JP2008134957A - Traffic information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a traffic information processing system allowing collection of travel data of a vehicle by using communication records of a mobile terminal from the vehicle regardless of the moving speed of the vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: This traffic information processing system has: a center device 2 collecting the travel data of the vehicle, and distributing traffic information; a large number of mobile terminals 1b each having a traffic information distribution request means 11a performing a distribution request of the traffic information to the center device, and a traffic information reception means 12b receiving the traffic information. The center device has: a traffic information collection means 22 acquiring at least one of the traffic information reception and the traffic information distribution request in the large number of mobile terminals, holding it as the communication record, producing position-time data of a vehicle group based on communication time information and position information of each of the large number of mobile terminals obtained associatively to the communication record to produce a database, and holding it as the traffic information; and a traffic information distribution means 21 returning the traffic information related to a position of the mobile terminal requested according to the request from the traffic information distribution request means based on the database. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a traffic information processing system that collects and distributes traffic information using a communication record by a mobile phone from a vehicle traveling on a road.

  Recently, traffic information is generated and collected in a database by matching the position and moving speed of a vehicle obtained by a probe car or a beacon device installed on a road with a road map database, and traffic information is aggregated. A system that calculates and distributes the estimated travel time to the ground has been developed, and services using it have been developed.

  As a method using a probe car, for example, there is a method disclosed in Patent Document 1. In order to realize this method, since it is necessary to regularly communicate between the vehicle and the center, a vehicle of a specific industry such as a taxi, a bus, or a truck is used as the probe car. For this reason, there is a problem that it is difficult to collect traffic information on a road where the traffic volume of general vehicles is large but the traffic volume of vehicles of a specific industry such as a taxi is small, for example, a road that is off the bus route.

  As a method using a beacon device, for example, there is a method disclosed in Patent Document 2. When realizing this method, it is necessary to install a dedicated beacon device on the road, and the introduction cost is high. For this reason, it can be introduced on some major roads such as the national highway for expressways and the Metropolitan Expressway, but it is difficult to introduce it on the entire road network including a general road.

JP 2003-281684 A JP-A-2005-149358

  In order to solve such a problem, in the United States and the like, an attempt is made to track a communication record of a mobile phone from a vehicle traveling on a road and use it as probe information. In this method, traffic information is generated by analyzing the position of a base station with which a mobile phone communicates and the direction of radio waves and matching with road map data. It is also possible to collect position information using a GPS function mounted on a mobile phone.

  According to the method using the mobile phone described above, traffic information of not only vehicles of a specific industry but also general vehicles can be collected widely. Moreover, since it is not necessary to install a dedicated device, the introduction cost can be kept low. Because of these advantages, this method is expected as a means for collecting a large amount of detailed traffic information at a lower cost than in the past.

  By the way, generally, the communication record of the mobile phone includes the communication record from other than the vehicle such as a pedestrian, a passenger on the railway, or a call from inside the building. Therefore, in order to track the communication record of the mobile phone from the vehicle, it is necessary to extract only the communication record from the vehicle from the communication records transmitted from various places.

  Conventionally, for example, a cleansing process that calculates a moving speed of a communication position, excludes a communication record moving at a speed that is too fast or too slow as a vehicle, and leaves only a record that seems to be a communication record from the vehicle. And tried to extract only calls from vehicles as much as possible.

  However, in the cleansing process that depends on the moving speed of the communication position, for example, a communication record from a vehicle moving at a very slow speed like a pedestrian due to a traffic jam is a communication record when a pedestrian makes a call. There is a problem that it is difficult to distinguish.

  On the other hand, since the traffic information is important information in the traffic information, it is preferable that communication from a vehicle moving at the speed of a pedestrian can be detected.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for collecting traffic information from a wide road network including general roads at a relatively low cost.

  The traffic information processing system of the present invention uses a mobile phone that extracts mobile phone communication records from a running vehicle regardless of the speed of the vehicle and targets mobile phone users who are in the vehicle. Provide a traffic information distribution service for a fee. A communication record is collected as communication from the vehicle regardless of the moving speed by using the communication position of the mobile phone when using the service as an input.

  That is, according to one aspect of the present invention, a center device that collects vehicle travel data and distributes traffic information, a traffic information distribution request unit that makes a traffic information distribution request to the center device, and a traffic information A traffic information processing system comprising: a plurality of mobile terminals provided with traffic information receiving means for receiving, wherein the center device receives at least one of traffic information distribution requests or traffic information reception in the plurality of mobile terminals. Obtain and hold as a communication record, create position-time data of the vehicle group based on the position information and communication time information of each of the large number of mobile terminals obtained in connection with the communication record, create a database Traffic information collecting means to be held as traffic information and traffic information related to the location of the portable terminal requested in response to a request from the traffic information distribution request means The traffic information processing system characterized by having a traffic information distribution unit for returning, based on the database is provided. It may be determined whether the mobile terminal has been registered in advance.

  Further, the center device includes mobile phone information management means for managing a database for managing mobile terminal ID information for identifying mobile terminals, and is determined to be the same mobile terminal based on the mobile terminal ID information In the case, the same vehicle ID is given to the traffic information distribution request or the traffic information reception that is close in time, and the traffic information distribution request or the traffic information reception that is separated in time Alternatively, different vehicle IDs may be assigned.

  When the mobile terminal has a GPS function, the GPS function is used to measure the position of the mobile terminal at least when traffic information distribution is requested and when the traffic information is received, and the measured position information is transmitted to the center device. It is preferable to provide position information transmission means. When the mobile terminal does not have a GPS function, the location information of the base station that relays communication is estimated as the location information of the mobile terminal in at least one of traffic information distribution request or traffic information reception, and the estimated location information It is preferable to include position information transmitting means for transmitting to the center device.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, a traffic information processing apparatus that collects vehicle travel data and distributes traffic information, and receives traffic information with traffic information distribution request means for requesting distribution of traffic information. Each of the large number of portable terminals obtained in connection with the communication record obtained and stored as a communication record by acquiring at least one of traffic information distribution request or traffic information reception in the large number of portable terminals provided with the traffic information receiving means The traffic information collecting means for creating position-time data of the vehicle group based on the position information and the communication time information and storing it as a database and holding it as traffic information, and requested in response to a request from the traffic information distribution request means There is provided a traffic information distribution device comprising traffic information distribution means for returning traffic information related to the position of a portable terminal based on the database. .

  Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, a traffic information processing step for collecting vehicle travel data and distributing traffic information, the traffic information distribution request means for requesting distribution of traffic information and the reception of traffic information Acquiring at least one of traffic information distribution request or traffic information reception in a large number of mobile terminals provided with traffic information receiving means for performing and storing as a communication record, and the large number of mobile phones obtained based on the communication record A step of creating position-time data of a vehicle group based on each position information and communication time information of the terminal, creating a database and holding it as traffic information, and relating to the position of the portable terminal according to the traffic information distribution request A program for causing a computer to execute traffic information processing having a step of returning traffic information based on the database. It is subjected.

  With this configuration, when the traffic information distribution service user communicates with the center device using a mobile phone in order to know traffic information in the vicinity of the vehicle on which the user is aboard, the center device has a mobile phone owned by the service user. It is possible to know the position information of the terminal when the traffic information distribution request is made and when the traffic information is received. At this time, since the mobile terminal owned by the service user is guaranteed with a high probability that the mobile terminal is in the traveling vehicle, the position information thus acquired by the center device remains as it is regardless of the moving speed of the mobile phone. By inputting the vehicle position information to the vehicle information collecting means, the traveling data of the vehicle can be efficiently collected.

According to the traffic information processing system of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The traveling data of the vehicle can be collected by the communication record of the mobile terminal from the vehicle regardless of the moving speed of the vehicle. As a result, high-quality traffic information over a wide area can be generated at a low cost.
(2) Since the process of obtaining the location information of the mobile terminal can be completely automated, a traffic information distribution system that is very simple for the user and has low operability can be realized.

  A traffic (probe) information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a traffic information processing system according to the present embodiment. The traffic information processing system according to the present embodiment includes, for example, a first mobile phone 1a that does not have a position search function such as a GPS function, a second mobile phone 1b that has a position search function such as a GPS function, and a center device. 2. The first mobile phone 1a, the second mobile phone 1b, and the center device 2 are connected to the base station 3 through a wireless line, and are configured to be able to communicate with each other.

  The first mobile phone 1a and the second mobile phone 1b are used by a user who is on a vehicle traveling on a road. It is assumed that the users of these mobile phones 1a and 1b have signed a use contract for a traffic information distribution service based on this traffic information processing system with a service provider that operates the center device 2.

  The first mobile phone 1a includes a traffic information distribution request unit 11a that requests the center device 2 to distribute traffic information, a traffic information reception unit 12a that receives traffic information transmitted from the center device 2, and a map. Traffic information display means 13a that superimposes on information and displays on the screen, traffic information distribution request means 11a, traffic information reception means 12a, and terminal control means 10a that controls traffic information display means 13a are provided.

  The second mobile phone 1b has a GPS function, and has means for acquiring position information such as latitude and longitude where it is located by communicating with the artificial satellite 4 by radio. In addition to the traffic information distribution requesting means 11b, traffic information receiving means 12b, and traffic information display means 13b equivalent to the first mobile phone 1a, the second mobile phone 1b has its own location information acquired by the GPS function. Is transmitted to the center apparatus, and a terminal control means 10b for controlling the traffic information distribution request means 11b, the traffic information display means 12b, and the position information transmission means 13b.

  The center apparatus 2 receives requests from the first and second mobile phones 1a and 1b (2a), and aggregates and distributes traffic information in the vicinity of the location of the mobile phone to form traffic information distribution means 21 that forms an interface. Then, the traffic information distribution means 21 receives the information such as the location information and communication time of the first and second mobile phones 1a and 1b received (2b), and creates vehicle travel data based on this information, For example, a vehicle information collecting unit 22 that forms a database in the form of a table as will be described later, and a mobile phone information management unit 23 that manages ID information of the mobile phones 1a and 1b of users who use the traffic information distribution service are provided. .

  Further, the center apparatus 2 includes a vehicle information database (DB) 24 for storing traffic information created and collected by the traffic information distribution means 21 (2c), and a road map database (DB) for storing road map data. ) 25 and a mobile phone database (DB) 26 for storing the ID information of the mobile phone received from the mobile phone information management means 23 ((2d)).

  The traffic information distribution means 21 provided in the center device 2 refers to the vehicle information database 24 and the road map database 25 in order to aggregate the traffic information to be distributed to the mobile phone (2e), 2f). ). Further, the position and communication time of the second mobile phone 1b, the ID information of the second mobile phone 1b, etc. are passed to the vehicle information collecting means 22 (2b). Also, information such as ID information and communication time of the first mobile phone 1a is passed to the mobile phone information management means 23 (2g). The position information of the second mobile phone 1b is obtained from the base station 3 by the center device 2 after receiving the communication information of the second mobile phone 1b from the base station 3 upon agreement with the mobile phone operator. It can also be obtained by analyzing a record such as direction and radio wave intensity, or by receiving position information of the second mobile phone 1b transmitted by the mobile phone information management means 23.

  The traffic information distribution means 21 aggregates traffic information in the vicinity of the mobile phones 1a and 1b and distributes the information to the mobile phones 1a and 1b. If you are informed beforehand, traffic information in the remote area that is different from the current location of the mobile phone, such as delivering traffic information near the destination or delivering traffic information on the route to the destination, etc. Can also be distributed to mobile phones.

  The vehicle information collection means 22 creates vehicle travel data based on information such as the location of the second mobile phone 1b and the communication time, and creates and updates the vehicle information database 24. When creating the travel data, the road map database 25 can be referred to as necessary in order to correct the error related to the position information of the second mobile phone 1b.

  Further, the vehicle information collecting means 22 determines whether or not the mobile phone ID passed from the traffic information distributing means 21 is properly registered by the user, or records the vehicle to be updated in the vehicle information database 24. The mobile phone database 26 can be referred to as necessary, for example, for the purpose of referring to information for associating the ID with the mobile phone ID.

  The mobile phone information management means 23 stores the vehicle ID and the like in the mobile phone database 26 in order to associate the mobile phone ID information and the mobile phone ID with the vehicle information on which the user is aboard. In addition, the mobile phone database 26 stores information such as service usage time and the number of service usages, and performs billing calculation of service usage fees for users as necessary. For example, a user can provide a traffic information distribution service. The service usage period for how many days of continuous use is stored, or when a trial version with limited functions is provided free of charge, a trial flag or the like may be stored.

  However, the traffic information distribution service based on this embodiment is provided for a fee in principle. This means that in addition to being established for the purpose of profitability by a contractor, if a service is provided free of charge, there will be no use of the vehicle, but there will be people who use the service in a quiet manner. As a result, there is a possibility that the reliability of the collected traveling data of the vehicle may be impaired. Preventing it is the primary purpose. Since the information in this database is directly related to personal information, special consideration must be given to security and protection of user privacy.

  Next, an operation example of travel data collection and traffic information distribution according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an operation example when a mobile phone having a GSP function is used. Here, a user who is on a vehicle 201 traveling on a road uses the traffic information distribution service according to the present embodiment using a mobile phone 1b having a GPS function. The base stations 3a and 3b relay communication between the mobile phone 1b and the center device 2. Points A to D indicate passing points of the vehicle 201.

  Here, when the vehicle 201 reaches the point A, the user operates the mobile phone 1b and starts using the traffic information distribution service. When the use of this service is started, the terminal control means 10a is activated, and the traffic information distribution request means 11a sends a traffic information distribution request to the center apparatus 2 via the base station 3a (2). ). At the same time, the position information transmitting means 14 measures the position of the mobile phone 1 b using the artificial satellite 4 (broken line) and transmits the position information to the center device 2. When the center device 2 receives the traffic information distribution request and the location information of the mobile phone, the traffic information distribution means 21 counts the location of the mobile phone 1b, that is, traffic information in the vicinity of the point A, and sends it back to the mobile phone 1b (3). 4)). At the same time, the received location information of the mobile phone 1b is passed to the vehicle information collection unit 22, and the vehicle information collection unit 22 performs processing such as error correction on the received location information, and then the vehicle 201 Travel data indicating that the vehicle has passed is registered in the vehicle information database 24.

  The traffic information (3), 4)) returned from the center apparatus 2 to the traffic information receiving means 12b via the base station 3a is received by the mobile phone 1b when the vehicle 201 reaches the point B. At this time, in the mobile phone 1b, the traffic information is displayed on the screen by the traffic information display means 13b, and the position information is transmitted again by the position information transmission means 14 (5, 6)). In the center apparatus 2, traveling data indicating that the vehicle 201 is passing through the point B is registered in the vehicle information database 24 by the vehicle information collection unit 22 in the same manner as when the traffic information distribution request is received.

  Further, the terminal control means 10b of the cellular phone 1b waits for a certain time from the reception of the traffic information (for example, about 1 to 3 minutes), and then again requests the traffic information distribution in order to reflect the change of the traffic information over time. A traffic information distribution request is transmitted by means 11b (7)), and position information transmitting means 14 transmits the position information of mobile phone 1b to center device 2 (8)). At this point, the vehicle 201 has moved to point C. The center apparatus 2 performs the series of processes described above, returns traffic information, and registers travel data indicating that the vehicle 201 has passed the point C. Also, when the traffic information receiving means 12b of the mobile phone 1b receives the current traffic information, the above-described series of operations are performed by the mobile phone 1b and the center device 2, respectively. As a result, data indicating that the vehicle 201 has moved from point A to point D via point B and point C is registered in the vehicle information database 24, and data useful for counting traffic information is collected. (9) to 12)). Such information is obtained from a number of vehicles and can be statistically processed.

  In FIG. 2, when the user uses the mobile phone 1a that does not have the GPS function instead of the mobile phone 1b, the location information cannot be transmitted, and thus the location information cannot be transmitted from the mobile phone. Instead, the traffic information distribution means 21 of the center device 2 calculates the position of the mobile phone 1a by acquiring and analyzing the communication records of the base stations 3a and 3b at the timing when the position information should be received. To do. Of course, even with the mobile phone 1b having the GPS function, the position may be difficult to determine by the GPS function due to the influence of bad weather. Even in such a case, the position of the mobile phone is calculated from the communication records of the base stations 3a and 3b, as in the case of using the mobile phone 1a. According to the above method, vehicle travel data can be collected in the present embodiment.

  Next, an example in which travel data for a plurality of vehicles is created with one mobile phone will be described. For example, if you have been in a vehicle for 5 hours in a row, use the traffic information distribution service for the first hour, then stop using it and resume use after 4 hours, the first 1 It is very difficult to trace the route between the travel data of the time and the travel data after 4 hours, and it is difficult to use as consistent traffic information. Therefore, the first 1 hour and the vehicle data after 4 hours are handled as travel data of another vehicle. Of course, when a vehicle is changed in the middle, it is handled as a separate vehicle.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example when the use of the traffic information distribution service is temporarily interrupted while the vehicle is running. In FIG. 3, reference signs A to F are passing points of the vehicle 301 and indicate points where a traffic information distribution request is transmitted from the mobile phone 302 in the vehicle 301. However, the usage status of the traffic information distribution service is that the terminal control means 10a / 10b is activated by the time when the vehicle 301 reaches the point A and the use of the service is started, and communication is performed at the points B and C. Next, when the point D is reached, the operation of the terminal control means 10a / 10b is once terminated and interrupted. Next, for example, when the point E is reached after a length of time that traffic conditions can change, for example, about 10 minutes to 2 hours, the terminal control means 10a / 10b is activated to resume the use of the application. When the point is reached, use of the terminal control means 10a / 10b is terminated.

  When such an operation is performed, in the vehicle information database 24, “101” is assigned as the vehicle ID to the traveling data of the vehicle 301 from the point A to the point D. On the other hand, from the point E to the point F, “102” is given as the vehicle ID.

  The control process for changing the vehicle ID is performed using the mobile phone database 26. At the time when the use of the traffic information distribution service is started, that is, at the points A and E in FIG. 3, when the traffic information distribution request is transmitted from the mobile phone 302, the “first control unit 10 a / 10 b after starting up” The information “request” is transmitted to the center apparatus 2 (FIG. 1) together with the traffic information distribution request. Implementation of this information can be realized by adding a “initial flag” indicating the first communication in the traffic information distribution request data structure, and sending the request with the flag turned ON. .

  In this case, the initial flag is turned OFF in the traffic information distribution request from the points B to D and F. When the center device 2 receives the traffic information distribution request with the initial flag ON, it passes the mobile phone ID and the contents of the initial flag to the mobile phone information management means 23. In the mobile phone information management means 23, the vehicle ID associated with the mobile phone ID in the mobile phone database 26 is changed to a value different from the previous vehicle ID and updated. The vehicle information collecting means 22 acquires this new vehicle ID from the mobile phone database 26 and registers the vehicle running data in the vehicle information database 24 using the new vehicle ID.

  By the above method, the vehicle ID can be switched smoothly, and travel data for a plurality of vehicles can be created for one mobile phone. Of course, even if you have the same mobile phone and change the vehicle on the way, and use the traffic information distribution service in each vehicle before and after, create a separate vehicle ID for each vehicle and run data by similar processing Can be managed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the base station 3 corresponds to, for example, a base station of a mobile phone operator, and communicates with the first mobile phone 1a, the second mobile phone 1b, and the center device 2. Has the function of relaying. On the other hand, the base station 3 includes vehicle information collection means 22 that collects communication information such as ID information for uniquely identifying a communication destination mobile phone and the direction of radio waves flying from the mobile phone. In general, a plurality of base stations 3 are provided in one area, but a plurality of base stations 3 may relay communications from one mobile phone. Further, when the center device 2 communicates directly with the mobile phone carrier via a wired line, the base station 3 is replaced with a communication device on the wired line mobile phone carrier side.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of characteristic data used in the system according to the present embodiment. The description will be made with reference to FIG. 1 as appropriate.

  FIG. 4A is a diagram showing an example of a data structure transmitted from the mobile phone 1b to the traffic information distribution request unit 11b and the position information transmission unit 14. FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a data structure example of vehicle travel data stored in the vehicle information database (DB) 24. FIG. 4C is a diagram illustrating a data structure example of mobile phone data stored in the mobile phone database (DB) 26.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the data structure of outgoing data from a mobile phone includes, for example, a mobile phone ID 401 that can uniquely identify a mobile phone, a content type 402, an initial flag 403, an outgoing time 404, and a mobile phone position 405. It is. The mobile phone ID 401 stores an ID that is an identifier for uniquely identifying the mobile phone that has transmitted the request. The content type 402 indicates whether the communication content is (1) a traffic information distribution request including position information, (2) a traffic information distribution request not including position information, or (3) transmission of only position information. This is an item for distinguishing, for example, a code corresponding to each category is stored.

  The initial flag 403 is set to ON at the first request after starting the terminal control means 10a / 10b, and is set to OFF otherwise. The transmission time 404 stores the date and time when the traffic information distribution request is transmitted or the date and time when the position is measured by the GPS function. The mobile phone position 405 stores the location information of the mobile phone 1b measured by the GPS function in terms of latitude and longitude. The transmission time 404 and the mobile phone position 405 related to the date and time when the position is measured by the GPS function are stored in pairs. Even in the case of the date when the traffic information distribution request is transmitted, if the time is close to the transmission time 404 related to the date when the position is measured by the GPS function, it is stored as a pair with the mobile phone position 405. To do.

  4B has a vehicle ID 411, a serial number 412, a collection method type 413, a vehicle position 414, and a passage time 415. The vehicle ID 411 stores an ID that is an identifier for uniquely identifying the vehicle. The serial number 412 stores a number for identifying and ordering a plurality of vehicle travel data for the same vehicle ID. Thereby, a plurality of vehicle travel data for the same vehicle ID is stored in time series. The collection method type 413 stores a code for identifying by which means the vehicle travel data is collected. In this collection method type 413, in addition to the data collected according to the present embodiment, data collected by a conventionally used beacon device or a probe car of a specific industry such as a bus or taxi can be mixed. Used to complement weaknesses. The vehicle travel data can uniquely identify a record by a combination of a vehicle ID 411, a serial number 412, and a collection method type 413. The vehicle position 414 stores the position of the vehicle, for example, expressed in latitude and longitude. The passing time 415 stores the date and time when the vehicle passes the position stored in the vehicle position 414. This makes it possible to know when and where the vehicle was located.

  4C includes a mobile phone ID 421, a vehicle ID 422, a use registration date 423, a last use date 424, and a use count 425. The mobile phone ID 421 stores an ID for identifying the mobile phone stored in the traffic information distribution request. The cellular phone data can be uniquely identified by the cellular phone ID 421. The vehicle ID 422 stores the vehicle ID for associating the mobile phone with the vehicle. With this vehicle ID 422, the mobile phone data and the vehicle travel data can be associated with each other on a one-to-one basis. As described with reference to FIG. 3, the vehicle ID 422 is updated every time the terminal control means 10a / 10b is activated on the mobile phone side. Only vehicle running data. It is preferable that vehicle travel data before that cannot be associated with mobile phone data from the viewpoint of protecting the privacy of the user. The use registration date 423 stores the date on which the user registered for use of the traffic information distribution service.

  The last use date 424 stores the date when the user last used the traffic information distribution service. The usage count 425 stores the number of times the user has used the traffic information distribution service. The information on the use registration date 423, the last use date 424, and the use count 425 is not essential information in this embodiment, but these information are for applying a preferential discount on service use fees to heavy users, for example. In addition, it can be used for the purpose of checking how often the service is used.

  Hereinafter, an operation example of the traffic information collection system configured as described above will be described with reference to a flowchart.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of the terminal control means 10a / 10b in the mobile phone. The following processing is assumed to be performed by an application program, and this application program may be activated when the vehicle is boarded or started to travel. Further, the activation may be performed in association with the boarding operation or the movement start operation of the vehicle. The description will be made with reference to FIG.

  When the terminal control means is activated, first, the position information transmission means 14 measures and acquires the position of the mobile phone (step 501), turns on the initial flag 403 shown in FIG. 4A, and makes a first traffic information distribution request. A call is sent to the center apparatus 2 (step 502). Next, it waits until traffic information is received (step 503). If the mobile phone does not include the position information transmission unit 14, the process of step 501 is skipped. Further, the following processing (step 505, step 507) by the position information transmission unit 14 is also skipped in the same manner.

  When the traffic information is received, the received traffic information is displayed on the screen by the traffic information display means 13b (step 504). Next, the position information transmitting means 14 measures the position of the mobile phone and transmits it to the center apparatus 2 (step 505). Next, it waits until a fixed time elapses (step 506).

  Similarly, when the fixed time has elapsed, the position information transmitting unit 14 again measures the position of the mobile phone (step 507), turns off the initial flag 403 in FIG. 4A, and sends a traffic information distribution request to the center device 2. (Step 508). Next, it waits until traffic information is received (step 503), and repeats the process after step 504 below. This process can be interrupted at any time by means such as turning off the power of the mobile phone, and can be interrupted and terminated.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing of the traffic information distribution means 21 in the center device 2. When activated, the traffic information distribution means 21 first waits until communication is received from the mobile phone (step 601). When the communication from the mobile phone is received, the subsequent processing is branched depending on the content of the communication indicated by the content type 402 of the outgoing data (step 602). If the traffic information distribution request has been received in step 602, first, the mobile phone information management means 23 is called, the data received from the mobile phone is passed, and the information in the mobile phone database 26 is updated (step 603). Detailed processing contents of the mobile phone information management means 23 will be described later.

  Next, the processing branches depending on whether or not the location information of the mobile phone is attached to the traffic information distribution request (step 604). If the location information of the mobile phone is not attached in step 604, communication information such as the direction of radio waves is acquired from the base station that relayed the communication (step 605), the information is analyzed, and the location of the mobile phone is determined. Calculate (step 606). Although details of the method for calculating the position of the mobile phone are omitted, known methods include a multiple base station positioning method, a cell-based positioning method, and the like. If the location information of the mobile phone is attached at step 604, step 605 and step 606 are skipped.

  Next, the mobile phone ID, the location information of the mobile phone, etc. are passed to the vehicle information collecting means, and the vehicle information collecting means 22 is called (step 607). Detailed processing contents of the vehicle information collecting means 22 will be described later. Next, referring to the data in the vehicle information database 24 and the road map database 25, traffic information in the vicinity of the position of the mobile phone or traffic information on the route to the destination of the vehicle is tabulated (step 608), and traffic is transferred to the mobile phone. Information is distributed (step 609). Here, the traffic information to be distributed may include advertisement information of a store such as a drive-in near the location of the mobile phone, in addition to the traffic jam information and the expected time to the destination. After that, it returns to the standby state until it receives communication from the mobile phone again.

  If only the mobile phone location information is received in step 602, the mobile phone ID, the mobile phone location information, etc. are passed to the vehicle information collection means, the vehicle information collection means 22 is called (step 610), and again from the mobile phone. It returns to the waiting state until receiving the communication.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing of the vehicle information collecting unit 22. The vehicle information collection means 22 first matches the position information of the mobile phone passed from the traffic information distribution means 21 with reference to the position information of the road stored in the road map database 25, and if necessary. The position of the mobile phone is corrected to a position close to the road (step 701). However, this step can be omitted when the accuracy of the location information of the mobile phone is sufficiently high, or when it is desired to store the value close to the raw data in the vehicle information database 24 without changing the original data as much as possible. Next, the vehicle ID associated with the mobile phone ID is acquired with reference to the mobile phone database 26 (step 702). Here, when the mobile phone ID or the vehicle ID is not registered in the mobile phone database 26 and acquisition fails, the process returns to the calling source processing of this means as an error. Next, a value is set for each item of the vehicle travel data shown in FIG. 4B, and the data is registered in the vehicle information database 24 (step 703). When the above process is completed, the process returns to the caller process of this means.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when collecting vehicle travel data, the vehicle speed is collected without checking the vehicle speed. The reason that the speed check is unnecessary is because the user is premised on that the mobile phone is communicating from inside the vehicle, and this is guaranteed in advance with a high probability. By making the speed check unnecessary, even if the moving speed of the vehicle becomes as low as a pedestrian due to traffic congestion, it can be treated as valuable data and collected as vehicle driving data.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of the mobile phone information management means 23. The cellular phone information management means 23 first refers to the cellular phone database 26 to determine whether the cellular phone ID passed from the traffic information distribution means 21 has already been registered as a regular service user's cellular phone ( Step 801). If not registered, the subsequent process is skipped as an error, and the process returns to the calling process of this means. Thereby, when the traffic information distribution service based on this embodiment is used by an unregistered person, the data is not registered in the mobile phone database 26 or the vehicle information database 24. This also leads to maintaining the reliability of the collected vehicle travel data. Also, when providing a free trial version, if the trial version user does not register as an authorized service user, even if a person who is not on the vehicle uses the trial version without hesitation, The case data is not registered as vehicle travel data. Therefore, it is possible to provide a trial version to the general public without worrying about the existence of users who use it secretly.

  If the mobile phone ID has already been registered as a mobile phone of an authorized service user, it is checked whether the initial flag 403 of the received data from the mobile phone passed from the traffic information distribution means 21 is ON or OFF. Then, it is determined whether or not it is the first traffic information distribution request after the terminal control means 10a / 10b is activated by the mobile phone (step 802).

In step 802, when the initial flag 403 is ON, that is, when it is the first traffic information distribution request, the mobile phone data corresponding to the mobile phone ID passed is acquired from the mobile phone database 26, and the vehicle ID 422 of the data is obtained. Update to another ID (step 803). At this time, in order to protect the privacy of the user as much as possible, it is preferable to select a vehicle ID that is not related to the mobile phone ID. If the initial flag 403 is OFF in step 802, that is, if it is not the first traffic information distribution request, the processing in step 803 is skipped.
Next, in the cellular phone database 26, data relating to the usage status such as the last usage date 424 and the usage count 425 is updated as necessary (step 804). When the above process is completed, the process returns to the caller process of this means.

  As described above, according to the traffic information collection system according to the present embodiment, the mobile phone communication record from the running vehicle is extracted regardless of the speed of the vehicle, and the wide range from the highway to the general road can be extracted. Vehicle travel data, that is, probe information can be collected from the road network across. Therefore, it is useful as a method for collecting original data for providing a service using traffic information. Further, since travel data can be collected simultaneously while providing traffic information, there is an advantage that an efficient system can be constructed as a business cycle.

  The present invention may be a program for causing a computer to execute the above steps, or a computer-readable recording medium storing such a program.

  The first portable terminal described in this book includes communication portable terminals such as so-called mobile phones, PDAs, and portable PCs, and may be car navigation devices associated with PHS, etc. Not used.

  The present invention can be used as a traffic information processing system.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the traffic information processing system by one embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the operation example at the time of using the mobile telephone which has a GSP function as an operation example of the collection of traffic data in this Embodiment, and traffic information delivery. It is a figure which shows the example which interrupted utilization of the traffic information delivery service once during driving | running | working of a vehicle as an example of preparation of several driving | running | working data with respect to the same mobile phone. It is a figure which shows the example of a data structure of each characteristic data used in this Embodiment. It is a flowchart figure which shows the process of the terminal control means 10a / 10b in a mobile telephone. It is a flowchart figure which shows the process of the traffic information delivery means 21 in the center apparatus 2. FIG. It is a flowchart figure which shows the process of the vehicle information collection means. It is a flowchart figure which shows the process of the mobile telephone information management means.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1a ... Cellular phone without GSP function, 1b ... Cellular phone with GSP function, 2 ... Center device, 3, 3a, 3b ... Base station, 4 ... Artificial satellite, 10a, 10b ... Terminal control means, 11a, 11b ... Traffic information distribution request means, 12a, 12b ... Traffic information reception means, 13a, 13b ... Traffic information display means, 14 ... Location information transmission means, 21 ... Traffic information distribution means, 22 ... Vehicle information collection means, 23 ... Mobile phone information Management means, 24 ... vehicle information database, 25 ... road map database, 26 ... mobile phone database.

Claims (6)

A center device that collects vehicle travel data and distributes traffic information, a traffic information distribution request unit that requests the center device to distribute traffic information, and a traffic information reception unit that receives traffic information A traffic information processing system having a large number of portable terminals,
The center device acquires at least one of traffic information distribution request or traffic information reception in the large number of mobile terminals and holds it as a communication record, and each of the large number of mobile terminals obtained in association with the communication record Traffic information collecting means for creating position-time data of a vehicle group based on the position information and communication time information, creating a database and holding it as traffic information, and the mobile requested in response to a request from the traffic information distribution request means A traffic information processing system comprising traffic information distribution means for returning traffic information related to the position of the terminal based on the database. Furthermore, the center device includes mobile phone information management means for managing a database for managing mobile terminal ID information for identifying mobile terminals,
When it is determined that the mobile terminals are the same based on the mobile terminal ID information,
The same vehicle ID is assigned to the traffic information distribution request or traffic information reception that are close in time, and the traffic information distribution request or traffic information reception is different from that of the traffic information distribution request or traffic information reception that is separated in time. The traffic information processing system according to claim 1, wherein a vehicle ID is assigned.   When the mobile terminal has a GPS function, the GPS function is used to measure the position of the mobile terminal at least when traffic information distribution is requested and when the traffic information is received, and the measured position information is transmitted to the center device. The traffic information collecting system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising position information transmitting means.   When the mobile terminal does not have a GPS function, the location information of the base station that relays communication is estimated as the location information of the mobile terminal in at least one of traffic information distribution request or traffic information reception, and the estimated location information The traffic information collecting system according to claim 1, further comprising a position information transmitting unit that transmits a position information to the center device. A traffic information processing apparatus that collects vehicle travel data and distributes traffic information,
Acquire at least one of traffic information distribution request or traffic information reception in a large number of mobile terminals equipped with traffic information distribution request means for requesting traffic information distribution and traffic information reception means for receiving traffic information, and keep it as a communication record Traffic information that creates position-time data of a vehicle group based on the position information and communication time information of each of the large number of mobile terminals obtained in association with the communication record, stores it as a database, and holds the traffic information Traffic information comprising collection means and traffic information delivery means for returning traffic information related to the position of the portable terminal requested in response to a request from the traffic information delivery request means based on the database Processing equipment. A traffic information processing step for collecting vehicle travel data and distributing traffic information,
Acquire at least one of traffic information distribution request or traffic information reception in a large number of mobile terminals equipped with traffic information distribution request means for requesting traffic information distribution and traffic information reception means for receiving traffic information, and keep it as a communication record And steps to
Creating position-time data of a group of vehicles based on the position information and communication time information of each of the plurality of mobile terminals obtained based on the communication record, storing the data as traffic information, and holding the traffic information;
A program for causing a computer to execute traffic information processing including a step of returning traffic information related to the position of the mobile terminal based on the database in response to the traffic information distribution request.

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