JP7256205B2 - Roadside device, central device, roadside device control method, roadside device control program, central device control method, and central device control program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a roadside device, a central device, a roadside device control method, a roadside device control program, a central device control method, and a central device control program.

Toll collection systems for collecting road tolls have been proposed, tested, or put into practical use. For example, in Singapore, a device on a gantry (e.g., a gate-shaped structure) installed on a free-flow road (where there are no barriers on the road and can travel freely) communicates data with the vehicle-mounted device. I do. In Singapore, there is a mechanism called ERP (Electronic Road Pricing) that collects tolls by deducting the amount from the prepaid balance in the toll recording device that is inserted into the vehicle-mounted device. Also in Japan, the following mechanism is in operation under the name of ETC (Electronic Toll Collection System). In ETC, data communication is performed with an on-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle at a toll booth having individual lanes with barriers. In addition, in ETC, tolls are collected by charging the amount to the credit card using the credit card information embedded in the vehicle-mounted device. Although these mechanisms are highly reliable, they require expensive vehicle-mounted devices, and inexpensive methods are being studied mainly in developing countries. For example, collection systems using RFID (Radio Frequency Identifier) tags are being studied.

Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which, in addition to communication with an RF tag, a license plate is photographed at a gate, and opening and closing of the gate is controlled using information of the RF tag and photographed image data.

However, when the technology described in Patent Document 1 is applied to a toll road, due to the problem of communication reliability, vehicles that travel on adjacent non-charge roads are charged, or vehicles that are actually traveling are not charged. is assumed.

Utility Model Registration No. 3115125

The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and a roadside device, a central device, a roadside device control method, a roadside device control program, and a central device control method that are capable of accurately identifying and billing passing vehicles. , and to provide a central unit control program.

In order to achieve the above object, a roadside device (20) according to an aspect of the present invention includes an imaging device (14) that captures an image of the vehicle triggered by detection of the vehicle, and A tag information reading device (12) is provided for acquiring tag information, acquires a communication start time (t1) and a communication end time (t2) of one of the tag information, and obtains the one image of the vehicle. A processing unit that associates an image of a vehicle with the tag information in the period from the communication start time to the communication end time and the shooting time (t3) of the image of the vehicle, and transmits the information to a central unit that charges the vehicle. (205);
According to such a configuration, since the tag information of the period from the communication start time to the communication end time is associated with the image of the vehicle photographed during this period and the photographing time, the image of the vehicle to be charged and the tag information can be matched. As a result, the central device can accurately identify passing vehicles using the information received from the roadside device for billing purposes.

Further, in the roadside device according to the aspect of the present invention, the processing unit includes identification information of the device, identification information of the lane, the photographing time, the tag information, the communication start time, the communication end It may be transmitted to the central device in association with the time.
According to such a configuration, since information is associated with each lane and transmitted to the central device, it is possible to accurately identify passing vehicles for each lane using the information received by the central device and to charge the vehicle.

Further, in the roadside device according to the aspect of the present invention, the processing unit extracts license plate information related to the license plate of the vehicle from the image of the vehicle by image recognition, and converts the extracted license plate information into the tag information. The data may be associated with each other and transmitted to the central device.
According to such a configuration, the license plate information is also transmitted to the central unit in association with the tag information. Therefore, the license plate information received by the central unit is also used to accurately identify and charge the passing vehicle. can be done.

To achieve the above object, a central device (40) according to an aspect of the present invention provides an image of a vehicle (2) with tag information for a period from a communication start time (t1) to a communication end time (t2) and the vehicle. a communication unit (401) that receives information associated with the photographing time (t3) of the image of the vehicle from the roadside device; a processing unit (402) that extracts the tag information of the shooting time of the image of the vehicle, associates the tag information of the shooting time with the image of the vehicle, and charges the vehicle based on the association result; , provided.
According to such a configuration, it is possible to extract the tag information of the photographing time using the information received from the roadside device. As a result, it is possible to accurately identify and charge the passing vehicle using the image and the tag information having the same time.

Further, in the central apparatus according to the aspect of the present invention, the processing unit extracts license plate information related to the license plate of the vehicle from the image of the vehicle by image recognition, and the extracted license plate information is also used to extract the license plate information of the vehicle. may be billed.
According to such a configuration, it is possible to accurately identify and charge the passing vehicle by also using the license plate information.

Further, in the central device according to the aspect of the present invention, when there is no tag information to be associated with the image of the vehicle, the processing unit associates information indicating that the tag information does not exist, and Based on this, the vehicle may be charged.
According to such a configuration, even if the tag information cannot be acquired, processing can be performed using the same information (record) as when the tag information can be acquired.

Further, in the central apparatus according to the aspect of the present invention, when the number of pieces of tag information to be associated with the image of the vehicle is n (where n is an integer equal to or greater than 2), the processing unit performs may be associated with the image of the vehicle, and the vehicle may be charged based on the association result.
According to such a configuration, even when one vehicle has a plurality of pieces of tag information, or when a plurality of vehicles are running during the communication period, one vehicle receives one piece of tag information. Processing can be performed using the same information (record) as in the case where the vehicle has such information or in the case where one vehicle is running during the communication period.

In order to achieve the above object, a roadside device control method according to an aspect of the present invention includes a photographing step of photographing an image of the vehicle triggered by detection of a vehicle by an imaging device; A tag information reading step in which the provided tag information reading device acquires tag information, and a processing unit acquires a communication start time and a communication end time of one of the tag information, and for one image of the vehicle, a processing step of associating the image of the vehicle with the tag information of the period from the communication start time to the communication end time and the shooting time of the image of the vehicle, and transmitting the information to a central unit that charges the vehicle; including.

In order to achieve the above object, a roadside device control program according to an aspect of the present invention causes a computer of a roadside device to take a photographing step of photographing an image of the vehicle and acquire tag information, triggered by detection of the vehicle. a tag information reading step; obtaining a communication start time and a communication end time of one of the tag information; and a processing step of associating the tag information with the photographing time of the image of the vehicle and transmitting the information to a central unit that charges the vehicle.

In order to achieve the above object, in a central device control method according to an aspect of the present invention, a communication unit transmits information associated with a vehicle image with tag information for a period from a communication start time to a communication end time to a roadside device. a communication step in which the processing unit extracts the tag information of the photographing time of the image of the vehicle from the received tag information of the period from the communication start time to the communication end time, and extracts the tag information of the image of the vehicle and a processing step of associating the tag information of the photographing time with the photographing time of the image of the vehicle, and charging the vehicle based on the association result.

To achieve the above object, a central device control program according to an aspect of the present invention provides a computer of a central device with information in which a vehicle image is associated with tag information for a period from a communication start time to a communication end time. extracting the tag information at the time when the image of the vehicle was taken from among the tag information received from the roadside device and the tag information received during the period from the communication start time to the communication end time; and a processing step of associating the tag information of the photographing time with the photographing time of the image of the vehicle, and charging the vehicle based on the association result.

The roadside device or the central device of the present invention can accurately identify and charge passing vehicles.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the toll collection system which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the information which the 3rd memory|storage device based on this embodiment memorize|stores. It is a figure which shows the example of the information which the 4th memory|storage device based on this embodiment memorize|stores. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a sixth storage device according to the embodiment; FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a seventh storage device according to the embodiment; FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in an eighth storage device according to the embodiment; FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of components arranged near a gate, an example of a communication area, and an example of an imaging range according to the present embodiment; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of TID, communication start time t1, communication end time t2, and photographing time t3 according to the present embodiment; 4 is a flowchart of RFID reception processing procedures performed by the roadside device according to the present embodiment; 4 is a flowchart of a photographing processing procedure performed by the roadside device according to the embodiment; 4 is a flowchart of processing procedures performed by a central device according to the embodiment; 10 is a flowchart of a photographing processing procedure performed by a roadside device according to a modified example of the present embodiment; 9 is a flowchart of an example of a processing procedure performed by a central device according to a modification of the embodiment; 9 is a flowchart of an example of a processing procedure performed by a central device according to a modification of the embodiment;

<Configuration of toll collection system 1>
First, a configuration example of the toll collection system 1 will be described.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a toll collection system 1 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1 , the toll collection system 1 includes a roadside device 20 , a storage device 30 , a central device 40 , a storage device 50 , a first storage device 60 and a second storage device 70 .

The roadside device 20 includes a sensor 10, an RFID reading device 12 (tag information reading device), an imaging device 14, an acquisition unit 201, an acquisition unit 202, an acquisition unit 203, a processing unit 205, and a communication unit 206. Prepare.
The storage device 30 includes a third storage device 301 and a fourth storage device 302 .

The central device 40 comprises a communication section 401 and a processing section 402 .
The storage device 50 includes a sixth storage device 501 , a seventh storage device 502 and an eighth storage device 503 .

The sensor 10 detects a vehicle and outputs the detection result to the acquisition unit 201 . Note that the sensor 10 and the acquisition unit 201 may be wired or wirelessly connected.

The RFID reader 12 acquires RFID information (tag information) including a unique ID (identification information) (hereinafter also referred to as TID) by communicating with a wireless tag attached to the vehicle. The RFID reader 12 can repeatedly acquire RFID information. The RFID reader 12 outputs the acquired RFID information to the acquisition unit 202 . Note that the RFID reader 12 intermittently outputs the RFID information, for example, at a predetermined cycle while communicating with the wireless tag in the communication area described later. The RFID reading device 12 adds time information to the output RFID information and transmits the same. Also, when a plurality of wireless tags enter the same communication area, the RFID reading device 12 transmits the RFID information of one of them to the acquiring unit 202, but does not manage the order or excess or deficiency. Note that the RFID reader 12 and the acquisition unit 202 may be connected by wire or wirelessly.

The photographing device 14 photographs the vehicle including the license plate at the photographing timing controlled by the processing unit 205 and outputs the photographed image data to the acquisition unit 203 . Note that the image data is added with the photographing time t3. Note that the imaging device 14 and the acquisition unit 203 may be connected by wire or may be connected wirelessly.

The first storage device 60 stores the information on the license plate in association with the name of the owner of the vehicle who obtained the license plate, the owner information of the vehicle, and the vehicle type (car class) information. The license plate of the vehicle is managed by a public institution such as the government when the vehicle is acquired. Also, the first storage device 60 is managed by a public institution such as the government.

The second storage device 70 stores information of the acquirer, vehicle information (subject vehicle, license plate of the subject vehicle, vehicle type, etc.), and information of payment method (advance payment, postpayment, credit payment, etc.) in the TID of the wireless tag. , is stored in association with the electronic account for charging.

(Function of Roadside Device 20)
The roadside device 20 is installed, for example, at each entrance and exit of a toll road. The roadside device 20 controls the imaging timing of the imaging device 14 based on the detection result obtained from the sensor 10 . The roadside device 20 stores the TID acquired by the RFID reading device 12 in the third storage device 301 of the storage device 30 . The roadside device 20 causes the fourth storage device 302 of the storage device 30 to store the image data captured by the imaging device 14 . The roadside device 20 transmits information stored in the storage device 30 to the central device 40 . The roadside device 20 and the central device 40 are connected via a network, for example.

The acquisition unit 201 acquires the detection result output by the sensor 10 and outputs the acquired detection result to the processing unit 205 .

Acquisition unit 202 acquires RFID information output from RFID reader 12 . In this case, the acquiring unit 202 adds to the RFID information the time (communication start time) when the acquisition of the TID included in the RFID information was started and the time (communication end time) when the acquisition of the TID included in the RFID information was completed. and output to the processing unit 205 . It should be noted that the acquisition unit 202 may have time measuring means (not shown). In this case, the acquisition unit 202 may measure the time when the acquisition of the TID started and the time when the acquisition ended, and add the measured time information to the RFID information.

The acquisition unit 203 acquires image data output by the imaging device 14 and outputs the acquired image data to the processing unit 205 .

The processing unit 205 controls the imaging timing (shutter timing) of the imaging device 14 based on the detection result detected by the sensor 10 output by the acquisition unit 201 . Note that the photographing timing is, for example, when the vehicle reaches a predetermined position, and is a time between the communication start time and the communication end time. The processing unit 205 acquires RFID information output by the acquisition unit 202 . As described above, the RFID information includes the TID, the communication start time, and the communication end time. The processing unit 205 causes the third storage device 301 to store the TID, the communication start time t1, and the communication end time t2 in association with each other. The processing unit 205 acquires image data output by the acquiring unit 203 . As described above, the image data includes the photographing time t3. Note that the shooting timing does not have to be the same as the time detected by the sensor 10 . The imaging time t3 may be, for example, a time obtained by offsetting the time detected by the sensor 10 by a predetermined time. Even in this case, the imaging time t3 is a time between the communication start time t1 and the communication end time t2, and any timing triggered by the detection result of the sensor 10 may be used. Alternatively, the photographing timing may be the timing when the vehicle is detected, and may not be the timing when the sensor 10 detects the vehicle. Therefore, the roadside device 20 does not have to include the sensor 10 for detecting the vehicle. For example, the photographing timing may be the timing when the photographing device 14 acquires images continuously in terms of time and the image of the vehicle in the photographed image has a predetermined area or more. Alternatively, the vehicle may be detected by acquiring the RFID information by the RFID reader 12, and the timing based on the time at which the RFID information is acquired may be the shooting timing.

The processing unit 205 assigns an image unique ID (hereinafter referred to as PID) to the image data, associates the image data, the PID, and the photographing time t3, and stores them in the fourth storage device 302 . Note that the shooting time t3 may be the shooting timing at which the shooting device 14 is controlled to shoot. The processing unit 205 transmits all or any information stored in the third storage device 301 and the information stored in the fourth storage device 302 to the central device 40 via the communication unit 206 . The information to be transmitted is for each lane, and includes roadside device specific information (roadside device ID), lane specific information (lane ID), image data specific information (PID), photographing time t3, and TID. , communication start time t1, and communication end time t2.

The communication unit 206 transmits information output by the processing unit 205 to the central unit 40 .

(Information stored in storage device 30)
As shown in FIG. 2, the third storage device 301 associates and stores the TID, the communication start time t1, and the communication end time t2. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in the third storage device 301 according to this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3, the fourth storage device 302 associates and stores the image data, the PID, and the photographing time t3. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in the fourth storage device 302 according to this embodiment.

The examples shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are only examples. For example, the storage device 30 divides one storage device into a plurality of areas, and stores information stored in the third storage device 301 and information stored in the fourth storage device 302. Information to be stored may be stored. The storage device 30 may also store other information in association with it. The other information is, for example, unique information (gate ID, etc.) of the roadside device 20 .

(Function of central device 40)
Returning to FIG. 1, the central unit 40 will be described.
The central device 40 collects information transmitted by the roadside device 20 . The central device 40 processes the collected information and stores the processed information in the storage device 50 . The central device 40 charges the vehicle based on the information stored in the storage device 50 .

The communication unit 401 receives information transmitted by the road device 20 and outputs the received information to the processing unit 402 .

The processing unit 402 extracts TIDs between the communication start time t1 and the communication end time t2 with respect to the shooting time t3 for each lane of the gate. The processing unit 402 records the extracted TID in the sixth storage device 501 together with the PID and the photographing time t3.
After the above operation, if the license plate number of the image can be identified for a PID with no TID to be associated, the processing unit 402 associates the image data, the PID, the shooting time t3, and the license plate information, and stores the information in the seventh storage device 502. to record. Note that the processing unit 402 identifies license plate information written on the license plate using a well-known image recognition technique such as feature amount extraction and pattern matching for the image data.
If the license plate number of the image cannot be identified for a PID with no TID to be associated, the processing unit 402 causes the eighth storage device 503 to record the image data, the PID, and the photographing time t3 in association with each other.
The processing unit 402 refers to the second storage device 70 and charges the vehicle identified by the TID stored in the sixth storage device 501 .
The processing unit 402 refers to the first storage device 60 and charges the vehicle specified by the license plate information in the seventh storage device 502 .
The processing unit 402 bills the vehicle identified by the image data in the eighth storage device 503 by legal processing such as accusation to the police.

(Information stored in storage device 50)
As shown in FIG. 4, the sixth storage device 501 associates and stores the TID, the PID, and the shooting time t3. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in the sixth storage device 501 according to this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 5, the seventh storage device 502 stores image data, PID, photographing time t3, and license plate information in association with each other. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in the seventh storage device 502 according to this embodiment.

The eighth storage device 503 associates and stores the image data, the PID, and the shooting time t3, as shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in the eighth storage device 503 according to this embodiment.

The examples shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 are only examples. For example, the storage device 50 divides one storage device into a plurality of areas, and stores information stored in the sixth storage device 501 and information stored in the seventh storage device 502. Information to be stored and information stored by the eighth storage device 503 may be stored. The storage device 50 may also store other information in association with it. The other information is, for example, unique information (gate ID, etc.) of the roadside device 20 .

(Overview of components installed near the gate)
Next, an outline of the components installed near the gate will be described.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of components arranged near a gate, an example of a communication area, and an example of an imaging range according to the present embodiment.
In FIG. 7, an area indicated by a symbol g11 shows an example of components arranged near the gate and a communication area, and is a top view of the road. An area indicated by a symbol g12 shows an example of a detection range and an example of an imaging range, and is a view of a road viewed from the side. In FIG. 7, the traveling direction of the vehicle 2 is the x direction, the direction of the horizontal plane perpendicular to the x direction is the y direction, and the height direction is the z direction.

Note that FIG. 7 illustrates a case where a vehicle to which the wireless tag 3 and the license plate 4 are attached travels on a road.
The example indicated by symbol g11 is an example of a road having three lanes. A sensor 10-n is provided via a support member 5 in the n-th (n is an integer of 1 to 3) lane. When one of the sensors 10-1 to 10-3 is not specified, it is referred to as the sensor 10. FIG. Further, an RFID reading device 12-n and an imaging device 14-n are provided on the n-th lane via a support member 6. FIG. When one of the RFID readers 12-1 to 12-3 is not specified, it is referred to as the RFID reader 12. FIG. Also, when one of the imaging devices 14-1 to 14-3 is not specified, it is referred to as the imaging device 14. FIG. Note that the sensor 10 may have a shutter function based on the image processing of the imaging device 14 .

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a sensor 10, an RFID reader 12, and an imaging device 14 are installed on the same lane. Note that if identification for each lane is possible, a single imaging device may be arranged to capture images of a plurality of lanes.

In the area indicated by the symbol g11, an area 101-n is a communication area in the xy plane between the wireless tag 3 and the RFID reader 12. FIG. Note that the region 101 is used when one of the regions 101-n is not specified. Position 111 is the position from which communication is initiated. A position 112 is a photographing timing position at which the photographing device 14 photographs. Position 113 is the position where communication ends.

As shown in the areas indicated by symbols g11 and g12, the wireless tag 3 and the RFID reader 12 communicate with each other in the section from position 111 to position 113. FIG. Reference numerals 121a and 121b indicate communicable ranges on the xz plane in the region indicated by reference numeral g12. Reference numerals 131a and 131b in the region indicated by reference character g12 indicate the photographable range of the photographing device 14 on the xz plane.

Based on the detection result of the sensor 10, the imaging device 14 images the vehicle 2 including the license plate 4 at a position 112, as indicated by the regions g11 and g12. The photographing device 14 outputs the photographed image data to the roadside device 20 (FIG. 1).
Further, as shown in the regions indicated by symbols g11 and g12, the RFID reader 12 communicates with the wireless tag 3 and acquires RFID information from the wireless tag 3 in the section between positions 111 and 113. FIG. The RFID reader 12 outputs the acquired RFID information to the roadside device 20 (FIG. 1).

(Example of TID, communication start time t1, communication end time t2, photographing time t3)
Next, an example of TID, communication start time t1, communication end time t2, and photographing time t3 will be described.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of TID, communication start time t1, communication end time t2, and photographing time t3 according to this embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of communication for one lane. The horizontal axis is time. As shown in FIG. 8, the RFID reader 12 intermittently outputs the RFID information including the TID to the roadside device 20 during the period from the communication start time t1 to the communication end time t2. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the imaging time t3, which is the imaging timing, is the time between the communication start time t1 and the communication end time t2. Note that the TID acquisition period is 200 [ms] as an example.

(Processing example of roadside device 20 and central device 40)
Next, an example of processing performed by the roadside device 20 and the central device 40 will be described.
Note that there is a possibility that the following three types of vehicles may coexist on the toll road.
・Type 1 vehicle: Vehicles with a registered license plate and a registered radio communication tag ・Type 2 vehicle: Vehicles with a registered license plate but without a registered radio communication tag ・3 Vehicles with no registered license plate, damaged, intentionally deformed or concealed so that they cannot be seen correctly, and do not have a registered wireless tag.

First, RFID reading processing will be described.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the RFID reception processing procedure performed by the roadside device 20 according to this embodiment.

(Step S<b>11 ) The processing unit 205 acquires the RFID information acquired by the RFID reader 12 via the acquiring unit 202 .

(Step S12) Based on the RFID information, the processing unit 205 authenticates whether the wireless tag that acquired the RFID information was issued by the toll collection system 1 or not.

(Step S13) If the authentication is OK, that is, if the wireless tag that acquired the RFID information is authenticated as being issued by the toll collection system 1 (Step S13; YES), the processing unit 205 performs the process of Step S15. proceed to If the authentication is NG, that is, if the wireless tag that acquired the RFID information is authenticated as not being issued by the toll collection system 1 (step S13; NO), the process proceeds to step S14.

(Step S14) The processing unit 205 discards the acquired RFID information. After completing step S14, the processing unit 205 ends the process.

(Step S15) The processing unit 205 associates the TID included in the RFID information with the communication start time t1 and the communication end time t2, and causes the third storage device 301 to store them. Note that the processing unit 205 transmits the information stored in the third storage device 301 to the central unit 40 via the communication unit 206 .

Next, shooting processing will be described.
FIG. 10 is a flow chart of a photographing processing procedure performed by the roadside device 20 according to this embodiment.

(Step S<b>21 ) Based on the detection result output by the sensor 10 , the processing unit 205 determines whether or not it is time to shoot. If the processing unit 205 determines that it is time to shoot (step S21; YES), the process proceeds to step S22. If the processing unit 205 determines that it is not the shooting timing (step S21; NO), the processing of step S21 is repeated.

(Step S22) The processing unit 205 controls the imaging device 14 to perform imaging. Subsequently, the processing unit 205 assigns a PID to the captured image.

(Step S23) The processing unit 205 causes the fourth storage device 302 to store the image data, the PID, and the photographing time t3 included in the image data in association with each other. Note that the processing unit 205 transmits the information stored in the fourth storage device 302 to the central unit 40 via the communication unit 206 .

Next, shooting processing will be described.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart of processing procedures performed by the central unit 40 according to this embodiment.

(Step S<b>31 ) The processing unit 402 receives the information transmitted by the road device 20 via the communication unit 401 .

(Step S32) The processing unit 402 extracts TIDs between the communication start time t1 and the communication end time t2 with respect to the photographing time t3 for each lane of the individual gate.

(Step S33) The processing unit 402 determines whether there is a TID to be associated with the PID and whether there is one applicable TID. If the processing unit 402 determines that there is a TID associated with the PID and that there is one corresponding TID (step S33; YES), the process proceeds to step S34. If the processing unit 402 determines that there is no TID to be associated with the PID, or that there are multiple corresponding TIDs (step S33; NO), the process proceeds to step S36.

(Step S34) The processing unit 402 associates the TID with the PID.

(Step S<b>35 ) The processing unit 402 associates the TID, the PID, and the photographing time t3 and records them in the sixth storage device 501 . The information stored in the sixth storage device 501 corresponds to the vehicle of the first type described above. After processing, the processing unit 402 proceeds to the processing of step S40.

(Step S36) The processing unit 402 performs image recognition processing for recognizing license plate information from image data.

(Step S37) The processing unit 402 determines whether or not the license plate information has been image-recognized from the image data. If the processing unit 402 determines that the license plate information has been image-recognized from the image data (step S37; YES), the process proceeds to step S38. When the processing unit 402 determines that the license plate information could not be image-recognized from the image data (step S37; NO), the process proceeds to step S39.

(Step S38) The processing unit 402 associates the image data, the PID, the photographing time t3, and the license plate information and records them in the seventh storage device 502. FIG. The information stored in the seventh storage device 502 corresponds to the case where acquisition of the TID fails in the vehicle of the above-described type 1, or the vehicle of the above-described type 2. After processing, the processing unit 402 proceeds to the processing of step S40.

(Step S39) The processing unit 402 associates the image data, the PID, and the shooting time t3, and records them in the eighth storage device 503. FIG. The information stored in the eighth storage device 503 corresponds to the three types of vehicles described above. After processing, the processing unit 402 proceeds to the processing of step S40.
If the image data includes a plurality of chargeable vehicles, the processing unit 402 performs steps S36 to S39 for each vehicle.

(Step S40) The processing unit 402 performs billing processing. The processing unit 402 refers to the second storage device 70 and charges the vehicle associated with the TID stored in the sixth storage device 501, for example. Alternatively, the processing unit 402 refers to the first storage device 60 and charges the vehicle associated with the license plate information in the seventh storage device 502 . Alternatively, the processing unit 402 charges the vehicle associated with the image data in the eighth storage device 503 by lawful processing such as accusation to the police.

As described above, in the present embodiment, by associating the TID of the time t3 (time stamp) when the image data is captured, it is possible to accurately perform billing without misidentification.

It should be noted that in the processing of FIG. 11, accuracy can be further increased by checking whether the license plate information associated with the TID matches that of the image data. Then, if the data do not match, the processing unit 402 records it in the seventh storage device 502 and charges based on the stored information.

In the above-described example, an example in which the central device 40 recognizes the license plate information from the image data has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the roadside device 20 may allow the central device 40 to recognize the license plate information from the image data. In this case, the processor 205 of the roadside device 20 may store the license plate information in, for example, the fourth storage device 302 and transmit it to the central device 40 . Further, when the license plate information cannot be recognized from the image data, the processing unit 205 may transmit information indicating that the license plate information could not be recognized to the central device 40 .

As described above, according to the present embodiment, an image is captured during the period (time t1 to t2) during which RFID information is being received, and the captured image data is stored in association with the RFID information. As a result, even when RFID information is received from a vehicle traveling on a toll road close to the toll road to which charges are to be applied, the license plate information of the image data associated with this RFID information and the RFID information If the data in the first storage device 60 associated with . As a result, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to appropriately identify passing vehicles on a toll road in which charging is performed by combining wireless communication and image capturing without installing a transmission controller on the road.

(Modification)
Next, a modified example of the embodiment described above will be described. The RFID reading processing procedure performed by the roadside device 20 is the same as the processing in FIG.
A photographing process when license plate information is recognized by the roadside device 20 will be described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a photographing processing procedure performed by the roadside device 20 according to the modified example of this embodiment.

(Steps S21-S22) The processing unit 205 performs the processing of steps S21-S22. After processing, the processing unit 205 proceeds to the processing of step S25.

(Step S25) The processing unit 205 performs image recognition processing for recognizing license plate information from image data.

(Step S26) The processing unit 205 determines whether or not the license plate information has been recognized from the image data. If the processing unit 205 determines that the license plate information has been recognized from the image data (step S26; YES), the process proceeds to step S27. When the processing unit 205 determines that the license plate information cannot be recognized from the image data (step S26; NO), the process proceeds to step S28.

(Step S27) The processing unit 205 sets NP1 to "Read". After processing, the processing unit 205 proceeds to the processing of step S29.
(Step S28) The processing unit 205 sets NP1 to "Null". After processing, the processing unit 205 proceeds to the processing of step S29.

(Step S29) The processing unit 205 stores the image data, the photographing time t3, the PID, and the NP1 in association with each other in the fourth storage device 302. FIG. Note that the processing unit 205 transmits the information stored in the fourth storage device 302 to the central unit 40 via the communication unit 206 .

13 and 14 are flowcharts of an example of processing procedures performed by the central unit 40 according to the modification of the present embodiment.

(Steps S31-S32) The processing unit 402 performs the processing of steps S31-S32. After processing, the processing unit performs the processing of step S100.

(Step S100) The processing unit 402 determines whether or not there is a TID to be associated with the PID. If the processing unit 402 determines that there is a TID to be associated with the PID (step S100; YES), the process proceeds to step S102 (FIG. 14). When the processing unit 402 determines that there is no TID to be associated with the PID (step S100; NO), the process proceeds to step S101.

(Step S101) The processing unit 402 creates a record by associating PID with TID=“Null”, NP1=“Null”, communication start time t1, and communication end time t2. Note that the processing unit 402 may create a record by associating TID=“Null”, NP1=“Null”, and the communication end time t2 with the PID.

The description continues with reference to FIG.
(Step S102) The processing unit 402 determines whether or not there is one TID to be associated with the PID. When the processing unit 402 determines that there is one TID to be associated with the PID (step S102; YES), the process proceeds to step S103. If the processing unit 402 determines that there is more than one TID to be associated with the PID (step S102; NO), the process proceeds to step S104.

(Step S103) The processing unit 402 creates a record in which the PID is associated with the TID. Specifically, the processing unit 402 creates a record by associating the PID with the TID, the shooting time t3, and the NP1. After processing, the processing unit 402 proceeds to the processing of step 109 .

(Step S104) The processing unit 402 determines whether or not there are multiple TIDs to be associated with the PID. If the processing unit 402 determines that there are a plurality of TIDs to be associated with the PID (step S104; YES), the process proceeds to step S106. If the processing unit 402 determines that there are not a plurality of TIDs to be associated with the PID (step S104; NO), the process proceeds to step S105.

(Step S105) The processing unit 402 creates a record associated with the PID as TID=“Null”. Specifically, the processing unit 402 creates a record by associating TID=“Null”, the shooting time t3, and NP1 with the PID. After processing, the processing unit 402 proceeds to the processing of step 109 .

(Step S106) The processing unit 402 determines whether or not a plurality of vehicles are entering one target communication area based on the PID, the photographing time t3, the image data, and the license plate information transmitted by the roadside device 20. discriminate. If the processing unit 402 determines that a plurality of vehicles are entering the one communication area of interest (step S106; NO), the process proceeds to step S108. If the processing unit 402 determines that a plurality of vehicles have not entered the single communication area of interest (step S106; YES), the process proceeds to step S107.

(Step S107) The processing unit 402 creates a record associated with the PID. Specifically, the processing unit 402 uses a newly registered TID as the TID, discards other TIDs, and creates a record by associating the new TID, the photographing time T3, and the license plate information with the PID. After processing, the processing unit 402 proceeds to the processing of step 109 . It should be noted that the creation of the record performed in step S107 is performed on the assumption that the vehicle has multiple tags.

(Step S108) The processing unit 402 creates a record in which PIDs are branched by the number of TIDs and associated with each. For example, if there are n vehicles, j=1 to n. Then, the processing unit 402 processes the first record (PID ₁ , _TID , photographing time t3, license plate information), . . . , the n-th record (PID _n , TID, photographing time t3, license plate information) is created. After processing, the processing unit 402 proceeds to the processing of step 109 . It should be noted that the creation of the record performed in step S108 is performed on the assumption that multiple vehicles enter the communication area.

(Step S109) The processing unit 402 creates a DB (database) for each lane. The elements of the DB are (PID, TID, photographing time t3, license plate information). Note that the processing unit 402 causes the storage device 50 to store the DB.

(Step S110) The processing unit 402 determines whether or not the same TID is detected within a predetermined time range of the photographing time t3 for each adjacent lane. If the processing unit 402 determines that the same TID is not detected within the predetermined time range of the photographing time t3 for each adjacent lane (step S110; NO), the process proceeds to step S112. If the processing unit 402 determines that the same TID is detected within the predetermined time range of the photographing time t3 for each adjacent lane (step S110; YES), the process proceeds to step S111.

(Step S111) The processing unit 402 deletes the street record of the adjacent lane from the DB. After processing, the processing unit proceeds to the processing of step S112. Note that the process of step S11 is performed because the same TID is duplicated in adjacent lanes.

(Step S112) The processing unit 402 performs charging processing in the same manner as in step S40 (FIG. 11).

Note that steps S110 and S111 are processes for preventing double billing due to multiple detections of one TID in adjacent lanes. If the processing of steps S110 and S111 were performed for each file of the day, even if the same vehicle passed through the same lane multiple times, the data would be deleted by the processing of step S111. billing will not be possible. For this reason, in the process of step S110, a time limit of within a predetermined time range is set. Note that the predetermined time range is a time sufficiently shorter than the time during which the same vehicle can pass through the same lane multiple times.

As described above, according to the modified example, even when, for example, a four-wheeled vehicle and a two-wheeled vehicle travel in the communication area of one lane, it is possible to appropriately charge.

In each of the above-described embodiments, all or part of the various processes of the roadside device 20 and the central device 40 are stored in the form of a program in a computer-readable recording medium. The various processes described above are performed by being read out and executed by a computer. Computer-readable recording media include magnetic disks, magneto-optical disks, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, semiconductor memories, and the like. Alternatively, the computer program may be distributed to a computer via a communication line, and the computer receiving the distribution may execute the program.

The program may be for realizing part of the functions described above. Furthermore, it may be a so-called difference file (difference program) that can realize the above functions by combining with a program already recorded in the computer system.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, all these embodiments are provided by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as the scope of the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof.

1 toll collection system 2 vehicle 3 wireless tag 4 license plate 10, 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-n sensor 12, 12-1, 12-2, 12-3, 12 -n RFID reader 14, 14-1, 14-2, 14-2, 14-3, 14-n photographing device 20 roadside device 30 storage device 40 central device 50 storage device 60 first Storage device 70 Second storage devices 101, 101-1, 101-2, 102-3, 101-n Communication area 111 Communication start position 112 Shooting timing position 113 Communication end position 201, 202, 203 . Acquisition unit 205 Processing unit 206 Communication unit 301 Third storage device 302 Fourth storage device 401 Communication unit 402 Processing unit 501 Sixth storage device 502 Seventh storage device 503 Eighth storage device

Claims (10)

an imaging device that captures an image of the vehicle triggered by detection of the vehicle, and acquires image data including an image of the vehicle obtained by the imaging and an imaging time;
a tag information reader that is provided in the same lane as the imaging device and acquires tag information including tag identification information, communication start time, and communication end time;
a processing unit that transmits the tag information and the image data to a central device;
roadside equipment. The processing unit further transmits identification information of its own device and identification information of the lane to the central device.
The roadside device according to claim 1. a communication unit that receives, from a roadside device, image data including an image of a vehicle and a photographing time, and tag information including tag identification information, a communication start time, and a communication end time;
For one piece of image data, tag information whose photographing time included in the image data is between the communication start time and the communication end time included in the tag information is extracted, and the tag information is associated, a processing unit that charges the vehicle based on the associated result;
Central device with The processing unit extracts license plate information related to the license plate of the vehicle from the image of the vehicle by image recognition, and charges the vehicle using the extracted license plate information.
4. Central unit according to claim 3. When the tag information to be associated with the image of the vehicle does not exist, the processing unit associates information indicating that the tag information does not exist, and charges the vehicle based on the association result.
5. Central unit according to claim 3 or claim 4. When the number of pieces of tag information to be associated with the image of the vehicle is n (where n is an integer equal to or greater than 2), the processing unit associates the image of the vehicle with each n pieces of the tag information, and obtains a result of the association. charging the vehicle based on
5. Central unit according to claim 3 or claim 4. a photographing step in which the photographing device photographs the vehicle triggered by detection of the vehicle, and acquires image data including the image of the vehicle obtained by the photographing and the photographing time;
a tag information reading step in which a tag information reading device provided in the same lane as the imaging device acquires tag information including tag identification information, a communication start time, and a communication end time;
a processing step of transmitting the tag information and the image data to a central device;
A roadside device control method comprising: to the computer of the roadside device,
a photographing step in which the photographing device photographs the vehicle triggered by detection of the vehicle, and acquires image data including the image of the vehicle obtained by the photographing and the photographing time;
a tag information reading step in which a tag information reading device provided in the same lane as the imaging device acquires tag information including tag identification information, a communication start time, and a communication end time;
a processing step of transmitting the tag information and the image data to a central device;
Roadside device control program to execute a communication step of receiving, from a roadside device, image data including an image of a vehicle and a photographing time, and tag information including tag identification information, a communication start time, and a communication end time;
For one piece of image data, tag information whose photographing time included in the image data is between the communication start time and the communication end time included in the tag information is extracted, and the tag information is associated, a processing step of charging the vehicle based on the associated result;
A central unit control method comprising: on the computer of the central unit,
a communication step of receiving, from a roadside device, image data including an image of a vehicle and a photographing time, and tag information including tag identification information, a communication start time, and a communication end time;
For one piece of image data, tag information whose photographing time included in the image data is between the communication start time and the communication end time included in the tag information is extracted, and the tag information is associated, a processing step of charging the vehicle based on the associated result;
A central unit control program that runs

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