Event communication program, event communication method, and event communication device

Abstract

According to the present invention, in order to be able to communicate with an appropriate communication destination while recording a situation, an input of information indicating a situation that has occurred is received in a predetermined format, the input information is stored in a storage means, the communication destination is selected in accordance with the input information, and communication with the selected communication destination is performed.

Description

Recording medium, event communication method, and event communication device

[0001] The present invention relates to a recording medium, an event communication method, and an event communication device.

[0002] When an abnormal situation occurs, the road administrator takes various measures based on the report that notifies the situation. The administrator also prepares a form to record information about the abnormal situation.

[0003] In the method described in Patent Document 1, an inspection report creation support device creates an inspection report that includes various report information, including manually entered report information and report information that has been pre-stored in a memory unit, as well as road image data.

[0004] In the method described in Patent Document 2, a mobile communication device calculates its location when reporting an accident. The mobile communication device sends the location information to a specific reporting center. The specific reporting center identifies the location of the accident from the location of the mobile communication device, selects the appropriate police station and fire station to handle the accident at the location, and transfers the call made by the mobile communication device.

[0005] In the method described in Patent Document 3, the user selects the type and severity of an unexpected incident, such as a traffic accident, and an information providing server determines a priority order based on the user's selection. The information providing server provides a website that can sequentially display contacts in order of priority. The user selects a contact displayed on the website and makes a call with the selected contact.

[0006] JP 2018-147314 A JP 2001-250183 A JP 2005-208864 A

[0007] When an abnormal situation occurs, a prompt response is required and information must be recorded for analysis. The methods described in Patent Documents 1 to 3 cannot solve such problems.

[0008] In view of the above-mentioned problems, an example of an object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium, an event communication method, and an event communication device that enable communication with an appropriate communication destination while recording an event.

[0009] In one aspect of the present invention, an event communication program recorded on a computer-readable recording medium causes a computer to execute an input process for accepting input of information indicating an event that has occurred in a predetermined format, a storage process for storing the information input in the input process in a storage means, a communication destination selection process for selecting a communication destination in accordance with the information input in the input process, and a communication process for communicating with the communication destination selected in the communication destination selection process.

[0010] In another aspect of the present invention, an incident communication method accepts input of information indicating an incident that has occurred in a predetermined format, stores the input information in a storage means, selects a communication destination in accordance with the input information, and communicates with the selected communication destination.

[0011] In another aspect of the present invention, the event communication device comprises an input means for accepting input of information indicating an event that has occurred in a predetermined format, a storage processing execution means for storing the input information in a storage means, a communication destination selection means for selecting a communication destination in accordance with the input information, and a communication means for communicating with the communication destination selected by the communication destination selection means.

[0012] The recording medium, event communication method, and event communication device of the present invention make it possible to record an event while communicating with an appropriate communication destination.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an event communication device of a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of an event communication device of a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an event communication system of a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a format displayed on the display unit of an event communication device of a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram explaining an example of information stored in the memory unit of an event communication device of a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a notification content confirmation screen displayed on the display unit of an event communication device of a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of an event communication device of a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram explaining an example of a form created by an event communication device of a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an event communication system of a modified example of the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an event communication system of a modified example of the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of each embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] [First Embodiment] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described. The procedure for recording information indicating an event that has occurred and for communicating in accordance with the information can be realized by an information processing device (computer) executing processing in accordance with an event communication program. The information processing device functions as an event communication device 1. The event communication program realizes the functions of the event communication device 1.

[0015] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an event communication device 1 of this embodiment. The event communication device 1 of this embodiment includes an input unit 11, a storage process execution unit 12, a communication destination selection unit 13, and a communication unit 14.

[0016] The input unit 11 corresponds to an input means and performs an input process of accepting input of information indicating an incident that has occurred in a predetermined format.

[0017] The storage process execution unit 12 corresponds to the storage process execution means. The storage process execution unit 12 performs a storage process to store input information in the storage unit. The storage unit corresponds to the storage means.

[0018] The communication destination selection unit 13 corresponds to a communication destination selection means, and performs a communication destination selection process to select a communication destination in accordance with input information.

[0019] The communication unit 14 corresponds to a communication means. The communication unit 14 performs a communication process to communicate with the communication destination selected by the communication destination selection unit 13. For example, the communication unit 14 notifies the communication destination of input information by communicating with the communication destination.

[0020] In this way, the event communication device 1 accepts input of information indicating the event that has occurred in a predetermined format. The event communication device 1 stores the input information in a storage unit and selects a communication destination based on the input information. The event communication device 1 communicates with the selected communication destination. This allows the event communication device 1 to communicate with an appropriate communication destination while recording the event.

[0021] Next, an example of the operation of the event communication device 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the event communication device 1.

[0022] The input unit 11 receives input of information indicating an incident that has occurred in a predetermined format (step S101).

[0023] The storage process execution unit 12 stores the input information in the storage unit (step S102).

[0024] The communication destination selection unit 13 selects a communication destination in accordance with the input information (step S103).

[0025] The communication unit 14 communicates with the communication destination selected by the communication destination selection unit 13 (step S104).

[0026] As described above, the event communication device 1 accepts input of information indicating an event that has occurred in a predetermined format and stores the input information in a storage unit. The event communication device 1 then communicates with a communication destination selected based on the input information. This allows the event communication device 1 to communicate with an appropriate communication destination while recording the event.

[0027] Second Embodiment Next, a specific description will be given of an event communication device 2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The event communication device 2 according to this embodiment has the functions of the event communication device 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0028] 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an event communication system according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the event communication system includes an event communication device 2 and communication destination terminals 3-1, ..., 3-n (n is a natural number equal to or greater than 1). Hereinafter, each of the communication destination terminals 3-1, ..., 3-n will be referred to as a "communication destination terminal 3."

[0029] The event communication device 2 is a terminal used by a road administrator. When the road administrator receives a report informing him or her that an abnormal event has occurred on the road, the event communication device 2 accepts input of information indicating the event that has occurred in a predetermined format. The event communication device 2 stores the input information in the memory unit 27 and communicates with a communication destination according to the input information. In this embodiment, the event communication device 2 notifies the communication destination of the information indicating the event. The predetermined format has entry fields and options that conform to the format of a form such as a report.

[0030] The communication destination terminal 3 is a terminal that communicates with the event communication device 2. Upon receiving a notification from the event communication device 2, the communication destination terminal 3 outputs a voice in response to the notification or displays text in response to the notification.

[0031] The configuration of the emergency communication device 2 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 3. The emergency communication device 2 includes an input unit 21, a storage process execution unit 22, a communication destination selection unit 23, and a communication unit 24.

[0032] The input unit 21 is an example of an input device, such as a keyboard, a mouse, or a touch panel. When an operation corresponding to the start of displaying a predetermined format is performed on the input unit 21, the input unit 21 requests the display control unit 25 to display the predetermined format on the display unit 26. FIG. 4 is an example of the predetermined format. The format illustrated in FIG. 4 has entry fields in accordance with the format of a report (in this example, FIG. 8, which will be described later). The input unit 21 accepts input of information indicating the incident that has occurred in the predetermined format. The input unit 21 accepts input into the predetermined format in a pull-down format.

[0033] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a format displayed on the display unit 26 of the event communication device 2. The display control unit 25 displays icons (downward arrows in the example of FIG. 4 ) for inputting various pieces of information on the display unit 26. When an operation corresponding to the selection of a field (an operation of selecting an icon for one of the fields in the example of FIG. 4 ) is performed on the input unit 21, the display control unit 25 displays a list of selectable input candidates for the field selected by the user on the display unit 26. The input unit 21 accepts an operation input by the user to select information to be input in a predetermined format from the input candidates. In this way, the input unit 21 accepts input of information indicating the occurred event in a predetermined format.

[0034] 4, the display control unit 25 displays on the display unit 26 an object (a record button labeled "Record" in the example of FIG. 4) for requesting the event communication device 2 to execute a storage process. In the format illustrated in FIG. 4, the user performs an operation of pressing the record button. When an operation corresponding to the execution of the storage process is performed on the input unit 21, the storage process execution unit 22 executes the storage process described below. For example, the object is a button.

[0035] The storage process execution unit 22 executes a storage process to store the input information in the storage unit 27 .

[0036] The storage unit 27 corresponds to a storage means. The storage unit 27 pre-stores information for displaying a predetermined format (in this example, FIG. 4) and a notification content confirmation screen (in this example, FIG. 6, which will be described later) on the display unit 26. The information for displaying the predetermined format on the display unit 26 is, for example, data of input candidates for each entry field of the predetermined format. The storage unit 27 also stores input information.

[0037] Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in the storage unit 27 of the event communication device 2. When information is input to the input unit 21 in accordance with the format illustrated in Fig. 4, the storage process execution unit 22 stores the input information in the storage unit 27 as illustrated in Fig. 5.

[0038] The communication destination selection unit 23 selects a communication destination according to the input information. The storage unit 27 stores an input pattern of the input information and communication destination information indicating the communication destination in association with each other. The communication destination information is information for communicating with the communication destination terminal 3, which is the communication destination. When the communication unit 24 notifies the communication destination using voice data or SMS (Short Message Service), the storage unit 27 stores the telephone number of the communication destination terminal 3 as the communication destination information. When the communication unit 24 notifies the communication destination using email such as MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service), the storage unit 27 stores the email address of the destination that is to receive the notification as the communication destination information.

[0039] For example, if the events indicated in the input information are "an accident involving two standard-sized cars" and "a fire breaks out (standard-sized car)," the communication destination selection unit 23 performs the following process: The communication destination selection unit 23 selects a communication destination (for example, a communication destination terminal 3 installed at a fire station or the contact information of a department responsible for responding to fires) that is associated with the input patterns of an accident involving two standard-sized cars and a fire breaks out (standard-sized car) and stored in the storage unit 27.

[0040] The communication destination selection unit 23 selects the contact information of the fire department that has jurisdiction over the area including the location indicated in the input information (in this example, the location identified by the road indicated in the road name, the lane indicated in the information indicating the lane, and the kilometer post value indicated in the information indicating the kilometer post value). The memory unit 27 pre-stores communication destination information for communicating with the communication destination terminals 3 installed in the fire departments that have jurisdiction over each area. The information indicating the lane includes information indicating an inbound lane or an outbound lane. If the road is a circular route, the information indicating the lane includes information indicating an inner loop or an outer loop. The lane heading toward the starting point, which is the point where the road begins, is the inbound lane, and the lane heading toward the end point, which is the point where the road ends, is the outbound lane.

[0041] The communication unit 24 performs communication processing to communicate with the communication destination selected by the communication destination selection unit 23. Specifically, communication destination information is input to the communication unit 24 from the communication destination selection unit 23. In this embodiment, the communication unit 24 reads the input information from the storage unit 27. The communication unit 24 outputs the communication destination information and notification content information including the input information to the display control unit 25. The notification content information indicates the content to be notified to the communication destination. For example, the notification content information includes information indicating the item names of entry fields in a predetermined format and the input information. The display control unit 25 displays a notification content confirmation screen (in this example, FIG. 6 ) on the display unit 26.

[0042] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a notification content confirmation screen displayed on the display unit 26 of the event communication device 2. The display control unit 25 causes the display unit 26 to display a notification content confirmation screen that displays the communication destination indicated in the communication destination information and the notification content indicated in the notification content information. In the example of Fig. 6, the display control unit 25 causes the display unit 26 to display an object (in the example of Fig. 6, a notification button labeled "Notify") for requesting the event communication device 2 to execute communication processing.

[0043] On the notification content confirmation screen exemplified in FIG. 6 , the user presses the notification button. When an operation corresponding to the execution of communication processing is performed on the input unit 21, the communication unit 24 notifies the communication destination using email such as SMS or MMS. Specifically, the communication unit 24 sends a text message corresponding to the notification content to the communication destination. When the communication unit 24 causes the communication destination terminal 3 to output audio, the communication unit 24 may generate audio data of an automated voice corresponding to the notification content and notify the communication destination using the audio data. Note that, in addition to these methods, any method can be used for the communication unit 24 to send a notification.

[0044] The display control unit 25 causes the display unit 26 to display a predetermined format (in this example, FIG. 4) and a notification content confirmation screen (in this example, FIG. 6).

[0045] The display unit 26 displays a predetermined format (in this example, FIG. 4) and a notification content confirmation screen (in this example, FIG. 6).

[0046] In this way, the event communication device 2 accepts input of information indicating the event that has occurred in a predetermined format. The event communication device 2 stores the input information in the storage unit 27 and selects a communication destination based on the input information. The event communication device 2 communicates with the selected communication destination. This allows the event communication device 2 to communicate with an appropriate communication destination while recording the event.

[0047] Next, an example of the operation of the event communication device 2 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the event communication device 2.

[0048] The input unit 21 of the event communication device 2 accepts an operation input for displaying a predetermined format (step S201). When an operation corresponding to the display of the predetermined format is performed on the input unit 21, the input unit 21 requests the display control unit 25 to display the predetermined format on the display unit 26.

[0049] The display control unit 25 displays a predetermined format on the display unit 26 (step S202). The input unit 21 accepts input of information indicating the occurred event in the predetermined format (step S203). The input unit 21 accepts an operation input for requesting the event communication device 2 to execute a storage process (step S204). When an operation corresponding to the execution of the storage process is performed on the input unit 21, the input unit 21 requests the storage process execution unit 22 to execute the storage process.

[0050] The storage process execution unit 22 executes a storage process to store the information input in step S203 in the storage unit 27 (step S205). The communication destination selection unit 23 selects a communication destination according to the information input in step S203 (step S206). The communication destination selection unit 23 inputs communication destination information indicating the selected communication destination to the communication unit 24.

[0051] The communication unit 24 reads out the information input in step S203 from the storage unit 27. The communication unit 24 outputs the communication destination information and the notification content information to the display control unit 25. The display control unit 25 causes the display unit 26 to display a notification content confirmation screen (in this example, FIG. 6) (step S207).

[0052] The input unit 21 accepts an operation input for requesting the event communication device 2 to execute a communication process (step S208). When an operation corresponding to the execution of the communication process is performed on the input unit 21, the input unit 21 requests the execution of the communication process from the communication unit 24. The communication unit 24 communicates with the communication destination selected by the communication destination selection unit 23 (step S209).

[0053] In step S207, the input unit 21 may accept an operation input for modifying the communication destination or the notification content displayed on the notification content confirmation screen. When an operation corresponding to the modification of the communication destination is performed on the input unit 21, the communication unit 24 communicates with the communication destination modified by the user in step S209. When an operation corresponding to the modification of the notification content is performed on the input unit 21, the communication unit 24 notifies the communication destination of the content modified by the user in step S209.

[0054] If the communication destination selection unit 23 selects two or more communication destinations in step S206, the communication unit 24 communicates with all the communication destinations selected by the communication destination selection unit 23 in step S209.

[0055] Note that, when the information to be notified differs for each communication destination, the event communication device 2 may operate as follows. Information indicating the items of information to be notified among the input information may be preset for each communication destination in the event communication device 2. For example, if the date and time, the incident, the road name, the location, the situation (injured persons), and the situation (fire) are preset as the information items to be notified to the fire department, the communication unit 24 stops notifying the fire department of information for items that are not set (e.g., weather information). Furthermore, when the communication destination selection unit 23 selects multiple communication destinations in step S206, the event communication device 2 may operate as follows for each communication destination. The display control unit 25 performs the operation of step S207, the input unit 21 performs the operation of step S208, and the communication destination selection unit 23 performs the operation of step S209, and the event communication device 2 performs a notification for each communication destination. As a result, even if the content to be notified differs for each communication destination, the user can check the content to be notified and quickly notify each communication destination of the incident.

[0056] The order in which the event communication device 2 performs its operations is not limited to the example in FIG. 7 . For example, the event communication device 2 accepts input of information indicating an event in a predetermined format (step S203) and selects a communication destination (step S206). After communication with the communication destination of the event that has occurred (step S209), the storage process execution unit 22 may execute the storage process in step S205. This allows the event communication device 2 to more quickly communicate with an appropriate communication destination.

[0057] More specifically, the event communication device 2 may perform the operations from step S203 onwards as follows: The input unit 21 inputs the received input information to the communication destination selection unit 23 and the communication unit 24. The communication destination selection unit 23 performs the operation of step S206. The communication unit 24 outputs the communication destination information and the notification content information to the display control unit 25. The display control unit 25 performs the operation of step S207. The input unit 21 performs the operation of step S208. The communication unit 24 performs the operation of step S209. When the communication unit 24 performs the operation of step S209, the input unit 21 performs the operation of step S204, and the storage processing execution unit 22 performs the operation of step S205.

[0058] As described above, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the event communication device 2 accepts input of information indicating an event that has occurred in a predetermined format. The event communication device 2 stores the input information in the storage unit 27 and selects a communication destination based on the input information. The event communication device 2 communicates with the selected communication destination. This allows the event communication device 2 to communicate with an appropriate communication destination while recording the event.

[0059] A user of the incident communication device 2 can notify the communication destination of the incident and create a report at the scene of the incident using the incident communication device 2. The incident communication device 2 of this embodiment can report the situation at the scene of the incident to the road control center that responds to the incident, and can notify the communication destination of the incident more quickly than if the communication destination were notified of the incident via the road control center. This is because the communication destination can be notified of the incident from the scene without going through the road control center.

[0060] The communication unit 24 of the incident communication device 2 also notifies the communication destination of the type and number of vehicles involved in the accident and the number of injured people. This allows the relevant organizations that receive the notification to understand the scale of the accident. Furthermore, the fire department that receives the notification can dispatch a number of fire engines and ambulances to the accident site according to the scale of the accident.

[0061] The input unit 21 of the incident communication device 2 also accepts input into a predetermined format using a pull-down menu. When a user inputs information into the predetermined format, the user selects the information to input into the predetermined format from input candidates, thereby reducing variations in notation and input errors. This also standardizes the content input into the predetermined format, allowing road administrators, companies such as automobile manufacturers, and government agencies to record incidents in a way that makes it easier for them to analyze the incidents that have occurred.

[0062] The event communication device 2 may be a mobile terminal or a stationary terminal. The event communication device 2 may include a camera. For example, a user may press a capture button provided in a predetermined format. The event communication device 2 captures an image when an operation corresponding to a request for capturing an image is performed on the input unit 21. The event communication device 2 stores image data of a still image or image data of a moving image in the storage unit 27 as information input in a predetermined format. The event communication device 2 may also include a microphone. For example, a user may press a record button provided in a predetermined format. The event communication device 2 records an image when an operation corresponding to a request for recording is performed on the input unit 21. The event communication device 2 stores sound data corresponding to the recorded sound in the storage unit 27 as information input in a predetermined format. In this way, when a user uses the event communication device 2 to create a report and communicate with a communication destination at the scene, the event communication device 2 can record the situation at the scene. Furthermore, the incident communication device 2 can notify the communication destination of the situation at the scene by transmitting image data and sound data.

[0063] A road administrator may, for example, manage a national expressway or a general national highway for motor vehicles only. Communication destinations that can be selected by the incident communication device 2 include terminals in other departments of the administrator who handle incidents, and terminals installed in relevant organizations. Terminals in other departments of the administrator who handle incidents, and terminals installed in relevant organizations are examples of communication destination terminals 3. The other departments are departments that handle incidents by taking over the response of the person who inputs information into a predetermined format and notifies the incident. For example, relevant organizations include the expressway management office of a regional police bureau, the expressway traffic police, police stations, fire stations, other road administrators, river administrators, local governments, towing companies, and insurance companies.

[0064] The communication unit 24 may notify the communication destination of the input information. The communication unit 24 may also generate a sentence according to the input information (for example, "An accident involving two passenger cars occurred at 12:15 on January 11th") and notify the communication destination.

[0065] The event communication device 2 may provide the input information to the recipient at a predetermined timing. The recipient may be, for example, a company such as an automobile manufacturer or a government agency such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The recipient may be one or more than two. The predetermined timing may be, for example, when the input unit 21 accepts input in a predetermined format or when the storage processing execution unit 22 executes storage processing. In other words, the event communication device 2 provides the recipient with information indicating the event that has occurred in real time. Alternatively, the event communication device 2 may provide the recipient with input information that has not been provided to the recipient each time a predetermined time has elapsed.

[0066] The emergency communication device 2 may include an information analysis unit (not shown) that analyzes information stored in the memory unit 27 through storage processing. It is assumed that accidents caused by autonomous driving and accidents caused by human driving have different causes. The input unit 21 may accept input of information indicating whether the vehicle involved in the accident was driven by a human or autonomous. The information analysis unit may analyze the causes of accidents caused by human driving and accidents caused by autonomous driving. The information analysis unit may perform statistical processing of the information stored in the memory unit 27 through storage processing. For example, the information analysis unit calculates the number of accidents in a predetermined period (e.g., one month). The display control unit 25 may display data indicating the analysis results by the information analysis unit on the display unit 26. The information analysis unit may provide the data indicating the analysis results to a recipient.

[0067] The storage unit 27 may be a storage device provided in a server external to the event communication device 2. The storage process execution unit 22 may store the input information in a storage device provided in the external server. The communication destination information stored in the storage unit 27 is not limited to telephone numbers or email addresses.

[0068] Incidentally, after accepting input of information to be notified to a communication destination among inputs in a predetermined format, the input unit 21 may accept input of information to record an event in a predetermined format. The information to be notified to a communication destination includes information used in a communication destination selection process and information used in a communication process. The information to record an event is, for example, information to be used in a storage process without notifying a communication destination (weather information in the examples of FIGS. 4 to 6 ). The event communication device 2 can accept input of information to be notified to a communication destination and notify the communication destination of an event that has occurred, and can also accept input of information to be recorded in a predetermined format after communication. This allows the event communication device 2 to record an event while notifying an appropriate communication destination of the event as soon as possible.

[0069] The event communication device 2 may automatically input data into a predetermined format. For example, an acquisition unit (not shown) of the event communication device 2 may acquire information indicating the date and time from an external server. The acquisition unit may input the information indicating the date and time acquired from the external server into a predetermined format. The acquisition unit may also acquire information indicating the road name, the lane, and the weather at a location indicated by the information indicating the kilometer post value from a weather information distribution server. The acquisition unit may input the information indicating the weather into a predetermined format. The display control unit 25 may also display on the display unit 26 a format in which the information indicating the date and time or the information indicating the weather has been input in advance. Other examples in which the event communication device 2 automatically inputs data into a predetermined format will be described in Modifications 1 and 2 described below.

[0070] The display control unit 25 may also have a form creation function for creating a form in a predetermined format. The input unit 21 accepts an operation input requesting the creation of a form. When an operation corresponding to the start of the creation of a form is performed on the input unit 21, the display control unit 25 reads the information that has been accepted as input and a file of the form format from the storage unit 27. The display control unit 25 creates a form in which the information that has been accepted as various inputs is arranged in the form format. The file of the form format is stored in advance in the storage unit 27.

[0071] The other device may also have a form creation function. When the other device has the form creation function, the other device acquires the input information from the event communication device 2. The other device creates a form using the acquired information and a form format file stored in advance in the other device.

[0072] Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a form created by the incident communication device 2. Fig. 8 shows an example of an accident report created by the display control unit 25 when the information illustrated in Fig. 5 is stored in the storage unit 27 and the display control unit 25 reads out the stored information.

[0073] [Variation 1 of the Second Embodiment] The event communication device 2a of Variation 1 of the second embodiment differs from the event communication device 2 of the second embodiment in that it includes a position measurement unit 28 and a location identification unit 29. Fig. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an event communication system of this variation. In this variation, an example will be described in which a user uses the event communication device 2a to communicate with a communication destination and create a form on-site.

[0074] The position measurement unit 28 corresponds to a position measurement means. The position measurement unit 28 performs a position measurement process to measure a position. The position measurement unit 28 inputs position information indicating the measured position to the location identification unit 29. The position measurement unit 28 receives signals from satellites in a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) such as a Global Positioning System (GPS) to perform positioning. The position measurement unit 28 may input the position information in a predetermined format.

[0075] The location specifying unit 29 corresponds to a location specifying means. The location specifying unit 29 performs a location specifying process of specifying a location on a road according to the location indicated in the location information and inputting information indicating the specified location into a predetermined format.

[0076] The location on the road may be, for example, the road name, the lane, and the kilometer post value. The location identification unit 29 identifies information indicating the road name, the lane, and the kilometer post value. The location identification unit 29 inputs the identified information indicating the road name, the lane, and the kilometer post value to the input unit 21.

[0077] The event communication device 2a of the first modification can automatically input information indicating a location into the entry fields to be entered into a predetermined format. The display control unit 25 can display on the display unit 26 a format into which information indicating the location identified by the location identification unit 29 has been previously input. This allows the event communication device 2a to assist the user in inputting information into the predetermined format.

[0078] The predetermined format may display an object (e.g., a positioning button) for requesting positioning by the positioning unit 28. For example, the user performs an operation of pressing the positioning button. When an operation corresponding to the positioning request is performed on the input unit 21, the positioning unit 28 may determine the position.

[0079] The communication unit 24 may notify the communication destination of the location information. In this way, when heading to the scene where an incident has occurred, the person heading to the scene can head to the scene based on the notified location information.

[0080] [Variation 2 of the Second Embodiment] An event communication device 2b of Variation 2 of the second embodiment differs from the event communication device 2 of the second embodiment in that it includes an event identification unit 30. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of an event communication system of Variation 2 of the second embodiment. The event communication system of Variation 2 differs from the event communication system of the second embodiment in that it includes image capture devices 4-1, ..., 4-n (n is a natural number equal to or greater than 1). Hereinafter, each of the image capture devices 4-1, ..., 4-n will be referred to as an "image capture device 4."

[0081] The camera device 4 is installed in a position where it can photograph the road. The camera device 4 includes the road in its photographing range. For example, the camera device 4 is a surveillance camera that monitors the road. The camera device 4 transmits image data and camera device identification information to the incident communication device 2b at a predetermined frequency. The camera device identification information is information that can identify each of the camera devices 4-1, ..., 4-n.

[0082] The event identification unit 30 is an example of an event identification means. The event identification unit 30 of the event communication device 2b acquires image data and the camera device identification information of the camera device 4 that took the image. The event identification unit 30 recognizes the image. The event identification unit 30 performs an event identification process to identify the event from the image and input information indicating the identified event into a predetermined format.

[0083] For example, the event identification unit 30 generates an event identification model that is trained using training data. The event identification model is a model for recognizing events from images. The training data uses data that associates images of events captured with information indicating the events captured in the images. For example, the images of events include images of traffic accidents, images of a fire breaking out in a car, images of fallen objects, etc. Furthermore, for example, events indicated in the information indicating the events include an accident occurring, a fire breaking out, and the presence of fallen objects.

[0084] The event identification unit 30 identifies an event from an image using an event identification model. The input to the event identification model is an image obtained from the photographing device 4. The output from the event identification model is information indicating the event. In this way, the event identification unit 30 recognizes the image and identifies the event. Note that the event identification unit 30 does not need to be equipped with a model generation function. The event identification unit 30 may obtain and use an event identification model generated by a device other than the event communication device 2b.

[0085] The event specifying unit 30 inputs information indicating the specified event into a predetermined format.

[0086] The incident identification unit 30 may input, in a predetermined format, information indicating a location corresponding to the location of the image capturing device 4 that captured the incident-identifying image. For example, the information indicating the location includes information indicating the road name, information indicating the lane, and information indicating the kilometer post value.

[0087] For example, the incident identification unit 30 inputs information indicating the location corresponding to the photographing location of the camera device 4 into a field for the location where the incident occurred in a predetermined format. The photographing location may be the location where the camera device 4 captured the image, or may be an area where the camera device 4 can capture images.

[0088] Specifically, the storage unit 27 pre-stores, for each camera device 4, camera device identification information and camera location information indicating the camera location, in association with each other. For example, the camera location information includes information indicating the name of the road on which the camera device 4 is installed, information indicating the lane, and information indicating the kilometer post value. The incident identification unit 30 reads out, from the storage unit 27, the camera location information associated with the camera device identification information of the camera device 4 that transmitted the image data of the image for which the incident was identified. The incident identification unit 30 inputs the camera location information read out from the storage unit 27 into a field for the location where the incident occurred in a predetermined format.

[0089] The method by which the event identification unit 30 identifies an event is not limited to the above-described method, and the event identification unit 30 can identify an event by any method.

[0090] In the second embodiment described above, it is assumed that an operation to request the execution of the storage process and the communication process is performed on the input unit 21, but this is not limiting. The event communication device 2 may accept input of information indicating the event that has occurred in a predetermined format, store the input information in the storage unit 27, select a communication destination according to the input information, and communicate with the selected communication destination.

[0091] [Hardware Configuration Example] The procedures shown in each of the above-described embodiments can be realized by having an information processing device (computer) functioning as an event communication device execute processing in accordance with an event communication program that enables the device to function as such. The information processing device executes the event communication method using the program. Below, we will explain an example of the configuration of hardware resources that realizes the event communication device (1, 2, 2a, 2b) in each of the above-described embodiments of the present invention using a single information processing device (computer). Note that the event communication device may be realized physically or functionally using at least two information processing devices. Also, the event communication device may be realized as a dedicated device. Also, only some of the functions of the event communication device may be realized using an information processing device.

[0092] 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of an information processing device that can realize the event communication device of each embodiment of the present invention. The information processing device 5 includes a communication interface 51, an input / output interface 52, a computing device 53, a storage device 54, a nonvolatile storage device 55, and a drive device 56.

[0093] For example, the input unit 11 of the event communication device 1 in Fig. 1 can be realized by an input / output interface 52. The storage processing execution unit 12 and the communication destination selection unit 13 of the event communication device 1 in Fig. 1 can be realized by a computing device 53. The communication unit 14 can be realized by a communication interface 51 and the computing device 53.

[0094] The communication interface 51 is a communication means for the event communication device of each embodiment to communicate with an external device via a wired or / and wireless connection. When the event communication device is realized using at least two information processing devices, the devices may be connected to each other via the communication interface 51 so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0095] The input / output interface 52 is a man-machine interface including a keyboard as an example of an input device and a display as an output device.

[0096] The arithmetic unit 53 is realized by a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU) or a processing device such as a microprocessor, and a plurality of electric circuits. The arithmetic unit 53 can read various programs stored in the nonvolatile storage device 55 into the storage device 54 and execute processing in accordance with the read programs, for example.

[0097] The storage device 54 is a memory device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) that can be accessed by the arithmetic device 53, and stores programs, various data, etc. The storage device 54 may be a volatile memory device.

[0098] The nonvolatile storage device 55 is a nonvolatile storage device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a flash memory, and is capable of storing various programs, data, and the like.

[0099] The drive device 56 is, for example, a device that processes reading and writing of data from and to a recording medium 57, which will be described later.

[0100] The recording medium 57 is any recording medium capable of recording data, such as an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor flash memory.

[0101] In each embodiment of the present invention, an event communication device may be configured using, for example, the information processing device 5 illustrated in Fig. 11. Each embodiment of the present invention may be realized by supplying a program capable of realizing the functions described in each embodiment to this event communication device.

[0102] In this case, the embodiment can be realized by having the computing device 53 execute a program supplied to the event communication device. Also, it is possible to configure some, but not all, of the functions of the event communication device in the information processing device 5.

[0103] Furthermore, the emergency communication device may be configured so that the program is recorded on the recording medium 57 and is stored in the nonvolatile storage device 55 as appropriate when the emergency communication device is shipped or when it is in operation. In this case, the program may be supplied by installing it in the emergency communication device using an appropriate tool during the manufacturing stage before shipping or during operation. The program may also be supplied by a general procedure such as downloading it from an external source via a communication line such as the Internet.

[0104] Some or all of the above-described embodiments can be described as, but are not limited to, the following supplementary notes.

[0105] (Supplementary Note 1) A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon an event communication program for causing a computer to execute the following: an input process for accepting input of information indicating an event that has occurred in a predetermined format; a storage process for storing the information input in the input process in a storage means; a communication destination selection process for selecting a communication destination in accordance with the information input in the input process; and a communication process for communicating with the communication destination selected in the communication destination selection process.

[0106] (Supplementary Note 2) A computer-readable recording medium having the incident communication program according to Supplementary Note 1 recorded thereon, wherein the input process accepts input into the predetermined format in a pull-down format.

[0107] (Supplementary Note 3) A computer-readable recording medium having the incident communication program described in Supplementary Note 1 or Supplementary Note 2 recorded thereon, further executing a positioning process for determining a position, and a location specification process for specifying a location on a road according to the position and inputting information indicating the specified location into the predetermined format.

[0108] (Supplementary Note 4) A computer-readable recording medium having the event communication program described in Supplementary Note 1 or Supplementary Note 2 recorded thereon, further executing an event identification process that identifies an event that has occurred from an image captured by a photographing device capable of photographing a road, and inputs information indicating the identified event into the specified format.

[0109] (Appendix 5) In the incident identification process, information indicating a location on a road is input into the specified format, and the information indicating the location on the road is information indicating a location corresponding to the shooting location of the camera that captured the image that identified the incident. A computer-readable recording medium on which the incident communication program described in Appendix 4 is recorded.

[0110] (Supplementary Note 6) An incident communication method comprising: accepting input of information indicating an incident that has occurred in a predetermined format; storing the input information in a storage means; selecting a communication destination according to the input information; and communicating with the selected communication destination.

[0111] (Supplementary Note 7) The event communication method according to Supplementary Note 6, wherein input into the predetermined format is accepted in a pull-down format.

[0112] (Supplementary Note 8) The incident communication method according to Supplementary Note 6 or Supplementary Note 7, further comprising: determining a position; identifying a place on a road according to the position; and inputting information indicating the identified place into the predetermined format.

[0113] (Supplementary Note 9) The incident communication method according to Supplementary Note 6 or Supplementary Note 7, wherein an incident that has occurred is identified from an image captured by an imaging device capable of photographing a road, and information indicating the identified incident is input into the predetermined format.

[0114] (Supplementary Note 10) An incident communication method according to Supplementary Note 9, wherein information indicating a location on a road is input into the predetermined format, and the information indicating the location on the road is information indicating a location corresponding to a photographing location of a photographing device that captured an image that identifies the incident.

[0115] (Supplementary Note 11) An incident communication device comprising: an input means for accepting input of information indicating an incident that has occurred in a predetermined format; a storage processing execution means for storing the input information in a storage means; a communication destination selection means for selecting a communication destination in accordance with the input information; and a communication means for communicating with the communication destination selected by the communication destination selection means.

[0116] (Supplementary Note 12) The event communication device according to Supplementary Note 11, wherein the input means accepts input into the predetermined format in a pull-down format.

[0117] (Supplementary Note 13) The incident communication device according to Supplementary Note 11 or Supplementary Note 12, further comprising: a positioning means for measuring a position; and a location specifying means for specifying a location on a road according to the position and inputting information indicating the specified location into the predetermined format.

[0118] (Supplementary Note 14) The event communication device according to Supplementary Note 11 or Supplementary Note 12, further comprising an event identification means for identifying an event that has occurred from an image captured by an imaging device capable of photographing a road, and inputting information indicating the identified event into the predetermined format.

[0119] (Supplementary Note 15) The incident communication device described in Supplementary Note 14, wherein the incident identification means inputs information indicating a location on a road into the predetermined format, and the information indicating a location on a road is information indicating a location corresponding to a photographing location of a photographing device that captured the image that identified the incident.

[0120] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Various modifications that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present invention within the scope of the present invention.

[0121] 1, 2, 2a, 2b incident communication device 11, 21 input unit 12, 22 storage processing execution unit 13, 23 communication destination selection unit 14, 24 communication unit 25 display control unit 26 display unit 27 storage unit 28 position positioning unit 29 location identification unit 30 incident identification unit 3, 3-1 to 3-n communication destination terminal 4, 4-1 to 4-n photographing device 5 information processing device 51 communication interface 52 input / output interface 53 calculation unit 54 storage device 55 non-volatile storage device 56 drive device 57 recording medium

Claims

1. On the computer, an input process for accepting input of information indicating the occurrence of an incident in a predetermined format; a storage process for storing the information inputted in the input process in a storage means; a communication destination selection process for selecting a communication destination in accordance with the information input in the input process; a communication process for communicating with the communication destination selected in the communication destination selection process; An incident communication program to execute the above.

2. In the input process, input into the predetermined format in a pull-down format is accepted.

2. The incident communication program of claim 1.

3. A positioning process for measuring a position; a location specification process for specifying a location on a road according to the position and inputting information indicating the specified location into the predetermined format; Run the 3. The incident communication program according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The vehicle further executes an incident identification process for identifying an incident that has occurred from an image captured by an image capture device capable of capturing an image of a road, and inputting information indicating the identified incident into the predetermined format.

3. The incident communication program according to claim 1 or 2.

5. inputting information indicating a location on a road into the predetermined format in the incident identification process; The information indicating the location on the road is information indicating a location according to a photographing location of a photographing device that photographed the image that identifies the incident.

5. The incident communication program according to claim 4.

6. Accepts input of information indicating the incident in a specified format, storing the input information in a storage means; Select a communication destination according to the input information; Communicate with the selected destination How to communicate events.

7. Determine the location, Identifying a place on a road corresponding to the position, and inputting information indicating the identified place into the predetermined format.

7. The event communication method of claim 6.

8. Identifying an occurrence of an incident from an image captured by an image capture device capable of capturing an image of a road, and inputting information indicating the occurrence of the incident into the predetermined format.

7. The event communication method of claim 6.

9. inputting information indicating a location on a road into said predetermined format; The information indicating the location on the road is information indicating a location according to a photographing location of a photographing device that photographed the image that identifies the incident.

9. The event communication method of claim 8.

10. an input means for receiving input of information indicating an occurrence of an incident in a predetermined format; a storage processing execution means for storing the input information in a storage means; a communication destination selection means for selecting a communication destination in accordance with the input information; a communication means for communicating with the communication destination selected by said communication destination selection means; An incident communication device comprising: