JP3779465B2 - In-vehicle information collection system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an in-vehicle information collection system that collects various types of information by mobile communication.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Recently, mobile telephones such as cellular systems and simple telephone systems (PHS) are rapidly spreading. The factor of this rapid spread is largely due to the convenience that information can be easily transmitted and received.
[0003]
In-vehicle information collection systems that can collect various types of information from outside the vehicle have been put into practical use. For example, in an in-vehicle information collection system configured by combining the above-described mobile phone and a navigation device, information data on traffic information, entertainment facilities, etc. is collected via the Internet or personal computer (PC) communication. Can be displayed or reflected in route guidance by the navigation device.
[0004]
The mobile telephone communication (call) charges described above are generally determined based on a plurality of areas (charge areas) set for calculating communication charges between the charge area to which the caller belongs and the charge area to which the callee belongs. It depends on the positional relationship. For example, when a charge area is set in units of prefectures, a caller in Tokyo can make a call for 10 seconds for 10 seconds when calling a callee in Tokyo. The communication charge varies depending on the positional relationship between the caller's charge area and the callee's charge area, such that a caller can call for 15 seconds at 10 yen when a caller from Kanagawa places a call. It becomes a thing. In addition, connection providers (providers) for the Internet and personal computer communication often have connection points (access points) in various places. For this reason, the user can reduce the communication fee by selecting and connecting the optimum access point.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, since the vehicle-mounted information collection system described above transmits and receives data while moving, the charge area to which the vehicle belongs may be switched during communication. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the charge area, the access point, and the vehicle position. For example, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), when the vehicle is in the Tokyo area, the communication charge is the cheapest if it is connected to an access point in the Tokyo area, but as shown in FIG. 6 (b), Kanagawa After moving to the area, that is, after the charge area is switched, the communication charge is cheaper if the connection point is reconnected to the access point in the Kanagawa area than it is to continue to connect to the access point in the Tokyo area. However, once the conventional in-vehicle information collection system is connected to a certain access point, the connection with the access point is continued, so the communication fee becomes high.
[0006]
The present invention was created in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide an in-vehicle information collection system capable of reducing communication charges.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problem, the in-vehicle information collection system according to the present invention selects a first connection destination with the lowest communication charge from a plurality of connection destination candidates and performs line connection by mobile communication means. When a second connection destination that is cheaper than the first connection destination appears as the vehicle travels, the line connection target is switched from the first connection destination to the second connection destination. Even when the vehicle position moves, communication can always be performed at the lowest communication charge.
[0008]
Specifically, based on the host vehicle position detected by the host vehicle position detection unit, the connection destination selection unit selects the connection destination with the lowest communication charge from among a plurality of connection destination candidates, and this selected connection A line connection is made to the destination, and various information is communicated by the mobile communication means. Then, when the connection destination with the lowest communication charge is changed along with the movement of the vehicle position, the connection destination switching control means switches the connection destination of the line whose connection state is maintained by the mobile communication means. . When the connection destination with the lowest communication charge is changed with the movement of the host vehicle position, the connection destination of the line is switched each time, so compared to the case of connecting the line using the same connection destination, Communication charges can be reduced.
[0009]
In particular, by storing information related to the communication charge system of mobile communication means and information related to multiple connection destination candidates, the connection destination with the lowest communication charge corresponding to the location of the traveling vehicle is selected. It becomes possible to select by means.
[0010]
Also, when the connection destination switching control means switches the connection destination of the line, if the various information is currently collected using this line, the connection destination should be switched after the collection operation is completed. Is preferred. In normal data communication, if the transmission / reception operation is interrupted in the middle of data transmission / reception, the data received so far is discarded, but the data communication operation corresponding to the collection operation of various operations has been completed. By switching the connection destination of the line later, it is possible to save the trouble of resending various information.
[0011]
Also, when the connection destination switching control means switches the connection destination of the line, if various information is currently being collected using this line, the notification means notifies the connection destination switching timing. It is preferable to do. Whether the user who received this notification maintains the current communication status and collects various information, or interrupts communication and switches the connection destination of the line and then collects various information again The connection destination can be switched in accordance with the actual situation according to the amount of information being collected, the elapsed time, the remaining required time, and the like.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An in-vehicle information collection system according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied is accompanied by traveling of the host vehicle in a state where a line is connected to any of a plurality of connection points (access points) prepared by an information provider. Thus, when entering a charge area with a different communication charge, a feature is that an access point that reduces the communication charge is newly selected and the connection destination of the line is switched. Hereinafter, an in-vehicle information collection system according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0013]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an in-vehicle information collection system according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied. The in-vehicle information collection system 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a navigation device 10 that detects the position of the vehicle, a mobile phone 12 that connects a communication line with an access point prepared by an information provider, A communication control unit 14 that switches an access point that is a connection destination of a communication line by a body phone 12, a charge area information memory 16 that stores information about a charge area, and a connection that stores information about locations of access points distributed in various places A control unit 20 that controls the destination information memory 18, the vehicle-mounted information collection system 1 as a whole, and selects an access point so as to reduce the communication fee; an operation unit 22 that allows a user to input an operation instruction; A buzzer 24 for generating a notification sound, an image output from the navigation device 10 and an image sent from the control unit 20 A display control unit 26 for selectively switching control, is configured to include a display device 28 for displaying an image selected by the display control unit 26.
[0014]
The navigation device 10 is configured to include a GPS receiver or the like for detecting the vehicle position, and guides the route to the destination or detects the longitude / latitude of the vehicle position at predetermined time intervals. The longitude / latitude of the vehicle position is sent to the control unit 20 as vehicle position data.
[0015]
The mobile telephone 12 connects a communication line with an access point where the communication charge is the cheapest via a ground station in the vicinity of the own vehicle, and various data are exchanged with an information provider via this communication line. Send and receive. The communication control means 14 performs access point switching control for line connection by the mobile telephone 12 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 20.
[0016]
The charge area information memory 16 and the connection destination information memory 18 store information necessary for selecting an access point with the lowest communication charge. Specifically, the charge area information memory 16 stores a charge area table that is information related to the charge area, and the connection destination information memory 18 stores access point data that is information related to the access point that is the connection destination. Storing. Details of the charge area table and access point data will be described later.
[0017]
The control unit 20 performs communication based on the own vehicle position data sent from the navigation device 10, the charge area table stored in the charge area table 16, and the access point data stored in the connection destination information memory 18. The access point with the lowest charge is selected, and information (telephone number) of the selected access point is sent to the communication control unit 14. In addition, when the timing for switching the access point comes when the control unit 20 is actually transmitting and receiving data, the control unit 20 sounds the buzzer 24 to notify the user to that effect. In addition, when the image data is included in the data received by the mobile phone 12, the control unit 20 extracts the image data, sends it to the display control unit 26, and displays the content on the display device 28.
[0018]
The operation unit 22 is used by the user to input various instructions, and a “connection destination switching” key for instructing to switch the access point to be a connection destination by interrupting this communication during data transmission / reception. I have.
[0019]
The navigation device 10 described above is controlled by the vehicle position detection means, the mobile phone 12 is controlled by the mobile communication means, the charge area information memory 16 is controlled by the charge information storage means, and the connection destination information memory 18 is controlled by the connection destination information storage means. The unit 20 corresponds to a connection destination selection unit, the communication control unit 14 and the control unit 20 correspond to a connection destination switching control unit, and the control unit 20 and the buzzer 24 correspond to a notification unit, respectively.
[0020]
The in-vehicle information collection system 1 of this embodiment has such a configuration, and the operation thereof will be described next.
[0021]
First, the fee structure of the mobile telephone system in this embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a charge system of the mobile telephone system. As shown in the figure, the charge system of the mobile telephone system of this embodiment is set for each prefecture, and when a caller makes a call to a callee in the same prefecture (for example, a caller from a Tokyo area to a Tokyo In the case of calling an incoming party in the area), communication is possible for 17 seconds at 10 yen. Further, when a caller calls a callee in an adjacent prefecture (for example, a caller in Tokyo calls a callee in Kanagawa Prefecture), communication can be performed for 10 seconds at 10 yen. When a caller calls a callee in a prefecture other than the same prefecture or an adjacent prefecture (for example, a caller in Tokyo calls a callee in Fukushima), communication can be performed for 10 seconds at 10 yen.
[0022]
That is, under the charge system shown in FIG. 2, communication can be performed at the cheapest communication charge when the called party is in the same charge area as the caller, and communication can be performed at the next lowest communication charge. This can be done when the called party is in an adjacent fee area, and the highest communication charge is made when the called party is in the same fee area or a fee area other than the adjacent fee area. Therefore, in order to reduce the communication fee, it is necessary to consider the relationship between the vehicle location and the location of the access point and the fee area.
[0023]
FIG. 3 shows an operation procedure for switching the access point so that the communication fee is the lowest when the vehicle travels and enters another fee area with a line connected to any access point. It is a flowchart shown. It is assumed that a line is currently connected to one of the access points at which the communication charge is the lowest, and the vehicle is traveling while maintaining this connection state.
[0024]
When the control unit 20 acquires the vehicle position data (longitude / latitude) from the navigation device 10 (step 100), the control unit 20 is based on the vehicle position data and the charge area table stored in the charge area information memory 16. Specifies a toll area where the vehicle is traveling (step 101).
[0025]
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a fee area table stored in the fee area information memory 16. As shown in the figure, the charge area table includes “charge area identification” for identifying charge areas, and “longitude / latitude of each vertex” of this polygon when the charge area is composed of polygonal areas. , And “adjacent area identification” indicating a fee area adjacent to the fee area. As described above, since the charge area is set for each prefecture, the area of the charge area matches the area of the prefecture. Accordingly, as shown in the figure, the charge area identification and each prefecture have a one-to-one correspondence such that the charge area identification “01” is Tokyo and “02” is Kanagawa prefecture. Also, for example, Tokyo is adjacent to Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, and Yamanashi prefectures, so as shown in the figure, the adjacent area identification corresponding to the charge area identification “01 (Tokyo)” Included are four charge area identifications, "02 (Kanagawa)", "03 (Saitama)", "04 (Chiba)", and "05 (Yamanashi)", which are the charge area identifications of the prefecture adjacent to Tokyo. It is.
[0026]
The control unit 20 searches for the “longitude / latitude of each vertex” corresponding to each charge area in this charge area table, and the charge area in which the vehicle is traveling and other adjacent to this charge area. The charge area can be specified.
[0027]
Next, the control unit 20 compares the toll area in which the vehicle is currently traveling with the toll area that was traveling immediately before, and determines whether or not the toll area in which the vehicle is traveling has been switched ( Step 102). For example, if the vehicle has been traveling in the Tokyo area until now, but has entered the Kanagawa area, the charge area identification is switched from the charge area of “01 (Tokyo)” to the charge area of “02 (Kanagawa)”. If the charge area has not been switched, the control unit 20 repeats the operation after the acquisition of the vehicle position data (step 100).
[0028]
When the charge area is switched, the control unit 20 selects an access point with the lowest communication charge when the call area is transmitted from the switched charge area (steps 103 to 108).
[0029]
First, based on the access point data stored in the connection destination information memory 18, the control unit 20 determines whether there is one or more access points (access points in the same prefecture) that can communicate at the cheapest communication charge. Is determined (step 103).
[0030]
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of access point data stored in the connection destination information memory 18. As shown in the figure, the access point data stored in the connection destination information memory 18 includes “charge area identification” corresponding to each charge area and “connection destination telephone number” of the access point in this charge area. It is configured. The control unit 20 searches for “charge area identification” in the access point data, and determines whether or not there is an access point in the charge area where the vehicle is currently traveling. For example, when the current position of the vehicle is in the Tokyo area, it is confirmed whether there is a connection destination telephone number corresponding to the charge area identification “01” of the Tokyo area where the vehicle is traveling.
[0031]
When there is one or more access points in the toll area where the host vehicle is traveling, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the access point currently connected to the host vehicle is included in these access points. (Step 104) If the currently connected access point is included, the operation after acquiring the vehicle position data (step 100) is repeated again without selecting a new access point. If the currently connected access point is not included, any access point in the toll area where the vehicle is currently traveling is selected as a new connection destination (step 105).
[0032]
When there is no access point in the toll area where the vehicle is traveling (when a negative determination is made in step 103), the control unit 20 determines the next cheapest communication based on the access point data shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not there is an access point that can communicate at a charge, that is, whether or not there is an access point in a charge area adjacent to the charge area where the vehicle is traveling (step 106). Specifically, the control unit 20 identifies a charge area adjacent to the charge area in which the vehicle is currently traveling based on “adjacent area identification” in the charge area table shown in FIG. The “charge area identification” of the access point data shown in FIG. 5 is searched to determine whether there is an access point in the specified adjacent charge area.
[0033]
When there is one or a plurality of access points in the charge area adjacent to the charge area where the vehicle is traveling, the control unit 20 includes the currently connected access points among these access points. (Step 107). If the currently connected access point is included, a new access point is not selected and the vehicle position data is acquired again (step 100) and thereafter. Repeat the operation. If the currently connected access point is not included, any access point in the toll area adjacent to the toll area where the vehicle is traveling is selected as a new connection destination (step 108). ).
[0034]
Further, when there is no access point in the fee area adjacent to the fee area where the vehicle is traveling (when a negative determination is made in step 106), the control unit 20 does not select a new access point. In addition, the operations after the acquisition of the vehicle position data (step 100) are repeated.
[0035]
When a new access point is selected in this way, the control unit 20 next determines whether data communication is being performed via the currently connected line (step 109). When the data communication is not in progress, the control unit 20 sends the telephone number data of the new access point specified from the access point data shown in FIG. 5 to the communication control unit 14 and becomes the connection destination of the line. Send instructions to switch access points. The communication control unit 14 controls the mobile telephone 12 in accordance with this instruction, temporarily disconnects the currently connected line, and makes a line connection to a new access point (step 112).
[0036]
For example, when various types of data such as image data are being downloaded and data communication is being performed (when an affirmative determination is made at step 109), the control unit 20 sounds the buzzer 24 (step 110) and uses it. It is determined whether or not the user has instructed to switch the access point by pressing the “connection destination switching” key of the operation unit 22 (step 111). When switching of the access point is instructed, the control unit 20 instructs the communication control unit 14 to switch to a new access point, stops the current data communication, and temporarily disconnects the line. Line connection to a new access point is performed under the control of the communication control unit 14 (step 112).
[0037]
When the user does not instruct switching of the access point (when a negative determination is made at step 111), the control unit 20 repeats the determination process (step 109) as to whether or not data communication is in progress, and the data After waiting for the communication to end, the access point is switched to a new access point and the line is reconnected (step 112).
[0038]
As described above, when the charge area in which the vehicle is traveling is switched, the in-vehicle information collection system 1 first determines whether there is an access point in the charge area in which the vehicle is currently traveling. If there is an access point, the currently connected line is disconnected and the line is reconnected using the newly selected access point as the connection destination. If there is no access point in the currently traveling fee area, it is further determined whether there is an access point in the adjacent fee area. That is, when selecting a new access point, first, search for an access point that can communicate with the cheapest communication fee, and if not, search for an access point that can communicate with the next lowest communication fee. To do. Therefore, when you are traveling with the line connected, you can always select the access point with the lowest communication charge while driving and reconnect the line, so the access will always have the lowest communication charge. Data communication can be performed via points.
[0039]
Also, if the access point with the lowest communication charge includes an access point that is connected to the line at that time, the line can be used without selecting a new access point and reconnecting. Maintain the connection status. For this reason, there is no waste of connecting the line unnecessarily and connecting the line again to the same access point or a new access point with the same communication charge, and the switching of the access point can be minimized. it can.
[0040]
In addition, when data communication is performed via the currently connected line when the charge area is switched, the line connection is not performed immediately, but the line is reconnected. The buzzer sound informs the user that there is an access point where the communication fee will be lower, and the line is reconnected only when the user instructs switching the connection line to a new access point. . For example, when data is being received for a long time, the data is kept as it is rather than switching the access point at that time, discarding the data received so far and receiving the data again from the beginning. Continued reception is preferable because the communication charge can be reduced as a result. On the other hand, if you continue the communication status immediately after starting to receive a large amount of data, the communication fee will be higher, so it is better to stop communication and reconnect to the newly set access point. preferable. In this way, by notifying the user that there is an access point that can send and receive data at a lower price than the present, and changing the access point as appropriate according to the instructions from the user, Switchable access points.
[0041]
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation implementation is possible within the range of the summary of this invention. For example, in the embodiment described above, a new access point is searched for at the timing when the charge area where the vehicle travels changes. However, when the navigation device performs route guidance, the travel route of the host vehicle is known in advance. Therefore, before entering the next toll area (for example, when approaching about 1 km), search for the access point to be switched to, and when entering the next toll area, actually switch the access point, Line reconnection may be performed.
[0042]
In the above-described embodiment, the operation of selecting an access point for performing line connection using the fee system shown in FIG. 2 has been described, but various other fee systems can be considered. For example, in the fee system shown in FIG. 2, the fee area is set for each prefecture, but the fee area may be set for a wide area such as the Kanto region or the Tohoku region. A charge area may be set in units. In addition, the communication fee in the fee structure shown in FIG. 2 is determined by the positional relationship between the caller and the called party and has no relation to the time zone. For example, the communication fee varies between daytime, nighttime, and midnight. A fee structure may be used. In addition, the communication charge in the charge system shown in FIG. 2 is determined by the positional relationship between the charge area to which the caller belongs and the charge area in which the access point that is the destination exists, but between the caller and the access point. A fee structure in which a communication fee is determined according to the distance may be used.
[0043]
In the above-described embodiment, when data is transmitted / received when entering a different fee area and switching an access point, the user is informed of the access point switching timing with a buzzer sound. A predetermined message may be displayed on the display device 28 for notification.
[0044]
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the mobile telephone 12 is connected to the in-vehicle information collection system 1 and a line is connected to any access point has been described. The means is not limited to the mobile phone 12, and a communication device other than the mobile phone 12 may be used. In addition to the image data displayed on the display device 28, various types of information collected from the information provider may include setting data distributed for various types of in-vehicle devices. In this case, it is necessary to send the collected setting data to an external vehicle-mounted device via an input / output interface (not shown).
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a connection destination with the lowest communication fee is selected from a plurality of connection destination candidates and a line connection is made by mobile communication means. When another cheap connection destination appears, the connection target of the line is switched to the connection destination with the lower communication charge, so even if the vehicle position moves, communication can always be performed at the lowest communication charge. . In particular, by storing information related to the communication charge system of mobile communication means and information related to multiple connection destination candidates, the connection destination with the lowest communication charge corresponding to the location of the traveling vehicle is selected. It becomes possible to select by means.
[0046]
Also, when various information is being collected using this line when the connection destination of the line is switched, it is possible to resend various information by switching the connection destination after the collection operation is completed. Can be saved. Alternatively, it is possible to switch the connection destination in accordance with the actual situation by notifying that it is the switching timing of the connection destination, and appropriately switching to the connection destination according to the instruction of the user who received this notification. Become.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an in-vehicle information collection system according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a charge system of the mobile telephone system in the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure when an access point is switched when a traveling fee area is switched.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a charge area table.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of access point data.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship among a charge area, an access point, and a vehicle position.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 In-vehicle information collection system
10 Navigation device
12 Mobile phone
14 Communication control unit
16 Charge area information memory
18 Connection destination information memory
20 Control unit
22 Operation unit
24 Buzzer

Claims (5)

An in-vehicle information collecting system for collecting various types of information by mobile communication means, wherein the mobile communication is performed by selecting a first connection destination with the lowest communication charge from a plurality of connection destination candidates having different telephone numbers. Line connection by means, when the position of the vehicle moves while the line is connected, and a second connection destination that has a lower communication fee than the first connection destination appears, An in-vehicle information collection system that switches from the first connection destination to the second connection destination. Own vehicle position detecting means for detecting the own vehicle position;
Based on the vehicle position detected by the vehicle position detection means, a connection destination selection means for selecting a connection destination with the lowest communication charge from a plurality of connection destination candidates having different telephone numbers ;
Mobile communication means for performing line connection to the connection destination selected by the connection destination selection means and communicating various information;
The connection destination of the line maintained in the connection state by the mobile communication means when the connection destination with the lowest communication charge selected by the connection destination selection means is changed along with the movement of the vehicle position. Connection destination switching control means for switching;
An in-vehicle information collection system comprising: In claim 2,
Charge information storage means for storing information relating to the communication charge system of the mobile communication means, and connection destination information storage means for storing information relating to the plurality of connection destination candidates,
The connection destination selection unit is configured to reduce a communication fee at the lowest vehicle position detected by the vehicle position detection unit based on various information stored in the charge information storage unit and the connection destination information storage unit. An in-vehicle information collection system characterized by selecting a connection destination. In claim 2,
The connection destination switching control means, when various information is collected via the line before switching at the timing of switching the connection destination of the line, after the collection operation of various information is completed, An in-vehicle information collection system characterized by switching connection destinations. In claim 2,
Notification means for notifying that it is the switching timing of the connection destination when various information is collected via the line before switching at the timing of switching the connection destination of the line by the connection destination switching control means. An in-vehicle information collection system further comprising:

Images