JPH0875487A - Traffic information receiving system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To safely arrive at a goal within the shortest time with little load on a driver. CONSTITUTION: This system has a radio receiving means 5 for receiving traffic information, a position recognizing means 5 for measuring the present position of a vehicle, a traffic information area data part 3 for storing traffic information receivable area information, a judging part 1 for judging whether the traffic information is receivable or not by the measurement result in the position recognizing means 5 and the traffic information receivable area information of the traffic information area data part 3, and a receipt control part 2 for controlling the power source or tuning frequency of the radio receiving means 5 according to the judgment result in the judging part 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a traffic information receiving system, and more particularly to a traffic information receiving system linked with a navigation system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art On expressways and national roads, road traffic information such as road congestion, accident information, and snow cover is intermittently broadcast at a predetermined frequency to alert the driver or to other roads. Directing detours.

However, these road traffic information broadcasts cannot be received anywhere, and the traffic information receivable area is limited.

Conventionally, when a driver recognizes a road sign such as "start of traffic information", the frequency of the radio receiver as shown in FIG. I was pressing the select button that was set to tune to the frequency of the traffic information.

When a road sign such as "end of traffic information" is recognized, the tuning frequency is returned to normal radio broadcasting.

Therefore, the driver must pay attention to the road signs related to the road traffic information, and since he / she overlooked the driver, he / she may not be able to take appropriate measures and may be unnecessarily involved in a traffic jam.

To solve this problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-2
In Japanese Patent No. 37225, when the automatic detection mode setting switch is in the “ON” state and the broadcast of road traffic information at a specific frequency is received, the radio receiver is automatically turned “ON”.
The technology to make is disclosed.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, map information and GP
S (Global Positioning System)
em) A navigation system that combines information,
Recently, it has come to be installed in ordinary cars.

In the navigation system, not only the current position of the vehicle but also the route to the destination and the shortest distance can be immediately known.

[0010]

However, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-237225, the tuning frequency of the radio is automatically switched when the broadcast of the specific frequency is received. There was the inconvenience of receiving it.

Further, since the radio and navigation system currently on the market function independently of each other, it is necessary to confirm the traffic information receivable area and to switch the radio to obtain necessary road traffic information. There was also a problem that the addition of drivers was still large.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a traffic information receiving system which improves the inconvenience of the conventional example, and in particular, which can reduce the burden on the driver and safely reach the destination in the shortest time. To that end.

[0013]

Therefore, according to the present invention, a radio receiving means for receiving traffic information, a position recognizing means for measuring the current position of a vehicle, and a traffic information storing traffic information receivable area information. A judgment unit for judging whether or not the traffic information can be received based on the area data section, the measurement result by the position recognition means and the traffic information receivable area information of the traffic information area data section, and the judgment section. According to the result, the radio receiver has a power supply and a reception control unit that controls the tuning frequency. This aims to achieve the above-mentioned object.

[0014]

The function of the judgment unit is to periodically judge whether the vehicle is within the traffic information receivable area based on the measurement result of the position recognition means and the traffic information receivable area information of the traffic information area data unit.
Notify the reception control unit.

When the reception control unit determines that the vehicle has entered the traffic information receivable area based on the information from the determination unit, it turns on the radio receiving means and sets the tuning frequency in the traffic information.

When the reception control unit determines that the vehicle has escaped from the traffic information receivable area based on the information from the determination unit, it restores the state of the radio reception means to the original state.

[0017]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a radio receiving means 4 for receiving traffic information, a position recognizing means 5 for measuring the current position of a vehicle, and a traffic information area data section for storing traffic information receivable area information. 3, a determination unit 1 for determining whether or not the traffic information can be received based on the measurement result of the position recognition unit 5 and the traffic information receivable area information of the traffic information area data unit 3, and the determination unit 1 Depending on the result, it is constituted by the power supply of the radio receiving means 4 and the reception control section 2 which controls the tuning frequency.

Here, the radio receiving means 4 includes an antenna 4A for receiving a radio wave and a tuner section 4B for selecting only a signal having a predetermined frequency component from the radio wave received by the antenna 4A.
And a volume 4 for amplifying the signal from the tuner section 4B
C, a mute circuit 4D that extracts an audio signal based on the signal from the volume 4C, a power amplifier 4E that amplifies the audio signal output from the mute circuit 4D to the speaker 4F, and a key operation for the driver to select a reception frequency. Part 4G
Is provided.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The determination unit 1 determines whether the traffic information can be received based on the detection result of the position detection unit 5B, the map data of the map data unit 5A, and the traffic information receivable area information of the traffic information area data unit 3. Is checked (step S
11).

Here, when the judging section 1 judges that the traffic information cannot be received, the judging section 1 does not notify the reception control section 2 of anything.

On the other hand, when the judging unit 1 judges that the traffic information can be received, it notifies the reception control unit 2.

If the determination unit 1 does not notify the reception control unit 2, the reception control unit 2 determines that the vehicle is located outside the traffic information receivable area, and holds the current state.

On the other hand, when receiving the notification from the determination unit 1, the reception control unit 2 determines that the vehicle has entered the traffic information receivable area, and then determines whether the radio receiving means 4 is in the "ON" state. It is checked (step S12).

Here, if the radio receiving means 4 is not in the "ON" state, it is forcibly set to the "ON" state (step S1).
3).

The reception control unit 2 tunes to the reception frequency of the traffic information (step S14).

The determination unit 1 determines whether the traffic information can be received based on the detection result of the position detection unit 5B, the map data of the map data unit 5A, and the traffic information receivable area information of the traffic information area data unit 3. Is checked (step S
15).

When the judging unit 1 judges that the traffic information cannot be received, the judging unit 1 does not contact the reception control unit.

On the other hand, when the judging unit 1 judges that the traffic information can be received, it notifies the reception control unit 2.

If the determination unit 1 does not notify the reception control unit 2, the reception control unit 2 determines that the vehicle is located in the traffic information receivable area, and holds the current state.

On the other hand, when receiving the notification from the judgment unit 1, the reception control unit 2 judges that the vehicle has escaped from the traffic information receivable area, and restores the radio receiving means 4 to the state before the reception of the traffic information (step). S16).

As described above, in the first embodiment, the judgment unit 1 notifies the reception control unit 2 only when the vehicle enters the traffic information receivable area or escapes from the traffic information receivable area. It

Next, the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The determination unit 1 determines whether the traffic information can be received based on the detection result of the position detection unit 5B, the map data of the map data unit 5A, and the traffic information receivable area information of the traffic information area data unit 3. Is checked (step S
21).

Here, when the judging section 1 judges that the traffic information cannot be received, it notifies the reception control section 2 that the traffic information cannot be received.

On the other hand, when the judging section 1 judges that the traffic information can be received, it informs the reception control section 2 that the traffic information can be received.

Upon being notified by the determination unit 1 that reception is impossible, the reception control unit 2 determines that the vehicle is located outside the traffic information receivable area, and holds the current state.

On the other hand, when the reception control unit 2 is notified by the determination unit 1 that the vehicle is receivable, it determines that the vehicle has entered the traffic information receivable area, and then the radio receiving means 4
Is checked to see if it is in the "ON" state (step S22).

Here, if the radio receiving means 4 is not in the "ON" state, it is forcibly set to the "ON" state (step S2).
3).

The reception control unit 2 tunes to the reception frequency of the traffic information (step S24).

The determination unit 1 determines whether the traffic information can be received based on the detection result of the position detection unit 5B, the map data of the map data unit 5A, and the traffic information receivable area information of the traffic information area data unit 3. Is checked (step S
25).

Here, when the judging section 1 judges that the traffic information cannot be received, it notifies the reception control section that the traffic information cannot be received.

On the other hand, when the judgment unit 1 judges that the traffic information can be received, it notifies the reception control unit 2 that the traffic information can be received.

Upon being notified by the determination unit 1 that the vehicle is receivable, the reception control unit 2 determines that the vehicle is located within the traffic information receivable area and holds the current state.

On the other hand, when the reception control unit 2 is notified by the determination unit 1 that reception is impossible, the reception control unit 2 determines that the vehicle has escaped from the traffic information receivable area, and causes the radio reception means 4 to receive the traffic information before reception. (Step S26).

As described above, in the second embodiment, the information indicating whether the current position of the vehicle is within the traffic information receivable area or outside the traffic information receivable area is periodically provided from the determination unit 1 to the reception control unit 2. Will be notified.

Further, the key operation portion 4G may be provided with a traffic information automatic reception selection switch, and the traffic information reception state may be automatically set only when this key is turned on.

Further, when the reception control unit 2 receives a notification from the judgment unit 1 that it is within the traffic information receivable area,
SD (station detector) signal check and IF
The presence or absence of the broadcast may be checked by (intermediate frequency) count or the like, and the traffic information receiving state may be set only when the broadcast is received.

In this embodiment, the traffic information receivable area information and the map data are described as being held independently, but the traffic information receivable area information may be regarded as a part of the map data. It is possible.

Further, in the present embodiment, the system in which the radio receiving means and the navigation system section are integrated is described, but as shown in FIG. 4, the radio receiving means and the navigation system section are respectively connected via communication interfaces. It is also possible to connect and implement the present invention.

[0052]

Since the present invention is constructed and functions as described above, it is possible to obtain only necessary road traffic information in a timely manner,
For this reason, no complicated key operation is required, there is no need to pay attention to the road signs related to the traffic information receivable area, the burden on the driver is small, and it is possible to safely reach the destination in the shortest time. A traffic information receiving system can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which a radio receiving unit and a navigation system unit are connected by communication.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a radio receiver.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a navigation system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Judgment part 2 Reception control part 3 Traffic information area data part 4 Radio receiving means 5 Position recognition means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A radio receiving means for receiving traffic information,
Position recognition means for measuring the current position of the vehicle, traffic information area data part storing traffic information receivable area information, measurement result by the position recognition means and traffic information receivable by the traffic information area data part A judgment unit for judging whether or not the traffic information can be received based on the area information, and a reception control unit for controlling the power supply and the tuning frequency of the radio receiving unit according to the judgment result of the judgment unit are provided. A characteristic traffic information receiving system.