JP2015052843A - Accident information collecting system, imaging information transmitting device, and accident information collecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an accident information collecting system capable of increasing accuracy in identifying a cause of an accident by collecting imaging information from a vehicle other than a vehicle having caused the accident, and to provide an imaging information transmitting device and an accident information collecting device used in the accident information collecting system.SOLUTION: An accident information collecting system comprises: a communication device (accident information transmitting device) 1 for detecting an accident related to a vehicle C on which the communication device is mounted, and for transmitting detected accident information; and an accident information collecting device 2 for storing the accident information and for collecting information on accidents of vehicles. When the accident information collecting device 2 receives accident information, it transmits a transmission request for imaging information obtained by imaging outside or inside the vehicle C in time series to a communication device (imaging information transmitting device) 1 mounted on a vehicle other than the vehicle C having caused the accident. The communication device (imaging information transmitting device) 1 having received the request information transmits stored imaging information to the accident information collecting device 2. The accident information collecting device 2 stores the received imaging information by associating it with the accident information.

Description

  The present invention relates to an accident information collection system that collects information related to a vehicle accident, an imaging information transmission device and an accident information collection device used in the accident information collection system.

  In recent years, in order to identify the cause of an accident related to a vehicle, a system that collects accident information related to the vehicle accident using a drive recorder device or the like mounted on the vehicle has become widespread. The drive recorder device is a device that stores imaging information obtained by imaging the outside or inside of a vehicle mounted from an in-vehicle imaging device such as an in-vehicle camera. The drive recorder apparatus of patent document 1 acquires the pedestrian other than the vehicle mounted, and the positional information on a vehicle via the connected wireless receiver. The drive recorder device described in Patent Document 1 is useful for identifying the cause of an accident because it can collect accident information including imaging information and pedestrians other than the mounted vehicle and vehicle position information. It is possible to collect useful information.

JP 2009-83815 A

  However, there is a problem in that the imaging information stored in the drive recorder device described in Patent Document 1 is only information related to the viewpoint of the mounted vehicle. Therefore, for example, when an event occurring at a position that is a blind spot from the imaging device is related to the cause of the accident, the cause of the accident is sufficiently specified only by the accident information stored in the drive recorder device described in Patent Document 1. There is a possibility that it cannot be done.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and accident information that makes it possible to improve the accuracy of identifying the cause of an accident by collecting imaging information from vehicles other than the vehicle that caused the accident. It is an object of the present invention to provide a collection system, an imaging information transmission device and an accident information collection device used in the accident information collection system.

  An accident information collection system according to the present invention detects an accident related to a vehicle to be mounted, transmits an accident information related to the detected accident, and receives the accident information transmitted by the accident information transmission device. In an accident information collection system that has a storage unit that stores received accident information and includes an accident information collection device that collects information related to vehicle accidents, the outside or inside of the mounted vehicle is imaged in time series An imaging information storage unit that sequentially stores imaging information obtained by the request, a request information reception unit that receives request information indicating a transmission request for imaging information stored in the imaging information storage unit, and the request information reception unit receives the request information. Imaging information having a readout unit that reads out the imaging information from the imaging information storage unit, and an imaging information transmission unit that transmits imaging information read out by the readout unit to the accident information collection device when received The accident information transmission device includes a notification unit that notifies the accident information collection device of the occurrence of the accident when the accident is detected, and the accident information collection device receives a notification from the notification unit. A request information transmission unit that transmits the request information to the imaging information transmission device, and an imaging that receives the imaging information transmitted from the imaging information transmission device as a response to the request information transmitted by the request information transmission unit. And an information receiving unit, wherein the imaging information received by the imaging information receiving unit is stored in the storage unit in association with the accident information related to the accident.

  In this invention, the imaging information transmission apparatus which memorize | stores the imaging information obtained by imaging the outside or inside of the vehicle mounted in time series in an imaging information memory | storage part sequentially is provided. The imaging information transmission device receives request information indicating a transmission request for imaging information stored in the imaging information storage unit at the request information reception unit. When the request information receiving unit receives the request information, the imaging information transmitting device reads the imaging information from the imaging information storage unit by the reading unit. The imaging information transmission device transmits the imaging information read by the reading unit to the accident information collection device by the imaging information transmission unit. When the accident information transmitting apparatus detects an accident, the accident information transmitting apparatus notifies the accident information collecting apparatus of the occurrence of the accident by the notifying unit. When the accident information collection device receives a notification from the notification unit, the request information transmission unit transmits the request information to the imaging information transmission device. The accident information collecting device receives the imaging information transmitted from the imaging information transmitting device as a response to the request information transmitted by the request information transmitting unit at the imaging information receiving unit. The accident information collection device stores the imaging information received by the imaging information reception unit in the storage unit in association with the accident information related to the accident determined by the accident determination unit. Therefore, since the accident information collection device can collect information captured from vehicles other than the vehicle that caused the accident, the accuracy of identifying the cause of the accident can be improved.

  The accident information collection system according to the present invention includes a plurality of the imaging information transmission devices, the accident information transmission device includes a position information acquisition unit that repeatedly acquires position information of a vehicle to be mounted, and the notification unit includes The location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit when notifying the accident is included, and the request information transmission unit includes the location information included in the notification of the notification unit. Each of the imaging information transmission devices is configured to transmit to each of the imaging information transmission devices, and each of the imaging information transmission devices receives the positional information acquisition unit that acquires the positional information of the mounted vehicle in time series and the request information reception unit. The calculation unit that calculates the distance between the position corresponding to the position information included in the request information and the position corresponding to the position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit, and the distance calculated by the calculation unit is within a predetermined distance And a distance determination section whether the imaging information transmitting unit, when the distance determining unit determines that it is within a predetermined distance, and said that you have to transmit the imaging information.

  In the present invention, a plurality of imaging information transmission devices are provided. The accident information transmitting apparatus repeatedly acquires the position information of the mounted vehicle at the position information acquisition unit. The notification unit included in the accident information transmission device includes the position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit when notifying the accident information collection device of the accident. The request information transmission unit included in the accident information collection device transmits the request information including the position information included in the notification of the notification unit to each imaging information transmission device. Each imaging information transmission device acquires position information of a vehicle to be mounted in a time series in a position information acquisition unit. Each imaging information transmission device calculates a distance between a position corresponding to the position information included in the request information received by the request information receiving unit and a position corresponding to the position information acquired by the position information acquiring unit by the calculating unit. . Each imaging information transmission device determines whether or not the distance calculated by the calculation unit is within a predetermined distance by the distance determination unit. The imaging information transmission unit included in each imaging information transmission device transmits imaging information when the distance determination unit determines that the distance is within a predetermined distance. Therefore, the accident information collection device can store the imaging information transmitted from the imaging information transmission device mounted on the vehicle located within a predetermined distance from the position of the vehicle that caused the accident. Therefore, the accident information collection device can store the imaging information acquired by the imaging information transmission device mounted on the vehicle that is highly likely to be related to the accident in association with the accident information, and thus identifies the cause of the accident. Accuracy can be increased.

  The accident information collection system according to the present invention includes a plurality of the imaging information transmission devices, and the accident information transmission device includes a position information acquisition unit that acquires position information of a vehicle to be mounted in time series, and the notification unit Includes the location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit when notifying the accident, and the accident information collection device is a communicable area of a relay device that relays communication with the imaging information transmission device A plurality of pieces of information related to the storage unit are stored in the storage unit, and a position corresponding to the position information included in the notification of the notification unit is communicated based on the information about the plurality of communication possible regions stored in the storage unit A relay device selection unit that selects a relay device included in the relay device, and the request information transmission unit is connected to an imaging information transmission device located in a communicable area of the relay device via the relay device selected by the relay device selection unit. Characterized in that you have to transmit the serial request information.

  In the present invention, a plurality of imaging information transmission devices are provided. The accident information transmitting device acquires the position information of the mounted vehicle in time series by the position information acquisition unit. The notification unit included in the accident information transmission device includes the position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit when notifying the accident information collection device of the accident. The accident information collection device stores a plurality of pieces of information related to the communicable range of the relay device that relays communication with the imaging information transmission device. The accident information collection device includes a relay device that includes, in a communicable area, a position corresponding to the position information included in the notification of the notification unit based on information related to a communicable range of the plurality of relay devices stored in the storage unit. Select in the selection section. The request information transmission unit included in the accident information collection device transmits the request information to the imaging information transmission device located in the communicable area of the relay device via the relay device selected by the relay device selection unit. Therefore, the accident information collection device can transmit the request information to the imaging information transmission device mounted on the vehicle located in the communicable area including the position of the vehicle that caused the accident. Therefore, the accident information collection device can store the imaging information transmitted by the imaging information transmission device mounted on the vehicle that is highly likely to be related to the accident in association with the accident information. Accuracy can be increased.

  In the accident information collection system according to the present invention, the imaging information transmission device transmits vehicle information relating to a vehicle to be mounted to the accident information collection device in association with imaging information transmitted by the imaging information transmission unit. The accident information collection device stores the vehicle information transmitted from the imaging information transmission device in the storage unit in association with the imaging information corresponding to the vehicle information. .

  In the present invention, the imaging information transmitting device transmits the vehicle information related to the mounted vehicle to the accident information collecting device in association with the imaging information transmitted by the imaging information transmitting unit. The accident information collection device stores the vehicle information transmitted from the imaging information transmission device in the storage unit in association with the imaging information corresponding to the vehicle information. Therefore, the accident information collection device can store the imaging information corresponding to the accident information and the vehicle information corresponding to the imaging information, so that the accuracy of identifying the cause of the accident can be improved.

  The accident information collection system according to the present invention is characterized in that the accident information includes information related to a vehicle on which the accident information transmission device is mounted or information obtained by imaging outside or inside the vehicle.

  In the present invention, the accident information includes information related to the vehicle on which the accident information transmission device is mounted or information obtained by imaging the outside or inside of the vehicle. Therefore, the accident information collecting apparatus can store information related to the vehicle in which the accident has occurred or information obtained by imaging the outside or inside of the vehicle.

  An imaging information transmission device according to the present invention includes a storage unit that sequentially stores imaging information obtained by imaging the outside or inside of a mounted vehicle in time series, and a transmission request for imaging information stored in the storage unit A receiving unit that receives request information indicating vehicle accident information from an accident information collecting device that stores information related to a vehicle accident, and when the receiving unit receives the request information, the imaging information is read from the imaging information accident information collecting device. And a reading unit for sending out the imaging information read by the reading unit to the accident information collecting apparatus.

  In the present invention, the storage unit sequentially stores imaging information obtained by imaging the outside or inside of the mounted vehicle in time series. The receiving unit receives request information indicating a request for imaging information stored in the storage unit from an accident information collection device that stores information related to a vehicle accident. The reading unit reads the imaging information from the imaging information accident information collecting device when the receiving unit receives the request information. The transmission unit transmits the imaging information read by the reading unit to the accident information collection device. Therefore, the imaging information transmission device can transmit imaging information in response to a transmission request from the accident information collection device.

  An accident information collection device according to the present invention is an accident information collection device comprising a storage unit for receiving accident information related to a vehicle accident from the outside and storing the received accident information. When there is, a transmission unit that transmits request information indicating a transmission request of imaging information obtained by imaging outside or inside the vehicle, and the imaging information as a response to the request information transmitted by the transmission unit A reception unit that receives the image, and the storage unit stores imaging information received by the reception unit in association with accident information related to the accident.

  In the present invention, the transmission unit transmits, to the outside, request information indicating an imaging information transmission request obtained by imaging the outside or inside of the vehicle when a notification of the occurrence of an accident in the vehicle is received from the outside. To do. The reception unit receives imaging information as a response to the request information transmitted by the transmission unit. The storage unit stores the imaging information received by the receiving unit in association with the accident information related to the accident notified from the outside. Therefore, since the accident information collection device can store information captured from vehicles other than the vehicle that caused the accident, the accuracy of identifying the cause of the accident can be increased.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the accident information collection system which makes it possible to raise the precision which pinpoints the cause of an accident by collecting the information imaged from vehicles other than the vehicle which caused the accident, and this accident information collection An imaging information transmission device and an accident information collection device used for the system can be provided.

It is a schematic diagram which shows typically the whole accident information collection system in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a communication apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of an accident information collection apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence which a communication apparatus performs. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence which an accident information collection apparatus performs. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the accident information collection apparatus in Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence which an accident information collection apparatus performs.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings illustrating embodiments thereof.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the entire accident information collection system in the first embodiment. The accident information collection system includes a communication device 1 and an accident information collection device 2 mounted on each of a plurality of vehicles C. The communication device 1 is connected to the imaging device 3 mounted on the vehicle C. The imaging device 3 images the outside or inside of the mounted vehicle C in time series, and sequentially outputs the captured imaging information to the communication device 1. The communication device 1 sequentially stores the imaging information output from the imaging device 3. The communication device 1 communicates with the accident information collection device 2 via any one of the plurality of radio base stations BS and the network N. The network N includes the Internet such as a digital circuit network and an optical fiber network and a mobile phone network. The communication device 1 corresponds to the accident information transmission device and the imaging information transmission device in the present invention. The radio base station BS corresponds to the relay device in the present invention.

  The accident information collection device 2 receives and receives the accident information related to the accident of the vehicle C in which the communication device 1 is mounted by communicating with the communication device 1 via the communication device 1 and the network N and the radio base station BS. Memorize accident information. The accident information is information transmitted to the accident information collection device 2 by the communication device 1 mounted on the vehicle C when the vehicle C has an accident, and will be described in detail later. In addition, the accident information collection device 2 receives imaging information from a vehicle C (hereinafter also referred to as a surrounding vehicle) located in the vicinity other than the vehicle C that has caused the accident (hereinafter also referred to as an accident vehicle). Store information.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the communication device 1. The communication device 1 includes a CPU 11. The CPU 11 includes, for example, one or a plurality of CPUs (Central Processing Units), a multi-core CPU, and the like. In addition, the communication device 1 includes a storage unit 12, a temporary storage unit 13, an in-vehicle communication unit 14, an out-of-vehicle communication unit 15, an input / output unit 16, and a position information acquisition unit 17 that are connected to the CPU 11 via a bus. The CPU 11 controls each unit by reading and executing a control program 12a stored in a storage unit 12 described later.

  The storage unit 12 includes a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable ROM) and a flash memory. The storage unit 12 stores a control program 12a. The control program 12a is a program in which processing details performed by communication with the accident information collection device 2 and processing details for controlling each unit included in the communication device 1 are described. The storage unit 12 stores identification information 12b for identifying the communication device 1. The identification information 12b is, for example, a serial number of the communication device 1, an ID (Identifier) that identifies the vehicle C on which the communication device 1 is mounted, and the like.

  The temporary storage unit 13 is configured by a RAM such as SRAM (Static RAM) or DRAM (Dynamic RAM). The temporary storage unit 13 temporarily stores various data generated when the CPU 11 performs processing by the control program 12a. The temporary storage unit 13 includes a buffer area 13a. The buffer area 13a is an area for temporarily storing imaging information 5 imaged by the imaging device 3 and vehicle information 6 acquired via an in-vehicle communication unit 14 described later. For example, the buffer area 13a has a data structure such as a ring buffer. Imaging information 5 and vehicle information 6 are stored. The buffer area 13a corresponds to the imaging information storage unit in the present invention.

  The imaging information 5 is information obtained by performing encoding processing such as compression on the later-described video information input from the imaging device 3 to the communication device 1 by the CPU 11, for example, information in MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) format. is there. The imaging information 5 is sequentially stored in the buffer area 13a as the imaging device 3 captures images in time series.

  The vehicle information 6 is information related to travel of the vehicle C such as position information of the vehicle C on which the communication device 1 is mounted, information related to the vehicle speed, and information related to the brake. The position information of the vehicle C is information such as coordinates on the map indicating the position of the vehicle C, and is acquired by the position information acquisition unit 17. The information related to the vehicle speed is information such as the traveling speed of the vehicle C and is acquired via the in-vehicle communication unit 14. The information relating to the brake is information such as the depression amount of the brake pedal provided in the vehicle C, and is acquired via the in-vehicle communication unit 14.

  Here, the imaging information 5 and the vehicle information 6 are stored in association with each other according to the time stored in the buffer area 13a. Further, when the imaging information 5 and the vehicle information 6 are sequentially stored in the ring buffer, they are overwritten in the order stored in the ring buffer when the maximum capacity of the buffer area 13a is exceeded.

  The in-vehicle communication unit 14 connects the gateway device 4. The in-vehicle communication unit 14 performs communication connection control with the gateway device 4 and is configured based on each standard such as CAN (Controller Area Network), FlexRay, and the like. The gateway device 4 is a device that relays data transmission / reception between a plurality of in-vehicle networks arranged in the vehicle C. The CPU 11 sends information related to travel of the vehicle C such as information related to vehicle speed and information related to brakes from an ECU (Electric Control Unit) or sensor connected to the in-vehicle network via the in-vehicle communication unit 14 and the gateway device 4. Acquired and sequentially stored in the buffer area 13a.

  The vehicle exterior communication unit 15 performs communication connection control with the radio base station BS. The outside-vehicle communication unit 15 performs wireless communication with the wireless base station BS by, for example, W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access), CDMA2000, LTE (Long Term Evolution), or wireless LAN. The vehicle exterior communication unit 15 is configured to be connectable to the network N via the radio base station BS, and transmits and receives information to and from the accident information collection device 2. For example, the communication unit 15 outside the vehicle receives later-described request information indicating a transmission request for the imaging information 5 stored in the buffer area 13a from the accident information collection device 2, and receives imaging information according to a command from the CPU 11 in response to the transmission request. 5 is transmitted. At this time, the vehicle exterior communication unit 15 corresponds to the request information receiving unit and the imaging information transmitting unit in the present invention.

  The imaging device 3 is connected to the input / output unit 16. The imaging device 3 is a camera or the like that can capture the outside or inside of the vehicle C. The imaging device 3 captures images at a frequency such as several tens or hundreds of times per second, and continuously inputs image signals relating to the captured images to the CPU 11 via the input / output unit 16 as video information. Further, the CPU 11 controls the operation of the imaging device 3 via the input / output unit 16. In the first embodiment, the imaging device 3 is disposed on the back of the rearview mirror, the front grille, or the dashboard.

  The position information acquisition unit 17 includes a receiver that receives GPS radio waves from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite, and the position information of the communication device 1, that is, the position information of the vehicle C in which the communication device 1 is mounted is stored in the CPU 11. Acquired by command. The acquired position information of the vehicle C is output to the CPU 11. In the first embodiment, the position information acquisition unit 17 acquires the position information of the vehicle C in time series at a predetermined timing according to a command from the CPU 11, and outputs the acquired position information to the CPU 11. The predetermined timing is, for example, 10 seconds. The CPU 11 stores the position information input from the position information acquisition unit 17 as the vehicle information 6 in the buffer area 13a. In the first embodiment, the position information acquisition unit 17 is configured to acquire the position information of the vehicle C, but may acquire the position information of the vehicle C detected by the external device.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the accident information collection device 2. The accident information collection device 2 includes a CPU 21. The CPU 21 is composed of, for example, one or a plurality of CPUs, a multi-core CPU, and the like. The accident information collection device 2 includes a storage unit 22, a temporary storage unit 23, a communication unit 24, and an input / output unit 25 that are connected to the CPU 21 via a bus. The CPU 21 controls each unit by reading and executing a control program 22a stored in a storage unit 22 described later.

  The storage unit 22 includes a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM, a flash memory, and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). The storage unit 22 stores a control program 22a. The control program 22a is a program in which the content of processing performed by the accident information collection device 2 through communication with the communication device 1 and the content of processing for controlling each unit included in the accident information collection device 2 are described.

  The storage unit 22 stores communication device information 22b. The communication device information 22b is configured as an information group for identifying each of the plurality of communication devices 1. For example, the communication device information 22b is a table in which identification information 12b stored in the storage unit 12 by each communication device 1 is stored. The CPU 21 refers to the communication device information 22b when transmitting / receiving information to / from the communication device 1.

  Further, the storage unit 22 stores an accident information DB 22c. The accident information DB 22c includes, for each accident related to the vehicle C, imaging information 5 captured by the accident vehicle with the imaging device 3, vehicle information 6 corresponding to the imaging information 5, and imaging information 5 captured by the surrounding vehicle with the imaging device 3. And vehicle information 6 corresponding to the imaging information 5 is stored. At this time, the accident vehicle and the surrounding vehicle are identified by the identification information 12b stored in the storage unit 12 of the communication device 1 mounted therein. The accident information DB 22c identifies the accident based on the position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit 17 or the unique ID. A security function may be added to the accident information DB 22c in the first embodiment. The security function is a function of requesting input of a password when accessing the accident information DB 22c. By adding a security function, it is possible to reduce the possibility of fraud such as falsification of data.

  The temporary storage unit 23 is configured by a RAM such as an SRAM or a DRAM. The temporary storage unit 23 temporarily stores various data generated when the CPU 21 performs processing by the control program 22a.

  The communication unit 24 is configured to be connectable to the network N, and transmits and receives information to and from the communication device 1. For example, the communication unit 24 transmits request information indicating a request for transmitting the imaging information 5 to the communication device 1 and receives the imaging information 5 transmitted from the communication device 1 according to a command of the CPU 21. At this time, the communication unit 24 corresponds to the request information transmission unit and the imaging information reception unit in the present invention.

  The input / output unit 25 is connected to an input / output device such as a keyboard and a display from the outside, outputs an input signal from the input / output device to the CPU 21, and outputs an output signal from the CPU 21 to the input / output device.

  In the configuration of the communication device 1 and the accident information collection device 2 described above, the operation of the accident information collection system in the first embodiment will be outlined. The CPU 11 included in the communication device 1 issues a command to the imaging device 3 and the in-vehicle communication unit 14, and sequentially stores the imaging information 5 and the vehicle information 6 in the buffer area 13a. Next, the CPU 11 determines whether or not an accident related to the vehicle C on which the communication device 1 is mounted is detected. When it is determined that an accident has been detected, the CPU 11 issues a command to the outside communication unit 15 and notifies the accident information collection device 2 of the accident. At this time, the CPU 11 performs notification including the position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit 17. Further, the vehicle C equipped with the communication device 1 that has detected an accident is an accident vehicle. Thereafter, the CPU 11 transmits the imaging information 5 and the vehicle information 6 stored in the buffer area 13a to the accident information collection device 2.

  The CPU 21 included in the accident information collection device 2 issues a command to the communication unit 24 when there is an accident notification, and transmits request information indicating a transmission request for the imaging information 5 to the communication device 1 included in the vehicle C other than the accident vehicle. To do. At this time, the request information including the location information of the accident vehicle included in the notification of the accident is transmitted.

  When the CPU 11 included in the communication device 1 receives the request information, the CPU 11 includes the position corresponding to the position information of the accident vehicle included in the received request information and the distance between the positions corresponding to the position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit 17. calculate. Next, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the calculated distance is within a predetermined distance. When it is determined that the distance is within the predetermined distance, the CPU 11 reads the imaging information 5 and the vehicle information 6 stored in the buffer area 13a, and transmits the imaging information 5 and the vehicle information 6 to the accident information collection device 2. At this time, the vehicle C equipped with the communication device 1 that transmits the imaging information 5 and the vehicle information 6 is a surrounding vehicle.

  The CPU 21 included in the accident information collection device 2 corresponds to the imaging information 5 and the vehicle 6 received from the communication device 1 mounted on the accident vehicle when the imaging information 5 and the vehicle information 6 are received from the communication device 1 mounted on the surrounding vehicle. In addition, it is stored in the accident information DB 22c.

  Since the communication device 1 and the accident information collection device 2 perform the above processing, information captured from surrounding vehicles other than the accident vehicle can be collected, so that the accuracy of identifying the cause of the accident can be improved. Hereinafter, the processing procedures of the communication device 1 and the accident information collection device 2 will be described in detail.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure performed by the communication device 1. The CPU 11 included in the communication device 1 issues a command to the imaging device 3 and the in-vehicle communication unit 14, and starts storing the imaging information 5 and the vehicle information 6 in the buffer area 13a (step S11). Next, the CPU 11 determines whether or not an accident relating to the vehicle C has been detected (step S12). For example, the CPU 11 receives information related to detection of an accident via the gateway device 4 and the in-vehicle communication unit 14. The information related to the detection of the accident is, for example, information related to the presence or absence of an airbag operation, information related to a change in acceleration, or information related to a detection state of a sensor used for preventing collision of the vehicle C. The CPU 11 detects an accident based on information related to the detection of the accident. Sensors used to prevent the collision of the vehicle C are, for example, ultrasonic sensors provided at the right front part, the left front part, the right rear part, and the left rear part of the vehicle body. The CPU 11 has detected an accident when information indicating that an airbag operation has been input, or when a change in acceleration is greater than or equal to a threshold value determined in advance to determine whether or not an accident has occurred. Determine.

  When it determines with having detected the accident (S12: YES), CPU11 notifies the detected accident to the accident information collection apparatus 2 (step S13). At this time, the CPU 11 includes the identification information 12b stored in the storage unit 12, the position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit 17, and information capable of identifying that the accident information collection device 2 is a notification of an accident. Information is transmitted to the accident information collecting device 2. Thereafter, the CPU 11 advances the process to step S17. Here, when it is determined in step S12 that the CPU 11 has detected an accident, the vehicle C equipped with the communication device 1 provided with the CPU 11 is an accident vehicle. The CPU 11 functions as a notification unit of the present invention by executing the control program 12a in step S13.

  If it is determined that an accident has not been detected (S12: NO), the CPU 11 determines whether or not request information has been received (step S14). The request information is information related to the transmission request for the imaging information 5 transmitted from the accident information collection device 2 as described above, and includes the position information of the accident vehicle. If it is determined that the request information has not been received (S14: NO), the CPU 11 returns the process to step S12.

  When it determines with having received request information (S14: YES), CPU11 is the position corresponding to the positional information contained in request information, and the positional information on the vehicle C contained in the vehicle information 6 memorize | stored in the buffer area | region 13a. The distance between the positions corresponding to is calculated (step S15). Thereafter, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the distance calculated in step S15 is within a predetermined distance (step S16). The predetermined distance is a distance indicating the vicinity of the location of the accident caused by the accident vehicle, for example, 50 m. If it is determined that the distance is not within the predetermined distance (S16: NO), the CPU 11 returns the process to step S12. The CPU 11 functions as a calculation unit in the present invention by executing the control program 12a in step S15. Moreover, CPU11 functions as a distance determination part in this invention by running the control program 12a in step S16.

  If it is determined that the distance is within the predetermined distance (S16: YES), the CPU 11 stops storing the imaging information 5 and the vehicle information 6 in the buffer area 13a (step S17). Here, the vehicle C on which the communication device 1 determined to be within the predetermined distance in step S16 is a surrounding vehicle.

  Next, the CPU 11 reads the imaging information 5 and the vehicle information 6 from the buffer area 13a (step S18). The CPU 11 functions as a reading unit in the present invention by executing the control program 12a in step S18.

  Thereafter, the CPU 11 issues a command to the outside communication unit 15 and transmits the information read out in step S18 to the accident information collecting apparatus 2 (step S19). At this time, when detecting an accident in step S12, the CPU 11 includes the information indicating that the accident has been detected and the identification information 12b in the imaging information 5 and the vehicle information 6 read out in step S18, and transmits the whole as accident information. To do. When the CPU 11 determines that the distance is within the predetermined distance in step S16, the CPU 11 includes the position information and the identification information 12b included in the request information in the imaging information 5 and the vehicle information 6 read in step S18, so that the entire request information It is transmitted as response information indicating the response.

  When the communication device 1 that performs the processing shown in FIG. 4 detects an accident of the vehicle C that is mounted, the communication device 1 may transmit the imaging information 5 and the like stored in the buffer area 13a as the accident vehicle to the accident information collection device 2. it can. Further, when the mounted vehicle C is located within a predetermined distance from the accident vehicle, the communication device 1 can transmit the imaging information 5 and the like stored in the buffer area 13a as a surrounding vehicle to the accident information collection device 2. it can.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure performed by the accident information collection device 2. The CPU 21 included in the accident information collection device 2 determines whether or not there is a notification from the communication device 1 (step S21). Specifically, it is determined by whether or not the information transmitted from the communication device 1 in step S13 in FIG. When it determines with there being no notification (S21: NO), CPU21 waits for a process until a notification is received.

  When it is determined that there is a notification (S21: YES), the CPU 21 transmits request information (step S22). Specifically, the CPU 21 refers to the communication device information 22b and transmits the request information to the communication device 1 having the identification information 12b other than the identification information 12b included in the information received in step S21. The request information is information relating to a transmission request for the imaging information 5 stored in the buffer area 13a by the communication device 1 as described above. The request information includes the position information included in the information received in step S21, that is, the position information of the accident vehicle.

  Next, the CPU 21 starts measuring time (step S23). For example, the CPU 21 starts measuring time by issuing a command to a timer (not shown) or referring to a real time clock (not shown) and storing the referenced time in the temporary storage unit 23.

  Thereafter, the CPU 21 determines whether or not accident information has been received (step S24). If it is determined that accident information has not been received (S24: NO), the CPU 21 waits for processing until accident information is received. If it is determined that accident information has been received (S24: YES), the CPU 21 stores the accident information in the accident information DB 22c (step S25).

  Next, the CPU 21 determines whether or not response information has been received (step S26). Specifically, when it is determined that the response information has been received (S26: YES), the response information is stored in the accident information DB 22c in association with the accident information stored in step S25 (step S27), and the process is terminated. In the first embodiment, the CPU 21 identifies an accident caused by the accident vehicle based on the position information of the accident vehicle. Therefore, when the position information included in the accident information and the position information included in the response information are the same, the accident information and the response information are associated and stored in the accident information DB 22c.

  When it is determined that the response information has not been received (S26: NO), the CPU 21 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed after starting the time measurement in step S23 (step S28). Specifically, in step S23, the CPU 21 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed by referring to the measurement time of the timer when the time measurement is started using the timer. Further, when the CPU 21 starts measuring time using the real-time clock, whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed by comparing the time stored in the temporary storage unit 23 in step S23 with the time when the real-time clock is referenced. Determine whether.

  When it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed (S28: NO), the CPU 21 returns the process to step S26. On the other hand, if it is determined that the predetermined time has passed (S28: YES), the CPU 21 finishes timing (step S29) and returns the process to step S22. Here, in step S29, the CPU 21 resets the value of the timer when the timer starts using the timer in step S23, and the time stored in the temporary storage unit 23 when the timer starts using the real time clock. Is deleted.

  The accident information collection device 2 that performs the processing shown in FIG. 5 transmits the request information to the communication device 1 installed in the vehicle C other than the accident vehicle by receiving the notification of the accident from the communication device 1 installed in the accident vehicle. . Thereafter, by receiving response information as a response to the request information, the imaging information 5 stored in the surrounding vehicles other than the accident vehicle can be stored in association with the imaging information 5 stored in the accident vehicle.

  With the configuration and processing described above, the accident information collection device 2 associates the imaging information 5 stored in the communication device 1 mounted on the surrounding vehicle highly likely to be related to the accident caused by the accident vehicle with the accident information. It can be stored in the accident information DB 22c. Therefore, it is possible to increase the accuracy of identifying the cause of the accident. Further, since the vehicle information 6 can be stored in the accident information DB 22c in addition to the imaging information 5, the cause of the accident can be specified in consideration of the information related to the vehicle speed included in the vehicle information 6.

(Embodiment 2)
In the first embodiment, an example has been described in which the communication device 1 included in the vehicle C performs processing based on position information to determine whether or not the vehicle is a surrounding vehicle and transmit response information. In the second embodiment, an example in which the accident information collection device 2 transmits request information only to surrounding vehicles will be described. Since other configurations and operations except for the configurations and operations described below are the same as those in the first embodiment, detailed description on the same configurations and descriptions of the operations and effects are omitted for the sake of brevity.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the accident information collection apparatus 2 according to the second embodiment. The base station information 22d is stored in the storage unit 22 included in the accident information collection device 2. The base station information 22d stores information related to the communicable area of each radio base station BS and information for communication for each piece of information for identifying each of the plurality of radio base stations BS. The communicable area is an area where each radio base station BS can transmit and receive signals from the radio communication terminal, and can be represented by, for example, a plurality of coordinate values on a map forming the communicable area. At this time, information on a communicable area stores information on a plurality of coordinate values. The information for performing communication is information that allows individual communication connection with the radio base station BS such as an IP (Internet Protocol) address, for example.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure performed by the accident information collection device 2. Note that the process of step S31 performed by the CPU 21 is the same as the process of step S21 in FIG. Further, the processing from step S34 to step S40 performed by the CPU 21 is the same as the processing from step S23 to step S29 in FIG.

  When the CPU 21 included in the accident information collection device 2 determines that there is a notification in step S31 (S31: YES), the CPU 21 selects the radio base station BS (step S32). Specifically, the CPU 21 selects a radio base station BS having a communicable area including the position information included in the notification received in step S31, that is, the position information of the accident vehicle, by referring to the base station information 22d. . In addition, CPU21 functions as a relay apparatus selection part of this invention by running the control program 22a in step S32.

  Thereafter, the CPU 21 issues a command to the communication unit 24, communicates with the radio base station BS selected in step S32, and transmits request information (step S33). Specifically, the CPU 21 performs communication based on information for communication with the radio base station BS selected in step S32, which is stored in the base station information 22d.

  When the accident information collection device 2 that performs the process shown in FIG. 7 determines that there is an accident notification from the communication device 1 mounted on the accident vehicle, the accident information collection device 2 uses the radio base station BS based on the location information of the communication device 1. Select. The selected radio base station BS is the radio base station BS that communicated when the communication device 1 mounted on the accident vehicle notifies the accident information collection device 2 of the accident. Therefore, the accident information collection device 2 can transmit the request information only to the surrounding vehicles by transmitting the request information via the selected radio base station BS.

  Processing performed by the communication device 1 in the second embodiment will be described below. As described above, the accident information collection device 2 transmits request information only to surrounding vehicles. Therefore, when the request information is received in step S14 in FIG. 4 in the first embodiment, the processing in steps S15 and S16 is performed to determine whether or not the mounted vehicle C is a surrounding vehicle. In 2, the response information is transmitted without performing the determination. Since the other processes are the same as the processes shown in FIG. 4, a detailed description thereof is omitted.

  With the above configuration and processing, the accident information collection device 2 selects the wireless base station BS that communicated when the communication device 1 notifies the accident information collection device 2 of the accident, so that the surrounding vehicles at the time of the occurrence of the accident It is possible to prevent the request information from being transmitted. Therefore, the accident information collection device 2 can reduce the processing load due to communication with the vehicle C. Moreover, since the communication apparatus 1 only needs to transmit the imaging information 5 and the vehicle information 6 stored in the buffer area 13a when receiving the request information, the processing load can be reduced.

  In the second embodiment, it has been described that the base station information 22d stores information related to a communicable area and information for communication for each piece of information for identifying each radio base station BS. Information for identifying a set of wireless base stations BS may be added. In that case, the accident information collection device 2 may transmit the request information to the group including the radio base station BS through which the accident vehicle notifies the accident. By configuring the base station information 22d in this way, the range around the accident vehicle can be changed.

  In the first and second embodiments, it has been described that the communication apparatus 1 transmits the accident information and the imaging information 5 as a response to the response information, that is, the request information. However, each piece of information is transmitted by another apparatus. You may make it do. In that case, it is not necessary for the vehicle C to be equipped with both the device that transmits the accident information or the device that transmits the response information.

  In the first and second embodiments, it has been described that the communication apparatus 1 transmits information including the imaging information 5 to the accident information collection apparatus 2 without performing any particular processing. May be transmitted to the accident information collecting apparatus 2 after processing such as encryption is performed on the information including. When the communication device 1 performs encryption, the possibility that the imaging information 5 is falsified can be reduced.

  Furthermore, it should be thought that embodiment disclosed this time is an illustration and restrictive at no points. The scope of the present invention is defined not by the above-mentioned meaning but by the scope of claims for patent, and is intended to include all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the scope of claims for patent.

1 Communication device (accident information transmitter, imaging information transmitter)
2 Accident information collection device 11 CPU (notification unit, readout unit, calculation unit, distance determination unit)
13 Temporary storage unit 13a Buffer area (imaging information storage unit)
15 External communication unit (request information receiving unit, imaging information transmitting unit)
17 position information acquisition unit 21 CPU (relay device selection unit)
22 storage unit 24 communication unit (request information transmission unit, imaging information reception unit)
BS radio base station (relay device)

Claims (7)

Accident information transmission device that detects an accident related to the vehicle mounted and transmits accident information related to the detected accident, and a storage unit that receives the accident information transmitted by the accident information transmission device and stores the received accident information In an accident information collection system comprising an accident information collection device that collects information related to vehicle accidents,
An imaging information storage unit for sequentially storing imaging information obtained by imaging the outside or inside of the mounted vehicle in time series;
A request information receiving unit for receiving request information indicating a transmission request for imaging information stored in the imaging information storage unit;
A reading unit for reading the imaging information from the imaging information storage unit when the request information receiving unit receives the request information;
And an imaging information transmission device having an imaging information transmission unit that transmits imaging information read by the reading unit to the accident information collection device,
The accident information transmitter is
A notification unit for notifying the accident information collection device of the occurrence of the accident when the accident is detected;
The accident information collection device
A request information transmission unit that transmits the request information to the imaging information transmission device when notified from the notification unit;
An imaging information receiving unit that receives imaging information transmitted from the imaging information transmitting device as a response to the request information transmitted by the request information transmitting unit;
The accident information collecting system, wherein the imaging information received by the imaging information receiving unit is stored in the storage unit in association with accident information related to the accident. A plurality of the imaging information transmission devices are provided,
The accident information transmitter is
A position information acquisition unit that repeatedly acquires position information of a vehicle to be mounted;
The notification unit includes the position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit when notifying the accident,
The request information transmission unit is configured to transmit the request information including the position information included in the notification of the notification unit to each of the imaging information transmission devices,
Each of the imaging information transmitting devices is
A position information acquisition unit that acquires position information of a vehicle to be mounted in time series;
A calculation unit that calculates a position corresponding to position information included in the request information received by the request information receiving unit and a distance between positions corresponding to the position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit;
A distance determination unit that determines whether the distance calculated by the calculation unit is within a predetermined distance;
The accident information collecting system according to claim 1, wherein the imaging information transmission unit transmits the imaging information when the distance determination unit determines that the distance is within a predetermined distance. A plurality of the imaging information transmission devices are provided,
The accident information transmitter is
A position information acquisition unit that acquires position information of a vehicle to be mounted in time series,
The notification unit includes the position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit when notifying the accident,
The accident information collection device
A plurality of information related to the communicable area of the relay device that relays communication with the imaging information transmission device is stored in the storage unit,
A relay device selection unit that selects a relay device that includes a position corresponding to the position information included in the notification of the notification unit based on information related to a plurality of communicable regions stored in the storage unit, in the communicable region,
The request information transmitting unit transmits the request information to an imaging information transmitting device located in a communicable area of the relay device via the relay device selected by the relay device selecting unit. The accident information collection system according to claim 1. The imaging information transmitting device is
Vehicle information related to the vehicle to be mounted is associated with the imaging information transmitted by the imaging information transmission unit and transmitted to the accident information collection device;
The accident information collection device
4. The vehicle information transmitted from the imaging information transmitting device is stored in the storage unit in association with imaging information corresponding to the vehicle information. 5. Accident information collection system described in 1. The accident information includes information related to a vehicle on which the accident information transmission device is mounted or information obtained by imaging outside or inside the vehicle. Accident information collection system described in 1. A storage unit for sequentially storing imaging information obtained by imaging the outside or inside of the mounted vehicle in time series;
A receiving unit that receives request information indicating a transmission request of imaging information stored in the storage unit from an accident information collection device that stores information related to a vehicle accident;
A reading unit that reads out the imaging information from the imaging information accident information collection device when the receiving unit receives the request information;
An imaging information transmission device comprising: a transmission unit that transmits imaging information read by the reading unit to the accident information collection device. In an accident information collecting apparatus comprising a storage unit for receiving accident information relating to a vehicle accident from the outside and storing the received accident information,
When there is a notification of the occurrence of an accident in the vehicle from the outside, a transmission unit that transmits request information indicating a transmission request for imaging information obtained by imaging outside or inside the vehicle, and
A receiver that receives the imaging information as a response to the request information transmitted by the transmitter;
The accident information collecting device, wherein the storage unit stores the imaging information received by the receiving unit in association with the accident information related to the accident.

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