Car navigation control apparatus

Abstract

To provide a car navigation control apparatus configured to prevent a car navigation system from causing an error due to a difference in vehicle state obtained by vehicle travel information and GPS positioning information in vehicle information, and prevent adverse effects of the error on other devices.SOLUTION: A car navigation control apparatus includes: receiving means connected between a vehicle and a car navigation system to receive vehicle information transmitted from the vehicle to the car navigation system; calculation means for performing calculation on the vehicle information; storage means for storing the vehicle information by a command of the calculation means; and transmission means for transmitting the calculated vehicle information obtained by the calculation means to the car navigation system. The calculation means includes error avoidance means for avoiding the car navigation from determining an error due to a different state generated between GPS positioning information and vehicle travel information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a car navigation control device that avoids errors in an automobile navigation device (hereinafter referred to as a "car navigation") that occur when vehicle information (hereinafter "vehicle driving information" and "GPS positioning information" collectively referred to as "vehicle information") in a global positioning system (including a global navigation satellite system (GNSS)) that uses positioning satellites) is compared and the vehicle information is compared and the vehicle speed pulse signal that indicates the driving state, a parking signal, and a CAN signal that indicates various vehicle states (hereinafter referred to as "vehicle driving information"), and the vehicle information is compared and the vehicle speed pulse signal that indicates the driving state, a parking signal, and a CAN signal that indicates various vehicle states (hereinafter referred to as "vehicle driving information") in a global positioning system (including a global navigation satellite system (GNSS)) that uses positioning satellites (hereinafter referred to as "GPS positioning ... and the vehicle information is compared and the vehicle speed pulse signal that indicates the driving state, a parking signal, and a CAN signal that indicates various vehicle states (hereinafter referred to as "vehicle driving information") in a car navigation control device that avoids errors in an automobile navigation device (hereinafter referred to as a "car navigation") that occurs when the vehicle speed pulse signal indicates a driving state, a parking signal, and a CAN signal that indicates various vehicle states (hereinafter referred to as "vehicle driving information") in a car navigation control device that compares and compares the vehicle speed pulse signal that indicates a driving state, a parking signal, and a CAN signal that indicates various vehicle states (hereinafter referred to as "vehicle driving information") in a car navigation control device that compares and compares the vehicle speed pulse signal that indicates a driving state, a parking signal, and a CAN signal that indicates various vehicle states (hereinafter referred to as "vehicle driving information") in a car navigation control device that compares and [Background technology]

[0002] Normally, car navigation systems are set up so that the driver cannot watch images from television, optical disks, memory, communications or networks (hereafter referred to as "television, etc.") while the vehicle is moving. This is to prevent the driver from watching images, which could lead to a decrease in driving safety.

[0003] However, there are cases where passengers in the front passenger seat or the back seat wish to watch videos while the vehicle is moving. To accommodate such cases, devices have been developed that connect to a signal line that transmits vehicle information from the vehicle to the car navigation system, allowing passengers to watch TV or other content while the vehicle is moving.

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses an in-vehicle television adapter that enables television viewing even while the vehicle is moving in a navigation device (car navigation system) equipped with a television that cooperates with a driving assistance system, without impeding the function of the driving assistance system. In Patent Document 1, when the driving assistance system is not in operation, the vehicle speed pulse signal received by the television adapter is converted by the analog signal control unit of the television adapter into a signal indicating that the vehicle is stopped even if it is actually moving, and is then transmitted to the analog signal input unit of the navigation device, enabling television viewing even while the vehicle is moving.

[0005] However, some car navigation systems compare GPS positioning information with vehicle driving information and detect different states, "stopped" and "driving," and cause an error, stopping navigation. In Patent Document 1, when a signal indicating that the vehicle is stopped is sent to the navigation device while the vehicle is actually driving, the different states, "stopped" and "driving," are detected between the GPS positioning information indicating the actual moving current position. If an inconsistent state continues for a certain period of time regarding the state obtained from the vehicle information, problems occur in which the car navigation system displays an error or stops navigation or TV viewing operations.

[0006] Prior art has been disclosed for preventing errors from occurring in car navigation systems by controlling GPS positioning information when different states, "stopped" and "driving," are detected. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7130294 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 7274806 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] Patent Document 2 discloses a navigation system (car navigation system) that is provided with one or both of a vehicle speed pulse signal and a CAN-BUS signal (CAN signal), and the navigation system or a driving assistance system or a fault detection device linked to the navigation system is configured to detect an abnormality when one or both of the vehicle speed pulse signal and the CAN-BUS signal provided to the navigation system indicate that the vehicle is stopped, but the GPS signal provided to the navigation system indicates that the vehicle is moving for either the time the vehicle travels a predetermined distance or a first predetermined time. In this navigation system, an electronic circuit is used to process the radio signal (hereinafter referred to as a GPS signal) obtained from the GPS antenna so as not to be transmitted to the car navigation system, or a switch is used to prevent the GPS signal from being received, thereby creating a pseudo state in which positioning by GPS is not possible, and the different states of "stopped" and "driving" are avoided, thereby solving the problem of the car navigation system displaying an error or ceasing operation.

[0009] However, if the transmission of the GPS signal to the navigation system is stopped by electrically blocking the signal or by blocking it with a mechanical switch in order to prevent an error from occurring in the navigation system, this could have a negative effect on other devices installed in the vehicle that use GPS information in addition to the navigation system, causing them to not function properly.

[0010] Furthermore, when the navigation system cannot receive GPS signals, it calculates the current vehicle position using information obtained from the vehicle speed signal and displays it on the display device. When watching television or the like while driving, the vehicle driving information must also be recognized by the navigation system as being in a stopped state, and the vehicle position remains at the position where the television viewing started. When returning from the television viewing mode to the navigation mode, the vehicle position at the time when the television viewing started is displayed, and the vehicle resumes driving from that position. Therefore, the displayed vehicle position is different from the actual vehicle position. There is a problem that when the reception of the GPS signal is then resumed and the GPS positioning information is acquired, the vehicle suddenly moves to the current vehicle position.

[0011] Furthermore, if reception of the GPS signal obtained from the GPS antenna is electrically cut off or cut off by a switch or the like, reception of multiple artificial satellites must be ensured when receiving GPS signals again, and it takes time for positioning to be restored. As a result, the navigation system is unable to perform calculations at the time when it actually needs GPS positioning information, and the displayed position of the vehicle indicated on the map on the display device of the navigation system cannot be corrected, which may result in a deviation.

[0012] In addition, if a vehicle is equipped with other devices that require GPS positioning information in addition to the car navigation system, the GPS antenna may not be connected to the car navigation system. In such vehicles, the solution disclosed in Patent Document 2 cannot be used.

[0013] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a car navigation control device that can prevent errors from occurring in a car navigation system due to differences in the vehicle status obtained from vehicle driving information and GPS positioning information, among other vehicle information, and can prevent adverse effects on other devices that may be caused by the occurrence of an error. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] In order to solve the above problems, the car navigation control device of the present invention is a device connected between a vehicle and a car navigation system to control the car navigation system, and is characterized in that it comprises a receiving means for receiving vehicle information transmitted from the vehicle to the car navigation system, a calculation means for performing calculations on the vehicle information, a memory means for storing the vehicle information by command of the calculation means, and a transmission means for transmitting the calculated vehicle information obtained by the calculation means to the car navigation system, and further comprises an error avoidance means for preventing the calculation means from determining that an error has occurred due to different states that arise between the GPS positioning information and the vehicle driving information.

[0015] The car navigation control device of the present invention includes a step in which the calculation means commands the storage means to store the vehicle travel information for a first period or the first and second periods without transmitting it to the car navigation system, a step in which the storage means stores the vehicle travel information for the first period or the first and second periods, a step in which the calculation means compresses the vehicle travel information for the first period or the first and second periods into a second period that follows and is shorter than the first period, and inputs the compressed vehicle travel information into post-calculation vehicle information, and a step in which a difference is determined between the GPS positioning information in the post-calculation vehicle information and the vehicle travel information. When the error avoidance means determines that a different state between the GPS positioning information and the vehicle driving information indicates that an error has occurred in the car navigation system, the error avoidance means inputs the previously acquired GPS positioning information into post-calculation vehicle information to generate pseudo-generated stop information, pseudo-generated GPS positioning impossible information, or the different state reaches a value that is a previously predicted and set threshold value for when an error will occur in the car navigation system, and the transmission means transmits the post-calculation vehicle information to the car navigation system, thereby avoiding an error occurring in the car navigation system.

[0016] The car navigation control device of the present invention further comprises a step in which the calculation means commands the vehicle driving information for a first period or the first and second periods to be stored in the storage means without being transmitted to the car navigation system; a step in which the storage means stores the vehicle driving information for the first period or the first and second periods; a step in which the calculation means compresses the vehicle driving information for the first period or the first and second periods into a second period that follows, the second period being shorter than the first period, and inputs it into post-calculation vehicle information; and a step in which a difference occurs between the GPS positioning information and the vehicle driving information in the post-calculation vehicle information is determined, and when the number of different states in the difference determination exceeds a threshold value for the cumulative number of errors occurring in the car navigation system, the error avoidance means inputs uncompressed vehicle driving information into the post-calculation vehicle information, and the transmission means transmits the post-calculation vehicle information and unprocessed GPS positioning information to the car navigation system.

[0017] In addition, the car navigation control device of the present invention is characterized in that the calculation means performs a calculation to change the amount of the calculated vehicle information to be transmitted at one time in accordance with the vehicle driving information for the first period or the first and second periods, the amount of which changes depending on the speed of the vehicle.

[0018] The car navigation control device of the present invention is also characterized in that the calculation means has a sweep function for continuously or stepwise changing the compression degree of the calculated vehicle information transmitted at one time within the second period. Effect of the Invention

[0019] According to the car navigation control device of the present invention, even if the car navigation allows the user to watch television or the like while driving, the car navigation can operate without errors caused by differences in data obtained from vehicle information. In addition, it is possible to prevent adverse effects of errors on other devices.

[0020] In addition, according to the car navigation control device of the present invention, navigation operations can be continued in the background of the car navigation system while television or other images are being displayed, and the correct vehicle position can be displayed immediately after television viewing is finished.

[0021] In addition, according to the car navigation control device of the present invention, it is possible to obtain positioning accuracy by navigation operation continuing in the background of a car navigation system while images from a television or the like are being displayed, which is equivalent to the positioning accuracy of navigation operation when images from a television or the like are not being displayed.

[0022] The second period corresponds to the time during which the car navigation system determines the vehicle's driving state. The second period differs depending on the vehicle model or the car navigation system, but can be accommodated by changing the information related to the second period among the vehicle model-specific setting information set for each vehicle model in the car navigation control device of the present invention. Therefore, even if the second period differs depending on the vehicle model, the car navigation control device of the present invention has the effect of being able to accommodate continuation of navigation operation. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration of a vehicle 20 when a car navigation control device 10 according to the present invention is used. [Diagram 2] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a car navigation control device 10 according to the present invention and related parts of a vehicle 20. FIG. [Diagram 3] In principle, the vehicle position is obtained from vehicle driving information, but this is an example of an input signal pattern of vehicle driving information and an output signal pattern of vehicle driving information in a car navigation control device 10 connected to a car navigation system 30 that only uses GPS positioning information to correct the vehicle position. [Figure 4] In principle, the vehicle position is acquired from vehicle driving information, but this is an example of a flowchart in a car navigation control device 10 connected to a car navigation system 30 that only uses GPS positioning information to correct the vehicle position. [Diagram 5]In principle, the vehicle position is obtained from vehicle driving information, but a car navigation system 30 that uses GPS positioning information to correct the vehicle position detects the validity of the driving state of the vehicle driving information based on the GPS positioning information, and when different states accumulate beyond a certain level, detects an error and issues a warning, or obtains the vehicle position based only on the GPS positioning information and uses it as the vehicle's current position.This is an example of an input signal pattern of vehicle driving information in a car navigation control device that does not avoid a state where the vehicle driving information and the GPS positioning information are different, and an output signal pattern of vehicle driving information and GPS positioning information. [Figure 6] This is an example of an input signal pattern of vehicle travel information and an output signal pattern of vehicle travel information and GPS positioning information in a car navigation control device 10 that uses GPS positioning information to avoid a state in which the vehicle travel information and real GPS positioning information R differ. [Figure 7] 13 is an example of a flowchart in a car navigation control device 10 that uses GPS positioning information to avoid a state in which vehicle travel information and real GPS positioning information R differ from each other. [Figure 8] This is an example of an input signal pattern of vehicle driving information in a car navigation control device 10 that uses vehicle driving information to avoid errors caused by the accumulation of a state in which the vehicle driving information and real GPS positioning information R differ. [Figure 9] 13 is an example of a flowchart in a car navigation control device 10 that uses vehicle travel information to avoid errors caused by accumulation of a state in which the vehicle travel information and real GPS positioning information R differ from each other. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] An embodiment of the car navigation control device 10 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an example of a system configuration diagram of a vehicle 20 when the car navigation control device 10 according to the present invention is used. A CAN bus line 50 is laid out as a common bidirectional data bus line in the vehicle 20, and sensors and control devices necessary for vehicle safety and automation are connected to input and output various signals. In FIG. 1, a front camera 60, a rear camera 62, an illuminance sensor 64, a front sonar 66, a back sonar 68, a vehicle speed sensor (not shown), an acceleration sensor (not shown), and the like are connected as sensors. In addition, a GPS positioning control unit 40 to which a GPS antenna 42 is connected is connected for positioning the vehicle position. Signals from various sensors are processed by a vehicle control unit 22 and transmitted (output) as vehicle information to a safety device, an automation device, and a car navigation system 30, and information feedback is received (input) from the safety device, the automation device, and the car navigation system 30 as necessary.

[0025] The car navigation control device 10 is connected between the vehicle control unit 22 and the car navigation system 30, and controls the car navigation system 30. Normally, the car navigation system 30 is set so that it is not possible to watch images using a television or the like while the vehicle 20 is running. However, there are cases where a passenger in the front passenger seat or in the back seat wishes to watch images while the vehicle 20 is running, so by connecting the car navigation control device 10 to a signal line that transmits vehicle information from the vehicle control unit 22 to the car navigation system 30, it is possible to watch television or the like even while the vehicle is running.

[0026] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the car navigation control device 10 according to the present invention and related parts of a vehicle 20. As shown in FIG.

[0027] The car navigation control device 10 includes a calculation unit 12 as a calculation means for performing calculations on vehicle information, a storage unit 14 as a storage means for storing vehicle information according to commands from the calculation unit 12, and a transmitting / receiving unit 16 as a receiving means and transmitting means for receiving vehicle information transmitted from the vehicle 20 to the car navigation system 30 and transmitting the calculated vehicle information obtained by the calculation unit 12 to the car navigation system 30. Each unit is connected by a bus line 18 to transmit and receive information.

[0028] The car navigation control device 10 transmits and receives vehicle information, which is a combination of vehicle driving information, such as a vehicle speed pulse signal indicating the driving state, a parking signal, and a CAN signal SG1 indicating various vehicle states, and GPS positioning information SG2, between the vehicle control unit 22. Similarly, the car navigation control device 10 also transmits and receives vehicle information with the car navigation 30. The vehicle information transmitted from the car navigation control device 10 may be post-calculation vehicle information calculated in the car navigation control device 10, or it may be vehicle information received from the vehicle control unit 22 that is transmitted as is without processing. Each case will be described later.

[0029] The GPS signal SG3 received from the GPS antenna 42 is processed by the GPS control unit into GPS positioning information SG2, which is then included in the CAN signal SG1 and transmitted to the car-navigation control device 10 via the vehicle control unit 22.

[0030] First, the technical content that enables the car navigation control device 10 to watch television while driving in the case of the car navigation 30 that does not use GPS positioning information to monitor the driving state of the vehicle 20 will be described below.

[0031] 3 shows an example of a signal pattern when the car navigation control device 10 enables viewing of television or the like while driving, in the case of a car navigation 30 that does not use GPS positioning information to monitor the driving state of the vehicle 20. In the figure, (a) shows vehicle driving information transmitted from the vehicle control unit 22. In the figure, (b) shows vehicle driving information transmitted from the car navigation control device 10 to the car navigation 30.

[0032] In the prior art, in a car navigation system 30 that does not allow viewing of television or other images while the vehicle is driving, the signal that monitors the vehicle's driving state of the vehicle driving information that is transmitted to the car navigation system 30 is cut off, allowing viewing of television or other images while the vehicle is driving. However, because the vehicle driving information transmitted to the car navigation system 30 is cut off, the navigation operation stops or does not operate normally while watching television or other images.

[0033] 3, before the passenger starts watching television or the like, the vehicle travel information is not calculated and is sent directly to the car navigation system 30. When the passenger starts watching television or the like, the vehicle travel information for the first period (T1) or the first period (T1) and the second period (T2) is not sent to the car navigation system 30 and is stored in the memory unit 14. While the vehicle travel information is stored in the memory unit 14, the vehicle travel information indicating a stopped state is sent to the car navigation system 30.

[0034] In a second period (T2) subsequent thereto which is shorter than the first period (T1), the vehicle driving information for the first period (T1) or the first period (T1) and the second period (T2) is compressed and calculated, input into the post-calculation vehicle information, and transmitted from the transceiver unit 16 to the car navigation system 30.

[0035] When the passenger finishes watching TV or the like, the car navigation control device 10 transmits the vehicle driving information sent from the vehicle control unit 22 to the car navigation system 30 as it is, without performing compression calculation on the vehicle driving information again. The above description concerns a car navigation system 30 that allows viewing of TV or the like by performing compression calculation only on the vehicle speed pulse signal among the vehicle driving information, but this is not limited to this, and there are also car navigation systems 30 that allow viewing of TV or the like by performing compression calculation using a signal that monitors the driving state of the vehicle 20, such as a parking signal. In that case, it is possible to deal with this by compressing or not compressing the parking signal among the vehicle driving information, rather than compressing or not compressing the vehicle pulse signal. The same applies to the following description.

[0036] Here, the first period (T1) is the time from when the car navigation system 30 receives the vehicle driving information to when it starts to judge the driving state. During the first period (T1), the car navigation control device 10 transmits vehicle driving information indicating a stopped state to the car navigation system 30. A typical time for the first period (T1) is 1.5 seconds. The first period (T1) differs depending on the type of the car navigation system 30.

[0037] The second period (T2) is a time during which the car navigation system 30 judges the traveling state of the vehicle 20. For example, even if the car navigation system 30 judges that the vehicle 20 is stopped, it does not immediately stop navigation operation and hold the vehicle position, but waits for a predetermined time, i.e., the second period (T2), before stopping navigation operation. A typical time for the second period (T2) is 1 second. The second period (T2) varies depending on the type of the car navigation system 30. The same applies to the following explanation.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 3, by transmitting compressed vehicle driving information to the car navigation system 30 during a second period (T2) that is shorter than the time period during which the car navigation system 30 determines that the vehicle 20 is in a driving state, the car navigation system 30 can continue watching television or the like without stopping navigation operation, and can display the exact position of the vehicle 20 while it is driving when watching television or the like ends.

[0039] FIG. 4 is an example of a flow chart for controlling vehicle driving information in the car navigation control device 10 to enable viewing of television or the like in the case of a car navigation system 30 that does not monitor the driving state of the vehicle 20 using GPS positioning information.

[0040] The car navigation control device 10 starts the program (step 1 (hereinafter, abbreviated as "S number")), and then permits interrupt processing for obtaining vehicle travel information (S2).

[0041] When the interrupt process starts (interrupt 1 (hereinafter, abbreviated as "I number")), the vehicle driving information is acquired (I2) according to the timing when the vehicle driving information is transmitted from the vehicle control device, and the acquired vehicle driving information is stored (I3), after which the interrupt process ends (I4) and the process returns to the main routine.

[0042] The main routine determines whether vehicle driving information is being stored and accumulated for a first period (T1), and waits until the first period (T1) has elapsed (S3).

[0043] After the first period (T1) has elapsed, the stored data of the accumulated vehicle driving information is copied to the transmission memory of the calculation unit 12 (S4), and then the vehicle driving information stored in the memory unit 14 is erased (S5).

[0044] In a calculation regarding the density of the vehicle travel information for the first period (T1) or the first period (T1) and the second period (T2) temporarily stored in the transmission memory, the calculation unit 12 performs a compression calculation to change the amount of vehicle travel information to be transmitted at one time according to the speed of the vehicle 20, or to gradually or stepwise change the amount of vehicle travel information to be transmitted at one time, inputs the result of the compression calculation into the post-calculation vehicle information, and transmits the post-calculation vehicle information from the transmission / reception unit 16 to the car navigation system 30 (S6).

[0045] After all the calculated vehicle information has been transmitted, the transmission memory is erased (S7) and the process returns to S3.

[0046] Recently, the car navigation system 30 used in the vehicle 20 has been provided with a function for determining a difference in the driving state between the vehicle driving information and the GPS positioning information, and for generating an error.

[0047] Fig. 5 shows an example of a signal pattern of a car navigation control device in a case where a car navigation system 30, which basically acquires a vehicle position from vehicle driving information but uses GPS positioning information to correct the vehicle position, detects the validity of the driving state of the vehicle driving information based on the GPS positioning information, and when a certain number of different states are accumulated, detects an error and issues a warning, or uses only the GPS positioning information to determine the vehicle position as the vehicle's current position. Fig. 5 shows a case where the car navigation system 30 judges the difference between the driving state of the vehicle driving information and the GPS positioning information and generates an error. When the car navigation control device transmits a signal of a driving state different from the GPS positioning information to the car navigation system 30 and continues navigation operation, if driving states different from the vehicle driving information and the GPS positioning information are accumulated, an error will occur in the car navigation system 30. In this case, if the passenger stops watching television or the like and the vehicle 20 continues to drive for the period (hereinafter referred to as the "normal operation recovery time") (T4) required for the car navigation system 30 to reset the error, the vehicle driving information, GPS positioning information, and driving state will match, and this is an example of a state in which the error in the car navigation system 30 is reset. (a) in the figure shows the signal pattern of the vehicle driving information transmitted from the vehicle control unit 22 while driving. (b) in the figure shows the output signal pattern of the vehicle driving information of the car navigation system control device when watching television or the like. (c) in the figure shows the signal pattern of the real GPS positioning information R output by the GPS positioning control unit 40.

[0048] 5, before the passenger starts watching television or the like, the vehicle travel information is not calculated and is sent directly to the car navigation system 30. When the passenger starts watching television or the like, the vehicle travel information for a first period (T1) is not sent to the car navigation system 30 but is stored in the memory unit 14. While the vehicle travel information is stored in the memory unit 14, the vehicle travel information indicating a stopped state is sent to the car navigation system 30.

[0049] On the other hand, the GPS positioning information acquired during the first period (T1) indicates a driving state, and the driving state between the vehicle driving information and the GPS positioning information is different. When the car navigation system 30 detects that the driving state between the vehicle driving information and the GPS positioning information is different, it continues to check whether the different state continues for a predetermined driving state confirmation period (T3) or whether the different state is resolved and the same driving state is indicated. If the number of situations in which the driving state between the vehicle driving information and the GPS positioning information is different accumulates and exceeds the threshold value for error occurrence before the driving state confirmation time (T3) has elapsed, the car navigation system 30 starts error processing, such as displaying an error or changing the determination of the position information of the vehicle position to only the GPS positioning information.

[0050] The car navigation system 30 continues to check whether the vehicle driving information and the GPS positioning information indicate the same driving state, and if the same driving state continues for a predetermined normal operation return period (T4) after you have finished watching television, etc., it cancels processes such as displaying an error and obtaining the vehicle position using the GPS positioning information, and returns to normal operation.

[0051] Depending on the type of car navigation system 30, when determining whether the driving conditions between the vehicle driving information and the GPS positioning information are different, there are car navigation systems 30 that determine that an error has occurred if the different status continues for a certain period of time just once. There are also car navigation systems 30 that determine that an error has occurred if the driving conditions are different multiple times. Figure 5 shows an example in which an error is determined to have occurred when the accumulated driving conditions are different five times, which is set as a threshold value.

[0052] In order to continue watching TV, etc., it is necessary to avoid the above error.

[0053] 6 shows an example of a signal pattern in the car navigation control device 10 that uses GPS positioning information to avoid a state in which the vehicle driving information and the real GPS positioning information R are different, allowing viewing of television, etc. In the figure, (a) shows the signal pattern of the vehicle driving information transmitted from the vehicle control unit 22. In the figure, (b) shows the output signal pattern of the vehicle driving information of the car navigation control device 10 when viewing television, etc. In the figure, (c) shows the output signal pattern of the GPS positioning information transmitted by the car navigation control device 10 to the car navigation 30.

[0054] In Fig. 6, before the passenger starts watching television or the like, the vehicle travel information is not subjected to compression calculation and is transmitted as is to the car navigation system 30. When the passenger starts watching television or the like, the vehicle travel information for the first period (T1) or the first period (T1) and the second period (T2) is stored in the memory unit 14 without being transmitted to the car navigation system 30. While the vehicle travel information is stored in the memory unit 14, the vehicle travel information indicating a stopped state is transmitted to the car navigation system 30. In the subsequent second period (T2) which is shorter than the first period (T1), the vehicle travel information for the first period (T1) or the first period (T1) and the second period (T2) is subjected to compression calculation and input to the post-calculation vehicle information, which is then transmitted from the transmission / reception unit 16 to the car navigation system 30.

[0055] However, the GPS positioning information acquired in the first period (T1) indicates a driving state, and the driving state of the vehicle driving information is different from that of the real GPS positioning information R. In the first period (T1), while the car navigation control device 10 is outputting vehicle driving information in a stopped state, it transmits the GPS positioning information acquired one time previously as dummy GPS positioning information D to the car navigation system 30 instead of the acquired real GPS positioning information R. The car navigation system 30 that receives the dummy GPS positioning information D can continue navigation operation without causing an error, since the vehicle driving information and the dummy GPS positioning information D indicate the same stopped state. Therefore, there is no accumulation of statuses in which the vehicle driving information and the GPS positioning information are different.

[0056] In addition, the car navigation control device 10 may detect different driving conditions in the vehicle driving information and the real GPS positioning information R multiple times, in which case the GPS positioning information acquired two times previously will be transmitted to the car navigation system 30 as dummy GPS positioning information D.

[0057] According to this avoidance method, it is possible to avoid errors in both car navigation systems 30 that determine that an error has occurred if the driving conditions between the vehicle driving information and the real GPS positioning information R differ only once and continue for a specified period of time, and car navigation systems 30 that determine that an error has occurred if different driving conditions are accumulated multiple times.

[0058] In addition, when the car navigation control device 10 detects different driving conditions between the vehicle driving information and the real GPS positioning information R, the acquired GPS positioning information is changed to dummy GPS positioning impossible information and transmitted to the car navigation 30, thereby creating a situation in which the car navigation 30 cannot determine the different conditions between the vehicle driving information and the real GPS positioning information R, thereby also avoiding errors occurring in the car navigation 30.

[0059] Furthermore, when a difference occurs between the vehicle position obtained by the vehicle driving information and the real GPS positioning information R, the car navigation control device 10 does not perform compression calculations on the acquired vehicle driving information, but inputs the calculated information into the vehicle information and transmits it to the car navigation system 30 before the difference exceeds a threshold value at which an error occurs in the car navigation system 30, and automatically temporarily suspends television viewing, and returns the system to a state in which television viewing is possible again after the time (T4) at which the error in the car navigation system 30 is reset has elapsed, thereby avoiding errors occurring in the car navigation system 30.

[0060] FIG. 7 is an example of an error avoidance flowchart in the car-navigation control device 10 that uses GPS positioning information to avoid a state in which the vehicle travel information differs from the real GPS positioning information R, thereby enabling viewing of television or the like.

[0061] After starting the program (S11), the car navigation control device 10 permits interrupt processing for obtaining vehicle information (S12).

[0062] When the interrupt process is started (I11), vehicle information is acquired (I12) in accordance with the timing at which the vehicle information is transmitted from the vehicle control device, and the acquired vehicle driving information is stored and accumulated (I13).

[0063] Next, it is determined (I14) whether or not the current period is the first period (T1), and if the current period is not the first period (T1), the interrupt process is ended (I16) and the process returns to the main routine.

[0064] If it is determined in I14 that it is the first period (T1), the previously acquired GPS positioning information is transmitted to the car navigation system 30 as dummy GPS positioning information D (I15). After that, the interrupt process is terminated (I16) and the process returns to the main routine. If the next time vehicle information is acquired is again in the first period (T1), the dummy GPS positioning information D transmitted previously to the car navigation system 30 will be transmitted, and will be the same as the GPS positioning information acquired from the vehicle control unit 22 two times previously. Therefore, the car navigation system 30 determines that the vehicle 20 is stopped, so there is no difference in the driving state from the vehicle driving information, and the navigation operation continues.

[0065] The main routine determines whether vehicle driving information is being stored and accumulated for a first period (T1), and waits until the first period (T1) has elapsed (S13).

[0066] After the first period (T1) has elapsed, the stored data of the accumulated vehicle driving information is copied to the transmission memory of the calculation unit 12 (S14), and then the vehicle driving information stored in the memory unit 14 is erased (S15).

[0067] In a calculation regarding the density of the vehicle travel information for the first period (T1) or the first period (T1) and the second period (T2) temporarily stored in the transmission memory, the calculation unit 12 performs a compression calculation to change the amount of vehicle travel information to be transmitted at one time according to the speed of the vehicle 20, or to gradually or stepwise change the amount of vehicle travel information to be transmitted at one time, inputs the result of the compression calculation into the post-calculation vehicle information, and transmits the post-calculation vehicle information from the transmission / reception unit 16 to the car navigation system 30 (S16).

[0068] After all the calculated vehicle information has been transmitted, the transmission memory is erased (S17) and the process returns to S13.

[0069] As a result, in a car navigation system that determines whether the driving conditions between the vehicle driving information and the real GPS positioning information R differ, the car navigation system uses the GPS positioning information to enable the user to continue watching television, etc., and to continue navigation operation in the background without generating errors. EXAMPLES

[0070] In a car navigation system 30 that determines whether the driving conditions between the vehicle driving information and the real GPS positioning information R differ, an embodiment of a method for the car navigation system 30 to avoid errors caused by differences in the driving conditions between the vehicle driving information and the real GPS positioning information R without using GPS positioning information is shown below.

[0071] FIG. 8 shows an example of a signal pattern in the car navigation control device 10 that uses vehicle travel information to avoid errors caused by accumulation of different states between the vehicle travel information and real GPS positioning information R, allowing viewing of television, etc. In the figure, (a) shows the signal pattern of the vehicle travel information transmitted from the vehicle control unit 22. In the figure, (b) shows the output signal pattern of the vehicle travel information of the car navigation control device 10 when viewing television, etc. In the figure, (c) shows the signal pattern of the real GPS positioning information R output by the GPS positioning control unit 40. The figure shows, as an example, a case in which the car navigation 30 determines that an error has occurred by using the accumulation of five times of different statuses between the vehicle travel information and the real GPS positioning information R as a threshold value.

[0072] In Fig. 8, before the passenger starts watching television or the like, the vehicle travel information is not calculated and is sent as is to the car navigation system 30. When the passenger starts watching television or the like, the vehicle travel information for the first period (T1) or the first period (T1) and the second period (T2) is stored in the memory unit 14 without being sent to the car navigation system 30. While the vehicle travel information is stored in the memory unit 14, the vehicle travel information indicating a stopped state is sent to the car navigation system 30. In the subsequent second period (T2) which is shorter than the first period (T1), the vehicle travel information for the first period (T1) or the first period (T1) and the second period (T2) is compressed, calculated, and input to the vehicle information, which is then sent from the transmission / reception unit 16 to the car navigation system 30.

[0073] However, the GPS positioning information acquired in the first period (T1) indicates a driving state, and the driving state of the vehicle driving information is different from that of the real GPS positioning information R. When the car navigation control device 10 detects that the driving state of the vehicle driving information is different from that of the real GPS positioning information R, the car navigation control device 10 adds the number of times of difference occurrence between the vehicle driving information and the GPS positioning information until the number of times at which the car navigation system 30 judges that an error has occurred, and when the number of times of difference occurrence reaches a predetermined number at which the car navigation system 30 judges that an error has occurred, the acquired vehicle driving information is not compressed and is sent to the car navigation system 30 as received from the vehicle control unit 22. During the reset period (T5), the number of times of difference occurrence between the vehicle driving information and the real GPS positioning information R is cleared inside the car navigation system 30. The car navigation system 30 that has received the uncompressed vehicle driving information can continue navigation operation without causing an error because the vehicle driving information and the real GPS positioning information R indicate the same driving state. During this period, viewing of television or the like is interrupted for an instant, and television viewing is automatically resumed after a reset period (T5) for the error that occurred in the car navigation system 30 has elapsed.

[0074] FIG. 9 is a flowchart in the car navigation control device 10 that uses vehicle travel information to enable viewing of television or the like while avoiding errors caused by accumulation of states in which the vehicle travel information and the real GPS positioning information R differ.

[0075] After starting the program (S21), the car navigation control device 10 permits interrupt processing for obtaining vehicle information (S22).

[0076] When the interrupt process is started (I21), vehicle information is acquired (I22) in accordance with the timing at which the vehicle information is transmitted from the vehicle control device.

[0077] Next, it is determined whether the navigation operation is temporarily started (I23), and if the navigation operation is not temporarily started, it is determined whether the condition for accumulating the difference error between the real GPS positioning information R and the vehicle driving information for the first period (T1) in the car navigation system 30 is satisfied (I24). For example, the condition is determined to be driving at a predetermined speed or faster for a predetermined time or longer. If the condition is satisfied, the operation is temporarily switched to the navigation operation (I25), the interrupt process is ended (I30), and the process returns to the main routine.

[0078] When it is determined (I24) that the conditions for accumulating the difference error that occurred between the real GPS positioning information R and the vehicle driving information for the first period (T1) in the car navigation system 30 are not met, the vehicle driving information is saved and accumulated (I29), the interrupt processing is terminated (I30), and the process returns to the main routine.

[0079] As a result of judging whether the navigation operation is temporarily being switched to (I23), if the navigation operation is temporarily being switched to, the acquired vehicle travel information is transmitted to the car navigation system 30 without being subjected to compression calculation (I26).

[0080] Next, the system determines (I27) whether or not the period during which the navigation operation is temporarily switched to has elapsed the time (T5) for resetting the accumulated difference error that occurred in the car navigation system 30 between the real GPS positioning information R and the vehicle driving information for the first period (T1). If the period (T5) for resetting the difference error has not elapsed, the interrupt process is terminated (I30) and the system returns to the main routine.

[0081] If the period during which the navigation operation is temporarily switched to has elapsed the period (T5) during which the accumulated difference error that occurred in the car navigation system 30 between the real GPS positioning information R and the vehicle driving information for the first period (T1) is reset, the navigation operation is released and television viewing is started (I28), the interrupt processing is ended (I30), and the process returns to the main routine.

[0082] The main routine determines whether vehicle driving information is being stored and accumulated for a first period (T1), and waits until the first period (T1) has elapsed (S23).

[0083] After the first period (T1) has elapsed, the stored data of the accumulated vehicle driving information is copied to the transmission memory of the calculation unit 12 (S24), and then the vehicle driving information stored in the memory unit 14 is erased (S25).

[0084] In the calculation regarding the density of the vehicle travel information for the first period (T1) or the first period (T1) and the second period (T2) temporarily stored in the transmission memory, the calculation unit 12 performs a compression calculation to change the amount of vehicle travel information to be transmitted at one time according to the speed of the vehicle 20, or to gradually or stepwise change the amount of vehicle travel information to be transmitted at one time, inputs the result of the compression calculation into the post-calculation vehicle information, and transmits the post-calculation vehicle information from the transmission / reception unit 16 to the car navigation system 30 (S26).

[0085] After all the calculated vehicle information has been transmitted, the transmission memory is erased (S27) and the process returns to S23.

[0086] As a result, in a car navigation system that determines whether the driving conditions in the vehicle driving information and the GPS positioning information are different, the car navigation system can use the vehicle driving information to continue watching television and continuing navigation operations in the background without generating errors. Since errors caused by differences in the driving conditions between the vehicle driving information and the GPS positioning information can be prevented, there is no adverse effect on other devices due to the occurrence of errors. [Industrial Applicability]

[0087] The car navigation control device according to the present invention can be used to change the functions of the car navigation system so that passengers in the front passenger seat or back seat can watch television or the like while driving, in accordance with their wishes. [Explanation of symbols]

[0088] 10. Car navigation control device 12 Arithmetic section 14 Storage section 16 Transmitter / receiver 18 Bus Line 20 Vehicles 22 Vehicle control unit 30 Car navigation device (car navigation system) 40 GPS positioning control unit 42 GPS antenna 50 CAN bus lines 60 Front Camera 62 Rear Camera 64 Illuminance sensor 66 Front Sonar 68 Back Sonar R Real GPS positioning information D. Dummy GPS positioning information SG1 Vehicle information (CAN signal) SG2 GPS positioning information SG3 GPS signal T1 first period T2 second period T3 Driving condition check time T4 Normal operation recovery period T5 Accumulated difference error reset period between GPS positioning information and vehicle driving information for the first period

Claims

1. A device connected between a vehicle and a car navigation system to control the car navigation system, a receiving means for receiving vehicle information transmitted from the vehicle to a car navigation system; A calculation means for performing a calculation on the vehicle information; a storage means for storing the vehicle information in response to a command from the computing means; a transmitting means for transmitting the calculated vehicle information obtained by the calculating means to a car navigation system; Equipped with The calculation means: An error avoidance means for avoiding a car navigation system from determining that an error has occurred due to a difference in state between GPS positioning information and vehicle driving information; Having the following features: A car navigation control device comprising:

2. The calculation means: a step of instructing the vehicle travel information for a first period or for the first and second periods to be stored in the storage means without being transmitted to a car navigation system; The storage means storing the vehicle driving information for the first period or for the first and second periods; The calculation means: compressing the vehicle travel information for the first period or the first and second periods into a second period that is shorter than the first period and inputting the compressed information into post-calculation vehicle information; determining whether there is a difference between the GPS positioning information in the post-calculation vehicle information and the vehicle driving information; Equipped with The error avoidance means is When it is determined that a different state between the GPS measurement information and the vehicle driving information indicates that an error has occurred in the car navigation system, When the previously acquired GPS positioning information is input into the post-calculation vehicle information to generate pseudo-stop information, pseudo-generated GPS positioning impossible information, or the different state reaches a value that is set by predicting a threshold value for when an error occurs in the car navigation system, the uncompressed vehicle travel information is input into the post-calculation vehicle information, The transmitting means The calculated vehicle information is transmitted to a car navigation system. To avoid errors that occur in car navigation systems, 2. A car navigation control device according to claim 1,

3. The calculation means: a step of instructing the vehicle travel information for a first period or for the first and second periods to be stored in the storage means without being transmitted to a car navigation system; The storage means storing the vehicle driving information for the first period or for the first and second periods; The calculation means: compressing the vehicle travel information for the first period or the first and second periods into a second period that is shorter than the first period and inputting the compressed information into post-calculation vehicle information; determining whether there is a difference between the GPS positioning information and the vehicle driving information in the post-calculation vehicle information; Equipped with The error avoidance means is When the number of different states in the judgment of the difference exceeds a threshold value of a cumulative number of errors occurring in the car navigation system, Inputting the uncompressed vehicle driving information into the post-calculation vehicle information, The transmitting means Transmitting the calculated vehicle information and unprocessed GPS positioning information to a car navigation system; 2. A car navigation control device according to claim 1,

4. The calculation means: performing a calculation to change the amount of the post-calculation vehicle information to be transmitted at one time in response to the vehicle driving information for the first period or the first and second periods, the amount of which has changed according to the speed of the vehicle; 2. A car navigation control device according to claim 1,

5. The calculation means: having a sweep function for continuously or stepwise changing the compression degree of the post-calculation vehicle information transmitted at one time within the second period; 2. A car navigation control device according to claim 1,

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