Vehicle operation notification system

Abstract

To provide a vehicle operation notification system that can diminish a danger that an accident of a vehicle such as a construction vehicle may occur on a road with adverse conditions to a user such as a driver, enables smooth travel of a vehicle, and can be readily installed or removed.SOLUTION: A vehicle operation notification system that notifies a user of an operating situation of another vehicle includes plural wireless communication devices 10 installed near a road on which a vehicle 1 passes, a RF reader 20 that is connected to the wireless communication devices 10 so that the RF reader can communicate with the wireless communication devices, and a management device 30 connected to each of the wireless communication devices 10 so that the management device can communicate with the wireless communication devices. The RF reader 20 receives identification information from a RF tag 21 installed in the vehicle 1, and outputs the identification information to the management device 30 together with own position information. The management device 30 grasps the position of the vehicle 1 on the basis of the received identification information and position information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle operation notification system that reduces the risk of accidents involving vehicles such as construction vehicles on roads that are in poor conditions for users such as drivers, and enables vehicles to travel smoothly. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, power transmission towers need to be installed in mountainous areas to deliver electricity to every corner of the country, and in such cases, construction sites may be located in mountainous areas. On the way to construction sites in the mountains, there are roads with poor visibility, narrow roads, and poor footing.

[0003] Furthermore, temporary roads for construction work are sometimes set up in narrow places, and some sections of the roads may be limited to one lane in each direction.

[0004] As described above, on roads that are in poor conditions for drivers and other users, such as roads with poor visibility, narrow roads, poor footing, and roads with only one lane, there is a risk that construction vehicles, such as trucks carrying materials and cargo and mixer trucks, will collide head-on, causing an accident.Even if an accident does not occur, the flow of traffic will be slowed down, making it difficult for vehicles to travel smoothly.

[0005] Therefore, in order to prevent accidents and maintain smooth vehicle travel, a technology has been disclosed that allows each vehicle to acquire road surface condition and congestion information via a network such as the Internet. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a vehicle acquires DM information related to vehicles, pedestrians, road surface conditions such as snow accumulation and icing, vehicle congestion information, accident occurrence information, road construction information, road traffic regulation information, etc. from a dynamic map (DM) management server via a network such as the Internet. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-137189 DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, in mountainous areas, radio waves do not reach or reach only slowly.

[0008] It is also possible to construct a network such as the Internet so that each vehicle can obtain DM information from the DM management server via a network such as the Internet, as in Patent Document 1. However, once construction is completed, the construction site is cleared and trucks and other vehicles no longer travel there, so a permanent network environment is not necessary.

[0009] Therefore, in order to address the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a vehicle operation notification system that reduces the risk of accidents involving vehicles such as construction vehicles on roads that have poor conditions for users such as drivers, enables vehicles to travel smoothly, and is easy to install and remove. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 comprises: A vehicle operation notification system that notifies other vehicles of their operating status, The system includes a plurality of wireless communication devices installed near roads on which vehicles travel, and an RF reader device connected to the wireless communication devices so as to be able to communicate with the wireless communication devices; a management device communicably connected to each of the wireless communication devices; The RF reader device receives identification information from the RF tag installed in the vehicle and outputs it together with its own location information to the management device; The management device is a vehicle operation notification system that grasps the position of each vehicle based on the received identification information and position information.

[0011] The invention according to claim 2 is as follows: The vehicle operation notification system further includes: a microphone communicatively connected to the wireless communication device; the microphone acquires surrounding sounds and outputs the acquired sound information to the management device; The management device compares the received voice information with information relating to each emergency vehicle, and if matching information relating to an emergency vehicle is found, outputs a warning to each vehicle, in the vehicle operation notification system described in claim 1.

[0012] The invention according to claim 3 is as follows: A vehicle operation notification system that notifies other vehicles of their operating status, The system includes a plurality of wireless communication devices installed near roads on which vehicles travel, and cameras connected to the wireless communication devices so as to be able to communicate with the devices; a management device communicably connected to each of the wireless communication devices; The camera captures an image of a license plate attached to the vehicle and outputs the captured image information together with its own location information to the management device; The management device is a vehicle operation notification system that grasps the position of each vehicle based on the received image information and position information.

[0013] The invention according to claim 4 is as follows: The camera captures not only the license plate of the vehicle but also the vehicle's outer shape, outputting image information relating to the license plate and the vehicle's external shape together with its own location information to the management device; In the vehicle operation notification system according to claim 3, the management device identifies the type of each vehicle based on image information relating to the vehicle's external shape.

[0014] The invention according to claim 5 is as follows: The vehicle operation notification system is as described in claim 1 or 3, wherein when the management device recognizes that the distance between the vehicles is less than a predetermined value, it outputs a warning to the approaching vehicle.

[0015] The invention according to claim 6 is as follows: a traffic light for controlling the passage of the vehicle is provided near a road on which the vehicle travels; The management device is a vehicle operation notification system as described in claim 1 or 3, which outputs a command to the traffic light to allow vehicles with higher importance to pass first for vehicles approaching the traffic light from opposite directions based on the importance of each vehicle.

[0016] The invention according to claim 7 is as follows: a traffic light for controlling the passage of the vehicle is provided near a road on which the vehicle travels; The management device is a vehicle operation notification system as described in claim 1 or 3, which outputs a command to the traffic light to allow one of vehicles approaching the traffic light from opposite directions to pass first based on the distance between each vehicle and the traffic light and the speed of each vehicle.

[0017] The invention according to claim 8 is as follows: a traffic light for controlling the passage of the vehicle is provided near a road on which the vehicle travels; The management device is a vehicle operation notification system as described in claim 1 or 3, which outputs a command to the traffic light to allow one of vehicles approaching the traffic light from opposite directions to pass first based on the direction of travel of each vehicle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a system that reduces the risk of accidents involving vehicles such as construction vehicles on roads that have poor conditions for users such as drivers, enables smooth vehicle travel, and is easy to install and remove. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a vehicle operation notification system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an RF tag in a vehicle operation notification system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a management device of a vehicle operation notification system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a network displayed on a display means of a management device of a vehicle operation notification system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 3 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the vehicle operation notification system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a vehicle operation notification system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a management device of a vehicle operation notification system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a management device of a vehicle operation notification system according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the flow of processing in a vehicle operation notification system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the flow of processing in a vehicle operation notification system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the flow of processing in a vehicle operation notification system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the flow of processing in a vehicle operation notification system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the components described in the embodiment are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0021] <Embodiment Example 1> 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a vehicle operation notification system according to Embodiment 1. This vehicle operation notification system is a system that notifies the operation status of other vehicles.

[0022] Wireless communication devices 10 and RF reader devices 20 are installed at predetermined intervals near a road 2 on which a vehicle 1 travels (for example, on the side of the road). Since utility poles (not shown) are generally installed at intervals of approximately 30 meters, a wireless communication device 10 and an RF reader device 20 may be installed on each utility pole. The wireless communication device 10 is, for example, a wireless access point (AP) that relays information transmission and reception between an RF tag 21 (described later) installed on each vehicle 1 and the RF reader device 20, and between the RF reader device 20 and a management device 30 (described later). More specifically, the wireless communication device 10 is a Wi-Fi access point, and each wireless communication device 10 can cover a circular area with a radius of approximately 150 meters. The wireless communication devices 10 are installed at predetermined intervals according to the coverage area of ​​each wireless communication device 10, forming a network 15. Therefore, when a vehicle 1 is traveling on a road 2 within the network 15, any of the RF reader devices 20 can communicate with the RF tag 21 associated with the vehicle 1 via the wireless communication device 10.

[0023] The wireless communication device 10 receives power supply from a fuel cell 14 via a hub 11 such as a PoE (Power over Ethernet) switching hub, an extender 12 such as a PoE repeater (pass-through, extender), and a cable 13 such as a PoE cable. The fuel cell 14 is, for example, a methanol fuel cell that uses an aqueous methanol solution. The wireless communication devices 10 are connected to each other using a wireless bridge (relay), and any of the wireless communication devices 10 is connected to the management device 30 via the hub 11 so as to be able to communicate with it. Therefore, the RF reader device 20 is connected to the management device 30 via the wireless communication device 10 so as to be able to communicate with it.

[0024] When using a diesel generator as a power source, it is difficult for people to transport, and diesel fuel cannot be stored for long periods due to oxidation. Methanol-based water solutions do not deteriorate and are easy to store. For example, 20 liters of methanol-based water solution can generate electricity for approximately 20 days, and are light enough for people to carry. Methanol fuel cells are also quiet, do not get hot, and only emit water vapor. They are also environmentally friendly. Furthermore, by using a PoE switching hub, PoE repeater, and PoE cable that share communication and power supply, wiring and wiring work can be simplified.

[0025] In the first embodiment, the vehicle operation notification system is configured to use the fuel cell 14, which is a methanol fuel cell, as a power source from the viewpoints of portability and environmental friendliness, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, a power source may be a generator such as a diesel generator.

[0026] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, from the viewpoint of simplifying wiring and wiring work, a configuration using a PoE switching hub, a PoE repeater, and a PoE cable using PoE technology that supplies power and transmits information through a single cable has been shown, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, a configuration using separate cables for power supply and information transmission may also be used.

[0027] <RFタグ21> Each vehicle 1 is provided with an RF tag 21, for example, on the surface of the vehicle body or on the dashboard inside the vehicle. The RF (Radio Frequency) tag 21 may also be called an electronic tag, an IC tag, a wireless tag, or other names. The RF tag 21 is used together with a corresponding RF reader device 20, and transmits information such as identification information to the RF reader device 20 in a contactless manner.

[0028] The RF tag 21 according to the first embodiment will be described as a passive tag that does not have a built-in power source (battery) and operates using radio waves received from the RF reader device 20 as its power source. However, the RF tag 21 may also be an active tag that has a built-in power source (battery) or a semi-passive tag that has a built-in battery as a power source for a sensor or the like.

[0029] 2, the RF tag 21 mainly has an antenna 211 for outputting information in the form of radio waves to the RF reader device 20, and a processing unit 212. The processing unit 212 includes a controller 2121 having an information processing function and a memory 2122 having a function of storing information such as identification information for identifying the RF tag 21. The memory 2122 is, for example, a non-volatile memory.

[0030] <Management device 30> The management device 30 is an information processing device such as a notebook PC, tablet PC, or server, and has the function of communicating with the RF reader device 20 via the wireless communication device 10, receiving identification information related to each RF tag 21, and determining the location of each RF tag 21. The management device 30 may be realized by a dedicated device specialized for this function, or may be realized by incorporating this function into a general-purpose personal computer or server.

[0031] Next, the hardware configuration of the management device 30 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a conceptual diagram that schematically illustrates the hardware configuration of the management device 30.

[0032] In Figure 3, the control means 31 is realized, for example, by a CPU (=Central Processing Unit), and executes application programs, operating systems (OS), control programs, etc. stored in an SSD (=Solid State Drive) included in the storage means 32 described below, and controls the temporary storage of information, files, etc. necessary for program execution in a RAM (=Random Access Memory) included in the storage means 32.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 4, the control means 31 calls up the map information stored in the map information storage area 321 in the storage means 32, and displays it on the display means .

[0034] The control means 31 communicates with the RF reader device 20 via the wireless communication device 10, and upon receiving identification information relating to the RF tag 21 and location information of the RF reader device 20, converts the location information of the RF reader device 20 into coordinate information on the map information displayed on the display means 34. The control means 31 then stores the converted coordinate information as the location of the RF tag 21 relating to the received identification information in the RF tag location information storage area 322 together with the current time referenced by the clock means 35. The control means 31 also displays the corresponding location on the map information displayed on the display means 34 as the location of the RF tag 21, i.e., the location of the vehicle 1 on which the RF tag 21 is mounted.

[0035] When the control means 31 recognizes that the distance between the RF tags 21 has become equal to or less than a predetermined value, it outputs a warning signal to the wireless communication device 40 associated with the vehicle 1 via the wireless communication device 10.

[0036] The storage means 32 is for temporarily storing various types of information, and includes a RAM that functions as the main memory, work area, etc. of the control means 31, and a ROM (=Read Only Memory) that stores programs such as basic I / O programs and various types of information used in basic processing.

[0037] The storage means 32 has an SSD that functions as a large-capacity memory, and this SSD is provided with a map information storage area 321 and an RF tag position information storage area 322.

[0038] The map information storage area 321 stores map information relating to the location where the network 15 is formed. The map information may be in any format as long as it can represent the position on the map displayed on the display means 34 using coordinate information.

[0039] Furthermore, the RF tag position information storage area 322 stores coordinate information on the map information displayed on the display means 34, which is related to the current location of the RF tag 21, in association with the identification information of the RF tag 21, together with date and time information. That is, the coordinate information of the vehicle 1 related to the RF tag 21 is stored.

[0040] The input means 33 receives input of information and commands to the management device 30 from a user such as an operator, and is, for example, a keyboard, a pointing device, a button, or a touch panel provided on the display means 34 or the like.

[0041] The display means 34 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or a dot matrix display, and displays commands input from the input means 33 and response outputs from the management device 30. In particular, the display means 34 displays map information.

[0042] The timekeeping means 35 is, for example, a real-time clock, and keeps track of the current time.

[0043] The bus 37 controls the flow of information within the management device 30. The communication means 36 is an interface (I / F), and the management device 30 is connected via the communication means 36 with the hub 11, the cable 13, etc., and exchanges information with each wireless communication device 10, etc.

[0044] It should be noted that software that realizes the same functions as the above devices can be used instead of the hardware devices.

[0045] <Wireless Communication Device 40> Each vehicle 1 is provided with a wireless communication device 40, for example, on the dashboard inside the vehicle 1. The wireless communication device 40 receives a warning signal from the management device 30 via the wireless communication device 10, and outputs a warning to the surrounding area using light, sound, vibration, etc. Note that the location of the wireless communication device 40 is not limited to being on the dashboard inside the vehicle 1, and it may be located in any appropriate location inside the vehicle 1 so that a user such as a driver can recognize the warning output from the wireless communication device 40.

[0046] Next, the flow of processing of the vehicle operation notification system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0047] When a vehicle 1 equipped with an RF tag 21 travels within the range of the network 15, the RF reader device 20 installed closest to the RF tag 21 communicates with the RF tag 21 through the wireless communication device 10, and the RF reader device 20 receives identification information related to the RF tag 21 (step S501). The RF reader device 20 outputs the received identification information together with its own location information to the management device 30 through the wireless communication device 10 (step S502).

[0048] When the management device 30 receives the identification information related to the RF tag 21 and the location information related to the RF reader device 20, it converts the location information of the RF reader device 20 into coordinate information on the map information displayed on the display means 34 (step S503). Then, the management device 30 stores the converted coordinate information as the location of the RF tag 21 related to the received identification information in the RF tag location information storage area 322 together with the current time referenced by the clock means 35 (step S504). Furthermore, the management device 30 displays the corresponding location on the map information displayed on the display means 34 as the location of the RF tag 21, i.e., the location of the vehicle 1 on which the RF tag 21 is mounted (step S505).

[0049] When the management device 30 recognizes that the distance between the RF tags 21 (i.e., vehicles 1) has fallen below a predetermined value, it outputs a warning signal to the wireless communication device 40 associated with the vehicle 1 via the wireless communication device 10. When the wireless communication device 40 receives the warning signal, it outputs a warning using light, sound, vibration, or the like.

[0050] According to the vehicle operation notification system of this embodiment example 1, the position of each vehicle 1 is grasped, and if the distance between vehicles 1 falls below a predetermined value, a warning is output to the vehicle 1, thereby reducing the risk of a vehicle accident and enabling the vehicle 1 to travel smoothly.

[0051] In particular, according to the vehicle operation notification system of this embodiment example 1, a network 15 is formed using a wireless communication device 10, and communication between each vehicle 1 and the management device 30 is carried out using an RF reader device 20, an RF tag 21, and a wireless communication device 40.Therefore, even in places where radio waves do not reach or are difficult to reach, such as mountainous areas, the position of each vehicle 1 can be determined, and if the distance between vehicles 1 falls below a predetermined value, a warning can be output to the vehicle 1.

[0052] "Radio waves" refers to radio waves related to mobile communication systems. "Difficulty in receiving radio waves" refers to cases where communication between a mobile phone, smartphone, PC, or other device and a base station is unstable and cut off due to factors such as surrounding mountains acting as an obstacle in mountainous areas, or being far from a base station where wireless communication devices are installed.

[0053] Furthermore, the vehicle operation notification system according to the first embodiment is easy to install because it can be realized using equipment such as a wireless communication device 10, an RF reader device 20, an RF tag 21, a hub 11 such as a PoE switching hub, an extender 12 such as a PoE repeater, a cable 13 such as a PoE cable, a fuel cell 14, a management device 30 such as a notebook PC, and a wireless communication device 40. On the other hand, when construction is completed and the construction site is cleared, the system can be easily removed without generating waste, making it environmentally friendly.

[0054] <Variation 1> In this embodiment 1, a configuration is shown in which wireless communication devices 10 and RF reader devices 20 are installed at predetermined intervals near the road 2 on which the vehicle 1 travels (for example, on the side of the road), but in addition to the wireless communication devices 10 and the RF reader devices 20, a microphone (not shown) may also be installed.

[0055] The microphone captures surrounding sounds at predetermined intervals and outputs the captured sound information (analog sound information) to the management device 30 through the wireless communication device 10.

[0056] The storage means 32 of the management device 30 has a siren information storage area in which siren waveform information for each emergency vehicle is stored. In the siren information storage area, siren waveform information for each emergency vehicle is stored in the form of a sonagram (voiceprint) that is a three-dimensional representation of time, frequency, and intensity. Examples of emergency vehicles include electric emergency work vehicles, gas emergency work vehicles, doctor's cars, disaster transport vehicles, fire engines, ambulances, and patrol cars.

[0057] When the control means 31 of the management device 30 receives audio information (analog audio information) from the microphone, it converts it into digital audio information, and further converts it into three-dimensional data in the form of a sonagram.

[0058] The control means 31 then compares the received audio information in the form of a sonargram with the siren waveform information (an example of information related to emergency vehicles) related to each emergency vehicle stored in the siren information storage area by pattern matching, etc. As a result, if waveform information matching the received audio information in the form of a sonargram is found, the control means 31 recognizes that the emergency vehicle related to the matching waveform information has entered the system area, and outputs a warning signal to that effect to the wireless communication devices 40 related to each vehicle 1 via the wireless communication device 10.

[0059] In this way, by acquiring audio information related to the siren using a microphone and performing pattern matching between this audio information and the waveform information of the siren related to each emergency vehicle, if an emergency vehicle, which is an outsider so to speak, enters the area of ​​this system, it is possible to conveniently warn each vehicle 1 of this.

[0060] <Embodiment Example 2> In the first embodiment described above, a configuration has been shown in which vehicles 1 within the network 15 are identified by the RF tag 21 provided on each vehicle 1, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which an image of a license plate normally provided on a vehicle 1 is captured, pattern recognition is performed on the captured image information, and each vehicle 1 is identified by the license plate of each vehicle 1. Note that in the second embodiment, only the parts that are different from the first embodiment described above will be described, and a description of the same parts will be omitted.

[0061] A detailed explanation follows. As shown in FIG. 6, wireless communication devices 10 and cameras 50 equipped with imaging devices such as CCDs (= charge-coupled devices) or CMOS image sensors are installed at predetermined intervals near a road 2 on which a vehicle 1 travels (for example, on the side of the road). Each camera 50 is communicably connected to a management device 30 via the wireless communication device 10. Since utility poles (not shown) are generally installed at 30-m intervals, a wireless communication device 10 and a camera 50 may be installed on each utility pole. As shown in FIG. 7, the storage means 32 of the management device 30 is provided with a map information storage area 321, a vehicle position information storage area 324, and an identification dictionary storage area 323 (described later) in which exemplary feature vectors (= prototypes) are stored. In the vehicle position information storage area 324, coordinate information on the map information displayed on the display means 34, which is related to the current location of the vehicle 1, is associated with the license plate number of the vehicle 1 and stored together with date and time information. Furthermore, the system-using vehicle information storage area 325 stores the license plates of the vehicles 1 that have been registered in advance to use this system.

[0062] Each time a vehicle 1 passes a nearby road 2, the camera 50 captures an image of the license plate of the vehicle 1. The camera 50 then outputs the captured image information together with its own location information to the management device 30 via the wireless communication device 10.

[0063] When the control means 31 of the management device 30 receives the image information of the license plate of the vehicle 1 and the position information of the camera 50, it separates and identifies the character and number area in which the number of the license plate of the vehicle 1 is displayed from the image information. Then, it extracts features useful for recognition from the separated and identified character and number area and outputs them in the form of a vector. A general feature extraction method can be used to extract the features. For example, when the recognition target is characters and numbers as in the present embodiment 2, it is possible to use the local directionality of the edges extracted from the character and number area.

[0064] The control means 31 compares the output feature vector with a model feature vector (= prototype) stored in the identification dictionary memory area 323 in the memory means 32, and determines which character or number the output feature vector belongs to, thereby identifying the number associated with the vehicle 1.

[0065] For example, one prototype is stored for each character and each number in the identification dictionary storage area 323. The output feature vector is then compared with each prototype, and depending on whether there is a match or which is the closest, it is determined to which character or number the output feature vector belongs.

[0066] Generally, in pattern recognition including OCR, many samples are collected and, based on those samples, a prototype is determined to be compared with the output feature vector.

[0067] For example, in the second embodiment, the feature vectors of various samples such as uppercase "1", lowercase "1", "1" in a square box, "1" in a circle box, and "1" in a triangular box are calculated, and the "correct character" and "correct number" that indicate which character or number each sample belongs to are stored and learned. Such samples are called learning information.

[0068] Learning information belonging to the same character or number should be grouped together in a feature space called a "cluster." Then, from the clusters corresponding to each character or number, a representative feature vector is selected as a prototype. Therefore, generally, the more samples used as learning information, the more accurate the recognition will be.

[0069] The control means 31 of the management device 30 converts the position information of the camera 50 into coordinate information on the map information displayed on the display means 34 based on the number of the identified vehicle 1 and the position information of the camera 50. Then, the control means 31 stores the converted coordinate information as the position of the vehicle 1 associated with the identified number in the vehicle position information storage area 324 together with the current time referenced by the timing means 35. In addition, the control means 31 displays the corresponding location on the map information displayed on the display means 34 as the position of the vehicle 1 associated with the identified number.

[0070] The control means 31 of the management device 30 compares the number of the identified vehicle 1 with each number stored in the system-using vehicle information storage area 325, and does nothing if an identical number is found. On the other hand, if an identical number is not found, it determines that the number of the vehicle is not registered in this system, that is, it is a vehicle belonging to an outsider, and displays this fact on the display means 34.

[0071] When the control means 31 recognizes that the distance between the vehicles 1 has become equal to or less than a predetermined value, it outputs a warning signal to the wireless communication device 40 associated with the vehicle 1 via the wireless communication device 10.

[0072] In this way, in this embodiment 2, by using the number on the license plate that is normally provided on the vehicle 1 as the identification information for each vehicle, there is no need to provide an RF tag 21 on each vehicle 1, nor is there a need to provide RF reader devices 20 at predetermined intervals near the road 2, which is convenient.

[0073] Furthermore, by configuring the vehicle 1 to use the number associated with the license plate that is normally provided on the vehicle as the identification information for each vehicle, even if a vehicle outside the system, such as an emergency vehicle such as a fire engine or a private car, enters the area of ​​the system, the management device 30 can recognize this and output a warning to each vehicle 1 that a vehicle outside the system has entered and that the vehicle should be careful, which is convenient.

[0074] Furthermore, the vehicle operation notification system according to the second embodiment can be easily installed because it can be realized using equipment such as a wireless communication device 10, a camera 50, a hub 11 such as a PoE switching hub, an extender 12 such as a PoE repeater, a cable 13 such as a PoE cable, a fuel cell 14, a management device 30 such as a notebook PC, and a wireless communication device 40. On the other hand, when construction is completed and the construction site is cleared, the system can be easily removed without generating waste, making it environmentally friendly.

[0075] <Variation 2> In the above-described second embodiment, the camera 50 captures an image of the license plate of a passing vehicle in order to identify each vehicle. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the camera 50 may capture an image of not only the license plate of each passing vehicle but also the external shape of each vehicle in order to identify the type of each vehicle. This will be explained in detail below. Note that in the second embodiment, only the parts that are different from the second embodiment will be explained, and explanations of the same parts will be omitted.

[0076] The camera 50 captures an image of the license plate and the exterior of the vehicle every time the vehicle passes on the nearby road 2. The camera 50 then outputs the image information relating to the license plate and the exterior of the vehicle together with its own location information to the management device 30 via the wireless communication device 10.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 8, the storage means 32 of the management device 30 includes a map information storage area 321, a vehicle position information storage area 324, an identification dictionary storage area 323, a system-using vehicle information storage area 325, and a comparison pattern storage area 326 in which characteristic points related to the external shape of each vehicle are stored.

[0078] The control means 31 of the management device 30 extracts feature points from the received image information relating to the vehicle's exterior shape. Then, the control means 31 compares the extracted feature points relating to the image information with the feature points relating to the exterior shape of each vehicle stored in the comparison pattern storage area 326. If the feature points relating to the image information match the exterior shape of any vehicle, the control means 31 converts the position information of the camera 50 into coordinate information on the map information displayed on the display means 34 based on the matching vehicle's exterior shape and the position information of the camera 50. The converted coordinate information is then stored in the vehicle position information storage area 324 as the vehicle's position relating to the matching exterior shape, together with the current time referenced by the timing means 35. The control means 31 also displays the corresponding location on the map information displayed on the display means 34 as the vehicle's position relating to the matching exterior shape.

[0079] The external shapes of vehicles such as trucks, mixer trucks, fire engines, and private cars are identical in terms of their characteristics, even if they are manufactured by different manufacturers. Furthermore, the external shapes of construction vehicles such as trucks and mixer trucks differ from those of other vehicles such as emergency vehicles and private cars. Therefore, when an outsider, such as an emergency vehicle or private car, enters the area of ​​this system, the system can identify the type of vehicle and issue a warning to each vehicle 1, which is convenient. However, each vehicle 1 cannot be identified from image information capturing the vehicle's external shape. While image information relating to the vehicle's external shape can identify the type of vehicle, such as a truck, mixer truck, or passenger car, it cannot identify each vehicle among multiple vehicles with the same external shape. Therefore, as described above, this second modification can be used in combination with the second embodiment. However, this configuration is not limited to this. For example, it can be used in combination with the configuration of the first embodiment described above to identify the type of vehicle, a so-called outsider, that is, a vehicle not equipped with an RF tag 21.

[0080] <Embodiment Example 3> In the above-described first and second embodiments, the management device 30 grasps the position of each vehicle 1, and when it recognizes that the distance between vehicles 1 has fallen below a predetermined value, it outputs a warning signal to the vehicle 1, thereby reducing the risk of a vehicle accident and enabling smooth travel of the vehicles 1. In the following third embodiment, a configuration is shown in which a user such as an operator operates traffic lights 60 provided in the network 15 while viewing the position of each vehicle 1 through the management device 30, thereby reducing the risk of a vehicle accident and enabling smooth travel of the vehicles 1.

[0081] 9 and 10, a northbound traffic light 61 and a southbound traffic light 62 that control the passage of vehicles 1 are installed at both ends of a narrow section of road 2. The northbound traffic light 61 and the southbound traffic light 62 are communicably connected to the management device 30 via the wireless communication device 10. In addition, a waiting area 63 where vehicles 1 can leave road 2 and take shelter is provided at a location with space to the side of road 2.

[0082] For example, when there is a vehicle 1 traveling north on road 2 and another vehicle 1 traveling in the opposite direction, south, a user such as a worker looks at the display means 34 of the management device 30 and outputs commands to the northbound traffic light 61 and the southbound traffic light 62 via the input means 33.

[0083] Specifically, as shown in Fig. 9, when the control means 31 of the management device 30 recognizes through the input means 33 a command to turn the northbound traffic light 61, which is displayed for vehicles 1 heading north, to "green" (=permitted to pass), the control means 31 outputs the command to the northbound traffic light 61. Then, when the control means 31 of the management device 30 recognizes through the input means 33 a command to turn the southbound traffic light 62, which is displayed for vehicles 1 heading south, to "red" (=prohibited to pass), the control means 31 outputs the command to the southbound traffic light 62. As a result, the vehicles 1 heading south take shelter in a waiting area 63 beside the road 2. Meanwhile, the vehicles 1 heading north travel through a narrow section of the road 2.

[0084] Next, after a predetermined time has elapsed, as shown in FIG. 10 , when the control means 31 of the management device 30 recognizes through the input means 33 a command to turn the southbound traffic light 62, which is displayed for vehicles 1 heading south, to "green" (=permitted passage), the control means 31 outputs the command to the southbound traffic light 62. Then, when the control means 31 of the management device 30 recognizes through the input means 33 a command to turn the northbound traffic light 61, which is displayed for vehicles 1 heading north, to "red" (=prohibited passage), the control means 31 outputs the command to the northbound traffic light 61. As a result, the vehicle 1 heading north takes shelter in a waiting area 63 beside the road 2. Meanwhile, the vehicle 1 heading south travels through a narrow section of the road 2.

[0085] In this way, a user such as a worker can operate the northbound traffic light 61 and the southbound traffic light 62 through the management device 30 while keeping track of the position of each vehicle 1, thereby reducing the risk of a vehicle accident and enabling smooth travel of the vehicles 1 even when the vehicles 1 are passing each other in a narrow area.

[0086] <Embodiment Example 4> In the above-mentioned third embodiment, a configuration was shown in which a user such as a worker outputs commands to the northbound traffic light 61 and the southbound traffic light 62 through the input means 33 while looking at the display means 34 of the management device 30, but in the following fourth embodiment, a configuration is shown in which the control means 31 of the management device 30 outputs commands to the northbound traffic light 61 and the southbound traffic light 62 in accordance with a predetermined algorithm (= processing procedure) that has been set in advance. Note that in the fourth embodiment, only the parts that are different from the third embodiment described above will be explained, and explanations of the same parts will be omitted.

[0087] The control means 31 outputs commands to the northbound traffic light 61 and the southbound traffic light 62 based on multiple points such as the "importance," "distance" (the distance between the northbound traffic light 61 and the northbound traffic light 61, and the distance between the southbound traffic light 62 and the southbound traffic light 62), the "number of vehicles 1" (the number of vehicles 1 approaching each of the northbound traffic light 61 and the southbound traffic light 62), the "speed" (the speed of the vehicles 1 approaching each of the northbound traffic light 61 and the southbound traffic light 62), and the "direction of travel" of the vehicles 1, and uses this as a criterion for determining whether it is better to allow the northbound vehicle 1 or the southbound vehicle 1 to pass through the narrow section of the road 2 first to allow traffic to flow more smoothly.

[0088] First, the above-mentioned "importance" will be explained. For example, as described above, when the control means 31 recognizes, by pattern matching related to the siren or by the license plate, that an emergency vehicle such as a fire engine is traveling northward or southward, it outputs a command to the northbound traffic light 61 or the southbound traffic light 62 to allow the emergency vehicle to pass through the narrow section of the road 2 first and to cause the oncoming vehicle 1 to take shelter in a waiting area 63. That is, the control means 31 compares the "importance" of the vehicle 1 with the "importance" of the emergency vehicle, and because the emergency vehicle has a higher importance, it allows the emergency vehicle to pass through the narrow section of the road 2 before the oncoming vehicle 1.

[0089] Next, the above-mentioned "distance" (the distance between the vehicle 1 approaching the northbound traffic light 61 and the northbound traffic light 61, and the distance between the vehicle 1 approaching the southbound traffic light 62 and the southbound traffic light 62), "number of vehicles" (the number of vehicles 1 approaching each of the northbound traffic light 61 and the southbound traffic light 62), and "speed" (the speed of the vehicles 1 approaching each of the northbound traffic light 61 and the southbound traffic light 62) will be explained. Based on the two points of "distance" and "speed," it is calculated whether the vehicle(s) 1 approaching the northbound traffic light 61 or the vehicle(s) 1 approaching the southbound traffic light 62 will reach the northbound traffic light 61 or the southbound traffic light 62 first. Then, taking the "number of vehicles" into consideration, it is determined whether the vehicle(s) 1 approaching the northbound traffic light 61 or the vehicle(s) 1 approaching the southbound traffic light 62 will pass through the narrow section of the road 2 first.

[0090] Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 11 , there are three vehicles 1 approaching northbound traffic light 61, and if the leading vehicle 1 is currently 4 km from northbound traffic light 61 and heading toward northbound traffic light 61 at a speed of 40 km / h, it will reach northbound traffic light 61 in approximately 6 minutes (4 km / 40 km / 60 minutes = 6 minutes). On the other hand, there is one vehicle 1 approaching southbound traffic light 62, and if it is currently 8 km from southbound traffic light 62 and heading toward southbound traffic light 62 at a speed of 50 km / h, it will reach southbound traffic light 62 in approximately 9.6 minutes (8 km / 50 km / 60 minutes = 9.6 minutes). In other words, the vehicle 1 approaching northbound traffic light 61 will reach northbound traffic light 61 earlier.

[0091] Then, the "number of vehicles" is taken into consideration. If the last vehicle of the three vehicles 1 approaching the northbound traffic light 61 is currently 4.7 km from the northbound traffic light 61 and is heading toward the northbound traffic light 61 at a speed of 40 km / h, it will arrive at the northbound traffic light 61 in approximately seven minutes (4.7 km / 40 km / 60 minutes = 7 minutes). In other words, even when the number of vehicles is taken into consideration, the vehicle 1 approaching the northbound traffic light 61 will arrive at the northbound traffic light 61 earlier. Therefore, the control means 31 outputs a command to the northbound traffic light 61 to change the light to "green" (=permit passage) and outputs a command to the southbound traffic light 62 to change the light to "red" (=prohibited passage) so that the three vehicles 1 approaching the northbound traffic light 61 can pass through the narrow section of the road 2 first.

[0092] Specifically, the "speed" of the vehicle 1 is calculated, for example, as follows: In the case where, as in the above-described first embodiment, RF reader devices 20 are installed at predetermined intervals (for example, at 30 m intervals) near the road 2 and each RF reader device 20 reads the RF tag 21 installed on the vehicle 1, if the RF reader device 20 at point A reads the RF tag 21 related to a certain vehicle 1 and then, 2.7 seconds later, the RF reader device 20 at point B, 30 m away, reads the RF tag 21 related to the same vehicle 1, the speed of the vehicle 1 can be calculated to be 40 km / h (0.03 km / (2.7 seconds / 60 / 60)).

[0093] Alternatively, as in the above-mentioned embodiment 2, in a configuration in which cameras 50 are installed at predetermined intervals (for example, 30 m intervals) near road 2 and each camera 50 is configured to capture an image of a license plate installed on vehicle 1, when a license plate associated with a certain vehicle 1 is captured by camera 50 at point A and another license plate associated with vehicle 1 is captured by camera 50 at point B 30 m away, the speed of vehicle 1 can be calculated based on the distance between points A and B and the time taken for vehicle 1 to travel that distance (= the difference between the date and time of the image capture by camera 50 at point A and the date and time of the image capture by camera 50 at point B).

[0094] Further, the "direction of travel" of vehicle 1 will be described. For example, as shown in Fig. 12, if there is a construction site in the north direction and vehicle 1 is a mixer truck transporting ready-mixed concrete, it is necessary for vehicle 1 heading north to pass through a narrow section of road 2 first so that the ready-mixed concrete does not harden while being transported. When control means 31 recognizes that vehicle 1 is traveling in the north direction, it causes vehicle 1 to pass through the narrow section of road 2 first, and outputs a command to northbound traffic light 61 to change the light to "green" (=permit passage) and a command to southbound traffic light 62 to change the light to "red" (=no passage) so that oncoming vehicle 1 heading south can turn into a waiting area 63. In order to make the control means 31 recognize that the vehicle 1 is a mixer truck, for example, a configuration is conceivable in which the type of vehicle is stored in the system-using vehicle information 325 in association with the license plate (identification information) of each vehicle 1, and the camera 50 is used to capture an image of the license plate of each vehicle 1, and the number associated with the captured license plate is compared with the number stored in the system-using vehicle information 325. Alternatively, a configuration is conceivable in which the camera 50 is used to capture an image of the exterior of each vehicle 1, and characteristic points of the exterior of the vehicle 1 are compared with characteristic points associated with the exterior of each vehicle stored in the comparison pattern storage area 326.

[0095] If the control means 31 of the management device 30 is configured to output commands to the northbound traffic light 61 and the southbound traffic light 62 in accordance with a predetermined algorithm, a user such as a worker does not have to look at the display means 34 and output commands to the northbound traffic light 61 and the southbound traffic light 62, and this automatically reduces the risk of a vehicle accident and enables smooth travel of the vehicle 1 even when the vehicle 1 passes another vehicle 1 in a narrow place.

[0096] In the third and fourth embodiments, a northbound traffic light 61 and a southbound traffic light 62 are installed, and an example of a vehicle 1 traveling north and a vehicle 1 traveling south has been described. However, this is for the sake of convenience, and the inventions according to the third and fourth embodiments are not limited to this configuration. For example, the inventions according to the third and fourth embodiments can also be used for a vehicle 1 traveling east and a vehicle 1 traveling west, where an eastbound traffic light and a westbound traffic light are installed. In short, the inventions according to the third and fourth embodiments can be used as long as there is a configuration in which traffic lights are installed in opposing directions and vehicles 1 are traveling from opposing directions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0097] 1: Vehicle, 2: Road, 10: Wireless communication device, 11: Hub, 12: Extender, 13: Cable, 14: Fuel cell, 15: Network, 20: RF reader device, 21: RF tag, 211: antenna, 212: processing unit, 2121: controller, 2122: memory, 30: Management device, 31: Control means, 32: Storage means, 321: Map information storage area, 322: RF tag position information storage area, 323: Identification dictionary storage area, 324: Vehicle position information storage area, 325: System-using vehicle information storage area, 326: Comparison pattern storage area, 33: Input means, 34: Display means, 35: Timekeeping means, 36: Communication means, 37: Bus, 40: Wireless communication device, 50: Camera, 61: Northbound traffic light, 62: Southbound traffic light, 63: Waiting area

Claims

1. A vehicle operation notification system that notifies other vehicles of their operating status, The system includes a plurality of wireless communication devices installed near roads on which vehicles travel, and an RF reader device connected to the wireless communication devices so as to be able to communicate with the wireless communication devices; a management device communicably connected to each of the wireless communication devices; The RF reader device receives identification information from the RF tag installed in the vehicle and outputs it together with its own location information to the management device; The vehicle operation notification system is characterized in that the management device grasps the position of each vehicle based on the received identification information and position information.

2. The vehicle operation notification system further includes: a microphone communicatively connected to the wireless communication device; the microphone acquires surrounding sounds and outputs the acquired sound information to the management device; The vehicle operation notification system described in claim 1, characterized in that the management device compares the received voice information with information related to each emergency vehicle, and if matching information related to an emergency vehicle is found, outputs a warning to each vehicle.

3. A vehicle operation notification system that notifies other vehicles of their operating status, The system includes a plurality of wireless communication devices installed near roads on which vehicles travel, and cameras connected to the wireless communication devices so as to be able to communicate with the devices; a management device communicably connected to each of the wireless communication devices; The camera captures an image of a license plate attached to the vehicle and outputs the captured image information together with its own location information to the management device; The vehicle operation notification system is characterized in that the management device grasps the position of each vehicle based on the received image information and position information.

4. The camera captures not only the license plate of the vehicle but also the vehicle's outer shape, outputting image information relating to the license plate and the vehicle's external shape together with its own location information to the management device; 4. The vehicle operation notification system according to claim 3, wherein the management device identifies the type of each vehicle based on image information relating to the vehicle's external shape.

5. 4. The vehicle operation notification system according to claim 1, wherein the management device outputs a warning to the approaching vehicle when the distance between the vehicles is determined to be less than a predetermined value.

6. a traffic light for controlling the passage of the vehicle is provided near a road on which the vehicle travels; The vehicle operation notification system described in claim 1 or 3, characterized in that the management device outputs an instruction to the traffic light to allow vehicles with higher importance to pass first, based on the importance of each vehicle approaching the traffic light from opposite directions.

7. a traffic light for controlling the passage of the vehicle is provided near a road on which the vehicle travels; The vehicle operation notification system described in claim 1 or 3, characterized in that the management device outputs a command to the traffic light to allow one of the vehicles approaching the traffic light from opposite directions to pass first based on the distance between each of the vehicles and the traffic light and the speed of each of the vehicles.

8. a traffic light for controlling the passage of the vehicle is provided near a road on which the vehicle travels; The vehicle operation notification system described in claim 1 or 3, characterized in that the management device outputs a command to the traffic light to allow one of vehicles approaching the traffic light from opposite directions to pass first based on the direction of travel of each vehicle.

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