JP2004030450A - Traffic information guiding apparatus, traffic information guiding method, and system therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a traffic information guiding apparatus, a traffic information guiding method and a system therefor capable of quickly responding to a change in a traffic status. <P>SOLUTION: The traffic information guiding apparatus is provided with: a communication part 10 for exchanging operation information containing present location information directly with another moving object; an information table producing part 10 for producing an information table by collecting the operation information from peripheral moving objects; a traffic status predicting part 10 for predicting the traffic status of a passing road from the information in the information table, the present location information, map information, operating statuses of the moving objects, information on obstacles of passing and weather information; a routing pattern detecting part 104 for detecting a tendency of decision when a user selects a route; a routing pattern storage part 15 for storing the detected tendency of the decision; a route searching part 103 for producing a passing route from the present location to a destination from the predicted traffic status and the stored tendency of the decision; and a display part 5 for displaying traffic information representing the traffic status, the passing route and the like. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

【００７４】
数１に示す評価関数において、ｔｉ、ｑｉ、ｖｉ、ｒｉは、交通状態予測部１０２によって予測された交通状態を表わす情報であり、リンク情報テーブルＣの予測交通状態情報ｃ１０から得られる。また、ｑ０ｉ及びｖ０ｉは、それぞれリンク情報テーブルＣの交通量ｃ７及び制限速度ｃ６から得られる。また、ｔ０ｉは、リンク情報テーブルＣの長さｃ５を制限速度ｃ６で除することによって得られる。経路探索部１０３は、数１に示す評価関数を実行して得られた評価値Ｈが最小になる経路を探索することにより、運転者３が経路を選択するときの判断の傾向に応じた経路を探し出すことが可能となる。
【００７５】
また、経路選択パターン記憶部１５に複数の重み係数ｗ１，ｗ２，ｗ３，ｗ４が記憶されている場合には、各重み係数毎に平均値ｗ１_ｍ，ｗ２_ｍ，ｗ３_ｍ，ｗ４_ｍと標準偏差σ１，σ２，σ３，σ４を算出する。そして、経路探索部１０３は、例えば、ｗ１として（ｗ１_ｍ＋１．２８×σ１）、ｗ２として（ｗ２_ｍ＋１．２８×σ２）、ｗ３として（ｗ３_ｍ＋１．２８×σ３）、ｗ４として（ｗ４_ｍ＋１．２８×σ４）を用いて、数１に示す評価関数を実行して経路の探索を行う。この場合、標準偏差に掛け合わされる定数１．２８は、統計上９０％の確率を与える定数であり、運転者があらかじめ設定した確率に応じて変えることもできる。
【００７６】
なお、経路選択パターン記憶部１５には、ｗ１として（ｗ１_ｍ＋１．２８×σ１）、ｗ２として（ｗ２_ｍ＋１．２８×σ２）、ｗ３として（ｗ３_ｍ＋１．２８×σ３）、ｗ４として（ｗ４_ｍ＋１．２８×σ４）が、それぞれ算出されると共に記憶され、経路探索部１０３は、当該算出されると共に記憶された重み係数ｗ１，ｗ２，ｗ３，ｗ４を用いて経路の探索を行う構成であってもよい。
【００７７】
また、評価値Ｈが最小になる経路を探索する経路探索手段としては、制御工学等でよく知られた最適経路探索問題を解くことと同義であり、その手法を用いればよい。例えば特開平７−２２５６１２号「時間軸を探索空間に取り入れた経路探索方法、及び装置」等の公知の経路探索手段を採用することも可能である。
【００７８】
また、経路探索部１０３は、リンク情報テーブルＣを参照して、探し出した経路に対応したリンクの予測通過時間ｃ１０ｃを合計することにより、目的地に到着するまでに必要な時間を算出する。そして、経路探索部１０３は、算出した時間を現在時刻に加算して、到着予想時刻を算出する。
【００７９】
経路選択パターン検出部１０４は、目的地へ向かうために探し出された経路（自車情報Ａ１の予測経路ａ４の経路）、及び前記到着予想時刻を表示部５に表示すると共に、前記探し出された経路を運転者３が修正するための入力待ち受け画面を表示部５に表示する。経路選択パターン検出部１０４は、運転者３からの操作部４を介しての当該経路を修正する操作を受付けた場合、修正操作に対応した経路を選択し、修正に応じて選択された経路を示す経路情報を自車情報Ａ１の予測経路ａ４として記録させる。
【００８０】
なお、経路選択パターン検出部１０４は、当該経路を修正する操作を受付けない場合であっても、車両１が走行することにより変化した現在位置情報と、自車情報Ａ１の予測経路ａ４に記録された経路情報とを照合することにより、予測経路ａ４と異なる経路を車両１が走行していることを検出した場合には、当該走行中の経路を選択された経路として経路情報を生成し、自車情報Ａ１の予測経路ａ４として記録させる構成としてもよい。
【００８１】
また、経路選択パターン検出部１０４は、運転者３からの操作部４を介しての経路を修正する操作を受付けた場合、運転者３からの操作により選択された経路から、運転者３が経路を選択するときの判断の傾向を求める。例えば、前記探し出された経路を経由した場合と、運転者３からの操作により選択された経路を経由した場合とで、それぞれ目的地に到着する到着予想時刻を算出すると共に比較し、運転者３からの操作により選択された経路を経由した場合の到着予想時刻の方が早い場合には、運転者３が経路を選択するときの判断の傾向は、目的地までの時間が最短となる経路を好む時間優先型とする。
【００８２】
また、例えば、前記探し出された経路よりも、運転者３からの操作により選択された経路の方が、交通量の少ないリンクをより多く含んでいる場合には、運転者３が経路を選択するときの判断の傾向は、交通量の少ない経路を好む安全優先型とする。
【００８３】
また、例えば、前記探し出された経路よりも、運転者３からの操作により選択された経路に、制限速度がより高速なリンクが含まれている場合には、運転者３が経路を選択するときの判断の傾向は、走行速度が最高になるような経路を好む最高速度優先型とする。
【００８４】
また、例えば、前記探し出された経路よりも、運転者３からの操作により選択された経路の方が、交差点の信号機による平均信号待ち時間がより短いノードを多く含んでいる場合には、運転者３が経路を選択するときの判断の傾向は、速度の低減率が小さく止まらずに走り続けることを好む走行継続優先型とする。
【００８５】
また、経路選択パターン検出部１０４は、前記判断の傾向毎に、当該傾向の程度を０（最弱）〜１（最強）の間の数値によって表わし、これを当該傾向の重み係数とする。例えば、前記判断の傾向が時間優先型である場合には、時間優先型の重み係数ｗ１として”１”を付与する。また、経路選択パターン検出部１０４は、前記判断の傾向が、時間優先型と最高速度優先型の両方の要素を持っている場合には、時間優先型の重み係数ｗ１として”０．５”を、最高速度優先型の重み係数ｗ３として”０．５”を付与する。
【００８６】
また、経路選択パターン検出部１０４は、前記判断の傾向が、安全優先型と走行継続優先型の両方の要素を持っている場合には、安全優先型の重み係数ｗ２として”０．５”を、走行継続優先型の重み係数ｗ４として”０．５”を付与する。そして、経路選択パターン検出部１０４は、前記判断の傾向を表わす重み係数ｗ１，ｗ２，ｗ３，ｗ４を経路選択パターン記憶部１５へ出力し、記憶させる。
【００８７】
経路選択パターン記憶部１５は、経路選択パターン検出部１０４から重み係数ｗ１，ｗ２，ｗ３，ｗ４が出力される都度蓄積記憶する。そして、経路探索部１０３からの読出しに応じて蓄積記憶した重み係数ｗ１，ｗ２，ｗ３，ｗ４を表わすデータを経路探索部１０３へ出力する。
【００８８】
なお、経路選択パターン検出部１０４は、時間優先型、安全優先型、最高速度優先型、又は走行継続優先型の各経路選択パターンのうち、必要としない経路選択パターンについては、当該経路選択パターンに対応する重み係数を”０”に固定してもよい。また、経路探索部１０３は、上記評価関数において、必要としない経路選択パターンに対応する計算項目を削除した評価関数を用いることとしてもよい。
【００８９】
次に、図２の構成による交通情報案内装置２の動作について説明する。図６は、交通情報案内装置２の動作を説明するためのフローチャートである。まず、ステップＳ１で、情報テーブル生成部１０１により、運転者３に目的地の入力を促すための入力待ち受け画面が表示部５に表示される。そして、情報テーブル生成部１０１により、運転者３からの操作部４を介しての目的地を示す操作が受付けられた場合、情報テーブル生成部１０１により、当該目的地を示す操作に対応した目的地情報が、交通情報テーブルＡの自車情報Ａ１の目的地ａ３として生成されると共に記録される。
【００９０】
なお、ステップＳ１で、運転者３からの操作部４を介しての目的地への経路を指示する操作が受付けられた場合、情報テーブル生成部１０１により、当該経路を指示する操作に対応した経路情報が生成され、当該経路情報が交通情報テーブルＡの自車情報Ａ１の予測経路ａ４の目的地ａ３として記憶されることとしてもよい。
【００９１】
次に、ステップＳ２で、情報テーブル生成部１０１により、車両識別符号記憶部７で得られた車両識別符号が自車情報Ａ１の識別符号ａ１として記録され、位置情報取得部８で得られた現在位置情報が自車情報Ａ１の現在地ａ２として記録され、運行状態検出部１２で得られた走行速度情報が自車情報Ａ１の現在速度ａ５として記録される。また、情報テーブル生成部１０１により、現在走行中のリンクでの走行速度が平均されて自車情報Ａ１のリンク上の平均速度ａ６として記録される。
【００９２】
また、情報テーブル生成部１０１により、運行状態検出部１２で得られた運行状態情報から、加速、減速、定速運転中、右折中、左折中等の運転状態を表わす情報が自車情報Ａ１の運転状態ａ７として記録され、車両故障の有無を示す故障情報が自車情報Ａ１の故障情報ａ８として記録される。これにより、自車両１の運行情報が収集されると共に、交通情報テーブルＡに記録される。
【００９３】
次に、ステップＳ３では、情報テーブル生成部１０１により、他の車両１の運行情報が収集される。図７は、ステップＳ３での動作の詳細を説明するためのフローチャートである。
【００９４】
まず、他の車両１の運行情報の収集が開始される場合、ステップＳ１０１で、情報テーブル生成部１０１により、通信部１０を介して周辺の車両１へ、あて先を指定せずに、自車両１の車両識別符号が送信される。
【００９５】
一方、周辺の車両１では、ステップＳ１０２で、情報テーブル生成部１０１により通信部１０を介して自車両１の車両識別符号が受信される。そして、ステップＳ１０３で、情報テーブル生成部１０１により、交通情報テーブルＡから周辺の車両１の運行情報及び周辺の車両１が既に取得している他の車両１の運行情報が、前記受信された車両識別符号をあて先に指定して、すなわち自車両１あてに通信部１０を介して送信される。このとき、周辺の車両１が既に取得している他の車両１の運行情報としては、他の車両１の車両識別符号及び現在位置情報のみが省略された運行情報として送信される。また、情報テーブル生成部１０１により、運行情報は、新旧を判別するための時刻情報を含んで送信される。
【００９６】
一方、自車両１では、ステップＳ１０４で、情報テーブル生成部１０１により、周辺の車両１の運行情報及び周辺の車両１が既に取得している他の車両１の運行情報が、通信部１０を介して周辺の車両１から受信され、交通情報テーブルＡの他車情報Ａ２として記録される。
【００９７】
また、複数の周辺の車両１から運行情報が受信された場合は、交通情報テーブルＡの他車情報Ａ２に、同一の車両１、つまり識別符号ａ１が同一の情報が含まれることが考えられる。この場合は、情報テーブル生成部１０１により、識別符号ａ１が同一の他車情報Ａ２について、時刻情報が比較され、最新の運行情報のみを残すように、交通情報テーブルＡが更新される。
【００９８】
また、情報テーブル生成部１０１により、前記省略された運行情報から他の車両１の現在位置情報が確認され、交通情報テーブルＡの予測経路ａ４（自車両１が目的地へ向かうための経路）上、又はその付近（例えば半径２００ｍ程度の範囲）に存在している車両１が、前記省略された運行情報に含まれていた場合、前記省略された運行情報には、車両識別符号及び現在位置情報以外の運行情報が含まれていないため、当該他の車両１の詳細な運行情報を要求すべくステップＳ１０７へ移行する。なお、交通情報テーブルＡの予測経路ａ４の情報が、まだ生成されていない場合には、ステップＳ１０７への移行は行われない。
【００９９】
次に、ステップＳ１０５で、情報テーブル生成部１０１により、前記受信された周辺の車両１からの運行情報と、交通情報テーブルＡの運行情報とが比較され、交通情報テーブルＡの運行情報にのみ含まれている運行情報の差分データを、周辺の車両１の車両識別符号をあて先に指定して、通信部１０を介して送信する。これにより、自車両１と周辺の車両１が保有している運行情報が、差分データの送受信によって交換される。
【０１００】
一方、周辺の車両１では、ステップＳ１０６で、情報テーブル生成部１０１により、通信部１０を介して運行情報の差分データが受信され、受信された運行情報の差分データが交通情報テーブルＡに追加される。
【０１０１】
以上、ステップＳ１０１〜Ｓ１０６の動作により、他の車両１の運行情報が取得され、交通情報テーブルＡが生成される。
【０１０２】
次に、自車両１では、ステップＳ１０７で、情報テーブル生成部１０１により、前記詳細な運行情報の要求先の車両１の車両識別符号があて先に指定され、通信部１０を介して詳細な運行情報を要求する情報要求指令が送信される。
【０１０３】
また、前記詳細な運行情報の要求先の車両１が、通信部１０による送受信エリア外の遠隔の車両１である場合には、情報テーブル生成部１０１により、通信部１０による送受信エリア内の車両１であって、前記詳細な運行情報の要求先の車両１の車両１の方向に存在する周辺の車両１が、交通情報テーブルＡの他車情報Ａ１の中から検索される。そして、情報テーブル生成部１０１により、検索された周辺の車両１の車両識別符号をあて先に指定して、前記詳細な運行情報の要求先の車両１への情報要求指令の中継を依頼する中継依頼情報が、当該検索された周辺の車両１へ通信部１０を介して送信される。
【０１０４】
一方、中継を依頼された周辺の車両１では、ステップＳ１０８で、情報テーブル生成部１０１により、通信部１０を介して中継依頼情報が受信された場合には、中継依頼情報のあて先である車両１の車両識別符号をあて先に指定して、中継依頼情報に含まれる情報要求指令を、通信部１０を介して送信する（ステップＳ１０９）。
【０１０５】
一方、前記詳細な運行情報の要求先の車両１では、ステップＳ１１０で、情報テーブル生成部１０１により、通信部１０を介して情報要求指令が受信され、交通情報テーブルＡの自車情報Ａ１の運行情報が、情報要求指令の送信元の車両１の車両識別符号をあて先に指定して、通信部１０を介して送信される（ステップＳ１１１）。
【０１０６】
また、ステップＳ１１１で、当該情報要求指令の送信元の車両１が、通信部１０による送受信エリア外の遠隔の車両１である場合には、情報テーブル生成部１０１により、通信部１０による送受信エリア内の車両１であって、当該情報要求指令の送信元の車両１の方向に存在する周辺の車両１が、交通情報テーブルＡの他車情報Ａ１の中から検索される。そして、情報テーブル生成部１０１により、検索された周辺の車両１の車両識別符号をあて先に指定して、当該情報要求指令の送信元の車両１への送信情報の中継を依頼する中継依頼情報が、当該検索された周辺の車両１へ通信部１０を介して送信され、当該検索された周辺の車両１によって送信情報が中継され、交通情報テーブルＡの他車情報Ａ１の情報が当該情報要求指令の送信元の車両１、すなわち自車両１によって受信される（ステップＳ１１２）。
【０１０７】
以上、ステップＳ１０７〜Ｓ１１２の動作により、情報テーブル生成部１０１は、通信部１０による送受信エリア外の遠隔の車両１の運行情報を取得することが可能になる。
【０１０８】
一方、自車両１では、運行状態検出部１２によって車両故障が検出された場合、ステップＳ１１３で、情報テーブル生成部１０１により、運行状態検出部１２で得られた故障情報と位置情報取得部８で得られた現在位置情報とが他の車両１の通行に影響を与える可能性のある運行情報として、あて先を指定せずに通信部１０を介して周辺の車両１へ送信される。
【０１０９】
他方、周辺の車両１では、ステップＳ１１４で、情報テーブル生成部１０１により、前記他の車両１の通行に影響を与える可能性のある運行情報が受信されて取得されると共に、さらに周囲の車両１へあて先を指定せずに通信部１０を介して送信される（ステップＳ１１５）。これにより、故障車両の存在等、通行に影響を与える運行情報が、より広い範囲の車両１に伝達される。
【０１１０】
次に、図６のフローチャートを参照してステップＳ４で、情報テーブル生成部１０１により、交通情報テーブルＡの他車情報Ａ２の運行情報毎に、各運行情報に含まれた時刻情報が参照され、現在時刻との差が計算されて各運行情報が生成されてからの経過時間が算出される。そして、当該経過時間が所定の時間を越える運行情報は古い情報であると判断されて消去される。これにより、交通情報テーブルＡの情報量の無用の増大が回避される。
【０１１１】
また、情報テーブル生成部１０１により、目的地までに経由するノード（自車情報Ａ１の現在地ａ２、目的地ａ３及び予測経路ａ４に含まれるノード）について、地図情報記憶部９で得られる地図情報から、ノード番号ｂ１、名称ｂ２、所在地ｂ３及び座標ｂ４の情報がノード情報テーブルＢに記録される。また、他の車両１から収集した運行情報に、交差点の通行に関する情報、例えば交差点の信号機による平均信号待ち時間等の情報が含まれていた場合には、この情報が、当該交差点に対応するノードの補足情報ｂ５としてノード情報テーブルＢに記録される。
【０１１２】
また、情報テーブル生成部１０１により、目的地までに経由するリンク（自車情報Ａ１の現在地ａ２、目的地ａ３及び予測経路ａ４に含まれるリンク）について、地図情報記憶部９で得られる地図情報から、リンク番号ｃ１、名称ｃ２、始点ノードｃ３、終点ノードｃ４、長さｃ５、制限速度ｃ６及び交通量ｃ７の情報が、リンク情報テーブルＣに記録される。また、通行障害情報収集部１３で得られる通行障害情報が、通行障害情報ｃ８としてリンク情報テーブルＣに記録される。
【０１１３】
また、情報テーブル生成部１０１により、交通情報テーブルＡからリンク情報テーブルＣのリンク番号ｃ１の各リンクを走行中の他の車両１が検索され、検索された車両１のリンク上の平均速度ａ６が、リンク情報テーブルＣの対応するリンクの平均速度ｃ９として記録される。
【０１１４】
なお、ステップＳ２〜Ｓ４での情報収集及び交通情報テーブルＡ、ノード情報テーブルＢ及びリンク情報テーブルＣの生成、更新処理は、次のステップＳ５以降の動作と並列処理され、常時交通情報テーブルＡ等の内容が最新の情報に更新される構成としてもよい。
【０１１５】
次に、ステップＳ５で、経路探索部１０３により、目的地へ行くための経路が探索され、決定される。図８は、ステップＳ５における予測経路の決定処理の詳細を説明するためのフローチャートである。まず、ステップＳ２０１で、経路探索部１０３により、運転者３に希望する経路の入力を促すための入力待ち受け画面が表示部５に表示される。
【０１１６】
そして、運転者３からの操作部４を介しての目的地への経路を指示する操作が受付けられた場合、経路探索部１０３により、当該経路を指示する操作に対応した経路情報が、自車情報Ａ１の予測経路ａ４として生成されると共に記録される。なお、ステップＳ２０１の処理を行わない構成としてもよい。
【０１１７】
次に、ステップＳ２０２で、経路探索部１０３により、交通情報テーブルＡ、ノード情報テーブルＢ、リンク情報テーブルＣ、地図情報記憶部９で得られた地図情報及び、経路選択パターン記憶部１５に記憶された重み係数ｗ１，ｗ２，ｗ３，ｗ４に従って、前記数１の評価関数が実行され、評価値Ｈが最小になる経路が公知の探索方法により探し出される。そして、探し出された目的地へ向かう経路が、経路探索部１０３により、目的地に至るまでに経由するノード番号とリンク番号からなる経路情報として、自車情報Ａ１の予測経路ａ４に記録される。
【０１１８】
また、重み係数ｗ１，ｗ２，ｗ３，ｗ４が、まだ経路選択パターン記憶部１５に記憶されていない場合には、重み係数ｗ１，ｗ２，ｗ３，ｗ４はすべて”１”として、経路探索部１０３により前記数１の評価関数が実行される。
【０１１９】
また、経路探索部１０３により、自車情報Ａ１の予測経路ａ４に記録された経路に対応したリンクの予測通過時間ｃ１０ｃが合計され、目的地に到着するまでに必要な時間が算出される。そして、経路探索部１０３により、当該算出された時間が現在時刻に加算され、目的地への到着予想時刻が算出される。
【０１２０】
次に、ステップＳ２０３で、経路選択パターン検出部１０４により、前記探し出された経路と目的地への到着予想時刻とが表示部５に表示され、運転者３からの操作部４を介しての当該経路を修正する操作が受付けられた場合、修正操作に対応した経路を示す経路情報が自車情報Ａ１の予測経路ａ４として記録される（ステップＳ２０４）。
【０１２１】
次に、ステップＳ２０５で、経路選択パターン検出部１０４により、前記修正に応じて選択された経路から、運転者３が経路を選択するときの判断の傾向が求められる。この場合、例えば、経路選択パターン検出部１０４により、前記探し出された経路を経由した場合と、前記修正に応じて選択された経路を経由した場合とで、それぞれ目的地に到着する到着予想時刻が算出されると共に比較され、前記修正に応じて選択された経路を経由した場合の到着予想時刻の方が早い場合には、運転者３が経路を選択するときの判断の傾向は、目的地までの時間が最短となる経路を好む時間優先型とされる。
【０１２２】
また、例えば、経路選択パターン検出部１０４により、前記探し出された経路よりも、前記修正に応じて選択された経路の方が、交通量の少ないリンクをより多く含んでいる場合には、運転者３が経路を選択するときの判断の傾向は、交通量の少ない経路を好む安全優先型とされる。
【０１２３】
また、例えば、経路選択パターン検出部１０４により、前記探し出された経路よりも、前記修正に応じて選択された経路に、制限速度がより高速なリンクが含まれている場合には、運転者３が経路を選択するときの判断の傾向は、走行速度が最高になるような経路を好む最高速度優先型とされる。
【０１２４】
また、例えば、前記探し出された経路よりも、前記修正に応じて選択された経路の方が、交差点の信号機による平均信号待ち時間がより短いノードを多く含んでいる場合には、運転者３が経路を選択するときの判断の傾向は、速度の低減率が小さく止まらずに走り続けることを好む走行継続優先型とされる。
【０１２５】
また、例えば、経路選択パターン検出部１０４により、前記判断の傾向毎に、当該傾向の程度が０（最弱）〜１（最強）の間の数値によって表わされ、これが当該傾向の重み係数とされる。例えば、前記判断の傾向が時間優先型である場合には、経路選択パターン検出部１０４により、時間優先型の重み係数ｗ１として”１”が付与される。また、前記判断の傾向が、時間優先型と最高速度優先型の両方の要素を持っている場合には、経路選択パターン検出部１０４により、時間優先型の重み係数ｗ１として”０．５”が、最高速度優先型の重み係数ｗ３として”０．５”が付与される。
【０１２６】
また、前記判断の傾向が、安全優先型と走行継続優先型の両方の要素を持っている場合には、経路選択パターン検出部１０４により、安全優先型の重み係数ｗ２として”０．５”が、走行継続優先型の重み係数ｗ４として”０．５”が付与される。そして、経路選択パターン検出部１０４によって、前記判断の傾向を表わす重み係数ｗ１，ｗ２，ｗ３，ｗ４が経路選択パターン記憶部１５に記憶される。
【０１２７】
次に、ステップＳ２０６で、情報テーブル生成部１０１により、ステップＳ２〜Ｓ４と同様の動作によって、他の車両１の情報が収集され、交通情報テーブルＡ、ノード情報テーブルＢ及びリンク情報テーブルＣの内容が更新される（ステップＳ２０７）。なお、ステップＳ２〜Ｓ４の動作を、ステップＳ５以降の動作と並列処理する構成とした場合には、ステップＳ２０６、Ｓ２０７の処理を行わないこととしてもよい。以上、ステップＳ２０１〜Ｓ２０７によって、ステップＳ５の処理を終了し、ステップＳ６に移行する。
【０１２８】
次に、ステップＳ６で、交通状態予測部１０２により、目的地に到達するまでの時間経過に応じて目的地までの経路の交通状態が予測演算され、当該交通状態を表わす情報が、リンク情報テーブルＣの予測交通状態情報ｃ１０として生成される。図９は、ステップＳ６における交通状態の予測動作の詳細を説明するためのフローチャートである。
【０１２９】
まず、ステップＳ３０１で、交通状態予測部１０２により、交通情報テーブルＡが参照され、他車情報Ａ２の現在地ａ２の情報に従って他の車両１が前記地図情報に対応させて配置されたマッピング情報が生成される（ステップＳ３０２）。以降、計算上の現在時刻を計算時刻ｔで表わし、ステップＳ３０２で生成されたマッピング情報は、計算時刻ｔ＝０におけるマッピング情報となる。
【０１３０】
図１０は、前記マッピング情報を説明するための図である。図１０において、前記地図情報は交差点（ノード）を表わす○印と、道路（リンク）を表わす線で表わされる。また、目的地が■印で示され、自車位置から目的地までの予測経路が太い線で示される。また、他の車両１が配置された位置が、ａ又はｂで示される。この場合、ａは、Ｎ_ａで示される交差点（ノード）を自車両１が通過する時刻を予測するために必要な他の車両１の位置を示し、ｂは、Ｎ_ｂで示される交差点（ノード）を自車両１が通過する時刻を予測するために必要な他の車両１の位置を示す。
【０１３１】
次に、ステップＳ３０３で、交通状態予測部１０２により、前記マッピング情報に従って、自車両１が現在走行中のリンク（自車情報Ａ１の現在地ａ２のリンク番号で示されるリンク）である自車リンク内に存在する他の車両１の数が算出される。なお、ステップＳ３２２からステップＳ３０３に移行した場合には、ステップＳ３１７で更新された計算時刻ｔにおける予測現在位置に対応したリンクを自車リンクとし、当該更新された計算時刻ｔにおける予測マッピング情報に基づいて、他の車両１の数が算出される。
【０１３２】
次に、ステップＳ３０４で、交通状態予測部１０２により、他車情報Ａ２の目的地ａ３、予測経路ａ４、現在速度ａ５等の運行情報及び前記マッピング情報に従い、計算時刻ｔからｔ＋Δｔ（Δｔは微小刻み時間）までの間に自車リンクへ流入、流出する他の車両１の数が算出される。この場合、自車リンクへ流入、流出する車両１の数は、公知の計算機シュミレーションの手法によって算出される。
【０１３３】
そして、交通状態予測部１０２により、前記算出された自車リンク内の車両１の数に、流入する他の車両１の数が加算され、流出する他の車両１の数が減算され、その結果、計算時刻ｔ＋Δｔにおける自車リンク内の他の車両１の数が算出される。
【０１３４】
次に、ステップＳ３０５で、交通状態予測部１０２により、自車リンク内の車両密度が算出される。車両密度は、計算時刻ｔ＋Δｔにおける自車リンク内の車両１の数が、当該リンクの長さ（リンク情報テーブルＣの長さｃ５から得られる）で除されることによって、算出される。また、上記のように算出された車両密度は、例えば所定の値と比較演算されて、大、中、小等の数段階で表わされる。
【０１３５】
次に、ステップＳ３０６で、交通状態予測部１０２により、速度低減率Ｒ_ｄが算出される。図１１は、車両密度から速度低減率Ｒ_ｄを求めるための変換図の一例である。図１１の変換図では、横軸に車両密度が、縦軸に速度低減率Ｒ_ｄが示され、車両密度と速度低減率Ｒ_ｄとの間の対応がグラフで示される。図１１の変換図から、交通状態予測部１０２により、前記算出された車両密度に対応する速度低減率Ｒ_ｄが求められる。
【０１３６】
一方、ステップＳ３０７で、交通状態予測部１０２により、気象情報収集部１４で得られた天気情報、降水量、降雪量等の気象情報から気象条件の良し悪しの程度を表わす気象天候情報が生成される。この場合、交通状態予測部１０２により、例えば、天気情報が晴天の場合には気象天候情報は”良”、天気情報が雨天の場合には気象天候情報は”中”、天気情報が雨天で降水量が一定の雨量を超える場合及び降雪の場合には気象天候情報は”悪”とされる。なお、気象天候情報は、数値化されて表わされるものであってもよい。
【０１３７】
次に、ステップＳ３０８で、交通状態予測部１０２により、速度低減率Ｒ_ｗが求められる。図１２は、気象天候情報から速度低減率Ｒ_ｗを求めるための変換図の一例である。図１２の変換図では、横軸に気象天候情報が、縦軸に速度低減率Ｒ_ｗが示され、気象天候情報と速度低減率Ｒ_ｗとの間の対応がグラフで示される。図１２の変換図から、交通状態予測部１０２により、前記生成された気象天候情報に対応する速度低減率Ｒ_ｗが求められる。
【０１３８】
一方、ステップＳ３０９で、交通状態予測部１０２により、リンク情報テーブルＣの通行障害情報ｃ８から事故等による通行の支障の程度を表わす事故支障情報が生成される。この場合、交通状態予測部１０２により、例えば、事故が発生している場合には事故支障情報は”大”、通行制限されている場合には事故支障情報は”中”、通行の障害がない場合には事故支障情報は”無”とされる。なお、事故支障情報は、より数多くの段階で表わされても良く、あるいは数値化されて表わされるものであってもよい。
【０１３９】
次に、ステップＳ３１０で、交通状態予測部１０２により、速度低減率Ｒ_ｔが求められる。図１３は、事故支障情報から速度低減率Ｒ_ｔを求めるための変換図の一例である。図１３の変換図では、横軸に事故支障情報が、縦軸に速度低減率Ｒ_ｔが示され、事故支障情報と速度低減率Ｒ_ｔとの間の対応がグラフで示される。図１２の変換図から、交通状態予測部１０２により、前記生成された事故支障情報に対応する速度低減率Ｒ_ｔが求められる。
【０１４０】
次に、ステップＳ３１１で、交通状態予測部１０２により、速度低減率Ｒ_ｄ、速度低減率Ｒ_ｗ及び速度低減率Ｒ_ｔの積が、リンク情報テーブルＣの予測速度低減率ｃ１０ａとして算出され、自車リンクに対応するリンクの予測速度低減率ｃ１０ａとして記録される。
【０１４１】
次に、ステップＳ３１２で、交通状態予測部１０２により、リンク情報テーブルＣでの自車リンクの平均速度ｃ９及び予測速度低減率ｃ１０ａとの積が、予測速度ｃ１０ｂとして算出され、記録される。また、交通状態予測部１０２により、自車リンクの長さｃ５が予測速度ｃ１０ｂで除され、自車リンクを通過する予測通過時間ｃ１０ｃとして算出されると共に記録される。
【０１４２】
次に、ステップＳ３１３で、交通状態予測部１０２により、Δｔ時間経過後の各車両１の位置が、マッピング情報とリンク情報テーブルＣに従って求められ、新たに計算時刻ｔ＋Δｔにおける予測マッピング情報が生成される。この場合、例えば、自車リンク内の車両１については、交通状態予測部１０２により、予測速度ｃ１０ｂと微小刻み時間Δｔとの積が、Δｔ時間での移動距離として算出され、計算時刻ｔ＋Δｔにおける位置が求められる。また、自車リンク以外のリンクに存在する車両１については、交通状態予測部１０２により、平均速度ｃ９と微小刻み時間Δｔとの積が、Δｔ時間での移動距離として算出され、計算時刻ｔ＋Δｔにおける位置が求められる。
【０１４３】
また、計算時刻ｔ＋Δｔにおける位置の算出時に、交通状態予測部１０２により、自車情報Ａ１の運転状態ａ７及び他車情報Ａ２の運転状態ａ７が参照され、加速、減速、定速運転中、右折中、左折中等の運転状態を示す運行状態情報に従って、Δｔ時間後の移動距離、移動方向が補正される。この補正により、さらに計算時刻ｔ＋Δｔにおける位置の予測精度が高められる。
【０１４４】
なお、ステップＳ３１１〜Ｓ３１３で、自車リンク以外のリンクについても予測速度低減率ｃ１０ａ及び予測速度ｃ１０ｂを算出し、すべての車両１について予測速度ｃ１０ｂに従い計算時刻ｔ＋Δｔにおける位置が求められ、予測マッピング情報が生成されるようにしてもよい。この場合、計算時刻ｔ＋Δｔにおける位置の予測精度が高められる。
【０１４５】
次に、ステップＳ３１４で、交通状態予測部１０２により、自車リンク内の時間あたりの通過台数である交通量が、予測交通量ｃ１０ｄとして算出されると共に記録される。この場合、例えば、単位時間が経過することにより、各車両１が移動することになる距離を算出し、その結果、各リンクを通過することになる車両１の数を数えることによって、交通量が算出される。
【０１４６】
次に、ステップＳ３１５で、交通状態予測部１０２により、到達時刻変数Ｔに計算時刻ｔ＋Δｔが代入されて記憶される。そして、ステップＳ３１６で、交通状態予測部１０２により、予測マッピング情報が参照され、自車両１が計算時刻ｔ＋Δｔに計算上目的地に到達したか否かが確認される。そして、自車両１が目的地に到達していない場合にはステップＳ３１７へ移行し、自車両１が目的地に到達している場合には、ステップＳ６の予測交通状態情報の生成処理を終了し、ステップＳ７へ移行する。
【０１４７】
次に、ステップＳ３１７で、交通状態予測部１０２により、計算時刻ｔにｔ＋Δｔが代入され、以降の処理において新たに代入されたｔ＋Δｔが、計算時刻ｔとして処理される。
【０１４８】
次に、ステップＳ３１８で、交通状態予測部１０２により、ステップＳ２〜Ｓ４と同様にして自車両１及び他の車両１の運行情報が収集され、収集された運行情報に変化がなかった場合にはステップＳ３２１へ移行し、収集された運行情報に変化が有った場合には、交通情報テーブルＡが更新され（ステップＳ３１９）、更新された交通情報テーブルＡの運行情報に従い、新たに予測マッピング情報が生成される（ステップＳ３２０）。
【０１４９】
次に、ステップＳ３２１で、交通状態予測部１０２により、計算時刻ｔにおける予測マッピング情報が参照され、自車両１が次のリンクに進入したか否かが確認される。そして、自車両１が次のリンクに進入していない場合にはステップＳ３０３に移行し、自車両１が次のリンクに進入している場合には、自車リンクのリンク番号を更新し（ステップＳ３２２）、以降の処理において新たなリンク番号で示されるリンクを自車リンクとして処理を行う。
【０１５０】
次に、ステップＳ３０３に移行し、以下、ステップＳ３０３〜Ｓ３１６において、Δｔ時間経過後の新たな計算時間ｔ、Δｔ時間が経過した後の予測マッピング情報及び新たな交通情報テーブルＡに基づいて、予測速度低減率ｃ１０ａ、予測速度ｃ１０ｂ、予測通過時間ｃ１０ｃ、予測交通量ｃ１０ｄ及び到達時刻変数Ｔの情報を生成し、自車両１が計算上目的地に到達するまでステップＳ３０３〜Ｓ３２２の処理を繰り返し実行する。
【０１５１】
この場合、通信部１０を介して他の車両１からリアルタイムに受信された運行情報に従って、目的地へ到達するまでの交通状態が、微小刻み時間Δｔ毎に演算されるので、例えば交通監視センタ等によって提供される情報に従った場合には困難な、数十秒、数分程度先の近未来の交通状態を予測することが可能となる。また、速度低減率として、気象情報及び通行障害情報が反映され、Δｔ時間後の車両１の予測位置が、加速、減速、定速運転中、右折中、左折中等の運転状態を示す運行状態情報によって補正されるので、精度の高い予測が可能となる。
【０１５２】
次に、ステップＳ７では、ステップＳ３１６で目的地に計算上到達した時の計算時刻ｔ＋Δｔが到達時刻変数Ｔに代入され、そのまま記憶されている。その到達時刻変数Ｔが、交通状態予測部１０２により、現在時刻に加算され、到着予想時刻が算出される。
【０１５３】
次に、ステップＳ８で、交通状態予測部１０２により、自車情報Ａ１の予測経路ａ４及び到着予想時刻、予測交通量ｃ１０ｄが、地図情報記憶部９から得られた地図と対応させて、表示部５に表示される。この場合、運転者３は、目的地に至るまでの経路上の混雑状況を、地図と対応させて知ることができる。
【０１５４】
次に、ステップＳ９で、交通状態予測部１０２により、目的地と位置情報取得部８で得られた現在位置情報とが照合され、自車両１が目的地に到達した場合には処理を終了し、目的地に到達していない場合には、ステップＳ２に移行して再びステップＳ２〜Ｓ９の処理を行う。
【０１５５】
次に、ステップＳ１０で、情報テーブル生成部１０１により、運転者３からの操作部４を介しての希望経路又は目的地を変更する操作が受付けられた場合、情報テーブル生成部１０１により、当該変更する操作に対応して交通情報テーブルＡの自車情報Ａ１の目的地ａ３又は予測経路ａ４の情報が変更される。そして、ステップＳ２へ移行し、再びステップＳ２〜Ｓ９の処理が実行される。
【０１５６】
以上、ステップＳ１〜Ｓ１０の動作により、自車両１及び他の車両１の運行情報が取得され、取得された運行情報から道路に関する交通情報が、交通情報テーブルＡ、ノード情報テーブルＢ及びリンク情報テーブルＣとして生成され、生成された情報が、運転者３に報知される。
【０１５７】
なお、本実施例において、位置情報取得部８は、位置情報を送信する手段として前記ＶＩＣＳを用い、ＶＩＣＳの光ビーコンから受信した位置情報によって現在位置を取得する構成を示したが、ＶＩＣＳの光ビーコンを用いず、以下のような位置情報送信手段を用いる構成としてもよい。例えば、交差点に、下を通った車両１に当該交差点のノード番号を送信するノード番号送信手段を設置し、車両１の位置情報取得部８は、当該ノード番号送信手段から受信したノード番号を地図情報と照合することにより現在位置を取得する構成であってもよい（図１４参照）。
【０１５８】
また、例えば、ノードを通った事を示す情報のみを下を通った車両１へ送信する簡易送信手段を交差点に設置し、車両１の位置情報取得部８は、当該簡易送信手段からノードを通った事を示す情報を受信することにより、現在位置の補正を行う構成としてもよい（図１５参照）。
【０１５９】
また、例えば、交差点のノード番号を下を通った車両１へ送信すると共に、当該車両１から平均速度、交通量、信号平均待ち時間、交差点の平均通過時間を表わす情報を受信し、記憶、蓄積する送受信情報処理手段を交差点に設置する構成としてもよい。また、前記送受信情報処理手段は、受信した平均速度等を表わす情報を下を通った他の車両１へ送信する構成としてもよい（図１６参照）。この場合、交通状態予測部１０２は、より精度の高い交通量の算出、及び到着時間予測が可能となる。
【０１６０】
また、例えば、前記送受信情報処理手段としての機能に加えて複数の前記送受信情報処理手段との間で情報を送受信可能な通信手段を備え、さらに所定の地域内の交通情報を収集、情報処理可能な送受信統括情報処理手段を交差点に設置する構成としてもよい（図１７参照）。この場合、前記送受信統括情報処理手段によって、複数の前記送受信情報処理手段から収集された交通情報が統括され、前記送受信情報処理手段へ送信されるので、前記送受信統括情報処理手段又は前記送受信情報処理手段の下を通った車両１へ所定の地域内の交通情報を送信することが可能となる。
【０１６１】
また、例えば、複数の前記送受信統括情報処理手段との間で通信可能に接続され、前記送受信統括情報処理手段が保有する交通情報を統合集約し、あるいは前記送受信統括情報処理手段等を用いて道路を走行する車両１に交通情報を提供する中央処理装置を設ける構成としてもよい（図１８参照）。この場合、例えば、道路管理者が運用する交通監視センタとして前記中央処理装置を用いることが可能である。
【０１６２】
【発明の効果】
請求項１記載の発明によれば、直接移動体同士でリアルタイムに運行情報が送受信されるため、交通状態の変化をリアルタイムに把握することが可能となり、交通状態の変化に即応可能な交通情報案内装置を提供できる。
【０１６３】
請求項２記載の発明によれば、交通情報を地図情報と対応させてユーザーに報知することができる。
【０１６４】
請求項３記載の発明によれば、現在位置から目的地へ向かう通行路における交通状態を予測して、精度の高い交通情報をユーザーに報知することができる。
【０１６５】
請求項４に記載の発明によれば、移動体の運行に関わる動作状態を加味した交通状態の予測が行われるので、精度の高い交通情報をユーザーに報知することができる。
【０１６６】
請求項５に記載の発明によれば、通行の障害となる事象の発生を加味した交通状態の予測が行われるので、精度の高い交通情報をユーザーに報知することができる。
【０１６７】
請求項６に記載の発明によれば、気象の状態による影響を加味した交通状態の予測が行われるので、精度の高い交通情報をユーザーに報知することができる。
【０１６８】
請求項７に記載の発明によれば、他の移動体の運行状況の変化に即応してより好適な通行経路をユーザーに報知することができる。
【０１６９】
請求項８に記載の発明によれば、ユーザーが通行する経路を選択するときの判断の傾向を加味して通行経路が探索されるので、ユーザーの満足度を高めることができる。
【０１７０】
請求項９に記載の発明によれば、直接運行情報を受信した他の移動体を経由して、さらに当該他の移動体以外の移動体の運行情報を取得することができるので、直接通信可能な範囲外の移動体の運行情報を間接的に取得することができる。
【０１７１】
請求項１０に記載の発明によれば、交通情報の確からしさをユーザーに報知することができる。
【０１７２】
請求項１１に記載の発明によれば、三以上の移動体が運行情報を互いに送受信することにより、通行路に関する交通情報を生成し、当該交通情報をユーザーに報知することができる。
【０１７３】
請求項１２に記載の発明によれば、直接移動体同士でリアルタイムに運行情報が送受信されるため、交通状態の変化をリアルタイムに把握することが可能となり、交通状態の変化に即応することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の一実施形態に係る交通情報案内装置を車両に搭載した概略構成図である。
【図２】本発明の一実施形態に係る交通情報案内装置の構成を示すブロック図である。
【図３】本発明の一実施形態に係る交通情報テーブルＡの一例を示す図である。
【図４】本発明の一実施形態に係るノード情報テーブルＢの一例を示す図である。
【図５】本発明の一実施形態に係るリンク情報テーブルＣの一例を示す図である。
【図６】本発明の一実施形態での交通情報案内装置の動作を説明するためのフローチャートである。
【図７】本発明の一実施形態での交通情報案内装置の動作を説明するためのフローチャートである。
【図８】本発明の一実施形態での交通情報案内装置の動作を説明するためのフローチャートである。
【図９】本発明の一実施形態での交通情報案内装置の動作を説明するためのフローチャートである。
【図１０】本発明の一実施形態に係るマッピング情報を説明するための図である。
【図１１】本発明の一実施形態に係る変換図である。
【図１２】本発明の一実施形態に係る変換図である。
【図１３】本発明の一実施形態に係る変換図である。
【図１４】本発明の一実施形態に係るノード番号送信手段の一例を示す図である。
【図１５】本発明の一実施形態に係る簡易送信手段の一例を示す図である。
【図１６】本発明の一実施形態に係る送受信情報処理手段の一例を示す図である。
【図１７】本発明の一実施形態に係る送受信統括情報処理手段の一例を示す図である。
【図１８】本発明の一実施形態を説明するための図である。
【図１９】地図情報の一例を示す図である。
【符号の説明】
１　車両
２　交通情報案内装置
３　運転者
４　操作部
５　表示部
６　アンテナ
７　車両識別符号記憶部
８　位置情報取得部
９　地図情報記憶部
１０　通信部
１１　交通情報生成部
１２　運行状態検出部
１３　通行障害情報収集部
１４　気象情報収集部
１５　経路選択パターン記憶部
１０１　情報テーブル生成部
１０２　交通状態予測部
１０３　経路探索部
１０４　経路選択パターン検出部[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a traffic information guide device and a traffic information guide that are configured to be mountable on a moving body, acquire operation information from other moving bodies around the own moving body, and support efficient traffic on a traffic path. A method and a system thereof.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, traffic congestion on roads has increased along with an increase in traffic volume, and it has been desired to eliminate the traffic jam. For this reason, conventionally, on a highway, an expressway, or the like, information on traffic conditions such as traffic volume and traffic congestion is collected by measuring the number of passing vehicles and the traveling speed of vehicles, and information on these traffic conditions is, for example, 2. Description of the Related Art A system has been operated that enables a driver of each vehicle to avoid traffic congestion by displaying the information on a car navigation system mounted on the vehicle. As such a traffic information system for assisting vehicle operation, a VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System) operated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, and the National Police Agency is known.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-mentioned conventional traffic information system, since the traffic condition is centrally managed by a central traffic control center or the like, the information processing load on the traffic control center or the like is large, and the information is updated after the traffic condition changes. It takes time, and it is difficult for each vehicle to obtain information on these traffic conditions in real time. For example, obtaining the information for predicting the traffic state at the time when the vehicle arrives 100 m ahead several tens of seconds later cannot be handled by the above-described conventional traffic information system.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a traffic information guidance device, a traffic information guidance method, and a system thereof that can respond to changes in traffic conditions.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1 is configured to be mountable on a moving body, and obtains operation information from other moving bodies around the own moving body, and provides traffic information guidance for assisting efficient passage on a passage. An apparatus, a position information acquisition unit that acquires current position information indicating a current position of the mounted mobile unit, a communication unit that transmits and receives operation information including the current position information, It is characterized by comprising traffic information generating means for generating traffic information on a traffic route from the current position information and the received operation information on other moving objects, and a notifying means for notifying the generated traffic information.
[0006]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the current position information of the own moving body is obtained by the position information obtaining means. In this case, the means for transmitting the position information to the position information acquisition means may be a GPS satellite, a VICS, or another means for transmitting the position information. Further, the operation information including the current position information of the own mobile unit is transmitted by the communication unit, while the operation information including the current position information of another mobile unit is received by the communication unit. Then, traffic information relating to the passage is generated by the traffic information generating means from the current position information of the own moving body and the received operation information relating to the other moving body, and the generated traffic information is notified by the notifying means. In this case, since the operation information is directly transmitted and received between the moving objects, it becomes possible to acquire the operation information of another moving object in real time. In addition, since the current position information of other moving objects in the vicinity of the own moving object can be obtained in real time, traffic information on a traffic route in the vicinity of the own moving object in response to a change in the operation status of the other moving object. It becomes possible to inform.
[0007]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the traffic information guide device according to the first aspect, a traffic route is provided with a map storage unit in which traffic information is recorded as map information of a traffic network. According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the traffic route is recorded in the map storage means as the map information of the traffic network, the notifying means can notify the traffic information in association with the map information. It becomes.
[0008]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the traffic information guide device according to the first or second aspect, further comprising an operation unit for inputting a destination, wherein the traffic information generating unit is configured to control a traffic condition on a traffic route from the current position to the destination. Is provided from the operation information to generate traffic information, and the notifying means notifies the traffic information obtained by the prediction. According to the third aspect of the present invention, the destination is input using the operation means, and the traffic condition in the traffic route from the current position to the destination is predicted from the operation information by the traffic condition prediction means, and the traffic information is The traffic information generated and predicted by the notification means is reported.
[0009]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the traffic information guide device according to the third aspect, the operation information includes operation state information indicating an operation state related to the operation of the moving body, and the traffic state prediction means includes the operation state information. The traffic information is generated by predicting the traffic state in consideration of According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the traffic condition is predicted by the traffic condition prediction means in consideration of the operation condition information included in the operation information, and the traffic information is generated.
[0010]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the traffic information guide device according to the third or fourth aspect, the operation information includes traffic obstruction information indicating the occurrence of an event that impedes traffic, and the traffic condition predicting means includes: It is characterized in that traffic information is generated by predicting a traffic state in consideration of traffic obstacle information. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the traffic condition is predicted by the traffic condition predicting unit in consideration of the traffic obstacle information included in the operation information, and the traffic information is generated.
[0011]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the traffic information guide device according to any one of the third to fifth aspects, the operation information includes weather information indicating a weather state, and the traffic state prediction means converts the weather information to It is characterized in that traffic information is generated by predicting a traffic state in consideration of the traffic information. According to the invention described in claim 6, the traffic condition is predicted by the traffic condition predicting unit in consideration of the weather information included in the operation information, and the traffic information is generated.
[0012]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the traffic information guide device according to any one of the third to sixth aspects, the traffic information generating means searches for a travel route from the current position to the destination according to the generated traffic information. And a notifying means for notifying the traffic route found by the search. According to the invention described in claim 7, the route search means searches for a travel route from the current position to the destination in accordance with the traffic information, and the travel route found by the search is notified by the notification means. .
[0013]
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the traffic information guide device according to the seventh aspect, the route searching means travels from the current position to the destination in consideration of information indicating a tendency of the user when selecting a route. It is characterized by performing a search for a traffic route. According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the route search means searches for a travel route from the current position to the destination in consideration of information indicating a tendency of a determination when a user selects a route to travel. You.
[0014]
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the traffic information guide device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, the communication means transmits the operation information received from another moving body to another moving body. It is characterized by. According to the ninth aspect, the operation information received from another mobile unit by the communication unit is transmitted to another mobile unit.
[0015]
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the traffic information guide device according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, the traffic information generating means relates to the other moving body based on a distance between the own moving body and the other moving body. It is characterized in that the operation information is weighted, the traffic state prediction means calculates the certainty of the traffic information from the assigned weight, and the notifying means notifies the certainty. According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the traffic information generating means assigns weights to the operation information related to the other mobile body based on the distance between the own mobile body and the other mobile body, and the weight is assigned by the traffic state prediction means. The likelihood of the traffic information is calculated from the weight, and the likelihood is reported by the reporting means. In this case, the uncertainty increases as the operation information of the moving body located farther from the own mobile unit increases. It is possible to calculate the certainty of the traffic information from the weight of the information.
[0016]
A traffic information guidance system according to an eleventh aspect is characterized in that three or more moving bodies equipped with the traffic information guidance device according to any one of the first to tenth aspects transmit and receive operation information to and from each other. According to the eleventh aspect, the operation information is transmitted and received between three or more moving objects equipped with the traffic information guide device. In this case, since the three or more moving bodies can acquire the operation information from each other, the traffic information generated from the acquired operation information can be notified to the user.
[0017]
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of obtaining operation information from another moving body in the vicinity of the own moving body and assisting efficient traffic on a traffic route, wherein the computer is provided with the own moving body. Acquiring current position information indicating the current position of the mobile device, transmitting and receiving operation information including the current position information to the communication means, and obtaining the current position information of the own mobile device and other received mobile devices. The method is characterized by executing a step of generating traffic information on a traffic route from the operation information and a step of notifying the generated traffic information via notifying means. According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the computer assists efficient traffic based on the operation information acquired from other moving objects around the own moving object, and indicates the current position of the mounted own moving object. The current position information is acquired, the operation information including the current position information is transmitted and received, and the traffic information on the passage is generated from the current position information of the own moving body and the operation information on the other moving body, and the generated traffic information is generated. Traffic information is reported via the reporting means.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a traffic information guide device according to the present invention is provided in a vehicle and used for road traffic will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the traffic information guide device according to the present invention is not limited to a device provided for a vehicle, and may be used for marine traffic, air traffic, and the like, provided for a ship or an aircraft.
[0019]
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram in which a traffic information guide device according to the present invention is mounted on a vehicle. A traffic information guide device 2 is installed in the vehicle 1. The traffic information guide device 2 includes an operation unit 4, a display unit 5, and an antenna 6. The operation unit 4 is provided so as to be operable by the driver 3, and the display unit 5 is provided at a position where the driver 3 can observe. In addition, this device is mounted on a plurality of vehicles 1 and transmits and receives information to and from each other, thereby functioning as a traffic information guidance system that supports efficient traffic on a road.
[0020]
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the traffic information guidance device according to the present invention. The traffic information guide device 2 shown in FIG. 2 includes a vehicle identification code storage unit 7, a position information acquisition unit 8, a map information storage unit 9, a communication unit 10, a traffic information generation unit 11, an operation unit 4, a display unit 5, an operation state. It includes a detection unit 12, a traffic obstruction information collection unit 13, a weather information collection unit 14, and a route selection pattern storage unit 15. The traffic information generation unit 11 includes blocks of an information table generation unit 101, a traffic state prediction unit 102, a route search unit 103, and a route selection pattern detection unit 104.
[0021]
The vehicle identification code storage unit 7 stores a vehicle identification code assigned to each traffic information guidance device 2 (consequently identifying a vehicle on which the traffic information guidance device 2 is mounted), and stores an information table as necessary. The vehicle identification code is output to generation section 101. The position information acquisition unit 8 acquires the current position of the vehicle 1 based on the information received from the optical beacon, for example, when passing under the optical beacon of the VICS, and transmits the acquired current position information to the information table generation unit 101. Output. The position information acquisition unit 8 may be configured to acquire the current position using another position detection unit, such as a GPS that acquires the current position from position information transmitted from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite. Good. In addition, the position information acquisition unit 8 may use a means of positioning, which is adopted as a means of positioning, for the means of transportation on which the traffic information guide device 2 is mounted.
[0022]
The map information storage unit 9 is configured by a storage device using, for example, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a semiconductor storage device, a hard disk drive, and the like, stores map information of a road traffic network, and each block of the traffic information generation unit 11. The map information is output to the information table generation unit 101, the traffic condition prediction unit 102, the route search unit 103, or the route selection pattern detection unit 104 in response to a read request from the server.
[0023]
As the map information, for example, as shown in FIG. 19, a road traffic network is modeled by nodes corresponding to predetermined points on a road such as an intersection of roads and links corresponding to roads connecting the nodes. Is used. In this case, a unique identification code is assigned to each node and link, and information indicating the length of each link is associated with each link. Further, the map information includes, for each link, road information such as a speed limit of each corresponding road, a standard traffic volume indicating the number of vehicles passing through each road per unit time at normal time, or For each node corresponding to an intersection, it is desirable to include intersection information such as a signal waiting time, which is a time during which traffic can be stopped for a traffic light to become a red light.
[0024]
Note that the map information does not need to model the road traffic network by the nodes and links. Further, the map information storage unit 9 does not need to store map information in advance, and may be configured to acquire map information from outside by means such as wireless communication. In the case where the traffic information guide device according to the present invention is used for processing marine traffic information, air traffic information, or the like in a ship or an aircraft, a marine chart, an air map, or the like is used as the map information. It may be.
[0025]
The operation state detection unit 12 includes a speedometer that measures the traveling speed of the vehicle 1, an azimuth sensor that detects the traveling direction, an acceleration sensor that detects an operation state such as acceleration, deceleration, constant speed operation, right turn, left turn, and the like, and an engine. A temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the vehicle, a voltage sensor for detecting the battery voltage, and the like, and detects operation-related information to generate operation state information. The operation state detection unit 12 performs a self-diagnosis from information related to the vehicle state, detects a vehicle failure, and generates failure information indicating the presence or absence of the vehicle failure. Then, the operation state detection unit 12 outputs the operation state information and the failure information to the traffic information generation unit 11.
[0026]
The traffic obstruction information collecting unit 13 collects traffic obstruction information such as road works, accidents, and road traffic restrictions by means of, for example, the VICS, radio broadcasting, or other wireless communication, and outputs the information to the information table generating unit 101. . The weather information collection unit 14 collects weather information such as weather information, precipitation, snowfall, and the like by means of, for example, the VICS, radio broadcasting, and other wireless communication, and outputs the information to the traffic condition prediction unit 102.
[0027]
The communication unit 10 is configured by using, for example, a wireless communication device, and periodically transmits and receives data by wireless communication with the traffic information guide device 2 mounted on the vehicle 1 existing around the own vehicle. Then, the communication unit 10 transmits the vehicle identification code included in the traffic information table A generated by the information table generation unit 101, the operation information related to the operation of the vehicle such as the current position information, and the other vehicle 1 already acquired. Is transmitted to the surrounding vehicles 1.
[0028]
In addition, the communication unit 10 receives and obtains, in a so-called message, the operation information that the other vehicle 1 receives from the other vehicle 1 as viewed from the vehicle 1. Therefore, the communication unit 10 can acquire the operation information of the other vehicle 1 as viewed from the vehicle 1 via the nearby vehicle 1 with which the direct communication has been performed, so that the communication unit 10 is out of the range in which the direct communication is possible. The operation information of the vehicle 1 can be obtained indirectly via the vehicle 1 within a range where direct communication is possible. For example, assuming a case where a wireless communication device having a radius of about 200 m is used as a transmission / reception area, if the vehicle 1 located at the rear of this 200 m performs next transmission, the vehicle 1 located 200 m behind is further 400 m ahead. Operation information of the vehicle 1 can be transferred.
[0029]
The operation unit 4 includes, for example, a touch panel, a keyboard, and the like, and can be operated by the driver 3 to input destination information indicating a destination. The display unit 5 is composed of a display device such as a liquid crystal panel, and is used for assisting efficient traffic on a road map, a route from the current location to the destination, or a road generated by the traffic information generation unit 11. Display traffic information and so on. The display unit 5 only needs to notify the driver 3 of the information. For example, the display unit 5 may be configured to notify the information by voice using a speaker, a voice synthesizer, or the like.
[0030]
The traffic information generation unit 11 is configured using, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a semiconductor memory, and the like. When the CPU executes a predetermined program, the information table generation unit 101, the traffic state prediction unit 102, the route search It functions as the unit 103 and the route selection pattern detection unit 104. The traffic information generation unit 11 includes a vehicle identification code storage unit 7, a position information acquisition unit 8, a map information storage unit 9, a communication unit 10, an operation state detection unit 12, a traffic obstruction information collection unit 13, and a weather information collection unit 14. And the information output from the route selection pattern storage unit 15 to take in the traffic guidance for assisting the efficient traffic on the traffic route according to the destination information input by the driver 3 using the operation unit 4. Information is generated and displayed on the display unit 5.
[0031]
The information table generation unit 101 includes a vehicle identification code, a current position information, a vehicle identification code obtained from the vehicle identification code storage unit 7, the position information acquisition unit 8, the map information storage unit 9, the operation state detection unit 12, and the traffic obstacle information collection unit 13, respectively. , Map information, operation state information, failure information, and traffic obstruction information are acquired as operation information of the own vehicle 1.
[0032]
The information table generation unit 101 transmits the information obtained from the vehicle identification code storage unit 7 to the surrounding vehicles 1 via the communication unit 10 without specifying the destination. Thereby, it is possible to notify the vehicle 1 existing around the own vehicle 1 that the own vehicle 1 exists around the relevant vehicle 1 (within the communication range).
[0033]
When receiving the vehicle identification code transmitted from the surrounding vehicle 1 via the communication unit 10, the information table generation unit 101 designates the received vehicle identification code as a destination and operates the operation information of the own vehicle 1. And the operation information of the other vehicle 1 which the own vehicle 1 has already acquired is transmitted via the communication unit 10. In this case, the information table generation unit 101 transmits the operation information of the own vehicle 1 and the operation information of the other vehicle 1 already acquired by the own vehicle 1 including time information for determining whether the operation information is new or old. I do.
[0034]
In addition, the information table generating unit 101 transmits the operation information of the other vehicle 1 that has already been acquired, omitting information other than the vehicle identification code and the current position information of the other vehicle 1. As a result, the operation information of the own vehicle 1 and the omitted operation information of the other vehicle 1 that has already been obtained can be transmitted to the surrounding vehicles 1 that have transmitted the vehicle identification code. Further, the operation information of the other vehicle 1 is omitted and transmitted, so that the amount of information transmitted and received via the communication unit 10 can be reduced.
[0035]
Further, the information table generation unit 101 receives, via the communication unit 10, operation information from the surrounding vehicles 1 designated by the vehicle identification code of the own vehicle 1. In addition, the information table generation unit 101 compares the received operation information of the other vehicle 1 already acquired by the surrounding vehicle 1 with the operation information of the traffic information table A, and converts the received operation information of the traffic information table A into the operation information of the traffic information table A. The operation information including only the destination is specified via the communication unit 10 with the vehicle identification code of the surrounding vehicle 1 specified as the destination. As a result, the operation information held by the own vehicle 1 and the surrounding vehicles 1 is exchanged by transmitting and receiving the difference data.
[0036]
Further, the information table generating unit 101 determines the route (own vehicle 1) found by the route searching unit 103 from the current position information of the other vehicle 1 included in the omitted operation information received from the surrounding vehicle 1. If it is confirmed that another vehicle 1 exists on or near the route to the destination (for example, in a range with a radius of about 200 m), the information table generation unit 101 determines whether or not the other vehicle 1 exists. The information request command for requesting detailed operation information is transmitted via the communication unit 10 by designating the vehicle identification code of the vehicle 1 of the destination.
[0037]
When the information request command is received from another vehicle 1 via the communication unit 10, the information table generation unit 101 transmits the detailed operation information of the own vehicle 1 to another information transmission source of the information request command. The vehicle identification code of the vehicle 1 is designated as a destination and transmitted via the communication unit 10.
[0038]
Further, when the other vehicle 1 to which the operation information and the information request command are transmitted is the remote vehicle 1 existing outside the transmission / reception area by the communication unit 10, the information table generation unit 101 has already acquired the information. From the operation information of the other vehicle 1, a search is made for a nearby vehicle 1 in the direction of the remote vehicle 1, which is in the transmission / reception area by the communication unit 10. Then, the information table generating unit 101 specifies the vehicle identification code of the searched surrounding vehicle 1 as a destination, and communicates the operation information to the remote vehicle 1 and the relay request information for requesting the relay of the information request command. Transmitted via the unit 10.
[0039]
When the relay request information is received via the communication unit 10, the information table generation unit 101 specifies the vehicle identification code of the remote vehicle 1 that is the destination of the relay request information as the destination, and specifies the relay request. Operation information included in the information or an information request command is transmitted via the communication unit 10.
[0040]
Accordingly, the information table generation unit 101 can acquire detailed operation information of another vehicle 1 existing on or near the route selected by the route search unit 103.
[0041]
Further, when a vehicle failure is detected by the operation state detection unit 12, the information table generation unit 101 compares the failure information obtained by the operation state detection unit 12 with the current position information obtained by the position information acquisition unit 8. Is transmitted to the surrounding vehicles 1 via the communication unit 10 without specifying a destination as operation information that may affect the traffic of the vehicle 1. Thus, operation information that may affect the traffic of another vehicle 1, such as the vehicle 1 stopping on a road due to failure, can be transmitted to the surrounding vehicles 1. The operation information that may affect the traffic of the other vehicle 1 is not limited to the failure information and the current position information, but may be other information.
[0042]
Further, the information table generating unit 101 receives, from the surrounding vehicle 1 via the communication unit 10, operation information that may affect the traffic of another vehicle 1 such as failure information that does not specify a destination. Acquires the received operation information and transmits the received information to the surrounding vehicle 1 via the communication unit 10 without specifying the destination. As a result, operation information that may affect the traffic, such as the presence of a failed vehicle, is transmitted to the vehicle 1 in a wider range.
[0043]
In addition, the information table generation unit 101 may transmit operation information that may affect the traffic of the other vehicle 1 including time information indicating the current time, thereby affecting the traffic of the other vehicle 1. In the case of receiving information having a characteristic, the elapsed time from the time information included in the received information to the present is calculated, and old information whose elapsed time exceeds a predetermined time is deleted. As the predetermined time for determining that the information is old information, for example, a time during which operation information can be transmitted and received with about 20 nearby vehicles 1 is used as a standard. Thus, it is possible to prevent unnecessary information from being transmitted / received and continuing to be transmitted.
[0044]
Further, the information table generation unit 101 uses the acquired various operation information to obtain a traffic information table A that records the operation information of the own vehicle 1 and the other vehicle 1, a node information table B that records the traffic information about the node, and the link. A link information table C in which traffic information relating to a traffic route is recorded is generated as traffic information relating to a traffic route.
[0045]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the traffic information table A. The own vehicle information A1 is recorded in one line and is operation information on the own vehicle 1. The other vehicle information A2 is recorded in each line and is operation information on the other vehicle 1. The operation information of each line includes time information for determining whether the information is new or old (not shown). As the time information, for example, the time when each piece of operation information is generated is used.
[0046]
The own vehicle information A1 and the other vehicle information A2 include identification code a1, current location a2, destination a3, predicted route a4, current speed a5, average speed a6 on the link, driving state a7, and failure information a8 in different directions. Each content (item) is included.
[0047]
The information of the identification code a1 is a vehicle identification code. The information on the current location a2 is the current position information of the vehicle 1 obtained by the position information obtaining unit 8, and includes a link number indicating a link that is currently running, a node number indicating a node serving as a start point of the link, and the start point. , The current position of the vehicle 1 is specified.
[0048]
The information of the destination a3 is the destination information of the vehicle 1 input by the driver 3 using the operation unit 4, and similarly to the information of the current location a2, the position of the destination is determined by the link number, the node number, and the traveling distance. Specified.
[0049]
In this case, for example, the information table generation unit 101 displays a map on the display unit 5 based on the map information obtained from the map information storage unit 9 and an input standby screen for prompting the driver 3 to input a destination. Is displayed. Then, the information table generation unit 101 causes the display unit 5 to display a pointer indicating an arbitrary position on the map in response to an operation from the driver 3 via the operation unit 4, and displays the position on the map indicated by the pointer. Is recorded as the destination a3.
[0050]
The information on the predicted route a4 indicates a route from the current position obtained by the route search unit 103 to the destination, and the route is represented by a passing node number and a link number. The information on the current speed a5 and the operation state a7 is information obtained by the operation state detection unit 12, the information on the current speed a5 is the traveling speed, the information on the operation state a7 is accelerating, decelerating, operating at a constant speed, and turning right. Indicates each operation state such as middle and left turn. The information on the average speed a6 on the link indicates the average speed of each vehicle 1 on the currently running link. The information of the failure information a8 indicates the presence or absence of a failure obtained by the operation state detection unit 12.
[0051]
The other-vehicle information A2 includes information on the other vehicle 1 as other-vehicle information A2 as viewed from the other vehicle 1 that has received the operation information. It is conceivable that the vehicle information A2 includes the same vehicle 1, that is, information having the same identification code a1. In this case, the time information is compared for the other vehicle information A2 having the same identification code a1, and the traffic information table A is updated so that only the latest operation information is left.
[0052]
In addition, the information table generation unit 101 refers to the time information in each operation information with respect to the updated traffic information table A, calculates a difference from the current time, and calculates an elapsed time since each operation information is generated. Is calculated. Then, the information table generation unit 101 determines that the operation information whose elapsed time exceeds the predetermined time is old information and deletes it. As the predetermined time for determining that the information is old information, for example, a time during which operation information can be transmitted and received with about 20 nearby vehicles 1 is used as a standard. As a result, the outdated information is deleted from the traffic information table A, so that unnecessary increase of the operation information transmitted and received between the vehicles can be avoided.
[0053]
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a node information table B that records information about each node. In the node information table B, information on nodes passing through to the destination (nodes included in the current location a2, the destination a3, and the predicted route a4 of the vehicle information A1) is recorded.
[0054]
The node number b1 is an identification code of each node. The name b2 is a geographical name such as an intersection corresponding to each node. The location b3 is address information corresponding to each node. Coordinate b4 is the coordinate position of each node. The supplementary information b5 is information related to each node obtained from, for example, intersection information included in the map information, information obtained from the VICS, information transmitted from another vehicle 1, and the like. Information such as an average signal waiting time by a traffic light.
[0055]
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a link information table C that records information about each link. In the link information table C, information relating to links (links included in the current location a2, the destination a3, and the predicted route a4 of the own vehicle information A1) that travels to the destination is recorded.
[0056]
The link number c1 is an identification code of each link. The name c2 is the geographical name of the road corresponding to each link. The start node c3 is an identification code of a node serving as a start point of each link. The end node c4 is an identification code of a node that is an end point of each link. The length c5 indicates the length from the start point to the end point of each link in meters. The speed limit c6 is a speed limit of the road corresponding to each link. The traffic volume c7 is a standard value of the traffic volume indicating the number of vehicles passing through each link per unit time. For example, the standard traffic volume included in the map information is used.
[0057]
The traffic obstruction information c8 is traffic obstruction information on each road obtained from the traffic obstruction information collection unit 13. The average speed c9 is an average speed on each link. The predicted traffic state information c10 is information generated by the traffic state prediction unit 102, and includes a predicted speed reduction rate c10a representing a rate at which the speed of traveling on each link is reduced due to the influence of traffic congestion and the like. It includes a predicted speed c10b, which is a traveling speed, a predicted transit time c10c expected to be required to pass through each link, and a predicted traffic volume c10d, which is a predicted value of traffic volume when passing through each link.
[0058]
The traffic obstacle information c8 and the predicted traffic condition information c10 may be included in the traffic information table A. In this case, the traffic obstruction information c8 and the predicted traffic condition information c10 are also transmitted to and received from the other vehicle 1.
[0059]
The information table generation unit 101 outputs each information of the traffic information table A, the node information table B, and the link information table C to the traffic state prediction unit 102 and the route search unit 103, and transmits the operation information of the traffic information table A to the communication unit. Lead to 10.
[0060]
The traffic condition prediction unit 102 includes a traffic information table A, a node information table B, a link information table C, current position information obtained by the position information acquisition unit 8, map information obtained by the map information storage unit 9, and weather information. The weather information obtained by the collection unit 14 is captured. In addition, the traffic condition prediction unit 102 performs a sequential calculation based on the acquired information by a known computer simulation, and predicts the traffic condition of the road from the current position to the destination from the current position to generate traffic condition information. .
[0061]
That is, the traffic condition prediction unit 102 determines, for each link recorded in the link information table C, the speed reduction rate R representing the rate at which the traveling speed is reduced under the influence of the vehicle density indicating the degree of congestion. _d Speed reduction rate R representing the rate at which the traveling speed is reduced by weather conditions _W And a speed reduction rate R representing a rate at which the traveling speed is reduced due to a road obstacle or the like. _t Is calculated. Then, the traffic condition prediction unit 102 calculates the calculated speed reduction rate R _d , Speed reduction rate R _w And speed reduction rate R _t Is obtained and recorded as the predicted speed reduction rate c10a of the link information table C.
[0062]
Further, the traffic state prediction unit 102 calculates and records the product of the average speed c9 and the predicted speed reduction rate c10a corresponding to each link of the link information table C as the predicted speed c10b. Further, the traffic condition prediction unit 102 calculates and records the predicted passage time c10c passing through each link by dividing the length c5 of each link in the link information table C by the predicted speed c10b.
[0063]
In addition, the traffic state prediction unit 102 performs a sequential calculation by computer simulation, and repeatedly predicts the position of each vehicle 1 every elapse of a small time Δt using the predicted speed c10b and the like. Then, the traffic condition prediction unit 102 counts the number of vehicles that pass through each link when the predicted position of each vehicle 1 changes, and thereby the vehicle 1 that passes through each link of the link information table C per unit time. Is recorded as the predicted traffic volume c10d. In addition, the traffic condition prediction unit 102 calculates the estimated arrival time at which the host vehicle 1 will reach the destination by predicting the position of each vehicle 1 according to the passage of time as described above.
[0064]
This makes it possible to predict a future traveling speed in consideration of the influence of traffic congestion on the road and a time required to pass through the road with respect to the route to the destination irrespective of the current traveling speed. Further, since traffic information on each road is recorded in the link information table C, the display unit 5 notifies the traffic information of the link information table C to assist the driver 3 in efficient traffic. Can be.
[0065]
Note that the traffic state prediction unit 102 may be configured to calculate the realization probability indicating the probability of prediction of the expected arrival time and to notify the driver 3 of the calculated probability. For example, the information table generation unit 101 may be configured to weight each operation information of the other vehicle information A2 according to the information of the current location a2 of the other vehicle information A2. In this case, for example, the greater the distance of the vehicle 1 from the current position of the host vehicle 1, the greater the weight given to the operation information of the vehicle 1.
[0066]
For example, “1” is assigned to the operation information of the vehicle 1 at a distance of less than 200 m from the current position as a weighting factor, and “0.8” is assigned to the operation information of the vehicle 1 at a distance of 200 m to less than 400 m from the current position. In addition, “0.6” is added to the operation information of the vehicle 1 at a distance of 400 m or more and less than 800 m from the current position.
[0067]
Then, the traffic state prediction unit 102, for example, for each operation information used in the computer simulation for predicting the traffic state, multiplied by a weighting factor assigned to each operation information as the realization probability of the expected arrival time The calculation may be performed.
[0068]
Note that the traffic condition prediction unit 102 calculates the probability of realizing the predicted transit time c10c of each link passing through to the destination by the speed reduction rate R _d , Speed reduction rate R _w , And speed reduction rate R _t Is used, for example, for each link, the realization probability of the predicted transit time c10c = (1-R _d ) × (1-R _w ) × (1-R _t ) × 100% = (1−predicted speed reduction rate c10a) × 100%, and the product of the realization probabilities of the predicted transit times c10c of all the links passing to the destination is calculated as the realization probability of the expected arrival time. It may be configured.
[0069]
Thereby, the display unit 5 can notify the driver 3 of the estimated arrival time together with the realization probability indicating the likelihood.
[0070]
The traffic condition prediction unit 102 calculates the operation condition information indicating the operation condition such as acceleration, deceleration, constant speed operation, right turn, left turn, etc., from the operation state a7 of the own vehicle information A1 and the operation state a7 of the other vehicle information A2. And a configuration for correcting the result of the computer simulation for estimating the traffic condition. Thereby, the prediction accuracy of the traffic condition can be further improved.
[0071]
The route search unit 103 includes the traffic information table A, the node information table B, the link information table C, the map information obtained by the map information storage unit 9, and the weighting factors w1, w2, and In accordance with w3 and w4, a route from the current position to the destination is searched, and the found route, that is, route information including a node number and a link number through which the vehicle reaches the destination is stored in the own vehicle information A1 of the traffic information table A. The predicted path a4 is recorded.
[0072]
In this case, the weighting factors w1, w2, w3, and w4 stored in the route selection pattern storage unit 15 are coefficients generated by the route selection pattern detection unit 104, and are used to determine when the driver 3 selects a route. Shows the trend. When searching for a route from the current position to the destination, the route search unit 103 executes the evaluation function shown in Expression 1.
[0073]
(Equation 1)

[0074]
In the evaluation function shown in Expression 1, ti, qi, vi, and ri are information representing the traffic state predicted by the traffic state prediction unit 102, and are obtained from the predicted traffic state information c10 of the link information table C. Further, q0i and v0i are obtained from the traffic volume c7 and the speed limit c6 of the link information table C, respectively. Further, t0i is obtained by dividing the length c5 of the link information table C by the speed limit c6. The route search unit 103 searches for a route that minimizes the evaluation value H obtained by executing the evaluation function shown in Equation 1, and thereby the route according to the tendency of the determination when the driver 3 selects the route. Can be found.
[0075]
When a plurality of weighting factors w1, w2, w3, and w4 are stored in the route selection pattern storage unit 15, the average value w1 is calculated for each weighting factor. _m , W2 _m , W3 _m , W4 _m And standard deviations σ1, σ2, σ3, σ4. Then, for example, the route search unit 103 sets (w1 _m + 1.28 × σ1) and w2 as (w2 _m + 1.28 × σ2) and w3 as (w3 _m + 1.28 × σ3) and w4 as (w4 _m By using (+ 1.28 × σ4), the evaluation function shown in Expression 1 is executed to search for a route. In this case, the constant 1.28 multiplied by the standard deviation is a constant that gives a statistically 90% probability, and can be changed according to the probability set in advance by the driver.
[0076]
The route selection pattern storage unit 15 stores (w1 _m + 1.28 × σ1) and w2 as (w2 _m + 1.28 × σ2) and w3 as (w3 _m + 1.28 × σ3) and w4 as (w4 _m + 1.28 × σ4) are calculated and stored, respectively, and the route search unit 103 performs a route search using the calculated and stored weighting factors w1, w2, w3, and w4. You may.
[0077]
The route search means for searching for a route that minimizes the evaluation value H is synonymous with solving an optimal route search problem well known in control engineering and the like, and any method thereof may be used. For example, known route searching means such as Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-225612 "Route Searching Method and Apparatus Incorporating Time Axis into Search Space" can be adopted.
[0078]
Further, the route search unit 103 refers to the link information table C, and calculates the time required to reach the destination by summing up the estimated passage times c10c of the links corresponding to the found route. Then, the route search unit 103 calculates the expected arrival time by adding the calculated time to the current time.
[0079]
The route selection pattern detection unit 104 displays the route searched for the destination (the route of the predicted route a4 of the host vehicle information A1) and the estimated time of arrival on the display unit 5, and displays the searched route. The display unit 5 displays an input standby screen for the driver 3 to correct the route that has been set. When receiving an operation for correcting the route from the driver 3 via the operation unit 4, the route selection pattern detection unit 104 selects a route corresponding to the correction operation, and determines a route selected according to the correction. The indicated route information is recorded as the predicted route a4 of the vehicle information A1.
[0080]
Note that the route selection pattern detection unit 104 records the current position information changed by the traveling of the vehicle 1 and the predicted route a4 of the own vehicle information A1 even when the operation of correcting the route is not accepted. If it is detected that the vehicle 1 is traveling on a route different from the predicted route a4 by comparing the route information with the predicted route information, the traveling route is generated as the selected route and the route information is generated. The configuration may be such that the vehicle information A1 is recorded as the predicted route a4.
[0081]
In addition, when the route selection pattern detection unit 104 receives an operation from the driver 3 to correct the route via the operation unit 4, the driver 3 determines the route from the route selected by the operation from the driver 3. The tendency of judgment when selecting is determined. For example, the estimated time of arrival at the destination is calculated and compared between the case where the vehicle travels through the searched route and the case where the vehicle travels through the route selected by the operation of the driver 3. If the estimated arrival time when the vehicle passes through the route selected by the operation from the operation 3 is earlier, the tendency of the determination when the driver 3 selects the route is that the route to the destination is the shortest. And prefer the time priority type.
[0082]
Further, for example, when the route selected by the operation from the driver 3 includes more links with less traffic than the searched route, the driver 3 selects the route. When making a decision, the priority is given to a safety-priority type that prefers a route with a small traffic volume.
[0083]
In addition, for example, when the route selected by the operation of the driver 3 includes a link with a higher speed limit than the searched route, the driver 3 selects the route. The tendency of the judgment at the time is the highest speed priority type that prefers a route that maximizes the traveling speed.
[0084]
Further, for example, when the route selected by the operation from the driver 3 includes more nodes having a shorter average signal waiting time at the intersection at the traffic light than the searched route, The tendency of the judgment when the person 3 selects a route is a traveling continuation priority type that prefers that the rate of reduction in speed is small and the user continues to run without stopping.
[0085]
In addition, the route selection pattern detection unit 104 represents, for each tendency of the determination, the degree of the tendency by a numerical value between 0 (weakest) and 1 (strongest), and uses this as a weight coefficient of the tendency. For example, if the tendency of the determination is the time priority type, “1” is assigned as the time priority type weight coefficient w1. Further, when the tendency of the judgment has both elements of the time priority type and the maximum speed priority type, the route selection pattern detection unit 104 sets “0.5” as the time priority type weight coefficient w1. , "0.5" is assigned as the maximum speed priority type weighting factor w3.
[0086]
When the tendency of the determination has both the safety priority type and the traveling continuation priority type, the route selection pattern detection unit 104 sets “0.5” as the safety priority type weight coefficient w2. , "0.5" is given as the weight coefficient w4 of the traveling continuation priority type. Then, the route selection pattern detection unit 104 outputs the weighting factors w1, w2, w3, and w4 representing the tendency of the determination to the route selection pattern storage unit 15 and stores them.
[0087]
The route selection pattern storage unit 15 accumulates and stores the weighting factors w1, w2, w3, and w4 each time the route selection pattern detection unit 104 outputs. Then, the data representing the weighting factors w1, w2, w3, and w4 accumulated and stored in accordance with the readout from the route search unit 103 are output to the route search unit 103.
[0088]
Note that the route selection pattern detection unit 104 determines that an unnecessary route selection pattern among time-priority-type, safety-priority-type, maximum-speed-priority-type, or traveling-continuation-priority-type route selection patterns includes The corresponding weight coefficient may be fixed to “0”. In addition, the route search unit 103 may use an evaluation function in which calculation items corresponding to unnecessary route selection patterns are deleted from the evaluation functions.
[0089]
Next, the operation of the traffic information guide device 2 having the configuration shown in FIG. 2 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the traffic information guidance device 2. First, in step S1, the information table generation unit 101 displays an input standby screen for prompting the driver 3 to input a destination on the display unit 5. Then, when an operation indicating a destination from the driver 3 via the operation unit 4 is received by the information table generation unit 101, the destination corresponding to the operation indicating the destination is determined by the information table generation unit 101. Information is generated and recorded as the destination a3 of the vehicle information A1 in the traffic information table A.
[0090]
In step S1, when an operation of instructing a route to a destination via the operation unit 4 from the driver 3 is received, the information table generating unit 101 causes the route corresponding to the operation of instructing the route. Information may be generated, and the route information may be stored as the destination a3 of the predicted route a4 of the vehicle information A1 of the traffic information table A.
[0091]
Next, in step S2, the information table generation unit 101 records the vehicle identification code obtained in the vehicle identification code storage unit 7 as the identification code a1 of the own vehicle information A1, and the current information obtained in the position information acquisition unit 8 The position information is recorded as the current position a2 of the vehicle information A1, and the traveling speed information obtained by the operation state detection unit 12 is recorded as the current speed a5 of the vehicle information A1. In addition, the information table generation unit 101 averages the traveling speeds on the currently traveling link and records the average as the average speed a6 on the link of the vehicle information A1.
[0092]
Further, based on the operation state information obtained by the operation state detection unit 12 by the information table generation unit 101, information representing the operation state such as acceleration, deceleration, constant speed operation, right turn, left turn, etc. The failure information indicating the presence or absence of the vehicle failure is recorded as the state a7, and is recorded as the failure information a8 of the own vehicle information A1. Thereby, the operation information of the own vehicle 1 is collected and recorded in the traffic information table A.
[0093]
Next, in step S3, the operation information of another vehicle 1 is collected by the information table generation unit 101. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the details of the operation in step S3.
[0094]
First, when the collection of the operation information of the other vehicle 1 is started, in step S101, the information table generation unit 101 sends the own vehicle 1 to the surrounding vehicle 1 via the communication unit 10 without specifying the destination. Is transmitted.
[0095]
On the other hand, in the surrounding vehicle 1, the vehicle identification code of the own vehicle 1 is received by the information table generation unit 101 via the communication unit 10 in step S102. Then, in step S103, the operation information of the surrounding vehicle 1 and the operation information of the other vehicle 1 that the surrounding vehicle 1 has already acquired from the traffic information table A by the information table generating unit 101 are transmitted to the received vehicle. The identification code is specified at the destination, that is, transmitted to the host vehicle 1 via the communication unit 10. At this time, as the operation information of the other vehicle 1 that the surrounding vehicle 1 has already acquired, the operation information in which only the vehicle identification code and the current position information of the other vehicle 1 are omitted is transmitted. Further, the operation information is transmitted by the information table generating unit 101 including time information for discriminating between new and old.
[0096]
On the other hand, in the own vehicle 1, in step S <b> 104, the operation information of the nearby vehicle 1 and the operation information of the other vehicle 1 already acquired by the nearby vehicle 1 are transmitted by the information table generation unit 101 via the communication unit 10. The information is received from the surrounding vehicles 1 and recorded as other vehicle information A2 in the traffic information table A.
[0097]
When operation information is received from a plurality of nearby vehicles 1, the other vehicle information A2 of the traffic information table A may include the same vehicle 1, that is, information having the same identification code a1. In this case, the information table generation unit 101 compares the time information with the other vehicle information A2 having the same identification code a1, and updates the traffic information table A so that only the latest operation information is left.
[0098]
Further, the information table generation unit 101 confirms the current position information of the other vehicle 1 from the omitted operation information, and on the predicted route a4 (the route for the own vehicle 1 toward the destination) in the traffic information table A. Or the vehicle 1 existing in the vicinity (for example, in a range of about 200 m in radius) is included in the omitted operation information, the omitted operation information includes a vehicle identification code and current position information. Since no other operation information is included, the process proceeds to step S107 to request detailed operation information of the other vehicle 1. If the information on the predicted route a4 in the traffic information table A has not been generated yet, the process does not proceed to step S107.
[0099]
Next, in step S105, the information table generating unit 101 compares the received operation information from the surrounding vehicle 1 with the operation information in the traffic information table A, and includes only the operation information in the traffic information table A. The difference data of the operation information is transmitted via the communication unit 10 by designating the vehicle identification code of the surrounding vehicle 1 as a destination. As a result, the operation information held by the own vehicle 1 and the surrounding vehicles 1 is exchanged by transmitting and receiving the difference data.
[0100]
On the other hand, in the surrounding vehicle 1, the difference data of the operation information is received by the information table generation unit 101 via the communication unit 10 in step S <b> 106, and the received difference data of the operation information is added to the traffic information table A. You.
[0101]
As described above, the operation information of the other vehicle 1 is obtained by the operations of steps S101 to S106, and the traffic information table A is generated.
[0102]
Next, in the own vehicle 1, in step S <b> 107, the information table generation unit 101 specifies the vehicle identification code of the vehicle 1 to which the detailed operation information is requested, and the detailed operation information via the communication unit 10. Is transmitted.
[0103]
When the vehicle 1 to which the detailed operation information is requested is the remote vehicle 1 outside the transmission / reception area by the communication unit 10, the information table generation unit 101 causes the vehicle 1 in the transmission / reception area by the communication unit 10. The surrounding vehicle 1 existing in the direction of the vehicle 1 of the vehicle 1 to which the detailed operation information is requested is searched from the other vehicle information A1 of the traffic information table A. Then, the information table generating unit 101 designates the vehicle identification code of the searched surrounding vehicle 1 as a destination, and requests the relay of the information request command to the vehicle 1 to which the detailed operation information is requested. The information is transmitted to the searched nearby vehicles 1 via the communication unit 10.
[0104]
On the other hand, when the relay request information is received by the information table generation unit 101 via the communication unit 10 in step S108, the vehicle 1 that is the destination of the relay request information in the surrounding vehicle 1 requested to relay. Then, an information request command included in the relay request information is transmitted via the communication unit 10 by designating the vehicle identification code of the destination as a destination (step S109).
[0105]
On the other hand, in the vehicle 1 to which the detailed operation information is requested, the information request command is received by the information table generation unit 101 via the communication unit 10 in step S110, and the operation of the own vehicle information A1 in the traffic information table A is performed. The information is transmitted via the communication unit 10 by designating the destination of the vehicle identification code of the vehicle 1 as the transmission source of the information request command (step S111).
[0106]
Also, in step S111, when the vehicle 1 as the transmission source of the information request command is the remote vehicle 1 outside the transmission / reception area by the communication unit 10, the information table generation unit 101 causes the information table generation unit 101 to transmit the information request command. Of the vehicle 1 which is located in the direction of the vehicle 1 as the transmission source of the information request command is searched from the other vehicle information A1 of the traffic information table A. Then, the information table generation unit 101 specifies the vehicle identification code of the searched surrounding vehicle 1 as a destination, and relay request information for requesting relay of transmission information to the vehicle 1 of the transmission source of the information request command is generated. The transmitted information is transmitted to the searched nearby vehicle 1 via the communication unit 10, the transmission information is relayed by the searched nearby vehicle 1, and the information of the other vehicle information A1 of the traffic information table A is transmitted to the information request command. Is received by the transmission source vehicle 1, that is, the own vehicle 1 (step S112).
[0107]
As described above, the operations of steps S107 to S112 allow the information table generation unit 101 to acquire the operation information of the remote vehicle 1 outside the transmission / reception area by the communication unit 10.
[0108]
On the other hand, in the own vehicle 1, when the vehicle failure is detected by the operation state detection unit 12, the failure information obtained by the operation state detection unit 12 and the position information acquisition unit 8 are transmitted by the information table generation unit 101 in step S113. The obtained current position information is transmitted to the surrounding vehicles 1 via the communication unit 10 without specifying a destination as operation information that may affect the traffic of another vehicle 1.
[0109]
On the other hand, in the surrounding vehicle 1, in step S114, the information table generating unit 101 receives and acquires operation information that may affect the traffic of the other vehicle 1, and further acquires the surrounding vehicle 1. The message is transmitted via the communication unit 10 without specifying a destination (step S115). As a result, operation information that affects traffic, such as the presence of a failed vehicle, is transmitted to a wider range of vehicles 1.
[0110]
Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG. 6, in step S4, the information table generating unit 101 refers to the time information included in each operation information for each operation information of the other vehicle information A2 in the traffic information table A, The elapsed time from when the difference from the current time is calculated and each piece of operation information is generated is calculated. The operation information whose elapsed time exceeds a predetermined time is determined to be old information and is deleted. This avoids an unnecessary increase in the information amount of the traffic information table A.
[0111]
Further, the information table generation unit 101 uses the map information obtained by the map information storage unit 9 for nodes passing through to the destination (nodes included in the current location a2, destination a3, and predicted route a4 of the vehicle information A1). , Node number b1, name b2, location b3 and coordinates b4 are recorded in the node information table B. If the operation information collected from the other vehicles 1 includes information on traffic at an intersection, for example, information such as an average signal waiting time at an intersection at a traffic light, this information is stored in a node corresponding to the intersection. Is recorded in the node information table B as supplementary information b5.
[0112]
Further, the information table generation unit 101 uses the map information obtained by the map information storage unit 9 for the links (links included in the current location a2, the destination a3, and the predicted route a4 of the own vehicle information A1) via the route to the destination. , The link number c1, the name c2, the start node c3, the end node c4, the length c5, the speed limit c6, and the traffic volume c7 are recorded in the link information table C. In addition, the traffic fault information obtained by the traffic fault information collecting unit 13 is recorded in the link information table C as the traffic fault information c8.
[0113]
Further, the information table generation unit 101 searches the traffic information table A for another vehicle 1 traveling on each link of the link number c1 of the link information table C, and finds the average speed a6 of the searched vehicle 1 on the link. , Is recorded as the average speed c9 of the corresponding link in the link information table C.
[0114]
Note that the information collection and the generation and update processing of the traffic information table A, the node information table B, and the link information table C in steps S2 to S4 are performed in parallel with the operation of the next step S5 and subsequent steps. May be updated to the latest information.
[0115]
Next, in step S5, a route to the destination is searched for and determined by the route search unit 103. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating details of the prediction route determination processing in step S5. First, in step S201, the route search unit 103 displays an input standby screen for prompting the driver 3 to input a desired route on the display unit 5.
[0116]
When an operation of instructing a route to a destination from the driver 3 via the operation unit 4 is received, the route search unit 103 outputs route information corresponding to the operation of instructing the route to the own vehicle. It is generated and recorded as the predicted route a4 of the information A1. Note that a configuration in which the process of step S201 is not performed may be adopted.
[0117]
Next, in step S202, the route search unit 103 stores the traffic information table A, the node information table B, the link information table C, the map information obtained in the map information storage unit 9, and the route selection pattern storage unit 15. According to the weighting factors w1, w2, w3, and w4, the evaluation function of the above equation 1 is executed, and a path with the minimum evaluation value H is found by a known search method. Then, the route to the found destination is recorded by the route search unit 103 as the route information including the node number and the link number of the route to the destination in the predicted route a4 of the vehicle information A1. .
[0118]
When the weighting factors w1, w2, w3, and w4 are not yet stored in the route selection pattern storage unit 15, the weighting factors w1, w2, w3, and w4 are all set to “1”, and the route searching unit 103 The evaluation function of Equation 1 is executed.
[0119]
In addition, the route search unit 103 adds up the predicted transit times c10c of the links corresponding to the route recorded in the predicted route a4 of the vehicle information A1, and calculates the time required to reach the destination. Then, the calculated time is added to the current time by the route search unit 103, and the estimated time of arrival at the destination is calculated.
[0120]
Next, in step S203, the route selection pattern detection unit 104 displays the searched route and the estimated time of arrival at the destination on the display unit 5, and displays the route on the display unit 5 via the operation unit 4 from the driver 3. When an operation to correct the route is received, the route information indicating the route corresponding to the correction operation is recorded as the predicted route a4 of the vehicle information A1 (step S204).
[0121]
Next, in step S205, the tendency of the judgment when the driver 3 selects a route is determined by the route selection pattern detection unit 104 from the route selected according to the correction. In this case, for example, the estimated arrival times at which the vehicle arrives at the destination are determined by the route selection pattern detection unit 104 depending on whether the route has passed through the searched route or the route selected in accordance with the correction. Is calculated and compared. If the estimated time of arrival when the vehicle passes through the route selected in accordance with the correction is earlier, the tendency of the determination when the driver 3 selects the route is determined by the destination. It is a time-priority type that prefers the route that takes the shortest time to reach.
[0122]
Further, for example, when the route selected by the route selection pattern detection unit 104 in accordance with the correction includes more links with less traffic than the route found, the driving is performed. The tendency of the judgment when the person 3 selects a route is the safety priority type which prefers a route with a small traffic volume.
[0123]
Further, for example, when the route selected by the route selection pattern detection unit 104 according to the correction includes a link with a higher speed limit than the searched route, the driver may The tendency of the judgment when the route 3 selects the route is the highest speed priority type that prefers the route with the highest running speed.
[0124]
Further, for example, when the route selected in accordance with the correction includes more nodes having a shorter average signal waiting time by the traffic light at the intersection than the searched route, the driver 3 The tendency of the determination when selecting a route is the traveling continuation priority type that prefers to continue running without stopping without a small reduction rate of speed.
[0125]
Further, for example, the degree of the tendency is represented by a numerical value between 0 (weakest) and 1 (strongest) for each tendency of the judgment by the route selection pattern detection unit 104, and this is represented by a weight coefficient of the tendency. Is done. For example, when the tendency of the determination is the time priority type, the route selection pattern detection unit 104 assigns “1” as the time priority type weight coefficient w1. In addition, when the tendency of the determination has both elements of the time priority type and the maximum speed priority type, the route selection pattern detection unit 104 sets “0.5” as the time priority type weight coefficient w1. , "0.5" is assigned as the maximum speed priority type weighting factor w3.
[0126]
In addition, when the tendency of the judgment has both the safety priority type and the traveling continuation priority type, the route selection pattern detection unit 104 sets “0.5” as the safety priority type weight coefficient w2. , "0.5" is given as the weight coefficient w4 of the traveling continuation priority type. Then, the route selection pattern detection unit 104 stores the weighting factors w1, w2, w3, and w4 representing the tendency of the determination in the route selection pattern storage unit 15.
[0127]
Next, in step S206, the information of the other vehicle 1 is collected by the information table generating unit 101 by the same operation as in steps S2 to S4, and the contents of the traffic information table A, the node information table B, and the link information table C are collected. Is updated (step S207). When the operations of steps S2 to S4 are configured to be performed in parallel with the operations of step S5 and subsequent steps, the processing of steps S206 and S207 may not be performed. As described above, the processing of step S5 is completed by steps S201 to S207, and the process proceeds to step S6.
[0128]
Next, in step S6, the traffic condition predicting unit 102 predicts and calculates the traffic condition of the route to the destination in accordance with the elapse of time until reaching the destination, and stores information indicating the traffic condition in the link information table. It is generated as the predicted traffic state information c10 of C. FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining details of the traffic state prediction operation in step S6.
[0129]
First, in step S301, the traffic information prediction unit 102 refers to the traffic information table A, and generates mapping information in which another vehicle 1 is arranged in accordance with the map information according to the information on the current location a2 of the other vehicle information A2. Is performed (step S302). Hereinafter, the current time in the calculation is represented by the calculation time t, and the mapping information generated in step S302 is the mapping information at the calculation time t = 0.
[0130]
FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the mapping information. In FIG. 10, the map information is represented by a circle representing an intersection (node) and a line representing a road (link). The destination is indicated by a triangle, and the predicted route from the vehicle position to the destination is indicated by a thick line. The position where the other vehicle 1 is arranged is indicated by a or b. In this case, a is N _a Indicates the position of another vehicle 1 necessary for predicting the time at which the vehicle 1 passes through the intersection (node) indicated by b. _b Indicates the position of another vehicle 1 required to predict the time at which the vehicle 1 passes the intersection (node) indicated by.
[0131]
Next, in step S303, the traffic condition predicting unit 102 sets, according to the mapping information, the own vehicle link which is the link where the own vehicle 1 is currently running (the link indicated by the link number of the current location a2 of the own vehicle information A1). Is calculated. When the process proceeds from step S322 to step S303, the link corresponding to the predicted current position at the calculation time t updated in step S317 is set as the own vehicle link, and based on the predicted mapping information at the updated calculation time t. Thus, the number of other vehicles 1 is calculated.
[0132]
Next, in step S304, the traffic state prediction unit 102 calculates t + Δt (Δt is a minute step) from the calculation time t according to the operation information such as the destination a3, the predicted route a4, and the current speed a5 of the other vehicle information A2 and the mapping information. By the time, the number of other vehicles 1 flowing into and out of the own vehicle link is calculated. In this case, the number of vehicles 1 flowing into and out of the own vehicle link is calculated by a known computer simulation method.
[0133]
Then, the traffic state prediction unit 102 adds the number of the other vehicles 1 flowing into the calculated number of the vehicles 1 in the own vehicle link, and subtracts the number of the other vehicles 1 flowing out, and as a result, , The number of other vehicles 1 in the own vehicle link at the calculation time t + Δt is calculated.
[0134]
Next, in step S305, the traffic density estimating unit 102 calculates the vehicle density in the own vehicle link. The vehicle density is calculated by dividing the number of vehicles 1 in the own vehicle link at the calculation time t + Δt by the length of the link (obtained from the length c5 of the link information table C). The vehicle density calculated as described above is compared with, for example, a predetermined value, and is expressed in several stages such as large, medium, and small.
[0135]
Next, in step S306, the traffic condition prediction unit 102 causes the speed reduction rate R _d Is calculated. FIG. 11 shows the speed reduction rate R from the vehicle density. _d FIG. 5 is an example of a conversion diagram for obtaining the following equation. In the conversion diagram of FIG. 11, the horizontal axis represents the vehicle density, and the vertical axis represents the speed reduction rate R. _d And the vehicle density and the speed reduction rate R _d Is shown graphically. From the conversion diagram of FIG. 11, the traffic state prediction unit 102 calculates the speed reduction rate R corresponding to the calculated vehicle density. _d Is required.
[0136]
On the other hand, in step S307, the traffic condition prediction unit 102 generates weather information indicating the degree of the weather conditions from the weather information obtained by the weather information collection unit 14, such as the amount of precipitation and the amount of snowfall. You. In this case, the traffic condition prediction unit 102 determines that the weather information is “good” when the weather information is fine, “medium” when the weather information is rainy, and “medium” when the weather information is rainy. If the amount exceeds a certain amount of rainfall or snowfall, the weather information is regarded as “bad”. It should be noted that the weather information may be numerically represented.
[0137]
Next, in step S308, the traffic state prediction unit 102 causes the speed reduction rate R _w Is required. FIG. 12 shows the speed reduction rate R from the weather information. _w FIG. 5 is an example of a conversion diagram for obtaining the following equation. In the conversion diagram of FIG. 12, the horizontal axis represents weather information, and the vertical axis represents the speed reduction rate R. _w Is displayed, and weather information and speed reduction rate R _w Is shown graphically. From the conversion diagram of FIG. 12, the traffic state prediction unit 102 calculates the speed reduction rate R corresponding to the generated weather information. _w Is required.
[0138]
On the other hand, in step S309, the traffic condition prediction unit 102 generates accident obstruction information indicating the degree of obstruction of traffic due to an accident or the like from the traffic obstruction information c8 of the link information table C. In this case, the traffic condition prediction unit 102 determines that the accident obstruction information is “large” when an accident has occurred, the medium is “medium” when traffic is restricted, and there is no obstruction to traffic. In this case, the accident trouble information is set to "none". It should be noted that the accident trouble information may be represented in more stages, or may be represented by numerical values.
[0139]
Next, in step S310, the traffic state prediction unit 102 causes the speed reduction rate R _t Is required. FIG. 13 shows the speed reduction rate R from the accident trouble information. _t FIG. 5 is an example of a conversion diagram for obtaining the following equation. In the conversion diagram of FIG. 13, the abscissa represents the accident trouble information, and the ordinate represents the speed reduction rate R. _t Is shown, and the accident trouble information and the speed reduction rate R _t Is shown graphically. From the conversion diagram of FIG. 12, the traffic condition prediction unit 102 calculates the speed reduction rate R corresponding to the generated accident trouble information. _t Is required.
[0140]
Next, in step S311, the traffic condition prediction unit 102 causes the speed reduction rate R _d , Speed reduction rate R _w And speed reduction rate R _t Is calculated as the predicted speed reduction rate c10a of the link information table C, and is recorded as the predicted speed reduction rate c10a of the link corresponding to the own vehicle link.
[0141]
Next, in step S312, the product of the average speed c9 of the own vehicle link and the predicted speed reduction rate c10a in the link information table C is calculated as the predicted speed c10b by the traffic state prediction unit 102 and recorded. Further, the traffic state prediction unit 102 divides the own vehicle link length c5 by the predicted speed c10b, and calculates and records the predicted transit time c10c through the own vehicle link.
[0142]
Next, in step S313, the position of each vehicle 1 after a lapse of Δt is obtained by the traffic state prediction unit 102 according to the mapping information and the link information table C, and prediction mapping information at the calculation time t + Δt is newly generated. . In this case, for example, for the vehicle 1 in the own vehicle link, the product of the predicted speed c10b and the minute interval time Δt is calculated by the traffic state prediction unit 102 as the travel distance in the Δt time, and the position at the calculation time t + Δt is calculated. Is required. In addition, for the vehicle 1 existing on a link other than the own vehicle link, the product of the average speed c9 and the minute step time Δt is calculated by the traffic state prediction unit 102 as the travel distance in the time Δt, and at the calculation time t + Δt A position is required.
[0143]
When calculating the position at the calculation time t + Δt, the traffic state prediction unit 102 refers to the driving state a7 of the own vehicle information A1 and the driving state a7 of the other vehicle information A2, and is accelerating, decelerating, driving at a constant speed, and turning right. The travel distance and the travel direction after the time Δt are corrected in accordance with the operation status information indicating the driving status such as a left turn. By this correction, the position prediction accuracy at the calculation time t + Δt is further improved.
[0144]
In steps S311 to S313, the predicted speed reduction rate c10a and the predicted speed c10b are calculated also for links other than the own vehicle link, and the position at the calculation time t + Δt is obtained for all the vehicles 1 according to the predicted speed c10b. May be generated. In this case, the position prediction accuracy at the calculation time t + Δt is improved.
[0145]
Next, in step S314, the traffic condition prediction unit 102 calculates and records the traffic volume, which is the number of vehicles passing through the vehicle link per time, as the predicted traffic volume c10d. In this case, for example, when the unit time elapses, the distance that each vehicle 1 travels is calculated, and as a result, the number of vehicles 1 that pass each link is counted, so that the traffic volume is reduced. Is calculated.
[0146]
Next, in step S315, the traffic time prediction unit 102 substitutes the calculated time t + Δt into the arrival time variable T and stores it. Then, in step S316, the traffic state prediction unit 102 refers to the prediction mapping information, and determines whether or not the own vehicle 1 has reached the calculation destination at the calculation time t + Δt. If the own vehicle 1 has not reached the destination, the process proceeds to step S317. If the own vehicle 1 has reached the destination, the process of generating the predicted traffic state information in step S6 ends. , To step S7.
[0147]
Next, in step S317, t + Δt is substituted for the calculation time t by the traffic state prediction unit 102, and t + Δt newly substituted in the subsequent processing is processed as the calculation time t.
[0148]
Next, in step S318, the operation information of the own vehicle 1 and the other vehicle 1 is collected by the traffic condition prediction unit 102 in the same manner as in steps S2 to S4, and if there is no change in the collected operation information, Proceeding to step S321, if there is a change in the collected operation information, the traffic information table A is updated (step S319), and new prediction mapping information is added in accordance with the updated operation information of the traffic information table A. Is generated (step S320).
[0149]
Next, in step S321, the traffic state prediction unit 102 refers to the prediction mapping information at the calculation time t, and confirms whether the vehicle 1 has entered the next link. If the own vehicle 1 has not entered the next link, the process proceeds to step S303. If the own vehicle 1 has entered the next link, the link number of the own vehicle link is updated (step S303). S322) In the subsequent processing, the link indicated by the new link number is processed as the own vehicle link.
[0150]
Next, the process proceeds to step S303, and thereafter, in steps S303 to S316, a new calculation time t after the lapse of the Δt time, the prediction mapping information after the lapse of the Δt time, and the new traffic information table A, based on the new traffic information table A. The information of the speed reduction rate c10a, the predicted speed c10b, the predicted transit time c10c, the predicted traffic volume c10d, and the arrival time variable T is generated, and the processing of steps S303 to S322 is repeatedly performed until the own vehicle 1 reaches the destination in calculation. I do.
[0151]
In this case, according to the operation information received in real time from the other vehicle 1 via the communication unit 10, the traffic state until reaching the destination is calculated for each minute interval Δt. It is possible to predict a traffic state in the near future, which is difficult for several tens of seconds and several minutes ahead, according to the information provided by the system. In addition, weather information and traffic obstruction information are reflected as the speed reduction rate, and the predicted position of the vehicle 1 after Δt time indicates operation state information indicating operation states such as acceleration, deceleration, constant speed operation, right turn, left turn, and the like. Therefore, highly accurate prediction is possible.
[0152]
Next, in step S7, the calculation time t + Δt at the time of calculation reaching the destination in step S316 is substituted for the arrival time variable T and stored as it is. The arrival time variable T is added to the current time by the traffic state prediction unit 102, and the estimated arrival time is calculated.
[0153]
Next, in step S8, the traffic condition prediction unit 102 associates the predicted route a4, the predicted arrival time, and the predicted traffic volume c10d of the vehicle information A1 with the map obtained from the map information storage unit 9, 5 is displayed. In this case, the driver 3 can know the congestion state on the route to the destination in association with the map.
[0154]
Next, in step S9, the traffic state prediction unit 102 compares the destination with the current position information obtained by the position information acquisition unit 8, and terminates the process when the vehicle 1 reaches the destination. If the vehicle has not reached the destination, the process proceeds to step S2 and the processes of steps S2 to S9 are performed again.
[0155]
Next, in step S10, when an operation of changing the desired route or destination from the driver 3 via the operation unit 4 is received by the information table generation unit 101, the information table generation unit 101 performs the change. The information of the destination a3 or the predicted route a4 of the own vehicle information A1 in the traffic information table A is changed in accordance with the operation performed. Then, the process proceeds to step S2, and the processes of steps S2 to S9 are executed again.
[0156]
As described above, the operation information of the own vehicle 1 and the other vehicle 1 is acquired by the operations of steps S1 to S10, and the traffic information on the road is obtained from the acquired operation information by the traffic information table A, the node information table B, and the link information table. C is generated, and the generated information is reported to the driver 3.
[0157]
In this embodiment, the position information acquisition unit 8 uses the VICS as a means for transmitting the position information, and acquires the current position based on the position information received from the optical beacon of the VICS. Instead of using a beacon, a configuration using the following position information transmitting means may be used. For example, a node number transmitting unit that transmits the node number of the intersection to the vehicle 1 passing below is installed at the intersection, and the position information obtaining unit 8 of the vehicle 1 maps the node number received from the node number transmitting unit to a map. A configuration in which the current position is acquired by collating with information may be used (see FIG. 14).
[0158]
In addition, for example, a simple transmission unit that transmits only information indicating that the vehicle has passed through the node to the vehicle 1 passing below is installed at the intersection, and the position information acquisition unit 8 of the vehicle 1 passes through the node from the simple transmission unit. The current position may be corrected by receiving information indicating that the current position has been changed (see FIG. 15).
[0159]
Also, for example, while transmitting the node number of the intersection to the vehicle 1 passing below, information indicating the average speed, the traffic volume, the signal average waiting time, and the average passage time of the intersection is received from the vehicle 1 and stored and stored. The transmission and reception information processing means may be installed at an intersection. Further, the transmission / reception information processing means may be configured to transmit the received information indicating the average speed and the like to another vehicle 1 passing below (see FIG. 16). In this case, the traffic state prediction unit 102 can calculate the traffic volume with higher accuracy and predict the arrival time.
[0160]
Further, for example, in addition to the function as the transmission / reception information processing means, a communication unit capable of transmitting / receiving information to / from the plurality of transmission / reception information processing means is provided, and further, traffic information in a predetermined area can be collected and processed. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which a transmission and reception integrated information processing means is installed at an intersection (see FIG. 17). In this case, the traffic information collected from the plurality of transmission / reception information processing means is controlled by the transmission / reception general information processing means and transmitted to the transmission / reception information processing means. It is possible to transmit traffic information in a predetermined area to the vehicle 1 passing under the means.
[0161]
In addition, for example, the information processing apparatus is communicably connected to the plurality of transmission / reception integrated information processing means, and integrates and aggregates traffic information held by the transmission / reception integrated information processing means, or uses the transmission / reception integrated information processing means or the like to perform road operation. May be provided with a central processing unit for providing traffic information to the vehicle 1 traveling on the vehicle 1 (see FIG. 18). In this case, for example, the central processing unit can be used as a traffic monitoring center operated by a road manager.
[0162]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the operation information is directly transmitted and received between the moving bodies in real time, it is possible to grasp the change in the traffic state in real time, and to provide the traffic information guide capable of responding to the change in the traffic state immediately. Equipment can be provided.
[0163]
According to the invention described in claim 2, the traffic information can be notified to the user in association with the map information.
[0164]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to predict the traffic condition on the traffic route from the current position to the destination, and to notify the user of highly accurate traffic information.
[0165]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the traffic state is predicted in consideration of the operation state relating to the operation of the moving body, highly accurate traffic information can be notified to the user.
[0166]
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the traffic condition is predicted in consideration of the occurrence of an event that may impede the traffic, highly accurate traffic information can be reported to the user.
[0167]
According to the invention described in claim 6, since the traffic condition is predicted in consideration of the influence of the weather condition, highly accurate traffic information can be notified to the user.
[0168]
According to the seventh aspect of the invention, it is possible to notify the user of a more suitable traffic route in response to a change in the operation status of another moving body.
[0169]
According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, since a route to be searched is determined in consideration of a tendency of the user when selecting a route to be passed, satisfaction of the user can be improved.
[0170]
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to directly obtain the operation information of a mobile unit other than the other mobile unit via another mobile unit that has directly received the operation information. It is possible to indirectly acquire operation information of a moving object outside the range.
[0171]
According to the tenth aspect, it is possible to notify the user of the certainty of the traffic information.
[0172]
According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, three or more moving bodies transmit and receive operation information to each other, thereby generating traffic information on a traffic route and notifying the user of the traffic information.
[0173]
According to the twelfth aspect of the invention, since the operation information is directly transmitted and received between the moving objects in real time, it is possible to grasp the change in the traffic condition in real time, and it is possible to respond immediately to the change in the traffic condition. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram in which a traffic information guide device according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a vehicle.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a traffic information guidance device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a traffic information table A according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a node information table B according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a link information table C according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the traffic information guidance device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the traffic information guidance device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the traffic information guidance device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the traffic information guidance device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining mapping information according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a conversion diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a conversion diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a conversion diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a node number transmitting unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a simple transmission unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a transmission / reception information processing means according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a transmission and reception general information processing means according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of map information.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 vehicle
2 Traffic information guide device
3 Driver
4 Operation unit
5 Display
6 Antenna
7 Vehicle identification code storage unit
8 Location information acquisition unit
9 Map information storage
10 Communication unit
11 Traffic information generator
12 Operation status detector
13 Traffic obstacle information collection unit
14 Weather information collection unit
15 Route selection pattern storage
101 Information table generator
102 Traffic condition prediction unit
103 Route Search Unit
104 route selection pattern detection unit

Claims (12)

A traffic information guide device configured to be mountable on a moving body, to obtain operation information from other moving bodies around the own moving body and to assist efficient traffic on a traffic path, Position information acquisition means for acquiring current position information indicating the current position of the moving object, communication means for transmitting and receiving operation information including the current position information, current position information of the own moving object and other received movements A traffic information guide device comprising: traffic information generating means for generating traffic information on a traffic route from operation information on a body; and notifying means for notifying the generated traffic information. 2. The traffic information guide device according to claim 1, wherein the traffic route includes a map storage unit in which map information is recorded as map information of the traffic network. Operating means for inputting a destination, the traffic information generating means includes traffic condition predicting means for generating traffic information by predicting a traffic state on a traffic route from the current position to the destination from the operation information, and the notifying means The traffic information guide device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the traffic information obtained by prediction is reported. The operation information includes operation state information indicating an operation state related to the operation of the moving body, and the traffic state prediction means generates traffic information by predicting a traffic state in consideration of the operation state information. The traffic information guide device according to claim 3. The operation information includes traffic obstruction information indicating the occurrence of an event that causes a traffic obstruction, and the traffic condition prediction means generates traffic information by predicting the traffic condition in consideration of the traffic obstruction information. The traffic information guide device according to claim 3. The operation information includes weather information indicating a weather condition, and the traffic condition prediction means generates traffic information by predicting a traffic condition in consideration of the weather information. Traffic information guide device described in Crab. The traffic information generating means includes route searching means for searching for a traveling route from the current position to the destination according to the generated traffic information, and the notifying means notifies the user of the traffic route found by the search. The traffic information guide device according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein: 8. The traffic information guidance device according to claim 7, wherein the route search means searches for a route from the current position to the destination in consideration of information indicating a tendency of the user to make a route selection. . The traffic information guide device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the communication unit transmits the operation information received from another mobile body to another mobile body. The traffic information generating means assigns weight to the operation information on the other moving object based on the distance between the own moving object and the other moving object, and the traffic state prediction means determines the likelihood of the traffic information from the assigned weight. The traffic information guide device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the calculating and notifying unit notifies the certainty. A traffic information guidance system, wherein the traffic information guidance devices according to any one of claims 1 to 10 mounted on at least three or more mobile bodies mutually transmit and receive operation information. A method of obtaining operation information from other moving objects around the own moving object and assisting efficient traffic on a traffic path, wherein the computer is provided with current position information indicating a current position of the mounted own moving object. And transmitting and receiving the operation information including the current position information to the communication means, and obtaining the traffic information on the passage from the current position information of the own mobile unit and the received operation information on the other mobile unit. A traffic information guidance method, comprising: executing a generating step and notifying the generated traffic information via a notifying unit.

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