JPH1021488A - Method for estimating congested block and device therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and device for estimating a congested block for highly accurately estimating a congested block and a congestion level being an index for grasping a traffic situation, and a road traffic system using this. SOLUTION: This congested block estimating device is provided with a data totaling means 12 which totals the traveling history data of a vehicle 10 through an on-vehicle equipment and a communicating device 11 on a road, data selecting means 13 which selects the traveling history data for each road block, means 140 which sets a threshold value for discriminating congestion, means 141 which compares the traveling history data with the threshold value for discriminating congestion, and estimates a congested block, means 142 which sets a threshold value for discriminating a congestion level for discriminating the level of congestion, and means 143 which calculates a congestion evaluation value by using the traveling history data and the threshold value for discriminating congestion, compares the congestion evaluation value with the threshed value for discriminating the congestion level, and discriminates the congestion level of the congested block. Thus, the congested block and the congestion level can be exactly and highly precisely estimated, and the smoothing of the congestion can be validated by applying it to traffic control such as optimal signal control or information offering to a driver or the like.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for estimating a congested section and a system for applying the congested section, and more particularly to a method and means for estimating a congested section and a degree of congestion, which are indicators for grasping traffic conditions. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An example of a conventional technique for estimating a congested section will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a relationship between a vehicle traveling on a road and a traffic jam detection sensor installed on the road, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relationship between traffic volume and time occupancy data for 5 minutes. It is a figure showing an example of the method of judging whether it is.

In FIG. 2, for example, ultrasonic waves are applied to a passing traffic flow from ultrasonic sensors 21 to 26 provided as traffic congestion detecting sensors on a road 27, and the number of passing vehicles per unit time and the vehicle occupation time are calculated. Get the data. The vehicle occupation time is converted into a time occupancy, and the traffic volume and the time occupancy are plotted, for example, every 5 minutes as shown in FIG. 3, and it is determined whether or not there is a traffic jam based on a relationship with a predetermined boundary line. Traffic congestion information at the installation points of these ultrasonic sensors 21 to 26 is collected at a traffic control center or the like, and a traffic congestion section is estimated based on the information. On the road 27, at a certain time, it is assumed that information that only the ultrasonic sensors 22, 23, and 24 are congested is obtained.
Was estimated to be a congested section.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional example, when estimating the traffic congestion in a section where no ultrasonic sensor is installed, the estimation is made from the traffic congestion at a point where the adjacent ultrasonic sensor is installed. Therefore, it is difficult to estimate with high accuracy, and it becomes more difficult when the installation interval of the ultrasonic sensors is increased.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 62-295200 discloses that the past and present time characteristics and spatial characteristics of traffic flow are taken into account.
1 shows a traffic information monitoring device that determines that a congestion situation has changed when the actual traffic density and the traffic volume largely change with respect to an approximate curve of the traffic density and the traffic volume. In this conventional example, the past characteristics of traffic flow are also taken into account,
The basic idea is the same as that of the conventional example of FIG. 3 in that it is determined whether or not there is a traffic jam based on a relationship with a predetermined boundary line, and it is possible to finely recognize the traffic jam section and the degree of the traffic jam that each vehicle has traveled so far. However, it was difficult to accurately estimate the current situation and accurately predict future traffic congestion.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2-129797 discloses a traffic congestion recognition device that detects the traffic congestion and controls the automatic transmission of the own vehicle to take in the degree of acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle and recognizes the traffic congestion in an individual vehicle. I have. In this conventional example, since the vehicle position is not stored, the traffic congestion position, that is, the traffic congestion section cannot be recognized.
In addition, since the degree of congestion is not detected, it is impossible to reflect it in a traffic strategy for traffic congestion mitigation such as signal control and vehicle guidance in a traffic control center, for example.

An object of the present invention is to provide a traffic congestion section estimation method for transmitting a spatial traveling history of a vehicle from a vehicle-mounted device to a traffic control center, processing data of each vehicle, and estimating a traffic congestion section based on the data with high accuracy. It is to provide a congestion section estimation device.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a traffic information providing system, a vehicle route guidance system, and a traffic signal control system to which the congested section estimation device is applied.

[0009]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention collects traveling history data of a vehicle via a vehicle-mounted device and a roadside communication device, and sorts traveling history data for each road section. Then, the selected travel history data is compared with the threshold value for determining traffic congestion to estimate a congestion section, and using the travel history data and the threshold value for determining traffic congestion, a congestion evaluation value is obtained. A congestion section estimation method for comparing a congestion degree determination threshold with a congestion degree determination threshold value to determine the congestion degree of a congestion section is proposed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data totalizing means for totalizing travel history data of a vehicle via a vehicle-mounted device and a communication device on the road side, and sorting the travel history data for each road section. Data selection means, means for setting a traffic jam determination threshold value, means for comparing the travel history data and the traffic jam determination threshold value to estimate a traffic jam section,
Means for setting a threshold value for determining the degree of congestion, and a traffic congestion evaluation value obtained by using the travel history data and the threshold value for congestion determination; comparing the congestion evaluation value with the threshold value for congestion degree determination; A traffic congestion section estimating device comprising means for determining a congestion degree of a section is proposed.

When the traveling history data is traveling speed data of a vehicle on a traveling road, the congestion evaluation value is equal to or less than the congestion determination threshold value of the traveling history data displayed using the traveling distance as a parameter. Is calculated as the area of the portion surrounded by the traveling speed data.

When the travel history data is data on the degree of brake depression of the vehicle on the travel road, the congestion evaluation value is a threshold value for determining the congestion of the travel history data displayed using the travel distance as a parameter. It is calculated as the area of the part surrounded by the above-mentioned brake depression degree data.

[0013] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides any one of the above congestion section estimating apparatus for estimating congestion section and congestion degree of the congestion section, and the running time based on the estimation result of congestion section and congestion degree. And a means for providing a traffic congestion estimation result or a traveling time prediction result to each vehicle via a communication device and an on-vehicle device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a traffic congestion section estimating apparatus for estimating a congestion section and a congestion degree of the congestion section, and a congestion section and a congestion degree estimation result. And a means for searching for a better route and guiding each vehicle.

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above-mentioned other objects, any one of the above congestion section estimating apparatuses for estimating congestion sections and congestion sections, and a result of estimation of congestion sections and congestion degrees are used. We propose a traffic signal control system that determines signal control parameters and controls signals.

In the traffic state estimation / prediction method and apparatus according to the present invention, since continuous running history data of each vehicle is used as the data on which the estimation is based, the conventional traffic congestion sensor system which can only obtain spot data is used. Compared to,
The congestion section and the degree of congestion in the congestion section can be estimated with high accuracy.

Since the estimated congestion section and the degree of congestion in the congestion section become more accurate than before, a traffic information providing system using the data, a travel time estimation prediction system, a vehicle route guidance system, a traffic signal control. Road traffic systems, such as systems, can also be a powerful tool in congestion mitigation.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of a congestion section estimation method and a congestion section estimation apparatus according to the present invention and a road traffic system to which the invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. .

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a congestion section estimation device according to the present invention. In this embodiment, a case where a vehicle beacon is used as the on-road communication device will be described. However, other communication means such as a radio base station and a telephone base station may be employed instead of the vehicle beacon.

The vehicle 10 traveling on the road 27 is a vehicle equipped with a vehicle-mounted device such as a personal computer, a car navigation system, a car telephone, and a wireless device, and can communicate with a road communication device. Although the situation is not shown here, the in-vehicle device is connected to various sensors such as a vehicle speed sensor, and stores travel history data such as a vehicle speed and a brake together with a position and a travel distance, The travel history data is transmitted to the beacon 11, and traffic information such as traffic regulation and traffic information is received from the beacon 11.

The beacon 11 is a road communication device capable of mutual information communication with a passing vehicle 10 equipped with an on-vehicle device. The beacon 11 receives running history data from the vehicle 10,
The traffic information such as traffic congestion information of the traffic control center is transmitted to the vehicle 10. When the in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle 10 is an automobile telephone or a wireless device, the beacon may be replaced with a telephone base station and a wireless base station, respectively.

The present embodiment is limited to the basic purpose of accurately and accurately estimating the congestion section and the degree of congestion,
Without sending traffic information such as congestion information to individual in-vehicle devices,
If traffic jam information is to be displayed on a guide board installed on a road or the like, there is only a function of transmitting travel history data from the vehicle 10 to the beacon 11, and there is no need to have a function of transmitting information from the beacon 11 to the vehicle 10. .

The beacon 11 transmits the received travel history data to the data tallying unit 12. The data tabulation unit 12
It collects and stores the received travel history data such as speed and brake data for each vehicle. Data sorting part 1
3 sorts the travel history data for each road section according to the information about the beacon that the vehicle 10 has passed just before the certain beacon 11, that is, according to the travel route of the vehicle 10.
The traffic congestion estimation device 14 estimates the traffic congestion section and the traffic congestion degree of each road using the selected traveling history data, and causes the estimation result display unit 15 to display the traffic congestion section and the congestion degree.

The main unit 14 of the congestion estimating apparatus comprises a congestion determination threshold value setting unit 140, a congestion section estimation unit 141, a congestion degree judgment threshold value setting unit 142, and a congestion degree judgment unit 143. The traffic jam determination threshold value setting unit 140 sets a threshold value for determining whether or not there is a traffic jam for each road section.
The congestion section estimation unit 141 estimates a congestion section using the set threshold value and data for each road section obtained from the data selection unit 13. Congestion determination threshold setting unit 1
Reference numeral 42 sets a threshold value for determining the degree of congestion for each road section. The congestion degree determination unit 143 determines the degree of congestion of the road section estimated by the congestion section estimation unit 141 using the congestion degree determination threshold value and the data for each road section from the data selection unit 13. Traffic congestion estimation device 14
Estimates the congestion section and the degree of congestion of the route between adjacent beacons based on the travel history data of each time zone selected by the data selection unit 13.

The estimation result display section 15 displays the result of the congestion section and the degree of congestion estimated by the main body 14 of the congestion estimation device as a CR.
The information is displayed on a display device such as a T display or a liquid crystal display.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a simplified structure of a road network in which a beacon is installed. FIG. 5 shows running history data (running speed data) for a running road and a threshold value for determining traffic congestion. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship with the following. In FIG. 5, a traveling speed curve 50 shows an example of an average traveling speed history with respect to a traveling road position of a plurality of vehicles that have passed through the beacon 41 from the beacon 41 in FIG. The threshold value 51 indicates a traffic jam determination threshold value (boundary speed) set by the traffic jam threshold value setting unit 140.

First, a case where the traveling speed data is used as the traveling history data will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 4, beacons 40 to 43 each communicate information with a vehicle traveling in a direction of an arrow on a road where each is installed. For example, it is assumed that the vehicle 10 equipped with the in-vehicle device has passed under the beacon 40 in the direction of the arrow. At this time, immediately before the vehicle 10 passes the beacon 40, the beacon adjacent to the upstream side (primary connection beacon)
Either 41, 42, or 43 has passed, or none of these has passed because of inflow from a sideway on the way. Here, the vehicle that has flowed in from a sideway on the way has no information from the primary connection beacons 41, 42, and 43, and does not contribute to estimating the congestion section and the degree of congestion with high accuracy. Only vehicles that have passed the primary connection beacons 41, 42, 43 are targeted. For example, suppose that the vehicle passed the primary connection beacon 41 immediately before passing the beacon 40. That is, the route of the vehicle 10 is the beacon 41 → the intersection 44 → the beacon 40. The vehicle-mounted device and the data totaling unit 12 cooperate with each other to store speed history data as shown in FIG. 5, for example, while the vehicle 10 travels on the route. Data sorting part 1
No. 3 selects only the speed history data between the beacon 41 and the beacon 40 (between AB in FIG. 5), that is, the portion of the route transmitted from each vehicle 10. It is averaged and stored for each time period (for example, every 5 minutes) when the beacon 40 receives. This is performed for each path.

Similarly, when the brake data is used as the travel history data, the degree to which the driver depresses the brake (brake degree) while traveling in each route section is stored in the vehicle-mounted device and transmitted to the beacon 40. The braking degree data in the route transmitted from each vehicle 10 is averaged and stored for each time period when the beacon 40 receives the data.

The congestion threshold setting unit 140 sets a threshold for the user (road manager) to determine whether or not there is congestion according to each route. When the traveling speed data is targeted as the history data, a boundary speed between traffic congestion and non-congestion (for example, 30 km / h) is set as the threshold value, and when the braking degree data is targeted as the history data, the threshold is set. As a value, a boundary braking degree between traffic congestion and non-congestion (for example, 30%) is set.

FIG. 6 shows beacon 41 and beacon 4 in FIG.
It is a figure which cuts out and shows running speed data between 0.
The traffic congestion section estimating unit 141 determines the traffic congestion section based on the travel history data for each time zone and each route selected by the data selection unit 13 and the traffic congestion determination threshold set by the traffic congestion threshold setting unit 140. Is estimated. In FIG. 5 or FIG. 6, a portion (hatched portion) surrounded by the traveling speed curve 50 and the traffic jam determination threshold value 51 and having a speed lower than the threshold value 51, that is, CD, EB, or EF, is the estimated traffic jam. It is a section.

FIG. 7 shows traveling history data for the traveling road.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a relationship between a (brake degree curve) and a traffic jam determination threshold value. Referring to FIG.
Represents the history of the average of the braking degrees of the plurality of vehicles that have passed through the beacons 41 and 40 in FIG. 4 with respect to the travel road position in a certain time zone. The threshold value (boundary braking degree) for traffic jam determination set by the setting unit 140 is shown. In FIG. 7, a braking degree curve 70 and a traffic jam determination threshold value 71 are shown.
(Hatched portion), ie, CD, EB, which are surrounded by
(Or EF) is an estimated congestion section.

As described above, the congestion section is estimated using the travel history data from the data selection unit 13 and the congestion determination threshold from the congestion threshold setting unit 140. If the congestion section can be estimated, it is easy to obtain the length of the congestion using road map data or the like.

The congestion degree determination threshold value setting unit 142 determines whether the traffic congestion is estimated by the congestion section estimation unit 141 (see FIG. 5).
A threshold for determining the degree of congestion of CD, EB (or EF) in FIGS. 6 and 7 is set. Here, the traffic congestion degree is 3
The levels are classified into levels, and the congestion degrees are 3, 2, and 1 in descending order of the congestion degree. In this case, the threshold value b1 is set as the boundary between the congestion degrees 1 and 2, and the threshold value b2 is set as the boundary between the congestion degrees 2 and 3.

The congestion degree judging section 143 includes the congestion section estimating section 1
For the road section estimated at 41, a traffic congestion evaluation value is obtained using the travel history data for each road section from the data selection unit 13 and the threshold set by the traffic congestion threshold setting unit 140. Subsequently, the degree of congestion is determined by comparing the congestion evaluation value with the threshold set by the congestion degree determination threshold setting unit 142. Specifically, in FIG. 5, FIG. 6, or FIG. 7, first, the area of the hatched portion is obtained as the traffic congestion evaluation value S. Next, the congestion evaluation value S and the congestion degree determination threshold b
The degree of congestion is determined based on the relationship between 1 and b2.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a procedure for determining the degree of congestion from the relationship between the congestion evaluation value S and the congestion degree determination thresholds b1 and b2. Congestion evaluation value S and congestion degree determination threshold b
1 and b2 to determine the degree of congestion. in this case,
As the area of the traffic congestion evaluation value S increases, the degree of congestion increases, and the numerical value of the congestion degree increases.

In this manner, the congestion section (length of congestion) can be estimated, and the degree of congestion in the congestion section can be estimated.

The congestion section estimation method and the congestion section estimation device of the present invention can be applied as follows. When the congestion section and the degree of congestion in the section are estimated by the above method, and the congestion state of the estimation result is transmitted to the driver (vehicle device) of each vehicle 10 via the beacon 11, a congestion information providing system can be constructed. In addition, the present situation of the travel time of the section is estimated using the above-mentioned traffic congestion estimation result, and the travel time is estimated and predicted using the method of predicting the future situation. When the estimation result is transmitted to the machine, a travel time estimation prediction system can be constructed. Furthermore, when the above-described traffic congestion estimation result is applied to a system for searching for an optimum route and providing the route to the driver of each vehicle 10 described in, for example, JP-A-5-135300,
A route guidance system for guiding 0 to an optimal route can be constructed. For example, when the above-described traffic congestion estimation result or traveling time estimation prediction result is applied to a method of determining a control parameter of a traffic signal described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-166697, a signal control system that determines an optimal parameter of the traffic signal can be constructed. .

[0038]

According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a congestion section estimation method and a congestion section estimation apparatus capable of accurately and accurately estimating a congestion section in an arbitrary road network and its degree of congestion. Further, if this estimation result is used for traffic control such as optimal signal control and information provision to a driver, an effective road traffic system for reducing traffic congestion can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a congestion section estimation device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a relationship between a vehicle traveling on a road and a traffic jam detection sensor installed on the road.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a method for determining whether or not there is traffic congestion based on a relationship between a traffic volume for 5 minutes and time occupancy data.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a simple configuration of a road network in which a beacon is installed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a relationship between traveling history data (traveling speed data) for a traveling road and a traffic jam determination threshold value.

FIG. 6 is a diagram cut out and shows traveling speed data between the beacon 41 and the beacon 40 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a relationship between travel history data (brake degree data) for a travel road and a traffic jam determination threshold value.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for determining a congestion degree from a relationship between a congestion evaluation value S and a congestion degree determination threshold value b.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 Vehicle equipped with on-vehicle device 11 Beacon 12 Data tabulation unit 13 Data selection unit 14 Main unit of traffic congestion estimation device 140 Traffic congestion determination threshold setting unit 141 Traffic congestion section estimation unit 142 Traffic congestion degree threshold setting unit 143 Traffic congestion degree determination unit 15 Estimation result display part 21-26 Ultrasonic sensor 27 Road 40-43 Beacon 44 Intersection 50 Travel speed curve 51 Threshold for traffic jam determination (travel speed) 70 Brake degree curve 71 Threshold for traffic jam determination (brake degree)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Takayoshi Yokota 7-1-1, Omika-cho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture Within Hitachi Research Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd.

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising: summarizing travel history data of the vehicle via an on-vehicle device and a roadside communication device, sorting the travel history data for each road section, and selecting the sorted travel history data and a traffic jam determination threshold. Estimate the traffic congestion section by comparing the value and the traffic history evaluation value using the travel history data and the traffic congestion determination threshold, and compare the traffic congestion evaluation value and the traffic congestion degree determination threshold Determining the degree of congestion in the congested section by using the method. 2. The traffic jam section estimation method according to claim 1, wherein the travel history data is travel speed data of a vehicle on a travel road. 3. The traffic congestion section estimation method according to claim 2, wherein the traffic congestion evaluation value is equal to or less than the traffic congestion determination threshold value of the travel history data indicating a travel distance as a parameter. A traffic congestion section estimation method characterized by being calculated as an area of a portion surrounded by speed data. 4. The congestion section estimation method according to claim 1, wherein the travel history data is data on a degree of brake depression of a vehicle on a traveling road. 5. The traffic congestion section estimation method according to claim 4, wherein the traffic congestion evaluation value is a traffic congestion determination threshold value of the travel history data in which a travel distance is displayed as a parameter, and a brake that is equal to or greater than the threshold value. A congestion section estimating method characterized by being calculated as an area of a portion surrounded by stepping degree data. 6. A data summarizing means for summarizing traveling history data of a vehicle via an on-vehicle device and a roadside communication device; a data sorting means for sorting the traveling history data for each road section; Means for setting a value; means for estimating a congestion section by comparing the travel history data with the threshold value for congestion determination; means for setting a threshold value for congestion degree determination; Means for determining a congestion evaluation value using the congestion determination threshold value and comparing the congestion evaluation value with the congestion degree determination threshold value to determine the congestion degree of the congestion section Estimation device. 7. The traffic jam section estimation device according to claim 6, wherein the travel history data is travel speed data of a vehicle on a travel road. 8. The congestion section estimating device according to claim 7, wherein the congestion degree determination unit is configured to determine the congestion determination threshold value of the travel history data indicating a travel distance as a parameter and a threshold value equal to or less than the threshold value. A congestion section estimating device, which is means for calculating the congestion evaluation value as an area of a portion surrounded by travel speed data. 9. The congestion section estimation device according to claim 6, wherein the travel history data is data of a degree of brake depression of a vehicle on a traveling road. 10. The congestion section estimating device according to claim 9, wherein the congestion degree determination unit is configured to determine whether or not the traffic congestion determination threshold value of the travel history data indicating a travel distance as a parameter is equal to or greater than the threshold value. A congestion section estimating device, which is means for calculating the congestion evaluation value as an area of a portion surrounded by brake depression degree data. 11. A traffic congestion section estimating device according to claim 6, which estimates a congestion section and a congestion degree of the congestion section, and calculates a travel time based on the estimation result of the congestion section and the congestion degree. Means for predicting and providing information on the traffic congestion estimation result or the traveling time prediction result to each vehicle via the communication device and the on-vehicle device. 12. The traffic congestion section estimating device according to claim 6, which estimates a congestion section and a congestion degree of the congestion section, and is more suitably used using the estimation result of the congestion section and the congestion degree. Means for searching for a route and guiding each vehicle. 13. A traffic congestion section estimating apparatus according to claim 6, which estimates a congestion section and a congestion degree of the congestion section, and performs signal control using the estimation result of the congestion section and the congestion degree. A traffic signal control system characterized in that the traffic light control system determines the parameters of the traffic light and controls the traffic light.