On-vehicle information terminal and information distribution system

• US 9,171,466 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2010
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd. (Faurecia SA)
• Original Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd. (Faurecia SA)
• Inventors: Sumizawa, Akio
• Primary Examiner(s): Jen, Ian
• Application Number:
  US12/881,551
• Publication Number:
  US 20110066315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,869 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/2, 701/24, 701/25, 701/300, 701/301, 701/31.4, 701/61.5, 701/36, 701/414, 701/420, 701/428, 701/45, 701/467, 701/469, 701/48, 701/515
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09675 where a selection from the received information takes place in the vehicle

Abstract

An on-vehicle information terminal includes a traffic information obtaining unit that obtains traffic information through wireless communication, a telematics information obtaining unit that obtains telematics information provided from a distribution server via a mobile communication network, a selection unit that selects either the traffic information or the telematics information when contents of the traffic information and contents of the telematics information are different, and a traffic condition indicating unit that indicates road traffic conditions based upon either the traffic information or the telematics information having been selected by the selection unit.

Claims

1. An on-vehicle information terminal, comprising:

a traffic information obtaining unit that obtains traffic information through wireless communication;

a telematics information obtaining unit that obtains telematics information provided from a distribution server via a mobile communication network;

a control unit that selects either the traffic information or the telematics information for each road segment, when contents of the traffic information and contents of the telematics information are different; and

a traffic condition indicating unit that indicates road traffic conditions based upon either the traffic information or the telematics information having been selected by the control unit.

2. An on-vehicle information terminal according to claim 1, further comprising:

a decision-making unit that makes a decision, based upon collection time information included in the telematics information, as to whether or not a predetermined valid period for the telematics information is yet to expire, wherein;

the control unit selects either the traffic information or the telematics information based upon decision-making results by the decision-making unit.

3. An on-vehicle information terminal according to claim 2, wherein:

if the decision-making unit decides that the valid period for the telematics information has expired, the control unit selects the telematics information for a road segment for which corresponding telematics information is provided and no corresponding traffic information is provided, and selects the traffic information for other road segments.

4. An on-vehicle information terminal according to claim 2, further comprising:

a traveling road identifying unit that identifies a traveling road on which a subject vehicle is traveling;

a speed detection unit that detects an actual traveling speed at which the subject vehicle is traveling; and

a speed calculation unit that individually calculates, based upon the traffic information and the telematics information, estimated traveling speeds at which the subject vehicle would be expected to travel on the traveling road, wherein;

if the decision-making unit decides that the valid period for the telematics information is yet to expire, the control unit selects either the traffic information or the telematics information in correspondence to which an estimated traveling speed with a smaller difference relative to the actual traveling speed has been calculated.

5. An on-vehicle information terminal according to claim 2, further comprising:

an estimated arrival time calculation unit that individually calculates, based upon the traffic information and the telematics information, estimated arrival times at a destination set in advance, wherein;

if the decision-making unit decides that the valid period for the telematics information is yet to expire, the control unit selects either the traffic information or the telematics information in correspondence to which a later estimated arrival time has been calculated.

6. An on-vehicle information terminal according to claim 2, further comprising:

a reliability factor calculation unit that individually calculates reliability factors for the traffic information and the telematics information, in correspondence to lengths of time having elapsed since collection times thereof, wherein;

if the decision-making unit decides that the valid period for the telematics information is yet to expire, the control unit selects either the traffic information or the telematics information with a reliability factor thereof indicating a higher level of reliability.

7. An on-vehicle information terminal according to claim 6, wherein:

the reliability factor calculation unit sets a decreasing rate, at which the reliability factor calculated for the traffic information decreases as time elapses, higher than a decreasing rate at which the reliability factor calculated for the telematics information decreases as time elapses.

8. An on-vehicle information terminal according to claim 1, further comprising:

a traveling road identifying unit that identifies a traveling road on which a subject vehicle is traveling;

a speed detection unit that detects an actual traveling speed at which the subject vehicle is traveling; and

a speed calculation unit that individually calculates, based upon the traffic information and the telematics information, estimated traveling speeds at which the subject vehicle would be expected to travel on the traveling road, wherein;

the control unit selects either the traffic information or the telematics information in correspondence to which an estimated traveling speed with a smaller difference relative to the actual traveling speed has been calculated.

9. An on-vehicle information terminal according to claim 1, further comprising:

an estimated arrival time calculation unit that individually calculates, based upon the traffic information and the telematics information, estimated arrival times at a destination set in advance, wherein;

the control unit selects either the traffic information or the telematics information, in correspondence to which a later estimated arrival time has been calculated.

10. An on-vehicle information terminal according to claim 1, further comprising:

a reliability factor calculation unit that individually calculates reliability factors for the traffic information and the telematics information, in correspondence to lengths of time having elapsed since collection times thereof, wherein;

the control unit selects either the traffic information or the telematics information with a reliability factor thereof indicating a higher level of reliability.

11. An on-vehicle information terminal according to claim 10, wherein:

the reliability factor calculation unit sets a decreasing rate, at which the reliability factor calculated for the traffic information decreases as time elapses, higher than a decreasing rate at which the reliability factor calculated for the telematics information decreases as time elapses.

12. An information distribution system, comprising:

an on-vehicle information terminal according to claim 1; and

a distribution server that provides the telematics information to the on-vehicle information terminal via the mobile communication network.