Communications: electrical – External condition vehicle-mounted indicator or alarm – Transmitter in another vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-12
2001-06-26
Hofsass, Jeffery (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
External condition vehicle-mounted indicator or alarm
Transmitter in another vehicle
C340S435000, C340S902000, C340S933000, C701S117000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06252520
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile unit communication apparatus for communicating between mobile units such as a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
A communication device for communicating between traveling vehicles and exchanging the information such as a traveling state of a vehicle is already disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. Hei. 5-266399(JP-A-5-266399) for example. Such a conventional type communication device is provided with a radio communication device. The conventional type communication device transmits a radio signal including an information signal of an own vehicle by the radio communication device. Further, the conventional type communication device receives an information signal of another vehicle by the radio communication device, analyzes the received information signal of another vehicle and informs a driver and others of information required for the traveling of the own vehicle.
However, there is a case an obstacle such as the other vehicle exists between a vehicle transmitting an information signal and a vehicle receiving it because an information signal is transmitted as a radio signal. Thus, there is a problem that a radio signal is not received by the vehicle which should receive it even if the vehicle transmitting the information signal and the vehicle receiving it are near each other. Hence, the vehicle, which should receive it, continues traveling without acquiring required information of another vehicle.
The problem is caused not only in the case of a vehicle but in the case of a mobile unit such as a walker.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a mobile unit communication apparatus that can give required information of one of other mobile units to another other mobile unit which a radio signal from the one other mobile unit does not directly reach.
A mobile unit communication apparatus according to the invention is a mobile unit communication apparatus mounted in a mobile unit for transmitting and receiving an information signal. The mobile unit communication apparatus comprises: receiving means for receiving an incoming information signal; mobile unit approach detecting means for detecting the approach of another plural mobile units near a certain mobile unit based upon the incoming information signal received by the receiving means; communication error judging means for judging that an error occurs in communication between another plural mobile units based upon an incoming information signal received by the receiving means when approach is detected by the mobile unit approach detecting means; and transmitting means for relaying an information signal to be transmitted between another plural mobile units when an error is detected in communication between another plural mobile units occurs are provided.
An incoming information signal means an information signal transmitted from another mobile unit and received by the receiving means.
According to the invention, it is judged based upon an information signal incoming when the approach of another plural mobile units near a certain mobile unit is detected based upon an incoming information signal received by the receiving means that an error occurs in communication between another plural mobile units. Further, an information signal to be transmitted between another plural mobile units is relayed when an error is detected in communication between another plural mobile units. Hence precious information of one mobile unit can be given to another mobile unit which a radio signal from one mobile unit of another plural mobile units mutually approaching does not directly reach.
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patent: 4706086 (1987-11-01), Panizza
patent: 5089815 (1992-02-01), Potter et al.
patent: 5428544 (1995-06-01), Shyu
patent: 5907293 (1999-05-01), Tognazzini
patent: 5926114 (1999-07-01), Andrews
patent: 6011492 (1998-06-01), Garesche
patent: 6067031 (2000-05-01), Janky et al.
patent: 6157321 (2000-12-01), Ricci
patent: 5-266399 (1993-10-01), None
Asami Ken
Satomura Masashi
Tsuchida Hirotatsu
Arent Fox Kintner & Plotkin & Kahn, PLLC
Hofsass Jeffery
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Nguyen Phung
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