Operation support system, sending device, and receiving device

Abstract

When a map screen is displayed in a navigation system of a subject vehicle, a position of any other vehicle is estimated and is displayed in the map screen. Influence of delay due to the following is eliminated or reduced: time consumed in processing in a navigation system of the other vehicle; time consumed in communication between the navigation system of the other vehicle and the navigation system of the subject vehicle; time from when the navigation system of the subject vehicle receives communication information to when it generates information to be notified; and the like. In cases where the influence of delay is taken into account, as mentioned above, accuracy of a notified position of the other vehicle is enhanced. Thus, an accurate operation support system is provided to minimize occurrence of errors.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the general configuration of an automobile navigation system;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart explaining the transmission processing carried out by an automobile navigation system;

FIGS. 3A to 3E are data format diagrams explaining communication information transmitted by an automobile navigation system;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart explaining interrupt handling carried out by an automobile navigation system;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart explaining reception processing carried out by an automobile navigation system;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory drawing explaining a map screen displayed on a display unit in Prior Art;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are explanatory drawings explaining a map screen displayed on a display unit;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating the general configuration of a roadside machine;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart explaining transmission processing carried out by a roadside machine;

FIG. 11 is a data format diagram explaining communication information transmitted by a roadside machine; and

FIG. 12 is a flowchart explaining interrupt handling carried out by a roadside machine.

Claims

1. An operation support system comprising a sending device and a receiving device, the sending device including:a situation information acquisition unit configured to acquire information on a situation around the sending device as situation information;a first communication unit configured to communicate with the receiving device; anda first control unit configured to manage a clock time,add clock time information to identify a true clock time, which is associated with the acquired situation information, to the acquired situation information to compose communication information, andcause the first communication unit to transmit the composed communication information to the receiving device, andthe receiving device including:a notifying unit configured to give notification of information;a second communication unit configured to communicate with the sending device to receive the communication information from the sending device; anda second control unit configured to manage a clock time,make an estimation of situation information at a current clock time from the situation information contained in the received communication information, based on an elapsed time from the true clock time identified by the clock time information contained in the received communication information, andcause the notifying unit to give notification of the estimated situation information.

2. The operation support system of claim 1, wherein the acquired information on the situation around the sending device as the situation information includes at least either information on a vehicle, in which the sending device is mounted, or information on a situation around the vehicle.

3. The operation support system of claim 1, wherein the sending device is provided in a position, from which a road is viewed, andthe acquired information on the situation around the sending device as the situation information includes at least information on a vehicle on the road.

4. The operation support system claim 1, wherein the second control unit of the receiving device makes the estimation of the situation information at the current clock time further based on time consumed in the estimation.

5. The operation support system of claim 1, wherein the second control unit of the receiving device makes the estimation of the situation information further based on time required after carrying out the estimation before causing the notifying unit to give the notification of the estimated situation information.

6. The operation support system of claim 1, further comprising: a guided route information acquisition unit for acquiring guided route information or a turn signal lamp operation information acquisition unit for acquiring information on operation of turn signal lamps,wherein when the second control unit of the receiving device carries out the estimation, the guided route information acquired by the guided route information acquisition unit or the operation information acquired by the turn signal lamp operation information acquisition unit is taken into account.

7. The operation support system of claim 1, wherein each of the sending device and the receiving device further includes a clock time synchronizing unit for synchronizing clock times,wherein the first control unit of the sending device uses clock times synchronized by the clock time synchronizing unit as the clock time information, andwherein the control second unit of the receiving device uses clock times synchronized by the clock time synchronizing unit when carrying out the estimation.

8. The operation support system of claim 7, wherein the clock time synchronizing unit of the sending device and the clock time synchronizing unit of the receiving device utilize a signal from a GPS satellite or a signal from an internal clock of a roadside machine when synchronizing clock times.

9. The operation support system of claim 1, wherein when causing the notifying unit to give the notification of the situation information, the second control unit of the receiving device causes error information associated with the situation information to be notified as well.

10. The operation support system of claim 1, wherein even when the communication information is not received from the sending device, the second control unit of the receiving device uses communication information previously received so as to carry out the estimation and causes the notifying unit to give the notification of the estimated situation information.

11. A sending device comprising each of the units described in relation to the sending device in the operation support system of claim 1.

12. A receiving device comprising each of the units described in relation to the receiving device in the operation support system of claim 1.

13. A method used for an operation support system including a sending device and a receiving device, the method comprising: acquiring information on a situation around the sending device as situation information;managing a clock time in the sending device;adding clock time information to identify a true clock time, which is associated with the acquired situation information, to the acquired situation information to compose communication information;transmitting the composed communication information from the sending device to the receiving device;receiving the communication information in the receiving device;managing a clock time in the receiving device;making an estimation of situation information at a current clock time from the situation information contained in the received communication information, based on an elapsed time from the true clock time identified by the clock time information contained in the received communication information; andgiving notification of the estimated situation information.