JPH0755913A - Gps apparatus for bus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a GPS (global positioning system) apparatus for a bus in which a driver's load is alleviated by automating controls of various units mounted at the bus by using a GPS signal. CONSTITUTION:An interpretive processor 104 in a main controller 101 periodically receives information regarding a latitude and a longitude from a GPS controller 102, informs a present position to a passage deciding unit 108, obtains information from a passing point managing unit 107, calculates a distance between the present position and the passing point, and informs a number corresponding to the passing point to a voice pattern managing unit 109 when the distance falls within a range. A voice output controller 103 outputs a voice signal from a speaker according to information of a character row and an intonation, updates information regarding the passing point cataloged with a nonvolatile memory to information of next passing point, and informs it to the processor 104.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention has a Global Positioning System (hereinafter referred to as GPS) function for determining a current position based on a signal from a satellite, and various devices installed on a bus according to the current position. The present invention relates to a GPS device for a bus, which is characterized by controlling

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The work of a bus driver includes not only the safe driving of a bus but also the work of announcing the next stop. In the past, it was often done by the driver's real voice, but recently, it has become possible to make announcements by playing the sound recorded on the tape at an appropriate timing, and the driver's burden is somewhat reduced. ing.

In addition, except for some areas where the fare is a uniform fare, when the fare changes depending on the boarding section, passengers get a numbered ticket indicating the section in which they boarded and are installed in the vehicle. According to the charge display device, the charge will be paid when getting off. In this case, the driver needs to perform the work of updating the display of the fare and the contents of the numbered ticket at an appropriate timing, like the voice announcement.

In recent years, a control code for a charge display device and a numbered ticket distribution device can be added to a tape storing voice information so as to reduce the burden on the driver. However, the operation of activating the tape is required, which is an obstacle to the driver's original work of driving.

[0005]

The conventional system having such a structure has a problem that the processing relating to the tape operation while the bus driver is driving hinders the driving.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. When the current position is determined by the GPS signal and it is determined that the current position is within a certain range of the passing point, the voice is output based on the registered information. It is an object of the present invention to provide a GPS device for a bus which reproduces the above information, sets the information of the next passing point, and controls the fare display device and the numbered ticket distribution device.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] An information registration unit for registering the latitude and longitude of a passing point and a sounding pattern corresponding to the passing point.
A voice registration unit for registering the current position, a GPS unit for determining the current position based on the GPS signal, a passage determination unit for determining whether the current position is within a certain range of the passage point, and a voice reproduction based on the sounding pattern. And an information updating unit for updating the passing point information based on the registered order.

[0008]

According to the above structure, the information registration unit is used in advance to register the passage points at which voices are desired to be output in the system, and the voice registration unit registers the voice patterns for each of the registered passage points. While the bus is in operation, the passage determination unit determines whether the current position determined by the GPS unit is within a certain range of the registered passage points. When the current position is within the range, the voice pattern registered corresponding to the passage point is registered. Is reproduced by the audio reproducing unit.

[0009]

Embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a first embodiment of a GPS device for a bus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1A, 101 is a main control unit,
Reference numeral 102 is a GPS control unit that controls the GPS unit, and 103 is a voice output control unit that outputs a voice by a speaker. Figure 1 (b)
1 shows the configuration of the main control unit 101, and in FIG. 1B, 104 is an interpretation processing unit that interprets information from the GPS control unit 102, and 1
Reference numeral 05 is a passage point registration unit for registering the latitude and longitude of the passage point to be announced by voice, and 106 is a voice pattern for each passage point.
A voice pattern registration unit for registering a voice point, 107 a pass point management unit for managing a currently valid pass point, 108 a passage determination unit for comparing a pass point with the current position, 109 a voice output control for a voice pattern. A voice pattern management unit for notifying the unit 103. FIG. 2 shows an example of a table for managing voice information.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. The system of the present invention is composed of two processes, a process at a preparatory stage where a bus operation manager sets a course and a process at a stage where the driver actually uses the bus.

First, when setting a course, the administrator confirms with the system the input means (for example, keyboard (not shown)) necessary for information registration and the registered information. -A display device (for example, a CRT (not shown)) for displaying is connected to the system. This system has an input control unit (not shown) for receiving a signal from the input means, and a display control unit (not shown) for displaying information on a display device. Information is input to the interpretation processing unit 104, and information to the display control unit is output from the interpretation processing unit 104.

The administrator uses the input means (hereinafter, the keyboard
Input the latitude and longitude of the passing point in order. This input is made by pressing the number key on the keyboard. The key information is notified to the interpretation processing unit 104 via the input control unit. In the interpretation processing unit 104,
The input numerical information is notified to the passing point registration unit 105.
The passing point registration unit 105 sequentially stores the notified numerical information.

When the administrator finishes inputting the latitude of the passage point, the administrator presses a key (for example, a line feed key) notifying that the input of one item is completed. When this line feed key is detected, the interpretation processing unit 104 determines that the input of one item is completed, and if the latitude information is input by then, the transit point registration is performed so that the registration of the longitude information is started. Notify part 105,
If the longitude information is input, the voice pattern registration unit 106 is notified that the registration of the voice pattern information is started. If the voice pattern information is input, the passage point registration unit 105 is further entered.
Notify to start latitude registration.

Further, when the system is started up, the interpretation processing unit 104 instructs the passage point registration unit 105 to enter the state of registration of latitude information. The key information notified to the user can be processed assuming that it is related to latitude.

After the latitude and longitude, the administrator has a voice pattern.
Type in. The information of the voice pattern is composed of a pronunciation character string and an intonation of the character string. That is, the administrator first inputs a character string from the keyboard. When you finish inputting the character string, press the line feed key, and then enter the information on the tone. When the input of the information of the tone is completed, the line feed key is pressed, and this line feed key notifies the end of the input of the voice pattern.

The interpretation processing unit 104 knows that the character string information of the voice pattern will be input next by inputting after the end of the longitude information or by the line feed key. Therefore, the voice pattern registration is performed in advance. The unit 106 is notified of the number of passing points to be registered, and the character string is also notified. Voice pattern
The phone registration unit 106 has a table for managing voice information (shown in FIG. 2), and the table includes a corresponding passing point number, a character string area, and an injection area.

The voice pattern registration unit 106 registers the information of the passing point at a predetermined position on the table, and successively registers the subsequently input information in the character string area on the table. When the input of the character string is completed and the line feed key is notified to the interpretation processing unit 104, the interpretation processing unit 104 notifies the voice pattern registration unit 106 to enter the input of the tone. The voice pattern registration unit 106 registers a code (for example, a line feed code) indicating the end of the character string in the character string area, and registers subsequently input information in thetonton area.

Here, the latitude, longitude, and voice pattern information is controlled so as to be stored in a predetermined position of the non-volatile memory. The registered information is sequentially displayed on the screen via the display control unit so that the manager can confirm the information. When all input is completed, the administrator turns off the power and removes the input means and the display device.

Next, the step of actually using will be described. When the driver turns on the power of the system, the initialization signal is notified to the GPS control unit 102, and the GPS control unit 1
02 activates a GPS unit (not shown). GPS
The department starts detecting artificial satellites. When four or more artificial satellites are detected, the latitude, longitude, and altitude of the current position are calculated based on the signals from the artificial satellites. When three artificial satellites are detected, the latitude and longitude of the current position are calculated. Further, when only two artificial satellites can be detected, the fact is notified to the main control unit 101 via the GPS control unit 102.

Here, description will be made assuming that three or more satellites can be detected. The GPS unit periodically calculates the latitude and longitude and notifies the GPS control unit 102 of the result.
The notification of the latitude and longitude information from the GPS unit to the GPS control unit 102 continues until the power is turned off after the startup. GPS controller
After the power is turned on, the 102 indicates the latitude,
When the longitude information is obtained, the interpretation processing unit 104 is notified of the information.

The interpretation processing unit 104 initializes the passage point management unit 107 when the system starts up. When the passing point management unit 107 is initialized by the interpretation processing unit 104, it reads out information about the leading passing point (latitude, longitude) from the information of the passing points registered at a predetermined position in the nonvolatile memory. The internal variable that stores the currently valid transit point stores that the first transit point is valid, and notifies the interpretation processing unit 104 of information regarding the latitude and longitude of the transit point.

When the GPS control unit 102 periodically receives information on latitude and longitude from the GPS unit, the GPS control unit 102 determines whether or not the new latitude and longitude information has changed from the previous latitude and longitude information. In some cases, the interpretation processing unit 10
Notify 4 of the new latitude and longitude information. If there is no change, nothing is done.

The interpretation processing unit 104 notifies the passage determination unit 108 of the latitude and longitude of the current position. The passage determination unit 108 obtains information on the latitude and longitude of the passage point from the passage point management unit 107, calculates the distance between the current position and this passage point, and determines whether it is within a certain range. If it is determined to be out of the range, nothing is done. When it is determined that it is within the range, the fact is notified to the passage point management unit 107. Passing point management unit 1
When 07 receives a notification from the passage determination unit 108 that the current position is within the range, it notifies the number corresponding to the current passage point to the voice pattern management unit 109, and at the same time is registered in the nonvolatile memory. It detects the next effective transit point in the series of information about the transit points, updates the contents of the internal variable, and notifies the interpretation processing unit 104 of the latitude and longitude information of the new transit point.

The voice pattern management unit 109 is a transit point management unit 1
When the information of the number of the passage point is received from 07, the voice pattern information (character string and tone) corresponding to the number is searched and the voice output control unit 103 is notified. The voice output control unit 103 provides guidance by outputting a voice signal from the speaker based on the notified character string and the information on the tone.

Further, when the interpretation processing section 104 is notified of new latitude and longitude information, the series of operations described above is repeated again. In this way, a voice announcement is made when the bus moves and approaches the pre-registered passing point.

Next, the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 shows the configuration of a second embodiment of the GPS device for a bus according to the present invention. In FIG. 3A, 201 is a main control unit,
202 is a GPS control unit that controls the GPS unit, 203 is a voice output control unit that outputs a voice by a speaker, 204 is a display device control unit that controls the fare display device, and 205 is a distribution device that controls the numbered ticket distribution device. The control unit (hereinafter, the voice output control unit 203, the display device control unit 204 and the distribution device control unit 205,
These three are collectively referred to as an external control unit).

FIG. 3 (b) shows the structure of the main control unit 201.
In (b), 206 is an interpretation processing unit that interprets the information from the GPS control unit 202, 207 is a passage point registration unit that registers the latitude and longitude of the passage point that should control the interpretation processing unit 206 and the external control unit, 208 is an external control registration unit that registers control to an external control unit for each passing point, 209 is a passing point management unit that manages the currently valid passing point, 210 is a passing determination unit that compares the passing point with the current position, 211 Is an external control management unit that controls the external control unit. FIG. 4 shows an example of a table for managing an external device.

The operation of the second embodiment will be described. First
In the embodiment, the only external device to be controlled is the device for voice output. However, in the second embodiment, as the external device to be controlled, a fare display device and a numbered ticket distribution device are provided in addition to the voice output device. The difference is that it includes it. Hereinafter, description will be made focusing on the points different from the case of the first embodiment. Similar to the first embodiment, there are two processes, that is, the process at the preparatory stage where the bus operation manager sets the course and the process at the stage where the driver actually uses the bus.
It consists of one process.

When setting a course, the administrator connects a keyboard or a display device as an input means to the system to the system. The administrator inputs the latitude and longitude of the passing point in order via the keyboard. The key information is notified to the interpretation processing unit 206 via the input control unit. The interpretation processing unit 206 notifies the passing point registration unit 207 of the input numerical information. The passing point registration unit 207 stores the notified numerical information in order.

After the latitude and longitude, the administrator has a voice pattern.
Input signals for controlling the fare display device and the ticket distribution device. The administrator presses a key (for example, a line feed key) notifying that the input of one item has been completed at the time when the input is completed to notify the item to be input. If there is no content to enter for the item, the line feed key
Enter only. For example, when only the voice pattern is to be registered, the line feed key for notifying the completion of the input of the voice pattern is input, and then the line feed key is further input twice.

Therefore, each time the interpretation processing unit 206 detects a line feed key, the interpretation processing unit 206 determines what is input next, and accordingly, determines what is input by the passage point registration unit 207 or the external control registration. Notify the section 208. The external control registration unit 208 has a table for managing an external device (shown in FIG. 4),
The table is composed of a corresponding passing point number, a character string area, antoning area, a display device area, and a distribution device area. The external control registration unit 208 registers the information of the passing point at a predetermined position on the table, and successively registers the information to be input subsequently in the corresponding area on the table.

The registered information is sequentially displayed on the screen via the display control section, and the manager can confirm the information. When all the inputs are complete, the administrator powers off and removes the keyboard and display.

Next, the step of actually using will be described. When the driver turns on the power of the system, the initialization signal is notified to the GPS control unit 202 and the GPS unit is activated. The GPS unit periodically calculates the latitude and longitude and notifies the GPS control unit 202 of the result. G
When the PS control unit 202 first obtains latitude and longitude information from the GPS unit after the power is turned on, the PS control unit 202 interprets the information.
Notify 6.

The interpretation processing unit 206 initializes the passage point management unit 209 when the system starts up. When the passing point management unit 209 is initialized by the interpretation processing unit 206, the passing point management unit 209 reads out information about the leading passing point (latitude, longitude) in the information of the passing point registered at a predetermined position in the nonvolatile memory. The internal variable that stores the currently effective transit point stores that the first transit point is effective, and the latitude of the transit point,
Information about the longitude is notified to the interpretation processing unit 206.

When the GPS control unit 202 regularly receives information on latitude and longitude from the GPS unit, the GPS control unit 202 determines whether the new latitude and longitude information has changed from the previous latitude and longitude information, and the change is made. If there is, the interpretation processing unit 20
Notify 6 of the new latitude and longitude information. If there is no change, nothing is done.

The interpretation processing unit 206 notifies the passage determination unit 210 of the latitude and longitude of the current position. The passage determination unit 210 obtains the latitude and longitude information of the passage point from the passage point management unit 209, calculates the distance between the current position and this passage point, and determines whether it is within a certain range. If it is determined to be out of the range, nothing is done. If it is determined to be within the range, the fact is notified to the passage point management unit 209. Passing point management unit 2
When 09 receives the notification that the current position is within the range from the passage determination unit 210, it notifies the external control management unit 211 of the number corresponding to the current passage point, and at the same time, a series of data registered in the nonvolatile memory is displayed. Information on the next effective transit point is detected from the information on the transit points, the contents of the internal variables are updated, and the interpretation processing unit 206 is notified of the latitude and longitude information of the new transit point.

When the external control management unit 211 receives the information on the number of the passing point from the passing point management unit 209, it searches the voice pattern information, the display device control information, and the distribution device control information corresponding to the number and validates them. If such information exists, it notifies the audio output control unit 203, the display device control unit 204, and the distribution device control unit 205 corresponding to each device. The voice output control unit 203 provides guidance by outputting a voice signal from the speaker based on the notified character string and the information on the tone, and the display device control unit 204, the fare display device based on the instructed information. Is changed, and the distribution device control unit 205 changes the contents to be distributed by the numbered ticket distribution device based on the instructed information. When the interpretation processing unit 206 is notified of new latitude and longitude information, the interpretation processing unit 206 repeats the above series of operations again.

According to the present embodiment configured as described above,
When the current position is determined by the GPS signal and it is determined that the current position is within a certain range of the passing point, the sound is reproduced based on the registered information, the information of the next passing point is set, and the fare display device and the arrangement The ticket distribution device can be controlled without bothering the bus driver.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By automating the device control such as announcement, fare display, and numbered ticket distribution regarding each bus stop while the bus is operating, the driver's burden can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a bus GPS device (a) and a main control unit (b) of the bus GPS device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a table for managing audio information according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a bus GPS device (a) and a main controller (b) of the bus GPS device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a table for managing an external device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

101, 201 ... Main control unit, 102, 202 ... GPS control unit, 10
3, 203 ... Voice output control unit, 104, 206 ... Interpretation processing unit,
105, 207 ... Passage point registration unit, 106 ... Voice pattern registration unit, 107, 209 ... Passage point management unit, 108, 210 ... Passage determination unit, 109 ... Voice pattern management unit, 204 ... Display device control unit , 205 ... Distributor control unit, 208 ... External control registration unit, 211 ... External control management unit.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An information registration unit for registering latitudes and longitudes of a plurality of preset positions (hereinafter referred to as passage points),
A voice registration unit that registers a sounding pattern corresponding to the passing point, a GPS unit that determines the current position by a GPS signal, and a passage determining unit that determines whether the current position is within a certain range of the passing point. And a voice reproducing unit for reproducing voice based on the pronunciation pattern and an information updating unit for updating passing point information based on the registered order, and the current position is within a certain range of the passing point. If it is determined that
While playing the sound based on the registered information,
A GPS device for a bus, characterized in that information on the next passing point is set. 2. A display device control unit for controlling a fare display device, a distribution device control unit for controlling a numbered ticket distribution device, and the display device control unit and the distribution device control unit corresponding to the passage points. A control information registration unit for registering the contents of processing to be performed, and when it is determined that the current position is within a certain range of the passing point, the display device control unit and the distribution unit are based on the registered information. The GPS device for a bus according to claim 1, wherein the fare display device and the numbered ticket distribution device are controlled via a device control unit.