JP5740773B2 - Signal information providing apparatus and computer program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a signal information providing device that provides signal information to a roadside device, and a computer program for realizing the signal information providing device.

  The signal control methods of traffic signal controllers currently in widespread use are roughly divided into table control type and step control type. In the table control type, a signal control device installed in a traffic control center or the like transfers signal control command information, which is a command used as a basis for determining a signal control plan, based on a higher-order command from a higher-level central device or the like. The signal is transmitted to the signal controller, and the traffic signal controller determines its own signal control plan based on the signal control command information, and then switches the display of each signal lamp color according to the signal control plan. Usually, the signal control plan is determined for one cycle at the start of one cycle. That is, in the table control type, since the traffic signal controller determines its own signal control plan, the traffic signal controller itself retains information on when the signal lamp color will change in the future.

  On the other hand, in the step control type, a signal control device installed in a traffic control center or the like determines a signal control plan including a timing for switching each signal light color of a signal light device based on a higher order command from a higher order central device or the like. Above, the step signal which shows a switch timing is transmitted with respect to a traffic signal controller at the time applicable to the switch timing, and a traffic signal controller switches the display of a signal lamp color according to the step signal. In the step control type, since the signal control device determines the signal control plan, the traffic signal controller does not hold information on when the signal light color is switched in the future.

  In the past, information on signal control plans held by roadside devices has never been provided to the vehicle side, but in recent years, roadside devices have been transferred from the roadside device to the vehicle side for the purpose of promoting traffic safety and preventing traffic accidents. Road-vehicle coordination systems that improve the safety of vehicles by transmitting information and using the received information on the vehicle side are being studied. As such a system, for example, a safe driving support system that transmits operation information of a traffic light to a vehicle wirelessly and performs brake control according to a remaining display time of a green signal included in the operation information received by the vehicle is disclosed. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  In a conventional road-vehicle cooperation system, when the signal control method is a step control type, the signal control device transmits a step signal to the traffic signal controller, and the signal information is, for example, from the road-vehicle communication central device. It is transmitted to the signal information providing apparatus. The signal information providing device transmits the received signal information to a roadside communication device such as an optical beacon. The optical beacon transmits the received signal information to a vehicle that passes through a communicable area with the optical beacon. The vehicle uses the received signal information for safe driving and safe driving (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent No. 2806801 JP 2010-39673 A

  In the conventional method, the signal information providing device provides the signal information for each cycle of the signal to the roadside device. Therefore, the signal information providing device receives the signal information received from the road-to-vehicle communication central device at a predetermined timing. It was transmitted to the roadside device only once (for example, at the start of the green light). However, due to a malfunction in the communication state between the signal information providing device and the roadside device, the signal information transmitted by the signal information providing device cannot be received by the roadside device, and the signal information may not be provided. It was.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a signal information providing apparatus capable of reliably providing signal information and a computer program for realizing the signal information providing apparatus. To do.

Signal information providing apparatus according to the first invention, the signal information providing apparatus for providing signal information to the roadside apparatus, and transmitting means for transmitting the signal information including the remaining time of the signal light color and the signal lamp color to the roadside device, the A determination unit for determining the presence or absence of a response signal from the roadside device indicating that the signal information has been received within a predetermined waiting time from a transmission time point transmitted by the transmission unit, and an update for updating the signal information transmitted by the transmission unit And means for controlling to retransmit the update signal information updated by the update means from the transmission means when the determination means determines that there is no response signal within the waiting time. It is characterized that you have to update the most recent signal information according to the time difference between the transmission time of the direct near-transmission information to the point of re-transmitting said update signal information.

  The signal information providing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises, in the first aspect of the invention, receiving means for receiving a signal lamp color switching signal from a traffic signal controller that switches the signal lamp color based on a step signal transmitted by the signal control apparatus, The transmission means transmits the signal information according to the time when the signal light color switching signal is received by the reception means.

  In the signal information providing apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the transmission means transmits a request signal for requesting transmission of the response signal when the roadside apparatus receives the signal information. It is made to do so.

  In the signal information providing apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the update means may determine a time difference from the remaining time when the remaining time of the signal lamp color being displayed is longer than the time difference. The time obtained by subtracting is updated as a new remaining time.

  In the signal information providing device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the updating means is configured to display the next of the signal lamp color when the remaining time of the signal lamp color being displayed is shorter than the time difference. The signal lamp color to be switched thereafter is updated as a new signal lamp color.

A signal information providing apparatus according to a sixth invention is the signal information providing apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth inventions, wherein the control means repeats retransmission of the update signal information for a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined time. When the determination means determines that there is no response signal, control is performed to stop retransmission.

Signal information providing apparatus according to a seventh invention, in any one of the first invention to the sixth invention, wherein the updating means to update the signal information before determining the presence or absence of a response signal by said determining means It is characterized by that.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the signal information providing apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the updating unit updates the signal information after the determination unit determines the presence or absence of a response signal. It is characterized by being.

Computer program according to a ninth invention, in the computer, the computer program for providing signal information to the roadside apparatus, predetermined from a transmission time of a computer, signal information including the remaining time of the signal light color and the signal lamp color is transmitted Determining means for determining the presence or absence of a response signal from the roadside device indicating that the signal information has been received within the waiting time, an updating means for updating the transmitted signal information, and no response signal within the waiting time If it is determined, Yes so as to function as a control means for controlling so as to re-transmit the update signal information updated in the step of updating, the update unit, the update signal information from the transmission time of the most recent transmission information The most recent signal information is updated according to the time difference up to the time of retransmitting.

In the first invention and the ninth invention, the transmission means transmits the signal information including the signal lamp color and the remaining time of the signal lamp color to the roadside apparatus. When the roadside device receives the signal information, the roadside device transmits a response signal indicating the reception to the signal information providing device. The determination means determines whether or not there is a response signal indicating that the signal information has been received, that is, whether or not the roadside device has transmitted the response signal. When it is determined that there is no response signal from the roadside device, the control means controls to retransmit the update signal information updated by the update means. In this case, the updating means updates the latest signal information according to the time difference ΔT1 from the latest transmission time of the transmission information to the retransmission time of the update signal information.

For example, if the time difference is ΔT1, the remaining time of the signal lamp color is reduced by the time difference ΔT1 at the time of retransmission, so that the signal information is updated based on the time difference ΔT1. Even when the roadside device cannot receive the signal information, the update signal information is retransmitted, so that the signal information can be reliably provided. Further, since the signal information is updated according to the time difference between the retransmission time and the transmission time, it is possible to provide the signal information including the accurate remaining time of the signal lamp color.
Further, the determination means determines whether or not there is a response signal within a predetermined waiting time from the time of transmission. The control means controls to retransmit the update signal information when there is no response signal within the waiting time. By providing the waiting time in advance, it is possible to prevent the situation where the determination process is completed before receiving the response signal transmitted by the roadside device, and to reliably determine the presence or absence of the response signal. Also, since the update signal information is retransmitted when there is no response signal within the waiting time, there is a situation in which unnecessary update signal information is transmitted to the roadside device even though the roadside device has correctly received the signal information. Can be prevented.

  In the second invention, the receiving means receives the signal lamp color switching signal from the traffic signal controller that switches the signal lamp color based on the step signal transmitted by the signal control device. For example, the signal control device determines the signal control plan including the switching timing of each signal lamp color of the signal lamp, and the switching signal is set to the traffic signal controller at the time corresponding to the switching timing. It is a signal to show. The signal lamp color switching signal transmitted by the traffic signal controller is, for example, a signal indicating a blue start time. A transmission means transmits signal information according to the time of receiving a signal lamp color switching signal. As a result, even when the signal control method uses a so-called step control type traffic signal controller, the switching timing included in the signal information to be provided and the switching timing actually controlled by the traffic signal controller are, for example, blue signals. It can be synchronized at the start and provide accurate signal information.

  In the third invention, when the roadside device receives the signal information, the transmission means transmits a request signal requesting to transmit a response signal indicating that the signal information has been received. When the roadside device receives the request signal, for example, it sets information such as a response flag, and when it receives signal information after setting the response flag, it transmits the response signal to the signal information providing device. Thereby, it can be reliably determined whether transmission / reception of signal information is correctly performed between the signal information providing apparatus and the roadside apparatus.

  In the fourth invention, when the remaining time of the signal lamp color being displayed is longer than the time difference, the updating means updates the time obtained by subtracting the time difference from the remaining time as a new remaining time. For example, when the remaining time of the signal lamp color included in the transmitted signal information is t1, the time difference is ΔT1, and when t1> ΔT1, the remaining time of the signal lamp color included in the update signal information is expressed as (t1− Update to ΔT1). Thereby, the signal information including the exact remaining time of the signal lamp color can be provided.

  In the fifth invention, when the remaining time of the signal lamp color being displayed is shorter than the time difference, the update means updates the signal lamp color switched after the signal lamp color as a new signal lamp color. For example, when the signal lamp color is switched in the order of blue, yellow, and red, the remaining time (display time) of blue, yellow, and red is tg, ty, tr, and the time difference is ΔT1. When ΔT1> tg, the remaining time of the blue signal is 0 at the time of retransmitting the update signal information, and the blue signal is switched to yellow or red after the next signal lamp color. Therefore, for example, if ΔT1 <tg + ty, since the remaining time of the yellow signal is not 0 at the time of retransmission, the signal information is updated with the remaining time of the yellow signal as (tg + ty−ΔT1). Thereby, the signal information including the exact remaining time of the signal lamp color can be provided.

In the sixth invention, the control means responds with the judgment means when the retransmission of the update signal information is repeated for a predetermined number of times (for example, three times) or a predetermined time (for example, 15 seconds). When it is determined that there is no signal, control is performed to stop retransmission. If the response signal cannot be received even after repeated retransmission of the update signal information, it is not a temporary factor such as a failure in the communication state between the signal information providing device and the roadside device, Since there is a possibility of failure, the provision of signal information is stopped in order to avoid providing wrong signal information. Thereby, reliability can be improved.

In the seventh invention, the update means updates the signal information before the determination means determines the presence or absence of the response signal. By updating the signal information at an early timing, the signal information can be provided at an early timing.

In the eighth invention, the update means updates the signal information after the determination means determines the presence or absence of the response signal. Since the signal information is updated after waiting for the determination result of the determination means, if there is a response signal and it is not necessary to retransmit the update signal information, the signal information is not updated, and unnecessary update processing can be prevented. it can.

  According to the present invention, signal information can be provided reliably.

It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the intersection vicinity where the signal information by the signal information provision apparatus of this Embodiment is provided. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a structure of the traffic information provision system containing the signal information provision apparatus of this Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the signal information provision apparatus of this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of provision of the signal information by the signal information provision apparatus of this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the switch timing of the lamp color of a signal lamp device. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the signal information provided at the time of the cycle start of a signal. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 1st example of the signal information provided at the time of an update. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 2nd example of the signal information provided at the time of an update. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the procedure of the update process of the signal information by the signal information provision apparatus of this Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, a signal information providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the vicinity of an intersection where signal information is provided by the signal information providing apparatus of this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a configuration of a traffic information providing system including the signal information providing apparatus of this embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example. The traffic signal information providing system according to the present embodiment includes a signal control device 10, a road-to-vehicle communication central device 20, a traffic signal controller 5, a signal information providing device 6, signal lamps 1 and 2, a roadside device 7, and a current sensor 9. Etc.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a main road and a secondary road intersect at an intersection, and a signal lamp 1 for the main road and a signal lamp 2 for the secondary road are installed at predetermined positions of the intersection. The signal lamps 1 and 2 are vehicle lamps, but a pedestrian lamp can also be provided. In FIG. 1, for the sake of simplicity, the signal lamp is shown only in one direction of the main road and the secondary road.

  A roadside device 7 is installed at a required position from the intersection of the main road. The roadside device 7 is, for example, an optical beacon, a radio beacon, a DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communication), or the like. The roadside device 7 can perform bidirectional communication with the in-vehicle device of the vehicle 100 in the communicable region 71. That is, required information (for example, signal information) can be transmitted to the in-vehicle device via the roadside device 7. In the example of FIG. 1, for the sake of simplicity, the roadside device is illustrated only in one direction of the main road, but the roadside device can be provided in each direction (vertical direction) of the main road and the secondary road.

  The signal control device 10 and the road-to-vehicle communication central device 20 can be installed, for example, in a traffic control center, and the signal control device 10 and the road-to-vehicle communication central device 20 can be combined as one device. Further, the traffic signal controller 5 and the signal information providing device 6 can be installed on an intersection or a road near the intersection.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the signal control device 10 and the road-to-vehicle communication central device 20 are each connected to the central communication control device 3. The traffic signal controller 5 and the signal information providing device 6 are connected to the terminal communication control device 4, respectively. The central communication control device 3 and the terminal communication control device 4 are connected by a communication line 11.

  The signal control device 10 determines a signal control plan including a switching timing of each signal lamp color of the signal lamps 1 and 2 and transmits a step signal to the traffic signal controller 5 at a time corresponding to the switching timing. More specifically, the signal control device 10 generates signal information including the display seconds of each lamp color of the signal lamps 1 and 2, and corresponds to the lamp color switching timing specified by the generated signal information. At the time, a step signal as a switching timing signal is transmitted to the traffic signal controller 5. A step signal is a signal that advances the step of a signal cycle to the next step.

  The traffic signal controller 5 sequentially switches the signal lamp colors of the signal lamps 1 and 2 based on the step signal transmitted by the signal control device 10. More specifically, the traffic signal controller 5 outputs a drive signal (drive current) to a drive line connected between the lamp units of each lamp color of the signal lamps 1 and 2, so that the signal lamp color Switch.

  In the present embodiment, the lamp unit is a device that displays one lamp color such as blue, yellow, red, and an arrow, and the signal lamp unit is a group of a plurality of lamp units. It is a device that displays information for organizing traffic such as pedestrians. For example, a vehicle lamp includes three lamp units of blue, yellow, and red.

  The current sensor 9 detects a drive current flowing in the drive line from the traffic signal controller 5 to each lamp unit of the signal lamps 1 and 2. The current sensor 9 outputs the detected drive current to the signal information providing device 6 as a contact signal. For example, when the signal lamp color is switched from red to blue, the current sensor 9 detects the drive current to the blue lamp unit and detects a blue contact signal (1G contact signal and 2G contact signal) as a signal lamp color switching signal. Output to the signal information providing device 6. Here, the 1G contact signal indicates the timing when the signal lamp 1 for the main road is switched to blue, and the 2G contact signal indicates the timing when the signal lamp 2 for the secondary road is switched to blue.

  The current sensor 9 can be provided on the drive line to the lamp unit of each color of the signal lamps 1 and 2, but in this embodiment, at least the drive line to the blue lamp unit of the signal lamps 1 and 2 is provided. It is only necessary to provide a blue contact signal (also referred to as a 1G contact signal or a 2G contact signal) to the signal information providing device 6.

  The road-vehicle communication central device 20 can receive signal information from the signal control device 10 at any time. The road-vehicle communication central device 20 transmits the signal information to the signal information providing device 6. More specifically, the road-to-vehicle communication central device 20 transmits the signal information of the next cycle to the signal information providing device 6 before the end of one cycle of the signal (for example, 5 seconds before the end). . That is, the road-to-vehicle communication central device 20 repeatedly transmits signal information to the signal information providing device 6 for each cycle of the signal.

  When the signal information providing device 6 detects the contact signal, the signal information providing device 6 transmits the signal information transmitted by the road-to-vehicle communication central device 20 to the roadside device 7. That is, the signal information providing device 6 temporarily stores the signal information received from the road-vehicle communication central device 20 before the end of the cycle (for example, 5 seconds before) for each cycle of the signal, At the start time, the stored signal information of the cycle is transmitted to the road-vehicle communication central apparatus 20. Thus, the vehicle 100 that has received the signal information via the roadside device 7 can receive the same signal information as the actual signal switching by the traffic signal controller 5.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the signal information providing apparatus 6 according to the present embodiment. The signal information providing apparatus 6 controls the entire apparatus and has a function as a control unit, a receiving unit 62, a transmitting unit 63 as a transmitting unit, a detecting unit 64, a determining unit 65 as a determining unit, and an updating unit. Update section 66, storage section 67, and the like.

  The receiving unit 62 receives the signal information of the next cycle transmitted by the road-to-vehicle communication central apparatus 20 before the end of one cycle of the signal (for example, at the time of 5 seconds before the end). The receiving unit 62 receives the response signal transmitted from the roadside device 7. A response signal is a signal which shows that the roadside apparatus 7 was able to receive signal information correctly.

  The detector 64 detects a contact signal including the blue contact signal output from the current sensor 9. The blue contact signal includes a signal indicating a point in time when the blue color of each of the signal lamps 1 and 2 starts to light.

  The transmission unit 63 transmits the signal information received by the reception unit 62 to the roadside device 7 when the detection unit 64 detects the blue contact signal, that is, when the signal cycle starts (when the blue light color starts to light). To do. The transmission unit 63 transmits the update signal information updated by the update unit 66 to the roadside device 7. Further, when the roadside device 7 receives the signal information, the transmission unit 63 transmits a request signal requesting to transmit a response signal indicating that the signal information has been received.

  The storage unit 67 stores the signal information received by the receiving unit 62. The storage unit 67 stores the update signal information updated by the update unit 66.

  The determination unit 65 determines whether or not there is a response signal indicating that the signal information has been received, that is, whether or not the response signal from the roadside device 7 has been received.

  When the determination unit 65 determines that there is no response signal from the roadside device 7, the control unit 61 performs control so that the update signal information updated by the update unit 66 is retransmitted from the transmission unit 63.

  The update unit 66 updates the signal information transmitted to the roadside device 7 according to the time difference ΔT1 from the latest transmission time point of the transmission information received by the reception unit 62 to the re-transmission time point of the update signal information.

  For example, assuming that the time difference is ΔT1, the time has elapsed by the time difference Δ1 at the time of retransmission, and the remaining time of the signal lamp color is reduced by the time difference ΔT1, so the signal information is updated based on the time difference ΔT1. Even when the roadside device 7 cannot receive the signal information, the update signal information is retransmitted, so that the signal information can be reliably provided. Further, since the signal information is updated according to the time difference between the retransmission time and the transmission time, it is possible to provide the signal information including the accurate remaining time of the signal lamp color. Details of the signal information update method will be described later.

  Next, a method for providing signal information will be described. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of provision of signal information by the signal information providing apparatus 6 according to the present embodiment. As indicated by reference numeral S <b> 1, the signal control device 10 transmits signal information to the road-vehicle communication central device 20.

  As indicated by reference numeral S2, the road-to-vehicle communication central device 20 transmits signal information to the signal information providing device 6 before the end of the signal cycle (for example, 5 seconds before). The signal information providing apparatus 6 stores the received signal information in the storage unit 67 and registers the signal information of the next cycle.

  As indicated by reference numeral S <b> 3, the signal control device 10 transmits a step signal to the traffic signal controller 5 at the start of a signal cycle. The traffic signal controller 5 switches the lamp color of the signal lamps 1 and 2 by advancing the signal cycle step according to the received step signal.

  As indicated by reference numeral S4, when the traffic signal controller 5 switches the lamp colors of the signal lamps 1 and 2, the blue lamp unit of the signal lamp 1 is turned on at the start of 1G (the start point of the blue lamp color of the signal lamp 1). The 1G contact point signal is output to the signal information providing device 6.

  As indicated by reference numeral S5, the signal information providing apparatus 6 receives the signal received from the road-to-vehicle communication central apparatus 20 in accordance with the time point (including the time point immediately after the reception time point) of receiving the 1G contact signal indicated by reference numeral S4. Information is transmitted to the roadside device 7. By transmitting the signal information to the roadside device 7, the roadside device 7 registers the received signal information.

  The roadside device 7 has the number of seconds for displaying the lamp color (for example, the blue lamp color) displayed on the signal lamps 1 and 2 at the reception time t0 when the signal information is received, among the signal lamp colors included in the received signal information. While recording the remaining display seconds after subtracting the elapsed time Δt from the reception time t0, the remaining display seconds are updated every time a predetermined period (for example, 0.1 seconds) elapses. The signal information at that time is transmitted to the vehicle.

  When the roadside device 7 receives the signal information from the signal information providing device 6, the roadside device 7 transmits a response signal indicating that the signal information has been correctly received to the signal information providing device 6. The roadside device 7 stores a response flag for setting whether or not to transmit a response signal. If the response flag is 1, for example, a response signal is transmitted. If the response flag is 0, a response flag is transmitted. Do not send a signal. Whether or not to set the response flag is determined by a request signal transmitted by the signal information providing apparatus 6.

  As indicated by reference sign S6, the signal information providing apparatus 6 determines the presence or absence of a response signal within a predetermined waiting time (for example, 3 seconds) from the transmission time point (reference sign S4) at which the signal information is transmitted.

  As indicated by reference numeral S7, when there is no response signal within a predetermined waiting time (for example, 3 seconds), the signal information providing device 6 starts from the transmission time of the signal information indicated by reference numeral S5 from the predetermined waiting time. When a long time has elapsed (for example, 4 seconds), the updated update signal information is retransmitted to the roadside device 7. Thereby, the update signal information is re-registered.

  Thereafter, from the time when the update signal information is retransmitted, it is determined whether there is a response signal within a predetermined waiting time (for example, 3 seconds), and there is no response signal within the predetermined waiting time (for example, 3 seconds). In this case, the signal information providing apparatus 6 updates the updated signal information updated again at a time point (for example, 4 seconds) longer than a predetermined waiting time from the re-transmission time point of the signal information indicated by reference numeral S7. Re-send to. Thereafter, the same processing is repeated a predetermined number of times (for example, three times).

  As described above, the signal information providing device 6 transmits the signal information to the roadside device 7 when the 1G contact signal (signal lamp color switching signal) is received. As a result, even when the signal control method uses a so-called step control type traffic signal controller, the switching timing included in the signal information to be provided and the switching timing actually controlled by the traffic signal controller are, for example, blue signals. It can be synchronized at the start and provide accurate signal information.

  Further, when the roadside device 7 receives the signal information, the signal information providing device 6 transmits a request signal requesting to transmit a response signal indicating that the signal information has been received. When the roadside device 7 receives the request signal, for example, it sets information such as a response flag, and when it receives signal information after setting the response flag, it transmits the response signal to the signal information providing device 6. To do. Thereby, it is possible to reliably determine whether or not signal information is correctly transmitted and received between the signal information providing device 6 and the roadside device 7.

  Moreover, the determination part 65 determines the presence or absence of a response signal within the predetermined waiting time from the transmission time of signal information. The control unit 61 controls to retransmit the update signal information when there is no response signal within the waiting time. By providing a waiting time in advance, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the determination process is completed before receiving the response signal transmitted by the roadside device 7 and to reliably determine the presence or absence of the response signal. Further, since the update signal information is retransmitted after the waiting time has elapsed, it is possible to prevent a situation in which unnecessary update signal information is transmitted to the roadside device 7 even though the roadside device 7 has correctly received the signal information. it can.

  In addition, when the re-transmission of the update signal information is repeated a predetermined number of times (for example, 3 times) and the determination unit 65 determines that there is no response signal, the control unit 61 controls to stop the re-transmission. can do. If the response signal cannot be received even after repeating the re-transmission of the update signal information, it is not a temporary factor such as a malfunction of the communication state between the signal information providing device 6 and the roadside device 7, Since there may be other defects, the provision of signal information is stopped in order to avoid providing wrong signal information. Thereby, reliability can be improved. Instead of the configuration in which the number of repetitions of retransmission is set within a predetermined number of times, a configuration in which retransmission is repeated for a predetermined time (for example, 15 seconds) may be employed.

  The update unit 66 can update the signal information before the determination unit 65 determines the presence or absence of a response signal. By updating the signal information at an early timing, the signal information can be provided at an early timing.

  In addition, the update unit 66 can update the signal information after the determination unit 65 determines the presence or absence of a response signal. Since the signal information is updated after waiting for the determination result in the determination unit 65, if there is a response signal and it is not necessary to retransmit the update signal information, the signal information is not updated, and unnecessary update processing is prevented. be able to.

  Next, a specific example of the signal information update method will be described. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the switching timing of the lamp colors of the signal lamps 1 and 2. The example of FIG. 5 shows the switching timing of each lamp color of the signal lamps 1 and 2 shown in FIG. Steps 1 to 8 correspond to one signal cycle. Note that the number of steps, the lamp color of each step, and the number of display seconds are examples, and the switching timing of the signal lamps 1 and 2 is not limited to the example of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the signal lamp 1, step 1 is a blue light color (display time is 50 seconds), step 2 is a yellow light color (display time is 4 seconds), and step 3 is an arrow (blue arrow). The lamp color (display seconds is 8 seconds), step 4 is yellow light (display seconds is 2 seconds), and steps 5 to 8 are red lamp colors (display seconds is 50 seconds). In addition, the signal lamp 2 is configured such that steps 1 to 5 are red light (display seconds is 67 seconds), step 6 is blue light (display seconds is 40 seconds), and step 7 is yellow light (display seconds are 4 seconds) and Step 8 is red light color (the number of display seconds is 3 seconds).

  The start time of Step 1 of the signal lamp device 1 (lighting start time of the blue light) is the time when the aforementioned 1G contact signal is output from the traffic signal controller 5 to the signal information providing device 6.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of signal information provided at the start of a signal cycle. The signal cycle start time is the time indicated by the symbol S4 in FIG. 4 and the signal information transmission time. Moreover, the signal information illustrated in FIG. 6 is signal information with respect to the signal lamp 1, and the switching timing of the signal lamp color is illustrated in FIG.

  The upper chart of FIG. 6 shows the switching time of each lamp color, with the lighting start time (1G contact signal time) of the blue lamp color as time 0. For example, the yellow light color switching time in step 2 is 50 seconds later, the arrow light color switching time in step 3 is 54 seconds later, the yellow light color switching time in step 4 is 62 seconds later, and the red in steps 5 to 8 is red. The lamp color switching time is 64 seconds later.

  The lower chart of FIG. 6 shows an example of signal information provided at the time indicated by reference numeral S4 in FIG. 4, that is, at the time of transmission. The signal information includes the signal lamp color and the remaining display seconds (remaining time) of the signal lamp color. As shown in FIG. 6, the remaining display time of the signal information provided at the time of transmission is 50 seconds for the blue light color of the first signal light color, 4 seconds for the yellow light color of the next signal light color, and the next signal light color. The arrow light color is 8 seconds, the yellow light color of the next signal light color is 2 seconds, and the red light color after the next signal light color is 50 seconds.

  Next, the updated update signal information will be described. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a first example of signal information provided at the time of updating. When the remaining time of the signal lamp color being displayed is longer than the time difference from the most recent transmission time of the signal information to the re-transmission time of the update signal information, the update unit 66 sets the time obtained by subtracting the time difference from the remaining time as a new remaining time. Update as time. For example, when the remaining time of the displayed signal lamp color included in the signal information transmitted most recently is t1, the time difference is ΔT1, and when t1> ΔT1, the signal lamp included in the update signal information to be retransmitted The color remaining time is updated to (t1−ΔT1).

  In the example of FIG. 7, the time difference ΔT1 from the most recent transmission time of the signal information to the retransmission time of the update signal information, that is, the retransmission interval ΔT1, is shown, and the update signal information at the n-th retransmission is shown. For example, ΔT1 = 4 seconds and n = 3. In addition, the signal lamp color being displayed at the time of the third retransmission is blue for a round lamp that goes straight to the left. In this case, the update signal information to be updated for the third time, that is, the signal information at the head (most recent future) is 38 seconds {50- (4 × 3)} in blue for straight left turn. The blue for the right turn is 50 seconds {(50 + 4 + 8) − (4 × 3)}. Thereby, the signal information including the exact remaining time of the signal lamp color can be provided.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a second example of signal information provided at the time of update. When the remaining time of the signal lamp color being displayed is shorter than the time difference from the most recent transmission time of the signal information to the retransmission time of the update signal information, the update unit 66 newly sets the signal lamp color to be switched after the signal lamp color. Update as signal light color. For example, when the signal lamp color is switched in the order of blue, yellow, and red, the remaining time (display time) of blue, yellow, and red is tg, ty, tr, and the time difference is ΔT1. When ΔT1> tg, the remaining time of the blue signal is 0 at the time of retransmitting the update signal information, and the blue signal is switched to yellow or red after the next signal lamp color. Therefore, for example, if ΔT1 <tg + ty, since the remaining time of the yellow signal is not 0 at the time of retransmission, the signal information is updated with the remaining time of the yellow signal as (tg + ty−ΔT1).

  In the example of FIG. 8, the time difference ΔT1 from the most recent transmission time of the signal information to the retransmission time of the update signal information, that is, the retransmission interval ΔT1, is shown, and the update signal information at the n-th retransmission is shown. For example, ΔT1 = 4 seconds and n = 15. Further, the signal lamp color being displayed at the time of the 15th retransmission is red for the straight turn left round lamp and the right turn arrow lamp is lit. In this case, the update signal information updated for the fifteenth time, that is, the signal information at the head (most recent future) is 54 seconds {(50 + 4 + 8 + 2 + 3 + 40 + 4 + 3) − (4 × 15)} for red going straight ahead. In addition, blue for a right turn is 2 seconds {(50 + 4 + 8) − (4 × 15)}. Thereby, the signal information including the exact remaining time of the signal lamp color can be provided.

  In the example of FIGS. 7 and 8 described above, the accumulated elapsed time (ΔT1 × n) is subtracted from the display time of the signal lamp color (for example, 50 seconds which is the blue display time of the round lamp in FIG. 7). Thus, the remaining time is calculated. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. In the examples of FIGS. 7 and 8, each time the update signal information is retransmitted, the retransmission interval ΔT1 is calculated from the remaining time at that time. The remaining time may be calculated by subtraction. For example, at the first retransmission, the remaining time is calculated as 46 seconds by subtracting the retransmission interval ΔT1 (for example, 4 seconds) from the remaining time of the signal lamp color (for example, 50 seconds), and the update signal information is retransmitted. At the time of the next retransmission, the retransmission time ΔT1 (for example, 4 seconds) is subtracted from the remaining time of 46 seconds at the most recent retransmission time to calculate the remaining time as 42 seconds, and the update signal information is retransmitted. Thereafter, the remaining time is calculated by repeating this, and the update signal information is retransmitted.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure of signal information update processing by the signal information providing apparatus 6 according to the present embodiment. In the following description, the subject of processing is referred to as the control unit 61 for convenience. The control unit 61 receives the signal information (S11), and stores the received signal information in the storage unit 67. The control unit 61 determines whether or not a 1G contact signal has been received (S12). If the 1G contact signal has not been received (NO in S12), the process of step S12 is repeated.

  When the 1G contact signal is received (YES in S12), the control unit 61 transmits the received signal information to the roadside device 7 (S13). The control unit 61 updates signal information to be retransmitted at the next update time (S14).

  The controller 61 determines whether or not there is a response from the roadside device 7 during the waiting time (S15). That is, the control unit 61 determines whether a response signal has been received. When there is no response from the roadside device 7 during the waiting time (NO in S15), the control unit 61 transmits (retransmits) the updated signal information (updated signal information) to the roadside device 7 (S16).

  The control unit 61 determines whether or not the number of retransmissions of the update signal information is greater than a predetermined number (for example, 3 times) (S17). If the number of retransmissions is not greater than the predetermined number (NO in S17), The processing after step S14 is continued.

  If the number of retransmissions is greater than the predetermined number (YES in S17), the control unit 61 stops transmitting signal information (S18) and ends the process. When there is a response from the roadside device 7 during the waiting time (YES in S15), the control unit 61 determines whether or not to end the process (S19), and does not end the process (NO in S19). If the process after step S11 is repeated and it is determined that the process is to be terminated (YES in S19), the process is terminated.

  In the example of FIG. 9, the signal information update process is started before the process of step S <b> 15. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The signal information may be updated after determining that there is no response from the device 7.

  In the example of FIG. 9, it is determined whether or not the number of retransmissions exceeds a predetermined number in step S17, but is not limited to this. For example, for a predetermined time (for example, 15 seconds) It may be determined whether or not retransmission of update signal information has been repeated in the meantime.

  The signal information providing apparatus 6 according to the present embodiment can also be realized using a general-purpose computer including a CPU, a RAM, and the like. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, a computer program that defines each processing procedure is recorded on a computer program recording medium such as a CD, DVD, USB memory, etc., and the computer program is loaded into a RAM provided in the computer. By executing the computer program by the CPU, the signal information providing apparatus 6 can be realized on the computer.

  The disclosed embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative 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.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2 Signal lamp 5 Traffic signal controller 6 Signal information provision apparatus 7 Roadside apparatus 9 Current sensor 61 Control part 62 Reception part 63 Transmission part 64 Detection part 65 Judgment part 66 Update part 67 Storage part

Claims (9)

In a signal information providing device that provides signal information to a roadside device,
Transmitting means for transmitting signal information including the signal lamp color and the remaining time of the signal lamp color to the roadside device;
Determining means for determining the presence or absence of a response signal from the roadside device indicating that the signal information has been received within a predetermined waiting time from the transmission time point transmitted by the transmitting means;
Updating means for updating the signal information transmitted by the transmitting means;
Control means for controlling to retransmit the update signal information updated by the update means from the transmission means when the determination means determines that there is no response signal within the waiting time ;
Said updating means,
Signal information providing apparatus characterized that you have to update the most recent signal information according to the time difference between the transmission time of the direct near-transmission information to the point of re-transmitting said update signal information. A receiving means for receiving a signal lamp color switching signal from a traffic signal controller that switches the signal lamp color based on a step signal transmitted by the signal control device;
The transmission means includes
2. The signal information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal information is transmitted according to a time point when the signal light color switching signal is received by the receiving means. The transmission means includes
3. The signal information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the roadside apparatus receives the signal information, a request signal for requesting transmission of the response signal is transmitted. 4. The updating means includes
The time obtained by subtracting the time difference from the remaining time when the remaining time of the signal lamp color being displayed is longer than the time difference is updated as a new remaining time. The signal information providing apparatus according to claim 1. The updating means includes
5. The signal lamp color which is switched after the signal lamp color is updated as a new signal lamp color when the remaining time of the signal lamp color being displayed is shorter than the time difference. The signal information providing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. The control means includes
When retransmission of the update signal information is repeated a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined time, if the determination means determines that there is no response signal, control is performed to stop the retransmission. The signal information providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 . The updating means includes
Signal information providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that you have to update the signal information before determining the presence or absence of a response signal at said determination means. The updating means includes
The signal information providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the signal information is updated after the determination unit determines the presence or absence of a response signal. In a computer program for causing a computer to provide signal information to a roadside device,
Computer
Determining means for determining the presence or absence of a response signal from the roadside device indicating that the signal information has been received within a predetermined waiting time from the transmission time point when the signal information including the signal lamp color and the remaining time of the signal lamp color is transmitted ;
Updating means for updating the transmitted signal information;
Control means for controlling to retransmit the update signal information updated in the updating step when it is determined that there is no response signal within the waiting time ;
To make it work ,
Said updating means,
A computer program, wherein the latest signal information is updated according to a time difference from a transmission time point of the latest transmission information to a time point when the update signal information is retransmitted.

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