JP5340002B2 - Navigation device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation device that guides and guides a user to a destination, and more particularly, to a technology that guides and guides in cooperation with an ETC (Electronic Toll Collection System; ETC is a registered trademark of the Road System Advancement Promotion Organization).

  The ETC is an on-road device installed on the road, an ETC in-vehicle device that collects tolls on toll roads such as highways by two-way wireless communication, and an ETC card (to which fee settlement information for settlement is stored) IC card). Charge settlement by ETC can be used with an ETC card inserted into the ETC in-vehicle device. This ETC card has an expiration date like a credit card. If you try to pass an ETC lane installed at a toll booth while an expired ETC card is inserted into the ETC on-board unit, the open / close bar installed in the ETC lane may not open, causing an accident due to a collision, etc. There is sex.

  As a device for solving such a problem, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle communication device capable of grasping an expiration date of an IC card. This vehicle communication device compares the ETC card expiration date with the current time calculated by the navigation device by connecting the ETC in-vehicle device and the navigation device. If the ETC card has expired, the contents are sent to the user. It is something to let you know.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-079330

  However, the vehicle communication device disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above merely informs the user that the ETC card has expired. Therefore, when an ETC card that has expired or an ETC card that is about to expire is inserted in the ETC in-vehicle device, guidance is provided according to the expiration date of the ETC card, and the open / close bar installed in the ETC lane opens. It is desired to develop a navigation device that can prevent accidents such as a collision caused by the absence of a collision.

  The present invention has been made to meet the above-described demand, and an object thereof is to provide a navigation device that can prevent an accident caused by expiration of an ETC card.

The present invention, in order to solve the above problems, a connection interface that Tokusu preparative expiration ETC card inserted in the ETC vehicle-mounted device, and the current time detecting unit for detecting the current time, the current time detection section in comparing the expiration date acquired through the detected current time and connection interface section, a message prompting the replacement of the messages and other ETC card notifies the expiration if expiration date has expired Generates a message to notify the expiration date and a message prompting replacement to another ETC card if it expires within a predetermined period, and the estimated arrival time to the passing point on the route searched using the route search function calculated, by comparing the calculated estimated arrival time and expiration, expected arrival time to generate a message indicating whether the expiration date navigation And Shon processor, and an output unit for outputting the messages generated by the navigation processing unit.

  According to the present invention, when the expiration date of the ETC card has expired, a message for notifying the expiration is generated, and when it expires soon, a message for notifying the expiration is generated and output. Accidents due to expiration can be prevented.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the navigation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the expiration date detection process performed with the ETC vehicle equipment connected to the navigation apparatus concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the expiration date notification process performed with the navigation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the exchange prompting process performed with the navigation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the route guidance process performed with the navigation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the route search performed with the navigation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen displayed with the navigation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the other example of a screen displayed with the navigation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
Embodiment 1 FIG.

  1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. An ETC in-vehicle device 1 is connected to this navigation device. First, the ETC in-vehicle device 1 will be described. The ETC in-vehicle device 1 includes an ETC card connector 11, an ETC card control unit 12, an ETC antenna 13, an ETC antenna control unit 14, an ETC processing unit 15, and an external interface unit 16.

  The ETC card 2 is inserted into the ETC card connector 11. The ETC card 2 inserted into the ETC card connector 11 is electrically connected to the ETC card control unit 12. The ETC card control unit 12 reads charge settlement information stored in the ETC card 2 inserted into the ETC card connector 11. This fee settlement information includes expiration date information of the ETC card 2. The fee settlement information read by the ETC card control unit 12 is sent to the ETC processing unit 15.

  The ETC antenna 13 performs wireless communication for toll collection with the ETC roadside device 3 according to the control from the ETC antenna control unit 14. The ETC antenna 13 sends a reception signal obtained by converting a radio wave transmitted from the ETC roadside device 3 into an electric signal to the ETC antenna control unit 14. Further, the ETC antenna 13 converts the transmission signal sent as an electrical signal from the ETC antenna control unit 14 into a radio wave and transmits it to the ETC roadside device 3.

  The ETC antenna control unit 14 controls the ETC antenna 13 as described above. That is, the ETC antenna control unit 14 sends the transmission data sent from the ETC processing unit 15 to the ETC antenna 13 as a transmission signal, and the reception signal sent from the ETC antenna 13 as the reception data. Send to 15.

  The ETC processing unit 15 controls the entire ETC in-vehicle device 1. For example, the ETC processing unit 15 sends the fee settlement information sent from the ETC card control unit 12 to the external interface unit 16. The ETC processing unit 15 executes various processes for toll collection, and controls the ETC antenna control unit 14 based on the processing results. Further, the ETC processing unit 15 detects whether or not the navigation device is connected.

  The external interface unit 16 controls transmission / reception of signals performed with the navigation device. The external interface unit 16 sends, for example, fee settlement information sent from the ETC processing unit 15 to the navigation device.

  Next, details of the navigation device will be described. The navigation apparatus includes a connection interface unit 21, an input unit 22, a position information detection unit 23, a map information acquisition unit 24, a navigation processing unit 25, and an output unit 26.

  The connection interface unit 21 controls transmission / reception of signals performed with the ETC in-vehicle device 1. The connection interface unit 21 receives, for example, fee settlement information sent from the ETC in-vehicle device 1 and sends it to the navigation processing unit 25.

  The input unit 22 includes at least one such as a remote controller (remote controller), a touch panel, or operation keys, and is used to input various types of information to the navigation device. For example, information indicating the destination or waypoint at the time of route search is input from the input unit 22. Information input from the input unit 22 is sent to the navigation processing unit 25.

  The position information detector 23 corresponds to the current time detector of the present invention. The position information detector 23 is composed of a GPS receiver that receives a GPS signal transmitted from, for example, a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite, and detects its current position and current time based on the received GPS signal. These are sent to the navigation processing unit 25 as current position information and current time information, respectively.

  The map information acquisition unit 24 acquires map information by communication from map information stored in a map information storage unit (not shown) or a site on the network. The map information acquired by the map information acquisition unit 24 is sent to the navigation processing unit 25.

  The navigation processing unit 25 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer, and executes processing for realizing various functions as a navigation device. For example, the navigation processing unit 25 searches the route from the route point input using the input unit 22 to the destination based on the map information acquired by the map information acquisition unit 24, and on the searched route The estimated arrival time at a passing point (for example, a toll road interchange or a toll booth provided at a ramp) is calculated. The processing result in the navigation processing unit 25 is sent to the output unit 26.

  The output unit 26 includes, for example, a display device and an audio output device. The output unit 26 displays a message sent as a processing result from the navigation processing unit 25 on the display device, and outputs the message from the audio output device.

  Next, the operation of the navigation device configured as described above will be described. First, of the operations performed by the ETC in-vehicle device 1 connected to the navigation device, the expiration date detection process for detecting the expiration date of the ETC card 2 and sending it to the navigation device will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. To do. Note that the expiration date of the ETC card 2 is personal information, which is normally encrypted, but the data collection with the navigation device is negotiated according to interface specifications and the like.

  In the expiration date detection process, a card insertion detection process is first performed (step ST11). That is, the ETC card control unit 12 detects whether or not the ETC card 2 is inserted into the ETC card connector 11. Next, card information reading processing is performed (step ST12). That is, when it is detected in step ST11 that the ETC card 2 has been inserted into the ETC card connector 11, the ETC card control unit 12 reads the fee settlement information stored in the ETC card 2 and performs ETC processing. Send to part 15.

  Next, card expiration date detection processing is performed (step ST13). That is, the ETC processing unit 15 detects the expiration date of the ETC card 2 with reference to the fee settlement information sent from the ETC card control unit 12. Next, it is checked whether or not the navigation device is connected (step ST14). That is, the ETC processing unit 15 checks whether the navigation device is connected by checking whether predetermined data can be acquired from the navigation device via the external interface unit 16.

  If it is determined in step ST14 that the navigation device is connected, the card expiration date is notified to the navigation device (step ST15). That is, the ETC processing unit 15 sends the expiration date of the ETC card 2 detected in step ST13 to the navigation device via the external interface unit 16 as expiration date information. Thereafter, the expiration date detection process ends. On the other hand, if it is determined in step ST14 that the navigation device is not connected, the card expiration date is not notified to the navigation device, and the expiration date detection process ends.

  Next, of the operations performed in the navigation device according to the first embodiment, the expiration date notification process for notifying the user of the expiration date of the card will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In the expiration date notification process, it is first checked whether or not there is an ETC connection (step ST21). That is, the navigation processing unit 25 checks whether the ETC in-vehicle device 1 is connected by checking whether predetermined data can be acquired from the ETC in-vehicle device 1 via the connection interface unit 21. If it is determined in step ST21 that there is no ETC connection, the expiration notification process ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step ST21 that there is an ETC connection, then the card expiration date is acquired (step ST22). That is, the navigation processing unit 25 acquires the expiration date information of the ETC card 2 from the ETC in-vehicle device 1 via the connection interface unit 21. Next, the current time is acquired (step ST23). That is, the navigation processing unit 25 acquires current time information from the position information detection unit 23.

  Next, it is checked whether or not the card has expired (step ST24). That is, the navigation processing unit 25 compares the expiration date indicated by the expiration date information of the ETC card 2 acquired in step ST22 with the current time indicated by the current time information acquired in step ST23, and determines the validity of the ETC card 2. Check if it has expired.

  If it is determined in step ST24 that the card has expired, a user notification (expiration notification) is made (step ST25). That is, the navigation processing unit 25 generates a message for notifying expiration and sends it to the output unit 26. Thereby, the output unit 26 displays a message notifying the expiration on the display device and outputs the message from the audio output device by voice. Thereafter, the expiration date notification process ends.

  If it is determined in step ST24 that the card has not expired, it is then checked whether the card expires within a predetermined period (step ST26). That is, the navigation processing unit 25 compares the expiration date of the ETC card 2 indicated by the expiration date information acquired in step ST22 with the current time indicated by the current time information acquired in step ST23, and determines the validity of the ETC card 2. Find out if the deadline is about to expire. In step ST26, if it is determined that the card expiration date does not expire within a predetermined period, the expiration date notification process ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step ST26 that the card expiration date will expire within a predetermined period, then a user notice (expiration notice of expiration) is performed (step ST27). That is, the navigation processing unit 25 generates a message for notifying expiration and sends it to the output unit 26. As a result, the output unit 26 displays a message notifying the expiration date on the display device, and outputs the message from the audio output device. Thereafter, the expiration date notification process ends.

  It should be noted that the timing at which the card expiration date is notified to the user, for example, the number of days before the card expiration date is notified can be set in the navigation device.

  Next, of the operations performed in the navigation device according to the first embodiment, a replacement prompting process for prompting replacement with another ETC card 2 when the card expiration date will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In the replacement prompting process, it is first checked whether or not there is an ETC connection (step ST31). The process in step ST31 is the same as the process in step ST21 described above. If it is determined in step ST31 that there is no ETC connection, the replacement prompting process ends. On the other hand, if it is determined in step ST31 that there is an ETC connection, then the card expiration date is acquired (step ST32). The process in step ST32 is the same as the process in step ST22 described above.

  Next, the current time is acquired (step ST33). The process in step ST33 is the same as the process in step ST23 described above. Next, it is checked whether or not the card has expired (step ST34). The process in step ST34 is the same as the process in step ST24 described above. If it is determined in step ST34 that the card has not expired, the exchange prompting process ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step ST34 that the card has expired, a user notice (card replacement notice) is made (step ST35). That is, the navigation processing unit 25 generates a message that prompts replacement of the ETC card 2 and sends it to the output unit 26. As a result, the output unit 26 displays a message notifying the card replacement on the display device, and outputs the message from the audio output device.

  Next, a card replacement detection process is performed (step ST36). That is, the navigation processing unit 25 detects whether or not the ETC card 2 has been replaced with reference to the fee settlement information sent from the ETC in-vehicle device 1. When it is detected that the ETC card 2 has been replaced, the sequence returns to step ST32, and a card expiration date acquisition process is performed for the replaced ETC card 2.

  Next, among the operations performed by the navigation device according to the first embodiment, a route guidance process for outputting an appropriate message based on the estimated arrival time at the passing point on the searched route and the card expiration date is illustrated in FIG. This will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In the route guidance process, first, a destination and a waypoint are input (step ST41). That is, the user inputs a destination and a waypoint using the input unit 22. The input unit 22 sends the input destination and waypoint to the navigation processing unit 25. Note that whether or not to enter a transit point is arbitrary.

  Next, route search is performed (step ST42). That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the navigation processing unit 25 sets the current position indicated by the current position information acquired from the position information detection unit 23 as the departure point S and is input in step ST41 (a transit point is input). In this case, the route to the destination G is searched (via the waypoint). R1 to R5 shown in FIG. 6 are passing points, for example, points that can get on and off such as interchanges or ramps on toll roads. Normally, the route search in the navigation device is performed according to the type of road such as “paid priority search” or “general priority search”. In FIG. 6, white arrows indicate routes when a pay priority search is performed.

  Next, an estimated arrival time at each passing point is calculated (step ST43). That is, the navigation processing unit 25 calculates the estimated arrival time at the passing point on the route calculated in step ST42. Next, the card expiration date is acquired (step ST44). That is, the navigation processing unit 25 acquires the expiration date information of the ETC card 2 from the ETC in-vehicle device 1 via the connection interface unit 21.

  Next, the estimated arrival time is compared with the expiration date (step ST45). That is, the navigation processing unit 25 compares the estimated arrival time calculated in step ST43 with the expiration date indicated by the expiration date information acquired in step ST44 for one passing point. Next, it is checked whether or not it has expired (step ST46). That is, the navigation processing unit 25 checks whether or not the expiration date of the ETC card 2 has expired at the passing point based on the comparison result in step ST45.

  If it is determined in step ST46 that the expiration date has expired, a user notification is made (step ST47). That is, the navigation processing unit 25 notifies the user whether the passing point is within the expiration date. Specifically, a message indicating whether the estimated arrival time at the passing point is within the expiration date of the ETC card 2 is generated and sent to the output unit 26. As a result, when the ETC card 2 passes through the passing point, the ETC card 2 displays a message notifying whether or not it is within the expiration date on the display device, and outputs the message from the audio output device. On the other hand, if it is determined in step ST46 that the expiration date has not expired, the process of step ST47 is skipped.

  Next, it is checked whether or not the comparison at all the passing points has been completed (step ST48). If it is determined in step ST48 that the comparison has not been completed for all the passing points, the sequence returns to step ST45, and the estimated arrival time and the expiration date are compared for the next passing point. The process is repeated. In this repeated execution, if it is determined in step ST48 that the comparison has been completed for all the passing points, the route guidance process ends.

  FIG. 6 (a) shows a case where it is clear that the estimated passing time of each passing point on the toll road is after the card expiration date as a result of calculating the estimated passing time for each toll for the toll priority search route. Show. In this case, it is possible to re-search for a route that passes through a general road (black arrow) instead of a route that passes through a toll road, and redraw the route.

  FIG. 6 (b) shows that, as a result of calculating the predicted passage time at each passing point for the toll priority search route, until the middle (between R3 and R4) passes the toll road within the expiration date. Although it is possible, the following shows the case where the expiration date expires. In this case, it is possible to re-search for a route to the general road (black arrow) within the expiration date and redraw the route.

  FIG. 6C shows a state in which it is determined that it is possible to pass the toll road within the expiration date as a result of calculating the predicted passage time at each passing point for the toll priority search route. In this case, a route passing through the toll road is searched.

  The navigation processing unit 25 calculates the estimated arrival time at the passing point on the route searched using the route search function, and calculates the estimated arrival time at the passing point and the connection interface unit 21 from the ETC in-vehicle device 1. When the expiration date of the ETC card 2 expires at the estimated arrival time at the passing point, a message indicating that is generated. The ETC vehicle-mounted device 1 can be configured to make an inquiry as to whether or not the vehicle travels on a toll road. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display device of the output unit 26 in this case. For example, “Do you pass the toll road without using ETC because the ETC card 2 expires? A message such as “?” Or “Do you travel on a toll road with cash payment?” Is displayed, and a screen example for notifying the user of other methods such as cash payment is shown. In response to this message, the user can select either by pressing the “YES” or “NO” button.

  Further, the navigation processing unit 25 calculates an estimated arrival time at a passing point on the route searched using the route search function, and calculates the estimated arrival time at the passing point and the connection interface unit 21 from the ETC in-vehicle device 1. When the expiration date of the ETC card 2 expires at the estimated arrival time at the passing point, a message indicating that is generated. In addition, it is possible to make an inquiry as to whether or not to travel on a general road without using the ETC in-vehicle device 1 and not on a toll road. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display device of the output unit 26 in this case. For example, “Would you like to search for a route passing through a general road?” Because the ETC card 2 has expired. An example of a screen for displaying a message and prompting a general road search is shown. In response to this message, the user can select either by pressing the “YES” or “NO” button.

  1 ETC in-vehicle device, 2 ETC card, 3 ETC roadside device, 11 ETC card connector, 12 ETC card control unit, 13 ETC antenna, 14 ETC antenna control unit, 15 ETC processing unit, 16 External interface unit, 21 Connection interface unit, 22 input unit, 23 position information detection unit, 24 map information acquisition unit, 25 navigation processing unit, 26 output unit.

Claims (5)

And the connection interface unit that Tokusu collected by the expiration date of the inserted ETC card in the ETC in-vehicle device,
A current time detection unit for detecting the current time;
Wherein comparing the expiration date acquired through the current time and the previous SL connection interface unit detected at the current time detecting unit, if the expiration date has expired the messages and other ETC card notifies the expiration A message prompting the replacement of the card, and if the message expires within a predetermined period, a message for notifying the expiration and a message prompting the replacement to another ETC card are generated ,
The estimated arrival time to the passing point on the route searched using the route search function is calculated, the calculated estimated arrival time is compared with the expiration date, and whether or not the estimated arrival time is within the expiration date. A navigation processing unit for generating a message representing
An output unit that outputs a message generated by the navigation processing unit. The navigation processing unit when the expiration date on the estimated arrival time expires searches a route through an般道path, if the is within the validity period, and characterized by searching for a route through the toll road The navigation device according to claim 1. The navigation processing unit when the expiration date on the estimated arrival time expires, to generate a message indicating that fact, that inquires whether traffic toll road without using the ETC onboard unit The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein: The navigation processing unit when the expiration date on the estimated arrival time expires, to generate a message indicating that effect, according to claim 1, wherein the inquiring whether traffic an般道path Navigation device. The navigation processing unit calculates the estimated arrival times at a plurality of passing points on a route passing through a toll road, and if the expiration date is expired at any of the estimated arrival times, The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the route to the road is searched again.

Images