JP3995425B2 - Traffic signal system using short-range radio, user terminal used therefor, and signal guide method for crosswalk - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a traffic signal system using short-range radio and a user terminal used in the traffic signal system, and more particularly, a signal that can cross a pedestrian crossing with peace of mind even by using a short-range radio such as Bluetooth. It relates to the device of the guidance system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Recently, transmitters (information transmitters) such as lane markers have been embedded in roads, etc., and position information etc. are transmitted to receivers held by pedestrians from there. Practical application of a system (guidance device) that aims to be barrier-free on roads and station platforms, etc., that enables people with visual impairments to walk with peace of mind through accurate notifications (for example, Asahi) (May 7, 2000 morning edition).
[0003]
In addition, as a guidance device for a crossing road or the like targeting a traffic weak person such as a visually impaired person, for example, according to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-20874, it is set in the crossing direction of the crossing road as shown in FIG. It has been proposed to install electronic markers 100... 100 on the road surface of each point, and send position information including signal information of the pedestrian crossing and attribute information of the point to the portable terminal 101 held by the pedestrian.
[0004]
In the guidance device here, various information communication is performed between the portable terminal 101 and each electronic marker 100 while the pedestrian is walking, and the control device 102 on the traffic light 103 side is communicated from each electronic marker 100... Necessary information is sent, and the surrounding traffic lights 103 ... 103 that sandwich the pedestrian crossing according to the walking position of the pedestrian are changed to "walking", "caution", and "stop" signal states, It is supposed that it is possible to support the pedestrian's guidance by controlling the pedestrian to always notify the pedestrian via the electronic marker 100.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The above-described guidance device is a cable connection between each electronic marker installed on a crossing road and a traffic light, and exchanges information with a mobile terminal on the pedestrian side through each electronic marker. Depending on the situation, problems such as an increase in the cost of laying a wired transmission line and its maintenance and inspection, and a more complicated system as a whole are expected. It is particularly desirable for practical use to be able to construct a system with a device configuration that is as simple as possible and highly versatile if possible while suppressing such an increase in cost.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in the background of such a conventional situation, and is intended for a simpler and more versatile device configuration, and a traffic signal system for a pedestrian crossing that can be safely crossed by a visually impaired person. Is intended to be provided at a lower cost.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention embeds a device for generating road surface signals such as position information in a crossing direction of a pedestrian crossing and mounts a device for receiving the road surface signal on a portable terminal held by a user. By making short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth between the portable terminal and the traffic light on the pedestrian crossing, the traffic light side recognizes the presence of the user and its crossing situation, and controls the signal state of the traffic signal, The user can always recognize the signal state.
[0008]
The traffic signal system applying the short-range radio according to the present invention is completed based on such an idea, and is embedded in a plurality of points in the crossing direction of the pedestrian crossing, and the position can be specified for each point. A road surface signal transmitter for transmitting a road signal, a user terminal possessed by a user of the pedestrian crossing, and a traffic light system for controlling a signal of a traffic signal installed on the pedestrian crossing, A road surface signal receiving means for receiving a road surface signal from the road surface signal generator at the embedded position, and data relating to the user's signal guidance including the road surface signal received by the road surface signal receiving means are stored in the traffic light system. User-side communication means for transmitting the distance guidance wirelessly and receiving the signal guidance data from the traffic light system by the short-range wireless communication, and the user-side communication means Notification means that informs the user of the data related to the signal guidance received in a recognizable manner, and the traffic light system communicates the data with the user side communication means by the short-range radio. Communication means and control means for controlling the signal of the traffic light so that the user can cross the pedestrian crossing based on the road surface signal from each road surface signal generator received by the traffic light side communication means. It is characterized by that.
[0009]
The short-range radio can be one using Bluetooth. This Bluetooth can function the user side communication means as a master and the signal side communication means as a slave of the master. Here, Bluetooth is one of the short-range wireless standards adopting a frequency hopping type spread spectrum communication system using an ISM (Industry Science Medical) frequency band of 2.4 [GHz]. One-to-one or one-to-many communication is possible within a range, and various portable devices such as mobile phones and notebook PCs can be connected wirelessly.
[0010]
The user terminal can be mounted on a walking stick used by the pedestrian.
[0011]
According to a signal guide method for a pedestrian crossing according to the present invention, a signal related to the current position of a pedestrian crossing is received and read from a signal generator embedded in a plurality of points on the pedestrian crossing, The signal of the traffic signal is controlled so that the user can cross the pedestrian crossing by transmitting data on the user's signal guidance including a read signal to the traffic signal side of the pedestrian crossing by short-range radio, and Data relating to signal control of a traffic light is transmitted to the user side in a recognizable manner by the short-range radio.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of a traffic signal system using short-range radio according to the present invention, a user terminal used in the traffic signal system, and a signal guide method for a pedestrian crossing will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0013]
The traffic signal system applying the short-range radio shown in FIG. 1 uses the traffic signal of the traffic light TS so that the user (user) PS such as a blind person can safely cross the pedestrian crossing R1. The control is performed in accordance with the signal guidance. Here, the traffic signals TS which are paired across the news report can communicate with each other via a transmission line such as a predetermined cable.
[0014]
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the traffic signal system includes a plurality of road surface signal generators 1... 1 embedded in a road surface along the crossing direction on the sidewalk R1 and its surrounding sidewalk R2, and a user. A user terminal (hereinafter referred to as “user terminal”) 2 that can carry a PS and a traffic light system 3 that controls traffic signals of the traffic light TS are provided. The user terminal 2 and the traffic light system 3 can perform short-range wireless communication with each other via Bluetooth.
[0015]
In this example, the plurality of road surface signal generators 1... 1 are composed of, for example, passive electromagnetic coils, and transmit different signals in the pedestrian crossing direction by changing the signal frequency or changing the modulation code. In the case of this example, for example, electromagnetic waves of two carriers (two frequencies) that are FM-modulated and transmitted from the user terminal 2 in a time division manner by the electromagnetic coil are received and driven. A magnetic induction signal capable of data transmission in a start-stop synchronization is generated as a road surface signal.
[0016]
The user terminal 2 is configured integrally with, for example, a cane that can be used by a blind person, and is functionally capable of wireless communication with the traffic light system 3 via Bluetooth (hereinafter referred to as “user side”). 20), a road surface signal receiver 21, a human interface (such as a voice interface that informs the visually handicapped person by voice) 22, and a controller 23 that is responsible for these control centers.
[0017]
With this configuration, the user terminal 2 receives the road surface signals (position signals) from the road surface signal generators 1... 1 by the road surface signal receiver 21 under the control of the controller 23, reads the signals, and the traffic light system 3 Information on the road surface signal detected by the road surface signal receiver 21 via the user-side Bluetooth device 20, a notification that the user is present, a request to change the signal of the traffic light, etc. On the other hand, it receives information about the presence of the traffic signal TS, notification of approaching the pedestrian crossing R1, notification of crossing start / end, and the like.
[0018]
The traffic signal system 3 includes a controller 31 in addition to a Bluetooth wireless device (hereinafter referred to as “signal device-side Bluetooth device”) 30 capable of wireless communication with the user terminal 2 by Bluetooth.
[0019]
With this configuration, the traffic signal system 3 notifies the user terminal 2 that the traffic signal TS exists via the traffic signal side Bluetooth device 30, notifies that the traffic signal TS is approaching, and starts crossing / While transmitting information related to the end notification, etc., it also receives information related to the transmission of the road surface signal detected by the road surface signal receiver 21, the notification that the user PS exists, the request to change the signal of the traffic light TS, etc. To do.
[0020]
Here, the overall operation of the traffic signal system of this example will be described based on an example of a signal guidance sequence shown in FIG.
[0021]
In FIG. 3, the traffic signal system 3 transmits a broadcast signal indicating the presence of the traffic signal TS to the surroundings via the traffic signal side Bluetooth device 30 under the control of the controller 21 (steps S1 and S2). It is assumed that the user has arrived near the sidewalk R2 within a predetermined distance range in which wireless communication by Bluetooth can be performed from the traffic light TS.
[0022]
At this user position, under the control of the controller 23, the user terminal 2 starts to receive a broadcast signal from the traffic signal side Bluetooth device 30 via the user side Bluetooth device 20, and hence the user side Bluetooth device. Communication with the Bluetooth between the user terminal 2 and the traffic signal system 3 is possible with 20 as a master defined by Bluetooth and the traffic side Bluetooth device 30 as a slave defined by Bluetooth.
[0023]
As a result, the user terminal 2 notifies the presence of the traffic signal TS nearby via the user-side Bluetooth device 20 through the human interface 22 using a notification method such as voice that can be recognized even by visually impaired users ( In step S3), the traffic light system 3 recognizes that the user is present near the sidewalk R2 in proximity to the traffic light TS via the traffic signal side Bluetooth device 30 (steps S4 and S5).
[0024]
Next, when the user PS further walks toward the sidewalk R2 of the traffic light TS and reaches a position embedded on the sidewalk side in each road surface signal generator 1 ... 1, the user terminal 2 receives a road surface signal corresponding to the position. The (magnetic induction signal) is received and read by the road surface signal receiver 21, and the read result is transmitted to the traffic light system 3 via the user side Bluetooth device 20 (step S7). Thus, in the traffic light system 3, the controller 31 recognizes where the user PS is located on the pedestrian crossing R1 (step S8). Similar signal exchange is performed until the user PS has crossed the pedestrian crossing R1.
[0025]
Next, when the user PS walks from the sidewalk R2 toward the pedestrian crossing R1 and reaches the vicinity of the traffic light TS, the traffic light system 3 receives the position signal from the user terminal 2, and the traffic signal system 3 determines the user's crossing will by the processing of the controller 31. Confirmation is made (steps S9 to S11), and the user terminal 2 is notified via the traffic signal side Bluetooth device 30 that the traffic signal TS has been approached (step S12). Thereby, under the control of the controller 23, the user terminal 2 converts the pedestrian crossing proximity notification into voice or the like via the user-side Bluetooth device 20 through a human interface and causes the user PS to recognize it (step S13).
[0026]
Then, the user terminal 2 transmits to the traffic signal system 3 that the signal is desired to be changed via the user-side Bluetooth device 20 (step S14), and the traffic signal system 3 receives this, under the control of the controller 31. The signal of the traffic signal TS is changed from “red” to “blue” (step S15), and the fact is transmitted to the user terminal 2 via the traffic signal side Bluetooth device 30 (steps S16 and S17).
[0027]
For the “blue” of this traffic light, the user confirms the intention of the user PS to continue crossing on the traffic light system 3 side at the start position of the pedestrian crossing R1 through signal exchange similar to the above (steps S18 to S20). It continues until it passes the position in the middle along the direction and passes the end position (steps S21 to S23). Here, when the user PS deviates from the pedestrian crossing R1, the user terminal 3 notifies the user PS to that effect through the human interface, thereby prompting the user PS to return to the position of the pedestrian crossing R1. .
[0028]
When the user PS reaches the end position of the pedestrian crossing R1 and crosses the pedestrian crossing R1, the traffic light system 3 recognizes the end of the user's crossing through the same signal exchange as described above, and the control of the controller 31 is performed. Then, the signal of the traffic signal TS is changed from “blue” to “red” (step S26), and that fact is transmitted to the user terminal 2 via the traffic signal side Bluetooth device 30 (steps S27 and S28). At this time, the user terminal 2 also finishes receiving the position signal from the road surface signal generator 1.
[0029]
Therefore, according to this example, by applying short-range radio while aiming for a simpler and more versatile device configuration, a traffic signal system that can cross the pedestrian crossing with peace of mind can be improved. Can be provided at low cost.
[0030]
In addition, when a new user crosses while the user is crossing, it is desirable to perform signal guidance with priority on the user terminal of the new user. In addition, when the pedestrian crossing is long and exceeds the reach of Bluetooth, it is possible to install a separate relay post and transmit the signal from the relay post to a traffic signal via a transmission line such as a cable.
[0031]
Furthermore, in this example, Bluetooth is applied as a short-range radio, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, IEEE (Institute of Electronics and Electronics Engineers) 802.11, etc. But it is applicable.
[0032]
Furthermore, in this example, the user terminal is assumed to be composed of, for example, a cane for a blind person, but the present invention is not limited to this, and is mounted on a wheelchair or other walking aid. It doesn't matter what you do.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a traffic signal system that applies short-range radio that can cross a pedestrian crossing with peace of mind, while aiming for a simpler and more versatile device configuration, The user terminal and the pedestrian crossing signal guiding method used in this way can be provided at a lower cost.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the overall configuration of a traffic signal system to which a short-range radio according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a signal guiding sequence by the traffic signal system.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a conventional guidance device.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Road surface signal generator 2 User terminal 3 Traffic light system 20 Bluetooth radio | wireless apparatus (user terminal side)
21 Road surface signal receiver 22 Human interface 23 Controller (user terminal side)
30 Bluetooth wireless device (signal side)
31 Controller (Signal side)

Claims (6)

A road surface signal transmitter that is embedded at a plurality of points in the crossing direction of the pedestrian crossing and that transmits a road surface signal that can specify the position for each point;
A user terminal held by a user of the pedestrian crossing;
A traffic light system for controlling signals of traffic lights installed on the pedestrian crossing,
The user terminal is related to signal guidance of the user including road surface signal receiving means for receiving road surface signals from the road surface signal generators at the embedded position and road surface signals received by the road surface signal receiving means. User-side communication means for transmitting data to the traffic signal system by short-range radio and receiving data related to the signal guidance from the traffic signal system by the short-range radio, and the signal guidance received by the user-side communication means Notification means for informing the user of the data in a recognizable manner,
The traffic light system includes a traffic light side communication means for communicating the data with the user side communication means by the short-range wireless communication, and road signal from each road surface signal generator received by the traffic light side communication means. A traffic signal system using short-range radio, comprising control means for controlling the signal of the traffic light so that the user can cross the pedestrian crossing based on the signal.   2. The traffic signal system using short-range radio according to claim 1, wherein the short-range radio uses Bluetooth.   3. The traffic signal system applying short-range radio according to claim 2, wherein the Bluetooth functions as the user side communication means as a master and the signal side communication means as a slave of the master. A traffic signal system using short-range radio.   The traffic signal system applying the short-range radio according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the user terminal is mounted on a walking cane used by the pedestrian. Traffic signal system using distance radio.   The user terminal used with the traffic signal system which applied the short-distance radio | wireless of any one of Claim 1 to 4.   Data relating to the current position of the user with respect to the pedestrian crossing is received and read from a signal generator embedded in advance at a plurality of points of the pedestrian crossing, and the data relating to the user's signal guidance including the read signal Is transmitted to the traffic signal side of the pedestrian crossing by short-range radio to control the signal of the traffic signal so that the user can cross the pedestrian crossing, and data related to signal control of the traffic signal is also transmitted by the short-range radio A signal guide method for a pedestrian crossing, which is transmitted to the user side in a recognizable manner.

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