JP2005316623A - Travel time allocation system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve a link travel time with high accuracy in regards to a link by calculating the link travel time on the link in a section on the basis of distribution of a travel speed in the section provided with the travel time. <P>SOLUTION: This system includes: a map database 12 for storing data relating to roads and road environments; a section travel time database 13 for storing data on the travel time; a link travel time estimating part 14 for accessing to the map database 12 and the section travel time database 13, for determining the distribution of the travel speed in the section provided with the travel time on the basis of the road environments, and for calculating a link travel time in the section in accordance with the distribution; and a link travel time database 15 for storing the link travel time calculated by the link travel time estimating part 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a travel time distribution system.

  Conventionally, in a navigation apparatus mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile, when an operator such as a driver operates a predetermined input unit to set a destination, the destination and the current position detection processing unit detect the destination. Based on the current position of the vehicle, a route from the current position to the destination is searched, and the searched route is guided. In this case, the route is searched so that the distance from the current position to the destination is the shortest, or the route is searched so that the required time is the shortest.

  In addition, a system for transmitting road traffic information to a navigation device is also provided so that an optimum route avoiding a traffic jam section can be searched by receiving road traffic jam information. For example, in a road traffic information communication system called VICS (Vehicle Information & Communication System) (R), information on traffic control systems such as the police and the Japan Highway Public Corporation is collected, and information on traffic jams and traffic Road traffic information such as regulation information is created and transmitted to the navigation device by communication means. And the navigation apparatus which received the said road traffic information searches a path | route so that required time becomes the shortest based on the said road traffic information.

In the road traffic information communication system, travel time for each section reflecting road conditions such as traffic congestion is provided. Therefore, a system has also been proposed that acquires link travel time reflecting road conditions by allocating travel time for each provided section for each link (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Thereby, the travel time along the route to the destination can be predicted.
JP-A-8-287393

  However, in the conventional system, the travel speed distribution in the section is assumed to be uniform, and the link travel time is calculated based on the link length of each link. If a route such as turning right or left is taken, the accurate travel time cannot be predicted. For example, even within one section, the traffic signal lamps are widely spaced and relatively easy to travel and travel speed is high, and the traffic signal lamps are narrow and relatively difficult to travel and travel speed is relatively low. There is a range that falls. Therefore, when the travel time of the section is allocated to each link based on the link length, it is impossible to obtain an accurate value of the travel time of each link. Therefore, when a route passing through a part of the section is set, it is impossible to accurately predict the travel time along the route. In particular, the above-mentioned sections are relatively long distances, such as road traffic census sections and VICS (R) links, which are survey unit sections of the national road and road traffic situation survey (common name: road traffic census) conducted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The problem becomes noticeable when the section is long.

  The present invention solves the problems of the conventional system, and calculates the link travel time for the links in the section based on the travel speed distribution in the section where the travel time is provided. It is an object of the present invention to provide a travel time distribution system capable of obtaining a link travel time with high accuracy.

  For this purpose, in the travel time distribution system of the present invention, the map database storing data relating to roads and road environments, the section travel time database storing data relating to travel time, the map database and the section travel time database are accessed. A link travel time estimator that determines a travel speed distribution in a section in which travel time is provided based on the road environment, and calculates a link travel time in the section according to the distribution; and the link travel time estimation A link travel time database for storing the link travel time calculated by the department.

  In another travel time distribution system of the present invention, the terminal device includes a display device and a transmission / reception unit, and the transmission / reception unit. When receiving a distribution request from the terminal device, information corresponding to the distribution request is transmitted to the terminal device. A travel time distribution system having a server for distributing data to a map database storing data related to roads and road environments, a section travel time database storing data related to travel time, the map database, and section travel time A link travel time estimation unit that accesses a database, determines a travel speed distribution within a section where travel time is provided based on the road environment, and calculates a link travel time within the section according to the distribution, and Link travel time data for storing the link travel time calculated by the link travel time estimation unit It comprises a base.

  In still another travel time distribution system of the present invention, a terminal device including a display device and a transmission / reception unit, and a transmission / reception unit, and when receiving a distribution request from the terminal device, information corresponding to the distribution request is transmitted to the terminal. A travel time distribution system having a server for delivering to a device, the server comprising a map database for storing data relating to roads and road environments, and a section travel time database for storing data relating to travel time, The apparatus accesses the map database and the section travel time database, determines a travel speed distribution in the section provided with the travel time based on the road environment, and determines the link travel time in the section according to the distribution. Link travel time estimation unit to be calculated, and link travel calculated by the link travel time estimation unit Provided with a link travel time database that stores the time.

  In still another travel time distribution system of the present invention, the terminal device further uses the link travel time to calculate a required time to a destination along a route passing through a part of the section.

  In still another travel time allocation system of the present invention, the road environment affects the travel speed.

  In still another travel time distribution system according to the present invention, the road environment is a traffic light, a road width, or a POI (Point of Interest).

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a highly accurate link travel time for a link in a section where travel time is provided.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a travel time distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes an information providing server as a server disposed in the information center, which includes arithmetic means such as a CPU and MPU, storage means such as a semiconductor memory, magnetic disk, and optical disk, and a transmission / reception unit such as a communication interface. Configured in the computer. The computer is not a single computer but may be a so-called distributed server in which a plurality of computers are organically coupled. Further, another system may be constructed in the computer. Further, the information providing server 11 may be one of systems constructed in another computer.

  Reference numeral 31 denotes a terminal device operated by an operator as a user. The terminal device is actually a large number, but in the present embodiment, it is represented by the terminal device 31 for convenience of explanation. The operator is, for example, a driver or a passenger of a vehicle such as a passenger car, a truck, a bus, or a motorcycle.

  The terminal device 31 is a computing device such as a CPU or MPU, a storage device such as a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, or an optical disk, a liquid crystal display, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) display, a CRT, or the like. An input device such as a display device, a keyboard, a joystick, a cross key, a push button, a remote controller, a touch panel, a display control device for controlling the display device, and a transmission / reception unit as a communication means such as a communication interface. The terminal device 31 is, for example, a navigation device mounted on a vehicle such as a passenger car, a truck, a bus, or a motorcycle, but a stationary phone, a mobile phone, a PHS (Personal Handy-Phone System) phone, a mobile information terminal, a PDA (PDA) (Personal Digital Assistant), personal computer, game machine, digital television, etc.

  Further, the terminal device 31 has a current position detecting device as a current position detecting means (not shown). When the terminal device 31 is, for example, a navigation device, the current position detection device is generally based on GPS (Global Positioning System), geomagnetic sensor, distance sensor, steering sensor, beacon sensor, gyro sensor, etc. Detect position. In addition, for example, in the case of a mobile phone, a portable information terminal, etc., generally, based on communication with the base station where the mobile phone, the portable information terminal, etc. are located, the position of the base station is set as the current position. To detect.

  Here, the information providing server 11 and the terminal device 31 are connected to be communicable with each other via a network (not shown). The network may be any communication such as a wired or wireless public communication network, a dedicated communication network, a mobile phone network, the Internet, an intranet, a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), a satellite communication network, etc. It may be a line network or a combination of these as appropriate. Moreover, it may communicate using CS broadcasting or BS broadcasting by a broadcasting satellite, may communicate using terrestrial digital television broadcasting, may communicate using FM multiplex broadcasting, Road and vehicle communication may be performed using an optical beacon, a radio beacon, an antenna, or the like installed on the side of the road or on the road.

  And the travel time distribution system in this Embodiment is comprised by the said information provision server 11 and the terminal device 31. FIG. In this case, it is desirable that the operator is a person who is registered in advance in the information providing server 11 and has a registration ID. Further, it is desirable that each of the terminal devices 31 is also registered.

  Here, from the viewpoint of function, the information providing server 11 includes a map database 12 that stores data relating to roads and road environments, a section travel time database 13 that stores data related to travel time, the map database 12 and a section travel time database. 13, a link travel time estimation unit 14 that determines a travel speed distribution in a section in which travel time is provided based on the road environment, and calculates a link travel time in the section according to the distribution; The link travel time database 15 stores the link travel time calculated by the link travel time estimation unit 14.

  The map database 12 stores map data such as nodes, links, coordinates, and facility names for drawing a map. The map database 12 also stores POI data. As the POI data, facility data, town page data, event data, and the like for searching for a starting point, a destination, a passing point, and the like are stored. To do. The POI data may include detailed information on facilities and areas. For example, when the facility is a commercial facility such as a convenience store, department store, home center, supermarket, etc., the detailed information includes business days of the week, business hours, presence / absence of parking lots, types and periods of events and events, etc. When the facility is an amusement facility such as a theme park, a game center, a movie theater, or a theater, the detailed information includes business days of the week, business hours, presence / absence of parking lots, types and periods of events and events, and the like.

  Further, the map database 12 also stores intersection data, node data, road data, traffic regulation data, and route display data. In the intersection data, in addition to the number of intersections in which data is stored, data relating to each intersection is assigned with a number for identification as intersection data. Further, each intersection data is stored with a number for identifying each connection road in addition to the number of roads connected to the corresponding intersection, that is, the number of connection roads. In the intersection data, the type of the intersection, that is, whether the traffic signal lamp is installed or whether the traffic signal lamp is installed, the traffic signal lamp turns right, left, etc. A distinction of whether or not to include an arrow light may be included.

  In addition to the number of roads in which data is stored, the road data includes data relating to each road. Each road data includes a road type, a distance as a length of each road, and the like. Further, the road type includes administrative road attributes such as a national road, a prefectural road, a municipal road, a main local road, a general road, and an expressway.

  In the road data, the width, gradient, cant, altitude, bank, road surface condition, whether or not there is a median strip, the number of road lanes, and the number of lanes are reduced. It is desirable to include data such as points and points where the width becomes narrower. In the case of an expressway or a main road, each of the lanes in the opposite direction is stored as separate road data and processed as a double road. For example, in the case of a main road having two or more lanes on one side, it is processed as a two-way road, and the lane in the upward direction and the lane in the downward direction are each stored in the road data as independent roads. Further, for corners, it is desirable to include data such as radii of curvature, intersections, T-junctions, and corner entrances. Road attributes such as railroad crossings, expressway entrance / exit rampways, expressway toll gates, downhill roads, and uphill roads may also be included.

  Further, the road data includes information about links. Here, the link is a unit constituting a road, and is usually divided with an intersection of three or more roads as a boundary. The intersection includes not only an intersection where a traffic signal lamp is installed but also an intersection where no traffic signal lamp is installed. For this reason, the number of links on one road is not constant. In addition, the point where the administrative road attribute of a road changes is also handled as a link boundary. And in the normal vehicle navigation apparatus, each link which comprises a road, ie, road link ID as an identification number which identifies a road link, is provided.

  The section travel time database 13 is a section travel time of a road created by collecting information on traffic control systems such as the police and the Japan Highway Public Corporation in a road traffic information communication system called VICS (R), for example. Etc. are stored. In this case, the section travel time of the road created in the past may be accumulated. The road segment travel time is associated with the VICS (R) link. Further, the section travel time database 13 may store a section travel time of a road according to a national road / street traffic situation survey conducted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. In this case, the section travel time of the road is associated with the road traffic census section.

  The link travel time estimation unit 14 is provided with travel time by referring to data stored in the map database 12 based on the road travel time stored in the travel time database 13. Calculate the link travel time for the links in the section. Here, the section in which the travel time is provided is a VICS (R) link, a road traffic census section, or the like. In this case, the link travel time estimation unit 14 calculates the link travel time for the links in the section based on the travel speed distribution in the section in which the travel time is provided.

  The link travel time database 15 stores the link travel time calculated by the link travel time estimation unit 14. The link travel time is the time required to pass through each link, and the length of each link is stored in the map database 12, so the travel speed in each link is calculated from the link travel time for each link. Can be calculated.

  When receiving the distribution request from the terminal device 31, the information providing server 11 distributes the link travel time stored in the link travel time database 15 to the terminal device 31 as information corresponding to the distribution request. . Upon receiving the link travel time distribution request, the information providing server 11 identifies the terminal device 31 that has transmitted the distribution request, and transmits the link travel time to the terminal device 31.

  By the way, the terminal device 31 may perform a route search or may not perform a route search. When the terminal device 31 performs a route search, the terminal device 31 is a navigation device having the same function as a normal vehicle navigation device, and includes a map database, POI database, road database (not shown). And a map creation unit, a POI search unit, a route search unit, etc. (not shown). When the terminal device 31 is, for example, a personal computer and does not perform a route search, the terminal device 31 includes the map database, POI database, road database, map creation unit, POI search unit. The route search unit may not be provided.

  Next, the operation of the travel time distribution system configured as described above will be described. First, a basic concept for calculating the link travel time for the links in the section based on the travel speed distribution in the section in which the travel time is provided will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a basic concept for calculating the link travel time in the embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 2, 21 is a section where travel time is provided on the road, and the distance is 600 [m]. The travel time of the section 21 is stored in the section travel time database 13 and is 120 [seconds]. In addition, six traffic signal lamps 22 are arranged in the section 21, and there is an intersection where a second traffic signal lamp 22 </ b> A is arranged in the traveling direction at an intermediate point of the section 21. .

  Here, the route to the destination passes through the first half of the section 21 (the right half in FIG. 2), turns right or left at the intersection where the traffic light 22A is disposed, and goes outside the section 21. Assuming that the route is such a route, if the travel time along the route to the destination is to be predicted, the travel time of the first half of the section 21 is required. In this case, in the conventional system described in “Background Art”, the link travel time is calculated based on the link length of each link, so the link travel time in the first half of the section 21 is 60 [Seconds] is calculated.

  However, in general, the vehicle speed of the vehicle traveling on the road where the traffic signal lamp 22 is disposed, that is, the travel speed becomes high on a road where the traffic signal lamp 22 is wide in consideration of stopping according to the traffic signal. It becomes low on a road where the interval between the traffic signal lamps 22 is narrow. Therefore, in the case of the section 21, two traffic signal lamps 22 are arranged in the first half and four traffic signal lamps 22 are arranged in the second half. It can be seen that the travel speed is high and the travel time is short. Therefore, it is clear that the link travel time calculated by the conventional system is inappropriate.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the link travel time estimation unit 14 determines the travel speed distribution in the section 21 based on the road environment that is a factor affecting the travel speed, and based on the travel speed distribution Thus, the link travel time for the links in the section 21 is calculated. Here, paying attention to the traffic signal lamp 22 as the road environment, the time to stop according to the traffic signal, that is, the signal stop time is sufficiently longer than the travel time. It can be said that it is only necessary to consider the signal stop time while ignoring the travel time. Accordingly, when the travel time of the first half of the section 21 is calculated by proportionally allocating the travel time of the section 21 based on the number of traffic signal lamps 22, as shown in FIG. Become. The link travel time in the latter half of the section 21 is 80 [seconds] as shown in FIG.

  It should be noted that a road environment other than the traffic signal lamp 22 can be considered as a road environment that affects the travel speed. For example, the width of the road can be considered as the road environment. In this case, the link travel time is calculated by allocating the travel time of the section 21 based on the road capacity ratio. Also, for example, POI can be considered as the road environment. If there are large-scale commercial facilities and facilities such as railway stations, the surrounding area may be congested and travel speed may be reduced. Therefore, the link travel time is calculated by setting the degree of influence of various facilities and allocating the travel time of the section 21 according to the layout of the facilities.

  Next, the operation of the link travel time estimation unit 14 when the traffic signal lamp 22 is a road environment that affects the travel speed will be described in detail.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation when the traffic signal lamp of the link travel time estimation unit in the embodiment of the present invention is a road environment, and FIG. 4 shows the operation of the link travel time estimation unit in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart to show.

  Here, the link travel time estimation unit 14 calculates the link travel time for all sections in which the section travel time is stored in the section travel time database 13. Therefore, the link travel time estimation unit 14 determines whether or not the calculation of the link travel time has been completed for all the sections in which the section travel time is stored in the section travel time database 13, that is, whether or not all sections have been completed. to decide. Then, the operations described below are repeated until the end of all the sections.

  Subsequently, if the entire section is not completed, the link travel time estimation unit 14 selects one section. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, it is assumed that the section 21-n which is the n-th section is selected. Note that n is an arbitrary natural number. And the said link travel time estimation part 14 acquires the road environment in the said area 21-n from the map database 12. FIG. Here, a case where the traffic signal lamp 22 is acquired as the road environment will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, it is assumed that there are five traffic signal lamps 22-1 to 22-5 in the section 21-n. The traffic signal lamp 22-1 to the traffic signal lamp 22-5 will be described as the traffic signal lamp 22 when comprehensively described.

  Subsequently, the link travel time estimation unit 14 determines a travel speed distribution in the section 21-n based on the traffic signal lamp 22 as a road environment, and based on the travel speed distribution, the section 21 Calculate link travel time for links in -n. That is, the required time distribution corresponding to the road environment distribution is calculated.

  Here, the section travel time of the section 21-n is T [second], and the length of the section 21-n, that is, the section length is L [m]. Further, it is assumed that the vehicle travels in the section 21-n in the direction indicated by the arrow, and the vehicle speed of the vehicle is V [m / s] and is constant. Further, for convenience of explanation, the link in the section 21-n will be described as having the traffic signal lamp 22-1 to the traffic signal lamp 22-5 as boundaries. That is, the section 21-n includes a link 1 from the start point (right end point in FIG. 3) to the traffic signal lamp 22-1, a link 2 from the traffic signal lamp 22-1 to the traffic signal lamp 22-2, and a traffic signal lamp. Link 3 from the traffic light 22-2 to the traffic light 22-3, Link 4 from the traffic light 22-3 to the traffic light 22-4, and from the traffic light 22-4 to the traffic light 22-5 Link 5. The traffic signal lamp 22-5 is present at the end point (the left end point in FIG. 3) of the section 21-n. The lengths of the links 1 to 5, that is, the link lengths are L1 [m] to L5 [m], respectively.

Here, the vehicle traveling in the section 21-n stops the signal in all of the traffic signal lamp 22-1 to the traffic signal lamp 22-5, and the traffic signal lamp 22-1 to the traffic signal lamp 22-5. It is assumed that the signal stop time in each of these is uniformly t [seconds]. In this case, the link travel time Tk [second] in the k-th link k is expressed by the following equation (1).
Tk = Lk / V + t (1)
Note that Lk is the link length of the kth link, and k = 1 to 5.

The section travel time T of the section 21-n, which is the total value of the link travel times Tk, is expressed by the following formula (2).
T = L1 / V + t + L2 / V + t + L3 / V + t + L4 / V + t + L5 / V + t
= (L1 + L2 + L3 + L4 + L5) / V + t × 5
= L / V + t × 5 Formula (2)
Therefore, the link travel time estimation unit 14 obtains the signal stop time t or the vehicle speed V as a variable based on the data stored in the map database 12 and the section travel time database 13, and calculates each link travel time Tk. . In this case, since the section length L can be acquired from the map database 12 and the section travel time T can be acquired from the section travel time database 13, either the signal stop time t or the vehicle speed V as a variable is a value. Can be obtained, the vehicle speed V or the signal stop time t, which is the remaining variable, can be obtained based on the equation (2).

  For example, if the section 21-n is a general road, the vehicle speed V is 30 [km / h], which is a value adopted in a normal vehicle navigation device as a travel speed on the general road, that is, 8 3 [m / s]. The average vehicle speed value provided by VICS (R) can also be adopted. Thus, if the vehicle speed V can be acquired, the signal stop time t that is the remaining variable can be obtained based on the equation (2).

  Further, for example, the signal stop time t can be obtained based on the cycle length, the split, and the number of indications in the normal traffic signal lamp 22. That is, since the values of the cycle length, split, and number of indications in the normal traffic signal lamp 22 are 120 [seconds], 50 [%], and 2, respectively, the average signal stop time t is the time of the green light. 30 [seconds], which is half of 60 [seconds]. Thus, if the signal stop time t can be acquired, the vehicle speed V that is the remaining variable can be obtained based on the equation (2).

  Subsequently, the link travel time Tk for the link k is calculated. Here, the link travel time Tk is calculated in accordance with the basic concept for calculating the link travel time described with reference to FIG.

For example, it is assumed that the total values T1 to T2 of the link travel times for the link 1 and the link 2 are calculated. In this case, when two traffic signal lamps 22-1 and 22-2 of the five traffic signal lamps 22-1 to 22-5 in the section 21-n are stopped according to the traffic signal. Since it can be considered, the total values T1 to T2 of the link travel times for the link 1 and the link 2 are expressed by the following equation (3).
T1−2 = (L1 + L2) / L × (T−t × 5) + t × 2 Formula (3)
Similarly, since the total value T2-4 of the link travel time for the links 2 to 4 can be considered to stop according to the traffic signal in the three traffic signal lamps 22-2 to 22-4, It is represented by the following formula (4).
T2-4 = (L2 + L3 + L4) / L × (T−t × 5) + t × 3 Formula (4)
When the required time distribution corresponding to the road environment distribution is calculated for the section 21-n in this way, the link travel time estimation unit 14 determines again whether or not the entire section has ended, and the operation described above. repeat.

  By the way, description of operation | movement of the above-mentioned link travel time estimation part 14 was performed on the assumption that the link in the section 21-n has each of the traffic signal lamp 22-1 to the traffic signal lamp 22-5 as a boundary. The present invention can also be applied to a case where the link in the section 21-n is not only an intersection where the traffic signal lamp 22 is installed but also an intersection where the traffic signal lamp 22 is installed. For example, there is an intersection where no traffic signal lamp is installed between the traffic signal lamp 22-1 and the traffic signal lamp 22-5, and a section between the traffic signal lamp 22-1 and the traffic signal lamp 22-5. Is composed of a plurality of links, the travel time of the section between the traffic signal lamp 22-1 and the traffic signal lamp 22-5 is calculated according to the above-described operation, and the travel time is set as the link length of each link. By allocating accordingly, the link travel time for each link can be calculated.

  For the intersection where the traffic signal lamp 22 is not installed, the description of the operation of the link travel time estimation unit 14 described above is applied by using the temporary stop time instead of the signal stop time in the traffic signal lamp 22. can do.

  Furthermore, the description of the operation of the link travel time estimation unit 14 described above is based on an implicit assumption that the degree of congestion in the section 21-n is uniform. However, if the degree of congestion is not uniform, the section 21-n Is divided into partial traffic congestion units, the above description of the operation of the link travel time estimation unit 14 can be applied.

  Further, the description of the operation of the link travel time estimation unit 14 described above is based on the premise that the signal stop time t in each of the traffic signal lamp 22-1 to the traffic signal lamp 22-5 is uniform. Thus, the signal stop time t can also be weighted. That is, if the intersecting road is higher than the road in the section 21-n, the signal stop time t tends to be longer, and if it is lower, the signal stop time t tends to be shorter. The road rating is determined based on the road type, the number of lanes, the width, and the like. For example, national road> prefectural road> city road, 3 lane> 2 lane> 1 lane, width 12 [m]> width 6 [m], and the like.

  When considering the width of the road as a road environment that affects the travel speed, the link travel time is calculated based on the travel time of the section 21-n based on the ratio of the road capacity. The description of the operation of the link travel time estimation unit 14 described above is based on the assumption that the vehicle speed V is constant. However, the travel time is distributed with higher accuracy by changing the vehicle speed V according to the width of the road. be able to. For example, if the value of the vehicle speed V is 30 [km / h] when the road is one lane and the width is 8 [m], the road speed V is 35 [km] when the road is two lanes and the width is 12 [m]. km / h] and 20 [km / h] when the road is 1 lane on both sides and the width is 6 [m]. As described above, a road with a large number of lanes and a wide width is considered to be easy to travel. Therefore, the link travel time can be calculated with higher accuracy by setting the vehicle speed V to be high.

  Further, when POI is considered as a road environment that affects the travel speed, the link travel time is calculated based on the travel time of the section 21-n based on the facility arrangement. When the section 21-n includes a link where a large shopping center, a popular store, a railway station, a railroad crossing, etc. exist in the vicinity, the vehicle speed V is set to be lower at the link so that the vehicle speed is higher. The link travel time can be calculated with accuracy. For example, when the value of the vehicle speed V is 30 [km / h], which is a value used in a normal vehicle navigation device as a travel speed on a general road, the vehicle speed V at a link facing a large shopping center. Is set to 20 [km / h], which is about 70% of the above value. Thus, since it is considered that a link having a factor that the traffic volume is concentrated is difficult to travel, the link travel time can be calculated with higher accuracy by setting the vehicle speed V to be low.

  In addition, the traffic signal lamp 22, the width of the road, and the POI can be considered as a road environment that affects the travel speed.

Next, a flowchart will be described.
Step S1: It is determined whether or not all sections have been completed. If it is not the end of all sections, the process proceeds to step S2, and if it is the end of all sections, the process is ended.
Step S2 Select one section.
Step S3: The road environment in the section 21-n is acquired.
Step S4: Calculate the required time distribution corresponding to the road environment distribution.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the link travel time estimation unit 14 determines the travel speed distribution in the section 21 in which the travel time is provided based on the road environment that affects the travel speed, and the distribution. The link travel time is calculated according to the following. In this case, the required time is calculated according to the road environment distribution. Therefore, highly accurate link travel time can be obtained for the links in the section 21 where travel time is provided. Therefore, even when a route such as turning right or left in the middle of the section 21 is taken, an accurate travel time can be predicted.

  Note that the terminal device 31 can also use the link travel time received from the information providing server 11 to perform a route search to the set destination. Furthermore, it is possible to calculate the required time to the destination along the route using the link travel time. Further, the terminal device 31 may only display the link travel time received from the information providing server 11 on the display device.

  Furthermore, although the case where the information providing server 11 has the link travel time estimation unit 14 and the link travel time database 15 has been described in the present embodiment, the terminal device 31 may have the link travel time database 15. The terminal device 31 may have the link travel time estimation unit 14 and the link travel time database 15. Furthermore, the information providing server 11 can be omitted by making the terminal device 31 have the map database 12, the section travel time database 13, the link travel time estimation unit 14, and the link travel time database 15.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, It can change variously based on the meaning of this invention, and does not exclude them from the scope of the present invention.

It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structure of the travel time distribution system in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the basic idea for calculating the link travel time in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining operation | movement at the time of setting the traffic signal lamp of the link travel time estimation part in embodiment of this invention as a road environment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the link travel time estimation part in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Information provision server 12 Map database 13 Section travel time database 14 Link travel time estimation part 15 Link travel time database 21, 21-n Section 22, 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, 22-4, 22-5 , 22A Traffic signal lamp 31 Terminal equipment

Claims (6)

(A) a map database for storing data on roads and road environments;
(B) a section travel time database storing data relating to travel time;
(C) Accessing the map database and the section travel time database, determining a travel speed distribution within the section provided with the travel time based on the road environment, and determining the link travel time within the section according to the distribution A link travel time estimation unit to calculate,
(D) A travel time distribution system comprising a link travel time database for storing the link travel time calculated by the link travel time estimation unit. (A) a terminal device including a display device and a transmission / reception unit;
(B) a travel time distribution system that includes a transmission / reception unit and has a server that, when receiving a distribution request from the terminal device, distributes information corresponding to the distribution request to the terminal device;
(C) the server includes a map database for storing data relating to roads and road environments;
(D) a section travel time database storing data relating to travel time;
(E) Accessing the map database and the section travel time database, determining a travel speed distribution in the section provided with travel time based on the road environment, and determining the link travel time in the section according to the distribution Link travel time estimation unit to calculate, and
(F) A travel time distribution system comprising a link travel time database for storing the link travel time calculated by the link travel time estimation unit. (A) a terminal device including a display device and a transmission / reception unit;
(B) a travel time distribution system that includes a transmission / reception unit and has a server that, when receiving a distribution request from the terminal device, distributes information corresponding to the distribution request to the terminal device;
(C) the server includes a map database for storing data relating to roads and road environments, and
(D) a section travel time database storing data relating to travel time;
(E) The terminal device accesses the map database and the section travel time database, determines a travel speed distribution in a section where travel time is provided based on the road environment, and in the section according to the distribution A link travel time estimation unit for calculating a link travel time at
(F) A travel time distribution system comprising a link travel time database for storing the link travel time calculated by the link travel time estimation unit. The travel time distribution system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the terminal device uses the link travel time to calculate a required time to a destination along a route passing through a part of the section. The travel time distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the road environment affects the travel speed. The travel time distribution system according to claim 5, wherein the road environment is a traffic signal lamp, a road width, or a POI.

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