JP2004265186A - Event information supply system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an event information supply system which accurately determines conditions of generating events by adding pictures of generating events to traffic information regarding a traffic jam information supply system. <P>SOLUTION: The event information supply system comprises: an ITV central processor 5 collecting picture information sent from a plurality of TV cameras set up along roads and outputting them as digital information; a traffic central processor 1 processing by inputting events happened on roads; an information terminal 2 receiving information from the ITV central processor 5 and the traffic central processor 1 and outputting by adding picture information in response to traffic information; and an information supply apparatus 4 displaying event information by receiving the output of the information terminal 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an event information providing system, and more particularly, to an event information providing system that provides event information such as traffic congestion information using a traffic information providing device such as an information terminal installed at a rest facility on an expressway.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a system for displaying congestion information and the like, there is a system in which a video section is installed at a fixed station installed at an intersection or a roadside to provide both image information and symbolized traffic conditions (for example, Patent Document 1). 1). As another system, there is known a system in which position information of a monitor camera is displayed on an information receiving terminal, and image data from the monitor camera is read and displayed on a display (for example, see Patent Document 2). .
[0003]
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional system. In the traffic central processing unit 1, a plurality of events are generated from various sensors installed on the road. The information sent to the traffic central processing unit 1 includes the following.
・ Traffic congestion event ・ Accident event ・ Fire event ・ Disaster event ・ Failed car event ・ Road obstacle event ・ Construction event ・ Construction scheduled event ・ Meteorological event ・ Traffic regulation event ・ Contents of information board display ・ Traffic volume The other institution information terminal 2 receives the event having the above content and notifies the information terminal Web server 3 at a line speed of 128 Kbps. The information terminal Web server 3 causes the display device 4 to display traffic information.
[0004]
Separately, the ITV (Industrial Television) central processing unit 5 receives information from a camera installed on the road. Then, the image information providing device 6 receives the received video at the fixed point, notifies the video output device 7 at a speed of 1.5 Mbps or more, and the video at the fixed point on the road is displayed on the video output device 7.
[0005]
FIG. 9 shows an example of a display screen of the conventional system. In this figure, traffic congestion information for the Tokyo area (upward direction) of the Tomei Expressway is displayed. In the figure, traffic congestion information as of 10:20 is displayed. The content shows that a traffic jam of 10 km occurs between Atsugi IC and Yokohama Machida IC (Interchange). The traffic congestion is caused by the traffic congestion at the exit, which indicates that the required transit time is about 35 minutes. The congestion starts about 2 km from Atsugi IC. The running state of the car displayed at the bottom of the screen is a schematic diagram.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-306192 A (page 3, FIG. 1)
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-11-144189 (page 3, page 4, FIG. 1)
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, according to the above-described conventional technology, it is difficult to understand the detailed situation of the traffic congestion using only the current traffic congestion information. The driver did not know whether the vehicle could run at a speed of about 10 km / h or the vehicle could run at a speed of about 30 to 40 km / h. In the related art, the congestion state can be determined based on the traffic congestion time, but the average speed is not displayed, so the situation is difficult to understand.
[0008]
In addition, since the traffic congestion information is the latest information, it is difficult to determine whether the length of the traffic congestion is increasing or shortening, or whether the same traffic congestion continues.
[0009]
For this reason, when heading for the destination, for example, if it is better to give up the use of the highway and get off the highway at the IC ahead and use a general road, or if the highway ahead is divided into two or more, There was a problem that it was difficult for the driver to determine which route to go to the destination (the high-speed operation is a toll road, so it may be difficult to budget).
[0010]
Apart from this traffic information, there are resting facilities (service area (SA) and parking area (PA)) where images of cameras installed on the expressway ahead are displayed. However, if the car is running smoothly, such as when the location of the camera is not congested, the meaning as information to the driver is light.
[0011]
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and by adding a video of an occurring event to traffic information, the situation of the occurring event can be accurately determined. It aims to provide an event information providing system.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
(1) The invention described in claim 1 is as follows. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the principle of the present invention. 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the figure, 5 is an ITV central processing unit that collects video information from a plurality of television cameras installed along the road and outputs it as digital information, 1 is a traffic central processing unit that captures and processes events that occur on the road Reference numeral 2 denotes an information terminal that receives information from the ITV central processing unit 5 and the traffic central processing unit 1 and adds and outputs video information corresponding to the traffic information. This is an information providing device that provides information.
[0013]
According to this configuration, the situation of the occurring event can be accurately determined by adding an image of the occurring event (for example, traffic jam) to the traffic information.
(2) The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the information terminal outputs the past congestion length of the generated congestion as change information and provides the change information to the information providing device.
[0014]
With this configuration, the past traffic jam length of the traffic jam is displayed as change information on the information providing device, so that the driver can grasp how the traffic jam information changes from now on.
(3) The invention according to claim 3, wherein the information terminal sends a camera switching signal to the ITV central processing unit when the event output from the traffic central processing unit is input, and the information terminal is installed near a place where the event occurs. And selecting video information from a camera.
[0015]
According to this configuration, it is possible to provide the information providing device with the video information from the camera installed near the place where the event occurs, in addition to the traffic information.
[0016]
Further, in the present invention, the information terminal selects the video information of the first point, the intermediate point, and the last point where the event has occurred, and provides the selected information to the information providing apparatus.
[0017]
With such a configuration, it is possible to accurately grasp information on a place where an event occurs.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0019]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the figure, 5 is an ITV central processing unit that collects video information from a plurality of television cameras installed along the road and outputs it as digital information, 1 is a traffic central processing unit that captures and processes events that occur on the road An information terminal 2 receives information from the ITV central processing unit 5 and the traffic central processing unit 1 and adds and outputs video information corresponding to the traffic information. It is a display device as an information providing device that displays information.
[0020]
An information terminal Web server 3 receives an output from the information terminal 2. The information terminal Web server 3 is notified of a traffic event at a line speed from the information terminal 2 of 128 kbps or more. In the information terminal 2, reference numeral 2a denotes an event-specific video information storage unit that stores event-specific video information. In this embodiment, a signal from the information terminal 2 is displayed on the display device 4 via the information terminal Web server 3.
[0021]
The information terminal 2 sends a camera switching signal to the ITV central processing unit 5 from the signal line 31 through a serial interface of RS232C. The ITV central processing unit 5 outputs a video image captured by the camera, and supplies the video image to the information terminal 2 via the signal line 32. In this case, the ITV central processing unit 5 digitizes the video signal through the IP encoder / decoder and gives it to the information terminal 2 so that a continuous image from the already installed road condition monitoring camera can be taken into the present system. . The operation of the system configured as described above will be described below.
[0022]
The traffic central processing unit 1 receives an output from an event detection sensor installed at each location on the road, and notifies the information terminal 2 of the event as an event. In this case, the traffic central processing unit 1 is also notified of the information of the place where the event has occurred. This event is as shown in FIG. That is, a traffic jam event, an accident event, and the like. Upon receiving each event, the information terminal 2 sends a camera selection signal to the ITV central processing unit 5 from the signal line 31 to the camera installed near the place corresponding to the event.
[0023]
The video signal from the selected camera enters the ITV central processing unit 5, where it is converted into digital image data by an IP encoder / decoder (not shown) and provided to the information terminal 2. The information terminal 2 stores the received image data in the event-specific video information storage unit 2a for each event. The information terminal 2 reads the event information given from the traffic central processing unit 1 and the corresponding video information from the video information storage unit 2a for each event, and gives them to the information terminal Web server 3. The information terminal Web server 3 outputs the received information to the display device 4, and the display device 4 displays the traffic information event and the corresponding video information together.
[0024]
According to this configuration, the situation of the occurring event can be accurately determined by adding an image of the occurring event (for example, traffic jam) to the traffic information.
[0025]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an image display example according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes an entire screen on which map information is displayed. Numeral 11 denotes an event display section for displaying in detail events in a section where traffic congestion occurs. The event display section 11 displays a traffic congestion section (for example, between ○ IC and △△ IC), a length of traffic congestion (here, 5 km), and a required transit time (here, 20 minutes).
[0026]
In addition, the distance of the traffic jam is shown at intervals of 10 minutes. Reference numeral 12 denotes a video display unit that displays video information of a congested section. The video display unit 12 displays video information of the corresponding location photographed by the camera. Here, the event display unit 11 can switch the traffic information every 30 seconds, for example, for each event, and the video display unit 12 updates the traffic congestion image, for example, every 10 seconds. It has become. As an example, the traffic jam at 12:00 is 1 km, but at 12:10 it is 2 km and at 12:20 it is 2 km. Reference numeral 13 denotes a portion indicating the band information of the type of event in color.
[0027]
According to the present invention, as described above, since the past traffic jam length of the traffic jam is displayed as change information, the driver can grasp how the traffic jam information changes from now on. For example, in the case of the example shown in the figure, it can be seen that the traffic congestion tends to increase with time.
[0028]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present invention, and shows a method of collecting camera images from traffic information. The information terminal 2 extracts traffic information from the event received from the central processing unit 1 (S1). Here, the extracted information is information ahead of the current location. The display device 4 extracts traffic information that needs to be provided for each SA / PA. The display device 4 is provided for each SA / PA, and displays current location information, a route, a direction, and Kp. Here, Kp is a kilopost, for example, a sign installed on a road at intervals of 1 km. The extracted traffic information updates the present result as a past event for each occurrence event (event event No.) (S2).
[0029]
Next, the information terminal 2 performs the following processing on the traffic information obtained as a result of the extraction in order to obtain images near the start point, near the middle point, and near the end point if there is a traffic jam.
[0030]
The information terminal 2 obtains traffic congestion information (route, direction, start point Kp, end point Kp) (S3). That is, the camera near the start point acquires the start point Kp of the traffic information, the corresponding route, direction, camera installation information, Kp, and the camera number whose route meets the predetermined selection condition. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing conditions for selecting a camera according to the present invention. Assume that cameras N1 and N2 are installed before and after the traffic jam as shown in the figure. In the vicinity of the starting point, priority is given to the camera of Kp in which traffic jam occurs. Near the middle, priority is given to cameras that are close to the center of the traffic. Near the end point, priority is given to cameras that are close to the end point of the traffic jam. If the difference from the camera's Kp is 1 km or more, the image is too small to judge, and is not adopted.
[0031]
When the traffic information is obtained, the information terminal 2 checks whether there is a camera near the start point of the traffic based on the camera installation information (camera number) (S4). If there is no camera, there is no start point video information (S5), and the process skips to step S7.
[0032]
If there is a camera near the start point, the information terminal 2 obtains the camera number near the start point Kp in the congested section, requests the ITV central processing unit 5 to switch the image, and displays the image from the predetermined camera for 10 seconds. Capture (S6). Next, the information terminal 2 checks whether the congestion length is 3 km or more (S7).
[0033]
If the congestion length is 3 km or less, the process skips to step S11 because it is not necessary to take an image with a camera near the middle. If the congestion length is 3 km or more, it is checked whether there is a camera near the middle based on the camera installation information (S8). If there is no camera near the middle, there is no intermediate video information (S9), and the process skips to step S11.
[0034]
If there is a camera near the middle, the information terminal 2 acquires the camera number near the middle Kp in the congested section, requests the ITV central processing unit 5 to switch the image, and captures the image of the point for 10 seconds. The captured video information is stored in the event-specific video information storage unit 2a.
[0035]
Next, the information terminal 2 checks whether there is a camera near the end point of the traffic jam based on the camera installation information (S11). If there is no camera, there is no video information near the end point (S12), and the process ends. If there is a camera, the camera number near the end point Kp of the congested section is acquired, a request is made to the ITV central processing unit 5 to switch the image, and the image is captured for 10 seconds (S13).
[0036]
The above-described processing after step S3 is performed for the number of extraction results.
[0037]
At this time, for the same traffic information, the change in the congestion length every past 60 minutes can be displayed as data. Therefore, as shown in FIG. The past information of the event number is added to the result.
[0038]
When the traffic congestion information of the start point, the intermediate point, and the end point of the traffic congestion is obtained in this way, the information terminal 2 reads out the video information stored in the event-specific video information storage unit 2a and reads the video information together with the traffic information in FIG. Is displayed on the display device 4 as shown in FIG.
[0039]
As described above, according to the present invention, video information from a camera installed near a place where an event has occurred can be displayed on a display device in addition to traffic information. In addition, it is possible to select and display the video information of the first point, the intermediate point, and the last point where the traffic jam occurs on the display device 4 to accurately grasp the information of the place where the traffic jam occurs. Can be.
[0040]
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing links between recent data and past data. For the occurrence event 1, for example, information on traffic congestion is acquired every 10 minutes from 11:00. The acquired information is edited and reflected in the editing result. At the same time, the video signals at the start point, the middle point, and the end point are respectively S001 *** s. avi, S001 ** m. avi, S001 ** e. Obtained as an avi file. This video information is, for example, a video signal for 10 seconds.
[0041]
The editing sequence of the latest information described above is as follows.
(1) Extract information providing information from the latest data.
(2) Register the result of (1) in the past event.
(3) Collect video information (related to events).
{Circle around (4)} Add video to event provision.
(5) Extract past information of the same event (within 60 minutes).
[0042]
The image edited in this way is displayed on the display device 4 shown in FIG. In addition to traffic congestion zones and text information, traffic information (including past information) and video information are automatically sent from the information terminal Web server 3 to the display device 4 as status data in a simplified map on a large display in a balloon. provide. Here, as the video information, the video near the start point, near the middle point, and near the end point of the traffic jam is broadcast every 10 seconds during the information provision.
[0043]
Broadcast and provide information for the events that have occurred. In the case of a selection-type terminal, it is also possible to display traffic congestion information (including past information) and status data of video information by selecting and displaying information that the driver wants to refer to from occurring events. is there.
[0044]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an entire system using the present invention. The same components as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the figure, reference numeral 20 denotes a camera installed at a predetermined interval on a road. It is assumed that n cameras 20 from camera 1 to camera n are installed. The output signal of each camera 20 is sent to the ITV central processing unit 5 via the existing ITV relay device 21 provided in each management office.
[0045]
On the other hand, each event detected on this road is given to the existing traffic central processing unit 1. For example, in this example, it is assumed that the car stops at the head of the row due to an accident, a failure, or the like, and the subsequent row of cars starts congestion accordingly. Such information is detected by a detection sensor (not shown) and provided to the traffic central processing unit 1. The output of the traffic central processing unit 1 is provided to an information terminal 2.
[0046]
The output of the ITV central processing unit 5 and the output of the traffic central processing unit 1 are input to the information terminal 2. When the information terminal 2 recognizes that an event has occurred on the road based on the output of the traffic central processing unit 1, the information terminal 2 searches for the number of the camera installed near the place where the event has occurred. .
[0047]
When the camera number is searched, the information terminal 2 sends the camera number to the ITV central processing unit 5 to select the camera. Then, the video information photographed from the camera is converted into digital image data by the IP encoder / decoder, and is provided to the information terminal 2.
[0048]
Here, an image from the camera 1 installed near the place where the accident event occurs due to the accident event is captured and given to the information terminal 2. At the same time, the images of camera 1 (head), camera 3 (middle), and camera 5 (tail) are captured by a traffic jam event and provided to information terminal 2. The information terminal 2 inputs and edits the traffic information from the traffic central processing unit 1 and the video information from the ITV central processing unit 5, and displays the information on the display unit 4.
[0049]
The example displayed in the figure corresponds to the example displayed in FIG. According to this figure, it can be seen that the beginning and end of the traffic jam are displayed, the traffic jam 5 km, the video near the traffic jam and the required time of 30 minutes are displayed.
[0050]
As described above, according to the present invention, the traffic situation to the destination is made the same as that of the present situation by providing the driver with the situation grasp based on the image of the occurring traffic jam and the change in the traffic jam length at the present time. It provides information to judge whether it is possible to go in a bad traffic situation or the situation is going to be worse than it is now.
[0051]
In the above-described embodiment, the case of a traffic jam or an accident is taken as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to other events such as road construction and traffic regulation. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the display device is used as the information providing device is taken as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and another information providing device such as an HTV can be used. .
[0052]
(Supplementary Note 1) An ITV central processing unit that collects video information from a plurality of television cameras installed along the road and outputs it as digital information, and a traffic central processing unit that captures and processes events occurring on the road. An information terminal that receives information from the ITV central processing unit and the traffic central processing unit and adds and outputs video information corresponding to the traffic information; and an information providing device that receives the output of the information terminal and displays it as congestion information. And a traffic congestion information providing system.
[0053]
(Supplementary note 2) The congestion information providing system according to supplementary note 1, wherein the information terminal outputs a past congestion length of the occurring congestion as change information and displays the change information on an information providing device.
[0054]
(Supplementary Note 3) When the information terminal receives an event output from the traffic central processing unit, the information terminal sends a camera switching signal to the ITV central processing unit, and an image from a camera installed near the place where the event occurred. The traffic jam information providing system according to claim 2, wherein the information is selected.
[0055]
(Supplementary Note 4) The traffic jam information provision according to Supplementary Note 3, wherein the information terminal selects the video information of the first point, the intermediate point, and the last point where the traffic jam occurs and displays the video information on the information providing device. system.
[0056]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) According to the first aspect of the present invention, by adding a video of an occurring event (for example, traffic jam) to the traffic information, it is possible to accurately determine the situation of the occurring traffic jam.
(2) According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the past traffic jam length of the traffic jam is displayed on the information providing device as change information, the driver can grasp how the traffic jam information changes from now on.
(3) According to the third aspect of the invention, video information from a camera installed near the place where the event has occurred can be displayed on the information providing device in addition to traffic information.
[0057]
As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided an event information providing system capable of accurately determining the situation of an occurring event by adding a video of the occurring event to traffic information. Can be.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a principle block diagram of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an image display example according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing selection conditions of a camera according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a link between recent data and past data.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an entire system using the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional system.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of a conventional system.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Central Traffic Processing Unit 2 Information Terminal 4 Information Provision Device 5 ITV Central Processing Unit

Claims (3)

An ITV central processing unit that collects video information from a plurality of television cameras installed along a road and outputs the digital information as digital information;
A traffic central processing unit that captures and processes events that occur on the road;
An information terminal which receives information from the ITV central processing unit and the traffic central processing unit and adds and outputs video information corresponding to traffic information;
An information providing device that receives the output of the information terminal and provides the information as event information;
An event information providing system comprising: 2. The event information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the information terminal outputs a past traffic jam length of the generated traffic jam as change information and provides the change information to an information providing device. When the information terminal receives an event output from the traffic central processing unit, the information terminal sends a camera switching signal to the ITV central processing unit and selects video information from a camera installed near the place where the event has occurred. 3. The event information providing system according to claim 2, wherein:

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