Information provision device, information provision method, and information provision program

Abstract

To provide an information provision device capable of correctly notifying an operator of an own vehicle of a limited speed to be applied to the own vehicle.SOLUTION: An information provision device 10 is configured to: allow a traffic rule with a vehicle traveling on a lane on which an own vehicle 100 is currently traveling as an object by image recognition to be acquired as an image recognition traffic rule from a road sign included in a photographed image acquired by photographing a foreground of the own vehicle; acquiring position information of the own vehicle; acquire a traffic rule to be applied to the own vehicle as an application traffic rule based on the image recognition traffic rule, vehicle information related to an attribute of the own vehicle, and the position information; and notify an operator of the own vehicle of the acquired application traffic rule.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information providing device, an information providing method, and an information providing program. [Background technology]

[0002] There is known an information providing device that uses a camera sensor to capture an image of a road sign indicating a speed limit, recognizes the speed limit from the road sign captured in the captured camera image, and displays the recognized speed limit on a display, thereby notifying the driver of the vehicle of the speed limit (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-62696 A Summary of the Invention

[0004] In some regions or countries, the speed limit displayed on road signs does not apply as is depending on the attributes of the vehicle. In such regions or countries, if the speed limit recognized from the road signs is displayed as is on the display, the driver will be notified of the incorrect speed limit.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an information providing device, an information providing method, and an information providing program that can accurately notify an operator of the vehicle of the speed limit that applies to the vehicle.

[0006] The information providing device according to the present invention includes a control device that notifies an operator of the host vehicle of applicable traffic rules that are traffic rules that are applied to the host vehicle. The control device is configured to acquire, as image recognition traffic rules, traffic rules that apply to vehicles traveling in the lane in which the host vehicle is currently traveling, by image recognition from road signs included in an image acquired by imaging the foreground of the host vehicle, acquire position information of the host vehicle, acquire the applicable traffic rules based on the image recognition traffic rules, vehicle information related to attributes of the host vehicle, and the position information, and notify the operator of the host vehicle of the acquired applicable traffic rules.

[0007] There are countries and regions where traffic rules that apply to vehicles differ depending on the attributes of the vehicles, even if the vehicles are traveling in the same lane. In some of these countries and regions, road signs that display all of the traffic rules according to the attributes of the vehicles are not installed on the roads, and only road signs that display one representative traffic rule are installed on the roads. In such countries and regions, if the traffic rules acquired from the road signs by image recognition are directly notified to the vehicle operator, the vehicle operator may be notified of traffic rules that do not apply to the vehicle.

[0008] According to the information providing device of the present invention, the traffic rules according to the attributes of the vehicle and the position information of the vehicle (for example, the current position of the vehicle) are notified to the operator of the vehicle. Therefore, the traffic rules can be accurately notified to the operator of the vehicle.

[0009] Furthermore, in the information providing device of the present invention, the control device may be configured to not notify the operator of the applicable traffic rule acquired based on the image recognition traffic rule acquired from the road sign if the road sign acquired by image recognition from the captured image is not a road sign intended for the vehicle.

[0010] According to the information providing device of the present invention, traffic rules that are not intended for the vehicle are not notified to the operator of the vehicle, and therefore it is possible to prevent the operator of the vehicle from being notified of erroneous traffic rules.

[0011] In the information providing device according to the present invention, the control device may include a conversion means for converting the image recognition traffic rule into the applicable traffic rule based on the vehicle information and the position information. In this case, the control device may be configured to obtain the applicable traffic rule by converting the image recognition traffic rule by the conversion means based on the vehicle information and the position information.

[0012] According to the information providing device of the present invention, the traffic rules acquired from road signs by image recognition are converted by the conversion means, whereby the traffic rules applicable to the vehicle can be acquired.

[0013] In addition, in the information providing device according to the present invention, the vehicle information includes, for example, vehicle use information related to the use of the vehicle and vehicle specification information related to the specifications of the vehicle as information related to the attributes of the vehicle. In this case, the control device may include a conversion means for converting a traffic rule displayed by a road sign based on the current position of the vehicle into a traffic rule applicable to the vehicle, for each combination of the vehicle use and the vehicle specifications. The control device may be configured to select a conversion means corresponding to the combination of the vehicle use and the vehicle specifications from among the conversion means, based on the vehicle use information and the vehicle specification information, and to obtain the applicable traffic rule by converting the image recognition traffic rule based on the position information using the selected conversion means.

[0014] According to the information providing device of the present invention, traffic rules applicable to the vehicle can be obtained by converting traffic rules obtained by image recognition from road signs using a conversion means corresponding to a combination of the vehicle's purpose and vehicle specifications.

[0015] In the information providing device according to the present invention, the vehicle information includes, for example, vehicle use information related to the use of the vehicle and vehicle specification information related to the specifications of the vehicle as information related to the attributes of the vehicle. In this case, the control device may include a conversion means for converting a traffic rule displayed by a road sign based on the current position of the vehicle into a traffic rule applicable to the vehicle for each combination of the use of the vehicle, the specifications of the vehicle, and the current position of the vehicle. The control device may be configured to select a conversion means corresponding to the combination of the use of the vehicle, the specifications of the vehicle, and the current position of the vehicle from the conversion means based on the vehicle use information, the vehicle specification information, and the position information, and to convert the image recognition traffic rule based on the position information using the selected conversion means to obtain the applicable traffic rule.

[0016] According to the information providing device of the present invention, traffic rules applicable to the vehicle can be obtained by converting traffic rules obtained by image recognition from road signs using a conversion means corresponding to a combination of the vehicle's purpose, vehicle specifications, and current position of the vehicle.

[0017] In addition, in the information providing device of the present invention, the control device may be configured to switch the conversion means from a first conversion means that converts the image recognition traffic rule into the applicable traffic rule in the first area to a second conversion means that converts the image recognition traffic rule into the applicable traffic rule in the second area when the vehicle moves from a first area to a second area different from the first area.

[0018] According to the information providing device of the present invention, the traffic rules that apply to the vehicle can be obtained by converting the traffic rules obtained by image recognition using a conversion means that is prepared according to the region.

[0019] In the information providing device according to the present invention, the control device stores a map for acquiring traffic rules that are applicable to the vehicle from traffic rules indicated by road signs and the current position of the vehicle for each attribute of the vehicle. In this case, the control device may be configured to select a map corresponding to the attribute of the vehicle from the stored maps, and acquire the applicable traffic rules from the selected map based on the image recognition traffic rules and position information of the vehicle.

[0020] According to the information providing device of the present invention, it is possible to obtain traffic rules that are applicable to the host vehicle from a map that corresponds to the attributes of the host vehicle.

[0021] In the information providing device according to the present invention, the control device stores, for example, a map for acquiring traffic rules applicable to the vehicle from traffic rules indicated by road signs and the current position of the vehicle as applicable traffic rules for each combination of attributes of the vehicle and the current position of the vehicle. In this case, the control device may be configured to select a map corresponding to a combination of attributes of the host vehicle and the current position of the host vehicle from the stored maps, and acquire the applicable traffic rules from the selected map based on the image recognition traffic rules and position information of the host vehicle.

[0022] According to the information providing device of the present invention, it is possible to obtain traffic rules that are applied to the host vehicle from a map that corresponds to a combination of the attributes of the host vehicle and the current position of the host vehicle.

[0023] An information providing method according to the present invention is a method for notifying an operator of a host vehicle of applicable traffic rules that are applied to the host vehicle. The information providing method according to the present invention includes a step of acquiring, as an image recognition traffic rule, a traffic rule for vehicles traveling in the lane in which the host vehicle is currently traveling, by image recognition from a road sign included in an image acquired by imaging the foreground of the host vehicle, a step of acquiring position information of the host vehicle, a step of acquiring the applicable traffic rule based on the image recognition traffic rule, vehicle information related to attributes of the host vehicle, and the position information, and a step of notifying the operator of the host vehicle of the acquired applicable traffic rule.

[0024] According to the information providing method of the present invention, for the same reason as described above, the traffic rules according to the attributes and the current location of the vehicle are notified to the operator of the vehicle, so that the traffic rules can be accurately notified to the operator of the vehicle.

[0025] The information provision program according to the present invention is a program for notifying an operator of the vehicle of applicable traffic rules that are applied to the vehicle. The information provision program according to the present invention acquires, as image recognition traffic rules, traffic rules for vehicles traveling in the lane in which the vehicle is currently traveling, by image recognition from road signs included in an image acquired by imaging the foreground of the vehicle, acquires position information of the vehicle, and acquires the applicable traffic rules based on the image recognition traffic rules, vehicle information related to attributes of the vehicle, and the position information; The vehicle is configured to notify an operator of the vehicle of the acquired applicable traffic rules.

[0026] For the same reasons as described above, the information provision program according to the present invention notifies the operator of the vehicle of traffic rules according to the attributes and current location of the vehicle, thereby making it possible to notify the operator of the vehicle of accurate traffic rules.

[0027] The components of the present invention are not limited to the embodiments of the present invention described below with reference to the drawings. Other objects, other features and associated advantages of the present invention will be easily understood from the description of the embodiments of the present invention. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an information providing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a conversion map according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a routine executed by the information providing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a conversion map according to the second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] An information providing device, an information providing method, and an information providing program according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 shows an information providing device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information providing device 10 is mounted on a vehicle 100. The information providing device 10 will be described below using as an example a case where the operator of the vehicle 100 is a person who gets in the vehicle 100 and drives the vehicle 100 (i.e., the driver of the vehicle 100).

[0030] However, the operator of the vehicle 100 may be a person who drives the vehicle 100 remotely without being in the vehicle 100 (i.e., a remote operator of the vehicle 100). When the operator of the vehicle 100 is a remote operator, the information providing device 10 is mounted on the vehicle 100 and on a remote operation facility installed outside the vehicle 100 in order to remotely drive the vehicle 100, and the functions of the information providing device 10 described below are shared between the information providing device 10 mounted on the vehicle 100 and the information providing device 10 mounted on the remote operation facility.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 1, the information providing device 10 includes an ECU (electronic control unit) 90 as a control device. The ECU 90 includes a microcomputer as a main part. The microcomputer includes a CPU, a storage medium such as a ROM, a RAM, and a non-volatile memory, and an interface. The CPU executes instructions, programs, or routines stored in the storage medium to realize various functions. In particular, in this example, the information providing device 10 stores in the storage medium a program that realizes various controls executed by the information providing device 10.

[0032] In this example, the information providing device 10 has only one ECU 90, but it may also be configured to have multiple ECUs, with each ECU sharing the functions of the information providing device 10 described below.

[0033] Furthermore, the information providing device 10 may be configured so that the program stored in the storage medium can be updated through wireless communication with an external device (eg, Internet communication).

[0034] The vehicle 100 is equipped with a display device 20, an image acquisition device 30, a current position acquisition device 40, a map information database 50, and a conversion map database 60.

[0035] When the vehicle 100 is a vehicle that is driven by remote control, the display device 20 is mounted on a remote control facility installed outside the vehicle 100 in order to remotely drive the vehicle 100. When the vehicle 100 is a vehicle that is driven by remote control, the current position acquisition device 40, the map information database 50, and the conversion map database 60 are mounted on at least one of the vehicle 100 or the remote control facility.

[0036] <Display device> The display device 20 is a device that displays various images, and includes a display 21. The display device 20 is electrically connected to the ECU 90. The display device 20 displays an image on the display 21 in accordance with a command received from the ECU 90 (i.e., the information providing device 10). For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the display device 20 displays an image (speed limit image IMGsl) that displays the speed limit applied to the host vehicle 100 on the display 21 in accordance with a command received from the information providing device 10.

[0037] <Image capture device> The image capturing device 30 is a device that captures an image of the foreground of the vehicle 100 by capturing an image of the foreground of the vehicle 100, and includes a camera sensor 31. The image capturing device 30 is electrically connected to the ECU 90. The image capturing device 30 transmits an image of the foreground of the vehicle 100 captured and acquired by the camera sensor 31 (camera image IMGcam) to the ECU 90. The ECU 90 (i.e., the information providing device 10) extracts a road sign indicating a speed limit from the camera image IMGcam received from the image capturing device 30, and acquires the speed limit indicated on the extracted road sign as the image recognition speed limit SLimg.

[0038] <Current position acquisition device> The current position acquisition device 40 is a device that acquires the current position of the host vehicle 100, and includes a GPS signal receiver 41 and an inertial sensor 42. The GPS signal receiver 41 is a device that receives so-called GPS signals. The inertial sensor 42 is a sensor that detects the acceleration, angular velocity, and the like of the host vehicle 100. The current position acquisition device 40 is electrically connected to the ECU 90. The current position acquisition device 40 acquires the current position of the host vehicle 100 based on the GPS signal received by the GPS signal receiver 41 and the acceleration, angular velocity, and the like of the host vehicle 100 detected by the inertial sensor 42, and transmits the acquired current position to the ECU 90. The ECU 90 (i.e., the information providing device 10) acquires the current position received from the current position acquisition device 40 as the current position Pnow of the host vehicle 100. The current position Pnow of the host vehicle 100 is one of the position information IP of the host vehicle 100.

[0039] <Map information database> The map information database 50 is a database that stores map information and is a database (speed limit database) that stores speed limits set for each lane of a road. The speed limits are associated with each lane of each road as part of the map information and stored in the map information database 50. The map information database 50 is electrically connected to the ECU 90. The ECU 90 (i.e., the information providing device 10) can obtain the speed limit set for the lane in which the vehicle 100 is currently traveling from the map information database 50 as data speed limit SLdata by comparing the current position Pnow of the vehicle 100 with the map information in the map information database 50.

[0040] In this example, the information providing device 10 is configured to use the map information database 50 installed in the vehicle 100, but may be configured to use the map information database 50 stored in a server or the like external to the vehicle 100. In this case, the information providing device 10 is configured to use the map information database 50 stored in the server by wirelessly communicating with the server.

[0041] <Conversion map database>

[0042] In some countries and regions, different speed limits are set for vehicles traveling on the same lane depending on the attributes of the vehicle. For example, in Europe, different speed limits are set for vehicles traveling on the same lane depending on the attributes of the vehicle related to the vehicle's use, such as whether the vehicle is a passenger vehicle (a vehicle used to transport passengers) or a freight vehicle (a vehicle used to transport freight). Even if the vehicle is a passenger vehicle, different speed limits are set depending on the attributes of the vehicle related to the vehicle's specifications, such as the number of passengers and the total vehicle weight. Even if the vehicle is a freight vehicle, different speed limits are set depending on the attributes of the vehicle related to the vehicle's specifications, such as the maximum total weight of the vehicle.

[0043] In some of these countries and regions, road signs that display all the speed limits according to the attributes of the vehicle are not installed on the roads, and only a road sign that displays one representative speed limit is installed on the roads. Therefore, for example, if a speed limit of 100 km / h is displayed on a road sign installed for vehicles traveling in the lane in which the vehicle is currently traveling, the speed limit of 100 km / h may be applied to one vehicle as is, and a speed limit lower than 100 km / h may be applied to another vehicle. Therefore, in such countries and regions, if the speed limit displayed on the road sign is displayed as is on the display device 20, an incorrect speed limit may be displayed to the driver.

[0044] Also, there may be countries or regions where all speed limits according to vehicle attributes are not reflected in the map information database 50. In such countries or regions, when a speed limit of 100 km / h set for the lane in which the vehicle is currently traveling is obtained from the map information database 50 by checking the current position of the vehicle against the map information in the map information database 50, a speed limit of 100 km / h may be applied to one vehicle, and a speed limit slower than 100 km / h may be applied to another vehicle. Therefore, in such countries or regions, if the speed limit obtained from the map information database 50 is displayed as is on the display device 20, an incorrect speed limit may be displayed to the driver.

[0045] Therefore, in countries or regions where different speed limits are set depending on the attributes of the vehicle, in order to obtain the accurate speed limit that applies to each vehicle, it is necessary to convert the image recognition speed limit SLimg and the data speed limit SLData into the speed limit that applies to each vehicle depending on the attributes of each vehicle.

[0046] The conversion map database 60 stores a conversion map MAP that converts the image recognition speed limit SLimg and the data speed limit SLdata into a speed limit (applied speed limit SLapp) that is applied to each vehicle in accordance with the attributes of each vehicle.

[0047] In this example, the conversion map MAP is a map or lookup table that stores the applicable speed limit SLapp with the current driving area AREA (a country in the example shown in FIG. 3), the image recognition speed limit SLimg, and the data speed limit SLData as arguments, as shown in FIG. 3. The current driving area AREA is one of the location information IP, and is the area in which the vehicle 100 is currently traveling. This area is an area within which the same traffic laws apply. Therefore, this area includes the country. The applicable speed limit SLapp is the speed limit that applies to the vehicle 100. Note that the current driving area AREA for the vehicle 100 is obtained by comparing the current position Pnow of the vehicle 100 with the map information in the map information database 50.

[0048] In this example, the conversion map MAP is prepared for each vehicle category VC. The vehicle category VC is determined by a combination of the vehicle's use and its specifications. Information on the use of the vehicle 100 (vehicle use information IU), information on the specifications of the vehicle 100 (vehicle specification information IS), and information on the vehicle category VC determined for each combination of the vehicle's use and its specifications are stored in advance in the information providing device 10 (particularly, the storage medium of the ECU 90). However, only the vehicle category VC corresponding to the combination of the use of the vehicle 100 and its specifications may be stored in advance in the information providing device 10.

[0049] In addition, in Figure 3, "N1", "N2", and "N3" attached to each conversion map MAP indicate the vehicle category VC, and the conversion map MAP labeled "N1" is used to obtain the speed limit applicable to vehicles whose vehicle category VC is "N1", the conversion map MAP labeled "N2" is used to obtain the speed limit applicable to vehicles whose vehicle category VC is "N2", and the conversion map MAP labeled "N3" is used to obtain the speed limit applicable to vehicles whose vehicle category VC is "N3".

[0050] Similarly, in Figure 3, "M1", "M2", and "M3" attached to each conversion map MAP indicate the vehicle category VC, and the conversion map MAP labeled "M1" is used to obtain the speed limit applicable to vehicles whose vehicle category VC is "M1", the conversion map MAP labeled "M2" is used to obtain the speed limit applicable to vehicles whose vehicle category VC is "M2", and the conversion map MAP labeled "M3" is used to obtain the speed limit applicable to vehicles whose vehicle category VC is "M3".

[0051] In addition, when the vehicle is a freight transport vehicle, a different vehicle category VC may be assigned when the towing vehicle (tractor) is towing a towed vehicle (trailer) and when the towing vehicle is not towing a towed vehicle.

[0052] The conversion map database 60 is electrically connected to the ECU 90. The ECU 90 (i.e., the information providing device 10) can obtain the applied speed limit SLapp by selecting a conversion map MAP corresponding to the vehicle category VC of the vehicle 100 from the conversion map database 60 and applying the current driving area AREA and the image recognition speed limit SLimg or the data speed limit SLdata to the selected conversion map MAP (applied conversion map MAPapp). Therefore, the conversion map MAP is a map that converts the image recognition speed limit SLimg and the data speed limit SLdata into the applied speed limit SLapp.

[0053] As described above, depending on the vehicle category VC of the host vehicle 100, the image recognition speed limit SLimg may be the applicable speed limit SLapp as is, or the data speed limit SLdata may be the applicable speed limit SLapp as is.

[0054] In this example, the information providing device 10 is configured to use the conversion map database 60 installed in the vehicle 100, but may be configured to use the conversion map database 60 stored in a server or the like external to the vehicle 100. In this case, the information providing device 10 is configured to use the conversion map database 60 stored in the server by wirelessly communicating with the server.

[0055] <Operation of information providing device> Next, an operation of the information providing device 10 will be described. The information providing device 10 is a device that notifies the driver of the vehicle 100 of an applied speed limit SLapp, which is a speed limit applied to the vehicle 100, and is configured to obtain a speed limit for vehicles traveling in the lane in which the vehicle 100 is currently traveling as an image recognition speed limit SLimg by image recognition from road signs included in a captured image (camera image IMGcam) obtained by capturing an image of the foreground of the vehicle 100, obtain position information IP of the vehicle 100, obtain an applied speed limit SLapp based on the image recognition speed limit SLimg, vehicle information IV related to the attributes of the vehicle 100, and the position information IP of the vehicle 100, and notify the driver of the vehicle 100 of the obtained applied speed limit SLapp.

[0056] More specifically, the information providing device 10 according to the first embodiment executes the routine shown in FIG. 4 at a predetermined calculation interval, thereby notifying the driver of the vehicle 100 of the speed limit applied to the vehicle 100 (applicable speed limit SLapp) by displaying it on the display 21 by the display device 20.

[0057] Therefore, at a predetermined timing, the information providing device 10 starts processing from step S400 of the routine shown in Figure 4, proceeds to step S405, extracts an image of a road sign indicating the speed limit from the camera image IMGcam, and obtains the speed limit indicated on the road sign as the image recognition speed limit SLimg.

[0058] Next, the information providing device 10 advances the process to step S410, and determines whether or not the image recognition speed limit display condition C1 is satisfied. The image recognition speed limit display condition C1 is a condition that the image recognition speed limit SLimg has been acquired in step S405.

[0059] If the information providing device 10 judges "Yes" in step S410, it proceeds to step S415, and identifies the area in which the vehicle 100 is currently traveling as the current traveling area AREA by comparing the current position Pnow of the vehicle 100 with the map information in the map information database 50.

[0060] Next, the information providing device 10 advances the process to step S420, and acquires the vehicle category VC of the host vehicle 100 based on the use of the host vehicle 100 and the specifications of the host vehicle 100.

[0061] Next, the information providing device 10 advances the process to step S425, and selects, from the conversion map database 60, the conversion map MAP that corresponds to the vehicle category VC acquired in step S420, as the applied conversion map MAPapp.

[0062] Next, the information providing device 10 proceeds to step S430, and applies the image recognition speed limit SLimg acquired in step S405 and the current driving area AREA identified in step S415 to the applicable conversion map MAPapp selected in step S425, to acquire the speed limit SL to be applied to the host vehicle 100 as the applicable speed limit SLapp.

[0063] That is, the information providing device 10 is equipped with a conversion means (conversion map MAP) that converts the image recognition speed limit SLimg into the applicable speed limit SLapp based on the vehicle information IV and the position information IP (information relating to the current position Pnow of the vehicle 100, in this example, information relating to the current driving area AREA), and is configured to obtain the applicable speed limit SLapp by converting the image recognition speed limit SLimg using the conversion means (conversion map MAP) based on the vehicle information IV and the position information IP.

[0064] In other words, in this example, the vehicle information IV includes vehicle use information IU and vehicle specification information IS as information related to the attributes of the vehicle 100, and the information providing device 10 is provided with a conversion means (conversion map MAP) for each combination of the vehicle use and specifications of the vehicle that converts the speed limit indicated by road signs based on the vehicle's current position into a speed limit applicable to the vehicle, and is configured to select from these conversion means (conversion maps MAP) a conversion means (applicable conversion map MAPapp) that corresponds to the combination of the use and specifications of the vehicle 100 based on the vehicle use information IU and the vehicle specification information IS, and obtain the applicable speed limit SLapp by converting the image recognition speed limit SLimg based on the position information IP of the vehicle 100 using the selected conversion means (applicable conversion map MAPapp).

[0065] In other words, the information providing device 10 stores a map (conversion map MAP) for each attribute of the vehicle to obtain the speed limit applicable to the vehicle from the speed limit indicated by road signs and the current position of the vehicle as the applicable speed limit SLapp, and is configured to select a map (applicable conversion map MAPapp) corresponding to the attributes of the vehicle 100 from among the stored maps (conversion maps MAP), and to obtain the applicable speed limit SLapp from the selected map (applicable conversion map MAPapp) based on the image recognition speed limit SLimg and the position information IP of the vehicle 100.

[0066] Next, the information providing device 10 advances the process to step S435, and causes the display device 20 to display on the display 21 the applicable speed limit SLapp acquired in step S430 as the speed limit applied to the host vehicle 100.

[0067] Next, the information providing device 10 advances the process to step S495, and temporarily ends the process of this routine.

[0068] In this example, a conversion map MAP of the applicable speed limit SLapp using the current driving area AREA and the image recognition speed limit SLimg as arguments is prepared for each vehicle category VC, but a conversion map MAP of the applicable speed limit SLapp using the image recognition speed limit SLimg and the vehicle category VC as arguments may also be prepared for each current driving area AREA.

[0069] That is, when the vehicle 100 moves from one area (a first area) to another area (a second area different from the first area), the information providing device 10 may be configured to switch the conversion means (conversion map MAP) that converts the image recognition speed limit SLimg into the applicable speed limit SLapp from a first conversion means (conversion map MAP) that converts the image recognition speed limit SLimg into the applicable speed limit SLapp in the first area to a second conversion means (conversion map MAP) that converts the image recognition speed limit SLimg into the applicable speed limit SLapp in the second area.

[0070] Alternatively, a conversion map MAP of the applicable speed limit SLapp using the current driving area AREA and the vehicle category VC as arguments may be prepared for each image recognition speed limit SLimg.

[0071] That is, when the image recognition speed limit SLimg changes from a certain speed (first speed) to another speed (second speed different from the first speed), the information providing device 10 may be configured to switch the conversion means (conversion map MAP) that converts the image recognition speed limit SLimg into the applicable speed limit SLapp from the conversion means (conversion map MAP) that converts the image recognition speed limit SLimg, which is the first speed, into the applicable speed limit SLapp to the conversion means (conversion map MAP) that converts the image recognition speed limit SLimg, which is the second speed, into the applicable speed limit SLapp.

[0072] As described above, in the present invention, it is sufficient that the applicable speed limit SLapp is acquired based on the vehicle category VC, the current traveling area AREA, and the image recognition speed limit SLimg.

[0073] Furthermore, in this example, the information providing device 10 acquires the vehicle category VC of the vehicle 100 based on the purpose of the vehicle 100 and the specifications of the vehicle 100, and selects the conversion map MAP corresponding to the acquired vehicle category VC as the applicable conversion map MAPapp, but the information providing device 10 may be configured to select the applicable conversion map MAPapp as follows.

[0074] That is, the information providing device 10 may be configured to obtain the vehicle category VC of the vehicle 100 based on either the purpose of the vehicle 100 or the specifications of the vehicle 100, and select the conversion map MAP corresponding to the obtained vehicle category VC as the applicable conversion map MAPapp.

[0075] Furthermore, in the above example, the information providing device 10 is configured to obtain the applicable speed limit SLapp based on the attributes of the vehicle 100 (the purpose of the vehicle 100 and the specifications of the vehicle 100), the current driving area AREA, and the image recognition speed limit SLimg, but if it is not necessary to take the current driving area AREA into consideration in obtaining the applicable speed limit SLapp, the information providing device 10 may be configured to obtain the applicable speed limit SLapp based on the attributes of the vehicle 100 and the image recognition speed limit SLimg without taking into consideration the current driving area AREA.

[0076] Furthermore, if the road sign acquired by image recognition from the captured image (camera image IMGcam) is not a road sign intended for the vehicle 100, the information providing device 10 is configured not to notify the driver of the acquired applicable speed limit SLapp, even if the applicable speed limit SLapp is acquired based on the image recognition speed limit SLimg acquired from the road sign.

[0077] On the other hand, if the information providing device 10 judges "No" in step S410, it proceeds to step S440 and identifies the area in which the vehicle 100 is currently traveling as the current traveling area AREA by comparing the current position Pnow of the vehicle 100 with the map information in the map information database 50.

[0078] Next, the information providing device 10 proceeds to step S445, and compares the current position Pnow of the vehicle 100 with the map information in the map information database 50 to obtain the speed limit SL, which is set for vehicles traveling in the lane in which the vehicle 100 is currently traveling, from the map information database 50 as data speed limit SLdata.

[0079] Next, the information providing device 10 advances the process to step S450, and determines whether or not the data speed limit display condition C2 is satisfied.

[0080] The data speed limit display condition C2 is a condition that the current driving area AREA identified in step S435 during the current execution of the routine shown in FIG. 4 is different from the current driving area AREA identified in step S435 or step S415 during the previous execution of the routine shown in FIG. 4, or the value of the data speed limit SLdata acquired in step S440 during the current execution of the routine shown in FIG. 4 is different from the value of the data speed limit SLdata acquired in step S440 during the previous execution of the routine shown in FIG. 4 or the value of the image recognition speed limit SLimg acquired by the processing of step S405 executed most recently and which satisfies the specified condition C3.

[0081] The predetermined condition C3 is a condition that the distance traveled by the host vehicle 100 from the time when the image recognition speed limit SLimg was acquired by the most recently executed process of step S405 to the present time is equal to or less than a predetermined distance D1.

[0082] Therefore, in this example, if the value of the image recognition speed limit SLimg most recently obtained that satisfies the above-mentioned specified condition C3 is different from the value of the data speed limit SLdata, the information providing device 10 is configured to display the applied speed limit SLapp obtained based on the image recognition speed limit SLimg on the display 21 by the display device 20.

[0083] If the result of the determination in step S450 is “Yes”, the information providing device 10 proceeds to step S455, where it acquires the vehicle category VC of the host vehicle 100 based on the use of the host vehicle 100 and the specifications of the host vehicle 100.

[0084] Next, the information providing device 10 advances the process to step S460, and selects, from the conversion map database 60, the conversion map MAP that corresponds to the vehicle category VC acquired in step S455, as the applied conversion map MAPapp.

[0085] Next, the information providing device 10 proceeds to step S465, and applies the data speed limit SLdata acquired in step S445 and the current driving area AREA identified in step S440 to the applicable conversion map MAPapp selected in step S460, to acquire the speed limit SL to be applied to the host vehicle 100 as the applicable speed limit SLapp.

[0086] That is, the information providing device 10 is provided with a conversion means (conversion map MAP) for converting the data speed limit SLdata into the applicable speed limit SLapp based on the vehicle information IV and the position information IP, and is configured to obtain the applicable speed limit SLapp by converting the data speed limit SLdata using the conversion means (conversion map MAP) based on the vehicle information IV and the position information IP.

[0087] In other words, in this example, the vehicle information IV includes vehicle use information IU and vehicle specification information IS as information relating to the attributes of the vehicle 100, and the information providing device 10 is provided with a conversion means (conversion map MAP) for converting the data speed limit SLdata into the speed limit applicable to the vehicle based on the vehicle's current position, for each combination of the vehicle's use and its specifications, and is configured to select from these conversion means (conversion maps MAP) a conversion means (applicable conversion map MAPapp) corresponding to the combination of the vehicle's use and its specifications based on the vehicle use information IU and the vehicle specification information IS, and obtain the applicable speed limit SLapp by converting the data speed limit SLdata based on the position information IP of the vehicle 100 using the selected conversion means (applicable conversion map MAPapp).

[0088] In other words, the information providing device 10 stores a map (conversion map MAP) for each attribute of the vehicle to obtain the speed limit applied to the vehicle from the data speed limit SLdata and the current position of the vehicle as the applied speed limit SLapp, and is configured to select a map (applicable conversion map MAPapp) corresponding to the attributes of the vehicle 100 from among the stored maps (conversion maps MAP), and to obtain the applied speed limit SLapp from the selected map (applicable conversion map MAPapp) based on the data speed limit SLdata and the position information IP of the vehicle 100.

[0089] Next, the information providing device 10 advances the process to step S470, and causes the display device 20 to display on the display 21 the applicable speed limit SLapp acquired in step S465 as the speed limit applied to the host vehicle 100.

[0090] Next, the information providing device 10 advances the process to step S495, and temporarily ends the process of this routine.

[0091] In this way, the information providing device 10 is configured to acquire position information IP of the vehicle 100, identify the lane in which the vehicle 100 is currently traveling based on the acquired position information IP, acquire the speed limit for vehicles traveling in the identified lane from the map information database 50 as data speed limit SLdata, acquire the speed limit that applies to the vehicle 100 as an applied speed limit SLapp based on the acquired data speed limit SLdata, vehicle information IV related to the attributes of the vehicle 100, and the position information IP, and notify the driver of the vehicle 100 of the acquired applied speed limit SLapp.

[0092] In this example, a conversion map MAP of the applicable speed limit SLapp using the current driving area AREA and the data speed limit SLdata as arguments is prepared for each vehicle category VC, but a conversion map MAP of the applicable speed limit SLapp using the data speed limit SLdata and the vehicle category VC as arguments may also be prepared for each current driving area AREA.

[0093] In other words, when the vehicle 100 moves from a certain area (a first area) to another area (a second area different from the first area), the information providing device 10 may be configured to switch the conversion means (conversion map MAP) that converts the data speed limit SLdata into the applicable speed limit SLapp from a first conversion means (conversion map MAP) that converts the data speed limit SLdata into the applicable speed limit SLapp in the first area to a second conversion means (conversion map MAP) that converts the data speed limit SLdata into the applicable speed limit SLapp in the second area.

[0094] Alternatively, a conversion map MAP of the applicable speed limit SLapp using the current travel area AREA and the vehicle category VC as arguments may be prepared for each data speed limit SLdata.

[0095] In other words, when the data limit speed SLdata changes from a certain speed (a first speed) to another speed (a second speed different from the first speed), the information providing device 10 may be configured to switch the conversion means (conversion map MAP) that converts the data limit speed SLdata, which is the first speed, into the applicable limit speed SLapp to the conversion means (conversion map MAP) that converts the data limit speed SLdata, which is the second speed, into the applicable limit speed SLapp.

[0096] As described above, in the present invention, it is sufficient that the applicable speed limit SLapp is acquired based on the vehicle category VC, the current traveling area AREA, and the data speed limit SLdata.

[0097] Furthermore, when the data speed limit SLdata acquired from the map information database 50 is not the speed limit intended for the vehicle 100, even if the information providing device 10 acquires the applicable speed limit SLapp based on the data speed limit SLdata, the information providing device 10 is configured not to notify the driver of the acquired applicable speed limit SLapp.

[0098] The operation of the information providing device 10 has been described above.

[0099] As mentioned above, there are countries and regions where different speed limits are set according to the attributes of the vehicle even for vehicles traveling in the same lane. In some of these countries and regions, road signs that display all the speed limits according to the attributes of the vehicle are not installed on the roads, and only a road sign that displays one representative speed limit is installed on the roads. Therefore, in such countries and regions, if the speed limit obtained from the road sign by image recognition is notified to the vehicle operator as it is, the vehicle operator may be notified of a speed limit that does not apply to the vehicle.

[0100] The information providing device 10 notifies the driver of the speed limit according to the attributes of the vehicle 100 and the current position Pnow of the vehicle 100. Therefore, it is possible to notify the driver of an accurate speed limit.

[0101] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention.

[0102] For example, a vehicle may be assigned the same vehicle category VC based on the vehicle use and vehicle specifications described above, but depending on the region, a different vehicle category VC may be assigned depending on the vehicle use other than the vehicle use described above.

[0103] In particular, for vehicles that are assigned the same vehicle category VC based on the above-mentioned vehicle uses and vehicle specifications, depending on the region, different vehicle categories VC may be assigned depending on the vehicle attributes related to the vehicle use, such as whether the vehicle is an off-road vehicle or not.

[0104] Next, the operation of the information providing device 10 in this case (the information providing device 10 according to the second embodiment) will be described.

[0105] As shown in Fig. 5, in this example, the conversion map MAP is prepared for each vehicle category VC, but in this example, the vehicle category VC is determined by a first vehicle use, a second vehicle use, and vehicle specifications. The first vehicle use is the use of the vehicle, such as whether the vehicle is a passenger vehicle or a cargo vehicle. The second vehicle use is the use of the vehicle, such as whether the vehicle is an off-road vehicle (e.g., a pickup truck, etc.).

[0106] Information regarding the first vehicle use of the vehicle 100, information regarding the second vehicle use of the vehicle 100, information regarding the specifications of the vehicle 100, and information regarding a vehicle category VC defined for each combination of the first vehicle use, the second vehicle use, and the vehicle specifications are stored in advance in the information providing device 10 (in particular, the storage medium of the ECU 90).

[0107] Note that FIG. 5 is the same as FIG. 3, but includes an additional conversion map MAP labeled "N1G", which is used to obtain the speed limit that applies to vehicles whose vehicle category VC is "N1G".

[0108] The information providing device 10 of the second embodiment, like the information providing device 10 of the first embodiment, is a device that notifies the driver of the vehicle 100 of the applicable speed limit SLapp, which is the speed limit that applies to the vehicle 100, and is configured to obtain the speed limit for vehicles traveling in the lane in which the vehicle 100 is currently traveling by image recognition from road signs contained in an image (camera image IMGcam) obtained by imaging the foreground of the vehicle 100, obtain position information IP of the vehicle 100, obtain the applicable speed limit SLapp based on the image recognition speed limit SLimg, vehicle information IV related to the attributes of the vehicle 100, and the position information IP, and notify the driver of the vehicle 100 of the obtained applicable speed limit SLapp.

[0109] More specifically, like the information providing device 10 of the first embodiment, the information providing device 10 of the second embodiment executes the routine shown in FIG. 4 at a predetermined calculation interval, thereby notifying the driver of the vehicle 100 of the speed limit applied to the vehicle 100 (applicable speed limit SLapp) by displaying it on the display 21 by the display device 20.

[0110] However, the information providing device 10 of the second embodiment differs from the information providing device 10 of the first embodiment in that, when the information providing device 10 advances the processing to step S420, it acquires the vehicle category VC of the host vehicle 100 based on the first vehicle use of the host vehicle 100, the second vehicle use of the host vehicle 100, the specifications of the host vehicle 100, and the current driving area AREA identified in step S415.

[0111] Then, like the information providing device 10 according to the first embodiment, the information providing device 10 according to the second embodiment proceeds to step S425 and selects the conversion map MAP corresponding to the vehicle category VC acquired in step S420 from the conversion map database 60 as the applied conversion map MAPapp.

[0112] Then, like the information providing device 10 according to the first embodiment, the information providing device 10 according to the second embodiment proceeds to step S430, applies the image recognition speed limit SLimg acquired in step S405 and the current driving area AREA identified in step S415 to the applicable conversion map MAPapp selected in step S425, and acquires the speed limit SL to be applied to the host vehicle 100 as the applicable speed limit SLapp.

[0113] That is, like the information providing device 10 of the first embodiment, the information providing device 10 of the second embodiment also has a conversion means (conversion map MAP) that converts the image recognition speed limit SLimg into the applicable speed limit SLapp based on the vehicle information IV and the position information IP, and is configured to obtain the applicable speed limit SLapp by converting the image recognition speed limit SLimg by the above-mentioned conversion means (conversion map MAP) based on the vehicle information IV and the position information IP.

[0114] In other words, in this example, the vehicle information IV includes vehicle purpose information IU and vehicle specification information IS as information relating to the attributes of the vehicle 100, and the information providing device 10 of the second embodiment, like the information providing device 10 of the first embodiment, is provided with a conversion means (conversion map MAP) for converting the speed limit indicated by road signs based on the vehicle's current position into the speed limit applicable to the vehicle, for each combination of the vehicle's purpose and the vehicle's specifications, and is configured to select from these conversion means (conversion maps MAP), a conversion means (applicable conversion map MAPapp) corresponding to the combination of the vehicle's purpose and the vehicle's specifications, based on the vehicle purpose information IU and the vehicle specification information IS, and obtain the applicable speed limit SLapp by converting the image recognition speed limit SLimg based on the position information IP of the vehicle 100 using the selected conversion means (applicable conversion map MAPapp).

[0115] In yet another way, like the information providing device 10 of the first embodiment, the information providing device 10 of the second embodiment also stores a map (conversion map MAP) for each attribute of the vehicle to obtain the speed limit applicable to the vehicle from the speed limit indicated by road signs and the current position of the vehicle as the applicable speed limit SLapp, and is configured to select a map (applicable conversion map MAPapp) corresponding to the attributes of the vehicle 100 from among the stored maps (conversion maps MAP), and obtain the applicable speed limit SLapp from the selected map (applicable conversion map MAPapp) based on the image recognition speed limit SLimg and the position information IP of the vehicle 100.

[0116] In addition, in this example, the vehicle information IV includes vehicle use information IU (information about the use of the vehicle 100, which is information IU1 about a first vehicle use and information IU2 about a second vehicle use) and vehicle specification information IS as information about the attributes of the vehicle 100, and the information providing device 10 of the second embodiment, unlike the information providing device 10 of the first embodiment, is provided with a conversion means (conversion map MAP) that converts the speed limit indicated by a road sign based on the current position of the vehicle into the speed limit applicable to the vehicle for each combination of the use of the vehicle, the specifications of the vehicle, and the current position of the vehicle, and is configured to select from these conversion means (conversion maps MAP), a conversion means (applicable conversion map MAPapp) that corresponds to the combination of the use of the vehicle 100, the specifications of the vehicle 100, and the current position Pnow of the vehicle 100, based on the vehicle use information IU, the vehicle specification information IS, and the position information IP of the vehicle 100, and to obtain the applicable speed limit SLapp by converting the image recognition speed limit SLimg based on the position information IP using the selected conversion means (applicable conversion map MAPapp).

[0117] In other words, the information providing device 10 of the second embodiment differs from the information providing device 10 of the first embodiment in that it stores maps for each combination of the attributes of the vehicle and the current position of the vehicle for obtaining the speed limit applied to the vehicle as the applicable speed limit SLapp based on the traffic rules indicated by road signs and the current position of the vehicle, and is configured to select a map (applicable conversion map MAPapp) from the stored maps (conversion maps MAP) that corresponds to the combination of the attributes of the vehicle 100 and the current position Pnow of the vehicle 100, and obtain the applicable speed limit SLapp from the selected map (applicable conversion map MAPapp) based on the image recognition speed limit SLimg and the position information IP of the vehicle 100.

[0118] Then, like the information providing device 10 of the first embodiment, the information providing device 10 of the second embodiment proceeds to step S435, and displays the applicable speed limit SLapp acquired in step S430 on the display 21 by the display device 20 as the speed limit to be applied to the host vehicle 100.

[0119] Furthermore, unlike the information providing device 10 of the first embodiment, when the processing proceeds to step S455, the information providing device 10 of the second embodiment acquires the vehicle category VC of the host vehicle 100 based on the first vehicle use of the host vehicle 100, the second vehicle use of the host vehicle 100, the specifications of the host vehicle 100, and the current driving area AREA identified in step S440.

[0120] Then, like the information providing device 10 according to the first embodiment, the information providing device 10 according to the second embodiment proceeds to step S460 and selects the conversion map MAP corresponding to the vehicle category VC acquired in step S455 from the conversion map database 60 as the applied conversion map MAPapp.

[0121] Then, like the information providing device 10 according to the first embodiment, the information providing device 10 according to the second embodiment proceeds to step S465, applies the data speed limit SLdata acquired in step S445 and the current driving area AREA identified in step S440 to the applicable conversion map MAPapp selected in step S460, and acquires the speed limit SL to be applied to the host vehicle 100 as the applicable speed limit SLapp.

[0122] That is, like the information providing device 10 of the first embodiment, the information providing device 10 of the second embodiment is equipped with a conversion means (conversion map MAP) that converts the data speed limit SLdata into the applicable speed limit SLapp based on the vehicle information IV and the position information IP, and is configured to obtain the applicable speed limit SLapp by converting the data speed limit SLdata by the above-mentioned conversion means (conversion map MAP) based on the vehicle information IV and the position information IP.

[0123] In other words, in this example, the vehicle information IV includes vehicle purpose information IU and vehicle specification information IS as information relating to the attributes of the vehicle 100, and the information providing device 10 of the second embodiment, like the information providing device 10 of the first embodiment, is provided with a conversion means (conversion map MAP) for converting the data speed limit SLdata into the speed limit applicable to the vehicle based on the vehicle's current position, for each combination of the vehicle's purpose and the vehicle's specifications, and is configured to select from these conversion means (conversion maps MAP) a conversion means (applicable conversion map MAPapp) corresponding to the combination of the vehicle's purpose and the vehicle's specifications based on the vehicle purpose information IU and the vehicle specification information IS, and obtain the applicable speed limit SLapp by converting the data speed limit SLdata based on the position information IP of the vehicle 100 using the selected conversion means (applicable conversion map MAPapp).

[0124] In yet another way, like the information providing device 10 of the first embodiment, the information providing device 10 of the second embodiment also stores a map (conversion map MAP) for each attribute of the vehicle to obtain the speed limit applied to the vehicle from the data speed limit SLdata and the current position of the vehicle as the applied speed limit SLapp, and is configured to select a map (applicable conversion map MAPapp) corresponding to the attributes of the vehicle 100 from among the stored maps (conversion maps MAP), and obtain the applied speed limit SLapp from the selected map (applicable conversion map MAPapp) based on the data speed limit SLdata and the position information IP of the vehicle 100.

[0125] In addition, in this example, the vehicle information IV includes vehicle use information IU (information about the use of the vehicle 100, which is information IU1 about a first vehicle use and information IU2 about a second vehicle use) and vehicle specification information IS as information about the attributes of the vehicle 100, and the information providing device 10 of the second embodiment, unlike the information providing device 10 of the first embodiment, is provided with a conversion means (conversion map MAP) that converts the data speed limit SLdata into the speed limit applied to the vehicle based on the current position of the vehicle for each combination of the use of the vehicle, the specifications of the vehicle, and the current position of the vehicle, and is configured to select from these conversion means (conversion maps MAP), a conversion means (applicable conversion map MAPapp) that corresponds to the combination of the use of the vehicle 100, the specifications of the vehicle 100, and the current position Pnow of the vehicle 100, based on the vehicle use information IU, the vehicle specification information IS, and the position information IP of the vehicle 100, and obtain the applicable speed limit SLapp by converting the data speed limit SLdata based on the position information IP using the selected conversion means (applicable conversion map MAPapp).

[0126] In other words, the information providing device 10 of the second embodiment differs from the information providing device 10 of the first embodiment in that it stores a map (conversion map MAP) for obtaining the speed limit applied to the vehicle as an applied speed limit SLapp from the data speed limit SLdata and the current position of the vehicle for each combination of the attributes of the vehicle and the current position of the vehicle, and is configured to select a map (applicable conversion map MAPapp) from the stored maps (conversion maps MAP) that corresponds to the combination of the attributes of the vehicle 100 and the current position Pnow of the vehicle 100, and obtain the applied speed limit SLapp from the selected map (applicable conversion map MAPapp) based on the data speed limit SLdata and the position information IP of the vehicle 100.

[0127] Then, like the information providing device 10 of the first embodiment, the information providing device 10 of the second embodiment proceeds to step S470, and displays the applicable speed limit SLapp acquired in step S465 on the display 21 by the display device 20 as the speed limit applied to the host vehicle 100.

[0128] In this way, the information providing device 10 of the second embodiment is configured to acquire position information IP of the host vehicle 100, identify the lane in which the host vehicle 100 is currently traveling based on the acquired position information IP, acquire the speed limit for vehicles traveling in the identified lane from the map information database 50 as data speed limit SLdata, acquire the speed limit that applies to the host vehicle 100 as an applied speed limit SLapp based on the acquired data speed limit SLdata, vehicle information IV related to the attributes of the host vehicle 100, and the position information IP of the host vehicle 100, and notify the driver of the host vehicle 100 of the acquired applied speed limit SLapp.

[0129] The above is the operation of the information providing device 10 according to the second embodiment. As with the information providing device 10 according to the first embodiment, the information providing device 10 according to the second embodiment notifies the driver of the speed limit according to the vehicle category VC (attributes of the vehicle 100) of the vehicle 100. This makes it possible to notify the driver of an accurate speed limit.

[0130] If a vehicle identification number to which the vehicle category VC is linked or a vehicle identification number to which data capable of identifying the vehicle category VC is linked is stored in advance in the information providing device 10 (particularly, the storage medium of the ECU 90), the information providing device 10 may be configured to obtain the vehicle category VC of the host vehicle 100 based on the vehicle identification number, and to obtain the applicable speed limit SLapp using the obtained vehicle category VC. Note that a vehicle identification number is generally a number assigned to each vehicle in order to identify each vehicle.

[0131] Alternatively, the vehicle 100 may be equipped with an ECU (area identification ECU) for identifying the current driving area AREA from the current position Pnow of the vehicle 100, and the information providing device 10 may be configured so that the ECU 90 receives data on the current driving area AREA from the area identification ECU. In this case, the area identification ECU may be configured to transmit data on the current driving area AREA to the ECU 90 only when there is a change in the current driving area AREA. In this case, if data on the current driving area AREA is not transmitted from the area identification ECU, the information providing device 10 obtains the applicable speed limit SLapp using the current driving area AREA obtained based on the data on the current driving area AREA transmitted last time from the area identification ECU. This can reduce the calculation load on the ECU 90.

[0132] In the above example, the speed limit is one of the traffic rules applied to the vehicle 100, and the present invention is also applicable to an information providing device 10 that notifies the driver of traffic rules other than the speed limit by displaying the traffic rules on the display 21 by the display device 20. Therefore, in this case, the information providing device 10 is configured to acquire, as image recognition traffic rules, traffic rules for vehicles traveling in the lane in which the vehicle 100 is currently traveling, by image recognition from road signs included in an image (camera image IMGcam) acquired by capturing an image of the foreground of the vehicle 100, acquire position information IP of the vehicle 100, acquire traffic rules that are applied to the vehicle 100 as applicable traffic rules based on the image recognition traffic rules, vehicle information IV related to the attributes of the vehicle 100, and the position information IP of the vehicle 100, and notify the driver of the vehicle 100 of the acquired applicable traffic rules.

[0133] The present invention is also applicable to setting a set vehicle speed used in a speed limiting system and an adaptive auto cruise control system. That is, a speed limiting system is a system that automatically limits the vehicle speed of the host vehicle 100 to a set vehicle speed or less, and the present invention is also applicable to acquiring the speed limit when the set vehicle speed is set as the speed limit. The adaptive auto cruise control system is a system that automatically drives the host vehicle 100 so that the host vehicle 100 follows a preceding vehicle while limiting the vehicle speed of the host vehicle 100 to a set vehicle speed or less (a system that executes so-called following driving control), and the present invention is also applicable to acquiring the speed limit when the set vehicle speed is set as the speed limit.

[0134] Furthermore, the present invention can also be applied to a driving assistance system that makes a driver comply with traffic rules that should be complied with under the Road Traffic Act in each country or region. For example, when an auxiliary sign with a truck mark is attached to a road sign, in one country, the traffic rules indicated by the road sign apply to all commercial vehicles, but in another country, the traffic rules indicated by the road sign apply only to commercial vehicles with a certain weight or more. In such a case, the present invention can also be applied to a driving assistance system that converts the traffic rules into traffic rules that apply to the vehicle 100, including whether the traffic rules are applicable to the vehicle 100, and notifies the driver of the converted traffic rules. In this case, the information providing device 10 is configured not to notify the driver of the traffic rules when it is determined that the traffic rules are not applicable to the vehicle 100.

[0135] Furthermore, if it is possible to create an arithmetic formula for converting the image recognition speed limit SLimg and the data speed limit SLdata into the applicable speed limit SLapp, the information providing device 10 may be configured to obtain the applicable speed limit SLapp by calculation from the image recognition speed limit SLimg or the data speed limit SLdata using the arithmetic formula instead of the conversion map MAP.

[0136] Furthermore, even if the vehicle is the same, if the vehicle category applied to the vehicle differs depending on the usage mode of the vehicle, for example, whether it is used as a passenger transport vehicle or a cargo transport vehicle, the information providing device 10 may be configured to obtain information regarding the usage mode of the vehicle 100, obtain the vehicle category VC to be applied to the vehicle 100 by taking the obtained information into consideration, and select the conversion map MAP corresponding to the obtained vehicle category VC. [Explanation of symbols]

[0137] 10...information providing device, 20...display device, 21...display, 30...image acquiring device, 31...camera sensor, 40...current position acquiring device, 41...GPS signal receiver, 50...map information database (speed limit database), 60...conversion map database

Claims

1. An information providing device including a control device that notifies an operator of a vehicle of applicable traffic rules that are applicable to the vehicle, The control device includes: acquiring, as image recognition traffic rules, traffic rules for vehicles traveling in the lane in which the host vehicle is currently traveling, by image recognition from road signs included in an image acquired by imaging a foreground of the host vehicle; Acquire location information of the vehicle; acquiring the applicable traffic rule based on the image recognition traffic rule, vehicle information related to attributes of the host vehicle, and the position information; notifying an operator of the vehicle of the applicable traffic rule that has been acquired; It is configured as follows: Information provision device.

2. 2. The information providing device according to claim 1, The control device is configured to, when a road sign acquired by image recognition from the captured image is not a road sign intended for the vehicle, not to notify the operator of the acquired applicable traffic rule even if the applicable traffic rule is acquired based on the image recognition traffic rule acquired from the road sign. Information provision device.

3. 2. The information providing device according to claim 1, The control device includes a conversion means for converting the image recognition traffic rule into the applicable traffic rule based on the vehicle information and the position information, The control device is configured to obtain the applicable traffic rule by converting the image recognition traffic rule by the conversion means based on the vehicle information and the position information. Information provision device.

4. 2. The information providing device according to claim 1, The vehicle information includes vehicle use information related to a use of the vehicle and vehicle specification information related to specifications of the vehicle as information related to attributes of the vehicle, the control device includes a conversion means for converting a traffic rule indicated by a road sign into a traffic rule applicable to the vehicle based on a current position of the vehicle, for each combination of a use of the vehicle and specifications of the vehicle; The control device includes: selecting, from among the conversion means, a conversion means corresponding to a combination of the vehicle purpose and the vehicle specifications based on the vehicle purpose information and the vehicle specification information; and obtaining the applicable traffic rule by converting the image recognition traffic rule based on the location information by the selected conversion means. It is configured as follows: Information provision device.

5. 2. The information providing device according to claim 1, The vehicle information includes vehicle use information related to a use of the vehicle and vehicle specification information related to specifications of the vehicle as information related to attributes of the vehicle, the control device includes a conversion means for converting a traffic rule indicated by a road sign into a traffic rule applicable to the vehicle based on a current position of the vehicle, for each combination of a use of the vehicle, a specification of the vehicle, and a current position of the vehicle; The control device includes: selecting, from among the conversion means, a conversion means corresponding to a combination of the use of the vehicle, the specifications of the vehicle, and the current position of the vehicle, based on the vehicle use information, the vehicle specifications information, and the position information; and obtaining the applicable traffic rule by converting the image recognition traffic rule based on the location information by the selected conversion means. It is configured as follows: Information provision device.

6. 6. The information providing device according to claim 3, The control device is configured to switch the conversion means from a first conversion means that converts the image recognition traffic rule into the applicable traffic rule in the first area to a second conversion means that converts the image recognition traffic rule into the applicable traffic rule in the second area when the vehicle moves from a first area to a second area different from the first area. Information provision device.

7. 2. The information providing device according to claim 1, the control device stores a map for acquiring traffic rules that are applicable to the vehicle from traffic rules indicated by road signs and a current position of the vehicle, for each attribute of the vehicle; The control device includes: selecting a map corresponding to an attribute of the host vehicle from among the stored maps; obtaining the applicable traffic rule from the selected map based on the image recognition traffic rule and the position information of the host vehicle; It is configured as follows: Information provision device.

8. 2. The information providing device according to claim 1, the control device stores a map for acquiring traffic rules that are applicable to the vehicle from the traffic rules indicated by road signs and the current position of the vehicle as applicable traffic rules for each combination of attributes of the vehicle and the current position of the vehicle; The control device includes: selecting a map corresponding to a combination of an attribute of the host vehicle and a current position of the host vehicle from the stored maps; obtaining the applicable traffic rule from the selected map based on the image recognition traffic rule and the position information of the host vehicle; It is configured as follows: Information provision device.

9. 1. An information providing method for notifying an operator of a vehicle of an applicable traffic rule that is applied to the vehicle, comprising: acquiring, as an image recognition traffic rule, a traffic rule for vehicles traveling in the lane in which the host vehicle is currently traveling, by image recognition from a road sign included in an image acquired by imaging a foreground of the host vehicle; acquiring position information of the vehicle; acquiring the applicable traffic rule based on the image recognition traffic rule, vehicle information related to attributes of the host vehicle, and the location information; notifying an operator of the vehicle of the applicable traffic rule obtained; A method of providing information having the above-mentioned features.

10. 1. An information providing program for notifying an operator of a vehicle of an applicable traffic rule that is a traffic rule that is applied to the vehicle, comprising: acquiring, as image recognition traffic rules, traffic rules for vehicles traveling in the lane in which the host vehicle is currently traveling, by image recognition from road signs included in an image acquired by imaging a foreground of the host vehicle; Acquire location information of the vehicle; acquiring the applicable traffic rule based on the image recognition traffic rule, vehicle information related to attributes of the host vehicle, and the position information; notifying an operator of the vehicle of the applicable traffic rule that has been acquired; An information program that is configured to:

Images