JP2005098880A - Navigation system for car and navigation method for car - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system and a method capable of browsing a common map screen among drivers of cars and communicating, when a plurality of cars run in groups. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of cars 3A to 3C can be registered in a group in a data base 112 of an information center 1 as members of the information center 1. When registered in group, a map indicated on a car-mounted device of a specific car among a plurality of cars 3A to 3C is read-in to a server 10, and the map screen is distributed to the cars 3A to 3C registered in group from the server 10 to display the common map screen of each car-mounted device. In a state with the common map screen is displayed, crews can mutually communicate by way of the car-mounted device of each of the cars 3A to 3C. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle navigation system and a vehicle navigation method.

  Conventionally, a service for providing a navigation function to a vehicle registered as a member via a mobile phone network or the Internet has been provided. The information center is equipped with a server that stores map information, facility information, and the like. When there is a request from a member vehicle, the map information and facility information around the current position of the vehicle are transmitted via the network. And deliver. An example of the navigation function by such an information center is disclosed in Patent Document 1 below.

  In the device described in Patent Document 1, when a passenger operates a vehicle-mounted device to set a destination when the vehicle travels, a route from the current position of the vehicle or a specific point to the destination is calculated, and the route is mounted on the vehicle. Display on the device. If the destination situation changes, an alternative destination is newly set, and the route to the alternative destination is recalculated and displayed. For example, when the information center recognizes that the parking lot is full when the parking lot is set as the destination of the vehicle, the information center selects another nearby parking lot and recalculates the route. While transmitting to the vehicle, a new route is displayed on the in-vehicle device side.

JP 2001-91280 A

  By the way, as a usage pattern of the vehicle, a case where many people move on a plurality of vehicles can be considered. For example, it is a case of going out to a lot of leisure. In such a case, a scene can be considered in which an occupant of a certain vehicle in the group desires to drop in at a specific destination with all the vehicles in the group. Alternatively, there may be a scene where an occupant of a certain vehicle wants to travel in a group to a destination where friends and acquaintances are invited together, other than when riding on separate vehicles from the beginning.

  At that time, in order to keep in touch between group vehicles, it is possible that crew members other than the driver in each vehicle operate the map screen of the navigation device while using a communication tool such as a mobile phone. When using a mobile phone, it is necessary to operate the map screen at the same time. In addition, although each vehicle is traveling at a different position, the map display area must be the same for each vehicle, which makes the operation cumbersome. Further, when there are three or more group vehicles, all the group vehicles cannot communicate at the same time, and a large number of calls are required for all the vehicles to share information. In other words, there is a need to allow all the group vehicles to communicate while simultaneously viewing the same map during group traveling as described above. However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 is a single vehicle. There is no problem or suggestion about the needs as described above during the group running.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and the problem is that when a plurality of vehicles travel in a group, the occupants of each vehicle can communicate while viewing a common map screen. It is to provide a system and a method that can be used.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration. That is, the first configuration of the present invention is as follows.
A vehicle navigation system configured to enable information communication between a vehicle including an in-vehicle device configured to be capable of information communication with an information providing server and capable of displaying a map screen, and the information providing server. And
Vehicle registration means for registering a plurality of specific vehicles as a group among the vehicles,
Among the group vehicles registered in the vehicle registration means, a map screen reading means for reading a map screen displayed on an in-vehicle device provided in a specific vehicle as a shared map screen;
Map screen transfer means for transferring the shared map screen read by the map screen reading means to be displayed on each in-vehicle device of the group vehicle;
Communication means for enabling each occupant of the group vehicle to communicate with each other via the in-vehicle device in a state in which the shared map screen is displayed on each in-vehicle device. It is.

  According to said structure, while a common map screen is displayed on the vehicle equipment of the vehicle registered as a group, the passenger | crew of a group vehicle can aim at communication via a vehicle equipment in the state. Therefore, it is possible to consult with a plurality of vehicles that are traveling in a group at a time while looking at a common map screen for a destination and a travel route.

The second configuration of the present invention is as follows:
The vehicle registration means inquires the approval of the group registration to the passengers of the vehicles to be grouped, and registers the approved vehicles as a group.

  According to the above configuration, the vehicle registration means inquires the group vehicle occupants as to whether or not the group registration is approved, and only the approved vehicles are registered as a group. Can be denied, and the inconvenience caused by forced group registration can be avoided.

The third configuration of the present invention is:
When the in-vehicle device of the vehicle is registered as the group, it is configured to accept the change operation of the shared map screen,
The map screen transfer means transfers the new shared map screen changed by the change operation of the shared map screen to be displayed on each in-vehicle device of the group vehicle.

  According to the above configuration, the shared map screen can be changed in each in-vehicle device of the group vehicle, and the changed shared map screen is displayed on the in-vehicle device of the group vehicle. Communication can be facilitated while watching.

The fourth configuration of the present invention is as follows.
The shared map screen includes point information in the map and identification information for causing the vehicle occupant to visually recognize the point information.

  According to said structure, when the passenger | crew of a group vehicle aims at mutual communication, it can carry out based on the identification information about the point contained in a map. That is, each occupant can communicate while looking at the map based on the identification information included in the map displayed in common for each vehicle. Specifically, when each occupant specifies position information. Since it can be performed using the identification information, it is possible to promote the understanding among the occupants when making a consultation based on the map screen, as compared to displaying only the map screen.

The fifth configuration of the present invention is:
Vehicle state detection means for detecting the state of the group vehicle;
The apparatus further comprises prohibiting means for prohibiting display of the shared map screen in accordance with the state of the vehicle detected by the vehicle state detecting means.

  According to said structure, the display of a common map screen is prohibited according to the state of a vehicle. Specifically, as a sixth configuration of the present invention, when the vehicle is traveling, when route guidance is performed via the on-vehicle device, or for route guidance by a passenger in the on-vehicle device. This is a case where at least one of the operations is performed. Therefore, the map screen sharing based on the group registration does not hinder the operation of the occupant for driving the vehicle, route guidance, or the operation for that purpose.

The seventh configuration of the present invention is:
It further comprises map screen switching means for selectively switching and displaying the shared map screen and the map screen before group registration for each in-vehicle device provided in the group vehicle.

  According to the above configuration, even if the shared map screen display is performed by the group registration, it is possible to return to the original screen in each in-vehicle device. The original map screen can be appropriately browsed according to the circumstances, and the shared map screen display in the group vehicle and communication based thereon can be performed more flexibly.

  As the eighth configuration of the present invention, it is preferable that the communication means allows the passengers to communicate with each other by at least one of voice and characters.

In order to solve the above problems, the following method is adopted in the present invention. That is,
A method of performing navigation of a vehicle by performing information communication between a vehicle including an in-vehicle device configured to be capable of information communication with an information providing server and capable of displaying a map screen, and the information providing server. There,
Step A for registering a plurality of specific vehicles as a group among the vehicles,
Step B of reading the map screen displayed on the vehicle-mounted device included in the specific vehicle among the group vehicles registered in Step A as a shared map screen;
Transferring the shared map screen read in step B to be displayed on each in-vehicle device of the group vehicle;
Step D enabling each occupant of the group vehicle to communicate with each other via the in-vehicle device in a state where the shared map screen is displayed on each in-vehicle device. It is.

  According to the above method, a common map screen is displayed on the in-vehicle devices of the vehicles registered as a group, and passengers of the group vehicles can communicate with each other through the in-vehicle devices in this state. Therefore, there is provided a navigation method capable of consulting at a time between a plurality of vehicles that are traveling in a group while viewing a common map screen for a destination and a travel route.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when several vehicles perform group driving | running | working, the passenger | crew of each vehicle can provide the system and method which can aim at communication, browsing a common map screen.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

  FIG. 1 shows an outline of a network constituting a system according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is an information center, 2 is a network using the Internet as an example, and 3A to 3C are vehicles (cars A to C) equipped with in-vehicle devices. Although only three vehicles are illustrated, it is assumed that the vehicle is a plurality of member vehicles contracted with the information center 1 and the group registration described below is exemplified. The information center 1 is owned by an automobile manufacturer as an example, and is connected to the network 2 so as to be able to transmit and receive data, for example, by wire, and the vehicles 3A to 3C are wirelessly using the network 2 and the in-vehicle device. Data can be transmitted to and received from the center 1 and between the other vehicles 3A to 3C.

  As is well known, the information center 1 provides the member vehicles 3A to 3C with navigation functions such as provision of information on points and facilities and route guidance to the destination. In addition to the above functions, the information center 1 according to the present embodiment groups a plurality of member vehicles and displays a common map screen on the vehicle-mounted devices of the vehicles 3A to 3C belonging to the group, Provide a function that enables communication between group vehicles. This will be specifically described later. In the present embodiment, the member vehicles contracted with the information center 1 and the member vehicles to be grouped are collectively referred to as “vehicles” hereinafter.

  The information center 1 includes a server 10 as an information providing server and a storage unit 11 connected to the server 10 as a configuration for providing the above functions. The storage means 11 includes a map database 110 that stores maps used for providing the navigation function, a vehicle ID used for providing the grouping function, and an address of a vehicle-mounted device (distribution of map data, etc.). The member vehicle database 111 storing information such as e-mail addresses (referred to in FIG. 1) and the group vehicle database 112 storing IDs and addresses for each group of the grouped vehicles.

  Next, the group vehicle database 112 will be described with reference to FIG. Since the map database 110 has been conventionally known, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the member vehicle database 111 stores the owner, contact information, ID, and address for each vehicle that is a member, and detailed description thereof is also omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the group vehicle database 112 manages a group of vehicles generated by a predetermined operation in the in-vehicle devices of the vehicles 3A to 3C, and manages the vehicle belonging to the group as an ID for each group. is there. Specifically, it is composed of a field indicating the generated group, and a field listing the IDs and corresponding addresses of vehicles belonging to the group. That is, the vehicle group A shown in FIG. 2 indicates that three vehicles having the illustrated ID and address are grouped.

  Next, the configuration of the in-vehicle device 30 will be described with reference to FIG. The in-vehicle device 30 includes a controller 31 composed of a microcomputer, an antenna 320 and an interface 321, a transmitter / receiver 32 for transmitting / receiving information via the network 2, and navigation in each of the vehicles 3 </ b> A to 3 </ b> C. Display 33 for displaying a map screen or a shared map screen described later, an operation device 34 used by an occupant to operate vehicle-mounted device 30, a storage device 35 for temporarily storing the map screen, and a map screen sharing state described later The communication device 36 is used for occupants to communicate between the vehicles grouped in FIG. 1 and the GPS receiver 37 used for determining the current position of the vehicle. The communication device 36 may be a device that incorporates a mobile phone function in an in-vehicle device, or is configured so that passengers of the vehicles 3A to 3C that are grouped by a keyboard can communicate with each other by so-called chat. It may be what was done. The configuration of the in-vehicle device 30 excluding the communication device 36 can be the same as that used for realizing the navigation function by information communication with the conventional information center 1.

  The in-vehicle device 30 implements a navigation function by transmitting / receiving information to / from the server 10 of the information center 1 via the transmitter / receiver 32 and the network 2. Specifically, creation of a map screen including the current positions of the vehicles 3A to 3C, calculation of a route to the destination, creation of a map including a guidance route, and the like are performed on the server for the map screen and operation input. The in-vehicle device 30 displays the screen and accepts the operation input by the passenger. In addition, although details will be described later, in the sharing and communication function of the map screen between the group vehicles, creation of the operation screen in grouping, registration of the group, creation and distribution of the shared map screen, etc. are performed by the server 10, Operation reception for grouping and map screen display is performed on the in-vehicle device 30 side. Communication between the vehicles 3A to 3C is performed via the server 10. That is, the in-vehicle device 30 substantially has only an interface function in communication between the server 10 and the vehicles 3A to 3C, and the in-vehicle device 30 and the server 10 constitute the navigation system according to the present embodiment. Yes.

  Next, a flowchart shown in FIG. 4 shows the grouping of vehicles, the sharing of the map screen between the grouped vehicles, and the communication function between the vehicles while browsing the shared map screen, which is a feature of the present invention. A description will be given with reference to the display screen shown in FIG. 5 (the screen displayed on the display in a predetermined step of the flowchart). The flowchart shown in FIG. 4 shows processing performed by the server 10, and the screen shown in FIG. 5 shows a screen displayed on the in-vehicle device 30 in accordance with the processing performed by the server 10. In the present embodiment, an example in which the A car 3A, the B car 3B, and the C car 3C shown in FIG. 1 are grouped (the A car to C shown in the top row in the group vehicle database 112 shown in FIG. 2). Will be described.

  When a predetermined operation for grouping is performed via the in-vehicle device 30 of the A car 3A, the information, that is, the group registration request is transmitted to the server 10, and the server 10 receives the group registration request. (Step S1).

  Upon receiving the group registration request, the server 10 creates screen data for group registration and transmits it to the A car 3A (step S2). In the in-vehicle device 30 of the A car 3A, a screen for group registration is displayed on the display 33, and an occupant of the A car 3A and the vehicle ID to be grouped and the user name of the vehicle (in this embodiment, the A car, (B car and C car). The screen after input is shown in FIG. In this state, when the occupant of the A car 3A presses the “OK” button displayed on the group registration screen and determines the vehicles to be grouped, the information is transmitted to the server 10. Thereafter, the server 10 reads the IDs and addresses of the group registration candidate vehicles (A vehicle, B vehicle and C vehicle) from the member vehicle database 111 and informs each vehicle 3A to 3C that it has been selected as a group registration candidate ( Step S3). As shown in the lower half of the screen shown in FIG. 5B, this communication is performed by displaying a map sharing browsing request button, which will be described later, and a vehicle for which the map sharing browsing request button has already been operated. Is called.

  That is, at this time, the display 33 of the B car 3B and the C car 3C has a map in which the upper half includes the current positions of the vehicles 3B and 3C, and the lower half displays the map sharing browsing request button as described above. Vehicles for which the map sharing browsing request button has already been operated are respectively displayed (that is, the lower half of the display 33 is common and the upper half is unique to each vehicle). In the screen shown in FIG. 5 (b), the passengers of the B car 3B and the C car 3C click the “share viewing request” button if they agree to grouping, and the “cancel” button if they do not agree To operate. This operation is transmitted to the server 10, and the server 10 receives the operation information as grouping registration availability information from each of the vehicles 3A to 3C (step S4). In other words, even if a grouping request is made from another vehicle, a vehicle occupant who does not want to be grouped can be denied, and the inconvenience associated with the forced grouping does not occur. In this embodiment, the case where each of the vehicles 3A to 3C agrees to group is illustrated.

  Thereafter, the server 10 registers the vehicles 3A to 3C agreed to the grouping in the group vehicle database 112, and displays a screen indicating which vehicles are grouped in each of the grouped vehicles 3A to 3C. Is transmitted to each of the vehicles 3A to 3C that have agreed to the grouping (step S5). At this time, the vehicles that have agreed to the grouping are displayed at the lower right of the screen shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, since all of the A car 3A to the C car 3C agree to the grouping, all of the A car to the C car are displayed at the lower right of the screen in FIG.

  Thereafter, the server 10 specifies which vehicle the base of the map shared among the grouped vehicles 3A to 3C is to be assigned (step S6). In the present embodiment, the screen of the vehicle (in this embodiment, referred to as C car) that first agreed to group registration in step S4 is selected as the base map and is displayed on the display 33 of the C car 3C. The screen is read into the server 10 (step S7). Thereafter, the screen data shown in FIG. 5C is transmitted to each of the vehicles 3A to 3C, and the shared map screen display standby state is entered in each of the vehicles 3A to 3C (at this point, map sharing is still being performed). Only the lower half of the display 33 is common to all cars).

  At the same time, for each of the grouped vehicles 3A to 3C, the screen currently displayed on the display 33 is read (step S8, the purpose of this screen reading will be described later). After that, with respect to the base map read in step S7, with respect to the points and facilities displayed in the map, a mark whose position can be specified in the map and the name of the facility or point indicated by the mark outside the map Is displayed, and screen data including a screen switching button to be described later is created (step S9, this screen data is transmitted to each of the vehicles 3A to 3C in the subsequent step S10, as shown in FIG. 5E). On the display 33). The display of the mark and legend facilitates communication between the passengers of the vehicles 3A to 3C grouped as described later while browsing the shared map screen.

  The screen data includes button display data for returning to the original map screen, which will be described later, in addition to the map screen data.

  At this time, what is displayed on the display 33 of each vehicle 3A to 3C is the screen shown in FIG. When the “OK” button displayed on the display 33 is operated in each of the vehicles 3 </ b> A to 3 </ b> C, the information is transmitted to the server 10. The server 10 transmits the screen data created in step S9, that is, the screen data including the shared map screen, to the vehicle in which the “OK” button is operated among the grouped vehicles 3A to 3C (step S10). ). On this shared map screen, as described above, for the points and facilities displayed in the map, the mark that can specify the position in the map and the name of the facility or point indicated by the mark outside the map are displayed. Therefore, when each occupant specifies position information, it can be identified using a mark, and compared with the case where only a map is displayed, mutual understanding is required for communication between crew members of the group vehicle. You can be sure.

  Thereafter, the server 10 causes the occupants to communicate via the communication device 36 of the in-vehicle device 30 of each of the grouped vehicles 3A to 3C (step S11). Specifically, the mobile phone function incorporated in the vehicle-mounted device 30 is used, but the utterances from the vehicle-mounted devices 30 of the grouped vehicles 3A to 3C are transmitted to all other vehicles via the server 10. In addition to a one-to-one call like a normal mobile phone, a call can be made between three or more in-vehicle devices 30 at the same time. That is, the utterance input to the vehicle-mounted device 30 of one vehicle is output from the vehicle-mounted device 30 of any other vehicle. Alternatively, the in-vehicle device 30 may be equipped with a character input device such as a keyboard so that passengers can communicate with each other between vehicles grouped by so-called chat. FIG. 6 shows an example of a screen that is commonly displayed on the vehicle-mounted devices 30 of the vehicles 3A to 3C when communicating by chat.

  In addition, when communication between each in-vehicle device 30 via the server 10 is performed, the server 10 receives the shared map screen and the original when there is a screen switching request from each of the vehicles 3A to 3C. Switch the map to and from the map screen. Specifically, in the server 10, based on the original map screen data read in step S8, the screen shown in FIG. 5D (the map screen read in step S8 for each of the vehicles 3A to 3C). Screen data to which a screen switching button is attached) is created and stored, and when the screen switching button is operated on the shared map screen shown in FIG. 5E, the original data shown in FIG. Switch to the map screen. Conversely, when the screen switch button is operated on the original map screen shown in FIG. 5D, the screen is switched to the shared map screen shown in FIG.

  When the display and communication function of the shared map screen is performed, the enlargement or scrolling of the shared map screen may be performed according to the operation of the in-vehicle device 30 of each vehicle 3A to 3C. That is, the passengers of the grouped vehicles 3A to 3C can easily communicate with each other while operating the shared map screen.

  Each in-vehicle device 30 may be configured not to display the shared map screen according to the state of the vehicle. For example, at least one of when the vehicle is running, when route guidance is performed via the in-vehicle device 30, or when an operation for route guidance by the occupant is performed in the in-vehicle device 30. In such a case, the display of the shared map screen is not performed, so that the map screen sharing based on the group registration may hinder the occupant's operation for driving the vehicle, route guidance, or the operation for that purpose. There will be nothing.

  Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. . For example, in the above-described embodiment, the steps such as vehicle group registration, creation of a shared map screen, distribution of the shared map screen, and communication between the in-vehicle devices 30 are performed at the server 10 or via the server 10. However, some of them may be configured to be performed on the in-vehicle device 30 side.

It is the schematic which shows the structure of the communication network where the navigation apparatus for vehicles by this invention is used.

It is the schematic which shows the content of a group vehicle database typically.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a vehicle equipment.

4 is a flowchart showing processing performed in a server in the navigation function according to the present invention.

It is a figure which shows typically the display screen displayed on the vehicle equipment of a vehicle with the process performed in a server. It is a figure which shows typically the screen displayed on the vehicle equipment in the state in which the communication via vehicle equipment is performed in each vehicle.

Explanation of symbols

3A A car (vehicle)
3B B car (vehicle)
3C C vehicle (vehicle)
10 server (information providing server, map screen reading means, map screen transferring means, communication means)
30 In-vehicle device (vehicle condition detection means, prohibition means)
36 Communication equipment
112 Group vehicle database (vehicle registration means)

Claims (9)

A vehicle navigation system configured to enable information communication between a vehicle including an in-vehicle device configured to be able to communicate with an information providing server and display a map screen, and the information providing server. And
Vehicle registration means for registering a plurality of specific vehicles as a group among the vehicles,
Among the group vehicles registered in the vehicle registration means, a map screen reading means for reading a map screen displayed on an in-vehicle device provided in a specific vehicle as a shared map screen;
Map screen transfer means for transferring the shared map screen read by the map screen reading means to be displayed on each in-vehicle device of the group vehicle;
Each occupant of the group vehicle has communication means that enables communication with each other via the in-vehicle device in a state in which the shared map screen is displayed on each in-vehicle device. Vehicle navigation system. 2. The vehicle navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle registration unit inquires of an occupant of a vehicle to be grouped whether approval is permitted for group registration and registers the approved vehicles as a group. When the in-vehicle device of the vehicle is registered as the group, it is configured to accept the change operation of the shared map screen,
The map screen transfer means transfers the new shared map screen changed by the change operation of the shared map screen so as to be displayed on each in-vehicle device of the group vehicle. The vehicle navigation system according to any one of the above. The vehicle-use vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the shared map screen includes point information in the map and identification information that allows a passenger of the vehicle to visually recognize the point information. Navigation system. Vehicle state detection means for detecting the state of the group vehicle;
The vehicle navigation according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising prohibiting means for prohibiting display of the shared map screen in accordance with a vehicle state detected by the vehicle state detecting means. system. The prohibition means is configured such that the vehicle state detected by the vehicle state detection means is when the vehicle is running, when route guidance is being performed via the on-board device, or on the on-board device. 6. The vehicle navigation system according to claim 5, wherein display of the shared map screen is prohibited when at least one of the operations for route guidance is performed. . 7. A map screen switching means for selectively switching and displaying the shared map screen and the map screen before group registration for each in-vehicle device provided in the group vehicle. The vehicle navigation system according to any one of the above. The vehicular navigation system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the communication means is configured to allow occupants to communicate with each other by at least one of voice and characters. A method of performing navigation of a vehicle by performing information communication between a vehicle including an in-vehicle device configured to be capable of information communication with an information providing server and capable of displaying a map screen, and the information providing server. There,
Step A for registering a plurality of specific vehicles as a group among the vehicles,
Step B of reading the map screen displayed on the vehicle-mounted device included in the specific vehicle among the group vehicles registered in Step A as a shared map screen;
Transferring the shared map screen read in step B to be displayed on each in-vehicle device of the group vehicle;
Step D enabling each occupant of the group vehicle to communicate with each other via the in-vehicle device in a state where the shared map screen is displayed on each in-vehicle device. Navigation method.

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