EP0410137B1 - Control method and-device for an information reproducing apparatus dependant on location - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for controlling a playback device for location-dependent information according to the preamble of claim 1.

From the brochure "Bosch Travelpilot - and you always know where to go" from Robert Bosch GmbH, a device known as a "Travelpilot" is known, which comprises an autonomous navigation device working with a coupling, stored road maps and a navigation computer that is based on a Monitor executes a street map that shows the surroundings of their own location. When the vehicle is moving, the street map section moves with it. Becomes the travel pilot provided with the destination information, additional information about recommended directions of travel is displayed.

While the Travelpilot is specifically designed to inform the driver, it can e.g. In public transport, it may also be desirable to provide passengers with information such as stop announcements, transfer options or information about sights. So far, this has also been possible through individual announcements by the driver or a travel companion and by manual control of a tape recorder. However, such solutions are unsatisfactory because they require the driver or travel companion to have precise knowledge of the route and the willingness to pass on the information. This knowledge cannot always be expected even in regular traffic if drivers e.g. representatively have to drive other than the usual lines.

Information from the tape requires operation synchronized with the route and may be incorrect if the route changes, such as those required for detours. Starting from this prior art, the object of the invention to create the conditions for automatic, location-dependent control of a playback device for location-dependent, selected information.

This object is achieved in a method specified in the preamble of claim 1 by the features of claim 1.

In the method according to the invention, certain trigger points are assigned to the selected information, e.g. arranged as location coordinates in the street map and saved with it. If the vehicle now passes a point at which such a trigger point is located, this event is recognized and reported by the control device by comparing the data recorded by navigation with the stored data. The message takes the form of a trigger signal that is suitable for displaying the corresponding location-dependent, selected information.

This improves the security of the correct local assignment of the trigger signal and the information it calls up. When used in Scheduled buses for announcing stops, for example, relieve the driver and can concentrate better on the traffic situation. Errors and announcements made for convenience or ignorance can thus be avoided.

The invention further relates to a device for controlling a playback device for location-dependent information according to the preamble of claim 7.

The object mentioned at the outset, namely to create the prerequisites for automatic, location-dependent control of a playback device for location-dependent, selected information, is achieved in a device specified in the preamble of claim 7 by the features of claim 7.

Further developments of the method according to the invention and of the device result from claims 2-6 and 8-12.

The method and device are explained below with reference to the drawing, which is a block diagram in the figure the device of the invention illustrated.

The device comprises a display device 10 for location-dependent information, a navigation device 12, a memory 14 for a street map and a control device 16. The display device 10, navigation device 12 and memory 14 are connected to the control device 16. The memory 14 also comprises a further memory area 18 which is divided into sub-areas 20, 22 and 24. Furthermore, an input device 26 and a data receiver 28 are also connected to the control device 16. The device shown is used to cause a playback device in a vehicle to output selected location-dependent information when certain trigger points are passed in a street map. This should be explained using the example of an automatic announcement of the next stop at a regular bus.

The entire road map of a larger area, for example one or more cities and the surrounding area, is stored in a memory 14. The one for displaying the coordinates of such a street map The encoded data volume can be accommodated on, for example, one or more CD-Roms. In addition to the memory 14 for the street map, there is another memory area 18 for trigger points. In the present case, these are location points that are on the route of the regular bus in front of the stops.

Since there are a large number of lines in a large city that partially overlap, the trigger points assigned to a line are each shown in one of the sub-areas 20, 22 or 24. The number of sub-areas is of course not limited to the three shown, rather it is advisable to provide as many sub-areas as there are different groups of trigger points.

While the bus is traveling, the direction of travel and the respective location are automatically determined by the navigation device 12. This receives, for example via wheel sensors and a compass, route and direction information, which are combined to a dead reckoning.

The control unit 16 processes the data supplied by the navigation device 12 as well as from the memory 14 and in the memory area 18 and determines the direction of travel and the current location within the road map by comparison. Possible inaccuracies of the navigation device 12 can be found in striking areas of the road map, e.g. Correct curves or intersections so that the data supplied by the navigation device 12 are stable over the long term.

If the line bus is used for a specific line, the line number is entered via the input device 26, whereupon the group of trigger points assigned to this line is selected from one of the sub-areas 20, 22 or 24. When driving the route that is assigned to this line, only these trigger points are taken into account.

As the routes of the lines have to be changed occasionally, e.g. to bypass construction sites, it is planned to update the location of the trigger points. This is done here by data transmission using a receiving device 28, in that current data from the trigger points are transmitted from the central office of the transport companies to the receiving devices 28 of the devices in the regular buses and are written into the corresponding memory areas 18. These memory areas must therefore be overwritable memories.

The data can be updated at regular intervals, e.g. at the start of operation, changes in route guidance or, if necessary, when a line vehicle is to be used for a line other than the previous line and the driver enters the new line via the input direction 26 for this purpose. The data transfer can then take place in dialogue with the head office.

If the individual trigger points are passed in front of the stops when driving through the route, the control unit 16 recognizes this event by comparing the data from the navigation device 12 and the memory area 18 and emits a trigger signal to the playback device 10. This can be a constant trigger signal that is in the playback device 10 switches through a sequence of announcements, but it can also be a coded trigger signal which, depending on the trigger points, calls up special information.

The station announcements can also be supplemented by information on transfer options. In addition, there is the option of providing tourist information and information on points of interest along the route on lines that are frequently used by tourists. Commercial information, such as commercials of shops that are located next to the route, can also be realized.

All this listed information is automatically output at the exact point on the route that is specified by the selection and definition of the trigger points. This makes the information very reliable and especially helpful for passengers who are unfamiliar with the area. The disadvantages of individual information such as indistinct speech, errors or even failure to make an announcement out of ignorance or convenience are avoided.

A particularly advantageous one for vehicles in regular service Further development provides that the data of the trigger points can be changed by means of the control device. For example, it is useful to move the trigger point forward in times of low traffic so that passengers have enough time to prepare to get out. On the other hand, during peak traffic periods, when a stop can only be reached with delays due to slow-moving traffic, the trigger point can be placed directly in front of the stop. The control can be carried out by receiving devices that receive information about the traffic density or the time of day from the central office of the transport company. In addition, there is the possibility of changing the position of the trigger points depending on the capacity utilization of the vehicle in order to notify the passengers in good time of the next stop so that those further away from the exits can still get to the doors in time until the stop is reached.

In addition to a voice output, the playback device 10 can also be designed in such a way that a map of the surroundings of the bus stop is visually displayed to the passengers to enable better orientation.

In addition to the described application example of the device for vehicles in regular service, the device is also useful for pointing out general information to tourists during city tours and before or when passing special sights. There are further applications in freight and private transport to draw the driver's attention to special traffic regulations or danger spots.

In a modified embodiment of the device, the playback device 10 is designed as a vehicle radio receiver, which comprises a transmitter identification memory. The trigger signal can be used to select a location-specific transmitter table containing the memory, the location coordinates being used to decide on the correct transmitter. The trigger signal here is not a stored location, but a continuous sequence of coordinates. This enables the transmitter identification to be improved in an area in which the available frequencies are occupied several times.

Claims (12)

1. A method for outputting location-dependent information for passengers of a non-track-bound vehicle, in which the direction of travel and the travel path are detected and the respective location is continuously determined by navigational means and is compared with possible locations recorded in a stored street map and the current location within the street map is determined therefrom, wherein triggering points are additionally stored in the stored street map, wherein whenever the current location of the vehicle within the street map corresponds to a triggering point a specific item of information which is dependent on the triggering point is called up from an information reproducing device.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the triggering points are combined to form groups and one or more of these groups are activated separately.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the triggering points are updated automatically in the case of changes and/or at regular time intervals and/or in the case of actuation of a group, preferably by means of data transmission.
4. The method as claimed in one or more of claims 1 - 3, wherein, in the case of vehicles for scheduled services, the triggering points are changed as a function of the density of the traffic and/or of the time of day and/or of the occupancy factor of the vehicle and/or a desire to disembark.
5. The method as claimed in one or more of claims 1 - 4, wherein an audible and/or visual outputting of information of the information reproducing device, such as the announcement of a stop, indication of sights, or the presentation of a local map is brought about by the triggering signal.
6. The method as claimed in one or more of claims 1 -4, wherein a location-specific transmitter table which is contained in a transmitter-identification memory of a vehicle radio receiver is selected by the triggering signal in order to bring about a selection of a desired transmitter accompanied by valuation of the location coordinates.
7. A device for outputting location-dependent information for passengers of a non-track-bound vehicle, with means for dectecting the direction of travel and the travel path of the vehicle in order to determine its location, with a memory (14) for a street map, and with a control device (16) which continuously compares possible locations of the vehicle with the determined location and identifies the current location within the street map, wherein the memory (14) comprises additional memory areas (18) for triggering points arranged in the street map, wherein the control device (16) compares the current location of the vehicle with triggering points stored in the additional memory area (18) and, in the event of a triggering point corresponding to the current location, outputs, by means of an information reproducing device, an item of information which is assigned to this triggering point and is also stored.
8. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the area (18), which stores the data of the triggering points, of the memory (14) is divided into logical sub-areas (20, 22, 24) in which data, combined in each case into groups, of triggering points are stored.
9. The device as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein the memory area (18) for the triggering points are designed so as to be capable of being overwritten, and in the case of changes and/or at regular time intervals and/or in the case of a group being activated, the control device (16) automatically writes into the memory area (18) updated data of the triggering points, which data have preferably been received by means of long-distance data transmission.
10. The device as claimed in one or more of claims 7 - 9, wherein in the case of vehicles for scheduled services the data of the triggering points can be changed by means of the control device (16) as a function of the density of traffic and/or the time of day and/or the occupancy factor of the vehicle and/or a desire to disembark, and wherein measurement and/or reception devices for the density of traffic and/or the time of day and/or the occupancy factor of the vehicle and/or a stop-request key are provided and are connected to the control device (16).
11. The device as claimed in one or more of claims 7 - 10, wherein the information reproducing device (10) and/or the control device (16) comprises a memory for location-dependent audible and/or visual information such as information on stops, indications of sights, advertising or presentations of local maps, which information is logically assigned to specific triggering points in the street map and can be reproduced by the triggering signal.
12. The device as claimed in one or more of claims 7 - 10, wherein the control device (16) is connected to a control apparatus of a vehicle radio receiver which comprises a transmitter identification memory, and wherein a location-specific transmitter table which is contained in this memory can be selected by means of the triggering signal.

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