JP6880586B2 - Information provision method and information provision device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information providing method and an information providing device.

Conventionally, a technique for searching a planned travel route in consideration of the width of a road has been known (Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-174485

However, because road information such as width is not prepared for all roads, the conventional technology guides a narrow road as a planned travel route when information on the width of the road cannot be obtained. It may end up. For this reason, it becomes necessary for the vehicle to pass through a narrow road according to the route guidance, and at this time, there is a problem that the driver is anxious about passing by the oncoming vehicle and overtaking by the following vehicle.

An object to be solved by the present invention is to provide an information providing method and an information providing device capable of reducing anxiety of a driver when a vehicle needs to pass through a narrow road.

The present invention estimates a shelter position where a vehicle has evacuated based on a plurality of probe information collected from a plurality of vehicles, and a place where the vehicle tends to evacuate based on information on a plurality of shelter positions of the plurality of vehicles. Is specified as a recommended shelter, and the above problem is solved by outputting the information of the recommended shelter.

According to the present invention, by outputting information on a recommended shelter where the vehicle tends to evacuate, the driver can be made to grasp an appropriate shelter, so that the vehicle needs to pass through a narrow road. Even at times, it is possible to reduce the driver's anxiety due to the vehicle passing through a narrow road.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the information provision system which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the clustering process based on a traveling pattern. It is the figure which illustrated the scene where two cars pass each other on a narrow road. It is the figure which illustrated the scene where two cars pass each other on a narrow road. It is a figure for demonstrating the method of specifying the recommended shelter place. It is a flowchart which shows the probe information transmission processing which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the probe information analysis processing which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the information provision process which concerns on this Embodiment.

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

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an information providing system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the information providing system according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of in-vehicle devices 100 mounted on a plurality of vehicles and an information providing device 200 installed outside the vehicle. Various types of information can be exchanged between the plurality of vehicle-mounted devices 100 and the information providing device 200 via a communication line. Examples of the communication line include a mobile phone network, a wireless LAN network, a DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communications) network, and a power line communication network. Further, the in-vehicle device 100 may record various information in a detachable storage medium such as a flash memory, and the recorded various information may be transmitted / received via a terminal (for example, a mobile phone) having a communication function. In the example shown in FIG. 1, only one in-vehicle device 100 mounted on one vehicle is illustrated, but the information providing system can be configured to include a plurality of in-vehicle devices 100.

As shown in FIG. 1, the in-vehicle device 100 includes a sensor group 110, an operating device group 120, an in-vehicle communication device 130, an in-vehicle control device 140, and a presentation device 150. These devices are connected by a CAN (Controller Area Network) or other in-vehicle LAN in order to exchange information with each other.

The sensor group 110 includes at least a GPS device that detects the position of the own vehicle. The GPS device detects radio waves transmitted from a plurality of satellite communications, periodically acquires the position information of the own vehicle, and also obtains the acquired position information of the own vehicle and the angle change information acquired from the gyro sensor. , Detects the current position of the own vehicle based on the vehicle speed acquired from the vehicle speed sensor. The GPS device also acquires the current time information. In addition, the sensor group 110 includes a vehicle speed sensor that detects the vehicle speed, a steering angle sensor that detects the steering angle of the steering wheel, an accelerator opening sensor that detects the accelerator opening, and a brake opening that detects the brake opening. It can also include sensors and the like.

The operation device group 120 is an operation member that can be operated by the driver, and is a navigation device for setting the traveling route of the vehicle, a turn signal switch that blinks the left and right turn signal lamps (direction indicators), and a hazard that blinks the hazard lamp. Includes at least a switch. The operation information of the operation device group 120 operated by the driver is transmitted to the in-vehicle control device 140.

The in-vehicle communication device 130 can communicate with the server communication device 210 of the information providing device 200 via a telephone line network or the like. The in-vehicle communication device 130 transmits the probe information acquired from the in-vehicle control device 140 to the information providing device 200, and also receives the information for guiding the recommended shelter from the information providing device 200 (hereinafter, referred to as the shelter guidance information). , The received shelter location guidance information is output to the in-vehicle control device 140. The details of the probe information and the shelter guidance information will be described later.

The presentation device 150 is a device such as a display or a speaker, and can present the information provided by the information providing device 200 to the driver by displaying it on the screen of the display or outputting sound from the speaker.

The in-vehicle control device 140 is accessible to a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores a program for presenting the shelter location guidance information to the driver and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes the program stored in the ROM. It consists of a RAM (Random Access Memory) that functions as a storage device. As the operating circuit, instead of or in addition to the CPU (Central Processing Unit), MPU (Micro Processing Unit), DSP (Digital Signal Processor), ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), etc. Can be used.

The in-vehicle control device 140 has a probe information acquisition function for acquiring probe information by executing a program stored in the ROM by the CPU, a probe information transmission function for transmitting the acquired probe information to the information providing device 200, and information. It includes an information presentation function for presenting the information received from the providing device 200 to the driver. Each function of the in-vehicle control device 140 will be described below.

The probe information acquisition function of the in-vehicle control device 140 acquires the detection result of each sensor from the sensor group 110 as probe information. For example, the probe information acquisition function can acquire the position information and the current time information of the own vehicle from the GPS device and the vehicle speed information from the vehicle speed sensor as probe information. Furthermore, the probe information acquisition function acquires steering angle information (steering operation amount information) from the steering angle sensor, brake opening information from the brake opening sensor, and accelerator opening information from the accelerator opening sensor. The average value of the steering angle in a certain period (hereinafter referred to as the average steering angle), the average value of the brake opening in a certain period (hereinafter referred to as the average brake opening), and the average value of the accelerator opening in a certain period (hereinafter referred to as the average steering angle). , The average accelerator opening) can be acquired as probe information.

Further, the probe information acquisition function acquires the operation information of each operation device as the probe information from the operation device group 120. For example, the probe information acquisition function acquires the turn signal lamp usage status from the turn signal switch and the hazard lamp usage status from the hazard switch as probe information. Further, the probe information acquisition function can also acquire information on the planned travel route from the navigation device as probe information. Then, the probe information acquisition function temporarily stores the probe information acquired from the sensor group 110 and the operating device group 120 in the RAM of the in-vehicle control device 140.

The probe information transmission function of the vehicle-mounted control device 140 is acquired by the probe information acquisition function, and the probe information temporarily stored in the RAM of the vehicle-mounted control device 140 is transmitted to the information providing device 200 via the vehicle-mounted communication device 130. Send. For example, in the present embodiment, the probe information transmission function informs the probe information stored in the RAM of the vehicle-mounted control device 140 at the ignition off or ignition on timing, at regular intervals, or every time the vehicle travels a fixed distance. It can be transmitted to the providing device 200. In the present embodiment, the probe information will be described as being transmitted to the information providing device 200 at regular time intervals. Further, in the present embodiment, the vehicle type information and the vehicle ID information of the vehicle on which the in-vehicle device 100 is mounted are stored in advance in the RAM of the in-vehicle control device 140, and the probe information transmission function is the vehicle type information of the vehicle and the vehicle ID. Information can be acquired from the RAM of the vehicle-mounted control device 140 and transmitted as probe information to the information providing device 200.

The information presenting function of the in-vehicle control device 140 receives the evacuation site guidance information (details will be described later) from the information providing device 200 via the in-vehicle communication device 130, and presents the received evacuation site guidance information to the presenting device 150. Present to the driver through. Although the details will be described later, the shelter location guidance information is information for guiding the driver to the recommended shelter location, and by presenting such shelter location guidance information to the driver, an appropriate shelter location can be provided to the driver. It is possible to grasp the information, and even when the vehicle passes through a narrow road, it is possible to reduce the driver's anxiety due to passing by an oncoming vehicle or overtaking by a following vehicle.

Next, the information providing device 200 according to the present embodiment will be described. The information providing device 200 is a server installed outside the vehicle, and has a server communication device 210, a server processing device 220, and a database 230 as shown in FIG.

The server communication device 210 can communicate with the vehicle-mounted communication device 130 of the vehicle-mounted device 100 by means of a telephone line network or the like. The server communication device 210 receives a plurality of probe information from the plurality of vehicle-mounted devices 100 mounted on the plurality of vehicles, outputs the received plurality of probe information to the server processing device 220, and acquires the received probe information from the server processing device 220. The information is transmitted to the in-vehicle device 100.

The database 230 stores a plurality of probe information acquired from a plurality of vehicles. Such probe information includes information such as the position of the vehicle when the probe information is acquired, the date and time, the outside air temperature, the average steering angle, the average accelerator opening degree, and the average braking opening degree. The database 230 also stores vehicle type information, map information, and road information. Vehicle type information includes vehicle type (for example, large vehicle, ordinary vehicle, small vehicle, etc.), vehicle dimensions (for example, overall length, overall width, overall height, tread width, vehicle weight, gross vehicle weight, etc.), vehicle engine displacement information, etc. Is included. Road information also includes road type (eg, whether the road is a general road, motorway, bridge, or tunnel) and location information such as intersections, stop lines, traffic lights, and road signs. ..

The server processing device 220 is composed of a ROM that stores a program for providing the evacuation site guidance information to the in-vehicle device 100, a CPU that executes the program stored in the ROM, and a RAM that functions as an accessible storage device. It is composed. The server processing device 220 has a probe information storage function for storing probe information received from the in-vehicle device 100 in the database 230 by executing a program stored in the ROM by the CPU, and the vehicle saves based on the probe information. It is equipped with a probe information analysis function that identifies a recommended shelter location that tends to occur, and an information providing function that provides shelter location guidance information. Each function of the server processing apparatus 220 will be described below.

The probe information storage function of the server processing device 220 stores the probe information received from the in-vehicle device 100 in the database 230. In addition, the probe information storage function refers to the vehicle type information stored in the database 230, and from the vehicle ID included in the probe information, the type of vehicle (for example, large vehicle, ordinary vehicle, small vehicle, etc.) for which the probe information has been acquired, and the vehicle. Identify dimensions (eg total length, width, height, tread width, vehicle weight, gross vehicle weight, etc.), vehicle engine emissions information, identify vehicle type information, vehicle dimension information, vehicle engine emissions information Is stored in the database 230 in association with the probe information. Further, the probe information storage function refers to the road information stored in the database 230, and from the position of the vehicle included in the probe information, the type of road on which the vehicle for which the probe information is acquired travels (for example, the road on which the vehicle travels). Is a general road, a motorway, a bridge, or a tunnel), and the type information of the specified road is stored in the database 230 in association with the probe information.

The probe information analysis function of the server processing device 220 identifies a place where the vehicle tends to evacuate as a recommended evacuation place based on a plurality of probe information collected from the plurality of in-vehicle devices 100. The probe information analysis function first acquires a plurality of probe information stored in the database 230. Then, the probe information analysis function groups the acquired plurality of probe information for each vehicle type based on the vehicle type information associated with the probe information.

For example, multiple probe information analysis functions are based on one or more of the vehicle displacement, vehicle dimensions (total length, width, total height, etc.) and type (large vehicle, ordinary vehicle, small vehicle) included in the vehicle type information. Multiple probe information collected from the vehicle can be grouped. For example, the probe information analysis function obtains a plurality of probe information acquired from a plurality of vehicles based on vehicle type information, from probe information obtained from a small vehicle, probe information obtained from an ordinary vehicle, and from a large vehicle. It can be grouped with the obtained probe information. Alternatively, the probe information analysis function may group a plurality of probe information from a plurality of vehicles for each vehicle displacement, or may group a plurality of probe information from a plurality of vehicles for each vehicle size. You may.

Next, the probe information analysis function identifies the traveling pattern of the vehicle based on the grouped probe information, and performs a clustering process for classifying the traveling pattern of each identified vehicle into a plurality of classes.

Specifically, the probe information analysis function first identifies the traveling pattern of each vehicle based on the probe information. In the present embodiment, the probe information analysis function classifies the grouped probe information for each vehicle based on the vehicle ID included in the probe information, and based on the plurality of probe information classified for each vehicle, the day of the week and the probe information / Or The traveling frequency of the vehicle for each time zone, the traveling frequency of the vehicle for each region, the occurrence frequency of sudden steering, and the occurrence frequency of sudden start and deceleration are specified for each vehicle as the running pattern of the vehicle. Here, the plurality of probe information classified for each vehicle is the probe information of the same vehicle obtained at different times, and is information indicating the traveling history of the vehicle. Therefore, the probe information analysis function is based on the plurality of probe information classified for each vehicle, and the driving pattern for each vehicle (for example, the driving frequency for each day of the week and / or the time zone, the driving frequency for each region, and the steep steering wheel). The frequency of occurrence, and the frequency of sudden starts and decelerations, etc.) can be specified.

More specifically, the probe information analysis function can specify the traveling frequency for each day of the week and / or time zone based on the position information and the time information included in the probe information classified for each vehicle. In addition, the probe information analysis function can specify the traveling frequency for each region based on the position information and the time information included in the probe information classified for each vehicle. Further, the probe information analysis function can identify the frequency of sudden steering based on the information of the average steering angle included in the probe information classified for each vehicle. In addition, the probe information analysis function can specify the frequency of sudden start and deceleration based on the vehicle speed, average accelerator opening, and average brake opening information included in the probe information classified for each vehicle. .. In this way, the probe information analysis function identifies the traveling pattern of each vehicle based on the probe information of each vehicle.

Then, the probe information analysis function performs a clustering process for classifying the traveling pattern of the specified vehicle into a plurality of classes. Here, FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the clustering process of the traveling pattern. In the following, as shown in FIG. 2, the clustering process is performed by exemplifying the vehicle travel frequency for each day of the week and / or the time zone and the vehicle travel frequency for each region among the vehicle travel patterns. explain.

For example, the probe information analysis function can classify the traveling pattern of each vehicle into a plurality of classes as shown in FIG. 2 by performing statistical processing such as the k-means method. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the probe information analysis function divides the driving pattern of each vehicle into three classes C1 to C3 based on the driving frequency on the day of the week and / or the time zone and the driving frequency in the area. Can be clustered. Further, although not shown, the probe information analysis function can further cluster the traveling pattern of each vehicle based on the frequency of occurrence of sudden steering wheel and the frequency of occurrence of sudden start and deceleration.

Although the details will be described later, in the present embodiment, the clustering process of the traveling pattern of the vehicle is performed for each region, each day of the week, and / or each time zone. Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 2, for example, when the clustering process is performed with R1 as the region and T1 as the day of the week and / or the time zone as the target region and the target day and / or time zone. , The running frequency of the vehicle in the area R1 and the running frequency of the vehicle in the day of the week and / or the time zone in T1 are plotted on the graph, and the running frequency of the vehicle in the area R1 and the day of the week and / or the time zone is T1. The patterns will be clustered. Similarly, by clustering the vehicle driving patterns in other regions, other days of the week, and / or time zones, the clustering process of the vehicle traveling patterns is performed by region, day of the week, and / or time zone. Become. The clustering method is not limited to the k-means method, and a known method such as Ward's method can be used.

Further, the probe information analysis function identifies a class to which a vehicle having a high driving proficiency belongs from a plurality of clustered classes. Then, the probe information analysis function acquires the probe information of the vehicle belonging to the specified class as the target probe information. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the traveling pattern of the vehicle in class C1 has a higher traveling frequency on the target day of the week and / or the time zone than the traveling pattern of the vehicle in class C2. Further, the traveling pattern of the vehicle in class C1 has a higher traveling frequency in the target area than the traveling pattern of the vehicle in class C3. Therefore, the traveling pattern of the vehicle included in the class C1 can be determined to be the traveling pattern of the vehicle traveling at a relatively high frequency in the target day and / or time zone and the target area. In other words, the driving pattern of the vehicle included in Class C1 shall be judged to be the driving pattern of a highly proficient driver who drives frequently in the target day and / or time zone and the target area. Can be done. Therefore, the probe information analysis function can determine that class C1 is a class to which a vehicle having a high degree of driving proficiency belongs. As a result, the probe information analysis function can acquire the probe information of the vehicle belonging to the class C1 determined to have high driving proficiency among the clustered plurality of classes as the target probe information.

In the above-mentioned example, a configuration in which clustering processing is performed based on the driving frequency on the day of the week and / or the time zone and the driving frequency in the area to determine the driving proficiency of the driver of each vehicle is illustrated. It is possible to determine the driving proficiency of the driver of each vehicle by performing the clustering process by adding the occurrence frequency of the above and the occurrence frequency of the sudden start and the sudden deceleration.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the probe information analysis function groups the probe information stored in the database 230 for each vehicle type, and from the grouped plurality of probe information, each region, day of the week, and time zone. For each, the probe information of the vehicle belonging to the class with high driving proficiency is acquired as the target probe information. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the target probe information is acquired for each vehicle type, region, day of the week, and time zone.

Next, the probe information analysis function identifies a place where the vehicle tends to evacuate as a recommended evacuation place based on the target probe information. Specifically, the probe information analysis function first determines the position where the vehicle is driving slowly or stopped based on the vehicle position information, vehicle speed information, blinker operation information, and hazard lamp operation information included in the target probe information. Estimate as a save position candidate. For example, the probe information analysis function can select a position where the vehicle speed is below a predetermined speed (including zero), a position where the blinker is turned on when the vehicle speed is below a predetermined speed, or a position where the hazard lamp is turned on. Can be estimated as. The probe information analysis function determines whether or not the position of the vehicle has changed based on the probe information of the same vehicle obtained continuously in time to determine whether the vehicle is stopped. It is also possible to judge whether or not.

Further, the probe information analysis function excludes such a retreat position candidate from the retreat position when the retreat position candidate includes a position where the vehicle needs to slow down or stop according to the traffic rules. Specifically, the probe information analysis function requires that the vehicle be slowed down or stopped according to the traffic rules for the escape position candidate based on the position information such as intersections, stop lines, traffic lights, and road signs stored in the database 230. Judge whether or not it is in a certain position. Then, the probe information analysis function specifies such a retreat position candidate as a retreat position when the retreat position candidate is not a position where the vehicle needs to slow down or stop according to the traffic rules.

Then, the probe information analysis function identifies a place where the vehicle tends to evacuate as a recommended evacuation place based on a plurality of evacuated positions of a plurality of estimated vehicles. Specifically, the probe information analysis function plots a plurality of estimated evacuation positions on a map. Then, the probe information analysis function can specify this range as a recommended shelter place where the vehicle tends to shelter when a predetermined number or more of shelter positions are plotted within a range of a predetermined size. The size of this range is not particularly limited and can be set as appropriate.

Here, FIGS. 3 to 5 are diagrams for explaining a method of specifying a recommended shelter place. In the examples shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the vehicle V1 traveling on the road B1 is heading toward the road B2, and the vehicle V2 traveling on the road B2 is heading toward the road B1. It shows a scene of passing each other. Further, in the example shown in FIG. 3, since the driver of the vehicle V1 passes by the oncoming vehicle V2, the vehicle V1 is moved to the position P1 and stopped (evacuated) at the position P1. In this case, the probe information analysis function estimates the position P1 as a refuge position based on the target probe information of the vehicle V1 and the vehicle speed of the vehicle V1 is equal to or less than a predetermined speed and the position does not need to be stopped due to traffic rules or the like. can do. Then, the probe information analysis function plots the estimated refuge position P1 on the map. Further, in the example shown in FIG. 4, since the driver of the vehicle V2 passes by the oncoming vehicle V1, the vehicle V2 is moved to the position P2 and stopped (evacuated) at the position P2. In this case, the probe information analysis function estimates the position P2 as a refuge position based on the target probe information of the vehicle V2, where the vehicle speed of the vehicle V2 is equal to or less than a predetermined speed and the position does not need to be stopped due to traffic rules or the like. can do. Then, the probe information analysis function plots the estimated refuge position P2 on the map.

Similarly, the probe information analysis function estimates the evasion positions of a plurality of vehicles based on the target probe information of the plurality of vehicles and plots them on a map. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 5, the probe information analysis function further estimates the evasion positions P3 to P6 based on the target probe information of a plurality of vehicles and plots them on a map. In this case, the probe information analysis function has a predetermined number (for example, 3 in the example shown in FIG. 5) or more of the evacuated positions in the TP1 within a predetermined size range based on the evacuated positions P1 to P6 plotted on the map. It is determined that P1, P3, and P4 are included, and the range TP1 can be specified as a recommended shelter where the vehicle tends to shelter. Similarly, the probe information analysis function determines that a predetermined number or more of the retreat positions P2, P5, and P6 are included in the range TP2 of a predetermined size, and the vehicle tends to retreat the range TP2. It can be specified as a shelter.

Then, the probe information analysis function stores the information of the recommended shelter place where the vehicle tends to shelter in the database 230. In addition, the probe information analysis function extracts the latest target probe information at regular intervals and identifies the recommended shelter where the vehicle tends to evacuate, thereby storing the recommended shelter information stored in the database 230. Can be updated sequentially.

As described above, the probe information analysis function acquires the target probe information for each vehicle type, region, day of the week, and / or time zone. Then, the probe information analysis function sets the recommended shelter location, which the vehicle tends to evacuate, based on the target probe information for each vehicle type, region, day of the week, and / or time zone, for each vehicle type, day of the week, and time zone. / Or specify by time zone. As a result, the information of the recommended shelter for each vehicle type, day of the week and / or time zone is stored in the database 230.

The information providing function of the server processing device 220 provides the in-vehicle device 100 with the shelter location guidance information. Specifically, the information providing function provides the in-vehicle device 100 of the target vehicle with the shelter guidance information suitable for the target vehicle based on the probe information of the vehicle (hereinafter referred to as the target vehicle) that provides the shelter guidance information. Output to.

More specifically, the information providing function first determines the vehicle type of the target vehicle, the day of the week and / or the time zone in which the target vehicle travels, based on the latest probe information of the target vehicle acquired from the in-vehicle device 100 of the target vehicle. Identify. Then, the information providing function acquires information on the recommended shelter location from the database 230, which tends to be sheltered by a vehicle of the same vehicle type as the target vehicle on the day of the week and / or the time zone in which the target vehicle travels. As described above, in the present embodiment, the recommended evacuation place where the vehicle tends to evacuate is specified for each vehicle type, day of the week, and / or time zone, so that the information providing function is a target vehicle. Information on recommended shelter locations where vehicles of the same vehicle type as the target vehicle tend to evacuate on the day of the week and / or the time zone in which the vehicle travels can be obtained from the database 230.

Then, when the probe information of the target vehicle includes information on the planned travel route, the information providing function identifies a recommended shelter on the planned travel route of the target vehicle and transmits the information to the in-vehicle device 100 of the target vehicle. .. In addition, when the probe information of the target vehicle does not include the information of the planned travel route, the information providing function exists in the vicinity of the target vehicle based on the position information of the target vehicle included in the probe information of the target vehicle. The recommended shelter location is specified and transmitted to the in-vehicle device 100 of the target vehicle.

Further, the information providing function determines the driving proficiency of the driver of the target vehicle, and if the driver of the target vehicle has a high driving proficiency, the evacuation site guidance information is not output to the in-vehicle device 100 of the target vehicle. be able to. For example, the information providing function extracts the probe information of the target vehicle acquired from the in-vehicle device 100 of the target vehicle from the database 230. Further, the information providing function is based on the probe information of the target vehicle extracted from the database 230, the traveling frequency of the target vehicle in the area where the target vehicle travels, and the target vehicle on the day and / or time zone when the target vehicle travels. The traveling frequency, the frequency of sudden steering in the target vehicle, and the frequency of sudden start and deceleration in the target vehicle are calculated. Then, in the information providing function, the traveling frequency of the target vehicle in the area where the target vehicle travels is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, or the traveling frequency of the target vehicle on the day of the week and / or the time zone in which the target vehicle travels is equal to or higher than the predetermined value. By determining whether the frequency of sudden steering in the target vehicle is less than the predetermined value, or whether the frequency of sudden start and deceleration in the target vehicle is less than the predetermined value, the area where the target vehicle travels, It is possible to estimate the driving proficiency of the driver of the target vehicle on the day of the week and / or the time zone.

Then, when the information providing function determines that the driving proficiency of the driver of the target vehicle is equal to or higher than a predetermined value in the area, day of the week, and / or time zone in which the target vehicle travels, the in-vehicle device 100 of the target vehicle is used. , It is possible to configure the structure so that the shelter location guidance information is not output. This is because if the driver of the target vehicle has a high level of driving proficiency and the shelter location guidance information is presented to the driver, the driver of the target vehicle may be inconvenienced.

Subsequently, the operation of the information providing system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8. Note that FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the probe information transmission process according to the present embodiment, FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the probe information analysis process according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the probe information analysis process according to the present embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the provision process.

First, a probe information transmission process for transmitting vehicle probe information from the vehicle-mounted device 100 to the information providing device 200 will be described with reference to FIG. The probe information transmission process shown in FIG. 6 is executed by the in-vehicle device 100 mounted on each vehicle.

First, in step S101, the probe information acquisition function of the in-vehicle control device 140 determines whether or not the ignition is turned on. While the ignition is off, the process waits in step S101, and when the ignition is turned on, the process proceeds to step S102.

In step S102, the probe information is acquired by the probe information acquisition function of the in-vehicle control device 140. The probe information acquisition function can acquire the detection result of each sensor from the sensor group 110 and the operation information of each operating device from the operating device group 120 as probe information. Then, in step S103, the probe information acquired in step S102 is temporarily stored in the RAM of the vehicle-mounted control device 140 by the probe information acquisition function of the vehicle-mounted control device 140.

In step S104, the probe information transmission function of the in-vehicle control device 140 determines whether or not a certain period of time has elapsed since the previous probe information was transmitted. When a certain period of time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S105, and the probe information transmission function of the vehicle-mounted control device 140 transmits the probe information accumulated in step S103 from the vehicle-mounted device 100 to the information providing device 200. On the other hand, if a certain period of time has not elapsed, the process returns to step S102, and acquisition and accumulation of probe information are repeated.

In step S106, the probe information transmission function of the vehicle-mounted control device 140 determines whether or not the ignition is turned off. If the ignition is on, the process returns to step S102, and probe information is repeatedly acquired and temporarily accumulated. Then, when the ignition is turned off, the probe information transmission function terminates the probe information transmission process shown in FIG.

Subsequently, with reference to FIG. 7, the probe information analysis process for analyzing the probe information received from the in-vehicle device 100 in the information providing device 200 will be described. The probe information analysis process shown in FIG. 7 is repeatedly performed by the server processing device 220 of the information providing device 200 at regular time intervals.

In step S201, the probe information storage function of the server processing device 220 receives a plurality of probe information transmitted from the plurality of vehicle-mounted devices 100, and stores the received probe information in the database 230. In addition, the probe information storage function refers to the vehicle type information stored in the database 230, and from the vehicle ID included in the probe information, the type of vehicle (for example, large vehicle, ordinary vehicle, small vehicle, etc.) for which the probe information has been acquired, and the vehicle. Identify information about dimensions (eg, overall length, overall width, overall height, tread width, vehicle weight, gross vehicle weight, etc.) and vehicle engine displacement. Further, the probe information storage function refers to the road information stored in the database 230, and from the position of the vehicle included in the probe information, the type of road on which the vehicle for which the probe information is acquired travels (for example, the road on which the vehicle travels). Is a general road, motorway, bridge, or tunnel). As a result, the probe information stored in the database 230 is associated with the vehicle type of the vehicle, the type of road, and the like when the probe information is acquired. The process of step S201 is sequentially executed every time the probe information is transmitted from the in-vehicle device 100.

In step S202, the probe information analysis function determines whether or not a certain period of time has elapsed after starting the accumulation of probe information. The accumulation of probe information in step S201 is repeated until a certain period of time elapses, and when the certain period of time elapses, the process proceeds to step S203.

In step S203, the probe information analysis function performs a process of grouping a plurality of probe information. Specifically, the probe information analysis function acquires a plurality of probe information stored in the database 230, and based on the vehicle model information associated with the probe information, obtains the acquired plurality of probe information for each vehicle model. Group.

In step S204, the traveling pattern of each vehicle is specified by the probe information analysis function. Specifically, the probe information analysis function classifies the probe information grouped in step S203 for each vehicle based on the vehicle ID included in the probe information, and is based on a plurality of probe information classified for each vehicle. , The frequency of vehicle travel by day of the week and / or time of day, the frequency of vehicle travel by region, the frequency of sudden steering, and the frequency of sudden start and deceleration are specified for each vehicle as vehicle travel patterns. ..

In step S205, the probe information analysis function executes a clustering process for classifying the traveling pattern of the vehicle specified in step S204 into a plurality of classes. For example, the probe information analysis function performs statistical processing such as the k-means method, and as shown in FIG. 2, the traveling frequency of the vehicle on the target day of the week and / or the time zone, and the traveling of the vehicle in the target area. Based on the frequency, the frequency of sudden steering, and the frequency of sudden start and deceleration, the vehicle running pattern specified for each vehicle can be clustered into a plurality of classes.

In step S206, the target probe information is acquired by the probe information analysis function. For example, the probe information analysis function identifies a class to which the driving pattern of a vehicle having a high driving proficiency belongs from among a plurality of classes clustered in step S205. Then, the probe information analysis function can acquire the probe information of the vehicle of the traveling pattern belonging to the specified class as the target probe information. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the traveling pattern of the vehicle in class C1 is higher in the traveling frequency on the target day of the week and / or the time zone than the traveling pattern of the vehicle in class C2, and the traveling of the vehicle in class C3. Compared to the pattern, the driving frequency in the target area is high. Therefore, the probe information analysis function determines that the class C1 belongs to a vehicle having a high driving proficiency, and acquires the probe information of the vehicle belonging to the class C1 having a high driving proficiency as the target probe information. be able to.

In step S207, the probe information analysis function identifies the shelter position of each vehicle based on the target probe information acquired in step S206. Specifically, the probe information analysis function saves the position where the vehicle is slowing down or stopped based on the vehicle position information, the vehicle speed information, the blinker operation information, and the hazard lamp operation information included in the target probe information. Estimate as a candidate. Further, the probe information analysis function excludes such a shelter position candidate from the shelter position if the estimated shelter position candidate includes a position where the vehicle needs to drive slowly or stop according to the traffic rules. By doing so, the shelter position of the vehicle is specified.

In step S208, the probe information analysis function identifies a place where the vehicle tends to evacuate as a recommended evacuation place based on the evacuation positions of the plurality of vehicles identified in step S207. Specifically, the probe information analysis function plots a plurality of shelter positions estimated in step S207 on a map. Then, the probe information analysis function can specify this range as a recommended shelter place where the vehicle tends to shelter when a predetermined number or more of shelter positions are plotted within a range of a predetermined size. As a result, the probe information analysis function can identify the recommended evacuation site where the vehicle tends to evacuate.

In step S209, the probe information analysis function accumulates information on the recommended shelter location identified in step S208 in the database 230.

Subsequently, with reference to FIG. 8, the information providing process for providing the driver with the evacuation site guidance information for guiding the recommended evacuation site will be described. Of the information providing processes shown in FIG. 8, steps S301 to S307 are executed by the information providing device 200, and steps S308 to S310 are executed by the in-vehicle device 100. Further, in the example shown in FIG. 8, a vehicle to which the shelter location guidance information is provided will be described as a target vehicle.

In step S301, the information providing function of the server processing device 220 receives the probe information of the target vehicle transmitted from the in-vehicle device 100 of the target vehicle.

In step S302, the information providing function of the server processing device 220 determines whether or not to provide the shelter location guidance information to the target vehicle. Specifically, the information providing function determines whether or not to provide the shelter location guidance information to the target vehicle by determining the driving proficiency of the driver of the target vehicle. For example, the information providing function is based on the probe information of the target vehicle, the traveling frequency of the target vehicle in the area where the target vehicle travels, the traveling frequency of the target vehicle in the day and / or time zone when the target vehicle travels, and further. Calculate the frequency of sudden steering in the target vehicle and the frequency of sudden start and deceleration in the target vehicle. Then, in the information providing function, the traveling frequency of the target vehicle in the area where the target vehicle travels is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, or the traveling frequency of the target vehicle on the day of the week and / or the time zone in which the target vehicle travels is equal to or higher than the predetermined value. By determining whether the frequency of sudden steering in the target vehicle is less than the predetermined value, or whether the frequency of sudden start and deceleration in the target vehicle is less than the predetermined value, the area where the target vehicle travels, It is possible to estimate the driving proficiency of the driver of the target vehicle on the day of the week and / or the time zone. Then, when the information providing function determines that the driving proficiency of the driver of the target vehicle is equal to or higher than the predetermined value in the area, day of the week, and / or time zone in which the target vehicle travels, the process proceeds to step S303, while When it is determined that the driving proficiency of the driver of the target vehicle is less than the predetermined value, the information providing process shown in FIG. 8 is terminated.

In step S303, the information providing function of the server processing device 220 acquires information on the recommended shelter location according to the vehicle type of the target vehicle from the database 230 on the day of the week and / or the time zone in which the target vehicle travels. Specifically, the information providing function identifies the vehicle type of the target vehicle and the day of the week and / or the time zone in which the target vehicle travels, based on the probe information of the target vehicle received in step S301. In the present embodiment, the probe information analysis function shown in FIG. 7 provides information on recommended shelter locations where the vehicle tends to evacuate in the database 230 for each vehicle type, each day of the week and / or time zone in which the vehicle travels. It is remembered. Therefore, the information providing function can acquire information on the recommended shelter location from the database 230, which tends to be sheltered by a vehicle of the same model as the target vehicle on the day of the week and / or the time zone in which the target vehicle travels. ..

In step S304, the information providing function of the server processing device 220 determines whether or not the planned travel route is set for the target vehicle. For example, the information providing function can determine that the planned travel route is set when the probe information of the target vehicle includes the information of the planned travel route. If it is determined that the planned travel route is set for the target vehicle, the process proceeds to step S305, and if it is determined that the planned travel route is not set for the target vehicle, the process proceeds to step S306.

In step S305, the information providing function of the server processing device 220 identifies the recommended shelter on the planned travel route of the target vehicle from the information of the recommended shelter acquired in step S303. Specifically, the information providing function specifies information on a recommended shelter on the planned travel route of the target vehicle based on the information of the planned travel route included in the probe information of the target vehicle received in step S301.

In step S306, the information providing function of the server processing device 220 identifies the recommended evacuation site existing around the current target vehicle from the information on the recommended evacuation site acquired in step S303. For example, the information providing function identifies the position of the target vehicle based on the probe information of the target vehicle received in step S301, and among the recommended shelters acquired in step S303, within a predetermined range from the position of the target vehicle. The included recommended shelter can be identified as a recommended shelter that exists around the target vehicle.

In step S307, the information providing function of the server processing device 220 transmits the evacuation site guidance information for guiding the recommended evacuation site specified in step S306 or step S305 to the in-vehicle device 100 of the target vehicle.

Steps S308 to S310 are executed by the vehicle-mounted device 100 of the target vehicle. First, in step S308, the information presenting function of the in-vehicle control device 140 receives the shelter location guidance information transmitted from the information providing device 200.

In step S309, the information presentation function of the in-vehicle control device 140 determines whether or not there is another vehicle that is the target of passing or overtaking in the vicinity of the target vehicle. For example, if vehicle-to-vehicle communication is possible between the target vehicle and the peripheral vehicle traveling around the target vehicle, the in-vehicle control device 140 obtains information such as the position, traveling direction, and vehicle speed of the peripheral vehicle from the peripheral vehicle. By receiving the signal, it is possible to determine whether or not there is another vehicle that is the target of passing or overtaking in the vicinity of the target vehicle. In addition, when a sensor such as a camera, radar, or sonar detects another vehicle that passes the target vehicle or another vehicle that overtakes the target vehicle, it is determined that there is another vehicle that is the target of passing or overtaking in the vicinity of the target vehicle. It may be configured to be used. Then, if there is another vehicle that is the target of passing or overtaking in the vicinity of the target vehicle, the process proceeds to step S310, and if there is no other vehicle that is the target of passing or overtaking in the vicinity of the target vehicle, FIG. The information providing process shown in 8 is completed.

Then, in step S310, the information presenting function of the in-vehicle control device 140 presents the evacuation site guidance information for guiding the recommended evacuation site to the driver. For example, the information presenting function can present the shelter location guidance information to the driver by superimposing an image showing the recommended shelter on the map displayed on the display of the presenting device 150.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the evacuation positions of the plurality of vehicles are estimated based on the plurality of probe information, and the vehicles tend to evacate based on the information of the plurality of evacuation positions of the plurality of vehicles. A certain place is specified as a recommended shelter, and information on the recommended shelter is output. As a result, even when the vehicle needs to pass through a narrow road, the driver's anxiety due to the vehicle passing through the narrow road can be reduced.

Further, in the present embodiment, information including the position information of the target vehicle is acquired from the target vehicle, and the information of the recommended shelter location based on the position of the target vehicle is output based on the position information of the target vehicle. As a result, information on the recommended evacuation site suitable for evacuation of the target vehicle can be presented to the driver of the target vehicle.

Further, in the present embodiment, the driving proficiency of the driver of the target vehicle in the area where the target vehicle travels, the day of the week and / or the time zone in which the target vehicle travels is estimated, and when the driving proficiency is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the driving proficiency is estimated. , The shelter location guidance information is not provided to the in-vehicle device 100 of the target vehicle. As a result, if the driver of the target vehicle has a high level of driving proficiency in the area where the target vehicle travels, the day of the week and / or the time zone in which the target vehicle travels, the troublesomeness of providing the shelter guidance information is eliminated. It is possible to effectively prevent giving to the driver of the target vehicle.

In addition, in the present embodiment, by acquiring information on the planned travel route of the target vehicle from the target vehicle, it is possible to provide the driver of the target vehicle with information on the recommended shelter on the planned travel route of the target vehicle.

Further, in the present embodiment, the probe information includes the vehicle model information and the time information of the vehicle, and the recommended shelter location is specified for each vehicle model, day of the week, and / or time zone based on the plurality of probe information. In addition, the vehicle type information and time information of the target vehicle are acquired from the target vehicle, and the vehicle type of the target vehicle and the day and / or time zone in which the target vehicle travels are specified. Then, on the day of the week and / or the time zone in which the target vehicle travels, information on the recommended evacuation location where a vehicle of the same vehicle type as the target vehicle tends to evacuate is transmitted to the in-vehicle device 100 of the target vehicle. As a result, it is possible to provide the driver of the target vehicle with information on the recommended shelter location suitable for the target vehicle.

Further, in the present embodiment, the probe information includes information on the steering angle, vehicle speed, acceleration / deceleration, accelerator opening, and brake opening, and based on such probe information, the traveling frequency of the vehicle and the day of the week for each region. And / or classify the driving pattern of the vehicle such as the driving frequency for each time zone, the frequency of sudden steering, or the frequency of sudden start and deceleration. Then, the driving patterns of a plurality of vehicles are clustered and classified into a plurality of classes, and the class having a high driving proficiency to which the driving pattern with a high driving proficiency belongs is specified. Then, the recommended shelter is specified based on the probe information of the vehicle whose driving pattern belongs to the class with high driving proficiency. As a result, a place where a driver with a high driving proficiency tends to evacuate can be specified as a recommended evacuation place.

Further, in the present embodiment, the position where the vehicle is slowing down or stopped and / or the position where the vehicle turns on the blinker or the hazard lamp is estimated as the evasion position. As a result, the shelter position where the vehicle has sheltered can be estimated with high accuracy. Further, in the present embodiment, the recommended shelter place where the vehicle tends to evacuate can be specified with high accuracy by not estimating the place where the vehicle needs to drive slowly or stop as the evacuation position according to the traffic rules.

It should be noted that the embodiments described above are described for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and are not described for limiting the present invention. Therefore, each element disclosed in the above-described embodiment is intended to include all design changes and equivalents belonging to the technical scope of the present invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the information providing device 200 specifies the planned travel route of the target vehicle or the recommended shelter around the target vehicle, and provides information on the planned travel route or the recommended shelter around the target vehicle. A configuration for transmitting to the in-vehicle device 100 has been illustrated as the shelter location guidance information, but the configuration is not limited to this, and for example, the information providing device 200 transmits the recommended shelter location information stored in the database 230 to the in-vehicle device 100. The vehicle-mounted device 100 identifies the planned travel route of the target vehicle or the recommended shelter around the target vehicle, and uses the information of the planned travel route or the recommended shelter around the target vehicle as the shelter guidance information. It may be configured to be presented to the driver.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the vehicle-mounted device 100 of the target vehicle exemplifies a configuration in which the probe information of the target vehicle is transmitted to the information providing device 200 to acquire the shelter location guidance information from the information providing device 200. The configuration is not limited to this, and for example, the in-vehicle device 100 of the target vehicle may be configured to acquire the shelter location guidance information from the information providing device 200 by transmitting request information different from the probe information to the information providing device 200. Good.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the in-vehicle device 100 of the target vehicle exemplifies a configuration for determining whether or not there is another vehicle to be passed or overtaken in the vicinity of the target vehicle, but the configuration is limited to this configuration. Instead, for example, the information providing device 200 may be configured to determine whether or not there is another vehicle that is the target of passing or overtaking in the vicinity of the target vehicle. For example, the information providing device 200 is a target of passing or overtaking in the vicinity of the target vehicle based on information such as the vehicle position, the traveling direction, and the vehicle speed included in the plurality of probe information collected from the plurality of vehicles. Determine if a vehicle exists. In this case, the information providing device 200 provides the in-vehicle device 100 of the target vehicle with the shelter location guidance information when it is determined that there is another vehicle to be passed or overtaken in the vicinity of the target vehicle.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the driving patterns of a plurality of vehicles are clustered into a plurality of classes, and the probe information of the vehicle belonging to the class in which the driving pattern of the vehicle is determined to have high driving proficiency is used as the target probe information. However, the configuration is not limited to this configuration, and probe information of a vehicle belonging to a class in which the driving pattern of the vehicle is judged to have the same level of driving proficiency as the driver of the target vehicle is used as the target probe information. It can be configured to be acquired. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the information providing device 200 identifies the driving proficiency of the target vehicle based on the probe information of the target vehicle, and when the driving pattern of the target vehicle belongs to class C2, the target vehicle Class C2 to which the driving pattern belongs is judged to be a class judged to have the same level of driving proficiency as the driver of the target vehicle. Then, the information providing device 200 can acquire the probe information of the vehicle whose traveling pattern belongs to the class C2 as the target probe information. As a result, information on the recommended shelter location suitable for the driving proficiency of the driver of the target vehicle can be presented to the driver of the target vehicle.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, based on the traveling frequency of the vehicle for each region, the day of the week and / or the traveling frequency of the vehicle for each time zone, the region where the target vehicle travels, the day of the week and / or the time when the target vehicle travels. The configuration for estimating the driving proficiency of the driver of the target vehicle is illustrated for each band, but the configuration is not limited to this configuration, and for example, the driving proficiency of the driver of the target vehicle is estimated simply based on the running frequency of the vehicle. It may be configured to be used.

The server processing device 220 of the information providing device 200 according to the above-described embodiment corresponds to the controller of the present invention.

100 ... In-vehicle device 110 ... Sensor group 120 ... Operating device group 130 ... In-vehicle communication device 140 ... In-vehicle control device 150 ... Presentation device 200 ... Information providing device 210 ... Server communication device 220 ... Server processing device 230 ... Database

Claims (10)

It is an information providing method that collects a plurality of probe information including the position information of a vehicle from a plurality of vehicles and outputs information based on the analysis result of the plurality of probe information.
A plurality of evacuation positions where the plurality of vehicles have evacuated are estimated based on the plurality of probe information, and a place where the plurality of vehicles tend to evacuate is specified as a recommended evacuation location based on the plurality of evacuation positions. , Output the information of the recommended shelter ,
The plurality of probe information used for estimating the plurality of shelter positions is probe information of the vehicle belonging to a class according to a predetermined driving proficiency among a plurality of classes classified according to the traveling pattern of the vehicle. information providing method is. The information providing method according to claim 1.
Information including the position information of the target vehicle is acquired from the target vehicle, and the information is obtained.
An information providing method for outputting information on the recommended shelter based on the position of the target vehicle based on the position information of the target vehicle. The information providing method according to claim 2.
Based on the information including the position information of the target vehicle, the driving proficiency of the driver of the target vehicle is estimated.
An information providing method that does not output information on the recommended shelter when the driving proficiency of the driver of the target vehicle is equal to or higher than a predetermined value. The information providing method according to claim 2 or 3.
Detecting an oncoming vehicle or a following vehicle existing in the vicinity of the target vehicle,
An information providing method for outputting information on the recommended shelter when the target vehicle or the following vehicle exists in the vicinity of the target vehicle. The information providing method according to any one of claims 2 to 4.
Obtaining information on the planned travel route of the target vehicle from the target vehicle,
An information providing method for outputting information on the recommended shelter on the planned travel route of the target vehicle. The information providing method according to any one of claims 2 to 5.
The probe information further includes vehicle type information or time information of the vehicle.
Based on the plurality of probe information, the recommended shelter for each vehicle type, day of the week, or time zone is specified, and the recommended shelter is specified.
Further acquiring the vehicle type information or time information of the target vehicle from the target vehicle,
An information providing method for outputting information on the vehicle type of the target vehicle and the recommended shelter on the day of the week or the time zone in which the target vehicle travels. The information providing method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
The probe information further includes at least one piece of information regarding steering angle, vehicle speed, acceleration / deceleration, accelerator opening, and braking opening.
Based on the probe information, the traveling pattern of the vehicle including at least one of the traveling frequency of the vehicle, the occurrence frequency of the sudden steering wheel, and the occurrence frequency of the sudden start and the sudden deceleration is specified.
The driving pattern of the vehicle is classified into a plurality of classes according to the driving proficiency.
An information providing method for outputting information on a recommended shelter location based on probe information of a vehicle whose traveling pattern belongs to a class corresponding to a predetermined driving proficiency among the plurality of classes. The information providing method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.
An information providing method for estimating a position where the vehicle is slowing down or stopped and / or a position where the vehicle turns on a blinker or a hazard lamp as the evacuating position. The information providing method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
An information providing method that does not estimate the place where the vehicle needs to drive slowly or stop according to the traffic rules as the evacuation position. An information providing device including a controller that collects a plurality of probe information including vehicle position information from a plurality of vehicles and outputs information based on the analysis results of the plurality of probe information.
The controller estimates a plurality of retreat positions that the plurality of vehicles have evacuated based on the plurality of probe information, and based on the plurality of retreat positions, the location where the plurality of vehicles tend to evacuate. Specify as a recommended shelter, output the information of the recommended shelter , and
The plurality of probe information used for estimating the plurality of evacuation positions is probe information of the vehicle belonging to a class according to a predetermined driving proficiency among a plurality of classes classified according to the traveling pattern of the vehicle. An information providing device that is.

Images