Information provision device and information provision system thereof

Abstract

To provide an information provision device capable of promoting safety driving regardless of an intersection with traffic lights.SOLUTION: An information provision device is arranged in a vehicle. The information provision device provides other vehicle information related to a travel state of another vehicle to a driver of an own vehicle. The information provision device executes processing including: a first acquisition step (S16) for acquiring the other vehicle information when traveling in a predetermined attention evocation area; and a provision step (S20) for providing the other vehicle information in an aspect to compare the information with own vehicle information related to a travel state of the own vehicle when traveling in the attention evocation area which is set in a travel direction of a track on which the own vehicle is traveling.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information providing apparatus and an information providing system thereof.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 relates to an information providing apparatus that provides information to a vehicle. The information providing apparatus acquires information such as the vehicle speed of a vehicle passing through a communication point, and based on the acquired vehicle information, the signal information of a traffic signal installed at an intersection, a predetermined standard deceleration, etc., determines whether the vehicle is in a driving state determined by a stop condition for stopping in front of the intersection and an entry condition for entering the intersection. Then, the information providing apparatus transmits information corresponding to the determination result to the vehicle. Thereby, the driver of the vehicle can safely stop at the intersection or pass through the intersection by performing a driving operation based on the provided information.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, the information providing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 requires the signal information of a traffic signal. Therefore, there is a problem that the information providing apparatus cannot provide information where there is no traffic signal.

[0005] One object of the disclosure is to provide an information providing apparatus and an information providing system that can promote safe driving not only at intersections with traffic signals.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The information providing apparatus disclosed herein is An information providing device that provides other vehicle information regarding the driving state of another vehicle to a driver of a host vehicle, a first acquisition step (S16) of acquiring other vehicle information when traveling in a preset attention - calling area, and a providing step (S20) of providing other vehicle information in a manner of comparing it with host vehicle information regarding the driving state of the host vehicle when traveling in an attention - calling area set in the traveling direction of the road on which the host vehicle is traveling, characterized by comprising the above.

[0007] In this way, when the information providing device travels in an attention - calling area set in the traveling direction of the road on which the host vehicle is traveling, it provides other vehicle information to the driver in a manner of comparing it with the host vehicle information. Therefore, the information providing device can give the driver an opportunity to review his / her own driving by comparing the driving state of the host vehicle with that of the other vehicle, and promote safe driving. Also, the information providing device can promote safe driving not only at intersections with traffic lights.

[0008] Also, the information providing system disclosed herein is an information providing system including an information providing device (10) that provides other vehicle information regarding the driving state of another vehicle to a driver of a host vehicle, and external devices (20, 20a) provided outside the host vehicle and the other vehicle, wherein the external device comprises an external transmission step (S30) of transmitting other vehicle information for each preset attention - calling area, and the information providing device comprises a first acquisition step (S16) of acquiring other vehicle information from the external device when traveling in the attention - calling area, a second acquisition step (S18) of acquiring host vehicle information regarding the driving state of the host vehicle when traveling in the attention - calling area, a vehicle - side transmission step (S24a, S24b) of transmitting the host vehicle information as the source information of the other vehicle information to the external device, and a providing step (S20) of providing other vehicle information in a manner of comparing it with the host vehicle information when traveling in an attention - calling area set in the traveling direction of the road on which the host vehicle is traveling, characterized by comprising the above.

[0009] In this way, the information providing system includes the above-described information providing device and an external device provided outside the host vehicle and other vehicles. Therefore, the information providing system can encourage safe driving by the information providing device not only at intersections with traffic lights.

[0010] In addition, the information providing device transmits its own vehicle information to the external device as the source information of other vehicle information. Therefore, the information providing system can transmit other vehicle information for each preset attention-calling area on the road by the external device.

[0011] The plurality of aspects disclosed in this specification adopt different technical means to achieve their respective purposes. The reference numerals in parentheses described in the claims and this section exemplify the correspondence with the parts of the embodiments described later, and are not intended to limit the technical scope. The objects, features, and effects disclosed in this specification will become clearer by referring to the subsequent detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

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Figure 10

Figure 11

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] Hereinafter, a plurality of modes for implementing the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In each mode, parts corresponding to the matters described in the preceding mode may be given the same reference numerals and redundant descriptions may be omitted. In each mode, when only a part of the configuration is described, for the other parts of the configuration, the other modes described previously can be referred to and applied.

[0014] (First Embodiment) As shown in FIG. 1, the information - providing system of the present embodiment includes an information - providing device 10 arranged in a vehicle 1 and a center device 20 arranged in a center 2. The center device 20 is configured to be communicable with the information - providing devices 10 arranged in a plurality of vehicles 1. That is, it can be said that the information - providing system includes a plurality of information - providing devices 10 and at least one center device 20. Note that the information - providing device 10 and the center device 20 may communicate using, for example, a communication frame including the identification information of the information - providing device 10. The identification information is information for identifying each information - providing device 10 and is unique information for each information - providing device. The center device 20 corresponds to an external device.

[0015] The information providing system is a system that collects vehicle information indicating the driving state of the vehicle 1 from a plurality of information providing devices 10 at the center device 20 and transmits the collected vehicle information from the center device 20 to the information providing devices 10. And the information providing system is a system that provides the vehicle information received by the information providing device 10 to the driver. Note that the vehicle information of the own vehicle is also referred to as own vehicle information. On the other hand, the vehicle information of other vehicles is also referred to as other vehicle information.

[0016] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the information providing system has the center device 20 collect vehicle information for each warning area P2. And the information providing system is a system that transmits vehicle information from the center device 20 to the information providing device 10 of the vehicle 1 that is about to drive through the warning area P2. For example, when the vehicle 1 reaches the information providing point P1 while driving through the warning area P2 set in the traveling direction DF of the road R1 on which the vehicle 1 (own vehicle) is traveling, the information providing device 10 acquires other vehicle information.

[0017] And the information providing device 10 provides the received vehicle information to the driver of the vehicle 1 in a manner of comparing it with the own vehicle information indicating the driving state of the own vehicle. That is, the information providing device 10 provides the own vehicle information and the received vehicle information to the driver of the vehicle 1 (own vehicle) in which it is arranged. Note that reception can also be referred to as acquisition.

[0018] The information providing system is a system that encourages the driver to drive safely spontaneously by providing vehicle information. Similarly, the information providing device 10 is a device that encourages the driver to drive safely spontaneously by providing vehicle information. Also, the information providing device 10 can be said to be a device that encourages the driver of the own vehicle to drive safely using a method called nudge. Note that nudge is a method that enables people to make better choices spontaneously rather than forcibly.

[0019] Here, the vehicle information acquired and provided by the information providing device 10 corresponds to other vehicle information indicating the driving state of other vehicles. The other vehicle information does not include the current own vehicle information. However, there is a possibility that past own vehicle information is included. Therefore, the vehicle information acquired and provided by the information providing device 10 can be said to be vehicle information in the past (past vehicle information). That is, the past vehicle information may include own vehicle information and other vehicle information. The vehicle information acquired and provided by the information providing device 10 can also be said to be other vehicle information for provision. The vehicle information acquired and provided by the information providing device 10 is information in which the driving states of a plurality of vehicles 1 are reflected and does not include information such as traffic signal information.

[0020] Furthermore, the information providing device 10 provides other vehicle information in order to encourage the driver of the own vehicle to drive safely. Therefore, the vehicle information acquired and provided by the information providing device 10 can also be said to be other vehicle information for motivation for safe driving.

[0021] In the present embodiment, as an example of the vehicle information, vehicle speed information is adopted. The vehicle speed information is information indicating the driving speed of the vehicle 1 when traveling at least one of the attention - drawing area P2 and the interval X1. That is, the vehicle speed information may be information indicating the driving speed of the vehicle 1 when traveling in the attention - drawing area P2. Also, the vehicle speed information may be information indicating the driving speed of the vehicle 1 when entering the attention - drawing area P2. Furthermore, the vehicle speed information may be information indicating the driving speed of the vehicle 1 when traveling in the attention - drawing area P2 and when entering the attention - drawing area P2. Note that the vehicle speed information as own vehicle information is own vehicle speed information indicating the driving speed (own vehicle speed) of the own vehicle. On the other hand, the vehicle speed information as other vehicle information is other vehicle speed information indicating the driving speed (other vehicle speed) of other vehicles.

[0022] The attention - drawing area P2 is a preset area on the road R0. Also, the attention - drawing area P2 is an area where it can be considered that attention needs to be drawn to the driver. In the present embodiment, as an example of the attention - drawing area, an intersection without traffic signals is adopted. The road R0 includes a parking lot.

[0023] Note that, as shown in FIG. 11, the warning area P2 may be a crosswalk that is not an intersection. Further, the warning area P2 may be a location on the ground where there is a traffic sign, an area where the width becomes narrow, a mountain road where passing is not possible, a curve area on a mountain road, a road facing a school or a park, a road facing a house, a railroad crossing, an area with many traffic accidents, an entrance and an exit to a service area or a tollgate on an expressway, a merging area on an expressway, etc. Also, the warning area P2 may be set at a location where the vehicle 1 other than the road R0 can travel.

[0024] The interval X1 between the information providing point P1 and the warning area P2 is preset. The interval X1 may be a distance at which the information providing device 10 can provide other vehicle information before the vehicle 1 travels through the warning area P2. Also, the location for acquiring other vehicle information is not limited to the information providing point P1, and may be an area (information providing area) including the information providing point P1.

[0025] <Configuration of Information Providing Device> As described above, the information providing device 10 is a device that provides other vehicle information to the driver of the host vehicle. The information providing device 10 includes a processing device, a communication device, a storage device, a display device, etc. Further, in the present embodiment, as an example, an information providing device 10 equipped with a GPS device for acquiring the position information of the host vehicle is adopted. However, the information providing device 10 can also be adopted with a configuration that does not include a GPS device as long as the processing device can acquire position information. Note that the processing device can be regarded as having acquired various information as long as it can refer to the various information.

[0026] Also, as shown in FIG. 1, the information providing device 10 includes, as functional blocks, an other vehicle information receiving unit 11, an other vehicle information acquiring unit 12, a storage unit 13, a presentation unit 14, a host vehicle information acquiring unit 15, a host vehicle information transmitting unit 16, etc. The information providing device 10 is installed in the vehicle 1. The information providing device 10 can adopt, for example, a navigation device or the like.

[0027] The processing device is a processor such as a CPU. The communication device is a wireless communication device capable of communicating with a center device 20 or the like. The storage device includes volatile memories such as SRAM and DRAM, and non-volatile memories such as mask ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM (registered trademark), and flash memory. The display device is a display installed in the vehicle interior. The display device may include a speaker for outputting sound.

[0028] Note that CPU is an abbreviation for Central Processing Unit. RAM is an abbreviation for Random Access Memory. ROM is an abbreviation for Read Only Memory. PROM is an abbreviation for Programmable ROM. EPROM is an abbreviation for Erasable ROM. EEPROM is an abbreviation for Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM.

[0029] The processing device executes a program stored in the storage device. The processing device performs arithmetic processing by executing the program. The processing device controls a communication device, a display device, etc. by performing arithmetic processing.

[0030] The processing device acquires other vehicle information received by the communication device (other vehicle information acquisition unit 12). The processing device acquires the detection result of a vehicle speed sensor that detects the traveling speed of vehicle 1 (own vehicle information acquisition unit 15). The processing device stores the acquired other vehicle information and own vehicle information in the storage device (storage unit 13). Then, the processing device displays the other vehicle information and own vehicle information on the display device (presentation unit 14). Furthermore, the processing device sequentially acquires the position information of the own vehicle. Also, in this embodiment, a storage device in which a plurality of information providing points P1 are stored is adopted.

[0031] The communication device communicates with the center device 20. The communication device receives other vehicle information from the center device 20 (other vehicle information reception unit 11). Also, the communication device transmits own vehicle information to the center device 20 in response to an instruction from the processing device (own vehicle information transmission unit 16). The processing operation of the information providing device 10 will be described in detail later.

[0032] Note that the information providing device 10 can also be adopted by in-vehicle ECUs other than the navigation device. Furthermore, the information providing device 10 can also be adopted by information devices such as smartphones and tablet terminals. That is, the information providing device 10 may be portable into the passenger compartment of the vehicle 1. The information providing device 10 does not have to be installed in the vehicle 1. ECU is an abbreviation for Electronic Control Unit.

[0033] <Configuration of the center device> The center device 20 is provided in the center 2 provided outside the vehicle 1. That is, it can be said that the center device 20 is provided outside the own vehicle and other vehicles. The center device 20, like the information providing device 10, includes a processing device, a communication device, a storage device, a display device, and the like. However, the center device 20 has a configuration in which the functions of the processing device and the communication device and the capacity of the storage device are different from those of the information providing device 10. Hereinafter, each device of the center device 20 is described with the word "center" attached.

[0034] The center processing device executes a program stored in the center storage device and performs arithmetic processing. By performing arithmetic processing, the center processing device controls the center communication device, the center display device, and the like. The center device 20 can also be said to be an information providing server or the like.

[0035] Also, as shown in FIG. 1, the center device 20 includes, as functional blocks, an other vehicle information transmission unit 21, an own vehicle information reception unit 22, an information processing unit 23, a storage unit 24, and the like. The center communication device receives vehicle speed information for each attention area P2 transmitted from a plurality of vehicles 1 (own vehicle information reception unit 22). The center processing device stores the received vehicle speed information in the center storage device for each attention area P2 (storage unit 24). Naturally, a plurality of vehicle speed information may be stored in the center storage device for each attention area P2.

[0036] The center processing unit calculates the average speed of the vehicle speed information (travel speed) for each attention - arousal area P2 (information processing unit 23). Then, the center processing unit associates the average speed with the attention - arousal area P2 and stores it in the center storage device. The other - vehicle information of this embodiment can be said to be information indicating the average speed of Vehicle 1. Note that the other - vehicle information is associated with a plurality of position information indicating the attention - arousal area P2. The average speed corresponds to an average value.

[0037] The center processing unit transmits the other - vehicle information to the information - providing device 10 via the center communication device (other - vehicle information transmission unit 21). In this embodiment, a center device 20 that transmits the other - vehicle information to a specific information - providing device 10 is adopted. In this way, the other - vehicle information is transmitted to the information - providing device 10. Therefore, the other - vehicle information can also be said to be transmission - use vehicle information.

[0038] Incidentally, as the other - vehicle information, the average speed such as the average speeds of a plurality of Vehicles 1 that have passed through the attention - arousal area P2 in the past can be adopted. Furthermore, the other - vehicle information may be a speed indicating the median of a plurality of vehicles that have passed through the attention - arousal area P2 in the past. As the number of vehicles, for example, 100 vehicles can be adopted. However, the number of samples for calculating the other - vehicle information is not particularly limited. Note that the other - vehicle information can also be said to be a speed indicating the average speed or the median in a plurality of travel speeds received from Vehicle 1 that has passed through the attention - arousal area P2 in the past. Note that the processing operation of the center device 20 will be described in detail later.

[0039] <Processing operation> Here, with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5, the processing operations of the information providing device 10 and the center device 20 will be described. First, with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, the processing operation of the information providing device 10 will be described. The flowchart in FIG. 3 is mainly the processing executed by the processing device of the information providing device 10. When the supply of operating power is started, the information providing device 10 starts the flowchart in FIG. 3. Also, while the operating power is being supplied, the information providing device 10 starts the flowchart in FIG. 3 at predetermined time intervals. Note that, for example, when the start switch of the vehicle 1 is operated or the ignition switch is turned on, the supply of operating power to the information providing device 10 is started.

[0040] In step S10, the position of the host vehicle is acquired. The information providing device 10 acquires the position of the host vehicle by means of a GPS device.

[0041] In step S12, it is determined whether the information providing point has been reached. The information providing device 10 determines whether the position of the host vehicle acquired in step S10 has reached the information providing point P1 stored in the storage device. If the information providing device 10 determines that the position of the host vehicle has reached the information providing point P1, it proceeds to step S14, and if it determines that it has not reached, it proceeds to step S26.

[0042] In step S14, the position of the host vehicle is transmitted. The information providing device 10 transmits the position of the host vehicle acquired in step S10 to the center device 20. The information providing device 10 transmits the position information as a transmission request for other vehicle information. Steps S12 and S14 are for acquiring other vehicle information before traveling in the attention - calling area P2.

[0043] In step S16, other vehicle information is acquired (first acquisition step). The information providing device 10 acquires other vehicle information when traveling in the preset attention - calling area P2. That is, when the vehicle 1 (the host vehicle) travels in the attention - calling area P2 set in the traveling direction DF of the traveling road R1 on which the vehicle 1 is traveling, the information providing device 10 acquires other vehicle information when the vehicle 1 reaches the information providing point P1. Note that the information providing device 10 acquires the speed of other vehicles as other vehicle information.

[0044] In step S18, vehicle information is acquired (second acquisition step). The information providing device 10 acquires the vehicle speed of the host vehicle, which is the detection result of the vehicle speed sensor, as vehicle information. That is, the information providing device 10 acquires the traveling speed of the host vehicle when traveling at least one of the attention - attracting area P2 and the interval X1.

[0045] In step S20, other - vehicle information and vehicle information are displayed (providing step). As shown in FIG. 5, the information providing device 10 displays the other - vehicle information and the vehicle information on the display device. That is, the information providing device 10 provides the other - vehicle information in a manner of comparing it with the vehicle information when traveling at least one of the attention - attracting area P2 and the interval X1 set in the traveling direction DF of the traveling road R1 on which the host vehicle is traveling.

[0046] In this way, the information providing device 10 provides the other - vehicle information to the driver of the host vehicle in a manner of comparing it with the vehicle information of the host vehicle. That is, the information providing device 10 provides the other - vehicle speed to the driver of the host vehicle in a manner of comparing it with the host - vehicle speed. It can also be said that the information providing device 10 provides to the driver which one of the traveling speed of the host vehicle (vehicle information) and the traveling speed of the other vehicle (other - vehicle information) is faster.

[0047] The other - vehicle information is the traveling speed of the vehicle 1 that has traveled through the attention - attracting area P2 that the host vehicle is about to travel through in the past. Therefore, it can also be said that the other - vehicle information is information indicating what kind of driving operation the driver of the other vehicle used to travel through the attention - attracting area P2. Thus, it can be said that the information providing device 10 displays the other - vehicle information and the vehicle information in order to allow the driver of the host vehicle to compare his / her own driving operation with the driving operation of the driver of the other vehicle. Here, "oneself" refers to the driver of the host vehicle.

[0048] The information providing device 10 preferably displays clearly whether the speed of the host vehicle is faster or slower than the speed of other vehicles. Further, the processing device may compare the speed of the host vehicle with the speed of other vehicles. And when the speed of the host vehicle is faster than the speed of other vehicles, the information providing device 10 preferably displays the speed of the host vehicle in an emphasized manner compared to the speed of other vehicles. For example, display the number of the host vehicle speed larger than the number of the other vehicle speed. Display by changing the colors of the numbers of the other vehicle speed and the host vehicle speed. In this way, the information providing device 10 displays (provides) other vehicle information in a manner of comparing with the host vehicle information so as to indicate that the traveling speed of the host vehicle is faster than the traveling speed of other vehicles.

[0049] Furthermore, the information providing device 10 may display the comparison result of the speed of the host vehicle and the speed of other vehicles together with the other vehicle information and the host vehicle information. When the speed of the host vehicle is slower than the speed of other vehicles, the information providing device 10 may display only the speed of the host vehicle without displaying the speed of other vehicles.

[0050] In addition, in this embodiment, an example is adopted in which the host vehicle information is acquired in step S18 and the host vehicle information is provided in step S20. However, in step S20, the other vehicle information may be displayed on the meter on which the traveling speed corresponding to the host vehicle information of vehicle 1 is displayed. In this case, it is not necessary to execute step S18.

[0051] In step S22, it is determined whether or not the host vehicle has passed through the attention-arousing area. When the information providing device 10 determines that the host vehicle has passed through the attention-arousing area P2, it proceeds to step S24a, and when it determines that the host vehicle has not passed through, it returns to step S18. Note that the information providing device 10 may acquire the position of the host vehicle when executing step S22. That is, the information providing device 10 may acquire the position of the host vehicle between step S20 and step S22.

[0052] In step S24a, the host vehicle information at the time of passing is transmitted to the center device 20 (transmission step, vehicle-side transmission step). The information providing device 10 transmits the host vehicle information at the time of passing through the attention-arousing area P2 to the center device 20. The information providing device 10 transmits the host vehicle information to the center device 20 as the original information of the other vehicle information.

[0053] Note that, as the vehicle information, the vehicle speed can be the entering speed at an intersection, the traveling speed at the moment of passing through the intersection, the average traveling speed from entering to passing through the intersection, etc. Further, when the attention - calling area P2 is a point, the vehicle speed as the vehicle information can also be the speed at the moment of passing through the attention - calling area P2.

[0054] In step S26, it is determined whether the operation of the vehicle has ended. The information - providing device 10 determines that the operation of the vehicle has ended when the start switch of the vehicle 1 is operated again or the ignition switch is turned off. When the information - providing device 10 determines that the operation of the vehicle has ended, it ends the flowchart of FIG. 3, and when it determines that the operation of the vehicle has not ended, it returns to step S10. Note that the determination of whether to end the flowchart of FIG. 3 is not limited to this.

[0055] Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the processing operation of the center device 20 will be described. The flowchart of FIG. 4 is mainly the processing executed by the center processing device of the center device 20. When the center device 20 receives the position information from the information - providing device 10, it starts the flowchart of FIG. 4.

[0056] In step S30, other - vehicle information is transmitted (external - transmission step). The center device 20 transmits other - vehicle information to the information - providing device 10 that has transmitted the position information via the center communication device. That is, the center device 20 transmits other - vehicle information for each attention - calling area P2. Further, the center device 20 transmits other - vehicle information associated with the attention - calling area P2 including the received position information.

[0057] The information providing device 10 that transmitted the position information is a target for transmitting other vehicle information. Therefore, the information providing device 10 that transmitted the position information can also be said to be a target device. Further, the center device 20 receives, for example, identification information together with the position information. Then, the center device 20 transmits other vehicle information together with the received identification information. That is, the center device 20 transmits a communication frame including the received identification information and other vehicle information via the center communication device. Thereby, the center device 20 can transmit other vehicle information to the target device. Note that the target device is a specific information providing device 10.

[0058] In step S32, it is determined whether own vehicle information has been received. The center device 20 determines whether it has received own vehicle information from the target device. The center device 20 determines that it has received own vehicle information when it has received own vehicle information together with the identification information of the target device. That is, the center device 20 determines that it has received own vehicle information when the communication frame received via the center communication device includes the identification information of the target device and own vehicle information. When the center device 20 determines that it has received own vehicle information from the target device, it proceeds to step S34, and when it determines that it has not received own vehicle information from the target device, it repeats step S32.

[0059] In step S34, own vehicle information is stored (external storage step). The center device 20 stores the received own vehicle information in the center storage device. The center device 20 stores the received own vehicle information in the center storage device as the vehicle speed information in the corresponding attention arousal area P2. The corresponding attention arousal area P2 is the attention arousal area P2 including the received position information.

[0060] In step S36, the average speed is calculated (external storage step). The center device 20 calculates the average speed of the vehicle speed information in the corresponding attention arousal area P2. That is, when the center device 20 receives own vehicle information transmitted from a plurality of information providing devices 10, it calculates the average speed of the plurality of own vehicle information for each attention arousal area P2.

[0061] That is, the center device 20 generates other-vehicle information to be transmitted to the information providing device 10 using the received own-vehicle information. Further, the center device 20 generates other-vehicle information to be transmitted to the information providing device 10 without using information such as traffic signal information.

[0062] In step S38, the average speed is stored as other-vehicle information (external storage step). The center device 20 stores the average speed calculated in step S36 as other-vehicle information in the center storage device in association with the corresponding caution area P2.

[0063] <Effect> As described above, when the information providing device 10 travels through the caution area P2 set in the traveling direction DF of the traveling road R1 on which the own vehicle is traveling, the information providing device 10 provides the driver with other-vehicle information in a manner of comparing it with the own-vehicle information. Therefore, the information providing device 10 can give the driver an opportunity to review his or her own driving by comparing the driving state of the own vehicle with the driving state of other vehicles, thereby promoting safe driving. In other words, the information providing device 10 can spontaneously promote safe driving by comparing its own driving with the driving of others. Further, the other-vehicle information provided to the driver does not include information such as traffic signal information. Therefore, the information providing device 10 can promote safe driving not only at intersections with traffic signals.

[0064] For example, when the own-vehicle speed is higher than the other-vehicle speed, the information providing device 10 can give the driver of the own vehicle the awareness that "he or she is driving too fast compared to others". As a result, a psychological effect that the driver of the own vehicle naturally tries to slow down works. As a result, it leads to an action of decelerating the own-vehicle speed.

[0065] Further, the information providing system includes the information providing device 10 and a center device 20 provided outside the own vehicle and other vehicles. Therefore, the information providing system can give the driver an opportunity to review his or her own driving by the information providing device 10, thereby promoting safe driving not only at intersections with traffic signals.

[0066] Then, the information providing device 10 transmits its own vehicle information to the center device 20 as the source information of other vehicle information. Therefore, the information providing system can transmit other vehicle information for each preset attention - arousal area P2 by the center device 20.

[0067] Furthermore, when the traveling speed of one vehicle 1 passing through the attention - arousal area P2 decreases, the information providing system can transmit lower other vehicle speed information as other vehicle information to the next vehicle 1 (information providing device 10) passing through the attention - arousal area P2. Therefore, it is possible to expect the effect that the traveling speed further decreases and the traveling speed of vehicle 1 passing through the intersection gradually becomes lower.

[0068] In this embodiment, when the vehicle 1 (own vehicle) travels through the attention - arousal area P2 set in the traveling direction DF of the traveling road R1, the information providing device 10 that acquires other vehicle information when the vehicle 1 reaches the information providing point P1 is adopted. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. The information providing device 10 can be adopted as long as it acquires other vehicle information before traveling through a preset attention - arousal area P2 on the road. That is, the information providing device 10 may store other vehicle information in a plurality of attention - arousal areas P2 in a storage device. In this case, the information providing device 10 acquires other vehicle information in a plurality of attention - arousal areas P2 from a dedicated device at a factory, a dealer, etc. Furthermore, the processing device of the information providing device 10 acquires other vehicle information from the storage device of the information providing device 10 in step S16.

[0069] Also, an in - vehicle control device having the same function as the center device 20 can be adopted as the external device. In this case, the information providing device 10 receives other vehicle information from the in - vehicle control device provided in another vehicle.

[0070] Also, the average speed may be the average value of the remaining traveling speeds excluding 10% above and below of a plurality of traveling speeds. Thereby, vehicle speed information excluding abnormal values can be obtained. That is, the information providing device 10 can provide the driver with vehicle speed information excluding abnormal values as other vehicle information. Note that the traveling speeds to be excluded are not limited to 10% above and below.

[0071] Furthermore, the other vehicle information may be a speed indicating the average speed or median value among a plurality of traveling speeds received from vehicle 1 that passed through the caution area P2 at the same time zone on another day. In this case, the center processing device associates the other vehicle information, the caution area P2, and the time zone, and stores them in the center storage device. Then, when the center processing device receives the position of the host vehicle, it transmits the other vehicle information associated with the caution area P2 including the position of the host vehicle and the time zone when the position of the host vehicle was received, to the information providing device 10. Thereby, vehicle speed information in the same traffic state can be obtained. That is, the information providing device 10 can provide the driver with vehicle speed information in the same traffic state as the other vehicle information.

[0072] The preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments at all, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. Other forms of the present disclosure will be described below. The above embodiments and other forms can be implemented independently, but can also be implemented in appropriate combination. The present disclosure is not limited to the combinations shown in the embodiments, and can be implemented by various combinations.

[0073] (Second Embodiment) The information providing device according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 6. The information providing device of this embodiment has a processing operation different from that of the information providing device 10 of the above embodiment. Here, for convenience, the same reference numerals as those in the above embodiment will be used for the description. Also, in FIG. 6, the same processing as in FIG. 3 is used with the step numbers used in FIG. 3. Note that the center device 20 is the same as in the above embodiment.

[0074] After executing step S18, the information providing device 10 executes step S19 and then executes step S20.

[0075] In step S19, other vehicle information is processed (information processing step). The information providing apparatus 10 processes the other vehicle speed information, which is the other vehicle information acquired in step S16. Specifically, the information providing apparatus 10 processes the other vehicle speed information so that the speed becomes lower than the speed indicated by the other vehicle speed information. Therefore, in step S20, a speed lower than the speed indicated by the acquired other vehicle speed information will be displayed.

[0076] The information providing apparatus 10 can achieve the same effects as those in the first embodiment. Furthermore, the information providing apparatus 10 provides the driver of the host vehicle with an other vehicle speed that is lower than the acquired other vehicle speed in a manner of comparing with the host vehicle speed. Therefore, the information providing apparatus 10 can obtain the effect of making the average speed of the vehicle 1 passing through the attention - arousing area P2 lower.

[0077] (Third Embodiment) The information providing apparatus according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. The processing operation of the information providing apparatus in this embodiment is different from that in the first embodiment. Also, the information providing system in this embodiment has an external device different from that in the first embodiment. Here, for convenience, the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment are used for description. Also, in FIG. 7, the same processing as in FIG. 3 is used with the step numbers used in FIG. 3.

[0078] As shown in FIG. 8, the information providing system in this embodiment includes the information providing apparatus 10 and the transmission - reception apparatus 20a. The transmission - reception apparatus 20a is provided on the road R0. The transmission - reception apparatus 20a is, for example, buried in the road R0. The transmission - reception apparatus 20a corresponds to an external device. Therefore, the information providing apparatus 10 is configured to be communicable with the transmission - reception apparatus 20a.

[0079] When the vehicle 1 equipped with the information providing device 10 reaches the information providing point P1, the transmission / reception device 20a starts communicating with the information providing device 10. Then, the transmission / reception device 20a distributes other vehicle information to the information providing device 10 of the vehicle 1 traveling at the information providing point P1. That is, unlike the center device 20, the transmission / reception device 20a transmits other vehicle information without receiving position information. Note that the transmission / reception device 20a generates other vehicle information in the same manner as the center device 20.

[0080] The flowchart of FIG. 7 is mainly the processing executed by the processing device of the information providing device 10. The information providing device 10 starts the flowchart of FIG. 7 when the supply of operating power is started. Also, the information providing device 10 starts the flowchart of FIG. 7 at predetermined time intervals while the operating power is being supplied.

[0081] In step S11, it is determined whether communication with the transmission / reception device has been started. The information providing device 10 determines that communication with the transmission / reception device 20a has been started when it receives a signal from the transmission / reception device 20a. Note that the information providing device 10 may determine that communication with the transmission / reception device 20a has been started when it receives other vehicle information.

[0082] The information providing device 10 executes steps S16 to S22 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. After that, if a YES determination is made in step S22, the information providing device 10 executes step S24b. In step S24b, the own vehicle information at the time of passing is transmitted to the transmission / reception device 20a (transmission step, vehicle-side transmission step). The information providing device 10 transmits the own vehicle information at the time of passing through the attention-arousing area P2 to the transmission / reception device 20a. The information providing device 10 transmits the own vehicle information to the transmission / reception device 20a as the source information of other vehicle information.

[0083] The information providing device 10 can achieve the same effects as those in the first embodiment. Furthermore, the information providing device 10 does not need to acquire and transmit position information. Therefore, the information providing device 10 can simplify the processing more than in the first embodiment. The information providing device 10 does not need to store the information providing point P1. Accordingly, the information providing device 10 can reduce the capacity of the storage device. The information providing system can achieve the same effects as those in the first embodiment.

[0084] Note that, in the information providing system, an external device having the same functions as the center device 20 may be provided on the road R0. In this case, the information providing device 10 performs the same processing operations as those in the first embodiment and the second embodiment. Similarly, the center device 20 performs the same processing operations as those in the first embodiment.

[0085] <Modification Example 1> As shown in FIG. 9, the information providing device 10 may display the other vehicle information in a manner of comparing it with the own vehicle information and output a sound to provide it to the driver (step S20). For example, the information providing device 10 changes the sound when the own vehicle speed is faster or slower than the other vehicle speed. When changing the sound, the information providing device 10 changes the volume, frequency, and pitch of the sound. When the own vehicle speed is faster than the other vehicle speed, a warning sound is output. On the other hand, when the own vehicle speed is slower than the other vehicle speed, a gentle sound is output.

[0086] <Modification Example 2> As shown in FIG. 10, it is preferable that the information providing device 10 visually and clearly provides the driver with the relationship between the own vehicle information and the other vehicle information (step S20). In the example of FIG. 7, the own vehicle speed, which is the own vehicle information, is indicated by a needle, and the other vehicle speed, which is the other vehicle information, is displayed as an image. In this case, the other vehicle speed is displayed as a threshold value.

[0087] <Modification Example 3> In the above-described embodiments and modifications, information indicating the traveling speed is adopted as the other vehicle information and the own vehicle information. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The other vehicle information and the own vehicle information can be, for example, the driver's action information (driver information) when passing through the attention area P2. In this case, the other vehicle information is the other vehicle driver information indicating the operation of the driver of the other vehicle. Similarly, the own vehicle information is the own vehicle driver information indicating the operation of the driver of the own vehicle.

[0088] For example, the other vehicle driver information can adopt information indicating the deceleration timing of the driver of the other vehicle. In this case, the own vehicle driver information is information indicating the deceleration timing of the driver of the own vehicle. The information indicating the deceleration timing can be obtained from the operation signals of the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal.

[0089] Thereby, when the information providing device 10 travels through the attention area P2 set in the traveling direction DF of the traveling road R1 on which the own vehicle is traveling, the information providing device 10 provides the driver with the deceleration timing of the driver of the other vehicle in a manner of comparing it with the deceleration timing of the driver of the own vehicle. Therefore, the information providing device 10 can give the driver of the own vehicle an opportunity to review his / her own driving by comparing the deceleration timing of the own vehicle with the deceleration timing of the other vehicle, and promote safe driving. That is, the information providing device 10 can make the driver of the own vehicle aware that the braking timing is later than that of others, and promote safe driving.

[0090] In addition, the other vehicle driver information can adopt information indicating the left-right confirmation operation of the driver of the other vehicle. In this case, the own vehicle driver information is information indicating the left-right confirmation operation of the driver of the own vehicle. The information indicating the left-right confirmation operation of the driver can be obtained from the output signal of a camera for detecting the line of sight provided in the vehicle interior.

[0091] As a result, when the information providing device 10 travels through the caution area P2 set in the traveling direction DF of the road R1 on which the host vehicle is traveling, it provides the driver with the left / right confirmation operation of the driver of another vehicle in a manner of comparing it with the left / right confirmation operation of the driver of the host vehicle. Therefore, the information providing device 10 can give the driver of the host vehicle an opportunity to review his / her own driving by comparing the left / right confirmation operation of the driver of the host vehicle with the left / right confirmation operation of the driver of another vehicle, and promote safe driving.

[0092] Furthermore, the other vehicle driver information may be information indicating the number of times of the left / right confirmation operation of the driver of another vehicle. In this case, the host vehicle driver information is information indicating the number of times of the left / right confirmation operation of the driver of the host vehicle. The information providing device 10 can prompt the driver of the host vehicle to notice that the number of times of left / right confirmation is less than that of others, and promote safe driving.

[0093] Also, the other vehicle driver information may be information indicating the location of the left / right confirmation operation of the driver of another vehicle. In this case, the host vehicle driver information is information indicating the location of the left / right confirmation operation of the driver of the host vehicle. The information providing device 10 can prompt the driver of the host vehicle to notice that the timing of left / right confirmation is later than that of others, and promote safe driving.

[0094] Although the present disclosure has been described in accordance with the embodiments, it is understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments and structures. The present disclosure also includes various modifications and modifications within the equivalent scope. In addition, although various combinations and forms are shown in the present disclosure, other combinations and forms including only one element, more than one element, or less than one element thereof also fall within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0095] 1... vehicle, 10... information providing device, 2... center, 20... center device

Claims

1. An information providing device that provides other vehicle information regarding the driving state of another vehicle to a driver of a host vehicle, comprising: a first acquisition step (S16) of acquiring the other vehicle information when traveling in a preset attention-arousing area; a providing step (S20) of providing the other vehicle information in a manner of comparing it with host vehicle information regarding the driving state of the host vehicle when traveling in the attention-arousing area set in the traveling direction of the road on which the host vehicle is traveling.

2. It is configured to be communicable with an external device provided outside the host vehicle and the other vehicle and transmitting the other vehicle information for each attention-arousing area, further comprising a transmission step (S24a, S24b) of transmitting the host vehicle information to the external device, wherein the first acquisition step acquires the other vehicle information from the external device. The information providing device according to claim 1.

3. The other vehicle information is other vehicle speed information indicating the traveling speed of the other vehicle, and the host vehicle information is host vehicle speed information indicating the traveling speed of the host vehicle. The information providing device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The providing step provides the other vehicle information in a manner of comparing it with the host vehicle information so as to indicate that the traveling speed of the host vehicle is faster than the traveling speed of the other vehicle. The information providing device according to claim 3.

5. Further comprising an information processing step (S19) of processing the other vehicle speed information so that the speed becomes slower than the speed indicated by the acquired other vehicle speed information prior to the providing step. The information providing device according to claim 4.

6. The other vehicle information is other vehicle driver information indicating the operation of the driver of the other vehicle, and the host vehicle information is host vehicle driver information indicating the operation of the driver of the host vehicle. The information providing device according to claim 1 or 2.

7. The other vehicle driver information is information indicating the deceleration timing of the driver of the other vehicle, and the host vehicle driver information is information indicating the deceleration timing of the driver of the host vehicle. The information providing device according to claim 6.

8. The other vehicle driver information is information indicating the left / right confirmation operation of the driver of the other vehicle, and the host vehicle driver information is information indicating the left / right confirmation operation of the driver of the host vehicle. The information providing device according to claim 7.

9. The other vehicle driver information is information indicating the number of times of the left / right confirmation operation of the driver of the other vehicle, The information providing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the own vehicle driver information is information indicating the number of times of the left and right confirmation operations of the driver of the own vehicle.

10. The other vehicle driver information is information indicating the location of the left and right confirmation operations of the driver of the other vehicle, The information providing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the own vehicle driver information is information indicating the location of the left and right confirmation operations of the driver of the own vehicle.

11. An information providing system comprising: an information providing apparatus (10) that provides other vehicle information regarding the traveling state of another vehicle to a driver of an own vehicle; and external devices (20, 20a) provided outside the own vehicle and the other vehicle, The external device, includes an external transmission step (S30) of transmitting the other vehicle information for each preset attention-arousing area, The information providing apparatus, a first acquisition step (S16) of acquiring the other vehicle information when traveling in the attention-arousing area from the external device; a second acquisition step (S18) of acquiring own vehicle information regarding the traveling state of the own vehicle when traveling in the attention-arousing area; a vehicle-side transmission step (S24a, S24b) of transmitting the own vehicle information to the external device as source information of the other vehicle information; and a providing step (S20) of providing the other vehicle information in a manner of comparing it with the own vehicle information when traveling in the attention-arousing area set in the traveling direction of the road on which the own vehicle is traveling. The information providing system is provided.

12. The information providing system according to claim 11, wherein when the external device receives the own vehicle information transmitted from a plurality of the information providing apparatuses, the external device further includes an external storage step (S36, S38) of calculating an average value or a median value of the plurality of own vehicle information for each attention-arousing area and storing it as the other vehicle information.

Images