JP2007233843A - Toll collection system and roadside display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toll collection system and a roadside display device, capable of reducing a load on a lane controller that is an upper device of the roadside display device, improving a nonstop toll collection processing speed and capability especially required with high-speed processing, and reducing cost. <P>SOLUTION: In this toll collection system called an ETC system automatically performing collection processing of a use toll to a toll road to a vehicle passing a toll collection lane of the toll road such as an expressway, the roadside display device 13 installed to the toll collection lane is communicably connected to the lane controller 8 and at least one upper device except the lane controller 8, and respective pieces of display data transmitted from both sides are displayed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention, for example, in a toll collection lane on a toll road such as an expressway, a toll collection called an ETC system that automatically performs toll collection processing on the toll road for vehicles passing through the toll collection lane The present invention relates to a system and a roadside display device that displays usage fees, road information, weather information, and the like for vehicles passing through a toll collection lane in this toll collection system.

Generally, in toll road toll collection, roadside display devices installed on toll collection lanes at toll booths display character information such as vehicle type symbols and usage charges for the target vehicles. Accordingly, a graphic display method is used to propose not only information related to the above-mentioned toll collection, but also general information such as local road information and advertisements. Further, in order to enhance the appeal of these general information Display including graphic information such as is required (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-99833 A

In recent years, an ETC system (non-stop automatic toll collection system) that charges a vehicle passing at high speed by wireless processing has been adopted for toll collection processing on many toll roads.
A lane control device that performs toll collection processing for each lane in an ETC system obtains billing calculation information by wireless communication with an on-vehicle device within a limited range for a vehicle moving at high speed, and performs decryption and illegal ID search A large amount of processing capability is required at a very high speed, such as charging processing, display instruction of charge display, transmission of charging information to the vehicle-mounted device or tollgate server.

  Furthermore, the display data on the roadside display device is not only the data of the installed lane, but also the general information data including picture information composed of a large amount of pixel data is transmitted from the host device irrespective of the processing timing of the lane unit. Because the display processing is required, the lane control device must be equipped with a high-speed, high-performance CPU (Central Processing Unit) in a bad outdoor environment. Will also be expensive.

  Therefore, the present invention reduces the load on the lane control device, which is a host device of the roadside display device, and can particularly improve the non-stop toll collection processing speed and capacity required for high-speed processing, thereby reducing costs. An object is to provide a toll collection system and a roadside display device.

  The present invention also provides a toll collection system and a roadside display device capable of appropriately and speedily transmitting a wide range of information such as road information, weather information, disaster information, etc. without newly constructing dedicated display means. The purpose is to provide.

  The toll collection system of the present invention is installed in a toll collection lane on a toll road, a lane control device that performs toll collection processing on the toll road for vehicles passing through the toll collection lane, and the toll collection lane, In addition, the lane control device and at least one host device other than the lane control device are communicably connected to each other, and display data sent from the lane control device and display data sent from the host device are collected. And a roadside display device for displaying a vehicle passing through the lane.

  The roadside display device of the present invention is installed in a toll collection lane on a toll road, and displays predetermined information for vehicles passing through the toll collection lane. A lane control device that performs toll collection processing for toll roads, a communication means that communicates with at least one higher-level device other than the lane control device, and a display sent from the lane control device via the communication means Display means for displaying data and display data sent from the host device.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the load on the lane control device, which is a host device of the roadside display device, and to improve the non-stop toll collection processing speed and capacity that are particularly required for high-speed processing, thereby reducing costs. A toll collection system and a roadside display device can be provided.

  Further, according to the present invention, a toll collection system and roadside capable of appropriately and speedily transmitting a wide range of information such as road information, weather information, disaster information, etc. without newly constructing dedicated display means A display device can be provided.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 schematically shows the structure of a toll collection system called an ETC system to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, a road management operator network 3 is connected via a router 2 to an operator management station server 1 as a host device that manages and supervises the entire system.

  A tollgate server 6 installed for each tollgate is connected to the road management company network 3 via a communication line 4 and a router 5, and a tollgate network 7 is connected to the tollgate server 6. Yes. A lane control device 8 that performs toll collection processing is connected to the toll gate network 7. The lane control device 8 includes an approaching vehicle detector 9, a wireless communication antenna 10 for performing wireless communication with the vehicle-mounted device, communication. An end vehicle detector 11 and a start vehicle detector 12 are connected to each other.

  In addition, a roadside display device 13 that displays various information such as a usage fee and road information to a vehicle (user) is connected to the toll gate network 7 and the lane control device 8 via a hub 14. Thereby, the roadside display device 13 is configured to be able to individually communicate with the toll gate network 7 and the lane control device 8 and to receive display data from both.

  Here, the lane control device 8, the approaching vehicle detector 9, the wireless communication antenna 10, the communication end vehicle detector 11, the departure vehicle detector 12, the roadside display device 13, and the hub 14 are connected to each toll collection lane (hereinafter simply referred to as “toll collection lane”). (Also called lane).

  FIG. 2 shows an arrangement state of each roadside device. That is, 15 is a toll collection lane of a toll booth, and it is assumed that a vehicle 17 equipped with a vehicle-mounted device 16 passes in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure. An antenna 10 for wireless communication for performing wireless communication with an approaching vehicle detector 9 for detecting a vehicle 17 entering sequentially from the entrance side with respect to the lane 15, and a vehicle-mounted device 16 mounted on the vehicle 17, A communication end vehicle detector 11 that detects a vehicle 17 that has ended wireless communication, a roadside display device 13 that displays various information such as usage fees and road information for a passing vehicle 17, and a vehicle 17 that has completed toll collection processing are detected. The starting vehicle detectors 12 are arranged respectively.

  FIG. 3 schematically shows the configuration of the roadside display device 13. That is, the roadside display device 13 includes a CPU 21 that performs overall control, a first memory 22 that includes a mask ROM that stores a control program for the CPU 21, and a second memory 23 that includes a RAM that stores various processing data. A character pattern memory 24 for generating a character pattern to be displayed; a display panel (liquid crystal display panel) 25 as a display means; a display control unit 26 for controlling the display panel 25; a communication control unit 27 for communicating with the hub 14; A first timer 28 for measuring, a second timer 29 for measuring time, and a DC power supply unit 30 for supplying DC power to them are configured.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the display panel 25 displays lane specific information for displaying lane specific information (such as usage fees and information indicating the payment mode) regarding the toll collection lane 15 where the roadside display device 13 is installed. It is divided into an area 25a and a general information display area 25b for displaying general information (road information, weather information, disaster information, advertisement public relations information, etc.) other than the lane specific information, and the lane specific information display area 25a includes Display data sent from the lane control device 8 (information such as usage fees and payment forms thereof) is displayed, and display data (road information) sent from the operator management station server 1 which is the host device is displayed in the general information display area 25b. Weather information, disaster information, advertising information, etc.).

  The display data sent from the lane control device 8 is the display data that should be given the highest priority. If the display data from the priority lane control device 8 exceeds the lane specific information display area 25a, the general information display area 25b is used. Also configured to be used and displayed temporarily.

Next, the flow of fee collection processing in such a configuration will be described.
When the toll road use vehicle 17 enters the toll collection lane 15, the approaching vehicle detector 9 installed on the entrance side of the toll collection lane 15 detects the lane 15 and transmits a vehicle detection signal to the lane control device 8. When the lane control device 8 receives the vehicle detection signal from the approaching vehicle detector 9, the lane control device 8 transmits display data of the character “deceleration” as shown in FIG. The roadside display device 13 displays the character “deceleration” 51 in the lane specific information display area 25a of the display panel 25 as shown in FIG.

  Further, the lane control device 8 obtains the vehicle type, ID number, etc., which are billing information, by performing wireless communication with the vehicle-mounted device 16 of the vehicle 17 via the wireless communication antenna 10, and performs decryption, check for availability, etc. If it is available, the usage fee is calculated, and the information “ETC” indicating the payment form, the progress indication mark “↑”, the vehicle type information, the usage fee, etc. are edited and transmitted to the roadside display device 13. To do.

  The roadside display device 13 that has received the display data, as shown in FIG. 5B, displays information “ETC” 52 indicating a payment form in the lane specific information display area 25a of the display panel 25, and a mark “↑” 53 for a travel instruction. The vehicle type information “ordinary vehicle” 54 and the usage fee “500 yen” 55 are respectively displayed.

  The vehicle 17 that has been normally tolled proceeds according to the display content of the roadside display device 13, and the starting vehicle detector 12 installed on the exit side of the toll lane 15 than the roadside display device 13 detects the vehicle 17. Then, the vehicle detection information is transmitted to the lane control device 8. The lane control device 8 that has received the vehicle detection information from the departure vehicle detector 12 transmits display data when the approaching vehicle waits as shown in FIG. 5A to the roadside display device 13, and receives the received roadside information. As shown in FIG. 5A, the display device 13 displays the character “deceleration” 51 in the lane specific information display area 25 a of the display panel 25. In this case, the display for the individual vehicle is deleted.

  When data acquired from the vehicle-mounted device 16 cannot be charged by ETC due to illegal ID or expiration date, or when the vehicle 17 is detected by the communication end vehicle detector 11 installed at the communication end position. When communication between the vehicle-mounted device 16 and the lane control device 8 is not normally established, the lane control device 8 instructs the roadside display device 13 to stop, stop reason information (non-ETC), and the user. The treatment guidance data is transmitted.

  The roadside display device 13 that has received the display data displays stop command information 56 and stop reason information (non-ETC) 57 in the lane specific information display area 25a of the display panel 25, as shown in FIG. The treatment guidance data 58 for the user is displayed in the general information display area 25b.

  On the other hand, the roadside display device 13 includes a toll gate network 7 or a road management company network that is different from the display data specific to the installed lane transmitted from the lane control device 8 of the lane 15 in which the roadside display device 13 is installed. 3 (operator management station server 1 or the like) sends display data of general information such as nearby road information, weather information, or advertisement information that is transmitted at an arbitrary timing asynchronously with the lane processing work.

  Further, the lane control device 8 and the toll gate server 6 which are the host devices of the roadside display device 13 include the line check information so that the generation interval of the line data does not exceed a predetermined time including the transmission of the display data. It is controlled to transmit (for example, dummy data) to the roadside display device 13.

  When the roadside display device 13 normally receives the line check information from the host device, the CPU 21 executes a process according to the flowchart shown in FIG. That is, when the line check information from the host device is normally received (step S1), a reception response is returned to the transmission source. When the transmission source is the lane control device 8, the first timer 28 is initialized, and the transmission source is If the toll gate network 7 is used, the second timer 29 is initialized (step S2).

  Next, it is checked whether or not the second timer 29 has timed out (step S3), and if timed out, it is determined that there is a communication error with the lane control device 8, and It is notified that there is a communication abnormality with the lane control device 8 (step S4), and the process returns to step S3.

  If the result of the check in step S3 is that the second timer 29 is not timed out, it is checked whether or not the first timer 28 has timed out (step S5). It is determined that there is a communication abnormality, the lane control device 8 is notified that there is a communication abnormality with the toll gate server 6 (step S6), and the process returns to step S3.

  In this way, the roadside display device 13 checks the timeout of the first timer 28 and the second timer 29 in a loop waiting for reception, and if either timer has timed out, the host device that timed out The other device is notified that one of the communications is abnormal. As described above, by notifying the communication status of each other using a different communication system, the maintenance manager can subdivide the failure system, and the maintenance efficiency and the repair time are shortened.

  Next, it is checked whether or not there is received data from the host device (step S7). If there is no received data, the process returns to step S3. If there is received data, the data reception process is performed and a reception response is returned to the transmission source (step S8).

  Next, it is checked whether or not the transmission source of the received data is the lane control device 8 (step S9). If it is the lane control device 8, the first timer 28 is initialized (step S10), and the received reception is received. It is checked whether or not the data is display data (step S11). If the data is not display data, the process returns to step S3.

  If the result of the check in step S11 is display data, the display data is displayed in a display area preferentially determined for each transmission source, in this case in the lane specific information display area 25a of the display panel 25 (step S11). S12). At this time, if the display data has a capacity that exceeds the lane specific information display area 25a, the display data is displayed by overwriting the general information display area 25b.

  Next, it is checked whether or not the general information display area 25b of the display panel 25 is blank (whether or not the general information display area 25b is not used for displaying the installation lane specific information) (step S13). (When the general information display area 25b is used for displaying the installation lane specific information), the process returns to step S3.

  If the result of the check in step S13 is blank (when the general information display area 25b is not used for displaying the installation lane specific information), the display extracted from the general information display area secured in the second memory 23 The data is displayed in the general information display area 25b (step S14), and the process returns to step S3.

  As a result of the check in step S9, if the transmission source of the received data is other than the lane control device 8, the second timer 29 is initialized (step S15), and it is checked whether or not the received received data is display data. If it is not display data, the process returns to step S3.

  If the result of the check in step S16 is display data, the display data is stored in the general information display area secured in the second memory 23 (step S17), and then the general information display area 25b is specific to the installation lane. It is checked whether the information is not used for display (step S18), and when the general information display area 25b is used for displaying the installation lane specific information, display processing for the general information display area 25b is performed. Return to step S3.

  As a result of the check in step S18, when the general information display area 25b is not used for displaying the installation lane specific information, the display data extracted from the general information display area secured in the second memory 23 is displayed in the general information display area. 25b (step S14), and the process returns to step S3.

  As described above, according to the above embodiment, the information network of the roadside display device is not a conventional network limited to a lane unit, but a toll gate unit or a plurality of toll gates such as a road management business operator network. By connecting, the load on the lane control device, which is a host device of the roadside display device, can be reduced, the processing speed and capability of non-stop toll collection requiring high speed processing can be improved, and the cost can be reduced.

  In addition, by incorporating the general information display area of the roadside display device into the net of all toll roads, it is possible to appropriately cover a wide range of information such as traffic congestion, weather information or disaster information without building a dedicated display system. In addition, it can be transmitted quickly.

  The roadside display device separates the lane specific information about the installed lane from the regional general information, determines the display area of each information, and temporarily saves the general information display area when there is a large amount of priority lane specific information. When the lane specific information falls below the normal capacity, the limited display area is provided with a function to restore the general information display to the general information display area temporarily occupied by the specific information. Can be used efficiently, and downsizing of the roadside display device can be achieved.

  Furthermore, the roadside display device performs a health check for checking the state of the communication path for each of the two communication paths (communication partners), and if there is an abnormality in one of the communication paths, there is no abnormality. By providing a function for notifying other higher-level devices that a communication error has been detected, the maintenance manager can subdivide the failure system and part, and maintenance efficiency and repair time are reduced.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a fee collection system that automatically performs collection processing of a usage fee called an ETC system has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, for example, The present invention can be similarly applied to a toll collection system that is not converted to an ETC system and performs a toll collection process using a normal pass ticket.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a toll collection system called an ETC system to which the present invention is applied. The schematic diagram which shows the arrangement | positioning state of each roadside apparatus. The block diagram which shows the structure of a roadside display apparatus roughly. The schematic diagram explaining the display area of a roadside display apparatus. The schematic diagram explaining the example of a display screen of a roadside display device. The flowchart explaining operation | movement of a roadside display apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Operator management station server (higher-order apparatus), 2 ... Router, 3 ... Road management company network, 4 ... Communication line, 5 ... Router, 6 ... Tollgate server (higher-order apparatus), 7 ... Tollgate network, 8 ... Lane control device (host device), 9 ... Incoming vehicle detector, 10 ... Wireless communication antenna, 11 ... Communication end vehicle detector, 12 ... Start vehicle detector, 13 ... Roadside display device, 14 ... Hub, 15 ... Toll collection lane, 16 ... vehicle-mounted device, 17 ... vehicle, 25 ... display panel, 25a ... lane specific information display area, 25b ... general information display area.

Claims (11)

A lane control device that performs toll collection processing on the toll road for vehicles passing through the toll collection lane in the toll collection lane of the toll road;
From the display data sent from the lane control device and the host device, which are installed in the toll collection lane and are communicably connected to at least one host device other than the lane control device and the lane control device. A roadside display device for displaying display data to be sent to a vehicle passing through the toll collection lane;
A toll collection system characterized by comprising:   The lane control device performs a toll collection process for the toll road by performing wireless communication with a toll collecting onboard device mounted on a vehicle passing through the toll collecting lane. The fee collection system according to claim 1.   The roadside display device includes a lane specific information display area for displaying lane specific information regarding a toll collection lane in which the roadside display device is installed, and a general information display area for displaying general information other than the lane specific information. The toll collection according to claim 1, wherein display data sent from the lane control device is displayed in the lane specific information display area, and display data sent from the host device is displayed in the general information display area. system.   The roadside display device gives priority to display data sent from the lane control device, and if the display data from the priority lane control device has a capacity exceeding the lane specific information display area, the roadside display device has the general information display area. Display that is temporarily used and displayed, and that is sent from the host device to the general information display area that has been temporarily used when the display data from the priority lane control device falls below the normal capacity 4. The fee collection system according to claim 3, wherein display of data is restored.   The display data sent from the lane control device is information indicating the calculated usage fee and its payment form, etc., and the display data sent from the host device is nearby road information, weather information, disaster information, advertisement public information, etc. The toll collection system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the toll collection system is included.   The roadside display device checks the lane control device and the host device to confirm a communication state in a fixed time unit, and when a communication abnormality of any one of the devices is detected, another device having no communication abnormality 2. A toll collection system according to claim 1, further comprising communication state check means for notifying that a communication abnormality has been detected. In a roadside display device that is installed in a toll collection lane of a toll road and displays predetermined information for vehicles passing through the toll collection lane,
A lane control device that performs a toll collection process for the toll road for vehicles passing through the toll collection lane, and a communication means that communicates with at least one higher-level device other than the lane control device;
Display means for displaying display data sent from the lane control device and display data sent from the host device via the communication means;
A roadside display device comprising:   The display means includes a lane specific information display area for displaying lane specific information related to a toll collection lane in which the roadside display device is installed, and a general information display area for displaying general information other than the lane specific information, 8. A roadside display device according to claim 7, wherein display data sent from the lane control device is displayed in a lane specific information display area, and display data sent from the host device is displayed in a general information display area. .   The display means prioritizes display data sent from the lane control device, and if the display data from the priority lane control device has a capacity exceeding the lane specific information display area, the general information display area is also temporarily displayed. Display data sent from the host device to the general information display area that has been temporarily used when the display data from the priority lane control device is below the normal capacity. The roadside display device according to claim 8, wherein the display is restored.   The display data sent from the lane control device is information indicating the calculated usage fee and its payment form, etc., and the display data sent from the host device is nearby road information, weather information, disaster information, advertisement public information, etc. The roadside display device according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the roadside display devices is included.   A check is performed to confirm the communication state with respect to the lane control device and the host device in units of a certain time, and if a communication error is detected in any one device, a communication error is detected in the other device having no communication error. 8. The roadside display device according to claim 7, further comprising a communication state check means for notifying that a detection has been made.

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