JP2003346203A - Server device, toll terminal device, system and method for toll collection, computer-readable storage medium and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce expense payable when calculating a toll associated with occurring traffic congestion by specifying a driver's vehicle running on a toll road and performing specific calculation of the toll for the vehicle contributing to reduction of the traffic congestion. <P>SOLUTION: Travel route information including vehicle specifying information peculiar to the vehicle passing a gate, gate information identifying the gate and gate passing time information is obtained, and the obtained traveling vehicle information is managed. Traffic congestion information about the toll road is collected from an information network and managed. When toll data acquisition is requested, if the vehicle is found following a route avoiding the traffic congestion with reference to the travel route information and the traffic congestion information, the toll is calculated by a toll calculation method different from normal calculation and transferred to a toll terminal device of a toll data acquisition requester. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention calculates a toll to be paid by a driver in accordance with a change in a driving environment such as a road condition and a driver's getting on and off at a tollgate for setting a fee for a vehicle traveling on a toll road. The present invention relates to a server device, a charge terminal device, a charge collection processing system, a charge collection method, a computer-readable storage medium, and a program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a toll collection system for an expressway, a toll road, etc., for example, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-73350, a vehicle which has traveled by using license plate information as vehicle identification information is disclosed. A proposal has been made to specify and automatically calculate the fee.

[0003] Usually, a driver who uses an expressway or a toll road enters from an arbitrary tollgate and follows a traveling schedule of getting off a general road from a tollgate at a destination. In accordance with the traveling distance and the size of the traveling vehicle, a fee according to a uniform calculation method is paid regardless of the road conditions.

[0004] Therefore, if the driver gets caught in a traffic jam for some reason while traveling on a toll road, most drivers select the first action of traveling on the toll road as it is, or get off the toll road to avoid the traffic jam. Select the second action of traveling on a general road, or go down a toll road once to avoid a congested section, drive on a predetermined section general road, bypass the congested section, and reenter the toll road. One of the three actions is selected.

At this time, the driver who makes the first or second selection pays a fee calculated according to the above-described uniform calculation method.

[0006]

However, the driver (driver) who has selected the above-mentioned third action has a normal fee from a certain point on the toll road to an exit just before the traffic jam,
You must pay the normal fare from the entrance at the end of the traffic jam to the desired exit, and at this time you must pay an extra initial fare due to the congestion caused by each traveling vehicle. The portion of the traveling behavior associated with the traffic congestion avoiding behavior is not taken into account in the fare calculation, resulting in imposing a burden on the user.

[0007] Since no incentive is adopted for calculating the fare for the driver who selects the third action, a normal driver does not select the third action that increases the fee payment. The first action or the second action is selected, whereby the number of vehicles entering the traffic congestion area is not significantly reduced, which results in congestion. However, it is difficult to use the system, and a series of road traffic congestion cannot be solved quickly.

[0008] As described above, the cause of the traffic congestion may depend on the driver's action selection during the traffic congestion.
There has been a long-awaited need for an improved toll collection method for drivers who select the third action.

However, it is impossible to determine whether or not the driver has selected the third action by manual processing at a tollgate unless such a vehicle is specified, and it is costly to introduce a new system. A problem also arises.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and a first object of the present invention is to use a vehicle identification system to contribute to alleviation of traffic congestion and travel on a toll road. When a driver's vehicle is specified and a travel fee associated with the traffic congestion is calculated, a toll processing system capable of contributing to congestion mitigation while reducing the burden on the driver of the vehicle contributing to the vehicle contributing to the congestion reduction. An object of the present invention is to provide a server device, a charge terminal device, a charge collection processing system, a charge collection processing method, a computer-readable storage medium, and a program which can be freely constructed.

A second object is to identify a driver's vehicle traveling on a toll road using a vehicle identification system,
A server device and a fee that can reduce or weight the payment cost by calculating the specific congestion factor, changing the discount rate of the calculation, calculating the specific congestion factor, and calculating the toll associated with the congestion. An object of the present invention is to provide a terminal device, a fee collection processing system, a fee collection processing method, and a computer-readable storage medium and a program.

[0012]

A first invention according to the present invention is a server device capable of communicating with a toll terminal device capable of acquiring information on a vehicle traveling from a gate set on a toll road, Traveling vehicle information acquiring means (for the communication interface unit 102 shown in FIG. 2) for acquiring traveling route information including vehicle specific information transmitted from the toll terminal device and identifying the gate and identifying gate information and gate passing time information. A vehicle ID-based traveling information management unit (corresponding to the vehicle ID-based traveling information management file unit 105A shown in FIG. 2) for managing traveling vehicle information acquired by the traveling vehicle information acquiring unit by vehicle ID, A collecting unit (corresponding to the communication interface unit 102 shown in FIG. 2) for collecting traffic congestion information on the toll road from the information network, and the toll road collected by the collecting unit Congestion information management means (corresponding to the congestion information management file unit 105B shown in FIG. 2) for managing the congestion information of the vehicle together with the neighboring gate information, and Is the vehicle waiting for the toll payment following the congestion avoidance route, referring to each traveling route information based on the vehicle ID managed by the vehicle and the congestion information on the toll road managed by the congestion information management means? Judgment means for judging whether or not (corresponds to judgment program 104A shown in FIG. 2)
And calculating means for calculating the travel fee for each vehicle by a different fare calculation method based on the determination result by the determining means (FIG. 2).
And transfer means (corresponding to the communication interface unit 102 shown in FIG. 2) for transferring the travel fee for each vehicle calculated by the calculation means to the toll terminal device which has requested the charge data acquisition. It is characterized by having.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the calculating means determines that the vehicle is following the traffic congestion avoiding route, the calculating means refers to a different calculation table to calculate the general travel fee. Is also characterized by calculating a low-priced traveling fare.

[0014] A third invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the calculating means determines a discount rate for setting a discounted travel fee by counting unique adjustment points assigned to different traffic congestion factors. I do.

A fourth invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the different congestion factors include at least one of an accident congestion factor, a seasonal congestion factor, a weather congestion factor, and a time congestion factor.

A fifth invention according to the present invention is directed to the vehicle ID,
The different traveling information management means discards the traveling vehicle information based on a traveling fee collection result of the vehicle notified from the toll terminal device.

A sixth invention according to the present invention is a toll terminal device capable of communicating with a server device that manages information on vehicles traveling on a toll road on which a plurality of gates for entering and exiting the vehicle are provided. Vehicle specific information acquisition means (vehicle specific information generation program 204 shown in FIG. 2) for obtaining vehicle specific information attached to vehicles entering and leaving the road.
B) and transmission means for transmitting to the server device travel route information including vehicle identification information acquired by the vehicle identification information acquisition means, a gate code of a gate through which the vehicle passes, and a passage time. 2 (corresponding to the communication interface unit 202 shown in FIG. 2).

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an acquisition means (corresponding to a payment processing program 204C shown in FIG. 2) for acquiring travel fee information for a driver of a vehicle exiting the gate from the server device. Display means (corresponding to the display unit 201 shown in FIG. 2) for displaying a travel fee to be collected from a driver of a vehicle exiting the gate based on the fee information.

An eighth invention according to the present invention is characterized in that there is provided a settlement means for electronic settlement of the driving fee displayed by the display means.

In a ninth aspect according to the present invention, the display means should collect from the driver of the vehicle exiting the gate, including whether or not the travel fee calculated by the server device has been discounted by avoiding traffic congestion. It is characterized by displaying a travel fee.

[0021] A tenth invention according to the present invention is a toll collection processing system in which a toll terminal device and a server device capable of acquiring information on a vehicle traveling from a gate set on a toll road are communicable, The server device is a traveling vehicle information acquiring unit (shown in FIG. 2) for acquiring traveling route information including vehicle-specific information specific to the vehicle transmitted from the toll terminal device, the gate identifying gate information, and gate passing time information. And the traveling vehicle information acquired by the traveling vehicle information acquiring means is referred to as a vehicle ID.
Vehicle ID-specific traveling information management means separately managed (corresponding to vehicle ID-specific traveling information management file unit 105A shown in FIG. 2)
Collecting means (corresponding to the communication interface unit 102 shown in FIG. 2) for collecting the traffic congestion information on the toll road from the information network; and gate information which approximates the congestion information on the toll road collected by the collecting means. Congestion information management means (congestion information management file unit 10 shown in FIG. 2)
5B), and when the toll data is requested from the toll terminal device, each traveling route information based on the vehicle ID managed by the traveling information management means for each vehicle ID and the toll road managed by the congestion information management means. Judgment means (corresponding to the judgment program 104A shown in FIG. 2) which judges whether or not the vehicle waiting for the payment is following the congestion avoidance route by referring to the above traffic congestion information, and the judgment result by the judgment means Calculating means (corresponding to the calculation program 104B shown in FIG. 2) for calculating the toll for each vehicle based on the different toll calculation methods, and the toll for each vehicle calculated by the calculating means Transfer means (corresponding to the communication interface unit 102 shown in FIG. 2) for transferring to the toll terminal device; A vehicle identification information acquisition unit (corresponding to the vehicle identification information generation program 204B shown in FIG. 2) for acquiring vehicle identification information unique to the vehicle attached to the vehicle, and vehicle identification information acquired by the vehicle identification information acquisition unit. A transmission unit (corresponding to the communication interface unit 202 shown in FIG. 2) for transmitting travel route information including a gate code of a gate through which the vehicle passes and a passing time to the server device is provided.

An eleventh invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the toll terminal device obtains travel fee information for a driver of a vehicle exiting the gate from the server device (FIG. 2).
And a display means (corresponding to the display unit 201 shown in FIG. 2) for displaying a travel fee to be collected from a driver of the vehicle exiting the gate based on the travel fee information. It is characterized by the following.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toll collection processing method in a server device capable of communicating with a toll terminal device capable of acquiring vehicle information traveling from a gate set on a toll road. A traveling vehicle information acquiring step (step (1) shown in FIG. 9) for acquiring traveling route information including vehicle specific information transmitted from the toll terminal device, the gate identifying gate, and gate passing time information; A vehicle ID-based traveling information management step of managing the traveling vehicle information acquired by the traveling vehicle information acquiring step by vehicle ID (step (1) shown in FIG. 9);
A collecting step (step (1) shown in FIG. 9) for collecting the traffic jam information on the toll road from the information network; and managing the congestion information on the toll road collected in the collecting step together with the adjacent gate information. A traffic jam information management step (step (1) shown in FIG. 9), and, when a fee data acquisition request is issued from the toll terminal device, each travel route information based on the vehicle ID managed by the vehicle ID-specific travel information management step and Referring to the traffic information on the toll road managed by the traffic information management step, a determination step (step (2) shown in FIG. 9) is performed to determine whether the vehicle waiting for the toll payment is a vehicle following the traffic avoidance route. ),
(3)), a calculation step (step (6) shown in FIG. 9) for calculating a travel fee for each vehicle by a different fare calculation method based on the determination result of the determination step, and a vehicle calculated by the calculation step. A transfer step (step (11) shown in FIG. 9) of transferring another travel fee to the toll terminal device of the toll data acquisition request source.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the calculating step, when it is determined in the determining step that the vehicle is following the traffic congestion avoiding route, a different calculation table is referred to to calculate the general traveling fee. Is also characterized by calculating a low-priced traveling fare.

A fourteenth invention according to the present invention is characterized in that in the calculating step, a discount rate for setting a discounted traveling fare is determined by counting unique adjustment points assigned to different traffic congestion factors. I do.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the different congestion factors include at least an accident congestion factor, a seasonal congestion factor,
It is characterized by including at least one of a weather congestion factor and a time congestion factor.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the vehicle I
The D-based traveling information management step is characterized in that the traveling vehicle information is discarded based on a traveling fee collection result of the vehicle notified from the fee terminal device.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toll collection method in a toll terminal device capable of communicating with a server device for managing information on vehicles traveling on a toll road on which a plurality of gates for entering and exiting the vehicle are provided. A vehicle identification information acquisition step (step (21) shown in FIG. 10) for acquiring vehicle identification information specific to a vehicle attached to a vehicle entering and exiting a toll road; and a vehicle identification information acquisition step. Transmission step (step (22) shown in FIG. 10) of transmitting to the server device traveling route information including vehicle identification information, a gate code of a gate through which the vehicle passes, and a passing time. And

According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an acquisition step (step (23) shown in FIG. 10) for acquiring, from the server device, travel fee information for a driver of a vehicle exiting the gate; Display step of displaying on the display means the travel fee to be collected from the driver of the vehicle exiting the gate on the basis of (Step (2) shown in FIG. 10)
3)).

A nineteenth invention according to the present invention is characterized in that it has a settlement step (step (23) shown in FIG. 10) for electronic settlement of the driving fee displayed by the display means.

[0031] In a twentieth aspect of the present invention, the display means should collect from the driver of the vehicle exiting the gate, including whether or not the travel fee calculated by the server device has been discounted due to congestion avoidance. It is characterized by displaying a travel fee.

A twenty-first invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the storage medium stores a program for realizing the fee collection processing method according to any one of the twelfth to twentieth inventions.

[0033] A twenty-second invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the program realizes the fee collection processing method according to any one of the twelfth to twentieth inventions.

[0034]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a toll road toll management system to which a server device and a toll terminal device according to a first embodiment of the present invention can be applied. For example, a plurality of toll terminal devices are arranged as toll gates on each toll road route, and there are a plurality of route server devices for managing information on each route,
In addition, the system corresponds to a system that comprehensively manages an electronic money server device for electronic payment of fee payment, each route server device, and a plurality of fee terminal devices. The present invention is also applicable to a configuration in which the route server device is omitted and the center server device manages information on each of the plurality of fee terminal devices.

In FIG. 1, routes 11 and 12 correspond to a route R01.
System terminal device (R01 system terminal device) which has a hardware configuration as described later and can communicate with the root R01 system server device 13 for managing the root R01 system terminal device, the center server device 61, and the electronic money server device 51. Is configured.

Reference numerals 21 and 22 denote route R02-type terminal devices (R02-type terminal devices) having a hardware configuration to be described later and a route R0 for managing the route R02-type terminal devices.
It is configured to be able to communicate with the second system server device 23, the center server device 61, and the electronic money server device 51.

Reference numerals 31 and 32 denote route R03-type terminal devices (R03-type terminal devices), which have a hardware configuration as described later, and route R0 that manages the route R03-type terminal devices.
It is configured to be able to communicate with the third system server device 33, the center server device 61, and the electronic money server device 51.

Reference numerals 41 and 42 denote route R04-type terminal devices (R04-type terminal devices) having a hardware configuration to be described later, and a route R0 for managing the route R04-type terminal devices.
It is configured to be able to communicate with the fourth system server device 43, the center server device 61, and the electronic money server device 51.
Note that the route is constituted by each toll road or expressway (for example, the Metropolitan Expressway Ring Road (including an inward route, an outward route, etc.), and is not limited to the present embodiment.

It is also optional to provide a communication function at a base for monitoring traffic congestion by appropriately arranging a monitoring camera at the junction of each road.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a data processing configuration of the server device and the fee terminal device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The root server device and the center server device may have the same hardware configuration.

On the server device side in FIG. 2, reference numeral 100 denotes a controller unit, which is a control board having a so-called CPU, RAM, ROM, etc., and executes various programs stored in the external storage device 104 under a predetermined operating system (OS). An operation unit 10 loaded on the RAM under management and including a keyboard, a pointing device, and the like.
Various judgment processing, charge calculation processing,
The vehicle identification information registration processing is performed, and the display unit 101 displays the processing results and data received from each fee terminal device.

Reference numeral 102 denotes a communication interface unit which is configured to be able to communicate with each toll terminal device connected by a communication line by a predetermined program, receives vehicle identification information transmitted from each toll terminal device, A charge to be collected from a vehicle driver who intends to leave the toll booth, specifically, charge data processed according to a charge calculation processing program described later is transmitted to the charge terminal device.

The external storage device 104 has a judgment program 104 for judging whether or not the vehicle driver has entered the toll road again while avoiding traffic congestion on the traveling route.
A, a calculation program 104B that calculates a charge according to the calculation method of the charge calculation file unit 105C set in the vehicle management database 105 and the discount rate defined in the charge adjustment determination file unit 105D and the like, and is transmitted from the charge terminal device. A registration process for registering vehicle information in the traveling information management file unit 105A for each vehicle ID, and a registration for registering the traffic congestion status data transmitted from the toll terminal device via the communication interface unit 102 in the traffic congestion information management file unit 105B. A program 104C is provided. The vehicle management database 105 is stored in the external storage device 104.
It is optional to set within.

On the side of the charge terminal device shown in FIG. 2, reference numeral 200 denotes a controller unit, which is a control board having a so-called CPU, RAM, ROM, etc., and stores various programs stored in the external storage device 104 into a predetermined operating system (OS). Under the management of the vehicle, loads various kinds of vehicle-specific information in accordance with an instruction from the operation unit 203 and the like on the RAM, generates vehicle-specific information to be transmitted to the server device via the communication interface unit 202, And payment processing to settle the toll to be collected from the vehicle driver who should pay the toll.

Reference numeral 204 denotes an external storage device, which is a plate extraction program 204A for performing vehicle identification information extraction processing, a vehicle identification information generation program 204B for performing vehicle identification information generation processing to be transmitted to the server device via the communication interface unit 202, A payment processing program 204C for performing payment processing for settling payment of a fee to be collected from a vehicle driver who should pay a fee at a tollgate is stored.

Reference numeral 205 denotes a plate reading unit provided with an image pickup unit. The plate reading unit 205 is provided at a position where a license plate of a vehicle passing through a gate of a tollgate can be read, and sends the picked-up plate image information to the controller unit 200. The controller unit 200 executes the plate extraction program 204
A, for example, plate image information to be imaged is analyzed by pattern recognition or the like, and vehicle specific information, for example, “Yokohama
310 78-78 "can be extracted.

The plate reading section 205 is configured to read by image processing. However, if the plate itself has means for transmitting identification information, the plate reading section 205 may be configured to use the information. .

Reference numeral 206 denotes an ETC (Electronic)
The Toll Collection System processing unit communicates with a vehicle-mounted device, for example, installed on a dashboard in the vehicle by using wireless communication, and performs a process of electronically setting a toll for the vehicle. The vehicle equipped with the on-board ETC device communicates with the antenna of the tollgate according to a predetermined protocol.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of a vehicle entry / exit process in the toll road toll management system according to the present invention.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 300 denotes a vehicle on which a registered license plate is attached at a predetermined position.

G00X and G00Y are gates provided at tollgates on toll roads, etc., and are provided with predetermined identification numbers (gate codes). When the vehicle 300 passes through the gates G00X and G00Y, the toll is charged. Information necessary for the calculation is generated and automatically transmitted to the center server device 61 or the like.

TMD1 and TMD2 are transmission data, which are processed and generated by a terminal device according to a procedure described later, and are automatically transmitted to the center server device 61 and the like. The transmission data TMD1 and TMD2 are composed of, for example, the time when the vehicle 300 shown in FIG. 3 passes through each of the gates G00X and G00Y, the gate codes of the gates G00X and G00Y, and the generated vehicle identification information.

FIG. 4 is a diagram conceptually illustrating a vehicle entering / exiting state when traveling on a toll road in the toll road toll management system according to the present invention. The same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 denote the same parts. is there.

In FIG. 4, V1 to V5 are vehicles, and four vehicles V1 to V4 are congested due to a sudden accident on the route R001.
The vehicle once travels on a general road via the traffic congestion avoiding route U001 (shown by a broken line in FIG. 1) at 1, and then gets on the same route R001 again at the gate SN2 ahead.

Note that GI indicates a gate IN position, and at this gate IN position, vehicle identification information of a vehicle riding on a toll road is detected. GO indicates the gate OUT position, and vehicle specific information of the vehicle getting off the toll road is detected at the gate OUT position.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a vehicle information file managed by the server device according to the present invention. For example, the vehicle I file in the vehicle management database 105 shown in FIG.
This corresponds to a vehicle data table registered and managed by the D-specific traveling information management file unit 105A.

In FIG. 5, NPD1 and NPD2 are vehicle ID-specific running data, which are registered based on vehicle specifying information (vehicle ID information, gate code, gate passing time (passing time)) transmitted from the terminal device of each route. Program 10
It is registered by the vehicle management database 105 by 4C.

The traveling data NPD1 for each vehicle ID is
The case where the vehicle identification information is “Yokohama 310-1111” is shown, and the vehicle ID-specific travel data NPD2 shows the case where the vehicle identification information is “Shinagawa 550-222”.

The traveling data NPD1 for each vehicle ID is
Gate passing time NPD1-1, passing gate NPD1-2 corresponding to the gate code, gate information NPD1-3 indicating whether the gate is passing through the entrance or exit, fee payment NPD1-4 indicating whether or not payment has been made, remarks NPD1- 5, the driving data NPD2 for each vehicle ID includes the gate passing time NPD2-1, the passing gate NPD2-2, the gate information NPD2-3, the fee payment NPD2-4, and the remarks NP.
D2-5.

Specifically, the traveling data NPD for each vehicle ID
1 is “5: 0” as the gate passage time NPD1-1.
0 "," 6:00 ", and" 7:00 "are registered, and as the passing gate NPD1-2, for example, the gate SN shown in FIG.
1, SN2, SN3 and gate SN
In FIG. 1, it is registered that the gate OUT (GO) and the gate IN again at the gate SN2 as shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a traffic jam information management file managed by the server device according to the present invention. For example, the traffic jam information management file registered and managed by the traffic jam information management file unit 105B in the vehicle management database 105 shown in FIG. Corresponding to the traffic jam table.

In FIG. 6, JAM1 is a traffic jam occurrence time and corresponds to a state where “5:00”, “6:00”, and “7:00” are currently registered.

JAM2 is a traffic jam occurrence location and is specified by the gate information of each route. For example, at "5:00", it is registered that a traffic jam has occurred at the up gates SN1 and SN2, and at "6:00". Are the up gates SN2 and SN3
It is registered that traffic congestion has occurred at "7:00"
This corresponds to a state in which the occurrence of traffic congestion at the down gates XK3 to XK5 is registered.

JAM3 indicates toll road information, and JAM4
Is registered as a congestion factor (for example, nature, weather (snow, rain, typhoon), accident, homecoming, commuting).

The traffic jam occurrence time JAM1, the traffic jam occurrence location JAM2, the toll road information JAM3, the traffic jam factor JAM4
Are registered by the vehicle management database 105 by the registration program 104C.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams showing an example of a charge calculation file managed by the server device according to the present invention. For example, the charge calculation file section 105C in the vehicle management database 105 shown in FIG. It corresponds to a normal toll calculation table for each toll road to be used. Note that the example shown in FIG. 7 is a toll table based on the toll system at the tollgate where the toll should be paid for each traveling section on the toll road S, and the example shown in FIG. It is a charge table based on the charge system in the tollgate.

In FIG. 7, S1 to S5 indicate sections,
For example, the case where the maximum amount is set when the vehicle continuously travels in the section from S1 to S5 is shown.

SC1 to SC5 indicate a normal traveling fee / congestion avoidance traveling fee.

Thus, for example, in the case of the vehicle "Yokohama 310 1111" shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, the vehicle V5 on the toll road S
Recognizing that the traffic is congested due to an accident by a bulletin board or a navigation system, etc., the vehicle once descends from the toll road S at the gate SN1, travels on a parallel road along the congestion avoidance route U001, and again at the gate SN2. When the vehicle returns to S, the vehicle must originally pay the initial ride fee ￥ “500” again uniformly at the toll booth. When it is determined that the vehicle is a vehicle, the controller unit 100 of the center server device 61 uses the calculation program 104B to execute the charge calculation file unit 10
Referring to the table of FIG. 7 registered in 5C, the driver of vehicle V5 contributing to avoid traffic congestion at the toll booth of gate SN2 at the initial ride fare $ 50
The center server device 61 transfers the billing amount data specifying "250", which is obtained by discounting "0", to the terminal device of the gate SN2.

Therefore, if this system is adopted,
The driver of the vehicle V5 stuck in traffic congestion is made to be conscious of the cheapness of the driving fee, and the traffic congestion avoidance action is evoked happily.
It can contribute to avoiding traffic congestion and improve the driving situation of the entire transportation system quickly.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a first data processing procedure in the server device according to the present invention. The charge calculation based on the calculation program 104B and the judgment program 104A executed by the controller unit 100 shown in FIG. Corresponds to the processing procedure. (1) to (11)
Indicates each step.

First, in step (1), when the controller section 100 of the center server apparatus 61 receives information including vehicle specifying information from any of the terminal apparatuses via the communication interface section 102, the information is analyzed. If the information is vehicle specific information, the traveling information management file unit 10 for each vehicle ID
5A, and if it is in a congested state, it is registered in the congestion information management file unit 105B.

Next, in step (2), it is determined whether or not the vehicle is a vehicle to be paid for a traveling fee to a tollgate, based on the vehicle identification information, and whether or not the vehicle is a transfer target vehicle is determined. The controller 100 compares and verifies the congestion information table shown in FIG. 6 with the data table of the vehicle based on the determination program 104A, and the vehicle takes a traffic congestion avoiding action like the vehicle 5 shown in FIG. Judge whether or not.

The steps (1) and (2) shown in FIG.
A traveling vehicle information acquisition step of acquiring traveling route information including vehicle-specific vehicle identification information transmitted from the toll terminal device, gate information for identifying the gate, and gate passage time information; and acquiring the traveling vehicle information. The vehicle I that manages the traveling vehicle information acquired by the step for each vehicle ID
D-based travel information management step, a collection step of collecting traffic jam information on the toll road from an information network, and traffic jam information management of managing the traffic jam information on the toll road collected by the collection step together with neighboring gate information. Steps may be included.

If the controller unit 100 determines in step (3) that the vehicle is a transfer target vehicle, in step (4) the gate to which the gate should pay a fee based on the gate information that received the information. If it is determined whether or not the current gate is a gate for which no fee has been paid, as shown in FIG. 5, the processing is terminated.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (4) that the current gate is a gate for which a fee is to be paid, the controller 100 further proceeds to step (5) based on the determination program 104A in FIG. By comparing and verifying the traffic information table shown and the data table of the vehicle, whether the vehicle has taken a traffic congestion avoiding action like the vehicle V5 shown in FIG. 4 and has re-entered the toll road at the gate SN2 (re-entry). If it is determined that the vehicle has not re-entered the vehicle, the process proceeds to step (10) and the controller 1
00 executes the calculation program 104B, calculates the charge corresponding to the traveling section according to the normal charge system of the charge table shown in FIG. 5, for example, which is managed by the charge calculation file unit 105C, and returns to step (7). .

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (5) that the vehicle is getting on and off again, in step (6), the controller unit 100 executes the calculation program 104B,
Managed by the charge calculation file unit 105C, for example, FIG.
In accordance with the avoidance fee system (a discount fee system calculated at a predetermined discount rate) in the fee table shown in FIG.

Next, in step (7), the controller section 100 determines whether the driver of the vehicle wants to pay the driving fee in cash at the toll booth, and determines that the driver wants to pay cash. If determined, step (8)
Then, the collected fee data (the calculated avoidance fee data) is transmitted to the terminal device provided at the tollgate of the gate, and the process is terminated.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (7) that cash payment is not desired, then in step (11),
For example, if the vehicle that is going through the gate is provided with a communication terminal capable of communicating with the ETC system, the travel fee data (step (6)) is used to deduct the travel fee from the registrant's account based on the system. (According to the calculated calculation result) to a server device (not shown), and the process is terminated.

Although the present embodiment has been described using ETC, it is needless to say that the present invention can be realized by using a settlement method different from ETC.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a data processing procedure in the terminal device according to the present invention. The flowchart corresponds to a communication process performed by the controller unit 200 via the communication interface unit 202 each time a traveling vehicle passes through a gate. I do. Note that (21) to (23) indicate each step.

First, in step (21), information from the plate reading unit 205 is processed to
Detects that an arbitrary vehicle has passed through the gate, in step (22), the controller unit 200 executes the plate extraction program 204A and the vehicle identification information generation program 2
04B is executed, and the generated vehicle information (passing time, vehicle ID (vehicle identification information), gate code unique to the gate) is transmitted to the center server device 61 via the communication interface unit 202.

Next, the controller unit 200 monitors the state of data reception from the communication interface unit 202, and
Upon receiving the data from the center server device 61, in step (23), the controller 200 executes the payment processing program 204C, analyzes the received data, and determines that the received data is toll data for the vehicle passing through the gate. If so, a driving fee is collected from the driver of the vehicle, and the process ends. In step (23), the charge data received from the center server device 61 is displayed.

In the center server device 61, the controller unit 100 discards the traveling vehicle information of each vehicle managed in the external storage device 104 based on the traveling fee collection result of the vehicle notified from the fee terminal device. Thus, a free area of the external storage device 104 is quickly secured to manage the traveling vehicle information of another vehicle.

As a result, the vehicle passing through the gate is
In step (5) shown in step (5), it is possible to clearly identify the vehicle that has been determined to be the vehicle that has re-entered the vehicle and the other vehicle, and to identify both of them. You can charge a discounted travel fee with a special discount.

[0086] Then, a certain revolution of consciousness is proposed for a driver behavior which is not improved by the vehicle which avoids the traffic congestion and the toll system in which the other vehicle has to pay the same fee many times. The driver pays a discount on the price paid by the driver to avoid traffic congestion, prompts drivers to take actions that contribute to eliminating traffic congestion, and collects tolls that adapt to ever-changing road conditions and fluctuate. The system can be freely constructed and various road service businesses can be easily developed.

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment,
For the factor of congestion, we explained the case where a rate that contributes to the resolution of traffic congestion is calculated at a fixed rate, but the congestion factors are further divided and points with different numerical values are assigned to each congestion factor The calculation processing in the center server device 61 of the traffic system on the toll road shown in the first embodiment can be freely adapted so that the toll to be paid can be weighted or reduced according to the number of points. Is also good. Hereinafter, the embodiment will be described.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an allocation adjustment point table for each congestion factor managed by the charge adjustment determination file unit 105D shown in FIG.

In FIG. 11, in the present embodiment, traffic congestion factors are classified into those caused by the weather, those caused by an accident, those caused by homecoming, and those caused by commuting.
If the congestion factor is caused by “accident” as a parameter, the user is calculated to estimate the payment burden lighter than the normal driving fee. Ask the user to estimate the payment burden more heavily than the fee,
If the congestion factor is due to "weather" as a parameter, the user is calculated to estimate the payment burden to some extent lighter than the normal travel fee, and if the congestion factor is due to "commuting" as the parameter, the normal travel fee Rather than making the user estimate the payment burden much heavier.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the total point table managed by the fee adjustment determination file unit 105D shown in FIG.

In FIG. 12, in the present embodiment, FIG.
Are assigned to the discount rates as shown in the figure, and in the calculation process performed by the controller unit 100 in accordance with the calculation program 104B, for example, the travel fee is increased or decreased for each factor. Is reflected as estimated.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a second data processing procedure in the server device according to the present invention. FIG. 13 is a flowchart based on the calculation program 104B and the judgment program 104A executed by the controller unit 100 shown in FIG. 9 corresponds to the detailed procedure in the fee calculation process corresponding to step (6) shown in FIG. (31) to (4)
0) indicates each step.

First, the controller unit 100 executes the step (3) at the time of the transfer fee calculation process in the step (6) shown in FIG. 9 based on the calculation program 104B.
In 1), (33), (35), (37), and (39), in the congestion status table (see FIG. 6) registered and managed by the congestion information management file unit 105B in the vehicle management database 105 shown in FIG. Investigate the code of the traffic jam factor JAM4, and if the determination is YES,
Steps (32), (34), (36), (38), (4)
At 0), a factor-specific flag is set on the work memory (not shown) in accordance with a factor code for determining whether or not a parameter to be referred to for calculation is set, and the process returns to step (7) shown in FIG.

Thus, the controller unit 100 performs the transfer transportation fee calculation processing in step (6) shown in FIG. 8 based on the calculation program 104B.
Furthermore, from the contents of the charge adjustment determination file section 105D,
By changing the calculation method for the travel toll according to the congestion factor, it is possible to calculate the travel toll of the fluctuating market according to the situation of the toll road.

Therefore, depending on the vehicle traveling on the toll road, the travel fee is increased, and the user who uses the toll road can choose not to use the toll road, so that the cause of the traffic congestion on the toll road is reduced. You can take action.

On the other hand, depending on the vehicle traveling on the toll road, the travel fee acts as a discount, and the burden on the user who uses the toll road is reduced by selecting the toll road, and the time required for using the toll road is reduced. Savings and economic spending can be reduced.

Hereinafter, a configuration of a data processing program that can be read by the fee collection processing system including the server device and the terminal device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the memory maps shown in FIGS.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium for storing various data processing programs readable by the server device according to the present invention, and FIG. 15 is readable by the terminal device according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs.

Although not shown, information for managing a group of programs stored in the storage medium, such as version information and creator, is also stored, and information dependent on the OS or the like on the program reading side, such as a program, is stored. An icon or the like for identification display may also be stored.

Further, data dependent on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs on a computer or a program for decompressing a program to be installed when the program to be installed is compressed may be stored.

FIGS. 9, 10, and 13 in this embodiment.
The functions described in (1) and (2) may be performed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. In this case, the present invention is applied even when a group of information including a program is supplied to the output device from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external storage medium via a network. Things.

As described above, the storage medium storing the program codes of the software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiment is supplied to the system or the apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MP) of the system or the apparatus is supplied.
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is also achieved when U) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM,
CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, RO
M, EEPROM and the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) And the like perform part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, The CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

[0107]

As described above, according to the server apparatus, the toll terminal apparatus, the toll collection processing system, the toll collection processing method, the computer readable storage medium and the program according to the present invention, the vehicle identification system is used. To identify the driver's vehicle that is contributing to the congestion mitigation and is traveling on the toll road, and when calculating the toll associated with the congestion, reduce the toll burden that the driver of the vehicle that contributed to the congestion mitigation has to pay. In addition, a fee processing system that can contribute to alleviation of traffic congestion can be freely constructed.

Further, the vehicle of the driver traveling on the toll road is specified by using the vehicle specifying system, and when calculating the travel fee associated with the traffic congestion, the congestion factor is identified and the calculation discount rate is changed. It is possible to freely construct a toll processing system capable of performing a specific toll calculation adapted to the congestion factor and reducing or weighting the payment cost.

Therefore, a traffic congestion avoiding action that cannot be solved by the conventional toll road toll calculation is urged to the vehicle driver, and a discounted toll is charged to the driver who cooperated with the congestion elimination. While raising
It has the effect of contributing to alleviating traffic congestion.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a toll road toll management system to which a server device and a toll terminal device according to a first embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a data processing configuration of a server device and a charge terminal device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a vehicle entry / exit process in the toll road toll management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram conceptually illustrating a vehicle entering / exiting state when traveling on a toll road in the toll road toll management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is managed by a server device according to the present invention (vehicle I
It is a figure which shows an example of a (D-specific driving | running) information file.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a traffic jam information management file managed by the server device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a charge calculation file managed by the server device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a charge calculation file managed by the server device according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a first data processing procedure in the server device according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a data processing procedure in the terminal device according to the present invention.

11 is a diagram showing an example of an allocation adjustment point table for each congestion factor managed by the charge adjustment determination file unit shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a total point table managed by a fee adjustment determination file unit shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a second data processing procedure in the server device according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by the server device according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs readable by the terminal device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 Controller 101 Display 103 Operation unit 102 Communication interface 104 External storage device 104A judgment program 104B calculation program 104C registration program 105 Vehicle management database 105A Travel information management file section by vehicle ID 105B Congestion information management file section 105C charge calculation file section 105D charge adjustment file part 200 Controller 201 Display 202 Communication interface 203 Operation unit 204 External storage device 204A plate extraction program 204B Vehicle identification information generation program 204C payment processing program

Continuation of front page    (72) Inventor Ji-Takashi Jun             3-11-28 Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo Canon             Sales Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yasuhide Sato             3-11-28 Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo Canon             Sales Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Taeko Sugiyama             3-11-28 Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo Canon             Sales Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masako Ishida             3-11-28 Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo Canon             Sales Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 3E027 EA01 EB02 EB04 EB05 EC03                       EC05 EC06 EC07

Claims (22)

[Claims] 1. A server device capable of communicating with a toll terminal device capable of acquiring information on a vehicle traveling from a gate set on a toll road, comprising: vehicle-specific vehicle-specific information transmitted from the toll terminal device Traveling vehicle information acquiring means for acquiring traveling route information including gate information for identifying the gate and gate passing time information; and traveling vehicle information acquired by the traveling vehicle information acquiring means for each vehicle ID capable of specifying a vehicle. Vehicle ID-specific traveling information management means, collection means for collecting traffic jam information on the toll road from an information network, and management of traffic information on the toll road collected by the collection means together with neighboring gate information. A traffic congestion information managing means, based on a vehicle ID managed by the vehicle ID-specific traveling information managing means when a fee data acquisition request is issued from the toll terminal device; Judging means for judging whether or not the vehicle waiting for the toll payment is a vehicle following the congestion avoiding route by referring to each traveling route information and the congestion information on the toll road managed by the congestion information managing means, Calculating means for calculating a vehicle-specific travel fee by a different fee calculation method based on the determination result by the determination means; and transferring the vehicle-specific travel fee calculated by the calculation means to the fee terminal device of the fee data acquisition request source. And a transfer unit. 2. The calculation means refers to a different calculation table and calculates a discounted travel fee lower than a general travel fee when the determination device determines that the vehicle is following the congestion avoidance route. The server device according to claim 1, wherein the calculation is performed. 3. The server device according to claim 1, wherein said calculating means determines a discount rate for setting a discounted travel fee by counting unique adjustment points assigned to different traffic congestion factors. . 4. The server apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the different congestion factors include at least one of an accident congestion factor, a seasonal congestion factor, a weather congestion factor, and a time congestion factor. 5. The vehicle information management device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle ID-based traveling information management means discards the traveling vehicle information based on a traveling fee collection result of the vehicle notified from a toll terminal device. A server device according to any one of the above. 6. A toll terminal device capable of communicating with a server device that manages information on vehicles traveling on a toll road on which a plurality of gates for entering and exiting the vehicle are provided, the toll terminal device being attached to a vehicle entering and exiting the toll road. Vehicle-specific information obtaining means for obtaining vehicle-specific information specific to a vehicle, vehicle-specific information obtained by the vehicle-specific information obtaining means, a gate code of a gate through which the vehicle passes, and a travel route including a passing time. Transmission means for transmitting information to the server device. 7. An acquiring means for acquiring, from the server device, travel fee information for a driver of a vehicle exiting the gate, and displaying a travel fee to be collected from a driver of the vehicle exiting the gate based on the travel fee information. 7. The charge terminal device according to claim 6, further comprising: a display unit that performs the operation. 8. The toll terminal device according to claim 7, further comprising a settlement unit that electronically sets the travel fee displayed by the display unit. 9. The display unit displays a travel fee to be collected from a driver of a vehicle exiting the gate, including whether the travel fee calculated by the server device has been discounted due to traffic congestion avoidance. The charge terminal device according to claim 7, wherein 10. A toll collection system capable of communicating between a toll terminal device capable of acquiring vehicle information traveling on a gate set on a toll road and a server device, wherein the server device includes the toll terminal. Traveling vehicle information acquiring means for acquiring traveling route information including vehicle specific information transmitted from the device, gate information for identifying the gate, and gate passing time information; and traveling vehicle information acquiring means. Vehicle ID-specific traveling information management means for managing traveling vehicle information for each vehicle ID capable of specifying a vehicle, collecting means for collecting traffic congestion information on the toll road from an information network, and on the toll road collected by the collecting means Congestion information management means for managing the congestion information of the vehicle together with neighboring gate information; The vehicle waiting for payment of the toll follows the congestion avoidance route by referring to each traveling route information based on the vehicle ID managed by the line information management means and the congestion information on the toll road managed by the congestion information management means. Determining means for determining whether or not the vehicle is running; calculating means for calculating a traveling fee for each vehicle by a different fare calculation method based on the determination result by the determining means; and a traveling fee for each vehicle calculated by the calculating means. Transfer means for transferring to a toll terminal device that is a requester of toll data acquisition, wherein the toll terminal device manages information on vehicles traveling on a toll road on which a plurality of gates for entering and exiting the vehicle are provided. A toll terminal device capable of communicating with a toll road, comprising: vehicle identification information acquiring means for acquiring vehicle specific information attached to a vehicle entering and exiting a toll road; Transmitting means for transmitting, to the server device, traveling route information including vehicle specifying information acquired by the vehicle identifying information acquiring means, a gate code of a gate through which the vehicle passes, and a passing time. Toll collection processing system. 11. The toll terminal device is configured to acquire, from the server device, travel fee information for a driver of the vehicle exiting the gate, and to collect from the driver of the vehicle exiting the gate based on the travel fee information. 11. A toll collection system according to claim 10, further comprising: display means for displaying a toll to be paid. 12. A toll collection processing method in a server device capable of communicating with a toll terminal device capable of acquiring vehicle information traveling on a gate set on a toll road, wherein the vehicle transmitted from the toll terminal device is provided. A traveling vehicle information acquiring step of acquiring traveling route information including unique vehicle identification information and the gate identifying gate information and gate passing time information; and traveling vehicle information acquired by the traveling vehicle information acquiring step can be vehicle-identified. Vehicle ID managed by each vehicle ID
A separate travel information management step; a collection step of collecting traffic jam information on the toll road from an information network; and a traffic jam information management step of managing the traffic jam information on the toll road collected by the collection step together with neighboring gate information. And a vehicle I managed by the vehicle ID-specific running information management step when a fee data acquisition request is issued from the fee terminal device.
A determination is made by referring to each of the traveling route information based on D and the traffic congestion information on the toll road managed by the traffic congestion information management step to determine whether the vehicle waiting for the toll is a vehicle following the traffic congestion avoidance route. A calculating step of calculating a travel fee for each vehicle by a different fare calculation method based on a result of the determination by the determining step; And a transfer step of transferring to a device. 13. The calculation step refers to a different calculation table and determines a discounted traveling fee lower than a general traveling fee when it is determined in the determining step that the vehicle is following the congestion avoidance route. 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the calculation is performed. 14. The toll collection according to claim 12, wherein the calculating step determines a discount rate for setting a discounted travel fare by counting unique adjustment points assigned to different traffic congestion factors. Processing method. 15. The toll collection method according to claim 14, wherein the different congestion factors include at least one of an accident congestion factor, a seasonal congestion factor, a weather congestion factor, and a time congestion factor. . 16. The vehicle information management method according to claim 12, wherein the vehicle ID-based traveling information management step discards the traveling vehicle information based on a traveling fee collection result of the vehicle notified from a toll terminal device. The fee collection method described in Crab. 17. A toll collection method in a toll terminal device capable of communicating with a server device that manages information on a vehicle traveling on a toll road on which a plurality of gates for entering and exiting the vehicle are provided, the method comprising: Vehicle specifying information obtaining step of obtaining vehicle specific information specific to the vehicle attached to the vehicle to be performed, vehicle specifying information obtained by the vehicle specifying information obtaining step, a gate code of a gate through which the vehicle passes,
A transmitting step of transmitting traveling route information including a passing time to the server device. 18. An acquisition step of acquiring travel fee information for a driver of a vehicle exiting the gate from the server device, and displaying a travel fee to be collected from a driver of the vehicle exiting the gate based on the travel fee information. 18. A method according to claim 17, further comprising a display step of displaying on a means. 19. The toll collection processing method according to claim 18, further comprising a settlement step of electronically setting a travel fee displayed by said display means. 20. The display device according to claim 10, wherein the display unit displays a travel fee to be collected from a driver of the vehicle exiting the gate, including whether the travel fee calculated by the server device has been discounted due to traffic congestion avoidance. 20. The fee collection processing method according to claim 17, wherein: 21. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for realizing the charge collection processing method according to claim 12. 22. A program for realizing the fee collection processing method according to claim 12.