JP4031347B2

JP4031347B2 - Emergency call device

Info

Publication number: JP4031347B2
Application number: JP2002310503A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 聡児玉; 孝之荻野; 拓司木村
Original assignee: Alpine Electronics Inc
Current assignee: Alpine Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2002-10-25
Filing date: 2002-10-25
Publication date: 2008-01-09
Anticipated expiration: 2022-10-25
Also published as: JP2004147141A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、個々の自動車において生じた緊急事態を、当該事態に対処する然るべき相手に速やかに通報する技術に関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
個々の自動車において生じた緊急事態を通報する技術としては、衝突センサにより自車に生じた事故を検知し、事故発生を、無線通信によって警察、消防などに自車現在位置と共に通報する技術が知られている（たとえば、特開平１０−４９７７９号公報）。
【０００３】
また、各車両に緊急通報装置を搭載し、当該緊急通報装置において、自車に生じた異常を検知し、移動電話サービスエリア内に自車位置があるときには、移動電話によって発生した異常を警察、消防などに通報し、移動電話サービスエリア内に自車位置が無いときには、移動電話とは別に設けた無線通信装置によって他車の緊急通報装置に通知する技術も知られている（たとえば、特開２０００−３０６１８１）。この技術では、他車より通報を受けた緊急通報装置は、自車位置が移動電話サービスを利用可能となった時点で当該他車より通知された内容を警察、消防などに通報する。
【０００４】
この出願の発明に関連する先行技術文献情報としては以下のものがある。
【０００５】
【特許文献１】
特開平１０−４９７７９号公報
【０００６】
【特許文献２】
特開２０００−３０６１８１号公報
【０００７】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
前記特開平１０−４９７７９号公報記載の技術によれば、警察、消防等と通信を行う装置の通信可能範囲外に車両がある場合には、当該車両で生じた事故を通報することができない。一方、特開２０００−３０６１８１号公報記載の技術によれば、移動電話サービスエリア外にいるときに車両に異常が発生した場合には、その時点で通信可能な他車に、警察、消防等への通報を依頼し、当該他車が警察、消防等へ通報を代理して行うために、このような問題は軽減される。
【０００８】
しかし、特開２０００−３０６１８１号公報記載の技術によれば、通報を依頼された他車も、移動電話サービスエリア外にいるときには、当該他車が移動電話サービスエリア内に移動した後にしか警察、消防等への通報を行うことができないために、緊急通報を速やかに行えない場合がある。また、異常発生時に当該異常が発生した他車と通信可能な車両が、移動電話を利用できない車両である場合等には、警察、消防等への通報自体を行うことができない。
【０００９】
そこで、本発明は、個々の自動車において生じた緊急事態を、より確実に、当該事態に対処する然るべき相手に、より速やかに通報可能とすることを課題とする。
【００１０】
【課題を解決するための手段】
前記課題達成のために、本発明は、自動車に搭載する緊急通報装置に、他車両に搭載された緊急通報装置と通信する車車間通信装置と、自車において緊急事態が発生した場合であって、緊急事態の発生を表す緊急情報の通報先である緊急通報先と通信する移動通信装置を当該緊急通報装置が利用可能であるときに、前記発生した緊急事態を表す緊急情報を前記緊急連絡先に、前記移動通信装置を用いて送信する自車両緊急情報通報手段と、自車において緊急事態が発生した場合であって、前記移動通信装置を当該緊急通報装置が利用可能でないときに、前記発生した緊急事態を表す緊急情報を前記車車間通信装置を用いて、他車両に搭載された緊急通報装置に送信する緊急情報通報依頼手段と、他車両に搭載された緊急通報装置から緊急情報を受信した場合であって、前記移動通信装置を当該緊急通報装置が利用可能であるときに、前記受信した緊急情報を前記緊急連絡先に、前記移動通信装置を用いて送信する他車両緊急情報通報手段と、他車両に搭載された緊急通報装置から緊急情報を受信した場合であって、前記移動通信装置を当該緊急通報装置が利用可能でないときに、前記受信した緊急情報を、他車両に搭載された緊急通報装置に前記車車間通信装置を用いて送信する緊急情報中継手段とを設けたものである。
【００１１】
このような緊急通報装置によれば、ある車両において緊急事態が発生した場合、当該車両において移動通信装置を利用できないときには、緊急情報が、移動通信装置を利用できる車両の緊急通報装置によって受信されるまで、順次、各緊急通報装置間で中継される。そして、移動通信装置を利用できる車両の緊急通報装置にまで緊急情報が中継されたならば、その緊急情報が移動通信装置を用いて緊急連絡先に通報される。
【００１２】
したがって、緊急事態が発生した車両の緊急通報装置から最初に緊急情報を送信された車両において一時的に移動通信装置を利用できない場合であっても、最初に緊急情報を送信された車両が移動通信装置を利用できるようになるまで待つことなく、速やかに緊急連絡先への通報を行うことができる緊急通報装置まで緊急情報が中継され、緊急連絡先への通報が行われる。また、最初に緊急情報を送信された車両が移動通信装置を恒久的に利用できないものである場合にも、緊急連絡先への通報を行うことができる緊急通報装置まで緊急情報が中継され、緊急連絡先への通報が行われるので、確実な緊急通報が可能となる。
【００１３】
また、本発明は、前記課題達成のために、自動車に搭載する緊急通報装置に、緊急事態の発生を表す緊急情報の通報先である緊急通報先及び他車両に搭載された緊急通報装置と通信する通信装置と、自車において緊急事態が発生した場合であって、前記通信装置を用いて前記緊急連絡先と通信可能であるときに、前記発生した緊急事態を表す緊急情報を前記緊急連絡先に、前記通信装置を用いて送信する自車両緊急情報通報手段と、自車において緊急事態が発生した場合であって、前記通信装置を用いて前記緊急連絡先と通信可能でないときに、前記発生した緊急事態を表す緊急情報を他車両に搭載された緊急通報装置に、前記通信装置を用いて送信する緊急情報通報依頼手段と、他車両に搭載された緊急通報装置から緊急情報を受信した場合であって、前記通信装置を用いて前記緊急連絡先と通信可能であるときに、前記受信した緊急情報を前記緊急連絡先に、前記通信装置を用いて送信する他車両緊急情報通報手段と、他車両に搭載された緊急通報装置から緊急情報を受信した場合であって、前記通信装置を用いて前記緊急連絡先と通信可能でないときに、前記受信した緊急情報を他車両に搭載された緊急通報装置に送信する緊急情報中継手段とを備えたものである。
【００１４】
このよう緊急通報装置によれば、ある車両において緊急事態が発生した場合、当該車両において緊急連絡先と通信できないときには、緊急情報が、緊急連絡先と通信できる車両の緊急通報装置によって受信されるまで、順次、緊急通報装置間で中継される。そして、緊急連絡先と通信できる車両の緊急通報装置にまで緊急情報が中継されたならば、その緊急情報が緊急連絡先に通報される。
【００１５】
したがって、確実かつ速やかに、緊急連絡先への通報を行うことができるようになる。
ここで、このような緊急通報装置は、前記緊急情報通報依頼手段において、前記発生した緊急事態を表す緊急情報を、自車両から前記緊急連絡先までの道路経路上の前記緊急連絡先方面に位置する他車両に搭載された緊急通報装置に、前記通信装置を用いて送信し、前記緊急情報中継手段において、前記受信した緊急情報を、自車両から前記緊急連絡先までの道路経路上の前記緊急連絡先方面に位置する他車両に搭載された緊急通報装置に、前記通信装置を用いて送信するように構成しても良い。
【００１６】
緊急事態が発生した車両から緊急連絡先までの道路経路は、各車両がおよそ道路上に位置するものであることより、緊急事態が発生した車両から緊急連絡先までの１または複数の緊急連絡装置を経る緊急情報の中継経路となり得る可能性が高い。したがって、このように構成することにより、効率的かつ確実な緊急連絡先への通報を行えるようになることが期待できる。
【００１７】
また、この場合には、さらに、前記緊急情報通報依頼手段において、自車両から前記緊急連絡先までの前記通信装置が通信可能な他の緊急通報装置を経由する道路経路を中継経路として求め、前記通信可能な他の緊急通報装置に、前記発生した緊急事態を表す緊急情報を前記通信装置を用いて送信し、前記緊急情報中継手段において、前記通信装置が前記中継経路上の前記緊急連絡先方面に位置する他車両に搭載された緊急通報装置と通信可能である場合に、当該中継経路上の前記緊急連絡先方面に位置する他車両に搭載された緊急通報装置に、前記受信した緊急情報を前記通信装置を用いて送信し、前記通信装置が前記中継経路上の前記緊急連絡先方面に位置する他車両に搭載された緊急通報装置と通信可能でない場合に、自車両から前記緊急連絡先までの前記通信装置が通信可能な他の緊急通報装置を経由する道路経路によって前記中継経路を更新し、前記更新後の中継経路上の前記緊急連絡先方面に位置する他車両に搭載された緊急通報装置に、前記受信した緊急情報を前記通信装置を用いて送信するように構成しても良い。
【００１８】
このようにすることにより、効率的な中継経路によって速やかに緊急連絡への通報を行うことができると共に、中継経路途中で当該中継経路に従った中継ができなくなってしまった場合でも、新たな中継経路を自動的に設定し、新たな中継経路に従って緊急情報の中継を行うことができるので、より確実な通報が実現できるようになる。
【００１９】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の実施形態について説明する。
まず、本発明の第１の実施形態について説明する。
図１に、本第１実施形態において、各車両に搭載される車載端末の構成を示す。
図示するように、車載端末１は、車両のエアバックの作動や衝突やガソリン欠乏やパンクやエンジン故障やバッテリ異常やシートベルト装着有無などを検知する車両状態センサ１０１、心拍や脈圧等より車両の運転者の異常を検知する生体センサ１０２、車両状態センサ１０１と生体センサ１０２の検知内容から緊急を要する事象の発生を検知する緊急事象発生検知部１０３、緊急事象検知部が緊急事象を検知した場合に緊急事象の発生を表す緊急情報を生成する緊急情報生成部１０４とを有する。また、車載端末１は、他車の車載端末１と無線通信を行う車車間通信装置１０５、移動電話網を介して通信を行う移動電話機２（携帯電話機など）を脱着可能に装着し装着された移動電話機２を用いた通信を制御する移動電話機制御部１０６、緊急情報が示す緊急事象への対処を期待できる然るべき人物／組織である緊急通報先への移動電話機２による通報を、移動電話機制御部１０６を介して行う緊急連絡処理部１０７を有する。
【００２０】
また、車載端末１は、緊急情報生成部１０４で生成された緊急情報の車車間通信装置１０５による他車の車載端末１への送信、緊急情報生成部１０４で生成された緊急情報の緊急連絡処理部１０７による緊急通報先への通報、車車間通信装置１０５で他車より受信した緊急情報の緊急連絡処理部１０７による緊急通報先への通報、車車間通信装置１０５で他車より受信した緊急情報のさらに別の他車の車載端末１への送信を制御する緊急情報処理部１０８を有する。
【００２１】
また、車載端末１は、表示装置１０９、入力装置１１０、表示装置１０９や入力装置１１０を用いたユーザとの間の入出力を制御するＧＵＩ制御部１１１、緊急情報処理部１０８が処理する緊急情報をＧＵＩ制御部１１１を介して表示装置１０９に表示する緊急情報提示部１１２を有する。また、車載端末１には、現在位置の算出や現在位置から目的地までの経路探索や、現在位置や探索した経路を地図上に表した表示画面のＧＵＩ制御部１１１を介した表示装置１０９への表示を行うナビゲーションユニット１１３が組み込まれている。そして、車載端末１には、移動電話機制御部１０６を介して移動電話機２を利用し、インターネットアクセスや通常の音声通信その他の通信サービスをユーザに提供する移動電話機利用アプリケーション１１４も有する。
【００２２】
このような構成において、緊急事象発生検知部１０３は、車両状態センサ１０１と生体センサ１０２の検知内容から緊急を要する事象の発生を検知すると、発生した緊急事象の緊急度のレベルを判定し、検知した緊急事象を判定した緊急度レベルと共に、緊急情報生成部１０４に送る。
【００２３】
緊急度レベルは、たとえば緊急度レベル１〜３の３つのレベルとし、各々次のように判定する。
緊急度レベル１ − エアバック作動、心拍低下
緊急度レベル２ − 車両の衝突、脈圧の軽い異常
緊急度レベル３ − パンク、エンジン故障、バッテリ異常、ガソリン欠乏
ただし、シートベルト装着の無の場合には車両の衝突を緊急度レベル１とするなど、車両状態センサ１０１と生体センサ１０２の複数の検知内容の組み合わせに応じて緊急度を判定するようにしてもよい。
【００２４】
次に、緊急情報生成部１０４は、緊急事象発生検知部１０３から発生した緊急事象と緊急度レベルを受け付けると、これにナビゲーションユニット１１３から取得した自車両の現在位置と、現在時刻を付加して緊急情報とし、緊急情報処理部１０８に送る。
次に、緊急連絡処理部１０７は、緊急情報処理部１０８から、緊急情報の緊急通報先への通報を指示されると、緊急情報が示す緊急事象に応じて緊急連絡先の種別（救急、警察、修理等サービス会社）を決定し、自車両の現在位置最寄りの決定した種別の緊急連絡先の電話番号を、ナビゲーションユニット１１３に問い合わせて入手する。ナビゲーションユニット１１３は、各種緊急連絡先の位置と電話番号を示すデータベースを保持しており、緊急情報処理部１０８から問い合わせを受けると、緊急連絡処理部１０７から指定された種別の現在位置最寄りの緊急連絡先の電話番号を応答する。そして、このようにして緊急連絡先の電話番号を入手したならば、緊急連絡処理部１０７は、移動電話機制御部１０６を介して、車載端末１に装着されている移動電話機２に緊急連絡先の電話番号に発呼させ呼が確立したならば通報を指示された緊急情報を送信させる。ここで、移動電話機制御部１０６は、移動電話機２が移動電話機利用アプリケーション１１４によって使用中である場合には、移動電話機利用アプリケーション１１４による移動電話機２の使用を中止し、緊急連絡処理部１０７から指示された緊急情報の送信を行う。なお、この緊急情報の緊急情報の送信は、たとえば、緊急情報を音声に変換して音声通信により行うものであってもよい。
【００２５】
次に、緊急情報提示部１１２は、緊急情報処理部１０８から緊急情報の提示を指示されると、ＧＵＩ制御部１１１を介して表示装置１０９に緊急情報の内容を表示する。
以下、緊急情報処理部１０８の動作について説明する。
図２に示すように、緊急情報処理部１０８は、処理を開始すると、自車両の緊急情報生成部１０４における緊急情報の発生と（ステップ２０２）、車車間通信装置１０５の他車の車載端末１からの緊急情報の受信（ステップ２０４）を監視する。
そして、自車両の緊急情報生成部１０４において緊急情報が発生したならば、自車載端末１に移動電話機２が装着されているかどうかを調べ（ステップ２０６）、装着されていれば、緊急情報生成部１０４から送られた緊急情報の緊急連絡先への通報を緊急連絡処理部１０７に指示することにより、緊急情報を緊急連絡先に送信させ（ステップ２０８）、初めのステップ２０２に戻る。
一方、自車両に移動電話機２が装着されていない場合には、車車間通信装置１０５で通信可能な他車両の車載端末１が存在するかどうかを調べ（ステップ２１０）、通信可能な他車両の車載端末１がなければ、通信可能な他車両の車載端末１が現れるのを待つ。ここで、通信可能な他車両の車載端末１の有無は、たとえば、各車載端末１が定期的に放送形式で自己の情報を車車間通信装置１０５から送信すると共に、車車間通信装置１０５で他車載端末１の情報を受信した場合に、その他車載端末１を通信可能な車載端末１として認識することにより行うこともできるし、通信可能な他車載端末１を調べたい車載端末１が放送形式で車車間通信装置１０５から問合せコマンドを送信すると共に、車車間通信装置１０５で他車載端末１の情報を問い合わせコマンド受信し他車載端末１が自己情報を車車間通信装置１０５で応答するようにし、通信可能な他車載端末１を調べたい車載端末１において送信した問い合わせコマンドに対する応答より通信可能な車載端末１を認識することにより行うようにすることもできる。
【００２６】
さて、通信可能な他車両の車載端末１が存在するか存在するようになった場合には、次に、存在した車載端末１のうちから、移動電話機２が装着されている車載端末１を、通信可能な各車載端末１に問い合わせることにより探索する（ステップ２２６）。そして、移動電話機２が装着された車載端末１が探索できたならば（ステップ２２８）、緊急情報生成部１０４から送られた緊急情報に自車載端末１の識別子を含めて、探索した車載端末１に車車間通信装置１０５より送信し（ステップ２３０）、初めのステップ２０２に戻る。一方、移動電話機２が装着された車載端末１が探索できなかった場合には末２２８）、通信可能な他車両の車載端末１のうちの一つの車載端末１を選択し、選択した車載端末１に緊急情報生成部１０４から送られた緊急情報に自車載端末１の識別子を含めて送信し（ステップ２３２）、初めのステップ２０２に戻る。
【００２７】
ここで、このようにして他車両の車載端末１から送信された緊急情報を受信した車載端末１において、車車間通信装置１０５は受信した緊急情報を緊急情報処理部１０８に送る。
さて、車車間通信装置１０５の他車の車載端末１からの緊急情報を受信した場合には（ステップ２０４）、まず、自車載端末１に移動電話機２が装着されているかどうかを調べ（ステップ２１２）、装着されていない場合には、受信した緊急情報に含まれている識別子が示す車載端末１ではない（受信した緊急情報が既に経由していない）、車車間通信装置１０５で通信可能な他車両の車載端末１が存在するかどうかを調べ（ステップ２１８）、そのような車載端末１がなければ、そのような車載端末１が現れるのを待つ。そして、受信した緊急情報に含まれている識別子が示す車載端末１ではない、車車間通信装置１０５で通信可能な他車両の車載端末１が存在するか存在するようになった場合には、存在した車載端末１のうちから、移動電話機２が装着されている車載端末１を、各車載端末１に問い合わせることにより探索する（ステップ２２６）。そして、移動電話機２が装着された車載端末１が探索できたならば（ステップ２２８）、他車両の車載端末１から受信した緊急情報に自車載端末１の識別子を付加し、探索した車載端末１に車車間通信装置１０５より送信（中継）し（ステップ２３０）、初めのステップ２０２に戻る。一方、移動電話機２が装着された車載端末１が探索できなかった場合には、受信した緊急情報に含まれている識別子が示す車載端末１ではない、車車間通信装置１０５で通信可能な他車両の車載端末１のうちの一つの車載端末１を選択し、選択した車載端末１に他車両の車載端末１から受信した緊急情報に自車載端末１の識別子を含めて送信（中継）し（ステップ２３２）、初めのステップ２０２に戻る。
【００２８】
ここで、このようにして他車両の車載端末１から中継された緊急情報を受信した車載端末１において、車車間通信装置１０５は受信した緊急情報を緊急情報処理部１０８に送る。
一方、車車間通信装置１０５の他車の車載端末１からの緊急情報を受信した場合において（ステップ２０４）、自車載端末１に移動電話機２が装着されている場合には（ステップ２１２）、受信した緊急情報が示す緊急レベルが所定のレベルＴｈＬ（例えば緊急度レベル２）以上緊急度が高いものであるかどうかを調べ（ステップ２１４）、高ければ、他車両より中継された緊急情報の緊急連絡先への通報を緊急連絡処理部１０７に指示することにより、緊急情報を緊急連絡先に送信させ（ステップ２１６）、初めのステップ２０２に戻る。
【００２９】
一方、受信した緊急情報が示す緊急レベルが所定のレベルＴｈＬ未満であれば、移動電話機制御部１０６に問い合わせることにより現在移動電話機が使用中であるかどうか調べ（ステップ２２０）、使用中でなければ、他車両より中継された緊急情報の緊急連絡先への通報を緊急連絡処理部１０７に指示することにより、緊急情報を緊急連絡先に送信させ（ステップ２１６）、初めのステップ２０２に戻る。使用中である場合には、受信した緊急情報が示す緊急レベルが、現在の移動電話機２の使用に優先するかどうかを調べ（ステップ２２２）、優先するものであった場合には、他車両より中継された緊急情報の緊急連絡先への通報を緊急連絡処理部１０７に指示することにより、緊急情報を緊急連絡先に送信させ（ステップ２１６）、初めのステップ２０２に戻る。ここで、受信した緊急情報が示す緊急レベルが、現在の移動電話機２の使用に優先するかどうかは、その時点で移動電話機２が使用されている用途によって異なる。たとえば、その時点で、既に受信した緊急情報が示す緊急レベル以上の緊急レベルを持つ他の緊急情報の通報に移動電話機２が使用されている場合や、所定の移動電話機利用アプリケーション１１４によって移動電話機２が使用されている場合には、現在の移動電話機２の使用が優先するものとする。
【００３０】
そして、受信した緊急情報が示す緊急レベルが、移動電話機２の使用に優先しない場合には、ステップ２２４に進み、緊急情報が未経由の通信端末であって通信可能な他車載端末１があれば、前述のように移動電話機２を有する車両を優先して中継先とする、他車両の車載端末１への緊急情報の中継を行い（ステップ２２６〜２３２）、通信可能な他車載端末１がなければ、移動電話機２の使用が終了するのを待って（ステップ２２０）移動電話機２を用いて緊急情報の緊急連絡先への通報を行う（ステップ２１６）か、通信可能な他車載端末１が現れるのを待って（ステップ２２４）、前述のように移動電話機２を有する車両を優先して中継先とする、他車載端末１への緊急情報の中継を行い（ステップ２２６〜２３２）、初めのステップ２０２に戻る。
【００３１】
以上、緊急情報処理部１０８の処理について説明した。なお、以上の処理におけるステップ２０６、２１２では、移動電話機２が装着されている場合であっても、移動電話機２が移動電話サービスエリア外にいるときには、移動電話機２が装着されていないものとして判定するようにする。
【００３２】
さて、以上の処理を行う他、緊急情報処理部１０８は予め定めた基準に従って、適宜処理する緊急情報の表示を緊急情報提示部１１２に指示する処理も行う。たとえば、処理する緊急情報が他車両の衝突を示すものであった場合には、その旨を緊急情報が示す他車両の位置をナビゲーションユニット１１３が表示する地図上で表すよう緊急情報提示部１１２を制御するようにして良い。
【００３３】
ここで、このような車載端末１によって実現される緊急情報の通報の流れの一例を示す。
いま、たとえば、図３に示すように車両ＡからＨが位置する状況において、車両Ａで緊急事象が生じた場合には、車両Ａに移動電話が装着されている場合には車両Ａにおける緊急事象の発生を告げる緊急情報が車両Ａから直接緊急連絡先に移動電話機２で通報されるが、車両Ａに移動電話が装着されていない場合には車両Ａの車車間通信装置１０５の通信可能範囲内ＲＡにいる移動電話機２を備えた他の車両に緊急情報が中継される。そして、当該他の車両より緊急連絡先に緊急情報が移動電話機２で通報される。
【００３４】
一方、車両Ａの車車間通信装置１０５の通信可能範囲内ＲＡに移動電話機２を備えた車両が存在しない場合には、図示するように、通信可能範囲内ＲＡの他車両Ｅに緊急情報が中継される。そして、車両Ｅによって、さらに、車両Ｅの車車間通信装置１０５の通信可能範囲内ＲＥにいる移動電話機２を備えた他の車両Ｇに緊急情報が中継され、車両Ｇによって、緊急情報が緊急連絡先に通知されることになる。
【００３５】
以上、本発明の第１の実施形態について説明した。
以上のように本第１実施形態によれば、ある車両において緊急事態が発生した場合、当該車両において移動電話機２を利用できないときには、緊急情報が、移動電話機２を利用できる車両の車載端末１によって受信されるまで、順次、異なる車載端末１間で中継される。そして、移動電話機２を利用できる車両の車載端末１にまで緊急情報が中継されたならば、その緊急情報が移動電話機２を用いて緊急連絡先に通報される。したがって、確実かつ速やかに緊急連絡先への通報を行うことができるようになる。
【００３６】
以下、本発明の第２の実施形態について説明する。
本第２実施形態においても、前記第１実施形態同様に各車両に車載端末１が搭載される。本第２実施形態に係る車載端末１の構成は、図１に示した第１実施形態に係る車載端末１の構成と同様であるが、移動電話制御部、移動電話機利用アプリケーション１１４、緊急連絡処理部１０７は、これを備える必要はない。また、本実施形態では、車車間通信装置１０５を、各緊急連絡先に設けた通報受信装置と通信が可能なように構成している。
【００３７】
また、本第２実施形態では、緊急情報処理部１０８は、以下の動作を行う。
すなわち、図４に示すように、緊急情報処理部１０８は、処理を開始すると、自車両の緊急情報生成部１０４における緊急情報の発生と（ステップ４０２）、車車間通信装置１０５の他車の車載端末１からの緊急情報の受信（ステップ４０４）を監視する。
そして、自車両の緊急情報生成部１０４において緊急情報が発生したならば、前述のようにナビゲーションユニット１１３に問い合わせることにより、発生した緊急情報の連絡先とする緊急連絡先の位置と通信の宛先として使用するアドレス等を求める（ステップ４０６）。ナビゲーションユニット１１３は、各種緊急連絡先の位置とアドレス等を示すデータベースを保持しており、緊急情報処理部１０８から問い合わせを受けると、緊急連絡処理部１０７から指定された種別の現在位置最寄りの緊急連絡先の位置とアドレスとを応答する。
【００３８】
そして、次に、緊急情報処理部１０８は、決定した緊急連絡先と車車間通信装置１０５によって通信可能かどうかを調べる（ステップ４０８）。緊急連絡先と通信可能であるかどうかは、自車両の現在位置と緊急連絡先の位置間の距離から求めたり、車車間通信装置１０５からの緊急連絡先への発信に対する緊急連絡先からの応答の有無によって求めることができる。そして、緊急連絡先と通信可能であれば、緊急情報生成部１０４から送られた緊急情報を、車車間通信装置１０５より緊急連絡先に送信させ（ステップ４１０）、初めのステップ４０２に戻る。
【００３９】
一方、緊急連絡先と通信可能でなければ、車車間通信装置１０５で通信可能な他車両の車載端末１が存在するかどうかを調べ（ステップ４１２）、通信可能な他車両の車載端末１がなければ、緊急連絡先と通信可能となるか（ステップ４０８）、通信可能な他車両の車載端末１が現れるのを待つ。そして、通信可能な他車両の車載端末１が現れる前に、緊急連絡先と通信可能となったならば、緊急情報生成部１０４から送られた緊急情報を、車車間通信装置１０５より緊急連絡先に送信させ（ステップ４１０）、初めのステップ４０２に戻る。一方、通信可能な他車両の車載端末１が存在するか、緊急連絡先と通信可能となる前に通信可能な他車両の車載端末１が現れたならば、通信可能な車載端末１を一つ選択し（ステップ４１４）、選択した車載端末１の位置を当該車載端末１に問い合わせて得る。
【００４０】
そして、ナビゲーションユニット１１３の経路探索機能を利用して、自車両位置から選択した車載端末１を搭載した他車両を経由する緊急連絡先の位置までの間の道路経路を探索し、探索した道路経路を中継経路に設定する（ステップ４１６）。ここで、ナビゲーションユニット１１３による、中継経路とする道路経路の探索は、道のり距離が最短となる経路を優先して探索したり、できるだけ走行中の車両が存在しそうな道路（たとえば、主要道）を使用する経路を優先して探索することにより行うのが好ましい。なお、ステップ４１４における一つの車載端末１の選択も、通信可能な車載端末１が複数ある場合には、緊急連絡先方向にある車載端末１を優先して選択するようにしたり、自車両位置から選択した車載端末１を搭載した他車両を経由する緊急連絡先の位置までの間の経路が、他の通信可能な車載端末１を経由する経路よりも道のり距離が短くなるように選択したり、自車両位置から選択した車載端末１を搭載した他車両を経由する緊急連絡先の位置までの間の経路が、できるだけ走行中の車両が存在しそうな道路を使用するものとなるように選択することにより行っても良い。
【００４１】
さて、中継経路を設定したならば、緊急情報処理部１０８は、設定した中継経路と緊急連絡先の位置やアドレスの情報とを緊急情報に含めて、選択した他の車載端末１に車車間通信装置１０５より送信し（ステップ４１８）、初めのステップ４０２に戻る。
【００４２】
ここで、このようにして他車両の車載端末１から送信された緊急情報を受信した車載端末１において、車車間通信装置１０５は受信した緊急情報を緊急情報処理部１０８に送る。
さて、車車間通信装置１０５の他車の車載端末１からの緊急情報を受信した場合には（ステップ４０４）、まず、緊急情報に位置やアドレスが示される緊急連絡先と車車間通信装置１０５によって通信可能かどうかを調べる（ステップ４２０）。そして、緊急連絡先と通信可能であれば、緊急情報生成部１０４から送られた緊急情報を、車車間通信装置１０５より緊急連絡先に送信させ（ステップ４２２）、初めのステップ４０２に戻る。
【００４３】
一方、緊急連絡先と車車間通信装置１０５によって通信可能でなければ、車車間通信装置１０５で通信可能な他車両の車載端末１が存在するかどうかを調べ（ステップ４２４）、通信可能な他車両の車載端末１がなければ、緊急連絡先と通信可能となるか（ステップ４２０）、通信可能な他車両の車載端末１が現れる（ステップ４２４）のを待つ。そして、通信可能な他車両の車載端末１が現れる前に、緊急連絡先と通信可能となったならば、緊急情報生成部１０４から送られた緊急情報を、車車間通信装置１０５より緊急連絡先に送信させ（ステップ４２２）、初めのステップ４０２に戻る。一方、通信可能な他車両の車載端末１が存在するか、緊急連絡先と通信可能となる前に通信可能な他車両の車載端末１が現れたならば、通信可能な他車両の車載端末１のうちに、緊急情報によって示される中継経路上、自車両位置より緊急連絡先方面にある車載端末１が存在するかどうかを調べ（ステップ４２６）、存在する場合には、中継経路上で最も緊急連絡先方面よりにある通信可能な車載端末１に、緊急情報を中継し（ステップ４２８）、初めのステップ４０２に戻る。通信可能な他車両の車載端末１のうちに、緊急情報によって示される中継経路上、自車両位置より緊急連絡先方面にある車載端末１が存在しない場合には、通信可能な車載端末１を一つ選択し（ステップ４３０）、選択した車載端末１の位置を当該車載端末１に問い合わせて得る。そして、前述のように、ナビゲーションユニット１１３の経路探索機能を利用して、自車両位置から選択した車載端末１を搭載した他車両を経由する緊急連絡先の位置までの間の道路経路を探索し、探索した道路経路を新たな中継経路に設定し、新たな中継経路で緊急情報中に含まれている中継経路を更新する（ステップ４３２）。そして、更新後の緊急情報を、選択した他の車載端末１に車車間通信装置１０５より送信し（ステップ４３４）、初めのステップ４０２に戻る。
【００４４】
以上、第２実施形態に係る緊急情報処理部１０８の動作について説明した。
ここで、このような本第２実施形態に係る車載端末１によって実現される緊急情報の通報の流れの一例を示す。
いま、たとえば、図５に示すように車両が位置する状況において、車両Ａで緊急事象が生じた場合に、車両Ａが緊急連絡先として図中の緊急連絡先Ｘを決定した場合には、車両Ａの通信可能範囲内ＲＡに緊急連絡先Ｘが位置しないので、車両Ａと通信可能な車両のうちから車両Ｂが選択され、選択された車両Ｂの位置を経由する車両Ａから緊急連絡先Ｘまでの道路経路ＬＡが中継経路として設定される。そして、車両Ａから選択された車両Ｂに緊急情報が中継される。緊急情報を受信した車両Ｂでは、やはり車両Ｂの通信可能範囲内ＲＢに緊急連絡先Ｘが位置しないので、通信可能範囲内ＲＢに位置する中継経路ＬＡ上、最も緊急連絡先Ｘよりの車両Ｃを選択し、車両Ｃに緊急情報を中継する。車両Ｃにおいても、やはり車両Ｃの通信可能範囲内ＲＣに緊急連絡先Ｘが位置しないので、通信可能範囲内ＲＣに位置する中継経路ＬＡ上、最も緊急連絡先Ｘよりの車両Ｄを選択し、車両Ｃに緊急情報を中継する。
【００４５】
そして、車両Ｄでは、やはり車両Ｄの通信可能範囲内ＲＤに緊急連絡先Ｘが位置しないので、通信可能範囲内ＲＤに位置する中継経路ＬＡ上の緊急連絡先Ｘ方面の車両に緊急情報の中継を試みるが、通信可能範囲内ＲＤに位置する中継経路ＬＡ上の緊急連絡先Ｘ方面の車両は存在しないので、新たなに通信可能な車両Ｅを選択し、中継経路ＬＡを、選択した車両Ｅの位置を経由する車両Ｄから緊急連絡先Ｘまでの道路経路である中継経路ＬＢに更新する。そして、選択した車両Ｅに緊急情報を中継する。緊急情報を受信した車両Ｅでは、車両Ｅの通信可能範囲内ＲＥに緊急連絡先Ｘが位置しないので、通信可能範囲内ＲＥに位置する更新後の中継経路ＬＢ上、最も緊急連絡先Ｘよりの車両Ｆを選択し、車両Ｆに緊急情報を中継する。車両Ｆにおいても、やはり車両Ｆの通信可能範囲内ＲＦに緊急連絡先Ｘが位置しないので、通信可能範囲内ＲＦに位置する中継経路ＬＢ上、最も緊急連絡先Ｘよりの車両Ｇを選択し、車両Ｇに緊急情報を中継する。
【００４６】
そして、車両Ｇでは、車両Ｇの通信可能範囲内ＲＧに緊急連絡先Ｘが位置するので、緊急連絡先Ｘに受信した緊急情報を通報する。
以上、本発明の第２の実施形態について説明した。
このように本第２実施形態によれば、ある車両において緊急事態が発生した場合、当該車両において緊急連絡先と通信できないときには、緊急情報が、緊急連絡先と通信できる車両の車載端末１によって受信されるまで、順次、異なる車載端末１間で中継される。そして、緊急連絡先と通信できる車両の車載端末１にまで緊急情報が中継されたならば、その緊急情報が緊急連絡先に通報される。したがって、確実かつ速やかに、緊急連絡先への通報を行うことができるようになる。
【００４７】
また、本第２実施形態によれば、緊急事態が発生した車両から緊急連絡先までの道路経路を緊急情報の中継経路として緊急情報を緊急連絡先まで到達させる。ここで、各車両がおよそ道路上に位置するものであることより、緊急事態が発生した車両から緊急連絡先までの１または複数の緊急連絡装置を得る緊急情報の中継経路となり得る可能性が高いことより、このような本第２実施形態の構成によれば、効率的かつ確実な緊急連絡先への通報を行えるようになることが期待できる。また、中継経路を適当に設定することにより確実かつ速やかに緊急連絡への通報を行えるようになると共に、中継経路途中で当該中継経路に従った中継ができなくなってしまった場合でも、自動的に新たな中継経路を設定し、新たな中継経路に従って緊急情報の中継を行うことができるようになる。
【００４８】
ところで、以上の各実施形態においては、事故等の緊急事態が生じた車両において車載端末１自身が損傷を受けた場合には、緊急情報を生成することができず、したがって、緊急情報を緊急連絡先に通報することができなくなる。そこで、以上の各実施形態において、緊急事象が生じた車両の近傍にいる他の車両において、緊急事象が生じた車両に変わって緊急情報を生成し通報、中継などできるようにすることが好ましい。すなわち、たとえば、車載端末１の入力装置１１０からの入力に応じて、緊急事象発生検知部１０３において緊急事象を検知し、緊急情報部で緊急情報を生成するようにしてもよい。このようにすることにより、緊急事象が生じた車両の近傍にいる他の車両のユーザが入力装置１１０を操作することにより、当該ユーザの車載端末１が、緊急事象が生じた車両の車載端末１に代わって緊急情報を生成し通報、中継などすることができるようになる。
【００４９】
また、以上の各実施形態においては、車載端末１から他の車載端末１に緊急情報を送信する場合に、常に一つの他の車載端末１にのみ緊急情報を送信するようにしたが、これは放送形式などにより複数の他の車載端末１に緊急情報を送信するようにしても良い。この場合には、同じ車両の同じ緊急事象について複数の緊急情報が緊急連絡先に通報される可能性が生じるが、このような問題は、たとえば、緊急情報の発行元の車載端末１において緊急情報に識別子を付与して送信し、緊急連絡先の受信装置において受信した緊急情報の識別子に応じて、受信した緊急情報を峻別などすることにより軽減することができる。
【００５０】
また、以上の実施形態では、実際に他の車載端末１に緊急情報を送信するときに、送信先とする車載端末１を探し出すようにしたが、これは予め車載端末１間で適当なアルゴリズムに従って相互にネゴシエーションを行って、第３の車載端末１による中継を経た第１、第２の車載端末１間の通信を可能とする仮想的なネットワークを構成しておき、この仮想的なネットワークを用いて、各緊急情報を送信するようにしても良い。すなわち、たとえば、第１実施形態では、緊急情報を発行する車載端末１が、仮想的なネットワーク上で移動電話機２を持つ他の車載端末１を探索し、探索した車載端末１宛に仮想的なネットワーク上で緊急情報を送信することにより、結果として緊急情報が他の車載端末１を経て移動電話機２を持つ車載端末１に中継されるようにしてもよい。また、第２実施形態では、緊急連絡先の受通報信装置も仮想ネットワークに組み込まれるようにし、緊急情報を発行する車載端末１が直接仮想的なネットワーク上で緊急連絡先の受通報信装置宛に緊急情報を送信することにより、結果として緊急情報が他の車載端末１を経て緊急連絡先の通報受信装置に通報されるようにしてもよい。
【００５１】
【発明の効果】
以上のように、本発明によれば、個々の自動車において生じた緊急事態を、より確実に、当該事態に対処する然るべき相手に、より速やかに通報可能とすることができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の第１実施形態に係る車載端末の構成を示すブロック図である。
【図２】本発明の第１実施形態に係る緊急情報処理部の処理を示すフローチャートである。
【図３】本発明の第１実施形態に係る緊急情報の通報動作の例を示す図である。
【図４】本発明の第１実施形態に係る緊急情報処理部の処理を示すフローチャートである。
【図５】本発明の第１実施形態に係る緊急情報の通報動作の例を示す図である。
【符号の説明】
１：車載端末、２：移動電話機、１０１：車両状態センサ、１０２：生体センサ、１０３：緊急事象発生検知部、１０４：緊急情報生成部、１０５：車車間通信装置、１０６：移動電話機制御部、１０７：緊急連絡処理部、１０８：緊急情報処理部、１０９：表示装置、１１０：入力装置、１１１：ＧＵＩ制御部、１１２：緊急情報提示部、１１３：ナビゲーションユニット、１１４：移動電話機利用アプリケーション。[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a technology for promptly reporting an emergency situation that has occurred in an individual automobile to an appropriate partner who deals with the situation.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a technology for reporting emergency situations that occurred in individual automobiles, there is a technology that detects accidents that occur in the vehicle by means of collision sensors and reports the occurrence of the accident to the police, the fire department, etc. together with the current location of the vehicle through wireless communication. (For example, JP-A-10-49779).
[0003]
In addition, each vehicle is equipped with an emergency call device, and in the emergency call device, an abnormality occurring in the vehicle is detected, and when the vehicle position is within the mobile phone service area, the police There is also known a technique for reporting to a fire department or the like and notifying an emergency call device of another vehicle by a wireless communication device provided separately from the mobile phone when the vehicle location is not within the mobile phone service area (for example, JP 2000-306181). In this technology, an emergency call device that receives a report from another vehicle notifies the police, fire department, etc. of the content notified from the other vehicle when the position of the vehicle becomes available for the mobile phone service.
[0004]
Prior art document information relating to the invention of this application includes the following.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 10-49779 A
[0006]
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2000-306181 A
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
According to the technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-49779, when a vehicle is outside the communicable range of a device that communicates with the police, a fire department, or the like, an accident that has occurred in the vehicle cannot be reported. On the other hand, according to the technology described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-306181, if an abnormality occurs in a vehicle when outside the mobile telephone service area, the other vehicle that can communicate at that time is transferred to the police, fire department, etc. This problem is alleviated because the other vehicle makes a report to the police and fire department.
[0008]
However, according to the technology described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-306181, when the other vehicle requested to report is also outside the mobile phone service area, the police, only after the other vehicle has moved into the mobile phone service area. There are cases where emergency calls cannot be made promptly because it is not possible to report to the fire department. In addition, when a vehicle that can communicate with another vehicle in which an abnormality has occurred is a vehicle that cannot use a mobile phone, it is impossible to report to the police, the fire department, or the like.
[0009]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to report an emergency situation that has occurred in an individual automobile more quickly and more reliably to an appropriate partner that deals with the situation.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to an emergency notification device installed in an automobile, an inter-vehicle communication device that communicates with an emergency notification device installed in another vehicle, and a case where an emergency occurs in the own vehicle. When the emergency call device can use a mobile communication device that communicates with an emergency call destination that is a report destination of emergency information that indicates the occurrence of an emergency situation, the emergency contact information that indicates the emergency situation that has occurred The vehicle emergency information notification means for transmitting using the mobile communication device, and the occurrence of an emergency when the emergency notification device is not available for the mobile communication device when the emergency has occurred in the vehicle Emergency information reporting means for transmitting emergency information representing an emergency situation to an emergency notification device mounted on another vehicle using the inter-vehicle communication device, and emergency information from the emergency notification device mounted on the other vehicle When receiving the mobile communication device, when the emergency notification device is available, the other vehicle emergency information notification that transmits the received emergency information to the emergency contact using the mobile communication device. Means and when the emergency information is received from an emergency notification device mounted on another vehicle, and the mobile communication device is mounted on the other vehicle with the received emergency information when the emergency notification device is not available The emergency notification device is provided with emergency information relay means for transmitting using the inter-vehicle communication device.
[0011]
According to such an emergency notification device, when an emergency situation occurs in a certain vehicle, the emergency information is received by the emergency notification device of the vehicle that can use the mobile communication device when the mobile communication device cannot be used in the vehicle. Until then, it is relayed between each emergency call device. If the emergency information is relayed to the emergency notification device of the vehicle that can use the mobile communication device, the emergency information is notified to the emergency contact using the mobile communication device.
[0012]
Therefore, even if the mobile communication device cannot be temporarily used in the vehicle to which emergency information is first transmitted from the emergency notification device of the vehicle in which an emergency occurred, the vehicle to which emergency information is first transmitted is mobile communication The emergency information is relayed to the emergency call device that can promptly notify the emergency contact without waiting until the device can be used, and the emergency contact is notified. The emergency information is also relayed to the emergency call device that can make a call to the emergency contact even if the vehicle to which the emergency information was first transmitted is a device that cannot permanently use the mobile communication device. Since the report to the contact is made, it is possible to make a reliable emergency call.
[0013]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention communicates with an emergency call device installed in an automobile, an emergency call destination that is a report destination of emergency information indicating the occurrence of an emergency, and an emergency call device installed in another vehicle. When the emergency situation occurs in the communication device and the own vehicle and the communication device can communicate with the emergency contact information, the emergency contact information indicating the emergency situation that has occurred is displayed. The vehicle emergency information notification means for transmitting using the communication device, and the occurrence of an emergency when the vehicle is in an emergency and communication with the emergency contact is not possible using the communication device. Emergency information notification request means for transmitting emergency information representing an emergency situation to an emergency notification device mounted on another vehicle using the communication device, and when emergency information is received from the emergency notification device mounted on another vehicle And when it is possible to communicate with the emergency contact using the communication device, other vehicle emergency information reporting means for transmitting the received emergency information to the emergency contact using the communication device; When emergency information is received from an emergency call device installed in another vehicle and communication with the emergency contact is not possible using the communication device, the received emergency information is installed in the other vehicle. Emergency information relay means for transmitting to the reporting device.
[0014]
Thus, according to the emergency call device, when an emergency occurs in a certain vehicle, when the vehicle cannot communicate with the emergency contact information, the emergency information is received by the vehicle emergency call device that can communicate with the emergency contact information. In turn, it is relayed between emergency call devices. If the emergency information is relayed to the vehicle emergency call device that can communicate with the emergency contact information, the emergency information is reported to the emergency contact information.
[0015]
Therefore, it becomes possible to make a report to the emergency contact address reliably and promptly.
Here, in such an emergency notification device, in the emergency information notification request means, the emergency information indicating the occurred emergency situation is located in the area of the emergency contact on the road route from the vehicle to the emergency contact. To the emergency call device mounted on the other vehicle using the communication device, and the emergency information relay means transmits the received emergency information to the emergency route on the road route from the vehicle to the emergency contact address. You may comprise so that it may transmit using the said communication apparatus to the emergency call apparatus mounted in the other vehicle located in the contact direction.
[0016]
The road route from the vehicle in which the emergency occurred to the emergency contact is one or more emergency contact devices from the vehicle in which the emergency occurred to the emergency contact because each vehicle is approximately located on the road. There is a high possibility that it can be a relay route for emergency information passing through. Therefore, it can be expected that this configuration enables efficient and reliable notification to an emergency contact.
[0017]
In this case, further, in the emergency information notification requesting means, a road route through another emergency notification device capable of communicating with the communication device from the own vehicle to the emergency contact is obtained as a relay route, The emergency information indicating the occurred emergency situation is transmitted to the other emergency notification device capable of communication using the communication device, and in the emergency information relay unit, the communication device is in the direction of the emergency contact on the relay route. The emergency call device installed in the other vehicle located in the direction of the emergency contact on the relay route, the received emergency information is transmitted to the emergency call device installed in the other vehicle located in the vehicle. When transmitting using the communication device, and the communication device is not communicable with an emergency call device mounted on another vehicle located in the emergency contact area on the relay route, from the own vehicle The relay route is updated by a road route that passes through another emergency call device that can communicate with the communication device up to the emergency contact address, and is installed in the other vehicle located in the emergency contact direction on the updated relay route. You may comprise so that the received emergency information may be transmitted to the made emergency call apparatus using the communication apparatus.
[0018]
In this way, it is possible to promptly notify an emergency contact through an efficient relay route, and even if relaying according to the relay route becomes impossible in the middle of the relay route, a new relay is made. Since the route can be automatically set and the emergency information can be relayed according to the new relay route, more reliable notification can be realized.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an in-vehicle terminal mounted on each vehicle in the first embodiment.
As shown in the figure, the in-vehicle terminal 1 includes a vehicle state sensor 101 that detects an operation of a vehicle airbag, a collision, a gasoline shortage, a puncture, an engine failure, a battery abnormality, a seat belt wearing state, and the like, a heart rate, a pulse pressure, and the like. A biosensor 102 that detects an abnormality of the driver, an emergency event occurrence detector 103 that detects occurrence of an emergency event from the detection contents of the vehicle state sensor 101 and the biosensor 102, and an emergency event detector detects an emergency event An emergency information generation unit 104 that generates emergency information indicating the occurrence of an emergency event. The in-vehicle terminal 1 is detachably attached to the inter-vehicle communication device 105 that performs wireless communication with the in-vehicle terminal 1 of another vehicle and the mobile telephone 2 (such as a mobile phone) that communicates via the mobile telephone network. A mobile phone control unit 106 that controls communication using the mobile phone 2, and a mobile phone control unit that sends a report by the mobile phone 2 to an emergency call destination that is an appropriate person / organization that can be expected to deal with an emergency event indicated by emergency information. An emergency contact processing unit 107 is provided through 106.
[0020]
Further, the in-vehicle terminal 1 transmits the emergency information generated by the emergency information generation unit 104 to the in-vehicle terminal 1 of another vehicle by the inter-vehicle communication device 105, and emergency contact processing of the emergency information generated by the emergency information generation unit 104 The emergency information received from the other vehicle by the emergency communication processing unit 107, the emergency information received from the other vehicle by the emergency communication processing unit 107 by the emergency communication processing unit 107 of the emergency information received from the other vehicle by the notification to the emergency destination by the unit 107 The emergency information processing part 108 which controls transmission to the vehicle-mounted terminal 1 of other another vehicle is provided.
[0021]
The in-vehicle terminal 1 includes the display device 109, the input device 110, the GUI control unit 111 that controls input / output with the user using the display device 109 and the input device 110, and emergency information processed by the emergency information processing unit 108. Is displayed on the display device 109 via the GUI control unit 111. The in-vehicle terminal 1 also calculates the current position, searches for a route from the current position to the destination, and displays the current position and the searched route on the display device 109 via the GUI control unit 111 on the display screen. A navigation unit 113 for displaying the above is incorporated. The in-vehicle terminal 1 also has a mobile phone use application 114 that uses the mobile phone 2 via the mobile phone control unit 106 to provide the user with Internet access, normal voice communication, and other communication services.
[0022]
In such a configuration, when the emergency event occurrence detection unit 103 detects the occurrence of an emergency event from the detection contents of the vehicle state sensor 101 and the biological sensor 102, the emergency event occurrence detection unit 103 determines the level of urgency of the emergency event that has occurred and detects it. The emergency event is sent to the emergency information generation unit 104 together with the emergency level determined.
[0023]
The urgency levels are, for example, three levels of urgency levels 1 to 3, and are determined as follows.
Urgency level 1-airbag activation, heart rate reduction
Urgency level 2-Vehicle collision, slight abnormal pulse pressure
Urgency level 3-puncture, engine failure, battery failure, gasoline shortage
However, the urgency level may be determined according to a combination of a plurality of detection contents of the vehicle state sensor 101 and the biosensor 102, such as when the seat belt is not attached, such as a vehicle collision is set to the urgency level 1. Good.
[0024]
Next, upon receiving the emergency event and the urgency level generated from the emergency event occurrence detection unit 103, the emergency information generation unit 104 adds the current position of the host vehicle and the current time acquired from the navigation unit 113 to this. The emergency information is sent to the emergency information processing unit 108.
Next, when the emergency information processing unit 107 is instructed by the emergency information processing unit 108 to report the emergency information to the emergency report destination, the emergency contact type (emergency, police) is set according to the emergency event indicated by the emergency information. , A service company such as repair), and inquires of the navigation unit 113 for the telephone number of the determined type of emergency contact nearest to the current position of the vehicle. The navigation unit 113 holds a database indicating the locations and telephone numbers of various emergency contacts. When receiving an inquiry from the emergency information processing unit 108, the emergency unit closest to the current location of the type specified by the emergency contact processing unit 107 is stored. Reply with contact phone number. Then, when the telephone number of the emergency contact is obtained in this way, the emergency contact processing unit 107 sends the emergency contact information to the mobile phone 2 mounted on the in-vehicle terminal 1 via the mobile phone control unit 106. If the telephone number is called and the call is established, the emergency information instructed to be sent is transmitted. Here, when the mobile phone 2 is being used by the mobile phone use application 114, the mobile phone control unit 106 stops using the mobile phone 2 by the mobile phone use application 114 and gives an instruction from the emergency contact processing unit 107. Send emergency information. Note that the emergency information may be transmitted by voice communication by converting the emergency information into voice, for example.
[0025]
Next, when the emergency information presenting unit 112 is instructed to present emergency information from the emergency information processing unit 108, the emergency information presenting unit 112 displays the content of the emergency information on the display device 109 via the GUI control unit 111.
Hereinafter, the operation of the emergency information processing unit 108 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, when the emergency information processing unit 108 starts processing, the emergency information generation unit 104 of the own vehicle generates emergency information (step 202), and the in-vehicle terminal 1 of the other vehicle of the inter-vehicle communication device 105. The reception of emergency information from (step 204) is monitored.
Then, if emergency information is generated in the emergency information generation unit 104 of the own vehicle, it is checked whether the mobile telephone 2 is attached to the in-vehicle terminal 1 (step 206), and if it is attached, the emergency information generation unit By instructing the emergency contact processing unit 107 to report the emergency information sent from 104 to the emergency contact processing unit 107, the emergency information is transmitted to the emergency contact (step 208), and the process returns to the first step 202.
On the other hand, when the mobile phone 2 is not attached to the own vehicle, it is checked whether or not there is an in-vehicle terminal 1 of another vehicle that can communicate with the inter-vehicle communication device 105 (step 210). If there is no vehicle-mounted terminal 1, it waits for the vehicle-mounted terminal 1 of the other vehicle which can communicate. Here, the presence / absence of the vehicle-mounted terminal 1 of another vehicle that can communicate is determined by, for example, each vehicle-mounted terminal 1 periodically transmitting its information from the inter-vehicle communication device 105 in a broadcast format, When the information on the in-vehicle terminal 1 is received, it can be performed by recognizing the other in-vehicle terminal 1 as the communicable in-vehicle terminal 1, and the in-vehicle terminal 1 that wants to check the other in-vehicle terminal 1 that can communicate is in a broadcast format. The inter-vehicle communication device 105 transmits an inquiry command, and the inter-vehicle communication device 105 receives the inquiry command of the information of the other in-vehicle terminal 1 so that the other in-vehicle terminal 1 responds with the self-information by the inter-vehicle communication device 105. This is done by recognizing the communicable in-vehicle terminal 1 from the response to the inquiry command transmitted in the in-vehicle terminal 1 that wants to check the other in-vehicle terminal 1 that can be used. And it can also be.
[0026]
Now, when the in-vehicle terminal 1 of another vehicle capable of communication exists or has come to exist, the in-vehicle terminal 1 to which the mobile phone 2 is mounted is then selected from the existing in-vehicle terminals 1. Search is performed by inquiring each in-vehicle terminal 1 that can communicate (step 226). If the in-vehicle terminal 1 to which the mobile phone 2 is attached can be searched (step 228), the in-vehicle terminal 1 searched by including the identifier of the in-vehicle terminal 1 in the emergency information sent from the emergency information generating unit 104. From the inter-vehicle communication device 105 (step 230), and returns to the initial step 202. On the other hand, when the in-vehicle terminal 1 to which the mobile phone 2 is attached cannot be searched, 228), one in-vehicle terminal 1 of the other in-vehicle terminals that can communicate is selected, and the selected in-vehicle terminal 1 is selected. The emergency information sent from the emergency information generation unit 104 is transmitted including the identifier of the in-vehicle terminal 1 (step 232), and the process returns to the first step 202.
[0027]
Here, in the in-vehicle terminal 1 that has received the emergency information transmitted from the in-vehicle terminal 1 of the other vehicle in this manner, the inter-vehicle communication device 105 sends the received emergency information to the emergency information processing unit 108.
When emergency information is received from the in-vehicle terminal 1 of another vehicle in the inter-vehicle communication device 105 (step 204), it is first checked whether the mobile telephone 2 is attached to the in-vehicle terminal 1 (step 212). ), When not attached, it is not the in-vehicle terminal 1 indicated by the identifier included in the received emergency information (the received emergency information has not already passed), and the other can communicate with the inter-vehicle communication device 105 It is checked whether or not the vehicle-mounted terminal 1 is present (step 218). If there is no such vehicle-mounted terminal 1, it waits for such a vehicle-mounted terminal 1 to appear. And when the vehicle-mounted terminal 1 of the other vehicle which can communicate with the vehicle-to-vehicle communication apparatus 105 exists instead of the vehicle-mounted terminal 1 which the identifier contained in the received emergency information shows, it exists From among the in-vehicle terminals 1, the in-vehicle terminals 1 to which the mobile telephone 2 is mounted are searched by inquiring each in-vehicle terminal 1 (step 226). If the in-vehicle terminal 1 to which the mobile phone 2 is attached can be searched (step 228), the identifier of the in-vehicle terminal 1 is added to the emergency information received from the in-vehicle terminal 1 of another vehicle, and the searched in-vehicle terminal 1 is searched. Then, the vehicle-to-vehicle communication device 105 transmits (relays) (step 230), and returns to the first step 202. On the other hand, when the in-vehicle terminal 1 to which the mobile telephone 2 is attached cannot be searched, the other vehicle that can communicate with the inter-vehicle communication device 105 is not the in-vehicle terminal 1 indicated by the identifier included in the received emergency information. One in-vehicle terminal 1 is selected, and the emergency information received from the in-vehicle terminal 1 of the other vehicle is transmitted (relayed) to the selected in-vehicle terminal 1 including the identifier of the in-vehicle terminal 1 (step) 232), the process returns to the first step 202.
[0028]
Here, in the in-vehicle terminal 1 that has received the emergency information relayed from the in-vehicle terminal 1 of the other vehicle in this way, the inter-vehicle communication device 105 sends the received emergency information to the emergency information processing unit 108.
On the other hand, when emergency information is received from the in-vehicle terminal 1 of another vehicle of the inter-vehicle communication device 105 (step 204), if the mobile telephone 2 is attached to the own in-vehicle terminal 1 (step 212), the reception is performed. It is checked whether the emergency level indicated by the emergency information is higher than a predetermined level ThL (for example, emergency level 2) (step 214), and if it is higher, emergency notification of emergency information relayed from other vehicles By instructing the emergency contact processing unit 107 to report to the destination, the emergency information is transmitted to the emergency contact (step 216), and the process returns to the first step 202.
[0029]
On the other hand, if the emergency level indicated by the received emergency information is less than the predetermined level ThL, it is checked whether the mobile phone is currently in use by inquiring of the mobile phone control unit 106 (step 220). Then, by instructing the emergency contact processing unit 107 to report the emergency information relayed from another vehicle to the emergency contact processing unit 107, the emergency information is transmitted to the emergency contact (step 216), and the process returns to the first step 202. If it is in use, it is checked whether or not the emergency level indicated by the received emergency information has priority over the current use of the mobile phone 2 (step 222). By instructing the emergency contact processing unit 107 to notify the emergency contact of the relayed emergency information, the emergency information is transmitted to the emergency contact (step 216), and the process returns to the first step 202. Here, whether or not the emergency level indicated by the received emergency information is prioritized over the current use of the mobile phone 2 depends on the use of the mobile phone 2 at that time. For example, at that time, the mobile phone 2 is used for reporting other emergency information having an emergency level equal to or higher than the emergency level indicated by the received emergency information, or the mobile phone 2 is used by a predetermined mobile phone use application 114. If the mobile phone 2 is used, the current use of the mobile telephone 2 is given priority.
[0030]
If the emergency level indicated by the received emergency information does not have priority over the use of the mobile phone 2, the process proceeds to step 224, and if there is another in-vehicle terminal 1 that is a communication terminal through which the emergency information has not been communicated. As described above, the emergency information is relayed to the in-vehicle terminal 1 of the other vehicle with the vehicle having the mobile telephone 2 preferentially as a relay destination (steps 226 to 232), and there is no other in-vehicle terminal 1 capable of communication. For example, after the use of the mobile phone 2 is finished (step 220), the mobile phone 2 is used to report the emergency information to the emergency contact (step 216), or another in-vehicle terminal 1 capable of communication appears. (Step 224), the emergency information is relayed to the other in-vehicle terminal 1 with the vehicle having the mobile telephone 2 preferentially as a relay destination as described above (steps 226 to 232). Back to 02.
[0031]
The processing of the emergency information processing unit 108 has been described above. In steps 206 and 212 in the above processing, even when the mobile telephone 2 is attached, it is determined that the mobile telephone 2 is not attached when the mobile telephone 2 is outside the mobile telephone service area. To do.
[0032]
In addition to performing the above processing, the emergency information processing unit 108 also performs processing for instructing the emergency information presenting unit 112 to display emergency information to be appropriately processed according to a predetermined standard. For example, if the emergency information to be processed indicates a collision of another vehicle, the emergency information presenting unit 112 is displayed so that the position of the other vehicle indicated by the emergency information is displayed on the map displayed by the navigation unit 113. It may be controlled.
[0033]
Here, an example of the flow of the emergency information notification realized by the in-vehicle terminal 1 will be described.
Now, for example, in the situation where the vehicles A to H are located as shown in FIG. 3, if an emergency event occurs in the vehicle A, the emergency event in the vehicle A when the mobile phone is attached to the vehicle A The emergency information that tells the occurrence of the problem is reported directly from the vehicle A to the emergency contact by the mobile phone 2, but when the mobile phone is not attached to the vehicle A, the communication range of the inter-vehicle communication device 105 of the vehicle A is within the communication range. Emergency information is relayed to another vehicle equipped with the mobile telephone 2 in the RA. Then, the emergency information is notified from the other vehicle to the emergency contact information by the mobile telephone 2.
[0034]
On the other hand, when there is no vehicle equipped with the mobile telephone 2 in the communicable range RA of the inter-vehicle communication device 105 of the vehicle A, emergency information is relayed to the other vehicle E in the communicable range RA as shown in the figure. Is done. Then, the emergency information is relayed by the vehicle E to another vehicle G equipped with the mobile telephone 2 within the communicable range RE of the inter-vehicle communication device 105 of the vehicle E. You will be notified first.
[0035]
The first embodiment of the present invention has been described above.
As described above, according to the first embodiment, when an emergency situation occurs in a certain vehicle, when the mobile phone 2 cannot be used in the vehicle, the emergency information is transmitted by the in-vehicle terminal 1 of the vehicle that can use the mobile phone 2. Until it is received, it is relayed sequentially between different in-vehicle terminals 1. If the emergency information is relayed to the in-vehicle terminal 1 of the vehicle that can use the mobile phone 2, the emergency information is notified to the emergency contact using the mobile phone 2. Therefore, the emergency contact can be notified reliably and promptly.
[0036]
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
Also in the second embodiment, the vehicle-mounted terminal 1 is mounted on each vehicle as in the first embodiment. The configuration of the in-vehicle terminal 1 according to the second embodiment is the same as the configuration of the in-vehicle terminal 1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, but the mobile phone control unit, the mobile phone using application 114, the emergency contact process The part 107 does not need to be provided with this. In the present embodiment, the inter-vehicle communication device 105 is configured to be able to communicate with a notification receiving device provided in each emergency contact.
[0037]
In the second embodiment, the emergency information processing unit 108 performs the following operation.
That is, as shown in FIG. 4, when the emergency information processing unit 108 starts processing, the emergency information generation unit 104 of the own vehicle generates emergency information (step 402), and the vehicle-to-vehicle communication device 105 is mounted on another vehicle. The reception of emergency information from the terminal 1 (step 404) is monitored.
Then, if emergency information is generated in the emergency information generation unit 104 of the own vehicle, by inquiring the navigation unit 113 as described above, the location of the emergency contact as the contact point of the generated emergency information and the communication destination An address to be used is obtained (step 406). The navigation unit 113 holds a database indicating the positions and addresses of various emergency contacts, and upon receiving an inquiry from the emergency information processing unit 108, the emergency unit closest to the current location of the type specified by the emergency contact processing unit 107 is stored. Reply with contact location and address.
[0038]
Next, the emergency information processing unit 108 checks whether communication is possible using the determined emergency contact address and the inter-vehicle communication device 105 (step 408). Whether communication with the emergency contact is possible is determined from the distance between the current position of the host vehicle and the position of the emergency contact, or a response from the emergency contact to the emergency contact from the inter-vehicle communication device 105 It can be determined by the presence or absence of. If communication with the emergency contact is possible, the emergency information sent from the emergency information generation unit 104 is transmitted from the inter-vehicle communication device 105 to the emergency contact (step 410), and the process returns to the first step 402.
[0039]
On the other hand, if it is not possible to communicate with the emergency contact address, it is checked whether or not there is an in-vehicle terminal 1 of another vehicle that can communicate with the inter-vehicle communication device 105 (step 412). If it is possible to communicate with the emergency contact address (step 408), it waits for the in-vehicle terminal 1 of another vehicle capable of communication to appear. Then, if communication with the emergency contact becomes possible before the vehicle-mounted terminal 1 of another vehicle that can communicate is displayed, the emergency information sent from the emergency information generation unit 104 is sent to the emergency contact from the inter-vehicle communication device 105. (Step 410), and returns to the initial step 402. On the other hand, if there is a vehicle-mounted terminal 1 of another vehicle that can communicate or if a vehicle-mounted terminal 1 of another vehicle that can communicate before communication with the emergency contact appears, one vehicle-mounted terminal 1 that can communicate A selection is made (step 414), and the position of the selected in-vehicle terminal 1 is inquired of the in-vehicle terminal 1.
[0040]
Then, the route search function of the navigation unit 113 is used to search for a road route from the position of the own vehicle to the position of the emergency contact via another vehicle equipped with the selected in-vehicle terminal 1, and the searched road route Is set as a relay route (step 416). Here, the navigation unit 113 searches for a road route as a relay route by giving priority to a route with the shortest distance, or a road (for example, a main road) on which a traveling vehicle is likely to exist. It is preferable to search by giving priority to the route to be used. In addition, when there is a plurality of in-vehicle terminals 1 that can communicate with each other in the selection of one in-vehicle terminal 1 in step 414, the in-vehicle terminal 1 that is in the emergency contact direction is preferentially selected, or from the own vehicle position. The route to the location of the emergency contact via another vehicle equipped with the selected in-vehicle terminal 1 is selected so that the road distance is shorter than the route through the other in-vehicle terminal 1 capable of communication, The route from the location of the vehicle to the location of the emergency contact via another vehicle equipped with the in-vehicle terminal 1 selected is selected so as to use a road where a traveling vehicle is likely to exist. May be performed.
[0041]
If the relay route is set, the emergency information processing unit 108 includes the set relay route and the information of the location and address of the emergency contact in the emergency information and communicates with other selected in-vehicle terminals 1 between the vehicles. The data is transmitted from the device 105 (step 418), and the process returns to the first step 402.
[0042]
Here, in the in-vehicle terminal 1 that has received the emergency information transmitted from the in-vehicle terminal 1 of the other vehicle in this manner, the inter-vehicle communication device 105 sends the received emergency information to the emergency information processing unit 108.
When emergency information is received from the in-vehicle terminal 1 of another vehicle of the vehicle-to-vehicle communication device 105 (step 404), first, the emergency contact information whose location and address are indicated in the emergency information and the vehicle-to-vehicle communication device 105 are used. It is checked whether communication is possible (step 420). If communication with the emergency contact is possible, the emergency information sent from the emergency information generation unit 104 is transmitted from the inter-vehicle communication device 105 to the emergency contact (step 422), and the process returns to the first step 402.
[0043]
On the other hand, if the emergency contact address and the inter-vehicle communication device 105 are not communicable, it is checked whether there is an in-vehicle terminal 1 of another vehicle that can communicate with the inter-vehicle communication device 105 (step 424), and the other vehicle that can communicate. If there is no in-vehicle terminal 1, it is possible to communicate with the emergency contact (step 420) or wait for the in-vehicle terminal 1 of another vehicle that can communicate to appear (step 424). Then, if communication with the emergency contact becomes possible before the vehicle-mounted terminal 1 of another vehicle that can communicate is displayed, the emergency information sent from the emergency information generation unit 104 is sent to the emergency contact from the inter-vehicle communication device 105. (Step 422), and the process returns to the first step 402. On the other hand, if the in-vehicle terminal 1 of another vehicle that can communicate exists or if the in-vehicle terminal 1 of another vehicle that can communicate before the communication with the emergency contact address appears, the in-vehicle terminal 1 of the other vehicle that can communicate Among them, it is checked whether or not the in-vehicle terminal 1 located in the direction of the emergency contact is present from the position of the own vehicle on the relay route indicated by the emergency information (step 426). The emergency information is relayed to the in-vehicle terminal 1 that can communicate from the contact area (step 428), and the process returns to the first step 402. If there is no vehicle-mounted terminal 1 in the direction of emergency contact from the position of the vehicle on the relay route indicated by the emergency information among the vehicle-mounted terminals 1 of other vehicles that can communicate, one vehicle-mounted terminal 1 that can communicate One is selected (step 430), and the position of the selected in-vehicle terminal 1 is inquired to the in-vehicle terminal 1. Then, as described above, the route search function of the navigation unit 113 is used to search for a road route from the position of the own vehicle to the position of the emergency contact via another vehicle equipped with the selected in-vehicle terminal 1. The searched road route is set as a new relay route, and the relay route included in the emergency information is updated with the new relay route (step 432). Then, the updated emergency information is transmitted from the inter-vehicle communication device 105 to the other selected in-vehicle terminal 1 (step 434), and the process returns to the first step 402.
[0044]
The operation of the emergency information processing unit 108 according to the second embodiment has been described above.
Here, an example of the flow of the emergency information notification realized by the in-vehicle terminal 1 according to the second embodiment will be described.
Now, for example, in the situation where the vehicle is located as shown in FIG. 5, when an emergency event occurs in the vehicle A, if the vehicle A determines the emergency contact X in the figure as an emergency contact, the vehicle Since the emergency contact X is not located in the RA within the communicable range A, the vehicle B is selected from the vehicles that can communicate with the vehicle A, and the emergency contact X is sent from the vehicle A via the position of the selected vehicle B. The road route LA up to is set as a relay route. Then, emergency information is relayed from the vehicle A to the selected vehicle B. In the vehicle B that has received the emergency information, since the emergency contact X is not located in the communicable range RB of the vehicle B, the vehicle C from the most emergency contact X on the relay route LA that is located in the communicable range RB. And the emergency information is relayed to the vehicle C. Also in the vehicle C, since the emergency contact X is not located in the RC within the communicable range RC of the vehicle C, the vehicle D from the most emergency contact X is selected on the relay route LA located in the communicable range RC, Relay emergency information to vehicle C.
[0045]
And since the emergency contact X is not located in the communicable range RD of the vehicle D in the vehicle D, the emergency information is relayed to the vehicle in the direction of the emergency contact X on the relay route LA located in the communicable range RD. However, since there is no vehicle in the direction of the emergency contact X on the relay route LA located in the communicable range RD, a new communicable vehicle E is selected, and the relay route LA is selected as the selected vehicle E. To the relay route LB, which is a road route from the vehicle D to the emergency contact point X via the position of. Then, the emergency information is relayed to the selected vehicle E. In the vehicle E that has received the emergency information, the emergency contact X is not located in the RE within the communicable range RE of the vehicle E. Therefore, the vehicle E from the most emergency contact X on the updated relay route LB located in the RE within the communicable range RE. The vehicle F is selected, and emergency information is relayed to the vehicle F. Even in the vehicle F, since the emergency contact X is not located in the communicable range RF of the vehicle F, the vehicle G from the emergency contact X is selected on the relay route LB located in the communicable range RF, Relay emergency information to vehicle G.
[0046]
In the vehicle G, since the emergency contact X is located in the communicable range RG of the vehicle G, the received emergency information is notified to the emergency contact X.
The second embodiment of the present invention has been described above.
As described above, according to the second embodiment, when an emergency occurs in a certain vehicle, when the vehicle cannot communicate with the emergency contact, the emergency information is received by the vehicle-mounted terminal 1 of the vehicle that can communicate with the emergency contact. Until it is done, it is relayed sequentially between different in-vehicle terminals 1. If the emergency information is relayed to the in-vehicle terminal 1 of the vehicle that can communicate with the emergency contact information, the emergency information is notified to the emergency contact information. Therefore, it becomes possible to make a report to the emergency contact address reliably and promptly.
[0047]
Further, according to the second embodiment, the emergency information is made to reach the emergency contact using the road route from the vehicle in which the emergency occurred to the emergency contact as a relay route for the emergency information. Here, since each vehicle is located approximately on the road, there is a high possibility that it can be a relay route for emergency information to obtain one or a plurality of emergency contact devices from the vehicle where the emergency occurred to the emergency contact address. Thus, according to the configuration of the second embodiment as described above, it can be expected that the emergency contact information can be efficiently and surely notified. In addition, by appropriately setting the relay route, it becomes possible to make a notification of emergency contact reliably and promptly, and even if relaying along the relay route becomes impossible in the middle of the relay route, automatically It becomes possible to set a new relay route and relay emergency information according to the new relay route.
[0048]
By the way, in each of the embodiments described above, when the in-vehicle terminal 1 itself is damaged in a vehicle in which an emergency such as an accident has occurred, emergency information cannot be generated. It becomes impossible to report earlier. Therefore, in each of the embodiments described above, it is preferable that other vehicles in the vicinity of the vehicle in which the emergency event has occurred can generate emergency information instead of the vehicle in which the emergency event has occurred, and can be notified and relayed. That is, for example, in response to an input from the input device 110 of the in-vehicle terminal 1, the emergency event occurrence detection unit 103 may detect an emergency event, and the emergency information unit may generate emergency information. By doing in this way, when the user of the other vehicle in the vicinity of the vehicle in which the emergency event has occurred operates the input device 110, the in-vehicle terminal 1 of the user in which the emergency event has occurred Instead of, emergency information can be generated and reported and relayed.
[0049]
In each of the above embodiments, when emergency information is transmitted from the in-vehicle terminal 1 to another in-vehicle terminal 1, the emergency information is always transmitted only to one other in-vehicle terminal 1. You may make it transmit emergency information to several other vehicle-mounted terminal 1 by a broadcast format etc. In this case, there is a possibility that a plurality of emergency information about the same emergency event of the same vehicle is notified to the emergency contact. Such a problem may be caused by, for example, the emergency information in the in-vehicle terminal 1 that issued the emergency information. It is possible to reduce the problem by distinguishing the received emergency information in accordance with the identifier of the emergency information received by the emergency contact receiving device.
[0050]
In the above embodiment, when the emergency information is actually transmitted to the other in-vehicle terminal 1, the in-vehicle terminal 1 as a transmission destination is searched for. This is performed in advance according to an appropriate algorithm between the in-vehicle terminals 1. A virtual network is formed that negotiates with each other and enables communication between the first and second in-vehicle terminals 1 that have been relayed by the third in-vehicle terminal 1, and this virtual network is used. Then, each emergency information may be transmitted. That is, for example, in the first embodiment, the in-vehicle terminal 1 that issues emergency information searches for another in-vehicle terminal 1 having the mobile telephone 2 on a virtual network, and is virtual to the searched in-vehicle terminal 1. By transmitting emergency information on the network, the emergency information may be relayed to the in-vehicle terminal 1 having the mobile telephone 2 via the other in-vehicle terminal 1 as a result. In the second embodiment, the emergency contact receiving / notifying device is also incorporated in the virtual network, and the in-vehicle terminal 1 issuing the emergency information is directly addressed to the emergency contact receiving / notifying device on the virtual network. As a result, the emergency information may be notified to the emergency receiver's notification receiver via the other in-vehicle terminal 1.
[0051]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to more promptly report an emergency that has occurred in an individual automobile to an appropriate partner who can deal with the situation more reliably.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an in-vehicle terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing of an emergency information processing unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an emergency information reporting operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing of an emergency information processing unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an emergency information reporting operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1: In-vehicle terminal, 2: Mobile telephone, 101: Vehicle state sensor, 102: Biometric sensor, 103: Emergency event generation | occurrence | production detection part, 104: Emergency information generation part, 105: Inter-vehicle communication apparatus, 106: Mobile telephone control part, 107: emergency contact processing unit, 108: emergency information processing unit, 109: display device, 110: input device, 111: GUI control unit, 112: emergency information presentation unit, 113: navigation unit, 114: mobile phone application.

Claims

An emergency call device installed in a car,
A communication device that communicates with an emergency call destination which is a report destination of emergency information indicating the occurrence of an emergency and an emergency call device mounted on another vehicle;
When an emergency situation occurs in the host vehicle and communication is possible with the emergency contact using the communication device, emergency information representing the generated emergency is sent to the emergency contact as the communication device. Own vehicle emergency information reporting means to transmit using,
When an emergency situation occurs in the host vehicle and communication with the emergency contact is not possible using the communication device, emergency information indicating the emergency situation that has occurred is sent to an emergency notification device mounted on another vehicle. Urgent information report request means for transmitting using the communication device;
When emergency information is received from an emergency call device mounted on another vehicle, and when it is possible to communicate with the emergency contact using the communication device, the received emergency information is sent to the emergency contact, Other vehicle emergency information reporting means for transmitting using the communication device;
When emergency information is received from an emergency call device installed in another vehicle and communication with the emergency contact is not possible using the communication device, the received emergency information is installed in the other vehicle. Emergency information relay means to send to the reporting device,
The emergency information notification request means sends emergency information representing the emergency that has occurred to an emergency notification device mounted on another vehicle located in the area of the emergency contact on the road route from the vehicle to the emergency contact. , Using the communication device,
The emergency information relay means sends the received emergency information to an emergency call device mounted on another vehicle located in the area of the emergency contact on the road route from the own vehicle to the emergency contact. An emergency call device characterized by using and transmitting.

An emergency call device installed in a car,
A communication device that communicates with an emergency call destination which is a report destination of emergency information indicating the occurrence of an emergency and an emergency call device mounted on another vehicle;
When an emergency situation occurs in the host vehicle and communication is possible with the emergency contact using the communication device, emergency information representing the generated emergency is sent to the emergency contact as the communication device. Own vehicle emergency information reporting means to transmit using,
When an emergency situation occurs in the host vehicle and communication with the emergency contact is not possible using the communication device, emergency information indicating the emergency situation that has occurred is sent to an emergency notification device mounted on another vehicle. Urgent information report request means for transmitting using the communication device;
When emergency information is received from an emergency call device mounted on another vehicle, and when it is possible to communicate with the emergency contact using the communication device, the received emergency information is sent to the emergency contact, Other vehicle emergency information reporting means for transmitting using the communication device;
When emergency information is received from an emergency call device installed in another vehicle and communication with the emergency contact is not possible using the communication device, the received emergency information is installed in the other vehicle. Emergency information relay means to send to the reporting device,
The emergency information report requesting means obtains a road route from the vehicle through the other emergency call device with which the communication device can communicate to the emergency contact point as a relay route, and sends the other emergency call device with which communication is possible. , Transmitting emergency information representing the occurred emergency using the communication device,
The emergency information relay means, when the communication device can communicate with an emergency notification device mounted on another vehicle located in the area of the emergency contact on the relay route, the emergency contact on the relay route The received emergency information is transmitted to the emergency call device mounted on the other vehicle located in the direction by using the communication device, and the communication device is sent to the other vehicle located in the emergency contact direction on the relay route. If the communication device is not communicable with the installed emergency call device, the relay route is updated with the road route from the vehicle to the emergency contact via another emergency call device with which the communication device can communicate, and after the update Transmitting the received emergency information to the emergency call device mounted on another vehicle located in the area of the emergency contact on the relay route using the communication device. Emergency call device to collect.

When an emergency situation occurs in a car, an emergency notification method for reporting emergency information indicating the occurrence of an emergency situation to a predetermined emergency call destination,
In an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle in which an emergency has occurred, when communication with the emergency contact is possible, emergency information indicating the emergency that has occurred can be transmitted to the emergency contact and can be communicated with the emergency contact If not, the step of transmitting emergency information representing the occurred emergency to an in-vehicle device mounted on another vehicle located in the area of the emergency contact on the road route from the vehicle to the emergency contact,
In an in-vehicle device of a vehicle that has received emergency information from an in-vehicle device mounted on another vehicle, when the emergency contact is communicable, the received emergency information is transmitted to the emergency contact, and the emergency contact Transmitting the received emergency information to an in-vehicle device mounted on another vehicle located in the area of the emergency contact on the road route from the own vehicle to the emergency contact when communication is not possible. Emergency call method characterized by.

When an emergency situation occurs in a car, an emergency notification method for reporting emergency information indicating the occurrence of an emergency situation to a predetermined emergency call destination,
In an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle in which an emergency has occurred, when communication with the emergency contact is possible, emergency information indicating the emergency that has occurred is transmitted to the emergency contact and communicated with the emergency contact When this is not possible, a road route from the own vehicle to the emergency contact via the communicable vehicle-mounted device mounted on another vehicle is obtained as a relay route, and the communicable vehicle-mounted device mounted on the other vehicle. Sending emergency information representing the emergency situation that occurred,
In an in-vehicle device of a vehicle that has received emergency information from an in-vehicle device mounted on another vehicle, when the emergency contact is communicable, the received emergency information is transmitted to the emergency contact, and the emergency contact When it is not communicable and can communicate with an in-vehicle device mounted on another vehicle located in the direction of the emergency contact on the relay route, it is mounted on the other vehicle located in the direction of the emergency contact on the relay route. The received emergency information is transmitted to the in-vehicle device, and is not communicable with the emergency contact information, and is not communicable with the in-vehicle device mounted on another vehicle located in the emergency contact direction on the relay route. Sometimes, the relay route is updated with a road route from the own vehicle via the communicable vehicle-mounted device mounted on another vehicle to the emergency contact, and the emergency on the updated relay route In-vehicle device mounted on another vehicle located 絡先 direction, emergency call method characterized by a step of transmitting emergency information in the received.