JPWO2013140510A1 - Congestion name determination device and control method - Google Patents

Abstract

The traffic jam naming device includes a traffic jam detection unit, a cause identification unit, and a naming unit. The traffic jam detection means detects the occurrence of traffic jam. The cause identifying means identifies the name of the point causing the traffic detected by the traffic congestion detecting means. The naming means names the detected traffic jam based on the name of the identified point.

Description

  The present invention relates to a traffic jam naming apparatus for determining a name of a detected traffic jam.

  Conventionally, a technique for recognizing the length of a traffic jam, a start point position, an end point position, and the like based on vehicle position information is known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for calculating the traveling speed of a vehicle from vehicle information including the position of the vehicle and the time at the position, and recognizing the waiting time and the congestion length in each branch direction at the intersection. .

JP 2005-259116 A

  If there is a traffic jam on the road, if the cause of the traffic jam is not known, the driver cannot properly determine whether to line up the traffic jam. Therefore, in this case, there is a possibility that time may be wasted unnecessarily in a traffic jam line for a parking lot of a facility that is not planned to stop, or the vehicle may pass without being lined up in a traffic jam queue to be arranged.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and a main object of the present invention is to provide a traffic jam naming apparatus capable of appropriately naming traffic jams.

  The invention according to claim 1 names the traffic jam based on the traffic jam detecting means for detecting the occurrence of the traffic jam, the cause identifying means for identifying the name of the spot causing the traffic jam, and the name of the spot. And naming means.

  The invention according to claim 13 is a control method executed by the traffic jam naming apparatus, the traffic jam detection step for detecting the occurrence of traffic jam, the cause identifying step for identifying the name of the point causing the traffic jam, And a naming step for naming the traffic jam based on the name of the point.

A schematic configuration of the traffic jam naming system is shown. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a client terminal. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of a present Example.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the traffic jam naming device is based on the traffic jam detection means for detecting the occurrence of traffic jam, the cause specifying means for specifying the name of the spot causing the traffic jam, and the name of the spot. And naming means for naming the traffic jam.

  The traffic jam naming apparatus includes a traffic jam detection unit, a cause identification unit, and a naming unit. The traffic jam detecting means detects the occurrence of traffic jam. The cause identifying means identifies the name of the point causing the traffic detected by the traffic congestion detecting means. Here, the “point name” refers to a name capable of specifying a position such as a facility name, an intersection name, and a meeting point name. The naming means names the detected traffic jam based on the name of the identified point. By doing so, the traffic jam naming device can make the user understand the cause of the traffic jam when the traffic jam name is presented to the user, and can easily determine whether or not the traffic jam should be lined up. Can do.

  In one aspect of the traffic jam naming apparatus, the cause identifying means identifies the name of a point causing traffic jam based on the current day of the week or time zone. Thereby, the traffic jam naming apparatus can set the traffic jam name that accurately reflects the cause of the traffic jam.

  In another aspect of the traffic jam naming device, the traffic jam detecting unit detects a start point position of the traffic jam, and the cause identifying unit uses a name of a point existing in the vicinity of the start point position as the cause of the traffic jam. It is specified as the name of the point. In general, there is a point such as a facility that causes a traffic jam at the start point of the traffic jam. Therefore, according to this aspect, the traffic jam naming apparatus can suitably specify the name of the point causing the traffic jam.

  In another aspect of the traffic jam naming device, the cause identifying means identifies a name of a store existing in the vicinity of the start point position as a name of a point causing the traffic jam. Thereby, the traffic jam naming apparatus can set the traffic jam name that accurately reflects the cause of the traffic jam.

  In another aspect of the traffic jam naming device, the traffic jam naming device determines whether or not it is necessary to line up in a traffic jam column approaching within a predetermined distance when performing route guidance to a set destination. And a guiding unit that guides a user to the traffic jam column when the determination unit determines that it is necessary to line the traffic jam column to reach the destination. According to this aspect, the traffic jam naming apparatus can suppress the user from being confused by whether or not to line up in the traffic jam column.

  In another aspect of the traffic jam naming device, the guiding means guides the user to the traffic jam column when the traffic jam approaching point is within a predetermined distance. According to this aspect, the traffic jam naming apparatus can suppress the user from being confused by whether or not to line up in the traffic jam column.

  In another aspect of the traffic jam naming device, the traffic jam naming device further includes a storage unit that stores a first database in which a name registered as the name of the location causing the traffic jam is associated with the location information of the location, The cause identifying means refers to the first database and identifies a name of a point existing in the vicinity of the start point position as a name of a point causing the traffic jam. According to this aspect, the traffic jam naming device can more accurately name the traffic jam name reflecting the cause of the traffic jam based on the name of the point corrected based on the field survey or the like.

  In another aspect of the traffic jam naming apparatus, the storage unit further stores a second database in which the name of each point is associated with the location information of the point, and the cause specifying unit includes the first identification unit. Depending on the database, if the name of the point causing the traffic jam cannot be specified, the name of the point existing in the vicinity of the start point position is specified with reference to the second database. According to this aspect, the traffic jam naming apparatus performs traffic jam naming based on the second database even when there is no name of the corresponding point in the first database, while making the best use of the first database. Can do.

  In another aspect of the traffic jam naming device, the naming unit names the traffic jam to a name including a name indicating the degree of the traffic jam and a name of the spot identified by the cause identifying unit. In this way, the traffic jam naming device names the traffic jam to the name that expresses the degree of traffic jam and the cause of the traffic jam, so that when the traffic jam name is presented to the user, the cause of the traffic jam and the degree of traffic jam can be easily shown to the user. Can be grasped.

  In another aspect of the traffic jam naming device, the traffic jam naming device further comprises receiving means for receiving the location information and the time information from a device that generates location information regarding the current location and time information at the current location, The traffic jam detecting means detects the occurrence of the traffic jam based on the position information and the time information. According to this aspect, the traffic jam naming apparatus can preferably detect the occurrence of traffic jam.

  In another aspect of the traffic jam naming device, when the traffic jam approaches within a predetermined distance, and / or when the traffic jam section is present on the displayed map, the name of the traffic jam is output. According to this aspect, the traffic jam naming apparatus can allow the user to grasp the cause of the traffic jam and easily determine whether or not the traffic jam queue should be arranged.

  In another aspect of the traffic jam naming device, the traffic jam naming device has display means for changing a display mode of the named traffic jam name according to the degree of the traffic jam and / or the type of the cause of the traffic jam. According to this aspect, the traffic jam naming apparatus can make the user easily grasp the cause of traffic jam and / or the level of traffic jam.

  In another embodiment of the present invention, a control method executed by the traffic jam naming device, the traffic jam detecting step for detecting the occurrence of traffic jam, the cause identifying step for identifying the name of the point causing the traffic jam, A naming step of naming the traffic jam based on the name of the point. By using this control method, the traffic jam naming device can name the traffic jam name to a name that can grasp the cause of the traffic jam.

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

[Congestion naming system]
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a traffic jam naming system according to the present embodiment. The traffic jam naming system includes a position information transmission device 100, a server device 200, and a client terminal 300.

  The position information transmitting apparatus 100 includes a GPS receiver and generates position information related to the current position of the position information transmitting apparatus 100 at predetermined time intervals or at indefinite intervals. Then, the position information transmitting apparatus 100 sends a signal “S1” including the generated position information and time information indicating the date and time at the position to the server apparatus 200 for each predetermined time set to a length equal to or longer than the predetermined time. Send. The position information transmission device 100 is, for example, a mobile device such as a navigation device or a smartphone mounted on a vehicle.

  Based on the signal S1 received from the location information transmitting device 100, the server device 200 generates traffic congestion distribution information including the traffic jam name that names the detected traffic jam, and in response to the request signal “S2” from the client terminal 300, the traffic jam A signal “S 3” including distribution information is transmitted to the client terminal 300. The detailed configuration of the server device 200 will be described in detail in the section [Configuration of Server Device].

  The client terminal 300 is, for example, a navigation device, a personal computer, a portable terminal, or the like, and transmits a traffic jam distribution information request signal S2 to the server device 200. For example, at the time of route search or route guidance, the client terminal 300 transmits a request signal S2 designating an area including a departure point and a destination, a time zone, and the like to the server device 200, and receives traffic congestion distribution information. When the client terminal 300 approaches the traffic jam section within a predetermined distance, the client terminal 300 displays or voice-outputs the traffic jam name of the traffic jam section, or when the traffic jam section is included in the displayed map, The name of the traffic jam is displayed at the position corresponding to.

  The server device 200 and the client terminal 300 are an example of a traffic jam naming device in the present invention. The server device 200 is an example of “congestion detection unit”, “cause identification unit”, and “name unit” in the present invention. The client terminal 300 includes “output unit”, “display unit”, And “guidance means”.

[Configuration of server device]
Next, the configuration of the server device 200 will be specifically described with reference to FIG. The server device 200 includes a processor such as a CPU and a memory (storage means) such as a ROM and a RAM, and performs a predetermined process by executing a program stored in the memory. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the server device 200 functionally includes a traffic jam detection unit 10, a traffic jam name determination unit 11, a spot information management unit 12, a traffic jam cause information management unit 13, and distribution information management. Part 14. In addition, the server device 200 stores a traffic jam information database (hereinafter, “database” is simply referred to as “DB”) 21, a spot information DB 22, a traffic jam cause information DB 23, and a traffic jam distribution information DB 24 in a memory. . Hereinafter, each process performed by the server apparatus 200 will be described.

(1) Traffic jam detection The traffic jam detection unit 10 detects the presence or absence of traffic jam based on the location information and time information indicated by the signal S1 received from the location information transmission device 100, and generates traffic jam information when the traffic jam is detected. For example, the traffic jam detection unit 10 calculates the moving speed of the position information transmitting device 100 based on the position information and time information indicated by the received signal S1, and the traffic jam is determined within a range of positions where the moving speed is a predetermined value or less. It is considered to be a section that occurs (also called a “congestion section”). Then, the traffic jam detection unit 10 passes the information on the date and time when the traffic jam occurred (also referred to as “traffic traffic date information”), information on the traffic jam shape (also referred to as “traffic traffic shape information”), and the target traffic jam section. Information of the time required for the traffic (also referred to as “traffic congestion passing time information”) is generated as traffic jam information and stored in the traffic jam information DB 21.

  Here, a method for generating the traffic shape information, the traffic date / time information, and the traffic time information included in the traffic information will be specifically described. When the traffic jam shape information is generated, the traffic jam detection unit 10 firstly calls a traffic jam section start point (also referred to as a “traffic jam start point”) and a traffic jam section end point (also referred to as a “traffic jam end point”). .) Here, the traffic jam start point corresponds to the position of the front row of vehicles lined up due to the traffic jam, and the traffic jam end point corresponds to the rearmost position of the vehicles lined up due to the traffic jam. Then, the traffic jam detection unit 10 obtains traffic jam start point information and traffic jam end point information, and information on an intermediate point such as an intersection between the traffic jam start point and the traffic jam end point necessary for specifying the shape of the traffic jam section. Determine as In addition, the traffic jam detection unit 10 sets, for example, traffic jam date and time information that specifies the date and time zone indicated by the time information corresponding to each position information from the traffic jam start point to the traffic jam end point. Further, for example, the traffic jam detection unit 10 determines information indicating a time difference between time information corresponding to the location information of the traffic jam end point and time information corresponding to the location information of the traffic jam start point in the traffic jam passing time information.

(2) Determination of traffic jam name Next, a method for determining the traffic jam name will be described. Schematically, the traffic jam name determination unit 11 inquires the name indicating the traffic jam cause from the point information management unit 12 or the traffic jam cause information management unit 13 based on the position information of the traffic jam start point. Then, the congestion name determination unit 11 determines a name that is a combination of the inquired name and the name indicating the degree of congestion as the congestion name.

  Here, first, the point information management unit 12 and the traffic jam cause information management unit 13 will be specifically described.

  The point information management unit 12 has a point information DB 22. The spot information DB 22 is a database that stores spot information including each spot name registered in advance and position information of the spot indicated by the spot name. The point information DB 22 is an example of the “second database” in the present invention. When the location information management unit 12 receives the location information of the traffic jam start point from the traffic jam name determination unit 11, the location information management unit 12 refers to the location information stored in the site information DB 22 and finds the nearest location within a predetermined distance from the traffic jam start point. Search for a name. The above-mentioned predetermined distance is set to a range of errors that can occur when the target point is a point that causes traffic jam, and is specifically set to an appropriate value in advance based on experiments or the like. Generally, the traffic jam start point is a traffic jam causing point such as an intersection, a construction site, a merge point, an entrance point to a specific popular facility, or the like. The point information DB 22 stores point names such as intersections, junctions, and facilities as point information. By using the point information DB 22, the point information management unit 12 causes traffic jams based on the location information of the traffic jam start point. It is possible to suitably search for a spot name that becomes. Then, the spot information management unit 12 transmits information indicating that there is no spot name or a corresponding spot name as a search result to the traffic jam name determining unit 11.

  The traffic jam cause information management unit 13 has a traffic jam cause information DB 23 which is a database of traffic jam cause information. Here, the traffic jam cause information is a name that has been confirmed or corrected by the administrator as a point causing the traffic jam (also referred to as “congestion cause name”), the location information of the point, and the administrator confirmed or corrected. Maintenance date and time information which is information on the date and time when The traffic jam cause information DB 23 is an example of the “first database” in the present invention. The traffic jam cause information may be prepared by investigating the actual situation in the world, or may be collected by collecting points that are often set as destinations by users of the communication navigation system. Also, if it is known that bargains and events will be held at specific dates and times, the stores that hold those bargains and the venues where the events will be held will be established as a cause of traffic congestion. In addition, by grasping a construction schedule for road construction and the like, it is possible to grasp that the cause of the traffic jam is caused by the road construction, and to provide an appropriate traffic jam cause name for maintenance.

  Here, the congestion cause name is determined based on the congestion name included in the congestion distribution information stored in the congestion distribution information DB 24. Specifically, when the spot name included in the traffic jam name is appropriate as the name indicating the cause of the target traffic jam, the manager defines the spot name or the like as the traffic jam cause name. If the administrator determines that the name of the spot included in the traffic jam name is not appropriate as the name indicating the target traffic jam, based on the input to the server device 200, the administrator selects the traffic jam of the target It can be changed to an appropriate name as a name to be shown and can be determined as a traffic jam cause name. Here, the manager determines whether or not the location name included in the traffic jam name is appropriate as the name indicating the target traffic jam based on a field survey or the like.

  For example, when the cause of the traffic jam is a traffic jam due to a sudden accident, and the traffic jam name is set to the facility name near the traffic jam start point, the traffic jam cause name is added to or in place of the facility name. The name is set to indicate that there is an accident traffic jam. In another example, the name of the traffic jam is set to a name including the name of the building near the traffic jam start point (for example, “△△ building congestion”), and the cause of the traffic jam is a specific popular store among the stores in the building. (For example, “XX Electric”) If it is clear from a field survey that the traffic is jammed, the name of the cause of the traffic jam is set to the store name of the above-mentioned popular store instead of the building name. The

  When the traffic jam cause information management unit 13 receives the location information of the traffic jam start point from the traffic jam name determination unit 11, the traffic jam cause information management unit 13 refers to the traffic jam cause information DB 23 and includes traffic jam cause information including location information indicating a predetermined distance from the traffic jam start point. Search for. The predetermined distance is set to a distance within the recognition error range of the traffic jam start point, and is set to an appropriate value in advance based on experiments or the like. Then, the traffic jam cause information management unit 13 notifies the traffic jam name determination unit 11 that there is no traffic jam cause name or corresponding traffic jam cause information in the traffic jam cause information as a search result.

  It should be noted that the name of the traffic jam cause that is retrieved from the traffic jam cause information DB 23 and notified may vary depending on the day of the week or the time zone. For example, even in a traffic jam occurring at the same point, the cause may differ depending on the day of the week or the time zone. Specifically, the congestion that occurs from morning to noon is caused by a popular electronic store in a tenant building near the beginning of the congestion, but the congestion that occurs from evening to night is the same tenant. It can be due to the building's popular restaurant. Therefore, the traffic jam cause information management unit 13 can notify the traffic jam name determination unit 11 of appropriate traffic jam cause information by taking into account the day of the week and the time zone when referring to the traffic jam cause information DB 23. In this case, the traffic jam cause information DB 23 needs to have information on the day of the week and the time zone that can cause traffic jams in correspondence with the traffic jam cause name. Further, instead of or in addition to the day of the week or the time zone, the traffic jam cause name to be notified may vary depending on the road type at the traffic jam starting point.

  Next, processing performed by the traffic jam name determining unit 11 will be described.

  When the traffic jam information is generated by the traffic jam detection unit 10, the traffic jam name determination unit 11 determines a traffic jam name to be named as the traffic jam indicated by the traffic jam information. Specifically, the traffic jam name determination unit 11 first transmits location information of the traffic jam start point included in the traffic jam shape information of the traffic jam information to the traffic jam cause information management unit 13, and the corresponding traffic jam cause name is the traffic jam cause information. An inquiry is made as to whether it is stored in the DB 23. When the traffic jam cause name is stored in the traffic jam cause information DB 23, the traffic jam name determination unit 11 receives a traffic jam cause name notification from the traffic jam cause information management unit 13. In this case, the congestion name determination unit 11 adds a name (for example, “XX electricity congestion”) obtained by adding a name indicating the degree of congestion (also referred to as “congestion level name”) to the congestion cause name. Stipulated in The naming here is to give 1 name to 1 traffic jam, simply place name or location name (for example, intersection name) where traffic jam occurs and traffic jam occurs. It is not just a matter of displaying the indication that there is in parallel.

  Even in one place, there may be a plurality of elements that cause traffic jams. For example, if there are a plurality of popular stores in a tenant building existing at a certain point, it is considered that there are a plurality of causes of traffic jams for one place. According to the present invention, it is possible not only to notify that a traffic jam has occurred at that point, but also to clearly understand whether a specific popular store in the tenant building is causing the traffic jam.

  Here, the “congestion level name” is a name that is set according to the congestion level in the target traffic congestion section, and is set to a name that makes it easy to intuitively recognize the corresponding congestion level. Specifically, the traffic jam name determining unit 11 sets a traffic jam name based on the length of the transit time indicated by the traffic jam transit time information included in the traffic jam information. At this time, the congestion level name may be set to a name including humor so as to relieve the stress of the recognized user. For example, the congestion level name is set to the names “congested”, “traffic jam”, and “despaired traffic jam” in descending order of the congestion level.

  On the other hand, when a notification that the corresponding traffic jam cause name is not stored is received from the traffic jam cause information management unit 13, the traffic jam name determination unit 11 transmits the location information of the traffic jam start point to the point information management unit 12. Then, an inquiry is made as to whether or not the point name corresponding to the traffic jam starting point is stored in the point information DB 22. When the traffic name determining unit 11 receives a notification of the location name corresponding to the traffic jam starting point from the location information managing unit 12, the traffic name name adding unit adds a name (for example, “ΔΔ building traffic jam”) to which the traffic name is added. Set to the name of the traffic jam.

  The traffic jam name determination unit 11 determines the traffic jam name as the traffic jam name when neither the target location name nor the traffic jam cause name exists in either the location information DB 22 or the traffic jam cause information DB 23.

  After the determination of the congestion name, the congestion name determination unit 11 notifies the distribution information management unit 14 of the determined congestion name.

(3) Generation and Distribution of Congestion Distribution Information The distribution information management unit 14 has a congestion distribution information DB 24 that is a database of congestion distribution information. When receiving the notification of the traffic jam name from the traffic jam name determination unit 11, the delivery information management unit 14 stores the traffic jam information in the traffic jam distribution information DB 24 as traffic jam distribution information in association with the traffic jam information generated by the traffic jam detection unit 10.

  When receiving the traffic jam distribution information request signal “S2” from the client terminal 300, the distribution information management unit 14 sends the signal “S3” including the target traffic jam distribution information to the client terminal 300 according to the request signal S2. Send. Here, the request signal S2 may include information specifying the traffic jam distribution information. For example, the request signal S2 includes information designating the date and time or time zone when the traffic jam occurred, information designating the location, information designating the traffic jam degree, information designating the traffic jam name, or a combination thereof. Also good. In this case, the distribution information management unit 14 extracts the corresponding traffic congestion distribution information from the traffic congestion distribution information DB 24 according to the specified information, and transmits a signal S3 including the traffic congestion distribution information to the client terminal 300.

[Client terminal configuration]
Next, a specific configuration example of the client terminal 300 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows, as an example, a schematic configuration diagram when the client terminal 300 is a navigation device. As shown in FIG. 2, the client terminal 300 includes a self-contained positioning device 15, a GPS receiver 19, a system controller 25, a disk drive 31, a data storage unit 36, a communication interface 37, a communication device 38, a display unit 40, an audio output. A unit 50 and an input device 60 are provided.

  The self-supporting positioning device 15 includes an acceleration sensor 16, an angular velocity sensor 17, and a distance sensor 18. The acceleration sensor 16 is made of, for example, a piezoelectric element, detects vehicle acceleration, and outputs acceleration data. The angular velocity sensor 17 is composed of, for example, a vibrating gyroscope, detects the angular velocity of the vehicle when the direction of the vehicle is changed, and outputs angular velocity data and relative azimuth data. The distance sensor 18 measures a vehicle speed pulse composed of a pulse signal generated with the rotation of the vehicle wheel.

  The GPS receiver 19 receives radio waves 70 carrying downlink data including positioning data from a plurality of GPS satellites. The positioning data is used to detect the absolute position of the vehicle from latitude and longitude information.

  The system controller 25 includes an interface 26, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 27, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 28, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 29, and controls the entire client terminal 300.

  The interface 26 performs an interface operation with the acceleration sensor 16, the angular velocity sensor 17, the distance sensor (vehicle speed sensor) 18, and the GPS receiver 19. From these, vehicle speed pulses, acceleration data, relative azimuth data, angular velocity data, GPS positioning data, absolute azimuth data, and the like are input to the system controller 25. The CPU 27 controls the entire system controller 25 by executing a program prepared in advance. The ROM 28 has a nonvolatile memory (not shown) in which a control program for controlling the system controller 25 is stored. The RAM 29 stores various data such as route data preset by the user via the input device 60 so as to be readable, and provides a working area for the CPU 27.

  A system controller 25, a disk drive 31 such as a CD-ROM drive or a DVD-ROM drive, a data storage unit 36, a communication interface 37, a display unit 40, an audio output unit 50 and an input device 60 are mutually connected via a bus line 30. It is connected to the.

  The disk drive 31 reads and outputs content data such as music data and video data from a disk 33 such as a CD or DVD under the control of the system controller 25. The disk drive 31 may be either a CD-ROM drive or a DVD-ROM drive, or may be a CD and DVD compatible drive.

  The data storage unit 36 is configured by, for example, an HDD and stores various data used for navigation processing such as map data. The communication device 38 includes, for example, an FM tuner, a beacon receiver, a mobile phone, a dedicated communication card, and the like, and is distributed from a VICS (registered trademark) (Vehicle Information Communication System) center or the like (hereinafter referred to as “VICS information”). Is obtained from the radio wave 39. The interface 37 performs an interface operation of the communication device 38 and inputs the VICS information to the system controller 25 and the like.

  The display unit 40 displays various display data on a display device such as a display under the control of the system controller 25. Specifically, the system controller 25 reads map data from the data storage unit 36. The display unit 40 displays the map read from the data storage unit 36 by the system controller 25 and the current location of the vehicle on the display screen. The display unit 40 includes a graphic controller 41 that controls the entire display unit 40 based on control data sent from the CPU 27 via the bus line 30 and a memory such as a VRAM (Video RAM), and can display image information that can be displayed immediately. A buffer memory 42 that temporarily stores, a display control unit 43 that controls display of a display 44 such as a liquid crystal display or a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) based on image data output from the graphic controller 41, and a display 44 are provided. . The display 44 functions as an image display unit, and includes, for example, a liquid crystal display device having a diagonal of about 5 to 10 inches and is mounted near the front panel in the vehicle.

  The audio output unit 50 performs D / A (Digital to Analog) conversion of audio digital data sent from the CD-ROM drive 31, DVD-ROM 32, RAM 29 or the like via the bus line 30 under the control of the system controller 25. A D / A converter 51 to perform, an amplifier (AMP) 52 that amplifies the audio analog signal output from the D / A converter 51, and a speaker 53 that converts the amplified audio analog signal into sound and outputs the sound into the vehicle. It is prepared for.

  The input device 60 includes keys, switches, buttons, a remote controller, a voice input device, and the like for inputting various commands and data. The input device 60 is disposed around the front panel and the display 44 of the main body of the in-vehicle electronic system mounted in the vehicle. When the display 44 is a touch panel system, the touch panel provided on the display screen of the display 44 also functions as the input device 60.

  The system controller 25 displays the map read from the data storage unit 36 and the current location of the vehicle on the display unit 40 and the like, and transmits a request signal S2 for traffic jam distribution information to the server device 200, and based on the received traffic jam distribution information. Output. For example, the system controller 25 displays the name of the corresponding traffic jam for the traffic jam section existing in the map displayed on the display unit 40, or when the traffic jam section is approached or approaches within a predetermined distance from the traffic jam section. The corresponding traffic jam name is displayed or voice output. The above-mentioned predetermined distance is set to a distance that allows a lane change or the like to line up in a traffic jam column.

  Here, as described above, the traffic jam name is composed of the traffic jam name and the traffic jam cause name or the name of the point at the traffic jam starting point. Accordingly, the system controller 25 can cause the user to appropriately recognize the traffic jam name included in the traffic jam distribution information by appropriately recognizing the traffic jam name included in the traffic jam distribution information, based on the traffic jam name included in the traffic jam name. Further, the system controller 25 can cause the user to understand the name of the facility causing the traffic jam based on the traffic jam cause name included in the traffic jam name. It can be easily determined whether or not to line up.

[Processing flow]
Next, a processing procedure according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure executed by the position information transmitting device 100, the server device 200, and the client terminal 300 in the present embodiment.

  First, the position information transmitting apparatus 100 generates position information and transmits a signal S1 including the position information to the traffic jam detection unit 10 of the server apparatus 200 (step S101). Specifically, the position information transmitting apparatus 100 generates position information at a constant interval or an indefinite interval, and sends the signal S1 including the generated position information and corresponding time information to the server device 200 at a predetermined time or an indefinite interval. Send to.

  Next, the traffic jam detection unit 10 generates traffic jam information and notifies the traffic jam name determination unit 11 that the traffic jam information has been generated (step S102). Specifically, the traffic jam detection unit 10 determines the presence or absence of traffic jam based on the received signal S1, and when it is judged that a traffic jam section exists, the traffic jam date / time information, traffic jam shape information, and traffic jam transit time information Is generated as traffic jam information. Then, the traffic jam detection unit 10 stores the generated traffic jam information in the traffic jam information DB 21 and notifies the traffic jam name determination unit 11 to that effect.

  Next, the traffic jam name determination unit 11 inquires of the traffic jam cause information management unit 13 about the corresponding traffic jam cause name based on the location information of the traffic jam start point (step S103). Note that the position information of the traffic jam start point is included in the traffic jam shape information of the traffic jam information generated by the traffic jam detection unit 10. Then, the traffic jam cause information management unit 13 searches the traffic jam cause information DB 23 for relevant traffic jam cause information based on the received traffic jam starting point position information, and notifies the traffic jam name determination unit 11 of the result (step S104). Specifically, first, the traffic jam cause information management unit 13 determines whether or not the traffic jam cause information DB 23 has location information indicating a location within a predetermined distance from the location indicated by the received location information of the traffic jam start point. To determine. Then, when there is traffic jam cause information satisfying the condition in the traffic jam cause information DB 23, the traffic jam cause information management unit 13 transmits the traffic jam cause name included in the traffic jam cause information to the traffic jam name determination unit 11 and sets the condition. If there is no traffic jam cause information to be satisfied in the traffic jam cause information DB 23, the traffic jam name determining unit 11 is notified of this fact.

  Next, the traffic jam name determination unit 11 determines whether or not the corresponding traffic jam cause name exists based on the result notification from the traffic jam cause information management unit 13 (step S105). And when the corresponding traffic jam cause name exists (step S105: Yes), the traffic jam name determination part 11 advances a process to step S108. On the other hand, when the corresponding traffic jam cause name does not exist (step S105: No), the traffic jam name determination unit 11 sends the location information of the traffic jam start point to the location information management unit 12, thereby inquiring the location name. (Step S106). And the spot information management part 12 searches applicable spot information from spot information DB22, and notifies the result to the traffic jam name determination part 11 (step S107). Specifically, first, the point information management unit 12 determines whether or not point information having position information indicating a position within a predetermined distance from the position indicated by the received position information of the traffic jam start point exists in the point information DB 22. . And the point information management part 12 transmits the point name contained in the said point information to the traffic jam name determination part 11, when the point information which satisfy | fills conditions exists in point information DB22, and the point information which satisfy | fills conditions satisfy | fills a point. If it does not exist in the information DB 22, it notifies the traffic jam name determination unit 11 to that effect. In addition, when there are a plurality of pieces of point information that satisfy the conditions, the point information management unit 12 sets the point name corresponding to the position information closest to the position indicated by the received position information of the traffic jam start point to the traffic jam name determination unit 11. Send.

  Next, the traffic jam name determination unit 11 determines the traffic jam name and notifies the distribution information management unit 14 of the determined traffic jam name (step S108). Specifically, first, the traffic jam name determination unit 11 determines, as the traffic jam name, a name obtained by adding a traffic jam degree name determined based on traffic jam transit time information included in the traffic jam information to the received traffic jam cause name or spot name. Note that the traffic jam name determination unit 11 determines the traffic jam name as the traffic jam name when neither the traffic jam cause name nor the spot name can be acquired. Then, the traffic jam name determination unit 11 notifies the distribution information management unit 14 of the determined traffic jam name.

  Next, the distribution information management unit 14 generates traffic congestion distribution information (step S109). Specifically, the distribution information management unit 14 generates traffic congestion distribution information in which the information on the traffic jam name notified from the traffic jam name determination unit 11 is added to the traffic jam information generated by the traffic jam detection unit 10, and the traffic jam distribution information DB 24 To remember. Then, when there is a request for traffic jam distribution information from the client terminal 300 (step S110), the distribution information management unit 14 transmits the designated traffic jam distribution information to the client terminal 300 (step S111). As a result, when the client terminal 300 approaches the traffic jam section, the client terminal 300 can display or voice output the traffic jam name included in the received traffic jam distribution information, and easily drive the traffic jam degree and the traffic jam cause of the traffic jam section. Can be recognized.

[Modification]
Hereinafter, modified examples suitable for the above-described embodiments will be described. The following modifications may be applied in any combination to the above-described embodiments.

(Modification 1)
The distribution information management unit 14 may add information (also referred to as “genre information”) indicating the type of congestion cause to the congestion distribution information transmitted to the client terminal 300. Here, the genre information is information for the client terminal 300 to identify each traffic jam such as a traffic jam due to an accident, a traffic jam passing through an intersection, a traffic jam crossing a level crossing, and a traffic jam entering a parking lot of a specific facility. It is.

  In this case, first, genre information is set in each traffic jam cause information in the traffic jam cause information DB 23 based on an input to the server device 200 by the administrator. Then, the traffic jam name determination unit 11 acquires genre information together with the traffic jam cause name from the traffic jam cause information management unit 13 and transmits it to the distribution information management unit 14 together with the determined traffic jam name. And the delivery information management part 14 adds genre information to traffic jam distribution information, and memorize | stores it in traffic jam delivery information DB24. Depending on the genre, there may be a case where the name of the traffic jam can be obtained by inquiring of the location information DB 22 instead of the traffic jam cause information DB 23 and naming the traffic jam.

  By doing so, the client terminal 300 can recognize the type of the cause of the traffic jam in the target traffic jam section when the traffic jam distribution information is acquired from the server device 200. Therefore, for example, the client terminal 300 changes the display mode of the traffic jam name based on the genre information, such as changing the display mode of the traffic jam section on the map displayed on the display unit 40 or displaying the traffic jam name characters in different colors. Can be.

(Modification 2)
The distribution information management unit 14 may add information indicating the degree of congestion (also referred to as “congestion degree information”) to the congestion distribution information transmitted to the client terminal 300. In this case, the congestion name determination unit 11 transmits the congestion level information together with the congestion name to the distribution information management unit 14, and the distribution information management unit 14 stores the congestion level information in the congestion distribution information DB 24 in addition to the congestion distribution information. To do.

  In this way, for example, the client terminal 300 changes the display mode of the traffic jam section on the map displayed on the display unit 40 based on the traffic jam degree information, or displays the traffic jam name characters in different colors. The display mode of the name can be changed.

  Instead of this example, the client terminal 300 may extract the congestion level name included in the congestion name of the acquired congestion distribution information and recognize the congestion level from the congestion level name.

(Modification 3)
When the client terminal 300 receives the traffic jam distribution information, it is arranged in the traffic jam column when it is determined that it is necessary to line up in the traffic jam column in addition to or instead of the process of outputting the traffic jam name. May be induced. The case where it is necessary to line up in the traffic jam line is the case where the end point of the traffic jam is the destination, when there is no detour other than the route where the traffic jam occurs, or when the detour is selected This is a case where it takes time to reach the ground. If the end point of the traffic jam is a parking lot, there may be no other alternative parking lots.

  This will be specifically described. While executing the route guidance to the set destination, the client terminal 300 determines whether or not there is a traffic jam section in the zone corresponding to the planned travel route based on the traffic jam distribution information. When a traffic congestion section exists in the section corresponding to the planned travel route, the client terminal 300 recognizes the position of the traffic congestion end point from the traffic congestion shape information of the traffic congestion distribution information, and approaches the position of the traffic congestion end point within a predetermined distance. It is determined whether or not. The above-mentioned predetermined distance is set to a distance that allows lane change, and is set according to, for example, the number of lanes and the traveling speed. When the position of the traffic congestion end point is approached within a predetermined distance, the client terminal 300 outputs that it is necessary to line up at the position of the traffic congestion end point, and induces a change to the lane corresponding to the position of the traffic congestion end point. .

  At this time, the client terminal 300 preferably displays or voice-outputs the name of the traffic jam together with the lane change guidance. By doing in this way, the client terminal 300 can make a user recognize the reason which should change into a lane and line up in a traffic jam row | line | column with a traffic jam name.

  Preferably, similarly to (Modification 1), when the genre information is attached to the traffic jam distribution information, the client terminal 300 moves to the end point position of the traffic jam section approaching within a predetermined distance based on the genre information. It may be further determined whether or not the vehicles should be lined up. For example, when the genre information indicates a traffic jam for entering a parking lot of a specific facility, the client terminal 300 indicates that the destination and the location of the traffic jam start point are within a predetermined distance. Only when they match, it is determined that the vehicles should line up at the end point of the traffic jam section. On the other hand, if the client terminal 300 determines that the destination and the position of the traffic jam start point are more than a predetermined distance and the destination and the facility causing the traffic jam do not match, the vehicle should not line up at the traffic jam end point. Judgment is not made and lane guidance to the position of the traffic jam end point is not performed. In this way, the client terminal 300 can more accurately determine whether or not it is necessary to line up in a traffic jam column. In addition, there is no detour to the destination, and it is necessary to line up with traffic jams, or by detouring traffic jams, it takes more time to reach the destination than when lining up in traffic jams In such a case, lane guidance to the end point of the traffic jam may be performed.

(Modification 4)
The client terminal 300 has a configuration capable of determining whether or not there is a traffic jam ahead of the vehicle, and only when it is determined that there is actually a traffic jam at the location of the traffic jam section indicated by the delivered traffic jam distribution information, It may be output. For example, the client terminal 300 is electrically connected to a camera or a laser range sensor that captures the front of the vehicle, and determines whether the front of the vehicle is congested based on a signal transmitted from the camera or the laser range sensor. . Then, when the client terminal 300 approaches the position of the traffic jam section indicated by the traffic jam distribution information within a predetermined distance and can recognize that the vehicle front is jammed based on the captured image from the camera, etc., Output the name of the traffic jam. At this time, when the current position of the vehicle is near the end point position of the traffic jam section, the client terminal 300 outputs the traffic jam transit time information included in the traffic jam distribution information together with the traffic jam name. Further, when the current position of the vehicle is not the end of the traffic jam section, information on the remaining traffic jam elapsed time or the remaining traffic jam section according to the section position may be displayed.

  On the other hand, even when the position of the traffic jam section indicated by the traffic jam shape information included in the traffic jam distribution information is within a predetermined distance, it is not possible to recognize that there is traffic jam ahead of the vehicle based on the captured image from the camera. The client terminal 300 determines that there is a possibility that the traffic jam has already been resolved, and does not output the traffic jam name until the traffic jam is detected.

  With this configuration, the client terminal 300 can notify the user of the traffic jam name only when the traffic jam actually occurs.

(Modification 5)
In step S <b> 111 of FIG. 3, the distribution information management unit 14 distributes the traffic congestion distribution information to the client terminal 300 only when the client terminal 300 requests traffic congestion distribution information. Instead of this, or in addition to this, the distribution information management unit 14 may distribute the traffic congestion distribution information to the terminal registered in advance at every predetermined time interval.

(Modification 6)
The configuration of the traffic jam naming system shown in FIG. 1 is an example, and the configuration to which the present invention is applicable is not limited to this. For example, instead of this, the client terminal 300 may include the configuration and functions of the server device 200. In this case, the client terminal 300 includes a traffic jam detection unit 10, a traffic jam name determination unit 11, a spot information management unit 12, a jam cause information management unit 13, a jam information DB 21, a spot information DB 22, and a jam cause information DB 23. The traffic jam name may be determined by receiving the signal S1 from the information transmitting apparatus 100. In another example, the traffic jam detection unit 10, the traffic jam name determination unit 11, the spot information management unit 12, the jam cause information management unit 13, the distribution information management unit 14, the jam information DB 21, the spot information DB 22, and the jam cause included in the server device 200. The information DB 23 and the traffic jam distribution information DB 24 may be distributed by a plurality of server devices connected via a network.

(Modification 7)
The position information transmitting apparatus 100 may generate position information regarding the current position of the pedestrian instead of generating position information regarding the current position of the moving body such as a vehicle. In this case, the traffic jam detection unit 10 of the server device 200 detects a human queue instead of the traffic jam of the vehicle, and the traffic jam name determination unit 11 names the queue.

  The present invention can be suitably applied to an in-vehicle navigation device, a PND (Personal Navigation Device), a portable terminal, a personal computer, and other devices for detecting traffic jams.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Congestion detection part 11 Congestion name determination part 12 Point information management part 13 Congestion cause information management part 14 Delivery information management part 21 Congestion information DB
22 point information DB
23 Traffic jam cause information DB
24 Traffic jam distribution information DB
36 data storage unit 38 communication device 40 display unit 44 display 100 position information transmission device 200 server device 300 client terminal

The invention according to claim 1 is a traffic jam detecting means for detecting a position where traffic jam occurs , position information, a plurality of days of the week or time zones corresponding to the position information, and the plurality of days of the week or time zones, respectively. A first database that stores a plurality of pieces of traffic jam information that correspond to each other, a reference to the first database, and the corresponding traffic jam from a position where the traffic jam occurs and a day of the week or a time zone The information processing apparatus includes: a specifying unit that specifies information; and a traffic name determining unit that determines the name of the traffic jam based on the traffic jam information specified by the specifying unit .

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the location information, a plurality of days of the week or time periods corresponding to the location information, and a plurality of congestion information corresponding to the plurality of days of the week or time zones are stored in association with each other. 1 is a control method executed by a traffic name determination device that stores a database of 1 and a traffic jam detection step of detecting a position where the traffic jam occurs , and the traffic jam occurs with reference to the first database. A specific step of identifying the corresponding traffic jam information from the position and day of the week or time zone, and a traffic jam name determining step of determining the name of the traffic jam based on the traffic jam information identified by the specific step It is characterized by.

Claims (13)

A traffic jam detection means for detecting the occurrence of traffic jam,
Cause identifying means for identifying the name of the point causing the traffic jam;
A naming means for naming the traffic jam based on the name of the point;
A traffic jam naming device characterized by comprising:   The traffic jam name device according to claim 1, wherein the cause identifying unit identifies a name of a point causing traffic jam based on a current day of the week or a time zone. The traffic jam detection means detects a start position of the traffic jam,
The traffic jam naming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cause identifying means identifies a name of a point existing in the vicinity of the start point position as a name of a point causing the traffic jam.   4. The traffic jam naming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the cause identifying means identifies a name of a store existing in the vicinity of the starting point position as a name of a point causing the traffic jam. Determination means for determining whether or not it is necessary to line up in a queue of traffic jams approaching within a predetermined distance when executing route guidance to a set destination;
Guidance means for guiding a user to the traffic jam row when the judging device determines that it is necessary to line up in the traffic jam queue to reach the destination;
The traffic jam naming device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising:   6. The traffic jam naming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the guide means guides a user to the traffic jam column when the traffic jam approaches an end point of the traffic jam within a predetermined distance. A storage means for storing a first database in which the name registered as the name of the point causing the traffic jam and the position information of the point are associated;
The said cause specific means specifies the name of the point which exists in the vicinity of the said starting point position as a name of the point which causes the said traffic jam with reference to the said 1st database. Traffic jam naming device. The storage means further stores a second database in which the name of each point and the position information of the point are associated,
The cause identifying means exists in the vicinity of the start point position with reference to the second database when the name of the point causing the traffic jam cannot be specified depending on the first database. The traffic jam naming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a name of a point to be identified is specified.   9. The traffic naming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the naming unit names the traffic jam to a name including a name indicating a degree of the traffic jam and a name of the spot identified by the cause identifying unit. The traffic jam naming device according to item. Further comprising receiving means for receiving the position information and the time information from a device that generates position information relating to the current position and time information at the current position;
The traffic jam naming device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the traffic jam detection unit detects the occurrence of the traffic jam based on the position information and the time information.   The output means for outputting the name of the traffic jam that has been named when the traffic jam approaches within a predetermined distance or / and when the traffic jam section is present on the displayed map. The traffic jam naming device according to any one of 1 to 10.   12. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising: a display unit configured to change a display mode of the name of the traffic jam that is named according to a degree of the traffic jam and / or a type of the cause of the traffic jam. Traffic jam naming device. A control method executed by a traffic jam naming device,
A traffic jam detection process for detecting the occurrence of traffic jams;
A cause identifying step for identifying the name of the point causing the traffic jam;
A naming step for naming the traffic jam based on the name of the point;
A control method characterized by comprising:

Images