Traffic information output device/method and traffic information distribution device/method

Abstract

A traffic information distribution system includes a distribution device for synthesizing pieces of traffic information supplied from a traffic information center, an output device for outputting pieces of traffic information distributed from the distribution device, and a data communicator that is connected to the output device and that can communicate with the distribution device in a bidirectional manner. The distribution device responds to a request signal transmitted from the output device via the data communicator, effectively synthesizes the pieces of traffic information in consideration not only of a request made by a user, recognizability at the time of output, a state of a map on a display screen and a range of the map, but also of various factors in which actual road conditions are reflected. The pieces of the traffic information that have been synthesized are distributed via the data communicator to the output device.

1. A traffic jam information output device, comprising:
 a receiver that receives synthesized pieces of traffic jam information;  
 an output device that outputs the received pieces of traffic jam information;  
 a display screen; and  
 a transmitter that transmits a request signal for requesting a certain piece of the pieces of traffic information  jam information, the pieces being pieces of traffic jam information on two or more merging roads indicating respective directions on the display screen, to a distribution device that distributes synthesized pieces of the traffic jam information to reduce an amount of synthesized pieces of traffic jam information displayed on the display screen, wherein:  
 the output device includes the display screen that displays a map, the transmitter transmits a signal indicating a scale of a map displayed on the display screen, as well as the request signal to the distribution device, and  
 the receiver receives the pieces of the traffic jam information, the pieces having that have  been synthesized in accordance with the scale of the displayed map.  map so that the pieces are replaced by a single piece of traffic jam information to display integrally the pieces of traffic jam information as a single traffic jam symbol indicating a substantially same direction as the respective directions.  
 
     
     
       2. The traffic jam information output device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the pieces of traffic jam information are synthesized based on at least one of road type, road attribute, angle formed by intersecting roads, road width, and a number of roads.  
 
     
     
       3. The traffic jam information output device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the output device prohibits those pieces of the traffic jam information from being outputted that have an amount equal to or less than a predetermined amount.  
 
     
     
       4. The traffic information output device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the output device includes the display screen and displays a map, and    the receiver receives pieces of the traffic information that have been synthesized based on a scale of the map displayed on the display screen.    
     
     
       5. The traffic information output device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the output device includes the display screen that displays a map, and    the receiver receives pieces of the traffic information that have been synthesized based on a display range of a map displayed on the display screen.    
     
     
       6. The traffic jam information output device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the output device includes the display screen that displays a map, 
 the transmitter transmits a signal indicating a display range of the map displayed on the display screen, as well as the request signal to the distribution device, and  
 the receiver receives the pieces of the traffic jam information, the pieces having that have  been synthesized in accordance with the range of the displayed map.  
 
     
     
       7. A traffic jam information distribution device, comprising:
 a controller that synthesizes pieces of traffic information;  jam information on two or more merging roads indicating respective directions on a display screen so that the pieces are replaced by a single piece of traffic jam information to display integrally the pieces of traffic jam information as a single traffic jam symbol indicating a substantially same direction as the respective directions; 
 a transmitter that outputs the pieces of the traffic jam information that have been synthesized by the controller; and  
 a receiver that receives a request signal for requesting a certain piece of the pieces of traffic jam information from an output device that outputs the pieces of the traffic jam information and that includes the display screen, wherein:  
 the receiver receives a signal indicating a scale of a map displayed on a display  the display screen of the output device when receiving the request signal;  signal, and  
 the controller synthesizes the pieces of the traffic jam information based on the request signal for requesting a certain piece of the pieces of traffic jam information that has been received from the output device to reduce an amount of synthesized pieces of traffic jam information displayed on the display screen.  
 
     
     
       8. The traffic jam information distribution device according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the receiver receives a signal indicating a range of a map displayed on the display screen of the output device when receiving the request signal.  
 
     
     
       9. A method of outputting pieces of traffic jam information, comprising:
 receiving synthesized pieces of traffic information;  jam information, the pieces being pieces of traffic jam information on two or more merging roads indicating respective directions on a display screen; and 
 outputting the received pieces of the traffic information; and 
 transmitting a request signal for requesting a certain piece of the pieces of traffic jam information to a distribution device that distributes synthesized pieces of the traffic jam information so that the pieces are replaced by a single piece of traffic jam information to reduce an amount of synthesized pieces of traffic jam information displayed on a display  the display screen, wherein a signal indicating a scale of a map displayed on the display screen for outputting received pieces of the traffic jam information is transmitted together with the request signal to the distribution device.  device; and  
 outputting integrally the received pieces of the traffic jam information as a single traffic jam symbol indicating a substantially same direction as the respective directions. 
 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 outputting the pieces of the traffic jam information further comprises prohibiting those pieces of the traffic jam information from being output that have an amount that is equal to or less than a predetermined amount.  
 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 transmitting a signal indicating a scale of a map displayed on the display screen for outputting the received pieces of the traffic jam information, wherein:  
 receiving the pieces of the traffic jam information further comprises receiving the pieces of traffic information that have  jam information, the pieces having been synthesized in accordance with the scale of the displayed map.  
 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 transmitting a signal indicating a range of a map displayed on the display screen for outputting the received pieces of the traffic jam information,  
 wherein:  
 receiving the pieces of the traffic jam information further comprises receiving pieces of the traffic jam information that have been synthesized in accordance with the range of the displayed map.  
 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 a signal indicating a range of a map displayed on the display screen for outputting received pieces of the traffic jam information is transmitted together with the request signal to the distribution device.  
 
     
     
       14. A method of distributing pieces of traffic jam information, comprising:
 requesting a certain piece  pieces of the traffic jam information to a distribution device that distributes traffic information;  jam information, the pieces being pieces of traffic jam information on two or more merging roads indicating respective directions on a display screen; 
 synthesizing the piece  the pieces of the traffic jam information so that the pieces are replaced by a single piece of traffic jam information using a controller; and  
 outputting integrally the piece  pieces of the traffic jam information that has been  have been synthesized by the controller as a single traffic jam symbol indicating a substantially same direction as the respective directions to reduce an amount of synthesized pieces of traffic jam information displayed on a display  the display screen; and  
 receiving a signal indicating a scale of a map displayed on the display screen of an output device that outputs pieces of the traffic jam information, wherein:  
 synthesizing the piece  the pieces of the traffic jam information further comprises synthesizing the piece  the pieces of the traffic jam information in accordance with a scale of the map that is indicated by the received signal.  
 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 receiving a signal indicating a range of a map displayed on the display screen of an output device that outputs pieces of the traffic jam information, wherein:  
 synthesizing the piece  the pieces of the traffic jam information further comprises synthesizing the piece  the pieces of the traffic jam information in accordance with the range of the displayed map that is indicated by the received signal.  
 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 14 , wherein
 the piecethe pieces of the traffic jam information is synthesizedare synthesized based on at least one of a plurality of road type, road attribute, angle formed by intersecting roads, road width, and a number of roads.  
 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 determining an amount of the pieces of the traffic jam information,  
 wherein:  
 the pieces of the traffic jam information that have an amount that is equal to or less than a predetermined amount are prohibited from being distributed.  
 
     
     
       18. A traffic jam information output device having a display screen on which a map is displayed, comprising:
 a transmitter that transmits a signal for requesting transmission of a certain piece of traffic jam information to reduce an amount of synthesized pieces of traffic jam information displayed on the display screen, and a signal indicating a scale of the map displayed on the display screen to a distribution device that synthesizes pieces of the traffic jam information on two or more merging roads indicating respective directions on the display screen, in accordance with a scale of the map on the display screen of the output device, so that the pieces are replaced by a single piece of traffic jam information and distributes the synthesized pieces of the traffic jam information;  
 a receiver that receives the certain pieces of the traffic jam information that have been distributed from the distribution device; and  
 an output device that outputs integrally the received pieces of the traffic jam information to the display screen.  screen as a single traffic jam symbol indicating a substantially same direction as the respective directions. 
 
     
     
       19. A traffic jam information output device having a display screen on which a map is displayed, comprising:
 a transmitter that transmits a signal for requesting transmission of a certain piece of traffic jam information to reduce an amount of synthesized pieces of traffic jam information displayed on the display screen, and a signal indicating a range of the map displayed on the display screen to a distribution device that synthesizes pieces of the traffic jam information on two or more merging roads indicating respective directions on the display screen so that the pieces are replaced by a single piece of traffic jam information, in accordance with a range of the map displayed on the display screen of the output device, and distributes the synthesized pieces of the traffic jam information;  
 a receiver that receives the pieces of the traffic jam information that have been distributed from the distribution device;  
 and an output device that outputs integrally the received pieces of the traffic jam information to the screen.  display screen as a single traffic jam symbol indicating a substantially same direction as the respective directions. 
 
     
     
       20. A traffic jam information output device having a display screen comprising:
 a transmitter that transmits a signal requesting pieces of traffic jam information;    a receiver that receives the requested pieces of traffic jam information; and    a navigation device that receives the requested pieces of traffic jam information from the receiver, the pieces being pieces of traffic jam information on two or more merging roads indicating respective directions on the display screen and synthesizes the requested pieces of traffic jam information in accordance with at least one parameter, so that the pieces are replaced by a single piece of traffic jam information,    wherein the display screen displays integrally the synthesized requested pieces of traffic jam information as a single traffic jam symbol indicating a substantially same direction as the respective directions.   
     
     
       21. A traffic jam information output device having a display screen according to  claim 20 , wherein
 the display screen has a map; and    the at least one parameter includes the scale of the map.   
     
     
       22. A traffic jam information output device having a display screen according to  claim 20 , wherein the at least one parameter includes at least one of road type, road attribute, angle formed by intersecting roads, road width, and a number of roads. 
     
     
       23. A traffic jam information output device having a display screen according to  claim 20 , wherein the at least one parameter is based on actual road conditions. 
     
     
       24. A traffic jam information output device having a display screen according to  claim 20 , wherein
 the display screen has a map; and    the at least one parameter includes the state of display of the map.   
     
     
       25. A traffic jam information output device having a display screen according to  claim 20 , wherein
 the display screen has a map; and    the at least one parameter includes the range of display of the map.   
     
     
       26. A traffic jam information output device having a display screen according to  claim 20 , wherein the at least one parameter includes one or more of traffic jam information, regulation information, parking space information and service area information. 
     
     
       27. A traffic jam information output device having a display screen according to  claim 20 , wherein the at least one parameter includes one or more of situations at intersections, statistical values obtained from traffic volumes that have actually been measured and the number of roads. 
     
     
       28. A traffic jam information output device having a display screen according to  claim 20 , wherein
 the display screen has a map; and    the at least one parameter includes the visibility of symbols on the map.   
     
     
       29. A traffic jam information output device having a display screen according to  claim 20 , wherein the synthesis reduces the amount of synthesized pieces of information displayed on the display screen. 
     
     
       30. A traffic jam information output device comprising:
 a transmitter that transmits a signal requesting pieces of traffic jam information, the pieces being pieces of traffic jam information on two or more merging roads indicating respective directions on a display screen, the signal advising that the pieces of traffic jam information are to be synthesized in accordance with at least one parameter so that the pieces are replaced by a single piece of traffic jam information;    a receiver that receives the pieces of traffic jam information that have been synthesized in accordance with the at least one parameter; and    the display screen that displays integrally the received, synthesized pieces of traffic jam information as a single traffic jam symbol indicating a substantially same direction as the respective directions.   
     
     
       31. A traffic jam information output device according to  claim 30 , wherein
 the display screen has a map; and    the at least one parameter represents the scale of the map.   
     
     
       32. A method of outputting pieces of traffic jam information comprising:
 transmitting a signal requesting pieces of traffic jam information, the signal being transmitted from a traffic jam information output device having a display screen, the pieces of traffic jam information being pieces of traffic jam information on two or more merging roads indicating respective directions on the display screen;    receiving the pieces of traffic jam information in the traffic jam information output device having the display screen;    synthesizing the pieces of traffic jam information in accordance with at least one parameter so that the pieces are replaced by a single piece of traffic jam information; and    displaying integrally the synthesized pieces of traffic jam information on the display screen as a single traffic jam symbol indicating a substantially same direction as the respective directions.   
     
     
       33. A method of outputting pieces of traffic jam information according to  claim 32 , wherein
 the display screen has a map, and    the at least one parameter represents the scale of the map.   
     
     
       34. The traffic jam information output device according to  claim 2 , wherein the synthesizing occurs when the road types of the two or more roads are equal to each other and the road attributes of the two or more roads are equal to each other. 
     
     
       35. The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the synthesizing occurs when the road types of the two or more roads are equal to each other and the road attributes of the two or more roads are equal to each other. 
     
     
       36. The traffic jam information output device having a display screen according to  claim 22 , wherein the synthesizing occurs when the road types of two or more roads are equal to each other and the road attributes of the two or more roads are equal to each other. 
     
     
       37. The traffic jam information output device according to  claim 1 , wherein the synthesizing occurs when the scale of the map on the display screen is reduced. 
     
     
       38. The traffic jam information distribution device according to  claim 7 , wherein the synthesizing occurs when the scale of the map on the display screen is reduced. 
     
     
       39. The method of outputting pieces of traffic jam information according to  claim 9 , wherein the synthesizing occurs when the scale of the map on the display screen is reduced. 
     
     
       40. The method of distributing pieces of traffic jam information according to  claim 14 , wherein the synthesizing occurs when the scale of the map on the display screen is reduced. 
     
     
       41. The traffic jam information output device having a display screen on which a map is displayed according to  claim 18 , wherein the synthesizing occurs when the scale of the map on the display screen is reduced. 
     
     
       42. The traffic jam information output device having a display screen on which a map is displayed according to  claim 19 , wherein the synthesizing occurs when a scale of the map on the display screen is reduced. 
     
     
       43. The traffic jam information output device having a display screen according to  claim 20 , wherein the synthesizing occurs when a scale of a map on the display screen is reduced. 
     
     
       44. The traffic jam information output device according to  claim 30 , wherein the synthesizing occurs when a scale of a map on the display screen is reduced. 
     
     
       45. The method of outputting pieces of traffic jam information according to  claim 32 , wherein the synthesizing occurs when a scale of a map on the display screen is reduced.