Information processing device, information processing method and information processing program

Abstract

To provide an information processing device, an information processing method and an information processing program for considering an unopened road in creating map information.SOLUTION: An information processing device includes a storage part for storing map information on a road map including information of an unopened road and a scheduled opening date of the unopened road, an acquisition part for acquiring vehicle information generated by the a vehicle, including position information on the position of the vehicle and time information on a time of acquiring the position, a specification part for specifying the existence / nonexistence of the vehicles traveling on the unopened road after the scheduled opened date on the basis of the vehicle information acquired by the acquisition part, a setting part for setting the opening of the unopened road to be disabled in the map information in the case that the specification part specifies that there is no vehicle traveling on the unopened road after the schedule opening date, and a registration part for performing registration so as to survey the unopened road set to be disabled by the setting part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information processing program.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is an apparatus that changes unopened roads in map information to opened roads based on opening information acquired from the outside. In this case, the apparatus acquires opening information from a website by a user and stores it in a portable memory, and acquires the opening information when the portable memory is connected to the own device. Here, the opening information is information regarding a section of a road that has been opened among unopened roads (see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Unopened roads may not open as scheduled, and in such cases, it is necessary to ensure countermeasures such as when creating map information.

[0005] The present disclosure provides an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information processing program that take unopened roads into consideration when creating map information.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An information processing apparatus according to one aspect includes: a storage unit that stores map information regarding a road map, the map information including information on a non-opened road and a planned opening date of the non-opened road; an acquisition unit that acquires vehicle information generated by a vehicle, the vehicle information including position information regarding the position of the vehicle and time information regarding the time when the position is acquired; a specifying unit that specifies whether there is a vehicle that has traveled on a non-opened road after the planned opening date, based on the vehicle information acquired by the acquisition unit; a setting unit that sets the opening of the non-opened road in the map information to be invalid when the specifying unit specifies that there is no vehicle that has traveled on the non-opened road after the planned opening date; and a registration unit that registers to conduct an investigation of the non-opened road whose opening has been set to be invalid by the setting unit.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] The information processing apparatus, information processing method, and information processing program of the present disclosure can consider non-opened roads when creating map information.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described.

[0010] [Outline of Information Processing Apparatus 100] First, the outline of the information processing apparatus 100 according to one embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the information processing apparatus 100 according to one embodiment.

[0011] The information processing apparatus 100 may be configured as, for example, an opening determination apparatus that determines whether an unopened road 211 has been opened, or the like. Further, the information processing apparatus 100 may be configured as, for example, a map maintenance apparatus that maintains a road map from the viewpoint of whether the unopened road 211 has been opened or remains unopened, or the like. Further, the information processing apparatus 100 may be configured as a guidance apparatus that performs various guidance using the maintained map information, or the like. Further, the information processing apparatus 100 may be configured as an investigation registration apparatus that registers an investigation regarding the unopened road 211, or the like. The information processing apparatus 100 is not limited to the apparatus in the above example, and may be configured as various apparatuses or the like. The information processing apparatus 100 may be a computer such as a server, a desktop, a laptop, a tablet, and a smartphone, for example.

[0012] The information processing apparatus 100 stores map information regarding the road map 200, including information (unopened road information) on the unopened road 211 and the scheduled opening date 212 of the unopened road 211. The unopened road 211 is, for example, a road on which ordinary vehicles do not pass due to construction such as the construction of a new road or road repair. Since the route of the unopened road 211 is known at the time when the construction is planned in advance and at the time of construction, the route (unopened road 211) is registered in the road map 200 as unopened road information at that time. Further, the unopened road information may include information on the day (scheduled opening date 212) when the unopened road 211 is opened and ordinary vehicles can pass. The ordinary vehicle may be a vehicle used by a general user, excluding construction vehicles and management vehicles.

[0013] The information processing apparatus 100 acquires vehicle information including position information regarding the position of the vehicle (not shown) generated by the vehicle and time information regarding the time when the position is acquired. The vehicle information may be, for example, CAN information and probe information, or the like. The vehicle may acquire position information and time information based on, for example, signals (GNSS signals) transmitted from GNSS satellites. The vehicle may transmit vehicle information including, for example, the position information and the time information to the information processing device 100 or a server (not shown). The information processing device 100 may acquire the vehicle information from the vehicle or the server.

[0014] Based on the acquired vehicle information, the information processing device 100 determines (identifies) whether there is a vehicle that has traveled on the unopened road 211 after the scheduled opening date 212. Since the road map 200 (map information) records information regarding the position of the unopened road 211 (unopened road position information) and information on the scheduled opening date 212, the information processing device 100 refers to the map information and determines (identifies) whether there is a vehicle that has traveled on the unopened road 211 after the scheduled opening date 212. The unopened road position information may be information on a road network represented by nodes and links, or may be information on a position represented by coordinates.

[0015] When it is specified that there is no vehicle that has traveled on the unopened road 211 after the scheduled opening date 212, the information processing device 100 sets the opening of the unopened road 211 in the map information to invalid. That is, the information processing device 100 presumes that the unopened road 211 has not opened even after the scheduled opening date 212 for some reason, and sets the opening of the unopened road 211 in the map information to invalid.

[0016] On the other hand, when it is specified that there is a vehicle that has traveled on the unopened road 211 after the scheduled opening date 212, the information processing device 100 sets the opening of the unopened road 211 in the map information to valid. That is, the information processing device 100 presumes that the unopened road 211 has opened as scheduled, and sets the opening of the unopened road 211 in the map information to valid, and sets the unopened road 211 as an opened road.

[0017] The information processing apparatus 100 registers in a list (survey list) to conduct an investigation on the unopened road 211 set to be invalid. The investigation here may be, for example, an on-site investigation or the like, an investigation of content published on a communication network or the like, or an investigation of inquiring a person in charge of the construction of the unopened road 211 or the like.

[0018] Regarding the unopened road 211 (opened road) set to be valid, the information processing apparatus 100 uses it as a road (target road) for various guidance including route guidance and the like.

[0019] [Details of the information processing apparatus 100] Next, the information processing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the information processing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment.

[0020] The information processing apparatus 100 includes, for example, a communication unit 121, a storage unit 122, a display unit 123, a control unit 110, and the like. The communication unit 121, the storage unit 122, and the display unit 123 may be an embodiment of an output unit. The control unit 110 includes, for example, an acquisition unit 111, a specifying unit 112, a setting unit 113, a first estimation unit 1141, a second estimation unit 1142, a registration unit 115, a guidance unit 116, and the like. Note that the first estimation unit 1141 and the second estimation unit 1142 may function as an estimation unit 114 as a single unit. The control unit 110 may be configured by, for example, an arithmetic processing unit of the information processing apparatus 100 or the like. The control unit 110 (for example, an arithmetic processing unit or the like) realizes the functions of each unit (for example, the acquisition unit 111, the specifying unit 112, the setting unit 113, the first estimation unit 1141, the second estimation unit 1142, the estimation unit 114, the registration unit 115, the guidance unit 116, and the like) by appropriately reading and executing various programs and the like stored in the storage unit 122 or the like.

[0021] The communication unit 121 is, for example, a communication interface capable of transmitting and receiving various information to and from a device (external device) (not shown) outside the information processing device 100. The external device may be, for example, a vehicle, a server, a user terminal, etc. The user terminal may be a mobile terminal such as a laptop, a tablet, a smartphone, or a route guidance device (vehicle-mounted guidance device) used by a user of the information processing device 100, or may be a stationary terminal such as a desktop.

[0022] The storage unit 122 may store, for example, various information and programs. Examples of the storage unit 122 may be a memory, a solid state drive, a hard disk drive, etc. Note that the storage unit 122 may be, for example, a storage area and a server on a cloud.

[0023] The storage unit 122 stores map information on the road map 200, including information on an unopened road 211 and a planned opening date 212 of the unopened road 211. The unopened road 211 is, for example, a road on which general vehicles are not traveling due to construction work such as new construction or repair of the road. Since construction work for the unopened road 211 is planned in advance and the route is known at the time of construction, the route (unopened road) is registered in the road map 200 as unopened road information at that time. The unopened road information may also include information on the date (planned opening date 212) when the unopened road 211 will be opened and general vehicles will be able to use it.

[0024] The display unit 123 is, for example, a display capable of displaying various characters, symbols, images, and the like.

[0025] The acquisition unit 111 acquires vehicle information generated in the vehicle and including location information on the location of the vehicle and time information on the time when the location was acquired. The acquisition unit 111 may acquire the vehicle information from a server (not shown) or the vehicle, for example, via the communication unit 121. Alternatively, the acquisition unit 111 may acquire the vehicle information from an external memory in which the vehicle information is stored, when the external memory is connected to an interface of the information processing device 100, for example.

[0026] The vehicle information may be, for example, CAN information, probe information, etc. The vehicle may acquire position information and time information, for example, based on signals (GNSS signals) transmitted from GNSS satellites. The vehicle transmits vehicle information including position information and time information to the information processing device 100 or a server (not shown). Note that the vehicle information may include image information of a moving image or a still image captured outside the vehicle, which is recorded by a drive recorder or the like mounted on the vehicle. Information on the external scenery when the vehicle is traveling is recorded in the image information. Also, information on the imaging time (time information) is recorded in the image information.

[0027] Based on the vehicle information acquired by the acquisition unit 111, the specifying unit 112 specifies whether there is a vehicle that has traveled on the unopened road 211 after the scheduled opening date 212. In the road map 200 (map information), information on the position of the unopened road 211 (unopened road position information) and information on the scheduled opening date 212 are recorded. The unopened road position information may be information on a road network represented by nodes and links, or may be information on a position represented by coordinates. The specifying unit 112 refers to the map information, for example, and specifies whether there is a vehicle that has traveled on the unopened road 211 after the scheduled opening date 212 based on the vehicle information (position information and time information). Alternatively, the road map 200 (map information) may record an image map such as an aerial photo map. The specifying unit 112 can estimate whether the vehicle has traveled on the unopened road 211 by comparing the respective sceneries of the image map recorded in the map information and the image recorded in the vehicle information (image information). That is, the specifying unit 112 refers to the map information, for example, and specifies whether there is a vehicle that has traveled on the unopened road 211 after the scheduled opening date 212 based on the vehicle information (image information and time information). The specifying unit 112 may make a determination on a daily basis with the scheduled opening date 212 as the starting point, or may make a determination on a time basis such as after the scheduled opening time of the scheduled opening date.

[0028] When the setting unit 113 is specified that there is no vehicle that has traveled on the unopened road 211 after the scheduled opening date 212 by the specifying unit 112, the setting unit 113 sets the opening of the unopened road 211 in the map information to be invalid. That is, for example, the setting unit 113 presumes that the unopened road 211 has not been opened even after the scheduled opening date 212 for some reason, and sets the opening of the unopened road 211 in the map information to be invalid. Setting the opening of the unopened road 211 to be invalid may be, for example, a setting for preventing route guidance and the like from being performed using the unopened road as it is by the guidance unit 116 described later. On the other hand, when the setting unit 113 is specified that there is a vehicle that has traveled on the unopened road 211 after the scheduled opening date 212, for example, the setting unit 113 sets the opening of the unopened road 211 in the map information to be valid. That is, for example, the setting unit 113 presumes that the unopened road 211 has been opened as scheduled, and sets the opening of the unopened road 211 in the map information to be valid. In other words, the unopened road 211 is set as an opened road. When the unopened road 211 is set to be valid (opened road), the guidance unit 116 described later can perform route guidance and the like using the opened road.

[0029] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example when estimating the movement cost. FIG. 3(A) shows an example when estimating the first movement cost of the first route 221 using the first road map 201, and FIG. 3(B) is a diagram showing an example when estimating the second movement cost of the second route 222 using the second road map 202.

[0030] The estimation unit 114 includes a first estimation unit 1141 and a second estimation unit 1142. When the opening of the unopened road 211 is effectively set by the setting unit 113, the estimation unit 114 performs route search using the first road map 201, and when the opening of the unopened road 211 is invalidated by the setting unit 113, the estimation unit 114 performs route search using the second road map 202. The estimation unit 114 estimates whether the unopened road 211 is an important unopened road or a normal unopened road based on the difference between the first movement cost of the route (the first route 221 (see FIG. 3(A))) when traveling on the unopened road 211 for which the opening is effectively set and the second movement cost of the route (the second route 222 (see FIG. 3(B))) when not traveling on the unopened road 211 for which the opening is invalidated. The first road map 201 may be a road network or the like with the unopened road to be focused on as the target of route search. The second road map 202 may be a road network or the like that is not the target of route search (remaining unopened) for the unopened road to be focused on.

[0031] That is, the estimation unit 114 sets the same starting point S and the same destination G, and estimates the movement cost for each of the route (the first route 221 (see FIG. 3(A))) that travels on the unopened road 211 when the opening of the unopened road 211 is effectively set by the setting unit 113 and the route (the second route 222 (see FIG. 3(B))) that does not travel on the same unopened road 211 when the opening of the same unopened road 211 is invalidated by the setting unit 113. The estimation unit 114 estimates whether the unopened road 211 is an important unopened road or a normal unopened road based on the difference between the two movement costs.

[0032] The first estimation unit 1141 performs route search with both ends of a section including the unopened road 211 as the starting point S and the destination G, based on the first road map 201 when the opening of the unopened road 211 is effectively set, and the second road map 202 when the opening of the same unopened road 211 is invalidly set, and estimates the movement cost of the route on each of the first road map 201 and the second road map 202. The starting point S and the destination G are not limited to the ends of the unopened road 211. That is, for various routes passing through the unopened road 211 such that after passing through one end of the unopened road 211, the other end is passed, points away from the ends of the unopened road 211 may be set as the starting point S and the destination G. The starting point S and the destination G may be the same points respectively when performing route search using the first road map 201 and when performing route search using the second road map 202.

[0033] As shown by an example in FIG. 3(A), when the first estimation unit 1141 performs route search using the first road map 201, after leaving the starting point S, it passes through one end of the unopened road 211 (activated unopened road), travels on the unopened road 211, passes through the other end, and then performs route search (search for the first route 221) to arrive at the destination G. As shown by an example in FIG. 3(B), when the first estimation unit 1141 performs route search using the second road map 202, after leaving the starting point S, it does not travel on the unopened road 211 (deactivated unopened road), travels on other drivable roads, and then performs route search (search for the second route 222) to arrive at the destination G.

[0034] The first estimation unit 1141 estimates the movement costs (the first movement cost and the second movement cost) of the routes obtained by each of the search for the first route 221 and the search for the second route 222. The first estimation unit 1141 may estimate the movement cost based on at least one of the travel time, the travel distance, and the amount of driving operation when driving the vehicle in each route. The travel time may be, for example, the travel time (moving time) from the departure point S to the destination G. The travel distance may be, for example, the travel distance (moving distance) from the departure point S to the destination G. The driving operation amount may be, for example, the amount of steering wheel operation, the amount of acceleration and deceleration operations when accelerating and decelerating the vehicle, and the amount of operation of various devices such as turn indicators. When there are relatively many curves and relatively many right and left turns, the driving operation amount becomes relatively large. That is, when there are relatively few curves and relatively few right and left turns, the driving operation amount becomes relatively small. When the travel time is relatively long, the travel distance is relatively long, and the driving operation amount is relatively large, the moving cost becomes relatively high. In other words, when the travel time is relatively short, the travel distance is relatively short, and the driving operation amount is relatively small, the moving cost becomes relatively low.

[0035] The first estimation unit 1141 may correct the moving cost (second moving cost) based on the second road map 202 according to the driving history of a vehicle that has actually traveled on a road (existing road). The driving history may be, for example, at least one of the travel time, travel distance, and driving operation amount when driving the vehicle, which is recorded in the vehicle information generated by the actual vehicle.

[0036] When the difference between the first movement cost of the route using the first road map 201 and the second movement cost of the route using the second road map 202 estimated by the first estimator 1141 is equal to or greater than a threshold value, the second estimator 1142 estimates that the unopened road 211 is an important unopened road. When the difference between the first movement cost and the second movement cost estimated by the first estimator 1141 is less than the threshold value, the second estimator 1142 estimates that the unopened road 211 is a normal unopened road. The threshold value may be various values set in advance. Note that the threshold value may be one or a plurality. When there are a plurality of threshold values (for example, two), the second estimator 1142 may estimate that it is an important unopened road if the difference between the first movement cost and the second movement cost is equal to or greater than the first threshold value. Further, the second estimator 1142 may estimate that it is a normal unopened road if the difference between the first movement cost and the second movement cost is less than the second threshold value (the second threshold value < the first threshold value).

[0037] An important unopened road may be, for example, a road where, if the unopened road 211 is opened, the movement cost when moving from the departure point S to the destination G becomes lower, and relatively many users use it, and it is estimated that the convenience of the users is further improved. An important unopened road may be a road where it is expected that a relatively large impact will be given to the traffic flow of the existing road when the unopened road is opened. That is, an important unopened road may be a road that has a greater effect of reducing the travel time, travel distance, and the amount of driving operation when driving a vehicle compared to a normal unopened road.

[0038] A normal unopened road may be a road where, if the unopened road 211 is opened, the movement cost when moving from the departure point S to the destination G becomes lower, and it is estimated that the convenience of the user is improved. A normal unopened road may be a road with a lower degree of importance regarding the road compared to an important unopened road. A normal unopened road may be a road that has a smaller effect of reducing the travel time, travel distance, and the amount of driving operation when driving a vehicle compared to an important unopened road.

[0039] The registration unit 115 registers to conduct an investigation of the unopened road 211 that has been set to invalid by the setting unit 113. The investigation here may be, for example, an on-site investigation or the like, an investigation of information publicly available on the communication network, an investigation by inquiring construction-related personnel of the unopened road, or an investigation of vehicle information (image information (image)) generated by vehicles that have traveled near the unopened road. Also, the registration may be, for example, registration in a list that records the content to be investigated or the like.

[0040] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the high and low priorities of the investigation.

[0041] When the unopened road 211 set to invalid by the setting unit 113 is an important unopened road estimated by the second estimation unit 1142, the registration unit 115 may register with a higher priority for investigation compared to the case where the unopened road 211 set to invalid is an ordinary unopened road estimated by the second estimation unit 1142. As shown by an example in FIG. 4, the registration unit 115 may register in a list or the like such that, for important unopened roads, the order (from highest to lowest importance) when conducting various investigations including unopened roads and the like is higher compared to ordinary unopened roads. That is, the registration unit 115 may register so as to conduct an investigation earlier for important unopened roads compared to ordinary unopened roads. Note that FIG. 4 is an example, and the order of the list in which important unopened roads and ordinary unopened roads are registered is not limited to that illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0042] As described above, the information processing apparatus 100 can improve the road map 200 from the viewpoint of whether the unopened road 211 has been opened or remains unopened. The route guidance unit 116 may have a function of guiding an actual route from the departure point S to the destination G using the prepared map information. That is, when the route guidance unit 116 is specified to have a vehicle that has traveled on the unopened road 211 after the scheduled opening date by the specifying unit 112 and the opening of the unopened road 211 is effectively set by the setting unit 113, the route guidance unit 116 performs various guidance including using the unopened road 211 as an opened road for the route and the like. On the other hand, when the opening of the unopened road 211 is invalidly set by the setting unit 113, the route guidance unit 116 performs various guidance including using other roads without using the unopened road 211 for the route and the like. The route guidance unit 116 may display the guidance content on the display unit 123 using characters, numbers, symbols, and images, for example, or may output the guidance content from a speaker (not shown) using sound and voice.

[0043] Note that the route guidance unit 116 may be configured as a function of one control unit 110 together with the acquisition unit 111, the specifying unit 112, the setting unit 113, the first estimation unit 1141, the second estimation unit 1142, the registration unit 115, and the like. In this case, the information processing apparatus 100 (route guidance unit 116) can perform route guidance and the like using roads and the like for which the opening of the unopened road is effectively set by the setting unit 113 with respect to an external device (not shown) connected via the communication unit 121. The external device in this case may be, for example, a user terminal used by the user and a route guidance device (navigation device) mounted on the vehicle. Alternatively, the route guidance unit 116 may be configured as a function of another control unit (another arithmetic processing device or the like) (not shown) different from the control unit 110 including the acquisition unit 111, the specifying unit 112, the setting unit 113, the first estimation unit 1141, the second estimation unit 1142, the registration unit 115, and the like. That is, the other control unit (another arithmetic processing device or the like) may realize the functions of each unit (for example, the route guidance unit 116 and the like) by appropriately reading and executing various programs stored in the memory. The other control unit may be mounted on a user terminal and a route guidance device (navigation device) (not shown). In this case, the user terminal and the route guidance device (navigation device) on which the other control unit is mounted may be included in the concept of the "information processing apparatus" of the present disclosure.

[0044] [Information Processing Method] Next, an information processing method according to an embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an information processing method according to an embodiment.

[0045] In step ST101, the storage unit 122 stores map information regarding a road map 200, including information on an unopened road 211 and the scheduled opening date 212 of the unopened road 211.

[0046] In step ST102, the acquisition unit 111 acquires vehicle information generated by a vehicle, including position information regarding the position of the vehicle and time information regarding the time when the position was acquired.

[0047] In step ST103, the specifying unit 112 specifies whether there is a vehicle that has traveled on the unopened road 211 after the scheduled opening date 212 based on the vehicle information acquired in step ST102.

[0048] In step ST104, when the setting unit 113 specifies that there is no vehicle that has traveled on the unopened road 211 after the scheduled opening date 212 in step ST103, the setting unit 113 sets the opening of the unopened road 211 in the map information (road map 200) to invalid. On the other hand, when the setting unit 113 specifies that there is a vehicle that has traveled on the unopened road 211 after the scheduled opening date 212 in step ST104, the setting unit 113 sets the opening of the unopened road 211 in the map information (road map 200) to valid and sets it as an opened road.

[0049] In step ST105, based on the first road map 201 when the opening of the unopened road 211 is set to be valid and the second road map 202 when the opening of the same unopened road 211 is set to be invalid, the first estimation unit 1141 performs a route search with both ends of the section including the unopened road 211 as the starting point S and the destination G, and estimates the moving costs of the routes (the first route 221 and the second route 222) on the first road map 201 and the second road map 202 respectively. The first estimation unit 1141 may estimate the moving cost based on at least one of the travel time, the travel distance, and the amount of driving operation when driving the vehicle in each route (the first route 221 and the second route 222).

[0050] In step ST106, when the difference between the first moving cost of the route (the first route 221) using the first road map 201 and the second moving cost of the route (the second route 222) using the second road map 202 estimated in step ST105 is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the second estimation unit 1142 estimates that the unopened road 211 is an important unopened road. When the difference between the first moving cost and the second moving cost estimated in step ST105 is less than the threshold value, the second estimation unit 1142 estimates that the unopened road 211 is a normal unopened road.

[0051] In step ST107, the registration unit 115 registers in a list (investigation list) to conduct an investigation on the unopened road 211 that is set to be invalid in step ST104. In this case, when the unopened road 211 that is set to be invalid in step ST104 is an important unopened road estimated in step ST106, the registration unit 115 may register it with a higher priority of investigation than when the unopened road 211 that is set to be invalid is a normal unopened road estimated in step ST106.

[0052] In step ST108, when the guide unit 116 identifies that there is a vehicle that has traveled on the unopened road 211 after the scheduled opening date 212 in step ST103, and when the setting unit 113 effectively sets the opening of the unopened road 211 in step ST104, the guide unit 116 conducts various guides such as starting a route using the unopened road 211 as an opened road. On the other hand, when the guide unit 116 invalidly sets the opening of the unopened road 211 in step ST103, the guide unit 116 conducts various guides such as starting a route using other roads without using the unopened road 211.

[0053] [Modification Example] Next, the modification example will be described.

[0054] (Modification Example 1) In the above-described embodiment, the first estimation unit 1141 searches for a route with each of the two ends of a section sandwiching the unopened road 211 as the starting point S and the destination G based on the first road map 201 when the opening of the unopened road 211 is effectively set and the second road map 202 when the opening of the same unopened road 211 is invalidly set, and estimates the moving cost of the route on each of the first road map 201 and the second road map 202.

[0055] The starting point S and the destination G are used, for example, for comparison between the case of using the unopened road 211 and the case of not using it, and may be set relatively close to the end of the unopened road 211 in order to reduce the influence of other roads that are not the unopened road 211. Each of the starting point S and the destination G may be set within a predetermined distance from the end of the unopened road 211.

[0056] The predetermined distance may be any distance, and as an example, it may be various distances such as 500 m, 1 km, 2 km, 3 km, and 5 km. In this case, the first estimation unit 1141 sets the departure point S and the destination G at positions within a predetermined distance from each of both ends of the unopened road 211, and based on the first road map 201 when the opening of the unopened road 211 is effectively set and the second road map 202 when the opening of the unopened road 211 is ineffectively set, searches for a route with each of both ends of a section sandwiching the unopened road 211 as the departure point S and the destination G, and may estimate the moving cost of the route in each of the first road map 201 and the second road map 202.

[0057] Alternatively, the predetermined distance may be a distance obtained by multiplying a predetermined ratio by, for example, the section distance of only the unopened road 211. The predetermined ratio may be various ratios such as, for example, 10% (one-tenth), 20% (two-tenths), and 30% (three-tenths). In this case, the first estimation unit 1141 sets the departure point S and the destination G at positions within a predetermined distance obtained by multiplying a predetermined ratio by the distance of the unopened road 211 from each of both ends of the unopened road 211, and based on the first road map 201 when the opening of the unopened road 211 is effectively set and the second road map 202 when the opening of the unopened road 211 is ineffectively set, searches for a route with both ends of a section sandwiching the unopened road 211 as the departure point S and the destination G, and may estimate the moving cost of the route in each of the first road map 201 and the second road map 202.

[0058] (Modification 2) The above-described estimation unit 114 sets the same departure point S and the same destination G, and estimates the moving cost for each of a route (first route 221) that travels on the unopened road 211 when the opening of the unopened road 211 is effectively set by the setting unit 113 and a route (second route 222) that does not travel on the unopened road 211 when the opening of the same unopened road 211 is ineffectively set by the setting unit 113, and based on the difference between the two moving costs, estimates whether the unopened road 211 is an important unopened road or a normal unopened road. In this case, when the unopened road 211 set to be invalid by the setting unit 113 is estimated by the estimation unit 114 to be an important unopened road, the registration unit 115 may register a higher priority for investigating the unopened road 211 than for a normal unopened road. That is, when the unopened road 211 set to be invalid by the setting unit 113 is estimated by the estimation unit 114 to be a normal unopened road, the registration unit 115 may register a lower priority for investigating the unopened road than for an important unopened road.

[0059] In other words, the above-described estimation unit 114 sets the same departure point S and the same destination G, and estimates the moving cost for each of the route (first route 221) that travels on the unopened road 211 when the opening of the unopened road 211 is set to be valid by the setting unit 113 and the route (second route 222) that does not travel on the unopened road 211 when the opening of the same unopened road 211 is set to be invalid by the setting unit 113, and based on the difference between the two moving costs, estimates whether the unopened road 211 is an important unopened road. In this case, when the unopened road 211 set to be invalid by the setting unit 113 is estimated by the estimation unit 114 to be an important unopened road, the registration unit 115 may register a higher priority for investigating the unopened road 211.

[0060] Similarly, in other words, the above-described estimation unit 114 sets the same departure point S and the same destination G, and estimates the moving cost for each of the route (first route 221) that travels on the unopened road 211 when the opening of the unopened road 211 is set to be valid by the setting unit 113 and the route (second route 222) that does not travel on the unopened road 211 when the opening of the same unopened road 211 is set to be invalid by the setting unit 113, and based on the difference between the two moving costs, estimates whether the unopened road 211 is a normal unopened road. In this case, when the unopened road 211 set to be invalid by the setting unit 113 is estimated by the estimation unit 114 to be a normal unopened road, the registration unit 115 may register a lower priority for investigating the unopened road 211.

[0061] As described above, the information processing apparatus includes a storage unit that stores map information regarding a road map, including information on a non-opened road and the scheduled opening date of the non-opened road, an acquisition unit that acquires vehicle information generated by a vehicle, a specifying unit that specifies whether there is a vehicle that has traveled on the non-opened road after the scheduled opening date, based on the map information stored in the storage unit and the vehicle information acquired by the acquisition unit, a setting unit that, when the specifying unit specifies that there is no vehicle that has traveled on the non-opened road after the scheduled opening date, sets the opening of the non-opened road in the map information to invalid, sets the same departure point and the same destination, estimates the moving cost for each of a route that travels on the non-opened road when the opening of the non-opened road is set to valid and a route that does not travel on the non-opened road when the opening of the non-opened road is set to invalid, and estimates whether the non-opened road is an important non-opened road or a normal non-opened road based on the difference between the two moving costs, a registration unit that, when the non-opened road set to invalid by the setting unit is estimated to be an important non-opened road by the estimation unit, registers a higher priority when investigating the non-opened road than when it is estimated to be a normal non-opened road, may be provided.

[0062] [Regarding Functions and Circuits] Next, the functions and circuits of the information processing apparatus 100 described above will be described. Each unit of the information processing apparatus 100 may be realized as a function of a computer's arithmetic processing unit or the like. That is, the acquisition unit 111, specifying unit 112, setting unit 113, first estimation unit 1141, second estimation unit 1142, estimation unit 114, registration unit 115, and guidance unit 116 (control unit 110) of the information processing apparatus 100 may be realized as an acquisition function, specifying function, setting function, first estimation function, second estimation function, estimation function, registration function, and guidance function (control function) by a computer's arithmetic processing unit or the like, respectively. The information processing program can cause a computer to realize each of the above-described functions. The information processing program may be recorded on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium such as a memory, a solid state drive, a hard disk drive, or an optical disk. The storage medium may be, for example, rephrased as a non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores the information processing program. Also, as described above, each part of the information processing apparatus 100 may be realized by an arithmetic processing unit or the like of a computer. The arithmetic processing unit or the like is constituted by, for example, an integrated circuit or the like. For this reason, each part of the information processing apparatus 100 may be realized as a circuit that constitutes the arithmetic processing unit or the like. That is, the acquisition unit 111, the specifying unit 112, the setting unit 113, the first estimation unit 1141, the second estimation unit 1142, the estimation unit 114, the registration unit 115, and the guidance unit 116 (control unit 110) of the information processing apparatus 100 may be realized as an acquisition circuit, a specifying circuit, a setting circuit, a first estimation circuit, a second estimation circuit, an estimation circuit, a registration circuit, and a guidance circuit (control circuit) that constitute an arithmetic processing unit or the like of a computer. Also, the communication unit 121, the storage unit 122, and the display unit 123 (output unit) of the information processing apparatus 100 may be realized as a communication function, a storage function, and a display function (output function) including functions such as an arithmetic processing unit, for example. Also, the communication unit 121, the storage unit 122, and the display unit 123 (output unit) of the information processing apparatus 100 may be realized as a communication circuit, a storage circuit, and a display circuit (output circuit) by being constituted by, for example, an integrated circuit or the like. Also, the communication unit 121, the storage unit 122, and the display unit 123 (output unit) of the information processing apparatus 100 may be configured as a communication device, a storage device, and a display device (output device) by being constituted by, for example, a plurality of devices.

[0063] The information processing apparatus 100 can combine one or any plurality of the above-described plurality of parts. In the present disclosure, the term "information" is used, but the term "information" can be rephrased as "data", and the term "data" can be rephrased as "information".

[0064] [Aspects and Effects of the Present Embodiment] Next, an aspect of the present embodiment and the effects achieved by each aspect will be described. Note that each aspect described below is an example at the time of filing, and the present embodiment is not limited to the aspects described below. That is, the present embodiment is not limited to the aspects described below, and may be implemented by appropriately combining the above-described respective parts. Also, lower-level aspects may be cited in any of the higher-level aspects. In addition, the effects described below are examples, and the effects achieved by each aspect are not limited to those described below. Also, each aspect may achieve at least one of the effects described below, for example.

[0065] (Aspect 1) An information processing apparatus according to one aspect includes a storage unit that stores map information regarding a road map, including information on a non-opened road and the scheduled opening date of the non-opened road; an acquisition unit that acquires vehicle information generated by a vehicle and including position information regarding the position of the vehicle and time information regarding the time when the position was acquired; a specifying unit that specifies, based on the vehicle information acquired by the acquisition unit, whether there is a vehicle that has traveled on a non-opened road after the scheduled opening date; a setting unit that, when it is specified by the specifying unit that there is no vehicle that has traveled on a non-opened road after the scheduled opening date, sets the opening of the non-opened road in the map information to invalid; and a registration unit that registers to conduct an investigation of the non-opened road whose opening has been set to invalid by the setting unit. Thereby, the information processing apparatus can consider non-opened roads when creating map information. The information processing apparatus can use the vehicle information to specify whether a non-opened road recorded in the map information has been opened, and can suppress the effort of conducting an on-site investigation or the like to confirm that the non-opened road has been opened. In addition, when the information processing apparatus cannot specify the opening of a non-opened road based on the vehicle information, it sets the opening of the non-opened road to invalid, so that it can prevent using a non-opened road whose opening has been set to invalid when performing route guidance or the like. That is, the information processing apparatus can perform route guidance using only roads that can be traveled by general vehicles. In addition, since the information processing device registers the unopened roads set to be invalid in the investigation list, various information regarding unopened roads, such as the correction of the planned opening date, can be updated by conducting an investigation based on the investigation list. The information processing device can register in the investigation list for investigating an unopened road set to be invalid, that is, when the vehicle cannot be confirmed to be traveling even after the planned opening date, because there may be a design change or the like of the unopened road. In addition, although there are roads for which the planned opening date and the postponement of the planned opening date are not announced on a daily basis, the information processing device can identify whether an unopened road (including a road with relatively low traffic volume at the initial stage of opening) has been opened or remains unopened by using vehicle information. In addition, when the information processing device cannot detect the driving record of a vehicle based on vehicle information after the planned opening date, it can temporarily invalidate the planned opening date assuming the possibility of design changes and additional construction work on the unopened road.

[0066] (Aspect 2) An information processing device according to one aspect searches for a route with both ends of a section including an unopened road as the starting point and the destination based on a first road map when the opening of the unopened road is set to be valid and a second road map when the opening of the unopened road is set to be invalid, and a first estimation unit that estimates the moving cost of the route using each of the first road map and the second road map. When the difference between the first moving cost of the route using the first road map and the second moving cost of the route using the second road map estimated by the first estimation unit is equal to or greater than a threshold value, the unopened road is estimated to be an important unopened road. When the difference between the first moving cost and the second moving cost estimated by the first estimation unit is less than the threshold value, the unopened road is estimated to be a normal unopened road. The registration unit may register with a higher priority for investigation when the unopened road set to be invalid by the setting unit is an important unopened road estimated by the second estimation unit than when it is a normal unopened road estimated by the second estimation unit. Accordingly, based on the first moving cost when the unopened road set to be invalid is opened and the second moving cost when the unopened road is not opened, the information processing device can estimate whether the unopened road is an important road or an ordinary road with a lower importance level than that road. The information processing device can set the priority of the survey (whether to register relatively higher in the survey list or relatively lower) when registering in the survey list according to whether it is an important unopened road or an ordinary unopened road. That is, the information processing device can register in the survey list so as to conduct the survey earlier for important unopened roads. In addition, when the information processing device is an important unopened road, that is, when the unopened road is expected to have a relatively large impact on the traffic flow of the existing road when opened, or when the traffic volume of the existing road is relatively large, if the start of the survey (such as on-site survey) for confirming the design change of the unopened road is postponed, it will have an adverse effect on the freshness of the map information. Therefore, it can be registered at the top of the survey list so as to conduct the survey earlier.

[0067] (Aspect 3) In an information processing device according to one aspect, the first estimation unit may estimate the moving cost based on at least one of the travel time, travel distance, and driving operation amount when driving the vehicle in the route. Accordingly, when estimating the moving cost (the first moving cost and the second moving cost), the information processing device can estimate based on at least one of the travel time, travel distance, and driving operation amount when driving the vehicle.

[0068] (Aspect 4) An information processing device according to one aspect may include a guidance unit that, when it is specified by the specifying unit that there is a vehicle that has traveled on an unopened road after the scheduled opening date and the opening of the unopened road is effectively set by the setting unit, performs guidance using the unopened road as an opened road, and when the opening of the unopened road is set to be invalid by the setting unit, performs guidance using another road without using the unopened road. As a result, the information processing apparatus can effectively provide various types of guidance, such as routes, using the set unopened roads, i.e., opened roads. On the other hand, since the information processing apparatus does not provide guidance using the set unopened roads, it can prevent the user from feeling inconvenienced by being unable to drive on the guided roads. In addition, when an unopened road registered in the map information is set to be valid, opening processing is performed by this valid setting, and the road becomes a target road for route search, etc., so that various types of guidance can be provided using the map information.

[0069] (Aspect 5) In one aspect of the information processing method, a computer including a storage unit that stores map information related to a road map, including information on an unopened road and the scheduled opening date of the unopened road, acquires vehicle information generated by a vehicle and including position information related to the position of the vehicle and time information related to the time when the position was acquired. A specifying step of specifying whether there is a vehicle that has traveled on an unopened road after the scheduled opening date based on the vehicle information acquired in the acquisition step; a setting step of setting the opening of the unopened road in the map information to be invalid when it is specified in the specifying step that there is no vehicle that has traveled on the unopened road after the scheduled opening date; and a registering step of registering to conduct an investigation of the unopened road set to be invalid in the setting step are executed. As a result, the information processing method can achieve the same effects as the information processing apparatus of the above-described one aspect.

[0070] (Aspect 6) An information processing program according to one aspect includes a storage unit that stores map information related to a road map, including information on unopened roads and the planned opening dates of those unopened roads, in a computer. The program realizes an acquisition function that acquires vehicle information generated by a vehicle and including position information related to the position of the vehicle and time information related to the time when the position was acquired, a specification function that specifies the presence or absence of a vehicle that has traveled on an unopened road after the planned opening date based on the vehicle information acquired by the acquisition function, a setting function that sets the opening of an unopened road in the map information to invalid when it is specified by the specification function that there is no vehicle that has traveled on an unopened road after the planned opening date, and a registration function that registers to conduct an investigation of the unopened road set to invalid by the setting function. As a result, the information processing program can achieve the same effects as the information processing apparatus according to the above-described one aspect.

Explanation of Signs

[0071] 100 Information processing apparatus 110 Control unit 111 Acquisition unit 112 Specification unit 113 Setting unit 114 Estimation unit 1141 First estimation unit 1142 Second estimation unit 115 Registration unit 116 Guidance unit 121 Communication unit 122 Storage unit 123 Display unit 200 Road map 211 Unopened road 212 Planned opening date 221 First route 222 Second route

Claims

1. A storage unit that stores map information related to a road map, including information on a non-opened road and the scheduled opening date of the non-opened road; An acquisition unit that acquires vehicle information generated by a vehicle, including position information related to the position of the vehicle and time information related to the time when the position was acquired; A specifying unit that specifies whether there is a vehicle that has traveled on the non-opened road after the scheduled opening date based on the vehicle information acquired by the acquisition unit; A setting unit that, when it is specified by the specifying unit that there is no vehicle that has traveled on the non-opened road after the scheduled opening date, invalidates the opening of the non-opened road in the map information; A registration unit that registers to conduct an investigation on the non-opened road invalidated by the setting unit; An information processing apparatus comprising the above.

2. Based on a first road map when the opening of the non-opened road is set to be valid and a second road map when the opening of the non-opened road is set to be invalid, a first estimation unit that searches for a route with both ends of the section including the non-opened road as the departure point and the destination, and estimates the movement cost of the route on each of the first road map and the second road map; A second estimation unit that, when the difference between the first movement cost of the route using the first road map and the second movement cost of the route using the second road map estimated by the first estimation unit is equal to or greater than a threshold value, estimates that the non-opened road is an important non-opened road, and when the difference between the first movement cost and the second movement cost estimated by the first estimation unit is less than the threshold value, estimates that the non-opened road is a normal non-opened road, and the registration unit, when the non-opened road invalidated by the setting unit is an important non-opened road estimated by the second estimation unit, registers with a higher priority for investigation than when the non-opened road invalidated by the setting unit is a normal non-opened road estimated by the second estimation unit; The information processing apparatus according to Claim 1.

3. The first estimation unit estimates the movement cost based on at least one of the travel time, travel distance, and driving operation amount when driving the vehicle in the route. The information processing apparatus according to Claim 2.

4. ​ When it is specified by the specific unit that there is a vehicle that has traveled on the unopened road after the scheduled opening date, and when the opening of the unopened road is effectively set by the setting unit, guidance is provided using the unopened road as an opened road. When the opening of the unopened road is ineffectively set by the setting unit, guidance is provided using another road without using the unopened road. It includes a guidance unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

5. A computer including a storage unit that stores map information regarding a road map, including information on an unopened road and the scheduled opening date of the unopened road, An acquisition step of acquiring vehicle information generated by a vehicle and including position information regarding the position of the vehicle and time information regarding the time when the position was acquired, A specifying step of specifying whether there is a vehicle that has traveled on the unopened road after the scheduled opening date based on the vehicle information acquired in the acquisition step, A setting step of invalidating the opening of the unopened road in the map information when it is specified in the specifying step that there is no vehicle that has traveled on the unopened road after the scheduled opening date, A registration step of registering to conduct an investigation of the unopened road invalidated in the setting step, An information processing method for executing.

6. In a computer including a storage unit that stores map information regarding a road map, including information on an unopened road and the scheduled opening date of the unopened road, An acquisition function of acquiring vehicle information generated by a vehicle and including position information regarding the position of the vehicle and time information regarding the time when the position was acquired, A specifying function of specifying whether there is a vehicle that has traveled on the unopened road after the scheduled opening date based on the vehicle information acquired by the acquisition function, A setting function of invalidating the opening of the unopened road in the map information when it is specified by the specifying function that there is no vehicle that has traveled on the unopened road after the scheduled opening date, A registration function of registering to conduct an investigation of the unopened road invalidated by the setting function, An information processing program for realizing.

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