JP3956883B2 - In-vehicle terminal for narrow area communication - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an in-vehicle terminal for narrow area communication used in an automatic toll collection system (ETC) or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A system for exchanging information between road vehicles using a DSRC (Dedicated Short-Range Communication) standard wireless communication using a 5.8 GHz band radio signal has been put into practical use. ETC uses this narrow-area communication system, installs roadside equipment at toll gates on toll roads, sends and receives vehicle information and billing information to and from in-vehicle terminals, and automatically collects tolls ( For example, see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
Prior art documents related to the invention of this application include the following.
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-305908 [0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, when a toll booth is newly established along with the expansion of the toll road network and roadside equipment is newly installed, in the above-mentioned conventional narrow-area communication vehicle-mounted terminal, the name and position data relating to the new roadside equipment are stored in the in-vehicle database. There is a problem that it cannot be handled.
[0005]
The present invention provides an in-vehicle terminal for narrow area communication that automatically adds and registers information related to an installation facility or an installation point of a newly installed narrow area communication roadside device.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention retrieves information corresponding to the identification number of the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point from the roadside device information storage means, and if the information could not be retrieved, the information center outside the vehicle via the wide area communication means The information corresponding to the identification number of the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point is obtained from the vehicle and notified to the occupant and stored in the roadside device information storage means.
[0007]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, even when a narrow-area communication roadside device is newly installed in accordance with the maintenance of the road network, information on the installation facility or installation point of the newly established narrow-area communication roadside device can be automatically added and registered. This improves convenience.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
<< First Embodiment of the Invention >>
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the first embodiment. The in-vehicle terminal 1 for narrow area communication according to the first embodiment is used as an in-vehicle terminal for narrow area communication used in, for example, an ETC system. The narrow area communication unit 2 includes an antenna 2a, and performs wireless communication with the narrow area communication roadside device 3 according to the DSRC standard using, for example, a 5.8 GHz band radio signal. A radio signal is received from the narrow-area communication roadside device 3, demodulated and converted into a digital signal, output to the controller 4, and the digital signal sent from the controller 4 is modulated into a radio signal to narrow-band communication roadside Transmit to device 3.
[0009]
The IC card interface 5 unit detects the insertion state of the IC card 6, and performs data input / output between the IC card 6 and the darkness processing unit 7 when the IC card 6 is inserted. The encryption processing unit 7 has a function of authenticating the in-vehicle terminal 1 by bidirectional communication with the roadside device 3 according to a predetermined authentication method, and encrypting communication data and decrypting encrypted data. . The cryptographic processing unit 7 also performs data input / output with the controller 4, data reading / writing with the IC card 6, and data writing.
[0010]
The operation unit 8 includes various operation members for operating the in-vehicle terminal 1 for narrow area communication. The ACC switch 9 is a switch that is turned on (closed) when the ignition key is set to the accessory position ACC.
[0011]
The cellular phone 10 communicates with the data management server 11a of the information center 11 via a wireless telephone line, and receives information on the latest installation location of the narrow area communication roadside device 3 stored in the database 11b. The center database 11b is constructed in a mass storage device. Further, the information center 11 that performs two-way wireless communication with the mobile phone 10 via a public telephone line is a wireless communication system in a wider area than the above-described narrow-area communication system. .
[0012]
The display 12 displays various information, and the speaker 13 broadcasts various information. The information notified by the display 12 and the speaker 13 includes information regarding the installation location of the roadside device 3. The information to be notified varies depending on the system to which the in-vehicle terminal 1 is applied. For example, when the in-vehicle terminal 1 is applied to ETC, the toll road usage fee, toll gate number, and the like are notified.
[0013]
The navigation device 14 includes a database 14a for storing road map data and roadside device 3 installation location data, and a GPS receiver 14b. The navigation device 14 detects a current location, displays a road map around the current location, and displays a destination map. If it is set, the optimum route to the destination is searched, the optimum route is displayed, and the route to the destination is guided. The database 14a is constructed in a storage device such as a CDROM or DVD.
[0014]
The controller 4 includes a CPU 4a, a ROM 4b, a RAM 4c, and the like, and controls various operations of the in-vehicle terminal 1 for narrow area communication.
[0015]
FIG. 1 illustrates one in-vehicle terminal 1 for narrow-area communication and one road-side device 3 for narrow-area communication. However, one in-vehicle terminal 1 is mounted on many vehicles. 3 is installed at many points along the road. When this narrow area communication system is applied to ETC, the roadside equipment 3 is installed at the entrance, exit, toll gate, check barrier, etc. of the toll road. There may also be a plurality of information centers 11.
[0016]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the narrow area communication program. The operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to this flowchart. When the ACC switch 9 is turned on, the controller 4 repeatedly executes this narrow area communication program.
[0017]
In step 1, narrow-area communication between road vehicles is executed by the narrow-area communication unit 2. In step 2, if narrow-area communication is possible with any roadside device 3, the facility where the roadside device 3 is installed or the identification number N1 of the installation point of the facility is obtained. The identification number of the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point is an identification number assigned to each installation facility or installation point of the roadside equipment 3, and when this narrow area communication system is used for ETC, Become.
[0018]
In step 3, information related to the identification number N1 of the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point is searched from the database 14a of the navigation device 14, and in step 4 information related to the facility or point identification number N1 is stored in the in-vehicle database 14a. If yes, go to Step 5. If not, go to Step 7.
[0019]
If information related to the identification number N1 of the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point is stored in the in-vehicle database 14a, the name C1 of the facility or point corresponding to the facility or the point identification number N1 is obtained from the in-vehicle database 14a in step 5. In step 6, the facility or point name C1 is displayed on the display 12. At this time, the facility or point name C1 may be broadcast by the speaker 13.
[0020]
If the information on the identification number N1 of the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point is not stored in the in-vehicle database 14a, the information center 11 is accessed via the mobile phone 10 in step 7, and the facility or point identification number N1 is stored. Request a search for information about.
[0021]
If the information on the identification number N1 of the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point is stored in the center side database 11b, the process proceeds from step 8 to step 9, and the facility corresponding to the facility or the point identification number N1 from the information center 11 or The point name C1 is obtained. In the subsequent step 10, the facility or point name C1 obtained from the information center 11 is stored in the in-vehicle database 14a in association with the facility or point identification number N1, and information on the facility or point identification number N1 is added and registered.
[0022]
On the other hand, if the information on the identification number N1 of the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point is not stored in the center side database 11b, the process proceeds from step 8 to step 12, and the facility or point name of the facility or point identification number N1 is The fact that it was not found is displayed on the display 12. At this time, the speaker 13 may broadcast.
[0023]
As described above, according to the first embodiment, information (name of facility or point) corresponding to the identification number of the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point is searched from the in-vehicle database 14a, and the information cannot be searched. If this happens, information corresponding to the identification number of the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point is obtained from the information center 11 outside the vehicle via the mobile phone 10 and notified to the passenger, and additionally registered in the in-vehicle database 14a. As a result, even if the narrow-area communication roadside equipment 3 is newly established as the road network is improved, information on the installation facility or installation point of the newly established narrow-area communication roadside equipment 3 is automatically registered. Can improve convenience.
[0024]
<< Second Embodiment of the Invention >>
In the first embodiment described above, when the information corresponding to the identification number of the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point is not stored in the in-vehicle database 14a, the facility or the point is transmitted from the information center 11 via the mobile phone. An example of obtaining information corresponding to the identification number of was shown. However, if the mobile phone is not connected to the in-vehicle terminal 1, information corresponding to the facility or point identification number cannot be obtained from the information center 11 at that time.
[0025]
In the ETC system, an IC card is used for toll collection, and usage history information using a narrow communication facility such as a toll gate is recorded. This usage history information includes information on the identification number of the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point. Therefore, when the user requests display of usage history information recorded on the IC card, the name of the facility or point corresponding to the identification number of the narrow area communication facility such as the tollgate used or the facility installation point is If it is not known, information corresponding to the facility or location identification number is retrieved from the in-vehicle database 14a at that time, and if the information is not recorded in the in-vehicle database 14a, the information center 11 is connected via the mobile phone. A second embodiment in which information is obtained from will be described.
[0026]
The configuration of the second embodiment is the same as the configuration shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the narrow area communication program. The operation of the third embodiment will be described with reference to this flowchart. Note that steps that perform the same processing as the processing shown in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same step numbers, and differences will be mainly described. When the ACC switch 9 is turned on, the controller 4 repeatedly executes this narrow area communication program.
[0027]
In step 21, it is confirmed whether or not the user has requested use history display through the operation unit 8. If there is a request for use history display, the process proceeds to step 22. In step 22, the usage history information stored in the IC card 6 is read out by the IC card interface unit 5 and the encryption processing unit 7, and the name field of the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point is blank from the usage history information. Get the facility or point identification number N1. When the narrow-area communication facility with the identification number N1 is used, the mobile phone 10 is not connected to the in-vehicle terminal 1 or the mobile phone 10 is connected but the facility or point is identified from the information center 11 due to communication failure. The information corresponding to the number N1 could not be obtained.
[0028]
The processing for the identification number N1 of the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point where it is necessary to obtain information such as the name is the same as the processing in steps 3 to 12 shown in FIG. Note that there may be a plurality of facilities or point identification numbers in which the name field of the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point is blank, and in this case, the above-described processing is performed on each facility or point identification number.
[0029]
Thus, according to the second embodiment, the use history (communication history) read from the IC card 6 by the IC card interface unit 5 and the encryption processing unit 7 is used to identify the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point. If the information corresponding to the number (name of facility or point) is not recorded, information corresponding to the identification number of the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point is searched from the in-vehicle database 14a, and the information cannot be searched. If this happens, information corresponding to the identification number of the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point is obtained from the information center 11 outside the vehicle via the mobile phone 10 and notified to the passenger, and additionally registered in the in-vehicle database 14a. Therefore, even if the narrow-area communication roadside equipment 3 is newly established along with the development of the road network, the newly installed narrow-area communication roadside equipment 3 Can be automatically added to register the information of the installation point, the convenience is improved. In addition, when the newly established narrow-area communication roadside device 3 is used, the mobile phone 10 is not connected to the in-vehicle terminal 1 or the mobile phone 10 is connected but the information center 11 is not connected due to communication failure. Even if the information corresponding to the facility or the spot number cannot be obtained, the information can be obtained when the occupant requests display of the communication history (use history) recorded in the IC card 6.
[0030]
<< Third Embodiment of the Invention >>
If the point name corresponding to the roadside device communication point identification number is not stored in the in-vehicle database, the facility (narrowband communication facility) where the roadside device for narrow area communication around the current position detected by the navigation device is installed A description will be given of a third embodiment in which a search is made from an in-vehicle road map database, the name of the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point is displayed, and additionally registered.
[0031]
The configuration of the third embodiment is the same as the configuration shown in FIG. In addition, the detection method of the present position of the vehicle is not limited to the method of detecting by the GPS receiver 14b of the navigation device 14, but the travel distance and the traveling direction of the vehicle are detected to calculate the travel locus, and the road map and the map matching are performed. You may detect by what is called autonomous navigation which goes and detects a present position.
[0032]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the narrow area communication program. The operation of the third embodiment will be described with reference to this flowchart. When the ACC switch 9 is turned on, the controller 4 repeatedly executes this narrow area communication program.
[0033]
In step 41, the current position of the vehicle is detected by the navigation device 14, and in the subsequent step 42, it is confirmed whether narrow area communication with the roadside device 3 has been started. When the narrow area communication with the roadside device 3 is started, the process proceeds to step 43, and the current position E1 obtained from the navigation device 14 immediately before starting the narrow area communication is stored in the RAM 4c.
[0034]
In step 44, the identification number N1 of the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point is obtained from the roadside device 3. In step 45, information related to the facility or point identification number N1 is searched from the database 14a of the navigation device 14. If the information related to the facility or point identification number N1 is stored in the in-vehicle database 14a in step 46, the process proceeds to step 47. If not, the process proceeds to step 49.
[0035]
If information related to the identification number N1 of the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point is stored in the in-vehicle database 14a, the name of the facility or point C1 corresponding to the facility or the point identification number N1 is obtained from the in-vehicle database 14a in step 47. In step 48, the facility or point name C1 is displayed on the display 12. At this time, the facility or point name C1 may be broadcast by the speaker 13.
[0036]
If the information related to the identification number N1 of the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point is not stored in the in-vehicle database 14a, the narrow area around the current position E1 is determined from the road map data stored in the in-vehicle database 14a in step 49. Search for communication facilities. Here, the narrow-area communication facility to be searched is a facility in which narrow-area communication roadside equipment is installed. For example, in ETC, it corresponds to an entrance, an exit, and a toll gate of a toll road. The narrow area communication facility search range is, for example, 300 m from the current position E1.
[0037]
When there is a narrow area communication facility around the current position E1, the process proceeds to step 51, and the name C2 of the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point is obtained from the road map data stored in the database 14a of the navigation device 14. In step 52, the name C2 of the facility or point is stored in the in-vehicle database 14a in association with the identification number N1 of the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point, and information regarding the facility or point identification number N1 is added and registered. In step 53, the facility or point name C2 is displayed on the display 12. At this time, the facility or spot name C2 may be broadcast by the speaker 13.
[0038]
If there is no narrow area communication facility around the current position E1, a message indicating that the facility or the name of the identification number N1 of the narrow area communication facility or the installation location of the facility is not found is displayed on the display 12. At this time, the speaker 13 may broadcast.
[0039]
As described above, according to the third embodiment, information (name of facility or point) corresponding to the identification number of the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point is searched from the in-vehicle database 14a, and the information cannot be searched. In the case of communication with the narrow area communication roadside device 3 by the narrow area communication units 2 and 2a, information on the narrow area communication facility around the current position detected by the GPS receiver 14b or the facility installation point is obtained. Searching from the in-vehicle road map database 14a, notifying the passengers, and additionally registering in the in-vehicle database 14a, it is possible to newly establish a narrow area communication without obtaining information from the information center 11 outside the vehicle by wide area communication. Information on the installation facility or installation point of the roadside device 3 can be automatically added and registered, and convenience is improved.
[0040]
The correspondence between the constituent elements of the claims and the constituent elements of the embodiment is as follows. That is, the narrow area communication unit 2 and the antenna 2a are the narrow area communication means, the database 14a of the navigation device 14 is the roadside device information storage means and the map storage means, the mobile phone 10 is the wide area communication means, and the controller 4 is the control means. The GPS receiver 14b constitutes current position detection means. In addition, each component is not limited to the said structure, unless the characteristic function of this invention is impaired.
[0041]
In the embodiment described above, an example in which information related to the roadside device 3 for narrow area communication is stored in the database 14a of the navigation apparatus 14 is shown. However, a dedicated storage device for the in-vehicle terminal 1 for narrow area communication is provided and the dedicated storage is provided. Information related to the roadside device 3 for narrow area communication may be stored in the apparatus.
[0042]
In the above-described embodiment, the example of obtaining and notifying the name of the facility or point corresponding to the identification number of the narrow-area communication facility or the facility installation point has been shown. The information corresponding to the identification number is not limited to the name of the facility or point, and can handle any information related to the facility or point.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a first exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a road-vehicle communication program according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a road-to-vehicle communication program according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a road-vehicle communication program according to a third embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 In-vehicle terminal 2 for narrow area communication 2 Narrow area communication part 2a Antenna 3 Roadside apparatus 4 for narrow area communication Controller 4a CPU
4b ROM
4c RAM
5 IC card interface unit 6 IC card 7 encryption processing unit 8 operation unit 9 ACC switch 10 mobile phone 11 information center 11a data management server 11b database 12 display 13 speaker 14 navigation device 14a database 14b GPS receiver

Claims (6)

A narrow area communication means for performing narrow area communication with a narrow area communication roadside device and obtaining an identification number of a facility (hereinafter referred to as a narrow area communication facility) where the narrow area communication roadside device is installed;
Roadside device information storage means for storing information on the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point;
Wide-area communication means for performing wide-area communication with an information center outside the vehicle that stores information on the narrow-area communication facility or the facility installation point;
When the information corresponding to the identification number of the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point is searched from the roadside device information storage means, and the information cannot be searched, the narrow area from the information center via the wide area communication means. An in-vehicle terminal for narrow area communication, comprising: a control unit that obtains information corresponding to an identification number of a communication facility or the facility installation point and notifies a passenger. In the in-vehicle terminal for narrow area communication according to claim 1,
Card information reading means for reading a communication history from an IC card that records a communication history by the narrow area communication means,
The control means, when the information corresponding to the identification number of the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point is not recorded in the communication history read from the IC card by the card information reading means, the narrow area communication facility or When the information corresponding to the identification number of the facility installation point is searched from the roadside device information storage means, and the information cannot be searched from the roadside device information storage means, the information center is connected via the wide area communication means. An in-vehicle terminal for narrow area communication that obtains information corresponding to an identification number of a narrow area communication facility or the installation point of the facility and informs an occupant. In the vehicle-mounted terminal for narrow area communication according to claim 1 or 2,
The in-vehicle terminal for narrow area communication, wherein the control means stores information corresponding to the identification number of the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point obtained from the information center in the roadside device information storage means. A narrow area communication means for performing narrow area communication with a narrow area communication roadside device and obtaining an identification number of a facility (hereinafter referred to as a narrow area communication facility) where the narrow area communication roadside device is installed;
Roadside device information storage means for storing information on the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point;
Current position detecting means for detecting the current position of the vehicle;
Map storage means for storing road map information;
When the information corresponding to the identification number of the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point is retrieved from the roadside device information storage means and the information cannot be retrieved, the narrow area communication means and the roadside equipment for narrow area communication Control means for retrieving information on the narrow-area communication facility around the current position detected by the current position detection means at the time of communication or the installation location of the facility from the map storage means and notifying the passenger. An in-vehicle terminal for narrow-area communication. In the vehicle-mounted terminal for narrow area communication according to claim 4,
The in-vehicle terminal for narrow area communication, wherein the control means stores information corresponding to the identification number of the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point retrieved from the map storage means in the roadside equipment information storage means. In the in-vehicle terminal for narrow area communication according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The in-vehicle terminal for narrow area communication, wherein the information on the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point includes the name of the narrow area communication facility or the facility installation point.

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