JP2002269612A - Toll collection method, toll collection system and on- vehicle device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To collect a toll corresponding to a traffic jam circumstance at every section of a toll road from a vehicle side. SOLUTION: A traffic jam detection device 8 provided with a traffic jam signal control device 56 for producing a traffic jam discount ratio information 72 corresponding to a circumstance of the traffic jam every at sections A, B, C informed from a traffic control monitor 54 and transmitting the traffic jam discount ratio information 72 produced every at the sections A, B, C to an on-vehicle device 16 of the vehicle 14 traveling the respective sections while inherent identification information are made relevant every at traffic jam signal antennas 22a to 22n is imparted to an ETC(electronic toll collection system) system 2. Thereby, at an exit tollgate of a toll road, it can be determined that a vehicle encountered to the traffic jam on the toll road is specified and is encountered to how long traffic jam from the traffic jam discount ratio information 72 memorized in the on-vehicle device 16 and a discount of the toll becomes possible based on the traffic jam discount ratio information 72 obtained corresponding to the circumstance of the traffic jam.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

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

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, on a toll road such as an expressway, a non-stop automatic toll collection system (Electronic Toll Collecti) that automatically sets a toll using wireless communication.
on System (ETC system) has entered the practical stage.

[0003] The ETC system has a wireless communication function, and has a vehicle-mounted device on which an IC card for storing information such as a personal ID of the user, a management number of the vehicle, and information on entrances and exits of a toll road is mounted on the vehicle. Wireless communication is performed between the vehicle-mounted device and an entrance / exit tollgate device provided at each tollgate at the entrance of the toll road to settle the toll.

[0004] That is, the entrance tollgate device writes the entrance information to the vehicle-mounted device by wireless communication at the entrance.
The exit tollgate device obtains entrance information, vehicle information, and the like from the vehicle-mounted device at the exit by wireless communication, calculates a toll, requests a host computer or the like as a host device to debit the account, and the like. Here, the IC card mounted on the vehicle-mounted device is used in a form similar to a credit card or a prepaid card, for example, by associating the card ID number or the like with the account number of the user's bank deposit in advance. Is done.

[0005] As described above, the ETC system capable of automatic payment of tolls will receive tolls on toll roads in consideration of the improvement of convenience by cashlessness and the easing of congestion near tollgates. It is expected that the system will become mainstream.

[0006]

At present, there is a demand for the spread of an ETC system having many advantages as described above. In order to promote full-scale introduction of the ETC system, automatic payment by wireless communication has been required. It is also expected to provide new services with high added value.

Here, on a toll road adopting a closed system for paying a toll according to the mileage later, the current toll collection system uses a toll road even if traffic is congested and its utility value is low. A flat toll is collected as in the case where the toll road is vacant.
That is, it is difficult for the current system to identify a vehicle that has been congested and to determine how much traffic the vehicle has been involved in, and it is extremely difficult to carry out, for example, discounts on tolls. It is. Therefore, the service that can collect tolls according to the traffic congestion situation etc.
There is a request to grant to the system.

[0008] Of course, the same applies to a toll road adopting an open system in which a flat fee is paid in advance, so that a reduced service can be provided at the exit of the toll road when the traveling section where the vehicle travels is congested. It is expected that demands for providing new services will increase in the ETC system in the future.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and is capable of collecting from a vehicle a toll corresponding to the utility value of a toll road by considering traffic jams on the toll road. It is intended to provide a toll collection method, a toll collection system, and a vehicle-mounted device.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a toll collection method according to a first aspect of the present invention is provided on an onboard device mounted on a vehicle and on a toll road divided into a plurality of sections. A toll collection method for performing toll payment by wireless communication with a toll collection device, wherein the toll collection device detects a state of congestion in each section of the toll road, and determines a degree of congestion in each section. A step of generating a plurality of corresponding congestion discount information, a step of transmitting each of the congestion discount information generated for each section to the on-board unit of a vehicle traveling on each section of the toll road, A step of receiving and storing the transmitted congestion information for each section in an on-vehicle device of a vehicle traveling in a section corresponding to each congestion information; With each traffic jam information Transmitting the vehicle type information stored in the vehicle-mounted device of the vehicle and travel section information for obtaining a section in which the vehicle has traveled on the toll road from the vehicle-mounted device to the toll collection device; Calculating a section toll for each section based on the vehicle type information and the travel section information received by
Using the traffic congestion discount information corresponding to each of the sections received by the toll collection device, the calculated section tolls are discounted, and a plurality of section discount tolls respectively corresponding to the sections are calculated. And a step of charging a vehicle passing through the exit of the toll road with a discounted toll obtained by adding the calculated individual section discount tolls.

[0011] A toll collection method according to a second aspect of the present invention is a method of collecting tolls by wireless communication between a vehicle-mounted device mounted on a vehicle and a toll collection device provided on a toll road divided into a plurality of sections. A toll collection method for performing settlement,
Charging a vehicle that passes through the entrance of the toll road with a predetermined flat fee according to the type of vehicle, detecting the state of traffic congestion in each section of the toll road, and responding to the degree of congestion in each section. Generating a plurality of congestion discount information, and transmitting the congestion discount information generated for each section to the vehicle-mounted device of a vehicle traveling on each section of the toll road,
Receiving and storing the traffic congestion information for each section transmitted from the toll collection device in a vehicle-mounted device of a vehicle traveling in a section corresponding to each traffic congestion information; and Each traffic jam information stored in the on-board unit,
Transmitting the vehicle type information stored in the vehicle-mounted device of the vehicle and travel section information for obtaining a section in which the vehicle has traveled on the toll road from the vehicle-mounted device to the toll collection device; Calculating a discount rate based on the traffic congestion discount information, the vehicle type information, and the traveling section information for each section, and a vehicle passing the calculated discount rate through the exit of the toll road. And a step of refunding the refund.

Further, a toll collection system according to a third aspect of the present invention is a toll collection system having a vehicle-mounted device mounted on a vehicle and a toll collection device provided on a toll road divided into a plurality of sections. Storage means capable of storing the congestion discount information, the vehicle type information of the vehicle, and travel section information for obtaining a section in which the vehicle has traveled, wherein the on-vehicle device is transmitted from the fare collection device side; Means for transmitting the traffic congestion discount information, the vehicle type information, and the traveling section information stored in the toll collection device, wherein the toll collection device detects a congestion state for each section of the toll road, and detects traffic congestion in each section. A discount information generating means for generating a plurality of traffic congestion discount information corresponding to each degree, and a car traveling on each section of the toll road using the traffic congestion discount information generated for each section by the discount information generating means. Means for transmitting to the on-vehicle device, receiving means for receiving the congestion discount information, the vehicle type information and the travel section information stored in the on-vehicle device of a vehicle passing through the exit of the toll road; and the receiving means Based on the vehicle type information and the traveling section information received by
Each of the sections calculated by the first calculating means using first calculating means for calculating each section toll for each section, and traffic congestion discount information respectively corresponding to each of the sections received by the receiving means. Discount on tolls,
A second calculating means for calculating a plurality of section discounted tolls respectively corresponding to the respective sections, and a discounted toll obtained by adding the individual section discounted tolls calculated by the second calculating means. Means for charging a vehicle passing through the exit of the toll road.

Further, a toll collection system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is a toll collection system having an on-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle and a toll collection device provided on a toll road divided into a plurality of sections. Storage means capable of storing the congestion discount information, the vehicle type information of the vehicle, and travel section information for obtaining a section in which the vehicle has traveled, wherein the on-vehicle device is transmitted from the fare collection device side; Means for transmitting the traffic congestion discount information, the vehicle type information, and the traveling section information stored in the toll collection device, wherein the toll collection device is preset for a vehicle passing through the entrance of the toll road according to the vehicle type. Means for charging a flat fee, a discount information generating means for detecting a state of congestion in each section of the toll road, and generating a plurality of congestion discount information respectively corresponding to the degree of congestion in each section; Means for transmitting the congestion discount information generated for each section by the generation means to the on-vehicle device of the vehicle traveling on each section of the toll road, and the on-vehicle device of the vehicle passing through the exit of the toll road. Receiving means for receiving the traffic congestion discount information, the vehicle type information and the travel section information, and a discount based on the traffic congestion discount information, the vehicle type information and the travel section information for each section received by the reception means. A discount rate calculating means for calculating a rate, and means for refunding the discounted rate calculated by the discount rate calculating means to a vehicle passing through the exit of the toll road are provided.

Further, the on-vehicle device according to claim 5 of the present invention is mounted on a vehicle and performs wireless communication relating to toll payment with a toll collection device provided on a toll road divided into a plurality of sections. An on-vehicle device, which detects a congestion situation for each section of the toll road and generates a plurality of congestion discount information generated so as to respectively correspond to the degree of congestion in each section; Receiving means for receiving from the toll collection device in a process, storage capable of storing vehicle type information of the vehicle, travel section information for obtaining a section in which the vehicle has traveled, and the congestion discount information received by the receiving means; Means for transmitting the vehicle type information, the traveling section information and the congestion discount information stored in the storage means to the toll collection device while the vehicle passes through the exit of the toll road. Means, and the section toll for each section calculated based on the vehicle type information and the traveling section information transmitted by the transmitting means is discounted using congestion discount information corresponding to each of the sections. Means for receiving, from the toll collection device, billing information on discounted tolls obtained by adding individual section discounted tolls for each section while the vehicle passes through the exit of the toll road. It is characterized by the following.

The vehicle-mounted device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention comprises:
An on-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle and performing wireless communication related to toll payment between a toll collection device provided on a toll road divided into a plurality of sections, wherein the vehicle passes through an entrance of the toll road. Means for receiving from the toll collection device uniform charging information indicating that the vehicle has been charged a uniform charge predetermined according to the vehicle type in the process, and a state of congestion for each section of the toll road is detected. Discount information receiving means for receiving, from the toll collection device, a plurality of traffic congestion discount information generated so as to correspond to the degree of traffic congestion in the section from the toll collection device during the traveling of the vehicle on the toll road; and vehicle type information of the vehicle. A storage section capable of storing travel section information for obtaining a section in which the vehicle has traveled, and the congestion discount information received by the discount information receiving section; Transmitting means for transmitting the vehicle type information, the travel section information, and the congestion discount information to the toll collection device stored in the storage means in the process of passing, the vehicle type information transmitted by the transmitting means, The toll collection device supplies discounted billing information indicating that the flat fare has been discounted with the discounted fare calculated based on the travel section information and the traffic congestion discount information while the vehicle passes through the exit of the toll road. And a receiving means.

The above-described invention according to claim 1, 3 or 5 is useful when applied to a toll road of a closed system in which a toll according to a mileage is paid later.
A plurality of traffic congestion discount information corresponding to the traffic congestion status of each section of the toll road divided into a plurality of sections is stored in the vehicle-mounted device of the vehicle running on the toll road. Furthermore, these inventions obtain, from the vehicle-mounted device of a vehicle passing through the exit of a toll road, vehicle type information, travel section information for obtaining a travel section, and each congestion discount information stored in the course of traveling on the toll road. The section toll calculated for each section based on the obtained vehicle type information and the travel section information is discounted using the congestion discount information corresponding to each section, and the obtained individual section discount toll for each section is obtained. Is charged to the vehicle.

That is, according to the first, third or fifth aspect of the present invention, at the exit of a toll road, a vehicle that has been congested in a predetermined section of the toll road is specified from information stored in the vehicle-mounted device. In addition, it is possible to determine in detail in which section and how much traffic the vehicle has been involved in, and more reliable toll discounts can be made according to the situation of traffic in each section. Tolls commensurate with the usage value can be collected from the driver of the vehicle.

Further, the invention according to claim 2, 4 or 6 provides:
This is useful when applied to an open system toll road that pays a flat fee in advance.A flat fee predetermined for the vehicle type that passes through the entrance of the toll road is charged, and multiple toll roads are charged. A plurality of traffic congestion discount information corresponding to the traffic congestion status of each section divided into the sections are stored in the vehicle-mounted device of the vehicle running on the toll road. Furthermore, in these inventions, the vehicle type information and the traveling section information for obtaining the traveling section and the congestion information information stored in the traveling process of the toll road are acquired from the on-board device of the vehicle passing through the exit of the toll road. The discount rate calculated based on the acquired vehicle type information, traveling section information, and congestion discount information is substantially refunded to vehicles passing through the exit of the toll road.

That is, according to the second, fourth or sixth aspect of the present invention, a uniform charge is once charged to the vehicle side at the entrance of the toll road in accordance with the state of traffic congestion for each traveling section where the vehicle actually travels. Since the toll can be reduced at the exit of the toll road, a toll corresponding to the utility value of the toll road can be collected from the driver of the vehicle.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an ETC system as a toll collection system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG.
Is applied on toll roads that adopt a closed system that pays a toll according to the mileage later, and is installed in each of a plurality of interchanges provided along a traveling lane (main line) of the toll road. 4 and an exit tollgate device 6, a traffic congestion detection device 8 for detecting traffic congestion in a traffic lane on a toll road, and a toll collection device 12 including a host computer 10 for controlling these devices collectively. It is realized by an on-board unit (OBU: On Board Unit) 16 mounted on a vehicle 14 for exchanging information regarding toll payment with the device 12.

The entrance gate device 4, the exit tollgate device 6, and the traffic jam detection device 8 are provided with an entrance antenna 18, an entrance antenna 20, and a traffic jam signal antenna 22, respectively. Wireless communication is performed between these antennas 18, 20, and 22 and the vehicle-mounted device antenna 24 included in the vehicle-mounted device 16.

The vehicle-mounted device 16 is provided with a card accommodating section described later, and an IC card 26 is mounted thereon. The transfer of information between the vehicle-mounted device 16 and the IC card 26 is performed by an IC.
Information is exchanged with the vehicle-mounted device 16 through a memory device such as an EEPROM or a flash memory mounted inside the card 26. On the other hand, the entrance gate device 4, the exit tollgate device 6, the traffic congestion detection device 8, and the vehicle-mounted device 1
The exchange of information with the device 6 involves wirelessly communicating information stored in a buffer memory such as an internal dynamic RAM.

The on-vehicle device 16 is installed on an inner panel, for example, on the passenger seat side inside the vehicle 14, and as shown in FIG. 2, a card storage unit 28, an interface unit 30 with the IC card 26, and this interface unit An IC card processing unit 34 that processes the information read through 30 and stores the processing result in a memory 32, transmits the information stored in the memory 32 from the on-vehicle antenna 24, and transmits the information received by the on-vehicle antenna 24. A wireless control unit 36 for storing in the memory 32, an operation unit 38 including a numeric keypad, a designation key, an execution key, an eject button, etc. operated by a user, an entrance gate device 4, an exit tollgate device 6, and traffic jam detection A display unit 40 for visually displaying the information received from the device 8, and similarly an entrance gate device 4, an exit tollgate device 6, and a traffic jam. A voice generating unit 42 for performing voice guidance information received from the device 8 out, and a control unit 44 which controls all the units. The memory 32 stores, in addition to the vehicle length, vehicle height, number of axles, weight, use, and features of the vehicle 14 on which the vehicle-mounted device 16 is mounted, the vehicle type of the vehicle 14 and a vehicle-mounted device ID number unique to each vehicle-mounted device. , And vehicle information including the registration number of the vehicle 12 and the like are stored in advance.

As shown in FIG. 3, the IC card 26 includes a flash memory 46, an interface unit 48 for exchanging data with the interface unit 30 of the vehicle-mounted device 16, and an interface unit 48 and the flash memory 46. And a CPU 50 for control. The flash memory 46 stores the account number of the user's deposit, special contract information indicating whether discounted persons with disabilities can be applied, and settlement information such as the expiration date of the contract. Further, a card ID number for specifying the IC card 26 is stored in the flash memory 46 in advance, and when the vehicle 14 passes through the entrance tollgate, the date and time of passage and a fee for specifying the tollgate gate. Passing history information such as the station number, the type of the vehicle 14, and the remaining amount of the card is stored in association with the card ID number of the IC card 26. When the IC card 26 is inserted into the vehicle-mounted device 16, it transmits settlement information and the like to the vehicle-mounted device 16 only after confirming the validity of the vehicle-mounted device 16 by exchanging signals with the vehicle-mounted device 16.

In such an ETC system 2, a vehicle 14 equipped with the vehicle-mounted device 16 (hereinafter referred to as an "ETC" vehicle) and a vehicle not equipped with the vehicle-mounted device 16 (hereinafter referred to as a "non-E
TC cars) and pass through the interchange entrance tollgate and exit tollgate.
Toll collection is performed according to each vehicle.

That is, at the entrance gate, a toll ticket such as a magnetic card is issued for a non-ETC vehicle, and a traveling section where the vehicle 14 has traveled is obtained for the ETC vehicle by wireless communication using the entrance gate device 4. Gate number serving as travel section information for the vehicle and, for example, the entrance information including the vehicle type detected by the vehicle type detection device, are transmitted to the vehicle-mounted device 1 of the ETC vehicle.
The control is performed so that the data is stored in the memory 32 of the main body 6 and the IC card 26 mounted on the vehicle-mounted device 16.

On the other hand, at the exit tollgate (excluding the processing result of the traffic jam detecting device 8), a toll ticket is received from the driver of the non-ETC vehicle and processed by a toll ticket reader to artificially settle the toll. For the ETC vehicle, the entrance toll gate device 6 reads out the entrance information including the entrance gate number and the vehicle type from the IC card 26 of the vehicle-mounted device 16 of the ETC vehicle by wireless communication,
A toll is calculated based on the read information, and a debit request to the host computer 10 is made. Here, the IC card 26 has an ID number associated with customer information such as a bank account number of a driver's bank, and is used in a form similar to a credit card or a prepaid card.

Next, the ETC system 2 according to the present embodiment
A description will be given of the above-described traffic jam detection device 8 provided in the system. As shown in FIG. 4, the traffic congestion detection device 8 includes a traffic control monitor 54 that detects a traffic congestion state for each of the sections A, B, and C that divide the traveling lane 52 of the toll road into a plurality of sections. A traffic congestion signal control device 56 that generates traffic congestion discount rate information that is stepwisely classified according to the degree of traffic congestion for each of the detected sections A, B, and C;
A congestion signal antenna installed for each of B and C and for transmitting congestion discount rate information generated for each section to the vehicle-mounted device 16 of the vehicle 14 traveling in each section under the control of the congestion signal control device 56. .., 22n.

The traffic control monitor 54 includes sensors 55a, 5a, 5a, 5b,
5b and 55c are connected. Each sensor 55a, 55
b and 55c capture the video, the speed of the vehicle, the number of vehicles, and the like for each section, and transmit them to the traffic control monitor 54 in real time. The traffic control monitor 54 includes sensors 55a, 55
(b) Based on the information transmitted from 55c, the situation of traffic congestion is determined. In the present embodiment, the traffic control monitor 54
Accordingly, it is determined that the section A is “light traffic jam”, the section B is “no traffic jam”, and the section C is “heavy traffic jam”.

As shown in FIG. 5, the traffic congestion signal control device 56 has a traffic control monitor I / O for exchanging data related to traffic congestion between a power supply unit 58 for supplying power to the device and a traffic control monitor 54. F (interface) unit 60
A traffic jam signal antenna I / F (interface) unit 62 (62a, 62b... 62n) to which the traffic jam signal antennas 22a, 22b.
Under the control of, the traffic congestion discount rate information for each of the sections A, B, and C notified from the traffic control monitor 54 is generated, and the generated traffic congestion discount rate information for each of the sections A, B, and C is generated. , 22n, and a memory 66 for executing a program for associating and transmitting unique identification information for each of the congestion signal antennas 22a, 22b... 22n. Further, the antenna identification information is also applied as traveling section information indicating a section in which the vehicle 14 has traveled on a toll road.

In the present embodiment, for example, when the traffic control monitor 54 determines that the traffic congestion signal antenna 22a in section A has been determined to be "light traffic congestion", the antenna identification information is "A".
And the traffic jam discount rate is "90%",
Further, from the traffic jam signal antenna 22b in the section B determined to be “no traffic jam”, a traffic jam signal whose antenna identification information is “B” and whose traffic jam discount rate is “100%” is further changed to “heavy traffic jam”. From the congestion signal antenna 22c of the section C determined to be "", the congestion signal whose antenna identification information is "C" and the congestion discount rate is "80%" is transmitted to the vehicle-mounted device of the vehicle traveling in each section. 16 is transmitted. Onboard equipment 1
6 receives and stores in the IC card 26 the congestion discount rate information for each section associated with different antenna identification information. Each congestion signal antenna 2 installed for each section
2, the installation position or the transmission output is adjusted in advance so that the congestion signal is received only by the vehicle-mounted device of the vehicle traveling in each section as much as possible.

The exit tollgate device 6 applies the section toll calculated for each section based on the vehicle type information received from the vehicle-mounted device of the vehicle passing through the exit tollgate and the antenna identification information as the travel section information to each section. Discounts are made using the corresponding congestion discount rate information, and the obtained discounted tolls obtained by adding the obtained individual section discounted tolls for each section are given to the driver of the vehicle 14 passing through the exit tollgate. Charge.

From each of the above-described congestion signal antennas 62, ET
The format 68 relating to the congestion signal transmitted as the C signal includes type code information for differentiating the entrance signal, the exit signal, and the congestion signal transmitted as the ETC signal from the entrance antenna 18, the exit antenna 20, and the congestion signal antenna 22, respectively. 70, congestion discount rate information 72, and antenna identification information 74.

The format 76 of the flash memory 46 of the IC card 26 includes an entry information area 78 in which the type of the vehicle, the entrance gate number indicating the interchange where the vehicle 14 has entered the toll road, the time of passage through the entrance entrance gate, and the like are written. , An exit information area 80 in which an exit tollgate number and a billing amount are written, a customer information area 82 in which an account number of a bank contracted by a customer is recorded, and a section in which different antenna identification information is associated. And a congestion discount rate information area 84 in which the traffic congestion discount rate information is stored, and an antenna identification information area 86.

Next, the processing of the exit tollgate device 6, that is, the processing of discounting the toll in accordance with the traffic congestion on the toll road, of the ETC system 2 of the present embodiment thus configured will be described. The exit tollgate device 6 first receives the vehicle type information from the vehicle-mounted device 16 of the vehicle 14 attempting to pass through the tollgate on the toll road, in addition to the customer information recorded on the IC card 26 and the entrance gate number as entrance information. And the antenna identification information applied as the traveling section information and the congestion discount rate information for each of the sections A, B, and C associated with the antenna identification information.

Next, the exit tollgate device 6 calculates the section toll for each section calculated based on the received vehicle type information and the antenna identification information as the running section information, and calculates the congestion discount rate information corresponding to each section. The discounted toll is calculated by adding the obtained individual discounted tolls for each section.

In the present embodiment, for example, the vehicle 14 is a “normal car”, and the sections A, B, and C are the same distance and “20K”.
m, the section toll is calculated by the exit tollgate device 6 as, for example, "1000 yen". Further, the exit tollgate device 6 provides the above-described traffic congestion for each of the section tolls “1000 yen” in sections A, B, and C, which were “light traffic congestion”, “no traffic congestion”, and “heavy traffic congestion”, respectively. Discount rates "90%", "100%", "80
% For each of sections A, B, and C,
The section discounted toll to be "yen", "1000 yen", and "800" is calculated. Further, the exit tollgate device 6 adds the discounted tolls for each section to calculate a discount billing fee of “2700 yen” (1000 yen × 90% + 1000).
Yen x 100% + 1000 yen x 80% = 2700 yen).

Thereafter, the exit tollgate device 6 is connected to the vehicle-mounted device 16.
Delete all the congestion discount rate information and antenna identification information recorded on the IC card 26 of FIG. Further, the exit tollgate device 6 performs, via the host computer 10, a billing process for withdrawing the calculated discount bill from the deposit account of the customer's bank associated with the ID number or the like of the IC card 26. At the same time, exit information including information such as an exit tollgate number and an exit transit time, a billing amount “2700 yen”, a toll fee, “3000 yen”, a discount fee “300 yen” and the like are transmitted to the vehicle-mounted device 16. Complete exit processing.

As described above, the ETC system 2 according to the present embodiment transmits a plurality of pieces of traffic congestion discount rate information according to the traffic congestion status for each section into which the toll road is divided into a plurality of sections to the vehicle-mounted device 16 of the vehicle traveling on the toll road. Remember. Further, the ETC system 2 stores, from the vehicle-mounted device 16 of the vehicle passing through the exit of the toll road, antenna identification information applied as vehicle type information and travel section information for obtaining a travel section, and in the course of traveling on the toll road. The respective traffic congestion discount rate information is obtained, and the section toll for each section calculated based on the obtained vehicle type information and the antenna identification information is discounted using the traffic congestion discount rate information corresponding to each section. The discounted toll obtained by adding the individual section discounted toll for each section is charged to the vehicle.

That is, according to the ETC system 2 according to this embodiment, at the exit of the toll road, it is possible to identify the vehicle that has been congested in a predetermined section of the toll road from the information stored in the vehicle-mounted device 16. In addition to being able to judge in detail in which section and how much traffic the vehicle has been involved in, the toll road can be discounted in accordance with the situation of traffic congestion in each section. Tolls commensurate with the utility value of the vehicle can be collected from the driver of the vehicle.

(Second Embodiment) E according to this embodiment
The TC system 90 is applied to a toll road adopting an open system in which a flat fee is paid in advance. Instead of the toll collection device 12 of the ETC system 2 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. A collection device 92 is provided. As shown in FIG.
2 is an entrance tollgate device 9 instead of the entrance gate device 4 and the exit tollgate device 6 provided in the toll collection device 12.
4 and an exit gate device 96.

Here, the process of each device will be described in a simplified manner. The entrance tollgate device 94 detects the type of the vehicle 14 passing through the entrance of the toll road, and is determined in advance according to the detected type of vehicle. A flat fee is charged to the vehicle 14. That is, the entrance tollgate device 94 performs a billing process for withdrawing the flat fee from the deposit account of the customer's bank associated with the ID number or the like of the IC card 26 via the host computer 10. Further, the entrance tollgate device 94 stores the detected vehicle type of the vehicle 14 in the IC card 26.
To record.

Assuming that the vehicle 14 travels in the sections A, B, and C shown in FIG. 4, the exit gate device 96 sends the IC card 26 from the vehicle-mounted device 16 of the vehicle 14 that is about to pass through the exit gate of the toll road. The antenna identification information applied as the vehicle type information and the traveling section information recorded at least in the sections A and B associated with the antenna identification information
The traffic congestion discount rate information for each C is received. Further, the exit gate device 96 receives the congestion discount rate information for each of these sections,
Based on the vehicle type information and the antenna identification information, a discount rate for the flat rate charged at the entrance is calculated.

In this embodiment, for example, if the vehicle 14 is a "normal car", the flat fee is "1000 yen".
Becomes The congestion discount rate information corresponding to sections A, B, and C, which were “light traffic congestion”, “no traffic congestion”, and “heavy traffic congestion” respectively, are “10%”, “0%”, and “20%”. is there.
The exit gate device 96 multiplies the sum of these congestion discount rates by a flat rate of "1000 yen" to calculate a discount rate [(20% + 0% + 10%) × 1000 yen = 300 yen]
Then, processing is performed to refund the calculated discount to the driver of the vehicle 14 who is going to pass through the exit gate of the toll road.

That is, the exit gate device 6 performs a process for refunding the calculated discount fee to the customer's bank deposit account associated with the ID number or the like of the IC card 26 via the host computer 10. . Further, the exit gate device 96 provides the vehicle-mounted device 16 of the vehicle 14 that is going to pass through the exit gate of the toll road, exit information including information such as an exit tollgate number and an exit passage time, and a final toll “700”. And information indicating a discount fee of "300 yen" and the like, and the exit processing is completed.

As described above, according to the ETC system 90 according to the present embodiment, the flat fare once charged to the vehicle side at the entrance of the toll road in accordance with the traffic congestion condition in each section where the vehicle actually travels. Can be reduced at the exit of the toll road, so that a toll corresponding to the utility value of the toll road can be collected from the driver of the vehicle.

As described above, the present invention has been specifically described with reference to the respective embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be variously modified without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the ETC system of each of the above embodiments includes:
It was to detect the traffic congestion on the toll road, and to discount the toll according to the degree of this traffic congestion, but in addition to this, the driving environment of vehicles on the toll road, that is, if the road surface is frozen, The ETC is designed to detect these driving environments, such as strong winds and snow on the road, and to discount tolls according to the detected environmental conditions.
A system may be configured.

[0049]

As described above, the invention according to claim 1, 3 or 5 is useful when applied to a toll road of a closed system in which a toll according to the mileage is paid later. At the exit of the road, from the information stored in the vehicle-mounted device, it is possible to identify a vehicle that has been congested in a predetermined section of the toll road, and to determine in detail in which section and how much congestion the vehicle has been involved in. In addition to the above, the toll can be more reliably discounted in accordance with the traffic congestion status of each section, so that a toll corresponding to the utility value of the toll road can be collected from the driver of the vehicle.

The invention according to claim 2, 4 or 6 is useful when applied to an open system toll road in which a flat fee is paid in advance, and is adapted to the situation of congestion in each section where the vehicle actually travels. As a result, the flat fee once charged to the vehicle at the entrance of the toll road can be reduced at the exit of the toll road, so the toll corresponding to the utility value of the toll road must be collected from the driver of the vehicle. Is possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an ETC system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an on-vehicle device constituting the ETC system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an IC card mounted on the vehicle-mounted device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining functions of a traffic congestion detection device included in the ETC system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a congestion signal control device constituting the congestion detection device of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a data format of a traffic jam signal generated by the traffic jam signal control device of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a format of a flash memory of the IC card of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram schematically showing an ETC system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

2, 90 ... ETC system, 4 ... entrance gate device, 6 ...
Exit tollgate device, 8: traffic jam detection device, 10: host computer, 12, 92: toll collection device, 14: vehicle, 1
6 ... on-board unit, 22 (22a, 22b, 22c ... 22n)
... Congestion signal antenna, 26 ... IC card, 32 ... Memory of vehicle-mounted device, 46 ... Flash memory of IC card, 52
... Traveling lane of toll road, 54 ... Traffic control monitor, 55
a, 55b, 55c sensor, 56 traffic jam signal control device, 66 memory of traffic jam signal control device, 68 traffic jam signal format, 70 traffic jam signal type code information, 72 traffic jam discount rate information, 74 antenna Identification information,
76: IC card format, 84: congestion discount rate information area, 86: antenna identification information area, 94: entrance tollgate device, 96: exit gate device.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A toll collection method for performing toll settlement by wireless communication between a vehicle-mounted device mounted on a vehicle and a toll collection device provided on a toll road divided into a plurality of sections, A step of detecting the state of congestion in each section of the toll road by the toll collection device and generating a plurality of congestion discount information corresponding to the degree of congestion in each section; and Transmitting to the on-vehicle device of the vehicle traveling on each section of the toll road; and transmitting the traffic information for each section transmitted from the toll collection device to the vehicle mounted on the section corresponding to the traffic information. Receiving and storing the information in a vehicle, each traffic jam information stored in the vehicle-mounted device of the vehicle passing through the exit of the toll road, the vehicle type information stored in the vehicle-mounted device of the vehicle, and the vehicle Drive on the road A step of transmitting travel section information for obtaining the section from the vehicle-mounted device to the toll collection device; and a section toll for each section based on the vehicle type information and the travel section information received by the toll collection device. Calculating the respective tolls, the congestion discount information corresponding to each of the sections received by the toll collection device, respectively, the calculated section tolls are discounted, respectively, a plurality of sections corresponding to each of the sections Calculating a section discounted toll, and charging a vehicle passing through the exit of the toll road with a discounted toll obtained by adding the calculated individual section discounted tolls. A toll collection method characterized by the following. 2. A toll collection method for performing toll payment by wireless communication between an on-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle and a toll collection device provided on a toll road divided into a plurality of sections, A step of charging a predetermined flat fee for vehicles passing through the entrance of the toll road according to the type of vehicle; detecting a state of traffic congestion for each section of the toll road; generating a traffic jam discount information, and transmitting the respective congestion discount information generated for each of the sections to the vehicle-mounted device of the vehicle traveling each section of the toll road, which is transmitted from the fee collection device Receiving and storing the traffic congestion information for each section in the vehicle-mounted device of the vehicle traveling in the section corresponding to each traffic congestion information; and storing each of the traffic congestion information stored in the vehicle-mounted device of the vehicle passing through the exit of the toll road. Traffic information and this car Transmitting vehicle type information stored in the vehicle-mounted device and travel section information for obtaining a section in which the vehicle has traveled on the toll road from the vehicle-mounted device to the toll collection device; and receiving by the toll collection device. Calculating a discount fee based on the congestion discount information for each section, the vehicle type information and the travel section information, and applying the calculated discount fee to vehicles passing through the exit of the toll road. Refund process. 3. A toll collection system comprising an on-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle and a toll collection device provided on a toll road divided into a plurality of sections, wherein the on-vehicle device is provided from a side of the toll collection device. A storage unit capable of storing transmitted traffic congestion discount information, vehicle type information of the vehicle, and travel section information for obtaining a section in which the vehicle has traveled; and the traffic congestion discount information, the vehicle type information, and the traffic information stored in the storage unit. Means for transmitting the traveling section information, wherein the toll collection device detects a state of congestion for each section of the toll road and generates a plurality of congestion discount information respectively corresponding to the degree of congestion in each section. Discount information generating means; transmitting the congestion discount information generated for each section by the discount information generating means to the vehicle-mounted device of a vehicle traveling on each section of the toll road; Receiving means for receiving the congestion discount information, the vehicle type information and the travel section information stored in the vehicle-mounted device of the vehicle passing through the exit, based on the vehicle type information and the travel section information received by the receiving means A first calculating means for calculating a section toll for each section, and the congestion discount information corresponding to each of the sections received by the receiving means. A second calculating means for discounting each section toll and calculating a plurality of section discount tolls respectively corresponding to each section; and adding the individual section discount tolls calculated by the second calculating means. Charging means for charging the discounted toll obtained by the vehicle passing through the exit of the toll road. 4. A toll collection system comprising an on-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle and a toll collection device provided on a toll road divided into a plurality of sections, wherein the on-vehicle device is provided from the toll collection device side. A storage unit capable of storing transmitted traffic congestion discount information, vehicle type information of the vehicle, and travel section information for obtaining a section in which the vehicle has traveled; and the traffic congestion discount information, the vehicle type information, and the traffic information stored in the storage unit. Means for transmitting the traveling section information, wherein the toll collection device charges means for charging a vehicle passing through an entrance of the toll road at a predetermined flat fee according to a vehicle type; and Discount information generating means for detecting a state of congestion in each section and generating a plurality of congestion discount information respectively corresponding to the degree of congestion in each section; and each of the sections generated for each section by the discount information generating means. Means for transmitting the congestion discount information to the on-vehicle device of the vehicle traveling on each section of the toll road; and the congestion discount information, the vehicle type information, and the congestion discount information stored in the on-vehicle device of the vehicle passing through the exit of the toll road. Receiving means for receiving the travel section information, based on the congestion discount information for each section, the vehicle type information and the travel section information received by the receiving means,
Toll collection comprising: a discount rate calculating means for calculating a discount rate; and means for refunding the discount rate calculated by the discount rate calculating means to a vehicle passing through the exit of the toll road. system. 5. An on-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle and performing wireless communication related to toll payment between a toll collection device provided on a toll road divided into a plurality of sections, wherein each of the toll road sections is Receiving means for receiving from the toll collection device in the course of traveling of the vehicle on the toll road, a plurality of traffic congestion discount information generated in a manner corresponding to the degree of traffic congestion in each section is detected and A storage unit capable of storing vehicle type information of the vehicle, travel section information for obtaining a section in which the vehicle has traveled, and the congestion discount information received by the reception unit; A transmitting unit that transmits the vehicle type information, the traveling section information, and the congestion discount information stored in the storage unit to the toll collection device in a process of passing; The section toll for each section calculated based on the vehicle type information and the traveling section information is discounted using congestion discount information corresponding to each section, and the obtained individual section discount for each section is obtained. The billing information about the discounted billing fee obtained by adding the toll fee,
Means for receiving from the toll collection device while the vehicle passes through the exit of the toll road. 6. An on-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle and performing wireless communication related to toll payment between a toll collection device provided on a toll road divided into a plurality of sections, wherein the vehicle is connected to the toll road. Means for receiving, from the toll collection device, uniform charging information indicating that the vehicle has been charged a uniform charge predetermined according to the vehicle type in the process of passing through the entrance of the toll road. Discount information receiving means for receiving a plurality of traffic congestion discount information generated so as to correspond to the degree of congestion in each section and detecting the situation from the toll collection device in the course of traveling of the vehicle on the toll road, Storage means capable of storing vehicle type information of the vehicle, travel section information for obtaining a section in which the vehicle traveled, and the congestion discount information received by the discount information receiving means; Transmitting means for transmitting the vehicle type information, the traveling section information, and the congestion discount information stored in the storage means to the toll collection device in a process in which the vehicle passes through the exit of the vehicle; The vehicle passing through the exit of the toll road with discounted billing information indicating that the flat fare has been discounted at a discounted fare calculated based on the vehicle type information, the traveling section information, and the traffic congestion discount information. Means for receiving from the toll collection device.