JP2002015347A - Road side machine, on-vehicle machine and toll collection system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the drawback of a road side wireless device which makes wireless communications between a road side machine and an on-vehicle machine, such that when the road-side machine is installed in a closed space, a transmit wave outputted from a road side antenna is reflected or scattered by various structures, so that the road side machine can communicate with on-vehicle devices present in undesired positions. SOLUTION: Of a plurality of spot beam antennas 101, 102 and 103 having respective communications areas 41, 42 and 43 which are very small compared with a travel lane 6, the spot beam antenna which is in the best communications condition is selected so that information about the collection and reception of tolls between the road side machine 1 and the on-vehicle machine 5 can be communicated wirelessly. Even in a condition where multipath effects are very likely, as in a building 8, the spot beam antenna having sharp directivity and located in a position wherein it is excellent as to communications with the on-vehicle machine 5 is usable for the advantage of preventing errors in collecting and receiving tolls and the error of stopping vehicles from which tolls were already collected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to toll collection in which a toll collection procedure is carried out by wireless communication at a tollgate such as a parking lot for collecting tolls without stopping running vehicles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, toll collection on a toll road is automatically performed while exchanging information relating to a toll collection procedure between a roadside wireless device on the side of the road and a vehicle-mounted wireless device mounted on a vehicle by wireless communication. System, for example,
259484, JP-A-2-285480,
Various configurations are known, such as JP-A-2-300887.

Further, when such a system is arranged at an actual tollgate, as a method for solving the problems caused by a case where vehicles with or without an onboard device pass at random or a radio wave propagation situation, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. No. 120395,
JP-A-11-120396, JP-A-11-120
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 394 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-261120 are known.

[0004] Referring to FIG.
The automatic toll collection system described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1120 will be described. In FIG. 21, 900 is a sector beam antenna, 901 is a broad beam antenna, 902 is a receiver A, 903 is a receiver B, 904 is a comparator, 905 is a gate, 905 is a toll collection control device, 906 is an in-vehicle device. Transmitted radio waves. Sector beam antenna 900, broad beam antenna 901, receiver A 902, receiver B
The roadside device is constituted by the reference numeral 903, the comparator 904, the gate 905, and the toll collection control device 906.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below. The sector beam antenna 900 and the broad beam antenna 901 are installed near a tollgate on a toll road, for example, above a driving lane, and both a vehicle-mounted device (not shown) and a roadside device mounted on a vehicle passing through the driving lane are mounted. Exchange information about tolls. From these data, the toll collection control device 906 can automatically realize the toll collection process by, for example, performing a toll withdrawal process from the driver's bank account.

The transmission radio wave 907 from the on-vehicle device is received by the sector beam antenna 900 and the broad beam antenna 901, and the radio wave received by the sector beam antenna 900 is received by the receiver A 902 and the broad beam antenna 901
Is received by the receiver B 903. Outputs of the receiver A 902 and the receiver B 903 are signals having received electric field intensity information received by the sector beam antenna 900 and the broad beam antenna 901, for example, constituted by an amplifier or a frequency converter, and output signals having the same amplification factor. Output.

[0007] Comparator 904 comprises receiver A 902 and receiver B
When the output of the receiver A 902 is large, the gate 905 is controlled, and the power of the receiver A 902 is controlled.
The output is output to the toll collection control device 906. The toll collection control device 906 can demodulate the signal of the receiver A 902 and obtain necessary data. That is, only when the reception level of the sector beam antenna 901 is high, the toll collection control device 906 can obtain a signal.

FIG. 22 shows the antenna characteristics of the sector beam antenna 900 and the broad beam antenna 901. In the communication area to be set, the sector beam antenna 900 is designed to have a large antenna gain. And broad beam antenna 90
By giving the antenna characteristics to 1, the toll collection control device 9
In step 06, a signal is obtained only from the in-vehicle device in the communication area.

As a result, the roadside device cannot communicate with the on-vehicle device existing outside the communication area, and the reliability of communication during continuous running of the vehicle equipped with the on-vehicle device can be improved. .

[0010]

In the above-mentioned prior art, the structure of the on-vehicle device is determined by receiving the signal with an antenna having a directional characteristic different from the level of the signal received from the on-vehicle device in the traveling direction of the vehicle. The roadside unit starts communication with the onboard unit when the situation becomes more reliable, so that the roadside unit and the onboard unit communicate with each other with less error. Is what makes it possible.

The communication area is set in the width direction to be equal to or larger than the width of the vehicle and the length direction is set in accordance with a predetermined data capacity and an assumed vehicle speed so that the vehicle-mounted device can be mounted at any position of the vehicle. You. As a method for limiting such a communication area, an antenna having a shaped directional characteristic can be disposed above the communication area. However, transmitted radio waves output from the antenna are reflected by various structures directly below the antenna,
Because of the scattering, the distribution obtained from the directional characteristics of the antenna and the actual received electric field intensity distribution will be different, and the on-board unit and the roadside unit located at an undesired position may be able to communicate with each other. It leads to miscommunication.

Particularly, when a roadside device is installed in a building surrounded by a ceiling or a side wall, such as a building, even if a strong reflected signal is present in the surroundings and polarization identification is used, for example, the roadside device may be located on an adjacent roadside. There is a problem that the ratio of erroneous communication increases, such as when the device and the on-board device start communication.

[0013]

According to the present invention, there is provided a roadside device having a transmitting antenna and a plurality of spot beam antennas, and a communication area in which the transmitting antenna is formed on a traveling lane runs. The directional characteristics of the spot beam antenna are narrowed down from the directional characteristics of the transmitting antenna, and the communication area of each spot beam antenna is set in the width direction of the running lane. Each spot beam antenna is installed so as to line up and cover the communication area of the transmitting antenna, the roadside machine transmits a response request signal with the transmitting antenna,
The in-vehicle device that has received the response request signal transmits a response signal, the roadside device receives the response signal with the plurality of spot beam antennas, and the spot beam antenna having the highest level from the received electric field strength received by each spot beam antenna. Is selected, and wireless communication of information related to toll collection between the roadside unit and the onboard unit is performed, and the onboard unit is connected to the onboard unit using a spot beam antenna with steep directivity at a position where the communication condition is excellent. Communication can be performed, and erroneous communication can be reduced.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In order to solve this problem, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a roadside device has a transmitting antenna and a plurality of st beam antennas, and the transmitting antenna is mounted on a traveling lane. The directional characteristics of the spot beam antenna are narrowed down from the directional characteristics of the transmitting antenna, and the directional characteristics of the spot beam antenna are narrowed down from the directional characteristics of the transmitting antenna. Are arranged in the width direction of the driving lane and cover each spot beam antenna so as to cover the communication area of the transmitting antenna.The roadside device transmits a response request signal with the transmitting antenna, and the onboard device receiving the response request signal A response signal is transmitted, and the roadside device receives the response signal with the plurality of spot beam antennas, and receives the received power with each of the spot beam antennas. The spot beam antenna with the highest level is selected from the intensity, and the wireless communication of the information related to the toll collection between the roadside device and the on-vehicle device is performed using the selected spot beam antenna, such as a building. Even in situations where the effects of multipath are likely to occur, it is possible to use a steeply directional antenna that is located at a position where the communication status with the on-board equipment is excellent, and errors such as incorrect toll collection and stoppage of collected vehicles can be avoided. It has the effect that it can be prevented.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the configuration according to the first aspect, the communication areas formed by the spot beam antennas are arranged at equal intervals in the width direction of the traveling lane. From the signal corresponding to the received electric field intensity received by each spot beam antenna, the position of each spot beam is arranged on the x-axis, and the received electric field intensity signal is arranged on the y-axis,
By approximating a quadratic function by a least-squares method or the like from a plurality of pieces of x and y information to find x at which y peaks, and selecting a spot beam antenna close to the found x position, a plurality of spot beam antennas is obtained. It is possible to estimate the position with the best communication condition from the signal level from the in-vehicle device received in step 2, and select a spot beam antenna close to the estimated position. Wireless communication of information related to the above can be performed well even in a situation such as a building where the influence of multipath is likely to occur, and it is possible to prevent errors such as wrong toll collection and stopping of already collected vehicles.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the spot beam antenna includes three spot beam antennas, and the selected spot beam antenna performs wireless communication of information related to toll collection between the roadside device and the vehicle-mounted device. This is done using an antenna, and even in a situation where multipath effects are likely to occur, such as a building, it is possible to use an antenna with a steep directivity that is in a position where communication with onboard equipment is excellent. This has the effect that it is possible to prevent errors such as incorrect toll collection and stoppage of collected vehicles.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toll collection system for performing a toll collection procedure by wirelessly communicating between a roadside unit and a vehicle-mounted unit. Any of the roadside devices described above is used.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in a tollgate of a parking lot having a plurality of driving lanes, a roadside machine is installed on an own driving lane and an adjacent roadside machine is installed on an adjacent driving lane. A signal corresponding to the reception electric field strength of each high-frequency circuit unit of the roadside unit is output to the comparison selection unit and also to the comparison selection unit in the adjacent roadside unit, and conversely, the reception electric field intensity of each high frequency circuit unit of the adjacent roadside unit is output. The signal corresponding to the received electric field strength from the adjacent roadside device is output to the comparison selection unit in the roadside device as well as to the comparison selection unit in the roadside device, and in the selection method of the spot beam antenna to be transmitted and received by the comparison selection unit. Calculates the highest-level signal, including if the signal is from an adjacent roadside unit, so that communication of information related to toll collection with the onboard unit is not performed. Of the vehicle It becomes possible to estimate the emissions, it has the effect of saying that it is possible to prevent the error, such as toll collection mistake and stop the collection already vehicle.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the configuration according to the sixth aspect, the comparison / selection unit of the roadside unit firstly outputs a signal corresponding to the received electric field intensity output from each high-frequency circuit unit of the roadside unit. Calculate the highest level signal from among these, compare this signal level with all the signals corresponding to the received electric field strength output from each high frequency circuit unit of the adjacent roadside unit, and if it is lower than any one signal level Does not communicate information related to toll collection with the on-board unit, so that it is possible to estimate the driving lane of the vehicle equipped with the on-board unit by a simpler method, It has an effect that it is possible to prevent an error such as a stop of a completed vehicle.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the fifth to seventh aspects, a roadside device installed near a tollgate such as a parking lot and an on-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle are provided. In a toll collection system that performs toll collection procedures by wirelessly communicating information related to parking fees, a parking lot company stores and issues at least user ID information to a parking lot user in advance, The vehicle-mounted device has means for reading the recording medium, and the vehicle-mounted device communicates at least information related to toll collection including the information stored in the recording medium to the roadside device. Is connected to the recording medium reading means of the in-vehicle device, the parking fee can be collected only by passing through the communication area of the roadside device of the parking lot, and the convenience of the user can be improved and the parking lot can be collected. business person By increasing the convenience of the users, it is possible to secure the expected users, reduce the management costs of the parking lot operation, and improve the service by the parking lot operator grasping the situation of the user. Have.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, an eighth aspect is provided.
In the configuration described above, the recording medium is a magnetic card, and the recording medium reading means of the in-vehicle device is a magnetic card reader / writer, so that the parking lot business operator can provide a thin and small recording medium to the user. It is possible to further enhance the convenience of the user and to increase the convenience of the user, thereby securing the expected users and reducing the management cost of the operation of the parking lot.

The invention according to claim 10 is the invention according to claims 5 to 9
In the toll collection system that performs the toll collection procedure by wirelessly communicating information related to the parking fee between a roadside device installed near a tollgate such as a parking lot and an onboard device mounted on the vehicle with the configuration described above. A parking lot operator having user ID information determined for each parking lot user in advance, a central processing unit connected to a fee processing device and a network system, and a plurality of input devices connected to the network system. Then, the central control device constructs a database including at least the user ID, the reservation information from the input device of the parking lot user, and the parking time information of the user obtained by the roadside machine at the entrance of the parking lot. The central processing unit calculates the parking fee discounted according to the presence or absence of the reservation from the user ID information obtained at the exit roadside device, the leaving time, and the information stored in the database. By securing a parking lot in advance from a network system such as the public telephone network or the Internet, users can eliminate the inconvenience of arriving at the parking lot, for example, being unable to park due to being full, and reducing parking fees. Therefore, the parking lot company has an effect that it is possible to secure expected users by improving the convenience of the users.

The invention according to claim 11 is the invention according to claims 5 to 1
0, in a store or the like having a parking lot in an adjacent area or site, a LAN connected to a plurality of cash register terminals, a central control device, and a charge processing device in the store;
It has a recording medium that stores and issues user ID information determined in advance by the store operator for each user, and a user information input device connected to each cash register terminal. At least user ID information, parking time information of each user output from the roadside machine at the entrance of the parking lot, and user ID stored in the recording medium obtained by the user information input device when the user purchased the product. A central processing unit constructs a database including the purchase amount information output from the cash register terminal together with the information, and the central processing unit uses the user ID information and the leaving time information obtained at the exit roadside machine and the information stored in the database. Calculates the parking fee discounted according to the purchase price, and the store operator parks the vehicle by asking the user to connect the recording medium to the onboard device when entering the parking lot The information of the user who is using is obtained by the central control device connected to the roadside machine and the toll collection device via LAN, and the recording medium is presented to the user at the time of purchase in the store, so that each user can receive the information. Can be obtained from the cash register terminal connected to the LAN and made into a database. By searching this database, services such as discounting the parking fee according to the amount of purchase can be performed instantaneously. It is possible to increase the convenience of the user, and to secure the expected users by improving the convenience.

[0024] According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in a store or the like having a parking lot in an adjacent area or on a site, an exit-side tollgate having a plurality of driving lanes on the exit side of the parking lot is provided. An exit-side roadside machine provided on each traveling lane, and a luggage storage area provided on the floor above or below the exit-side tollgate, and the exit-side roadside machine is equipped with an in-vehicle device when the user leaves the parking lot. The user ID information obtained by the communication of the above is presented to the baggage collection area, a group of products purchased by the user is selected from the user ID information, passed to the user at the exit tollgate, and the central processing unit The parking fee is calculated from the user ID information obtained at the exit roadside machine, the leaving time, and the database stored in the central control device, and the user receives a group of products purchased in the store when leaving the parking lot. Say you can Give convenience, merchant operators has the effect of say it is possible to secure the user expected by increasing the convenience of the user.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the twelfth aspect, the exit roadside machine is provided at a portion where a vehicle exiting a parking lot in front of an exit tollgate having a plurality of traveling lanes passes. The exit roadside device presents the user ID information obtained by communication with the on-vehicle device to the baggage collection area, and presents the traveling lane for passing the purchased goods to the user, and the central processing unit operates by the exit roadside device. The parking fee is calculated from the user ID information, the leaving time, and the database stored in the central control device, which are obtained by the user, and the user can receive the group of products purchased in the store when leaving the parking lot. With convenience, merchants can reduce the number of roadside machines on the exit side, and can reduce the cost of introducing and maintaining the system and secure the expected users by increasing the convenience of users. What It has the effect of say.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the tenth to thirteenth aspects, the central control unit calculates the parking fee of all the users up to the present time from the information in the database stored at regular intervals. The parking fee information is added to and updated in the database, and the fee processing device searches the database with the user ID information obtained by the exit roadside device,
The function of the central control unit, which is generated simultaneously when the parking lot is taken out of the parking lot, has an effect that a system design for calculating the parking fee of the parking lot user in advance can be performed, and the development cost can be reduced by constructing a simpler system.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a schematic layout diagram of equipment on the entrance side of a parking lot constructed in a building or the like in Embodiment 1. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 8 denotes a structure such as a building including a parking lot or an entrance portion of the parking lot, and 3 denotes a building 8.
1 is a roadside machine, 6 is a vehicle equipped with an in-vehicle device 5, 7 is a circuit breaker provided on the traveling direction side of the traveling lane of the roadside machine, and 75 is information to the driver of the vehicle 6. Are the transmission / reception areas of the spot beam antenna of the roadside device 1, and 2 are the transmission regions of the transmission antenna of the roadside device 1.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic block configuration of the roadside unit 1. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 101 denotes a spot beam antenna A which forms a limited transmission / reception area A41 on a traveling lane immediately below the antenna, and 151 denotes a high-frequency circuit connected to the spot beam antenna A101. In the high-frequency circuit section A151, reference numeral 121 denotes a circulator connected to the spot beam antenna A101, 131 denotes a receiving section connected to the circulator 121, 141 denotes the spot beam antenna A1 via the circulator 121.
01 is a transmission unit that outputs a transmission signal. The spot beam antenna B102 and the spot beam antenna C
103 is also connected to the high-frequency circuit units 152 and 153 having the same circuit configuration.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a receiving unit 131, 1 of each high-frequency circuit unit.
A comparison / selection unit that compares the output levels of the spot beam antenna and the spot beam antenna used for communication with the on-vehicle device 5;
A demodulation unit 16 is connected to the receiving units 131, 132, and 133 and demodulates an output signal from the receiving unit.
1, a modulator connected to 142, 143 and outputting a modulated signal; 18 a controller for timing management and operation control of the roadside device 1; 11 a transmitting antenna;
Is a transmission unit that outputs a transmission signal to the transmission unit. Reference numeral 9 denotes a fee processing device connected to the control unit 18 of the roadside device 1 and is constituted by a computer.

Reference numerals 201, 202, and 203 denote receiving units 131,
132, 133
IA, RSSI-B, RSSI-C, 211, 21
Reference numerals 2, 213 denote output signals of the receiving units 131, 132, 133, which are RX-A, RX-B, RX-C, 221, 222, 2
23 is a modulated signal to the transmitting units 141, 142, 143, T
XA, TX-B, TX-C, 224 are TX-TRIG, which are modulation signals to the transmission unit 14, 205 is a signal indicating the comparison selection result of the comparison selection unit 15, Slect, and 206 is the demodulation unit 1
6, DMOD 207 is an input signal to the modulating unit 17 and MOD 231, 232 is a demodulating unit 16;
The signal for controlling the operation of the modulation unit 17 is Cont-MOD,
Cont-DMOD.

The spot beam antennas 101, 102,
Reference numeral 103 denotes an antenna having a desired directional characteristic, for example, an array antenna or a parabolic antenna, and three transmission / reception areas A41, B42, and C43 are arranged in the width direction of the traveling lane as shown in FIG. It is arranged above the traveling lane, for example, on the ceiling. Similarly, the transmission antenna 11 is configured by an antenna having a directional characteristic formed so that the transmission area 2 includes the transmission / reception area A41, the transmission / reception area B42, and the transmission / reception area C43, and is installed above the traveling lane.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below. The control unit 18 of the roadside device 1 outputs a response request signal to the on-vehicle device 5 to the transmission unit 14 via the TX-TRIG 224, so that the response request signal is emitted to the transmission area 2. The in-vehicle device 5 mounted on the vehicle 6 moving in the traveling lane,
When the response request signal is received, the response signal is transmitted to the roadside device 1. The response signal from the vehicle-mounted device 5 is received by the spot beam antenna A101, the spot beam antenna B102, and the spot beam antenna C103. Receiver 1
31, 132, and 133 are spot beam antennas A1.
01, a signal R corresponding to the reception level of the spot beam antenna B102 and the spot beam antenna C103.
SSI-A201, RSSI-B202, RSSI-C
203 is output to the comparison and selection unit 15.

From these signals, the comparison and selection section 15 starts a comparison and selection operation as shown in FIG. (1) RSSI-
It is determined whether the levels of A201, RSSI-B202, and RSSI-C203 are equal to or higher than the set levels. The set level is a received electric field intensity level that can be received by the spot beam antenna when the on-vehicle device 5 in the transmission area 2 transmits at a specified transmission power, and the level is reduced by a windshield, water droplets, or a wiper of the vehicle 6. Is taken into account as a margin.

(2) If all three levels are smaller than the set levels, it is assumed that the vehicle 6 equipped with the on-vehicle device 5 is not running, and (3) the code corresponding to Sle is
Output to c205. (4) If any one is equal to or higher than the set level, (5) select the spot beam antenna corresponding to the highest level among the three, and (6) output to the Slect 205 as a comparison selection result.

The control unit 18 selects the spot beam antenna specified in Slect 205, and transmits and receives information related to the parking fee with the vehicle-mounted device 5. For example, when the spot beam antenna A101 is selected, the control unit 18
The modulation signal T is transmitted only to the transmission unit 141 by the t-MOD 232.
X-A 221 is output, and Cont-DM
The output signal RX-A21 of the receiving unit 131 is obtained by OD231.
By demodulating 1 in the demodulation unit 16 and taking it into the control unit 18, wireless communication is executed between the spot beam antenna A101 and the on-vehicle device 5.

The in-vehicle device 5 includes, in advance, in-vehicle device ID information, vehicle type information, user ID information previously agreed between the parking lot operator and the user, or the user's bank account. The roadside device 1 obtains such information by wireless communication with the in-vehicle device 5 by storing the user or credit account information or by inserting the stored recording medium dedicated to the user into the in-vehicle device 5. The recording medium can be realized by a magnetic card or an IC card.

When the parking fee is uniform, the control unit 18 obtains the information from the vehicle-mounted device 5 and opens the circuit breaker 7 to allow the vehicle 6 to enter. Further, the control unit 18 transfers the information obtained from the on-vehicle device 5 to the fee processing device 9, and the fee processing device 9 carries out a fee collection process based on the information by a bank debit and settlement method. If the communication between the roadside device 1 and the on-vehicle device 5 is not normal, or if the vehicle 6 does not have the on-vehicle device 5, the circuit breaker 7 is closed and the vehicle 6 is stopped, and another means such as money is used. Collect tolls.

When the parking fee fluctuates according to the vehicle type and time, as shown in FIG. 4, the roadside machine 1 is installed at the entrance side and the exit roadside machine 21 is installed at the exit side, and the roadside machine 1 and the exit side roadside machine are installed. 21
Is connected to the fee processing device 9. The configuration of the exit roadside device 21 is the same as the configuration of the roadside device 1 shown in FIG. The roadside device 1 transfers the information obtained from the on-vehicle device 5 to the fee processing device 9, and the fee processing device 9 creates and stores a parking management list as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, at the exit side, the exit side roadside machine 21
Obtains the vehicle-mounted device ID information or the user ID information from the vehicle-mounted device 5 and transfers the information to the fee processing device 9. The toll processing device 9 obtains the vehicle-mounted device ID information or the user ID information and the bank account or credit account number transferred from the exit-side roadside device 21, searches the parking management list, and obtains the parking time and vehicle type information of the vehicle 6. Then, the parking fee is calculated, and a toll collection process such as a bank withdrawal is performed. When the communication on the entrance side and the exit side is normal, the circuit breaker 7 is opened, and when the communication is not normal or the vehicle 6 does not have the vehicle-mounted device 5, the circuit breaker 7 is closed and the vehicle 6 is stopped. At the entrance, a parking ticket is issued by a parking ticket issuing device (not shown), and at the exit, collection processing is performed by money or the like.

The spot beam antennas 101, 102, and 103 for transmitting and receiving to and from the on-vehicle device 5 form transmission and reception beams only in a limited area as compared with the transmission area 2. By selecting a high antenna, that is, an antenna that is spatially closest to the on-vehicle device 5 or that has good radio wave propagation environment characteristics, the roadside device 1 can be connected to the roadside device 1 in a state that is hardly affected by multipath such as surrounding side walls and ceilings. Since the in-vehicle device 5 can transmit and receive, highly reliable communication is possible.

FIG. 6 is a schematic layout diagram showing another embodiment of the first embodiment. In contrast to the layout diagram of FIG. 1, a sensor for detecting the vehicle 6, such as a sensor, is located on the near side of the area where the transmission area 2 is formed. The light emitting device 44 and the light receiving device 45 are arranged, and the output is input to the control unit 18.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below. The control unit 18 controls the vehicle 6 using the light emitting device 44 and the light receiving device 45.
By detecting that the vehicle has approached the roadside device 1 and operating the transmitting unit 14 and transmitting a response request signal only when the signal has been detected, the power consumption of the roadside device 1 can be reduced.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of the roadside device 1 for explaining still another embodiment of the first embodiment. The difference from FIG. 2 is that the transmitting antenna 11 and the transmitting unit 14 are not provided.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below. 2 is different from the description of the configuration of FIG.
8 is a TX-A 221 for transmitting a response request signal to the on-vehicle device 5;
The transmitting unit 141 via the TX-B222 and the TX-C223,
By outputting the signals to 142 and 143, response request signals from the spot beam antenna A101, the spot beam antenna B102, and the spot beam antenna C103 are simultaneously emitted to the traveling lane. Subsequent operations are the same as those described with reference to the configuration of FIG. 2, and the roadside device 1 obtains information related to the in-vehicle device 5 and parking, and can automatically receive a fee.

In the above description, the selection operation in the comparison / selection unit 15 is described as the RSSI-A201, RSSI-B202, and RSI-B201 signals received by the reception units 131, 132, and 133.
Although it was implemented in the SSI-C203, the receiving units 131, 1
RX-A, RX-B, R
XC, 211, 212, and 213 may be demodulated by the demodulation unit 16, and a spot beam antenna related to the output of the reception unit that has been correctly demodulated may be selected. When the output signals of the plurality of receiving units are correctly demodulated, the comparison / selection unit 15 may compare only the correctly demodulated received field strength signals of the receiving unit to select a spot beam antenna.

In the above description, the bank account and the credit account information are stored in the user-dedicated IC card. However, such information is stored in the fee processing device 9 as a database for security reasons, and the roadside device 1 is stored. Alternatively, the information may be converted from the vehicle-mounted device ID information or the user ID information obtained by the exit roadside device 21.

Further, as the on-vehicle device 5, for example, an on-vehicle device for another toll collection system such as an automatic toll collection system is diverted, and information on the on-vehicle device and the user is obtained from the IC card used in this system. Is also good. In this case, the user ID previously agreed between the parking lot operator and the user
The information or the user's bank account or credit account information is made into a database, stored in the fee processing device 9, and converted from on-vehicle device information obtained by the roadside device 1 into user ID information required for parking lot management. This is the same as using a user-specific recording medium.

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the on-vehicle device 5, where 51 is a high-frequency circuit unit, 52 is a card reader / writer, and 53 is a CPU unit. The operation of the above configuration will be described below. The card reader / writer 52 has a structure capable of reading both an IC card for an automatic toll collection system on a highway (not shown) and a card as a dedicated recording medium used when using a parking lot. The user can use a single in-vehicle device 5 to support a plurality of systems by exchanging cards when using the expressway and when using the parking lot.

Alternatively, a user-specific IC card may be issued in the same standard as the IC card for the automatic toll collection system. In this case, the in-vehicle device 5 changes the processing program according to the application information stored in the inserted IC card to correspond to each system. Therefore,
By changing the IC card with one in-vehicle device 5, the user who can cope with another system can cope with a plurality of systems with one in-vehicle device.

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram showing another configuration of the in-vehicle device 5, wherein 54 is a first card reader / writer, and 55 is a second card reader / writer. The operation of the above configuration will be described below. First card reader / writer 54
Can read an IC card for an automatic toll collection system on a highway, and the second card reader / writer 55 can read a dedicated card which is a recording medium for a parking lot. The user simply inserts each card into the first card reader / writer 54 and the second card reader / writer 55, and the in-vehicle device 5 determines the system from the application information from the response request signal from the roadside device 1. According to the identified system, the necessary information is obtained from the inserted card from the first card reader / writer 54 or the second card reader / writer card 55 in accordance with the identified system, and can be used for communication with the roadside device 1. Become.

As described above, even in a situation where the influence of multipath is likely to occur, such as in the building 8, the roadside device 1 and the on-vehicle device 5 narrow down the information related to the parking fee to the beam shape which is less likely to be affected by the multipath. It is possible to transmit and receive by the antenna, and it is possible to prevent a mistake in toll collection, erroneous control of the circuit breaker 7 for the vehicle 6 that has normally communicated, and the like.

The three configurations of the spot beam antenna of the roadside unit 1 have been described.
However, any other configuration may be used as long as it selects a spot beam antenna that transmits and receives to and from the on-vehicle device 5 according to the above-described concept.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 10 is a schematic flowchart showing the operation of the comparison and selection unit 15 in Embodiment 2.
The arrangement and configuration of the roadside device 1 are as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the operation related to toll collection is the same as that described in the first embodiment. In addition, spot beam antenna A
101, a spot beam antenna B102, and a spot beam antenna C103 are arranged at equal intervals.

The operation will be described below with reference to the flow described above. The control unit 18 of the roadside unit 1 irradiates the response request signal to the area of the transmission area 2 as described in the first embodiment, and the spot beam antenna A101, the spot beam antenna B102, and the spot beam antenna C103 transmit the response request signal from the vehicle unit 5. The response signal is received.

The receiving units 131, 132, and 13 receive the RSSI-A201, RSSI-B202, R
The SSI-C 203 is output to the comparison and selection unit 15. First, the comparison and selection unit 15 (1) RSSI-A201,
It is determined whether the levels of the RSSI-B 202 and the RSSI-C 203 are higher than the set levels described in detail in the first embodiment. (2) If all three levels are lower than the set level, it is assumed that the vehicle 6 equipped with the vehicle-mounted device 5 is not running, and (3) the corresponding code is Sl
Output to ec205.

(4) If at least one of them is equal to or higher than the set level, a function based on the position of the spot beam antenna that has received the three received field strength output levels, that is, the position of the spot beam antenna on the x-axis, The reception electric field strength output level is arranged on the y axis, and (Equation 1) y = αx ² + βx +
(5) α, β, and γ in γ (α <0) are obtained.
Next, the comparison and selection unit 15 calculates (6)
The position of x at which y becomes a peak is calculated.

Next, the comparison controller 15 selects (7) the spot beam antenna closest to the obtained peak position,
(8) The corresponding code is output to Slect 205.

Hereinafter, the control unit 18 performs a toll collection process by using the spot beam antenna corresponding to the Slect 205 by the operation described in detail in the first embodiment.

Note that, depending on the position of the vehicle-mounted device 5 in the width direction of the traveling lane, it is assumed that the received electric field intensity at the spot beam antenna is lower than the sensitivity obtained by the receiver, that is, lower than the noise level. When the peak position is calculated using such a value in the flow shown in FIG. 8, a large error component is included. Therefore, each received field strength output RSS
IA201, RSSI-B202, RSSI-C20
It may be determined whether 3 is equal to or higher than the noise level. In this case, if the two values are equal to or higher than the noise level, select the higher one of the two values. If only one is equal to or higher than the noise level, select the spot beam antenna corresponding to the received electric field output of the blue. As a result, the data may be output to the Slect 205.

In the above description, the operation on the entrance side has been described. However, as described in the first embodiment, a device group having a similar configuration may be installed on the exit side to execute the toll collection process. good.

The three configurations of the spot beam antenna of the roadside unit 1 have been described.
However, any other configuration may be used as long as it selects a spot beam antenna that transmits and receives to and from the on-vehicle device 5 according to the above-described concept. In this case, the comparison and selection unit can calculate the position of x at which y reaches a peak by approximating a quadratic function by the least square method or the like.

As described above, even in a situation where the influence of multipath is likely to occur, such as in a building, the roadside device 1 and the on-vehicle device 5 can use the information relating to the parking fee to narrow the beam shape which is less likely to be affected by the multipath. It is possible to prevent toll collection mistakes and erroneous control of the circuit breaker 7 for the normally communicated vehicle 6.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 11 is a schematic layout diagram of devices on the entrance side of a parking lot constructed in a building or the like in Embodiment 3. The difference from FIG. 1 is that an adjacent roadside device 19 is provided adjacent to the roadside device 1 to increase the number of lanes on the entrance side. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a schematic block configuration of the roadside device 1 and the adjacent roadside device 19, and those having the same functions are denoted by the same reference numerals. In FIG. 12, 301, 302,
Reference numeral 303 denotes a reception field strength output from each reception unit of the adjacent roadside device 19, which is RSSI-NA, RSSI-NB, and RSSI, respectively.
I-NC, 304 is a synchronization timing generator for synchronizing the operation timings of the roadside device 1 and the adjacent roadside device 19,
It is connected to the control unit 18 of the roadside device 1 and the adjacent roadside device 19.

The more detailed block configurations of the roadside unit 1 and the adjacent roadside unit 19 are basically the same as those shown in FIG. 2, but the RSSI-A201 and the RSSI-B20 of the roadside unit 1 are different.
2. Connect the RSSI-C 203 to the comparison control unit 15 of the adjacent roadside device 19, and
NA301, RSSI-NB302, RSSI-NC3
03 is connected to the comparison / selection unit 15 of the roadside device 1.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below. The control unit 18 of the roadside device 1 includes a synchronization timing generation unit 30
As described in the first embodiment, the response request signal is emitted to the area of the transmission area 2 in synchronization with the control signal of No. 4 and the in-vehicle device 5 is transmitted by the spot beam antennas A101, B102 and C103.
To receive the response signal. Receiving units 131, 132,
133 received field strength output RSSI-A201, RSS
−B202 and RSSI-C203 are input to the comparison and selection unit 15. In response to the synchronization signal of the synchronization timing generation unit 18, the reception units corresponding to the three spot beam antennas of the adjacent roadside unit 19 receive the reception field strength output RSSI-NA3.
01, the RSS-NB 302 and the RSSI-NC 303 are output to the connection unit 18 of the roadside device 1.

The comparison and selection section 15 starts the comparison and selection operation according to the flow shown in FIG. First, as described in the first embodiment, (1) RSSI-A201, RSS-A
The levels of B202 and RSSI-C203 are compared with the set level. (2) If any one or more is equal to or higher than the set level, (3) the highest level among the three is obtained. Next, (4) this maximum level and the adjacent adjacent roadside device 1
9 with each of the three received field strength levels,
(5) If it is high for all, (6) a code corresponding to the received electric field strength output of this level as a comparison selection result is S
lect205.

(7) If the received electric field strength level of any of the adjacent roadside devices 19 is higher, it is determined that the vehicle 6 equipped with the on-vehicle device 5 does not pass through the own lane, and (8)
The code instructing that the roadside device 1 does not perform communication is Sle.
The control unit 18 outputs the code to c205 and receives this code so as not to perform communication with the on-vehicle device 5. The specific toll collection process is performed by the method described in the first embodiment.

By doing so, for example, the response request signal emitted from the transmitting antenna 11 is reflected in a complicated manner on a running vehicle, a wall, a ceiling, or the like, and is mounted on a vehicle running on an adjacent lane. Even when the aircraft responds erroneously, the response lane is received by the plurality of spot beam antennas of the roadside device 1 and the immediately adjacent roadside device 19 and compared with each other, whereby the traveling lane of the vehicle-mounted device 5 can be specified. .

The above operation is performed by the synchronization timing control unit 304
By operating the roadside machine 1 and the adjacent roadside machine 19 alternately in a time-division manner, it becomes possible to execute a toll collection process for the vehicle 6 traveling on two traveling lanes.

In the flow described in the second embodiment, the comparing and selecting section 15 may select a spot beam antenna. In the above description, the operation on the entrance side has been described. However, as described in the first embodiment, a device group having a similar configuration may be installed on the exit side, and the toll collection process may be performed.

Although three configurations have been described as spot beam antennas, other configurations may be used as long as the comparison and selection unit 15 selects a spot beam antenna to be transmitted / received to / from the vehicle-mounted device 5 in accordance with the above-described concept. I do not care.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, in a parking lot such as a building where the influence of multipath is likely to occur and a plurality of driving lanes are provided, the roadside device is provided for each of the plurality of driving lanes. Are provided, and the received signal strength signals RSSI-A201, RSSI-B202, R
SSI-C203 and received field strength signals RSSI-NA301 and RSSI-N of the adjacent roadside device 19 in the adjacent traveling lane
By comparing the levels of B302 and RSSI-NC303, it is possible to specify the lane in which the vehicle 6 equipped with the vehicle-mounted device 5 is traveling.

That is, by providing a number of entrances to the parking lot,
It is possible to add a service capable of shortening the parking time of the user in the parking lot, and also to prevent incorrect payment collection and erroneous control of the circuit breaker 7 for the normally communicated vehicle 6.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the configuration of a toll collection system according to Embodiment 4. In FIG. 14, reference numerals 1 and 21 denote roadside machines described in Embodiments 1 to 3, which are installed on the entrance side and the exit side of the parking lot 50 as shown in FIG. 81 is a central control unit, 31 is a network, and 30 is an input device connected to the network 31. The central control device 81 is composed of a computer and is connected to the network 31 and the charge processing device 9.
The network 31 can be realized by an existing public telephone network or the Internet network, and the input device can be realized by a computer or a computer via a telephone or a modem. The central control device 81 performs a process related to the reservation and a discount of the parking fee.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below. The reservation process is a service that allows a user to reserve a parking space in advance. Specifically, the user can notify the central control device 81 of the parking lot 50 with the input device 30. The contents to be notified include, for example, a scheduled parking time, vehicle-mounted device ID information stored in the vehicle-mounted device 5 in advance, or user ID information previously determined between the parking lot operator and the user.

The central control device 81 having obtained this information via the network 31 makes a reservation if there is a vacant parking space, refuse to park the other vehicle 6 until the parking time, and confirms that the reservation has been made. The user is notified via the input device 30. The central controller 81 creates a reservation list as a list of reservation information as shown in FIG. 15 and stores it in the memory, and updates this reservation list when a reservation is made by another user. When a reservation is made again by the same user, processing such as ignoring a later reservation or updating to the latest reservation may be performed.

Next, the entrance-side processing will be described. When the reserved user enters the parking lot 50, the roadside machine 1 on the entrance side
Exchanges necessary data by wireless communication as described in detail in the first to third embodiments, obtains user ID information from the vehicle-mounted device 5, and transfers the user ID information to the central control device 81. The central controller 81 compares the user ID information with the reservation list, and if the user ID information matches, that is, if the user is a reservation user, the position of the reserved parking space is displayed on the display device 75 installed near the circuit breaker 7. By displaying or transmitting this information from the roadside device 1 to the on-vehicle device 5, the user is notified by voice or a display unit in the vehicle connected to the on-vehicle device 5.

Further, the central control unit 81 notifies the fee processing device 9 that the vehicle 6 has been reserved and entered the vehicle, and the fee processing device 9 creates a parking management list as shown in FIG. At the same time, the reservation information of the entering vehicle 6 is deleted from the reservation list. This parking management list is obtained by adding the presence or absence of a reservation and the discount rate of the parking fee to the parking management list shown in FIG.

When there is no user ID information matching the reservation list, the central control unit 81 notifies the fee processing device 9 as a non-reserved person, and the fee processing device 9 updates the parking management list as a non-reserved person. When the entrance-side processing is completed, the fee processing device 9 controls the circuit breaker 7 to allow the vehicle 6 to enter. The central control device 81 may delete the reservation information from the reservation list when the vehicle 6 does not enter the parking place even after the reservation time.

In the exit-side processing, as described in detail in the first to third embodiments, the exit-side roadside device 21 obtains user ID information from the vehicle-mounted device 5 and outputs it to the fee processing device 9. The fee processing device 9 searches the parking management list of FIG. 16 stored in the central processing unit 81 based on the obtained user ID information,
The parking time of the vehicle 6 and information on the presence or absence of a reservation are obtained, a parking fee is calculated, and a receiving process is performed. For example, if the vehicle 6 has been entered after making a reservation, the parking fee is discounted at a predetermined rate and the toll collection process is performed.

Alternatively, the fee processing device 9 outputs the obtained user ID information to the central processing unit 81, and the central processing unit 81 calculates the parking fee from the user ID information and the stored parking management list, and executes the fee processing. Charge information may be returned to the device 9. Further, the central processing unit 81 calculates the current parking fee of all vehicles in the parking management list at regular intervals, for example, every 10 minutes, and updates and stores the fee information in the parking management list. The parking fee for the vehicle 6 can be directly obtained from the obtained user ID information.

In the above description, the database is searched with the user ID information from the on-vehicle device 5; however, the search may be performed on the on-vehicle device information which is unique information of the on-vehicle device 5. Specifically, the central control device 81 may create a correlation list of the vehicle-mounted device information and the user ID information, search the user ID information based on the vehicle-mounted device information obtained from the vehicle-mounted device 5, and generate a reservation list. By doing so, it is not necessary to store in the vehicle-mounted device 5 the user ID information previously determined by the operator of the parking lot 50 and the user, and the versatility of the vehicle-mounted device 5 can be maintained. In other words, it is possible to use a parking lot operated by a different business operator with the same vehicle-mounted device 5, or to use another system such as an automatic toll collection system if it follows.

Further, the discount rate may be changed according to the use time of the parking lot 50. In other words, generally, by lowering the parking fee in the time zone where the occupancy rate of the parking lot 50 is poor, the user can use the parking lot at a low rate and the parking lot operator can use the user in the time zone where the occupancy rate is poor. Can be secured.

The discount rate may be changed according to the user's daily use of the parking lot 50. That is, by lowering the parking fee of the user who frequently uses the parking lot, the user can repeatedly use the specific parking lot 50, and the parking lot operator can secure the specific user. Further, the functions of the central processing unit 81 and the charge processing unit 9 may be collectively realized by one computer device.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the user can secure a parking space at a target place in advance and reduce the parking fee, and the parking lot operator can make a reservation or discount the parking fee. Thereby, a service that is differentiated from a nearby parking lot can be provided, and as a result, users can be secured. That is, it is possible to realize a system in which both the user and the parking lot operator have merits.

(Fifth Embodiment) FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a configuration of a toll collection system according to a fifth embodiment. 17, reference numeral 60 denotes a store; 61, a user information input device connected to each cash register terminal 64 in the store 60;
Is a recording medium, a LAN for transmitting information of the 65 cash register terminal 64, the central processing unit 81, and the fee processing unit 9. The parking lot 50 is a parking lot dedicated to the store 60. For example, the user information input device 61 is constituted by a bar code reader, a magnetic radar, an IC card reader, or the like.
Is composed of a resin-based card corresponding to the information reading method of the user information input device 61.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below. As described in the fourth embodiment, the user who uses the store 60 negotiates the user ID information with the manager of the store 60, and has the recording medium 62 storing the user ID information be issued. . When the user using the store 60 enters the parking lot 50 with the vehicle 6, as described in Embodiments 1 to 3, the roadside device 1 sends the user I
When the D information is obtained and the communication ends normally, the control unit 18 opens the circuit breaker 7 to permit entry of the vehicle 6, and transfers the user ID information to the central processing unit 81.

The central processing unit 81 searches the user ID information database in which all the user ID information is stored using the user ID information of the user who has entered the parking lot 50, and finds the user ID information and the entry time shown in FIG. And a visit list composed of purchase price information and the like. The visitor list is obtained by adding the total purchase price information of the products purchased by the user at the store 60 to the parking management list shown in FIG. The central processing unit 81 updates this visitor list every time another vehicle 6 enters the parking lot 50.

The user who has purchased the goods at the store 60 gives the recording medium 62 to the clerk at the time of settlement, and the clerk performs the settlement processing, reads the user ID information from the recording medium 62 by the user information input device 61, and purchases the central information together with the purchase amount information. The data is transferred to the arithmetic unit 81. The central processing unit 81 searches for the corresponding user ID information in the visitor list and stores the purchase price information. Further, when the user purchases a different product, the user ID information and the purchase price information are similarly stored in the central processing unit 8.
1 and is added to the already stored purchase price information and stored again.

When the user leaves the parking lot 50, user ID information is obtained from the vehicle-mounted device 5 at the exit-side roadside device 21,
The fee processing device 9 searches the visitor list stored in the central processing unit 81 from the obtained user ID information, obtains the purchase price and the parking time of the user, calculates the parking time from the parking time, and calculates the total purchase price. By calculating the discount rate from the value, the parking fee of the vehicle 6 is calculated, and the parking fee is received by the method described in the first to third embodiments or by money.

Alternatively, the parking fee may be calculated by the central processing unit 81 and returned to the fee processing device 9 as described in the fourth embodiment. Vehicle 6 not equipped with in-vehicle device 5
Regarding, the money will be collected and received as in the past.

As a discount on the parking fee, for example, one hour of parking is free for a total purchase price of A yen, and up to B yen.
Even when providing user services such as two hours free of charge, the exit roadside machine 21 and the fee processing device 9 at the exit side tollgate, and the central processing unit 81 flexibly cope with the complicated settlement of parking fees instantly. You can do it.

In the above description, the database is searched with the user ID information from the on-vehicle device 5; however, the search may be performed on the on-vehicle device information, which is information specific to the on-vehicle device 5. Specifically, the central control device 81 may create a correlation list of the vehicle-mounted device information and the user ID information, search the user ID information based on the vehicle-mounted device information obtained from the vehicle-mounted device 5, and generate a reservation list. By doing so, it is not necessary to store in the vehicle-mounted device 5 the user ID information previously determined by the operator of the parking lot 50 and the user, and the versatility of the vehicle-mounted device 5 can be maintained. That is, it is possible to use parking lots operated by different businesses with the same vehicle-mounted device 5.

The parking lot 5 described in the fourth embodiment.
A service for further reducing the parking fee of the reserved vehicle 6 may be provided in conjunction with the advance reservation of 0. Further, the functions of the central processing unit 81 and the charge processing unit 9 may be collectively realized by one computer device.

As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, the user presents the recording medium 62 at the time of payment for the discount service corresponding to the purchase amount at the store 60, and the receipt presented by the user as in the conventional case. The processing time on the exit side is reduced as compared with the case where the person in charge of the toll booth determines based on the parking ticket in which the parking time and the like are described, and the user can quickly leave the parking lot 50. In addition, for the manager of the store 60, it is possible to secure users by providing differentiated services, to reduce the facility introduction and maintenance costs accompanying the issuance of parking tickets, and to reduce the management costs of the exit side parking fee settlement staff. It is possible to realize a system in which both the user and the manager of the store 60 have an advantage such that the reduction can be realized.

(Embodiment 6) FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a configuration of an exit side of a parking lot 50 which is a toll collection system according to Embodiment 6. 19, reference numeral 801 denotes a plurality of exit-side traveling lanes, 802 denotes an exit-side roadside machine provided in each traveling lane 801, 804 denotes a luggage transfer position provided beside each traveling lane, 805 denotes a parking space, and 806. Is the exit. Although not shown, a luggage storage is provided on the floor above or below the exit-side tollgate in FIG. 19, and desired luggage is placed at each luggage transfer position 804 by a belt conveyor, elevator, or slope (not shown). Move. Other configurations are the same as those described in the fifth embodiment.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below. As described in the fifth embodiment, the user can use the parking lot 50.
At the same time that the vehicle 6 is received and the merchandise is purchased at the store 60,
At the time of settlement, the recording medium 62 is presented and the user information input device 6
The user ID information is read by 1 and the visit database in the central processing unit 81 is updated together with the purchase amount information. The purchased merchandise is transferred to the baggage collection site in a form in which the user ID information can be determined according to the user's request, for example, by attaching an electronic tag to which a tag is attached. At the luggage storage, products are grouped for each user ID information.

The user who has moved the vehicle 6 to the exit-side tollgate stops at one of the driving lanes 801 and communicates with the exit-side roadside machine 802 as described in the fifth embodiment to collect the parking fee. Is performed, and the user ID information of the user who is stopped on the traveling lane 801 is notified from the exit roadside machine 802, the toll processing device 9, or the central processing unit 81 to the luggage accumulation area. At the baggage collection site, the product group purchased in accordance with the notified user ID information corresponds to the traveling lane 8
The user is moved to the luggage transfer position 804 of No. 01, and the user receives these merchandise groups and leaves the vehicle 6.

FIG. 20 shows another embodiment of the fifth embodiment. 20 is different from FIG. 19 in that the exit-side roadside machine 802 on the traveling lane 801 is eliminated and the exit-side roadside machine 803 is provided on the front side of the traveling lane.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below. The user who has moved the vehicle 6 to the exit-side tollgate can use the exit-side roadside device 80 in the manner described in the fifth embodiment.
3 will be charged for parking. The central processing unit 81 determines from the user ID information obtained from the on-vehicle device 5 whether or not there is a group of products to be received by the user at the luggage accumulation place, and if there is, there are a plurality of products on the display device 7 via the exit roadside device 803. A display for instructing to move to any one of the traveling lanes 801 is performed, and the corresponding user ID information and the information of the traveling lane 801 instructed to move are notified to the baggage collection site.

At the baggage collection site, the purchased commodity group is moved to the luggage delivery position 804 on the corresponding traveling lane 801 in accordance with the notified information, and the user receives these commodity groups and leaves the vehicle 6. Thus, before the user moves the vehicle 6 to the traveling lane 801, it is possible to instruct the luggage accumulation area to move the group of commodities, and it is possible to reduce the user's leaving time.

In the above description, the luggage delivery position 804 is provided for each traveling lane 801. However, some traveling lanes 801 do not have the luggage delivery position 804, and are dedicated lanes for users who do not receive luggage. Is also good.

Although the database is searched with the user ID information from the on-vehicle device 5, the search may be performed on the on-vehicle device information which is information specific to the on-vehicle device 5. Specifically, the central control device 81 may create a correlation list of the vehicle-mounted device information and the user ID information, search the user ID information based on the vehicle-mounted device information obtained from the vehicle-mounted device 5, and generate a reservation list. By doing so, it is not necessary to store in the vehicle-mounted device 5 the user ID information previously determined by the operator of the parking lot 50 and the user, and the versatility of the vehicle-mounted device 5 can be maintained.
That is, it is possible to use parking lots operated by different businesses with the same vehicle-mounted device 5.

The parking lot 5 described in the fourth embodiment.
A service for further reducing the parking fee of the reserved vehicle 6 may be provided in conjunction with the advance reservation of 0. Further, the functions of the central processing unit 81 and the charge processing unit 9 may be collectively realized by one computer device.

Further, the manager of the store 60 may add a fee for the luggage delivery service at the exit of the parking lot 50, for example, the fee may be added to the parking fee and collected. Further, the fee may be set according to the number of packages to be transferred.

As described above, according to the sixth embodiment, the user can receive the product purchased at the store 60 at the exit of the parking lot 50 without carrying the product inside the store 60, and the user has good convenience. It became possible to receive the service, and for the manager of the store 60, both the user and the manager of the store 60 were provided with advantages such as being able to secure users by providing differentiated services. The system can be realized.

[0108]

As described above, according to the present invention, among a plurality of spot beam antennas having a communication area narrower than that of a traveling lane, a spot beam antenna having the best communication condition is selected and a roadside device and a vehicle-mounted device are selected. Wireless communication of information related to toll collection, and steep directivity with excellent communication with on-vehicle equipment even in situations such as buildings where multipath effects are likely to occur. It is possible to use a spot beam antenna having the following advantages, and it is possible to obtain an advantageous effect that it is possible to prevent an error such as a wrong receipt of a toll or a stop of a received vehicle.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an automatic toll collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a roadside device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a spot beam antenna selection method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of an automatic toll collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a parking management list which is a database according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an automatic toll collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of a roadside device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of a vehicle-mounted device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of a vehicle-mounted device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a spot beam antenna selection method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of an automatic toll collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a connection between a roadside device and an adjacent roadside device in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining a spot beam antenna selection method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of an automatic toll collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a view for explaining a reservation list which is a database according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a parking management list that is a database according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of an automatic toll collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a view for explaining a visit list which is a database according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of an automatic toll collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram of an automatic toll collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a diagram for explaining an automatic toll collection system according to an embodiment of the related art.

FIG. 22 is a view for explaining an automatic toll collection system according to an embodiment of the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Roadside unit 2 Communication area 3 Parking entrance 5 On-board unit 6 Vehicle 7 Circuit breaker 8 Building 9 Charge processing device 11 Transmission antenna 14 Transmission unit 15 Comparison selection unit 16 Demodulation unit 17 Modulation unit 18 Control unit 19 Adjacent roadside unit 21 Exit side Roadside device 30 Input device 31 Network 41 Transmission / reception area A 42 Transmission / reception area B 43 Transmission / reception area C 44 Light emitting device 45 Light receiving device 50 Parking lot 51 High frequency circuit unit 52 Card reader / writer 53 CPU unit 54 First card reader / writer 55 Second Card reader / writer 60 Store 61 User information input device 62 Recording medium 64 Cash register terminal 65 LAN 81 Central control device 101 Spot beam antenna A 102 Spot beam antenna B 103 Spot beam antenna C 121 Circulator 122 Circulator 1 Reference Signs List 3 circulator 131 receiving unit 132 receiving unit 133 receiving unit 141 transmitting unit 142 transmitting unit 143 transmitting unit 151 high-frequency circuit unit 152 high-frequency circuit unit 153 high-frequency circuit unit 304 synchronization timing generation unit 801 running lane 802 exit-side roadside machine 803 exit-side roadside machine 804 Luggage delivery position 805 Parking space 806 Exit 900 Sector beam antenna 901 Broad beam antenna 902 Receiver A 903 Receiver B 904 Comparator 905 Gate 906 Toll collection control unit 907 Transmission radio wave

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Junji Sato 3-1-1, Higashi-Mita, Tama-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa F-term in Matsushita Giken Co., Ltd. 3E027 EA03 EB01 EB05 EC06 EC07 EC08 5H180 AA01 BB04 CC12 DD02 EE10

Claims (17)

[Claims] A transmitting antenna having a directional characteristic such that a communication area formed on the traveling lane is about the width of the traveling lane; Installed, the directional characteristics of the spot beam antenna are narrowed down from the directional characteristics of the transmission antenna, and the communication areas of the spot beam antennas are arranged in the width direction of the traveling lane and cover the communication area of the transmission antenna. Each spot beam antenna is installed, a response request signal is transmitted by a transmission antenna, a response signal from the vehicle-mounted device corresponding to the response request signal is received by the plurality of spot beam antennas, and a reception signal received by each spot beam antenna is received. A road characterized by employing a spot beam antenna having the highest level from the electric field strength Machine. 2. A transmission antenna, a plurality of Sto beam antennas, a plurality of high-frequency circuit units connected to each spot beam antenna, and a signal corresponding to the reception electric field strength of each of the high-frequency circuit units, and the highest level reception is performed. A comparison and selection unit for comparing and selecting the electric field strength, a demodulation unit for receiving a reception signal which is an output of each high-frequency circuit unit and demodulating an output signal of the specified high-frequency circuit unit, and a designated and connected to each high-frequency circuit unit A modulating unit that outputs a transmission signal to the high-frequency circuit unit; and a control unit that specifies a high-frequency circuit unit that demodulates in the demodulation unit and a high-frequency circuit unit that outputs the transmission signal by an output of the comparison and selection unit. The antenna is provided with a directional characteristic such that a communication area formed on the traveling lane is about the width of the traveling lane, and is installed above the traveling lane. Are narrowed down from the directivity characteristics of the transmission antenna, and the spot beam antennas are installed so that the communication areas of the spot beam antennas are arranged in the width direction of the traveling lane and cover the communication area of the transmission antenna. A response request signal is transmitted, a response signal from the in-vehicle device corresponding to the response request signal is received by the plurality of spot beam antennas, and the comparison / selection unit outputs the highest level from the received electric field strength received by each spot beam antenna. A roadside machine characterized by selecting a high spot beam antenna. 3. A communication area formed by each spot beam antenna is installed so as to be arranged at equal intervals in a width direction of a traveling lane. The position is arranged on the x-axis and the received electric field strength signal is arranged on the y-axis, and a plurality of x, y information is approximated to a quadratic function by a least square method or the like, and y becomes a peak x
The roadside device according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein a spot beam antenna close to the determined x position is adopted. 4. The roadside device according to claim 1, wherein three spot beam antennas are provided. 5. A toll collection system for performing a toll collection procedure by wirelessly communicating between a roadside unit and an on-board unit, wherein the roadside unit is the roadside unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4. Having a transmitting antenna and a plurality of spot beam antennas, transmitting a response request signal with the transmitting antenna, receiving the response request signal, transmitting the response signal, the vehicle-mounted device transmits a response signal, and the roadside device transmits the response signal A fee for receiving information with a plurality of spot beam antennas and employing a spot beam antenna having the highest level from the received electric field strength received by each of the spot beam antennas to communicate information related to toll collection between the roadside device and the vehicle-mounted device. Receiving system. 6. A tollgate in a parking lot having a plurality of driving lanes, wherein the roadside machine according to any one of claims 2 to 4 is disposed on the own driving lane, and the roadside device is disposed on an adjacent driving lane. And output a signal corresponding to the received electric field strength of each high-frequency circuit section of the roadside unit to the comparison and selection unit and also output it to the comparison and selection unit in the adjacent roadside unit. A signal corresponding to the received electric field strength of each high-frequency circuit unit of the machine is output to the comparison and selection unit and also output to the comparison and selection unit in the roadside machine. Calculate the highest-level signal including the signal corresponding to the received electric field strength from the mobile station, and if this signal is a signal from the adjacent roadside unit, do not communicate information related to toll collection with the onboard unit Toll collection System. 7. The comparison / selection unit of the roadside unit first calculates a signal having the highest level from among the signals corresponding to the received electric field strength output from each of the high-frequency circuit units of the roadside unit, and compares this signal level with the adjacent signal level. Compare with all signals corresponding to the received electric field strength output from each high-frequency circuit unit of the roadside unit, and if it is lower than any one signal level, do not communicate information related to toll collection with the onboard unit 7. The toll collection system according to claim 6, wherein: 8. The on-vehicle device has means for reading a recording medium which is stored and issued at least by a parking lot user to a parking lot user by a parking lot operator in advance, and the on-vehicle device is stored in at least the recording medium. The toll collection system according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein information related to toll collection including information on the toll is communicated to the roadside device. 9. The toll collection system according to claim 8, wherein the onboard unit has two types of record reading means including means for storing the user ID information and reading the issued recording medium. 10. A toll collection system for performing a toll collection procedure by wirelessly communicating information relating to a parking fee between a roadside machine installed near a tollgate such as a parking lot and an onboard machine installed in a vehicle. It has user ID information determined in advance for each parking lot user by the parking lot operator, a central control unit connected to the fee processing device and the network system, and a plurality of input devices connected to the network system. The central control device constructs a database having at least the user ID, the reservation information from the input device of the parking lot user, and the parking time information of the user obtained by the roadside machine at the entrance of the parking lot. The central processing unit calculates the parking fee discounted according to the presence or absence of the reservation from the user ID information obtained at the exit roadside machine, the leaving time, and the information stored in the database. Toll collection system according to any one of claims 5 to 9, toll collection and. 11. In a store or the like having a parking lot in an adjacent area or site, a plurality of cash register terminals in the store, a LAN connected to a central control device and a charge processing device,
It has a recording medium that stores and issues user ID information previously determined for each user by the store operator, and a user information input device connected to each cash register terminal. At least user I
A cash register together with the D information, the parking time information of each user output from the roadside machine at the entrance of the parking lot, and the user ID information stored in the recording medium obtained by the user information input device when the user purchases the product. A central processing unit constructs a database having purchase price information output from the terminal, and the central processing unit calculates the purchase price from the user ID information and the leaving time information obtained at the exit roadside machine and the information stored in the database. The toll collection system according to claim 5, wherein the toll is calculated based on a discounted parking fee. 12. In a store or the like having a parking lot in an adjacent area or site, an exit-side tollgate having a plurality of traveling lanes on the exit side of the parking lot, an exit-side roadside machine provided on each traveling lane, There is a luggage storage area on the floor above or below the exit toll booth, and the exit roadside machine uses the user ID information obtained by communicating with the on-board equipment when leaving the parking lot of the user at the luggage storage area. It presents and selects a product group purchased by the user from the user ID information, transfers it to the user at the exit tollgate, and the central processing unit obtains the user ID obtained by the exit roadside machine.
12. The automatic toll collection system according to claim 11, wherein a parking fee is calculated from the information, the leaving time, and a database stored in the central control unit, and the toll is collected. 13. An exit-side roadside machine is provided in a portion where vehicles exiting a parking lot in front of an exit-side tollgate having a plurality of driving lanes pass through, and the exit-side roadside machine is obtained by communication with an onboard unit. The user ID information is presented to the baggage collection area, the traveling lane for delivering the purchased goods to the user is presented, and the central processing unit acquires the user ID obtained by the exit roadside machine.
13. The automatic toll collection system according to claim 12, wherein the parking fee is calculated from the information, the leaving time, and the database stored in the central control device, and the toll is collected. 14. The central control unit calculates parking fees of all users up to the present time from information stored in the database stored at regular intervals, and adds and updates the parking fee information to the database. 14. The toll collection system according to claim 10, wherein parking fee information of the user is obtained by searching the database with the user ID information obtained by the roadside device, and the parking fee is collected. 15. A communication apparatus having a transmitting antenna and a plurality of spot beam antennas, wherein the transmitting antenna has a directional characteristic such that a communication area formed on the traveling lane is about the width of the traveling lane and travels. It is installed above the lane, the directional characteristics of the spot beam antenna are narrowed down from the directional characteristics of the transmission antenna, and the communication areas of the spot beam antennas are arranged in the width direction of the traveling lane and cover the communication area of the transmission antenna. An antenna installation method, wherein each of the spot beam antennas is installed in the antenna. 16. An in-vehicle device for wirelessly communicating with the roadside device according to claim 1, wherein at least the user I
D means for reading a recording medium storing and issuing D information;
An in-vehicle device that communicates information related to toll collection including at least information stored in the recording medium to a roadside device. 17. The on-vehicle device according to claim 16, wherein the on-vehicle device has two types of recording and reading means including means for storing the user ID information and reading the issued recording medium.