JP2005004516A - Course check system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a course check system capable of checking a course even when a visual field in the front of the course is obstructed by other transport facilities. <P>SOLUTION: When a forward visual field is obstructed by a vehicle 103<SB>1</SB>existing just before a vehicle 103<SB>2</SB>traveling a road 109, a user of the vehicle 103<SB>2</SB>accesses an information reporting server 102 through a base station 107, and when the just forward vehicle 103<SB>2</SB>is equipped with a monitor camera 108, acquires a forward image photographed by the monitor camera 108 through the Internet 101. A display state signal can be obtained also from a signal 111 and displayed. Consequently forward necessary information can be additionally acquired and utilized for safe driving. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a course confirmation system for a transportation system such as a vehicle or a ship to confirm a course on a road or the sea.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, when a vehicle travels on a road, a navigation system using a GPS (Global Positioning System) is widely used. In this navigation system, a surrounding map is displayed while confirming the current position by GPS, thereby supporting smooth running of the vehicle. However, the information obtained by the navigation system is only map information of the surroundings, and it is impossible to know the state of road congestion.
[0003]
Therefore, using a video camera and a vehicle equipped with position information acquisition means and a fixed camera placed at a fixed position on the road, the situation of representative positions on the road is displayed on the user's personal computer or the like using the Internet. A system that can be used has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1). Thereby, the range in which the user can browse images can be greatly expanded. In addition to the image information acquired by the image acquisition device mounted on the vehicle, the image information acquired by the fixed image acquisition device can be used. For this reason, it is only necessary to use the image information acquired by the image acquisition device only where the fixed image acquisition device is not installed, and the communication cost can be reduced.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-123190 (paragraph 0056, FIG. 1)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, when driving a vehicle with a low vehicle height, there is a problem that the front view does not work if the vehicle just before is a large vehicle such as a truck or bus or a vehicle with a high vehicle height. . For this reason, there is a risk of rear-end collision if the vehicle immediately before brakes suddenly and the response is delayed without knowing the situation. Moreover, when the vehicle immediately before reaches an intersection with a signal, there is a possibility of passing through the intersection according to the vehicle immediately before that. In such a case, depending on the state of the signal, a traffic violation may be committed, and it is very dangerous because it passes through the traffic without knowing the situation of the intersection.
[0006]
As described above, the vehicle traveling on the road has been described, but there is a similar problem when the visibility of the route is obstructed by the transportation system existing in the traveling direction, such as a large ship in front of the route.
[0007]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a course confirmation system that can confirm a course even when the field of view ahead of the course is obstructed by other transportation means.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, (a) a monitor-equipped transportation search for retrieving a monitor-equipped transportation equipped with a monitor device that is positioned immediately in front of the image-requesting transportation requested to obtain a monitor image And (b) a monitor image distribution unit that acquires a monitor image output by the monitor device of the monitor-equipped transportation searched by the monitor-equipped transportation retrieval unit and distributes it to the image requesting transportation system. Let
[0009]
That is, in the first aspect of the invention, the monitor-equipped transportation retrieval means retrieves the monitor-equipped transportation equipped with a monitor device that is positioned immediately in front of the image-requesting transportation requested to obtain the monitor image. When such a monitor-equipped transportation system exists, the monitor image output by the monitor device is acquired and distributed to the requested image requesting transportation system. There is a possibility that the image can be acquired even without it, which contributes to traffic safety. Moreover, if some points such as giving points for exchanging products are given in exchange for providing images to the monitor-equipped transportation system, it will lead to the spread of the monitor-equipped transportation system and the utilization rate of the route confirmation system can be increased.
[0010]
In the invention described in claim 2, (a) a monitor-equipped vehicle search means for searching for a monitor-equipped vehicle equipped with a monitor device that is positioned in front of the path of the image requesting vehicle for which a monitor image acquisition request has been made and monitors the path; (B) The route confirmation system includes monitor image distribution means for acquiring a monitor image output by the monitor device of the monitor-equipped transportation system searched by the monitor-equipped transportation means retrieving means and distributing it to the image requesting vehicle.
[0011]
That is, in the invention described in claim 2, the monitor-equipped transportation means searching means retrieves a monitor-equipped vehicle equipped with a monitor device that is positioned immediately in front of the image requesting vehicle for which a monitor image acquisition request has been made and monitors the course. If there is such a monitor-equipped vehicle, the monitor image output by the monitor device is acquired and distributed to the requested image requesting vehicle. Will contribute to road safety. In addition, if a score such as a discount on tolls on toll roads is given in exchange for providing an image to a monitor-equipped vehicle, the monitor-equipped vehicle is spread and the utilization rate of the route confirmation system can be increased.
[0012]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the course confirmation system according to the second aspect, the monitor-equipped vehicle search means searches for the monitor-equipped vehicle closest to the image requesting vehicle.
[0013]
That is, in the invention according to the third aspect, for example, by searching for a monitor-equipped vehicle closest to the image requesting vehicle using GPS, an image closest to the image requested by the user can be obtained.
[0014]
In the invention according to claim 4, (a) a traffic signal search means for searching for the nearest traffic signal located in front of the path of the signal information requesting vehicle for which an information acquisition request regarding the signal has been made, and (b) the vehicle of the traffic signal search means The route confirmation system includes signal information acquisition means for acquiring signal information indicating whether or not the vehicle can pass, and (c) signal information distribution means for sequentially distributing the signal information acquired by the signal information acquisition means to the signal information requesting vehicle. .
[0015]
That is, in the invention described in claim 4, the signal information requesting vehicle for which the information acquisition request regarding the signal is requested is searched for the traffic signal immediately before the course, and the signal information indicating whether or not the vehicle can pass through the vehicle is acquired and sequentially displayed. It is possible to obtain current information on nearby traffic signals and determine whether the vehicle can pass through the traffic signal position by estimating the time it takes for the vehicle to reach the traffic signal position. It can be a document.
[0016]
In the invention according to claim 5, (a) a traffic light searching means for searching for the nearest traffic light located in front of the path of the signal information requesting vehicle for which an information acquisition request regarding the signal has been made, and (b) a search by the traffic light searching means. An arrival time predicting means for predicting the arrival time of the signal information requesting vehicle to the position of the traffic light; and (c) a signal state for determining the signal state of the traffic signal searched by the traffic light searching means at the time predicted by the arrival time predicting means. The course confirmation system is provided with discrimination means and (d) signal information transmission means for transmitting the discrimination result of the signal state discrimination means to the signal information requesting vehicle.
[0017]
That is, in the invention according to claim 5, when the signal information requesting vehicle for which the information acquisition request regarding the signal has passed passes through the position of the nearest traffic signal, the arrival time to that position is determined based on the speed of the vehicle or the nearest traffic signal. The arrival time predicting means predicts from the road and the like, and the signal state of the traffic signal searched by the traffic signal searching means at the predicted time is transmitted to the signal information requesting vehicle for notification. Therefore, the signal information requesting vehicle side can obtain one judgment material as to whether or not the traffic signal intersection can be passed without stopping.
[0018]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the course confirmation system according to the fifth aspect, the alarm output means for outputting an alarm when the state of the signal determined by the signal state determination means is a state instructing to stop the vehicle before the traffic light. It is characterized by comprising.
[0019]
That is, in the invention described in claim 6, when there is a possibility of stopping in front of the traffic light, an alarm is given by sound, light or the like to give attention to the driver of the vehicle. Of course, if there is no alarm, it is not necessary to stop in front of the traffic light, but the driver can be further alerted by the alarm.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021]
【Example】
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples.
[0022]
FIG. 1 shows an outline of the system configuration of a course confirmation system in an embodiment of the present invention. The route confirmation system 100 includes an information notification server 102 connected to the Internet network 101. Vehicle 103 ₁ , 103 ₂ Is a communication terminal 104 that can use the route confirmation system according to the present embodiment. ₁ , 104 ₂ It has. These communication terminals 104 ₁ , 104 ₂ Is the GPS satellite 105 shown ₁ , 105 ₂ A position measurement function for measuring the current position using a plurality of GPS satellites and the like, and an Internet connection function connectable to the Internet network 101 via the base station 107 of the mobile network 106. Furthermore, the relatively large vehicle 103 ₁ Is equipped with a monitor camera 108 for monitoring the front. An image captured by the monitor camera 108 is the communication terminal 104. ₁ Thus, the information can be sent to the information notification server 102 via the Internet 101. The traffic lights 111 arranged everywhere on the road 109 are similarly provided with a communication terminal 112. The communication terminal 112 is configured to send signal lighting state information indicating the lighting state of the signals and the switching timing thereof to the information notification server 102 via the base station 107 together with the ID (Identification) of the traffic signal 111. The information notification server 102 stores their positions in advance in association with the IDs of the traffic lights 111.
[0023]
FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the information notification server. The information notification server 102 has basically the same configuration as a personal computer or workstation, and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 121. The CPU 121 is connected to the communication unit 122, the control program storage unit 123, the traffic signal database 124, the vehicle database 125, the input / output interface unit 126, the work memory 127, and the navigation database 128. Here, the communication unit 122 is a circuit portion that communicates with various places via the Internet network 101 shown in FIG. The control program storage unit 123 stores a control program for performing various controls as the information notification server 102. The traffic signal database 124 stores data such as the position of each traffic signal such as the traffic signal 111 illustrated in FIG. The vehicle database 125 is registered in the route confirmation system 100 and each vehicle 103 traveling on the road 109 indicated in the registered content. ₁ , 103 ₂ Data such as the current position and speed of each and the presence or absence of the monitor camera 108 are stored. Of these, data that may vary with time, such as position and velocity, is updated at a sufficiently short period.
[0024]
The input / output interface unit 126 connects an image output monitor 131 and an input device 132 such as a keyboard. These are mainly used for maintenance. The work memory 127 stores data for temporary processing such as an image obtained from a specific monitor camera requested to acquire an image, such as the monitor camera 108, or data for performing various arithmetic processes. As such, it is designed to store temporarily used data. In the navigation database 128, the vehicle 103 shown in FIG. ₁ , 103 ₂ Various databases such as map data enabling navigation of vehicles such as the above are stored. However, depending on the vehicle, various databases such as map data are stored in a storage medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), and the navigation database 128 is not necessary in such a vehicle.
[0025]
FIG. 3 shows an outline of a circuit configuration of a vehicle provided with a monitor camera. Here, the vehicle 103 shown in FIG. ₁ The circuit configuration is shown as an example. Relatively large vehicle 103 ₁ Includes a CPU 141 that performs a central function for performing various controls. The CPU 141 is connected to each unit in the apparatus. Among these, the communication unit 142 is connected to the information notification server 102 connected to the Internet network 101 by performing wireless communication with the base station 107 shown in FIG. 1, and communicates with the information notification server 102. The control program storage unit 143 is the vehicle 103 ₁ Is a part for storing a control program for performing control required in a state in which the route confirmation system is operated. The work memory 144 is a part for temporarily storing various data or image data necessary for executing this control program.
[0026]
The GPS function unit 145 includes the GPS satellite 105 shown in FIG. ₁ , 105 ₂ Vehicle 103 by receiving signals of a plurality of GPS satellites such as ₁ Determine the position of. The monitor camera unit 146 is connected to the vehicle 103 by the monitor camera 108 shown in FIG. ₁ Shoot in front of. The position information acquired by the GPS function unit 145 is always sent to the information notification server 102 by the communication unit 142. ₁ Is sent as information. At this time, monitor camera unit presence / absence information indicating the presence / absence of the monitor camera unit 146 is also transmitted. The input interface (I / F) circuit unit 147 is configured to perform various data input operations using the touch panel 148. Of course, a keyboard or a dedicated operation panel may be provided instead. The output interface circuit unit 149 displays characters and images on the monitor screen 151. In addition, a warning sound and a voice announcement are output from the speaker 152. A touch panel 148 is attached to the front surface of the monitor screen 151.
[0027]
FIG. 4 shows an outline of a circuit configuration of a vehicle not provided with a monitor camera. Here, the vehicle 103 shown in FIG. ₂ The circuit configuration is shown as an example. Relatively small vehicle 103 ₂ Includes a CPU 161 that performs a central function for performing various controls. The CPU 161 is connected to each unit in the apparatus. Among these, the communication unit 162 is connected to the information notification server 102 connected to the Internet network 101 by performing wireless communication with the base station 107 shown in FIG. 1, and communicates with this. The control program storage unit 163 is the vehicle 103 ₂ Is a part for storing a control program for performing control required in a state in which the route confirmation system is operated. The work memory 164 is a part for temporarily storing various data or image data necessary for executing this control program.
[0028]
The GPS function unit 165 includes the GPS satellite 105 shown in FIG. ₁ , 105 ₂ Vehicle 103 by receiving signals of a plurality of GPS satellites such as ₂ Determine the position of. The position information acquired by the GPS function unit 165 is always sent to the information notification server 102 by the communication unit 162 and the vehicle 103. ₂ Is sent as information. At this time, monitor camera section presence / absence information is also transmitted. An input interface (I / F) circuit unit 167 is configured to perform various data input operations using a touch panel 168. Of course, a keyboard or a dedicated operation panel may be provided instead. The output interface circuit unit 169 displays characters and images on the monitor screen 171. In addition, a warning sound and a voice announcement are output from the speaker 172. A touch panel 168 is attached to the front surface of the monitor screen 171.
[0029]
FIG. 5 shows the appearance of the input / output device mounted on each vehicle. Here, the vehicle 103 ₂ The input / output device 181 provided in the above will be described as an example. The input / output device 181 includes a monitor screen 171 with a touch panel 168 attached to the front surface, and a speaker 172 and a power switch 175 arranged in a portion immediately below the monitor screen 171. A central portion of the monitor screen 171 constitutes an image display portion 176, and various buttons such as a front information button 177 are displayed around the image display portion 176 as necessary. In the state shown in FIG. 5, the “car navigation mode” is set, and although not shown in the image display unit 176, the vehicle 103 is displayed together with surrounding map information. ₂ The current location of is displayed. Vehicle 103 ₂ When the user presses the forward information button 177, when another vehicle located ahead has a monitor camera, the image is displayed instead of the image display unit 176.
[0030]
FIG. 6 shows an example of a situation where a small vehicle is traveling on a road immediately after the large vehicle. Vehicle 103 also shown in FIG. ₂ Vehicle 103 such as a truck with a high vehicle height immediately before ₁ Vehicle 103 is relatively low ₂ Cannot confirm the front of the road 109. Therefore, in such a case, the vehicle 103 ₂ The user of his / her own communication terminal 104 ₂ Is connected to the information notification server 102 in the car navigation mode, the front information button 177 shown in FIG. 5 is pressed. Then, an acquisition request for the forward information input from the touch panel 168 illustrated in FIG. 4 is transmitted to the information notification server 102 by the communication unit 162.
[0031]
FIG. 7 shows a state in which a vehicle that has made a forward information acquisition request acquires forward information. Vehicle 103 ₂ When the forward information acquisition request 191 reaches the information notification server 102, the information notification server 102 ₂ Vehicle 103 based on the relationship between the position information of the vehicle and the traveling direction of the road 109 ₂ The vehicle equipped with the monitor camera 108 traveling in the same direction at a position closest to this in the traveling direction is searched. At this time, the vehicle database 125 shown in FIG. 2 is searched. At this time, a vehicle satisfying the position condition is searched for among vehicles equipped with the monitor camera 108. The search result is, for example, the immediately preceding vehicle 103. ₁ If so, an image distribution request 192 is sent to the communication unit 142. Vehicle 103 ₁ In the case where a plurality of vehicles are continuously running immediately before the vehicle and each is equipped with a monitor camera 108, the user issues an instruction to the information notification server 102 and the plurality of monitor cameras. The 108 images can be sequentially switched to select the vehicle that delivers the most appropriate image.
[0032]
Vehicle 103 ₁ If the setting is such that the image of the monitor camera 108 is provided to the request destination, the communication unit 142 transmits the image data 193 of the monitor camera 108 to the information notification server 102 from the time of the request. This image data 193 is stored in the vehicle 103. ₂ Are displayed on the image display unit 176 shown in FIG. Therefore, the vehicle 103 ₂ The user can grasp the front in the imaging range 195 of the monitor camera 108.
[0033]
FIG. 8 shows a state in which the immediately preceding vehicle is about to pass a place where a traffic light is arranged in a state where the forward confirmation is performed by such a monitor camera. Vehicle 103 ahead ₁ The image data 193 of the monitor camera 108 is transmitted to the rear vehicle 103 via the information notification server 102. ₂ In the state displayed on the image display unit 176 of the vehicle 103. ₂ The user can confirm that the traffic light 111 is in front and the display state of the signal. Therefore, the vehicle 103 ahead is in a state where the traffic light 111 is yellow or red. ₁ Even if the vehicle passes the intersection, the following vehicle 103 ₂ The user of this vehicle 103 before the intersection ₂ Can be stopped.
[0034]
Furthermore, in the course confirmation system of the present embodiment, the vehicle can travel on the road 109 while confirming the signal state even when the vehicle immediately before obstructing the field of view by making a traffic light confirmation request is not equipped with the monitor camera 108. it can. This will be described next.
[0035]
FIG. 9 shows the flow of processing performed on the corresponding vehicle by the information notification server that has received the traffic light confirmation request. For example, vehicle 103 ₂ , The user confirms the traffic signal by operating the touch panel 168 (FIG. 4). The information notification server 102 first moves the vehicle 103 along the road 109. ₂ The nearest traffic signal in the traveling direction is searched (step S201). Next applicable vehicle 103 ₂ Based on the position information of the traffic signal 111 and the position information actually measured in advance of the traffic light 111, the distance between the road 109 is calculated (step S202). And vehicle 103 ₂ The estimated time that can be reached from the current speed to the position of the traffic light 111 is calculated (step S203). Next, based on the signal lighting state information provided from the corresponding traffic light 111 to the information notification server 102, the vehicle 103 ₂ Assuming that the vehicle travels at the same speed, a prediction calculation is made as to whether or not the signal turns red or yellow at the position of the traffic light 111 (step S204). As a result, when it is predicted that the color will be red or yellow (step S205: Y), information to that effect is sent to the communication unit 162, and the image display unit 176 shown in FIG. ) And the vehicle 103 in front of the traffic light 111 ₂ Is output from the speaker 172 (step S206). Therefore, the vehicle 103 ₂ The user of the previous vehicle 103 ₁ Even if the vehicle passes the intersection without decelerating, the vehicle 103 is in front of it. ₂ Can be safely stopped.
[0036]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S205 that the signal does not turn red or yellow at the position of the traffic light 111 (N), the information notification server 102 displays the distance to the traffic light 111 and the current signal display state on the vehicle 103. ₂ To the communication unit 162 (step S207). As a result, the vehicle 103 ₂ The image display unit 176 displays the distance to the traffic signal 111 arranged in the traveling direction and the signal display state. Therefore, the user can grasp the state of the signal with the traffic light 111 being far away.
[0037]
FIG. 10 shows an example of the display in step S207. The signal display state and the distance to the traffic light are displayed on the image display unit 176 shown in FIG. At this time, in the remaining part of the image display unit 176, a surrounding map may be displayed in the “car navigation mode”. In this case, the corresponding traffic signal on the map and the vehicle 103 ₂ A mark indicating the position may be written. Of course, the signal display state or the like may be displayed together with other information such as news displayed on the image display unit 176.
[0038]
In addition, although the Example demonstrated the course confirmation system using a mobile network and the internet network, it is also possible to comprise the same system using some of these or other communication networks. Of course, transportation is not limited to ordinary vehicles such as automobiles. Furthermore, it is natural that the present invention can be applied to transportation other than roads.
[0039]
Further, in the embodiment, the information such as the signal display state is obtained from each traffic signal. However, the information possessed by the control center or the like having jurisdiction over each traffic signal is obtained instead, and the signal display status or the like of each traffic signal is obtained. It is also possible to extract and use this information.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a monitor equipped with a monitor device in which the monitor-equipped transportation retrieval means is located immediately in front of the image requesting transportation where the monitor image is requested to be acquired. Search for onboard transportation, acquire the monitor image output by the monitor device, and distribute it to the requested image requesting transportation, so there is a possibility of acquiring images without trouble from the onboard monitoring transportation that obstructs the field of view. Contributes to safety.
[0041]
According to the invention of claim 2, the monitor-equipped vehicle search means searches for a monitor-equipped vehicle equipped with a monitor device that is positioned immediately before the image-requesting vehicle for which a monitor image acquisition request has been made and monitors the course, Since the monitor image output by the monitor device is acquired and distributed to the requested image requesting vehicle, there is a possibility of acquiring an image without trouble from the monitor-equipped vehicle that obstructs the field of view, which contributes to traffic safety.
[0042]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the signal information requesting vehicle for which the information acquisition request regarding the signal is requested is searched for the traffic signal immediately before the course, and the signal information indicating whether or not the signal vehicle can pass through is acquired. By displaying sequentially, it can be used as a judgment material whether it can pass through the position of the nearby traffic signal as it is. Even if the presence of a traffic light is known, if the lighting state cannot be seen by the previous vehicle, the display state of the traffic light at that time is known, which is convenient. Therefore, it is possible to contribute to traffic safety even when the monitor image cannot be obtained as in the invention of claim 2 or when the weather conditions are bad.
[0043]
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when a signal information requesting vehicle for which an information acquisition request related to a signal has passed the position of the nearest traffic signal, the arrival time to that position is determined based on the speed of the vehicle or the nearest traffic signal. Because it is predicted by the arrival time predicting means from the way to the road, etc., the signal state of the traffic light searched by the traffic light searching means at the predicted time is determined by the signal state determining means and transmitted to the signal information requesting vehicle. Using this reference data, traffic safety can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an outline of a system configuration of a course confirmation system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information notification server according to the present exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of a circuit configuration of a vehicle including a monitor camera in the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an outline of a circuit configuration of a vehicle that does not include a monitor camera in the present embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an appearance of an input / output device mounted on each vehicle in the present embodiment.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a situation when a small vehicle is traveling on a road immediately after the large vehicle.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a vehicle that has made a request for acquiring forward information acquires forward information in the embodiment.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the immediately preceding vehicle is about to pass through a place where a traffic light is placed in a state in which the front confirmation is performed by the monitor camera.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process performed by an information notification server that has received a traffic light confirmation request on a corresponding vehicle in this embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating an example of a display state of an image display unit that displays a traffic signal display state and the like in the present embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 course confirmation system
101 Internet network
102 Information notification server
103 vehicles
104 Communication terminal
105 GPS satellite
106 Mobile network
107 base station
108 Monitor camera
109 road
111 traffic light
121, 141, 161 CPU
122, 142, 162 Communication unit
123, 143, 163 Control program storage
145, 165 GPS function section
146 Monitor camera section
148, 168 touch panel
151, 171 Monitor screen
152, 172 Speaker
176 Image display
177 Front information button

Claims (6)

Monitor-equipped transportation retrieval means for retrieving a monitor-equipped transportation equipped with a monitor device that is located immediately in front of the image-requested transportation requested to obtain a monitor image, and that monitors the course;
A route confirmation comprising: monitor image distribution means for acquiring a monitor image output by the monitor device of the monitor-equipped transportation retrieved by the monitor-equipped transportation retrieval means and distributing it to the image requesting transportation facility system. A monitor-equipped vehicle search means for searching for a monitor-equipped vehicle equipped with a monitor device that is positioned in front of the course of the image requesting vehicle for which a monitor image acquisition request has been made and monitors the course;
A course confirmation system, comprising: monitor image distribution means for acquiring a monitor image output from the monitor device of the monitor-equipped vehicle searched by the monitor-equipped vehicle search means and distributing it to the image requesting vehicle. 3. The route confirmation system according to claim 2, wherein the monitor-equipped vehicle search means searches for a monitor-equipped vehicle closest to the image requesting vehicle. A traffic signal search means for searching for the nearest traffic signal located in front of the course of the signal information requesting vehicle for which there was an information acquisition request regarding the signal;
Signal information acquisition means for acquiring signal information indicating whether or not the traffic signal search means can pass through the vehicle;
A route confirmation system comprising signal information distribution means for sequentially distributing signal information acquired by the signal information acquisition means to the signal information requesting vehicle. A traffic signal search means for searching for the nearest traffic signal located in front of the course of the signal information requesting vehicle for which there was an information acquisition request regarding the signal;
Arrival time predicting means for predicting the arrival time of the signal information requesting vehicle to the position of the traffic light searched by the traffic light searching means;
A signal state discriminating unit for discriminating a signal state of the traffic signal searched by the traffic signal searching unit at a time predicted by the arrival time predicting unit;
A route confirmation system, comprising: signal information transmitting means for transmitting the determination result of the signal state determining means to the signal information requesting vehicle. 6. The course confirmation system according to claim 5, further comprising alarm output means for outputting an alarm when the signal state determined by the signal state determination means is a state instructing to stop the vehicle before the traffic light.

Images