JP2012003602A - Information providing device and running support system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a person driving a vehicle approaching an intersection to recognize whether or not the light color of a traffic signal will change.SOLUTION: A signal control device is enabled to so change the light color of a traffic signal that a target vehicle approaching a target intersection can pass the target intersection without stopping, allows no light color change if the traffic condition around the target intersection recommends stopping or, if the condition does not recommend stopping, sets a light color control schedule allowing a light color change. An information providing device mounted on a vehicle, if the light color control schedule acquired from the signal control device allows a light color change at the signal control device (S340: YES), notifies that fact (S350) or, if no light color change is allowed (S340: NO), issues an alarm to the effect that the vehicle mounted with the information providing device cannot pass the target intersection without stopping (S370) only when the possibility of changing the light color has been altered to the negative (S360: YES).

Description

  The present invention performs information communication with a signal control device that controls the color of a traffic signal light, and provides an information providing device mounted on a vehicle, and a driving support system including the information providing device and the signal control device. About.

  Conventionally, a signal control device that controls the light color of a traffic signal installed at a road intersection, and a wireless communication system that performs information communication with the signal control device and an information providing device mounted on an automobile. A support system is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Among these, the in-vehicle device constituting the driving support system described in Patent Document 1 is a vehicle (that is, the own vehicle) in which the in-vehicle device is mounted at a position defined in advance with respect to the intersection (hereinafter referred to as a specific position). ) Passes, the vehicle speed of the host vehicle is transmitted to the signal control device. On the other hand, when the traffic light is set to “prohibit travel (for example, red light)”, the signal control device receives the vehicle speed of the host vehicle and sets the received vehicle speed and the distance from the intersection to the specific position. Based on the above, change the traffic light color from “Prohibition of Progress” to “Prohibition of Progress (for example, blue (green) light)” so that the vehicle passes through the intersection without stopping Color change).

JP 2001-28097 A

However, in the driving support system described in Patent Literature 1, the signal control device does not notify the in-vehicle device that the signal control device executes the automatic lamp color change.
In other words, an occupant of an automobile equipped with the in-vehicle device that constitutes the driving support system described in Patent Document 1 is actually changed from “progress prohibition” to “progress” when the own vehicle approaches the intersection. There is a problem that it is not possible to recognize whether the vehicle is changed to “permitted (blue)”, that is, whether the vehicle can pass through the intersection without stopping.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to enable a vehicle occupant to recognize whether or not the color of a traffic signal is changed for a vehicle approaching an intersection.

The present invention made to achieve the above object is an information providing device mounted on a vehicle, and performs information communication wirelessly with a signal control device that controls the color of a traffic light.
However, in the present invention, in the signal control device, the light color changing means approaches the target intersection where the traffic control is executed by the traffic signal to be controlled from the direction in which the light color of the traffic signal is prohibited. The color of the traffic signal is changed to allow travel so that the vehicle (hereinafter referred to as the target vehicle) passes through the target intersection without stopping. At the same time, in the signal control device, the traffic condition acquisition means repeatedly acquires the traffic condition around the target intersection, and the acquired traffic condition is not a recommended stop condition for stopping the vehicle before entering the target intersection. If the traffic color change means is allowed to change the light color, and the traffic condition is recommended to stop, the traffic light signal light color control plan prohibits the light color change means from changing the light color. The lamp color determining means determines (hereinafter, lamp color control schedule).

  In the information providing apparatus of the present invention, the schedule acquisition unit acquires a lamp color control schedule transmitted wirelessly from the signal control device, and the acquired lamp color control schedule changes the lamp color by the lamp color changing unit. After determining the permission of the vehicle, before entering the target intersection of the subject vehicle, the lamp color change schedule is changed and the lamp color control schedule is changed to the lamp color by the lamp color changing means. In the case where the prohibition of the change is continued, if at least one of the cases, the notification means can recognize the fact that the change of the lamp color by the lamp color changing means is not executed for the host vehicle. Is notified.

  Therefore, the passenger of the vehicle equipped with the information providing device is not allowed to change the light color by the light color changing means when the own vehicle approaches the target intersection from the direction in which the light color of the traffic signal is prohibited. It can be recognized that it is an execution, that is, it is necessary to stop the host vehicle before entering the target intersection.

  In addition, “information of a mode in which it is possible to recognize that the lamp color change by the lamp color changing means is not executed” means that it is possible to recognize that the lamp color change by the lamp color changing means is not executed for the host vehicle. Any information may be used, for example, information indicating that the vehicle must stop once before entering the target intersection, or information indicating the transition of the light color control schedule (for example, traffic signal Information indicating that the lamp color is maintained to be prohibited from traveling).

  In the information providing apparatus of the present invention, the notification means may change the lamp color by the lamp color changing means to the host vehicle if the lamp color control schedule is permitted to change the lamp color by the lamp color changing means. You may alert | report the information of the aspect which can recognize performing.

  According to such an information providing apparatus, when the own vehicle approaches the target intersection from the direction in which the traffic light is prohibited from traveling, the traffic light is permitted to travel. It can be recognized that it is possible to pass through the target intersection without stopping.

  In addition, “information of a mode in which it is possible to recognize that the lamp color change by the lamp color changing means is executed” can be recognized that the lamp color change by the lamp color changing means is executed for the host vehicle. Any information may be used as long as it is, for example, information indicating that it is possible to pass through the target intersection without stopping, and the traffic light is changed from prohibition of travel to permission to proceed when entering the target intersection. The information may be changed.

By the way, this invention may be made | formed as a driving assistance system provided with the information provision apparatus and the signal control apparatus (Claim 3).
In such a driving support system of the present invention, the signal control device has the same configuration as that of the signal control device described in claim 1, and the scheduled transmission means is determined by the lamp color control schedule. Transmit the light color control schedule.

  Then, in the information providing apparatus in the driving support system, as in the information providing apparatus described in claim 1, after the acquired lamp color control schedule determines permission to change the lamp color by the lamp color changing means, the target vehicle If the vehicle has transitioned to the prohibition of lamp color change before entering the target intersection, and the lamp color control schedule continues to prohibit the lamp color change by the lamp color changing means If at least one of the cases, the notifying means notifies the host vehicle of information on a mode in which it is possible to recognize that the change of the lamp color by the lamp color changing means is not executed.

  According to such a driving support system of the present invention, as in the first aspect of the present invention, an occupant of the vehicle on which the information providing device is mounted stops the own vehicle when the own vehicle enters the target intersection. Recognize that it is necessary to

  In the driving support system of the present invention, if the notification means of the information providing device permits the lamp color change by the lamp color changing means, the lamp color change by the lamp color changing means is executed on the own vehicle. It is also possible to report information in a form in which it can be recognized (claim 4).

According to such a driving support system, an effect similar to that of the information providing device according to claim 2 can be obtained.
In addition, the traffic state acquisition means in this invention may acquire the behavior of the object (henceforth a specific object) which exists in a regulation range from a target intersection as a traffic state (Claim 5).

According to such a driving support system of the present invention, whether or not the traffic state is the recommended stop state can be determined from the behavior of the specific object.
And when there is an automobile or a pedestrian (that is, a person or a light vehicle) crossing the target intersection along the direction intersecting the traveling direction of the own vehicle, or along the direction intersecting the traveling direction of the own vehicle When there is an automobile that is about to enter the target intersection, it is necessary to stop the host vehicle before entering the target intersection.

  Therefore, in the present invention described in claim 5, the light color determining means is configured such that the behavior of at least one of the specific object such as the automobile, the light vehicle, and the person is prohibited from proceeding with the light color of the traffic signal. The traffic state may be a stop recommended state as long as it is a movement at a target intersection along the direction intersecting with the existing direction (claim 6).

  That is, according to such a driving support system of the present invention, the host vehicle is stopped before the host vehicle enters the target intersection where a car or a pedestrian that crosses (or tries to cross) the target intersection exists. It is possible to make the occupant of the own vehicle recognize that it is necessary. In particular, if a light vehicle or a person is a specific object, it is possible to protect vulnerable persons such as the light vehicle or the person.

  By the way, when the emergency vehicle which is one of the specific objects is approaching the intersection, the vehicle needs to stop before entering the intersection. Therefore, the light color determining means in the present invention is such that the behavior of the emergency vehicle that is the specific object is approaching the target intersection, that is, if the emergency vehicle is approaching the target intersection, the traffic state is the recommended stop state. (Claim 8).

  According to such a driving support system of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the vehicle from entering the target intersection when the emergency vehicle approaches, and as a result, the target vehicle can smoothly pass through the target intersection.

The emergency vehicle referred to here is a vehicle that is being driven for emergency services, and includes at least an ambulance, a fire engine, and a police car.
In addition, when the outflow road of the target intersection along the direction in which the traffic light is banned (hereinafter referred to as the planned traveling direction) is congested, the direction intersecting with the planned traveling direction (hereinafter referred to as the planned traveling direction) It is preferable to secure the traffic flow in the crossing direction by allowing the travel color to be allowed to travel and prohibiting the movement of the vehicle along the planned traveling direction.

For this reason, if the traffic flow of the outflow road acquired as a traffic state is a congestion state, the light color determination means in this invention is good also as a traffic state being a stop recommendation state (Claim 8).
In addition, it is preferable to stop the vehicle before entering the target intersection. As a setting environment for the intersection, there are school zones that are designated school routes such as kindergartens (nursery schools) and elementary schools, senior citizen welfare facilities, hospitals, and other elderly people. A silver zone that is within a specified distance from a facility that is likely to be used is considered.

  Therefore, the light color determining means in the present invention may be such that the traffic state is in the recommended stop state when the installation environment of the target intersection acquired as the traffic state is in the school zone or the silver zone (claim 9). .

Thereby, for example, elderly people, kindergarten children, nursery school children, elementary school children, and the like can be more reliably protected.
By the way, for example, when the behavior of an emergency vehicle or the installation environment of the target intersection is a traffic state, the acquisition destination from which the signal control device acquires the traffic state is provided in the signal control device, and the traffic state around the target intersection is determined. It may be a recognition device that recognizes the information, or may be an information providing device that is mounted on a vehicle and constitutes a driving support system.

  In the driving support system of the present invention, as in the latter case, when the signal control device acquires the traffic state from the information providing device, in the information providing device, the state transmitting means is the traffic state of the road on which the host vehicle is traveling (hereinafter referred to as the following). , State information) is acquired and transmitted, and the traffic state acquisition means of the signal control device may acquire the transmitted state information as the traffic state around the target intersection (claim 10).

According to such a driving support system of the present invention, it is not necessary to provide infrastructure equipment such as the recognition device described above, and the configuration of the signal control device can be simplified.
In addition, as a method of specifying the target vehicle from the vehicles traveling on the road, specifying by a device provided on the road (for example, a vehicle passing on the sensor (below) as the target vehicle), information Based on the vehicle information transmitted from the providing device (for example, information including the current position and traveling direction of the host vehicle), it may be possible to identify the target vehicle from among the vehicles that transmitted the vehicle information.

  In the driving support system of the present invention, as in the latter case, when the target vehicle is specified from the vehicle information, in the information providing device, the vehicle information acquisition means includes vehicle information including at least the current position of the host vehicle and the traveling direction. The vehicle information transmission means may transmit the acquired vehicle information to the signal control device, and the signal control device may identify the target vehicle based on the vehicle information acquired from the signal control device. (Claim 11).

According to such a driving support system of the present invention, for example, it is possible to reduce infrastructure facilities to be provided on the road, such as a sensor for detecting a vehicle traveling on the approach road to the target intersection.
The schedule transmission means of the signal control device may transmit the lamp color control schedule every time the lamp color control schedule is determined by the lamp color determination means or at a predetermined time interval specified in advance (claim). Item 12). In this case, the schedule acquisition unit of the information providing apparatus may acquire the schedule every time the lamp color control schedule is transmitted.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of a driving assistance system. It is explanatory drawing which showed the outline | summary of the lamp color change process performed with a signal control apparatus. It is a time chart of the process performed in a driving assistance system. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of a vehicle information transmission process. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of a lamp color determination process. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of a change possibility determination process. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of a signal information transmission process. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of an information alerting | reporting process. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the lamp color alerting | reporting process in 1st embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the lamp color alerting | reporting process in 2nd embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which illustrated the modification of the stop recommendation state. It is explanatory drawing which illustrated the modification of the lamp color change timing.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
<Overall configuration of driving support system>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a driving support system to which the present invention is applied.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the driving support system 100 includes information that performs wireless information communication between a signal control device 30 that controls the color of a traffic signal 40 installed at a road intersection and the signal control device 30. Providing device 1.

  The information providing device 1 is an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle (automobile in this embodiment), and includes a position specifying unit 10, an external device connecting unit 11, a display unit 12, an audio output unit 13, a wireless communication unit 15, and The vehicle side control part 16 is provided at least.

  Among these, the external device connection unit 11 is an interface for performing communication with various devices mounted on the host vehicle, and inputs data transmitted from each device to the vehicle-side control unit 16. The external device connection unit 11 includes at least a vehicle speed sensor 20 for detecting the traveling speed of the host vehicle, a GPS receiver 21 for receiving a signal from a GPS satellite, and a gyroscope 22 for detecting an angular velocity applied to the host vehicle. It is connected.

  The position specifying unit 10 informs the vehicle-side control unit 16 of the current position and the traveling direction of the own vehicle specified using a well-known method based on data from the vehicle speed sensor 20, the GPS receiver 21, the gyroscope 22, and the like. input.

  The display unit 12 is a display device that includes a display surface (for example, a liquid crystal panel) that displays an image, and displays various images based on control from the vehicle-side control unit 16. The display surface for displaying the image is disposed at a place where it can be seen by a person seated in the driver's seat of the vehicle. The sound output unit 13 is a device (for example, a speaker) that outputs sound, and outputs various guidance sounds based on control from the vehicle-side control unit 16.

  The wireless communication unit 15 is bidirectional wireless communication (vehicle-to-vehicle communication) with the information providing device 1 mounted on another vehicle, or bidirectional wireless communication (road-to-vehicle communication) with the signal control device 30. It is a communication apparatus which performs.

  As a communication mode used for this road-to-vehicle communication, for example, a narrow area communication (DSRC) used in a non-stop automatic toll collection (so-called ETC (registered trademark)) system or a road traffic information communication system (so-called VICS (registered trademark)). It is conceivable to use the technology of radio wave beacons and optical beacons used in)). Alternatively, it is conceivable to use 700 MHz band radio waves that are scheduled to be reorganized after the end of 2011 (planned) analog television broadcasting. Since the 700 MHz band radio wave has a longer wavelength than that of the 5.8 GHz band radio wave used in DSRC, diffraction tends to occur. For this reason, in an urban area where buildings are densely packed, communication can be performed even from the shadow of the building.

  The vehicle-side control unit 16 includes a known computer device having at least a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. In addition to performing overall control of the units 10 to 13 and 15 of the information providing device 1, the vehicle-side control unit 16 stores in the ROM or the like. Various processes are executed according to the programmed program.

  As one of the processes executed by the vehicle-side control unit 16, information related to the own vehicle (hereinafter referred to as vehicle information) acquired from each unit constituting the information providing device 1 is transmitted to the signal control device 30 by wireless communication. There is a vehicle information transmission process (F1) (details will be described later). Moreover, as one of the processes which the vehicle side control part 16 performs, the information alerting | reporting process (F4) which alert | reports the information regarding the light color of the traffic signal apparatus 40 based on the information acquired from the signal control apparatus 30 by road-to-vehicle communication (details) Is described later).

<Configuration of signal control device>
The signal control device 30 controls the light color of the traffic signal device 40 that performs traffic control on one approach road among a plurality of approach roads to the road intersection. Hereinafter, a road intersection where traffic control is performed by the traffic signal device 40 to be controlled by the signal control device 30 is referred to as a target intersection.

The signal control device 30 includes a wireless communication unit 31, a movement state acquisition unit 32, a signal information database 33, and a roadside control unit 34.
Among these, the wireless communication unit 31 is a communication device that performs bidirectional wireless communication (road-to-vehicle communication) with the information providing device 1. As a communication mode used for this road-to-vehicle communication, the same communication mode as that of the information providing apparatus 1 is used.

  The movement state acquisition unit 32 is one of the traffic states around the target intersection, and is a state related to a priority target object (one of the specific objects of the present invention) located within a specified range (for example, 30 m) from the target intersection (hereinafter referred to as “specific object”). The movement state is acquired and the acquired movement state is input to the roadside control unit 34. The movement state acquired by the movement state acquisition unit 32 is that each priority object moving in the target intersection (that is, a car, a pedestrian, a bicycle, etc.) or each priority object that is about to enter the target intersection. It includes at least the behavior of the priority object, such as presence / absence, position of each priority object, movement direction, and movement speed.

  In order to realize this, the movement state acquisition unit 32 according to the present embodiment captures an image with an imaging device (not shown) that repeatedly captures images at a predetermined time interval with an imaging range as a range including at least the target intersection. And an image processing apparatus (not shown) that recognizes each priority object in the captured image and executes a well-known image recognition process for deriving the movement state. The moving state acquisition unit 32 is a so-called roadside sensor, and may be realized by a known radar device, a sensor provided on the road, or the like.

  The signal information database 33 includes at least a signal pattern representing a signal light color change pattern, an installation position of the target intersection, and an intersection installation environment representing an environment in which the target intersection is installed, as information regarding the traffic signal 40 or the target intersection. Is stored.

  Among these, the signal pattern includes at least a cycle in which the light color of the traffic light 40 transitions and a period in which each light color is lit, for example, from “progress prohibition (red)” to “progress permission (blue)”. ”,“ Progress prohibition (yellow) ”, and“ progress prohibition (red) ”are generally sequentially changed. Note that there are various signal patterns other than those shown here.

  In addition, the intersection setting environment is one of the traffic conditions around the target intersection, and the target intersection is a kindergarten (nursery school) or school zone designated area for elementary school attendance, or elderly people such as welfare facilities for the elderly and hospitals. It includes at least information indicating whether or not it is in a silver zone that is within a specified distance from a facility that is highly likely to be used. In addition, the suitability of the school zone and silver zone mentioned here is, for example, only for school hours, the installation environment of the target intersection is within the scope of the school zone, and the time zone other than the school time is not applicable for the school zone Thus, it may be changed according to the time zone.

  The roadside control unit 34 is configured by a known computer device having at least a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The roadside control unit 34 performs overall control of the units 31, 32, and 33 of the signal control device 30 and follows a program stored in the ROM or the like. Perform various processes.

  As one of the processes executed by the roadside control unit 34, as shown in FIG. 2, when the traffic light 40 is “progress prohibition (red)”, the “progress prohibition (red)” is set. When the vehicle approaching the target intersection I along the direction of the current light color (hereinafter referred to as the target vehicle) is recognized, the light color of the traffic light 40 is set so that the target vehicle passes through the target intersection I without stopping. There is a lamp color change process to change to “progress permission (blue)”. In this lamp color changing process, as shown in FIG. 2, when the target vehicle passes through the target intersection I, the lamp color of the traffic signal 40 is returned to “progress inhibition (red)”. Hereinafter, by the lamp color change process, changing the lamp color of the traffic signal 40 from “progress prohibition (red)” to “progress permission (blue)” until the target vehicle passes the target intersection I. This is called light color change.

  Moreover, as one of the processes which the roadside control part 34 performs, the lamp color by a lamp color change process based on the vehicle information from the information provision apparatus 1, and the traffic state around the target intersection I which the roadside control part 34 acquired. It is determined whether or not the change can be executed (whether or not the lamp color change is permitted), and the determination result is determined as a lamp color control schedule of the traffic light 40 (hereinafter referred to as a lamp color control schedule). There is a color determination process (F2) (details will be described later). Further, as one of the processes executed by the roadside control unit 34, signal information transmission for transmitting signal information including the lamp color control schedule determined in the lamp color determination process (F2) to the information providing apparatus 1 by wireless communication. There is processing (F3) (details will be described later).

  In the driving support system 100 of the present embodiment described above, as shown in the time chart of FIG. 3, the information providing apparatus 1 executes the vehicle information transmission process (F1), so that the vehicle information is transmitted to the signal control apparatus 30. Send.

  And the signal control apparatus 30 which received vehicle information performs the signal information transmission process (F3) for the signal information including at least the lamp color control schedule of the traffic signal device 40 determined by executing the lamp color determination process (F2). By executing, the information is transmitted to the information providing apparatus 1.

  Furthermore, the information providing apparatus 1 that has received the signal information executes the information notification process (F4), and at least notifies the information about the light color of the traffic signal device 40, and then executes the vehicle information transmission process (F1). The vehicle information is transmitted to the signal control device 30.

  That is, when there is an automobile that travels to approach the target intersection on the approach road where the traffic light 40 is “progress prohibited (red)”, the travel support system 100 of the present embodiment provides information. Execution of vehicle information transmission process (F1) in apparatus 1, execution of lamp color determination process (F2) and signal information transmission process (F3) in signal control apparatus 30, information notification process (F4) in information providing apparatus A series of processing cycles of execution is repeated.

<About the contents of the vehicle information transmission process>
Next, the processing content of the vehicle information transmission process (F1) executed by the vehicle side control unit 16 of the information providing apparatus 1 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The vehicle information transmission process (F1) is started at a predetermined time interval (for example, 100 [ms]), and when started, as shown in FIG. The current position of the host vehicle specified in 10 and the traveling direction of the host vehicle are acquired (S110). Subsequently, identification information (hereinafter referred to as vehicle ID) for identifying the automobile stored in advance in the ROM is acquired (S120).

  Furthermore, based on the data (detection signal) from the vehicle speed sensor 20 connected via the external device connection unit 11, the traveling speed of the host vehicle is derived (S130). Then, information including the current position of the host vehicle acquired in S110 and S120, the traveling direction of the host vehicle, the vehicle ID, and the traveling speed of the host vehicle derived in S130 is generated as vehicle information, and the generated vehicle information is generated. Is transmitted by road-to-vehicle communication from the wireless communication unit 15 of the information providing apparatus 1 (S140).

Then, this vehicle information transmission process (F1) is complete | finished.
<About the details of the lamp color determination process>
Next, the processing content of the lamp color determination process (F2) executed by the roadside control unit 34 of the signal control device 30 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

This lamp color determination process (F2) is started, for example, when the lamp color of the traffic signal device 40 controlled according to the signal pattern is “progress prohibition (red)”.
Then, when activated, the lamp color determination process (F2) waits until information is received via the wireless communication unit 31 of the signal control device 30 (S510: NO), as shown in FIG. When information is received via the unit 31 (S510: YES), the received information is analyzed to confirm the content of the information (S520). As a result of the confirmation in S520, the information received via the wireless communication unit 31 travels so as to approach the target intersection on the approach road where the traffic light 40 has a “progress prohibition (red)” color. If it is not the vehicle information (hereinafter referred to as target vehicle information) transmitted from the information providing apparatus 1 mounted on the current automobile (ie, the target vehicle) (S530: NO), the process returns to S510. On the other hand, if the received information is target vehicle information (S530: YES), a changeability determination process is executed to determine whether or not the lamp color can be changed by the lamp color change process and determine a lamp color control schedule (S540).

Then, the process returns to S510, and S510 to S540 are repeated until the light color of the traffic light 40 becomes “progress allowed (blue)” according to the signal pattern.
<< Processing details of changeability determination process >>
Subsequently, when the change permission determination process is started in S540 of the lamp color determination process (F2) described above, as shown in FIG. 6, first, the target vehicle information whose contents have been confirmed in the previous S520 is shown. Vehicle ID is acquired from (S610), and the movement state of each priority object is acquired from the movement state acquisition part 32 (S620).

  Furthermore, all emergency vehicle information received via the wireless communication unit 31 of the signal control device 30 during a predetermined time until the change permission determination process is activated this time is acquired (S630).

  In the present embodiment, the emergency vehicle information is one of traffic states around the target intersection, and an emergency vehicle (for example, one of the specific objects of the present invention such as an ambulance, a fire engine, or a police car). The information includes emergency information indicating that the vehicle is being driven for an emergency service, the current position of the emergency vehicle, and the traveling direction. The method by which the wireless communication unit 31 receives the emergency vehicle information may be road-to-vehicle communication with an in-vehicle device mounted on the emergency vehicle, or other methods. In the former case, the information providing device 1 mounted on the emergency vehicle may transmit the vehicle information with the emergency information added as emergency vehicle information in S140 of the vehicle information transmission process (F1).

Subsequently, an intersection installation environment is acquired from the signal information database 33 (S640).
And in the movement state acquired in S620, in the direction (hereinafter referred to as the crossing direction) intersecting the approach road along the direction in which the light color of the traffic signal 40 is “progress prohibition (red)”. It is determined whether or not there is a moving state indicating that there is a priority target object crossing the target intersection along (S650). As a result of the determination in S650, if there is a moving state indicating that there is a priority object being crossed (S650: YES), the vehicle is stopped before the traffic state around the target intersection enters the target intersection. It is determined that this is a state to be performed (hereinafter referred to as a recommended stop state), and the process proceeds to S730 described later.

  On the other hand, as a result of the determination in S650, if there is no moving state in which the priority object being crossed exists (S650: NO), the moving state acquired in S620 approaches the target intersection from the crossing direction. It is determined whether or not there is a moving state indicating that a vehicle (hereinafter referred to as a priority vehicle) exists (S660). As a result of the determination in S660, if there is a moving state indicating that a priority vehicle exists (S660: YES), it is determined that the traffic state around the target intersection is the recommended stop state, and the process proceeds to S730 described later. Proceed with

  As a result of the determination in S660, if there is no moving state indicating that a priority vehicle exists (S660: NO), it is determined whether there is an emergency vehicle approaching the target intersection based on the emergency vehicle information (S670). . As a result of the determination in S670, if there is an emergency vehicle approaching the target intersection (S670: YES), it is determined that the traffic state around the target intersection is the recommended stop state, and the process proceeds to S730 described later.

  In this S670, the emergency information is included in the information acquired in the previous S630, and the planned travel route of the emergency vehicle estimated by a known method from the current position and the traveling direction of the emergency vehicle is the target. If it represents that it is moving toward the intersection, it may be determined that there is an emergency vehicle approaching the target intersection.

  As a result of the determination in S670, if there is no emergency vehicle approaching the target intersection (S670: NO), the intersection installation environment acquired in S640 is the target intersection in the school zone or silver zone (in FIG. 6, It is determined whether or not it is within the restriction zone) (S680).

  As a result of the determination in S680, if the intersection installation environment indicates that the target intersection is within the restricted zone (S680: YES), it is determined that the traffic state around the target intersection is the recommended stop state. The process proceeds to S730.

  In S730, it is determined that it is impossible to execute the lamp color change by the lamp color change process with the vehicle corresponding to the vehicle ID acquired in S610 (hereinafter referred to as a corresponding vehicle) as the target vehicle. The determination result is set as a lamp color control schedule. That is, if the traffic state around the target intersection is the recommended stop state, execution of the lamp color change by the lamp color change process is prohibited for the corresponding vehicle, and the lamp color of the traffic signal 40 is stored in the signal information database 33. “Progress inhibition (red)” until control is performed according to the signal pattern.

  On the other hand, as a result of the determination in S680, if the intersection installation environment does not indicate that the target intersection is in the restricted zone (S680: NO), that is, the traffic state around the target intersection is not the recommended stop state, The current position of the corresponding vehicle, the traveling direction of the corresponding vehicle, and the traveling speed are acquired from the target vehicle information whose contents have been confirmed in S520 (S690). Based on the acquired current position of the relevant vehicle, the traveling direction of the relevant vehicle, and the traveling speed, the lamp color change timing for executing the lamp color change by the lamp color change process is derived (S700).

  Specifically, in S700 in the present embodiment, for example, the time at which the vehicle reaches the target intersection (hereinafter referred to as the current position from the current position of the vehicle (that is, the distance defined from the current position and the target intersection)) and the traveling speed (hereinafter, referred to as the time). , And estimated time of arrival) and the time when the corresponding vehicle finishes passing the target intersection (hereinafter referred to as estimated passage time). Then, the lamp color of the traffic light 40 is changed from “progress prohibition (red)” to “progress permission (blue)” by a lamp color change process before a predetermined time (here, the specified time length) from the estimated arrival time. The lamp color change timing to be changed may be used, and the estimated passage time may be set to the lamp color change timing for returning the lamp color of the traffic light 40 from “progress allowed (blue)” to “prohibit progress (red)” by the lamp color change process. .

Subsequently, it is determined whether the traveling state of the vehicle based on the current position of the vehicle, the traveling direction of the vehicle, and the traveling speed is a recommended stop state (S710).
Specifically, in S710 of the present embodiment, for example, the distance from the target intersection to the current position of the vehicle is equal to or less than a predetermined distance (for example, 5 [m]) that is defined in advance as a distance that can be regarded as being close to the target intersection. If there is, it may be determined that the running state of the vehicle is the recommended stop state. Furthermore, in S710 of the present embodiment, for example, if the traveling speed of the corresponding vehicle is equal to or lower than a predetermined speed (for example, 5 [km / h]) that can be considered that the automobile is stopped, You may determine with a driving state being a stop recommendation state.

  The reason for determining that it is a recommended stop state when it is in such a running state is that the light color is changed by the light color change process for the corresponding vehicle trying to stop before entering the target intersection, This is to prevent the vehicle from suddenly accelerating.

  As a result of the determination in S710, if the traveling state of the corresponding vehicle is the recommended stop state (S710: YES), the lamp color change processing by the lamp color changing process is performed with the corresponding vehicle as the target vehicle in S730 described above. It is determined that the execution is impossible, and the determination result is set as a lamp color control schedule. In other words, even when the relevant vehicle is in the recommended stop state, execution of the light color change by the light color change process is prohibited for the applicable vehicle, as in the case where the traffic state at the target intersection is the recommended stop state. Then, the light color of the traffic signal 40 is set to “progress prohibition (red)” until it is controlled according to the signal pattern stored in the signal information database 33.

Thereafter, the process returns to S510 of the lamp color determination process (F2).
On the other hand, as a result of the determination in S710, if the traveling state of the corresponding vehicle is not the recommended stop state (S710: NO), it is possible to execute the lamp color change by the lamp color changing process with the corresponding vehicle as the target vehicle. The determination result is set as a lamp color control schedule (S720). That is, if the traffic condition around the target intersection is not the recommended stop condition, the vehicle is permitted to change the lamp color by the lamp color change process, and the traffic signal 40 is transmitted at the lamp color change timing derived in S700. Change the light color.

Thereafter, the process returns to S510 of the lamp color determination process (F2).
<About signal information transmission processing>
Next, the content of the signal information transmission process (F3) executed by the roadside control unit 34 of the signal control device 30 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  This signal information transmission process (F3) is started at a predetermined time interval (for example, 100 [ms]) specified beforehand. As shown in FIG. Process correctness information indicating whether the process is normally executed is acquired (S810).

  In addition, in the signal control device 30, the signal control device 30 that does not include the lamp color change process (that is, the lamp color determination process (F2)) is included as one of the processes executed by the roadside control unit 34. There may be. In such a signal control device 30, it is only necessary to indicate that the process color difference information acquired in S810 of the signal information transmission process (F3) indicates that the lamp color change process is not normally executed.

  Subsequently, the vehicle ID acquired in S610 in the change permission determination process executed earlier is acquired as a notification destination ID indicating the transmission destination of the signal information (S820), and set in the change permission determination process at that time. A lamp color control schedule is acquired (S830). Then, the information including the processing difference information, the notification destination ID, and the lamp color control schedule acquired in S810 to S830 is generated as signal information, and the generated signal information is used as the wireless communication unit 31 of the signal control device 30. Is transmitted by road-to-vehicle communication (S840).

Thereafter, the signal information transmission process (F3) is terminated.
<About the content of information notification processing>
Next, the processing content of the information alerting | reporting process (F4) which the vehicle side control part 16 of the information provision apparatus 1 performs is demonstrated in detail using the flowchart of FIG. This information notification process (F4) is started, for example, when electric power is supplied to the vehicle-side controller 16 (for example, an ignition switch is turned on).

  When the information notification process (F4) is started, as shown in FIG. 8, first, the information notification process (F4) waits until information is received via the wireless communication unit 15 of the information providing apparatus 1 (S210: NO). When information is received via the communication unit 15 (S210: YES), the received information is analyzed and the content is confirmed (S220). As a result of the confirmation, if the information received via the wireless communication unit 15 is not the signal information transmitted from the signal control device 30 (S230: NO), the process returns to S210, and if it is signal information (S230: YES) ), A lamp color notification process for notifying information based on the lamp color control schedule is executed (S240).

And after that, it returns to S210 and repeats S210-S240.
<< About the processing contents of the lamp color notification process >>
When the lamp color notification process according to the present embodiment is started in S240 of the information notification process (F4) described above, first, as shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not the included process difference information indicates that the lamp color changing process is normally executed (S310). As a result of the determination in S310, if the process difference information indicates that the lamp color change process is not normally executed in the signal control device 30 (S310: NO), the lamp color notification process is terminated. Then, the process returns to S210 of the information notification process (F4).

  On the other hand, as a result of the determination in S310, if the process difference information indicates that the lamp color changing process is normally executed in the signal control device 30 (S310: YES), the contents in the previous S220 The notification destination ID included in the signal information that has been confirmed is acquired (S320). Then, it is determined whether or not the notification destination ID acquired in S320 matches the vehicle ID of the host vehicle (S330).

  As a result of the determination in S330, if the notification destination ID does not match the vehicle ID of the host vehicle (S330: NO), the signal information from the signal control device 30 is not transmitted to the host vehicle. It judges that it is a thing, this lamp color alerting | reporting process is complete | finished, and it returns to S210 of an information alerting | reporting process (F4).

  On the other hand, as a result of the determination in S330, if the notification destination ID matches the vehicle ID of the host vehicle (S330: YES), the signal information from the signal control device 30 is transmitted to the host vehicle. Judge. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the lamp color control schedule included in the signal information whose contents are confirmed in the previous S220 can execute the lamp color change by the lamp color change process (S340).

  As a result of the determination in S340, if the lamp color control schedule can execute the lamp color change by the lamp color change process (S340: YES), it is notified that “the target intersection can be passed without stopping”. (S350). In the present embodiment, the notification in S350 is executed by at least one of the display on the display surface of the display unit 12 and the audio output from the audio output unit 13.

Thereafter, the main lamp color notification process is terminated, and the process returns to S210 of the information notification process (F4).
On the other hand, as a result of the determination in S340, if the lamp color control schedule is impossible to execute the lamp color change by the lamp color change process (S340: NO), it means that “the target intersection can be passed without stopping”. Is determined (S360).

  As a result of the determination in S360, if it is informing that “the target intersection can be passed without stopping” (S360: YES), a warning that “the target intersection cannot be passed without stopping” Output for a specified time (S370). The warning output in S370 is executed by at least one of the display on the display surface of the display unit 12 and the audio output from the audio output unit 13. Thereafter, the main lamp color notification process is terminated, and the process returns to S210 of the information notification process (F4).

  As a result of the determination in S360, if it is not informing that “the target intersection can be passed without stopping” (S360: NO), the lamp color notification process is terminated without executing the notification. Then, the process returns to S210 of the information notification process (F4).

  That is, in the lamp color notification process of the present embodiment, it is possible to execute the lamp color change by the lamp color change process (permitted), and when the own vehicle can pass the target intersection without stopping. To that effect.

On the other hand, in the lamp color notification process of the present embodiment, if the lamp color change by the lamp color change process cannot be executed (if prohibited), no notification is normally given and the lamp color by the lamp color change process is not provided. The fact that the host vehicle cannot pass through the target intersection without stopping only when the host vehicle changes from possible (permitted) to impossible (prohibited) before it reaches the target intersection. Informed.
[Effect of the first embodiment]
As described above, in the lamp color notification process of the present embodiment, if the lamp color change process by the lamp color change process in the signal control device 30 can be executed (if permitted), the lamp color notification process is notified. If the lamp color change is impossible (if prohibited), no notification is given.

  For this reason, when the vehicle approaches the target intersection from the direction in which the traffic light 40 has a “progress prohibition (red)” color, the traffic light 40 has a “light permission” It can be recognized whether or not it is changed to (blue), and by extension, whether or not it is possible to pass through the target intersection without stopping.

  Further, in the lamp color notification process of the present embodiment, the “target intersection” is changed only when the execution of the lamp color change by the lamp color change process is changed from possible to impossible before the host vehicle reaches the target intersection. Is not stopped and cannot pass ". For this reason, the occupant of the own vehicle can recognize that the traffic state around the target intersection has suddenly changed, and in such a state, the lamp color change is not executed, that is, the host vehicle before entering the target intersection. Can recognize that it is necessary to stop.

  In the lamp color determination process of the present embodiment, execution of lamp color change is prohibited when there is an emergency vehicle approaching the target intersection. For this reason, according to the driving assistance system 100, it is possible to prevent the vehicle from entering the target intersection when the emergency vehicle approaches, and as a result, the target vehicle can smoothly pass through the target intersection.

  Furthermore, in the lamp color determination process of the present embodiment, execution of lamp color change is prohibited if the installation environment of the target intersection is within a school zone or a silver zone. For this reason, according to the driving support system 100, the vehicle that is about to enter the target intersection from the direction in which the traffic light 40 is “progress prohibited (red)” is stopped before entering the target intersection. For example, it is possible to protect vulnerable persons such as elderly people, kindergarten children, nursery school children, and elementary school children.

  Further, in the lamp color determination process of the present embodiment, execution of lamp color change is prohibited when there are pedestrians (people or light vehicles) crossing the target intersection. For this reason, according to the driving support system 10, the vehicle that is about to enter the target intersection from the direction in which the light color of the traffic signal 40 is “progress prohibition (red)” is stopped before entering the target intersection. As a result, pedestrians can be protected.

  By the way, in general towns, there are roads (hereinafter referred to as city roads) in which a plurality of intersections with high traffic (and traffic volume) are continuously connected. When the host vehicle travels on such a street road, the host vehicle may have to approach the intersection when the traffic light 40 is “progress prohibited (red)”. In such a case, if a warning to the effect that “the lamp color change is not executed” is notified for each intersection, the passenger of the host vehicle may feel annoyed.

However, in the lamp color notification process of this embodiment, if it is maintained that the lamp color change by the lamp color change process is impossible, no notification is given. When traveling on a road, it is possible to reduce the possibility that an occupant of the host vehicle feels bothersome.
[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  The driving support system 200 (see FIG. 1) in the present embodiment is different from the driving support system 100 in the first embodiment only in the processing content of the lamp color notification process executed by the information providing apparatus 1. For this reason, in the driving assistance system 200 in this embodiment, about the structure and process similar to the driving assistance system 100 in 1st embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted, and the driving assistance system in 1st embodiment The processing content of the lamp color notification processing different from 100 will be mainly described.

<< About the processing contents of the lamp color notification process >>
Here, FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the lamp color notification processing of the present embodiment.

  When the lamp color notification process of this embodiment is started in S240 of the information notification process (F4) described in the first embodiment, first, as shown in FIG. It is determined whether the process difference information included in the signal information indicates that the lamp color changing process is normally executed (S410). As a result of the determination in S410, if the processing difference information indicates that the lamp color changing process is not normally executed in the signal control device 30 (S410: NO), the “lamp” by the lamp color changing process A warning “color change is not implemented” is notified (S480). The warning notification in S480 is executed by at least one of the display on the display surface of the display unit 12 and the audio output from the audio output unit 13.

Thereafter, the main lamp color notification process is terminated, and the process returns to S210 of the information notification process (F4).
On the other hand, as a result of the determination in S410, if the process difference information indicates that the lamp color changing process is normally executed in the signal control device 30 (S410: YES), the contents in the previous S220 The notification destination ID included in the signal information that has been confirmed is acquired (S420). It is determined whether or not the acquired notification destination ID matches the vehicle ID of the host vehicle (S430). If the determination result shows that the notification destination ID does not match the vehicle ID of the host vehicle (S430: NO). In S480, a warning that “the lamp color change is not implemented” by the lamp color change process is issued. Thereafter, the main lamp color notification process is terminated, and the process returns to S210 of the information notification process (F4).

  On the other hand, as a result of the determination in S430, if the notification destination ID matches the vehicle ID of the host vehicle (S430: YES), the lamp color control schedule included in the signal information whose contents have been confirmed in the previous S220. Then, it is determined whether or not the lamp color change can be executed (S440).

  As a result of the determination in S440, if the lamp color control schedule allows execution of the lamp color change (S440: YES), a notification is made that “the target intersection can be passed without stopping” (S450). The notification in S450 is executed by at least one of the display on the display surface of the display unit 12 and the audio output from the audio output unit 13. Thereafter, the main lamp color notification process is terminated, and the process returns to S210 of the information notification process (F4).

  On the other hand, as a result of the determination in S440, if the lamp color control schedule is impossible to execute the lamp color change (S440: NO), it is informing that “the target intersection can be passed without stopping”. It is determined whether or not (S460).

  As a result of the determination in S460, if it is informing that “the target intersection can be passed without stopping” (S460: YES), the notification content is “not allowed to pass through the target intersection without stopping”. (S470). Thereafter, the main lamp color notification process is terminated, and the process returns to S210 of the information notification process (F4).

  As a result of the determination in S460, if it is not informing that “the target intersection can be passed without stopping” (S460: NO), in S480, “lamp color change is not executed”. ”Is notified. Thereafter, the main lamp color notification process is terminated, and the process returns to S210 of the information notification process (F4).

That is, in the lamp color notification process of the present embodiment, when the lamp color change process in the signal control device 30 is not normally executed or when the prohibition of the lamp color change is continued, “ A warning that the lamp color will not be changed is output.
[Effects of Second Embodiment]
As described above, an occupant of an automobile equipped with the information providing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment determines whether or not the lamp color change is performed, that is, whether or not there is a possibility of stopping at the target intersection. While approaching the target intersection, it can always be recognized.

In particular, in the lamp color notification process of the present embodiment, even when the signal control device 30 does not normally execute the lamp color change process, the passenger of the host vehicle is notified that the lamp color change is not performed. It is possible to more reliably recognize whether or not the light color of the traffic signal is changed to allow travel.
[Other Embodiments]
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, In the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, it is possible to implement in various aspects.

  First, in the change possibility determination process of the first embodiment, a plurality of traffic states are exemplified for the traffic state around the target intersection to be determined as the recommended stop state, but the traffic state around the intersection to be determined as the recommended stop state is It is not restricted to what was illustrated in the said embodiment.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 11, when the outflow road of the target intersection I where the host vehicle is going to travel is congested, the traffic state around the target intersection I may be a stop recommended state. In this case, the traffic flow of the outflow road is acquired as the traffic state around the target intersection I, and if the acquired traffic flow of the outflow road is in a congested state, the traffic state around the target intersection I is in the recommended stop state. What is necessary is just to provide the step to determine in a change possibility determination process.

  The traffic flow on the outflow road by the signal control device 30 may be based on vehicle information from the information providing device 1 mounted on each vehicle, or in the movement state acquisition unit 32 of the signal control device 30 itself. It may be based on the acquired movement state.

  Further, in the lamp color determination process of the above embodiment, if the lamp color change cannot be performed due to the traffic condition around the target intersection being the recommended stop state, the process until the control is performed according to the signal pattern. During the period, the light color of the traffic signal 40 was set to “progress prohibited (red)”. In this case, the light color of the traffic signal 40 was changed from “progress prohibited (red)” to “progress allowed (blue)”. The timing is not limited to the timing according to the signal pattern.

  For example, even when the traffic condition around the target intersection no longer corresponds to the recommended stop condition, the light color of the traffic signal 40 is immediately changed from “Prohibit Progress (Red)” to “Progress Allowed (Blue)”. good.

  That is, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the host vehicle moves from the intersection direction to the target intersection even though the vehicle is about to enter the target intersection from the direction in which the traffic light 40 is “progress prohibited (red)”. When there is one approaching priority vehicle and the traffic condition around the target intersection I is recommended to stop, when the priority vehicle passes the target intersection I, the traffic light 40 lights immediately. You may change the color.

  In this way, the traffic light 40 can be prevented from being stopped for an unnecessarily long time due to “progress prohibition (red)”, and smooth traffic at the target intersection I can be realized. it can. In particular, if the signal color change mode described above is applied to a target intersection of a pattern in which the “progress prohibition (red)” is always lit and a pattern in which “red” or “yellow” blinks repeatedly, the traffic signal The 40 light colors can be changed from “entry prohibited (red)” to “entry permitted (blue)” only for a necessary time.

  Furthermore, in the lamp color notification process of the above embodiment, the notification content in S370 and S470 is a warning that “the target intersection is not allowed to stop without stopping”, and the notification content in S480 is “the lamp color change is performed. However, the notification content in S370, S470, and S480 is not limited to this. For example, it may be information that “it is necessary to stop once before entering the target intersection”, information that “the light color of the traffic light is kept in progress prohibition”, or “light color control” It may be information indicating “schedule transition”. That is, the notification contents in S370, S470, and S480 may be any information as long as it is possible to recognize that the lamp color change by the lamp color change process is not executed.

  In the lamp color notification process of the above embodiment, the notification content in S350 and S450 is that “the target intersection can be passed without stopping”, but the notification content in S350 and S450 is this. For example, it may be information indicating that “the traffic light has its lamp color changed from prohibition to progress permission” or information indicating “transition of lamp color control schedule”. That is, the notification contents in S350 and S450 may be any information as long as it is possible to recognize that the lamp color change by the lamp color change process is executed for the host vehicle.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the specified time interval, which is the start timing of the signal information transmission process, is 100 [ms]. However, the specified time interval is not limited to this time. For example, the lamp color control process It may be a short time shorter than the execution cycle.

  In the above embodiment, the activation timing of the signal information transmission process is set to the specified time interval. However, the activation timing of the signal information transmission process is not limited to the specified time interval. For example, the execution period of the lamp color determination process is , Every time one cycle ends, that is, every time a lamp color control schedule is determined. That is, the timing for transmitting the signal information may be every specified time interval or every time a lamp color control schedule is determined.

  By the way, in the signal control apparatus 30 of the said embodiment, the movement state was acquired from the movement state acquisition part 32, However, The method by which the signal control apparatus 30 acquires a movement state is not restricted to this. For example, the vehicle information from the information providing apparatus 1 may be acquired as the moving state of the vehicle information within the specified range of the current position included in the vehicle information from the target intersection, or at least information including the current position The device that repeatedly transmits is mounted on a light vehicle or carried by a person, and the current position, traveling direction, moving speed, etc. of each priority object recognized based on information received from those devices are moved. You may acquire as a state.

  In particular, the signal control device 30 includes well-known probe information that periodically collects probe information that represents the traveling state of the vehicle, including the vehicle position, traveling speed, presence / absence of brake operation, presence / absence of turn signal operation, engine speed, and the like. Probe information from the system may be acquired as a movement state.

  In the signal control device 30 of the above embodiment, the intersection installation environment is stored in advance in the signal information database 33 and acquired from the signal information database 33. However, the signal control device 30 acquires the intersection installation environment. Is not limited to this, and may be acquired from the information providing apparatus 1. In this case, the information providing apparatus 1 may transmit even if the intersection installation environment is included in the vehicle information, or may transmit only the intersection installation environment separately from the vehicle information. When the information providing device 1 transmits the intersection installation environment to the signal control device 30 as described above, the intersection installation environment may be acquired from map data or the like stored in the navigation device mounted on the vehicle.

  In addition, the information provision apparatus 1 may transmit the vehicle information received from other vehicles to the signal control apparatus 30 by vehicle-to-vehicle communication (corresponding to the state transmission unit of the present invention). In this case, it is preferable that the information providing device 1 transmits the received emergency vehicle information to the signal control device 30 when the emergency vehicle information is received.

That is, in the present invention, the traffic state around the target intersection may be acquired by any method as long as it can be acquired.
[Correspondence between Embodiment and Claims]
Finally, the relationship between the description of the above embodiment and the description of the scope of claims will be described.

  S210 to S230 in the information notification process of the above embodiment correspond to the schedule acquisition unit of the present invention, and the function obtained by repeatedly executing the lamp color notification process corresponds to the notification unit of the present invention. Furthermore, the lamp color change process of the above embodiment corresponds to the lamp color change means of the present invention, and S620 to S640 in the change permission determination process correspond to the traffic state acquisition means of the present invention, and S650 in the change permission determination process. To S680, S720, and S730 correspond to the lamp color determination means of the present invention, and S830 and S840 in the signal information transmission processing correspond to the scheduled transmission means of the present invention.

  Further, S110 and S130 in the vehicle information transmission process of the above embodiment correspond to the vehicle information acquisition means of the present invention, and S140 in the vehicle information transmission process corresponds to the vehicle information transmission means of the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Information provision apparatus 10 ... Position specification part 11 ... External apparatus connection part 12 ... Display part 13 ... Audio | voice output part 15 ... Wireless communication part 16 ... Car side control part 20 ... Vehicle speed sensor 21 ... GPS receiver 22 ... Gyroscope 30 ... Signal control device 31 ... Radio communication unit 32 ... Movement state acquisition unit 33 ... Signal information database 34 ... Roadside control unit 40 ... Traffic traffic light 100, 200 ... Driving support system

Claims (12)

An information providing device mounted on a vehicle,
A target vehicle representing a vehicle approaching from a direction in which the traffic light is prohibited from traveling to a target intersection where traffic control is executed by a traffic signal to be controlled passes through the target intersection without stopping. As described above, the traffic color is obtained by the light color changing means for changing the light color of the traffic signal to the permission of travel, the traffic condition obtaining means for repeatedly obtaining the traffic condition around the target intersection, and the traffic condition obtaining means. Each time, if the acquired traffic condition is not a recommended stop condition for stopping the vehicle before entering the target intersection, the lamp color changing means is allowed to change the lamp color, and the traffic condition is If it is the stop recommended state, the lamp color changing means forbids the lamp color changing means from changing the lamp color, and has a lamp color determining means for determining a lamp color control schedule representing a control schedule of the lamp color of the traffic signal. signal Transmitted from control device by wireless, and will acquisition means for acquiring light color control plan determined by the lamp color determining means,
After the lamp color control schedule acquired by the schedule acquisition means determines permission of lamp color change by the lamp color change means, before entering the target intersection of the host vehicle as the target vehicle, If the transition to the prohibition of change is made, and if the lamp color control schedule continues to prohibit the change of the lamp color by the lamp color changing means, at least one of the change to the own vehicle An information providing apparatus comprising: an informing means for informing information of an aspect in which it is possible to recognize that the lamp color change by the lamp color changing means is not executed. The notification means includes
If the lamp color control schedule acquired by the schedule acquisition unit is permitted to change the lamp color by the lamp color change unit, the lamp color change by the lamp color change unit is executed for the host vehicle. The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein information of a recognizable aspect is notified. A driving support system comprising a signal control device that controls the color of a traffic signal light that performs traffic control, and an information providing device that is mounted on a vehicle and performs wireless information communication with the signal control device,
The signal control device includes:
A target vehicle representing a vehicle approaching from a direction where the traffic signal light color is prohibited to travel to a target intersection where a traffic signal to be controlled is installed, so as to pass through the target intersection without stopping. A lamp color changing means for changing the lamp color of the traffic signal to a progress permission;
Traffic condition acquisition means for repeatedly acquiring the traffic condition around the target intersection;
Each time the traffic state is acquired by the traffic state acquisition means, if the acquired traffic state is not a recommended stop state to stop the vehicle before entering the target intersection, the lamp color changing means If the traffic state is the recommended stop state, the lamp color changing means prohibits the lamp color changing means from changing the lamp color. A lamp color determining means for determining a control schedule;
Schedule transmission means for transmitting the lamp color control schedule determined by the lamp color determination means,
The information providing device includes:
Schedule acquisition means for acquiring a lamp color control schedule transmitted from the schedule transmission means of the signal control device;
After the lamp color control schedule acquired by the schedule acquisition means determines permission of lamp color change by the lamp color change means, before entering the target intersection of the host vehicle as the target vehicle, If the transition to the prohibition of change is made, and if the lamp color control schedule continues to prohibit the change of the lamp color by the lamp color changing means, at least one of the change to the own vehicle And a notifying means for notifying information of a mode in which it is possible to recognize that the change of the lamp color by the lamp color changing means is not executed. The notification means includes
If the lamp color control schedule acquired by the schedule acquisition unit is permitted to change the lamp color by the lamp color change unit, the lamp color change by the lamp color change unit is executed for the host vehicle. The travel support system according to claim 3, wherein information on a recognizable aspect is notified. The traffic state acquisition means includes
The driving support system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein a behavior of a specific object that is an object existing within a specified range including the target intersection is acquired as the traffic state. The traffic state acquisition means includes
At least one of an automobile, a light vehicle, and a person is the specific object,
The lamp color determining means includes
If the behavior of the specific object is movement at the target intersection along the direction intersecting the direction in which the traffic light is prohibited from traveling, the traffic state is the recommended stop state. The driving support system according to claim 5, wherein: The traffic state acquisition means includes
Emergency vehicle as the specific object,
The lamp color determining means includes
The driving support system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein if the behavior of the specific object is approaching the target intersection, the traffic state is the recommended stop state. The traffic state acquisition means includes
Obtaining the traffic flow of the outflow road from the target intersection along the direction in which the light color of the traffic signal is prohibited to travel as the traffic state,
The lamp color determining means includes
The travel support system according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein if the traffic flow on the outflow road is congested, the traffic state is the recommended stop state. The traffic state acquisition means includes
The installation environment of the target intersection is acquired as the traffic state,
The lamp color determining means includes
If the installation environment of the target intersection is within a predetermined school zone or silver zone, the traffic state is the recommended stop state. The driving support system according to one item. The information providing device includes:
It includes state transmission means for acquiring state information representing the traffic state of the road on which the host vehicle travels, and transmitting the acquired state information,
The traffic condition acquisition means of the signal control device,
The travel support system according to any one of claims 3 to 9, wherein the state information transmitted from the state transmission unit is acquired as the traffic state. The information providing device includes:
Vehicle information acquisition means for repeatedly acquiring vehicle information including at least the current position of the host vehicle on which the information providing device is mounted;
Vehicle information transmission means for transmitting vehicle information acquired by the vehicle information acquisition means,
The signal control device includes:
11. The vehicle information transmitted from the vehicle information transmitting means is received, and the target vehicle is specified based on the received vehicle information. 11. Driving support system. The scheduled transmission means of the signal control device,
12. The lamp color control schedule is transmitted every time a lamp color control schedule is determined by the lamp color determining means or at a predetermined time interval specified in advance. The driving support system according to claim 1.