Patent Description:
A navigation technology is used to guide a driving route and to shorten a driving time. The navigation technology which guides the vehicular driving route may display the driving route from a current location to a destination according to a preset standard, and calculate and display the driving time on a display. The vehicle navigation technology may receive traffic information in real time using a communication device, search for the current location of the vehicle using a global positioning system (GPS) device, search for the destination on a map, calculate the driving route from the current location of the vehicle to the destination, and guide the driving route and the required time through a display device (including a sound device). This navigation technology may be limited to recommending the driving route and guiding an estimated driving time on a previously set map. Conventional navigation technology may not guide an accident between vehicles occurring on the road, a vehicle breakdown, a road damage, driving information of other nearby vehicles, driving route change based on traffic device information, and traffic event occurrence information. <CIT> discloses a method and a system for providing information to a user of a navigation device.

Various embodiments of the present invention may provide a vehicular driving guidance method and an electronic device based on driving route traffic information for guiding driving line change, driving route change and traffic event information based on unexpected traffic event (an accident between vehicles, a vehicle breakdown, road damage) information on a road and driving information of other vehicles, and traffic device information.

An electronic device is provided as defined in the appended claims.

The processor of the electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention may, in driving on the first driving route, determine the severity to a first level if the driving time increases below a first increment or there is no accident risk.

The processor of the electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention may, acquire a current location of the vehicle connected to the electronic device, obtain a distance difference between the vehicle connected to the electronic device and an occurrence point of the traffic event, and control to display at least one of the line change information, the lane change information and the traffic sign on the display device based on the distance difference.

The processor of the electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention may, control to display at least one of first line change information, first lane change information and a first traffic sign corresponding to the severity of the first level on the display device.

The processor of the electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention may, control to display the first driving route corresponding to the severity of the first level and a second driving route newly recommended on the display device.

The processor of the electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention may, control the display device to display the first driving route and the second driving route differently.

The processor of the electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention may, control the display device to display the first traffic sign and the second traffic sign in different colors.

The processor of the electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention may, classify types of the traffic event into accident between vehicles, vehicle breakdown, road control, ambulance driving, fire truck driving, exit warning, entry warning, soil runoff, oil spill, flooding, icing, pot hole, road kill, falling object, road construction, and tunnel collapse, and control to display the traffic sign corresponding to the type of the traffic event on the display device.

The processor of the electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention may, display at least one of the line change information, the lane change information and the traffic sign corresponding to the severity level in at least one of a flat display manner, two dimension augmented reality (AR) head-up display (HUD) manner, a three dimension AR HUD manner, a virtual reality (VR) manner, and a hologram manner.

The processor of the electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention may, recognize driving routes of a plurality of companion vehicles for the same destination, and if a specific vehicle among the plurality of the companion vehicles having the same destination changes the driving route regardless of the destination travel route, control to display driving route changes of the specific vehicle on the display device.

A vehicular driving guidance method is provided as defined in the appended claims.

The vehicular driving guidance method according to various embodiments of the present invention may, in determining the severity level, in driving on the first driving route, determine the severity to a first level if the driving time increases below a first increment or there is no accident risk.

The vehicular driving guidance method according to various embodiments of the present invention may, acquire a current location of the vehicle connected to the electronic device, obtain a distance difference between the vehicle connected to the electronic device and an occurrence point of the traffic event, and control the display device to display at least one of the line change information, the lane change information and the traffic sign based on the distance difference.

The vehicular driving guidance method according to various embodiments of the present invention may, control to display at least one of first line change information, first lane change information and a first traffic sign corresponding to the severity of the first level on the display device, and control to display the first driving route corresponding to the severity of the first level and a second driving route newly recommended on the display device.

The vehicular driving guidance method according to various embodiments of the present invention may, control the display device to display the first driving route and the second driving route differently.

The vehicular driving guidance method according to various embodiments of the present invention may, control the display device to display the first traffic sign and the second traffic sign in different colors.

The vehicular driving guidance method according to various embodiments of the present invention may, recognize driving routes of a plurality of companion vehicles for the same destination, and if a specific vehicle among the plurality of the companion vehicles having the same destination changes the driving route regardless of the destination travel route, control to display driving route changes of the specific vehicle on the display device.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, provided are a vehicular driving guidance method and an electronic device based on driving route traffic information for guiding driving line change, driving route change and traffic event information based on unexpected traffic event (an accident between vehicles, a vehicle breakdown, road damage) information on a road and driving information of other vehicles, and traffic device information.

Besides, various effects directly or indirectly obtained through this document may be provided.

With regard to the description of the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals may be used for the same or similar components.

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated or reduced in size for convenience of description, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to the illustrated ones.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a vehicular driving guidance system based on driving route traffic information according to various embodiments.

Referring to <FIG>, the vehicular driving guidance system may include a plurality of vehicles <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-N, a plurality of electronic devices <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-N, and a server <NUM>. The plurality of the vehicles <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-N each may include an electronic device (e.g., an electronic device <NUM> of <FIG>, or an electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> of <FIG>) for guiding to change a lane or a driving route based on the driving route traffic information.

The electronic device (e.g., the electronic device <NUM> of <FIG> or the electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> of <FIG>) disposed in the plurality of the vehicles <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-N may display information of the lane or driving route change. Herein, the electronic device (e.g., the electronic device <NUM> of <FIG>, or the electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> of <FIG>) may display the lane change information and/or the driving route change information in a two dimension augmented reality (AR) head-up display (HUD) manner, a three dimension AR HUD manner, a virtual reality (VR) manner, a hologram manner, or a flat display (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic LED (OLED)) manner.

The plurality of the electronic devices <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-N each may include a wired/wireless communication function, and transmit driving route traffic information (e.g., social data) including traffic information to the server <NUM>. In this document, the social data including the traffic information may be defined as 'driving route traffic information'.

Vehicle to vehicle (V2V) traffic information may include traffic data transmitted and received between vehicles. The driving route traffic information may indicate information obtained by extracting traffic related information from various social data transmitted and received between a plurality of users in addition to the V2V traffic information. As an embodiment, if a first user transmits to a second user a message that 'I am moving from Gangnam Station to Seolleung Station, but vehicles are congested due to road damage', the electronic device (e.g., the electronic device <NUM> of <FIG>) and/or the server <NUM> may extract traffic related data (e.g., Gangnam Station, Seolleung Station, road, damage, and vehicle congestion) from the message transmitted by the first user. The electronic device (e.g., the electronic device <NUM> of <FIG>) and/or the server <NUM> may transmit the driving route traffic information to a vehicle traveling on the same driving route.

The plurality of the electronic devices <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-N each may be a communication device, a smartphone, a tablet personal computer (PC), a PC, a smart television (TV), a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a notebook computer, a laptop computer, a media player, a micro server, a global positioning system (GPS) device, an e-book terminal, a digital broadcasting terminal, a navigation device, and other computing device. Also, the plurality of the electronic devices <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-N each may be a wearable device (e.g., a watch, glasses, a hair band, and a ring) including a display function and a data processing function. In addition, the plurality of the electronic devices <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-N each may be a traffic signal device (e.g., a traffic light, a traffic control device, a traffic information display device).

Herein, the driving route traffic information may include data that users transmit traffic information such as a vehicle driving state, driving information, road information, traffic condition, accident occurrence situation, driving delay in the form of voice, a message, or a video using the plurality of the electronic devices <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-N and social network services (SNS). Also, the driving route traffic information may include vehicle information, route information, lane information, and driving information from the plurality of the vehicles <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-N. In addition, the driving route traffic information may include data from a traffic signal device (e.g., a traffic light, a traffic control device, a traffic information display device). That is, the driving route traffic information may indicate broad traffic information related to the driving of the vehicle.

The plurality of the vehicles <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-N may transmit and receive the driving information including the traffic condition using vehicle to pedestrian (V2P), V2V, and vehicle to everything (V2X) based on a 4th (<NUM>) communication system or a 5th (<NUM>) communication system.

In addition, the plurality of the electronic devices <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-N may transmit the driving route traffic information including the traffic condition to the server <NUM> using V2P, V2X, and vehicle to infra (V2I) communications.

In addition, the plurality of the electronic devices <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-N may receive the driving route traffic information including the traffic conditions of the plurality of the vehicles <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-N using V2P, V2X, and V2I communications.

In addition, the plurality of the vehicles <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-N each may transmit its driving route traffic information including the traffic condition to the server <NUM> using V2X and V2I communications.

In addition, the plurality of the vehicles <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-N may receive the driving route traffic information including the traffic condition, driving information of other vehicles, and road condition information from the server <NUM> using V2X and V2I communications.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a server <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the server <NUM> may include a communication unit <NUM>, a processor <NUM>, and a memory <NUM>.

The communication unit <NUM> may include a receiver <NUM> for receiving a radio signal and a transmitter <NUM> for outputting a radio signal. The server <NUM> may transmit/receive driving route traffic information to/from the plurality of the vehicles <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-N and the plurality of the electronic devices <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-N through the communication unit <NUM>.

The processor <NUM> may include a data analyzer <NUM> and a data arranger <NUM>. The data analyzer <NUM> may analyze whether data received from the plurality of the vehicles <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-N and the plurality of the electronic devices <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-N includes traffic information. The data analyzer <NUM> may classify each traffic information in the driving route traffic information, and provide the classification result of the driving route traffic information to the data arranger <NUM>.

The data arranger <NUM> may sort the received classification results of the driving route traffic information based on a preset criterion. As an embodiment, the data arranger <NUM> may sort the driving route traffic information based on driving information (e.g., a location, a speed, a starting point, a target point, a driving direction, a driving route, a driving lane, etc.) of each vehicle. In addition, the data arranger <NUM> may sort the driving route traffic information based on the road, and road conditions (e.g., soil runoff, oil spill, flooding, icing, pot hole, road kill, falling object, road construction, and tunnel collapse, etc.). Also, the data arranger <NUM> may sort the driving route traffic information based on the traffic signal device (e.g., a traffic light, a traffic control device, a traffic information display device).

The data arranger <NUM> may transmit the sorted driving route traffic information to the plurality of the vehicles <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-N through the transmitter <NUM>. As an embodiment, the data arranger <NUM> may transmit every driving route traffic information the transmitter <NUM> to the plurality of the vehicles <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-N in common. As an embodiment, the data arranger <NUM> may distinguish vehicles of the same or similar driving routes among the plurality of the vehicles <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-N. Specific driving route traffic information among the entire driving route traffic information may be transmitted to the vehicles having the same or similar driving route. That is, the driving vehicle may receive the driving route traffic information corresponding to its traveling road, lane, and driving route from the server <NUM>.

The memory <NUM> may store the data (e.g., driving route traffic information) received from the plurality of the vehicles <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-N and the plurality of the electronic devices <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-N. The memory <NUM> may store various data used by the processor <NUM> of the server <NUM>. The data may include, for example, software (e.g., a program), and input data or output data of instructions related thereto. The memory <NUM> may include a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an embodiment in which an electronic device <NUM> is applied to a vehicle <NUM> according to various embodiments.

Referring to <FIG>, the vehicle <NUM> may include the electronic device <NUM> for displaying traffic guidance information <NUM> (e.g., line change information, lane change information, traffic sign and/or traffic event information) based on driving route traffic information. The electronic device <NUM> may display the traffic guidance information <NUM> (e.g., line change information, lane change information, traffic sign and/or traffic event information) on a window <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM> in the AR HUD manner.

The HUD manner may display the traffic guidance information <NUM> by projecting an image onto the front window <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM>. By displaying the information on the front window <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM>, the driver may recognize the traffic guidance information <NUM> while keeping his/her eyes on the road. It is not limited thereto, and the electronic device <NUM> may display the traffic guidance information <NUM> (e.g., line change information, lane change information, traffic sign and/or traffic event information) in a mirror display manner.

As another embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may display the traffic guidance information <NUM> (e.g., line change information, lane change information, traffic sign and/or traffic event information) on the window <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM> in at least one of the two dimension three dimension AR HUD manner, the VR manner and the hologram manner. As another example, the electronic device <NUM> may display the traffic guidance information <NUM> (e.g., line change information, lane change information, traffic sign and/or traffic event information) in the flat display manner.

The electronic device <NUM> may be a mobile or non-mobile electronic device which may be mounted on the vehicle <NUM>. The electronic device <NUM> may include an image sensor for acquiring a situation outside the vehicle as an image, and a GPS for acquiring location information of the vehicle <NUM>. The electronic device <NUM> may be operatively connected with a navigation device, a driving control device, an autonomous driving system and an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) of the vehicle <NUM>, and thus share driving state, driving lane, driving route, starting point, target point information of the vehicle <NUM>, and/or a traffic event occurrence point.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an embodiment in which an electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> according to various embodiments is applied to the vehicle <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the vehicle <NUM> may include the electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> for displaying the traffic guidance information <NUM> (e.g., line change information, lane change information, traffic sign and/or traffic event information) based on the driving route traffic information. The electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> may display the traffic guidance information <NUM> (e.g., line change information, lane change information, traffic sign and/or traffic event information) in the flat panel display (e.g., LCD, OLED) manner.

The electronic device <NUM> of <FIG> or the electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> of <FIG> may recognize lanes on the road while driving and thus recognize the number of the lanes on the road. The electronic device <NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> may recognize a currently traveling lane among the plurality of the lanes. The electronic device <NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> may display the traffic guidance information <NUM> (e.g., line change information, lane change information, traffic sign and/or traffic event information) on a flat display <NUM>-<NUM> based on the traveling lane.

The electronic device <NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> may include a sensor module <NUM>, to increase accuracy of the line and lane determination. The sensor module <NUM> may include an image sensor, a radar sensor, and a LIDAR sensor. The electronic device <NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> may recognize the line and the lane by using sensing information from the image sensor, the radar sensor, and the LIDAR sensor. It is not limited thereto, and it may be assumed that information related to the number of lanes and the lines for each road on which the vehicle <NUM> is traveling is already included in map data of the navigation, or may be included in a separate database. The electronic device <NUM> may use the information related to the number of the lanes and the lines for each driving road included in the map data of the navigation, or the separate database.

The electronic device <NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> may display the traffic guidance information <NUM> (e.g., line change information, lane change information, traffic sign and/or traffic event information) in the two dimension AR HUD manner, the three dimension AR HUD manner, the VR manner, the hologram manner, or the flat display manner. As an embodiment, the AR is a technology which displays a three-dimensional virtual object overlaid on the real world viewed by the driver with his/her eyes, and may be called mixed reality (MR), which shows one image by merging the virtual object having additional information and the real world in real time.

If the vehicle <NUM> needs to change the driving lane, the electronic device <NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> may determine it as traffic event (e.g., an accident between vehicles, vehicle breakdown, road control, ambulance driving, fire truck driving, exit warning, entry warning, and road conditions (soil runoff, oil spill, flooding, icing, pot hole, road kill, falling object, road construction, and tunnel collapse) occurrence, and display the traffic event information on the flat panel display <NUM>-<NUM>.

The traffic guidance information <NUM> displayed through the electronic device <NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> may include not only the traffic event information, but also a driving speed of the vehicle <NUM>, a speed limit of the traveling road, and road control information according to weather conditions.

Although the electronic device <NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> is illustrated as the separate device from the vehicle <NUM> in <FIG> and <FIG>, but it is not limited thereto. The electronic device the electronic device <NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> may be integrated into the vehicle <NUM> and implemented as some configuration included in the vehicle <NUM>. For example, the electronic device <NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> may include a processor (e.g., a processor <NUM> of <FIG>) included in the vehicle <NUM>. For example, the processor (e.g., the processor <NUM> of <FIG>) may include a micro controller unit (MCU) included in the vehicle <NUM>. Also, the vehicle <NUM> may include a memory (e.g., a memory <NUM> of <FIG>) for storing data required for the processor to operate and the driving route traffic information. In addition, the vehicle <NUM> may include a communication module (e.g., a communication module <NUM> of <FIG>) for communicating with external electronic devices, and other vehicles.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an electronic device <NUM> according to various embodiments.

Referring to <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> according to the invention includes a processor <NUM>, a communication module <NUM>, a display device <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, and may include a sound output device <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, a power module <NUM>, and a sensor module <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may include a traffic information collector <NUM>, a traffic information classifier <NUM>, an event occurrence determiner <NUM>, and a controller <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating the communication module <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the communication module <NUM> may include a wireless communication module <NUM> (e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) communication module), a wired communication module <NUM>, an antenna module <NUM>, and a connection terminal <NUM>.

The communication module <NUM> may establish a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel between the electronic device <NUM> and an external electronic device, another vehicle, and a server (e.g., the server <NUM> of <FIG>), and support communication over the established communication channel. The communication module <NUM> may include one or more communication processors which support the direct (e.g., wired) communication or the wireless communication.

The communication module <NUM> may communicate with the external other electronic device, other vehicles, and the server (the server <NUM> of <FIG>) over a first network (e.g., a long distance communication network such as a cellular network, Internet, or a computer network (e.g., local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN)), or a second network (e.g., a short distance communication network such as Bluetooth, wireless fidelity (WiFi) direct or infrared data association (IrDA)). The wireless communication modules <NUM>, and the wired communication modules <NUM> of various types may be integrated into one component (e.g., a single chip), or may be implemented as a plurality of separate components (e.g., a plurality of chips).

The wireless communication module <NUM> may identify and authenticate the electronic device <NUM> within the communication network such as the first network or the second network using communication subscriber information (e.g., international mobile subscriber identifier (IMSI)).

The antenna module <NUM> may transmit or receive a signal or power to or from outside (e.g., an external electronic device). According to an embodiment, the antenna module may include one antenna including a conductor formed on a substrate (e.g., a printed circuit board PCB)) or a radiator formed in a conductive pattern. In this case, at least one antenna adequate for the communication manner used in the communication network such as the first network or the second network may be selected from the plurality of the antennas by, for example, the communication module <NUM>. The signal or the power may be transmitted or received between the communication module <NUM> and the external electronic device, other vehicles, and the server (the server <NUM> of <FIG>) via the at least one selected antenna. According to some embodiments, besides the radiator, other component (e.g., a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC)) may be additionally formed as a part of the antenna module <NUM>.

At least some of the components may be connected to each other in a communication manner between peripheral devices (e.g., a bus, general purpose input and output (GPIO), serial peripheral interface (SPI), or mobile industry processor interface (MIPI)) and exchange signals (e.g., commands or data). According to an embodiment, a command or data may be transmitted or received between the electronic device <NUM> and the external electronic device, and other vehicles via the server (the server <NUM> of <FIG>) connected to the first network or the second network.

The connection terminal <NUM> may include a connector for electrically connecting the electronic device <NUM> to the external electronic device. According to an embodiment, the connection terminal <NUM> may include, for example, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) connector, a universal serial bus (USB) connector, a secure digital (SD) card connector, or an audio connector (e.g., a headphone connector).

Referring back to <FIG>, the traffic information collector <NUM> of the processor <NUM> may receive the driving route traffic information from the server (e.g., the server <NUM> of <FIG>) through the communication module <NUM> in real time. It is not limited thereto, and the traffic information collector <NUM> may receive data from external electronic devices (e.g., the plurality of the electronic devices <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-N of <FIG>), and other vehicles (e.g., the plurality of the vehicles <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-M of <FIG>). The traffic information collector <NUM> may provide the driving route traffic information received in real time and the data to the traffic information classifier <NUM>. The traffic information collector <NUM> may store the received driving route traffic information in the memory <NUM>.

The traffic information classifier <NUM> of the processor <NUM> may analyze the driving route traffic information received in real time, and classify specific driving route traffic information corresponding to the driving route, and the driving lane of the vehicle <NUM>. The traffic information classifying unit <NUM> may provide the specific driving route traffic information corresponding to the driving route, and the driving lane of the vehicle <NUM> to the event occurrence determiner <NUM>.

The event occurrence determiner <NUM> of the processor <NUM> may analyze the received driving route traffic information and thus determine whether it is necessary to the driving route of the vehicle <NUM>, or to change the driving lane of the vehicle <NUM>. That is, the event generation determiner <NUM> may determine whether a traffic event has occurred to change the driving route of the vehicle <NUM>, or to change the driving lane of the vehicle <NUM>. Herein, the traffic event may include an accident between vehicles, vehicle breakdown, road control, ambulance driving, fire truck driving, exit warning, entry warning and road conditions (soil runoff, oil spill, flooding, icing, pot hole, road kill, falling object, road construction, and tunnel collapse. The event occurrence determiner <NUM> may generate traffic event information, if the traffic event occurs, and provide the generated traffic event information to the controller <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> of the processor <NUM> may include an event section detector <NUM>, a lane change information generator <NUM>, a traffic sign generator <NUM>, and a severity determiner <NUM>.

The event section detector <NUM> may recognize a point where the traffic event occurs by analyzing the received traffic event information, and calculate a distance from a current location of the vehicle <NUM> to the point where the traffic event occurs. In addition, the event section detector <NUM> may analyze the received traffic event information and thus determine a traffic event type (e.g., an accident between vehicles, vehicle breakdown, road control, ambulance driving, fire truck driving, exit warning, entry warning, and road conditions (soil runoff, oil spill, flooding, icing, pot hole, road kill, falling object, road construction, and tunnel collapse).

The event section detector <NUM> may generate event section information including information of how many meters (M) ahead (e.g., <NUM> ahead) (e.g., recognizing a distance difference between a driver's own vehicle (e.g., a vehicle connected with the electronic device) and the traffic event occurrence point) the traffic event requiring the molding route change or the lane change of the vehicle <NUM> occurs based on the traffic event point and the distance to the traffic event occurrence point, and the traffic event type. The event section detector <NUM> may provide the generated event section information to the severity determiner <NUM>. Also, the event section detector <NUM> may provide the event section information to the lane change information generator <NUM> and the traffic sign generator <NUM>.

The severity determiner <NUM> may determine severity of the generated event based on the received event section information.

The severity determiner <NUM> may determine a severity level of the traffic event in consideration of a driving time increase due to the traffic event occurrence. Specifically, if an expected arrival time to the destination increases in driving along the previously guided driving route due to the traffic event occurrence, the severity determiner <NUM> may determine the severity level of the traffic event according to the increase of the expected arrival time. Also, the severity determination unit <NUM> may determine the severity level of the traffic event by considering an accident risk based on the traffic event occurrence. Specifically, if the accident risk is expected in driving along the previously guided driving route, the severity determiner <NUM> may determine the severity level of the traffic event in consideration of the accident risk.

As an embodiment, the severity determiner <NUM> may classify to severity low (e.g., severity of a first level) (e.g., a severity first level) having low severity of the occurred traffic event. Specifically, if the expected arrival time to the destination increases below a first increment (e.g., <NUM>%) in driving along the previously guided driving route due to the occurrence of the traffic event, the severity determiner <NUM> may classify to the severity low (e.g., the severity first level). It is not limited thereto, and the severity determiner <NUM> may classify to the severity low (e.g., the severity first level), if the expected arrival time to the destination increases below a second increment (e.g., <NUM>~<NUM>%).

As an embodiment, the severity determiner <NUM> may classify to the severity low (e.g., the severity first level), if the severity determiner <NUM> does not expect the accident risk in driving along the previously guided driving route due to the traffic event occurrence.

As an embodiment, the severity determiner <NUM> may classify to the severity low (e.g., the severity first level) if it is necessary to change the current driving route or the current driving lane, but a traffic event allowing the driving occurs.

As an embodiment, the severity determiner <NUM> may classify to the severity high (e.g., the severity second level) of the high severity level of the occurred event. Specifically, the severity determiner <NUM> may classify to the severity high (e.g., the severity second level), if the expected arrival time to the destination increases over the first increment (e.g., <NUM>%) in driving along the previously guided driving route due to the traffic event occurrence. It is not limited thereto, and the severity determiner <NUM> may classify to the severity low (e.g., the severity first level), if the expected arrival time to the destination increases over the second increment (e.g., below <NUM>~<NUM>%).

As an embodiment, the severity determiner <NUM> may classify to the severity high (e.g., the severity second level), if the severity determiner <NUM> expects the accident risk in driving along the previously guided driving route due to the traffic event occurrence.

As an embodiment, the severity determiner <NUM> may classify to the severity high (e.g., the severity second level), if a traffic event not allowing the driving on the current driving route or the current driving lane occurs.

The severity determiner <NUM> may classify the severity of the event, and generate severity information. The severity determiner <NUM> may provide the severity information to the lane change information generator <NUM>, and the traffic sign generator <NUM>.

The lane change information generator <NUM> may generate traffic guidance information <NUM> (e.g., traffic guidance information <NUM> shown in <FIG>, <FIG>) for guiding the route change or the lane change based on the received event section information and severity information. The lane change information generator <NUM> may transmit the generated traffic guidance information <NUM> (e.g., the traffic guidance information <NUM> shown in <FIG>, <FIG>) to the display device <NUM>.

The traffic sign generator <NUM> may generate a traffic sign (e.g., a traffic sign <NUM> of <FIG>) including information of the occurred event, and traffic condition information based on the received event section information and severity information. The traffic sign generator <NUM> may transmit the generated traffic sign (e.g., the traffic sign <NUM> of <FIG>) to the display device <NUM>.

As such, the processor <NUM> may control to display at least one of the line change information, the lane change information and the traffic sign corresponding to the severity level on the display device.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating the display device <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the display device <NUM> may include a display unit <NUM> for outputting an image, and a display driver IC (DDI) <NUM> for controlling it.

The display device <NUM> may display the received traffic guidance information <NUM> (e.g., the traffic guidance information <NUM> shown in <FIG> <FIG>), and the traffic sign (e.g., the traffic sign <NUM> of <FIG>) through the display unit <NUM>.

As an embodiment, the display unit <NUM> may display the traffic guidance information <NUM> (e.g., the traffic guidance information <NUM> shown in <FIG>, <FIG>), and the traffic sign (e.g., the traffic sign <NUM> of <FIG>), by outputting image beams in the two dimension AR HUD manner, the three dimension AR HUD manner, the VR manner, or the hologram manner. As an embodiment, the display unit <NUM> may display the traffic guidance information <NUM> (e.g., the traffic guidance information <NUM> shown in <FIG>, <FIG>), and the traffic sign (e.g., the traffic sign <NUM> of <FIG>) in the flat display (e.g., LCD, OLED) manner.

The DDI <NUM> may include an interface module <NUM>, a memory <NUM> (e.g., a buffer memory), an image processing module <NUM>, or a mapping module <NUM>. The DDI <NUM> may receive, for example, image information including image data, or an image control signal corresponding to a command for controlling the image data from other component of the electronic device <NUM> through the interface module <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the image information may be received from the processor. The DDI <NUM> may communicate with a touch circuit <NUM> or a sensor module <NUM> through the interface module <NUM>. Also, the DDI <NUM> may store at least part of the received image information in the memory <NUM>, for example, on a frame basis. The image processing module <NUM> may preprocess or postprocess (e.g., adjust resolution, brightness, or size), for example, at least part of the image data based at least on characteristics of the image data or characteristics of the display unit <NUM>. The mapping module <NUM> may generate a voltage value or a current value corresponding to the image data preprocessed or postprocessed by the image processing module <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, generation the voltage value or the current value may be performed based on, for example, properties of pixels of the image displayed through the display unit <NUM>. The pixels of the image may be driven based on at least a part of the voltage value or the current value, to thus display visual information (e.g., a text, an image, or an icon) corresponding to the image data through the display unit <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the display device <NUM> may further include the touch circuit <NUM>. The touch circuit <NUM> may include a touch sensor <NUM> and a touch sensor IC <NUM> for controlling it. The touch sensor IC <NUM> may, for example, control the touch sensor <NUM> to detect a touch input or a hovering input to a specific position of the display unit <NUM>. According to an embodiment, at least a part (e.g., the touch sensor IC <NUM>) of the touch circuit <NUM> may be included as a part of the display driver IC <NUM>, or the display unit, or a part of other component disposed outside the display device <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the display device <NUM> may further include at least one sensor (e.g., a fingerprint sensor, an iris sensor, a pressure sensor or an illuminance sensor) of the sensor module <NUM>, or a control circuit therefor. In this case, the at least one sensor or its control circuit may be embedded in a part of the display device <NUM> (e.g., the display unit <NUM> or the DDI <NUM>) or a part of the touch circuit <NUM>.

Referring back to <FIG>, the sound output device <NUM> may output a sound signal to the outside of the electronic device <NUM>. The sound output device <NUM> may output information of a new recommended route <NUM> (e.g., a first lane) and a traffic sign <NUM> shown in <FIG> with a sound. The speaker may be used for general purposes such as multimedia playback or recording playback, and the receiver may be used to receive incoming calls. According to an embodiment, the receiver may be implemented separately from or as a part of the speaker.

According to an embodiment, the battery <NUM> may include, for example, a non-rechargeable primary cell, a rechargeable secondary cell or a fuel cell.

The power module <NUM> may manage the power supplied to the electronic device <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the power module <NUM> may include a power connector for receiving alternating current (AC) power or direct current (DC) power. According to an embodiment, the power module <NUM> may be implemented as at least a part of a power management integrated circuit (PMIC).

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a method for displaying an existing route and a new recommended route using an electronic device according to various embodiments. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating a sign box displayed according to traffic event occurrence using an electronic device according to various embodiments.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may display the new recommended driving route <NUM> (e.g., a second driving route) separately from an existing driving route <NUM> (e.g., a first driving route) based on traffic guidance information <NUM> (e.g., the traffic guidance information <NUM> shown in <FIG>, <FIG>). If the vehicle <NUM> traveling in the second lane which is the existing driving route <NUM> is subject to a driving risk due to event occurrence, or is expected to decrease the driving speed, the electronic device <NUM> may display the new recommended driving route <NUM> (e.g., the first lane).

The electronic device <NUM> may display the existing driving route <NUM> (e.g., the second lane) and the new recommended driving route <NUM> (e.g., the first lane) in different colors. As an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may display the existing driving route <NUM> in a first color, and display the new recommended driving route <NUM> (e.g., the first lane) in a second color. That is, it may control to display the existing driving route <NUM> and the new recommended driving route <NUM> in the different colors on the display device.

The electronic device <NUM> may display the new recommended driving route <NUM> (e.g., the first lane) to overlap the existing driving route <NUM>. The new recommended driving route <NUM> (e.g., the first lane) may include an image, and characters.

The electronic device <NUM> may display the traffic sign <NUM> on a portion corresponding to an outer side of the road. The traffic sign <NUM> may display a distance (e.g., <NUM>) from a current vehicle location to an event occurrence point and event details (e.g., accident between vehicles, vehicle breakdown, road control, ambulance driving, fire truck driving, exit warning, entry warning, and road conditions (soil runoff, oil spill, flooding, icing, pot hole, road kill, falling object, road construction, and tunnel collapse).

The traffic sign <NUM> may include an event information display unit <NUM> and a severity display unit <NUM>. The event information display unit <NUM> may display event information for displaying driving route traffic conditions. The severity display unit <NUM> may display the severity of the traffic event (e.g., the severity low (the severity first level) or the severity high (the severity second level)) in color. It is not limited thereto, and the severity display unit <NUM> may display the event severity using an image or a character. Such a traffic sign <NUM> may be displayed in the form of a circle sign board, a hexagonal sign box, or a polyhedral sign box. The traffic sign <NUM> may include an image, and characters.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating that the color of the sign box is changed according to the severity of the traffic event occurrence.

Referring to <FIG>, if a traffic event does not occur and general traffic conditions are guided, the severity display unit <NUM> of the traffic sign <NUM> may be displayed in a green color. If the severity of the event is low, the severity display unit <NUM> of the traffic sign <NUM> may be displayed in a yellow color. If the severity of the event is high, the severity display unit <NUM> of the traffic sign <NUM> may be displayed in a red color.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a position where the sign box is generated.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, if an event occurrence point is a specific distance (e.g., <NUM>) or more away from the current location of the vehicle <NUM>, event information may be displayed on an outer side of the road. If the event occurrence point is less than the preset distance (e.g., <NUM>) from the current location of the vehicle <NUM>, the traffic sign <NUM> may be displayed by floating it over the road. As an embodiment, as the vehicle <NUM> approaches the event occurrence point, the size of the traffic sign <NUM> may be gradually increased. As an embodiment, the traffic sign <NUM> may blink at a constant speed to intuitively recognize the event occurrence.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a method for guiding a lane change using an electronic device according to various embodiments.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, if the vehicle <NUM> may not travel in the existing driving lane (e.g., the second lane) due to a vehicle accident or a vehicle breakdown ahead, the electronic device <NUM> may display the new vehicle driving route <NUM> (e.g., the first lane), and guide to the forcible lane change. That is, it may display the impossible driving on the existing driving lane (e.g., the second lane), and information forcing to drive along the new recommended driving route <NUM> (e.g., the first lane) on the display device.

Also, the electronic device <NUM> may display the traffic sign <NUM> on the portion corresponding to the outer side of the road. The traffic sign <NUM> may display information of the distance to the point where the event occurs and the event. If the vehicle <NUM> passes the event point, the electronic device <NUM> may guide the lane change to drive the vehicle <NUM> along the existing lane (e.g., the second lane).

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a method for guiding a lane change, if severity of an event occurred is determined to be low (e.g., the severity first level).

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may determine the event severity as low if analyzing event information, and expecting that the vehicle <NUM> which may travel along the existing driving route <NUM> is subject to a risk during driving, or is to decrease the speed. Specifically, the electronic device <NUM> may classify to the severity low (e.g., the severity first level), if the expected arrival time to the destination increases below the first increment (e.g., <NUM>%) in driving along the previously guided existing driving route due to the traffic event occurrence.

For the low severity, the electronic device <NUM> may display the new recommended driving route <NUM> together with the existing driving route <NUM>. In this case, the electronic device <NUM> may display the existing driving route <NUM> and the new recommended driving route <NUM> in different colors.

The electronic device <NUM> may display the traffic sign <NUM> indicating the low severity on the portion corresponding to the outer side of the road. The traffic sign <NUM> may display information (a color, a character, or an image) of the low severity and event details (e.g., accident between vehicles, vehicle breakdown, road control, ambulance driving, fire truck driving, exit warning, entry warning, and road conditions (soil runoff, oil spill, flooding, icing, pot hole, road kill, falling object, road construction, and tunnel collapse).

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a method for guiding a lane change, if severity of an event occurred is determined to be high (e.g., the severity second level).

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, by analyzing the event information, the electronic device <NUM> may classify to the severity high (e.g., the severity second level) of the event occurred. Specifically, the electronic device <NUM> may classify to the severity high (e.g., the severity second level), if the expected arrival time to the destination increases over the first increment (e.g., <NUM>%) in driving along the previously guided existing driving route due to the traffic event occurrence.

By analyzing the event information, the electronic device <NUM> may determine the severity of the event as high if the vehicle <NUM> may not travel on the existing driving route <NUM>.

For the high severity, the electronic device <NUM> may display a new essential driving route <NUM> together with the existing driving route <NUM>. In this case, the electronic device <NUM> may display the existing driving route <NUM> and the new essential driving route <NUM> in different colors.

The electronic device <NUM> may display the traffic sign <NUM> indicating the high severity on the portion corresponding to the outer side of the road. The traffic sign <NUM> may display the information (a color, a character, or an image) of the high severity and event details (e.g., accident between vehicles, vehicle breakdown, road control, ambulance driving, fire truck driving, exit warning, entry warning, and road conditions (soil runoff, oil spill, flooding, icing, pot hole, road kill, falling object, road construction, and tunnel collapse).

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a method for guiding a road exit based on event occurrence according to road exit unawareness and sudden lane changes of other vehicles.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, if sudden braking and sudden lane changes of other vehicles occur near the exit of the road, or other vehicles miss the exit and frequently deviate their driving route, the electronic device <NUM> may display an exit guide <NUM> in advance. Also, the electronic device <NUM> may display the exit guide <NUM> if approaching a specific distance (e.g., <NUM>) from the exit. Also, the electronic device <NUM> may display the traffic sign <NUM> including exit information.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a method for guiding a lane/route change according to lane/route deviation of a companion vehicle.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, a plurality of companion vehicles for the same destination may set the same driving route, and the companion vehicles may travel together. A specific vehicle among the companion vehicles may change its lane or driving route, or enter a rest area irrespective of the driving route to the destination.

If the specific vehicle among the companion vehicles changes the lane or the driving route, or enters the rest area route regardless of the driving route to the destination, the electronic device <NUM> may display driving route information <NUM> of the companion vehicle together with the existing driving route <NUM>. Herein, the electronic device <NUM> may display the driving route information <NUM> of the companion vehicle together with the existing driving route <NUM> on the display device if not only the companion vehicle travels ahead of the driver's own vehicle (e.g., the vehicle connected to the electronic device) but also the companion vehicle travels behind the driver's own vehicle. The driving route information <NUM> of the companion vehicle may be identically displayed in all of the companion vehicles. Thus, the companion vehicles may quickly and accurately recognize information that the specific vehicle of the companion vehicles deviates the driving route.

An electronic device <NUM> according to various embodiments of the present invention, includes a communication module <NUM>, a processor <NUM> operatively coupled to the communication module <NUM>, and a memory <NUM> operatively coupled to the processor <NUM>. The memory <NUM> may, when executed, control the processor <NUM> to obtain driving route traffic information of a first driving route of a vehicle <NUM> connected to the electronic device <NUM>, analyze the first driving route traffic information and thus determine traffic event occurrence requiring to change a driving route or a driving lane of the vehicle <NUM> connected to the electronic device <NUM>, if the traffic event occurs, determine a severity level of the traffic event by considering a driving time increase and an accident risk, and display at least one of line change information, lane change information and a traffic sign corresponding to the severity level on a display device.

The processor <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> according to various embodiments of the present invention may, in driving on the first driving route, determine the severity to a first level if the driving time increases below a first increment or there is no accident risk, and in driving on the first driving route, and according to the present invention determines the severity to a second level if the driving time increases over the first increment or an accident risk is expected.

The processor <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> according to various embodiments of the present invention may, acquire a current location of the vehicle <NUM> connected to the electronic device <NUM>, obtain a distance difference between the vehicle <NUM> connected to the electronic device <NUM> and an occurrence point of the traffic event, and control to display at least one of the line change information, the lane change information and the traffic sign <NUM> on the display device <NUM> based on the distance difference.

The processor <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> according to various embodiments of the present invention may, control to display at least one of first line change information, first lane change information and a first traffic sign corresponding to the severity of the first level on the display device <NUM>.

The processor <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> according to various embodiments of the present invention may, control to display the first driving route corresponding to the severity of the first level and a second driving route newly recommended on the display device <NUM>.

The processor <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> according to various embodiments of the present invention may, control the display device <NUM> to display the first driving route and the second driving route differently.

The processor <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> according to various embodiments of the present invention may, control to display at least one of second line change information which forces to change the line, and according to the present invention controls to display second lane change information which forces to change the lane and a second traffic sign on the display device <NUM> in response to the severity of the second level.

The processor <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> according to various embodiments of the present invention controls to display the first driving route as an impossible driving route, and to display the second driving route newly recommended on the display device <NUM> in response to the severity of the second level.

The processor <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> according to various embodiments of the present invention may, control the display device <NUM> to display the first traffic sign and the second traffic sign in different colors.

The processor <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> according to various embodiments of the present invention may, classify types of the traffic event into accident between vehicles, vehicle breakdown, road control, ambulance driving, fire truck driving, exit warning, entry warning, soil runoff, oil spill, flooding, icing, pot hole, road kill, falling object, road construction, and tunnel collapse, and control to display the traffic sign <NUM> corresponding to the type of the traffic event on the display device <NUM>.

The processor <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> according to various embodiments of the present invention may, display at least one of the line change information, the lane change information and the traffic sign corresponding to the severity level in at least one of a flat display manner, two dimension AR HUD manner, a three dimension AR HUD manner, a VR manner, and a hologram manner.

The processor <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> according to various embodiments of the present invention may, recognize driving routes of a plurality of companion vehicles for the same destination, and if a specific vehicle among the plurality of the companion vehicles having the same destination changes the driving route regardless of the destination travel route, control to display driving route changes of the specific vehicle on the display device <NUM>.

A vehicular driving guidance method according to various embodiments of the present invention may, collect driving route traffic information of a first driving route of a vehicle <NUM> connected to an electronic device <NUM>, analyze the first driving route traffic information and thus determining traffic event occurrence requiring to change a driving route or a driving lane of the vehicle <NUM> connected to the electronic device <NUM>, if the traffic event occurs, determine severity of the traffic event by considering a driving time increase and an accident risk, and control to display at least one of line change information, lane change information and a traffic sign corresponding to a level of the severity on a display device <NUM>.

The vehicular driving guidance method according to various embodiments of the present invention may, in determining the severity level, in driving on the first driving route, determine the severity to a first level if the driving time increases below a first increment or there is no accident risk, and in driving on the first driving route, and according to the present invention determines the severity to a second level if the driving time increases over the first increment or an accident risk is expected.

The vehicular driving guidance method according to various embodiments of the present invention may, acquire a current location of the vehicle <NUM> connected to the electronic device <NUM>, obtain a distance difference between the vehicle connected to the electronic device and an occurrence point of the traffic event, and control the display device <NUM> to display at least one of the line change information, the lane change information and the traffic sign based on the distance difference.

The vehicular driving guidance method according to various embodiments of the present invention may, control to display at least one of first line change information, first lane change information and a first traffic sign corresponding to the severity of the first level on the display device <NUM>, and control to display the first driving route corresponding to the severity of the first level and a second driving route newly recommended on the display device <NUM>.

The vehicular driving guidance method according to various embodiments of the present invention may, control the display device <NUM> to display the first driving route and the second driving route differently.

The vehicular driving guidance method according to various embodiments of the present invention may, control to display at least one of second line change information which forces to change the line, and according to the present invention controls to display second lane change information which forces to change the lane and a second traffic sign on the display device <NUM> in response to the severity of the second level, and controls to display the first driving route as an impossible driving route, and to display the second driving route newly recommended on the display device <NUM> in response to the severity of the second level.

The vehicular driving guidance method according to various embodiments of the present invention may, control the display device <NUM> to display the first traffic sign and the second traffic sign in different colors.

The vehicular driving guidance method according to various embodiments of the present invention may, recognize driving routes of a plurality of companion vehicles for the same destination, and if a specific vehicle among the plurality of the companion vehicles having the same destination changes the driving route regardless of the destination travel route, control to display driving route changes of the specific vehicle on the display device <NUM>.

Various embodiments as set forth herein may be implemented as software (e.g., the program) including one or more instructions that are stored in a storage medium (e.g., internal memory or external memory) that is readable by a machine (e.g., the electronic device). For example, a processor (e.g., the processor) of the machine (e.g., the electronic device) may invoke at least one of the one or more instructions stored in the storage medium, and execute it, with or without using one or more other components under the control of the processor.

Claim 1:
An electronic device (<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>) comprising:
a communication module (<NUM>);
a display device (<NUM>);
a processor (<NUM>) operatively coupled to the communication module (<NUM>); and
a memory (<NUM>) operatively coupled to the processor (<NUM>) and stores instructions therein;
wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor (<NUM>) to,
obtain, via the communication module (<NUM>), driving route traffic information of a first driving route (<NUM>) of a vehicle (<NUM>) connected to the electronic device (<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>),
analyze the driving route traffic information of the first driving route (<NUM>) to determine traffic event occurrence requiring to change a driving route or a driving lane of the vehicle (<NUM>) connected to the electronic device (<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>),
if the traffic event occurs, determine a severity level of the traffic event by considering a driving time increase and an accident risk, wherein the severity level is determined to be a second level if the driving time increases over a first increment or an accident risk is expected, when the vehicle (<NUM>) is driving on the first driving route (<NUM>), and
in response to the severity of the second level, display the first driving route (<NUM>) as an impossible driving route, the second driving route (<NUM>, <NUM>) newly recommended, second lane change information which forces to change the lane, and a second traffic sign corresponding to the severity of the second level on the display device (<NUM>).