JP3206409B2 - Intersection information providing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an intersection information providing device, and more particularly, to an intersection information providing device for providing a vehicle entering an intersection with information on another vehicle entering the intersection.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-96387.
And Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-134794,
2. Description of the Related Art There is known a system that performs road-to-vehicle communication between a vehicle traveling on a road and a roadside beacon to provide traffic information to the vehicle. As a function of such a system, for example, a function of uplinking a destination from a vehicle to a roadside beacon and downlinking traffic information of a route from a current position to a destination from the roadside beacon to a vehicle is known.
In the vehicle, if the construction information and the traffic congestion information in the route from the current location to the destination can be obtained, the route can be changed while avoiding the construction and the traffic congestion. Therefore, if the above functions are used, the traffic flow can be made smoother.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned conventional system, the information supplied from the vehicle to the roadside beacon is used as data for detecting the destination of the vehicle, and the traffic congestion state on the road is also determined. It is only used as basic data for estimation. That is, although information on the traveling direction is provided to the roadside beacon from the vehicle traveling on the road, the information is not provided to other vehicles.

[0004] When a vehicle enters an intersection, if the existence and traveling direction of the vehicle entering from another direction can be grasped,
Various situations can be predicted as compared to a case where such information is not known. Therefore, providing information about another vehicle entering the intersection to the vehicle entering the intersection is effective in calling the driver's attention.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide an intersection information providing apparatus for downlinking information on vehicles entering another intersection to a vehicle entering the intersection. I do.

[0006]

The above object is achieved by the present invention.
As described in the section above, it is located on multiple roads
Communication about traffic information with vehicles traveling on the road
Information providing device equipped with a plurality of roadside beacons that perform
In one of the plurality of roadside beacons, one roadside beacon
The one roadside beeco based on the signal supplied from the
Intersection that enters the intersection from the road where the road is located
Approaching vehicle detection means for detecting the presence of a point approaching vehicle,
Through one roadside beacon and another roadside beacon,
From the road where the other roadside beacon is located,
For vehicles approaching the point,
Other vehicle information providing means for providing all kinds of information;
Enter the intersection based on the signal supplied from the computer
Direction detection means for detecting the direction of travel of the vehicle
Intersect the vehicle approaching the point via the roadside beacon
Provide information including the direction of travel of other vehicles entering the point
This is achieved by an intersection information providing device comprising: another vehicle traveling direction providing means .

[0007]

[0008]

In the present invention, the roads M10 _-1 and M10 _{-2 are used.}
When a vehicle traveling on the road enters the intersection, the traveling direction of the vehicle is detected by the traveling direction detecting means M18.
When there are a plurality of vehicles entering the intersection, the traveling direction of each vehicle is detected by the traveling direction detecting means M14. The detected traveling direction is another vehicle traveling direction providing means M.
20 are provided to other vehicles approaching one another at the intersection.

[0010] The object of the present invention is as described in claim 2.
The intersection information providing device according to claim 1, wherein
The traveling direction of the approaching vehicle matches or intersects with the traveling direction
Related vehicle detecting means for detecting another approaching vehicle
And the other vehicle information providing means, and the other vehicle traveling method
The information provided by the direction providing means is detected by the related vehicle detecting means.
This is also achieved by an intersection information providing unit that includes an information selecting unit that limits information to vehicles .

In the present invention, when there are a plurality of vehicles approaching an intersection, the vehicles whose traveling directions match or cross each other are detected by the relevant vehicle detecting means M22 as relevant vehicles. Further, each vehicle entering the intersection is provided with only the information selected by the information selecting means M24, that is, only the existence information and the traveling direction information on the related vehicle.

[0012]

FIG. 4 shows an overall configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a situation around an intersection 14 between a road 10 extending north and south and a road 12 extending east and west. North side of the intersection (hereinafter referred to as N direction)
Is provided with a roadside beacon 16N along the road 10 and a pair of information display devices 1 with the road 10 interposed therebetween.
8N _-1 and 18N _-2 are provided.

Similarly, a roadside beacon 16E and a pair of information display devices 18E- ₁ and 18E- ₂ are located on the east side of the intersection 14 (hereinafter, referred to as an E direction).
The roadside beacon 16S and a pair of information display devices 18S- ₁ and 18S- ₂ are provided on the west side of the intersection 14 (hereinafter referred to as W direction). 18W _-1 and 18W _-2 are installed.

Roadside beacons 16N, 16E, 16S, 1
6W is the left lane of each of the roads 10 and 12, that is,
The lane on which the vehicle entering difference point 14 is traveling is in the communication area.
It is installed to be. In addition, a pair of information display devices
18N_-1, 18N_-2And 18S_-1, 18S_-2Is
Pedestrians crossing the road 10 can see
On the other hand, a pair of information display devices 18E_-1, 18E_-2You
And 18W_-1, 18W _-2Are walking across the road 12 together
Each pedestrian crossing so that pedestrians can see it
Are arranged facing each other.

The above roadside beacons 16N, 16E, 1
6S, 16W (hereinafter, when these are collectively referred to, simply
16 and an information display device 18N._-1, 1
8N _-2, 18E_-1, 18E_-2, 18S_-1, 18S_-2, 1
8W_-1, 18W_-2(Hereinafter, when these are collectively referred to,
(Represented simply by the reference numeral 18)
Has been continued. The information processing device 20 includes the roadside beacon 16
And two-way communication with the information display device 18
And transmits information to be described later.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an in-vehicle apparatus mounted on a vehicle to use the system of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the in-vehicle device includes a destination input unit 22. The passenger of the vehicle inputs the destination of the vehicle from the destination input unit 22. The destination input from the destination input unit 22 is provided to the traveling direction determination unit 24.

The traveling direction determination unit 24 determines the traveling direction at the next intersection based on the destination of the vehicle. When the navigation device having the function of determining the recommended route from the current position to the destination is mounted on the vehicle, the traveling direction determination unit 24 determines the next intersection at the next intersection based on the recommended route determined by the navigation device. Determine the direction of travel. When a device that obtains recommended route information for the destination by communicating with the roadside beacon 16 is installed in the vehicle instead of the navigation device, the following route is obtained based on the recommended route obtained from the roadside beacon 16. Determine the direction of travel at the intersection. The traveling direction at the next intersection determined by the traveling direction determination unit 24 is provided to the transmission / reception control unit 26.

After the vehicle enters the communication area of the roadside beacon 16, the transmission / reception control unit 26
A signal including the traveling direction of the vehicle is transmitted to 6. When this signal is received by the roadside beacon 16, the traveling direction data of the vehicle is transmitted to the information processing device 20. The information processing device 20 collects traveling direction data for all vehicles entering the intersection 14, organizes the data as described later, and returns the data to the roadside beacon 16. Roadside beacon 16
Transmits the data returned from the information processing device 20 to vehicles traveling on the roads 10 and 12. The transmission / reception control unit 26 transmits a signal to the roadside beacon 16 as described above, and receives a signal transmitted from the roadside beacon 16 in this manner.

The signal received by the transmission / reception control unit 26 is provided to a display device 28. The display device 28 is provided at a position where the driver of the vehicle can easily recognize the display. The display device 28 converts the signal received by the transmission / reception control unit 26 from the roadside beacon 16 into information such as characters, graphics, or sounds, and transmits the information to the occupants of the vehicle.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of an example of a control routine executed by the vehicle-mounted device after the destination is input in order to realize the above functions. When the routine shown in FIG. 6 is started, first, at step 100, it is determined whether or not any of the roadside beacons 16 has entered the communication area. As a result, if it is determined that the vehicle has entered the communication area,
Next, the process of step 102 is performed. On the other hand, if it is determined that the user has not yet entered the communication area, the current routine ends without any further processing. In the system according to the present embodiment, it is determined that the vehicle has entered the communication area of the roadside beacon 16 when a signal constantly emitted from the roadside beacon 16 is received by the vehicle-mounted device.

In step 102, the traveling direction at the next intersection determined by another routine is output to the roadside beacon 16 based on the destination inputted by the driver. Next, at step 104, it is determined whether or not data on another vehicle entering the intersection has been received from the roadside beacon 16. As a result, if it is determined that the signal has not been received yet, the current routine ends without any further processing. On the other hand, if it is determined that the data has already been received, in step 106,
After displaying the data regarding the other vehicles entering the intersection on the display device 28, the current routine is terminated.

FIG. 7 shows an arrangement in which the information processing device 20 arranges data on the traveling direction of the vehicle entering the intersection supplied from each of the roadside beacons 16 and returns the data on the vehicle entering the intersection to each of the roadside beacons 16. 4 shows a flowchart of an example of a control routine to be executed.

When the routine shown in FIG. 7 is started, first, in step 200, from each of the roadside beacons 16, the vehicle enters the intersection 14 from the N direction and enters the intersection 14 from the E direction. The traveling direction of the vehicle coming, the traveling direction of the vehicle entering the intersection 14 from the S direction, and the traveling direction of the vehicle entering the intersection 14 from the W direction are input.

Next, in step 202, the relationship between each vehicle entering the intersection and another vehicle entering the intersection is analyzed in accordance with the intersection traveling direction relation tables shown in FIGS. In the intersection traveling direction relation tables shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, the column of “output beacon” describes the code of the roadside beacon 16 that is communicating with the vehicle that is the center of the analysis of the relation. In the column of “Reception” of the output beacon, the traveling direction of the vehicle received by the output beacon is described. In the column of "input beacon", the codes of the roadside beacons 16 other than the output beacon are described, and in the column of "reception" of the input beacon, the traveling direction of the vehicle received by the input beacon is described. Further, the intersection traveling direction relation table includes “O” when the traveling direction of the vehicle entering the intersection, which is the center of the analysis, matches or intersects with the traveling direction of another vehicle entering the intersection.
(Indicating that there is a relationship between the two), but when the traveling directions of the two do not match and do not intersect, “×” (indicating that there is no relationship between the two) is described.

That is, FIG. 8 shows a vehicle traveling in the communication area of the roadside beacon 16S, that is, the intersection 1 from the S direction.
4 shows an intersection traveling direction relation table showing a relation between a vehicle traveling toward No. 4 and another vehicle entering the intersection. As shown in FIG. 8, for a vehicle that enters an intersection from the S direction and goes straight in the N direction, a vehicle that enters the intersection from the N direction and turns right in the W direction, enters the intersection from the W direction and goes straight in the E direction. A vehicle entering the intersection from the W direction and turning right in the S direction; a vehicle entering the intersection from the W direction and turning left in the N direction; a vehicle entering the intersection from the E direction and traveling straight in the W direction; The vehicle that enters the intersection from the direction and turns right in the N direction is determined to be another relevant intersection entering vehicle.

Similarly, FIG. 9 to FIG. 11 show an intersection traveling direction relation table showing the relationship between the vehicle entering the intersection from the N direction and the other vehicles entering the intersection, and the vehicle entering the intersection from the W direction and the other. An intersection traveling direction relation table indicating a relation with an intersection approaching vehicle and an intersection traveling direction relation table indicating a relation between a vehicle approaching an intersection from a direction E and another intersection entering vehicle are shown.

When the analysis of the relationship between the vehicles entering the intersection using the intersection traveling direction relation table is completed, next, at step 204, the roadside beacons 16 are added together with the vehicle information received by the other roadside beacons 16 to the above. The result of the analysis is transmitted. Each of the roadside beacons 16 transmits, to the communication vehicle, only the vehicle data of another vehicle entering the intersection that is analyzed to be related to the vehicle in communication (hereinafter, referred to as the communication vehicle). Therefore, on the on-vehicle device of the vehicle entering the intersection 14, only the information of the vehicle whose traveling direction matches or intersects with the traveling direction of the own vehicle is displayed.

It should be noted that the information processing device 20 has a roadside beacon 1
6, the vehicle data is transmitted in an absolute format based on the installation position and the direction of the roadside beacon 16 that has received the vehicle information, for example, "There is a vehicle entering from the N direction and proceeding in the W direction". I do. Each of the roadside beacons 16
The vehicle data transmitted in the above format is converted into a relative format based on the position of the vehicle and output. Specifically, when the above-described vehicle data is transmitted from the information processing device 20, the roadside beacon 16S outputs the vehicle data converted into the format of "there is a vehicle that enters from the straight traveling direction and turns right". Therefore, the display device 2 of the vehicle entering the intersection
8, vehicle information based on the position of the vehicle is easily displayed.

When the processing of step 204 is completed,
Next, in step 206, data regarding the approach direction of the intersection approaching vehicle is transmitted to the information display device 18. When the transmission ends, the current routine ends. As in the case of transmitting data to the roadside beacon 16, the information processing device 20 also transmits the information to the information display device 18 in an absolute form based on the installation position and direction of the roadside beacon 16. Transmit heading data. The information display device 18 also converts the transmitted data into a relative format based on its own installation position and displays it, similarly to the roadside beacon 16. Therefore, the pedestrian crossing the roads 10 and 12 or the information display device 1
The driver of the vehicle who can visually recognize the vehicle 8 can understand the traveling direction of the vehicle approaching the intersection in a format that is easy to intuitively understand based on the position of the vehicle.

Next, the operation of the system according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 shows that a vehicle 30 that enters the intersection 14 from the S direction and turns left in the W direction, and a vehicle 32 that enters the intersection 14 from the N direction and turns right in the W direction exist on the road 10. A vehicle 34 that enters the intersection 14 from the E direction and goes straight on in the W direction on the 12
Indicates the situation where exists.

When analyzing the relationship between the plurality of vehicles 30, 32, and 34 entering the intersection around the vehicle 30, the roadside beacon 16 S is an output beacon. In this case, an intersection traveling direction relation table shown in FIG. 8 is used for the analysis of the vehicle relation. Further, since the traveling direction of the vehicle 30 is the W direction,
In the analysis of the vehicle relationship, a row in which the received signal of the output beacon is W in the table shown in FIG. Hereinafter, this line is referred to as a reference line.

The traveling direction information (W direction) of the vehicle 32 is detected by the roadside beacon 16N. In the above-mentioned reference line, the input beacon is the roadside beacon 16N, and the column where the received signal is W is marked with “○”. Accordingly, it is determined that the vehicle 32 is a related vehicle for the vehicle 30. Further, the traveling direction information (W
Direction) is detected by the roadside beacon 16E. In the above reference line, the input beacon is the roadside beacon 16E
In the column where the received signal is W, “○” is written. Therefore, it is determined that the vehicle 34 is a related vehicle for the vehicle 30. In this case, the display device 28 mounted on the vehicle 30 includes “there is a vehicle that enters from a straight traveling direction and turns right” and “a vehicle that enters from the right side and travels straight”
Is displayed.

When analyzing the relationship between the plurality of vehicles 30, 32, and 34 entering the intersection around the vehicle 32, the roadside beacon 16 N is an output beacon. In this case, the intersection relation direction table shown in FIG. 9 is used for the analysis of the vehicle relation. Also, since the traveling direction of the vehicle 32 is the W direction,
In the analysis of the vehicle relation, a row in which the received signal of the output beacon is W in the table shown in FIG. 9 is set as a reference row.

The traveling direction information (W direction) of the vehicle 30 is detected by the roadside beacon 16S. In the above-mentioned reference line, the input beacon is the roadside beacon 16S, and “○” is written in the column where the received signal is W. Therefore, it is determined that the vehicle 30 is a related vehicle for the vehicle 32. The traveling direction information (W direction) of the vehicle 34 is
It is detected by the roadside beacon 16E. In the above-mentioned reference line, the input beacon is the roadside beacon 16E, and “○” is written in the column where the received signal is W. Therefore, it is determined that the vehicle 34 is a related vehicle for the vehicle 32. In this case, the display device 28 of the vehicle 32 includes
The display shows "there is a vehicle that enters from the straight direction and turns left" and "there is a vehicle that enters from the left and goes straight".

When analyzing the relationship between the plurality of vehicles 30, 32, and 34 entering the intersection around the vehicle 34, the roadside beacon 16 E is the output beacon. In this case, an intersection traveling direction relation table shown in FIG. 11 is used for the analysis of the vehicle relation. In addition, since the traveling direction of the vehicle 34 is the W direction, in the analysis of the vehicle relationship, the row in which the received signal of the output beacon is W in the table shown in FIG.

The traveling direction information (W direction) of the vehicle 30 is detected by the roadside beacon 16S. In the above-mentioned reference line, the input beacon is the roadside beacon 16S, and “○” is written in the column where the received signal is W. Accordingly, it is determined that the vehicle 30 is a related vehicle for the vehicle 34. The traveling direction information (W direction) of the vehicle 32 is
Detected by the roadside beacon 16N. In the above-mentioned reference line, the input beacon is the roadside beacon 16N, and the column where the received signal is W is marked with “○”. Therefore, it is determined that the vehicle 32 is a related vehicle for the vehicle 34. Therefore, the display device 2 mounted on the vehicle 32
8 displays "there is a vehicle entering from the left and turning left" and "there is a vehicle entering from the right and turning right".

As described above, according to the system of the present embodiment, of all the vehicles entering the intersection 14, among the vehicles entering the other intersection, the vehicles whose traveling directions match or intersect are determined by the existence and the traveling direction. Can be displayed on the display device 28. According to such display contents, the driver of the vehicle can recognize all vehicles displayed on the display device 28 as vehicles to which attention should be paid. Therefore, according to the system of the present embodiment, it is possible to provide the driver with information on other vehicles entering the intersection without excess or deficiency.

In the above embodiment, the traveling direction after passing through the intersection 14 is transmitted from all vehicles to the roadside beacon 16, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, when a vehicle that does not have the function of transmitting the traveling direction enters the intersection 14, the vehicle information may be provided to all the other vehicles entering the intersection as related vehicles.

In the above embodiment, the traveling direction determination unit 24 is mounted on the vehicle-mounted device, and the traveling direction at the intersection 14 is automatically transmitted from the vehicle. It is not limited to
The transmission of the traveling direction may be performed by a manual operation of the driver.

Further, in the above embodiment, the intersection 1
4 is limited to a four-forked road where two roads 10 and 12 intersect, but the application of the present invention is not limited to this, and is applied to an intersection such as a three-forked road or a five-forked road. It may be. In the above embodiment, the roadside beacons 16N, 16E, 16S, and 16W are claimed.
Corresponds to a plurality of roadside beacons circumference described. In the above embodiment, the information processing apparatus 20 executes the processing of step 200, so that the traveling direction detecting means described in the claims executes the processing of step 204. another vehicle traveling direction providing means recited in the claims by the relationship vehicle detection means according claims by executing the process of step 202 is further roadside beacons 16 only vehicle data related vehicle by providing the vehicle, information selection hand stage according the claims, it is realized respectively.

[0041]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, each of a plurality of vehicles entering an intersection is provided with another vehicle.
Along with both presence information, provide the direction of travel of the other vehicle.
Can be. Therefore, the intersection information providing device according to the present invention
According to, when a vehicle enters an intersection,
Provide detailed information on entering vehicles to drivers of each vehicle
be able to.

[0042]

According to the second aspect of the present invention, only information relating to vehicles whose traveling directions match or cross each other is provided to each of the vehicles closest to the intersection. Therefore,
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the intersection information provision apparatus which concerns on this invention, it can provide only the information of the vehicle which should pay attention to the driver of the vehicle which enters an intersection.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle of the invention according to claim 1;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the principle of the invention according to claim 2;

FIG. 3 is a principle configuration diagram of the invention according to claim 3;

FIG. 4 is a system configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an in-vehicle device constituting a system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control routine executed by the vehicle-mounted device illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control routine executed by the information processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is an intersection traveling direction relation table used when analyzing a relationship between a plurality of vehicles entering the intersection centering on a vehicle entering the intersection from the S direction in FIG. 1;

9 is an intersection traveling direction relation table used when analyzing a relationship between a plurality of vehicles entering the intersection centering on vehicles entering the intersection from the N direction in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is an intersection traveling direction relation table used when analyzing the relationship between a plurality of vehicles entering the intersection centering on vehicles entering the intersection from the W direction in FIG.

FIG. 11 is an intersection traveling direction relation table used when analyzing the relationship between a plurality of vehicles entering the intersection centering on the vehicle entering the intersection from the direction E in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the system shown in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

M10 _-1 , M10 _-2 , 10, 12 Road M12 _{-1 to} M12 _-4 , 16 Roadside beacon M14 Approaching vehicle detecting means M16 Other vehicle information providing means M18 Traveling direction detecting means M20 Other vehicle traveling direction providing means M22 Related vehicle detection Means M24 Information selection means 14 Intersection 18 Information display device 20 Information processing device

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G08G 1/09 G01C 21/00 G01S 1/70

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] Claims 1. A plurality of roads intersecting at an intersection
Communication about traffic information with vehicles traveling on the road
Information providing device equipped with a plurality of roadside beacons that perform
In one of the plurality of roadside beacons,
The one roadside beacon is arranged based on the supplied signal.
Intersection approaching vehicle entering the intersection from a road
Via an approaching vehicle detecting means for detecting the presence of a roadside beacon different from the one roadside beacon.
From the road on which the other roadside beacon is located,
For vehicles entering the intersection,
Other vehicle information providing means for providing information aboutBased on the signal supplied from the roadside beacon,
A traveling direction detecting means for detecting the traveling direction of a vehicle entering a point
Steps and To the vehicle entering the intersection, via the roadside beacon,
Provides information including the direction of travel of other vehicles entering the intersection
Other vehicle traveling direction providing means,  An intersection information providing device, comprising: 2. The intersection information providing device according to claim 1,
AndMake sure that the direction of travel of the vehicle entering the intersection matches the direction of travel.
Or related vehicle detection to detect vehicles approaching other intersections
Delivery means, The other vehicle information providing means, and the other vehicle traveling direction
The information provided by the providing means is detected by the related vehicle detecting means.
Information selection means for limiting information to  Intersection information providing means, comprising: