Communication device and communication method

A communication method for a communication apparatus to be mounted on a vehicle, the communication method comprising:

• capturing still images used for generating a map, the still images being captured in a first order;
• positioning captured positions of the still images;
• associating position information indicating the captured positions with image data of the still images;
• arranging the image data on the map based on the position information;
• dividing the map into cells of a grid;
• selecting the cells of the grid one by one according to a predetermined rule;
• selecting one or more still images in each of the selected cells of the grid;
• rearranging, using the position information, a transmission order of the still images from the first order to a second order that is an order in which the one or more still images is selected;
• and
• establishing a radio communication with a roadside unit and transmitting the still images in the transmission order to the roadside unit by radio.

A communication apparatus to be mounted on a vehicle, the communication apparatus comprising:

• a camera that captures a still image used for generating a map;
• a positioning circuit that positions a captured position of the still image;
• a control circuit that associates position information indicating the captured position with image data of the still image;
• and
• a communication circuit that establishes a radio communication with a roadside unit and transmits the image data by radio to the roadside unit, wherein
• the control circuit arranges the image data on map data based on the position information, divides the map data into cells of a grid, selects the cells of the grid one by one according to a predetermined rule, selects one or more pieces of image data in each of the selected cells of the grid, and rearranges a transmission order of the image data to be transmitted by radio to the roadside unit based on the selected one or more pieces of image data.

A communication apparatus to be mounted on a vehicle, the communication apparatus comprising:

• a camera that captures a still image used for generating a map;
• a positioning circuit that positions a captured position of the still image;
• a control circuit that associates position information indicating the captured position with image data of the still image;
• and
• a communication circuit that establishes a radio communication with a roadside unit and transmits the image data by radio to the roadside unit, wherein
• the control circuit arranges the image data on a distance axis based on the position information, divides the distance axis into cells of a grid, selects the cells of the grid one by one according to a predetermined rule, selects one or more pieces of image data in the selected cell of the grid, and rearranges a transmission order of the image data to be transmitted by radio to the roadside unit based on the selected one or more pieces of image data.