JP2009087225A - Vehicle identification unit and vehicle identification system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle identification unit and a vehicle identification system having high tolerance with respect to troubles of network functions. <P>SOLUTION: The vehicle identification system includes a vehicle identification unit for acquiring an identifier from a vehicle by DSRC, and an upper-level management unit. The vehicle identification unit and the upper-level management unit are connected by a first transmission path for transmitting/receiving text messages and a second transmission path for transmitting/receiving pulse signals. In normal cases, the upper-level management unit requests vehicle information by using the first transmission path. The vehicle identification unit transmits vehicle information via the first transmission path. At the occurrence of a communication abnormality in the first transmission path, the communication is switched over to a degraded mode using the second transmission path. When the vehicle information is requested, the upper-level unit transmits a pulse signal on the second transmission path. The vehicle identification unit decides whether the vehicle identifier has been registered in advance, and transmits a pulse signal according to the decision result on the second transmission path. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for increasing resistance to trouble in an apparatus for identifying a vehicle.

  In a parking lot or a toll road, a vehicle identification system is used that acquires information from a device on the vehicle side using DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communication), identifies the vehicle, and performs processing such as toll collection Yes.

  A typical vehicle identification system is constructed as a system including, for example, a lower-level device that obtains information from a vehicle side by narrow-area communication and a higher-level device that acquires information from a lower-level device via a communication line. . A vehicle identification system that is highly resistant to communication problems is desired.

As an example of a technique for dealing with a communication failure, in Patent Document 1, a monitoring center and a monitoring target facility are communicatively connected via a public telephone line, without causing an increase in operation cost. A remote monitoring system aimed at collecting minor failure information is disclosed.
JP 2003-244335 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle identification device and a vehicle identification system that are highly resistant to network function troubles.

  In the following, means for solving the problem will be described using the numbers used in [Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention] in parentheses. These numbers are added to clarify the correspondence between the description of [Claims] and [Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention]. However, these numbers should not be used to interpret the technical scope of the invention described in [Claims].

  A vehicle identification device (4) according to the present invention includes a narrow area communication unit (14) that receives an identifier unique to a vehicle from a vehicle via an antenna (12) of a narrow area communication system installed on the road side, and a host device ( 6) In response to the request signal from 6), the normal time communication unit (22) transmits a message including the identifier received by the narrow area communication unit (14) to the higher-level device (6) via the first transmission path (32). ), A storage unit (18) that stores a registered vehicle identifier registered in advance, and a determination unit that determines whether the identifier received by the narrow area communication unit (14) is stored in the storage unit (18). (24), a diagnosis unit (36) for diagnosing whether the communication state by the normal time communication unit (22) is normal or abnormal, and a pulse signal via the second transmission line (34-1, 34-2) By exchanging with the host device (6), the communication state is changed by the diagnosis unit (36). Emergency communication that sends a pulse signal corresponding to the determination result to the host device (6) in response to the pulse signal indicating that the vehicle received from the host device (6) has been detected when diagnosed as normal. Part (20).

  In the vehicle identification device (4) according to the present invention, when there is no response to the signal transmitted to the host device (6) using the normal communication unit (22), the diagnosis unit (36) It is diagnosed that the communication state according to 22) is abnormal.

  In the vehicle identification device (4) according to the present invention, when the diagnosis unit (36) diagnoses that the communication state is abnormal, an abnormality signal notifying the abnormality is transmitted through a line (34-1 and 34-2) different from the message. It is transmitted to the host device (6).

  The vehicle identification system according to the present invention includes a vehicle identification device (4) according to the present invention and a host device (6). The host device (6) communicates with the vehicle identification device (4) by the normal time communication unit (26) when the abnormal signal is not received, and communicates by the normal time communication unit (26) after receiving the abnormal communication. Is switched to communication by the emergency communication unit (31).

  The present invention provides a vehicle identification device and a vehicle identification system that are highly resistant to network function troubles.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle identification system and an identified vehicle to be identified.

  The identified vehicle 2 includes a communication device for narrow area communication exemplified by an ETC vehicle-mounted device. The communication device includes a vehicle identification data transmission unit 8 and a narrow area communication antenna unit 10. The vehicle identification data transmission unit 8 includes a storage device that stores in advance vehicle identifiers that individually identify vehicles (assigned individually for each vehicle-mounted device). The vehicle identification data transmission unit 8 further has a function of performing information communication with the vehicle identification device via the antenna included in the narrow area communication antenna unit 10.

  The vehicle identification device 4 is an information processing device that is installed on the roadside of a place that performs a gate function of a road, such as a parking lot entrance and a toll road entrance and exit, and performs vehicle identification and authentication. The vehicle identification device 4 includes a narrow communication antenna unit 12, a narrow communication control unit 14, a vehicle detection unit 16, a registered vehicle data storage unit 18, a diagnosis and logical value input / output unit 20, a data communication unit 22, an identification and processing unit. 24. These are functional blocks realized by a computer.

  The narrow area communication control unit 14 performs information communication by narrow area communication with the narrow area communication antenna 10 of the identified vehicle 2 via the antenna included in the narrow area communication antenna unit 12. The vehicle detection unit 16 detects the presence of a vehicle at a predetermined location and generates a detection signal. The registered vehicle data storage unit 18 stores registered vehicle data that is a list of previously registered vehicle identifiers (corresponding to vehicle identifiers stored in the vehicle identification data transmission unit 8 of the identified vehicle 2). For example, in the case of a parking lot, a list of registered vehicle identifiers, which are identifiers of vehicles registered in advance in the parking lot, is registered in the registered vehicle data storage unit 18. The identification and processing unit 24 includes registered vehicle data, a vehicle identifier received via the narrow area communication antenna unit 12, a detection signal obtained from the vehicle detection unit 16, information output from the diagnosis and logical value input / output unit 20, and the like. Process. The diagnosis and logic value input / output unit 20 is selectively set to either the normal mode or the degenerate mode. The data communication unit 22 will be described later.

[Communication by telegram]
In normal times, the diagnosis and logic value input / output unit 20 is set to the normal mode. When the vehicle detection unit 16 detects a vehicle and generates a detection signal, the vehicle identification device 4 is acquired by the narrow area communication control unit 14 from the identified vehicle 2 through the narrow area communication antenna unit 12 through the narrow area communication. Process the vehicle identifier. The identification and processing unit 24 determines whether or not the acquired vehicle identifier is a registered vehicle identifier registered in the registered vehicle data storage unit 18, and generates registration determination information that is a result of the determination.

  The host management device 6 is an information processing device connected to one or more vehicle identification devices 4 through a dedicated information communication line. The host management device 6 includes a data communication unit 26, a logical value input / output unit 31, a control calculation unit 28, and an output circuit 30 to an operation end. The data communication unit 26 is connected to the data communication unit 22 of the vehicle identification device 4 via the serial communication cable 32 so as to be able to perform information communication. The logical value input / output unit 31 is connected to the diagnosis and logical value input / output unit 20 via a communication cable 34 for pulse signal transmission. The host management device 6 is connected to a vehicle detection device that detects the presence of a vehicle at a predetermined location and generates a detection signal.

  The host management device 6 sends a request signal, which is a message for requesting the vehicle identification device 4 to send vehicle information at a predetermined timing such as when the vehicle detection device detects the vehicle, via the serial communication cable 32. To the vehicle identification device 4.

  When the vehicle identification device 4 receives the request signal from the host management device 6, the vehicle identification device 4 generates a telegram including the vehicle identifier obtained from the identified vehicle by narrow-area communication and the registration determination information related to the identified vehicle, and the serial communication cable. 32 to the upper management apparatus 6 via

[Communication using pulse signals]
The vehicle identification device 4 is preliminarily installed with an abnormality signal other than the serial communication cable 32 when the diagnosis and the logical value input / output unit 20 diagnose that communication via the serial communication cable 32 is not normally performed. To the upper management device 6 via the signal line.

  The upper management apparatus 6 that has received the abnormal signal enters a degeneration mode in which the communication function is degenerated. That is, the upper management device 6 stops communication using the serial communication cable 32. Thereafter, when the host management device 6 requests the vehicle identification device 4 for information on the vehicle, a pulse signal (typically 1) is sent to a dedicated signal line 34-1 installed in advance to send a request signal. One pulse per request).

  When the vehicle identification device 4 receives the request signal via the signal line 34-1, the vehicle identification device 4 responds according to whether or not the vehicle identifier acquired from the identified vehicle 2 is registered as the registered vehicle identifier in the registered vehicle data 18. Do. For example, if registered, a pulse signal (typically one pulse per request) is transmitted to the upper management device 6 via the dedicated signal line 34-2, and if not registered, , Do not send a pulse signal (or send a pulse signal that can be distinguished from one pulse, such as two consecutive pulses).

  The host management device 4 transmits a pulse signal to the signal line 34-1 and when the pulse signal is returned via the signal line 34-2 as a response, the vehicle detected by the vehicle detector is registered in advance. Recognize that it is a vehicle. The host management device 4 transmits a pulse signal to the signal line 34-1 and when the response pulse signal does not return via the signal line 34-2 (or when two consecutive pulses are returned). ), It is recognized as an unregistered vehicle. Using this recognition result, the upper management apparatus can determine the process for the vehicle. For example, in the case of a parking lot, when the vehicle is recognized as a pre-registered vehicle, a gate at the entrance / exit is opened, and when the vehicle is recognized as an unregistered vehicle, the gate at the entrance / exit is closed.

  By performing such processing, even when communication is abnormal and the host management device cannot acquire the vehicle identifier, the vehicle identification device that determines whether or not the vehicle is a pre-registered vehicle. The determination result can be obtained by transmitting and receiving a pulse signal through a dedicated signal line.

  FIG. 2A is a conceptual diagram illustrating information communication between the vehicle identification device 4 and the upper management device 6 in the normal mode. When a request signal, which is a message requesting vehicle information, is transmitted from the host management device 6 by serial bidirectional communication via the serial communication cable 32, the data communication unit 22 of the vehicle identification device 4 performs input communication processing. In response to the input of this request signal, the identification and processing unit 24 performs processing such as DSRC communication, and whether or not the vehicle identifier acquired by DSRC and the vehicle identifier are registered in the registered vehicle data storage unit 18 in advance. An output communication process is performed for transmitting registration determination information indicating the message via a serial communication cable 32 as a message.

  Depending on the function required of the vehicle identification device 4, communication using the dedicated signal lines 34-1 and 34-2 for pulse signals is performed even during normal times. In this case, when the host management apparatus 6 detects the vehicle, it transmits a pulse signal via the signal line 34-1. The vehicle identification device 4 that has received the pulse signal from the signal line 34-1 determines that there has been a status input. When there is a status input, the vehicle identification device 4 sends a pulse signal via a signal line 34-2 as a status output according to whether or not the vehicle identifier acquired by DSRC is registered in the registered vehicle data storage unit 18. It transmits to the management apparatus 6.

  FIG. 2B is a conceptual diagram showing information communication when an abnormality occurs in communication and serial bidirectional communication is not normally performed. When the diagnosis and logical value input / output unit 20 diagnoses that there is an abnormality in the serial bidirectional communication, the diagnosis and logic value input / output unit 20 generates an abnormality signal and transmits the abnormality signal to the upper management device 6 through a transmission path different from the serial communication cable 32. When receiving the abnormal signal, the upper management device 6 enters a degeneration mode in which the communication function is degenerated. The host management device 6 transmits a pulse signal to the vehicle identification device 4 via the signal line 34-1 when requesting information about the vehicle such as when the vehicle detection device detects the vehicle. When receiving a pulse signal from the signal line 34-1, the vehicle identification device 4 determines that there is a status input, and determines whether the vehicle identifier acquired by DSRC is registered in the registered vehicle data storage unit 18. As an output, a pulse signal is transmitted to the upper management apparatus 6 via the signal line 34-2.

  FIG. 3 shows a logic circuit that enables switching between the normal mode and the degenerate mode as described above. In the normal mode, communication by telegram is normally performed, the communication data of the serial communication cable 32 is branched by a hard wire, and the diagnosis unit 36 and the data communication unit 22 provided in the diagnosis and logical value input / output unit 20 To enter.

  The diagnosis unit 36 constantly monitors communication between the vehicle identification device 4 and the upper management device 6 in real time. When there is no response to the signal transmitted to the upper management device 6, the diagnosis unit 36 detects one answer back for one action performed by the vehicle identification device 4 on the upper management device 6. When it is determined that the communication is normal, an OFF signal is output, and when no answerback is detected, the communication is determined to be abnormal and an ON signal is output. Therefore, an OFF signal is output in the normal mode.

  Since the diagnosis unit 36 outputs an OFF signal in the normal mode, the AND element 42 outputs an OFF signal. The OR element 38 outputs the communication data of the serial communication cable 32. The output communication data is processed by the identification and processing unit 24. The identification and processing unit 24 set in the normal mode executes processing based on the vehicle information acquired by the DSRC, and outputs output data that is a message in response to the input communication data. The output data is input to one input terminal of the OR element 40. An OFF signal that is an output of the diagnosis unit 36 is input to the other input terminal of the logical sum element 40. As a result, the OR element 40 outputs the output data of the identification and processing unit 24. The output data is transmitted to the upper management apparatus 6 via the serial communication cable 32.

  Next, the operation in the degeneration mode will be described. When the diagnosis unit 36 diagnoses that the communication via the serial communication cable 32 is abnormal, it outputs an ON signal. Further, when the diagnosis unit 36 diagnoses an abnormality, the diagnosis and logical value input / output unit 20 sends an abnormality signal notifying the abnormality via the communication cable 34-3, which is a transmission path different from the serial communication cable 32. Send to. When receiving the abnormality signal, the upper management device 6 stops communication by the data communication unit 26 and switches to communication by the logical value input / output unit 31. The logical value input / output unit 31 transmits a pulse signal via the communication cable 34-1 when requesting vehicle information from the vehicle identification device 4.

  An ON signal of the diagnosis unit 36 is input to one input terminal of the AND element 42, and a pulse signal is input to the other input terminal from the communication cable 34-1. As a result, a pulse signal is output. The pulse signal is input to one input terminal of the OR element 38. No signal is input to the other input terminal because the communication of the serial communication cable 32 is interrupted. As a result, a pulse signal is output and input to the identification and processing unit 24. The identification and processing unit 24 set in the degenerate mode performs processing based on vehicle information acquired by DSRC in response to the pulse signal, and generates either a pulse signal or no signal output signal. The output signal is input to one input terminal of the AND element 44, and the ON signal output from the diagnosis unit is input to the other input terminal. As a result, the output signal of the identification and processing unit 24 is transmitted to the upper management apparatus 6 via the communication cable 34-2.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a vehicle identification system and the to-be-identified vehicle used as identification object. It is a conceptual diagram shown about the information communication of the vehicle identification apparatus 4 and the high-order management apparatus 6 at the time of normal mode. It is a conceptual diagram shown about the information communication of the vehicle identification device 4 and the high-order management apparatus 6 at the time of a degeneration mode. 2 shows a logic circuit that enables switching between a normal mode and a degenerate mode.

Explanation of symbols

2 Identified vehicle 4 Vehicle identification device 6 Host management device 8 Vehicle identification data transmission unit 10 Narrow communication antenna unit 12 Narrow communication antenna unit 14 Narrow communication control unit 16 Vehicle detection unit 18 Registered vehicle data storage unit 20 Diagnosis and logic Value input / output unit 22 Data communication unit 24 Identification and processing unit 26 Data communication unit 28 Control operation unit 30 Output circuit 31 to operation terminal Logical value input / output unit 32 Serial communication cables 34-1 and 34-2 Communication cables

Claims (4)

A narrow area communication unit that receives an identifier unique to the vehicle from a vehicle via an antenna of a narrow area communication system installed on the roadside;
In response to a request signal from a host device, a normal time communication unit that transmits a message including the identifier received by the narrow area communication unit to the host device via a first transmission path;
A storage unit for storing a registered vehicle identifier registered in advance;
A determination unit that determines whether or not the identifier received by the narrow area communication unit is stored in the storage unit;
A diagnostic unit for diagnosing whether the communication state by the normal-time communication unit is normal or abnormal;
By exchanging the pulse signal with the host device via the second transmission path, it indicates that the vehicle received from the host device is detected when the diagnosis unit diagnoses that the communication state is abnormal A vehicle identification device comprising: an emergency communication unit that sends a pulse signal corresponding to the result of the determination to the host device in response to a pulse signal. The vehicle identification device according to claim 1,
The said diagnosis part diagnoses that the state of communication by the said normal time communication part is abnormal, when there is no response with respect to the signal transmitted with respect to the said high-order apparatus using the said normal time communication part. The vehicle identification device according to claim 1 or 2,
When the diagnosis unit diagnoses that the communication state is abnormal, the diagnosis unit transmits an abnormality signal notifying the abnormality to the host device through a transmission path different from the first transmission path. A vehicle identification device according to claim 3;
Comprising the host device,
The host device communicates with the vehicle identification device by the normal time communication unit when the abnormal signal is not received, and after receiving the abnormal communication, stops communication by the normal time communication unit and Vehicle identification system that switches to communication by the time communication unit.

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