JP4577637B2 - Approach warning method, approach warning system, navigation device and computer program thereof - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of warning between moving objects such as pedestrians and vehicles.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in the field of automobiles, which are typical vehicles, warning devices for warning pedestrians have been proposed. For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-228402, a headlight of an own vehicle is turned on. An alarm device has been proposed that issues an alarm when the vehicle speed is within a predetermined range.
[0003]
Also, for example, in JP-A-8-273098, in a pedestrian detection area where a plurality of current collecting sensors are arranged in a matrix, the movement direction and speed of a pedestrian passing through the pedestrian detection area are indicated. An alarm system has been proposed in which an electric sensor is used for detection and an alarm is issued according to the detection result.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional alarm device, the former has a problem in the accuracy of alarm, and it is unrealistic to install a plurality of alarm systems like the latter in the city.
[0005]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an approach warning method, an approach warning system, a navigation apparatus, and a computer program thereof that provide a vehicle approach warning accurately and appropriately to pedestrians.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an approach warning system according to the present invention is characterized by the following configuration.
[0007]
That is, an approach warning system in which a portable device carried by a pedestrian and a navigation device mounted on a vehicle are connected by wireless communication, the portable device calculates the current position of the device itself and calculates Current position transmitting means for sending the current position information to the periphery of the portable device, and notification means for notifying information received from the outside to a pedestrian carrying the portable device, the navigation device comprising: While calculating the current position of the own device, based on the calculated current position information, the location position estimation means for estimating the location position of the navigation device after a predetermined time, the estimation result by the location position estimation means, and the portable When it is determined that the relative distance between the navigation device and the portable device is shorter than a predetermined distance based on the current position information received from the device, The alarm information serial vehicle and said pedestrian warning that approach, and an alarm output unit for providing the portable device, in the portable device, the current position transmission means previously stored the pedestrian The information about the physical characteristics of the person to be searched is sent to the periphery of the portable device together with the current position information, and the navigation device stores information about the physical characteristics of the person to be searched The navigation device makes an inquiry about the person to be searched to the information center according to the information on the physical characteristics received from the portable device, and the result of the inquiry is sent to the vehicle. It further comprises pedestrian information notifying means for notifying .
[0012]
In the above case, for example, the pedestrian information notifying means may transmit the current position information of the vehicle when making an inquiry about the person to be searched to the information center.
[0013]
The object is also achieved by an approach warning method corresponding to the approach warning system having the above-described configurations.
[0014]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a computer-readable storage for storing a program code for instructing an operation of a device corresponding to the navigation device, which constitutes an approach warning system having the above-described configurations, and the program code. It is also achieved by the medium.
[0015]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention described above, it is possible to provide an approach warning method, an approach warning system, a navigation apparatus, and a computer program thereof that provide a vehicle approach warning accurately and appropriately to a pedestrian.
[0016]
That is, according to the first, second, and fourth aspects of the invention, the location of the vehicle (navigation device) after a predetermined time and the current location of the portable device (pedestrian) are used to determine whether or not alarm output is necessary. Since this is taken into consideration, an accurate and appropriate alarm can be provided. Further, for example, a pedestrian having special circumstances such as dementia and memory loss can be searched efficiently while obtaining the cooperation of the driver of the vehicle equipped with the navigation device.
[0021]
According to the invention of claim 3 , the location of the person to be searched can be easily specified at the information center.
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of an approach warning system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0023]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an overall configuration of an approach warning system in the present embodiment.
[0024]
In the figure, an in-vehicle device 1 performs Bluetooth wireless communication as an example of a short-range wireless communication method adopted within a distance range of about several tens of meters, a navigation device 2 having a communication function with an information center 4. A Bluetooth component 11 is provided. The device configuration of the navigation device 2 will be described later.
[0025]
A portable device 3 carried by a pedestrian is an information terminal such as a wristband type or a cellular phone, for example, and includes a Bluetooth component 12, an information providing unit 13, a GPS (global positioning system) unit 14, a semiconductor memory, and the like. The storage medium 15 is provided. In the storage medium 15, special information such as name, hearing difficulty, visual difficulty, behavior difficulty, age, medical condition, dementia, memory loss, etc. is stored in advance as information on the physical characteristics of the pedestrian carrying the portable device. It is remembered.
[0026]
The information providing unit 13 includes a microcomputer (not shown), and performs alarm notification by sound, character display, vibration, or the like to the owner (pedestrian) of the portable device 13 as will be described later.
[0027]
The information center 4 includes a computer 16 capable of communicating with the navigation device 2 and a database 17 in which information related to a search target person is stored. In the database 17, information items such as names, physical characteristics, information regarding physical characteristics, and contact information are stored in advance as information regarding the person to be searched (a lost person).
[0028]
In addition, since a general server computer and a communication interface are applicable as an apparatus structure of the information center 2, detailed description in this embodiment is abbreviate | omitted.
[0029]
Here, the communication between the navigation device 2 and the information center 4 may include at least a wireless communication line. In a preferred embodiment, a so-called Internet may be included in addition to the wireless communication line.
[0030]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the internal configuration of the navigation device 2 according to this embodiment.
[0031]
In the figure, 22 is a display such as a liquid crystal display, and 23 is an input device comprising a key switch and various pointing devices. A ROM 24 stores a boot program and the like. Reference numeral 25 denotes a RAM that temporarily stores various processing results. Reference numeral 26 denotes a storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) that stores vehicle information related to the host vehicle, map information for navigation, a program, and the like. Reference numeral 27 denotes a communication interface (wireless transmitter / receiver) that communicates with the information center 4 via the wireless communication line 30. Reference numeral 28 denotes a GPS unit that detects the current position based on a GPS (Global Positioning System) signal received from the outside. These components are connected via an internal bus 29, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21 controls the entire navigation device 2 according to a program stored in a storage device 26. Further, the Bluetooth component 11 (not shown in FIG. 2) is connected to the internal bus 29.
[0032]
Next, specific alarm processing performed in the approach alarm system having the hardware configuration described above will be described.
[0033]
<Navigation device 2>
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an alarm information output process performed by the navigation device 2 in the present embodiment, and shows an execution procedure of software executed by the CPU 21.
[0034]
In the figure, Step S1, Step S2: The Bluetooth component 11 connected to the navigation device 2 receives a radio signal from the Bluetooth component 12 provided in the portable device 3 existing within a predetermined distance range of about several tens of meters. (Step S1), and when a wireless signal is received, the current position information of the portable device 3 and information on the physical characteristics of the pedestrian carrying the portable device are acquired from the wireless signal. (Step S2).
[0035]
Step S3: Current position information of the in-vehicle device 1 (navigation device 2) is calculated using the GPS unit 28, a gyro (not shown), and the like, and a location after a predetermined time has been estimated. For the estimation of the location, the navigation device 2 estimates the traveling direction of the vehicle based on the past current position information calculated up to the current control cycle, and the predetermined time at the current vehicle speed in the estimated traveling direction. What is necessary is just to estimate the movement over.
[0036]
Step S4: Based on the location information after the predetermined time estimated in Step S3 and the current position information of the portable device 3 acquired in Step S2, the navigation device 2 and the portable device 3 are relative to each other. The distance L is calculated (step S4).
[0037]
Steps S5 and S6: It is determined whether the relative distance calculated in step S4 is shorter than the predetermined distance LA determined to be dangerous (step S5). If the relative distance L is equal to or greater than the predetermined distance LA, the process returns to step S1. When the relative distance L is shorter than the predetermined distance LA, the portable device 3 is provided with alarm information for warning that a vehicle on which the navigation device 2 is mounted and a pedestrian carrying the portable device 3 approach each other. Is transmitted to the Bluetooth component 12 (step S6).
[0038]
Step S7, Step S8: In step S7, if information regarding the physical characteristics of the pedestrian is not acquired in step S2, the process returns to step S1, and if acquired, the physical characteristics are determined in step S8. Alarm information is notified in an output manner in accordance with information related to the information.
[0039]
Here, as an alarm mode, for example, a headlamp blinks, a roof light is turned on in the case of a person with hearing impairment, and a horn is sounded in the case of a person with a blindness.
[0040]
Steps S9 and S10: In accordance with the information on the physical characteristics of the pedestrian acquired in step S2, it is determined whether or not the information center 4 needs to be searched for the person to be searched (step S9). If it is determined that there is a request, the process returns to step S1, and if it is determined that an inquiry is necessary, information on the physical characteristics of the pedestrian and the current position information of the navigation device 2 calculated in step S3 are obtained. Information indicating that the inquiry request is included is transmitted to the information center 4 (step S10).
[0041]
FIG. 6 is a diagram exemplifying a screen displayed on the display 22 of the navigation device 2 in the present embodiment, and a display screen displayed when information indicating that an inquiry is requested is transmitted to the information center 4 in step S10. Is illustrated.
[0042]
That is, in FIG. 6, above the map display area, information indicating that an inquiry request is made is transmitted to the information center 4, information on the physical characteristics of the pedestrian acquired in step S3, and alarm information in step S6. Each block indicating that is transmitted to the portable device 3 is displayed.
[0043]
Steps S11 and S12: In step S11, the process waits until the inquiry result for the inquiry in step S10 is received from the information center 4. If received, the received information and the physical structure of the pedestrian acquired in step S2 are received. Information on the feature is displayed on the display 22 (step S12), and the process returns to step S1.
[0044]
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed on the display 22 of the navigation device 2 in the present embodiment, and illustrates the display screen displayed in step S12.
[0045]
That is, in FIG. 7, in the upper part of the map display area, the alarm information is displayed in step S6 instead of the block in which information indicating that the inquiry request is sent to the information center 4 is displayed in the display example of FIG. Each block indicating that the owner of the portable device 3 that has transmitted is a person to be searched is displayed.
[0046]
In step S12, the physical characteristics of the person carrying the portable device 3 (whether it is a sensitive age such as a child or elderly person, whether it is a pedestrian with special circumstances such as dementia, memory loss, hearing loss, etc.) By notifying by display or the like, the driver's attention can be alerted, and the person to be searched can be searched efficiently with the cooperation of the driver.
[0047]
<Portable machine 3>
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an alarm notification process performed by the portable device 3 in the present embodiment, and shows an execution procedure of software executed by a microcomputer (not shown) of the information providing unit 13.
[0048]
In the figure, step S21, step S22: whether or not the vehicle is within a predetermined distance range of about several tens of meters of the portable device 3, whether the Bluetooth component 12 provided in the portable device 3 and the Bluetooth on the vehicle side It is determined whether or not the component 11 can establish a wireless communication line (step S21), and when it is determined that a vehicle exists due to the establishment of the wireless communication line, the GPS unit 14 uses the portable device 3 to The current position information is calculated, and the calculated current position information and pre-stored information on the physical characteristics of the pedestrian (owner of the portable device 3) are transmitted to the Bluetooth component 11 provided in the navigation device 2. Transmit (step S22). Here, the transmission of information in step S22 corresponds to step S1 of FIG. 3 described above.
[0049]
Step S23: It is determined whether alarm information has been received from the Bluetooth component 11 provided in the navigation device 2. If alarm information has been received corresponding to step S6 in FIG. 3 described above, the process proceeds to step S24.
[0050]
Step S24: The alarm information received in step S23 is notified according to information relating to the physical characteristics of the pedestrian (owner of the portable device 3) stored in advance, and the process returns to step S21. Here, as a mode of alarm, for example, the portable device 3 is vibrated in the case of a person with hearing disability, and the display on the display is performed in the case of a person with hearing disability. In the case of an unskilled person, an alarm may be given by voice.
[0051]
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an alarm displayed on the display when the portable device 3 is a mobile phone type, with respect to the display example of FIG. In FIG. 8B, a symbol for warning of approach of the vehicle is displayed below the map display area, and a symbol indicating that a vibration module (not shown) is vibrating is displayed.
[0052]
<Information Center 4>
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a search process performed by the information center 4 in this embodiment, and shows an execution procedure of software executed by the computer 16 of the information center 4.
[0053]
In the figure, Step S31, Step S32: Corresponding to Step S10 in FIG. 3, it is determined whether or not information indicating that an inquiry request is made has been received from the navigation device 2 (Step S31). The database 17 is searched using the information on the physical features of the pedestrian included in the search key as a search key, and the search result (inquiry result) is transmitted to the navigation device 2 (step S32), and the process returns to step S31. The transmission of the search result in step S32 corresponds to step S11 in FIG.
[0054]
Here, since the current position information of the navigation device 2 is included in the information received in step S31, the location of the person to be searched can be easily specified in the information center 4.
[0055]
As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, the location of the vehicle (navigation device 2) after a predetermined time and the current position of the portable device (pedestrian) are taken into consideration in determining whether or not alarm output is necessary. Accurate and appropriate alarms can be made.
[0056]
In the above-described embodiment, the navigation device 2 and the information center 4 communicate at least via a wireless communication line, and Bluetooth is adopted as a communication means between the navigation device 2 and the portable device 3. Thereby, the cost of the portable device 3 can be reduced as compared with a communication system configuration in which direct wireless communication is performed between the portable device 3 and the information center 4.
[0057]
Further, according to the information on the physical characteristics of the pedestrian received from the portable device 3, the navigation device 2 blinks the headlamp in the case of a person with hearing impairment, for example, In some cases, the alarm mode is optimized such as sounding a horn, so that a more efficient alarm according to the characteristics of the pedestrian is realized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an overall configuration of an approach warning system in the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a navigation device 2 in the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an alarm information output process performed by the navigation device 2 in the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an alarm notification process performed by the portable device 3 in the present embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing search processing performed by the information center 4 in the present embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed on the display 22 of the navigation device 2 in the present embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed on the display 22 of the navigation device 2 in the present embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a diagram exemplifying an alarm mode displayed on a display when the portable device 3 is a mobile phone type;
[Explanation of symbols]
1: On-board machine,
2: Navigation device,
3: Mobile device,
4: Information center,
11, 12: Bluetooth component,
13: Information providing unit,
14, 28: GPS unit,
15: storage medium,
16: Computer,
17: Database,
21: CPU,
22: Display
23: input device,
24: ROM,
25: RAM,
26: storage device,
27: Communication interface,
29: Internal bus,
30: communication line,

Claims (5)

An approach warning method using a communication system in which a portable device carried by a pedestrian and a navigation device mounted on a vehicle are connected by wireless communication,
The current position of the portable device is calculated, and the calculated current position information and the information about the physical characteristics of the pedestrian stored in advance in the portable device are sent to the periphery of the portable device by the portable device. A position transmission process;
The navigation device calculates the current position of the navigation device, and based on the calculated current position information, estimates a location position after a predetermined time of the navigation device; and
The navigation device determines that the relative distance between the navigation device and the portable device is shorter than a predetermined distance based on the estimation result in the location position estimation step and the current position information received from the portable device. A warning output step of providing warning information to the portable device that warns that the vehicle and the pedestrian are approaching,
A warning process for notifying the pedestrian carrying the portable device of the warning information received from the navigation device in the warning output step by the portable device;
In accordance with the information on the physical characteristics received from the portable device, the navigation device makes an inquiry about the person to be searched to the information center in which information on the physical characteristics of the person to be searched is stored, A pedestrian information notifying step for notifying the result of the inquiry in the vehicle;
A proximity warning method characterized by comprising: An approach warning system in which a portable device carried by a pedestrian and a navigation device mounted on a vehicle are connected by wireless communication,
The portable device is
While calculating the current position of the device itself, current position transmission means for transmitting the calculated current position information to the periphery of the portable device,
Informing means for informing information received from the outside to a pedestrian carrying the portable device,
The navigation device
While calculating the current position of the device itself, based on the calculated current position information, the location position estimation means for estimating the location position after a predetermined time of the navigation device,
When it is determined that the relative distance between the navigation device and the portable device is shorter than a predetermined distance based on the estimation result by the location position estimating means and the current position information received from the portable device, the vehicle And alarm output means for providing alarm information for alarming that the pedestrian is approaching to the portable device ,
In the portable device, the current position transmitting means is configured to send information about the physical characteristics of the pedestrian stored in advance to the periphery of the portable device together with the current position information.
The navigation device is capable of communicating with an information center in which information about physical characteristics of a person to be searched is stored,
The navigation device inquires of the person to be searched to the information center according to the information on the physical characteristics received from the portable device, and informs the result of the inquiry in the vehicle. An access warning system further comprising means . 3. The approach warning system according to claim 2, wherein the pedestrian information notifying means transmits the current position information of the vehicle when inquiring about the person to be searched to the information center. A navigation device mounted on a vehicle,
While calculating the current position of the device itself, based on the calculated current position information, the location position estimation means for estimating the location position after a predetermined time of the navigation device,
Based on the estimation result by the location estimation means and the current position information received from the portable device carried by the pedestrian, it is determined that the relative distance between the navigation device and the portable device is shorter than a predetermined distance. A warning output means for providing warning information to the portable device that warns that the vehicle and the pedestrian are approaching,
Equipped with a,
The portable device is configured to send information about the physical characteristics of the pedestrian stored in advance to the periphery of the portable device together with the current position information,
The navigation device is capable of communicating with an information center in which information about physical characteristics of a person to be searched is stored,
The navigation device inquires of the person to be searched to the information center according to the information on the physical characteristics received from the portable device, and informs the result of the inquiry in the vehicle. A navigation device further comprising means . A computer program for instructing operation of the navigation device according to claim 4 .

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