that detects the traveling direction of the vehicle, An acceleration sensor for detecting the acceleration of the vehicle, a distance sensor for detecting the traveling distance of the vehicle, etc. are provided, and each data (velocity data, azimuth data, acceleration data, traveling distance data, etc.) detected by these sensors It outputs to the system control unit 18.

  The storage unit 13 is configured of, for example, a CD drive, a DVD drive, a BD drive, an HD drive, etc., and under the control of the system control unit 18, various storages are recorded on a recording medium such as CD, DVD, BD or HD. The data and program are read out and output to the system control unit 18. This program includes a program for receiving DSRC's information provision service (including a browser program and the information notification program of the present application), and navigation processing (processing such as route search (route search) and route guidance (route guidance) etc. It includes a program for execution. The various data includes, for example, map data and route guidance data, and further, data (for example, menu data) for prompting the user to perform an input instruction or a selection instruction.

  The display unit 14 includes, for example, a graphic controller, a buffer memory (VRAM or the like), a display (for example, a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display or the like), and the graphic controller controls the map under the control of the system control unit 18. After data and image data related to route guidance are developed and drawn in a buffer memory, they are displayed on a display (for example, map display, line segment display of a route, etc.). Further, under the control of the system control unit 18, the above-described communication state change message or the like is displayed on the display. Thus, a communication status change message or the like is notified to the user.

  The audio processing unit 15 includes, for example, a DAC (digital / analog signal converter), an amplifier, a speaker, and the like. After audio data output from the system control unit 18 is D / A converted by DAC, it is amplified by the amplifier Output as a sound wave from the speaker. The above-described communication state change message or the like is also notified to the user by the sound output from the speaker.

  The communication unit 16 bears an interface with the DSRC unit U mounted on the vehicle. The DSRC unit U includes a DSRC antenna, and controls wireless communication with the DSRC roadside device R present in the communication range according to the DSRC protocol, the communication control protocol, and the like. The communication area with the DSRC roadside device R is a DSRC information connection area where it is possible to receive the DSRC information provision service. The DSRC roadside device R is installed, for example, in a service area, a parking area, a roadside station, etc., and is connected to the DSRC server SA via the network NW. The system control unit 18 can communicate with the DSRC roadside device R via the communication unit 16 and the DSRC unit U, and can further communicate with the DSRC server SA via the network NW.

  The operation unit 17 has an operation button for receiving an instruction from the user, and outputs an instruction signal corresponding to the operation button pressed by the user to the system control unit 18. When the display of the display unit 14 is a touch panel system, the operation buttons are displayed on the display in a selectable manner.

  The system control unit 18 includes a CPU as a computer, a work RAM, a ROM for storing various data and programs, and a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory, and centrally controls the entire components in the navigation device S2. In the non-volatile memory, "inside → outside" change time information indicating the time (change time) when the state changes from the communication range with DSRC roadside machine R to the outside of the communication range, the state changes from out of communication range to the communication range At least one of the change time information is recorded with “outside → in” change time information indicating the time (change time) at which the image was taken. Furthermore, in the non-volatile memory, position information of the navigation device S2 when the communication status change message is notified to the user through the display unit 14 or the voice processing unit 15, and notification time information indicating the time (notice time) at this time. Is recorded.

  In addition, the system control unit 18 causes the CPU to read and execute a program (including the information notification program of the present application) stored in, for example, the storage unit 13 to perform navigation such as route search and route guidance according to the user's instruction. It performs processing, and functions as each means of the present application to perform information notification processing. In this information notification process, the details will be described later, but the system control unit 18 acquires the status when the status changes from the communication range with the DSRC roadside device R to the out of communication range or from the out of communication range to the communication range The current position information is compared with the past position information recorded when the communication state change message was notified to the user last time, and the communication state change message is notified to the user based on the comparison result. Therefore, it can be prevented that the message is frequently notified regardless of the detection cycle of the communication area and the outside of the communication area.

  Next, details of the information notification process in the navigation device S2 according to the present embodiment will be described separately in the first to fifth embodiments. In the following description, the system control unit 18 of the navigation device S2 detects (for example, monitoring at a predetermined cycle) whether or not it has entered a communication area with the DSRC roadside device R via the communication unit 16 and the DSRC unit U. ing. Then, when entering the communication area, the system control unit 18 accesses the DSRC server SA via the communication unit 16, the DSRC unit U, the DSRC roadside device R, and the network NW to establish a connection according to, for example, TCP / IP. Do. Thereby, page data (an example of provided information) provided (sent) from the DSRC server SA is acquired, and in response to an instruction (for example, content browsing instruction) from the user via the operation unit 17, for example, by a browser function The page is displayed on the display of the display unit 14. The page data is, for example, composed of HTML document data, image data, etc. On the page displayed on the display from the page data, contents (images, characters, etc.) such as traffic conditions in the vicinity and tourist information Configuration), and various buttons and links (hyperlinks) to other pages are set.

Example 1
FIG. 2A is a flowchart showing information notification processing in the system control unit 18 of the navigation device S2 in the first embodiment. In addition, the process shown to FIG. 2 (A) is started by starting of navigation apparatus S2, for example (same as Example 2-5). In the process shown in FIG. 2A, the system control unit 18 determines whether the state has changed from outside the communication area with the DSRC roadside machine R to the communication area (step S1). Whether the state has changed from outside the communication area to the DSRC roadside machine R to the communication area means, in other words, whether or not the area has entered (is it in the DSRC information connection area). If the system control unit 18 determines that the state has not changed from outside the communication area to the communication area (step S1: NO), the system control unit 18 proceeds to step S2. In step S2, navigation processing is performed according to other processing, for example, an instruction from the user. On the other hand, when the system control unit 18 determines that the state has changed from outside the communication area to the communication area (step S1: YES), the system control unit 18 proceeds to step S3. In step S3, the system control unit 18 acquires the current position information of the navigation device S2 from the GPS receiving unit 11 (GPS data), and the past position information recorded when the communication state change message was notified to the user last time is Obtain from non-volatile memory. If the past position information is not yet recorded in the non-volatile memory, the process proceeds to step S5.

  Next, the system control unit 18 compares the current position information obtained in step S3 with the past position information, and determines whether the distance difference between the positions indicated by the compared position information is equal to or less than a predetermined value. (Step S4). This value is set to, for example, about 0 m to 10 m. When the predetermined value is 0 m, it is determined whether or not the position indicated by each piece of position information compared is the same (that is, the current position and the past position are the same position). When the system control unit 18 determines that the distance difference between the positions is equal to or less than the predetermined value (step S4: YES), the system control unit 18 returns to step S1 without notifying the communication state change message.

  On the other hand, when the system control unit 18 determines that the distance difference between the positions is not equal to or less than the predetermined value (step S4: NO), the system control unit 18 causes the display to display a communication state change message (step S5). FIG. 2B is a diagram showing an example of the communication state change message displayed on the display. The communication state change message "The DSRC information connection area has been entered" is displayed at the reference numeral 51 in FIG. 2 (B). Next, the system control unit 18 causes the speaker in the voice processing unit 15 to output a voice (voice reproduction) (for example, voice reproduction) of a communication state change message that “the DSRC information connection area has been entered” (step S6). Thus, the communication status change message is notified to the user. Next, the system control unit 18 acquires from the GPS reception unit 11 (GPS data) the position information of the navigation device S2 when the user is notified of the communication state change message, and the acquired position information is stored in the non-volatile memory. Record (step S7). Note that one of the processing of the display of the communication state change message in step S5 and the voice output of the communication state change message in step S6 may be performed.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the current position information and the past position information are compared, and the display is performed when the distance difference between the positions indicated by the compared position information is not equal to or less than the predetermined value. And the voice communication state change message is notified to the user, and when the distance difference is equal to or less than the predetermined value, it is considered that the vehicle hardly moves and the communication state change message is not notified to the user. It is possible to prevent frequent notification of a message regardless of the detection cycle of the communication area and the outside of the communication area. For example, in the service area of the toll road, after the user parks the vehicle at the boundary between the communication range and the outside of the communication range and turns off the ACC and makes a rest break, for example, radio wave status of wireless communication becomes unstable when the ACC is turned on. Even in such a case, the communication status change message is not notified frequently (that is, the communication status change message is not frequently notified even though it is parked), so that the user does not feel uncomfortable. can do. In particular, since the communication status change message is not frequently output in voice, it is possible to prevent the user from feeling loud.

(Example 2)
FIG. 3A is a flowchart showing information notification processing in the system control unit 18 of the navigation device S2 in the second embodiment. In the process shown in FIG. 3A, the system control unit 18 determines whether the state has changed from outside the communication area with the DSRC roadside device R to the communication area (step S11), and determines that the state has changed. If it is (step S11: YES), the communication status change message is displayed on the display (step S13). Thereafter, the system control unit 18 acquires current position information and past position information (step S14), and determines whether or not the distance difference between the positions indicated by each position information is equal to or less than a predetermined value (step S15). . That is, unlike the first embodiment, the system control unit 18 displays the communication state change message on the display regardless of whether the distance difference between the positions indicated in each position information is equal to or less than a predetermined value. Become. Then, if the system control unit 18 determines that the distance difference between the positions is not equal to or less than the predetermined value (step S15: NO), the communication state change message is output as voice from the speaker as in the first embodiment (step S16) The position information of the navigation device S2 at this time is recorded in the non-volatile memory (step S17).

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, in the case where the distance difference between the positions indicated in the compared pieces of position information is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the case where the user is not gazing at the display is considered. Thus, the communication status change message can be displayed, and only the notification of the message by voice can be suppressed.

(Example 3)
FIG. 3B is a flowchart showing information notification processing in the system control unit 18 of the navigation device S2 in the third embodiment. In the process shown in FIG. 3 (B), the processes of steps S21 to S25 are the same as the processes of steps S11 to S15 shown in FIG. 3 (A). However, in step S25 shown in FIG. 3B, the system control unit 18 determines that the distance difference between the positions indicated by the current position information and the past position information is equal to or less than a predetermined value (step S25: YES ), Notification time information indicating the time when the communication state change message was previously notified to the user is acquired from the non-volatile memory (step S29). If the notification time information is not yet recorded in the non-volatile memory, the process proceeds to step S26.

  Next, the system control unit 18 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed from the notification time indicated by the acquired notification time information (that is, a predetermined time has elapsed since the notification of the previous communication state change message) (step S30). . This time is set, for example, to about 30 minutes to 1 hour. When the system control unit 18 determines that the predetermined time has not elapsed from the notification time (step S30: NO), the system control unit 18 returns to step S21 without notifying the communication state change message. On the other hand, when the system control unit 18 determines that the predetermined time has elapsed from the notification time (step S30: YES), the system control unit 18 proceeds to step S26 and causes the speaker to output the communication state change message by voice (step S26). . Next, the system control unit 18 records the position information of the navigation device S2 when the communication status change message is notified in step S26 in the non-volatile memory (step S27). Next, the system control unit 18 records notification time information indicating the notification time when the communication status change message is notified in step S26 in the nonvolatile memory in association with the position information recorded in step S27 (step S28). ). The time information is acquired, for example, by the clock function of the system control unit 18.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, even if the distance difference between the positions indicated by the current position information and the past position information is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the notification of the previous communication state change message is Since the communication state change message is notified when the predetermined time has elapsed, it is effective for the user when a little time such as lunch has passed while preventing the message from being notified frequently. A notification of the message can be made.

  In the third embodiment, the communication state change message is displayed on the display before determining whether the distance difference between the positions indicated in each position information is equal to or less than a predetermined value (regardless of the determination result). Although configured as described above, when the distance difference between the positions indicated by the current position information and the past position information is not equal to or less than a predetermined value as in the first embodiment, or when a predetermined time has elapsed since the notification time A change message may be displayed (the same applies to the fourth and fifth embodiments).

(Example 4)
FIG. 4A is a flowchart showing information notification processing in the system control unit 18 of the navigation device S2 in the fourth embodiment. In the process shown in FIG. 4A, the processes of steps S31, S32, and S34 are the same as the processes of steps S21 to S23 shown in FIG. 3B. In step S33 shown in FIG. 4A, the system control unit 18 nonvolatilely changes the “outside → inside” change time information indicating the change time when the state changes from outside the communication area with the DSRC roadside machine R to the communication area. Record in memory. Note that the system control unit 18 is configured to record “inside → outside” change time information indicating the change time when the state changes from being in communication with the DSRC roadside machine R to the outside of the communication area in the non-volatile memory It is also good. The process of steps S35 to S41 shown in FIG. 4A is the same as the process of steps S24 to S30 shown in FIG. 3B. However, when it is determined in step S41 shown in FIG. 3B that the predetermined time has not elapsed from the notification time (step S41: NO), the system boundary attention guidance process is executed (step S41). Step S42). The area boundary caution guidance process is a process for notifying the user of the communication area boundary message to the user when the area between the communication area with the DSRC roadside machine R and the outside of the communication area is repeatedly changing at a predetermined time interval or less. .

  FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C are flowcharts showing an example of the area boundary caution guidance process. Any example of the process shown in FIG. 4B and the process shown in FIG. 4C may be employed. In the example shown in FIG. 4B, first, the system control unit 18 determines whether or not a predetermined number (plural) of change time information is recorded in the non-volatile memory (step S421). This number is set to, for example, about three to four. If the system control unit 18 determines that a predetermined number of change time information is recorded in the non-volatile memory (step S421: YES), the system control unit 18 proceeds to step S422. On the other hand, when the system control unit 18 determines that a predetermined number of change time information is not recorded in the non-volatile memory (step S421: NO), the process returns to step S31. In step S422, the system control unit 18 acquires each piece of change time information from the non-volatile memory. The change time information acquired here is only a plurality of "outside → inside" change time information, a plurality of "outside → outside" change time information only, or a plurality of "outside → inside" change time information There may be a plurality of both “in → out” change time information.

  Next, the system control unit 18 determines whether or not the range between the communication range with the DSRC roadside device R and the outside of the communication range is repeatedly changed at a predetermined time interval or less using each acquired change time information ( Step S423). This time interval is set to, for example, about 2 seconds to 10 seconds. In step S423, for example, the system control unit 18 sequentially calculates, from the present time, the interval of the change time indicated in each change time information, retroactively to the past. For example, the interval T1 between the first new (current) change time and the second latest change time, the interval T2 between the second latest change time and the third latest change time, and so on Ru. Subsequently, the system control unit 18 determines whether the calculated intervals T1, T2 and the like are equal to or less than a predetermined time interval, and when the intervals T1, T2 and the like are equal to or less than the predetermined time interval, communication with the communication area is performed. It is determined that the interval between out of service is repeatedly changed at a predetermined time interval or less (step S423: YES), and the process proceeds to step S424. On the other hand, when it is determined that the communication area with the DSRC roadside machine R and the outside of the communication area have not repeatedly changed within the predetermined time interval (step S423: NO), the process returns to step S31.

  In step S424, the system control unit 18 causes the display to display a communication area boundary message. Next, the system control unit 18 causes the communication area boundary message to be voice-outputted from the speaker (step S425). As a result, the communication area boundary message is notified to the user. Note that either the display of the communication area boundary message in step S424 or the audio output of the communication area boundary message in step S425 may be performed. Next, the system control unit 18, for example, erases (clears) all change time information recorded in the non-volatile memory (step S426), and returns to step S31. By performing the process of step S426, even if the state at the boundary between the communication area and the outside of the communication area continues even after that, the time interval until the next notification of the communication area boundary message may be set to a predetermined time interval. it can.

  On the other hand, in the example shown in FIG. 4C, first, the system control unit 18 determines whether or not the communication area boundary message has already been notified within a predetermined range (for example, 5 m) from the current position (step S420). ). For example, every time the system control unit 18 notifies the communication area boundary message, the system control unit 18 records the position information at that time. Then, if the distance difference between the position indicated by the recorded position information and the position indicated by the current position information acquired in step S35 this time is within a predetermined value (for example, the system control unit 18 When the vehicle has not moved since the notification of the communication area boundary message), it is determined that the communication area boundary message has already been notified within a predetermined range from the current position. If it is determined that the communication area boundary message has already been notified within the predetermined range from the current position (step S420: YES), the process returns to step S31. This can prevent, for example, frequent notification of the communication area boundary message at the same position of the vehicle. On the other hand, when it is determined that the communication area boundary message has not already been notified within the predetermined range from the current position (step S420: NO), the process proceeds to step S421, and the same processing as FIG.

  In step S420, the system control unit 18 determines whether a communication area boundary message has already been notified a predetermined number of times (for example, about 10 times) within a predetermined range from the current position, and the predetermined range from the current position If it is determined that the communication area boundary message has already been notified a predetermined number of times, it may be configured to return to step S31 without notifying the communication area boundary message. In this case, the system control unit 18 increments and records the number every time the communication area boundary message is notified.

  Further, as another example, in step S420, the system control unit 18 determines whether or not a predetermined time (for example, about 30 minutes to 1 hour) has elapsed since the notification time of the previous communication area boundary message. If it is determined that the time has elapsed (step S420: YES), the process proceeds to step S421, and if it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed (step S420: NO), the process returns to step S31. In this case, the system control unit 18 records time information indicating the notification time at that time each time the communication area boundary message is notified.

  As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the boundary between the communication area and the outside of the communication area is repeatedly changed between the communication area with the DSRC roadside device R and the outside of the communication area at predetermined time intervals or less. Since it is configured to notify the user of a communication area boundary message indicating that the vehicle is in the communication area, it is possible to alert the user that the vehicle is at the boundary between the communication area and the outside of the communication area, for example.

(Example 5)
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an information notification process in the system control unit 18 of the navigation device S2 in the fifth embodiment. In the process shown in FIG. 5, the processes of steps S51 to S53 are the same as the processes of steps S31 to S33 shown in FIG. 4 (B). In step S54 shown in FIG. 4A, the system control unit 18 displays a page (content) related to the page data acquired from the DSRC server SA (DSRC roadside device R) (in other words, the user is browsing the content) To determine if it is For example, when the page related to the page data acquired from the DSRC server SA is displayed on the display according to the content browsing instruction or the screen switching instruction from the user via the operation unit 17, the page is being displayed. It is determined that Then, when the system control unit 18 determines that the page is being displayed (step S54: YES), the process returns to step S51. On the other hand, when the system control unit 18 determines that the page is not being displayed (step S54: NO), the system control unit 18 proceeds to step S55. The processes of steps S55 to S63 shown in FIG. 5 are the same as the processes of steps S34 to S42 shown in FIG. 4 (A). Also, the process of step S54 may be configured to be performed before step S51.

  As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, when the page acquired from the DSRC server SA (DSRC roadside machine R) is being displayed, the present embodiment is concerned with the comparison result of the current position information and the past position information. In addition, since the notification of the communication state change message to the user is suppressed, it is possible to prevent the user from, for example, obstructing the browsing operation by displaying the message while browsing the content. In this case, the user may acquire page data of another page (for example, to the DSRC server SA) by selecting (pressing) the “link to another page”, the “return button”, or the “next page button”. By displaying an error in the page request, it is possible to know that it is out of communication range.

  In steps S1, S11, S21, S31, and S51 in the first to fifth embodiments, the system control unit 18 determines whether the state has changed from outside the communication area with the DSRC roadside machine R to the communication area. Alternatively, it may be configured to determine whether the state has changed from the communication range with the DSRC roadside device R to the outside of the communication range. In this case, if the distance difference between the positions indicated by the current position information and the past position information is not equal to or less than a predetermined value, or if a predetermined time has elapsed since the notification time, the system control unit 18 may It will be notified of the communication status change message "out of the area".

Reference Signs List 1 acquisition unit 2 recording unit 3 determination unit 4 comparison unit 5 notification unit 11 GPS reception unit 12 sensor unit 13 storage unit 14 display unit 15 audio processing unit 16 communication unit 17 operation unit 18 system control unit 19 bus S1 communication device S2 navigation device

Claims (1)

In a communication device capable of notifying a user of information indicating that a state has changed from the communication range with an external communication device to the outside of the communication range, or changed from the outside of the communication range to the communication range.
Acquisition means for acquiring position information indicating the current position of the communication device;
Recording means for recording the position information of the communication device when information indicating that the state has changed is notified to the user;
A determination unit that determines whether the state has changed;
The position information acquired by the acquisition unit when it is determined that the state has changed, and the information recorded by the recording unit when information indicating that the state has changed last is notified to the user Comparison means for comparing position information;
Notification means for notifying the user of information indicating that the state has changed based on the comparison result by the comparison means;
A communication apparatus comprising:

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