JP2004205236A - Road information providing server, road information providing system, and road information providing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a road information providing system for accurately and rapidly deriving the shortest route information, congestion information in a total excursion, or the like in long-distance route search or the like. <P>SOLUTION: The road information providing system comprises a terminal apparatus, such as a car navigation apparatus 20a, a cellular phone 20b, a PC 20c for requesting road information by specifying a route; a VICS center 40 for providing congestion information; a road information providing server 10 for generating road information for providing to pieces of terminal apparatus 20a-20c, based on the congestion information from the VICS center 40 according to a request from the pieces of terminal apparatus 20a-20c; a leased line network 50 for connecting the road information providing server 10 and the VICS center 40 by a leased line; a network 30 for connecting the pieces of terminal apparatus 20a-20c and the road information providing server 10 so that they can communicate each other; and a GPS 60 for providing position information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a road information providing server, a road information providing system, and a road information providing method for providing road information such as traffic congestion information. In particular, the present invention relates to a road information providing server, a road information providing system, and a road information providing method capable of providing accurate and prompt road information for all routes even in a wide range (long distance section) route specification.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, information on the start position and end position of a congested section, the total length of the section, the time required to cross the congested section from the end to the beginning, etc., have been installed in radio broadcasts and main trunk lines as congestion information. The information is provided to the driver of the vehicle through a displayed electronic bulletin board and other navigation devices mounted on the vehicle.
[0003]
In recent years, in particular, a vehicle sensor for detecting a running vehicle is installed on the side of a road, and information obtained from the vehicle sensor is analyzed on a center side to determine a congested section or the like (for example, a road traffic system). An information communication system (VICS) has been introduced, and a driver can accurately obtain detailed traffic information such as a head position and a total length of a traffic jam section from this system.
[0004]
For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-257561 describes a traffic jam information providing system and a traffic jam information providing device. In this congestion information providing system, information such as the vehicle traffic volume of each road and the vehicle speed of the passing vehicle is acquired, and based on the traffic information, the head position of the congestion section, the congestion length, and the like are calculated. Is transmitted wirelessly to the user side. Here, the traffic information providing system includes a road traffic information communication system (VICS), and traffic information is transmitted to a user from an optical beacon, a radio wave beacon, an FM multiplex broadcast antenna, or the like.
[0005]
The traffic information transmitted to the user includes construction information indicating the position of the construction site, accident information indicating the position of the accident site, information indicating that the road is closed, and other information such as individual traffic congestion information. There is common congestion information required to provide (described below). In particular, the common traffic congestion information is composed of information such as a road number capable of specifying the road in which the traffic congestion has occurred by the navigation device, a head position, a tail position, and a traffic congestion amount (for example, traffic congestion length).
[0006]
On the other hand, in order to receive traffic information provided from the traffic jam information providing system, a navigation device having a function as a traffic jam information providing device is mounted on the vehicle of the user. Here, the traffic jam information providing device is configured to receive the traffic information provided from the traffic jam information providing system via the receiving antenna. The receiving unit includes, for example, an optical beacon receiver for receiving traffic information transmitted from the road traffic information communication system (VICS) to the vehicle, a radio wave beacon receiver, and the like. And an FM receiver for receiving traffic information transmitted to the user.
[0007]
As described above, according to the conventional traffic congestion information providing system and the conventional traffic congestion information providing device, the navigation device having the function as the traffic congestion information providing device transmits the traffic information including the information on the traffic congestion section where the vehicle is traveling on the road. By receiving the information from the traffic information communication system (VICS), individual congestion information for each vehicle can be provided to vehicle occupants.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, according to the conventional congestion information providing system and the congestion information providing apparatus as disclosed in JP-A-2002-257561, the congestion information is transmitted from the road traffic information communication system (VICS) by FM multiplex broadcasting, Since this is received on the vehicle side, there is a problem that the user can obtain only traffic jam information around the vehicle to which FM radio waves reach.
[0009]
For this reason, there was a problem that information on a wide range of traffic jams could not be obtained, and an actual shortest route could not be accurately derived in long-distance navigation.
[0010]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a road information providing server, a road information providing system, which can accurately and quickly derive the shortest route (route) information, traffic congestion information on all the routes, and the like in long-distance route search and the like. And a traffic jam information providing method.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, a road information providing server of the present invention is a road information providing server for providing traffic congestion information on a road, and stores basic road network storage means for storing road network information and traffic congestion information. Congestion information storage means; congestion information processing means for generating a congestion road network based on road network information stored in the basic road network storage means and congestion information stored in the congestion information storage means; Congested road network storage means for storing the congested road network generated by the processing means; route designation information specifying a route to be searched; congested road network stored in the congested road network storage means; Based on the road network information stored in the vehicle And a information providing processing means generates and provides road information the entire process, characterized in that.
[0012]
Further, in order to solve the above problems, a road information providing system according to the present invention provides a terminal device that specifies a route and requests road information, a traffic information center that provides traffic information, and responds to a request from the terminal device. A road information providing server for generating road information based on traffic information from the traffic information center and providing the generated information to the terminal device. A server.
[0013]
Further, in order to solve the above problem, a road information providing method of the present invention is a road information providing method for providing road information of a designated route, wherein (A) a basic distance L0 (i) of each unit route (i). ), The type thereof, and the average speed v for each route type are stored as road network information, (B) traffic congestion information is obtained and stored, and (C) traffic congestion road network based on the road network information and traffic congestion information. (D) In response to a request accompanied by route designation, the route and time of the shortest route are calculated based on the congested road network of the designated route, and the shortest route is calculated based on the information of the road network. (E) calculating the distance of the shortest route, generating the road sequence, the distance and the time of the shortest route as road information, and (E) providing the generated road information.
[0014]
Here, when the travel time t (i) in each unit route (i) is used as the congestion information, the congestion distance of each unit route (i) constituting the congested road network is calculated using the average hourly speed v for each type of route. L (i)
<Equation 1>
L (i) = v · t (i)
To generate a congested road network.
[0015]
Further, using the traffic congestion and / or congestion in each unit route (i) and the respective distances x and / or y as the traffic congestion information, the basic distance L0 (i) in each unit route (i) of the road network information and the Based on the traffic congestion information, the traffic congestion distance L (i) of each unit route (i) constituting the traffic congestion road network is calculated as follows:
<Equation 2>
L (i) = (L0 (i) −xy) + αx + βy
Where α is a weighting constant during traffic jam (> 1)
β is the weighting constant during congestion (> 1)
And a congested road network can be generated.
[0016]
Congestion information is centrally collected and managed, a congestion road network for the entire road is generated, and road information of a corresponding (designated) route is generated based on the congestion road network at the request of the user. It is possible to accurately and quickly derive road information such as shortest route (route) information and traffic congestion information even in a wide range (long distance section) route specification (designation of a start point position and an end point position). it can.
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of a road information providing server, a road information providing system, and a road information providing method of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0018]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a use form of the road information providing system of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the road information providing system includes a car navigation device 20a, a mobile phone 20b, a PC (Personal Computer) 20c, and other terminal devices for designating a route and requesting road information, and a road traffic information providing congestion information. In response to a request from a traffic information center (hereinafter simply referred to as “VICS center”) 40 such as a communication system (VICS) and terminal devices 20 a to 20 c, road information is obtained based on traffic information from the VICS center 40. A road information providing server 10 that generates and provides the terminal information to the terminal devices 20a to 20c, a dedicated line network 50 that connects the road information providing server 10 and the VICS center 40 with a dedicated line, and the terminal devices 20a to 20c and the road information providing server 10. And a GPS (Glo) that provides location information. bal Positioning System) 60.
[0019]
Here, the terminal devices 20a to 20c can acquire the current position information from the GPS 60 and set the current position information as the start position of the designated route.
[0020]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the form of the road information providing server 10 of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the road information providing server 10 includes a VICS information receiving unit 11 that receives traffic congestion information at a predetermined timing (for example, every five minutes) from a VICS center 40 (FIG. 1) via a dedicated line network 50. , A traffic congestion information DB (Data Base) 12 that stores traffic congestion information received by the VICS information receiving unit 11, a route type and a basic distance L0 (i) for each predetermined unit route (i), and an average hourly speed v for each route type. And a traffic jam that generates a congested road network based on the road network information stored in the basic road network DB 14 and the traffic jam information stored in the traffic jam information DB 12. An information processing unit 13 and a traffic congestion road network for storing the traffic congestion road network generated by the traffic congestion information processing unit 13; Based on the network DB 15 and the information on the congested road network stored in the congested road network DB 15 and the road network stored in the basic road network DB 14 based on the route specification information in which the route to be searched is specified, An information provision processing unit 19 that generates and provides road information.
[0021]
Here, the information provision processing unit 19 communicates with the terminal devices 20 a to 20 c via the network 30 and a traffic congestion road network based on the routing information received by the communication control unit 17. An information processing unit 16 for generating, as road information, the congestion distance (L (i)) of each unit route (i) of the entire journey from the congested road network stored in the DB 15, and the road information generated by the information processing unit 16 And a road information DB 18 for storing
[0022]
Further, the information provision processing unit 19 generates the shortest route (route) from the congestion distance (L (i)) as road information based on the start point position information and the end point position information specified from the terminal devices 20a to 20c. In addition, a plurality of routes (routes) can be generated as road information together with respective predicted times (required time, arrival time, etc.).
[0023]
In addition, traffic information provided as traffic congestion information from the Road Traffic Information and Communication System (VICS) includes construction information indicating the location of the construction site, accident information indicating the location of the accident site, and traffic closure information indicating a closed road. , There is common traffic information. In particular, the common congestion information includes a road number for identifying a road on which congestion has occurred, a head position, a tail position, and a congestion amount (for example, congestion length (x), congestion length (y), It consists of information such as travel time (t) of a predetermined route.
[0024]
Next, an information providing method using the road information providing system and the road information providing server 10 of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described.
[0025]
3 to 5 are flowcharts showing an information providing method using the road information providing system of the present invention. 1 to 5, in the information providing method of the present invention, a congestion road network is first generated by the congestion information processing unit 13 and stored in the congestion road network DB 15 (step 301).
[0026]
FIG. 4 shows the details of step 301. First, the road information providing server 10 stores the information of the road network including the basic distance L0 (i) and the type of each unit route (i), the average speed v for each route type, and the like in the basic road network DB 14. (Step 301-1).
[0027]
Then, congestion information (traffic information) is obtained from the VICS center 40 and stored in the congestion information DB 12 (step 301-2).
[0028]
Next, the congestion information processing unit 13 generates a congestion road network based on the congestion information stored in the congestion information DB 12 and the information on the road network stored in the basic road network DB 14, and generates a congestion road information network DB15. (Step 301-3).
[0029]
Here, a method of generating a congested road network will be described. If the traffic congestion information stored in step 301-2 includes the travel time t (i) for each unit route (i), in step 301-3, the type of the route (expressway, general national road, etc.) , Prefectural roads, etc.), the traffic congestion distance L (i) of each unit route (i)
<Equation 1>
L (i) = v · t (i)
To generate a congested road network.
[0030]
If the traffic congestion information stored in step 301-2 includes the distance of congestion or congestion (congestion distance (x) or (congestion distance (y)) in each unit route (i), In step 301-3, based on the basic distance L0 (i) in each unit route (i) of the road network, the congestion distance (x) and the congestion distance (y) in the unit route (i) included in the congestion information, The congestion distance L (i) of each unit route (i) constituting the congestion road network is
<Equation 2>
L (i) = (L0 (i) −xy) + αx + βy
Where α is a weighting constant during traffic jam (> 1)
β is the weighting constant during congestion (> 1)
And a congested road network can be generated.
[0031]
The congested road network thus generated is stored in the congested road network DB 15 (step 301-3).
[0032]
Here, Step 301-2 and Step 301-3 can be performed at a predetermined timing (for example, every 5 minutes), and Step 301-2 and Step 301-3 are performed for each update timing of the traffic jam information ( Step 301-4).
[0033]
Then, when there is a request accompanied by the route designation from the terminal devices 20a to 20c (step 301-5), the process of generating the road information on the designated route (step 302) is performed. Here, the required route specification includes information such as departure place (start point position information), transit point, destination end point position information, and use / unused of toll road.
[0034]
FIG. 5 shows the processing of steps 302 to 303 in detail. 3 and 5, when there is a request accompanied by the route designation (step 301-5 in FIG. 4), the congested road network of the designated route is searched and collected (step 302-1).
[0035]
FIG. 6 shows an example of searching for a route from a specified start point position S to an end point position E. As shown in FIG. 6, the congested road network DB 15 stores a congested distance L (i) for each predetermined unit route (i). FIG. 6 particularly shows a congested road network from the starting point position S to the interchange A. There are a plurality of routes from the start point position S to the interchange A. By comparing the addition of L (i) from S to A, the shortest route (L (4) → L (8) → L ( 9)-> L (13)-> L (20)-> L (24)). Here, in this comparison of L (i), in addition to directly comparing the total distance ΣL (i), the transit time t (i) is obtained for each unit route (i) and added. You can make it. That is, using the average speed v according to the type of the unit route (i),
<Equation 3>
t (i) = L (i) / v
, The time t (i) required to pass through the unit path (i) is obtained, and the obtained time t (i) is added for each path (route). Route (route). Note that accident information, construction information, road closures, and the like may be stored as point information, for example, as indicated by the X mark on the unit route (22). When the crosses indicated on the unit path (22) indicate that the road is closed, L (22) = ∞ or t (22) = ∞, and a predetermined numerical value may be input as a dummy. . Alternatively, the unit path (22) may be deleted.
[0036]
Such a route search is also performed between the interchange C and the end position E. From Interchange A to Interchange C, the vehicle runs on a highway. At this time, the congestion information between AB and BC is considered in the above-described <Equation 1> or <Equation 2>, and the congestion distance L (i) can be obtained. ) Can be obtained.
[0037]
Further, in the above route search, not only the shortest route (route (route) having the minimum value of L (i) and Δt (i)) but also a plurality of routes in ascending order of traffic jam distance ΔL (i) and transit time Δt (i) You can also selectively search for routes. Using <Equation 3>, in addition to the required time t (i) (t (i) = L (i) / v) for each route or unit route (i), the estimated arrival time (current time + Δt ( i)) and so on. Furthermore, according to the use / non-use of the toll road, it is possible to search for a route that does not use a toll road (expressway) or a route that gives priority to a toll road (expressway).
[0038]
The road information (route (route), distance, time (transit time, arrival time, etc.)) transmitted to the terminal devices 20a to 20c is generated in response to a request from the terminal devices 20a to 20c. That is, the road information can be generated based on the congested road network under the conditions as described above. The road information generated in this way is stored in the road information DB 18 (Step 302-2).
[0039]
The generated and stored road information is provided to the terminal devices 20a to 20c (step 303-1). At this time, the provision timing may be performed immediately after the generation of the road information, or may be performed in response to a request from the terminal devices 20a to 20c.
[0040]
Further, when there is a request for updating the road information from the terminal devices 20a to 20c (step 303-2), the processing from step 302-1 may be repeated.
[0041]
The road information providing server, the road information providing system, and the road information providing method according to the present invention have been described above. However, the processing of step 301, step 302, and step 303 can be performed independently. That is, during the generation of the road information in step 302 and the provision of the road information in step 303, the congested road network of step 301 can be generated and stored (updated).
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the road information providing server, the road information providing system, and the road information providing method of the present invention, congestion information is collected and managed centrally, and a congested road network for the entire road is generated. Can generate the road information of the corresponding (specified) route based on the congested road network in response to the request of (1), so that a wide range (long distance section) of route specification (designation of the start point position and end point position, etc. ), Road information such as shortest route (route) information and traffic congestion information can be derived accurately and quickly.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a usage form of a road information providing system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a form of a road information providing server of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a road information providing method according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a road information providing method according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a road information providing method according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of searching for a route from a designated start point position S to an end point position E;
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Road information providing server 11 VICS information receiving unit 12 Congestion information DB
13 Traffic Information Processing Unit 14 Basic Road Network DB
15 Congestion Road Network DB
16 information processing unit 17 communication control unit 18 road information DB
19 Information Provision Processing Unit 20a Car Navigation Device 20b Mobile Phone 20c PC
30 network 40 VICS center 50 dedicated line network 60 GPS

Claims (14)

A road information providing server for providing traffic congestion information on a road,
Basic road network storage means for storing road network information;
Traffic jam information storage means for storing traffic jam information;
Traffic jam information processing means for generating a traffic jam road network based on the traffic network information stored in the basic road network storage means and the traffic jam information stored in the traffic jam information storage means,
Traffic jam road network storage means for storing the traffic jam road network generated by the traffic jam information processing means,
On the basis of the route specification information where the route to be searched is specified, the congested road network stored in the congested road network storage unit, and the road network information stored in the basic road network storage unit, Information providing processing means for generating and providing road information of all the routes in the route,
Comprising,
A road information providing server, characterized in that: The road information providing server according to claim 1, wherein the congestion information is traffic information provided from a road traffic information communication system (VICS). The road information providing server according to claim 1, wherein the information providing processing unit generates a route, a distance, and a time of the designated route as road information. The information providing processing means searches for a shortest route based on the start point position information and the end point position information of the designated route, and the congested road network, and generates the shortest route as road information. The road information providing server according to claim 3, wherein The information providing processing means generates a plurality of routes as road information together with respective predicted times from the congestion distance information based on start point position information and end point position information of a designated route. The road information providing server according to 3. When the traffic jam information stored in the traffic jam information storage means is indicated by the travel time t (i) in the unit route (i),
The traffic jam information processing means includes:
Using the average speed per hour v for each type of route, the congestion distance L (i) of each unit route (i) constituting the congested road network is calculated as follows:
<Equation 1>
L (i) = v · t (i)
To generate a congested road network,
The road information providing server according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The traffic jam information processing means includes:
The basic distance L0 (i) in each unit route (i) of the road network information stored in the basic road network storage means and the unit included in the traffic congestion information stored in the traffic congestion information storage means Based on the congestion and / or congestion on the route (i) and the respective distances x and / or y, the congestion distance L (i) of each unit route (i) constituting the congested road network is calculated as follows:
<Equation 2>
L (i) = (L0 (i) −xy) + αx + βy
Where α is a weighting constant during traffic jam (> 1)
β is the weighting constant during congestion (> 1)
To generate a congested road network
The road information providing server according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: A terminal device for requesting road information by specifying a route;
A traffic information center that provides traffic information;
In response to a request from the terminal device, based on the congestion information from the congestion information center, generates road information, a road information providing server to provide to the terminal device,
In the road information providing system equipped with
The road information providing server is the road information providing server according to any one of claims 1 to 7.
A road information providing system, characterized in that: The road information providing system according to claim 8, wherein the traffic congestion information center is a road traffic information communication system (VICS). 10. The road information providing system according to claim 8, wherein the terminal device obtains current position information from a GPS (Global Positioning System) and sets the current position information as a start point position of a designated route. A road information providing method for providing road information of a specified route,
(A) The basic distance L0 (i) and its type of each unit route (i) and the average speed v for each route type are stored as road network information,
(B) Acquire and store traffic jam information,
(C) generating and storing a congested road network based on the information on the road network and the congested information;
(D) In response to a request accompanied by route designation, the route and time of the shortest route are calculated based on the congested road network of the designated route, and the distance of the shortest route is calculated based on the information of the road network. Calculate and generate the route, distance and time of the shortest route as road information,
(E) providing the generated road information;
A road information providing method, comprising: The road information providing method according to claim 11, wherein the steps (B) and (C) are performed at a predetermined timing. The step (B) acquires and stores the travel time t (i) in each unit route (i) as traffic congestion information,
The step (C) includes:
Using the average speed per hour v for each type of route, the congestion distance L (i) of each unit route (i) constituting the congested road network is calculated as follows:
<Equation 1>
L (i) = v · t (i)
To generate a congested road network,
The road information providing method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein: The step (B) acquires and stores traffic congestion and / or congestion and respective distances x and / or y in each unit route (i) as traffic congestion information,
In the step (C), the basic distance L0 (i) in each unit route (i) of the road network and the respective distances x and / or congestion and / or congestion in the unit route (i) included in the congestion information. Or the traffic jam distance L (i) of each unit route (i) constituting the traffic jam road network based on y
<Equation 2>
L (i) = (L0 (i) −xy) + αx + βy
Where α is a weighting constant during traffic jam (> 1)
β is the weighting constant during congestion (> 1)
To generate a congested road network
The road information providing method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein:

Images