JP2011048608A - On-vehicle apparatus and vehicle monitoring system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an on-vehicle apparatus that prevents an increase in communication cost when a vehicle travels on expressway and to provide a vehicle monitoring system. <P>SOLUTION: The on-vehicle apparatus 7 includes: a road type determination means 11a for determining the road type of a road on which the vehicle travels, in a plurality of road types including at least a general road and expressway whose speed limit is higher than that of the general road, as road types; a general-road transmission means 11b for transmitting positional information of the vehicle to a monitoring center 3 through a communication network 4 every time the vehicle travels a general-road transmission distance when the road type is determined as the general road by the road type determination means 11a; and an expressway transmission means 11c for transmitting the positional information of the vehicle to the monitoring center 3 through the communication network 4 every time the vehicle travels an expressway transmission distance longer than the general road transmission distance when the road type is determined as expressway by the road type determination means 11a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle device used in a vehicle monitoring system including a monitoring center that monitors the position of one or a plurality of vehicles, and a vehicle monitoring system including the in-vehicle device.

  In order to realize efficient use (operation) of commercial vehicles such as route buses, taxis, and delivery trucks, the position of each vehicle is monitored by a vehicle monitoring system (Auto Vehicle Monitoring System; AVM system). ing. Such a vehicle monitoring system includes an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle and a monitoring center connected to the in-vehicle device via a public communication network including a mobile communication network. Each time the vehicle travels a certain distance (that is, transmission distance interval), the in-vehicle device detects position information corresponding to the position of the vehicle and transmits it to a remote monitoring center, and the monitoring The center grasps the position of each vehicle by collecting and analyzing the position information transmitted from the in-vehicle device of each vehicle, and performs vehicle operation management such as grasping the operation status and dispatching instructions.

  In the vehicle monitoring system described above, the vehicle operation efficiency can be improved by collecting vehicle position information finely and accurately grasping the position of the vehicle. However, in the vehicle monitoring system, in general, the position information of the vehicle is transmitted using the mobile communication network, and a communication fee is charged for each transmission of the position information, so the position of the vehicle is accurately grasped. When trying to do so, there has been a problem that the number of times the position information is transmitted increases and the communication cost increases. Further, if the number of times position information is transmitted in order to reduce the communication cost, the vehicle position cannot be accurately grasped, which causes another problem in that the operation is hindered.

  Therefore, for example, a vehicle position management system as a vehicle monitoring system proposed in Patent Document 1 sets a transmission distance interval at which an in-vehicle device transmits position information by changing a vehicle (taxi) dynamics (that is, “actual vehicle”, “ Empty vehicle ”,“ forwarding vehicle ”, etc.), and the predetermined fee is set so that the communication fee for a predetermined period such as one month approaches a predetermined limit value (communication fee budget). The transmission distance interval set for each movement is changed based on the communication fee at the midpoint of the period. And, according to this vehicle position management system, the transmission distance interval when the "actual vehicle" that is carrying passengers and cannot be dispatched is more than the transmission distance interval when "empty" that can be dispatched without carrying passengers. By making it longer, unnecessary communication can be reduced, and the communication fee can be used up and down with respect to the above limit value, so that the vehicle can be operated efficiently within the limit value range. It was.

JP 2005-72854 A

  However, when a vehicle whose position is monitored by the vehicle position management system travels on an expressway having a speed limit higher than that of a general road, (1) the traveling speed of the vehicle is high on such an expressway. It travels the distance set as the distance interval in a short time, so it will frequently send the location information, (2) Also, because the expressway has fewer branches than the general road, Even if the position information is small, it is possible to sufficiently monitor the position of the vehicle. Therefore, if the position information is transmitted as in the case of a general road, redundant position information will be transmitted, that is, the number of times position information is transmitted. However, the problem of increased communication costs due to the increase in the network could not be sufficiently solved.

  The present invention aims to solve the above problems. That is, an object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle device and a vehicle monitoring system that can prevent an increase in communication cost caused by traveling of a vehicle on a highway.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is a vehicle monitoring system 1 including a monitoring center 3 for monitoring the positions of one or a plurality of vehicles, as shown in the basic configuration diagram of FIG. In the in-vehicle device 7 that is used and connected to the monitoring center 3 via the communication network 4, a plurality of road types on which the vehicle travels include at least a general road and a highway having a speed limit higher than that of the general road. Among the road types, the road type determination means 11a for determining the road type of the road on which the vehicle is currently traveling, and when the road type determination means 11a determines that the road type is the general road, Each time the vehicle travels a transmission distance interval during traveling on a general road corresponding to a general road, position information corresponding to the position of the vehicle is transmitted to the monitoring center 3 via the communication network 4. When the road type is determined to be the expressway by the ordinary road running transmission means 11b and the road type judging means 11a, the transmission distance interval during running the general road set in advance corresponding to the expressway. And highway travel time transmission means 11c for transmitting the position information to the monitoring center 3 via the communication network 4 every time the vehicle travels a longer highway travel distance. This is an in-vehicle device 7.

  In order to achieve the above object, a second aspect of the present invention provides a monitoring center that monitors the positions of one or more vehicles, and one or more in-vehicle devices connected to the monitoring center via a communication network. The vehicle monitoring system having the vehicle-mounted device according to claim 1 as the vehicle-mounted device.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the road type of the road on which the vehicle is currently traveling is determined, and when the road type is determined to be a general road, the vehicle travels the transmission distance interval during the general road travel. Each time the vehicle position information is transmitted to the monitoring center, and this road type is determined to be a highway, the vehicle is traveled every time the highway travel transmission distance interval is longer than the normal road travel distance interval. The position information transmission distance interval when the vehicle is traveling on a highway can be made longer than the position information transmission distance interval when traveling on a general road. Therefore, it is possible to prevent frequent transmission of position information and redundant position information when the vehicle is traveling on a highway, reduce the number of times position information is transmitted, and prevent an increase in communication cost. .

  In addition, since the road type is determined by itself and the transmission distance interval is switched according to the determined road type, for example, based on a transmission distance interval switching request transmitted according to various conditions such as the road type from the monitoring center. Compared with the configuration in which the transmission distance interval is switched, the request transmission from the monitoring center is not necessary, and the increase in communication cost can be further prevented.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, since the vehicle-mounted device described in claim 1 is provided, it is possible to prevent frequent transmission of position information when the vehicle travels on a highway, and to provide redundant position information. Information can be prevented from being transmitted, and an increase in communication cost can be prevented.

It is a figure which shows an example of the basic composition of the vehicle-mounted apparatus of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows one Embodiment of the vehicle monitoring system of this invention. It is a block diagram of the taximeter which is one Embodiment of the vehicle-mounted apparatus of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the transmission distance space | interval setting process which concerns on this invention which CPU with which the taximeter of FIG. 3 is provided performs. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the positional information transmission process which concerns on this invention which CPU with which the taximeter of FIG. 3 is provided performs. (A) is the conceptual diagram which shows the image of the positional information transmission when the taxi carrying the taximeter of FIG. 3 is drive | working a general road, (B) is the taxi carrying the taximeter of FIG. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the image of position information transmission when is driving | running | working on a highway.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a vehicle monitoring system according to the present invention and a taximeter that is an embodiment of an in-vehicle device according to the present invention provided in the vehicle monitoring system will be described with reference to FIGS. .

  As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle monitoring system 1 includes a monitoring center 3, an internet 5, a mobile communication network 6, and a plurality of taximeters 7 mounted on each of the plurality of taxis 2. .

  The monitoring center 3 is, for example, a well-known computer, and is connected to the well-known Internet 5 via a WAN (Wide Area Network) interface included in the computer. The monitoring center 3 collects and analyzes position information transmitted from a plurality of taximeters 7 mounted on each of the plurality of taxis 2, thereby realizing efficient allocation (that is, operation) of the taxi 2. In addition, about the dispatch method by the monitoring center 3, since it exceeds the range of this invention, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The mobile communication network 6 is a public communication network using radio that is managed and operated by a mobile communication provider. The mobile communication network 6 includes a network unit 6a connected to the Internet 5 by a gateway device (not shown) and used for packet communication services, and a plurality of radio base stations 6b connected to the network unit 6a. . A communication network composed of the Internet 5 and the mobile communication network 6 corresponds to the communication network in the claims. As a communication network for connecting the taximeter 7 (that is, the in-vehicle device) and the monitoring center 3, at least a mobile communication network for wirelessly connecting a section between the communication network and the taximeter 7 is used. It is optional unless it is contrary to the object of the invention. Further, depending on the communication service used by the vehicle monitoring system 1, the mobile communication network 6 may be directly connected to the monitoring center 3 without going through the Internet 5.

  The plurality of taximeters 7 mounted in each of the plurality of taxis 2 perform operations related to taxi services such as calculation of fare and recording of operation status. The plurality of taximeters 7 are connected to the monitoring center 3 via the wireless base station 6b, the network unit 6a, and the Internet 5 in order, and each time the taxi 2 travels a predetermined transmission distance interval, Information is transmitted to the monitoring center 3.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the taximeter 7 includes a display unit 10, a central processing unit (CPU) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, and an operation. The unit 15 includes an external interface (external I / F) 17, an input interface (input I / F) 18, a GPS (Global Positioning System) module 30, and a wireless communication module 40.

  As the display unit 10, for example, a liquid crystal display device or the like is used, and various information is displayed according to a control signal transmitted from the CPU 11. The display unit 10 can display, for example, the tariff state (“rental”, “empty”, “forward”, etc.) according to the dynamics of the taxi 2 (eg, “actual vehicle”, “empty vehicle”, “forwarding vehicle”, etc.) Display charges and so on. Alternatively, in accordance with an operation input to the operation unit 15, a setting screen or the like for setting a transmission distance interval when traveling on a general road and a transmission distance interval when traveling on an expressway, which will be described later, is displayed.

  The CPU 11 is a well-known computer, controls various controls in the taximeter 7, and executes various processes including control according to the present embodiment in accordance with various control programs stored in the ROM 12. The ROM 12 is, for example, various parameters such as an initial value (for example, 500 m) of a transmission distance interval when traveling on a general road and an initial value (for example, 5 km) of a transmission distance interval when traveling on a highway, and a fee indicating a taxi 2 fare system. In addition to storing various information such as control information, a program for causing the CPU 11 to function as various means such as a road type determining unit, a general road traveling transmission unit, and an expressway traveling transmission unit is stored. And CPU11 functions as various means mentioned above by running the program. The RAM 13 appropriately stores data, programs, and the like necessary for the CPU 11 to execute various processes. The RAM 13 stores an initial value or a set value of a transmission distance interval during ordinary road traveling and a transmission distance interval during express road traveling, and a transmission distance interval storage area during ordinary road traveling and a transmission distance interval storage area during highway traveling; A travel distance storage area for storing the travel distance of the taxi 2 is provided.

  The operation unit 15 has, for example, various operation buttons for changing the tariff state and various settings. The operation unit 15 outputs a signal corresponding to the operation of each operation button to the CPU 11.

  The external I / F 17 is composed of a plurality of general interfaces for connecting external devices (peripheral devices) such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface and a printer interface, for example, one of which is the printing device 20. Is connected, and the road type determination device 50 is connected to the other one.

  The printer 20 is a known printer or the like, and is connected to the CPU 11 via the external I / F 17. Under the control of the CPU 11, the printing device 20 outputs a receipt at the time of fee payment, a total result of daily operation records, and the like. In the present embodiment, the printing device 20 is connected as an external device via the external I / F 17. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a functional module having a printing function is incorporated in the taximeter 7. It may be.

  The road type determination device 50 is an ETC (Electronic Toll Collection system) vehicle-mounted device. The ETC in-vehicle device is mounted on the dashboard of the taxi 2 so as to face obliquely upward with respect to the traveling direction. As is well known, the ETC on-board device performs wireless communication with a wireless toll processing device installed at a gate on a toll road such as an expressway, and is stored in a card attached to the ETC on-board device. It is used in an automatic toll collection system (ETC) that automatically collects tolls on toll roads using electronic cash information. Such an ETC on-board device outputs a signal corresponding to the entrance gate or exit gate when passing through the entrance gate or exit gate of the expressway, so it is possible to determine the road type based on these signals It is. In addition to the ETC vehicle-mounted device, the road type determination device 50 includes, for example, a plurality of operation buttons corresponding to highways and general roads, and these buttons are operated by taxi crews to provide road type information. As long as it can be used for road type determination, such as using a road type input device or the like, any device can be used.

  Such a road type determination device 50 is connected to the CPU 11 via the external I / F 17. Then, the road type determination device 50 determines the road type of the road on which the taxi 2 is currently traveling according to a request from the CPU 11 or autonomously and periodically, and information according to the road type (road type) Information) is generated and output to the CPU 11 via the external I / F 17. In the present embodiment, the road type information output by the road type determination device 50 includes only information indicating either “general road” or “highway”. The road type determination device 50 is connected as an external device via the external I / F 17. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a functional module having a function for determining the road type is a taximeter 7. It may be incorporated in.

  The input I / F 18 is, for example, a well-known input port to which various vehicle sensors such as a speed sensor and an engine rotation sensor provided in the taxi 2 are connected. These various vehicle sensors output signals (for example, speed sensor signals and engine rotation sensor signals) detected by the respective vehicle sensors to the CPU 11 via the input I / F 18. The CPU 11 detects, for example, the distance traveled by the taxi 2 based on these sensor signals.

  The GPS module 30 is a functional module that receives radio waves emitted by a plurality of artificial satellites constituting the GPS through the GPS antenna 31 and detects the current position of the GPS module 30 based on the received radio waves. The GPS module 30 is connected to the CPU 11 by, for example, a bus signal. The GPS module 30 generates position information corresponding to the current position of the GPS module 30, that is, the current position of the taxi 2, in accordance with a request from the CPU 11 or autonomously and periodically, and sends the position information to the CPU 11. Output.

  The wireless communication module 40 is a functional module for performing wireless communication with the wireless base station 6b included in the mobile communication network 6 in order to use, for example, a packet communication service provided by a mobile communication carrier. The wireless communication module 40 is connected to the CPU 11 by, for example, a bus signal. After receiving the position information indicating the current position of the taxi 2 from the CPU 11, the wireless communication module 40 generates packet data including the position information and an address that identifies the monitoring center 3 as a transmission destination. The radio wave is transmitted and transmitted to the radio base station 6b through the radio communication antenna 41. Thereby, the position information of the taxi 2 is transmitted to the monitoring center 3 via the mobile communication network 6. The wireless communication module 40 receives the radio wave emitted by the radio base station 6b through the radio communication antenna 41, extracts various information from the packet data included in the received radio wave, and transmits the various information to the CPU 11. Output.

  The packet communication service provided by the mobile communication carrier described above is charged according to the transmission of packet data. For example, if it is 0.2 yen per packet (128 bytes) and two packets are required to transmit position information, a communication fee of 0.4 yen is charged for one transmission of position information. In this embodiment, the packet communication service is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the taximeter 7 and the monitoring center 3 are connected one-to-one, and charged according to the connection time. A circuit-switched communication service or the like may be used, and the communication service to be used is arbitrary as long as the object of the present invention is not violated.

  Next, an example of the processing outline (transmission distance interval setting processing) according to the present invention executed by the CPU 11 described above will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When power is turned on to the taximeter 7 by an ignition-on operation of the taxi 2, the CPU 11 executes a predetermined initialization process. In this initialization process, the initial value of the transmission distance interval for ordinary road travel and the initial value of the transmission distance interval for expressway travel stored in the ROM 12 are stored in the transmission distance interval storage area for ordinary road travel provided in the RAM 13. And set (copy) in the transmission distance interval storage area when traveling on a highway. When the CPU 11 detects that a specific operation (for example, pressing a specific button continuously (long press) for 3 seconds or more) is input to the operation unit 15, the process proceeds to step S110.

  In step S110, a control signal for displaying an input screen (that is, a setting screen) for prompting input of a transmission distance interval on a general road (that is, a transmission distance interval when traveling on a general road) is transmitted to the display unit 10. The signal output in response to the input operation to the operation button of the operation unit 15 is monitored, and when the signal is output, the signal is input to the transmission distance interval storage area when traveling on a general road provided in the RAM 13 Set the value according to the operation. Then, the process proceeds to step S120.

  In step S120, a control signal for displaying an input screen (that is, a setting screen) for prompting input of a transmission distance interval on the highway (that is, a transmission distance interval when traveling on a highway) is transmitted to the display unit 10. The signal output in response to the input operation to the operation button of the operation unit 15 is monitored, and when the signal is output, the signal is input to the transmission distance interval storage area on the expressway provided in the RAM 13 Set the value according to the operation. At this time, the range of the input value is limited so that the value input as the transmission distance interval on the expressway is longer than the value input as the transmission distance interval on the general road. As such a restriction, for example, when the input value is equal to or less than the value set in the transmission distance interval storage area when traveling on a general road, the input value is discarded and then the transmission distance on the expressway described above The process for setting the interval is executed again. When an appropriate value is set for each area of the transmission distance sense when traveling on the highway, a control signal for displaying the screen immediately before the specific operation is input to the operation unit 15 is displayed on the display unit 10. Then, this flowchart is finished.

  Next, an example of the processing outline (position information transmission processing) according to the present invention executed by the CPU 11 described above will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  After executing the predetermined initialization process or after executing the transmission distance interval setting process described above, the CPU 11 advances the process to step T110.

  In step T110, after transmitting a signal requesting road type information of the road on which the taxi 2 is currently traveling to the road type determining apparatus 50, the road output from the road type determining apparatus 50 as a response to the signal Get type information. When the road type information is information indicating “general road”, it is assumed that the taxi 2 is currently driving on a general road, and the process proceeds to step T120 (Y in T110). ”, It is assumed that the taxi 2 is currently traveling on the highway, and the process proceeds to step T170 (N in T110).

  In step T120, 0 is set (that is, reset) in the travel distance storage area provided in the RAM 13. Then, the process proceeds to Step T130.

  In step T130, based on the various sensor signals output by the various vehicle sensors, the distance traveled by the taxi 2 is further detected from the time when the distance traveled by the taxi 2 immediately before, and the newly detected distance is detected. Is added to the value stored in the travel distance storage area, that is, the travel distance of the taxi 2. Then, the process proceeds to Step T140.

  In step T140, the road type determination device 50 transmits a signal requesting road type information of the road on which the taxi 2 is currently traveling, and then the road output from the road type determination device 50 as a response to the signal. Get type information. When the road type information is information indicating “general road”, it is assumed that the taxi 2 is currently driving on a general road, and the process proceeds to step T150 (Y in T140). ”, It is assumed that the taxi 2 is currently traveling on the highway, and the process proceeds to step T160 (N in T140).

  In step T150, the value stored in the travel distance storage area (i.e., the travel distance of taxi 2) and the value stored in the general road travel transmission distance interval storage area (i.e., general road travel transmission distance interval). ), And when the travel distance of the taxi 2 is equal to or greater than the transmission interval when traveling on a general road, it is determined that the timing for transmitting the position information has been reached (Y in T150), and the travel distance of the taxi 2 Is less than the value set as the transmission interval when traveling on a general road, it is determined that the position information transmission timing has not yet been reached, and the process returns to step T130 (N in T150).

  In step T160, after transmitting a signal requesting the current position information to the GPS module 30, the position information output from the GPS module 30 as a response to the signal is acquired, and this position information is obtained from the wireless communication module. 40 is output. As a result, the wireless communication module 40 generates packet data including the position information and an address for specifying the monitoring center 3, and transmits the packet data to the wireless base station 6b included in the mobile communication network 6. Thereby, the position information of the taxi 2 is transmitted to the monitoring center 3 via the mobile communication network 6 and the Internet 5. Then, the process returns to Step T110.

  In step T170, 0 is set (that is, reset) in the travel distance storage area provided in the RAM 13. Then, the process proceeds to Step T180.

  In step T180, based on the various sensor signals output by the various vehicle sensors, the distance traveled by the taxi 2 is further detected from the time when the distance traveled by the taxi 2 immediately before, and the newly detected distance is detected. Is added to the value stored in the travel distance storage area, that is, the travel distance of the taxi 2. Then, the process proceeds to Step T190.

  In step T190, after transmitting a signal requesting road type information of the road on which taxi 2 is currently traveling to road type determining device 50, the road output from road type determining device 50 as a response to the signal Get type information. When the road type information is information indicating “highway”, it is assumed that the taxi 2 is currently driving on the highway, and the process proceeds to step T200 (Y in T190). ”, It is assumed that the taxi 2 is currently traveling on a general road, and the process proceeds to step T210 (N in T190).

  In step T200, the value stored in the travel distance storage area (i.e., the travel distance of taxi 2) and the value stored in the expressway travel distance storage area (i.e., the expressway travel distance interval). ), And when the traveling distance of the taxi 2 is equal to or greater than the transmission interval during traveling on the highway, it is determined that the timing for transmitting the position information has been reached (Y in T200), and the traveling distance of the taxi 2 Is less than the value set as the transmission interval during highway traveling, it is determined that the position information transmission timing has not yet been reached, and the process returns to step T180 (N in T200).

  In step T210, after transmitting a signal requesting the current position information to the GPS module 30, the position information output from the GPS module 30 as a response to the signal is acquired, and this position information is obtained from the wireless communication module. 40 is output. As a result, the wireless communication module 40 generates packet data including the position information and an address for specifying the monitoring center 3, and transmits the packet data to the wireless base station 6b included in the mobile communication network 6. Thereby, the position information of the taxi 2 is transmitted to the monitoring center 3 via the mobile communication network 6 and the Internet 5. Then, the process returns to Step T110. (End of this flowchart)

  Steps T110, T140, and T190 described above correspond to the road type determination means in the claims, step T160 corresponds to the transmission means for traveling on a general road in the claims, and step T210 corresponds to the expressway in the claims. This corresponds to the traveling transmission means.

  Next, an example of the operation (action) of the taximeter 7 according to the present invention will be described.

  When power is turned on, the taximeter 7 sets an initial value of the transmission distance interval on ordinary roads and highways. When a specific operation is input to the operation unit 15, a setting screen that prompts the user to input the transmission distance interval is displayed. Based on the operation input while the setting screen is displayed, the general road and the expressway are displayed. The value of the transmission distance interval is set (S110, S120).

  Then, the taximeter 7 automatically determines the road type of the road on which the taxi 2 is currently traveling (T110). When this road type is “general road”, the travel distance of the taxi 2 is measured (T120, T130), and every time the travel distance reaches a travel distance interval (for example, 500 m) on the general road (T150). Then, the position information indicating the current position of the taxi 2 is transmitted to the monitoring center 3 (T160). Alternatively, when the road type is “highway”, the travel distance of the taxi 2 is similarly measured (T170, T180), and this travel distance reaches the travel distance interval (for example, 5 km) on the expressway. Every time (T200), position information indicating the current position of the taxi 2 is transmitted to the monitoring center 3 (T210). When the taxi 2 changes from a general road to a highway (T140) or when the taxi 2 changes from a highway to a general road (T190), the position information at that time is transmitted (T160, T210). The road type is determined again (T110), and the process according to the determined road type is repeated. FIG. 6 shows an image in which the taximeter 7 transmits position information on a general road and a highway.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the taximeter 7 determines the road type of the road on which the taxi 2 carrying the taxi is currently traveling, and when this road type is determined to be “general road”, the taxi When the vehicle 2 travels a transmission distance interval (for example, 500 m) when traveling on a general road, the vehicle position information is transmitted to the monitoring center 3, and when the road type is determined to be “highway”, the taxi 2 Since the position information of the vehicle is transmitted to the monitoring center 3 every time it travels a transmission distance interval (for example, 5 km) on a highway that is longer than the transmission distance interval on the road, the taxi 2 is traveling on the highway. The transmission distance interval of the position information can be made longer than the transmission distance interval of the position information when traveling on a general road. Therefore, the position information is frequently transmitted when the taxi 2 travels on the expressway. It prevents the sending of the Oyobi redundant location information, it is possible to reduce the number of transmissions of positional information can prevent an increase in communication cost.

  Further, since the taximeter 7 determines the road type by itself and switches the transmission distance interval according to the determined road type, for example, the transmission distance transmitted from the monitoring center 3 according to various conditions such as the road type. Compared to a configuration in which the transmission distance interval is switched based on an interval switching request or the like, request transmission from the monitoring center 3 is not required, and therefore an increase in communication cost can be further prevented.

  In addition, since the position information is transmitted based on the transmission distance interval determined in advance according to the road type of the road, for example, in the configuration of Patent Document 1 described above, the communication fee used (that is, until the limit value is reached). However, in the present invention, the position information can be transmitted at regular intervals with respect to the travel distance of the taxi 2, and therefore, the communication information is changed in accordance with the remaining amount of the taxi. The transmission interval can be guaranteed, and the accuracy of grasping the position of the taxi 2 can be stabilized.

  According to the embodiment described above, the road type includes only “general road” and “highway”. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the road type is subdivided from “general toll road”, “automobile road”, and the like. Different road distance intervals may be set in correspondence with these road types. By doing in this way, since a transmission distance interval can be set more finely according to the road type, an increase in communication cost can be further prevented and operational efficiency can be further increased.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the vehicle-mounted device according to the present invention is applied to a taximeter is described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the present invention is applied to, for example, a digital tachometer or a car navigation device. The configuration of the in-vehicle device is arbitrary as long as it is not contrary to the purpose.

  In addition, embodiment mentioned above only showed the typical form of this invention, and this invention is not limited to embodiment. That is, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

1 Vehicle monitoring system 2 Taxi (vehicle)
3 Monitoring Center 5 Internet (communication network)
6 Mobile communication network (communication network)
7 Taxi meter (vehicle equipment)
11 CPU (road type determination means, transmission means when traveling on general roads, transmission means when traveling on highways)

Claims (2)

In an in-vehicle device used in a vehicle monitoring system including a monitoring center that monitors the position of one or a plurality of vehicles, and connected to the monitoring center via a communication network,
The road type of the road on which the vehicle is currently traveling is determined among a plurality of road types including at least a general road and a highway having a speed limit higher than that of the general road as a road type of the road on which the vehicle is traveling. Road type determination means;
When the road type is determined to be the general road by the road type determining means, the vehicle according to the position of the vehicle each time the vehicle travels a transmission distance interval during normal road travel corresponding to the general road. A transmission means for traveling on a general road that transmits position information to the monitoring center via the communication network;
When the road type determining means determines that the road type is the highway, the vehicle travels a transmission distance interval during highway driving longer than the transmission distance interval during normal road driving set in advance corresponding to the highway. An on-vehicle apparatus, comprising: a highway traveling transmission unit that transmits the position information to the monitoring center via the communication network each time. In a vehicle monitoring system having a monitoring center that monitors the position of one or more vehicles, and one or more in-vehicle devices connected to the monitoring center via a communication network,
A vehicle monitoring system comprising the vehicle-mounted device according to claim 1 as the vehicle-mounted device.

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