JP7091502B2 - Information processing equipment and information processing method - Google Patents

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to an information processing apparatus and an information processing method.

Conventionally, there is known a technique for determining a toll for a vehicle traveling on a toll road such as an expressway based on the entrance and exit through which the vehicle has passed. Further, there are known techniques such as a toll collection system that charges different amounts according to the route traveled by the vehicle as well as the entrance and exit.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-151969 Japanese Patent No. 3212241 Japanese Patent No. 3760134 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-059046 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-198571 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-123109

However, in the prior art, vehicles may be concentrated on a route with a low charge amount, and the route may be congested. For this reason, it has been required to distribute the traffic volume from the congested section of the toll road to other sections.

The information processing apparatus of the embodiment includes a detour route determination unit, a transmission unit, a reception unit, a determination unit, and a charge calculation unit. The detour route determination unit is a combination of sections in the toll road when there is a congested section in which the degree of congestion for each section in the toll road is equal to or higher than the first threshold value, and the detour route determination unit can detour the congested section. Or determine multiple detour routes. The transmission unit is installed at each section of the toll road to provide information indicating a detour route, and is provided at a road-to-vehicle communication device capable of communicating with an on-board unit of a vehicle traveling on the toll road, or at the entrance of the toll road. It sends to the entrance device, which can communicate with the in-vehicle device. The receiving unit receives the identification information of the road-to-vehicle communication device or the entrance device and the vehicle identification information received by the road-to-vehicle communication device or the entrance device from the vehicle-mounted device from the road-to-vehicle communication device or the entrance device. The determination unit determines whether or not the vehicle has taken any of the detour routes based on the vehicle identification information received by the reception unit for each section and the identification information of the road-to-vehicle communication device or the entrance device. When it is determined that the vehicle has taken one of the detour routes, the toll calculation unit applies a discount to the vehicle and calculates the toll. The receiving unit identifies the section in which the vehicle is traveling based on the vehicle identification information acquired from the road-to-vehicle communication device or the entrance device. Every time the traveling section of the vehicle specified by the receiving unit changes, the toll calculation unit determines the fixed toll, which is the toll on the travel route through which the vehicle has passed, and the exit of the toll road from the section in which the vehicle is traveling. The toll is calculated as the toll to be added, which is scheduled to change when the vehicle travels to the exit device provided in.

It is a figure which shows an example of the whole structure of the ETC system and the traffic control system which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the function of the information processing apparatus and the traffic control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the data structure of the discount information database which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the data structure of the billing information database which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the data structure of the zone database which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the data structure of the route database which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the data structure of the transmission information database which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the data structure of the detour route information which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the dynamic charge processing which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the discount processing of the toll which concerns on Embodiment 1. It is a figure which shows an example of the whole structure of the ETC system and the traffic control system which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the function of the information processing apparatus and the traffic control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 3. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the data structure of the discount information database which concerns on Embodiment 3. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the dynamic charge processing which concerns on Embodiment 3. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the discount processing of the toll which concerns on Embodiment 3. It is a figure which shows an example of the whole structure of the ETC system and the traffic control system which concerns on Embodiment 4. It is a figure which shows an example of the data structure of the discount information database which concerns on Embodiment 4. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the discount processing of the toll which concerns on Embodiment 4.

(Embodiment 1)
In the ETC (Electronic Toll Collection, registered trademark) system of the present embodiment, a detour route is dynamically set according to the degree of congestion for each zone (section) in the toll road, and the toll of the vehicle traveling on the detour route is set. By discounting, traffic volume is distributed from the crowded zone to other zones.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of the ETC system S1 and the traffic control system S10 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the toll road R of the present embodiment is a toll road having a branch in the middle section. Then, the ETC system S1 is installed in order to charge the toll to the vehicle 2a traveling on the toll road R. The ETC system S1 includes an information processing device 100, an inlet device 11a, and an exit device 12a.

Further, the toll road R is divided into a plurality of zones A0 to A4 by the communication areas of the road-to-vehicle communication devices 10a to 10d, which will be described later, and the entrance device 11a or the exit device 12a. When zones A0 to A4 are not particularly distinguished, they are referred to as zone A. Further, in the present embodiment, the combination of a plurality of zones A is referred to as a route.

In FIG. 1, one entrance device 11a and one exit device 12a are installed on the toll road R, but the number and location of the entrance device 11a and the exit device 12a are not limited to this. For example, a plurality of inlet devices 11a or outlet devices 12a may be provided in each zone A.

In the present embodiment, the vehicle 2a traveling on the toll road R is equipped with an on-board unit capable of communicating with the entrance device 11a and the exit device 12a. Further, the on-board unit can also communicate with the road-to-vehicle communication devices 10a to 10d by using DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communication). In the present embodiment, one on-board unit corresponds to ETC and DSRC, but the on-board unit for ETC and the on-board unit for DSRC may be separate on-board units. The on-board unit displays information received from the road-to-vehicle communication devices 10a to 10d, the inlet device 11a, and the exit device 12a on the display unit.

The entrance device 11a is a device provided at the entrance of the toll road R and capable of communicating with the on-board unit of the vehicle 2a passing through the entrance. In the present embodiment, the entrance device 11a is an ETC gate provided at the entrance of the toll road R.

The entrance device 11a transmits the information transmitted from the information processing device 100 to the vehicle-mounted device of the vehicle 2a entering (inflowing) into the toll road R from the entrance where the entrance device 11a is installed. Further, the entrance device 11a receives the vehicle identification information of the vehicle 2a entering the toll road R from the entrance where the entrance device 11a is installed from the vehicle-mounted device of the vehicle 2a and transmits the vehicle identification information to the information processing device 100.

The exit device 12a is a device provided at the exit of the toll road R and capable of communicating with the on-board unit of the vehicle 2a passing through the exit. In the present embodiment, the exit device 12a is an ETC gate provided at the exit of the toll road R. The exit device 12a receives information on the toll associated with the vehicle identification information of the vehicle 2a from the information processing device 100. The amount of the toll is the amount charged when the vehicle 2a exits (outflows) the toll road R from the exit where the exit device 12a is installed.

The exit device 12a transmits information on the amount of the toll charged to the vehicle 2a to the vehicle-mounted device of the vehicle 2a when the vehicle 2a passes through the exit device 12a. Further, the exit device 12a may display the amount of the toll on a display unit (not shown) or the like.

Further, the exit device 12a transmits the vehicle identification information of the vehicle 2a that has left the toll road from the exit where the exit device 12a is installed to the information processing device 100.

The information processing device 100 is, for example, an ETC central device, and calculates a toll to be charged to the vehicle 2a. The information processing device 100 of the present embodiment basically calculates a toll to be charged to the vehicle 2a based on the entrance and the exit through which the vehicle 2a has passed, but in order to avoid congestion, the degree of congestion for each zone A is calculated. The detour route is dynamically set according to the situation, and the toll of the vehicle 2a traveling on the detour route is discounted.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the traffic control system S10 includes a traffic control device 200 and road-to-vehicle communication devices 10a to 10d.

The traffic control device 200 communicates with the road-to-vehicle communication devices 10a to 10d and the information processing device 100. Further, the traffic control device 200 calculates congestion information indicating the congestion status of the toll road R by using a known method and transmits it to the information processing apparatus 100.

The road-to-vehicle communication devices 10a to 10d are devices capable of communicating with the vehicle 2a traveling on the toll road R, and are provided on the road side of the toll road R. In the present embodiment, the road-to-vehicle communication devices 10a to 10d are ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems) spots capable of communicating with the vehicle 2a by using DSRC. The communication means of the on-board unit and the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 is not limited to DSRC. Hereinafter, when the road-to-vehicle communication devices 10a to 10d are not particularly distinguished, they are referred to as road-to-vehicle communication devices 10. The road-to-vehicle communication device 10 is also referred to as a roadside wireless communication device.

Specifically, the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 transmits the information transmitted from the traffic control device 200 to the vehicle-mounted device of the vehicle 2a traveling in the zone A in which the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 is installed. Further, in the present embodiment, information indicating a detour route at which the toll is discounted is transmitted from the information processing device 100 to the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 via the traffic control device 200. The detour route in the present embodiment is a combination of zones A in the toll road R, and refers to a route capable of detouring zone A having a degree of congestion equal to or higher than the first threshold value. Details of the information transmitted from the information processing apparatus 100 will be described later.

Further, the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 receives the vehicle identification information of the vehicle 2a traveling in the zone A in which the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 is installed from the vehicle-mounted device of the vehicle 2a and transmits the vehicle identification information to the information processing device 100. In the present embodiment, the ID of the vehicle-mounted device mounted on the vehicle 2a and the ID of the ETC card inserted in the vehicle-mounted device are used as the vehicle identification information of the vehicle 2a. The vehicle identification information of the vehicle 2a is not limited to this.

The information processing device 100 and the traffic control device 200 have a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a memory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory), and an external storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). It is equipped with a hardware configuration that uses a normal computer. Further, the information processing device 100 and the traffic control device 200 are installed in a management center of the toll road R or the like. Alternatively, the information processing device 100 and the traffic control device 200 may be installed at different locations. Next, the details of the functions of the information processing device 100 and the traffic control device 200 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the functions of the information processing device 100 and the traffic control device 200 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the traffic control device 200 includes a receiving unit 201, a transmitting unit 202, and a processing unit 203. The receiving unit 201 receives information from the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 and the information processing device 100. The processing unit 203 calculates congestion information indicating the congestion status of the toll road R from the information acquired from the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 and other information by using a known method. The transmission unit 202 transmits information to the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 and the information processing device 100.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the information processing apparatus 100 includes an acquisition unit 101, a congestion degree calculation unit 102, a detour route determination unit 103, a transmission unit 104, a reception unit 105, a determination unit 106, and a charge. It includes a calculation unit 107 and a storage unit 150.

The storage unit 150 includes a charge information database (DB) 151, a discount information database (DB) 152, a billing information database (DB) 153, a zone database (DB) 154, a route database (DB) 155, and transmission information. It has a database (DB) 156 and. The storage unit 150 is composed of, for example, a storage device such as an HDD.

The toll information database 151 is a database in which tolls for the toll road R are registered in advance. More specifically, in the toll information database 151, the toll toll from the start position to the end position of each zone A or the exit device provided in the zone A from the start position of each zone A is provided for each zone A. Tolls up to 12a are registered. Further, when the entrance device 11a is provided in the zone A, the toll from the entrance device 11a in the zone A to the exit device 12a provided in the zone A is also registered in the charge information database 151. .. It should be noted that different tolls may be registered in the toll information database 151 for each vehicle type. The tolls registered in the toll information database 151 are standard tolls before the discount is applied.

The discount information database 152 is a database in which information on discounts applied to tolls on the toll road R is registered. The discount in the present embodiment is to charge (charge) an amount lower than the standard toll, and the discount method is not limited. For example, discounting a standard toll multiplied by a discount rate, discounting a predetermined amount to a standard toll, applying a fixed toll that is cheaper than the standard toll, etc. Can be adopted as a discount method.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the discount information database 152 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the discount identification information, the detour target zone, the detour confirmation zone, the branch zone, the discount degree, the start time, and the end time are registered in the discount information database 152 in association with each other. Will be done. In the present embodiment, the detour target zone, the detour confirmation zone, the branch zone, the degree of discount, the start time, and the end time associated with each discount identification information are collectively referred to as discount information. Further, each information contained in the discount information database 152 is registered by the charge calculation unit 107, which will be described later.

The discount identification information is information that can identify the discount information, such as a code or a number.

The detour target zone is zone A to be detoured because it is congested or congested. In this embodiment, "Zone A4" is registered as a detour target zone. Which zone A is the detour target zone is determined by the detour route determination unit 103 described later.

The detour confirmation zone is a zone A in which the vehicle 2a travels in order to avoid the detour target zone. In this embodiment, "Zone A2" is registered as a detour confirmation zone. When the vehicle 2a enters the detour confirmation zone, it is determined that the vehicle 2a does not pass through the detour target zone. Further, the detour confirmation zone is one of the zones A constituting the detour route. Which zone A becomes the detour confirmation zone is determined by the detour route determination unit 103 described later.

The branch zone is located upstream of the detour target zone and the detour confirmation zone, and is the zone A including the branch point between the route including the detour target zone (detour target route) and the detour route, or the zone located upstream of the branch point. It is A. Which zone A becomes the branch zone is determined by the detour route determination unit 103 described later. In the present embodiment, the "zone A1" including the branch point and the "zone A0-1" and "zone A0-2" located on the upstream side of the "zone A1" are the branch zones. The range of the branch zone on the upstream side is not particularly limited. For example, a branch zone may be used until it reaches another zone A including another branch point located on the upstream side. The range of the branch zone is not limited to this, and only the zone A including the branch point between the detour target route and the detour route may be used as the branch zone.

The degree of discount includes the discount type and the numerical value, and indicates how much the discount is given to the standard toll. There are multiple types of discounts, and they are the types of methods used to apply discounts to tolls. For example, "discount rate" to discount the amount obtained by multiplying the standard toll by the discount rate, "discount amount" to discount the specified amount to the standard toll, from the standard toll. If you apply a cheap fixed rate, "Limit" is registered as a discount type. In this embodiment, "discount rate" is registered as a discount type. The content of the discount type is an example and is not limited to this. Further, when the same discount type is used for all discount information, the discount information database 152 may not include the item.

The numerical value is a numerical value used when the discount method registered in the discount type is applied. For example, when the discount type is "discount rate", the value of the discount rate (for example, "50%") multiplied by the standard toll is registered as a numerical value. When the discount type is "discount amount", the amount to be deducted from the standard toll (for example, "500 yen") is registered as a numerical value. If the discount type is "limit price", a fixed fare amount lower than the standard toll is registered. The content of the discount degree is an example, and is not limited to this.

The start time is the time when the application of the discount information is started. The end time is the time when the application of the discount information ends. In this embodiment, since the application of the discount information starts or ends according to the degree of congestion in each zone A, the discount information database 152 may adopt a configuration that does not hold the start time and the end time.

The data structure of the discount information database 152 shown in FIG. 3 is an example, and is not limited thereto. Further, the information registered in the discount information database 152 is also referred to as variable billing information because it is information on fluctuations in the billing amount with respect to the standard toll.

Returning to FIG. 2, the toll information database 153 is a database in which information on tolls charged to the vehicle 2a traveling on the toll road R is registered.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the billing information database 153 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the billing information database 153 contains vehicle identification information, the latest passing device, an update time, a fixed charge, a traveling zone, a charge to be added for each zone A, and target discount information. The detour confirmation flag is associated with and registered.

The latest passing device is the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a that has last communicated with the vehicle 2a.

The update time is the time when the vehicle 2a communicates with the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a registered as the latest passing device.

The fixed fare is the total value of the tolls on the travel route through which the vehicle 2a has passed.

The traveling zone is a zone A in which the vehicle 2a is traveling. Further, the traveling zone is also referred to as a zone A in which the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a registered as the latest passing device is installed. Further, when the vehicle 2a exits from the toll road R, it is registered as "exit" in the traveling zone.

The toll to be added for each zone A is a toll toll charged to the vehicle 2a when the vehicle 2a enters another zone A connected to the zone A registered as a traveling zone. In addition, when the exit device 12a is provided in the travel zone, the toll charge to be charged when the vehicle 2a leaves the exit device 12a provided in the travel zone is also registered as an additional charge for each zone A. Will be done. As the toll to be added for each zone A, the standard toll before the discount is applied is registered.

The target discount information is information that identifies discount information that may be applied to the vehicle 2a specified by the vehicle identification information.

The detour confirmation flag is a flag indicating whether or not it is confirmed that the vehicle 2a specified by the vehicle identification information has traveled on the detour route. The details of the detour confirmation flag will be described later in the determination unit 106.

Returning to FIG. 2, the zone database 154 is a database in which information about the zone A included in the toll road R is registered.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the zone database 154 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the zone database 154 contains zone IDs, zone entrances 1 to n, zone exits 1 to n, discount identification information 1 to n, zone types 1 to n, and a degree of congestion. It is associated and registered.

The zone ID is an example of identification information that identifies each zone A.

The zone entrances 1 to n are road-to-vehicle communication devices 10 or entrance devices 11a that communicate with each other when the vehicle 2a enters each zone A. More specifically, the zone entrances 1 to n are the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 indicating the start position of each zone A, or the entrance device 11a included in each zone A. Since one zone A may have a plurality of entry routes, a plurality of zone entrances can be registered.

Zone exits 1 to n are road-to-vehicle communication devices 10 or exit devices 12a that communicate with each other when the vehicle 2a exits each zone A. More specifically, the zone exits 1 to n are the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 indicating the start position of the next zone A connected to each zone A, or the exit device 12a included in each zone A. Since one zone A may have a plurality of exit routes, a plurality of zone exits can be registered.

The discount identification information 1 to n is information for identifying the discount information. Further, for the zone types 1 to n, which of the branch zone, the detour confirmation zone, the detour target zone, and the normal zone corresponds to each zone A for each of the discount identification information 1 to n by the detour route determination unit 103 described later. It is a type indicating. Even in one zone A, if the discount identification information is different, the corresponding zone type may be different. In FIG. 5, zone A, which is neither a branch zone, a detour confirmation zone, nor a detour target zone, is a normal zone, but there may be no zone type.

The degree of congestion is information indicating how congested each zone A of the toll road R is. In the present embodiment, the degree of congestion is indicated by three discrete values of "smooth", "congestion", and "congestion", but is not limited thereto. For example, the degree of congestion may be indicated by a continuous value.

In the present embodiment, "traffic jam" is an example of a first threshold value used in the dynamic billing process described later. Further, "congestion" is an example of a second threshold value used in the dynamic billing process described later. The details of the first threshold value and the second threshold value will be described later.

Of the information contained in the zone database 154, the zone ID, the zone entrances 1 to n, and the zone exits 1 to n are assumed to be registered in advance. Further, the discount identification information 1 to n and the zone types 1 to n are registered in association with the zone ID by the detour route determination unit 103 described later. The degree of congestion is registered by the degree of congestion calculation unit 102, which will be described later.

Returning to FIG. 2, the route database 155 is a database in which information regarding a route that is a combination of zones A in the toll road R is registered.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the route database 155 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, in the route database 155, the route ID for identifying the route, the zone A included in each route, the configuration zone in which the order is defined, and the route type are registered in association with each other. To. Further, each information contained in the route database 155 is generated by the detour route determination unit 103 described later.

The route type is a type indicating whether each route is a detour target route or a detour route. The detour target route is a route including the detour target zone, and is also referred to as a congestion route.

Returning to FIG. 2, the transmission information database 156 is a database in which information regarding the transmission destination of the discount information registered in the discount information database 152 is registered.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the transmission information database 156 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, in the transmission information database 156, the destination device, the discount identification information, and the zone type are registered in association with each other.

The destination device is a road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or an entrance device 11a to which each discount information is transmitted. The zone type is the type of zone A in which the destination device (road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or entrance device 11a) is installed. Each information contained in the transmission information database 156 is registered by the charge calculation unit 107, which will be described later.

Returning to FIG. 2, the acquisition unit 101 acquires congestion information indicating the congestion status of the toll road R from the traffic control device 200 at regular intervals. The fixed time is, for example, 5 minutes, but is not limited to this. Further, since the congestion information calculated by the traffic control device 200 is used for purposes other than determining the detour route, the congestion status may be shown in a unit different from that of the zone A.

The congestion degree calculation unit 102 calculates the congestion degree for each zone A in the toll road R from the congestion information acquired by the acquisition unit 101 by using a known method.

The detour route determination unit 103 determines one or a plurality of detour routes that can detour the zone A whose degree of congestion is equal to or higher than the first threshold value. More specifically, the detour route determination unit 103 of the present embodiment sets the zone A4 registered in the zone database 154 as the detour target zone in which the degree of congestion for each zone A is "congestion". The detour target zone is an example of a congested section in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the first threshold value is set to "congestion", which is the highest degree of congestion, but the first threshold value is not limited to this. For example, the detour route determination unit 103 may adopt a configuration in which the zone A having a degree of congestion of "congestion" or higher is set as the detour target zone.

Further, the detour route determination unit 103 determines a detour route which is a combination of a plurality of zones A capable of detouring the detour target zone. The detour target zone is a zone A located downstream of the detour target zone without the vehicle 2a passing through (passing) the detour target zone (zone A4 in this embodiment), and the detour target zone is possible. It means that it can merge with the route that goes through. In the present embodiment, the detour route determination unit 103 determines a route from zone A1 located in front of zone A4 to zone A3 via zone A2 as a detour route.

A known method can be adopted as a method for determining the detour route. For example, the detour route determination unit 103 generates a route that does not pass through the detour target zone by applying a known algorithm such as a cycle closing determination with each zone A as a node of the directed graph. The method for determining the detour route is not limited to this, and other methods may be adopted.

Further, the detour route determination unit 103 sets the zone A in which the vehicle 2a is determined to travel on the detour route as the detour confirmation zone. In the present embodiment, the zone A2 is the detour confirmation zone. The detour route determination unit 103 registers information about each zone A in the zone database 154. Further, the detour route determination unit 103 determines the zone A located upstream of the detour target zone and the detour confirmation zone and including the branch point between the detour target route and the detour route, or the zone A located upstream of the branch point. It is a branch zone.

Further, the detour route determination unit 103 registers the determined detour route in the route database 155. Further, the detour route determination unit 103 registers the route arriving from the zone A1 to the zone A3 via the zone A4 in the route database 155 as the detour target route.

The fare calculation unit 107 generates discount information applied to the vehicle 2a traveling on the detour route and registers it in the discount information database 152. More specifically, the charge calculation unit 107 acquires information on the detour route registered in the route database 155 and the zone A constituting the detour route registered in the zone database 154. Then, the charge calculation unit 107 determines the degree of discount applied to the vehicle 2a traveling on the detour route.

In the present embodiment, the method for determining the degree of discount is not particularly limited, but for example, the charge calculation unit 107 discounts the degree of discount as the detour route is longer than the detour target route. Decide to increase the amount. Further, when the degree of congestion is indicated by a continuous value, the charge calculation unit 107 may determine the degree of discount so that the higher the degree of congestion in the detour target zone, the larger the amount to be discounted.

Further, the charge calculation unit 107 determines the start time at which the application of the discount information is started, and registers it in the discount information database 152. The start time is, for example, the time when the charge calculation unit 107 generates the discount information, but the start time is not limited to this. For example, the charge calculation unit 107 may set the time after a predetermined time has elapsed since the acquisition unit 101 acquired the degree of congestion equal to or higher than the first threshold value (“congestion”) as the start time. In the present embodiment, only one discount information is registered, but when a plurality of zones A are congested in the toll road R, a plurality of discount information is registered.

Further, when the degree of congestion of the detour target zone becomes equal to or less than the second threshold value lower than the first threshold value (“congestion”) after the application of the discount information is started, the charge calculation unit 107 determines the discount information. End the application of. In the present embodiment, the second threshold value is "congestion", but is not limited to this. For example, the second threshold may be "smooth". The charge calculation unit 107 registers in the discount information database 152 the time when the degree of congestion of the detour target zone becomes equal to or less than the second threshold value as the end time.

Further, the charge calculation unit 107 uses the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a registered in the zone database 154 as the zone entrance of the zone A registered as the branch zone in the discount information database 152 as a destination device for discount information. Is registered in the transmission information database 156. At this time, the charge calculation unit 107 registers the destination device, the discount identification information that specifies the target discount information, and the zone type in association with each other.

Further, the toll calculation unit 107 determines the fixed charge of the vehicle 2a from the toll registered in the charge information database 151 each time the traveling zone of the vehicle 2a of the charge information database 153 is updated by the reception unit 105 described later. , The charge to be added for each zone A is calculated and registered in the billing information database 153.

Further, when the vehicle 2a is determined by the determination unit 106 described later to have passed the detour route, the toll calculation unit 107 calculates a discounted toll as the toll for the vehicle 2a. In the present embodiment, when the determination unit 106 determines that the vehicle 2a has passed the detour route, the detour confirmation flag of the billing information database 153 is set to "True". Therefore, when the detour confirmation flag is "True", the toll calculation unit 107 discounts the toll by using the discount degree associated with the discount identification information registered as the target discount information of the vehicle 2a. do. In other words, the toll calculation unit 107 of the present embodiment dynamically charges the toll to the vehicle 2a based on the travel route of the vehicle 2a and the discount information valid for the vehicle 2a.

The fare calculation unit 107 may apply the discount only to the fare of Zone A included in the detour route, or applies the discount to the fare of all Zone A traveled by the vehicle 2a. May be.

The transmission unit 104 transmits the detour route information to the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a registered in the transmission information database 156 as the transmission destination device. More specifically, the transmission unit 104 transmits detour route information to the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 via the traffic control device 200. The detour route information is information indicating the detour route.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the detour route information 700 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the detour route information 700 is information in which the detour identification information, the detour target zone, the detour confirmation zone, the branch zone, and the discount degree are associated with each other. The transmission unit 104 acquires these information from the discount information database 152 and transmits it as detour route information 700 to the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a. The data structure of the detour route information 700 shown in FIG. 8 is an example, and is not limited to this.

The road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a that has received the detour route information 700 stores the detour route information 700 in a storage unit (not shown). Then, the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a transmits the detour route information 700 to the vehicle-mounted device mounted on the vehicle 2a traveling within the communication range of the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a.

Further, the transmission unit 104 transmits the toll calculated by the toll calculation unit 107 to the exit device 12a in association with the vehicle identification information of the vehicle 2a. More specifically, the transmission unit 104 uses the exit device 12a installed in the zone A registered as the traveling zone of the vehicle 2a in the billing information database 153 to the vehicle identification information of the vehicle 2a registered in the billing information database 153. The associated fixed charge and the charge to be added in the zone A where the exit device 12a is provided are transmitted.

Further, when the application of the discount information set in the discount information database 152 is completed, the transmission unit 104 transmits the detour route information 700 associated with the discount identification information of the discount information to the road-to-vehicle communication device 10. Then, the deletion command of the detour route information 700 is transmitted via the traffic control device 200. Further, the transmission unit 104 transmits a deletion command of the detour route information 700 to the entrance device 11a that has transmitted the detour route information 700 associated with the discount identification information of the discount information for which the application has been completed. In the present embodiment, the transmission unit 104 determines that the application of the discount information has been completed when the end time is set in the discount information database 152.

Returning to FIG. 2, the receiving unit 105 is a road-to-vehicle communication device 10 in which the vehicle identification information of the vehicle 2a received by the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 from the on-board unit of the vehicle 2a and the vehicle identification information of the vehicle 2a are associated with each other. The identification information is received from the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 via the traffic control device 200. The identification information of the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 is an ID that identifies the road-to-vehicle communication device 10. Further, the receiving unit 105 receives the vehicle identification information of the vehicle 2a received from the vehicle-mounted device of the vehicle 2a by the entrance device 11a and the identification information of the entrance device 11a associated with the vehicle identification information of the vehicle 2a. Received from 11a. The identification information of the entrance device 11a is an ID that identifies the entrance device 11a.

The receiving unit 105 sets the traveling zone A in which the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a specified by the identification information is installed in the traveling zone of the billing information database 153 in association with the vehicle identification information of the vehicle 2a. Register as. Further, the receiving unit 105 registers the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a specified by the received identification information in the latest passing device of the billing information database 153. At this time, the receiving unit 105 sets the current time at the update time of the billing information database 153.

Further, the receiving unit 105 receives from the exit device 12a the vehicle identification information of the vehicle 2a received by the exit device 12a from the on-board unit of the vehicle 2a, and the identification information of the exit device 12a associated with the vehicle identification information of the vehicle 2a. And receive. The identification information of the exit device 12a is an ID that identifies the exit device 12a. When such information is received, the receiving unit 105 registers the exit device 12a specified by the received identification information in the latest passing device of the billing information database 153, registers it as "exit" in the traveling zone, and updates the time. Set the current time to.

The determination unit 106 determines which detour route the vehicle 2a has based on the vehicle identification information of the vehicle 2a received by the reception unit 105 for each zone A and the identification information of the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a. Determine if you passed.

More specifically, the determination unit 106 refers to the billing information database 153 updated by the reception unit 105, and the traveling zone of the vehicle 2a is set to any of the unfinished discount identification information registered in the discount information database 152. If it matches the associated branch zone, the discount identification information is registered as the target discount information. Further, at the time of registering the target discount information, since it is not determined whether or not the vehicle 2a actually travels on the detour route, the determination unit 106 sets the detour confirmation flag to "False".

Then, the determination unit 106 detours the vehicle 2a when the travel zone of the billing information database 153 updated by the reception unit 105 matches the detour confirmation zone associated with the discount identification information registered as the target discount information. Judge that you have taken the route. In this case, the determination unit 106 sets the detour confirmation flag of the billing information database 153 to "True".

Next, the dynamic billing process executed by the information processing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the dynamic billing process according to the present embodiment.

First, the acquisition unit 101 acquires congestion information on the toll road R from the traffic control device 200 (S1). Then, the congestion degree calculation unit 102 calculates the congestion degree for each zone A from the acquired congestion information (S2). The congestion degree calculation unit 102 registers the calculated congestion degree in the zone database 154.

Next, the detour route determination unit 103 determines whether or not there is a zone A whose congestion degree is "congested" for each zone A registered in the zone database 154 (S3).

When there is no zone A having a congestion degree of “congestion” (S3 “No”), the processing of setting the detour route and applying the discount is not executed, so the processing of S1 and S2 is repeated.

When there is a zone A having a congestion degree of "congestion" (S3 "Yes"), the detour route determination unit 103 sets the zone A having a congestion degree of "congestion" as a detour target zone. The detour route determination unit 103 determines a detour route that can detour the detour target zone (S4). The detour route determination unit 103 registers the determined detour route and the detour target route including the detour target zone in the route database 155. Further, the detour route determination unit 103 determines the detour confirmation zone and the branch zone, and registers them in the zone database 154.

Next, the charge calculation unit 107 generates discount information applied to the detour route determined by the detour route determination unit 103 (S5). For example, the charge calculation unit 107 determines the degree of discount so that the longer the detour route is longer than the detour target route, the larger the discount amount. Further, the charge calculation unit 107 sets, for example, the time when the discount information is generated as the start time of the discount. The charge calculation unit 107 registers the detour target zone, the detour confirmation zone, the branch zone, the discount degree, and the start time in the discount information database 152 in association with the discount identification information.

Further, the charge calculation unit 107 uses the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a registered in the zone database 154 as the zone entrance of the zone A registered as the branch zone in the discount information database 152 as a destination device for discount information. Is registered in the transmission information database 156.

Then, the transmission unit 104 identifies from the transmission information database 156 a destination device whose zone type is a branch zone and which is associated with discount information that has not ended. The transmission unit 104 transmits the detour route information 700 to the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a, which is the specified destination device (S6). In the present embodiment, the transmission unit 104 transmits the detour route information 700 to the road-to-vehicle communication device 10a installed in the zone A1 via the traffic control device 200. Further, the transmission unit 104 transmits the detour route information 700 to the entrance device 11a installed in the zone A0-1.

Here, in the example shown in FIG. 1, the road-to-vehicle communication device 10a that has received the detour route information 700 transmits the detour route information 700 to the vehicle-mounted device of the vehicle 2a that has entered the zone A1. The on-board unit mounted on the vehicle 2a displays on the display unit that the discount is applied when the vehicle travels in the detour confirmation zone based on the detour route information 700 received from the road-to-vehicle communication device 10a. Thereby, the on-board unit can guide the driver of the vehicle 2a to travel on the detour route. Further, the on-board unit may notify the driver that the discount is applied when the vehicle travels in the detour confirmation zone by outputting the contents of the detour route information 700 by voice.

Then, the toll discount processing for the vehicle 2a traveling on the detour route is started (S7). The details of the toll discount processing flow will be described later.

Further, the acquisition unit 101 acquires the congestion information of the toll road R again from the traffic control device 200 (S8). The congestion degree calculation unit 102 calculates the congestion degree for each zone A from the acquired congestion information (S9). The congestion degree calculation unit 102 updates the information in the zone database 154 with the calculated congestion degree.

The charge calculation unit 107 refers to the zone database 154 and determines whether or not the degree of congestion of the detour target zone is "congested" or less (S10). When the degree of congestion in the detour target zone does not become "congested" or less (S10 "No"), the processes of S7 to S10 are repeated.

When the degree of congestion of the detour target zone becomes equal to or less than the second threshold value (“congestion”) (S10 “Yes”), the charge calculation unit 107 determines that the degree of congestion of the detour target zone is the second threshold value (“congestion”). The following times are registered in the discount information database 152 as end times.

In this case, the transmission unit 104 transmits a deletion command of the detour route information 700 to the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a that has transmitted the detour route information 700 associated with the discount identification information of the discount information. (S11). In the present embodiment, the transmission unit 104 transmits a deletion command to the road-to-vehicle communication device 10a via the traffic control device 200. Further, the transmission unit 104 transmits a deletion command to the inlet device 11a. As a result, the transmission of the detour route information 700 to the vehicle 2a is completed from the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a. At this point, the processing of this flowchart ends.

Next, the toll discount processing executed by the information processing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the toll discount processing according to the present embodiment.

The receiving unit 105 receives the vehicle identification information received by the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 and the identification information of the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 from the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 via the traffic control device 200. Further, the receiving unit 105 receives the vehicle identification information received by the entrance device 11a and the identification information of the entrance device 11a from the entrance device 11a. The receiving unit 105 registers the traveling zone and the latest passing device of the billing information database 153 based on the received information. The determination unit 106 determines whether or not the vehicle 2a is traveling in the branch zone from the travel zone of the vehicle 2a registered in the billing information database 153 (S101).

When the traveling zone of the vehicle 2a matches the branch zone associated with any of the unfinished discount identification information registered in the discount information database 152, the determination unit 106 determines that the vehicle 2a travels in the branch zone. It is determined that the information is being processed (S101 “Yes”). In this case, the determination unit 106 registers the discount identification information for the vehicle 2a in the billing information database 153 (S102).

When the determination unit 106 determines that the vehicle 2a is not traveling in the branch zone (S101 "No"), the process of S101 is repeated.

Next, the determination unit 106 determines whether or not the vehicle 2a has traveled in the detour confirmation zone (S103). More specifically, the determination unit 106 determines that the vehicle 2a passes through the detour route when the travel zone of the billing information database 153 matches the detour confirmation zone associated with the discount identification information registered as the target discount information. (S103 "Yes"). When the determination unit 106 does not determine that the vehicle 2a has traveled in the detour confirmation zone (S103 “No”), the process of S103 is repeated.

When it is determined that the vehicle 2a has passed the detour route (S103 "Yes"), the determination unit 106 sets the detour confirmation flag of the billing information database 153 to "True" (S104).

The toll calculation unit 107 applies the discount of the discount identification information associated with the vehicle identification information of the vehicle 2a in the charge information database 153 to obtain the toll charge (fixed charge and the charge to be added) to be paid by the vehicle 2a. Update (S105). Further, the charge calculation unit 107 calculates the charge to be added for each zone A according to the latest travel zone of the vehicle 2a.

The transmission unit 104 transmits the toll (fixed charge and the charge to be added) of the vehicle 2a calculated by the charge calculation unit 107 to the exit device 12a in association with the vehicle identification information of the vehicle 2a (S106).

When the receiving unit 105 receives the vehicle identification information of the vehicle 2a from the exit device 12a (S107 “Yes”), the receiving unit 105 registers the exit device 12a specified by the received identification information in the latest passing device of the billing information database 153. , Register the exit of the vehicle 2a (S108). Further, when the receiving unit 105 does not receive the vehicle identification information of the vehicle 2a from the exit device 12a (S107 “No”), the receiving unit 105 repeats the process of S107 and stands by. Here, the toll discount processing is completed, and the process returns to the processing of the flowchart of FIG.

Further, in the flowchart of FIG. 10, when the determination unit 106 does not determine that the vehicle 2a has traveled in the detour confirmation zone (S103 “No”), the process of S103 is repeated, but the determination unit 106 determines that the vehicle 2a has traveled. It is possible to determine whether or not the vehicle has traveled in the detour target zone, and if the vehicle has traveled in the detour target zone, the discount process may be terminated, assuming that the discount is not applied.

As described above, the information processing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment has a detour route capable of bypassing the zone A when the congestion degree is equal to or higher than the first threshold value (“congestion”) in the toll road R. To determine. Further, the information processing device 100 of the present embodiment transmits the detour route information 700 indicating the detour route to the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a, and discounts the toll to the vehicle 2a traveling on the detour route. To apply. Therefore, according to the information processing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the traffic volume can be distributed from the congested zone A in the toll road R to other zones A.

Further, the information processing device 100 of the present embodiment transmits the detour route information 700 to the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a installed in the branch zone. Therefore, according to the information processing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the detour route information 700 can be notified to the driver of the vehicle 2a that has entered the branch zone.

Further, when the degree of congestion of the detour target zone becomes equal to or less than the second threshold value (“congestion”), the information processing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment has the detour route information 700 transmitted to the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a. Then, the deletion command of the detour route information 700 is transmitted. When the detour route information 700 is deleted in the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a, the transmission of the detour route information 700 to the vehicle-mounted device of the vehicle 2a by the road-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a ends. Therefore, according to the information processing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the notification of the detour route information 700 can be terminated at an appropriate timing according to the congestion status of the toll road R.

In this embodiment, the route information, the billing information, and the like are stored in each database of the storage unit 150, and each functional unit such as the charge calculation unit 107 and the transmission unit 104 refers to each database. , A configuration may be adopted in which data is transmitted to and received from each other between the functional units.

(Modification 1)
In the first embodiment, the information processing apparatus 100 ends the discount when the degree of congestion of the detour target zone becomes equal to or less than the second threshold value, but the timing of the end is not limited to this.

In this modification, the transmission unit 104 is a road-to-vehicle communication device that transmits information indicating a detour route when a predetermined time elapses after the degree of congestion of the detour target zone becomes equal to or less than the second threshold value. A detour route information 700 deletion command is transmitted to 10 or the entrance device 11a. According to the information processing apparatus 100 of the present modification, by providing such a configuration, it is possible to suppress the repetition of the end and start of the discount in a short time when the traffic jam occurs intermittently. ..

Further, a configuration may be adopted in which the application of the discount is terminated by the administrator of the toll road R or the like inputting the end time. Further, if the acquisition unit 101 can acquire the time when the traffic congestion is expected to be eliminated from the traffic control device 200, a configuration may be adopted in which the time is registered in advance as the discount end time.

(Modification 2)
In the first embodiment, the transmission unit 104 of the information processing apparatus 100 transmits the fixed charge of the vehicle 2a, the scheduled addition charge, and the vehicle identification information of the vehicle 2a to the exit device 12a, but further, the traffic control device. A configuration may be adopted in which these information are also transmitted to the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 via the 200. For example, the fare calculation unit 107 transmits the fixed fare and the like calculated by the fare calculation unit 107 to the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 installed in the zone A located ahead of the travel zone of the vehicle 2a. When this configuration is adopted, the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 transmits a fixed charge or the like at the time when the vehicle 2a enters each zone A to the vehicle-mounted device of the vehicle 2a. In this case, the on-board unit of the vehicle 2a can display the fixed charge or the like at the time of entering each zone A on the display unit to notify the driver.

(Modification 3)
In the first embodiment, the transmission unit 104 and the reception unit 105 of the information processing device 100 transmit and receive information to and from the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 via the traffic control device 200, but the information processing device 100 and the road-to-vehicle communication A configuration may be adopted in which information is directly transmitted / received to / from the device 10.

(Modification example 4)
In the first embodiment, when the vehicle 2a travels in the zone A corresponding to the branch zone associated with any of the unfinished discount identification information registered in the discount information database 152, the determination unit 106 travels. Although the discount identification information is registered as the target discount information of the vehicle 2a, the conditions for applying the target discount information to the vehicle 2a are not limited to this. For example, when the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a transmits the detour route information 700 to the vehicle-mounted device of the vehicle 2a, the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a acquires the vehicle identification information of the vehicle 2a that has received the detour route information 700, and the information. It may be transmitted to the processing device 100. When adopting this configuration, the determination unit 106 associates the discount identification information included in the detour route information 700 with the vehicle identification information of the vehicle 2a that has received the detour route information 700, and sets the billing information database as the target discount information. Register at 153.

Alternatively, regardless of whether or not the vehicle 2a has received the detour route information 700, the charge is calculated when the congestion degree of the detour target zone becomes equal to or less than the second threshold value and the end time is registered in the discount information database 152. A configuration may be adopted in which the unit 107 ends the application of the toll discount.

(Embodiment 2)
In the first embodiment, the case where one detour route is provided for one detour target route has been described, but a plurality of detour routes may be set.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of the ETC system S2 and the traffic control system S10 according to the present embodiment. The traffic control system S10 of the present embodiment includes a traffic control device 200 and road-to-vehicle communication devices 10a to 10e. The traffic control device 200 and the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 have the same functions as those in the first embodiment.

Further, the information processing apparatus 2100 of the present embodiment has the acquisition unit 101, the congestion degree calculation unit 102, the detour route determination unit 103, the transmission unit 104, and the reception unit, as in the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. It includes 105, a determination unit 106, a charge calculation unit 107, and a storage unit 150. The acquisition unit 101, the congestion degree calculation unit 102, the transmission unit 104, the reception unit 105, the determination unit 106, and the storage unit 150 have the same functions as those in the first embodiment.

In the example shown in FIG. 11, the route from zone A1 to zone A3 includes a route including "zone A1, zone A2, zone A3", a route including "zone A1, zone A4, zone A3", and a route including "zone A1". , Zone A5, Zone A3 ", there are three routes. Therefore, when one of the routes is congested or congested, the other route becomes a detour route.

In the present embodiment, the zone A4 is a detour target zone where the degree of congestion is “congestion”. In such a case, the detour route determination unit 103 can detour the route including "Zone A1, Zone A2, Zone A3" and the two routes including "Zone A1, Zone A5, Zone A3" to the detour target zone. Decide as a detour route. The configuration of the route shown in FIG. 11 is an example, and is not limited thereto. Further, the number of detour routes is not limited to two, and may be three or more.

The detour route determination unit 103 of the present embodiment has the function of the first embodiment, and determines the degree of congestion for each of a plurality of detour routes from the degree of congestion for each zone A calculated by the degree of congestion calculation unit 102. The detour route determination unit 103 may use the highest degree of congestion in the zone A constituting each detour route as the degree of congestion for each detour route, or determine the degree of congestion of the route using another method. Is also good.

Further, the charge calculation unit 107 of the present embodiment has the function of the first embodiment, generates discount information for each detour route, and registers the discount information in the discount information database 152. The toll calculation unit 107 of the present embodiment determines the discount rate of the toll according to the degree of congestion of each detour route. More specifically, the charge calculation unit 107 determines the degree of discount so that the lower the degree of congestion of each detour route, the higher the amount of discount. By determining the degree of discount in this way, the vehicle 2a can be guided to a detour route having a lower degree of congestion.

The flow of the dynamic billing process and the flow of the toll discount process in the present embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment.

According to the information processing apparatus 2100 of the present embodiment, when a plurality of detour routes are determined, the degree of discount of the toll is determined according to the degree of congestion of the detour routes, so that the congested zone in the toll road R is determined. The traffic volume can be further distributed from A to another zone A.

(Embodiment 3)
In the first embodiment, when the degree of congestion of the detour target zone becomes equal to or less than the second threshold value (“congestion”), the application of the discount is completed. In the present embodiment, the upper limit of the number of vehicles 2a to which the discount is applied is set, and when the upper limit is reached, the application of the discount is terminated.

The overall configuration of the ETC system S1 and the traffic control system S10 according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the functions of the information processing device 3100 and the traffic control device 200 according to the present embodiment. The traffic control device 200 of the present embodiment has the same functions as that of the first embodiment. The information processing apparatus 3100 of the present embodiment includes an acquisition unit 101, a congestion degree calculation unit 102, a detour route determination unit 103, a transmission unit 1104, a reception unit 105, a determination unit 106, a charge calculation unit 107, and the like. It includes a discount target control unit 108 and a storage unit 1150. The acquisition unit 101, the congestion degree calculation unit 102, the reception unit 105, the determination unit 106, and the charge calculation unit 107 have the same functions as those in the first embodiment.

The storage unit 1150 of the present embodiment includes a charge information database (DB) 151, a discount information database (DB) 1152, a billing information database (DB) 153, a zone database (DB) 154, and a route database (DB) 155. And a transmission information database (DB) 156. The information registered in the charge information database 151, the charge information database 153, the zone database 154, the route database 155, and the transmission information database 156 is the same as in the first embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the discount information database 1152 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 13, the discount information database 1152 of the present embodiment contains the discount identification information, the detour target zone, the detour confirmation zone, the branch zone, the discount degree, the start time, and the remaining number of discounts applied. Is associated and registered. The discount identification information, the detour target zone, the detour confirmation zone, the branch zone, the discount degree, and the start time are the same as those in the first embodiment.

The discount application remaining number is the remaining number of the vehicle 2a to which the discount is applied. When the remaining number of discounts applied becomes "0", the transmission unit 1104 described later transmits a deletion command of the detour route information 700 to the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a.

Returning to FIG. 12, the discount target control unit 108 determines the upper limit of the number of vehicles 2a subject to the toll discount according to the degree of congestion in the detour target zone. Then, the discount target control unit 108 registers the upper limit of the number of vehicles 2a in the discount information database 1152 as the remaining number of discounts applied. Further, the discount target control unit 108 refers to the billing information database 153, and each time the detour confirmation flag of the vehicle 2a becomes “True”, the discount application remaining number of the discount information associated with the detour confirmation flag is determined. Subtract. When the detour confirmation flag is set to "True" for the same number of vehicles as the upper limit of the number of vehicles 2a subject to the toll discount, the remaining number of discounts applied is "0".

Further, the detour route information 700 of the present embodiment further includes the upper limit of the number of vehicles 2a subject to the discount of the toll, in addition to the contents of the first embodiment. Therefore, the transmission unit 1104 of the present embodiment provides the detour route information 700 including the upper limit of the number of vehicles 2a subject to the discount of the toll, while providing the function of the first embodiment, as a road-to-vehicle communication device. It is transmitted to 10 or the inlet device 11a.

The road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a that has received the detour route information 700 is mounted on the vehicle-mounted device 2a traveling within the communication range of the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a, as in the first embodiment. , The detour route information 700 is transmitted. The on-board unit may notify the driver by displaying the upper limit of the number of vehicles 2a subject to the discount on the toll on the display unit or the like.

Further, the transmission unit 1104 of the present embodiment transmits the detour route information 700 associated with the discount identification information of the discount information when the remaining number of discount applications in the discount information database 1152 becomes “0”. A command to delete the detour route information 700 is transmitted to the inter-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the dynamic billing process according to the present embodiment. The process from the acquisition of the congestion information in S1 to the generation of the discount information in S5 is the same as the process of the first embodiment described with reference to FIG.

Next, the discount target control unit 108 determines the upper limit of the number of vehicles 2a to be discounted to the toll (S31). The discount target control unit 108 registers the upper limit of the number of vehicles 2a in the discount information database 1152 as the remaining number of discounts applied.

The transmission process of the detour route information 700 in S6 is the same as that in the first embodiment. The flow of the discount process (S32) of this embodiment will be described later.

Then, the transmission unit 1104 refers to the discount information database 1152, and determines whether or not the remaining number of discount applications of the currently applied discount information is “0” (S33). If the remaining number of discounts applied is not "0" (S33 "No"), the process returns to S32.

When the remaining number of discounts applied is “0” (S33 “Yes”), the transmission unit 1104 transmits the detour route information 700 associated with the discount identification information of the discount information, the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a. A deletion command for the detour route information 700 is transmitted to the user (S11).

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the toll discount processing according to the present embodiment. The process from determining whether the vehicle 2a of S101 is traveling in the branch zone to the process of changing the detour confirmation flag of S104 is the same as the process of the first embodiment described with reference to FIG.

The discount target control unit 108 refers to the billing information database 153, and every time the detour confirmation flag of the vehicle 2a becomes “True”, the discount application remaining number of the discount information associated with the detour confirmation flag is subtracted. (S301).

The process from the process of updating the toll toll to which the discount of S105 is applied to the process of registering the exit of the vehicle 2a of S108 are the same as the process of the first embodiment described with reference to FIG.

As described above, the information processing apparatus 3100 of the present embodiment determines the upper limit of the number of vehicles 2a subject to the discount of the toll fee according to the degree of congestion of the detour target zone, and the vehicle 2a traveling on the detour route. When the number of the detour route information 700 reaches the upper limit value, a deletion command of the detour route information 700 is transmitted to the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a that has transmitted the detour route information 700. Therefore, according to the information processing apparatus 3100 of the present embodiment, when the number of vehicles 2a reaches the upper limit, the notification of the detour route information 700 can be terminated, and the number of vehicles 2a to which the discount is applied can be increased. It can be controlled in detail.

(Modification 5)
The upper limit of the number of vehicles 2a subject to the toll discount may be configured to be input to the information processing apparatus 3100 by the administrator of the toll road R or the like.

(Modification 6)
The configuration of the first embodiment or the first modification may be combined with the configuration of the third embodiment. For example, the transmission unit 1104 is instructed to delete the detour route information 700 when the number of vehicles 2a traveling on the detour route reaches the upper limit value or when the degree of congestion in the detour target zone becomes equal to or less than the second threshold value. May be adopted.

(Embodiment 4)
In the present embodiment, by limiting the vehicle type to which the discount is applied, the vehicle of a specific vehicle type is guided to take a detour route.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of the ETC system S4 and the traffic control system S10 according to the present embodiment. In this embodiment, only a large vehicle such as vehicle 2b is subject to the toll discount. In this case, the toll is not discounted for ordinary vehicles such as vehicle 2c. Hereinafter, when the vehicle 2b and the vehicle 2c are not distinguished from each other, the vehicle 2 is referred to.

The traffic control device 200 of the present embodiment has the same functions as that of the first embodiment. Similar to the third embodiment, the information processing apparatus 4100 of the present embodiment includes an acquisition unit 101, a congestion degree calculation unit 102, a detour route determination unit 103, a transmission unit 1104, a reception unit 105, and a determination unit 106. , A charge calculation unit 107, a discount target control unit 108, and a storage unit 1150. The acquisition unit 101, the congestion degree calculation unit 102, the detour route determination unit 103, the reception unit 105, the determination unit 106, and the charge calculation unit 107 have the same functions as those in the first embodiment.

The storage unit 1150 of the present embodiment includes a charge information database 151, a discount information database 2152, a billing information database 153, a zone database 154, a route database 155, and a transmission information database 156. The information registered in the charge information database 151, the charge information database 153, the zone database 154, the route database 155, and the transmission information database 156 is the same as in the first and third embodiments.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the discount information database 2152 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 17, the discount information database 2152 of the present embodiment contains discount identification information, a detour target zone, a detour confirmation zone, a branch zone, a discount degree, a start time, an end time, and a discount. It is registered in association with the target vehicle type. The discount identification information, the detour target zone, the detour confirmation zone, the branch zone, the discount degree, the start time, and the end time are the same as those in the first and third embodiments.

The vehicle model subject to the discount is a vehicle model to which the discount is applied, and is an example of predetermined conditions in the present embodiment.

The discount target control unit 108 of the present embodiment determines the vehicle type to be discounted to the toll according to the degree of congestion in the detour target zone, and registers it in the discount information database 2152. For example, the discount target control unit 108 may adopt a configuration in which the vehicle types included in the discount target vehicle types are increased as the degree of congestion increases.

Further, the detour route information 700 transmitted by the transmission unit 1104 of the present embodiment further includes information on the vehicle type to which the toll discount is applied, in addition to the contents of the first embodiment. Therefore, the transmission unit 1104 of the present embodiment provides the function of the first embodiment and provides the detour route information 700 including the information of the vehicle type subject to the discount of the toll, to the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device. Send to 11a.

The road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a that has received the detour route information 700 is mounted on the vehicle-mounted device 2 mounted on the vehicle 2 traveling within the communication range of the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a, as in the first embodiment. , The detour route information 700 is transmitted. The on-board unit displays on the display unit that the discount is applied when the vehicle travels in the detour confirmation zone when the vehicle type subject to the toll discount matches the vehicle type of the vehicle 2 on which the own device is mounted. Alternatively, the on-board unit indicates that regardless of the vehicle type of the vehicle 2 on which the own device is installed, the vehicle type that is subject to the toll discount and that the discount is applied when the vehicle travels in the detour confirmation zone if it is the vehicle type. It may be displayed on the part.

Further, the receiving unit 105 of the present embodiment has the functions of the first embodiment, and receives vehicle identification information received by the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a from the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a. The identification information of the road-to-vehicle communication device 10 or the entrance device 11a is received in association with the vehicle type of the vehicle 2. The receiving unit 105 registers the received vehicle type of the vehicle 2 in the billing information database 153 in association with, for example, the vehicle identification information of the vehicle 2.

Further, the determination unit 106 of the present embodiment determines whether or not the vehicle type of the vehicle 2 determined to be traveling in the branch zone is the vehicle type subject to the discount after having the function of the first embodiment. do. More specifically, the discount target control unit 108 determines whether or not the vehicle type of the vehicle 2 registered in the billing information database 153 matches the discount target vehicle model registered in the discount information database 2152, and if they match. In addition, it is determined that the vehicle type of the vehicle 2 is the vehicle type subject to the discount.

The charge calculation unit 107 of the present embodiment is provided with the function of the first embodiment, and the vehicle type of the vehicle 2 received by the reception unit 105 is a vehicle type subject to discount, and the vehicle 2 is detoured. When it is determined that the vehicle has passed the route, a discounted toll is calculated as the toll for the vehicle 2.

The flow of the dynamic billing process in the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment described with reference to FIG.

Next, the flow of the toll discount processing in the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the toll discount processing according to the present embodiment. The process of determining whether or not the vehicle 2 of S101 is traveling in the branch zone is the same as the process of the first embodiment described with reference to FIG.

The discount target control unit 108 of the present embodiment determines whether or not the vehicle type of the vehicle 2 determined to be traveling in the branch zone is the discount target vehicle type (S401). When the vehicle type of the vehicle 2 is a vehicle type subject to discount (S401 “Yes”), the process proceeds to the process of registering the discount identification information of S102.

When the vehicle type of the vehicle 2 is not the vehicle type subject to discount (S401 "No"), the processes of S101 and S401 are repeated. The process from the process of registering the discount identification information in S102 to the process of registering the exit of the vehicle 2 in S108 is the same as the process of the first embodiment described with reference to FIG.

As described above, the information processing apparatus 4100 of the present embodiment determines the vehicle type to be discounted to the toll according to the degree of congestion in the detour target zone, and determines that the vehicle 2 has passed one of the detour routes. In this case, and when the vehicle 2 is a vehicle type subject to the discount of the toll, the discounted toll is calculated. In general, large vehicles are more likely to cause congestion on the toll road R than ordinary vehicles. Therefore, according to the information processing apparatus 4100 of the present embodiment, by inducing a specific vehicle type to travel on a detour route, it is possible to more efficiently move from the congested zone A in the toll road R to another. Traffic volume can be distributed to Zone A.

(Modification 7)
In the fourth embodiment, the discount target control unit 108 determines the discount target vehicle type, but a configuration may be adopted in which the administrator of the toll road R or the like inputs the discount target vehicle type.

(Modification 8)
The prescribed conditions that determine the application of the discount are not limited to the vehicle type. For example, a rule may be provided to specify the application target by the last two digits of the vehicle-mounted device ID. Alternatively, the vehicle 2 whose traveling time (time from passing through the entrance device 11a to the current time) on the toll road R is equal to or longer than the threshold value may be applied.

As described above, according to the information processing devices of the first to fourth embodiments, the traffic volume can be distributed from the congested zone A in the toll road R to other zones A.

Further, the configurations included in the above-described embodiments 1 to 4 and modifications 1 to 8 may be combined with each other. For example, the configuration of the second embodiment and the configurations of the third and fourth embodiments may be combined. Further, the configuration of the modification 1 may be combined with the configuration of the second to fourth embodiments.

The program executed by the information processing apparatus of the present embodiment is a file in an installable format or an executable format on a computer such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). It is recorded and provided on a readable recording medium.

Further, the program executed by the information processing apparatus of the present embodiment may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by downloading via the network. Further, the program executed by the information processing apparatus of the present embodiment may be configured to be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet. Further, the program executed by the information processing apparatus of the present embodiment may be configured to be provided by incorporating it into a ROM or the like in advance.

The program executed by the information processing unit of the present embodiment includes the above-mentioned units (acquisition unit, congestion degree calculation unit, detour route determination unit, transmission unit, reception unit, judgment unit, charge calculation unit, discount target control unit). As for the actual hardware, the CPU (processor) reads the program from the storage medium and executes it, so that each part is loaded on the main storage device, and the acquisition part, the congestion degree calculation part, and the like. A detour route determination unit, a transmission unit, a reception unit, a judgment unit, a charge calculation unit, and a discount target control unit are generated on the main storage device.

Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other embodiments, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

2,2a-2c Vehicle 10,10a-10e Road-to-vehicle communication device 11a Entrance device 12a Exit device 100, 2100, 3100, 4100 Information processing device 101 Acquisition unit 102 Congestion degree calculation unit 103 Detour route determination unit 104, 1104 Transmission unit 105 Receiving unit 106 Judgment unit 107 Charge calculation unit 108 Discount target control unit 150, 1150 Storage unit 151 Charge information database 152, 1152, 2152 Discount information database 153 Billing information database 154 Zone database 155 Route database 156 Transmission information database 700 Detour route information A , A0-A5 Zone R Toll Road S1, S2, S4 ETC System S10 Traffic Control System

Claims (10)

When there is a congested section in which the degree of congestion for each section in the toll road is equal to or higher than the first threshold value, one or a plurality of congested sections that are a combination of the sections in the toll road and can detour the congested section. The detour route determination unit that determines the detour route of
Information indicating the detour route is provided for each section of the toll road and is provided at a road-to-vehicle communication device capable of communicating with an on-board unit of a vehicle traveling on the toll road, or at the entrance of the toll road. A transmission unit that transmits to the entrance device that can communicate with the on-board unit,
The road-vehicle communication device or the entrance device identification information and the vehicle identification information received by the road-vehicle communication device or the entrance device from the vehicle-mounted device are received from the road-vehicle communication device or the entrance device. Receiver and
Based on the vehicle identification information received by the receiving unit for each section and the identification information of the road-to-vehicle communication device or the entrance device, it is determined whether or not the vehicle has passed any of the detour routes. Judgment department and
A toll calculation unit that calculates a toll by applying a discount to the vehicle when it is determined that the vehicle has passed one of the detour routes.
Equipped with
The receiving unit identifies a section in which the vehicle is traveling based on the identification information of the vehicle acquired from the road-to-vehicle communication device or the entrance device.
Each time the traveling section of the vehicle specified by the receiving unit changes, the toll calculation unit has a fixed charge, which is a toll on the travel route through which the vehicle has passed, and a section in which the vehicle is traveling. The toll will be calculated as the toll, which will change when the vehicle travels from to the exit device provided at the exit of the toll road.
The toll calculation unit transmits the fixed toll to the road-to-vehicle communication device installed in the section located ahead of the section in which the vehicle is traveling.
The road-to-vehicle communication device transmits the fixed charge at the time when the vehicle enters the section in which the road-to-vehicle communication device is installed in the on-board unit of the vehicle.
Information processing equipment. The acquisition unit that acquires congestion information on the toll road from the traffic control system,
A congestion degree calculation unit for calculating the congestion degree for each section in the toll road from the acquired congestion information is further provided.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. The transmitting unit transmits information indicating the detour route to a section located upstream of the congested section, including a section including a branch point between the route including the congested section and the detour route, or a section of the branch point. Transmission to the road-to-vehicle communication device or the entrance device installed in the section located upstream.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. When a plurality of the detour routes are determined, the toll calculation unit determines the degree of discount of the toll according to the degree of congestion of the detour routes.
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. When the degree of congestion in the congested section becomes equal to or less than a second threshold value lower than the first threshold value, the transmitting unit transmits information indicating the detour route to the road-to-vehicle communication device or the inlet device. , Sends a deletion command of the information indicating the detour route,
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The transmission unit transmits information indicating the detour route when a predetermined time elapses after the degree of congestion in the congestion section becomes equal to or lower than the second threshold value lower than the first threshold value. A command to delete information indicating the detour route is transmitted to the road-to-vehicle communication device or the entrance device.
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4. Further provided with a discount target control unit that determines an upper limit of the number of vehicles subject to the toll discount according to the degree of congestion in the congested section.
When the number of the vehicles traveling on the detour route reaches the upper limit value, the transmission unit provides the detour route to the road-to-vehicle communication device or the entrance device that has transmitted the information indicating the detour route. Send a command to delete the information shown,
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The toll calculation unit calculates the discounted toll when the determination unit determines that the vehicle has taken one of the detour routes and the vehicle meets a predetermined condition. calculate,
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7. The predetermined condition is a condition based on either the vehicle type of the vehicle, the identification information of the on-board unit, or the traveling time on the toll road.
Further, a discount target control unit for determining the predetermined condition according to the degree of congestion in the congestion section is provided.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 8. An information processing method executed by an information processing device.
When there is a congested section in which the degree of congestion for each section in the toll road is equal to or higher than the first threshold value, one or a plurality of congested sections that are a combination of the sections in the toll road and can detour the congested section. Detour route determination step to determine the detour route of
Information indicating the detour route is installed in each section of the toll road and is provided at a road-to-vehicle communication device capable of communicating with an on-board unit of a vehicle traveling on the toll road, or at the entrance of the toll road. , A transmission step to transmit to the entrance device capable of communicating with the on-board unit,
The road-vehicle communication device or the entrance device identification information and the vehicle identification information received by the road-vehicle communication device or the entrance device from the vehicle-mounted device are received from the road-vehicle communication device or the entrance device. Receive step and
Whether or not the vehicle has passed any of the detour routes based on the vehicle identification information received for each section in the reception step and the identification information of the road-to-vehicle communication device or the entrance device. Judgment steps to judge and
A fare calculation step of applying a discount to the vehicle and calculating a toll when it is determined that the vehicle has passed one of the detour routes.
Including
In the reception step, the section in which the vehicle is traveling is specified based on the identification information of the vehicle acquired from the road-to-vehicle communication device or the entrance device.
In the toll calculation step, each time the traveling section of the vehicle specified in the receiving step changes, a fixed charge, which is a toll on the travel route through which the vehicle has passed, and a section in which the vehicle is traveling The toll to be added, which is scheduled to change when traveling from to the exit device provided at the exit of the toll road, is calculated as a toll, and the section located ahead of the section in which the vehicle is traveling is calculated. The fixed charge is transmitted to the installed road-to-vehicle communication device, and the vehicle enters the section where the road-to-vehicle communication device is installed in the vehicle-mounted device of the vehicle. Send a fixed fee,
Information processing method.

Images