Light unit information provision system and light unit information provision method

Abstract

To provide a light unit information provision system or the like capable of supporting a progress in a desired progress direction even when a pedestrian does not recognize a facing direction.SOLUTION: A light unit information provision system 100 comprises: a traffic signal controller 10 for operating a signal light unit SG; a cooperation device 20 having an information processing device 21 for acquiring signal information related to a lighting state of the signal light unit SG from the traffic signal controller 10 and a communication device 22 for transmitting the signal information to an outer side; and a terminal device 30 including a communication section 32 for receiving the signal information, an azimuth identification section 33 for detecting an own azimuth, and a control section 31 for selecting adaptation information corresponding to the own azimuth from the signal information so as to issue a notification via a user interface 35.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a lighting device information providing system and a lighting device information providing method for providing signal information to pedestrians.

Background Art

[0002] As a lighting color information providing system, information on the lighting color of a traffic signal lamp, specifically, which signal is green and which signal is red, is provided to a communication terminal, which is a portable terminal carried by a pedestrian who is about to cross near a signal system (see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

[0004] When a visually impaired pedestrian uses the system of Patent Document 1, they will listen to the voice guidance from the communication terminal. Specifically, the voice guidance will be something like "The ○○ direction is green and the ×× direction is red", and it is considered that the visually impaired pedestrian will listen to the information on the pedestrian signals in both directions. Therefore, if the visually impaired pedestrian himself / herself does not know which direction they are facing, with only the above information provided, there is a possibility that the visually impaired pedestrian will proceed in a direction other than the direction they want to go.

Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a lighting device information providing system and a lighting device information providing method that can assist a pedestrian in proceeding in the direction they want to go even when the pedestrian does not know which direction they are facing.

[0006] To achieve the above object, a lighting device information providing system according to the present invention includes a traffic signal controller that operates a signal lighting device, an information processing device that acquires signal information regarding the lighting state of the signal lighting device from the traffic signal controller, a communication device that transmits the signal information to the outside, a cooperation device having the communication device, a communication unit that receives the signal information, a direction specifying unit that detects its own direction, and a control unit that notifies, via a user interface unit, adaptation information corresponding to its own direction among the signal information. The terminal device is provided.

[0007] In the above lighting device information providing system, since the control unit of the terminal device notifies, via the user interface unit, adaptation information corresponding to its own direction among the signal information, even when the user of the terminal device does not know which direction he or she is facing, It is possible to grasp the lighting state of the signal lighting device existing in the direction in which the user wants to proceed.

[0008] To achieve the above object, a lighting device information providing method according to the present invention is a lighting device information providing method using a cooperation device and a terminal device, which provides signal information regarding display from the cooperation device to the terminal device, and selects, from the signal information, adaptation information corresponding to the own direction detected by the direction specifying unit provided in the terminal device, and notifies the adaptation information via a user interface unit provided in the terminal device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] 〔First Embodiment〕 Hereinafter, a luminaire information providing system and a luminaire information providing method according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a road RA and an intersection CS to which a luminaire information providing system 100 according to the first embodiment is applied. FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration example of the luminaire information providing system 100.

[0012] Referring to FIG. 1, of the road RA, one road extending in the vertical direction of the drawing is defined as the main road RA1, and the other road intersecting the main road RA1 is defined as the secondary road RA2. At the intersection CS, for the main road RA1, a vehicle traffic signal luminaire SGa for vehicles and pedestrian traffic signal luminaires SG1, SG2, SG5, SG6 for pedestrians are provided. At the intersection CS, for the secondary road RA2, a vehicle traffic signal luminaire SGb and pedestrian traffic signal luminaires SG3, SG4, SG7, SG8 are provided. The vehicle traffic signal luminaires SGa, SGb and the pedestrian traffic signal luminaires SG1 to SG8 are also referred to as traffic signal luminaires SG.

[0013] At the intersection CS, there are four islands Ia, Ib, Ic, and Id assuming standby positions (the edges of the crosswalk) before the pedestrian PA crosses the main road RA1 or the secondary road RA2. For the crosswalk connecting the two islands Ia and Ib sandwiching the main road RA1, pedestrian lights SG1 and SG2 are installed. For the crosswalk connecting the two islands Ib and Ic sandwiching the secondary road RA2, pedestrian lights SG3 and SG4 are installed. For the crosswalk connecting the two islands Ic and Id sandwiching the main road RA1, pedestrian lights SG5 and SG6 are installed. For the crosswalk connecting the two islands Id and Ia sandwiching the secondary road RA2, pedestrian lights SG7 and SG8 are installed. At the first island Ia, there are a standby position P1 towards the pedestrian light SG2 and a standby position P8 towards the pedestrian light SG7. At the second island Ib, there are a standby position P2 towards the pedestrian light SG1 and a standby position P3 towards the pedestrian light SG4. At the third island Ic, there are a standby position P4 towards the pedestrian light SG3 and a standby position P5 towards the pedestrian light SG6. At the fourth island Id, there are a standby position P6 towards the pedestrian light SG5 and a standby position P7 towards the pedestrian light SG8. The islands Ia, Ib, Ic, and Id can be understood as standby positions WIa, WIb, WIc, and WId in a broad sense.

[0014] For the convenience of management by the lighting information providing system 100, the pedestrian lights SG1 to SG8 are assigned lighting numbers No. 1 to 8.

[0015] The direction in which the pedestrian PA crosses the intersection CS is expressed based on the first direction D1 in which the main road RA1 extends and the second direction D2 in which the secondary road RA2 extends. Specifically, the front of the first direction D1, that is, the azimuth towards the pedestrian lights SG3, SG8, is represented by D1(+), and the rear of the first direction D1, that is, the azimuth towards the pedestrian lights SG4, SG7, is represented by D1(-). Specifically, the azimuth D1(+) is, for example, the destination or passing point below the paper surface in which the main road RA1 extends, and is called the "○○ direction", and the azimuth D1(-) is, for example, the destination or passing point above the paper surface in which the main road RA1 extends, and is called the "◇◇ direction". The front of the second direction D2 in which the secondary road RA2 extends, that is, the azimuth towards the pedestrian lights SG2, SG5, is represented by D2(+), and the rear of the second direction D2, that is, the azimuth towards the pedestrian lights SG1, SG6, is represented by D2(-). Specifically, the azimuth D2(+) is, for example, the destination or passing point to the left of the paper surface in which the secondary road RA2 extends, and is called the "●● direction", and the azimuth D2(-) is, for example, the destination or passing point to the right of the paper surface in which the secondary road RA2 extends, and is called the "◆◆ direction".

[0016] For the convenience of management by the lighting device information providing system 100, the position of the intersection CS where the pedestrian PA is present, and the standby positions WIa, WIb, WIc, WId or the standby positions P1 to P8 are managed by latitude and longitude. Also, the direction in which the pedestrian PA crosses the intersection CS is represented by an azimuth angle based on the first direction D1, and this azimuth angle is called the lighting device azimuth. Specifically, the azimuth D1(+) is represented by a lighting device azimuth of 0°, and the azimuth D1(-) is represented by a lighting device azimuth of 180°. When the roads RA1, RA2 are orthogonal, the azimuth D2(+) is represented by a lighting device azimuth of 90°, and the azimuth D2(-) is represented by a lighting device azimuth of 270°. In the example of the illustrated intersection CS, the lighting device azimuth of 0° corresponding to the azimuth D1(+) corresponds to the south direction.

[0017] The lighting device information providing system 100 includes a traffic signal controller 10, a cooperation device 20, and a terminal device 30. The traffic signal controller 10 operates a signal lamp SG. Specifically, it performs operation control on a plurality of signal lamps SG (specifically, vehicle lamps SGa, SGb and pedestrian lamps SG1 to SG8) that constitute a traffic signal installed at an intersection CS. The cooperation device 20 manages the operation state of the traffic signal controller 10, and supports the crossing of a pedestrian PA at the intersection CS by transmitting signal information regarding the current display or display operation of each signal lamp SG to the outside. The outside specifically refers to the terminal device 30 held by the pedestrian PA.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 2, in the lighting device information providing system 100, the traffic signal controller 10 is an information processing device 21 made of, for example, an LSI (Large Scale Integration circuit), and includes a control unit 11, a transmission / reception unit 12, a storage unit 13, and a lamp driving circuit 14. The control unit 11 operates under the management of the cooperation device 20, and causes the lamp driving circuit 14 to perform a desired display operation. The transmission / reception unit 12 enables data communication with the cooperation device 20. The control unit 11 transmits signal information (specifically, information regarding the lighting state of the pedestrian lamps SG1 to SG8) to the cooperation device 20 via the transmission / reception unit 12. The control unit 11 receives a command signal regarding the display operation from the cooperation device 20 via the transmission / reception unit 12. The storage unit 13 is a register or other circuit that holds information necessary for the operation of the traffic signal controller 10, and includes a time schedule regarding all the signal lamps SG under its management. The time schedule divides the display at the intersection CS into a plurality of steps and adds the number of seconds for each step, and corresponds to a table of the operation cycle of the traffic signal. A step is the minimum unit of signal display.

[0019] Basically, the traffic signal controller 10 operates the signal lamp SG independently based on the time schedule stored in the storage unit 13, but can also operate the signal lamp SG based on a command signal from the cooperation device 20.

[0020] The cooperation device 20 is, for example, a microcomputer, and comprehensively controls the operation of the traffic signal control system 100 while attempting to cooperate with the traffic signal controller 10 and the terminal device 30. The cooperation device 20 includes an information processing device 21 and a communication device 22. The information processing device 21 acquires signal information regarding the lighting state of the signal light SG from the traffic signal controller 10, and the communication device 22 transmits the signal information to the external terminal device 30.

[0021] The information processing device 21 has a control unit 21a and a storage unit 21b. Various programs and data for operating the cooperation device 20 are stored in the storage unit 21b. Specifically, in the storage unit 21b, there are stored a program for acquiring signal information from the traffic signal controller 10, a program for establishing communication with the terminal device 30, a program for transmitting the signal information acquired from the traffic signal controller 10 to the terminal device 30, and the like. Here, the signal information includes the relationship between the directions D1(+), D1(-), D2(+), D2(-) at the intersection CS and the lighting state of the signal light SG. More specifically, it includes table information TA associating the waiting positions WIa, WIb, WIc, WId on the intersection CS, the signal light numbers No. 1 to 8 facing the waiting positions WIa, WIb, WIc, WId, and the signal light directions (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°) corresponding to these facing signal light numbers (No. 1 to 8). Information on the azimuth angle of the first direction D1 on the map, which serves as a reference for the signal light direction, is added to this table information TA. The table information TA is stored in the storage unit 21b.

[0022] The following Table 1 and Table 2 illustrate the signal basic information among the table information TA stored in the storage unit 21b. In Table 1, information regarding the lamp directions 0°, 180°, 90°, 270° and the destinations is recorded in association with the azimuths D1(+), D1(-), D2(+), D2(-) at the intersection CS. In Table 2, information regarding the coordinates (latitude and longitude) and the lamp directions is recorded for the waiting positions WIa, WIb, WIc, WId at the intersection CS. The waiting position WIa is given as the midpoint between the waiting positions P1 and P8, the waiting position WIb is given as the midpoint between the waiting positions P2 and P3, the waiting position WIc is given as the midpoint between the waiting positions P4 and P5, and the waiting position WId is given as the midpoint between the waiting positions P6 and P7. TIFF2025101797000002.tif43167TIFF2025101797000003.tif63168

[0023] The following Table 3 illustrates the signal display information among the table information TA stored in the storage unit 21b. In Table 3, the lamp numbers and the lighting states or display states of the lamps are shown. The lamp numbers are grouped together for those with common states. The lighting state or display state of the lamp reflects the state of the current signal lamp SG, and specifically, it is either blue, blinking blue, or red. TIFF2025101797000004.tif27161

[0024] The following Table 4 is a modification example of Table 2 and illustrates the signal basic information. In this case, instead of the waiting positions WIa, WIb, WIc, WId in Table 2, the waiting positions P1 to P8 at the intersection CS are used. This corresponds to the situation where the position detection accuracy by the terminal device 30 held by the pedestrian PA is sufficiently high, for example, when it is possible to distinguish between the waiting positions P1 and P8 within the island Ia. TIFF2025101797000005.tif63169

[0025] In the cooperation device 20 shown in FIG. 2, the communication device 22 includes a first communicator 22a and a second communicator 22b. The first communicator 22a enables the information processing device 21 to perform wireless or wired data communication with the traffic signal controller 10. The second communicator 22b enables the information processing device 21 to perform wireless data communication with the terminal device 30. Specifically, the second communicator 22b is a communicator using the BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) method. For example, the terminal device 30 becomes the Central (master) and the cooperation device 20 becomes the Peripheral (slave), but the parent-child relationship may be reversed. In the BLE method, communication is performed while dividing the 2.4 GHz band into a plurality of channels and switching channels. Data communication is performed by issuing a request from the second communicator 22b of the cooperation device 20 to the terminal device 30. Specifically, in the first stage, the cooperation device 20 performs unidirectional communication (broadcast type communication) to recognize the cooperation device 20, and the terminal device 30 side scans the transmitted data to search for communicable devices. In the second stage, the connection target is selected on the terminal device 30 side, and a connection start request is issued to the cooperation device 20. The cooperation device 20 that has received the request ends the unidirectional communication and establishes a connection with the terminal device 30. After the connection is established, data exchange is performed through the data channel.

[0026] The second communicator 22b is not limited to the BLE method and may use other wireless communication methods. For example, the second communicator 22b may use a mobile communication line represented by 5G, 6G, or 4G LTE.

[0027] The cooperation device 20 can be communicably connected to the management server 102 via the communication network NT, transmit management information including the operating status of the cooperation device 20 to the management server 102, and receive information necessary for operation from the management server 102. Information necessary for the operation of the cooperation device 20 includes, for example, map information of intersections and their surroundings, coordinate information such as standby positions WIa, WIb, WIc, WId, and the correspondence between the lamp orientations and the lamp numbers No. 1 to 8.

[0028] The terminal device 30 is a mobile terminal possessed by the pedestrian PA who is a user of the luminaire information providing system 100, and specifically is a computer called a smartphone. The terminal device 30 is basically assumed to be possessed by a visually impaired person. The terminal device 30 includes a control unit 31, a communication unit 32, a direction specifying unit 33, a position detection unit 34, a user interface unit 35, and a storage unit 39.

[0029] The control unit 31 comprehensively controls the operations of the communication unit 32, the direction specifying unit 33, the position detection unit 34, the user interface unit 35, and the storage unit 39, and exhibits the functions of the terminal device 30.

[0030] The communication unit 32 enables the terminal device 30 to be connected to an external network via a wireless access network, a core network, etc. (not shown in the figure), and enables calls with other terminal devices and the download of information from a website. The communication unit 32 also supports the BLE method and enables wireless data communication with the cooperation device 20 by the BLE method. That is, the communication unit 32 enables the terminal device 30 to receive signal information or table information TA of the intersection CS from the traffic signal controller 10 existing in its vicinity.

[0031] The direction specifying unit 33 includes a magnetic sensor that detects geomagnetism and a detection circuit that processes the output from the magnetic sensor, and can detect the tip direction of the terminal device 30 held by the pedestrian PA as its own direction. The own direction detected by the direction specifying unit 33 corresponds to the azimuth angle on the map, and takes any value within the range of 0° to 360° clockwise with north being 0°. The own direction serves as an indicator showing the direction in which the pedestrian PA is heading. In order to stabilize and accurately detect the own direction by the direction specifying unit 33, the terminal device 30 can also be fixed to the pedestrian PA by a holder or a harness.

[0032] The position detection unit 34 includes, for example, a receiver that receives radio waves transmitted from GPS, GNSS, or other satellite positioning systems, and a signal processing circuit that processes the signals output from the receiver, and detects the current location of the terminal device 30 as coordinates (latitude and longitude). The current location of the terminal device 30 detected by the position detection unit 34 can be used to confirm the position of the pedestrian PA at the intersection CS, specifically, the waiting positions WIa, WIb, WIc, WId as islands, or can be used to confirm more detailed waiting positions P1 to P8.

[0033] The user interface unit 35 includes a display unit 35a such as a touch panel, an audio unit 35b including a speaker and a microphone, and a vibration unit 35c that generates vibrations in a desired pattern. The display unit 35a is used when detecting gestures using one or more fingers. The audio unit 35b is used to provide voice guidance to the pedestrian PA and receive voice instructions from the pedestrian PA. In particular, the audio unit 35b is used to notify the pedestrian PA of the adaptation information corresponding to the self-orientation of the terminal device 30 detected by the orientation specifying unit 33 via the user interface unit 35.

[0034] The storage unit 39 stores various programs and data for operating the terminal device 30. Specifically, the storage unit 39 stores a program for acquiring signal information of the intersection CS from the cooperation device 20 existing in the vicinity of the terminal device 30, a program for selecting the adaptation information corresponding to the self-orientation detected by the orientation specifying unit 33 and the current location detected by the position detection unit 34 from this signal information, and notifying it via the user interface unit 35, a program for establishing communication in advance with the cooperation device 20, and the like.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 3, the operation of the luminaire information providing system 100 according to the first embodiment will be described. In the terminal device 30 which is a mobile terminal, the control unit 31 checks whether BLE communication is possible using the communication device 22 (step S11). When BLE communication is possible (Yes in step S11), the control unit 31 transmits information such as its own ID, position (current location), and current time to the cooperation device 20 via the communication device 22 (step S12). Thereafter, the control unit 31 waits for a response from the cooperation device 20 (step S13), and when receiving signal information (specifically, table information TA) as a response from the cooperation device 20 (Yes in step S13), the self-orientation is acquired by the orientation specifying unit 33 (step S14). Next, the control unit 31 selects matching information from the signal information (specifically, table information TA) based on the self-orientation detected by the orientation specifying unit 33 and the current location detected by the position detection unit 34 (step S15). Next, the control unit 31 notifies the pedestrian PA who is the user of the matching information as voice information or the like via the voice part 35b of the user interface unit 35 (step S16). Thereafter, until BLE communication becomes impossible and BLE communication ends (Yes in step S17), the operations of steps S12 to S17 are repeated while updating the matching information based on the latest signal information. In the above, the signal information includes the signal basic information exemplified in Table 1, Table 2, or Table 4, and includes signal display information having the luminaire numbers exemplified in Table 3 and their lighting states as elements. The matching information means the lighting state of the signal lamp SG that matches the standby positions WIa, WIb, WIc, WId where the pedestrian PA exists and the self-orientation. Specifically, the matching information determines whether the self-orientation and the luminaire orientation in Table 1 match within a predetermined error (for example, 30° or less), determines the consistency with the current location in Table 2, and determines the luminaire number corresponding to the luminaire orientation determined to match the self-orientation, that is, the opposing luminaire number (any one of No. 1 to 8). Thereafter, the lighting state of the luminaire corresponding to the opposing luminaire numbers No. 1 to 8 determined from Table 3 is read out, and the read lighting state is used as the matching information.In addition, when the self-orientation and the orientation of the luminaire in Table 1 exceed a predetermined error, the terminal device 30 can notify the pedestrian PA that the orientation is unknown and request the pedestrian PA to accurately direct the terminal device 30 in the traveling direction as being in an unknown orientation.

[0036] In the cooperation device 20, the control unit 21a checks whether BLE communication is possible using the second communicator 22b (step S21). When BLE communication is possible (Yes in step S21), the control unit 21a receives information such as the ID, position (current location), and current time of the terminal device 30 from the terminal device 30 via the second communicator 22b (step S22). Then, the control unit 21a determines whether the terminal device 30 exists within the service-providing area of the cooperation device 20 (step S23). The determination regarding the service-providing area is to avoid interference with neighboring traffic signals and is considered in view of the possibility of confusion even when receiving signal information at a location considerably far from the intersection CS. When the control unit 21a determines that the terminal device 30 exists within the service-providing area (Yes in step S23), it transmits signal information, that is, table information TA, to the terminal device 30 (step S24). Thereafter, until BLE communication becomes impossible and BLE communication ends (Yes in step S25), the operations in steps S22 to S25 are repeated while updating the signal information to the latest one.

[0037] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, a specific operation example will be described. Assume that the pedestrian PA has launched the signal guidance application of the terminal device 30 and the pedestrian PA approaches the intersection CS and reaches the service area. In this case, signal information is transmitted from the cooperation device 20 to the terminal device 30. The terminal device 30 checks its current location and its own orientation, and the current location is determined to be the standby position WIa corresponding to, for example, the island Ia. Further, the terminal device 30 uses the user interface unit 35 to announce to the pedestrian PA, for example, "Please point the tip of your smartphone in the traveling direction. After you finish pointing the smartphone, tap it twice." and waits for the response of the pedestrian PA. When there is a response from the pedestrian PA, if the own orientation is within a predetermined error with respect to, for example, 180° at the current island Ia or standby position WIa, the lamp number corresponding to this own orientation is specified. Specifically, it is the lamp number No. 7 corresponding to the pedestrian signal lamp SG7, and the lighting state of the lamp number No. 7 is read out from Table 3 as the conformity information. Then, the terminal device 30 uses the user interface unit 35 to announce to the pedestrian PA, for example, "The pedestrian signal in the ●● direction is blue. The remaining time of the blue period is... seconds." or "The pedestrian signal in the ●● direction is red. The waiting time until the change is... seconds." Instead of the above announcement, a voice such as "The pedestrian signal in the ●● direction is blue." or "The pedestrian signal in the ●● direction is red." may be used. Such an announcement continues until the pedestrian PA moves to the opposite island Id or standby position WId. In addition to the above voice announcement, the terminal device 30 can perform a notification using vibration by the vibration unit 35c and a notification using an image, characters, etc. by the display unit 35a for the user. Note that when the own orientation exceeds a predetermined error with respect to 0° or 270° at the current island Ia or standby position WIa, that is, when it is outside the allowable error, the terminal device 30 does not determine the conformity information on the assumption that there is no lamp number corresponding to this own orientation. That is, when the difference between the own orientation and the lamp orientation is large, it is notified that the intersection has been approached, and the lighting states of the signal lamps SG in both directions D1 and D2 are notified. Specifically, "The pedestrian signal in the ●● direction or the ○○ direction is blue. The pedestrian signal in the ◆◆ direction or the ◇◇ direction is red.An announcement such as "」" is made.

[0038] The lighting device information providing system 100 of the first embodiment described above includes a traffic signal controller 10 that operates the signal light SG, an information processing device 21 that acquires signal information regarding the lighting state of the signal light SG from the traffic signal controller 10, a cooperation device 20 having a communication device 22 that transmits the signal information to the outside, a communication unit 32 that receives the signal information, a direction specifying unit 33 that detects its own direction, and a control unit 31 that selects matching information corresponding to its own direction from the signal information and notifies it via the user interface unit 35, and a terminal device 30.

[0039] In the lighting device information providing system 100, since the control unit 31 of the terminal device 30 selects matching information corresponding to its own direction from the signal information and notifies the matching information via the user interface unit 35, even when the user of the terminal device 30 does not know which direction he or she is facing, the user can grasp the lighting state of the signal light SG existing in the direction he or she wants to proceed.

[0040] In particular, in the above embodiment, the cooperation device 20 includes the waiting positions WIa, WIb, WIc, WId on the intersection CS, the light fixture numbers No. 1 to 8 facing the waiting positions WIa, WIb, WIc, WId, and the light fixture directions (for example, 0°, 180°, 90°, 270°) corresponding to the facing light fixture numbers No. 1 to 8. The table information TA is included in the signal information and transmitted. The terminal device 30 determines the waiting positions WIa, WIb, WIc, WId on the intersection CS based on the output of the position detection unit 34 that detects the current location, and based on the waiting position obtained using the position detection unit 34 and the own direction obtained using the direction specifying unit 33, the terminal device 30 determines the facing light fixture number, and selects the information regarding the facing light fixture number in the signal information as the matching information. In this case, the waiting positions WIa, WIb, WIc, WId or the island position on the intersection CS is specified, and the information provision becomes more accurate.

[0041] The luminaire information providing method according to the first embodiment described above is a luminaire information providing method using the cooperation device 20 and the terminal device 30. The cooperation device 20 provides signal information related to display to the terminal device 30, selects, from the signal information, adaptation information corresponding to the self-orientation detected by the orientation specifying unit 33 provided in the terminal device 30, and notifies the adaptation information via the user interface unit 35 provided in the terminal device 30.

[0042] 〔Second Embodiment〕 Hereinafter, an example of a luminaire information providing system and the like according to the second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, descriptions of the same matters as those in the first embodiment and the like are omitted. In the case of the second embodiment, a request for extending the blue time or a request for switching to blue is made from the terminal device 30 to the cooperation device 20.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 4, in the terminal device 30, the control unit 31 checks whether BLE communication is possible (step S11). When BLE communication is possible (Yes in step S11), the control unit 31 transmits information such as its own ID, position (current location), and current time to the cooperation device 20 (step S12). Then, the control unit 31 waits for a response from the cooperation device 20 (step S13). When it receives signal information, that is, table information TA, as a response from the cooperation device 20 (Yes in step S13), the orientation identification unit 33 acquires its own orientation (step S14). Next, the control unit 31 selects matching information from the signal information, that is, the table information TA, based on its own orientation detected by the orientation identification unit 33 and the current location detected by the position detection unit 34 (step S15). Next, the control unit 31 notifies the pedestrian PA, who is the user, of the matching information selected in step S15 as voice information via the voice part 35b of the user interface unit 35 (step S16). Next, the control unit 31 transmits a blue extension request signal to the cooperation device 20 (step S31). Note that the control unit 31 transmits a blue request signal to the cooperation device 20 not only when the lighting state of the lamp number included in the matching information (that is, the lamp color of the traffic signal lamp SG in the front direction) is blue, but also when it is red or blinking blue. Accepting a blue extension request when the lamp color is blue or red is mainly a consideration for visually impaired pedestrians (pedestrian PA) to cross safely with enough time. Accepting a blue extension request when the lamp color is red means that, assuming that the traffic signal lamp SG in the oncoming direction will turn green after the traffic signal lamp SG in the front direction turns green for a visually impaired pedestrian (pedestrian PA) waiting for a green signal, a blue extension is requested for this green signal. Next, the control unit 31 determines whether the lighting state of the lamp number included in the matching information (that is, the lamp color of the traffic signal lamp SG in the front direction) is red (step S32). When the lighting state of the lamp number included in the matching information is red (Yes in step S32), the control unit 31 transmits a blue request signal to the cooperation device 20 (step S33). Accepting a blue request when the lamp color is red is from the perspective of giving priority to pedestrians PA.When two request signals, namely a blue request and a blue extension, are transmitted from the terminal device 30, the two request signals of the blue request and the blue extension may be transmitted to the cooperation device 20 when the blue request is selected via the user interface unit 35. Alternatively, the request signals designated from the terminal device 30 side with the blue extension and the blue request as independent options may be transmitted to the cooperation device 20. Furthermore, only the blue request may be used and the blue extension request may be omitted, or only the blue extension request may be used and the blue request may be omitted.

[0044] The step S31 of transmitting the signal of the blue extension request to the cooperation device 20 may be the case where the answer in step S32 is No. In this case, when the light color is blue, the signal of the blue extension request is transmitted to the cooperation device 20, and when the light color is red, the signal of the blue request is transmitted to the cooperation device 20.

[0045] In the cooperation device 20, the control unit 21a checks whether BLE communication is possible (step S21). When BLE communication is possible (Yes in step S21), the control unit 21a receives information such as the ID, position (current location), and current time of the terminal device 30 from the terminal device 30 (step S22). Then, the control unit 21a determines whether the terminal device 30 exists within the service providing area of the cooperation device 20 (step S23). When the cooperation device 20 determines that the terminal device 30 exists within the service providing area (Yes in step S23), the cooperation device 20 transmits signal information, that is, table information TA, to the terminal device 30 (step S24). When the cooperation device 20 receives a blue request signal or a blue extension request signal from the terminal device 30 (Yes in step S41), the cooperation device 20 performs operations corresponding to these requests (step S42). Specifically, the cooperation device 20 transmits a command to delay or advance the switching of the light color of the signal lamp SG corresponding to the traveling direction of the terminal device 30, for example, to the traffic signal controller 10, and the traffic signal controller 10 performs a display operation according to the command from the cooperation device 20.

[0046] Note that when there are a plurality of terminal devices 30 that approach the intersection CS and reach the service area, and the traveling directions of these terminal devices 30 are orthogonal, the cooperation device 20 does not accept a blue request signal or a blue extension request signal from the terminal device 30 in order to avoid competition among a plurality of pedestrians.

[0047] In the lighting device information providing system 100 of the second embodiment described above, since the terminal device 30 transmits a request for extending the green time to the cooperation device 20, the pedestrian PA can cross safely with a margin, and the safety of the pedestrian PA who is a visually impaired person or the like can be ensured. Further, when the traffic light color of the traffic signal lamp SG corresponding to the self-orientation of the terminal device 30 is red, since a request for switching to green is transmitted to the cooperation device 20, the passage of the pedestrian PA can be prioritized and safety can be ensured.

[0048] 〔Third Embodiment〕 Hereinafter, an example of the lighting device information providing system and the like of the third embodiment will be described. In the third embodiment, descriptions of the same matters as those in the first embodiment and the like will be omitted. In the case of the third embodiment, the terminal device 30 holds while updating the route and the current location information on the map, and uses the current orientation corresponding to the route and the current location for determining the validity of the self-orientation.

[0049] Referring to FIG. 5, after the control unit 31 selects the matching information from the signal information, that is, the table information TA, based on the self-orientation detected by the orientation specifying unit 33 and the current location detected by the position detecting unit 34 (step S15), the control unit 31 compares the current orientation corresponding to the route and the current location on the map with the self-orientation acquired in step S14 (step S51), and determines whether or not they match (step S52).

[0050] The route on the map and the current direction corresponding to the current location are obtained based on the functions of the application prepared in the terminal device 30 (specifically, the route setting function to the destination and the movement tracking function), and are determined from the history of the movement route on the map of the terminal device 30 and the direction towards the destination. The current direction is a determination result independent of the self-direction detected by the direction specifying unit 33, and may not match the self-direction.

[0051] When the current direction based on the route matches the self-direction obtained from the posture of the terminal device 30 (Yes in step S52), the control unit 31 notifies the pedestrian PA, who is the user, as voice information via the voice part 35b of the user interface unit 35 of the conformity information corresponding to the self-direction that conforms to the route. When the current direction based on the route does not match the self-direction obtained from the posture of the terminal device 30 (No in step S52), the control unit 31 changes the route setting to the destination according to the self-direction, and notifies the pedestrian PA of the conformity information that matches the changed new route, that is, the conformity information corresponding to the self-direction, as voice information via the voice part 35b of the user interface unit 35 (step S54).

[0052] In the lighting device information providing system 100 of the third embodiment described above, the terminal device 30 updates and holds the route and the current location information on the map, and when the current direction corresponding to the route and the current location matches the self-direction, the lighting state of the traffic signal lamp SG corresponding to the current direction is selected as the conformity information. Therefore, when the pedestrian PA, such as a visually impaired person, is walking while receiving route-based guidance, the route information can also be utilized subsidiarily.

[0053] In the lighting device information providing system 100 of the above-described third embodiment, the self-direction determined from the orientation of the terminal device 30 is given priority over the current direction. However, the conformity information may be selected with priority given to the current direction derived from the route over the self-direction.

[0054] 〔Others〕 The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist thereof.

[0055] The intersection CS to which the lighting device information providing system 100 is applied is not limited to a four-way intersection, and may be a three-way intersection, a five-way intersection, or the like. Also, the lighting device orientation corresponding to the oncoming lighting device number (any one of No. 1 to 8) is appropriately set according to the azimuth angle of the road connected to the intersection CS for orientations other than 0° corresponding to the reference first direction D1.

[0056] In the above description, based on the standby position obtained using the position detection unit 34 and the own orientation obtained using the orientation specifying unit 33, the terminal device 30 determines the oncoming lighting device number, and selects the information regarding the oncoming lighting device number among the signal information as the matching information. However, without using the standby position, based on the own orientation obtained using the orientation specifying unit 33, the oncoming lighting device number may be determined, and the information regarding the oncoming lighting device number among the signal information may be selected as the matching information. In this case, it is not a problem which of No. 1, 2, 5, 6 or No. 3, 4, 7, 8 in Table 3 is the oncoming lighting device number, and these are collectively determined as those corresponding to the first direction D1 and those corresponding to the second direction D2.

[0057] In the above description, the allowable error between the own orientation and the lighting device orientation is, for example, 30° or less. However, the allowable error between the own orientation and the lighting device orientation can be set as appropriate, and even when the difference between the own orientation and the lighting device orientation is large, the lighting device orientation can be determined from the own orientation.

[0058] In the above description, the control unit 21a of the cooperation device 20 transmits signal information, that is, table information TA, to the terminal device 30 (step S24), and the control unit 31 of the terminal device 30 selects matching information from the table information TA (step S15). However, the terminal device 30 may transmit position information and orientation information to the cooperation device 20. In this case, the cooperation device 20 may select and return the display state of the lighting device corresponding to the position information and orientation information of the terminal device 30. In the terminal device 30, it is confirmed that it is the display state of the lighting device corresponding to its own position information and orientation information, that is, the matching information, and the matching information is notified to the pedestrian PA via the user interface unit 35.

[0059] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a specific modification example. In this case, when communication is possible (Yes in step S111), the control unit 31 of the terminal device 30 checks information such as its own position (current location) and current time (step S121), obtains its own orientation by the orientation specifying unit 33 (step S141), and transmits its own terminal information (information such as its own ID, position (current location), current time, and its own orientation) to the cooperation device 20 (step S122). When the control unit 31 receives signal information (matching information) as a response from the cooperation device 20 (Yes in step S131), this matching information is notified to the pedestrian PA as voice information or the like via the user interface unit 35 (step S161).

[0060] When communication is possible (Yes in step S211), the control unit 21a of the cooperation device 20 receives the terminal information from the terminal device 30 (step S221). When the control unit 21a determines that the terminal device 30 exists within the service providing area (Yes in step S23), based on the own orientation included in the terminal information and the current location corresponding to the standby position, the control unit 21a selects matching information from the signal information, that is, the table information TA (step S215), and transmits this matching information to the terminal device 30 (step S241).

[0061] The pedestrian PA holding the terminal device 30 includes users in various states, not limited to visually impaired persons.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0062] 10…Traffic signal controller, 11…Control unit, 12…Transceiver, 13…Memory unit, 14…Lamp driver circuit, 20…Cooperating device, 21…Information processing device, 22…Communication device, 22a…First communicator, 22b…Second communicator, 30…Terminal device, 31…Control unit, 32…Communication unit, 33…Orientation specifying unit, 34…Position detection unit, 35…User interface unit, 35a…Display unit, 35b…Sound unit, 35c…Vibration unit, 39…Memory unit, 90…Lamp orientation, 100…Lamp information providing system, CS…Intersection, Ia, Ib, Ic, Id…Islands, P1 to P8…Standby positions, PA…Pedestrian, RA1…Main road, D1…First direction, D2…Second direction, D1(+), D1(-), D2(+), D2(-)…Orientations, RA2…Secondary road, SG…Signal lamp, SG1, SG2, SG5, SG6…Pedestrian lamps, SGa, SGb…Vehicle lamps, TA…Table information, WIa, WIb, WIc, WId…Standby positions

Claims

1. A traffic signal control device that operates a signal lamp device, a cooperation device having an information processing device that acquires signal information regarding the lighting state of the signal lamp device from the traffic signal control device, and a communication device that transmits the signal information to the outside, a terminal device including a communication unit that receives the signal information, a direction specifying unit that detects its own direction, and a control unit that notifies, via a user interface unit, matching information corresponding to the own direction among the signal information comprising a lamp device information providing system.

2. The cooperation device transmits the signal information including the relationship between the direction at the intersection and the lighting state of the signal lamp device to the outside via the communication device, and the terminal device selects, as the matching information, the lighting state of the signal lamp device corresponding to the detected own direction from the signal information. The lamp device information providing system according to Claim 1.

3. The cooperation device includes the table information associating a waiting position on the intersection, a lamp number facing the waiting position, and a lamp direction corresponding to the facing lamp number in the signal information and transmits it, and the terminal device determines the waiting position on the intersection based on the output of a position detection unit that detects the current location, and determines the facing lamp number that the terminal device faces based on the waiting position obtained using the position detection unit and the own direction obtained using the direction specifying unit, and selects, as the matching information, the information regarding the facing lamp number in the signal information. The lamp device information providing system according to Claim 2.

4. When the terminal information received from the terminal device satisfies a predetermined requirement, the cooperation device accepts a request regarding the operation of the traffic signal control device from the terminal device. The lamp device information providing system according to Claim 1.

5. The terminal device transmits a request for extending the green time to the cooperation device. The lamp device information providing system according to Claim 4.

6. When the lamp color of the signal lamp device corresponding to the own direction is red, the terminal device transmits a request for switching to green to the cooperation device. The lamp device information providing system according to Claim 4.

7. When the traffic signal control device receives a request for extending the green time or switching to green via the cooperation device, the traffic signal control device changes the current operation to an operation corresponding to the request. The lamp device information providing system according to any one of Claims 5 and 6.

8. The terminal device holds information on the route and the current location on the map while updating them, and when the current direction corresponding to the route and the current location matches the self-direction, it selects the lighting state of the traffic signal corresponding to the current direction as the conformity information. The traffic signal information providing system according to claim 1.

9. When the current direction does not match the self-direction, the terminal device corrects a future part of the route according to the self-direction. The traffic signal information providing system according to claim 8.

10. The signal information targets the lighting state of traffic signals for pedestrians. The traffic signal information providing system according to claim 1.

11. A traffic signal information providing method using a cooperation device and a terminal device, comprising: providing signal information related to display from the cooperation device to the terminal device; selecting conformity information corresponding to the self-direction detected by a direction specifying unit provided in the terminal device from the signal information; and notifying the conformity information via a user interface unit provided in the terminal device. Traffic signal information providing method.

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