JP4985613B2 - Traffic signal control system, signal control device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a traffic signal control system that supports driving of an emergency vehicle.

  In the conventional traffic signal control system, for the purpose of supporting the travel of an emergency vehicle, an optical beacon is installed on the upstream side of the road connected to the intersection so that road-to-vehicle communication can be performed with the emergency vehicle. When the optical beacon receives the uplink information from the emergency vehicle, it recognizes that the emergency vehicle has approached the intersection and controls the signal lamp in the direction that the emergency vehicle passes. This is a traffic signal control method that continues to extend the green signal until it is finished, and if it is a red signal, switches the red signal to the blue signal as soon as possible and continues to extend the green signal, hereinafter referred to as “FAST control”). I came.

As a result, the emergency vehicle does not have to wait for the signal at the intersection, or the time for waiting for the signal can be shortened, so that the emergency vehicle can run smoothly. .
Since this FAST control operates differently from the normal operation of continuously displaying a green signal until an emergency vehicle can pass, there is a high probability that traffic congestion will occur in the traffic flow that intersects the direction in which the emergency vehicle passes. However, it is a traffic signal control method aiming at giving priority to the traveling in consideration of the social mission of the emergency vehicle even if the traffic flow on the crossing side is sacrificed to some extent (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-158837 A

  In this traffic signal control system that supports the travel of an emergency vehicle, when an emergency vehicle is traveling on a main road, FAST control is sequentially performed from the intersection at which the emergency vehicle approaches at a plurality of intersections adjacent to each other on the main line. Run it. When approaching a certain intersection, FAST control is performed at the intersection. After passing through the intersection, when approaching the next adjacent intersection, FAST control is performed at the next intersection. In this case, as a general rule, the FAST control is not started unless the emergency vehicle comes close to the downstream intersection farther away from the approaching intersection.

  As mentioned above, there is a demerit that traffic congestion tends to occur on the intersection side road when FAST control is executed, so it is uncertain whether an emergency vehicle will pass in consideration of the influence on the surrounding traffic flow In general, the FAST control is not executed at an intersection farther than the intersection where the emergency vehicle approaches. As described above, by limiting the execution target of the FAST control to only the intersection where the emergency vehicle approaches, the influence on the entire traffic flow in the emergency vehicle travel area can be limited.

However, if there is a traffic jam in the forward direction of the main road where the emergency vehicle is traveling, even if the traffic light at the intersection where the emergency vehicle is approaching continues to be green, it becomes a clogged state. Therefore, there are cases where emergency vehicles cannot move forward.
That is, there is a problem that there may be a case where the emergency vehicle cannot travel smoothly only by performing the FAST control at the intersection where the emergency vehicle approaches.

  Therefore, in addition to FAST control at the intersection where the emergency vehicle has approached, the applicant increases the display period (split) of the green signal in the direction of travel of the emergency vehicle at other intersections where the emergency vehicle is expected to travel. Therefore, a traffic signal control system has been proposed that can reduce the number of cases in which the emergency vehicle is prevented from proceeding due to clogging so that it becomes difficult for traffic jams to occur at the destination of the emergency vehicle (Japanese Patent Application 2008). -263328).

When increasing the green light display time in the proposed traffic signal control system, it is possible to determine in detail how much the green light time should be increased for each of a plurality of intersections that are expected to travel to the emergency vehicle. As a result, a more advanced traffic signal control system can be realized.
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a traffic signal control system that assists an emergency vehicle to travel more smoothly.

A traffic signal control system according to a first invention transmits a first traffic signal controller that performs traffic signal control at a first intersection and first command information that is an instruction to the first traffic signal controller. And a first road communication device installed on a road connected to the first intersection, wherein the first road communication device receives uplink information from an emergency vehicle. In the first command information transmitted in response to the reception, the control method continues to extend the green signal in the traveling direction of the emergency vehicle until it recognizes that the emergency vehicle has passed the first intersection. The system includes information instructing to execute a certain FAST control, and the transmission unit is further installed at a second intersection where the emergency vehicle is expected to pass after passing the first intersection. Second command information can be transmitted to the second traffic signal controller, and the second command information transmitted in response to reception of the uplink information is expected to advance the emergency vehicle. Information indicating that the display period of the green light in the direction to be increased is increased by a predetermined time, and the predetermined time is determined according to a geographical relationship between the first intersection and the second intersection. that is intended, and is characterized in that the geographical link between the second intersection and the first intersection is determined as the predetermined time the stronger the larger (claim 1).

According to the present invention, in addition to the FAST control at the intersection where the emergency vehicle approaches, the display period (split) of the green signal in the traveling direction of the emergency vehicle is increased at the other intersection where the emergency vehicle is expected to travel. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the number of cases in which traffic congestion is less likely to occur at the destination of the emergency vehicle, and the emergency vehicle is prevented from proceeding due to clogging despite the FAST control being performed. Since the display time of the green signal to be increased at the intersection is determined according to the geographical relationship with the first intersection that performs the FAST control, the increase time of the green signal can be made appropriate.
Therefore, the execution effect of FAST control can be further enhanced, and the influence on the surrounding traffic flow can be limited.

In addition, the geographical relationship here refers to the strength and weakness of the geographical connection between the first intersection and the second intersection. Judging by how many other intersections exist between them and whether or not the emergency vehicle will reach the second intersection if the direction of travel is maintained after passing the first intersection It is.
When the distance between the first intersection and the second intersection is short, the geographical connection between the two is considered strong. In addition, the smaller the other intersections between the two, the stronger the geographical connection. In addition, if the emergency vehicle reaches the second intersection if the traveling direction is maintained after passing the first intersection, the geographical connection between the two is considered strong.

In this way, the stronger the geographical connection is, the higher the possibility that the emergency vehicle will pass through the second intersection, so that the blue light is increased so that it is less likely to clog at the destination of the emergency vehicle. It is desirable to increase the display time of. On the other hand, if the intersection is weak in geographical connection, it is better to keep the display time of the green signal to be increased smaller in consideration of the traffic flow on the side that intersects with the predicted traveling direction of the emergency vehicle.
Note that these weakly connected intersections reduce the increase in green light while the emergency vehicle is far away, but the intersection (first intersection) that performs FAST control as the emergency vehicle approaches gradually. Since the FAST control execution intersection approaches the second intersection, the geographical connection between the FAST control execution intersection and the second intersection becomes stronger gradually. .
Therefore, with the traffic signal control system according to the first aspect of the invention, it is possible to increase the display time of the green signal that gradually increases as the emergency vehicle approaches the second intersection.

  The traffic signal control system according to the second invention includes a first traffic signal controller that performs traffic signal control at a first intersection, and first command information that is an instruction to the first traffic signal controller. A signal control device comprising a transmission means for transmitting a signal, and a first road communication device installed on a road connected to the first intersection, wherein the first road communication device is uplinked from an emergency vehicle. In the first command information transmitted in response to receiving the information, the control continues to extend the green signal in the traveling direction of the emergency vehicle until it recognizes that the emergency vehicle has passed the first intersection. The system includes information instructing to execute FAST control, which is a method, and the transmission means further includes a second intersection where the emergency vehicle is expected to pass after passing the first intersection. The second command information can be transmitted to the second traffic signal controller installed in the vehicle, and the emergency command is transmitted to the second command information transmitted in response to the reception of the uplink information. Information indicating that the display period of the green light in the direction expected to travel is increased by a predetermined time is included, and the signal control device further calculates the probability that the emergency vehicle will pass the second intersection The predetermined time is determined in accordance with the calculated probability (claim 2).

As in the first invention, the second invention is not only FAST control at the intersection where the emergency vehicle has approached, but also a green signal of the traveling direction of the emergency vehicle at another intersection where the emergency vehicle is expected to travel. In order to increase the display period (split) of the vehicle, it is difficult for traffic jams to occur at the destination of the emergency vehicle, and there are few cases where the emergency vehicle is blocked from proceeding due to clogging despite FAST control. The green light display time to be increased at the second intersection is determined according to the probability that the emergency vehicle will pass the second intersection, so the green light increase time can be appropriate become.
At intersections where there is a high probability that an emergency vehicle will pass, it is desirable to increase the increase in green light, while at intersections where the probability is low, it is desirable to decrease the increase in green light.
If there is a high probability that an emergency vehicle will pass, even if the impact on the traffic flow on the crossing side is great, it should be less likely to clog the emergency vehicle. Although it is necessary to increase the size, it is better to reduce the increase time of the green light at the intersection with low probability in consideration of the influence on the traffic flow on the intersection side.

  As the emergency vehicle progresses while passing through the intersection, the probability of passing through each intersection fluctuates, so when the probability increases, the green signal increase time is increased at that point according to the probability, and conversely the probability is If it becomes lower, the increase time of the green light may be reduced according to the probability.

  In these first and second traffic signal control systems, the transmission means, when a plurality of traffic signal controllers controlled by the signal control device are grouped into a plurality of sub-areas, When there are a plurality of traffic signal controllers belonging to one sub-area, an appropriate offset is given to the start time of the green signal in a predetermined direction of these traffic signal controllers to instruct to operate systematically. In this case, the third command information transmitted to the third traffic signal controller belonging to the same subarea as the second traffic signal controller in response to the reception of the uplink information includes the Preferably, the second traffic signal controller includes information instructing to increase the green signal time of the route corresponding to the route in which the display time of the green signal increases by the predetermined time. .

  When the green signal time is increased in the second traffic signal controller, the start time of the green signal of the second traffic signal controller in each cycle is delayed by that amount. If system control was performed by giving an appropriate offset in the sub-area to which the second traffic signal controller belongs, it belongs to the sub-area according to the increase in the green signal time of the second traffic signal controller. It is better to increase the green signal time of other traffic signal controllers so that the offset value is maintained appropriately. By doing so, system control in the sub-area is maintained, and smooth traffic flow in the sub-area is ensured.

Here, “the route corresponding to the route in which the display time of the green light increases in the second traffic signal controller” means the route in the traveling direction of the emergency vehicle at the intersection where the emergency vehicle is expected to pass. In an intersection where an emergency vehicle is expected not to pass, it usually indicates a route in the same direction as the traveling direction of the emergency vehicle. This is because when an appropriate offset is given to a plurality of traffic signal controllers in the same sub-area, when the green signal time of a route with one traffic signal controller is increased, another traffic signal controller This is because the offset in the sub-area cannot be maintained properly unless the green light of the route in the same direction as that route is increased.
Here, the green signal time to be increased in the third traffic signal controller may not be exactly the same time as the predetermined time to be increased in the second traffic signal controller. For example, if the time to increase in the second traffic signal controller is 20 seconds, the time to increase in the third traffic signal controller may be slightly different, such as 16 seconds (or 22 seconds), and operates. Any offset value given to the road R2 according to the cycle length or the like may be appropriate.

  In addition, the signal control apparatus used for the traffic signal control system of this invention is also very useful (Claim 4).

  As described above, according to the traffic signal control system and the signal control device of the present invention, it is possible to further enhance the execution effect of the FAST control and strongly support the traveling of the emergency vehicle.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of a system configuration in a traffic signal control system according to the present invention.

[Overall system configuration]
As shown in FIG. 1, four intersections A to D are continuously arranged on the road R1.
At these four intersections, signal lamps are installed to display the right of traffic for vehicles traveling on the road R1 in the downward direction (the direction from the intersection A to the intersection D is referred to as the downward direction). Furthermore, traffic signal controllers 1A to 1D for controlling the signal lamp are installed.
Also, in the downward lane, optical beacons 2A to 2D are installed in order to perform road-to-vehicle communication with vehicles traveling in the downward direction, and upstream of the lane flowing into intersections A to D, respectively. Is arranged.

These traffic signal controllers 1A to 1D and optical beacons 2A to 2D can exchange information with the signal control device 5 installed in the traffic control center through a communication line or the like. The controllers 1 </ b> A to 1 </ b> D have a function of transmitting information related to the control history to the signal control device 5. In addition, the optical beacons 2A to 2D have a function of transmitting uplink information received from the vehicle by road-to-vehicle communication to the signal control device 5. The uplink information includes the vehicle ID of the vehicle, and the vehicle type of the vehicle can be determined based on the vehicle ID.
Note that the uplink information from the optical beacons 2A to 2D may not be received by the signal control device 5, but by an information providing device or the like (not shown) connected to the same network as the signal control device 5. There may be. In this case, the information providing apparatus or the like that has received the uplink information may transfer the uplink information to the signal control apparatus 5 or the like.

The signal control device 5 transmits signal control command information for controlling the signal lamp to each traffic signal controller, and the traffic signal controller that has received the signal control command information receives the signal control command information. Based on the above, the time distribution of the green light is determined, and each signal lamp color of the signal lamp is turned on.
Normally, this signal control command information includes an instruction for signal display for one cycle. Specifically, the cycle length of one cycle, the time of a blue signal assigned to each route, split, one cycle It includes an offset, which is a difference between the start time and the reference time, an instruction about whether or not to execute point sensitive control such as right turn sensitive control and dilemma sensitive control. The traffic signal controller that has received this signal control command information determines the signal control plan in the one cycle based on the latest signal control command information that has arrived at the time immediately before the start of one cycle, and the signal control Each signal lamp is controlled according to the display time of each signal lamp color included in the plan.

This cycle, split, etc. are usually determined according to the traffic conditions near each intersection. The traffic condition is measured by a plurality of vehicle detectors (not shown) installed on the road R1 and the like, and is determined based on sensor information (information including traffic volume and occupation time) collected by the signal control device 5. Is done.
For example, it is possible to grasp traffic demand such as saturation on each road based on the traffic volume (for example, traffic volume for 5 minutes) in a predetermined period and the average traveling speed, and length of the blue time allocated to each road intersecting with each other according to the traffic demand Determining etc.
One cycle refers to the period when the display of the traffic lights is completed. Normally, from the start of displaying the green light on the main road side, immediately before starting the display of the green signal on the main road side again. The period until.

Here, the signal control device 5 can create and transmit execution instruction information (information for notifying the approach of an emergency vehicle) that instructs each traffic signal controller to execute FAST control. When the traffic signal controller instructed to execute the FAST control receives the execution instruction information, it immediately shifts to the FAST control mode.
That is, if a green signal is displayed for the vehicle on the road R1, control is performed so that the maximum extension number of seconds (usually about 100 seconds) allowed to display the green signal can be extended. In addition, if a red signal is displayed for the vehicle on the road R1, the red signal must be displayed at least at the minimum guaranteed number of seconds (usually about 10 seconds) that must be displayed at least (already at least If the red signal is displayed for more than the guaranteed number of seconds, it is immediately interrupted), and the control is made so that the green signal can be extended to the maximum extension number of seconds.

When the signal control device 5 determines that the emergency vehicle P has passed the intersection, the signal control device 5 instructs the traffic signal controller that has ordered the execution of the FAST control to stop the FAST control. Stop instruction information (information for notifying the passage of an emergency vehicle) is transmitted. The traffic signal controller that has received the stop instruction information ends the FAST control mode and shifts to a normal control state.
For example, while the scheduled display time of the green signal that was scheduled before receiving the execution instruction information was 30 seconds, the display was continued for more than 30 seconds because of the transition to the FAST control mode. If there is, immediately stop displaying the green light. Further, if the stop instruction information is received in a state of less than 30 seconds after the start of displaying the blue signal, the green signal is continued for 30 seconds after the start of displaying the green signal according to the schedule before executing the FAST control. Control.

[FAST control execution procedure]
In the traffic signal controller 1A of FIG. 1, FAST control is executed based on the uplink information from the optical beacon 2A located on the upstream side of the intersection. Then, after passing through the intersection A, the FAST control is stopped based on the uplink information from the optical beacon 2B. These procedures are described below.
First, the optical beacon 2A transmits to the signal control device 5 as soon as uplink information is received by road-to-vehicle communication.
The signal control device 5 has a configuration as shown in FIG. 4 and can always receive the uplink information through the communication interface 521. The received uplink information includes the reception time and the memory 511, the hard disk 512, and the like. It accumulates in the memory part.
In this case, a calculation unit such as the CPU 501 of the signal control device 5 refers to the vehicle ID information of the received uplink information and acquires information related to the vehicle type of the vehicle ID information. In addition, vehicle ID is comprised by the numerical value and the character string, and it is possible to identify the vehicle model of the vehicle based on the numerical value etc. which are included in the vehicle ID.

When the vehicle type of the acquired vehicle indicates an emergency vehicle, the emergency vehicle P is in emergency travel with reference to data included in the uplink information indicating whether the vehicle is in emergency travel. Get whether or not there is.
If the vehicle is in emergency travel, the signal control device 5 determines that the FAST control should be executed at the intersection A. In addition, when it is determined that FAST control should not be executed in consideration of conditions other than those described here (for example, time zone, traffic conditions, etc.), FAST control may not be executed. For example, when a time zone in which the FAST control is to be executed is set in the storage unit of the signal control device 5 in advance, the FAST control may not be executed in a time zone other than the time zone.

In this way, when the optical beacon 2A receives uplink information from the emergency vehicle P that is traveling urgently and determines that the traffic signal controller 1A should be instructed to perform FAST control, the signal control device 5 Then, execution instruction information for instructing execution of FAST control is created and transmitted to the traffic signal controller 1A.
As described above, the traffic signal controller 1A that has received this information can extend the green signal up to the maximum number of seconds if the green signal is displayed for the vehicle on the road R1 when the execution instruction information is received. On the other hand, if a red signal is displayed, the red signal can be extended to the maximum extended number of seconds after the red signal is cut off with the minimum guaranteed number of seconds and then switched to the blue signal. To control. Then, notification information indicating that execution of FAST control has been started is transmitted to the signal control device 5.

When the emergency vehicle P that is traveling urgently passes the intersection A, it now performs road-to-vehicle communication with the optical beacon 2B in the same manner as the optical beacon 2A, and transmits uplink information. Then, the optical beacon 2B immediately transmits the uplink information obtained from the emergency vehicle P to the signal control device 5.
When the traffic signal controller 1A receives the uplink information of the emergency vehicle P from the optical beacon 2B while the FAST control is being executed, the signal control device 5 determines that the emergency vehicle P has passed the intersection A. Then, stop instruction information for instructing the traffic signal controller 1A to stop the FAST control is transmitted.
As described above, when the traffic signal controller 1A receives the stop instruction information, the traffic signal controller 1A stops the FAST control and resumes the normal control.

In addition, since it is possible to determine that the emergency vehicle P that is traveling urgently has approached the intersection B by receiving the uplink information from the optical beacon 2B, the signal control device 5 this time FAST to the traffic signal controller 1B. Execution instruction information for instructing execution of control is transmitted.
In this way, FAST control is sequentially performed at the intersections A to D while the emergency vehicle P travels on the road R1 in the downward direction.

[Traffic signal control method at intersections beyond the FAST control execution intersection]
As described above, when the emergency vehicle P in emergency travel approaches the intersection A, the signal control device 5 transmits execution instruction information to the traffic signal controller 1A to execute FAST control. In the signal control system, instructions regarding traffic signal control are separately given to the traffic signal controllers 1B to 1D installed at the intersections B to D.

Specifically, signal control command information for instructing that the green signal in the downward direction of the road R1, which is the traveling direction of the emergency vehicle P, be made longer by a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds) than the normal time. It is created and transmitted to the traffic signal controllers 1B to 1D.
For example, according to the traffic demand grasped from the sensor information collected from the vehicle sensor (not shown) installed in the vicinity of the intersection B or the like, the green time in the direction of the road R1 is temporarily 40 at the intersections B to D. If the blue time in the direction intersecting the road R1 is determined to be 30 seconds, the signal control device 5 sets the blue time in the direction of the road R1 to 50 seconds if FAST control is executed at the intersection A. The blue time in the direction intersecting the road R1 is changed to 20 seconds, signal control command information is created, and transmitted to the traffic signal controllers 1B to 1D. In this case, only the blue time in the direction of the road R1 may be increased to 50 seconds, and the blue time in the direction intersecting the road R1 may be kept at 30 seconds. The cycle length in this case is set longer by 10 seconds than in the normal case.

  In this way, it is expected that the emergency vehicle P travels in the downward direction of the road R1 at the intersections B to D that are farther than the intersection A that performs the FAST control and is likely to pass the emergency vehicle P. By instructing to increase the green signal of (direction) for a predetermined time from normal, traffic congestion on the road in the direction in which the emergency vehicle P is expected to pass is less likely to occur. Alternatively, when a traffic jam has already occurred, control can be performed to eliminate the traffic jam.

In this case, a method of executing FAST control at the intersection B etc. at the same time as the intersection A can be considered. However, since it takes time until the emergency vehicle P finishes passing at the intersections B to D, it intersects with the road R1 at the intersections B to D. As a result, the red light is continuously displayed for a long time, and the possibility that the intersection road is congested becomes high.
However, according to the traffic signal control system of the present invention, it is only necessary to set the green time in the direction of the road R1 longer than usual, so that the traffic flow in the traveling direction of the emergency vehicle P is made smooth and the emergency vehicle P However, it is possible to limit the influence on the traffic flow of the road on the side that intersects the planned route of the emergency vehicle P to the necessary limit while reducing the probability of being blocked by the clogging.

[Determination method of green light increase time]
Here, if the emergency vehicle P makes a left turn at the intersection A, it is useless to change the signal control method such as the intersection B so that the emergency vehicle P is preferentially passed. There is a problem of end. In the case of the present invention, the influence on the traffic flow of the intersection side road at the intersection B etc. is limited to the necessary limit as compared with the case where the FAST control is executed at the intersection B etc. simultaneously with the intersection A. It is preferable to control.

Therefore, the increase time of the green light at each intersection is determined according to the geographical relationship with the intersection A.
For example, since the intersection B corresponds to the nearest intersection of the intersection A in the traveling direction of the emergency vehicle P, the probability that the emergency vehicle P will pass is very high because the vehicle does not make a right or left turn at the intersection A. It is considered high. Therefore, the intersection B is considered to have a strong geographical connection with the intersection A.
In contrast, for example, in the case of the intersection C, the intersection A, which is the intersection for which FAST control is performed, has a relationship with one intersection (intersection B) sandwiched therebetween, so the right turn at either the intersection A or the intersection B Or, if you turn left, you will not pass and the probability is lower than at intersection B. That is, it can be said that the geographical connection with the intersection A is weaker than the intersection B.
Similarly, since the intersection D has a geographical relationship with two intersections (intersection B and intersection C) between them, the probability is lower than that of the intersection C, and the intersection D is compared with the intersection C. The geographical connection with A has a weaker relationship.

In this way, paying attention to the correlation between the geographical relationship with the intersection A that performs FAST control and the probability that the emergency vehicle P will pass, the increase time of the green light at each intersection is determined according to the strength of this geographical connection. decide. In this example, for example, the increase time of the intersection B having the strongest geographical connection can be set to 30 seconds, the intersection C can be determined to be 25 seconds, the intersection D can be determined to be 20 seconds, and the like.
After passing through the intersection A, if it can be confirmed that the emergency vehicle P has approached the intersection B by road-to-vehicle communication with the optical beacon 2B, this time, the FAST control is performed on the traffic signal controller 1B at the intersection B. The instruction information to be instructed is transmitted, and the green light is instructed to be increased by 30 seconds at the intersection C having a strong geographical connection with the intersection B. Similarly, the intersection D is instructed to increase the green light by 25 seconds.
Thus, as the distance between each intersection and the emergency vehicle P (intersection that executes FAST control as the emergency vehicle P approaches), the increase time of the green light is gradually increased.

  In this way, for example, compared with the case where the green lights at intersections B to D are increased by 30 seconds all at once, the effect when the emergency vehicle P turns right or left at any intersection and deviates from the road R1. You will be able to stay limited.

In addition, you may make it determine the increase time of a green light according to the probability that the emergency vehicle P will pass an intersection. For example, the probability that the emergency vehicle P passes through each intersection may be calculated based on the courses of a plurality of emergency vehicles (for example, 100 vehicles) that have recently passed, and the green light may be increased for a time corresponding to the probability.
For example, if the route of an emergency vehicle approaching the intersection A on the road R1 is statistically processed, the probability of passing through the intersection B is 90%, the intersection C is 75%, and the intersection D is 30%. In this case, if the green signal time at the intersection B is increased by 30 seconds, a method can be used in which the intersection C is increased by 25 seconds and the intersection D is increased by 10 seconds according to the probability of passing the emergency vehicle.

[Traffic signal control method considering subarea]
In the traffic signal control system, a plurality of traffic signal controllers to be controlled by the signal control device 5 are divided into several groups (the groups are referred to as subareas), and traffic signal control belonging to each subarea is performed. A traffic signal control method of transmitting signal control command information for instructing a machine to operate at the same cycle length may be used.
By operating at the same cycle length, as many vehicles as possible pass through all the intersections where these traffic signal controllers are installed during the time when the traffic signal controllers in the sub-area are displaying a green light. As a result, it is possible to perform system control that gives an appropriate offset to the signal display start time between the traffic signal controllers.

In FIG. 2 showing FIG. 1 in a wider area, for example, the FAST control is instructed to the traffic signal controller 1A in response to the emergency vehicle P approaching the intersection A, and the traffic signal controllers at the intersections B to H are indicated. Consider a case where 1B to 1H are instructed to increase the green light time in the direction of road R1.
The ellipse or circle in FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the subarea. For example, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the concept of system control by giving an appropriate offset to the green signal display start time in the direction of road R1 of traffic signal controllers 1D to 1F at intersections D to F. In FIG. 3, system control is performed so as to secure a through band in a direction from the intersection D to the intersection F.

In the present invention, it is preferable to control in consideration of the configuration of this sub-area.
For example, when the traffic signal controllers belonging to the same sub-area are instructed to increase the green light for different times (20 seconds for intersection D and 15 seconds for intersection E), the length of the red signal time If (the length of the green light time displayed on the intersection side) is not changed, the cycle lengths of the intersection D and the intersection E will be different. Then, the intersection D and the intersection E are offset from each other every cycle, and the intended system control cannot be performed.
Therefore, it is desirable that the length of the green light time to be increased is the same for the intersections belonging to the same subarea.
With the configuration shown in FIG. 2, for example, 30 seconds at intersection B, 25 seconds at intersection C, 20 seconds at intersections D to F, 10 seconds at intersections G and H, and so on. Good to do.
By doing so, it becomes possible to support the travel of the emergency vehicle P while maintaining smooth traffic flow by system control.

  In addition, the signal control apparatus 5 and the traffic signal controller 1 etc. in this invention may be implement | achieved by one housing | casing, and may be implement | achieved by the combination of a some housing | casing. Each of these may be realized by one computer or may be realized by combining a plurality of computers.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the outline | summary of apparatus arrangement | positioning of the traffic signal control system which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the arrangement | positioning of a some intersection made into the control object by the traffic signal control system which concerns on this invention, and a subarea structural example. It is a figure which shows the mode of the system control in the road R1 of the traffic signal control system which concerns on this invention. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a signal control device 5. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1A to 1D Traffic signal controller 2A to 2D Optical beacon 5 Signal control device

Claims (4)

A first traffic signal controller for performing traffic signal control at the first intersection;
A signal control device comprising a transmission means for transmitting first command information which is an instruction to the first traffic signal controller;
A first road communication device installed on a road connected to the first intersection,
In the first command information transmitted in response to the first road communication device receiving uplink information from the emergency vehicle, the emergency vehicle indicates a blue signal of the traveling direction of the emergency vehicle. In the traffic signal control system including information instructing to execute FAST control, which is a control method that continues to be extended until it is recognized that the vehicle has passed the intersection,
The transmitting means further includes
Second command information can be transmitted to a second traffic signal controller installed at a second intersection where the emergency vehicle is expected to pass after passing the first intersection,
The second command information transmitted in response to reception of the uplink information includes information instructing to increase the display period of the green signal in the direction in which the emergency vehicle is expected to travel by a predetermined time. And
The predetermined time is determined according to a geographical relationship between the first intersection and the second intersection, and the stronger the geographical connection between the first intersection and the second intersection, The traffic signal control system, wherein the predetermined time is determined to be large . A first traffic signal controller for performing traffic signal control at the first intersection;
A signal control device comprising a transmission means for transmitting first command information which is an instruction to the first traffic signal controller;
A first road communication device installed on a road connected to the first intersection,
In the first command information transmitted in response to the first road communication device receiving uplink information from the emergency vehicle, the emergency vehicle indicates a blue signal of the traveling direction of the emergency vehicle. In the traffic signal control system including information instructing to execute FAST control, which is a control method that continues to be extended until it is recognized that the vehicle has passed the intersection,
The transmitting means further includes
Second command information can be transmitted to a second traffic signal controller installed at a second intersection where the emergency vehicle is expected to pass after passing the first intersection,
The second command information transmitted in response to reception of the uplink information includes information instructing to increase the display period of the green signal in the direction in which the emergency vehicle is expected to travel by a predetermined time. And
The signal control device further includes:
Calculating means for calculating a probability that the emergency vehicle passes the second intersection;
The traffic signal control system, wherein the predetermined time is determined according to the calculated probability. The transmission means includes
When a plurality of traffic signal controllers to be controlled by the signal control device are grouped into a plurality of sub areas, the traffic signal control is performed when there are a plurality of traffic signal controllers belonging to one sub area. Instructing the system to operate systematically by giving an appropriate offset to the start time of the green light in a given direction of the machine,
The third command information transmitted to the third traffic signal controller belonging to the same subarea as the second traffic signal controller in response to the reception of the uplink information includes the second traffic signal. The traffic according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising information instructing to increase the green signal time of the route corresponding to the route in which the display time of the green signal increases in the signal controller by the predetermined time. Signal control system.   The signal control apparatus used for the traffic signal control system as described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 3.

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