JP5013249B2 - Discount guidance device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a discount guidance device, and for example, relates to discount guidance when traveling on a specific toll road using an ETC system.

On toll roads such as expressways, cash and coupons are used at toll booths for the purpose of eliminating congestion at toll booths, improving driver convenience by cashlessness, and reducing costs for highway managers by improving management efficiency. An ETC (Electronic Toll Collection) system is widely used as an automatic fee collection system that automatically collects fees instead of collecting fees.
In the ETC system, there is a case where a collection fee is discounted and applied when a certain condition is satisfied for the purpose of eliminating congestion or spreading the system. For example, there is a discount service in which the travel fee is reduced by half when traveling up to 100 (km).

As a technique for effectively utilizing the discount of charges in such an ETC system, Patent Document 1 is proposed as a technique for searching for a guidance route to which a discount is applied when searching for a route to a destination. .
JP2007-3372

However, the technique described in the above-mentioned patent document is a technique for searching for a guidance route to a destination. For this reason, no guidance is provided when traveling on a toll road without searching for a guidance route in the first place.
Therefore, in the technique described in the above-mentioned patent document, it is impossible to know the timing when the vehicle is out of the discount target section by, for example, a discount service with a distance restriction while actually traveling on a toll road. In addition, for example, it has not been possible to know the timing at which a discount service with a time zone restriction is outside the discount target time zone.
For this reason, the vehicle may travel past the discount target section, or may get off the toll road before the discount start time, making it necessary to pay a normal high-speed fee.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a discount guidance device that allows a driver to recognize whether or not a discount is applied during traveling on a toll road.

(1) In the invention described in claim 1, toll road detecting means for detecting whether or not the own vehicle is traveling on a specific toll road, and when the own vehicle is traveling on the specified toll road, Detecting means for detecting a first interchange existing in the vehicle, branching point determining means for determining whether or not a branching point exists ahead of the first interchange, and if the branching point exists, the branching point There is a discount judgment means for judging whether there is an interchange that is not eligible for discounted travel charges when traveling to the first interchange existing on each road ahead of, and there is an interchange that is no longer subject to discount at the fork. And a discount guidance device for guiding the fact before the first interchange when it is determined that the discount guidance device is provided.
(2) In the invention described in claim 2, when the first interchange is an interchange where the discount is not applied when the first interchange passes, or when the discount starts, the discount starts. The discount guidance device according to claim 1, wherein guidance is provided to that effect.
(3) The invention according to claim 3, further comprising distance condition storage means for storing a discount condition based on a travel distance, and present on each road ahead of the branch point from a travel start point at which travel on the toll road has started. A distance acquisition means for acquiring a travel distance to the first interchange, and the discount determination means determines whether an interchange that is not eligible for a discount depends on whether the acquired travel distance satisfies a discount condition based on the travel distance. It determines whether to provide a discount guide apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that.
(4) In invention of Claim 4, the time zone condition memory | storage means which memorize | stored the discount conditions by a time zone, the 1st estimation means which estimates the 1st time which passes the said 1st interchange, The said branch point Second estimation means for estimating a second time passing through the first interchange existing on each road ahead , wherein the discount judgment means is at least part of a time zone from the first time to the second time 3. The discount guidance device according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether or not there is an interchange that is no longer a discount target depending on whether or not the time period overlaps with a time zone of the discount condition. .
(5) The invention according to claim 5, further comprising: a time zone condition storage unit that stores a discount condition according to a time zone; and a first estimation unit that estimates a first time passing through the first interchange, The discount determination means determines whether at least a part of the time zone from the time at the travel start point where the toll road started to travel to the estimated first time overlaps with the time zone of the discount condition, It is determined whether a discount is applied, The discount guidance apparatus of Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterized by the above-mentioned is provided.

  According to the present invention, when traveling from the first interchange to the second interchange existing next, it is determined whether or not a discount on the travel fee is applied, and when it is determined that the discount is not applied. Since the fact is guided before the first interchange, the driver can recognize whether or not the discount is applied.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment in which the discount guidance device of the present invention is realized by a navigation device will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
(1) Outline of the embodiment On a toll road such as an expressway, the conditions (target road, target time zone, target mileage, target section, etc.) to be discounted are stored and passed through the next interchange (IC). If so, determine whether the discount will be applied.
When the discount is not applied by passing through the next IC (first interchange), guidance to that effect is given. For example, guidance such as “the next IC is the last IC to which the commuting discount is applied” or “the commuting discount is no longer applied after passing the next IC” is given by voice and screen display.
In addition, when a toll road is branched by a junction (JCT) until the next IC, if there is an IC that no longer applies the discount among the ICs that exist first at the junction, for example, “A direction” Next is the last IC to which the commuting discount will be applied. "

  Also, if the discount conditions are not met at the moment, but the discount condition is met and the discount starts when the next IC is passed, for example, “If you pass the next IC, XX discount will be applied. Will be started ”and“ XX discount will not be applied unless the next IC is passed ”.

  In this way, by passing the next IC, before the exit of the last IC where the discount is applied, or before the exit of the IC where the discount is applied, the driver is informed of that fact. Whether or not discounts are applied can be recognized.

(2) Details of Embodiment FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a navigation device to which the discount guidance device of this embodiment is applied.
The navigation device is mounted on a vehicle and includes a current position detection device 10, an information processing control device 20, an input / output device 40, and an information storage device 50 as shown in FIG.

The navigation device is connected to the ETC vehicle-mounted device 70 via the transmission path 45, and acquires toll road entrance information and exit information from the ETC vehicle-mounted device 70.
The ETC on-board unit 70 performs wireless communication with a tollgate antenna installed at each tollgate gate. When entering the toll road, the entrance information (IC information) is received from the tollgate antenna. Receive and supply to navigation device.
When exiting a toll road, the entrance information is transmitted to the toll gate antenna and the toll information is received from the toll gate antenna. At this time, exit information indicating that the navigation apparatus has exited the toll road is supplied.

  The current position detection device 10 has the following configuration. The absolute direction sensor 11 is, for example, a geomagnetic sensor that detects in which direction the vehicle is located from detection in the N direction based on a magnet, and may be any means that detects the absolute direction.

The relative azimuth sensor 12 detects, for example, whether or not an intersection is bent, and may be an optical rotation sensor attached to a rotating part of a handle, a rotational resistance volume, or an angle sensor attached to a wheel part.
Further, a gyro sensor that detects a change in angle using an angular velocity may be used. That is, any means capable of detecting an angle that has changed relative to the reference angle (absolute direction) may be used.
The distance sensor 13 may be, for example, one that detects and counts the rotation of a wheel, or one that detects acceleration and integrates twice. That is, any means capable of measuring the moving distance of the vehicle may be used.

The GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver 14 is a device that receives a signal from an artificial satellite, and includes various signals such as signal transmission time, position information of the receiver, moving speed of the receiver, and traveling direction of the receiver. Information can be obtained.
The beacon receiving device 15 is a device that receives a signal transmitted from a transmitting device installed at a specific point. In particular, VICS information can be obtained, and information related to vehicle travel such as traffic jam information, current position information, and parking lot information can be obtained.

The data transmission / reception device 16 is a device for communicating with the outside of the vehicle using a telephone line or radio waves and exchanging information.
For example, there are various usage methods such as a car phone, ATIS, VICS, GPS correction, and inter-vehicle communication, and it is possible to input / output information related to traveling.

Next, the information processing control device 20 performs calculation and control based on the information input from the current position detection device 10 and the input / output device 40 and the information stored in the information storage device 50, and displays the calculation result on the display 42. , A means for controlling to output to the output means such as the printer 43 or the speaker 44.
The information processing control device 20 has the following configuration.
The central processing unit (CPU) 21 performs overall calculation and control of the entire navigation device, discount application guidance processing in the present embodiment, and the like.
The first ROM 22 stores a program related to navigation, in particular, a navigation program related to current position detection, route search, display guidance, and the like, and a discount application guidance program.
The sensor input interface 23 is a means for receiving information from the current position detection device 10.

The RAM 24 stores information input by the user such as destination information and passage point information input by an input device, which will be described later, and results calculated by the CPU 21 based on the user input information, as well as routes It is a storage means for storing the searched result or the map information read from the information storage device 50.
The communication interface 25 is a means for inputting / outputting information from the current position detection device 10, particularly information obtained from the outside.

The second ROM 26 stores programs related to navigation, particularly navigation programs related to various voice guidance such as travel route guidance, point guidance, and discount application guidance.
The image processor 27 is a processing means for processing vector information processed by the CPU into image information.
The clock 28 detects the current time. The time detected by the clock 28 is used when determining whether or not the time zone condition in the present embodiment is satisfied.
The image memory 29 is means for storing image information processed by the image processor.
The audio processor 30 processes the audio information read from the information storage device 50 and outputs it to the speaker 44.

The input / output device 40 includes an input device 41 for inputting data such as a destination, a passage point, and a search condition by a user, a display 42 for displaying an image, a printer 43 for printing information, and a speaker 44 for outputting sound. The The input device 41 includes, for example, a touch panel, a touch switch, a joystick, a key switch, and the like.
The display 42 displays a map around the current location and a travel route to the destination.

The information storage device 50 is connected to the information processing control device 20 via the transmission path 45.
The information storage device 50 includes a map data file 51, an intersection data file 52, a node data file 53, a road data file 54, a photo data file 55, a destination data file 56, a guidance point data file 57, a detailed destination data file 58, A destination reading data file 59, a discount application condition file 60, an inter-IC distance data file 61, and other data files 62 are stored.
The information storage device 50 is generally composed of a DVD-ROM or CD-ROM that is an optical storage medium, or a hard disk that is a magnetic storage medium, but various information such as a magneto-optical disk and a semiconductor memory. You may comprise with a storage medium.

The discount application condition file 60 stores various conditions for applying a discount that are defined for each toll road.
In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the following discount conditions are defined for the toll road and stored in the discount application condition file 60.
(A) Late-night discount Time zone conditions: Driving in the late-night time zone (0:00 to 4 o'clock) Distance requirement: None (distance unlimited)
(B) Commuting discount Time zone conditions: Driving from 6:00 to 9:00, or 17:00 to 20:00 Distance conditions: Sections within 100 km (c) Early morning and night discount Time zone conditions: 22:00 to 6 Time Distance condition ... Section within 100 (km)

The inter-IC distance data file 61 stores distances between ICs on toll roads for which discounts are stipulated for determining distance conditions.
In the present embodiment, as the distance between the ICs, a value published by the toll road operator as the distance applied to the discount is adopted.
The distance between the ICs may be calculated by integrating the distance data stored in the road data file 54.

Next, discount application guidance processing by the navigation device configured as described above will be described.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the contents of the discount application guidance process.
This discount application guidance process starts when the entrance information is supplied from the ETC onboard device 70.
First, the information processing control device 20 stores the time T0 on the toll road and the IC that has passed through the ETC gate (hereinafter referred to as the starting IC) in the RAM 24 from the entrance information supplied from the ETC onboard device 70 (step 10). . If there is no time T0 in the entrance information, the time when the entrance information was supplied is read from the clock 28 and stored in a predetermined area.
Next, the information processing control device 20 acquires the next IC from the road data file 54 (step 11).

The information processing control device 20 determines whether or not the time zone condition is satisfied (step 12).
That is, the information processing control device 20 reads the time zone condition stored in the discount application condition file 60, and at least a part of the time zone from the time T0 to the current time detected by the clock 28 is the time zone condition time zone. It is determined whether or not they overlap, and if they overlap, it is determined that the time zone condition is satisfied.

When the time zone condition is satisfied (step 12; Y), the information processing control device 20 further determines whether or not the distance condition is currently satisfied (step 13).
That is, the information processing control device 20 calculates the distance from the starting point IC to the current position, and determines whether the distance condition is satisfied.
The distance from the starting point IC to the current position is the distance from the starting point IC to the last passing IC (calculated using the inter-IC distance data file 61) and the distance from the last passing IC to the current position (road data). Calculated using the file 54).

In addition, when the distance condition is not defined like the midnight discount, it is determined that the distance N (km) that always satisfies the distance condition is defined. For example, it is determined that the distance is greater than the maximum distance of the toll road or is infinite.
This determination is made for all determinations about distance.

  If the distance condition is not satisfied (step 13; N), the vehicle travels beyond the distance to be discounted, so the process proceeds to step 17 without providing guidance for the discount target.

  On the other hand, when the distance condition is satisfied (step 13; Y), the information processing control device 20 uses the road data file 54 and moves ahead of the next IC (between the next IC and the next IC). It is determined whether or not a branch point (junction; JCT) exists.

When the JCT does not exist ahead of the next IC (step 14; N), the information processing control device 20 determines whether or not it is not eligible for a discount after passing the next IC (step 15).
That is, the information processing control device 20 calculates the distance from the starting IC to the next IC (second IC) of the next IC using the inter-IC distance data file 61, and the calculated distance satisfies the distance condition. Judgment is made based on whether or not it is satisfied.

If it is a discount object even after passing the next IC, that is, if the distance from the starting IC to the second IC satisfies the distance condition (step 15; N), the information processing control device 20 performs the process. 17
On the other hand, if it is not eligible for discount when passing through the next IC, that is, if the distance from the starting IC to the second IC does not satisfy the distance condition (step 15; Y), the information processing control device 20 Guide that the discount is excluded at a predetermined distance before the IC (step 16).

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the discount target is no longer applied due to the distance condition.
As shown in FIG. 3, it is assumed that the vehicle enters the toll road at the starting point IC1 and the time zone condition is satisfied. Further, it is assumed that a point having a distance condition of 100 (km) from the starting point IC1 exists at the points of IC4 and IC5.
In this case, while the vehicle is traveling in the section from IC1 to IC3, even if it passes the next IC, it can receive a discount by getting off from the toll road at IC3 or IC4 ahead (step 15; N) No guidance on discount application.

On the other hand, if the vehicle passes IC3, a discount can be applied when it gets off the toll road at the next IC4. However, if the vehicle passes IC4, the next IC5 (second IC) is further subject to distance conditions. It exceeds 100 (km) and is no longer eligible for discount.
Therefore, the information processing control device 20 informs that the discount will not be applied unless it gets off the next time at a point a predetermined distance from the last IC 4 which can receive the discount. The notification is performed by outputting sound and displaying an image on the display 42.

  As shown in Fig. 3, the contents of the audio output and image display are as follows: "Next is the last IC to which XX discount is applied", "Commutation discount will not be applied after passing the next IC", etc. As described above, when the next IC is passed, it is notified that it is not eligible for discount.

Returning to FIG. 2, when there is a JCT (junction; branch point) ahead of the next IC (step 14; Y), the information processing control device 20 travels to the first IC existing on each road ahead of the JCT. In such a case, it is determined whether there is an IC that is not eligible for discount (step 18).
The information processing control device 20 applies the discount when there is no IC that is no longer discounted, that is, when the distance from the starting IC to the first IC beyond the JCT all satisfies the distance condition (step 18; N). The process proceeds to step 17 without guidance.

  On the other hand, if there is an IC that is no longer eligible for discount, that is, if the distance from the starting IC to the first IC beyond the JCT does not satisfy the distance condition (step 18; Y), the information processing control device 20 is not eligible for discount. The direction to become and guidance to that effect are provided (step 19).

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram about application of a discount object when a JCT exists at the tip of the next IC.
As shown in FIG. 4, it is assumed that the vehicle enters the toll road at the starting point IC1 and the time zone condition is satisfied. Further, it is assumed that JCT exists at the tip of IC4 that satisfies the distance condition 100 (km), and the point of the distance condition 100 (km) from the starting point IC1 exists at the tip of IC5 and a point between JCT and IC6.
In this case, after the vehicle has passed IC4, you can get a discount if you drive JCT in direction B and get off at IC5, but you can get a discount if you run in direction A and get off at IC6. Cannot be received (step 18; Y)
Therefore, the information processing control device 20 notifies (guides) that it is not eligible for discount when traveling in the direction A at a point a short distance from the IC 4 (step 19).

For example, at the point in front of IC4, “A direction is the last IC to which XX discount is applied next”, “XX discount will no longer be applied after traveling to IC A after passing the next IC4”, etc. As such, the direction to be excluded from the discount and the fact are notified.
If the vehicle passes IC4 and JCT heads toward B, the discount is not applied when it passes IC5 (step 15; Y), and this is notified again before IC5 (step 16). .

When the travel route by the route search is not set, the navigation device recognizes whether the driver goes to the direction to which the discount is applied (B direction in FIG. 4) or goes to the direction where the driver is not applied (A direction). I can't. Even if a travel route in the direction to which the discount is applied is set, the driver may change the course in JCT and travel in a different direction.
For this reason, as in this embodiment, in the IC before JCT, it is determined whether or not a discount is applied depending on the direction of travel ahead of JCT. The driver can be surely notified of whether or not the discount is applied.

Returning to FIG. 2, when it is determined in step 12 that the time zone condition is not satisfied (step 12; N), the information processing control device 20 passes the next IC (time T1) and the second IC (next The time T2 passing through the IC next to the IC (second IC) is estimated.
Time T1 / T2 is the distance from the current position of the vehicle to the next IC / the distance to the second IC and the current vehicle speed (or the average vehicle speed from the starting IC or the IC that passed immediately before to the current position). And estimated from

  The information processing control device 20 determines whether at least a part of the time zones T1 to T2 overlaps the time zone conditions and satisfies the time zone conditions (step 21). That is, it is determined whether or not the start time of the time zone condition is reached (for example, 6 o'clock in the case of commuting discount) while traveling to the second IC through the next IC.

Subsequently, the information processing control device 20 determines whether or not the distance condition is satisfied even when traveling to the second IC (step 22).
If the distance condition is not satisfied when traveling to the second IC, that is, if the distance from the starting point IC to the second IC exceeds the distance condition distance (100 (km) in this embodiment) (step) 22; N) Since the application of the discount is not started even after passing through the next IC, the process proceeds to step 17 without performing the application start guidance.

If the distance condition is satisfied even after traveling to the second IC (step 22; Y), the information processing control device 20 guides that the application of the discount starts if the next IC is passed (step 23). .
For example, notification of “XX discount starts when the next IC is passed” or “XX discount is not applied unless the next IC is passed” is performed by voice and image display.

After performing the above various guidance (steps 16, 19, and 23) and when guidance is not performed (steps 13, 15, 18, 21, and 22; N), the information processing control device 20 causes the vehicle to exit the IC. It is determined whether or not (step 17).
That is, when the IC passes through the IC without obtaining the exit information from the ETC onboard device 70 (step 17; N), the information processing control device 20 returns to step 11 and similarly guides discount application for the next IC. The IC is passed by map matching.
On the other hand, when the exit information is acquired from the ETC on-vehicle device 70, the information processing control device 20 determines that the IC has been exited (step 17; Y), and ends the process.

  As described above, according to the discount guide device of the present embodiment, the exit of the IC where the discount starts before the last IC to which the discount is applied by the passage of the next IC or the discount starts when the next IC passes. The driver can recognize whether or not the discount is applied by guiding the driver to that effect.

Although one embodiment of the discount guidance apparatus of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope described in each claim. .
For example, in the embodiment described above, the late night discount, commuting discount, and early morning / night discount are defined as discounts for toll roads, and time zone conditions and distance conditions corresponding to these discounts are stored in the discount application condition file 60. In this case, the discount application guidance process has been described.
The discount conditions are not limited to these, and any discount conditions specified for any toll road are stored in the discount application condition file 60 as the discount conditions for the toll road. Then, a guidance to that effect is given just before the exit of the last IC to which the stored condition is applied or the IC where the discount is applied when the next IC passes.

For example, the following conditions can be considered as discount conditions for toll roads, and judgment and guidance regarding the presence or absence of discount guidance are performed in accordance with these conditions.
(A) traveling within a predetermined time zone (b) traveling within a predetermined distance N1 (km) (c) traveling within a predetermined distance N2 (km) (d) predetermined Traveling in the section (between ICs) (e) satisfying both (a) and (b) (f) satisfying both (a) and (c) (g) (a) and (d) Satisfy both (h) Be a highway in a given area (i) Satisfy both (a) to (g) and (h)

  In the embodiment described above, the case where it is determined from the entrance information and the exit information supplied from the ETC onboard device 70 that the user has taken the toll road and got off the toll road has been described. Thus, it may be determined whether or not the vehicle has passed a toll road to which a discount is applied (entrance and exit of the toll road).

Moreover, although embodiment demonstrated demonstrated the case where a discount guidance apparatus was implement | achieved by the navigation apparatus, you may make it comprise with an apparatus independent from a navigation apparatus.
In this case, when the vehicle includes a navigation device, data common to the navigation device such as the current position detection device and map data may be acquired from the navigation device.

1 is a system configuration diagram of a navigation device to which a discount guide device of the present embodiment is applied. It is a flowchart showing the content of discount application guidance processing. It is explanatory drawing of the state from which discount object is no longer applied by distance conditions. It is explanatory drawing when JCT exists in the tip of the next IC.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Current position detection apparatus 20 Information processing control apparatus 40 Input / output apparatus 50 Information storage apparatus 60 Discount application condition file 61 Inter-IC distance data file 70 ETC on-board unit

Claims (5)

Toll road detection means for detecting whether the vehicle is traveling on a specific toll road,
When the host vehicle is traveling on the specific toll road, detection means for detecting a first interchange existing ahead,
Branch point judging means for judging whether or not a branch point exists ahead of the first interchange;
Discount judgment means for judging whether there is an interchange that is not eligible for a discount on the travel fee when traveling to the first interchange existing on each road ahead of the branch point when the branch point exists,
When it is determined that there is an interchange that is no longer eligible for discount at the end of the branch point, discount guidance means for guiding the fact before the first interchange;
A discount guide device comprising: The discount guide means, when the first interchange is an interchange where the discount is not applied by passing, or when the discount is an interchange where the discount is started by passing, the discount guide means to that effect,
The discount guide device according to claim 1, wherein: It has distance condition storage means for storing discount conditions based on travel distance,
A distance acquisition means for acquiring a travel distance from a travel start point at which the toll road started to travel to a first interchange existing on each road ahead of the branch point ,
The discount determination means determines whether or not there is an interchange that is not eligible for a discount depending on whether or not the acquired travel distance satisfies a discount condition based on the travel distance.
The discount guidance device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein Time zone condition storage means for storing discount conditions according to time zones;
First estimating means for estimating a first time passing through the first interchange;
A second estimating means for estimating a second time passing through the first interchange existing on each road ahead of the branch point ;
The discount determination means determines whether there is an interchange that is not eligible for discount depending on whether at least a part of the time zone from the first time to the second time overlaps with the time zone of the discount condition. To
The discount guidance device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein Time zone condition storage means for storing discount conditions according to time zones;
First estimating means for estimating a first time passing through the first interchange,
The discount determination means determines whether at least a part of the time zone from the time at the travel start point where the toll road started to travel to the estimated first time overlaps with the time zone of the discount condition, Determine whether discounts apply,
The discount guidance device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

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