JP7042860B2 - Toll collection system, lane server, toll collection method, and program - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a toll collection system, a lane server, a toll collection method, and a program.

At toll road toll stations, there are lanes (ETC dedicated lanes) for collecting tolls through an electronic toll collection system (Electronic Toll Collection System; ETC (registered trademark), also called "automatic toll collection system"). In addition, there may be a case where a plurality of lanes of lanes (general lanes) for collecting tolls through an automatic toll collection machine or a toll collection machine are provided.

The electronic toll collection system is a toll collection system for a vehicle (ETC vehicle) equipped with an on-board unit. In the electronic toll collection system, by performing wireless communication between the wireless communication device provided on the roadside and the on-board unit, the toll collection can be automatically collected without stopping the ETC vehicle.

Further, the automatic toll collection machine and the toll collection machine are toll collection systems for vehicles (general vehicles) that are not equipped with an on-board unit. The automatic toll collection machine is installed on the roadside of the tollhouse and automatically accepts payment of tolls through operations by the user. The toll collection machine is installed in the manned booth and supports the collection processing of tolls by the staff stationed at the manned booth.

At tollhouses on toll roads with light traffic, it may not be possible to install multiple ETC-only lanes because cost-effectiveness cannot be expected. Then, if the ETC dedicated lane is closed due to maintenance, failure, etc., the toll collection process for all users will be performed in the general lane, which may increase the waiting time of the users.

For example, in Patent Document 1, one lane (mixed) in which both the equipment for the ETC dedicated lane and the equipment for the general lane are installed so that the toll collection processing for the ETC vehicle can be continuously performed in such a case. A lane) is provided, and a toll collection system that enables processing of both ETC vehicles and general vehicles in a mixed manner is described.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-168636

However, in the conventional toll collection system, in addition to the automatic toll collection machine and the toll collection machine in the mixed lane, many devices such as multiple vehicle detectors and multiple wireless communication antennas are used as devices for the electronic toll collection system. Will be installed. Therefore, a large amount of equipment cost is required to provide a mixed lane.

The present disclosure has been made in view of such a problem, and it is possible to perform toll collection processing for both a vehicle having an on-board unit and a vehicle not having an on-board unit in an inexpensive configuration. It provides a toll collection system, a lane server, a toll collection method, and a program that can be used.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the toll collection system comprises a wireless communication antenna for wireless communication with a vehicle traveling in a lane, and an operation related to collection of tolls for the vehicle installed on the roadside of the lane. A toll machine having an operation surface for receiving, a first processing unit that performs toll collection processing using the toll machine without using the wireless communication antenna, and a toll collection process using the wireless communication antenna, and the said A second processing unit that enables toll collection processing using the toll machine for a vehicle that is not subjected to toll collection processing by a wireless communication antenna, a first mode in which the first processing unit executes processing, and the second. A switching processing unit for switching to one of the second modes in which the processing unit executes processing is provided.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the lane server is installed on the roadside of the lane and receives an operation related to collection of tolls of the vehicle, and a wireless communication antenna for wireless communication with a vehicle traveling in the lane. A lane server of a toll collection system including a toll machine having an operation surface, a first processing unit that performs toll collection processing using the toll machine without using the wireless communication antenna, and the wireless communication antenna. The second processing unit and the first processing unit enable the toll collection processing using the toll machine for the vehicle to which the toll collection processing is performed by the wireless communication antenna and the toll collection processing is performed by the wireless communication antenna. It is provided with a first mode for executing the above and a switching processing unit for switching to one of the second modes in which the second processing unit executes processing.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the toll collection method comprises a wireless communication antenna for wireless communication with a vehicle traveling in a lane, and an operation related to collection of tolls for the vehicle installed on the roadside of the lane. It is a toll collection method using a toll collection system including a toll machine having a receiving operation surface, and executes a first process of performing a toll collection process using the toll machine without using the wireless communication antenna. The step and the toll collection process are performed using the wireless communication antenna, and the second process that enables the toll collection process to be performed using the toll machine for the vehicle to which the toll collection process by the wireless communication antenna is not performed is executed. It has a step and a step of switching to one of the first mode for executing the first process and the second mode for executing the second process.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the program is an operation of receiving an operation related to collection of a toll of the vehicle, which is installed on the roadside of the lane and a wireless communication antenna for wireless communication with a vehicle traveling in the lane. A step of executing a first process of performing a toll collection process using the toll machine without using the wireless communication antenna on a computer of a lane server of a toll collection system including a toll machine having a surface, and the radio. A step of performing a toll collection process using the communication antenna and executing a second process that enables the toll collection process to be performed using the toll machine for a vehicle for which the toll collection process by the wireless communication antenna is not performed, and the first step. 1 The step of switching to one of the first mode for executing the process and the second mode for executing the second process is executed.

According to the toll collection system, the lane server, the toll collection method, and the program according to the present disclosure, the toll collection processing of both the vehicle having the on-board unit in an inexpensive configuration and the vehicle not having the on-board unit is performed. It can be carried out.

It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the toll collection system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this disclosure. It is a figure which shows the functional structure of the charge collection system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this disclosure. It is a 1st flowchart which shows an example of the processing of the charge collection system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this disclosure. It is a 2nd flowchart which shows an example of the processing of the charge collection system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this disclosure. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the toll collection system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this disclosure. It is a figure which shows the functional structure of the toll collection system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this disclosure. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the processing of the charge collection system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this disclosure. It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware configuration of the lane server which concerns on at least one Embodiment of this disclosure.

<First Embodiment>
Hereinafter, the toll collection system according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

(overall structure)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a toll collection system according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 1 shows an example of an entrance tollhouse 100A on a toll road. The entrance tollhouse 100A has a plurality of lanes L1, L2, ... From a general road to a toll road.

In the following description, the direction in which the lanes L1 and L2 extend (± X direction) is also referred to as the “lane direction”, and the direction horizontally orthogonal to the lane direction (± Y direction) is also referred to as the “lane width direction”. Describe. Further, the general road side (-X side) in the lane direction of the lanes L1 and L2 is also described as the "upstream side" of the lane L, and the toll road side (+ X side) in the lane direction of the lanes L1 and L2 is the "+ X side" of the lane L. Also described as "downstream side". Vehicles A1 and A2 travel in lanes L1 and L2 from the upstream side to the downstream side.

In the lane L1, the vehicle A1 equipped with the on-board unit α (hereinafter, also referred to as “ETC vehicle A1”) and the vehicle A2 not equipped with the on-board unit α (hereinafter, also referred to as “general vehicle A2”). Both of them are provided with a toll collection system 1A capable of executing various processes related to the collection of tolls (hereinafter, also referred to as "toll collection process"). In the following description, the ETC vehicle A1 and the general vehicle A2 are collectively referred to as "vehicle A".

Further, the lane L2 is provided with a toll collection system 2A (hereinafter, also referred to as "ETC system 2A") capable of executing toll collection processing only for the ETC vehicle A1. That is, the lane L2 is an ETC dedicated lane.

As shown in FIG. 1, the toll collection system 1A includes an approach side vehicle detector 10, an NP reader 11, a wireless communication antenna 12, a toll ticket automatic issuing machine 13 (toll machine), and a start controller 14. , A start detector 15, a roadside interface aggregation unit 16, and a lane server 30 are provided.

The approach-side vehicle detector 10 is provided on the road side (on the island I) of the lane L1 and is arranged on the most upstream side (-X side) of the lane L1. The approaching vehicle detector 10 detects the approach of the vehicle A into the lane L1. For example, the approaching vehicle detector 10 according to the present embodiment has a floodlight tower installed on the island I on one side (+ Y side) in the lane width direction and the other side (−Y side) in the lane width direction. It is a so-called transmissive vehicle detector composed of a pair with a light receiving tower installed on the island I. The approaching vehicle detector 10 detects whether or not the vehicle A has entered the lane L1 depending on whether or not the light receiving element of the light receiving tower receives the light projected from the light emitting element of the light emitting tower. do. In another embodiment, the approaching vehicle detector 10 may be a reflective vehicle detector.

The NP reading device 11 is provided on the road side (on the island I) of the lane L1 and is arranged on the downstream side (+ X side) in the lane direction from the approaching vehicle detector 10. The NP reading device 11 reads the license plate information of the vehicle A that has entered the lane L1. The license plate information includes the size, color, license plate number, etc. of the license plate attached to the vehicle A. The license plate information is used as information for determining the vehicle type classification of the vehicle A in the lane server 30 described later.

In this embodiment, an example in which the NP reading device 11 is provided as a device for discriminating the vehicle type will be described, but the present invention is not limited to this. In another embodiment, at least one of a vehicle length detector, a vehicle height detector, and a tread is provided in addition to the NP reader 11 as a device for discriminating the vehicle type, or in place of the NP reader 11. You may.

The wireless communication antenna 12 is provided above the lane L1 and is arranged on the downstream side (+ X side) in the lane direction from the approaching vehicle detector 10. The wireless communication antenna 12 transmits and receives various information related to the toll collection process by performing wireless communication with the on-board unit α of the vehicle A (ETC vehicle A1) traveling in the lane L1. More specifically, the wireless communication antenna 12 wirelessly communicates with the vehicle-mounted device α of the ETC vehicle A1 existing in the predetermined communication area R1 on the lane L1. The communication area R1 is arranged on the downstream side (+ X side) in the lane direction from the approaching vehicle detector 10. More specifically, the communication area R1 enables wireless communication with the vehicle-mounted device α from the time when the vehicle A reaches the installation position of the approaching vehicle detector 10 in the lane direction to the time when the vehicle A passes through. Arranged like this.

The wireless communication antenna 12 according to the present embodiment performs a process of acquiring the vehicle-mounted device information recorded in the vehicle-mounted device α as a charge collection process. The on-board unit information includes the identification number of the on-board unit α, the vehicle type classification of the ETC vehicle A1 on which the on-board unit α is mounted, the license plate number, and the like. The on-board unit information is used as information for determining the vehicle type classification of the ETC vehicle A1 in the lane server 30 described later. Further, the wireless communication antenna 12 executes a process of transmitting the entrance information regarding the entrance tollhouse 100A through which the ETC vehicle A1 has passed to the vehicle-mounted device α as a toll collection process. The entrance information includes the date and time when the vehicle A passed the entrance tollhouse 100A, the vehicle type classification of the vehicle A, the identification number of the entrance tollhouse 100A, and the like. The vehicle-mounted device α records the entrance information received from the wireless communication antenna 12 in its own storage medium.

The toll ticket automatic issuing machine 13 is provided on the road side (on the island I) of the lane L1 and is arranged on the downstream side (+ X side) in the lane direction from the communication area R1 of the wireless communication antenna 12. The toll ticket automatic issuing machine 13 has an operation surface for accepting an operation related to the toll collection process for the vehicle A, that is, the general vehicle A2, for which the toll collection process is not performed by the wireless communication antenna 12, and the entrance information is used as the toll collection process. The toll ticket on which is recorded is issued through the operation surface. The user temporarily stops the general vehicle A2 at the stop line B on the upstream side of the automatic ticket issuing machine 13, and receives the ticket from the automatic ticket issuing machine 13. The toll ticket automatic issuing machine 13 is one aspect of the toll machine in the present embodiment.

The start controller 14 is provided on the downstream side (+ X side) in the lane direction from the automatic ticket issuing machine 13. The start controller 14 permits or regulates the passage of the vehicle A (exit from the lane L1) by moving the open / close bar to an open position (a position that does not block the lane L1) or a closed position (a position that blocks the lane L1). do.

The start detector 15 is provided on the road side (on the island I) of the lane L1 and is arranged on the downstream side (+ X side) in the lane direction from the start controller 14. The start detector 15 detects whether or not the vehicle A has left the lane L1 by the same mechanism as the approaching vehicle detector 10.

The roadside interface aggregation unit 16 is provided on the roadside (on the island I) of the lane L1. The roadside interface aggregation unit 16 is each device installed in the lane L1 (entry side vehicle detector 10, NP reading device 11, wireless communication antenna 12, toll ticket automatic issuing machine 13, start controller 14, start detector 15). This is a relay device for aggregating the signals output from the lane server 30 and notifying the lane server 30. Further, the roadside interface aggregation unit 16 notifies each device of information, commands, etc. from the lane server 30.

The lane server 30 controls the entire operation of the toll collection system 1A. The lane server 30 executes toll collection processing for the vehicle A based on the signals of each device acquired through the roadside interface aggregation unit 16. In the present embodiment, the lane server 30 performs a vehicle type discrimination process for discriminating the vehicle type classification of the vehicle A as a toll collection process. Further, the lane server 30 performs a process of transmitting entrance information to the on-board unit α of the ETC vehicle A1 through the wireless communication antenna 12 or issues a toll ticket to the general vehicle A2 through the toll ticket automatic issuing machine 13 as a toll collection process. Perform the processing.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the toll collection system 2A (ETC system 2A) includes an approach side vehicle detector 20, an NP reader 21, a first wireless communication antenna 22, a communication vehicle detector 23, and the like. It includes a start controller 24, a second radio communication antenna 25, an exit side vehicle detector 26, a third radio communication antenna 27, a roadside interface aggregation unit 28, and a lane server 30.

The approach-side vehicle detector 20 is provided on the road side (on the island I) of the lane L2, and is arranged on the most upstream side (-X side) of the lane L2. The approaching vehicle detector 20 detects the entry of the vehicle A (ETC vehicle A1) into the lane L2 by the same mechanism as the approaching vehicle detector 10 of the toll collection system 1A.

The NP reading device 21 is provided on the road side (on the island I) of the lane L2, and is arranged on the downstream side (+ X side) in the lane direction from the approaching vehicle detector 20. The functional configuration of the NP reading device 21 is the same as that of the NP reading device 11 of the toll collection system 1A. The NP reading device 21 reads the license plate information of the ETC vehicle A1 that has entered the lane L2.

The first wireless communication antenna 22 is provided above the lane L2 and is arranged on the downstream side (+ X side) in the lane direction from the approaching vehicle detector 20. The first wireless communication antenna 22 transmits and receives various information related to toll collection processing to and from the on-board unit α of the ETC vehicle A1 traveling in the lane L2. More specifically, the first radio communication antenna 22 starts radio wave radiation when the approaching vehicle detector 20 detects the approach of the ETC vehicle A1 into the lane L2. The first wireless communication antenna 22 is a process of receiving vehicle-mounted device information from the vehicle-mounted device α of the ETC vehicle A1 existing in a predetermined communication area R2 on the lane L2, a process of transmitting entrance information to the vehicle-mounted device α, and the like. I do. The first wireless communication antenna 22 may be the same model as the wireless communication antenna 12 of the toll collection system 1A.

The communication vehicle detector 23 is provided on the road side (on the island I) of the lane L2, and is arranged on the downstream side (+ X side) in the lane direction from the communication area R2 of the first wireless communication antenna 22. The communication vehicle detector 23 detects whether or not the ETC vehicle A1 has passed the communication area R2 by the same mechanism as the approaching vehicle detector 20. When the communication vehicle detector 23 detects the passage of the ETC vehicle A1, the first radio communication antenna 22 stops the radio wave radiation.

The start controller 24 is provided on the downstream side (+ X side) in the lane direction from the first wireless communication antenna 22. The start controller 24 permits or regulates the passage of the ETC vehicle A1 (exit from the lane L2) by moving the open / close bar to the open position or the closed position. The start controller 24 may be the same model as the start controller 14 of the toll collection system 1A.

The second radio communication antenna 25 is provided above the lane L2 and is arranged on the downstream side (+ X side) in the lane direction from the start controller 24. The second wireless communication antenna 25 is the same model as the first wireless communication antenna 22, and transmits / receives various information to / from the vehicle-mounted device α of the ETC vehicle A1.

The exit side vehicle detector 26 is provided on the downstream side (+ X side) in the lane direction from the start controller 24. The start detector 15 detects whether or not the vehicle A has left the lane L1 by the same mechanism as the approaching vehicle detector 10.

The third wireless communication antenna 27 is provided above the lane L2 and is arranged on the downstream side (+ X side) in the lane direction from the exit side vehicle detector 26. The third wireless communication antenna 27 is the same model as the first wireless communication antenna 22, and transmits / receives various information to / from the vehicle-mounted device α of the ETC vehicle A1.

The roadside interface aggregation unit 28 is a device (entry side vehicle detector 20, NP reader 21, first wireless communication antenna 22, communication vehicle detector 23, start controller 24, first) installed on the roadside of the lane L2. 2 This is a relay device for aggregating the signals output from the wireless communication antenna 25, the exit side vehicle detector 26, and the third wireless communication antenna 27) and notifying the lane server 30. Further, the roadside interface aggregation unit 28 notifies each device of information, commands, etc. from the lane server 30.

The lane server 30 controls the entire operation of the toll collection system 2A. In the present embodiment, the lane server 30 is a device common to the toll collection system 1A. In another embodiment, the toll collection system may include a plurality of lane servers for each system (for each lane).

In the conventional technology, in the mixed lane that enables the toll collection processing of both the ETC vehicle A1 and the general vehicle A2, in addition to the equipment in the general lane, a plurality of vehicle detectors (communication vehicles) possessed by the above-mentioned ETC system 2A It is necessary to add a detector 23, an exit side vehicle detector 26), a plurality of wireless communication antennas (first wireless communication antenna 22, second wireless communication antenna 25, third wireless communication antenna 27), start controller 14, and the like. there were. However, if a large number of devices are installed in this way, the equipment cost becomes high. Therefore, the toll collection system 1A according to the present embodiment has a simple configuration in which only the wireless communication antenna 12, the start controller 14, and the start detector 15 (exit side vehicle detector) are added, and is the ETC vehicle A1 and the general. It enables the toll collection processing of both vehicles A2.

(Functional configuration)
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of a toll collection system according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.
Hereinafter, the functional configuration of the toll collection system 1A in the lane L1 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. Since the toll collection system 2A (ETC system 2A) in the lane L2 is the same as the existing ETC system, the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lane server 30 of the toll collection system 1A includes a lane control unit 31 and a storage medium 32. The lane server 30 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of lane control units associated with each of the plurality of lanes L1 and L2. However, since the lane control unit for lane L2 (for ETC system 2A) has the same function as the lane control process in the existing ETC system, illustration and description thereof are omitted here.

The lane control unit 31 is a processor (CPU) that controls the entire operation of the toll collection system 1A. The lane control unit 31 operates as a first processing unit 310, a second processing unit 311, a switching processing unit 312, and a vehicle type determination unit 313 by operating according to a predetermined program.

The first processing unit 310 performs toll collection processing using the toll ticket automatic issuing machine 13 (toll machine) without using the wireless communication antenna 12. In the present embodiment, the first processing unit 310 executes a process of issuing a toll ticket in which the entrance information is recorded by the toll ticket automatic issuing machine 13 as a toll collection process.

The second processing unit 311 performs the toll collection processing using the wireless communication antenna 12, and also performs the toll collection processing using the toll ticket automatic issuing machine 13 for the vehicle A to which the toll collection processing by the wireless communication antenna 12 is not performed. Make it possible. In the present embodiment, the second processing unit 311 acquires the vehicle-mounted device information from the vehicle-mounted device α of the vehicle A (ETC vehicle A1) through the wireless communication antenna 12 and the entrance information to the vehicle-mounted device α as the charge collection process. Is executed. Further, when the toll collection process through the wireless communication antenna 12 is not performed, that is, when the vehicle A traveling in the lane L1 is a general vehicle A2, the second processing unit 311 performs the toll collection process as a toll ticket. A process of causing the automatic issuing machine 13 to issue a toll ticket in which entrance information is recorded is executed.

The switching processing unit 312 switches to either a first mode for executing the first processing unit or a second mode for executing the second processing unit.

The vehicle type determination unit 313 is a vehicle traveling in lane L1 based on a signal (vehicle detection signal) received from the approaching vehicle detector 10 and a signal (signal including license plate information) received from the NP reading device 11. Determine the vehicle type classification of A. In the second mode, when the second processing unit 311 acquires the vehicle-mounted device information from the vehicle-mounted device α of the vehicle A (ETC vehicle A1), the vehicle type determining unit 313 further uses the vehicle-mounted device information to obtain the vehicle model of the vehicle A. The classification may be determined.

Various information acquired and generated by each unit of the lane control unit 31 is stored in the storage medium 32.

(Processing flow)
FIG. 3 is a first flowchart showing an example of processing of the toll collection system according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 4 is a second flowchart showing an example of processing of the toll collection system according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.
Hereinafter, the processing flow of the toll collection system 1A in the lane L1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 4. Since the toll collection system 2A (ETC system 2A) in the lane L2 is the same as the existing ETC system, the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the mode switching process in the lane control unit 31. As shown in FIG. 3, when the switching processing unit 312 of the lane control unit 31 receives the switching instruction to the first mode (step S001) or the switching instruction to the second mode (step S011), each instruction is given. Executes the processing according to.

First, a case where the switching processing unit 312 receives the switching instruction to the first mode will be described. For example, the staff at the entrance tollhouse 100A determines that when the ETC system 2A in the lane L2 is operating normally, the toll collection system 1A in the lane L1 does not need to process the ETC vehicle A1. At this time, the staff member performs an operation of switching the toll collection system 1A to the first mode through a monitoring panel (not shown). Then, the monitoring panel transmits an instruction to switch between the first mode and the second mode based on the operation by the staff, and the switching processing unit 312 receives the instruction to switch to the first mode from the monitoring panel (step S001).

Upon receiving the instruction to switch to the first mode, the switching processing unit 312 stops the radio wave radiation of the wireless communication antenna 12 (step S002). As a result, the power consumption of the wireless communication antenna can be reduced when the toll collection process through wireless communication is not performed in the lane L1.

Further, the switching processing unit 312 instructs the start controller 14 to move (fix) the open / close bar to the open position. That is, when the lane L1 is used as a general lane in the first mode, the start controller 14 always permits the passage of the vehicle A.

Next, a case where the switching processing unit 312 receives the switching instruction to the second mode will be described. For example, when the lane L2 is closed due to maintenance, failure, or the like of the ETC system 2A, the staff at the entrance tollhouse 100A determines that the ETC vehicle A1 needs to be processed in the lane L1 toll collection system 1A. At this time, the staff member performs an operation of switching the toll collection system 1A to the second mode through a monitoring panel (not shown). Then, the switching processing unit 312 receives an instruction to switch to the second mode from the monitoring panel (step S011).

Upon receiving the instruction to switch to the second mode, the switching processing unit 312 starts the radio wave radiation of the wireless communication antenna 12 (step S012). As a result, communication with the on-board unit α of the ETC vehicle A1 is always possible in the lane L1.

Further, the switching processing unit 312 instructs the start controller 14 to move the open / close bar to the closed position. In the second mode, the start controller 14 restricts the ETC vehicle A1 from leaving the lane L1 until the toll collection process (transmission of the entrance information to the vehicle-mounted device α) for the ETC vehicle A1 is completed.

The switching processing unit 312 executes each of the above steps each time it receives a mode switching instruction from the monitoring panel.

The switching processing unit 312 may receive a mode switching instruction from the ETC system 2A. For example, when the lane server 30 is notified of a signal indicating that the ETC system 2A has started normal operation, the switching processing unit 312 receives this signal as an instruction to switch to the first mode. When the lane server 30 is notified of a signal indicating that the ETC system 2A has stopped operating due to maintenance, failure, or the like, the switching processing unit 312 receives this signal as an instruction to switch to the second mode. By doing so, the switching processing unit 312 can automatically switch to the first mode when the ETC system 2A is operating normally, and to the second mode when the operation is stopped. As a result, the load required for monitoring and operation of the staff can be reduced.

FIG. 4 shows the flow of toll collection processing in each of the first mode and the second mode of the lane control unit 31.
First, the lane control unit 31 determines whether or not the vehicle A has entered the lane L1 based on the signal received from the approaching vehicle detector 10 (step S100).

When the lane control unit 31 determines that the vehicle A does not exist in the lane L1 (step S100: NO), the lane control unit 31 returns to the beginning of the process. On the other hand, when the lane control unit 31 determines that the vehicle A exists in the lane L1 (step S100: YES), the lane control unit 31 determines whether or not the current mode is the first mode (step S101).

When the current mode is the first mode (step S101: YES), the lane control unit 31 executes the first process S1A.

Specifically, in the first process S1A, first, the vehicle type determination unit 313 of the vehicle A (general vehicle A2) that has entered the lane L1 based on the signals received from the approaching vehicle detector 10 and the NP reading device 11. The vehicle type classification is determined (step S102).

Next, the first processing unit 310 notifies the pass ticket automatic issuing machine 13 of the entrance information including the vehicle type classification determined by the vehicle type determination unit 313 in step S102. Then, the toll ticket automatic issuing machine 13 issues a toll ticket recording the received entrance information (step S103).

On the other hand, when the current mode is the second mode (step S101: NO), the lane control unit 31 executes the second process S2A.

Specifically, in the second processing S2A, first, the second processing unit 311 and the vehicle type determination unit 313 determine whether or not wireless communication has been established with the vehicle A (vehicle-mounted device α) that has entered the lane L1. (Step S110).

For example, it is assumed that the vehicle A that has entered the lane L1 is the ETC vehicle A1, and wireless communication is established between the vehicle-mounted device α of the ETC vehicle A1 and the wireless communication antenna 12 (step S110: YES). In this case, the vehicle type determination unit 313 entered the lane L1 based on the signal received from the approaching vehicle detector 10 and the NP reading device 11 and the on-board unit information acquired from the on-board unit α through the wireless communication antenna 12. The vehicle type classification of the ETC vehicle A1 is determined (step S111).

Next, the second processing unit 311 notifies the wireless communication antenna 12 of the entrance information including the vehicle type classification determined by the vehicle type determination unit 313 in step S111. Then, the wireless communication antenna 12 transmits the received entrance information to the vehicle-mounted device α (step S112).

Next, the second processing unit 311 instructs the start controller 14 to move the open / close bar to the open position. Then, the start controller 14 moves the open / close bar to the open position and permits the ETC vehicle A1 to leave the lane L1 (step S113).

Next, the second processing unit 311 determines whether or not the ETC vehicle A1 has left the lane L1 based on the signal received from the start detector 15 (step S114). If the second processing unit 311 has not detected that the ETC vehicle A1 has passed the start detector 15 times, that is, has exited from the lane L1 (step S114: NO), the second processing unit 311 has detected the exit of the ETC vehicle A1. The determination in step S144 is repeated.

Further, when the second processing unit 311 detects that the ETC vehicle A1 has passed the start detector 15 (step S114: YES), the second processing unit 311 instructs the start controller 14 to move the open / close bar to the closed position. .. Then, the start controller 14 moves the open / close bar to the closed position to restrict the following vehicle of the ETC vehicle A1 from leaving the lane L (step S115).

On the other hand, when the second processing unit 311 and the vehicle type determination unit 313 do not establish wireless communication by the time the vehicle A passes the approaching vehicle detector 10 (step S110: NO), the vehicle A is an on-board unit α. It is determined that the vehicle A2 is not equipped with the above-mentioned vehicle A, and the wireless communication with the vehicle A is terminated. In this case, the vehicle type determination unit 313 determines the vehicle type classification of the general vehicle A2 that has entered the lane L1 based on the signals received from the approaching vehicle detector 10 and the NP reading device 11 (step S116).

Next, the second processing unit 311 notifies the pass ticket automatic issuing machine 13 of the entrance information including the vehicle type classification determined by the vehicle type determination unit 313 in step S116. Then, the toll ticket automatic issuing machine 13 issues a toll ticket recording the received entrance information (step S117).

Next, the second processing unit 311 performs the same processing as in steps S113 to S115 described above. As a result, it is possible to allow the vehicle A to exit from the lane L1 for which the toll collection process has been completed, and to restrict the exit of the following vehicle for which the toll collection process has not been completed from the lane L1.

The lane control unit 31 executes each of the above steps each time the vehicle A enters the lane L1, and performs a toll collection process for the vehicle A through the wireless communication antenna 12 or the automatic ticket issuing machine 13.

(Action effect)
As described above, the toll collection system 1A according to the present embodiment includes a wireless communication antenna 12, an automatic toll ticket issuing machine 13 (toll machine), and a lane control unit 31 that executes the first processing or the second processing. I have. The lane control unit 31 charges for both the first process S1A, which performs toll collection processing only for the general vehicle A2, and the ETC vehicle A1 and the general vehicle A2, according to the mode switched by the switching processing unit 312. The second process S2A, which performs the collection process, is executed respectively.
As described above, the toll collection system 1A according to the present embodiment can perform toll collection processing for both the ETC vehicle A1 and the general vehicle A2 only with a simple and inexpensive configuration in which the wireless communication antenna 12 is added.

Further, the switching processing unit 312 switches to the first mode or the second mode based on the instruction operation of the staff.
By doing so, the clerk can perform toll collection processing for the ETC vehicle A1 even in the lane L1 (switch to the second mode), for example, depending on the degree of congestion in the lane L2 (ETC dedicated lane). It is possible to flexibly switch and operate the functions of the toll collection system 1A.

Further, the switching processing unit 312 may switch the mode of the lane L1 (second lane) based on the state of the lane L2 (first lane). For example, when the ETC system 2A in the lane L2 is stopped due to maintenance, failure, or the like, the switching processing unit 312 enables the ETC vehicle A1 to be charged (switched to the second mode) even in the lane L1.
By doing so, the toll collection system 1A can promptly start the implementation of the toll collection process for the ETC vehicle A1 in the lane L1 when some trouble occurs in the ETC system 2A in the lane L2, for example. can. As a result, the toll collection system 1A can suppress the occurrence of traffic congestion at the entrance tollhouse 100A, and can reduce the burden of monitoring and operation of the staff.

Further, the toll collection system 1A fixes the open / close bar of the start controller 14 in the open position in the first mode, and opens the open / close bar of the start controller 14 when the toll collection process is performed in the second mode. Move to position.
By doing so, in the first mode, the toll collection system 1A can omit the opening and closing of the open / close bar and smoothly exit the vehicle A that has completed the toll collection process from the lane L1. Further, in the second mode, the toll collection system 1A can prevent the vehicle A, which has not completed the toll collection process, from erroneously leaving the lane L1.

Further, the toll ticket automatic issuing machine 13 is arranged on the downstream side (+ X side in FIG. 1) in the lane direction from the communication area R1 of the wireless communication antenna 12.
By doing so, the toll collection system 1A can suppress the issuance of a toll ticket when the toll collection process using the wireless communication antenna 12 is performed.

Further, the communication area R1 of the wireless communication antenna 12 is capable of wireless communication with the vehicle-mounted device α from the time when the vehicle A reaches the installation position of the approaching vehicle detector 10 in the lane direction to the time when the vehicle A passes through. It is arranged so as to be.
By doing so, the toll collection system 1A determines that the vehicle A is a general vehicle A2 when the wireless communication is not established when the vehicle A passes through the approaching vehicle detector 10. The toll ticket can be issued promptly.

<Second embodiment>
Next, the toll collection system according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7.
The same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

(Overall configuration, functional configuration)
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the toll collection system according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of the toll collection system according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 5 shows an example of an exit tollhouse 100B on a toll road. The exit tollhouse 100B has a plurality of lanes L1, L2, ... From the toll road to the general road.

In the following description, the toll road side (-X side) in the lane direction of the lanes L1 and L2 is also described as the "upstream side" of the lane L, and the general road side (+ X side) in the lane direction of the lanes L1 and L2. Is also described as "downstream side" of the lane L. Vehicles A1 and A2 travel in lanes L1 and L2 from the upstream side to the downstream side.

Further, in the lane L1 according to the present embodiment, a toll collection system 1B capable of executing toll collection processing is provided for both the ETC vehicle A1 and the general vehicle A2. Further, the lane L2 is provided with a toll collection system 2B (ETC system 2B) capable of executing toll collection processing only for the ETC vehicle A1. That is, the lane L2 is an ETC dedicated lane.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the toll collection system 1B according to the present embodiment replaces the toll collection machine 13 (the toll machine) of the toll collection system 1A according to the first embodiment. ) Is provided.

The toll collector 17 is provided on the roadside (on the island I) of the lane L1, is downstream of the approaching vehicle detector 10 in the lane direction (+ X side), and upstream of the start controller 14 in the lane direction. It is placed on the (-X side). The toll collection machine 17 is a so-called automatic toll collection machine that executes a toll collection process for automatically collecting tolls from users. Specifically, the toll collection machine 17 has an operation surface for receiving operations related to the toll collection process, and when a toll ticket owned by the user is inserted through the operation surface, the entrance information recorded in the toll ticket is recorded. The toll is calculated based on. Then, the toll collection machine 17 accepts payment of tolls by cash, credit card, or the like from the user. The toll receiving machine 17 is one aspect of the toll machine in the present embodiment. Further, in another embodiment, the toll collection machine 17 may be operated by a staff member stationed at a manned booth. In this case, the clerk inserts the toll ticket received from the user into the toll collection machine 17. Then, the toll collection machine 17 calculates the toll based on the entrance information recorded in the toll ticket. The clerk collects the toll calculated by the toll collection machine 17 from the user.

Further, the wireless communication antenna 12 according to the present embodiment is arranged on the downstream side (+ X side) in the lane direction from the wireless communication antenna 12 of the toll collection system 1A according to the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, the toll collector 17 and the wireless communication antenna 12 are provided close to each other. Specifically, the installation position of the toll collector 17 is arranged so as to overlap with at least a part of the communication area R1 of the wireless communication antenna 12 in the lane direction. By arranging in this way, while the general vehicle A2 arrives at the position of the toll collection machine 17 and the toll collection process is being performed, the toll collection process for the ETC vehicle A1 which is the following vehicle is performed through the wireless communication antenna 12. Can be suppressed from being carried out.

(Processing flow)
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of processing of the toll collection system according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.
Hereinafter, the processing flow of the toll collection system 1B in the lane L1 will be described with reference to FIG. 7. Since the toll collection system 2B (ETC system 2B) in the lane L2 is the same as the existing ETC system, the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 7 shows the flow of toll collection processing in each of the first mode and the second mode of the lane control unit 31. Since the mode switching process in the lane control unit 31 is the same as that in the first embodiment (FIG. 3), the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 7, the lane control unit 31 first determines whether or not the vehicle A has entered the lane L1 based on the signal received from the approaching vehicle detector 10 (step S200).

When the lane control unit 31 determines that the vehicle A does not exist in the lane L1 (step S200: NO), the lane control unit 31 returns to the beginning of the process. On the other hand, when the lane control unit 31 determines that the vehicle A exists in the lane L1 (step S200: YES), the lane control unit 31 determines whether or not the current mode is the first mode (step S201).

When the current mode is the first mode (step S201: YES), the lane control unit 31 executes the first process S1B.

Specifically, in the first process S1B, the vehicle type determination unit 313 first of the vehicle A (general vehicle A2) that has entered the lane L1 based on the signals received from the approaching vehicle detector 10 and the NP reading device 11. The vehicle type classification is determined (step S202).

Next, the first processing unit 310 performs toll collection processing through the toll collection machine 17 (step S203). Specifically, the first processing unit 310 notifies the toll collection machine 17 of the vehicle type classification determined by the vehicle type determination unit 313 in step S202, and instructs the general vehicle A2 to perform the toll collection processing. Then, the toll collection machine 17 accepts the insertion of the toll ticket from the user. The toll collection machine 17 calculates the toll for the general vehicle A2 based on the entrance information recorded on the toll ticket and the vehicle type classification determined by the vehicle type determination unit 313. The toll collection machine 17 may confirm the presence or absence of fraud based on the vehicle type classification included in the entrance information and the vehicle type classification determined by the vehicle type determination unit 313. Further, the toll collection machine 17 accepts payment of tolls by cash, credit card, or the like from the user.

When the toll collection machine 17 notifies the toll collection unit 310 that the toll collection has been completed, the first processing unit 310 instructs the start controller 14 to move the open / close bar to the open position. Then, the start controller 14 moves the open / close bar to the open position and permits the general vehicle A2 to leave the lane L1 (step S204). The start controller 14 may directly receive the notification of the completion of collection of the toll from the toll collection machine 17 and move the open / close bar to the open position.

Next, the first processing unit 310 determines whether or not the general vehicle A2 has left the lane L1 based on the signal received from the start detector 15 (step S205). When the first processing unit 310 has not detected that the general vehicle A2 has passed the start detector 15, that is, has exited from the lane L1 (step S205: NO), the first processing unit 310 has detected the exit of the general vehicle A2. The determination in step S205 is repeated.

Further, when the first processing unit 310 detects that the general vehicle A2 has passed the start detector 15 (step S205: YES), the first processing unit 310 instructs the start controller 14 to move the open / close bar to the closed position. .. Then, the start controller 14 moves the open / close bar to the closed position to regulate the following vehicle of the general vehicle A2 from leaving the lane L (step S206).

For example, when the toll collector 17 is a toll collector installed in a manned booth, the staff will prevent the general vehicle A2 from leaving the lane L1 without performing the toll collection process. In such a case, in the first mode, the open / close bar of the start controller 14 may always be fixed to the open position. That is, in the case of performing the toll collection process using the toll collector installed in the manned booth, the above-mentioned processes of steps S204 to S206 may be omitted.

On the other hand, when the current mode is the second mode (step S201: NO), the lane control unit 31 executes the second process S2B.

Specifically, in the second processing S2B, first, the second processing unit 311 and the vehicle type determination unit 313 determine whether or not wireless communication has been established with the vehicle A (vehicle-mounted device α) that has entered the lane L1. (Step S210).

When wireless communication is established between the on-board unit α of the ETC vehicle A1 that has entered the lane L1 and the wireless communication antenna 12 (step S210: YES), the vehicle type determination unit 313 reads the approaching vehicle detector 10 and NP. Based on the signal received from the device 11 and the vehicle-mounted device information acquired from the vehicle-mounted device α through the wireless communication antenna 12, the vehicle type classification of the ETC vehicle A1 that has entered the lane L1 is determined (step S211).

Next, the second processing unit 311 executes the charge collection process through the wireless communication antenna 12 (step S212). Specifically, the second processing unit 311 acquires the vehicle-mounted device information and the entrance information recorded in the vehicle-mounted device α through the wireless communication antenna 12. Further, the second processing unit 311 calculates the toll of the ETC vehicle A1 based on the acquired on-board unit information, entrance information, and the vehicle type classification determined by the vehicle type determination unit 313 in step S211, and the on-board unit α. The toll collection process (for example, credit card payment process, etc.) is performed by the payment method set in advance. The processing result of the second processing unit 311 is transmitted to the vehicle-mounted device α through the wireless communication antenna 12, and is recorded in the storage medium of the vehicle-mounted device α.

Next, the second processing unit 311 instructs the start controller 14 to move the open / close bar to the open position. Then, the start controller 14 moves the open / close bar to the open position and permits the ETC vehicle A1 to leave the lane L1 (step S213).

Next, the second processing unit 311 determines whether or not the ETC vehicle A1 has left the lane L1 based on the signal received from the start detector 15 (step S214). When the second processing unit 311 has not detected that the ETC vehicle A1 has left the lane L1 (step S214: NO), the second processing unit 311 repeats the determination in step S144 until it detects the exit of the ETC vehicle A1.

Further, when the second processing unit 311 detects that the ETC vehicle A1 has passed the start detector 15 (step S214: YES), the second processing unit 311 instructs the start controller 14 to move the open / close bar to the closed position. .. Then, the start controller 14 moves the open / close bar to the closed position to restrict the following vehicle of the ETC vehicle A1 from leaving the lane L (step S215).

On the other hand, when the second processing unit 311 and the vehicle type determination unit 313 do not establish wireless communication by the time the vehicle A passes the approaching vehicle detector 10 (step S210: NO), the vehicle A is an on-board unit α. It is determined that the vehicle A2 is not equipped with the above-mentioned vehicle A, and the wireless communication with the vehicle A is terminated. In this case, the vehicle type determination unit 313 determines the vehicle type classification of the general vehicle A2 that has entered the lane L1 based on the signals received from the approaching vehicle detector 10 and the NP reading device 11 (step S216).

Next, the second processing unit 311 executes the charge collection process through the charge collection machine 17 (step S217). Specifically, the second processing unit 311 notifies the toll collection machine 17 of the vehicle type classification determined by the vehicle type determination unit 313 in step S216, and instructs the general vehicle A2 to perform the toll collection processing. Then, the toll collection machine 17 executes the same toll collection process as in step S203, and accepts the payment of the toll from the user.

Next, the second processing unit 311 performs the same processing as in steps S213 to S215 described above. As a result, it is possible to allow the vehicle A to exit from the lane L1 for which the toll collection process has been completed, and to restrict the exit of the following vehicle for which the toll collection process has not been completed from the lane L1.

The lane control unit 31 executes each of the above steps each time the vehicle A enters the lane L1, and performs a toll collection process for the vehicle A through the wireless communication antenna 12 or the toll collector 17.

(Action effect)
As described above, the toll collection system 1B according to the present embodiment includes the toll collection machine 17 as a toll machine.
As a result, the toll collection system 1B can perform toll collection processing for both the ETC vehicle A1 and the general vehicle A2 at the exit tollhouse 100B with a simple and inexpensive configuration.

Further, the installation position of the toll collector 17 is arranged so as to overlap with at least a part of the communication area R1 of the wireless communication antenna 12 in the lane direction.
By doing so, the toll collection system 1B passes the wireless communication antenna 12 to the ETC vehicle A1 which is the following vehicle while the toll collection process is being performed for the general vehicle A2 through the toll collection machine 17. It is possible to prevent the toll collection process from being performed. As a result, the toll collection system 1B can correctly execute the toll collection process for the plurality of vehicles A arriving in the lane L1 in the order of arrival. Further, it is possible to prevent the opening / closing bar of the start controller 14 from opening due to the completion of the toll collection process of the ETC vehicle A1 which is the following vehicle before the toll collection process of the general vehicle A2 which is the preceding vehicle is completed. can do.

(Hardware configuration)
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a lane server according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.
Hereinafter, the hardware configuration of the lane server 30 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The computer 900 includes a processor 901, a main storage device 902, an auxiliary storage device 903, and an interface 904.

The lane server 30 described above is mounted on the computer 900. The operation of each of the above-mentioned functional units is stored in the auxiliary storage device 903 in the form of a program. The processor 901 reads a program from the auxiliary storage device 903, expands it to the main storage device 902, and executes the above processing according to the program. Further, the processor 901 secures a storage area corresponding to each of the above-mentioned storage units in the main storage device 902 according to the program. Examples of the processor 901 include a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphic Processing Unit), a microprocessor, and the like.

The program may be intended to realize some of the functions exerted by the computer 900. For example, the program may exert its function in combination with another program already stored in the auxiliary storage device 903, or in combination with another program mounted on the other device. In another embodiment, the computer 900 may include a custom LSI (Large Scale Integrated Circuit) such as a PLD (Programmable Logic Device) in addition to or in place of the above configuration. Examples of PLDs include PAL (Programmable Array Logic), GAL (Generic Array Logic), CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device), and FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). In this case, some or all of the functions realized by the processor 901 may be realized by the integrated circuit. Such integrated circuits are also included as an example of a processor.

Examples of the auxiliary storage device 903 include HDD (Hard Disk Drive), SSD (Solid State Drive), magnetic disk, optomagnetic disk, CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), and DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disc Read Only). Memory), semiconductor memory and the like. The auxiliary storage device 903 may be an internal medium directly connected to the bus of the computer 900, or an external storage device 910 connected to the computer 900 via the interface 904 or a communication line. Further, when this program is distributed to the computer 900 by a communication line, the distributed computer 900 may expand the program to the main storage device 902 and execute the above processing. In at least one embodiment, the auxiliary storage device 903 is a non-temporary tangible storage medium.

Further, the program may be for realizing a part of the above-mentioned functions. Further, the program may be a so-called difference file (difference program) that realizes the above-mentioned function in combination with another program already stored in the auxiliary storage device 903.

Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are examples and do not limit the scope of the invention. Various additions, omissions, replacements, and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the gist of the invention.

For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the embodiment in which the lane control unit 31 of the lane server 30 has the first processing unit 310, the second processing unit 311, and the switching processing unit 312 as functional units has been described, but the present invention is limited to this. There is no such thing. In another embodiment, the toll machine (automatic toll ticket issuing machine 13, toll collection machine 17) also uses the first processing unit that performs toll collection processing without using the wireless communication antenna 12 and the wireless communication antenna 12. If wireless communication is not possible, the process shifts to toll collection processing, and if wireless communication is possible, the second processing unit that does not perform processing in the toll machine, the first mode in which the first processing unit performs processing, and the first 2 A switching processing unit for switching to any of the second modes in which the processing unit performs processing may be provided.

<Additional Notes>
The toll collection system, the lane server, the toll collection method, and the program described in the above-described embodiment are grasped as follows, for example.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the toll collection system (1A, 1B) is installed on the roadside of the lane and a wireless communication antenna (12) that performs wireless communication with a vehicle traveling in the lane. Toll collection processing using the toll machine (13, 17) without using the toll machine (13, 17) having an operation surface for accepting operations related to the collection of tolls for the vehicle and the wireless communication antenna (12). The toll machine (13) is used for a vehicle in which the toll collection process is performed using the first processing unit (310) and the wireless communication antenna (12), and the toll collection process is not performed by the wireless communication antenna (12). , 17), a second processing unit (311) that enables toll collection processing, a first mode in which the first processing unit executes processing, and a second mode in which the second processing unit executes processing. A switching processing unit (312) for switching to any one of the modes is provided.
By doing so, the toll collection system can perform toll collection processing for both ETC vehicles and general vehicles with only a simple and inexpensive configuration that adds a toll machine wireless communication antenna installed on the roadside. can.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the toll collection system (1A, 1B) according to the first aspect, the switching processing unit (312) switches the mode based on an instruction operation of a staff member.
By doing so, the clerk can perform toll collection processing for the ETC vehicle in other lanes (switch to the second mode) according to the congestion condition of the ETC dedicated lane, for example, of the toll collection system. It is possible to flexibly switch functions and operate.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the toll collection system (1A, 1B) according to the first aspect, the switching processing unit (312) is based on the state of the first lane among the plurality of the lanes. Then, the mode of the second lane is switched.
By doing so, the toll collection system promptly starts the implementation of the toll collection process for the ETC vehicle in the second lane when some trouble occurs in the ETC system in the first lane, for example. Can be done. As a result, the toll collection system can suppress the occurrence of traffic congestion at the tollhouse and can reduce the burden of monitoring and operation of the staff.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the toll collection system (1A, 1B) according to any one of the first to the third aspects is the vehicle by moving the open / close bar to the open position or the closed position. It is further equipped with a start controller (14) that permits or regulates passage. The start controller (14) fixes the open / close bar in the open position in the first mode, and uses the toll machine (13, 17) or the wireless communication antenna (12) in the second mode. When the toll collection process is performed, the open / close bar is moved to the open position.
By doing so, in the first mode, the toll collection system can omit the opening and closing of the open / close bar, and the vehicle that has completed the toll collection process can smoothly leave the lane. Further, in the second mode, the toll collection system 1A can prevent the vehicle A, which has not completed the toll collection process, from erroneously leaving the lane L1.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in the toll collection system (1A) according to any one of the first to the fourth aspects, the toll machine automatically issues a toll ticket to the vehicle. It is a machine (13), and the toll ticket automatic issuing machine (13) is arranged on the downstream side in the lane direction from the communication area (R1) of the wireless communication antenna (12).
By doing so, the toll collection system can suppress the issuance of the toll ticket by the toll ticket automatic issuing machine when the toll collection process using the wireless communication antenna is performed.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in the toll collection system (1B) according to any one of the first to the fourth aspects, the toll machine collects tolls from the vehicle as the toll collection process. It is a toll collector (17), and the installation position of the toll collector (17) is arranged so as to overlap at least a part of the communication area (R1) of the wireless communication antenna (12) in the lane direction.
By doing so, the toll collection system performs the toll collection processing through the wireless communication antenna for the ETC vehicle which is the following vehicle while the toll collection processing is performed for the general vehicle through the toll collection machine. It is possible to prevent it from going away. As a result, the toll collection system can correctly execute the toll collection process for a plurality of vehicles arriving in one lane in the order of arrival. In addition, it is possible to prevent the opening / closing bar of the start controller from opening due to the completion of the toll collection process of the ETC vehicle which is the following vehicle before the toll collection process of the general vehicle which is the preceding vehicle is completed. can.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the lane server (30) is installed on the roadside of the lane with a wireless communication antenna (12) that performs wireless communication with a vehicle traveling in the lane, and is of the vehicle. A lane server (30) of a toll collection system (1A, 1B) including a toll machine (13, 17) having an operation surface for accepting operations related to toll collection, using the wireless communication antenna (12). Instead, the toll collection process is performed using the first processing unit (310) that performs toll collection processing using the toll machines (13, 17) and the wireless communication antenna (12), and the wireless communication antenna ( A second processing unit (311) that enables toll collection processing using the toll machine (13, 17) for a vehicle for which the toll collection processing according to 12) is not performed, and a first processing unit that executes the processing. It includes one mode and a switching processing unit (312) for switching to either mode of the second mode in which the second processing unit executes processing.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the toll collection method includes a wireless communication antenna (12) for wireless communication with a vehicle traveling in a lane, and a toll of the vehicle installed on the roadside of the lane. This is a toll collection method using a toll collection system (1A, 1B) including a toll machine (13, 17) having an operation surface for accepting operations related to the collection of the above, without using the wireless communication antenna (12). , The step of executing the first process of performing the charge collection process using the charge machine (13, 17), the charge collection process using the wireless communication antenna (12), and the wireless communication antenna (12). A step of executing a second process for enabling the toll collection process using the toll machine (13, 17) for a vehicle for which the toll collection process is not performed, a first mode for executing the first process, and the above. It has a step of switching to any one of the second modes for executing the second process.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the program is installed on the roadside of the lane and the wireless communication antenna (12) for wireless communication with the vehicle traveling in the lane, and collects the toll of the vehicle. The wireless communication antenna (12) is not used in the computer (900) of the lane server (30) of the toll collection system (1A, 1B) including the toll machines (13, 17) having an operation surface for accepting operations related to the above. In addition, the step of executing the first process of performing the charge collection process using the charge machine (13, 17) and the charge collection process using the wireless communication antenna (12) are performed, and the wireless communication antenna (12) is used. ), The step of executing the second process for enabling the toll collection process using the toll machine (13, 17) for the vehicle to which the toll collection process is not performed, the first mode for executing the first process, and the first mode. The step of switching to one of the second modes for executing the second process is executed.

1A, 1B toll collection system 2A, 2B toll collection system (ETC system)
10 Entry side vehicle detector 11 NP reader 12 Wireless communication antenna 13 Automatic ticket issuing machine (fee machine)
14 Start controller 15 Start detector 16 Roadside interface aggregation unit 17 Toll collector (toll machine)
20 Entering side vehicle detector 21 NP reader 22 1st wireless communication antenna 23 Communication vehicle detector 24 Start controller 25 2nd wireless communication antenna 26 Exit side vehicle detector 27 3rd wireless communication antenna 28 Roadside interface aggregation unit 30 Lane server 31 Lane control unit 310 1st processing unit 311 2nd processing unit 312 Switching processing unit 313 Vehicle type discrimination unit 32 Storage medium 900 Computer

Claims (9)

An approaching vehicle detector that is installed at the most upstream installation position in the lane and detects that the vehicle has reached the installation position in the lane and has passed the installation position.
It is installed on the downstream side in the lane direction from the approaching vehicle detector, and wirelessly communicates with the vehicle traveling in the lane between the time when the vehicle reaches the installation position and the time when the vehicle passes through the installation position. Wireless communication antenna and
A toll machine installed on the road side of the lane, downstream of the wireless communication antenna in the lane direction, and having an operation surface for receiving operations related to collection of tolls for the vehicle.
A first processing unit that performs toll collection processing using the toll machine without using the wireless communication antenna, and
In addition to performing toll collection processing using the wireless communication antenna, it is possible to perform toll collection processing using the toll machine for a vehicle that is not subjected to toll collection processing by the wireless communication antenna by the time the vehicle passes the installation position. The second processing unit and
A switching processing unit that switches to either one of the first mode in which the first processing unit executes processing and the second mode in which the second processing unit executes processing.
A toll collection system equipped with. The switching processing unit switches the mode based on an instruction operation by a staff member.
The toll collection system according to claim 1. The switching processing unit switches the mode of the second lane based on the state of the first lane among the plurality of the lanes.
The toll collection system according to claim 1. Further equipped with a start controller that permits or regulates the passage of the vehicle by moving the open / close bar to an open position or a closed position.
The start controller fixes the open / close bar in the open position in the first mode, and opens / closes when the toll collection process is performed using the toll machine or the wireless communication antenna in the second mode. Move the bar to the open position,
The toll collection system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The toll machine is an automatic toll ticket issuing machine that issues a toll ticket to the vehicle.
The automatic ticket issuing machine is arranged on the downstream side in the lane direction from the communication area of the wireless communication antenna.
The toll collection system according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The toll machine is a toll collection machine that collects tolls from the vehicle as the toll collection process.
The installation position of the toll collector is arranged so as to overlap at least a part of the communication area of the wireless communication antenna in the lane direction.
The toll collection system according to any one of claims 1 to 4. From the approaching vehicle detector and the approaching vehicle detector, which are installed at the installation position on the most upstream side of the lane and detect that the vehicle has reached the installation position in the lane and have passed the installation position. Is installed on the downstream side in the lane direction, and a wireless communication antenna that performs wireless communication with the vehicle traveling in the lane between the time the vehicle reaches the installation position and the time the vehicle passes through the installation position, and the lane. In the lane server of the toll collection system, which is installed on the downstream side of the wireless communication antenna in the lane direction and has an operation surface for receiving operations related to the collection of tolls for the vehicle. There,
A first processing unit that performs toll collection processing using the toll machine without using the wireless communication antenna, and
In addition to performing toll collection processing using the wireless communication antenna, it is possible to perform toll collection processing using the toll machine for a vehicle that is not subjected to toll collection processing by the wireless communication antenna by the time the vehicle passes the installation position. The second processing unit and
A switching processing unit that switches to either one of the first mode in which the first processing unit executes processing and the second mode in which the second processing unit executes processing.
Lane server with. From the approaching vehicle detector and the approaching vehicle detector, which are installed at the installation position on the most upstream side of the lane and detect that the vehicle has reached the installation position in the lane and have passed the installation position. Is installed on the downstream side in the lane direction, and a wireless communication antenna that performs wireless communication with the vehicle traveling in the lane between the time when the vehicle reaches the installation position and the time when the vehicle passes through the installation position, and the lane. Tolls using a toll collection system provided with a toll machine installed on the roadside of the vehicle on the downstream side in the lane direction from the wireless communication antenna and having an operation surface for receiving operations related to the collection of tolls for the vehicle. It ’s a collection method,
A step of executing a first process of performing a toll collection process using the toll machine without using the wireless communication antenna, and a step of executing the first process.
In addition to performing toll collection processing using the wireless communication antenna, it is possible to perform toll collection processing using the toll machine for a vehicle that is not subjected to toll collection processing by the wireless communication antenna by the time the vehicle passes the installation position. And the step to execute the second process
A step of switching to either a first mode for executing the first process or a second mode for executing the second process, and
How to collect charges. From the approaching vehicle detector and the approaching vehicle detector, which are installed at the installation position on the most upstream side of the lane and detect that the vehicle has reached the installation position in the lane and have passed the installation position. Is installed on the downstream side in the lane direction, and a wireless communication antenna that performs wireless communication with the vehicle traveling in the lane between the time the vehicle reaches the installation position and the time the vehicle passes through the installation position, and the lane. A lane server of a toll collection system including a toll machine installed on the downstream side of the radio communication antenna on the downstream side in the lane direction and having an operation surface for receiving operations related to the collection of tolls for the vehicle. On the computer
A step of executing a first process of performing a toll collection process using the toll machine without using the wireless communication antenna, and a step of executing the first process.
In addition to performing toll collection processing using the wireless communication antenna, it is possible to perform toll collection processing using the toll machine for a vehicle that is not subjected to toll collection processing by the wireless communication antenna by the time the vehicle passes the installation position. And the step to execute the second process
A step of switching to either a first mode for executing the first process or a second mode for executing the second process, and
A program to execute.

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