JP2007140697A - Toll settlement system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toll settlement system enforcing safe driving in a toll road on a driver that is a user to suppress occurrence frequency of a traffic accident, capable of keeping impartiality of service to the user, and allowing easy practical execution. <P>SOLUTION: An entry gate device 1 generates entry information in each vehicle permitted with entry into the toll road, and transmits it to a settlement device 3. An exit gate device 3 generates exit information in each the vehicle permitted with exit from the toll road, and transmits it to the settlement device 3. The settlement device 3 decides whether or not the driver endeavors the safe driving in the toll road by use of the entry information and the exit information about each the vehicle, and imparts a service point when deciding that the driver endeavors the safe driving. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a toll fee settlement system that settles a toll for use of a toll road to a vehicle using a toll road such as an expressway.

  Conventionally, ETC systems have been put to practical use on toll roads such as expressways. As is well known, the ETC system is charged by wireless communication between a gate device installed at the entrance or exit of a toll road and an ETC on-vehicle device (hereinafter simply referred to as an on-vehicle device) mounted on the vehicle. It is a system that settles road tolls. In the ETC system, information such as a vehicle number for identifying this vehicle is acquired by wireless communication with an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle through which a gate device installed at an entrance or exit of a toll road passes. Each gate device transmits information acquired from the in-vehicle device to a settlement device installed in a center or the like. The payment device calculates a toll for each vehicle based on information such as a car number transmitted from the gate device installed at the entrance or exit of the toll road, and performs processing related to the settlement of the calculated toll . The settlement of tolls in the ETC system is card settlement with a credit card or the like, and the settlement apparatus requests the card company to settle tolls for the driver of the vehicle.

  In addition, the toll system on the toll road includes a uniform toll system that is uniform regardless of the distance of the use section, and a distance toll system that changes according to the distance of the use section.

  In order to improve services for toll road users, a variety of discount systems have been introduced, such as a discount system for tolls during late nights and early mornings, and a discount system for tolls depending on the day of the week. In addition, to avoid traffic congestion sections on toll roads, a system that discounts tolls for vehicles that once entered a general road from a toll road (bypassing the general road) and returned to the toll road again ( Patent Document 1) and a system for discounting tolls for vehicles that have not been able to travel smoothly on toll roads due to traffic jams or natural traffic jams on toll roads (see Patent Document 2) have been made. .

Further, a system has been proposed (see Patent Document 3) that detects the degree of safe driving from the traveling speed on the toll road, the number of breaks, the number of lane changes, and the like, and discounts the toll according to the degree of safe driving. In particular, the discount system for tolls according to the degree of safe driving proposed in Patent Document 3 can increase the number of drivers who drive while following the speed limit, thereby reducing the frequency of traffic accidents. It has great social significance.
JP 2003-123109 A JP 2002-175549 A JP 2003-178343 A

  However, with the configuration described in Patent Document 3, it is difficult to implement the discount system practically. Specifically, in Patent Document 3, the traveling state (travel speed, lane change, etc.) of a vehicle on a toll road is collected by a navigation on-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle, and the vehicle on the toll road from this navigation on-vehicle device. It is the structure which acquires the driving state of and detects the degree of safe driving. For this reason, in order to put the system proposed in Patent Document 3 into practical use, the above-described navigation vehicle-mounted device having a function of collecting the traveling state of the vehicle on the toll road must be spread. Navigation in-vehicle devices are already in widespread use, but many of them do not have a function to collect the running state of the vehicle, and there is a burden on the driver who is the owner of the vehicle and standardization of this function. There are many problems to be solved in disseminating the above-mentioned navigation vehicle-mounted device that collects the traveling state of the vehicle.

  Moreover, since it is the structure which acquires the driving state of the vehicle in a toll road from a navigation vehicle equipment, there exists a danger that the data which shows the vehicle driving state which the navigation vehicle equipment collected are processed by the driver who is a user. In other words, even if the user does not actually observe the speed limit, etc., the data indicating the running state of the vehicle collected by the on-vehicle navigation device is processed, and the processed data is transmitted to There is a problem in that there is a high risk of fraudulent activities such as discounting charges. Therefore, there has been a problem that the fairness of the service to the user cannot be maintained unless such preventive measures are taken.

  The present invention enforces safe driving on toll roads for drivers who are users, can reduce the frequency of traffic accidents, can maintain the fairness of services for users, and can be implemented practically. The object is to provide an easy toll payment system.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the toll fee settlement system of the present invention has the following configuration.

(1) An approaching vehicle detection device that is installed near the entrance of a toll road and detects a vehicle entering the toll road;
An advancing vehicle detection device that is installed near the exit of the toll road and detects a vehicle advancing from the toll road,
Settlement for settlement of tolls on the toll road for vehicles detected by the approaching vehicle detection device or vehicles detected to have entered the toll road by the entering vehicle detection device A payment device for processing,
When the approaching vehicle detection device detects a vehicle entering the toll road, the vehicle number of the vehicle, the entrance at which the vehicle has entered the toll road, and the time at which the vehicle has entered the toll road are determined. Including entry information transmission means for generating entry information including and transmitting the entry information to the settlement apparatus;
When the advancing vehicle detection device detects a vehicle advancing from the toll road, the vehicle number of this vehicle, the exit from which this vehicle advancing from the toll road, and the time when this vehicle advancing from the toll road are Including advance information transmitting means for generating and transmitting advance information including the information to the settlement apparatus;
The settlement device includes the entry information of the vehicle generated by the entry information transmission unit of the approach vehicle detection device, and the advance vehicle for the vehicle detected by the advance vehicle detection device to advance from the toll road. An average speed calculation means for identifying a use section and a travel time of the toll road from the advance information of the vehicle generated by the advance information transmission means of the detection device, and calculating an average speed of the vehicle in the use section;
Using the average speed calculated by the average speed calculation means and the speed limit on the toll road, it is determined whether to give a service point to the vehicle, and the service point is given according to the determination result. Service point granting means for processing.

  In this configuration, the approaching vehicle detection device detects a vehicle entering the toll road, and the entry information that associates the vehicle number of this vehicle, the entrance at which this vehicle entered the toll road, and the time at which this vehicle entered the toll road. Is generated. The vehicle number may be any information that can identify the vehicle, and a vehicle identification code or a license plate number stored in the mounted ETC in-vehicle device may be used as the vehicle number. The entrance that entered the toll road is the entrance to the toll road where the approaching vehicle detection device is installed. The time when the vehicle enters the toll road is the time when the approaching vehicle detection device detects the vehicle.

  In addition, the advancing vehicle detection device detects a vehicle advancing from the toll road, and generates advancing information that associates the vehicle number of this vehicle, the exit from which this vehicle advancing from the toll road, and the time when this vehicle advancing from the toll road To do. As described above, the vehicle number may be information that can identify the vehicle. The exit that has advanced from the toll road is the exit of the toll road where the entering vehicle detection device is installed. The time when the vehicle has advanced from the toll road is the time when the advanced vehicle detection device detects this vehicle.

  The settlement apparatus acquires the entry information generated by the approaching vehicle detection apparatus and the entry information generated by the entry vehicle detection apparatus. Thereby, the settlement apparatus can detect the toll road usage section and the travel time on the toll road for each vehicle using the toll road, and calculate the average speed of the vehicle on the toll road from these data. The settlement apparatus stores the distance, the usage fee, etc. in association with each usage section of the toll road. The settlement apparatus determines whether to give a service point using the average speed and the speed limit of the toll road, and gives the service point according to the determination result. For example, if the average speed is equal to or less than the speed limit, it is determined that a service point is to be granted, and a service point is given. In other words, no service points are given to vehicles whose average speed exceeds the speed limit. This service point may have a value that can be used for settlement of tolls on toll roads, or it may have a value that can be used for settlement of charges for use of other facilities other than toll roads. Further, it may have a value that can be exchanged for a prize.

  As a result, a service that gives service points to a driver who tries to drive safely on a toll road can be easily realized. For example, an approaching vehicle detection device or an advancing vehicle detection device installed at the entrance and exit of a toll road is a gate device in an ETC system, or a car number reading device in an AVI system (number from a picked-up image of a license plate imaged by a camera). Existing infrastructure such as a device that recognizes plate numbers) can be used. In addition, since the data used for determining whether or not to grant service points is data detected by the device on the administrator side that manages the toll road, there is no risk of being processed by the user, and there is no risk of service to the user. Can maintain fairness.

(2) a plurality of vehicle detection devices installed along the toll road;
For each vehicle using the toll road, a payment device that performs a payment process for payment of tolls, and
When the vehicle detection device detects a passing vehicle, the vehicle detection device generates passage information including a vehicle number of the vehicle, a passage position of the vehicle, and a passage time of the vehicle, and transmits the passage information to the settlement device. Have
The payment apparatus, for each vehicle, based on the passing information transmitted from each vehicle detection device, an average speed calculation means for calculating an average speed for each installation section of two adjacent vehicle detection devices;
For each vehicle, using the average speed for each installation section calculated by the average speed calculation means and the speed limit on the toll road, it is determined whether to give a service point to the vehicle. Service point providing means for performing processing related to the provision of service points according to

  In this configuration, since a plurality of vehicle detectors are installed along the toll road, the traveling speed of the vehicle can be calculated for every two adjacent vehicle detection devices (for each installation section). Therefore, even if the average speed of the entire use section is less than or equal to the speed limit, no service points are given to a vehicle that has traveled beyond the speed limit in a part of the use section, that is, a vehicle that has not been driven safely. Service can also be provided. Thereby, the driver who is a user comes to pay more attention to safe driving, and as a result, the frequency of occurrence of traffic accidents can be further suppressed.

  In addition, by calculating the average speed of the vehicle for a specific section such as a curve section that easily slips, a service point can be given to a driver who tries to drive safely in the specific section. In this case, the specific section may be a point where the number of accidents is large. Moreover, what is necessary is just to install a vehicle detection apparatus in the vicinity of the entrance of this specific area, and exit vicinity.

(3) The settlement apparatus includes a road traffic condition acquisition unit that acquires a road traffic condition of the toll road,
The service point giving means is means for determining whether or not to give a service point in consideration of the road traffic situation acquired by the road traffic situation acquisition means.

  In this configuration, since it is determined whether to give service points in consideration of road traffic conditions such as traffic jams, vehicles with safe driving in mind for vehicles whose traveling speed is below the speed limit due to traffic jams etc. It is possible to prevent erroneous determination.

  For vehicles whose traveling speed has become lower than the speed limit due to the occurrence of such a traffic jam, a discount service by a traffic jam discount that has already been proposed may be provided.

  (4) The road traffic situation acquisition means is means for acquiring the road traffic situation of the toll road from the running state of a plurality of vehicles running on the toll road.

  In this configuration, by comparing with the traveling state of other vehicles that are traveling in the same place in the same time zone, even if the traveling speed is below the speed limit, it was traveling on the traffic flow Determine whether the vehicle is a vehicle (a vehicle that the driver was trying to drive safely) or a vehicle that was driving so as to disturb the traffic flow (a vehicle that the driver was not trying to drive safely enough) be able to.

  (5) The payment apparatus determines whether the service point granting unit determines that the service point is not to be granted, as to whether the service point granting vehicle should be restricted, and the service is determined according to the determination result. Service point grant limiting means for performing processing related to the limit of point grant is provided.

  With this configuration, it is possible to restrict the granting of service points to drivers who are driving maliciously and are likely to cause traffic accidents. As a method for restricting the granting of service points, it is conceivable to prohibit the granting of service points for a certain period, or to invalidate the service points given within a certain period. This makes it possible for the driver to drive without being restricted from giving service points, thereby further reducing the frequency of occurrence of traffic accidents.

(6) an approaching vehicle detection device installed near the entrance of the toll road and detecting a vehicle entering the toll road;
An advancing vehicle detection device that is installed near the exit of the toll road and detects a vehicle advancing from the toll road,
Settlement for settlement of tolls on the toll road for vehicles detected by the approaching vehicle detection device or vehicles detected to have entered the toll road by the entering vehicle detection device A payment device for processing,
When the approaching vehicle detection device detects a vehicle entering the toll road, the vehicle number of the vehicle, the entrance at which the vehicle has entered the toll road, and the time at which the vehicle has entered the toll road are determined. Including entry information transmission means for generating entry information including and transmitting the entry information to the settlement apparatus;
When the advancing vehicle detection device detects a vehicle advancing from the toll road, the vehicle number of this vehicle, the exit from which this vehicle advancing from the toll road, and the time when this vehicle advancing from the toll road are Including advance information transmitting means for generating and transmitting advance information including the information to the settlement apparatus;
The settlement device includes the entry information of the vehicle generated by the entry information transmission unit of the approach vehicle detection device, and the advance vehicle for the vehicle detected by the advance vehicle detection device to advance from the toll road. An average speed calculation means for identifying a use section and a travel time of the toll road from the advance information of the vehicle generated by the advance information transmission means of the detection device, and calculating an average speed of the vehicle in the use section;
Using the average speed calculated by the average speed calculation means and the speed limit on the toll road, it is determined whether or not the toll on the toll road is discounted for the vehicle, and the toll is settled according to the determination result. A settlement means for performing processing.

  In this configuration, a toll is discounted for the driver who tries to drive safely on a toll road, instead of the service points given in (1) above. Therefore, the same effect as (1) described above is obtained.

(7) a plurality of vehicle detection devices installed along the toll road;
For each vehicle using the toll road, a payment device that performs a payment process for payment of tolls, and
When the vehicle detection device detects a passing vehicle, the vehicle detection device generates passage information including a vehicle number of the vehicle, a passage position of the vehicle, and a passage time of the vehicle, and transmits the passage information to the settlement device. Have
The payment apparatus, for each vehicle, based on the passing information transmitted from each vehicle detection device, an average speed calculation means for calculating an average speed for each installation section of two adjacent vehicle detection devices;
For each vehicle, using the average speed for each installation section calculated by the average speed calculation means and the speed limit on the toll road, determine whether to discount the toll on the toll road for the vehicle, A settlement means for performing a toll fee settlement process according to the determination result.

  In this configuration, a toll is discounted instead of the service points given in (2) above for drivers who are trying to drive safely on toll roads. Therefore, the same effect as (2) described above is obtained.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily construct a system that increases the number of drivers who try to drive safely on toll roads, and as a result, can reduce the frequency of traffic accidents. In addition, since the data used for determining whether or not to grant service points is data detected by the device on the administrator side that manages the toll road, there is no risk of being processed by the user, and there is no risk of service to the user. Can maintain fairness. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce the number of drivers who perform malicious driving that is highly likely to cause traffic accidents, such as significantly exceeding the speed limit, and to further reduce the frequency of traffic accidents.

  Hereinafter, a toll fee settlement system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  1 and 2 are schematic diagrams showing the configuration of a toll fee settlement system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The toll payment system according to this embodiment is a system that uses an existing ETC system and provides a service that gives service points to a driver who tries to drive safely on a toll road.

  Here, the present invention will be described in terms of a system that gives service points to drivers who try to drive safely, but instead of giving service points, tolls for toll roads are the same as service points that give It is good also as a structure which discounts only value and settles.

  In FIG. 1, 1 is an entrance gate device installed at the entrance of a toll road such as an expressway, 2 is an entry gate device installed at the exit of the toll road, and 3 is an ETC vehicle-mounted device 4 (hereinafter referred to as an ETC on-board device 4). , Simply referred to as the vehicle-mounted device 4), when the vehicle on which the vehicle is mounted uses a toll road, it is a payment device that performs processing related to payment of tolls for this vehicle. The entrance gate device 1 is installed at each entrance of the toll road. The advance gate device 2 is installed at each exit of the toll road. The settlement apparatus 3 is installed at the center. The entry gate device 1 and the advance gate device 2 are connected to the settlement device 3 via a dedicated line, a public line, or the like. The approach gate device 1 corresponds to the approach vehicle detection device referred to in the present invention, the advance gate device 2 corresponds to the advance vehicle detection device referred to in the present invention, and the settlement device 3 corresponds to the settlement device referred to in the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the approach gate device 1 includes a control unit 11 that controls the operation of the device body, a wireless communication unit 12 that wirelessly communicates with the ETC in-vehicle device 4 mounted on the vehicle, and a fee. A gate opening / closing unit 13 that opens and closes a bar provided at the entrance of the road and a communication unit 14 that communicates with the settlement apparatus 3 are provided. The advance gate device 2 has the same configuration as the entrance gate device 1, and includes a control unit 21, a wireless communication unit 22, a gate opening / closing unit 23, and a communication unit 24 as shown in FIG. The entry gate device 1 and the entry gate device 2 process the vehicle that the entry gate device 1 enters the toll road, whereas the entry gate device 2 processes the vehicle that advances from the toll road. It differs in the point to do. That is, the entry gate device 1 and the advance gate device 2 have the same hardware.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the settlement apparatus. The settlement apparatus 3 includes a control unit 31 that controls the operation of the apparatus main body, a point database 32a in which the number of service points assigned to each vehicle is registered, and distances, tolls, and the like for each toll road use section. A storage unit 32 that stores the toll database 32b and the like associated with each other, a first communication unit 33 that communicates with the entry gate device 1 and the entry gate device 2, and a settlement request for a toll for use of the toll road And a second communication unit 34 that transmits to a card company (not shown). In the point database 32a, as shown in FIG. 5, for each vehicle, a vehicle number for identifying the vehicle, the number of points of the current service point assigned to the vehicle identified by this vehicle number, Restriction flag indicating whether or not to restrict the granting of service points (here, if the restriction flag is 0, granting of service points is not restricted, and if it is 1, granting of service points is restricted) Data that associates a period during which service points are restricted (limited period), history data indicating usage history of toll roads, and the like is registered. As shown in FIG. 5, the history data is associated with the number of service points given, the payment amount, and the like.

  In addition, an ETC card in which information related to the card number of a credit card used for payment of tolls, information related to the vehicle number of the vehicle, and the like is mounted on the in-vehicle device 4 mounted on the vehicle. The in-vehicle device 4 reads out the information stored in the ETC card that is installed and transmits the information to the entry gate device 1 and the advance gate device 2, and the data instructed from the entry gate device 1 and the advance gate device 2. Write to ETC card. The in-vehicle device 4 includes a wireless communication unit that communicates with the entry gate device 1 and the advance gate device 2 wirelessly. Since this in-vehicle device 4 is used in a well-known ETC system, detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  Next, the operation of the toll fee settlement system of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the entry gate device. When the approach gate device 1 detects a vehicle approaching the entrance of the toll road, that is, a vehicle entering the toll road (s1), the entrance gate device 1 is attached to the in-vehicle device 4 mounted on the vehicle. A transmission request for information recorded in the ETC card is transmitted from the wireless communication unit 12 (s2). When receiving this request, the in-vehicle device 4 reads out information recorded on the ETC card that is mounted, and transmits this information to the entry gate device 1. When the approach gate device 1 receives the information transmitted from the in-vehicle device 4 by the wireless communication unit 12 (s3), the approach gate device 1 determines whether to permit entry into the toll road for the vehicle in which the in-vehicle device 4 is mounted. Determine (s4). If the approach gate apparatus 1 determines that entry to the toll road is permitted in s4, the gate opening / closing unit 13 opens the gate provided at the entrance of the toll road (s5). Further, the entry gate device 1 instructs the in-vehicle device 4 mounted on the vehicle permitted to enter the toll road this time to write the entrance information to the ETC card (s6). The approach gate device 1 instructs the writing of information indicating the entrance of the toll road where the device is installed. The in-vehicle device 4 writes the entrance information in the installed ETC card according to this instruction. When the entry gate device 1 detects that the vehicle permitted to enter the toll road this time has passed through the gate and has entered the toll road (s7), the gate provided at the entrance of the toll road by the gate opening / closing unit 13 Is closed (s8), the vehicle number identifying the vehicle included in the information received at s3, the entrance information indicating the entrance where this vehicle entered the toll road, the time when this vehicle entered the toll road (at this time Entry information including (time at) is generated (s9), and is transmitted from the communication unit 14 to the settlement apparatus 3 (s10), and the process returns to s1.

  If the entry gate device 1 determines that entry to the toll road is not permitted in s4, the entry gate device 1 returns to s1 without opening the gate provided at the entrance of the toll road.

  The settlement apparatus 3 is configured such that, for each vehicle that has entered the toll road, the vehicle number that identifies the vehicle, the entrance at which this vehicle has entered the toll road, and the time at which this vehicle has entered the toll road by the operation of the entry gate device 1 described above. Entry information including can be acquired. Details of the operation of the settlement apparatus 3 will be described later.

  Next, the operation of the advance gate apparatus 2 will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the advance gate device. When the advance gate device 2 detects a vehicle approaching the exit of the toll road, that is, a vehicle that advances from the toll road (s11), the advance gate device 2 is attached to the in-vehicle device 4 mounted on the vehicle. A transmission request for information recorded on the ETC card is transmitted from the wireless communication unit 22 (s12). When receiving this request, the in-vehicle device 4 reads the information recorded on the ETC card that is mounted, and transmits this information to the advance gate device 2. At this time, the in-vehicle device 4 also transmits the entrance information instructed by the previous entry gate device 1 and written in the ETC card to the advance gate device 2. When the advance gate device 2 receives the information transmitted from the in-vehicle device 4 by the wireless communication unit 12 (s13), the advance gate device 2 determines whether or not to permit the advance from the toll road for the vehicle in which the in-vehicle device 4 is mounted. Determine (s14). If the advancing gate device 2 determines that the advancing from the toll road is permitted in s14, the gate opening / closing unit 23 opens the gate provided at the exit of the toll road (s15). The advance gate device 2 instructs the in-vehicle device 4 mounted on the vehicle permitted to advance from the toll road this time to write exit information to the ETC card (s16). The advance gate apparatus 1 instructs the writing of information indicating the exit of the toll road where the own apparatus is installed. The in-vehicle device 4 writes the exit information to the ETC card that is installed in accordance with this instruction. The advance gate device 2 detects that the vehicle permitted to advance from the toll road this time has passed through the gate and has advanced from the toll road (s17), and the gate provided at the exit of the toll road by the gate opening / closing unit 23 Is closed (s18), the vehicle number for identifying the vehicle included in the information received in s13, exit information indicating the exit from which this vehicle has advanced from the toll road, the time at which this vehicle has advanced from the toll road (at this time ), Entry information including the entrance information indicating the entrance where the vehicle has entered the toll road is generated (s19), which is transmitted from the communication unit 24 to the settlement apparatus 3 (s20), and the process returns to s11.

  If the advancing gate apparatus 2 determines that the advancing from the toll road is not permitted in s14, the advancing gate apparatus 2 returns to s11 without opening the gate provided at the exit of the toll road.

  The completed device 3 is configured such that, for each vehicle that has advanced from the toll road, the vehicle number that identifies the vehicle, the exit at which this vehicle has advanced from the toll road, and the time at which this vehicle has advanced from the toll road by the operation of the above-described entry gate device 2 The entry information including the entrance where the vehicle entered the toll road is acquired. Hereinafter, the operation of the settlement apparatus 3 will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the settlement apparatus. The settlement apparatus 3 is waiting to receive entry information from the entry gate apparatus 1 or to receive entry information from the entry gate apparatus 2 (s21, s22). When the settlement apparatus 3 receives the entry information, the settlement apparatus 3 registers the entry information in an entry information table (not shown) (s23), and returns to s21. This entry information table is a table composed of pages distinguished for each entrance of a toll road. The settlement apparatus 3 associates the vehicle number, the entry time, etc. included in the entry information received this time with the page corresponding to the entrance of the toll road indicated by the entry information included in the entry information received this time. sign up.

  In addition, when the settlement information is received, the settlement apparatus 3 searches the entry information table and reads the entry information of the vehicle number included in the currently received advance information (s24). In s24, the page of the entry information table corresponding to the entrance of the toll road indicated by the entry information included in the advance information received this time is searched, and the entry information of the applicable vehicle is read out. Thus, since the payment apparatus 3 only needs to search the page corresponding to the entrance of the toll road indicated by the entrance information included in the entry information, the search is not wasteful. It can be done in a short time. The settlement apparatus 3 uses the entry information read out in s24 and the advance information received this time to detect the use section in which the vehicle has used the toll road this time and the travel time during which the toll road was traveling (s25). . And the payment apparatus 3 acquires the distance of the use area detected by s25 from toll DB32b, and calculates the average speed in the toll road of the said vehicle (s26).

  Based on the average speed calculated in s26 and the speed limit of the toll road, the settlement apparatus 3 is a vicious person who has attempted to drive safely on the toll road or has a high risk of causing a traffic accident. It is determined whether driving has been performed (s27, s28). Specifically, for a vehicle driver whose average speed is less than or equal to the speed limit of the toll road, it is determined that safe driving is intended, and the vehicle greatly exceeds the speed limit of the toll road (for example, exceeds 20 km / h or more). It is determined that the driver of was driving maliciously at a high risk of causing a traffic accident. Also, for drivers of vehicles whose average speed slightly exceeds the speed limit, it is not determined that the driver is driving safely or a driver driving maliciously. It is determined that the driver is not given.

  If the settlement apparatus 3 determines in s27 that the average speed of the vehicle is equal to or less than the speed limit, that is, if the driver determines that the vehicle is driving safely on the toll road, the service device is given a service point. This is provisionally determined (s29). If the settlement apparatus 3 provisionally decides to provide service points in s29, it searches the point database 32a and determines whether or not the service points are restricted for the vehicle (s30). As shown in FIG. 5, a limit flag is associated with each vehicle and stored in the point database 32a. The settlement apparatus 3 determines whether or not service points are restricted by checking the restriction flag of the vehicle. If the settlement apparatus 3 determines that the granting of service points is not restricted, it determines to grant service points to the vehicle (s31), and determines the number of points to be given to the vehicle (s32). . The number of points determined in s32 may be a predetermined fixed number of points, or the number of points according to the toll for the use of this toll road, for example, a ratio (5% etc.) set in advance for the toll It may be the number of points multiplied. Further, the number of points may be changed depending on the degree of safe driving. The degree of safe driving may be determined by, for example, the difference between the average speed and the speed limit. The settlement apparatus 3 gives the number of points determined in s32 to the vehicle (s33). In s33, the number of points of the vehicle registered in the point database 32 is updated to a value obtained by adding the number of points given this time, and data relating to the current use is additionally registered in the toll road history data of the vehicle. To do.

  On the other hand, when the settlement apparatus 3 determines in s28 that the average speed of the vehicle has greatly exceeded the speed limit, that is, the driver is a vehicle that has been driving maliciously with a high possibility of causing a traffic accident on a toll road. If it determines, it will determine restrict | limiting grant of a service point with respect to this vehicle (s34). The settlement apparatus 3 determines whether or not the vehicle that has been determined to restrict the granting of service points in s34 is a vehicle for which the granting of service points has already been restricted (s35). The process related to s35 is the same process as s30 described above. If the settlement apparatus 3 determines that the vehicle is not restricted to grant service points in s35, it invalidates the service points given to this vehicle within a certain period, for example, within the last 30 days. Then, a setting is made to prohibit the provision of service points for a predetermined period, for example, 30 days (s36). In s36, using the history data of the vehicle registered in the point database 32a, the number of service points granted within a certain period is calculated, and the number of points given to the vehicle is calculated here. By updating to a value obtained by subtracting the number of points, service points granted within a certain period are invalidated. Further, the settlement apparatus 3 registers the date after the predetermined period in the point database 32a as the limit period for giving points to the vehicle. If the settlement apparatus 3 determines that the vehicle has already been granted service points in s35, the settlement device 3 extends the period for restricting the service points to the vehicle for a predetermined period (s37). The predetermined period extended in s37 may be the same as the predetermined period of s36, or may be a period longer than the predetermined period of s36. In s37, the restriction period of the vehicle set in the point database 32a is updated to a date extended by a predetermined period.

  When it is determined that the payment device 3 is a driver who does not give service points or restrictions in s27 and s28, or when the processing related to s36 and s37 is completed, the settlement device 3 stores the current toll road history data of the vehicle. Additional data for use is registered (s38). When the payment device 3 completes the process related to s33 or s38, it performs the payment process related to the toll payment (s39), and returns to s21. s39 is a process for requesting a toll payment to a card company (not shown).

  Thus, the toll payment system of this embodiment can be easily realized by using the infrastructure of the existing ETC system. In addition, on toll roads, service points will be given to drivers who are trying to drive safely, and service points will be restricted to drivers who have been driving maliciously and are likely to cause traffic accidents. The number of drivers who can drive safely can be increased. Thereby, the frequency of occurrence of traffic accidents on toll roads can be suppressed. Furthermore, since the entry information and the advance information used for determining whether or not to grant a service point are information acquired by the entrance gate device 1 on the manager side managing the toll road and the advance gate device 2, the user There is no risk of being processed by the service, and the fairness of the service to the user can be maintained.

  The service points granted by this service may have a value that can be used for settlement of tolls on toll roads, or for settlement of usage fees for other facilities other than toll roads, such as parking lots and ferries. It may have a value that can be used. In the above embodiment, the service point is given to the driver who tries to drive safely. However, the toll may be settled with the amount obtained by subtracting the value corresponding to the service point in the settlement process in s39.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although it was set as the structure which acquires the approach information of each vehicle, and advance information using the entrance gate apparatus 1 and the advance gate apparatus 2 in the existing ETC system, It is good also as a structure which acquires advance information using the vehicle number reader of a well-known AVI system. This vehicle number reading device is a device that processes an image obtained by imaging a license plate of a vehicle and recognizes the license plate number of the vehicle. AVI system car number reading devices are installed at most entrances and exits of toll roads. Therefore, even if the infrastructure of the AVI system is used, the above-described service can be provided even for a vehicle not equipped with the in-vehicle device 4 while having the same effect as the above embodiment.

  Furthermore, it can also be set as the structure which acquires approach information and advance information using the smart plate (electronic license plate) currently examined about introduction. The smart plate has a storage unit that stores vehicle information including a license plate number and a wireless communication unit that wirelessly communicates with a terminal device installed on a road or the like. Making the smart plate mandatory for the vehicle is currently under consideration. In this case, a terminal that communicates wirelessly with the smart plate is installed at the entrance and exit of the toll road, and the above-described entry information and advance information are generated from information obtained by the terminal through wireless communication with the smart plate.

  In the above embodiment, whether or not to grant a service point is determined by comparing the average speed of the vehicle in the usage section and the speed limit. However, the configuration may be determined in consideration of traffic conditions on the toll road. Good. For example, it is good also as a structure which determines whether a service point is provided using the average speed of the other vehicle which drive | worked the utilization area in the substantially same time slot | zone. For example, when the average speed of the vehicle in the use section is equal to or lower than the speed limit and substantially the same as the average speed of other vehicles (for example, ± 5 km / h), it is determined that a service point is to be given. Also, even if the average speed of the vehicle in the usage zone is below the speed limit, when the difference from the average speed of other vehicles is large (for example, not ± 5 km / h), driving that disturbs the traffic flow on the toll road Therefore, it is determined that no service point is given. Thus, the determination accuracy of a driver who tries safe driving can be improved by determining whether to give a service point in consideration of the road traffic situation. Further, when determining whether or not to grant a service point, traffic jam information on a toll road, accident information, or the like may be used as a road traffic situation.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of wireless communication terminals 5 are installed along the toll road, and it is determined whether or not service points are to be given from the vehicle passage information acquired by these wireless communication terminals 5. May be. The wireless communication terminals 5 are installed at intervals of several km (1 to 5 km). The wireless communication terminal 5 is connected via a dedicated line or a public line to a control unit that controls the operation of the apparatus main body, a wireless communication unit that communicates wirelessly with the ETC in-vehicle device 4 mounted on the vehicle. It is the structure which has a communication part which communicates with the settlement apparatus 3 which exists. That is, the wireless communication terminal 5 has substantially the same configuration as the entry gate device 1 and the advance gate device 2 shown in FIG. Specifically, the only difference is that the gate opening / closing sections 13 and 23 are not provided.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the wireless communication terminal. When the wireless communication terminal 5 detects a passing vehicle (s41), the wireless communication terminal 5 performs wireless communication with the in-vehicle device 4 mounted on the passing vehicle, and acquires vehicle information including a vehicle number (s42, s43). Specifically, the wireless communication terminal 5 requests the in-vehicle device 4 to transmit vehicle information including the vehicle number. The in-vehicle device 4 that has received this request transmits vehicle information including the vehicle number to the wireless communication terminal. The wireless communication terminal 5 receives the vehicle information transmitted from the in-vehicle device 4. The wireless communication terminal 5 uses the vehicle number included in the vehicle information acquired here, the position that the vehicle has passed (the installation position of the wireless communication terminal), and the time at which this vehicle has been detected (the time at this time). The passing information including is generated (s44). Then, the passage information is transmitted to the settlement apparatus 3 (s45), and the process returns to s41. The settlement apparatus 3 stores the passage information transmitted from each wireless communication terminal 5 in an accumulative manner.

  Thus, every time each wireless communication terminal 5 detects a passing vehicle, the passing information relating to that vehicle is generated and transmitted to the payment device 3, so that the payment device 3 is provided for each vehicle using a toll road. The passing information transmitted from each wireless communication terminal 5 installed in the use section of the vehicle can be acquired. Accordingly, the settlement apparatus 3 calculates, for each vehicle using the toll road, an average speed for each installation section where the two adjacent wireless communication terminals 5 are installed as the speed in the use section of the vehicle. be able to.

  Here, when the settlement apparatus 3 determines whether the driver is driving safely on a toll road or performing a malicious driving with a high risk of causing a traffic accident, the settlement apparatus 3 determines whether the vehicle is installed for each installation section of the vehicle. Use average speed. For example, it is determined that a service point is not given for a vehicle whose average speed exceeds a speed limit even in a part of the use section, or the average speed of the vehicle is also determined in a part of the use section. A vehicle that has greatly exceeded the speed limit can be determined to have performed a malicious driving with a high risk of causing a traffic accident. As a result, it is possible to improve the determination accuracy of the settlement apparatus 3 as to whether the driver is trying to drive safely on the toll road or whether the driver is performing a malicious driving with a high risk of causing a traffic accident. The number of drivers to keep in mind can be further increased, and the frequency of traffic accidents can be further suppressed.

  In addition, a point where the number of accidents is large, such as a curve section that easily slips in rainy weather, is set as a specific section, and it is determined whether or not the driver has attempted safe driving in this specific section. A service point may be given to the driver that has been used. In this case, the average speed in the specific section can be calculated for each vehicle by installing the wireless notification installation 5 near the entrance and exit of the specific section.

  In this case, the device that generates the passage information may be a vehicle number reading device of the AVI system instead of the wireless communication terminal 5 described above, or a terminal device that communicates wirelessly with the smart plate.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the toll payment system which is embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the toll payment system which is embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of an approach gate apparatus and an advance gate apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a payment apparatus. It is a figure explaining the information memorized by the point database of a payment apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of an approach gate apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of an advance gate apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of a payment apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structure of the toll fee payment system which is another embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of a radio | wireless communication terminal.

Explanation of symbols

1-Entry gate device 2-Advance gate device 3-Payment device 4-ETC on-board machine (on-board machine)
5-wireless communication terminal

Claims (9)

An approaching vehicle detection device installed near the entrance of the toll road and detecting a vehicle entering the toll road;
An advancing vehicle detection device that is installed near the exit of the toll road and detects a vehicle advancing from the toll road,
Settlement for settlement of tolls on the toll road for vehicles detected by the approaching vehicle detection device or vehicles detected to have entered the toll road by the entering vehicle detection device A payment device for processing,
When the approaching vehicle detection device detects a vehicle entering the toll road, the vehicle number of the vehicle, the entrance at which the vehicle has entered the toll road, and the time at which the vehicle has entered the toll road are determined. Including entry information transmission means for generating entry information including and transmitting the entry information to the settlement apparatus;
When the advancing vehicle detection device detects a vehicle advancing from the toll road, the vehicle number of this vehicle, the exit from which this vehicle advancing from the toll road, and the time when this vehicle advancing from the toll road are Including advance information transmitting means for generating and transmitting advance information including the information to the settlement apparatus;
The settlement device includes the entry information of the vehicle generated by the entry information transmission unit of the approach vehicle detection device, and the advance vehicle for the vehicle detected by the advance vehicle detection device to advance from the toll road. An average speed calculation means for identifying a use section and a travel time of the toll road from the advance information of the vehicle generated by the advance information transmission means of the detection device, and calculating an average speed of the vehicle in the use section;
Using the average speed calculated by the average speed calculation means and the speed limit on the toll road, it is determined whether to give a service point to the vehicle, and the service point is given according to the determination result. A toll settlement system having service point granting means for processing. A plurality of vehicle detectors installed along the toll road,
For each vehicle using the toll road, a payment device that performs a payment process for payment of tolls, and
When the vehicle detection device detects a passing vehicle, the vehicle detection device generates passage information including a vehicle number of the vehicle, a passage position of the vehicle, and a passage time of the vehicle, and transmits the passage information to the settlement device. Have
The payment apparatus, for each vehicle, based on the passing information transmitted from each vehicle detection device, an average speed calculation means for calculating an average speed for each installation section of two adjacent vehicle detection devices;
For each vehicle, using the average speed for each installation section calculated by the average speed calculation means and the speed limit on the toll road, it is determined whether to give a service point to the vehicle. And a service point providing means for performing processing related to the provision of service points in accordance with the toll payment system. The settlement apparatus has a road traffic situation acquisition means for acquiring a road traffic situation of the toll road,
The toll settlement system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the service point giving means is means for judging whether to give a service point in consideration of the road traffic situation acquired by the road traffic situation acquisition means.   4. The toll payment system according to claim 3, wherein the road traffic condition acquisition means is means for acquiring a road traffic condition of the toll road from a traveling state of a plurality of vehicles traveling on the toll road.   The settlement apparatus determines whether the service point granting unit determines that the service point is not to be granted, whether the vehicle should be restricted from granting the service point, and grants the service point according to the determination result. The toll settlement system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a service point grant restricting unit that performs processing related to the restriction.   6. The toll settlement system according to claim 5, wherein the service point grant restricting means of the settlement device is means for prohibiting the grant of service points for a certain period of time for a vehicle determined to be restricted from granting service points. .   7. The service point grant restricting means of the settlement apparatus is means for invalidating service points assigned within a certain period for a vehicle that is determined to be restricted from granting service points. Toll payment system. An approaching vehicle detection device installed near the entrance of the toll road and detecting a vehicle entering the toll road;
An advancing vehicle detection device that is installed near the exit of the toll road and detects a vehicle advancing from the toll road,
Settlement for settlement of tolls on the toll road for vehicles detected by the approaching vehicle detection device or vehicles detected to have entered the toll road by the entering vehicle detection device A payment device for processing,
When the approaching vehicle detection device detects a vehicle entering the toll road, the vehicle number of the vehicle, the entrance at which the vehicle has entered the toll road, and the time at which the vehicle has entered the toll road are determined. Including entry information transmission means for generating entry information including and transmitting the entry information to the settlement apparatus;
When the advancing vehicle detection device detects a vehicle advancing from the toll road, the vehicle number of this vehicle, the exit from which this vehicle advancing from the toll road, and the time when this vehicle advancing from the toll road are Including advance information transmitting means for generating and transmitting advance information including the information to the settlement apparatus;
The settlement device includes the entry information of the vehicle generated by the entry information transmission unit of the approach vehicle detection device, and the advance vehicle for the vehicle detected by the advance vehicle detection device to advance from the toll road. An average speed calculation means for identifying a use section and a travel time of the toll road from the advance information of the vehicle generated by the advance information transmission means of the detection device, and calculating an average speed of the vehicle in the use section;
Using the average speed calculated by the average speed calculation means and the speed limit on the toll road, it is determined whether or not the toll on the toll road is discounted for the vehicle, and the toll is settled according to the determination result. A toll settlement system having a settlement means for processing. A plurality of vehicle detectors installed along the toll road,
For each vehicle using the toll road, a payment device that performs a payment process for payment of tolls, and
When the vehicle detection device detects a passing vehicle, the vehicle detection device generates passage information including a vehicle number of the vehicle, a passage position of the vehicle, and a passage time of the vehicle, and transmits the passage information to the settlement device. Have
The payment apparatus, for each vehicle, based on the passing information transmitted from each vehicle detection device, an average speed calculation means for calculating an average speed for each installation section of two adjacent vehicle detection devices;
For each vehicle, using the average speed for each installation section calculated by the average speed calculation means and the speed limit on the toll road, determine whether to discount the toll on the toll road for the vehicle, A toll settlement system having settlement means for performing a toll settlement process according to a determination result.

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