JP2000215334A - Toll collecting device, toll collection system, on-vehicle device, and toll collecting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make quickly and surely receivable a toll from a vehicle side even in a case where an IC card attached to an on-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle or the antenna of a communication equipment provided in a tool gate, etc., for receiving a toll from the vehicle side, is out of order. SOLUTION: In this toll reception system, an exit gate device 102 provided in a toll gate of a toll road is provided with a simple antenna device 104 mainly consisting of a simple antenna 114 in addition to a communication equipment mainly consisting of a 3rd antenna 12. When the radio communication between the communication equipment mainly consisting of the antenna 12 and the device 6 becomes abnormal, the radio communication with an on-vehicle device 6 is switched to the device 104 mainly consisting of the antenna 114. Also, the information of a memory provided in the main body of the on-vehicle device 6 and storing information stored in an IC card 16 is displayed on the displaying part of the main body by radio communication.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toll collection device, a toll collection system, a vehicle-mounted device, and a toll collection method used when a toll is collected from a vehicle at a toll gate on a toll road or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, on a toll road such as an expressway, a toll collection system of a magnetic card type is used in order to collect a toll from a vehicle traveling on the expressway. This magnetic card-type toll collection system uses an entrance tollgate that passes when a vehicle enters an expressway.
For the driver of the vehicle, the automatic ticket issuing machine will tell the vehicle type of the vehicle such as ordinary car, large car etc. determined by the vehicle type discriminator and the entrance toll gate which was the starting point of running on the expressway etc. A magnetic card with an entry gate number for identification is issued as a pass ticket. On the other hand, at the exit toll gate where vehicles running on the highway pass when they leave the road, the toll ticket held by the driver of the vehicle is passed through a magnetic card reader, and the type of vehicle that is magnetically recorded on the toll ticket And read the entrance gate number, calculate the toll according to the travel distance and the vehicle type from the read information, present the amount to the driver, and collect the toll by cash or a prepaid card. I have.

In such a magnetic card type toll collection system, the entrance toll gate is only a procedure for receiving a toll ticket from an automatic toll issuing machine, so that the vicinity of the entrance toll gate is not so crowded. However, at the exit toll gate, there are extremely many artificial works such as passing toll tickets and receipts and collecting tolls.Therefore, when the number of vehicles using the highway increases, the area near the exit toll gate becomes crowded. Had the problem of getting lost. Therefore, in recent years, introduction of a new technology for relieving the congestion has been started. As one of the new technologies, a vehicle-mounted device having a wireless communication function and a detachable IC card capable of storing various information is mounted on a vehicle, and the vehicle-mounted device and each toll gate at an entrance and exit are installed. Introduce a wireless communication-type toll collection system that performs wireless communication with the communication device provided in each of the above and collect tolls together with the magnetic card-type toll collection system described above. Is considered.

When this wireless communication type toll collection system is introduced into a magnetic card type toll collection system, a vehicle equipped with an on-vehicle device (hereinafter referred to as an <ETC [Electric Toll Collec.
)] and vehicles without on-board equipment (hereinafter referred to as <non-ETC vehicles>) are mixed and pass through the entrance tollgate gate and the exit tollgate gate. It is necessary to collect tolls according to the vehicle. In other words, at the entrance tollgate, a toll ticket such as a magnetic card is issued for non-ETC vehicles, and for ETC vehicles, the communication and wireless communication of the ETC vehicle to the memory and the The control is performed so that the entrance gate number and the vehicle type are stored in the set IC card. On the other hand, at the exit tollgate gate, a toll ticket is received from the driver of a non-ETC vehicle, processed by a toll ticket reader, and the toll is settled artificially. The installed communication device reads out the entrance gate number and the vehicle type from the IC card of the ETC vehicle by wireless communication, and automatically adjusts the toll based on the read information. As a method of automatically adjusting tolls, a method of using an IC card in a manner similar to a credit card or a prepaid card by associating a driver's deposit account and the like with an IC card ID number in advance is adopted. Can be
In this way, the wireless communication-type toll collection system is expected to become the mainstream as a toll collection system on toll roads, considering the convenience of reducing traffic congestion near toll gates and achieving cashlessness. Is done.

[0005]

However, in such a wireless communication type toll collection system, for example, an IC mounted on a vehicle-mounted device while a vehicle is traveling on a highway.
If the card is damaged, it is not possible to collect tolls by wireless communication at the exit tollgate. In other words, the communication device provided at the exit tollgate that performs wireless communication with the vehicle-mounted device cannot perform communication error if the entrance tollgate number or the like recorded on the IC card at the entrance tollgate cannot be obtained by wireless communication. And the wireless communication is terminated, so that it is not possible to calculate the toll based on the traveling distance of the vehicle from the entrance tollgate to the exit tollgate. Therefore, there has been a demand for the development of a new wireless communication type toll collection system that can cope with such a case.

As described above, when the IC card is out of order, a communication error occurs. However, when the vehicle is not equipped with the vehicle-mounted device, the communication is provided at the exit toll gate. Even when the communication function of the device is actually out of order, a communication error occurs, needless to say. Accordingly, there has been a demand for detecting a malfunction of only the communication device and quickly collecting a toll.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem. For example, in order to collect a fee from a recording medium such as an IC card mounted on a communication device mounted on a vehicle or a vehicle, for example, To provide a toll collection device, a toll collection system, an in-vehicle device, and a toll collection method that can quickly and reliably receive a toll from a vehicle even when a communication device provided at a toll booth, for example, an antenna is broken. Is what you do.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a toll collection device according to the present invention relates to toll collection with a vehicle-mounted device mounted on a vehicle. A toll collection device that performs wireless communication, a vehicle detection unit that detects a vehicle, and a first wireless communication unit that starts wireless communication with the in-vehicle device when the vehicle is detected by the vehicle detection unit. A second wireless communication unit independent of the first wireless communication unit, the second wireless communication unit being capable of performing wireless communication with the in-vehicle device, and the vehicle detection unit When a vehicle is detected and the wireless communication started between the in-vehicle device and the first wireless communication unit has a communication abnormality, the wireless communication with the in-vehicle device is changed to the first wireless communication. From the communication means to the second radio Characterized by comprising a switching means for switching the signal means.

Further, according to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toll collection system according to a second aspect of the present invention, wherein a toll collection device for collecting a toll from a vehicle and an on-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle are wirelessly connected. In the toll collection system for performing communication, the in-vehicle device is provided in the in-vehicle device main body, and a storage unit that stores toll collection information related to toll collection, and is detachable from the in-vehicle device main body, and the storage unit stores A storage medium on which the toll collection information is recorded, and transmission means for reading the toll collection information recorded in the storage unit or the storage medium and transmitting the information to the toll collection device. A vehicle detection unit for detecting a vehicle, and a request for reading the toll collection information stored in the storage medium when the vehicle is detected by the vehicle detection unit. A first wireless communication means for transmitting to,
A wireless communication unit of a different system independent of the first wireless communication unit, and is stored in the storage unit when the toll collection information stored in the storage medium is not returned from the in-vehicle device side. A second wireless communication means for transmitting the read request for reading the toll collection information to the in-vehicle device.

Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toll collection system according to claim 3, wherein a toll collection device for collecting a toll from a vehicle and an on-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle have a wireless connection related to toll collection. In the toll collection system for performing communication, the toll collection device transmits a return request for toll collection information related to toll collection to the in-vehicle device, and indicates an abnormality in reading of the toll collection information from the in-vehicle device. A second transmission unit that transmits a display request for the toll collection information to the in-vehicle device when the reading abnormality information is returned, wherein the in-vehicle device displays the information visually. A storage unit provided in the in-vehicle device main body and storing the toll collection information; and a toll-insertable / removable to / from the in-vehicle device main body, wherein the toll collection information stored in the storage unit is recorded. A storage medium, receiving means for receiving a reply request for the charge collection information transmitted from the charge collection device, and when the reception means receives the reply request, the charge collection information recorded in the storage medium Reading means for reading back to the toll collection device, and means for returning the read abnormality information to the toll collection device when an error occurs in reading the toll collection information from the storage medium by the reading means, Means for reading the toll collection information stored in the storage unit and displaying the information on the display unit when the display request for the toll collection information is transmitted from the toll collection device.

Further, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toll collection system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, wherein a toll collection device for collecting a toll from a vehicle and a vehicle-mounted device mounted on the vehicle are connected to a wireless system related to toll collection. In a toll collection system that performs communication, the toll collection device includes a transmission unit that transmits a request for returning the toll collection information related to toll collection to the in-vehicle device, and the in-vehicle device visually displays information. And a storage unit provided in the in-vehicle device main body and storing the toll collection information, and a storage medium that is insertable into and removable from the in-vehicle device main body and stores the toll collection information stored in the storage unit. Receiving means for receiving a reply request of the fee collection information transmitted from the fee collection device,
When the receiving unit receives the reply request, a reading unit that reads the fee collection information recorded on the storage medium, and when an error occurs in reading the fee collection information from the storage medium by the reading unit, Means for reading the toll collection information stored in the storage unit and displaying the information on the display unit.

Furthermore, the vehicle-mounted device of the present invention performs wireless communication related to toll collection with a toll collection device that collects a toll from a vehicle, as described in claim 5.
In the in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle, a display unit for visually displaying information, a storage unit provided in the in-vehicle device main body, for storing toll collection information related to toll collection, A storage medium storing the toll collection information stored in the storage unit; a receiving unit for receiving a read request for the toll collection information transmitted from the toll collection device; and When receiving the toll, the reading means for reading the toll collection information stored in the storage medium, and the charge stored in the storage unit when an error in reading the toll collection information from the storage medium by the reading means occurs. Means for reading the received information and displaying the information on the display unit.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the on-vehicle apparatus according to the fifth aspect, an abnormality occurs in reading of the toll collection information from the storage medium by the reading means. In this case, the apparatus further comprises means for reading the fee collection information stored in the storage unit and returning the information to the fee collection device.

[0014] Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a fee collection method.
As described in, in a toll collection method for performing wireless communication related to toll collection with an in-vehicle device having a communication function mounted on a vehicle, a step of detecting a vehicle, and wherein the vehicle is detected A step of starting wireless communication with the in-vehicle device by first wireless communication means;
When wireless communication started between the in-vehicle device and the first wireless communication unit has a communication error, wireless communication with the in-vehicle device is performed from the first wireless communication unit. Switching to the second wireless communication means of a different system independent of the first wireless communication means.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication apparatus mounted on a vehicle, wherein the information can be inserted into and removed from the main body of the apparatus, and the charge collection information relating to the collection of the toll is provided. Wireless communication regarding toll collection is performed between an on-board device provided with at least a storage medium to be recorded and a storage unit provided in the device main body and storing the toll collection information, and a toll collection device for collecting a toll from the vehicle side. In the toll collection method, a step of detecting a vehicle, and, when the vehicle is detected, transmitting a request to read the toll collection information stored in the storage medium to the in-vehicle device by a first wireless communication unit. When the toll collection information stored in the storage medium is not returned from the in-vehicle device, the second wireless communication system independent of the first wireless communication means is provided. The read request for the toll collection information stored in the storage unit by Shin means; and a step of transmitting to the vehicle device.

Further, according to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication device mounted on a vehicle, wherein the communication device is provided on a display unit for visually displaying information and a device main body. A storage unit for storing toll collection information related to toll collection, and a vehicle-mounted device that is at least provided with a storage medium that can be inserted into and removed from the device main body and stores the toll collection information, and a toll collection device that collects tolls from the vehicle side. Between
In the toll collection method of performing wireless communication related to toll collection, a step of transmitting a return request for the toll collection information from the toll collection device to the in-vehicle device, and when the in-vehicle device receives the toll collection information return request, Reading the toll collection information recorded in the storage medium; and reading the toll collection information stored in the storage unit when an error occurs in reading the toll collection information from the storage medium. And a step of displaying the information.

Further, according to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication device mounted on a vehicle, wherein the communication device is provided in a display unit for visually displaying information and a device main body. A storage unit for storing toll collection information related to toll collection, and a vehicle-mounted device that is at least provided with a storage medium that can be inserted into and removed from the device main body and stores the toll collection information, and a toll collection device that collects tolls from the vehicle side. Between
In the toll collection method of performing wireless communication related to toll collection, a step of transmitting a reply request of the toll collection information from the toll collection device to the in-vehicle device, and reading abnormality information indicating an abnormal reading of the toll collection information from the in-vehicle device. Is transmitted from the toll collection device to the in-vehicle device when the toll collection information is displayed, and the reception of the toll collection information reply request transmitted from the toll collection device is received. Means, when the receiving means receives the reply request, reading means for reading the fee collection information recorded on the storage medium and returning the information to the charge collection device, and the charge from the storage medium by the reading means. Means for returning the reading error information to the toll collection device when a reading error of the collection information has occurred; When the display request for information has been transmitted, characterized by a step of displaying the toll collection information the storage unit stores the read the display.

That is, according to the present invention, when a vehicle is detected, radio communication is started between the on-vehicle device and the first radio communication means, and when the started radio communication becomes communication abnormal. The wireless communication with the in-vehicle device can be switched from the first wireless communication means to the second wireless communication means of a different system independent of the first wireless communication means. Therefore, according to the present invention, even when the first wireless communication unit is out of order, a fee can be collected from the vehicle by wireless communication. Furthermore, the present invention switches the wireless communication with the in-vehicle device to the second wireless communication means, and confirms whether or not a communication abnormality occurs, thereby performing communication due to a failure of the wireless communication means. Since it can be determined whether or not an abnormality has occurred, the wireless communication means also has a conservative function for confirming that it is functioning properly. In addition,
The wireless communication means for performing wireless communication with the in-vehicle device is not limited to the first and second wireless communication means as long as they are of different systems independent of each other, and a plurality of wireless communication means may be provided.

Further, according to the present invention, when the toll collection information recorded on a recording medium such as an IC card mounted on an in-vehicle device cannot be read, or cannot be read, the toll collection information is not read. If transmission is not possible from the device side, the toll collection information recorded on the in-vehicle device body is read,
The toll collection information can be displayed on the display unit of the in-vehicle device main body, and the read toll collection information can be transmitted from the in-vehicle device side. Therefore, even when the recording medium attached to the in-vehicle device is out of order, the fee can be promptly collected from the vehicle by wireless communication, and based on the toll collection information displayed on the display unit of the in-vehicle device, It is possible to reliably receive the toll from the vehicle side.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a toll collection system according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an entrance gate device constituting the toll collection system of FIG. 1, and FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing an entrance gate device, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an exit gate device constituting the toll collection system of FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a plan view schematically showing the exit gate device of FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an on-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle constituting the toll collection system of FIG. 1,
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an IC card mounted on the vehicle-mounted device of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, this toll collection system includes a gate device 2, 4 provided at each toll gate at an entrance of a toll road, such as a highway, and an on-vehicle device 6 mounted on a vehicle. It is composed of The gate device is provided with antennas 8, 10, and 12, and this antenna 8,
Wireless communication regarding toll collection is performed between the vehicle-mounted device antennas 10 and 12 and the vehicle-mounted device antenna 14 included in the vehicle-mounted device 6.

The in-vehicle device 6 has an IC card 16 mounted thereon, and is provided with a card accommodating section having an auto-loading mechanism for automatically accommodating or carrying out the IC card 16. When the user inserts the IC card 16 into the insertion slot into the card storage section, the IC card 16 is automatically stored in the card storage section by the automatic loading mechanism. On the other hand, when the user presses the eject button provided on the vehicle-mounted device 6 to remove the IC card 16 from the vehicle-mounted device 6, the IC card 1 is removed from the card storage unit.
6 is configured to auto-eject.

The transfer of information between the vehicle-mounted device 6 and the IC card 16 is performed by using an E mounted inside the IC card 16.
Information is exchanged with the vehicle-mounted device 6 through a memory element such as an EPROM or a flash memory. On the other hand, information is exchanged between the gate devices 2 and 4 and the vehicle-mounted device 6 by wirelessly communicating information stored in a buffer memory such as an internal dynamic RAM.

Here, the entrance gate device 2 provided at the entrance tollgate gate and the exit gate device 4 provided at the exit tollgate gate will be described respectively.

The entrance gate device 2 is provided for each lane of an entrance tollgate at an interchange on an expressway. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the entrance gate device 4 sequentially detects the vehicles 20 that have entered the communication area 18 of the first antenna 8 of the entrance tollgate, and detects large vehicles, ordinary vehicles, small vehicles, and the like. A vehicle type discriminating device 22 for discriminating the vehicle type of the vehicle, and a first antenna 8 when the vehicle type discriminated by the vehicle type discriminating device 22 is transmitted.
An entrance lane control device 24 for transmitting information such as an entrance gate number and a time at which the vehicle enters an entrance tollgate gate to a vehicle 20 capable of starting wireless communication via the vehicle-mounted device 6 and capable of wireless communication; Is provided at a position before communication with the communication area 18 of the first antenna 8 becomes impossible, and the detected vehicle 20 is moved to the communication area 1.
A first vehicle detection device 26 that notifies the entrance lane control device 24 as a vehicle that starts from 8, a roadside display 28 that gives a stop or start instruction to the vehicle 20 by, for example, turning on a red signal or a green signal, For non-ETC vehicles (vehicles not equipped with on-vehicle device 6) and ETC vehicles (vehicles equipped with on-vehicle device 6), vehicles that cannot communicate normally due to interference, for example,
The vehicle type number of the vehicle determined by the vehicle type determination device 22, the registration number of the vehicle, the entrance gate number of the entrance tollgate, the date and time of passing through the entrance tollgate, etc. are automatically magnetically recorded and printed and issued to the vehicle side. When the second vehicle detector 32 detects the vehicle 20 that has normally completed communication between the ticket issuing machine 30 and the first antenna 8, the entrance lane control device 2
4 and the communication area 3 of the vehicle 22 based on the instruction
Data is exchanged within the vehicle 4, and for example, the vehicle type of the vehicle 20 determined by the vehicle type determination device 22 is compared with the vehicle type previously recorded in the vehicle-mounted device 6 received from the vehicle-mounted device 6, and the comparison result is mounted on the vehicle. And a third vehicle detector 36 for detecting a vehicle 20 passing through the communication area 34 of the second antenna 10 and departing from the entrance tollgate gate. ing.

The vehicle type discriminating device 22 is a vehicle height and vehicle length detector 38 for detecting the vehicle width, vehicle height, vehicle length and the like of the passing vehicle.
And the vehicle 2 is buried in a road surface on which the vehicle 20 passes and is pressed by a tire of the vehicle 20 by a pressure detection switch.
Tread plate 40 for detecting the number of axes connecting the right and left tires
In order to reliably detect vehicles entering the toll gate at the entrance one by one, a light emitter and a light receiver are installed at positions facing the gate lane, respectively. And a vehicle separator 42 for detecting the vehicle speed.

Next, the exit gate device 4 will be described. The exit gate device 4 is provided for each lane of an exit tollgate gate at an interchange on a highway. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the exit gate device 4 includes a fourth vehicle detector 46 for sequentially detecting the vehicles 20 that have entered the communication area 44 of the third antenna 12 of the exit tollgate. The vehicle information is transmitted to the vehicle-mounted device 6 mounted on the vehicle 20 via the third antenna 12 when the vehicle 20 is detected by the fourth vehicle detector 46 provided in the exit booth 48 where the attendant is present. And the vehicle 20 can communicate depending on whether or not the vehicle information has been received before the vehicle 20 traveling straight ahead is detected by the fifth vehicle detector 50, for example.
Exit lane control device 52 for determining whether the vehicle is a TC vehicle or a non-ETC vehicle with which communication is not possible, and for collecting a toll from the vehicle in a toll collection method corresponding to each of the ETC vehicle and the non-ETC vehicle. And a roadside indicator 54 for giving a stop or start instruction to the vehicle 20 by, for example, turning on a red light or a green light, and preventing the vehicle 20 from going straight from the exit tollgate gate to restrict the vehicle 22 from going straight on a general road. And a sixth vehicle detector 58 that detects the vehicle 20 that has departed from the entrance tollgate and has completed toll payment.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the exit gate device 4 includes a toll ticket processing machine 60 for processing a toll ticket (magnetic card) possessed by the driver of the non-ETC vehicle, and a prepaid prepaid fee. A prepaid card processor 62 for processing cards, and an IC card for directly reading or writing information from the IC card 16 main body without using wireless communication with the IC card 16 mounted on the vehicle-mounted device 6 of the ETC vehicle. A reader / writer 64, a receipt issuing machine 66 for issuing a recorded receipt of the expressway toll, use date and time, etc. to the driver of the vehicle, and a toll for the person monitoring the exit tollgate gate. And an information input unit 70 for the clerk to input information based on the display contents and the like displayed by the clerk display 68. It is provided in the 48.

Further, the operator of the toll road checks the negative list, which is a list of ID numbers for which the driver of the vehicle has been determined not to be permitted to use the toll road due to the circumstances of the misconduct. In order to use the IC card 16 in a manner similar to a credit card by associating the account of the deposit of the driver of the vehicle with the ID number of the IC card 16 in advance, the above-mentioned entrance gate is used. The device 2 and the exit gate device 4 are collectively controlled by a host computer 72 as a host device.

Next, the vehicle-mounted device 6 will be described. The on-board unit (OBU: On Board Unit) 6, as shown in FIG.
An auto-loading / ejecting mechanism 76 for loading the IC card 16 into the card housing 74 and ejecting the IC card 16 from the card housing 74.
An IC card processing unit 82 that processes information read through the interface unit 78 and stores the processing result in a memory 80; Transmitted from the antenna 14 and the vehicle-mounted antenna 1
4, a wireless control unit 84 for storing the information received in the memory 80, and an operation unit 86 provided with ten keys, a designation key, an execution key, an eject button, etc. operated by a user.
And a display unit 88 provided with a character display for guiding operation contents, an LED lamp, and the like, and a control unit 9 for integrally controlling each unit.
0. The memory 80 stores vehicle information such as vehicle length, vehicle height, number of axes, weight, use, and features of the vehicle 16 on which the vehicle-mounted device 6 is mounted, as well as identifying the vehicle-mounted device 6 from other vehicle-mounted devices. The ID number is recorded in advance.

As shown in FIG. 7, the IC card 16
A flash memory 92 as a storage unit, an interface unit 94 for exchanging data with the interface unit 78 of the vehicle-mounted device 6, and a CPU 96 for controlling the interface unit 94 and the flash memory 92 are provided. The flash memory 92 of the IC card 16 stores the account number of the user's deposit, special contract information indicating whether or not discounted persons can be applied, and billing information such as the expiration date of the contract. Further, an ID number for specifying the IC card 16 is stored in the flash memory 92 of the IC card 16 in advance, and when the vehicle 20 passes through the entrance toll gate, the passing date and time and the toll gate are specified. Passage history information such as a gate number, a vehicle type of the vehicle 20, and a remaining amount of the card are stored in association with the ID number of the IC card 16. In addition, this IC card 16
When the is inserted into the vehicle-mounted device 6, the charging information is transmitted to the vehicle-mounted device 6 only after confirming the validity of the vehicle-mounted device 6 by exchanging signals with the vehicle-mounted device 6.

The basic operation when the vehicle 20 actually passes through the entrance toll gate and the exit toll gate in the toll collection system thus configured will be described.

First, the operation when the vehicle 20 passes through the entrance tollgate will be described. When the vehicle 20 enters the communication area 18 of the entrance tollgate, the vehicle type detection device 22 detects the vehicle 20 and determines the vehicle type. The entrance lane control device 24 having received the notification of the vehicle type of the determined vehicle 20 controls the first antenna 8 and starts inquiring of the vehicle 20 for communication. Vehicle 2
When the on-vehicle device 6 is mounted on 0, when the on-vehicle device 6 recognizes that it is a valid inquiry from the first antenna 8,
The charging information notified from the IC card 16 and the vehicle information recorded in the vehicle-mounted device 6 are returned as response signals. Upon receiving this response signal, the entrance lane control device 24 recognizes that the response from the vehicle-mounted device 6 is valid, and confirms that the expiration date and the remaining amount of the billing information are not zero.

As a result of the confirmation, if predetermined conditions are satisfied, first entrance information such as an entrance tollgate number, a passing date and time, and a gate lane number is transmitted to the vehicle-mounted device 6. Onboard device 6
Then, after confirming that the first entrance information has been received normally, the reception completion notice is transmitted to the entrance lane control device 24. When the entrance lane control device 24 receives the reception completion notification from the vehicle-mounted device 6 via the first antenna 8, the issuance of a pass ticket from the pass ticket issuing machine 30 is not performed. In addition, the entrance lane control device 24 is the vehicle type discriminating device 2
2, the first antenna 8
If there is no response signal from the vehicle-mounted device 6, it is determined that "communication failure".

When the ETC vehicle 20 passes beside the entrance lane control device 24 and enters the communication area 34, the second vehicle detector 3
2, a detection signal of the vehicle 20 is transmitted to the entrance lane control device 24, and the entrance lane control device 2 receiving the detection signal
4 controls the second antenna 10 to execute a communication inquiry to the vehicle-mounted device 6.

In response to the communication inquiry, the vehicle-mounted device 6 recognizes that the inquiry is valid, and responds with the ID number notified from the IC card 16 and the ID number registered in the vehicle-mounted device 6 in advance. Reply as a signal. Upon receiving this response signal, the entrance lane control device 24 outputs I as a response signal.
The ID number of the C card 16 and the ID number of the vehicle-mounted device 6 are compared.

Upon confirming that the ID numbers match, the entrance lane control device 24 compares the vehicle type information determined by the vehicle type identification device 22 with the vehicle type information previously recorded in the on-vehicle device 6 at the second entrance lane. The information is returned to the vehicle-mounted device 6 via the second antenna 10 as information. When the vehicle-mounted device 6 receives the second entrance information from the second antenna 10, it notifies the second antenna 10 of the completion of the reception and combines the received first entrance information and the second entrance information. The entrance information is recorded in the memory 80 of the vehicle-mounted device 6 and the flash memory 92 of the IC card 16.

Next, the basic operation when the vehicle 20 passes through the exit tollgate will be described. When the vehicle 20 that enters the communication area 44 at the exit tollgate is detected by the fourth vehicle detector 46, this information is notified to the exit lane control device 52. The exit lane control device 52 controls the third antenna 12 to start making an inquiry to the vehicle 20. When the vehicle-mounted device 6 receives the inquiry signal, the vehicle-mounted device 6 checks the validity of the inquiry signal. If the inquiry signal is valid, the vehicle-mounted device 6 returns the entrance information, the billing information, the vehicle information, and the like recorded in the flash memory 92 of the IC card 16 to the third antenna 12. The exit lane control device 52 calculates the toll based on the entrance information received by the third antenna 12, performs the negative list collation of the ID number while referring to the information of the host computer 72, and By recognizing the legitimacy, the entrance information and the exit information including the exit gate number, date and time of passage, the gate lane number, the toll, and the passage section are transmitted to the vehicle-mounted device 6 as a use history. When the in-vehicle device 6 receives the usage history, the in-vehicle device 6 confirms that the usage history has been normally received, notifies the exit lane control device 52 of the completion of the reception, and records the usage history in the IC card 16. I do. When a non-ETC vehicle passes through an exit tollgate, it is detected by the fourth vehicle detector 46 and then goes straight ahead and is detected by the second vehicle detector 50. The red light of the machine 54 lights up, and a stop instruction is given to the vehicle 20. After that, the staff at the exit tollgate receives a toll ticket from the driver of the non-ETC vehicle,
The attendant causes the information magnetically recorded on the passport to be read using the passport processor 60. The toll is calculated based on the read information, and the driver pays by cash or a prepaid card.

Here, in the toll collection system of this embodiment, for example, when the vehicle 20 enters the toll road from the entrance toll gate and the IC card 16 is damaged while traveling on the toll road, the exit toll gate is used. Will be described with reference to a sequence diagram shown in FIG. 8 and a flowchart shown in FIG.

When the vehicle 20 is detected by the vehicle detector 46 and enters the communication area 44 of the exit toll gate, the exit lane control device 52 causes the third antenna 12
, A request A for returning the entrance information stored in the flash memory 92 of the IC card 16 is transmitted to the vehicle-mounted device 6 (S1). If the vehicle is not equipped with the vehicle-mounted device 6, information on the toll ticket possessed by the driver is read out by the toll ticket processor 60, and an attendant collects a toll from the driver. Is carried out (S3
NO). On the other hand, when the vehicle 20 is a vehicle equipped with the vehicle-mounted device 6 as in the present embodiment, the entrance information return request A
Is received, the in-vehicle device 6 performs reading B of the entrance information stored in the IC card 16.

However, the IC card 16 is damaged, and the vehicle-mounted device 6 sends the entry information read result C to the IC card 1.
6, the entrance information read abnormality information D is transmitted to the exit lane control device 52 (YES in S3,
S7). When the IC card 16 is not damaged, the exit lane control device 52 can acquire the entrance information recorded on the IC card 16. Is collected (S9). By the way, in the present embodiment, the exit lane control device 52 that has received the reading abnormality information D of the entrance information transmits a display request E of the vehicle-mounted device entrance information to the vehicle-mounted device 6 (S11).

Thus, the display request E of the vehicle-mounted device entrance information is obtained.
Is received by the vehicle-mounted device 6 through the control unit 90.
The display unit 88 displays the entrance information recorded in the memory 80 of the main body, that is, the type of the vehicle 20 determined at the entrance tollgate gate, the entrance tollgate number, and the like. At this time, when the attendant inputs the vehicle type and the entrance tollgate number displayed on the display unit 88 of the vehicle-mounted device 6 from the information input unit 70 (S1).
3) The toll calculated by the exit lane controller 52 is displayed on the attendant display 68 (S15). When the clerk directly receives the displayed toll from the driver of the vehicle 20 (S17) and presses a fee confirmation button or the like provided on the information input unit 70, the vehicle straight ahead blocker 56 opens (S1).
9) The vehicle 20 can start at the tollgate.

As described above, according to the toll collection system of the present embodiment, the toll collection information such as the entrance tollgate number recorded on the IC card 16 mounted on the on-vehicle device 6 is transmitted from the on-vehicle device 6 to the exit. When the information is not transmitted to the gate device 4 side, the entrance tollgate number or the like recorded in the memory 80 of the vehicle-mounted device 6 can be read and displayed on the display unit 88 of the vehicle-mounted device 6. Therefore, the I mounted on the vehicle-mounted device 6
Even when the C card 16 is out of order, it is possible to reliably receive a toll from the vehicle based on the entrance tollgate number and the like displayed on the display unit 88 of the vehicle-mounted device 6.

Note that the toll collection system of the present embodiment
If the entrance information is not transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device 6 to the exit gate device 4, the entrance information recorded in the memory 80 of the vehicle-mounted device 6 is read out and displayed on the display unit 88 of the vehicle-mounted device 6. However, the toll collection system may be configured so that the entrance information read from the memory 80 of the vehicle-mounted device 6 can be transmitted to the exit gate device 4 side.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an exit gate device constituting the toll collection system according to the second embodiment.

As shown in the figure, the exit gate device 102 of this embodiment is configured by adding a simple antenna device 104 and an ETC control unit 106 to the exit gate device 4 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. Have been.

The exit gate device 102 of this embodiment is
Wireless communication is performed between the simple antenna device 104 operated by a staff member and the vehicle-mounted device 6 mounted on the vehicle 20, and information obtained by the wireless communication is transmitted between the simple antenna device 104 and the exit lane control device 52. Communication between the third antenna 12 and the third antenna 12 controlled by the exit lane control device 52.
This is effective in the event of a failure or the like.

As shown in FIG. 11, the simple antenna device 104 includes a transmission control unit 108 for exchanging data with the ETC control unit 106 by wire communication, and a key for a staff member to perform key operations and input information. Operation unit 110 and display 1 for displaying the operation status of simple antenna device 104
12, a simple antenna 114 for performing wireless communication with the vehicle-mounted device 6, a wireless control unit 116 for controlling wireless communication by the simple antenna 114, a power supply unit 118 for supplying power to the body of the simple antenna device 104, ETC control unit 1
06, a CPU 1 that controls the transmission control unit 108 and the like
20 and a memory 122 for storing programs executed by the CPU 120.

Next, a case in which a toll is collected from the vehicle at the exit toll gate by the exit gate device 102 thus configured will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

When the vehicle 20 is detected by the vehicle detector 46 and enters the communication area 44 of the exit tollgate, the exit lane control device 52 causes the third antenna 12
, A request to return the entrance information stored in the flash memory 92 of the IC card 16 is transmitted to the vehicle-mounted device 6. Thereafter, when the entrance information is not returned from the vehicle-mounted device 6 to the exit lane control device 52 and a communication error occurs, a clerk in the exit booth 48 performs the following determination and processing.

Whether the vehicle-mounted device 6 is mounted on the vehicle 20 (S31), whether the power of the vehicle-mounted device 6 is turned off (S33), whether the vehicle-mounted device 6 is damaged, and the like (S35). When the clerk checks that the vehicle-mounted device 6 is mounted on the vehicle 20 and the power of the vehicle-mounted device 6 is turned on, and the clerk determines that there is no evidence that the vehicle-mounted device 6 is damaged, etc. The operator operates the simple antenna device 104 so that the third antenna 1
The wireless communication between the simple antenna 114 of the simple antenna device 104 and the on-vehicle device antenna 14 of the on-vehicle device 6 is started instead of the wireless communication by the wireless communication device 2 (S37).

That is, the simple antenna device 1 by the attendant
In response to an input operation from the key operation unit 110 of the in-vehicle device 04, a request for returning the entrance information stored in the memory 80 of the in-vehicle device 6 is transmitted from the simple antenna 114 to the in-vehicle device 6 (S).
39). At this time, when the entrance information is not returned from the vehicle-mounted device 6 within a predetermined time and a timeout occurs (S4).
1) A predetermined error process is performed (S4).
3) A return request for entrance information is retried from the simple antenna 114 to the vehicle-mounted device 6 a predetermined number of times (S45). Within a predetermined time, the simple antenna device 1
When the entrance information is returned to 14 (S47),
“Read completed” is displayed on the display 112 of the simple antenna device 114 (S49).

Further, the read entrance information is checked for validity of the data by the simple antenna device 104 (S51), and when the entrance information is judged to be valid (S53), Entrance information is ETC control unit 1
06 is communicated by wire (S55). Thereafter, when it is confirmed by the CPU 120 of the simple antenna device 104 that the wireless communication has been normally performed between the simple antenna device 104 and the vehicle-mounted device 6 (S57), it is determined at the entrance tollgate gate. The entrance information such as the type of the vehicle 20 and the entrance tollgate number is displayed on the display 112. When the attendant directly receives the displayed toll from the driver of the vehicle 20 and presses a toll confirmation button or the like provided on the information input unit 70, the vehicle straight ahead blocker 56 opens, and the vehicle 20 enters the toll gate. It is possible to start.

As described above, according to the toll collection system of the present embodiment, when the vehicle 20 is detected, the wireless communication between the vehicle-mounted device 6 and the third antenna 12 is started, and the started wireless communication is started. When a communication error occurs, the wireless communication with the on-vehicle device 6 is performed separately from the communication device mainly including the third antenna 12 to the communication device mainly including the third antenna 12. It is possible to switch to a communication device mainly including the simple antenna 114 of the system. Therefore, according to the toll collection system of the present embodiment, the third antenna 1
Even when the communication device mainly including the communication device 2 is out of order, a toll can be collected from the vehicle 20 by wireless communication. Furthermore, the toll collection system according to the present embodiment switches the wireless communication with the on-vehicle device 6 to a communication device mainly including the simple antenna 114, and confirms whether or not a communication abnormality occurs. Since it is possible to determine whether or not a communication error has occurred due to a failure or the like of the communication device on the gate device 102 side, it is necessary to confirm that the communication device on the exit gate device 102 side is functioning normally. It also has conservative functions.

Note that the toll collection system of the present embodiment
When the simple antenna device 104 performs wireless communication by a staff member operation, but the wireless communication between the communication device mainly including the third antenna 12 and the vehicle-mounted device 6 becomes communication abnormal, Automatically, the vehicle-mounted device 6 and the simple antenna 11
The toll collection system may be configured to start wireless communication with a communication device mainly composed of the communication device 4.

[0057]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When a vehicle is detected, wireless communication is started between the in-vehicle device and the first wireless communication unit. If the started wireless communication becomes abnormal, the wireless communication with the in-vehicle device is performed.
It is possible to switch from the first wireless communication means to a second wireless communication means of a different system independent of the first wireless communication means. Therefore, according to the present invention, even when the first wireless communication unit is out of order, a fee can be collected from the vehicle by wireless communication. Furthermore, the present invention switches the wireless communication with the in-vehicle device to the second wireless communication means, and confirms whether or not a communication abnormality occurs, thereby performing communication due to a failure of the wireless communication means. Since it can be determined whether or not an abnormality has occurred, the wireless communication means also has a conservative function for confirming that it is functioning properly.

Further, according to the present invention, when the toll collection information recorded on a recording medium such as an IC card mounted on the in-vehicle device cannot be read or cannot be read, the toll collection information is not read. If transmission is not possible from the device side, the toll collection information recorded on the in-vehicle device body is read,
The toll collection information can be displayed on the display unit of the mounting device main body, and the read charge collection information can be transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device.
Therefore, even when the recording medium attached to the in-vehicle device is out of order, the fee can be promptly collected from the vehicle by wireless communication, and based on the toll collection information displayed on the display unit of the in-vehicle device, It is possible to reliably receive tolls from the vehicle side

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a toll collection system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an entrance gate device constituting the toll collection system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing the entrance gate device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an exit gate device constituting the toll collection system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan view schematically showing the exit gate device of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an on-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle constituting the toll collection system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an IC card mounted on the vehicle-mounted device of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing a toll collection process by the exit gate device of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a toll collection process by the exit gate device of FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an exit gate device constituting a toll collection system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a simple antenna device constituting the exit gate device of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a toll collection process by the exit gate device of FIG. 10;

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 entrance gate device 4, 102 exit gate device 6 vehicle-mounted device (OBU) 8 first antenna 10 second antenna 12 third antenna 14 vehicle-mounted device antenna 16 … IC card 20… Vehicle 24… Entrance lane control device 30, 32, 36, 46, 50, 58… Vehicle detector 52… Exit lane control device 70… Information input unit 80… Memory 84 Wireless control unit 88 Display unit 92 Flash memory of IC card 104 Simple antenna device 106 ETC control unit 114 Simple antenna 116 Wireless control unit of simple antenna device A Request to return IC card entry information B: IC card entry information read C: IC card entry information read result D: IC card entry information read abnormal information E: OBE entry information Display request

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI theme coat ゛ (Reference) G08G 1/02 G06F 15/21 340A F term (Reference) 3E027 EA01 EB02 EC05 EC10 5B049 EE21 5B058 CA13 KA06 KA12 KA21 KA21 KA27 KA33 YA01 5H180 AA01 BB12 CC12 CC21 EE10

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A toll collection device for performing wireless communication related to toll collection with an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle, wherein: a vehicle detection means for detecting a vehicle; and when the vehicle is detected by the vehicle detection means, A first wireless communication unit that starts wireless communication with the in-vehicle device; and a wireless communication unit of another system independent of the first wireless communication unit, wherein the first wireless communication unit performs wireless communication with the in-vehicle device. A second wireless communication unit that can be performed, and the vehicle is detected by the vehicle detection unit, and wireless communication started between the in-vehicle device and the first wireless communication unit has a communication abnormality. In this case, the toll collection device is provided with switching means for switching wireless communication with the in-vehicle device from the first wireless communication means to the second wireless communication means. 2. A toll collection system for performing wireless communication related to toll collection between a toll collection device that collects a toll from a vehicle and an in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle, wherein the in-vehicle device is provided in the in-vehicle device body. A storage unit for storing toll collection information related to toll collection; a storage medium that is insertable into and removable from the in-vehicle device main body and stores the toll collection information stored in the storage unit; and the storage unit or the storage. Transmission means for reading the toll collection information recorded on a medium and transmitting the information to the toll collection device, wherein the toll collection device detects a vehicle, and the vehicle detection unit detects the vehicle. The first wireless communication means for transmitting a request for reading the toll collection information stored in the storage medium to the in-vehicle device; Reading the toll collection information stored in the storage unit when the toll collection information stored in the storage medium is not returned from the in-vehicle device side. And a second wireless communication means for transmitting the request to the in-vehicle device. 3. A toll collection system for performing wireless communication related to toll collection between a toll collection device that collects a toll from a vehicle and an in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle, wherein the toll collection device includes: First transmission means for transmitting an information return request to the in-vehicle apparatus; and when the in-vehicle apparatus returns read abnormality information indicating an abnormality in reading the toll collection information, the display request for the toll collection information is sent. A second transmitting unit for transmitting to the in-vehicle device, wherein the in-vehicle device visually displays information; and a storage unit provided in the in-vehicle device main body and storing the toll collection information. A storage medium that can be inserted into and removed from the in-vehicle device main body and stores the toll collection information stored in the storage unit; and the toll collection information transmitted from the toll collection device Receiving means for receiving a reply request; reading means for reading the toll collection information recorded on the storage medium when the receiving means receives the reply request; and returning to the toll collection device; Means for returning the read-abnormality information to the toll collection device when an abnormality in reading the toll collection information from a storage medium has occurred, and when a display request for the toll collection information has been transmitted from the toll collection device Means for reading the fee collection information stored in the storage unit and displaying the information on the display unit. 4. A toll collection system for performing wireless communication related to toll collection between a toll collection device that collects a toll from a vehicle and an in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle, wherein the toll collection device transmits a charge to the in-vehicle device. A transmission unit for transmitting a reply request for the toll collection information relating to collection, wherein the in-vehicle device is provided with a display unit for visually displaying information; and a storage provided in the in-vehicle device main body for storing the toll collection information. And a storage medium that is insertable into and removable from the in-vehicle device main body and stores the toll collection information stored in the storage unit, and receives a reply request for the toll collection information transmitted from the toll collection device. Receiving means for reading, when the receiving means receives the reply request, reading means for reading the fee collection information recorded on the storage medium, and the storage medium by the reading means Means for reading the toll collection information stored in the storage unit and displaying the information on the display unit when an abnormality in reading the toll collection information from a body occurs. 5. An in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle for performing wireless communication relating to toll collection with a toll collection device for collecting a toll from a vehicle, a display unit for visually displaying information, A storage unit provided in the device main body and storing toll collection information relating to toll collection; a storage medium that is insertable into and removable from the in-vehicle device main body and stores the toll collection information stored in the storage unit; A receiving unit that receives a request to read the fee collection information transmitted from the collection device; a reading unit that reads the fee collection information stored in the storage medium when the reception unit receives the read request; Means for reading the toll collection information stored in the storage unit and causing the display unit to display the toll collection information when reading error of the toll collection information from the storage medium by the reading unit occurs. An in-vehicle device, comprising: 6. The in-vehicle device according to claim 5, wherein when the reading unit has an abnormality in reading the toll collection information from the storage medium, the storage unit reads the toll collection information and reads the toll collection information. An in-vehicle device, further comprising means for returning a response to the collection device. 7. A toll collection method for performing wireless communication related to toll collection with an in-vehicle device having a communication function mounted on a vehicle, comprising the steps of: detecting a vehicle; A step of starting wireless communication with the in-vehicle device by the first wireless communication means, and when the wireless communication started between the in-vehicle device and the first wireless communication means has a communication abnormality, Switching the wireless communication with the in-vehicle device from the first wireless communication means to a second wireless communication means of a different system independent of the first wireless communication means. Toll collection method. 8. A communication device mounted on a vehicle, comprising: a storage medium that can be inserted into and removed from the device main body and records toll collection information related to toll collection; and a storage device provided in the device main body to store the toll collection information. A toll collection method for performing wireless communication related to toll collection between an in-vehicle device having at least a storage unit and a toll collection device for collecting a toll from the vehicle side, wherein a step of detecting a vehicle; and Transmitting a request to read the toll collection information stored in the storage medium to the in-vehicle device by a first wireless communication unit; and returning the toll collection information stored in the storage medium from the in-vehicle device. If not received, a request to read the toll collection information stored in the storage unit by the second wireless communication means of another system independent of the first wireless communication means Transmitting to the in-vehicle device. 9. A communication device mounted on a vehicle, comprising: a display unit for visually displaying information; a storage unit provided in the device main body for storing toll collection information relating to toll collection; A toll collection method for performing wireless communication related to toll collection between an in-vehicle device having at least a storage medium on which the toll collection information is recorded and a toll collection device for collecting a toll from the vehicle side. Transmitting a reply request for the toll collection information from the device to the in-vehicle device; and reading the toll collection information recorded in the storage medium when the in-vehicle device receives the toll collection information return request. Reading out the toll collection information stored in the storage unit and causing the display unit to display the toll collection information when reading abnormality of the toll collection information from the storage medium occurs; A fee collection method characterized by having: 10. A communication device mounted on a vehicle, comprising:
A display unit for visually displaying information, a storage unit provided in the apparatus main body for storing toll collection information relating to toll collection, and at least a storage medium which can be inserted into and removed from the apparatus main body and in which the toll collection information is recorded. In a toll collection method for performing wireless communication related to toll collection between an in-vehicle device and a toll collection device that collects a toll from a vehicle, a reply request for the toll collection information is transmitted from the toll collection device to the in-vehicle device. Transmitting read request information of the toll collection information from the toll collection device to the in-vehicle device, when read abnormality information indicating an abnormal reading of the toll collection information is returned from the in-vehicle device; Receiving means for receiving a reply request for the toll collection information transmitted from the toll collection device; and when the receiving means receives the reply request, the storage means A reading unit that reads the fee collection information recorded on a medium and returns the information to the fee collection device; and when the reading unit has an error in reading the fee collection information from the storage medium, the reading abnormality information is read. Means for replying to the toll collection device; and a step of, when a display request for the toll collection information is transmitted from the toll collection device, reading the toll collection information stored in the storage unit and displaying the information on the display unit. A toll collection method characterized by the following.