KR20190143423A - Electronic device, server and method for providing traffic information - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are an electronic device, a server, and a method for providing traffic information. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the electronic device may include a display unit, a communication unit, and a control unit. The electronic device searches for a route, requests user content related to the route to the server, and receives the requested user content from the server to display the user content related to the route on a map. Accordingly, user content generated through other electronic devices may be used as traffic information.

Description

ELECTRICAL DEVICE, SERVER AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING TRAFFIC INFORMATION}

The present invention relates to an electronic device, a server and a method for providing traffic information.

With the opening of the Internet network and the revision of laws relating to location data, the industry based on location based services (LBS) is being activated. Representative devices using such a location-based service may include a navigation device for a vehicle that provides a navigation service for locating a current location of a vehicle or guiding a movement route to a destination.

Recently, various methods for providing a user with information on a traffic flow that changes in real time have been proposed. However, in the related art, due to a problem in that a significant delay occurs in processing the information collected in connection with the traffic flow and delivering the traffic information to the user, or the traffic information of a wider area than the desired area is received together, There was a problem that does not efficiently reflect the traffic information to the navigation service.

The present invention provides an electronic device, a server, and a traffic information providing method for providing real-time traffic information using user content freely generated by users.

An electronic device according to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object is a display unit; Communication unit for performing data communication with the server; And a controller for searching for a route, requesting user contents related to the route to the server, receiving the requested user contents from the server, and displaying the route and the user contents related to the route on a map. have.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a server, Communication unit for forming a network with the first electronic device and the second electronic device; A database storing user content received from the first electronic device; Receiving destination information from the second electronic device, searching for a route to a destination, searching for user content related to the found route, and transmitting the searched route and the searched user content to the second electronic device; It may include a control unit.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a traffic information providing method comprising: searching for a route; Requesting a server for user content associated with the route; Receiving user content associated with the route from the server; And displaying the route and the user content on a map.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a traffic information providing method comprising: collecting user content from a first electronic device; Receiving a signal requesting user content associated with a route from a second electronic device to a destination; Retrieving user content related to the path from among the collected user content in response to a signal requesting the user content; And transmitting the retrieved user content to the second electronic device.

A traffic information providing system according to another aspect of the present invention may include a first electronic device, a server, and a second electronic device.

The first electronic device may generate the user content including location information from which the user content is obtained.

The server may be connected to the first electronic device through a network, and collect and store the user content from the first electronic device.

The second electronic device is connected to the first electronic device and the server through the network, searches for a path based on a user input, transmits a signal for requesting user content associated with the path, to the server, The user content may be received from the server and the path and the user content may be displayed on a map.

Specific details of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and the drawings.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, since traffic information is generated using user contents generated by users who are driving on a real road or who can grasp the traffic flow in real time, traffic information reflecting real-time traffic conditions can be generated. .

In addition, the delay time between collecting user content and providing the traffic information generated by using the same to other users is minimized, thereby providing the user with traffic information reflecting the changing traffic flow in real time.

In addition, it is possible to provide customized traffic information suitable for the user who needs the traffic information, it is possible to provide the traffic information desired by the user more quickly and accurately.

1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an environment of a traffic information providing system according to embodiments of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram of a navigation device according to embodiments of the present invention.
3 is a block diagram of a server according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 illustrates an example of configuring a social network.
5 is a block diagram illustrating a component of user content according to an exemplary embodiment.
6 is a flowchart illustrating a traffic information providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention under the system environment shown in FIG. 1.
7 to 9 are flowcharts illustrating a traffic information providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
10 to 17 are diagrams illustrating an example of a traffic information providing method according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6.
18 is a flowchart illustrating a traffic information providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
19 to 20 are diagrams for describing the embodiment shown in FIG. 18.
21 is a flowchart illustrating a traffic information providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 22 is a diagram for explaining the embodiment shown in FIG. 21.
23 is an example of a screen for transmitting user content from the electronic device to the server 200.
24 illustrates an example of receiving user content from the server 200 and displaying the user content on a screen of the electronic device 100.

The above objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention may be modified in various ways and may have various embodiments. Hereinafter, specific embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. In addition, when it is determined that the detailed description of the known function or configuration related to the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the structure of the electronic device and server which concern on this invention is demonstrated in detail with reference to drawings. The suffixes "module" and "unit" for components used in the following description are given or mixed in consideration of ease of specification, and do not have distinct meanings or roles from each other.

Electronic devices described herein may include a mobile phone, a smart phone, a notebook computer, a digital broadcasting terminal, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), a navigation terminal, and the like. In the following description, it is assumed that the electronic device is a navigation terminal.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail with respect to the present invention.

1 is a view schematically showing an environment of a traffic information providing system according to embodiments of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the traffic information providing system may include user devices 100 and 10, a server 200, and a network 300.

The user devices 100, 10, the server 200, and the network 300 shown in FIG. 1 represent exemplary embodiments for providing traffic information through a predetermined network. The social network engine 230 shown in FIG. 1 may perform at least some of the social network management functions performed in the system shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, the social network engine 230 may be communicatively coupled with the user devices 100 and 10 via the network 300. The network 300 may be a combination of a network such as a LAN, a WAN, or the Internet.

In FIG. 1, four exemplary devices are described as user devices 100, 10a, 10b, and 10c in order to exemplarily describe a system for implementing a traffic information providing method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The example user devices 100, 10 may include a navigation device 100, a mobile phone 10a, a mobile computing device 10b, and a notebook computer 10c. User devices 100, 10 are not limited to the example user devices shown in FIG. 1, and may include any number and any type of devices that a user can use to interact with social network engine 230. Can be.

The user devices 100, 10 shown in FIG. 1 may communicate with the social network engine 230 via a predetermined communication link. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the navigation device 100 is communicatively coupled to the network 300 via the first communication interface 11, and the mobile phone 10a is connected to the second communication interface ( 12 is communicatively coupled to the network 300 via a mobile communication device 10b, and the mobile computing device 10b is communicatively coupled to the network 300 via a third communication interface 13, and the notebook computer 10c may be connected to the network 300. 4 may be communicatively coupled with the communication interface 14. In addition, the social network engine 230 may be communicatively coupled with the fifth communication interface 15.

Here, the first to fifth communication interfaces 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 may include an IEEE 802.11 WLAN wireless link, a cellular network link, a wireless personal area network (PAN) link (eg, a Bluetooth link), Ethernet At least one of a communication link including a wired or wireless link such as a link, a USB link, or the like.

The social network engine 230 may provide a social network service for enabling community formation of a user and managing a user community. For example, the social network engine 230 may be a social network service residing on the web.

Social network engine 230 allows users of user devices 100, 10 to interact with each other through blogging, discussion groups, email, file sharing, instant messaging, online chat, video, voice chat or other technical means. Can make it possible to do. For example, the social network engine 230 may provide a web site where a device of a first user of the user devices 100, 10 may interact with each other using at least one of the techniques described above. According to an embodiment, the social network engine 230 may provide social network services such as Twitter (www.twitter.com), Facebook (www.facebook.com), me2DAY (www.me2day.net), and the like. . The social network engine 230 may be provided in an Open API format instead of the web site.

The social network engine 230 may be communicatively coupled to the server 200 by the communication interface 15. The server 200 may store user information for each user of the user devices 100 and 10.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, the social network engine 230 may be coupled to other entities in addition to the user devices 100 and 10 through a predetermined communication interface. For example, it may be associated with a predetermined advertising engine.

Hereinafter, the navigation device 100 as the first electronic device 100 will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

2 is a block diagram of a navigation device 100 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the navigation device 100 includes a communication unit 110, an input unit 120, a sensing unit 130, an output unit 140, a storage unit 150, a power supply unit 160, and an interface unit 170. And a controller 180. The components shown in FIG. 2 are not essential, so the navigation device 100 may be implemented to have more or fewer components.

Hereinafter, the components will be described in order.

The communication unit 110 enables communication between the navigation device 100 and the server 200 or between a network in which the navigation device 100 and the navigation device 100 are located or between the navigation device 100 and another electronic device 10. It may include one or more modules. For example, the communication unit 100 may include a location data module 111, a wireless internet module 113, a broadcast transmission / reception module 115, a short range communication module 117, a wired communication module 119, and the like. .

The position data module 111 is a module for acquiring position data of the navigation device 100. As the method of obtaining location data by the location data module 111, a method of obtaining location data through a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) may be used.

GNSS refers to a navigation system that can calculate the position of a receiver terminal using radio signals received from satellites. Specific examples of GNSS include Global Positioning System (GPS), Galileo, Global Orbiting Navigational Satellite System (GLONASS), COMPASS, Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNS), and Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), depending on the operating subject. Can be.

The location data module 111 of the navigation device 100 according to the embodiments of the present invention may obtain location data by receiving a GNSS signal serving in an area in which the navigation device 100 is used. Then, the current position of the navigation device 100 is continuously calculated in real time using the acquired position data. The current position of the navigation device 100 may be obtained through map matching with respect to the position data acquired by the position data module 111 in order to improve accuracy.

In addition, the position data module 111 may calculate velocity information using the current position of the navigation device 100 obtained in real time.

The wireless internet module 113 is a device that accesses the wireless Internet and acquires or transmits data. The wireless Internet accessible through the wireless internet module 113 may be a wireless LAN (WLAN), a wireless broadband (WBRO), a world interoperability for microwave access (Wimax), a high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA), or the like.

The broadcast transmission / reception module 115 is an apparatus for receiving broadcast signals through various broadcast systems. The broadcast system that can be received through the broadcast transmission / reception module 115 includes a digital multimedia broadcasting terrestrial (DMBT), a digital multimedia broadcasting satellite (DMBS), a media forward link only (MediaFLO), a digital video broadcast handheld (DVBH), and an ISDBT ( Integrated Services Digital Broadcast Terrestrial). The broadcast signal received through the broadcast transmission / reception module 115 may include traffic data, living data, and the like.

The short range communication module 117 refers to a module for short range communication. As a short range communication technology, Bluetooth, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Ultra Wideband (UWB), ZigBee, and the like may be used.

The wired communication module 119 serves to provide an interface with other electronic devices connected to the navigation device 100. For example, the wired communication module 119 may be a USB module capable of communicating through a USB port.

The input unit 120 is a module that generates input data for controlling the operation of the navigation device 100. The input unit 120 may convert the physical input from the outside into a specific electrical signal to generate the input data. The input unit 120 may include a user input module 121, a microphone 123, and the like.

The user input module 121 receives a control input for controlling the operation of the navigation device 100 from a user. The user input module may include a key pad dome switch, a touch pad (constant voltage / capacitance), a jog wheel, a jog switch, and the like. For example, the user input module 121 may be implemented as a navigation manipulation key provided in a body of the navigation device 100.

The microphone 123 is a device that receives a user's voice and an audio signal generated inside and outside the vehicle. The microphone 123 may be implemented as a navigation microphone 195 provided in the body of the navigation device 100.

The sensing unit 130 detects a current state of the navigation device 100 and generates a sensing signal for controlling the operation of the navigation device 100. The sensing unit 130 may include a motion sensing module 131, an optical sensing module 133, and the like.

The motion sensing module 131 may detect the movement of the navigation device 100 in the 3D space. The motion sensing module 131 may include a three-axis geomagnetic sensor and a three-axis acceleration sensor. The motion data acquired through the motion sensing module 131 may be combined with the position data obtained through the position data module 111 to calculate a more accurate trajectory of the vehicle to which the navigation apparatus 100 is attached.

The light sensing module 133 is a device for measuring peripheral illumination of the navigation device 100. The brightness of the display module 141 may be changed to correspond to the ambient brightness by using the illumination data acquired through the light sensing module 133.

The output unit 140 is a device in which the navigation device 100 outputs data. The output unit 140 may include a display module 141, an audio output module 143, and the like.

The display module 141 displays information processed by the navigation device 100. For example, the display module 141 displays a user interface (UI) or a graphic user interface (GUI) related to the navigation service.

The display module 141 may include a liquid crystal display, a thin film transistor liquid crystal display, an organic light emitting diode, a flexible display, and a 3D display. It may include at least one.

When the display module 141 and a sensor for detecting a touch operation (hereinafter, referred to as a touch sensor) form a mutual layer structure (hereinafter, abbreviated as “touch screen”), the display module 141 is an output device. It can also be used as an input device. The touch sensor may have, for example, a form of a touch film, a touch sheet, a touch pad, or the like.

The touch sensor may be configured to convert a change in pressure applied to a specific portion of the display module 141 or capacitance generated at a specific portion of the display module 141 into an electrical input signal. The touch sensor may be configured to detect not only the position and area of the touch but also the pressure at the touch.

If there is a touch input to the touch sensor, the corresponding signal (s) is sent to the touch controller. The touch controller processes the signal (s) and then transmits the corresponding data to the controller 180. As a result, the controller 180 can determine which area of the display module 141 is touched.

Referring to FIG. 2, a proximity sensor may be disposed in an inner region of the navigation device 100 covered by the touch screen or near the touch screen. The proximity sensor refers to a sensor that detects the presence or absence of an object approaching a predetermined detection surface or an object present in the vicinity without using mechanical force by using electromagnetic force or infrared rays. Proximity sensors have a longer life and higher utilization than touch sensors.

Examples of the proximity sensor include a transmission photoelectric sensor, a direct reflection photoelectric sensor, a mirror reflection photoelectric sensor, a high frequency oscillation proximity sensor, a capacitive proximity sensor, a magnetic proximity sensor, and an infrared proximity sensor.

When the touch screen is capacitive, the touch screen is configured to detect the proximity of the pointer by the change of the electric field according to the proximity of the pointer. In this case, the touch screen (touch sensor) may be classified as a proximity sensor.

The audio output module 143 outputs audio data that can be recognized acoustically. The audio output module 143 outputs an audio signal related to a function (for example, a path guidance function) performed by the navigation device 100. The audio output module 143 may include a receiver, a speaker, a buzzer, and the like.

The storage unit 150 may store a program for the operation of the navigation device 100, and may temporarily store data (path and image) input / output in relation to the navigation device 100.

The storage unit 150 may be embedded in or detachable from the navigation device 100, and may be a flash memory type, a hard disk type, or a multimedia card micro type. ), Card-type memory (e.g. SD or XD memory), RAM (Random Access Memory, RAM), SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), ROM (ReadOnly Memory, ROM), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ReadOnly Memory) It may include a storage medium of at least one type of PROM (Programmable ReadOnly Memory), magnetic memory, magnetic disk, optical disk. The navigation device 100 may operate in association with a web storage that performs a storage function of the storage unit 150 on the Internet.

The power supply unit 160 receives external power and internal power to supply power required for the operation of each component of the navigation device 100 or another device connected to the navigation device 100.

The interface unit 170 may include a user interface unit and a network interface unit. The user interface unit may receive a user input signal and transmit it to the controller 180. The user interface may receive input of starting and destination information from the user. The network interface unit may perform data transmission / reception with the server 200.

The controller 180 typically controls the overall operation of the navigation device 100. In addition, the controller 180 may output a control signal for controlling another device connected to the navigation device 100. When a route request including source and destination information is received through the user interface unit, the controller 180 may control the network interface unit to transmit the received route request to the server 200.

In the above, the specific block configuration of the electronic device (navigation device) according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described. Hereinafter, a server for transmitting and receiving user content including traffic-related image information through a network (for example, a social network) will be described.

3 is a block diagram of a server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the server 200 may include a user content collector 210, a storage 220, a social network engine 230, and a controller 240.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the user content collector 210 may collect user content including a traffic related image from various external devices. The user content may be content including a traffic related image. For example, the user content may be content in which a device of a user subscribed to a predetermined traffic information service provided by the server 200 transmits information related to a road traffic situation to the server 200.

The user content collected by the user content collection unit 210 may include at least one of identification information of a user generating the user content, location information on which the user content is transmitted, and time information. In addition, the user content may include at least one of a message, an image, and an audio signal related to a traffic condition. A more detailed description of the user content will be described later with reference to FIG. 5.

In order to transmit predetermined user content generated in the user's device to the server 200, the user's device may access the server 200 through a predetermined authentication process. In the authentication process, after the authentication information is transmitted from the user's device to the server 200 and the server 200 performs the authentication process, when the user authentication is completed, the user's device and the server may be connected.

The authentication information may include identification information for identifying a user, device identification information of the electronic device 100, a password, an e-mail address, a phone number, and the like.

The device of the user may be a vehicle terminal attached to a vehicle or a portable portable terminal as shown in FIG. 1. For example, the user may transmit the user content obtained through the vehicle terminal to the server 200 while driving the vehicle. Alternatively, the user content transmitted while walking while the user is carrying the portable terminal may be transmitted to the server 200.

Meanwhile, the traffic information collected by the user content collecting unit 210 is not limited to traffic information directly obtained by the user's device. For example, user content generated through the first user device may be followed by a device of a second user who is connected to the device of the first user through a social network. For example, the N user devices connected to the first user through a social network may obtain first user content generated from the first user device or content processed from the first user content.

The user content may include information related to the road traffic situation. The information related to the road traffic situation may include all information required by the driver in connection with driving a vehicle, such as section information, a route, and road congestion information. In an embodiment of the present invention, a description is given of a traffic-related image taken by a vehicle terminal or a camera connected by wire or wirelessly to the vehicle terminal among the road traffic state information. However, the technical idea of the present invention is not to limit the information related to the road traffic situation to the traffic related video.

The storage unit 220 may include a map database 221 and a user content database 222.

The map database 221 may store information that can be displayed on various maps used in the electronic device (eg, the navigation device) 100 such as road information, location information, point of interest (POI) information, and the like. The map database 221 may be included in the server 200 as illustrated in FIG. 3, but may be implemented as a separate server outside the server 200.

The user content database 222 may store and manage user content collected through the user content collector 210. Since the collected user content includes location information where the content is generated (or transmitted), the user content DB 222 is managed by grouping each user content based on the collected location information, or included in user content. It can be managed based on the type and location information of the information.

In addition, the user content database 222 may filter only user content collected from a plurality of user devices under a control of the control unit 240 based on a predetermined criterion to provide only information that is beneficial to the user through the server 200. Accordingly, as described above, the user content DB 222 may store traffic related image information generated at a specific location, and manage it for each location where the traffic related image is obtained.

The social network engine 230 may be communicatively coupled with the user devices 100, 10a, 10b, 10c via the network 300 as shown in FIG. 1. Data communication can be performed with an external communication device including an external user device. The social network engine 230 of the server 200 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure receives a route request signal from a user device, transmits the route request signal to the route search unit 241, and generates the route request unit 242. The route can be sent to the user device.

The controller 240 may include a path searcher 241 and a path generator 242.

The route search unit 241 may search for at least one route from the current location of the user device to the destination based on destination information received from the user device requesting the route. The route search unit 241 may search for various possible routes from the origin to the destination.

The path generation unit 242 maps the user content information to at least one path searched by the path search unit 241 based on the location information included in the user content stored in the user content DB 232 and the user content. Adds a path to which the device is added, and transmits it to the user device.

The path generation unit 242 may generate a path to which the user content is added by mapping the user content to a specific point on the path corresponding to the location information. Meanwhile, the path request may be performed by performing a path search directly on the user device and transmitting the at least one searched path to a server. That is, in this case, the user device may request user content information that can be mapped to the searched path. Accordingly, the path generation unit 242 may generate a new path by mapping the user content to a path received from the user device instead of the path searched by the path search unit 241.

The route request received from the user device may include at least one of a source information and a destination information, a destination information, and a searched route.

For example, the user device may request a route while transmitting current location (or origin) and destination information. In this case, the server 200 may search for at least one path from the server 200 to the destination, and map user content corresponding to each of the found paths to the searched paths to be transmitted to the user device. Meanwhile, since the server 200 may continuously monitor the current location of the user device, the server 200 may receive only destination information from the user device.

In addition, the server 200 may receive a route search result including source and destination information. In this case, the server 200 may search for user content that may be mapped to the path based on the received path search result and transmit the search result to the user device, without searching the path separately.

As described above, the server 200 searches for the user content database 222 in response to a user request for requesting traffic-related image information about a specific area (location), and corresponds to the requested location. Traffic-related images may be provided to the user device.

On the other hand, the server 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above-described function. For example, the server 200 may perform various functions according to the type of information included in the path request of the user. That is, the server 200 may search for user content corresponding to the path based on the path received from the user device without searching for a separate path or generating a new path, and transmit the search result to the user device. have. In this case, the user device may map user content received from the server 200 to map data. In addition, the mapped result may be displayed on the display unit.

The block configuration of the server 200 has been described above. Hereinafter, a network environment for collecting user content including a traffic related image related to a route will be described in more detail.

4 illustrates an example of configuring a social network.

4 illustrates an example of configuring a network based on a current location SP of the navigation device 100. Referring to FIG. 4, when a network configuration for obtaining traffic information is requested from the navigation device 100, the server 200 obtains a current location SP of the navigation device 100. Here, the current location SP of the navigation device 100 may be received from the navigation device 100 or may be obtained from a base station included in the network (or communication network) 300.

In addition, the server 200 may acquire a change in the position of the navigation device 100 for a predetermined time, and may acquire a moving direction of the navigation device 100 based on the change in position. In addition, the predetermined area A13 is set based on the current position and the moving direction of the acquired navigation device 100. In addition, other electronic devices T1 to T5 located in the set area A13 may be selected, and a social network configuration between the selected electronic devices T1 to T5 and the navigation device 100 may be supported.

Meanwhile, since the social network configured by the request of the navigation device 100 includes electronic devices selected based on the current location of the navigation device 100, the social network may be updated according to the current location of the navigation device 100. The server 200 continuously acquires the location of the navigation device 100 while the network is maintained, and continuously updates electronic devices included in the network based on the location.

In addition, even if the location of the navigation device 100 does not change, the server 200 continuously updates electronic devices included in the network based on the change of the location of other electronic devices included in the network. Electronic devices that do not satisfy the criteria of the network configuration may be excluded from the network, and electronic devices that newly meet the criteria may be included in the network.

As described above, as the server 200 continuously updates the network based on the current location of the navigation device 100, the user may continuously obtain desired traffic information while moving.

Meanwhile, hereinafter, user content collected through the collection unit 210 of user content will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 5.

5 is a block diagram illustrating a component of user content according to an exemplary embodiment.

1 and 5, the user content generated by the user devices 100 and 10 and transmitted to the server 200 may include components as shown in FIG. 5. The user content 30 may include location data 31, time data 32, social data 33, and subject data 34. Each component of the user data 30 shown in FIG. 5 need not necessarily be present in all embodiments, and does not exclude components not shown in FIG.

The location data 31 may be information associated with the locations of the user devices 100 and 10. For example, the location data 31 may be a specific location that is manually collected, such as GPRS data, GPS data, WI-FI data, personal area network (PAN) data, IP address data, and data transmitted from other network access points. Location data at Alternatively, the location data may be location data at a specific location that is actively collected, such as location data input by a user. The location data 31 may be obtained by tracking a path and a current location of the user devices 100 and 10. The location data 31 may be obtained by a location data module (eg, a GPS module) of the user devices 100 and 10.

The time data 32 can be time-based data related to a particular event or a specific time associated with the user device 100, 10. For example, the time data 32 may be data collected manually, such as the clock time of the user device 100, 10, or the network clock time. In addition, the data may include data collected actively such as time data input to the user devices 100 and 10 by the user.

The social data 33 may be data or metadata regarding a relationship of a user of the user devices 100 and 10. For example, social data 33 may include gender, age, name, alias, image that the user represents (such as a photo, avatar, or file representing the user), the state of the user (eg, online or offline). It may include user identity information (email address, etc.).

The social data 33 may include relationship information (not shown). For example, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the relationship information may include relationship information between users, relationship information between the first user device and the second user or between the first user device and the second user device. have.

That is, the relationship information may be relationship information between users. It may be relationship information between the first user and the second user. For example, the first user and the second user may be in a following relationship on a social network. In this case, when the first user generates user content and transmits the user content to the server 200, the second user may receive the user content generated by the first user device through the second user device. .

The relationship information may be a specific road, a section of a specific road, or a specific building, in which the user of the first user device is not another user. For example, it is assumed that a first user device following the specific road segment exists and second user content generated by a second user device for the specific road segment is collected by the server 200. In this case, it may be assumed that the first user and the second user do not have a mutual relationship. Even if the first user and the second user are not in a follow-up relationship, the first user device may be provided with the collected second user content from the server 200.

Meanwhile, the social data 33 may further include reputation information about the user within the aforementioned social network range 300. Other users of the social network 300 may rate or provide ratings to the user. In addition, user content generated and provided by the first user may be evaluated by other users within the social network 300 range. For example, if the traffic related image information included in the user content generated by the user does not match the current traffic situation, the user content may be undervalued by another user.

The subject data 34 may be data actively provided by a user of the user device 100, 10 or derived from another source. For example, when the user generates user content including traffic related image information photographed on a specific road section, the user may transmit the user content including the generated traffic related image to the server 200. In this case, the location data 31 may be information related to the specific road section. In addition, the time data 32 may be time data of photographing the traffic-related image. The subject data 34 may include descriptive information describing the traffic related image data and the traffic related image data.

Meanwhile, the subject data 24 may be provided in a media data format. For example, the media data may be data about media that can exist, such as audio data, image data, audio and image data. In addition, the media data may include data about text input by a user and clickable data (eg, banner advertisement click, bookmark, etc.).

In the above, the component of the user content 30 was demonstrated. The user content 30 is not limited to the components illustrated in FIG. 5, and other components may be added and provided as necessary. Hereinafter, a traffic information providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in consideration of the system environment shown in FIG. 1. In the following description, the user devices 100 and 10 are assumed to be the first electronic device 10 and the second electronic device 100 for convenience of description. In addition, it is assumed that the first electronic device 10 and the second electronic device 100 are navigation devices.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a traffic information providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention under the system environment shown in FIG. 1. The traffic information providing method may be executed under the control of the controller 240 of the server 200. It demonstrates with reference to FIG.

The first electronic device 10 may generate user content (S10). The user content may include a traffic related image of a specific road section acquired through the first electronic device 10.

The traffic-related image may be obtained from a vehicle black box that is connected to the first electronic device 10 by wire or wirelessly.

In addition, the first electronic device 10 may be a black box integrated navigation device. In this case, the traffic-related image may be acquired through a camera provided in the black box integrated navigation device.

In addition, the first electronic device 100 may be a communication navigation device. In this case, the traffic-related image may be obtained from an external device (for example, a nearby CCTV) that is connected to the navigation device through a wireless communication network.

When the first electronic device 10 is connected to a predetermined network (for example, a social network) (S11 and YES), the generated user content may be transmitted to the server 200 (S13). The user content transmitted to the server 200 may include the traffic related image and location information from which the traffic related image is obtained.

The server 200 may store the user content received from the first electronic device 10 in the storage 220 (S211).

Then, the second electronic device 100 connected to the predetermined network (for example, a social network) (S111) searches for a route to a predetermined destination, and transmits a user content request signal associated with the route to the server ( By transmitting to the server 200, user content related to the searched route may be requested to the server 200 (S112).

The user content request transmitted from the second electronic device 100 to the server 200 may include destination information. Alternatively, the route request transmitted to the server 200 may include the destination information and at least one route. A user content providing request signal requested from the second electronic device 100 to the server 200 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 7 through 9.

In response to a request of the second electronic device 100, the server 200 may search for user content related to the path among user content stored in the user content DB 222 (S212).

Here, the user content associated with the route may be a traffic image related to the route. The traffic image related to the route may include a traffic image photographed on at least one route to a destination or obtained for the at least one route. Alternatively, it may include a traffic image included in an adjacent route existing within a predetermined radius range from the route in which another route adjacent to the route exists.

The server 200 may transmit the retrieved user content to the second electronic device 100. The second electronic device 100 may display the user content and the searched route received from the server 200 on a map (S113). Here, the controller 180 of the second electronic device 100 may map the user content to the map based on the location information obtained from the user content and display the same.

Hereinafter, operations of the second electronic device 100 and the server 200 according to the path of the second electronic device 100 and the type of the user content request signal will be described.

7 to 9 are flowcharts illustrating a traffic information providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. 7 to 9, subjects that search for at least one route to a destination and subjects that map the searched route and the traffic related image may be changed according to the type of the user content request signal. Examine.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example in which the server 200 searches for at least one path to a destination and maps user content including a traffic related image corresponding to the searched path.

Referring to FIG. 7, the second electronic device 100 (eg, the navigation device) may transmit destination information to the server 200 (S121). Since the server 200 may continuously monitor the current location of the second electronic device 100, even if only the destination information is received from the second electronic device 100, the server 200 may move from the current location of the second electronic device 100 to the destination. At least one route may be explored.

In addition, the second electronic device 100 may request user content related to the route to the destination from the server 200 (S122).

The server 200 may receive the destination information from the second electronic device 100 and transfer it to the route search unit 241. The route search unit 241 may search for at least one route using at least one of the destination information (S221).

Thereafter, the server 200 may search for at least one user content that may be mapped to at least one path searched through the path search unit 241 from the user content DB 222 (S222).

When at least one user content corresponding to the location of the searched path exists among the user content stored in the user content DB 222, the server 200 may map the searched path to the searched path ( S223). That is, the path generator 242 may generate a new path by mapping the searched user content to the searched path. Here, the new route may include a route to which a traffic related image is mapped.

Thereafter, the server 200 transmits the mapped result to the second electronic device 100, and the second electronic device 100 receives the mapped result and displays the display unit of the second electronic device 100. In operation 123, the display may be displayed on step 141.

Referring to FIG. 8, the second electronic device 100 (eg, the navigation device) may transmit destination information to the server 200 (S131). Since the server 200 may continuously monitor the current location of the second electronic device 100, even if only the destination information is received from the second electronic device 100, the server 200 may move from the current location of the second electronic device 100 to the destination. At least one route may be explored.

In addition, the second electronic device 100 may request user content related to the route to the destination from the server 200 (S132).

The server 200 may receive the destination information from the second electronic device 100 and transfer it to the route search unit 241. The route search unit 241 may search for at least one route using at least one of the destination information (S231).

Thereafter, the server 200 may search for at least one user content that may be mapped to at least one path searched through the path search unit 241 from the user content DB 222 (S232).

Thereafter, the server 200 may transmit the at least one path S233 where the destination is found and the user content S234 corresponding thereto to the second electronic device 100.

The controller 180 of the second electronic device 100 may receive the route search result and corresponding user content from the server 200 and map the searched route and the user content to map data (see FIG. S132).

The controller 180 of the second electronic device 200 may display the mapped result on the display unit 141 (S133).

The embodiment shown in FIG. 8 and the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 have some differences in the function of the server 200. In both embodiments, the second electronic device 100 transmits to the server 211 a user content request signal including destination information and a traffic image related to a route to the destination.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, the process of mapping the user content to the path may be supported by a path searcher 241, a path generator 242, or the like of the server 200. In contrast, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the route search is performed by the server 200, and the process of mapping the user content on the searched route and displaying it on the map may be performed by the second electronic device 100. have.

In consideration of the system performance and the size of the hardware of the navigation device 100, in some cases, the navigation device 100 performs a minimum information input and information output function, and the path search, the user content search, and the searched content are searched paths. The mapping to may be performed through the server 200.

Referring to FIG. 9, the second electronic device 100 (the navigation device) may request user content related to a route to a destination from the server 200 (S142).

Before the user content request, the second electronic device 100 may perform a path search (S141). The second electronic device 100 may store the searched path in the storage 150.

The server 200 may search for user content corresponding to the path among user contents stored in the user content DB 222 (S241).

The server 200 may transmit the searched user content to the second electronic device 100 (S242).

The second electronic device 100 may map user content received from the server 200 to a path found in S141 (S143). In addition, the mapped result may be displayed on the display unit 141 (S144).

In the above, when the navigation apparatus 100 requests the user content including the traffic image related to the route to the destination through FIGS. 7 to 9, the server 200 collects the collected user content. An embodiment of providing the to the navigation device 100 has been described.

Meanwhile, in the above-described embodiments, the user content may include the traffic related image together with the location information from which the traffic related image is obtained. Hereinafter, an example in which map data to which the user content is mapped is displayed on the screen of the navigation device 100 will be described.

10 to 16 are diagrams illustrating an example of a traffic information providing method according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6.

Referring to the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 6, the second electronic device 100 (hereinafter referred to as a navigation device) receives user content associated with a route from the server 200, and displays the content together with the route. 141). Hereinafter, in order to improve the performance of the navigation device 100, a path search is performed in the server 200 according to a path search request of the navigation device 100, and the user device corresponding to the search result is mapped to the navigation device. It will be described on the assumption that the transmission to (100).

As shown in FIG. 10, a route search result may be received from the server 200 and displayed on the screen. For example, two different routes may be provided from the source S to the destination G. The first route 510 and the second route 520 having at least some sections different from the first route may be visually divided and provided on the map data. User content generated from other electronic devices connected to the navigation device 100 through a predetermined network (eg, a social network) may be mapped to the first path 510 and the second path 520, respectively. .

As illustrated in FIG. 11, the controller 180 may display user content mapped to the first path 510 and the second path 520 on the display unit 141. According to a predetermined user manipulation, the user content may display user content related to the path on the path as the visualized image 501, 502, 503, 504 with respect to at least one path 510, 520 to the destination G.

The user manipulation may be an input of touching a “view traffic related image” icon (not shown) displayed on the display unit 141.

11 to 12 are diagrams showing an example of a traffic information providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, it is assumed that the user content is a traffic related image.

As illustrated in FIGS. 11 to 12, the user content mapped to the first route 510 is configured to display traffic-related images captured at specific points P1, P2, P3, and P4 with respect to the specific route 510 on the map. It may be provided mapped to the visualized image (501, 502, 503, 504). For example, the controller 180 may visualize the traffic-related image at a specific point (P1, P2, P3, P4) on a path corresponding to the location where the traffic-related image is captured (for example, an icon shape). Image).

Meanwhile, the map data displayed on the screen of the navigation device 100 may be a summary map that shortens and displays major road sections of a specific area.

In addition, the visualized images 501, 502, 503, 504 may be displayed by varying the visualized images as shown in FIG. 12 according to the characteristics of the traffic-related image. The characteristics of the traffic-related image may vary depending on the road traffic situation to be photographed. For example, as a result of analyzing the traffic-related image, when the traffic flow is smooth, the controller 180 may apply an icon visualized to the camera-related image of the traffic-related image to be mapped on the map. Accordingly, the driver can easily grasp the road traffic situation on the at least one route found through the visualized image, and select the appropriate route among the at least one route in consideration of this.

The characteristics of the traffic-related image may be determined by using a predetermined image analysis technique or by analyzing a message of a user who transmits (registers) the traffic-related image to the server 200. For example, the server 200 may determine whether the vehicle is overturned or collided by analyzing the shape of the vehicle through the collected traffic-related images. In addition, the server 200, by analyzing the traffic congestion of the day or night through the distance between the front car, the side of the road vehicle recognition, emergency flashing recognition, lane recognition, etc. in the transmitted traffic-related image, the characteristics of the collected traffic-related image (or Property).

Also, the server 200 analyzes a user message describing the traffic-related image included in the collected user content, for example, a user message such as “Yangjae-dong, the current collision accident” and the like. The characteristics (attributes) of can be determined by the accident scene image.

When the characteristic of the traffic-related image is determined, the server 200 reads a visualized image corresponding to the characteristic of the traffic-related image from the storage unit 220, and compares the read visualized image with the corresponding traffic-related image. Can be associated.

13 is another example of providing a path to which user content is mapped.

The controller 180 may provide a visualized image of at least one piece of user content by mapping it on the path. In addition, when an input for selecting any one of the at least one visualized image mapped to the path is received, the user content corresponding to the selected visualized image may be displayed.

Referring to FIG. 13, when a touch input for selecting a visualized image having a first size (for example, 503) is received, the controller 180 displays an actual traffic-related image screen larger than the first size. 141 may be displayed. The actual traffic-related image may include a still image or a video.

14 to 15 are diagrams for explaining an example of a traffic information providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

* Referring to FIG. 14, the route to which the user content is mapped may be displayed by mapping the number information of the user content mapped to each route among at least one route from the starting point S to the destination G. have. For example, there are three traffic related images photographed and collected at a point corresponding to the first route 510, and the traffic related images photographed and collected at a point corresponding to the second route 520. There may be 12 (N2).

In particular, it may be difficult to display all user content due to a wide range, a small accumulation, or a limitation of the screen size of the navigation device 100. In addition, when an accident point exists in one of the route sections of the first route 510 or the second route 520, the number of traffic-related images photographed and collected near the accident route is compared with other route sections. Thus, the number of user contents may be large.

Therefore, the server 200 may provide traffic information with improved visibility by mapping only the number information of the collected user content onto the searched route.

Referring to FIG. 15, a route between a departure point and a destination may be displayed by being divided into a plurality of sections. The controller 180 may display information on the number of traffic-related images mapped to the divided sections within the displayed section area. As a result, while the driver is traveling from the starting point to the destination G, the traffic can be expected to flow smoothly from the first section (number of images 1) to the third section (number of images 0). You can change the path.

16 is another example of providing a path to which user content is mapped.

When a route to which user content is mapped is provided, the controller 180 displays a user content (eg, a traffic related image) mapped on at least one route together with the route in the form of a thumbnail. can do.

Referring to FIG. 16, when a touch input for selecting the first route 510 is received, the controller 180 maps the map data screen (first screen 141a) to which the route is mapped and the selected route. A traffic-related image screen (second screen, 141b) including the traffic-related image may be divided and displayed on the display unit 141.

As the first route 510 is selected, the controller 180 displays a second screen of all user contents (for example, traffic-related images Th1 to Th6) mapped and provided on the first route 510. It may be provided in the form of a thumbnail on the (141b).

Also, as illustrated in FIG. 16, the controller 180 selects one of the thumbnail images Th, and thus, the entire user content C1 including the selected traffic-related image Th1. ) May be provided on the second screen 141b. The displayed user content C1 includes location information S on which the selected traffic-related image Th1 is photographed, identification information (ID) of the user photographing the traffic-related image and transmitted to the server 200, and the traffic-related image. It may include at least one of the photographed date information (T) and the traffic-related image (I).

In addition, the controller 180 may divide and display the first screen 141a and the second screen 141b by using a picture in picture (PIP) or picture by picture (PBP) method.

17 is another example of providing a path to which user content is mapped.

When a path to which user content is mapped is provided, the controller 180 may provide and map user content for each of the sections on at least one path that is divided into at least one or more sections.

Referring to FIG. 17, when a first input 510 and a second path 520 are provided, a touch input for selecting the first path 510 is received, and thus the controller 180 is divided into a plurality of sections. On the first route 510, traffic related images included in the divided sections may be displayed in a thumbnail form.

For example, referring to FIG. 17, as the first path 510 is selected, the controller 180 selects the first path 510 divided into a total of six sections (first to sixth sections). I can display it. Meanwhile, the number of traffic-related images mapped to each of the six sections may be displayed in a specific region on each section.

The driver may predict that a predetermined event (eg, congestion, accident section, road construction section, etc.) increases or decreases closer to the final destination based on the number information of the user content mapped to the route. Accordingly, while driving along the first route 510, the driver may predict in advance that the route may be re-searched or detoured to another route in the third section. In particular, the traffic related image of the user content is not displayed on the map data, and only the number information of the traffic related image is displayed for each section, thereby providing a more efficient route.

In addition, the controller 180 may display a traffic related image information mapped to the selected section in a thumbnail form when a user's selection input for at least one section divided into a plurality of sections is received. The two screens 141b may be provided in a screen division method as shown in FIG. 17.

18 is a flowchart illustrating a traffic information providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. 19 to 20 are diagrams for describing the embodiment shown in FIG. 18. The traffic information providing method may be executed under the control of the controller 180.

6 and 18, on the screen of the second electronic device 100, user data may display map data including paths 510 and 520 as shown in FIG. 19.

When any one path (for example, the first path 510) of the plurality of paths is selected (S310), as illustrated in FIG. 19, the controller 180 includes a plurality of sections S1 constituting the path. S2, S3, S4, and S5 and representative user contents 701, 702, 703, 704, and 705 among the plurality of user contents registered in each of the sections S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5 may be mapped and displayed for each section ( S330).

The weights or priorities may be assigned to the user in order of more informative or higher preference. The targets to which the weights or priorities are assigned may be user content itself, but are connected through a social network. It may be a user. That is, high weights may be assigned to user contents uploaded by upper users based on ratings that users connected through the social network may give to each user.

Therefore, the representative user content may be selected based on a weight or priority given to the user content, or may be selected based on a user who generates the content.

In order to use the weight or priority given to the user content as described above, the server 200 collects the weight information or priority for each content collected by collecting the rating information that each user gives to the specific content or the specific user. Can be set. For example, the server 200 may assign a weight of 20 to the first user content, a weight of 19 to the second user content, and a weight of 1 to the 20th user content. The weighting may be arbitrary.

On the other hand, the server 200 may calculate the reliability of a user who has given a rating to specific content by using the weight information assigned to each content. For example, suppose that user A has given 4 points to the 1st content, 5 points to 2nd content, and 3 points to 20th content, User A has 80 + 95 + 3 = 178 points. The reliability score of can be calculated. As described above, the reliability of users who have given a rating to the user content may be calculated, and the priority of the user content rated by a person having a higher reliability score may be set higher based on the reliability.

The representative user content may include a traffic-related image. In the following description, the representative user content will be described by taking a representative traffic-related image as an example.

As an input for selecting a specific section S3 on the first route 510 or an image 703 of a representative traffic-related image corresponding to the specific section is received (S330), the controller 180 is illustrated in FIG. 20. As described above, the selected section S3 may be enlarged and displayed on the screen of the second electronic device 100 (S350).

When there are a plurality of traffic-related images mapped to specific positions of the selected section S3, the controller 180 displays all traffic-related image information 703a, 703b, 703c, 703d, 703e, 703f as shown in FIG. It may be displayed by mapping to a specific position on the enlarged path (S360).

However, when there is only one traffic related image mapped to a specific location of the selected section S3, the controller 180 does not enlarge the map as shown in FIG. 20, and as shown in FIG. 19, the representative traffic related image. Only the image 703 may be displayed.

When the route to which the user content is mapped is displayed, the controller 180 thumbnails the traffic-related images 703a, 703b, 703c, 703d, 703e, and 703f which are mapped on at least one route together with the route. (Thumbnail) can be provided.

21 is a flowchart illustrating a traffic information providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 22 is a diagram for explaining the embodiment shown in FIG. 21. The traffic information providing method may be executed under the control of the controller 180.

When the user content mapped on the path of the map data is selected, the navigation device 100 may display detailed information of the selected user content.

6 and 21, the screen of the second electronic device 100 may be displayed on a map including paths 510 and 520 mapped with user content as shown in FIG. 11 (S410).

When receiving a first touch input for selecting user content (for example, a traffic related image or a visualized image displaying the traffic related image) mapped to any one of the plurality of routes (S420), The controller 180 may search for detailed information related to the user content stored in the storage 150 (S430), and display the searched detailed information near a visualized image displaying the user content (S440).

In addition, when the first touch input is released (S450), the controller 180 may delete detailed information displayed on the display unit 141 and return to the original map data (S460).

Here, the detailed information may include at least one of user information for generating or obtaining the user content, location information (section information) and time information on which the user content is photographed, as described above with respect to user content. have.

FIG. 23 is an example of a screen for transmitting user content from an electronic device to the server 200, and FIG. 24 is an example of receiving user content from the server 200 and displaying the content on the screen of the electronic device 100. .

Referring to FIG. 6 together, the first electronic device 10 may be a subject that directly generates and transmits user content to the server 200. For example, the first electronic device 100 may acquire a traffic-related image in front of the vehicle while driving, and obtain location information of a point where the traffic-related image is obtained. In addition, the electronic device 100 may transmit the obtained traffic-related image and location information to the server 200.

Referring to FIG. 23, the first electronic device 10 follows an accident-related traffic-related image 602 captured at a specific point, or follows a user of the first electronic device 10. You can share with other electronic devices you follow. When the first electronic device 10 wants to share a specific user content, for example, a traffic-related image 602, the traffic-related image 602 may be transmitted to the server 200.

Referring to FIG. 23, user content generated at a specific location through the first electronic device 10 may be, for example, second electronic devices following the user of the specific location or the first electronic device 10 through the server 200. It may be transmitted to the device 100. The user contents SN1 and SN2 displayed on the screen of the second electronic device 100 may be displayed as shown in FIG. 24.

Referring to FIG. 24, the user traffic information IA displayed on the screen of the second electronic device 100 may be provided by users of other electronic devices connected to the second electronic device 100 through a predetermined network. Traffic information. For example, the user traffic information SN1 generated by the first electronic device 10 shown in FIG. 23 and the user traffic information SN2 generated by other electronic devices other than the first and second electronic devices are displayed on the screen. May be displayed on the screen.

As illustrated in FIG. 24, the controller 180 may arrange and display user contents SN1 and SN2 in the order of generated time.

In addition, the controller 180 may display the user content SN corresponding to the scroll position as the vertical scroll input is received.

The user traffic information IA may include safety information, help information, and the like in addition to the traffic information.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention. For example, the traffic information providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention may be executed through software. When implemented in software, the constituent means of the present invention are code segments that perform the necessary work. The program or code segments may be stored on a processor readable medium or transmitted by a computer data signal coupled with a carrier on a transmission medium or network.

Computer-readable recording media include all kinds of recording devices that store data that can be read by a computer system. Examples of the computer-readable recording device include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, hard disk, optical data storage device, and the like. The computer readable recording medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer devices so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.

Therefore, it is to be understood that the embodiments described above are all illustrative of the specification and not limiting. The scope of the invention is indicated by the following claims rather than the detailed description, and all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalents are included in the scope of the invention. Should be.

100, 10a, 10b, and 10c: electronic device 30: user content
141: display unit 180: control unit
200: server 210: user content collection unit
221: map data DB 222: user content DB
241: path search unit 242: path generation unit
230: social network engine 300: network

Claims (1)

A display unit;
Communication unit for performing data communication with the server; And
A controller for searching for a route, requesting user content related to the route to the server, receiving the requested user content from the server, and causing the display unit to display the route and the user contents related to the route on a map; Including,
And the control unit displays the user content related to the path as a visualized image determined according to the characteristics of the user content.

Images