Route guidance system, route guidance apparatus, and travel route transmission apparatus

• US 9,383,215 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2013
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Yamashiro, Takahisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, John R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ziaeianmehdizadeh, Navid
• Application Number:
  US14/064,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20140129137A1
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 specially adapted for specific applications

Abstract

A route guidance system to guide an emergency vehicle to an emergency site includes a first navigation apparatus mounted in a first emergency vehicle and a second navigation apparatus mounted in a second emergency vehicle. The first navigation apparatus performs an approach route record process which records an approach route of the first emergency vehicle from a predetermined reference position to an emergency site, and an approach route transmission process which transmits the recorded approach route upon detecting a predetermined manipulation by an occupant when the first emergency vehicle reaches the emergency site. The second navigation apparatus receives the approach route transmitted from the first navigation apparatus and performs an approach route guidance process to guide the second emergency vehicle to the emergency site based on the received approach route.

Claims

1. A route guidance system executed on a processor, the system comprising:

a travel route transmission apparatus used in at least one subject vehicle, the apparatus including

an approach route record section configured to record an approach route of the subject vehicle from a predetermined reference position to an emergency site which is an occurrence position of an emergency situation, and

an approach route transmission section configured to start a transmission of the approach route recorded in the approach route record section upon detecting a predetermined manipulation by an occupant of the subject vehicle when the subject vehicle arrives at the emergency site; and

a route guidance apparatus used in an emergency vehicle, the apparatus including

an approach route reception section configured to receive the approach route transmitted from the travel route transmission apparatus of the subject vehicle, and

a guidance section configured to perform a route guidance to the emergency site based on the approach route received by the approach route reception section,

wherein;

the subject vehicle configured to use the travel route transmission apparatus is an emergency vehicle;

the travel route transmission apparatus further includes a transmission-side site acquisition section configured to acquire first site identification information which specifies a first emergency site where the emergency vehicle configured to use the travel route transmission apparatus is expected to approach;

the approach route transmission section further transmits the first site identification information acquired by the transmission-side site acquisition section when transmitting the approach route;

the approach route reception section of the route guidance apparatus receives the first site identification information plus the approach route transmitted from the travel route transmission apparatus;

the route guidance apparatus further includes a reception-side site acquisition section configured to acquire second site identification information which specifies a second emergency site where the emergency vehicle configured to use the route guidance apparatus is expected to approach; and

the guidance section performs the route guidance based on the approach route, which is transmitted from the travel route transmission apparatus configured to transmit the first site identification information that is identical to the second site identification information acquired by the reception-side site acquisition section.

2. The route guidance system according to claim 1, wherein:

the route guidance apparatus further includes a reception-side surplus elimination section configured to eliminate a surplus portion from the approach route received by the approach route reception section to prepare a surplus-eliminated approach route when the surplus portion is included in the approach route, the surplus portion causing the approach route to pass through an identical position again; and

the guidance section performs the route guidance along the surplus-eliminated approach route when the reception-side surplus elimination section eliminates the surplus portion.

3. The route guidance system according to claim 2, wherein:

the guidance section performs the route guidance by performing a display in a display portion to distinguish between (i) the surplus-eliminated approach route and (ii) the approach route before the surplus portion is eliminated.

4. The route guidance system according to claim 1, wherein:

the travel route transmission apparatus further includes a transmission-side surplus elimination section configured to eliminate a surplus portion from the approach route recorded by the approach route record section to prepare a surplus-eliminated approach route when the surplus portion is included in the approach route, the surplus portion causing the approach route to pass through an identical position again;

the approach route transmission section transmits the surplus-eliminated approach route upon detecting the predetermined manipulation by the occupant of the subject vehicle when the subject vehicle arrives at the emergency site in cases that the transmission-side surplus elimination portion eliminates the surplus portion; and

the guidance section of the route guidance apparatus performs the route guidance along the surplus-eliminated approach route received by the approach route reception section.

5. The route guidance system according to claim 1, wherein:

the travel route transmission apparatus further includes a transmission-side size storage section configured to store a size of the subject vehicle configured to use the travel route transmission apparatus;

the approach route transmission section further transmits the size of the subject vehicle stored in the transmission-side size storage section when transmitting the approach route;

the approach route reception section of the route guidance apparatus receives the size of the subject vehicle plus the approach route transmitted from the travel route transmission apparatus;

the route guidance apparatus further includes a reception-side size storage section configured to store a size of the emergency vehicle configured to use the route guidance apparatus;

the system further comprises;

a plurality of the travel route transmission apparatuses that are used in a plurality of the respective subject vehicles; and

the route guidance apparatus further includes an approach route selection section configured to select a target approach route based on the size of the emergency vehicle and the sizes of the plurality of the subject vehicles received by the approach route reception section when the approach routes are received from the plurality of the travel route transmission apparatuses of the plurality of the subject vehicles, the target approach route being the approach route transmitted by the travel route transmission apparatus that is used in the subject vehicle whose size is not smaller than the size of the emergency vehicle configured to use the route guidance apparatus.

6. The route guidance system according to claim 1, wherein:

the travel route transmission apparatus includes a transmission-side size storage section configured to store a size of the subject vehicle configured to use the travel route transmission apparatus;

the approach route transmission section transmits the size of the subject vehicle stored in the transmission-side size storage section when transmitting the approach route;

the approach route reception section of the route guidance apparatus receives the size of the subject vehicle plus the approach route transmitted from the travel route transmission apparatus;

the route guidance apparatus includes a reception-side size storage section configured to store a size of the emergency vehicle configured to use the route guidance apparatus; and

in cases that the size of the emergency vehicle is greater than the size of the subject vehicle received by the approach route reception section, the guidance section reports information which indicates that the emergency vehicle is greater than the subject vehicle of which the travel route transmission apparatus transmits the approach route when performing the route guidance based on the approach route received by the approach route reception section.

7. The route guidance system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of the travel route transmission apparatuses that are used in a plurality of the respective subject vehicles,

wherein;

the route guidance apparatus further includes a combination section configured to prepare a shortest approach route by selectively combining road segments of the plurality of approach routes received by the approach route reception section from the plurality of the travel route transmission apparatuses, the shortest approach route being a shortest route from the emergency vehicle to the emergency site; and

the guidance section performs the route guidance along the shortest approach route prepared by the combination section when the plurality of approach routes are received by the approach route reception section.

8. The route guidance system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of the travel route transmission apparatuses that are used in a plurality of the respective subject vehicles,

wherein;

the route guidance apparatus includes a shortest route selection section configured to select a shortest approach route from the plurality of approach routes received by the approach route reception section from the plurality of the travel route transmission apparatuses, the shortest approach route being a shortest route from the emergency vehicle to the emergency site; and

the guidance section performs the route guidance based on the shortest approach route prepared by the shortest route selection section when the plurality of approach routes are received by the approach route reception section.

9. The route guidance system according to claim 1, wherein:

the approach route transmission section of the travel route transmission apparatus transmits the approach route to the approach route reception section of the route guidance apparatus via a vehicle-to-vehicle communication configured to permit a direct communication between the subject vehicle using the travel route transmission apparatus and the emergency vehicle using the route guidance apparatus.

10. The route guidance system according to claim 1, wherein:

the approach route recorded by the approach route record section is an actually-traveled approach route that has been actually traveled by the subject vehicle from the predetermined reference position to the emergency site which is the occurrence position of the emergency situation; and

the route guidance of the emergency vehicle to the emergency site is performed by the guidance section based on the actually-traveled approach route that has been actually traveled by the subject vehicle from the predetermined reference position to the emergency site and received by the approach route reception section.

11. The route guidance system according to claim 1, wherein:

the travel route transmission apparatus includes a transmission-side size storage section configured to store a size of the subject vehicle configured to use the travel route transmission apparatus;

the approach route transmission section transmits the size of the subject vehicle stored in the transmission-side size storage section when transmitting the approach route;

the approach route reception section of the route guidance apparatus receives the size of the subject vehicle plus the approach route transmitted from the travel route transmission apparatus;

the route guidance apparatus includes a reception-side size storage section configured to store a size of the emergency vehicle configured to use the route guidance apparatus;

the route guidance apparatus preforms a size determination as to whether the size of the emergency vehicle is greater than the size of the subject vehicle received by the approach route reception section; and

the guidance section of the route guidance apparatus performs the route guidance of the emergency vehicle to the emergency site based on a result from the size determination in addition to the approach route received by the approach route reception section.

12. The route guidance system according to claim 1, wherein:

the route guidance apparatus further includes

a position acquisition section configured to acquire continuously a present position of the emergency vehicle configured to use the route guidance apparatus, and

a retrieval section configured to retrieve a retrieval route from the present position acquired by the retrieval section to a joining position where the retrieval route joins with the approach route,

wherein;

the guidance section of the route guidance apparatus performs the route guidance along the route retrieved by the retrieval section until the emergency vehicle reaches the joining position, whereas the guidance section performs the route guidance along the approach route after the emergency vehicle reaches the joining position.

13. A route guidance system executed on a processor, the system comprising:

a travel route transmission apparatus used in at least one subject vehicle, the apparatus including

an approach route record section configured to record an approach route of the subject vehicle from a predetermined reference position to an emergency site which is an occurrence position of an emergency situation, and

an approach route transmission section configured to start a transmission of the approach route recorded in the approach route record section upon detecting a predetermined manipulation by an occupant of the subject vehicle when the subject vehicle arrives at the emergency site; and

a route guidance apparatus used in an emergency vehicle, the apparatus including

an approach route reception section configured to receive the approach route transmitted from the travel route transmission apparatus of the subject vehicle, and

a guidance section configured to perform a route guidance to the emergency site based on the approach route received by the approach route reception section,

wherein;

the travel route transmission apparatus includes a transmission-side size storage section configured to store a size of the subject vehicle configured to use the travel route transmission apparatus;

the approach route transmission section transmits the size of the subject vehicle stored in the transmission-side size storage section when transmitting the approach route;

the approach route reception section of the route guidance apparatus receives the size of the subject vehicle plus the approach route transmitted from the travel route transmission apparatus;

the route guidance apparatus includes a reception-side size storage section configured to store a size of the emergency vehicle configured to use the route guidance apparatus;

the route guidance apparatus preforms a size determination as to whether the size of the emergency vehicle is greater than the size of the subject vehicle received by the approach route reception section; and

the guidance section of the route guidance apparatus performs the route guidance of the emergency vehicle to the emergency site based on a result from the size determination in addition to the approach route received by the approach route reception section.

14. The route guidance system according to claim 13, wherein:

the route guidance apparatus further includes

a position acquisition section configured to acquire continuously a present position of the emergency vehicle configured to use the route guidance apparatus,

a retrieval section configured to retrieve a retrieval route from the present position acquired by the retrieval section to a joining position where the retrieval route joins with the approach route; and

the guidance section performs the route guidance along the route retrieved by the retrieval section until the emergency vehicle reaches the joining position, whereas the guidance section performs the route guidance along the approach route after the emergency vehicle reaches the joining position.

15. The route guidance system according to claim 13, wherein:

the approach route recorded by the approach route record section is an actually-traveled approach route that has been actually traveled by the subject vehicle from the predetermined reference position to the emergency site which is the occurrence position of the emergency situation; and

the route guidance of the emergency vehicle to the emergency site is performed by the guidance section based on the actually-traveled approach route that has been actually traveled by the subject vehicle from the predetermined reference position to the emergency site and received by the approach route reception section.

16. A route guidance apparatus executed on a processor and cooperating with a travel route transmission apparatus, the route guidance apparatus being used in an emergency vehicle and the travel route transmission apparatus being used in at least one subject vehicle, the route guidance apparatus and the travel route transmission apparatus being included in a route guidance system,

the travel route transmission apparatus including:

an approach route record section configured to record an approach route of the subject vehicle from a predetermined reference position to an emergency site which is an occurrence position of an emergency situation; and

an approach route transmission section configured to start a transmission of the approach route recorded in the approach route record section upon detecting a predetermined manipulation by an occupant of the subject vehicle when the subject vehicle arrives at the emergency site,

the route guidance apparatus comprising;

an apparatus route reception section configured to receive the approach route transmitted from the travel route transmission apparatus of the subject vehicle; and

a guidance section configured to perform a route guidance to the emergency site based on the approach route received by the approach route reception section,

wherein;

the subject vehicle configured to use the travel route transmission apparatus is an emergency vehicle;

the travel route transmission apparatus further includes a transmission-side site acquisition section configured to acquire first site identification information which specifies a first emergency site where the emergency vehicle is configured to use the travel route transmission apparatus is expected to approach;

the approach route transmission section of the travel route transmission apparatus further transmits the first site identification information acquired by the transmission-side site acquisition section when transmitting the approach route;

the approach route reception section of the route guidance apparatus receives the first site identification information plus the approach route transmitted from the travel route transmission apparatus;

the route guidance apparatus further includes a reception-side site acquisition section configured to acquire second site identification information which specifies a second emergency site where the emergency vehicle configured to use the route guidance apparatus is expected to approach; and

the guidance section of the route guidance apparatus performs the route guidance based on the approach route, which is transmitted from the travel route transmission apparatus configured to transmit the first site identification information that is identical to the second site identification information acquired by the reception-side site acquisition section.

17. The route guidance apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

a position acquisition section configured to acquire continuously a present position of the emergency vehicle configured to use the route guidance apparatus; and

a retrieval section configured to retrieve a retrieval route from the present position acquired by the retrieval section to a joining position where the retrieval route joins with the approach route,

wherein;

the guidance section performs the route guidance along the route retrieved by the retrieval section until the emergency vehicle reaches the joining position, whereas the guidance section performs the route guidance along the approach route after the emergency vehicle reaches the joining position.

18. A travel route transmission apparatus executed on a processor and cooperating with a route guidance apparatus, the route guidance apparatus being used in an emergency vehicle and the travel route transmission apparatus being used in at least one subject vehicle, the route guidance apparatus and the travel route transmission apparatus being included in a route guidance system,

the travel route transmission apparatus comprising:

an approach route record section configured to record an approach route of the subject vehicle from a predetermined reference position to an emergency site which is an occurrence position of an emergency situation; and

an approach route transmission section configured to start a transmission of the approach route recorded in the approach route record section upon detecting a predetermined manipulation by an occupant of the subject vehicle when the subject vehicle arrives at the emergency site,

the route guidance apparatus including;

an approach route reception section configured to receive the approach route transmitted from the travel route transmission apparatus of the subject vehicle; and

a guidance section configured to perform a route guidance to the emergency site based on the approach route received by the approach route reception section,

wherein;

the subject vehicle configured to use the travel route transmission apparatus is an emergency vehicle,

the travel route transmission apparatus further comprising;

a transmission-side site acquisition section configured to acquire first site identification information which specifies a first emergency site where the emergency vehicle configured to use the travel route transmission apparatus is expected to approach,

wherein;

the approach route transmission section further transmits the first site identification information acquired by the transmission-side site acquisition section when transmitting the approach route;

the approach route reception section of the route guidance apparatus receives the first site identification information plus the approach route transmitted from the travel route transmission apparatus;

the route guidance apparatus further includes a reception-side site acquisition section configured to acquire second site identification information which specifies a second emergency site where the emergency vehicle configured to use the route guidance apparatus is expected to approach; and

the guidance section performs the route guidance based on the approach route, which is transmitted from the travel route transmission apparatus configured to transmit the first site identification information that is identical to the second site identification information acquired by the reception-side site acquisition section.

19. The travel route transmission apparatus according to claim 18, wherein:

the route guidance apparatus further includes

a position acquisition section configured to acquire continuously a present position of the emergency vehicle configured to use the route guidance apparatus, and

a retrieval section configured to retrieve a retrieval route from the present position acquired by the retrieval section to a joining position where the retrieval route joins with the approach route,

wherein;

the guidance section of the route guidance apparatus performs the route guidance along the route retrieved by the retrieval section until the emergency vehicle reaches the joining position, whereas the guidance section performs the route guidance along the approach route after the emergency vehicle reaches the joining position.