Information processing apparatus and information processing method

Abstract

The information processing device is mounted on a vehicle and is provided with a communication unit that communicates with an external device via a mobile communication network, the information processing device comprising: a determination unit that determines the current position of the vehicle on the basis of a radio wave intensity map indicating the radio wave intensity of the mobile communication network and determines the current position of the vehicle on the basis of the current position of the vehicle and a radio wave intensity map indicating the radio wave intensity of the mobile communication network; determining the intensity of the received radio waves of the vehicle; and a control unit that performs control relating to at least one of the behavior of the vehicle and the communication on the basis of a result of the determination.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing device and an information processing method. Background Art

[0002] A car that has an ICT (Information and Communication Technology) function and constantly communicates with an external device via a predetermined network, namely, a car called a "connected car," is known.

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Patent Literature

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-109023 Summary of the Invention

[0006] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0007] However, there is still room for improvement in connected cars.

[0008] The purpose of the present disclosure is to provide an information processing device and an information processing method that achieve further improvements.

[0009] Solutions to the Problem

[0010] An information processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a vehicle and has a communication unit for communicating with an external device via a mobile communication network. The information processing device includes: a determination unit for determining the strength of the received radio waves of the vehicle based on the current position of the vehicle and a radio wave strength map indicating the radio wave strength of the mobile communication network; and a control unit for controlling at least one of the behavior of the vehicle and the communication based on a result of the determination.

[0011] An information processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention has a communication unit for communicating with an on-board device mounted on a vehicle via a mobile communication network. The information processing device includes: a determination unit for determining the strength of the received radio waves of the vehicle based on the current position of the vehicle and a radio wave strength map indicating the radio wave strength of the mobile communication network; and a control unit for controlling the communication unit to send determination result information indicating the result of the determination to the on-board device. In the on-board device, the determination result information is used for control related to at least one of the behavior and communication of the vehicle.

[0012] An information processing method according to one embodiment of the present invention is an information processing device mounted on a vehicle and communicating with an external device via a mobile communication network, comprising the following steps: determining the strength of the received radio waves of the vehicle based on the current position of the vehicle and a radio wave strength map indicating the radio wave strength of the mobile communication network; and performing control related to at least one of the behavior of the vehicle and the communication based on the result of the determination.

[0013] An information processing method according to one embodiment of the present invention is an information processing method for communicating with a vehicle-mounted device mounted on a vehicle via a mobile communication network, comprising the following steps: determining the strength of the received radio waves of the vehicle based on the current position of the vehicle and a radio wave strength map indicating the radio wave strength of the mobile communication network; and sending determination result information to the vehicle-mounted device, wherein the determination result information indicates the result of the determination and is used in the vehicle-mounted device for control related to at least one of the behavior and communication of the vehicle.

[0014] Effects of the Invention

[0015] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an information processing device and an information processing method that achieve further improvements. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 This is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a diagram showing a hardware configuration example of a computer included in each of an information processing device and a server according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the information processing device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0019] Figure 4 This is a diagram schematically showing a display example of a radio wave intensity map according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0021] use Figure 1 A configuration example of the communication system 1 according to this embodiment will be described. Figure 1 It is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the communication system 1 .

[0022] like Figure 1 As shown, the communication system 1 includes an information processing device 100 mounted on a vehicle (not shown), a server 200 on a network, and a wireless base station 300 of a mobile communication network.

[0023] As an example of a mobile communication network, a fifth generation mobile communication system (5G) can be cited. As an example of server 200, a low-latency cloud server or a MEC (Multi-access Edge Computing) server can be cited. Server 200 is an example of an external device.

[0024] In this embodiment, the vehicle is a connected car capable of autonomous driving. Here, an example of implementing an ADAS (Advanced Driving Assistant System) through communication between the information processing device 100 and the server 200 will be described.

[0025] The information processing device 100 and the server 200 are respectively as follows Figure 2 As shown, the hardware includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10, a main storage device 20 such as ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory), an auxiliary storage device 30 such as a hard disk and a flash memory storing computer programs, and a bus 40 connecting them.

[0026] The functions of information processing device 100 and server 200 described below are implemented by CPU 10 loading and executing a computer program read from auxiliary storage device 30 into RAM of main storage device 20. Alternatively, the computer program may be recorded on a predetermined recording medium or distributed to users via a network.

[0027] First, the functions of the server 200 will be described.

[0028] like Figure 1 As shown, the server 200 includes a communication unit 210 , a development unit 220 , and a control unit 230 .

[0029] The communication unit 210 is a device that transmits and receives information to and from the information processing apparatus 100 via the wireless base station 300. Alternatively, a cloud gateway, for example, may be applied as the communication unit 210.

[0030] For example, the communication unit 210 receives vehicle information from the information processing device 100. The vehicle information is information indicating, for example, the current position of the vehicle, the state of the vehicle, and the surrounding conditions of the vehicle (details will be described later).

[0031] Furthermore, for example, the communication unit 210 transmits instruction information to the information processing device 100. The instruction information is, for example, instruction information indicating an action to be taken by the vehicle during automatic driving (details will be described later). The vehicle performs automatic driving based on the instruction information.

[0032] The expansion unit 220 is a device that expands (for example, decodes, decompresses, etc.) the vehicle information received by the communication unit 210 and outputs the expanded information to the control unit 230 .

[0033] The control unit 230 is a device that determines the behavior (driving-related actions, such as acceleration, deceleration, steering, and braking) that the vehicle should perform based on vehicle information and map information, and controls the communication unit 210 to transmit instruction information indicating the instructions for the behavior to the information processing device 100. The instruction information may also include information about the driving route based on the map information.

[0034] For example, the control unit 230 executes an ADAS application. Examples of ADAS applications include an anti-theft application for preventing vehicle theft, a parking application for parking a vehicle at home, and a parking application for abandoning or calling a vehicle.

[0035] Next, the functions of the information processing device 100 will be described.

[0036] like Figure 1 As shown, the information processing device 100 includes a communication unit 110 , a position estimation unit 120 , a storage unit 130 , an information acquisition unit 140 , a determination unit 150 , a behavior control unit 160 , a communication control unit 170 , and a notification unit 180 .

[0037] The communication unit 110 is a device that transmits and receives information to and from the server 200 via the wireless base station 300 .

[0038] For example, the communication unit 110 receives the instruction information from the server 200 or transmits the vehicle information to the server 200 .

[0039] The instruction information received by the communication unit 110 is output to the determination unit 150 and the behavior control unit 160 , for example.

[0040] The position estimating unit 120 estimates the current position of the vehicle. Examples of the position estimating unit 120 include a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver that receives GPS signals and a processor that estimates the current position and travel direction based on the GPS signals.

[0041] Alternatively, the position estimation unit 120 may include a processor that performs dead reckoning position estimation based on various information (e.g., detection results from a gyro sensor or accelerometer, wheel pulses, steering angle, etc.). This allows the vehicle's current position to be estimated even in areas where GPS signals are difficult to receive (e.g., indoors, in tunnels, in urban canyons, etc.).

[0042] The information indicating the current position estimated by the position estimation unit 120 is output to the determination unit 150 and the communication control unit 170. The current position information may also include traveling direction information indicating the traveling direction of the vehicle.

[0043] The storage unit 130 is a device that stores various types of information.

[0044] For example, the storage unit 130 stores a radio intensity map (also referred to as an "electric field intensity map") that indicates the radio intensity of the mobile communication network. The radio intensity map is data that defines the radio intensity for each location on the map. This radio intensity map is used by the determination unit 150 or the behavior control unit 160.

[0045] The information acquisition unit 140 is a device that acquires various types of information.

[0046] For example, the information acquisition unit 140 acquires surrounding situation information, vehicle status information, information for big data collection, and the like.

[0047] Surrounding condition information is information indicating the detection results of various sensors that detect the surrounding conditions of the vehicle (e.g., cameras, RADAR, LIDAR, sonar, etc.). Vehicle status information is information indicating the status of various onboard devices (e.g., steering angle, drive source speed, gear ratio, wheel pulses, remaining battery power, and measurement results from an inertial measurement unit (IMU)). Information for big data collection, for example, includes vehicle logs containing the data that constitutes big data.

[0048] The various types of information acquired by the information acquisition unit 140 are output to the communication control unit 170 .

[0049] The determination unit 150 is a device that performs various determinations.

[0050] The determination unit 150 determines the strength of the radio waves received by the vehicle (also referred to as the "communication unit 110") (also referred to as "communication quality determination") based on the current position of the vehicle estimated by the position estimation unit 120 and the radio wave strength map read from the storage unit 130. This determination can also be expressed as "communication quality determination."

[0051] The determination unit 150 determines that if the radio wave strength determined on the radio wave strength map is above a predetermined threshold value, the received radio wave is determined to be strong, and if it is below the threshold value, the received radio wave is determined to be weak. The threshold value is, for example, the minimum radio wave strength that enables unimpeded transmission and reception of information (this point also applies hereinafter).

[0052] The determination unit 150 can determine the strength of the current received radio wave (the received radio wave on the current travel route) based on the current position and the radio wave strength map.

[0053] Furthermore, the determination unit 150 can determine the strength of future received radio waves (received radio waves on the subsequent travel route) based on the current position, a preset travel route (eg, a route indicated by instruction information), and a radio wave strength map.

[0054] Information indicating the strength of received radio waves at a predetermined position (eg, a currently traveling route or a planned driving route to be traveled later) determined by the determination unit 150 is output to the behavior control unit 160 and the communication control unit 170 .

[0055] Furthermore, the determination unit 150 may cause the notification unit 180 to output an image showing the current position and travel route of the vehicle on the radio wave intensity map, for example.

[0056] The notification unit 180 is a device that notifies the vehicle's occupants. An example of the notification unit 180 is a display mounted in the vehicle cabin, but the device is not limited thereto. For example, the notification unit 180 may be a speaker that outputs sound or a warning tone.

[0057] By observing the image displayed on the notification unit 180 , the vehicle occupant can understand the strength of the received radio waves at the current location and the strength of the received radio waves along the route the vehicle will travel thereafter.

[0058] The behavior control unit 160 (an example of a control unit) is a device that performs control related to the behavior of the vehicle.

[0059] Basically, the behavior control unit 160 controls various devices related to the behavior of the vehicle (not shown. For example, steering device, acceleration and deceleration device, braking device, etc.) in a manner such that autonomous driving is performed based on the instruction information received from the communication unit 110.

[0060] Furthermore, a characteristic operation of this embodiment is that the behavior control unit 160 controls the various devices described above based on the result of determination by the determination unit 150. A specific example of this control will be described later.

[0061] Communication control unit 170 (an example of a control unit) is a device that performs control related to vehicle communication.

[0062] Basically, the communication control unit 170 controls the communication unit 110 to transmit vehicle information including the current position information received from the position estimation unit 120 and the surrounding condition information, vehicle status information, and big data collection information received from the information acquisition unit 140 to the server 200 .

[0063] Furthermore, as a characteristic operation of this embodiment, the communication control unit 170 controls the communication unit 110 based on the result of determination by the determination unit 150. A specific example of this control will be described later.

[0064] in addition, Figure 1 Among the components of the information processing device 100 shown, for example, the position estimation unit 120, storage unit 130, information acquisition unit 140, and notification unit 180 may be provided outside the information processing device 100 (but only within the vehicle). In other words, the information processing device 100 may be configured to include at least the communication unit 110, determination unit 150, behavior control unit 160, and communication control unit 170. Alternatively, the information processing device 100 may be configured to include at least one of the communication unit 110, determination unit 150, behavior control unit 160, and communication control unit 170.

[0065] In addition, Figure 1 In the figure, arrows indicating the transmission destination of information between constituent elements are shown. Although information input / output may be performed between constituent elements where arrows are not shown, the illustration of the arrows is omitted.

[0066] The configuration example of the communication system 1 (the information processing device 100 and the server 200 ) according to the present embodiment has been described above.

[0067] Next, use Figure 3 An operation example of the information processing device 100 according to this embodiment will be described. Figure 3 This is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the information processing device 100 . Figure 3 The process starts, for example, when the vehicle's automatic driving starts.

[0068] First, the information processing device 100 determines the strength of the received radio wave of the vehicle based on the current position of the vehicle and the electric field strength map (step S1 ).

[0069] Next, the information processing device 100 executes control related to at least one of the behavior and communication of the vehicle based on the determination result of step 1 (step S2 ).

[0070] The operation example of the information processing device 100 according to the embodiment has been described above.

[0071] Next, specific examples of the control performed by the behavior control unit 160 and the communication control unit 170 will be described.

[0072] <Control Example 1>

[0073] Control Example 1 is an example of control related to the behavior of the vehicle.

[0074] When the determination unit 150 determines that the intensity of the received radio waves at the vehicle's driving path is weak (specifically, less than a pre-set threshold), the behavior control unit 160 decelerates the vehicle while the vehicle is driving on the driving path with weak received radio wave intensity (in other words, a driving path with less than a threshold value. Hereinafter referred to as a "weak radio wave path").

[0075] The deceleration method at this time may be a method of reducing the current vehicle speed to a preset vehicle speed, a method of subtracting a vehicle speed determined based on the current vehicle speed from the current vehicle speed, or other well-known methods.

[0076] The driving route that is the object of determination by the determination unit 150 (hereinafter referred to as the "determination target driving route") can be a planned route to be traveled thereafter (hereinafter referred to as the "planned driving route") or a route currently being traveled (hereinafter referred to as the "traveling route").

[0077] For example, when it is determined that the target driving route is the driving route, the behavior control unit 160 may control the acceleration / deceleration device (not shown, such as a drive source or a transmission) to immediately decelerate the vehicle.

[0078] For example, when the target driving route is determined to be the planned driving route, the behavior control unit 160 may control the acceleration / deceleration device to decelerate the vehicle when or before the vehicle reaches the weak radio wave path.

[0079] Alternatively, the behavior control unit 160 may control the notification unit 180 to notify the driver of the upcoming deceleration before the deceleration is executed. The notification unit 180 then notifies the driver of the upcoming deceleration (e.g., by displaying an image or outputting an audio signal). This allows the occupant to be notified in advance of the upcoming deceleration.

[0080] In this control example, the vehicle is decelerated when in a weak radio wave path where it is difficult to receive instruction information from the server 200 , thereby further improving safety.

[0081] <Control Example 2>

[0082] Control Example 2 is an example of control related to the behavior of the vehicle.

[0083] When the determination unit 150 determines that the intensity of received radio waves in the vehicle's travel path is weak, the behavior control unit 160 causes the vehicle to avoid the weak radio wave path and travel in a strong radio wave path (a travel path where the intensity of received radio waves is greater than a threshold).

[0084] In this case, for example, the behavior control unit 160 may select a strong radio wave path based on the current position of the vehicle and the radio wave intensity map.

[0085] Alternatively, for example, the behavior control unit 160 may select a route with the shortest required travel time among the routes with strong radio waves and cause the vehicle to travel along the selected route.

[0086] Alternatively, for example, the behavior control unit 160 may generate a driving route that does not include locations where the intensity of received radio waves is less than a threshold value (generates a driving route that passes only through locations where the intensity of received radio waves is greater than a threshold value) and cause the vehicle to travel along the driving route.

[0087] In this control example, the vehicle is caused to travel on a strong radio wave path while avoiding a weak radio wave path where it is difficult to receive instruction information from the server 200 , thereby further improving safety.

[0088] Furthermore, the behavior control unit 160 may control the notification unit 180 to display an image showing the current position of the vehicle and the changed driving route on the radio wave intensity map.

[0089] For example, the image Figure 4 As shown. Figure 4 In the figure, V represents a vehicle, a represents an area where radio wave reception is strong, b represents an area where radio wave reception is weaker than a, and c represents an area where radio wave reception is weaker than b.

[0090] Figure 4 The dashed arrows indicate the changed driving route, which avoids areas b and c and is set in area a where the received radio wave intensity is the strongest.

[0091] By displaying such an image, the occupant of the vehicle can recognize that the travel route has been changed so as to avoid an area where radio wave reception is weak.

[0092] <Control Example 3>

[0093] Control Example 3 is an example of control related to the behavior of the vehicle.

[0094] Alternatively, when the determination unit 150 determines that the intensity of received radio waves in the vehicle's travel path is weak, the behavior control unit 160 may select a path with the shortest required travel time among the weak radio wave paths and cause the vehicle to travel along the selected path.

[0095] In this control example, for example, when driving on a weak radio wave path is unavoidable (when there is no area with strong radio wave reception and it is impossible to change to a strong radio wave path), the time spent on the weak radio wave path is minimized, thereby further improving safety.

[0096] Furthermore, by combining this control example with the above-described control example 1, safety can be further improved.

[0097] <Control Example 4>

[0098] Control Example 4 is an example of control related to the behavior of the vehicle.

[0099] This example illustrates the automated parking of a vehicle in a parking facility with multiple parking spaces (e.g., a large parking lot at a commercial facility). Specifically, consider a scenario where a vehicle occupant exits the vehicle at the entrance of the parking facility. The vehicle then autonomously drives from the entrance to a designated available parking space and then automatically parks in that space.

[0100] First, when a vehicle is at the entrance of a parking facility, the behavior control unit 160 obtains vacancy information indicating the location of an available parking space. This vacancy information may be received by the communication unit 110 from the server 200 or another device (not shown), or may be obtained by other methods.

[0101] Next, the behavior control unit 160 selects an available parking space where the intensity of received radio waves is above a threshold value (hereinafter referred to as a "strong radio wave parking space") based on the location of the available parking space, the current location of the vehicle, and the radio wave intensity map, and selects a strong radio wave path from the path from the entrance to the available parking space.

[0102] Then, the behavior control unit 160 causes the vehicle to travel on the selected strong radio wave path and park in the selected strong radio wave parking space.

[0103] In this control example, even if the strength of the received radio waves varies for each parking space and path in the parking facility, the vehicle performing automatic parking can travel on the strong radio wave path and park in the parking space with strong radio waves, thereby further improving safety.

[0104] <Control Example 5>

[0105] Control Example 5 is an example of control related to vehicle communication.

[0106] When the determination unit 150 determines that the intensity of received radio waves in the vehicle's travel path is weak, the communication control unit 170 changes the settings related to communication with the server 200 while the vehicle is traveling on the weak radio wave path.

[0107] Specifically, the communication control unit 170 changes the frame rate to decrease from the current value, or changes the compression rate to increase from the current value. In addition, the communication control unit 170 may change either the frame rate or the compression rate, or both.

[0108] For example, when it is determined that the target driving route is the driving route, the communication control unit 170 may control the communication unit 110 so as to immediately change at least one of the frame rate and the compression rate.

[0109] For example, when the target driving route is determined to be the planned driving route, the communication control unit 170 may control the communication unit 110 so as to change at least one of the frame rate and the compression rate when the vehicle reaches the weak radio wave route.

[0110] In this control example, the communication setting is changed when the vehicle is in a weak radio wave path where it is difficult to receive instruction information from the server 200. This makes it possible to stabilize the transmission and reception of various types of information in the vehicle and further improve safety.

[0111] <Control Example 6>

[0112] Control Example 6 is an example of control related to vehicle communication.

[0113] While the vehicle is traveling on a weak radio wave path, the communication control unit 170 accumulates information (e.g., vehicle information) that should be sent to the server 200 in the storage unit 130. When the vehicle reaches a position where the intensity of the received radio wave is above a threshold (e.g., a strong radio wave path), the communication control unit 170 controls the communication unit 170 to send the accumulated information to the server 200.

[0114] In this control example, information is not sent when the weak radio wave path makes it difficult to send information to the server 200, and the information is sent together when the communication quality improves. Therefore, the information can be reliably sent to the server 200, which can further improve security.

[0115] In addition, only one of the above-mentioned control examples 1 to 6 may be performed, or two or more thereof may be performed.

[0116] In the above, specific examples of the control performed by the behavior control unit 160 and the communication control unit 170 have been described.

[0117] The information processing device of the above-mentioned embodiment (for example, the information processing device 100) is mounted on a vehicle and has a communication unit (for example, the communication unit 110) for communicating with an external device (for example, the server 200) via a mobile communication network. The information processing device is characterized in that it includes: a determination unit (for example, the determination unit 150) that determines the strength of the vehicle's received radio waves based on the current position of the vehicle and a radio wave strength map representing the radio wave strength of the mobile communication network; and a control unit (for example, at least one of the behavior control unit 160 and the communication control unit 170) that controls at least one of the vehicle's behavior and communication based on the result of the determination.

[0118] According to this feature, since the behavior or communication of the vehicle can be controlled in consideration of the communication quality, further improvements can be achieved in terms of safety or convenience, for example.

[0119] The above-mentioned embodiments are merely examples of specific implementations of the present disclosure, and the technical scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by these embodiments. That is, the present disclosure can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist or main features thereof.

[0120] Modifications applicable to the embodiment will be described below.

[0121] [Variation 1]

[0122] Since the radio wave strength map is pre-generated data, the strength of the received radio waves may vary from the value specified in the radio wave strength map during autonomous driving. To address such situations, a measurement unit (not shown) for measuring the strength of the received radio waves may be provided in the vehicle (or information processing device).

[0123] For example, during automatic driving of a vehicle, the determination unit 150 determines at any time whether the intensity of the received radio wave measured by the measurement unit (hereinafter referred to as “measured intensity”) is equal to or greater than a preset threshold value.

[0124] If determination unit 150 determines that the measured intensity is less than the threshold, behavior control unit 160 first controls notification unit 180 to notify that the vehicle will switch from automatic driving to manual driving. Notification unit 180 then issues a notification (e.g., by displaying an image or outputting an audio signal) regarding the switch from automatic driving to manual driving. This allows the occupant to prepare for manual driving.

[0125] Next, the behavior control unit 160 controls the switch from automatic driving to manual driving, thereby causing various devices related to vehicle behavior (e.g., steering, acceleration and deceleration devices, brakes, etc.) to operate based on the occupant's operation.

[0126] Furthermore, behavior control unit 160 may control notification unit 180 to display a guidance image. This guidance image, for example, depicts a path from the vehicle's current position to a location where the received radio wave intensity exceeds a threshold (e.g., a strong radio wave path). This allows a passenger who is manually driving to easily navigate to a location where automated driving can be resumed.

[0127] In this modification, since it is possible to cope with a situation where the radio wave intensity specified in the radio wave intensity map changes, safety can be further improved.

[0128] [Variation 2]

[0129] The measured intensity described in Modification 1 may also be used to perform other controls.

[0130] For example, during automatic driving of the vehicle, when the determination unit 150 determines that the measured intensity is less than a threshold, the behavior control unit 160 may cause the vehicle to travel along the route traveled so far and return from the current position of the vehicle to the starting point.

[0131] In this variant, for example, even if there is no location around the current position where the intensity of the received radio waves reaches or exceeds the threshold, making it difficult to continue automatic driving, it is possible to return to the starting point along the path traveled so far, thereby further improving safety.

[0132] [Variation 3]

[0133] In an embodiment, the determination unit 150 may also be used in conjunction with or instead of the radio wave intensity map to determine the quality of communication based on the measured communication delay time or communication frequency band. When the communication quality is high, the behavior control unit 160 performs the same control related to at least one of the vehicle's behavior and communication as when the intensity of the received radio wave is strong. When the communication quality is low, the behavior control unit 160 performs the same control related to at least one of the vehicle's behavior and communication as when the intensity of the received radio wave is weak.

[0134] [Variation 4]

[0135] In the embodiment, the case where the information received by the information processing device 100 is instruction information for controlling the vehicle is described as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto and may be other information (eg, content information, etc.).

[0136] [Variation 5]

[0137] In the embodiment, the position estimation unit 120 , the storage unit 130 , and the determination unit 150 are described as an example in which the information processing device 100 (vehicle) is provided. However, they may be provided on the server 200 .

[0138] In this case, various information acquired by the information acquisition unit 140 (for example, surrounding condition information, vehicle status information, information for big data collection, etc.) is sent from the communication unit 110 to the server 200 under the control of the communication control unit 170 and is used for position estimation processing by the position estimation unit 120.

[0139] Furthermore, determination result information indicating the determination result of determination unit 150 is transmitted from communication unit 210 to information processing device 110 under the control of control unit 230, and is input to behavior control unit 160 and communication control unit 170. Behavior control unit 160 and communication control unit 170 then execute the various controls described above (control examples 1 to 6) based on this determination result information.

[0140] In addition, in control examples 1 to 3 and 5, the above-mentioned determination result information is, for example, information indicating that the intensity of the received radio waves at the vehicle's driving path is less than a preset threshold value. In addition, in control example 2, the above-mentioned determination result information may also include information indicating an image showing the current position of the vehicle and the changed driving path on a radio wave intensity map. In addition, in control example 4, the above-mentioned determination result information is, for example, information indicating the path and the position of the vacant parking space in the parking facility where the intensity of the received radio waves is greater than a preset threshold value. In addition, in control example 5, the above-mentioned determination result information is, for example, information indicating the position of the driving path where the intensity of the received radio waves is less than a preset threshold value. In addition,

[0141] Furthermore, when combining this variation with variations 1 and 2, communication unit 210 may receive information indicating the measured intensity from information processing device 100, and determination unit 150 may determine whether the measured intensity is above a predetermined threshold. In this case, the determination result information transmitted to information processing device 100 indicates that the measured intensity is below the threshold. Furthermore, the determination result information may include the aforementioned guidance image, or may include location information of a strong radio wave path from the vehicle's current location, through the path traveled so far, and back to the departure point.

[0142] The information processing device (e.g., server 200) of the above-mentioned present variant has a communication unit (e.g., communication unit 210) that communicates with an on-board device (e.g., information acquisition unit 100) mounted on a vehicle via a mobile communication network. The information processing device is characterized in that it includes: a determination unit (e.g., determination unit 150) that determines the strength of the vehicle's received radio waves based on the vehicle's current position and a radio wave intensity map that represents the radio wave intensity of the mobile communication network; and a control unit (e.g., control unit 230) that controls the communication unit to send determination result information representing the result of the determination to the on-board device, where the determination result information is used for control related to at least one of the vehicle's behavior and communication. According to this feature, since the vehicle's behavior or communication can be controlled taking into account the communication quality, further improvements can be achieved, for example, in terms of safety or convenience. Each variant has been described above. The above variants can be appropriately combined.

[0143] The disclosure contents of the specification, drawings and abstract contained in Japanese patent application No. 2022-139085 filed on September 1, 2022 are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0144] Industrial Applicability

[0145] The information processing device and information processing method disclosed herein are useful for mobile objects that communicate via a mobile communication network.

[0146] Description of Reference Numerals

[0147] 1 Communication System

[0148] 100 Information Processing Device

[0149] 110 Ministry of Communications

[0150] 120 Position Estimation Unit

[0151] 130 Storage Department

[0152] 140 Information Acquisition Department

[0153] 150 Judgment Department

[0154] 160 Behavior Control Department

[0155] 170 Communication Control Department

[0156] 180 Notification Department

[0157] 200 Server

[0158] 210 Ministry of Communications

[0159] 220 Expanded

[0160] 230 Control Department

[0161] 300 wireless base stations

Claims

1. An information processing device, which is mounted on a vehicle and has a communication unit for communicating with an external device via a mobile communication network, wherein the information processing device comprises: a determination unit that determines the strength of the received radio wave of the vehicle based on the current position of the vehicle and a radio wave strength map indicating the radio wave strength of the mobile communication network; as well as A control unit performs control related to at least one of the behavior of the vehicle and the communication based on a result of the determination.

2. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein: When the determination unit determines that the intensity of the received radio waves on the driving path of the vehicle is less than a preset threshold, the control unit decelerates the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling on the driving path where the intensity of the received radio waves is less than the threshold.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein: When the determination unit determines that the intensity of the received radio waves at the vehicle's driving path is less than a preset threshold, the control unit causes the vehicle to avoid the driving path where the intensity of the received radio waves is less than the threshold and drive on the driving path where the intensity of the received radio waves is greater than the threshold.

4. The information processing device according to claim 3, wherein: The control unit causes the vehicle to travel on a route with the shortest required travel time among the travel routes where the intensity of the received radio wave is equal to or greater than the threshold value.

5. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein: When the determination unit determines that the intensity of the received radio waves at the vehicle's driving path is less than a preset threshold, the control unit causes the vehicle to travel on a path with the shortest required driving time among the driving paths where the intensity of the received radio waves is less than the threshold.

6. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein: When the determination unit determines that the intensity of the received radio waves at the driving path of the vehicle is less than a predetermined threshold, the control unit changes at least one of the frame rate and the compression rate related to the communication while the vehicle is traveling on the driving path where the intensity of the received radio waves is less than the threshold.

7. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein: In a case where the vehicle is to travel from the entrance to a specified vacant parking space and park in the vacant parking space by automatic driving after the occupant of the vehicle gets off at the entrance of a parking facility including multiple parking spaces, the control unit causes the vehicle to travel from the entrance on a path where the intensity of the received radio waves is above a preset threshold value and to park in a vacant parking space where the intensity of the received radio waves is above the threshold value.

8. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein: The control unit accumulates information to be sent to the external device while the vehicle is traveling on a driving route where the intensity of the received radio waves is less than a preset threshold value, and controls the communication unit to send the accumulated information to the external device when the vehicle reaches a position where the intensity of the received radio waves is greater than the threshold value.

9. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein: Also includes: a measuring unit configured to measure the intensity of the received radio wave; as well as a notification unit configured to notify an occupant of the vehicle, During the automatic driving of the vehicle, when the intensity of the received radio wave measured by the measuring unit is less than a preset threshold value, the notification unit notifies that the automatic driving will be switched to manual driving, and the control unit controls the switching from the automatic driving to manual driving.

10. The information processing device according to claim 9, wherein: The notification unit performs the notification and displays an image indicating a path from the current position of the vehicle to a position where the intensity of the received radio wave is equal to or greater than the threshold value.

11. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein: It also includes a measuring unit for measuring the intensity of the received radio wave, During the automatic driving of the vehicle, when the intensity of the received radio wave measured by the measuring unit is less than a preset threshold value, the control unit causes the vehicle to travel in a manner that returns from the current position of the vehicle to the starting point via the path traveled so far.

12. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein: The communication unit transmits vehicle information indicating the current position of the vehicle, the status of various on-vehicle devices, and the surrounding conditions of the vehicle to the external device, and receives instruction information indicating an instruction for the behavior of the vehicle determined based on the vehicle information from the external device, The control unit causes the vehicle to perform automatic driving according to the instruction information.

13. An information processing device having a communication unit for communicating with an on-board device mounted on a vehicle via a mobile communication network, the information processing device comprising: a determination unit that determines the strength of the received radio wave of the vehicle based on the current position of the vehicle and a radio wave strength map indicating the radio wave strength of the mobile communication network; as well as a control unit that controls the communication unit to transmit determination result information indicating a result of the determination to the vehicle-mounted device, In the vehicle-mounted device, the determination result information is used for control related to at least one of behavior and communication of the vehicle.

14. The information processing device according to claim 13, wherein: When the determination result information indicates that the intensity of the received radio waves at the driving path of the vehicle is less than a preset threshold, the vehicle-mounted device decelerates the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling on the driving path where the intensity of the received radio waves is less than the threshold.

15. The information processing device according to claim 13, wherein: When the judgment result information indicates that the intensity of the received radio wave at the driving path of the vehicle is less than a pre-set threshold, the vehicle-mounted device causes the vehicle to avoid the driving path where the intensity of the received radio wave is less than the threshold and drive on the driving path where the intensity of the received radio wave is greater than the threshold.

16. The information processing device according to claim 15, wherein: The in-vehicle device causes the vehicle to travel on a route that has the shortest required travel time among the travel routes where the intensity of the received radio wave is equal to or greater than the threshold value.

17. The information processing device according to claim 13, wherein: When the judgment result information indicates that the intensity of the received radio waves at the driving path of the vehicle is less than a preset threshold, the vehicle-mounted device causes the vehicle to travel on a path with the shortest required driving time among the driving paths where the intensity of the received radio waves is less than the threshold.

18. The information processing device according to claim 13, wherein: When the judgment result information indicates that the intensity of the received radio wave at the driving path of the vehicle is less than a predetermined threshold value, the vehicle-mounted device changes at least one of the frame rate and compression rate related to the communication while the vehicle is traveling on the driving path where the intensity of the received radio wave is less than the threshold value.

19. The information processing device according to claim 13, wherein: In a case where the vehicle is to automatically drive from the entrance to a specified vacant parking space and park in the vacant parking space after the occupant of the vehicle gets off at an entrance of a parking facility including multiple parking spaces, when the determination result information is information indicating a path in the parking facility where the intensity of received radio waves is above a preset threshold and the location of the vacant parking space, the on-board device causes the vehicle to drive from the entrance along a path where the intensity of received radio waves is above the preset threshold and park in a vacant parking space where the intensity of received radio waves is above the threshold.

20. The information processing device according to claim 13, wherein: In a case where the judgment result information is information indicating a position of a driving path where the intensity of received radio waves is less than a preset threshold, the vehicle-mounted device accumulates information to be sent to the external device while the vehicle is traveling on the driving path where the intensity of received radio waves is less than the preset threshold, and when the vehicle reaches a position where the intensity of received radio waves is greater than the threshold, controls the communication unit to send the accumulated information to the external device.

21. The information processing device according to claim 13, wherein: When the determination result information indicates that the intensity of the received radio waves measured by the vehicle in automatic driving is less than a preset threshold, the vehicle-mounted device notifies that the automatic driving will be switched to manual driving, and controls the switch from automatic driving to manual driving.

22. The information processing device according to claim 21, wherein: The determination result information includes an image showing a path from the current position of the vehicle to a position where the intensity of the received radio wave is equal to or greater than the threshold value, The in-vehicle device executes the notification and displays the image.

23. The information processing device according to claim 13, wherein: When the determination result information indicates that the intensity of the received radio waves measured by the vehicle in automatic driving is less than a preset threshold, the vehicle-mounted device causes the vehicle to travel from the current position of the vehicle back to the starting point via the path traveled so far.

24. The information processing device according to claim 13, wherein: The communication unit receives vehicle information indicating the current position of the vehicle, the status of various vehicle-mounted devices, and the surrounding conditions of the vehicle from the vehicle-mounted device, and transmits instruction information indicating an instruction for the behavior of the vehicle determined based on the vehicle information to the vehicle-mounted device, The vehicle-mounted device enables the vehicle to perform automatic driving according to the instruction information.

25. An information processing method, which is an information processing device mounted on a vehicle and communicating with an external device via a mobile communication network, the information processing method comprising the following steps: Determining the strength of the received radio waves of the vehicle based on the current position of the vehicle and a radio wave strength map indicating the radio wave strength of the mobile communication network; as well as Based on the result of the determination, control related to at least one of the behavior of the vehicle and the communication is performed.

26. An information processing method, wherein the information processing device communicates with an on-board device mounted on a vehicle via a mobile communication network, the information processing method comprising the following steps: Determining the strength of the received radio waves of the vehicle based on the current position of the vehicle and a radio wave strength map indicating the radio wave strength of the mobile communication network; as well as Determination result information indicating a result of the determination is transmitted to the vehicle-mounted device and is used in the vehicle-mounted device for control related to at least one of behavior and communication of the vehicle.

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