JP5218495B2 - Automatic toll collection system and in-vehicle device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic fee collection system that collects a fee by performing communication between a roadside device arranged on a roadside and an onboard device mounted on a vehicle, and the onboard device.

  In the automatic toll collection system described above, there is known a system in which a roadside device and an in-vehicle device communicate for each individual vehicle and perform settlement at a toll gate or the like (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2009-116694 A

  However, in the automatic toll collection system, it is necessary for each in-vehicle device to communicate with the roadside device, and thus it is necessary to secure an inter-vehicle distance suitable for communication. In addition, it is necessary to provide a communication device for each in-vehicle device to communicate with the roadside device. In other words, a mechanism for proxying communications and proxying was not considered.

  Therefore, in view of such problems, an automatic toll collection system that collects charges by performing communication between a roadside device arranged on the roadside and an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle, It is an object of the present invention to provide a technique for performing the proxy and payment proxy.

In an automatic toll collection system configured to achieve such an object, a representative in-vehicle device representing an in-vehicle device mounted on a representative vehicle representing a plurality of vehicles forming a specific group is a vehicle that forms a group. Charging information acquisition means for acquiring charging information for specifying and charging a general in-vehicle device representing an in-vehicle device mounted on a general vehicle other than the representative vehicle, and a roadside device for each vehicle. Representative fee collection means for causing the roadside device to perform processing related to fee collection for the representative in-vehicle device and the general in-vehicle device by transmitting the billing information. The general vehicle-mounted device includes charging information transmission means for transmitting the charging information about the host vehicle to the representative vehicle-mounted device. When the roadside device receives the charging information about a plurality of vehicles from the representative vehicle-mounted device, And roadside fee collection means for performing processing related to fee collection for a plurality of vehicles (Claims 1 to 3 ).

  According to such an automatic fee collection system, the representative vehicle can perform processing related to fee collection in a general vehicle. Further, it is not necessary to worry about the distance between the representative vehicle and the general vehicle at a tollgate or the like.

In the present invention, the “billing information” indicates either information related to fee settlement, information for specifying a toll gate, or the like.
By the way, in the above-mentioned automatic fee collection system, when a general vehicle is provided with a general fee collection means that causes the roadside device to perform processing related to the fee collection of the own vehicle by transmitting the charging information of the own vehicle to the roadside device. In addition, while the own vehicle is a general vehicle of the group, communication prohibiting means for prohibiting communication related to toll collection for the roadside device may be provided ( claims 1, 4 ).

  According to such an automatic fee collection system, even when a general vehicle has a function of executing processing related to fee collection by itself, communication at that time can be prohibited. Therefore, it is possible to prevent problems such as double charging due to unnecessary communication between the general vehicle and the roadside device.

Further, in the automatic toll collection system, the representative in-vehicle device includes charging result transmission means for transmitting a charging result by processing related to toll collection to the general vehicle using inter-vehicle communication, and the general in-vehicle device performs inter-vehicle communication. A billing result recording means for receiving the billing result transmitted from the representative vehicle and recording the billing result may be provided ( claim 2 ).

  According to such an automatic fee collection system, a general in-vehicle device can acquire a charging result without directly communicating with a roadside device. Therefore, the same effect as when directly communicating with the roadside device can be obtained.

In the automatic toll collection system, the general in-vehicle device includes recording result transmission means for transmitting to the representative vehicle information that can identify whether or not the charging result has been recorded, and the roadside device includes the representative vehicle and the general vehicle. If the accounting results are not properly recorded in the general vehicle, the general vehicle shall be charged as if the toll collection for the general in-vehicle device was not performed. There may be provided first charge requesting means for recording in the charge request recording means ( claim 2 ).

  According to such an automatic toll collection system, when the charge result cannot be normally recorded in the general vehicle through communication with the representative vehicle, the general vehicle is charged separately from the roadside device. can do.

By the way, in the automatic toll collection system, the roadside device is configured to perform processing related to toll collection by communicating with the in-vehicle device in the communication area in the toll booth on the road. Is a group of vehicles that perform follow-up traveling, and the representative vehicle is a leading vehicle among vehicles constituting the group, and a general vehicle is a vehicle other than the leading vehicle among vehicles constituting the group. ( Claim 7 ).

  According to such an automatic toll collection system, the representative vehicle, which is the leading vehicle, acts as a toll collector for the general vehicles that form the group, so that the general vehicle communicates with the roadside device after the toll collection processing by the leading vehicle is completed. Can enter the area. Therefore, since it is not necessary for the roadside device to pass a vehicle that has not finished the toll collection process, the processing in the roadside device can be simplified. In addition, the present invention is particularly effective during platooning in which automatic steering is performed to control the inter-vehicle distance to be short.

Further, in the automatic toll collection system, the roadside device is configured to start from any vehicle that constitutes the group before the vehicle that first attempts to enter the communication area out of the communication area among the vehicles that constitute the group, Specific information acquisition means for acquiring specific information for specifying vehicles constituting the group and representative vehicles, vehicle identification means for identifying a vehicle entering the communication area without communicating with the vehicle, and specific information about the identified vehicle When the vehicle that enters the communication area is a representative vehicle, a general vehicle, or other vehicle, and a general vehicle enters the communication area, and passing permission means the general vehicle is allowed to pass through the toll gate without performing processing related to toll collection, which may be provided with a (claim 5).

According to such an automatic fee collection system, it is possible to pass a general vehicle constituting a group through a toll gate without performing processing related to fee collection.
Furthermore, in the automatic toll collection system, the roadside device, based on the result of identification by the vehicle identification means, if the process related to the toll collection of the general vehicle by the representative vehicle is not completed within a predetermined time after the general vehicle passes the toll gate. There may be provided second charge requesting means for recording in the charge request recording means that the specified vehicle should be charged ( claim 6 ).

  According to such an automatic toll collection system, when the general vehicle passes through the toll gate and the processing related to the toll collection by the representative vehicle is not completed, the roadside device can separately charge the general vehicle. .

  In addition, an in-vehicle device formed to achieve the above-described object may be configured as the representative in-vehicle device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 or a general in-vehicle device (claim 8). , Claim 9).

  According to such an in-vehicle device, it is possible to enjoy at least the same effects as those of the automatic fee collection system according to claim 1 by cooperating with other in-vehicle devices and roadside devices.

It is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of vehicle control system 1 of a 1st embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of the process of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows a head vehicle process. It is a flowchart which shows a following vehicle process. It is a flowchart which shows a roadside process. It is a flowchart which shows a representative vehicle process. It is a flowchart which shows a general vehicle process.

Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
[Configuration of this embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle control system 1 (automatic toll collection system) of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle control system 1 communicates between an in-vehicle device 10 mounted on each of a plurality of vehicles traveling on a road and a roadside device 30 arranged at a toll booth that is a roadside facility. It is a system that collects charges by doing it.

  The in-vehicle device 10 of each vehicle is configured to be able to perform inter-vehicle communication with the in-vehicle device 10 of another vehicle. In addition, since all the vehicle-mounted devices 10 of each vehicle have the same configuration, only one vehicle-mounted device 10 is illustrated in detail in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the in-vehicle device 10 includes an in-vehicle communication device 11, a position specifying unit 12, an arithmetic processing unit 13, an ETC (registered trademark, Electronic Toll Collection) in-vehicle device 14 (general fee collecting means), and a vehicle control unit 15. And a radar 16 and the like.

  The in-vehicle communication device 11 is configured as a wireless communication device, and transmits vehicle information of the host vehicle to another in-vehicle device 10 according to a command from the arithmetic processing unit 13 and receives vehicle information from the other in-vehicle device 10. Car-to-vehicle communication. Here, the in-vehicle communication device 11 includes, as vehicle information, whether or not a group of the own vehicle, a group of vehicles, and the like, and the position of the own vehicle in the vehicle group (how many vehicles from the front or rear). Are exchanged with each other periodically (for example, every 100 ms).

  The position specifying unit 12 specifies the current location and traveling direction of the host vehicle based on detection signals from a vehicle speed sensor, a GPS receiver, an optical beacon, a gyroscope, etc. (not shown), and inputs the specified data to the arithmetic processing unit 13. .

  The ETC in-vehicle device 14 has an automatic fee collection function for performing known automatic fee collection by performing wireless communication with the ETC roadside device 33. At this time, the ETC in-vehicle device 14 causes the roadside device 30 to perform processing related to the toll collection of the own vehicle by transmitting the charging information of the own vehicle to the roadside device 30.

  The radar 16 is configured as a well-known radar that detects an inter-vehicle distance from another vehicle by irradiating an electromagnetic wave such as a radio wave or laser light in the traveling direction (front) of the host vehicle and detecting the reflected wave. . The radar 16 detects the inter-vehicle distance from another vehicle at regular intervals (for example, 100 ms), and sends the detection result to the arithmetic processing unit 13.

  The arithmetic processing unit 13 and the vehicle control unit 15 are configured as a known microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. In particular, the arithmetic processing unit 13 uses various detection results such as an inter-vehicle control transmission process and an inter-vehicle control reception process described later based on a program stored in its own ROM or the like while using the detection results of the position specifying unit 12 and the radar 16. Implement the process. At this time, the arithmetic processing unit 13 can grasp which position in the vehicle group the other vehicle constituting the host vehicle and the vehicle group is traveling on the basis of the vehicle information described above. The arithmetic processing unit 13 is a representative vehicle in which the host vehicle is a representative of the vehicle group (for example, a vehicle that travels at the head of the vehicle group (when forming a vehicle group with an unspecified number of vehicles), or a preset vehicle. It is also possible to grasp information on whether or not the vehicle is a vehicle (when forming a vehicle group only with a specific vehicle).

Further, the vehicle control unit 15 performs driving support such as vehicle group traveling control in accordance with a program stored in its own ROM or the like.
The vehicle group running control is a platooning for controlling the behavior of the own vehicle so that the behavior of the own vehicle is substantially the same as that of the first vehicle in the platoon or the vehicle immediately before the own vehicle, a parallel running that runs alongside other vehicles, and the own vehicle. Indicates that the host vehicle is controlled so that the host vehicle travels in the same direction together with the other vehicle, such as group traveling that travels with other vehicles belonging to the same group.

  In the vehicle group traveling control, the vehicle control unit 15 is based on the position information of the other vehicle obtained by the radar 16 or the inter-vehicle communication and the position information of the own vehicle obtained by the position specifying unit 12 of the own vehicle. Outputs actions (acceleration / deceleration, turning, etc.) that the vehicle should take. That is, the output for the own vehicle to follow the behavior of the other vehicle is performed in accordance with the behavior of the other vehicle constituting the vehicle group.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, the vehicle control unit 15 controls each part of the host vehicle (accelerator, brake, steering, etc.) so that the inter-vehicle distance between the host vehicle and the vehicle just before traveling is the preset target inter-vehicle distance. The controlled part) is controlled. When receiving a command to change the target inter-vehicle distance from the arithmetic processing unit 13, the vehicle control unit 15 controls the operation of each part of the host vehicle at the target inter-vehicle distance according to the command.

In addition, since the technique regarding the process which controls the behavior of the own vehicle so that another vehicle follows a vehicle group driving | running | working is a known technique, the detail of this process is abbreviate | omitted in this embodiment.
Next, the roadside device 30 includes a roadside control unit 31, a vehicle determination unit 32 (vehicle identification means), an ETC roadside machine 33, a toll gate device 34, a start control unit 35, and a roadside communication unit 36. ing.

  The vehicle discriminating unit 32 identifies a vehicle entering the communication area in which the ETC roadside device 33 communicates with the in-vehicle device 10 without communicating with the vehicle. Specifically, for example, the number plate of a vehicle is imaged, and the description content of the number plate is identified by image processing. Then, this identification result is sent to the roadside control unit 31.

  The ETC roadside device 33 is connected to the roadside control unit 31 and communicates with the vehicle-mounted device 10 in the communication area at the toll booth on the road, thereby being exchanged between the vehicle-mounted device 10 and the roadside control unit 31. Relay data.

The toll gate device 34 is configured as a display device for displaying a fee, a device operated by a staff member at the toll gate, or the like.
The start control unit 35 includes, for example, a circuit breaker and an actuator that drives the circuit breaker, and controls the operation of the circuit breaker. That is, the circuit breaker is opened when permitting the passage of the vehicle, and the circuit breaker is closed when prohibiting the passage of the vehicle.

The roadside communication unit 36 includes a communication area in which the ETC roadside machine 33 communicates with the ETC in-vehicle apparatus 14. In a wider area, the roadside control unit 31 includes a CPU, ROM, RAM (charge billing recording means), and the like. It is comprised as a well-known microcomputer provided. Processing related to toll collection is performed by communicating with the in-vehicle device 10 in the communication area at the toll booth on the road. In particular, the ETC roadside device 33 in the present embodiment has a function of performing processing related to toll collection for a plurality of vehicles (roadside toll collection means) when receiving charging information for a plurality of vehicles.

  Here, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the vehicles forming the vehicle group perform a follow-up running in which other vehicles follow the leading vehicle, and these vehicles form a group. doing. The leading vehicle among the vehicles constituting the group is set as a representative vehicle representing the group, and the in-vehicle device 10 mounted on the representative vehicle collectively performs communication related to toll collection with the ETC roadside device 33. And do it.

  That is, when transmitting the charging information of the own vehicle to the roadside device 30, the ETC in-vehicle device 14 also transmits the charging information of the other vehicles constituting the group, and collects charges for each vehicle in the group. Details of this processing will be described below. In the following description, vehicles other than the leading vehicle among vehicles constituting the group are referred to as general vehicles.

[Process of this embodiment]
In the vehicle control system 1, the leading vehicle carries out a process for performing communication with the roadside device 30 to be performed by the following vehicle. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the leading vehicle process executed by the computation processing unit 13 for the leading vehicle. In addition, the process of S120-S150 in a head vehicle process is corresponded to the representative fee collection means said by this invention.

  The leading vehicle process is a process that is started when the arithmetic processing unit 13 is set to run in the platoon as the leading vehicle, and is repeatedly performed as long as the own vehicle is the leading vehicle. In this process, the case where the vehicle starts to form a fleet before entering the entrance toll gate and forms a vehicle group will be described. The processes of S110 to S160 described later may be omitted.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, first, a vehicle group that performs a convoy travel is formed, and control is performed to maintain the convoy (S110). Subsequently, the position specifying unit 12 is used to detect the position of the host vehicle (S120), and it is determined whether the vehicle is approaching the entrance toll gate (S130). The entrance toll gate is a toll gate that is arranged at the entrance of the area to be charged. If it is not approaching the entrance toll gate (S130: NO), the process returns to S120.

  Moreover, if it is approaching the entrance toll gate (S130: YES), pre-processing with the ETC card is performed (S140: charging information acquisition means). In this process, ETC card information (card information including a credit card number and expiration date, vehicle verification information for specifying the size of the vehicle, etc.) is charged for identifying and charging the vehicle from each vehicle forming the group. Information) is acquired from each of the general vehicle-mounted devices 10. It is assumed that the ETC card is attached to the ETC in-vehicle device.

  Further, in this process, information on the ETC card is requested from each vehicle using inter-vehicle communication, and information on the ETC card is acquired by receiving this response. In addition, when each vehicle is transmitting the information of an ETC card regularly with vehicle information, it is not necessary to perform said request | requirement.

  When the ETC in-vehicle device 14 enters the communication area in which the ETC roadside device 33 can communicate with the ETC roadside device 33, processing related to toll collection is performed with the ETC roadside device 33 (S150). This process basically collects tolls by exchanging data similar to known technology, but in this embodiment, not only toll collection for only the host vehicle but also all of the groups that make up the group. Car toll collection. That is, this processing includes processing in which the arithmetic processing unit 13 transmits billing information of each vehicle to the roadside device 30 via the ETC in-vehicle device 14 and receives data to be written to the ETC card of each vehicle.

  Subsequently, data to be written to the ETC card of the other vehicle (charging result: entrance information) is transmitted to each vehicle constituting the group using inter-vehicle communication, and data to be written to the ETC card of the own vehicle (charging) (Result) is written in the ETC card of the host vehicle (S160: charging result transmission means).

  Then, similarly to the process of S110, the vehicle group that performs the platooning is controlled (S170). In this process, if there is a vehicle that leaves the platoon or a new vehicle that joins the platoon, the inter-vehicle distance is controlled corresponding to these vehicles, or these vehicles are left or joined. Including processing.

  Then, the position specifying unit 12 is used to detect the position of the host vehicle (S210), and it is determined whether the vehicle is approaching the exit toll gate (S220). The exit toll gate is a toll gate that is arranged at the exit of the area to be charged. If it is not approaching the exit toll gate (S220: NO), the process returns to S170.

  If the vehicle is approaching the entrance toll gate (S170: YES), the pre-processing with the ETC card for each vehicle (group) currently running in a row is performed (S230), similar to the processing of S140. . Then, when the ETC in-vehicle device 14 enters a communication area where communication with the ETC roadside device 33 is possible, processing related to toll collection is performed with the ETC roadside device 33 (S240).

  Subsequently, data to be written to the ETC card of the other vehicle (billing result: exit information) is transmitted to each vehicle constituting the group using inter-vehicle communication, and data to be written to the ETC card of the own vehicle (billing) (Result) is written to the ETC card of the host vehicle (S250: charging result transmitting means). When such a process ends, the leading vehicle process ends.

  Subsequently, the following vehicle processing performed by the arithmetic processing unit 13 in each vehicle other than the representative vehicle constituting the group will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The following vehicle process is a process that is started when the platooning is started. In this process, the case where the vehicle starts to form a fleet before entering the entrance toll gate and forms a vehicle group will be described. What is necessary is just to omit the process of S320-S350 mentioned later.

The following vehicle process transmits a vehicle group joining request, and starts a platooning run that follows another vehicle (S310). That is, the host vehicle is requested to participate in the group.
And a pre-processing with a head vehicle is implemented (S320: charging information transmission means). In this process, billing information about the host vehicle is transmitted to the in-vehicle device 10 of the leading vehicle. In addition, you may implement only the process of S320 and the process of S450 mentioned later only when there exists a request | requirement from a head vehicle.

  Then, it sets so that communication regarding toll collection by the ETC in-vehicle device 14 in the host vehicle may be prohibited (S330: communication prohibition means), and it is determined whether or not entrance information has been acquired from the leading vehicle (S340). If the entrance information has not been acquired (S340: NO), the process of S340 is repeated.

  If the entrance information has been acquired (S340: YES), the entrance information is written in the ETC card of the host vehicle (S350: charging result recording means). Subsequently, it is determined whether it is necessary to leave the platooning (S360).

  In this process, it is determined whether or not the own vehicle needs to leave the platooning based on the position information of the own vehicle and the map data and the destination recorded in the navigation device (not shown). Here, as a case where the host vehicle needs to leave the platooning, there is a case where the direction in which the vehicle group performing the platooning travels and the direction in which the host vehicle travels change due to a junction, an exit, or the like. .

  If it is not necessary for the host vehicle to leave the platooning (S360: NO), the process proceeds to S460 described later. If the own vehicle needs to leave the platooning (S360: YES), a request for detachment from the platooning is transmitted to the other vehicle (S410), and the vehicle detaches from the vehicle group performing the platooning. Processing is performed (S420). In this case, automatic traveling may be performed until the vehicle is separated from the vehicle group, and then free traveling may be performed according to the driver's intention or may be performed immediately.

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not it is necessary to merge with another vehicle group (S430). In this processing, it is necessary to detect whether or not a vehicle group is formed within an appropriate predetermined distance range in the traveling direction of the host vehicle, and to join if the vehicle group is formed within this distance range. Judge.

  If it is necessary to merge with another vehicle group (S430: YES), a vehicle group merge request is transmitted to this vehicle group in the same manner as in S310 (S440). That is, when the vehicle passes through the entrance toll gate, the vehicle is requested to participate in a group different from the group to which the vehicle belongs. Then, similar to the process of S320, a preliminary process with the leading vehicle is performed (S450).

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not exit information has been acquired from the leading vehicle (S460). If the exit information has been acquired (S460: YES), the processing after S480 described later is performed. If the exit information has not been acquired (S460: NO), the process returns to S360.

  On the other hand, if it is not necessary to merge with another vehicle group (S430: NO), the communication prohibition of the ETC in-vehicle device 14 is canceled, communication at the exit toll gate is performed, and exit information is acquired (S470). Then, writing to the ETC card is performed according to the exit information (charging result) (S480: charging result recording means), and the writing result is transmitted to the leading vehicle (S490: recording result transmitting means). That is, in this process, information that can identify whether or not the accounting result has been recorded is transmitted to the representative vehicle. Note that the process of S490 is omitted when the host vehicle performs ETC communication.

When such a process ends, the following vehicle process ends.
[Effects of this embodiment]
In the vehicle control system 1 described in detail above, the in-vehicle device 10 mounted on a representative vehicle representing a plurality of vehicles forming a specific group is a general vehicle other than the representative vehicle among the vehicles forming the group. The charging information for specifying and charging the in-vehicle device 10 mounted on the vehicle is acquired from each of the in-vehicle devices 10 of the general vehicle, and the charging information of each vehicle is transmitted to the road-side device 30, so that Processing related to charge collection for the in-vehicle device 10 is performed.

  And the roadside apparatus 30 will perform the process regarding the charge collection with respect to these several vehicles, if the accounting information about several vehicles is received from the vehicle-mounted apparatus 10 of a representative vehicle. The in-vehicle device 10 of a general vehicle transmits billing information about the own vehicle to the in-vehicle device 10 of the representative vehicle.

According to such a vehicle control system 1, the representative vehicle can perform the processing related to the charge collection in the general vehicle.
In the vehicle control system 1, the in-vehicle device 10 includes an ETC in-vehicle device 14 that causes the road-side device 30 to perform processing related to the toll collection of the own vehicle by transmitting billing information of the own vehicle to the road-side device 30. The in-vehicle device 10 prohibits communication regarding toll collection with respect to the roadside device 30 while the host vehicle is a general vehicle of the group.

  According to such a vehicle control system 1, even when a general vehicle has a function of executing processing related to toll collection, communication at that time can be prohibited. Therefore, it is possible to prevent problems such as double charging due to the general vehicle performing unnecessary communication with the roadside device 30.

  Further, in the vehicle control system 1, the in-vehicle device 10 of the representative vehicle transmits a charging result by processing related to toll collection using inter-vehicle communication to the general vehicle, and the in-vehicle device 10 of the general vehicle uses inter-vehicle communication. Then, the accounting result transmitted from the representative vehicle is received and the accounting result is recorded.

  According to such a vehicle control system 1, an in-vehicle device of a general vehicle can acquire a billing result without directly communicating with the roadside device 30. Therefore, the same effect as when directly communicating with the roadside device 30 can be obtained.

  In the vehicle control system 1, the roadside device 30 is configured to perform processing related to toll collection by communicating with the in-vehicle device 10 in the communication area at the toll booth on the road. It is a group of vehicles that perform follow-up traveling in which other vehicles follow the vehicle, the representative vehicle is the leading vehicle among the vehicles that make up the group, and the general vehicle is the leading vehicle among the vehicles that make up the group The vehicle is not a vehicle.

  According to such a vehicle control system 1, the representative vehicle that is the leading vehicle acts as a toll collector for the general vehicles that form the group, so that the general vehicle is connected to the roadside device 30 after the toll collection processing by the leading vehicle is completed. It is possible to enter the communication area. Therefore, since it is not necessary for the roadside device 30 to pass a vehicle that has not finished the toll collection process, the processing in the roadside device 30 can be simplified.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, another form of the vehicle control system 2 (automatic toll collection system) will be described. In the present embodiment (second embodiment), only the parts different from the vehicle control system 1 of the first embodiment will be described in detail, and the same parts as those of the vehicle control system 1 of the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals. Therefore, the description is omitted.

[Process of Second Embodiment]
In the vehicle control system 2 of the present embodiment, the vehicle that does not make a payment is not limited to the case where the vehicles that make up the group travel in a platoon, and before the vehicle that makes the payment enters the toll gate, Even if you enter, you can pass through the toll gate. In the present embodiment, a vehicle that performs settlement for each vehicle that constitutes a group as a representative is referred to as a representative vehicle, and a vehicle other than the representative vehicle that constitutes a group is referred to as a general vehicle.

Detailed processing will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing roadside processing. The roadside process corresponds to the roadside fee collection means in the present invention.
The roadside process is, for example, a process that is started when the power of the roadside device 30 is turned on and is repeatedly executed thereafter. In order to support a plurality of groups, it is assumed that a plurality of processes similar to this process are performed in parallel.

  In the roadside processing, as shown in FIG. 5, first, vehicle information is received via the roadside communication unit 36 (S510: specific information acquisition means). The vehicle information here is information (specific information) that specifies a vehicle and a representative vehicle that constitute a group from any of the vehicles that constitute the group, and the vehicle information for a plurality of groups is roadside controlled as a group list. It is recorded in a memory such as a RAM of the unit 31. The vehicle information is acquired by the roadside device 30 using road-to-vehicle communication or the like in an area before the vehicle enters the communication area of the ETC roadside machine 33.

  Subsequently, the number plate of the vehicle entering the toll gate is read and identified through the vehicle determination unit 32 (S520). Then, it is determined whether the vehicle entering the communication area of the ETC roadside device 33 is a representative vehicle, a general vehicle, or another vehicle by collating with the vehicle information for the vehicle that has identified the number plate. (S530: vehicle determination means).

  If the vehicle entering the communication area of the ETC roadside device 33 is a vehicle other than a general vehicle registered in the group list (S530: NO), it is determined whether or not communication between this vehicle and the ETC roadside device 33 has been completed. (S540). If the communication is not completed (S540: NO), this vehicle is set to be prohibited from passing (S550), and the roadside process is terminated. In this case, the gate is closed by the start control unit 35, and this vehicle cannot pass through the toll gate.

  If the communication between this vehicle and the ETC roadside device 33 is completed (S540: YES), the vehicle is allowed to pass (S560). That is, the toll gate is opened by the start control unit 35. Then, the communication carried out between the representative vehicle and the general vehicle is monitored, and it is determined whether or not the accounting result is normally recorded in the general vehicle (S570).

  If the recording of the charging result in the general vehicle is normally performed (S570: YES), the bill sending setting for the vehicles constituting the group for which the processing related to the toll collection is completed is canceled (S580), and the roadside processing is ended. On the other hand, if the charging result is not normally recorded in the general vehicle (S570), the roadside process is immediately terminated.

In this case, it is in a state where it is recorded that the general vehicle should be charged for charges that have not been collected.
On the other hand, if the vehicle entering the communication area of the ETC roadside machine 33 is a general vehicle registered in the group list in the processing of S530 (S530: YES), communication permission is set for this vehicle (S610: Passed) Permission means). That is, the general vehicle is allowed to pass through the toll gate without performing processing related to toll collection.

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the processing related to toll collection by the representative vehicle is completed within a predetermined time after the vehicle passes through the toll gate (S620). If this process is finished (S620: YES), the roadside process is finished. If this processing has not been completed (S620: NO), the fact that the general vehicle should be charged is recorded in the RAM or the like of the roadside control unit 31 (S630: first charge billing means, second charge billing means). ), The roadside process is terminated.

In the roadside device 30, in another process, a fee bill is sent to the owner of the general vehicle based on a record result indicating that the general vehicle should be charged.
Next, representative vehicle processing executed by the on-vehicle device 10 (arithmetic processing unit 13) of the representative vehicle in the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In the representative vehicle process, first, vehicle information in the group is acquired (S710). Then, the charging method is also acquired, and the charging method is confirmed for each vehicle information (S720). Here, it is assumed that the charging method includes a communication agent that performs only the communication of the general vehicle and a payment agent that also performs the payment of the general vehicle.

  Subsequently, when the vehicle reaches the vicinity of the toll gate, vehicle information including a charging method is transmitted to the roadside device 30 (S730), and then ETC communication is performed to make a settlement for each vehicle in the group (S740). And an ETC communication result is transmitted with respect to the vehicle which performs communication agency (S750: charge result transmission means). In this process, the ETC communication result may be transmitted to the vehicle that performs the payment agent.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the accounting process is completed (S760). This process is performed by determining whether or not a response of a charging result indicating that the process has been normally completed is obtained from the general in-vehicle device.

  If the billing process is completed (S760: YES), the representative vehicle process is terminated. If the accounting process is not completed (S760: NO), an incomplete notification is transmitted to the other vehicle and the roadside apparatus 30 (S770), and the representative vehicle process is terminated.

Next, general vehicle processing executed by the in-vehicle device 10 of a general vehicle will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
In general vehicle processing, as shown in FIG. 7, first, vehicle information is transmitted (S810). The billing method is also transmitted (S820). And it sets so that communication by ETC in-vehicle device 14 may be prohibited (S830: communication prohibition means), and it is judged whether a charge method is communication substitution (S840). If it is a communication proxy (S840: YES), the entry information and the exit information are written to the ETC card as soon as they are received (S850: charging result recording means), and the written result is transmitted to the representative vehicle (S860). Exit.

If the billing method is a payment agent (S840: NO), the general vehicle processing is immediately terminated.
[Effects of Second Embodiment]
In the vehicle control system 2 described above, the roadside device 30 is configured such that the first vehicle out of the communication area among the vehicles constituting the group moves from any vehicle constituting the group to the group. The specific information for specifying the vehicle and the representative vehicle constituting the vehicle is acquired. And the roadside apparatus 30 is provided with the vehicle discrimination | determination part 32 which identifies the vehicle which approachs into a communication area, without communicating with this vehicle, and enters into a communication area by collating with specific information about the identified vehicle. It is determined whether the vehicle is a representative vehicle, a general vehicle, or another vehicle. Furthermore, when a general vehicle enters the communication area, the general vehicle is allowed to pass through the toll gate without performing processing related to toll collection.

According to such a vehicle control system 2, it is possible to pass a general vehicle constituting a group through a toll gate without performing a process related to toll collection.
Further, in the vehicle control system 1, the in-vehicle device 10 of the general vehicle transmits information that can identify whether or not the billing result can be recorded to the representative vehicle, and the roadside device 30 transmits the information between the representative vehicle and the general vehicle. The roadside control that the general vehicle should be charged as if the charge collection for the general in-vehicle device 10 was not performed if the charge result in the general vehicle is not normally recorded is monitored. Record in the RAM of the unit 31.

  According to such a vehicle control system 1, when the charge result cannot be normally recorded in the general vehicle through communication with the representative vehicle, the roadside device 30 separately charges the general vehicle. Can be.

  Further, in the vehicle control system 2, the roadside device 30 determines the result of identification by the vehicle determination unit 32 when the processing related to the toll collection of the general vehicle by the representative vehicle is not completed within a predetermined time after the general vehicle passes the toll gate. Is recorded in the RAM of the road-side control unit 31.

  According to such a vehicle control system 2, the roadside device can separately charge the general vehicle when the processing related to the toll collection by the representative vehicle is not completed after the general vehicle passes the toll gate. .

[Other Embodiments]
Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can take various forms as long as they belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, it has been described that the ETC in-vehicle device 14 is mounted on the representative vehicle (lead vehicle) and the general vehicle. However, the ETC in-vehicle device 14 only needs to be mounted on at least the representative vehicle. Further, the vehicle on which the ETC in-vehicle device 14 is mounted may travel while changing whether it functions as a representative vehicle or a general vehicle.

  Further, in the above embodiment, processing related to toll collection has been described at the entrance and exit in the area to be charged, but when processing related to toll collection is performed only at the entrance and exit as in a uniform toll section on a toll road. May perform only the treatment at the inlet or outlet.

  Even if it does in this way, the effect similar to the said embodiment can be enjoyed.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle control system, 2 ... Vehicle control system, 10 ... In-vehicle apparatus, 11 ... In-vehicle communication apparatus, 12 ... Position specific | specification part, 13 ... Operation processing part, 14 ... ETC in-vehicle apparatus, 15 ... Vehicle control part, 16 ... Radar DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 30 ... Roadside apparatus 31 ... Roadside control part 32 ... Vehicle discrimination | determination part 33 ... ETC roadside machine, 34 ... Tollgate equipment, 35 ... Start control part, 36 ... Roadside communication part.

Claims (9)

An automatic fee collection system that collects fees by communicating between a roadside device arranged on the roadside and an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle,
A representative in-vehicle device representing an in-vehicle device mounted on a representative vehicle representing a plurality of vehicles forming a specific group is
Charging information acquisition for acquiring charging information for identifying and charging a general in-vehicle device representing an in-vehicle device mounted on a general vehicle other than the representative vehicle among the vehicles forming the group from each of the general in-vehicle devices Means,
Representative fee collection means for causing the roadside device to perform processing related to fee collection for the representative in-vehicle device and the general in-vehicle device by transmitting billing information for each vehicle to the roadside device;
With
The general vehicle-mounted device is
Billing information transmitting means for transmitting billing information about the host vehicle to the representative in-vehicle device ;
General toll collection means for causing the roadside device to perform processing related to toll collection of the own vehicle by transmitting billing information of the own vehicle to the roadside device;
Communication prohibiting means for prohibiting communication related to toll collection for the roadside device while the host vehicle is a general vehicle of the group;
With
The roadside device is
Upon receiving billing information about a plurality of vehicles from the representative in-vehicle device, roadside fee collection means for performing processing related to fee collection for the plurality of vehicles;
An automatic toll collection system characterized by comprising   An automatic fee collection system that collects fees by communicating between a roadside device arranged on the roadside and an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle,
  A representative in-vehicle device representing an in-vehicle device mounted on a representative vehicle representing a plurality of vehicles forming a specific group is
    Charging information acquisition for acquiring charging information for identifying and charging a general in-vehicle device representing an in-vehicle device mounted on a general vehicle other than the representative vehicle among the vehicles forming the group from each of the general in-vehicle devices Means,
    Representative fee collection means for causing the roadside device to perform processing related to fee collection for the representative in-vehicle device and the general in-vehicle device by transmitting billing information for each vehicle to the roadside device;
    Billing result transmission means for transmitting a billing result by the processing related to the fee collection to the general vehicle using inter-vehicle communication;
  With
  The general vehicle-mounted device is
    Billing information transmitting means for transmitting billing information about the host vehicle to the representative in-vehicle device;
    Billing result recording means for receiving the billing result transmitted from the representative vehicle using inter-vehicle communication and recording the billing result;
    A recording result transmitting means for transmitting to the representative vehicle information capable of identifying whether or not the charging result has been recorded;
  With
  The roadside device is
    Upon receiving billing information about a plurality of vehicles from the representative in-vehicle device, roadside fee collection means for performing processing related to fee collection for the plurality of vehicles;
    The communication performed between the representative vehicle and the general vehicle is monitored, and if the recording of the charging result in the general vehicle is not normally performed, the charge collection for the general in-vehicle device is not performed. A first charge requesting means for recording in the charge request recording means that the general vehicle should be charged;
  An automatic toll collection system characterized by comprising   An automatic fee collection system that collects fees by communicating between a roadside device arranged on the roadside and an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle,
  A representative in-vehicle device representing an in-vehicle device mounted on a representative vehicle representing a plurality of vehicles forming a specific group is
    Charging information acquisition for acquiring charging information for identifying and charging a general in-vehicle device representing an in-vehicle device mounted on a general vehicle other than the representative vehicle among the vehicles forming the group from each of the general in-vehicle devices Means,
    Representative fee collection means for causing the roadside device to perform processing related to fee collection for the representative in-vehicle device and the general in-vehicle device by transmitting billing information for each vehicle to the roadside device;
  With
  The general vehicle-mounted device is
    Billing information transmitting means for transmitting billing information about the host vehicle to the representative in-vehicle device;
  With
  The roadside device is configured to perform processing related to toll collection by communicating with the in-vehicle device in a communication area at a toll booth on the road,
  The roadside device is
    Upon receiving billing information about a plurality of vehicles from the representative in-vehicle device, roadside fee collection means for performing processing related to fee collection for the plurality of vehicles;
    The vehicle constituting the group and the representative vehicle from any of the vehicles constituting the group before the first vehicle out of the communication region of the vehicles constituting the group goes out of the communication region. Specific information acquisition means for acquiring specific information for identifying
    Vehicle identification means for identifying a vehicle entering the communication area without communicating with the vehicle;
    Vehicle determination means for determining whether the vehicle entering the communication area is a representative vehicle, a general vehicle, or another vehicle by collating with the specific information for the identified vehicle;
    When the general vehicle enters the communication area, passage permission means for permitting the general vehicle to pass through the toll gate without performing processing related to toll collection;
  An automatic toll collection system characterized by comprising   In the automatic toll collection system according to claim 2 or claim 3,
  The general vehicle-mounted device is
    General toll collection means for causing the roadside device to perform processing related to toll collection of the own vehicle by transmitting billing information of the own vehicle to the roadside device;
    Communication prohibiting means for prohibiting communication related to toll collection for the roadside device while the host vehicle is a general vehicle of the group;
  An automatic toll collection system characterized by comprising   In the automatic toll collection system according to claim 1 or claim 2,
  The roadside device is configured to perform processing related to toll collection by communicating with the in-vehicle device in a communication area at a toll booth on the road,
  The roadside device is
    The vehicle constituting the group and the representative vehicle from any of the vehicles constituting the group before the first vehicle out of the communication region of the vehicles constituting the group goes out of the communication region. Specific information acquisition means for acquiring specific information for identifying
    Vehicle identification means for identifying a vehicle entering the communication area without communicating with the vehicle;
    Vehicle determination means for determining whether the vehicle entering the communication area is a representative vehicle, a general vehicle, or another vehicle by collating with the specific information for the identified vehicle;
    When the general vehicle enters the communication area, passage permission means for permitting the general vehicle to pass through the toll gate without performing processing related to toll collection;
  An automatic toll collection system characterized by comprising   In the automatic toll collection system according to claim 3 or claim 5,
  The roadside device is
    If the processing related to the toll collection of the general vehicle by the representative vehicle is not completed within a predetermined time after the general vehicle passes through the toll gate, the vehicle specified based on the identification result by the vehicle identification means is charged. A second fee billing means for recording in the fee billing recording means to the effect
  Automatic toll collection system characterized by   In the automatic toll collection system according to claim 1 or claim 2,
  The roadside device is configured to perform processing related to toll collection by communicating with the in-vehicle device in a communication area at a toll booth on the road,
  The group is a group of vehicles that perform a follow-up run in which other vehicles follow the leading vehicle and run.
  The representative vehicle is a leading vehicle among the vehicles constituting the group, and the general vehicle is a vehicle other than the leading vehicle among the vehicles constituting the group.
  Automatic toll collection system characterized by A vehicle-mounted device that constitutes an automatic fee collection system that collects fees by communicating between a roadside device arranged on the roadside and a vehicle-mounted device mounted on a vehicle,
The in-vehicle device is configured as the representative in-vehicle device according to any one of claims 1 to 7. A vehicle-mounted device that constitutes an automatic fee collection system that collects fees by communicating between a roadside device arranged on the roadside and a vehicle-mounted device mounted on a vehicle,
The on-vehicle device is configured as the general on-vehicle device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

Images