JP4800252B2 - In-vehicle device and traffic information presentation method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention mainly relates to a technique for presenting a traffic information display from a beacon installed on a road in an in-vehicle device mounted on an automobile.

As a technology for presenting traffic information display in an in-vehicle device, a technology for displaying received traffic information in a navigation device when traffic information is received from a beacon installed on a road is known (for example, a patent) Literature 1, Patent Literature 2).
JP2004-354212 JP 2004-219270 A

  The beacon installed on the road provides traffic information that expresses the traffic state in the direction that will go after passing through the installation position of the beacon using a road guide map that is schematically modeled.

  Therefore, when traveling in an unfamiliar area, even if the traffic information received from a beacon installed on the road is presented, the user is where the traffic information represents the traffic state. As a result, the traffic information may not be used effectively.

  Then, this invention makes it a subject to show the received traffic information to a user so that the position where the said traffic information represents a traffic state can be grasped | ascertained easily.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention defines a traffic information diagram representing a traffic state of the road on a schematic road diagram schematically representing a road connected to the reference position with a specific point as a reference position. The beacon receiving unit that receives the traffic information from the beacon, the display device, and the current position are calculated on the in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle that receives and presents the traffic information from the beacon set on the road. When the current position calculation unit, the beacon receiving unit receives the traffic information, the traffic information presenting unit that displays the traffic information diagram defined by the received traffic information on the display device, and the beacon receiving unit When the traffic information is received, the position that is the reference position in the schematic road map of the traffic information diagram defined by the traffic information is calculated as the traffic information reference position, and the current position calculation is performed. A current position mark indicating the current position on the reference position presentation map, the reference position presentation map, which is a map generated so as to include the current position calculated by the unit and the calculated traffic information reference position, and the reference A traffic information position presenting unit that displays a traffic information position presenting map image representing a traffic information target position presenting figure representing the traffic information reference position on the position presenting map on the display device.

  According to such an in-vehicle device, when traffic information is received, the current position mark representing the current position is used as a reference position in the schematic road map of the traffic information map together with the traffic information map defined by the traffic information. Since the traffic information position presentation map image representing the traffic information target position presentation figure representing the position on the map is displayed, the user immediately determines the position where the traffic information represents the traffic state from the display as the current position. It becomes possible to easily grasp the relationship on the map.

  Further, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a traffic information diagram representing a traffic state of the road on a schematic road diagram schematically representing a road connected to the reference position with a specific point as a reference position. A beacon receiving unit that receives the traffic information from the beacon, a display device, and a current position. A current position calculation unit to be calculated; a navigation unit that displays a guide map image representing a current position mark representing the current position calculated by the current position calculation unit on a map; and the beacon reception unit includes the traffic When the information is received, the traffic information presenting unit that displays the traffic information map defined by the received traffic information on the display device, and the beacon receiving unit receives the traffic information. The position that is the reference position in the schematic road map of the traffic information diagram defined by the traffic information is calculated as a traffic information reference position, and the calculated traffic information reference position is a predetermined position in the guide map image. The scroll map is displayed by gradually changing the range of the map to include the guide map image in the guide map image until the traffic map, and the traffic information target position presentation graphic representing the traffic information reference position on the guide map image is displayed. And a traffic information position presentation unit to be displayed on the guide map image.

  According to such an in-vehicle device, when traffic information is received, a guide map image representing the current position on the map is used as a reference position in the schematic road map of the traffic information diagram together with the traffic information diagram defined by the traffic information. The displayed position is scrolled until it reaches a predetermined position in the guidance map image, and the position used as the reference position is displayed by the traffic information target position presentation graphic. Immediately, the position where the traffic information represents the traffic state can be easily grasped on the map in relation to the current position.

  Here, in the in-vehicle device as described above, when the traffic information is received by the image acquisition unit and the beacon reception unit that acquire images obtained by capturing each point with a camera via wireless communication, the traffic The traffic information position image presenting means for acquiring an image obtained by photographing the point that is the reference position in the schematic road map of the traffic information diagram defined by the information using the image acquisition unit and displaying the image on the display device; You may make it provide. In this case, the image acquisition unit accesses the image providing server that provides an image obtained by photographing each point with a camera via wireless communication, acquires the image, and provides the traffic information position image presentation unit. Then, when the beacon receiving unit receives the traffic information, an image obtained by photographing the point that is the reference position in the schematic road diagram of the traffic information diagram defined by the traffic information is obtained using the image acquisition unit. It may be acquired from the image providing server and displayed on the display device. Alternatively, in the image acquisition unit, an image providing device that is mounted on another vehicle and includes a camera that captures the surroundings is accessed via wireless communication to acquire an image from the image providing device, and the traffic information position In the image presenting means, when the beacon receiving unit receives the traffic information, an image obtained by photographing the point that is the reference position in the schematic road diagram of the traffic information diagram defined by the traffic information is You may make it acquire using the said image acquisition part from the said image provision apparatus of the other vehicle in the spot which can be image | photographed with the camera, and to display on the said display apparatus.

  By doing so, the user knows the reference position where the traffic information indicates the traffic state from the image obtained by photographing the position, and later uses it for identifying the position to change the route at the position. And the actual traffic state at the reference position can be grasped from the image.

  Here, in the above in-vehicle device, traffic information transmitted from a beacon set on the road represents traffic information on a schematic road map with a specific point determined for the beacon as a reference position. If the figure is to be defined, the traffic information position presenting unit identifies the beacon that transmitted the traffic information received by the beacon receiving unit, and calculates the traffic information reference position based on the identified beacon. You may do it. Note that the reference position of the traffic information received by the above in-vehicle device may be an intersection.

  Further, in the above in-vehicle apparatus, as the traffic information target position presentation figure, a figure of a predetermined shape centered at the traffic information reference position, or a schematic road diagram of a traffic information diagram defined by the received traffic information In FIG. 8, a figure that highlights a road portion connected to the reference position, a figure that represents an image of a traffic information map defined by the received traffic information, and the like can be used.

  As described above, according to the present invention, traffic information received from a beacon installed on the road can be presented to the user so that the position where the traffic information represents the traffic state can be easily grasped.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a traffic information system according to the present embodiment.
As shown in the figure, the traffic information system includes an in-vehicle system 100 mounted on each automobile. Also, a traffic information center 111 that monitors the traffic state of each road and generates and provides various types of traffic information according to the traffic state of each road, and traffic provided from the traffic information center 111 via the traffic information transmission network 112 Road beacons 113 installed at various locations on the road, which transmit information to the in-vehicle system 100 of the automobile passing through the vicinity. In addition, a road monitoring device 122 that acquires a monitoring image obtained by photographing the intersection using the fixed camera 121 disposed at each intersection, and the monitoring images are collected from each road monitoring device 122 via the monitoring image transmission network 123. The monitoring image server 124 that provides the collected monitoring images to each in-vehicle system 100 in response to a request via the public WAN 131 is configured.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a configuration of an in-vehicle system 100 mounted on each automobile.
As shown in the figure, the in-vehicle system 100 communicates with the navigation device 1, the display device 2, the operation unit 3, the beacon receiver 4 that receives traffic information from the road beacon 113, and the in-vehicle system 100 installed in another vehicle. Vehicle-to-vehicle communication device 5 that performs communication, a wireless communication device 6 that connects to the public WAN 131 via wireless communication, a camera 7 that captures the front of the vehicle, a vehicle state sensor 8, and a GPS receiver 9 Is done. Here, the vehicle state sensor 8 is a group of various sensors that detect a vehicle state such as an azimuth sensor such as an angular acceleration sensor or a geomagnetic sensor, or a vehicle speed sensor such as a vehicle speed pulse sensor.

  The navigation device 1 includes a map data storage unit 11, a route search unit 12, a memory 13, a current state calculation unit 14, and a camera 7, which are storage devices such as DVD drives and HDDs that store road map data representing road maps. An image acquisition unit 15 that acquires an image in front of the host vehicle, a GUI control unit 16 that controls input and output with the user using the operation unit 3 and the display device 2, a guide image generation unit 17, and a control unit 18. The traffic information acquisition unit 19 that acquires traffic information from the road beacon 113 via the beacon receiver 4, the communication with the in-vehicle system 100 mounted on other vehicles via the inter-vehicle communication device 5, the wireless communication device, and the public WAN 131 The communication control device 20 controls the communication performed.

  However, the above navigation apparatus 1 may be a CPU circuit having a general configuration including peripheral devices such as a microprocessor, a memory, and other graphic processors and geometric processors in terms of hardware. In this case, each part of the navigation device described above may be realized as a process embodied by a microprocessor executing a program prepared in advance. In this case, such a program may be provided to the navigation apparatus 1 via a recording medium or an appropriate communication path.

In the present embodiment, the traffic information transmitted from the road beacon 113 corresponds to VICS level 2 that is put into practical use in Japan, and represents traffic conditions using simple figures.
Here, examples of such traffic information are shown in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, the traffic information represents the traffic state of each road connected to the intersection with a specific intersection as a reference, the schematic shape of the intersection, and the positional relationship of the current position with respect to the intersection, On the simple direction map including the name of the road in each direction branched at the intersection and the direction mark, the traffic location and the traffic length (Fig. 3a) and the travel time that is expected to travel in the section ( FIG. 3b) is represented. In addition, the traffic information which the specific road beacon 113 transmits always represents a traffic state using the direction guidance map showing the branch relation of the road in the same intersection.

Next, the contents of the map data stored in the map data storage unit 11 are shown in FIG.
As illustrated, the map data storage unit 11 stores road map data representing a road map and a beacon database.
The beacon database stores beacon management data provided corresponding to each of the road beacons 113 included in the traffic information system shown in FIG. 1, and each beacon management data includes the corresponding road beacon 113. A beacon number serving as an identifier and a traffic information reference position are registered. The traffic information reference position represents a position used as a reference position representing a traffic state in the traffic information transmitted by the corresponding road beacon 113. That is, for example, when the traffic information transmitted by the corresponding road beacon 113 includes a direction guidance map represented as shown in FIG. 3, the traffic information reference position is an intersection ( This represents the position of the intersection 301 of FIG. When there are a plurality of intersections included in the direction guidance map of the traffic information, the traffic information reference position is set so as to represent the position of the nearest intersection when viewed from the road beacon installation position side. That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 3b, when the direction guide map includes a plurality of intersections 311, 312, the traffic information reference position is set so as to indicate the position of the previous intersection 311.

  In such a configuration, the current state calculation unit 14 of the navigation device 1 reads the road map read from the map data storage unit 11 with respect to the current position estimated from the outputs of the vehicle state sensor 8 and the GPS receiver 9. Map matching processing with the map around the current position determined last time indicated by the data is performed, and the most probable coordinates as the current position and the most probable direction as the current traveling direction are respectively determined as the current position and the current traveling direction. And set in the memory 13.

  In addition, the control unit 18 receives a destination setting from the user via the operation unit 3 and the GUI control unit 16, and sets the coordinates of the destination in the memory 13. Then, the control unit 18 requests the route search unit 12 to search for a route, and causes the route search unit 12 to search for a recommended route to the destination. In response to the route search request, the route search unit 12 reads the road map data in the necessary geographical range from the map data storage unit 11 and finds the route with the minimum cost from the current position set in the memory 13 to the destination. The recommended route is calculated based on a predetermined cost model such as the minimum distance, and the calculated route data of the recommended route is set in the memory 13.

Further, when the current position set in the memory 13 becomes near the destination, the control unit 18 determines that the destination has arrived, and also performs a process of clearing the destination and the recommended route set in the memory 13. .
Then, using the current position set in the memory 13 as the display reference position, the display of the guide image in the map display range that is the range around the display reference position calculated according to the display map scale set at that time is generated as a guide image. Request to section 17. The guide image generation unit 17 requested to display the guide image displays the map image of the map display range calculated by the control unit 18 based on the road map data stored in the map data storage unit 11. Draw at scale. In addition, a guide image of the entire size of the display screen of the display device 2 in which the current position, recommended route, and destination set in the memory 13 are drawn on the drawn map image is generated and displayed on the display device 2.

  Here, FIG. 7a shows an example of the guide image displayed on the display device 2 in this way. The guide image 700 is a current position mark indicating the current position on the map image 701 around the current position. 702 is represented. When the recommended route is set, in the guide image 700, a route graphic representing the recommended route in the map display range is displayed on the map image 701, and the destination is included in the display range. In this case, the destination mark indicating the destination is also displayed on the map image 701.

Hereinafter, the traffic information presenting operation in the in-vehicle system 100 will be described.
The controller 18 performs a traffic information presentation process shown in FIG. 5 in order to present the traffic information.
As shown in the figure, in this traffic information presentation process, the traffic information acquisition unit 19 waits for reception of traffic information from the road beacon 113 via the beacon receiver 4 (step 502). The beacon receiver 4 automatically receives the traffic information when the traffic information is transmitted from the communicable road beacon 113. A beacon number indicating the identification of the road beacon 113 is transmitted along with the traffic information from the road beacon 113, and the beacon receiver 4 acquires the beacon number of the road beacon 113 that transmitted the received traffic information when receiving the traffic information. .
And if traffic information is received, the traffic information reference position corresponding to the received traffic information is acquired by searching for the beacon data from the beacon database using the beacon number of the road beacon 113 that transmitted the traffic information as a key, and the memory 13 is set (step 504).

  Then, a first window and a second window for dividing the display screen into left and right are set on the display screen of the display device 2 via the GUI control unit 16 (step 506), and the first window of the traffic information position presentation image is displayed. Is requested to the guide image generation unit 17. The guide image generation unit 17 requested to display the traffic information position presentation image displays the map display range and the display so that the current position set in the memory 13 and the traffic information reference position set in the memory 13 are included. The first window size image in which the current position mark 702, the route figure, and the destination mark are arranged on the map image 701 by setting the map scale and performing the same process as the generation of the guide image 700 described above. Is generated. However, in this first window size image, the current position set in the memory 13 and the traffic information reference position set in the memory 13 are located within a predetermined position range (for example, the current position is The map display range and the display map scale are set so that the traffic information reference position is located within a predetermined distance from the center of the image (located at the center in the left-right direction below the image).

Then, a traffic information reference position mark representing the traffic information reference position set in the memory 13 is drawn on the image generated in this way to generate a traffic information position presentation image (step 508), and a GUI control unit 16 on the first window of the display device 2 (step 510).
Next, the control unit 18 displays the received traffic information on the second window of the display device 2 via the GUI control unit 16 (step 512).

  Then, a timer is set (step 514). Then, a camera image at the traffic information reference position set in the memory 13 is acquired (step 516). If acquisition of the camera image at the traffic information reference position is successful (step 518), the camera control unit 16 passes through the GUI control unit 16. A third window having a relatively small size is set on the peripheral portion of the first window so as to overlap the first window in the form of a picture-in-picture, and the camera image of the traffic information reference position acquired in the third window is displayed. Display (step 520) and go to step 522.

On the other hand, if acquisition of the camera image at the traffic information reference position has failed (step 518), the process directly proceeds to step 522.
Here, the acquisition of the camera image at the traffic information reference position is performed as follows.
That is, the control unit 18 accesses the monitoring image server 124 via the communication control device 20, the wireless communication device 6, and the public WAN 131, and refers to the information on the traffic information reference position set in the memory 13 and the road map data. Then, a monitoring image request including a current position set in the memory 13 and a current traveling direction, and information on the approach direction to the traffic information reference position when traveling on the road that is currently being traveled is obtained from the monitoring image server. Issue to 124. Upon receiving the monitoring image request, the monitoring image server 124 images the intersection at the position indicated by the traffic information reference position information included in the monitoring image request in the direction indicated by the approach direction information included in the monitoring image request. It is checked whether or not the road monitoring device 122 including the fixed camera 121 exists. If the road monitoring device 122 exists, the monitoring image collected from the road monitoring device 122 is returned to the in-vehicle system 100 that issued the monitoring image request. Then, the control unit 18 acquires the monitored image that has been returned as a camera image at the traffic information reference position set in the memory 13.

On the other hand, the surveillance image server 124 captures the fixed camera 121 that captures the intersection at the position indicated by the traffic information reference position information included in the surveillance image request in the direction indicated by the approach direction information included in the surveillance image request. If the provided road monitoring device 122 does not exist, an error is returned, and the controller 18 that has received the error performs the following process.
That is, the current position and current progress set in the memory 13 with reference to the traffic information reference position information set in the memory 13 and the road map data via the communication control device 20 and the inter-vehicle communication device 5. A captured image request including the direction and the information on the approach direction to the traffic information reference position when traveling on the road currently being traveled is transmitted in a broadcast format. On the other hand, when the control unit 18 of the in-vehicle system 100 of the other vehicle receives the captured image request, the control unit 18 uses the camera 7 to detect the intersection at the position indicated by the traffic information reference position information included in the captured image request. It is determined by referring to the road map data based on the current position and the current traveling direction set in its own memory 13 whether or not it is in a state where it can be photographed from the direction indicated by the approach direction information included in the image request. If it is in a state where it can be photographed, the image obtained by the camera 7 is obtained by the image obtaining unit 15 and responds to the in-vehicle system 100 that is the transmission source of the photographed image request. On the other hand, if the own vehicle is not in a state in which the camera 7 can photograph the intersection at the position indicated by the traffic information reference position information from the direction indicated by the approach direction, no response is made to the photographed image request.

  And the control part 18 which transmitted the picked-up image request | requirement acquires the image provided from the other vehicle-mounted system 100 as a camera image of the traffic information reference | standard position set to the memory 13 as a response of a picked-up image request | requirement, and image | photographed. If there is no response to the image request, it is determined that the acquisition of the camera image at the traffic information reference position has failed.

  When the process proceeds to step 522, it waits for the timer to time out. If a timeout occurs, each window is closed via the GUI control unit 16, and the display on the display device 2 is returned to the display of the guide image 700 of the entire size of the display screen of the display device 2. Go back and wait for the next traffic information.

The traffic information presentation process has been described above.
Here, a processing example of such traffic information presentation processing will be shown.
Now, for example, when the current position is at a position 601 in FIG. 6A, it is assumed that the traffic information shown in FIG. 3A is received from the road beacon 113 arranged at the position. It is assumed that the traffic information reference position obtained for the beacon number of the road beacon 113 is the position 602 in FIG. 6a.

  In this case, assuming that the recommended route is not set, the guide image 700 is displayed on the entire surface of the display device 2 as shown in FIG. 7a or 7b in the state immediately before reception of the traffic information. Is done. Here, when the current position 601 is the display reference position, the guide image 700 has a display map range of a display map determined by the current position and the display map scale set at that time, as shown in the figure. The current position is represented by the current position mark 702 on the map image 701 represented at a reduced scale. 7a and 7b show cases where the display map scales set at that time are different.

  When the traffic information is received in this state, a first window 710, a second window 720, and a third window 730 are set in the display device 2 as shown in FIG. 7c. The first window 710 displays the traffic information position presentation image, the second window 720 displays the received traffic information 721, and the third window 730 displays the traffic information reference position 602 in the traveling direction. A captured image 731 is displayed.

  Here, the traffic information position presentation image displayed on the first window 710 is a map image on the map image 711 of the area including the current position 601 and the traffic information reference position 602 shown in FIG. A current position mark 712 that represents the current position 601 on 711 and a traffic information reference position mark 713 that represents the traffic information reference position 602 on the map image 711 are arranged. Here, in the illustrated example, a quadrangle having the traffic information reference position 602 as the center position is used as the traffic information reference position mark 713.

  In addition, the traffic information position presentation image of FIG. 7c includes the current position and the traffic information reference position of the received traffic information on the map image 701, as shown by contrast with the guide image 700 of FIG. 7b. The display map scale and the display map range are automatically adjusted to values suitable for visual recognition of the relationship between the current position and the traffic information reference position of the received traffic information.

  The image 731 obtained by capturing the traffic information reference position 602 displayed in the third window 730 is the traffic information reference position 602 captured by the fixed camera 121 set to the traffic information reference position 602 acquired from the monitoring image server 124. Or the camera 7 mounted from the other vehicle obtained from the other vehicle in front of the vehicle at the traffic information reference position 602 in FIG. 6a by vehicle-to-vehicle communication using the vehicle-to-vehicle communication device 5. This is an image obtained by photographing the direction of the traffic information reference position 602.

  As described above, according to the traffic information presentation process, when traffic information is received, the current position mark 712 indicating the current position and the position used as the reference position indicating the traffic state in the traffic information are displayed together with the traffic information. Since the traffic information position presenting map image showing the information reference position mark 713 on the map is displayed, the user immediately maps the location where the traffic information represents the traffic state from this display in relation to the current position. It becomes possible to grasp easily above.

  In addition, since an image obtained by capturing the reference position representing the traffic state in the traffic information is displayed, the user can obtain the appearance of the position from the image obtained by capturing the position and later use it for identifying the position. As a result, it is possible to change the route at the position, and it is possible to grasp the actual traffic state at the position from the image.

By the way, the traffic information presentation process described above may be performed as follows.
That is, as shown in FIG. 8, when the traffic information acquisition unit 19 receives traffic information from the road beacon 113 via the beacon receiver 4 (step 802), the beacon number of the road beacon 113 that transmitted the traffic information is set. By searching for beacon data from the beacon database using the key, the traffic information reference position corresponding to the received traffic information is acquired and set in the memory 13 (step 804).

  Then, the route search unit 12 is caused to search for a route along the currently traveling road from the current position to the traffic information reference position set in the memory 13 (step 806), and the route search unit 12 searches for the display reference position described above. The guide image 700 is displayed on the guide image generation unit 17 while proceeding along the route, so that the guide information 700 displayed on the display device 2 is displayed at the position where the traffic information reference position set in the memory 13 is approximately the center ( For example, scrolling is performed until the position reaches a position within a predetermined size range set at the center of the guide image 700 (step 808).

Then, the first window 710 and the second window 720 that divide the display screen into left and right are set on the display screen of the display device 2 via the GUI control unit 16 (step 810).
Then, the control unit 18 requests the guide image generation unit 17 to display the traffic information position presentation image on the first window 710. The guide image generation unit 17 requested to display the traffic information position presentation image generates an image obtained by trimming the guide image 700 into an image of the first window size centered on the traffic information reference position, and on the generated image, A traffic information reference position mark representing the traffic information reference position set in the memory 13 is drawn to generate a traffic information position presentation image, and the traffic information position presentation image is sent via the GUI control unit 16 (step 812). The information is displayed on the first window 710 of the display device 2 (step 814).

Further, the control unit 18 displays the received traffic information on the second window 720 of the display device 2 via the GUI control unit 16 (step 816).
Then, a timer is set (step 818). Further, as described above, a camera image at the traffic information reference position set in the memory 13 is acquired (step 820). If acquisition of the camera image is successful (step 822), via the GUI control unit 16 A traffic information reference position acquired in the third window 730 by setting a third window 730 having a relatively small size on the periphery of the first window 710 so as to overlap the first window 710 in the form of a picture-in-picture. Are displayed (step 824), and the process proceeds to step 826. On the other hand, if acquisition of the camera image has failed (step 822), the process proceeds directly to step 826.

  Then, if the process proceeds to step 826, the generation of a timer timeout is awaited. If a timeout occurs, each window is closed via the GUI control unit 16 and the display on the display device 2 is restored to the display of the guide image 700 of the entire size of the display screen of the display device 2 (step 828, step It returns to 802 and waits for reception of the next traffic information.

Here, a processing example of such traffic information presentation processing is shown in FIG.
Now, for example, when the current position is at the position 601 in FIG. 6B, it is assumed that the traffic information shown in FIG. 3A is received from the road beacon 113 arranged at the position. The traffic information reference position obtained for the beacon number of this road beacon 113 is assumed to be the position 602 in the figure.

  In this case, assuming that the recommended route is not set, when the current position 601 is set as the display reference position in the state immediately before reception of the traffic information, the current position and the time point are set in the display device 2. The guide image 700 including the map image 701 in the display map range 611 determined by the displayed map scale is displayed as shown in FIG. 7a.

  When the traffic information is received in this state, the display reference position is sequentially advanced from the current position 601 toward the traffic information reference position 602. Accordingly, the map display range is as shown in FIGS. 6b612 and 613. It moves toward the traffic information reference position 602. As a result, the guide image 700 displayed on the display device 2 scrolls along the route from the traffic information reference position 602 current position 601 to the traffic information reference position 602 as shown in FIGS.

  Then, when the traffic information reference position 602 is moved to the substantially center position, that is, when the guide image 700 is scrolled until the traffic information reference position 602 is located at the substantially center position, as shown in FIG. The first window 710, the second window 720, and the third window 730 are set. The traffic information position presentation image is displayed in the first window 710, the received traffic information 721 is displayed in the second window 720, and the image 731 in which the traffic information reference position is captured is displayed in the third window 730. Is done.

  Here, the traffic information position presentation image displayed on the first window 710 is, as shown in the figure, a guide image 700 (FIG. 9b) scrolled until the traffic information reference position 602 is positioned substantially at the center. A traffic information reference position mark 713 representing the traffic information reference position 602 is arranged on the image 911 trimmed to the image.

  According to such a traffic information presentation process, the guide image 700 representing the current position on the map is scroll-displayed until the position used as the reference position representing the traffic state in the traffic information is located approximately at the center. At the same time, since the position used as the reference position is displayed on the map with the traffic information reference position mark together with the received traffic information, the user can immediately obtain the traffic information from these displays. A place representing a traffic state can be easily grasped in relation to the current position.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described above.
In the above embodiment, the traffic information reference position of the traffic information received by the square traffic information reference position mark 713 is shown in the traffic information position presentation image displayed together with the received traffic information. This is shown in FIG. As shown, in the traffic information position presentation image, a graphic highlighting the roads 1011 and 1012 whose traffic state is represented by the received traffic information is displayed, or the received traffic information is reduced as shown in FIG. 10b. The traffic information reference position of the traffic information received in the traffic information position presentation image may be represented by superimposing the image 1013 on the traffic information reference position on the traffic information position presentation image. As shown in 10a, when the roads 1011 and 1012 whose traffic state is represented by the received traffic information are highlighted in the traffic information position presentation image, the beacon management data is included in each beacon management data in the beacon database. Registration of the road whose traffic state is represented by the traffic information transmitted from the road beacon 113 corresponding to the data is registered, and the road whose traffic state is represented by the traffic information received based on the beacon management data is identified. To do.

  In the above embodiment, when the traffic information is received, the camera image of the traffic information reference position is automatically displayed together with the received traffic information and the traffic information position presentation image. The camera image may not be automatically displayed, and may be displayed according to a predetermined user operation of the operation unit 3 when the traffic information or the traffic information position presentation image is displayed. Further, in this case, the display of the camera image at the traffic information reference position is performed by switching the display of the traffic information position presentation image to the display of the camera image 1014 at the traffic information reference position, as shown in FIG. It may be. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 10d, a camera image 1015 at the traffic information reference position may be displayed over the traffic information reference position of the traffic information position presentation image.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the traffic information system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the vehicle-mounted system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the data which the vehicle-mounted system which concerns on embodiment of this invention hold | maintains. It is a figure which shows the example of the traffic information transmitted from a road beacon. It is a flowchart which shows the traffic information presentation process which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display screen of the vehicle-mounted system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the traffic information presentation process which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the traffic information presentation process which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display screen of the vehicle-mounted system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display screen of the vehicle-mounted system which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Navigation apparatus, 2 ... Display apparatus, 3 ... Operation part, 4 ... Beacon receiver, 5 ... Inter-vehicle communication apparatus, 6 ... Wireless communication apparatus, 7 ... Camera, 8 ... Vehicle state sensor, 9 ... GPS receiver, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Map data storage part, 12 ... Route search part, 13 ... Memory, 14 ... Current state calculation part, 15 ... Image acquisition part, 16 ... GUI control part, 17 ... Guidance image generation part, 18 ... Control part, 19 ... Traffic information acquisition unit, 20 ... communication control device, 100 ... in-vehicle system, 111 ... traffic information center, 112 ... traffic information transmission network, 113 ... road beacon, 121 ... fixed camera, 122 ... road monitoring device, 123 ... monitoring image transmission Network 124 ... Monitoring image server 131 Public public WAN 700 Guide image 701 Map image 702 Current position mark 710 First window 720 Second window 7 0 ... the third window.

Claims (20)

A beacon set on the road with traffic information defining a traffic information diagram representing a traffic state of the road on a schematic road diagram schematically representing a road linked to the reference position with a specific point as a reference position An in-vehicle device installed in a car that is received and presented from
A beacon receiver that receives the traffic information from the beacon;
A display device;
A current position calculator for calculating the current position;
When the beacon receiving unit receives the traffic information, a traffic information presenting unit that displays the traffic information diagram defined by the received traffic information on the display device;
When the beacon receiving unit receives the traffic information, the position that is the reference position in the schematic road map of the traffic information diagram defined by the traffic information is calculated as the traffic information reference position, and the current position calculating unit On the reference position presentation map, which is a map generated so as to include the calculated current position and the calculated traffic information reference position, a current position mark indicating the current position on the reference position presentation map, and the reference position A vehicle information system comprising: a traffic information position presentation unit that displays a traffic information position presentation map image representing a traffic information target position presentation figure representing the traffic information reference position on a display map on the display device. apparatus. A beacon set on the road with traffic information defining a traffic information diagram representing a traffic state of the road on a schematic road diagram schematically representing a road linked to the reference position with a specific point as a reference position An in-vehicle device installed in a car that is received and presented from
A beacon receiver that receives the traffic information from the beacon;
A display device;
A current position calculator for calculating the current position;
A navigation unit for displaying a guide map image representing a current position mark representing a current position calculated by the current position calculation unit on a map on the display device;
When the beacon receiving unit receives the traffic information, a traffic information presenting unit that displays the traffic information diagram defined by the received traffic information on the display device;
When the beacon receiving unit receives the traffic information, the position that is the reference position in the schematic road map of the traffic information diagram defined by the traffic information is calculated as the traffic information reference position, and the calculated traffic information reference The guide information is scrolled by gradually changing the range of the map to be included in the guide map image until the position becomes a predetermined position in the guide map image, and the traffic information reference position on the guide map image is displayed. A traffic information position presentation unit that displays a traffic information target position presentation graphic representing the information on the guidance map image. The in-vehicle device according to claim 1,
The image acquisition unit for acquiring an image obtained by photographing each point with a camera via wireless communication;
When the beacon receiving unit receives the traffic information, the image acquisition unit is used to acquire an image of the point that is the reference position in the schematic road map of the traffic information diagram defined by the traffic information. A vehicle-mounted device comprising: the traffic information position image presenting means for displaying on the display device. The in-vehicle device according to claim 3,
The image acquisition unit accesses the image providing server that provides an image obtained by capturing each point with a camera via wireless communication, acquires the image,
The traffic information position image presenting means, when the beacon receiving unit receives the traffic information, an image obtained by photographing the point that is the reference position in the schematic road map of the traffic information diagram defined by the traffic information, An in-vehicle device that is acquired from the image providing server using the image acquisition unit and displayed on the display device. The in-vehicle device according to claim 3,
The image acquisition unit accesses an image providing apparatus equipped with a camera for photographing the surroundings mounted on another vehicle via wireless communication, acquires an image from the image providing apparatus,
The traffic information position image presenting means, when the beacon receiving unit receives the traffic information, captures an image obtained by photographing the point that is the reference position in the schematic road map of the traffic information diagram defined by the traffic information. The vehicle-mounted device, wherein the position is acquired from the image providing device of another vehicle at a point where the camera can be photographed using the image acquisition unit and displayed on the display device. The in-vehicle device according to claim 2,
The image acquisition unit for acquiring an image obtained by photographing each point with a camera via wireless communication;
When the beacon receiving unit receives the traffic information, the image acquisition unit is used to acquire an image of the point that is the reference position in the schematic road map of the traffic information diagram defined by the traffic information. A vehicle-mounted device comprising: the traffic information position image presenting means for displaying on the display device. The in-vehicle device according to claim 6,
The image acquisition unit accesses the image providing server that provides an image obtained by capturing each point with a camera via wireless communication, acquires the image,
The traffic information position image presenting means, when the beacon receiving unit receives the traffic information, an image obtained by photographing the point that is the reference position in the schematic road map of the traffic information diagram defined by the traffic information, An in-vehicle device that is acquired from the image providing server using the image acquisition unit and displayed on the display device. The in-vehicle device according to claim 6,
The image acquisition unit accesses an image providing apparatus equipped with a camera for photographing the surroundings mounted on another vehicle via wireless communication, acquires an image from the image providing apparatus,
The traffic information position image presenting means, when the beacon receiving unit receives the traffic information, captures an image obtained by photographing the point that is the reference position in the schematic road map of the traffic information diagram defined by the traffic information. The vehicle-mounted device, wherein the position is acquired from the image providing device of another vehicle at a point where the camera can be photographed using the image acquisition unit and displayed on the display device. The in-vehicle device according to claim 1,
The traffic information transmitted from a beacon set on the road defines a traffic information diagram that represents a traffic state on a schematic road map with a specific position determined for the beacon as a reference position.
The traffic information position presenting unit identifies the beacon that has transmitted the traffic information received by the beacon receiving unit, and calculates the traffic information reference position based on the identified beacon. The in-vehicle device according to claim 2,
The traffic information transmitted from a beacon set on the road defines a traffic information diagram that represents a traffic state on a schematic road map with a specific position determined for the beacon as a reference position.
The traffic information position presenting unit identifies the beacon that has transmitted the traffic information received by the beacon receiving unit, and calculates the traffic information reference position based on the identified beacon. In-vehicle device. The in-vehicle device according to claim 1,
The vehicle-mounted device, wherein the reference position is an intersection. The in-vehicle device according to claim 2,
The vehicle-mounted device, wherein the reference position is an intersection. The in-vehicle device according to claim 1,
The on-vehicle apparatus, wherein the traffic information target position presentation graphic is a graphic having a predetermined shape centered at the traffic information reference position on the reference position presentation map. The in-vehicle device according to claim 1,
The traffic information target position presentation figure schematically highlights a road on the reference position presentation map corresponding to a road connected to the reference position in a schematic road diagram of a traffic information diagram defined by the received traffic information. An in-vehicle device characterized by being a figure. The in-vehicle device according to claim 1,
The traffic information target position presentation figure is a figure representing an image of a traffic information map defined by the received traffic information, which is arranged at the traffic information reference position on the reference position presentation map. In-vehicle device. The in-vehicle device according to claim 2,
The on-vehicle apparatus, wherein the traffic information target position presentation graphic is a graphic having a predetermined shape centered at the traffic information reference position on the guidance map image. The in-vehicle device according to claim 2,
The traffic information target position presentation figure is a figure that schematically highlights a road on the guide map image corresponding to a road connected to the reference position in a schematic road diagram of a traffic information diagram defined by the received traffic information. A vehicle-mounted device characterized by that. The in-vehicle device according to claim 2,
The traffic information target position presentation figure is a figure representing an image of a traffic information map defined by the received traffic information, which is arranged at the traffic information reference position on the guide map image. . In an in-vehicle device mounted on an automobile, a traffic defining a traffic information diagram representing a traffic state of the road on a schematic road diagram schematically representing a road connected to the reference position with a specific point as a reference position A traffic information presentation method for receiving and presenting information from a beacon set on the road,
Calculating the current position;
Receiving the traffic information from the beacon;
When the beacon receiving unit receives the traffic information, displaying the traffic information diagram defined by the received traffic information;
When the traffic information is received, the position that is the reference position in the schematic road map of the traffic information diagram defined by the traffic information is calculated as the traffic information reference position, and the current position and the calculated traffic information reference position A current position mark indicating the current position on the reference position presentation map, and the traffic information reference position on the reference position presentation map. And a step of displaying a traffic information position presentation map image representing a traffic information target position presentation figure. In an in-vehicle device mounted on an automobile, a traffic defining a traffic information diagram representing a traffic state of the road on a schematic road diagram schematically representing a road connected to the reference position with a specific point as a reference position A traffic information presentation method for receiving and presenting information from a beacon set on the road,
Calculating the current position;
Displaying a guide map image representing a current position mark representing the current position on a map;
Receiving the traffic information from the beacon;
When the traffic information is received, displaying the traffic information map defined by the received traffic information on the display device;
When the traffic information is received, the position that is the reference position in the schematic road diagram of the traffic information diagram defined by the traffic information is calculated as the traffic information reference position, and the calculated traffic information reference position is the guidance map. Traffic information representing the traffic information reference position on the guide map image while scrolling the guide map image by gradually changing the range of the map to be included in the guide map image until reaching a predetermined position in the image And a step of displaying a target position presentation graphic on the guide map image.