JP2010224630A - Toll collection system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toll collection system for accurately acquiring passage history information of a vehicle which has passed a toll booth, and for promoting proper operation, and for improving reliability. <P>SOLUTION: A charge collection system automatically collects toll from a vehicle that uses a toll road at the toll booth of a toll road. When the passage history information of the vehicle is created, a license number of a preceding/following vehicle is used, which is obtained from the vehicle with a license number recognition device mounted thereon which travels on an ETC lane. When the license number information in in-vehicle unit information of the target vehicle does not match the license number recognized by the license number recognition device on the toll booth side, the license number recognition result from the vehicles which travel before and after the vehicle is used, to update the recognized license number of the target vehicle. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention provides an ETC (ETC: registered trademark) system (non-stop automatic toll collection) that automatically performs toll collection processing for vehicles using the toll road at a toll gate such as an expressway. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of creating traffic history information of the vehicle.

  An ETC system (toll road automatic toll collection system) is known as a toll collection system at a toll road toll gate. As is well known, the ETC system is equipped with a vehicle-mounted device as a mobile station in a vehicle (automobile) that is a moving body, and is connected to a roadside wireless device as a base station installed on the ground (tollgate). Toll collection processing is performed by exchanging data by radio communication using waves.

  Usually, in such a toll collection system, vehicle-mounted device information obtained from the vehicle-mounted device, an image of the vehicle taken from a camera installed on the toll gate side, and a camera installed on the toll gate side were used. Using the recognition result of the vehicle number (number plate number) by the vehicle number recognition device, the traffic history information of the vehicle is created and recorded and saved, so that it can be used for verification during illegal traffic (for example, patents) Reference 1 and Patent Reference 2).

  Therefore, it is necessary to accurately acquire the traffic history information of the vehicle that has passed through the toll gate, but as a practical problem, the number plate is hidden behind the vehicle body, or the problem such as the mounting position of the number plate, There is a scene that reduces the recognition performance of the car number. When the vehicle number information in the vehicle-mounted device information does not match the vehicle number recognition result, it is required to specify the cause.

Japanese Patent No. 3502156 Japanese Patent No. 4026645

  When the vehicle number information in the OBE information and the vehicle number recognition result do not match, if the vehicle number information in the OBE information is incorrect, there is a suspicion of illegal traffic, and the vehicle image at the time of traffic (vehicle number recognition (With results) must be confirmed.

  In addition, in a situation where information from an on-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle in an adjacent lane is received, and a traffic history remains in error, it is necessary to track the circumstances and correct the error.

  In addition, when the car number recognition result is wrong, it is desirable to improve the performance of the car number recognition device, but there are situations where it is difficult to read the car number when shooting from the camera on the toll gate side, In order to overcome this, there is a problem that new sensing must be considered.

  Therefore, it is necessary to efficiently collect data for ensuring performance while minimizing the burden on the user.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a toll collection system that can accurately acquire the traffic history information of a vehicle that has passed through a toll gate, promotes proper operation, and contributes to improving reliability. And

  The toll collection system of the present invention performs toll collection processing for a toll on a toll road by performing wireless communication with an on-board device mounted on a vehicle entering the toll gate at a toll road. In addition, in the toll collection system for acquiring the traffic history information of the vehicle, the vehicle number of the preceding vehicle that is mounted on each vehicle and travels in front of the vehicle and the vehicle number of the subsequent vehicle that travels behind the vehicle are recognized. First vehicle number recognizing means, communication means for wirelessly transmitting the recognition result of the first vehicle number recognizing means together with onboard equipment information to the outside of the vehicle, and a vehicle entering the toll gate Vehicle-mounted device information acquisition means for acquiring vehicle-mounted device information and vehicle number recognition results of the preceding vehicle and the following vehicle by performing wireless communication with the vehicle-mounted device mounted on the vehicle, and a vehicle entering the toll gate The second vehicle number recognition means for recognizing the vehicle number, and the comparison for comparing the vehicle number recognition result of the second vehicle number recognition means with the company version information in the in-vehicle device information acquired by the on-vehicle device information acquisition device. The vehicle number recognition result of the second vehicle number recognition means is used as the vehicle number information in the traffic history information when the two match as a result of the comparison by the means and the comparison means. A traffic history determination unit that uses the vehicle number recognition result of the preceding vehicle or the vehicle number recognition result of the subsequent vehicle acquired by the device information acquisition unit as vehicle number information in the traffic history information.

  Further, the toll collection system of the present invention is a toll collection system for a toll for the vehicle by performing wireless communication with an on-board unit mounted on the vehicle entering the toll gate at a toll gate on the toll road. In the toll collection system for acquiring the traffic history information of the vehicle, the vehicle number of the preceding vehicle that is mounted on each vehicle and travels in front of the vehicle and the vehicle number of the subsequent vehicle that travels behind the vehicle are displayed. A first vehicle number recognizing unit for recognizing each of the vehicle, a communication unit provided in the vehicle-mounted device, wirelessly transmitting the recognition result of the first vehicle number recognizing unit together with the vehicle-mounted device information, and entering a toll gate Enter the toll booth with OBE information acquisition means for acquiring the OBE information and the vehicle number recognition results of the preceding vehicle and the following vehicle by performing wireless communication with the OBE mounted on the coming vehicle. The second vehicle number recognition means for recognizing the vehicle number of the vehicle, the vehicle number recognition result of the second vehicle number recognition means, and the vehicle number information in the in-vehicle device information acquired by the on-vehicle device information acquisition device Comparing means for determining the vehicle number recognition result of the second vehicle number recognizing means as the vehicle number information in the traffic history information if the two match as a result of the comparison by the comparing means, and the comparison As a result of comparison by the means, if the two do not match, the vehicle number information in the in-vehicle device information acquired by the on-vehicle device information acquisition unit and the vehicle number recognition result of the preceding vehicle acquired by the on-vehicle device information acquisition unit or the subsequent The vehicle number recognition result of the vehicle is compared, and when both match, the vehicle-mounted device information rejection means for rejecting the vehicle-mounted device information of the vehicle number that does not match in the comparison means is provided.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the traffic history information of the vehicle which passed the toll booth can be acquired correctly, and the proper operation can be promoted and the toll collection system which contributes to reliability improvement can be provided.

The schematic diagram explaining the apparatus mounted in the vehicle which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The schematic diagram which shows the structure of the fee collection system called the ETC system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The flowchart explaining the creation process of the traffic history information which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The figure explaining the specific example which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The flowchart explaining the creation process of the traffic history information which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. The figure explaining the specific example which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. The flowchart explaining the processing operation which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. The figure explaining the specific example which concerns on 3rd Embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining devices mounted on a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Each vehicle 11 is equipped with an on-board device 12 for toll collection, and also travels behind the front camera 13 that captures an image of the number plate portion of the preceding vehicle traveling in front of the vehicle 11 and the vehicle 11. A rear camera 14 that captures an image of the number plate portion of the following vehicle, and a number plate image captured by these cameras 13 and 14 by performing predetermined image processing, thereby allowing the number plate image of the preceding vehicle and the number of the subsequent vehicle Each plate image is extracted, and a vehicle number recognition device (first vehicle) for recognizing the vehicle number (vehicle number) on the number plate of the preceding vehicle and the vehicle number on the number plate of the following vehicle from each extracted number plate image Number recognition means) 15 are mounted.

  The vehicle-mounted device 12 includes an antenna 12a for performing communication with an external wireless device, and wireless communication using narrow area wireless communication (DSRC) with a roadside wireless device installed at a toll gate. The vehicle number recognition result of the vehicle number recognition device 15 (preceding vehicle) together with information on the on-vehicle device (vehicle-mounted device information: entrance toll gate information, vehicle number information, vehicle type information, vehicle-mounted device ID, etc.) Vehicle number information and vehicle number information of the following vehicle) are transmitted to the roadside wireless device.

  The vehicle-mounted device 12 also has a function of transmitting / receiving data to / from the vehicle-mounted device of the preceding vehicle by wireless communication using narrow area wireless communication (DSRC) as necessary. It is assumed that an on-board device 12 is equipped with an ETC card (not shown).

  For example, the front camera 13 is installed in the vicinity of the front number plate 16 of the vehicle 11, and the rear camera 14 is installed in the vicinity of the rear number plate 17 of the vehicle 11, for example.

  FIG. 2 schematically shows a configuration of a fee collection system called an ETC system (non-stop automatic fee collection system) according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the example of FIG. 2, one ETC exit lane is shown for simplicity of explanation, but the type and number of lanes are not limited to this, and a plurality of lanes are generally provided. There are many.

  In FIG. 2, for example, at the side of the ETC exit lane 21 at a toll gate on a toll road, a vehicle detection / vehicle type determination device 22 that detects vehicles 11 entering sequentially from the entrance side and performs vehicle type determination, Roadside radio device 23, roadside indicator 24 for providing charging information and start / stop guidance to the driver of vehicle 11, start control device (gate) 25 for starting / stopping control for vehicle 11, and vehicle number Recognizing devices (second vehicle number recognizing means) 26 are respectively installed, and these are connected to a lane control device 27, respectively. The lane control device 27 is connected to a host device (host computer) 28 via a communication line.

  The roadside wireless device 23 includes a roadside antenna 29 for communicating with an external wireless device, and uses narrow area wireless communication (DSRC) with the vehicle-mounted device 12 mounted on the vehicle 11. Data is transmitted and received by wireless communication. The vehicle-mounted device information and the vehicle number recognition result (the vehicle number information of the preceding vehicle and the vehicle number information of the following vehicle) transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device 12 are acquired, and the lane control device 27 send.

  The lane control device 27 performs overall control, performs toll collection processing based on onboard equipment information sent from the roadside wireless device 23, and performs creation processing of traffic history information of the vehicle 11 as described later. .

  The vehicle number recognition device 26 includes, for example, a camera 30 that captures an image including at least the number plate portion on the front side of the vehicle 11 traveling in the ETC exit lane 21, and a predetermined image is captured with respect to the image captured by the camera 30. The number plate image is extracted by performing image processing, and the vehicle number (vehicle number) on the number plate is recognized from the extracted number plate image, and the recognition result is sent to the lane control device 27.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, a description will be given of the creation process of the traffic history information according to the first embodiment in such a configuration.

  The first embodiment uses the vehicle number recognition result of the preceding / following vehicle from the vehicle equipped with the vehicle number recognition device that travels in the ETC lane, and the vehicle number information and the charge in the vehicle-mounted device information of the target vehicle When the vehicle number recognition result of the local vehicle number recognition device is inconsistent, the vehicle number recognition result of the target vehicle is updated using the vehicle number recognition result from the vehicle traveling before and after the vehicle number recognition device. .

When the vehicle detection / vehicle type identification device 22 detects the vehicle 11 entering the ETC exit lane 21 (step S1), the roadside wireless device 23 performs wireless communication with the vehicle-mounted device 12 mounted on the vehicle 11. By performing this, the vehicle-mounted device information and the vehicle number recognition result (the vehicle number information of the preceding vehicle and the vehicle number information of the following vehicle) transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device 12 are acquired and sent to the lane control device 27 (step S2).
The lane control device 27 stores the vehicle number recognition result (the vehicle number information of the preceding vehicle and the vehicle number information of the following vehicle) sent from the roadside device 23 in a vehicle number reference table (not shown) (step S3).

  The vehicle number recognition device 26 extracts a number plate image by performing predetermined image processing on the image including the number plate portion of the vehicle 11 captured by the camera 30 at this time, and extracts the number plate image from the extracted number plate image. The vehicle number on the number plate is recognized, and the vehicle number recognition result is sent to the lane control device 27 (step S4).

  The lane control device 27 compares the vehicle number information in the vehicle-mounted device information sent from the roadside wireless device 23 with the vehicle number recognition result of the vehicle number recognition device 26 (step S5). It is determined that the vehicle number recognition result of the device 26 is correct, and the traffic history information at this time is determined (step S6).

  The traffic history information includes, for example, date and time information, toll gate code, vehicle-mounted device ID, recognition result (vehicle number information) of the vehicle number recognition device 26, an image of the vehicle 11 captured by the camera 30, and the like. The travel history information is sent to the host device 28 and recorded and saved.

  As a result of the comparison in step S5, if the two do not match, the lane control device 27 refers to the vehicle number reference table to determine whether or not there is a vehicle number recognition result of the preceding vehicle traveling in front of the vehicle 11. (Step S7), if there is a vehicle number recognition result of the preceding vehicle, the vehicle number recognition result of the vehicle number recognition device 26 is determined to be erroneous recognition, and the vehicle number recognition result of the preceding vehicle is The vehicle number recognition result of the number recognition device 26 is updated, and the traffic history information at this time is determined (step S6).

  If the vehicle number recognition result of the preceding vehicle does not exist as a result of the check in step S7, the lane control device 27 refers to the vehicle number reference table, and the vehicle number recognition result of the following vehicle that travels behind the vehicle 11 (Step S8), and if there is a vehicle number recognition result of the following vehicle, it is determined that the vehicle number recognition result of the vehicle number recognition device 26 is erroneous recognition, and The vehicle number recognition result of the vehicle number recognition device 26 is updated with the vehicle number recognition result, and the traffic history information at this time is determined (step S6).

  As a result of the check in step S8, if there is no vehicle number recognition result of the following vehicle, the update processing of the vehicle number recognition result of the target vehicle is canceled and the traffic history information for the vehicle is discarded (step S9). The confirmation process is performed (step S10).

  Hereinafter, a specific example according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. For example, it is assumed that three cars, A car, B car, and C car, enter the toll gate area in that order. The vehicle number information in the vehicle-mounted device information of the A car and the C car is “1234” and “1048”, respectively, and the recognition results of the car number recognition device 26 for the A car and the C car are “1234” and “1048”, respectively. In this case, since both vehicle number information matches, the traffic history information is determined.

  On the other hand, for the vehicle B, when the vehicle number information in the vehicle-mounted device information is “5678”, the recognition result of the vehicle number recognition device 26 for the vehicle B is “56 ??” Both car number information does not match. However, since the vehicle number recognition result of the preceding vehicle and the vehicle number recognition result of the subsequent vehicle obtained from the A vehicle and the C vehicle are respectively “5678”, the vehicle number recognition result of the vehicle number recognition device 26 for the B vehicle. Can be complemented with “5678”.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the cause of the discrepancy in the vehicle number recognition result of the vehicle 11 passing through the toll collection gate (start control device 25) is mounted on the vehicle passing before and after the vehicle 11. By using the vehicle number recognition result of the generated vehicle number recognition device 15, it becomes possible to reduce the erroneous recognition of the vehicle number and the rejection rate.

  Next, traffic history information creation processing according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  The second embodiment utilizes the vehicle number recognition result of the preceding / following vehicle from the vehicle equipped with the vehicle number recognition device that travels in the ETC lane, and the vehicle number information and the charge in the vehicle-mounted device information of the target vehicle When the vehicle number recognition result of the local vehicle number recognition device does not match, the vehicle number recognition result from the vehicle traveling before and after that is referred to, and the information on the vehicle-mounted device received by mistake is rejected. is there.

When the vehicle detection / vehicle type determination device 22 detects the vehicle 11 entering the ETC exit lane 21 (step S11), the roadside wireless device 23 performs wireless communication with the vehicle-mounted device 12 mounted on the vehicle 11. By performing this, the vehicle-mounted device information and the vehicle number recognition result (the vehicle number information of the preceding vehicle and the vehicle number information of the following vehicle) transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device 12 are acquired and sent to the lane control device 27 (step S12).
The lane control device 27 stores the vehicle number recognition result (the vehicle number information of the preceding vehicle and the vehicle number information of the following vehicle) sent from the roadside device 23 in a vehicle number reference table (not shown) (step S13).

  The vehicle number recognition device 26 extracts a number plate image by performing predetermined image processing on the image including the number plate portion of the vehicle 11 captured by the camera 30 at this time, and extracts the number plate image from the extracted number plate image. The vehicle number on the number plate is recognized, and the vehicle number recognition result is sent to the lane control device 27 (step S14).

  The lane control device 27 compares the vehicle number information in the vehicle-mounted device information sent from the roadside wireless device 23 with the vehicle number recognition result of the vehicle number recognition device 26 (step S15). It is determined that the vehicle number recognition result of the device 26 is correct, and the traffic history information at this time is determined (step S16).

  The traffic history information includes, for example, date and time information, toll gate code, vehicle-mounted device ID, recognition result (vehicle number information) of the vehicle number recognition device 26, an image of the vehicle 11 captured by the camera 30, and the like. The travel history information is sent to the host device 28 and recorded and saved.

  As a result of the comparison in step S15, if the two do not match, the lane control device 27 refers to the vehicle number reference table to determine whether or not there is a vehicle number recognition result of the preceding vehicle traveling in front of the vehicle 11. (Step S17), if there is a vehicle number recognition result of the preceding vehicle, the vehicle number recognition result of the preceding vehicle and the recognition result of the vehicle number recognition device 26 are compared (step S18). In this case, the vehicle number recognition result of the vehicle number recognition device 26 is updated with the vehicle number recognition result of the preceding vehicle, and the traffic history information at this time is determined (step S16).

  As a result of the comparison in step S18, if the two do not coincide with each other, the lane control device 27 determines that the vehicle-mounted device information of the vehicle received at this time is erroneous reception, and updates the traffic history information for the vehicle to be deleted. (Step S16).

  As a result of the check in step S17, if there is no vehicle number recognition result of the preceding vehicle, the lane control device 27 refers to the vehicle number reference table, so that the vehicle number recognition result of the following vehicle traveling behind the vehicle 11 is obtained. Is checked (step S19), and if there is a vehicle number recognition result of the following vehicle, the vehicle number recognition result of the subsequent vehicle is compared with the vehicle number recognition result of the vehicle number recognition device 26 ( In step S18), if both match, the vehicle number recognition result of the vehicle number recognition device 26 is updated with the vehicle number recognition result of the subsequent vehicle, and the traffic history information at this time is determined (step S16).

  As a result of the check in step S19, if there is no vehicle number recognition result of the following vehicle, the update processing of the vehicle number recognition result of the target vehicle is stopped and the traffic history information for the vehicle is discarded (step S20). The confirmation process is performed (step S21).

  Hereinafter, a specific example according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. For example, it is assumed that there are two toll gates (start control device 25), and those that go to gate 1 are D cars and E cars, and those that go to gate 2 are A cars, B cars, and C cars.

  When passing through the gate 1, the travel history information is stored at times t2 and t4. The traffic history information of the gate 2 is at times t1, t2, t3, and t5. Actually, the vehicle-mounted device information at the time t2 is erroneously received, and the vehicle number recognition result of the corresponding vehicle number recognition device 26 is not exist. At this point in time, it is not known what the erroneous reception is, so the vehicle number recognition result of the vehicle passing through the gate 2 is used.

  In the example of FIG. 6, when vehicle A enters at time t1, vehicle-mounted device information of vehicle D (the vehicle following is E vehicle) is received at time t2, even though the subsequent vehicle is determined to be vehicle B. To do. However, since the forward selection vehicle is determined to be the A vehicle when the B vehicle enters at the time t3, the presence of the D vehicle at the time t2 can be determined to be an error.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the vehicle number recognition of the vehicle number recognition device 15 mounted on the vehicle that passes through the toll collection gate (start control device 25) and passes through the vehicle 11 is provided. By utilizing the result as a part of the travel history information, even if the vehicle-mounted device information of a vehicle traveling in another adjacent lane is received, the front-rear relationship between the passing vehicles is Since it can be estimated, it is possible to automatically determine whether there is an erroneous reception.

  Next, processing operations according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When the vehicle 11 enters the permutation waiting area set before the toll gate (start control device 25), the roadside wireless device 23 wirelessly communicates with the vehicle-mounted device 12 mounted on the vehicle 11. By performing communication, the vehicle-mounted device information transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device 12 is acquired and sent to the lane control device 27 (step S31).

  The lane control device 27 uses the vehicle number information in the vehicle-mounted device information sent from the roadside wireless device 23 as a key to inquire whether the vehicle 11 entering the permutation waiting area is a vehicle equipped with the vehicle-mounted device 12. The database 31 is inquired (step S32), and an in-area reference table is created (step S33).

  That is, in the inquiry database 31, whether or not the vehicle is equipped with the vehicle-mounted device 12 for each vehicle number is registered in advance (that is, whether the vehicle is an ETC vehicle or a non-ETC vehicle). The lane control device 27 refers to the inquiry database 31 using the vehicle number information in the vehicle-mounted device information sent from the roadside wireless device 23 as a key, so that the vehicle 11 sequentially entering the permutation waiting area is an ETC vehicle or a non-ETC. Create an in-area reference table that shows the car. As a result, information indicating whether an ETC vehicle or a non-ETC vehicle is stored in the intra-area reference table for each vehicle number information of a plurality of (for example, three in this example) vehicles 11 existing in the permutation waiting area.

  When the driver of the vehicle 11 in the permutation waiting area makes an inquiry as to whether the preceding vehicle traveling in front of the vehicle 11 is an ETC vehicle or a non-ETC vehicle, for example, a first inquiry provided on the vehicle-mounted device 12 By pressing a button (not shown), the vehicle-mounted device 12 transmits the first inquiry information to which the vehicle number recognition result of the preceding vehicle recognized by the vehicle number recognition device 15 is added to the roadside wireless device 23. .

  It is also possible to inquire whether the preceding vehicle traveling in front of the vehicle 11 and the preceding vehicle traveling further in front of the preceding vehicle are ETC vehicles or non-ETC vehicles, respectively. In this case, for example, by pressing a second inquiry button (not shown) provided on the vehicle-mounted device 12, the vehicle-mounted device 12 adds the vehicle number recognition result of the preceding vehicle recognized by the vehicle number recognition device 15. The second inquiry information is transmitted to the roadside apparatus 23.

  When the first inquiry information is received from the vehicle-mounted device 12 of the vehicle 11 in the permutation waiting area via the roadside wireless device 23 (step S34), the lane control device 27 is added to the first inquiry information. By referring to the previously created in-area reference table using the vehicle number recognition result of the preceding vehicle as a key, information on whether the preceding vehicle inquired is an ETC vehicle or a non-ETC vehicle is obtained. The response information is transmitted to the vehicle-mounted device 12 of the vehicle 11 inquired through the device 23 (step S35).

  When the second inquiry information is received from the vehicle-mounted device 12 of the vehicle 11 in the permutation waiting area via the roadside wireless device 23 (step S34), the lane control device 27 displays the second inquiry information. By referring to the previously created in-area reference table using the added vehicle number recognition result of the preceding vehicle as a key, the preceding vehicle that has been inquired and whether the preceding vehicle that travels ahead is an ETC vehicle or not Information on whether the vehicle is an ETC vehicle is acquired, and the response information is transmitted to the vehicle-mounted device 12 of the vehicle 11 inquired via the roadside wireless device 23 (step S35).

  The vehicle-mounted device 12 that has received the response information displays the response information on a display screen (not shown), or outputs the response information by voice to determine whether the preceding vehicle is an ETC vehicle for the driver of the vehicle 11. Provides information on non-ETC vehicles.

  When the vehicle 11 in the permutation waiting area passes through the toll gate (start control device 25) (step S36), the lane control device 27 obtains the detection signal from the start control device 25 to obtain information on the vehicle 11. Is deleted from the in-area reference table (step S37).

  Hereinafter, a specific example according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. For example, it is assumed that three cars A, B and C enter the permutation waiting area set in front of the toll gate. As described above, whether the vehicle is an ETC vehicle or a non-ETC vehicle can be referred to by referring to the inquiry database 31 based on the vehicle number information in the vehicle-mounted device information. Can inquire whether the B vehicle is an ETC vehicle or a non-ETC vehicle by making an inquiry to the lane control device 27 based on the vehicle number recognition result of the B vehicle of the vehicle number recognition device 15 mounted on the C vehicle. At this time, the information on the A car traveling in front of the B car is also obtained by inquiring to the lane control device 27 based on the car number recognition result of the B car of the car number recognizing device 15 mounted on the C car. It is possible to inquire whether the A car traveling in front of the car is an ETC car or a non-ETC car.

  In addition, it is also possible to make a linear inquiry to a preceding vehicle traveling ahead instead of making an inquiry to the lane control device 27. That is, for example, for vehicle B traveling in front of vehicle C, vehicle-mounted device 12 mounted on vehicle C is based on vehicle number recognition result of vehicle B by vehicle number recognition device 15 with respect to vehicle-mounted device 12 of vehicle B. By directly inquiring whether the vehicle is an ETC vehicle or a non-ETC vehicle, the vehicle-mounted device 12 of the B vehicle transmits the response to the vehicle-mounted device 12 of the C vehicle.

  At this time, with respect to the information of the A car traveling in front of the B car, the in-vehicle device 12 of the B car is informed of the car number recognition result of the A car of the car number recognition device 15 by the inquiry from the on-vehicle equipment 12 of the C car. On the basis of the in-vehicle device 12 of the A car, whether the ETC vehicle or the non-ETC vehicle is directly inquired, the in-vehicle device 12 of the A vehicle transmits the answer to the in-vehicle device 12 of the B vehicle, and B The on-vehicle device 12 of the car transmits the answer to the on-vehicle device 12 of the C car.

  Therefore, it is possible to rely on the vehicle information in front of the gate to which the vehicle should proceed even when it is very crowded near the toll gate and the front is unclear.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, an in-area reference table that quickly introduces ETC cars or non-ETC cars from the vehicle number information in advance is created between vehicles that are going to pass the toll gate. By checking whether the vehicle traveling in front (front-front) is an ETC vehicle or a non-ETC vehicle at any time, it is possible to quickly form a permutation to the gate where the vehicle should pass and It becomes possible to reduce.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Vehicle, 12 ... Onboard equipment, 13 ... Front camera, 14 ... Back camera, 15 ... Vehicle number recognition apparatus (1st vehicle number recognition means), 21 ... ETC exit lane, 22 ... Vehicle detection and vehicle type discrimination device, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 23 ... Roadside radio device, 25 ... Start control device (gate), 26 ... Vehicle number recognition device (second vehicle number recognition means), 27 ... Lane control device, 28 ... Host device (host computer), 31 ... For inquiry Database 31.

Claims (3)

At the toll gate on the toll road, the toll collection processing for the vehicle is performed by wireless communication with the vehicle-mounted device mounted on the vehicle entering the toll gate, and the traffic history information of the vehicle In the toll collection system to acquire
First vehicle number recognition means mounted on each vehicle for recognizing the vehicle number of a preceding vehicle traveling in front of the vehicle and the vehicle number of a subsequent vehicle traveling behind the vehicle;
A communication unit that is provided in the on-vehicle device and wirelessly transmits the recognition result of the first vehicle number recognition unit to the outside of the vehicle together with the on-vehicle device information;
OBE information acquisition means for acquiring OBE information and preceding vehicle, each vehicle number recognition result of the following vehicle by performing wireless communication with the OBE mounted on the vehicle entering the toll gate;
A second vehicle number recognition means for recognizing the vehicle number of a vehicle entering the toll gate;
Comparison means for comparing the vehicle number recognition result of the second vehicle number recognition means with the company version information in the in-vehicle device information acquired by the on-vehicle device information acquisition unit;
As a result of the comparison by the comparison means, if they match, the vehicle number recognition result of the second vehicle number recognition means is used as the vehicle number information in the traffic history information, and if they do not match, the on-vehicle device information acquisition A traffic history determination unit that uses the vehicle number recognition result of the preceding vehicle or the vehicle number recognition result of the subsequent vehicle acquired by the vehicle as vehicle number information in the traffic history information;
A toll collection system characterized by comprising: At the toll gate on the toll road, the toll collection processing for the vehicle is performed by wireless communication with the vehicle-mounted device mounted on the vehicle entering the toll gate, and the traffic history information of the vehicle In the toll collection system to acquire
First vehicle number recognition means mounted on each vehicle for recognizing the vehicle number of a preceding vehicle traveling in front of the vehicle and the vehicle number of a subsequent vehicle traveling behind the vehicle;
A communication unit that is provided in the on-vehicle device and wirelessly transmits the recognition result of the first vehicle number recognition unit to the outside of the vehicle together with the on-vehicle device information;
OBE information acquisition means for acquiring OBE information and preceding vehicle, each vehicle number recognition result of the following vehicle by performing wireless communication with the OBE mounted on the vehicle entering the toll gate;
A second vehicle number recognition means for recognizing the vehicle number of a vehicle entering the toll gate;
A comparison means for comparing the vehicle number recognition result of the second vehicle number recognition means with the vehicle number information in the in-vehicle device information acquired by the on-vehicle device information acquisition means;
As a result of the comparison by the comparison means, if both match, a confirmation means for setting the vehicle number recognition result of the second vehicle number recognition means as vehicle number information in the traffic history information;
As a result of the comparison by the comparison means, if they do not match, the vehicle number information in the OBE information acquired by the OBE information acquisition means and the vehicle number recognition result of the preceding vehicle acquired by the OBE information acquisition means Or the vehicle number recognition result of the following vehicle is compared, and if both match, the vehicle-mounted device information rejecting means for rejecting the vehicle-mounted device information of the vehicle number that does not match in the comparing means,
A toll collection system characterized by comprising: In a toll collection system that collects tolls for toll vehicles by performing wireless communication with onboard devices mounted on vehicles entering the toll gate at a toll road toll gate,
A vehicle number recognition means that is mounted on each vehicle and recognizes the vehicle number of at least a preceding vehicle traveling in front of the vehicle;
Communication means provided in the on-vehicle device, and wirelessly transmitting the recognition result of the vehicle number recognition means to the outside of the vehicle together with the on-vehicle device information;
OBE information acquisition means for acquiring OBE information and a vehicle number recognition result of a preceding vehicle by performing wireless communication with the OBE mounted on the vehicle entering the toll gate;
An inquiry database in which it is registered in advance whether the vehicle is equipped with an on-board device for toll collection for each vehicle number,
Based on the vehicle number information in the vehicle-mounted device information acquired by the previous device information acquisition means, the vehicle that enters the permutation waiting area set in front of the toll gate is a vehicle equipped with the vehicle-mounted device for toll collection Reference table creation means for making a query to the query database and creating the reference table,
When there is an inquiry about the preceding vehicle based on the recognition result of the vehicle number recognition means from the in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle in the permutation waiting area, the preceding vehicle further travels ahead by referring to the reference table. An answering means for answering whether the vehicle is a vehicle equipped with an on-board device for toll collection,
Information providing means for wirelessly transmitting the answer result of the answering means to the in-vehicle device of the inquired vehicle and providing the driver with at least one of image and voice;
A toll collection system characterized by comprising:

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