JP2006285606A - On-vehicle unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an on-vehicle unit for effectively reporting the expiry date of an IC card to a user. <P>SOLUTION: On the basis of the operating status (for example, "IC card information reading completion", "IC card extraction", "expiry date confirmation button operation" and "communication with roadside unit" or the like) of an ETC on-vehicle unit 1 itself or the operating status ("engine stop operation" or the like) of a vehicle mounted with the ETC on-vehicle unit 1, expiry date information acquired from an IC card 2 is reported through a display part 18 or a speaker 23 (or the display part or speaker of a navigation device 5) at a predetermined report timing preliminarily set so as to be prior to a timing in which charge settlement processing is executed by using information for charge settlement (that is, a timing for performing radio communication with a roadside unit 3 for charge settlement). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  For example, the present invention relates to a vehicle-mounted device used in an ETC system (Electronic Toll Collection system).

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, ETC systems in Japan are based on IC cards (so-called ETC cards) that store ETC on-board devices that collect tolls by way of two-way wireless communication with on-road devices installed on the road, and information on fee settlement for settlement. ) And. This ETC card has an expiration date, and this expiration date is often displayed in characters on the card surface. Therefore, a driver who is a user is required to visually check the expiration date and use an ETC card whose expiration date has not expired. However, confirmation of the ETC card expiration date is a task often forgotten by the user, so the user inserts an expired ETC card into the ETC OBE without checking the expiration date when inserting the card. there's a possibility that.

Therefore, in the IC card information processing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, an expiration date mark indicating the expiration date of the card provided on the surface of the IC card is read, and based on the expiration date represented by the expiration date mark. Then, it is determined whether or not a notification condition that defines a timing for performing notification regarding the expiration date is satisfied, and notification regarding the expiration date of the IC card is transmitted to the user according to the determination result (for example, a patent) Reference 1).
JP 2004-164628 A

  The IC card information processing device disclosed in Patent Document 1 mainly aims to “notify based on the expiration date by determining whether or not a notification condition that determines a timing for performing notification regarding the expiration date is satisfied”. Therefore, it does not disclose or suggest a device for the notification timing of the information. In other words, the notification timing is determined based on the expiration date, and it is merely determined whether the expiration date has expired or whether there is sufficient room until the expiration date.

  For this reason, for example, if the expiration date has already expired, for example, there is no suggestion of content that suggests a device in terms of when to make a judgment during today's notification. Therefore, the IC card information processing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 is provided on the surface of the IC card at the time of “card insertion” or “when the power to the apparatus is turned on”, which is a general operation of the IC card information processing apparatus. If the expiration date mark indicating the expiration date of the received card is read and the notification condition is satisfied, the notification regarding the expiration date of the IC card is transmitted to the user.

However, such a notification method does not always effectively convey information regarding the expiration date to the user.
Such situations and problems are not limited to toll road toll payments using the ETC system, but credit cards, prepaid cards, and other IC cards can be used for drive-through shopping, gas stations, The same applies to an automatic fee settlement system in which payment of a fee for a toll parking lot is electronically performed by two-way communication between an on-vehicle device and a road device, and a system that executes predetermined processing using vehicle information Occurs.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a subject, and it aims at providing the vehicle equipment which can alert | report the expiration date of an IC card more effectively with respect to a user.

  The on-vehicle device according to claim 1 (ETC on-vehicle device 1 in the embodiment. Similarly, the reference numerals of the constituent elements in the embodiment are shown in parentheses below) are communication for communicating with the roadside device (3). Means (11), information acquisition means (14) for acquiring information from the IC card (2) storing charge settlement information and expiration date information, fee settlement information and expiration date acquired by the information acquisition means And a control means (13) for executing various controls based on the information, and is a vehicle-mounted device for performing charge settlement processing by communicating with a roadside machine for charge settlement via the communication means. And a control means (13) becomes a timing before the timing which performs a fee payment process using fee payment information based on the operation state of onboard equipment itself, or the operation state of the vehicle by which onboard equipment is mounted. If it is determined that the predetermined notification timing is set in advance, the expiration date information acquired by the information acquisition means is sent via the notification unit (18, 23 or the display unit or speaker of the navigation device 5). Inform.

  For example, if it is realized as an ETC on-board device that is an example of an on-vehicle device, a fee settlement process is executed by performing wireless communication with a road device installed at a toll gate on a toll road. Therefore, the expiration date information may be notified via the notification unit at a timing prior to the charge settlement process. In this way, since it was devised so that the timing before the fee settlement processing is executed, even if the expiration date has expired, the user is notified before the fee settlement processing is actually executed The effect can be notified. Therefore, the user who knows that the expiration date has expired by the notification can take appropriate measures until the fee settlement processing is actually executed. For example, when implemented as an ETC on-vehicle device, a user who knows that the expiration date has expired before executing the fee settlement processing at the toll booth, for example, an IC card that has not expired to the on-vehicle device It is conceivable to arrange the vehicles in the lane for ordinary vehicles without inserting or using the lane for ETC vehicles.

  Thus, with the vehicle-mounted device of the present invention, the expiration date of the IC card can be more effectively notified to the user. As a result, for example, when used as an ETC vehicle-mounted device, the risk of contact with the control bar at the toll gate of the ETC system is reduced.

  Note that various methods are conceivable for the information acquisition means to acquire the expiration date information from the IC card. For example, as a general method, it is conceivable to acquire information electrically (electronically) through an IC card reader, but information may be acquired optically, for example. For example, card information including IC card identification information and expiration date information may be recorded in advance on the surface of the IC card by embossing, printing, sticker sticking, or the like, and the card information may be optically read.

Also, various notification methods are possible through the notification unit. That is, it may be notified by voice through the voice output unit, or may be notified by text or the like through the display unit.
As described above, the control means is based on the operating state of the vehicle-mounted device itself or the operating state of the vehicle on which the vehicle-mounted device is mounted, and the timing before the timing of executing the fee payment processing using the fee payment information. It is determined that the predetermined notification timing is set in advance. Some specific examples will be described.

  For example, as shown in claim 2, the control means communicates with the confirmation road machine (3) provided in front of the traveling direction with respect to the place where the road machine for charge settlement is installed. It is conceivable that when communication is performed via 11), it is determined that the predetermined notification timing is reached, and the expiration date information is notified.

  For example, when used as an ETC vehicle-mounted device as shown in claim 10, it is conceivable that the expiration date information is notified by using communication with a road device called “notice antenna” in the ETC system as a trigger. In the ETC system, in order to guide the availability of the ETC lane, a “notice antenna” may be installed before the toll gate in the traveling direction. If the expiration date information is notified when communicating with such a notice antenna, the fact can be notified to the user “immediately before” the fee settlement processing is actually executed. Appropriate responses can be taken. As described above, for example, an IC card whose expiration date has not expired is inserted into the vehicle-mounted device, or it is removed from the lane for ETC vehicles and the vehicles are arranged in the lane for ordinary vehicles. In addition, there is a case where a card confirmation road device called “notification antenna” is provided in order to call attention to forgetting to insert the ETC card. The same effect can be obtained by using the communication with the road device for card confirmation as a trigger.

And when such communication with a roadside machine is used as a trigger, the following characteristic effects can be obtained as compared with the prior art.
First, a comparison is made with the prior art in which an expiration date is displayed at the time of “card insertion” or “power on to the device”. Even if the display is performed at these timings, if the driver does not intend to travel on the toll road at that time, there is a high possibility that the display regarding the expiration date will not be taken care of. In addition, even if you care about it, there is a high possibility of thinking that “you should respond later”. However, after that, due to changes in road conditions, changes in destinations, etc., it may be necessary to pass through toll roads (or to actively pass). In that case, no matter how much the “expiration date” is displayed at the time of “card insertion” or “power on to the device”, the awareness about the expiration date is diminished (or lost), and it is actually effective. It is also assumed that an ETC card that has expired is inserted into an ETC vehicle lane.

  On the other hand, if the expiration date information is notified using communication with a roadside device as a trigger, such inconvenience can be solved. For example, when the roadside device is the above-mentioned notice antenna, the timing of communication with the notice antenna is “immediately before” when the fee settlement processing is actually executed as described above. Therefore, notification can be made when it is absolutely necessary, and the user (for example, the driver) can take appropriate measures as described above if the expiration date has expired. It should be noted that “immediately before” does not mean the time immediately before the IC card cannot be exchanged, as can be seen from the installation status of the notice antenna in the ETC system.

  Further, in the IC card information processing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the expiration date read from the IC card is compared with the current time obtained from the clock built in the apparatus, and notification regarding the expiration date is made. . On the other hand, if it is the onboard equipment of this invention, it is not necessary to equip an inside with a timepiece like the apparatus disclosed by patent document 1. FIG. This is because it is only necessary to notify the expiration date information using a communication with a road device as a trigger.

  Of course, even if it is not used as an ETC on-board device, the IC card is used to electronically pay for charges for drive-through shopping, gas stations, toll parking lots, etc., by two-way communication between the on-board device and the roadside device. In the automatic fee settlement system as described above, the above-mentioned “notice antenna” road device is installed in front of the road device that actually performs the fee settlement (before the traveling direction).

  The case shown in claim 2 assumes a timing that is quite close to the timing of executing the fee settlement processing as the timing before the timing of executing the fee settlement processing. Examples of the timing that is earlier in time than this are as follows.

  For example, as shown in claim 3, when the information acquisition unit acquires information from the IC card, the control unit determines that the predetermined notification timing is reached and notifies the expiration date information. It is conceivable that the control means acquires information from the IC card and stores the information in a memory, for example, or executes various processes using the information. Executing such a process means that a process using an IC card has been prepared, and notifying expiration date information at this timing is considered one of appropriate notification timings. For example, if used as an ETC vehicle-mounted device as shown in claim 10, the timing when the vehicle-mounted device normally accepts the ETC card is highly likely that the user uses the lane for the ETC vehicle. It is effective to notify the expiration date at the timing.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the apparatus includes an operation receiving unit that receives a user operation, and the control unit determines that it is a predetermined notification timing when the user operation is received via the operation receiving unit. The expiration date information may be notified. When a user performs any operation on the on-vehicle device, it is possible that the user is interested in the on-vehicle device. Therefore, it is considered that notifying the expiration date information at such timing is one of appropriate notification timings. When the display related to the expiration date is performed at the time of “card insertion” or “power-on to the device” as in the above-described prior art, it is difficult to say that the user's interest is suitable for the vehicle-mounted device. Of course, in order to increase the effectiveness of the notification, it is preferable that the timing when the user's interest in the vehicle-mounted device is high. Therefore, it can be said that reporting when a user performs any operation on the vehicle-mounted device is notification at a highly effective timing.

  In addition, as shown in claim 5, when the operation accepting means can accept an instruction for notifying the expiration date information, the control means for notifying the expiration date information via the operation accepting means. When the instruction is accepted, it may be determined that it is a predetermined notification timing and the expiration date information is notified. In this case, since the user is operating for the purpose of reporting the expiration date information, it is very appropriate to notify the expiration date information at that timing. Also, by adopting such a configuration, the user can notify the expiration date information at a timing that he / she wants to know.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an IC card connector (15) into which an IC card can be inserted and removed, and a detection means (14) capable of detecting whether or not the IC card has been removed from the IC card connector. However, when the detection means detects that the IC card is removed from the IC card connector, it may be determined that the predetermined notification timing is reached, and the expiration date information may be notified. In this case, since the user is interested in the vehicle-mounted device and is particularly likely to be holding the IC card, informing the expiration date information at this timing is an appropriate notification timing. One is considered. In other words, if the expiration date information is notified when the user removes the IC card, the user can easily confirm the expiration date mark provided on the surface of the IC card, and if the expiration date has expired, Users tend to feel that they will not use IC cards in the future. Therefore, it becomes easy to think that the removed IC card is discarded, for example, and it becomes easy to use an IC card with a new expiration date at the next use. In this sense, the notification timing is effective.

  Although what was shown in Claims 2-6 mentioned above was judged that it was a predetermined alerting | reporting timing based on the operation state of onboard equipment itself, it was based on the operation state of the vehicle by which onboard equipment is mounted. As what determines that it is a predetermined alerting | reporting timing, what is shown in Claim 7 can be considered. In other words, on the assumption that the control means is configured to detect that an operation that leads to the engine stop of the vehicle, such as an ignition switch-off operation, is performed, the control means has been operated to lead to the engine stop of the vehicle. When this is detected, it is determined that the predetermined notification timing is reached, and the expiration date information is notified.

  When an operation leading to stopping the engine of the vehicle is performed, the user does not drive even if the user is a driver. Therefore, if the notification is made at that timing, it is difficult for the user to concentrate on driving and not know the notification content. Furthermore, since the engine is stopped is a state where the vehicle is stopped, for example, when the expiration date has expired, there is no problem for the driver to replace the IC card.

  As described above, various notification timings can be considered. Various notification methods such as voice, display, combinations thereof, and the like are also conceivable. Further, as a method included in the notification method, it is possible to select at which location the notification unit is used. For example, whether the notification is made via a notification unit included in the vehicle-mounted device itself, or whether the notification is made via a notification unit included in a vehicle-mounted device different from the vehicle-mounted device, for example, a navigation device.

  Therefore, as shown in claim 8, at least one of the presence / absence and method of notification via the notification unit is configured to be changeable at each notification timing, and at least one of the notification presence / absence and method is configured. A setting content storage means (17) for storing the setting content corresponding to each notification timing (in the embodiment, storing it in the format of the expiration date notification setting table 17a shown in FIG. 2) is provided. The control unit may perform notification control based on the setting content stored in the setting content storage unit when the expiration date information is notified.

  For example, when many types of notification timings are assumed, the user may not welcome notification at all notification timings. Therefore, the actual notification timing may be narrowed down. In addition, for example, it is conceivable to select and set a case for notifying only by sound and display and a case for notifying only by display.

  It should be noted that such change setting may be performed by a car dealer or a store staff when attaching the vehicle-mounted device to the vehicle, or may be performed by the user himself / herself. When the user executes it, it is preferable that it can be changed and set via the operation receiving means. Further, the changed and set contents may be confirmed. In this way, the change setting can be made while confirming whether or not the setting content is desired by the user. A mode of display on the display unit can be considered as a typical confirmation of the change setting contents.

  In addition, about the alerting | reporting method, various meanings, such as an audio | voice, a display, those combinations, were demonstrated. However, in consideration of the characteristic of the vehicle-mounted device, as shown in claim 9, the notification unit is configured to enable notification through at least the voice output unit, and the control means is effective at least by voice through the notification unit. It is conceivable to notify the deadline information. That is, since it is a vehicle-mounted device, the user of the vehicle-mounted device is often a driver. Therefore, it may be difficult for the user to notice that the notification is only for display. Therefore, by notifying by voice, even if the user concentrates on another, it becomes easy to notice the notification contents. In the case where the notification is made by both voice and display, for example, there is an advantage that a user who has not been able to grasp the notification content by voice notification alone can confirm the notification content by display notification.

  In addition, about the alerting | reporting part, although described easily in the said description, in-vehicle equipment itself has an alerting | reporting part, you may alert | report via the alerting | reporting part, and it is different from onboard equipment. You may alert | report via the alerting | reporting part which an apparatus, for example, a navigation apparatus, has. Of course, even an in-vehicle device other than the navigation device can be used as long as it has a notification unit (for example, an AV device). However, in the case of a navigation device, since the notification function by voice or display is still substantial, it is advantageous to use the notification function.

  Further, it is conceivable that the expiration date information is read from the IC card and stored in a volatile memory included in the vehicle-mounted device. In this case, it is conceivable to store the identification information for specifying the IC card in association with the expiration date information of the IC card. In this way, even if the IC card is not set, the expiration date information of the IC card can be grasped by the vehicle-mounted device alone. Therefore, for example, even if the IC card is removed, the expiration date is notified at the various notification timings described above. The user who has confirmed that the expiration date has expired has a feeling of not using the IC card whose expiration date has expired. For example, the user can discard the removed IC card, Consider using a new IC card.

  In addition, the control means in the vehicle-mounted device according to any one of claims 1 to 10 can be realized as a program that causes a computer to function. Therefore, the present invention can be realized as a program invention. In the case of such a program, for example, it is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as FD, MO, DVD-ROM, CD-ROM, hard disk, etc., and is used by loading it on a computer and starting it as necessary. be able to. In addition, the ROM or backup RAM may be recorded as a computer-readable recording medium, and the ROM or backup RAM may be incorporated into the computer and used.

  Embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings. The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment, and can take various forms as long as they belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

[Description of ETC OBE 1]
The ETC onboard equipment 1 of this embodiment is demonstrated with reference to FIG.1 and FIG.2. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an electrical configuration of the ETC on-vehicle device 1, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an expiration date notification setting table.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ETC vehicle-mounted device 1 includes a wireless unit 11, a power supply unit 12, an overall control unit 13, an IC card control unit 14, an IC card connector 15, a storage unit 17, a display unit 18, an input operation unit 19, An external device connection unit 20 and a speaker 23 are provided.

  The wireless unit 11 includes a known communication circuit and antenna. Then, wireless communication is performed with the roadside device 3. For example, the roadside machine 3 is a roadside machine for toll settlement installed at a toll booth on a toll road, a roadside for notice installed in front of the traveling direction of the roadside machine for toll settlement, or card confirmation For example. The road device for notice and the road device for card confirmation are called “notice antenna” and “notice antenna” in the ETC system, respectively. The road machine for the advance notice guides whether or not the ETC lane can be used, and the road machine for card confirmation is used to call attention to forgetting to insert the ETC card.

  Since the basic configuration (including a control unit and a radio unit) of the road settlement machine, the notice road machine, and the card confirmation road machine is the same as the road machine, Are given the same symbols. And it shall distinguish with modification description. That is, they are represented as a road machine 3 for charge settlement, a road machine 3 for notice, and a road machine 3 for card confirmation.

The power supply unit 12 is connected to the in-vehicle battery BT and is used to supply power to each unit in the ETC in-vehicle device 1.
The overall control unit 13 includes a well-known CPU, ROM, RAM, I / O that is an input / output circuit, a bus line that connects these components, a signal processing circuit that processes signals from input operations, and a display unit 18. And a signal output circuit for controlling the signal. The CPU performs control according to control programs and data stored in the ROM and RAM. The ROM has a program storage area and a data storage area. A control program is stored in the program storage area, and data necessary for the operation of the control program is stored in the data storage area. In addition, the control program operates on the RAM in a form in which the work memory is a work area.

  The overall control unit 13 is connected to the wireless unit 11, the IC card control unit 14, the storage unit 17, the display unit 18, the input operation unit 19, the external device connection unit 20, and the speaker 23. The received reception signal is converted into reception data by signal processing, the transmission data is converted into transmission signal by signal processing, the arithmetic processing is performed based on the transmission / reception data, the data read from the storage unit 17, etc. Initial setting processing (setup information writing processing), fee collection processing in the ETC system, and the like. In addition, various processes are executed using the IC card information (including expiration date information) input via the IC card control unit 14.

The overall control unit 13 is configured to be able to detect the on / off state of the ignition switch 7.
The IC card control unit 14 has a so-called card reader / writer function for performing processing for reading and writing information of the IC card 2 via the IC card connector 15.

  The IC card connector 15 is configured such that the IC card 2 can be inserted / removed. The IC card control unit 14 has inserted the IC card 2 into the IC card connector 15 or the IC card 2 has been removed from the IC card connector 15. It is comprised so that it can detect.

The storage unit 17 is configured by a known non-volatile memory such as a flash memory that can be stored and read, and stores an expiration date notification setting table and the like shown in FIG.
The display unit 18 and the speaker 23 are for informing the user of the state of the device, information such as fee settlement in the ETC system, and the expiration date information of the IC card.

  The input operation unit 19 includes various buttons and is used by the user to input various operation instructions and data. The input operation unit 19 is also provided with an expiration date confirmation button to be described later.

The external device connection unit 20 is for connecting to other processing devices mounted on the vehicle such as the navigation device 5 to perform data communication.
Next, the IC card 2 will be described.

  The IC card 2 exchanges data with the IC card control unit 14 via the storage unit 22 constituted by a nonvolatile memory capable of storing and reading information and the IC card connector 15 of the ETC on-vehicle device 1. And a control unit 21 for controlling the storage unit 22.

  For example, if the IC card 2 is a credit type, the storage unit 22 stores contract information including a contract expiration date, and settlement information for deducting a toll road usage fee. The storage unit 22 also stores IC card identification information (card ID) for specifying the IC card 2 in advance.

  Also, on the surface of the IC card 2, card information such as IC card identification information (card ID) and IC card expiry date information (a part thereof) is preliminarily described by embossing, printing or sticking a sticker. .

  The information read from the IC card is transmitted to the road unit 3 as a part of the vehicle-mounted device information when the vehicle passes the toll gate, and the gate passing time and the toll gate that are returned as a response are specified. Toll information such as a gate number for use, and usage history information such as the type of vehicle are stored in the storage unit 22.

  When the IC card 2 is attached to the ETC on-vehicle device 1, information inside the IC card is read into the ETC on-vehicle device 1. This information is transmitted as vehicle-mounted device information together with vehicle information registered in advance in the ETC vehicle-mounted device 1 during wireless communication. The ETC on-vehicle device 1 performs wireless communication with a road settlement device 3 installed at the entrance or exit of a toll gate on a toll road and calculates a toll.

  On the other hand, when wirelessly communicating with the above-notified roadside device 3, based on the information obtained from the roadway for notice 3 described above, whether or not the ETC lane can be used is displayed to the user via the display unit 18 and the speaker 23. invite. In addition, when wireless communication is performed with the road device 3 for card confirmation, the card information is transmitted to the road device 3 for card confirmation. In addition to such an original operation, the expiry date information read from the IC card 2 is displayed on the display unit 18 or the speaker, triggered by wireless communication with the road device 3 for notice or the road device 3 for card confirmation. 23 to notify the user.

  Various notification timings for the expiration date may be considered in addition to the case where the wireless communication with the above-mentioned road device 3 for notice or the road device 3 for card confirmation is used as a trigger. In addition, various notification methods may be considered, such as notification by voice through the speaker 23, notification by display through the display unit 18, or a combination thereof. Further, as a method included in the notification method, it is possible to select at which location the notification unit is used. For example, whether the notification is made via the display unit 18 or the speaker 23 as the “notification unit” of the ETC on-board device 1 itself, or as the “notification unit” of the navigation device 5 that is a vehicle-mounted device different from the ETC on-vehicle device 1 Whether the notification is made via the display unit or the speaker.

[Explanation of Expiration Date Notification Setting Table 17a]
In the ETC vehicle-mounted device 1 of the present embodiment, at least one of the presence / absence and method of notification via the notification unit is configured to be changeable for each notification timing, and at least one of the notification presence / absence and method is configured. The setting contents are stored corresponding to each notification timing. Specifically, the expiration date notification setting table 17a shown in FIG. 2 is stored in the storage unit 17, and the overall control unit 13 executes notification control based on the setting contents of the expiration date notification setting table 17a.

Now, the expiration date notification setting table 17a shown in FIG. 2 will be described.
The expiration date notification setting table 17a shown in FIG. 2 is a table for setting the validity / invalidity of the voice notification setting, the validity / invalidity of the display notification setting, and the validity / invalidity of the external device notification setting corresponding to the notification timing. It is. Examples of the notification timing include “IC card information read completion”, “IC card removal”, “expiration date confirmation button operation”, “communication with roadside device”, and “engine stop operation”.

  In the setting state shown in FIG. 2, at any of the notification timings of “IC card information read completion”, “IC card removal”, “expiration date confirmation button operation” and “communication with roadside device”, Notification is set for both display. However, regarding the external device notification setting, “IC card information read complete” and “communication with roadside device” are valid settings, but “IC card removal” and “expiration date confirmation button operation” are invalid settings. It has become. Therefore, at the notification timing of “IC card information read completion” and “communication with roadside device”, notification is set via the navigation device 5 and notification of “IC card removal” and “expiration date confirmation button operation” is made. At the timing, the notification is set to be notified through the display unit 18 and the speaker 23 of the ETC vehicle-mounted device 1. Also, at the notification timing of the “engine stop operation”, all of the voice notification setting, the display notification setting, and the external device notification setting are invalid. Therefore, the setting is such that the notification itself is not executed.

[Explanation of expiration notification setting processing]
The ETC vehicle-mounted device 1 of the present embodiment is configured such that the user can change the setting content in the expiration date notification setting table 17a by operating the input operation unit 19. Specifically, the expiration date notification setting mode is selected by operating the input operation unit 19. Then, the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 is executed, and the setting contents can be changed.

Now, the flowchart of FIG. 3 will be described.
When transitioning to the expiration date notification setting mode, for example, a setting screen having the same content as the expiration date notification setting table 17a shown in FIG. 2 is displayed on the display unit 18 (S10). That is, it is a setting screen indicating whether each of the three types of setting items is valid or invalid corresponding to each notification condition. Then, by operating an operation button or the like of the input operation unit 19, first, a notification setting item is selected (S20), and then notification setting selection (valid / invalid) is selected (S30). For example, if you want to change to “invalid” when the external device notification setting of the notification condition “IC card removal” is “valid”, first select “IC card extraction” as the notification setting item in the process of S20. To do. This is performed by operating a cursor movement button or the like in the input operation unit 19 to move the cursor position on the screen to the “IC card removal” display portion. Next, in the processing of S30, the cursor is moved to the display part of “External device notification setting” among the three types of setting items displayed corresponding to “IC card removal”. When a predetermined operation is performed on the input operation unit 19 in the display portion, the display that is “valid” is changed to a display that is “invalid”. When the setting is completed, the setting contents can be confirmed by displaying the setting contents on the display screen of the display unit 18 or by sending a voice message of the setting contents through the speaker 23 (S40).

  In S50, it is determined whether the setting is completed. This is determined by whether or not a predetermined operation (for example, an operation such as pressing the button if the input operation unit 19 has a [Register] button) is performed via the input operation unit 19. If not completed (S50: not completed), the process returns to S20. As a result, if there are other items whose settings are to be changed, they can be changed. On the other hand, when the setting is completed (S50: completed), the process proceeds to S60.

In S60, the notification setting is recorded. That is, the contents set in S20 and S30 are written in the expiration date notification setting table 17a.
Thereafter, the expiration date notification setting is completed by displaying the setting contents on the display screen of the display unit 18 or by sending a voice message of the setting contents through the speaker 23 (S70). Then, the expiration date notification setting mode is ended (S80), and the normal mode is restored.

  In the above description, notification to the user and operation reception from the user are performed using the display unit 18, the speaker 23, and the input operation unit 19 included in the ETC vehicle-mounted device 1. However, the navigation device 5 connected to the external device connection unit 20 may be used. In this case, the message data displayed on the display unit of the navigation device 5 and the message data output by voice from the speaker are sent from the ETC on-vehicle device 1, and the data input by the input operation unit of the navigation device 5 is the ETC on-vehicle device 1. Sent to. In particular, if the navigation device 5 employs a touch panel that allows input by touching the display unit with a finger, the selection of notification setting items and the selection of notification settings in S20 and S30 of FIG. 3 described above (valid / In the case of (invalid) operation, the selection operation can be performed simply by touching the character portion displayed on the display unit, and the setting operation itself becomes very simple by the user.

[Explanation of expiration date information acquisition / notification]
Next, of the operations of the ETC vehicle-mounted device 1 of the present embodiment, the operation when acquiring the expiration date information from the IC card 2 and notifying the expiration date information at a predetermined notification timing will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process related to notification when the expiration date information is acquired from the IC card 2. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a notification operation during a period from when the ignition switch 7 is turned on to when it is turned off. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing a notification operation example when the IC card 2 is pulled out. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing a notification operation example when the ETC vehicle-mounted device 1 communicates with the roadside device 3. The following will be described in order.

  The sequence diagrams shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 7 are included in the ETC in-vehicle device 1, user operation or user interface (mainly the same configuration of the input operation unit 19, display unit 18, speaker 23, or navigation device 5) in the expiration date information notification. The overall control unit 13 and the expiration date notification setting table 17a, the IC card 2, or in the case of FIG. In addition, in the alerting | reporting operation example shown in FIGS. 5-7, since the alerting | reporting process shown in FIG. 4 is performed, it adds that a part of description overlaps.

(1) Notification when the expiration date information is acquired from the IC card 2 When the IC card 2 is attached to the ETC vehicle-mounted device 1 via the IC card connector 15, the IC card control unit 14 detects the attachment of the IC card 2. Then, the information is sent to the overall control unit 13. When receiving the information, the overall control unit 13 starts the process shown in FIG.

  First, in the first step S110, the IC card 2 is activated. That is, power is supplied to the IC card 2 via the IC card control unit 14 and the IC card connector 15 so that information can be exchanged with the IC card 2.

  Next, card identification is performed to determine whether the mounted IC card 2 is an ETC card or not (S120). If it is an ETC card, authentication information is sent to and from the IC card 2, and the IC card 2 Card authentication is performed to determine whether or not is a legitimate card (S130). Then, card information including expiration date information, tollgate information, etc. is read from the IC card 2 (S140).

  Although not shown, if the card is not an ETC card in the card identification in S120, or if it is not a regular card in the card authentication in S130, for example, via the display unit 18 or the speaker 23. To report the abnormality. It may be simply notified that the card is abnormal, or notified in a manner that allows recognition that the card is not an ETC card or a non-regular card. For example, a message to that effect or a voice output to that effect.

  In subsequent S150, the expiration date information in the card information read in S140 is acquired. Then, the acquired expiration date information is stored in a volatile memory (a RAM in the overall control unit 13 in this embodiment) (S160).

  Subsequently, the notification setting corresponding to the notification condition “IC card information read completion” is acquired from the expiration date notification setting table 17a stored in the storage unit 17 (S170). In the state of the table shown in FIG. 2, the notification settings corresponding to the notification condition of “IC card information read completion” are voice notification setting: valid, display notification setting: valid, and external device notification setting: valid. And get their settings.

  In S180, it is determined whether at least one of the voice notification setting and the display notification setting is valid. If at least one of the settings is valid, the process proceeds to S190 to notify the expiration date information. I do. When notifying the expiration date information, of course, the notification is performed based on various notification setting states corresponding to “IC card information read completion” acquired from the expiration date notification setting table 17a in S170. That is, in the case of the state of the table shown in FIG. 2, since the voice notification setting: valid, the display notification setting: valid, and the external device notification setting: valid, the display and the speaker in the navigation device 5 are displayed and The expiration date information is notified by both voices.

After the process of S190, the ETC is available (that is, various services of the ETC system can be used).
On the other hand, if both the voice notification setting and the display notification setting are invalid, the ETC can be used without performing the notification of the expiration date information in S190.

(2) Notification at ignition switch 7 on to off The ignition switch 7 is turned on to start the vehicle engine (A1), and the power supply to each part of the ETC on-board unit 1 is started (power on state) (B1). . Since the ETC vehicle-mounted device 1 is connected to the vehicle-mounted battery BT via a so-called accessory switch, this accessory switch-on is detected (B2).

  When the IC card 2 is inserted into the IC card connector 15 (B3), the card is activated (B4), the card type information (C1) is acquired from the IC card 2 and the card is identified (B5). Then, card authentication is performed by exchanging with the IC card 2 (B6). If the authentication is successful, the card information (C2) is read from the IC card 2 (B7).

  Then, the notification setting of the expiration date information is confirmed (B8), and if at least one of the voice notification setting and the display notification setting is the effective setting, notification control of the expiration date information is performed (B9). In accordance with this notification control, in the state of the table shown in FIG. 2, the expiration date information is notified both by display and voice via the display unit and the speaker in the navigation device 5 (A2).

Note that B4 to B9 and A2 are the same as those described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
Next, consider a case where the user presses an expiration date confirmation button provided on the input operation unit 19 (A3). The overall control unit 13 detects pressing of the expiration date confirmation button (B10), and confirms the notification setting of the expiration date information (B11). If at least one of the voice notification setting and the display notification setting is valid, the expiration date information is notified (B12). When notifying the expiration date information, of course, notification is performed based on various notification setting states corresponding to the “expiration date confirmation button operation” acquired from the expiration date notification setting table 17a. That is, in the case of the state of the table shown in FIG. 2, since the voice notification setting: valid, the display notification setting: valid, and the external device notification setting: invalid, the display unit 18 and the speaker 23 included in the ETC on-board unit 1 are included. Thus, the expiration date information is notified by both display and voice (A4).

  Then, consider the case where the ignition switch 7 is turned off and the vehicle engine is stopped (A5). The ETC on-vehicle device 1 detects accessory switch-off (B13), and confirms the notification setting of the expiration date information (B14). In the state of the table shown in FIG. 2, the notification settings corresponding to the notification condition of “engine stop operation” are respectively voice notification setting: invalid, display notification setting: invalid, external device notification setting: invalid, Get those settings. In this case, since both the voice notification setting and the display notification setting are invalid settings, the expiration date information is not notified (B15), and the power supply to each part of the ETC on-vehicle device 1 is stopped (power off state).

(3) Notification when IC card 2 is pulled out B21, B22, B23, B24, B25, B26, B27, B28, A21 in the sequence shown in FIG. 6 are B1, B3 in the sequence shown in FIG. , B4, B5, B6, B7, B8, B9, and A2, the description is omitted.

  In the sequence example shown in FIG. 6, it is assumed that the user has noticed that the expiration date has expired due to the voice guidance and display at A21 (A22). The user who notices the expiration date pulls out the IC card 2 from the IC card connector 15 (B29). Then, with this IC card 2 being pulled out (B29) as a trigger, the overall control unit 13 confirms the notification setting of the expiration date information (B30). In the state of the table shown in FIG. 2, the notification settings corresponding to the notification condition “IC card removal” are respectively voice notification setting: valid, display notification setting: valid, and external device notification setting: invalid. Get those settings.

  If at least one of the voice notification setting and the display notification setting is valid, the expiration date information is notified (B31). When notifying the expiration date information, of course, notification is performed based on various notification setting states corresponding to “IC card removal” acquired from the expiration date notification setting table 17a. That is, in the case of the state of the table shown in FIG. 2, since the voice notification setting: valid, the display notification setting: valid, and the external device notification setting: invalid, the display unit 18 and the speaker 23 included in the ETC on-board unit 1 are included. Thus, the expiration date information is notified by both display and voice (A23).

  The user who has extracted the IC card 2 reads and confirms the expiration date information written on the surface of the IC card 2 and replaces it with the correct card (that is, the IC card 2 whose expiration date has not expired) (A24). . If the replaced IC card 2 is inserted into the IC card connector 15, the operation shown in B22 is performed.

(4) Notification when ETC vehicle-mounted device 1 communicates with roadside device 3 A41, B41, B42, B43, B44, B45, B46, B47, B48, B49, A42 in the sequence shown in FIG. Since this is the same as A1, B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8, B9, A2 in the sequence shown in FIG.

  Next, consider a case (B50) in which the ETC vehicle-mounted device 1 starts communication with the roadside device 3. In this case, the roadside machine 3 as a communication partner is the roadside machine 3 for card confirmation or the roadside machine 3 for notice, and is not the roadside machine 3 for charge settlement. When communicating with the road device 3 for card confirmation, the on-board ETC device 1 transmits the card information to the road device 3 for card confirmation (B51), and the road device 3 for card confirmation transmits the card information. Confirmed card information (D41).

  The overall control unit 13 of the ETC on-vehicle device 1 confirms the notification setting of the expiration date information using the communication with the road device 3 for card confirmation as a trigger (B52). If at least one of the voice notification setting and the display notification setting is valid, the expiration date information is notified (B53). When notifying the expiration date information, of course, the notification is performed based on various notification setting states corresponding to “communication with the roadside device” acquired from the expiration date notification setting table 17a. That is, in the case of the state of the table shown in FIG. 2, since the voice notification setting: valid, the display notification setting: valid, and the external device notification setting: valid, the display and the speaker in the navigation device 5 are displayed and The expiration date information is notified by both voices.

  In the sequence example shown in FIG. 7, it is assumed that the user has noticed that the expiration date has expired due to the voice guidance and display at A43 (A44). The user who notices the expiration date pulls out the IC card 2 from the IC card connector 15 (B54). Subsequent B55, B56, A45, and A46 are the same as B30, B31, A23, and A24 in the sequence shown in FIG.

[Effects of ETC OBE 1]
(1) According to the ETC vehicle-mounted device 1 of the present embodiment, the operating state of the ETC vehicle-mounted device 1 itself (for example, “IC card information read completion”, “IC card removal”, “expiration date confirmation button operation” and “on the road” The communication with the aircraft ") or the timing of executing the fee settlement processing using the fee settlement information based on the operating state of the vehicle on which the ETC on-board device 1 is mounted (such as" engine stop operation ") The expiration date information acquired from the IC card 2 is displayed on the display unit 18 or the speaker 23 (or at a predetermined notification timing set in advance so as to be before the wireless communication with the roadside machine 3 for settlement). Notification is made via a display unit or a speaker of the navigation device 5.

  As described above, the expiration date information is notified at a timing before the charge settlement process, so even if the expiration date of the IC card 2 has expired, it is used before actually executing the charge settlement process. This can be notified to the person. Therefore, the user who knows that the expiration date has expired by the notification can take appropriate measures until the fee settlement processing is actually executed. For example, the IC card 2 whose expiration date has not expired is inserted into the IC card connector 15 of the ETC vehicle-mounted device 1 or the vehicle is arranged in the lane for ordinary vehicles without using the lane for ETC vehicles. Can be considered.

  As described above, since the ETC in-vehicle device 1 according to the present embodiment can notify the user of the expiration date of the IC card 2 more effectively, the control bar at the toll gate of the ETC system can be notified. The risk of contact is reduced.

  In particular, it is very effective to notify the trigger with the communication with the road machine 3 for notice and the road machine 3 for card confirmation. In the prior art, it is considered to display an expiration date at the time of “card insertion” or “power on to the device”, but even if it is displayed at these timings, the driver at that time If there is no willingness to drive on toll roads, there is a high possibility that the display regarding the expiration date will not be taken care of. In addition, even if you care about it, there is a high possibility of thinking that “you should respond later”.

  However, after that, due to changes in road conditions, changes in destinations, etc., it may be necessary to pass through toll roads (or to actively pass). In that case, no matter how much the “expiration date” is displayed at the time of “card insertion” or “power on to the device”, the awareness about the expiration date is diminished (or lost), and it is actually effective. It is also assumed that the IC card 2 that has expired is inserted into the ETC vehicle lane.

  On the other hand, if the expiration date information is notified using the communication with the road device 3 for notice and the road device 3 for card confirmation as a trigger, such inconvenience can be solved. The timing of communicating with the road device 3 for notice and the road device 3 for card confirmation is so-called “immediately before” communication with the road device 3 for charge settlement. Therefore, it is possible to notify when it is necessary, and the user (for example, the driver) looks at the expiration date information, and if the expiration date has expired, it can be replaced with an IC card 2 that has not expired, Appropriate measures can be taken such that the vehicles are arranged in the lane for ordinary vehicles without using the lane for ETC vehicles. Therefore, the risk of contact with the control bar at the toll gate of the ETC system can be reduced more appropriately.

  (2) Various notification timings of the expiration date information can be considered, and various notification methods such as voice, display, and combinations thereof can be considered. Further, whether the notification is made via the display unit 18 or the speaker 23 that the ETC on-vehicle device 1 itself has, or whether the notification is made via the on-vehicle device different from the ETC on-vehicle device 1, for example, the display unit or the speaker that the navigation device 5 has. A notification method is also conceivable.

  Therefore, in the ETC in-vehicle device 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in the expiration date notification setting table 17a shown in FIG. 2, for each notification condition, the voice notification setting is enabled / disabled, the display notification setting is enabled / disabled, the external device Enabled / disabled notification settings can be changed. Such a change setting may be executed by a car dealer or a staff of an article store when the vehicle-mounted device is attached to the vehicle. However, in this embodiment, the user can execute the change setting himself. Therefore, the user can make the notification mode more suitable for him / her. In addition, since the user can confirm the changed setting contents, the user can change the setting while confirming whether or not the setting contents are desired by the user.

  (3) In the ETC in-vehicle device 1 of the present embodiment, the expiration date information acquired from the IC card 2 is stored in the RAM, that is, the volatile memory. In this way, even if the IC card 2 is not set, the expiration date information of the IC card 2 can be grasped by the ETC on-vehicle device 1 alone. Therefore, for example, even if the IC card 2 is removed, the expiration date is notified at the various notification timings described above. The user who has confirmed that the expiration date has expired has a feeling of not using the IC card whose expiration date has expired, and discards the removed IC card 2, for example, or expires the next time it is used. Consider using the new IC card 2.

[Another embodiment]
(1) In the above embodiment, the expiration date information from the IC card 2 is obtained via the IC card control unit 14 and the IC card connector 15. However, in addition to acquiring information electrically (electronically), for example, information acquisition may be performed optically. In the case of the present embodiment, IC card identification information (ID code) and IC card expiry date information (part of the card information) such as embossing, printing or sticker sticking are provided on the surface of the IC card 2. Are described in advance. Therefore, the card information may be read optically.

  (2) When notifying the expiration date information, the navigation device 5 which is a vehicle-mounted device different from the ETC vehicle-mounted device 1 has not only the notification via the display unit 18 or the speaker 23 included in the ETC vehicle-mounted device 1 itself. It has been stated that notification may be made via a display unit or a speaker. Of course, even a vehicle-mounted device different from the ETC vehicle-mounted device 1 can be used as long as it has a notification unit (for example, an AV device). However, in the case of the navigation device 5, since the notification function by voice or display is still substantial, it is advantageous to use the notification function.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the electrical structure of the ETC onboard equipment 1 of embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of an expiration date alerting | reporting setting table. It is a flowchart which shows the process which concerns on the alerting | reporting setting of expiration date information. 5 is a flowchart showing processing related to notification when expiration date information is acquired from the IC card 2; It is a sequence diagram which shows the example of alerting | reporting operation | movement between after the ignition switch 7 is turned on until it is turned off. It is a sequence diagram which shows the example of alerting | reporting operation | movement when the IC card 2 is pulled out. It is a sequence diagram which shows the alerting | reporting operation example when the ETC onboard equipment 1 communicates with the roadside apparatus 3. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... ETC onboard equipment, 2 ... IC card, 3 ... Road equipment, 5 ... Navigation apparatus, 7 ... Ignition switch, 11 ... Radio | wireless part, 12 ... Power supply part, 13 ... Overall control part, 14 ... IC card control part, 15 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... IC card connector, 17 ... Memory | storage part, 17a ... Expiration date notification setting table, 18 ... Display part, 19 ... Input operation part, 20 ... External apparatus connection part, 21 ... Control part, 22 ... Memory | storage part, 23 ... Speaker.

Claims (10)

A communication means for communicating with a roadside machine;
Information acquisition means for acquiring information from an IC card storing charge settlement information and expiration date information;
Control means for executing various controls based on the charge settlement information and expiration date information acquired by the information acquisition means;
With
A vehicle-mounted device for performing charge settlement processing by performing communication with a roadside device for charge settlement via the communication means,
The control means includes
Based on the operating state of the on-vehicle device itself or the operating state of the vehicle in which the on-vehicle device is mounted, a predetermined value set in advance so as to be a timing before the timing of executing the fee payment processing using the fee payment information. When it is determined that it is the notification timing, the in-vehicle device is characterized in that the expiration date information acquired by the information acquisition means is notified via a notification unit. The in-vehicle device according to claim 1,
The control means includes
The predetermined notification timing when communication is performed via the communication means with a road device for confirmation provided before the place where the road device for payment is installed. The vehicle-mounted device is characterized in that the expiration date information is notified. The in-vehicle device according to claim 1 or 2,
The control means includes
When the information acquisition unit acquires information from the IC card, it determines that the predetermined notification timing is reached, and notifies the expiration date information. In the onboard equipment in any one of Claims 1-3,
It has an operation acceptance means for accepting user operations,
The control means includes
The vehicle-mounted device characterized in that when the user's operation is received via the operation receiving means, it is determined that the predetermined notification timing is reached, and the expiration date information is notified. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 4,
The operation accepting means can accept an instruction for notifying the expiration date information,
The control means includes
The vehicle-mounted device characterized in that, when an instruction to notify the expiration date information is received via the operation receiving means, it is determined that the predetermined notification timing is reached, and the expiration date information is notified. In the onboard equipment in any one of Claims 1-5,
An IC card connector into which the IC card can be inserted and removed;
Detecting means capable of detecting whether or not the IC card is removed from the IC card connector;
With
The control means includes
When the detection means detects that the IC card is removed from the IC card connector, it determines that the predetermined notification timing is reached, and notifies the expiration date information. In the onboard equipment in any one of Claims 1-6,
The control means is configured to be able to detect that an operation that leads to an engine stop of the vehicle, such as an ignition switch-off operation, is performed,
The control means includes
When detecting that an operation leading to engine stop of the vehicle is made, it is determined that the predetermined notification timing is reached, and the expiration date information is notified. In the onboard equipment in any one of Claims 1-7,
With respect to at least one of the presence / absence of notification via the notification unit and the method, it is configured to be changeable for each notification timing, and
Setting content storage means for storing the setting content of at least one of the presence and absence of the notification and the method corresponding to each notification timing;
The control means includes
The vehicle-mounted device characterized in that the notification of the expiration date information is based on the setting content stored in the setting content storage means. In the onboard equipment in any one of Claims 1-8,
The notification unit is configured to enable notification through at least an audio output unit,
The in-vehicle device, wherein the control means notifies the expiration date information at least by voice through the notification unit. In the onboard equipment in any one of Claims 1-9,
A vehicle-mounted device that is used in an ETC system (Electronic Toll Collection system).