System, program, and the like

Abstract

To provide a technique for obtaining highly accurate position information of a vehicle.SOLUTION: The navigation system includes a drive recorder 2 which moves with a vehicle and includes a GPS module 14 for receiving a GPS signal, and a position determination device 3. The GPS module outputs RAW data such as carrier phase information included in a GPS signal, and the control unit 16 records the RAW data in the micro SD card 21 together with time information and the like. The position determination device acquires RAW data and time information, acquires RAW data such as carrier phase information received at the same time at an electronic reference point close to a position where the GPS signal is received, performs post-processing baseline analysis on the basis of the acquired information, and calculates position information of the position where the vehicle receives the GPS signal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to, for example, a system and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] As a technology for receiving GPS signals emitted by GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites and determining the current position based on the received signals, for example, paragraph

[0047] of Patent Document 1 states, "The GPS receiver has the function of calculating the current position (longitude, latitude) of a moving object on the Earth's surface at regular time intervals (e.g., every second) based on the GPS signals received, and outputting the calculated position to a position memory in a fixed format (e.g., NMEA0183 specifications) once the calculation is complete." Paragraph

[0085] of Patent Document 1 also states, "If the image acquisition unit continuously captures images of the area ahead (in the direction of travel) of the moving object while in operation and stores the captured images in a large-capacity storage device such as an HDD, the image acquisition unit can be used directly as a driving recorder (dashboard) or the like." [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-177681 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The current position calculated by the GPS receiver of the drive recorder based on the received GPS signal may have an error of, for example, several meters to several tens of meters. For example, even if a moving object is stopped, the current position calculated successively over time may differ, and when the movement trajectory of the moving object is calculated, it may appear as if the moving object was moving even when it was actually stopped. If the calculated position is thus inaccurate, the position of the moving object may not be identified correctly, which may cause problems. For this reason, a technology that can calculate the position information of a moving object with high accuracy is desired.

[0005] Furthermore, since the NMEA data that records the calculated location information is text data, for example, it is possible to easily rewrite the content after recording. Furthermore, modifying the location information of a moving object after the fact can be considered a form of falsification of the location information, and may be undesirable in some cases. One of the purposes of the present invention is to propose a technology for acquiring or using information about the location of a moving object.

[0006] The above-mentioned problems are stated as independent, and the present invention does not necessarily solve all of the problems stated. The purpose of the present invention is not limited to these, and the applicant intends to obtain rights for configurations that aim to achieve the effects achieved by parts of the configuration disclosed in the specification and drawings, etc., through divisional applications, amendments, etc. For example, this specification discloses a problem in which the phrase "can be" is read as "the problem is...". The problems are stated as independent, and the applicant intends to obtain rights for configurations that solve these problems separately through divisional applications, amendments, etc. Even if the problem is implicitly understood from the description in the specification, the applicant intends to claim part of the configuration described in this specification through amendments or divisional applications. Problems that combine these independent problems are also disclosed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] (1) A device that moves with a mobile object and has a function for receiving satellite signals from satellites in a satellite positioning system and a function for recording first information contained in the satellite signals for identifying a pre-calculation position. The first information recorded by this system is not, for example, position information (e.g., longitude, latitude, etc.) obtained by a predetermined calculation process performed by the satellite signal receiving function, but the received information itself before calculation. By recording such first information, it is possible to obtain, for example, highly accurate position information using the first information. The mobile object may be, for example, a vehicle or a person. The device may include, for example, a functional part for receiving GPS signals and other satellite signals and other processing parts mounted in the same housing, or may be configured with multiple housings. Furthermore, the separate device may be, for example, a fixed device whose absolute position is known, or, for example, a device that moves with the mobile object and whose absolute position is unknown.

[0008] (2) The first information may be information that can be used to determine the received position using first information received by another device at the same time and in a different location. In this way, the position at which the satellite signal was received can be determined with high accuracy using, for example, surveying techniques, using the first information received by another device at the same time and in a different location. The determined position has little error and is highly admissible as evidence.

[0009] (3) The first information may include carrier wave phase information, information identifying the satellite, and information identifying the time of reception. This carrier wave phase information, etc., can be output in a format that is difficult to tamper with, making the stored first information more difficult to tamper with and increasing its evidentiary value. By using this carrier wave phase information, etc., it is possible to reduce errors to within a few centimeters, for example.

[0010] (4) The device may have a function for calculating a current location based on the received satellite signals, and the recording function may record second information related to the calculated current location in addition to the function for recording the first information. The second information is location information calculated by the device receiving the satellite signals. Although the second information has a larger error and is less accurate than location information calculated based on the first information, this allows the device to obtain location information in real time using the second information, and may also calculate a more accurate location through post-processing based on the first information. The first and second information may be recorded separately and used to calculate or output location information based on the first information. Alternatively, the first and second information may be associated and recorded. This allows, for example, a location based on the second information to be corrected using location information calculated based on the first information. For example, the first and second information may be associated when recorded, or information that can be linked to each information later, such as the time of reception, may also be recorded.

[0011] (5) It is preferable to provide a recording function for recording video around the device, and record the video in association with the first information. In this way, even if the video is altered, if the first information is associated with the video, it will no longer be consistent with the location information, etc., calculated based on the first information, and it will be clear that the video has been altered. This will have a deterrent effect against tampering and will increase the evidential value.

[0012] (6) The recording function may record the video in a first format, which may be convertible to a second format but not convertible from the second format. This ensures that the video recorded in the first format has not been altered, increasing its evidentiary value. Furthermore, video recorded in the first format can be converted to the second format, making it easy to upload to social networking sites, play, edit, etc.

[0013] (7) The recording function may record in the first format when performing event recording. Event recording may be performed under special circumstances, such as when an impact occurs, and is advantageous in that the evidential value of the recorded video is maintained in such cases. Event recording is recording that is triggered by the occurrence of a specific event (an example of a phenomenon). Event recording is triggered by the occurrence of a specific event, even if the user does not explicitly instruct the start of recording.

[0014] (8) The recording function may record recordings other than the event recordings in the second format. In this way, event recordings are in the first format, making them easier to use for verification or as evidence. On the other hand, continuous recordings, which are an example of recordings other than event recordings, are less likely to be used as evidence and are more likely to be used for everyday purposes such as editing the footage or uploading it to social media, so using the second format improves usability.

[0015] (9) The device may be a drive recorder mounted on a first vehicle. When the device detects the occurrence of a predetermined event, it may acquire video recorded by another drive recorder mounted on a second vehicle during a predetermined period including the time of the occurrence of the predetermined event and record the acquired video in a storage device. The predetermined event may be any event requiring video recorded by another drive recorder. Examples of predetermined events include the first vehicle receiving an impact due to a collision or sudden braking, the camera capturing a predetermined video of a person running out into the road, the capture of an obstacle such as a person or another vehicle, or the user pressing a record button. When using video from a camera, the predetermined event may be detected from the video using image recognition technology. This allows, for example, blind spots that could not be recorded by the first vehicle, or the surrounding conditions before and after the accident, to be confirmed from various angles, thereby obtaining information useful for accident investigation. The storage device for recording the acquired video may be, for example, internal to the device or external, such as a server.

[0016] (10) The device may be a drive recorder, equipped with a function for recording the driver and a communication function, and when an accident is detected, may use the communication function to notify an external party of information based on the video of the driver. The person receiving the notification may know the driver's condition in advance, enabling a prompt and appropriate response. The information based on the video may be the video itself, or may be information other than the video, such as the heart rate calculated from the video.

[0017] (11) The moving body is a vehicle, and preferably includes at least three devices each having the function of receiving the satellite signal and the function of recording the first information, and the three devices are arranged so as not to be aligned in the same line. In this way, information for identifying the orientation of the vehicle can be obtained.

[0018] (12) Of the three devices, the first device is a drive recorder that records the front of the vehicle, the second device is a drive recorder that records the rear of the vehicle, and the third device is preferably placed at a position away from the line connecting the first device and the second device. In some cases, a two-camera drive recorder system is used, equipped with a camera that records the front and a camera that records the rear. In such a usage scenario, by placing the third device at a position away from the line connecting the first device and the second device, information that can identify the vehicle's orientation can be easily obtained. The third device may be, for example, a drive recorder that records the interior of the vehicle.

[0019] (13) The system according to any one of (1) to (12) may have a function for determining the position of the mobile body when the satellite signal is received based on the first information recorded and the first information received at a location different from the mobile body. In this way, the position of the mobile body can be determined with high accuracy by obtaining the first information received at a location different from the mobile body. This system may be the same as or different from the systems (1) to (12).

[0020] (14) The process of determining the position of the moving object when receiving the satellite signal may be performed by post-processing using the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan's electronic reference point data. While the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan's data may have a time lag, such as the next day, and may not be available in real time, it is preferable when real-time determination is not required, since it can be obtained, for example, free of charge. The Geospatial Information Authority of Japan's electronic reference points are installed throughout Japan, so they can be used regardless of the moving object's location.

[0021] (15) If the device has a function for recording its current position calculated based on the received satellite signals, it may also have a function for determining the electronic reference data to be acquired based on the recorded current position. Since it is preferable that the other device be located close to the position where the satellite signals are received, it is preferable that the appropriate electronic reference data can be easily determined.

[0022] (16) The moving body is a vehicle, and the device may have a function of acquiring information about the dimensions and shape of the vehicle and information about the installation position of the device relative to the vehicle, and determining the positional relationship between the vehicle and the lane. This makes it possible to accurately determine, for example, whether the vehicle has crossed a white line.

[0023] (17) The device is a drive recorder having a function for recording in a first format and a function for recording in a second format, and has a playback function for playing back the recorded video, and the playback function plays back the video in a manner that indicates the type of format in which the video being played back was recorded, and the first format is a format that can be converted to the second format but cannot be converted from the second format. This is advantageous because it allows the user to determine whether the video being played back can be used as evidence, for example, or whether it can be immediately used for everyday purposes such as editing or uploading to social media.

[0024] (18) The device may have a function for recording the current position calculated based on the received satellite signals, and when displaying the position information, it may be possible to distinguish whether the position information was calculated based on the first information or calculated by the device. This makes it easy to understand the accuracy of the displayed current position.

[0025] (19) The moving body may be a vehicle, the device may be a drive recorder, and the system may be equipped with a function for identifying other vehicles and calculating the relative distance between the vehicle and the other vehicles using first information stored in a system installed in the other vehicles. This allows the inter-vehicle distance between the vehicle and the other vehicles to be calculated with high accuracy, and by calculating the distance in chronological order, the approach / separation status can be calculated with high accuracy, making it possible to easily and accurately investigate accidents, for example. The identification of nearby vehicles may be performed, for example, from video captured by the drive recorder of the vehicle or from location information calculated based on the first information.

[0026] (20) Preferably, the moving body is a vehicle, the device is a drive recorder, and the device has a function of identifying other vehicles and acquiring video recorded by the drive recorders installed in the other vehicles. In this way, not only video from the drive recorder of the vehicle itself but also video from the drive recorders of other vehicles can be extracted, which is advantageous because, for example, road conditions can be recorded without blind spots and accurate verification can be performed when an accident or trouble occurs.

[0027] (21) The moving object may be a person, and the device may be a golf navigation system carried by a golf player on a golf course, which measures the distance to a predetermined location using the current location calculated based on received satellite signals. Some golf navigation systems have a function for recording shot locations and movement trajectories, and by recording the first information, the position information can be determined with high accuracy.

[0028] (22) The golf navigation system according to claim 21 may have a position correction function that determines the position of the moving object at the time the satellite signal was received based on the first information recorded and the first information received at a location other than the golf course where the golfer played, and the position correction function may correct at least one of the shot position and the movement trajectory of the person and display the result. In this way, the user of the golf navigation system can accurately determine the position information of each position recorded during play, and can accurately determine, for example, the position of each shot and the distance traveled by the club.

[0029] (23) A system is provided that has a receiving unit that receives signals from satellites in a satellite positioning system, a function that generates predetermined data, and a function that associates first information used to calculate a position included in the signals received from the satellite with the data generated by the generating function and outputs the data to a predetermined output destination. In this way, it is possible to propose a technology for obtaining or using information about the position of a moving object.

[0030] (24) It is preferable to provide a program for causing a computer to realize the functions of any one of the systems (1) to (23).

[0031] The above-described system may be configured from one device or multiple devices.

[0032] The inventions (1) to (23) above can be combined in any way. For example, it is possible to combine all or part of the configuration of the invention shown in (1) with at least part of the configuration of at least one invention from (2) onwards. In particular, it is preferable to combine the invention shown in (1) with at least part of the configuration of at least one invention from (2) onwards. The applicant intends to obtain patent rights, design rights, etc. for those including these configurations by filing amendments, divisional applications, or applications for conversion to design registration applications, etc. [Effects of the Invention]

[0033] The present invention provides a technology for acquiring or using information about the location of a mobile object. For example, the present invention makes it possible to obtain highly accurate location information by using first information. This mechanism can be used, for example, in situations where real-time performance is not required, to record data in the form of location information, to obtain highly accurate location information, or in systems that do not capture images. If the data used to calculate location based on the first information can be acquired in real time, the location can be determined with high accuracy in real time. The obtained location information has high accuracy, increasing its evidentiary value. Furthermore, the first information is more resistant to tampering by being recorded in a format that is difficult to alter.

[0034] The effects of the present invention are not limited to these, and effects achieved by the components disclosed in the present specification and drawings, etc., are also disclosed, and the applicant intends to obtain rights to the components that achieve these effects through divisional applications, amendments, etc. For example, in this specification, statements such as "can..." clearly state the effects that are achieved, and there are also parts that demonstrate the effects even without the statement "can...". Furthermore, there are effects that can be understood from the components even without such statements. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0035] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a preferred embodiment of a system according to the present invention; [Figure 2] 10 is a diagram showing the route taken by a person carrying a drive recorder 2 in a parking lot. [Figure 3] (a) is a movement trajectory calculated based on the first information when moving along the route shown in FIG. 2, and (b) is a movement trajectory calculated based on the second information. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a route traveled by a vehicle equipped with a drive recorder. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a movement history of location information based on first information and second information at point A in FIG. 4. [Figure 6]5 is a diagram showing a movement history of position information based on the first information and the second information at point B in FIG. 4. FIG. [Figure 7] 5 is a diagram showing a movement history of position information based on the first information and the second information at point C in FIG. 4. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen on which recorded video data is played back together with location information. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram for determining the relationship between a vehicle and a lane. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen in a score management service that uses data collected by a golf navigation system. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a unique format. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. These drawings are used to explain technical features that may be adopted by the present invention. The configurations and shapes of the described devices are merely illustrative examples, and the present invention should not be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes, modifications, and improvements may be made based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. In the following description, labeling using numbers such as "1" and "2" is intended to identify each element and does not define the number of elements.

[0037] [Background to the concept of the present invention] Current dashcams focus on recording video footage, and some record location information with an error of, say, several tens of meters. For example, in situations where whether the vehicle was stopped is crucial, such as in a car-to-car accident, and with the increasing likelihood of speed erroneous measurements due to simplified installation of speed cameras, it is expected that recording accurate location will become increasingly important. Furthermore, current dashcams only output calculated coordinates (MMEA) in text format from the GPS module. Because this text data is easily tampered with, it may be difficult to obtain sufficient evidentiary value. This type of issue also arises in devices other than dashcams that travel with moving objects. The following embodiment is an example of an embodiment intended to solve this issue.

[0038] [Basic configuration of one embodiment of the system] 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the system. The system 1 of this embodiment includes a drive recorder 2, which is an aspect of electronic equipment and in-vehicle equipment, and a positioning device 3 that determines the location of the drive recorder 2 and, ultimately, the vehicle in which the drive recorder 2 is installed. Each of the drive recorder 2 and the positioning device 3 constitutes an embodiment of the system of the present application by itself.

[0039] In this embodiment, the drive recorder 2 is a device that is later installed in a vehicle, which is one type of moving body. Vehicles include, for example, private automobiles and commercial automobiles, and there are various types of vehicles, such as passenger cars, special vehicles such as buses, trucks, and forklifts, and public transportation vehicles such as trains, monorails, and linear motor cars. The drive recorder 2 is attached to a predetermined position in the vehicle and moves along with the vehicle. The drive recorder 2 has a function to generate images (for example, captured video) and other data, and a function to output the generated data. Data output includes output for recording the data in a memory area, output of the data via communication (i.e., transmission), output to an external device via a data output terminal, etc.

[0040] The drive recorder 2 includes a camera 11, a microphone 12, an anomaly detection sensor 13, a GPS module 14, operation buttons 15, a control unit 16, a temporary storage memory 17, a monitor 18, a speaker 19, a memory card slot 20, etc. The camera 11 captures an image of a predetermined area, such as the front of the vehicle. The microphone 12 collects, for example, ambient sounds. The microphone 12 collects, for example, the voices of passengers inside the vehicle and other sounds generated inside the vehicle, as well as impact sounds when an object collides with the vehicle. The anomaly detection sensor 13 is, for example, an acceleration sensor or a six-axis sensor (integrated with three-axis acceleration and three-axis angular velocity) and detects vehicle conditions such as an impact applied to the vehicle, the vehicle's acceleration, and inclination. The control unit 16 estimates that an accident (collision) has occurred when the detection value of the anomaly detection sensor 13 exceeds a threshold value or shows a predetermined temporal change indicating, for example, the occurrence of an impact. In addition to the occurrence of an accident, the control unit 16 may also be used to detect driving conditions such as sudden braking, sudden steering, sudden acceleration, and sudden braking, and to record the history of such conditions.

[0041] The GPS module 14 receives GPS signals based on the positioning. GPS is a satellite positioning system known as the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). The GPS module 14 is an example of a GPS (Global Navigation Satellite System). Positioning using GNSS is commonly known as GPS positioning. GPS signals are signals that can be received from GPS satellites. The GPS module 14 obtains position information (longitude, latitude) of the current position from the received GPS signals using a unique algorithm. The GPS module 14 then outputs the obtained position information (longitude, latitude) of the current position as data (hereinafter also referred to as "NMEA data") created in a format conforming to the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA). This NMEA data may include various types of information in addition to the position information, such as information specifying the date and time when the GPS signal was received (date information, time information, etc.). The NMEA data is text data in which various types of information are written in a predetermined order. The control unit 16 may acquire the NMEA data periodically (e.g., every second).

[0042] The operation button 15 is a button that issues various instructions to the control unit 16, and has a function of issuing, for example, an instruction to start recording. When this operation button 15 is pressed, the control unit 16 may perform event recording, which starts recording the video captured by the camera 11 and the sound collected by the microphone 12. The operation button 15 may also have a function of issuing an instruction to stop recording. The instruction to start recording and the instruction to stop recording may be issued by different buttons, for example, but it is also preferable that they are issued by different operations on the same button. This is advantageous because it reduces the number of buttons installed and allows the drive recorder 2 to be made smaller.

[0043] The temporary storage memory 17 is, for example, a RAM that temporarily stores video data captured by the camera 11. The control unit 16 constantly stores video data captured at least a certain amount of time in the past. Since the storage capacity is limited, the control unit 16 deletes old video data according to a certain criterion. The certain criterion may be, for example, video data stored a certain amount of time ago or when the storage memory capacity exceeds a certain amount. In this embodiment, the temporary storage memory 17 may be, for example, a ring buffer.

[0044] The monitor 18 is a display unit that displays images. The control unit 16 displays, for example, video data captured by the camera 11 on the monitor 18 in real time. The speaker 19 outputs sound. The control unit 16 outputs predetermined sounds from the speaker 19 during predetermined recording, alarm, operation, etc. The control unit 16 uses the speaker 19 to notify, for example, the operation sounds of the operation buttons 15 and various messages (guides, alarms, etc.).

[0045] The memory card slot 20 allows, for example, a microSD card 21 to be attached and detached. When the microSD card 21 is attached, the control unit 16 reads and writes data from and to the microSD card 21. The microSD card 21 is a storage medium on which data such as video and location information is recorded by the drive recorder 2. The microSD card 21 is an external storage means that is attachable and detachable to the memory card slot 20, but instead of or in combination with this, an internal storage means of the drive recorder 2 (for example, a hard disk or EEPROM) or other storage means may be used. However, in order to protect the data stored in the storage means, it is desirable for the drive recorder 2 to be able to access a system that can record data without using an environment that is accessible to the general public (for example, a cloud computing environment).

[0046] The control unit 16 is a microcomputer equipped with a CPU, ROM, RAM, non-volatile memory, I / O, etc., and executes predetermined processing based on information input from the various input devices (camera 11, microphone 12, anomaly detection sensor 13, GPS module 14, operation buttons 15, temporary storage memory 17, memory card slot 20, etc.) and outputs predetermined information using output devices (temporary storage memory 17, monitor 18, speaker 19, memory card slot 20, etc.). The functions of the drive recorder 2 are stored in the EEPROM of the control unit 16 as programs executed by a computer included in the control unit 16, and are realized by the computer executing these programs. Functions realized by the computer using the programs stored in the control unit 16 include the function of performing various controls on the drive recorder 2. The control unit 16 has functions such as recording data such as video and location information, outputting data, and displaying images (video).

[0047] The control unit 16 is a circuit for implementing the basic functions of the drive recorder 2. It stores video data captured by the camera 11 as a video file in the temporary storage memory 17, and stores the captured video file in a non-volatile memory based on a detection signal from the abnormality detection sensor 13 or a press of the operation button 15. In this embodiment, a microSD card 21 inserted in the memory card slot 20 is used as the non-volatile memory. By removing the microSD card 21 and inserting it into a memory card reader or the like connected to a PC, data can be imported into the PC and the video file can be played back using a viewer installed on the PC. Recorded video and other data can be transmitted via wired or wireless communication, rather than being retrieved externally by removing and inserting the microSD card 21 as described above. For wired communication, the drive recorder 2 may be provided with a connector, USB, or the like for connecting a communication cable.

[0048] The function of recording this video data (recording function) will now be described in more detail. The camera 11, for example, constantly captures images of the surroundings of the vehicle. The control unit 16 stores the video data captured by the camera 11 in a temporary storage memory 17 such as a ring buffer. The video stored in this temporary storage memory 17 is successively updated to the latest video, and past video data is held for a set period of time.

[0049] When the output value of the abnormality detection sensor 13, which may be due to an impact such as an accident, sudden braking, or sudden steering, exceeds a threshold or shows a predetermined temporal change, the control unit 16 reads video data from the temporary storage memory 17 for a certain period before the impact was detected and stores it in a nonvolatile memory, such as the microSD card 21. After the threshold is exceeded, the control unit 16 records the video captured by the camera 11 on the microSD card 21 directly or via the temporary storage memory 17. This allows video footage spanning a predetermined period before and after the impact to be stored in the microSD card 21, which is a nonvolatile memory. At this time, the control unit 16 also records the surrounding sounds collected by the microphone 12 in association with the video data. The control unit 16 also temporarily stores this recording in the temporary storage memory 17, and when storing the video data on the microSD card 21, it also stores the recorded audio data on the microSD card 21.

[0050] The control unit 16 creates and records one file for each predetermined unit time as the video data to be recorded. Therefore, one file contains multiple frames acquired at a predetermined frame rate. The frames are managed in chronological order in the order they were recorded, and are output and played back in that order. Audio data collected at the same time is also stored in this file.

[0051] Furthermore, when the control unit 16 stores video data or other data in the temporary storage memory 17 or the microSD card 21, it associates the data with the current time indicating when the data was recorded. The time may include the date. Date and time information indicating when the data was recorded may be associated with each frame, for example, or the recording time may be recorded for the entire file.

[0052] The recorded time may be, for example, the time based on the GPS signal detected and output by the GPS module 14, or the time of the internal clock if the device has an internal clock. Recording both is preferable. The time of the internal clock may be adjusted based on the time information in the NMEA data at appropriate times. Furthermore, if the drive recorder 2 cannot receive a GPS signal, for example, immediately after powering on or while in a tunnel, the time based on the GPS signal cannot be obtained. In such cases, the control unit 16 may leave the storage area for the time based on the GPS signal blank or record information indicating that the signal cannot be received.

[0053] Furthermore, the information stored by the control unit 16 in association with the video data is not limited to time as described above, but may also include, for example, position information acquired as NMEA data, sensor output values, the time when the sensor output value exceeded a threshold value or showed a predetermined temporal change, etc. It is preferable that the sensor output value be recorded when it exceeds a threshold value or shows a predetermined temporal change, and not recorded when it does not exceed the threshold value or does not show the predetermined temporal change.

[0054] Storing data on the microSD card 21 in the drive recorder 2 is not limited to being triggered by the detection signal from the anomaly detection sensor 13 as described above. The control unit 16 may have a function to trigger this trigger, for example, by pressing the operation button 15. This allows video recording when a situation occurs that the user desires to record. Furthermore, recording on the microSD card 21 is not limited to an event recording mode, which is performed when a recording start condition is met, such as when an accident occurs based on the output of the anomaly detection sensor 13 or when the operation button 15 is pressed. For example, a continuous recording mode may be provided in which recording is performed on the microSD card 21 from when the drive recorder 2 is powered on until it is powered off. The continuous recording mode is a mode in which continuous recording is performed, which is an example of recording other than event recording. When the continuous recording mode is provided, the control unit 16 may record video data output from the camera 11 and audio data output from the microphone 12 directly to the microSD card 21 rather than to the temporary storage memory 17. Recording data directly to the microSD card 21 in this manner advantageously eliminates the need for a process of writing data to the temporary storage memory 17. Furthermore, when video data, etc., is written directly to the microSD card 21 and the device has a continuous recording mode and an event recording mode, when the control unit 16 meets the event recording start condition, it is preferable that the control unit 16 use the data recorded as continuous recording for the past section from the time the condition was met.The control unit 16 may then record the event recording as, for example, a file separate from the file for continuous recording.The event recording mode is a mode in which event recording is performed.Event recording is performed when a specified event (an example of a phenomenon) occurs.Event recording is performed when a specified event occurs, even if the user does not explicitly instruct the start of recording.

[0055] For example, if the operation button 15 is operated to stop recording while the camera is operating in the continuous recording mode, the control unit 16 stops recording to the microSD card 21. Also, if the operation button 15 is operated to stop recording while the camera is operating in the event recording mode, the control unit 16 stops recording to the temporary storage memory 17, etc. Even if the continuous recording mode is not operating and only the event recording mode is operating, the control unit 16 performs a process of constantly recording a certain amount of video, etc., in the temporary storage memory 17, etc., in an overwrite manner, etc., in order to record video before the event occurred. If the operation button 15 is operated to stop recording, the control unit 16 stops recording as described above, since it does not need to store a certain amount of video, etc., in order to record video before the event occurred. This stopping of recording is performed, for example, when the microSD card is inserted or removed, mode setting is performed, or when the user decides not to record.

[0056] [Memory function for identifying location information] The GPS module 14 of this embodiment outputs RAW data including pre-calculation carrier phase information received from a GPS satellite in a standard format such as RINEX (Receiver Independent Exchange Format). The control unit 16 acquires the RAW data and stores it in a storage unit such as a microSD card 21. Information stored together with the carrier phase information may include, for example, satellite information identifying the GPS satellite that transmitted the received RAW data and time information identifying the time of reception. The carrier phase information, satellite information, time information, etc. are examples of first information for identifying the pre-calculation position received from a GPS satellite.

[0057] This carrier phase information, received at the same time from the same GPS satellite at different locations, can be used to accurately calculate the relative distance and relative positional relationship between the other locations using RTK (Real Time Kinematic). Using RTK, the calculated position error is within a few centimeters. Therefore, if the absolute position (longitude, latitude, etc.) of the other locations is known, the exact position of the dashcam 2 and, ultimately, the vehicle can be determined. For example, reference stations of the electronic reference points established throughout Japan by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan can be used as the other locations. Each reference station receives and records raw GPS signal data. The recorded data is available free of charge on the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan website. Because the absolute position of each reference station is known and accurate, the exact coordinates of the current location can be calculated using the difference. Furthermore, if the location of a different location is unknown, the relative distance and relative positional relationship between the other locations can be accurately calculated.

[0058] As described above, the drive recorder 2 of this embodiment has a function for storing location information (an example of second information) calculated by the GPS module 14 and output as NMEA data as one type of information for identifying the location. In this manner, in this embodiment, two types of information for identifying the location are stored: first information and second information. Information for identifying the location can be classified into two types: second information, which indicates the specific current location (latitude and longitude), and first information, which does not indicate the location itself but can be combined with other information to determine the location. The first information has a high degree of accuracy, with an error of, for example, within a few centimeters, whereas the second information has an error of several meters to several tens of meters, making it less accurate than the first information. On the other hand, while the current location based on the second information is calculated in real time, the current location based on the first information requires the acquisition of carrier phase information received simultaneously from another location, such as a reference station, resulting in a certain time lag. Therefore, the first information is suitable for obtaining highly accurate location information in situations where real-time calculation is not required. This mechanism can be used when you want to record data in the form of location information or when you want to obtain highly accurate location information. In this embodiment, RAW data is recorded, so accurate location information can be obtained using RTK at the required timing.

[0059] As described above, in this embodiment, both the first information such as RAW data and the second information such as NMEA data are recorded. Since the RAW data and NMEA data have smaller volumes than the video data, both types of data can be recorded without any storage capacity issues.

[0060] Furthermore, when storing first information such as RAW data, it is possible to avoid recording NMEA data, but it is preferable to record both the first information and the second information as in this embodiment. By recording both, it is possible to know the current position in real time from the second information, for example, and later know the accurate position based on the first information.

[0061] As will be described later, to determine an accurate position based on the first information, it is necessary to acquire RAW data received at the same time by a reference station and perform a predetermined calculation process to calculate the position. Therefore, if it is not necessary to know the exact position, it is possible to determine and display the movement trajectory based on the position information recorded as NMEA data of the second information. In addition, it is preferable to have a function that allows the user to record only one or both of the data.

[0062] The control unit 16 also stores this first information in association with the video data. By associating it with the video data, the location where the video was captured can be identified with high accuracy. Meanwhile, as described above, the control unit 16 records a history of driving conditions such as accident (collision) occurrence, sudden braking / steering, sudden acceleration, and sudden braking. By associating this information with location information based on the first information, it is possible to verify where these phenomena occurred, and for example, to perform highly accurate operation management. Furthermore, because the location information based on the first information is highly accurate, it is possible to accurately identify the location of the occurrence even without video, and it can be applied to systems that do not capture video.

[0063] As mentioned above, RAW data is output every second, so rather than recording it in direct association with each frame that makes up the video data, it is better to associate it via time information, such as the time the GPS signal was received and the time the video was taken.

[0064] [Proprietary format video recording function] It is preferable that the drive recorder 2 has a function for recording captured video data in a proprietary format other than a general-purpose format. The proprietary format is a format adopted by the drive recorder 2 or its provider (e.g., a manufacturer or seller) and is an example of a first format. The proprietary format may be, for example, video playback software (which may be dedicated software or a dedicated browser) provided by the drive recorder 2 or its provider. Processing of video data in the proprietary format using this video playback software may be limited to specific operations, such as playback (including fast-forwarding, rewinding, pausing, and slow playback). The generic format is a format different from the proprietary format and is an example of a second format. The generic format is a format that is generally compatible with viewers and other software with video playback functions, such as MPEG and MP4. The generic format may be a format that can be played using software that is standard on commercially available PCs or other information processing devices, or even so-called free software. In addition to playback, video data in the generic format may also be capable of being copied, edited, and other processes. In this embodiment, the proprietary format is a format that cannot be converted from a general-purpose format. Conversion from a proprietary format to a general-purpose format is preferably possible, but may not be possible. Data conversion is typically impossible when there is no compatibility between the proprietary format and the general-purpose format. Data conversion can also be impossible when it is technically impossible due to problems with the data structure, when software with the conversion function has not been developed or provided, when conversion is prohibited by embedding specific information (e.g., a flag) in the data or by other means, and other cases.

[0065] For example, video data recorded in a general-purpose format can be played back using various video playback software and can also be modified (e.g., edited). Therefore, when playing back video data captured and recorded by Dash Cam 2, for example, there is a possibility that the currently recorded video data has been altered. In other words, there is no guarantee that the video being played back is the exact video that was recorded. Therefore, for example, if video data recorded by Dash Cam 2 is to be used as evidence in the event of a car accident, its admissibility and reliability may vary depending on the lay judge, so its probative value may be reduced. Therefore, the video data that was painstakingly recorded may be useless.

[0066] In this embodiment, the recorded video cannot be edited because it is in a unique format, and can only be played using dedicated software such as a dedicated browser. Therefore, video being played on a dedicated browser or the like is guaranteed to be video captured and recorded by the drive recorder 2 and has not been altered, and is admissible as evidence. This makes it possible to submit the video as evidence in court, for example, and can be effectively used to counter traffic violations misidentified by the police, such as whether or not a driver stopped at a stop sign or ignored a traffic light, and for accident insurance payments, etc.

[0067] For example, it would be good to make it possible to convert a proprietary format to a generic format, but to make it irreversible so that the generic format cannot be converted back to the proprietary format. In this way, video data recorded in a proprietary format can be edited by converting it to a generic format, and the video can also be easily played back. Furthermore, since there is no way to convert video back to the proprietary format once it has been converted from a proprietary format to a generic format, the video in the proprietary format can be considered unaltered and can be used as evidence.

[0068] Furthermore, for example, it is possible to convert a video into a general-purpose format, edit it, and then re-shoot the edited video using the drive recorder 2, and record the edited video in a proprietary format. However, for example, the quality of the image may differ between a video captured of a video being played back on a monitor and a video captured by the drive recorder 2 of the shooting area inside and outside the vehicle. In this embodiment, the video data is recorded in association with information related to the position, such as the first information and the second information, and the detection value of the anomaly detection sensor 13, so it is possible to determine that the video has been altered. Therefore, as described above, the evidential value of the video data in the proprietary format without any alterations is guaranteed.

[0069] In this embodiment, instead of using a password to prevent alteration or tampering, the data is recorded in a unique format that cannot be edited. This eliminates the possibility of alteration or tampering due to password leakage, ensuring a high level of evidentiary value.

[0070] Furthermore, as described above, the control unit 16 has the function of storing captured video data in a non-volatile memory, and if an event recording mode and a continuous recording mode are provided, for example, the files recorded in each mode are recorded separately. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is preferable that the video data recorded in the event recording mode is recorded in a unique format, and the video data recorded in the continuous recording mode is recorded in a general-purpose format.

[0071] In this way, video data that is likely to be used as evidence when operating the operation button 15 in the event of an accident or a problem such as aggressive driving is recorded in a unique format, requiring dedicated software for playback and making it unalterable, making it admissible as evidence. In the case of event recording, making the data highly secure and tamper-resistant increases the evidential value. This enhances the significance of dashcams.

[0072] On the other hand, for video data recorded in continuous recording mode, which is likely to be uploaded to social networking sites or used for personal recording and playback, recording in a general-purpose format makes it easy to immediately insert the micro SD card 21 into a personal computer or the like, play the recorded video on a general-purpose player, or edit the recorded video, allowing for user-friendly video data recording.

[0073] For example, all video data could be in a unique format, but doing so would make it inconvenient for users to use on a daily basis, for example, to check the video or upload it to a social networking site. On the other hand, video data recorded in event recording mode is what needs to be used as evidence. Therefore, it is better to record only event recording mode data in a unique format, as in this embodiment.

[0074] Furthermore, if you are only recording an event and not continuous recording, you can record the video data in the ring buffer in a unique format and record a predetermined time before and after the event in the unique format. In this way, the video data before the event is recorded in the ring buffer in the unique format, so it can be used as is.

[0075] [Positioning function based on first information] The position determination device 3 includes a processing device 31, an input device 32, an output device 33, a storage device 34, etc. The processing device 31 is a personal computer or other computer with processing capabilities, and includes a function for executing installed application programs such as a PC viewer, a function for accessing the Internet (a communication interface, a web browser, etc.), etc. The input device 32 is a device for inputting information and commands to the processing device 31, such as a keyboard, a mouse, or a touch panel. The output device 33 is, for example, a monitor device. The storage device 34 may be a hard disk or other internal storage device within the processing device 31, or may be an external storage device connected to the processing device 31.

[0076] The processing device 31 acquires the first information, such as the RAW data including carrier wave phase information recorded by the control unit 16 of the drive recorder 2, the reception time, and satellite information, and records it in the storage device 34. The processing device 31 also has a function of performing highly accurate position detection using the RAW data of a GPS signal received at the same time from a reference station close to the position where the drive recorder 2 received the RAW data, and recording the detected position.

[0077] The RAW data including the carrier phase information recorded by the control unit 16 of the drive recorder 2 may be acquired, for example, using a microSD card 21. For example, a user removes the microSD card 21 from the memory card slot 20 of the drive recorder 2 and inserts it into a card slot of the processing device 31. Then, the processing device 31 accesses the inserted microSD card 21 in accordance with instructions provided, for example, from the input device 32, reads the specified first information such as RAW data, and records it in an internal memory such as RAM of the processing device 31 or the storage device 34. The acquired RAW data may be history data of positions traveled as the vehicle travels, stored in one or more files. Furthermore, the processing device 31 may acquire not only the first information such as RAW data, but also associated video data, second information, driving conditions such as acceleration, and the like.

[0078] Before or after the above-described first information acquisition process, the processing device 31, in accordance with instructions from the input device 32 in response to user operation, for example, accesses the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan's website's Electronic Reference Data Provision Service page (https: / / terras.gsi.go.jp / index.php), specifies one or more Electronic Reference Points close to the location of the drive recorder 2 when the GPS signal was received, specifies the same satellite as the time period including the time the GPS signal was received, and downloads a predetermined data file such as RAW data received at the reference station. Using data from Electronic Reference Points close to the location received by the drive recorder 2 improves the accuracy of the calculated location information.

[0079] The process of acquiring the data recorded at this predetermined datum point may be performed automatically, for example, by the processing device 31 executing a predetermined application program such as a viewer. The identification of the nearest datum point from the location of the drive recorder 2 when the GPS signal is received may be performed based on, for example, input from a user. However, if second information is stored, for example, the identification may be performed based on the location information (latitude and longitude) specified by the second information. In order to identify the nearest datum point based on the second information in this way, for example, information on the locations (latitude and longitude) of datum points nationwide may be recorded in the storage device 34, and the recorded information may be used.

[0080] The processing device 31 preferably records the location information of reference stations such as electronic reference points whose absolute positions are known, and when the user inputs approximate information such as an address or place name that specifies the location where the user has traveled into the processing device 31, the processing device identifies nearby reference stations, downloads the necessary information from them, and determines the exact location. In this way, the user does not need to specifically specify reference stations, reducing the complexity.

[0081] The processing device 31 performs post-processing baseline analysis using RTKLIB based on the acquired first information and the downloaded RAW data from the reference station, etc., to accurately determine the location of the drive recorder 2 at the time the RAW data of the first information recorded by the drive recorder 2 was received. Because the first information is recorded every second, by determining the accurate location of each piece of first information recorded while the vehicle was traveling, the drive recorder 2 and, ultimately, the vehicle's movement trajectory can be determined accurately. This determined position history information is recorded in the storage device 34. When recording, it is preferable to record the information in association with, for example, the time the first information was received. By recording the information in association with, for example, the time at which each point on the movement trajectory was passed, the vehicle speed, etc. can be known.

[0082] The Geospatial Information Authority of Japan's freely available GNSS CORS data has a certain time lag before it is released; for example, it cannot be downloaded until the next day. Post-processing baseline analysis based on the first information acquired by the drive recorder described above is typically performed after the driver leaves the vehicle. Therefore, since a certain time lag is acceptable between receiving a GPS signal and recording the raw data and determining location information based on that recorded data, it is best to wait for the GNSS CORS data to be released before performing post-processing baseline analysis. Since location information recorded by a drive recorder often does not need to be analyzed in real time, it is suitable for performing post-processing baseline analysis using the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan's freely available GNSS CORS data to determine accurate travel routes.

[0083] In addition, in cases where real-time performance is required, it is a good idea to use a paid server that publishes the data necessary to use RTKLIB, such as RAW data of GPS signals from this type of reference station, in real time.

[0084] [Display function for information based on post-processing baseline analysis results] As described above, the processing device 31 accurately determines the movement trajectory of the drive recorder 2 and therefore the vehicle based on the first information, and records the information in the storage device 34. The processing device 31 may have a function of reading out map information or aerial photographs of a predetermined area stored in the storage device 34, and displaying the recorded movement trajectory on a layer of the read map information or the like on a monitor, which is the output device 33. The base map information or the like may be obtained from another storage means, a server, or the like via the Internet or the like.

[0085] In this way, by overlaying an accurate movement trajectory on an actual map or photograph, the user can intuitively and accurately check the driving route. For example, by enlarging the base map information and displaying the movement trajectory along with the enlarged map information, the user can check the movement trajectory, such as lane changes and right / left turns at intersections, and perform operations management of the driver, for example.

[0086] Furthermore, location information calculated based on the first information is equivalent to surveying. For example, when based on a 1.5G GPS signal, the accuracy is high, with an error of within 19 cm. This allows for accurate information on the vehicle's driving or stopped position at the time of the accident, which is useful for accident investigation. Since the first information is guaranteed to be unaltered, the evidentiary value of the movement trajectory is also high. For example, when based on a 1.5G signal, location information calculated based on the first information is calculated with an error of 19 cm, and there are no discontinuous or gaping movement trajectories. The first information is recorded in the standard RINEX format, which is more difficult to tamper with than the text format used to record NMEA data. Furthermore, even if the information were tampered with in some way, the reconciliation process to ensure continuity of the movement trajectory would be extremely complicated and result in strange data. Therefore, tampering can be detected from the movement trajectory, and a continuous trajectory would prove that the information was not tampered with. Therefore, the first information cannot be practically tampered with, and security is strong, so that effective information can be provided even in situations such as when cooperating with police investigations.

[0087] [Example of movement trajectory display and experimental results] Figure 2 shows the route traveled by a person holding a dashcam 2 in a parking lot. Post-processing baseline analysis based on the first information, including raw data such as carrier phase information recorded while walking from the starting point S along the route indicated by the arrow, and the raw data received at a nearby datum point at the same time, results in a trajectory close to the actual route traveled, as shown in Figure 3(a). Note that the trajectory based on the second information acquired during the trip, i.e., the position information (latitude and longitude) obtained by the GPS module 14, deviates from the actual trajectory, as shown in Figure 3(b). Comparing Figures 3(a) and 3(b) confirms the high accuracy of the trajectory based on the first information. Figure 3(a) shows an example of a display when the function of displaying the trajectory on the output device 33 with the trajectory overlaid on an aerial photograph layer is executed.

[0088] Furthermore, with drive recorder 2 actually installed in a vehicle, a post-processing baseline analysis was performed to determine the movement trajectory based on the first information acquired when the vehicle was driven along route K shown in Figure 4, and the RAW data received at the same time from a nearby electronic reference point. This route K was driven by a vehicle parked in a parking lot on the premises adjacent to building T, with the parking spot as the starting point S, the vehicle making a circuit around the parking lot, then leaving and driving on a public road, before returning to the premises and parking at parking position P1. In Figure 4, at point A, the vehicle is temporarily stopped while waiting at a traffic light, at point B, the vehicle passes through the same area on the premises on both the outbound and return trips, and at point C, the vehicle is stopped and parked.

[0089] In this case, the baseline analysis results obtained based on the first information, etc., for the time the vehicle was stopped at point A show that the vehicle was in almost the same position, as shown in Figure 5(a), whereas the movement trajectory based on the position information (latitude and longitude) obtained by the GPS module 14, which is the second information, shows that the vehicle moved a distance of more than several meters without stopping, as shown in Figure 5(b), and is significantly deviated from the actual position of the vehicle that was stopped.

[0090] Furthermore, at point B, due to the width of the passageway, the vehicle will travel in almost the same position on the way there and back. As shown in Fig. 6, it can be seen that movement trajectory K1, the result of post-processing baseline analysis, has a small difference between the positions it passes through on the way there and back, and reflects the actual movement trajectory, whereas movement trajectory K2 based on the NMEA data has a large deviation between the way there and back.

[0091] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7, at point C, the movement trajectory K1 resulting from post-processing baseline analysis reaches the vehicle's actual parking position P1, confirming that the parking position is correctly reflected and highly accurate position information can be obtained. In contrast, the movement trajectory K2 based on the NMEA data stops short of the actual parking position P1, indicating that the parking position is off. These facts also confirm that the position information based on NMEA data contains a large amount of error.

[0092] As described above, in this embodiment, the processing device 31 associates the second information, video data, etc. with the first information and stores them in the storage device 34. Therefore, the processing device 31 has a function of playing back the video and simultaneously displaying location information (e.g., latitude and longitude) indicating the recording location of the video. The location information may be displayed on a location information display section 41 superimposed on an image 40 of a captured frame, as shown in FIG. 8, for example.

[0093] The processing device 31 may have a function of displaying, on the position information display unit 41, the first current position calculated by post-processing baseline analysis based on the RAW data or the like of the first information, and the second current position calculated by the GPS module 14 and output as NMEA data. The selection may be performed by an instruction from the user, but the processing device 31 may be configured to give priority to displaying, on the position information display unit 41, the first current position calculated using the RAW data or the like when the first current position is stored in association with the first current position.

[0094] In this way, when the processing device 31 has a function for displaying multiple types of current locations, it is preferable that the processing device 31 has a function for displaying the time based on which type is currently being displayed so that it is clear. Displaying in a clear manner can be done in various ways, such as changing the display color or arranging information 42 indicating the type, such as an icon, mark, or character, in close proximity. It is preferable that the information 42 indicating the type should be displayed corresponding to each type, but the processing device 31 may display only one type so that when it is not displayed, it is understood that it is the other type.

[0095] The processing device 31 may display whether the video currently being played is based on a general-purpose format or a proprietary format in a manner that makes it clear. For example, displaying information specifying the format type as an icon, mark, text, or the like may be superimposed on the frame image or displayed outside the image. This allows the user to easily understand, for example, whether the video the user is currently viewing is in a proprietary format that can be used for various evidential analyses, or whether it is in a general-purpose format that can be uploaded to a social networking site or edited.

[0096] [Vehicle location display function] The processing device 31 preferably stores information specifying the size of the vehicle and the installation position of the drive recorder 2 on the vehicle, and has a function for analyzing the vehicle's movement state from the movement trajectory obtained by the post-processing baseline analysis described above. For example, as shown in Figures 3, 5 to 7, etc., the movement trajectory indicates the location of the drive recorder 2 every second, and if a line connecting points that are located one after the other in a time series is drawn, it will form a continuous trajectory. This movement trajectory is linear and does not reflect the width of the vehicle, etc., making it unclear, and in some cases it may be impossible to determine, for example, whether the vehicle is traveling within the lane (whether it is crossing the white line).

[0097] In this embodiment, by registering the vehicle width and the installation position of the drive recorder 2 in the vehicle width direction as information for identifying the vehicle size, it is possible to determine the area where the vehicle actually traveled, taking the vehicle width into account. For example, as shown in Figure 9, auxiliary lines K3 are drawn on the left and right sides of the linear movement trajectory K1 obtained by post-processing baseline analysis, in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction, at positions corresponding to the left and right sides of the vehicle determined from the vehicle width and installation position. In this way, the area between the left and right auxiliary lines K3 is approximately equal to the area where the vehicle traveled. Therefore, for example, it is possible to determine the relationship between the lane and the vehicle's position to the centimeter level, such as whether the vehicle was traveling within the lane without crossing the white line L1. Therefore, in the event of an accident, for example, while the testimony of the driver and others is utilized to confirm the situation, it is also possible to accurately verify whether the vehicle ran out of the white line. Furthermore, by combining this with highly evidentiary video recorded in a proprietary format by event recording, it is possible to perform highly accurate accident investigations. Furthermore, even if it is not clear from the captured video whether the vehicle is crossing the white line, it is possible to determine whether it is crossing the line or not from the accurate location information, which can provide useful information to the police, insurance companies, etc.

[0098] In the above example, information regarding the installation position of the drive recorder 2 is registered, but such a registration function does not have to be provided. Drive recorders are often installed, for example, at the center of the windshield in the width direction, i.e., the center of the vehicle in the width direction. Therefore, assuming that the drive recorder is installed in the center of the vehicle in the width direction, it is advisable to draw the auxiliary line K3 based on the registered vehicle width and verify whether the vehicle is protruding from the white line. Furthermore, if the function for registering the installation position is provided, if the installation position is not registered, it is advisable to process the drive recorder as being installed in the center of the vehicle in the width direction.

[0099] [Detection and display of vehicle posture and direction] Like the drive recorder 2 described above, multiple devices (here, at least three) that receive GPS signals and record first information such as RAW data are used and installed at predetermined positions on the vehicle. These predetermined positions should not be located on the same line, but should be located at the vertices of an imaginary triangle. In this way, the positions of each of the three devices can be determined with high accuracy by performing post-processing baseline analysis based on the first information, etc. Therefore, by registering the installation positions of the three devices, the direction and attitude of the vehicle can be determined with high accuracy. While two devices are sufficient because the direction can be determined to a certain extent, using three devices as in this embodiment is preferable because it allows for more accurate determination.

[0100] All three devices may be dashcams, or some of them may be dashcams. When dashcam 2 is used for some or all of the devices, one dashcam is installed in the center of the windshield to record the view in front of the vehicle, and another dashcam is installed near the rear windshield to record the view behind the vehicle. In addition, a third device may be installed, for example, on the passenger side mirror to record the view diagonally forward, or on the side of the vehicle interior, for example, near a pillar or the edge of the dashboard to record the interior. The third device may not be a dashcam, but may be a device that records RAW data, etc. It is recommended that the three devices be installed as far apart as possible.

[0101] As described above, post-processing baseline analysis is performed on each of the three devices based on the first information acquired by each device to determine the exact position of each device. The vehicle's orientation can then be determined based on the positions of the three devices at the same time. Since linear movement trajectories are obtained for each of the three devices, all of them may be displayed. However, it is preferable to display the movement trajectory of only one device, such as the front-facing drive recorder. The movement trajectories may be displayed, for example, overlaid on an aerial photograph or map, as in the above-described embodiment.

[0102] Orientation information can be displayed, for example, by displaying an icon indicating the front, rear, or forward direction of the vehicle on the movement trajectory. The icon can be, for example, a vehicle-like mark or a shape indicating the direction, such as a triangle, pentagon, or arrow, and the icon can be displayed according to the direction of the vehicle. The icon can be displayed based on a representative position of the three devices, for example, the position of the device installed at the front. Icons can be displayed corresponding to all of the determined positions, but it is also preferable to display the icons discretely, for example, so that the front and rear icons do not overlap. Instead of simultaneously displaying icons at multiple positions, it is also preferable to display one icon along the movement trajectory in accordance with the movement of the vehicle.

[0103] Furthermore, the icon is not limited to the marks and the like listed above that are unrelated to the size of the actual vehicle, and may be, for example, a triangle connecting the positions of the three devices at the same time, or a roughly rectangular frame W that represents the outer shape of the vehicle determined by registering vehicle information related to the vehicle mounting positions of the three devices and the dimensions and shape of the vehicle, which will give an image of the vehicle as it actually travels (see FIG. 9). In particular, using a roughly rectangular frame that represents the outer shape of the vehicle is more preferable because it allows the positional relationship between the vehicle and the lane to be accurately determined.

[0104] In addition, to obtain information on the vehicle's orientation, a 3D gyro, gyro and acceleration, etc. may be recorded and the orientation may be determined simply using this data, but by using the position information of three devices as in this embodiment, the orientation can be determined more accurately.

[0105] [Using data from drive recorders installed in vehicles around your vehicle] It is preferable that the system can identify, for example, the surrounding vehicles around the vehicle and extract the video images from the drive recorders installed in the surrounding vehicles based on the information recorded by the drive recorder 2. This vehicle identification can be performed by, for example, the processing device 31.

[0106] To identify nearby vehicles, for example, multiple dashcams can be installed, or one or more dashcams capable of capturing a full view of the surrounding area can be installed, or more preferably, they can be mounted inside or outside the vehicle, so that road conditions can be recorded as video data without any blind spots. For example, when an accident or trouble occurs, the event-recorded video data is stored in the processing device 31. The processing device 31 then performs image analysis on the stored video data to identify vehicles captured in video footage taken before and after the accident. This identification can be performed, for example, by analyzing license plates. A user of this system registers vehicle identification information, such as license plates, in a predetermined server or the like. In this way, the processing device 31 accesses the server and checks whether the identified vehicle identification information, such as license plates, is registered. If registered, the processing device 31 registers information, such as the time of the accident or trouble, in the server, and the server sends a notification to the user of the corresponding nearby vehicle and receives the necessary video data.

[0107] This system allows you to check the video footage from the drive recorders installed in your own vehicle and surrounding vehicles, making it possible to calculate the cause of the accident and the percentage of fault based on objective video footage. Currently, in the event of an accident, the driver's testimony is used to confirm the situation, but with autonomous driving, the driver is not driving and may not be aware of the situation. In such cases, it is advantageous to be able to calculate the cause of the accident and the degree of fault using objective video footage.

[0108] In addition, it is preferable that the video data provided by the surrounding vehicles can be downloaded by the processing device 31 and output and displayed on the output device 33 so that the data can be checked and verified. In this way, it is preferable that the PC viewer of the processing device 31 has a video analysis mode and a position analysis mode.

[0109] Furthermore, the video data is prevented from being downloaded to the processing device 31. The organization that manages the server is not particularly limited, but it may be, for example, a business company or a specific business that provides the service according to this embodiment. The business company or the specific business may provide the video when requested by the police or an insurance company. This is advantageous because it increases the evidentiary value.

[0110] Furthermore, the identification of surrounding vehicles is not limited to using the video data described above, and may also use, for example, movement trajectories determined by post-processing baseline analysis based on first information such as RAW data. For example, when an accident or trouble occurs, the location of the vehicle at the time of the accident or trouble is determined. Each user uploads the first information to a predetermined server on a regular or irregular basis. For example, when an accident or trouble occurs, the server may receive information such as the time of the accident or trouble and its location, and then identify surrounding vehicles that were in the vicinity at the same time.

[0111] [Video collection function] In the above-described embodiment, video data and the like are collected on a server or the like. However, the drive recorder 2 may also have a function for collecting video and the like from other drive recorders installed in surrounding vehicles. For example, the drive recorder 2 may have a communication function for wireless communication with other drive recorders, and upon detecting a predetermined event, the drive recorder of the vehicle may automatically communicate with surrounding drive recorders and compile and store video before and after the event. The predetermined event may be an event that requires video recorded by another drive recorder. Examples of predetermined events include an impact to the first vehicle due to a collision or sudden braking, a predetermined video image captured by a camera, such as a person running out into the road, an image of an obstacle such as a person or another vehicle, or a user pressing the record button. When using camera video, the predetermined event may be detected from the video using image recognition technology. The collected video data and the like may be stored in a storage device of the drive recorder 2 (e.g., a microSD card 21) or a server. This is advantageous as it allows the driver to check blind spots and the surrounding conditions before and after the accident from various angles, which could not be recorded by the driver's own vehicle's drive recorder 2, and is useful for investigating the accident. In addition, since communication is performed and video data is acquired in real time, various checks and investigations can be carried out immediately after the accident occurs.

[0112] [Detection of relative positional relationships, etc., and use in accident analysis] In the various embodiments described above, the first information, such as raw data of carrier phase information, is used to determine the vehicle position using raw data received from a reference station whose absolute position is known. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A function may be provided to accurately determine the relative positional relationship with a device whose absolute position is unknown using raw data of carrier phase information received at the same time by that device. If there is a vehicle equipped with a drive recorder or the like with similar functions near the vehicle, the relative distance can be determined based on the raw data recorded by each drive recorder at the same time. In this case, it is better for the two vehicles to be close to each other.

[0113] For example, if both vehicles involved in an accident are equipped with a dashcam with this function, it will be possible to accurately determine the proximity of the vehicles, and the accident will be analyzed taking into account video data, vehicle speed, etc., to determine which vehicle is at fault and the degree of fault ratio.

[0114] Furthermore, the movement trajectory of the vehicle's position is determined with high accuracy using first information such as raw data of carrier wave phase information and other data received by a reference station that knows the absolute position of an electronic reference point, etc. Then, for example, if a nearby vehicle captured on video is identified and raw data of carrier wave phase information recorded by a drive recorder mounted on the nearby vehicle is available, it is possible to use this data to determine the positional relationship with the vehicle with high accuracy.

[0115] The calculation process of these relative positional relationships and the like may be performed by, for example, the above-mentioned processing device 31 or a server.

[0116] [Driver Vital Signs Monitoring System] For example, a drive recorder according to any of the above-described embodiments may be installed in an autonomous vehicle. In this case, the drive recorder 2 may be equipped with a communication function and a camera-based heart rate measurement technology. The camera-based heart rate measurement technology may utilize, for example, non-contact vital sign sensing technology that utilizes changes in the light reflectance of the skin.

[0117] For example, if an accident occurs and the acceleration sensor detects a strong impact or the airbags open or close, the drive recorder 2 should have a function to automatically contact 119 and simultaneously transmit the current location information determined by the GPS module 14, video captured by the drive recorder (preferably, 720-degree video of the inside and outside of the vehicle captured by a camera capable of capturing a full 360-degree view), and the driver's heart rate. In this way, paramedics can grasp the state of the inside of the vehicle and the heart rate in advance, enabling them to respond more quickly.

[0118] Drivers are legally obligated to provide assistance when an accident occurs in their vicinity, but there is a concern that this awareness may decline once autonomous driving is introduced. While autonomous driving is in operation, drivers may not be able to quickly turn off the setting, take control of the steering wheel themselves, pull the vehicle over to the side of the road, and provide assistance, or they may not even notice an accident because they are not aware of the road conditions. In other words, there is a possibility that they will not be able to provide assistance even if they are involved in an accident. Introducing this system will also provide peace of mind after an accident occurs.

[0119] In the above example, we have described implementing the driver vital signs monitoring system in a drive recorder installed in an autonomous driving vehicle, but it may also be implemented in a drive recorder installed in a vehicle that does not have autonomous driving technology installed.

[0120] [Other variations] The organization managing the server described above is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a business company or a specific business that provides the service related to this embodiment. The business company or specific business may provide video and other data upon request from the police or insurance company. The server may perform image analysis, accident situation analysis, and fault ratio estimation. Each analysis process may be performed using artificial intelligence. Furthermore, the server may record and retain the user's family's contact information, such as smartphone phone numbers and email addresses, and may have a function to notify the family's contact information in the event of an accident or other incident involving the user's vehicle. Notification of information may be, for example, by sending a short message to a phone number, calling to play a voice message, or sending an email to an email address.

[0121] The GPS module 14 installed in the drive recorder 2 receives a single frequency and calculates the current position based on that. However, it would be advantageous to be able to record raw data using dual-frequency GNSS, which has recently become less expensive. For example, the drive recorder 2 could use a dual-frequency receiver and output raw data, such as carrier phase information, for each of the two frequencies. The drive recorder 2 then records the raw data from both frequencies. Dual-frequency data allows for calculation of ionospheric delays at the receiving point, improving accuracy. Furthermore, since the information can only be recorded at that time and location, it is more difficult to tamper with, further enhancing the evidential value. By providing this dual-frequency raw data to the processing device 31 and calculating the vehicle's movement trajectory, the fix rate increases, approaching centimeter-level positioning. This allows for more accurate lane departure status confirmation based on the vehicle's size and antenna installation location.

[0122] As described in the above-mentioned embodiments, when using RAW data received at Geospatial Information Authority of Japan's electronic reference points, the data cannot be obtained in real time. On the other hand, if a paid server is accessed to obtain the location information of the reference station, the RAW data received by the reference station can be obtained in real time. Therefore, it is preferable to provide the drive recorder with a function to connect directly or indirectly to the Internet, access a paid server to obtain the RAW data from the reference station, and determine the current position in real time through baseline analysis.

[0123] Furthermore, this function of determining the current position in real time can be applied to, for example, autonomous driving technology. Autonomous driving may require accurate real-time determination of current position information. This position calculation algorithm using the first information, such as raw data, is a calculation algorithm that determines the current position using a different method than, for example, car navigation systems, which determine the current position while correcting with map information, etc., and therefore, this function can be used alone or in combination, for example.

[0124] While the above-described embodiments and the like have been described with reference to examples in which the present invention is applied to a drive recorder, the present invention is not limited thereto and may be applied to various devices. The various devices may be devices that do not record video, such as a radar detector that receives and reports radar or laser signals emitted from an automatic speed measurement device installed on the side of the road. For example, a radar detector records raw data, such as carrier phase information, when receiving laser or radar signals. In this way, the post-processing baseline analysis described above can accurately determine the point at which the speed was measured. Furthermore, for example, such raw data may be sequentially recorded in, for example, a ring buffer. When receiving laser or radar signals, the raw data for a predetermined period immediately preceding the reception of the laser or radar signal can be recorded to determine an accurate vehicle trajectory. By combining the raw data with the time of reception, an accurate vehicle speed can be determined. This allows highly accurate vehicle speed information to be obtained from the location information at the time of reception and the history of location information before and after that, which is effective in proving erroneous speed control measurements.

[0125] For example, when checking whether someone was actually speeding, this embodiment provides highly accurate location information history, so the speed of travel can also be determined. Previously, changes in location information based on GNSS obtained by a GPS module were unreliable in terms of accuracy, but with increased reliability, this could potentially serve as evidence that the person was not speeding.

[0126] Also, instead of temporarily recording in a ring buffer as described above, for example, RAW data etc. may be temporarily recorded while the engine is on, and if a laser or radar signal is received during that time, the temporarily stored RAW data etc. may be recorded in non-volatile memory etc. In this case, if no such signal is received, the power may be simply turned off.

[0127] The same can be done with Drive Recorder 2, which can determine vehicle speed from movement trajectory and time information. Unlike a radar detector, it does not record raw data when receiving laser or radar, but because it can determine vehicle speed and movement trajectory with high accuracy, it may be possible to use this as evidence that the vehicle was not speeding.

[0128] Another example of such a device is an event data recorder. For example, a GPS logger may have a function for recording acceleration and location information when certain conditions are met, such as when acceleration exceeding a reference value is detected. In this case, the location information to be recorded may be the first information, such as raw data of carrier phase information. In this case, it is more preferable to also record the location information obtained by a GPS module.

[0129] As another example, the system may be applied to a car navigation system. For example, raw data such as carrier phase information received by a GPS module while the car navigation system is running can be recorded. This allows the system to later calculate an accurate driving route, display it on a monitor, and confirm it.

[0130] The mobile object is not limited to a vehicle equipped with on-board devices such as a drive recorder, radar detector, or event recorder as described above, but may be applied to various objects such as aerial vehicles such as drones, people, etc. An example of a device when the mobile object is a person is the golf navigation system shown below.

[0131] [Golf Management System] Golf navigation systems carried by golf players on the golf course are distance measuring devices that utilize a global positioning system (GPS). They come in various types, including wristwatches and mobile devices, with or without a monitor. They are equipped with a GPS module and provide location information for various points on the golf course. They report the distance from the current position to the cup, edge, hazards, and other targets on the green, and measure the distance of the player's shot. They also have the ability to record the number of strokes taken by recording the shot location. If the golf navigation system is equipped with a monitor, the information recorded by these functions can be displayed on the monitor during or after play, allowing the user to review the content. Recording the current position history determined by the GPS module also allows the player to track their movement on the golf course. In addition, certain internet sites offer score management services that allow players to easily manage round data recorded by this golf navigation system and help improve their golf game.

[0132] In addition to the functions of a typical golf navigation system, the golf navigation system of this embodiment also includes a function for recording first information, such as raw data of carrier wave phase information of a GPS signal received by a GPS module. This first information should preferably be recorded at least at the location of the hit point. Typically, the location of the ball hit is registered by recording the current location (latitude and longitude) of the NMEA data calculated based on the GPS information received when a swing is detected or when manual operation is performed. At this time, raw data such as carrier wave phase information is also recorded. While this location registration may use only the first information, such as raw data of the carrier wave phase information, it is also preferable to record second information, which is position information based on conventional GNSS MNEM data, to determine the location in real time. Furthermore, in addition to registering the location where the ball was hit, it is also preferable to record the first information and second information at all times. This allows the movement trajectory within the golf course to be determined.

[0133] Score management services are provided, for example, as servers on the Internet. Users who wish to use this service access the server and register with the score management service. The user then stores data recorded in advance using a golf navigation system on a device that can access the score management service server, such as a personal computer. The user then accesses the server, opens their personal page, and uploads the data recorded using the golf navigation system to the server. The uploaded data may include, for example, the name of the golf course played, the course, the date, location information of the registered location where the ball was hit, periodically recorded location information of the player's location during play, and information identifying the club used. The location information includes first information, such as raw data including carrier wave phase information received and recorded by the GPS module of the golf navigation system, and second information, which is location information (latitude and longitude) obtained by the GPS module and recorded as NMEA data.

[0134] FIG. 10 shows a portion of an example display screen for this score management service. The desired display mask is displayed by switching the screen as needed. The "Startup Data Correction" display screen shown in the figure has a hole display section 50 in the center, which displays a schematic diagram 51 of the hole to be corrected and registered. The server displays a movement trajectory 52 based on the second information and the registered shot position overlaid on the hole on this schematic diagram 51. Shot position displays include a red circle mark 53 indicating a position registered based on swing detection and a white circle mark 54 indicating a manually registered point. Depending on the settings, either one or both may be displayed. The white circle mark 54 is accompanied by a number indicating the number of strokes, in the form of a circle.

[0135] Above the schematic diagram 51 of the hole is a hole information display section 55 that identifies the hole (in the illustrated example, it displays the hole number and the number of strokes for par), and above that is a layout with a save button section 56 that instructs the player to save the input content and a switch button section 57 that switches the hole displayed in the hole display section 50 to the next hole.

[0136] In addition, below the hole display section 50, there is provided a button section for inputting various instructions, and in relation to this embodiment, there are provided a movement trajectory display setting button section 58 and a position correction button section 59. When the check box at the top of the movement trajectory display setting button section 58 is clicked to enter a check mark, the movement trajectory 52 is displayed as shown in the figure, and when the check box is clicked in this state to enter a check mark, the display of the movement trajectory 52 is erased.

[0137] Then, when the checkbox located at the top of the position correction button section 59 is clicked, the location registration points and movement trajectories are changed to a plot display based on highly accurate position information based on the first information. Also, when the checkbox of the position correction button section 59 is clicked while the display is based on accurate position information based on the first information, the display is changed to a display based on the second information. In this way, clicking the position correction button section 59 may be a toggle operation in which the plotted position moves between the "accurate position corrected based on the first information (GPS position correction)" and the "position determined by the golf navigation system (original data)."

[0138] Specifically, for example, when the position correction button section 59 arranged on the display screen is clicked and checked, data for the day of play is obtained from electronic reference points near the golf course, the exact position of each point is determined based on the first information, and the results are recorded. This correction can be performed in various ways, for example, (1) for each hole, (2) for each point, (3) for all holes at once, or (4) for all registered golf courses where golfers have played in the past. It is preferable that the user can select one of these options. When correcting each point, such as a shot position, for example, it is preferable that touching a registered point displayed on the screen causes the correction to be performed for that point.

[0139] Furthermore, for example, when making corrections for each point, such as shot position, it would be desirable to be able to do so in real time while playing, but when using the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan's electronic reference points as in this embodiment, there is a time lag, such as the next day or later, in obtaining the data for correction, so it is desirable to provide a function for registering incorrect position information and points to be corrected while playing, and then correct the registered points later.For example, if the golf navigation system is equipped with a monitor and has a function for displaying the current position, if the displayed position is different from the actual position, it is desirable to register the points to be corrected on the spot, and even if it is not possible to do so immediately due to play or other reasons, it is desirable to correct them while you still remember them.

[0140] In addition, it is preferable that the server providing the score management service acquires information for position correction in advance, such as raw data of carrier phase information from the reference stations of the electronic reference points near the golf course for position correction. Then, when the position correction button 59 is clicked, the acquired information is used to perform position correction. In this way, position correction is performed instantly upon clicking.

[0141] The reference station from which data for position correction is downloaded may be determined, for example, from a nearby CORS reference station based on the location information (latitude and longitude) recorded in the NMEA data obtained by the golf navigation system. The server providing the score management service stores information, such as a table, specifying the relationship between golf courses and the corresponding CORS reference stations. Once the server determines the golf course to be processed, it is more preferable for the server to refer to the table to determine the reference station from which data is to be downloaded. Having the function of acquiring data from a specific reference station based on the table in this way makes it easy and instantaneous to select the reference station.

[0142] The position correction button section 59 should preferably be selectable when data acquisition for position correction becomes effective (such as the day after the play date). For example, before it becomes effective, the position correction button section 59 may be displayed but not selectable, or may not be displayed at all. It may also be selectable before it becomes effective, but in this case, when it is checked, a warning such as "Please wait until XX" may be displayed. By providing these functions, for example, if the position correction button section 59 is clicked before data acquisition becomes effective and position correction is not performed, it is possible to minimize the risk of suspicion of a malfunction, and it is advantageous because it allows the user to know when correction will be possible.

[0143] In the above-described embodiment, when a function for displaying trajectories and shot position points based on pre-correction and post-correction position information by switching in response to clicking the position correction button unit 59 is provided, it is preferable to make it clear which is being displayed. For example, displaying distinguishable information such as text or an icon may be used. Furthermore, rather than the position being changed by switching, it is preferable to display both, and change the display mode, for example, by displaying the adopted trajectory darkly and the unadopted trajectory lightly. When changing the display mode to make it clear which is being displayed, it is preferable to display the adopted trajectory prominently.

[0144] A golf navigation system may have a function for registering information such as the club number used. Therefore, when calculating the distance for each type of club, it is desirable to provide a function that allows the user to select between using the position information determined by the golf navigation system or position information corrected using raw data, such as carrier phase information from a GPS signal. By using the corrected position information, the influence of calculation errors in the position information determined by the GPS module on the variation in distance can be minimized, allowing the average distance and variation to be calculated with high accuracy. Furthermore, when calculating the distance based on the position information before the position correction, the system can quickly and easily calculate the distance without downloading data from a reference station or performing position correction processing.

[0145] On the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan's website, the data required for position correction is compressed in ZIP format and downloaded by specifying the date, time, and location. Therefore, data on the golf course, the playing location, and playing time, such as the time from the start to the end of recording, are stored in the golf navigation system itself. Then, the range of data to be obtained from the stored time and location (golf course) is determined, and that range is downloaded from the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan's server. This ensures that sufficient data is obtained, without excess or deficiency.

[0146] In the above-described embodiment, the data recorded by the golf navigation system is accessed by a server after play to perform position correction, etc. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the golf navigation system may be equipped with a communication function to identify a reference station close to the current position, and information from that identified reference station may be acquired on-site and corrected using RTK. Since accurate position information can be obtained while playing, it is advantageous for players to reflect on their play or immediately after playing.

[0147] When correcting the position on the golf navigation system device side, correcting the position of each hole or all holes at once can place a heavy load on the CPU, which can be difficult. In such cases, it is advisable to provide a function that narrows down and corrects specific points, such as those that are clearly wrong.

[0148] The present invention provides a system having a receiver that receives signals (e.g., GPS signals) from satellites in a satellite positioning system (e.g., GPS), a function that generates predetermined data (e.g., video data), and a function that associates first information used to calculate the position of the device contained in the signals received from the satellite with the data generated by the generating function and outputs the associated data to a predetermined output destination. This makes it possible to propose a technology for acquiring or using information related to the position of a mobile object. The first information may be the same as in the above-described embodiment.

[0149] The unique format may be, for example, the following format. The first format, as shown in FIG. 11, is a formatting method that secures a video data recording area in the user data area of ​​the microSD card 21 that can be used by another system. In this case, the video data recording area where the video data is recorded cannot be accessed using a normal file system (e.g., FAT32). Furthermore, the video data is recorded sequentially in the video data recording area. The video data recorded in the video data recording area is managed based on management information recorded in a data management area. For example, a device with a playback function (hereinafter referred to as a "playback device") references the management information to identify the location of the video data in the video data recording area. Here, the management information may be information that associates the date and time the video data was recorded, a management flag, and the address where the video data is recorded. The playback device can identify the location where the video data is recorded in the video data recording area based on the management information and read the video data. At this time, the playback device may switch the output of the video data based on the management flag. For example, if the management flag is "1," the playback device recognizes that video data has been recorded validly and reads and plays the video data. If the management flag is "0," the playback device recognizes that video data has not been recorded validly and cannot play the video data. A management flag may be recorded for each piece of video data generated at a predetermined size. The management flag may be added before and / or after the video data. The video data recording area may be an area that cannot be accessed by a normal file system, but may be an area that can be accessed by a normal file system. In this case, a large area capable of recording data sequentially is secured in the area. The drive recorder 2 and playback device can read and play the video data from the area capable of recording data sequentially. In this case, the video data may appear as a single file to a device that only has a normal file system that cannot perform playback.

[0150] In the above-described embodiment, the case where GPS is used as the satellite positioning system has been described, but GLONASS, Galileo, the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, etc. may also be used within the scope of the present invention.

[0151] The scope of the present invention is not limited to the structures explicitly described in the specification, but also includes combinations of various aspects of the present invention disclosed herein. The structures of the present invention that are sought to be patented are specified in the appended claims, but it is the intention of the present inventors to claim structures disclosed in this specification in the future, even if they are not currently specified in the claims.

[0152] The present invention is not limited to the configurations described in the above-described embodiments. The components of each of the above-described embodiments and variations may be arbitrarily selected and combined. Furthermore, any component of each embodiment or variation may be arbitrarily combined with any component described in the Summary of the Invention or any component embodying any component described in the Summary of the Invention. The present invention also intends to obtain rights to these configurations through amendments or divisional applications of the present application. Even if a description is made of "in the case of..." or "when...," it is not intended to describe a configuration limited to that case or time. Configurations that are not limited to those cases or times are also disclosed, and the present invention intends to obtain rights to them. Furthermore, any descriptions that specify an order are not limited to this order. Configurations in which some parts are deleted or the order is changed are also disclosed, and the present invention intends to obtain rights to them.

[0153] Furthermore, by converting the application to a design registration, the applicant intends to obtain rights to the overall design or partial design. The drawings depict the entire device in solid lines, but they also include partial designs claimed for parts of the device. For example, the drawings may include some components of the device as partial designs, or may include some parts of the device as partial designs regardless of the components. A part of the device may be a part of the device, or it may be part of that component. The applicant intends to obtain rights not only to the overall design, but also to partial designs in which any part of the solid line portion of the drawings is drawn as a dashed line. [Explanation of symbols]

[0154] 1: System 2:Dashcam 3:Positioning device 11: Camera 12: Microphone 13: Abnormality detection sensor 14: GPS module 15: Operation buttons 16: Control section 17: Temporary memory 18: Monitor 19: Speaker 20: Memory card slot 21: Micro SD card 31: Processing equipment 32: Input device 33: Output device 34: Storage device 40: Image 41: Location information display section 42: Type information 50: Hall display 51:Schematic diagram 52: Movement trajectory 53: Mark 54: Mark 55: Hole information display section 56: Save button 57: Switching button section 58: Movement trajectory display setting button section 59: Position correction button

Claims

1. A device mounted on a vehicle that records surrounding images, a function of recording the video in a first format or a second format; a conversion function that enables a video recorded in the first format to be converted into a second format, but does not allow conversion from the second format; A playback function that allows you to see the format of the video being played back. Equipment having:

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the recording function records in the first format when performing event recording, and records in the second format when performing recording other than the event recording.

3. 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first format is a proprietary format, and video recorded in that format cannot be edited and is played back using dedicated software provided by the device or its provider.

4. A program that causes a computer to realize the functions of the device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

Images