JP2009278382A - Roadside communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide roadside communication equipment complementing and assisting inter-vehicle communication. <P>SOLUTION: In the roadside communication equipment 1, when a determination part 42 determines that a vehicle having not established inter-vehicle communication is located in a communication area, and data required by the vehicle having not established inter-vehicle communication is included in data to be transmitted/received in the inter-vehicle communication, a control part 44 performs road-vehicle communication in a broadcasting mode, and displays the data collected or generated by a data collection part 43 on a warning board 30. Thus, a vehicle having no radio communication equipment for the inter-vehicle communication obtains information on other vehicle by a radio communication equipment for the road-vehicle communication, thereby complementing and assisting the inter-vehicle communication. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a roadside communication device that performs road-to-vehicle communication through an antenna with a vehicle installed around a road and located in a communication area.

  In recent years, so-called vehicle-to-vehicle communication for communicating between traveling vehicles has been developed. In inter-vehicle communication, for example, host vehicle information such as the current location and speed of the host vehicle is transmitted to other vehicles located around the host vehicle. As a result, the host vehicle and the other vehicle can recognize each other's information, and as a result, safety can be improved.

However, at an intersection or the like, for example, vehicles that have been performing vehicle-to-vehicle communication may be hidden behind buildings, and vehicle-to-vehicle communication may not be established. On the other hand, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 propose a technique for establishing inter-vehicle communication using a relay vehicle.
JP 2005-12522 A JP 2007-60013 A

  However, in order to establish vehicle-to-vehicle communication using a relay vehicle, a relay vehicle having a wireless communication function for vehicle-to-vehicle communication must exist near the intersection. In some cases, the relay vehicle does not exist near the intersection, and in this case, the inter-vehicle communication cannot be established using the relay vehicle.

  Further, in the expansion period when wireless communication devices for inter-vehicle communication are not widely used in society, the probability of establishing inter-vehicle communication using such a relay vehicle is low. Therefore, only a limited number of vehicles equipped with a wireless communication device for inter-vehicle communication can obtain information on other vehicles.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said situation, The objective is to provide the roadside communication apparatus which can complement and assist a vehicle-to-vehicle communication.

  In order to achieve such an object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a roadside communication device that performs roadside-to-vehicle communication through an antenna with a vehicle installed around a road and located in a communication area. A monitoring unit that monitors whether vehicle-to-vehicle communication is established in the region, and a determination unit that determines whether a vehicle other than the vehicle in which vehicle-to-vehicle communication is established is located in the communication region. A data collection unit that collects data transmitted and received in the inter-vehicle communication when the determination unit determines that a vehicle other than the vehicle in which the inter-vehicle communication is established is located in the communication area. And an individual mode in which the road-to-vehicle communication is individually performed for each vehicle, and a mode in which the data collected by the data collection unit is transmitted to all the vehicles located in the communication area. A control unit that selects one of a plurality of modes including a mode, and the determination unit determines that a vehicle other than the vehicle in which the inter-vehicle communication is established is located in the communication area. The control unit performs the road-to-vehicle communication in the broadcast mode.

  In such a configuration as a roadside communication device, first, the monitoring unit monitors whether or not vehicle-to-vehicle communication is established in the communication area. In addition, the determination unit determines whether or not a vehicle other than the vehicle for which inter-vehicle communication is established is located in the communication area. Here, when it is determined that a vehicle other than the vehicle in which the vehicle-to-vehicle communication is established is located in the communication area, the data collection unit collects data transmitted and received in the vehicle-to-vehicle communication, and Roadside-to-vehicle communication is performed in the broadcast mode by the control unit.

  In this way, the data collected by the data collecting unit is transmitted to all the vehicles located within the communication area, so that the inter-vehicle communication can be indirectly established by the roadside communication device. It becomes like this. Therefore, even if a wireless communication device for vehicle-to-vehicle communication is not mounted, information on other vehicles can be obtained as long as a wireless communication device for road-to-vehicle communication is mounted. That is, it becomes possible to supplement and assist inter-vehicle communication.

  Further, in the configuration according to claim 1, for example, as in the invention according to claim 2, further comprising an information display unit that displays information so that a vehicle occupant located in the communication area can visually recognize, When it is determined by the monitoring unit that a vehicle other than the vehicle with which the inter-vehicle communication is established is located in the communication area, the control unit displays information corresponding to the data on the information display unit. It is desirable to display. As a result, not only wireless communication devices for vehicle-to-vehicle communication, but also passengers of vehicles not equipped with wireless communication devices for road-to-vehicle communication are transmitted information corresponding to data transmitted and received by vehicle-to-vehicle communication. Will be able to.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a roadside communication apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the present embodiment. First, the configuration of the roadside communication device will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the roadside communication control device is installed around a road such as each intersection.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the roadside communication device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a communication antenna 10, a roadside monitoring camera 20 installed at the upper part of the road so as to be able to capture an image on the road, and a vehicle located in the communication area. A warning plate (information display unit) 30 for displaying information so that a passenger can visually recognize, and a communication device 10, a road monitoring camera 20, a control device 40 for controlling the warning plate 30, and the like are provided. Has been. Among these, the control device 40 includes a monitoring unit 41, a determination unit 42, a data collection unit 43, a control unit 44, and the like. The roadside communication device 1 is connected to the control center 50. The control center 50 is connected to a plurality of roadside communication devices 1 and controls each of the connected roadside communication devices 1.

  The roadside communication device 1 performs so-called road-to-vehicle communication with the vehicle A, for example, located in the communication area through the communication antenna 10. Since such road-to-vehicle communication is generally known, a detailed description thereof is omitted here. In FIG. 1, for the sake of illustration, the roadside communication device 1 performs road-to-vehicle communication only with the vehicle A, but it is also possible to perform road-to-vehicle communication with the vehicle B and the vehicle C.

  The roadside communication device 1 (specifically, the monitoring unit 41) monitors whether or not vehicle-to-vehicle communication is established in the communication area through the communication antenna 10. Specifically, for example, when the vehicle B and the vehicle C are located in the communication area and the inter-vehicle communication is established between the vehicle B and the vehicle C, the monitoring unit 41 is received by the communication antenna 10. Based on the presence / absence of radio waves and data included in the received radio waves, it is monitored whether vehicle-to-vehicle communication is established in the communication area. In the present embodiment, the communication antenna 10 and the monitoring unit 41 are separately configured. However, the configuration is not limited thereto, and the communication antenna 10 may include the monitoring unit 41 and may be integrated.

  The roadside communication device 1 (more specifically, the determination unit 42) uses the road monitoring camera 20 to determine whether or not a vehicle other than a vehicle that has established inter-vehicle communication is located in the communication area. Specifically, the road monitoring camera 20 has its imaging range set to an imaging range that includes a communication area by the communication antenna 10, and the determination unit 42 includes image information acquired through the road monitoring camera 20 and Based on the monitoring result by the monitoring unit 41, it is determined whether or not a vehicle other than the vehicle in which the inter-vehicle communication is established is located in the communication area. Specifically, the determination unit 42 specifies, for example, when three or more vehicles are located in the communication area, configures the communication antenna 10 with an array antenna, and determines the direction of arrival of radio waves for inter-vehicle communication. If the vehicle is located in the position, it is determined that a vehicle other than the vehicle in which the inter-vehicle communication is established is located in the communication area. Further, when the determination unit 42 determines that a vehicle other than the vehicle for which the vehicle-to-vehicle communication is established is located in the communication area, the vehicle other than the vehicle for which the vehicle-to-vehicle communication is established is determined based on the monitoring result. It is determined whether the necessary data is included in the data transmitted / received by this inter-vehicle communication.

  The roadside communication device 1 (specifically, the data collection unit 43) determines that the determination unit 42 determines that a vehicle other than the vehicle with which vehicle-to-vehicle communication is established is not located in the communication area, or vehicle-to-vehicle communication. Data that is required for a vehicle other than a vehicle for which vehicle-to-vehicle communication is established is transmitted / received by this vehicle-to-vehicle communication, although it is determined that a vehicle other than the vehicle for which vehicle-to-vehicle communication is established is within the communication area. If it is determined that the data is not included in the data, the data transmitted and received in the inter-vehicle communication is collected through the communication antenna 10. The data collection unit 43 collects data by transmitting a data request to a vehicle performing vehicle-to-vehicle communication and receiving data transmitted to the roadside communication device 1 in response to the request. Then, the data collection unit 43 classifies the collected data and creates data that can be transmitted in a broadcast mode described later.

  The roadside communication device 1 (specifically, the control unit 44) collects the individual mode (general road-to-vehicle communication), which is a mode in which road-to-vehicle communication through the communication antenna 10 is performed for each vehicle, and the data collection unit 43. -It sets to any one mode in the broadcast mode which is a mode which transmits the produced data toward all the vehicles located in a communication area. And the control part 44 requires vehicles other than the vehicle in which vehicles other than the vehicle in which vehicle-to-vehicle communication is materialized are located in a communication area by the judgment part 42, and vehicle-to-vehicle communication is materialized. When it is determined that the data is included in the data transmitted / received by the vehicle-to-vehicle communication, the road-to-vehicle communication is performed in the broadcast mode, and the data collected and created by the data collecting unit 43 is displayed on the warning board 30. . In addition, the warning board 30 is installed in the circumference | surroundings of roads, for example as each intersection etc. as a position which the passenger of a vehicle can visually recognize.

  The operation of the roadside communication device 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of processing executed by the roadside communication device 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the roadside communication device 1 (specifically, the determination unit 42) first determines whether or not road-to-vehicle communication data exists through the determination process in step S1. Specifically, the determination unit 42 determines whether data necessary for a passing vehicle (for example, the vehicle A to the vehicle C) traveling around the roadside communication device 1 is sent from the control center 50, for example. If it is determined that the necessary data is present, the control unit 44 executes road-to-vehicle communication in the individual mode as the processing of the subsequent step S2. Specifically, the control unit 44 transmits / receives necessary data to / from a passing vehicle through the return antenna 10. Incidentally, the determination process in step S1 and the process in step S2 are processes generally executed in road-to-vehicle communication.

  When it is determined in the determination process of the previous step S1 that there is no road-to-vehicle communication data (“No” in the determination process of step S1), the roadside communication device 1 (specifically, the monitoring unit 41) continues to step S3. As the determination processing, whether or not vehicle-to-vehicle communication is established in the communication area is monitored (determined) through the communication antenna 10. Here, when it is determined that the vehicle-to-vehicle communication is not established within the communication area (“No” in the determination process of step S3), the control unit 44 executes the series of processes of the previous steps S1 to S2 again. .

  When it is determined that the inter-vehicle communication is established in the communication area (“Yes” in the determination process of step S3), the determination unit 42 determines whether another vehicle is located in the communication area as the determination process of step S4. Judge whether to do. Specifically, based on the image information acquired through the road monitoring camera 20 and the monitoring result by the monitoring unit 41, the determination unit 42 locates a vehicle other than the vehicle in which inter-vehicle communication is established in the communication area. Determine whether or not. Here, when it is determined that no other vehicle is located in the communication area (“No” in the determination process of step S4), the data collection unit 43 collects data as a process of subsequent step S5, and broadcast mode Create data that can be sent with. Thereafter, the roadside communication device 1 executes the series of processes of the previous steps S1 and S2 again.

  When it is determined that another vehicle is located within the communication area (“Yes” in the determination process of step S4), the data collection unit 43 includes the necessary data as the determination process of the subsequent step S6. It is determined whether or not. Specifically, based on the monitoring result by the monitoring unit 41, the determination unit 42 includes data required by a vehicle other than the vehicle with which the vehicle-to-vehicle communication is established, included in the data transmitted and received by the vehicle-to-vehicle communication. Judge whether or not.

  Here, when it is determined that the necessary data is not included (“No” in the determination process of step S6), the determination unit 42 collects data as the process of the previous step S5, and in the broadcast mode. Create data that can be sent. After that, the control unit 44 executes the series of processes of the previous steps S1 and S2 again.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the necessary data is included (“Yes” in the determination process of step S6), the control unit 44 performs road-to-vehicle communication in the broadcast mode as the subsequent process of step S7. The data collected and created by the data collection unit 43 is displayed on the warning board 30. Then, in the roadside communication device 1, the control unit 44 executes the series of processes of the previous steps S1 and S2 again.

  In the roadside communication device 1 according to the present embodiment described above, the control unit 44 uses the determination unit 42 to locate vehicles other than the vehicle in which vehicle-to-vehicle communication is established, and perform vehicle-to-vehicle communication. When it is determined that the data required by the vehicle other than the established vehicle is included in the data transmitted / received by the inter-vehicle communication, the road-to-vehicle communication is performed in the broadcast mode, and the data collecting unit 43 The collected / created data is displayed on the warning board 30. As a result, the data collected by the data collecting unit is transmitted to all the vehicles located within the communication area, so that the vehicle-to-vehicle communication can be indirectly established by the roadside communication device. Become. Therefore, even if a wireless communication device for vehicle-to-vehicle communication is not mounted, information on other vehicles can be obtained as long as a wireless communication device for road-to-vehicle communication is mounted. That is, it becomes possible to supplement and assist inter-vehicle communication.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining an operation example of the roadside communication device 1. With reference to this FIG. 3, operation | movement of the roadside communication apparatus 1 of this Embodiment is summarized.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the vehicle a is equipped with a wireless communication device for vehicle-to-vehicle communication and is traveling rightward, and the vehicle b is equipped with a wireless communication device for vehicle-to-vehicle communication. You are traveling to the left. It is assumed that an accident has occurred at the destination of the vehicle a, and the vehicle b has passed the point of occurrence after the accident.

  In such a situation, first, the vehicle b establishes inter-vehicle communication when passing the vehicle a, and transmits, for example, data indicating that an accident has occurred on the road ahead to the vehicle a. As a result, the vehicle a can avoid traffic jams caused by accidents, such as changing the route. Further, the roadside communication device 1 is configured such that data other than the vehicle a and the vehicle b is not located in the communication area, and therefore data transmitted and received in the vehicle-to-vehicle communication between the vehicle a and the vehicle b (that is, the accident occurrence point). Data).

  After the inter-vehicle communication between the vehicle a and the vehicle b, it is assumed that the vehicles c to e have entered the intersection as shown in FIG. Although the vehicle c is not equipped with a wireless communication device for vehicle-to-vehicle communication, the vehicle c is equipped with wireless communication for road-to-vehicle communication, and is turning right at the intersection and traveling to the right. The vehicle d is not equipped with a wireless communication device for vehicle-to-vehicle communication, but is equipped with wireless communication for road-to-vehicle communication, and is turning left at an intersection and traveling upward. The roadside communication device 1 acquires the planned route of the vehicle c through road-to-vehicle communication in the individual mode with the vehicle c, and the planned route of the vehicle d through road-to-vehicle communication in the individual mode with the vehicle d. Is getting. In addition, the vehicle e is not equipped with a wireless communication device for vehicle-to-vehicle communication and a wireless communication device for road-to-vehicle communication, and is traveling downward. The roadside communication device 1 recognizes the presence of the vehicle e based on the image information acquired by the roadside monitoring camera 20, and is equipped with a wireless communication device for road-to-vehicle communication because road-to-vehicle communication is impossible. I also recognize that it is not.

  Here, although the accident occurrence point is not on the planned route of the vehicle d, the road side communication device 1 performs inter-vehicle communication between the vehicle a and the vehicle b because the accident occurrence point is on the planned route of the vehicle c. It is determined that the data required for the vehicle c is included in the data being transmitted / received. And the roadside communication apparatus 1 displays the information which concerns on the said accident occurrence point on the warning board 30 while performing road-to-vehicle communication in broadcast mode. Thereby, not only the limited vehicles (vehicle a and vehicle b) equipped with the wireless communication device for vehicle-to-vehicle communication, but also the vehicles (vehicle c to vehicle e) not equipped with the wireless communication device for vehicle-to-vehicle communication. In addition, it becomes possible to acquire information related to the accident occurrence point. In other words, according to the present embodiment, inter-vehicle communication can be supplemented and assisted.

  The roadside communication apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the configuration exemplified in the above embodiment, and can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. . In other words, for example, the following embodiment can be implemented by appropriately changing the above embodiment.

  The roadside communication device 1 is a vehicle other than the vehicle in which the vehicle-to-vehicle communication is established without determining whether the data in the vehicle-to-vehicle communication is necessary for a vehicle other than the vehicle in which the vehicle-to-vehicle communication is established. When it is determined that is located in the communication area, road-to-vehicle communication may be performed in the broadcast mode. Further, the warning plate 30 may be omitted.

The block diagram which shows the whole structure about one Embodiment of the roadside communication apparatus which concerns on this invention. The flowchart which shows the process sequence about the process performed about this Embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining an operation example of this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Roadside communication apparatus, 10 ... Communication antenna, 20 ... Road surveillance camera, 30 ... Warning board (information display part), 40 ... Control apparatus, 41 ... Monitoring part, 42 ... Judgment part, 43 ... Data collection part, 44 ... control unit, 50 ... control center.

Claims (2)

A roadside communication device that is installed around a road and performs road-to-vehicle communication through an antenna with a vehicle located in a communication area,
A monitoring unit that monitors whether vehicle-to-vehicle communication is established in the communication area;
A determination unit that determines whether a vehicle other than the vehicle in which the inter-vehicle communication is established is located in the communication region;
A data collection unit that collects data transmitted and received in the inter-vehicle communication when the determination unit determines that a vehicle other than the vehicle in which the inter-vehicle communication is established is located in the communication area; ,
An individual mode that is a mode in which the road-to-vehicle communication is individually performed for each vehicle, and a broadcast mode that is a mode in which the data collected by the data collection unit is transmitted to all vehicles located in the communication area. A control unit that selects one of a plurality of modes including,
When the determination unit determines that a vehicle other than the vehicle with which the vehicle-to-vehicle communication is established is located in the communication area, the control unit performs the road-to-vehicle communication in the broadcast mode. A roadside communication device. An information display unit that displays information so that a passenger in the vehicle located in the communication area can visually recognize the vehicle;
When it is determined by the monitoring unit that a vehicle other than the vehicle with which the inter-vehicle communication is established is located in the communication area, the control unit displays information corresponding to the data on the information display unit. The roadside communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the roadside communication apparatus displays the roadside communication apparatus.

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