Broadcasting system, broadcast receiving hardware systems, and navigation terminal

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6657558
  • Patent Number
    6,657,558
  • Date Filed
    Monday, August 13, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, December 2, 2003
    20 years ago
Abstract
To ensure that of all information transmitted through broadcast communications, only the information corresponding to the traveling route of a mobile body will be efficiently displayed at the information terminal of a car navigation system or the like, the information terminal is provided with: a means for receiving the spot or area information being transmitted, and receiving information that has been linked to the spot or area information being transmitted, a means for judging whether the spot or area information that has been received above is included in part of the spot or area information corresponding to the traveling route of the mobile body, and storage media for retaining the received spot or area information that the above-mentioned judgment means has judged to be included in the spot or area information corresponding to the traveling route of the mobile body.
Description




TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to information-providing systems based on radio communications satellite broadcasting.




PRIOR ART




As set forth in Japanese Application Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei-170628 (1998), one typical method of transmitting information to mobile bodies using a broadcasting system consists of the following steps:




Segmenting the information transmission range into smaller areas




Assigning an identification code to each area




Linking a communications channel to each identification code




Determining for each area the information to be transmitted




Transmitting information using the corresponding channel




Reading at the receiving side the identification code for the area corresponding to the current location of the mobile body




Selecting the appropriate receiving channel




Receiving the information linked to the corresponding area




Also, as set forth in Japanese Application Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei-259398 (1997), another typical method of transmission consists of the following steps:




Segmenting the information transmission range into smaller areas




Assigning an identification code to each area




Determining for each area the information to be transmitted




Transmitting information with each area identification code added to the information




Reading at the receiving side the identification code for the area corresponding to the current location of the mobile body




Selecting from all received information only the information matching the added identification code




The means of transmitting road regulation information to the drivers on the road in order to urge them to drive safely, refers to road signs or road markings. Drivers visually recognize the road signs or road markings located outside the respective vehicles. For such a road sign detection system as disclosed in Japanese Application Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei-269921 (1997), radio signal transmitters are installed at each component of road infrastructure, such as a road sign, and regulation information is transmitted to each driver via a carborne receiver to notify alarms and the like to the driver. The “STRIVE2: Development of an ITS Service Simulator” in IPS Research Reports Vol. 99, No. ITS-2, pp. 45-52 (IPS: Information Processing Society of Japan) reports that when viewing a road sign from a moving vehicle, it is difficult for the driver to momentarily confirm or judge details of the information contained in the road sign, such as time limits and the trafficability specified for each vehicle type, and that when the vehicle is driven at night or the driver's vision is blocked by a large vehicle, the driver is prone to overlook the traffic sign or signal. In order to solve these problems, therefore, the report mentioned above suggests implementing a driver support function that automatically displays only the necessary sign information at the carborne information terminal according to the particular type of vehicle or the time zone applied.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES





FIG. 1

is an explanatory diagram of a broadcasting system based on the present invention.





FIG. 2

is a processing flow diagram of a broadcasting method based on the present invention.





FIG. 3

is a functional block diagram of a broadcasting hardware system based on the present invention.





FIG. 4

is an explanatory diagram of segmented-area data structure based on the present invention.





FIG. 5

is an explanatory diagram of range-area data structure based on the present invention.





FIG. 6

is a processing flow diagram of the broadcasting method that covers time processing.





FIG. 7

is a processing flow diagram of the broadcasting hardware system that covers time processing.





FIG. 8

is an explanatory diagram of an approaching mobile body information transmission system based on the present invention.





FIG. 9

is an explanatory diagram of the area and available hour assignments in the approaching mobile body information transmission system.





FIG. 10

is an explanatory diagram of a range-of-influence information transmission system based on the present invention.





FIG. 11

is an explanatory diagram of the display formats of a transmitting hardware system based on the present invention.





FIG. 12

is an explanatory diagram of the receiving hardware system display formats applied when information is selected.





FIG. 13

is an explanatory diagram of the receiving hardware system display formats applied when no information is selected.





FIG. 14

is an explanatory diagram of the transmitting hardware system display formats applied when multiple sets of information is selected.





FIG. 15

is an explanatory diagram of the receiving hardware system display formats applied when the information to be prioritized is selected.





FIG. 16

is an explanatory diagram of the transmitting hardware system display formats applied when areas are specified by spots and distances.





FIG. 17

is an explanatory diagram of the receiving hardware system display formats applied when areas are specified by spots and distances.





FIG. 18

shows an information providing system that includes traffic information editing equipment, an embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 19

shows an information providing system that stores road regulation information into the vehicle.





FIG. 20

is a flowchart of processing in the embodiment of FIG.


19


.





FIG. 21

shows an information providing system that uses narrow-area radio communications as its communications means.





FIG. 22

is a flowchart of processing in the embodiment of FIG.


21


.





FIG. 23

shows an information providing system that uses bi-directional mobile communications as its communications means.





FIG. 24

is a flowchart of processing in the embodiment of FIG.


23


.





FIG. 25

shows an information providing system that uses multi-channel broadcasting as its communications means.





FIG. 26

is a flowchart of processing in the embodiment of FIG.


25


.





FIG. 27

shows an information providing system that uses multi-channel broadcasting and ex-vehicle information transmission as its communications means.





FIG. 28

shows an information providing system that manages the version of traffic regulation information.





FIG. 29

is a flowchart of processing in the embodiment of FIG.


28


.





FIG. 30

shows an example of the information representation means for presenting traffic regulation information to the driver.





FIG. 31

is a system block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 32

is a system block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 33

is a system block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 34

is a system block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 35

is a system block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 36

shows an example of route calculation based on the linked relationship between roads.





FIG. 37

shows an example of route calculation based on traffic regulation information.





FIG. 38

shows an example in which independent advertisement contents are supplied for each type of vehicle.





FIG. 39

shows an example in which independent advertisement contents are supplied for each type of vehicle.





FIG. 40

shows an example in which independent advertisement contents are supplied for each type of vehicle.





FIG. 41

shows an example in which independent advertisement contents are supplied for each type of vehicle.





FIG. 42

shows an example in which independent advertisement contents are supplied for each type of vehicle.





FIG. 43

shows an example in which independent advertisement contents are supplied for each type of vehicle.





FIG. 44

shows the layout of three information-providing sources and the contents of the corresponding information.





FIG. 45

shows a map.





FIG. 46

shows a map.





FIG. 47

is a diagram that outlines one method of supplying tourist guidance information intended for trains.





FIG. 48

shows an example of the contents of the information delivered from an information delivery station.





FIG. 49

shows another example of the contents of the information delivered from the information delivery station.





FIG. 50

shows still another example of the contents of the information delivered from the information delivery station.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




[Problems that the Invention is to Solve]




Car navigation systems and other hardware systems in mobile bodies so as to present information are capable of acquiring real-time information from external equipment and presenting accurate information according to the particular conditions of the external equipment. Thus, the convenience of users can be improved. The optimum route search functions of car navigation systems, for example, enable search accuracy to be improved by obtaining as appropriate the traffic trouble information relating to the events occurring ahead.




In that case, it is important “how to transmit real-time information from the external equipment”. In view of-factors such as communications costs and communicability, it is appropriate to use broadcast communications, a transmission method using a broadcasting system, to transmit information to multiple mobile bodies at the same time. This method suffices to transmit the same information to all mobile bodies.




Depending on the particular type of information, however, it may be necessary to limit the mobile bodies to which the information is to be transmitted. For example, even if traffic trouble information on the events occurring in areas not concerned with the corresponding vehicle is acquired and presented using the tourist guidance function of the car navigation system, convenience to the user will not improve significantly.




Also, when the broadcasting system is used, although a wide range of information is to be transmitted, processing these volumes of information applies a significant load to the car navigation terminal or the like.




In addition, traffic trouble information on not only the current event, but also the events occurring in the areas where the vehicle will enter in the future, must be presented beforehand to ensure that the tourist guidance function of the car navigation system is fully utilized.




The need arises, therefore, to consider transmitting information through broadcast communications and selecting the appropriate incoming information according to the current moving status of the mobile body and/or its further movement schedule.




The prior art described above poses the following problems:




Information can only be obtained in the area linked to the information.




Until the corresponding area has been reached, the information linked to that area cannot be selected.




Said prior art, therefore, has the inconvenience that:




Information related to the area to which the vehicle is about to move cannot be obtained beforehand.




For these reasons, it is not possible with said prior art to transmit information through broadcast communications and select the appropriate incoming information according to the current moving status of the mobile body and/or its further movement schedule.




One objective of the present invention is to realize the environment where the information matching the status of each mobile body can be presented by transmitting various information through broadcast communications and selecting only the appropriate incoming information according to the current moving status of each mobile body and/or its further movement schedule. In other words, enabling the preferential presentation of information highly convenient to specific users who move by car, especially, the users of car navigation terminals, is one objective of the present invention.




Another objective of the present invention is to provide support for the carborne information presentation system to present information according to the moving status of each mobile body and/or its further movement schedule.




Since they visually recognize the road signs, drivers are prone to overlook traffic signs. It is a very troublesome task to install communications equipment at each road sign in order to prevent oversight of a sign, and it is also difficult to update the regulation information that has once been set.




Still another objective of the present invention, therefore, is to supply traffic information editing equipment intended for concentrated management of traffic regulation information.




The present invention is intended to supply an information providing system by which the traffic regulation information specified by the conditions providing for the location, direction, and type of vehicle, the period of use of information, and details of the information, can be sent to the driver in the timing that the information is to be provided. That is, the present invention is intended to aid the user of the car navigation system in moving to the destination smoothly and in collecting information at the destination.




Still another objective of the present invention is to supply an information providing system that selectively delivers information according to the information stored within the vehicle or the particular geographical conditions of the vehicle.




Still another objective of the present invention is to supply an information providing system that enables traffic regulation information to be stored into the vehicle and updated as required.




[Means of Solving the Problems]




A broadcasting method for attaining the objectives described above is by combining: a transmitting method in which the information that specifies the spot or area to which the broadcasts are to be transmitted is added to these broadcasts and then the broadcasts are transmitted with the spot/area specifying information added; and a receiving method in which, after the information that specifies the spot or area where the intended vehicle currently exists or the spots or areas where the intended vehicle is likely to exist in the future has been retrieved as information 1 first, then the information specifying the spot or area to which the information that was added to the received broadcasts is to be transmitted has been retrieved as information 2, and above-mentioned information 1 and information 2 have been compared, only the necessary broadcast is selected on the basis of comparison results and then displayed.




Also, a broadcasting hardware system for attaining the objectives described above can be configured by combining: a transmitting hardware system that consists of equipment for transmitting broadcasts, equipment for entering the information specifying the spot or area to which the broadcasts are to be transmitted, and equipment for adding the entered spot/area specifying information to the broadcasts, and can transmit the spot/area specifying information in added form together with the broadcasts; and a receiving hardware system that consists of equipment for receiving broadcasts, equipment for retrieving the information that specifies the spot or area where the intended vehicle currently exists or the spots or areas where the intended vehicle is likely to exist in the future, equipment for retrieving the information specifying the spot or area to which the information that has been added to the received broadcasts is to be transmitted, equipment for comparing these types of spot/area specifying information, and equipment for selecting information, and can retrieve as information 1 the information that specifies either the spot or area where the intended vehicle currently exists or the spots or areas where the intended vehicle is likely to exist in the future, retrieve as information 2 the information that specifies the spot or area to which the information that has been added to the received broadcasts is to be transmitted, compare above-mentioned information 1 and information 2, select only the necessary broadcast on the basis of comparison results, and display the selected information.




The sequence from the transmission of broadcasts under the above-described method and hardware configuration to the selection of a broadcast is as follows: (1) the spot or area to which the broadcasts are to be transmitted is designated, (2) the information specifying the designated spot or area is added to the broadcasts, (3) the designated spot/area specifying information is transmitted in added form together with the broadcasts, (4) after receiving the broadcasts, retrieving either the spot or area information corresponding to the current location, or the information specifying the spots or areas to which the vehicle will enter in the future, (5) retrieving the spot/area specifying information that has been added to the received broadcasts, (6) comparing these types of information, and (7) selecting only the necessary information on the basis of comparison results and displaying the information.




Thus, the use of broadcast communications enables information to be transmitted and only the necessary information to be selected according to the moving status of each mobile body and/or its further movement schedule.




A broadcasting method for attaining the objective described above is by combining: a transmitting method in which the information that specifies the spot or area to which the broadcasts are to be transmitted is added to each broadcast and then these broadcasts are transmitted with the spot/area specifying information added; and a receiving method in which, after the information that specifies either the spot/area where the intended vehicle currently exists or the spots/areas where the intended vehicle is likely to exist in the future has been retrieved as information 1 first, then the information specifying the spot or area to which the information that was added to the received broadcasts is to be transmitted has been retrieved as information 2, and above-mentioned information 1 and information 2 have been compared, only the necessary broadcast is selected on the basis of comparison results and then displayed.




Also, a broadcasting hardware system for attaining the objectives described above can be configured by combining: a transmitting hardware system that consists of equipment for transmitting broadcasts, equipment for entering the information specifying the spot or area to which the broadcasts are to be transmitted, equipment for entering the effective time-of-day/available hours of information, equipment for adding spot/area specifying information to the broadcasts, equipment for adding the effective time-of-day/available hours of information to the broadcasts, and equipment for transmitting both the spot or area specifying information and the effective time-of-day/available hours of information in added form together with the broadcasts, and; a receiving hardware system that consists of equipment for receiving broadcasts, equipment for retrieving the information that specifies the spot or area where the intended vehicle currently exists or the spots or areas where the intended vehicle is likely to exist in the future, equipment for retrieving the information that specifies the spot or area to which the information that has been added to the received broadcasts is to be transmitted, equipment for retrieving the information that specifies the effective time-of-day/available hours of information for either the spot/area where the intended vehicle currently exists or the spots/areas where the intended vehicle is likely to exist in the future, equipment for retrieving the effective time-of-day/available hour information that has been added to the received broadcasts, equipment for comparing the information that specifies the effective-time-of-day/available hours of information, equipment for selecting information, and equipment for displaying information, and can retrieve as information 1 the information that specifies the spot or area where the intended vehicle currently exists or the spots or areas where the intended vehicle is likely to exist in the future, retrieve as information 2 the information that specifies the spot or area to which the information that has been added to the received broadcasts is to be transmitted, retrieve as information 3 the information that specifies the effective time-of-day/available hours of information for either the spot/area where the intended vehicle currently exists or the spots/areas where the intended vehicle is likely to exist in the future, retrieve as information 4 the effective time-of-day/available hour information that has been added to the received broadcasts, compare above-mentioned information 1 and information 2, comparing above-mentioned information 3 and information 4, select only the necessary broadcast on the basis of comparison results, and display the selected information.




The sequence from the transmission of broadcasts under the above-described method and hardware configuration to the selection of a broadcast is as follows: (1) the spot or area to which the broadcasts are to be transmitted is designated, (2) the effective time-of-day/available hours of information are designated, (3) the information specifying the designated spot or area and the information specifying the designated effective time-of-day/available hours is added to the broadcasts, (4) the designated spot/area specifying information and the designated effective time-of-day/available-hour specifying information are transmitted in added form together with the broadcasts, (5) after receiving the broadcasts, retrieving either the spot/area information corresponding to the current location, or the information specifying the spots/areas to which the vehicle will enter in the future, (6) retrieving the spot/area specifying information that has been added to the received broadcasts, (7) retrieving the information that specifies the effective time-of-day/available hours of information for either the spot/area where the vehicle currently exists or the spots/areas where the intended vehicle is likely to exist in the future, (8) retrieving the effective time-of-day/available-hour specifying information that has been added to the received broadcasts, (9) comparing the information that specifies these spots or areas, (10) comparing the time-of-day/available hour information, (11) selecting only the necessary information on the basis of comparison results, and (12) displaying the information.




Thus, the use of broadcast communications enables information to be transmitted and only the necessary information to be selected according to the moving status of each mobile body and/or its further movement schedule.




Also, in order to achieve the above-mentioned objective of implementing the concentrated management of traffic regulation information, traffic information editing equipment based on the present invention has a means for specifying the information-providing location, direction, period, and conditions, and entering road regulation information and event regulation information, and a means for storing the above-mentioned road regulation information and event regulation information into a memory.




An information providing system based on the present invention comprises the above-mentioned traffic information editing equipment, a communications base station that contains all or part of the traffic regulation information stored within the traffic information editing equipment, a vehicle, and a means for communicating between the communications base station and the vehicle. This vehicle has a means for receiving traffic regulation information from the communications base station, and a means for presenting the information to the persons within the vehicle. In this information providing system, the means for presenting traffic regulation information to the persons within the vehicle further includes either a visual display means or an audio notification means, or both, and a means for selecting whether traffic regulation information is to be presented.




In order to achieve the above-mentioned objective of supplying traffic regulation information to the driver in the necessary timing, the information providing system has absolute location measuring equipment, a means for deriving the direction of the vehicle from its absolute location information, a means for acquiring the traveling speed of the vehicle, a means for storing road regulation information into a memory, and either a means for presenting memory-stored road regulation information to the persons within the vehicle under the specified location, direction, period, and information providing conditions, or a means for calculating the timing of providing information and presenting memory-stored road regulation information to the persons within the vehicle, in the calculated timing; all these pieces of equipment and means being arranged in the vehicle interior.




In addition, in order to achieve the objective of delivering-information selectively according to the particular geographical conditions of the vehicle, the information providing system comprises the above-mentioned traffic information editing equipment, a communications base station that contains all or part of the traffic regulation information stored within the traffic information editing equipment, a vehicle with absolute location measuring equipment, and a narrow-area radio communications means for communicating from the communications base station to the vehicle. The vehicle with absolute location measuring equipment has a means for deriving the direction of the vehicle from its absolute location information, a means for acquiring the current time of day, a means for acquiring the traveling speed of the vehicle, a means for receiving traffic regulation information from the communications base station, a means for storing traffic regulation information into a memory, and either a means for presenting memory-stored road regulation information to the persons within the vehicle under the specified location, direction, period, and information providing conditions, or a means for calculating the timing of providing information and presenting memory-stored road regulation information to the persons within the vehicle, in the calculated timing.




In addition, in order to achieve the objective of delivering information according to the information stored within the vehicle, another information providing system based on the present invention comprises the above-mentioned traffic information editing equipment, a communications base station that contains all or part of the traffic regulation information stored within the traffic information editing equipment, a vehicle with absolute location measuring equipment, and a mobile two-way communications means for communicating between the communications base station and the vehicle. The communications base station has a means for picking traffic regulation information selectively on the basis of the information received from the vehicle, and transmitting the picked information to the vehicle. The vehicle with absolute location measuring equipment has a means for deriving the direction of the vehicle from its absolute location information, a means for acquiring the current time of day, a means for acquiring the traveling speed of the vehicle, a means for receiving traffic regulation information from the communications base station, a means for storing traffic regulation information into a memory, and either a means for presenting memory-stored traffic regulation information to the persons within the vehicle under the specified location, direction, period, and information providing conditions, or a means for calculating the timing of providing information and presenting memory-stored traffic regulation information to the persons within the vehicle, in the calculated timing.




Furthermore, in order to achieve the above-mentioned objective, still another information providing system based on the present invention comprises the above-mentioned traffic information editing equipment, a communications base station that contains all or part of the traffic regulation information stored within the traffic information editing equipment, a vehicle with absolute location measuring equipment, and a multi-channel broadcast communications means for communicating from the communications base station to the vehicle. The communications base station has a means for classifying internally stored traffic regulation information on the basis of the location, direction, period, and information providing conditions that have been specified from the traffic information editing equipment, then assigning the classified information to each channel, and transmitting the information. The vehicle with absolute location measuring equipment has a means for deriving the direction of the vehicle from its absolute location information, a means for acquiring the current time of day, a means for acquiring the traveling speed of the vehicle, a means for receiving electrical signals, a means for receiving traffic regulation information from the communications base station by changing the channel according to the particular absolute location, traveling direction, and vehicle type information of the vehicle, a means for storing traffic regulation information into a memory, and either a means for presenting memory-stored traffic regulation information to the persons within the vehicle under the specified location, direction, period, and information providing conditions, or a means for calculating the timing of providing information and presenting memory-stored traffic regulation information to the persons within the vehicle, in the calculated timing.




Furthermore, in order to achieve the objective of storing traffic regulation information inside the vehicle and updating the information as required, information providing systems based on the present invention comprise traffic information editing equipment provided with-a storage means for storing the version number of the traffic regulation information, and a vehicle capable of internally storing either the road regulation information that has been acquired beforehand, or the traffic regulation information that has been received before. These information providing systems also have a storage means for containing the version number of the traffic regulation information stored within the vehicle, and a means for comparing this version number and the version number of the latest traffic regulation information that has been acquired through communications, and if both version numbers differ, updating the traffic regulation information stored within the vehicle.




Another possible configuration uses a combination of: an information delivering method, which comprises the step of, prior to the broadcasting of information, adding to the information broadcast the information relating to the spot of the information transmission source, the distance herefrom, and the route hereto, and the step of broadcasting the information, and; an information receiving method, which comprises the step of calculating the route and the distance from the information specifying the current spot of the vehicle and from the spot information of the information transmission source that has been added to the delivered information, the step of comparing the calculated route and the route to the information transmission source that has been added to the delivered information, the step of comparing the calculated distance and the distance to the information transmission source that has been added to the delivered information, and the step of receiving only the necessary information on the basis of comparison results.




Another possible configuration uses the receiving hardware system that receives information to which the information relating to the spot of the information transmission source, the distance herefrom, and the route hereto, has been added; wherein the receiving hardware system has a means for calculating the route and the distance from the information specifying the current spot of the vehicle and from the spot information of the information transmission source that has been added to the delivered information, a means for comparing the calculated route and the route to the information transmission source that has been added to the delivered information, a means for comparing the calculated distance and the distance to the information transmission source that has been added to the delivered information, and a means for receiving only the necessary information on the basis of comparison results.




Still another possible scheme of providing information is by the information provider's creating the optimum independent information beforehand for each situation of the user, then adding the user's situation information to the corresponding broadcast information that has been created, and delivering the broadcast information with the user's situation information added.




It is desirable that the user's situation information under this information-providing scheme should be information relating to the position of the user.




It is also desirable that the user's situation information should be information relating to either the overall width, overall height, and overall length of the vehicle, or the type of engine of the vehicle, or the light-duty/medium-duty/heavy-duty classification of the vehicle.




It is also desirable that the user's situation information should be information relating to the location or railway line of the train.




[Embodiments of the Invention]




One embodiment of the present invention is described below seeing figures.




An overview of the terms used in the present invention is given below in order to make it easy to understand the invention.




“Broadcast communications” refers to television broadcasting, radio broadcasting, or other forms of information delivery not specifying the transmission destination.




The “effective time-of-day and/or available hours of information” refers to the limited time-of-day and/or hours during which traffic regulation information and other information on events can be acquired and used.




The term “spot” refers to the location specified by factors such as: the latitude, the longitude, and the relative distance from a reference point whose latitude and longitude are known.




The term “area” refers to the area specified by factors such as: the latitude, the longitude, and the relative distance from a reference point whose latitude and longitude are known.




An outline of a broadcasting system based on the present-invention is given in FIG.


1


.




In

FIG. 1

, numerals


100


,


110


,


120


,


130


,


150


, and


140


denote a broadcasting station, a digital radio broadcasting satellite, a global positioning system (GPS) satellite, a vehicle, a car navigation system, and information display by the car navigation system, respectively. Car navigation system


150


has receiving equipment based on the present invention. Also, car navigation system


150


is mounted in vehicle


130


and performs location detection, route search, and information presentation functions.




Likewise, numeral


190


denotes a satellite broadcast transmission signal from broadcasting station


100


, numeral


105


denotes a location confirmation signal from GPS satellite


120


, numeral


170


denotes the entire area range over which the information is to be transmitted, numeral


165


denotes the traveling route of vehicle


130


, numeral


160


denotes the area corresponding to traveling route


165


of vehicle


130


in entire area range


170


, numeral


180


denotes the information transmission area in entire area range


170


, numeral


135


denotes the area in entire area range


170


where vehicle


130


currently exists.





FIG. 1

assumes that entire area range


170


over which the information is to be transmitted is segmented into smaller areas.

FIG. 1

also assumes that the same information relating to the segmentation of the area range is stored in both broadcasting station


100


and car navigation system


150


and that the car navigation system is capable of identifying the location of vehicle


130


, receiving satellite broadcast signal


105


, and presenting information.




At broadcasting station


100


, after the area to which the traffic regulation information is to be transmitted has been set as area


180


, information that specifies area


180


is added to the traffic regulation information, which is then sent as satellite broadcast transmission signal


190


to digital radio broadcasting satellite


110


. After receiving satellite broadcast transmission signal


190


, digital radio broadcasting satellite


110


transfers the signal as satellite broadcast signal


105


.




Car navigation system


150


receives location confirmation signal


115


from GPS satellite


120


and derives the location of vehicle


130


from the signal. Car navigation system


150


also identifies area


135


as the area in entire area range


170


where vehicle


130


exists. In addition, car navigation system


150


derives area


160


from internally stored traveling route


165


, which has been entered by the driver beforehand or obtained using the route search function of the navigation system.




After receiving a broadcast, car navigation system


150


receives satellite broadcast signal


105


and retrieves traffic regulation information and area specifying information from the signal. In this embodiment of the present invention, information that specifies area


180


is retrieved. Car navigation system


150


compares the relationship between area


135


in which vehicle currently exists, area


160


corresponding to the traveling route, and retrieved-information transmission area


180


. In this embodiment of the present invention, since area


160


corresponding to the traveling route includes broadcasting area


180


, car navigation system


150


judges that there is a need to select the traffic regulation information included in satellite broadcast signal


105


. The traffic regulation information that has thus been selected is displayed as information


140


. Thus, traffic regulation information existing on traveling route


165


of vehicle


130


is displayed as information


140


at the terminal of car navigation system


150


.




It is thus possible to implement a broadcasting system that uses broadcast communications to transmit information, select only the necessary information from all received information according to the particular moving status of the mobile body and its future moving schedule, and present the selected information according to the particular situation of the mobile body.




A terrestrial wave transmission signal and a terrestrial broadcasting signal can be used, instead of satellite broadcast transmission signal


190


and satellite broadcast signal


105


, respectively. Also, terrestrial repeater equipment can be used, instead of digital radio broadcasting satellite


110


. In addition, broadcasting station


100


and navigation system


150


can respectively transmit and receive terrestrial waves also. In such a case, it is likewise possible by using terrestrial equipment only, not using a digital radio broadcasting satellite, to implement a broadcasting system that uses broadcast communications to transmit information, select only the necessary information from all received information according to the particular travel status of the mobile body and its future travel schedule, and present the selected information according to the particular situation of the mobile body.




Digital radio broadcasting satellite


110


can also be such that it is a digital radio satellite always positioned in the zenithal direction when viewed from the ground level, and navigation system


150


can also be such that its receiving gains are with respect to the corresponding digital radio satellite only. In such cases, it is possible to reduce receiving trouble due to the presence of buildings and other structures and to implement a broadcasting system that presents information according to the particular situation of the mobile body and without interrupting the broadcast.




The flow of processing of a broadcasting method based on the present invention is shown in FIG.


2


.




In

FIG. 2

, the processing steps taken at the transmitting side are shown as numerals


200


,


210


,


220


,


230


, and


250


. Similarly, the processing steps taken at the receiving side are shown as numerals


240


,


250


,


260


,


270


,


280


,


290


, and


295


.




In

FIG. 2

, numeral


200


denotes the start of processing at the transmitting side, numeral


250


denotes the process of entering the information to be broadcast, numeral


210


denotes the process of entering the spot or area to which the information broadcast is to be transmitted, numeral


220


denotes the process of adding to the information broadcast the information that specifies the spot or area to which the information broadcast is to be transmitted, and numeral


230


denotes the process of transmitting the information.




Numeral


240


denotes the start of processing at the receiving side, numeral


260


denotes the process of receiving broadcasts, numeral


270


denotes the process of retrieving the transmission destination information (the information specifying the spot or area to which the broadcast information is to be transmitted) that has been added to received information, numeral


280


denotes the process of retrieving the information that specifies the spot or area where the vehicle currently exists or the spots or areas where the intended vehicle is likely to exist in the future, numeral


290


denotes the process of comparing and analyzing the transmission destination information (the information specifying the spot or area to which the broadcast information is to be transmitted) that has been added to received information and the information specifying the spot or area where the vehicle currently exists or the spots or areas where the intended vehicle is likely to exist in the future, and numeral denotes the process of selecting only the necessary information from all received information.




For the transmission that begins with process


200


, the information to be broadcast is entered during process


250


, which is followed by processes


210


,


220


, and


230


, in that order. In process


210


, the spot or area to which the broadcast information is to be transmitted is entered; in process


220


, the information specifying the spot or area to which the broadcast information is to be transmitted is added to the information broadcast, and; in process


230


, the information is transmitted. Subsequently, control is returned to process


250


, from which the processing sequence is restarted again.




In receive processing that begins with process


240


, broadcasts are received during process


260


first. Subsequently, processes


270


,


280


,


290


, and


295


are performed in that order. In process


270


, the information specifying the spot or area to which the information broadcast is to be transmitted is retrieved from received information; in process


280


, the spot or area where the vehicle currently exists or the spots or areas where the intended vehicle is likely to exist in the future are derived and the information specifying these spots or areas is derived; in process


290


, the information that was retrieved in process


270


above (namely, the information specifying the spot or area to which the information broadcast is to be transmitted) and the information that was derived in process


280


above (namely, the information specifying the spot or area where the vehicle currently exists, or the information specifying the spots or areas where the vehicle is likely to exist in the future) are compared and analyzed, and; in process


295


, information is selected on the basis of the results of process


290


above. Subsequently, control is returned to process


260


, from which the processing sequence is restarted again.




In this way, the broadcasting method described above as an embodiment of the present invention can be implemented.




A functional block diagram of transmitting and receiving hardware systems based on the present invention is shown as FIG.


3


.




In

FIG. 3

, numerals


300


,


302


,


304


,


306


,


308


,


310


,


312


,


314


,


316


,


318


,


319


,


320


, and


322


denote the components of the transmitting hardware system. Likewise, numerals


324


,


326


,


328


,


330


,


322


,


334


,


336


,


338


,


340


,


342


,


344


,


346


,


348


, and


350


denote the components of the receiving hardware system.




In

FIG. 3

, equipment for entering the information to be broadcast is shown as


302


; equipment for adding transmission destination (spot or area) specifying information to the information to be broadcast, as


306


; equipment for transmitting the information, as


310


; equipment for entering the spot or area to which the information broadcast is to be transmitted, as


318


, and; equipment for linking the spot/area information and the spot/area specifying information, as


322


.




Likewise, the path for entering the information to be broadcast is shown as


300


; the path for transmitting the information to be broadcast, as


304


; the path for transferring the information to be transmitted, as


308


; the path for transferring spot/area specifying information, as


314


; the path for entering the spot or area, as


316


; the path for transmitting information, as


312


; the path for transmitting entered spot/area information, and; the path for transferring spot/area specifying information, as


320


.




Likewise, in

FIG. 3

, equipment for receiving broadcasts is shown as


326


; equipment for retrieving transmission destination (spot or area) specifying information from received information, as


330


; equipment for retrieving the information that specifies the spot or area where the vehicle currently exists or the spots or areas where the intended vehicle is likely to exist in the future, as


344


; equipment for linking entered spot/area information and spot/area specifying information, as


350


; equipment for comparing and analyzing the transmission destination (spot or area) specifying information and the information that specifies the spot or area where the vehicle currently exists or the spots or areas where the intended vehicle is likely to exist in the future, as


334


, and; equipment for selecting from all received information only the information to be transmitted.




The path for receiving information is shown as


324


; the path for displaying selected information, as


340


; the path for transferring received information, as


328


; the path for transferring the information that specifies the spot or area to which the information broadcast is to be transmitted, as


332


; the path for transmitting comparative judgment results, as


336


; the path for transmitting the information that specifies the spot or area where the vehicle currently exists or the spots or areas where the intended vehicle is likely to exist in the future, as


345


; the path for transmitting entered spot/area information, as


348


; the path for transmitting the spot/area specifying information, as


349


; the path for entering information on the spot or area where the vehicle currently exists, as


342


, and; the path for entering information on the spots or areas where the vehicle is likely to exist in the future, as


343


.




At the transmitting side, equipment


302


, equipment


306


, and equipment


318


are each provided with an information processing unit, a data processing unit, an input unit, an output unit, and storage units (such as a RAM, a magnetic tape unit, a magnetic disk unit, and/or an magneto-optic disk).




Likewise, equipment


322


has an information processing unit, a data comparative processing unit, an input unit, an output-unit, and storage units (such as a RAM, a ROM, a magnetic tape unit, a magnetic disk unit, an magneto-optic disk, and/or an optical disk).




Likewise, equipment


310


has an information processing unit, an input unit, an output unit, storage units (such as a RAM, a ROM, a magnetic tape unit, a magnetic disk unit, an magneto-optic disk, and/or an optical disk), and an terrestrial communications signal output unit or a satellite communications signal output unit.




Likewise, equipment


302


, equipment


306


, equipment


318


, equipment


322


, and equipment


310


can have the respective processing functions divided by programming to share an “information processing unit”. Equipment


302


, equipment


306


, equipment


318


, equipment


322


, and equipment


310


can also have the respective work areas divided to share “storage units”.




At the receiving side, equipment


326


has an information processing unit, an input unit, an output unit, storage units (such as a RAM, a magnetic tape unit, a magnetic disk unit, and/or an magneto-optic disk), and an terrestrial communications signal input unit or a satellite communications signal input unit.




Likewise, both equipment


330


and equipment


344


are provided with an information processing unit, an input unit, an output unit, and storage units (such as a RAM, a magnetic tape unit, a magnetic disk unit, and/or an magneto-optic disk).




Likewise, equipment


350


, equipment


334


, and equipment


338


are each provided with an information processing unit, a data comparative processing unit, an input unit, an output unit, and storage units (such as a RAM, a magnetic tape unit, a magnetic disk unit, and/or an magneto-optic disk).




Equipment


326


, equipment


330


, equipment


332


, equipment


334


, equipment


338


, equipment


344


, or equipment


350


can have the respective processing functions divided by programming to share an “information processing unit”. Equipment


326


, equipment


330


, equipment


332


, equipment


334


, equipment


338


, equipment


344


, or equipment


350


can also have the respective work areas divided to share “storage units”.




During communications, paths


312


and


324


are realized as, for example, a terrestrial communications path and a satellite communications path, respectively.




At the transmitting side, equipment


302


receives via path


300


the information broadcast, and transfers the information to equipment


306


via path


306


.




Equipment


318


receives transmission destination (spot/area) information via path


316


and transfers the information to equipment


322


via path


319


. Equipment


318


also receives via path


320


the spot/area specifying information corresponding to the transmission destination (spot/area) information, and sends the information to equipment


306


via path


314


.




Equipment


322


, after receiving transmission destination (spot/area) information and obtains spot/area specifying information via path


319


, sends the information to equipment


318


via path


320


.




After receiving the information broadcast and the information that specifies the transmission destination (spot or area), equipment


306


creates the information to be transmitted, by adding the transmission destination (spot/area) specifying information to the information broadcast, and then transfers the information to equipment


310


via path


308


.




After receiving the information broadcast, equipment


310


transmits the information via path


312


.




At the receiving side, equipment


326


receives broadcasts via path


324


and transfers the information to equipment


330


via path


328


.




Equipment


330


, after receiving information, retrieves broadcast information and transmission destination (spot/area) specifying information from the received information and transfers the broadcast information to equipment


338


via path


333


. Equipment


330


also transfers the transmission destination (spot/area) specifying information to equipment


334


via path


332


.




Equipment


344


receives via path


342


the information relating to the spot or area where the vehicle currently exists, and transfers the information to equipment


350


via path


348


. Equipment


344


also receives via path


349


the information that specifies the corresponding spot or area, and transfers the information to equipment


334


via path


345


.




In addition, equipment


344


receives via path


343


the information relating to the spots or areas where the vehicle is likely to exist in the future, and transfers the information to equipment


350


via path


348


. Furthermore, equipment


344


receives via path


349


the information that specifies the corresponding spots or areas, and transfers the information to equipment


334


via path


345


.




After receiving spot/area specifying information and the information that specifies the spot or area where the vehicle currently exists or the spots or areas where the intended vehicle is likely to exist in the future, equipment


334


performs comparative judgments on both types of information and sends the results to equipment


338


via path


336


.




After receiving all broadcast information and the comparative judgment result information, equipment


338


displays only the appropriate broadcast information according to the particular results of the comparative judgment, via path


340


.




Suppose that:




The information to be broadcast is character string information denoting “oo?XX traffic regulation”.




The entire area over which the information is to be transmitted is a rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(0, 0) (10, 10)”.




The entire area range over which the information is to be transmitted is segmented into rectangular areas each having “(differential longitude, differential latitude)=(2, 2)”.




Also, suppose that the information specifying each area is numeric character information represented as follows:




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(0, 0) (2, 2)” . . . “0”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(0, 2) (2, 4)” . . . “1”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(0, 4) (2, 6)” . . . “2”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(0, 6) (2, 8)” . . . “3”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(0, 8) (2, 10)” . . . “4”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(2, 0) (4, 2)” . . . “5”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(2, 2) (4, 4)” . . . “6”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(2, 4) (4, 6)” . . . “7”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(2, 6) (4, 8)” . . . “8”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(2, 8) (4, 10)” . . . “9”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(4, 0) (6, 2)” . . . “10”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(4, 2) (6, 4)” . . . “11”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(4, 4) (6, 6)” . . . “12”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(4, 6) (6, 8)” . . . “13”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(4, 8) (6, 10)” . . . “14”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(6, 0) (8, 2)” . . . “15”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(6, 2) (8, 4)” . . . “16”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(6, 4) (8, 6)” . . . “17”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(6, 6) (8, 8)” . . . “18”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude; longitude)=(6, 8) (8, 10)” . . . “19”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(8, 0) (10, 2)” . . . “20”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(8, 2) (10, 4)” . . . “21”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(8, 4) (10, 6)” . . . “22”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(8, 6) (10, 8)” . . . “23”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(8, 8) (10, 10)” . . . “


24”In addition, suppose that:






The area to which the information broadcast is to be transmitted is a rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(4, 4) (6, 6)”.




The location where the vehicle currently exists is represented as “(latitude, longitude)=(1, 1)”.




The locations where the vehicle will exist in the future are planned as “(latitude, longitude)=(3, 3) (5, 5) (7, 7)”.




First, the information broadcast, namely, “oo?XX traffic regulation” is entered into equipment


302


via path


300


.




The character string information denoting “oo?XX traffic regulation” is sent from equipment


302


to equipment


306


via path


304


.




The transmission destination (area) information “rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(4, 4) (6, 6)” is entered into equipment


318


via path


316


.




The transmission destination (area) information “rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(4, 4) (6, 6)” is sent from equipment


318


to equipment


322


via path


319


.




After receiving the transmission destination (area) information “rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(4, 4) (6, 6)”, equipment


322


obtains “12” as the numeric character information specifying the corresponding area, and transfers the information to equipment


318


via path


320


.




After receiving the numeric character information “12”, equipment


318


transfers the information to equipment


306


via path


314


.




Equipment


306


adds numeric character information “12” to the character string information “oo?XX traffic regulation” by inserting the delimiter identifier “+” between both, and transfers to equipment


310


via path


308


the resulting “oo?XX traffic regulation +12” information to be transmitted.




After receiving “oo?XX traffic regulation +12” as the information to be transmitted, equipment


310


transmits the information via path


312


.




Meanwhile, equipment


326


receives the character string information “oo?XX traffic regulation +12” via path


324


and transfers the information to equipment


330


via path


328


.




After receiving the character string information “oo?XX traffic regulation +12”, equipment


330


identifies the “+” delimiter identifier, then removes “12”, which is information that was added to specify the spot or area to which the information broadcast is to be transmitted, and sends the remaining information to equipment


334


via path


332


.




Also, all the broadcast information “oo?XX traffic regulation +12”, except the transmission destination (spot/area) specifying information “12”, is sent to equipment


338


via path


333


.




Meanwhile, the information “(latitude, longitude)=(1, 1)” that denotes the current location of the vehicle is entered into equipment


344


via path


342


.




Also, the information “(latitude, longitude)=(3, 3) (5, 5) (7, 7)” that denotes the locations to which the vehicle is scheduled to move in the future is entered into equipment


344


via path


343


.




After receiving the information that denotes the current location of the vehicle and the information that denotes the locations to which the vehicle is scheduled to move in the future, equipment


344


derives the areas corresponding to the current and future locations, and sends the following area information to equipment


350


via path


348


:




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(0, 0) (2, 2)”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(2, 2) (4, 4)”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(4, 4) (6, 6)”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(6, 6) (8, 8)”




Equipment


350


, after receiving the area information shown above, acquires the information specifying the corresponding areas, and sends the following codes in area-linked form to equipment


344


via path


349


:




“0”




“6”




“12”




“18”




After receiving both the information “0” that specifies the area where the vehicle currently exists, and the codes “6”, “12”, and “18” that specify the areas where the vehicle is likely to exist in the future, equipment


344


sends both types of information to equipment


334


via path


346


.




After receiving the area information-added transmission destination (spot/area) specifying information “12”, the information “0” that specifies the area where the vehicle currently exists, and the “12”, and “18” information that specifies the areas where the vehicle is likely to exist in the future, equipment


334


compares the three types of information, then judges that since part of the information specifying the areas where the vehicle is likely to exist in the future matches the information specifying the broadcast destination area, the corresponding information is to be selected from all received information, and sends the results to equipment


338


via path


336


.




Equipment


338


, after receiving the broadcast information “oo?XX traffic regulation” and the comparative judgment results, sends the broadcast information “oo?XX traffic regulation” to the required output unit via path


340


.




Thus, broadcast transmitting and receiving hardware systems based on the present invention can be configured.




In the above, it is possible, after adding broadcast destination area information to the information to be broadcast, instead of replacing the broadcast destination area information with the information that specifies the corresponding area, to transmit the broadcast destination area information intact as follows:




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(4, 4) (6, 6)”




Likewise, the information specifying the area where the vehicle currently exists, and the information specifying the areas where the vehicle is likely to exist in the future, can also be left intact as follows, instead of being replaced with the information that specifies the corresponding area:




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(0, 0) (2, 2)”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(2, 2) (4, 4)”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(4, 4) (6, 6)”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(6, 6) (8, 8)”




In addition, it is possible under this state to determine whether an included/overlapped relationship exists between areas, and to adopt the results as the results of comparative judgment in equipment


334


. In such a case, equipment can be configured without component


322


or


350


. Equipment can also be configured without segmenting the broadcasting range into small areas beforehand.




The likely future locations of the vehicle, set forth in this embodiment of the present invention, can likewise be set using the trip predicting information presented by a navigation system function such as a route search function. In this case, it is possible to configure equipment not requiring the selection of the information relating to the spots or areas where the vehicle is likely to exist in the future.




Methods of linking spot/area information and spot/area specifying information and examples of such linking equipment are shown in

FIGS. 4 and 5

.




In

FIG. 4

, numeral


400


denotes the entire range over which the information is to be transmitted, numeral


410


denotes an area code, and numeral


420


denotes the corresponding area.





FIG. 4

assumes that numeral


400


denoting the entire range over which the information is to be transmitted is divided as a rectangular area having “(differential longitude, differential latitude)=(2, 2)”.





FIG. 4

also assumes that an area identification code is assigned to each area.




Thus, all areas in range


400


where a certain location having “(latitude X, longitude Y)” is included can be uniquely identified by the respective identification codes.




Also, in

FIG. 4

, numerals


470


,


430


,


440


,


450


, and


460


denote spot/area information—spot/area specifying information linking equipment, an area information input terminal, an identification code input terminal, an output terminal, and a spot/area information—spot/area specifying information linking table, respectively.




The spot/area information and spot/area specifying information mentioned above are linked in the spot/area information—spot/area specifying information linking table.




When the area information “(latitude 1, longitude 1, latitude 2, longitude 2)” is sent to spot/area information—spot/area specifying information linking equipment


470


through area information input terminal


430


, the corresponding spot/area specifying information (identification code) within the spot/area information—spot/area specifying information linking table will be searched for and then retrieved through output terminal


450


.




When spot/area specifying information (identification code) is received through spot/area specifying information input terminal


440


, the corresponding spot/area information “(latitude 1, longitude 1, latitude 2, longitude 2)” within the spot/area information—spot/area specifying information linking table will be searched for and then retrieved through output terminal


450


.




At this time, when the area information “(latitude 1, longitude 1, latitude 2, longitude 2)=(4, 4, 6, 6)” is received through spot/area information input terminal


430


, identification code 12 will be retrieved as the corresponding spot/area specifying information through output terminal


450


.




Thus, one method of linking spot/area information and spot/area specifying information, and one example of such linking equipment can be realized without any spots or areas being overlapped.




The latitude and longitude used in this example can likewise be expressed as the relative distance in the orthogonal direction from a reference point.




In

FIG. 5

, numeral


500


denotes the entire range over which the information is to be transmitted, numerals


502


,


504


,


506


, and


508


denote area codes, and numerals


510


,


520


,


530


,


540


,


550


,


560


,


570


, and


580


denotes the corresponding areas.





FIG. 4

assumes that each area in the entire range over which the information is to be transmitted exists within certain radial distance of a reference point and that an area identification code is assigned to each area. Thus, all areas in range


400


where a certain location having “(latitude X, longitude Y)” is included can be identified as a plurality of areas maintained in an included relationship.




Also, in

FIG. 5

, numerals


545


,


505


,


515


,


525


, and


535


denote spot/area information—spot/area specifying information linking equipment, a spot/area information input terminal, an identification code input terminal, an output terminal, and a spot/area information—spot/area specifying information linking table, respectively.




The spot/area information and spot/area specifying information mentioned above are linked in the spot/area information—spot/area specifying information linking table.




When area information consisting of “(latitude, longitude, radius)” is sent to spot/area information—spot/area specifying information linking equipment


545


through spot/area information input terminal


505


, all the corresponding-area information (identification codes) within the spot/area information—spot/area specifying information linking table will be searched for and then retrieved through output terminal


525


.




When spot/area specifying information (identification code) is received through spot/area specifying information input terminal


515


, the corresponding area information “(latitude, longitude, radius)” within the spot/area information—spot/area specifying information linking table will be searched for and then retrieved through output terminal


525


.




Thus, another method of linking spot/area information and spot/area specifying information, and another example of such linking equipment can be realized with any spots or areas being overlapped.




The latitude and longitude used in this example can likewise be expressed as the relative distance in the orthogonal direction from a reference point.




The flow of processing in the information broadcasting method (based on the present invention) that takes the available hours of information into account is shown in FIG.


6


.




In

FIG. 6

, the processing steps taken at the information-transmitting side are shown as numerals


600


,


605


,


610


,


615


,


620


,


625


, and


635


. Similarly, the processing steps taken at the information-receiving side are shown as numerals


630


,


640


,


645


,


650


,


655


,


660


,


665


, and


670


.




In

FIG. 6

, numeral


600


denotes the start of processing at the information-transmitting side, numeral


635


denotes the process of entering the information to be broadcast, numeral


605


denotes the process of selecting the spot or area to which the information broadcast is to be transmitted, numeral


610


denotes the process of entering the effective time-of-day/available hours of the information to be broadcast, numeral


615


denotes the process of adding to the information broadcast the information that specifies the spot or area to which the information broadcast is to be transmitted, numeral


620


denotes the process of adding to the information broadcast the information that specifies the effective time-of-day/available hours of the information to be broadcast, and numeral


625


denotes the process of transmitting the information.




Also, in

FIG. 6

, numeral


630


denotes the start of processing at the information-receiving side, numeral


640


denotes the process of receiving broadcasts, numeral


645


denotes the process of retrieving from received information the transmission destination information (the information specifying the spot or area to which the broadcast information is to be transmitted), numeral


650


denotes the process of retrieving from received information the information that specifies the effective time-of-day/available hours of the information to be broadcast, numeral


655


denotes the process of retrieving the information that specifies the spot or area where the vehicle currently exists or the spots or areas where the intended vehicle is likely to exist in the future, numeral


660


denotes the process of comparing and analyzing the transmission destination information (the information specifying the spot or area to which the broadcast information is to be transmitted), the information specifying either the spot/area where the vehicle currently exists or the spots/areas where the intended vehicle is likely to exist in the future, and the information that specifies the effective time-of-day/available hours of information for either the current spot/area or likely future spots/areas of the vehicle, and numeral


670


denotes the process of selecting only the necessary information from all received information.




In transmission processing that begins with process


600


, the information to be broadcast is entered during process


635


first. Subsequently, processes


605


,


610


,


615


,


620


, and


625


performed in that order. In process


605


, the spot or area to which the information broadcast is to be transmitted is entered; in process


610


, information that specifies the effective-of-day/available hours of the information to be broadcast is entered; in process


615


, the information specifying the spot or area to which the information broadcast is to be transmitted is added to the information broadcast; in process


620


, information that specifies the effective-of-day/available hours of the information to be broadcast is added to the information broadcast, and; in process


625


, the information to be broadcast is transmitted. Subsequently, control is returned to process


635


, from which the processing sequence is restarted again.




In receive processing that begins with process


630


, broadcasts are received during process


640


first. Subsequently, processes


645


,


650


,


655


,


660


,


665


, and


670


are performed in that order. In process


645


, the information specifying the spot or area to which the information broadcast is to be transmitted is retrieved from received information; in process


655


, information that specifies either the spot/area where the vehicle currently exists or the spots/areas where the intended vehicle is likely to exist in the future is retrieved; in process.


655


, information that specifies the spot or area to which the information broadcast is to be transmitted, information that specifies either the spot/area where the vehicle currently exists or the spots/areas where the vehicle is likely to exist in the future, information that specifies the effective-of-day/available hours of information, and information that specifies either the spot/area where the vehicle currently exists or the spots/areas where the vehicle is likely to exist in the future, are compared and analyzed, and; in process


670


, information is selected on the basis of the results of process


665


above. Subsequently, control is returned to process


635


, from which the processing sequence is restarted again.




In this way, the broadcasting method that takes time into account, described above as an embodiment of the present invention, can be implemented.




If processing relating to the available hours of information is omitted from the above embodiment, the information broadcasting method shown in

FIG. 2

is to be adopted.




A functional block diagram of the information broadcasting hardware system (based on the present invention) that takes time into account, is shown as FIG.


7


.




In

FIG. 7

, numerals


300


,


302


,


304


,


306


,


700


,


702


,


704


,


310


,


312


,


314


,


316


,


318


,


319


,


320


,


322


,


706


,


708


,


710


,


711


,


712


, and


714


denote the components of the information-transmitting hardware system.




Likewise, numerals


324


,


326


,


328


,


330


,


716


,


720


,


721


,


722


,


724


,


726


,


728


,


730


,


732


,


734


,


342


,


343


,


344


,


348


,


349


,


350


,


735


,


736


,


738


,


739


,


740


,


742


, and


744


denote the components of the information-receiving hardware system.




In

FIG. 7

, equipment for entering the information to be broadcast is shown as


302


; equipment for adding transmission destination (spot or area) specifying information to the information to be broadcast, as


306


; equipment for adding effective-of-day/available hours information to the information to be broadcast, as


702


; equipment for transmitting the information, as


310


; equipment for entering the spot or area to which the information broadcast is to be transmitted, as


718


; equipment for linking the spot/area information and the spot/area specifying information, as


322


, and; equipment for linking the effective-of-day/available hours information and the information specifying this information.




Also, in

FIG. 7

, the path for entering the information to be broadcast is shown as


300


; the path for transmitting the information to be broadcast, as


304


; the path for transferring the spot/area specifying information that has been added to the information to be broadcast, as


700


; the path for transferring the spot/area specifying information and time-of-day/available-hour specifying information that have been added to the information to be broadcast, as


704


; the path for transferring the spot/area specifying information, as


314


; the path for entering spots or areas, as


316


; the path for transferring the spot/area specifying information, as


320


; the path for transferring the time-of-day/available-hour specifying information, as


706


; the path for entering the effective time-of-day/available hours of information, as


708


; the path for transferring the effective time-of-day/available hours of information, as


711


; the path for transferring the effective time-of-day/available-hour specifying information, as


712


.




Likewise, in

FIG. 7

, equipment for receiving broadcasts is shown as


326


; equipment for retrieving transmission destination (spot or area) specifying information from received information, as


330


; equipment for retrieving from received information the information that specifies the effective time-of-day/available hours of the information to be broadcast, as


722


; equipment for retrieving the information that specifies either the spot/area where the vehicle currently exists or the spots/areas where the intended vehicle is likely to exist in the future, as


344


; equipment for linking entered spot/area information and spot/area specifying information, as


350


; equipment for retrieving the information that specifies the time-of-day/available hours for the current spot or area of the vehicle or for the future likely spots or areas of the vehicle, as


736


; equipment for linking the time-of-day/available hours information and the time-of-day/available-hour specifying information, as


744


; equipment for comparing and analyzing the transmission destination (spot or area) specifying information, the information that specifies either the spot/area where the vehicle currently exists or the spots/areas where the intended vehicle is likely to exist in the future, the effective time-of-day/available-hour specifying information, and the information that specifies the time of day/available hours for either the spot/area where the vehicle currently exists or the spots/areas where the intended vehicle is likely to exist in the future, as


726


, and; equipment for selecting from all received information only the information to be transmitted, as


730


.




Furthermore, in

FIG. 7

, the path for receiving information is shown as


324


; the path for displaying selected information, as


340


; the paths for transferring received information, as


328


and


716


; the path for deleting spot/area specifying information from received information, as


721


; the path for transmitting the information that specifies the effective time-of-day/available hours of the information to be broadcast, as


724


; the path for transmitting the information that specifies the current spot or area of the vehicle or the likely futures pots or areas of the vehicle, as


734


; the path for entering the information that specifies the current spot or area of the vehicle, as


342


; the path for entering the information that specifies the likely future spots or areas of the vehicle, as


343


; the path for transmitting the specified spot/area information, as


348


; the path for transmitting the spot/area specifying information, as


349


; the path for transmitting the information that specifies the time of day/available hours for the current spot or area of the vehicle or for the likely future spots or areas of the vehicle, as


735


; the path for entering the information that specifies the time of day/available hours for the current spot or area of the vehicle, as


738


; the path for entering the information that specifies the time of day/available hours for the likely future spots or areas of the vehicle, as


739


; the path for transmitting time-of-day/available hours information, as


740


; the path for transmitting time-of-day/available-hour specifying information, as


742


; the path for transmitting comparative judgment results, as


728


; and the path for transferring transmitted information to the required output unit.




Both equipment


702


and equipment


710


are provided with an information processing unit, a data processing unit, an input unit, an output unit, and storage units (such as a RAM, a magnetic tape unit, a magnetic disk unit, and/or an magneto-optic disk).




Equipment


714


has an information processing unit, a data comparative processing unit, an input unit, an output unit, and storage units (such as a RAM, a magnetic tape unit, a magnetic disk unit, and/or an magneto-optic disk).




Equipment


302


, equipment


306


, equipment


318


, equipment


322


, equipment


702


, equipment


710


, equipment


714


, and equipment


310


can have the respective processing functions divided by programming to share an “information processing unit”.




Equipment


302


, equipment


306


, equipment


318


, equipment


322


, equipment


702


, equipment


710


, equipment


714


, and equipment


310


can also have the respective work areas divided to share “storage units”.




Both equipment


722


and equipment


736


have an information processing unit, an input unit, an output unit, and storage units (such as a RAM, a magnetic tape unit, a magnetic-disk unit, and/or an magneto-optic disk).




Equipment


744


, equipment


726


, and equipment


730


are each provided with an information processing unit, a data comparative processing unit, an input unit, an output unit, and storage units (such as a RAM, a magnetic tape unit, a magnetic disk unit, and/or an magneto-optic disk).




Equipment


326


, equipment


330


, equipment


722


, equipment


726


, equipment


730


, equipment


344


, equipment


350


, equipment


736


, and equipment


744


can have the respective processing functions divided by programming to share an “information processing unit”.




Equipment


326


, equipment


330


, equipment


722


, equipment


726


, equipment


730


, equipment


344


, equipment


350


, equipment


736


, and equipment


744


can also have the respective work areas divided to share “storage units”.




Equipment


302


receives via path


300


the information broadcast, and transfers the information to equipment


306


via path


304


.




Equipment


318


receives transmission destination (spot/area) information via path


316


and transfers the information to equipment


322


via path


319


. Equipment


318


also receives via path


320


the spot/area specifying information corresponding to the transmission destination (spot/area) information, and sends the information to equipment


306


via path


314


.




Equipment


322


, after receiving spot/area information and obtains the linked spot/area specifying information via path


319


, sends the information to equipment


318


via path


320


.




After receiving the information broadcast and the information that specifies the transmission destination (spot or area), equipment


306


creates the information to be transmitted, by adding the transmission destination (spot/area) specifying information to the information broadcast, and then transfers the information to equipment


700


via path


702


.




Equipment


710


receives via path


708


the effective time-of-day/available hours of the information to be broadcast, and transfers the information to equipment


714


via path


711


. Equipment


710


also receives via path


712


the linked information specifying the effective time-of-day/available hours of the information to be broadcast, and transfers the information to equipment


702


via path


706


.




Equipment


714


, after receiving via path


711


the time-of-day/available hours information and obtains the linked information specifying the time-of-day/available hours, sends the information to equipment


710


via path


712


.




After receiving the information broadcast, the transmission destination (spot/area) specifying information added hereto, and the information that specifies the effective time-of-day/available hours of the information broadcast, equipment


702


creates the information to be transmitted, by adding to the information broadcast the information that specifies the transmission destination (spot/area) and the information that specifies the effective time-of-day/available hours of the information broadcast, and then transfers the information to equipment


704


via path


310


.




After receiving the information broadcast, equipment


310


transmits the information via path


312


.




Equipment


326


receives broadcasts via path


324


and transfers the information to equipment


330


via path


328


.




Equipment


330


, after receiving information, retrieves from the received information the information that specifies the transmission destination (spot/area) information and transfers all the remaining information, except the transmission destination (spot/area) specifying information, to equipment


722


via path


720


. Equipment


330


also transfers the transmission destination (spot/area) specifying information to equipment


726


via path


721


.




Equipment


722


, after receiving the information obtained by deleting the transmission destination (spot/area) specifying information from received information, retrieves the information that specifies the effective time-of-day/available hours of information, and then transfers broadcast information to equipment


726


via path


724


.




Equipment


344


receives via path


342


the information relating to the spot or area where the vehicle currently exists, and transfers the information to equipment


350


via path


348


. Equipment


344


also receives via path


349


the information that specifies the corresponding spot or area, and transfers the information to equipment


726


via path


734


.




In addition, equipment


344


receives via path


343


the information relating to the spots or areas where the vehicle is likely to exist in the future; and transfers the information to equipment


350


via path


348


. Furthermore, equipment


344


receives via path


349


the information that specifies the corresponding spots or areas, and transfers the information to equipment


726


via path


734


.




Equipment


350


receives spot/area information via path


348


, then obtains the information specifying the corresponding spot(s) or area(s), and transfers the information to equipment


736


via path


349


.




Equipment


736


receives via path


738


the time-of-day/available hours information corresponding to the spot or area where the vehicle currently exists, and transfers the information to equipment


744


via path


740


. Equipment


736


also receives via path


742


the information that specifies the corresponding time-of-day/available hours, and transfers the information to equipment


726


via path


735


.




Equipment


736


receives via path


739


the time-of-day/available hours information corresponding to the spots or areas where the vehicle is likely to exist in the future, and transfers the information to equipment


744


via path


740


. Equipment


736


also receives via path


742


the information that specifies the corresponding time of day, available hours, and/or area, and transfers the information to equipment


726


via path


734


.




Equipment


744


receives time-of-day/available hour information via path


740


, then obtains the information specifying the corresponding time-of-day/available hours, and transfers the information to equipment


736


via path


742


.




After receiving the information that specifies the spot (s) or area (s)), the information that specifies the spot or area where the vehicle currently exists or the spots or areas where the intended vehicle is likely to exist in the future, and the time-of-day/available hours information corresponding to the spot/area where vehicle currently exists or the spots/areas where the vehicle is likely to exist in the future, equipment


726


performs comparative judgments on all these types of information and sends the results to equipment


730


via path


728


.




After receiving all broadcast information and the comparative judgment result information, equipment


730


displays only the appropriate broadcast information according to the particular results of the comparative judgment, via path


732


.




Suppose that:




The information to be broadcast is character string information denoting “oo?XX traffic regulation”.




The entire area over which the information is to be transmitted is a rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(0, 0) (10, 10)”.




The entire area range over which the information is to be transmitted is segmented into rectangular areas each having “(differential longitude, differential latitude)=(2, 2)”.




Also, suppose that the information specifying each area is numeric character information represented as follows:




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(0, 0) (2, 2)” . . . “0”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(0, 2) (2, 4)” . . . “1”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(0, 4) (2, 6)” . . . “2”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(0, 6) (2, 8)” . . . “3”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(0, 8) (2, 10)” . . . “4”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(2, 0) (4, 2)” . . . “5”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(2, 2) (4, 4)” . . . “6”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(2, 4) (4, 6)” . . . “7”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set'to “(latitude, longitude)=(2, 6) (4, 8)” . . . “8”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(2, 8) (4, 10)” . . . “9”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(4, 0) (6, 2)” . . . “10”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(4, 2) (6, 4)” . . . “11”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(4, 4) (6, 6)” . . . “12”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(4, 6) (6, 8)” . . . “13”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(4, 8) (6, 10)” . . . “14”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(6, 0) (8, 2)” . . . “15”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(6, 2) (8, 4)” . . . “16”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(6, 4) (8, 6)” . . . “17”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(6, 6) (8, 8)” . . . “18”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(6, 8) (8, 10)” . . . “19”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(8, 0) (10, 2)” . . . “20”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(8, 2) (10, 4)” . . . “21”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(8, 4) (10, 6)” . . . “22”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(8, 6)(10, 8)” . . . “23”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(8, 8) (10, 10)” . . . “24”




In addition, suppose that:




The area to which the information broadcast is to be transmitted is a rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(4, 4) (6, 6)”.




The available hours of the information to be broadcast is “(start, end)=(10:00, 11:00)”.




The location where the vehicle currently exists is represented as “(latitude, longitude, time of day)=(1, 1, 09:00)”.




The locations where the vehicle will exist in the future are planned as “(latitude, longitude, time of day)=(3, 3, 09:30) (5, 5, 10:00) (7, 7, 10:30)”.




The information to be broadcast, namely, “oo?XX traffic regulation” is then be assigned to equipment


302


via path


300


.




The character string information denoting “oo?XX traffic regulation” is transferred from equipment


302


to equipment


306


via path


304


.




The broadcast destination area information “rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(4, 4) (6, 6)” is entered into equipment


318


via path


316


.




The broadcast destination area information “rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(4, 4) (6, 6)” is transferred from equipment


318


to equipment


322


via path


319


.




After receiving the broadcast destination area information “rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(4, 4) (6, 6)”, equipment


322


obtains “12” as the numeric character information specifying the corresponding area, and transfers the information to equipment


318


via path


320


.




After receiving the numeric character information “12”, equipment


318


transfers the information to equipment


306


via path


314


.




Equipment


306


adds numeric character information “12” to the character string information “oo?XX traffic regulation” by inserting the delimiter identifier “+” between both, and transfers the resulting “oo?XX traffic regulation +12” information to equipment


702


via path


700


.




Meanwhile, “10:00? 11:00”, which is character string information denoting the available hours of the information to be broadcast, is entered into equipment


710


via path


708


.




Equipment


710


transfers “10:00? 11:00”, which is character string information denoting the available hours of the information to be broadcast, to equipment


714


via path


711


.




After receiving “10:00? 11:00” that is the character string information denoting the available hours of the information to be broadcast, equipment


714


obtains the information that specifies the corresponding time of day, and then sends the numeric character information “10001100” to equipment


710


via path


712


.




Equipment


702


adds numeric character information “1001100” to the character string information “oo?XX traffic regulation +12”, by inserting the delimiter identifier “@” between both, and transfers the resulting “oo?XX traffic regulation +12@1001100” information to equipment


316


via path


704


.




After receiving the character string information “oo?XX traffic regulation +12@100110011”, equipment


310


transmits the information via path


312


.




Meanwhile, equipment


326


receives the character string information “oo?XX traffic regulation +12@1001100” via path


324


and transfers the information to equipment


330


via path


328


.




After receiving the character string information “oo?XX traffic regulation +12@1001100”, equipment


330


identifies the “+” and “@” delimiter identifiers, then remove “12”, which is information that was added to specify the spot or area to which the broadcast information is to be transmitted, and sends the remaining information to equipment


726


via path


721


.




Equipment


330


also sends the character string information “oo?XX traffic regulation@10001100”, which is information left after the transmission destination area specifying information “12” has been deleted, to equipment


722


via path


720


.




After receiving the character string information “oo?XX traffic regulation@10001100”, equipment


330


identifies the “@” delimiter identifier, then removes “1000110011”, which is information that was added to specify the available hours of information, and sends the remaining information to equipment


726


via path


724


.




Equipment


722


also sends the character string information “oo?XX traffic regulation”, which is information left after the available-hour specifying information “10001100” has been deleted, to equipment


730


via path


716


.




Meanwhile, the information “(latitude, longitude)=(1, 1)” that denotes the current location of the vehicle is entered into equipment


344


via path


342


.




Also, the information “(latitude, longitude)=(3, 3) (5, 5) (7, 7) ” that denotes the locations to which the vehicle is scheduled to move in the future is entered into equipment


344


via path


343


.




After receiving the information that denotes the current location of the vehicle and the information that denotes the locations to which the vehicle is scheduled to move in the future, equipment


344


derives the areas corresponding to the current and future locations, and sends the following area information to equipment


350


via path


348


:




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(0, 0) (2, 2)”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(2, 2) (4, 4)”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(4, 4) (6, 6)”




Rectangular area with its diagonal vertex set to “(latitude, longitude)=(6, 6) (8, 8)”




Equipment


350


, after receiving the area information shown above, acquires the information specifying the corresponding areas, and sends the following codes in area-linked form to equipment


344


via path


349


:




“0”




“6”




“12”




“18”




After receiving both the information “0” that specifies the area where the vehicle currently exists, and the codes “6”, “12”, and “18” that specify the areas where the vehicle is likely to exist in the future, equipment


344


sends both types of information to equipment


334


via path


346


.




Meanwhile, the information “(latitude, longitude, time of day)=(1, 1, 09:00)” that denotes the time at the current location of the vehicle is entered into equipment


736


via path


738


.




Also, the information “(latitude, longitude, time of day)=(3, 3, 09:30) (5, 5, 10:00) (7, 7, 10:30)” that denotes the time at the likely future locations of the vehicle is entered into equipment


736


via path


739


.




Equipment


736


derives, from the information that denotes the time at the current and likely future locations of the vehicle, the information that specifies the corresponding time, and then transfers the information to equipment


736


via path


742


, as follows:




“09000900”




“09300930”




“10001000”




“10301030”




Equipment


736


, after receiving the information that specifies the current area of the vehicle, the information that specifies the likely future areas of the vehicle, the information that specifies the time at the current area of the vehicle, and the information that specifies the time at the likely future areas of the vehicle, transfers these types of information to equipment


726


via path


734


, as follows:




(area specifying information, time specifying information)=(“0”, “09000900”), (“6”, “09300930”), (“12”, “10001000”), (“18”, “103010030”)




After receiving the broadcast destination area specifying information and the available-hour specifying information (“12”, “10001100”), the vehicle's current area specifying information and time-of-day specifying information (“0”, “09000900”), the vehicle's likely future area specifying information and time-of-day specifying information (“6”, “09300930”), (“12”, “10001000”), (“18”, “10301030”), equipment


726


compares these types of information, then judges that since part of the information specifying the areas where the vehicle is likely to exist in the future matches the information specifying the broadcast destination area and the available hours, the corresponding information is to be selected from all the received information, and sends the results to equipment


730


via path


728


.




Equipment


730


, after receiving the broadcast information “oo?XX traffic regulation” and the comparative judgment results, sends the broadcast information “oo?XX traffic regulation” to the required output unit via path


732


.




Thus, the information selecting equipment, based on the present invention, that takes the time of day into account, can be configured.




The likely future locations and time of the information-receiving vehicle, set forth in this embodiment of the present invention, can likewise be set using the trip predicting information presented by a navigation system function such as a route search function. In this case, it is possible to configure equipment that selects information according to the particular trip status of the driver and taking time into account.




Explanatory diagrams of an approaching mobile body information transmission system based on the present invention are shown as

FIGS. 8 and 9

.




In

FIG. 8

, numeral


150


denotes a car navigation system having receiving equipment based on the present invention.




In

FIG. 8

, numerals


100


,


110


,


120


, and


130


denote a broadcasting station, a digital radio communications satellite, a GPS satellite, and a vehicle, respectively.




Also, in

FIG. 8

, numeral


800


denotes the emergency vehicle to which the information is to be transmitted, and numeral


880


denotes the display of information at the terminal of car navigation system


150


.




Likewise, numeral


820


denotes a satellite broadcast transmission signal from broadcasting station


100


, numeral


830


denotes a satellite broadcasting signal from digital radio broadcasting satellite


110


, numerals


840


and


850


denote location confirmation signals from global positioning system (GPS) satellite


120


, numeral


170


denotes the entire spot/area range over which the information is to be transmitted, numeral


865


denotes the traveling route of vehicle


130


, numeral


860


denotes the area corresponding to traveling route


865


of vehicle


130


in the broadcasting range


170


of the digital radio broadcasting satellite, numerals


870


,


872


,


874


, and


876


denote the areas to which the information is to be transmitted, and numeral


810


denotes the terrestrial communications signal sent from emergency vehicle


800


to broadcasting station


100


.




Assume that car navigation system


150


is mounted in vehicle


130


and performs location detection, route search, and information presentation functions.




A plan view of the range, areas, and paths, is shown as FIG.


9


.




In

FIG. 9

, numeral


900


denotes the area/time linking table for the travel of vehicle


130


, and numeral


900


denotes the table of linking the information specifying the information transmission destination areas and the information specifying the available hours of information.




In

FIG. 9

, numerals


902


,


904


,


906


,


908


,


912


,


914


, and


916


denote the information that specifies the areas on the traveling route of vehicle


130


.




In

FIG. 9

, numerals


901


,


903


,


905


,


907


,


909


,


911


, and


913


denote the information that specifies the time of day on the traveling route of vehicle


130


.





FIGS. 8 and 9

assume that entire transmission range


170


is segmented into smaller areas.





FIGS. 8 and 9

also assume that the same information relating to the segmentation of the area range is stored in both broadcasting station


100


and car navigation system


150


.




In addition,

FIGS. 8 and 9

assume that the information is to be transmitted to areas


870


,


872


,


874


, and


876


.




Furthermore,

FIGS. 8 and 9

assume that vehicle


130


moves within the range of area


860


that includes traveling route


865


.




Also,

FIGS. 8 and 9

assume that car navigation system


150


is capable of identifying the location of vehicle


130


, receiving satellite broadcast signal


830


, and presenting information.




Broadcasting station


100


has the capabilities to: obtain traveling route information on emergency vehicle


800


; derive areas


870


,


872


,


874


, and


876


, as the corresponding areas; pick “Emergency vehicle approaching” as the information to be broadcast, and area specifying information


930


, area specifying information


940


, area specifying information


950


, and area specifying information


960


, as the information that specifies the transmission destination areas; pick a certain range of time existing before and after the estimated time of arrival at each area (namely, time


935


, time


945


, time


955


, and time


965


) as the available hours of the information to be transmitted; add area specifying information and time/available-hour specifying information to the information to be broadcast; and send the information to digital radio broadcasting satellite


110


.




Digital radio broadcasting satellite


110


that has received satellite broadcast transmission signal


820


converts the signal into satellite broadcast signal


830


and transfers this signal.




Car navigation system


150


receives location confirmation signal


850


from GPS satellite


120


and identifies the location of vehicle


130


.




Car navigation system


150


also identifies area


835


as the area in entire transmission destination area range


170


where vehicle


130


exists.




In addition, car navigation system


150


retrieves from internally stored traveling route


865


, which has been entered by the driver beforehand or obtained using the route search function of the navigation system: area specifying information


902


, area specifying information


904


, area specifying information


906


, area specifying information


908


, area specifying information


912


, area specifying information


914


, area specifying information


916


, estimated-arrival time specifying information


901


, time specifying information


901


, time specifying information


901


, time specifying information


903


, time specifying information


905


, time specifying information


907


, time specifying information


909


, time specifying information


911


, time specifying information


913


, and time specifying information


915


.




Furthermore, car navigation system


150


receives satellite broadcast signal


830


and retrieves the information that has been broadcast, the information specifying the transmission destination areas, and the information specifying the available hours of the broadcast information.




In this embodiment of the present invention, area specifying information


930


, area specifying-information


940


, area specifying information


950


, and area specifying information


960


are retrieved as the information that specifies the transmission destination areas.




Also, information


935


, information


945


, information


955


, and information


965


are retrieved as the information that specifies the time corresponding to each area mentioned above.




Car navigation system


150


compares the relationship between the information that specifies the current area


835


of the vehicle and the area


860


corresponding to the traveling route (namely, area specifying information


902


, area specifying information


904


, area specifying information


906


, area specifying information


908


, area specifying information


912


, area specifying information


914


, and area specifying information


916


) and the information that has been retrieved from received information (namely, area specifying information


930


, area specifying information


940


, area specifying information


950


, and area specifying information


960


). Car navigation system


150


also compares the relationship between the information that specifies the available hours of the retrieved information (namely, time specifying information


935


, time specifying information


945


, time specifying information


955


, and time specifying information


965


), information


902


, which denotes the time of day in the current area of the vehicle, and information


904


,


906


,


908


,


912


,


914


, and


916


, which denotes the time of day in each likely future area of the vehicle.




At this time, since in the area


860


corresponding to the traveling route, the time “110:25” the vehicle


130


exists is included in the available hours information


940


(area “13“, time “10:22?10:27”), car navigation system


150


selects broadcast information “Emergency vehicle approaching” included in transferred signal


830


.




Thus, car navigation system


150


presents display


880


.




It is thus possible to implement a system that uses broadcast communications to select information according to the particular relative position with respect to a mobile body and transmit the information.




In this embodiment of the present invention, emergency vehicle


800


can likewise use GPS satellite


120


to: detect the position of the vehicle itself, send this information to broadcasting station


100


through terrestrial or satellite communications, and determine/transmit the appropriate transmission destination spot/area and effective time-of-day/available hours of information according to the moving status of the emergency vehicle itself.




The determination of a transmission destination spot/area and effective time-of-day/available hours of information, based on the real-time location information relating to emergency vehicle


800


, is possible in that case.




An explanatory diagram of a range-of-influence information transmission system based on the present invention is shown as FIG.


10


.




In

FIG. 10

, numeral


150


denotes a car navigation system having receiving equipment based on the present invention.




Also, numeral


1070


denotes the spot where an emergency occurred.




In addition, in

FIG. 10

, numeral


1050


denotes the information display presented by the car navigation system, and numerals


1052


,


1054


, and


1056


denote the information items that constitute information display


150


.




Furthermore, in

FIG. 10

, numerals


100


,


110


,


120


, and


130


denote a broadcasting station, a digital radio communications satellite, a GPS satellite, and a vehicle, respectively.




Also, numeral


1000


denotes a satellite broadcast transmission signal from broadcasting station


100


, numeral


1010


denotes a satellite broadcasting signal from digital radio broadcasting satellite


110


, numerals


1015


denotes a location confirmation signal from GPS satellite


120


, numeral


170


denotes the entire spot/area range over which the information is to be transmitted, numeral


1060


denotes the traveling route of vehicle


130


, and numerals


1020


,


1030


, and


1040


denote the areas to which the information is to be transmitted.




Assume that car navigation system


150


is mounted in vehicle


130


and performs location detection, route search, and information presentation functions.




Also, assume that vehicle


130


moves along route


1080


.




In addition, assume that an emergency occurred at spot


1070


and-that “Road collapsed”, “Traffic cut off”, and “Congested” are broadcast as related event information.




At this time, the area


1020


corresponding to the range of influence of the event “Road collapsed”, the area


1030


corresponding to the range of influence of the event “Traffic cut off”, and the area


1040


corresponding to the range of influence of the event “Congested” are obtained and the range of influence of each event is taken as the transmission range of the corresponding information.




At broadcasting station


100


, information on each event is obtained first. Next, “Road collapsed”, “Traffic cut off”, and “Congested” are set as the information to be broadcast, and areas


1020


,


1030


, and


1040


are set as the broadcasting destination areas. After this, the duration of each event is set as the available hours of information, then the information specifying each area and the information specifying the available hours of each set of information are added to the information to be broadcast, and satellite broadcast transmission signal


1010


is sent to digital radio broadcasting satellite


110


.




Digital radio broadcasting satellite


110


that has received satellite broadcast transmission signal


1000


converts the signal into satellite broadcast signal


1010


and transfers this signal.




Car navigation system


150


receives location confirmation signal


1015


from GPS satellite


120


and identifies the location of vehicle


130


.




Car navigation system


150


also identifies traveling route


1080


, which has been entered by the driver beforehand or obtained using the route search function of the navigation system. After that, the navigation system identifies the estimated time of arrival at the spot on the route.




In addition, car navigation system


150


receives satellite broadcast signal


1010


and retrieves the information that has been broadcast, the information specifying the transmission destination areas, and the information specifying the available hours of the broadcast information.




In this embodiment of the present invention, information that specifies areas


1020


,


1030


, and


1040


, is retrieved.




Also, information that specifies the durations of the events “Road collapsed”, “Traffic cut off”, and “Congested”, is retrieved.




Car navigation system


150


compares the relationship between the information specifying the area of the traveling route


1080


of vehicle


130


, the information specifying the area


1020


that has been retrieved from received information, information that specifies area


1030


, and information that specifies area


1040


, and the relationship between the information specifying the time of day on the traveling route


1080


of vehicle


130


, and the event duration specifying information that has been retrieved from received information.




At this time, the time of day on the traveling route


1080


of vehicle


130


is included in the duration of each event.




Also, areas are prioritized in order of the rate of inclusion of the information relating to traveling route


1060


and the corresponding information is selected in that order.




In this case, areas


1040


,


1030


, and


1020


are prioritized, in that order, in terms of the rate of the information relating to traveling route


1060


. “Road collapsed”, “Traffic cut off”, and “Congested” correspondingly take higher priority, in that order, as the event information.




Accordingly, car navigation system


150


presents information items


1052


,


1054


, and


1056


, in that order, as information display


1050


.




It is thus possible to implement a system that uses broadcast communications to select information according to the particular influence range of an event and transmit the information.




Explanatory diagrams of the displays made in the operating and display modes of the transmitting and receiving hardware systems that can be implemented per the present invention are shown as

FIGS. 11

,


14


, and


16


.




In this embodiment of the present invention, the transmitting equipment shown in

FIG. 3

is equipped with connected display and input units to enable various information to be entered and displayed.




In

FIG. 11

, numeral


1100


denotes the screen display for selecting information transmission destination spots or areas, and numeral


1110


denotes the screen display for entering the information to be broadcast.




In

FIG. 11

, numeral


1120


denotes the map display corresponding to the entire range of information transmission destination spots or areas, numeral


1130


denotes spot/area selection display, numeral


1135


denotes the display area for entering the starting time of available hours, numeral


1137


denotes the display area for entering the ending time of available hours, numeral


1140


denotes a spot/area selection indicator, numeral


1150


denotes details of the information to be broadcast, and numerals


1145


and


1160


denote entry completion buttons.




The entire range of information transmission destinations is divided into smaller areas in lateral and longitudinal directions, and the map display


1120


corresponding to the entire range of information transmission destination spots or areas has plotting line marks keyed to the area boundaries.




Area selection display


1130


can be made by selecting the plotting-line display within map display


1120


.




Also, display area


1135


for entering the starting time of available hours of information, and display area


1137


for entering the ending time of available hours of the information appear when the starting time and ending time of available hours of the corresponding information are entered.




Subsequent selection of entry completion button


1145


completes the selection of the information transmission destination area and changes the display mode from screen display


1100


to screen display


1110


.




On screen display


1110


, information


1150


is entered as the information to be broadcast to the selected area.




Subsequent selection of entry completion button


1160


by the movement of area selection indicator


1140


to this button completes entry of the information to be broadcast, and returns the display mode from screen display


1110


to screen display


1100


again.




It is thus possible to enter and display information using the transmitting equipment set forth in the present invention.




In

FIG. 14

, numeral


1100


denotes the screen display for selecting information transmission destination areas, and numeral


1110


denotes the screen display for entering the information to be broadcast.




In

FIG. 14

, numeral


1400


denotes the map display corresponding to the entire range of information transmission destination spots or areas, numerals


1402


, and


1404


, and


1406


denote spot/area selection displays, numeral


1440


denotes the display area for entering the starting time of available hours, numeral


1450


denotes the display area for entering the ending time of available hours, numeral


1140


denotes a spot/area selection indicator, numerals


1410


,


1420


, and


1430


denote details of the information to be broadcast, and numerals


1145


and


1160


denote entry completion buttons.




The entire range of information transmission destinations is divided into smaller areas in lateral and longitudinal directions, and the map display


1400


corresponding to the entire range of information transmission destination spots or areas has plotting line marks keyed to the area boundaries.




Area selection displays


1402


, and


1404


, and


1406


can be made by selecting the plotting-line display within map display


1400


using area selection indicator


1140


.




Also, display area


1440


for entering the starting time of available hours of information, and display area


1450


for entering the ending time of available hours of the information appear when the starting time and ending time of available hours of the corresponding information are entered.




Subsequent selection of entry completion button


1145


by the movement of area selection indicator


1140


to this button completes the selection of the areas and changes the display mode from screen display


1100


to screen display


1110


.




On screen display


1110


, information


1410


, information


1420


, and information


1430


are entered as the information to be broadcast to the selected areas.




In this embodiment of the present invention, information


1410


, information


1420


, and information


1430


are entered as the information corresponding to area display


1402


, the information corresponding to area display


1404


, and the information corresponding to area display


1406


.




Subsequent selection of entry completion button


1160


by the movement of area selection indicator


1140


to this button completes entry of the information to be broadcast, and returns the display mode from screen display


1110


to screen display


1100


again.




Thus, it is also possible to enter and display information using the transmitting equipment set forth in the present invention.




In

FIG. 16

, numeral


1100


denotes the screen display for selecting information transmission destination spots or areas, and numeral


1110


denotes the screen display for entering the information to be broadcast.




In

FIG. 16

, numeral


1600


denotes the map display corresponding to the entire range of information transmission destination spots or areas, numeral


1620


denotes spot/area selection display, numeral


1610


denotes the starting point and radius of the area shown on area selection display


1620


, numeral


1630


denotes the display area for entering the starting time of available hours, numeral


1640


denotes the display area for entering the ending time of available hours, numeral


1140


denotes a spot/area selection indicator, numeral


1650


denote details of the, information to be broadcast, and numerals


1145


and


1160


denote entry completion buttons.




Area selection display


1620


can be made by specifying and adding a certain starting point in map display


1600


using spot/area selection indicator


1140


, and then specifying the radius from the starting point.




Also, display area


1630


for entering the starting time of available hours of information, and display area


1640


for entering the ending time of available hours of the information appear when the starting time and ending time of available hours of the corresponding information are entered.




Subsequent selection of entry completion button


1145


by the movement of spot/area selection indicator


1140


to this button completes the selection of the area and changes the display mode from screen display


1100


to screen display


1110


.




On screen display


1110


, information


1650


is entered as the information to be broadcast to the selected area.




Subsequent selection of entry completion button


1160


by the movement of area selection indicator


1140


to this button completes entry of the information to be broadcast, and returns the display mode from screen display


1110


to screen display


1100


again.




Thus, it is also possible to enter and display information using the transmitting hardware system set forth in the present invention.




Explanatory diagrams of the displays made in the display modes of the receiving hardware system that can be implemented per the present invention are shown as FIGS.


12


,


13


,


15


, and


17


.




In this embodiment of the present invention, the receiving hardware system shown in

FIG. 3

is equipped with connected display and input units to enable various information to be entered and displayed.




In

FIG. 12

, numeral


1200


denotes the screen display for selecting the current area of the vehicle, likely future areas of the vehicle, and the time in each area, numeral


1205


denotes the screen display for entering the information to be broadcast.




Also, in

FIG. 12

, numeral


1210


and


1220


denote map displays, numeral


1212


denotes the display of the area where the vehicle currently exists, numeral


1213


denotes the display of the time in the area where the vehicle currently exists, numerals


1214


,


1216


, and


1218


denote the display of the planned routes that the vehicle is to take in the future, and numerals


1215


and


1217


denote the display of the planned arrival time on the planned routes.




In addition, in

FIG. 12

, numeral


1222


denotes the area display corresponding to planned routes


1214


,


1216


, and


1218


, numeral


1224


denotes information broadcasting area display, and numeral


1222


denotes broadcast information display.




Suppose that the information to serve as the basis for the area display


1212


denoting the current area, and the time display


1213


denoting the time in the current area, and the information to serve as the basis for planned route display


1214


, planned route display


1216


, planned route display


1218


, planned arrival time display


1213


, planned arrival time display


1215


, and planned arrival time display


1217


, are entered by the operator or from an external route search apparatus such as a car navigation system.




When the information that was entered in

FIG. 11

is broadcast, area display


1222


, which corresponds to planned routes, and area display


1224


, which denotes the information broadcasting destination area, are presented.




At this time, since the information broadcasting destination area is included in the planned route area and since the planned time is included in the available hours of the information, the selection of the broadcast information is determined and broadcast information display


1220


is presented.




Thus, it is possible to perform screen display operations and other operations using the receiving hardware system set forth in the present invention.




It is also possible to select whether current area display


1212


, current time display


1213


, planned route display


1214


, planned route display


1216


, planned route display


1218


, planned arrival time display


1215


, planned arrival time display


1217


, planned route area display


1222


, and broadcast area


1224


are to be shown or hidden.




In

FIG. 13

, numeral


1200


denotes the screen display for selecting the current area of the vehicle, likely future areas of the vehicle, and the time in each area, and numeral


1205


denotes the screen display corresponding to the broadcast information.




Also, in

FIG. 13

, numeral


1300


and


1310


denote map displays, numeral


1304


denotes the display of the area where the vehicle currently exists, numeral


1302


denotes the display of the time in the area where the vehicle currently exists, numerals


1306


and


1308


denote the display of the planned routes that the vehicle is to take in the future, and numerals


1303


and


1306


denote the display of the planned arrival time on the planned routes.




In addition, in

FIG. 13

, numeral


1312


denotes the area display corresponding to planned routes


1306


and


1308


, and numeral


1320


denotes the display of the transmitted information.




Suppose that the information to serve as the basis for the area display


1304


denoting the current area, and the time display


1392


denoting the time in the current area, and the information to serve as the basis for planned route display


1306


, planned route display


1308


, planned arrival time display


1303


, and planned arrival time display


1305


, are entered by the operator or from an external route search apparatus such as a car navigation system.




When the information that was entered in

FIG. 11

is broadcast, area display


1312


, which corresponds to planned routes, is presented.




At this time, since the information broadcasting destination area is not included in the planned route area, it is determined not to select the broadcast information, and as a result, no information is displayed on broadcast information display


1320


.




Thus, it is possible to perform screen display operations and other operations using the receiving hardware system set forth in the present invention.




It is also possible to select whether current area display


1304


, current time display


1302


, planned route display


1306


, planned route display


1308


, planned arrival time display


1303


, planned arrival time display


1305


, and planned route area display


1312


are to be shown or hidden.




In

FIG. 15

, numeral


1200


denotes the screen display for selecting the current area of the vehicle, likely future areas of the vehicle, and the time in each area, and numeral


1205


denotes the screen display corresponding to the transmitted information.




Also, in

FIG. 15

, numeral


1500


and


1510


denote map displays, numeral


1502


denotes the display of the area where the vehicle currently exists, numeral


1504


denotes the time in the current area of the vehicle, numerals


1506


and


1508


denote the display of the planned routes that the vehicle is to take in the future, and numerals


1503


and


1505


denote the display of the planned arrival time on the planned routes.




In addition, in

FIG. 15

, numeral


1550


denotes the area display corresponding to planned routes


1506


and


1508


, numerals


1520


,


1530


, and


1540


denote the display of information broadcasting areas, and numeral


1560


denotes the display of the broadcast information.




Suppose that the information to serve as the basis for the area display


1502


denoting the current area, and the time display


1504


denoting the time in the current area, and the information to serve as the basis for planned route display


1506


, planned route display


1508


, planned arrival time display


1503


, and planned arrival time display


1505


, are entered by the operator or from an external route search apparatus such as a car navigation system.




When the information that was entered in

FIG. 14

is broadcast, area displays


1520


,


1530


, and


1540


, each of which corresponds to a planned route, is presented.




At this time, depending on whether the information broadcast area is included in the planned route, on whether the planned time is included in the available hours of the information, or on whether the time comes earlier, each set of information is sequenced/prioritized and selected in that order.




At this time, broadcasting information display


1560


is presented.




Thus, it is possible to perform screen display operations and other operations using the receiving hardware system set forth in the present invention.




It is also possible to select whether current area display


1502


, current time display


1504


, planned route display


1506


, planned route display


1508


, planned arrival time display


1503


, planned arrival time display


1505


, planned route area display


1550


, and information broadcast areas


1520


,


1530


, and


1540


are to be shown or hidden.




In

FIG. 17

, numeral


1200


denotes the screen display for selecting the current area of the vehicle, likely future areas of the vehicle, and the time in each area, and numeral


1205


denotes the screen display corresponding to the broadcast information.




Also, in

FIG. 17

, numeral


1700


and


1710


denote map displays, numeral


1720


denotes the display of the area where the vehicle currently exists, numeral


1710


denotes the time in the current area of the vehicle, numerals


1730


,


1734


, and


1738


denote the display of the planned routes that the vehicle is to take in the future, and numerals


1732


and


1736


denote the display of the planned arrival time on the planned routes.




In addition, in

FIG. 17

, numeral


1750


denotes the display of information broadcasting areas, and numeral


1760


denotes the display of the broadcast information.




Suppose that the information to serve as the basis for the area display


1720


denoting the current area, and the time display


1710


denoting the time in the current area, and the information to serve as the basis for planned route display


1730


, planned route display


1734


, planned route display


1738


, planned arrival time display


1732


, and planned arrival time display


1736


, are entered by the operator or from an external route search apparatus such as a car navigation system.




When the information that was entered in

FIG. 16

is broadcast, information broadcast area display


1750


is presented.




At this time, since the information broadcasting destination area intersects with the planned route area and since the planned time is included in the available hours of the information, the selection of the broadcast information is determined and broadcast information display


1760


is presented.




Thus, it is possible to perform screen display operations and other operations using the receiving hardware system set forth in the present invention.




It is also possible to select whether current area display


1720


, current time display


1710


, planned route display


1730


, planned route display


1734


, planned route display


1738


, planned arrival time display


1732


, planned arrival time display


1736


, and information broadcast areas


1750


are to be shown or hidden.





FIG. 18

explains traffic information editing equipment, which is one embodiment of the present invention, and the configuration of the information providing system including the editing equipment. In

FIG. 18

, numeral


10000


denotes the traffic information editing equipment for editing and storing traffic regulation information, and numeral


10100


denotes the regulation information input section for entering road regulation information


10200


and event regulation information


10300


.




Numeral


11000


denotes the communications base station for transmitting traffic regulation information, and numeral


12000




a


denotes a vehicle that receives traffic regulation information. This vehicle passes positions


12000




b


and


12000




c


. Numeral


13000


denotes a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite, and numeral


14000


denotes information receiving equipment mounted in vehicle


12000




a


to receive traffic regulation information.




This embodiment relates to a traffic information system characterized in that traffic regulation information database


10400


(hereinafter, the term “database” is referred to simply as DB) is edited using traffic information editing equipment


10000


, and in that traffic regulation information is transmitted to vehicle


12000




a


via communications base station


11000


, by radio communications, then transferred to information receiving equipment


14000


provided in vehicle


12000




a


, and presented to the driver in the timing that the vehicle arrives at positions


12000




b


and


12000




c


, both of which satisfy the position, direction, period, and other information presentation requirements specified using traffic information editing equipment


10000


.




First, traffic information editing equipment


10000


is described below. Traffic information editing equipment


10000


is intended to create traffic regulation information as the electronic data that can be transmitted through communication, and store traffic regulation information DB


10400


so as to enable its output as required. Road regulation information


10200


included in the traffic regulation information further consists of information on road signs and road regulations, and static cautionary information on roads. Of all road regulation information


10200


, only information on road signs and road regulations can use a digital traffic regulation DB created by the Japan Association of Traffic Management Technology. Information that cannot be covered by the digital traffic regulation DB alone, or updated information within the digital traffic regulation DB is established so as to perform additions using the regulation information input section


10100


of the traffic information system. Typical examples of static cautionary information include notices of the spots where accidents have occurred in the past, cautionary information for the prevention of accidents, traffic volumes on roads and at intersections, risk analytical information based on statistics of driving speeds and on sensor information, forward visibility based on the shapes of roads, and cautionary information on the shapes of curves. Event regulation information


10300


is information concerning the traffic regulations and cautions/warnings required by the occurrence of events. Event regulation information refers to, for example, information on traffic prohibition or limitation associated with road work or with events, traffic limitation and cautionary information associated with changes in weather, and other traffic limitation information occurring in real time. Road regulation information


10200


and event regulation information


10300


are manually entered by traffic management personnel or automatically entered by the equipment that has collected traffic regulation information. Regulation information input section


10100


adds to road regulation information


10200


and event regulation information


10300


the position, direction, period, and other requirements for presenting information to the driver. The information presentation position is given as a point or a zone, depending on the particular type of traffic regulation information. For example, if the traffic regulation information relates to stopping at intersections, one spot located this side of an intersection at which the driver must stop will need to be given as the information presentation spot, or if the traffic regulation information relates to speed regulations, the zone where speed regulation is specified will need to be given as the information presentation zone. The direction in which the information is to be presented is determined in a form linked to whether the driver is to drive toward or away from the nearest city. Traffic regulation information can be supplied beforehand to the driver in appropriate timing by specifying the information presentation position and direction, independently from the positions and directions where the regulation information is to be actually and strictly observed. The period of information presentation can be freely entered, provided that the period is a cycle time, a term, or the like, such as: the same time frame of each day, one specific day, one specific month, or no time limit.




Other requirements relating to the presentation of information include the speed and type of vehicle. For example, if the traffic regulation information relates to speed regulation, the appropriate speed limit will need to be specified according to the particular type of vehicle, and a warning on speeding will need to be issued as an added requirement, only to vehicles exceeding the speed limit. If the traffic regulation information is accident statistical information applied to a vehicle type only and the information is for cautioning at intersections prone to accidents related to heavy-duty vehicles, a requirement for supplying information only to heavy-duty vehicles will need to be added. In order to enable traffic management personnel to enter road regulation information


10200


and event regulation information


10300


, a means that enables on map editing or editing with a map display unit via a graphical user interface (GUI) is provided as one component of regulation information input section


10100


so that the management personnel can easily enter information presentation requirements such as position, direction, and period. For automatic entry of road regulation information


10200


and event regulation information


10300


and automatic registration of both in traffic regulation information DB


10400


, for example, when statistical information on traffic volumes and speeds is to be registered, statistical information that has already been collected and analyzed by other information collection equipment is acquired and then information presentation requirements, such as position, directions period, and vehicle type, are added according to the rules, or using a setting procedure, for creating these requirements beforehand. Traffic regulation information with added information presentation requirements is then stored into traffic regulation information DB


10400


.




Next, the flow of processing up to the presentation of traffic regulation information to the driver is described below. All or part of traffic regulation information


10400


is delivered to communications base station


11000


. The volume of information to be stored at the communications base station is changed according to the size of the area covered by this base station. In the example of

FIG. 18

, communications base station


11000


establishes communication with the information receiving equipment


14000


(in the example of the figure, cellular phone) provided in vehicle


12000




a


, and then transmits the traffic regulation information stored within the base station. Vehicle


14000


stores the received traffic regulation information, then acquires the corresponding vehicle location information through GPS satellite


13000


, and individual sets of traffic regulation information are presented to the driver in the timing that satisfies the position, direction, period, and other information presentation requirements specified using traffic regulation information input section


10100


. When vehicle


12000




a


is present at spot


12000




b


, the ‘stop’ information to be supplied is presented to the driver under the conditions of position and direction that were specified for spot


12000




b


, and thus the driver is urged to stop. When the vehicle is present at spot


12000




c


, if the position and direction at spot


12000




c


and the speed and type of vehicle


12000




a


match the conditions for supplying speed regulation information, vehicle


12000




a


will issue a speeding warning to the driver to urge him or her to strictly observe the speed limit.





FIG. 19

shows another embodiment of an information providing system based on the present invention. Absolute location measuring equipment


20100


uses a global positioning system (GPS) to measure the absolute location of vehicle


20000


in real time. In this embodiment, the absolute location measuring equipment uses GPS satellite


13000


. Instead, however, the equipment can use either self-contained navigation, a method based on map matching, or a combination of said methods and GPS. Road regulation information DB


203


refers to road regulation information stored in the vehicle after the information has been retrieved using storage media, such as a CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD-ROM, and flush memory, from the traffic regulation information DB


10400


that has been created using traffic information editing equipment


10000


. The above-mentioned storage media are provided in the vehicle in such a format that road regulation information can be read under the instructions of information control section


20400


(the above media consists of a CD-ROM drive and other reading units corresponding to the respective types of storage media). Although the road regulation information stored within the above-mentioned storage media become obsolete with the elapse of time, the driver can update road regulation information DB


20300


by periodically replacing the storage media with a new one. Information control section


20400


is equipment having a means for integrating various information (such as the absolute location, direction, and speed of the vehicle, the time of day, and road regulation information) and presenting the necessary road regulation information to the driver in the specified timing or in the timing calculated by information control section


20400


.




This embodiment relates to a system completed with a vehicle alone, and this system is characterized in that it has absolute location measuring equipment


20100


, direction calculating section


20200


, velocity acquisition section


20500


, and time acquisition section


20600


, and thus in that road regulation information can be presented to the driver in the specified timing or in the timing calculated by information control section


20400


.




For the broadcasting method shown in

FIG. 1

, the current spot or area or future spots or areas can likewise be obtained from information control section


20400


.





FIG. 20

is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in which road regulation information is supplied to the driver in the embodiment of FIG.


19


. The flow of processing in the embodiment of

FIG. 19

is described below using the flowchart of FIG.


20


.




First, in step


31000


, information on the current status of vehicle


20000


is acquired by each type of equipment within the vehicle. Absolute location measuring equipment


20100


acquires absolute location information relating to vehicle


20000


. Velocity acquisition section


20500


acquires the traveling direction and speed of vehicle


20000


. The speed can be calculated using either the vehicle speed sensor or absolute location measuring equipment


20100


provided in vehicle


20000


. Time acquisition section


20600


acquires the current time from the clock provided in vehicle


20000


.




Next, instep


32000


, the traveling direction of vehicle


20000


is calculated from the absolute location information that has been acquired by absolute location measuring equipment


20100


. Information control section


20400


acquires the absolute location, traveling direction, traveling speed, and traveling time-of-day information obtained in the above two steps. Information control section


20400


also has vehicle type information on vehicle


20000


beforehand. In step


33000


, the absolute location, traveling direction, traveling speed, and traveling time-of-day of the vehicle that have been acquired by information control section


20400


, and various conditions that provide for the presentation of various road regulation information (more specifically, independent conditions established for the location, direction, and period of information presentation each, and for each type of road regulation information) are compared by information control section


20400


, where the road regulation information corresponding to the information presentation conditions is then extracted from road regulation information DB


20300


. In step


34000


, the road regulation information that has been extracted by information control section


20400


is presented to the driver. Information can be supplied timely and continuously by repeating steps


31000


to


34000


cyclically. The specified information presentation location and conditions within road regulation information DB


20300


can also be used for information control section


20400


to recalculate the timing of information presentation. For example, in the case of stopping at intersections, the timing of information presentation can also be calculated according to the particular speed of the vehicle. A position at which the vehicle can be stopped is derived from the current speed of the vehicle and its deceleration performance, and this position is compared with the position where the driver must stop the vehicle. If the distance between the derived position and the legally obliged stopping position is shorter than the required value, a ‘stop’ warning will be given to the driver. Thus, the timing-of supplying information can be adjusted according to the particular response capability of the driver.




Still another embodiment of an information providing system based on the present invention is shown in

FIG. 21

, wherein narrow-area radio communications is used as a means of communication between one communications base station and one vehicle. Numeral


40000




a


denotes the communications base station corresponding to area A, and this base station consists of radio beacon


40100




a


, which functions as information transmitting equipment, and traffic regulation information DB


40200




a


for area A. Similarly, numeral


40000




b


denotes the communications base station corresponding to area B, and this base station consists of leakage coaxial (LCX) cable


40100




b


, which also functions as information transmitting equipment, and traffic regulation information DB


40200




b


for area B. Although the communications that uses a-radio beacon and an LCX cable is explained as narrow-area radio communications in this embodiment, any other narrow-area radio communications means can be used instead. Vehicles


41000




a


and


41000




b


run within areas A and B, respectively. Vehicle


41000




b


is provided with absolute location measuring equipment


20100


, direction calculating section


20200


, velocity acquisition section


20500


, time acquisition section


20600


, information receiving section


41100


, traffic regulation information DB


41200


, and information control section


41300


. Storage media that enables read/write operations, for example, a hard disk drive to function as the temporary storage unit on a RAM, is used as the storage means for traffic regulation information DB


41200


. Vehicle


41000




a


also has the same components as those of vehicle


41000




b.






This embodiment enables the latest traffic regulation information to be independently delivered to each area by using narrow-area radio communications as the communications means. Also, information acquisition timing and information presentation timing can be made independent since the vehicle has absolute location measuring equipment.





FIG. 22

is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in which traffic regulation information is presented to the driver. The flow of processing in the embodiment of

FIG. 21

is described below using the flowchart of FIG.


22


.




Step


51000


is information processing outside the vehicle. Communications base station


40000




b


receives traffic regulation information from traffic information editing equipment


10000


and stores the information as traffic regulation information DB


40200




b


. During the use of narrow-area communications, since the location and direction of a communications base station on the road can be provided for on the installation of the communications base station, traffic regulation information DB limited to the location and direction of the communications base station can be delivered. The capacities of the storage media provided in communications base stations can be reduced by storing the amount of traffic regulation information-DB required for each communications base station. Step


52000


onward is information processing inside the vehicle. In step


52000


, the vehicle


41000




b


that has entered the narrow-area radio communications area of communications base station


40000




b


receives the contents of traffic regulation information DB


40200




b


via the radio communication between information receiving section


41100


and LCX cable


40100




b


. The received traffic regulation information is saved in traffic regulation information DB


40200




b


by information receiving section


41100


. In step


53000


onward, as with step


31000


onward of

FIG. 20

, information control section


41300


acquires the absolute location, traveling direction, traveling speed, and traveling time-of-day of the vehicle, then extracts from traffic regulation information DB


41200


only the traffic regulation information that matches the acquired conditions, and presents the extracted information to the driver in the specified timing or in the timing calculated by information control section


41300


. Processing in step


51000


is executed when traffic regulation information on communications base station


40000




a


is modified within traffic regulation information DB


10400


. Processing in step


52000


is executed when communication is established between vehicle


41000




b


and communications base station


40000




b


. Processing in step


53000


onward is executed cyclically inside the vehicle. Timely and continuous supply of information is possible by repeating steps


53000


through


56000


cyclically.




Still another embodiment of an information providing system based on the present invention is shown in

FIG. 23

, wherein bi-directional mobile communications is used as a means of communication between one communications base station and one vehicle. Numeral


60000




a


denotes the communications base station corresponding to area A, and this base station consists of optical beacon


60100




a


, which functions as information transmitting/receiving equipment, and traffic regulation information DB


60200




a


for area A. Similarly, numeral


60000




b


denotes the communications base station corresponding to area B, and this base station consists of mobile communications antenna


60100




b


for a cellular phone, traffic regulation information DB


60200




b


for area B, and traffic regulation information DB


60300




b


that forms all or part of traffic regulation information DB


60300




b


. Although the communications that uses an optical beacon and a cellular phone is explained as bi-directional mobile communications in this embodiment, any other bi-directional mobile communications means can be used instead. Vehicles


61000




a


and


61000




b


run within areas A and B, respectively. Vehicle


61000




b


is provided with absolute location measuring equipment


20100


, direction calculating section


20200


, velocity acquisition section


20500


, time acquisition section


20600


, information transmitting/receiving section


61100


, traffic regulation information DB


61200


, and information control section


61300


. As with the embodiment of

FIG. 21

, in the embodiment of

FIG. 23

, storage media that enables read/write operations is used as the storage means for traffic regulation information DB


61200


. Vehicle


61000




a


also has the same components as those of vehicle


61000




b.






This embodiment of the present invention is another embodiment for achieving a similar purpose to that of the embodiment shown in FIG.


21


. Also, the use of bi-directional communications as the communications means, enables the latest traffic regulation information to be delivered in further sub-classified form.





FIG. 24

is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in which traffic regulation information is presented to the driver in the embodiment of FIG.


23


. The flow of processing in-the embodiment of

FIG. 23

is described below using the flowchart of FIG.


24


.




Step


71000


is information processing outside the vehicle. In this step, as with step


51000


of

FIG. 22

, area traffic regulation information is delivered for each base station. Steps


72000


and


73000


are preprocessing steps occurring outside the vehicle when communication is established between mobile communications base station


60100




b


and the information transmitting/receiving section


61100


of the vehicle-mounted equipment. In step


72000


, vehicle


61000




b


acquires various information of the vehicle via absolute location measuring equipment


20100


, velocity acquisition section


20500


, and time acquisition section


20600


. Also, vehicle type information is stored with in the vehicle beforehand. In step


73000


, direction calculating section


20200


calculates the traveling direction of the vehicle. In step


74000


, information transmitting/receiving section


61100


transmits various information on the vehicle, and information on the traveling direction and type of vehicle, to base station


60000




b


. In step


74000


, processing within base station


60000




b


is executed. In step


74000


, base station


60000




b


extracts the traffic regulation information corresponding to the received vehicle information, from traffic regulation information DB


60200




b


, and then after creating traffic regulation information DB


60300




b


, transmits the extracted information to vehicle


61000




b


. Or base station


60000




b


creates traffic regulation information DB


60300




b


by classifying traffic regulation information DB


60200




b


beforehand, then selects traffic regulation information DB


60300




c


appropriate for the received vehicle information, and transmits the corresponding information to vehicle


61000




b


. The amount of information to be sent during one communicating operation can be reduced by selecting the location, traveling direction, and type of vehicle, as the basis for classification for the creation of traffic regulation information DB


60300




c


. In step


76000


onward, as with step


52000


of

FIG. 22

, the traffic regulation information that the vehicle has received is saved in traffic regulation information DB


61200


, and information control section


61300


acquires the absolute location, traveling direction, traveling speed, and traveling time-of-day of the vehicle, then extracts from traffic regulation information DB


61200


only the traffic regulation information that matches the acquired conditions, and presents the extracted information to the driver in the specified timing or in the timing calculated by information control section


61300


. Processing in step


71000


is executed when traffic regulation information on communications base station


60000




b


is modified within traffic regulation information DB


10400


. Processing in steps-


74000


and


75000


is executed when communication is established between vehicle


61000




b


and communications base station


60000




b


. Communication is established, only during the use of a location-limiting information communications means (such as an optical beacon) when the vehicle has moved past the bottom of the optical beacon. During the use of an information communications means not limiting the location, such as a cellular phone, communication is established either at fixed time intervals or at any time.




Still another embodiment of an information providing system based on the present invention is shown in

FIG. 25

, wherein multi-channel broadcasting is used as a means of communication between one communications base station and one vehicle. Numeral


80000




a


denotes a digital radio broadcasting communications base station consisting of broadcasting station


80100




a


and communications satellite


80200




a


. Similarly, numeral


80000




b


denotes a communications base station using either terrestrial digital radio broadcasting or FM multiplex broadcasting, and in this case, broadcasting station


80100




b


transmits traffic regulation information. The traffic regulation information


80200




b


to be transmitted from broadcasting station


80100




b


is classified according to location, traveling direction, and vehicle type, for each channel, and then the traffic regulation information is assigned. The traffic regulation information transmitted also takes a similar format to that adopted for communications base station


80000




a.






Although the broadcast-type communications that uses satellite digital radio broadcasting, terrestrial digital radio broadcasting, and FM multiplex broadcasting is explained as multi-channel broadcasting in this embodiment, any other multi-channel broadcast-type communications means can be used instead. Vehicles


81000




a


and


81000




b


run within areas A and B, respectively. Vehicle


81000




b


is provided with absolute location measuring equipment


20100


, direction calculating section


20200


, velocity acquisition section


20500


, time acquisition section


20600


, information receiving section


811000


, traffic regulation information DB


81200


, and information control section


81300


. As with the embodiment of

FIG. 21

, in the embodiment of

FIG. 23

, storage media that enables read/write operations is used as the storage means for traffic regulation information DB


81200


. Vehicle


81000




a


also has the same components as those of vehicle


81000




b.






This embodiment of the present invention is another embodiment using multi-channel broadcasting as the communications means, and for achieving a similar purpose to that of the embodiment shown in FIG.


21


.





FIG. 26

is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in which road regulation information is presented to the driver in the embodiment of FIG.


25


. The flow of processing in the embodiment of

FIG. 25

is described below using the flowchart of FIG.


26


.




In steps


91000


and


92000


, information undergoes processing outside the vehicle. In step


91000


, communications base station


80000




b


receives traffic regulation information DB


10400


from traffic information editing equipment


10000


. If the information delivery range of communications base station


80000




b


is limited to specific areas only, the communications base station will receive traffic regulation information on the corresponding areas. In step


92000


, communications base station


80000




b


classifies traffic regulation information, then allocates the information to each channel, and transmits the information together with the corresponding broadcast waves. In step


93000


onward, information undergoes processing inside the vehicle. In step


93000


, vehicle


81000




b


acquires various information of the vehicle via absolute location measuring equipment


20100


, velocity acquisition section


20500


, and time acquisition section


20600


. In step


94000


, information receiving section


81100


sets the broadcast wave receiving channel in accordance with the vehicle information that was received in step


93000


, and selectively receives only the relevant section of traffic regulation information


80200




b


. In step


95000


onward, as with step


54000


of

FIG. 22

, the traffic regulation information that the vehicle has received is saved in traffic regulation information DB


81200


, and information control section


81300


acquires the absolute location, traveling direction, traveling speed, and traveling time-of-day of the vehicle, then extracts from traffic regulation information DB


81200


only the traffic regulation information that matches the acquired conditions, and presents the extracted information to the driver. Processing in step


91000


is executed when traffic regulation information on communications base station


80000




b


is modified within traffic regulation information DB


10400


. Processing in step


92000


is always executed repeatedly in communications base station


80000




b


. Processing in steps


93000


and


95000


is always executed repeatedly inside the vehicle, and processing instep


94000


is executed when the broadcast wave receiving channel of the vehicle is changed, namely, when the location/traveling direction of the vehicle falls under another classification of the broadcast wave channels.




Still another embodiment of an information providing system based on the present invention is shown in

FIG. 27

, wherein the presentation of information to individual vehicles can be implemented by combining the communications means for transmitting vehicle information to base stations, and a communications means of the multi-channel broadcast type. Base station


13000




a


is a broadcast-type satellite communications means that enables bi-directional communication, and base station


13000




b


is a terrestrial broadcast-type communications means. Vehicle


13100




b


has a means for information communication to base station


13000




b


. This embodiment is characterized in that: information on individual vehicles is transmitted to base stations, and each vehicle can receive the traffic regulation information pertaining to the particular vehicle.




As described in the above embodiment, the vehicle-mounted equipment acquires information on the location, direction, and type of the vehicle, and transmits the vehicle information to base stations via communication. At the base station side, the traffic regulation information to be supplied to the vehicle-is extracted using the received information. The extracted traffic regulation information is transmitted to the vehicle over the channel that has been assigned to the particular vehicle. Subsequent processing is similar-to that of the embodiment described above; received traffic regulation information is stored into memory and then supplied to the driver in the specified timing or in the timing calculated at the vehicle side.




The broadcasting hardware system and method shown in

FIG. 1

can be used, instead of the broadcasting hardware system and method of

FIG. 27

or


28


. In that case, it is possible to form the information communications paths that enable information to be selected and received according to the current moving status of the vehicle and its future moving schedule, and thus to achieve the minimization of information storage units in capacity, associated with the transmission of the appropriate information to each vehicle.




Still another embodiment of an information providing system based on the present invention is shown in

FIG. 28

, wherein the version of traffic regulation information can be managed. The traffic regulation information, when entered, has its version stored into traffic information editing equipment


100000


. This embodiment is characterized in that while minimizing the amount of communications information, the latest information can be stored at the vehicle side by managing the version of road regulation information DB


100100


.




First, to ensure that road regulation information DB


100600


is stored at the vehicle side, there is a need to provide a large-capacity storage unit or large-capacity storage media that can store all road regulation information relating to the running areas of the vehicle. Storage media


100300


stores road regulation information DB


100600


, and the media is large-capacity storage media such a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or DVD-RAM.





FIG. 29

is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in which traffic regulation information is updated in-the embodiment of FIG.


28


. The flow of processing in the embodiment of

FIG. 28

is described below using the flowchart of FIG.


29


.




In step


110000


, processing within traffic information editing equipment


100000


occurs. When road regulation information is modified, the information will be stored into road regulation information DB


100100


and at the same time, both the latest version information


100700


and road regulation information modifications associated with the version change will be delivered as differential modification information


100800


to communications base station


100200


. Also, traffic information editing equipment


100000


will periodically save in storage media


100300


the road regulation information DB


100100


to which the version information has been added. Vehicle


100400


contains storage media


100300


beforehand, and the storage media is built into the appropriate loading unit (if the storage media is a CD-ROM, then a CD-ROM drive) so that information can be loaded as road regulation information DB


100600


. In the case of event regulation information, information that has been edited by traffic information editing equipment


100000


is delivered as event regulation information


100500


in location/direction-specified form to communications base station


100200


. In step


110100


, processing in communications base station


100200


occurs. Communications base station


100200


transmits event regulation information


100500


, version information


100700


relating to road regulation information, and differential modification information


100800


to vehicle


100400


through radio communication. In step


110200


onward, processing occurs in the information receiving section


101000


of vehicle


100000


. In step


110200


, information receiving section


101000


receives version information


100700


and event regulation information


100500


. At this time, if-the version information contained in road regulation information DB


100600


and the version information


100700


are the same, processing will advance to step


110300


, or if the two sets of version information differ, processing will advance to step


110400


. In step


110300


, received event regulation information


100500


is temporarily stored as event regulation information


100900


. Since event regulation information


100900


is traffic information most likely to be supplied in real time, a RAM or a hard disk will need to be used as the storage unit, and when the period of supply specified in event regulation information


100900


is exceeded, the event regulation information will be erased from the storage unit. In step


110400


, in addition to storage of event regulation information


100900


in step


110300


, differential modification information


100800


is received and then stored together with version information


100700


into road regulation information DB


100600


, in added form. At this time, if storage media


100300


is one that enables writing, such as a DVD-RAM, version information


100700


and differential modification information


100800


will be written directly onto storage media


100300


to update the version of road regulation information DB


100600


. If storage media


100300


is one that does not enable writing, such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM, a hard disk will be provided as another storage unit that enables writing, and version information


100700


and differential modification information


100800


will be stored onto the hard disk. For road regulation information DB


100600


, however, no distinction is made between storage media


100300


and the storage unit, and both are handled as a single entity. Processing that follows the storage of the traffic regulation information is similar to processing shown in other embodiments; when the vehicle is positioned at the location where, and in the direction that, the traffic regulation information is to be supplied, the corresponding information will be called up and presented to the driver.




In this embodiments road regulation information, although large in capacity, is low in the frequency of updating, and event regulation information is real-time information. The type of information to be stored within the vehicle, and the type of information which uses communication can be divided by utilizing the above characteristics, and thus, information traffic can be reduced.




An example of an information providing system in which the storage capacity of the storage unit within the vehicle is too small for the unit to store all traffic regulation information, especially, road regulation information, is also shown below.




The information acquired from the communications base station by the vehicle is traffic regulation information that has been classified either according to the location/direction of transmission from the vehicle and the vehicle type information relating to the vehicle, or by the locations, directions, and types of vehicles, and version information is managed for each such classification. At the vehicle side, of all received traffic regulation information and version information, only the total amount of traffic regulation information and version information that is equivalent to the available capacity of the storage unit will be actually stored into this unit. After communication has been established between the communications base station and the vehicle, when traffic regulation information is sent from the communications base station to the information receiving section of the vehicle, version information is sent first. If the vehicle contains the traffic regulation information whose version matches the received version information, the traffic regulation information will not be updated. If the vehicle does not contain the traffic regulation information whose version matches the received version information, the traffic regulation information or differential modification information will be received. At this time, if the storage unit within the vehicle has a vacancy in storage capacity, the vehicle will store the frequency of access to the classified traffic regulation information, then traffic regulation information low in the frequency of access will be deleted, and the area from which the information has been deleted will be reserved as the storage area for the received information. In other words, updating can be minimized by storing information as much as possible for the areas where the vehicle frequently runs, and even if the storage capacity is small, the latest information can be stored within the vehicle by regarding the areas where the vehicle seldom runs, as the areas where the vehicle will not run in the future, either, and deleting information on these areas.





FIG. 30

shows an embodiment of the vehicle-mounted information representation means for presenting traffic information to the driver. Numeral


120000


in

FIG. 30

denotes a speedometer. Likewise, numerals


120200


,


120300


,


120400


,


120500


,


120600


, and


120700


denote a front windshield, a projector for displaying video


120400


, a character information display unit, another display unit, and a speaker, respectively. Also, numerals


120800




a


and


120800




b


denote information representation level adjustment controls.




This embodiment is an example in which video and audio traffic information transmission means and video/audio traffic information representation level adjustment means are shown. At least one of the representation means shown in this embodiment is provided.




Display


120100


refers to the speed limit or safe driving speed information displayed on speedometer


120000


. When absolute location measuring equipment exists in the vehicle, display will be updated each time the vehicle moves and the speed regulation information contained in traffic regulation information is modified. Even if absolute location measuring equipment does not exist, display will be updated each time the speed regulation information within the traffic regulation information that was acquired during communication is modified. Thereby, speed regulation information can be timely presented to the driver. Video


120400


is a display of road regulation information, made on front windshield


120200


by projector


120300


. When the vehicle runs the spot or zone that has been specified from the traffic information editing equipment as the road regulation information presenting position, video


120400


is displayed to urge the driver to drive safely. ‘Stop’ information, for example, is displayed continuously during the zone from the spot given as the information presenting position, to the spot where an actual ‘stop’ sign exists. Character information display unit


120500


represents traffic regulation information as character information, and presents the information to the driver. Information display on character information display unit


120500


is suitable for continuously presenting warning information over a fixed zone, and more specifically, this display is suitable for presenting the ‘DO NOT PASS’ information given as a road sign, and presenting cautionary information in zones with a succession of curves. Display unit


120006


displays traffic regulation information on maps. Information relating to road signs can be easily represented using map display. Speaker


120700


converts traffic information into audio information and presents the information to the driver. Audio indication is suitable for representing information in which the information supplying position is expressed as a point.




Information representation level adjustment controls


120800




a


and


120800




b


use one or more of said information representation means to adjust the amount of information to be presented to the driver. Information-representation level adjustment control


120800




a


is displayed on display unit


120600


. Although the information representation level adjustment control


120800




a


shown in this embodiment has the shape of a knob, this control can be expressed in other forms such as a table. Information representation level adjustment control


120800




b


is included as one component of the vehicle-mounted equipment. Both the


120800




a


and


120800




b


controls enable the selection of whether or not the traffic regulation information presented to the driver is to be displayed, depending on the particular attributes of the information. For example, of all road regulation information, only ‘stop’ information or information concerning area B can be selected by specifying the respective conditions. By providing these information representation level adjustment controls, the driver can receive the information suiting his or her purpose.





FIG. 31

is a system block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is an example of supplying the optimum advertisement information according to the position where the user is present, the type of vehicle now driven by the user, and/or other particular driving factors of the user, not in the format that the same advertisement information is supplied under the same conditions by conventional advertisement information providers, irrespective of the driving factors of the user.




The system in this embodiment uses radio broadcasting infrastructure to deliver advertisement information. In other words, this system uses digital terrestrial waves, stationary satellites, hyper-elliptic orbit satellites, FM broadcasting, and/or the like.




The system has the advantages that when digital terrestrial waves or hyper-elliptic orbit satellites (HEO satellites) are used, a mechanism for controlling the directivity of antennas is not required, and that when HEO satellites are used, since, depending on the particular orbits or layout of these satellites, at least one such satellite is always positioned near the zenith, there occurs almost no dead band of radio waves due to the presence of buildings and other obstructions.




The system of

FIG. 31

consists of contents delivery station


3170


, from which the advertisement information provider is to deliver advertisement information, and contents receiving station


3180


, at which the advertisement information delivered from contents delivery station


3170


is to be received. Information from contents delivery station


3170


to contents receiving station


3180


is delivered via radio communications infrastructure such as digital terrestrial waves, stationary satellites, and/or hyper-elliptic orbit satellites. Contents receiving station


3180


is provided in the vehicle.




Contents delivery station


3170


comprises: contents database


3112


, which contains multiple sets of advertisement contents provided beforehand according to the particular driving situation of the user; destination/route/distance database


3114


, which contains information on the destination spot corresponding to the user-situation-specific contents stored within the contents database, on the route to the destination, and on the distance to the destination; vehicle type database


3116


, which contains information on the user's vehicle size, type, and other factors corresponding to the user situation-specific contents stored within the contents database; transmitting equipment


3110


, which delivers advertisement contents with added information on the destination spot, the route to the destination, and the distance to the destination, or on the vehicle type; destination/route/distance/vehicle type adding equipment


3106


, which adds, to the advertisement contents stored within contents database


3112


, the information on destination spot, route to the destination, distance to the destination, that has been stored within destination/route/distance database


3114


, and the vehicle type information stored within vehicle type database


3116


; multi-level information management equipment, by which the multiple sets of advertisement contents provided beforehand according to the particular driving situation of the user are managed for each advertisement information provider, and; delivery schedule management section


3116


, which manages the delivery schedules that specify what advertisement provider's information is to be delivered at what time.




Contents receiving station


3180


comprises: receiving equipment


3126


for receiving advertisement contents to which the information sent from contents delivery station


3170


has been added (namely, information on the destination spot, the route to the destination, the distance to the destination, and the type of vehicle); destination/route/distance/vehicle type information retrieval equipment


3130


for retrieving the above-mentioned information; intended-vehicle location information retrieval equipment


3144


for detecting the location of the vehicle via a GPS, gyro, or ground-installed location information transmitting/notifying equipment; route calculating equipment


3148


for calculating the destination spot, route to the destination, distance to the destination, that have been retrieved by equipment


3130


mentioned above, calculating the destination, namely, the route to the advertisement contents provider, and calculating the distance to advertisement contents provider; vehicle type information table


3150


, which contains size information on the overall width, overall length, overall height, weight, and other factors of the vehicle, and information on engine types such as an LPG engine, and information on light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty, and other vehicle classes; comparator equipment


3146


for comparing the route and distance to the advertisement contents provider, calculated by route calculating equipment


3148


, and the similar information retrieved by destination/route/distance/vehicle type information retrieval equipment


3130


, or for comparing the vehicle type information within vehicle type information table


3150


, and the similar vehicle type information retrieved by equipment


3130


; information selecting equipment


3138


for selecting only the appropriate advertisement contents according to the particular situation of the user, from all the advertisement contents that have been received on the basis of the comparisons obtained by comparator equipment


3146


, and; display equipment


3152


, which displays the advertisement contents selected by information selecting equipment


3138


.




Next, information delivery is described below. First, a delivery instruction based on the program table scheduled for the particular advertisement contents provider is issued from delivery schedule management equipment


3116


to multi-level information management equipment


3102


. In this program table, “program providing time” and “program provider” are specified. After receiving the delivery instruction, multi-level information management equipment


3102


inquires to delivery schedule management equipment


3116


about the name of the specified “program provider”, and then on the basis of the results (the name of the specified “program provider”), retrieves information on the program provider (namely, the information matching the situation of the user) from contents database


3112


, destination/route/distance database


3114


, and vehicle database


3116


. Next, an information adding instruction is issued to destination/route/distance/vehicle type adding equipment


3106


. After receiving the information adding instruction, destination/route/distance/vehicle type adding equipment


3106


adds the user-situation-specific contents relating to the retrieved program provider, to the corresponding information on the destination spot, the route to the destination, the distance to the destination, and the type of vehicle. And the multiple sets of advertisement contents to which the information relating to the destination spot, the route to the destination, the distance to the destination, and the type of vehicle, has been added are transmitted from transmitting equipment


3110


.




Next, examples of selecting the optimum contents on the basis of the location where the user is present are explained using

FIGS. 32

to


35


.

FIG. 32

shows the layout of advertisement provider (ΔΔΔ Park)


3220


, the locations of the vehicle (namely, location


3205


at a distance of 50 km to the advertisement provider, location


3215


at a distance of 10 km to the advertisement provider, and location


3215


at a distance of 1 km to the advertisement provider), road (expressway)


3225


, route X (


3235


), and prefectural road Δ (


3245


).

FIGS. 33

to


35


show the advertisement contents to which the information relating to the destination spot, the route to the destination, the distance to the destination, has been added. Location information


3310


on the ΔΔΔ Park is included in advertisement contents


3300


,


3400


, and


3500


.




Advertisement contents


3300


is information applied in the case that the distance to the destination ranges from 20 km to 60 km and the route to the destination is defined as “expressway (


3225


)→route X (


3235


)→prefectural road Δ (


3245


)”. Advertisement contents


3300


consist of: “from 20 km to 60 km” as information


3320


denoting the distance to the destination (ΔΔΔ Park); “expressway (


3225


)→route X (


3235


)→prefectural road Δ (


3245


)” as information


3330


denoting the route to the destination (ΔΔΔ Park), and; “(1) Approx. 60 min from oo Interchange toward xx City along Route X (Congested near the Interchange) (2) Approx. 50 min from oo Interchange toward xx City along Route X” as advertisement information


3340


.




Advertisement contents


3400


is information applied in the case that the distance to the destination ranges from 2 km to 20 km and the route to the destination is defined as “expressway (


3225


)→route X (


3235


)→prefectural road Δ (


3245


)”. Advertisement contents


3400


consist of: “from 2 km to 20 km” as information


3420


denoting the distance to the destination (ΔΔΔ Park); “expressway (


3225


)→route x (


3235


)→prefectural road Δ (


3245


)” as information


3430


denoting the route to the destination (ΔΔΔ Park), and; “(1) 1 km ahead after right-turn at the oo Town intersection” as advertisement information


3440


.




Similarly, advertisement contents


3500


is information applied in the case that the distance to the destination is up to 2 km and the route to the destination is defined as “expressway (


3225


)→prefectural road Δ (


3245


)”. Advertisement contents


3500


consist of: “up to 2 km” as information


3520


denoting the distance to the destination (ΔΔΔ Park); “expressway (


3225


)→prefectural road A (


3245


)” as information


3530


denoting the route to the destination (ΔΔΔ Park), and; “Parking Lot #1: Occupied Parking Lot #2: Occupied Parking Lot #3: Occupied Parking Lot #4: Occupied” as advertisement information


3540


.




Processing within the contents receiving station of the intended vehicle (vehicle


3205


,


3210


, or


3215


) is described below. The vehicle has contents receiving station


3180


and activates receiving equipment


3126


to receive from the contents delivery station the multiple sets of advertisement contents (namely, advertisement contents


3300


, advertisement contents


3400


, and advertisement contents


3500


) that have been provided beforehand for the particular situation of the user (the route and distance to the advertisement information provider). Information on the destination spot, the route to the destination, the distance to the destination, and the type of vehicle, is then retrieved from each such received set of advertisement contents by destination/route/distance/vehicle type information retrieval equipment


3130


. Subsequently, on the basis of the vehicle location information that was retrieved from intended-vehicle location information retrieval equipment


3144


, and of the destination information that was retrieved from equipment


3130


, the route to the destination and the distance to the destination are calculated by route calculating equipment


3148


. Next, comparator equipment


3146


judges whether the route to the destination, calculated above by route calculating equipment


3148


, is included in the “route to the destination” information that was retrieved by equipment


3130


, and whether the distance to the destination, calculated above by route calculating equipment


3148


, is included in the “distance to the destination” information that was retrieved by equipment


3130


, and if these conditions are satisfied, the corresponding advertisement contents will be selected by information selecting equipment


3138


and displayed at the terminal of display equipment


3152


.




First, for vehicle


3205


, that is, when the intended vehicle is present at a distance of about 50 km from advertisement provider


3220


(ΔΔΔ Park), if route calculating equipment


3148


has already derived “expressway (


3225


)→route X (


3235


)→prefectural road Δ (


3245


)” as the route to the destination and calculated the distance to the destination as 50 km, comparator


3146


compares these values and each set of contents (the distances


3320


,


3420


, and


3520


to the destination, and the routes


3330


,


3430


, and


3530


to the destination; more specifically, the “route to the destination” information that was retrieved from advertisement contents


3300


, namely, “expressway (


3225


)→route X (


3235


)→prefectural road Δ (


3245


)” is the same as the derived “route to the destination”, namely, “expressway (


3225


)→route X (


3235


)→prefectural road Δ(


3245


)”, and the “distance to the destination” information that was retrieved from advertisement contents


3300


, namely, “20 km to 60 km” is included in the calculated “distance to the destination” information, namely, “50 km”).




After that, information selecting equipment


3138


selects the corresponding advertisement contents


3300


, and then display equipment


3152


displays the advertisement information


3340


“(1) Approx. 60 min from oo Interchange toward xx City along Route X (Congested near the Interchange) (2) Approx. 50 min from AA Interchange toward xx City along Route X”.




Next, for vehicle


3210


, that is, when the intended vehicle is present at a distance of about 10 km from advertisement provider


3220


(ΔΔΔ Park), if route calculating equipment


3148


has already derived “expressway (


3225


)→prefectural road Δ (


3245


)” as the route to the destination and calculated the distance to the destination as 10 km, comparator


3146


compares these values and each set of contents (the distances


3320


,


3420


, and


3520


to the destination, and the routes


3330


,


3430


, and


3530


to the destination; more specifically, the “route to the destination” information that was retrieved from advertisement contents


3400


, namely, “expressway (


3225


)→route X (


3235


)→prefectural road Δ(


3245


)” includes the derived “route to the destination”, namely, “expressway (


3225


)→prefectural road Δ (


3245


)”, and the “distance to the destination” information that was retrieved from advertisement contents


3400


, namely, ”2 km to 20 km” is included in the calculated “distance to the destination” information, namely, “10 km”).




After that, information selecting equipment


3138


selects the corresponding advertisement contents


3400


, and then display equipment


3152


displays the advertisement information


3440


“(1) 1 km ahead after right-turn at the oo Town intersection. Congested near the oo Town Intersection”.




Likewise, for vehicle


3215


, that is, when the intended vehicle is present at a distance of about 1 km from advertisement provider


3220


(ΔΔΔ Park), if route calculating equipment


3148


has already derived “prefectural road Δ (


3245


)” as the route to the destination and calculated the distance to the destination as 1 km, comparator


3146


compares these values and each set of contents (the distances


3320


,


3420


, and


3520


to the destination, and the routes


3330


,


3430


, and


3530


to the destination; more specifically, the “route to the destination” information that was retrieved from advertisement contents


3500


, namely, “expressway (


3225


)→prefectural road Δ (


3245


)” includes the derived “route to the destination”, namely, “prefectural road Δ (


3245


).”, and the “distance to the destination” information that was retrieved from advertisement contents


3500


, namely; “2 km” is included in the calculated “distance to the destination” information, namely, “1 km”).




After that, information selecting equipment


3138


selects the corresponding advertisement contents


3500


, and then display equipment


3152


displays the advertisement information


3540


“Parking Lot #1: Occupied Parking Lot #2: Occupied Parking Lot #3: Occupied Parking Lot #4: Occupied”.




Thus, the user can select, from the information delivered by the advertisement information provider, only the necessary and appropriate information according to the particular location and route of the vehicle.




Next, the way the route to the advertisement information provider is derived by route calculating equipment


3148


is described using

FIGS. 36 and 37

. An example of route calculation based on the linked relationship between roads is shown in

FIG. 36

, and an example of route calculation based on traffic regulation information is shown in FIG.


37


.




In

FIG. 36

, general road


3630


and expressway


3620


are shown and both intersect as a grade separation at spot


3650


. Between general road


3630


and expressway


3620


, there can be no traffic at spot


3650


. If vehicle


3600


is running on expressway


3620


, such a route is derived that does not enable the driver to enter general road


3630


by turning to the left or right at spot


3650


, since a linked relationship exists between roads. Also, when vehicle


3600


is running on expressway


3620


, a route is always derived that takes the same direction as the actual traveling direction of the vehicle.




In

FIG. 37

, roads


3710


and


3720


are connected at intersection


3730


, and turning to the right at T-intersection


3730


is prohibited. Vehicle


3700


is present this side of T-intersection


3730


and cannot turn right to enter road


3720


. Therefore, a route is derived that does not enable vehicle


3700


to turn right to enter road


3720


.




In other words, during route calculation, it is necessary to take into account the linked relationship between roads, the traveling direction of the vehicle, traffic regulation information, and other factors. Thus, the user can acquire the optimum information according to place, position, and route.




Next, examples of supplying independent advertisement contents for each type of vehicle (for each engine type or for each vehicle scale in terms of loading capability, such as a light-duty, medium-duty, or heavy-duty vehicle) are explained using

FIGS. 38

to


43


. These examples are for a filling station to select the necessary advertisement contents, depending on whether the engine of the customer's vehicle is of the gasoline type or the diesel type or on whether the corresponding vehicle is a light-duty, medium-duty, or heavy-duty vehicle in terms of loading capability. Advertisement contents


3800


intended for “gasoline” engine vehicles, advertisement contents


3900


intended for “diesel” engine vehicles, advertisement contents


4000


intended for “heavy-duty” vehicles, and advertisement contents


4100


intended for “medium-duty” vehicles are available as the contents delivered by filling stations. Advertisement contents


3800


are further divided into engine-classified information


3810


“Gasoline” and advertisement contents


3820


“Regular oil: ¥80 High-octane gasoline: ¥100”. Likewise, advertisement contents


3900


are further divided into engine-classified information


3910


“Light oil” and advertisement contents


3920


“Light oil: ¥60 Oil Z favorably accepted for its minimum effects on diesel engines is now on sale!”; advertisement contents


4000


into scale-classified information


4010


“Heavy-duty vehicle” and advertisement contents


4020


“Car washing: ¥2000 Heavy-duty vehicle washing service now available with a washing bucket!”, and; advertisement contents


4100


into scale-classified information


4110


“Medium-duty vehicle” and advertisement contents


4120


“Car washing: ¥1000 Medium-duty vehicle washing service now available with tissue paper!”.




Processing for advertisement contents selection based on the vehicle type information that was added to advertisement contents is described below. Vehicle type information on the vehicle is recorded in a vehicle type table beforehand.




For example, for a heavy-duty vehicle equipped with a diesel engine, vehicle type information on this vehicle (namely, “Engine type: Diesel, Loading scale: Heavy-duty”) is specified in vehicle type information table


3150


beforehand.




When the advertisement contents


3800


,


3900


,


4000


, and


4100


for a filling station are delivered from contents delivery station


3170


, the vehicle (contents receiving station


3180


) will receive the advertisement contents via receiving equipment


3126


, retrieve only vehicle type information among all the received advertisement contents via destination/route/distance/vehicle type information retrieval equipment


3130


, compare the retrieved vehicle type information and the internal vehicle type information of the vehicle type table via comparator equipment


3146


, select advertisement contents based on comparison results via information selecting equipment


3138


, and display the selected advertisement contents at the terminal of display equipment


3152


.




For example, for a heavy-duty vehicle equipped with a diesel engine, the vehicle (contents receiving station


3180


) compares the received advertisement contents (engine-classified information


3810


and


3910


) and the information contained in vehicle type information table


3150


(namely, “Engine type: Diesel, Loading scale: Heavy-duty”) . . . in the above case, engine-classified information


3910


“Diesel” within received contents


3900


and the engine-classified information “Diesel” within vehicle type information table


3150


are the same, and engine-classified information


4010


“Diesel” within received contents


4000


and the engine-classified information “Diesel” within vehicle type information table


3150


are the same . . . and then advertisement contents


3900


on diesel engines and advertisement contents


4000


on heavy-duty vehicles are selected by information selecting equipment


3138


. Finally, “Fuel price: ¥


60


/


1


(Light oil) Car washing: ¥2000 Heavy-duty vehicle washing service now available with a washing bucket!” is displayed as information


4200


at the terminal of display equipment


3152


. See FIG.


42


.




Next, for a medium-duty vehicle equipped with a gasoline engine, the vehicle (contents receiving station


3180


) compares the received advertisement contents (engine-classified information


3810


and


3910


) and the information contained in vehicle type information table


3150


(namely, “Engine type: Gasoline, Loading scale: Medium-duty”) . . . in the above case, engine-classified information


3810


“Gasoline” within received contents


3800


and the engine-classified information


3810


“Gasoline” within vehicle type information table


3150


are the same, and engine-classified information


4110


“Medium-duty” within received contents


4100


and the engine-classified information “Medium-duty” within vehicle type information table


3150


are the same . . . and then advertisement contents


3800


on gasoline engines and advertisement contents


4100


on medium-duty vehicles are selected by information selecting equipment


3138


. Finally, “Fuel price: ¥80/1 (Regular oil) Fuel price: ¥100/1 (High-octane gasoline) Car-washing: ¥2000 Medium-duty vehicle washing service now available with tissue paper!” is displayed as information


4300


at the terminal of display equipment


3152


. See FIG.


43


.




Thus, the user can select, from the information delivered by the advertisement information provider, only the necessary and appropriate information according to the particular type of vehicle.




Next, the case in which the advertisement information provider is an owner or runner of three parking lots is considered below. The layout of the three parking lots and details of the information delivered about these parking lots are shown in FIG.


41


. The three parking lots . . . parking lot #1:


4420


, parking lot #2:


4440


, parking lot #3:


4460


. . . are all present on map


4400


.




Parking status information


4430


on parking lot #1 is divided into light-duty vehicle parking status information


4432


“Vacancies for 10 units”, medium-duty vehicle parking status information


4434


“Occupied”, and heavy-duty vehicle parking status information


4436


“Occupied”, according to loading scale, and the above three sets of advertisement contents (light-duty vehicle parking status information


4432


, medium-duty vehicle parking status information


4434


, and heavy-duty vehicle parking status information


4436


) are delivered for parking lot #1.




Parking status information


4450


on parking lot #2 consists only of parking status information


4452


on vehicles measuring “Overall width: 2.0 m (max), Overall length: 4.5 m (max), Overall height: 1.5 m (max)”. Therefore, one set of advertisement information (parking status information


4452


on vehicles measuring “Overall width: 2.0 m (max), Overall length: 4.5 m (max)” Overall height: 1.5 m (max)”: Vacancies for 10 units) is delivered for parking lot #2.




Parking status information


4470


on parking lot #3 is divided into light-duty vehicle parking status information


4472


“Vacancies for 2 units”, medium-duty vehicle parking status information


4474


“Vacancies for 19 units”, and heavy-duty vehicle parking status information


4476


“Occupied”, according to loading scale, and the above three sets of advertisement contents (light-duty vehicle parking status information


4472


, medium-duty vehicle parking status information


4474


, and heavy-duty vehicle parking status information


4476


) are delivered for parking lot #3.




Processing for advertisement contents selection based on the vehicle type information that was added to advertisement contents is the same as described in the foregoing example of advertisement contents delivery at a filling station.




Next, the case in which the vehicle is a light-duty vehicle measuring 1.2 m in overall width, 3.5 m in overall length, and 1.2 m in overall height is considered below. Vehicle type information on this vehicle (namely, “Dimensions: 1.2 m in overall width, 3.5 m in overall length, and 1.2 m in overall height, Loading scale: Light-duty vehicle”) is recorded in vehicle type information table


3150


.




The vehicle (contents receiving station


3180


) compares the loading scale-classified information and size-classified information within the received advertisement contents, and the information contained in vehicle type information table


3150


(namely, “Dimensions: 1.2 m in overall width, 3.5 m in overall length, and 1.2 m in overall height, Loading scale: Light-duty vehicle”) in the above case, loading scale-classified information “Light-duty vehicle” within received contents


4432


and the loading scale-classified information “Light-duty vehicle” within vehicle type information table


3150


are the same, and the size-classified information “Dimensions: 1.2 m in overall width, 3.5 m in overall length, and 1.2 m in overall height” within vehicle type information table


3150


is included in the size-classified information “Overall width: 2.0 m (max), Overall length: 4.5 m (max), Overall height: 1.5 m (max)” within received contents


4432


. . . and then advertisement contents


4432


and


4472


on light-duty vehicles and advertisement contents


4452


on vehicles measuring 2.0 m (maximum) in overall width, 4.5 m (maximum) in overall length, and 1.5 m (maximum) in overall height are selected by information selecting equipment


3138


. Finally, as with the display on map


4500


of

FIG. 45

, information


4520


“Parking lot #1: Vacancies for 10 units”, information


4540


“Parking lot #2: Vacancies for 10 units”, and information


4560


“Parking lot #3: Vacancies for 2 units” are displayed at the terminal of display equipment


3152


.




Furthermore, the case in which the vehicle is a medium-duty vehicle measuring 1.8 m in overall width, 4.2 m in overall length, and 1.3 m in overall height is considered below. Vehicle type information on this vehicle (namely, “Dimensions: 1.8 m in overall width, 4.2 m in overall length, and 1.3 m in overall height, Loading scale: Medium-duty vehicle”) is recorded in vehicle type information table


3150


.




The vehicle (contents receiving station


3180


) compares the loading scale-classified information and size-classified information within the received advertisement contents, and the information contained in vehicle type information table


3150


(namely, “Dimensions: 1.8 m in overall width, 4.2 m in overall length, and 1.3 m in overall height, Loading scale: Medium-duty vehicle”) . . . in the above case, loading scale-classified information “Medium-duty vehicle” within received contents


4434


and the loading scale-classified information “Medium-duty vehicle” within vehicle type information table


3150


are the same, and the size-classified information “1.8 m in overall width, 4.2 m in overall length, and 1.3 m in overall height” within vehicle type information table


3150


is included in the size-classified information “Overall width: 2.0 m (max), Overall length: 4.5 m (max), Overall height: 1.5 m (max)” within received contents


4432


. . . and then advertisement contents


4434


and


4474


on medium-duty vehicles and advertisement contents


4452


on vehicles measuring 2.0 m (maximum) in overall width, 4.5 m (maximum) in overall length, and 1.5 m (maximum) in overall height are selected by information selecting equipment


3138


. Finally, as with the display on map


4600


of

FIG. 46

, information


4620


“Parking lot #1: Occupied”, information


4640


“Parking lot #2: Vacancies for 10 units”, and information


4660


“Parking lot #3: Vacancies for 2 units” are displayed at the terminal of display equipment


3152


.




Thus, the user can select, from the information delivered by the advertisement information provider, only the necessary and appropriate information according to the particular type of vehicle.




Next, examples in which a railway business company supplies trains with information for each railway line or for each distance from the starting points of trains are considered. In these examples, sight-seeing guidance information concerning the nearest station from the current location of each train running on various lines is supplied to the trains by a railway business company.

FIG. 47

outlines a method of supplying sight-seeing guidance information to the trains mentioned above. The railway business company supplies sight-seeing guidance information from information delivery station


4705


to trains


4715


,


4720


, and


4725


, via HEO satellite


4710


. At this time, trains


4715


,


4720


, and


4725


acquire the distances from the respective starting points via transponders


4730


,


4735


, and


4740


provided to supply information on the distance from the starting point of each train. Subsequently, the sight-seeing guidance information required for the trains is acquired using the distance information that has been acquired above, and the line information stored within the trains.




Trains


4715


and


4720


are now running on the Johban Line, and train


4715


is present at a distance of 100 km from Ueno Station, the starting point of the train, and train


4715


is present at a distance of 150 km from Ueno Station, which is also the starting point of the train. Train


4740


is now running on the Chuoh Line, and this train is present at a distance of 120 km from Ueno Station, the starting point of the train.




Delivery of sight-seeing guidance information from information delivery station


4705


is described below. Information delivery station


4705


has; a group of contents consisting of stored sight-seeing guidance information; line information for limiting the contents providing destinations; line information to become the basis for supplying information relating to the distances from the starting points of trains, and; distance information, which represents the distances from the starting points of trains.




Information delivery station


4705


adds the corresponding line information and distance information to each set of contents, and then delivers these contents. The sight-seeing guidance contents with the added line information and distance information, are delivered to trains


4715


,


4720


, and


4725


via HEO satellite


4710


. Trains


4715


,


4720


, and


4725


contain the information relating to the respective running lines. Trains


4715


,


4720


, and


4725


also acquire distance information from transponders


4730


,


4735


, and


4740


. Trains


4715


,


4720


, and


4725


compare the line information that was added to the contents to be delivered, and the line information stored within the respective trains, and also compare the distance information that was added to the contents, and the distance information obtained from transponders


4730


,


4735


, and


4740


. Only the contents that have matched in the details of the above information are selected and displayed on a monitor, which is provided to display sight-seeing guidance information in the train, or on an electronic bulletin board.




For example, the case in which train


4715


now running on the Johban Line and present at a distance of 100 km from Ueno Station is to receive sight-seeing guidance information is considered.

FIGS. 48

to


50


show the contents


4800


,


4900


, and


5000


delivered from delivery station


4705


. Contents


4800


are intended for the train now running on the Johban Line and present at a distance of 100 km from Ueno Station (starting point), contents


4900


are intended for the train now running on the Johban Line and present at a distance of 150 km from Ueno Station, and contents


5000


are intended for the train now running on the Johban Line and present at a distance of 120 km from Ueno Station. Contents


4800


contain “Johban Line” as line information


4810


, “100 km from Ueno” as distance information


4820


, and “Mito Festival now taking place at: Mito Park (2-min walk from Mito Station)” as sight-seeing guidance information. Contents


4900


contain “Johban Line” as line information


4910


, “150 km from uenon” as distance information


4920


, and “Iwaki Fireworks on Aug. 15 Iwaki Park: 5-min walk from Iwaki Station” as sight-seeing guidance information. Contents


5000


contain “Chuoh Line” as line information


5010


, “120 km from Ueno” as distance information


5020


, and “Grape Festival now taking place at: Grape Park (5-min walk from Kouhu Station” as sight-seeing guidance information.




Train


4715


acquires the distance information “100 km from Ueno” from transponder


4730


. Subsequently, comparisons are performed between the distance information “100 km from Ueno” and the distance information that was added to the contents to be delivered, and between the line information “Johban Line” stored within train


4715


and the line information that was added to the contents to be delivered. Next, the contents


4800


that have matched in the details of the above information are selected. Finally, the sight-seeing guidance information


4830


“Mito Festival now taking place at: Mito Park (2-min walk from Mito Station)” within the selected contents


4800


is displayed on the monitor or electronic bulletin board within the train.




Next, the case in which train


4725


now running on the Chuoh Line and present at a distance of 120 km from Tokyo is to receive sight-seeing guidance information is considered.




Train


4725


acquires the distance information “120 km from Tokyo” from transponder


4740


. Subsequently, comparisons are performed between the distance information “120 km from Tokyo” and the distance information that was added to the contents to be delivered, and between the line information “Chuoh Line” stored within train


4725


and the line information that was added to the contents to be delivered. Next, the contents


5000


that have matched in the details of the above information are selected. Finally, the sight-seeing guidance information


5030


“Grape Festival now taking place at: Kouhu Park (5-min walk from Kouhu Station)” within the selected contents


5000


is displayed on the monitor or electronic bulletin board within the train.




Thus, the optimum information can be supplied to each of multiple trains running on different lines and present at different locations.




[Effects of the Invention]




According to the present invention, it is possible, by transmitting information via broadcast communications and then selecting received information according to the current moving status of mobile bodies and their future moving schedules, to create an environment under which the appropriate information can be presented according to the particular situation of each mobile body.




The present invention also enables the following to be implemented:




Selecting and transmitting information according to the particular approaching relationship with respect to a mobile body




Selecting and transmitting information according to the particular influence relationship with respect to an event




It is easy to supply traffic regulation information to the driver by creating electronic traffic regulation information databases using traffic information editing equipment based on the present invention.




In an information providing system based on the present invention, casualties due to oversight of road signs or the like by the driver can be minimized by supplying traffic regulation information to the driver.




Also, in another information providing system based on the present invention, since traffic regulation information is presented in integratedly managed form to the driver, there is no need to install road signs on actual roads, even when information is to be updated again.




In addition, in a still another information providing system based on the present invention, acquired traffic regulation information or the traffic regulation information stored within the vehicle can be timely presented from the appropriate location to the driver by providing a means of acquiring absolute location information. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce the necessity for the installation of communications equipment at each information presentation point and thus to reduce significantly the traffic information transmitting equipment to be installed on roads.




Furthermore, in a still another information providing system based on the present invention, communications traffic and processing inside the vehicle can be reduced by supplying regulation information limited to each area only.



Claims
  • 1. An information broadcasting method comprising:broadcasting information, the information including area and time information relating to areas defining a travel route of a land-based noted vehicle and estimated times of arrival of the noted vehicle at the areas, wherein the estimated time of arrival includes time that is at least five minutes from the time of the broadcast; and receiving the broadcast information, which includes: extracting the area and time information from the broadcast information; and comparing area and time information relating to areas defining a travel route of a land-based traveling vehicle and estimated times of arrival of the traveling vehicle at the areas with the area and time information of the noted vehicle to judge whether the noted vehicle will travel in one of the areas defining the travel route of the traveling vehicle while the traveling vehicle travels in the one of the areas.
  • 2. The information broadcasting method according to claim 1, wherein the area and time information of the noted vehicle is sent from the noted vehicle to a broadcasting station, the broadcasting station sending the information including the area and time information to a digital radio broadcasting satellite.
  • 3. The information broadcasting method according to claim 1, wherein the step of comparing is performed by a navigation system.
  • 4. The information broadcasting method according to claim 3, wherein the step of comparing is performed in the traveling vehicle.
  • 5. An information receiving system comprising a navigation system receiving broadcast information which includes area and time information relating to areas defining a travel route of a land-based noted vehicle and estimated times of arrival of the noted vehicle at the travel areas, wherein the estimated time of arrival includes time that is at least five minutes from the time of the broadcast, wherein the navigation system extracts the area and time information included in the broadcast information, and compares area and time information relating to areas defining a travel route of a land-based traveling vehicle and estimated times of arrival of the traveling vehicle at the areas with the area and time information of the noted vehicle to judge whether the noted vehicle will travel in one of the areas defining the travel route of the traveling vehicle while the traveling vehicle travels in the one of the areas.
  • 6. The information receiving system according to claim 5, wherein the navigation system is mounted in the traveling vehicle.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
11-244785 Aug 1999 JP
Parent Case Info

This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/649,682 filed Aug. 28, 2000, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

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Entry
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