JP4367353B2 - Traffic information provision system, traffic information provision center, in-vehicle information collection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a traffic information providing system and a traffic information providing center for providing traffic information on a road in a visual form to a vehicle driver, and for collecting traffic information in a visual form. The present invention relates to an in-vehicle information collection device.

  In recent years, as represented by car navigation systems, systems that provide road traffic congestion information to vehicle drivers have become widespread. However, in this system, the traffic congestion location is displayed on the road map screen in an identifiable manner, and the traffic congestion location is only notified by voice guidance as necessary. It is difficult to check, and when there is a large vehicle such as a bus or truck in front of the vehicle when the vehicle approaches a traffic jam location, the actual traffic situation can be grasped visually. Can not. For this reason, it may not be said that it is a system that can provide sufficient traffic information, such as the frustration of a vehicle driver.

  On the other hand, in the past, there has been considered a system in which a photographing device for photographing the situation of a road where traffic congestion is expected is fixedly installed and image data photographed by this photographing device is distributed to the vehicle driver. According to this system, it becomes possible for the vehicle driver to visually grasp the traffic jam situation based on the image data obtained by actually photographing the traffic jam location. It is thought that it can be prevented. However, in order to construct such a system, it is necessary to fix a large number of photographing devices on the road, and thus there is a problem that enormous effort is required for infrastructure maintenance and maintenance management.

In order to solve such a problem, a probe car system such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1 can be conventionally considered. That is. This probe car system has a configuration in which a video camera is mounted on a transportation vehicle such as a bus, and image data taken by the video camera and position information of the transportation vehicle are transmitted to the information center system as traffic information. On the information center system side, the received image data and position information are stored in the image database as traffic information with date and time information added. In the information center system, when there is an information request including a location designation through a communication network from an information processing device on the traffic user side, the traffic information corresponding to the designated location is extracted from the image database and the traffic information Is provided to a requested information processing device through a communication network. Therefore, if such a probe car system is used, the traffic user side can visually grasp the actual traffic situation by reproducing the image data related to the provided traffic information on the information processing device. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the above-mentioned feeling of irritation is raised.
JP 2003-256991 A

  There is a general situation that image data has a large amount of data. On the other hand, the information center system disclosed in Patent Document 1 collects image data taken on a road along the operation route of a transport vehicle in real time as probe information, and a large amount of image data collected in this way. In addition, it is configured to store traffic information including position information about the shooting position in the image database, in other words, it is configured to store extra image data other than the traffic jam location. There is a drawback that the storage cost is increased due to the necessity of a storage means having a large capacity. In addition, traffic information including image data taken on the transportation vehicle side is temporarily stored in the image database, and traffic information extracted from the image database in response to a request from an information processing device on the traffic user side. Therefore, there is a high possibility that a time delay will occur in the traffic information obtained by the traffic user, and the traffic information that the traffic user wants to have in real time can be obtained. There is also a risk of being unable to provide.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a first object is to provide information for road condition confirmation that can visually grasp the actual traffic situation on the road quickly and to increase the equipment cost. The second object of the present invention is to provide a traffic information providing system and a traffic information providing center that can be provided without accompanying, and a second object is to provide images necessary for the road condition confirmation information within a designated image data collection range. An object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle information collection device that can collect data accurately.

  According to the traffic information providing system according to claim 1, in the information collection range determination means, an area where traffic congestion is expected is determined as an image data collection range based on the result of analyzing the traffic information, In addition, the communication means transmits an information collection command for instructing a specific vehicle traveling in the image data collection range to photograph the image data collection range by a photographing device mounted on the vehicle. become. In a specific vehicle that has received such an information collection command by the in-vehicle communication device, when traveling in the image data collection range instructed by the information collection command, the in-vehicle terminal images the front of the vehicle with the imaging device, The photographed image data is returned to the communication means in a form in which the photographing position can be specified. Then, the information providing means analyzes the position of the road corresponding to the image data collection range by analyzing the image data received through the communication means and the position of the specific vehicle that is the transmission source of the image data. In addition to creating real-time road condition confirmation information including image information for reproduction that can be confirmed and position information that can identify the position of the road, the information for road condition confirmation is transferred to a network accessible from a third-party vehicle. To provide.

  In other words, the third-party vehicle side can obtain road condition confirmation information including image information for reproduction obtained by converting image data captured in a specific vehicle in real time only by accessing the network. Compared to the conventional configuration of providing information for road condition confirmation that can visually grasp the actual traffic situation at the site, and distributing the image data once stored in the image database after receiving a request from the traffic user side It can be done quickly. Further, in the traffic information providing system configured as described above, the information providing means that functions as a server for the network requires a storage means for road condition confirmation information. Since only the road condition confirmation information related to the image data collection range where traffic jams are expected to occur is stored, compared to the conventional configuration in which extra image data other than traffic jam locations is also stored. As a result, the capacity can be significantly reduced, and as a result, there is no risk of an increase in equipment costs.

Further, the information providing means analyzes the received probe information to determine the degree of congestion in the travel area of the specific vehicle that is the source of the probe information, and the determined degree of congestion is determined based on a predetermined threshold. If it is large, the travel area is recognized as a traffic jam occurrence area, and an information collection command for instructing the specific vehicle existing in the traffic jam occurrence area to transmit probe information including image data Will be sent. As a result, since it becomes possible to continuously collect the probe information related to the congestion occurrence area, the reliability of the road condition confirmation signal provided to the third party vehicle as the congestion information can be improved.

According to the traffic information providing system of claim 2, the traffic information stored in the history information recording means, that is, the traffic information necessary for determining the image data collection range in the information collection range determining means is the information providing means. Every time a new traffic occurrence area is recognized, it is always updated to the latest one, so that the reliability of the traffic information is improved and the recording capacity required for the history information recording means is unnecessarily large The situation can be prevented beforehand.

According to the traffic information system of the third aspect , when the specific vehicle is in a communication area set in advance at the departure place, an operation of transmitting an information collection command from the communication means to the specific vehicle is performed. Therefore, the transmission operation of the information collection command in the middle of the specific vehicle heading for the image data collection range is unnecessary, and the information collection command can be reliably received on the specific vehicle side. Information collection (acquisition of image data by a photographing device) in the specific vehicle can be reliably performed.

According to the traffic information collecting system according to claim 4 , for example, when there are a plurality of specific vehicles in the image data collection range and the vicinity thereof, the vehicle position information indicating the positions of the specific vehicles and the specific vehicles are included. Image data photographed by the mounted photographing device is provided to the network by the information providing means. Since the notification means mounted on the third-party vehicle notifies the positions of a plurality of specific vehicles based on the vehicle position information acquired from the network, the driver of the third-party vehicle is notified by the notification means. An operation for designating an arbitrary specific vehicle can be performed based on the notification content. When such a designation operation is performed, the display means mounted on the third-party vehicle downloads the image data captured by the imaging device mounted on the specified specific vehicle from the network, and reproduces and displays it. Become. Therefore, when there are a plurality of specific vehicles in the image data collection range and its surroundings, on the third party vehicle side, it becomes possible to check the image data taken by the onboard photographing device of any specific vehicle, The driver can acquire a variety of visual information in the image data collection range and its surroundings.

In the traffic information providing center according to claim 5 , the information collection range determination means determines an area where traffic congestion is expected as an image data collection range based on the result of analyzing the traffic information, and the communication means Information collection command for instructing a specific vehicle traveling in the image data collection range to photograph the front of the vehicle with a photographing device mounted on the vehicle and to return the photographed image data from the communication device And the image data returned from the vehicle side is received in a form in which the shooting position can be specified. Then, the information providing means analyzes the position of the road corresponding to the image data collection range by analyzing the image data received through the communication means and the position of the specific vehicle that is the transmission source of the image data. Real-time creation of road condition confirmation information including image information for reproduction that can be confirmed and position information capable of specifying the position of the road, and providing the information for road condition confirmation to a network accessible from a third-party vehicle To come.

  Therefore, also in the present invention, as in the first aspect of the present invention, image information capable of visually grasping actual traffic conditions on the road can be provided more quickly than in the conventional configuration. At the same time, the capacity of the storage means required for the information providing means can be reduced, and there is no risk of an increase in equipment costs.

In addition, as in the first aspect of the invention, since it becomes possible to continuously collect the probe information related to the traffic jam occurrence area, the reliability of the road condition confirmation signal provided to the third party vehicle as the traffic jam information. You can get higher.

According to the traffic information providing center described in claim 6 , as in the invention described in claim 2 , the reliability of the traffic information stored in the history information recording means is improved, and the recording necessary for the history information recording means is performed. It will be possible to prevent the situation where the capacity will increase without darkness.

According to the in-vehicle information collecting device according to claim 7 , when the information collection command transmitted from the traffic information providing center is received by the communication device, the operation control means is based on the analysis result of the information collection command. When the host vehicle travels in the image data collection range, the front of the vehicle is photographed by the photographing device. In addition, the response means returns the captured image data to the traffic information providing center in a form in which the shooting position can be specified. As a result, when the host vehicle reaches the image data collection range, it is possible to accurately collect the image data necessary for providing road condition confirmation information that can visually grasp the actual traffic situation on the road. Become.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a traffic information providing system configured as a probe information system by a combination of functional blocks.

  In FIG. 1, a control unit 2 provided in the traffic information providing center 1 includes a vehicle management database 4 storing vehicle operation information such as operation routes and operation times on a current day for a regular bus 3 (corresponding to a specific vehicle), In addition, it is configured to be accessible to a traffic information database 5 (corresponding to history information recording means) in which statistical data about places where traffic jams have actually occurred in the past is stored as traffic information.

  The data collection position determination means 6 (corresponding to the information collection range determination means) in the control unit 2 extracts the traffic information from the traffic information database 5 based on the day of the week, time, weather and other information, and the traffic information. By using the statistical analysis method (statistical data trigger), an area where traffic congestion is expected is determined as an image data collection range, and a traffic jam expected position list is created by collecting the determined image data collection range. In this case, the data collection position determination means 6 analyzes the periodic probe information (image data, vehicle speed signal, etc.) sent from the regular bus 3 as described later, and detects the occurrence of traffic congestion from the information. A method of determining the image data collection range based on the above (real time trigger) is also used together.

  Further, the data collection vehicle determination means 7 in the control unit 2 determines candidates for the regular bus 3 scheduled to pass through the image data collection range in the expected congestion position list with reference to the vehicle management database 4.

  The communication means 8 provided in the traffic information providing center 1 is connected to the regular bus 3 determined as a candidate vehicle by the data collection vehicle determination means 7 in the image data collection range determined by the data collection position determination means 6. An information collection command for instructing to photograph a road situation, that is, an information collection command including position information (coordinate information) that can specify an image data collection range is transmitted by wireless communication. Such communication is, for example, obligated to stop for a predetermined communication time in a communication area set in advance at the departure place (garage) for the regular bus 3 before the start of operation. Sometimes, it is performed using DSRC communication or wireless LAN. In this case, a unique ID number (for example, an IP address) is assigned to the regular bus 3, and the traffic information providing center 1 side uses the ID number to identify the regular bus 3. Yes.

  In addition, the transmission timing of the information collection command to the regular bus 3 is not limited to the timing before the start of operation as described above. For example, it is periodically acquired from the regular bus 3 after the start of operation through the communication means 8. A mode in which the traveling position of the regular bus 3 is monitored based on the vehicle position information and an information collection command is transmitted at a timing immediately before reaching the image data collection range is also possible.

  In addition to the above communication function, the communication means 8 has a function of receiving probe information transmitted from the regular bus 3 in operation, and the received probe information is provided on the traffic information providing center 1 side. The data analysis means 9 is configured to be given. The data analysis means 9 constitutes the information provision means referred to in the present invention together with the WEB provision data creation means 10, and the functions of these means 9 and 10 will be described later.

  The regular bus 3 includes a communication device 11 for performing wireless communication with the communication means 8 on the traffic information providing center 1 side, a camera 12 (corresponding to a photographing device) provided so as to be able to photograph the front of the vehicle, and an image data display. An information display 13 (corresponding to notification means and display means), a position detector 14 for acquiring vehicle position information indicating the current position of the regular bus 3, and a communication device 11, camera 12, information A vehicle-mounted terminal 15 connected to the display 13 and the position detector 14 is mounted. The position detector 14 is composed of a GPS signal receiver and can be used as a GPS receiver for a car navigation device. The information display 13 can also be used as a display for a car navigation device. It is. In addition, a vehicle speed signal obtained by the vehicle speed sensor 16 is input to the in-vehicle terminal 15 through a travel control device 17 (for example, an engine control ECU).

  The main control unit 18 in the in-vehicle terminal 15 identifies the image data collection range by analyzing the information collection command received through the communication device 11, and also determines the traveling position of the own vehicle (regular bus 3) by the position detector 14. The vehicle is continuously monitored based on the vehicle position information from the vehicle, and when the host vehicle approaches the image data collection range, the in-vehicle device control unit 19 is instructed to photograph the front of the vehicle with the camera 12. Yes. In response to this command, the in-vehicle device control unit 19 operates the camera 12 to capture the front of the vehicle, and answers the captured image data to the main control unit 18 together with the vehicle speed signal from the vehicle speed sensor 16 at that time. It has a configuration.

  The main control unit 18 transmits the answer back probe information including the image data and the vehicle speed signal that have been answered back and the vehicle position information from the position detector 14 at that time from the communication device 11 to the traffic information providing center 1. It comes to perform control. The image data in the answerback probe information is preferably transmitted in a compressed state. Further, the main control unit 18 obtains periodic probe information including image data, a vehicle speed signal, and a vehicle position signal captured by the camera 12 every time the host vehicle travels a certain distance or a certain time elapses. Control to transmit to the providing center 1 is also performed.

  On the other hand, on the traffic information providing center 1 side, the data analysis means 9 analyzes the probe information given from the communication means 8 to thereby determine the degree of congestion on the road (this is the image recognition of the vehicle as the object). Determination based on the processing) and the degree of traffic congestion on the road based on the traveling speed of the regular bus 3 that has become the probe information transmission source. If the determined degree of congestion is larger than a predetermined threshold, the surrounding area (a predetermined distance range on the road) is recognized as a congestion occurrence area, and the regular bus 3 still exists in the area. Is determined based on the vehicle position signal, and if it exists in the area, a command is issued to return the probe information including the image data to the regular bus 3 again.

In this case, the traffic information stored in the traffic information database 5 is updated every time a new traffic occurrence area is recognized by the data analysis means 9.
Also, the WEB provided data creation means 10 is based on the analysis result of the data analysis means 9 and the received probe information, and the reproduction image information (moving image, still image of the moving image and still image) that can visually recognize the road condition in the traffic jam occurrence area. Anyway), road status confirmation information including road position information that can identify the position of the road and vehicle position information that can identify the position of the regular bus 3 existing in and around the traffic congestion area is created in real time In addition, the generated road condition confirmation information is provided via a network 21 (such as the Internet or a dedicated network) that can be accessed by wireless communication from the information use vehicle 20 (corresponding to a third party vehicle). The road condition confirmation signal is preferably provided in a compressed state.

  In this case, a plurality of on-road communication devices 23 for communicating with the communication device 22 mounted on the information use vehicle 20 are connected to the network 21. The information utilizing vehicle 20 is equipped with a vehicle-mounted device 24 (corresponding to notification means and display means) provided with a display (not shown) capable of reproducing the road condition confirmation information on the screen. In addition, position detecting means (for example, a car navigation device: not shown) capable of recognizing the position of the host vehicle is mounted.

  The information utilization vehicle 20 is configured to be able to transmit an information request signal including vehicle position information indicating the current position of the host vehicle from the communication device 22 through the network 21 to the traffic information providing center 1. This information request signal is transmitted with the vehicle position information indicating the current position of the host vehicle being automatically input, for example, when the driver of the information using vehicle 20 performs a simple request operation. Accordingly, road condition confirmation information corresponding to the vehicle position information is automatically downloaded through the network 21. The road condition confirmation information downloaded in this manner is converted into image data that can be reproduced by a browser function installed on the vehicle-mounted device 24 and displayed on the screen. Note that the display of the vehicle-mounted device 24 has a touch panel screen.

  FIG. 2 shows an image diagram for explaining the basic functions of the traffic information providing system having the above configuration. In FIG. 2, the information collection command from the traffic information providing center 1 is given to the regular bus 3 that is about to leave from the garage in a communication area that is set in advance at the departure place. This information collection command is, for example, “Start transmitting probe information to the traffic information providing center 1 when it reaches a data collection start position Q set around the signalized intersection S (for example, a position 500 m before the signalized intersection S). Is the command. When the regular bus 3 reaches the data collection start position Q designated by the information collection command, the front of the vehicle is photographed by the on-board camera 12, and the probe information including the photographed image data, the vehicle speed signal, and the vehicle position information is traffic information. Transmission to the providing center 1 is started, and such a transmission operation is executed, for example, every time the host vehicle travels 100 m. In FIG. 2, the shooting range t by the camera 12 mounted on the regular bus 3 is schematically shown.

  The traffic information providing center 1 analyzes the received probe information to determine whether or not a traffic jam has occurred on the road, and when the traffic jam has occurred, requests the probe information from the regular bus 3 again. As a result, on the regular bus 3 side, the probe information related to the congestion occurrence area is continuously transmitted to the traffic information providing center 1. On the traffic information providing center 1 side, on the basis of the received probe information, reproduction image information capable of visually recognizing the road conditions in the congestion occurrence area, road position information capable of specifying the position of the road, and congestion The road condition confirmation information including the vehicle position information that can identify the position of the regular bus 3 existing in the generation area and the surrounding area is created in real time, and the created road condition confirmation information is provided to the network 21.

  When the driver of the information using vehicle 20 traveling behind the regular bus 3 approaches the traffic jam occurrence area, the previous regular bus 3 gets in the way and cannot know the traffic situation ahead. In such a state, when the driver wants to know the situation of the traffic jam occurrence area, an operation for transmitting an information request signal is performed. Then, the road condition confirmation information corresponding to the traffic jam occurrence area is downloaded through the network 21 and displayed on the display device included in the vehicle-mounted device 24 of the information use vehicle 20.

  Here, FIG. 3 shows a display example of road condition confirmation information by the vehicle-mounted device 24. That is, on the touch panel screen of the vehicle-mounted device 24, a schematic diagram frame F1 indicating the positional relationship between the host vehicle and the regular bus 3 located in the vicinity of the congestion occurrence area is displayed, and the upper and lower 2 by the mounted camera 12 of the regular bus 3 are displayed. The captured image frames F2 and F3 are displayed, and an icon I1 for enlarging / reducing the display map of the schematic diagram frame F1 and an icon I2 for scrolling the display map are displayed.

  Specifically, in the schematic frame F1, the current position of the host vehicle and the positions of the regular buses A, B, C, and D existing around the traffic jam area are displayed on the simple road map showing the traffic jam area. Icon is displayed. That is, the position of the regular buses A, B, C, and D existing around the congestion occurrence area is visually notified to the driver of the information utilizing vehicle 20. In this schematic diagram, shapes a, b, c, and d indicating the shooting directions of the regular buses A, B, C, and D by the mounted cameras 12 are also displayed. In addition, for example, in the lower captured image frame F3, an image captured by the mounted camera 12 of the regular bus 3 (the regular bus B in this example) immediately before the host vehicle is displayed. In addition, the captured image frame F2 on the upper stage displays a captured image by the camera 12 mounted on the regular bus (in this case, regular bus A) only when there is another regular bus in front of the host vehicle in the straight direction. If there is no other regular bus, it is blank, for example.

  Further, for example, the driver of the information using vehicle 20 performs an operation of selecting another regular bus on the schematic diagram frame F1 (touch operation of the regular bus icon displayed on the schematic diagram frame F1). An image captured by the camera 12 mounted on an arbitrary regular bus 3 existing around the generation area can be displayed on the captured image frames F2 and F3.

  Specifically, for example, when the selection operation of the regular bus C is performed on the schematic frame F1 shown in FIG. 3, the vehicle-mounted device 24 provides traffic information with image data taken by the camera 12 mounted on the regular bus C. The image data requested to the center 1 and acquired in response to the request is displayed in, for example, the lower photographed image frame F3 as shown in FIG. Therefore, in the case of this specific example, the driver of the information using vehicle 20 confirms that there is no traffic jam in the direction of turning right at the destination intersection based on the image data taken by the camera 12 mounted on the regular bus C. Because it will be possible, it will be possible to get out of the traffic if necessary.

  In short, according to the traffic information providing system described above, on the information use vehicle 20 side, the image data photographed by the regular bus 3 that actually exists in the traffic jam occurrence area is converted in real time only by accessing the network 21. Road condition confirmation information including image information for reproduction (image information capable of visually recognizing road conditions in a traffic jam occurrence area) can be acquired and displayed on the display of the vehicle-mounted device 24. In other words, the provision of road condition confirmation information that can visually grasp the actual traffic situation on the road is delivered after receiving the request of the traffic user from the image data once stored in the image database Compared to the configuration, it can be performed quickly. Further, in the traffic information providing system of this embodiment, the WEB provision data creating means 10 that functions as a server for the network 21 needs a storage means for road condition confirmation information. Since only the road condition confirmation information related to the image data collection range where the occurrence of traffic congestion is expected is stored, compared to the conventional configuration in which extra image data other than the traffic congestion location is also stored. The capacity of the means can be greatly reduced, and as a result, there is no risk of an increase in equipment cost.

  The data analysis means 9 provided in the traffic information providing center 1 analyzes the received probe information to determine the degree of congestion in the traveling area of the regular bus 3 that is the transmission source of the probe information, and the determined degree of congestion Is greater than a predetermined threshold value, the travel area is recognized as a traffic jam occurrence area, and an information collection command for instructing the regular bus 3 to return probe information again is transmitted. Therefore, it is possible to continuously collect the probe information related to the traffic jam occurrence area, and as a result, the reliability of the road condition confirmation signal provided to the information using vehicle 20 as the traffic jam information can be improved. It becomes like this.

  Further, when the regular bus 3 is in a communication area set in advance at the departure place (garage), an operation of transmitting an information collection command from the communication means 8 to the regular bus 3 is performed. Therefore, the transmission operation of the information collection command is not required while the regular bus 3 is moving toward the image data collection range, and the information collection command can be reliably received on the regular bus 3 side. Information collection on the bus 3 (acquisition of image data by the camera 12) can be performed reliably.

  Furthermore, when there are a plurality of regular buses 3 around the image data collection range, the driver of the information utilizing vehicle 20 can select any regular bus on the schematic frame F1 displayed on the display of the vehicle-mounted device 24. 3 is performed (touch operation of the regular bus icon displayed on the schematic frame F1), and an image captured by the camera 12 mounted on the selected regular bus 3 is displayed on the display. It can be displayed on the image frames F2 and F3. That is, when there are a plurality of regular buses 3 in the image data collection range and the vicinity thereof, the image data captured by the camera 12 mounted on any regular bus 3 can be confirmed on the information use vehicle 20 side. Therefore, the driver can acquire the image data collection range and visual information in the vicinity thereof from various angles.

  Further, the traffic information stored in the traffic information database 5, that is, the traffic information necessary for determining the image data collection range in the data collection position determination means 6 is the information from the data analysis means 9 (new traffic jam occurrence area The information is always updated to the latest information, so that the reliability of the traffic information is improved and the traffic capacity required for the traffic information database 5 is prevented from becoming unnecessarily large. become able to.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, and can be modified or expanded as described below, for example.
Although the regular bus 3 has been described as an example of the specific vehicle, a configuration in which a taxi, a sightseeing bus, a courier truck, or the like is used as the specific vehicle is also possible.
For example, a short-distance wireless communication (wireless LAN, DSRC, etc.) with the regular bus 3 that is at a line-of-sight distance ahead of the information use vehicle 20 directly acquires a photographed image by the camera 12 mounted on the regular bus 3. Configuration is also possible.

The probe information transmitted from the regular bus 3 is configured to include vehicle position information related to the regular bus 3, but includes information (for example, a command number of an information collection command) that can specify the photographing position. It is good. That is, since the information collection command transmitted from the traffic information providing center 1 to the regular bus 3 includes information indicating the data collection start position, the traffic information providing center 1 side collects the information in the probe information. If the command number related to the command is included, the photographing position can be specified.
When communication between the in-vehicle terminal 15 on the regular bus 3 and the traffic information providing center 1 is interrupted, the in-progress probe information is temporarily stored as an untransmitted history on the in-vehicle terminal 15 side so that communication is possible. The probe information in the non-transmission history can be transmitted at the time of becoming.

Functional block diagram of a traffic information providing system showing an embodiment of the present invention Image for explaining the basic functions of the traffic information provision system Figure 1 showing a display example of road condition confirmation information Figure 2 showing a display example of road condition confirmation information

Explanation of symbols

  1 is a traffic information providing center, 2 is a control unit, 3 is a regular bus (specific vehicle), 4 is a vehicle management database, 5 is a traffic information database (history information recording means), 6 is a data collection position determination means (information collection range) Determining means), 7 a data collection vehicle determining means, 8 a communication means, 9 a data analyzing means (information providing means), 10 a web providing data creating means (information providing means), 12 a camera (imaging device), 13 Is an information display (notification means and display means), 14 is a position detector, 15 is an in-vehicle terminal, 18 is a main control unit, 20 is an information using vehicle (third-party vehicle), 21 is a network, and 24 is an in-vehicle device ( Informing means, displaying means).

Claims (7)

An information collection range determination means for determining an area where traffic congestion is expected by analyzing traffic information as an image data collection range;
Information for instructing a specific vehicle traveling in the image data collection range among a plurality of vehicles equipped with a photographing device and a communication device to photograph a road situation in the image data collection range with the photographing device. A communication means for transmitting a collection command;
When the vehicle is traveling in an image data collection range that is mounted on the specific vehicle and instructed by an information collection command received through the communication device, the front of the vehicle is photographed by the photographing device, and the photographed image data is displayed at the photographing position. An in-vehicle terminal that replies to the communication means as probe information in an identifiable form;
A road situation including reproduction image information capable of visually confirming the road situation corresponding to the image data collection range by analyzing the probe information received through the communication means and position information capable of specifying the position of the road Information providing means for creating the confirmation information in real time and providing the road condition confirmation information to a network accessible from a third party vehicle;
With
The information providing means analyzes the probe information received through the communication means to determine the degree of congestion in the traveling area of the specific vehicle that is the transmission source of the probe information, and the determined degree of congestion is determined in advance. If it is larger than the threshold value, the traveling area is recognized as a traffic jam occurrence area, and the specific vehicle existing in the traffic jam occurrence area is instructed to transmit probe information including image data. The information collection command is transmitted from the communication means.   With a history information recording means for accumulating traffic information for analysis in the information collection range determining means,
  The information providing means analyzes the probe information received through the communication means to determine the degree of congestion in the traveling area of the specific vehicle that is the transmission source of the probe information, and the determined degree of congestion is determined in advance. If it is larger than the threshold, it is configured to recognize the travel area as a traffic jam occurrence area,
  The traffic information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the traffic information accumulated in the history information recording means is updated every time a new traffic occurrence area is recognized by the information providing means.   A communication area is set in advance at a departure place of the specific vehicle, and the communication unit transmits the information collection command to the specific vehicle when the specific vehicle is in the communication area. Item 3. The traffic information providing system according to item 1 or 2.   The information providing means provides the network with vehicle position information indicating the position of the specific vehicle existing in the vicinity of the image data collection range and image data taken by a photographing device mounted on the specific vehicle. Configured as
  The third party vehicle includes a notification means capable of notifying a position of the specific vehicle based on the vehicle position information acquired from the network, and an operation for designating the specific vehicle notified by the notification means. The traffic according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising display means for downloading and reproducing and displaying image data photographed by a photographing device mounted on a specific vehicle from the network. Information provision system. In a traffic information providing center provided to be able to communicate with a plurality of vehicles equipped with photographing equipment and communication equipment via the communication equipment,
An information collection range determination means for determining an area where traffic congestion is expected by analyzing traffic information as an image data collection range;
For instructing a specific vehicle traveling in the image data collection range of the plurality of vehicles to photograph the front of the vehicle with the photographing device and to return the photographed image data via the communication device. A communication means for transmitting an information collection command and receiving image data returned from the vehicle side in a form in which the photographing position can be specified;
Image data for reproduction that can visually confirm the situation of the road corresponding to the image data collection range by analyzing the image data received through the communication means and the position of the specific vehicle that is the transmission source of the image data, and Information providing means for generating road condition confirmation information including position information capable of specifying the position of the road in real time and providing the road condition confirmation information to a network accessible from a third-party vehicle; ,
The information providing means analyzes the probe information received through the communication means to determine the degree of congestion in the traveling area of the specific vehicle that is the transmission source of the probe information, and the determined degree of congestion is determined in advance. If it is larger than the threshold value, the traveling area is recognized as a traffic jam occurrence area, and the specific vehicle existing in the traffic jam occurrence area is instructed to transmit probe information including image data. A traffic information providing center characterized in that the information collection command is transmitted from the communication means.   With a history information recording means for accumulating traffic information for analysis in the information collection range determining means,
  The information providing means analyzes the probe information received through the communication means to determine the degree of congestion in the traveling area of the specific vehicle that is the transmission source of the probe information, and the determined degree of congestion is determined in advance. If it is larger than the threshold, it is configured to recognize the travel area as a traffic jam occurrence area,
  6. The traffic information providing center according to claim 5, wherein the traffic information accumulated in the history information recording means is updated every time a new traffic jam occurrence area is recognized by the information providing means.   A communication device for receiving an information collection command transmitted from the traffic information providing center according to claim 5;
  A photographing device capable of photographing at least the front of the vehicle;
  An operation control means for photographing the front of the vehicle by the photographing device during a period in which the host vehicle is traveling in the image data collection range based on an analysis result of the information collection command received by the communication device;
  Response means for returning image data captured by the imaging device to the traffic information providing center in a form in which the imaging position can be specified;
An in-vehicle information collecting apparatus comprising:

Images