Communication device for automotive vehicle

• US 7,606,185 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2006
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Saito, Toshiya
• Primary Examiner(s): Gary; Erika A
• Application Number:
  US11/407,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20060248222A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,279 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

A communication device for acquiring a traffic information includes: a communicating element; a request message transmitting element for transmitting a request message, which includes a request vehicle identification information, a target zone information and an information for specifying the traffic information; a request message receiving element for receiving the request message; a request message transferring element for transferring the request message; a response message transmitting element for transmitting a response message when the automotive vehicle is disposed in the target zone and when the traffic information is capable of retrieving; a response message receiving element for receiving the response message; a response message transferring element for transferring the response message when a vehicle is not a request vehicle; and an outputting element for outputting the traffic information when the vehicle is the request vehicle.

Claims

1. A communication device for an automotive vehicle comprising:

a traffic information possessing means for possessing a traffic information regarding a self vehicle;

a zoning means for dividing a predetermined area into a plurality of zones in a two-dimensional grid;

a target zone specifying means for specifying a single target zone or a plurality of target zones from a plurality of zones, wherein the single target zone or each of a plurality of target zones includes a target communication device as an acquisition object of the traffic information;

a positioning data acquiring means for acquiring a positioning data of the self vehicle;

a communicating means for communicating with at least one of a plurality of cooperative communication devices by wireless, wherein a plurality of cooperative communication devices is disposed around the self vehicle;

a data request message transmitting/controlling means for transmitting a data request message to at least one of a plurality of cooperative communication devices through the communicating means, wherein the data request message defines a data request vehicle identification information, the single target zone or a plurality of target zones, and an information for specifying the traffic information of the acquisition object, and wherein the data request vehicle identification information defines an identification information of a data request vehicle;

a data request message receiving/controlling means for receiving the data request message, which is transmitted from at least one of a plurality of cooperative communication devices through the communicating means;

a data request message transferring/controlling means for transferring the data request message received by the data request message receiving/controlling means to at least one of a plurality of cooperative communication devices;

a data response message transmitting/controlling means for transmitting a data response message to at least one of a plurality of cooperative communication devices through the communicating means in a case where the self vehicle is disposed in the single target zone or a plurality of target zones defined in the data request message received by the data request message receiving/controlling means and where the traffic information of the acquisition object defined in the data request message is capable of transmitting and retrieving from the traffic information possessed in the traffic information possessing means, wherein the data response message defines the data request vehicle identification information defined in the data request message and the traffic information of the acquisition object defined in the data request message;

a data response message receiving/controlling means for receiving the data response message through the communicating means from at least one of a plurality of cooperative communication devices;

a data response message transferring/controlling means for transferring the data response message received by the data response message receiving/controlling means to at least one of a plurality of cooperative communication devices through the communicating means in a case where an identification information of the self vehicle does not correspond to the data request vehicle identification information defined in the data response message received by the data response message receiving/controlling means;

a data outputting means for outputting the traffic information of the acquisition object included in the data response message received by the data response message receiving/controlling means in a case where the identification information of the self vehicle corresponds to the data request vehicle identification information defined in the data response message received by the data response message receiving/controlling means;

a request vehicle zone specifying means for specifying a request vehicle zone, in which the request vehicle is disposed, on the basis of the positioning data acquired by the positioning data acquiring means; and

a message transfer zone specifying means for specifying a message transfer zone defined by a part of a plurality of zones, which includes the request vehicle zone specified by the request vehicle zone specifying means and the single target zone or a plurality of target zones specified by the target zone specifying means, wherein

the part of a plurality of zones is adjacent together so that the part of a plurality of zones links the request vehicle zone and the single target zone or a plurality of target zones,

the data request message transmitting/controlling means transmits the data request message together with an information regarding the message transfer zone,

the data response message transmitting/controlling means transmits the data response message together with the information regarding the message transfer zone,

the data request message transferring/controlling means determines whether the data request message is transferred or not on the basis of the information regarding the message transfer zone defined in the data request message and the positioning data acquired by the positioning data acquiring means, and

the data response message transferring/controlling means determines whether the data response message is transferred or not on the basis of the information regarding the message transfer zone defined in the data response message and the positioning data acquired by the positioning data acquiring means.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the data request message transmitting/controlling means transmits the data request message together with an information regarding transferring times,

the data response message transmitting/controlling means transmits the data response message together with the information regarding transferring times,

the data request message transferring/controlling means determines whether the data request message is transferred or not on the basis of the information regarding the transferring times defined in the data request message, and

the data response message transferring/controlling means determines whether the data response message is transferred or not on the basis of the information regarding the transferring times defined in the data response message.

3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a traffic information acquiring means for acquiring a traffic information regarding a road, wherein

the message transfer zone specifying means specifies the message transfer zone along with a single passage or a plurality of passages linking between the request vehicle zone and the single target zone or a plurality of target zones on the basis of the traffic information of the road.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the data request message receiving/controlling means memorizes a receiving communication device information for specifying a receiving communication device, which receives the data request message, and

the data response message transmitting/controlling means and the data response message transferring/controlling means transmits and transfers the data response message to at least one of cooperative communication devices, which is specified by the receiving communication device information.

5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a leader communication device specifying means for specifying a leader communication device in each zone; and

a zone traffic information aggregating means for aggregating the traffic information possessed in the traffic information possessing means to the leader communication device through the communication means, wherein

the data response message transmitting/controlling means transmits the data response message only in a case where self communication device on the self vehicle is the leader communication device.

6. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a leader communication device specifying means for specifying a leader communication device in each zone; and

a zone traffic information sharing means for sharing the traffic information possessed in the traffic information possessing means among the cooperative communication devices in each zone through the communication means, wherein

the data response message transmitting/controlling means transmits the data response message only in a case where the communication device of the self vehicle is the leader communication device.

7. The device according to claim 1, farther comprising:

a communicating device switching means, wherein

the communicating means includes a plurality of wireless communicating devices, each of which has a different communicating method, and

the communicating device switching means selects one of the wireless communicating devices on the basis of a predetermined condition.

8. A communication device for an automotive vehicle comprising:

a traffic information possessing means for possessing a traffic information regarding a self vehicle;

a zoning means for dividing a predetermined area into a plurality of zones in a two-dimensional grid;

a target zone specifying means for specifying a single target zone or a plurality of target zones from a plurality of zones, wherein the single target zone or each of a plurality of target zones includes a target communication device as an acquisition object of the traffic information;

a positioning data acquiring means for acquiring a positioning data of the self vehicle;

a communicating means for communicating with at least one of a plurality of cooperative communication devices by wireless, wherein a plurality of cooperative communication devices is disposed around the self vehicle;

a data request message transmitting/controlling means for transmitting a data request message to at least one of a plurality of cooperative communication devices through the communicating means, wherein the data request message defines a data request vehicle identification information, the single target zone or a plurality of target zones, and an information for specifying the traffic information of the acquisition object, and wherein the data request vehicle identification information defines an identification information of a data request vehicle;

a data request message receiving/controlling means for receiving the data request message, which is transmitted from at least one of a plurality of cooperative communication devices through the communicating means;

a data request message transferring/controlling means for transferring the data request message received by the data request message receiving/controlling means to at least one of a plurality of cooperative communication devices;

a data response message transmitting/controlling means for transmitting a data response message to at least one of a plurality of cooperative communication devices through the communicating means in a case where the self vehicle is disposed in the single target zone or a plurality of target zones defined in the data request message received by the data request message receiving/controlling means and where the traffic information of the acquisition object defined in the data request message is capable of transmitting and retrieving from the traffic information possessed in the traffic information possessing means, wherein the data response message defines the data request vehicle identification information defined in the data request message and the traffic information of the acquisition object defined in the data request message;

a data response message receiving/controlling means for receiving the data response message through the communicating means from at least one of a plurality of cooperative communication devices;

a data response message transferring/controlling means for transferring the data response message received by the data response message receiving/controlling means to at least one of a plurality of cooperative communication devices through the communicating means in a case where an identification information of the self vehicle does not correspond to the data request vehicle identification information defined in the data response message received by the data response message receiving/controlling means;

a data outputting means for outputting the traffic information of the acquisition object included in the data response message received by the data response message receiving/controlling means in a case where the identification information of the self vehicle corresponds to the data request vehicle identification information defined in the data response message received by the data response message receiving/controlling means;

a request vehicle zone specifying means for specifying a request vehicle zone, in which the request vehicle is disposed, on the basis of the positioning data acquired by the positioning data acquiring means; and

a message transfer zone specifying means for specifying a message transfer zone defined by a part of a plurality of zones, which includes the request vehicle zone specified by the request vehicle zone specifying means and the single target zone or a plurality of target zones specified by the target zone specifying means, wherein

the part of a plurality of zones is adjacent together so that the part of a plurality of zones links the request vehicle zone and the single target zone or a plurality of target zones,

the data request message transmitting/controlling means transmits the data request message together with an information regarding the request vehicle zone specified by the request vehicle zone specifying means and the single target zone or a plurality of target zones specified by the target zone specifying means,

the data response message transmitting/controlling means transmits the data response message together with an information regarding the request vehicle zone and the single target zone or a plurality of target zones, which are defined in the data request message,

the message transfer zone specifying means specifies the message transfer zone on the basis of the information regarding the request vehicle zone and the single target zone or a plurality of target zones, which are defined in the data request message or in the data response message,

the data request message transferring/controlling means determines whether the data request message is transferred or not on the basis of the message transfer zone specified by the message transfer zone specifying means and the positioning data acquired by the positioning data acquiring means, and

the data response message transferring/controlling means determines whether the data response message is transferred or not on the basis of the message transfer zone specified by the message transfer zone specifying means and the positioning data acquired by the positioning data acquiring means.

9. The device according to claim 8, further comprising:

a traffic information acquiring means for acquiring a traffic information regarding a road, wherein

the message transfer zone specifying means specifies the message transfer zone along with a single passage or a plurality of passages linking between the request vehicle zone and the single target zone or a plurality of target zones on the basis of the traffic information of the road.

10. A communication device for acquiring a traffic information of an acquisition object, wherein the communication device is mounted on an automotive vehicle, the device comprising:

a communicating element for communicating with at least one of a plurality of cooperative communication devices, which is disposed around the communication device;

a request message transmitting element for transmitting a request message to at least one of a plurality of cooperative communication devices through the communicating element, wherein the request message includes a request vehicle identification information, a target zone information and an information for specifying the traffic information of the acquisition object, wherein the request vehicle identification information defines an identification information of a request vehicle, which requests the traffic information of the acquisition object, and wherein the target zone information defines a target zone, in which a target communication device as the acquisition object is disposed;

a request message receiving element for receiving the request message, which is transmitted from at least one of a plurality of cooperative communication devices;

a request message transferring element for transferring the request message to at least one of a plurality of cooperative communication devices, the request message received by the request message receiving element;

a response message transmitting element for transmitting a response message to at least one of a plurality of cooperative communication devices when the automotive vehicle is disposed in the target zone and when the traffic information of the acquisition object is capable of transmitting and retrieving from the traffic information in the communication device of the automotive vehicle, wherein the response message includes the request vehicle identification information and the traffic information of the acquisition object;

a response message receiving element for receiving the response message from at least one of a plurality of cooperative communication devices;

a response message transferring element for transferring the response message to at least one of a plurality of cooperative communication devices when the automotive vehicle is not the request vehicle;

an outputting element for outputting the traffic information of the acquisition object to an external circuit when the automotive vehicle is the request vehicle;

a request vehicle zone specifying element for specifying a request vehicle zone, in which the request vehicle is disposed; and

a message transfer zone specifying element for specifying a message transfer zone, which includes the request vehicle zone and the target zone so that the message transfer zone links the request vehicle zone and the target zone, wherein

the request message transmitting element transmits the request message together with an information of the message transfer zone,

the response message transmitting element transmits the response message together with the information of the message transfer zone,

the request message transferring element determines whether the request message is transferred or not on the basis of the information of the message transfer zone and a position of the automotive vehicle, and

the response message transferring element determines whether the response message is transferred or not on the basis of the information of the message transfer zone and the position of the automotive vehicle.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein

the request message transmitting element transmits the request message together with an information of transferring times,

the response message transmitting element transmits the response message together with the information of transferring times,

the request message transferring element determines whether the request message is transferred or not on the basis of the information of transferring times defined in the request message, and

the response message transferring element determines whether the response message is transferred or not on the basis of the information of transferring times defined in the response message.

12. The device according to claim 10, further comprising:

a road information acquiring element for acquiring a traffic information of a road, wherein

the message transfer zone specifying element specifies the message transfer zone along with a single passage or a plurality of passages linking between the request vehicle zone and the target zone on the basis of the traffic information of the road.

13. The device according to claim 10, wherein

the request message receiving element memorizes a receiving communication device information for specifying a receiving communication device, which receives the request message, and

the response message transmitting element and the response message transferring element transmits and transfers the response message to at least one of cooperative communication devices, which is specified by the receiving communication device information.

14. The device according to claim 10, further comprising:

a leader communication device specifying element for specifying a leader communication device in at least one of a plurality of zones of a predetermined area, wherein the area is divided into a plurality of zones in a two-dimensional grid, and wherein the automotive vehicle is disposed in the area; and

a zone traffic information aggregating element for aggregating the traffic information to the leader communication device through the communication element, wherein

a plurality of zones includes the request zone and the target zone,

the response message transmitting element transmits the response message only when the communication device is the leader communication device.

15. The device according to claim 10, further comprising:

a leader communication device specifying element for specifying a leader communication device in at least one of a plurality of zones of a predetermined area, wherein the area is divided into a plurality of zones in a two-dimensional grid, and wherein the automotive vehicle is disposed in the area; and

a zone traffic information sharing element for sharing the traffic information among the cooperative communication devices in each zone, wherein

a plurality of zones includes the request zone and the target zone,

the response message transmitting element transmits the response message only when the communication device is the leader communication device.

16. The device according to claim 10, further comprising:

a communicating device switching element, wherein

the communicating element includes a plurality of wireless communicating devices, each of which has a different communicating method, and

the communicating device switching element selects one of the wireless communicating devices on the basis of a predetermined condition.

17. A communication device for acquiring a traffic information of an acquisition object, wherein the communication device is mounted on an automotive vehicle, the device comprising:

a communicating element for communicating with at least one of a plurality of cooperative communication devices, which is disposed around the communication device;

a request message transmitting element for transmitting a request message to at least one of a plurality of cooperative communication devices through the communicating element, wherein the request message includes a request vehicle identification information, a target zone information and an information for specifying the traffic information of the acquisition object, wherein the request vehicle identification information defines an identification information of a request vehicle, which requests the traffic information of the acquisition object, and wherein the target zone information defines a target zone, in which a target communication device as the acquisition object is disposed;

a request message receiving element for receiving the request message, which is transmitted from at least one of a plurality of cooperative communication devices;

a request message transferring element for transferring the request message to at least one of a plurality of cooperative communication devices, the request message received by the request message receiving element;

a response message transmitting element for transmitting a response message to at least one of a plurality of cooperative communication devices when the automotive vehicle is disposed in the target zone and when the traffic information of the acquisition object is capable of transmitting and retrieving from the traffic information in the communication device of the automotive vehicle, wherein the response message includes the request vehicle identification information and the traffic information of the acquisition object;

a response message receiving element for receiving the response message from at least one of a plurality of cooperative communication devices;

a response message transferring element for transferring the response message to at least one of a plurality of cooperative communication devices when the automotive vehicle is not the request vehicle;

an outputting element for outputting the traffic information of the acquisition object to an external circuit when the automotive vehicle is the request vehicle;

a request vehicle zone specifying element for specifying a request vehicle zone, in which the request vehicle is disposed; and

a message transfer zone specifying element for specifying a message transfer zone, which includes the request vehicle zone and the target zone so that the message transfer zone links the request vehicle zone and the target zone, wherein

the request message transmitting element transmits the request message together with an information of the request vehicle zone and the s target zone,

the message transfer zone specifying element specifies the message transfer zone on the basis of the information of the request vehicle zone and the target zone, which are defined in the request message or in the response message,

the request message transferring element determines whether the request message is transferred or not on the basis of the message transfer zone and a position of the automotive vehicle, and

the response message transferring element determines whether the response message is transferred or not on the basis of the message transfer zone and the position of the automotive vehicle.

18. The device according to claim 17, further comprising:

a road information acquiring element for acquiring a traffic information of a road, wherein

the message transfer zone specifying element specifies the message transfer zone along with a single passage or a plurality of passages linking between the request vehicle zone and the target zone on the basis of the traffic information of the road.