JP2019179298A - Image data transmission device, image data provision server, image data transmission program, and image data provision program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide and acquire image data for facilitating recognition of a congestion state.SOLUTION: There is a case where congestion is occurring on a certain lane but not occurring on the other lane concerning a road with multiple lanes per side. In this case, a captured front image is transmitted to a server when a vehicle detects congestion. The server newly registers image data received first as a congestion image, and transmits an imaging request to vehicles traveling in a congestion point area at a predetermined distance Mm behind from a congestion point. Each vehicle that has received an imaging request does not perform imaging when the vehicle has detected congestion but captures a front image so as to transmit the image to the server when the vehicle has not detected congestion. When image data is received from a request vehicle, the server updates a congestion image with the use of the received image data and transmits the image to a vehicle on a rear side of a congestion point area. An updated congestion image has been captured by imaging a congestion lane from a lateral lane without congestion, so that a vehicle that has received the image can recognize a congestion state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to an image data transmitting apparatus, an image data providing server, an image data transmitting program, and an image data providing program, and for example, relates to a technique for imaging a forward traffic congestion state.

When traveling by vehicle, there is a desire to know the traffic conditions ahead.
For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a technique in which a vehicle that has detected the tail end of a traffic jam transmits traffic jam information to a rear vehicle by inter-vehicle communication.
However, the vehicle behind was unable to visually recognize the traffic situation.

Therefore, it is conceivable that the vehicle that has detected the traffic jam captures the front of the vehicle and transmits the captured image data.
However, the information when the traffic jam is detected (the forward image taken when the traffic is detected) can indicate that the last vehicle in the traffic jam immediately before the host vehicle is stopped by an image. It was difficult to capture images like a train in a row.
In particular, when the last vehicle in a traffic jam is a large vehicle such as a truck or a bus, the vehicle ahead of the large vehicle is often not photographed, and the traffic jam situation cannot be grasped.

JP 2006-222844 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide and acquire image data that can easily recognize a traffic jam state.

(1) In the first aspect of the invention, the image data transmitting device is mounted on a moving means such as a vehicle, and receives an imaging request from a traffic jam detecting means for detecting a traffic jam ahead and an image data providing server. An imaging request receiving unit, an imaging unit that captures a forward image, and a current position detection unit that detects a current position when the traffic jam detection unit does not detect traffic jam based on reception of the imaging request, and the imaging There is provided an image data transmission device comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit the forward image and the traffic congestion point corresponding to the current position of the traffic congestion detected location to the image providing server as traffic congestion information.
(2) In the invention described in claim 2, the image pickup means picks up a forward image even when the congestion detection means detects a traffic jam in a state where the imaging request is not received. An image data transmitting apparatus according to claim 1 is provided.
(3) The invention described in claim 3 comprises traffic information receiving means for receiving traffic information including traffic images from the image data providing server, and display means for displaying the received traffic image. An image data transmitting apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the image data transmitting apparatus is provided.
(4) In the invention described in claim 4, the display means displays a road map in which the traffic congestion point is clearly shown together with the traffic congestion image. I will provide a.
(5) In the invention according to claim 5, the congestion point is defined by a link number of a road corresponding to the current position and a distance from the link end point. A data transmission apparatus is provided.
(6) In the invention described in claim 6, when the traffic information receiving means for receiving the traffic information from the image data transmitting device described in claim 1 and the received traffic information are unregistered, the traffic information A traffic jam information registration means for newly registering, an imaging request transmission means for detecting an image data transmission device that moves in a traffic congestion point area in front of the traffic congestion point of the newly registered traffic jam information, and for sending an imaging request; and the reception When the traffic jam information is the traffic jam information received from the image data transmission device that has transmitted the imaging request, the traffic jam information updating means for updating the registered traffic jam information, and the area before the traffic jam area are moved. There is provided an image data providing server, comprising: a traffic jam information transmitting unit that detects an image data transmitting device to transmit and transmits the updated traffic jam information.
(7) In the invention described in claim 7, when the imaging request transmission unit updates the traffic jam information, the imaging request transmission unit transmits a cancellation of the imaging request to the image data transmission apparatus that has transmitted the imaging request. An image data providing server according to claim 6 is provided.
(8) In the invention described in claim 8, the traffic jam information transmitting means transmits the updated traffic jam information to the image data transmitting device that has transmitted the imaging request. Item 7. A server for providing image data according to Item 7.
(9) The invention according to claim 9 is an image data transmission program for causing a computer mounted on a moving means such as a vehicle to function as an image data transmission device, a traffic jam detection function for detecting a traffic jam ahead, and an image An imaging request reception function that receives an imaging request from a data providing server, an imaging function that captures a forward image when the congestion detection function does not detect a congestion based on reception of the imaging request, and a current position detection And a transmission function for transmitting the captured forward image and a traffic jam point corresponding to the current location of the traffic jam detected location to the image providing server as traffic jam information. A featured image data transmission program is provided.
(10) In the invention described in claim 10, the traffic information receiving function for receiving traffic information from the image data transmitting apparatus described in claim 1, and the traffic information when the received traffic information is unregistered. A traffic jam information registration function for newly registering, an image data transmission device that detects an image data transmission device that moves in a traffic jam area in front of the traffic jam point of the newly registered traffic jam information, and an imaging request transmission function for transmitting an imaging request; and the reception If the traffic jam information is the traffic jam information received from the image data transmission device that has transmitted the imaging request, the traffic jam information update function for updating the registered traffic jam information and the area before the traffic jam area are moved. An image data providing program, characterized by causing a computer to realize a traffic information transmitting function for detecting an image data transmitting device to be transmitted and transmitting the updated traffic information To provide a beam.

  According to the present invention, based on reception of an imaging request from an image data providing server, a forward image is captured when the traffic jam detection unit does not detect traffic jam. Can do.

It is the figure which showed the structure of the image delivery system. It is a hardware block diagram of an image data transmitter. It is a hardware block diagram of an image data provision server. It is explanatory drawing showing the outline | summary of position information DB and traffic jam information DB in an image data provision server. It is explanatory drawing showing the whole operation | movement in an image delivery system. It is a flowchart showing the processing content in an image data transmitter. It is a flowchart showing the processing content in an image data provision server.

(1) Outline of Embodiment On a road having a plurality of lanes (lanes) on one side, a specific lane is congested, but other lanes may not be congested.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, a lane (hereinafter referred to as a traffic jam lane) in which a moving means such as a vehicle or a motorcycle traveling in a lane in which no traffic jam occurs (hereinafter referred to as a non-traffic traffic lane) is congested from the side. An image is taken and this traffic jam image is provided to other vehicles traveling in front of the traffic jam point.

That is, when a certain vehicle detects a traffic jam, an image obtained by capturing the traffic jam point and the front (hereinafter referred to as a forward image) is transmitted to the image data providing server.
The image data providing server newly registers the first received image data for the traffic jam point as a traffic jam image, and is traveling in the traffic jam area from the traffic jam point to the predetermined distance Mm on the same road as the traffic jam point. An imaging request is transmitted to another vehicle.
Each vehicle that has received an imaging request does not take an image if the own vehicle detects a traffic jam, and if not, takes a front image and transmits it to the image data providing server.
When the image data providing server receives the image data from the requested vehicle, the image data providing server updates the traffic jam image with the received image data, and transmits it to the traveling vehicle behind (in front of) the traffic jam area.
In the updated traffic jam image, the traffic lane is picked up from the side lane where traffic is not jammed, so that the vehicle that has received the traffic image can recognize the traffic jam situation.
In the present embodiment, the traffic congestion point is defined by the link number of the link representing the moving road and the distance from the end point of the link.

(2) Details of Embodiment Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the image distribution system of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image distribution system 100 according to the present embodiment.
The image distribution system 100 is used for transmitting / receiving traffic jam information between a plurality of vehicles equipped with the image data transmitting device 1, the image data providing server 2, and the image data transmitting device 1 and the image data providing server 2. It is composed of a communication device (not shown).
In the present embodiment, the case where the image data transmitting apparatus 1 is mounted on a vehicle as a moving unit will be described, but the same applies to a case where the image data transmitting device 1 is mounted on another moving unit such as a motorcycle.

As will be described later, the image data transmission device 1 mounted on each vehicle has a function of detecting the vehicle position, and the vehicle-mounted device ID and the detected position information R of the vehicle position are detected at predetermined time intervals (for example, 1 It is transmitted to the image data providing server 2 once a minute).
The image data providing server 2 can grasp the position of each vehicle by storing the position information R transmitted from each vehicle in the position information DB.
Although details will be described later, as shown in FIG. 1, in addition to the position information R, traffic information including a front image and a traffic congestion point, and various types of information such as imaging requests are transmitted and received between the image data providing server 2 and each vehicle. Is done.
The location information R that is periodically transmitted is defined by the link number and the distance from the end point, similarly to the traffic congestion point.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the image data transmission device 1 mounted on each vehicle.
As shown in FIG. 2, the image data transmission device 1 is configured by a computer system mounted on a vehicle, and includes a control unit 10, a current position detection unit 20, a traffic jam detection unit 21, a camera 22, a display 23, and a communication control unit 24. , A storage unit 30 and other units.

The control unit 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, and the like.
The CPU 11 performs various types of information processing and control in accordance with programs stored in various storage units such as the ROM 12 and the storage unit 30. Specifically, the CPU 11 executes a traffic jam processing program, which will be described later, to detect traffic jams, capture a forward image, and transmit it to the image data providing server 2.
The ROM 12 is a read-only storage device, and stores basic programs and parameters for operating the CPU 11.

The RAM 13 is a working memory that temporarily stores programs and data necessary for the CPU 11 to perform various calculations and controls. In this embodiment, the traffic information 130, the current position (x, y coordinates: not shown), and the like are stored. Temporarily stored.
The traffic jam information 130 is stored after the front image captured when the traffic jam is detected in the host vehicle and the position information of the vehicle at the time of the imaging, and is deleted after being transmitted from the communication control unit 24 to the image data providing server 2. . The traffic jam information 130 stores traffic jam information (a traffic jam image and a traffic jam point) received from the image data providing server 2, and the received traffic jam image is displayed on the display 23.

The current position detection unit 20 includes a GPS (Global Positioning System), a vehicle speed sensor, a steering sensor, and the like.
The GPS receives signals from a plurality of GPS satellites that orbit the earth. This signal includes time information, and the CPU 11 processes the time information, whereby the image data transmitting apparatus 1 can obtain the current position (x, y coordinate values) of the own vehicle (own apparatus).
For example, the vehicle speed sensor generates a pulse signal in proportion to the rotational speed of the axle. By processing this, the CPU 11 can detect the vehicle speed information of the host vehicle. The CPU 11 calculates the vehicle acceleration by differentiating the detected speed with time, or calculates the vehicle travel distance by integrating with time.
The steering sensor includes, for example, an optical rotation sensor attached to the rotating portion of the steering wheel, a rotary resistance volume, or an angle sensor attached to the wheel portion. When the CPU 11 processes the signal from the steering sensor, the image data transmission device 1 can detect the steering amount operated by the driver.

The CPU 11 appropriately corrects the current position detected by the GPS among the various signals supplied from the current position detection unit 20 using other signals, and specifies the current position (x, y coordinate values) of the vehicle. The position information (link number and distance) on the road data corresponding to the current position is specified by map matching processing using map data 32 described later.
Here, the image data transmitting apparatus 1 may be provided with a program for map matching processing, and may have a map matching function as a part of the navigation function.

The traffic jam detection unit 21 detects whether or not the vehicle (hereinafter referred to as the host vehicle) on which the image data transmission device 1 is mounted is in a traffic jam state. The traffic jam detector 21 of the present embodiment is configured to detect a traffic jam state from the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor. That is, a traffic jam is detected when traveling at a vehicle speed Vkm / h (for example, 10 km / h) or less continues for L seconds (for example, 10 seconds) or more.
In addition, although the output from the vehicle speed sensor of the current position detecting unit 20 is used as the vehicle speed for detecting the traffic jam by the traffic jam detecting unit 21, a vehicle speed sensor for detecting the traffic jam may be provided.
The camera 22 captures a still image in front of the vehicle on which the image data transmission device 1 is mounted.

The display 23 is a small display installed near the driver's seat of the vehicle, and displays various images such as an input screen and a map screen around the current position.
In the present embodiment, the display 23 displays a traffic jam image when traffic jam information is received from the image data providing server 2. When the navigation function is provided, a road map around the current location displaying the current position of the vehicle and a travel route to the destination are displayed on the display 23 in order to guide the travel route.

  For example, the communication control unit 24 is connected to a communication network such as the Internet, and communicates with the image data providing server 2 to transmit and receive various data related to traffic jams such as traffic jam information including image data.

The storage unit 30 includes a large-capacity storage medium and a drive device that drives the storage medium.
The storage unit 30 includes, for example, a semiconductor memory such as a large-capacity hard disk or a flash memory, or various storage means such as a magneto-optical disk, or a combination of these storage means.
The storage unit 30 stores a program 31, map data 32, and other data.
The program 31 stores various programs such as a traffic jam processing program in the present embodiment. This traffic jam processing program mainly receives a traffic jam information from the image data providing server 2 and a function of transmitting a forward image and a traffic jam spot (link number and distance) captured and detected to the image data providing server 2. A function of displaying a traffic jam image on the display 23 and a function of capturing a forward image and transmitting it to the image data providing server 2 on the condition that no traffic jam is detected when an imaging request is made are realized.

The map data 32 specifies the current position of the vehicle detected by the current position detection unit 20, the road corresponding to the traffic congestion point included in the traffic congestion information received from the image data providing server 2, and the vehicle is currently running. This is used to identify a road (link) that is present by map matching.
As the map data 32, a national road map, a road map of each region, a house map, or the like is stored. The road map is composed of main roads, highways (highway automobile national roads, automobile exclusive roads, etc.), narrow streets and other roads and ground targets (facility, etc.).
In the map data 32, a predetermined area including the current position of the vehicle and a point designated by the user is displayed on the display 23. Along with this map, the display 23 displays the current position of the vehicle, the travel route, and the like.
The map data 32 includes information on the location and type of each road, the number of lanes, the connection relationship between the roads, etc. for each main road, expressway (highway national highway and exclusive road), and narrow streets. Road data (intersection number, node information and link information) related to the road is also stored. The road data is used for route search and map matching, and is also used when the route search and the searched travel route are displayed over the map data.

  The image data transmission device 1 includes a route search program and a route guidance program for realizing a navigation function, and as other units, an input unit used for inputting a destination and the searched travel route by voice. A voice output unit for guidance is provided.

FIG. 3 shows a hardware configuration of the image data providing server 2.
As shown in FIG. 3, the image data providing server 2 is configured by a computer system, and includes a control unit 50, a storage unit 51, a position information DB 52, a traffic jam information DB 53, a communication control unit 54, and the like.
The control unit 50 includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM (not shown). Like the control unit of the image data transmitting apparatus 1 described with reference to FIG. Run various programs. As will be described later, the control unit 50 of the present embodiment executes a traffic jam information distribution processing program.

Each of the storage unit 51, the position information DB 52, and the traffic jam information DB 53 includes a large-capacity storage medium and a drive device that drives the storage medium. In the present embodiment, the position information DB 52 and the traffic jam information DB 53 are stored in a storage medium different from the storage unit 51, but the same storage medium may be used.
The storage unit 51 includes a program 511 and map data 512.
The program 511 stores various programs in addition to the traffic jam information distribution processing program used in the present embodiment. The traffic jam information distribution processing program is executed by the control unit (CPU), thereby realizing traffic jam information collection and distribution processing with the image data transmission device 1.

  The map data 512 stores data having the same contents as the map data 32 of the image data transmitting apparatus 1. The map data 512 is used when a road where a traffic jam has occurred is identified from a traffic jam point received from the image data transmission device 1 and a vehicle traveling behind the identified road is identified.

FIG. 4 conceptually shows the contents of the position information DB 52 and the traffic jam information DB 53 in the image data providing server 2.
In each image data transmission device 1 of the present embodiment, an in-vehicle device ID is defined as unique identification information, and all the in-vehicle device IDs are registered in the image data providing server 2.
The position information DB 52 stores the in-vehicle device ID and the position information R (link number and distance). That is, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the respective position information R = Ra, Rb,... For the in-vehicle device ID = Ai, Bi,.
The position information R corresponding to each vehicle-mounted device ID is updated each time it receives the position information with the vehicle-mounted device ID transmitted from the image data transmission device 1 every predetermined time as described in FIG. The Thereby, the image data providing server 2 can always grasp the position of the image data transmitting device 1 of each vehicle.
In the following description, the in-vehicle device ID is omitted as appropriate. However, when the image data transmitting apparatus 1 transmits data to the image data providing server 2, the in-vehicle device ID is always transmitted and transmitted. Always distinguishes each image data transmission device 1 by the vehicle-mounted device ID.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the traffic jam information DB 53 stores a traffic jam point (link number and distance), a traffic jam image, an imaging request target, and presence / absence of image update.
The traffic jam point and the traffic jam image are newly registered when transmitted from each image data transmission device 1 that detects the traffic jam, and then forwarded from the other image data transmission device 1 in response to an imaging request for the traffic jam point. Updated with image.

The imaging request target of the traffic jam information DB 53 stores the vehicle-mounted device ID of the image data transmission device 1 that transmitted the imaging request in addition to the image data transmission device 1 that transmitted the newly registered traffic jam information.
The imaging request is transmitted for a vehicle traveling in front of the traffic jam point a on the road where the traffic jam occurs. For example, on the same road as the traffic jam point, the image data transmitting device 1 mounted on the vehicle traveling in the area (hereinafter referred to as the traffic jam area) from the traffic jam point to a predetermined distance Mm (for example, 50 m) in front of the traffic jam point. Sent.
In the example shown in FIG. 4B, an imaging request is transmitted to the image data transmission device 1 mounted on a vehicle traveling in the traffic jam area a with respect to the traffic jam point a. 1 in-vehicle device ID = Bi, Ci is stored.

The image update in the traffic jam information DB 53 is data for distinguishing whether the image stored in the traffic jam image is an image when it is first registered as traffic jam information or an image received from the image data transmission device 1 based on an imaging request. is there. When the image update is “None”, the forward image at the time of initial registration is stored as a traffic jam image, and when the image update is “Yes”, the updated forward image is stored as a traffic jam image.
The traffic jam image A stored corresponding to the traffic jam point a shown in FIG. 4B is a forward image at the time of initial registration because the image update is “none”. On the other hand, the traffic jam image R stored corresponding to the traffic jam point g is the updated forward image because the image update is “present”.
Note that the in-vehicle device ID targeted for the imaging request remains stored in order to transmit the cancellation of the imaging request to the image data transmitting apparatus 1 later in the case of the traffic jam point a where the image is not updated. On the other hand, in the case of the traffic jam point g, since the updated image has already been received, the in-vehicle device ID stored in the imaging request target is deleted.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the communication control unit 54 is connected to a communication network such as the Internet, and communicates with the image data transmission device 1 to transmit and receive various types of data related to traffic jams such as traffic jam information including image data.

In the image distribution system 100 configured as described above, the overall operation of the image data transmitting device 1 and the image data providing server 2 will be described.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall operation in the image distribution system 100. FIG. 5 shows a situation in which traffic congestion occurs in one lane (left side of the drawing) lane Z1 of road Z in one lane and traffic congestion does not occur in lane Z2 on the other side.
And (1)-(10) is attached | subjected in order of operation | movement of the image data transmission apparatus 1 and the image data provision server 2 of vehicles AD behind a congested vehicle train.

The operation will be described below in the order of operations (1) to (10).
As described above, the vehicle position information is periodically transmitted to the image data providing server 2 from the image data transmission device 1 of each vehicle A to D, and the position information is stored in the position information DB 52 for each vehicle-mounted device ID. Has been updated.
(1) When the image data transmitting device 1 of the vehicle A approaching the congested vehicle train detects a traffic jam, the camera 22 captures a front image. Here, as described above, the traffic jam is detected when traveling at a vehicle speed of Vkm / h or lower continues for L seconds or longer.
(2) The image data transmission device 1 of the vehicle A transmits the captured forward image and the traffic congestion point a (congestion information) where the traffic congestion is detected to the image data transmission device 1. As described above, when the traffic jam information is transmitted to the image data providing server 2, the in-vehicle device ID = Ai for identifying the device itself is also transmitted (hereinafter, description of the in-vehicle device ID transmission is omitted). .

(3) When the image data providing server 2 receives the traffic jam information transmitted from the image data transmitting device 1 of the vehicle A, the image data providing server 2 sets the forward image A as a traffic jam image and newly registers it in the traffic jam information DB 53 together with the traffic jam point a.
(4) Next, the image data providing server 2 detects a vehicle traveling in front of the traffic jam point a. That is, the image data transmitting device 1 of the vehicles B and C traveling in the traffic congestion point a region on the lane Z1 determined corresponding to the traffic congestion point a is detected from the position information DB 52.
And the registered front image A (traffic congestion image) and an imaging request are transmitted with respect to the detected image data transmission apparatus 1 of the vehicles B and C.

(5) The vehicle B that has received the front image A (traffic image) and the imaging request displays the received front image A on the display 23. And since the image data transmission apparatus 1 of the vehicle B which is drive | working the same lane Z1 as the vehicle A has detected the traffic congestion from the vehicle speed, it does not image | photograph a front image.
(6) On the other hand, the vehicle C that has received the front image A (traffic jam image) and the imaging request displays the received front image A on the display 23. Then, the image data transmitting device 1 of the vehicle C traveling in the lane Z2 where no traffic jam occurs does not detect the traffic jam, and thus captures the front image C.
(7) The image data transmitting device 1 of the vehicle C that has captured the front image C transmits the position information c and the front image C at the time of capturing to the image data providing server 2.

(8) When the image data providing server 2 receives the front image C and the position information c from the image data transmitting device 1 of the vehicle C, the traffic jam information DB 53 indicates that the vehicle-mounted device ID of the vehicle C is stored in the imaging target request. (Refer to FIG. 4 (b)). The received forward image C is updated as a traffic jam image for the traffic jam point a, not a new registration. That is, the traffic jam image at the traffic jam point a is changed to the forward image C received from the registered forward image A.
Then, the image data providing server 2 confirms the image data transmitting apparatus 1 that has transmitted the imaging request corresponding to the traffic jam point a in the traffic jam information DB 53, and captures the image data transmitting apparatus 1 of the corresponding in-vehicle device ID = Bi. Send request cancellation (not shown). Note that the cancellation of the imaging request is not transmitted to the image data transmission device 1 with the vehicle-mounted device ID = Ci that transmitted the front image C.
Further, the image data providing server 2 deletes the imaging request targets Bi and Ci in the traffic jam information DB 53.

(9) When the image data providing server 2 updates the traffic jam image from the front image A to the front image C, the image D of the vehicle D traveling in the near area before the traffic jam point on the same road Z as the traffic jam point a. The image data transmitting device 1 is detected by the position information DB 52, and a traffic jam image (forward image C) and a traffic jam point a are transmitted. Here, the near area in the present embodiment refers to an area from the Mm point to the Nm point on the basis of the congestion point a, where Mm is the same as Mm that defines the congestion point area, and Nm is, for example, 1000 m It is prescribed.
Note that the image data providing server 2 also displays the updated forward image C for the image data transmitting device 1 of the vehicles A and B (except for the vehicle C that captured the forward image C) that are traveling in the traffic jam area a. It is also possible to transmit.
(10) The image data transmitting device 1 of the vehicle D that has received the front image C from the image data providing server 2 displays the front image C on the display 23.
Further, the image data transmitting device 1 may display the road map around the current position and the received traffic congestion point a together with the forward image C on the display 23. Thereby, the driver of the vehicle D can recognize the distance to the traffic jam point a.

As described above, when the image data transmission device 1 of the vehicle that has received the imaging request detects a traffic jam (in the case of the vehicle B), it is the same as the vehicle (vehicle A) that first detected the traffic jam and transmitted the image data. There is a high possibility that the vehicle is traveling in the lane (lane Z1) or is congested even in another lane (the lane Z2 is also congested). Since there is a high possibility that only the image will be obtained, no imaging is performed.
On the other hand, if the vehicle that received the imaging request (in the case of vehicle C) has not detected a traffic jam, it can be determined that the vehicle is in a lane (lane Z2) in which no traffic jam has occurred, so a front image (front image C) is captured. To the image data providing server 2. This front image is an image in which a congested vehicle train is reflected by imaging the congested vehicle train from the side, and more accurately represents the traffic jam situation.
The image data providing server 2 updates the forward image (front image C) in which the congested vehicle train is reflected to the traffic jam image, and the image data transmitting device of the vehicle (vehicle D) that is traveling in the area before the traffic congestion point By transmitting to 1, the driver of the vehicle D can recognize the state of traffic jam in the lane Z1 and can also check the status of the lane Z2 without traffic jam.

Next, regarding the operation by the image distribution system 100, the traffic jam processing by the image data transmitting apparatus 1 and the traffic jam image distribution processing by the image data providing server 2 will be described.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the traffic jam processing program in the image data transmitting apparatus 1.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the traffic jam image distribution processing program in the image data providing server 2.
Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 along the operations (1) to (10) described in FIG.

The CPU 11 of the image data transmission device 1 mounted on the traveling vehicle always monitors whether or not there is a traffic jam by the traffic jam detection unit 21 (step 11), and when no traffic jam is detected (step 11; N). Control goes to step 14.
On the other hand, when a traffic jam is detected (step 11; Y), the CPU 11 of the detected image data transmitting apparatus 1 captures a front image with the camera 22 (step 12).
Then, the CPU 11 transmits the captured forward image and the traffic congestion point (link number and distance) corresponding to the current position detected by the current position detection unit 20 when the forward image is captured to the image data providing server 2 as traffic congestion information. (Step 13).
The transmission of the traffic jam information is indicated by a dotted arrow (2) and corresponds to (2) in FIG. 5 (the same applies hereinafter).

When the control unit 50 of the image data providing server 2 receives the traffic jam information transmitted from the image data transmitting device 1 (step 31), as shown by the dotted arrow (2) in FIG. 7, the traffic jam information of the traffic jam point. Is registered in the traffic jam information DB 53 (step 32).
In the case of the traffic jam information received by the dotted arrow (2), the traffic jam information at the traffic jam point does not yet exist (step 32; Y), so the control unit 50 newly registers the received traffic jam information in the traffic jam information DB 53. (Step 33).

Then, as indicated by the dotted arrow (4), the control unit 50 transmits the traffic jam information and the imaging request to the vehicle-mounted device (image data transmission device 1) in the traffic jam area (step 34).
That is, the control unit 50 searches for an in-vehicle device ID in which the position information R in the position information DB 52 is within the traffic jam area of the newly registered traffic jam spot. Then, the control unit 50 transmits the traffic jam information and the imaging request to the image data transmission device 1 of the searched in-vehicle device ID, and stores the in-vehicle device ID to be transmitted in the imaging request target column of the traffic jam information DB 53.

Returning to FIG. 6, the CPU 11 of the image data transmitting apparatus 1 monitors whether or not traffic jam information has been received from the image data providing server 2 (step 14).
Here, the image data transmission device 1 that has transmitted the traffic jam information in step 13 is not the target of traffic jam information transmission from the image data providing server 2 (the in-vehicle device is the imaging request target corresponding to the traffic jam point in the traffic jam information DB 53). Since the ID is not stored), the traffic jam information is not received (step 14; N), and the process is terminated.

On the other hand, the image data transmitting device 1 of the vehicle traveling in the traffic jam area receives traffic information from the image data providing server 2 as indicated by the dotted arrow (4) (step 14; Y), and the CPU 11 The front image (traffic jam image) included in the traffic jam information is displayed on the display 23 (step 15).
Then, the CPU 11 determines whether there is an imaging request together with the received traffic jam information (step 16). Now, the traffic jam information received by the dotted arrow (4) in step 14 will be described. Since an imaging request is received together with this traffic jam information (step 16; Y), the traffic jam information is included around the traffic jam point included in the traffic jam information. It is monitored whether or not the vehicle has arrived (step 17). The case where the traffic jam information is received by the dotted arrow (9) will be described later.

If it has not arrived at the vicinity of the traffic congestion point (Step 17; N), the CPU 11 determines whether or not the cancellation of the imaging request has been received from the image data providing server 2 as indicated by the dotted arrow (8) ( Step 18).
If the cancel has not been received (step 18; N), the CPU 11 returns to step 17 and continues monitoring.
On the other hand, when the cancel is received (step 18; Y), the CPU 11 ends the process.

When the vehicle has arrived around the traffic jam point (step 17; Y), the CPU 11 determines whether or not the traffic jam detection unit 21 has detected a traffic jam at the traffic jam point (step 19).
When the traffic jam at the traffic jam point is detected (step 19; Y, vehicle B described in FIG. 5 is applicable), the CPU 11 ends the process.
On the other hand, when the traffic jam at the traffic jam point is not detected (step 19; N, for example, the case of the vehicle C in FIG. 5 corresponds), the CPU 11 of the image data transmitting device 1 mounted on the vehicle uses the camera 22 to move forward of the vehicle. A front image is captured (step 20). Then, as indicated by the dotted arrow (7), the CPU 11 transmits the traffic jam information including the position information at the time of shooting and the forward image to the image data providing server 2 (step 21), and the process is terminated.

On the other hand, returning to FIG. 7, when the image data providing server 2 receives the traffic jam information from the image data transmitting device 1 (step 31) as indicated by the dotted arrow (7), the control unit 50 It is determined whether the traffic information has been registered in the traffic information DB 53 (step 32).
Since the traffic congestion point in this case has already been registered (step 32; N), the control unit 50 determines whether or not the request is received from the request on-vehicle device (step 35). In other words, the control unit 50 receives from the requesting in-vehicle device if the in-vehicle device ID attached to the received traffic jam information does not match the in-vehicle device ID stored in the imaging request target of the traffic congestion point in the traffic jam information DB 53. Since it is not (step 35; N), a process is complete | finished.
On the other hand, if the vehicle-mounted device IDs match, the request is received from the vehicle-mounted device (step 35; Y), so the control unit 50 updates the traffic jam image in the traffic jam information DB 53 corresponding to the traffic jam point to the received forward image ( Step 36).
After updating the traffic jam image, as shown by the dotted arrow (8), the control unit 50 corresponds to the traffic jam point, and the image data transmission device for the in-vehicle device ID stored in the imaging request target of the traffic jam information DB 53 is displayed. 1, the cancellation of the imaging request is transmitted (step 37).

The control unit 50 of the image data providing server 2 searches the position information DB 52 to determine whether or not there is an in-vehicle device (image data transmission device 1) in the area before the traffic jam area (step 38). Step 38; N), the process is terminated.
On the other hand, when there is an in-vehicle device in the front area (step 38; Y), as indicated by the dotted arrow (9), the control unit 50 is congested with the image data transmitting device 1 corresponding to the in-vehicle device ID. The image is transmitted (step 39), and the process ends.

Returning to FIG. 6, as indicated by the dotted arrow (9), when the CPU 11 of the image data transmitting apparatus 1 receives the traffic jam information from the image data providing server 2 (step 14; Y), it displays it on the display 23 (step). 15). At this time, as described above, it is also possible to display a map around the traffic jam point along with the traffic jam image.
And since there is no imaging request | requirement in the traffic congestion information received with the arrow (9) of a dotted line (step 16; N), a process is complete | finished.

As described above, according to the image distribution system 100 of the present embodiment, when a certain lane is congested, but the other lane in the same direction is not congested, the congested lane captured in the other lane that is not congested. Can be obtained from the image data transmission device 1 and provided to the image data transmission device 1 of another vehicle.
That is, in this embodiment, when an imaging request is received, if no traffic jam is detected, it can be determined that the traffic lane has no traffic jam. It can be provided to the image data providing server 2.
Even when an imaging request is received, imaging is not performed when a traffic jam is detected, so that a forward image captured in a traffic lane does not collect on the image data providing server 2.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image data transmitter 10 Control part 11 CPU
12 ROM
13 RAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 130 Congestion information 20 Current position detection part 21 Congestion detection part 22 Camera 23 Display 24 Communication control part 30 Storage part 31 Program 32 Map data 2 Image data provision server 50 Control part 51 Storage part 511 Program 512 Map data 52 Location information DB
53 Traffic jam information DB
54 Communication Control Unit 100 Image Distribution System

Claims (10)

An image data transmitting device mounted on a moving means such as a vehicle,
A traffic jam detection means for detecting a traffic jam ahead,
An imaging request receiving means for receiving an imaging request from an image data providing server;
Based on reception of the imaging request, when the traffic jam detection unit does not detect traffic jam, an imaging unit for capturing a front image;
Current position detecting means for detecting the current position;
Transmitting means for transmitting the captured forward image and the traffic congestion point corresponding to the current position of the traffic congestion detected location to the image providing server as traffic congestion information;
An image data transmitting apparatus comprising: The imaging unit captures a forward image even when the traffic jam detection unit detects traffic jam in a state where the imaging request is not received,
The image data transmitting apparatus according to claim 1. Traffic information receiving means for receiving traffic information including traffic images from the image data providing server;
Display means for displaying the received traffic jam image;
The image data transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The display means displays a running road map clearly indicating a traffic jam point along with a traffic jam image.
The image data transmitting apparatus according to claim 3. The congestion point is defined by the link number of the road corresponding to the current position and the distance from the link end point.
The image data transmitting apparatus according to claim 4. Traffic information receiving means for receiving traffic information from the image data transmitting device according to claim 1;
When the received traffic information is unregistered, traffic information registration means for newly registering the traffic information,
An imaging request transmission means for detecting an image data transmitting device that moves in a traffic jam area in front of the traffic jam spot of the newly registered traffic jam information, and sending an imaging request;
When the received traffic jam information is traffic jam information received from the image data transmission device that has transmitted the imaging request, traffic jam information update means for updating the registered traffic jam information;
A traffic information transmitting means for detecting an image data transmitting device that moves in a near area before the traffic congestion point area, and transmitting the updated traffic congestion information;
An image data providing server comprising: The imaging request transmission unit transmits a cancellation of the imaging request to the image data transmission device that has transmitted the imaging request when the traffic jam information is updated.
The image data providing server according to claim 6. The traffic jam information transmitting means transmits the traffic jam information updated to the image data transmission device that has transmitted the imaging request.
8. The image data providing server according to claim 6, wherein the image data providing server is configured as described above. An image data transmission program for causing a computer mounted on a moving means such as a vehicle to function as an image data transmission device,
A traffic jam detection function that detects traffic jams ahead,
An imaging request receiving function for receiving an imaging request from an image data providing server;
Based on the reception of the imaging request, when the traffic congestion detection function does not detect traffic congestion, an imaging function to capture a forward image;
A current position detection function for detecting the current position;
A transmission function for transmitting the captured forward image and a traffic jam point corresponding to the current position of the traffic jam detected location to the image providing server as traffic jam information;
An image data transmission program for causing a computer to realize the above. A traffic jam information receiving function for receiving traffic jam information from the image data transmitting device according to claim 1;
When the received traffic information is unregistered, a traffic information registration function for newly registering the traffic information,
An imaging request transmission function for detecting an image data transmission device that moves in a traffic jam area in front of the traffic jam spot of the newly registered traffic jam information, and sending an imaging request;
When the received traffic jam information is traffic jam information received from the image data transmission device that has transmitted the imaging request, a traffic jam information update function for updating the registered traffic jam information;
A traffic information transmission function for detecting an image data transmission device that moves in an area in front of the traffic jam area and transmitting the updated traffic information;
An image data providing program for causing a computer to realize the above.

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