JP7471777B2 - Incoming call notification system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an incoming call notification system that notifies an incoming call to a communication means such as a mobile phone by a navigation device.

Conventionally, there are known in-vehicle hands-free calling devices and vehicle navigation devices that prohibit hands-free receiving of calls from specific phone numbers when there are passengers in the vehicle (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

The in-vehicle hands-free phone device and vehicle navigation device of Patent Document 1 store in a storage unit a phone number list that associates the name and phone number of each person with a setting for whether or not to execute call blocking control when a passenger is present, and when the phone number of the person receiving a call on a mobile phone matches a phone number that is set to execute call blocking control and it is determined that a passenger is present, the hands-free call is blocked for that call.

JP 2008-236636 A

However, with the in-vehicle hands-free device and vehicle navigation device of Patent Document 1, when an incoming call is received from a phone number that is set to execute the incoming call prohibition control, the incoming call prohibition control is executed regardless of the driver's intention, so there is a problem that the driver cannot choose whether or not to prohibit the incoming call when the call is received.

The present invention solves the above problems by providing an incoming call notification system that allows the driver to choose whether or not to have the navigation device notify them of an incoming call when a call is received on the communication means.

The incoming call notification system according to the present invention is an incoming call notification system mounted on a vehicle that notifies an incoming call to a communication means by a navigation device, and includes a detection unit that detects the incoming call, a first notification means that notifies the incoming call, a second notification means that notifies the incoming call , a sound output unit that outputs sound inside the vehicle, and a notification instruction unit that instructs the second notification means to notify the incoming call, wherein the detection unit and the second notification means are provided in the navigation device, the notification by the first notification means can be confirmed by a driver of the vehicle, and the notification method of the incoming call notification system can be arbitrarily selected from a first notification mode and a second notification mode, When the first notification mode is selected, when the detection unit detects an incoming call, the second notification means notifies the user of the incoming call and information identifying the caller, while outputting a ringtone from the audio output unit; when the detection unit detects an incoming call when the second notification mode is selected , the first notification means notifies the user of the incoming call and information identifying the caller, while not outputting the ringtone from the audio output unit ; and after the first notification means notifies the user of the incoming call and information identifying the caller, the driver operates the notification instruction unit to notify the user of the incoming call and information identifying the caller via the second notification means.

The incoming call notification system according to the present invention is also characterized in that the first notification means is provided within the meter panel of the vehicle.

The incoming call notification system according to the present invention is also characterized in that, if the notification instruction unit is not operated within a predetermined time after the notification by the first notification means, the communication related to the incoming call is disconnected.

According to the present invention, it is possible to select whether or not to notify an incoming call to a communication means by the navigation device.

1 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of an incoming call notification system according to a first embodiment; FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an overview of communication in the incoming call notification system according to the first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a front view of a meter panel of the vehicle according to the first embodiment. 1 is a front view of a navigation device in a state where an incoming call display window is displayed according to a first embodiment.

Below, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached Figures 1 to 4. The embodiment described below does not limit the content of the present invention described in the claims. Furthermore, not all of the configurations described below are necessarily essential requirements of the present invention.

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the general configuration of an incoming call notification system 1 according to this embodiment. The incoming call notification system 1 is configured to include a smartphone 2, which is a means of communication carried by the driver of a vehicle (not shown), a navigation device 3 mounted on the vehicle, a liquid crystal display unit 5, which is a first notification means provided on a meter panel 4 located in front of the driver's seat of the vehicle, and a notification indicator unit 7 provided on a steering wheel 6 of the vehicle.

In this embodiment, a smartphone 2 is used as a calling means, but other than the smartphone 2, any calling means that can be brought into the vehicle may be used, such as a mobile phone (excluding smartphones) or other devices capable of making calls. The smartphone 2 can make calls with other calling means 8, and examples of other calling means 8 include smartphones, mobile phones (excluding smartphones), and landlines.

The navigation device 3 is configured with a control unit 9, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiving unit 10, a Bluetooth communication unit 11, a signal receiving unit 12 which is a detection unit, a memory unit 13, a display 14 which is a second notification means, and an operation unit 15.

The control unit 9 includes a CPU (central processing unit) and controls the entire navigation device 3 based on the programs stored in the memory unit 13. The CPU executes calculations according to the programs, thereby realizing each function of the navigation device 3.

The GPS receiver 10 constitutes a position measurement unit that acquires the current position of the navigation device 3, and measures the three-dimensional position (longitude, latitude, and altitude) of the navigation device 3 by wirelessly receiving radio waves from multiple artificial satellites 16, and transmits the position information to the control unit 9. Note that a position detection device other than the GPS receiver may be used as long as it can detect the current position of the navigation device 3.

The Bluetooth communication unit 11 has a short-range wireless communication function that complies with the Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication standard, and is capable of wireless communication connection with an external device that has a wireless communication function that complies with the same standard. In this embodiment, the smartphone 2 is wirelessly connected to the navigation device 3 by connecting the smartphone 2 to the Bluetooth communication unit 11. Note that, although Bluetooth communication is used to connect the smartphone 2 to the navigation device 3 in this embodiment, other wired or wireless connection means may be used.

When the smartphone 2 receives an incoming call from another communication means 8, the signal receiving unit 12 receives an incoming call signal from the smartphone 2 via the Bluetooth communication unit 11. This allows the navigation device 3 to detect the incoming call to the smartphone 2. The signal receiving unit 12 also receives an instruction signal from the notification instruction unit 7, a voice input signal from the microphone 21 described later, and a passenger detection signal from the passenger detection unit 22 described later.

The storage unit 13 is configured using various storage devices such as a magnetic hard disk device and a semiconductor storage device. Various information such as programs and map information is stored in the storage unit 13. The storage unit 13 is also capable of storing phone book information stored in the smartphone 2. The phone book information includes telephone numbers of the other calling means 8 and names and titles of users of the other calling means 8.

The second display unit, display 14, receives a display control signal from control unit 9 and displays various information such as map information and the current position of navigation device 3. Display 14 is composed of a liquid crystal module and a liquid crystal panel that are exposed on the front of main body 17 of navigation device 3, and as is well known, these liquid crystal modules and liquid crystal panels display information using a dot matrix in which a large number of sub-pixels are arranged in a grid pattern.

The operation unit 15 receives operations by the user and sends electrical operation signals to the control unit 9. As shown in FIG. 4, the operation unit 15 is composed of a touch panel 18 provided on the display 14 and a number of push switches 19 provided on the main body 17 of the navigation device 3. The response button 24 and non-response button 25, which will be described later, also constitute the operation unit 15. Note that the configuration may also include a remote control that allows operations equivalent to those performed by the operation unit 15.

As shown in FIG. 3, the meter panel 4 is provided with a liquid crystal display unit 5, which is a first notification means that displays warning lights and indicator lights. When the smartphone 2 receives an incoming call, the liquid crystal display unit 5 displays the fact of the incoming call and the caller information related to the incoming call. When the incoming call is from a phone number in the phone book information stored in the memory unit 13, the caller information is the phone number of the other calling means 8 and the name or title of the user. When the incoming call is from a phone number outside the phone book information stored in the memory unit 13, the caller information is the phone number of the other calling means 8. When the call is from a phone number outside the phone book information stored in the memory unit 13, the caller information is the text "Anonymous call". When a face photo of the other calling means 8 is stored as phone book information in the memory unit 13, the photo may be displayed, and the display content of the caller information is not particularly limited. It is preferable that the display position of the caller information on the liquid crystal display unit 5 and the display color are visible to the driver and difficult to see by passengers.

The steering wheel 6 is provided with a notification command unit 7. The notification command unit 7 is a push switch that is operated by the driver and sends an electrical command signal to the control unit 9. The notification command unit 7 may be provided anywhere on the steering wheel 6. It is not limited to the steering wheel 6, and can be provided at any desired location on the vehicle as long as it is located near the driver's seat and can be operated by the driver without hindrance while driving. It is preferable to provide the notification command unit 7 in a location that makes it difficult for passengers to sense that the driver has pushed the notification command unit 7.

The vehicle is provided with a speaker 20, which is an audio output unit that converts electrical signals into physical vibrations and emits sounds such as music and voice. In this embodiment, the speaker 20 also constitutes a second notification means, and therefore notifies the driver of an incoming call to the smartphone 2 by a ringtone. In addition, when the driver talks to a user of another communication means 8, the user's spoken voice is output as audio data.

The vehicle is provided with a microphone 21, which is a voice input unit connected to the navigation device 3, and the microphone 21 inputs the speech of the driver and passengers as voice data.

The vehicle is provided with a passenger detection unit 22 that detects passengers other than the driver. Examples of the passenger detection unit 22 include a seat sensor, an infrared sensor, a camera, etc., and these are used alone or in combination to detect passengers. The seat sensor is, for example, a weight sensor that detects weight, and is embedded in the seat cushion of each seat other than the driver's seat. The infrared sensor is installed so that it can detect infrared rays (heat generated by the human body) at each seat other than the driver's seat. The camera is installed inside the vehicle cabin so that each seat other than the driver's seat is within the range that can be photographed. When the camera photographs the face of a passenger in each seat, it transmits image data of the photographed person's face to the control unit 9.

Here, the operation of the incoming call notification system 1 of this embodiment will be described. The incoming call notification system 1 has two selectable modes, a normal notification mode and a selective notification mode, and the user, the driver, can operate the operation unit 15 to select either the normal notification mode or the selective notification mode. It is also possible to set it so that when no passenger is detected by the passenger detection unit 22, the normal notification mode is automatically selected, and when a passenger is detected, a passenger detection signal is sent from the passenger detection unit 22 to the signal receiving unit 12, and the selective notification mode is automatically selected by the control unit 9. The selective notification mode is automatically selected based on the detection result of the passenger detection unit 22, which saves the driver the trouble of setting the selective notification mode.

In the normal notification mode, when the smartphone 2 receives an incoming call from another communication means 8, the signal receiving unit 12 receives the incoming call signal. When the signal receiving unit 12 receives the incoming call signal, the control unit 9 transmits an incoming call display signal to the display 14, and the caller information is displayed on the display 14. The control unit 9 also transmits an incoming call sound signal to the speaker 20, and the speaker 20 emits an incoming call sound. This allows the driver and passengers to visually and audibly recognize the fact of the incoming call. As shown in FIG. 4, the display unit displays an incoming call display window 23, which displays the letters and numbers of "Incoming call", "Caller name", and "Caller phone number" in order from the top. In addition, below these letters, an answer button 24 and a no-answer button 25 for selecting whether to answer the phone are displayed. The answer button 24 and the no-answer button 25 are soft keys and are touch-operable operation units 5. When the answer button 24 is touched, a call with the caller is possible, and when the no-answer button 25 is touched, the communication between the smartphone 2 and the other communication means 8 is disconnected. A call made by the smartphone 2 in the incoming call notification system 1 is made through a microphone 21 connected to the navigation device 3 and a speaker 20 provided in the vehicle. That is, the driver's voice is input to the microphone 21, and the caller's voice is output from the speaker 20. In this embodiment, the communication between the smartphone 2 and the other calling means 8 is cut off when the no-answer button 25 is touched, but the answering machine function may be started by touching the no-answer button 25, and a message from the caller may be recorded.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the selective notification mode, when the smartphone 2 receives an incoming call from another communication means 8, the signal receiving unit 12 receives an incoming call signal. When the signal receiving unit 12 receives the incoming call signal, the control unit 9 transmits an incoming call display signal to the liquid crystal display unit 5, and the caller information is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 5. At this time, the speaker 20 does not output an incoming call sound. As a result, the driver can visually recognize the fact of the incoming call and the caller information by looking at the liquid crystal display unit 5, but a passenger who is not looking at the liquid crystal display unit 5 cannot recognize the fact of the incoming call. When the driver visually recognizes the caller information displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 5 and presses the notification instruction unit 7, an instruction signal is transmitted from the notification instruction unit 7. When the signal receiving unit 12 receives the instruction signal, the control unit 9 transmits an incoming call display signal to the display 14, and the caller information is displayed on the display 14. In addition, the control unit 9 transmits an incoming call sound signal to the speaker 20, and the speaker 20 emits an incoming call sound. As a result, the passenger can visually and audibly recognize the fact of the incoming call. Then, an incoming call display window 23 is displayed on the display 14, and a call can be started by touching the answer button 24. Also, an incoming call between the smartphone 2 and the other call means 8 can be disconnected by touching the no-answer button 25.

Regardless of whether the driver visually recognizes the caller information displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 5, if the notification instruction unit 7 is not operated, the caller information is not displayed on the display 14 and the incoming call tone is not generated from the speaker 20. If the notification instruction unit 7 is not operated within a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds) after the caller information is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 5, a communication disconnection signal is sent from the control unit 9 to the smartphone 2, and the communication between the smartphone 2 and the other communication means 8 is disconnected. When the communication between the smartphone 2 and the other communication means 8 is disconnected, the caller information displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 5 is hidden. As a result, unless the passenger visually recognizes the caller information displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 5, the passenger cannot recognize the fact that a call has been received by the smartphone 2. In this embodiment, the caller information displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 5 is set to be hidden when the communication between the smartphone 2 and the other communication means 8 is disconnected, but the display time of the caller information can be appropriately changed by operating the operation unit 15, and can be shortened or lengthened. In addition, a so-called answering machine start signal may be sent from the control unit 9 to the smartphone 2, allowing a message from the caller to be recorded.

As described above, the incoming call notification system 1 of this embodiment is an incoming call notification system 1 mounted on a vehicle that notifies an incoming call to a smartphone 2 by a navigation device 3, and includes a signal receiving unit 12 that detects an incoming call, a liquid crystal display unit 5 that notifies an incoming call, a display 14 and a speaker 20 that notify an incoming call, and a notification instruction unit 7 that instructs the display 14 and the speaker 20 to notify the incoming call. The signal receiving unit 12, the display 14, and the speaker 20 are provided in the navigation device 3, and the notification by the liquid crystal display unit 5 can be confirmed by the driver of the vehicle. When the signal receiving unit 12 detects an incoming call, the incoming call is notified by the liquid crystal display unit 5, and the driver can operate the notification instruction unit 7 to notify the incoming call by the display 14 and the speaker 20, so that the driver can select whether or not to have the navigation device 3 notify the incoming call to the smartphone 2 at the time of the incoming call. If the driver does not instruct the display 14 and the speaker 20 to notify the incoming call, it is possible to make it difficult for passengers to know the fact of the incoming call itself.

In addition, the incoming call notification system 1 of this embodiment notifies the user of an incoming call by providing information that identifies the fact of an incoming call and the call originator, so that the user can confirm the fact of an incoming call to the smartphone 2 and the caller related to the incoming call before starting the call.

In addition, in the incoming call notification system 1 of this embodiment, the LCD display unit 5 is provided in the meter panel of the vehicle, so that the LCD display unit 5 is easily visible to the driver, but is difficult to see for passengers sitting in seats other than the driver's seat. Therefore, the fact of the incoming call and the caller information displayed on the LCD display unit 5 can be seen only by the driver, and is difficult for passengers to see.

In addition, the incoming call notification system 1 of this embodiment can cut off the communication related to the incoming call by cutting off the communication related to the incoming call if the notification instruction unit 7 is not operated within a predetermined time after the notification by the liquid crystal display unit 5, thereby cutting off the communication related to the incoming call without the driver having to take any action to cut off the communication related to the incoming call. This makes it difficult for passengers to know about the incoming call.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the navigation device 3 notifies the user of an incoming call by displaying the call on the display 14 and by making a sound from the speaker 20. However, the navigation device 3 may only display the call on the display 14 without making a sound from the speaker 20. In addition, in the above embodiment, the liquid crystal display unit 5 provided on the meter panel 4 is used as the first notification means, but a head-up display device may also be used as the first notification means. In this case, the fact of the incoming call and the caller information related to the incoming call are projected and displayed on the windshield or interior panel of the vehicle.

1. Incoming call notification system 2. Smartphone (communication means)
3 Navigation device 5 Liquid crystal display unit (first notification means)
7 Notification instruction unit 12 Signal receiving unit (detection unit)
14 Display (second notification means)
20 Speaker ( audio output unit )

Claims (3)

An incoming call notification system mounted on a vehicle that notifies an incoming call to a communication means by a navigation device, comprising:
A detection unit that detects the incoming call;
a first notification means for notifying the incoming call;
a second notification means for notifying the incoming call;
an audio output unit for outputting sound into the vehicle;
a notification instruction unit that instructs the second notification means to notify the user of the incoming call,
the detection unit and the second notification means are provided in the navigation device,
The notification by the first notification means can be confirmed by a driver of the vehicle,
The notification method of the incoming call notification system can be arbitrarily selected from a first notification mode and a second notification mode,
When the detection unit detects an incoming call during the selection of the first notification mode, the second notification means notifies the user of the incoming call and information identifying a call originator, while outputting a ringtone from the audio output unit;
When the detection unit detects the incoming call during the selection of the second notification mode , the first notification means notifies the user of the fact of the incoming call and information identifying the caller, while not outputting the incoming call sound from the audio output unit ;
an incoming call notification system, characterized in that after the first notification means notifies the driver of the fact of the incoming call and information identifying the caller, the second notification means notifies the driver of the fact of the incoming call and information identifying the caller by operating the notification instruction unit. 2. The incoming call notification system according to claim 1, wherein the first notification means is provided in an instrument panel of the vehicle. 3. The incoming call notification system according to claim 1, wherein if the notification instruction unit is not operated within a predetermined time after the notification by the first notification means, communication related to the incoming call is disconnected.

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