Mobile unit communication apparatus providing a relayed signal when error detected

• US 6,252,520 B1
• Filed: 06/12/2000
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1999
• 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: Asami, Ken, Satomura, Masashi, Tsuchida, Hirotatsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US09/591,222
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: 340/903, 340/902, 340/435, 340/436, 340/944, 340/933, 340/935, 340/906, 701/117, 701/301
• US Class Current: 340/903
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/04 Traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/163 involving continuous checking

Abstract

The object of the invention is to provide a mobile unit communication apparatus that can give required information of one other mobile unit to another other mobile unit which a radio signal from the one other mobile unit does not directly reach. To achieve the object, an incoming information signal is received, it is judged based upon an information signal incoming when the approach of another plural mobile units near a mobile unit is detected based upon the incoming information signal that an error occurs in communication between another plural mobile units and an information signal to be transmitted between another plural mobile units is relayed when an error in communication between another plural mobile units is detected.

Claims

1. A mobile unit communication apparatus mounted in a mobile unit for transmitting and receiving an information signal, comprising:

receiving means for receiving an incoming information signal;

mobile unit approach detecting means for detecting approach of other mobile units near an own mobile unit based upon said incoming information signal received by said receiving means;

communication error judging means for judging that an error occurs in communication between said other mobile units based upon said incoming information signal received by said receiving means when approach is detected by said mobile unit approach detecting means; and

transmitting means for relaying the information signal to be transmitted between said other mobile units when the error is detected in communication between said other mobile units.

2. The mobile unit communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said information signal includes hazard alarm data showing whether a distance between said other mobile units is shorter than predetermined distance or not, and

said communication error judging means judges that an error occurs in communication between said other mobile units based upon the contents of said hazard alarm data in said incoming information signal.

3. The mobile unit communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said other mobile units detected by said mobile unit approach detecting means are vehicles mutually approaching the same intersection.

4. The mobile unit communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said other mobile units detected by said mobile unit approach detecting means are vehicles mutually changing each lane and approaching.

5. The mobile unit communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said other mobile units detected by said mobile unit approach detecting means are a vehicle turning to the left and a vehicle approaching the vehicle.

6. The mobile unit communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said other mobile units detected by said mobile unit approach detecting means are a walker crossing a road and a vehicle approaching the walker.

7. The mobile unit communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said mobile unit approach detecting means comprises:

(1) determining means for determining whether or not other vehicles approaching the same intersection exist, the intersection being defined as an intersection in front of the traveling azimuth of own vehicle;

(2) calculating means for calculating difference in time of arrival at the intersection between each of said other vehicles when said other vehicles approaching the same intersection exist; and

(3) determining means for judging whether or not vehicles the difference in time of arrival between which is smaller than predetermined time exist, and said communication error judging means comprises (4) determining means for judging whether or not said vehicles issue a hazard alarm to each other when vehicles the difference in time of arrival between which is smaller than predetermined time exist.

8. The mobile unit communication apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said mobile unit approach detecting means comprises:

(1) determining means for determining whether or not other vehicles the traveling azimuth of which is the same as a traveling azimuth included in said information signal exist;

(2) calculating means for calculating relative distance between said other vehicles when plural vehicles the traveling azimuth of which is the same as a traveling azimuth included in said information signal exist;

(3) determining means for determining whether or not vehicles said relative distance between which is shorter than predetermined distance exist; and

(4) determining means for determining whether or not a course of a turn signal of each vehicle shows a direction mutually close when said vehicles said relative distance between which is shorter than predetermined distance exist, and said communication error judging means comprises

(5) determining means for determining whether or not each vehicle issues hazard alarm to each other when the course of the turn signal of each vehicle shows a direction mutually close.

9. The mobile unit communication apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said mobile unit approach detecting means comprises (1) determining means for determining whether or not other vehicles whose vectors are crossing exist, said vector being formed base on data included in said information signal, and said communication error judging means comprises (2) determining means for determining whether or not each vehicle issues a hazard alarm to each other when said other vehicles whose vectors are crossing.

10. The mobile unit communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said mobile unit approach detecting means comprises:

(1) determining means for determining whether or not said information signal shows an existence of a walker exists;

(2) determining means for determining whether or not a vehicle showing a position of said vehicle such as relative distance from a position of said walker, said relative distance being shorter than predetermined distance; and

(3) determining means for determining whether or not a relative speed of said vehicle for said walker is faster than predetermined speed when said vehicle exists, and said communication error judging means comprises (4) determining means for determining whether or not said vehicle issues a hazard alarm to said walker when said relative speed is faster than said predetermined speed.

11. A method of communication for mobile unit, comprising a step of:

(1) receiving an incoming information signal;

(2) detecting an approach of other mobile units based upon said incoming information signal;

(3) judging an error occurred in communication between said other mobile units according to the approach based upon said incoming information signal; and

(4) transmitting an information signal, wherein said step of transmitting comprises a step of relaying the information signal to be transmitted between said other mobile units when the error is detected in communication between said other mobile units.