Pedestrian-vehicle communication system, in-vehicle terminal device, pedestrian terminal device and safe-driving assistance method

A pedestrian-vehicle communication system comprising an in-vehicle terminal device mounted on a vehicle and a pedestrian terminal device carried by a pedestrian, wherein pedestrian position information and vehicle position information are transmitted and received between the in-vehicle terminal device and the pedestrian terminal device via pedestrian-vehicle communication,

• wherein the pedestrian terminal device comprises:
• a collision determiner configured to determine a collision risk based on the pedestrian position information and the vehicle position information;
• a turn-on controller configured, when the collision determiner determines that the collision risk is present, to turn on an indicator light carried by the pedestrian in a prescribed light color, and
• wherein the in-vehicle terminal device comprises:
• a pedestrian-vehicle communicator configured to receive color information indicating the prescribed light color from the pedestrian terminal device;
• and
• a display controller configured to cause a display device mounted on the vehicle to display an image representing a position of the pedestrian in a same color as the prescribed light color indicated by the color information.

An in-vehicle terminal device mounted on a vehicle for performing pedestrian-vehicle communication with a pedestrian terminal device carried by a pedestrian, wherein pedestrian position information and vehicle position information are transmitted and received between the in-vehicle terminal device and the pedestrian terminal device via the pedestrian-vehicle communication, comprising:

• a collision determiner configured to determine a collision risk based on the pedestrian position information and the vehicle position information;
• a turn-on instruction generator configured to generate turn-on instruction information which, when the collision determiner determines that the pedestrian has the collision risk, causes an indicator light carried by the pedestrian to be turned on in a light color specific to the vehicle on which the in-vehicle terminal device is mounted;
• and
• a pedestrian-vehicle communicator configured to transmit the turn-on instruction information to the pedestrian terminal device via the pedestrian-vehicle communication.

A pedestrian terminal device carried by a pedestrian for performing pedestrian-vehicle communication with an in-vehicle terminal device mounted on a vehicle, wherein pedestrian position information and vehicle position information are transmitted and received between the in-vehicle terminal device and the pedestrian terminal device via the pedestrian-vehicle communication, comprising:

• a short range communicator configured to perform communication with an indicator light carried by the pedestrian;
• a pedestrian-vehicle communicator configured to receive turn-on instruction information from the in-vehicle terminal device, the turn-on instruction information causing the indicator light carried by the pedestrian to be turned on in a light color specific to the vehicle on which the in-vehicle terminal device is mounted;
• and
• a turn-on controller to turn on the indicator light by the short range communicator based on the turn-on instruction information.

A pedestrian terminal device carried by a pedestrian for performing pedestrian-vehicle communication with an in-vehicle terminal device mounted on a vehicle, wherein pedestrian position information and vehicle position information are transmitted and received between the in-vehicle terminal device and the pedestrian terminal device via the pedestrian-vehicle communication, comprising:

• a short range communicator configured to perform communication with an indicator light carried by the pedestrian;
• an information storage configured to store color information which causes the indicator light to be turned on;
• a collision determiner configured to determine a collision risk based on the pedestrian position information and the vehicle position information;
• a turn-on controller configured to, when the collision determiner determines that the collision risk is present, causes the short range communicator to turn on the indicator light based on the color information;
• and
• a pedestrian-vehicle communicator configured to transmit the color information to the in-vehicle terminal device via the pedestrian-vehicle communication.

A safe-driving assistance method for assisting a driver in driving a vehicle by performing pedestrian-vehicle communication through which pedestrian position information and vehicle position information are transmitted and received between an in-vehicle terminal device mounted on the vehicle and a pedestrian terminal device carried by a pedestrian,

• wherein the in-vehicle terminal device:
• determines a collision risk based on the pedestrian position information and the vehicle position information;
• generates turn-on instruction information which, when the collision determiner determines that the pedestrian has the collision risk, causes an indicator light carried by the pedestrian to be turned on in a light color specific to the vehicle on which the in-vehicle terminal device is mounted;
• and
• transmits the turn-on instruction information to the pedestrian terminal device via the pedestrian-vehicle communication;
• and
• wherein the pedestrian terminal device:
• receives the turn-on instruction information transmitted from the in-vehicle terminal device;
• and
• turns on the indicator light based on the turn-on instruction information.

A safe-driving assistance method for assisting a driver in driving a vehicle by performing pedestrian-vehicle communication through which pedestrian position information and vehicle position information are transmitted and received between an in-vehicle terminal device mounted on the vehicle and a pedestrian terminal device carried by a pedestrian,

• wherein the pedestrian terminal device:
• determines a collision risk based on the pedestrian position information and the vehicle position information;
• when the collision determiner determines that the collision risk is present, turns on an indicator light carried by the pedestrian in a prescribed light color;
• and
• transmits color information indicating the prescribed light color to the in-vehicle terminal device via the pedestrian-vehicle communication, and
• wherein the in-vehicle terminal device:
• receives the color information transmitted from the pedestrian terminal device;
• and
• causes a display device mounted on the vehicle to display an image representing a position of the pedestrian in a same color as the light color of the indicator light of the pedestrian.