Inter-vehicular communication method

• US 6,249,232 B1
• Filed: 05/14/1998
• Issued: 06/19/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Mashimo, Hiroshi, Tamura, Kazuya
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US09/078,549
• Time in Patent Office: 1,132 Days
• Field of Search: 340/903, 340/988, 340/902, 340/933, 340/991, 180/169, 180/167
• US Class Current: 340/902
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/163 involving continuous checking

Abstract

To provide an inter-vehicular communication method which enables a plurality of vehicles to efficiently exchange information. A plurality of vehicles are assigned identification numbers (IDs) and perform transmission of information in order, on the basis of their identification numbers. A time which is allocated so that each of the vehicles can perform a transmission, is constant (one cycle=4 ms), and a time at which the vehicle of ID=1 starts its first transmission is set as a reference time. The vehicles of ID=2, ID=3 and ID=1 . . . sequentially perform their transmissions 4 ms, 8 ms and 12 ms . . . after the reference time. Thus, it is possible to avoid a problem that the plurality of vehicles perform their transmissions at the same time, and it is also possible to minimize the waste of time and to exchange information in a short time.

Claims

1. A method of inter-vehicular communication between a plurality of vehicles comprising the steps of:

(a) assigning, in order, identification numbers to each of the vehicles in the plurality of vehicles;

(b) transmitting from each vehicle to at least one other vehicle, in order, starting from a smallest identification number, information including the identification number of the vehicle;

(c) wherein a first transmission from the vehicle having the smallest identification number functions as a reference time and wherein the first transmissions from the other vehicles and succeeding transmissions from all vehicles start after a predetermined time delay from the reference time; and

(d) wherein the vehicle identification numbers are assigned as the vehicles pass an identification number assigning means positioned along a road.

2. A method of inter-vehicular communication according to claim 1, wherein the reference time is the start of the transmission of the first transmission of the vehicle with the smallest identification number.

3. A method of inter-vehicular communication according to claim 1, wherein the reference time is the end of transmission of the first transmission of the vehicle with the smallest identification number.

4. A method of inter-vehicular communication according to claim 1, wherein a vehicle which performs its transmission after the first transmission forceably ends the transmission after a predetermined time limit from the reference time, the time limit being determined based upon the identification number of the vehicle.

5. A method of inter-vehicular communication according to claim 1, wherein the information transmitted from each vehicle includes, in addition to the identification number of the vehicle itself, at least one of the vehicle position, vehicle speed, acceleration, deceleration, angle of longitudinal vehicle inclination, an operational amount of the vehicle brake system, an operational amount of a steering gear, and a gear selected in a transmission.