Own vehicle position notification system

Abstract

To provide an own vehicle position notification system which enables a predetermined person other than a user outside a vehicle to identify a position of a vehicle in which the user is in.SOLUTION: An own vehicle position notification system 7 comprises a notification device 12 which outputs notification information including light and sound so that a predetermined person 3 outside a vehicle can identify a position of a predetermined parked vehicle 2. The own vehicle position notification system also has: a notification output section 13 which outputs, to the predetermined person 3, a signal notifying that the predetermined vehicle 2 is parking in a predetermined area; and a notification signal output section 14 which receives the signal output from the notification output section 13 and, when a request is made by the predetermined person 3 for outputting the notification information to identify the predetermined vehicle 2 from the notification device 12, outputs a signal causing the notification device 12 to start outputting the notification information to the notification device 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a system for notifying the position of a host vehicle by operating a device that outputs information recognizable from outside the vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a vehicle auto-light device configured to enable a vehicle user to identify the position of the host vehicle at night or the like. This vehicle auto-light device is configured to detect the user's position using the GPS function of a mobile phone owned by the user, and to turn on the headlamp when the user's position is within a predetermined range of the vehicle. In order to reduce the burden on the vehicle auto-light device and lower the power consumption, the vehicle auto-light device requests the user's position information from a server provided outside the vehicle, and when the server receives the above position information request, the server calculates the user's position and transmits the user's position information to the vehicle auto-light device.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The vehicle autolight device described in Patent Document 1 is configured to determine the presence or absence of headlight lighting only by detecting the position information of a pre-registered user. On the other hand, for example, when a service provider who provides a service according to a user's request goes to the vehicle in which the user is riding to provide the service, it is necessary to identify the user's vehicle from an unspecified number of vehicles parked in a predetermined parking area or the like. However, if the position information of the service provider is detected and the headlight is lit as in the device described in Patent Document 1, even when the service provider approaches another vehicle that receives the service provided by the same service provider, there is a possibility that it will be determined that the service provider has approached and the headlight of the own vehicle will be lit. That is, there is a possibility that the vehicle to which the service provider provides the service cannot be appropriately determined.

[0005] This invention has been made paying attention to the above technical problems, and an object thereof is to provide a vehicle position notification system capable of specifying the position of a vehicle in which a user is riding from outside the vehicle by a predetermined other person other than the user.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, this invention provides a vehicle position notification system including a notification device that outputs notification information including the position of a predetermined parked vehicle to a predetermined other person, and a notification output unit that outputs a signal notifying that the predetermined vehicle is in a predetermined area to the predetermined other person, and a notification signal output unit that outputs a signal for starting to output the notification information from the notification device to the notification device, which receives the signal output by the notification output unit. outside the predetermined vehicle a predetermined other light or sound to notify people person, and a notification signal output unit that outputs a signal for starting to output the notification information from the notification device to the notification device, which receives the signal output by the notification output unit. a reservation registration means for ordering, by a passenger of the vehicle, a predetermined service by the predetermined other person, and after the order, The predetermined vehicle is in a predetermined area arrives at and outputs a signal notifying this to the predetermined other person, and a notification signal output unit that outputs a signal for starting to output the notification information from the notification device to the notification device, which receives the signal output by the notification output unit. the predetermined other person receives the signal output by the notification output unit based on the notification information so as to output the notification device a request signal output means for outputting a request signal for requesting the placement, and based on receiving the request signal, and is characterized by including a notification signal output unit that outputs a signal for starting to output the notification information from the notification device to the notification device.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, a self-vehicle position notification system outputs a signal for notifying a predetermined other person that a predetermined vehicle is parked in a predetermined area, and outputs notification information for identifying the predetermined vehicle from a notification device when requested by the predetermined other person. Thus, even when a large number of vehicles are parked in a predetermined area such as a parking lot of a store, only the vehicle (predetermined vehicle) to be identified by the predetermined other person will output the notification information. Therefore, the target vehicle can be easily identified from among a plurality of parked vehicles. That is, the predetermined other person can identify the target vehicle without accurately identifying the vehicle position by using a plurality of position detection devices or the like.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on the embodiments shown in the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are merely examples when the present invention is embodied, and do not limit the present invention.

[0010] The self-vehicle position notification system according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured to notify a predetermined other person of the position of a vehicle in which an occupant is waiting when the occupant is waiting in the vehicle parked in a parking lot, such as when there is a suspicion of an infectious disease and the occupant waits in the vehicle to receive a simple medical examination when going to the hospital, when receiving food at a parking lot in a takeout service for food such as a so-called mobile order, when a caregiver who requires a wheelchair is on board and assistance is required for getting on and off, etc., and a predetermined other person such as a service provider who provides a service to the vehicle in which the occupant is waiting goes to provide the service.

[0011] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram for explaining an example of a vehicle position notification system 7 configured to turn on a warning light (hazard lamp) 4 and a headlamp (headlamp) 5 provided on a vehicle 2 or emit a sound from a horn (siren) 6 so that a service provider 3 can identify the vehicle 2 in which a user 1 who has placed an order (user) for a so-called mobile order has ridden.

[0012] The vehicle position notification system 7 shown in FIG. 1 includes an in-vehicle communication device (Date Communication Module) 8 that exchanges signals with the outside of the vehicle 2, a service provider communication device 9 such as a server or a mobile terminal owned by the service provider 3, and an authentication server 10 that confirms whether or not the user is the person set by the service provider 3 when sending and receiving signals between the in-vehicle communication device 8 and the service provider communication device 9.

[0013] The vehicle 2 shown in FIG. 1 includes the in-vehicle communication device 8, a position detection device 11 that detects the current position of the vehicle 2 by a conventional GPS function or a navigation device, and an in-vehicle output device 12 that outputs information that can be recognized from the outside, such as the warning light 4, the siren 6, or the headlamp 5. The light emitted by operating these warning lights 4 and headlamps 5 and the sound emitted by operating the siren 6 correspond to the "notification information" in the embodiment of the present invention, and the in-vehicle output device 12 that emits these notification information corresponds to the "notification device" in the embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] The in-vehicle communication device 8 can be configured in the same way as a conventional communication device mounted on the vehicle 2, and is configured to determine and output a signal to be transmitted to an external communication device and to receive a signal from the external communication device. Further, the in-vehicle communication device 8 includes an arrival signal output unit 13 that outputs a signal indicating that the vehicle 2 has reached a specific area described later, and a notification signal output unit 14 that outputs a signal for requesting operation to the in-vehicle output device 12 in order to output notification information for the service provider 3 to recognize the parking position of the vehicle 2.

[0015] The arrival signal output unit 13 corresponds to the "notification output unit" in the embodiment of the present invention. It acquires the position information detected by the position detection device 11, and when the acquired position information is within the specific area, it is configured to output the status that the vehicle 2 has reached the specific area and that the user 1 is waiting to the service provider communication device 9 via the authentication server 10.

[0016] The notification signal output unit 14 is configured to be able to communicate with the service provider communication device 9 via the authentication server 10 and is also configured to be able to communicate with the in-vehicle output device 12 by CAN communication. When it receives a request to output the above-mentioned notification information from the service provider communication device 9, it is configured to output a signal for operating the in-vehicle output device 12.

[0017] The in-vehicle output device 12 is at least one of the warning lamp 4, the warning siren 6, and the headlamp 5, and is configured to operate by receiving a signal from the in-vehicle communication device 8. Note that the warning lamp 4, the warning siren 6, and the headlamp 5 are configured to be able to operate also by the user 1's switch operation or the like, in the same way as the warning lamp, the warning siren, and the headlamp provided in a conventional vehicle.

[0018] The business operator communication device 9 is composed of a receiving unit 15 that receives the signal output from the arrival signal output unit 13 via the authentication server 10, and a request transmission unit 16 that outputs a signal (hereinafter referred to as a request signal) for requesting the in-vehicle output device 12 to operate. This request transmission unit 16 is configured to output a signal when the service provider 3 operates at the time when the preparation for delivering food to the user 1 is completed and the vehicle 2 is headed towards.

[0019] The authentication server 10 can be configured in the same manner as a conventional authentication server, and is configured to perform the verification of the user himself / herself using an encryption algorithm called AES encryption or RSA encryption. By this authentication server 10, authentication is performed between the service provider 3 and the user (order placer) 1 who receives the service, the signal output from the arrival signal output unit 13 is transmitted to the business operator communication device 9, and the signal output from the request transmission unit 16 is transmitted to the notification signal output unit 14.

[0020] Figure 2 shows a flowchart for explaining an example of the control executed by the in-vehicle communication device 8. In the example shown in Figure 2, first, it is determined whether there is a reservation registration (step S1). This reservation registration is a reservation for receiving a service from the service provider 3 by the user 1's mobile terminal or the like. For example, in the case of mobile ordering, it includes a reservation for receiving food in a predetermined specific area such as the parking lot of the store in addition to the type and quantity of food.

[0021] If it is negatively determined in step S1 because there is no reservation registration, the status of the vehicle 2 is set to unable to receive requests (step S2), and the process is terminated once. This is because there is no need to receive the service or the vehicle is not in a state where it can receive the service. On the contrary, if it is positively determined in step S1 because there is a reservation registration, a specific area is set (step S3). The specific area in this step S3 may be an area predetermined by the service provider 3 such as the parking lot of the store, or may be an area set by the user 1 if the user 1 can set it arbitrarily. Note that the specific area is a relatively large range and is set to a range that can tolerate errors in the vehicle position by GPS or the like.

[0022] Next, it is determined whether the vehicle 2 has reached the specific area (step S4). In this step S4, it suffices to determine whether the position information detected by the position detection device 11 is within the range of the specific area.

[0023] If it is negatively determined in step S4 because the vehicle 2 has not reached the specific area, since the vehicle is not in a state where it can receive the service of the service provider 3, the status of the vehicle 2 is set to unable to accept requests (step S2), and this routine is terminated once. On the contrary, if it is positively determined in step S4 because the vehicle 2 has reached the specific area, since the vehicle is in a state where it can receive the service of the service provider 3, the status of the vehicle 2 is set to permit request acceptance (step S5).

[0024] Therefore, following step S5, a session is started (step S6). Specifically, signals are exchanged between the in-vehicle communication device 8 and the operator communication device 9 via the authentication server 10 using a public key cryptosystem or the like. That is, the status that the vehicle 2 has reached the specific area and the user 1 is waiting is output from the arrival signal output unit 13 to the authentication server 10, and a request signal output from the operator communication device 9 via the authentication server 10 is received.

[0025] Subsequently, it is determined whether a request signal has been received (step S7). This step S7 can be determined based on whether a signal has been received from the authentication server 10 by the notification signal output unit 14.

[0026] When the service provider 3 is not in a state where it can still provide services and has not output a request signal, and it is negatively determined in step S7 because no request signal has been received, step S7 is repeatedly executed until a request signal is received. On the contrary, when it is positively determined in step S7 because a request signal has been received, the in-vehicle output device 12 is activated (step S8). Note that the in-vehicle output device 12 to be activated may be a predetermined device, or a signal designating the in-vehicle output device 12 to be activated may be output from the service provider communication device 9 as a request signal, and the in-vehicle output device 12 corresponding to the request signal may be activated.

[0027] It is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed or the session has ended (step S9). If it is negatively determined in step S9 because the predetermined time has not elapsed and the session has not ended, the process returns to step S8. That is, the in-vehicle output device 12 continues to be activated. On the contrary, when the predetermined time has elapsed or the session has ended, this routine is terminated once. Note that the predetermined time may be a predetermined time, or a designated time may be output from the service provider communication device 9 as a request signal, and the time may be set according to the request signal. Also, when the service provision by the service provider 3 is completed, the session ends by the operation of the service provider 3.

[0028] In FIG. 1, the transfer of the above signals is indicated by arrows. In the example shown in FIG. 1, first, a mobile terminal or the like owned by User 1 orders the service provider 3 about the type and quantity of food and the fact that the food will be received at the parking lot. This order can be placed before the vehicle 2 in which User 1 rides reaches a specific area. Therefore, the service provider 3 can start preparing the food from the time the order is received, and the waiting time for User 1 can be shortened.

[0029] Then, when the vehicle 2 in which User 1 rides reaches a specific area, the arrival signal output unit 13 notifies the service provider 3 via the authentication server 10 that the vehicle 2 has arrived. After the service provider 3 has completed the preparation for delivering the food, a request signal is output to the notification signal output unit 14 via the authentication server 10. As a result, by outputting a signal from the notification signal output unit 14 to the in-vehicle output device 12, the in-vehicle output device 12 operates, so that the vehicle 2 to which the service provider 3 should deliver the food can be recognized from outside the vehicle 2.

[0030] By configuring the in-vehicle position notification system 7 as described above, even when a vehicle 2 for receiving a similar service is parked at a parking lot of a store or the like, only the vehicle 2 for which the service provider 3 provides the service will operate the in-vehicle output device 12. Therefore, it is possible to easily identify the vehicle 2 for which the service is provided from among a plurality of parked vehicles 2. That is, it is possible to identify the vehicle 2 for which the service provider 3 provides the service without accurately identifying the position of the vehicle 2 by using a plurality of position detection devices 11 or the like.

[0031] Also, by configuring to transfer signals between the in-vehicle communication device 8 and the service provider communication device 9 via the authentication server 10, it is possible to prevent signals output from the in-vehicle communication device 8 or the service provider communication device 9 from being received and misused by a third party, and it is also possible to prevent the in-vehicle communication device 8 or the service provider communication device 9 from being mis-transmitted to a third party, thereby improving security.

Explanation of Symbols

[0032] 1 User 2 Vehicle 3 Service Provider 4 Warning Light 5 Headlamp 6 Siren 7 Own-Vehicle Position Notification System 8 In-Vehicle Communication Device 9 Provider Communication Device 10 Authentication Server 11 Position Detection Device 12 In-Vehicle Output Device 13 Arrival Signal Output Section 14 Notification Signal Output Section 15 Receiver 16 Request Transmission Section

Claims

【Claim 1】 A vehicle position notification system comprising a notification device that outputs notification information including light or sound to notify a predetermined other person outside the predetermined vehicle of the position of the parked predetermined vehicle, a reservation registration means for ordering a predetermined service by the predetermined other person by a passenger of the vehicle, a notification output unit that outputs a signal notifying that the predetermined vehicle has reached a predetermined area after the order to the predetermined other person, a request signal output means that outputs a request signal for requesting the notification device to output the notification information based on the reception of the signal output by the notification output unit by the predetermined other person, and a notification signal output unit that outputs a signal for starting to output the notification information from the notification device based on the reception of the request signal is provided. A vehicle position notification system characterized by the above.

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