Information processing system, information processing device, driving support method and program

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an information processing system, an information processing device, a driving support method, and a program that can reduce a load on a driver and provide a safe traveling.CONSTITUTION: The present invention includes: an on-vehicle device which is mounted on a vehicle, generates a probe information piece that indicates a traveling state of the vehicle when the vehicle travels, and transmits the generated probe information piece to a probe data processing device; and a probe data processing device which receives the probe information piece transmitted from each of the on-vehicle devices mounted on a plurality of vehicles, respectively. The probe data processing device receives and analyzes a plurality of probe information pieces to generate a probe information piece to be provided that includes information useful for supporting the driving operation, and then transmits the probe information piece to be provided. The on-vehicle device receives the probe information piece to be provided which is transmitted from the probe data processing device, and then, supports a driving operation of the vehicle based on the received probe information piece to be provided.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to information processing, and more particularly to an information processing system, an information processing device, a driving assistance method, and a program for collecting driving information of a plurality of vehicles while traveling. [Background technology]

[0002] Currently, a road traffic information and communication system is in operation that collects driving information (called probe information) such as the current position, speed, and driving direction of vehicles in motion, generates traffic information indicating the congestion level and expected passing time for each road area from the number, density, and speed of vehicles passing per hour, and transmits this information to an on-board navigation device (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this road traffic information and communication system, the navigation device of each vehicle provides route guidance that avoids roads with high congestion levels based on the received traffic information. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2007-085898 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] As described above, the road traffic information and communication system described in Patent Document 1 allows a driver of a vehicle to know about a traffic jam before it occurs, based on traffic information. In addition, the traffic information allows a driver to know about road impediment sections that may impede vehicle travel, such as bad weather, such as fog, snow, or heavy rain, or objects that have fallen on the road.

[0005] Incidentally, when driving through such congested sections or sections where driving is impeded, the driver of a vehicle typically visually checks the driving conditions of the vehicle traveling immediately in front of his / her vehicle and performs driving operations (such as decelerating, steering, etc.) to change the driving conditions of his / her vehicle accordingly.

[0006] Therefore, if the vehicle immediately ahead suddenly brakes, the driver of the vehicle must also suddenly brake, which may cause a safety hazard. In addition, the driver must constantly monitor the changes in the driving conditions of the vehicle immediately ahead, which can cause fatigue.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing system, an information processing device, a driving assistance method, and a program that are capable of reducing the burden on the driver and providing safe driving. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The information processing system of the present invention is an information processing system that includes an on-board device that is mounted on a vehicle and transmits probe information pieces indicating the driving status of the vehicle, and a probe data processing device that receives the probe information pieces transmitted from each of the on-board devices mounted on each of a plurality of the vehicles, wherein the probe data processing device transmits provided probe information pieces including information useful for assisting driving operations based on the plurality of received probe information pieces, and the on-board device receives the provided probe information pieces and provides assistance with driving operations of the vehicle based on the received provided probe information pieces.

[0009] The information processing device of the present invention is an information processing device mounted on a vehicle and includes a communication unit and a control unit that generates a probe information piece indicating the driving state of the vehicle and wirelessly transmits the generated probe information piece from the communication unit, and when the communication unit receives a provided probe information piece including information useful for assisting driving operation, provides assistance with driving operation of the vehicle based on the received provided probe information piece.

[0010] In addition, the information processing device of the present invention is an information processing device that collects and analyzes multiple probe information pieces each indicating the driving condition of each vehicle on a road, and includes a communication unit that receives the multiple probe information pieces transmitted from each of the vehicles, and a control unit that causes the communication unit to transmit to each vehicle on the road a probe information piece to be provided, the probe information piece including information useful for assisting driving operations based on the multiple received probe information pieces.

[0011] The driving assistance method of the present invention collects multiple probe information pieces that individually indicate the driving conditions of each vehicle on a road, and provides driving assistance to each vehicle on the road based on the provided probe information pieces, by transmitting a provided probe information piece containing information useful for assisting driving operations based on the multiple probe information pieces.

[0012] The program of the present invention is a program executed by a control unit of an on-board device installed in a vehicle, and has the steps of wirelessly transmitting a probe information piece indicating the driving state of the vehicle, and when a provided probe information piece containing information useful for assisting driving operation is received, providing assistance with the driving operation of the vehicle based on the received provided probe information piece.

[0013] In addition, the program of the present invention is a program executed by a control unit of an information processing device that collects and analyzes multiple probe information pieces each indicating the driving condition of each vehicle on a road, and has the steps of receiving the multiple probe information pieces transmitted from each of the vehicles, and generating a probe information piece to be provided that includes information useful for assisting driving operation based on the multiple probe information pieces received, and transmitting the probe information piece to be provided to each vehicle on the road. Effect of the Invention

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the burden on driving and provide safe driving. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information processing system 100. FIG. [Diagram 2] 2 is a block diagram showing an example of an internal configuration of a vehicle-mounted device 20. FIG. [Diagram 3] 2 is a block diagram showing an example of an internal configuration of a probe data processing device. FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a communication flow diagram illustrating an example of a communication operation in the information processing system 100. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information processing system 100 according to the present invention.

[0017] The information processing system 100 is a system for providing traffic information on a road to which ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems) technology is applied, by collecting probe information pieces from vehicles traveling on the road. Note that the probe information pieces are information that indicate various driving conditions for each vehicle, such as the driving speed, driving position, and acceleration history of the vehicle.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing system 100 includes ITS spots 10_1 to 10_n (n is an integer of 2 or more) serving as wireless relay devices, an in-vehicle device 20 mounted on a vehicle MB, an ITS communication network 30, and a probe data processing device 40.

[0019] The ITS spots 10_1 to 10_n are installed at predetermined intervals along a road RD to which the ITS technology is applied.

[0020] The ITS spots 10_1 to 10_n have, for example, wireless communication areas A1 to An shown in Fig. 1 as their respective Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC) areas (hereinafter referred to as wireless communication areas). When a vehicle enters the ITS spots 10_1 to 10_n's wireless communication area, the ITS spots 10_1 to 10_n establish wireless communication with the vehicle.

[0021] The ITS spots 10_1 to 10_n are divided into ITS spots (referred to as acquisition ITS spots) that are responsible for receiving probe information pieces wirelessly transmitted from vehicles, and ITS spots (referred to as provision ITS spots hereinafter) that are responsible for transmitting probe information pieces to vehicles. For example, in the example shown in Fig. 1, each of the ITS spots 10_(2k-1) (k is an integer equal to or greater than 1) that are odd-numbered along the road RD is an acquisition ITS spot, and each of the ITS spots 10_(2k) that are even-numbered is a provision ITS spot.

[0022] Among the ITS spots 10_1 to 10_n, the acquisition ITS spot receives the probe information piece transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device 20 of the vehicle MB, and supplies the same to the probe data processing device 40 via the ITS communication network 30. The provision ITS spot wirelessly transmits the probe information piece supplied from the probe data processing device 40 via the ITS communication network 30 to the vehicle-mounted device 20 of the vehicle MB.

[0023] The vehicle-mounted device 20 is, for example, an ETC2.0-compatible navigation device that has a function of controlling two-way wireless communication with ITS spots.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the vehicle-mounted device 20. As shown in FIG.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle-mounted device 20 includes an operation unit 11, a positioning unit 12, a vehicle speed sensor 13, an acceleration sensor 14, a gyro sensor 15, a display 16, a communication unit 17, a storage unit 18, and a control unit 19.

[0026] The operation unit 11 accepts an instruction input by a user, and supplies an instruction input signal indicating the instruction to the control unit 19.

[0027] The positioning unit 12 includes a satellite antenna that receives satellite signals for positioning transmitted from, for example, a GPS satellite. The positioning unit 12 determines the position (latitude, longitude, altitude) and orientation (azimuth) of the vehicle MB in a geographic coordinate system based on the received satellite signals, and supplies a vehicle position signal indicating each of them to the control unit 19. The vehicle speed sensor 13 detects the current traveling speed of the vehicle MB, and supplies a traveling speed signal indicating the speed to the control unit 19. The acceleration sensor 14 detects acceleration in each of the three axial directions of the three-dimensional coordinates that is applied as the vehicle MB moves, and supplies an acceleration signal indicating the detected acceleration in each of the three axial directions to the control unit 19. The gyro sensor 15 detects the rotational angular velocity of the vehicle MB, and supplies a rotational angular velocity signal indicating the detected rotational angular velocity to the control unit 19.

[0028] Based on the video signal supplied from the control unit 19, the display 16 displays the map and displays a warning message and outputs audio.

[0029] The communication unit 17 performs two-way wireless communication of the above-mentioned probe information piece with the ITS spot, for example, by 5.8 GHz band DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communication) internationally standardized by ISO (International Organization for Standardization) and ITU (International Telecommunication Union). That is, when the communication unit 17 receives a probe information piece wirelessly transmitted from the providing ITS spot, it supplies the probe information piece to the control unit 19 and wirelessly transmits the probe information piece supplied from the control unit 19 to the obtaining ITS spot.

[0030] The storage unit 18 is composed of a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk device, a solid state drive (SSD), a flash memory, etc. The storage unit 18 stores in advance a program that performs the functions of a navigation device, as well as a program that performs the transmission and reception of the probe information piece as described above, and the display control or audio output control of various information that supports driving operations.

[0031] The control unit 19 reads out a program stored in the memory unit 18 and executes it to supply a video signal for displaying a map showing the current position of the vehicle MB and the route to the destination to the display 16. At this time, when the communication unit 17 receives a probe information piece wirelessly transmitted from the providing ITS spot, the control unit 19 controls the display 16 to display and output audio for driving operation support such as calling attention to the vehicle while it is traveling, based on the contents of the probe information piece.

[0032] Furthermore, the control unit 19 executes the program read from the storage unit 18, whereby the control unit 19 generates a probe information piece representing the vehicle position signal, the traveling speed signal, the acceleration signal, and the rotational angular velocity signal supplied from the positioning unit 12, the vehicle speed sensor 13, the acceleration sensor 14, and the gyro sensor 15. Then, the control unit 19 supplies this probe information piece to the communication unit 17, thereby causing the communication unit 17 to transmit the probe information piece to the acquisition ITS spot.

[0033] With the above-mentioned configuration, the vehicle-mounted device 20 measures the current position of the vehicle MB and displays this on a map, as well as a map display showing a route to a target point.

[0034] Furthermore, the vehicle-mounted device 20 performs two-way wireless communication of the probe information piece with the probe data processing device 40 via the ITS spots 10_1 to 10_n and the ITS communication network 30.

[0035] That is, the vehicle-mounted device 20 transmits a probe information piece related to the vehicle (MB) to the probe data processing device 40 via the obtaining ITS spot among the ITS spots 10_1 to 10_n and the ITS communication network 30. The vehicle-mounted device 20 also receives the probe information piece transmitted from the probe data processing device 40 via the providing ITS spot and the ITS communication network 30, and analyzes it to display or output a sound to assist driving operations such as calling attention when traveling on the road RD.

[0036] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the probe data processing device 40. As shown in FIG.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 3, the probe data processing device 40 includes a communication unit 41, a storage unit 42, and a control unit 43.

[0038] The communication unit 41 transmits the probe information piece supplied from the control unit 43 to the providing ITS spot via the ITS communication network 30. In addition, when the communication unit 41 receives a probe information piece transmitted by the obtaining ITS spot via the ITS communication network 30, it supplies the probe information piece to the control unit 43.

[0039] The storage unit 42 prestores programs for transmitting and receiving the probe information pieces as described above, and for analyzing the probe information pieces sent from each vehicle and generating the probe information pieces to be provided.

[0040] The control unit 43 reads out a program stored in the memory unit 42 and executes it to control the transmission and reception of probe information pieces via the communication unit 41, and also analyzes the received probe information pieces corresponding to each vehicle to generate probe information pieces to be provided.

[0041] That is, the control unit 43 first detects, based on the received probe information fragments corresponding to each vehicle, that a specific driving operation that may reduce safety, such as abrupt steering, sudden acceleration, or sudden braking, has been performed in a specific number of vehicles during the same time period. Next, the control unit 43 generates a probe information fragment to be provided that includes the content of the specific driving operation and information useful for supporting driving operations such as a road section, and supplies this to the communication unit 41, thereby causing the communication unit 41 to transmit the probe information fragment to be provided to the ITS spot to be provided via the ITS communication network 30.

[0042] Below, the communication operation performed between the vehicle-mounted device 20 and the probe data processing device 40 will be explained using an example in which, as shown in Figure 1, the vehicle MB moves from a road section on the road RD corresponding to the wireless communication area A1 to a road section on the road RD corresponding to the wireless communication area A2.

[0043] First, while the vehicle MB is traveling in the road section corresponding to the wireless communication area A1, the on-board device 20 wirelessly transmits probe information pieces representing its own vehicle position signal, traveling speed signal, acceleration signal, and rotational angular velocity signal acquired while traveling in this road section to the ITS spot 10_1 as an acquisition ITS spot responsible for wireless communication in the wireless communication area A1 (step T1). At this time, when the ITS spot 10_1 receives the probe information pieces, it transmits them to the probe data processing device 40 via the ITS communication network 30.

[0044] When the probe data processing device 40 receives the probe information piece, it first analyzes the probe information piece collected from each vehicle up to the present time (step T2). As a result, the probe data processing device 40 detects that a specific driving operation that reduces safety, such as abrupt steering, sudden acceleration, or sudden braking, has been performed in a predetermined number of vehicles during the same time period.

[0045] Next, the probe data processing device 40 generates a probe information piece for provision including the content of the specific driving operation and information contributing to the support of driving operations such as the road section (step T3), and wirelessly transmits the same to the ITS spot 10_2 as the acquisition ITS spot (step T4). At this time, the ITS spot 10_2 wirelessly transmits the probe information piece for provision toward its own wireless compatible area A2.

[0046] When the vehicle MB moves to the road section corresponding to the wireless communication area A2, the vehicle-mounted device 20 mounted on the vehicle MB receives the probe information piece to be provided transmitted from the ITS spot 10_2 and analyzes the probe information piece (step T5). As a result, the vehicle-mounted device 20 displays and outputs audio to support the driving operation, such as calling attention to the driver's attention while driving the vehicle, based on the contents of the probe information piece to be provided (step T6).

[0047] Thereafter, while the vehicle MB is traveling in a section on the road RD that is included in the wireless compatible area of ​​the acquisition ITS spot (e.g., A3, A5, A7, ...), the above-mentioned steps T1 to T4 are performed, and while the vehicle MB is traveling in a section that is included in the wireless compatible area of ​​the provision ITS spot (e.g., A4, A6, A8, ...), the above-mentioned steps T5 and T6 are performed.

[0048] Here, for example, if an accident or congestion occurs in a road section ahead of the vehicle (MB), depending on the situation, multiple vehicles entering the road section may suddenly brake. At this time, each of the multiple vehicles transmits a probe information piece indicating its own driving state and the road section to the probe data processing device 40 via the acquisition ITS spot. The probe data processing device 40 then detects that sudden braking has been performed as a driving operation based on the probe information pieces transmitted from the multiple vehicles, and wirelessly transmits a probe information piece for provision indicating this driving operation (sudden braking) and the road section to the traveling vehicle via the provision ITS spot. Here, the vehicle-mounted device 20 of the vehicle that received the probe information piece for provision provides driving operation support based on the probe information piece for provision, for example, displays and outputs a voice to inform the driver of the road section where another vehicle has suddenly braked.

[0049] Therefore, before the vehicle driver reaches the congested section or the driving obstruction section, the driver can perform driving operations to switch the vehicle's driving state to one that is prepared for entering the congested section or the driving obstruction section in advance, based on driving operations (e.g., sudden braking, sudden steering, sudden acceleration) performed by a vehicle that has already traveled through the congested section or the driving obstruction section.

[0050] In this way, in the present invention, a provided probe information piece containing information useful for assisting driving operations is generated based on multiple probe information pieces that individually indicate the driving conditions of each vehicle on the road, and this is transmitted to each vehicle on the road, thereby providing each vehicle with driving operation assistance based on the provided probe information piece.

[0051] This enables the driver of a vehicle to perform driving operations that switch the vehicle's driving state to one suitable for entering a congested section or a section where driving is obstructed in advance, for example, when entering a congested section or a section where driving is obstructed, without having to visually check the driving state of the vehicle traveling in front.

[0052] Therefore, the present invention makes it possible to reduce the burden of driving and provide safe driving.

[0053] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, communication between the vehicle-mounted device 20 of each vehicle and the probe data processing device 40 is relayed through the ITS spots 10_1 to 10_n. However, if communication between the two can be performed directly and wirelessly, the ITS spots 10_1 to 10_n are unnecessary.

[0054] In short, the information processing system according to the present invention may include a probe data processing device and an on-board device as described below.

[0055] That is, the vehicle-mounted device (20) mounted on the vehicle transmits probe information pieces indicating the driving conditions (e.g., driving speed, driving position, acceleration) of the vehicle (MB). The probe data processing device (40) receives the probe information pieces transmitted from the vehicle-mounted devices (20) mounted on each of the multiple vehicles, and transmits a provided probe information piece including information useful for assisting driving operation (e.g., sudden steering, sudden acceleration, or sudden braking) based on the multiple received probe information pieces. At this time, the vehicle-mounted device (20) receives the provided probe information pieces transmitted from the probe data processing device, and provides assistance with the driving operation of the vehicle based on the received provided probe information pieces. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 10_1~10_n ITS Spot 20 Onboard equipment 30 ITS communication network 40 Probe data processing device 100 Information Processing Systems

Claims

1. An on-board device that is mounted on a vehicle and transmits a probe information piece that indicates a driving state of the vehicle; a probe data processing device that receives the probe information pieces transmitted from each of the vehicle-mounted devices mounted on each of the plurality of vehicles, The probe data processing device transmits a provided probe information piece including information useful for assisting driving operation based on the received plurality of probe information pieces; The information processing system is characterized in that the vehicle-mounted device receives the provided probe information piece and provides assistance for driving operation of the vehicle based on the received provided probe information piece.

2. The information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of wireless relay devices installed along a road for relaying communication of the probe information piece or the provided probe information piece between the vehicle-mounted device and the probe data processing device.

3. The information processing system according to claim 2, characterized in that each of the multiple wireless relay devices is an acquisition relay device that receives the probe information piece transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device and transmits it to the probe data processing device, or a supply relay device that receives the provision probe information piece transmitted from the probe data processing device and transmits it to the vehicle-mounted device.

4. The probe information piece includes information representing the vehicle's traveling speed, traveling position, and acceleration, The information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the probe information piece to be provided includes information representing a driving operation that reduces safety and information representing the road section in which this driving operation was performed.

5. 5. The information processing system according to claim 4, wherein the driving operation that reduces the degree of safety is abrupt steering, sudden acceleration, or sudden braking.

6. 2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle-mounted device displays or outputs audio to assist driving of the vehicle based on the received piece of provided probe information.

7. An information processing device mounted on a vehicle, The Communications Department and an information processing device comprising: a control unit that generates a probe information piece indicating the driving state of the vehicle and wirelessly transmits the generated probe information piece via the communication unit; and, when the communication unit receives a provided probe information piece including information useful for assisting driving operation, provides assistance with driving operation of the vehicle based on the received provided probe information piece.

8. An information processing device that collects and analyzes a plurality of probe information pieces each indicating a driving state of each vehicle on a road, a communication unit that receives the plurality of pieces of probe information transmitted from each of the vehicles; and a control unit that causes the communication unit to transmit a provided probe information piece including information useful for assisting driving operations based on the received plurality of probe information pieces to each vehicle on the road.

9. Collecting a plurality of pieces of probe information that indicate the driving conditions of each vehicle on a road individually; A driving assistance method characterized by providing driving operation assistance to each of the vehicles on the road based on the provided probe information pieces by transmitting a provided probe information piece containing information useful for assisting driving operation based on the multiple probe information pieces.

10. A program executed by a control unit of an on-board device mounted in a vehicle, a step of wirelessly transmitting a probe information piece indicating a traveling state of the vehicle; A program characterized by having a step of, when receiving a piece of provided probe information including information useful for assisting driving operation, providing assistance for driving operation of the vehicle based on the received piece of provided probe information.

11. A program executed by a control unit of an information processing device that collects and analyzes a plurality of probe information pieces each indicating a driving state of each vehicle on a road, receiving the plurality of pieces of probe information transmitted from each of the vehicles, and generating a piece of probe information to be provided, the piece of probe information including information useful for assisting driving operation, based on the plurality of pieces of probe information received; and a step of causing the provided probe information piece to be transmitted to each vehicle on the road.

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