JP2003196784A - Device, method and program for processing information - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately calculate a traffic amount while protecting privacy. <P>SOLUTION: A road side controller installed on a road transmits a data string including a spot dynamic code 75 to vehicles existing in the communication area of the road side controller. The spot dynamic code 75 includes an N position code consisting of an area code showing the position at which the road side controller is installed and a count value counted by a counter. The N position code is transmitted and received between the road side controller and the vehicle, and traffic volume, speed, congestion occupancy ratio, special density, travel time, etc., are calculated by using the period of time when the N position code is transmitted and received. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method, and a program, and more particularly, it communicates with a vehicle and calculates traffic quantities by using information acquired in the communication and not including privacy information. The present invention relates to an information processing device and method, and a program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, as a system for collecting tolls on toll roads, ETC (Electronic Toll Collection S
ystem: Automatic toll collection system) is becoming popular. In this ETC, the radio installed at the entrance and exit of the toll road and the radio installed on the vehicle
By communicating, toll fees for toll roads are collected.

Further, a system called a car navigation system is becoming popular. This car navigation system specifies the position of the own vehicle by communicating with a satellite and communicates with a predetermined center,
It has a function to acquire information on traffic congestion.

Further, there has been proposed an electronic license plate in which an IC (Integrated Circuit) chip for wireless transmission / reception is built in a license plate of a vehicle to read ID information electronically without contact.

As described above, it is becoming common to equip a vehicle with a device that wirelessly transmits and receives information.
It has also been proposed to calculate various traffic volumes using such a device.

[0006]

However, when the traffic volume is calculated using the information from the device installed in the vehicle, even information that is not necessary for the calculation is transferred. This may lead to an unfavorable situation from the viewpoint of privacy protection.
That is, for example, when the traffic amounts are calculated by using ETC, from the device mounted on the vehicle,
Information such as the user name and the account number for payment is transmitted. Although such information is private information, it is not necessary when calculating various traffic amounts.

It has also been proposed to calculate traffic volumes without obtaining information from the vehicle. The method is, for example,
A device for outputting a radio wave is provided on the roadside, and the amount of traffic is calculated by receiving the reflected wave from the vehicle that hits the radio wave output from the device. According to this method,
Depending on the shape of the vehicle, when the roadside device cannot receive the reflected wave even though it hits the radio wave output from the roadside device, such a state may be referred to as a momentary interruption. However, due to the momentary interruption, there was a problem that it was not counted and accurate calculation of various traffic volumes was not performed.

As a measure for avoiding the influence of a situation such as a momentary interruption, the momentary interruption time is corrected by continuing the ON signal for a fixed time from the OFF time of the vehicle detection signal. . However, if the ON signal is continued for a certain period of time, that is, if the certain period of time is set to be long, the number of units that should be measured as two units is measured as one unit, or conversely, the certain period is shortened. If this happens, there is a problem that erroneous measurement may be performed, such as measuring two units where one unit should be measured originally.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and under the situation where wireless data transmission and reception between a device on the roadside and a device on the vehicle side are becoming widespread, they are widely used. The purpose is to calculate various traffic volumes by transmitting and receiving data wirelessly. At that time, the purpose is to enable accurate calculation of traffic volume without invading privacy.

In order to prevent invasion of privacy, it is sufficient to prevent personal data exchange. Therefore, a different code for each point and for each vehicle, in the present embodiment, a code called a spot dynamic code is generated by a device on the roadside, and a spot dynamic code that does not include the personal data is generated. Try to give and receive.

It is an object of the present invention to accurately obtain traffic amounts by exchanging a spot dynamic code which does not include the personal data. Also, when calculating traffic volume by exchanging spot dynamic codes,
The purpose is to accurately determine traffic volumes without being affected by situations such as momentary interruptions.

[0012]

A first information processing apparatus of the present invention comprises a holding means for holding a first code indicating its own position and a generating means for sequentially generating different values as a second code. A transmitting means for transmitting a third code, which is a combination of the first code held by the holding means and the second code generated by the generating means, and receives the third code transmitted by the transmitting means. When the receiving unit receives the data including the third code, which is transmitted as the process of the other device, and the receiving unit receives the data including the third code, the received third code is transmitted again. And an instructing means for issuing an instructing instruction to the transmitting means.

The first information processing apparatus is, for example, as shown in FIG.
The above-mentioned holding means is, for example,
2 is the control processing unit 11, the generating means is, for example, step S21 in FIG. 15, and the transmitting means is
For example, it is step S22 in FIG. 15, the receiving means is, for example, step S23 in FIG. 15, and the instructing means is, for example, step S31 in FIG.

The first code is, for example, an area code, the second code is, for example, a count value, and the third code is, for example, an N point code. The other device is, for example, the vehicle-side control device 3
Is.

According to the first information processing apparatus of the present invention, the first code representing the own position held and sequentially,
Receiving a data including the third code, which is transmitted as a process of another device which transmits the third code, which is a combination of the generated second code, and which receives the transmitted third code; When the third code is received, the received third code is transmitted again. Therefore, while the same third code is being sent and received, it is determined that data is being sent and received to and from the same other device. You can and take advantage of that
It becomes possible to calculate traffic volumes.

In the first information processing apparatus of the present invention,
When the instructing unit issues an instruction to the transmitting unit, the first calculating unit calculates the time during which the same third code is continuously transmitted, and the transmitting unit generates the third
By dividing the distance in the predetermined direction within the range in which the code is transmitted by the time calculated by the first calculating means, the speed when another device moves in the predetermined direction within the range is calculated. And a second calculating means for performing the calculation.

The first calculating means is, for example, step S52 in FIG. 17, and the second calculating means is, for example, step S53 in FIG.

As described above, the first information processing apparatus of the present invention can further include the first calculating means and the second calculating means, so that the speed of another apparatus can be accurately calculated. It becomes possible.

In the first information processing apparatus of the present invention,
It is possible to further include calculating means for calculating the traffic volume by counting the third code including the different second code by 1 each time the receiving means receives the third code.

The calculating means is, for example, step S41 in FIG.

As described above, the first information processing apparatus of the present invention can further include the calculating means, so that the traffic volume can be accurately calculated.

In the first information processing apparatus of the present invention,
When the instruction means issues an instruction to the transmitting means, the same third code is continuously transmitted.
And a second calculation means for calculating the second time by adding the first time within the predetermined period, and the second time divided by the predetermined period. By doing so, it is possible to further include third calculating means for calculating the congestion occupancy rate.

The first calculation means and the second calculation means are, for example, step S62 in FIG. 18, and the third calculation means is the third calculation means.
The calculation means of is, for example, step S63 of FIG.

As described above, the first information processing apparatus of the present invention can further include the first calculating means, the second calculating means, and the third calculating means.
It is possible to accurately calculate the traffic congestion occupancy rate.

In the first information processing apparatus of the present invention,
The data received by the receiving means includes, in addition to the third data, a code indicating a position different from the position indicated by the first code held by the holding means and time information regarding the time when the code is acquired. The first judging means for judging whether or not the data is received by the receiving means by the first judging means, and in addition to the third data, the position represented by the first code held by the holding means. If it is determined to include a code indicating a position different from and a time information regarding the time when the code is acquired, the time indicated by the time information is
The second judging means for judging whether the time is between the first time and the second time, and the time indicated by the time information by the second judging means is the first time or the second time. When it is determined that it is a time between, the counting means for counting the determined number of times, and the continuation control means for controlling so that the counting by the counting means is continued within a predetermined time, can do.

The first determining means is, for example, step S73 in FIG. 22, the second determining means is, for example, step S74 in FIG. 22, and the counting means is, for example, step in FIG. In S75, the continuation control means is, for example, step S78 in FIG.

As described above, the first information processing apparatus of the present invention can further include the first judging means, the second judging means, the counting means, and the continuation controlling means, It is possible to accurately calculate the spatial density.

A first information processing method according to the present invention comprises a holding control step for controlling holding of a first code representing its own position, a generating step for sequentially generating different values as the second code, and a holding control. A transmission control step for controlling the transmission of a third code, which is a combination of the first code whose holding is controlled by the processing of the step and the second code generated by the processing of the generating step; A reception control step of controlling reception of data including the third code, which is transmitted as a process of another device that has received the third code whose transmission is controlled, and a third code which is processed by the reception control step. And an instruction step of issuing an instruction to transmit the received third code in the process of the transmission control step when the received data is received.

The first program of the present invention comprises a holding control step for controlling the holding of the first code representing its own position, a generation step for sequentially generating different values as the second code, and a holding control step. The first code whose retention is controlled by the process and the second code generated by the process of the generating step
A transmission control step for controlling the transmission of a third code that is a combination of the above codes, and a third code transmitted as a processing of another device that has received the third code whose transmission is controlled in the processing of the transmission control step. A reception control step of controlling reception of data including a code, and an instruction to transmit the received third code in the processing of the transmission control step when the data including the third code is received in the processing of the reception control step. Cause the computer to execute the instructing step to be issued.

The holding control step is executed by, for example, the control processing unit 11 in FIG. 2, the generation step is, for example, step S21 in FIG. 15, and the transmission control step is, for example, in FIG. 15, the reception control step is, for example, step S23 in FIG. 15, and the instruction step is, for example, step S31 in FIG.

According to the first information processing method and program of the present invention, the third code, which is a combination of the held first code indicating the own position and the sequentially generated second code, is transmitted. Then, the data including the third code, which is transmitted as the process of the other device that receives the transmitted third code, is received, and when the data is received, the received third code is transmitted again. Therefore, while the same third code is being transmitted / received, it can be determined that the same data is transmitted / received to / from another device, and by utilizing that, the traffic volume is calculated. It becomes possible to do.

A second information processing apparatus of the present invention is a third information processing apparatus, which is composed of a second code transmitted from the first apparatus and representing a position of the self and a second code to which different values are sequentially assigned.
Code, the first acquisition means for acquiring data relating to the time when the third code is transmitted, and the third code received by the second device by communicating with the other device and acquired by the other device. A second acquisition means for acquiring data relating to the time when the third code is acquired by another device;
If the third code acquired by the acquisition unit of No. 1 and the third code acquired by the second acquisition unit match, the difference in time indicated by the data regarding the time associated with each third code By calculating a time required to move by the predetermined distance.

The second information processing apparatus is, for example, as shown in FIG.
24, the first acquisition means and the second acquisition means are, for example, step S131 in FIG. 24, and the calculation means is, for example, step S1 in FIG.
35.

According to the second information processing apparatus of the present invention, the third code composed of the first code transmitted from the first apparatus and indicating the position of the self and the second code sequentially assigned a different value A code and a third code acquired by another device, which is obtained by acquiring data related to the time when the third code is transmitted, and received by the second device communicating with the other device, and the third code. When the data related to the time acquired by another device is acquired and the acquired third codes match, the time difference indicated by the data related to the time associated with each third code is calculated. Therefore, it is possible to accurately calculate the time required to move between the first device and the second device.

A second information processing method according to the present invention comprises a third code which is composed of a second code which is sequentially assigned a different value from the first code which is transmitted from the first device and which indicates the position of the self device.
Code, a first acquisition control step for controlling acquisition of data relating to the time when the third code is transmitted, and a second device received by the second device communicating with the other device. No. 3 code, a second acquisition control step that controls acquisition of data related to the time when another device acquires the third code, and a third acquisition control step that controls acquisition by the processing of the first acquisition control step. When the code matches the third code whose acquisition is controlled in the process of the second acquisition control step, by calculating the difference between the times indicated by the data related to the times associated with the respective third codes, And a calculating step of calculating a time required to move by the predetermined distance.

In the second program of the present invention, a third code composed of a second code which is sequentially assigned a different value from the first code transmitted by the first device and which represents the own position, A first acquisition control step of controlling acquisition of data relating to the time when the third code is transmitted,
Received by the second device by communicating with another device,
The third code acquired by the other device and the second acquisition control step for controlling the acquisition of the data related to the time when the other device acquires the third code, and the first acquisition control step If the third code controlled to be the same as the third code controlled to be acquired in the process of the second acquisition control step, the time indicated by the data relating to the time associated with each third code is indicated. And a calculation step of calculating a time required to move by the predetermined distance.

The first acquisition control step and the second acquisition control are, for example, step S131 in FIG. 24, and the calculation step is, for example, step S in FIG.
It is 135.

According to the second information processing method and program of the present invention, the first code transmitted from the first device and representing the position of the self is composed of a second code to which different values are sequentially assigned. 3 code and data relating to the time when the 3rd code was transmitted, and the 3rd code acquired by the other device and received by the 2nd device communicating with the other device, and its 3rd code. When the data related to the time when the other code has been acquired by another device is acquired and the acquired third codes match, the time difference indicated by the data related to the time associated with each third code is calculated. By doing so, it is possible to accurately calculate the time required for movement between the first device and the second device.

[0039]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of an information processing system to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 1 shows a road having a total of four lanes with two lanes on each side. Roadside control devices 1-1 and 1-2 are installed on one or both roads of an up lane or a down lane. In the following description, the roadside control devices 1-1 and 1-2 are simply referred to as the roadside control device 1 when there is no need to distinguish them individually.

In FIG. 1, since there are two lanes on each side, two roadside control devices 1-1 and 1-2 are installed.
Instead of installing one unit in one lane, a plurality of units may be installed in one lane, or one unit may be installed in multiple lanes.

The roadside control unit 1 includes the roadside control unit 1
The control device 2 that controls the The control device 2 acquires information from a plurality of roadside control devices 1 installed on the road, and uses the information to execute processing described later (for example, calculation of various traffic amounts). At the same time, the roadside controller 1 is controlled.

A vehicle-side control device 3 that communicates with the roadside control device 1 is mounted on the vehicle 4. The vehicle-side control device 3 may be incorporated in an electronic license plate, a navigation system, or the like, or may be separately installed.

As shown in FIG. 1, it is assumed that one roadside control device 1 is installed on one lane, and those roadside control devices 1 are connected to the control device 2 respectively. As described above, other connection methods (other configurations)
However, other connection methods will be described after the description of the connection shown in FIG. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the roadside control device 1 installed at another point is also connected to the centralized control device 2. In the following description,
The case where the traffic volume is measured for each lane will be described as an example.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the internal structure of the roadside control unit 1. The roadside control device 1 includes a control processing unit 11 that processes data to be transmitted and received, and controls each unit of the roadside control device 1. The data output from the control processing unit 11 is supplied to the modulation unit 12. The signal transmitted by the transmitter 13 is also supplied to the modulator 12. The modulator 12 modulates the data supplied from the control processor 11 using the signal from the oscillator 13 and outputs the data to the amplifier 14.

The amplification section 14 amplifies the signal from the modulation section 12 to a predetermined size and outputs it to the transmission / reception discrimination section 15.
The transmission / reception discriminating unit 15 supplies the signal to the antenna 16 in the case of the signal from the amplifying unit 14, and supplies the signal to the amplifying unit 17 in the case of the signal from the antenna 16. Antenna 16
Are used for communication with the vehicle-side control device 3.

The signal from the vehicle-side control device 3 received by the antenna 16 is supplied to the amplifying unit 17 via the transmission / reception discriminating unit 15 and is amplified to such an extent that it can be processed in the subsequent stage. The output from the amplification unit 17 is input to the demodulation unit 19 via the mixer 18. The demodulation unit 19 decodes data from the input signal and outputs the decoded data to the control processing unit 11. The control processing unit 11 transmits the input data to the controlling device 2. Roadside control device 1
The data may be exchanged with the control device 2 by a wireless method or a wired method.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the control and control device 2. The control device 2 includes a communication unit 31 that communicates with the roadside control device 1. The control device 2 is also provided with an input / output unit 32 including an input device such as a keyboard with which a user inputs predetermined information and an output device such as a display for outputting and displaying information. .

The control device 2 controls data and CPU (Cent).
The ral processing unit 34 includes a memory 33 in which programs and the like for executing predetermined processing are stored. C
The PU 34 processes data input from the communication unit 31 and the input / output unit 32, and processes data output to the communication unit 31 and the input / output unit 32. Further, the CPU 34 controls each unit in the governing control device 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the vehicle side control device 3. The control processing unit 51 processes the input data and the output data and controls each unit of the vehicle-side control device 3. In the control processing unit 51, the signal from the roadside control device 1 is received by the antenna 52, is supplied to the demodulation unit 54 via the discrimination switch 53, and the demodulation unit 54 is supplied.
The data demodulated by is input.

The control processing unit 51 generates data to be transmitted to the roadside control device 1, and outputs the generated data to the modulation unit 55. The modulator 55 performs modulation for converting the input data into a signal for transmission, and supplies the signal to the antenna 52 via the discrimination switch 53. Antenna 5
The signal supplied to 2 is transmitted to the roadside control device 1.

Next, signals transmitted and received between the roadside control device 1 and the vehicle side control device 3 will be described. Figure 5
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of signals transmitted and received between the roadside control device 1 and the vehicle side control device 3. FIG. 5A is a diagram showing a waveform of a radio wave (signal), and FIG. 5B is a diagram showing a data string (command signal). The example shown in FIG.
The waveform when the K (Amplitude Shift Keying) method is used is shown.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the waveform of the radio wave is composed of a preamble, a data part, and a postamble. As shown in FIG. 5B, the preamble portion is generated by a preamble command, and the data portion includes a unique word (UW), a frame length, etc. as a data string. This data string will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6A shows a data string transmitted from the roadside control unit 1 to the vehicle side control unit 3. As shown in FIG. 6A, the data string transmitted from the roadside controller 1 to the vehicle controller 3 is a unique word 71, a frame length 72, a transmission request 73, a flag 74, a spot dynamic code 75, and a time. It is composed of 76.

The unique word 71 is a predetermined bit array indicating the start of the data string. Frame length 72
Is data representing the size of this data string. The transmission request 73 is data for instructing the vehicle-side control device 3 side that has received this data string to transmit data indicating that it has been received. The flag 74 is a flag that indicates whether or not to use the data transmitted and received between the roadside control device 1 and the vehicle-side control device 3 when calculating the space density and travel time to be described later. Set on.

The spot dynamic code 75 is information indicating the position of the roadside controller 1. In the spot dynamic code 75, the code of the previous roadside controller 1 (hereinafter, referred to as (N-1) point code) and the current code of the roadside controller 1 (hereinafter, referred to as N point code) are described. Yes) is included. The time 76 is data indicating the time when these data strings were transmitted.

FIG. 6B shows a data string transmitted from the vehicle side control device 3 to the roadside control device 1. The vehicle-side control device 3, which has received the data string as shown in FIG. 6A,
A data string as shown in FIG. 6B is generated and transmitted to the roadside controller 1. The data string transmitted from the vehicle-side control device 3 to the roadside control device 1 is a unique word 81, a frame length, a spot dynamic code 8
3 and time 84.

Unique word 81 is unique word 7
Similar to 1, it is a predetermined bit array indicating the start of the data string. The frame length 82, like the frame length 72, is data representing the size of this data string. The spot dynamic code 83 is a code including the N point code of the spot dynamic code 75 in the received data string, and also includes the (N-1) point code as necessary. At time 84, the time data at time 76 in the data string is returned.

Spot dynamic code 75, 83
(Hereinafter, if it is not necessary to distinguish the spot dynamic code 75 and the spot dynamic code 83,
The (N-1) point code and the N point code included in the spot dynamic code 75 will be composed of an area code and a random code (hereinafter appropriately referred to as a count value). 101
It is a 4-digit code such as 8 '.

When the spot dynamic code 75 is a code consisting of 4 digits, the preceding 2 digits (in this case, '1
0 ') is an area code indicating the position where the roadside control device 1 is installed, and the last two digits are set as a count value (in this case,' 18 '). As the area code, the same code (value) is set for all the roadside control devices 1 installed at that position. The count value is a value counted by the roadside controller 1 by 1 in a predetermined cycle.

The spot dynamic code 75,
Of course, 83 may be a code other than four digits. Also,
When the counter value is two digits, it is possible to take a numerical value from 00 to 99, but after counting up to 99, the counting such as returning to 00 is continued.

The transmitted / received count value will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG. In the following description, the case where the road is one lane will be described as an example.
It goes without saying that the present embodiment can be applied to a road having a plurality of lanes. When there are multiple lanes, by performing processing such as adding the traffic amounts calculated in the description below, if necessary, the traffic amounts on the road where there are multiple lanes, rather than one lane, are calculated. It can be calculated.

The roadside controller 1 counts the count value one by one at a predetermined cycle, and uses the count value together with the area code as the N point code of the spot dynamic code 75 to form the above-mentioned data string structure. It is transmitted to the vehicle-side control device 3. In the description with reference to FIG. 7, the (N-1) point code is transmitted as a blank and is not shown in FIG.

When the vehicle 4 (FIG. 1) enters the communication area of the roadside control unit 1, the transmitted data string is received by the vehicle side control unit 3. In the timing chart shown in FIG. 7, as the N point code of the spot dynamic code 75, “1015”, “1016”, and “10” are set.
When 17 'is transmitted, there is no data transmitted from the vehicle-side control device 3 because the vehicle 4 was not present in the communication area.

When '1018' is transmitted as the N point code of the spot dynamic code 75 from the roadside control unit 1, the vehicle 4 enters the communication area and the vehicle side control unit 3 receives the transmitted data. It The vehicle-side control device 3 transmits the data string as shown in FIG. 7 to the road-side control device 1 as a process corresponding to the reception of the data string from the road-side control device 1. The N point code included in the transmitted spot dynamic code 83 is
It is the N point code of the received spot dynamic code 75.

Upon receiving the data string from the vehicle-side controller 3, the roadside controller 1 converts the N point code of the spot dynamic code 83 included in the received data string into the N point code of the spot dynamic code 75. And transmits again to the vehicle-side control device 3.

While the vehicle 4 exists in the communication area of the roadside control device 1, such transmission / reception of the data string including the same N point code (in this case, '1018') is repeated. While this transmission / reception is repeated, the predetermined communication channel of the roadside controller 1 does not change the N point code of the spot dynamic code 75.
Counting continues in the background.

By the way, when only one vehicle 4 is always present in the communication area of the roadside control device 1, only one communication channel needs to be provided, but only one communication channel is shown in FIG. So that vehicle 4-1 and vehicle 4-
When there are a plurality of vehicles 4 such as 2, the same N point code will be supplied to the plurality of vehicles 4.

However, in such a case, an accurate calculation cannot be performed at the time of calculating the traffic amounts described later, and therefore it is necessary to supply different N point codes to the individual vehicles 4. Therefore, the roadside control device 1 includes a plurality of communication channels. The number of communication channels may be set to, for example, the maximum number of vehicles 4 that can enter the communication area.

As means for providing a plurality of communication channels for wireless communication with a plurality of communication partners (vehicles 4) simultaneously in one communication area, for example, FDM (frequency division multiplexing) or TDM (time division multiplexing) is used. Method). F
DM prepares a plurality of radio frequencies and assigns different frequencies to each communication partner.

The TDM allocates one frequency to a plurality of communication partners in a time division manner and shares it, but there are several methods for the allocation. For example, random access method
(Pure Aloha system or Slot Aloha system) or Carrier wave detection (CSMA) system. For specific details, see, for example, the book “Mobile Communication Network (Information Network Series 12)” (written by Mitsuo Yokoyama, published by Shokoido).
It is described starting on page 26. A spread spectrum method is also included in the field of TDM.

When a plurality of vehicles 4 enter, a communication link is established with each vehicle by the FDM or TDM method.
Each communication link operates completely independently. Then, the traffic amounts to be described later are calculated independently for each communication link. The traffic volume results obtained by processing the data from these multiple links are
Since it can be considered that each vehicle is equivalent to a plurality of vehicles when entering each vehicle, a predetermined traffic amount can be obtained by performing addition processing as necessary.

Returning to the explanation of the timing chart shown in FIG. 7, the roadside control unit 1 transmits and receives '1018' as the N point code while communicating with the vehicle side control unit 3. When the data sequence from the vehicle-side control device 3 is interrupted due to the communication area 4 leaving the communication area 4, a new N point code is created and transmitted using the count value that has been continuously counted in the background. . Figure 7
In the example shown in, the new N point code is' 103
3'is sent.

As described above, the count is continued in the background and the continued count value is used.
For example, when a plurality of links are set up between the roadside control device 1 and the vehicle 4, the first vehicle-side control device 3 and the N-point code include a data string of “1018” in the first link. It is also conceivable to transmit and receive, and to transmit and receive a data string having an N point code of '1019' to and from the second vehicle side control device 3 via the second link. When the communication with the vehicle-side control device 3 is ended and “1019” is transmitted as the N point code, the same N point code may be given to different vehicles 4.

In order to prevent such a situation, when a plurality of links are set up on the roadside control device 1, a counter commonly used for the plurality of links is prepared and the counter of the counter is prepared. Use the value as the N point code. Therefore, in the example shown in FIG.
Point code is down from '1018' to '1033' 2
The digit counter value has been changed to a skipped value.

It should be noted that the N point code when the counter value flies in this way, in this case, "1019" to "1".
The N point code 032 'may be used by being assigned to another vehicle 4 on the same link, assigned to another vehicle 4 on a different link, or the like.

The time during which the same N point code is transmitted and received between the roadside control device 1 and the vehicle side control device 3 is Δ
tn. This time Δtn is, for example, the time 76 (FIG. 6A) when the roadside control device 1 transmits a data string including “1018” as the N point code in this case, and finally from the vehicle side control device 3. It is obtained by calculating the time difference when the data string is received. Or
It can also be calculated using the cycle of transmitting the data string and the number of times the same N point code is transmitted.

Here, the time Δtn will be further described. For example, when a data string is transmitted to the vehicle 4 in the communication area, the data string is received by the vehicle side control device 3, and the data transmitted from the vehicle side control device 3 is processed as a process corresponding to the reception. The roadside control device 1 does not always receive the line.

As shown in FIG. 9, the roadside control unit 1 transmits a data string containing "1018" as the N point code, and the vehicle side controller 3 sends a data string containing "1018" as the N point code. For some reason, the data from the vehicle-side control device 3 may not be transmitted while the data is being transmitted, or the data may have been transmitted but not received by the roadside control device 1. It may occur. Such a state is called a momentary interruption.

If the data string from the vehicle-side control device 3 is not received, the roadside control device 1 cannot judge the situation at this point even if it is in the state of a momentary interruption. , A new N point code using the count value that was counted in the background (Fig. 9
Then, a data string including '1025') is transmitted. Then, the roadside control device 1 sets' 102 as the N point code.
When the data string including 6'is transmitted, the vehicle-side control device 3
However, when the data string is received, the vehicle-side control device 3
As a process corresponding to the reception, the data string is transmitted as described above.

At this time, the transmitted data string contains '1018' as the N point code. When receiving the data string from the roadside controller 1, the vehicle side controller 3 refers to the N point code of the spot dynamic code 75 included in the data string. The vehicle-side control device 3 controls the area code of the referred N point code (previous 2
Digit) is the same as the area code of the N point code stored by itself, and if it is the same, the N point code stored by itself is determined. Include in data string and send.

By doing so, even if a situation such as a momentary interruption occurs, it is possible to restore correct communication again. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the communication is ended by mistakenly due to a momentary interruption (from the communication area to the vehicle 4
Is processed), the time during communication (that is, the time during which the vehicle 4 exists in the communication area) becomes the time Δtn ′. However, as described above, by transmitting and receiving the data string including the N point code, even if the instantaneous interruption occurs, it can be processed as the instantaneous interruption, and the vehicle 4 exists in the communication area. It is possible to measure the time as the time Δtn and the correct time.

This time Δtn is the time required for the vehicle 4 to pass through the communication area. By using this time Δtn, the speed and the congestion occupancy rate can be obtained as various traffic quantities. The speed is the speed of the vehicle 4. Congestion occupancy rate is
It is a parameter that expresses the degree of traffic congestion.

The speed Vn of the vehicle 4 is calculated by the following equation (1). Vn = L / Δtn (1) In Expression (1), L is a distance in the traveling direction of the communication area. This distance is a value that can be acquired in advance. Therefore, the speed Vn of the vehicle 4 can be calculated from the equation (1).

The congestion occupancy ratio Rocc is calculated by the following equation (2). Rocc = ΣΔtn / T (2) In the formula (2), T is a predetermined time set in advance, and ΣΔtn is a value obtained by adding the time tn between the predetermined times T (the predetermined time The total time during which the vehicle communicates with the plurality of vehicles 4 during T). As will be described with reference to FIG. 10, three vehicles 4 communicate with each other during a predetermined time T, and the communication time of each vehicle is time Δtn−1, time Δtn, and time Δtn +.
When it is 1, ΣΔtn is time Δtn−1, time Δt
It is a value obtained by adding n and time Δtn + 1.

In this way, the speed and the congestion occupancy rate can be calculated. When calculating speed and congestion occupancy,
The N point code of the spot dynamic code 75 may be transmitted and received, and the (N-1) point code of the spot dynamic code 75 is not necessary, and the space density and travel time are not measured. 7
4 (FIG. 6A) is also unnecessary.

Therefore, for the purpose of calculating the speed or the traffic congestion occupancy rate, the data string transmitted from the roadside control device 1 may be a data string as shown in FIG. That is, the flag 74 is compared with the data string shown in FIG. 6A.
Has been deleted, N-1 of Spot Dynamic Code 75
This is a data string with the point code deleted.

Next, the case where the data string as shown in FIG. 6A is transmitted from the roadside controller 1, that is, the case where the spatial density or the travel time is calculated will be described. The spatial density will be described with reference to FIG.
The space density is the number of vehicles 4 existing in a certain section at a predetermined time. As shown in FIG. 12, when the predetermined section is a section from the N-1 point to the N point, the spatial density can be calculated by counting the number of vehicles 4 existing in the section at any time. It is calculated.

The travel time is the time required to move from a predetermined point to another predetermined point. It can be calculated using the (N-1) point code and time acquired at the N point. That is, the time of the vehicle 4 that has passed the (N-1) point (the vehicle 4 that stores the (N-1) point code) and the roadside control device 1 installed at the N point. By calculating the difference from the time when the communication is started, the traveling time from the point (N-1) to the point N, that is, the travel time is calculated.

In the present embodiment, when the vehicle 4 passes through the place where the roadside control device 1 is installed, the above-described communication is performed, so that the vehicle-side control device 3 mounted on the vehicle 4 is carried out. The point code is stored (assigned) in. As described above, the space density and the travel time are calculated by using the point code given to the vehicle 4 existing in the predetermined section. Details of calculating the space density and travel time will be described later.

With reference to FIG. 13, a data string transmitted and received between the roadside controller 1 and the vehicle controller 3 at the N point will be described. In FIG. 13, only the spot dynamic code 75 or the spot dynamic code 83 is shown in the transmitted / received data string. Further, in FIG. 13, (N-1) or N of the spot dynamic codes 75, 83 indicates an area code represented by a two-digit number.

At a predetermined time t1, the (N-1) point code of the spot dynamic code 75 is made blank from the roadside control apparatus 1 to the vehicle side control apparatus 3, and the N point code is'N55 '. The transmitted data string is transmitted. Flag 74 of the transmitted data string (FIG. 6A)
Has been turned on.

The vehicle-side control device 3, which has received the data string at time t2, transmits the data string as a process corresponding to the reception, and stores it as the spot dynamic code 83 of the data string. (N-
1) (N-1) point code (in this case, '(N-1) 1 received from the roadside control device 1 installed at the point
8 '), and a data string including the N point code (in this case,' N55 ') received from the roadside control device 1 installed at the N point is transmitted.

When the spot dynamic code 83 including the (N-1) point code is transmitted, the time when the (N-1) point code is acquired (the roadside control device 1 installed at the N-1 point) Time supplied from) is (N-
1) Sent with the point code.

At time t3, the roadside control device 1 that has received the data string from the vehicle-side control device 3 includes, as the spot dynamic code 75, data including a code similar to the spot dynamic code 83 included in the received data string. Submit the column. Thus, the reason why the data string including the similar code is returned is to make the vehicle side control device 3 recognize that the data string from the vehicle side control device 3 has been correctly received by the roadside control device 1. Is.

At time t4, the vehicle side control device 3 is
A data string from the roadside control device 1 is received, and as a process corresponding to the reception, a data string including the N point code is transmitted to the spot dynamic code 83.
At this time, the spot dynamic code 75 of the data string received by the vehicle side control device 3 includes the (N-1) point code and the N point code, and includes two such point codes. Spot dynamic code 7
When 5 is received, the vehicle side control device 3 transmits a data string in which only the N point code is included in the spot dynamic code 83.

At time t5, the roadside controller 1
For the vehicle side control device 3, the (N-1) point code is a blank spot dynamic code 75, that is, the spot dynamic code 75 transmitted at time t1.
A data string including the spot dynamic code 75 similar to the above is transmitted. After time t4, the data string transmitted / received in the communication performed between the roadside control device 1 and the vehicle-side control device 3 basically includes only the N point code,
This is the same as the processing described with reference to FIG.

In the description with reference to FIG. 13, time t
Although it has been described that after 4 the spot dynamic codes 75 and 83 that do not include the (N-1) point code are transmitted and received, they may be included. in this way,
By transmitting and receiving the (N-1) point code, the vehicle 4 passing through the N point is a vehicle 4 passing through the (N-1) point.
Can be determined.

The processing performed in the above-mentioned roadside control device 1 and vehicle-side control device 3, calculation of traffic volumes, etc. will be further described below. First, the operation of the vehicle-side control device 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. In step S1, the control processing unit 51 (FIG. 4) of the vehicle side control device 3 determines whether or not the data string from the roadside control device 1 has been received. The control processing unit 51
By determining whether or not there is data received by the antenna 52 and demodulated by the demodulation unit 54 via the discrimination switch 53, it is determined whether or not a data string is received.

The process of step S1 is repeated until the data string is determined to be received (the standby state is continued). When it is determined in step S1 that the data string is received, it is determined in step S2 whether the flag 74 of the received data string is on. When it is determined that the flag 74 of the received data string is in the on state in step S2, the process proceeds to step S3, and the control processing unit 51 causes the control processing unit 51 to store the previous point ((N -1) It is determined whether the value obtained by adding 1 to the area code of point) and the value of the area code of N point included in the received data string match.

In order to make such a judgment, the control processing unit 5
1 includes a storage unit (not shown) that stores at least one point code. In addition, the storage unit also needs to store the received point code by the process described below,
Store at least two point codes.

In step S3, it is stored (N
-1) If it is determined that the value obtained by adding 1 to the area code of the point code and the received area code of the N point code match, the process proceeds to step S4. At step S4, whether the stored area code of the (N-1) point code is the same as the area code of the (N-1) point code included in the data string from the roadside control device 1 or not. To be judged.

In step S4, it is stored (N
-1) The area code of the point code is the roadside control device 1
If it is determined that it is not the same as the area code of the (N-1) point code included in the data string from step S, step S
Go to 5. The N point code included in the received data string from the roadside controller 1 is stored in the control processing unit 51. Then, in step S6, the control processing unit 51
Is the stored (N-1) point code and the stored N
Each spot code is a spot dynamic code 8
The data string included in 3 is generated and transmitted to the roadside control device 1.

The processing flow from steps S1 to S6 is the state at time t2 shown in FIG. That is, this is the process at the time when the vehicle 4 enters the communication area of the roadside control device 1 and starts communication. At the time of starting communication,
Referring again to FIG. 13, at the time t1, the roadside control device 1
Since the (N-1) point code is blank in the spot dynamic code 75 of the data string transmitted from, it does not match the (N-1) point code stored in the vehicle side control device 3, Therefore, in step S4, it is determined that the stored area code of the (N-1) point code is not the same as the area code of the (N-1) point code included in the data string from the roadside control device 1. Then, the processes of steps S5 and S6 are executed.

On the other hand, in step S4, the control processing unit 51 causes the area code of the stored (N-1) point code and the (N-1) point code included in the data string from the roadside controller 1. If it is determined that the area codes are the same, the process proceeds to step S7 and is stored (N-
1) The point code is deleted. Then, in step S8, a data string including the stored N point code is generated and transmitted.

The process flows from step S4 to steps S7 and S8 in the state of time t4 shown in FIG. This state includes the same code as the spot dynamic code 83 of the received data sequence in order to indicate that the roadside control device 1 has correctly received the data sequence transmitted from the vehicle-side control device 3 for the first time. This is a process of the vehicle-side control device 3 when the spot dynamic code 75 is transmitted.

Therefore, when the processing comes to the processing of step S7, it means that the processing from time t1 to t3 in FIG. 13 is finished, in other words, the processing of steps S1 to S6 is finished. Since the N point code is stored in step S5, the control processing unit 51 may execute a process of generating and transmitting a data string including the stored N point code in step S8. It will be possible.

On the other hand, in step S3, the value obtained by adding 1 to the area code of the (N-1) point code stored by the control processing unit 51 is not the same as the area code of the received N point code. If so, step S
Go to 8. In step S8, as described above,
A data string including the stored N point code is generated and transmitted.

This state is the state after time t4 shown in FIG. That is, this is a state in which communication is performed a plurality of times between the roadside control device 1 and the vehicle side control device 3.

On the other hand, in step S2, if it is determined that the flag 74 of the received data string is not ON, the process proceeds to step S9. The state in which the flag 74 of the received data string is determined not to be ON in step S2 includes a state in which a data string that does not include the flag 74 as shown in FIG. 11 is received. In step S9, the control processing unit 51 of the vehicle-side control device 3 determines whether the stored area code of the N point code and the received area code of the N point code are the same.

In step S9, it is determined that the area code of the stored N point code and the received area code of the N point code are not the same because the vehicle 4 is in the roadside controller 1 at the N point. This is the case where it is determined that the roadside control device 1 and the vehicle-side control device 3 have entered the communication area and have started communication. Therefore, in step S9,
If it is determined that the stored area code of the N point code and the received area code of the N point code are not the same, the process proceeds to step S10, and the N point code included in the spot dynamic code 75 of the received data string. Is memorized.

When the processing of step S10 is completed, or when it is determined in step S9 that the stored area code of the N point code and the received area code of the N point code are the same, step S8 Then, the data sequence including the stored N point code is generated and transmitted.

The processing of steps S8 to S10 is processing of a data string transmitted / received when the speed and the congestion occupancy ratio are obtained.

Next, the operation of the roadside control device 1 or the centralized control device 2 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIG. 15 and subsequent figures. First, the operation of the roadside controller 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. In step S21, the control processing unit 1 of the roadside control device 1
1 starts counting the count value (lower two digits) of the N point code. In step S22, the counted value is set as the count value of the N point code,
Generate a data string as shown in FIG. 6A or FIG.
It transmits to the vehicle 4.

In step S23, since the vehicle 4 is present in the communication area, the transmitted data string is received, and as a result, it is determined whether the data string transmitted from the vehicle side control device 3 is received or not. It is judged by the section 11. When it is determined in step S23 that the data string from the vehicle-side control device 3 is received, step S24
Then, the control processing unit 11 determines whether or not the area code of its own N point code and the area code of the N point code included in the received data string match.

In step S24, the control processing unit 11
However, if it determines that the area code of its own N point code and the area code of the N point code included in the received data string do not match, the process proceeds to step S25, and it is determined whether the same operating condition continues for time T1 or more. Is determined.
The time T1 is set to, for example, 1 to 2 minutes.

If it is determined in step S25 that the same operating condition has not continued for the time T1 or more, the process proceeds to step S26, it is determined that the vehicle 4 has entered the communication area, and the process at the time of entry of the vehicle 4 is performed. To be executed. The process at the time of entering the vehicle performed in step S26 is, for example,
In the subsequent process, the counter value of the N point code included in the data string communicating with the vehicle-side control device 3 is maintained, the counter that counts the number of times of instantaneous interruption is reset, and the data with the flag 74 turned on By transmitting the sequence, the data sequence from the vehicle side control device 3 is (N-1).
If the point code is included, the (N-1) point code is stored.

On the other hand, when the control processing unit 11 determines in step S24 that the area code of the N point code of itself and the area code of the N point code included in the received data string match, in other words, the vehicle If it is determined that the communication with the side control device 3 has been performed at least once, the process proceeds to step S27. In step S27,
The control processing unit 11 determines whether or not the counter value of its own N-point code and the counter value of the N-point code included in the received data string match. The counter value of its own N-point code is the counter value when the counter value is maintained as the vehicle entering process in step S26, and is counted by the counter when the counter value is not maintained. It is the counter value that has been set.

In step S27, the control processing unit 11
If it is determined that the counter value of the N point code of its own does not match the counter value of the N point code included in the received data string, the process proceeds to step S28, and it is determined whether the same operation status continues for time T2 or more. To judge. Time T
2 is set to, for example, 1 to 2 minutes.

If it is determined in step S28 that the same operating condition has not continued for the time T2 or more, the process proceeds to step S29, and the processing at the time of instantaneous interruption is executed. When the process proceeds to step S29, it is considered that the situation of instantaneous interruption described with reference to FIG. 9 has occurred. Therefore, as the processing at the time of a momentary interruption executed in step S29, for example, the momentary interruption number counter for again maintaining the counter value of the N point code included in the received data string from the vehicle side control device 3 is used. For example, the value of is added by 1.

On the other hand, in step S27, when the control processing section 11 determines that the counter value of the N point code of its own matches the counter value of the N point code included in the received data string, the process proceeds to step S30. . In step S30, it is determined whether the same operating condition continues for T3 or more. The time T3 is set to, for example, 5 to 6 hours.

If it is determined in step S30 that the same operating condition has not continued for T3 or more, step S30
Proceeding to 31, the process during vehicle detection is executed. When the process proceeds to step S31, the roadside control device 1 and the vehicle-side control device 3 have communicated with each other at least once, and the instantaneous interruption state has not occurred (or has occurred but has recovered). ) Status, indicating that communication is being performed normally.

Therefore, as the processing during vehicle detection performed in step S31, the maintained counter value is continuously maintained, the stored (N-1) point code is deleted, and the like.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S23 that the data string from the vehicle side control device 3 is not received, the process proceeds to step S32, and the counter value of the counter is reset to a value obtained by adding 1 to the counter value. . And S33
At, it is determined whether or not the time has elapsed since the previous transmission (transmission of the data string in step S22). In step S33, the process of step S33 is repeated until it is determined that the cyclic time has elapsed from the previous transmission, and when it is determined that the time has elapsed, the process returns to step S22 and the subsequent processes are repeated. Be done.

For the processing of step S32, step S2
5, in step S28, and step S30,
In some cases, it is determined that the same operating condition continues for a time T1, T2, T3 or more. In each of these steps, if it is determined that the same operating condition continues for a predetermined time or longer, it can be determined that some kind of error has occurred. Therefore, when such a determination is made, the process proceeds to step S32, the count is advanced without maintaining the counter value, and a new process is executed.

A process using the data obtained by performing such a process in the roadside controller 1 will be described. The following description may be performed by the roadside control device 1 or may be performed by the centralized control device 2 that has acquired the data from the roadside control device 1.

First, the calculation of the traffic volume will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Calculation of traffic volume
In step S41, it is calculated by counting the number of times the count value is maintained for each link stretched in the roadside control device 1. Here, the number of times that the count value is maintained is the cumulative number of times when the count value is maintained as one by continuing communication with one vehicle-side control device 3.

Calculation of speed will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step S51, it is determined whether or not communication with the vehicle-side control device 3 mounted on the predetermined vehicle 4 has been completed. This determination is made by determining whether or not the data string from the vehicle-side control device 3 is interrupted. When it is determined in step S51 that the communication with the predetermined vehicle-side control device 3 is completed, the process proceeds to step S52, and the count value of the N-point code used for communication with the vehicle-side control device 3 is maintained. The existing time is corrected.

The rising at the time when the maintenance of the count value of the N point code is started and the falling at the time when the maintenance of the count value is finished is performed when the vehicle 4 enters the communication area of the roadside control device 1 and from the communication area, respectively. Since it is at the time of release, it means that the part in the middle of communication is included. When correcting the time used for calculating the speed in consideration of such a situation, there is a method of adding one communication time (periodic interval) on average with the rising and the falling falling together. Alternatively, as a correction coefficient, there is a method in which the correction coefficient is determined for each point and the correction coefficient is used. Any method may be used.

The corrected time is used in step S52, and the speed is calculated in step S53. The speed is calculated using the equation (1) as described above. Expression (1) is an expression that does not use the corrected time. When using the corrected time, equation (1) is
It becomes like the following formula (1) ′. Vn = L / (Δtn + Tc) (1) 'In the equation (1)', Tc is a cycle period time for transmitting a data string in the roadside control device 1. Formula (1) ′ shows an example in which Tc is added to the time Δtn to perform the correction.

Incidentally, such correction of the time Δtn may be carried out also when calculating other traffic quantities described later.

Calculation of the congestion occupancy rate will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step S61, it is determined whether a predetermined time Ts has elapsed. The predetermined time Ts is a cycle time for calculating the congestion occupancy rate. When it is determined in step S61 that the time Ts has elapsed, the total time during which the count value is maintained during the time Ts is calculated. That is, ΣΔtn described with reference to FIG.
Calculated at 62.

In step S63, step S61
The traffic occupancy rate is calculated by using the time Ts in step S6 and the total time ΣΔtn calculated in step S62. The congestion occupancy rate is calculated using the equation (2) as described above.

Next, the calculation of the spatial density will be described.
Spatial density, as mentioned above, at any time,
It is the number of vehicles 4 existing in a certain section. In the present embodiment, the spatial density is calculated using the data obtained by exchanging the above-mentioned data string at the N point. First, with reference to FIG. 19, the concept of how to calculate the spatial density will be described.

FIG. 19A shows the situation of a predetermined lane at time t1. Here, for convenience of description, it is assumed that the three vehicles 4-1 to 4-3 are traveling on one lane at a constant speed. At time t1, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9A, the vehicles 4-1 to 4-3 are (N-
1) The vehicle is traveling before the point and has not passed the point (N-1).

When a predetermined time has passed and time t2 is reached, as shown in FIG. 19B, the vehicles 4-1 to 4-3 are
It is located between point (N-1) and point N. When time further elapses and time t3 is reached, the vehicles 4-1 to 4-3 pass through point N, as shown in FIG. 19C.

Spatial density between point (N-1) and point N (here, the number of vehicles 4 existing between point (N-1) and point N is calculated from point (N-1) to point N). Is defined as a value divided by the distance up to), where the distance from point (N-1) to point N is 1, it is 0 at time t1, 3 at time t2, and 0 at time t3. Here, consider calculating the spatial density at time t2 at the N point. At time t2, in this case, as shown in FIG. 19B, there are vehicles 4-1 to 4-3. These vehicles 4-1 to 4-3 are the vehicles 4 that have passed the point (N-1) between the time t1 and the time t2.

Therefore, the vehicles 4-1 to 4-3 are (N-
1) The point code and the time information acquired by the (N-1) point code are held, and the time indicated by the time information satisfies time t1 <time <t2.

The vehicles 4-1 to 4-3 are at times t2 to t.
During 3, pass point N. Therefore, the roadside control device 1 installed at the N point causes the vehicles 4-1 to 4-3 to pass from the vehicles 4 to the (N-1) point during the times t2 to t3. Code and time t1 <
The time information indicating the time satisfying the time <t2 is acquired. Utilizing such a fact, the spatial density at the time t2 is measured at the N point.

However, at the time t3, the time t
Not all the vehicles 4 existing in the section from the (N-1) point to the N point at the time point 2 pass the N point. For example, as shown in FIG. 20A, at time t3, the vehicle 4
It is conceivable that there is a situation in which only -1 and the vehicle 4-2 have passed the N point. Considering this, the time Tk is set to a time sufficient for the vehicle 4 that has passed the point (N-1) between the time t1 and the time t2 to pass the point N. The vehicles 4 that have passed the point N during the time Tk are counted.

When the time Tk is set to a long time, as shown in FIG.
As shown in B, the vehicle 4-4 that has passed the (N-1) point after the time t2 may be counted because it passes the N point during the time Tk. Conceivable. Therefore, count 2 independently
By using one counter, it is possible to deal with the situation shown in FIG. 20A or 20B.

As will be described with reference to FIG. 21, time tn-
1, time tn, time tn + 1, and time tn + 2 indicate the time at which the spatial density is measured, that is, the time at which the counter starts counting. It is described). This measurement cycle is shown in FIG.
The state described with reference to B, that is, time t2
After that, the vehicle 4-4 passing through the point (N-1)
The period is set such that the vehicle does not pass through the N point during the passage of k. Therefore, the measurement cycle is set to a value shorter than the time Tk.

When the first counter starts counting at time tn, the counting continues until the time Tkn elapses. At time tn + 1, the second counter starts counting independently of the count of the first counter. The counting by the second counter is also continued for the same time Tkn + 1 as the time Tkn. Time T
k is set as a time within two cycles of the measurement cycle.

Here, in order to explain the case where two counters of the first counter and the second counter are used as an example, as described above, the time Tk is within two cycles of the measurement cycle. Although a plurality of counters may be used, when the plurality of counters are used, the number of the counters is determined by the relationship between the time Tk and the measurement cycle. For example, when the time Tk is set as a time period of 4 cycles or more and 5 cycles or less of the measurement cycle, 5 counters are required.

Such processing will be further described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 22 may be performed by the roadside control device 1 installed at the N point, or data may be acquired from the roadside control device 1 and based on the data. The control device 2 may perform the control. When the roadside control device 1 performs, the first counter and the second counter illustrated in FIG. 22 are provided in, for example, the control processing unit 11,
The determination of each step is also performed by the control processing unit 11.

In step S71, the first counter starts measurement at a predetermined time (individually, time tn). In step S72, it is determined whether or not the data string from the vehicle 4 has been received. The process of step S72 is repeated (the standby state is maintained) until it is determined in step S72 that the data string from the vehicle 4 is received, and if it is determined that the data string from the vehicle 4 is received, Proceed to S73.

At step S73, (N- of the spot dynamic code 83 included in the received data string is used.
1) It is determined whether the area code of the area code is the area code of the area code of the previous area. This (N
-1) Receiving a data string including a point code requires that the flag 74 of the data string transmitted from the roadside control device 1 be turned on.

If it is determined in step S73 that the area code of the (N-1) point code included in the received data string is not the area code of the point code of the previous point, the vehicle 4 is measured. It is determined that the vehicle is not a target vehicle, the process returns to step S72, and the subsequent processes are repeated. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S73 that the area code of the (N-1) point code included in the received data string is the area code of the point code of the previous point, the process proceeds to step S74.

In step S74, using the time information received together with the (N-1) point code, the time indicated by the time information is time tn-2 or more and time tn-1.
Is determined. This applies to what has been described with reference to FIG. 19, time tn-1 is time t1, and time tn is time t2. Therefore, step S
In this case, the process at 73 and step S74 is a process of determining whether or not the vehicle 4 has passed the point (N-1) between time t1 and time t2.

In step S74, the time information received together with the (N-1) point code is used, and the time indicated by the time information is time tn-1 or more and time tn.
If not, the vehicle 4 is determined to be the vehicle 4 that is not the measurement target, the process returns to step S72, and the subsequent processes are repeated.

On the other hand, in step S74, (N-
1) Using the time information received together with the point code, the time indicated by the time information is time tn-1 or more, and
When it is determined that it is time tn, the vehicle 4 is determined to be the vehicle 4 to be measured, the process proceeds to step S75, and the value of the counter is incremented by 1.

In step S76, it is determined whether or not the measurement cycle has been reached. When it is determined in step S76 that the measurement cycle is reached, the process proceeds to step S77,
If it is determined that it is not the measurement cycle, the process of step S77 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S78. Step S
At 77, the first counter instructs the second counter to start measurement. According to the instruction, the second counter starts measurement in step S101.

On the other hand, the first counter determines whether or not the time Tk has elapsed from the start of measurement in step S78 regardless of whether or not the second counter is instructed to start measurement. To do. When it is determined in step S78 that the time Tk has not elapsed from the start of measurement, the process returns to step S72, and the subsequent processes are repeated. In this way, the first counter continues the counting operation until the time Tk elapses after the measurement is started.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S78 that the time Tk has elapsed from the start of measurement, the process proceeds to step S79 and the counter value is read. And
In step S80, the spatial density is calculated using the read counter value. The spatial density is calculated by dividing the value of the counter by the distance from the (N-1) point to the N point. While such calculation of the spatial density is performed, the value of the counter is reset to 0 in step S81.

Such processing is repeated in the first counter. The process repeated in the second counter (steps S101 to S111) is also repeated in the first counter (step S7).
1 to step S81), the description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the calculation of travel time will be described.
The travel time is calculated by the control device 2.
FIG. 23 shows a memory 33 managed by the control device 2.
It is the figure which represented typically the data memorize | stored in (FIG. 3). The memory 33 stores (N-1) point data 91 and N
The point data 92 is stored. Here, for convenience of description, data of two points will be described as an example, but data of a plurality of points are stored in the memory 33 of the control and control apparatus 2.

The (N-1) point data 91 includes (N-
1) From the roadside control device 1 installed at a point, the spot dynamic code 75 that the roadside control device 1 maintains the counter value and the spot dynamic code 7
The time when 5 is sent is associated and stored.

In the N point data 92, a spot dynamic code 83 and its spot dynamic code obtained as a result of the road side control device 1 installed at the N point communicating with the vehicle 4 are obtained. The time when the code 83 is acquired and the travel time calculated using the data stored in the (N-1) point data 91 and the data stored in the N point data 92 are stored in association with each other. To be done.

For the travel time, the same spot dynamic code stored in the (N-1) spot data 91 and the N spot data 92 is searched for, and the travel time corresponds to the same spot dynamic code searched. It is obtained by calculating the time difference.

In the example shown in FIG. 23, 'N-105' is stored as the same spot dynamic code. From (N-1) point data 91, 'N-10
'12: 01: 12 'is read as the time corresponding to 5', and '12: 14: 10 'is read as the time corresponding to'N-105' from the N point data 92. When the difference between these read times is calculated, the travel time is calculated as '00: 12: 58 '.

The processing of the roadside control device 1 for storing such data in the memory 33 of the governing and controlling device 2 will be described. The process of the roadside control device 1 has already been described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 15, but when the process at the time of entry of the vehicle 4 is executed as the process of step S26 of the flowchart of FIG. As one of the processes, at least one of the transmitted spot dynamic code 75 and the spot dynamic code 83 included in the received data string is transmitted to the controlling device 2.

When the travel time is calculated for a continuous section, the N point data 92 is stored in the memory 33 as
(N-1) The same kind of data as the data stored in the point data 91, that is, the spot dynamic code 75 included in the data string transmitted from the roadside control device 1 installed at the N point, and the spot dynamic code thereof. It is necessary to store the time when the code 75 is transmitted. In such a case, the roadside control device 1 transmits to the controlling device 2, data relating to both the transmitted spot dynamic code 75 and the spot dynamic code 83 included in the received data string.

The processing relating to travel time calculation performed by the control and control device 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step S131, the controlling device 2
The communication unit 31 receives data from the roadside control device 1. In step S132, the received data is stored in the memory 33 in the (N-1) spot data 91 or the N spot data 92, as described with reference to FIG.
Memorized in.

In step S133, a matching spot dynamic code is searched. This search result is used to determine in step S134 whether or not there is a matching spot dynamic code. If it is determined in step S134 that there is a matching spot dynamic code, the process proceeds to step S135, and if it is determined that there is no matching spot dynamic code, the travel time is not calculated and the process ends. In step S135, travel time is calculated. And the calculated travel time is
In step S136, it is additionally stored in the N point data 92.

As described above, in order to calculate the travel time, it is necessary to specify the vehicle 4. However, as the information for specifying the travel time, only the spot dynamic code is required, and the information is used without using private data. Be seen. Therefore, it is possible to accurately calculate the travel time while protecting the private.

Next, another connection (configuration) method of the information processing system shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In the configuration of the information processing system in FIG. 25, one antenna 16 is installed on one lane. In FIG. 25, since there are two lanes on each side, the antenna 16-1
And the antenna 16-2 is installed. Antenna 16-
A roadside control device 1-1 and a roadside control device 1-2 are connected to the antenna 1 and the antenna 16-2, respectively.

Roadside control device 1-1 and roadside control device 1
-2 is connected to the controller 101, respectively. The controller 101 controls the roadside control device 1, such as transmitting data from the roadside control device 1 to the control and control device 2. The controller 101 is provided for each point. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
The control device 2 is connected to a plurality of controllers 101-1 to 101-M installed at respective points.

As described above, needless to say, the above-described processing is appropriately performed even when the controller 101 is provided.

The traffic volume, speed, traffic jam occupancy rate, space density, and travel time as the above-mentioned various traffic volumes may be calculated separately or simultaneously. . In addition, in the present embodiment,
The term wireless means DSRC (Dedicated Short Rang).
e Communication: Dedicated short-range communication) As a general road-to-vehicle communication, electromagnetic waves and optical communication means are included. The electromagnetic wave means shall include an electronic license plate.

In the road traffic control system, the traffic amounts calculated by applying this embodiment are used for traffic signal control, traffic congestion information provision, traffic-related statistical data, etc., according to the characteristics of each amount. It can be used for calculation and the like.

Some systems called car navigation systems have a function of searching a route between points set by a user and calculating travel time based on the search. It is possible to use the travel time calculated by applying the present embodiment for calculating the time.

By applying the present embodiment, the spatial density can be calculated with high accuracy, so that it is possible to quantitatively grasp the congestion situation over a wide range, and it is suitable to eliminate the congestion based on the grasp. It is also possible to control the traffic light.

The series of processes described above can be executed by hardware, but can also be executed by software. When a series of processes is executed by software, it is possible to execute various functions by installing a computer in which the programs that make up the software are built into dedicated hardware, or by installing various programs. The recording medium is installed in a general-purpose personal computer, for example.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an example of the internal structure of a general-purpose personal computer. The CPU (Central Processing Unit) 151 of the personal computer is an RO
Various processes are executed according to a program stored in M (Read Only Memory) 152. RAM (Random A
In the ccess memory) 153, data and programs necessary for the CPU 151 to execute various processes are appropriately stored. The input / output interface 155 is connected to an input unit 156 composed of a keyboard and a mouse, and outputs a signal input to the input unit 156 to the CPU 151. The input / output interface 155 is also connected to an output unit 157 including a display and a speaker.

Further, the input / output interface 155 includes a storage unit 158 composed of a hard disk,
Also, a communication unit 159 for exchanging data with other devices via a network such as the Internet is also connected. The drive 160 includes a magnetic disk 171, an optical disk 172, a magneto-optical disk 173, a semiconductor memory 17
It is used when reading or writing data from a recording medium such as No. 4 or the like.

As shown in FIG. 27, the recording medium is a magnetic disk 171 (including a flexible disk) and an optical disk 172 on which the program is recorded, which is distributed in order to provide the program to the user, separately from the personal computer. (CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Mem
ory), DVD (including Digital Versatile Disc), magneto-optical disc 173 (including MD (Mini-Disc) (registered trademark)), semiconductor memory 174, etc. It is configured by a hard disk including a ROM 152 storing a program and a storage unit 158, which is provided to a user in a pre-installed state.

In the present specification, the steps for describing the program provided by the medium are not limited to the processing performed in time series according to the order described, but are not necessarily performed in time series. Alternatively, it also includes processes that are individually executed.

In this specification, the system means
It represents the entire apparatus composed of a plurality of devices.

[0178]

According to the first information processing apparatus and method, and the program of the present invention, the first code representing the held own position and the second code sequentially generated are combined. When the data including the third code, which is transmitted as the process of the other device that has transmitted the third code, is received, and the data is received, the received third code is transmitted. Since the code is transmitted again, while the same third code is being transmitted / received, it can be judged that the data is transmitted / received to / from the same other device, and by utilizing that fact, It becomes possible to calculate traffic volumes.

A second information processing apparatus and method of the present invention,
Also, according to the program, a third code composed of a second code which is sequentially assigned with a value different from the first code transmitted by the first device and which indicates the own position, and the third code
The data about the time when the code of
Of the third code acquired by the other device by communicating with the other device and the data related to the time when the other device acquired the third code, and the acquired third code When the codes of No. 1 and No. 2 match, the difference between the times indicated by the data relating to the times associated with the respective third codes is calculated, so that the movement between the first device and the second device can be performed accurately. It is possible to calculate this time.

The third code is generated by the first information processing apparatus. Since the third code does not include private information, it is possible to prevent invasion of privacy. It will be possible. Also, while the third code is being exchanged, even if a situation such as a momentary interruption occurs during that period, it is not affected, so
It is possible to calculate accurate traffic volumes.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of an information processing system to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a roadside control device 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a control and control device 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a vehicle-side control device 3.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining signals transmitted and received.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining signals transmitted and received.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a timing at which a signal is transmitted and received.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a situation when a plurality of vehicles exist in a communication area.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an instantaneous interruption.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a time used for calculating a congestion occupancy rate.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining signals transmitted and received.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a spatial density.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining exchange of spot dynamic codes.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the vehicle-side control device 3.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the roadside control device 1.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating calculation of traffic volume.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating speed calculation.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart for calculating a congestion occupancy rate.

FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining a method of calculating a spatial density.

FIG. 20 is a diagram for explaining how to calculate a spatial density.

FIG. 21 is a diagram for explaining a measurement cycle.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating a method of calculating spatial density.

FIG. 23 is a diagram for explaining data stored for calculating travel time.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating a process of calculating travel time, which is performed by the control device 2.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing the configuration of another embodiment of the information processing system.

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating a connection between the controller 101 and the control device 2.

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating a medium.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Roadside controller 2 Control system 3 Vehicle side control device 11 Control processing unit 12 Modulator 13 transmitter 14 Amplifier 15 Transmission / reception discriminator 16 antenna 17 Amplifier 18 mixer 19 Demodulator 31 Communications Department 32 I / O section 33 memory 34 CPU 51 control processing unit 52 antenna 53 Discrimination switch 54 Demodulator 55 Modulator 71 Unique Word 72 frame length 73 Send request 74 flag 75 spot dynamic code 76 time 81 unique words 82 frame length 83 spot dynamic code 84 time 101 controller

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A holding means for holding a first code indicating its own position, a generating means for sequentially generating different values as a second code, and the first code held by the holding means. A transmitting unit that transmits a third code that is a combination of the second code generated by the generating unit, and a third device that receives the third code transmitted by the transmitting unit. Also, receiving means for receiving the data including the third code, and an instruction for retransmitting the received data including the third code when the receiving means receives the data including the third code. And an instructing means for issuing the above to the transmitting means. 2. The first calculating means for calculating the time during which the same third code is continuously transmitted when the instructing means issues an instruction to the transmitting means, and the transmitting means By dividing the distance in the predetermined direction within the range in which the third code is transmitted by the time calculated by the first calculating means, the other device moves in the predetermined direction within the range. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second calculation unit that calculates a speed when the vehicle moves. 3. The third including the different second codes.
3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a calculating unit that calculates the traffic volume by counting the code of 1 each time the receiving unit receives the code. 4. A first calculating means for calculating a first time during which the same third code is continuously transmitted by the instruction to the transmitting means by the instructing means, Second calculating means for calculating a second time by adding the first time within the period, and calculating a congestion occupancy rate by dividing the second time by the predetermined period. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a calculation unit according to claim 3. 5. The code received by the receiving means indicates a position different from the position indicated by the first code held by the holding means, in addition to the third code, In addition to the third code, the first judging means for judging whether or not the time information regarding the time when the code is acquired and the data received by the receiving means by the first judging means are included. When it is determined to include a code representing a position different from the position represented by the first code held by the holding means and time information regarding the time when the code is acquired, the time indicated by the time information is: A second judging means for judging whether the time is between a first time and a second time; and a time indicated by the time information by the second judging means is
When it is determined that the time is between the first time and the second time, a counting unit that counts the determined number of times and a count by the counting unit are continued for a predetermined time. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: a continuous control unit that controls the above. 6. A holding control step for controlling holding of a first code representing its own position, a generation step for sequentially generating different values as the second code, and holding processing is controlled by the processing of the holding control step. And a transmission control step of controlling transmission of a third code, which is a combination of the first code and the second code generated in the processing of the generation step, and transmission is controlled by the processing of the transmission control step. The reception control step of controlling the reception of the data including the third code, which is transmitted as the processing of the other device that has received the third code, and the third code in the processing of the reception control step. And an instruction step of issuing an instruction to retransmit the received third code to the processing of the transmission control step when the received data is received. Information processing method to be. 7. A holding control step for controlling holding of a first code representing its own position, a generation step for sequentially generating different values as the second code, and holding processing is controlled by the processing of the holding control step. And a transmission control step of controlling transmission of a third code, which is a combination of the first code and the second code generated in the processing of the generation step, and transmission is controlled by the processing of the transmission control step. The reception control step of controlling the reception of the data including the third code, which is transmitted as the processing of the other device that has received the third code, and the third code in the processing of the reception control step. An instruction step of issuing an instruction to retransmit the received third code to the processing of the transmission control step when the data including the data is received. Program to be executed. 8. An information processing apparatus for respectively acquiring data from a first device and a second device installed at a predetermined distance and performing a predetermined process based on the acquired data. In regard to the third code composed of a second code which is sequentially assigned a different value from the first code indicating the position of the device transmitted by the first device, and the time when the third code is transmitted. First acquisition means for acquiring data, the third code received by the second device by communicating with the other device, and the third code received by the other device, and the third code Second acquisition means for acquiring data relating to the time acquired by the device, and the third code acquired by the first acquisition means,
When the third codes acquired by the second acquisition unit match, the difference between the times indicated by the data relating to the times associated with each of the third codes is calculated to obtain the predetermined value. An information processing apparatus, comprising: a calculating unit that calculates a time required to move by a distance. 9. An information processing apparatus for respectively acquiring data from a first device and a second device, which are installed apart from each other by a predetermined distance, and executing a predetermined process based on the acquired data. In the information processing method, the third code composed of a second code which is sequentially assigned a different value from the first code transmitted by the first device and which indicates the own position, and the third code A first acquisition control step of controlling acquisition of data relating to the transmitted time; the third code acquired by the other device received by the second device communicating with the other device; and A second acquisition control step for controlling acquisition of data related to a time when the third device acquires the third code; and the third code for which acquisition is controlled in the process of the first acquisition control step, The above When the third code whose acquisition is controlled in the process of the second acquisition control step matches, by calculating a difference in time indicated by the data regarding the time associated with each of the third codes, A calculation step of calculating a time required to move by the predetermined distance. 10. An information processing apparatus for respectively acquiring data from a first device and a second device installed apart from each other by a predetermined distance and executing a predetermined process based on the acquired data. A third code composed of a second code to which a value sequentially different from the first code transmitted by the first device and representing the position of the self is assigned, and the third code. A first acquisition control step of controlling acquisition of data relating to the transmitted time; the third code acquired by the other device received by the second device communicating with the other device; and A second acquisition control step for controlling acquisition of data related to a time when the third device acquires the third code; and the third code for which acquisition is controlled in the process of the first acquisition control step, If serial third code obtained in the processing in the second acquisition control step is controlled to match, each of said third
And a calculation step of calculating a time required to move by the predetermined distance by calculating a time difference indicated by the time-related data associated with the code.