Communication terminals, receivers, and programs, etc.

Abstract

To provide users with highly convenient features for notifying them of information regarding speed enforcement. [Solution] The communication terminal 20 includes: a communication unit that communicates with an on-board device 30 located in the vehicle 40, which communicates with an external terminal and displays information about the functions of the terminal; and a control unit that performs the process of acquiring a signal indicating the reception result of the enforcement wave from a receiver 10 located in the vehicle 40 that receives enforcement waves indicating the presence of a speed enforcement point, and the process of outputting a notification signal to the on-board device 30 to notify that the vehicle 40 and the speed enforcement point are in a predetermined proximity relationship according to the signal indicating the reception result.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a communication terminal, a receiver, a program, and the like. [Background Art]

[0002] Patent Literatures 1 and 2 disclose an electronic device that receives a microwave emitted from a vehicle speed control device and outputs an alarm when it detects that a vehicle speed control device is present. [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents]

[0003] [Patent Literature 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-64588 [Patent Literature 2] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2017-96728 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0004] One object of the present invention is to provide a function that is highly convenient for a user with respect to notification of information related to speed control.

[0005] The object of the invention of the present application is not limited to this, and the applicant intends to acquire rights by divisional application, amendment, etc. with respect to configurations aimed at obtaining effects exhibited by parts of the configurations disclosed in the present specification, drawings, and the like. For example, this specification discloses problems obtained by replacing a portion described as "can ~" in this specification with "~ is a problem". Problems are described as being independent of each other, and the applicant also intends to acquire rights by divisional application, amendment, etc. independently for configurations for solving each problem. Even if a problem is implicitly understood from the description of the specification, the applicant intends to set a part of the configuration described in this specification as the scope of claims by amendment or divisional application. Furthermore, the present specification also discloses configurations for solving a problem that is a combination of these independent problems, and the applicant intends to acquire rights thereto. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] (1) A communication terminal is provided which is an in-vehicle device to be installed in a vehicle, and which includes a communication unit that communicates with an external in-vehicle device and displays information about the functions of the terminal, and a control unit that performs the process of acquiring a signal indicating the result of receiving the enforcement wave from a receiver installed in the vehicle that receives enforcement waves indicating the presence of a speed enforcement point, and outputting a notification signal to the in-vehicle device in accordance with the signal indicating the result of the reception, for the purpose of realizing a function that notifies that the vehicle and the speed enforcement point are in a predetermined proximity relationship.

[0007] In this way, a communication terminal, such as a smartphone, and an in-vehicle device installed in the vehicle work together to provide users with highly convenient functions regarding the notification of information about speed enforcement. Since the receiver is separate from the communication terminal and the in-vehicle device, it offers greater flexibility in placement and can be easily positioned in the vehicle to receive enforcement signals. Since the notification of the vehicle's proximity to a speed enforcement point is provided by the communication terminal via the in-vehicle device, the problem of users having difficulty grasping the information due to the small display screen of the communication terminal is mitigated. Furthermore, users do not need to fix the communication terminal in a holder installed on the dashboard to use it as a receiver or monitor for enforcement signals. This reduces the possibility of giving people outside the vehicle the impression that the driver is using a communication terminal while driving, so-called "distracted driving."

[0008] (2) The communication unit is capable of communicating with the in-vehicle device via the receiver, and the control unit may use the communication unit to output the notification signal to the in-vehicle device.

[0009] In this way, even if the communication terminal is not directly connected to the in-vehicle device, the notification signal can be output to the in-vehicle device. For example, a communication terminal, such as a smartphone, may only have one terminal for connecting to an external device for communication, but even in such cases, the communication terminal can send and receive data with both the receiver and the in-vehicle device.

[0010] (3) The receiver has a first terminal for wired connection to the communication terminal and a second terminal for wired connection to the in-vehicle device, the communication unit has a third terminal for wired connection to the first terminal, and the control unit outputs the notification signal to the in-vehicle device via the third terminal, the first terminal and the second terminal.

[0011] In this way, even if a communication terminal, such as a smartphone, has only one terminal for connecting to an external device, the communication terminal can still send and receive data between itself and the receiver and the in-vehicle device via a wired communication path.

[0012] (4) The receiver operates by receiving power from the vehicle, and the control unit operates by receiving power via the receiver.

[0013] In this configuration, the communication terminal operates by receiving power from the vehicle via a receiver, thus reducing the likelihood of it becoming inoperable due to battery depletion while the vehicle is in motion.

[0014] (5) The receivers include a first receiver and a second receiver, and it is preferable that the first receiver and the second receiver receive different enforcement signals from each other.

[0015] This makes it easier to position the receiver in a location suitable for receiving each speed enforcement signal, and as a result, the accuracy of notifications corresponding to the received speed enforcement signal can be improved, contributing to safer driving for users.

[0016] (6) When the in-vehicle device and the communication unit can communicate, the control unit may output the notification signal based on the location information obtained from the vehicle and the location information of the speed enforcement point stored in the database in advance.

[0017] In this way, even if the communication terminal does not have a positioning unit, or if it has a positioning unit but its positioning accuracy is poor, or if it is located in a position where it is difficult to receive positioning signals, accurate notification of location information can be performed. For example, the positioning unit on the vehicle side may have higher positioning accuracy, or it may be located in a position where it can easily receive positioning signals.

[0018] (7) The vehicle is equipped with a positioning unit that measures the position of the communication terminal and generates position information, and the control unit may perform the following processes: output a first notification signal to notify that the vehicle and the speed enforcement point are in a predetermined proximity relationship based on the position information obtained from the vehicle and the position information of the speed enforcement point, and output a second notification signal to notify that the vehicle and the speed enforcement point are in a predetermined proximity relationship based on the position information generated by the positioning unit and the position information of the speed enforcement point.

[0019] In this way, location information generated by the positioning unit of the communication terminal and location information acquired from the vehicle can be selectively used to provide accurate notifications based on location information. For example, it is possible to use either the positioning unit of the communication terminal or the positioning unit of the vehicle, whichever has higher positioning accuracy.

[0020] (8) The control unit may perform a process to display on a map the locations of speed enforcement points that emit the enforcement waves, which have been stored in the database in advance. If the communication unit can communicate with the receiver, it may output a notification signal along with the map to display information indicating that the vehicle and the speed enforcement point are in a predetermined proximity relationship.

[0021] With this configuration, notification can be provided when the vehicle and the speed enforcement location have a predetermined approaching relationship, regardless of whether a connection is established with a receiver. When connected to a receiver, notification can also be provided when an enforcement wave is actually received, thereby further improving the notification accuracy.

[0022] (9) It is preferable to comprise a voice recognition unit that recognizes input user voice, wherein when a predetermined keyword is recognized from the user's voice, the control unit switches the state of a predetermined function specified by the keyword to a second state if the function is in a first state, and switches the state to the first state if the function is in the second state.

[0023] With this configuration, even when the same keyword is recognized from the user's voice, the direction of state switching is changed according to the current state. Therefore, compared to the case where the switching direction must also be recognized from the user's voice together with the keyword, control intended by the user can be performed more reliably. Furthermore, since the cabin of a vehicle may be in a relatively noisy environment, shorter keywords to be recognized are advantageous. In addition, the quality of the voice recognition function is sometimes better in communication terminals exemplified by smartphones than in in-vehicle devices. Accordingly, control intended by the user can be executed more reliably.

[0024] (10) It is preferable that the keyword indicates a component device used for executing the function or a name of the function.

[0025] With this configuration, the user only needs to speak the name of the component device used for executing the function or the name of the function, and compared to the case where the direction of state switching must also be recognized from the user's voice together with the name of the component device or the function, control intended by the user can be performed more reliably.

[0026] (11) It is preferable that the control unit executes a process of recording the speed of the vehicle when the enforcement wave is received, and a process of displaying the recorded speed of the vehicle.

[0027] This allows the vehicle's speed as it approaches a speed enforcement point to be confirmed. For example, even if the speed measured when approaching a speed enforcement point is incorrect, the user can still see the actual speed of the vehicle.

[0028] (12) The control unit may perform the following processes: recording the speed of the vehicle for a predetermined period before the vehicle comes to a stop, and displaying the recorded speed of the vehicle.

[0029] In this way, if a vehicle is stopped at a speed enforcement point, the vehicle's speed before the stop can be confirmed. For example, even if the speed measured when approaching the speed enforcement point was incorrect, the actual speed of the vehicle can be shown.

[0030] (13) The recording process may be a process for recording vehicle speed pulses.

[0031] This method reduces the possibility of tampering with recorded vehicle speeds, allowing for the display of more reliable vehicle speeds.

[0032] (14) It is advisable to record the speed of the vehicle calculated based on the change in the vehicle's position information.

[0033] In this way, even if information that identifies the vehicle's speed cannot be obtained from the vehicle itself, such as a vehicle speed pulse, the vehicle's speed can be recorded and displayed, for example, based on changes in position information generated by the positioning unit.

[0034] (15) The display process may include displaying the temporal changes in the recorded vehicle speed using animation.

[0035] This method makes it easier to visually grasp the temporal changes in the recorded vehicle speed.

[0036] (16) The display process may include displaying the temporal change in the vehicle's speed using an animation with a meter.

[0037] In this way, the vehicle's speed changes over time are displayed using a display that mimics a digital tachometer, making it easier to visually grasp those changes.

[0038] (17) A receiver is provided which is provided in a vehicle and has a receiving unit for receiving speed enforcement signals for measuring the speed of the vehicle, a first terminal for wired connection to an external communication terminal, and a second terminal for wired connection to an in-vehicle device that communicates with the communication terminal and displays information about the functions of the communication terminal, and a control unit which performs the process of outputting a signal indicating the result of receiving the speed enforcement signals in the receiver to the communication terminal via the first terminal, and when it receives a notification signal from the communication terminal via the first terminal for notification according to the reception result, it outputs the notification signal to the in-vehicle device via the second terminal.

[0039] In this way, a communication terminal, such as a smartphone, and an in-vehicle device installed in the vehicle work together to provide users with highly convenient functions regarding the notification of information about speed enforcement. Since the receiver is separate from the communication terminal and the in-vehicle device, it offers greater flexibility in placement and can be easily positioned in the vehicle to receive enforcement signals. Since the notification of the vehicle's proximity to a speed enforcement point is provided by the communication terminal via the in-vehicle device, the problem of users having difficulty grasping the information due to the small display screen of the communication terminal is mitigated. Furthermore, users do not need to fix the communication terminal in a holder installed on the dashboard to use it as a receiver or monitor for enforcement signals. This reduces the possibility of giving people outside the vehicle the impression that the driver is using a communication terminal while driving, so-called "distracted driving."

[0040] (18) The control unit has a third terminal that receives power from the vehicle, and a power management unit that converts the power input to the third terminal into a voltage for operating the communication terminal and outputs it to the communication terminal via the first terminal, and the control unit may operate using the power input via the third terminal.

[0041] In this configuration, the communication terminal operates by receiving power from the vehicle via a receiver, thus reducing the likelihood of it becoming inoperable due to battery depletion while the vehicle is in motion.

[0042] (19) A program is provided to enable a computer to implement the functions of the control unit of any of the above systems.

[0043] The inventions described in (1) to (19) above can be combined in any way. For example, one could combine all or part of the configuration of the invention described in (1) with at least part of the configuration of at least one of the inventions described in (2) and onward. In particular, one could combine the invention described in (1) with at least part of the configuration of at least one of the inventions described in (2) and onward. Alternatively, one could extract any configuration from the inventions described in (1) to (19) and combine the extracted configurations. The applicant of this application intends to acquire rights to inventions that include these configurations. Furthermore, even if there are descriptions such as "in the case of..." or "when...", these are not meant to indicate that the configuration is limited to that case or time. These are merely examples of better configurations, and the applicant intends to acquire rights to configurations that do not fall under these cases or times. Also, even if there is a sequence of descriptions, the order is not limited to that sequence. Configurations with some parts deleted or the order rearranged are also disclosed, and the applicant intends to acquire rights to them as well. [Effects of the Invention]

[0044] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technology for notifying information related to speed enforcement.

[0045] The effects of the present invention are not limited thereto, and the effects produced by the components of the structure disclosed in this specification and the drawings are also disclosed. The present invention intends to obtain rights to the components that produce such effects through divisional applications, amendments, etc. For example, the phrases "can do..." in this specification are descriptions that specify the effects produced, and there are components that produce effects even without such descriptions. Furthermore, there are effects that can be grasped by the component even without such descriptions. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0046] [Figure 1] This is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This diagram shows an overview of the functions of the system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a receiver according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a communication terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] This figure shows an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of the in-vehicle device when the application according to the first embodiment is executed. [Figure 6] This flowchart shows the operation of the communication terminal and in-vehicle device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] This figure shows an example of an alarm screen according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] This flowchart shows the operation of the communication terminal and in-vehicle device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] This figure shows an example of an alarm screen according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] This is an example of another external configuration of the receiver according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] This is an explanatory diagram of the method for recording the vehicle speed of the history display function according to the second embodiment. [Figure 12] This is an explanatory diagram of the method for displaying the vehicle speed in the history display function according to the second embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0047] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The embodiments shown below are examples of embodiments of the present disclosure, and the present disclosure is not limited to these embodiments. In the drawings referenced in these embodiments, the same parts or parts having similar functions are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals (simply a number followed by A, B, etc.), and repeated explanations may be omitted. Also, in the figures referenced in the following description, the scale may be different from the actual scale in order to make each component, each area, etc. recognizable. The following description will describe the case in which the system of the present disclosure is applied to a system mounted on a vehicle that detects a speed enforcement device. The vehicle may be an automobile, but is not limited to a four-wheeled automobile; for example, it may be a two-wheeled vehicle such as a motorcycle or a large transport vehicle with four or more wheels.

[0048] [1. First Embodiment] <1-1. Structure> Figure 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of System 1 according to the first embodiment. Figure 1 shows a view of the area around the front dashboard 41 from the rear seat position in the passenger compartment of a vehicle 40. System 1 comprises a receiver 10, a communication terminal 20, and an in-vehicle device 30. The receiver 10 and the communication terminal 20 are connected using a cable 50. The receiver 10 and the in-vehicle device 30 are connected using a cable 60. Cables 50 and 60 each function as wired communication paths. Cables 50 and 60 may have signal lines for transmitting various signals as well as power lines for supplying power. The in-vehicle device 30 can communicate with an external terminal via a cable connected to a terminal 43 mounted on the vehicle 40. Terminal 43 is, for example, compatible with the USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard.

[0049] The receiver 10 is a receiver located in the vehicle 40. The receiver 10 is also called the antenna unit. In this embodiment, the receiver 10 is located on the dashboard 41. The receiver 10 is, for example, rectangular in shape, but its external shape is not limited. The receiver 10 receives enforcement waves emitted from the speed measuring device 90. Enforcement waves are electromagnetic waves that indicate the presence of a speed enforcement point, which is a location where vehicle speed enforcement takes place. The receiver 10 receives enforcement waves that have passed through, for example, the windshield 42. The speed measuring device 90 is installed at a speed enforcement point and emits enforcement waves. There are various types of speed measuring devices 90, for example, radar type and laser type. A radar type speed measuring device 90 transmits radar waves as enforcement waves. A laser type speed measuring device 90 transmits laser light as enforcement waves. Laser light and radar waves can also be called measuring waves for measuring the speed of a vehicle. Speed ​​enforcement locations are determined by considering factors such as vehicle driving conditions (for example, areas where vehicles are likely to speed) and the occurrence of traffic accidents (for example, locations with a high number of accidents). One example of a speed enforcement location is a curve or the area around a curve on a road that vehicles are traveling on.

[0050] The communication terminal 20 is a communication terminal carried by the user. In this embodiment, the communication terminal 20 is not manufactured as a dedicated product for a so-called radar / laser detector, but is a general-purpose communication terminal. The communication terminal 20 is, for example, a smartphone, but it may also be a tablet computer or a wearable computer. The communication terminal 20 works in conjunction with the receiver 10 and the in-vehicle device 30 to realize an alarm function. The alarm function is a function that notifies information about speed enforcement locations for vehicles. When the receiver 10 receives an enforcement signal, the communication terminal 20 outputs a notification signal, which is a signal for issuing an alarm, to the in-vehicle device 30 via the in-vehicle device 30. The alarm function is a function realized by an application program (application 281 described later) that runs on an operating system (for example, iOS® or Android®) installed on the communication terminal 20.

[0051] The in-vehicle device 30 is a device mounted on the vehicle 40. The in-vehicle device 30 is a device that is pre-installed before the vehicle 40 is shipped, but it may also be a device that is retrofitted by the user. The in-vehicle device 30 communicates (i.e., cooperates) with the communication terminal 20 and notifies information about the functions (e.g., alarm functions) that the communication terminal 20 has. The functions that the in-vehicle device 30 realizes by cooperating with the communication terminal 20 are realized by Apple CarPlay®, Android Auto®, or similar functions, but are not limited to these.

[0052] The in-vehicle device 30 includes a display unit 31 and an operation unit 32. The display unit 31 displays images. The display unit 31 is, for example, a liquid crystal display. The operation unit 32 receives user input. The operation unit 32 has, for example, multiple physical buttons, but may also have touch sensors superimposed on the display unit 31 or other means of operation. The in-vehicle device 30 may display information related to alarms on the display unit 31 in response to notification signals from the communication terminal 20, or output audio related to alarms from a speaker (not shown). The in-vehicle device 30 outputs operation signals to the communication terminal 20 indicating operations received by the operation unit 32.

[0053] In addition to the above, the in-vehicle device 30 may also function as a navigation device, displaying a map, showing the location of the vehicle 40 on the map, and providing route guidance. The navigation function of the in-vehicle device 30 can be implemented without linking with the communication terminal 20.

[0054] The on-board device 30 or vehicle 40 has a positioning unit that measures the current position of the vehicle 40 and generates position information indicating the measured position. The positioning unit receives positioning signals using, for example, a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) such as GPS (Global Positioning System), GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System), Galileo, or Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), and generates position information based on the received positioning signals. The position information may be specified by, for example, latitude and longitude information. In the following description, the position information generated by the on-board device 30 or vehicle 40 may be referred to as "position information on the vehicle 40 side".

[0055] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the overview of the functions of System 1. The receiver 10 is connected to the accessory power supply of the vehicle 40. The receiver 10 operates on a DC 12V power supply. The receiver 10 outputs data indicating the reception result of the enforcement signal (hereinafter referred to as "reception result data") to the communication terminal 20 via cable 50. The receiver 10 converts the DC 12V voltage to a DC 5V voltage and outputs power for operation to the communication terminal 20. Based on the reception result data, the communication terminal 20 outputs a notification signal related to the alarm function to the in-vehicle device 30 via cable 60. The communication terminal 20 operates on power supplied from an internal battery (not shown) and DC 5V power supplied from the receiver 10. The in-vehicle device 30 displays information based on the data from the communication terminal 20. For example, this data may include a notification signal for issuing an alarm. Furthermore, the in-vehicle device 30 outputs signals such as operation signals indicating operations performed on the operation unit 32 and location information to the communication terminal 20 via the cable 60.

[0056] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the receiver 10. The control unit 11 controls various parts of the receiver 10. The control unit 11 is, for example, a computer including an arithmetic processing circuit and memory. The arithmetic processing circuit includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or other arithmetic processing circuits. The memory includes, for example, RAM (Random Access Memory) or other volatile memory. The arithmetic processing circuit performs various controls by temporarily reading data into memory and performing arithmetic processing. This data includes the program executed by the control unit 11.

[0057] The light-receiving unit 12 is an example of a receiving unit that receives laser light from a speed measuring device 90 compatible with a laser system. The laser light is a pulsed laser having a predetermined pulse width. The laser light belongs to the infrared region, for example, and is one of 850 nm, 905 nm, 950 nm, or 1900 nm. The pulse width is, for example, approximately 20 ns or approximately 15 ns. The pulse interval is, for example, approximately 80 ms. "Approximately" means within a predetermined range that can be considered to be the same as or substantially the same as a reference value. The light-receiving unit 12 receives light incident through a window provided on the vehicle's direction of travel side of the receiver 10 and outputs a signal corresponding to the received light to the control unit 11. The window may be provided with optical elements such as a visible light cut filter or a lens. The signal output by the light-receiving unit 12 changes, for example, according to the amount of light received by the light-receiving unit 12. The light-receiving unit 12 is equipped with a photodiode as a light-receiving element, for example, but may also be a phototransistor or other light-receiving element. The light-receiving unit 12 has sensitivity in at least the infrared light region. The light-receiving unit 12 may also have an A / D conversion circuit or the like that converts the analog signal from the light-receiving element into a digital signal.

[0058] The radar receiver 13 receives radar waves as enforcement waves from a speed measuring device 90 compatible with the radar system. The radar waves include predetermined microwaves, stealth waves that emit radio waves only at the moment a predetermined stealth enforcement device measures, normal radar waves, new radar waves corresponding to the K-band and X-band, and cancellation notifications. The radar receiver 13 has, for example, an antenna and a receiving circuit.

[0059] The radio receiver 14 receives radio signals of a predetermined frequency. These radio signals are examples of enforcement signals indicating the presence of speed enforcement locations. Examples of these radio signals include those belonging to frequencies such as enforcement radio, car location radio, digital radio, low-power radio, local police radio, police telephone, police activity radio, tow truck radio, helicopter telemetry radio, fire department helicopter telemetry radio, fire department radio, ambulance radio, highway radio, and police radio. The radio receiver 14 includes, for example, an antenna and a receiving circuit.

[0060] The first terminal 15 is connected to cable 50. The first terminal 15 is connected to the communication terminal 20 via cable 50. The second terminal 16 is connected to cable 60. The second terminal 16 is connected to the in-vehicle device 30 via cable 60. The first terminal 15 and the second terminal 16 may have pins for data input / output and pins for power transmission, for example, to support the proprietary standards of the manufacturer of the communication terminal 20 or general standards such as USB. The first terminal 15 is an example of a communication unit that communicates with the communication terminal 20, and the second terminal 16 is an example of a communication unit that communicates with the in-vehicle device 30. The third terminal 17 has a terminal to which a cable for connecting to the accessory power supply of the vehicle 40 is connected. The power management unit 18 has a DC-DC converter that converts the power input from the third terminal 17 from DC12V to DC5V. The control unit 11 supplies power to each part of the receiver 10 based on the power input from the third terminal 17 to the power management unit 18. Furthermore, the control unit 11 implements a power control function that outputs the power after voltage conversion by the power management unit 18 to the communication terminal 20 via the first terminal 15.

[0061] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the communication terminal 20. The control unit 21 controls each part of the communication terminal 20. The control unit 21 is, for example, a computer including an arithmetic processing circuit and memory. The arithmetic processing circuit includes, for example, a CPU, ASIC, FPGA, or other arithmetic processing circuit. The memory includes, for example, RAM or other volatile memory. The arithmetic processing circuit performs various controls by temporarily reading data into the memory and performing arithmetic processing. This data includes a program. The control unit 21 supplies power to each part of the communication terminal 20 based on the power input from terminal 27. In this way, the communication terminal 20 operates by receiving power from the vehicle via the receiver 10, thus reducing the possibility of it becoming inoperable due to battery depletion while the vehicle is running. Furthermore, the control unit 21 has a voice recognition function. The voice recognition function recognizes the user's voice input into the microphone 25. The voice recognition function is the process of converting the user's voice into a string of characters (text code). When the control unit 21 recognizes a voice instruction from the user using the voice recognition function, it executes a control corresponding to the voice instruction.

[0062] The display unit 22 displays an image in the display area. The display unit 22 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display. The operation unit 23 receives operations performed by the user. The operation unit 23 includes, for example, a touch sensor superimposed on the display area or physical buttons. The wireless communication unit 24 connects to a mobile communication network or a public communication network to perform wireless communication. The wireless communication unit 24 includes, for example, a wireless communication circuit and an antenna. The wireless communication unit 24 may perform wireless communication using, for example, Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth®, or other methods. The microphone 25 converts the voice input by the user into an audio signal and supplies it to the control unit 21. The speaker 26 converts the audio signal supplied from the control unit 21 into audio and outputs it.

[0063] Terminal 27 is an example of a third terminal to which cable 50 is connected. Terminal 27 is connected to receiver 10 via cable 50. Terminal 27 is an example of a communication unit that communicates with receiver 10 or in-vehicle device 30.

[0064] The memory unit 28 stores data. The memory unit 28 stores, for example, applications 281 for the control unit 21 to perform various controls. The control unit 21 reads the applications 281 from the memory unit 28 into memory and executes them. The memory unit 28 stores a database 282 that stores location information of alarm targets. The location information stored in the database 282 is downloaded by the control unit 21 from a predetermined server device based on the function of the application 281. Alarm targets include speed enforcement points. More specifically, alarm targets are, for example, speed measuring devices 90 (e.g., laser type, radar type, loop coil type, H system, LH system, photoelectric tube type, mobile type, etc.). Other objects that can be warned include locations of accidents caused by drowsy driving, speed limit change points, enforcement areas, checkpoint areas, parking violation monitoring areas, N-systems, traffic monitoring systems, intersection monitoring points, red light violation prevention systems, police stations, accident-prone areas, car break-in-prone areas, sharp / continuous curves (expressways), junction / merging points (expressways), ETC lane advance warnings (expressways), service areas (expressways), parking areas (expressways), highway oases (expressways), smart interchanges (expressways), gas stations within PA / SA (expressways), tunnels (expressways), highway radio reception areas (expressways), prefectural border notices, roadside stations (registered trademarks), viewpoint parking areas, etc. Database 282 should store the type information of these objects to be warned, location information indicating their location, image data (e.g., schematic diagram or photograph) to be displayed on the display unit 22, and audio data in association with each other.

[0065] The storage unit 28 may include a storage medium for permanently storing data. The storage unit 28 may include, for example, an optical recording medium, a magnetic recording medium, a semiconductor recording medium, or other recording media. The data stored in the storage unit 28 may be stored in cloud computing or other external storage means as appropriate.

[0066] The positioning unit 29 measures the current location of the communication terminal 20 and generates location information indicating the location of the communication terminal 20. The positioning unit 29 receives positioning signals using, for example, a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) such as GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, or Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), and generates location information based on the received positioning signals. The location information may be identified, for example, by latitude and longitude information.

[0067] Figure 5 shows an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 31 of the in-vehicle device 30 when application 281 is executed. By linking the communication terminal 20 and the in-vehicle device 30, a standby screen G including icon I0 corresponding to application 281 is displayed. For example, when icon I is selected by operating the operation unit 32 of the in-vehicle device 30 or the operation unit 23 of the communication terminal 20, the control unit 21 starts application 281 and performs various controls related to the alarm function described below. The alarm function is broadly divided into a first alarm function and a second alarm function.

[0068] <1-2. Operation> <1-2-1. First Alarm Function> The operation of this embodiment will now be described. Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the communication terminal 20 and the in-vehicle device 30. First, the linkage between the alarm function of the communication terminal 20 and the function of the in-vehicle device 30 is initiated by user operation or by the connection between the communication terminal 20 and the in-vehicle device 30 (step S1).

[0069] Next, the operation of the communication terminal 20 will be described. When the linkage in step S1 is initiated, the control unit 21 acquires reception result data from the receiver 10 via terminal 27 (step S2). Next, the control unit 21 determines whether the receiver 10 has received the speed enforcement signal based on the acquired reception result data (step S3). The reception result data should preferably be a signal that can identify at least whether or not a speed enforcement signal has been received, and it is even better if it is a signal that can identify at least one of the type (method) of the speed measuring device 90 and the intensity of the speed enforcement signal. The following describes the case in which the presence or absence of a speed enforcement signal, the type (method) of the speed measuring device 90, and the intensity of the speed enforcement signal can be identified.

[0070] If "NO" is determined in step S3, the control unit 21 returns to the processing in step S2. If "YES" is determined in step S3, the control unit 21 outputs a notification signal to the in-vehicle device 30 via terminal 27 to warn of approaching a speed enforcement point (step S4). The notification signal should be a signal that allows the user to recognize the presence of a speed enforcement point by notifying the information on the in-vehicle device 30, and should include at least a signal to control the display on the display unit 31 of the warning screen. The control unit 21 should output the notification signal so that the content of the warning differs depending on the type of speed enforcement point and the frequency of the radio signal.

[0071] Next, the control unit 21 determines whether to terminate the process shown in Figure 6 (step S5). The trigger for terminating the process is not particularly specified, but it may be triggered, for example, by user operation or by the disconnection of the connection between the communication terminal 20 and the in-vehicle device 30. If "NO" is determined in step S5, the control unit 21 returns to the process in step S2 and repeats the above process. The control unit 21 determines "NO" in step S3 when the enforcement signal is no longer received, and stops outputting the notification signal. If "YES" is determined in step S5, the control unit 21 terminates the process shown in Figure 6.

[0072] Next, the operation of the in-vehicle device 30 will be explained. When the linkage in step S1 is initiated, the in-vehicle device 30 determines whether it has received a notification signal from the communication terminal 20 (step S11). If it determines "NO" in step S11, the in-vehicle device 30 returns to the process of step S11. If it determines "YES" in step S11, the in-vehicle device 30 performs a warning control to alert the vehicle of approaching a speed enforcement point based on the notification signal (step S12). The warning control should be performed in a manner that allows the user to recognize the presence of a speed enforcement point according to the notification signal, and should at least include control to display a warning screen on the display unit 31. The warning should be a control that alerts not only by display, but also by light, sound (warning voice), a combination thereof, or other human-perceptible methods.

[0073] Figure 7 shows an example of an alarm screen. The alarm screen shown in Figure 7 is a screen in which window W1 is placed overlaid on a map screen M1. The in-vehicle device 30 issues an alarm by displaying window W1 overlaid on the map M. Map M is identified based on map data and location information generated by the positioning unit 29 or location information from the vehicle 40. An icon I indicating the location of the vehicle 40 (own vehicle position) is placed on map M. The own vehicle position is identified based on location information from the positioning unit of the in-vehicle device 30. Map M may be displayed based on a notification signal, but if map data used in the navigation system etc. installed in the in-vehicle device 30 is used, the amount of notification signal transmission is reduced, making it easier to issue alarms at a timely time, for example. Note that the icon in this embodiment may be replaced with characters, symbols, figures, or other objects.

[0074] In the example shown in Figure 7(A), window W1 displays the message "Speed ​​enforcement point," indicating the presence of a speed enforcement point. The on-board device 30 may also output the voice message "Speed ​​enforcement point" from a speaker (not shown). If the on-board device 30 can determine the type of speed enforcement point (e.g., laser type, radar type, fixed type, mobile type), it may control the device to issue a warning that includes notification of the type of speed enforcement device. The control unit 11 may, for example, notify the driver by displaying the message "Radar type speed enforcement point" in window W2, as shown in Figure 7(B).

[0075] <1-2-2. Second Alarm Function> Figure 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the communication terminal 20 and the in-vehicle device 30. During the linkage in step S1, the communication terminal 20 and the in-vehicle device 30 execute the processes described below. The trigger for starting the operation of the receiver 10 may be the same as in <1-2-1. First alarm function>.

[0076] In the communication terminal 20, the control unit 21 acquires location information (step S21). Here, the control unit 21 acquires location information from the vehicle 40, which is generated by the in-vehicle device 30 or the vehicle 40, via terminal 27. This is because accurate location information can be obtained even if the communication terminal 20 is not located near the windshield of the vehicle 40, resulting in poor reception sensitivity of location information, or if the positioning accuracy of the positioning unit 29 is inferior to that of the in-vehicle device 30 or the vehicle 40.

[0077] Next, the control unit 21 compares the location information stored in the database 282 with the location information acquired in step S21 (step S22). Next, the control unit 21 determines whether the vehicle 40 and the speed enforcement point are in a predetermined proximity relationship based on the location information acquired in step S21 and any of the location information stored in the database 282 (step S23). A predetermined proximity relationship may be, for example, when the distance between the location information of the speed enforcement point and the location information of the vehicle 40 is less than or equal to a predetermined distance (for example, 1 km or less). In addition to this, a predetermined proximity relationship may be determined based on location relationships such as the speed enforcement point being in the direction of travel of the vehicle or the speed enforcement point being on the road the vehicle is traveling on.

[0078] If "YES" is determined in step S23, the control unit 21 outputs a warning signal to the in-vehicle device 30 via terminal 27 to alert the vehicle of approaching a speed enforcement point (step S24). The warning signal may be the same as the warning signal transmitted in step S4, but the content of the warning control may be different.

[0079] Next, the control unit 21 determines whether to terminate the process shown in Figure 8 (step S25). The trigger for terminating the process is not particularly specified, but it may be triggered, for example, by user operation or by the disconnection of the connection between the communication terminal 20 and the in-vehicle device 30. If "NO" is determined in step S25, the control unit 21 returns to the process in step S21 and repeats the above process. If the control unit 21 determines "NO" in step S23 and no longer determines that the vehicle is in a predetermined proximity relationship with a speed enforcement point, it stops outputting the notification signal. If "YES" is determined in step S25, the control unit 21 terminates the process shown in Figure 8.

[0080] Next, the operation of the in-vehicle device 30 will be explained. The on-board device 30 transmits position information indicating the position measured by the positioning unit on the vehicle 40 to the communication terminal 20 (step S31). Next, the on-board device 30 determines whether it has received a notification signal from the communication terminal 20 (step S32). If it determines "NO" in step S32, the on-board device 30 returns to the process of step S31. If it determines "YES" in step S32, the on-board device 30 performs alarm control (step S33). The alarm control may include the display of an alarm screen. The alarm control may be the same as the alarm control in step S12, but the content of the alarm control may be different.

[0081] Figure 9 shows an example of a warning screen. The warning screen shown in Figure 9 is a screen in which window W3 is overlaid on map M. Window W3 displays the message, "This is a registered speed enforcement point." The in-vehicle device 30 should also output the voice message, "This is a registered speed enforcement point," from its speaker. In this way, the presence of a speed enforcement point can be notified based on the location of the vehicle 40, so the receiver 10 can notify the vehicle of its presence even if it does not receive a speed enforcement signal.

[0082] In this way, by utilizing the linkage function exemplified by Apple CarPlay, the receiver 10, communication terminal 20, and in-vehicle device 30 can work together to provide a highly convenient warning function for the user, contributing to the user's safe driving. The receiver 10 does not need to have a display unit exemplified by an LCD display or an operating unit exemplified by a touch sensor, as in conventional radar detectors, so costs can be reduced and miniaturization can be expected.

[0083] Furthermore, since the communication terminal 20 can acquire location information from the in-vehicle device 30 or vehicle 40, even if the communication terminal 20 does not have a positioning unit 29, or if it has a positioning unit but its positioning accuracy is not good, or if it is located in a position where it is difficult to receive signals for positioning, it can still accurately provide notifications according to the location information. In addition, the communication terminal 20 has a database 282, and the information in the database 282 can be updated by communication from the wireless communication unit 24. Therefore, the receiver 10 does not need a communication function or an SD card slot for acquiring updated speed enforcement location data. Moreover, the receiver 10 does not require a speaker to output sound such as an alarm sound, and since the power for operation is supplied by turning the accessory power of the vehicle 40 ON / OFF, no switch components are needed, so the receiver 10 has the advantage of cost reduction and the elimination of all holes (for example, the only hole in the receiver 10 is the power hole). Therefore, waterproof design of the receiver 10 is simplified, making it easier to use as a receiver for motorcycles, for example. For example, it is highly likely that this could be developed by simply modifying a conventional radar detector by adding or removing a waterproof gasket.

[0084] Figure 10 shows an example of another external configuration of the receiver 10 designed in this way. Figure 10(A) is a view of the receiver 10 from the front, and Figure 10(B) is a view of the receiver 10 from the rear. The receiver 10 is installed on the dashboard, for example, using double-sided tape. The housing of the receiver 10 is made of resin or other material. The receiver 10 is broadly divided into a main body 101 and a fixing part 102. The main body 101 is a rectangular parallelepiped that is longer in the left-right direction than in the up-down direction and has a relatively short thickness. Unlike conventional monitor-type radar detectors, there is no display unit such as an LCD or touch sensor on the front side, and an opening on the front side of the main body 101 is unnecessary. On the rear side of the main body 101, there is a focusing lens 121 for a light receiving unit 12 that receives laser light from the speed measuring device 90. A power supply hole 1011 is also provided on the rear side of the main body 101. The main body 101 may also contain various other components as described in Figure 2. The fixing part 102 is provided below the main body 101 and is a fixing member for fixing the main body 101 in a predetermined location. The fixing part 102 is also called a bracket and functions as a base for the receiver 10. The main body 101 can change its orientation up and down and left and right while mounted on the fixing part 102.

[0085] According to the embodiment described above, the communication terminal 20, exemplified by a smartphone, and the in-vehicle device 30 installed in the vehicle 40 work together to provide a highly convenient function for the user regarding notification of information related to speed enforcement. Since the receiver 10 is separate from the communication terminal 20 and the in-vehicle device 30, it offers greater flexibility in placement and can be easily positioned in the vehicle 40 to receive enforcement signals. Since the notification that the vehicle 40 and the speed enforcement point are in a predetermined proximity is made by the communication terminal 20 via the in-vehicle device 30, the problem of the user having difficulty grasping the information due to the small display screen of the communication terminal 20 can be mitigated. In addition, the user does not need to fix the communication terminal 20 in a holder installed on the dashboard 41 to use it as a receiver or monitor for enforcement signals. This reduces the possibility of giving people outside the vehicle 40 the impression that the driver is using the communication terminal 20 while driving, so-called "distracted driving."

[0086] <1-3. Modifications of the First Embodiment> This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and may be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0087] <1-3-1. Integration with other applications> In the first embodiment described above, the receiver 10 acted as a hub, and the communication terminal 20 and the in-vehicle device 30 were electrically connected via the receiver 10. Alternatively, the communication terminal 20 may be directly connected to both the receiver 10 and the in-vehicle device 30. For example, a communication terminal 20, exemplified by a smartphone, may have only one terminal for connecting to an external device for communication. Therefore, the communication terminal 20 may be connected to the receiver 10 by wireless communication of the wireless communication unit 24. In this case, the control unit 21 acquires received result data from the receiver 10 using the wireless communication unit 24. The control unit 21 may communicate with the in-vehicle device 30 via terminal 27 without going through the receiver 10. Alternatively, the communication terminal 20 may communicate with the in-vehicle device 30 using wireless communication, exemplified by Wi-Fi.

[0088] <1-3-2. Alarm Control Function> The control unit 21 of the communication terminal 20 may further have an alarm control function. The alarm control function controls whether to operate the first alarm function or the second alarm function. For example, if the receiver 10 and the communication terminal 20 are not connected, the alarm control function may execute the second alarm function without executing the first alarm function. If the receiver 10 and the communication terminal 20 are connected, the alarm control function may execute both the first alarm function and the second alarm function. Furthermore, the alarm control function may execute one or both of the alarm functions depending on the user settings. In addition, the first alarm function may be implemented by application 281, and the second alarm function may be implemented by an application installed on the communication terminal 20 (for example, an application with navigation functionality, such as a map application). In this case, the application and application 281 work together to implement the first and second alarm functions. The second alarm function may also be implemented by a navigation function installed in the in-vehicle device 30.

[0089] <1-3-3. Positioning Unit Switching Function> The control unit 21 of the communication terminal 20 may have a function (positioning unit switching function) that allows setting (switching) whether to use the positioning unit 29 or the positioning unit on the vehicle 40 based on the application 281. For example, the control unit 21 sets it to one of the two in response to user operation using the operation unit 23 or the operation unit 32. When the control unit 21 uses location information acquired from the vehicle 40, it outputs a first notification signal to notify that the vehicle 40 and the speed enforcement point are in a predetermined proximity relationship based on that location information and the location information of the speed enforcement point. When the control unit 21 uses location information acquired from the positioning unit 29, it outputs a second notification signal to notify that the vehicle 40 and the speed enforcement point are in a predetermined proximity relationship based on that location information and the location information of the speed enforcement point. In this way, the position information generated by the positioning unit 29 of the communication terminal 20 and the position information acquired from the vehicle 40 can be selectively used to accurately provide notifications according to the location information. For example, it is possible to use either the positioning unit 29 of the communication terminal 20 or the positioning unit on the vehicle 40, whichever has higher positioning accuracy.

[0090] <1-3-4. Integration with other applications> The control unit 21 of the communication terminal 20 may have a linking function that further links application 281 with other applications. Application 281 may link with yet another application, for example, with an application that provides SNS (Social Networking Service) functionality. In this case, when the receiver 10 receives a speed enforcement signal, or when the vehicle 40 is determined to be in a predetermined proximity to a speed enforcement point, the communication terminal 20 may send (upload) posting information to a predetermined SNS server. This can be done manually or automatically. Since the communication terminal 20 often has an application that provides SNS functionality installed, the effort required of the user to post is minimal.

[0091] <1-3-5. Voice Recognition Function> Regarding the voice recognition function, for example, being able to operate CarPlay using Siri® makes it safer for the user to operate the vehicle 40 while it is in motion. Furthermore, it eliminates the need for manual operation of the communication terminal 20 itself, and has the advantage of not giving the impression that the driver is using their smartphone while driving. In this voice recognition function, the communication terminal 20 also performs a process to switch the state of a predetermined function identified by a predetermined keyword when that keyword is recognized as a voice command. When switching states, the communication terminal 20 should switch from the current state to the second state if the current state is the first state, and from the current state to the first state if the current state is the second state. For example, even if the keyword recognized as a voice command is the same, the control unit 21 should switch to a different state from the current state, for example, to the opposite state.

[0092] The keyword may indicate, for example, the name of a component or device or function used to execute a function controlled by voice commands. For example, consider the case where a "monitor" (e.g., display unit 31) is controlled as a component. Normally, there are voice commands such as "monitor on" and "monitor off," but in this embodiment, the control unit 21 recognizes the keyword "monitor" and turns it "off" if the current state is "on," and turns it "on" if the current state is "off." For example, consider the case where a "recording function" is controlled as the name of a function. Normally, there are voice commands such as "record start" and "record finish," but in this embodiment, the control unit 21 recognizes the keyword "record" and turns it "record off" (stops recording) if the current state is "record on" (recording in progress), and turns it "record on" (starts recording) if the current state is "record off" (recording stopped). In this case, it would be easier for the user to understand if the control unit 21 outputs, for example, via the in-vehicle device 30, what kind of control it will execute when it recognizes the keyword. The control unit 21 may output voice commands such as, "Monitor on," "Monitor off," "Recording finished," and "Recording started." In this way, the control unit 21 can pre-select the voice commands that the user should input and return the commands to be executed from the speaker of the in-vehicle device 30, etc., so that the user can know when the voice commands have been completed.

[0093] The above relationship between voice commands and control is illustrative. For example, if System 1 is further linked with a drive recorder, the control unit 21 should recognize the keyword "rokuga" (recording), which indicates the name of the function, and if the current state is "recording on" (recording in progress), it should turn "recording off" (stop recording), and if the current state is "recording off" (recording stopped), it should turn "recording on" (start recording).

[0094] Thus, in the voice recognition function, by eliminating selections such as ON / OFF for functions and using commands that only specify the function (the component / device name and function name mentioned above), and by allowing sequential selection of the opposite setting to the current setting, shorter voice instructions are easier to recognize. If there are many commands, the user may forget them, and if the commands are long, speech may be difficult to recognize due to poor articulation. However, with short commands, the recognition rate without problems is higher. In addition, since various voice instructions can be given using the voice recognition function of the communication terminal 20, operation by the driver while driving is safer. For example, since the communication terminal 20 may have a high-quality voice recognition function, improved accuracy of control in response to voice instructions can be expected compared to conventional in-vehicle devices.

[0095] <1-3-6. Receiver Configuration> In the first embodiment described above, the system 1 had only one receiver 10, but it may have two or more. For example, there may be a first receiver and a second receiver, and the first and second receivers may receive different speed enforcement signals. For example, two or more receivers that receive radar waves, laser light, radio signals, and positioning signals as speed enforcement signals may be separated and implemented in independent housings. In this way, it becomes easier to position the receivers in a location suitable for receiving each speed enforcement signal, and as a result, the accuracy of notification according to the reception of speed enforcement signals can be improved, contributing to safe driving by the user. Furthermore, acceleration sensors and other sensors may be mounted on the receivers. Also, the receivers are not limited to being placed on the top surface of the dashboard or a stand, but may be mounted on a predetermined location on the vehicle 40, such as the windshield.

[0096] <1-3-7. Interoperability with devices other than receiver 10> In System 1, it is also conceivable to link with devices other than the receiver 10, either in place of or in addition to the receiver 10. Various in-vehicle devices can be considered as such devices, but one example is a dashcam. A dashcam has the function of taking pictures, the function of recording the captured images, and may also have the function of displaying the recorded images. In the case of a dashcam, the main unit is usually mounted on the top of the windshield, so it is thought that many people will install it and then not touch it afterward. Therefore, by making it possible to operate the dashcam using the operation unit 32 of the in-vehicle device 30, it becomes easier for the user to operate the dashcam. In addition, it is expected that new functions not found in conventional dashcams will be provided and their use will be promoted. For example, the control unit 21 may display the driving video on the display unit 31 of the in-vehicle device 30 and output audio with a song that the user or the passenger likes, which is stored in the communication terminal 20, overlaid on it.

[0097] [2. Second Embodiment] The following embodiments provide a highly convenient function for users regarding the notification of information related to speed enforcement.

[0098] First, I will explain the background to the conception of this embodiment. When measuring the speed of a vehicle using the speed measuring device 90 described above, there is a possibility that an incorrect speed may be measured. Therefore, in order to protect the driver, we thought that if the radar / laser detector had a function that allowed the user to check the history of reception and warnings when it receives radar waves, laser light, K-band radio waves, or other enforcement signals used during speed enforcement, the occurrence of problems could be suppressed. For example, since the user can check the status such as the speed and location information of the vehicle 40 when a warning is issued, it is an effective self-defense function. On the other hand, devices called digital tachometers are generally expensive, and may be difficult for users to introduce.

[0099] Based on the above reasoning, the control unit 21 of the communication terminal 20 may be configured to have a history display function in place of or in addition to the functions described in the above-described embodiment. The history display function has a function to record the vehicle speed by one of the following methods and a function to display the recorded vehicle speed.

[0100] <2-1. Recording Method for History Display Function - Part 1> The history display function records the vehicle's speed when a speed enforcement signal is received. The recording destination may be a storage device such as an eMMC located inside the receiver 10, or the storage unit 28 of the communication terminal 20. The vehicle speed may be recorded as a vehicle speed pulse. Using a vehicle speed pulse reduces the possibility of data tampering, making it easier to obtain a reliable result as the vehicle's speed when approaching a speed enforcement point. To realize this function, the receiver 10 may further have a cable terminal 19. The cable terminal 19 is an example of a fourth terminal to which an external connection cable is connected. For example, the connection cable is a cable that connects to the OBD-II connector installed in the vehicle. The OBD-II connector is also called a fault diagnosis connector and is connected to the vehicle's ECU, outputting various vehicle information. The vehicle information is assumed to include the vehicle speed pulse. The communication terminal 20 acquires the vehicle speed pulse via the receiver 10.

[0101] <2-2. Recording Method for History Display Function - Part 2> The history display function may display the vehicle's speed when the vehicle 40 was stopped, for example, the period from a predetermined time before the vehicle 40 stopped to the time it stopped. The control unit 21 may determine whether the vehicle 40 has stopped based on the vehicle speed pulse, or it may determine based on the vehicle's speed calculated based on the position information. In particular, in the latter case, it may be determined that the vehicle has stopped when the speed reaches 0 km / h, but considering positioning errors, it may also be determined that the vehicle has stopped when the speed falls below a predetermined speed (for example, 7 km / h). Vehicles that approach a speed enforcement point and become subject to enforcement will be stopped afterward. Therefore, if the history display function records the vehicle's speed when the vehicle 40 was stopped, it can be displayed later and used to check the vehicle's speed.

[0102] Figure 11 is an explanatory diagram of the recording method for the vehicle speed of the history display function. The recording method in Figure 11 may be applied to either <Recording Method for History Display Function - Method 1> or <Recording Method for History Display Function - Method 2>. As shown in Figure 11, the history display function records the vehicle speed for a predetermined number of times (3 times in Figure 11) to display the vehicle speed as an animation for a predetermined time, for example, about 3 minutes. The circled numbers "1", "2", "3", and "4" in Figure 11 correspond to different recording opportunities, with larger numbers corresponding to newer recording opportunities. Subsequently, the history display function overwrites the oldest vehicle speeds first. This specification is advantageous because it does not require a large memory capacity. As a specific recording method, the history display function may sequentially record the vehicle speed as shown in Figure 11(A), and record the speed of vehicle 40 for the last predetermined time just before stopping as the recording period. The recorded data is retained only for the most recent predetermined number of times. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 11(B), the history display function may be configured to set up a separate folder in advance and retain the vehicle's speed for the last predetermined time period immediately before stopping, for the most recent predetermined number of times. In this case, if the time of each data point can be adjusted, three or more data points will be retained.

[0103] Such a history display function is expected to be effective not only for proving the speed of vehicle 40, but also for determining the percentage of fault in the event of an accident. In the event of an accident, the receiver 10 should be equipped with an impact detection sensor (e.g., a G-sensor) to detect the event, and in that case, the control unit 21 should save the video to a separate folder. Furthermore, it would be even better if the recorded vehicle speed could not be overwritten.

[0104] <2-3. How to display the history display function> When the history display function displays the recorded speed of vehicle 40, it is preferable to display the temporal change in the vehicle's speed using animation. For example, the history display function may display the temporal change in the vehicle's speed using an animation with a meter. In this way, the change in the vehicle's speed can be displayed using a display that mimics a digital tachometer. For example, it is preferable to display a screen with a meter as shown in Figure 12, and to display the speed using the image of the meter indicated by the number "1" circled in Figure 12. In a display using a meter image, the history display function displays the vehicle's speed by moving the needle position according to the recorded vehicle's speed. In this way, a pseudo-digital tachometer can be displayed.

[0105] Furthermore, this embodiment is not limited to a self-defense function against mismeasurement of speed, but is also useful for accident investigations (such as calculating the percentage of fault). It can also be used to investigate errors such as driving mistakes by vehicle 40, and to understand situations of aggressive driving or dangerous driving.

[0106] <2-4. Modification of the second embodiment> This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and may be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0107] <3-1> Recording the vehicle speed pulse is desirable from the standpoint of reliability, such as for admissibility as evidence, as described above. However, the control unit 21 may also record the vehicle speed calculated based on the position information obtained from the positioning unit 29 or the vehicle 40. In this case, there is the advantage that an OBD connection is not required.

[0108] <3-2> The vehicle speed may be recorded each time the vehicle 40 stops, but if a one-touch button is added and placed near the user, the recording may be made to occur only when the user requests it (for example, only when a problem occurs). The one-touch button may be the operation unit 32, or it may be a separately provided operating device.

[0109] <3-3> The history display function may display the speed of the vehicle 40 recorded by operating a one-touch button. The history display function may also search by time and display the speed of the vehicle 40 measured at that time.

[0110] <3-4> The history display function may display the change in vehicle speed over time in a way other than the meter. For example, the history display function may display the vehicle speed using a graph. In this case, for example, the horizontal axis of the graph may be the time axis and the vertical axis may be the speed.

[0111] <3-5>The history display function may be implemented in a conventional radar / laser detector (dedicated device). In this case, even if a one-touch button as described in <3-2> is added to the radar detector, the history display function can be implemented without any major changes to the mechanism.

[0112] <3-6> The history display function may record other data that can identify the vehicle's speed. For example, the history display function may be installed in a drive recorder or in a device that works in conjunction with a drive recorder, and may record the speed at the time the enforcement signal was received or the video footage taken when the vehicle was stopped (event recording). In this case, it is advisable to separate the storage area from other event-recorded videos, for example, by creating a separate folder.

[0113] [4. Variant] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and may be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0114] In the embodiment described above, the presence of a speed enforcement point was determined by receiving a speed enforcement signal, but instead of this, or in addition to this, the determination may be made using an image capture method. For example, the communication terminal 20 acquires an image capture from an imaging device installed in a vehicle 40, which is exemplified by a drive recorder, via the wireless communication unit 24. The image capture is, for example, an image of the area in front of the vehicle 40. Then, the control unit 21 analyzes the image capture to determine whether the image capture contains images indicating the presence of a speed enforcement point, such as a speed measuring device 90, signs installed at the speed enforcement point, or police vehicles. The analysis algorithm is not limited, but for example, there are methods using deep learning and methods using machine learning (such as pattern matching). If the control unit 21 recognizes an image indicating the presence of a speed enforcement point from the image capture, it may perform control when a speed enforcement point is present (for example, outputting a notification signal or recording the vehicle's speed).

[0115] The scope of the present invention is not limited to the configurations explicitly described in the specification, but also includes combinations of various aspects of the present invention disclosed herein. While the configurations for which patent protection is sought are specified in the appended claims, the present invention intends to include configurations disclosed herein that are not currently specified in the claims in the future.

[0116] Furthermore, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the configurations explicitly described in the specification, but also includes combinations of various aspects of the present invention disclosed herein. While the configurations for which patent protection is sought are specified in the appended claims, we intend to include configurations disclosed herein that are not currently specified in the claims in the future.

[0117] The present invention is not limited to the configuration described in the embodiments above. The components of each embodiment and modification described above can be arbitrarily selected and combined. Furthermore, any component of each embodiment and modification can be arbitrarily combined with any component described in the means for solving the invention, or any component that embodies any component described in the means for solving the invention. The present application intends to obtain rights to these as well through amendments or divisional applications. Even if there is a description such as "in the case of..." or "when...", it is not meant to be a configuration that is limited to that case or time. Configurations that do not fall under these cases or times are also disclosed, and the present application intends to obtain rights to them. Also, even if there is a sequence of descriptions, it is not limited to that order. Configurations with some parts deleted or the order rearranged are also disclosed, and the present application intends to obtain rights to them.

[0118] Furthermore, by converting to a design registration application, we intend to acquire rights to the overall design or a partial design. The drawing depicts the entire device with solid lines, but it is a drawing that includes not only the overall design but also partial designs claimed for parts of the device. For example, it is a drawing that includes not only a partial design for a part of the device's components, but also a partial design for a part of the device regardless of its components. A part of the device may be a component of the device, or a part of that component. We intend to acquire rights not only to the overall design, but also to any part of the drawing that is represented by dashed lines within the solid lines. In addition, all modules, components, and parts inside the device's casing that are shown in the drawing are independently tradable, and we intend to acquire rights to them by converting to a design registration application. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0119] 1: System 10: Receiver 11: Control Unit 12: Light receiving part 13: Radar receiver 14: Wireless receiver 15: 1st terminal 16: 2nd terminal 17: 3rd terminal 18: Power management department 19: Cable terminals 20: Communication terminals 21: Control Unit 22:Display section 23:Operation section 24: Wireless Communication Department 25: Microphone 26: Speaker 27: Terminals 28: Storage section 29: Positioning Unit 30:In-vehicle equipment 31: Display section 32:Operation unit 40: Vehicles 41: Dashboard 42: Windshield 43: Terminals 50: Cable 60: Cable 90: Speed ​​measuring device 101: Main body 102:Fixed part 121: Focusing lens 281: Application 282: Database 1011: Power hole

Claims

1. It is a communication terminal, Communications Department and, When the receiver receives a speed enforcement signal, or when it is determined that the vehicle is in a predetermined proximity to a speed enforcement point, the control unit uses the communication unit to perform a process of sending posting information to a predetermined SNS server. A communication terminal.

2. The control unit connects the application with an application that provides SNS functionality. The communication terminal according to claim 1.

3. The control unit executes a process to transmit the posted information to the SNS server when the receiver receives the enforcement signal. A communication terminal according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The control unit, when it determines that the vehicle is in a predetermined proximity to the speed enforcement point, executes the process of sending the posted information to the SNS server. A communication terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The process of sending the aforementioned posting information to the SNS server is performed manually. A communication terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The control unit automatically executes the process of sending the posted information to the SNS server. A communication terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

7. The control unit further, A process to acquire an operation signal indicating an operation received by the control unit of an in-vehicle device located in the vehicle, A process to enable operation of the drive recorder in response to the aforementioned operation signal, Execute A communication terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The control unit executes a process to display the video being driven on the display unit of the in-vehicle device. The communication terminal according to claim 7.

9. The control unit performs the process of displaying the video being driven on the display unit of the in-vehicle device and overlaying it with a song stored in the communication terminal for audio output. The communication terminal according to claim 8.

10. A program for causing the computer of a communication terminal to function as the control unit of the communication terminal described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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