Support control device, support control method, and program

Abstract

To appropriately predict a pedestrian's road crossing.SOLUTION: A support control device comprises: an acquisition unit that acquires positional information of a user terminal; a determination unit that, on the basis of the history of the positional information of the user terminal, determines whether a user associated with the user terminal is tend to cross the road in a place where a pedestrian crossing is not provided; a storage control unit that, when the determination unit determines that the user is tend to cross the road in the place where the pedestrian crossing is not provided, stores identification information of the user as information on a crossing user who crosses the road in the place where the pedestrian crossing is not provided; and a support control unit that, when the user terminal is present in the place where the pedestrian crossing is not provided, performs control related to support for traffic participants, provided that the identification information of the user is stored as the crossing user information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an assistance control device, an assistance control method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, efforts to provide access to sustainable transportation systems that take into consideration vulnerable people among transportation participants have been gaining momentum. To achieve this, we are focusing on research and development to further improve the safety and convenience of transportation through research and development of preventive safety technology. Patent documents 1 and 2 describe technology that provides attention and warnings to pedestrians entering the road or walking dangerously. [Prior art document] [Patent documents] Patent Document 1: JP 2019-28916 A Patent Document 2: JP 2019-188429 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] However, in preventive safety technology, an issue arises when pedestrians or the like unexpectedly cross the road. The present application aims to solve the above issue by appropriately predicting road crossings, and by extension, to contribute to the development of a sustainable transportation system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] In a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an assistance control device. The assistance control device includes an acquisition unit that acquires location information of a user terminal. The assistance control device includes a determination unit that determines whether or not a user associated with the user terminal tends to cross a road at a location where a crosswalk is not provided, based on a history of location information of the user terminal. The assistance control device includes a storage control unit that, when the determination unit determines that the user tends to cross a road at a location where a crosswalk is not provided, stores identification information of the user as crossing user information of a user crossing a road at a location where a crosswalk is not provided. The assistance control device includes an assistance control unit that performs control regarding assistance for a traffic participant, when the user terminal is present at a location where a crosswalk is not provided, on condition that the identification information of the user is stored as crossing user information.

[0005] In the above assistance control device, the determination unit may determine whether or not a user associated with the user terminal tends to cross a road at a position outside a crosswalk within a predetermined range from a crosswalk, based on a history of location information of the user terminal and map information in which the locations of crosswalks are stored. When the user terminal is located in a place where a crosswalk is not provided and the user terminal is within a predetermined range from a crosswalk, the assistance control unit may control assistance for a traffic participant on the condition that identification information of the user is stored as the crossing user information.

[0006] In any of the above assistance control devices, the acquisition unit may acquire position information of a moving object moving on a road. The determination unit may determine whether or not a user associated with the user terminal tends to cross a road even when the moving object is approaching the user in a location where there is no crosswalk within a predetermined range, based on a history of the position information of the user terminal, a history of the position information of the moving object, and map information in which a location of a crosswalk is stored. The assistance control unit may control assistance for a traffic participant on the condition that identification information of the user is stored as the crossing user information when the user terminal is located in a location where there is no crosswalk, there is no crosswalk within a predetermined range from the location of the user terminal, and the moving object is approaching the user.

[0007] In any of the above assistance control devices, the assistance control unit may perform control to output an alert to moving objects present around the user terminal, as assistance to the traffic participant.

[0008] In any of the above assistance control devices, the assistance control unit may perform control to cause the user terminal to output an alert as assistance to the traffic participant.

[0009] In any of the above assistance control devices, the storage control unit may store the identification information of the user as the crossing user information in association with a width of a road. The assistance control unit may control assistance for a traffic participant on a further condition that a width of a road near the user terminal matches the width associated with the identification information of the user.

[0010] In any of the above assistance control devices, the storage control unit may store the identification information of the user as the crossing user information in association with a road type. Control regarding assistance to a traffic participant may be performed under a further condition that a road type in the vicinity of the user terminal matches the road type associated with the identification information of the user.

[0011] In any of the above-mentioned assistance control devices, the assistance control unit may suppress assistance to traffic participants when the user terminal is present in a location where there is no crosswalk and the user's identification information is not stored as crossing user information.

[0012] In a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an assistance control method. The assistance control method includes a step of acquiring location information of a user terminal. The assistance control method includes a step of judging whether or not a user associated with the user terminal tends to cross a road at a location where a pedestrian crossing is not provided, based on a history of location information of the user terminal. The assistance control method includes a step of storing identification information of the user as crossing user information when it is determined that the user tends to cross a road at a location where a pedestrian crossing is not provided. The assistance control method includes a step of performing control regarding assistance for a traffic participant, on condition that the identification information of the user is stored as crossing user information, when the user terminal is present at a location where a pedestrian crossing is not provided.

[0013] In a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program that causes a computer to function as any one of the above-mentioned assistance control devices.

[0014] The above summary of the invention does not list all of the features of the present invention. Also, subcombinations of these features may also be inventions. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a scenario in which the support system 10 is used. [Diagram 2] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a situation in which assistance is provided to a traffic pedestrian using road-crossing tendency information. [Diagram 3] 2 shows the functional configuration of the support device 60. [Figure 4] 13 shows an example of a data structure of crossing user information of a user terminal 82. [Diagram 5] An example of an execution sequence of a process related to an assistance control method performed in the user terminal 82 and the assistance device 60 is shown. [Figure 6] An example of an execution sequence of processes performed in the user terminal 82, the assistance device 60, and the on-board processing device 40 provided in the vehicle 20 is shown. [Figure 7] 2 shows an example of a flowchart relating to processing related to an assistance control method executed in the assistance control device 200. [Figure 8] An example of a computer 2000 is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] The present invention will be described below through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention according to the claims. Furthermore, not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

[0017] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a usage scenario of the support system 10. The support system 10 includes a user terminal 82 and a support device 60.

[0018] In this embodiment, the user 80 is a pedestrian. The user terminal 82 is a terminal carried by the user 80. The user terminal 82 is, for example, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone. The user terminal 82 periodically transmits current position information of the user terminal 82 detected by a position sensor including a GNSS receiver to the assistance device 60.

[0019] The support device 60 receives, by mobile communication, information transmitted from the user terminal 82. The support device 60 may receive information transmitted from the user terminal 82 via mobile communication and a communication line such as the Internet or a dedicated line.

[0020] In this embodiment, it may be assumed that the user 80 is present within a predetermined range from the location of the user terminal 82. The location of the user terminal 82 may be considered as the location of the user 80.

[0021] When the support device 60 determines that the user 80 has crossed the road 90 based on the position information transmitted from the user terminal 82, the support device 60 identifies the tendency of the user 80 when crossing the road 90 based on the history of the position information. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the support device 60 determines whether or not the user 80 tends to cross the road at a place where the crosswalk 50 is not provided, without passing through the crosswalk 50, even though a crosswalk 50 is provided near the user 80, based on the history of the position information of the user terminal 82. In addition, the support device 60 determines whether or not the user 80 tends to cross the road at a place where the crosswalk 50 is not provided, even though a vehicle is approaching the user 80, in a place where the crosswalk is not provided near the user 80.

[0022] The assistance device 60 stores road-crossing tendency information indicating the road-crossing tendency of the user 80 determined based on the position information transmitted from the user terminal 82 in association with the identification information of the user 80. For example, the assistance device 60 stores the road-crossing tendency information in association with the identification information of the user terminal 82.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a situation in which assistance is provided to a traffic pedestrian using road-crossing tendency information.

[0024] The vehicle 20 is a vehicle traveling on a road 92. The vehicle 20 is an example of a moving body. The vehicle 20 is equipped with an on-board processing device 40. The on-board processing device 40 has a function of communicating with the outside using mobile communication. The on-board processing device 40 is configured to include sensors such as a position sensor including a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver, a speed sensor such as a vehicle speed sensor, and a distance measurement sensor that measures the distance from the vehicle 20 to surrounding objects. The on-board processing device 40 has a function of processing information acquired by various sensors equipped in the on-board processing device 40, and a function of communicating with the assistance device 60. The on-board processing device 40 provides an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) function equipped in the vehicle 20.

[0025] The assistance device 60 receives information transmitted from the in-vehicle processing device 40 via mobile communication. The assistance device 60 may receive information transmitted from the in-vehicle processing device 40 via mobile communication and a communication line such as the Internet or a dedicated line. The assistance device 60 provides traffic assistance to traffic participants based on the information received from the in-vehicle processing device 40 and the user terminal 82.

[0026] The support device 60 determines that a crosswalk 52 exists near the user terminal 82 based on the position information transmitted from the user terminal 82 and map information including information indicating the location of the crosswalk. The support device 60 determines that the user 80 has a tendency to cross the road at a location where no crosswalk is provided, based on road-crossing tendency information stored in association with the identification information of the user 80, even though a crosswalk is provided near the user 80.

[0027] The assistance device 60 further provides traffic assistance to the vehicle 20 and / or the user 80 based on the position information of the user terminal 82 and the position information of the vehicle 20 transmitted from the in-vehicle processing device 40, when the position of the user terminal 82 is within a predetermined range from the position of the vehicle 20 and the vehicle 20 is moving in a direction approaching the user 80. For example, the assistance device 60 transmits assistance information to the in-vehicle processing device 40 instructing the in-vehicle processing device 40 to output warning information. The assistance information to the in-vehicle processing device 40 may be information instructing the in-vehicle processing device 40 to output warning information such as "Watch out for pedestrians rushing out" by voice or display from a display device. The assistance device 60 transmits assistance information to the user terminal 82 instructing the in-vehicle processing device 40 to output warning information to the user terminal 82. The assistance information to the user terminal 82 may be information instructing the in-vehicle processing device 40 to output warning information such as "Watch out for a vehicle approaching from behind" by voice.

[0028] According to the assistance system 10, it is possible to appropriately determine whether assistance is necessary based on the tendency of the user 80 when crossing a road. As a result, when assistance is necessary, assistance information can be transmitted to the user terminal 82 and / or the vehicle 20. Therefore, it is possible to prevent unnecessary transmission of warning information compared to a case where warning information is always output when the user 80 is within a predetermined range from the vehicle 20.

[0029] 3 shows a functional configuration of the assistance device 60. The assistance device 60 includes an assistance control device 200, a communication device 290, and a storage device 280.

[0030] The communication device 290 is responsible for communication between the in-vehicle processing device 40 and the user terminal 82, and the assistance device 60, based on the control of the assistance control device 200. The assistance control device 200 is realized by including a circuit such as an arithmetic processing device including a processor. The assistance control device 200 may be realized by a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an I / O, a bus, and the like. The storage device 280 is realized by including a non-volatile storage medium. The assistance control device 200 performs processing using information stored in the storage device 280. The storage device 280 may store map information. The map information stored in the storage device 280 may be used by the assistance control device 200. The map information may include the location of a crosswalk, the width of a road, and the type of road.

[0031] The assistance control device 200 includes an acquisition unit 250, a determination unit 210, a memory control unit 240, and an assistance control unit 260. Note that the assistance device 60 may not have some of the functions of the functional configuration shown in FIG.

[0032] The acquisition unit 250 acquires the position information of the user terminal 82. The determination unit 210 determines whether the user 80 associated with the user terminal 82 tends to cross the road at a place where a crosswalk is not provided, based on the history of the position information of the user terminal 82. When the determination unit 210 determines that the user 80 tends to cross the road at a place where a crosswalk is not provided, the storage control unit 240 stores the identification information of the user 80 as crossing user information of a user crossing the road at a place where a crosswalk is not provided. When the user terminal 82 is present at a place where a crosswalk is not provided, the assistance control unit 260 performs control regarding assistance for traffic participants on the condition that the identification information of the user 80 is stored as crossing user information.

[0033] The determination unit 210 may determine whether the user 80 associated with the user terminal 82 tends to cross the road at a position outside the crosswalk within a predetermined range from the crosswalk, based on the history of the position information of the user terminal 82 and map information in which the locations of the crosswalks are stored. When the user terminal 82 is located at a place where there is no crosswalk and the user terminal 82 is located within a predetermined range from the crosswalk, the assistance control unit 260 may control assistance for traffic participants on the condition that identification information of the user 80 is stored as crossing user information.

[0034] The acquisition unit 250 may acquire position information of a moving object moving on a road. The determination unit 210 may determine whether the user 80 associated with the user terminal 82 tends to cross a road even when the moving object is approaching the user 80 in a place where there is no crosswalk within a predetermined range, based on the history of the position information of the user terminal 82, the history of the position information of the moving object, and map information in which the installation location of a crosswalk is stored. When the user terminal 82 is located in a place where there is no crosswalk, there is no crosswalk within a predetermined range from the position of the user terminal 82, and the moving object is approaching the user 80, the assistance control unit 260 may control assistance for a traffic participant on the condition that the identification information of the user 80 is stored as crossing user information.

[0035] As support for the traffic participants, the support control unit 260 may perform control to output an alert to a moving object present around the user terminal 82. As support for the traffic participants, the support control unit 260 may perform control to output an alert to the user terminal 82.

[0036] When storing the identification information of the user 80 as the crossing user information, the storage control unit 240 may store the identification information of the user 80 in association with the width of the road as the crossing user information. The assistance control unit 260 may control assistance for the traffic participant on the additional condition that the width of the road in the vicinity of the user terminal 82 matches the width associated with the identification information of the user 80.

[0037] When storing the identification information of the user 80 as the crossing user information, the storage control unit 240 may store the identification information of the user 80 as the crossing user information in association with a road type. Control regarding assistance to traffic participants may be performed under a further condition that the type of road in the vicinity of the user terminal 82 matches the type associated with the identification information of the user 80.

[0038] When the user terminal 82 is located in a place where there is no crosswalk, the assistance control unit 260 may suppress assistance to the traffic participants if the identification information of the user 80 is not stored as crossing user information.

[0039] 4 shows an example of a data structure of the crossing user information of the user terminal 82. The crossing user information is stored in the storage device 280. The crossing user information includes, as data items, an ID, a crossing type, road information, a time period, and a time. The crossing user information is an example of information indicating whether or not a user tends to cross a road at a place where a pedestrian crossing is not provided.

[0040] The ID indicates identification information of the user terminal. The ID is an example of identification information of the user.

[0041] The crossing type indicates the manner in which the user crosses the road. For example, "crosswalk not used" in FIG. 4 indicates that the user crosses the road at a position outside the crosswalk within a predetermined range from the crosswalk. "crosswalk not used" indicates, for example, that the user crosses the road at a place where the crosswalk is not provided without passing through the crosswalk even though a crosswalk is provided near the user. "Crossing by jumping out" indicates that the user crosses the road even if a vehicle is approaching the user at a place where there is no crosswalk within a predetermined range. "Crossing by jumping out" indicates, for example, that the user crosses the road even though a vehicle is approaching the user at a place where there is no crosswalk near the user. Crossing like "crossing by jumping out" may occur when the user is not concerned about traffic rules, or when the user mistakenly believes that he or she is walking on a road with pedestrian priority.

[0042] Road information is information indicating attributes of a road crossed by a user. The attributes of a road may be the type of road or the width of the road, etc. "Main road" in FIG. 4 indicates that the type of road crossed by the user is a main road. "Width 12m" in FIG. 4 indicates that the width of the road crossed by the user is 12m. The width of the road may be the combined width of the sidewalk and the roadway, or the width of the roadway only.

[0043] The time period indicates the time period when the user crossed the road. The time indicates the time when the data of one combination of the ID, the crossing type, the road information, and the time period was stored.

[0044] The storage control unit 240 may perform control to delete data of ID, crossing type, road information, and time period every time a predetermined time period has elapsed. The user terminal 82 is not necessarily held by a specific user 80 for a long period of time. Therefore, the storage control unit 240 may delete data of a combination of data ID, crossing type, road information, and time period according to the time elapsed from the time the data was stored, which is included in the crossing user information. The storage control unit 240 may delete data of a combination of data ID, crossing type, road information, and time period when one year has elapsed from the time the data was stored, which is included in the crossing user information.

[0045] FIG. 5 shows an example of an execution sequence of processes related to the assistance control method performed in the user terminal 82 and the assistance device 60.

[0046] In S522, the user terminal 82 transmits location information indicating the current location of the user terminal 82 based on the signals received from the GNSS satellites to the support device 60 together with identification information of the user terminal 82. The transmission of the location information and the identification information from the user terminal 82 to the support device 60 is performed periodically.

[0047] In S510, the determination unit 210 of the assistance device 60 determines whether or not the user 80 has crossed the road 90 based on the history of the position information of the user terminal 82 and the map information. If it is determined that the user 80 has crossed the road 90, in S512, the determination unit 210 identifies the crossing type based at least on the history of the position information of the user terminal 82 and information indicating the installation position of a pedestrian crossing included in the map information. Here, if there are vehicles around the user 80, the determination unit 210 may determine whether or not the crossing is a "jump-out crossing" based further on the position information of the surrounding vehicles.

[0048] At S514, the determination unit 210 identifies the road information crossed by the user 80 based on the position information and map information of the user terminal 82. At S516, the storage control unit 240 associates the crossing type identified at S512, the road information identified at S514, the current time zone, and the current time with the identification information of the user terminal 82, and stores them in the storage device 280 as crossing user information.

[0049] FIG. 6 shows an example of an execution sequence of processes performed in the user terminal 82, the assistance device 60, and the in-vehicle processing device 40 provided in the vehicle 20.

[0050] In S602, the on-board processing device 40 transmits position information of the vehicle 20 based on the signals received from the GNSS satellites to the assistance device 60. The transmission of the position information from the on-board processing device 40 to the assistance device 60 is performed periodically.

[0051] In S622, the user terminal 82 transmits, to the support device 60, location information indicating the current location of the user terminal 82 based on the signals received from the GNSS satellites, together with identification information of the user terminal 82. The location information and the identification information are transmitted from the user terminal 82 to the support device 60 periodically.

[0052] In S614, the assistance control unit 260 of the assistance device 60 determines whether to provide assistance to the vehicle 20 and / or the user terminal 82, which are traffic participants. For example, the assistance control unit 260 determines that there is a high possibility that the user 80 will cross the road 92 based on the crossing user information, the identification information of the user terminal 82, the road information of the road 92 included in the map information, and the time zone to which the current time belongs, and determines that assistance is to be provided to the vehicle 20 and / or the user terminal 82 when the position of the user terminal 82 is included within a predetermined perimeter that includes the position of the vehicle 20.

[0053] If the assistance control unit 260 determines in S614 to provide assistance to the vehicle 20 and / or the user terminal 82, in S616 the assistance control unit 260 controls the communication device 290 to transmit assistance information to the on-board processing device 40 instructing the on-board processing device 40 to output an alert. Furthermore, in S618, the assistance control unit 260 controls the communication device 290 to transmit assistance information to the user terminal 82 instructing the user terminal 82 to output an alert.

[0054] When the on-vehicle processing device 40 receives the assistance information from the assistance device 60, in S606, the on-vehicle processing device 40 notifies the occupants of the vehicle 20 of an alarm regarding a pedestrian entering the road 92 in accordance with the assistance information by using an HMI (Human Machine Interface) function of the on-vehicle processing device 40. The on-vehicle processing device 40 may notify the occupants of the vehicle 20 of the alarm by voice and by displaying the alarm on a display device provided in the vehicle 20b.

[0055] When the user terminal 82 receives the assistance information from the assistance device 60, in S626, the user terminal 82 notifies the user 80 of an alarm regarding an approaching vehicle or entry into the road 92 by an HMI function of the user terminal 82. The user terminal 82 may notify the user 80 of the alarm by voice.

[0056] 7 shows an example of a flowchart relating to the process of the assistance control method executed in the assistance control device 200. Fig. 7 is a flowchart relating to the process of, for example, S614, S616, and S618 in Fig. 6.

[0057] In S700, the acquisition unit 250 acquires the position information of the user terminal 82 and the position information of the vehicle 20. In S702, the assistance control unit 260 identifies road information of the road 92 on which the user terminal 82 is walking, based on the map information and the position information of the user terminal 82.

[0058] In S704, the assistance control unit 260 acquires the crossing type associated with the identification information of the user terminal 82, the road information identified in S702, and the current time zone from the crossing user information stored in the storage device 280. When the crossing type is acquired, the assistance control unit 260 determines that there is a high possibility that the user 80 will cross the road 92.

[0059] If it is determined in S704 that there is a high possibility that the user 80 will cross the road 92, the assistance control unit 260 determines in S706 whether to transmit assistance information. For example, the assistance control unit 260 determines to transmit assistance information when the position of the user terminal 82 is included within a predetermined perimeter that includes the position of the vehicle 20.

[0060] In S708, the assistance control unit 260 controls the communication unit 290 to transmit assistance information to the in-vehicle processing device 40 and / or the user terminal 82 in accordance with the determination result in S706. The assistance control unit 260 may transmit assistance information according to the crossing type acquired in S704. For example, when the crossing type is "crosswalk not in use", the assistance information transmitted to the user 80 may be information instructing the user terminal 82 to notify the user 80 that a crosswalk exists near the user 80. When the crossing type is "crosswalk not in use", the assistance information transmitted to the in-vehicle processing device 40 may be information instructing the in-vehicle processing device 40 to notify the user 80 that there is a possibility that the user 80 will cross before the crosswalk.

[0061] When the crossing type is a "crossing with sudden pedestrians", the support information sent to the user 80 may be information instructing the user terminal 82 to notify the user that the road is not a pedestrian-priority road. When the crossing type is a "crossing with sudden pedestrians", the support information sent to the in-vehicle processing device 40 may be information instructing the in-vehicle processing device 40 to notify the user that users often mistakenly believe that the road is a pedestrian-priority road.

[0062] According to the assistance system 10 described above, it is possible to appropriately determine whether or not assistance is necessary based on the tendency of the user 80 when crossing a road, and to transmit assistance information to the user terminal 82 and / or the vehicle 20. This makes it possible to prevent unnecessary alarm information from being transmitted.

[0063] 8 shows an example of a computer 2000 in which multiple embodiments of the present invention may be embodied in whole or in part. A program installed in the computer 2000 may cause the computer 2000 to function as an apparatus such as the support device 60 according to an embodiment or each part of the apparatus, to execute operations associated with the apparatus or each part of the apparatus, and / or to execute a process or steps of the process according to an embodiment. Such a program may be executed by the CPU 2012 to cause the computer 2000 to execute specific operations associated with some or all of the blocks of the process steps and block diagrams described herein.

[0064] The computer 2000 according to this embodiment includes a CPU 2012 and a RAM 2014, which are connected to each other by a host controller 2010. The computer 2000 also includes a ROM 2026, a flash memory 2024, a communication interface 2022, and an input / output chip 2040. The ROM 2026, the flash memory 2024, the communication interface 2022, and the input / output chip 2040 are connected to the host controller 2010 via the input / output controller 2020.

[0065] The CPU 2012 operates according to the programs stored in the ROM 2026 and RAM 2014, thereby controlling each unit.

[0066] The communication interface 2022 communicates with other electronic devices via a network. The flash memory 2024 stores programs and data used by the CPU 2012 in the computer 2000. The ROM 2026 stores a boot program and the like executed by the computer 2000 upon activation, and / or a program that depends on the hardware of the computer 2000. The input / output chip 2040 may also connect various input / output units, such as a keyboard, mouse, and monitor, to the input / output controller 2020 via input / output ports, such as a serial port, a parallel port, a keyboard port, a mouse port, a monitor port, a USB port, an HDMI port, and the like.

[0067] The programs are provided via a computer-readable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, or a memory card, or a network. The RAM 2014, the ROM 2026, or the flash memory 2024 are examples of computer-readable storage media. The programs are installed in the flash memory 2024, the RAM 2014, or the ROM 2026, and executed by the CPU 2012. Information processing described in these programs is read by the computer 2000, and brings about cooperation between the programs and the various types of hardware resources described above. An apparatus or method may be constructed by implementing an operation or processing of information according to the use of the computer 2000.

[0068] For example, when communication is performed between the computer 2000 and an external device, the CPU 2012 may execute a communication program loaded in the RAM 2014 and instruct the communication interface 2022 to perform communication processing based on the processing described in the communication program. Under the control of the CPU 2012, the communication interface 2022 reads transmission data stored in a transmission buffer processing area provided in a recording medium such as the RAM 2014 and the flash memory 2024, transmits the read transmission data to a network, and writes reception data received from the network to a reception buffer processing area or the like provided on the recording medium.

[0069] Furthermore, the CPU 2012 may cause all or a necessary portion of a file or database stored on a recording medium such as the flash memory 2024 to be read into the RAM 2014, and perform various types of processing on the data on the RAM 2014. The CPU 2012 then writes back the processed data to the recording medium.

[0070] Various types of information, such as various types of programs, data, tables, and databases, may be stored in the recording medium and subjected to information processing. The CPU 2012 may execute various types of processing, including various types of operations, information processing, conditional judgment, conditional branching, unconditional branching, information search / replacement, etc., described herein and specified by the instruction sequence of the program, on the data read from the RAM 2014, and write back the results to the RAM 2014. The CPU 2012 may also search for information in a file, database, etc. in the recording medium. For example, when a plurality of entries each having an attribute value of a first attribute associated with an attribute value of a second attribute are stored in the recording medium, the CPU 2012 may search for an entry that matches a condition in which an attribute value of the first attribute is specified from among the plurality of entries, read the attribute value of the second attribute stored in the entry, and thereby obtain the attribute value of the second attribute associated with the first attribute that satisfies a predetermined condition.

[0071] The above-described programs or software modules may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium on the computer 2000 or in the vicinity of the computer 2000. A recording medium such as a hard disk or a RAM provided in a server system connected to a dedicated communication network or the Internet can be used as the computer-readable storage medium. The programs stored in the computer-readable storage medium may be provided to the computer 2000 via a network.

[0072] A program installed in the computer 2000 and causing the computer 2000 to function as the support device 60 may act on the CPU 2012, etc., to cause the computer 2000 to function as each part of the support device 60 (e.g., the support control device 200, etc.). When the information processing described in these programs is read into the computer 2000, it functions as each part of the support device 60, which is a specific means in which the software and the various hardware resources described above work together. These specific means then realize calculation or processing of information according to the intended use of the computer 2000 in this embodiment, thereby constructing a specific support device 60 according to the intended use.

[0073] Various embodiments have been described with reference to block diagrams or the like. In the block diagrams, each block may represent (1) a stage of a process where an operation is performed or (2) a portion of an apparatus responsible for performing an operation. Particular stages and portions may be implemented by dedicated circuitry, programmable circuitry provided with computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium, and / or a processor provided with computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium. The dedicated circuitry may include digital and / or analog hardware circuitry and may include integrated circuits (ICs) and / or discrete circuits. The programmable circuitry may include reconfigurable hardware circuitry including logical AND, logical OR, logical XOR, logical NAND, logical NOR, and other logical operations, memory elements such as flip-flops, registers, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic arrays (PLAs), and the like.

[0074] A computer-readable storage medium may include any tangible device capable of storing instructions that are executed by a suitable device, such that a computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon constitutes at least a portion of a product that includes instructions that can be executed to provide a means for performing the operations specified in a process or block diagram. Examples of computer-readable storage media may include electronic storage media, magnetic storage media, optical storage media, electromagnetic storage media, semiconductor storage media, etc. More specific examples of computer-readable storage media may include floppy disks, diskettes, hard disks, random access memories (RAMs), read-only memories (ROMs), erasable programmable read-only memories (EPROMs or flash memories), electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs), static random access memories (SRAMs), compact disk read-only memories (CD-ROMs), digital versatile disks (DVDs), Blu-ray (RTM) disks, memory sticks, integrated circuit cards, etc.

[0075] The computer readable instructions may include either assembler instructions, instruction set architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine-dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state setting data, or source or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including object-oriented programming languages ​​such as Smalltalk®, JAVA®, C++, etc., and conventional procedural programming languages ​​such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages.

[0076] The computer readable instructions may be provided to a processor or programmable circuitry of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, either locally or over a wide area network (WAN) such as a local area network (LAN), the Internet, etc., to cause the computer readable instructions to execute means for performing operations specified in the process steps or block diagrams described. Examples of processors include computer processors, processing units, microprocessors, digital signal processors, controllers, microcontrollers, etc.

[0077] Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It is clear to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements can be made to the above embodiments. It is clear from the description of the claims that such modifications and improvements can also be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0078] It should be noted that the order of execution of each process, such as operations, procedures, steps, and stages, in the devices, systems, programs, and methods shown in the claims, specifications, and drawings is not specifically indicated as "before," "prior to," etc., and may be realized in any order unless the output of a previous process is used in a subsequent process. Even if the operational flow in the claims, specifications, and drawings is described using "first," "next," etc. for convenience, it does not mean that it is essential to perform the process in this order. [Explanation of symbols]

[0079] 10 Support System 20 Vehicles 40 On-board processing device 50, 52 Crosswalk 60 Support equipment 80 users 82 User terminal 90 road 92 Road 200 Assistance control device 210 Judgment Department 240 Memory control unit 250 Acquisition Department 260 Support control section 280 Storage device 290 Communication Equipment 2000 Computer 2010 Host Controller 2012 CPU 2014 RAM 2020 Input / Output Controller 2022 Communication Interface 2024 Flash Memory 2026 ROM 2040 Input / Output Chip

Claims

1. An acquisition unit that acquires location information of a user terminal; a determination unit that determines whether or not a user associated with the user terminal has a tendency to cross a road at a location where a pedestrian crossing is not provided, based on a history of location information of the user terminal; a storage control unit that stores identification information of the user as crossing user information that crosses a road at a location where a crosswalk is not provided when the determination unit determines that the user has a tendency to cross a road at a location where a crosswalk is not provided; an assistance control unit that performs control regarding assistance for traffic participants when the user terminal is present in a location where a pedestrian crossing is not provided, on condition that identification information of the user is stored as crossing user information; An assistance control device comprising:

2. the determination unit determines whether or not a user associated with the user terminal tends to cross a road at a position outside the crosswalk within a predetermined range from the crosswalk, based on a history of location information of the user terminal and map information in which installation positions of crosswalks are stored; The assistance control unit performs control regarding assistance for a traffic participant on condition that identification information of the user is stored as the crossing user information when the user terminal is present in a place where a crosswalk is not provided and the user terminal is present within a predetermined range from the crosswalk. The assistance control device according to claim 1 .

3. The acquisition unit acquires location information of a moving object moving on a road, the determination unit determines whether or not a user associated with the user terminal tends to cross a road even when the moving object is approaching the user in a location where a crosswalk does not exist within a predetermined range, based on a location information history of the user terminal, a location information history of the moving object, and map information in which a crosswalk installation location is stored; The assistance control unit performs control regarding assistance for a traffic participant on the condition that, when the user terminal is present in a place where a crosswalk is not provided, a crosswalk is not present within a predetermined range from a position of the user terminal, and the moving object is approaching the user, identification information of the user is stored as the crossing user information. The assistance control device according to claim 1 .

4. The assistance control unit performs control to output an alarm to a moving object existing around the user terminal as assistance to the traffic participant. The assistance control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The assistance control unit performs control to output an alert to the user terminal as assistance to the traffic participant. The assistance control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. When storing the identification information of the user as crossing user information, the storage control unit stores the identification information of the user in association with a width of a road as the crossing user information, The assistance control unit performs control regarding assistance for traffic participants on the additional condition that the width of a road near the user terminal matches the width associated with the user's identification information. The assistance control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

7. When storing the identification information of the user as crossing user information, the storage control unit stores the identification information of the user in association with a road type as the crossing user information, Controlling assistance to traffic participants on the condition that a type of road in the vicinity of the user terminal matches a type associated with the user's identification information. The assistance control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

8. The assistance control unit suppresses assistance to a traffic participant when the user terminal is present at a location where a pedestrian crossing is not provided and when identification information of the user is not stored as crossing user information. The assistance control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

9. acquiring location information of a user terminal; determining whether a user associated with the user terminal has a tendency to cross roads at locations where no pedestrian crossings are provided, based on a location information history of the user terminal; storing identification information of the user as crossing user information when it is determined that the user has a tendency to cross a road at a location where a crosswalk is not provided; When the user terminal is present in a location where no pedestrian crossing is provided, on condition that identification information of the user is stored as crossing user information, control is performed regarding assistance for traffic participants. The assistance control method includes:

10. A program for causing a computer to function as the assistance control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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