Information collection system, communication device, and information generation method

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-067446, filed on Mar. 27, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The embodiments discussed herein are related to an information collection system, a communication device, and an information generation method.

As conventional technology related to collection of information enabling identification of a vehicle position by a server, technology has been proposed in which an automobile detects a parked vehicle in front, calculates longitude and latitude of the parked vehicle, and transmits the longitude and latitude to a driving assistance server. In such technology, the driving assistance server collects received longitudes and latitudes, uses these to compute a passable area that takes the parked vehicle into consideration, and transmits information regarding the passable area to the automobile mentioned above. The automobile accordingly updates a guided travel route.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2008-2967

According to an aspect of the embodiments, an information collection system includes a first communication device provided at a first vehicle including a processor configured to execute a process. The process includes receiving operations by a first input section, and wirelessly transmitting, by a first transmission section, specific information according to the operation received by the first input section. The information collection system further includes a second communication device provided at a second vehicle including a processor configured to execute a process. The process includes receiving, by a first reception section, the specific information transmitted by the first transmission section, and wirelessly transmitting, to a device that is different from the first communication device by a second transmission section, position information enabling identification of a position at which the specific information was received by the first reception section.

The object and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a first communication device, a second communication device, and an information collection device according to a first exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a computer system according to the first exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a configuration of a bicycle according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a table illustrating an example of a communication information database according to the first exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram provided to explain a chronological flow of information transmitted/received between respective devices of a computer system according to the first exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of first information communication processing according to the first exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of second information communication processing according to the first exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a right turn display screen according to the first exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a left turn display screen according to the first exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an appreciation display screen according to the first exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of information collection processing according to the first exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of map generation processing according to the first exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a site display map according to the first exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram of a first communication device, a second communication device, and an information collection device according to a second exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a computer system according to the second exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a table illustrating an example of a communication information database according to the second exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram explaining a chronological flow of information transmitted/received between respective devices of a computer system according to the second exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating an example of first information communication processing according to the second exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an example of second information communication processing according to the second exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating an example of information collection processing according to the second exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 21 functional block diagram of a first communication device, a second communication device, and an information collection device according to a third exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a computer system according to the third exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram explaining a chronological flow of information transmitted/received between respective devices of a computer system according to the third exemplary embodiment:

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating an example of first information communication processing according to the third exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a response display screen according to the third exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating an example of second information communication processing according to the third exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an appreciation display screen according to the third exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating an example of information collection processing according to the third exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 29 is a functional block diagram of a first communication device, a second communication device, and an information collection device according to a fourth exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 30 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a computer system according to the fourth exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 31 is a schematic diagram explaining a chronological flow of information transmitted/received between respective devices of a computer system according to the fourth exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 32 is a flowchart illustrating an example of information collection processing according to the fourth exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 33 is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a first communication device, a second communication device, a third communication device, and an information collection device according to a fifth exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 34 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a computer system according to the fifth exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 35 is a schematic diagram explaining a chronological flow of information transmitted/received between respective devices of a computer system according to the fifth exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 36 is a flowchart illustrating an example of third information communication processing according to the fifth exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 37 is a flowchart illustrating an example of information collection processing according to the fifth exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 38 is a functional block diagram of a first communication device, a second communication device, a third communication device, and an information collection device according to a sixth exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 39 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a computer system according to the sixth exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 40 is a table illustrating an example of a communication information database according to the sixth exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 41 is a schematic diagram explaining a chronological flow of information transmitted/received between respective devices of a computer system according to the sixth exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 42 is a flowchart illustrating an example of third information communication processing according to the sixth exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 43 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a transmission received screen according to the sixth exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 44 is a flowchart illustrating an example of information collection processing according to the sixth exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 45 is a schematic diagram explaining a chronological flow of information transmitted/received between respective devices of a computer system according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 46 is a schematic diagram explaining a chronological flow of information transmitted/received between respective devices of a computer system according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 47 is a schematic diagram explaining a chronological flow of information transmitted/received between respective devices of a computer system according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 48 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a behavior presentation screen according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 49 is a schematic diagram explaining a chronological flow of information transmitted/received between respective devices of a computer system according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 50 is a schematic diagram explaining a chronological flow of information transmitted/received between respective devices of a computer system according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 51 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a behavior presentation screen according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 52 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an illuminating lamp unit and a first communication device according to another exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 53 is a block diagram illustrating another example of a configuration of an illuminating lamp unit and a first communication device according to another exemplary embodiment.

Detailed explanation follows regarding exemplary embodiments of technology disclosed herein, with reference to the drawings.

First Exemplary Embodiment

FIG. 1 illustrates a first communication device 10 A, a second communication device 20 A, and an information collection device 30 A according to an exemplary embodiment. Note that a configuration that includes the first communication device 10 A, the second communication device 20 A, and the information collection device 30 A corresponds to an information collection system of technology disclosed herein.

The first communication device 10 A according to the present exemplary embodiment is provided to a first vehicle, and includes a first input section 12 and a first transmission section 14 A, as illustrated in FIG. 1 . The first input section 12 receives operations from a user of the first communication device 10 A. The first transmission section 14 A wirelessly transmits specific information (referred to as “message information” hereafter) to the second communication device 20 A, according to the operation received by the first input section 12 .

In the first communication device 10 A according to the present exemplary embodiment, “right turn information”, “left turn information”, and “appreciation information” are three types of information employed as message information. The “right turn information” is information announcing that the first vehicle will turn right. The “left turn information” is information announcing that the first vehicle will turn left. The “appreciation information” is information expressing gratitude of the user of the first communication device 10 A. In the present exemplary embodiment, it is envisaged that a bicycle (referred as a “target bicycle” hereafter) serves as the first vehicle to which the first communication device 10 A is provided; however, there is no limitation thereto. For example, the first communication device 10 A may be provided to another two-wheeled vehicle such as a motorcycle, or may be provided to a four-wheeled vehicle such as an automobile.

The second communication device 20 A according to the present exemplary embodiment is provided to a second vehicle, which is different from the first vehicle, and the second communication device 20 A includes a first reception section 22 , a first presentation section 24 A, and a second transmission section 26 A, as illustrated in FIG. 1 . The first reception section 22 receives the message information transmitted by the first transmission section 14 A of the first communication device 10 A. The first presentation section 24 A presents, to the user of the second communication device 20 A, the message information received by the first reception section 22 . The second transmission section 26 A wirelessly transmits, to a device other than the first communication device 10 A (the information collection device 30 A in the present exemplary embodiment), position information that enables a position at which the first reception section 22 received the message information to be identified.

Note that although information indicating a latitude and longitude representing the position at which the message information was received is employed as the position information in the second communication device 20 A according to the present exemplary embodiment, there is no limitation thereto. For example, in addition to the latitude and longitude representing the position, altitude information may be employed as the position information. Moreover, a region targeted for information collection by the information collection device 30 A may be divided into a matrix of rectangular regions having a specific size, and the position of each divided region may be represented as two items of information of a row and a column corresponding to that matrix, and these two items of information may be employed as the position information. It is envisaged that an automobile (referred to as a “target automobile” hereafter) serves as the second vehicle to which the second communication device 20 A is provided in the present exemplary embodiment; however, there is no limitation thereto. For example, the second communication device 20 A may be provided to a two-wheeled vehicle such as a bicycle or a motorcycle.

In the present exemplary embodiment, a smartphone is employed as the first communication device 10 A and the second communication device 20 A; however, there is no limitation thereto. For example, other than a smartphone, a cellular telephone, and other than a cellular telephone, a portable information terminal (personal digital assistant (PDA)) such as a tablet personal computer (PC), may be employed as the first communication device 10 A and the second communication device 20 A.

The information collection device 30 A according to the present exemplary embodiment is provided to an information collection center installed in a predetermined location, and includes a second reception section 32 A, a registration section 34 A, a storage section 73 , and a generation section 38 , as illustrated in FIG. 1 . The second reception section 32 A receives the position information transmitted by the second transmission section 26 A of the second communication device 20 A. The registration section 34 A stores (registers) the position information received by the second reception section 32 A in the storage section 73 . The generation section 38 generates screen data representing an image (referred to as a “site display map” hereafter) that displays the position identified by the position information registered in the storage section 73 on a map. In the information collection device 30 A according to the present exemplary embodiment, the site display map represented by the screen data generated by the generation section 38 is displayed on a display section, described later, according to an instruction by the user of the information collection device 30 A.

In the present exemplary embodiment, wireless communication between the first transmission section 14 A of the first communication device 10 A and the first reception section 22 of the second communication device 20 A is performed by short range wireless communication via B LUETOOTH (registered trademark) low energy (BLE); however, there is no limitation thereto. For example, the wireless communication may be performed by short range wireless communication other than BLE, or may be performed by intermediate range wireless communication or long range wireless communication. Wireless communication between the second transmission section 26 A of the second communication device 20 A and the second reception section 32 A of the information collection device 30 A is performed using a public mobile communication line provided by a cellular phone company in the present exemplary embodiment; however, there is no limitation thereto. For example, this wireless communication may employ a dedicated wireless communication line.

In the present exemplary embodiment, it is envisaged that the target bicycle to which the first communication device 10 A is provided is travelling along the same road as the target automobile to which the second communication device 20 A is provided, in front of the target automobile.

When the travelling target bicycle approaches a junction at which a right turn, a left turn, or both are possible, and a right turn or left turn is desired, the user of the first communication device 10 A (referred to as the “first user” hereafter) performs an operation on the first input section 12 of the first communication device 10 A to indicate the desired right turn or left turn. In such cases, the first transmission section 14 A of the first communication device 10 A wirelessly transmits the above-described right turn information or the left turn information, according to the operation received by the first input section 12 .

In the target automobile following behind the target bicycle that is the transmission source of the right turn information or the left turn information, the right turn information or the left turn information transmitted from the target bicycle is received by the first reception section 22 of the second communication device 20 A. Then, in the second communication device 20 A, the right turn information or the left turn information received by the first reception section 22 is presented by the first presentation section 24 A. The user of the second communication device 20 A who is onboard the target automobile (referred to as the “second user” hereafter) can thereby ascertain that the target bicycle travelling in front will turn right or turn left. Then, in such cases, the second user can reduce the travelling speed of the target automobile, and make a gesture to the first user to indicate acknowledgement. Due to such behavior by the target automobile and the second user, the first user who is onboard the target bicycle can accordingly ascertain that the second user has ascertained that the target bicycle, which the first user is onboard, will turn right or turn left, and that the second user has expressed behavior in response to this.

The first user then performs an operation on the first input section 12 of the first communication device 10 A to express gratitude to the second user. In such cases, the first transmission section 14 A of the first communication device 10 A wirelessly transmits the appreciation information described above, according to the operation received by the first input section 12 .

Accordingly, in the second communication device 20 A of the target automobile, the appreciation information transmitted from the target bicycle is received by the first reception section 22 . Then, in the second communication device 20 A, the appreciation information received by the first reception section 22 is presented by the first presentation section 24 A. The second user can thereby ascertain that the first user is grateful for the action of the second user.

Moreover, when the information transmitted from the target bicycle (in the present exemplary embodiment, any information out of right turn information, left turn information, or appreciation information) is received by the first reception section 22 , the second transmission section 26 A of the second communication device 20 A transmits, to the information collection device 30 A, position information that enables the position at which the information was received to be identified.

Accordingly, in the information collection device 30 A, the position information transmitted from the target automobile is received by the second reception section 32 A, and the position information received by the second reception section 32 A is stored (registered) in the storage section 73 by the registration section 34 A. Then, in the information collection device 30 A, screen data representing a site display map is generated by the generation section 38 based on the position information registered in the storage section 73 , and the information collection device 30 A displays the site display map represented by the screen data on the display section.

The first input section 12 of the first communication device 10 A is an example of an input section according to technology disclosed herein, and the first transmission section 14 A of the first communication device 10 A is an example of a first transmission section and a transmission section of technology disclosed herein. The first reception section 22 of the second communication device 20 A is an example of a first reception section according to technology disclosed herein, the first presentation section 24 A of the second communication device 20 A is an example of a first presentation section of technology disclosed herein, and the second transmission section 26 A of the second communication device 20 A is an example of a second transmission section of technology disclosed herein. The second reception section 32 A of the information collection device 30 A is an example of a second reception section of technology disclosed herein, the registration section 34 A of the information collection device 30 A is an example of a registration section according to technology disclosed herein, and the generation section 38 of the information collection device 30 A is an example of a generation section according to technology disclosed herein.

The first communication device 10 A, the second communication device 20 A, and the information collection device 30 A described above may be respectively implemented by a first terminal 50 A, a second terminal 60 A, and a server 70 A included in a computer system 90 A as illustrated in FIG. 2 . The computer system 90 A according to the present exemplary embodiment includes the first terminal 50 A, the second terminal 60 A, and the server 70 A, which each have access to a network 80 .

The first terminal 50 A is a terminal provided to the target bicycle described above, and corresponds to the first communication device 10 A. The first terminal 50 A includes a central processing unit (CPU) 51 , a memory 52 , a storage section 53 , an input section 54 , a display section 55 , a medium reading/writing device (R/W) 56 , a wireless communication section 57 , a short range communication section 58 , and an interface (I/F) 59 for various buttons, described later. The CPU 51 , the memory 52 , the storage section 53 , the input section 54 , the display section 55 , the medium reading/writing device 56 , the wireless communication section 57 , the short range communication section 58 , and the I/F 59 are connected to one another through a bus B 1 . The medium reading/writing device 56 reads information written to a recording medium 96 , and writes information to the recording medium 96 . The short range communication section 58 is employed when communication is performed by the first transmission section 14 A, and the short range communication section 58 performs short range wireless communication via BLE in the present exemplary embodiment, as described above. As described above, since a smartphone is employed as the first terminal 50 A in the present exemplary embodiment, a touch panel, provided in a state in which a touch screen is superimposed on a display region of the display section 55 , is employed as the input section 54 .

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a configuration of a target bicycle 92 according to the present exemplary embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 3 , the first terminal 50 A is provided in a central portion of a handlebar 94 of the target bicycle 92 according to the present exemplary embodiment, in a state in which the display section 55 is visible to the first user. Moreover, a button 98 A, which is press operated by a thumb, is provided in a position close to the thumb on the right hand at the side of the handlebar 94 gripped by the right hand of the first user. A button 98 B, which is press operated by a thumb, is provided in a position close to the thumb on the left hand at the side of the handlebar 94 gripped by the left hand of the first user. The button 98 A is press operated by the first user when turning right, and the button 98 B is press operated by the first user when turning left.

Moreover, an illuminating lamp unit 97 for illuminating ahead of the target bicycle 92 is provided in a central portion of the handlebar 94 close to the first terminal 50 A, and a button 98 C is provided to an upper portion of the illuminating lamp unit 97 . The button 98 C is press operated by the first user when expressing gratitude.

Each button out of the buttons 98 A to 98 C is connected to the I/F 59 , and the CPU 51 can detect the state of press operation by the first user for each of the buttons 98 A to 98 C independently.

Moreover, the storage section 53 may be implemented by a hard disk drive (HDD), flash memory, or the like. A first information communication program 53 A that causes the first terminal 50 A to function as the first communication device 10 A is stored in the storage section 53 . The recording medium 96 written with the first information communication program 53 A is set in the medium reading/writing device 56 , and the medium reading/writing device 56 reads the first information communication program 53 A from the recording medium 96 , thereby storing the first information communication program 53 A in the storage section 53 . The CPU 51 reads the first information communication program 53 A from the storage section 53 , expands the first information communication program 53 A into the memory 52 , and sequentially executes the processes included in the first information communication program 53 A.

The first information communication program 53 A includes a first input process 53 A 1 and a first transmission process 53 A 2 A. The CPU 51 operates as the first input section 12 illustrated in FIG. 1 by executing the first input process 53 A 1 . Moreover, the CPU 51 operates as the first transmission section 14 A illustrated in FIG. 1 by executing the first transmission process 53 A 2 A. The first terminal 50 A, which executes the first information communication program 53 A, thereby functions as the first communication device 10 A.

The second terminal 60 A is a terminal provided to the target automobile described above, and corresponds to the second communication device 20 A. The second terminal 60 A includes a CPU 61 , a memory 62 , a storage section 63 , an input section 64 , a display section 65 , a medium reading/writing device (R/W) 66 , a wireless communication section 67 , a short range communication section 68 , and a global positioning system (GPS) receiver 69 . The CPU 61 , the memory 62 , the storage section 63 , the input section 64 , the display section 65 , the medium reading/writing device 66 , the wireless communication section 67 , the short range communication device 68 , and the GPS receiver 69 are connected to one another through a bus B 2 . The medium reading/writing device 66 reads information written to a recording medium 96 , and writes information to the recording medium 96 . Moreover, the short range communication section 68 is employed when communicating with the first transmission section 14 A by the first reception section 22 , and performs short range wireless communication via a communication specification similar to that of the first transmission section 14 A (BLE in the present exemplary embodiment). Since, as described above, a smartphone is employed as the second terminal 60 A in the present exemplary embodiment similarly to in the first terminal 50 A, a touch panel, provided in a state in which a touch screen is superimposed on a display region of the display section 65 , is employed as the input section 64 .

The GPS receiver 69 outputs position information indicating the position of the receiver itself. Although GPS is thus used to identify the position of the receiver itself in the second terminal 60 A according to the present exemplary embodiment, there is no limitation thereto. For example, another positioning system such as a positioning system employing a beacon may be employed to identify the position of the device itself.

The storage section 63 may be implemented by a HDD, flash memory, or the like. A second information communication program 63 A that causes the second terminal 60 A to function as the second communication device 20 A is stored in the storage section 63 . The recording medium 96 written with the second information communication program 63 A is set in the medium reading/writing device 66 , and the medium reading/writing device 66 reads the second information communication program 63 A from the recording medium 96 , thereby storing the second information communication program 63 A in the storage section 63 . The CPU 61 reads the second information communication program 63 A from the storage section 63 , expands the second information communication program 63 A into the memory 62 , and sequentially executes the processes included in the second information communication program 63 A.

The second information communication program 63 A includes a first reception process 63 A 1 , a first presentation process 63 A 2 A, and a second transmission process 63 A 3 A. The CPU 61 operates as the first reception section 22 illustrated in FIG. 1 by executing the first reception process 63 A 1 . The CPU 61 also operates as the first presentation section 24 A illustrated in FIG. 1 by executing the first presentation process 63 A 2 A. The CPU 61 also operates as the second transmission section 26 A illustrated in FIG. 1 by executing the second transmission process 63 A 3 A. The second terminal 60 A, which executes the second information communication program 63 A, thereby functions as the second communication device 20 A.

The server 70 A is provided to the information collection center described above, is a device that performs comprehensive storage and management of the various information handled by the computer system 90 A, and corresponds to the information collection device 30 A. The server 70 A includes a CPU 71 , a memory 72 , a storage section 73 , an input section 74 , a display section 75 , a medium reading/writing device (R/W) 76 , and an communication interface (I/F) section 77 . The CPU 71 , the memory 72 , the storage section 73 , the input section 74 , the display section 75 , the medium reading/writing device 76 , and the communication I/F section 77 are connected to one another through a bus B 3 . The medium reading/writing device 76 reads information written to a recording medium 96 , and writes information to the recording medium 96 .

The storage section 73 may be implemented by a HDD, flash memory, or the like. An information collection program 73 A and a map generation program 73 B that cause the server 70 A to function as the information collection device 30 A are stored in the storage section 73 . The recording medium 96 written with the first information collection program 73 A is set in the medium reading/writing device 76 , and the medium reading/writing device 76 reads the first information collection program 73 A from the recording medium 96 , thereby storing the first information collection program 73 A in the storage section 73 . The CPU 71 reads the storage section 73 from the information collection program 73 A, expands the information collection program 73 A into the memory 72 , and sequentially executes the processes included in the information collection program 73 A.

The information collection program 73 A includes a second reception process 73 A 1 A and a registration process 73 A 2 A. The CPU 71 operates as the second reception section 32 A illustrated in FIG. 1 by executing the second reception process 73 A 1 A. The CPU 71 also operates as the registration section 34 A illustrated in FIG. 1 by executing the registration process 73 A 2 A.

The recording medium 96 written with the map generation program 73 B is set in the medium reading/writing device 76 , and the medium reading/writing device 76 reads the map generation program 73 B from the recording medium 96 , thereby storing the map generation program 73 B in the storage section 73 . The CPU 71 reads the map generation program 73 B from the storage section 73 , expands the map generation program 73 B into the memory 72 , and sequentially executes the processes included in the map generation program 73 B.

The map generation program 73 B includes a generation process 73 B 1 . The CPU 71 operates as the generation section 38 illustrated in FIG. 1 by executing the generation process 73 B 1 . The server 70 A, which executes the information collection program 73 A and the map generation program 73 B, thereby functions as the information collection device 30 A.

Moreover, a communication information storage region 73 C 1 is also provided to the storage section 73 . The CPU 71 generates a communication information database (DB) by expanding data stored in the communication information storage region 73 C 1 into the memory 72 .

As illustrated in FIG. 4 , the communication information DB according to the present exemplary embodiment includes identification (IDs), category information, timing information, position information, and device information.

The IDs are identification information for classifying message information that has been exchanged between the target bicycle 92 and the target automobile following behind into predetermined segments.

The category information is information representing the category of the corresponding message information. The timing information is information representing the timing at which the corresponding message information was transmitted/received between the target bicycle 92 and the target automobile. The position information is information indicating the position at which the corresponding message information was transmitted/received between the target bicycle 92 and the target automobile. The device information is identification information pre-allocated to each device for identifying each device out of the first terminal 50 A and the second terminal 60 A that transmitted/received the corresponding message information.

The communication information DB illustrated in FIG. 4 , as an example, indicates that “right turn information” and “appreciation information” were message information transmitted/received between the target bicycle 92 and the target automobile in a duration over which the ID “1001” was allocated. In the communication information DB illustrated in FIG. 4 , also as an example, the timing at which the “right turn information” was transmitted/received is Jan. 19, 2015, 19:30, and the position at the time of transmit/reception indicates “(latitude 1), (longitude 1)”. Moreover, in the communication information DB illustrated in FIG. 4 , it is indicated that the device information of the first terminal 50 A that transmitted the “right turn information” is “AB001”, and the device information of the second terminal 60 A that received the “right turn information” is “BB002”.

In the computer system 90 A according to the present exemplary embodiment, the various information is transmitted/received over the network 80 , which includes the mobile communication line described above, between the respective devices out of the second terminal 60 A and the server 70 A; however, there is no limitation thereto. For example, exchange of information may be performed between the respective devices via the recording medium 96 or the like, with the second terminal 60 A and the server 70 A configured to be offline. In the computer system 90 A, the server 70 A transmits/receives the various information by wired communication with respective devices connected to the network 80 using the communication I/F section 77 ; however, there is no limitation thereto. For example, the server 70 A may transmit/receive the various information with respective devices connected to the network 80 by wireless communication.

Next, explanation follows regarding operation of the present exemplary embodiment. First, explanation follows regarding a chronological flow of information transmitted/received between the respective devices out of the first terminal 50 A, the second terminal 60 A, and the server 70 A according to the present exemplary embodiment, with reference to FIG. 5 .

When the first user is onboard the target bicycle 92 and, while travelling, approaches a junction at which a right turn is possible, and a right turn is desired, the first user press operates the button 98 A provided to the handlebar 94 of the target bicycle 92 . In response, the first terminal 50 A wirelessly transmits right turn information to the second terminal 60 A using the short range communication section 58 , as the message information. Similarly, when the first user is onboard the target bicycle 92 and, while travelling, approaches a junction at which a left turn is possible, and a left turn is desired, the first user press operates the button 98 B. In response, the first terminal 50 A wirelessly transmits left turn information to the second terminal 60 A as message information using the short range communication section 58 .

In response, the second terminal 60 A provided to the target automobile following behind presents the received message information. As described above, the second user onboard the target automobile then reduces the speed of the target automobile, and makes a gesture to indicate acknowledgement. In response, the first user press operates the button 98 C provided to the illuminating lamp unit 97 . In response, the first terminal 50 A wirelessly transmits appreciation information to the second terminal 60 A as message information using the short range communication section 58 .

When the first terminal 50 A according to the present exemplary embodiment transmits the message information (“right turn information”, “left turn information”, “appreciation information”) to the second terminal 60 A, the first terminal 50 A also transmits, to the second terminal 60 A, device information (referred to as “first terminal device information”) that was pre-allocated to the device itself.

When message information is received, the second terminal 60 A wirelessly transmits the received message information, the first terminal device information, and the device information pre-allocated to the device itself (referred to as the “second terminal device information” hereafter) to the server 70 A using the wireless communication section 67 . When this is performed, the second terminal 60 A also transmits, to the server 70 A, position information obtained by the GPS receiver 69 at that point in time. In the following, the message information, the first terminal device information, the second terminal device information, and the position information transmitted to the server 70 A by the second terminal 60 A is also referred to as “first second-terminal transmission information”.

As a result, when the server 70 A receives the first second-terminal transmission information from the second terminal 60 A, the server 70 A stores (registers) the received first terminal device information, second terminal device information, and position information in the storage region corresponding to the communication information DB (see also FIG. 4 ). When this is performed, the server 70 A registers information representing the category of the received message information as category information of the communication information DB. When this is performed, the server 70 A also registers, in the communication information DB, the timing of that point in time, measured using inbuilt clock functionality, as the timing information. When this is performed, the server 70 A also registers, in the communication information DB, an ID that differs for each of the segments described above.

Next, more specific explanation follows regarding processing executed by the respective devices out of the first terminal 50 A, the second terminal 60 A, and the server 70 A. The first user is onboard the target bicycle 92 , and first information communication processing illustrated in FIG. 6 is performed by the first terminal 50 A executing the first information communication program 53 A.

At step 100 of the first information communication processing, the first input section 12 determines whether or not any of the buttons 98 A, 98 B, and 98 C have been press operated, and processing transitions to step 120 , described below, in cases in which negative determination has been made, and processing otherwise transitions to step 102 in cases in which affirmative determination has been made.

At step 102 , the first input section 12 determines whether or not the press operated button was the button 98 A, and processing transitions to step 104 in cases in which affirmative determination has been made. At step 104 , the first transmission section 14 A transmits the right turn information and the first terminal device information using the short range communication section 58 , and processing then transitions to step 120 .

Otherwise, in cases in which negative determination has been made at step 102 , processing transitions to step 106 , the first input section 12 determines whether or not the press operated button was the button 98 B, and processing transitions to step 108 in cases in which affirmative determination has been made. At step 108 , the first transmission section 14 A transmits the left turn information and the first terminal device information using the short range communication section 58 , and processing then transitions to step 120 .

Otherwise, when negative determination has been made at step 106 , processing transitions to step 110 , the first input section 12 determines whether or not the press operated button was the button 98 C, and processing transitions to step 112 in cases in which affirmative determination has been made. At step 112 , the first transmission section 14 A transmits the appreciation information and the first terminal device information using the short range communication section 58 , and processing then transitions to step 120 . When negative determination has been made at step 110 , the button operation detected by the processing of step 100 is considered to have been erroneously detected, and processing transitions to step 120 without any other processing being performed.

At step 120 , the first input section 12 determines whether or not a timing predetermined as a timing at which to end the first information communication processing has been reached, and processing returns to step 100 in cases in which a negative determination has been made, or otherwise the first information communication processing ends at that point in time in cases in which affirmative determination has been made. In the first terminal 50 A according to the present exemplary embodiment, a timing at which the user input instructions instructing the first information communication processing to end is employed as the predetermined timing; however, there is no limitation thereto.

The second user is onboard the target automobile, and second information communication processing illustrated in FIG. 7 is performed by the second terminal 60 A executing the second information communication program 63 A.

At step 200 of the second information communication processing, the first reception section 22 determines whether or not any message information has been received, and processing transitions to step 226 , described later, in cases in which negative determination has been made, or otherwise processing transitions to step 202 in cases in which affirmative determination has been made.

At step 202 , the first reception section 22 determines whether or not the received message information is right turn information, and processing transitions to step 204 A in cases in which affirmative determination has been made. At step 204 A, the first presentation section 24 A controls the display section 65 such that a right turn display screen, predetermined as a screen for displaying right turn information, is displayed.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a right turn display screen according to the present exemplary embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 8 , an arrow image 65 B 1 indicating a right turn, and a message (“Right” in the example illustrated in FIG. 8 ), are displayed on the right turn display screen according to the present exemplary embodiment. Accordingly, the second user can easily ascertain that the bicycle travelling ahead is attempting to turn right by referring to the right turn display screen, and will decrease the speed of the target automobile, and make a gesture to indicate acknowledgement. In cases in which the second user wishes to remove the right turn display screen from the display section 65 , this is specified with a fingertip using a “End” button 65 C displayed at the lower side of the right turn display screen. The right turn display screen is thereby removed from the display section 65 .

At the next step 206 A, the second transmission section 26 A transmits the received right turn information and first terminal device information, the second terminal device information allocated to the device itself, and the position information obtained by the GPS receiver 69 at that point in time, to the server 70 A using the wireless communication section 67 . Processing transitions to step 226 when step 206 A ends.

Otherwise, when negative determination has been made at step 202 , processing transitions to step 208 , the first reception section 22 determines whether or not the received message information is left turn information, and processing transitions to step 210 A in cases in which affirmative determination has been made. At step 210 A, the first presentation section 24 A controls the display section 65 such that a left turn display screen, predetermined as a screen for displaying left turn information, is displayed.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of the left turn display screen according to the present exemplary embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 9 , an arrow image 65 B 2 indicating a left turn, and a message (“Left” in the example illustrated in FIG. 9 ), are displayed on the left turn display screen according to the present exemplary embodiment. Accordingly, the second user can easily ascertain that the bicycle travelling ahead is attempting to turn left by referring to the left turn display screen, and will decrease the speed of the target automobile, and make a gesture to indicate acknowledgement. In cases in which the second user wishes to remove the left turn display screen from the display section 65 , this is specified with a fingertip using a “End” button 65 C displayed at the lower side of the left turn display screen. The left turn display screen is thereby removed from the display section 65 .

At the next step 212 A, the second transmission section 26 A transmits the received left turn information and first terminal device information, the second terminal device information allocated to the device itself, and the position information obtained by the GPS receiver 69 at that point in time, to the server 70 A using the wireless communication section 67 . Processing transitions to step 226 when step 212 A ends.

Otherwise, in cases in which negative determination has been made at step 208 , processing transitions to step 214 , the first reception section 22 determines whether or not the received message information is appreciation information, and processing transitions to step 216 A in cases in which affirmative determination has been made. At step 216 A, the first presentation section 24 A controls the display section 65 such that an appreciation display screen predetermined as a screen for displaying appreciation information is displayed.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of an appreciation display screen according to the present exemplary embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 10 , an appreciation image (an image of a smiling face in the present exemplary embodiment) 65 B 3 expressing appreciation, and a message (“Thank You!” in the example illustrated in FIG. 10 ), are displayed on the appreciation display screen according to the present exemplary embodiment. Accordingly, the second user can easily ascertain that the occupant of the bicycle travelling ahead is expressing gratitude by referring to the appreciation display screen, and will make a gesture to indicate acknowledgement. In cases in which the second user wishes to remove the appreciation display screen from the display section 65 , this is specified with a fingertip using a “End” button 65 C displayed at the lower side of the appreciation display screen. The appreciation display screen is thereby removed from the display section 65 .

At the next step 218 A, the second transmission section 26 A transmits the received appreciation information and first terminal device information, the second terminal device information allocated to the device itself, and the position information obtained by the GPS receiver 69 at that point in time, to the server 70 A using the wireless communication section 67 . Processing transitions to step 226 when step 218 A ends. In cases in which negative determination has been made at step 214 , the message information received in the processing of step 200 is considered to have been received erroneously, and processing transitions to step 226 without any other processing being performed.

At step 226 , the first reception section 22 determines whether or not the timing predetermined as the timing at which to end the second information communication program has been reached, and processing returns to step 200 in cases in which a negative determination has been made, or otherwise the second information communication processing ends at that point in time in cases in which affirmative determination has been made. In the second terminal 60 A according to the present exemplary embodiment, a timing at which the user input instructions instructing the second information communication processing to end is employed as the predetermined timing; however, there is no limitation thereto.

An administrator of the server 70 A performs information collection processing illustrated in FIG. 11 by executing the information collection program 73 A using the server 70 A at a specific timing. In the present exemplary embodiment, a predetermined timing (3 a.m. in the present exemplary embodiment) is employed as the specific timing; however, there is no limitation thereto.

At step 300 A of the information collection processing, the second reception section 32 A determines whether or not the first second-terminal transmission information has been received from the second terminal 60 A, and processing transitions to step 310 , described below, in cases in which negative determination has been made, or otherwise processing transitions to step 302 A in cases in which affirmative determination has been made.

At step 302 A, the registration section 34 A stores (registers) information, excluding the message information, from the received first second-terminal transmission information, information indicating the category of the message information, and timing information indicating the timing of that point in time, in the communication information DB.

When this is performed, the registration section 34 A registers this information in the communication information DB as described below. Namely, in cases in which existing position information indicating a position that is within a specific distance from the position indicated by the position information to be registered the current time has already been registered, and the elapsed duration since the timing at which the existing position information was registered is within a specific duration, the information to be registered the current time is registered associated with an ID corresponding to the existing position information. In other cases, a new ID is generated and the current registration is performed in association with that ID. In the present exemplary embodiment, the distance employed as the specific distance is a distance (5 m in the present exemplary embodiment) predetermined such that exchange of message information within that distance can be considered to have occurred at the same junction on the road; however, there is no limitation thereto. Moreover, in the present exemplary embodiment, the duration employed as the specific duration is a duration (10 seconds in the present exemplary embodiment) predetermined such that exchange of message information within that duration can be considered to have occurred at the same junction on the road; however, there is no limitation thereto.

At the next step 310 , the second reception section 32 A determines whether or not the timing predetermined as the timing at which to end the present information collection processing has been reached, and processing returns to step 300 A in cases in which a negative determination has been made, or otherwise the present information collection processing ends at that point in time in cases in which affirmative determination has been made. In the server 70 A according to the present exemplary embodiment, a predetermined timing (1 a.m. in the present exemplary embodiment) is employed as the predetermined timing; however, there is no limitation thereto.

The administrator of the server 70 A performs map generation processing illustrated in FIG. 12 by executing the map generation program 73 B using the server 70 A at the specific timing. The present exemplary embodiment employs a predetermined date and time (5 a.m. on the last day of each month in the present exemplary embodiment) as the specific timing; however, there is no limitation thereto. Herein, to avoid confusion, explanation is given regarding a case in which map information representing a map of a place set as a map generation target are pre-stored in the storage section 73 of the server 70 A.

At step 350 of the map generation processing, the generation section 38 reads, from the communication information DB, all of the position information with “appreciation” registered as the category information of the message information. At the next step 352 , the generation section 38 reads the map information from the storage section 73 . Next, the generation section 38 performs processing on the map information that causes a specific mark 75 A (see also FIG. 13 ) to be superimposed on the map represented by the map information, at positions corresponding to the read position information. The generation section 38 uses this processing to generate screen data (referred to as “map screen data” hereafter) representing a site display map that enables the first user to identify positions at which appreciation was expressed.

At the next step 354 , the generation section 38 controls the display section 75 such that a site display map represented by the map screen data generated by the above processing is displayed, and processing then transitions to step 356 .

FIG. 13 illustrates an example of the site display map according to the present exemplary embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 13 , in the site display map according to the present exemplary embodiment, the map represented by the map information is displayed in a state in which the mark 75 A is superimposed at positions at which the appreciation information was exchanged. Accordingly, the administrator of the server 70 A can easily ascertain positions at which the appreciation information was exchanged by referring to the site display map. When the administrator of the server 70 A wishes to remove the site display map from the display section 75 , the administrator of the server 70 A stipulates an “End” button 75 B displayed at the lower side of the site display map, through the input section 74 . The site display map is thereby removed from the display section 75 .

At step 356 , the generation section 38 stands by until a timing predetermined as the timing at which to end the current map generation processing has been reached, and the present map generation processing ends at a point in time at which affirmative determination has been made at step 356 . In the server 70 A according to the present exemplary embodiment, the timing at which the processing up to step 354 has ended is employed as the predetermined timing; however, there is no limitation thereto.

As explained in detail above, in the present exemplary embodiment, the specific information is wirelessly transmitted using the first transmission section of the first communication device provided to the first vehicle, according to an operation received by the first input section, which receives operations. Moreover, in the present exemplary embodiment, the second transmission section of the second communication device provided to the second vehicle wirelessly transmits, to a device different from the first communication device, position information enabling identification of the position at which the specific information was received by the first reception section, which receives the specific information transmitted by the first transmission section. Thus, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the second vehicle transmits position information conveying that the specific information has been received from the first vehicle. Thus, position information enabling identification of the position at which inter-vehicle communication was performed can be collected without the first vehicle or the second vehicle receiving any information, in contrast to cases in which unaccompanied position information is transmitted. Moreover, the collected position information can be considered highly reliable position information.

In the present exemplary embodiment, information expressing gratitude is included in the specific information. Thus, according to the present exemplary embodiment, stress can be reduced for the occupant of the second vehicle as a result of the information expressing gratitude being transmitted to the second vehicle. Moreover, positions where communication was performed related to giving way to each other can be collected using the information expressing gratitude.

Moreover, in the present exemplary embodiment, in the information collection device, position information transmitted by the second transmission section is received by the second reception section, and the received position information is registered in the storage section by the registration section. Thus, according to the present exemplary embodiment, highly reliable position information can be collected by the information collection device.

Moreover, according to the present exemplary embodiment, in the information collection device, screen data representing the position identified by the position information registered by the registration section on the map is generated by the generation section. Thus, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the position at which inter-vehicle communication was performed can be easily ascertained by performing screen display using the screen data.

Moreover, in the present exemplary embodiment, in the second communication device, the specific information received by the first reception section is presented by the first presentation section. Thus, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the occupant of the second vehicle can easily ascertain the content of the specific information received from the first vehicle by referring to the presented information.

Second Exemplary Embodiment

Next, explanation follows regarding a second exemplary embodiment of technology disclosed herein. FIG. 14 illustrates a first communication device 10 B, a second communication device 20 B, and an information collection device 30 B according to the present exemplary embodiment. Configuration elements in FIG. 14 similar those of the respective devices illustrated in FIG. 1 are allocated the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 , and explanation thereof is omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 14 , the first communication device 10 B according to the second exemplary embodiment differs from the first communication device 10 A in that a first transmission section 14 B for performing transmission processing different from that of the first transmission section 14 A, is employed instead of the first transmission section 14 A. Moreover, the second communication device 20 B according to the second exemplary embodiment differs from the second communication device 20 A in that a second transmission section 26 B for performing transmission processing different from that of the second transmission section 26 A is employed instead of the second transmission section 26 A. Moreover, the information collection device 30 B according to the second exemplary embodiment differs from the information collection device 30 A in that a second reception section 32 B for performing reception processing different from that of the second reception section 32 A is employed instead of the second reception section 32 A. Moreover, the information collection device 30 B according to the second exemplary embodiment differs from the information collection device 30 A in that a registration section 34 B for performing registration processing different from that of the registration section 34 A is employed instead of the registration section 34 A.

The first communication device 10 B, the second communication device 20 B, and the information collection device 30 B may be respectively implemented by a first terminal 50 B, a second terminal 60 B, and a server 70 B included in a computer system 90 B illustrated in FIG. 15 . Explanation follows regarding configuration of the first terminal 50 B, the second terminal 60 B, and the server 70 B according to the second exemplary embodiment, with reference to FIG. 15 . Configuration elements in FIG. 15 that are similar to those of the computer system 90 A of FIG. 2 are allocated the same reference numerals as in FIG. 2 , and explanation thereof is omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 15 , the first terminal 50 B according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the first terminal 50 A in that a OPS receiver 59 B, similar to the GPS receiver 69 provided to the second terminal 60 B, is additionally provided. The GPS receiver 59 B is connected to the bus B 1 .

Moreover, the first terminal 50 B differs from the first terminal 50 A in that the first transmission process 53 A 2 A of the first information communication program 53 A is configured as a first transmission process 53 A 2 B for performing transmission processing different from that of the first transmission process 53 A 2 A. The CPU 51 operates as the first transmission section 14 B illustrated in FIG. 14 by executing the first transmission process 53 A 2 B. The first terminal 50 B, which executes the first information communication program 53 A, thereby functions as the first communication device 10 B.

The second terminal 60 B according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the second terminal 60 A in that the second transmission process 63 A 3 A of the second information communication program 63 A is configured as a second transmission process 63 A 3 B for performing transmission processing different from that of the second transmission process 63 A 3 A. The CPU 61 operates as the second transmission section 26 B illustrated in FIG. 14 by executing the second transmission process 63 A 3 B. The second terminal 60 B, which executes the second information communication program 63 A, thereby functions as the second communication device 20 B.

The server 70 B according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the server 70 A in that the second reception process 73 A 1 A of the information collection program 73 A is configured as a second reception process 73 A 1 B for performing reception processing different from that of the second reception process 73 A 1 A. The server 70 B according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the server 70 A in that the registration process 73 A 2 A of the information collection program 73 A is configured as a registration process 73 A 2 B for performing registration processing different from that of the registration process 73 A 2 A. The CPU 71 operates as the second reception section 32 B illustrated in FIG. 14 by executing the second reception process 73 A 1 B. The CPU 71 operates as the registration section 34 B illustrated in FIG. 14 by executing the registration process 73 A 2 B. The server 70 B, which executes the information collection program 73 A, thereby functions as the information collection device 30 B.

A communication information storage region 73 C 2 is provided to the storage section 73 of the server 70 B instead of the communication information storage region 73 C 1 . The CPU 71 generates a communication information DB according to the present exemplary embodiment by expanding data stored in the communication information storage region 73 C 2 into the memory 72 .

FIG. 16 illustrates a communication information DB according to the present exemplary embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 16 , the communication information DB according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the communication information DB according to the first exemplary embodiment in that degree of certainty information, described below, is added (see also FIG. 4 ). The default value of the degree of certainty information is set to 0 (zero) in the communication information DB according to the present exemplary embodiment.

Next, explanation follows regarding operation of the present exemplary embodiment. First, explanation follows regarding a chronological flow of information transmitted/received between the respective devices out of the first terminal 50 B, the second terminal 60 B, and the server 70 B according to the present exemplary embodiment, with reference to FIG. 17 .

The first terminal 50 B provided to the target bicycle 92 is similar to the first terminal 50 A in that any message information out of right turn information, left turn information, and appreciation information is transmitted together with the first terminal device information to the second terminal 60 B provided to a target automobile travelling behind, according to operation by the first user.

The second terminal 60 B provided to the target automobile is also similar to the second terminal 60 A in that the message information, the first terminal device information, the second terminal device information, and the position information are transmitted to the server 70 B when the message information and the first terminal device information have been received from the first terminal 50 B. However, the second terminal 60 B according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the second terminal 60 A in that timing information of that point in time is transmitted to the server 70 B in addition to this information. When this is performed, the second terminal 60 B acquires the timing indicating that point in time, measured using inbuilt clock functionality, as the timing information. Hereafter, the message information, the first terminal device information, the second terminal device information, the position information, and the timing information that the second terminal 60 B transmits to the server 70 B are also referred to as “second second-terminal transmission information”.

The first terminal 50 B according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the first terminal 50 A in that the message information, the first terminal device information, the position information indicating the position at that point in time, and the timing information indicating the timing of that point in time are transmitted to the server 70 B when the message information has been transmitted to the second terminal 60 B. When this is performed, the first terminal 50 B acquires a position obtained by the GPS receiver 59 B at that point in time as the position information. When this is performed, the first terminal 50 B also acquires the timing of that point in time, measured using inbuilt clock functionality, as the timing information. Hereafter, the message information, the first terminal device information, the position information, and the timing information that the first terminal 50 B transmits to the server 70 B are referred to as “first first-terminal transmission information”.

Accordingly, the server 70 B stores (registers) the information out of the second second-terminal transmission information, excluding the message information, received from the second terminal 60 B, and category information indicating the category of the message information, in the storage region corresponding to the communication information DB (see also FIG. 16 ). Moreover, the server 70 B stores (registers) the information out of the first first-terminal transmission information, excluding the message information, received from the first terminal 50 B, and category information indicating the category of the message information, in the storage region corresponding to the communication information DB. When this is performed, the server 70 B registers, in the communication information DB, an ID that differs for each of the segments described above.

Here, the server 70 B according to the present exemplary embodiment derives degree of certainty information indicating the certainty of the second second-terminal transmission information received from the second terminal 60 B, and this is explained in detailed later. Then, the server 70 B stores (registers) the derived degree of certainty information in the communication information DB in association with the position information of the corresponding second second-terminal transmission information.

Next, specific explanation follows regarding processing executed by the respective devices out of the first terminal 50 B, the second terminal 60 B, and the server 70 B. The first user is onboard the target bicycle 92 , and performs the first information communication processing illustrated in FIG. 18 by executing the first information communication program 53 A using the first terminal 50 B. Explanation follows regarding the first information communication processing according to the present exemplary embodiment. Steps in FIG. 18 that perform similar processing to those of FIG. 6 are allocated the same step numbers as in FIG. 6 , and explanation thereof is omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 18 , the first information communication processing according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the first information communication processing according to the first exemplary embodiment in that processing of a step 105 A is added immediately following the processing of step 104 . Similarly, the first information communication processing according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the first information communication processing according to the first exemplary embodiment in that processing of a step 109 A is added immediately following the processing of step 108 , and processing of a step 113 A is added immediately following the processing of step 112 .

Namely, at step 105 A of the first information communication processing according to the present exemplary embodiment, the first transmission section 14 B transmits the first first-terminal transmission information, in which the message information has been set to right turn information, to the server 70 B using the wireless communications section 57 , and processing then transitions to step 120 . At step 109 A of the first information communication processing according to the present exemplary embodiment, the first transmission section 14 B transmits the first first-terminal transmission information, in which the message information has been set to left turn information, to the server 70 B using the wireless communications section 57 , and processing then transitions to step 120 . At step 113 A of the first information communication processing according to the present exemplary embodiment, the first transmission section 14 B transmits the first first-terminal transmission information, in which the message information has been set to appreciation information, to the server 70 B using the wireless communications section 57 , and processing then transitions to step 120 .

The second user is onboard the target automobile, and performs the second information communication processing illustrated in FIG. 19 by executing the second information communication program 63 A using the second terminal 60 B. Explanation follows regarding the second information communication processing according to the present exemplary embodiment. Steps in FIG. 19 that perform processing similar to those of FIG. 7 are allocated the same step numbers as in FIG. 7 , and explanation thereof is omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 19 , the second information communication processing according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the second information communication processing according to the first exemplary embodiment in that the processing of step 206 B is employed instead of the processing of step 206 A. Similarly, the second information communication processing according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the second information communication processing according to the first exemplary embodiment in that processing of step 212 B is employed instead of processing of step 212 A, and processing of step 218 B is employed instead of processing of step 218 A.

Namely, at step 206 B of the second information communication processing according to the present exemplary embodiment, the second transmission section 26 B transmits the second second-terminal transmission information, in which the message information has been set to right turn information, to the server 70 B using the wireless communication section 67 . Processing transitions to step 226 when step 206 B has ended. At step 212 B of the second information communication processing according to the present exemplary embodiment, the second transmission section 26 B transmits the second second-terminal transmission information, in which the message information has been set to left turn information, to the server 70 B using the wireless communication section 67 . Processing transitions to step 226 when step 212 B has ended. At step 218 B of the second information communication processing according to the present exemplary embodiment, the second transmission section 26 B transmits the second second-terminal transmission information, in which the message information has been set to appreciation information, to the server 70 B using the wireless communication section 67 . Processing transitions to step 226 when step 218 B has ended.

The administrator of the server 70 B performs the information collection processing illustrated in FIG. 20 by executing the information collection program 73 A using the server 70 B at a specific timing. Steps in FIG. 20 that perform processing similar to those of FIG. 11 are allocated the same step numbers as in FIG. 11 , and explanation thereof is omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 20 , the information collection processing according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the information collection processing according to the first exemplary embodiment in that step 300 B is employed instead of the processing of step 300 A. The information collection processing according to the present exemplary embodiment also differs from the information collection processing according to the first exemplary embodiment in that step 302 B is employed instead of the processing of step 302 A. The information collection processing according to the present exemplary embodiment also differs from the information collection processing according to the first exemplary embodiment in that the processing of step 304 , step 306 A, and step 308 A is added between the processing of step 302 B and the processing of step 310 .

At step 300 B of the information collection processing according to the present exemplary embodiment, the second reception section 32 B determines whether or not the first first-terminal transmission information has been received from the first terminal 50 B, or the second second-terminal transmission information has been received from the second terminal 60 B. Here, processing transitions to step 304 , described below, in cases in which negative determination has been made, or otherwise processing transitions to step 302 B in cases in which affirmative determination has been made.

At step 302 B, the registration section 34 B stores (registers) information, excluding message information, from the received first first-terminal transmission information or from the second second-terminal transmission information, and the information indicating the category of the message information, in the communication information DB.

In the information collection processing according to the present exemplary embodiment, the information registered in the communication information DB by the processing of step 302 B is classified into two types of information: information based on information received from the first terminal 50 B, or information based on information received from the second terminal 60 B. Hereafter, the information based on the information received from the first terminal 50 B is referred to as “first terminal information”, and the information based on the information received from the second terminal 60 B is referred to as “second terminal information”. In the example illustrated in FIG. 16 , the information for which the second terminal device information is not registered as the device information (the information that is chronologically first and third out of the information having the ID ‘1001’) is the first terminal information. Moreover, the information registered by the second terminal device information as the device information (the information that is chronologically second and fourth out of the information having the ID ‘1001’) is the second terminal information.

At step 304 , the registration section 34 B determines whether or not a specific duration (3 hours in the present exemplary embodiment) has elapsed since execution of the present information collection processing started, and processing transitions to step 306 A in cases in which affirmative determination has been made.

At step 306 A, the registration section 34 B derives the degree of certainty information as described below.

The registration section 34 B first extracts the second terminal information from out of the information registered in the communication information DB, and identifies first terminal information that fulfills a first condition of including position information indicating a position at a distance within a specific distance from the position indicated by the position information included in the second terminal information. In the present exemplary embodiment, a distance envisaged to be the maximum inter-vehicle distance between the target bicycle 92 and the target automobile (5 m in the present exemplary embodiment) is employed as the specific distance; however, there is no limitation thereto.

Next, from out of the identified first terminal information, the registration section 34 B identifies first terminal information fulfilling a second condition of including category information that indicates the same category as the category indicated by the category information included in the corresponding second terminal information. Next, from out of the identified first terminal information, the registration section 34 B identifies first terminal information fulfilling a third condition that the duration between the timing indicated by the timing information and the timing indicated by the timing information included in the corresponding second terminal information is within a specific duration. Then, the registration section 34 B sets the number of identified items of first terminal information as the degree of certainty information of the corresponding second terminal information. In the present exemplary embodiment, a duration envisaged to be the maximum duration between a point in time at which the server 70 B received the message information from the first terminal 50 B and a point in time at which the corresponding message information is received from the second terminal 60 B (3 seconds in the present exemplary embodiment) is employed as the specific duration. However, there is no limitation thereto.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 16 , for the second terminal information that is chronologically second out of the information having the ID ‘1001’, for example, the degree of certainty information of the second terminal information is derived as ‘1’ when the first condition to the third condition described above are satisfied only with the first terminal information that is chronologically first.

At the next step 308 A, the registration section 34 B stores (registers) the derived degree of certainty information in the communication information DB in association with the corresponding second terminal information, and erases the corresponding first terminal information from the communication information DB.

Otherwise, in cases in which negative determination has been made at step 304 , processing transitions to step 310 without executing the processing of step 306 A or step 308 A above.

Note that the degree of certainty information registered in the communication information DB by the present information collection processing can be employed in the map generation processing (see FIG. 12 ) for, for example, generation of a site display map using only the second terminal information having degree of certainty information of 1 or more.

As described in detail above, in the present exemplary embodiment, the first transmission section of the first communication device also wirelessly transmits the second position information enabling identification of the position at which the specific information was transmitted, and the second reception section of the information collection device also receives the second position information transmitted by the first transmission section. Then, in the present exemplary embodiment, in cases in which the first condition to the third condition have been satisfied, the registration section of the information collection device increases the value of the degree of certainty information indicating the certainty of the position information, and then stores the increased value in the storage section in association with that position information. The position information can therefore be effectively utilized as a result enabling the reliability of the corresponding position information to be ascertained by referring to the degree of certainty information.

Although explanation has been given of a case in which the degree of certainty information is registered (updated) in the communication information DB without modifying the second terminal information in the present exemplary embodiment, there is no limitation thereto. For example, when the degree of certainty information is registered (updated), an average value may be computed for the timing information, the position information, or both, of the second terminal information, and the information corresponding to the first terminal information to be erased at this time, and the information corresponding to the second terminal information may be updated to this average value.

Although explanation has been given regarding a case in which the degree of certainty information is derived using the three conditions of the first condition to the third condition in the present exemplary embodiment, there is no limitation thereto. For example, one of these conditions alone, or a combination of two of these conditions may be used to derive the degree of certainty information.

Third Exemplary Embodiment

Next, explanation follows regarding a third exemplary embodiment of technology disclosed herein. FIG. 21 illustrates a first communication device 10 C, a second communication device 20 C, and an information collection device 30 C according to the present exemplary embodiment. Configuration elements in FIG. 21 similar those of the respective devices illustrated in FIG. 1 are allocated the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 , and explanation thereof is omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 21 , the first communication device 10 C according to the third exemplary embodiment differs from the first communication device 10 A in that a first transmission section 14 C for performing transmission processing different from that of the first transmission section 14 A is employed instead of the first transmission section 14 A. Moreover, the first communication device 10 C according to the third exemplary embodiment differs from the first communication device 10 A in that a third reception section 16 and a second presentation section 18 are additionally provided.

Moreover, the second communication device 20 C according to the third exemplary embodiment differs from the second communication device 20 A in that a first presentation section 24 B for performing presentation processing different from that of the first presentation section 24 A is employed instead of the first presentation section 24 A. Moreover, the second communication device 20 C according to the third exemplary embodiment differs from the second communication device 20 A in that a second transmission section 26 C for performing transmission processing different from that of the second transmission section 26 A is employed instead of the second transmission section 26 A. Moreover, the second communication device 20 C according to the third exemplary embodiment differs from the second communication device 20 A in that a second input section 28 is additionally provided.

Moreover, the information collection device 30 C according to the third exemplary embodiment differs from the information collection device 30 A in that a second reception section 32 C for performing reception processing different from that of the second reception section 32 A is employed instead of the second reception section 32 A. Moreover, the information collection device 30 C according to the third exemplary embodiment differs from the information collection device 30 A in that a registration section 34 C for performing registration processing different from that of the registration section 34 A is employed instead of the registration section 34 A.

The first communication device 10 C, the second communication device 20 C, and the information collection device 30 C may be respectively implemented by a first terminal 50 C, a second terminal 60 C, and a server 70 C included in a computer system 90 C illustrated in FIG. 22 . Explanation follows regarding configuration of the first terminal 50 C, the second terminal 60 C, and the server 70 C according to the third exemplary embodiment, with reference to FIG. 22 . Configuration elements in FIG. 22 that are similar to those of the computer system 90 A of FIG. 2 are allocated the same reference numerals as in FIG. 2 , and explanation thereof is omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 22 , the first terminal 50 C according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the first terminal 50 A in that the GPS receiver 59 B, similar to the GPS receiver 69 provided to the second terminal 60 C, is additionally provided. The GPS receiver 59 B is connected to the bus B 1 .

Moreover, the first terminal 50 C differs from the first terminal 50 A in that the first transmission process 53 A 2 A of the first information communication program 53 A configured as a first transmission process 53 A 2 C for performing transmission processing different from that of the first transmission process 53 A 2 A. Moreover, the first terminal 50 C differs from the first terminal 50 A in that a third reception process 53 A 3 and a second presentation process 53 A 4 are additionally provided to the first information communication program 53 A. The CPU 51 operates as the first transmission section 14 C illustrated in FIG. 21 by executing the first transmission process 53 A 2 C. The CPU 51 also operates as the third reception section 16 illustrated in FIG. 21 by executing the third reception process 53 A 3 . The CPU 51 also operates as the second presentation section 18 illustrated in FIG. 21 by executing the second presentation process 53 A 4 . The first terminal 50 C, which executes the first information communication program 53 A, thereby functions as the first communication device 10 C.

The second terminal 60 C according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the second terminal 60 A in that the first presentation process 63 A 2 A of the second information communication program 63 A is configured as a first presentation process 63 A 2 B for performing presentation processing different from that of the first presentation process 63 A 2 A. Moreover, the second terminal 60 C according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the second terminal 60 A in that the second transmission process 63 A 3 A of the second information communication program 63 A is configured as a second transmission process 63 A 3 C for performing transmission processing different from that of the second transmission process 63 A 3 A. Moreover, the second terminal 60 C differs from the second terminal 60 A in that a second input process 63 A 4 is additionally provided to the second information communication program 63 A. The CPU 61 operates as the first presentation section 24 B illustrated in FIG. 21 by executing the first presentation process 63 A 2 B. The CPU 61 also operates as the second transmission section 26 C illustrated in FIG. 21 by executing the second transmission process 63 A 3 C. The CPU 61 also operates as the second input section 28 illustrated in FIG. 21 by executing the second input process 63 A 4 . The second terminal 60 C, which executes the second information communication program 63 A, thereby functions as the second communication device 20 C.

Moreover, the server 70 C according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the server 70 A in that the second reception process 73 A 1 A of the information collection program 73 A is configured as a second reception process 73 A 1 C for performing reception processing different from that of the second reception process 73 A 1 A. Moreover, the server 70 C according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the server 70 A in that the registration process 73 A 2 A of the information collection program 73 A is configured as a registration process 73 A 2 C for performing registration processing different from that of the registration process 73 A 2 A. The CPU 71 operates as the second reception section 32 C illustrated in FIG. 21 by executing the second reception process 73 A 1 C. The CPU 71 also operates as the registration section 34 C illustrated in FIG. 21 by executing the registration process 73 A 2 C. The server 70 C, which executes the information collection program 73 A, thereby functions as the information collection device 30 C.

A communication information storage region 73 C 2 is provided to the storage section 73 of the server 70 C instead of the communication information storage region 73 C 1 . The CPU 71 generates a communication information DB according to the present exemplary embodiment by expanding data stored in the communication information storage region 73 C 2 into the memory 72 . The communication information DB according to the third exemplary embodiment is similar to the communication information DB according to the second exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 16 , and explanation thereof is therefore omitted.

Next, explanation follows regarding operation of the present exemplary embodiment. First, explanation follows regarding a chronological flow of information transmitted/received between the respective devices out of the first terminal 50 C, the second terminal 60 C, and the server 70 C according to the present exemplary embodiment, with reference to FIG. 23 .

The first terminal 50 C provided to the target bicycle 92 is similar to the first terminal 50 A in that any message information out of right turn information, left turn information, and appreciation information is, according to operation by the first user, transmitted together with the first terminal device information to the second terminal 60 C provided to a target automobile travelling behind.

The second terminal 60 C provided to the target automobile is also similar to the second terminal 60 A in that the message information, the first terminal device information, the second terminal device information, and the position information are transmitted to the server 70 C when the message information and the first terminal device information have been received from the first terminal 50 C. However, the second terminal 60 C according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the second terminal 60 A in that timing information of that point in time is transmitted to the server 70 C in addition to this information. Namely, the second terminal 60 C according to the present exemplary embodiment also transmits the second second-terminal transmission information to the server 70 C, similarly to the second terminal 60 B according to the second exemplary embodiment. When this is performed, the second terminal 60 C acquires the timing information indicating that point in time, measured using inbuilt clock functionality, as the timing information.

Moreover, when message information in reply to the message information received from the first terminal 50 C has been input by the second user, the second terminal 60 C transmits the message information, together with the first terminal device information received from the first terminal 50 C and the second terminal device information of the terminal itself, to the first terminal 50 C. When this is performed, the message information, the first terminal device information, and the second terminal device information transmitted from the second terminal 60 C to the first terminal 50 C are also referred to as “response information” hereafter.

In the present exemplary embodiment, “confirmation information” expressing that confirmation has been made, and “you're welcome information” expressing that there is no need for concern, are employed as the message information input by the second user using the second terminal 60 C according to the message information from the first terminal 50 C.

When the first terminal 50 C has received the message information, the first terminal device information, and the second terminal device information from the second terminal 60 C, the first terminal 50 C transmits this information, the position information indicating the position of the device itself at that point in time, and the timing information indicating the timing of that point in time, to the server 70 C. When this is performed, the first terminal 50 C acquires a position obtained by the GPS receiver 59 B at that point in time as the position information. Moreover, when this is performed, the first terminal 50 C acquires the timing of that point in time, measured using inbuilt clock functionality, as the timing information. Hereafter, the message information, the first terminal device information, the second terminal device information, the position information, and the timing information transmitted to the server 70 C by the first terminal 50 C are referred to as “second first-terminal transmission information”.

Accordingly, the server 70 C stores (registers) the information out of the second second-terminal transmission information, excluding the message information, received from the second terminal 60 C, and category information indicating the category of the message information, in the storage region corresponding to the communication information DB (see also FIG. 16 ). The server 70 C also stores (registers) the information out of the second first-terminal transmission information, excluding the message information, received from the first terminal 50 C, and category information indicating the category of the message information, in the storage region corresponding to the communication information DB. When this is performed, the server 70 C registers, in the communication information DB, an ID that differs for each of the segments described above.

Here, the server 70 C according to the present exemplary embodiment derives degree of certainty information indicating how certain it is that the second second-terminal transmission information was received from the second terminal 60 C, and this is explained in detailed later. Then, the server 70 C stores (registers) the derived degree of certainty information in the communication information DB in association with the position information of the corresponding second second-terminal transmission information.

Next, specific explanation follows regarding processing executed by the respective devices out of the first terminal 50 C, the second terminal 60 C, and the server 70 C. The first user is onboard the target bicycle 92 , and performs the first information communication processing illustrated in FIG. 24 by executing the first information communication program 53 A using the first terminal 50 C. Explanation follows regarding the first information communication processing according to the present exemplary embodiment. Steps in FIG. 24 that perform similar processing to those of FIG. 6 are allocated the same step numbers as in FIG. 6 , and explanation thereof is omitted.

Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 24 , the first information communication processing according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the first information communication processing according to the first exemplary embodiment in that processing of step 114 to step 118 is added immediately before the processing of step 120 . Accordingly, in the first information communication processing according to the present exemplary embodiment, processing transitions to step 114 in cases in which a negative determination was made in the processing of step 100 , and in cases in which the respective processing of step 104 , step 108 , and step 112 have ended.

As described above, the second terminal 60 C according to the present exemplary embodiment transmits the response information to the first terminal 50 C when the second user has input the message information according to the message information received from the first terminal 50 C.

At step 114 of the first information communication processing according to the present exemplary embodiment, the third reception section 16 determines whether or not the response information has been received from the second terminal 60 C, and processing transitions to step 120 in cases in which negative determination has been made, or otherwise, processing transitions to step 116 in cases in which affirmative determination has been made.

At step 116 , the second presentation section 18 controls the display section 55 so as to display a response display screen predetermined as a screen for displaying the message information included in the received response information.

FIG. 25 illustrates an example of a response display screen according to the present exemplary embodiment in a case in which the message information included in the received response information was “you're welcome information”. As illustrated in FIG. 25 , an image (in the present exemplary embodiment, an image showing a smiling face similar to the appreciation image) 55 B indicating that there is no need for concern, and a message (“It's OK!” in the example illustrated in FIG. 25 ), are displayed on the response display screen according to the present exemplary embodiment. Accordingly, the first user can easily ascertain that the occupant of the automobile travelling behind is expressing that there is no need for concern, by referring to the response display screen. In cases in which the first user wishes to remove the response display screen from the display section 55 , this is specified with a fingertip using an “End” button 55 C displayed at the lower side of the response display screen. The response display screen is thereby removed from the display section 55 .

At the next step 118 , the first transmission section 14 C transmits the response information received from the second terminal 60 C, the position information, and the timing information described above to the server 70 C using the wireless communications section 57 , and processing then transitions to step 120 .

The second user is onboard the target automobile, and performs the second information communication processing illustrated in FIG. 26 by executing the second information communication program 63 A using the second terminal 60 C. Explanation follows regarding the second information communication processing according to the present exemplary embodiment. Steps in FIG. 26 that perform processing similar to those of FIG. 7 are allocated the same step numbers as in FIG. 7 , and explanation thereof is omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 26 , the second information communication processing according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the second information communication processing according to the first exemplary embodiment in that the processing of step 204 B is employed instead of the processing of step 204 A. Similarly, the second information communication processing according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the second information communication processing according to the first exemplary embodiment in that processing of step 210 B is employed instead of processing of step 210 A, and processing of step 216 B is employed instead of processing of step 216 A.

As illustrated in FIG. 26 , the second information communication processing according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the second information communication processing according to the first exemplary embodiment in that the processing of step 206 B is employed instead of the processing of step 206 A. Similarly, the second information communication processing according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the second information communication processing according to the first exemplary embodiment in that processing of step 212 B is employed instead of processing of step 212 A, and processing of step 218 B is employed instead of processing of step 218 A.

Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 26 , the second information communication processing according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the second information communication processing according to the first exemplary embodiment in that processing of step 220 to step 224 is added immediately before the processing of step 226 . Accordingly, in the second information communication processing according to the present exemplary embodiment, processing transitions to step 220 in cases in which a negative determination was made in the processing of step 200 , and in cases in which the respective processing of step 206 B, step 212 B, and step 218 B have ended.

Namely, at step 204 B of the second information communication processing according to the present exemplary embodiment, the first presentation section 24 B controls the display section 65 so as to display a right turn display screen predetermined as a screen for displaying the tight turn information, and processing then transitions to step 206 B. Moreover, at step 210 B, the first presentation section 24 B controls the display section 65 so as to display a left turn display screen predetermined as a screen for displaying the left turn information, and processing then transitions to step 212 B. Moreover, at step 216 B, the first presentation section 24 B controls the display section 65 so as to display an appreciation display screen predetermined as a screen for displaying the appreciation information, and processing then transitions to step 218 B.

Note that, as illustrated as an example in FIG. 27 , the right turn display screen, the left turn display screen, and the appreciation display screen according to the present exemplary embodiment differ from the respective display screens according to the first exemplary embodiment in that a “Confirmed” button 65 D is additionally displayed on the respective display screens illustrated in FIG. 8 to FIG. 10 . Similarly, the right turn display screen, the left turn display screen, and the appreciation display screen according to the present exemplary embodiment differ from the respective display screens according to the first exemplary embodiment in that a “You're Welcome” button 65 E is additionally displayed on the respective display screens. Note that an example of an appreciation display screen is illustrated in FIG. 27 .

When any of the display screens are displayed by the display section 65 , the second user stipulates the “Confirmed” button 65 D with a fingertip when indicating that the display content has been confirmed, and stipulates the “You're Welcome” button 65 E with a fingertip when indicating that there is no need for concern.

The processing of the respective steps out of step 206 B, step 212 B, and step 218 B is performed similarly to the processing of the steps in the second information communication processing according to the second exemplary embodiment that have the same step numbers, and explanation thereof is therefore omitted.

At step 220 , the second input section 28 determines whether or not the “Confirmed” button 65 D or the “You're Welcome” button 65 E has been specified, and processing transitions to step 226 in cases in which negative determination has been made, or otherwise processing transitions to step 222 in cases in which affirmative determination has been made.

At step 222 , the second transmission section 26 C transmits the message information corresponding to the specified button, the first terminal device information received immediately prior from the first terminal 50 C, the second terminal device information, and the above-described position information and timing information, to the server 70 C using the wireless communication section 67 .

At the next step 224 , the second transmission section 26 C generates response information that includes the message information corresponding to the specified button, and transmits the response information to the first terminal 50 C using the short range communication section 68 , and processing then transitions to step 226 . When the response information is received, the first terminal 50 C displays the response display screen illustrated in FIG. 25 as an example, and transmits the response information, and the position information and timing information described above, to the server 70 C, as described above.

The administrator of the server 70 C performs information collection processing illustrated in FIG. 28 by executing the information collection program 73 A using the server 70 C at a specific timing. Steps in FIG. 28 that perform processing similar to that of steps in FIG. 11 are allocated the same step numbers as in FIG. 11 , and explanation thereof is omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 28 , the information collection processing according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the information collection processing according to the first exemplary embodiment in that step 300 C is employed instead of the processing of step 300 A. Moreover, the information collection processing according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the information collection processing according to the first exemplary embodiment in that step 302 C is employed instead of the processing of step 302 A. Moreover, the information collection processing according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the information collection processing according to the first exemplary embodiment in that the processing of step 304 , step 306 B, and step 308 B is added between the processing of step 302 C and the processing of step 310 .

At step 300 C of the information collection processing according to the present exemplary embodiment, the second reception section 32 C determines whether or not the second first-terminal transmission information has been received from the first terminal 50 C, or the second second-terminal transmission information has been received from the second terminal 60 C. Here, processing transitions to step 304 , described below, in cases in which negative determination has been made, or otherwise processing transitions to step 302 C in cases in which affirmative determination has been made.

At step 302 C, the registration section 34 C stores (registers) the information, excluding the message information, from the received second first-terminal transmission information or the second second-terminal transmission information, and information representing the category of the message information, in the communication information DB.

In the information collection processing according to the present exemplary embodiment, information registered by the processing of step 302 C is classified into two types of information: first terminal information based on information received from the first terminal 50 C, or second terminal information based on information received from the second terminal 60 C. In the information collection processing according to the present exemplary embodiment, the first terminal information registered by the processing of step 302 C differs from that of the second exemplary embodiment in that the second terminal device information is added to the first terminal information registered in the information collection processing according to the second exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 16 . Accordingly, other than the category information, the timing information, and the position information, the first terminal information according to the present exemplary embodiment is information equivalent to the corresponding second terminal information.

At step 304 , the registration section 34 C determines whether or not a specific duration (3 hours in the present exemplary embodiment) has elapsed since execution of the current information collection processing started, and processing transitions to step 306 B in cases in which affirmative determination has been made.

At step 306 B, the registration section 34 C derives the degree of certainty information as described below.

The registration section 34 C first extracts, from out of the information registered in the communication information DB, combinations of first terminal information and second terminal information that share first terminal device information and second terminal device information. Next, the registration section 34 C identifies, from out of the extracted combinations of first terminal information and second terminal information, combinations that fulfill a fourth condition of the distance between positions indicated by each item of included position information being within a specific distance. In the present exemplary embodiment, a maximum distance envisaged as the inter-vehicle distance between the target bicycle 92 and the target automobile (5 m in the present exemplary embodiment) is employed as the specific distance; however, there is no limitation thereto.

Moreover, the registration section 34 C identifies combinations, from out of the identified combinations of first terminal information and second terminal information, that fulfill a fifth condition of being combinations in which the respective items of included category information indicate that the items of message information are confirmation information or you're welcome information, and appreciation information. Moreover, the registration section 34 C identifies, from out of the identified combinations of first terminal information and second terminal information, combinations that fulfill a sixth condition that the duration between the timings indicated by each item of included timing information is within a specific duration. Then, the registration section 34 C sets the number of items of first terminal information included in the identified respective combinations as the degree of certainty information for the second terminal information of those combinations. In the present exemplary embodiment, a duration envisaged to be the maximum duration between a point in time at which the server 70 C received message information from the first terminal 50 C and a point in time at which the corresponding message information is received from the second terminal 60 C (3 seconds in the present exemplary embodiment) is employed as the specific duration. However, there is no limitation thereto.

At the next step 308 B, the registration section 34 C stores (registers) the identified degree of certainty information in the communication information DB in association with the corresponding second terminal information for the combinations that fulfill conditions of the fourth condition to the sixth condition. The registration section 34 C also erases the first terminal information from the communication information DB. When this is performed, degree of certainty information is sometimes already registered for the second terminal information for which degree of certainty information is to be registered. In such cases, the value of the derived degree of certainty information added to the registered degree of certainty information is stored (updated) as new degree of certainty information in the communication information DB.

Otherwise, in cases in which negative determination has been made at step 304 , processing transitions to step 310 without executing the processing of step 306 B or step 308 B described above.

As explained in detail above, in the present exemplary embodiment, the second communication device receives operations from the second input section, and the second transmission section of the second communication device also wirelessly transmits second specific information according to the operation received by the second input section. Accordingly, in the present exemplary embodiment, the first communication device uses the third reception section to receive the second specific information transmitted by the second transmission section.

Moreover, in the present exemplary embodiment, the first transmission section of the first communication device also transmits, to the information collection device, the second position information enabling identification of the position at which the second specific information was received by the third reception section, and the second reception section of the information collection device also receives the second position information transmitted by the first transmission section.

In the present exemplary embodiment, in cases in which the fourth condition to the sixth condition have been satisfied, the registration section of the information collection device increases the value of the degree of certainty information indicating the certainty of the position information, and registers the increased value in the storage section in association with that position information. The position information can therefore be effectively utilized as a result of enabling the reliability of the corresponding position information to be ascertained by referring to the degree of certainty information.

Although explanation has been given of a case in which the degree of certainty information is registered (updated) in the communication information DB without modifying the second terminal information in the present exemplary embodiment, there is no limitation thereto. For example, when the degree of certainty information is registered (updated), an average value of the timing information, the position information, or both, of the second terminal information and the information corresponding to the first terminal information to be erased at this time may be computed, and the information corresponding to the second terminal information may be updated to this average value.

Although explanation has been given regarding a case in which the degree of certainty information is derived using the three conditions of the fourth condition to the sixth condition in the present exemplary embodiment, there is no limitation thereto. For example, one of these conditions alone, or a combination of two of these conditions may be used to derive the degree of certainty information.

Fourth Exemplary Embodiment

Next, explanation follows regarding a fourth exemplary embodiment of technology disclosed herein. FIG. 29 illustrates a first communication device 10 A, a second communication device 20 B, and an information collection device 30 D according to the present exemplary embodiment. Configuration elements in FIG. 29 similar those of the respective devices illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 14 are allocated the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 and FIG. 14 , and explanation thereof is omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 29 , the information collection device 30 D according to the fourth exemplary embodiment differs from the information collection device 30 A in that a second reception section 32 D for performing reception processing different from that of the second reception section 32 A is employed instead of the second reception section 32 A. Moreover, the information collection device 30 D according to the fourth exemplary embodiment differs from the information collection device 30 A in that a registration section 34 D for performing registration processing different from that of the registration section 34 A is employed instead of the registration section 34 A.

The first communication device 10 A, the second communication device 20 B, and the information collection device 30 D may be respectively implemented by a first terminal 50 A, a second terminal 60 B, and a server 70 D included in a computer system 90 D illustrated in FIG. 30 . Explanation follows regarding configuration of the first terminal 50 A, the second terminal 60 B, and the server 70 D according to the fourth exemplary embodiment, with reference to FIG. 30 . Configuration elements in FIG. 30 that are similar to those of the computer system 90 A of FIG. 2 and the computer system 90 B of FIG. 15 are allocated the same reference numerals as in FIG. 2 and FIG. 15 , and explanation thereof is omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 30 , the server 70 D according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the server 70 A in that the second reception process 73 A 1 A of the information collection program 73 A is configured as a second reception process 73 A 1 D for performing reception processing different from that of the second reception process 73 A 1 A. Moreover, the server 70 D according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the server 70 A in that the registration process 73 A 2 A of the information collection program 73 A is configured as a registration process 73 A 2 D for performing registration processing different from that of the registration process 73 A 2 A. The CPU 71 operates as the second reception section 32 D illustrated in FIG. 29 by executing the second reception process 73 A 1 D. The CPU 71 also operates as the registration section 34 D illustrated in FIG. 29 by executing the registration process 73 A 2 D. The server 70 D, which executes the information collection program 73 A, thereby functions as the information collection device 30 D.

Moreover, a communication information storage region 73 C 2 is provided in the storage section 73 of the server 70 D instead of the communication information storage region 73 C 1 . The CPU 71 generates the communication information DB according to the present exemplary embodiment by expanding data stored in the communication information storage region 73 C 2 into the memory 72 . The communication information DB according to the fourth exemplary embodiment is similar to the communication information DB according to the second exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 16 , and explanation thereof is therefore omitted.

Next, explanation follows regarding operation of the present exemplary embodiment. First, explanation follows regarding a chronological flow of information transmitted/received between the respective devices out of the first terminal 50 A, the second terminal 60 B, and the server 70 D according to the present exemplary embodiment, with reference to FIG. 31 .

In the present exemplary embodiment, a case is envisaged in which plural respective similarly configured terminals (two in the present exemplary embodiment), namely, a second terminal 60 B 1 and a second terminal 60 B 2 , serve as the second terminal 60 B and are separately provided to different target automobiles, and the respective target automobiles are travelling behind the target bicycle 92 .

The first terminal 50 A provided to the target bicycle 92 transmits, to the second terminal 60 B and the second terminal 60 B 2 provided to the two respective target automobiles following behind, any message information out of the right turn information, the left turn information, or the appreciation information, together with the first terminal device information, according to operations by the first user.

When the second terminal 60 B 1 and the second terminal 60 B 2 provided to the respective target automobiles have received the message information and the first terminal device information from the first terminal 50 A, the second terminal 60 B 1 and the second terminal 60 B 2 transmit the second second-terminal transmission information to the server 70 D.

Accordingly, from out of the information, excluding the message information, received from the second terminal 60 B 1 and the second terminal 60 B 2 respectively, the server 70 D stores (registers) information and the category information indicating the category of the message information, in the storage region corresponding to the communication information DB (see also FIG. 16 ).

Here, based on information received from the second terminal 60 B 1 and the second terminal 60 B 2 , the server 70 D according to the present exemplary embodiment derives the degree of certainty information indicating the certainty of the information, and this is described in detail later. Then, the server 70 D stores (registers) the derived degree of certainty information in the communication information DB in association with the information received from the second terminal 60 B 1 and the second terminal 60 B 2 .

Next, more specific explanation follows regarding processing executed by the server 70 D. The first information communication processing executed by the first terminal 50 A according to the present exemplary embodiment is similar to that of the first exemplary embodiment, and explanation thereof is therefore omitted. Moreover, the second information communication processing executed by the second terminal 60 B 1 and the second terminal 60 B 2 according to the present exemplary embodiment is similar to that of the second exemplary embodiment, and explanation thereof is therefore omitted.

The administrator of the server 70 D performs information collection processing illustrated in FIG. 32 by executing the information collection program 73 A using the server 70 D at a specific timing. Steps in FIG. 32 that perform processing similar to that of steps in FIG. 11 are allocated the same step numbers as in FIG. 11 , and explanation thereof is omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 32 , the information collection processing according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the information collection processing according to the first exemplary embodiment in that step 300 D is employed instead of the processing of step 300 A. The information collection processing according to the present exemplary embodiment also differs from the information collection processing according to the first exemplary embodiment in that step 302 D is employed instead of the processing of step 302 A. The information collection processing according to the present exemplary embodiment also differs from the information collection processing according to the first exemplary embodiment in that the processing of step 304 , step 306 C, and step 308 C is added between the processing of step 302 D and the processing of step 310 .

At step 300 D of the information collection processing according to the present exemplary embodiment, the second reception section 32 D determines whether or not the second second-terminal transmission information has been received from the second terminal 60 B 1 or the second terminal 60 B 2 . Here, processing transitions to step 304 , described below, in cases in which negative determination has been made, or otherwise processing transitions to step 302 D in cases in which affirmative determination has been made.

At step 302 D, the registration section 34 D stores (registers) the information, excluding the message information, received from the second terminal 60 B 1 or the second terminal 60 B 2 , and information indicating the category of the message information, in the communication information DB.

In the information collection processing according to the present exemplary embodiment, the information registered by the processing of step 302 D is classified into two types of information: second terminal information based on information received from the second terminal 60 B 1 , or second terminal information based on information received from the second terminal 60 B 2 . In such cases, the second terminal device information of the second terminal information based on information received from the second terminal 60 B 1 is allocated to the second terminal 60 B 1 , and the second terminal device information of the second terminal information based on the information received from the second terminal 60 B 2 is allocated to the second terminal 60 B 2 .

At step 304 , the registration section 34 D determines whether or not a specific duration (3 hours in the present exemplary embodiment) has elapsed since execution of the present information collection processing started, and processing transitions to step 306 C in cases in which affirmative determination has been made.

At step 306 C, the registration section 34 D derives the degree of certainty information as described below.

The registration section 34 D first extracts, from out of the information registered in the communication information DB, combinations of second terminal information that share first terminal device information but do not share second terminal device information. Next, the registration section 34 D identifies, from out of the extracted combinations of second terminal information, combinations that fulfill a seventh condition of the distance between positions indicated by each item of included position information being within a specific distance. In the present exemplary embodiment, a distance envisaged to be the maximum inter-vehicle distance between the two target automobiles (3 m in the present exemplary embodiment) is employed as the specific distance; however, there is no limitation thereto.

Moreover, the registration section 34 D identifies combinations, from out of the identified combinations of second terminal information, that fulfill an eighth condition of each item of included category information indicating that the message information has the same category. Moreover, the registration section 34 D identifies, from out of the identified combinations of second terminal information, combinations that fulfill a ninth condition that the duration between the timings indicated by each item of included timing information is within a specific duration. Then, the registration section 34 D sets the number of items of second terminal information included in the identified combinations as the degree of certainty information of the second terminal information in those combinations. In the present exemplary embodiment, a duration envisaged to be the maximum duration for which the server 70 D receives corresponding message information from plural second terminals 60 B that have received message information received from the same first terminal 50 A (0.5 seconds in the present exemplary embodiment) is employed as the specific duration. However, there is no limitation thereto.

At the next step 308 C, the registration section 34 D stores (registers) the identified degree of certainty information in the communication information DB in association with one of the items of second terminal information for the combinations that fulfill each condition out of the seventh condition to the ninth condition. Moreover, the registration section 34 D erases the remaining second terminal information combinations from the communication information DB. When this is performed, degree of certainty information is sometimes already registered for the second terminal information for which degree of certainty information is to be registered. In such cases, the value of the derived degree of certainty information is added to the registered degree of certainty information is stored (updated) as new degree of certainty information in the communication information DB.

Otherwise, in cases in which negative determination has been made at step 304 , processing transitions to step 310 without executing the processing of step 306 C or step 308 C above.

As explained in detail above, in the present exemplary embodiment, the registration section of the information collection device registers a value of the degree of certainty information, which is higher the greater the number items of second terminal information that satisfy the seventh condition to the ninth condition, in the storage section in association with the position information. The position information can therefore be effectively utilized as a result of enabling the reliability of the corresponding position information to be ascertained by referring to the degree of certainty information.

Although explanation has been given regarding a case in which the degree of certainty information is registered (updated) in the communication information DB without modifying the second terminal information in the present exemplary embodiment, there is no limitation thereto. For example, when the degree of certainty information is registered (updated), an average value of the timing information, the position information, or both, of the second terminal information, and the corresponding information of the second terminal information to be erased at this time, may be computed, and corresponding information of the second terminal information may be updated to this average value.

Although explanation has been given regarding a case in which the degree of certainty information is derived using the three conditions of the seventh condition to the ninth condition in the present exemplary embodiment, there is no limitation thereto. For example, one of these conditions alone, or a combination of two of these conditions may be used to derive the degree of certainty information.

Fifth Exemplary Embodiment

Next, explanation follows regarding a fifth exemplary embodiment of technology disclosed herein. FIG. 33 illustrates a first communication device 10 D, a second communication device 20 C, a third communication device 20 D, and an information collection device 30 E according to the present exemplary embodiment. Configuration elements in FIG. 33 similar those of the respective devices illustrated in FIG. 21 are allocated the same reference numerals as in FIG. 21 , and explanation thereof is omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 33 , the first communication device 10 D according to the fifth exemplary embodiment differs from the first communication device 10 C according to the third exemplary embodiment in that a first transmission section 14 D for performing transmission processing different from the first transmission section 14 C is employed instead of the first transmission section 14 C. Moreover, the fifth exemplary embodiment differs from the third exemplary embodiment in that a third communication device 20 D is additionally provided. Moreover, the information collection device 30 E according to the fifth exemplary embodiment differs from the information collection device 30 C according to the third exemplary embodiment in that a second reception section 32 E for performing reception processing different from that of the second reception section 32 C is employed instead of the second reception section 32 C. Moreover, the information collection device 30 E according to the fifth exemplary embodiment differs from the information collection device 30 C according to the third exemplary embodiment in that a registration section 34 E that performs registration processing different from that of the registration section 34 C is employed instead of the registration section 34 C.

The third communication device 20 D according to the present exemplary embodiment is provided to a third vehicle different from the second vehicle, and is provided with a fourth reception section 22 A and a third transmission section 26 D as illustrated in FIG. 33 . The fourth reception section 22 A receives message information transmitted by the first transmission section 14 D of the first communication device 10 D. Moreover, the fourth reception section 22 A receives response information transmitted to the first communication device 10 D by the second transmission section 26 C of the second communication device 20 C. Moreover, the third transmission section 26 D wirelessly transmits position information, enabling identification of the position at which the message information and the response information were received by the fourth reception section 22 A, to a device (an information collection device 30 E in the present exemplary embodiment) different from the first communication device 10 D.

Note that although information indicating a latitude and longitude representing the position at which the message information was received is employed as the position information in the third communication device 20 D according to the present exemplary embodiment, there is no limitation thereto. For example, in addition to the latitude and longitude representing the position, altitude information may also be employed as the position information. Moreover, a region targeted for information collection by the information collection device 30 E may be divided into a matrix of rectangular regions having a specific size, and the position of each divided region may be represented as two items of information of a row and a column corresponding to that matrix, and these two items of information may be employed as the position information. It is envisaged that an automobile (referred to as a “second target automobile” hereafter) serves as the third vehicle to which the third communication device 20 D is provided in the present exemplary embodiment; however, there is no limitation thereto. For example, the third communication device 20 D may be provided to a two-wheeled vehicle such as a bicycle or a motorcycle.

In the present exemplary embodiment, a smartphone is employed as the third communication device 20 D; however, there is no limitation thereto. For example, other than a smartphone, a cellular telephone, and other than a cellular telephone, a portable information terminal (PDA) such as a tablet PC, may be employed as the third communication device 20 D.

The first communication device 10 D, the second communication device 20 C, the third communication device 20 D, and the information collection device 30 E may be respectively implemented by a first terminal 50 D, the second terminal 60 C, a third terminal 60 D, and a server 70 E included in a computer system 90 E illustrated in FIG. 34 . Explanation follows regarding a configuration of the first terminal 50 D, the second terminal 60 C, the third terminal 60 D, and the server 70 E according to the fifth exemplary embodiment, with reference to FIG. 34 . Configuration elements in FIG. 34 similar to those of the computer system 90 C of FIG. 22 are allocated the same reference numerals as in FIG. 22 , and explanation thereof is omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 34 , the first terminal 50 D according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the first terminal 50 C in that the first transmission process 53 A 2 C of the first information communication program 53 A is configured as a first transmission process 53 A 2 D for performing transmission processing different from that of the first transmission process 53 A 2 C. The CPU 51 operates as the first transmission section 14 D illustrated in FIG. 33 by executing the first transmission process 53 A 2 D. The first terminal 50 D, which executes the first information communication program 53 A, thereby functions as the first communication device 10 D.

The third terminal 60 D according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the second terminal 60 C in that a third information communication program 63 B for causing the third terminal 60 D to function as the third communication device 20 D is stored in the storage section 63 instead of the second information communication program 63 A. A recording medium 96 written with the third information communication program 63 B is set in the medium reading/writing device 66 , and the medium reading/writing device 66 stores the third information communication program 63 B in the storage section 63 by reading the third information communication program 63 B from the recording medium 96 . The CPU 61 reads the third information communication program 63 B from the storage section 63 , expands the third information communication program 63 B into the memory 62 , and sequentially executes the processes included in the third information communication program 63 B.

The third information communication program 63 B includes a fourth reception process 63 B 1 and a third transmission process 63 B 2 . The CPU 61 operates as the fourth reception section 22 A illustrated in FIG. 33 by executing the fourth reception process 63 B 1 . The CPU 61 also operates as the third transmission section 26 D illustrated in FIG. 33 by executing the third transmission process 63 B 2 . The third terminal 60 D, which executes the third information communication program 631 , thereby functions as the third communication device 20 D.

The server 70 E according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the server 70 C in that the second reception process 73 A 1 C of the information collection program 73 A is configured as a second reception process 73 A 1 E for performing reception processing different from that of the second reception process 73 A 1 C. The server 70 E according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the server 70 C in that the registration process 73 A 2 C of the information collection program 73 A is configured as a registration process 73 A 2 E for performing registration processing different from that of the registration process 73 A 2 C. The CPU 71 operates as the second reception section 32 E illustrated in FIG. 33 by executing the second reception process 73 A 1 E. The CPU 71 operates as the registration section 34 E illustrated in FIG. 33 by executing the registration process 73 A 2 E. The server 70 E, which executes the information collection program 73 A, thereby functions as the information collection device 30 E.

Next, explanation follows regarding operation of the present exemplary embodiment. First, explanation follows regarding a chronological flow of information transmitted/received between the respective devices out of the first terminal 50 D, the second terminal 60 C, the third terminal 60 D, and the server 70 E according to the present exemplary embodiment, with reference to FIG. 35 .

In the present exemplary embodiment, a case is envisaged in which two automobiles, namely, the target automobile and a second target automobile, are travelling behind the target bicycle 92 provided with the first terminal 50 D. When this is performed, the target automobile and the second target automobile may be travelling side-by-side, or may be travelling in single file. However, there is no limitation thereto, and, for example, the second target automobile may be stationary.

The first terminal 50 D provided to the target bicycle 92 transmits, to the second terminal 60 C provided to the target automobile travelling behind, any message information out of the right turn information, the left turn information, or the appreciation information, together with the first terminal device information, according to operations by the first user. When this is performed, since the transmission of information to the second terminal 60 C is performed by short range wireless communication using BLE, the third terminal 60 D also receives similar information to the second terminal 60 C when the second target automobile is present within the communicable range of the short range wireless communication.

The second terminal 60 C provided to the target automobile transmits the second second-terminal transmission information to the server 70 E in cases in which the message information and the first terminal device information are received from the first terminal 50 D. Moreover, the second terminal 60 C transmits the response information to the first terminal 50 D in cases in which the message information has been input by the second user according to the message information received from the first terminal 50 D. When this is performed, since transmission of the response information to the first terminal 50 D is performed by short range wireless communication using BLE, the third terminal 60 D also receives similar information to the first terminal 50 D when the second target automobile is present within the communicable range of the short range wireless communication.

Accordingly, the third terminal 60 D transmits the specific message information, the first terminal device information, third terminal device information pre-allocated to the device itself, the position information, and the timing information to the server 70 E when the third terminal 60 D receives the above information exchanged between the first terminal 50 D and the second terminal 60 C. In the present exemplary embodiment, “I saw information” that is information expressing that the exchange of message information between the first terminal 50 D and the second terminal 60 C has been confirmed by the third terminal 60 D, which is a third party, is employed as the message information transmitted from the third terminal 60 D to the server 70 E when this is performed. Hereafter, message information, first terminal device information, third terminal device information, position information, and timing information transmitted to the server 70 E by the third terminal 60 D are referred to as “first third-terminal transmission information”.

Accordingly the server 70 E stores (registers) the information out of the second second-terminal transmission information received from the second terminal 60 C, excluding the message information, and the category information indicating the category of the message information, in the storage region corresponding to the communication information DB. Moreover, the server 70 E stores (registers) the information out of the first third-terminal transmission information received from the third terminal 60 D, excluding the message information, and the category information indicating the category of the message information, in the storage region corresponding to the communication information DB.

Here, based on given information received from the second terminal 60 C and the third terminal 600 , the server 70 E according to the present exemplary embodiment derives the degree of certainty information indicating the certainty of the information received from the second terminal 60 C, and this is described in detail later. Then, the server 70 E stores (registers) the derived degree of certainty information in the communication information DB in association with the information received from the corresponding second terminal 60 C.

Next, specific explanation follows regarding processing executed by the respective devices out of the first terminal 50 D, the second terminal 60 C, the third terminal 60 D, and the server 70 E. The first information communication processing executed by the first terminal 50 D differs from the first information communication processing according to the third exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 24 only in that the processing of step 118 of the first information communication processing is not executed, and explanation thereof is therefore omitted. Moreover, the second information communication processing executed by the second terminal 60 C is similar to the second information communication processing according to the third exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 26 , and explanation thereof is therefore omitted.

A third user onboard the second target automobile is onboard the second target automobile, and performs the third information communication processing illustrated in FIG. 36 by executing the third information communication program 63 B using the third terminal 601 ). Explanation follows regarding the third information communication processing according to the present exemplary embodiment.

At step 250 of the third information communication processing, the fourth reception section 22 A determines whether or not the two types of message information have been received within a specific duration, and processing transitions to step 256 , described later, in cases in which negative determination has been made, or otherwise, processing transitions to step 252 in cases in which affirmative determination has been made. In the present exemplary embodiment, a duration envisaged to be the maximum duration for which messages are exchanged between the first terminal 50 D and the second terminal 60 C (5 seconds in the present exemplary embodiment) is employed as the specific duration. However, there is no limitation thereto.

At step 252 , the third transmission section 26 D determines whether or not the two types of received message information is a combination of message information exchangeable between the first terminal 50 D and the second terminal 60 C, and processing transitions to step 254 in cases in which affirmative determination has been made. At step 254 , the third transmission section 26 D transmits the first third-terminal transmission information to the server 70 E using the wireless communication section 67 , and processing then transitions to step 256 . Processing transitions to step 256 without executing the processing of step 254 in cases in which negative determination has been made at step 252 .

At step 256 , the fourth reception section 22 A determines whether or not a timing predetermined as a timing at which to end the present third information communication processing has been reached, and processing returns to step 250 in cases in which a negative determination has been made, or otherwise the present third information communication processing ends at that point in time in cases in which affirmative determination has been made. In the third information communication processing according to the present exemplary embodiment, a timing at which the user inputs instructions instructing the present third information communication processing to end is employed as the predetermined timing; however, there is no limitation thereto.

The administrator of the server 70 E performs the information collection processing illustrated in FIG. 37 by executing the information collection program 73 A using the server 70 E at a specific timing. Steps in FIG. 37 that perform processing similar to those in FIG. 28 are allocated the same step numbers as in FIG. 28 , and explanation thereof is omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 37 , the information collection processing according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the information collection processing according to the third exemplary embodiment in that step 300 E is employed instead of the processing of step 300 C. The information collection processing according to the present exemplary embodiment also differs from the information collection processing according to the third exemplary embodiment in that step 302 E is employed instead of the processing of step 302 C. The information collection processing according to the present exemplary embodiment also differs from the information collection processing according to the third exemplary embodiment in that the step 306 D is employed instead of the processing of step 306 B, and step 308 D is employed instead of the processing of step 308 B.

At step 300 E of the information collection processing according to the present exemplary embodiment, the second reception section 32 E determines whether or not the second second-terminal transmission information has been received from the second terminal 60 C or the first third-terminal transmission information has been received from the third terminal 60 D. Here, processing transitions to step 304 , described later, in cases in which negative determination has been made, or otherwise processing transitions to step 302 E in cases in which affirmative determination has been made.

At step 302 E, the registration section 34 E stores (registers) information that is the received information with the message information excluded, and the information indicating the category of the message information, in the communication information DB.

In the information collection processing according to the present exemplary embodiment, the information registered by the processing of step 302 E is classified into two types of information: second terminal information based on information received from the second terminal 60 C, or third terminal information based on information received from the third terminal 60 D. In such cases, the second terminal device information of the second terminal information based on the information received from the second terminal 60 C is allocated to the second terminal 60 C, and the third terminal device information of the third terminal information based on the information received from the third terminal 60 D is allocated to the third terminal 60 D. Here, the third terminal device information is registered as the second terminal device information in the communication information DB for convenience of explanation in the present exemplary embodiment.

At step 304 , the registration section 34 E determines whether or not a specific duration (3 hours in the present exemplary embodiment) has elapsed since execution of the current information collection processing started, and processing transitions to step 306 D in cases in which affirmative determination has been made.

At step 306 D, the registration section 34 E derives degree of certainty information as described below.

The registration section 34 E first extracts, from out of the information registered in the communication information DB, information that shares the same first terminal device information but does not share the same second terminal device information, and thereby extracts combinations of second terminal information and third terminal information. Next, the registration section 34 E identifies, from out of the extracted combinations, combinations that fulfill a tenth condition that the distance between positions indicated by each item of included position information is within a specific distance. In the present exemplary embodiment, a distance envisaged to be the maximum inter-vehicle distance between the target automobile and the second target automobile (3 m in the present exemplary embodiment) is employed as the specific distance; however, there is no limitation thereto.

Moreover, the registration section 34 E identifies, from out of the identified combinations, combinations that fulfill an eleventh condition that the respective items of included category information indicates that the message information is I saw information and appreciation information. Moreover, the registration section 34 E identifies, from out of the identified combinations, combinations that fulfill a twelfth condition that the duration between the timings indicated by each item of included timing information is within the specific duration. Then, the registration section 34 E sets the number of items of third terminal information included in the identified combinations as the degree of certainty information for the second terminal information of that combination. In the present exemplary embodiment, a duration envisaged to be the maximum duration in which the server 70 E receives corresponding information from the second terminal 60 C and the third terminal 60 D (5 seconds in the present exemplary embodiment) is employed as the specific duration. However, there is no limitation thereto.

At the next step 308 D, the registration section 34 E stores (registers) the identified degree of certainty information in the communication information DB in association with the corresponding second terminal information for the combinations that fulfill each condition of the tenth condition to the twelfth condition. Moreover, the registration section 34 E erases the third terminal information included in the combinations from the communication information DB. When this is performed, degree of certainty information is sometimes already registered for the second terminal information for which degree of certainty information is to be registered. In such cases, the value of the derived degree of certainty information added to the registered degree of certainty information is stored (updated) as new degree of certainty information in the communication information DB.

Otherwise, processing transitions to step 310 without executing the processing of step 306 D or step 308 D above in cases in which negative determination has been made at step 304 .

As explained in detail above, in the present exemplary embodiment, the second input section of the second communication device receives operations, and the second transmission section of the second communication device also wirelessly transmits second specific information according to the operations received by the second input section. In the present exemplary embodiment, the third reception section of the first communication device receives the second specific information transmitted by the second transmission section.

Here, in the present exemplary embodiment, the specific information transmitted using the first transmission section, and the second specific information transmitted using the second transmission section, in the third communication device provided to the third vehicle, are received by the fourth reception section. Moreover, in the present exemplary embodiment, the second position information enabling identification of the position at which the specific information and the second specific information were received by the fourth reception section is wirelessly transmitted to the information collection device by the third communication device using the third transmission section.

Moreover, in the present exemplary embodiment, the second reception section of the information collection device also receives the second position information transmitted by the third transmission section. Then, in the present exemplary embodiment, the registration section of the information collection device registers a value of the degree of certainty information, which is larger the greater the number of items of second position information satisfying the tenth condition to the twelfth condition, in the storage section in association with the position information.

The position information can therefore be effectively utilized as a result of enabling the reliability of the corresponding position information to be ascertained by referring to the degree of certainty information. Moreover, the precision of the reliability indicated by the degree of certainty information is high since the degree of certainty information is found using information from a third party.

Although explanation has been given of a case in which the degree of certainty information is registered (updated) in the communication information DB without modifying the second terminal information in the present exemplary embodiment, there is no limitation thereto. For example, when the degree of certainty information is registered (updated), an average value of the timing information, the position information, or both, of the second terminal information, and the information corresponding to the third terminal information to be erased at this time may be computed, and the information corresponding to the second terminal information may be updated to this average value.

Although explanation has been given regarding a case in which the degree of certainty information is derived using the three conditions of the tenth condition to the twelfth condition in the present exemplary embodiment, there is no limitation thereto. For example, one of these conditions alone, or a combination of two of these conditions may be used to derive the degree of certainty information.

Sixth Exemplary Embodiment

Next, explanation follows regarding a sixth exemplary embodiment of technology disclosed herein. FIG. 38 illustrates a first communication device 10 A, a second communication device 20 A, a third communication device 20 E, and an information collection device 30 F according to the present exemplary embodiment. Configuration elements in FIG. 38 similar to those of the respective devices illustrated in FIG. 1 are allocated the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 , and explanation thereof is omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 38 , the sixth exemplary embodiment differs from the first exemplary embodiment in that a third communication device 20 E is additionally provided. Moreover, an information collection device 30 F according to the sixth exemplary embodiment differs from the information collection device 30 A according to the first exemplary embodiment in that a second reception section 32 F for performing reception processing different from that of the second reception section 32 A is provided instead of the second reception section 32 A. Moreover, the information collection device 30 F according to the sixth exemplary embodiment differs from the information collection device 30 A according to the first exemplary embodiment in that a registration section 34 F for performing registration processing different from that of the registration section 34 A is employed instead of the registration section 34 A.

The third communication device 20 E according to the present exemplary embodiment is possessed by a pedestrian (referred to as a “fourth user” hereafter) who walks along a footpath of the road that the target bicycle 92 and the target automobile are travelling along. As illustrated in FIG. 38 , the third communication device 20 E according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a third input section 29 and a third transmission section 26 E. The third input section 29 receives operations made by the fourth user. Moreover, the third transmission section 26 E wirelessly transmits the specific message information, the position information enabling identification of the position at that point in time, and timing information indicating a timing of that point in time, to a device different from the first communication device 10 A (an information collection device 30 F in the present exemplary embodiment) in cases in which specific operations have been received by the third input section 29 .

In the third communication device 20 E according to the present exemplary embodiment, information indicating a latitude and longitude representing the position at that point in time is employed as the position information; however, there is no limitation thereto. For example, in addition to the latitude and longitude representing the position, altitude information may also be employed as the position information. Moreover, a region targeted for information collection by the information collection device 30 F may be divided into a matrix of rectangular regions having a specific size, and the position of each divided region may be represented as two items of information of a row and a column corresponding to that matrix, and these two items of information may be employed as the position information. It is envisaged that a pedestrian is in possession of the third communication device 20 E in the present exemplary embodiment; however, there is no limitation thereto. For example, a person onboard an automobile that is different from the target automobile may be in possession of the third communication device 20 E. Moreover, a smartphone is employed as the third communication device 20 E in the present exemplary embodiment; however, there is no limitation thereto. For example, other than a smartphone, a cellular telephone, and other than a cellular telephone, a portable information terminal (PDA) such as a tablet PC, may be employed as the third communication device 20 E.

The first communication device 10 A, the second communication device 20 A, the third communication device 20 E, and the information collection device 30 F may be respectively implemented by a first terminal 50 A, a second terminal 60 A, a third terminal 60 E, and a server 70 F included in a computer system 90 F illustrated in FIG. 39 . Explanation follows regarding configuration of the first terminal 50 A, the second terminal 60 A, the third terminal 60 E, the server 70 F according to the sixth exemplary embodiment with reference to FIG. 39 . Configuration elements in FIG. 39 similar to those of the computer system 90 A of FIG. 2 are allocated the same reference numerals as in FIG. 2 , and explanation thereof is omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 39 , the third terminal 60 E according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the second terminal 60 A in that a third information communication program 63 C for causing the third terminal 60 E to function as the third communication device 20 E is stored in the storage section 63 instead of the second information communication program 63 A. A recording medium 96 written with the third information communication program 63 C is set in the medium reading/writing device 66 , and the medium reading/writing device 66 stores the third information communication program 63 C in the storage section 63 by reading the third information communication program 63 C from the recording medium 96 . The CPU 61 reads the third information communication program 63 C from the storage section 63 , expands the third information communication program 63 C into the memory 62 , and sequentially executes the processes included in the third information communication program 63 C.

The third information communication program 63 C includes a third input process 63 C 1 and a third transmission process 63 C 2 . The CPU 61 operates as the third input section 29 illustrated in FIG. 38 by executing the third input process 63 C 1 . The CPU 61 operates as the third transmission section 26 E illustrated in FIG. 38 by executing the third transmission process 63 C 2 . The third terminal 60 E, which executes the third information communication program 63 C, thereby functions as the third communication device 20 E.

The server 70 F according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the server 70 A in that the second reception process 73 A 1 A of the information collection program 73 A is configured as a second reception process 73 A 1 F for performing reception processing different from that of the second reception process 73 A 1 A. The server 70 F according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the server 70 A in that the registration process 73 A 2 A of the information collection program 73 A is configured as a registration process 73 A 2 F for performing registration processing different from that of the registration process 73 A 2 A. The CPU 71 operates as the second reception section 32 F illustrated in FIG. 38 by executing the second reception process 73 A 1 F. The CPU 71 operates as the registration section 34 F illustrated in FIG. 38 by executing the registration process 73 A 2 F. The server 70 F, which executes the information collection program 73 A, thereby functions as the information collection device 30 F.

A communication information storage region 73 C 3 is provided to the storage section 73 of the server 70 F instead of the communication information storage region 73 C 1 . The CPU 71 generates a communication information DB according to the present exemplary embodiment by expanding data stored in the communication information storage region 73 C 3 into the memory 72 .

FIG. 40 illustrates a communication information DB according to the present exemplary embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 40 , the communication information DB according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the communication information DB according to the second exemplary embodiment in that bystander count information is employed instead of the degree of certainty information (see also FIG. 16 ). The default value of the bystander count information is set to 0 (zero) in the communication information DB according to the present exemplary embodiment.

Next, explanation follows regarding operation of the present exemplary embodiment. First, explanation follows regarding a chronological flow of information transmitted/received between the respective devices out of the first terminal 50 A, the second terminal 60 A, the third terminal 60 E, and the server 70 F according to the present exemplary embodiment, with reference to FIG. 41 .

In the present exemplary embodiment, a case is envisaged in which a target automobile is travelling behind the target bicycle 92 , to which the first terminal 50 A is provided, and the fourth user is walking along a footpath of the road along which the target bicycle 92 and the target automobile are travelling.

The first terminal 50 A provided to the target bicycle 92 is similar to the first exemplary embodiment in that any message information out of the right turn information, the left turn information, or the appreciation information is transmitted, together with the first terminal device information, to the second terminal 60 A provided to the target automobile following behind, according to operations by the first user.

Moreover, the second terminal 60 A provided to the target automobile is similar to the first exemplary embodiment in that the first second-terminal transmission information is transmitted to the server 70 F in cases in which the second terminal 60 A provided to the target automobile has received the message information and the first terminal device information from the first terminal 50 A.

In cases in which the fourth user has observed favorable communications between occupant of the target bicycle 92 and the occupant of the target automobile, the third terminal 60 E transmits the specific message information, the position information, and the timing information to the server 70 F according to operations by the fourth user. In the present exemplary embodiment, “I saw information”, which is information expressing that the fourth user, who is a third party, observed favorable communications between the first terminal 50 A and the second terminal 60 A, is employed as the message information transmitted from the third terminal 60 E to the server 70 F when this is performed. Hereafter, the message information, the position information, and the timing information transmitted from the third terminal 60 E to the server 70 F when this is performed is referred to as “second third-terminal transmission information”.

Accordingly, the server 70 F stores (registers) the information, excluding the message information, out of the first second-terminal transmission information received from the second terminal 60 A, and the category information indicating the category of the message information, in the storage region corresponding to the communication information DB. Moreover, the server 70 F stores (registers) the information, excluding the message information, out of the second third-terminal transmission information received from the third terminal 60 E and the category information indicating the category of the message information, in the storage region corresponding to the communication information DB.

Here, based on first second-terminal transmission information received from the second terminal 60 A and second third-terminal transmission information received from the third terminal 60 E, the server 70 F according to the present exemplary embodiment derives the bystander count information as information indicating the certainty of the information received from the second terminal 60 A, and this is described in detail later. Then, the server 70 F stores (registers) the derived bystander count information in the communication information DB in association with the information received from the corresponding second terminal 60 A.

Next, specific explanation follows regarding processing executed by the respective devices out of the first terminal 50 A, the second terminal 60 A, the third terminal 60 E, and the server 70 F. The first information communication processing executed by the first terminal 50 A is similar to the first information communication processing according to the first exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 , and explanation thereof is therefore omitted. Moreover, the second information communication processing executed by the second terminal 60 A is similar to the second information communication processing according to the first exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 , and explanation thereof is therefore omitted.

The fourth user performs third information communication processing illustrated in FIG. 42 while walking along the footpath by executing the third information communication program 63 C using the third terminal 60 E. Explanation follows regarding the third information communication processing according to the present exemplary embodiment.

At step 280 of the third information communication processing, the third input section 29 controls the display section 65 so as to display a predetermined transmission/reception screen, and at the next step 282 , the third input section 29 stands by for input of the specific information.

FIG. 43 illustrates an example of a transmission/reception screen according to the present exemplary embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 43 , an ordinary image 65 F is displayed, and an “I saw” button 65 G and an “End” button 65 C below the ordinary image 65 F, are displayed on the transmission/reception screen according to the present exemplary embodiment. When these buttons are displayed by the display section 65 , the fourth user stipulates the “I saw” button 65 G with a fingertip when the second third-terminal transmission information is transmitted to the server 70 F, and the fourth user stipulates the “End” button 65 C with a fingertip when the present third information communication processing has ended. When the “I saw” button 65 G or the “End” button 65 C is specified, the processing of step 282 results in an affirmative determination, and processing transitions to step 284 .

At step 284 , the third transmission section 26 E determines whether or not transmission of the second third-terminal transmission information has been instructed by determining whether or not the “I saw” button 65 G has been specified, and processing transitions to step 286 in cases in which affirmative determination has been made. At step 286 , the third transmission section 26 E transmits the second third-terminal transmission information to the server 70 F using the wireless communication section 67 , and the current third information communication processing then ends. In cases in which negative determination has been made in the processing of step 284 , the “End” button 65 C is considered to have been specified by the fourth user, and the current third information communication processing ends without executing the processing of step 286 .

The administrator of the server 70 F performs information collection processing illustrated in FIG. 44 by executing the information collection program 73 A using the server 70 F at a specific timing. Steps in FIG. 44 that perform processing similar to that of steps in FIG. 11 are allocated the same step numbers as in FIG. 11 , and explanation thereof is omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 44 , the information collection processing according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the information collection processing according to the first exemplary embodiment in that step 300 F is employed instead of the processing of step 300 A. Moreover, the information collection processing according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the information collection processing according to the first exemplary embodiment in that step 302 F is employed instead of the processing of step 302 A. Moreover, the information collection processing according to the present exemplary embodiment differs from the information collection processing according to the first exemplary embodiment in that the processing of step 304 , step 306 E, and step 308 E is added between the processing of step 302 F and the processing of step 310 .

At step 300 F of the information collection processing according to the present exemplary embodiment, the second reception section 32 F determines whether or not the first second-terminal transmission information has been received from the second terminal 60 A, or the second third-terminal transmission information has been received from the third terminal 60 E. Here, processing transitions to step 304 , described below, in cases in which negative determination has been made, or otherwise processing transitions to step 302 F in cases in which affirmative determination has been made.

At step 302 F, the registration section 34 F stores (registers) the information received from the second terminal 60 A or the third terminal 60 E excluding the message information, and the information indicating the category of the message information, in the communication information DB.

In the information collection processing according to the present exemplary embodiment, the information registered in the communication information DB by the processing of step 302 F is classified into two types of information: second terminal information based on information received from the second terminal 60 A, or third terminal information based on information received from the third terminal 60 E. In the example illustrated in FIG. 40 , the information for which both the first terminal device information and the second terminal device information are registered as device information (the information that is chronologically first and second out of the information having the ID ‘1001’) is the second terminal information. Moreover, information for which neither the first terminal device information nor the second terminal device information is registered (the information that is chronologically third out of the information having the ID ‘1001’) is the third terminal information.

At step 304 , the registration section 34 F determines whether or not a specific duration (3 hours in the present exemplary embodiment) has elapsed since execution of the current information collection processing started, and processing transitions to step 306 E in cases in which affirmative determination has been made.

At step 306 E, the registration section 34 F derives the bystander count information as described below.

The registration section 34 F first extracts the second terminal information from out of the information registered in the communication information DB, and identifies third terminal information that fulfills a thirteenth condition of including position information indicating a position within a specific distance from the position indicated by the position information included in the second terminal information. In the present exemplary embodiment, a distance envisaged to be the maximum distance between the target automobile and a pedestrian (6 m in the present exemplary embodiment) is employed as the specific distance; however, there is no limitation thereto.

Next, the registration section 34 F identifies, from out of the identified third terminal information, third terminal information that fulfills a fourteenth condition of including timing information indicating a timing that is within a specific duration from the timing indicated by the timing information included in the corresponding second terminal information. Then, the registration section 34 F sets the number of identified items of third terminal information as the bystander count information of the corresponding second terminal information. In the present exemplary embodiment, a duration envisaged to be the maximum duration between a point in time at which the message information is received from the second terminal 60 A, and a point in time at which the corresponding message information is received from the third terminal 60 E (5 seconds in the present exemplary embodiment), by the server 70 F is employed as the specific duration. However, there is no limitation thereto.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 40 , as an example, for the second terminal information that is chronologically second out of the information having the ID ‘1001’, the bystander count information of the second terminal information is derived as ‘1’ when the thirteenth condition and the fourteenth condition described above are satisfied only by the third terminal information that is chronologically third.

At the next step 308 E, the registration section 34 F stores (registers) the derived bystander count information in the communication information DB in association with the corresponding second terminal information, and erases the corresponding third terminal information from the communication information DB. When this is performed, the bystander count information is sometimes already registered for the corresponding second terminal information. In such cases, the value of the derived bystander count information added to the registered bystander count information is stored (updated) as new bystander count information in the communication information DB.

Otherwise, in cases in which negative determination has been made at step 304 , processing transitions to step 310 without executing the processing of step 306 E or step 308 E.

Note that the bystander count information registered in the communication information DB by the present information collection processing can be employed in the map generation processing (see FIG. 12 ) for, for example, generation of a site display map using only the second terminal information having bystander count information of 1 or more.

As explained in detail above, in the present exemplary embodiment, the second position information enabling identification of the position at the point in time at which an operation was received by the third input section, which receives the operation, is wirelessly transmitted to the information collection device by the third communication device provided to the third vehicle using the third transmission section.

Moreover, in the present exemplary embodiment, the second reception section of the information collection device also receives the second position information transmitted by the third transmission section. Then, in the present exemplary embodiment, the registration section of the information collection device registers a value of the degree of certainty information (the “bystander count information” in the present exemplary embodiment), which is larger the greater the number of items of second position information satisfying the thirteenth condition and the fourteenth condition, in the storage section in association with the position information.

The position information can therefore be effectively utilized as a result of enabling the reliability of the corresponding position information to be ascertained by referring to the degree of certainty information.

Although explanation has been given regarding a case in which the degree of certainty information is registered (updated) in the communication information DB without modifying the second terminal information in the present exemplary embodiment, there is no limitation thereto. For example, when the degree of certainty information is registered (updated), an average value of the timing information, the position information, or both, of the second terminal information, and the corresponding information of the third terminal information to be erased at this time, may be computed, and corresponding information of the second terminal information may be updated to this average value.

Moreover, although explanation has been given regarding a case in which the degree of certainty information is derived using the two conditions of the thirteenth condition and the fourteenth condition in the present exemplary embodiment, there is no limitation thereto. For example, the degree of certainty information may be derived using one of these conditions alone.

Although explanation has been given regarding cases in which technology disclosed herein is applied with only one target bicycle 92 is within a range over which short range wireless communication with the target automobile is possible (referred to as “within communicable range” hereafter) in each of the exemplary embodiments described above, there is no limitation thereto. For example, technology disclosed herein may be applied when plural target bicycles 92 are within communicable range. Explanation follows regarding various embodiments in cases in which there are two target bicycles 92 within communicable range. Hereafter, the alphabetic suffixes of the reference numerals of the first terminal provided to the target bicycle, the second terminal provided to the target automobile, and the server are omitted, such that these are referred to as the “first terminal 50 ”, the “second terminal 60 ”, and the “server 70 ”.

First, explanation follows regarding a case in which, out of the two target bicycles, one of the target bicycles is travelling in front of the target automobile (referred to as the “first target bicycle” hereafter), and the other target bicycle is passing by the target automobile by chance (referred to as the “second target bicycle” hereafter). In cases in which the target automobile receives the message information transmitted from the second target automobile, the message information is sometimes erroneously transmitted to the server 70 .

As illustrated in FIG. 45 as an example addressing such a case, the first terminals 50 respectively provided to the first target bicycle and the second target bicycle transmit the same message information and first terminal device information plural times (two times in the example illustrated in FIG. 45 ) with a specific duration in between. Accordingly, the second terminal 60 determines that the information is valid information in cases in which the same message information and first terminal device information have been both received and transmitted the same number of times.

Namely, since the first target bicycle is travelling in front of the target automobile, the number of times that the target automobile can receive the information transmitted from the first target bicycle is the number of times that the information was transmitted, enabling the information to be determined to be valid information. However, since the second target bicycle moves away after passing by the target automobile, the target automobile can only receive the information transmitted from the second target bicycle fewer times than the information was transmitted (one in the example illustrated in FIG. 45 ), enabling determination that the information is invalid information.

In such a situation, configuration is preferably made such that the same message information or the like is transmitted plural times for one operation on the first terminal 50 by the first user, from the viewpoint of operability and convenience. Moreover, as illustrated in the example of FIG. 46 , in a modified example of this exemplary embodiment, the portion of the information sent plural times from the first terminal 50 may be the first terminal device information alone. In such cases, the volume of information transmitted from the first terminal 50 can be reduced.

Next, explanation follows regarding a case in which, out of the two target bicycles, one of the target bicycles is a target bicycle travelling in front of the target automobile (referred to as the “third target bicycle” hereafter), and the other target bicycle is travelling behind the target automobile (referred to as the “fourth target bicycle” hereafter). In such cases, the second terminal 60 provided to the target automobile preferably performs display according to the message information transmitted from the respective first terminals 50 of the third target bicycle and the fourth target bicycle, from the viewpoint of convenience. Explanation follows regarding an exemplary embodiment in such a case.

As illustrated in FIG. 47 as an example of such a case, the employed first terminal 50 is capable of identifying the position of the device itself, right turn information or left turn information is transmitted from the first terminal 50 to the second terminal 60 as the message information, and the first terminal device information and the position information are also transmitted therewith. Accordingly, in the second terminal 60 , based on the received information, a behavior presentation screen indicating the position relationships of the third target bicycle and the fourth target bicycle with the target automobile serving as a reference, and also indicating their subsequent behavior, is displayed by the display section 65 .

FIG. 48 illustrates an example of the behavior presentation screen. As illustrated in FIG. 48 , an image (a plan view image in the example illustrated in FIG. 48 ) indicating the positions of the third target bicycle and the fourth target bicycle, with the position of the automobile serving as a reference, and the behavior of these target bicycles, are displayed on the behavior presentation screen. The second user onboard the target automobile can more appropriately drive, steer, and so on as a result of being able to ascertain the behavior of the fourth target bicycle travelling behind in addition to the behavior of the third target bicycle travelling ahead, by referring to the behavior presentation screen.

Although explanation has been given regarding a case in which the message information is exchanged directly between the first terminal and the second terminal in each of the exemplary embodiments above, there is no limitation thereto. For example, exchange of the message information between the first terminal and the second terminal may be performed via a server. The alphabetic suffixes of the reference numerals of the first terminal provided to the target bicycle, the second terminal provided to the target automobile, and the server are also omitted hereafter, such that they are referred to as the “first terminal 50 ”, the “second terminal 60 ”, and the “server 70 ”.

First, explanation follows regarding an exemplary embodiment in a case in which there are two target bicycles, the first terminal 50 is capable of identifying the position of the device itself, and the message information transmitted from the first terminal 50 to the second terminal 60 is transmitted from the first terminal 50 to the second terminal 60 via the server 70 , with reference to FIG. 49 .

In such cases, when the first user performs an operation by which the message information is to be transmitted, the respective first terminals 50 provided to the target bicycles transmit the message information, the first terminal device information, the position information, and the timing information to the server 70 using the wireless communications section 57 in accordance with the operation. Accordingly, the server 70 registers the information received from the first terminal 50 in the communication information DB.

The second terminal 60 provided to the target automobile transmits, to the server 70 at a specific timing, position information indicating a position of an automobile, and timing information indicating the timing of that point in time, together with inquiry information indicating an inquiry for close information that is within a specific range from the position information and timing information indicated by the above information. The range employed as the specific range may be a range predetermined such that when the information is within this range, the information can be considered information transmitted from a vehicle capable of transmitting message information to the automobile. Moreover, a timing of every specific duration, this being a comparatively short duration (for example, one second), a timing at which the distance in the travelling direction of the automobile from a junction at which a left turn or a right turn is possible was within a specific distance (for example, 10 m), or the like, may be employed as the specific timing.

Accordingly, when the inquiry information is received, the server 70 searches for close information that is within the specific range from the position and timing indicated by the position information and timing information received from the communication information DB together with the information, and transmits the found information to the second terminal 60 using the communication I/F section 77 . The second terminal 60 then uses the information received from the server 70 to display a behavior presentation screen illustrated as an example in FIG. 48 using the display section 65 .

In this exemplary embodiment, there is no need to provide functionality for performing short range communication with the first terminal 50 and the second terminal 60 , enabling technology disclosed herein to be implemented at lower cost than in the exemplary embodiments above.

Next, explanation follows regarding an exemplary embodiment in a case in which message information transmitted from the second terminal 60 to the first terminal 50 is also transmitted from the second terminal 60 to the first terminal 50 via the server 70 , with reference to FIG. 50 . To avoid over complication, explanation follows here regarding a case in which there is only one target bicycle.

The explanation given with reference to FIG. 49 similarly applies to the portion of message information transmitted from the first terminal 50 to the second terminal 60 via the server 70 in this case. The behavior presentation screen displayed by the display section 65 of the second terminal 60 in this case is illustrated in FIG. 51 as an example.

When message information indicating that message information from the first terminal 50 has been confirmed is transmitted from the second terminal 60 to the first terminal 50 , the second terminal 60 transmits the message information, the received first terminal device information, and second terminal device information of the device itself to the server 70 using the wireless communication section 67 .

When the server 70 receives the message information, the first terminal device information, and the second terminal device information from the second terminal 60 , the server 70 transmits this received information to the first terminal 50 . In response, the first terminal 50 uses the received information to execute processing that, for example, displays a response display screen illustrated in FIG. 25 as an example using the display section.

Although explanation has been given regarding cases in which various information is transmitted to surrounding vehicles using non-directional communications when performing short range wireless communication in each of the exemplary embodiments above, there is no limitation thereto. For example, various information may be transmitted toward a vehicle targeted for transmission of information using a member that restricts the transmission direction of the various information when performing short range wireless communication.

Although explanation has been given regarding cases in which a site display map is generated as an example of a usable form of the information collected in the communication information DB in each of the exemplary embodiments above, there is no limitation thereto. For example, causing the collected position information to be reflected in a car navigation system enables application to accident prevention, since locations where positions indicated by the position information are concentrated can be identified as locations where vehicles are easily congested. Moreover, application to urban development is also possible since installation positions of traffic signals can be effectively decided by using the collected position information.

Although explanation has been given regarding cases in which the first communication device 10 is configured as a smartphone in each of the exemplary embodiments above, there is no limitation thereto. For example, the first communication device 10 may be built into the illuminating lamp unit 97 as illustrated as an example in FIG. 52 , or the first transmission section 14 of the first communication device 10 alone may be built into an illuminating lamp unit as illustrated as an example in FIG. 53 . In such cases, the various information can be transmitted using power from a power source 971 for illuminating a light 97 A, which is built into the illuminating lamp unit 97 .

Moreover, although explanation has been given regarding cases in which the site display map is displayed by the server in each of the exemplary embodiments above, there is no limitation thereto. For example, the site display map may be displayed by the first terminal or the second terminal. In such cases, the cost of building the computer system can be reduced compared to the exemplary embodiments above since the server does not need the display section 75 .

Although explanation has been given regarding cases in which a separate first communication device and second communication device are employed in each of the exemplary embodiments above, there is no limitation thereto. For example, the first communication device and the second communication device may be configured as a single unit. A communication device provided with all out of the first input section 12 and the first transmission section 14 A of the first communication device 10 A, and the first reception section 22 and the second transmission section 26 A of the second communication device 20 A, which are illustrated in FIG. 1 , is an example of a configuration of such a case. In such cases, technology disclosed herein can be implemented at lower cost using a single communication device.

Although explanation has been given regarding embodiments in which the first information communication program 53 A, the second information communication program 63 A, the information collection program 73 A, and the map generation program 73 B are read into the storage section from the recording medium 96 via the medium reading/writing device in each of the exemplary embodiments above, there is no limitation thereto. For example, these programs may be pre-stored (installed) on the storage section, or may be downloaded to the storage section from an external device over the network 80 .

When a person and another person who are onboard respective vehicles out of plural vehicles communicate with each other on a road that plural vehicles can travel along, or in the region of a parking lot or the like, collecting position information enabling identification of the positions of the respective vehicles is highly useful. For example, reflecting the collected position information to a car navigation system enables application to accident prevention, since locations where positions indicated by the position information are concentrated can be identified as locations where vehicles are easily congested. Moreover, in cases in which the communications are exchanges related to concessions made on roads, application to urban development is also possible since, for example, installation positions of traffic signals can be effectively decided by using the collected position information.

However, in technology that collects position information enabling identification of positions of vehicles when communication has been performed, there is an issue in that collection of highly reliable position information is not necessarily possible. For example, in practice, false position information for performed communication may sometimes be collected despite no communication being performed.

The above issue is not solved in related technology since the performance of communications is not considered in relation to the issue.

One aspect of technology disclosed herein enables position information enabling the identification of a position at which inter-vehicle communication was performed to be collected.

All examples and conditional language provided herein are intended for the pedagogical purposes of aiding the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to further the art, and are not to be construed as limitations to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority and inferiority of the invention. Although one or more embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.