JP2021163036A - Vehicle type discrimination system and vehicle type discrimination method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a vehicle type discrimination system capable of reducing erroneous vehicle type discrimination.SOLUTION: A vehicle type discrimination system 1 comprises: a license plate reader 14 that acquires a license plate number of a vehicle passing through a lane of a tollhouse on a toll road; a vehicle type discrimination device 10 for discriminating a vehicle type of the vehicle; a correction device 30 that accepts an input of correction information when the license plate number or the vehicle type is incorrect; a tollhouse server 40 that generates registration information in which the license plate number acquired by the license plate reader 14, the vehicle type discriminated by the vehicle type discrimination device 10, and the correction information are associated with each other, and stores the generated registration information in a first storage medium 42; and an upper-level server 50 that collects the registration information from each of the plurality of tollhouse servers 40 and stores the collected registration information in a second storage medium 52.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle type discrimination system and a vehicle type discrimination method.

On toll roads, tolls may be collected according to the type of vehicle. Such a tollhouse on a toll road is provided with a vehicle type discriminating device that discriminates a vehicle type based on the external characteristics of the vehicle (vehicle length, vehicle height, vehicle width, number of axles, etc.) (for example, patent documents). See 1).

JP-A-2019-197314

However, there are various shapes of vehicles, and it is difficult to completely eliminate the erroneous discrimination of the vehicle type by the vehicle type discrimination device. When a misidentification of the vehicle type occurs, the passenger of the vehicle needs to have the tollhouse collector or the like correct the vehicle type every time he / she passes through the tollhouse. Then, the service time at the tollhouse may increase and the convenience of the user may decrease.

The present disclosure has been made in view of such a problem, and provides a vehicle type discrimination system capable of reducing erroneous discrimination of vehicle types and a vehicle type discrimination method.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the vehicle type discrimination system discriminates between a license plate reading device that acquires a license plate number of a vehicle passing through the lane of a tollgate on a toll road and a vehicle type of the vehicle passing through the lane. A vehicle type determination device, a correction device that accepts input of correction information corrected to the correct license plate number or vehicle type when the acquired license plate number or the determined vehicle type is incorrect, and are installed at each of a plurality of toll offices. , A toll office server that generates registration information associated with the license plate number acquired by the license plate reading device, the vehicle model determined by the vehicle model discriminating device, and the correction information, and stores the license plate number in the first storage medium. , A higher-level server that collects the registration information from each of the plurality of the toll office servers and stores the registration information in the second storage medium. When the vehicle type determination device requests the registration information associated with the acquired license plate number from the toll office server and acquires the registration information requested from the toll office server, the vehicle type determination device obtains the registration information of the vehicle based on the registration information. When the vehicle type is determined and the registration information requested by the vehicle type determination device is not stored in the first storage medium, the toll office server inquires of the higher-level server for the presence or absence of the registration information, and the higher-level server inquires about the presence or absence of the registration information. When the requested registration information is received, the registration information is transmitted to the vehicle type determination device.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the vehicle type determination method includes a step of acquiring the license plate number of a vehicle passing through the lane of the tollgate on the toll road by the license plate reading device, and the vehicle type determination device passing through the lane. A step of determining the vehicle type of the vehicle, a step of accepting the input of the corrected license plate number or the corrected information to the correct vehicle type when the license plate number acquired by the correction device or the determined vehicle type is incorrect, and the toll booth. A step of generating registration information in which the license plate number acquired by the license plate reading device, the vehicle model determined by the vehicle type determining device, and the correction information are associated with each other by the server and stored in the first storage medium. , The step of collecting the registration information from each of the plurality of the toll office servers and storing it in the second storage medium by the higher-level server is executed. The step of determining the vehicle type is based on the step of requesting the tollhouse server for the registration information associated with the acquired license plate number and the registration information requested from the tollhouse server when the registration information is acquired. The step of determining the vehicle type of the vehicle is executed. When the tollhouse server does not store the requested registration information in the first storage medium, it inquires the upper server about the existence of the registration information, and receives the registration information requested from the upper server. , The step of transmitting the registration information to the vehicle type determination device is further executed.

According to the vehicle type discrimination system and the vehicle type discrimination method according to the present disclosure, it is possible to reduce erroneous discrimination of vehicle types.

It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the vehicle type discrimination system which concerns on one Embodiment of this disclosure. It is a figure which shows the functional structure of the vehicle type discrimination system which concerns on one Embodiment of this disclosure. It is a figure which shows an example of the registration information which concerns on one Embodiment of this disclosure. It is a 1st flowchart which shows an example of the process of the vehicle type discrimination system which concerns on one Embodiment of this disclosure. It is a 2nd flowchart which shows an example of the process of the vehicle type discrimination system which concerns on one Embodiment of this disclosure. It is a figure which shows the hardware configuration of the vehicle type discriminating device, the toll machine, the correction device, the tollhouse server, and the upper server which concerns on one Embodiment of this disclosure.

Hereinafter, the vehicle type discrimination system 1 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Configuration of vehicle type discrimination system)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a vehicle type discrimination system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle type determination system 1 includes a plurality of vehicle type determination devices 10, toll machines 20, correction devices 30, and tollhouse servers 40 provided at a plurality of tollhouses T1, T2, T3, .... It is provided with a higher-level server 50 that is communicatively connected to each of the tollhouse servers 40 of the above.

The vehicle type determination device 10 determines the vehicle type of the vehicle A passing through the lane L of the tollhouse. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle type discriminating device 10 includes, for example, a vehicle detector 11, a vehicle height detector 12, a vehicle length detector 13, and a license plate reading device 14 (hereinafter, also referred to as “NP reading device”). It is composed of a sensor device such as a tread plate 15 and a discrimination processing unit 16.

The vehicle detector 11 is arranged on the most upstream side (−X side) of the lane L of the tollhouse. The vehicle detector 11 is a so-called transmissive optical sensor, which extends in the height direction (± Z direction) on the islands I laid on both sides of the lane L, and extends the lane L in the lane width direction (± Y). It has a floodlight tower and a light receiving tower that face each other across the direction). Then, the vehicle detector 11 detects the entry and exit (existence, non-existence) of the vehicle A based on whether or not the light receiving tower receives the detection light projected from the floodlight tower.

The vehicle height detector 12 is arranged at the same position as the vehicle detector 11 in the lane direction (± X direction), and detects the vehicle height of the vehicle A while the vehicle detector 11 detects the presence of the vehicle A. do.

The vehicle length detector 13 is arranged on the downstream side (+ X side) in the lane direction from the vehicle detector 11, and detects the vehicle length of the vehicle A while the vehicle detector 11 detects the presence of the vehicle A. do.

The NP reader 14 is arranged on the downstream side (+ X side) in the lane direction from the vehicle detector 11, and takes an image including the license plate of the vehicle A at the timing when the vehicle detector 11 detects the presence of the vehicle A. do. Further, the NP reading device 14 acquires the license plate number of the vehicle A (hereinafter, also referred to as "NP number") by performing predetermined image processing on the captured image.

The tread plate 15 is embedded in the lane L at the same position as the vehicle detector 11 in the lane direction (± X direction), and detects the number of axles of the vehicle A while the vehicle detector 11 detects the presence of the vehicle A. do. Further, the tread plate 15 may further detect the wheel width, wheel distance, and the like of the vehicle A.

The discrimination processing unit 16 determines the vehicle type of the vehicle A based on the external features (vehicle length, vehicle height, number of axles, etc.) and the NP number of the vehicle A specified from the sensor information acquired by each sensor device 11 to 15. Determine.

The toll machine 20 is arranged on the downstream side (+ X side) in the lane direction from the vehicle type determination device 10 and is a device for collecting tolls according to the vehicle type from the vehicle A. In the present embodiment, the toll machine 20 is an automatic toll collector that is installed in an unmanned tollhouse and automatically collects tolls from the passengers of vehicle A.

When the toll ticket is inserted by the passenger of the vehicle A, the automatic toll collection machine 20 includes information recorded on the toll ticket (entrance information indicating the location and date and time of the entrance tollhouse through which the vehicle A has passed, etc.) and the vehicle type. The toll of the vehicle A is calculated based on the vehicle type of the vehicle A determined by the determination device 10. When the toll ticket is inserted, the automatic toll collection machine 20 does not complete the vehicle type determination by the vehicle type determination device 10, the detection result of the sensor device of the vehicle type determination device 10 is inconsistent, or the vehicle A When the passenger notices an error in the vehicle type, the correction device 30 is requested to correct the vehicle type of the vehicle A by accepting the operation of the passenger of the vehicle A (for example, pressing the call button of the collector). As an example in which the detection results of the sensor devices of the vehicle type determination device 10 are inconsistent, the vehicle type candidate (for example, a vehicle type of a large vehicle or larger) indicated by the detection result of the NP reader 14 and the detection result of the vehicle height detector 12 are shown. There is a state in which the indicated vehicle model candidates (for example, vehicle models below the ordinary vehicle) do not match.

The correction device 30 is a device that is installed in the tollhouse office and constitutes a monitoring device that receives the operation of the observer stationed in the tollhouse office. When the NP number acquired by the NP reading device 14 or the vehicle type determined by the vehicle type determining device 10 is incorrect, the correction device 30 accepts the input of the correction information corrected by the observer.

One tollhouse server 40 is installed in each of the plurality of tollhouses T1, T2, T3, .... When the vehicle type or NP number of the vehicle A is corrected, the tollhouse server 40 obtains the NP number and vehicle type before the correction of the vehicle A and the correction information (NP number and vehicle type after the correction) through the automatic toll collector 20. Generates and stores registration information associated with.

The upper server 50 collects and stores registration information from each of the plurality of tollhouse servers 40. Note that FIG. 1 shows an example in which the upper server 50 collects registration information from a plurality of tollhouse servers 40 on the same route, but the present invention is not limited to this. In another embodiment, the host server 50 may collect registration information from tollhouse servers 40 installed at tollhouses on different routes.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of a vehicle type discrimination system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Hereinafter, the functional configurations of the vehicle type determination device 10, the automatic toll collection machine 20 (toll machine), the correction device 30, the tollhouse server 40, and the upper server 50 will be described with reference to FIG.

(Functional configuration of vehicle type discrimination device)
As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle type discrimination device 10 is composed of each sensor device 11 to 15 and a discrimination processing unit 16.

When the discrimination processing unit 16 acquires the NP number from the NP reading device 14, it requests the tollhouse server 40 for the registration information associated with the NP number through the automatic toll collection machine 20. When the determination processing unit 16 acquires the registration information requested from the tollhouse server 40, the determination processing unit 16 determines the vehicle type of the vehicle A based on the registration information. Further, when the registration information cannot be acquired from the tollhouse server 40, the discrimination processing unit 16 determines the vehicle type of the vehicle A based on the sensor information acquired from each of the sensor devices 11 to 15.

(Functional configuration of automatic charge collection machine)
As shown in FIG. 2, the automatic toll collection machine 20 includes a call button 21, a camera 22, and a collection processing unit 23.

The call button 21 is a button for calling an observer. Since the external features of the vehicle are diverse, it may be difficult for the vehicle type determining device 10 to uniquely identify the vehicle type of the vehicle based on the sensor information. Also, in the case of a special vehicle such as a fixed-route bus, the vehicle type specified from the external characteristics (for example, "extra large") and the vehicle type used for calculating the toll (for example, "large") are different. There is. Further, the NP reading device 14 may not be able to accurately read the NP number due to the dirt adhering to the license plate. For this reason, when the vehicle type determined by the vehicle type determination device 10 is incorrect, the passenger of the vehicle A operates the call button 21 to call the observer and requests the observer to correct the vehicle type.

Further, when the vehicle length of the vehicle A is longer than the distance from the installation position of the vehicle detector 11 to the installation position of the automatic toll collection machine 20, the automatic toll collection machine 20 starts the toll collection process in the vehicle type determination device 10. It may not be possible to determine the vehicle type of vehicle A before. In this case, since the toll cannot be calculated by the automatic toll collector 20, the passenger of the vehicle A operates the call button 21 to call the observer and requests the observer to input the vehicle type.

The camera 22 is a camera that photographs the vehicle body and the like of the vehicle A that has arrived at the position of the automatic toll collector 20 on the lane L.

The collection processing unit 23 calculates the toll of the vehicle A and performs a process of collecting the toll from the passenger of the vehicle A. The collection processing unit 23 first calculates the toll based on the vehicle type determined by the vehicle type determination device 10. Further, when the vehicle type is corrected by the correction device 30, the collection processing unit 23 recalculates the toll based on the corrected vehicle type.

(Functional configuration of correction device)
As shown in FIG. 2, the correction device 30 includes a display 31 and an input device 32.

The display 31 is a display device that displays an image of the vehicle A taken by the camera 22 of the automatic toll collector 20. Further, the display 31 may further display the NP number acquired by the NP reader 14, the vehicle type determined by the vehicle type determining device 10, the toll calculated by the automatic toll collector 20, and the like.

The input device 32 accepts the input of the corrected vehicle model and NP number by the observer. The correction device 30 transmits the correction information including the corrected vehicle model and the NP number input through the input device 32 to the automatic toll collection machine 20.

(Functional configuration of tollhouse server)
As shown in FIG. 2, the toll booth server 40 has a first registration processing unit 41 and a first storage medium 42.

When at least one of the vehicle type or the NP number of the vehicle A is corrected through the correction device 30, the first registration processing unit 41 acquires the vehicle type and the NP number before the correction (the vehicle type and the NP reading device determined by the vehicle type determination device 10). The registration information including the NP number) and the correction information is generated, stored in the first storage medium 42, and transmitted to the upper server 50.

Further, when the first registration processing unit 41 receives the request from the vehicle type determination device 10 through the automatic toll collection machine 20, the first registration processing unit 41 transmits the registration information stored in the first storage medium 42 to the vehicle type determination device 10. When the registration information requested by the vehicle type determination device 10 is not stored in the first storage medium 42, the first registration processing unit 41 requests the registration information from the upper server 50 and acquires the registration information from the upper server 50. The registration information is transmitted to the vehicle type determination device 10.

The first storage medium 42 is a so-called auxiliary storage device, such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and an SSD (Solid State Drive). The registration information generated by the first registration processing unit 41 is stored and stored in the first storage medium 42.

(Functional configuration of upper server)
As shown in FIG. 2, the upper server 50 has a second registration processing unit 51 and a second storage medium 52.

The second storage medium 52 is a so-called auxiliary storage device, such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and an SSD (Solid State Drive). The second storage medium 52 stores and stores the registration information collected from the plurality of tollhouse servers 40.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of registration information according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
As shown in FIG. 3, the registration information includes identification information (tollhouse server ID) that can identify the tollhouse server 40 that generated the registration information, determination information, and correction information. The determination information includes the NP number acquired by the NP reading device 14 and the vehicle type determined by the vehicle type determining device 10. The correction information includes the corrected NP number input by the observer through the correction device 30 and the corrected vehicle model.

The second registration processing unit 51 stores the registration information received from the tollhouse server 40 in the second storage medium 52. Further, the second registration processing unit 51 receives the request from the tollhouse server 40 and transmits the registration information stored in the second storage medium 52 to the tollhouse server 40.

(Processing flow of vehicle type discrimination system)
FIG. 4 is a first flowchart showing an example of processing of the vehicle type determination system according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.
Hereinafter, the processing flow of the vehicle type determination system 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

When the vehicle detector 11 of the vehicle type determination device 10 detects the approach of the vehicle A into the lane L, the NP reading device 14 acquires the NP number of the vehicle A (step S01).

Next, the discrimination processing unit 16 of the vehicle type discrimination device 10 requests the tollhouse server 40 for the registration information associated with the NP number acquired by the NP reading device 14 through the automatic toll collection machine 20 (step S02).

When the first registration processing unit 41 of the tollhouse server 40 receives the request from the vehicle type determination device 10, it determines whether the requested registration information is stored in the first storage medium 42 (step S04). When the requested registration information is stored in the first storage medium 42 (step S04: YES), the first registration processing unit 41 reads this registration information from the first storage medium 42 and automatically collects the tolls 20. It is transmitted to the vehicle type determination device 10 through the vehicle (step S05).

On the other hand, when the requested registration information is not stored in the first storage medium 42 (step S04: NO), the first registration processing unit 41 requests the higher-level server 50 for this registration information (step S06).

When the second registration processing unit 51 of the upper server 50 receives the request from the tollhouse server 40, it determines whether the requested registration information is stored in the second storage medium 52 (step S07). When the requested registration information is stored in the second storage medium 52 (step S07: YES), the second registration processing unit 51 reads this registration information from the second storage medium 52 and sends it to the tollhouse server 40. Transmit (step S08). Then, the first registration processing unit 41 of the tollhouse server 40 stores the registration information received from the higher-level server 50 in the first storage medium 42, and transmits the registration information to the vehicle type determination device 10 through the automatic toll collection machine 20 (step S09). ). By doing so, the vehicle type determination device 10 can refer to the registration information registered at another tollhouse through the upper server 50. Further, the tollhouse server 40 stores the registration information acquired from the upper server 50 in the first storage medium 42, so that the next time the same vehicle A passes through, the registration information of the vehicle A is stored in the upper server 50. The processing time for obtaining from can be shortened.

On the other hand, when the requested registration information is not stored in the second storage medium 52 (step S07: NO), the second registration processing unit 51 of the upper server 50 does not store the registration information in the tollhouse server 40. Notify that (step S10). Then, the tollhouse server 40 notifies the vehicle type determination device 10 that the registration information is not stored through the automatic toll collection machine 20 (step S11).

Next, when the discriminating processing unit 16 of the vehicle type discriminating device 10 acquires the registration information from the tollhouse server 40 (step S12: YES), the discriminating processing unit 16 discriminates the vehicle type of the vehicle A based on the registration information (step S13). Specifically, the discrimination processing unit 16 specifies the corrected vehicle type included in the registration information as the vehicle type of the vehicle A. The vehicle type determination device 10 often repeats the same erroneous determination for the same vehicle A. For example, in the example of FIG. 3, the vehicle A having the NP number "1111" is often misidentified as an "extra-large" vehicle type by the vehicle type determination device 10, but it is actually assumed that the vehicle A is a "large" vehicle type. .. When the NP number of the vehicle A acquired by the NP reading device 14 is "1111", the discrimination processing unit 16 acquires the registration information associated with the NP number from the tollhouse server 40. Then, the discrimination processing unit 16 identifies the corrected vehicle type "large" included in the registration information as the vehicle type of the vehicle A. By doing so, the discrimination processing unit 16 passes through the lane L of the tollhouse when the corrected vehicle type is registered in the registration information for the vehicle A which is likely to misidentify the vehicle type. It is possible to prevent repeated erroneous determinations each time.

On the other hand, when the tollhouse server 40 notifies that the registration information is not stored (step S12: NO), the discrimination processing unit 16 is based on the sensor information and the NP number acquired by each sensor device 11 to 15. The vehicle type is determined (step S14). Since the process of determining the vehicle type of the vehicle A from the sensor information is a known process, the description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the discrimination processing unit 16 notifies the automatic toll collection machine 20 of the vehicle type of the discriminated vehicle A (step S15). Then, the collection processing unit 23 of the automatic toll collection machine 20 calculates the toll according to the vehicle type of the vehicle A and notifies the passenger of the vehicle A (step S16).

Further, the collection processing unit 23 of the automatic charge collection machine 20 determines whether or not the operation of the call button 21 has been accepted (step S17). When the collection processing unit 23 does not accept the operation of the call button 21 (step S17: NO), the collection processing unit 23 ends the processing. On the other hand, when the collection processing unit 23 receives the operation of the call button 21 (step S17: YES), the collection processing unit 23 notifies the correction device 30 and calls the observer. At this time, on the display 31 of the correction device 30, the image of the vehicle A taken by the camera 22 of the automatic toll collection device 20, the NP number acquired by the NP reader 14, the vehicle type determined by the vehicle type determination device 10, and the like are displayed. Information is displayed.

When the observer is requested to correct the vehicle type by the passenger of the vehicle A through the intercom (not shown) of the automatic toll collector 20 and the correction device 30, the observer visually recognizes the image of the vehicle A displayed on the display 31. Identify the vehicle type of vehicle A. Then, the observer inputs the specified vehicle type (corrected vehicle type) through the input device 32 of the correction device 30. Further, when the NP number acquired by the NP reading device 14 is incorrect, the observer may input the correct NP number (corrected NP number) through the input device 32. By doing so, for example, the vehicle A, which is likely to misidentify the vehicle type, can be corrected to the correct vehicle type by the observer. Further, even if the NP reading device 14 cannot correctly read the NP number due to dirt on the license plate or the like, the observer visually recognizes the license plate and corrects it to the correct NP number. Can be done.

Then, the correction device 30 acquires the correction information (corrected NP number and vehicle type) input from the observer and transmits it to the automatic toll collection machine 20 (step S18).

When the correction information is received from the correction device 30, the collection processing unit 23 of the automatic toll collection machine 20 determines the NP number and vehicle type before correction (the NP number acquired in step S01 and the vehicle type determined in steps S13 to S14). , The corrected NP number and the vehicle type included in the correction information are transmitted to the tollhouse server 40 (step S19).

When the first registration processing unit 41 of the tollhouse server 40 receives the NP number and the vehicle type before and after the correction from the automatic toll collection machine 20, it generates registration information including these information and generates the registration information including the information, and the first storage medium 42. It is stored in and transmitted to the upper server 50 (step S20). By doing so, the tollhouse server 40 stores the correct vehicle type as registration information for the vehicle A, which is likely to misidentify the vehicle type, so that the vehicle A then passes through the lane L of the tollhouse. Occasionally, it is possible to suppress erroneous determination.

In the present embodiment, when the vehicle type is corrected twice or more for one vehicle A, the first registration processing unit 41 overwrites the registration information before the correction with the registration information after the correction (latest registration information). It is assumed that the mode is to be used. As a result, it is possible to suppress an increase in the storage capacity of the first storage medium 42. However, in other embodiments, it may be in another embodiment. The vehicle type of vehicle A may change each time it passes depending on the presence or absence of towing. For example, it is assumed that the vehicle type of the vehicle A of "NP number: 1111" has been corrected to "large" at the time of previous passage, and the registration information of "vehicle type: large" has been stored in the first storage medium 42. However, it is assumed that the vehicle A of this "NP number: 1111" is towing the towed vehicle at the time of the next passage, and the vehicle type is corrected to "extra large". In this case, the first registration processing unit 41 stores both the registration information of "vehicle type: large size" and the registration information of "vehicle type: extra large" in the first storage medium 42 as history information. Then, the first registration processing unit 41 records the number of times of the discriminated / corrected vehicle type (“large” or “extra large”) each time the vehicle A of this “NP number: 1111” passes, and the number of times is large. The history information including the vehicle type is stored in the first storage medium 42 as the registration information of the vehicle A. When the number of times of discrimination / correction is the same, the first registration processing unit stores the history information including the most recently determined / corrected vehicle type in the first storage medium 42 as the registration information of the vehicle A. As a result, for example, when the vehicle A often travels in an "extra large" (for example, with towing) state and rarely travels in a "large" (for example, without towing) state, the vehicle type is infrequent. Can be suppressed from being stored as registration information.

Further, the first registration processing unit 41 stores the registration information including the higher-ranked vehicle type (vehicle type having a high toll) among the registration information before correction and the registration information after correction in the first storage medium 42. It may be. In this case, it is possible to suppress charging a toll that is lower than the actual toll.

Further, the first registration processing unit 41 stores the registration information including the lower vehicle type (vehicle type with a low toll) among the registration information before the correction and the registration information after the correction in the first storage medium 42. It may be. In this case, it is possible to prevent the toll from being charged higher than the actual toll.

Further, the upper server 50 stores and stores the registration information received from the tollhouse server 40 in the second storage medium 52 (step S21).

FIG. 5 is a second flowchart showing an example of processing of the vehicle type determination system according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.
Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the upper server 50 may distribute the registration information received from one of the plurality of tollhouse servers 40 to the other tollhouse server 40.

Specifically, for example, it is assumed that the tollhouse server 40_1 installed at the tollhouse T1 generates registration information and transmits it to the upper server 50 (step S20). Then, the upper server 50 stores the received registration information in the second storage medium 52 (step S21).

When the registration information is stored, the second registration processing unit 51 of the upper server 50 distributes the registration information received from the tollhouse server 40_1 of the tollhouse T1 to the tollhouse server 40 of another tollhouse (step S22). At this time, the second registration processing unit 51 may distribute the registration information to the tollhouse server 40 of the preset tollhouse (for example, all tollhouses belonging to the same route as the tollhouse T1). By doing so, when the vehicle A passes through the lane L of the tollhouse, the processing time for acquiring the registration information of the vehicle A from the upper server 50 can be shortened.

Further, the second registration processing unit 51 is another tollhouse that is likely to be used by the vehicle A using the tollhouse T1 (first tollhouse) based on the statistical information of the vehicle using each tollhouse. (Second tollhouse) may be specified and the registration information may be distributed only to the tollhouse server of the specified tollhouse. For example, it is assumed that the vehicle A having a certain NP number uses the tollhouses T1, T2, and T3 more than a predetermined number of times (or a predetermined ratio or more) among a plurality of tollhouses. In this case, the second registration processing unit 51 is the second tollhouse when the registration information of the vehicle A is generated at the tollhouse server 40_1 of the first tollhouse T1 among the tollhouses T1, T2, and T3. This registration information is distributed to the tollhouse servers 40_2 and 40_3 of T2 and T3. The second tollhouses T2 and T3 may be tollhouses on routes different from those of the first tollhouse T1. By doing so, only the registration information that is likely to be used can be stored in advance in the tollhouse server 40, so that the registration information can be registered while suppressing the increase in the data capacity of the first storage medium 42. The processing time for acquiring the information from the upper server 50 can be shortened.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the upper server 50 transmits the registration information to the tollhouse server 40 in which the registration information has been deleted due to the failure, and restores the first storage medium 42 of the tollhouse server 40. You may.

For example, suppose that a failure occurs in the first storage medium 42 of the tollhouse server 40_1 of the tollhouse T1, and the first storage medium 42 is initialized or replaced with a new storage medium to recover from the failure (step S31). ). Then, the first registration processing unit 41 of the tollhouse server 40_1 requests the upper server 50 for all the registration information registered in the tollhouse server 40_1 in the past (step S32).

Then, the second registration processing unit 51 of the upper server 50 extracts the registration information associated with the tollhouse ID of the tollhouse server 40_1 from the registration information stored in the second storage medium 52, and the tollhouse server It is transmitted to 40_1 (step S33).

The first registration processing unit 41 of the tollhouse server 40_1 stores the registration information received from the higher-level server 50 in the first storage medium 42 (step S34). As a result, even if a failure occurs in the tollhouse server 40, the registration information of the tollhouse server 40 can be restored based on the registration information stored in the upper server 50.

(Hardware configuration)
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the hardware configurations of the vehicle type determination device, the toll machine, the correction device, the tollhouse server, and the higher-level server according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.
Hereinafter, the hardware configurations of the vehicle type determination device 10, the toll machine 20, the correction device 30, the tollhouse server 40, and the upper server 50 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The computer 900 includes a processor 901, a main storage device 902, an auxiliary storage device 903, and an interface 904.

The vehicle type determination device 10, the toll machine 20, the correction device 30, the tollhouse server 40, and the host server 50 are mounted on one or more computers 900, respectively. The operation of each of the above-mentioned functional units is stored in the auxiliary storage device 903 in the form of a program. The processor 901 reads a program from the auxiliary storage device 903, deploys it to the main storage device 902, and executes the above processing according to the program. Further, the processor 901 secures a storage area corresponding to each of the above-mentioned storage units in the main storage device 902 according to the program. Examples of the processor 901 include a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphic Processing Unit), a microprocessor, and the like.

The program may be intended to realize some of the functions exerted by the computer 900. For example, the program may exert its function in combination with another program already stored in the auxiliary storage device 903, or in combination with another program mounted on the other device. In another embodiment, the computer 900 may include a custom LSI (Large Scale Integrated Circuit) such as a PLD (Programmable Logic Device) in addition to or in place of the above configuration. Examples of PLDs include PAL (Programmable Array Logic), GAL (Generic Array Logic), CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device), and FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). In this case, some or all of the functions realized by the processor 901 may be realized by the integrated circuit. Such integrated circuits are also included as an example of a processor.

Examples of the auxiliary storage device 903 include HDD (Hard Disk Drive), SSD (Solid State Drive), magnetic disk, optical magnetic disk, CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), and DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disc Read Only). Memory), semiconductor memory and the like. The auxiliary storage device 903 may be an internal medium directly connected to the bus of the computer 900, or an external storage device 910 connected to the computer 900 via the interface 904 or a communication line. When this program is distributed to the computer 900 via a communication line, the distributed computer 900 may expand the program to the main storage device 902 and execute the above processing. In at least one embodiment, the auxiliary storage device 903 is a non-temporary tangible storage medium.

Further, the program may be for realizing a part of the above-mentioned functions.
Further, the program may be a so-called difference file (difference program) that realizes the above-mentioned function in combination with another program already stored in the auxiliary storage device 903.

(Action effect)
As described above, the vehicle type determination system 1 according to the present embodiment provides registration information that combines the NP number and the correct vehicle type (corrected vehicle type) for the vehicle A in which the vehicle type is likely to be erroneously determined from the external features and the like. , Can be stored in the tollhouse server 40 and the upper server 50. In addition, the vehicle type determination system 1 can determine the correct vehicle type based on the registration information the next time the vehicle type determination device 10 determines the vehicle type of the vehicle A.

Further, the tollhouse server 40 can acquire and store the registration information generated by another tollhouse server 40 through the upper server 50. As a result, the vehicle type determination system 1 can enhance the registration information stored in the tollhouse server 40 each time the vehicle A uses the tollhouse. This eliminates the need for the tollhouse server 40 to perform the process of acquiring the registration information from the host server 50 each time, so that the time required for the process of searching for the registration information and transmitting it to the vehicle type determination device 10 can be shortened. .. Further, since the registration information of the vehicle A is not stored in the tollhouse server 40 of the tollhouse that is not used by the vehicle A, it is possible to suppress an increase in the data capacity of the first storage medium 42 of the tollhouse server 40.

Further, the upper server 50 identifies a second tollhouse (for example, tollhouse T2) that is likely to be used by the vehicle A using the first tollhouse (for example, tollhouse T1) based on the statistical information. , The registration information generated by the tollhouse server 40_1 of the first tollhouse T1 is distributed to the tollhouse server 40_2 of the second tollhouse T2. By doing so, only the registration information that is likely to be used can be stored in advance in the tollhouse server 40, so that the registration information can be registered while suppressing the increase in the data capacity of the first storage medium 42. The processing time for acquiring the information from the upper server 50 can be shortened.

Further, when a failure occurs in the first storage medium 42 of the tollhouse server 40, the upper server 50 transmits the registration information associated with the tollhouse ID of the tollhouse server 40, and the first storage medium 42 of the tollhouse server 40. 1 Restore the storage medium 42. As a result, even if a failure occurs in the first storage medium 42 of the tollhouse server 40, the registration information of the tollhouse server 40 can be restored based on the registration information stored in the upper server 50. ..

Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail above, they are not limited to these as long as they do not deviate from the technical idea of the present invention, and some design changes and the like are possible.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the mode in which the toll machine 20 is an automatic toll collection machine has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. In another embodiment, the toll machine 20 may be a toll collector operated by a toll collector who collects tolls at the tollhouse. Further, the toll machine 20 may be a device (for example, a lane server) that constitutes an electronic toll collection system (ETC: Electronic Toll Collection System (registered trademark), also referred to as an “automatic toll collection system”).

Further, when the toll machine 20 is a toll collector operated by a toll collector, the toll collector corrects the NP number and the vehicle type of the vehicle A through the toll collector. Therefore, in this case, the toll collector also functions as the correction device 30.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the embodiment in which the vehicle type determination device 10 and the toll machine 20 (automatic toll collection machine 20) are different devices has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. In another embodiment, the vehicle type determination device 10 may be built in the toll machine 20, and the toll machine 20 may have both a vehicle type determination function and a toll collection function. In this case, the "vehicle type determination device 10" in the above-described embodiment may be replaced with the "charge machine 20 having a vehicle type determination function".

<Additional notes>
The vehicle type discrimination system and the vehicle type discrimination method described in the above-described embodiment are grasped as follows, for example.

According to the first aspect of the present disclosure, the vehicle type determination system (1) is a license plate reading device (14) for acquiring a license plate number of a vehicle passing through the lane of a tollgate on a toll road, and passing through the lane. If the acquired license plate number or the determined vehicle model is incorrect, the vehicle type discriminating device (10) for discriminating the vehicle model of the vehicle is corrected to accept the input of the corrected license plate number or the vehicle model. The device (30), the license plate number installed at each of the plurality of toll stations and acquired by the license plate reading device (14), the vehicle model determined by the vehicle type determining device (10), and the correction information. The registration information associated with the above is generated and stored in the first storage medium (42), and the registration information is collected from each of the toll office server (40) and the plurality of the toll office servers (40) and stored in the second storage medium (second storage medium (40). It includes a higher-level server (50) stored in 52). When the vehicle type determination device (10) requests the acquired registration information associated with the license plate number from the toll office server (40) and acquires the requested registration information from the toll office server (40), The vehicle type of the vehicle is determined based on the registration information, and the toll office server (40) does not store the registration information requested by the vehicle type determination device (10) in the first storage medium (42). In this case, the upper server (50) is inquired about the existence of the registration information, and when the registration information requested from the upper server (50) is received, the registration information is transmitted to the vehicle type determination device (10).

As a result, the vehicle type determination system sends registration information that combines the license plate number and the correct vehicle type (corrected vehicle type) to the tollhouse server and higher-level server for vehicles that are prone to misidentification of vehicle type due to external characteristics, etc. It can be stored. In addition, the vehicle type determination system can determine the correct vehicle type based on the registration information the next time the vehicle type determination device determines the vehicle type of the vehicle, so that the possibility of erroneous discrimination can be reduced. can.

According to the second aspect of the present disclosure, in the vehicle type determination system (1) according to the first aspect, the tollhouse server (40) stores the registration information received from the higher-level server (50) in the first storage. Store in medium (42).

By storing the registration information acquired from the higher-level server in the first storage medium of the tollhouse server in this way, the tollhouse server does not need to perform the process of acquiring the registration information from the higher-level server every time. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the time required for the tollhouse server to search for the registration information and send it to the vehicle type determination device. Further, since the registration information of the vehicle is not stored in the tollhouse server of the tollhouse that the vehicle does not use, it is possible to suppress an increase in the data capacity of the first storage medium of the tollhouse server.

According to the third aspect of the present disclosure, in the vehicle type determination system (1) according to the first or second aspect, the upper server (50) uses the first tollhouse among the plurality of tollhouses. When the second tollhouse that is likely to be used by the vehicle is specified and the registration information generated by the tollhouse server (40) of the first tollhouse is collected, the registration information is used as the first tollhouse. It is transmitted to the tollhouse server (40) of the tollhouse of 2.

By doing so, only the registration information that is likely to be used can be stored in advance in the tollhouse server, so that the registration information can be stored while suppressing an increase in the data capacity of the first storage medium. The processing time for acquiring from the upper server can be shortened.

According to the fourth aspect of the present disclosure, in the vehicle type determination system (1) according to any one of the first to third aspects, the higher-level server (50) generates the registration information and the registration information. When the identification information of the toll office server (40) is associated with the identification information and stored in the second storage medium (52) and a failure occurs in the first storage medium (42) of the toll office server (40). The registration information associated with the identification information of the toll office server (40) is transmitted to the toll office server (40) to be restored.

By doing so, even if a failure occurs in the first storage medium of the tollhouse server, the registration information of the tollhouse server can be restored based on the registration information stored in the upper server. ..

According to the fifth aspect of the present disclosure, in the vehicle type determination system (1) according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the correction device (30) charges a toll from the vehicle at the tollhouse. It is a toll collection machine operated by a tollhouse, or a monitoring device operated by an observer who monitors the tollhouse.

By doing so, the vehicle type determination system 1 can apply the process of determining the vehicle type based on the registration information to both the manned tollhouse and the unmanned tollhouse.

According to the sixth aspect of the present disclosure, the vehicle type determination method includes a step of acquiring the license plate number of a vehicle passing through the lane of the tollgate on the toll road by the license plate reading device (14) and the vehicle type determination device (10). ) And the step of determining the vehicle type of the vehicle passing through the lane, and if the license plate number acquired by the correction device (30) or the determined vehicle type is incorrect, the correct license plate number or vehicle type is corrected. The step of accepting the input of correction information, the license plate number acquired by the license plate reading device (14) from (40) to the toll booth server, the vehicle model determined by the vehicle type determining device (10), and the vehicle type. The registration information associated with the correction information is generated and stored in the first storage medium (42), and the registration information is collected from each of the plurality of the toll office servers (40) by the upper server (50). The step of storing in the second storage medium (52) is executed. The step of determining the vehicle type is a step of requesting the acquired registration information associated with the license plate number from the tollhouse server (40) and a case of acquiring the registration information requested from the tollhouse server (40). , The step of determining the vehicle type of the vehicle based on the registration information, and the execution of. When the requested registration information is not stored in the first storage medium (42), the tollhouse server (40) asks the upper server (50) for the presence or absence of the registration information, and the upper server. When the registration information requested from (50) is received, the step of transmitting the registration information to the vehicle type determination device (10) is further executed.

1 Vehicle type discrimination system 10 Vehicle type discrimination device 11 Vehicle detector 12 Vehicle height detector 13 Vehicle length detector 14 License plate reader (NP reader)
15 Tread plate 16 Discrimination processing unit 20 Charge machine (automatic charge collection machine)
21 Call button 22 Camera 23 Receipt processing unit 30 Correction device 31 Display 32 Input device 40 Tollhouse server 41 First registration processing unit 42 First storage medium 50 Upper server 51 Second registration processing unit 52 Second storage medium 900 Computer

Claims (6)

A license plate reader that obtains the license plate number of vehicles passing through the lane of the tollhouse on the toll road,
A vehicle type discriminating device that discriminates the vehicle type of the vehicle passing through the lane,
If the acquired license plate number or the determined vehicle model is incorrect, a correction device that accepts input of correction information corrected to the correct license plate number or vehicle model, and
Registration information is generated in which the license plate number acquired by the license plate reading device, the vehicle model determined by the vehicle type determining device, and the correction information are associated with each of the plurality of tollhouses, and the first storage is performed. The tollhouse server that stores in the medium and
A higher-level server that collects the registration information from each of the plurality of tollhouse servers and stores it in the second storage medium.
With
When the vehicle type determination device requests the registration information associated with the acquired license plate number from the tollhouse server and acquires the registration information requested from the tollhouse server, the vehicle type determination device obtains the registration information of the vehicle based on the registration information. Determine the vehicle type and
When the registration information requested by the vehicle type determination device is not stored in the first storage medium, the tollhouse server inquires of the higher-level server for the presence or absence of the registration information, and receives the registration information requested by the higher-level server. When received, the registration information is transmitted to the vehicle type determination device.
Vehicle type discrimination system. The tollhouse server stores the registration information received from the higher-level server in the first storage medium.
The vehicle type determination system according to claim 1. The upper server is
Among multiple tollhouses, identify the second tollhouse that is likely to be used by vehicles using the first tollhouse.
When the registration information generated by the tollhouse server of the first tollhouse is collected, the registration information is transmitted to the tollhouse server of the second tollhouse.
The vehicle type determination system according to claim 1 or 2. The upper server is
The registration information is associated with the identification information of the tollhouse server that generated the registration information and stored in the second storage medium.
When the first storage medium of the tollhouse server fails, the registration information associated with the identification information of the tollhouse server is transmitted to the tollhouse server for restoration.
The vehicle type determination system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The correction device is a toll collector operated by a toll collector who collects tolls from the vehicle at the tollhouse, or a monitoring device operated by an observer who monitors the tollhouse.
The vehicle type determination system according to any one of claims 1 to 4. Steps to obtain the license plate number of a vehicle passing through the lane of a tollhouse on a toll road with a license plate reader,
A step of determining the vehicle type of the vehicle passing through the lane of the tollhouse by the vehicle type determination device, and
If the license plate number acquired by the correction device or the determined vehicle model is incorrect, the step of accepting the input of the corrected information to the correct license plate number or vehicle model, and
The toll booth server generates registration information in which the license plate number acquired by the license plate reading device, the vehicle model determined by the vehicle type determining device, and the correction information are associated with each other, and is stored in the first storage medium. Steps and
A step of collecting the registration information from each of the plurality of tollhouse servers by the upper server and storing the registration information in the second storage medium.
And
The step of determining the vehicle type is
The step of requesting the registration information associated with the acquired license plate number from the tollhouse server, and
When the registration information requested from the tollhouse server is acquired, the step of determining the vehicle type of the vehicle based on the registration information is executed.
The tollhouse server
When the requested registration information is not stored in the first storage medium, a step of inquiring the upper server for the existence of the registration information and a step of inquiring about the existence of the registration information.
When the registration information requested from the higher-level server is received, the step of transmitting the registration information to the vehicle type determination device is further executed.
Vehicle type identification method.

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