WO2012114568A1

WO2012114568A1 - Moving-body communication device, terminal device, base station apparatus, transmission control method, and communication control method

Info

Publication number: WO2012114568A1
Application number: PCT/JP2011/070703
Authority: WO
Inventors: 史憲高間; 勇規依藤; 敏治今田; 雅彦小山; 亮平竹内; 武晴坂田; 隆浩石田
Original assignee: 三洋電機株式会社
Priority date: 2011-02-24
Filing date: 2011-09-12
Publication date: 2012-08-30

Abstract

A first wireless communication unit (80) makes a notification about a packet signal using first wireless communication. A second wireless communication unit (82) communicates prescribed information using second wireless communication that has a narrower communicable area than that of the first wireless communication. A control unit (84) controls the operations of the first wireless communication unit (80) and the second wireless communication unit (82). The control unit (84) stops the operation of the first wireless communication unit (80) during a period starting from when communication by the second wireless communication unit (82) ends until a prescribed period elapses. Further, the moving-body communication device is equipped with: a communication unit that receives information including information indicating the current locations of other moving bodies; and a control unit that obtains the current location of the moving body detected by a current-location detection unit, and determines, on the basis of the current location of the moving body and the current locations of the other moving bodies received by the communication unit, whether to execute transmission of moving-body information to be executed via the communication unit in normal control state or in special control state. Further, the moving-body communication device is provided with a control unit that conducts, when a first communication unit and another communication device are conducting a short-distance wireless communication, control for executing the transmission of the moving-body information via a second communication unit, or via the other communication device, in special control state.

Description

Mobile communication device, terminal device, base station device, transmission control method, communication control method

The present invention relates to a communication technology, and relates to a mobile communication device, a terminal device, and a base station device (hereinafter referred to as “mobile communication device”, “terminal device”, “ Any one of the “base station devices” may be referred to as “communication device”, and the three may be collectively referred to as “communication device”.), A transmission control method, and a communication control method.

Intelligent traffic communication systems (Intelligent Transport Systems, hereinafter referred to as “ITS”) for the purpose of solving road traffic problems such as traffic accidents and traffic jams by networking people, roads and vehicles with information using information communication technology. ) Has been researched and developed. The form of wireless communication for automobiles in the field dealing with the safe driving support system in ITS can be broadly divided into road-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-to-vehicle (walking) communication. In the road-to-vehicle communication, the roadside machine and the vehicle communicate information, whereas in the vehicle-to-vehicle (walk) communication, the vehicle and the vehicle (or pedestrian) directly communicate information.

The information transmitted from the roadside unit to the vehicle by road-to-vehicle communication includes intersection information, traffic signal information, movement types of moving bodies existing in the observation area, and information indicating the number of movement types (details will be described later). As intersection information, identification information for identifying an intersection, as traffic signal information, identification information for identifying a traffic signal, current signal display information (information indicating the display color of the traffic signal), next signal display information, Information such as information indicating the time until the signal display is changed is included.

The information transmitted from the vehicle to the vehicle by the inter-vehicle communication includes information indicating the current position of the vehicle, the moving speed, the traveling direction, etc. The information transmitted from the pedestrian to the vehicle by the inter-vehicle communication includes the walking Information indicating the current position, movement speed, traveling direction, etc. of the person or the like is included (the same applies to inter-vehicle communication and inter-walk communication).

The mobile communication device includes information (information indicating a current position, a traveling direction, a moving speed, etc.) of a mobile body (own vehicle) provided with (owned by) the mobile communication device, and ITS communication. Based on information (information indicating the current position, traveling direction, moving speed, etc.) of other moving bodies (other vehicles, pedestrians, etc.) provided with (possessed by) the other communication devices received from other communication devices If a traffic jam is detected and it is determined that there is a traffic jam, a traffic jam avoidance route is searched, or a traffic accident judgment is performed and a traffic accident is likely to occur. It contributes to the solution of the road traffic problem (for example, see the mobile communication device disclosed in Patent Document 1).

However, road-to-vehicle communication requires the installation of roadside equipment, which increases labor and cost. On the other hand, if it is a form which communicates information between vehicles, ie, a vehicle (vehicle equipment), installation of a roadside machine becomes unnecessary. In that case, for example, the current position information of the vehicle is detected in real time by GPS (Global Positioning System), etc., and the position information is exchanged between the vehicles (on-vehicle devices), so that the own vehicle and the other vehicle cross each other. It is possible to determine which road to enter the road (see, for example, Patent Document 2), thereby preventing a collision accident at the intersection.

JP 2000-348299 A JP 2005-202913 A JP 2005-9933 A

By the way, as described above, in ITS, each communication device capable of ITS communication transmits information including predetermined information, but depending on the situation, it may be desired not to transmit information related to the own communication device. For example, in the driving support system disclosed in Patent Document 3, the portable terminal device determines whether or not the portable terminal device (the user (pedestrian) who owns the portable terminal device) is present in the vehicle. A determination unit is provided, and only when the current position of the vehicle and the current position of the pedestrian are the same, the portable terminal is determined to be present in the vehicle, and the transmission of the pedestrian's mobile body information is stopped. I am going to do that.

In ITS communication, if all ITS communication devices (vehicle communication devices such as navigation devices, mobile communication devices such as mobile phones possessed by pedestrians, roadside devices, etc.) transmit information regularly or irregularly, May get crowded. In particular, the frequency band for wireless communication in ITS is only the frequency band of 700 MHz band, and communication is performed using only one channel. Therefore, in a place where many ITS communication devices exist, the influence of line congestion is present. (Communication impossible, communication delay, communication collision, etc.) are likely to appear prominently.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and in a situation where information about the own communication device should not be broadcasted to other communication devices, the mobile device performs appropriate control according to the situation. An object of the present invention is to provide a body communication device, a terminal device, a base station device, a transmission control method, and a communication control method.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a terminal device of the present invention includes a first communication unit that notifies a packet signal through first wireless communication, and second wireless communication in which a communicable area is narrower than that of the first wireless communication. And a second communication unit that communicates predetermined information, and a control unit that controls the operation of the first communication unit and the operation of the second communication unit. The control unit stops the operation of the first communication unit until a predetermined period elapses after the communication by the second communication unit is completed.

Another aspect of the present invention is a base station apparatus. This apparatus includes a generation unit that generates a packet signal and a notification unit that notifies the packet signal generated in the generation unit. The generation unit includes, in the packet signal, information related to the transmission prohibition period for the first type terminal device and the transmission prohibition period for which the second type terminal device is excluded from the target.

Still another aspect of the present invention is a terminal device. This device is a terminal device mounted in a vehicle, and receives a packet signal from a base station device, and transmits a packet signal based on information contained in the packet signal received by the receiving unit. A determination unit that determines the possible period; and an informing unit that notifies the packet signal in the transmittable period determined by the determination unit. When the information included in the packet signal received by the reception unit is a transmission prohibition period for the terminal device carried by the pedestrian, the determination unit ignores the information and determines the transmission period of the packet signal. .

It should be noted that an arbitrary combination of the above-described components and a conversion of the expression of the present invention between a method, an apparatus, a system, a recording medium, a computer program, and the like are also effective as an aspect of the present invention.

In order to achieve the above object, a mobile communication device of the present invention is provided in a mobile body, and is detected by a communication section that receives information including information indicating the current position of another mobile body, and a current position detection section. Obtaining the current position of the mobile object and transmitting the mobile object information via the communication unit based on the current position of the mobile object and the current position of the other mobile object received by the communication unit And a control unit that determines whether to perform in a normal control state or a special control state.

Further, in the mobile communication device having the above-described configuration, the control unit has a current position of another mobile body received by the communication unit within a predetermined range from a current position of the mobile body detected by the current position detection unit. In some cases, it is desirable to determine that transmission of the mobile body information is performed in a special control state.

Further, in the mobile communication device having the above-described configuration, the control unit has a current position of another mobile body received by the communication unit within a predetermined range from a current position of the mobile body detected by the current position detection unit. In addition, when the movement types of the moving body and the other moving body are the same, it is desirable to determine that transmission of the moving body information is performed in a special control state.

Further, in the mobile communication device having the above-described configuration, the control unit further includes the mobile unit information when the current position of the mobile unit is not ahead of the current direction of the other mobile unit. It is desirable to decide to perform transmission in a special control state.

In the mobile communication device having the above configuration, the information indicating the current position of the other mobile object is information indicating an observation area, and the communication unit is information indicating the presence or absence of another mobile object in the observation area. When the current position of the moving object detected by the current position detecting unit is within the observation area and another moving object exists in the observation area, It is desirable to perform transmission of the mobile object information in a special control state.

In the mobile communication device having the above configuration, the special control state is at least one of not transmitting the mobile body information, delaying a transmission cycle, or reducing information transmitted as the mobile body information. It is desirable to include one.

In order to achieve the above object, a transmission control method of the present invention includes a step of acquiring a current position of the mobile body, a step of acquiring information including information indicating a current position of another mobile body, Determining whether transmission of mobile body information is performed in a normal control state or a special control state based on a comparison result between the current position and the current position of the other mobile body Yes.

In order to achieve the above object, the mobile communication device of the present invention transmits mobile information via the second communication unit when the first communication unit and another communication device are performing near field communication. Alternatively, a control unit that performs control for performing transmission of mobile body information by the other communication device in a special control state is provided.

Further, in the mobile communication device having the above-described configuration, transmission of mobile body information via the second communication unit and transmission of mobile body information by the other communication device have a wider wireless communication range than the short-range wireless communication. It is desirable to be performed by a wide range wireless communication system.

In the mobile communication device having the above-described configuration, the control unit determines whether or not the other communication device can transmit mobile information using the wide-range wireless communication method, and the other communication device When it is possible to transmit mobile body information by the wide-range wireless communication system, special control state for mobile body information transmission via the second communication unit or mobile body information transmission by the other communication device It is desirable to perform control for performing the above.

Further, in the mobile communication device having the above-described configuration, the control unit is configured to transmit mobile information via the second communication unit when short-range wireless communication between the first communication unit and the other communication device is disconnected. It is desirable to perform control for performing transmission in a normal control state regarding transmission of mobile information by the mobile communication terminal.

In the mobile communication device having the above configuration, it is preferable that the mobile communication device is provided in a vehicle, and the other communication device is a mobile communication terminal.

In the mobile communication device having the above configuration, it is preferable that the mobile communication device is carried by a pedestrian and the other communication device is an in-vehicle communication device.

In order to achieve the above object, the communication control method of the present invention includes a step in which a first communication unit and another communication device perform near field communication, and a first communication unit and another communication device perform near field communication. Performing a control for performing the transmission of mobile body information via the second communication unit or the transmission of mobile body information by the other communication device in a special control state when performing the communication. It is said.

According to the present invention, when it is a situation in which information related to the own communication device should not be broadcasted to other communication devices, appropriate control can be performed according to the situation.

That is, according to the present invention, the communication function can be automatically stopped in a certain area. Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent congestion of the line in ITS communication without disturbing safe driving support (congestion determination or traffic accident determination). In addition, according to the present invention, when performing short-range wireless communication, wide-range wireless communication (transmission of mobile object information) is restricted (performed in a special control state), so that other communication devices Does not interfere with safe driving support.

These are figures which show the structure of the communication system which concerns on this invention. These are figures which show the structure of the base station apparatus of FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a frame defined in the communication system 100, and FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a frame generated by the first base station apparatus 10a. 3 (c) is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a frame generated by the second base station device 10b, and FIG. 3 (d) is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a frame generated by the third base station device 10c. 4A is a diagram illustrating a subframe in which a road-vehicle transmission period is set, and FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of packet signals in the road-vehicle transmission period. 5A is a diagram showing a format of a MAC frame stored in a packet signal defined in the communication system of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5B is a message header generated by the generation unit 46. FIG. These are figures which show the structure of the terminal device carried by the pedestrian of FIG. These are the sequence diagrams which show the communication procedure in the communication system of FIG. These are the sequence diagrams which show another communication procedure in the communication system of FIG. These are figures which show the structure of the communication system which concerns on the modification of this invention. These are figures which show the structure of the communication system which concerns on another modification of this invention. These are figures which show the structure of the terminal device of FIG. FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing a communication procedure in the communication system of FIG. 10. FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing another communication procedure in the communication system of FIG. 10. These are the flowcharts which show the setting procedure of the terminal device which concerns on another modification of this invention. These are block diagrams which show the structure of the navigation apparatus of this invention. These are 1st flowcharts which show the flow of the process which the control part of the navigation apparatus of this invention performs. These are 2nd flowcharts which show the flow of the process which the control part of the navigation apparatus of this invention performs. These are 3rd flowcharts which show the flow of the process which the control part of the navigation apparatus of this invention performs. These are 4th flowcharts which show the flow of the process which the control part of the navigation apparatus of this invention performs. These are 5th flowcharts which show the flow of the process which the control part of the navigation apparatus of this invention performs. These are the schematic diagrams which show an example of the observation area which a roadside machine observes. These are block diagrams which show the structure of the navigation apparatus of this invention. These are 1st flowcharts which show the flow of the process which the control part of the navigation apparatus of this invention performs. These are 2nd flowcharts which show the flow of the process which the control part of the navigation apparatus of this invention performs. These are schematic diagrams showing an example of a list of model names and whether each model has an ITS communication function. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a list indicating ITS addresses associated with Bluetooth addresses. These are block diagrams which show the structure of the mobile telephone which is another example of this invention. These are 1st flowcharts which show the flow of the process which the control part of the mobile telephone which is another example of this invention performs. These are 2nd flowcharts which show the flow of the process which the control part of the mobile telephone which is another example of this invention performs.

The first problem of the present invention will be described below. In a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) compliant with a standard such as IEEE 802.11, an access control function called CSMA / CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access Avididance) is used. Therefore, in the wireless LAN, the same wireless channel is shared by a plurality of terminal devices. In such CSMA / CA, a packet signal is transmitted after confirming that no other packet signal is transmitted by carrier sense. When applying wireless LAN to inter-vehicle communication such as ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems), it is necessary to transmit information to terminal devices mounted on each of an unspecified number of vehicles, so signals are transmitted by broadcast. It is desirable that As a result, the terminal device detects the approach of another vehicle by receiving the broadcast signal, and notifies the driver of the approach by notifying the driver of the approach to the driver. To arouse.

It is also desirable to prevent collisions between vehicles and prevent collisions between pedestrians and vehicles. In order to cope with this, the terminal device is carried by a pedestrian in addition to being mounted on the vehicle. In order to prevent the pedestrian from colliding with the vehicle, the terminal device carried by the pedestrian notifies the in-vehicle terminal device of the existing position. On the other hand, since a terminal device carried by a pedestrian is driven by a battery, the amount of processing is required to be reduced as compared with an in-vehicle terminal device. For example, the approach of another vehicle is not notified to the pedestrian. It is desirable that the communication function of the terminal device carried by such a pedestrian is stopped in a certain area. For example, in facilities such as schools and in transportation such as trains. In consideration of the convenience of pedestrians, it is desirable that the communication function is automatically stopped or resumed.

The first embodiment of the present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to provide a technique for automatically stopping a communication function in a certain area. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

[First embodiment]
Before describing the present invention in detail, an outline will be described. Embodiments of the present invention relate to a communication system that performs vehicle-to-vehicle communication between terminal devices mounted on a vehicle, and also executes road-to-vehicle communication from a base station device installed at an intersection or the like to a terminal device. As inter-vehicle communication, the terminal device broadcasts and transmits a packet signal storing information such as the speed and position of the vehicle (hereinafter referred to as “data”). Further, the other terminal device receives the packet signal and recognizes the approach of the vehicle based on the data. The driver is alerted by notifying the driver of the approach of the vehicle. In order to reduce interference between vehicle-to-vehicle communication and road-to-vehicle communication, the base station apparatus repeatedly defines a frame including a plurality of subframes. The base station apparatus selects any of a plurality of subframes for road-to-vehicle communication, and broadcasts a packet signal in which control information and the like are stored during the period of the head portion of the selected subframe. The control information includes information related to a period for the base station apparatus to broadcast the packet signal (hereinafter referred to as “road vehicle transmission period”).

The terminal device specifies a road and vehicle transmission period based on the control information, and transmits a packet signal in a period other than the road and vehicle transmission period. Thus, since the road-to-vehicle communication and the vehicle-to-vehicle communication are time-division multiplexed, the collision probability of packet signals between them is reduced. The inter-vehicle communication is performed by the CSMA method in a period for performing inter-vehicle communication other than the road-vehicle transmission period (hereinafter referred to as “vehicle transmission period”). Such a terminal device is also carried by a pedestrian. A terminal device carried by a pedestrian is battery-driven and requires low power consumption. Therefore, the terminal device carried by the pedestrian only broadcasts a packet signal storing data, and does not notify the pedestrian of the approach of the vehicle. In order to accurately detect whether or not a pedestrian carrying such a terminal device enters a pedestrian crossing and to notify the pedestrian, the communication system according to the present embodiment executes the following processing. In the following, even terminal devices carried by pedestrians are referred to as inter-vehicle communication and road-to-vehicle communication.

リーダ Near-distance wireless communication reader / writers will be installed at both ends of the pedestrian crossing. The terminal device also has a short-range wireless communication function. When a pedestrian approaches a reader / writer so as to enter a pedestrian crossing, the terminal device transmits information to the reader / writer by short-range wireless communication. The information is the ID of the terminal device or pedestrian information. The reader / writer is connected to the base station apparatus and outputs the received information to the base station apparatus. When the base station apparatus inputs information, the base station apparatus determines a change schedule of each lighting color of the traffic light. For example, when the traffic light on the pedestrian side is red for a certain period or longer, the base station apparatus determines a change schedule so as to change this to blue early and change the signal on the roadway side to red. The base station apparatus notifies the packet signal including the change schedule through road-to-vehicle communication. Since the vehicle-mounted terminal device that has received the packet signal notifies the driver that the color of the traffic light changes to red, it can notify the driver that the pedestrian enters the pedestrian crossing. In addition, after transmitting information to the reader / writer, the terminal device stops reporting the packet signal for a certain period. Thereby, power consumption is reduced.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a communication system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This corresponds to a case where one intersection is viewed from above. The communication system 100 includes a base station device 10, a first vehicle 12a, a second vehicle 12b, a third vehicle 12c, a fourth vehicle 12d, a fifth vehicle 12e, a sixth vehicle 12f, and a seventh vehicle 12g, collectively referred to as a vehicle 12. , An eighth vehicle 12h, a traffic light 16, a first reader / writer 18a, a second reader / writer 18b, which are collectively referred to as a reader / writer 18, and a network 202. Each vehicle 12 is equipped with a terminal device (not shown). The area 212 is formed around the base station apparatus 10, and the outside area 214 is formed outside the area 212.

As shown in the figure, the road that goes in the horizontal direction of the drawing, that is, the left and right direction, intersects the vertical direction of the drawing, that is, the road that goes in the up and down direction, at the central portion. Here, the upper side of the drawing corresponds to the direction “north”, the left side corresponds to the direction “west”, the lower side corresponds to the direction “south”, and the right side corresponds to the direction “east”. The intersection of the two roads is an “intersection”. The first vehicle 12a and the second vehicle 12b are traveling from left to right, and the third vehicle 12c and the fourth vehicle 12d are traveling from right to left. Further, the fifth vehicle 12e and the sixth vehicle 12f are traveling from the top to the bottom, and the seventh vehicle 12g and the eighth vehicle 12h are traveling from the bottom to the top.

A traffic light 16 is installed at the intersection. Actually, a traffic light 16 is installed in each direction of the road that intersects at the intersection, but only one traffic light 16 is shown here for the sake of clarity. A base station device 10 is also installed at the intersection. The base station device 10 controls communication between terminal devices. The base station device 10 repeatedly generates a frame including a plurality of subframes based on a signal received from a GPS satellite (not shown) and a frame formed by another base station device 10 (not shown). Here, the road vehicle transmission period can be set at the head of each subframe. The base station apparatus 10 selects a subframe in which the road and vehicle transmission period is not set by another base station apparatus 10 from among the plurality of subframes. The base station apparatus 10 sets a road and vehicle transmission period at the beginning of the selected subframe. The base station apparatus 10 notifies the packet signal in the set road and vehicle transmission period.

The base station apparatus 10 is installed in the vicinity of the traffic light 16 and is connected to the first reader / writer 18a, the second reader / writer 18b, and the traffic light 16. The reader / writer 18 performs short-range wireless communication with a terminal device (not shown). Here, the terminal device capable of communicating with the reader / writer 18 is not a terminal device mounted on the vehicle 12 but a terminal device carried by a pedestrian. The short-range wireless communication is, for example, NFC (Near Field Communication), which is communication having a narrower communication range than the above-described road-to-vehicle communication or vehicle-to-vehicle communication. When the pedestrian enters the pedestrian crossing, he holds the terminal device over the reader / writer 18. Here, the reader / writer 18 is assumed to be the first reader / writer 18a. The first reader / writer 18a communicates with the terminal device, and outputs information related to the terminal device acquired by communication to the base station device 10.

The base station apparatus 10 recognizes that the pedestrian is about to enter the pedestrian crossing by receiving information from the first reader / writer 18a. The base station apparatus 10 determines a schedule for lighting each lighting color in the traffic light 16 based on the received information. This schedule corresponds to the aforementioned change schedule. For example, when the current lighting color on the roadway side is blue and the lighting color on the pedestrian crossing side is red, the change schedule is determined so that the lighting color on the pedestrian crossing side changes quickly from blue to red. The Such a change schedule makes it possible to notify that a pedestrian is about to cross a pedestrian crossing. The base station apparatus 10 notifies the change schedule by including it in the packet signal. Data different from the change schedule can be stored in the packet signal. One is control information and the other is traffic jam information.

Further, when the pedestrian finishes crossing the pedestrian crossing and enters the pedestrian crossing, the portable terminal is held over a reader / writer 18 different from the reader / writer 18 holding the terminal device, for example, the second reader / writer 18b. The second reader / writer 18b communicates with the terminal device, and outputs information related to the terminal device acquired by communication to the base station device 10. The base station device 10 recognizes that the pedestrian is leaving the pedestrian crossing by receiving information from the second reader / writer 18b. Based on the received information, the base station apparatus 10 again determines a schedule for lighting each lighting color in the traffic light 16. The base station apparatus 10 broadcasts a packet signal in which a new change schedule is stored.

The vehicle 12 is driven by an engine and is equipped with a terminal device. The terminal device generates a frame based on the control information included in the received packet signal. As a result, the frame generated in each of the plurality of terminal devices is synchronized with the frame generated in the base station device 10. Moreover, a terminal device alert | reports a packet signal by performing CSMA / CA in a vehicle transmission period. For example, the terminal device stores information on the location in the packet signal. The terminal device also stores control information in the packet signal. That is, the control information transmitted from the base station device 10 is transferred by the terminal device. On the other hand, a terminal device that cannot receive a packet signal from the base station device 10, that is, a terminal device existing outside the area 214 broadcasts the packet signal by executing CSMA / CA regardless of the frame configuration.

Furthermore, the terminal device notifies the driver of the approach of the vehicle on which the other terminal device is mounted by receiving a packet signal from the other terminal device. The terminal device also acquires a change schedule included in the packet signal from the base station device 10 and notifies the driver of a change in the lighting color of the traffic light 16. The driver knows that the pedestrian can cross the pedestrian crossing by recognizing the change in the lighting color to red. As described above, the terminal device is also carried by a pedestrian. Such a terminal device is different from the terminal device mounted on the vehicle 12 in the following points. One is that it has a short-range wireless communication function, and the other is that it does not have a function for notifying the contents of a received packet signal.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the base station apparatus 10. The base station apparatus 10 includes an antenna 20, an RF unit 22, a modem unit 24, a processing unit 26, a control unit 30, and a network communication unit 36. The processing unit 26 includes an acquisition unit 32, a re-acquisition unit 34, a determination unit 38, a traffic signal IF unit 48, a frame definition unit 40, a selection unit 42, and a generation unit 46.

The RF unit 22 receives a packet signal from a terminal device (not shown) or another base station device 10 by the antenna 20 as a reception process. The RF unit 22 performs frequency conversion on the received radio frequency packet signal to generate a baseband packet signal. Further, the RF unit 22 outputs a baseband packet signal to the modem unit 24. In general, baseband packet signals are formed by in-phase and quadrature components, so two signal lines should be shown, but here only one signal line is shown for clarity. Shall be shown. The RF unit 22 also includes an LNA (Low Noise Amplifier), a mixer, an AGC, and an A / D conversion unit.

The RF unit 22 performs frequency conversion on the baseband packet signal input from the modem unit 24 as a transmission process, and generates a radio frequency packet signal. Further, the RF unit 22 transmits a radio frequency packet signal from the antenna 20 during the road-vehicle transmission period. The RF unit 22 also includes a PA (Power Amplifier), a mixer, and a D / A conversion unit.

The modem unit 24 demodulates the baseband packet signal from the RF unit 22 as a reception process. Further, the modem unit 24 outputs the demodulated result to the processing unit 26. The modem unit 24 also modulates the data from the processing unit 26 as a transmission process. Further, the modem unit 24 outputs the modulated result to the RF unit 22 as a baseband packet signal. Here, since the communication system 100 corresponds to the OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) modulation method, the modem unit 24 also executes FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) as reception processing and IFFT (Inverse TransFastFast) as transmission processing. Also execute.

The frame defining unit 40 receives a signal from a GPS satellite (not shown), and acquires time information based on the received signal. In addition, since a well-known technique should just be used for acquisition of the information of time, description is abbreviate | omitted here. The frame defining unit 40 generates a plurality of frames based on the time information. For example, the frame defining unit 40 generates 10 frames of “100 msec” by dividing the period of “1 sec” into 10 on the basis of the timing indicated by the time information. By repeating such processing, the frame is defined to be repeated. Note that the frame defining unit 40 may detect the control information from the demodulation result and generate a frame based on the detected control information. Such processing corresponds to generating a frame synchronized with the timing of the frame formed by another base station apparatus 10. FIGS. 3A to 3D show frame formats defined in the communication system 100. FIG. FIG. 3A shows the structure of the frame. The frame is formed of N subframes indicated as the first subframe to the Nth subframe. For example, when the frame length is 100 msec and N is 8, a subframe having a length of 12.5 msec is defined. The description of FIGS. 3B to 3D will be described later, and returns to FIG.

The selection unit 42 selects a subframe in which a road and vehicle transmission period is to be set from among a plurality of subframes included in the frame. More specifically, the selection unit 42 receives a frame defined by the frame defining unit 40. The selection unit 42 inputs a demodulation result from another base station device 10 or a terminal device (not shown) via the RF unit 22 and the modem unit 24. The selection unit 42 extracts a demodulation result from another base station apparatus 10 from the input demodulation results. The selection unit 42 identifies the subframe that has not received the demodulation result by specifying the subframe that has received the demodulation result. This corresponds to specifying a subframe in which the road and vehicle transmission period is not set by another base station apparatus 10, that is, an unused subframe. When there are a plurality of unused subframes, the selection unit 42 selects one subframe at random. When there are no unused subframes, that is, when each of a plurality of subframes is used, the selection unit 42 acquires reception power corresponding to the demodulation result, and gives priority to subframes with low reception power. Select

FIG. 3B shows a configuration of a frame generated by the first base station apparatus 10a. The first base station apparatus 10a sets a road and vehicle transmission period at the beginning of the first subframe. Moreover, the 1st base station apparatus 10a sets a vehicle transmission period following the road and vehicle transmission period in a 1st sub-frame. The vehicle transmission period is a period during which the terminal device can notify the packet signal. That is, in the road and vehicle transmission period which is the head period of the first subframe, the first base station apparatus 10a can notify the packet signal, and in the frame, the terminal apparatus transmits in the vehicle and vehicle transmission period other than the road and vehicle transmission period. It is defined that the packet signal can be broadcast. Furthermore, the first base station apparatus 10a sets only the vehicle transmission period from the second subframe to the Nth subframe.

FIG. 3C shows a configuration of a frame generated by the second base station apparatus 10b. The second base station apparatus 10b sets a road and vehicle transmission period at the beginning of the second subframe. Also, the second base station apparatus 10b sets the vehicle transmission period from the first stage of the road and vehicle transmission period in the second subframe, from the first subframe and the third subframe to the Nth subframe. FIG. 3D shows a configuration of a frame generated by the third base station apparatus 10c. The third base station apparatus 10c sets a road and vehicle transmission period at the beginning of the third subframe. In addition, the third base station apparatus 10c sets the vehicle transmission period from the first stage of the road and vehicle transmission period in the third subframe, the first subframe, the second subframe, and the fourth subframe to the Nth subframe. As described above, the plurality of base station apparatuses 10 select different subframes, and set the road and vehicle transmission period at the head portion of the selected subframe. Returning to FIG. The selection unit 42 outputs the selected subframe number to the generation unit 46.

The generation unit 46 sets a road and vehicle transmission period in the subframe of the subframe number received from the selection unit 42, and generates an RSU packet signal to be notified during the road and vehicle transmission period. In the following description, the RSU packet signal and the packet signal are used without distinction. FIGS. 4A to 4B show subframe configurations. FIG. 4A shows a subframe in which a road and vehicle transmission period is set. As illustrated, one subframe is configured in the order of a road and vehicle transmission period and a vehicle and vehicle transmission period. FIG. 4B shows the arrangement of packet signals during the road and vehicle transmission period. As illustrated, a plurality of RSU packet signals are arranged in the road and vehicle transmission period. Here, the front and rear packet signals are separated by SIFS (Short Interframe Space).

Here, the configuration of the RSU packet signal will be described. 5A and 5B show the format of a MAC frame stored in a packet signal defined in the communication system 100. FIG. FIG. 5A shows the format of the MAC frame. In the MAC frame, “MAC header”, “LLC header”, “message header”, “data payload”, and “FCS” are arranged in order from the top. Information included in the data payload will be described later. FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a message header generated by the generation unit 46. The message header includes a basic part.

The basic part includes “protocol version”, “transmission node type”, “number of reuses”, “TSF timer”, and “RSU transmission period length”. The protocol version indicates the version of the corresponding protocol. The transmission node type indicates the transmission source of the packet signal including the MAC frame. For example, “0” indicates a terminal device, and “1” indicates the base station device 10. When the selection unit 42 extracts a demodulation result from another base station apparatus 10 from among the input demodulation results, the selection unit 42 uses the value of the transmission node type. The reuse count indicates an index of validity when the message header is transferred by the terminal device, and the TSF timer indicates the transmission time. The RSU transmission period length indicates the length of the road and vehicle transmission period, and can be said to be information relating to the road and vehicle transmission period. Returning to FIG.

The network communication unit 36 is connected to a network 202 (not shown). The network communication unit 36 receives traffic jam information from the network 202. The generation unit 46 acquires the traffic jam information from the network communication unit 36 and stores it in the data payload, thereby generating the RSU packet signal described above.

The acquisition unit 32 is connected to a reader / writer 18 (not shown). As described above, the reader / writer 18 communicates with a terminal device carried by a pedestrian by short-range wireless communication. The acquisition unit 32 acquires information related to the terminal device from the terminal device having a short-range wireless communication function via the reader / writer 18. An example of the information regarding the terminal device is the ID of the terminal device or pedestrian information, and the pedestrian information includes information that can specify the age of the pedestrian, such as the date of birth. The acquisition unit 32 outputs the acquired information to the determination unit 38 and the re-acquisition unit 34.

The signal IF unit 48 is connected to a signal 16 (not shown). Here, a plurality of traffic lights 16 may be provided. The traffic light IF unit 48 receives a schedule for lighting each lighting color from the traffic light 16. This is the above-described change schedule, and the traffic light 16 is lit while changing the lighting color in accordance with the change schedule. For example, the change schedule shows the correspondence between the time and the lighting color. When a plurality of traffic lights 16 are installed at one intersection, their change schedules correspond to each other.

For example, when the lighting color of the traffic light 16 for one roadway is blue, the lighting color of the traffic light 16 for the roadway intersecting this is red. Therefore, the schedule for a plurality of traffic lights 16 installed at one intersection may be collected in the change schedule. Further, the change schedule may include a schedule for a plurality of traffic lights 16 to be operated in conjunction with each other, not limited to one intersection. When the traffic signal IF unit 48 receives a change schedule from the determination unit 38 described later, the traffic signal IF unit 48 outputs the change schedule to each traffic signal 16. This corresponds to instructing each traffic light 16 to perform an operation according to the change schedule.

The determination unit 38 receives the change schedule from the traffic signal IF unit 48 and also receives information related to the terminal device from the acquisition unit 32. The determination unit 38 determines a new change schedule based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit 32 so as to change the accepted change schedule. For example, a new change schedule is determined so as to extend the red lighting period of the traffic light 16 for the roadway where the pedestrian crosses the pedestrian crossing scheduled to cross. In that case, the determination part 38 may determine a change schedule so that the lighting interval by each lighting color of a traffic light may change according to the content of the acquired information. For example, if the age of the pedestrian is older than 70, the red lighting period of the traffic light 16 for the roadway that the pedestrian crosses the pedestrian crossing scheduled to cross is further increased. The determination unit 38 outputs the determined change schedule to the traffic signal IF unit 48 and also outputs it to the generation unit 46.

The generating unit 46 receives the change schedule from the determining unit 38 and stores it in the data payload, thereby generating the RSU packet signal described above. Since such a packet signal is notified from the modem unit 24 and the RF unit 22, the driver is informed of the presence of a pedestrian according to the change schedule. Similar to the acquisition unit 32, the reacquisition unit 34 is connected to a reader / writer 18 (not shown). The reacquisition unit 34 receives information related to the terminal device from the acquisition unit 32. The reacquisition unit 34 outputs the information to the determination unit 38 when the information about the terminal device 14 is reacquired from the same terminal device 14 within a certain period after the acquisition unit 32 acquires the information. . Here, the reader / writer 18 from which the acquisition unit 32 receives information and the reader / writer 18 from which the re-acquisition unit 34 receives information are different from each other. For example, when the acquisition unit 32 receives information from the first reader / writer 18a, the re-acquisition unit 34 receives information from the second reader / writer 18b.

The determination unit 38 receives a change schedule from the traffic signal IF unit 48 and also receives information related to the terminal device from the reacquisition unit 34. By receiving information about the same terminal device from the acquisition unit 32 and the re-acquisition unit 34, the determination unit 38 recognizes that the pedestrian has crossed the pedestrian crossing. Based on the information reacquired by the reacquisition unit 34, the determination unit 38 re-determines the lighting color change schedule of the traffic light 16. For example, a new change schedule is re-determined so as to shorten the red lighting period of the traffic light 16 for the roadway where the pedestrian crosses the pedestrian crossing scheduled to cross.

If the determination unit 38 does not receive information from the re-acquisition unit 34 after a certain period of time has passed after receiving information about the terminal device from the acquisition unit 32, the determination unit 38 determines the lighting color of the traffic light 16. The change schedule may be redetermined. This is when the terminal device is held over the first reader / writer 18a when the pedestrian enters the pedestrian crossing, but the terminal device is not held over the second reader / writer 18b when the pedestrian leaves the pedestrian crossing. Equivalent to. The determination unit 38 outputs the determined change schedule to the traffic signal IF unit 48 and also outputs it to the generation unit 46. The generation unit 46 receives the re-decided change schedule from the determination unit 38 and stores it in the data payload, thereby generating the RSU packet signal described above. Since such a packet signal is notified from the modem unit 24 and the RF unit 22, the driver is notified of the end of the pedestrian crossing according to the change schedule. The control unit 30 controls processing of the entire base station apparatus 10.

This configuration can be realized in terms of hardware by a CPU, memory, or other LSI of any computer, and in terms of software, it can be realized by a program loaded in the memory, but here it is realized by their cooperation. Draw functional blocks. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will understand that these functional blocks can be realized in various forms by hardware only, software only, or a combination thereof.

FIG. 6 shows the configuration of the terminal device 14 carried by a pedestrian. The terminal device 14 includes a first wireless communication unit 80, a second wireless communication unit 82, and a control unit 84. The first wireless communication unit 80 includes an antenna 50, an RF unit 52, a modem unit 54, and a processing unit 56. The processing unit 56 includes a generation unit 64, a timing identification unit 60, a transfer determination unit 70, and an acquisition unit 72. The timing specifying unit 60 includes an extraction unit 66 and a carrier sense unit 68. The antenna 50, the RF unit 52, and the modem unit 54 execute the same processing as the antenna 20, the RF unit 22, and the modem unit 24 in FIG. Therefore, here, the difference will be mainly described.

The second wireless communication unit 82 performs short-range wireless communication. Short-range wireless communication is communication in which the communicable area is narrower than vehicle-to-vehicle communication or road-to-vehicle communication, and a known technique may be used for this, and thus description thereof is omitted here. The second wireless communication unit 82 holds information related to the terminal device 14 described above, and transmits information related to the terminal device 14 to the reader / writer 18 (not shown) when short-range wireless communication is executed. The second wireless communication unit 82 performs communication between the reader / writer 18 (not shown) when a pedestrian enters the pedestrian crossing. Further, the second wireless communication unit 82 may execute communication between the reader / writer 18 (not shown) even when the pedestrian leaves the pedestrian crossing. The second wireless communication unit 82 outputs to the control unit 84 that the communication has been performed when the pedestrian enters the pedestrian crossing and that the communication has been performed when the pedestrian has left the pedestrian crossing.

The modem unit 54 and the processing unit 56 receive packet signals from other terminal devices 14 and the base station device 10 (not shown). As described above, the modem unit 54 and the processing unit 56 receive the packet signal from the base station apparatus 10 during the road and vehicle transmission period. As described above, the modem unit 54 and the processing unit 56 receive packet signals from other terminal devices 14 during the vehicle transmission period. Note that the modem unit 54 and the processing unit 56 may stop reception during the vehicle transmission period in order to achieve low power consumption.

When the demodulation result from the modem unit 54 is a packet signal from the base station device 10 (not shown), the extraction unit 66 specifies the timing of the subframe in which the road-vehicle transmission period is arranged. At that time, the extraction unit 66 estimates that it exists in the area 212 of FIG. The extraction unit 66 generates a frame based on the timing of the subframe and the content of the message header of the packet signal, specifically, the content of the RSU transmission period length. Note that the generation of the frame only needs to be performed in the same manner as the frame defining unit 40 described above, and thus the description thereof is omitted here. As a result, the extraction unit 66 generates a frame synchronized with the frame formed in the base station apparatus 10.

On the other hand, when the extraction unit 66 has not received the RSU packet signal, the extraction unit 66 estimates that the extraction unit 66 exists outside the area 214 in FIG. When it is estimated that the extraction unit 66 exists in the area 212, the extraction unit 66 selects the vehicle transmission period. When it is estimated that the extraction unit 66 exists outside the area 214, the extraction unit 66 selects a timing unrelated to the frame configuration. When the vehicle transmission period is selected, the extraction unit 66 outputs information on the frame and subframe timing and the vehicle transmission period to the carrier sense unit 68. When selecting the timing unrelated to the frame configuration, the extraction unit 66 instructs the carrier sense unit 68 to execute carrier sense.

The carrier sense unit 68 receives information on the timing of frames and subframes and the vehicle transmission period from the extraction unit 66. The carrier sense unit 68 measures the interference power by performing carrier sense during the vehicle transmission period. Moreover, the carrier sense part 68 determines the transmission timing in a vehicle transmission period based on interference power. More specifically, the carrier sense unit 68 stores a predetermined threshold value in advance, and compares the interference power with the threshold value. If the interference power is smaller than the threshold value, the carrier sense unit 68 determines the transmission timing. When receiving the carrier sense execution instruction from the extraction unit 66, the carrier sense unit 68 determines the transmission timing by executing the CSMA without considering the frame configuration. The carrier sense unit 68 notifies the generation unit 64 of the determined transmission timing.

The acquisition unit 72 includes a GPS receiver, a gyro sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, and the like (not shown), and based on data supplied from the GPS receiver, the presence position, the traveling direction, the moving speed, and the like (hereinafter, “position information”). Are collectively called). The existence position is indicated by latitude and longitude. Since a known technique may be used for these acquisitions, description thereof is omitted here. The acquisition unit 72 outputs the position information to the generation unit 64.

The transfer determination unit 70 controls the transfer of the message header. The transfer determining unit 70 extracts a message header from the packet signal. When the packet signal is directly transmitted from the base station apparatus 10, the reuse count is set to “0”. However, when the packet signal is transmitted from another terminal apparatus 14, the reuse is performed. The number of times is set to a value of “1 or more”. The transfer determination unit 70 selects a message header to be transferred from the extracted message header. Here, for example, the message header with the smallest number of reuses is selected. In addition, the transfer determination unit 70 may generate a new message header by combining the contents included in the plurality of message headers. The transfer determination unit 70 outputs the message header to be selected to the generation unit 64. At that time, the transfer determination unit 70 increases the number of reuses by “1”.

The generation unit 64 receives position information from the acquisition unit 72 and receives a message header from the transfer determination unit 70. The generation unit 64 stores the position information in the data payload using the MAC frame shown in FIGS. The generation unit 64 generates a packet signal including a MAC frame, and broadcasts the generated packet signal via the modem unit 54, the RF unit 52, and the antenna 50 at the transmission timing determined by the carrier sense unit 68. Send. This corresponds to inter-vehicle communication. The transmission timing is included in the vehicle transmission period.

The control unit 84 controls the operation of the first wireless communication unit 80 and the operation of the second wireless communication unit 82. The control unit 84 normally operates the first wireless communication unit 80. The control unit 84 stops the operation of the first wireless communication unit 80 until a predetermined period elapses after the communication by the second wireless communication unit 82 ends. Specifically, the control unit 84 operates the first wireless communication unit 80 until a predetermined period elapses after the second wireless communication unit 82 communicates when entering the pedestrian crossing. Stop. This is equivalent to stopping the inter-vehicle communication while the pedestrian crosses the pedestrian crossing. The predetermined period is a period required for the pedestrian to cross the pedestrian crossing. When the second wireless communication unit 82 communicates when leaving the pedestrian crossing, the control unit 84 resumes the operation of the first wireless communication unit 80 even if a predetermined period has not elapsed. This is equivalent to restarting inter-vehicle communication when a pedestrian has crossed a pedestrian crossing.

The terminal device 14 mounted on the vehicle 12 does not include the second wireless communication unit 82 and the control unit 84. Instead, the terminal device 14 mounted on the vehicle 12 includes a notification unit. The notification unit acquires a packet signal from the base station device 10 (not shown) during the road-vehicle transmission period, and acquires a packet signal from another terminal device 14 (not shown) during the vehicle-vehicle transmission period. As a process for the acquired packet signal, the notification unit notifies the driver of the approach of another vehicle 12 (not shown) or the like via a monitor or a speaker according to the content of the data stored in the packet signal.

The operation of the communication system 100 configured as above will be described. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing a communication procedure in the communication system 100. This corresponds to a case where the pedestrian does not hold the terminal device 14 over the reader / writer 18 when leaving the pedestrian crossing. The terminal device 14 broadcasts the packet signal, and the base station device 10 receives the packet signal (S10). When the pedestrian holds the terminal device 14 over the first reader / writer 18a to cross the pedestrian crossing, the terminal device 14 communicates with the first reader / writer 18a (S12). The first reader / writer 18a notifies the base station apparatus 10 of information acquired by communication (S14). The terminal device 14 stops road-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-to-vehicle communication (S16). The base station apparatus 10 determines the change schedule (S18) and broadcasts the packet signal storing the change schedule (S20). The terminal device 14 recognizes that a certain period has elapsed since the communication with the first reader / writer 18a (S22). The terminal device 14 broadcasts the packet signal, and the base station device 10 receives the packet signal (S24).

FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing another communication procedure in the communication system 100. The terminal device 14 broadcasts the packet signal, and the base station device 10 receives the packet signal (S50). When the pedestrian holds the terminal device 14 over the first reader / writer 18a to cross the pedestrian crossing, the terminal device 14 communicates with the first reader / writer 18a (S52). The first reader / writer 18a notifies the base station apparatus 10 of information acquired through communication (S54). The terminal device 14 stops road-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-to-vehicle communication (S56). The base station apparatus 10 determines the change schedule (S58) and broadcasts the packet signal storing the change schedule (S60). When the pedestrian finishes crossing the pedestrian crossing and the pedestrian holds the terminal device 14 over the second reader / writer 18b, the terminal device 14 communicates with the second reader / writer 18b (S62). The second reader / writer 18b notifies the base station apparatus 10 of information acquired through communication (S64). The base station apparatus 10 determines a change schedule (S66) and broadcasts a packet signal storing the change schedule (S68). The terminal device 14 broadcasts the packet signal, and the base station device 10 receives the packet signal (S70).

Next, a modification of the present invention will be described. The modification of this invention is related with the communication system which also performs road-to-vehicle communication while performing vehicle-to-vehicle communication like an Example. In particular, the present invention relates to a terminal device that is carried by a pedestrian and has a short-range wireless communication function. The terminal device according to the embodiment stops the functions of vehicle-to-vehicle communication and road-to-vehicle communication over a period of crossing a pedestrian crossing. That is, when ITS transmission is unnecessary, notification of information necessary for ITS (hereinafter referred to as “ITS information”) is stopped. Similar to the embodiment, this modification also relates to stopping the notification of the ITS information when the ITS transmission is unnecessary. Here, the use of a company, a school, a hospital, or a public facility is assumed. When a pedestrian enters a company or the like, he / she notifies work by short-range wireless communication, and the notification of ITS information is stopped at that timing.

On the other hand, when the pedestrian leaves the office, the pedestrian notifies the exit by short-range wireless communication, and the ITS information is resumed at that timing. The communication system 100 according to the modification of the present invention is the same type as that in FIG. 1, the base station device 10 is the same type as that in FIG. 2, and the terminal device 14 is the same type as that in FIG. Note that the communication system 100 may not include the reader / writer 18, and the base station apparatus 10 does not include the acquisition unit 32, the reacquisition unit 34, the determination unit 38, and the traffic signal IF unit 48. Also good. Below, it demonstrates focusing on a difference.

In the communication system 100, road-to-vehicle communication is performed between the base station device 10 and the terminal device 14, and vehicle-to-vehicle communication is performed between the plurality of terminal devices 14. Since these processes are the same as those in the embodiment, description thereof is omitted here. Below, the process at the time of a pedestrian going to work etc., carrying the terminal device 14 is demonstrated. FIG. 9 shows a configuration of a communication system 110 according to a modification of the present invention. The communication system 110 includes a terminal device 14, a reader / writer 18, and a management device 150.

The reader / writer 18 is installed at a company reception. As described above, the reader / writer 18 performs short-range wireless communication and is connected to the management device 150. When a pedestrian goes to work with the terminal device 14, the pedestrian holds the terminal device 14 over the reader / writer 18. Near field communication is performed between the terminal device 14 and the reader / writer 18, and information regarding the terminal device 14 is transmitted from the terminal device 14 to the management device 150 via the reader / writer 18. When the management device 150 receives information on the terminal device 14, the management device 150 registers the attendance of the pedestrian carrying the terminal device 14. The terminal device 14 stops road-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-to-vehicle communication.

On the other hand, the pedestrian holds the terminal device 14 over the reader / writer 18 when leaving. As described above, short-range wireless communication is performed between the terminal device 14 and the reader / writer 18, and information regarding the terminal device 14 is transmitted from the terminal device 14 to the management device 150 via the reader / writer 18. When the management device 150 receives information on the terminal device 14, the management device 150 registers the exit of the pedestrian carrying the terminal device 14. The terminal device 14 resumes road-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-to-vehicle communication.

The management device 150 receives information related to the terminal device 14 by communicating with the terminal device 14 via the reader / writer 18. The management device 150 manages the attendance status of pedestrians who carry the terminal device 14 based on information regarding the terminal device 14. When the management device 150 receives information related to the terminal device 14 when the pedestrian's state is leaving, the management device 150 changes the pedestrian's state to work. In addition, when the management device 150 receives information on the terminal device 14 when the pedestrian's state is going to work, the management device 150 changes the pedestrian's state to withdrawal. Note that the reader / writer 18 may be installed in a school, a hospital, or a public facility instead of a company. The management device 150 manages information according to the place where the reader / writer 18 is installed. For example, attendance is going to school, reception, etc.

Next, another modification of the present invention will be described. Another modification of the present invention also relates to a communication system that executes vehicle-to-vehicle communication and road-to-vehicle communication as in the embodiment. In particular, the present invention relates to a terminal device that is carried by a pedestrian and has a short-range wireless communication function. The terminal device according to the embodiment stops the functions of vehicle-to-vehicle communication and road-to-vehicle communication over a period of crossing a pedestrian crossing. Another modification also relates to stopping reporting of ITS information when ITS transmission is unnecessary, as in the embodiment. Here, it is assumed that transportation such as a train, a bus, and a taxi is used. When a pedestrian gets on a train or the like, the pedestrian executes a settlement process by short-range wireless communication, and the notification of the ITS information is stopped at that timing.

On the other hand, when the pedestrian gets off the train, the pedestrian executes settlement processing by short-range wireless communication and the ITS information is resumed. The communication system 100 according to the modification of the present invention is the same type as that in FIG. 1, and the base station apparatus 10 is the same type as that in FIG. Note that the communication system 100 may not include the reader / writer 18, and the base station apparatus 10 does not include the acquisition unit 32, the reacquisition unit 34, the determination unit 38, and the traffic signal IF unit 48. Also good.

Description of road-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-to-vehicle communication is omitted here. Below, the process at the time of a pedestrian using a train, carrying the terminal device 14 is demonstrated. FIG. 10 shows a configuration of a communication system 120 according to another modification of the present invention. The communication system 120 includes a terminal device 14, a ticket gate 152, a network 202, and a payment server 154, and the ticket gate 152 includes a reader / writer 18.

The reader / writer 18 is installed in the ticket gate 152. As described above, the reader / writer 18 performs short-range wireless communication and is connected to the management device 150. A pedestrian holds the terminal device 14 over the reader / writer 18 when carrying the terminal device 14 and passing through the ticket gate 152 for boarding. By performing short-range wireless communication between the terminal device 14 and the reader / writer 18, the terminal device 14 and the payment server 154 execute a payment process via the network 202. Since a publicly known technique may be used for the settlement process, the description is omitted here. Thereafter, the terminal device 14 stops road-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-to-vehicle communication.

On the other hand, the pedestrian holds the terminal device 14 over the reader / writer 18 when carrying the terminal device 14 and passing another ticket gate 152 for getting off. As described above, short-distance wireless communication is performed between the terminal device 14 and the reader / writer 18, whereby the terminal device 14 and the settlement server 154 perform settlement processing via the network 202. The terminal device 14 resumes road-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-to-vehicle communication.

The settlement server 154 settles the fare with the terminal device 14 by communicating with the terminal device 14 via the reader / writer 18 and the network 202. The settlement server 154 confirms the pedestrian boarding station by executing a settlement process with the terminal device 14 when boarding. In addition, the settlement server 154 confirms the pedestrian exit station by executing a settlement process with the terminal device 14 when getting off. Furthermore, the settlement server 154 stores a fare table in advance, and derives the fare from the boarding station to the departure station based on the table. The settlement server 154 subtracts the amount corresponding to the derived fare from the pedestrian's electronic money.

FIG. 11 shows the configuration of the terminal device 14. In the terminal device 14, a settlement unit 86 is further added to the terminal device 14 of FIG. The settlement unit 86 performs a communication with the external settlement server 154 via the second wireless communication unit 82 to settle the service usage fee, that is, the fare. Here, the second wireless communication unit 82 performs communication when entering the service providing area and when leaving the service providing area. The former means passing through the ticket gate 152 when getting on, and the latter corresponds to passing through the ticket gate 152 during the latter. The control unit 84 communicates with the second wireless communication unit 82 when passing the ticket gate 152 when boarding, and then communicates with the second wireless communication unit 82 when passing the ticket gate 152 with the latter. In the meantime, the operation of the first wireless communication unit 80 is stopped.

FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram showing a communication procedure in the communication system 120. This corresponds to a processing procedure for boarding. The terminal device 14 notifies a packet signal for vehicle-to-vehicle communication (S100). The terminal device 14 and the reader / writer 18 execute communication (S102), and the terminal device 14 and the payment server 154 execute a payment process (S104). The terminal device 14 stops the notification for vehicle-to-vehicle communication (S106).

FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram showing another communication procedure in the communication system 120. This corresponds to the processing procedure at the time of getting off, and is processing following FIG. The terminal device 14 stops the notification for vehicle-to-vehicle communication (S120). The terminal device 14 and the reader / writer 18 execute communication (S122), and the terminal device 14 and the payment server 154 execute a payment process (S124). The terminal device 14 notifies a packet signal for vehicle-to-vehicle communication (S126).

Next, still another modification of the present invention will be described. Still another modified example of the present invention relates to a communication system that executes vehicle-to-vehicle communication and road-to-vehicle communication as in the embodiment. In particular, the present invention relates to a terminal device that is carried by a pedestrian and has a short-range wireless communication function. The terminal device according to the embodiment stops the functions of vehicle-to-vehicle communication and road-to-vehicle communication over a period of crossing a pedestrian crossing. Still another modified example relates to stopping reporting of ITS information when ITS transmission is unnecessary, as in the embodiment. Here, it is assumed that there are pedestrians in a train, bus, taxi, or other vehicle or building.

FIG. 5B shows the structure of the message header. Of these, the “RSU transmission period length” is a period for which the terminal device 14 is prohibited from transmitting (hereinafter referred to as “transmission prohibited period”). It is shown. In yet another modification, a simple base station apparatus 10 is installed in an area where ITS transmission is prohibited, such as in a car or a building, using this. The transmission power of the simple base station apparatus 10 is smaller than that of the normal base station apparatus 10 so that the inside of the vehicle or the building is a service area. The simple base station apparatus 10 broadcasts the RSU packet signal, and at that time, a transmission prohibition period is set for the entire period. The base station apparatus 10 may have antenna directivity that is limited to the inside of a vehicle or a building. When receiving the RSU packet signal, the terminal device 14 sets a transmission prohibition period for the entire period. This corresponds to the terminal device 14 not notifying the packet signal while receiving the RSU packet signal.

On the other hand, the RSU packet signal notified from the simple base station apparatus 10 may be received by the terminal apparatus 14 mounted on the vehicle 12. At that time, the terminal device 14 mounted on the vehicle 12 should continue notifying the packet signal without stopping the notification. In order to deal with this, the simple base station device 10 represents information for the terminal device 14 carried by the pedestrian (hereinafter referred to as “for pedestrian”) in the reserved area of the RSU packet signal. Include the identifier. When the terminal device 14 carried by the pedestrian confirms the identifier, the terminal device 14 sets a transmission prohibition period for the entire period. However, when the terminal device 14 mounted on the vehicle 12 confirms the identifier, the RSU packet signal Is discarded. The communication system 100 according to the modification of the present invention is the same type as that in FIG. 1, the base station device 10 is the same type as that in FIG. 2, and the terminal device 14 is the same type as that in FIG. Note that the communication system 100 may not include the reader / writer 18, and the base station apparatus 10 does not include the acquisition unit 32, the reacquisition unit 34, the determination unit 38, and the traffic signal IF unit 48. Also good. The same applies to the simple base station apparatus 10.

2, the generation unit 46 of the simple base station apparatus 10 generates a packet signal as described above. The generation unit 46 includes an identifier for representing information for pedestrians in the packet signal, and sets a transmission prohibition period for the entire period. This corresponds to setting a transmission prohibition period for the terminal device 14 carried by a pedestrian, and corresponds to setting a transmission prohibition period excluding the terminal device 14 mounted on the vehicle 12 from the target. To do. The modem unit 24 and the RF unit 22 broadcast the packet signal generated by the generation unit 46.

6, the RF unit 52 and the modem unit 54 of the terminal device 14 mounted on the vehicle 12 receive the packet signal from the base station device 10. The timing specifying unit 60 determines a packet signal transmittable period based on information included in the packet signal. Specifically, the transmittable period is set in a period other than the transmission prohibited period. Note that CSMA is performed within the transmittable period. When the received packet signal includes an identifier for representing information for pedestrians, the timing specifying unit 60 ignores the transmission prohibition period included in the packet signal and transmits the packet signal. Determine the possible period. The modem unit 54 and the RF unit 52 broadcast the packet signal in the determined transmittable period.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a setting procedure of the terminal device 14 according to still another modified example of the present invention. The RF unit 52 and the modem unit 54 receive the packet signal (S150). The timing specifying unit 60 extracts information related to the transmission prohibition period (S152). If the identifier for pedestrians is included in the packet signal (Y in S154), the timing specifying unit 60 reflects the transmission prohibition period (S156) and sets the transmittable period (S160). On the other hand, if the identifier for pedestrians is not included in the packet signal (N in S154), the timing specifying unit 60 discards the transmission prohibition period (S158) and sets the transmission possible period (S160).

According to the embodiment of the present invention, since information is acquired through short-range wireless communication from a terminal device having a short-range wireless communication function in addition to a vehicle-to-vehicle communication function, walking with the terminal device carried It can be accurately recognized that the person enters the pedestrian crossing. Moreover, since the change schedule is determined based on the information acquired from the terminal device, it is possible to determine the change schedule suitable for pedestrian crossing. Moreover, since the change schedule suitable for a pedestrian crossing is determined, the probability of a rear-end collision between a pedestrian and a vehicle can be reduced. Moreover, since the change schedule suitable for a pedestrian crossing is notified, it can notify correctly that a pedestrian approachs a pedestrian crossing. In addition, since the change schedule is determined based on the information about the pedestrian so that the lighting interval of each lighting color changes, the change schedule suitable for the pedestrian can be determined. Moreover, since the change schedule suitable for a pedestrian is notified, safety can further be improved. Moreover, since the change schedule suitable for a pedestrian is notified, a traffic weak person can be protected.

In addition, since information is reacquired from the same terminal device within a certain period after the information is acquired, it is possible to accurately recognize that a pedestrian carrying the terminal device exits the pedestrian crossing. In addition, since the change schedule is determined based on the information reacquired from the terminal device, it is possible to determine the change schedule suitable for traveling of the vehicle. Further, since the determined change schedule is notified, it is possible to accurately notify that the pedestrian leaves the pedestrian crossing. Moreover, since the change schedule according to whether the pedestrian crosses the pedestrian crossing is notified, driving according to the change schedule can be urged. In addition, driving according to the change schedule is urged, so the driver's stress can be reduced. In addition, since driving according to the change schedule is urged, traffic congestion can be reduced. Moreover, since the driving | operation according to a change schedule is encouraged, the discharge | emission amount of a carbon dioxide can be reduced. Further, since a commercially available reader / writer can be used, the feasibility can be improved.

In addition, since the inter-vehicle communication is stopped until the predetermined period elapses after the short-range wireless communication ends, the power consumption can be reduced. Further, since the power consumption is reduced, the battery driving time can be extended. In addition, since inter-vehicle communication is stopped when entering a pedestrian crossing, power consumption during crossing of the pedestrian crossing can be reduced. Moreover, since vehicle-to-vehicle communication is resumed when leaving the pedestrian crossing, position information can be notified after the crossing is completed. Moreover, since vehicle-to-vehicle communication is resumed when a predetermined period has elapsed, the position information can be automatically notified.

Also, when working at a company, the attendance confirmation is executed by short-range wireless communication and the inter-vehicle communication is stopped, so both processes can be executed together. Further, since the vehicle-to-vehicle communication is stopped by short-range wireless communication when working at the company, the vehicle-to-vehicle communication in the company can be stopped. Moreover, since both processes are performed collectively, the convenience of a pedestrian can be improved. In addition, since reader / writers are installed in schools, hospitals, public facilities, etc., inter-vehicle communication can be stopped in various places.

Also, since the fare is settled when boarding and the inter-vehicle communication is stopped, both processes can be executed together. Further, since the inter-vehicle communication is stopped when boarding, the inter-vehicle communication during boarding can be stopped. Moreover, since the settlement of the fare is executed at the time of getting off and the inter-vehicle communication is resumed, both processes can be executed together. Further, since the whole base period is set as the transmission prohibition period in the simple base station apparatus, the inter-vehicle communication can be stopped around the place where the simple base station apparatus is installed. Moreover, since the whole period is set as a transmission prohibition period and an identifier representing information for pedestrians is included in the packet signal, transmission can be stopped only for terminal devices carried by pedestrians. . Moreover, since transmission is stopped only for the terminal device carried by the pedestrian, the inter-vehicle communication can be continued by the terminal device mounted on the vehicle.

The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. This embodiment is an exemplification, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the combination of each component and each processing process, and such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. .

In another modification of the present invention, the reader / writer 18 is provided in the ticket gate 152, and the settlement server 154 executes a fare settlement process. In other words, it is applied to transportation. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention may be applied not to transportation facilities but to service providing facilities such as movies and theaters. At that time, the reader / writer 18 is provided for reception, and the settlement server 154 executes settlement processing for the entrance fee. According to this modification, the present invention can be applied to various services.

The second problem of the present invention will be described below. In ITS communication, all ITS communication terminals (in-vehicle communication devices such as navigation devices, mobile communication terminals such as mobile phones held by pedestrians, roadside devices, etc.) transmit information regularly or irregularly, the line is congested There is a possibility that.

In particular, the frequency band when performing wireless communication in ITS is only the 700 MHz band, and communication is performed using only one channel. Therefore, in a place where many ITS communication terminals exist, the influence of line congestion is present. (Communication impossible, communication delay, communication collision, etc.) are likely to appear prominently.

The second to sixth embodiments of the present invention can prevent congestion of the line in ITS communication without disturbing safe driving support (congestion determination and traffic accident determination) in view of the above-described problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile communication device and a transmission control method. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiment described below shows a navigation device which is an example of the mobile communication device of the present invention in order to embody the technical idea of the present invention, and the present invention is specified to this navigation device. And is equally applicable to other embodiments of the device falling within the scope of the claims. For example, a mobile communication terminal such as a device without a navigation function or a mobile phone may be used. In the following description, a case where the navigation device is attached to an automobile is illustrated, but a motorcycle, a pedestrian, or the like may be provided (held) with the navigation device. FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the navigation apparatus of the present invention. The navigation apparatus 300 includes a control unit 301, a display unit 302, an operation unit 303, a current position detection unit 304, a speed detection unit 305, a map information storage unit 306, a battery 307, and a communication unit 308. Yes.

The control unit 301 is a control unit that comprehensively controls the entire navigation apparatus 300. The control unit 301 includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM (all not shown). The ROM stores a program executed by the control unit 301 and parameters and data necessary for executing the program. The CPU executes various programs stored in the ROM. The RAM temporarily stores data obtained during various processes and data obtained as a result of various processes. These CPU, RAM, ROM and the like are connected via a bus. Note that the CPU, ROM, and RAM may be partially or fully integrated on one chip. In addition, the control unit 301 controls transmission of the moving body information of the own vehicle to other communication devices performed via the communication unit 308 (details will be described later).

Based on an instruction from the control unit 301, the display unit 302 displays a map screen (route to the destination, vehicle equipped with the navigation device 300 (hereinafter, “vehicle equipped with the navigation device 300” is referred to as “own vehicle”). Display screen for displaying a map image including a mark indicating the current position) and a menu screen.

The operation unit 303 is input operation means for the user to input a destination or operate a menu. As the operation unit 303, various keys and buttons may be provided on the navigation device body, or a touch panel function may be added to the display unit 302. Further, a remote controller for remotely operating the navigation device 300 main body as the operation unit 303 may be used as the operation unit 303.

The current position detection unit 304 detects the current position of the host vehicle, and includes a GPS receiver, self-contained navigation means, a position calculation CPU, and the like. The self-contained navigation means includes a steering angle sensor, an acceleration sensor, a distance sensor, a direction sensor, and the like, detects the travel distance and the traveling direction of the own vehicle, and obtains the current position based on these values. The GPS receiver receives radio waves transmitted from a plurality of GPS satellites with a GPS antenna and performs a three-dimensional positioning process or a two-dimensional positioning process to calculate the absolute position and traveling direction of the own vehicle. Here, the traveling direction is calculated based on the current vehicle position and the previous vehicle position. In addition, the detection method of the advancing direction is not specifically limited, For example, it is good also as detecting from the rotation direction of a tire, and you may detect using a direction sensor. Further, a traveling direction detection unit may be provided separately from the current position detection unit 304 to detect the traveling direction of the host vehicle.

Speed detector 305 detects the moving speed of the vehicle. The moving speed may be calculated from the output of the vehicle speed sensor or the acceleration sensor, or may be calculated from the difference between the travel distance between the GPS histories and the GPS reception time. Note that the current position detection unit 304 may detect the moving speed of the host vehicle. When the current position detection unit 304 can detect the moving speed in addition to the current position of the host vehicle, the speed detection unit 305 can be omitted. In this case, the current position detection unit 304 includes the speed detection unit 305.

The steering angle sensor, acceleration sensor, speed sensor, direction sensor, and the like may be included in the navigation device 300, or the vehicle (own vehicle) includes the various sensors. The navigation device 300 includes the various sensors. It is good also as a structure provided with the interface which acquires these outputs.

The map information storage unit 306 stores map information that is referred to when performing route search or guidance to the destination. The map information includes network data (node data, link data). As the map information storage unit 306, a NAND flash, an SD memory card, or the like can be suitably used. The map information storage unit 306 may be built in the navigation device 300, or may be configured to be detachable from the navigation device 300. The map information may include a map image, or the map image may be drawn on the display unit 302 based on network data (node data, link data) included in the map information. In addition to storing map information in advance in the map information storage unit 306, a communication unit 308, which will be described later, receives map information from a roadside machine or the like, and the received map information is stored in the map information storage unit 306. Also good.

In the present invention, the network data includes road node data and link data. When the road on which the vehicle is currently traveling is specified, the control unit 301 detects the current position of the vehicle detected by the current position detection unit 304 (the traveling direction and the moving speed may be added), map information, Can be specified by performing a map matching process.

Note that the map matching process may be performed by the control unit 301 or the current position detection unit 304. That is, based on the current position detected using the GPS receiver and / or the autonomous navigation means and the map information, the map matching process is performed, and the current position where the map matching process is performed is output to the control unit 301 as the current position. Also good. Or it is good also as the present position detection part 304 including the map matching process of the control part 301. FIG.

The battery 307 is a power supply means when the navigation device 300 is used in a portable manner, and a secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery or a nickel metal hydride battery can be suitably used. Of course, as the battery 307, a primary battery such as an alkaline manganese dry battery or a manganese dry battery may be used, or a fuel cell may be used.

The communication unit 308 transmits information to other communication devices that can communicate with the navigation device 300 (hereinafter referred to as “other communication devices”) and information transmitted from the other communication devices. A receiving unit (not shown) for receiving. The communication method is preferably non-contact communication such as wireless communication or infrared communication. The other communication device may be an in-vehicle communication device such as a navigation device mounted on another vehicle (when a pedestrian is on another vehicle, a mobile communication terminal such as a mobile phone held by the pedestrian may be used. ), Mobile communication terminals such as mobile phones possessed by roadside devices, pedestrians, etc. (pedestrians, bicycle drivers, etc.).

The information received by the communication unit 308 from the in-vehicle communication device such as a navigation device mounted on another vehicle includes the vehicle information of the other vehicle (information on the in-vehicle communication device (current position, moving speed, etc.). It can be rephrased as “moving body information of other vehicles”). In the moving body information of other vehicles, other vehicles equipped with in-vehicle communication devices such as navigation devices (hereinafter referred to as “other vehicles equipped with in-vehicle communication devices such as navigation devices” are referred to as “other vehicles”). Information indicating the current position, traveling direction, moving speed, and the like, and information indicating the movement type (that is, the vehicle) of another vehicle may be included.

Also, the information received by the communication unit 308 from a mobile communication terminal such as a mobile phone possessed by a pedestrian or the like includes mobile body information such as a pedestrian or the like. For mobile information such as pedestrians, pedestrians who have mobile communication terminals such as mobile phones (hereinafter referred to as “pedestrians who have mobile communication terminals such as mobile phones” are also referred to as “pedestrians”) Information indicating the current position, traveling direction, moving speed, and the like, and information indicating the type of movement such as a pedestrian (that is, a pedestrian or the like) may be included.

The current position of other vehicles, pedestrians, etc. may be the current position after the map matching process, or the current position before the map matching process (current position measured by a GPS receiver or the like). Also good. If the current position is before the map matching process, the control unit 301 (current position detection unit 304) may perform the map matching process.

In the above description, the communication unit 308 receives the moving body information of another vehicle from another vehicle, but may receive it from a mobile communication terminal such as a roadside device or a mobile phone. The same applies to moving body information such as pedestrians.

In addition, the mobile body information of other mobile bodies (other vehicles, pedestrians, etc.) transmitted from other communication devices (such as in-vehicle communication devices and roadside machines), or the own vehicle transmitted via the communication unit 308 The mobile object information will be described as being transmitted to the surroundings by broadcast.

Here, the outline of the present invention will be briefly described.

As described above, the navigation device 300 receives (acquires) moving body information of other moving bodies (other vehicles, pedestrians, etc.) via the communication unit 308, and the own vehicle via the communication unit 308. The moving body information (current position, etc.) is transmitted.

Thereby, the navigation apparatus 300 can specify the current position and moving speed of other moving bodies (other vehicles, pedestrians, etc.), and the specified current position and moving speed of the other moving bodies and the moving body information of the own vehicle. Based on (current position, moving speed, etc.), it becomes possible to perform safe driving support (congestion judgment and traffic accident judgment).

Similarly, in other communication devices (for example, in-vehicle communication devices such as navigation devices mounted on other vehicles) that have received the vehicle information transmitted through the communication unit 308, safe driving assistance (congestion) Determination and traffic accident determination).

However, as described above, all ITS communication terminals (navigation device 300, in-vehicle communication device, mobile communication terminal, etc.) transmit mobile body information including the same information (current position, moving speed, etc.) in the same transmission cycle. Then, the line may be congested.

By the way, for example, when two people A and B are walking side by side holding a mobile communication terminal, in order to perform safe driving support (congestion determination or traffic accident determination), A or B Mobile body information may be transmitted from any one of the mobile communication terminals.

That is, in order to perform safe driving support (especially traffic accident determination), there is a person at a point where the third person is (current position included in the mobile body information transmitted from the mobile communication terminal held by A or B). In the case of walking side by side, the need to transmit mobile body information from the respective mobile communication terminals held by A and B is lower than when walking alone. Become.

Therefore, in the present invention, the current position of the host vehicle (for example, the current position of A) and the current position of the other moving body (for example, the current position of B) received via the communication unit 308 are within a predetermined range. In this case, it is determined that the transmission of the moving body information of the own vehicle (the moving body information of A) performed through the communication unit is performed in a special control state (details will be described later, such as transmission stoppage).

That is, the fact that the current position (for example, the current position of B) of another moving body within the predetermined range from the current position of the own vehicle (for example, the current position of A) is received means that the surroundings of the other moving body (B) Other communication devices (substantially the same as other communication devices existing around the current position of the vehicle (the current position of A)), other mobile objects (B) B) is present (being broadcast).

Therefore, even if it is determined that transmission of mobile body information of the own vehicle (mobile body information of A) is performed in a special control state (details will be described later, such as transmission stop), other communication existing around B (A) Since the device recognizes (receives) that B (pedestrian) exists at a certain point (current position included in the mobile body information transmitted from the mobile communication terminal held by B), it supports safe driving. It is possible to prevent congestion of lines in ITS communication without obstructing (congestion determination or traffic accident determination).

[Second Embodiment]
A second embodiment of the navigation device 300 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a first flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the control unit 301 of the navigation device 300 of the present invention.

In step S01, the control unit 301 uses the current position of the host vehicle detected by the current position detection unit 304 and the current position detection unit 304 (or a traveling direction detection unit when the navigation device 300 includes a traveling direction detection unit). Information related to the host vehicle such as the traveling direction of the host vehicle detected and the moving speed of the host vehicle detected by the speed detector 305 is acquired.

In step 02, the control unit 301 acquires the moving body information of one or more other moving bodies (other vehicles, pedestrians, etc.) received by the communication unit 308. In the present embodiment, the mobile body information of each other mobile body includes at least information indicating the current position of the other mobile body (for example, the mobile body information of the other vehicle A includes at least other mobile body information). Information indicating the current position of the vehicle A is included. In addition, information indicating the traveling direction of the other vehicle A and information indicating the moving speed of the other vehicle A may be included. The moving body information of the vehicle A includes only information related to the other vehicle A (for example, information related to the other vehicle B is not included).

In this embodiment, the control unit 301 acquires information about the own vehicle in step S01, and acquires moving body information of one or more other moving bodies in step S02. The order in which the information is acquired may not be the order shown in the flowchart. For example, the information may be acquired at the same time, or the moving body information of one or more other moving bodies may be acquired first. Also good. In addition, in this embodiment and the following embodiments (third to sixth embodiments), the timing at which the control unit 301 acquires information about the vehicle and the moving body information of one or more other moving bodies is the timing. Not necessarily. The information may be acquired regularly or irregularly, and when information is acquired a plurality of times regularly or irregularly, the latest information among the acquired information may be used.

Next, in step S03, the control unit 301 determines whether or not the current position of the other moving body is within a predetermined range from the current position of the own vehicle. If the current position of the other moving body is within the predetermined range from the current position of the own vehicle (Y in step S03), the process proceeds to step S04, and the current position of the other moving body must be within the predetermined range from the current position of the own vehicle. (N in step S03), the process proceeds to step S06.

In addition, the said determination is performed for every moving body information of another moving body, when the moving body information of several other moving bodies is acquired in step S02. After determination is made for each piece of moving body information of all other moving bodies, if at least one of the current positions of a plurality of other moving bodies is within a predetermined range from the current position of the host vehicle, the process proceeds to step S04. Shall proceed.

The predetermined range from the current position of the host vehicle may be an arbitrary range set as appropriate. For example, a circle having a predetermined radius (5 m) centered on the current position of the host vehicle (depending on the movement type) The radius may be changed.), Or a quadrangle formed of the road width of the road on which the vehicle is traveling and a predetermined distance (5 m) centered on the current position of the vehicle. .

Next, in step S04, the control unit 301 determines whether or not the movement type of the own vehicle and the movement type of another moving body are the same. In this step, the other moving body is another moving body determined in step S03 as being within a predetermined range from the current position of the own vehicle, and is determined to be within the predetermined range from the current position of the own vehicle. When there are a plurality of other mobile objects, the determination is made for each of the other mobile objects.

If the movement type of the own vehicle and the movement type of the other moving body are the same (Y in step S04), the process proceeds to step S05, and the movement type of the own vehicle and the movement type of the other moving body are not the same ( N in step S04) The process proceeds to step S06.

In addition, although the method of specifying the moving type of the own vehicle and the moving type of another moving body is not particularly limited, a method for specifying the moving type is illustrated below. The first method for specifying the movement type of the host vehicle is that the user inputs the movement type using the operation unit 303, or the user uses the operation unit 303 to select the movement type from a plurality of movement types displayed on the display unit 302. It is a method of specifying by selecting. Information indicating the identified movement type is stored in a memory (for example, RAM). In this case, since the information indicating the movement type specified by the user is stored in the memory, it can be said that the control unit 301 acquires the information indicating the movement type of the own vehicle as information about the own vehicle in step S01.

The second method of specifying the movement type of the own vehicle is a method in which the control unit 301 specifies based on the moving speed of the own vehicle. Specifically, for example, when the moving speed is 30 km / h or more, the moving type is “vehicle”, and when the moving speed is less than 30 km / h, the moving type is “pedestrians”. In addition, when specifying based on moving speed, it is preferable to determine by whether the average of moving speed is 30 km / h or more.

The third method of specifying the movement type of the own vehicle is a method in which the control unit 301 specifies based on the type of power supply of the navigation device 300. Specifically, if the navigation apparatus 300 receives power supply (12V) from a battery mounted on the vehicle, the movement type is “vehicle”, and if the navigation apparatus 300 receives power supply from the battery 307 included in the navigation apparatus 300, the movement is performed. The type is “pedestrians”.

The fourth method of specifying the movement type of the own vehicle is a method in which the control unit 301 specifies based on the output of a sensor or the like included in the vehicle (own vehicle). Specifically, for example, when the navigation device 300 includes an interface that acquires information indicating the lighting state of the headlight of the vehicle (own vehicle), information indicating whether the headlight is turned on or off is used as information about the own vehicle. If it is acquired, the movement type is “vehicle”, and if it is not acquired, the movement type is “pedestrian”.

Also, the movement type of the own vehicle can be specified from the current position. For example, based on the map information and the current position, the movement type may be “vehicle” if the current position is on a roadway, and the movement type may be “pedestrians” if the current position is on a sidewalk.

The method for specifying the movement type of another mobile object is similar to the method for specifying the movement type of the own vehicle. If the received mobile object information of another mobile object includes information indicating the movement type, the movement type is determined. If the information indicating the type is specified and the information indicating the movement type is not included, the moving speed of the other moving body included in the received other moving body information or the other moving body is mounted. It can be specified based on the type of power source to which other communication devices are supplied with power, the presence or absence of information indicating the lighting state of headlights of other mobile units, and the like.

In step S05, the control unit 301 performs transmission of mobile body information of the host vehicle in a special control state (details will be described later). In step S06, the control unit 301 performs normal control state (details of transmission of mobile body information of the host vehicle). (That is, it is determined whether transmission of moving body information of the vehicle is performed in a normal control state or a special control state).

Here, the transmission of the moving body information of the own vehicle in the normal control state is generally the same as the moving body information of the vehicle transmitted from the in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle to another communication device in the ITS communication. Information is transmitted via the communication unit 308. The mobile body information includes various information related to the vehicle (own vehicle), and what information is transmitted as the mobile body information in the normal control state is set in advance. As information about the own vehicle, information indicating the movement type of the own vehicle, information indicating the ID of the own vehicle (terminal ID of the navigation device 300), information indicating the current position of the own vehicle, information indicating the traveling direction of the own vehicle, Examples include information indicating the moving speed of the own vehicle, information indicating the lighting state of the headlight, information indicating the operating state of the wiper, and the like.

On the other hand, transmission of the moving body information of the own vehicle in the special control state is control different from the normal control state, for example, control for changing information on the own vehicle transmitted as moving body information of the own vehicle, The control which changes the transmission cycle of this mobile body information, the control which stops transmission of the mobile body information of the own vehicle, the control which combines these, etc. can be considered.

In this embodiment, when changing the information about the own vehicle transmitted as the moving body information of the own vehicle, for example, in the normal control state, the information about the own vehicle described above (movement type, terminal ID, current position, traveling direction) , Movement speed, headlight lighting state, wiper operating state) is transmitted as the moving body information of the own vehicle, but in the special control state, only the information indicating the moving type of the own vehicle and the information indicating the current position of the own vehicle Is transmitted as moving body information of the own vehicle. That is, in the special control state, there is less information regarding the own vehicle transmitted as the moving body information of the own vehicle than in the normal control state.

In addition, when changing the transmission cycle of the moving body information of the own vehicle, for example, the moving body information of the own vehicle is transmitted every 100 ms in the normal control state, and the moving body information of the own vehicle is changed every 200 ms in the special control state. Information shall be transmitted. In addition, when the transmission of the moving body information of the own vehicle is stopped, the moving body information of the own vehicle is transmitted in the normal control state, and the moving body information of the own vehicle is not transmitted in the special control state. . Furthermore, it is possible to combine them into a special control state.

That is, “transmission of own vehicle information in a special control state” does not impose a burden on the communication line compared to “performs transmission of own vehicle information in a normal control state” ( Reducing information to be transmitted and / or reducing the number of times of transmission (not transmitting).

Further, in the present embodiment, the control unit 301 is in the special control state when another mobile body having the same movement type as the own vehicle exists within the predetermined range. Based on the number of other moving bodies present (the number of other moving bodies having the same movement type as that of the own vehicle may be used, or the number of other moving bodies regardless of the moving body type). The contents of the special control state may be changed. In other words, if the number of other mobile objects present in the vicinity of the own vehicle is small, it is unlikely that the line will be congested. Since there is a high possibility that this will occur, the content of the special control state is changed based on the number of other moving objects present around the host vehicle.

For example, when the transmission cycle of the moving body information of the own vehicle in the normal control state is 100 ms, the transmission cycle is set to 200 ms when one other moving body (one person, one person) exists around the own vehicle. The transmission cycle is set to 300 ms when two other mobile objects exist around the own vehicle, and the transmission is stopped when three other mobile objects exist around the own vehicle.

According to this embodiment, when there is another moving body having the same movement type as the own vehicle within a predetermined range from the current position of the own vehicle, transmission of the moving body information of the own vehicle is performed in a special control state. Thus, it is possible to prevent congestion of the line in ITS communication without disturbing safe driving support (congestion judgment and traffic accident judgment).

In the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not the movement type of the own vehicle and the movement type of another moving body are the same, but it is not necessary to determine whether or not the movement type is the same. When it is determined that the current position of the other moving body is within a predetermined range from the current position of the own vehicle, it may be determined that transmission of the moving body information of the own vehicle is performed in the special control state.

[Third embodiment]
A third embodiment of the navigation device 300 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 17 is a second flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the control unit 301 of the navigation device 300 of the present invention. Note that steps S11 to S14 and steps S16 to S17 of the present embodiment are the same as steps S01 to S04 and steps S05 to S06 of the second embodiment, respectively, and thus description thereof is omitted.

In step S15, the control unit 301 determines whether or not the traveling direction of the host vehicle is the same as the traveling direction of another moving body. In this step, the other moving body is another moving body (that is, another vehicle) determined to be the same as the moving type of the own vehicle in step S14, and is the same as the moving type of the own vehicle. When there are a plurality of other moving bodies (other vehicles) that are determined as follows, the determination is performed for each of the other moving bodies (other vehicles).

The traveling direction of the host vehicle is the traveling direction of the host vehicle detected by the current position detection unit 304, and the traveling direction of the other moving body is the traveling direction of another moving body (other vehicle) received by the communication unit 308. The communication unit 308 receives the information indicating the current position (latitude, longitude) of the own vehicle detected by the current position detection unit 304 and the traveling direction of the own vehicle and other moving objects. You may specify based on the information which shows the present position (latitude, longitude) of the other mobile body (other vehicle) to perform, and map information. That is, by identifying the lane in which the vehicle and other moving bodies (other vehicles) are traveling from the current positions of the own vehicle and other moving bodies (other vehicles), the traveling direction in the lane is identified. (The lane and the traveling direction in the lane are associated with each other).

If the traveling direction of the own vehicle and the traveling direction of the other moving body (other vehicle) are the same (Y in step S15), the process proceeds to step S16, and the traveling direction of the own vehicle and the other moving body (other vehicle) If the traveling directions are not the same (N in step S15), the process proceeds to step S17. That is, if the traveling direction of the host vehicle and the traveling direction of another moving body (other vehicle) are not the same, the two may be in an oncoming vehicle relationship (that is, a vehicle traveling in an opposite lane). Transmission of the moving body information of the own vehicle is performed in the normal control state for driving support.

When there are a plurality of other moving bodies (other vehicles) that are determined to be the same as the movement type of the own vehicle, all of the other moving bodies (other vehicles) are traveling directions of the own vehicle. The process proceeds to step S17 only when it is not the same.

According to this embodiment, the same effects as those of the second embodiment are obtained. In addition, when the traveling direction of the host vehicle and the traveling direction of other moving bodies are not the same, transmission of the moving body information of the own vehicle is performed in a normal control state, so that safe driving such as avoiding a collision accident between oncoming vehicles is performed. Support (congestion judgment and traffic accident judgment) is not hindered.

In addition, although it demonstrated that the other mobile body in step 15 is another mobile body (namely, other vehicle) determined to be the same as the movement type of the own vehicle in step S14, In step 13, it may be another moving body (that is, another vehicle) determined that the current position of the other moving body is within a predetermined range from the current position of the own vehicle.

That is, it is determined whether or not the movement type of the own vehicle is the same as the movement type of another moving body, but it is not necessary to determine whether or not the movement type is the same.

[Fourth embodiment]
A fourth embodiment of the navigation device 300 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 18 is a third flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the control unit 301 of the navigation device 300 of the present invention. Note that Steps S21 to S25 and Steps S27 to S28 of the present embodiment are the same as Steps S11 to S15 and Steps S16 to S17 of the third embodiment, respectively, and thus description thereof is omitted.

In step S <b> 26, the control unit 301 determines that the current position of the other mobile body (other vehicle) is ahead of the current position of the host vehicle in the forward direction of the host vehicle (step S <b> 25 and the other mobile body (other Since the traveling direction of the other vehicle (the other vehicle) is determined to be the same, it may be determined whether the traveling direction is ahead of the other moving body (other vehicle)).

Whether or not the other moving body (other vehicle) is a forward vehicle (whether the current position of the other moving body (other vehicle) is ahead of the current position of the own vehicle or not) A), the current position (latitude, longitude) of the host vehicle detected by the current position detection unit 304, the current position (latitude, longitude) of the other mobile body (other vehicle) received by the communication unit 308, and the map information Can be identified based on. That is, from the current positions of the host vehicle and other moving bodies (other vehicles), the lane in which the host vehicle and other moving bodies (other vehicles) are traveling and the traveling direction in the lane are identified, and By comparing the current position with the current position of another moving body (other vehicle), it can be determined whether or not the other moving body (other vehicle) is a forward vehicle. Further, the other vehicle (other vehicle) based on the current position of the own vehicle, the current position of the other vehicle (other vehicle) and the traveling direction of the vehicle of the own vehicle or other vehicle (other vehicle). It is also possible to determine whether the vehicle is a forward vehicle, that is, since the direction from the traveling direction is known, the current position of the host vehicle and other moving bodies (other By comparing the current position of the vehicle), it can be determined whether or not the other moving body (other vehicle) is a forward vehicle.

If the current position of the other moving body (other vehicle) is ahead of the current position of the own vehicle (Y in step S26), the process proceeds to step S27, and the other moving body (other vehicle) If the current position is not ahead of the current position of the host vehicle (N in step S26), the process proceeds to step S28. That is, if the current position of another moving body (other vehicle) having the same traveling direction is not ahead of the traveling direction of the own vehicle from the current position of the own vehicle, the own vehicle is traveling at the head in the lane. Since there is a possibility that a traffic accident may occur between another vehicle (for example, a vehicle running on the opposite lane or a pedestrian crossing the road) with a different traveling direction and the own vehicle, Information transmission is performed in a normal control state.

According to this embodiment, the same effects as those of the second embodiment are obtained. In addition, when the current position of the other vehicle is not ahead of the current position of the vehicle (the other vehicle (other vehicle)), the normal control is performed for transmitting the vehicle information of the vehicle. Since it is performed in a state, it does not interfere with safe driving support (congestion judgment or traffic accident judgment) such as avoiding collision accidents where encounters occur.

Note that step 24 is not necessarily performed. That is, it is determined whether or not the movement type of the own vehicle is the same as the movement type of another moving body, but it is not necessary to determine whether or not the movement type is the same.

[Fifth Embodiment]
A fifth embodiment of the navigation device 300 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 19 is a fourth flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the control unit 301 of the navigation device 300 of the present invention. Note that Steps S31 to S36 and Steps S38 to S39 of the present embodiment are the same as Steps S21 to S26 and Steps S27 to S28 of the fourth embodiment, respectively, and thus description thereof is omitted.

In step S37, the control unit 301 determines that the third moving body (the third moving body) determined to be behind the traveling direction of the own vehicle (the traveling direction of the other moving body (other vehicle)) from the current position of the own vehicle. It is determined whether or not a vehicle exists. When there is a third moving body (third vehicle) that is determined to be behind the traveling direction of the own vehicle (the traveling direction of the other moving body (other vehicle)) from the current position of the own vehicle ( Y of step S37) The process proceeds to step S39, and the third moving body (the first moving body) determined to be behind the traveling direction of the own vehicle (the traveling direction of the other moving body (other vehicle)) from the current position of the own vehicle. If there is no vehicle (No. 3 vehicle) (N in step S37), the process proceeds to step S38.

That is, as described above, when the receiving unit 8 receives moving body information of a plurality of other moving bodies, each determination is made for each moving body information of the other moving bodies. Accordingly, when it is determined in step S36 based on the moving body information of one other moving body, it is determined that the one other moving body is a front vehicle (the own vehicle is a rear vehicle) ( Even in step S36), as a result of determination based on the moving body information of another other moving body (third moving body), the other moving body (third moving body) is rearward. When it is determined that the vehicle is a vehicle (the vehicle is a front vehicle), the vehicle is sandwiched between two vehicles, and another moving body (third Since there is a possibility that a ball hitting accident may occur when the moving body) collides with the own vehicle, in such a case, transmission of the moving body information of the own vehicle is performed in the normal control state.

However, even when the host vehicle is sandwiched between two vehicles, when another moving body (third moving body) is stopped or another moving body ( If the third moving body is traveling (moving) at the same moving speed (for example, an error in moving speed up to 1 km / h is referred to as “equivalent”), another moving body (the first moving body) 3), the transmission of the mobile body information of the own vehicle may be performed in a special control state. In other words, only when the moving speed of another moving body (third moving body) is faster than the moving speed of the own vehicle, the transmission of the moving body information of the own vehicle may be performed in the normal control state. Good.

According to this embodiment, the same effects as those of the second embodiment are obtained. In addition, when the current position of the own vehicle is between the current position of the other moving body and the current position of the third moving body, transmission of the moving body information of the own vehicle is performed in a normal control state. Safe driving support such as avoiding traffic (judgment judgment and traffic accident judgment) is not disturbed.

Note that step 34 is not necessarily performed. That is, it is determined whether or not the movement type of the host vehicle is the same as the movement type of another moving body (including the third moving body), but it is not determined whether or not the movement type is the same. May be.

[Sixth Embodiment]
A sixth embodiment of the navigation device 300 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 20 is a fifth flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the control unit 301 of the navigation device 300 of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, the moving body information of another moving body transmitted from a roadside device or a communication device (for example, a communication device that has received the moving body information of another moving body transmitted from the roadside device) indicates an observation area. It is an embodiment in the case of comprising information and information indicating the movement type of other mobile objects existing in the observation area (in the observation area) and the number of each movement type (in the following description, the roadside unit is another type of movement) The case of transmitting the moving body information of the body will be described).

The roadside device is installed near an intersection, for example, and transmits moving body information (information indicating an observation area, etc.) of another moving body based on the output of a sensor installed near the intersection.

Here, the sensor installed in the vicinity of the intersection can distinguish at least the presence or absence of other moving bodies in the observation area, and various conventionally known sensors can be used. For example, it may be a camera, a weight sensor embedded in a road, a receiver for receiving moving body information transmitted from a communication device (such as the navigation device 300), or a sensor used for a sensing signal device. There may be. Note that it is preferable that the sensor is a sensor (for example, a camera that determines the type of movement and the number of movements by recognizing a captured image) that can know the type of movement of the other moving objects in the observation area and the number of each movement type. In the following description, the case where the movement types of other mobile bodies in the observation area and the number of each movement type are known will be described as an example.

And when the navigation apparatus 300 (communication part 308) receives the moving body information of the other moving body transmitted from the roadside device, the received moving body information of the other moving body (the received other moving body includes If the vehicle is in one of the observation areas included (the vehicle may also be included) (the current position of the vehicle is within the observation area), one or more other movements in the observation area If the body exists, the necessity of transmitting the moving body information of the own vehicle is reduced.

That is, the presence of the vehicle is detected (observation area, movement type, etc.) by sensors installed near the intersection, and the presence of the vehicle (the vehicle is in a certain observation area) is transmitted to the surroundings by the roadside device. (Or even if the presence of the vehicle is not detected by the sensor, the presence of a moving body in the observation area including the current position of the vehicle is transmitted to the surroundings), so the communication unit 308 It is determined that transmission of the moving body information of the own vehicle to be performed through the special control state.

First, in step S41, as in step S01 of the second embodiment, the control unit 301 detects the current position of the host vehicle detected by the current position detection unit 304 and the current position detection unit 304 (the navigation device 300 detects the traveling direction). When the unit is provided, the traveling direction detection unit may be used to acquire information related to the own vehicle such as the traveling direction of the own vehicle detected by the traveling direction detection unit and the moving speed of the own vehicle detected by the speed detection unit 305.

In step S42, the control unit 301 acquires the moving body information of one or more other moving bodies (other vehicles, pedestrians, etc.) received by the communication unit 308. In the present embodiment, the mobile body information of one or more other mobile bodies is a roadside device (for example, an in-vehicle communication device or the like provided in another vehicle that has received the information from the roadside device). Information that indicates the observation area, and information indicating the movement types of the other mobile objects existing in the observation area and the number of each movement type. As a result, the number of movement types “vehicles” and the number of movement types “pedestrians” exist in a certain observation area. That is, the “observation area” is “the current position of another mobile object existing on the observation area”, and the “information indicating the observation area” is “another mobile object existing on the observation area”. Is information indicating the current position of ".

Strictly speaking, it is considered that the moving body information of one or more other moving bodies received from the roadside machine includes the moving body information of the own vehicle, but the information received from the roadside machine includes the vehicle. If the information indicating the ID of the vehicle is not included, the control unit 301 cannot determine whether the moving body information of the own vehicle is included. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is assumed that the subsequent determination is performed on the assumption that all the information received from the roadside device is moving body information of other moving bodies. When the information received from the roadside machine includes information indicating the vehicle ID, if there is another moving body having the same ID as the own vehicle ID in the observation area, the process does not proceed to the subsequent steps. What is necessary is just to carry out in the special control state about transmission of the moving body information of the own vehicle (go to step S46). This is because the presence of the own vehicle is detected by the sensor or the like (observation area, movement type, etc.), and the presence of the own vehicle (the vehicle is in a certain observation area) is transmitted to the surroundings by the roadside device.

Hereinafter, a case will be described in which information indicating the movement type of other mobile objects existing in the observation area and the number of each movement type is received from the roadside device. In this embodiment, the observation area is an individual area that is a unit when the roadside device observes the movement type of the other mobile object and the number of each movement type. The movement types of other moving objects existing in the observation area are specified, and the number of each movement type is measured. The observation area is specified by two nodes (road start / end nodes, sidewalk end / start nodes, crosswalk start / end nodes, etc.) and area width (road width, sidewalk width, crosswalk width, etc.) As shown in FIG. 21, in the vicinity of an intersection, a vehicle standby area (area (A) to area (D)), a pedestrian standby area (area (E) to area) that is considered to be densely populated with moving objects such as vehicles and pedestrians. (H)), a pedestrian crossing area (area (I) to area (L)) is set as an observation area.

In step S43, the control unit 301 specifies the observation area to which the current position of the own vehicle belongs (the observation area where the current position of the own vehicle is in the observation area) based on the information indicating the observation area and the current position of the own vehicle. That is, as shown in FIG. 21, when there are a plurality of observation areas at the intersection, it is specified that the vehicle is in the observation area (A).

In step S44, the control unit 301 determines whether one or more other moving objects exist on the observation area (observation area (A)) to which the vehicle belongs. When one or more other moving objects are present in the observation area to which the own vehicle belongs (when any of the number of movement types is one or more) (Y in step S44), the process proceeds to step S45. When one or more other moving bodies do not exist in the observation area to which the vehicle belongs (N in step S44), the process proceeds to step S47, and transmission of the moving body information of the own vehicle is performed in the normal control state.

In step S45, the control unit 301 determines whether or not the movement type of another moving body existing on the observation area to which the own vehicle belongs is the same as the movement type of the own vehicle (that is, whether the vehicle is a vehicle).

If the movement type of the other moving body existing on the observation area to which the own vehicle belongs is the same as the moving type of the own vehicle (Y in step S45), the process proceeds to step S46 and special control is performed for transmission of the moving body information of the own vehicle. If the movement type of the other moving body existing on the observation area to which the vehicle belongs is not the same as the movement type of the own vehicle (N in step S45), the roadside device does not transmit information about the own vehicle. Therefore, it progresses to step S47 and it performs in the normal control state about transmission of the moving body information of the own vehicle. The special control state and the normal control state may be the same as the special control state and the normal control state in the second embodiment.

According to this embodiment, the same effects as those of the second embodiment are obtained. In addition, in-vehicle communication devices such as navigation devices such as intersections and mobile communication terminals such as mobile phones are crowded and transmission of mobile body information of the vehicle is performed in a special control state in a place where the line is thought to be congested. Line congestion in ITS communication can be prevented without obstructing safe driving support (congestion judgment or traffic accident judgment).

In the present embodiment, it has been described that the mobile body information of other mobile bodies transmitted by the roadside device includes information indicating the observation area (information indicating the current position). Even without transmitting the information shown (information indicating the areas (A) to (L) in FIG. 21), the information indicating the observation area in which another mobile object exists on the observation area (only the vehicle in FIG. 21 exists). In this case, only the information indicating the area (A) may be transmitted.

In this case, if the current position of the vehicle belongs to the observation area (if it is within the received observation area), since there is one or more moving bodies in the observation area, the determination in step S44 is unnecessary.

In addition, when the current position of the own vehicle does not belong to the observation area (if it is outside the received observation area), it is preferable to proceed to step S47 and perform transmission of the moving body information of the own vehicle in the normal control state.

Further, step 45 is not necessarily performed. That is, the movement type of the own vehicle is the same as any one of the movement types in which the number of the received movement types (the number of movement types associated with the observation area to which the current position of the own vehicle belongs) is 1 or more. It is not necessary to determine whether or not the movement types are the same.

<Modification>
The order of determination in the above-described embodiments (second to sixth embodiments) may not be the order shown in the flowchart. For example, in the second embodiment, in step S03, the movement type of the own vehicle and other moving bodies are determined. In step S04, it is determined whether or not the current position of another moving body having the same movement type as the own vehicle is within a predetermined range from the current position of the own vehicle. You may do.

In the above-described embodiments (second to sixth embodiments), pedestrians and the like include two-wheeled vehicles such as bicycles, but two-wheeled vehicles may be used as another type of movement. Further, in a motorcycle, a motorcycle (bike) and a bicycle may be handled as different types of movement.

In the above-described embodiments (second to sixth embodiments), the description has been made assuming that the navigation device 300 includes the current position detection unit 304 and the display unit 302 that detect the current position. For example, the current position may be acquired by performing wireless or wired communication with a communication device including a current position detection unit 304 mounted on a vehicle on which the navigation device 300 is mounted. In addition, an image may be displayed on the display unit 302 by giving a display instruction via a wireless or wired communication with a communication device including the display unit 302.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the communication unit 308 performs wireless communication (transmission / reception of mobile body information) with other communication devices (vehicle communication devices) provided in other mobile bodies (other vehicles) is described. However, for example, the third communication device receives the moving body information of the other vehicle from the other communication device, and the communication unit 308 transmits the moving body information of the other vehicle from the third communication device via wireless or wired communication. May be received. Similarly for transmission, the mobile unit information of the own vehicle is transmitted from the communication unit 308 to the third communication device via wireless or wired communication, and the mobile unit information of the own vehicle is transmitted from the third communication device to another communication device. May be sent.

In the above embodiment (second embodiment to sixth embodiment), the control unit 301 determines whether to transmit the moving body information of the own vehicle in the normal control state or the special control state. The present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the mobile body information of other mobile bodies received (mobile body information other than the mobile body information of the own vehicle) is transmitted to the surroundings, It is preferable to determine whether to perform in the normal control state or the special control state based on the current position of the transmission source) and the current position of the host vehicle.

The third problem of the present invention will be described below. The detection accuracy of the current position of the vehicle or the current position of the pedestrian is assumed to temporarily decrease due to external factors (such as multipath in a building street), so even though the vehicle is not actually getting off. After getting off, it was decided that it was getting on and got off, so that when the accuracy of detection of the current position of the vehicle or the current position of the pedestrian becomes high, the boarding decision is made again. It can be considered that the determination is frequently performed.

And if the determination that it is getting on and the determination that it got off are repeated frequently, the transmission start and stop of transmission of the pedestrian's moving body information will be repeated accordingly, each time another communication device Had the problem of providing safe driving assistance.

In view of the above-described problems, the seventh to tenth embodiments of the present invention perform other control by performing control for performing transmission of mobile object information in a special control state when performing short-range wireless communication. It is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile communication device and a communication control method that prevent hindering safe driving support of the communication device. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

First, the outline of the present invention will be briefly described.

In the present invention, when short-range wireless communication is performed between a mobile communication terminal (mobile communication device) and an in-vehicle communication device (mobile communication device), transmission of mobile information by the in-vehicle communication device or the mobile communication terminal Control for performing in the special control state.

That is, in order to perform near field communication, the mobile communication terminal and the in-vehicle communication device need to be close to each other. If the mobile communication terminal and the in-vehicle communication device are close to each other (and if pairing registration (described later) is performed), the mobile communication terminal is held in the vehicle in which the in-vehicle communication device is mounted. It can be determined that a pedestrian is on board.

And when a pedestrian holding a mobile communication terminal is on board a vehicle equipped with an in-vehicle communication device, for example, by not transmitting mobile body information (such as the current position) from the mobile communication terminal, It is possible to prevent other communication devices from providing safe driving assistance (such as collision determination) to pedestrians who have boarded the vehicle.

Therefore, in the present invention, when short-range wireless communication is performed between the mobile communication terminal and the in-vehicle communication device, control for performing transmission of mobile body information by the in-vehicle communication device or the mobile communication terminal in a special control state is performed. .

Before explaining embodiments of the present invention, Bluetooth, which is an example of short-range wireless communication, has a hands-free function and a vehicle-mounted communication device such as a navigation device (which is a device compatible with Bluetooth communication) and a hands-free function (Bluetooth communication). A description will be given using a mobile communication terminal such as a mobile phone (which is a compatible device). In a car navigation system, Bluetooth is mainly used to use functions such as hands-free calling.

In Bluetooth, the side that calls a compatible Bluetooth communication compatible device with an address response request packet (call mode) is called the master, and the side that is connected by responding to the address response request packet (in standby mode) is the slave. Call it. Then, when the slave side answers the response, it is in a connected state (communication is possible). In addition, the network formed between the master and the slave is called a piconet, and in this embodiment, the in-vehicle communication device is described as the master and the mobile communication terminal is the slave, but the mobile communication terminal is the master. Good.

As described above, in order to perform Bluetooth communication between the in-vehicle communication device and the mobile communication terminal, it is necessary to register the identification information (for example, Bluetooth device address (BD_ADDR)) of the other device in advance. Register each other's device identification information in advance, and if pairing registration is complete, then the in-vehicle communication device or mobile communication terminal will enter the piconet and the connection between them will be established and Bluetooth communication will be performed Is possible.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiment shown below is a navigation device as an in-vehicle communication device which is an example of the mobile communication device of the present invention and an example of the mobile communication device in order to embody the technical idea of the present invention. A mobile phone is shown as a mobile communication terminal, and the present invention is not intended to be specific to this navigation device and mobile phone, and is equally applicable to the devices of other embodiments within the scope of the claims. It is possible. For example, a device that does not have a navigation function may be used. Moreover, although the case where a navigation apparatus is attached to the motor vehicle which is an example of a mobile body is illustrated in the following description, a motorcycle etc. may be provided with the navigation apparatus.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the navigation device 500 of the present invention. The navigation device 500 includes a control unit 501, a display unit 502, an operation unit 503, a current position detection unit 504, a speed detection unit 505, a map information storage unit 506, a battery 507, a first communication unit 508, A second communication unit 509 is provided.

The control unit 501 is a control unit that comprehensively controls the entire navigation device 500. The control unit 501 includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM (all not shown). The ROM stores a program executed by the control unit 501 and parameters and data necessary for executing the program. The CPU executes various programs stored in the ROM. The RAM temporarily stores data obtained during various processes and data obtained as a result of various processes. These CPU, RAM, ROM and the like are connected via a bus. Note that the CPU, ROM, and RAM may be partially or fully integrated on one chip.

The control unit 501 can realize a predetermined function corresponding to a profile by having a common profile when there is another communication device that performs Bluetooth connection with the navigation device 500. In the following description, it is assumed that the navigation device 500 and the responded device (described later) have a common profile. That is, since the navigation device 500 and the responded device have a common profile, the control unit 501 can instruct the control unit of another communication device using Bluetooth communication to execute various functions of the other communication device. .

The display unit 502 indicates the current position of the map screen (the route to the destination, the vehicle on which the navigation device 500 is mounted (hereinafter, “the vehicle on which the navigation device 500 is mounted” may be referred to as “the own vehicle”)). Display screen for displaying a map image including a mark or the like) and a menu screen.

The operation unit 503 is an input operation means for the user to input a destination or operate a menu. As the operation unit 503, various keys and buttons may be provided on the navigation device body, or a touch panel function may be added to the display unit 502. Further, a remote controller for remotely operating the navigation device 500 main body as the operation unit 503 may be used as the operation unit 503.

The current position detection unit 504 detects the current position of the host vehicle, and includes a GPS receiver, self-contained navigation means, a position calculation CPU, and the like. The self-contained navigation means includes a steering angle sensor, an acceleration sensor, a distance sensor, a direction sensor, and the like, detects the travel distance and the traveling direction of the own vehicle, and obtains the current position based on these values. The GPS receiver receives radio waves transmitted from a plurality of GPS satellites with a GPS antenna and performs a three-dimensional positioning process or a two-dimensional positioning process to calculate the absolute position and traveling direction of the own vehicle. Here, the traveling direction is calculated based on the current vehicle position and the previous vehicle position. In addition, the detection method of the advancing direction is not specifically limited, For example, you may detect using a direction sensor, and it is good also as detecting from the rotation direction of a tire, if it is a vehicle. Further, a traveling direction detection unit may be provided separately from the current position detection unit 504 to detect the traveling direction of the host vehicle.

Speed detector 505 detects the moving speed of the vehicle. The moving speed may be calculated from the output of the speed sensor or acceleration sensor, or may be calculated from the difference between the moving distance between GPS histories and the GPS reception time. Note that the current position detection unit 504 may detect the moving speed of the own vehicle. If the current position detection unit 504 can detect the moving speed in addition to the current position of the host vehicle, the speed detection unit 505 can be omitted. In this case, the current position detection unit 504 includes a speed detection unit 505.

In addition, the navigation device 500 may include the steering angle sensor, the acceleration sensor, the speed sensor, the azimuth sensor, and the vehicle (own vehicle) includes the various sensors. The navigation device 500 includes the various sensors. It is good also as a structure provided with the interface which acquires these outputs.

The map information storage unit 506 stores map information that is referred to when performing route search or guidance to a destination, or that a specific point on the map information is a user's home position, company position, or the like. Has been. The map information includes network data (node data, link data). As the map information storage unit 506, a NAND flash, an SD memory card, or the like can be suitably used. The map information storage unit 506 may be built in the navigation device 500, or may be configured to be detachable from the navigation device 500. The map information may include a map image, or a map image may be drawn on the display unit 502 based on network data (node data, link data) included in the map information. In addition to storing map information in advance in the map information storage unit 506, a second communication unit 509 described later receives map information from a roadside machine or the like, and the received map information is stored in the map information storage unit 506. May be.

Here, the map information includes network data, and the network data is composed of node data whose nodes are nodes such as roads at their inflection points and branch points, and link data whose links are links between the nodes. Is done. The node data includes node attributes such as node number, node position coordinates (latitude / longitude), road type, information indicating intersection information, intersection name, and the like, and the number of connection links and connection link number data. .

In addition, the link data includes the node numbers that are the start and end points of the link, the road type (general road, expressway), link cost including distance and / or required time, information indicating the width of the road, and the national road ○ Road name and travel direction data. In addition to the above, link data includes data such as bridges, tunnels, railroad crossings, and tollgates as link attributes.

In the present invention, the network data includes road node data and link data. When specifying the current position of the host vehicle, the control unit 501 determines the map based on the current position of the host vehicle (which may include a traveling direction or a moving speed) detected by the current position detection unit 504 and map information. It can be specified by performing matching processing.

Note that the map matching process may be performed by the control unit 501 or may be performed by the current position detection unit 504. That is, based on the current position detected using a GPS receiver and / or autonomous navigation means and map information, map matching processing is performed, and the current position where map matching processing has been performed is output to the control unit 501 as the current position. Also good. Alternatively, the current position detection unit 504 including the map matching process of the control unit 501 may be used.

The battery 507 is a power supply means when the navigation device 500 is used in a portable manner, and a secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery or a nickel metal hydride battery can be suitably used. Of course, as the battery 507, a primary battery such as an alkaline manganese battery or a manganese battery may be used, or a fuel cell may be used.

The first communication unit 508 includes a transmission unit (not shown) that transmits information to another communication device (hereinafter, referred to as “another communication device”) that can communicate with the navigation device 500 by short-range wireless communication. A receiving unit (not shown) that receives information transmitted from the communication device. Although Bluetooth has been described below as an example of short-range wireless communication, it is not limited to this, and infrared communication or the like may be used.

For example, when a Bluetooth connection is established between the navigation device 500 and a mobile phone, a call on the mobile phone can be performed hands-free by using a microphone, a speaker, etc. that are mounted on the vehicle and connected to the navigation device 500. As another communication device in Bluetooth, a Bluetooth communication-compatible device registered in advance and a mobile communication terminal (for example, a mobile phone) such as a mobile phone possessed by a pedestrian can be cited.

Unlike the short-range wireless communication performed by the first communication unit 508, the second communication unit 509 can communicate with the navigation device 500 by a wireless communication method (for example, communication by ITS) having a wider wireless communication range than the short-range wireless communication. A transmission unit (not shown) that transmits information to other communication devices (hereinafter referred to as “other communication devices”), and a reception unit (not shown) that receives information transmitted from other communication devices. Have Hereinafter, ITS is described as an example of the wide-range wireless communication method, but is not limited thereto, and WiMAX (registered trademark) or the like may be used. Examples of other communication devices in ITS include in-vehicle communication devices such as navigation devices mounted on other vehicles, roadside devices, and mobile communication terminals such as mobile phones possessed by pedestrians.

The information received from the in-vehicle communication device such as a navigation device mounted on another vehicle by the second communication unit 509 includes the moving body information of the other vehicle, and the information received from the mobile communication terminal possessed by the pedestrian. Includes the pedestrian moving body information.

Here, the pedestrian moving body information received by the second communication unit 509 will be described. The pedestrian's moving body information includes the current position, traveling direction, and moving speed of the pedestrian who possesses the mobile communication terminal (hereinafter, “pedestrian who possesses the mobile communication terminal” may be referred to as “pedestrian”). Is included.

The current position of the pedestrian may be the current position after the map matching process or the current position before the map matching process (current position measured by a GPS receiver or the like). If the current position is before the map matching process, the control unit 501 (current position detection unit 504) may perform the map matching process.

In the above, the second communication unit 509 receives the moving body information of another vehicle from the in-vehicle communication device and receives the moving body information of the pedestrian from the mobile communication terminal. May be received from an in-vehicle communication device such as a navigation device mounted on another vehicle, a roadside device, or the like in addition to a mobile communication terminal such as a mobile phone. The same applies to the moving body information of other vehicles.

In addition, when the Bluetooth connection via the first communication unit 508 included in the navigation device 500 is not made, the mobile body information of the vehicle (currently, regularly or irregularly via the second communication unit 509 included in the navigation device 500) Position, direction of travel, speed of movement, etc.).

FIG. 27 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the mobile phone 700 of the present invention. The mobile phone 700 includes a control unit 701, a display unit 702, an operation unit 703, a current position detection unit 704, a speed detection unit 705, a map information storage unit 706, a battery 707, a first communication unit 708, A second communication unit 709 is provided. Since the control unit 701 to the battery 707 are common to the configuration of the navigation device 500 described above, description thereof is omitted. When the configuration of the navigation device 500 described above is applied to the configuration of the mobile phone 700, “navigation device” is changed to “mobile phone” and “own vehicle” is changed to “pedestrian” in the above description. And so on.

Note that the current position detection unit 704 of the mobile phone 700 may not include the self-contained navigation means, and the mobile phone 700 may not include the map information storage unit 706.

The first communication unit 708 includes a transmission unit (not shown) that transmits information to another communication device that can communicate with the mobile phone 700 by short-range wireless communication (hereinafter referred to as “another communication device”). A receiving unit (not shown) that receives information transmitted from the communication device. Examples of other communication devices in Bluetooth include Bluetooth communication-compatible devices registered in advance, and examples include in-vehicle communication devices such as a navigation device mounted on a vehicle.

Unlike the short-range wireless communication performed by the first communication unit 708, the second communication unit 709 can communicate with the mobile phone 700 by a wireless communication method (for example, communication by ITS) having a wider wireless communication range than the short-range wireless communication. A transmission unit (not shown) that transmits information to another communication device (hereinafter referred to as “another communication device”) and a reception unit (not shown) that receives information transmitted from the other communication device. Have. Examples of other communication devices in ITS include in-vehicle communication devices such as navigation devices mounted on vehicles, roadside devices, and mobile communication terminals such as mobile phones possessed by other pedestrians.

The information received from the in-vehicle communication device such as a navigation device mounted on the vehicle by the second communication unit 709 includes vehicle moving body information, and the information received from the mobile communication terminal possessed by another pedestrian The pedestrian's moving body information is included.

Here, the vehicle moving body information received by the second communication unit 709 will be described. In the vehicle moving body information, the current position of a vehicle equipped with an in-vehicle communication device such as a navigation device (hereinafter, “a vehicle equipped with an in-vehicle communication device such as a navigation device” may be referred to as “vehicle”). , Information indicating the traveling direction, moving speed, and the like are included.

The current position of the vehicle may be the current position after the map matching process or the current position before the map matching process (current position measured by a GPS receiver or the like). If the current position is before the map matching process, the control unit 701 (current position detection unit 704) may perform the map matching process.

In the above, the second communication unit 709 receives vehicle moving body information from the in-vehicle communication device and receives moving body information of other pedestrians from the mobile communication terminal. Body information may be received from an in-vehicle communication device such as a navigation device mounted on a vehicle, a roadside device, or the like in addition to a mobile communication terminal such as a mobile phone. The same applies to the moving body information of the vehicle.

In addition, when the Bluetooth connection via the first communication unit 708 included in the mobile phone 700 is not made, the mobile body information of the self (pedestrian) is transmitted regularly or irregularly via the second communication unit 709. .

[Seventh embodiment]
A seventh embodiment of the mobile communication device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 23 is a first flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the control unit 501 of the navigation apparatus 500 of the present invention.

In step S01, the control unit 501 responds to a Bluetooth-compatible device registered in advance (hereinafter, “a Bluetooth-compatible device previously registered as a pair” is referred to as “paired registered device” in this embodiment). It is determined whether it is time to start the request. For example, it is determined that it is time to start a response request when the door of the host vehicle is opened or when the engine is started.

In step S02, the control unit 501 transmits the registered address response request packet via the first communication unit 508 to all mobile phones existing around the vehicle (communication area) in the form of radio waves. The response request may be automatically issued when it is determined in step S01 that it is the timing to start the response request, or the user who knows that it is the timing to start the response request operates the operation unit 503. It is good also to do by. Note that the response request may be made constantly (regularly) regardless of the timing, and in this case, step S01 may be omitted and the response request may be started from this step.

In step S03, the control unit 501 determines whether or not a response packet for the address response request packet in step S02 has been received from the pairing registered device. When a response packet is received from the pairing registered device (Y in step S03), the process proceeds to step S04. When a response packet is not received from the pairing registered device (N in step S03), the process returns to step S01. When a response packet is received from a pairing registered device, a connection is established between the navigation device 500 and the pairing registered device, and communication is possible. In the present invention, such a communicable state (a state where connection is established) is also included in the state in which short-range wireless communication is performed.

Note that a data number is added to the address response request packet transmitted in step S02 and the response packet received in step S03 (in the case of Y in step S03). If the address response request packet and the response packet correspond to each other (if the received response packet is a response to the transmitted response request packet), the same data number is added, so the data number is referred to. Thus, it is possible to specify which address response request packet corresponds to the response packet received in step S03. Therefore, when a received packet is received in this embodiment (Y in step S03), it means that a received packet with the same data number as the data number added to the address response request packet transmitted in step S02 is received. Shall mean. Also, if the source Bluetooth address added to the received response packet is the same as the Bluetooth address of the registered pairing registered device, the response packet is received from the paired registered device (step S03). Y).

In step S04, the control unit 501 determines whether the paired registered device that has responded (hereinafter, “the paired registered device that has responded” is referred to as “responded device”) has an ITS communication function. To do. Whether or not the responded device has the ITS communication function may be specified from the model name of the responded device, or may be specified based on whether or not the device has a profile for performing ITS communication. Then, it is possible to specify whether or not each responded device has an ITS communication function by inquiring the response. When specifying from the model name, for example, as shown in FIG. 25, it is specified whether or not the responded device has the ITS communication function by referring to the model name and a list of whether each model has the ITS communication function. To do.

That is, the response from the responded device or the information of the responded device registered (stored) in the navigation device 500 includes the model name. Refer to the model name and the list in FIG. To specify whether the responded device has the ITS communication function.

In the case where the responded device has an ITS communication function, the responded device will be described as transmitting mobile body information (for example, periodically). That is, in step S04, it is determined whether or not the responded device is a device that transmits mobile body information by ITS communication.

When the responded device has the ITS communication function (Y in step S04), the process proceeds to step S05, and when the responded device does not have the ITS communication function (N in step S04), the process returns to step S01.

In step S05, the control unit 501 performs control for restricting ITS communication by the responded device. In the following description, “ITS communication by responded device” means “transmission of mobile body information of responded device by ITS communication performed by responded device”, and control for limiting ITS communication by responded device. Is control for performing the ITS communication by the responded device in the special control state, that is, the control unit 501 instructs the responded device to perform the ITS communication by the responded device in the special control state. .

When the control unit 501 instructs the responded device to perform the ITS communication by the responded device in the special control state, the instruction to change from the normal control state to the special control state is performed by the Bluetooth communication or by the ITS communication. There is a case. When the communication is performed by Bluetooth communication, the Bluetooth address of the responded device is added to the change instruction and transmitted, or the change instruction is issued to the control unit of the responded device using the profile. On the other hand, in the case of performing by ITS communication, the Bluetooth address or ITS address of the responded device is added to the change instruction and transmitted. As a result, the responded device that matches the Bluetooth address or the ITS address changes the ITS communication from the normal control state to the special control state in accordance with the instruction.

The ITS address may be input by the user by operating the operation unit 503, may be specified from the Bluetooth address, or may be acquired from the responded device by Bluetooth communication. When specifying from the Bluetooth address, for example, as shown in FIG. 26, the ITS address of the responded device is specified by referring to a list indicating the ITS address associated with the Bluetooth address.

Note that the ITS communication in the special control state means control different from the ITS communication in the normal control state, and the ITS communication in the normal control state refers to a device having an ITS communication function in ITS from another communication device. For example, in this embodiment, when the responded device having the ITS communication function is a mobile phone, the pedestrian moving body information is transmitted. The pedestrian moving body information includes information about the pedestrian, and in the normal control state, for example, the pedestrian moving body information includes the pedestrian ID (terminal ID of the mobile communication terminal (mobile phone)). Information indicating information indicating the current position of the pedestrian, information indicating the traveling direction of the pedestrian, and the moving speed of the pedestrian.

On the other hand, when performing ITS communication in the special control state, the transmission of the pedestrian moving body information is controlled differently from the normal control state. For example, the pedestrian is transmitted as the pedestrian moving body information. Control for changing information, control for changing the transmission range of pedestrian moving body information, control for stopping transmission of pedestrian moving body information, and the like can be considered.

In this embodiment, when changing the information about the pedestrian transmitted as the moving body information of the pedestrian, for example, in the normal control state, the information about the pedestrian described above (terminal ID, current position, traveling direction, moving speed) ) Is transmitted as pedestrian moving body information, but only information indicating the terminal ID is transmitted as pedestrian moving body information in the special control state. That is, in the special control state, there is less information regarding the pedestrian transmitted as the pedestrian moving body information than in the normal control state. Moreover, when the information which shows a movement type (it is a pedestrian) is contained in the mobile body information of a pedestrian, it is good also considering this movement type as boarding or a vehicle.

In addition, when changing the transmission range of pedestrian moving body information, for example, the range for transmitting pedestrian moving body information is not limited in the normal control state, and is mounted on the vehicle in which the pedestrian is traveling in the special control state. The mobile body information of the pedestrian is transmitted to a narrow range that can be received by the in-vehicle communication device. (Transmission power is reduced in the special control state compared to the normal control state.) In addition, when the transmission of the pedestrian's mobile body information is stopped, the pedestrian's mobile body information is transmitted in the normal control state. In the control state, pedestrian moving body information is not transmitted. Furthermore, it is possible to combine them into a special control state.

According to the present embodiment, when the navigation device 500 and another communication device having an ITS communication function establish a connection by the short-range wireless method, the ITS communication of the other communication device is performed in a special control state. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the third communication device (communication device other than the navigation device 500 and other communication devices) from providing safe driving support to the other communication devices. Further, the ITS communication in the normal control state and the ITS communication in the special control state are repeated due to external factors, thereby preventing the safe driving support performed by the third communication device.

[Eighth embodiment]
An eighth embodiment of the mobile communication device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 24 is a second flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the control unit 501 of the navigation apparatus 500 of the present invention.

This embodiment shows a process of whether or not to return the ITS communication to the normal control state after setting the ITS communication of the responded device to the special control state in the seventh embodiment.

In step S11, the control unit 501 determines whether or not the Bluetooth connection with the responded device is maintained (whether or not disconnected).

If the Bluetooth connection with the responded device is maintained (Y in step S11), the process returns to step S11, and if the Bluetooth connection with the responded device is not maintained (when the response from the responded device is interrupted) (step In step S11, the process proceeds to step S12, and instructs the paired registered device whose Bluetooth connection is disconnected to perform ITS communication in the normal control state.

In step S12, since the Bluetooth connection is disconnected, the control unit 501 cannot make an instruction using the Bluetooth communication or directly control the Bluetooth connection. Therefore, an instruction is given to change the control of the ITS communication using the ITS communication. That is, by transmitting a change instruction with a Bluetooth address or an ITS address added, a device that matches the address (paired registered device) changes from the special control state to the normal control state for ITS communication according to the instruction.

According to the present embodiment, when the short distance wireless connection between the navigation device 500 and another communication device having the ITS communication function is disconnected, the ITS communication of the other communication device is performed in the normal control state. The safe driving support by the third communication device (communication device other than the navigation device 500 and other communication devices) is not hindered.

[Ninth Embodiment]
A ninth embodiment of the mobile communication device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 28 is a first flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the control unit 701 of the mobile phone 700 of the present invention.

In step S21, the control unit 701 determines whether there is a response request from the pairing registered device. If there is a response request (Y in step S21), the process proceeds to step S22 to respond (transmits a response packet), and if there is no response request (N in step S22), the process returns to step S21.

In step S23, the control unit 701 determines whether the pairing registered device that has made the response request has an ITS communication function. Whether the pairing registered device that has made the response request has the ITS communication function may be specified from the model name of the pairing registered device that has made the response request, or a profile for performing ITS communication. It may be specified based on whether or not the device has an ITS communication function, or it may be specified by inquiring whether or not it has an ITS communication function with respect to a paired registered device that has made an individual response request. Good. When specifying from the model name, for example, as shown in FIG. 25, the paired registered device that has made a response request with reference to the model name and a list of whether each model has the ITS communication function is the ITS communication function. It is specified whether or not it has.

When the pairing registered device that has made the response request has an ITS communication function (Y in step S23), the process proceeds to step S24, and when the pairing registered device that has made the response request does not have the ITS communication function (step N of S23) Return to step S21.

In step S24, the control unit 701 performs ITS communication by the second communication unit 709 in a special control state. That is, for example, when the paired registered device that has made a response request is a navigation device, and the navigation device has an ITS communication function, special ITS communication performed via the second communication unit 709 of the mobile phone 700 is performed. By performing in the control state, for example, the mobile body information of the pedestrian holding the mobile phone 700 is not transmitted, and other communication devices provide safe driving support to the mobile phone 700 (the pedestrian moving with the vehicle). It is possible to prevent safe driving assistance (such as collision determination).

When the pairing registered device that has made the response request does not have the ITS communication function (N in step S23), the ITS communication performed via the second communication unit 709 of the mobile phone 700 is performed in the normal control state. Thus, the position of the vehicle on which the navigation device is mounted can be notified to the surroundings. At that time, the mobile phone 700 transmits information indicating that the mobile phone 700 is a vehicle or information indicating that the mobile phone 700 is a pedestrian riding in the vehicle, so that the communication device that has received the information from the mobile phone 700 can transmit information. It is desirable to prevent the mobile phone 700 from providing safe driving assistance as a pedestrian.

According to this embodiment, when the mobile phone 700 and another communication device having an ITS communication function establish a connection by the short-range wireless method, the ITS communication of the mobile phone 700 is performed in a special control state. The third communication device (the communication device other than the mobile phone 700 and other communication devices) can be prevented from providing safe driving support to the mobile phone 700. Further, the ITS communication based on the communication control and the ITS communication based on the special control state are repeated due to external factors, thereby preventing the safe driving support performed by the third communication device.

[Tenth embodiment]
A tenth embodiment of the mobile communication device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 29 is a second flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the control unit 701 of the mobile phone 700 of the present invention.

This embodiment shows a process for determining whether or not to return the ITS communication to the normal control state after setting the ITS communication of the mobile phone 700 to the special control state in the ninth embodiment.

In step S31, the control unit 701 determines whether or not the Bluetooth connection with the paired registered device that has made the response request is maintained (whether or not disconnected).

If the Bluetooth connection with the pairing registered device that has made the response request is maintained (Y in step S31), the process returns to step S31, and the Bluetooth connection with the pairing registered device that has made the response request must be maintained. If (N in Step S31), the process proceeds to Step S32, and the ITS communication by the second communication unit 709 is performed in the normal control state.

According to the present embodiment, when the connection by the short-range wireless method between the mobile phone 700 and another communication device having an ITS communication function is disconnected, the mobile phone 700 performs ITS communication in the normal control state. The safe driving support by the third communication device (communication device other than the mobile phone 700 and other communication devices) is not hindered.

[Other embodiments]
In the above embodiments (seventh to tenth embodiments), when the in-vehicle communication device and the mobile communication terminal are performing short-range wireless communication, the in-vehicle communication is performed so that wide-range wireless communication by the mobile communication terminal is performed in a special control state. The control unit 501 of the communication device instructs or the control unit 701 of the mobile communication terminal performs wide-range wireless communication in a special control state via the second communication unit 709. It may be performed in a controlled state.

That is, when the in-vehicle communication device and the mobile communication terminal are performing short-range wireless communication, the control unit 701 of the mobile communication terminal instructs to perform wide-range wireless communication by the in-vehicle communication device in a special control state, or in-vehicle communication. The control unit 501 of the apparatus may perform wide-range wireless communication in the special control state via the second communication unit 509.

The same applies when the short-range wireless communication between the in-vehicle communication device and the mobile communication terminal is disconnected, and special control is performed for wide-range wireless communication by the in-vehicle communication device when the in-vehicle communication device and the mobile communication terminal perform short-range wireless communication If the short-range wireless communication between the in-vehicle communication device and the mobile communication terminal is disconnected, the wide-range wireless communication by the in-vehicle communication device is performed in the normal control state (returns to the normal control state). .

In the above-described embodiments (seventh to tenth embodiments), the description has been made assuming that the navigation apparatus 500 includes the current position detection unit 504 and the display unit 502 that detect the current position. For example, the current position may be acquired by performing wireless or wired communication with a communication device including a current position detection unit 504 mounted on a vehicle on which the navigation device 500 is mounted. In addition, an image may be displayed on the display unit 502 by performing a display instruction via a wireless or wired communication with a communication device including the display unit 502 (the same applies to the mobile phone 700).

Similarly, the navigation apparatus 500 does not include the second communication unit 509. For example, mobile body information is transmitted from the navigation apparatus 500 to the communication apparatus including the second communication unit 509 mounted on the host vehicle by wireless or wired communication. Then, the mobile device information may be transmitted from the communication device including the second communication unit 509 by the wide range wireless communication method. Similarly, the navigation apparatus 500 may receive the mobile body information received by the communication apparatus including the second communication unit 509 via wireless or wired communication.

Furthermore, the navigation device 500 does not include the first communication unit 508, and, for example, a communication device including the first communication unit 508 mounted on the host vehicle and a mobile communication terminal make a short-range wireless communication connection (Bluetooth connection). If the communication device includes the first communication unit 508, information indicating that the Bluetooth connection is established is transmitted to the navigation device 500 by wireless or wired communication, and the navigation device 500 (the control unit 501), based on the information, It may be determined whether the first communication unit 508 and the mobile communication terminal are performing near field communication. (The information transmitted from the communication device including the first communication unit 508 preferably includes information that can specify whether or not the mobile communication terminal connected via Bluetooth has an ITS communication function.) When the communication unit 508 and the mobile communication terminal perform short-range wireless communication, control is performed for wide-range wireless communication (for example, ITS communication) of the mobile communication terminal from the navigation device 500 via the communication device including the first communication unit 508. .

The “mobile communication device provided in the vehicle” is not limited to a device fixed to the vehicle, and may be a device that can be removed from the vehicle (for example, a portable navigation device). In this case, for example, when a power supply (12 V) is received from a vehicle battery or the like, it can be determined that the vehicle is equipped. Various known methods can be used to determine whether the vehicle is equipped.

Furthermore, although the case where the in-vehicle communication device (navigation device) and the mobile communication terminal (mobile phone) perform short-range wireless communication is illustrated, the in-vehicle communication device or the mobile communication terminals also perform short-range wireless communication. It is preferable to control the transmission of any one of the mobile body information so as to be performed in a special control state (for example, stop transmission).

Thereby, since moving body information is transmitted only from any one of two adjacent mobile bodies (for example, pedestrians), the communication line (ITS communication) is not compressed (communication collision or the like is reduced). . That is, the communication line (ITS communication) is stabilized, and the safe driving support performed by the third communication device is not hindered.

Note that if the mobile body information is transmitted from one side, the third communication device (a communication device that is not a device that performs short-range wireless communication) can identify the current position of one of the third communication devices. It can be determined that there is a person (communication device) near the position.

Therefore, in a state close to another communication device (a state in which short-range wireless communication is performed), a state not close to another communication device (a state in which short-range wireless communication is not performed), The need for transmitting mobile information is reduced.

The present invention relates to a communication technique, and can be used for a communication apparatus, a transmission control method, and a communication control method for transmitting information including predetermined information to another communication apparatus.

10 base station equipment,
12 vehicles,
14 terminal device,
16 traffic lights,
18 Reader / writer,
80 first wireless communication unit,
82 second wireless communication unit,
100 communication system,
300,500 navigation device,
308 communication unit,
507, 707 first communication unit,
508, 708 second communication unit,
700 mobile phone

Claims

A first communication unit for reporting a packet signal in the first wireless communication;
A second communication unit that communicates predetermined information in the second wireless communication having a communication area narrower than that of the first wireless communication;
A control unit for controlling the operation of the first communication unit and the operation of the second communication unit;
The control unit stops the operation of the first communication unit from the end of communication by the second communication unit until a predetermined period elapses.
A settlement unit that settles a service usage fee by performing communication with an external communication device via the second communication unit;
The second communication unit performs communication when entering the service providing area and when leaving the service providing area,
The control unit is configured such that when the second communication unit communicates when entering the service providing area and until the second communication unit communicates when leaving the service providing area, the control unit The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the operation is stopped.
The second communication unit performs communication when entering a pedestrian crossing,
The control unit stops the operation of the first communication unit from when the second communication unit communicates until a predetermined period elapses when entering the pedestrian crossing. The terminal device according to claim 1.
The second communication unit performs communication even when leaving the pedestrian crossing,
When the second communication unit communicates when leaving the pedestrian crossing, the control unit resumes the operation of the first communication unit even if a predetermined period has not elapsed. The terminal device according to claim 3.
A generator for generating a packet signal;
A notification unit for reporting the packet signal generated in the generation unit,
The generation unit includes a packet signal that includes a transmission prohibition period for the first type terminal apparatus and includes information on a transmission prohibition period for which the second type terminal apparatus is excluded from the target. Station equipment.
A terminal device mounted on a vehicle,
A receiving unit for receiving a packet signal from the base station device;
Based on information included in the packet signal received by the reception unit, a determination unit that determines a transmittable period of the packet signal;
A notification unit for reporting a packet signal in the transmittable period determined by the determination unit;
If the information included in the packet signal received by the receiving unit is a transmission prohibition period for a terminal device carried by a pedestrian, the determining unit ignores the information and sets a packet signal transmission possible period. A terminal device characterized by determining.
Provided in the moving body,
A communication unit that receives information including information indicating the current position of another mobile unit;
The current position of the moving body detected by the current position detection unit is acquired, and based on the current position of the moving body and the current position of the other moving body received by the communication unit, via the communication unit A mobile communication device comprising: a control unit that determines whether transmission of mobile information to be performed is performed in a normal control state or a special control state.
When the current position of the other mobile body received by the communication section is within a predetermined range from the current position of the mobile body detected by the current position detection section, the control section transmits the mobile body information. 8. The mobile communication device according to claim 7, wherein the mobile communication device is determined to perform in a special control state.
The control unit is configured such that a current position of another moving body received by the communication unit is within a predetermined range from a current position of the moving body detected by the current position detecting unit, and the moving body and the 8. The mobile communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when the movement types of the other mobile bodies are the same, it is determined that transmission of the mobile body information is performed in a special control state.
The control unit further determines that transmission of the mobile object information is performed in a special control state when the current position of the mobile object is not ahead of the current movement position of the other mobile object. The mobile communication device according to claim 8, wherein the mobile communication device is a mobile communication device.
The information indicating the current position of the other mobile object is information indicating an observation area, and the communication unit receives information indicating the presence or absence of another mobile object in the observation area,
When the current position of the moving object detected by the current position detecting unit is in the observation area and another moving object exists in the observation area, the control unit The mobile communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the transmission is performed in a special control state.
The special control state includes at least one of not transmitting the mobile body information, delaying a transmission cycle, or reducing information transmitted as the mobile body information. The mobile communication device according to any one of claims 7 to 11.
A transmission control method performed by a mobile communication device provided in a mobile body,
Obtaining a current position of the moving body;
Obtaining information including information indicating a current position of another mobile unit;
Determining whether to perform transmission of mobile body information in a normal control state or a special control state based on a comparison result between the current position of the mobile body and the current position of the other mobile body;
A transmission control method comprising:
When the first communication unit and another communication device are performing short-range wireless communication, a special control state is set for transmission of mobile object information via the second communication unit or transmission of mobile object information by the other communication device A mobile communication device comprising a control unit that performs control for performing the above.
Transmission of mobile object information via the second communication unit and transmission of mobile object information by the other communication device are performed by a wide-range wireless communication system having a wider wireless communication range than the short-range wireless communication. The mobile communication device according to claim 14.
The control unit determines whether or not the other communication device can transmit mobile body information using the wide-range wireless communication method, and the other communication device transmits mobile information based on the wide-area wireless communication method. When it is possible to perform transmission, control is performed to perform transmission of mobile body information via the second communication unit or transmission of mobile body information by the other communication device in a special control state. The mobile communication device according to claim 15.
When the short-range wireless communication between the first communication unit and the other communication device is disconnected, the control unit transmits mobile body information via the second communication unit or a mobile unit by the mobile communication terminal The mobile communication device according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein control for performing transmission of information in a normal control state is performed.
The mobile communication device according to any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein the mobile communication device is provided in a vehicle, and the other communication device is a mobile communication terminal.
The mobile communication device according to any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein the mobile communication device is carried by a pedestrian and the other communication device is an in-vehicle communication device.
The first communication unit and another communication device performing near field communication;
When the first communication unit and another communication device are performing short-range wireless communication, a special control state is set for transmission of mobile object information via the second communication unit or transmission of mobile object information by the other communication device A step of performing control for performing in
A communication control method characterized by comprising: