JPH08171695A - Traffic information reception device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a traffic information reception device which can omit the manual designation of a reception part that is done by a user. CONSTITUTION: A traffic information receptsble areas corresponding to the types (numbers) of a reception parts are stored in a storage 9 in response to an information storage instruction C given from an input device 2. A selection device 10 selects one or plural numbers of reception parts 11a to 11n based on the position/time information B obtained by a measurement position arithmetic unit 1 and the information stored in the storage 9, and one or plural pieces of traffic information Ga to Gn are received. If the received traffic information a voice information, the traffic information is outputted by a voice output device 5. The traffic information is outputted by a display device 14 if the traffic information is an image information.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a traffic information receiving apparatus mounted on a moving body such as a vehicle and wirelessly receiving traffic information from the outside.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been developed a system for wirelessly providing traffic information, for example, the degree of congestion of roads, the occurrence of traffic jams, the presence or absence of road construction and road closures, weather conditions and other information. For example, when a sign post is installed on the side of a road such as a highway and a beacon signal for detecting the position and traveling direction of a vehicle is transmitted from a transmitter provided on the sign post, traffic information is transmitted together with this beacon signal. There is a system to do. Also, for example, like VICS,
A system for transmitting traffic information using FM broadcasting or the like is also envisioned.

When using these systems, it is necessary to mount a traffic information receiving device on a moving body (for example, a vehicle) which receives traffic information. The device comprises a plurality of receiving devices, which are generally provided corresponding to a plurality of information sources for providing traffic information. When the user wants to obtain traffic information from a certain information source, one of the receiving devices is designated and operated by manual operation.

[0004]

As described above, in the conventional device, the user must manually specify the receiving device capable of receiving the traffic information from the information source from which the traffic information is to be obtained. did not become. This causes an inconvenience in operation, and also causes a problem that when the user is an operator of the moving body, it may hinder the operation of the moving body. Further, when the traffic information is to be received, the receiving device has to be manually designated after the moving body enters the area where the traffic information can be received, that is, the traffic information receivable area. That is, it is difficult to specify the receiving device before entering the traffic information receivable area, which is also a problem for improving usability. In addition, while receiving traffic information from one source at a given point in time, the user may not be able to obtain traffic information that is more useful, i.e. more useful to the user, from other sources. There was also a problem that traffic information could not be received.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and a manual operation for designating a receiving device by automatically operating a necessary receiving device at a required time is made. It is an object of the present invention to eliminate the operation and realize a more convenient traffic information receiving device. Another object of the present invention is to make it possible to specify a receiving device before entering a traffic information receivable area. An object of the present invention is to make it possible to immediately receive traffic information when traffic information is being transmitted from another information source while the traffic information is being obtained from the other information source. The present invention
The purpose is to enable the received traffic information to be output in various forms and according to the selection. An object of the present invention is to reduce power consumption by a plurality of receiving devices. The present invention aims to make it possible to receive the latest traffic information.

[0006]

In order to achieve such an object, a traffic information receiving apparatus according to a first configuration of the present invention comprises a plurality of receiving units for wirelessly receiving different types of traffic information. It is provided with means for detecting the position of the moving body related to mounting, means for automatically selecting a receiving unit to be operated according to the detected position of the moving body, and means for operating only the selected receiving unit. And

The traffic information receiving apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention comprises means for designating the type of traffic information to be received, and means for automatically selecting a receiving unit capable of receiving the traffic information of the designated type. And means for operating only the selected receiving unit.

A traffic information receiving apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of receiving units for wirelessly receiving different types of traffic information, an area where each type of traffic information can be received, and the traffic information. A means for storing possible reception units in association with each other, a unit for specifying the type of traffic information to be received, a unit for detecting the position of a mobile body to be mounted, and a stored reception unit. And a means for automatically selecting a receiving unit capable of receiving the specified type of traffic information and corresponding to an area to which the detected position of the moving body belongs, and a unit for operating only the selected receiving unit. It is characterized by

Further, the present invention further comprises means for selecting whether to output the received traffic information, the detected position of the moving body, or both of them, and output according to the selection result. And means for executing.

The present invention further provides a means for displaying an image based on the traffic information when the received traffic information is image information, and a voice based on the traffic information when the received traffic information is voice information. And means for outputting.

The present invention is characterized in that it comprises means for cutting off the power supply to the unselected receiving section.

The present invention is characterized by comprising means for storing the update time of traffic information, and means for operating a receiving section of the selected receiving sections that has passed the latest update time.

[0013]

In the first structure of the present invention, first, the position of the moving body to be mounted is detected. Next, the receiving unit to be operated is automatically selected from the plurality of receiving units according to the detected position of the moving body, and only the selected receiving unit is operated. Therefore, in the present configuration, as a result of automatic selection of the receiving unit to operate, the user does not need to manually specify the receiving unit to operate. Further, since the selection of the receiving unit to be operated is executed according to the detected position of the moving body, for example, it becomes possible to receive all the traffic information that can be received at the position of the moving body. The trouble of designating the receiving unit after entering the information receivable area does not occur. Furthermore, if a plurality of receiving units to be operated can be selected at the same time, a process of receiving a certain traffic information from a certain information source and receiving another traffic information from another information source immediately and automatically can be performed. It will be possible.

In the second configuration of the present invention, first, the type of traffic information to be received is designated. Next, the receiving unit that can receive the specified type of traffic information is automatically selected,
Only the selected receiver is operated. Therefore, in the present configuration, as a result of automatic selection of the receiving unit to operate, it is not necessary for the user to manually specify the receiving unit to be operated. Further, since it becomes possible to select and receive the type of traffic information to be received, it becomes possible to automatically select and receive the traffic information that is considered to be effective for the user.

In the third configuration of the present invention, the traffic information receivable area and the receiving section are stored in advance in association with each other,
Also, the type of traffic information to be received is specified. next,
The position of the moving body related to mounting is detected. Furthermore, from the stored receiving units, the receiving unit that can receive the traffic information of the specified type and that corresponds to the traffic information receivable area to which the detected position of the moving body belongs is automatically selected. There is. Therefore, in this configuration, as a result of the automatic selection of the receiving unit, the user does not have to manually specify the receiving unit to operate. Moreover, since the receiving unit to be operated is automatically selected according to the position of the moving body obtained by the detection, there is no need to specify the receiving unit after entering the traffic information receivable area. Furthermore, since the receiving unit that can receive the traffic information of the designated type is automatically selected, it becomes possible to appropriately select and receive the traffic information effective for the user.

In the fourth configuration of the present invention, it is selected which of the received traffic information and the detected position of the moving body is output, or both of them are output, and the output is executed according to the selection result. To be done. Therefore, in this configuration, it becomes possible to selectively output the information of each place obtained by the traffic information receiving device.

In the fifth configuration of the present invention, an image is output when the received traffic information is image information, and an audio is output when the received traffic information is audio information. Therefore, the user can appropriately obtain the traffic information in the form of image or sound.

In the sixth configuration of the present invention, the power supply to the unselected receiving section is cut off. Therefore,
Power consumption by the receiving unit that is not likely to be used at that time is suppressed, and consumption of the power supply mounted on the mobile body is suppressed.

In the seventh configuration of the present invention, the latest traffic information, that is, the latest update time, of the receiving units selected according to the detected position of the moving body, the type of traffic information to be received, etc. A receiving unit that can receive the traffic information that has passed is operated. Therefore, the user can receive the traffic information only from the information source transmitting the latest traffic information among the information sources transmitting the same type of traffic information.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a traffic information receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. First, the device shown in this figure includes a plurality of receiving units 11a to 11n. The reception units 11a to 11n are reception tuning circuits for receiving traffic information from different information sources,
The antenna is shared. The traffic information Ga to Gn received by each of the receiving units 11a to 11n is supplied to the selection device 12. The selection device 12 uses these traffic information Ga to G.
Among n, the one that matches the information selection command J is selected and output. At this time, if the traffic information to be output is voice information, the selection device 12 outputs this traffic information H to the voice output device 5. If the traffic information to be output is image information, the traffic information I is output to the display device 14 via the switch 13. The voice output device 5 and the display device 14 output the traffic information H or I in the form of voice or image in response to the supply of the traffic information H or I.

Which one of the receiving units 11a to 11n is selected is designated by the selection device 10. That is, the selection device 10 instructs the receiving unit of the receiving units 11a to 11n to receive the traffic information to receive the receiving command signals Fa to Fn.
Supply. At that time, it is possible to simultaneously select a plurality of receiving units.

The selection device 10 determines which of the reception units 11a to 11n should receive the traffic information, based on the output of the calculation device 8 of the positioning calculation device 1 and the stored contents of the storage device 9. The storage device 9 constitutes the reception selection device 3 together with the selection device 10, and the storage contents thereof are given by the information storage command C from the input device 2.
The input device 2 is a device which is operated by a user and gives various commands to each part of the device. Before activating the traffic information receiver shown in this figure, the user must
An information storage command C is given to the storage device 9 by the input device 2. This information storage command C is received by the receiving units 11a to 11n.
It includes information associating each number with the traffic information receivable area of the traffic information receivable by the receiving device. The storage device 9 stores these pieces of information.

On the other hand, the positioning calculation device 1 has a reception device 7 in addition to the calculation device 8 described above. The receiving device 7 is configured as, for example, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, and the satellite data A that is its output is a GPS data.
It contains satellite pseudoranges and other information. Arithmetic unit 8
Calculates the position, traveling direction, speed, current time, etc. of the mounted mobile unit based on the satellite data, and the position / time information B obtained as a result is displayed on the display device 1 via the switch 13.
4 and to the selection device 10, respectively. The selection device 10 uses the position / time information B supplied from the arithmetic device 8.
On the basis of the above, the number of the receiving unit corresponding to the traffic information receivable area in which the mounted mobile body is present is read from the storage device 9. The selection device 10 gives the above-mentioned reception command signal to the reception unit thus determined.

The input device 2 has a function of inputting the information selection command J, the display command D, and the output command E in addition to the function of giving the information storage command C described above. The information selection command J is a command for selecting whether to output image information or audio information out of the traffic information given from the operating receiving unit to the selection device 12. Further, the display command D is a command given to the switch 13 which is provided in the preceding stage of the display device 14 and constitutes the selection display device 6 together with the display device 14. When the display command D commands the display of only the position / time information B, the switch 13 is tilted to the side a, and the display based on the position / time information B output from the arithmetic unit 8 is displayed on the display device 1.
4. Further, when the display command D commands the display of the traffic information I, the switch 13 is turned on to the side b, and an image based on the traffic information I is displayed on the screen of the display device 14. Further, the display command D is the position / time information B.
When the display based on both the traffic information I and the traffic information I is instructed, the switch 13 is turned on to the c side, and an image based on the switch / time information B and the traffic information I is displayed on the screen of the display device 14. Then, the output command E is the voice output device 5
Is a command to convert the traffic information H into voice and output the voice.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, based on the information stored in advance in the storage device 9 and the position / time information B obtained from the positioning calculation device 1, the selection device 10
Since the receiving unit to be operated is automatically selected, the user does not need to manually specify the receiving unit.
This reduces the labor of the user. Further, since the automatic selection by the selection device 10 is performed based on the position / time information B obtained by the positioning calculation device 1 and the traffic information and the information about the receivable area stored in the storage device 9, for example, As shown in FIG. 2, when the moving body travels between AxBx, without causing the trouble of re-designating the receiving unit each time the vehicle enters each of the traffic information receivable areas a and b, Receivable traffic information can be received in each traffic information receivable area a and b without omission. As a matter of course, when the information storage command C is given from the input device 2 to the storage device 9, as for unnecessary traffic information, if the information associating the traffic information receivable area with the reception device is not stored, for example, in FIG. Among the two traffic information receivable areas a and b shown in the figure, it is possible to select the traffic information such that the traffic information is not received even if the vehicle enters a, for example. That is, the user can receive only the traffic information that he or she needs.

Further, according to this embodiment, the voice output device 5 and the display device 14 are selectively used according to the form of the traffic information. Further, when using the display device 14, it is possible to select which of the position / time information B and the traffic information I is displayed, or both of them. As a result, the user can appropriately obtain the information in the form he or she needs.

Further, in this embodiment, the selection device 1
Since it is possible to select and operate a plurality of receiving units at the same time in 0, for example, when two pieces of traffic information C and D exist as shown in FIG. In the possible area D, the traffic information related to both traffic information receivable areas c and d can be received together. For example, in the traffic information receivable area c, wide area traffic information including only the traffic information of the main trunk road indicated by the thick solid line in the figure is provided, whereas in the traffic information receivable area d, other than the main trunk road Consider the case where limited area traffic information is provided that also informs the situation of. In this case, in the configuration in which one receiving unit is manually designated as in the conventional case, if the receiving unit capable of receiving wide area traffic information is designated, the limited regional traffic information cannot be provided. For example, in b2-c2, it is not possible to avoid a 2 km traffic jam caused by traffic accident processing, or in b3-c3, a situation may occur in which a roadblock is being implemented due to road construction. . However, as in this embodiment,
When a plurality of receiving units are configured to be operable at the same time, it is possible to receive both wide area traffic information and limited area traffic information.
At the time when the moving body enters inside, the operator of the moving body is congested b2 to c2 or is closed.
It is possible to pass by selecting b1 to c1 while avoiding 3 to c3.

Further, in the present embodiment, the selection device 10
The power supply to the receiver not selected by, that is, the receiver not used for receiving the traffic information for the time being, is cut off by issuing the reception command signal. Therefore, since it is possible to prevent unnecessary power consumption by the receiving unit, it is possible to suppress the discharge of the power source mounted on the moving body, for example, the battery in the case of an automobile.

The carrier frequency of the traffic information that can be received by the receiving unit selected by the selecting device 10 is
It may be displayed on the screen of the display device 14.
Further, for example, the storage device 9 stores the transmission repetition cycle and the transmission time zone of the traffic information, and when selecting the receiving unit to be operated by the selection device 10, the information regarding the transmission repetition cycle and the transmission time zone is stored. Based on the above, only the receiving unit that can receive the traffic information may be selected from the information source that is transmitting the latest traffic information.

In the above description, the positioning calculation device 1 is referred to as G
Although it is configured by using the PS receiver and the like, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration.

[0032]

As described above, according to the first configuration of the present invention, since the receiving unit is automatically selected according to the detected position of the moving body, the user receives the signal manually. It is not necessary to specify the part, which reduces the burden on the user. Also, since this selection is made according to the detected position of the moving body, it is not necessary to specify the receiving unit after entering the traffic information within the receivable area,
No hassle. Furthermore, if a plurality of receiving units can be selected at one time, the user can automatically and quickly obtain traffic information that seems more effective for himself.

Further, according to the second configuration of the present invention, since the type of traffic information to be received is designated and the receiving unit capable of receiving the traffic information of this type is automatically selected,
As with the first configuration, there is no need to manually specify the receiving unit. Further, since the type of traffic information to be received is specified, it becomes possible to automatically and quickly obtain traffic information that is considered more effective for the user.

According to the third structure of the present invention, both the effects obtained by the first and second structures can be obtained.

According to the fourth configuration of the present invention, the received traffic information and the detected position of the moving body are appropriately selected or combined and output, so that the user can successively obtain necessary information. it can.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the output form of the traffic information is changed depending on whether the received traffic information is image information or audio information, the user can change the output form. You can get traffic information at.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the power supply to the unselected receiving device is cut off, so that the power consumption of the device can be minimized.

According to the seventh configuration of the present invention, since the receiving unit whose update time has recently passed is operated, the latest traffic information can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a traffic information receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view for explaining the operation of this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view for explaining the operation of this embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 positioning calculation device, 2 input device, 3 reception selection device,
4 traffic information selection device, 5 audio output device, 6 selection display device, 7 reception device, 8 arithmetic device, 9 storage device,
10 selection device, 11a to 11n reception unit, 12 selection device, 13 switch, 14 display device, A satellite data, B position / time information, C information storage command, D display command, E output command, Fa to Fn reception command signal , Ga
~ Gn, H, I traffic information, J information selection command, a ~ d
Traffic information receivable area

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of receiving units for wirelessly receiving different types of traffic information, a means for detecting a position of a moving body related to mounting, and a receiving unit to be operated according to the detected position of the moving body are automatically selected. And a means for operating only the selected receiving unit, the traffic information receiving apparatus. 2. A plurality of receiving units that wirelessly receive different types of traffic information, a unit that specifies the type of traffic information to be received, and a receiving unit that can receive the specified type of traffic information are automatically selected. And a means for operating only the selected receiving unit, the traffic information receiving apparatus. 3. A plurality of receiving units for wirelessly receiving different types of traffic information, and means for storing the areas capable of receiving the respective types of traffic information and the receiving units capable of receiving the traffic information in association with each other. , A means for designating the type of traffic information to be received, a means for detecting the position of a moving body related to the mounting, and a receiving device capable of receiving and detecting the traffic information of the designated type A traffic information receiving device comprising: a unit that automatically selects a receiving unit corresponding to an area to which the position of the selected moving body belongs; and a unit that operates only the selected receiving unit. 4. The traffic information receiving device according to claim 1 or 3, which selects whether to output the received traffic information, the detected position of the moving body, or both of them. And a means for executing output according to a selection result, the traffic information receiving device. 5. The traffic information receiving device according to claim 1, wherein when the received traffic information is image information, a means for displaying an image based on the traffic information, and the received traffic information is voice information. In this case, a means for outputting a voice based on the traffic information, and a traffic information receiving device comprising: 6. The traffic information receiving device according to claim 1, further comprising means for cutting off power supply to a non-selected receiving unit. 7. The traffic information receiving apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a means for storing the update time of the traffic information; and a means for operating a receiving section that has recently passed the update time among the selected receiving sections. A traffic information receiving device comprising: