Patent ID: 9076341
Filing Date: 2015-07-07
Classification: G08G

Abstract:
1. A vehicle-to-vehicle communication device that is mounted to a subject vehicle with a traveling control device for controlling speed of the subject vehicle, the vehicle-to-vehicle communication device comprising: a communication portion for receiving and transmitting a signal between the subject vehicle and a preceding vehicle, and between the subject vehicle and a follower vehicle, wherein the preceding vehicle travels immediately in front of the subject vehicle, wherein the follower vehicle travels immediately behind the subject vehicle, wherein the signal includes a connection request signal and a connection control signal; a connection transmission process portion for transmitting the connection request signal from the communication portion to the preceding vehicle, wherein the connection request signal requests to perform a connected travel; a connection control signal obtain portion for obtaining the connection control signal from the communication portion, and notifying the traveling control device of the connection control signal, wherein the connection control signal is transmitted from the preceding vehicle, is received by the communication portion, and indicates whether the preceding vehicle permits or not a vehicle immediately behind the preceding vehicle to perform the connected travel; a connection signal obtain portion for obtaining the connection request signal and notifying the traveling control device of the connection request signal, wherein the connection request signal is transmitted from the follower vehicle and received by the communication portion; and a connection control signal transmission process portion for transmitting the connection control signal from the communication portion to the follower vehicle; a malfunction detection portion for detecting a malfunction affecting the connected travel, wherein: the connection control signal transmission process portion, when the malfunction detection portion detects the malfunction affecting the convoy travel, transmits a connection rejection signal as the connection control signal from the communication portion for the follower vehicle; and the connection rejection signal indicates that the subject vehicle does not permit the connected travel.