EP0866433B1 - Device for the retransmission to at least one terminal of traffic information sent by a centre or a collection unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The arrangement has a receiver for receiving traffic information sent from a central station (3) or detection unit via a first radio-based communications channel (11). A transmitter sends at least a part of the received traffic information over a second, local radio-based communications channel (12). The device, which is a structural unit, contains a battery-buffered current supply unit and can be mounted above or adjacent to a road in the traffic network.

Description

The invention relates to a device for retransmitting it received, sent by a control center or registration unit Traffic information relating to the traffic network to at least one terminal.

Such a device can be used in the area of traffic telematics in order to forward traffic information which a control center emits to traffic telematics terminals which are located in vehicles. Such devices are known, for example, from the article "System universal information du véhicule" by MHSodeikat from the magazine "Ingénieurs de l'Automobile" (No. 687, March 1994, pages 38 to 40). Can too
By means of such a device, traffic information which is recorded by the detection units on roads etc. which detect the vehicle density, number of vehicles or speeds etc. and which is transmitted to the device is transmitted to vehicles by radio.

Used in the UK to transmit traffic information Devices arranged on roads and from a traffic center forward transmitted traffic information to passing vehicles, require considerable assembly effort and little flexibility. In particular the power supply on motorways and / or country roads is often not intended mains power supply problematic. However, even if there is one Mains power supply assembly relatively complex. Furthermore, the used Devices have a high weight and a considerable space requirement.

Regarding the power supply, the possibility of supplying transmission and Receiving devices with battery-backed solar power supply are already known. Solar elements are attached to their own masts next to the street etc. and battery backup, required computers, evaluation units, transmit and Receiving devices arranged in a separate housing. During installation of solar elements on masts next to the road etc. are separate foundations for the masts and for the housings for battery backup, computers, transmitters and Receiving facilities required. We also need cables from the housing for the Computers etc. are placed in a transmitting or receiving device. This can trigger sabotage by cutting the cables. Is problematic further that moving the entire device to a different position, which for example due to ongoing construction work at the previous position of Device may be required, complex and therefore expensive. This solution is So expensive, insecure and inflexible.

Proceeding from this, the object of the invention is to create a device which is inexpensive, flexible and with the least possible assembly effort the transmission of from a central office or, as far as possible, not subject to sabotage Registration unit sent traffic information to at least one terminal allows. The object is the subject of the independent claim solved.

The device according to the invention is designed as a structural unit and thus easy and inexpensive to assemble. Since no wiring of components of the Device is required, sabotage by cutting cables is not expected. Moving the device to another position is also easy and possible inexpensively, since the device is designed as a structural unit; if they are on a bridge or building or an existing mast or If a shield is installed, no foundation is required.

In order to make the best possible use of the available solar power, the Device expediently has a processing unit which is programmed in such a way that from those received over the first communication channel Traffic information those traffic information filtered out and / or processed and / or processed for the location of the Device calculated next route sections are relevant, these Traffic information via the second communication channel of the device emitted, so be transmitted.

It is also advantageous if the program or the sequence control of the Device is designed so that an activation of the device in the device passing vehicles, especially in the device with an approx predetermined speed or minimum speed passing Vehicles takes place, only when activated traffic data from the Device to be forwarded.

The components of the devices are preferably integrated in a housing, which allows a particularly compact and weatherproof training.

The arrangement of all is particularly easy to install and is not susceptible to sabotage Components of the device on a common carrier, which in particular can be mounted on a bridge railing. Components of the Device, in particular solar cells, arranged to extend on the carrier or all components of the device e.g. B. in a housing at the end of the carrier be arranged.

An optimization of the use of the available solar energy is furthermore in particular by tracking the solar elements, in particular Solar cells, according to the daily course of the sun by means of a Tracking element, in particular electrical rotary drive, possible.

Fig. 1

die Weiterübermittlung von einer Zentrale durch eine Erfassungsheit zur Verfügung gestellten Verkehrsdaten über eine erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung an ein Fahrzeug,

Fig. 2

ein Beispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung mit teilweise entlang deren Montageträger angeordneten Vorrichtungs-Elementen,

Fig. 3

eine als vollständig in einem Gehäuse integrierte bauliche Einheit ausgebildete erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung.

Further features and advantages of the invention that are essential to the invention result from the further subclaims and the following description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawing. It shows

Fig. 1

the forwarding of traffic data made available by a control center to a vehicle via a device according to the invention,

Fig. 2

1 shows an example of a device according to the invention with device elements partially arranged along its mounting support,

Fig. 3

a device according to the invention designed as a structural unit fully integrated in a housing.

Figure 1 shows a schematic overview of the transmission of traffic information from a detection unit 1 via a mobile radio center (here GSM center) 2 a traffic telematics center 3 (= service center for traffic telematics data), about a forwarding center 4 designed here as a paging center (the for example also a mobile radio center, in particular short message center or / and a DAB-RDS-TMC or other radio center or radio center can) to a device 5 according to the invention for the further transmission of Traffic data to a (indicated) terminal 6 in a vehicle 7.

The number, length and speeds of the acquisition unit 1 are here Vehicles 8, 9, 10 measured by infrared, radar etc. Data about these values this Vehicles 8, 9, 10 etc. are (e.g. bundled) as traffic data to the Cellular center 2 sent, here a transmission of the traffic data as Short message (GSM-SMS etc.) takes place, but also possible via other radio etc. is. Acquired data from the mobile radio center 2 to the Traffic telematics center 3 forwarded, in which also by others Mobile radio centers can receive data. In the traffic telematics center incoming traffic data bundled, processed and selected. In particular in the traffic telematics center traffic analyzes, traffic forecasts, Navigation information etc. for the entire transport network or selected for specific ones Roads etc. of the transport network. From the traffic telematics center 3 revised traffic information to the forwarding center 4 handed over to devices 5 (at different positions) for transmission, here, for example, only traffic information for the device 5 Are made available, which depends on the position of the device 5 in the direction of travel along a certain route, such as traffic jams in Direction of travel behind the device 5. For example, the device 5 can Vehicles 7 (near the bridge 14) send traffic information if in Area of the detection unit 1 detects an anomaly, such as a traffic jam, accident, etc. becomes. The sending of traffic information from the Forwarding center 4 to the device 5 can for example by Mobile radio, in particular mobile radio short message, paging, radio or others Radio transmission take place. It is also possible from the forwarding center 4, in particular by radio, on devices 5 at different locations each To transmit traffic reports, which are not only for the individual Device 5 are important. In this case a selection is in the Device 5 of received traffic information with regard to its relevance for vehicles passing the device 5, in particular with regard to their location Relevance, possible.

The transfer via the second communication channel (12) can be carried out by radio, especially UHF, KW, MW or LW. The transmission takes place especially by paging, paging, e.g. using RPC / No. 1 or Pocsag or Flex standard.

The device 5 has solar elements and a for energy supply Battery backup off. To the limited available solar energy To exploit, various energy saving options are foreseeable. In particular can select into the device via its receiving device incoming, over a first radio-based communication channel 11 (between 4th and 5) transmitted traffic information from the traffic telematics center 3 with regard to relevance, in particular local relevance for the device 5 passing vehicles take place so that the amount of data to be sent and thus the required transmission energy in the device 5 is reduced. It is also possible that the device 5 only transmits when it detects that vehicles happen. In particular, a wake-up zone 13 in front of the device 5 be provided. When a vehicle passes the wake-up zone, the device can 5 are woken up, i.e. for the further transmission of received Traffic information via the second radio-based communication channel Vehicles 7 are caused. (Detection of device 5 passing Vehicles can be detected by infrared detection, heat radiation detection, radar etc. respectively.)

Further energy optimization of the device 5 is through automatic tracking the solar elements of the device according to the daily course of the sun, in particular by means of an electric rotary drive.

As Figure 1 shows, due to the design of the device including the Power supply as a structural unit to a universal flexible assembly in a variety of locations easily and inexpensively. Here is the device 5 mounted on a bridge 14 over a road 15.

Figure 2 shows details of the structure of the device and its assembly on a Bridge railing 16 of a bridge 14. In Figure 2, the device 5 is as a structural Unity trained. The electronics, the receiving device (for the first Communication channel), the transmission device for the second communication channel and the battery backup are in a housing 17 at the free end of a carrier 18, 19 arranged. The solar elements for solar power supply to the device are arranged on the lower part 19 of the carrier, which is opposite about an axis AA the upper part 18 of the carrier is pivotable. The upper part 18 of the carrier is on Bridge railing 16 mounted. The pivotability of the device 5 about the axis A-A allows easy access to the device 5 for maintenance. In particular, it can be advantageous if the pivotability about the axis A - A is lockable by a lockable lock to prevent sabotage of the to avoid the lower end of the carrier 18, 19 arranged device 5. Also do not have to work on flowing traffic when the device is folded up be carried out so that no tools or parts fall onto vehicles and there is no need to block the lane.

To lock the pivotability of the lower support part 19 relative to the Upper support part 18 may require a special tool or a key be provided to the locking device on the axis A - A only to allow authorized persons.

The solar element 20 of the device 5 are here along the lower part 19 of the Carrier 18, 19 arranged; they are on two parallel bars attached, both ending in a joint in the axis A - A, and together are pivotable relative to the bars of the upper part 18 of the carrier.

In Figure 3, however, the solar element 20, here a solar panel, together with the other elements of the device 5 in a common housing 17th arranged. The power supply 21 is shown here schematically in the housing 17 (comprising a constant voltage control and a backup battery), the Receiving device 22 (for the first communication channel), the sending device 23 (for transmission via the second communication channel) with associated antenna 24, a computer unit 25 for selecting relevant traffic information and an infrared detector unit 26 for detecting the device passing vehicles (6) shown to wake up the device. The The device can be tracked around the axis B - B according to the daily course of the sun by an electric rotary drive, not shown here, in the lower region of the Housing 17.

For solar tracking of the solar elements 20, the upper part 27 of the Housing 17 opposite the lower part 28 of the housing 17 about the axis BB can be rotated by a rotary drive. The power supply components included The battery and current constant are arranged in the upper part 27 of the housing. in the lower part here are receiving and transmitting devices. The Receiver 22 is here a Pocsag receiving device for realizing the first communication channel in a Pocsag radio network. The sending device is here one that transmits in the UHF band, in the automotive area (e.g. for a remote control Central locking to 433.92 Mhz) usual radio equipment.

The egg shape shown or approximately elliptical shape of the device is visually appealing, easy to clean and offers little wind resistance. however are other, in particular spherical, compact designs of the housing 17 also possible.

The devices according to the invention are on a wide variety of structures mountable. In particular, structures that span roadways, such as bridges, existing masts and signs (e.g. traffic signs), suitable

Claims (15)

1. A device (5) for the retransmission to vehicles (7) of traffic information received by said device relating to a traffic network sent by a centre (3) or a collection unit (1),

   the device (5) being attached or able to be attached above or next to a carriageway (15) of the traffic network, and comprising a transmission means (23) for transmitting at least part of the traffic information received via a local, second, radio-based communications channel (12) to at least one terminal (6), characterised in that

   the device (5) comprises

   a reception means (22) for receiving the traffic information sent by the centre (3) or collection unit (1) via a first radio-based communications channel (11),

   a battery-backed (21) power supply unit (20) and

   a selection means (25) for selecting part of the traffic information received for retransmission, and

   that the device (5) is a structural unit (17, 20, 27, 28).
2. A device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the transmitting power of the second communications channel (12) is limited for reception in vehicles (7) passing the device (5).
3. A device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first (11) and/or the second (12) communications channel is a mobile radio channel or UHF channel or paging channel.
4. A device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the device (5) comprises a processing unit which is programmed such that that traffic information which is relevant to the next partial stretches calculated in relation to the location of the device (5) is filtered out and/or prepared and/or processed from the traffic information received via the first communications channel (11) and that only this traffic information is emitted via the second communications channel (12).
5. A device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the second communications channel (12) lies in a frequency band of 300 to 500 MHz.
6. A device according to Claim 5, characterised in that the second communications channel (12) lies in a frequency band of 400 to 450 MHz.
7. A device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the device (5) has a processing unit with a program or a sequencer for activation from time to time of the transmissions of the transmitter (23) via the second communications channel (12).
8. A device according to Claim 7, characterised in that the program or the sequencer is designed such that activation from time to time takes place taking into account the speed of the vehicles (7) passing the device (5).
9. A device according to one of Claims 7 or 8, characterised in that a detection device for detecting passing vehicles (7) is provided for activation from time to time.
10. A device according to Claim 9, characterised in that a passive or active infrared sensor (26) and/or radar and/or laser is provided for detecting passing vehicles (7).
11. A device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that all the components of the device are integrated in a housing (27, 28).
12. A device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that all the components of the device are arranged on a common support (18) which (18) preferably can be or is mounted on a bridge parapet (16).
13. A device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the power supply unit (21) is in the form of a battery-backed solar power supply, the solar cells (20) being integrated in the structural unit of the device.
14. A device according to Claim 13, characterised in that the solar cells (20) are arranged so as to be rotatable or adjustable.
15. A device according to one of Claims 13 or 14, characterised in that the solar cells (20) can track the sun corresponding to the time of day, in particular by means of a rotary electric drive mechanism.

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