JP4252388B2 - In-vehicle device image display customization system using communication network - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image display customization system for in-vehicle devices using a communication network such as the Internet.

  In the past, there were movies and televisions as a means of enjoying moving images in image information, and most of them enjoyed information provided by distributors and producers of moving images in buildings such as theaters and houses. It was. In recent years, with the widespread use of video cameras and digital cameras that can shoot movies, the number of people who create and enjoy original movies has increased dramatically. With the emergence of possible mobile phones, the number of people who enjoy original movies regardless of their location tends to increase further. Therefore, even when in a vehicle such as an automobile, there is a demand for enjoying an original moving image using an in-vehicle device that is an electric device mounted on the vehicle.

  However, none of the conventional in-vehicle devices and systems including the same have realized such a requirement. Conventionally, a personal computer (abbreviated PC) is connected to a server via the Internet, and image information prepared in advance in the server according to the model of the in-vehicle device is extracted by selecting the model of the in-vehicle device from the PC. Further, the extracted image information is downloaded to a PC, and the downloaded image information is input to an in-vehicle device using, for example, a recording medium as a transmission means and reproduced. Thus, in the conventional system, for each model of the in-vehicle device, it is limited to using, that is, reproducing the image information prepared in advance in the server corresponding to the model. The image information could not be reproduced.

  This is because the specifications of image display functions such as image size and dot size are different for each model of in-vehicle device, so that each user can play the original image created by the in-vehicle device, Although the original image information created so as to conform to the image display specifications of each user's in-vehicle device must be stored in advance in the server in association with the model information of the in-vehicle device, the number of users is enormous. Considering a certain situation, it cannot be realized in terms of the storage capacity of the server.

  In the conventional system, the model of the in-vehicle device stored in the server from the PC side and the image information prepared in advance attached to the model can be selected, but the model of the in-vehicle device is identified on the server side. However, since it cannot be specified, the actual situation is that the server side cannot provide image information that is actively operated so as to conform to the model of the in-vehicle device.

  In the prior art related to acquiring information on the operation of the in-vehicle device from the server using the Internet, the audio device adjustment data and the audio device attachment data are received from the center server, and the in-vehicle audio system receives There is one in which audio characteristics are automatically adjusted using audio equipment adjustment data, and a user attaches the audio equipment to the vehicle according to the audio equipment attachment data (see Patent Document 1).

  However, Patent Document 1 discloses only device mounting information and audio information, and does not disclose image information at all. Furthermore, the technology that a user reproduces original image information on a vehicle-mounted device is mentioned. Not.

JP 2002-67815 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image display customization system for an in-vehicle device using a communication network that enables arbitrary image information to be displayed on a display unit of the in-vehicle device regardless of the image display specifications of the in-vehicle device. It is.

The present invention is an in-vehicle device having a display unit capable of displaying an image, which is an electric device mounted on a vehicle,
An information communication terminal that can be connected to a communication network and can transmit and receive information via the communication network, and can input image information; and
At least information transmission means capable of transmitting in-vehicle device specific information from the in-vehicle device to the information communication terminal, and transmitting image information from the information communication terminal to the in-vehicle device;
Connected to the communication network, the image information received via the communication network from the information communication terminal to which the image information has been input is received from the information communication terminal to which the image information has been input via the communication network. A communication network characterized by including image information conversion means capable of converting the image information to correspond to the image display specification of the in-vehicle device specified by the unique information and transmitting the converted image information to the information communication terminal. This is an image display customization system for in-vehicle devices.
Further, the present invention is characterized in that the image information input to the information communication terminal is an original captured image captured by a user.
Further, in the present invention, the image information conversion unit generates image information of a frame advance moving image from a plurality of still images when the image information received via the communication network is image information of a plurality of still images. The image information of the frame-advanced moving image is transmitted to the information communication terminal as converted image information.

In the present invention, the information transmission means includes:
A portable recording medium that is portable and detachable from the in-vehicle device and the information communication terminal, and that can write and read in-vehicle device specific information and image information between the in-vehicle device and the information communication terminal. It is characterized by.

  In the invention, it is preferable that the portable recording medium is a flash memory card.

According to the present invention, the in-vehicle device specific information is transmitted from the in-vehicle device to the information communication terminal, and the information communication terminal transmits the in-vehicle device specific information and the image information that is input and stored in advance through the communication network. The image information conversion means transmits the image information received from the information communication terminal to which the image information has been input via the communication network to the image information conversion means from the information communication terminal to which the image information has been input via the communication network. Is converted to correspond to the image display specification of the in-vehicle device specified by the unique information of the in-vehicle device received, and the converted image information is transmitted to the information communication terminal, and the converted image information is transmitted from the information communication terminal. Since the information is transmitted to the in-vehicle device by the means, the image information input to the information communication terminal can be displayed on the display unit of the in-vehicle device regardless of the image display specification of the in-vehicle device.

According to the present invention, image information input to the information communication terminal, since the original photographed image taken by the user, the user, the images information personally produced by a video camera or a digital camera, the original Even when used as image information, the original image information can be displayed on the in-vehicle device and enjoyed without causing a problem with the image display specifications of the in-vehicle device.
Further, according to the present invention, when the image information input to the information communication terminal is image information of a plurality of still images, the image information conversion unit generates image information of the frame advance operation from the plurality of still images. The original captured image captured by the user may be moving image information or a plurality of still image information.

  According to the present invention, a portable recording medium, preferably a flash memory card is used as the information transmission means. In this way, by using the information transmission means as a portable recording medium separate from the in-vehicle device and the information communication terminal, the user can obtain a large number of pieces of image information regardless of the capacity of the memory provided in the in-vehicle device. It can be stored and stored in a portable recording medium. In addition, by using a general-purpose recording medium such as a flash memory card as the portable recording medium, an inexpensive and highly practical system is realized, so that the general versatility of the system is further improved.

  FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing a configuration of an image display customization system 1 for an in-vehicle device using a communication network according to an embodiment of the present invention. An in-vehicle device image display customization system 1 (hereinafter abbreviated as “image display customization system 1”) using a communication network is an electric device mounted on a vehicle and includes an in-vehicle device 2 having a display unit 9 capable of displaying an image. And the information communication terminal 4 that can be connected to the communication network 3 and can transmit and receive information via the communication network 3, and at least the vehicle-mounted device 2 transmits the unique information of the vehicle-mounted device 2 to the information communication terminal 4, A portable recording medium, which is an information transmission means 5 capable of transmitting image information from the information communication terminal 4 to the in-vehicle device 2, and image information that can be connected to the communication network 3 and received via the communication network 3, Image information that can be converted to correspond to the image display specification of the in-vehicle device 2 specified by the unique information of the in-vehicle device 2 received via the communication network 3, and the converted image information can be transmitted. Configured to include a conversion unit 6.

  The in-vehicle device 2 is an electric device mounted on, for example, an automobile which is a kind of vehicle, and specifically includes a video device, an audio device having a display unit, and the like. The in-vehicle device 2 includes a processing circuit 7 that includes a central processing unit (abbreviated CPU) and executes operation control of the entire in-vehicle device 2, an input unit 8 that includes a power switch of the in-vehicle device and inputs an operation instruction signal and the like. The display unit 9 displays image information, the operation state of the in-vehicle device 2 and the like according to the operation control signal from the processing circuit 7, the memory unit 10 that stores various programs and information, and the portable type used as the information transmission means 5. Information is written to and read from a memory stick slot 11 in which a memory stick, which is a recording medium and is a type of flash memory card, is detachably mounted, and a memory stick 5 mounted in the memory stick slot 11 And a memory stick control unit 12 for performing

  The input unit 8 is, for example, a keyboard provided together with the power switch of the in-vehicle device 2 as described above. The input unit 8 includes numeric keys, function keys with predetermined input information, and the like. By operating, an operation instruction signal of the in-vehicle device 2 can be input. The display unit 9 is realized by, for example, a liquid crystal display, and can display image information and information related to the operation state of the in-vehicle device 2 according to a display operation control signal output from the processing circuit 7.

  The memory unit 10 is constituted by a hard disk device, for example, and can write and read image information as needed. The memory unit 10 stores a program for the processing circuit 7 to control the operation of the entire in-vehicle device 2 and a product serial number and model (product model) name, which are unique information of the in-vehicle device, at the time of product shipment. ing.

  In the present embodiment, the information communication terminal 4 is a personal computer (abbreviated as PC). The information communication terminal 4 can be connected to the Internet 3 which is the communication network 3 of the present embodiment, and can transmit / receive information to / from the image information conversion means 6 and other information communication terminals via the Internet 3. Although not shown, the PC 4 according to the present embodiment includes a memory stick slot in which the memory stick 5 can be detachably mounted and a memory stick control unit, similarly to the in-vehicle device 2. Information can be written to and read from the memory stick 5 attached to the.

  In the present embodiment, the image information conversion unit 6 is a service server connected to the Internet 3. The server 6 is preliminarily provided with an operation control program for converting input image information into a format according to image display specifications of various in-vehicle devices. Therefore, when the image serial number and the product serial number and model name, which are unique information for identifying the in-vehicle device 2 are input from the PC 4 via the Internet 3, the in-vehicle device 2 is identified and input based on the unique information. The format of the image information is converted into a format that conforms to the image display specifications of the in-vehicle device 2. The converted image information is transmitted to the PC 4 again via the Internet 3. Here, the format of image information means an image display size, the number of display colors, a dot size, and the like.

  Further, the server 6 does not stop converting the format, generates a frame advance moving image using image information received as a plurality of still images, and transmits the frame advance moving image as converted image information, that is, received still image information. Thus, the frame information can be converted into image information of a frame-by-frame video that conforms to the image display specifications of the in-vehicle device 2 and transmitted.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the image information conversion and the image display operation of the image display customization system 1. The image information conversion and image display operation in the image display customization system 1 will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

  At the start of step a0, the in-vehicle device 2 and the PC 4 are operable, the PC 4 is connected to the Internet 3 and can communicate with the server 6, and for example, original image information photographed by the user is prepared. is there. The image information to be prepared may be moving image information or a plurality of still image information.

  In step a1, image information is input to the PC 4. This input of image information is performed by a user by a known method. For example, image information recorded on a compact disc or digital versatile disc may be input from these drive devices provided in the PC 4, and image information recorded on a flash memory card is input via a PC card adapter or the like. May be.

  In step a2, a memory stick (abbreviated as MS in FIG. 2) 5 is mounted in the memory stick slot 11 of the in-vehicle device 2. In step a3, the unique information of the in-vehicle device 2 read from the memory unit 10 is written into the memory stick 5. In step a4, the memory stick 5 is detached from the in-vehicle device 2.

  In step a5, the memory stick 5 is attached to the PC 4. In step a6, the PC 4 reads out the unique information of the in-vehicle device 2 from the memory stick 5. In step a7, the unique information and image information of the in-vehicle device 2 are transmitted from the PC 4 to the server 6 via the Internet 3.

  In step a8, the server 6 converts the format of the image information so as to conform to the image display specification of the in-vehicle device selected based on the unique information of the in-vehicle device 2. Note that when the image information input to the server 6 is a plurality of still images, image information of the frame advance moving image is created from the plurality of still images together with the format conversion. In step a9, the converted image information is transmitted from the server 6 to the PC 4 via the Internet 3. In step a10, the image information in the server 6 and the unique information of the in-vehicle device 2 are deleted. This information deletion is for preventing the storage capacity of the server 6 from being exceeded. If there is no problem with the storage capacity of the server 6, this step may be skipped.

  In step a11, image information is written from the PC 4 to the memory stick 5. In step a12, the memory stick 5 is detached from the PC 4. In step a13, the memory stick 5 is attached to the in-vehicle device 2 again. In step a14, image information is read from the memory stick 5 in the in-vehicle device 2. In step a15, the read image information is displayed on the display unit 9 in accordance with the operation display control signal of the processing circuit 7, and the process proceeds to step a16, where a series of operations ends.

  In the image display on the display unit 9 of the in-vehicle device 2 in step a15, the image information read from the memory stick 5 may be displayed in real time, and the information read from the memory stick 5 is temporarily stored in the memory unit 10. However, it may be read from the memory unit 10 and displayed at an arbitrary timing.

  As described above, in the image display customization system 1, image information prepared in advance in the server is not unilaterally downloaded, but image information created by the user himself / herself desired by the user is transmitted via the Internet 3 to the server 6. The image information converted so as to conform to the image display specifications of the in-vehicle device 2 owned by the user in the server 6 can be downloaded and displayed on the display unit 9 of the in-vehicle device 2. Therefore, regardless of the image display specifications of the in-vehicle device 2, the user can display the original image information personally created by the video camera or the digital camera on the in-vehicle device 2 and enjoy the image.

  FIG. 3 is a system diagram showing the configuration of the image display customization system 20 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The image display customization system 20 according to the present embodiment is similar to the image display customization system 1 according to the first embodiment, and corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  In the image display customization system 20 according to the present embodiment, the information transmission unit 21 includes a first wireless transmission / reception unit 22 provided in the in-vehicle device 2 and a second wireless transmission / reception unit 23 provided in the PC 4. Such a configuration can be realized by using, for example, a wireless transmission / reception device based on the Bluetooth standard for the first and second wireless transmission / reception units 22 and 23.

  The PC 4 is disposed near or in the vehicle on which the in-vehicle device 2 is mounted, and wirelessly communicates between the second wireless transmission / reception unit 23 of the PC 4 and the first wireless transmission / reception unit 22 of the in-vehicle device 2, and the in-vehicle device 2. By exchanging unique information and image information, it is possible to achieve the same effect as the image information customization system 1 of the first embodiment.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the communication network is the Internet. However, the communication network is not limited to this, and may be a local area network (LAN) formed in a factory, for example. When the communication network is a LAN, the vehicle on which the in-vehicle device is mounted is an automobile or lift car that operates in a factory. A flash memory card used as a portable recording medium is a memory stick, but is not limited thereto, and may be a compact flash (registered trademark) card, an SD memory card, or the like.

1 is a system diagram showing a configuration of an image display customization system 1 for an in-vehicle device using a communication network according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a flowchart for explaining image information conversion and image display operation of the image display customization system 1. It is a systematic diagram which shows the structure of the image display customization system 20 which is the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,20 Image display customization system 2 In-vehicle apparatus 3 Internet 4 Personal computer 5 Memory stick 6 Server 7 Processing circuit 8 Input part 9 Display part 10 Memory part 11 Memory stick slot 12 Memory stick control part 21 Information transmission means 22 1st wireless transmission / reception Unit 23 Second wireless transmission / reception unit

Claims (5)

An in-vehicle device having a display unit that is an electric device mounted on a vehicle and capable of displaying an image;
An information communication terminal that can be connected to a communication network and can transmit and receive information via the communication network, and can input image information; and
At least information transmission means capable of transmitting in-vehicle device specific information from the in-vehicle device to the information communication terminal, and transmitting image information from the information communication terminal to the in-vehicle device;
Connected to the communication network, the image information received via the communication network from the information communication terminal to which the image information has been input is received from the information communication terminal to which the image information has been input via the communication network. A communication network characterized by including image information conversion means capable of converting the image information to correspond to the image display specification of the in-vehicle device specified by the unique information and transmitting the converted image information to the information communication terminal. In-vehicle device image display customization system.   2. The image display customization system for in-vehicle devices using a communication network according to claim 1, wherein the image information input to the information communication terminal is an original photographed image photographed by a user.   When the image information received via the communication network is image information of a plurality of still images, the image information conversion unit generates image information of the frame-by-frame moving image from the plurality of still images, and the generated frame-by-frame moving image The image display customization system for an in-vehicle device using the communication network according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the image information is transmitted to the information communication terminal as converted image information. The information transmission means includes
A portable recording medium that is portable and detachable from the in-vehicle device and the information communication terminal, and that can write and read in-vehicle device specific information and image information between the in-vehicle device and the information communication terminal. An in-vehicle device image display customization system using the communication network according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The portable recording medium is
5. The image display customization system for in-vehicle devices using the communication network according to claim 4, wherein the image display customization system is a flash memory card.

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