JP2001328534A - System of giving information on use of transportation means - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain the crowded degree of and vacant seat stage of a moving vehicle and give them to passengers in a system of giving information on use of a traffic means in a public transportation means. SOLUTION: An in-train crowd status collecting system 127 is provided in each train. Information on the number of passengers and vacant seat positions acquired on the trains is transmitted to a host management device 102 via a radio communication system 128. Information on the number of passengers and vacant seat position is transmitted to an information providing terminal 108 installed at station facilities 118 via a relay device 104, where it is displayed. In this way, the information on crowded trucks and vacant seat positions can be provided for users at a real time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a transportation use information providing system, and more particularly to a transportation use information providing system for providing users with in-vehicle information and operation information in public transportation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional transportation use information providing system, a "transportation use information providing system" disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-78888 is known. FIG. 15 shows the configuration of this system. In this system, various information collection systems 111 to 11 are stored in a host management device 102 of a railway company.
4 and information from the data input devices 115-117. Information accumulated in a plurality of railway companies is collected in a relay device 104 through a dedicated line 103. Through the local information management device 106 of each railway company, to the information provision terminal 108 in the station premises,
Distribute and display information.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional transportation use information providing system, since there is no means for directly obtaining information from individual vehicles, it is difficult to obtain accurate information on the congestion situation. There was a problem. In addition, since human resources such as operators are required,
There has been a problem that a delay time from information collection to distribution is long and reliability of input operation is low.

[0004]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a transportation use information providing system,
The vehicle of public transportation is equipped with an in-vehicle condition measuring means for measuring the congestion condition in the vehicle and outputting the in-vehicle condition information, and an in-vehicle information management device for managing the in-vehicle condition information. A configuration including an operation information acquisition unit that acquires operation information, an information management center that accumulates in-vehicle status information and operation information and manages the information as transportation means, and an information terminal device that provides the transportation information to users. did.

[0005] With this configuration, the user can obtain the congestion rate and vacant seat information of a desired vehicle from a terminal or a portable information terminal installed at a station or the like.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS.

(First Embodiment) In a first embodiment of the present invention, at a large terminal station where a plurality of electric railway companies enter, the operation status and vacant seat information of each company's vehicles are transmitted to passengers by a dedicated terminal or the like. It is a transportation use information providing system to be provided.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a transportation use information providing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, an information management system 101a,
101b is a traffic information system of a railway company having a transportation use information providing system. The host management device 102
It is a device that collects transportation information. Dedicated lines 103a, 103b
Is a dedicated communication line connecting the railway company and the relay device.
The relay device 104 is a device that relays communication between railway companies. The local information management device 106 is an information collection device provided at a railway station. The signal line 107 is a signal line connecting the local information management device and the information providing terminal. Information providing terminal
Reference numeral 108 denotes a terminal device for providing a user with transportation information. The display device 109 is a display device for a user. The information files 110 and 120 are file devices that store transportation information such as in-vehicle status information and operation information.

The train diagram 111 is a device storing train diagrams. The train operation management system 112 is a device that manages the operation of a train according to a train schedule. The train seat reservation system 113 is a device for reserving train seats and issuing a seat reservation ticket. The bus diagram 114 is
This is a device that stores a bus schedule. Keyboard 115
It is a manual input device for various information. The CD-ROM 116 is various information files. The VTR 117 is various video information data. The station facility 118 is a ground facility provided in the station yard and in the surrounding area. Railway companies LAN 119a, 119b
Is a dedicated communication line within the railway company. The in-train congestion status collection systems 127T1 and 127T2 are devices that collect data such as the degree of congestion in the train. The communication line 128 is a dedicated line in a railway company and a wireless communication system.

FIG. 2 is a function showing the relationship between the local information management device, the vehicle equipped with the in-vehicle congestion status collection system, and the portable information terminal in the transportation use information providing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram. The same applies to the relationship between the host management device and the vehicle equipped with the in-vehicle congestion status collection system. In FIG. 2, a wireless transceiver
Reference numeral 220 denotes a dedicated transceiver provided in the local information management device for providing data to the portable information terminal 223. The antenna 221 is an antenna of the wireless transceiver 220. The portable information terminal 223 is a portable terminal for a user who is located away from the station, and includes a transmitting / receiving antenna 222, a display device 224, and a keyboard 225.

The receiver 229 receives the information from the vehicle by using the host management device 102 or the local information management device 106.
It is a receiver provided in. The transmitter 230 is a vehicle-side transmitter for transmitting the headcount and congestion information calculated by the in-vehicle information management device 231 to the host management device 102 of the electric railway company and the local information management device 106 of the station facility 118. The in-vehicle information management device 231 is a device that processes images from the monitor camera 232 to estimate the number of people, and totalizes signals from the seat pressure sensors 233. The monitor camera 232 is a camera installed on the ceiling at both ends of the train passage. The pressure sensor 233 is a passenger sensor installed in each seat.

FIG. 3 shows a display screen of the congestion distribution for each vehicle of a specific train at a terminal in a station facility of the transportation use information providing system. FIG. 4 is a calculation flowchart of the congestion degree distribution for each vehicle in the vehicle. FIG. 5 is a format diagram at the time of communication of the congestion degree distribution information for each vehicle. FIG. 6 shows a screen displaying “in-vehicle vacancy” on the passenger-side information terminal. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a screen transition diagram of the passenger side information terminal. FIG. 8 is a display screen collection of the passenger side information terminal.

The operation of the transportation use information providing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described. The transportation use information providing system shown in FIG. 1 includes a host management device 102, a train congestion status collection system 127, and a communication device. The communication device is a device that receives congestion status and vacant seat information from each train belonging to a railway company. As with conventional systems, the keyboard 115
Information on various facilities prepared by the CD-ROM 116 and VTR 117, tourist information, sales office information, train / bus accident information, and train diagrams and bus diagrams from an information server connected online. It also manages information and information from train operation management systems and train seat reservation systems.

The host management unit 102 includes information input by an operator through a keyboard, a CD-ROM, a VTR, a train diagram and a bus diagram as information from various servers, and information from a train operation management system and a train seat reservation system. When the congestion status information from the congestion status collection system in each train is acquired,
The information is recorded in the information file 120 of the relay device 104 through 3.

In the station facility 118, the local information management device 106
Periodically absorbs various information from the information file 120 of the relay device 104 at 5 minute intervals, and copies it to the information file 110 in the local information management device 106. At the terminal 108 in the station facility 118, various information is distributed from the local information management device 106 and displayed on the display device 109 when users such as passengers and station staff request information.

Referring to FIG. 2, the relationship between the local information management device 106 of the transportation use information providing system, the vehicle 226 equipped with the in-vehicle congestion status collection system, and the portable information terminal 223 will be described. The relationship between the host management device 102 and the vehicle 226 equipped with the in-vehicle congestion status collection system is the same.

The train congestion status collection system 127 includes a monitor camera 232, a pressure sensor 233, an in-vehicle information management device 231 and a transmitter 230. The monitor cameras 232 are installed on the ceilings at both ends of the train passage.
The pressure sensor 233 is installed in each seat. The in-vehicle information management device 231 obtains an image from the monitor camera 232, extracts the contour of the passenger, and identifies and measures the number of passengers. At the same time, the accurate number of seated passengers is acquired by the seat pressure sensor 233, and the occupancy rate and the vacancy status are calculated. The transmitter 230 is an in-vehicle information management device 231.
Transmits the calculated number of people and congestion information to the receiver 229 of the electric railway company's host management device 102 and the local information management device 106 at regular intervals of 5 minutes.

The information received by the receiver 229 is collected by the host management device 102. The information received by the local information management device 106 is collected by the host management device 102 via the railway company LAN 119 and the relay device 104. After that, it is delivered to the local information management device 106 via the dedicated line 103 and the relay device 104. At the terminal 108 of the station facility 118, when the passenger / station staff requests information on a desired train, the “congestion degree distribution by vehicle” shown in FIG. 3 and the “vacant seat status in the vehicle” shown in FIG. Output to 109.

Further, the user can use the portable information terminal 223 to provide information on the degree of congestion and vacant seat information of the designated train to a user who is located far from the station. The portable information terminal 223 includes a transmitting / receiving antenna 222, a display device 224, and a keyboard.
It has 225. A user inputs a train designation and a request command using a keyboard. Transmission / reception antenna 222
Desired information can be obtained by exchanging with the local information management device via the. The local information management device 106 has a dedicated wireless transceiver 220 and an antenna 221 for providing data to the portable information terminal 223, so that the individual portable information terminals 223 can be connected.

Referring to FIG. 4, a method of obtaining the congestion degree and the vacant seat status for each vehicle in the in-vehicle information management device of the transportation use information providing system will be described. First, after starting the in-vehicle information management device (401), an image is acquired from the monitor camera (402). Next, a portion that can be determined as a person is identified from the image of the vehicle, and a contour line is extracted (403).
The number of regions surrounded by the outline of the person portion in the image thus obtained is counted, and the number of people included in the field of view of the in-vehicle monitor camera is obtained (404). After that, the in-vehicle information management device measures the signal from the pressure sensor of each seat (40
5) Judge / acquire the vacant / seated status of each seat (40
6).

The number of passengers in the vehicle obtained in step 404 and the number of seated passengers obtained in step 406 are sent to the transmitter and transferred to the local information management device of the information center (407).
After transmitting the information, the apparatus enters a waiting state by the timer for 5 minutes, and then returns to the image acquisition processing of the monitor camera in step 402 again to acquire the number of people again (408). The information transmitted from the in-vehicle information management device to the local information management device includes, as shown in FIG. 5, the identification of the railway company, the date and time of acquisition of the information, the identification of the train, the number of vehicles in the train, and the number of seats in each vehicle. It consists of a list of numbers, total number of passengers, and vacant seat numbers. Based on such a processing flow, it is possible to acquire the congestion degree and the vacant seat status in the vehicle at 5-minute intervals and transmit them to the local information management device.

A display method of the information terminal device will be described with reference to FIGS. Menu screen 701 shown in FIG.
If "railway / bus route map" is selected, the screen transits to "all railway company bus / rail route map display" 705.
The screen 705 is a schematic map covering railway and bus routes around one city, in which route names and station names are specified. screen
By selecting the station name displayed on 705, the screen is switched to a "train selection" screen 702b corresponding to the designated station. further,
When a train is selected, the screen transits to “congestion degree distribution in train” 703. When a vehicle is designated, the screen transits to “in-vehicle vacancy” 704.

On the menu screen 701, "Congestion / vacancy information"
If you select, the screen is "Electric Railway Company / Route Selection" 702a
Transitions to. When you select a route, the screen will show "Train selection" 70
Transition to 2b. When a train is selected, the screen transits to “congestion degree distribution in train” 703. When a vehicle is designated, the screen transits to “in-vehicle vacancy” 704.

As described above, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the system for providing transportation use information is provided in a large terminal station where a plurality of electric railway companies enter, by using the operation status and the vacant seat information of each company's vehicle in a dedicated manner. Since the terminal is provided to the passengers by the terminal or the like, the user can easily know the congestion rate and the vacant seat information of the desired vehicle from the terminal or the portable information terminal installed at the station or the like.

(Second Embodiment) In a second embodiment of the present invention, a train schedule and a bus schedule are provided at a station, and the congestion degree of a train related to the station and a timetable at each station are taken into consideration. This is a transportation use information providing system that has a route search function.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of a transportation use information providing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The basic configuration of the transportation use information providing system according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. The difference between the transportation system use information providing system of the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that the local information management device 106 includes a train diagram 111 and a bus diagram 114, It has a route search function that takes into account the degree of congestion of trains and the timetable at each station of transportation. FIG. 10 is a screen transition diagram of the passenger-side information terminal. FIG. 11 is a diagram of each display screen of the passenger information terminal.

The operation of the transportation use information providing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described. The congestion degree information collection system provided in the vehicle collects the congestion degree information of the train, and the information terminal device provides the user with the congestion rate and the vacant seat information of the vehicle in the same manner as the first embodiment. It is.

The local information management device 106 provided in the station facility 118 shown in FIG. 9 searches for a route from the current location to the destination with reference to the train diagram 111 and the bus diagram 114. This route search can be executed by a well-known route search method. Normally, a plurality of routes are obtained, and the required time is obtained for each route. Further, the maximum congestion degree in the route is obtained from the congestion degree information of the current train.

The route guidance method will be described with reference to FIGS. Main menu screen of information terminal device
From 701, a route map is selected to display the entire route map 706a. When a destination is selected from the whole route map 706a, the screen moves to a route condition setting screen 706b. When railway priority is selected on the route condition setting screen 706b, the entire route map 707 of the route having the longest railway use distance ratio is displayed. When you indicate the next screen,
The entire route map 707 of the route having the next longest railway use distance ratio is displayed. When you instruct the transfer information display, the transfer information screen
708 is displayed. The railway use distance ratio refers to the ratio of the railway use route to all routes.

When bus priority is selected on the route condition setting screen 706b, an entire route diagram 707 of the route having the longest bus use distance ratio is displayed. When the next screen is designated, the entire route map 707 of the route having the next longest bus use distance ratio is displayed. When the transfer information display is instructed, a transfer information screen 708 is displayed. The bus use distance ratio refers to the ratio of the bus use route to all routes.

When time priority is selected on the route condition setting screen 706b, the entire route map 707 of the route having the shortest required time is displayed.
Is displayed. When the next screen is designated, the entire route map 707 of the route with the next shorter required time is displayed. When the transfer information display is instructed, a transfer information screen 708 is displayed.

When congestion avoidance is selected on the route condition setting screen 706b, the entire route diagram 707 of the route with the lowest congestion degree is displayed. When the next screen is designated, the entire route map 707 of the route having the next lowest congestion degree is displayed. When the transfer information display is instructed, a transfer information screen 708 is displayed.

As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the transportation use information providing system is provided with a train schedule and a bus schedule at a station. With the configuration having the route search function in consideration of the timetable described above, the recommended transfer information and the recommended route can be presented to the user.

(Third Embodiment) In a third embodiment of the present invention, a station is provided with congestion degree statistical information, and a route search is performed in consideration of an average value of congestion degree and time transition of each station and train. It is a transportation use information providing system that can be used.

FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram of a transportation use information providing system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The basic configuration of the transportation use information providing system according to the third embodiment is the same as that of the second embodiment. The difference between the transportation system use information providing system according to the third embodiment and the second embodiment is that the local information management device 106 includes congestion degree statistical information 134, and the congestion degree for each station and each train. Is that a route search can be performed in consideration of the average value and the time transition. In FIG. 12, congestion degree statistical information 134 is congestion degree statistical information. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a recording format of the congestion degree statistical information on the train average congestion degree distribution. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a recording format of the congestion degree statistical information regarding the average transfer time.

The operation of the transportation use information providing system according to the third embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described. The train congestion status collection system provided on the vehicle collects the congestion degree information of the train, and the information terminal device provides the user with the congestion rate and vacant seat information of the vehicle, and the basic method of route search is , And the second embodiment.

The local information management device 106 provided in the station facility 118 shown in FIG. 12 refers to the congestion degree statistical information 134 and performs a route search in consideration of the average value of the congestion degree and the time transition of each station and train. . FIG. 1 shows the congestion degree statistical information 134.
14 and the average transfer time shown in FIG.
There are types.

Using the distribution table of the average congestion degree of the train at the station shown in FIG. 13, even if there is no real-time information on the congestion degree at the station, the train is relatively empty in the same time zone. It is determined whether the vehicle is busy or congested, which helps to determine a congestion avoidance priority route.

Further, by using the average transfer time shown in FIG. 14, the time required for transfer is calculated from the statistical value of the corresponding time zone, and a more detailed time between the departure station and the destination station is calculated. Travel time can be calculated.

As described above, in the third embodiment of the present invention, the system for providing transportation use information is provided with the congestion degree statistical information at the stations, and the average value and the time transition of the congestion degree for each train at each station. Since the route search taking into account the configuration is performed, the recommended transfer information and the recommended route can be presented to the user even when there is no real-time congestion degree information.

[0041]

As is apparent from the above description, in the present invention, a system for providing information on the use of a transportation system is provided in a vehicle of a public transportation system, which measures the congestion status of the vehicle and outputs the in-vehicle status information. And an in-vehicle information management device that manages in-vehicle status information; an operation information acquisition unit that acquires the operation information of the vehicle at a ground facility of public transportation; and a transportation information system that integrates the in-vehicle status information and the operation information. The system is equipped with an information management center that manages traffic as well as an information terminal device that provides transportation information to the user. The effect that the rate and the vacant seat information can be obtained is obtained. Therefore, each user can select a comfortable route while avoiding congestion, and at the same time, can alleviate congestion and improve transport efficiency in public transport as a whole.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a transportation use information providing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a relationship between a local information management device of the transportation use information providing system, a vehicle equipped with an in-vehicle congestion status collection system, and a portable information terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing “congestion degree distribution by vehicle” displayed on the passenger information terminal of the transportation use information providing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of calculating a congestion degree distribution for each vehicle in the transportation use information providing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a congestion degree and a communication format of vacant seat information in the transportation use information providing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a view showing “in-vehicle vacancy” on a passenger information terminal of the transportation use information providing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a screen transition of a passenger information terminal of the transportation use information providing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing each display screen of a passenger side information terminal of the transportation use information providing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of a transportation use information providing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen transition of a passenger information terminal of the transportation use information providing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing each display screen of a passenger information terminal of the transportation use information providing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram of a transportation use information providing system according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a recording format (train congestion degree) of congestion degree statistical information of the transportation means use information providing system according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a recording format (average transfer time) of congestion degree statistical information of the transportation use information providing system according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a functional block diagram of a conventional transportation use information providing system.

[Explanation of symbols]

101a, 101b Railway company information system 102 Host management device 103a, 103b Dedicated line 104 Relay device 106 Local information management device 107 Signal line 108 Information providing terminal 109 Display device 110 Local information management device information file 111 Train schedule system 112 Train operation Management system 113 Train seat reservation system 114 Bus schedule system 115 Keyboard (manual input device for various information) 116 CD-ROM (various information files) 117 VTR (various video information data) 118 Station facilities (station premises and surrounding areas) 119a, 119b Railway company LAN 120 Relay device information file 127T1, 127T2 Train congestion status collection system 128 Dedicated line or wireless communication system 134 Congestion degree statistical information 220 Transceiver attached to local information management device 221 Transmission / reception attached to local information management device Antenna 222 Transmission / reception attached to portable information terminal Antenna 223 portable information terminal 224 portable information terminal display device 225 portable information terminal keyboard 226 railway vehicle 229 receiver 230 transmitter 231 in-vehicle information management device 232 in-vehicle status monitor camera 233 in-seat pressure sensor 401 processing start 402 Image acquisition processing from the monitor camera 403 Processing to extract the outline of the human image from the image data 404 Processing to count the number of people from the human outline of the image 405 Processing to obtain the signal of the pressure sensor on each seat 406 Processing to count and obtain the number of occupants 407 Processing to transmit the number of passengers in the car and the number of occupants from the transmitter 408 Judgment processing for waiting for 5 minutes 701 Main menu screen 702 Selection screen of railway company, line name, train number 702a Railway company・ Route name selection screen (congestion degree / vacancy information) 702b Train selection screen 703 Train congestion degree distribution display screen 704 Designated car vacancy status table Display screen 705 All railway companies, railway and bus route map display 706a Destination station setting screen 706b Route condition setting screen 707 Route display screen 708 Transfer information screen

Claims (6)

[Claims] An in-vehicle condition measuring means for measuring in-vehicle congestion status and outputting in-vehicle condition information, and an in-vehicle information management device for managing the in-vehicle condition information are provided on a vehicle of the transportation means, and the ground facility of the transportation means is provided. Operation information acquisition means for acquiring the operation information of the vehicle, an information management center for accumulating the in-vehicle status information and the operation information and managing the information as transportation means, and information for providing the user with the transportation information. A transportation use information providing system comprising a terminal device. 2. The in-vehicle situation measuring means includes a number-of-people measuring means for measuring a number-of-people distribution in the vehicle, the operation information acquiring means includes a means for acquiring a delay time of the vehicle with respect to a timetable, The system according to claim 1, wherein the information terminal device includes a display device installed in the vehicle or at a station. 3. The number-of-people measurement means includes a monitor camera for measuring the number of passengers of the vehicle, and a pressure-sensitive sensor attached to a seat of the vehicle, and the operation information acquisition means includes a control unit that determines whether the vehicle is on a route. Operation management means for detecting a delay time from the time when the vehicle passed the checkpoint and the scheduled time, the in-vehicle information management device calculates the congestion rate and the vacant seat information based on the number distribution measured by the number measurement means. A means for managing the in-vehicle status information; a transmitter for transmitting the in-vehicle status information to the information management center; a receiving means for receiving the in-vehicle status information in the information management center; and A means for periodically transmitting transportation information, and a means for transmitting the transportation information to the information terminal device and a portable information terminal possessed by a passenger in response to a request from a user; 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein:
The transportation use information providing system described. 4. An information management center, a means for managing an operation timetable and transfer information at each terminal, an optimum route calculating means for obtaining recommended information including recommended transfer information and a recommended route, and displaying the recommended information on the display. 4. The transportation use information providing system according to claim 3, further comprising means for presenting the information to the device and means for transmitting information to the information terminal device and the portable information terminal in response to a user request. 5. An information management center for managing statistical information including a change in congestion date and time and a change in time, and a predicted value of a change in congestion rate in a specific vehicle or a specific station based on the statistical information. The means for calculating transportation information and the means for presenting the predicted value to the display device are provided. 6. An in-vehicle situation measuring means for measuring in-vehicle congestion and outputting in-vehicle situation information to a vehicle of public transportation,
An in-vehicle information management device that manages the in-vehicle situation information; an operation information acquisition unit that acquires the operation information of the vehicle at a ground facility of public transportation; and a traffic system that integrates the in-vehicle situation information and the operation information. A transportation driving support system, comprising: an information management center that manages the information as institution information; and means for notifying the vehicle crew of the transportation information.