Mobile device, information processing method, and program

Abstract

For example, the system provides an information processing system that can prevent unnecessary calls to emergency contacts and suppress the increase in communication volume for making calls. [Solution] An in-vehicle device AP that can connect to a smartphone SP and is mounted in a vehicle includes: an interface 1 that acquires acceleration data indicating that an impact exceeding a predetermined threshold has been applied to the smartphone SP; a display control unit 2 that, when the acceleration data is acquired, notifies the user to select to cancel the corresponding external notification; an operation control unit 3 that accepts the cancellation operation in response to the notification; and a state management / information processing module 4 that cancels the external notification when the cancellation operation is accepted.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the technical field of mobile devices, information processing methods, and programs. More specifically, it belongs to the technical field of a mobile device configured to be connectable to a portable terminal device and mounted on a mobile object such as a vehicle, an information processing method executed in the mobile device, and a program for the mobile device.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, it has been becoming common to mount a so-called smartphone having a navigation function on, for example, a dashboard of a vehicle to guide the vehicle. On the other hand, when an accident occurs in a vehicle on which a smartphone is mounted in this way, the smartphone itself is also subjected to an impact caused by the accident. Therefore, conventionally, when it is detected that a predetermined impact has been applied to the smartphone mounted on the vehicle, necessary notification is automatically made from the smartphone to a pre-registered emergency contact. As a prior art document disclosing such a configuration, for example, there is Patent Document 1 below.

[0003] At this time, in the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 below, when it is detected that a predetermined impact has been applied to the smartphone, after a lapse of a preset fixed time from the impact, notification to that effect is automatically made from the smartphone to a preset emergency contact. Further, in the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 below, when an operation to cancel the notification is executed on the smartphone before the lapse of the fixed time, the notification is not made.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In addition to the impact caused by the accident described above, a certain amount of impact may also be applied to a smartphone mounted on the dashboard, for example, by the driver's or passenger's hand hitting it. As a result of such an impact, the smartphone itself may come loose from its mounting position and roll under the driver's or passenger's seat, for example, causing the driver or passenger to lose sight of it.

[0006] In this situation, if a smartphone is lost, even if the remaining time until the emergency contact is notified is displayed on the smartphone, it cannot be checked, and even if the cancellation button is displayed, it cannot be operated. As a result, after a certain period of time has elapsed, an emergency contact will be automatically notified, which poses a problem because unnecessary notifications are sent to emergency contacts if the smartphone is subjected to an impact other than that caused by an accident. Furthermore, the sending of such unnecessary notifications leads to an increase in the amount of data traffic on the network used for making such notifications.

[0007] Therefore, this application has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and one example of the problems it addresses is to provide a mobile device that can prevent unnecessary notifications to emergency contacts and suppress an increase in the amount of communication on the network used for such notifications, an information processing method executed in the mobile device, and a program for the mobile device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 1 is a mobile device that can communicate with a portable terminal device and is configured to be mounted on a mobile body, comprising: acquisition means for acquiring impact information indicating that an impact exceeding a preset threshold has been applied; notification means for giving a selection notification to the occupant of the mobile body to choose whether or not to cancel an external notification from the terminal device that is executed in response to the acquisition of the impact information; reception means for receiving the selection to cancel; and control means for canceling the external notification when the selection to cancel is received, wherein the notification means is configured to notify the occupant of the mobile body of the remaining time until the execution of the external notification, along with the selection notification.

[0009] To solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 9 is an information processing method performed in a mobile device that is capable of communicating with a portable terminal device and is configured to be mounted on a mobile body, comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring impact information indicating that an impact exceeding a preset threshold has been applied; a notification step of giving a selection notification to the occupant of the mobile body to select whether or not to cancel an external notification from the terminal device in response to the acquisition of the impact information; an acceptance step of accepting the selection to cancel; and a control step of canceling the external notification when the selection to cancel is accepted, wherein the notification step is configured to notify the occupant of the mobile body of the remaining time until the terminal device executes the external notification, together with the selection notification.

[0010] To solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 10 provides a program in which a computer included in a mobile device that is capable of communicating with a portable terminal device and is configured to be mounted on a mobile device functions as an acquisition means for acquiring impact information indicating that an impact exceeding a preset threshold has been applied; a notification means for giving a selection notification to the occupant of the mobile device to choose whether or not to cancel an external notification from the terminal device that is executed in response to the acquisition of the impact information; a reception means for accepting the selection to cancel; and a control means for canceling the external notification when the selection to cancel is accepted, wherein the notification means is configured to notify the occupant of the mobile device of the remaining time until the execution of the external notification, along with the selection notification. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram illustrating the schematic configuration of a mobile device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram showing the outline configuration of the information processing system according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a flowchart showing the information processing related to the example. [Figure 4] These are front views showing examples of operation in the information processing system according to the embodiment, where (a) is a front view showing the first example, (b) is a front view showing the second example, and (c) is a front view showing the third example. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Next, an embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 1. Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of a mobile device according to the embodiment.

[0013] The mobile device according to this embodiment is connectable to a portable terminal device and mounted on a mobile body. As shown in Figure 1, the mobile device S according to this embodiment is configured to include an acquisition means 1, a notification means 2, a reception means 3, and a control means 4.

[0014] In the above configuration, acquisition means 1 acquires impact information indicating that an impact exceeding a preset threshold has been applied to the terminal device.

[0015] The notification means 2, upon acquisition means 1 acquiring impact information, then issues a selection notification to allow the user to choose to cancel the notification to an external party corresponding to the impact information.

[0016] Furthermore, reception method 3 accepts the option to cancel the above selection notification.

[0017] As a result, the control means 4 will stop sending notifications to external parties when the option to cancel is accepted.

[0018] As described above, according to the operation of the mobile device S according to the embodiment, when impact information indicating that an impact exceeding a predetermined threshold has been applied to the terminal device is acquired, a selection notification is issued to allow the user to choose to cancel the notification to the outside corresponding to the impact information, and when the selection to cancel is accepted in response to the selection notification, the notification to the outside is canceled. Therefore, if an impact is applied to the terminal device that allows the user to perform the operation to cancel, no notification to the outside is made, thus preventing unnecessary notifications and suppressing the increase in communication volume due to external notifications. [Examples]

[0019] Next, specific embodiments corresponding to the embodiments described above will be explained using Figures 2 to 4. The embodiments described below are examples in which the present invention is applied to information processing in an information processing system comprising a so-called smartphone and an in-vehicle device.

[0020] Also, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of the information processing system according to the embodiment, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the information processing according to the embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a front view showing an operation example in the information processing system. At this time, in FIGS. 2 and 4, for each constituent member of the embodiment corresponding to each constituent member in the mobile device S according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the same member numbers as those of each constituent member in the mobile device S are used.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, the information processing system SS according to the embodiment is composed of a smartphone SP as an example of the "terminal device" according to the present application and an in-vehicle unit AP. At this time, the smartphone SP is portable, and the in-vehicle unit AP is mounted on a vehicle (not shown) on which the information processing system SS according to the embodiment is mounted.

[0022] The smartphone SP according to the embodiment includes an interface 10, a processing unit 11 composed of a CPU, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), etc., a memory 12 composed of an SSD (Solid State Drive), etc., a display 13 composed of a liquid crystal display, etc., a speaker 14, and an operation unit 15 composed of a touch panel provided on the surface of the display 13, operation buttons, etc., and an acceleration sensor 16. Further, the processing unit 11 includes a vehicle-mounted device connection management module 20, a state management / information processing module 21, a display control unit 22 connected to the display 13, an audio playback unit 23 connected to the speaker 14, and an impact detection module 24 connected to the acceleration sensor 16. At this time, each of the vehicle-mounted device connection management module 20, the state management / information processing module 21, the display control unit 22, the audio playback unit 23, and the impact detection module 24 may be composed of a hardware logic circuit such as the above-mentioned CPU that constitutes the processing unit 11, or may be realized software-wise by the above-mentioned CPU of the processing unit 11 reading and executing a program corresponding to the processing in the smartphone SP among the information processing according to the embodiments described later. And the interface 10 corresponds to an example of the "acquisition means" according to the present application, the acceleration sensor 16 corresponds to an example of the "detection means" according to the present application, the state management / information processing module 21 corresponds to an example of the "notification control means" according to the present application and an example of the "selection notification control means" according to the present application, respectively, the display 13 and the display control unit 22 correspond to an example of the "notification means" according to the present application, and the operation unit 15 corresponds to an example of the "reception means" according to the present application.

[0023] In the above configuration of the smartphone SP, the interface 10 and the in-vehicle device connection management module 20 control the exchange of data with the in-vehicle device AP and with a network (not shown), respectively, under the control of the state management / information processing module 21. The display control unit 22 controls the content displayed on the display 13 under the control of the state management / information processing module 21. As a result, the display 13 displays the necessary information under the control of the display control unit 22. Meanwhile, the audio playback unit 23 performs sound or voice synthesis processing to be emitted from the speaker 14 under the control of the state management / information processing module 21. As a result, the speaker 14 emits voice corresponding to the voice data generated by the audio playback unit 23, or sound corresponding to the generated voice data. On the other hand, the acceleration sensor 16 detects the acceleration corresponding to the impact applied to the smartphone SP, and generates acceleration data indicating, for example, the magnitude and direction of the acceleration, and outputs it to the impact detection module 24. As a result, the impact detection module 24, under the control of the state management / information processing module 21, analyzes the contents of the acceleration data from the acceleration sensor 16, generates impact data indicating the magnitude and direction of the impact corresponding to the acceleration, and outputs it to the state management / information processing module 21. The operation unit 15 also generates an operation signal corresponding to the operation when the user performs an operation to specify the operation of the smartphone SP, and outputs it to the state management / information processing module 21. Based on the operation signal from the operation unit 15, the state management / information processing module 21 controls the in-vehicle device connection management module 20, the display control unit 22, the audio playback unit 23, and the impact detection module 24, and mainly executes the processing of information related to the smartphone SP in the embodiment. The state management / information processing module 21 also provides overall control over processing other than the information processing related to the smartphone SP embodiment. The data necessary for these processes in the state management / information processing module 21 is recorded in the memory 12 as needed and read from the memory 12 as needed.

[0024] On the other hand, the in-vehicle AP according to the embodiment consists of an interface 1, a processing unit 9 consisting of a CPU, RAM, and ROM, a memory 8 consisting of an SSD, a display 7 consisting of a liquid crystal display, and an operation unit 5 consisting of operation buttons. Furthermore, the processing unit 9 consists of an external device connection module 6, a state management / information processing module 4, a display control unit 2 connected to the display 7, and an operation control unit 3 connected to the operation unit 5. In this case, the external device control module 6, the state management / information processing module 4, the display control unit 2, and the operation control unit 3 may each be composed of hardware logic circuits such as the CPU that constitute the processing unit 9, or they may be implemented in software by the CPU of the processing unit 9 reading and executing a program corresponding to the processing in the in-vehicle AP among the information processing according to the embodiment described later. The interface 1 corresponds to an example of the acquisition means 1 according to the embodiment, the display control unit 2 corresponds to an example of the notification means 2 according to the embodiment, the operation control unit 3 corresponds to an example of the reception means 3 according to the embodiment, and the state management / information processing module 4 corresponds to an example of the control means 4 according to the embodiment. Furthermore, the operation unit 5 corresponds to an example of a "cancel operation means" and an example of a "notification operation means" according to the present invention. Also, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 2, the interface 1, display control unit 2, operation control unit 3, and state management / information processing module 4 constitute an example of the mobile device S according to the embodiment.

[0025] In the above configuration of the in-vehicle AP, interface 1 and external device control module 6 control the exchange of data with the smartphone SP under the control of state management / information processing module 4. The connection between interface 1 and the interface 10 of the smartphone SP may be made by short-range wireless communication based on standards such as NFC (Near Field Communication), or it may be physically connected by a cable and / or connector. The display control unit 2 controls the content displayed on the display 7 under the control of state management / information processing module 4. As a result, the display 7 displays the necessary information under the control of the display control unit 2. When the user performs an operation to specify the operation of the in-vehicle AP, the operation unit 5 generates an operation signal corresponding to that operation and outputs it to the state management / information processing module 4 via the operation control unit 3. On the other hand, the operation control unit 3 controls the function of each of the operation buttons that make up the operation unit 5, which will be described later, under the control of state management / information processing module 4. More specifically, as part of the processing in the in-vehicle AP among the information processing according to the embodiment, the operation control unit 3 assigns a function different from the initial setting of each operation button to each operation button. The function assignments to these operation buttons will be described in detail later. The state management / information processing module 4, based on the operation signals from the operation unit 5, controls the external device control module 6, the display control unit 2, and the operation control unit 3, while primarily executing the processing in the in-vehicle AP among the information processing according to the embodiment. The state management / information processing module 4 also provides overall control over processing other than the information processing according to the embodiment as an in-vehicle AP.

[0026] Next, the information processing according to an embodiment of the information processing system SS having the above-described configuration will be specifically explained with reference to Figures 2 to 4.

[0027] As shown in the flowchart on the left of Figure 3, the information processing in the smartphone SP in the embodiment starts, for example, when the power switch (not shown) of the smartphone SP is turned on. Once this processing starts, the state management / information processing module 21 of the smartphone SP starts monitoring whether any value of acceleration data has been output from the acceleration sensor 16 via the impact detection module 24 (step S1). If no value of acceleration data has been output in the monitoring in step S1 (step S1: NO), the state management / information processing module 21 and the impact detection module 24 return to step S1 and continue the monitoring. On the other hand, if any value of acceleration data has been output in the monitoring in step S1 (step S1: YES), the impact detection module 24 analyzes the content of the output acceleration data and generates the impact data corresponding to the acceleration that caused the output of the acceleration data, and outputs it to the state management / information processing module 21 (step S2). As a result, the state management / information processing module 21 determines whether the magnitude of the impact indicated by the output impact data exceeds the impact threshold that has been set in advance and recorded in the memory 12 (step S3). Here, the impact threshold is, for example, an impact threshold corresponding to an acceleration (impact) such that the smartphone SP according to the embodiment would detach from its mounting position (for example, on top of the in-vehicle device AP according to the embodiment or on the vehicle's dashboard, etc.) and fall. More specifically, it is predetermined empirically or experimentally depending on the method or manner in which the smartphone SP is mounted. In the determination in step S3, if the magnitude of the impact indicated by the output impact data does not exceed the impact threshold (step S3: NO), the state management / information processing module 21 and the impact detection module 24 return to step S1 and continue monitoring, assuming that the smartphone SP has not detached from its original mounting position. On the other hand, in the determination in step S3, if the magnitude of the impact indicated by the output impact data exceeds the impact threshold (step S3: YES), the state management / information processing module 21 then causes the display control unit 22 to display, for example, "impact detected" on the display 13 for a certain period of time.In addition, the status management / information processing module 21 generates display information / status notification indicating that the in-vehicle device AP should display the impact detection and that the smartphone SP has detected an impact exceeding the above impact threshold, and transmits it to the in-vehicle device AP via the in-vehicle device connection management module 20 and interface 10 (step S4).

[0028] On the other hand, as shown in the flowchart on the right of Figure 3, the processing in the in-vehicle AP among the information processing according to the embodiment starts, for example, when the power switch (not shown) of the in-vehicle AP is turned on. Once this processing has started, the state management / information processing module 4 of the in-vehicle AP starts monitoring whether the above display information / status notification has been transmitted from the smartphone SP via the external device control module 6 and interface 1 (step S15). If the display information / status notification is not transmitted during the monitoring in step S15 (step S15: NO), the state management / information processing module 4 and the external device control module 6 return to step S15 and continue the monitoring. On the other hand, if the display information / status notification is transmitted from the smartphone SP during the monitoring in step S15 (step S15: YES), the state management / information processing module 4 then causes the display control unit 2 to display "impact detected" on the display 7 for a certain period of time (step S16).

[0029] When steps S4 and S16 are performed, the words "Impact Detected" are displayed on the display 13 of the smartphone SP and the display 7 of the in-vehicle unit AP, as illustrated in the front view in Figure 4(a). The front views shown in Figure 4 illustrate a state in which the smartphone SP has been detached from its mounting position on the in-vehicle unit AP and separated from the other, assuming that an impact exceeding the impact threshold has been applied to the smartphone SP. Furthermore, the display of "Impact Detected" may be configured to change the color of the text itself from the color of normally used text, or to simultaneously emit voice guidance.

[0030] As illustrated in Figure 4, the front of the in-vehicle unit AP, housed in the casing BD and mounted in the vehicle, is equipped with operation buttons B1 to B4 (each a physically pressable operation button) that constitute the operation unit 5, flanking the display 7. Each of these operation buttons B1 to B4 is initially assigned a different function. More specifically, for example, functions such as "music playback," "video playback," and "telephone call" are initially assigned to them. These initial functions are then changed by the operation control unit 3 to functions such as "notification cancellation" or "notification execution," which will be described later.

[0031] Returning to Figure 3, the state management / information processing module 21, having executed step S4, changes the display on the display 13 to "Message sent?" indicating that an impact of a magnitude greater than or equal to the impact threshold has been applied to the smartphone SP after the specified time has elapsed (step S5). In addition, the state management / information processing module 21 starts measuring a preset threshold time in a timer (not shown) from the time an impact of a magnitude greater than or equal to the impact threshold is applied until the notification is made (step S5). On the other hand, the state management / information processing module 4, having executed step S16, changes the display on the display 7 to "Message sent?" indicating that the notification to the external party will be made (step S17) via the display control unit 2 after the specified time has elapsed (step S16). This "Message sent?" display corresponds to an example of the "selection notification" according to the present invention.

[0032] When steps S5 and S17 are performed, the words "Send message?" are displayed on the display 13 of the smartphone SP and the display 7 of the in-vehicle AP, as illustrated in the front view in Figure 4(b). In this case, the display 7 of the in-vehicle AP may also be configured to display the remaining time until the notification is made, for example, "Remaining time XX seconds". In addition, the status management / information processing module 21 of the smartphone SP displays both the OK button 32, which is operated by the user when making the external notification, and the Cancel button 31, which is operated by the user when not making the external notification (when canceling), on the display 13, as illustrated in Figure 4(b) (step S5).

[0033] Furthermore, the in-vehicle AP status management / information processing module 4, which has executed step S17, changes the functions of operation buttons B1 and B2 on the left side to the notification cancellation function via the operation control unit 3, and further changes the functions of operation buttons B3 and B4 on the right side to the notification execution function (step S18). Subsequently, the status management / information processing module 4 begins monitoring whether or not operation button B1 or operation button B2, whose function has been changed to the notification cancellation function, has been operated (pressed) (step S19). This operation of operation button B1 or operation button B2, whose assigned function has been changed to the notification cancellation function, corresponds to an example of "cancellation selection" in this application. If neither operation button B1 nor operation button B2 is operated during the monitoring in step S19 (step S19: NO), the status management / information processing module 4 proceeds to step S21, which will be described later. On the other hand, during the monitoring in step S19, if operation button B1 or operation button B2 is operated (step S19: YES), the state management / information processing module 4 generates a cancellation command to cancel the external notification, corresponding to the notification cancellation function assigned to operation button B1 or operation button B2 at that time, and transmits it to the smartphone SP via the external device control module 6 and interface 1 (step S20). Subsequently, the state management / information processing module 4 determines whether to terminate the processing at the in-vehicle device AP in the information processing according to the embodiment due to reasons such as the power switch of the in-vehicle device AP being turned off (step S21). If the determination in step S21 is to terminate the processing (step S21: YES), the state management / information processing module 4 terminates the processing. On the other hand, if the determination in step S21 is to continue the processing (step S21: NO), the state management / information processing module 4 returns to step S15 and repeats the series of processes described above.

[0034] Next, the state management / information processing module 21, having executed step S5, monitors whether the cancel button 31 is operated on the smartphone SP's display 13 or whether the above-mentioned cancel command has been sent from the in-vehicle AP (step S6). In the monitoring in step S6, if the cancel button 31 is operated or the above-mentioned cancel command is sent (step S6: YES), the state management / information processing module 21 cancels the above-mentioned external notification and stops the timer from measuring the threshold time (step S9). After that, the state management / information processing module 21 proceeds to step S10, which will be described later. On the other hand, in the monitoring in step S6, if the cancel button 31 is not operated and the above-mentioned cancel command is not sent (step S6: NO), the state management / information processing module 21 determines whether the above-mentioned threshold time has elapsed (step S7). In the determination in step S7, if the above-mentioned threshold time has not yet elapsed (step S7: NO), the state management / information processing module 21 returns to step S6 and continues to monitor the operation of the cancel button 31 and the transmission of the cancel command. On the other hand, if the threshold time has elapsed in the determination of step S7 (step S7: YES), the state management / information processing module 21 makes the external notification via interface 10 (step S8). At this time, the external notification is made by one or more of the following methods, for example. i) Sending an email to a pre-configured recipient ii) Making a phone call to a pre-configured recipient iii) Notification via a communication-enabled VICS (Vehicle Information Communication System) iv) Notification via so-called vehicle-to-vehicle or vehicle-to-pedestrian communication. Subsequently, the state management / information processing module 21 determines whether to terminate the processing in the smartphone SP among the information processing according to the embodiment, due to reasons such as the power switch of the smartphone SP being turned off (step S10). If the determination in step S10 is to terminate the processing (step S10: YES), the state management / information processing module 21 terminates the processing. On the other hand, if the determination in step S10 is to continue the processing (step S10: NO), the state management / information processing module 21 returns to step S1 and repeats the series of processes described above.

[0035] As explained above, according to the operation of the information processing system SS in the embodiment, when acceleration data indicating that an acceleration exceeding a predetermined threshold has been applied to the smartphone SP is acquired, a display is made to prompt the user to select the option to cancel the notification to the outside corresponding to the acceleration data (see Figure 3, step S17), and when the cancellation operation in response to the display is accepted (see Figure 3, step S19: YES), the notification to the outside is canceled (see Figure 3, step S9). Therefore, when an acceleration sufficient to allow the user to perform the cancellation operation is applied to the smartphone SP, no notification is made to the outside, thus preventing unnecessary notifications and suppressing the increase in communication volume due to external notifications.

[0036] Furthermore, if the cancellation operation is performed within the threshold time from the time acceleration data is acquired (see Figure 3, step S6: YES), the notification to the outside is canceled (see Figure 3, step S9), and if the cancellation operation is not performed within the threshold time from that time (see Figure 3, step S6: NO), the notification is executed. This allows the user to choose whether or not to send a notification to the outside with sufficient time.

[0037] Furthermore, if the cancellation operation is performed using operation button B1 or operation button B2, whose assigned function has been changed to notification cancellation (see Figure 3, steps S18 and S19: YES), the notification to the outside will be canceled (see Figure 3, step S9). Therefore, the notification to the outside can be canceled by operating the nearest operation button B1 or operation button B2.

[0038] Furthermore, the external notification can also be canceled using the cancel button 31 displayed on the smartphone SP. When the above-mentioned cancel command is sent from the in-vehicle AP or when the cancel button 31 is operated, the external notification is canceled (see Figure 3, step S6: YES, step S9). Thus, the external notification can be canceled by operating either the in-vehicle AP or the smartphone SP.

[0039] In the above-described embodiment, the notification is made when the threshold time has elapsed in step S7 (Figure 3, step S8). However, alternatively, when an operation to execute a notification is performed using operation button B3 or operation button B4, whose assigned function has been changed to notification execution, the in-vehicle unit AP sends a notification execution command to the smartphone SP, and the notification is made to the outside from the smartphone SP when the notification execution command is received by the smartphone SP or when the OK button 32 (see Figure 4(b)) is operated. In this case, it is preferable to configure the system so that the notification is made when the notification execution command is received or the OK button 32 is operated, even before the threshold time has elapsed. With the above configuration, when operation button B1 or operation button B2 or the cancel button 31, which is assigned the notification cancellation function, is operated, the notification to the outside is stopped, and when operation button B3 or operation button B4 or the OK button 32, which is assigned the notification execution function, is operated, the notification to the outside is executed, so that the stopping or execution of the notification to the outside can be performed accurately and quickly.

[0040] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the case in which the functions of operation buttons B1 and B2, illustrated in Figure 4, are changed to the notification cancellation function (see step S18 in Figure 3), was explained. However, for example, as illustrated in Figure 4(c), the smartphone SP's display 13 may only display the cancellation button 31, and all the functions of operation buttons B1 to B4 may be changed to the notification cancellation function. In this case, it is preferable to configure the in-vehicle unit AP's display 7 to display the remaining time until the notification is executed as, for example, "Remaining time XX seconds," as illustrated in Figure 4(c). The display 7 may also further display the words "Send message?". With this configuration, if any of the operation buttons B1, etc., to which the notification cancellation function is assigned, or the cancellation button 31, is operated, the notification to the outside will be stopped, so the notification to the outside can be stopped accurately and quickly.

[0041] Furthermore, regarding the function assignment of operation buttons B1 to B4, the functions of operation buttons B1 and B2 may be changed to the function of executing a notification, and the functions of operation buttons B3 and B4 may be changed to the function of canceling a notification. In addition, the functions of operation buttons B1 and B4 may be changed to the function of canceling (or executing) a notification, and the functions of operation buttons B2 and B3 may be changed to the function of executing (or canceling) a notification.

[0042] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, we explained the case in which the functions of operation buttons B1 to B4, which were originally provided on the in-vehicle unit AP, are changed to a notification cancellation function or a notification execution function. However, the contactable portion on the outer surface of the housing BD of the in-vehicle unit AP shown in Figure 4 may be configured with a touch sensor as an example of the "sensor means" according to the present invention, and contact with this touch sensor may be configured to perform the notification cancellation function. In this case, the notification to the outside can be stopped with a simpler contact operation.

[0043] Furthermore, if operation button B1, etc. is assigned to a button for canceling a notification, as in the embodiment described above, the display on operation button B1, etc. assigned to the notification cancellation button may be changed to a display that makes it visually clear that it is a notification cancellation button (for example, a display using a simple icon such as an "×" display or a "NO" display). In addition, if operation button B1, etc. is assigned to a button for executing a notification, the display on operation button B1, etc. assigned to the notification execution button may be changed to a display that makes it visually clear that it is a notification execution button (for example, a display using a simple icon such as an "OK" display).

[0044] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, if an impact is detected, the smartphone SP's display 13 and the in-vehicle device AP's display 7 will each display a message to that effect. In addition, the device may be configured to simultaneously illuminate the display 7 with a bright light at the same time as the impact is detected.

[0045] Furthermore, the remaining time until notification to an external party is to be communicated using voice guidance. In this case, the sound may be emitted using a speaker (not shown) provided in the in-vehicle device AP, or it may be emitted using the speaker 14 of the smartphone SP that detects the collision using the acceleration sensor 16.

[0046] Furthermore, the impact thresholds in the embodiment may be set to different values ​​for each of the following: the forward impact threshold for acceleration due to an impact from the front, the rear impact threshold for acceleration due to an impact from the rear, and the lateral impact threshold for acceleration due to an impact from the side. Moreover, while the threshold time is usually, for example, 10 seconds, it may be shortened as the impact threshold increases so that the external notification is executed more quickly.

[0047] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the smartphone SP was configured to detect acceleration, but the present invention can also be applied to cases where only the in-vehicle AP is equipped with an acceleration sensor.

[0048] Furthermore, it is possible to record a program corresponding to the flowchart shown in Figure 3 on a recording medium such as an optical disc or hard disk, or to obtain it via a network such as the Internet, and then read and execute it on a general-purpose microcomputer, thereby making the microcomputer function as the processing unit 9 according to the embodiment. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0049] 1. Acquisition means (interface) 2. Notification means (display control unit) 3. Reception means (operation control unit) 4. Control means (state management / information processing module) AP in-vehicle device SP Smartphone S Mobile device SS Information Processing System

Claims

1. A mobile device that is capable of communicating with a portable terminal device and is configured to be mounted on a mobile body, An acquisition means for acquiring impact information indicating that an impact exceeding a preset threshold has been applied, A notification means that provides a selection notification to the occupant of the mobile body, allowing them to choose whether or not to cancel the external notification from the terminal device that is to be executed in response to the acquisition of the aforementioned impact information, A means for accepting the aforementioned cancellation option, A control means for canceling the external notification when the aforementioned cancellation option is accepted, Equipped with, The notification means is characterized by notifying the occupant of the mobile body of the remaining time until the execution of the external notification, along with the selection notification.

2. In the mobile device according to claim 1, The notification means is a mobile device characterized by displaying the selection notification and the remaining time on a display provided by the mobile device.

3. In the mobile device according to claim 1 or claim 2, An operating means including an operation button to which a predetermined function is assigned as an initial setting, An operation control means that, when the aforementioned impact information is acquired, changes the function of the operation button to a notification cancellation function for selecting the cancellation; Furthermore, The mobile device is characterized in that the receiving means accepts an operation on the operation button, which has been changed to the notification cancellation function, as a selection to cancel.

4. In the mobile device according to claim 3, The mobile device is characterized in that, when the operation control means changes the function of the operation button to the notification cancellation function, it changes the display on the operation button to a display that can be visually identified as being for notification cancellation.

5. In the mobile device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The mobile device further comprises a touch sensor provided on a contactable portion of the outer surface of the housing of the mobile device, The mobile device is characterized in that the receiving means accepts a contact operation to the touch sensor as a selection to cancel.

6. A mobile device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The control means is characterized in that if the selection to cancel is not accepted within a preset threshold time from the time the impact information is acquired, the mobile device will execute the external notification.

7. A mobile device according to claim 6, The aforementioned threshold time is set to be shorter as the magnitude of the impact indicated by the impact information increases.

8. A mobile device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, The notification means is characterized by further notifying the remaining time by voice guidance.

9. An information processing method performed in a mobile device that is capable of communicating with a portable terminal device and is configured to be mounted on a mobile body, An acquisition step to acquire impact information indicating that an impact exceeding a predetermined threshold has been applied, A notification step involves providing a selection notification to the occupant of the mobile vehicle, allowing them to choose whether or not to discontinue the external notification from the terminal device in response to the acquisition of the aforementioned impact information. The reception process for accepting the aforementioned cancellation option, A control step that cancels the external notification when the option to cancel is accepted, Includes, The notification step is characterized by notifying the occupant of the mobile body of the remaining time until the execution of the external notification by the terminal device, along with the selection notification.

10. A computer included in a mobile device that is capable of communicating with a portable terminal device and is configured to be mounted on a mobile device, means for acquiring impact information indicating that an impact exceeding a preset threshold has been applied. Notification means for providing a selection notification to the occupant of the mobile body, allowing them to choose whether or not to cancel the external notification from the terminal device that is to be executed in response to the acquisition of the aforementioned impact information. A means for accepting the aforementioned cancellation option, and A control means for suspending the external notification when the aforementioned suspension option is accepted, To make it function as, The notification means is a program that, along with the selection notification, notifies the occupants of the mobile body of the remaining time until the execution of the external notification.

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