JP3687840B2 - Information processing apparatus for vehicle and information communication method for vehicle - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicle information processing device and a vehicle information communication method, and more particularly, to a vehicle information processing device and a vehicle information communication method that are suitable for application to a navigation device of an automobile that is a typical vehicle.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in the field of automobiles, which are representative vehicles, navigation devices that perform detection of the current position, route guidance to a desired destination, etc. have become widespread, and in recent years, with personal digital assistants (PDAs) A navigation device that can communicate with each other has also been proposed.
[0003]
As an example of a navigation device having such a communication function, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-160490 proposes a system that outputs information output from a portable information terminal by voice in a navigation device having a voice processing function. Yes.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
According to the navigation device having the communication function and the voice processing function described above, when the portable information terminal is located in the vicinity of the navigation device (that is, the portable information terminal exists in the vehicle on which the navigation device is mounted). ), The information of the portable information terminal can be known by voice without increasing the processing load of the portable information terminal. However, in this system, only voice output by the navigation device can be realized without increasing the processing burden on the portable information terminal.
[0005]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle information processing apparatus and a vehicle information communication method that can obtain various information in the portable information terminal without increasing the processing load of the portable information terminal.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus for a vehicle according to the present invention is characterized by the following configuration.
[0007]
That is, the first predetermined item used in the vehicle based on at least one of the communication means for performing bidirectional communication with the portable information terminal, the detection result of the sensor provided in the vehicle, and the operation state of the switch. And a calculation control means for notifying the calculation result in the vehicle, wherein the calculation control means is a notification according to the calculation result relating to the first predetermined item. When a predetermined request signal is received from the portable information terminal by the communication means, the second predetermined item different from the calculation processing of the first predetermined item is determined according to the request signal. While performing a calculation process, it controls so that the said communication means may transmit the calculation result of the 2nd predetermined item with respect to the said portable information terminal.
[0008]
In a preferred embodiment, the calculation control means may control to transmit the calculation result of the first predetermined item together with the calculation result of the second predetermined item.
[0009]
In a preferred embodiment, the calculation control means selectively notifies the calculation result related to the second predetermined item or the calculation result related to the first predetermined item when the calculation result of the second predetermined item is obtained. Good.
[0010]
In the above case, the calculation control means may notify the calculation result of the second predetermined item in accordance with an operation state of the switch or a predetermined selection signal from the portable information terminal received by the communication means. .
[0011]
In the above-described apparatus configuration, when the calculation result by the calculation control means is a display on a display provided in the vehicle, the calculation control means has a predetermined vehicle speed as a detection result of the sensor. When the value is larger than the value, it is preferable to prohibit display of the calculation result of the second predetermined item on the display.
[0012]
Or in order to achieve said same objective, the vehicle information communication method which concerns on this invention is characterized by the following structures.
[0013]
In other words, the first predetermined item used in the vehicle is calculated based on at least one of the detection result of the sensor provided in the vehicle and the operation state of the switch, and the calculation is performed. An information communication method for a vehicle between an information processing device for notifying a result in the vehicle and a portable information terminal, wherein the information processing device performs notification according to a calculation result related to the first predetermined item. When a predetermined request signal is received from the portable information terminal, a second predetermined item calculation process different from the first predetermined item calculation process is performed according to the request signal, and the first 2 When a calculation result of a predetermined item is transmitted to the portable information terminal and the calculation result of the second predetermined item is received at the portable information terminal, a notification corresponding to the calculation result And performing.
[0014]
In a preferred embodiment, by transmitting the calculation result of the first predetermined item from the information processing apparatus together with the calculation result of the second predetermined item, in the portable information terminal, the first and second predetermined items are calculated. Notification according to the calculation result may be performed.
[0015]
In a preferred embodiment, the information processing apparatus selectively notifies the calculation result related to the second predetermined item or the calculation result related to the first predetermined item when the calculation result of the second predetermined item is obtained. Good.
[0016]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention described above, it is possible to provide a vehicle information processing apparatus and a vehicle information communication method capable of obtaining various types of information in the portable information terminal without increasing the processing load of the portable information terminal.
[0017]
That is, according to the first and sixth aspects of the invention, since the calculation result of the second predetermined item can be obtained from the vehicle information processing apparatus, the convenience is improved without increasing the processing load of the portable information terminal. Can do.
[0018]
In addition, according to the second and seventh aspects of the invention, the first and second calculation results can be obtained from the vehicle information processing device without increasing the processing load of the portable information terminal, so that convenience is improved. . This effect is remarkable when, for example, in a vehicle with a large passenger compartment, information on the display screen, which is the first calculation result mainly used by the driver, is shared with a passenger in the rear seat holding the portable information terminal. is there.
[0019]
Further, according to the inventions of claims 3 and 8, the calculation result notified in the vehicle information processing apparatus is, for example, an operation state of the switch or a predetermined selection signal from the portable information terminal (invention 4), Since the selection can be made according to the vehicle speed (Claim 5) and the like, safety and convenience can be improved.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a vehicle information processing device and a vehicle information communication method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as an embodiment in which the vehicle information communication method is applied to a navigation control unit of an automobile that is a typical vehicle.
[0021]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication system according to the present embodiment, and includes a control unit 1 having a navigation function and one or more portable terminals (PDA) 2. The control unit 1 and the mobile terminal 2 can communicate bidirectionally in the vehicle by, for example, wireless communication based on a short-range wireless communication method such as Bluetooth or wired communication via a communication cable.
[0022]
In this system, even if the mobile terminal 2 does not have a corresponding software module for displaying information, the mobile terminal 2 receives information on a map image and a route guidance path from the control unit 1 via the communication line. By receiving music information, e-mail information, etc., the information can be displayed without being calculated.
[0023]
Further, when the wireless communication method between the control unit 1 and the mobile terminal 2 has a relatively high output, the occupant can take the mobile terminal 2 out of the vehicle. A route guide route to a destination and a map image may be calculated by the control unit 1, and the calculated information may be transmitted to the mobile terminal 2.
[0024]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the control unit 1 and the portable terminal 2 shown in FIG.
[0025]
In the control unit 1 shown in the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a sensor such as a vehicle speed sensor, a gyroscope, or a GPS (Global Positioning System) sensor. A switch 12 can set the operation of the control unit 1. Reference numeral 13 denotes a speaker on which various voice guidance by the navigation function and output of the audio function are performed.
[0026]
A tuner 14 demodulates radio waves such as radio received from the outside. Reference numeral 15 denotes a ROM that stores in advance a boot program, identification information of the paired portable terminal 2, an operation control processing program to be described later, and the like.
[0027]
Reference numeral 16 denotes a RAM used as a work area. Reference numeral 17 denotes map information (and its driver) stored in advance in a storage medium such as a DVD-ROM. A CD player 18 reads content information such as music from a CD, which is an example of an acoustic storage medium.
[0028]
Reference numeral 19 denotes a communication interface having a wireless transmission / reception function with the mobile terminal 2, and includes a physical connector when performing wired communication through a communication cable. Reference numeral 20 denotes a display on which a navigation map screen or the like is displayed, which is used by drivers and passengers in the passenger seat.
[0029]
Then, the CPU 101 performs communication processing with the portable terminal 2 described later, display control processing of the display 22, general navigation function, audio function, and the like according to the detection result of the sensor 11 and the operation state of the switch 12. The control process is performed.
[0030]
On the other hand, in the portable terminal 2 shown in FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 denotes a communication interface having a wireless transmission / reception function with the control unit 1, and includes a physical connector when performing wired communication via a communication cable. . Reference numeral 22 denotes a display for displaying information received from the control unit 1.
[0031]
Reference numeral 23 denotes a switch capable of setting the operation of the mobile terminal 2. Reference numeral 24 denotes a ROM in which a boot program, identification information of the control unit 1 to be paired, and a program such as operation control processing to be described later are stored in advance. Reference numeral 25 denotes a RAM used as a work area.
[0032]
Then, the CPU 201 performs various functions of the mobile terminal 2 alone as the information processing apparatus, display control processing of the display 22, and communication processing with the control unit 1 described later, according to the operation state of the switch 23.
[0033]
Here, the portable terminal 2 has not only a function as a portable computer having a communication function as shown in FIG. 2 in the passenger compartment, but also a keyless entry function, a wireless telephone function, MP3, Solid Audio, It may further include a sound reproduction function of a method such as Liquid Audio, and may be configured as a suitable device even if an operator (occupant) takes it out of the vehicle. In addition, since the apparatus configuration for realizing the function added in that case is generally common at present, the description in this embodiment is omitted.
[0034]
Next, an operation control process executed in the control unit 1 and the portable terminal 2 having the above-described hardware configuration will be described.
[0035]
<Control unit 1>
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation control process performed by the control unit 1 in the present embodiment, and shows a process procedure performed by the CPU 101.
[0036]
In the figure, step S1: the state of an ignition switch (not shown) is determined, and when the operation state is on, the process proceeds to step S2.
[0037]
Steps S2 and S3: It is determined whether a request signal has been received from the portable terminal 2 (step S2). When the request signal is received, a request response control process described later with reference to FIG. 4 is performed (step S3). On the other hand, when the request signal is not received, the process proceeds to step S4 as it is.
[0038]
Step S4, Step S5: An audio function for outputting sound to the speaker 13 is executed by controlling the operation of the tuner 14 or the CD player 18 according to the operation state of the switch 12 by the occupant (step S4), By referring to the map information 17, a navigation function for calculating a route guide route to the destination to be output to the speaker 13 and / or the display 20 is executed (step S5). In the following description, the information to be output to the speaker 13 and / or the display 20 in step S4 and / or step S5 is referred to as “first output”. And so on.
[0039]
Step S6: Display control of the display 20 described later with reference to FIG. 5 is performed, and the process returns.
[0040]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the request response control process performed by the control unit 1, and shows details of step S3 in FIG.
[0041]
In the figure, since the reception of the request signal is confirmed in step S11: step S2 (FIG. 3), in this step, the mobile phone 2 is carried out based on the content requested from the mobile terminal 2 by the command included in the request signal. The display information to be displayed on the display 22 of the terminal 2 is calculated, and the calculated contents are stored in a memory such as the RAM 16. This step is performed in parallel with the calculation of the first output described above (pseudo-parallel) by performing it in a separate task activated in response to detection of reception of the request signal in the actual operation configuration of the CPU 101. Is called. In the following description, the information calculated in this step is referred to as “second output”.
[0042]
Step S12: A response signal including the contents of the first and / or second outputs stored in the memory as described above is transmitted to the portable terminal 2.
[0043]
Step S13: Notifying the passenger that the response signal has been transmitted using the speaker 13 and / or the display 20 using predetermined guidance or the like, and the process proceeds to step S4 (FIG. 3).
[0044]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the display display control process performed by the control unit 1, and shows details of step S6 of FIG.
[0045]
In the figure, Step S21: It is determined whether the vehicle speed, which is one of the detection results of the sensor 11, is smaller than a predetermined value (for example, a substantially stopped speed). The process proceeds to step S23, and if larger, the process proceeds to step S22.
[0046]
Step S22: Since the host vehicle speed is higher than the predetermined value, it is not preferable for safety to display the second output to be displayed on the display 22 of the portable terminal 2 on the display 20. Only one output is displayed on the display 20.
[0047]
Step S23, Step S24: It is determined whether a display request signal is received from the portable terminal 2 (Step S23). When the signal is received, the process proceeds to Step S26, and when not received, the switch 12 that requests display of the second output. It is determined whether or not the operation has been performed (step S24). As described above, in step S13 (FIG. 4), it is notified that a response signal including the second output has been sent, and accordingly, a switch operation performed by a passenger who wants to know the content of the second output in response to the notification. Is detected in step S24.
[0048]
Step S25: Read the second output included in the response signal sent in step S13 from the memory.
[0049]
Step S26: Since it has been detected that the display request signal has been received from the portable terminal 2 in step S23, the portable terminal 2 that has transmitted the display request signal is identified by referring to the identification information included in the signal. At the same time, the latest response signal transmitted to the specified portable terminal 2 is read from the memory.
[0050]
Step S27: In step S21, since the host vehicle speed is smaller than the predetermined value and it can be determined that there is no problem even if the content of the second output not directly related to the driving operation is displayed on the display 20, step S25 or step The contents of the second output read from S26 are displayed on the display 20, and the process returns. Here, as a display mode in this step, only the first output is displayed, the first output and the second output are displayed on the left and right on the same screen, and part of the displayable area of the display 20 Such a method of displaying a reduced screen of the output or alternately displaying at every predetermined time is assumed.
[0051]
Here, of the first output described above, information relating to display is mainly displayed on the display 20, for example, for a map screen of a navigation function, a route guidance route screen, a status display screen of an audio function, etc. The information for display display calculated by the control unit 1.
[0052]
The second output is a change in display mode such as scrolling the map image or changing the scale, song titles related to audio, lyrics, artist names, online information search results from the database in the control unit 1 or the Internet, or FM characters. This is information for display display calculated by the control unit 1 in response to receiving a request signal for displaying a multiplex broadcast.
[0053]
<Mobile terminal 2>
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation control process performed by the mobile terminal 2 in the present embodiment, and shows a process procedure performed by the CPU 201.
[0054]
In the figure, step S31: When the main switch among the switches 23 is in the ON state, the process proceeds to step S32.
[0055]
Step S32, Step S33: It is determined whether or not a switch operation for obtaining information from the control unit 1 has been performed by operating the switch 23 (Step S32). When such an operation has been performed, refer to FIG. A request control process to be described later is performed (step S33). On the other hand, when the request operation is not performed, the process proceeds to step S34 as it is.
[0056]
Step S34: Perform arithmetic processing of various functions of the mobile terminal 2 alone as the information processing apparatus, and store information to be output to the display 22 (referred to as “third output”) in a memory such as the RAM 25.
[0057]
Step S35: Display control of the display 22, which will be described later with reference to FIG.
[0058]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the request control process performed by the mobile terminal 2, and shows details of step S23 in FIG.
[0059]
In the figure, since the request operation is confirmed in step S41: step S32 (FIG. 6), a request signal including a command corresponding to the request operation is generated in this step.
[0060]
Step S42: The generated request signal is transmitted to the control unit 1.
[0061]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a display display control process performed by the mobile terminal 2, and shows details of step S25 in FIG.
[0062]
In the figure, step S44: It is determined by referring to the identification information included in the signal whether the response signal to the terminal is received. When the signal is received, the process proceeds to step S46, and when not received, the process proceeds to step S45. Proceed to
[0063]
Step S45: Since it is determined that the response signal to the terminal is not received in Step S44, the contents of the third output stored in the memory in Step S34 (FIG. 6) are displayed on the display 22 and the return. To do.
[0064]
Step S46: Since it is determined that the response signal to the terminal is received in Step S44, the first and / or second output included in the response signal is displayed on the display 22. Here, as a display mode in this step, only the first output is displayed, the first output and the second output are displayed on the left and right on the same screen, and part of the displayable area of the display 20 Such a method of displaying a reduced screen of the output or alternately displaying at every predetermined time is assumed.
[0065]
Step S47, Step S48: It is determined whether or not the content of the second output is being displayed on the display 22 (step S47). When the content is being displayed, the content of the second output currently being displayed is displayed on the display 20 on the control unit 1 side. In step S48, it is determined whether a request operation for displaying the image is performed by the switch 23. On the other hand, when the second output is not being displayed or when the request operation is not performed, the process proceeds to step S34 (FIG. 6).
[0066]
Step S49: A request signal including identification information of the terminal itself is transmitted to the control unit 1, and the process proceeds to step S35 (FIG. 6).
[0067]
According to the above-described embodiment, since at least the calculation result of the second output can be obtained from the control unit 1, the convenience can be improved without increasing the processing load of the mobile terminal 2.
[0068]
For example, in a vehicle having a large cabin, when the calculation result of the first output mainly used by the driver is shared with the passenger in the rear seat carrying the mobile terminal 2, the first output in the control unit 1 is output. By displaying the calculation result on the mobile terminal 2, the convenience is further improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a communication system in the present embodiment.
2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a control unit 1 and a portable terminal 2 shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation control process performed by the control unit 1 in the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a request response control process performed by the control unit 1;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of display display control processing performed by the control unit 1;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation control process performed by the mobile terminal 2 in the present embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of request control processing performed by the mobile terminal 2;
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a display display control process performed by the mobile terminal 2;
[Explanation of symbols]
1: control unit,
2: Mobile terminal,
11: Sensor,
12, 23: switch,
13: Speaker,
14: Tuner,
15, 24: ROM,
16, 25: RAM,
17: Map information,
18: CD player,
19, 21: Communication interface,
20, 22: display,
101, 201: CPU,

Claims (8)

Calculation of a first predetermined item used in the vehicle based on at least one of a communication means for performing bidirectional communication with the portable information terminal, a detection result of a sensor provided in the vehicle, and an operation state of the switch An information processing apparatus for a vehicle comprising processing control means for performing processing and notifying the calculation result in the vehicle,
The arithmetic control means includes
When a predetermined request signal is received from the portable information terminal by the communication means while performing notification according to the calculation result relating to the first predetermined item, the first predetermined item is determined according to the request signal. The second predetermined item calculation process different from the item calculation process is performed, and the calculation result of the second predetermined item is controlled to be transmitted to the portable information terminal. Information processing apparatus for vehicles. The vehicle information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calculation control unit controls to transmit the calculation result of the first predetermined item together with the calculation result of the second predetermined item. The calculation control means selectively notifies the calculation result related to the second predetermined item or the calculation result related to the first predetermined item when the calculation result of the second predetermined item is obtained. The vehicle information processing apparatus according to claim 1. The calculation control means notifies the calculation result of the second predetermined item according to an operation state of the switch or a predetermined selection signal from the portable information terminal received by the communication means. The vehicle information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 3. The notification mode of the calculation result by the calculation control means is a display on a display provided in the vehicle,
5. The calculation control unit prohibits display of the calculation result of the second predetermined item on the display when a vehicle speed as a detection result of the sensor is larger than a predetermined value. 6. Information processing apparatus for vehicles. Based on at least one of the detection result of the sensor provided in the vehicle and the operation state of the switch, the first predetermined item used in the vehicle is calculated and the calculation result is An information communication method for a vehicle between an information processing device for informing in the vehicle and a portable information terminal,
In the information processing apparatus, when a predetermined request signal is received from the portable information terminal while performing notification according to a calculation result related to the first predetermined item, the first information is received according to the request signal. While performing the calculation process of the second predetermined item different from the calculation process of the predetermined item, the calculation result of the second predetermined item is transmitted to the portable information terminal,
In the portable information terminal, when the calculation result of the second predetermined item is received, notification according to the calculation result is performed. By transmitting the calculation result of the first predetermined item from the information processing apparatus together with the calculation result of the second predetermined item,
The vehicle information communication method according to claim 6, wherein the portable information terminal performs notification according to the calculation results of the first and second predetermined items. The information processing apparatus selectively notifies the calculation result related to the second predetermined item or the calculation result related to the first predetermined item when the calculation result of the second predetermined item is obtained. 6. The vehicle information communication method according to 6.

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