Device, system, method and program for notifying traffic condition and recording medium storing the program

• US 20050027437A1
• Filed: 07/15/2004
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Increment P Corporation, Pioneer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Increment P Corporation, Pioneer Corporation
• Inventors: Amano, Kouji, Takenaga, Takashi
• Application Number:
  US10/891,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20050027437A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3691 Retrieval, searching and output of information related to real-time traffic, weather, or environmental conditions arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions G08G1/09
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map

Abstract

A processor acquires VICS data including map information and traffic jam information as well as a traffic jam prediction table prepared by processing past traffic conditions based on temporal elements. As it recognizes a request for displaying the transition of a traffic jam, it computes a traffic jam prediction after the elapse of a predetermined time, e.g., every 30 minutes, using the traffic jam prediction table and a calendar table so as to generate traffic jam prediction information. Then, it superimposes an additional indicators (Jm) near a current traffic jam mark (Jg) produced on the basis of the VICS data. With a simple arrangement of superimposing such additional indicators (Jm), a user can easily recognize the predicted transition of the traffic jam.

Claims

1. A traffic condition notifying device comprising:

a map information acquirer for acquiring map information;

a traffic information acquirer for acquiring traffic information on the traffic condition of a movable body;

a statistic traffic information acquirer for acquiring statistic traffic information prepared by statistically processing past traffic conditions based on temporal elements;

a traffic condition transition recognizer for recognizing the change with time of the traffic condition on the basis of the statistic traffic information; and

a display controller for displaying a traffic condition indicator related to the traffic condition in a manner superimposed on the map information on a display unit in response to the change with time recognized by the traffic condition transition recognizer.

2. The traffic condition notifying device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a request information recognizer for recognizing transition request information requesting to display the change with time of traffic condition,

wherein the display controller superimposes the traffic condition indicator on the map information in response to the change with time, when the request information recognizer recognizes the transition request information.

3. The traffic condition notifying device according to claim 1, wherein

the display controller alters the traffic condition indicator superimposed on the map information in response to the change with time.

4. The traffic condition notifying device according to claim 1, wherein

the display controller replaces the traffic condition indicator related to the traffic condition and superimposed on the map information with a different traffic condition indicator related to the traffic condition corresponding to the change with time recognized by the traffic condition transition recognizer and displays the latter traffic condition indicator in a superimposed manner.

5. The traffic condition notifing device according to claim 1, wherein

the display controller replaces the map information on which the traffic condition indicator is superimposed with the map information on which the traffic condition indicator corresponding to the change with time recognized by the traffic condition transition recognizer is superimposed.

6. The traffic condition notifying device according to claim 1, wherein

the display controller superimposes an additional indicator related to the change with time on the map information in a manner attached to the traffic condition indicator.

7. The traffic condition notifying device according to claim 6, further comprising:

a moving condition recognizer for recognizing the moving condition of the movable body,

wherein the additional indicator indicates the time period necessary for the movable body to pass through an area having the traffic condition on the basis of the moving condition of the movable body, the map information and the change with time of the traffic condition recognized by the traffic condition transition recognizer.

11. The traffic condition notifying device according to claim 1, wherein

the traffic condition transition recognizer recognizes the traffic condition of a predetermined time and date and that of a different predetermined time and date on the basis of the statistic traffic information and recognizes the difference of the recognized traffic conditions as the change with time of the traffic condition.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the traffic information acquirer acquires traffic information including a traffic jam around the movable body;

and

the traffic condition transition recognizer recognizes either a growth or shrink of the traffic jam with passage of time as the change with time.

8. A traffic condition notifying device comprising:

a map information acquirer for acquiring map information;

a traffic information acquirer for acquiring traffic information on the traffic condition of a movable body;

a statistic traffic information acquirer for acquiring statistic traffic information prepared by statistically processing past traffic conditions based on temporal elements;

a traffic condition transition recognizer for recognizing the change with time of the traffic condition on the basis of the statistic traffic information; and

a display controller for altering a traffic condition indicator related to the traffic condition and displayed in a manner superimposed on the map information on a display unit in response to the change with time recognized by the traffic condition transition recognizer.

12. The traffic condition notifying device according to claim 8, wherein

the traffic condition transition recognizer recognizes the traffic condition of a predetermined time and date and that of a different predetermined time and date on the basis of the statistic traffic information and recognizes the difference of the recognized traffic conditions as the change with time of the traffic condition.

16. The device according to claim 8, wherein

the traffic information acquirer acquires traffic information including a traffic jam around the movable body;

and

the traffic condition transition recognizer recognizes either a growth or shrink of the traffic jam with passage of time as the change with time.

9. A traffic condition notifying device comprising:

a map information acquirer for acquiring map information;

a traffic information acquirer for acquiring traffic information on the traffic condition of a movable body;

a statistic traffic information acquirer for acquiring statistic traffic information prepared by statistically processing past traffic conditions based on temporal elements;

a traffic condition transition recognizer for recognizing the change with time of the traffic condition on the basis of the statistic traffic information; and

a display controller that replaces a traffic condition indicator related to the traffic condition and superimposed on the map information with a different traffic condition indicator related to the traffic condition corresponding to the change with time recognized by the traffic condition transition recognizer and displays the latter traffic condition indicator in a superimposed manner.

13. The traffic condition notifying device according to claim 9, wherein

the traffic condition transition recognizer recognizes the traffic condition of a predetermined time and date and that of a different predetermined time and date on the basis of the statistic traffic information and recognizes the difference of the recognized traffic conditions as the change with time of the traffic condition.

17. The device according to claim 9, wherein

the traffic information acquirer acquires traffic information including a traffic jam around the movable body;

and

the traffic condition transition recognizer recognizes either a growth or shrink of the traffic j am with passage of time as the change with time.

10. A traffic condition notifying device comprising:

a map information acquirer for acquiring map information;

a traffic information acquirer for acquiring traffic information on the traffic condition of a movable body;

a statistic traffic information acquirer for acquiring statistic traffic information prepared by statistically processing past traffic conditions based on temporal elements;

a traffic condition transition recognizer for recognizing the change with time of the traffic condition on the basis of the statistic traffic information; and

a display controller for replacing the map information on which a traffic condition indicator related to the traffic condition is superimposed with the map information on which a traffic condition indictor corresponding to the change with time recognized by the traffic condition transition recognizer is superimposed.

14. The traffic condition notifying device according to claim 10, wherein

the traffic condition transition recognizer recognizes the traffic condition of a predetermined time and date and that of a different predetermined time and date on the basis of the statistic traffic information and recognizes the difference of the recognized traffic conditions as the change with time of the traffic condition.

18. The device according to claim 10, wherein

the traffic information acquirer acquires traffic information including a traffic jam around the movable body;

and

the traffic condition transition recognizer recognizes either a growth or shrink of the traffic jam with passage of time as the change with time.

19. A traffic condition notifying system comprising:

a server having a storage section for storing map information; and

a traffic condition notifying device for acquiring the map information from the server via a network, the traffic condition notifying device including;

a map information acquirer for acquiring the map information;

a traffic information acquirer for acquiring traffic information on the traffic condition of a movable body;

a statistic traffic information acquirer for acquiring statistic traffic information prepared by statistically processing past traffic conditions based on temporal elements;

a traffic condition transition recognizer for recognizing the change with time of the traffic condition on the basis of the statistic traffic information; and

a display controller for displaying a traffic condition indicator related to the traffic condition in a manner superimposed on the map information on a display unit in response to the change with time recognized by the traffic condition transition recognizer.

23. The system according to claim 19, wherein

the server has a statistic traffic information storage for storing statistic traffic information.

20. A traffic condition notifying system comprising:

a server having a storage section for storing map information; and

a traffic condition notifying device for acquiring the map information from the server via a network, the traffic condition notifying device including;

a map information acquirer for acquiring the map information;

a traffic information acquirer for acquiring traffic information on the traffic condition of a movable body;

a statistic traffic information acquirer for acquiring statistic traffic information prepared by statistically processing past traffic conditions based on temporal elements;

a traffic condition transition recognizer for recognizing the change with time of the traffic condition on the basis of the statistic traffic information; and

a display controller for altering a traffic condition indicator related to the traffic condition and displayed in a manner superimposed on the map information on a display unit in response to the change with time recognized by the traffic condition transition recognizer.

24. The system according to claim 20, wherein

the server has a statistic traffic information storage for storing statistic traffic information.

21. A traffic condition notifying system comprising:

a server having a storage section for storing map information; and

a traffic condition notifying device for acquiring the map information from the server via a network, the traffic condition notifying device including;

a map information acquirer for acquiring the map information;

a traffic information acquirer for acquiring traffic information on the traffic condition of a movable body;

a statistic traffic information acquirer for acquiring statistic traffic information prepared by statistically processing past traffic conditions based on temporal elements;

a traffic condition transition recognizer for recognizing the change with time of the traffic condition on the basis of the statistic traffic information; and

a display controller that replaces a traffic condition indicator related to the traffic condition and superimposed on the map information with a different traffic condition indicator related to the traffic condition corresponding to the change with time recognized by the traffic condition transition recognizer and displays the latter traffic condition indicator in a superimposed manner.

25. The system according to claim 21, wherein

the server has a statistic traffic information storage for storing statistic traffic information.

22. A traffic condition notifying system comprising:

a server having a storage section for storing map information; and

a traffic condition notifying device for acquiring the map information from the server via a network, the traffic condition notifying device including;

a map information acquirer for acquiring the map information;

a traffic information acquirer for acquiring traffic information on the traffic condition of a movable body;

a statistic traffic information acquirer for acquiring statistic traffic information prepared by statistically processing past traffic conditions based on temporal elements;

a traffic condition transition recognizer for recognizing the change with time of the traffic condition on the basis of the statistic traffic information; and

a display controller for replacing the map information on which a traffic condition indicator related to the traffic condition is superimposed with the map information on which a traffic condition indictor corresponding to the change with time recognized by the traffic condition transition recognizer is superimposed.

26. The system according to claim 22, wherein

the server has a statistic traffic information storage for storing statistic traffic information.

27. A traffic condition notifying method comprising:

acquiring map information, traffic information on the traffic condition of a movable body, and statistic traffic information prepared by statistically processing past traffic conditions based on temporal elements;

recognizing the change with time of the traffic condition on the basis of the acquired statistic traffic information; and

displaying a traffic condition indicator related to the traffic condition in a manner superimposed on the map information on a display unit in response to the recognized change with time of the traffic condition.

28. A traffic condition notifying method comprising:

acquiring map information, traffic information on the traffic condition of a movable body and statistic traffic information prepared by statistically processing past traffic conditions based on temporal elements;

recognizing the change with time of the traffic condition on the basis of the acquired statistic traffic information; and

altering a traffic condition indicator related to the traffic condition and displayed in a manner superimposed on the map information on a display unit in response to the recognized change with time of the traffic condition.

29. A traffic condition notifying method comprising:

acquiring map information, traffic information on the traffic condition of a movable body and statistic traffic information prepared by statistically processing past traffic conditions based on temporal elements;

recognizing the change with time of the traffic condition on the basis of the acquired statistic traffic information; and

replacing a traffic condition indicator related to the traffic information and superimposed on the map information with a different traffic condition indicator related to the traffic condition corresponding to the change with time recognized by the traffic condition transition recognizer to display the latter traffic condition indicator in a superimposed manner.

30. A traffic condition notifying method comprising:

acquiring map information, traffic information on the traffic condition of a movable body and statistic traffic information prepared by statistically processing past traffic conditions based on temporal elements;

recognizing the change with time of the traffic condition on the basis of the acquired statistic traffic information; and

replacing the map information on which a traffic condition indicator related to the traffic condition is superimposed with the map information on which a traffic condition indicator corresponding to the change with time recognized by the traffic condition recognizer is superimposed.

31. A traffic condition notifying program for having a computing section to execute a traffic condition notifying method comprising the steps of:

acquiring map information, traffic information on the traffic condition of a movable body, and statistic traffic information prepared by statistically processing past traffic conditions based on temporal elements;

recognizing the change with time of the traffic condition on the basis of the acquired statistic traffic information; and

displaying a traffic condition indicator related to the traffic condition in a manner superimposed on the map information on a display unit in response to the recognized change with time of the traffic condition.

32. A traffic condition notifying program for having a computing section to execute a traffic condition notifying method comprising the steps of:

acquiring map information, traffic information on the traffic condition of a movable body and statistic traffic information prepared by statistically processing past traffic conditions based on temporal elements;

recognizing the change with time of the traffic condition on the basis of the acquired statistic traffic information; and

altering a traffic condition indicator related to the traffic condition and displayed in a manner superimposed on the map information on a display unit in response to the recognized change with time of the traffic condition.

33. A traffic condition notifying program for having a computing section to execute a traffic condition notifying method comprising the steps of:

acquiring map information, traffic information on the traffic condition of a movable body and statistic traffic information prepared by statistically processing past traffic conditions based on temporal elements;

recognizing the change with time of the traffic condition on the basis of the acquired statistic traffic information; and

replacing a traffic condition indicator related to the traffic information and superimposed on the map information with a different traffic condition indicator related to the traffic condition corresponding to the change with time recognized by the traffic condition transition recognizer to display the latter traffic condition indicator in a superimposed manner.

34. A traffic condition notifying program for having a computing section to execute a traffic condition notifying method comprising the steps of:

acquiring map information, traffic information on the traffic condition of a movable body and statistic traffic information prepared by statistically processing past traffic conditions based on temporal elements;

recognizing the change with time of the traffic condition on the basis of the acquired statistic traffic information; and

replacing the map information on which a traffic condition indicator related to the traffic condition is superimposed with the map information on which a traffic condition indicator corresponding to the change with time recognized by the traffic condition recognizer is superimposed.

35. A recording medium storing the traffic condition notifying program in a manner readable by a computing section,

wherein the program is operable in the computing section and performs a traffic condition notifying method comprising the steps of:

acquiring map information, traffic information on the traffic condition of a movable body, and statistic traffic information prepared by statistically processing past traffic conditions based on temporal elements;

recognizing the change with time of the traffic condition on the basis of the acquired statistic traffic information; and

displaying a traffic condition indicator related to the traffic condition in a manner superimposed on the map information on a display unit in response to the recognized change with time of the traffic condition.

36. A recording medium storing the traffic condition notifying program in a manner readable by a computing section,

wherein the program is operable in the computing section and performs a traffic condition notifying method comprising the steps of:

acquiring map information, traffic information on the traffic condition of a movable body and statistic traffic information prepared by statistically processing past traffic conditions based on temporal elements;

recognizing the change with time of the traffic condition on the basis of the acquired statistic traffic information; and

altering a traffic condition indicator related to the traffic condition and displayed in a manner superimposed on the map information on a display unit in response to the recognized change with time of the traffic condition.

37. A recording medium storing the traffic condition notifying program in a manner readable by a computing section

wherein the program is operable in the computing section and performs a traffic condition notifying method comprising the steps of:

acquiring map information, traffic information on the traffic condition of a movable body and statistic traffic information prepared by statistically processing past traffic conditions based on temporal elements;

recognizing the change with time of the traffic condition on the basis of the acquired statistic traffic information; and

replacing a traffic condition indicator related to the traffic information and superimposed on the map information with a different traffic condition indicator related to the traffic condition corresponding to the change with time recognized by the traffic condition transition recognizer to display the latter traffic condition indicator in a superimposed manner.

38. A recording medium storing the traffic condition notifying program in a manner readable by a computing section

wherein the program is operable in the computing section and performs a traffic condition notifying method comprising the steps of:

acquiring map information, traffic information on the traffic condition of a movable body and statistic traffic information prepared by statistically processing past traffic conditions based on temporal elements;

recognizing the change with time of the traffic condition on the basis of the acquired statistic traffic information; and

replacing the map information on which a traffic condition indicator related to the traffic condition is superimposed with the map information on which a traffic condition indicator corresponding to the change with time recognized by the traffic condition recognizer is superimposed.