JP5164392B2 - Toll collection system and diagnostic method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fee collection system, a simulated vehicle-mounted device, and a fee collection system diagnosis method using the simulated vehicle-mounted device. The present invention particularly relates to a self-diagnostic free flow automatic toll collection (ETC) system.

  In recent years, information necessary for toll collection is exchanged between roadside equipment (also called “roadside equipment”) and on-board equipment mounted on the vehicle by wireless communication means, and automatically from toll road users A non-stop automatic toll collection system that collects tolls has been put into practical use. In such an ETC system, a toll road user can pass through the toll gate non-stop.

  In a conventional ETC system, a vehicle traveling on a toll road is equipped with a vehicle-mounted device having a wireless communication function. In this vehicle-mounted device, vehicle type information and contract information are written in advance, and route information, billing information, etc. are written when passing through the toll gate.

  On the other hand, at the entrance toll gate, as a toll gate side equipment, for example, a wireless communication means for transmitting / receiving signals to / from the vehicle-mounted device, and a control device for communicating via the wireless communication means are provided. This control device generates entrance information including the date and time of passage of the approaching vehicle, and transmits it to the vehicle-mounted device of the approaching vehicle via wireless communication means. This vehicle-mounted device stores the entrance information sent from the toll gate side equipment when entering the entrance toll gate.

  In addition, the exit toll gate is provided with, for example, a wireless communication means for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the vehicle-mounted device, and a control device for performing communication via the wireless communication means as a toll gate facility. This control device stores fee data for each combination of entrance toll gate and vehicle type. In addition, the control device receives the entrance information and the vehicle type information, etc. by wireless communication with the vehicle-mounted device of the vehicle that has entered the exit toll gate. Based on the entrance information and the vehicle type information, the control device calculates the amount charged from the fee data. Calculate and generate billing information. This billing information is transmitted to the vehicle-mounted device of the approaching vehicle via wireless communication means.

  As described above, when a vehicle equipped with an on-vehicle device passes through the entrance toll gate and the exit toll gate, the toll collection process can be automatically performed by wireless communication between the on-vehicle device and the toll gate side equipment. Can pass through the toll gate non-stop (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In addition, in the free-flow ETC system that installs wireless communication means and a control device on the main highway without a tollgate facility or on a highway departure, and does not perform vehicle detection using sensors, etc., an on-board unit is installed as described above. The toll vehicle can automatically perform toll collection processing by wireless communication between the vehicle-mounted device and the control device, and can pass through the free flow ETC system non-stop without being aware of the driving lane.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-11625 (page 3-4, FIG. 1)

  Unlike the tollgate ETC system, which needs to display a charge on the display or open an open / close bar when the vehicle passes, the conventional free-flow ETC system uses a sensor to detect the vehicle. Therefore, when the vehicle does not pass for a long time, there is a problem that it is impossible to determine whether the wireless communication is not performed due to a failure of the wireless communication unit or the vehicle is simply not passed. In addition, even if the vehicle detection is performed by the free flow ETC system, in addition to the problem that the cost increases due to vehicle detection, only non-ETC vehicles that are not equipped with an ETC on-board device are passing. However, there still remains a problem that it is impossible to determine whether the wireless communication is not performed due to a failure of the wireless communication means, or whether the ETC vehicle equipped with the ETC on-board device is not passed.

  The delay in detection of a system failure due to the inability to determine the above is an important issue regarding the practicality of the free flow ETC system.

  An object of the present invention is to immediately detect that a failure has occurred when wireless communication is not performed due to, for example, a failure of a wireless communication unit of an ETC system.

A toll collection system according to one aspect of the present invention includes:
When a vehicle traveling on a road passes through its own communication area, the vehicle is equipped with a wireless communication device that performs wireless communication with the vehicle-mounted device installed in the vehicle, and uses wireless communication between the wireless communication device and the vehicle-mounted device. A toll collection system that performs processing related to toll collection,
A pseudo on-vehicle device that is installed in a communication area of the wireless communication device and performs wireless communication with the wireless communication device every predetermined period;
Checks whether the wireless communication device has performed wireless communication with the simulated vehicle-mounted device at regular intervals, and determines that an abnormality has occurred in the wireless communication device if the wireless communication device does not perform wireless communication for a certain period or longer And a diagnostic unit for performing the above.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, in the toll collection system, the pseudo vehicle-mounted device is installed in the communication area of the wireless communication device, performs wireless communication with the wireless communication device at regular intervals, and the diagnosis unit includes: Checks whether the wireless communication device has performed wireless communication with the simulated vehicle-mounted device at regular intervals, and determines that an abnormality has occurred in the wireless communication device if the wireless communication device does not perform wireless communication for a certain period or longer By doing so, it becomes possible to immediately detect a failure such as a failure of the wireless communication device.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a free flow ETC system 101 according to the present embodiment.

  The free flow ETC system 101 is a free flow automatic fee collection (ETC) system, and is an example of a fee collection system. In addition to the one described in FIG. 1, various facilities are provided in the free flow ETC system 101, but only what is related to the gist of the present embodiment will be described here.

  A road 102 on which the free flow ETC system 101 is installed is separated from an adjacent road or the like (for example, an oncoming lane) by an impassable zone 103. The road 102 has two lanes. Vehicles 104a and 104b passing through the road 102 travel in the direction of the thick arrow in the figure. Among these, the vehicle 104a is an ETC vehicle equipped with an in-vehicle device 105 that exchanges information related to charges with the free flow ETC system 101. On the other hand, the vehicle 104b is a non-ETC vehicle that is not equipped with a vehicle-mounted device.

  The gate-shaped support body 106 is provided so as to straddle the road 102, and the vehicles 104 a and 104 b pass below the support body 106. The support 106 can take various forms such as an F-shaped column. An antenna 107, which is an example of a wireless communication device, is attached to a support body 106. A beam is irradiated downward from the antenna 107 toward the road 102, and a communication area 108 (communication area of the antenna 107) is formed on the road 102. When the vehicle 104a on which the vehicle-mounted device 105 is mounted passes through the communication area 108, the controller 109 is installed on the impassable zone 103 or the like, and based on information obtained from the vehicle-mounted device 105 via the antenna 107, the vehicle The information about the usage fee for the toll road 104a is processed, and the amount of usage fee is calculated. The on-vehicle device for check 110 is installed on the inaccessible zone 103 within the communication area 108 and is periodically activated to perform wireless communication with the antenna 107. Here, the check onboard device 110 is an example of a pseudo onboard device, and may be in a form that cannot be mounted on a vehicle as long as wireless communication with the antenna 107 can be performed.

  The antenna 107, the controller 109, and the check vehicle-mounted device 110 described above constitute the roadside device 111 according to the present embodiment.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the roadside device 111.

  The antenna 107 included in the roadside device 111 performs wireless communication with the vehicle-mounted device 105 installed in the vehicle 104a when the vehicle 104a traveling on the road 102 passes through the own communication area 108.

  The on-vehicle device for check 110 included in the roadside device 111 is installed in the communication area 108 of the antenna 107 and includes a communication unit 112.

  The communication unit 112 performs wireless communication with the antenna 107 at regular intervals. Specifically, the communication unit 112 transmits a check signal toward the antenna 107 at intervals of 1 minute, for example, and receives a response signal for the transmitted signal from the antenna 107. Alternatively, the communication unit 112 receives a check signal from the antenna 107 at intervals of 1 minute, for example, and transmits a response signal to the received signal to the antenna 107.

  The control device 109 included in the roadside device 111 includes a processing unit 113, a diagnosis unit 114, and an output unit 115.

  The processing unit 113 performs processing related to toll collection using wireless communication between the antenna 107 and the vehicle-mounted device 105. Specifically, the processing unit 113 causes the antenna 107 to receive and acquire vehicle type information, contract information, and the like held by the vehicle-mounted device 105. Then, based on the acquired information, processing such as charging of the usage fee for the user of the vehicle 104a or refunding is performed, and information related to the result is transmitted to the antenna 107 and provided to the vehicle-mounted device 105.

  The diagnosis unit 114 confirms whether the antenna 107 has performed wireless communication with the communication unit 112 of the on-vehicle device 110 for check every certain period. If the state in which wireless communication is not performed continues for a certain period or longer, the antenna 107 It is determined that an abnormality has occurred. Specifically, the diagnosis unit 114 uses the check from the check onboard unit 110 to the antenna 107 at, for example, one minute intervals (the same interval as the communication unit 112 of the check onboard unit 110 transmits the check signal). It is determined that the antenna 107 has failed when the report is interrupted for 1 minute or longer. Alternatively, the diagnosis unit 114 causes the antenna 107 to transmit a check signal to the check onboard device 110 at intervals of 1 minute, for example, and to receive a response signal from the check onboard device 110 for the signal. Then, when the antenna 107 does not receive a response signal for 1 minute or longer, it is determined that the antenna 107 has failed.

  If the diagnosis unit 114 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the antenna 107, the output unit 115 outputs an alarm to an output device (not shown). Specifically, for example, the output unit 115 provides an alarm with a meaning such as “requires wireless communication means inspection” or “continuation of no communication state” to a monitoring device, a monitoring console, an equipment failure indicator lamp, or the like. Output by means such as a type contact.

  The controller 109 and the on-vehicle device for checking 110 are a recording medium such as a ROM (Read / Only / Memory), a magnetic disk, a flash memory, a processing device such as a CPU (Central / Processing / Unit), an element / device / board / wiring. Other hardware such as.

  In the description of the present embodiment, what is described as “to part” and “to means” may be “to circuit”, “to apparatus”, and “to device”, and “to step” and “to device”. -"Step", "-Procedure", "-Process" may be used. That is, what is described as “˜unit” and “˜means” is realized by, for example, firmware stored in a ROM. Alternatively, it is realized only by software, only hardware such as an element, a device, a board, and wiring, or a combination of software and hardware, and further, a combination of firmware. Firmware and software are stored as programs in a recording medium such as a magnetic disk or a flash memory. This program is read by the CPU and executed by the CPU. In other words, the program causes the computer to function as “to part” and “to means” described in the description of the present embodiment. Alternatively, the procedure or method of “˜unit” and “˜means” described in the description of the present embodiment is executed by a computer.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a diagnosis method of the free flow ETC system 101 according to the present embodiment.

  The communication unit 112 of the check onboard device 110 is periodically activated to perform wireless communication (step S101: communication step). Specifically, when the communication unit 112 of the check on-vehicle device 110 is activated and transmits wireless communication within the communication area 108 of the antenna 107, the communication unit 112 transmits a response to the antenna 107.

  The diagnosis unit 114 of the controller 109 determines that the wireless communication unit of the antenna 107 is operating normally when the response of the check onboard device 110 is received via the antenna 107 (step S102: diagnosis step). On the other hand, the diagnostic unit 114 of the controller 109, when the check on-vehicle device 110 is activated, cannot receive the response of the check on-vehicle device 110 via the antenna 107, the wireless communication means of the antenna 107 Is in an abnormal state (step S103: diagnosis step).

  When the diagnosis unit 114 determines that the wireless communication means of the antenna 107 is in an abnormal state, the output unit 115 of the controller 109 outputs an alarm (step S104: output step).

  As described above, in the present embodiment, in the free flow ETC system 101, it is easy to discriminate between a no-communication state due to a failure of the wireless communication means and a state in which the vehicle 104a equipped with the ETC-compatible in-vehicle device 105 is not passed. And since it can be performed reliably, it becomes possible to detect a failure immediately.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, a check ETC on-board device that is periodically (periodically) activated and wirelessly communicates with the free flow ETC roadside system is installed in the free flow antenna communication area beside the road, and the system is normal. A system characterized by diagnosing whether it is operating or not is described.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the present embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

  FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of the free flow ETC system 101 according to the present embodiment.

  In the first embodiment, the check vehicle-mounted device 110 is installed on the impassable zone 103 or the like within the communication area 108. However, in this embodiment, the check vehicle-mounted device 110 is located near the antenna 107. Is installed. For example, the check onboard device 110 may be fixed to the antenna 107 with a support member, or may be fixed to the support 106 at a position close to the antenna 107 with the support member.

  Thus, in this embodiment, since the distance between the check onboard device 110 and the antenna 107 is short, it is easy to secure the installation location of the check onboard device 110 within the communication area 108.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, a check ETC on-board device that is periodically (periodically) activated and wirelessly communicates with the free flow ETC roadside system is installed in the free flow antenna communication area beside the road, and the system is normal. A system for diagnosing whether or not the system is in operation has been described, wherein the above-described ETC on-board device for check is installed in the vicinity of the free flow antenna.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
In the present embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the roadside device 111.

  As in the first embodiment, the antenna 107 included in the roadside device 111 communicates wirelessly with the vehicle-mounted device 105 installed in the vehicle 104a when the vehicle 104a traveling on the road 102 passes through the own communication area 108. I do.

  The on-vehicle device for check 110 included in the roadside device 111 is installed in the communication area 108 of the antenna 107 and includes a diagnostic unit 114 and an output unit 115 in addition to the communication unit 112.

  The communication unit 112 performs wireless communication with the antenna 107 at regular intervals as in the first embodiment.

  The diagnosis unit 114 checks whether or not the communication unit 112 has performed wireless communication with the antenna 107 at regular intervals, and determines that an abnormality has occurred in the antenna 107 if the wireless communication has not been performed for a certain period or longer. To do. Specifically, the diagnosis unit 114 causes the communication unit 112 to transmit a check signal to the antenna 107 at intervals of 1 minute, for example, and receives a response signal from the antenna 107 with respect to the signal. When the communication unit 112 does not receive a response signal for 1 minute or longer, it is determined that the antenna 107 has failed.

  If the diagnosis unit 114 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the antenna 107, the output unit 115 outputs an alarm to an output device (not shown). Specifically, for example, the output unit 115 provides an alarm with a meaning such as “requires wireless communication means inspection” or “continuation of no communication state” to a monitoring device, a monitoring console, an equipment failure indicator lamp, or the like. Output by means such as a type contact.

  The control device 109 included in the roadside device 111 includes a processing unit 113.

  Similar to the first embodiment, the processing unit 113 performs processing related to the collection of charges using wireless communication between the antenna 107 and the vehicle-mounted device 105.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a diagnosis method of the free flow ETC system 101 according to the present embodiment.

  The communication unit 112 of the check on-vehicle device 110 is periodically activated to perform wireless communication (step S201: communication step). Specifically, when activated, the communication unit 112 of the check onboard device 110 transmits a check signal to the antenna 107 and receives a response to the signal.

  When receiving the response from the antenna 107, the diagnosis unit 114 of the check on-vehicle device 110 determines that the wireless communication unit of the antenna 107 is operating normally (step S202: diagnosis step). On the other hand, the diagnosis unit 114 of the check onboard device 110 determines that the wireless communication unit of the antenna 107 is in an abnormal state when the response from the antenna 107 cannot be received even after the timing at which the communication unit 112 is activated ( Step S203: diagnosis step).

  When the diagnosis unit 114 determines that the wireless communication unit of the antenna 107 is in an abnormal state, the output unit 115 of the check onboard device 110 outputs an alarm (step S204: output step).

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the check onboard device 110 not included in the existing ETC system is implemented by changing the existing ETC system in order to detect the no-communication state due to the failure of the wireless communication means. It is effective in cases.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, a check ETC on-board device that is periodically (periodically) activated and wirelessly communicates with the free flow ETC roadside system is installed in the free flow antenna communication area beside the road, and the system is normal. A system for diagnosing whether or not the system is operating, which is characterized by diagnosing whether or not the free-flow ETC system is operating normally by using the above-described checking ETC on-board unit, has been described.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, you may implement combining 2 or more embodiment among these. Alternatively, one of these embodiments may be partially implemented. Or you may implement combining two or more embodiment among these partially.

It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structure of the fee collection system which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the fee collection system which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a diagnosis method of the fee collection system according to the first embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structure of the fee collection system which concerns on Embodiment 2. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the fee collection system which concerns on Embodiment 3. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a fee collection system diagnosis method according to the third embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  101 free flow ETC system, 102 road, 103 impassable zone, 104a, b vehicle, 105 on-board unit, 106 support, 107 antenna, 108 communication area, 109 controller, 110 on-board unit for checking, 111 roadside unit, 112 communication Part, 113 processing part, 114 diagnostic part, 115 output part.

Claims (4)

It is attached to a gate-type support body that is provided so as to straddle the roads of multiple lanes, and forms a communication area across the multiple lanes of the road by irradiating a beam from above the road toward the multiple lanes of the road and, when the vehicle is traveling through the respective lanes of the road passing through the communication area, a wireless communication device that performs vehicle-mounted device and a wireless communication installed in the vehicle, and the vehicle-mounted device and the wireless communication device A toll collection system that performs processing related to toll collection using wireless communication,
It is fixed by a support member to either the wireless communication device or the support so as to be located in the vicinity of the wireless communication device and within the range where the beam is irradiated from the wireless communication device, and at regular intervals, A pseudo vehicle-mounted device for performing wireless communication with the wireless communication device;
Checks whether the wireless communication device has performed wireless communication with the simulated vehicle-mounted device at regular intervals, and determines that an abnormality has occurred in the wireless communication device if the wireless communication device does not perform wireless communication for a certain period or longer A toll collection system comprising: The diagnostic unit is included in the simulated vehicle-mounted device,
The toll collection according to claim 1, wherein the pseudo vehicle-mounted device further includes an output unit that outputs an alarm to an output device when the diagnosis unit determines that an abnormality has occurred in the wireless communication device. system. 3. The fee collection system according to claim 1, wherein the fee collection system is a free flow type automatic fee collection (ETC) system. It is attached to a gate-type support body that is provided so as to straddle the roads of multiple lanes, and forms a communication area across the multiple lanes of the road by irradiating a beam from above the road toward the multiple lanes of the road and, wherein when the vehicle is traveling through the respective lanes of the road passing through the communication area, a toll collection system comprising a radio communication apparatus for performing vehicle-mounted device and a wireless communication installed in the vehicle, the radio communication A fee collection system diagnostic method for performing processing related to fee collection using wireless communication between a device and the vehicle-mounted device,
A pseudo vehicle-mounted device fixed by a support member to either the wireless communication device or the support so as to be positioned in the vicinity of the wireless communication device and within the range where the beam is irradiated from the wireless communication device , A communication step of performing wireless communication with the wireless communication device at regular intervals;
The diagnostic unit confirms whether the wireless communication device has performed wireless communication with the simulated vehicle-mounted device at regular intervals, and if the wireless communication device does not perform wireless communication for a certain period or longer, an abnormality is detected in the wireless communication device. And a diagnostic step for determining that the occurrence has occurred.

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