JP2012194761A - Traffic guide information generating device, traffic guide information generating method and traffic guide information generating program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To generate traffic guide information with high accuracy regardless of a type of a first detector.SOLUTION: A traffic guide information generating device comprises: traffic information acquiring means for acquiring first traffic information which is generated based on vehicle detection by the first detector and to which a section having the first detector is related, and second traffic information detected by a second detector in a vehicle traveling in the section which is related to the first traffic information; accuracy specifying means for specifying the type of the first detector which performs the vehicle detection for the first traffic information based on the first traffic information and determining accuracy related to the type of the first detector as accuracy of the first traffic information; and traffic guide information generating means for generating traffic guide information in which a contribution degree of the first traffic information is greater than that of the second traffic information when the accuracy of the first traffic information is higher than predetermined reference accuracy.

Description

  The present invention relates to a traffic guide information generating device, a traffic guide information generating method, and a traffic guide information generating program.

  As represented by VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System), VICS information based on vehicle detection by a detector provided on the road is acquired, and the VICS information Providing the traffic guide information generated based on this is performed (for example, Patent Document 1). Moreover, in patent document 1, the probe mounting rate which is a ratio which acquires the probe information and VICS information which the detector with which the vehicle was equipped, and the vehicle which drive | works a road is equipped with a detector is from a fixed standard. If it is low, the traffic guide information is generated based only on the VICS information.

JP 2006-244265 A

However, there are various types of detectors provided on the road, and there is a problem that the accuracy of the VICS information decreases depending on the type of detectors. That is, in the method of Patent Literature 1, even if the accuracy of the VICS information is low, the traffic guidance information is generated based on the VICS information if the probe mounting rate is lower than a certain standard. There was a problem to do.
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to prevent the accuracy of traffic guidance information from being lowered depending on the type of the first detector.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, the traffic information acquisition means acquires first traffic information and second traffic information indicating road conditions in the same section. 1st traffic information is produced | generated according to the vehicle detection by the 1st detector with which the area was equipped. On the other hand, 2nd traffic information is produced | generated according to the vehicle detection by the 2nd detector with which the vehicle was equipped. The accuracy specifying means specifies the type of the first detector that has performed vehicle detection for the first traffic information based on the first traffic information. Then, the accuracy specifying means specifies the accuracy associated with the type of the first detector as the accuracy of the first traffic information. The traffic guidance information generating means generates traffic guidance information in which the contribution degree of the first traffic information is smaller than the contribution degree of the second traffic information when the accuracy of the first traffic information is lower than a predetermined reference accuracy. That is, when the first traffic information and the second traffic information are obtained for the same section, the contribution degree of the first traffic information based on the accuracy of the first traffic information associated with the type of the first detector. Is determined to be smaller than the contribution of the second traffic information. That is, when the accuracy of the first traffic information is lower than the reference accuracy depending on the type of the first detector, the contribution of the first traffic information can be made smaller than the contribution of the second traffic information. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the accuracy of the traffic information.

  Here, the first detector may be provided on the road, and may be provided above the road, on the side, on the road surface, or inside the road surface. The type of the first detector may be classified according to the specifications of the hardware or software provided in the first detector, or may be classified according to the accuracy of the first traffic information. For example, the type of the first detector may be classified according to the physical medium that the first detector detects in order to remotely detect the vehicle. More specifically, the type of the first detector may be classified according to whether the first detector detects light, radio waves, sound waves, electric fields, magnetic fields, or the like. Furthermore, you may classify the kind of 1st detector according to the calculation capability, the calculation algorithm, etc. for processing the information which the 1st detector detected.

  The accuracy specifying unit may specify the accuracy of the first traffic information every time the information acquisition unit acquires the first traffic information, and record the accuracy in association with the first traffic information on the recording medium. Thereby, the traffic guidance information generation means can determine the contribution degree of the first traffic information based on the accuracy associated with the first traffic information when generating the traffic guidance information. Further, when the traffic guide information generating means generates the traffic guide information, the accuracy may be specified for the first traffic information used for generating the traffic guide information. The road status indicated by the first traffic information and the second traffic information may indicate the status of the road itself, such as the degree of congestion, or indicate the status of the vehicle traveling on the road. Also good.

  The traffic guidance information generation means may make the contribution of the first traffic information smaller than the contribution of the second traffic information when the accuracy of the first traffic information is lower than a predetermined reference accuracy. If the accuracy is lower than a predetermined reference accuracy, the traffic guide information may be generated based only on the second traffic information. That is, when the accuracy of the first traffic information is lower than a predetermined reference accuracy, the contribution of the first traffic information may be 0% and the contribution of the second traffic information may be 100%. The contribution of the first traffic information may be a function of the accuracy of the first traffic information. That is, when the accuracy of the first traffic information is equal to the reference accuracy, the contribution of the first traffic information is obtained by a monotonically increasing function that makes the contribution of the first traffic information equal to the contribution of the second traffic information. It may be. Furthermore, you may produce | generate traffic guidance information by weighting 1st traffic information and 2nd traffic information according to a contribution, and performing a statistics. The traffic guidance information generating means may perform a route search based on the first traffic information and the second traffic information, and generate traffic guide information indicating a result of the route search.

  Further, the reference accuracy may be a constant value or a variable value. Further, the reference accuracy may be a value corresponding to the accuracy of the second traffic information. For example, when the accuracy of the first traffic information is relatively lower than the accuracy of the second traffic information, traffic guide information in which the contribution of the first traffic information is smaller than the contribution of the second traffic information is generated. Also good. Thereby, the traffic guidance information which attaches importance to the higher accuracy of the first traffic information and the second traffic information can be generated. In this case, the accuracy of the second traffic information is set to the number of vehicles that have been provided with the second detector among the vehicles that have traveled in the section, or the proportion of vehicles that have been provided with the second detector among the vehicles that have traveled in the section. It is good also as a value according to. This is because obtaining the second traffic information from a larger number of vehicles can reduce the influence of the vehicle exhibiting a unique behavior and increase the accuracy of the second traffic information.

  In addition, when the type of the first detector that has detected the vehicle for the first traffic information cannot be specified, the accuracy specifying unit determines the accuracy of the first traffic information in the first section provided in another section. You may specify based on the precision matched with the kind of detector. Thereby, accuracy can be specified also about the 1st traffic information in which the kind of the 1st detector was not able to be specified. Furthermore, the accuracy specifying means travels the accuracy of the first traffic information for which the type of the first detector could not be specified within a predetermined distance from the section provided with the first detector and along the road with the section. It is good also as an accuracy based on the kind of the 1st detector with which other sections were possible. Within the predetermined distance from the section in which the first detector whose type could not be specified is within a predetermined distance, and in other sections that can travel along the road, the first detector whose type could not be specified was provided. Since there is a high possibility that the section is on the same route as that of the section and is managed by the same road administrator, it is highly likely that the same type of first detector as that section is provided. Therefore, it can be estimated that the precision of the 1st traffic information about the said area is equivalent to the precision matched with the 1st detector with which the said other area was equipped.

  In addition, the accuracy specifying means includes the accuracy of the first traffic information for which the type of the first detector could not be specified within a predetermined distance from the section and in another section of the same road type as the section. The accuracy may correspond to the type of the first detector. Possibility that other sections within the predetermined distance from the section provided with the first detector whose type could not be specified and the same road type as the section are managed by the same road administrator as the section Therefore, there is a high possibility that the same type of first detector is provided. Therefore, it can be estimated that the precision of the 1st traffic information about the said area is equivalent to the precision matched with the 1st detector with which the said other area was equipped.

By the way, the accuracy of the first traffic information depends not only on the type of the first detector but also on other factors. For example, in a first detector that performs vehicle detection using light, the nighttime is less susceptible to sunlight than the daytime, and the accuracy is improved. Accordingly, the accuracy of the first traffic information may be specified based on the type of the first detector and the time when the vehicle detection is performed.
Another factor that affects the accuracy of the first traffic information is the environment in which vehicle detection is performed. That is, the sensitivity of the first detector greatly depends on environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, brightness, and air cleanliness when performing vehicle detection. Since these environmental elements greatly depend on the weather, the accuracy of the first traffic information may be specified based on the type of the first detector and the weather.

  In addition, the method of determining the contribution degree of the first traffic information in the traffic guide information based on the accuracy of the first traffic information as in the present invention can be applied as a method or a program for performing this process. Moreover, the traffic guidance information generation device, method, and program to which the method of the present invention is applied may be realized as a single device or may be realized as a plurality of devices. Further, some changes may be made as appropriate, such as a part of software and a part of hardware. Furthermore, the invention is also established as a recording medium for a program for controlling the traffic guidance information generating device. Of course, the software recording medium may be a magnetic recording medium, a magneto-optical recording medium, or any recording medium to be developed in the future.

It is a block diagram which shows a traffic guidance information provision system. It is a flowchart of a traffic information recording process.

Here, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order.
(1) Configuration of traffic guidance information provision system:
(1-1) Configuration of the first detector, the second detector, and the VICS information management server:
(1-2) Server configuration:
(1-3) Traffic information recording process:
(1-4) Traffic guide information generation processing:
(2) Other embodiments:

(1) Configuration of traffic guidance information provision system:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a traffic guidance information providing system 1 including a server 10 as a traffic guidance information generating device and a flow of various data. The traffic guidance information providing system 1 includes a VICS information management server 20, a first detector 30, and a second detector 40 in addition to the server 10. The VICS information management server 20 can communicate with the server 10 and the first detector 30 via a predetermined communication line. The first detector 30 is provided for each VICS link that is a section into which roads are divided, generates detection information DI indicating road conditions based on vehicle detection of the vehicle C traveling on the VICS link, and detects the detection information DI as VICS. It transmits to the information management server 20. The VICS information management server 20 acquires the detection information DI from the first detector 30, and generates VICS information TI (first traffic information) based on the detection information DI. The VICS information management server 20 transmits the generated VICS information TI to the server 10. On the other hand, the vehicle C transmits to the server 10 probe information PI indicating road conditions based on vehicle detection by the second detector 40. The server 10 uses the VICS information TI based on the detection information DI obtained by the vehicle detection of the first detector 30 and the probe information PI (second) obtained by the vehicle detection of the second detector 40 provided in the vehicle C. Traffic information) is generated, traffic guidance information GI is generated based on VICS information TI and probe information PI, and the traffic guidance information GI is transmitted to vehicle C.

(1-1) Configuration of the first detector, the second detector, and the VICS information management server:
The vehicle C includes a second detector 40, and the second detector 40 includes a GPS receiver (not shown) and a recording medium that records map information. The map information includes link data for specifying a probe link that is a section into which roads are divided. The second detector 40 serves to detect the current position of the vehicle C (the vehicle detection) based on the output signals from the GPS receiver, entry time of the vehicle C with respect to the probe link on the basis of transition of the current position T _i to identify and the exit time T _o. The current position may be specified based on an output signal of the vehicle speed sensor, map matching, or the like. The second detector 40, when the vehicle C exits the probe link to generate probe information PI indicating the the entry time T _i for the probe link that the exit and exit time T _o, and the exit to the probe information PI The probe link is associated and transmitted to the server 10. Note that the probe information PI may be generated and transmitted by a car navigation device provided in the vehicle C, or may be transmitted by a mobile phone or the like connected so as to be communicable with the car navigation device.

The first detector 30 is provided in the VICS link that configures the road, and detects the vehicle C traveling on the VICS link. One first detector 30 is provided in one VICS link. In the present embodiment, the probe link divides the road more finely than the VICS link, and a single VICS link is composed of a plurality of probe links. Table 1 shows an example of a combination of the type of the first detector 30 and the information items of the detection information DI that can be acquired. In Table 1, information items of detection information DI that can be acquired are indicated by circles or double circles.

  Each type of first detector 30 can detect the vehicle C existing at a predetermined detection position of the VICS link. Each type of first detector 30 except the optical beacon method can acquire the number of all vehicles C detected at the VICS link detection position as the traffic volume, The time during which the vehicle C is detected can be acquired as the occupation time. The 1st detector 30 except an optical beacon system acquires traffic volume and occupation time by totaling the result of vehicle detection in the detection period for every predetermined detection period. Then, the first detector 30 excluding the optical beacon method transmits detection information DI indicating at least the traffic volume and the occupation time to the VICS information management server 20 for each detection period.

  In addition, the ultrasonic detector (type 2), the radio wave method, the near infrared ray method, and the loop coil method with the double circle in the column of the vehicle speed in Table 1 are detected by the vehicle detection at a single detection position. The vehicle speed of the vehicle C can be acquired. On the other hand, the first detector 30 of the image recognition method and the optical beacon method with a circle in the column of the vehicle speed in Table 1 indicates that when the same vehicle C is detected at two detection positions, The vehicle speed is obtained by dividing by the difference in time when the distance is detected. The first detector 30 of the image recognition method and the optical beacon method can acquire the vehicle number of the vehicle C existing at the detection position and the vehicle ID of the vehicle C included in the optical beacon, respectively, and the detection position at two points It can be specified whether or not the vehicles C detected by the vehicle are the same. In addition, each kind of 1st detector 30 makes the average the vehicle speed which detection information DI shows, when the vehicle speed about the some vehicle C is obtained within the single detection period. Each type of first detector 30 associates the VICS link provided with the first detector 30 with the detection information DI.

  When acquiring the detection information DI from each first detector 30, the VICS information management server 20 generates VICS information TI based on the detection information DI and transmits the VICS information TI to the server 10. The VICS information TI is information indicating the VICS link, the travel time as a road condition, and the degree of traffic jam in association with each other.

  The VICS information management server 20 acquires the travel time of the VICS link as follows. When the detection information DI includes information indicating the vehicle speed, the VICS information management server 20 refers to map information (not shown) to determine the length of the VICS link provided with the first detector 30 that is the transmission source of the detection information DI. The travel time of the VICS link is acquired by dividing the length of the VICS link by the vehicle speed indicated by the detection information DI. The VICS information management server 20 detects the detection information DI when the information indicating the vehicle speed is not included in the detection information DI (when the detection information DI is acquired from the first detector 30 of the ultrasonic method (type 1) and the far-infrared method). The travel time is estimated based on the length of the VICS link provided with the first detector 30 of the DI transmission source, the traffic volume and the occupation time indicated by the detection information DI. For example, a map storing a result of a pre-investigation of travel time for each combination of VICS link length, traffic volume, and occupation time is prepared, and the travel time is calculated by the VICS information management server 20 referring to the map. get.

  The VICS information management server 20 acquires the congestion level of the VICS link as follows. The VICS information management server 20 determines the degree of congestion based on the combination of the traffic volume, the occupation time, and the vehicle speed indicated by the detection information DI. For example, the VICS information management server 20 refers to a map that defines whether the degree of congestion is “congested”, “congested”, or “empty” for each combination of traffic volume, occupation time, and vehicle speed. Thus, the degree of congestion corresponding to the combination of the traffic volume, the occupation time, and the vehicle speed is specified. The VICS information management server 20 does not include information indicating the vehicle speed in the detection information DI (when the detection information DI is acquired from the first detector 30 of the ultrasonic method (type 1) and the far infrared method), The degree of traffic congestion is specified based on the combination of traffic volume and occupation time. Further, when only the vehicle speed is included in the detection information DI (when the detection information DI is acquired from the first detector 30 of the optical beacon method), the VICS information management server 20 specifies the degree of congestion based on the vehicle speed.

(1-2) Server configuration:
As shown in FIG. 1, the server 10 includes a control unit 11 including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, a communication unit 12, and a recording medium 13, and the program recorded in the recording medium 13 and the ROM is stored in the control unit 11. Will run. The control unit 11 executes a traffic guide information generation program 110 as one of the programs. The communication unit 12 includes a circuit for communicating with the vehicle C and the VICS information management server 20.

  The recording medium 13 records the map information 13a and the accuracy information 13b, and stores the probe information PI and VICS information TI transmitted from the vehicle C and the VICS information management server 20. The map information 13a includes link data including information on VICS links and probe links that divide roads. The link data includes information indicating the link length of each VICS link and each probe link, and information indicating the type of the first detector 30 provided in each VICS link. In the link data, the type of the first detector 30 is not necessarily specified for all the VICS links provided with the first detector 30, and the first detector 30 is newly provided, The type of the first detector 30 is not specified for the VICS link or the like immediately after the one detector 30 is replaced. The accuracy information 13b is data in which the accuracy of the VICS information is associated with each type of the first detector 30. Details of the accuracy of the VICS information will be described later.

The traffic guide information generation program 110 includes a traffic information acquisition unit 110a, an accuracy specification unit 110b, and a traffic guide information generation unit 110c.
The traffic information acquisition unit 110a is traffic information indicating road conditions in the same section, and is provided in the vehicle and the VICS information TI generated in response to the vehicle detection by the first detector 30 provided in the section. This is a module for causing the control unit 11 to execute a function of acquiring the probe information PI generated according to the vehicle detection by the second detector 40. In the present embodiment, the VICS information TI and the probe information PI associated with the probe links constituting the VICS link associated with the VICS information TI correspond to traffic information indicating road conditions in the same section. . With the function of the traffic information acquisition unit 110a, the control unit 11 acquires the VICS information TI from the VICS information management server 20 via the communication unit 12, and stores it in the recording medium 13. The control unit 11 by the function of the traffic guidance information generation program 110, a time of receiving VICS information TI and acquisition time T _a, accumulates VICS information TI to the recording medium 13 in association with the acquisition time T _a. Furthermore, by the function of the traffic information acquisition unit 110a, the control unit 11 acquires the probe information PI from the vehicle C via the communication unit 12, and sets the time when the probe information PI is received as the acquisition time _Ta and the acquisition time _Ta The probe information PI is stored in the recording medium 13 in association with.

  The accuracy specifying unit 110b specifies the type of the first detector 30 that has performed vehicle detection for the VICS information TI based on the VICS information TI, and sets the accuracy associated with the type of the first detector 30. This is a module for causing the control unit 11 to execute a function having the accuracy of the VICS information TI. That is, the control unit 11 acquires the VICS link associated with the VICS information TI by the function of the accuracy specifying unit 110b, and sets the type of the first detector 30 provided in the VICS link as the link data of the map information 13a. Identify by reference. Note that the function of the accuracy specifying unit 110b allows the control unit 11 to execute the VICS when the type of the first detector 30 provided in the VICS link corresponding to the VICS information TI is not recorded in the link data of the map information 13a. It is assumed that the type of the first detector 30 provided in the VICS link associated with the information TI cannot be specified.

表２に示すように、第１検知器３０の種類ごとに旅行時間および渋滞度の精度が対応付けられている。例えば、精度は以下のようにして調査することができる。あるＶＩＣＳリンクについて複数のＶＩＣＳ情報ＴＩを取得するとともに、これらのＶＩＣＳ情報ＴＩが取得された時刻のそれぞれと同時期において当該ＶＩＣＳリンクにおける旅行時間を第１検知器３０とは別の手段により調査しておく。例えば、ＶＩＣＳリンクにて調査用の車両Ｃを走行させ、当該車両ＣがＶＩＣＳリンクに進入してから退出するまでの期間を計測することにより旅行時間を調査してもよい。このような調査を複数回行い、各回についてＶＩＣＳ情報ＴＩが示す旅行時間と別の手段により調査した旅行時間との誤差を算出し、当該誤差の絶対値をすべての回について平均した誤差平均に関して単調減少する値をＶＩＣＳ情報ＴＩの精度としてもよい。この精度は、ＶＩＣＳ情報ＴＩが示す旅行時間と別の手段により調査された旅行時間との誤差が小さいほど大きい値となる。渋滞度についても同様にＶＩＣＳ情報ＴＩが示す渋滞度と、別の手段により調査した渋滞度との差に基づいて精度情報を調査すればよい。以上のようなＶＩＣＳ情報ＴＩの精度の調査を各種類の第１検知器３０について行い、第１検知器３０の種類にＶＩＣＳ情報ＴＩの精度を付けた精度情報１３ｂを用意する。なお、本実施形態において、誤差平均が０となる場合にＶＩＣＳ情報ＴＩの精度が１００となるようにＶＩＣＳ情報ＴＩの精度は正規化されている。 With the function of the accuracy specifying unit 110b, the control unit 11 specifies the accuracy corresponding to the type of the first detector 30 that has performed vehicle detection for the VICS information TI with reference to the accuracy information 13b. Table 2 shows an example of the accuracy information 13b.

As shown in Table 2, the travel time and the degree of congestion are associated with each type of the first detector 30. For example, the accuracy can be investigated as follows. A plurality of VICS information TIs are acquired for a certain VICS link, and the travel time on the VICS link is investigated by means other than the first detector 30 at the same time as each time when these VICS information TIs are acquired. Keep it. For example, the travel time may be investigated by running the vehicle for investigation C through the VICS link and measuring the period from when the vehicle C enters the VICS link until it exits. Such an investigation is performed a plurality of times, and the error between the travel time indicated by the VICS information TI and the travel time investigated by another means is calculated for each time, and the error average obtained by averaging the absolute values of the errors for all times is monotonous. The decreasing value may be the accuracy of the VICS information TI. This accuracy increases as the error between the travel time indicated by the VICS information TI and the travel time investigated by another means decreases. Similarly, the accuracy information may be investigated based on the difference between the congestion degree indicated by the VICS information TI and the congestion degree investigated by another means. The above-described investigation of the accuracy of the VICS information TI is performed for each type of the first detector 30, and the accuracy information 13b in which the accuracy of the VICS information TI is added to the type of the first detector 30 is prepared. In the present embodiment, the accuracy of the VICS information TI is normalized so that the accuracy of the VICS information TI is 100 when the error average is zero.

  Here, as shown in Table 2, there is a tendency that the accuracy of the VICS information TI corresponding to the first detector 30 of the type using radio waves or electromagnetic fields tends to be high, and the type of light using light that is easily affected by ambient light The accuracy of the VICS information TI corresponding to the first detector 30 tends to be low. Moreover, in the 1st detector 30 which acquires a vehicle speed based on the vehicle detection in the detection position of two places like an image recognition system and an optical beacon system, it exists in the tendency for the precision of travel time to become high. This is because it is less susceptible to the influence of the vehicle C exhibiting a peculiar behavior due to an abrupt brake operation, accelerator operation, or the like, rather than acquiring the vehicle speed of the vehicle C by detecting the vehicle only at one point. Further, as shown in Table 1, the ultrasonic speed (type 1) and the far-infrared first detector 30 cannot acquire the vehicle speed, and the length of the link provided with the first detector 30 and the detection information. Since the travel time is estimated based on the traffic volume and the occupation time indicated by the DI, the travel time accuracy tends to be low for the ultrasonic detector (type 1) and the far-infrared first detector 30.

The traffic guidance information generation unit 110c has a function of generating traffic guidance information GI in which the contribution of the VICS information TI is smaller than the contribution of the probe information PI when the accuracy of the VICS information TI is lower than a predetermined reference accuracy. This is a module for causing the control unit 11 to execute. The control unit 11 by the function of the traffic guidance information generation unit 110c is, VICS links and probe links constituting a section of the statistical target is associated, and, VICS information acquisition time T _a which belongs to the period of the statistical target associated The TI and the probe information PI are extracted as the statistical target VICS information TI and the probe information PI. And the control part 11 sets the value according to the number of the probe information PI of statistical object as a value of reference | standard precision by the function of the traffic guidance information generation part 110c. The number of statistical target probe information PI is a value corresponding to the number of vehicles C including the second detector 40 (hereinafter referred to as the number of probes mounted) among the vehicles C traveling in the statistical target period in the statistical target period. is there.

  The function of the traffic guidance information generation unit 110c allows the control unit 11 to determine the contribution of the VICS information TI to the probe information PI when the average accuracy value associated with the statistical target VICS information TI is smaller than the reference accuracy value. The traffic guide information GI made smaller than that is generated. That is, when the accuracy of the statistical target VICS information TI is lower than the reference accuracy, the traffic guidance information GI is generated by statistics only on the statistical target probe information PI. In this case, the contribution degree of the VICS information TI in the traffic guide information GI is 0%, and the contribution degree of the probe information PI is 100%. On the other hand, when the accuracy of the statistical target VICS information TI is equal to or higher than the reference accuracy, the traffic guidance information GI is generated by statistics only on the statistical target VICS information TI. In this case, the contribution degree of the VICS information TI in the traffic guide information GI is 100%, and the contribution degree of the probe information PI is 0%. And the control part 11 produces | generates the traffic guidance information GI which shows the result of a statistics with the function of the traffic guidance information generation part 110c, and transmits to the vehicle C.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the function of the traffic guide information generation unit 110c allows the control unit 11 to make the contribution of the VICS information TI smaller than the probe information PI when the accuracy of the VICS information TI is lower than the reference accuracy. The generated traffic guide information GI is generated. That is, when the accuracy of the VICS information TI is lower than the reference accuracy depending on the type of the first detector 30, the contribution of the VICS information TI can be made smaller than the contribution of the probe information PI. The accuracy of the traffic information GI can be prevented from being lowered.

  Further, the control unit 11 uses the function of the traffic guide information generation unit 110c to set the reference accuracy for the accuracy of the VICS information TI to a variable value corresponding to the number of probes mounted. Here, the accuracy of the probe information PI increases as the number of mounted probes increases. This is because the probe information PI can be obtained from many vehicles C and the influence of the vehicle C exhibiting unique behavior can be reduced as the number of probes mounted is larger. Accordingly, when the accuracy of the VICS information TI is relatively low with respect to the accuracy of the probe information PI by setting the reference accuracy according to the number of mounted probes, the contribution of the VICS information TI is set to the contribution of the probe information PI. Can be made smaller. Thereby, the traffic guidance information which attaches importance to the higher accuracy of the first traffic information and the second traffic information can be generated.

(1-3) Traffic information recording process:
FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the traffic information recording process executed by the server 10. In step S <b> 100, the communication unit 12 acquires (receives) the VICS information TI from the VICS information management server 20. When the communication unit 12 acquires the VICS information TI, the controller 11 is configured to accumulate VICS information TI in the recording medium 13, the acquisition time T _a of VICS information TI is recorded in association with the VICS information TI.

  In step S105, the control unit 11 specifies the type of the first detector 30 that has performed vehicle detection for the VICS information TI by the function of the accuracy specifying unit 110b. That is, the VICS link associated with the VICS information TI is acquired, and the type of the first detector 30 provided in the VICS link is specified with reference to the link data of the map information 13a. Here, when the type of the first detector 30 provided in the VICS link associated with the VICS information TI is not recorded in the link data of the map information 13a, the control unit 11 includes the VICS information TI. It is assumed that the type of the first detector 30 provided in the associated VICS link cannot be specified. In step S110, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the type of the first detector 30 that has performed vehicle detection for the VICS information TI has been specified by the function of the accuracy specifying unit 110b.

  If the type of the first detector 30 that has detected the vehicle for the VICS information TI can be specified, the accuracy of the VICS information TI corresponding to the type of the first detector 30 specified in step S105 in step S115. Is identified with reference to the accuracy information 13b, and the accuracy is recorded in the recording medium 13 in association with the VICS information TI.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S110 that the type of the first detector 30 cannot be specified, the control unit 11 uses the function of the accuracy specifying unit 110b to control the first detector 30 whose type cannot be specified in step S120. The VICS link that is within a predetermined distance (for example, 20 km) from the VICS link provided with and can travel along the road with the VICS link is extracted, and the first detector 30 provided in the extracted VICS link is extracted. Identify the type. In step S125, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the type of the first detector 30 has been specified in step S120 by the function of the accuracy specifying unit 110b. When the type of the first detector 30 cannot be specified, the case where no other VICS link can be extracted and the case where the other VICS link can be extracted but the first VICS link provided in the other VICS link is provided. The case where the type of the detector 30 is not recorded in the link data of the map information 13a is included. When it is determined that the type of the first detector 30 can be specified, the accuracy associated with the specified type of the first detector 30 is specified with reference to the accuracy information 13b in step S115, and the The accuracy is recorded on the recording medium 13 in association with the VICS information TI. In addition, when the kind of several 1st detectors 30 is specified in step S120, it prepares for the VICS link nearest to the VICS link with which the 1st detector 30 with which the kind was not able to be specified was provided. The accuracy associated with the type of the first detector 30 is recorded in association with the VICS information TI.

  Here, the other VICS links extracted in step S120 may be on the same route as the VICS link provided with the first detector 30 whose type could not be specified and managed by the same road administrator. Is expensive. Therefore, there is a high possibility that the first detector 30 whose type could not be specified and the first detector 30 provided in the other VICS link extracted in step S120 are the same type. Therefore, it can be considered that the accuracy of the VICS information TI is equivalent to the accuracy associated with the type of the first detector 30 provided in the other VICS link extracted in step S120.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S125 that the type of the first detector 30 could not be specified, the control unit 11 uses the function of the accuracy specifying unit 110b to control the first detector 30 whose type could not be specified in step S130. A first detector provided in the extracted VICS link, by extracting another VICS link that is within a predetermined distance (for example, 10 km) from the VICS link provided with and having the same road type as the VICS link. 30 types are specified. In step S135, the control unit 11 determines whether the type of the first detector 30 has been specified in step S130 by the function of the accuracy specifying unit 110b. If it is determined that the type of the first detector 30 can be specified, the accuracy associated with the specified type of the first detector 30 is specified with reference to the accuracy information 13b in step S115. The accuracy is recorded on the recording medium 13 in association with the VICS information TI.

  Here, there is a high possibility that the other VICS links extracted in step S130 are managed by the same road administrator as the VICS link provided with the first detector 30 whose type could not be specified. Therefore, there is a high possibility that the first detector 30 whose type cannot be specified and the first detector 30 provided in the other VICS link extracted in step S130 are of the same type. Therefore, it can be considered that the accuracy of the VICS information TI is equivalent to the accuracy associated with the type of the first detector 30 provided in the other VICS link extracted in step S130.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S135 that the type of the first detector 30 could not be specified, in step S140, the area to which the VICS link provided with the first detector 30 for which the type could not be specified belongs (for example, The type of the first detector 30 provided most in the jurisdiction of the road administrator who manages the VICS link) is specified, and the accuracy of the VICS information TI corresponding to the type of the first detector 30 is determined as accuracy information. 13b is specified, and the accuracy is recorded in the recording medium 13 in association with the VICS information TI. That is, by the function of the accuracy specifying unit 110b, the control unit 11 is most equipped with the accuracy of the VICS information TI associated with the link provided with the first detector 30 whose type cannot be specified in the area to which the link belongs. The accuracy of the VICS information TI corresponding to the type of the first detector 30 that is likely to be detected is specified. Note that the accuracy of the VICS information TI associated with the link provided with the first detector 30 whose type could not be specified is associated with the type of the first detector 30 that can be provided in the area to which the link belongs. The lowest accuracy may be specified.

  By executing the traffic information recording process described above every time the VICS information TI is acquired, the recording medium 13 can accumulate the VICS information TI in association with the accuracy. Next, the process which produces | generates the traffic guidance information GI based on VICS information TI is demonstrated.

(1-4) Traffic guide information generation processing:
First, the control unit 11 sets a statistical target section and a statistical target period by the function of the traffic guide information generation unit 110c. Next, by the function of the traffic guide information generation unit 110c, the control unit 11 specifies the VICS link and the probe link constituting the statistical target section with reference to the link data of the map information 13a, and the specified VICS link The VICS information TI and the probe information PI associated with the probe link are extracted. Further, the control unit 11 by the function of the traffic guidance information generating unit 110c includes a VICS information TI and probe information PI that time belonging to the period of the statistical target is associated as acquisition time T _a, the VICS information TI statistics object Extracted as probe information PI.

  Next, the control unit 11 sets the reference accuracy according to the number of probes mounted on the vehicle C in the statistical target section and the statistical target period by the function of the traffic guide information generation unit 110c. That is, the control unit 11 sets a value that monotonously increases with respect to the number of pieces of probe information PI extracted as a statistical object as a reference accuracy value. Next, by the function of the traffic guidance information generation unit 110c, the control unit 11 specifies a value obtained by averaging the accuracy associated with the statistical target VICS information TI as the VICS accuracy.

  The control unit 11 determines whether or not the VICS accuracy is lower than the reference accuracy by the function of the traffic guide information generation unit 110c. When the VICS accuracy is lower than the reference accuracy, the control unit 11 uses the function of the traffic guide information generation unit 110c to generate the traffic guide information GI by statistics of only the probe information PI to be statistics. That is, by the function of the traffic guide information generation unit 110c, the control unit 11 calculates the average travel time indicated by the statistical target probe information PI for each probe link constituting the statistical target section, and calculates the average value as the statistical target. The total travel time of the statistical target section based on the probe information PI is acquired by summing up all the probe links constituting the section. Furthermore, the control unit 11 acquires the most frequent congestion degree among the congestion degrees indicated by the statistical target probe information PI by the function of the traffic guide information generation unit 110c. And the control part 11 produces | generates the traffic guidance information GI which shows the travel time of the whole statistics object area based on the probe information PI, and the most frequent congestion degree by the function of the traffic guidance information generation part 110c, and transmits to the vehicle C. .

  On the other hand, when the VICS accuracy is equal to or higher than the reference accuracy, the control unit 11 uses the function of the traffic guide information generation unit 110c to generate only the VICS information TI to be statistics, thereby generating the traffic guide information GI. For example, the function of the traffic guide information generation unit 110c causes the control unit 11 to calculate the average travel time indicated by the statistical target VICS information TI for each VICS link constituting the statistical target section, and to calculate the average value as the statistical target. The total travel time of the statistical target section based on the VICS information TI is acquired by summing up all the VICS links constituting the section. Further, the function of the traffic guidance information generation unit 110c causes the control unit 11 to acquire the most frequent congestion degree among the congestion degrees indicated by the statistical target VICS information TI. And the control part 11 produces | generates the traffic guidance information GI which shows the travel time of the whole area of the statistics object based on VICS information TI, and the most frequent congestion degree by the function of the traffic guidance information generation part 110c, and transmits to the vehicle C. .

(2) Other embodiments:
The accuracy of the VICS information TI depends not only on the type of the first detector 30 but also on other factors. In the present embodiment, the control unit 11 specifies the accuracy of the VICS information TI in consideration of the environment and time when the vehicle is detected by the function of the accuracy specifying unit 110b. First, the control unit 11 uses the function of the accuracy specifying unit 110b to change the accuracy of the VICS information TI corresponding to the type of the first detector 30 provided in the VICS link associated with the VICS information TI to the accuracy information 13b (Table 2). ) To identify. Further, the control unit 11 of the function of the accuracy specified portion 110b, for example by the communication unit 12 communicates with an external weather information server, in the area including the acquisition time T _a and VICS link associated with the VICS information TI Get the weather. The weather control unit 11 of the function of the accuracy specification unit 110b refers to the prerecorded accuracy correction information recording medium 13, acquisition time T _a belongs hours of VICS information TI and (day or night) The accuracy of the VICS information TI specified based on the type of the first detector 30 is corrected by the correction value associated with the combination.

表３に示すように、精度補正情報は、時間帯と天候との組み合わせごと、第１検知器３０の種類ごとに、ＶＩＣＳ情報ＴＩの精度の補正値を規定する情報である。補正値は、昼間の晴れにおけるＶＩＣＳ情報ＴＩの精度を基準として、時間帯と天候との組み合わせが変化した場合に変化する精度を示す。なお、表３では、旅行時間の精度についてのみ補正値を示したが、渋滞度についても時間帯と天候との組み合わせごと、第１検知器３０の種類ごとに、ＶＩＣＳ情報ＴＩの精度の補正値が規定される。表３に示すように、光や音波や電波や電界が雨により干渉を受けるため、光ビーコン方式を除く種類の第１検知器３０による車両検知に基づく旅行時間の精度は低くなる。また、太陽光や妨害電波や妨害音波の影響が少ない夜間においては画像認識方式と光ビーコン方式を除く種類の第１検知器３０による車両検知に基づく旅行時間の精度は高くなる。画像認識方式の第１検知器３０においては、撮影光の光量が不足するため夜間の方が旅行時間の精度は低くなる。また、光ビーコン方式の第１検知器３０は、二地点での車両検知により特定した車両ＩＤが一致する場合のみ車速を特定するため、天候等に応じて旅行時間が特定できる可能性が減少するものの、旅行時間が特定できた場合の精度は大きく変化しない。以上説明した精度補正情報に基づいて、時間帯と天候との組み合わせに応じて精度を補正することにより、正確にＶＩＣＳ情報ＴＩの精度を特定できる。 Table 3 shows an example of the accuracy correction information.

As shown in Table 3, the accuracy correction information is information that defines a correction value for the accuracy of the VICS information TI for each combination of time zone and weather and for each type of the first detector 30. The correction value indicates the accuracy that changes when the combination of the time zone and the weather changes with reference to the accuracy of the VICS information TI in the daytime sunny. In Table 3, the correction value is shown only for the accuracy of the travel time. However, the correction value of the accuracy of the VICS information TI for the degree of traffic congestion for each combination of time zone and weather and for each type of the first detector 30. Is defined. As shown in Table 3, since light, sound waves, radio waves, and electric fields are interfered by rain, the accuracy of travel time based on vehicle detection by the first detector 30 of a type other than the optical beacon method is low. Further, at night when there is little influence of sunlight, disturbing radio waves, and disturbing sound waves, the accuracy of travel time based on vehicle detection by the first detector 30 of a type other than the image recognition method and the optical beacon method is high. In the first detector 30 of the image recognition method, the travel time accuracy is lower at night because the amount of photographing light is insufficient. In addition, since the first detector 30 of the optical beacon method specifies the vehicle speed only when the vehicle IDs specified by the vehicle detection at two points match, the possibility that the travel time can be specified according to the weather or the like is reduced. However, the accuracy when the travel time can be specified does not change greatly. Based on the accuracy correction information described above, the accuracy of the VICS information TI can be accurately specified by correcting the accuracy according to the combination of the time zone and the weather.

In the accuracy correction information of the present embodiment it is assumed that the correction value is specified in each the combination of the time zone and weather belongs acquisition time T _a of VICS information TI, no combination of necessarily time zone and weather May be. That is, if the correction value is defined for each time zone or weather in the accuracy correction information, the accuracy can be specified according to the time zone or the weather. In addition to the weather, a correction value may be defined for each environment such as temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, brightness, and air cleanliness. Further, the accuracy information 13b (Table 2) and the accuracy correction information (Table 3) may be individually recorded on the recording medium 13, or the accuracy information 13b defining the accuracy with the correction value according to the time zone or the like. May be recorded.

By the way, the type of the first detector 30 may be classified according to the specifications of the hardware and software provided in the first detector 30, or an operation for processing information detected by the first detector 30. You may classify | categorize according to capability, a calculation algorithm, etc.
Moreover, the control part 11 should just be able to identify the kind of the 1st detector 30 which performed the vehicle detection for the said VICS information TI based on VICS information TI by the function of the precision specific | specification part 110b, and a 1st detection is carried out. When the type specifying information for specifying the type of the device 30 is included in the VICS information TI, the type of the first detector 30 may be specified based on the type specifying information.

  In addition, whenever the communication part 12 acquires VICS information TI, you may specify the precision of VICS information TI, and when the control part 11 produces | generates the traffic guidance information GI by the function of the traffic guidance information generation part 110c, The accuracy may be specified for the VICS information TI used for generating the traffic guide information GI. As a result, it is possible to reduce the processing load for specifying the accuracy of the VICS information TI that is not used for generating the traffic guide information GI.

The function of the traffic guide information generation unit 110c allows the control unit 11 to make the contribution of the VICS information TI larger than the contribution of the probe information PI when the accuracy of the VICS information TI is higher than the reference accuracy. The contribution may be a function of accuracy. That is, when the accuracy of the VICS information TI is equal to a predetermined reference accuracy, the contribution of the VICS information TI is obtained by a monotonically increasing function that makes the contribution of the VICS information TI equal to the contribution of the probe information. Good. For example, the contribution degree of the VICS information TI and the contribution degree of the probe information PI may be set by a function of the VICS accuracy and the reference accuracy in the embodiment. That is, when the contribution of the VICS information TI is α, the contribution of the probe information PI is β, the VICS accuracy is X, and the reference accuracy is Y,
α = X (X + Y), β = Y (X + Y) = 1−α
May be set. When the VICS accuracy X and the reference accuracy Y are equal, the contribution α of the VICS information TI and the contribution β of the probe information PI are equal. Further, both the travel time of the entire statistics target section based on the VICS information TI and the travel time of the entire statistics target section based on the probe information PI are calculated, and these are calculated as the contribution α of the VICS information TI and the probe. You may generate | occur | produce the traffic guidance information GI which shows the value weighted and combined with contribution degree (beta) of information PI. That is, the travel time of the entire statistical target section based on the VICS information TI is T _v , the travel time of the entire statistical target section based on the probe information PI is T _p, and the travel time indicated by the traffic guide information GI is T _t If you do
T _t = αT _v + βT _p
It is good.
Further, the control unit 11 may perform a route search based on the VICS information TI and the probe information PI by the function of the traffic guide information generation unit 110c, and generate the traffic guide information GI indicating the result of the route search.

  Moreover, you may make it not perform any of the process of step S120-S125 in the said embodiment (FIG. 2), the process of step S130-S135, and the process of step S140. For example, if the type of the first detector 30 provided in the VICS link associated with the VICS information TI cannot be specified, the accuracy of the VICS information TI cannot be specified, and the traffic guide information GI is based only on the probe information PI. May be generated. Of course, you may make it perform any one or two of the process of step S120-S125 in the said embodiment (FIG. 2), the process of step S130-S135, and the process of step S140.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Server, 11 ... Control part, 12 ... Communication part, 13 ... Recording medium, 13a ... Map information, 13b ... Accuracy information, 20 ... VICS information management server, 30 ... 1st detector, 40 ... 2nd detector, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 110 ... Traffic guidance information generation program, 110 ... Traffic information acquisition part, 110b ... Accuracy specific | specification part, 110c ... Traffic guidance information generation part, C ... Vehicle, DI ... Detection information, GI ... Traffic guidance information, PI ... Probe information, TI ... VICS information.

Claims (8)

Traffic information indicating road conditions in the same section, the first traffic information generated according to the vehicle detection by the first detector provided in the section, and the vehicle by the second detector provided in the vehicle Traffic information acquisition means for acquiring second traffic information generated in response to detection;
Based on the first traffic information, the type of the first detector that has performed vehicle detection for the first traffic information is specified, and the accuracy associated with the type of the first detector is set to the first traffic. An accuracy specifying means for the accuracy of information;
Traffic guidance information generating means for generating traffic guidance information in which the contribution of the first traffic information is smaller than the contribution of the second traffic information when the accuracy of the first traffic information is lower than a predetermined reference accuracy. When,
A traffic guide information generating device comprising: If the type of the first detector that has performed vehicle detection for the first traffic information cannot be specified, the accuracy specifying means determines the accuracy of the first traffic information for the first traffic information. Corresponding to the type of the first detector provided in another section within a predetermined distance from the section provided with the first detector that performed vehicle detection and capable of traveling along the road with the section. Accuracy
The traffic guidance information generation device according to claim 1. If the type of the first detector that has performed vehicle detection for the first traffic information cannot be specified, the accuracy specifying means determines the accuracy of the first traffic information for the first traffic information. Accuracy associated with the type of the first detector that is within a predetermined distance from the section in which the first detector that performed vehicle detection is provided and that is provided in another section of the same road type as the section And
The traffic guidance information generation device according to claim 1 or 2. The accuracy specifying means specifies the accuracy of the traffic information based on the type of the first detector and the time when the vehicle detection by the first detector is performed.
The traffic guidance information generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The accuracy specifying means specifies the accuracy of the traffic information based on the type of the first detector and the environment in which vehicle detection by the first detector is performed.
The traffic guidance information generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The accuracy specifying means specifies the accuracy of the traffic information based on the type of the first detector and the weather as the environment.
The traffic guidance information generation device according to claim 5. Traffic information indicating road conditions in the same section, the first traffic information generated according to the vehicle detection by the first detector provided in the section, and the vehicle by the second detector provided in the vehicle A traffic information acquisition step of acquiring second traffic information generated in response to detection;
Based on the first traffic information, the type of the first detector that has performed vehicle detection for the first traffic information is specified, and the accuracy associated with the type of the first detector is set to the first traffic. An accuracy identification process for information accuracy;
A traffic guidance information generating step for generating traffic guidance information in which the contribution of the first traffic information is smaller than the contribution of the second traffic information when the accuracy of the first traffic information is lower than a predetermined reference accuracy; When,
Traffic guide information generation method including Traffic information indicating road conditions in the same section, the first traffic information generated according to the vehicle detection by the first detector provided in the section, and the vehicle by the second detector provided in the vehicle A traffic information acquisition function for acquiring second traffic information generated in response to detection;
Based on the first traffic information, the type of the first detector that has performed vehicle detection for the first traffic information is specified, and the accuracy associated with the type of the first detector is set to the first traffic. An accuracy identification function for the accuracy of information,
A traffic guidance information generation function for generating traffic guidance information in which the contribution of the first traffic information is smaller than the contribution of the second traffic information when the accuracy of the first traffic information is lower than a predetermined reference accuracy. When,
Guide information generation program for causing a computer to execute.

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