JP2009237945A - Moving image information collection system and vehicle-mounted device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To collect pieces of moving image information taken on a specific point on a road such as the scene of an accident from a plurality of directions, and to allow a cause of the accident to be determined on the basis of the plurality of pieces of moving image information. <P>SOLUTION: A vehicle-mounted device 2 constituting a moving image collection system 1 includes a camera 13 imaging around a vehicle; a means for transmitting traveling information of a vehicle to an information center 3 on each pass of a vehicle over a link; a means for storing the moving image information imaged by the camera 13 by adding the traveling information on each pass of a vehicle over the link; and a means for transmitting the moving image information required by the information center 3 to the information center 3. The information center 3 includes a means for receiving the traveling information transmitted from a plurality of the vehicle-mounted devices 2 and accumulating the information for each vehicle; and a means for retrieving a vehicle having the moving image to be collected and requesting the moving image information to the retrieved vehicle. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a moving image information collection system and an in-vehicle device configured to transmit and receive data between an in-vehicle device mounted on a plurality of vehicles and an information center.

For example, a drive recorder is known as a device that captures the front of a vehicle with a camera mounted on the vehicle and stores moving image information obtained by the imaging (see Patent Document 1). According to this drive recorder, when the vehicle causes a traffic accident, the cause investigation of the accident is facilitated by referring to the stored moving image information.
JP 2003-63456 A

  In the case of the drive recorder having the above-described conventional configuration, the stored moving image information is a moving image viewed from one direction because it is a moving image in front of the vehicle. The video seen from this one direction was not enough to investigate the cause of the accident. For example, in the case of a large accident in which a large number of vehicles are intricately intertwined or an accident in which the cause of the accident is not well understood only by a moving image in front of the vehicle, there are cases where the cause of the accident is not very effective.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to collect video information taken from a plurality of directions at a specific point on a road such as an accident site, and determine the state of the specific point, that is, the cause of the accident based on the plurality of video information. An object of the present invention is to provide a moving image information collection system and an in-vehicle device that can be used.

  According to the invention of claim 1, the in-vehicle device includes a camera that captures the surroundings of the vehicle, a position detection device that detects the position of the vehicle, and a link that is set on the road while the vehicle is traveling on the road. A travel information transmitting means for transmitting the travel information of the vehicle to the information center each time the vehicle passes, and storing the moving image information captured by the camera each time the vehicle passes the link with the travel information added thereto. And moving image information storage means for searching the moving image information requested from the information center from within the moving image information storage means, and transmitting the searched moving image information to the information center, The information center receives the travel information transmitted from the in-vehicle devices of the plurality of vehicles, stores and stores the travel information for each vehicle, and the vehicle passes a desired link at a desired date and time. A search means for searching for a vehicle having moving image information photographed on the road and a requesting means for requesting the moving image information from the vehicle having the moving image information. It is possible to collect moving image information taken from a plurality of directions for the specific point, and determine the state of the specific point, that is, the cause of the accident based on the plurality of moving image information.

  In the case of this configuration, as in the invention of claim 2, the information center receives moving image information transmitted from the in-vehicle device and includes moving image information display means for displaying the received moving image information on the display device. It is preferable to provide. Further, as in the invention of claim 3, it is more preferable that the moving picture information display means is configured to display a road map and to display the moving picture information so as to overlap the road map.

  Further, as in the invention of claim 3, the in-vehicle device used in the moving picture information collection system according to any of claims 1 to 3 detects a camera for photographing the periphery of the vehicle and the position of the vehicle. A position detection device, travel information transmitting means for transmitting travel information of the vehicle to the information center each time the vehicle passes a link set on the road while traveling on the road, and the vehicle passes the link Movie information storage means for storing the moving picture information captured by the camera with the travel information added thereto, and the moving picture information requested from the information center is searched from the moving picture information storage means. Is preferably provided with moving image information transmitting means for transmitting the information to the information center.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of the moving picture information collection system 1 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, a moving picture information collection system 1 includes a car navigation device 2 as an in-vehicle device mounted on each of a plurality of vehicles, and an information center 3 that communicates with the car navigation devices 2 of the plurality of vehicles. It is configured.

  The car navigation device 2 includes a control circuit 4, a position detector 5, a map data input device 6, an operation switch group 7, a transceiver 8, an external memory 9, a display device 10, and a voice input microphone 11. The center data transmitting / receiving device 12, the front / back camera 13, and the drive recorder 14 are provided.

The control circuit 4 has a function of controlling the overall operation of the car navigation device 2, and includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an SRAM, a flash memory, various I / Os, and a bus connecting them (all illustrated). Not configured). This control circuit 3 is
A traveling information transmission unit, a moving image information storage unit, and a moving image information transmission unit are configured.

  The position detector 5 constitutes a position detection device, and includes a geomagnetic sensor 15, a gyroscope 16, a distance sensor 17, and a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver 18. The position detector 5 is configured to detect the current position of the vehicle while interpolating with each other by the four sensors 15 to 18, and has a highly accurate position detection function. In addition, when position detection accuracy is not so required, the position detector 5 may be configured by any one of the four sensors 15 to 18 (or a combination of a plurality of sensors). Further, the position detector 3 may be configured by appropriately combining a vehicle steering rotation sensor, a wheel sensor, a vehicle tilt sensor, and the like.

  The map data input device 6 comprises a reader capable of reading a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, HDD, memory, etc., and includes map data, map matching data, landmark data, voice recognition dictionary data, and travel rules. It is a device for inputting various data such as a database. Here, the map data, the map matching data, the landmark data, and the speech recognition dictionary data may be appropriately used well-known data used in a normal car navigation device. Further, the map data input device 6 has a built-in hard disk (HDD), and is configured to be able to store moving image information photographed as will be described later.

  The operation switch group 7 includes a touch switch (touch panel) provided on the upper surface of the display screen of the display device 10 and a mechanical push switch (not shown) provided on the periphery of the display device 10. . The user (driver) is configured to be able to give an operation signal to the control circuit 4 via a remote control sensor (not shown) by operating a remote control (not shown).

  The transceiver 8 is configured by, for example, a VICS communication device, a mobile phone (a dedicated mobile phone terminal, a general-purpose mobile phone, or the like). The control circuit 4 is configured to be able to transmit and receive data to and from the external VICS center 19 via the transceiver 8. The external memory 9 is configured by a reading device such as a memory stick, a memory card, or a magnetic tape, and is a device for inputting map data, music data, video data, and the like.

  The display device 10 is composed of, for example, a color liquid crystal display for displaying a map, and overlays map data (road data, character data, background data, etc.), own vehicle position mark, additional data such as a guidance route, and the like. It is configured so that it can be displayed.

  In addition, an electrical signal (speech signal) based on the voice uttered by the user is given to the control circuit 4 via the voice input microphone 11, and the voice recognition means in the control circuit 4 recognizes the user's voice based on the voice signal. Execute the process. As a result, the user can operate the car navigation device 2 by emitting a voice.

The center data transmission / reception device 12 is configured by, for example, a mobile phone terminal or the like, and is configured to be able to communicate with an external information center 3 or the Internet.
The front / back camera 13 is configured to include a front camera that captures the front of the vehicle and a back camera that captures the rear of the vehicle, and forward and rear moving image information captured by both cameras to the control circuit 4. give. The drive recorder 14 includes a camera that captures the front of the vehicle, and a storage device that stores moving image information obtained by capturing from a few minutes before the accident occurs until the accident occurs.

  The control circuit 4 also has a function of automatically calculating (searching) and setting an optimum route (guidance route) from the current position (departure point) to the destination, that is, a route calculation function (route search function). As a method for automatically setting the optimum route, for example, the Dijkstra method is used. The destination can be set by the user by operating the operation switch group 7 or a remote controller, or by voice through the voice input microphone 11. Further, the control circuit 4 executes a function of displaying the optimum route (guide route) to the destination on the map displayed on the display device 10 and a map matching process for positioning the current position on the map. It has a function to do.

  On the other hand, the information center 3 includes an information processing apparatus 20 configured by, for example, a personal computer or WS, and a communication apparatus 21 configured by, for example, a form telephone terminal. The information processing device 20 is configured to be able to communicate with each car navigation device 2 (center data transmission / reception device 12 thereof) of a plurality of (many) vehicles via the communication device 21. The information processing device 20 includes a database that stores (stores) moving image information transmitted from each car navigation device 2 of a large number of vehicles as described later.

  Next, the operation of the moving picture information collection system 1 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. First, each time the vehicle passes a road link (that is, a unit for dividing the road of the map data) while the vehicle is traveling on the road, the car navigation device 2 is in front of the vehicle photographed by the front / back camera 13 while traveling. The moving image information on the rear side is stored in the HDD in the map data input device 6. It should be noted that the moving image information captured by the camera of the drive recorder 14 is preferably stored in the HDD in the map data input device 6 together with the two moving image information.

  At this time, the moving image information to be stored is stored with information indicating the link that has passed, information on the passage time (that is, the date and time of passage), and the like. Also, in the car navigation device 2, after the moving image information is stored until the area for storing the moving image information in the HDD is full, the latest moving image information is stored by deleting the oldest data in order ( Update).

  Further, each time the vehicle passes through the link, the car navigation device 2 displays the travel information of the vehicle for each link, that is, the travel history information (for example, information on the passage time (year / month / day and time) and the passed link). Information to be specified, vehicle identification name information, and the like) are transmitted to the information center 3 (see FIG. 2). The information processing device 20 of the information center 3 is configured to accumulate and store the travel history information (travel information) for each link transmitted from the car navigation device 2 of the vehicle (see FIG. 3).

  For example, when the information processing device 20 of the information center 3 needs moving image information taken when the vehicle passes through the link L1 at time t1, the information processing device 20 stores each link stored for each vehicle stored therein. Is searched for the vehicle having the travel history of the link L1 and the time t1, and a signal requesting moving image information corresponding to the link L1 and the time t1 is requested to the searched vehicle. Transmit (see FIG. 2). When the car navigation device 2 of the vehicle that has received the request signal has moving image information at the time of traveling corresponding to the link L1 and time t1, the moving image information at the time of traveling corresponding to the link L1 and time t1 is displayed. And transmitted to the information center 3 (see FIGS. 2 and 4). In this case, since the moving image information is data having a considerably large data size, it is preferable to transmit the moving image information with a communication device having a high communication speed.

  FIG. 2 also shows control when the information processing apparatus 20 of the information center 3 needs moving image information taken when the vehicle passes through the link L2 at time t2, for example. In this case, when the car navigation device 2 of the vehicle that has received the request signal does not have the moving image information at the time of traveling corresponding to the link L2 and the time t2, the fact (no moving image information) is transmitted to the information center 3. (See FIG. 2). In addition, if the car navigation device 2 of the vehicle has moving image information at the time of traveling corresponding to the link L2 and time t2, the moving image information is transmitted to the information center 3 (see FIGS. 2 and 4).

  Next, as another example of the video information request process on the information center 3 side, a process of collecting video information when a vehicle accident occurs at an intersection, video information when a traffic jam occurs at an intersection, and the like will be described. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when a vehicle accident occurs at an intersection C1, the information center 3 has moving image information viewed from four directions around the intersection C1, specifically, a link L2 and a time t1. Video information of link L3 and time t1, video information of link L4 and time t1, and video information of link L5 and time t1. In this case, the vehicle A has the moving image information of the link L2 and the time t1, the vehicle B has the moving image information of the link L3 and the time t1, and the vehicle C has the moving image information of the link L4 and the time t1, It is assumed that the vehicle D has the moving image information of the link L5 and the time t1.

  An example of the control of the information center 3 (the information processing apparatus 20) that collects each moving picture information described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In this case, first, in step S10 of FIG. 6, travel history information for each link is collected for each traveling vehicle. Then, the process proceeds to step S20, and a travel history table for each vehicle as shown in FIG. 3 is created based on the collected travel history.

  Then, it progresses to step S30 and it is judged whether the moving image information of an intersection vicinity needs to be collected because the vehicle accident etc. generate | occur | produced. Here, when it is not necessary to collect the moving image information, the process proceeds to “NO” in step S30, returns to step S10, and continues the process of collecting and storing travel history information for each link for each traveling vehicle.

  On the other hand, when it is necessary to collect moving image information, the process proceeds to “YES” in step S30, and then proceeds to step S40, where the intersection C1 that needs to collect moving image information and the time t1 (the date of the accident) And time). Then, it progresses to step S50 and sets link L2, L3, L4, L5 which collects moving image information based on FIG. 7 which shows the approach link to the intersection C1. Next, the process proceeds to step S60, where the links L2, L3, L4, L5 are linked at the time t1 based on the links L2, L3, L4, L5 and the time t1 and the travel history table for each vehicle (see FIG. 3). Identify (search) the vehicle that has traveled.

  And it progresses to step S70 and the signal which requests | requires the moving image information image | photographed when drive | working each link L2, L3, L4, L5 at the time t1 is transmitted with respect to each said specified vehicle. Subsequently, the process proceeds to step S80, and it is determined whether or not the requested moving image information can be collected from the requested vehicles when the vehicle travels on the links L2, L3, L4, and L5 at time t1.

  If the moving image information can be collected, the process proceeds to “YES” in step S80, and the process proceeds to step S90, where the collected moving image information is changed to the time t1 and the links L2, L3, L4, and L5. Saved as a key (in the HDD or memory in the information processing apparatus 20). Next, the process proceeds to step S100, and if the moving image information at the intersection C1 where the accident has occurred and the occurrence time t1 is designated, the moving image information collected as described above can be referred to for visual recognition. An example of the moving image information reference screen displayed on the display of the information processing apparatus 20 of the information center 3 is shown in FIG. In FIG. 8, when any one of the moving image information images 22a to 22d to be viewed (reproduced) is clicked with, for example, a mouse, the moving image information can be reproduced.

  If the moving image information cannot be collected in step S80, the process proceeds to “NO” in step S80, proceeds to step S110, and adjusts (changes) the information at time t1. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S60, and thereafter, the above-described processing is repeatedly executed at the adjusted time t1.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 9, when a vehicle accident occurs at the intersection C1, in the information center 3, moving image information viewed from the left (west) of the intersection C1 (eg, link 2 before entering the intersection C1) Suppose that it is desired to collect the moving image information of the link L2 and the time t1, and the moving image information of the link L1 and the time t2. In addition, it is assumed that the vehicle A has these two pieces of moving image information, for example.

  An example of control of the information center 3 (information processing apparatus 20) that collects the two pieces of moving image information described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In this case, first, in step S210 of FIG. 10, a travel history for each link is collected for each travel vehicle. Then, the process proceeds to step S220, and a travel history table for each vehicle as shown in FIG. 3 is created based on the collected travel history.

  Subsequently, the process proceeds to step S230, and it is determined whether or not it is necessary to collect video information before entering the intersection because of a vehicle accident or the like. Here, when it is not necessary to collect moving image information, the process proceeds to “NO” in step S230, returns to step S210, and continues the process of collecting and accumulating the travel history for each link for each traveling vehicle.

  On the other hand, when it is necessary to collect moving image information, the process proceeds to “YES” in step S230, proceeds to step S240, and an intersection C1 that needs to collect moving image information and links L1 and L2 that enter the intersection C1. And time t1 (that is, date and time when the accident occurred).

  Then, it progresses to step S250 and sets link L2 and L1 which collects moving image information based on FIG. 7 which shows the approach link to the intersection C1. Next, the process proceeds to step S260, on the basis of the links L2, L1 and the times t1, t2 and the travel history table for each vehicle (see FIG. 3), the vehicle that has traveled the link L2 at the time t1, and the link at the time t2. The vehicle that has traveled L1 is identified. In the present embodiment, one vehicle A is specified.

  Then, the process proceeds to step S270, and a signal requesting two pieces of moving image information taken when traveling on the links L2 and L1 at the times t1 and t2 is transmitted to the identified vehicle. Subsequently, the process proceeds to step S280, and it is determined whether or not two pieces of moving image information photographed when traveling on the links L2 and L1 at the times t1 and t2 can be collected from the requested vehicles.

  If the moving image information can be collected, the process proceeds to “YES” in step S280, and the process proceeds to step S290. The collected moving image information includes the time t1, the link L2, the time t2, and the link L1. Saved as a key (in the HDD or memory in the information processing apparatus 20). Next, the process proceeds to step S300, and if the information of the intersection C1 where the accident occurred and the occurrence time t1 is designated, the information can be visually recognized with reference to the moving image information collected as described above. An example of the moving image information reference screen displayed on the display of the information processing apparatus 20 of the information center 3 is shown in FIG. In FIG. 11, when any one of the moving image information images 23a and 23b to be viewed (reproduced) is clicked with, for example, a mouse, the moving image information can be reproduced.

  If the moving image information cannot be collected in step S280, the process proceeds to “NO” in step S280, and proceeds to step S310 to adjust (change) the information at times t1 and t2. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S260, and the above-described processing is repeatedly executed at the adjusted times t1 and t2.

  According to the present embodiment having such a configuration, in the information center 3, with respect to the intersection C1 where the vehicle accident occurred, the accident occurrence time for four links (L2 to L5) viewed from four directions around the intersection C1. Since the moving image information of t1 is collected, the cause of the accident can be easily investigated by the operator reproducing and viewing the four moving image information collected by the information processing device 20 of the information center 3. .

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the information center 3 collects moving image information at the time (t1, t2) of, for example, two links (L1, L2) before entering the intersection C1, regarding the intersection C1 where the vehicle accident occurred. Thus, the cause of the accident can be easily investigated by the operator reproducing and viewing the two pieces of moving image information collected by the information processing device 20 of the information center 3.

  In the above embodiment, when collecting moving image information for four links viewed from four directions around the intersection C1, and collecting moving image information for two links before entering the intersection C1, for example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a configuration in which the above two cases are combined, that is, a configuration in which moving image information for five links is collected may be used. FIG. 12 shows a list of moving image information stored in the information center 2 when configured in this way. For each one link (L1 to L5), a plurality of pieces of moving image information, that is, a plurality of pieces of moving image information corresponding to a plurality of times obtained by shifting the time t1 and the time t1 in the past or future direction are collected. It may be configured. Furthermore, the links for which moving image information is to be collected are not limited to the four, two, and five links described above, and the number and position of the links may be set as appropriate.

  In the above embodiment, the front / back camera 13 is provided in the vehicle. However, in addition to this, a side camera for photographing the left / right direction of the vehicle may be provided. Further, the front / back camera 13 may be stopped, and the front of the vehicle may be photographed with the camera of the drive recorder, and the back camera for photographing the rear of the vehicle may be provided.

The block diagram of the communication system for vehicles which shows one Example of this invention The figure explaining the communication control between a car navigation apparatus and an information center A diagram showing a travel history table for each vehicle The figure explaining the communication control between a vehicle (car navigation apparatus) and an information center 4 equivalent diagram Flowchart (Part 1) Diagram showing approach link to intersection Figure equivalent to FIG. Figure equivalent to FIG. Flowchart (Part 2) Equivalent to FIG. Figure showing a list of video information collected and stored in the information center

Explanation of symbols

  In the drawings, 1 is a moving picture information collection system, 2 is a car navigation device, 3 is an information center, 4 is a control circuit, 5 is a position detector, 6 is a map data input device, 10 is a display device, and 12 is a center data transmission / reception device. , 13 is a front / back camera, 14 is a drive recorder, 20 is an information processing device, 21 is a communication device, 22a to 22d are images, and 23a and 23b are images.

Claims (4)

In a video information collection system configured to transmit and receive data between an in-vehicle device mounted on a plurality of vehicles and an information center,
The in-vehicle device is
A camera for photographing the surroundings of the vehicle;
A position detection device for detecting the position of the vehicle;
Travel information transmitting means for transmitting travel information of the vehicle to the information center each time the vehicle passes a link set on the road while traveling on the road;
Each time the vehicle passes a link, moving image information storage means for storing moving image information captured by the camera with the traveling information added thereto;
The video information requested from the information center is searched from the video information storage means, and the video information transmission means for transmitting the searched video information to the information center is configured.
The information center
Travel information storage means for receiving the travel information transmitted from the in-vehicle devices of the plurality of vehicles and storing and storing for each vehicle;
Search means for searching for vehicles having moving image information taken when the vehicle passes a desired link at a desired date and time;
A moving picture information collecting system comprising: request means for requesting the moving picture information from a vehicle having the moving picture information.   2. The moving image according to claim 1, wherein the information center includes moving image information display means for receiving the moving image information transmitted from the in-vehicle device and displaying the received moving image information on the display device. Information collection system.   3. The moving picture information collecting system according to claim 2, wherein the moving picture information display means is configured to display a road map and to display the moving picture information superimposed on the road map. An in-vehicle device used in the moving picture information collection system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A camera that captures the surroundings of the vehicle,
A position detection device for detecting the position of the vehicle;
Travel information transmitting means for transmitting travel information of the vehicle to the information center each time the vehicle passes a link set on the road while traveling on the road;
Each time the vehicle passes a link, moving image information storage means for storing moving image information captured by the camera with the traveling information added thereto;
An in-vehicle device comprising: moving image information requested from the information center; and moving image information transmitting means for retrieving the retrieved moving image information to the information center.

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