JP6507397B2 - INFORMATION PROVIDING SYSTEM, INFORMATION PROVIDING DEVICE, RELAY METHOD OF ROAD SIGNAL INFORMATION, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information providing system, an information providing device, a method of relaying route signal information, and a computer program. Specifically, the present invention relates to improvement of a method of providing route signal information including signal information of one or more intersections of a route to a mobile communication device.

An information providing system has already been known which provides a vehicle with signal information of an intersection managed by a road manager from a light beacon installed on a road upstream of the intersection (see Patent Document 1).
In this case, the on-vehicle device of the vehicle passing the light beacon determines whether or not the own vehicle can safely pass the intersection based on the signal information of the downstream intersection, and determines that the passenger can not pass. Driving assistance can be provided.

It has already been proposed that the signal information provided from the light beacons be route signal information including signal information of not only one intersection but a plurality of intersections.
In this case, the on-vehicle device of the vehicle passing the light beacon calculates the recommended speed for passing through the route based on the signal information of the plurality of downstream intersections included in the route, and notifies the driver in advance It is possible to execute driving support control such as calculating a red remaining time in the case of waiting and stopping and notifying the driver.

JP, 2013-152763, A

The signal information of each intersection included in the route signal information is updated by the central apparatus of the traffic control center, for example, at every calculation cycle of signal control parameters such as offset.
Therefore, if the signal control parameter is updated while traveling along the route after the vehicle receives the route signal information from the light beacon, the signal information of the intersection downstream of the current position may not be available. . In addition, when the signal control parameter is updated before reaching the most upstream intersection of the route, the vehicle may not be able to use the signal information of all the intersections included in the route signal information.

As described above, depending on the time from the acquisition of the route signal information to the next update of the signal control parameter ("information effective time" described later), when the signal information of part or all of the intersections included in the route can not be used There is.
For this reason, even if the number of intersections included in the route signal information is increased, depending on the timing at which the vehicle passes the light beacon, the vehicle may not be able to use the signal information of all the intersections. There is a need for a mechanism to be implemented.

  An object of the present invention is to improve the utility value of route signal information by allowing vehicles to use signal information of an intersection included in route signal information as much as possible.

  (1) An information providing system according to the present invention is an information providing system including first and second mobile communication devices defined below, and an information providing device which wirelessly communicates with the first and second mobile communication devices. The first mobile communication device transmits route signal information received from a roadside communication device of a traffic control system to the information providing device, and the information providing device receives the route signal information received from the first mobile communication device. Is transmitted to at least the second mobile communication device, and the second mobile communication device updates the route signal information of the own device to the route signal information received from the information providing apparatus.

First mobile communication device: Of the mobile communication devices that wirelessly communicate with the information providing device, movement that received route signal information including signal information of one or more intersections of the route from the roadside communication device of the traffic control system at a first time Communication unit Second mobile communication unit: Of the mobile communication units that communicate wirelessly with the information providing apparatus, route signal information including signal information of one or more intersections of the route from the roadside communication unit of the traffic control system than at the first time point Mobile communication device received at previous second time point

  (10) An information providing apparatus according to the present invention is an information providing apparatus which wirelessly communicates with the first and second mobile communication devices defined above, which receives the route signal information transmitted by the first mobile communication device. And a transmitter configured to transmit the received route signal information to at least the second mobile communication device.

  (11) A computer program according to the present invention is a computer program for causing an information providing apparatus wirelessly communicating with the first and second mobile communication devices defined above to execute relay processing of route signal information, (1) receiving the route signal information transmitted by the mobile communication device; and transmitting the received route signal information to at least the second mobile communication device.

  (12) A relay method according to the present invention is a relay method of route signal information, which is executed by an information providing apparatus that performs wireless communication with the first and second mobile communication devices defined above, wherein the first mobile communication device is a relay method. Receiving the transmitted route signal information; and transmitting the received route signal information to at least the second mobile communication device.

  According to the present invention, the utility value of route signal information can be improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a whole block diagram of the information-provision system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the internal structure of an information provision apparatus and the vehicle equipment mounted in the vehicle. It is a table showing an example of a format of route signal information. It is explanatory drawing which shows the provision method of the conventional route signal information. It is explanatory drawing which shows the provision method of the route signal information which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the information update process which the control part of a vehicle-mounted machine performs. It is a time chart which shows an example of transmission and reception processing of route signal information. It is a time chart which shows the modification of transmission and reception processing of route signal information. It is a time chart which shows another modification of transmission and reception processing of route signal information. It is a time chart which shows another modification of transmission and reception processing of route signal information. It is a time chart which shows another modification of transmission and reception processing of route signal information.

<Overview of Embodiments of the Present Invention>
Hereinafter, the outline of the embodiment of the present invention will be listed and described.
(1) An information providing system according to the present embodiment is an information providing system including first and second mobile communication devices defined below, and an information providing device that wirelessly communicates with the first and second mobile communication devices. The first mobile communication device transmits route signal information received from the roadside communication device of the traffic control system to the information providing device, and the information providing device receives the route signal received from the first mobile communication device. Information is transmitted to at least the second mobile communication device, and the second mobile communication device updates the route signal information of the own device to the route signal information received from the information providing device.

First mobile communication device: Of the mobile communication devices that wirelessly communicate with the information providing device, movement that received route signal information including signal information of one or more intersections of the route from the roadside communication device of the traffic control system at a first time Communication unit Second mobile communication unit: Of the mobile communication units that communicate wirelessly with the information providing apparatus, route signal information including signal information of one or more intersections of the route from the roadside communication unit of the traffic control system than at the first time point Mobile communication device received at previous second time point

  According to the information providing system of the present embodiment, the first mobile communication device transmits the route signal information received from the roadside communication device of the traffic control system to the information providing device, and the information providing device receives the signal from the first mobile communication device. Since the received route signal information is transmitted to at least the second mobile communication device, and the route signal information of the own device is updated to the route signal information received from the information providing apparatus, the second mobile communication device is the first mobile communication device. The latest route signal information received from the roadside communication device can be acquired.

Therefore, for example, when the vehicle of the second mobile communication device is traveling on the route, the possibility of increasing the number of signal information of intersections at which the vehicle can be used can be increased.
Therefore, the vehicle can use the signal information of the intersection included in the route signal information as much as possible, and the utility value of the route signal information is improved.

(2) In the information providing system according to the present embodiment, the first mobile communication device transmits the transmission time at which the roadside communication device transmitted the route signal information and the reception time at which the first mobile communication device receives the route signal information. It is preferable to transmit at least one to the information provision device together with the route signal information.
In this way, the information providing apparatus adds the route valid time of the route signal information to at least one of the transmission time and the reception time received from the first mobile communication device, thereby allowing the time-out time of the route signal information to be obtained. Can be calculated.

(3) In the information providing system of the present embodiment, when the route signal information includes an information effective time indicating a time limit of the information from the current time, the information providing apparatus receives the information from the first mobile communication device. It is preferable to calculate the information effective time of the route signal information that the own device transmits by subtracting the transmission time of the own device from the time-out time based on the route signal information.
In this way, the information providing apparatus does not need to notify the mobile communication device of the transmission time of the own apparatus, so that the amount of communication in the downlink direction can be suppressed.

(4) In the information providing system of the present embodiment, the information providing apparatus further subtracts the transmission delay in the own apparatus from the time-out time when calculating the information effective time of the route signal information transmitted by the own apparatus. Is preferred.
In this way, the accuracy of the information effective time calculated by the information providing apparatus can be increased, so that the calculation accuracy of the timeout time using the information effective time by the mobile communication device can be improved.

(5) In the information providing system of the present embodiment, when the route signal information includes an information effective time indicating a time limit of the information from the current time, the information providing apparatus receives the information from the first mobile communication device. When the time-out time based on the said route signal information is the newest, it is preferable to perform transmission of the said route signal information.
In this way, it is possible to prevent a temporary increase in the amount of communication in the downlink direction of the information providing device, and to reduce the processing load on the mobile communication device.

(6) In the information providing system of the present embodiment, the information providing device preferably limits the transmission destination of the route signal information to the mobile communication device whose current position is present on the route.
In this way, it is possible to prevent an increase in the amount of communication in the downlink direction of the information providing apparatus due to unnecessary information transmission, and to reduce the processing load of the mobile communication device.

(7) In the information providing system of the present embodiment, the information providing apparatus may exclude the signal information of the intersection at which the mobile communication device has passed from the route signal information transmitted to the mobile communication device. preferable.
In this way, the amount of data of the route signal information can be reduced individually, so the amount of communication in the downlink direction of the information providing device can be reduced.

(8) In the information providing system of the present embodiment, when the route signal information includes an information effective time indicating a time limit of the information from the current time, the mobile communication device receives the information from the information providing device. When the time-out time based on the route signal information is the latest, it is preferable to update the route signal information of the own device to the route signal information received from the information providing device.
In this way, it is possible to prevent in advance the execution of erroneous driving support control using old route signal information in the past.

(9) In the information providing system of the present embodiment, when the route signal information received from the information providing device is information regarding the route on which the vehicle is traveling, the mobile communication device is a route of the device. It is preferable to update signal information to the said route signal information received from the said information provision apparatus.
In this way, it is not necessary to update the route signal information that is not related to the travel route of the host vehicle, so the processing load on the mobile communication device can be reduced.

  (10) The information providing apparatus according to the present embodiment is an information providing apparatus that wirelessly communicates with the first and second mobile communication devices defined above, and receives the route signal information transmitted by the first mobile communication device. And a transmitter configured to transmit the received route signal information to at least the second mobile communication device.

  According to the information providing apparatus of the present embodiment, the receiving unit receives the route signal information transmitted by the first mobile communication device, and the transmitting unit transmits the received route signal information to at least the second mobile communication device. The second mobile communication device can be provided with the latest route signal information received by the first mobile communication device from the roadside communication device.

Therefore, for example, when the vehicle of the second mobile communication device is traveling on the route, the possibility of increasing the number of signal information of intersections at which the vehicle can be used can be increased.
Therefore, the vehicle can use the signal information of the intersection included in the route signal information as much as possible, and the utility value of the route signal information is improved.

(11) The computer program according to the present embodiment is a computer program for causing an information providing apparatus wirelessly communicating with the first and second mobile communication devices defined above to execute relay processing of route signal information, It includes the steps performed by the transmitting unit and the receiving unit.
Therefore, the computer program of the present embodiment exhibits the same effects as the information providing apparatus of the present embodiment.

(12) A relay method according to the present embodiment is a relay method of route signal information, which is performed by an information providing apparatus that performs wireless communication with the first and second mobile communication devices defined above, and the transmitter and the receiver Includes each of the steps performed by the unit.
Therefore, the relay method of the present embodiment exhibits the same function and effect as the information providing device of the present embodiment.

<Details of the Embodiment of the Present Invention>
The details of the embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that at least a part of the embodiments described below may be arbitrarily combined.

[Overall Configuration of Information Providing System]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an information providing system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an internal configuration of the information providing device 3 and the on-vehicle device 5 mounted on the vehicle 4 which constitute the information providing system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
In the present embodiment, the term "vehicle" refers to a car (including a motorcycle), a motor bike, a light vehicle, a trolley bus, and the like. The “in-vehicle device” refers to a computer device permanently or temporarily mounted on the vehicle 4 and having a communication function and the like.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the information providing system 1 of the present embodiment is mounted on an information providing device 3 provided in the information processing center 2 and a plurality of vehicles 4 that perform wireless communication with the information providing device 3. And the in-vehicle device 5 (see FIG. 2).
The in-vehicle device 5 has a function as a "mobile communication device" that performs wireless communication with the information providing device 3 via a mobile communication network or the like. The in-vehicle device 5 according to the present embodiment can also execute wireless communication with a roadside communication device 14 described later, which includes an optical beacon or the like.

The in-vehicle device 5 includes a navigation device. The navigation device may be a dedicated device incorporated in the vehicle 4 or may be a mobile terminal (such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, and a laptop computer) temporarily mounted on the vehicle 4 .
The in-vehicle device 5 includes an ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems) communication device that communicates with the roadside communication device 14 (a second communication unit 52 in FIG. 2). The ITS communication device is composed of a dedicated device attached to a dashboard or the like of the vehicle 4.

In the information providing system 1, the information providing apparatus 3 collects probe data (also referred to as "floating car data") from a large number of registered vehicles 4 for registered members (users) who have joined in advance, and the probe data Search for an optimal route to the destination and generate traffic information (such as traffic congestion information and travel time), and provide the user with the result.
Therefore, the user of the information providing system 1 can obtain, from the information providing device 3, a search result with higher accuracy than the route search considering only the VICS (registered trademark) information.

The information providing device 3 acquires VICS information distributed by FM multiplex broadcasting from a road traffic information center (not shown).
The information providing device 3 can communicate with the wireless base station 6 via the public communication network 7 such as the Internet. The in-vehicle device 5 can wirelessly communicate with the wireless base station 6. Therefore, the on-vehicle device 5 can transmit and receive predetermined information with the information providing device 3 substantially in real time (for example, every three seconds) by mobile communication via the wireless base stations 6 in various places.

The navigation device of the in-vehicle device 5 includes an input device, and an output device including a display, a speaker, and the like. When predetermined travel conditions are input to the input device, the travel conditions are transmitted to the information providing device 3.
When the navigation device of the in-vehicle device 5 receives the provided information such as the optimum route and the traffic information from the information providing device 3, the contents of the received provided information are displayed on the display together with the road map and output by voice. Can be presented to the user.

  The navigation device of the in-vehicle device 5 also includes a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver. Therefore, the navigation device of the in-vehicle device 5 has the position detection function and the time synchronization function of the own vehicle using the GPS.

[Overall configuration of traffic control system]
As shown in FIG. 1, the traffic control system 9 of the present embodiment includes a central unit 11 provided in the traffic control center 10, a traffic signal 12 included in an area under the control of the central unit 11, a traffic signal controller 13 and a roadside. And the communication device 14.
The traffic signal controller 13 is installed at each intersection in the jurisdictional area, and is connected to the central apparatus 11 via the router 16 via a dedicated communication line 15 composed of a telephone line or the like.

The central unit 11 constitutes a traffic signal controller 13 of an intersection included in the jurisdiction area and a LAN (Local Area Network).
Therefore, the central unit 11 can perform two-way communication with the traffic signal controller 13 at each intersection, and each traffic signal controller 13 can also perform two-way communication with the other traffic signal controllers 13. The central apparatus 11 may not necessarily be installed in the traffic control center 10, and may be installed on a road.

The roadside communication device 14 is installed, for example, on an inflow path of a main road, and is connected to the traffic signal controller 13 via the communication line 15.
The roadside communication device 14 is a communication device that wirelessly communicates with the on-vehicle device 5 compatible with VICS. The roadside communication device 14 is, for example, an optical beacon performing optical communication using near infrared rays with an on-vehicle device supporting optical communication, or an ITS radio device performing wireless communication in the 700 MHz band. In the following description, it is assumed that an optical beacon is adopted as the roadside communication device 14.

The central unit 11 can execute traffic sensitive control for changing the signal control parameters (cycle length, split, and offset) according to the traffic condition, for the traffic light 12 at each intersection belonging to the jurisdiction area.
Specifically, based on the inflow traffic volume to the intersection, system control to adjust a series of traffic signals 12 included in the system section, wide area control such as extending this system control to the road network, etc. The resulting signal control parameters are sent to the traffic signal controller 13.

The traffic signal controller 13 generates the switching timing (the number of step seconds) of the light color of the traffic signal 12 according to the signal control parameter received from the central apparatus 11.
In addition, the traffic signal controller 13 is configured to use a signal light device so that the signal light devices such as the blue light, yellow light, red light and right turn arrow light of the traffic light 12 turn on, turn off or blink according to the generated switching timing. Supply power.

[Internal Configuration of Information Providing Device]
As shown in FIG. 2, the information providing device 3 includes a computer device 30 such as a server computer, a communication device 31 which is a communication interface connected to the computer device 30, and various databases 32 stored in a hard disk or the like. It has 34 and.
The communication device 31 is connected to the radio base station 6 via the public communication network 7. The communication device 31 can transmit and receive predetermined information to and from the on-vehicle device 5 through wireless communication between the wireless base station 6 and the first communication unit 51 of the on-vehicle device 5.

The member database 32 stores identification information of members registered in the information providing system 1, vehicle IDs, and the like. The computer device 30 transmits the provided information to the vehicle ID stored in the member database 32.
The traffic information database 33 stores VICS information acquired from the road traffic information center, probe data including the position and time (traveling locus) of the vehicle 4 collected from each vehicle 4, and the like. These pieces of information are successively updated every reception to keep the latest information.

Road map data 35 is stored in the map database 34. The road map data 35 includes "intersection data" and "link data".
Among these, “intersection data” is data in which the intersection ID assigned to the intersections in the whole country is associated with the intersection position. The "link data" is made up of data in which the following information 1) to 4) are associated with the link ID of the specific link assigned to roads in the whole country.

1) Position of start point / end point / interpolation point of specific link 2) Link ID connected to start point of specific link
3) Link ID connected to the end of the specific link
4) Link cost of specific link The road map data 35 of this embodiment forms a network corresponding to the actual road alignment and traveling direction, so for example, as shown in FIG. It is a network represented by a pair of directed links l (lower case el).

More specifically, in the road map data 35, nodes n are set for each intersection, and each node n is formed of a directed graph connected by a pair of links 1 in the opposite direction. Therefore, in the case of a one-way road, only a one-way link l is established. The node n may also be set at a halfway point of a road other than the intersection.
The link data of the road map data 35 also includes a road type indicating whether the specific link l corresponding to each road on the map is a general road or a toll road.

As shown in FIG. 2, the computer device 30 of the information providing device 3 is a control device 37 comprising a storage device 36 such as a hard disk and random access memory, and a CPU for reading various computer programs from the storage device 36 and executing them. And have.
The above-described computer program includes a communication control program that executes a relay process of transferring the latest “route signal information” received from the on-vehicle device 5 of a specific vehicle 4 to the on-vehicle device 5 of another vehicle 4.

  In addition, the control device 37 of the computer device 30 monitors the current position of the registered member's vehicle 4 from the latest probe data and the like, and the vehicle 4 is based on the distance from the current position of the vehicle 4 to the link. It has a map matching function that determines whether the link is traveling or not.

[Internal configuration of in-vehicle device]
As shown in FIG. 2, the in-vehicle device 5 includes a first communication unit 51 for communication with the wireless base station 6 and a second communication unit 52 for communication with the roadside communication device (light beacon) 14; The control unit 53 includes a processor (CPU: Central Processing Unit) that performs communication control and the like, and a storage unit 54 connected to the control unit 53 and configured of a storage device such as a ROM or a RAM.

The first communication unit 51 of the in-vehicle apparatus 5 is a communication interface that performs wireless communication with the wireless base station 6. The first communication unit 51 can transmit and receive information to and from the information providing device 3 by communication between the wireless base station 6 and the communication device 31 via the public communication network 7.
The second communication unit 52 of the in-vehicle device 5 is a communication interface that performs optical communication using near-infrared light. The second communication unit 52 can transmit and receive an uplink signal and a downlink signal made of an optical signal while passing through the communication area of the optical beacon 14.

The storage unit 54 of the in-vehicle device 5 stores a computer program executed by the control unit 53 and various data received from the information providing device 3 and the central device 11 or the like.
The control unit 53 of the in-vehicle device 5 can execute relay processing of various data such as probe data and reception data, and drive support control for the driver of the vehicle 4 by executing the above-described computer program.

Specifically, the control unit 53 generates an uplink signal including the probe data stored in the storage unit 54, and causes the second communication unit 52 to transmit the generated uplink signal. The uplink transmitted probe data is transferred to the central unit 11 by the optical beacon 14.
The control unit 53 causes the output device of the navigation device to output the acquired traffic information and regulation information when the downlink signal received by the second communication unit 52 includes traffic information, regulation information, and the like.

Control part 53 can perform the following various kinds of driving support control, when the below-mentioned "route signal information" is contained in the downlink signal which the 2nd communications department 52 received.
For example, the control unit 53 generates notification information for suppressing useless acceleration / deceleration based on the signal light color at the entry point to the downstream intersection predicted from the signal information of the downstream intersection, and navigates the generated notification information Output to the output device of the device. This leads to safe driving when the vehicle 4 passes through the intersection, and can reduce the fuel consumption of the vehicle 4.

Based on the stop and transmission times of the host vehicle predicted from the signal information of the downstream intersection, the control unit 53 performs fuel consumption when starting idling stop and fuel consumption when starting without using the vehicle. And control the ECU (Engine Control Unit) to achieve lower fuel consumption. Thereby, the fuel consumption of the vehicle 4 can be suppressed.
The control unit 53 notifies the driver in advance of the blue start time predicted from the signal information of the downstream intersection, when the own vehicle is waiting for the signal. This is expected to facilitate traffic flow at intersections.

When the downlink signal received by the second communication unit 52 includes “route signal information” described later, the control unit 53 extracts route signal information from the downlink signal, and the extracted route signal information is transmitted to the first communication. It is transmitted to the unit 51 and transferred to the information providing device 3.
As described above, in the present embodiment, the route signal information received by the on-vehicle device 5 from the roadside communication device such as the optical beacon 14 is relayed to the information providing device 3 by a general communication route different from the traffic control system 9. Be done.

[Format of route signal information]
FIG. 3 is a table showing an example of the format of route signal information generated and transmitted in the traffic control system 9.
The "route signal information" refers to information including signal information of one or more intersections included in a predetermined route consisting of, for example, a system section, position information of the intersection, link information between the intersections, and the like. .

As shown in FIG. 3, in the item of route signal information, "information valid time", "number of stored intersections", "route signal information for intersection (1)", and "UTMS link information" (UTMS) in order from the top Is an abbreviation of Universal Traffic Management System).
"Information valid time" means the time from the current time to the offset update scheduled time. The “offset update scheduled time” is a scheduled time at which the central apparatus 11 updates the offset of the intersection included in the route for which route signal information is to be generated.

In the traffic sensitive control of the central apparatus 11, the signal control parameter is updated every predetermined control cycle (for example, one minute, 2.5 minutes, 5 minutes, etc.). Accordingly, the offset update scheduled time and the content of the route signal information are also updated for each control cycle of traffic sensitive control.
Therefore, the time when one route signal information is valid is up to the offset update scheduled time. That is, when viewed from the reception side of the route signal information, the offset update scheduled time means the final time at which the route signal information is valid (hereinafter referred to as “timeout time”).

The "number of stored intersections" is the number of intersections included in one route signal information. In the number of stored intersections I, any numerical value of I = 1 to 16 is described.
“Route signal information of intersection (1)” means signal information of the intersection on the most upstream side among I intersections specified by the number of stored intersections. In FIG. 3, only one piece of signal information of the intersection (1) is illustrated, but in the case of the stored intersection number I = 2 or more, the signal information after the intersection (2) is the same as the case of the intersection (1) Continue in format.

For “route signal information at intersection (1)”, “intersection location information”, “elapsed time to cycle start”, “blue start time (minimum)”, “blue start time (maximum)”, “blue end time” (Min), "Blue End Time (Max)", "Yellow Time", and "Red Start Time (Max)" are included.
The “intersection position information” includes “intersection reference coordinates”. The “intersection reference coordinate” describes the latitude, longitude, and altitude of the central portion of the intersection and the like.

In "the elapsed time until the cycle start", a time difference from the current time to the cycle start time of the intersection is described. Hereinafter, the elapsed time until the cycle start is referred to as "cycle start time".
The "blue start time (minimum)" indicates the minimum number of seconds from the cycle start to the blue start in the outflow direction to be serviced (the direction in which the vehicle 4 flows out of the intersection). The "blue start time (maximum)" indicates the maximum number of seconds from the start of the serviceable outflow direction cycle to the blue start.

The "blue end time (minimum)" indicates the minimum number of seconds from the start of the cycle in the outflow direction of the service target to the end of the blue. The "blue end time (maximum)" indicates the maximum number of seconds from the start to the end of the cycle of the service target in the outflow direction.
"Yellow time" indicates the yellow time of the outflow direction of the service target. The "red start time (maximum)" indicates the maximum number of seconds from the start of the service target outflow direction cycle to the red start after the end of the green time.

The "UTMS link information" includes "the number of stored links" and "UTMS link (1)".
The “number of stored links” indicates the number of links from the installation point of the light beacon 14 to the most downstream intersection of the route. Therefore, the number of stored links means the number of link information included in one route signal information. In the number of stored links L, any numerical value from L = 0 to 255 is written.

  “UTMS link (1)” means link information on the most upstream side among L UTMS links specified by the number of stored links. Although only one piece of information on link (1) is illustrated in FIG. 3, when the number L of stored links is two or more, the same format as in the case of link (1) is the link information after link (2) Continue on.

The "UTMS link (1)" includes "secondary mesh coordinates" and "link number".
"Secondary mesh coordinates" describes secondary mesh coordinate values for the corresponding UTMS link. The “link number” describes the value of the link number for the corresponding UTMS link.

[Problems of conventional route signal information provision method]
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a conventional method of providing route signal information.
In FIG. 4, an area surrounded by a broken line indicates a route R including intersections J1 to J4 for which signal information is provided. In the example of FIG. 4, the vehicle 4 travels on the road from the left side (upstream side) to the right side (downstream side), and on the route R on which the vehicle 4 is to travel, four intersections J1 to J4 in order from the upstream side. Shall be included. These points are the same as in FIG. 5 described later.

As shown in FIG. 4, the central apparatus 11 of the traffic control center 10 transmits route signal information of the route R to the optical beacon 14 located upstream of the route R (for example, the inflow route of the intersection J1) for a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute) Send every).
When the optical beacon 14 receives the route signal information, it counts down the information valid time and the cycle start time (see FIG. 3) at predetermined time intervals (for example, one second) according to the local clock of the own machine, and downlinks these times. Update to the time value at the time of transmission.

The light beacon 14 transmits a downlink signal including the route signal information after updating the time value to the communication area of the own device. Thereby, the in-vehicle apparatus 5 of the vehicle 4 passing the communication area of the light beacon 14 acquires in advance the signal information of the plurality of intersections J1 to J4 included in the route R.
Therefore, the on-vehicle device 5 capable of executing the above-described driving support control can execute the driving support control at the upstream points of the intersections J1 to J4 using the signal information of the intersections J1 to J4 included in the route R It will be.

However, for example, as shown by a virtual line in FIG. 4, when the route effective time becomes zero (= time-out time elapsed) while the vehicle 4 travels on the upstream side of the intersection J3, the vehicle 4 receives the signal information after the intersection J3. It will not be available.
Alternatively, if the route effective time of the route signal information at the time of reception from the light beacon 14 is very short (for example, 10 seconds or less), the time-out time elapses before the vehicle 4 reaches the first intersection J1, 4 can not use signal information of all intersections J1 to J4.

As described above, depending on the length of the route effective time at the time of reception of the route signal information, the signal information of some or all of the intersections J1 to J4 included in the route R becomes useless information due to timeout, and appropriate vehicle May not be able to offer to 4.
In addition, each of the route signal information received by the vehicle 4 is also received when an abnormality such as a failure occurs in the traffic signal controller 13 or a forced intervention by a road administrator is performed within the route effective time. The signal information of the intersections J1 to J4 will be different from the actual signal information.

[New offer method of route signal information]
FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a method of providing route signal information according to the present embodiment. If the provision method of FIG. 5 is adopted, the above-mentioned problems due to the timeout can be solved or suppressed.
In FIG. 5, the first and second vehicles 4A and 4B are all vehicles 4 of registered members of the information providing system 1. The first vehicle 4A is a vehicle 4 of a registered member that has communicated with the light beacon 14 at a first time. The vehicle 4B is a vehicle 4 of a registered member that has communicated with the light beacon 14 at a second time point before the first time point.

The code | symbol 5A is a vehicle-mounted machine (it is hereafter called "1st vehicle-mounted machine") of the 1st vehicle 4A. The code | symbol 5B is a vehicle-mounted machine (it is hereafter called "2nd vehicle-mounted machine") of the 2nd vehicle 4B.
Therefore, the first on-vehicle device 5A is the on-vehicle device 5 that has received the route signal information from the light beacon 14 at the first time point among the on-vehicle devices 5 wirelessly communicating with the information providing device 3, and the second on-vehicle device 5B is Among the on-vehicle devices 5 wirelessly communicating with the information providing device 3, the on-vehicle device 5 has received the route signal information from the light beacon 14 at a second time point before the first time point.

The code Ia is route signal information that the first on-vehicle device 5A transmits to the information providing device 3 of the information processing center 2. The information effective time of the route signal information Ia is Ta.
The code Ib is route signal information held by the second on-vehicle device 5B. The information effective time of the route signal information Ib is Tb.

The code ta is a time-out time of the route signal information Ia. The timeout time ta can be calculated by ta = Ta + tsa, where tsa is the start time of the information valid time Ta.
The code tb is a time-out time of the route signal information Ib. The time-out time tb can be calculated by tb = Ta + tsb, where tsb is the start time of the information valid time Tb.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the information providing system 1 of this embodiment, the route signal information Ia is received in order to prevent as much as possible the signal information of some or all of the intersections from being wasted due to the expiration of the route effective time. The nearest route signal information Ia is relayed to the second on-vehicle device 5B in the order of the first on-vehicle device 5A, the information providing device 3, and the second on-vehicle device 5B.
That is, each communication entity configuring the information providing system 1 executes the following first to third processes.

First processing: The onboard unit 5 (first onboard unit 5A) that has received the route signal information Ia from the optical beacon 14 transmits the received route signal information Ia to the information providing device 3.
Second process: The information providing device 3 having received the route signal information Ia from the first on-vehicle device 5A transmits the received route signal information Ia to at least another on-vehicle device 5 (second on-vehicle device 5B).

  Third process: The on-vehicle device 5 (the second on-vehicle device 5B) that has received the route signal information Ia from the information providing device 3 uses the time-out times ta and tb of the route valid times Ta and Tb to determine its own route signal information An information update process (see FIG. 6) is performed to determine whether to update the received route signal information Ia.

In the second process (the relay process of the information providing device 3), the transmission method of the route signal information Ia by the information providing device 3 may be broadcast transmission, or the multicast transmission excluding the first onboard unit 5A for a predetermined time It may be a method to perform only.
In the case of adopting broadcast transmission, the first on-vehicle device 5A can receive from the information providing device 3 the route signal information Ia transmitted to the information providing device 3 immediately after passing the light beacon 14.

In the case of adopting multicast transmission, the information providing device 3 squeezes the destination to a place other than the first on-vehicle device 5A for a predetermined time (for example, 20 seconds) after receiving the route signal information Ia The first on-vehicle device 5A is included in the multicast transmission destination after the elapse of.
In this case, the first on-vehicle device 5A does not receive the route signal information Ia transmitted by the own vehicle until the predetermined period elapses after passing the light beacon 14, and the second on-vehicle device 5B is received after the predetermined time has elapsed. Similarly, the route signal information Ia can be received.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the information update process performed by the control unit 53 of the in-vehicle apparatus 5.
As shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 53 of the on-vehicle device 5 always determines whether or not the route signal information Ia has been received from the information providing device 3 (step ST11).
If the control unit 53 receives the route signal information Ia, the control unit 53 determines whether the storage unit 54 already stores the route signal information (step ST12).

If the above determination result is negative, the control unit 53 stores the received route signal information Ia in the storage unit 54 (step ST14).
If the above determination result is affirmative, the control unit 53 calculates the timeout time ta of the received route signal information Ia and the timeout time tb of the stored route signal information Ib (step ST13).

The timeout times ta and tb of the route signal information Ia and Ib are calculated by adding the start times tsa and tsb to the information valid times Ta and Tb.
In the start times tsa and tsb, the information providing apparatus 3 updates the information valid times Ta and Tb based on the transmission time t3 of the own apparatus, but does not notify the transmission time t3 to the reception side (see FIG. 7). The reception time r3 of the route signal information in the on-vehicle apparatus 5 on the receiving side may be adopted.

Next, the control unit 53 determines whether or not the timeout time ta is a time after the timeout time tb, that is, whether ta> tb is satisfied (step ST15).
In the case of ta> tb, it means that the time-out time of the route signal information Ia is future than the route signal information Ib, and the former is the latest information. Therefore, the determination of step ST15 is equivalent to the determination of whether or not the time-out time ta of the received route signal information Ia is the latest.

If the above determination result is negative, the control unit 53 does not update the route signal information to the received route signal information Ia (step ST17). That is, the control unit 53 does not adopt the received route signal information Ia but continues to adopt the current route signal information Ib.
If the above determination result is affirmative, the control unit 53 updates the route signal information to the received route signal information Ia (step ST17). That is, the control unit 53 replaces the route signal information stored in the storage unit 54 from the current route signal information Ib with the route signal information Ia.

  As described above, according to the in-vehicle device 5 of the present embodiment, the control unit 53 only transmits route signal information of its own device when the timeout time ta of the route signal information Ia received from the information providing device 3 is the latest. Since the received route signal information Ia is updated, erroneous driving support control using the route signal information Ib in the past can be prevented from being executed.

In the information update process of FIG. 6, it is determined whether or not the route signal information Ia received from the information providing device 3 is information regarding a route on which the vehicle is traveling, and if the determination result is affirmative, the route A process of updating the signal information Ia may be added. In addition, said determination can be performed by whether the difference of the present position of the own vehicle and the coordinate of the link information (refer FIG. 3) contained in the route signal information Ia is below predetermined value.
In this way, it is not necessary to update the route signal information Ia unrelated to the traveling route of the host vehicle, so that the processing load of the on-vehicle device 5 can be reduced.

[Transmission / reception processing of route signal information]
FIG. 7 is a time chart showing an example of transmission / reception processing of route signal information.
In FIG. 7, the arrow pointing to the right means “route signal information” transmitted and received between each communication entity. In the time chart of FIG. 7, the time advances downward.
Time t0 is a transmission time of the route signal information in the central apparatus 11. The time r0 is a reception time of the route signal information in the light beacon 14.

Time t1 is the transmission time of the route signal information in the light beacon 14. The time r1 is the reception time of the route signal information in the first on-vehicle device 5A.
Time t2 is a transmission time of the route signal information in the first on-vehicle apparatus 5A. The time r2 is the reception time of the route signal information in the information providing device 3.
Time t3 is a transmission time of the route signal information in the information providing device 3. The time r3 is the reception time of the route signal information in the second on-vehicle device 5B.

Time te is a time-out time. Time tc is a cycle start time. When a plurality of intersections J1 to J4 are included in the route R, a plurality of cycle start times tc corresponding to the respective intersections J1 to J4 exist. However, in FIG. 7, only one cycle start time tc is described for simplification of illustration.
The above points are the same as in the case of FIGS. 8 to 10 described later. In the following description, the control unit 53 of the in-vehicle device 5 and the control device 37 of the information processing device 3 execute the process in which the first and second in-vehicle devices 5A and 5B and the information providing device 3 are the subjects.

As shown in FIG. 7, the central unit 11 transmits the route signal information including the information valid time Te0 and the cycle start time (“the elapsed time until the cycle start time” in FIG. 3) Tc0 at the transmission time t0 Send to The transmission period of the route signal information in the central apparatus 11 is, for example, one minute. The central unit 11 calculates the information valid time Te0 and the cycle start time Tc0 according to the following equation.
Te0 = te−t0
Tc0 = tc−t0

The central unit 11 does not notify the light beacon 14 of the transmission time t0. In this case, the light beacon 14 sets the reception time r0 of the route signal information as the start time of the information valid time Te0 and the cycle start time Tc0.
The transmission period of the route signal information in the optical beacon 14 is, for example, 0.1 second. Therefore, the optical beacon 14 is updated by counting down the information effective time Te0 currently held and the cycle start time Tc0 according to the local time until the next route signal information is received from the central apparatus 11.

That is, the light beacon 14 is transmitted from the information valid time Te0 and the cycle start time Tc0 included in the route signal information received from the central apparatus 11 each time the transmission cycle (= 0.1 seconds) of the own device elapses. The information valid time Te1 and the cycle start time Tc1 at the transmission time t1 of the own machine are sequentially calculated by subtracting.
Therefore, the following equation is established as a result between the information valid time Te1 and the cycle start period Tc1 and the timeout time te and the cycle start time tc.
Te1 = te−t1
Tc1 = tc−t1

The optical beacon 14 notifies the transmission time t1 to the first on-vehicle device 5A together with the route signal information. In this case, the first on-vehicle device 5A sets the transmission time t1 of the route signal information as the start time of the information valid time Te1 and the cycle start time Tc1.
Therefore, the first on-vehicle device 5A can calculate the dime out time te and the cycle start time tc of the route signal information according to the following equation.
te = Te1 + t1
tc = Tc1 + t1

When the first on-vehicle device 5A receives the route signal information transmitted by the optical beacon 14 at the reception time r1, the first on-vehicle device 5A directly transmits the received route signal information at the transmission time t2 which is the next transmission timing to the information providing device 3. Send to 3
That is, the first on-vehicle device 5A relays the route signal information including the information valid time Te1 and the cycle start time Tc1 to the information providing device 3, and transmits the transmission time t1 notified from the light beacon 14 to the information providing device 3. .

When the information providing device 3 receives the route signal information transmitted by the first onboard unit 5A at the reception time r2, the information valid time and the cycle start time are at the transmission time t3, which is the next transmission timing for the second onboard unit 5B. Update to a time value.
That is, the information providing device 3 calculates the information effective time Te3 and the cycle start time Tc3 of the route signal information to be transmitted at the transmission time t3 according to the following equation.
Te3 = Te1- (t3-t1)
Tc3 = Tc1- (t3-t1)

The information providing device 3 transmits route signal information including the information valid time Te3 and the cycle start time Tc3 to the second on-vehicle device 5B at the transmission time t3. The second on-vehicle device 5B receives the route signal information at reception time r3.
The information providing device 3 does not notify the transmission time t3 to the second on-vehicle device 5B. In this case, the second on-vehicle device 5B sets the reception time r3 of the route signal information as the start time of the information valid time Te3 and the cycle start time Tc3.

Therefore, the second on-vehicle device 5B can calculate the timeout time te and the cycle start time tc according to the following equations.
te = Te3 + r3
tc = Tc3 + r3

The second on-vehicle device 5B determines whether the received route signal information is the latest (whether or not the timeout time te is the most future) based on the calculated timeout time te (step ST15 in FIG. 6).
Further, when the above determination result is the latest, the second on-vehicle device 5B updates the route signal information of the own device to the route signal information received from the information providing device 3 (step ST16 in FIG. 6).

In the time chart of FIG. 7, when the light beacon 14 does not notify the transmission time t1, even if the reception time r1 of the first on-vehicle device 5A is adopted as the start time of the information valid time Te1 and the cycle start time Tc1. Good.
In this case, the first on-vehicle device 5A may notify the information providing device 3 of the reception time r1 of the route signal information from the light beacon 14.

[Effect of information provision system]
As described above, according to the information providing system 1 of the present embodiment, the first on-vehicle device 5A transmits the route signal information Ia received from the light beacon 14 to the information providing device 3, and the information providing device 3 The route signal information Ia received from the in-vehicle device 5A is transmitted to at least the second in-vehicle device 5B, and the second in-vehicle device 5B updates the route signal information of the own device to the route signal information Ia received from the information providing device 3 See Figure 5).

Therefore, the second on-vehicle device 5B can acquire the route signal information Ia that the first on-vehicle device 5A has received from the light beacon 14 and whose timeout time ta is the latest (the time is the most future).
Therefore, when the second vehicle 4B is traveling on the route R, the possibility that the number of signal information of the intersection where the second vehicle 4B can be used increases increases, and the intersections J1 to J4 included in the route signal information The second vehicle 4B can use as much signal information as possible.

For example, in FIG. 5, when the second vehicle 4B travels on the upstream side of the intersection J4, if the time-out time tb of the route signal information Ib has passed and the time-out time ta of the route signal information Ia has not yet elapsed, By the update to the route signal information Ia, the second vehicle 4B can use the signal information of the intersection J4.
As described above, according to the information providing system 1 of the present embodiment, the signal information of the intersections J1 to J4 included in the route signal information can be used by the vehicle 4 as much as possible. It can be done.

According to the information providing system 1 of the present embodiment, the first on-vehicle device 5A transmits the transmission time t1 at which the optical beacon 14 transmits the route signal information to the information providing device 3 together with the route signal information (see FIG. 7). .
Therefore, the information providing device 3 can calculate the timeout time te of the received route signal information by adding the route valid time Te1 of the route signal information to the transmission time t1 received from the first on-vehicle device 5A. .

The first on-vehicle device 5A may transmit the reception time r1 at which the own vehicle receives the route signal information to the information providing device 3 together with the route signal information.
In this case, the information providing device 3 can calculate the time-out time te of the received route signal information by adding the route valid time Te1 of the route signal information to the reception time r1 received from the first on-vehicle device 5A. .

According to the information providing system 1 of the present embodiment, the information providing device 3 subtracts the transmission time t3 of the own device from the time-out time te (= Te1 + t1) of the route signal information and transmits it to the second on-vehicle device 5B. Since the information effective time Te3 of the signal information is calculated (see FIG. 7), it is not necessary for the information providing device 3 to notify the on-vehicle device 5 of the transmission time t3.
That is, the on-vehicle device 5 on the receiving side may determine the validity of the route signal information by regarding the reception time r3 of the route signal information as the start time of the information valid time Te3. Therefore, the amount of communication in the downlink direction can be reduced by the amount that transmission of the transmission time t3 becomes unnecessary.

However, since there are a large number of registered members, when it is necessary for the information providing device 3 to transmit the route signal information to a large number of in-vehicle devices 5, from the transmission command of the control device 37 to the actual transmission operation by the communication device 31 Transmission delay Δt3 may not be negligible.
Therefore, the information providing device 3 may calculate the information valid time Te3 and the cycle start time Tc3 according to the following equation.

Te3 = Te1- (t3-t1) -Δt3
Tc3 = Tc1- (t3-t1) -Δt3
In this way, since the accuracy of the information valid time Te3 and the cycle start time Tc3 becomes high, the on-vehicle device 5 on the receiving side can accurately calculate the timeout time te and the cycle start time tc.

First Modified Example
FIG. 8 is a time chart showing a modification of transmission and reception processing of route signal information.
In the above-described embodiment, the information providing device 3 relays the route signal information received from the first on-vehicle device 5A to at least the second on-vehicle device 5B without considering the new / old time-out time te.
Therefore, for example, when a relatively large number of vehicles 4 pass the light beacon 14 continuously and the first on-vehicle device 5A is concentrated for a short time, a large number of route signal information with the same time-out time te It may be provided to the in-vehicle device 5 through the information providing device 3.

Therefore, the amount of communication in the downlink direction of the information providing device 3 temporarily increases, and the on-vehicle device 5 must frequently perform the information update process (FIG. 6) for the route signal information that does not require update. The processing load of the on-vehicle apparatus 5 is increased.
Therefore, as shown in step ST20 of FIG. 8, the information providing device 3 executes transmission of the route signal information received from the first onboard unit 5A only when the time-out time te of the received route signal information is the latest. It is preferable to do.

Specifically, the information providing device 3 compares the time-out time tx of the received line signal information with the time-out time ty of the newly received line signal information, and in the case of ty = tx, the line signal information Route signal information may be transmitted in the case of ty> tx without transmission.
By executing this process, it is possible to prevent a temporary increase in the amount of communication in the downlink direction of the information providing device 3 and to reduce the processing load of the on-vehicle device 5.

Second Modified Example
FIG. 9 is a time chart showing another modification of the transmission and reception process of the route signal information.
In the above embodiment, the information providing device 3 relays the route signal information received from the first on-vehicle device 5A to at least all the second on-vehicle devices 5B. That is, the transmission destination of the route signal information is not particularly limited. However, in this relay method, the route signal information is provided to the on-vehicle device 5 that does not require route signal information because it is not traveling on the route R.

Therefore, the amount of communication in the downlink direction of the information providing device 3 is increased needlessly, and the on-vehicle device 5 has to execute processing for discarding unnecessary route signal information, and the processing load of the on-vehicle device 5 is large. Become.
Therefore, as shown in step ST30 of FIG. 9, the information providing device 3 may limit the transmission destination of the received route signal information to the in-vehicle devices 5 present in the route R targeted in the route signal information. preferable.

Specifically, the information providing device 3 extracts from the database 33 the vehicle 4 which is the current position coincident with or close to the coordinate value of the link information (see FIG. 3) included in the route signal information, and the extracted vehicle 4 The route signal information may be transmitted only to the in-vehicle device 5 of the above.
In this way, it is possible to prevent an increase in the amount of communication in the downlink direction of the information providing device 3 accompanied by unnecessary information transmission, and to reduce the processing load of the on-vehicle device 5.

In the above-described embodiment, the information providing device 3 does not change the data content of the route signal information received from the first on-vehicle device 5A except for the update of the information valid time, and the like. Relay to machine 5B.
That is, the signal information on some of the intersections J1 to J4 is not deleted from the route signal information, and includes the signal information on all the intersections J1 to J4 regardless of the presence or absence of the signal information on unnecessary passing intersections. The route signal information is uniformly transmitted to the in-vehicle device 5.

However, for example, focusing on the vehicle 4B traveling on the upstream side of the intersection J4 in FIG. 5, the signal information of the already passed intersections J1 to J3 is unnecessary for the vehicle 4B, and the intersection J4 passing after the current time Only signal information is sufficient.
Therefore, as shown in step ST40 of FIG. 9, the information providing device 3 excludes the signal information of the passed intersections J1 to J3 from the route signal information, and transmits the route signal information after the exclusion to the on-vehicle device 5 Is preferred.

Specifically, based on the link information and the intersection position information (see FIG. 3) included in the route signal information and the current position and the direction of the vehicle 4, the information providing device 3 determines the intersection scheduled to be entered by the vehicle 4. It is sufficient to transmit route signal information including the signal information of the identified intersection and the intersection located downstream thereof to the on-vehicle device 5.
In this way, the amount of data of the route signal information can be reduced individually, so the amount of communication in the downlink direction of the information providing device 3 can be reduced.

Third Modified Example
FIG. 10 is a time chart showing another modification of the transmission and reception process of the route signal information.
In the above-described embodiment, the information providing device 3 updates the information valid time and the cycle start time so that the transmission time t3 of the own device becomes the start time (see FIG. 7). It may be omitted.

That is, similarly to the first on-vehicle device 5A, the information providing device 3 targets the route signal information including the information valid time Te1 and the cycle start time Tc1 calculated by the light beacon 14 as the transmission target, and transmits the light beacon transmission time t1 to the on-vehicle It may be notified to the machine 5.
In this case, the on-vehicle device 5 on the receiving side can calculate the timeout time te and the cycle start time tc according to the calculation formula of te = Te1 + t1 and tc = Tc1 + t1 using the notified transmission time t1.

Fourth Modified Example
FIG. 11 is a time chart showing another modification of the transmission and reception process of the route signal information.
In the above embodiment, the first on-vehicle device 5A transmits the information valid time Te1 notified from the light beacon 14, the cycle start time Tc1, and the transmission time t1 to the information providing apparatus 3 as it is (see FIG. 7). The first on-vehicle device 5A updates the information valid time Te2 and the cycle start time Tc2 with the transmission time t2 of the own machine, and the route signal information including the updated times Te2 and Tc2 is information along with the transmission time t2 of the own machine It may be sent to the providing device 3.

That is, as shown in FIG. 11, the first on-vehicle device 5A calculates the information valid time Te2 and the cycle start time Tc2 at the transmission time t2 of the own machine by the following equation, and calculates the calculated times Te2 and Tc2 together with the transmission time t2. It may be transmitted to the information providing device 3.
Te2 = Te1- (t2-t1)
Tc2 = Tc1- (t2-t1)

When the information providing device 3 updates the information valid time and the cycle start time according to the transmission time t3 of the own device, the information providing device 3 may calculate the information valid time Te3 and the cycle start time Tc3 included in the route signal information according to the following equation. .
Te3 = Te2- (t3-t2)
Tc3 = Tc2- (t3-t2)
In this case, the second on-vehicle device 5B calculates the time-out time te and the cycle start time tc according to the calculation formula of te = Te3 + r3 and tc = Tc3 + r3 using the received times Te3 and Tc3 and the reception time r3 of the own vehicle. can do.

However, the information providing device 3 performs the second on-vehicle information the information valid time Te2 and the cycle start time Tc2 included in the route signal information received from the first on-vehicle device 5A and the transmission time t2 notified from the first on-vehicle device 5A. It may be transmitted to the device 5B as it is.
In this case, the second on-vehicle device 5B may calculate the time-out time te and the cycle start time tc according to the calculation formula te = Te2 + t2 and tc = Tc2 + t2 using the received times Te2 and Tc2 and the transmission time t2. it can.

  The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative and non-restrictive in every respect. The scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and includes all modifications within the scope equivalent to the configuration described in the claims.

1 information providing system 2 information processing center 3 information providing apparatus 4 vehicle 4A first vehicle 4B second vehicle 5 in-vehicle device (mobile communication device)
5A 1st in-vehicle device (1st mobile communication device)
5B 2nd in-vehicle device (2nd mobile communication device)
6 Wireless base station 7 Public communication network 9 Traffic control system 10 Traffic control center 11 Central equipment 12 Traffic signal 13 Traffic signal controller 14 Roadside communication device (optical beacon)
15 communication line 16 router 30 computer device 31 communication device (transmission unit, reception unit)
32 member database 33 information database 34 map database 35 road map data 36 storage device 37 control device (control unit)
51 first communication unit 52 second communication unit 53 control unit 54 storage unit

Claims (11)

An information providing system comprising: first and second mobile communication devices defined below; and an information providing device that wirelessly communicates with the first and second mobile communication devices,
The first mobile communication device transmits route signal information received from a roadside communication device of a traffic control system to the information providing apparatus,
The information providing apparatus transmits the route signal information received from the first mobile communication device to at least the second mobile communication device,
The second mobile communication device updates its own route signal information to the route signal information received from the information providing device ,
The route signal information includes an information effective time indicating a time limit of the information from the present time,
The information provision device subtracts the transmission time of the own device from the time-out time based on the route signal information received from the first mobile communication device, and calculates the information effective time of the route signal information transmitted by the own device. Information provision system.
First mobile communication device: Of the mobile communication devices that wirelessly communicate with the information providing device, movement that received route signal information including signal information of one or more intersections of the route from the roadside communication device of the traffic control system at a first time Communication unit Second mobile communication unit: Of the mobile communication units that communicate wirelessly with the information providing apparatus, route signal information including signal information of one or more intersections of the route from the roadside communication unit of the traffic control system than at the first time point Mobile communication device received at previous second time point   The first mobile communication device provides at least one of a transmission time at which the roadside communication device transmitted the route signal information and a reception time at which the own device receives the route signal information together with the route signal information. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the information providing system transmits the information to the device. The information providing system according to claim 1 , wherein the information providing apparatus further subtracts a transmission delay in the own apparatus from the time-out time when calculating an information effective time of the route signal information transmitted by the own apparatus. The route signal information includes an information effective time indicating a time limit of the information from the present time,
The information supply device, when the timeout timing based on the line signal information received from the first mobile communication device is up to date, any one of claims 1 to 3 to perform transmission of the route signal information 1 Information provision system described in Section. The information providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the information providing device limits the transmission destination of the route signal information to the mobile communication device whose current position is present on the route. The information providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the signal information of the intersection at which the mobile communication device has passed is excluded from the route signal information transmitted to the mobile communication device. Information provision system. The route signal information includes an information effective time indicating a time limit of the information from the present time,
The mobile communication device updates the route signal information of its own to the route signal information received from the information providing device when the time-out time based on the route signal information received from the information providing device is the latest. An information providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 6 . When the route signal information received from the information providing device is information about the route being traveled by the mobile communication device, the mobile communication device receives the route signal information of the own device from the information providing device. The information providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , which updates signal information. An information providing apparatus for wirelessly communicating with first and second mobile communication devices defined below, comprising:
A receiving unit for receiving route signal information including an information valid time indicating a time limit of information from the current time, transmitted by the first mobile communication device;
A control unit that calculates an information effective time of the route signal information transmitted by the own device by subtracting a transmission time of the own device from a time-out time based on the route signal information received from the first mobile communication device;
An information providing apparatus comprising: a transmission unit that transmits the route signal information including the calculated information effective time to at least the second mobile communication device.
First mobile communication device: Of the mobile communication devices that wirelessly communicate with the information providing device, movement that received route signal information including signal information of one or more intersections of the route from the roadside communication device of the traffic control system at a first time Communication unit Second mobile communication unit: Of the mobile communication units that communicate wirelessly with the information providing apparatus, route signal information including signal information of one or more intersections of the route from the roadside communication unit of the traffic control system than at the first time point Mobile communication device received at previous second time point A computer program for causing an information providing apparatus in wireless communication with first and second mobile communication devices defined below to execute relay processing of route signal information,
Receiving the route signal information including the information effective time indicating the time limit of the information from the current time transmitted by the first mobile communication device;
Calculating an information effective time of the route signal information to be transmitted by the own device by subtracting a transmission time of the own device from a time-out time based on the route signal information received from the first mobile communication device;
Transmitting the route signal information including the calculated information effective time to at least the second mobile communication device.
First mobile communication device: Of the mobile communication devices that wirelessly communicate with the information providing device, movement that received route signal information including signal information of one or more intersections of the route from the roadside communication device of the traffic control system at a first time Communication unit Second mobile communication unit: Of the mobile communication units that communicate wirelessly with the information providing apparatus, route signal information including signal information of one or more intersections of the route from the roadside communication unit of the traffic control system than at the first time point Mobile communication device received at previous second time point A relay method of route signal information, which is executed by an information providing apparatus that performs wireless communication with first and second mobile communication devices defined below,
Receiving the route signal information including the information effective time indicating the time limit of the information from the current time transmitted by the first mobile communication device;
Calculating an information effective time of the route signal information to be transmitted by the own device by subtracting a transmission time of the own device from a time-out time based on the route signal information received from the first mobile communication device;
Transmitting the route signal information including the calculated information effective time to at least the second mobile communication device.
First mobile communication device: Of the mobile communication devices that wirelessly communicate with the information providing device, movement that received route signal information including signal information of one or more intersections of the route from the roadside communication device of the traffic control system at a first time Communication unit Second mobile communication unit: Of the mobile communication units that communicate wirelessly with the information providing apparatus, route signal information including signal information of one or more intersections of the route from the roadside communication unit of the traffic control system than at the first time point Mobile communication device received at previous second time point

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