Information processing device and program

Abstract

To provide an information processing device and a program to reduce the time required for content distribution or data collection using device-to-device communication of mobile bodies.SOLUTION: An information processing device acquires the total number of: a second mobile body that relays data block between a first mobile body and a specific server, in which the first mobile body is relayed through device-to-device communication, and the specific server is relayed through a first wireless communication; and a third mobile body that relays the data block between the first mobile body and the second mobile body through device-to-device communication in a predetermined area. The information processing device instructs either the second mobile body or the first mobile body to assign the other mobile body as the third mobile body by transmitting the data block through the device-to-device communication to the other mobile body when the total number of the second mobile body and the third mobile body is less than a predetermined threshold value.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to content distribution and data collection using communication between devices.

Background Art

[0002] There is a disclosed technique in which a plurality of delivery vehicles are caused to download a plurality of fragmented data obtained by dividing data content to be delivered through cellular communication or the like, and when passing by a receiving vehicle that needs the content on the road, the content is delivered by vehicle-to-vehicle communication (for example, Non-Patent Document 1). The receiving vehicle collects the fragmented data received from one or more delivery vehicles and performs decoding processing to restore the original data content.

Prior Art Documents

Non-Patent Documents

[0003]

Non-Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] One aspect of the present disclosure aims to provide an information processing device and a program capable of shortening the time required for content distribution or data collection using communication between mobile devices.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] One aspect of the present disclosure is Acquire the total number of a second mobile body that relays a data block between the first mobile body and a predetermined server through device - to - device communication within a predetermined area and through first wireless communication with the predetermined server, and a third mobile body that relays the data block between the first mobile body and the second mobile body through the device - to - device communication. When the total number is less than a predetermined threshold, instruct either the second mobile body or the first mobile body to transmit the data block to another mobile body through the device - to - device communication to appoint the other mobile body as the third mobile body. A control unit that executes the above. An information processing apparatus comprising the above.

[0006] One of other aspects of the present disclosure is A program for causing a computer to Acquire the total number of a second mobile body that relays a data block between the first mobile body and a predetermined server through device - to - device communication within a predetermined area and through first wireless communication with the predetermined server, and a third mobile body that relays the data block between the first mobile body and the second mobile body through the device - to - device communication. When the total number is less than a predetermined threshold, instruct either the second mobile body or the first mobile body to transmit the data block to another mobile body through the device - to - device communication to appoint the other mobile body as the third mobile body. This is a program for causing the above to be executed.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to shorten the time required for content distribution or data collection using device - to - device communication of mobile bodies.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] In a system in which a plurality of distribution vehicles download data content through cellular communication or the like and distribute it by vehicle-to-vehicle communication when passing by a receiving vehicle, the data content may be divided into fragmentary data. In areas with low vehicle density and off-peak hours with low traffic volume, the receiving vehicle has few opportunities to encounter the distribution vehicle, and it may take time until the receiving vehicle has all the fragmentary data necessary for restoring the data content.

[0010] On the other hand, there is a problem that it is difficult to easily increase the number of distribution vehicles. This is because when the distribution vehicle downloads fragmentary data through cellular communication, the bandwidth usage and communication cost of the cellular communication network increase as the number of distribution vehicles increases. Although the communication cost can be reduced when downloading fragmentary data through WiFi communication, it is limited to electric vehicles being charged or the like with little concern about the in-vehicle battery running out.

[0011] In view of the above problems, in one aspect of the present disclosure, when the number of delivery vehicles for predetermined content within a predetermined area is small, vehicles that distribute fragmentary data to receiving vehicles through vehicle-to-vehicle communication are increased in the same manner as the delivery vehicles. The vehicle does not operate as a delivery vehicle, but receives fragmentary data from the delivery vehicle through vehicle-to-vehicle communication and distributes the fragmentary data to the receiving vehicle through vehicle-to-vehicle communication in the same manner as the delivery vehicle. As a result, without using a cellular communication network, the number of vehicles that distribute fragmentary data to receiving vehicles through vehicle-to-vehicle communication can be increased. Therefore, the receiving vehicle has an increased opportunity to receive fragmentary data through vehicle-to-vehicle communication, and the time until the receiving vehicle has all the fragmentary data necessary for restoring the data content can be shortened.

[0012] More specifically, one aspect of the present disclosure is an information processing apparatus including a control unit. The control unit acquires the total number of the second moving body and the third moving body within a predetermined area, and when the total number is less than a predetermined threshold value, transmits a data block to either the second moving body or the first moving body through device-to-device communication to another moving body and instructs the other moving body to be appointed as the third moving body. The second moving body relays the data block between the first moving body and the predetermined server through the first wireless communication with the predetermined server through device-to-device communication with the first moving body. The third moving body relays the data block between the first moving body and the second moving body through device-to-device communication through device-to-device communication.

[0013] The information processing device is, for example, a server that controls a distribution vehicle in a content distribution system that causes a distribution vehicle to distribute the content to a receiving vehicle through vehicle-to-vehicle communication, or an in-vehicle device mounted on a source vehicle in a data collection system that causes a sink vehicle to collect data generated by the source vehicle through vehicle-to-vehicle communication. Alternatively, the information processing device may be, for example, an in-vehicle device mounted on a distribution vehicle in a content distribution system, or a server that collects data in a data collection system. However, the information processing device is not limited thereto, and may be, for example, a computer mounted on a moving body other than a vehicle, and a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, and a PC (Personal Computer). It may be. The control unit is, for example, a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), and a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). However, the control unit is not limited to a processor, and may be a circuit such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), an integrated semiconductor circuit (IC: Integrated Circuit), or a CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device).

[0014] Moving bodies include, for example, vehicles such as automobiles, motorcycles, and railways, ships, and aircraft. Further, the moving body may include, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a PC, and a portable game machine. In the content distribution system, for example, the first moving body is a receiving vehicle and the second moving body is a distribution vehicle. In the data collection system, for example, the first moving body is a source vehicle and the second moving body is a sink vehicle. The predetermined area is, for example, a grid of a predetermined length, or a predetermined range defined according to the road shape.

[0015] The data block is, for example, the main body of the distribution content, fragment data of the distribution content, the main body of the data to be collected, or fragment data of the data to be collected, etc.

[0016] The first wireless communication is, for example, communication by a cellular communication method such as 5G (5th Generation), 6G, 4G, or communication by WiFi communication, etc. However, the first wireless communication is not limited to these. The inter-device communication is, for example, vehicle-to-vehicle wireless LAN communication, DSRC (Dedicated Short-Range Communications), 5G sidelink communication, Device-to-Device (D2D) communication, and communication methods enabling communication between terminals such as ad-hoc mode WiFi communication. However, the inter-device communication is not limited to these.

[0017] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, when the total number of the second moving body and the third moving body within a predetermined area is less than a predetermined value, another moving body is appointed as the third moving body, and the number of the third moving bodies increases. For example, in a content distribution system, the number of vehicles that transmit data blocks to a receiving vehicle, which is the first moving body, by inter-device communication increases. Therefore, the receiving vehicle has an increased chance of receiving the data block, and the time until the content is acquired can be shortened. For example, in a data collection system, since the number of vehicles that receive data blocks from a source vehicle, which is the first moving body, by inter-device communication increases, the time required to collect the data blocks generated by the source vehicle can be shortened.

[0018] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the control unit may further execute determining a predetermined threshold based on at least one of the position, time zone, and traffic volume of a predetermined area. Thereby, a threshold value in accordance with the actual situation of the traffic volume within the area can be set, and the total number of the second moving body and the third moving body within the area can be adjusted to a number suitable for the actual situation of the traffic volume within the area.

[0019] As another aspect of the present disclosure, a computer executes the processing executed by the above information processing apparatus A method of execution, a program for causing a computer to execute the method, and a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing the program can be specified.

[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The configurations of the following embodiments are examples, and the present disclosure is not limited to the configurations of the embodiments.

[0021] <First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the system configuration of a content distribution system 100 according to the first embodiment. The content distribution system 100 is a system that distributes predetermined content to some vehicles from other vehicles via vehicle-to-vehicle communication. The content distribution system 100 includes a distribution server 1, distribution vehicles 2, and receiving vehicles 3. Further, in the first embodiment, the content distribution system 100 also includes a relay vehicle 4 that relays content between the distribution vehicle 2 and the receiving vehicle 3 through vehicle-to-vehicle communication. Note that, in reality, the content distribution system 100 may include a plurality of distribution vehicles 2, receiving vehicles 3, and relay vehicles 4, respectively. When not particularly distinguished, they are simply referred to as distribution vehicles 2, receiving vehicles 3, and relay vehicles 4. In the first embodiment, each vehicle is equipped with an in-vehicle device having a communication function. Hereinafter, regarding the communication related to each vehicle, although the actual entity is the in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle, for the sake of convenience, the description will be made with each vehicle as the main body.

[0022] The distribution server 1 and each vehicle are connected to the network N1 and can communicate with each other via the network N1. The network N1 is, for example, a public network such as the Internet. Each vehicle can be connected to the network N1 via a cellular network or a wireless LAN as an access network.

[0023] The distribution server 1 is a server that holds the original data of the content to be distributed to the vehicle, selects the distribution vehicle 2, and transmits the content to the distribution vehicle 2. The distribution server 1 may divide the content into fragmentary data and transmit it to the distribution vehicle 2. The fragmentary data may be generated using an encoding technique such as an erasure correction code. The distribution vehicle 2 downloads the fragmentary data from the distribution server 1 through cellular communication or WiFi communication, stores it in the storage of the in-vehicle device, and transmits the fragmentary data to the receiving vehicle when passing by the receiving vehicle 3 through vehicle-to-vehicle communication. The distribution vehicle 2 itself may or may not be the receiving vehicle 3 which is the destination of the content distribution. In the first embodiment, the vehicle-to-vehicle communication may be any of, for example, vehicle-to-vehicle wireless LAN communication, DSRC, or 5G side-link communication, etc.

[0024] The receiving vehicle 3 is the vehicle that is the destination of the content distribution. The receiving vehicle 3 receives a content acquisition instruction from the distribution server 1 through cellular communication or WiFi communication. Thereafter, when the receiving vehicle 3 passes by the distribution vehicle 2 on the road, if the distribution vehicle 2 holds the fragmentary data specified in the content acquisition instruction, the receiving vehicle 3 acquires the unheld fragmentary data from the distribution vehicle 2 through vehicle-to-vehicle communication. When the receiving vehicle 3 acquires a number of fragmentary data that can restore the content C, for example, it restores the content C using the decoding information included in the content acquisition instruction from the distribution server 1.

[0025] The relay vehicle 4 is appointed when passing by the distribution vehicle 2, receives the fragmentary data through vehicle-to-vehicle communication, and transmits the fragmentary data to the receiving vehicle 3 through vehicle-to-vehicle communication when passing by the receiving vehicle 3. The relay vehicle 4 may or may not be the receiving vehicle 3 which is the destination of the content distribution.

[0026] In the first embodiment, (1) the distribution server 1 acquires the total number of the distribution vehicles 2 and the relay vehicles 4 that are distributing the content C for each area. When the total number of the distribution vehicles 2 and the relay vehicles 4 that are distributing the content C within the area is less than the threshold value N, the distribution server 1 determines to increase the relay vehicles 4 and transmits an instruction to start appointing relay vehicles to each distribution vehicle 2.

[0027] (2) When the distribution vehicle 2 receives an instruction to start appointing a relay vehicle, it transmits fragmented data to passing vehicles via vehicle-to-vehicle communication to appoint a relay vehicle. When appointed as a relay vehicle, the relay vehicle 4 transmits fragmented data via vehicle-to-vehicle communication when passing by the receiving vehicle 3. As a result, the number of vehicles transmitting fragmented data to the receiving vehicle 3 increases, so the time until the receiving vehicle 3 acquires all the fragmented data necessary to restore the original content C can be shortened.

[0028] The fragmented data is an example of a "data block". The receiving vehicle 3 is an example of a "first moving body". The distribution vehicle 2 is an example of a "second moving body". The relay vehicle 4 is an example of a "third moving body". Vehicle-to-vehicle communication is an example of "device-to-device communication". The distribution server 1 is an example of an "information processing device". Hereinafter, when it is said that two vehicles pass by each other, it shall include not only that the two vehicles simply pass by each other, but also that vehicle-to-vehicle communication is possible between the two vehicles.

[0029] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration and functional configuration of the distribution server 1 and the distribution vehicle 2. First, the hardware configuration of the distribution server 1 and the distribution vehicle 2 will be described. The distribution server 1 can be configured using an information processing device (computer) such as a server machine. The distribution server 1 may be an aggregate (cloud) of one or more computers. Note that the distribution server 1 may be a device provided with an electric circuit such as a dedicated FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) or ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) that executes the corresponding processing.

[0030] The distribution server 1 includes, as its hardware configuration, a processor 101, a memory 102, an auxiliary storage device 103, and a communication unit 104. The memory 102 and the auxiliary storage device 103 are computer-readable recording media. The auxiliary storage device 103 is, for example, an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), a hard disk drive, or an SSD (Solid State Drive). The program stored in the auxiliary storage device 103 includes, for example, an operating system (OS) and a control program for the content distribution system 100. The memory 102 includes, for example, semiconductor memories such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory).

[0031] The processor 101 is, for example, a CPU, a GPU, or a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), etc. The processor 101 is not limited to one and may be provided in plural. The processor 101 is an example of a "control unit".

[0032] The communication unit 104 is, for example, a NIC (Network Interface Card), an optical fiber interface, etc. Note that the communication unit 104 may be a wireless communication circuit that connects to a wireless network such as a wireless LAN.

[0033] The distribution vehicle 2 is equipped with an in-vehicle device. The hardware configuration of the distribution vehicle 2 shown in FIG. 2 is the hardware configuration of the in-vehicle device. The in-vehicle device of the distribution vehicle 2 is, for example, a data communication device (Data Communication Module), a car navigation system, or a drive recorder - The vehicle-mounted device has the following components. In terms of its hardware configuration, the vehicle-mounted device includes a processor 201, a memory 202, an auxiliary storage device 203, a wireless communication unit 204, and a vehicle-to-vehicle communication unit 205. The processor 201, the memory 202, and the auxiliary storage device 203 are the same as the processor 101, the memory 102, and the auxiliary storage device 103. However, in addition to the operating system (OS) and the like, the auxiliary storage device 203 stores a control program for controlling the operation as the distribution vehicle 2.

[0034] The wireless communication unit 204 is a wireless communication circuit corresponding to a mobile communication system such as 5G, 4G, or 6G, or a wireless communication system such as WiFi. The vehicle-to-vehicle communication unit 205 is a wireless communication circuit corresponding to a vehicle-to-vehicle communication system such as vehicle-to-vehicle wireless LAN communication, DSRC, or 5G sidelink communication. Note that the hardware configuration of the distribution server 1 and the vehicle-mounted device is not limited to that shown in FIG. 2. The vehicle-mounted devices mounted on the receiving vehicle 3 and the relay vehicle 4 also have the same hardware configuration as the vehicle-mounted device of the distribution vehicle 2 shown in FIG. 2.

[0035] Next, the functional configurations of the distribution server 1, the distribution vehicle 2, and the relay vehicle 4 will be described. The distribution server 1 includes a control unit 11, a quantity adjustment unit 12, and a content DB 13 in terms of its functional configuration. The control unit 11, the quantity adjustment unit 12, and the content DB 13 are functional components achieved, for example, when the processor 101 of the distribution server 1 executes the control program of the content distribution system 100. However, it is not limited to this, and the control unit 11, the quantity adjustment unit 12, and the content DB 13 may be realized by hardware components such as FPGAs respectively. The same applies to the functional components included in other devices.

[0036] The content DB 13 holds the original data of the distributed content. The content DB 13 is created in the storage area of the auxiliary storage device 103.

[0037] The control unit 11 generates fragmented data, selects and appoints the delivery vehicle 2, and transmits an instruction to acquire content to the receiving vehicle 3. The control unit 11 selects the delivery vehicle 2, for example, from among the vehicles managed by the content delivery system 100 according to a predetermined rule.

[0038] The control unit 11 notifies the delivery vehicle 2 that it has been selected, for example, by transmitting a message of notification of delivery vehicle appointment or by push-transmitting fragmented data to the delivery vehicle. The control unit 11 identifies the receiving vehicle 3 based on the content of the content to be delivered, and transmits an instruction to acquire content to the receiving vehicle 3. The instruction to acquire content includes, for example, identification information and decoding information of each fragmented data to be acquired by the receiving vehicle 3. The decoding information is information used to restore the original content from the fragmented data. The decoding information is, for example, a decoding parameter, a checksum for verifying the consistency with the original content, etc. For example, when the fragmented data is generated by an erasure correction code, the decoding parameter includes the number of fragmented data necessary for restoring the original content, etc.

[0039] The number adjuster 12 adjusts the number of the delivery vehicle 2 and the relay vehicle 4 for each content being delivered for each area. The area is, for example, an area such as a grid of a predetermined length or an area defined with a predetermined width according to the shape of the road. The area can be arbitrarily set by the administrator of the content delivery system 100.

[0040] Based on the communication history information with the distribution vehicle 2 and the relay vehicle 4, the number adjustment unit 12 grasps the distribution status of each content for each area. For example, when the control unit 11 acquires the position information and the list of the fragmented data held from each distribution vehicle 2 at the timing of transmitting the fragmented data to the distribution vehicle 2 through cellular communication or WiFi communication, the number adjustment unit 12 may use these information as the communication history information. Alternatively, the distribution vehicle 2 and the relay vehicle 4 may be notified to the distribution server 1 of the current position, the list of the fragmented data held, and the transmission history information of the fragmented data to other vehicles at a predetermined cycle or when a predetermined event occurs. The transmission history information of the fragmented data to other vehicles includes, for example, the identification information of the destination vehicle, the timestamp, the transmission position, etc. The events that trigger the transmission of these information from the distribution vehicle 2 and the relay vehicle 4 include, for example, the transmission of the fragmented data to other vehicles, the change in the list of the fragmented data held due to the addition or deletion of the fragmented data, and the appointment of another vehicle as the relay vehicle or or itself being appointed as the relay vehicle, etc. The number adjustment unit 12 may use the current position, the list of the fragmented data held, and the transmission history information of the fragmented data to other vehicles received from the distribution vehicle 2 or the relay vehicle 4 as the communication history information.

[0041] Based on the communication history information about the distribution vehicle 2 and the relay vehicle 4, the quantity adjustment unit 12 obtains the total number of the distribution vehicle 2 and the relay vehicle 4 for each content within each area. When the total number of the distribution vehicle 2 and the relay vehicle 4 for the target content within the area is less than the threshold value N, the quantity adjustment unit 12 sends a relay vehicle appointment start instruction to the distribution vehicle 2 that is distributing the target content within the area, instructing the start of the appointment of the relay vehicle for the target content. Along with the relay vehicle appointment start instruction, the number of relay vehicles appointed by the distribution vehicle 2 may also be notified to the distribution vehicle 2. Further, the quantity adjustment unit 12 may specify the time for which the distribution vehicle 2 and the relay vehicle 4 hold the fragment data of the target content on the in-vehicle storage, and send the specified time to the distribution vehicle 2 together with the relay vehicle appointment start instruction. As a result, the fragment data of the target content is deleted from the in-vehicle storages of the distribution vehicle 2 and the relay vehicle 4 after the elapse of the specified time since it was held from the in-vehicle storage.

[0042] The quantity adjustment unit 12 monitors the total number of the distribution vehicle 2 and the relay vehicle 4 for each content in each area, and when the total number of the distribution vehicle 2 and the relay vehicle 4 becomes equal to or more than the threshold value N, the quantity adjustment unit 12 sends a relay vehicle appointment stop instruction to each distribution vehicle 2 that is distributing the target content within the area, instructing the stop of the appointment of the relay vehicle for the target content. As a result, the increase in the relay vehicles within the area is stopped.

[0043] In addition, the quantity adjustment unit 12 may determine a threshold value N for the total number of delivery vehicles 2 and relay vehicles 4 in each area. For example, when the number of delivery vehicles 2 in each area is determined according to the vehicle density, in an area with a high vehicle density, there are many delivery vehicles 2, and there are also many opportunities for the receiving vehicle 3 to pass by the delivery vehicle 2. On the other hand, in an area with a low vehicle density, there are few delivery vehicles 2, and there are also few opportunities for the receiving vehicle 3 to pass by the delivery vehicle 2. In addition, the vehicle density also varies depending on time periods such as commuting hours. Also, the vehicle density varies due to sudden events. Therefore, the quantity adjustment unit 12 may determine the threshold value N based on, for example, any one or a combination of the location of the area, the time period, and the traffic volume. For example, the higher the traffic volume in the area, the larger the value of N is set. For example, during a time period when the traffic volume increases, such as commuting hours, N is set larger than in other time periods. For example, the larger the traffic volume, the larger the value of N is set. Note that N is a number equal to or greater than the number of delivery vehicles 2 in the area. The threshold value N may be set using, for example, a predetermined function or a machine learning model. Also, the threshold value N may be set according to the content. The higher the importance of the content, the larger the value of the threshold value N may be set.

[0044] Thereby, the total number of the delivery vehicles 2 and the relay vehicles 4 that deliver the target content in the area can be appropriately adjusted according to, for example, the variation in the vehicle density in the area. However, it is not limited to this, and the threshold value N may be a value (constant) predetermined for each area.

[0045] Next, as a functional configuration, the delivery vehicle 2 includes a delivery control unit 21 and a content DB 23. In FIG. 2, a quantity adjustment unit 22 is also shown, but the quantity adjustment unit 22 is not provided in the delivery vehicle 2 in the first embodiment and is provided in the delivery vehicle 2 in the second embodiment. The quantity adjustment unit 22 will be described in the second embodiment described later. The processing performed by these functional components is achieved, for example, by a processor 201 of the in-vehicle device of the delivery vehicle 2 executing a predetermined program held in an auxiliary storage device 203.

[0046] The content DB 23 is created in the storage area of the auxiliary storage device 203. The content DB 23 holds the fragment data acquired from the distribution server 1.

[0047] The distribution control unit 21 acquires the fragment data from the distribution server 1 and distributes it to the receiving vehicle 3. When the notification of the appointment of the distribution vehicle is made by the message of the notification of the appointment of the distribution vehicle, the distribution control unit 21, for example, acquires the fragment data by downloading it from the distribution server 1 based on the information of the fragment data to be acquired received from the distribution server 1. For example, when the notification of the appointment of the distribution vehicle is made by the push transmission of the fragment data, the distribution control unit 21 may acquire the fragment data by receiving it through the push transmission from the distribution server 1. The distribution control unit 21 stores the fragment data acquired from the distribution server 1 in the content DB 23.

[0048] The distribution control unit 21 distributes the fragment data to the receiving vehicle 3. More specifically, when passing by the receiving vehicle 3, the distribution control unit 21 transmits the list of the fragment data held in the content DB 23 to the receiving vehicle 3 through vehicle-to-vehicle communication. When the unheld fragment data is in the list received from the distribution vehicle 2, the receiving vehicle 3 transmits an acquisition request for the unheld fragment data to the distribution vehicle 2. The distribution control unit 21 reads out the fragment data requested by the receiving vehicle 3 from the content DB 23 and transmits it to the receiving vehicle 3 through vehicle-to-vehicle communication. For example, when the distribution control unit 21 receives the specified time for holding the fragment data together with the fragment data from the distribution server 1, the distribution control unit 21 may delete the fragment data from the content DB 23 when the specified time has elapsed. After deleting the fragment data, the distribution control unit 21 may transmit the time stamp, the current position, and the list of the fragment data held to the distribution server 1.

[0049] When the distribution control unit 21 receives an instruction to start appointing a relay vehicle from the distribution server 1, it starts operating in the relay vehicle appointment mode. In the relay vehicle appointment mode, when a passing vehicle meets the requirements for a relay vehicle, regardless of whether the vehicle wishes to distribute the target content, the distribution control unit 21 transmits the fragment data of the target content and a notice of the appointment of the relay vehicle to appoint the vehicle as a relay vehicle. The requirements for a relay vehicle are, for example, that the remaining in-vehicle storage amount is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, and that the vehicle is a distribution vehicle or a relay vehicle for the same fragment data. However, the requirements for a relay vehicle are not limited to this. Information used to determine whether the requirements for a relay vehicle, such as the remaining in-vehicle storage amount, are met is received from the other vehicle via vehicle-to-vehicle communication. The distribution control unit 21 may also transmit the specified time for the relay vehicle 4 to hold the fragment data together with the fragment data. When the distribution control unit 21 receives an instruction to stop appointing a relay vehicle from the distribution server 1, it ends the relay vehicle appointment mode and returns to the normal mode. In the normal mode, the number adjustment unit 12 transmits fragment data to the passing receiving vehicle 3 and does not appoint a relay vehicle.

[0050] The distribution control unit 21 may transmit a time stamp, the current position, and a list of the fragment data it holds to the distribution server 1 at a predetermined cycle. Also, when transmitting fragment data to the receiving vehicle 3 and when appointing the relay vehicle 4 as a relay vehicle, a distribution report may be transmitted to the distribution server 1. The distribution report includes, for example, a time stamp of the distribution time, position information at the distribution time, identification information of the distributed fragment data, identification information of the destination vehicle, and information indicating the presence or absence of the appointment of a relay vehicle. A distribution report including information indicating the presence of the appointment of a relay vehicle is an example of a "first notice".

[0051] Next, the relay vehicle 4 includes a relay control unit 41 and a content DB 42 as its functional components. The relay control unit 41 is achieved by a processor of the in-vehicle device of the relay vehicle 4 executing a predetermined program held in the auxiliary storage device. When passing by the distribution vehicle 2, the relay control unit 41 receives a notification of the appointment of the relay vehicle and fragment data from the distribution vehicle 2, and stores the fragment data in the content DB 42. Thereafter, when passing by the receiving vehicle 3, the relay control unit 41 transmits the fragment data to the receiving vehicle 3 in the same manner as the distribution vehicle 2. The relay control unit 41 may transmit a list of the time stamp, the current position, and the fragment data held to the distribution server 1 at a predetermined cycle, similar to the distribution vehicle 2. Also, when transmitting the fragment data to the receiving vehicle 3, the relay control unit 41 may transmit a distribution report to the distribution server 1, similar to the distribution vehicle 2. Further, when receiving a specified time for holding the fragment data together with the notification of the appointment of the relay vehicle and the fragment data, the relay control unit 41 deletes the corresponding fragment data from the content DB 42 after the specified time has elapsed. After deleting the fragment data, the relay control unit 41 may transmit a list of the time stamp, the current position, and the fragment data held to the distribution server 1.

[0052] The content DB 42 is created in a storage area in the auxiliary storage device of the in-vehicle device of the relay vehicle 4. The content DB 42 holds the fragment data received from the distribution vehicle 2. Note that the functional configurations of the distribution server 1, the distribution vehicle 2, and the relay vehicle 4 shown in FIG. 2 are all examples, and the functional configurations of the distribution server 1, the distribution vehicle 2, and the relay vehicle 4 are not limited to the examples shown in FIG. 2.

[0053] FIG. 3 is an example of a flowchart of the processing of the number adjustment unit 12 of the distribution server 1. The processing shown in FIG. 3 is repeatedly executed, for example, at a predetermined cycle in units of one hour to several hours designated by the administrator of the content distribution system 100, or at a timing designated by the administrator of the content distribution system 100. Further, the processing shown in FIG. 3 is executed for each content being distributed in each area. The execution subject of the processing shown in FIG. 3 is, for example, the processor 101 of the in-vehicle device of the distribution server 1, but for the sake of convenience, the description will be made mainly in terms of functional components.

[0054] In OP101, the number adjustment unit 12 determines, for example, a threshold value N for the total number of distribution vehicles 2 and relay vehicles 4 that are distributing the target content within the target area based on the position, time zone, traffic volume, etc. of the target area.

[0055] In OP102, the number adjustment unit 12 acquires the total number of distribution vehicles 2 and relay vehicles 4 that are distributing the target content within the target area based on the communication history information with the distribution vehicles 2 and relay vehicles 4 in the most recent predetermined period. Note that the number of distribution vehicles 2 within the target area is the same at the same time regardless of the content being distributed. On the other hand, the number of relay vehicles 4 within the target area differs for each content being distributed at the same time.

[0056] In OP103, the number adjustment unit 12 determines whether or not the total number of distribution vehicles 2 and relay vehicles 4 acquired in OP102 is equal to or greater than the threshold value N. If the total number of distribution vehicles 2 and relay vehicles 4 is equal to or greater than the threshold value N (OP103: YES), since there are already a sufficient number of distribution vehicles 2 and relay vehicles 4 within the target area, the processing shown in FIG. 3 ends. If the total number of distribution vehicles 2 and relay vehicles 4 is less than the threshold value N (OP103: NO), the processing proceeds to OP104. In OP104, the number adjustment unit 12 transmits an instruction to start appointing relay vehicles for the target content to each distribution vehicle 2 that is distributing the target content within the target area.

[0057] In OP105, the unit number adjustment unit 12 determines whether it has received a distribution report including an appointment of a relay vehicle for the target content from the distribution vehicle 2 in the target area. If the unit number adjustment unit 12 has received a distribution report including information indicating that the target content in the target area has an appointment of a relay vehicle (OP105: YES), the unit number adjustment unit 12 updates the total number of the distribution vehicle 2 and the relay vehicle 4 that are distributing the target content in the target area, and the process proceeds to OP106. If the unit number adjustment unit 12 has not received a distribution report including information indicating that the target content in the target area has an appointment of a relay vehicle (OP105: NO), the unit number adjustment unit 12 enters a standby state.

[0058] In OP106, the unit number adjustment unit 12 determines whether the updated total number of the distribution vehicle 2 and the relay vehicle 4 is equal to or greater than the threshold value N. If the total number of the distribution vehicle 2 and the relay vehicle 4 is less than the threshold value N (OP106: NO), the process proceeds to OP105. If the total number of the distribution vehicle 2 and the relay vehicle 4 is equal to or greater than the threshold value N (OP106: YES), the process proceeds to OP107. In OP107, the unit number adjustment unit 12 sends an instruction to stop appointing a relay vehicle for the target content to the distribution vehicle 2 that distributes the target content in the target area. Thereafter, the process shown in FIG. 3 ends.

[0059] Note that when it is time to newly start the process shown in FIG. 3 for the target content in the target area, for example, the process shown in FIG. 3 that is being executed by the processes of OP105 and OP106 ends. Note that the process of the unit number adjustment unit 12 is not limited to the process shown in FIG. 3.

[0060] FIG. 4 is an example of a flowchart of the process in the relay vehicle appointment mode of the distribution control unit 21 of the distribution vehicle 2. The process shown in FIG. 4 starts when the distribution control unit 21 receives an instruction to start appointing a relay vehicle from the distribution server 1. The execution subject of the process shown in FIG. 4 is, for example, the processor 201 of the in-vehicle device of the distribution vehicle 2, but for convenience, the description will be made mainly with functional components. The same applies to the following flowcharts related to the distribution vehicle 2.

[0061] In OP201, the distribution control unit 21 determines whether it has passed by another vehicle. If it has passed by another vehicle (OP201: YES), the process proceeds to OP202. If it has not passed by another vehicle (OP201: NO), the process proceeds to OP209.

[0062] In OP202, the distribution control unit 21 determines whether the passed vehicle is the receiving vehicle 3. If the passed vehicle is the receiving vehicle 3 (OP202: YES), the process proceeds to OP203. In OP203, the distribution control unit 21 transmits the requested fragmented data to the receiving vehicle 3 via vehicle-to-vehicle communication. In OP204, the distribution control unit 21 transmits a distribution report of the fragmented data to the receiving vehicle 3 to the distribution server 1. Then, the process proceeds to OP206.

[0063] If the passed vehicle is not the receiving vehicle 3 (OP202: NO), the process proceeds to OP206. In OP206, the distribution control unit 21 determines whether the passed vehicle meets the requirements of the relay vehicle. If the passed vehicle meets the requirements of the relay vehicle (OP206: YES), the process proceeds to OP207. If the passed vehicle does not meet the requirements of the relay vehicle (OP206: NO), the process proceeds to OP209.

[0064] In OP207, the distribution control unit 21 transmits, via vehicle-to-vehicle communication, a notice of appointment of the relay vehicle and the fragmented data of the content targeted for relay vehicle appointment to the passed vehicle. In OP208, the distribution control unit 21 transmits the fragmented data of the content targeted for relay vehicle appointment to the passed vehicle to the distribution server 1 and transmits a distribution report including information indicating that there is a relay vehicle appointment.

[0065] In OP209, the distribution control unit 21 determines whether it has received an instruction to stop appointing relay vehicles from the distribution server 1. If an instruction to stop appointing relay vehicles is received from the distribution server 1 (OP209: YES), the process shown in FIG. 4 ends, and the distribution control unit 21 returns to the normal mode. If an instruction to stop appointing relay vehicles has not been received from the distribution server 1 (OP209: NO), the process proceeds to OP201. Note that the process of the distribution control unit 21 is not limited to the process shown in FIG. 4.

[0066] <Operation and Effect of the First Embodiment> In the first embodiment, for content where the total number of distribution vehicles 2 and relay vehicles 4 within the area is less than the threshold N, the relay vehicles 4 that distribute the target content to the receiving vehicle 3 through the distribution vehicle 2 that is distributing the target content within the area are increased. As a result, the opportunity for the receiving vehicle 3 to receive fragment data of the target content increases, and the time until the receiving vehicle 3 acquires the target content can be shortened.

[0067] In the first embodiment, together with the fragment data, the designated time for which the fragment data is to be held in the distribution vehicle 2 or the relay vehicle 4 is also transmitted to the distribution vehicle 2 or the relay vehicle 4. As a result, in the distribution vehicle 2 or the relay vehicle 4, when the designated time has passed, the fragment data is deleted from the in-vehicle storage. Therefore, when enough time has passed for the content to spread sufficiently to the receiving vehicles 3 within the area, the number of relay vehicles 4 that distribute the content naturally decreases, and the total number of distribution vehicles 2 and relay vehicles 4 within the area can be adjusted.

[0068] <Modification Example of the First Embodiment> In the first embodiment, the distribution control unit 21 of the distribution vehicle 2 appoints the vehicles passing by on the road as relay vehicles 4 from the time it receives an instruction to start appointing relay vehicles until it receives an instruction to stop appointing relay vehicles. In this method, the number of relay vehicles 4 can be increased more quickly. However, in addition to this method, the following methods can also be applied as the method for appointing relay vehicles of the distribution vehicle 2.

[0069] (Relay vehicle appointment method 1) When the distribution control unit 21 appoints one vehicle as the relay vehicle 4, it suppresses the appointment of the next relay vehicle until a predetermined condition is satisfied. The predetermined condition is, for example, that the elapsed time since the previous appointment of the relay vehicle reaches a predetermined threshold value, or that the travel distance from the previous appointment point of the relay vehicle exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Thereby, the relay vehicle 4 can be dispersed over a wider range.

[0070] (Relay vehicle appointment method 2) When it is assumed that another vehicle runs parallel to the self-delivery vehicle 2, the distribution control unit 21 excludes the other vehicle from the candidates for the relay vehicle. For example, when passing by another vehicle, the distribution control unit 21 may obtain the future planned movement route of the other vehicle from the other vehicle through vehicle-to-vehicle communication and compare the planned movement routes of the self-delivery vehicle 2 and the other vehicle to determine the possibility of parallel running. Or, the distribution control unit 21 may determine the possibility of parallel running based on the similarity of the moving directions and speeds between the self-delivery vehicle 2 and the other vehicle.

[0071] (Relay vehicle appointment method 3) The distribution server 1 may determine the timing and position for appointing the relay vehicle and instruct the delivery vehicle 2. For example, a geofence may be set on the planned travel route of the delivery vehicle 2, and when the delivery vehicle 2 enters the geofence, the delivery vehicle 2 may be instructed to appoint a new relay vehicle. Thereby, the density of the delivery vehicle 2 and the relay vehicle 4 can be made uniform throughout the area.

[0072] In the first embodiment, the delivery vehicle 2 appoints the relay vehicle. However, for example, the distribution server 1 may transmit an instruction to start appointing the relay vehicle to the relay vehicle 4 and instruct the relay vehicle 4 to newly appoint another vehicle as the relay vehicle.

[0073] <Second Embodiment> In the first embodiment, the number adjustment unit is provided in the distribution server 1. However, in the second embodiment, the number adjustment unit is provided in each distribution vehicle 2. In the second embodiment, descriptions overlapping with those of the first embodiment are omitted. The system configuration of the content distribution system 100, the hardware configurations of the distribution server 1, the distribution vehicle 2, the receiving vehicle 3, and the relay vehicle 4, and the functional configurations of the distribution server 1 and the relay vehicle 4 in the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the in-vehicle device mounted on the distribution vehicle 2 is an example of the "information processing device".

[0074] The functional configuration of the distribution server 1 in the second embodiment does not include the number adjustment unit 12, and the functional configuration of the distribution vehicle 2 includes the number adjustment unit 22. When the distribution vehicle 2 is provided with the number adjustment unit 22, the distribution vehicle 2 knows the current positions of other distribution vehicles 2 in the same area and the It is difficult to comprehensively grasp the list of fragmented data. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the number adjustment unit 22 estimates the total number of distribution vehicles 2 and relay vehicles 4 existing in the same area as the own vehicle based on the information obtained from other vehicles through vehicle-to-vehicle communication.

[0075] More specifically, when the number adjustment unit 22 passes by another distribution vehicle 2 or relay vehicle 4 on the road, it exchanges a list of fragmented data it holds through vehicle-to-vehicle communication. For each piece of fragmented data held by the host vehicle, the number adjustment unit 22 counts the number of encounters E with the distribution vehicle 2 and relay vehicle 4 having fragmented data derived from the same content during a past predetermined period, and based on the number of encounters E, estimates the total number of distribution vehicles 2 and relay vehicles 4 participating in the distribution of the same content within the same area as the host vehicle. For example, the number adjustment unit 22 may assume that the total number V (estimated value) of distribution vehicles 2 and relay vehicles 4 existing within the same area as the host vehicle is proportional to the number of encounters E during the past predetermined period, and use a preset coefficient k to estimate V according to the relational expression V = kE. However, the method by which the number adjustment unit 22 estimates the total number of distribution vehicles 2 and relay vehicles 4 within the same area is not limited to this. For example, the number adjustment unit 22 may use a more complex regression formula or a machine learning model to improve the accuracy of estimating the total number of distribution vehicles 2 and relay vehicles 4 within the same area.

[0076] In other respects, similar to the number adjustment unit 12 of the first embodiment, when the total number V of distribution vehicles 2 and relay vehicles 4 existing within the same area as the host vehicle is less than the threshold value N, the number adjustment unit 22 instructs the distribution control unit 21 to operate in the relay vehicle appointment mode. When the total number V of distribution vehicles 2 and relay vehicles 4 existing within the same area as the host vehicle reaches the threshold value N, the number adjustment unit 22 instructs the distribution control unit 21 to operate in the normal mode. In the second embodiment, the number adjustment unit 22 may determine the threshold value N based on, for example, the location of the area, the time zone, the traffic volume of the area, and the importance of the distribution content.

[0077] FIG. 5 is an example of a flowchart of the processing of the number adjustment unit 22 of the distribution vehicle 2 according to the second embodiment. The processing shown in FIG. 5 is executed each time the distribution vehicle 2 passes by another distribution vehicle 2 or relay vehicle 4, or at a predetermined cycle, while the distribution vehicle 2 holds the distribution content. Also, the processing shown in FIG. 5 is executed for each piece of fragmented data held by the distribution vehicle 2, or for the content from which each piece of fragmented data held by the distribution vehicle 2 is derived.

[0078] In OP301, the number adjustment unit 22 estimates the total number V of the distribution vehicles 2 and the relay vehicles 4 that participate in the distribution of the same content within the same area as the own vehicle. In OP302, the number adjustment unit 22 determines whether or not the total number V of the distribution vehicles 2 and the relay vehicles 4 that participate in the distribution of the same content within the same area as the own vehicle is equal to or greater than the threshold value N. If the total number V of the distribution vehicles 2 and the relay vehicles 4 is equal to or greater than the threshold value N (OP302: YES), the process proceeds to OP303. In OP303, the number adjustment unit 22 determines the operation of the distribution control unit 21 in the normal mode and instructs the distribution control unit 21. In the normal mode, when passing by the receiving vehicle 3, the distribution control unit 21 transmits fragmented data to the receiving vehicle 3 by vehicle-to-vehicle communication. Then, the process shown in FIG. 5 ends.

[0079] If the total number V of the distribution vehicles 2 and the relay vehicles 4 is less than the threshold value N (OP302: NO), the process proceeds to OP304. In OP304, the number adjustment unit 22 determines the operation of the distribution control unit 21 in the relay vehicle appointment mode in the second embodiment and instructs the distribution control unit 21. Then, the process shown in FIG. 5 ends.

[0080] FIG. 6 is an example of a flowchart of the process in the relay vehicle appointment mode of the distribution control unit 21 of the distribution vehicle 2 according to the second embodiment. The process shown in FIG. 6 is repeatedly executed while the distribution control unit 21 is operating in the relay vehicle appointment mode.

[0081] In OP401, the distribution control unit 21 determines whether or not it has passed by another vehicle. If it has passed by another vehicle (OP401: YES), the process proceeds to OP402. If it has not passed by another vehicle (OP401: NO), the process shown in FIG. 6 ends.

[0082] In OP402, the distribution control unit 21 determines whether the passing vehicle is the receiving vehicle 3. If the passing vehicle is the receiving vehicle 3 (OP402: YES), the process proceeds to OP403. In OP403, the distribution control unit 21 transmits the requested fragmented data to the receiving vehicle 3 via vehicle-to-vehicle communication. After that, the distribution control unit 21 may transmit a distribution report of the fragmented data to the receiving vehicle 3 to the distribution server 1. Then, the process proceeds to OP406.

[0083] If the passing vehicle is not the receiving vehicle 3 (OP402: NO), the process proceeds to OP404. In OP404, the distribution control unit 21 determines whether the passing vehicle is the distribution vehicle 2 or the relay vehicle 4. If the passing vehicle is the distribution vehicle 2 or the relay vehicle 4 (OP404: YES), the process proceeds to OP405. In OP405, the distribution control unit 21 exchanges the list of fragmented data held with the other passing distribution vehicle 2 or relay vehicle 4 via vehicle-to-vehicle communication.

[0084] If the passing vehicle is none of the receiving vehicle 3, the distribution vehicle 2, or the relay vehicle 4 (OP404: NO), the process proceeds to OP406. In OP406, the distribution control unit 21 determines whether the passing vehicle meets the requirements of a relay vehicle. If the passing vehicle meets the requirements of a relay vehicle (OP406: YES), the process proceeds to OP407. If the passing vehicle does not meet the requirements of a relay vehicle (OP406: NO), the process proceeds to OP408.

[0085] In OP407, the distribution control unit 21 transmits, via vehicle-to-vehicle communication, a notice of the appointment of the relay vehicle to the passing vehicle and fragment data of the content targeted for the relay vehicle appointment. In OP408, the distribution control unit 21 updates the encounter count E of the distribution vehicle 2 and the relay vehicle 4 that participate in the distribution of the same content or the same fragment data within the same area as the host vehicle, based on the list of fragment data held by the other distribution vehicle 2 or relay vehicle 4 received in OP405 and the newly appointed relay vehicle 4 in OP407. Thereafter, the process shown in FIG. 6 ends. Thereafter, for example, the process shown in FIG. 5 is executed by the quantity adjustment unit 22, and when the total number V of the distribution vehicle 2 and the relay vehicle 4 that participate in the distribution of the same content or the same fragment data within the same area as the host vehicle reaches the threshold value N, the distribution control unit 21 switches to the operation in the normal mode, and the execution of the repetition of the process shown in FIG. 6 stops.

[0086] In the second embodiment, the distribution vehicle 2 does not need to notify the distribution server 1 of, for example, distribution reports, etc., and can suppress the communication overhead of cellular communication or WiFi communication.

[0087] <Third Embodiment> FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the system configuration of the data collection system 500 according to the third embodiment. The data collection system 500 is a system that causes a sink vehicle to collect data generated by a source vehicle through vehicle-to-vehicle communication. As an example of the data generated by the source vehicle, there is sensor data. Hereinafter, the data to be collected by the data collection system 500 generated by the source vehicle 70 is referred to as upload data.

[0088] The data collection system 500 includes a source vehicle 70 that generates upload data, a sink vehicle 60 that acquires the upload data from the source vehicle 70 through vehicle-to-vehicle communication, and a data collection server 50 that collects the upload data generated by the source vehicle 70 from the sink vehicle 60. In the third embodiment, the data collection system 500 includes a source vehicle 70 and a sink A relay vehicle 80 that relays upload data through vehicle-to-vehicle communication with the vehicle 60 is also included. Note that the data collection system 500 may include a plurality of sink vehicles 60, source vehicles 70, and relay vehicles 80, respectively. When not particularly distinguished, they are simply referred to as the sink vehicle 60, the source vehicle 70, and the relay vehicle 80. Hereinafter, regarding the communication related to each vehicle, although the actual entity is the in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle, for convenience, each vehicle will be described as the main body.

[0089] The data collection server 50 and each vehicle are connected to the network N2 and can communicate with each other via the network N2. The network N2 is, for example, a public network such as the Internet. Each vehicle can be connected to the network N2 via a cellular network or a wireless LAN as an access network. In the second embodiment, the vehicle-to-vehicle communication may be, for example, vehicle-to-vehicle wireless LAN communication, DSRC, or 5G side-link communication, etc.

[0090] First, the flow of data collection by vehicle-to-vehicle communication will be described. The data collection server 50 selects a plurality of sink vehicles 60 and source vehicles 70, respectively, from the vehicles managed by the data collection system 500 based on, for example, a predetermined policy or the like. The data collection server 50 transmits a notification of sink vehicle appointment to the selected sink vehicle 60 through, for example, WiFi communication or cellular communication. The data collection server 50 transmits a data collection instruction to the selected source vehicle 70. The data collection instruction includes, for example, the type of upload data generated by the source vehicle 70, the acquisition time, the acquisition frequency, a list of sink vehicles, and the like.

[0091] The source vehicle 70 generates and collects upload data in accordance with a data collection instruction, and when passing by the designated sink vehicle 60, transmits the upload data to the sink vehicle 60 via vehicle-to-vehicle communication. The sink vehicle 60 temporarily stores the upload data received from the source vehicle 70 in the storage of the in-vehicle device, and for example, at the timing of connecting to the WiFi access point next, transmits the temporarily stored upload data to the data collection server 50 on behalf of it via WiFi communication.

[0092] In the data collection system 500, when there are few sink vehicles 60 in the area, the source vehicle 70 has fewer opportunities to transmit upload data, and it may take time until the upload data is collected by the data collection server 50. In the third embodiment, when the number of sink vehicles 60 in the area is small, a vehicle passing by the source vehicle 70 is appointed as a relay vehicle 80, and by increasing the number of relay vehicles 80 that relay upload data between the source vehicle 70 and the sink vehicle 60, the source vehicle 70 has more opportunities to transmit upload data. As a result, the time until the upload data is collected by the data collection server 50 can be shortened.

[0093] More specifically, it is as follows. (A) The source vehicle 70 estimates the total number of sink vehicles 60 and relay vehicles 80 in the area where the own vehicle is located. The method for estimating the total number of sink vehicles 60 and relay vehicles 80 is the same as, for example, the method for estimating the total number of distribution vehicles 2 and relay vehicles 4 in the second embodiment.

[0094] (B) When the estimated value of the total number of sink vehicles 60 and relay vehicles 80 in the area is less than the threshold N, the source vehicle 70 determines to increase the relay vehicles 80, and transmits a notification of the appointment of the relay device and the upload data to the passing vehicle via vehicle-to-vehicle communication to appoint it as the relay vehicle 80. When the relay vehicle 80 passes by the sink vehicle 60, it transmits the upload data via vehicle-to-vehicle communication. As a result, the number of vehicles transmitting the upload data to the sink vehicle 60 increases, so even if the opportunity for the source vehicle 70 to pass by the sink vehicle 60 is small, the relay vehicle The upload data of the source vehicle 70 is transmitted to the sink vehicle 60 passing by 80, and the time until the upload data reaches the data collection server 50 can be shortened.

[0095] The upload data is an example of a "data block". The source vehicle 70 is an example of a "first moving body". The sink vehicle 60 is an example of a "second moving body". The relay vehicle 80 is an example of a "third moving body". Vehicle-to-vehicle communication is an example of "device-to-device communication". The in-vehicle device of the source vehicle 70 is an example of an "information processing device".

[0096] In the third embodiment, the hardware configuration of the data collection server 50 is the same as the hardware configuration of the distribution server 1 in the first embodiment (see FIG. 2). The hardware configurations of the in-vehicle devices of the sink vehicle 60, the source vehicle 70, and the relay vehicle 80 are the same as those in the first embodiment (see FIG. 2).

[0097] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the source vehicle 70. The source vehicle 70 includes, as a functional configuration, a data block generation unit 71, an upload control unit 72, a quantity adjustment unit 73, and an upload data storage unit 74. The data block generation unit 71, the upload control unit 72, the quantity adjustment unit 73, and the upload data storage unit 74 are functional components achieved, for example, by a processor of the in-vehicle device of the source vehicle 70 executing a predetermined program.

[0098] The upload data storage unit 74 holds the upload data. The upload data storage unit 74 is created in a storage area of the auxiliary storage device of the source vehicle 70. When the data block generation unit 71 receives a data collection instruction from the data collection server 50, it starts generating upload data. The data block generation unit 71, for example, acquires detection values from in-vehicle sensors, generates upload data, and stores it in the upload data storage unit 74.

[0099] When the upload control unit 72 passes by the sink vehicle 60, it transmits the upload data held in the upload data storage unit 74 to the sink vehicle 60 via vehicle-to-vehicle communication. Further, in the operation in the relay vehicle appointment mode, when the passing vehicle meets the requirements for a relay vehicle, the upload control unit 72 notifies the vehicle of the appointment as a relay vehicle and transmits the upload data via vehicle-to-vehicle communication, and appoints the vehicle as the relay vehicle 80. The requirements for a relay vehicle in the third embodiment are, for example, that the in-vehicle storage remaining amount is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value, and that the vehicle is already a sink vehicle or a relay vehicle for the same upload data. However, the requirements for a relay vehicle are not limited to this.

[0100] Note that the relay vehicle 80 stores the upload data received from the source vehicle 70 via vehicle-to-vehicle communication in the in-vehicle storage, and when passing by the sink vehicle 60, transmits the upload data held in the in-vehicle storage via vehicle-to-vehicle communication. Further, the upload control unit 72 may transmit the specified time for which the relay vehicle 80 or the sink vehicle 60 holds the upload data together with the upload data to the relay vehicle 80 or the sink vehicle 60. The relay vehicle 80 and the sink vehicle 60 may delete the upload data from the in-vehicle storage when the specified time has elapsed.

[0101] The details of the processing of the upload control unit 72 are the same as the processing in FIG. 6, which is the processing of the distribution control unit 21 of the distribution vehicle 2 in the second embodiment, when the receiving vehicle 3 is replaced with the sink vehicle 60, the distribution vehicle 2 is replaced with the source vehicle 70, the relay vehicle 4 is replaced with the relay vehicle 80, and the content is replaced with the upload data.

[0102] The number adjustment unit 73 uses the distribution vehicle 2 in the second embodiment as the sink vehicle 60, and the relay vehicle 4 Replace it with the relay vehicle 80, and estimate the total number V of the sink vehicle 60 and the relay vehicle 80 in the same area based on the number of encounters with the sink vehicle 60 or the relay vehicle 80 in the same way as the number adjuster 22 of the distribution vehicle 2 in the second embodiment. Also, when the total number V of the sink vehicle 60 and the relay vehicle 80 in the same area is less than the threshold value N, the number adjuster 73 determines the operation of the upload control unit 72 in the relay vehicle appointment mode and instructs the upload control unit 72. When the total number V of the sink vehicle 60 and the relay vehicle 80 in the same area reaches the threshold value N, the number adjuster 73 determines the operation of the upload control unit 72 in the normal mode and instructs the upload control unit 72. The operation in the normal mode of the upload control unit 72 is to transmit upload data to the passing sink vehicle 60 through vehicle-to-vehicle communication.

[0103] According to the third embodiment, in the data collection system 500 where the data flow is in the upload direction, the number of relay vehicles 80 that relay upload data between the source vehicle 70 and the sink vehicle 60 can be adjusted in the same manner as in the content distribution system 100 where the data flow is in the download direction.

[0104] As a modification of the third embodiment, an example of a system provided in the data collection server 50 instead of the source vehicle 70 can be cited as the number adjuster. When the number adjuster is provided in the data collection server 50, similar to the first embodiment, the source vehicle 70 and the relay vehicle 80 report that they have transmitted upload data to the sink vehicle 60, and lists of position information and upload data to be held, etc. are transmitted to the data collection server 50 at a predetermined cycle or when a predetermined event occurs. The data collection server 50 acquires the total number of sink vehicles 60 and relay vehicles 80 in each area based on the communication history information with these source vehicles 70 and relay vehicles 80, and when it is less than the threshold value N, in order to increase the relay vehicle 80, it transmits an instruction to start appointing a relay vehicle to the source vehicle 70. When the total number of sink vehicles 60 and relay vehicles 80 in each area reaches the threshold value N, the data collection server 50 transmits an instruction to stop appointing a relay vehicle to the source vehicle 70.

[0105] <Other Embodiments> The above embodiments are merely examples, and the present disclosure can be implemented with appropriate modifications without departing from the gist thereof.

[0106] The processes and means described in the present disclosure can be freely combined and implemented as long as no technical contradiction occurs.

[0107] In addition, the processes described as being performed by one device may be shared and executed by a plurality of devices. Alternatively, the processes described as being performed by different devices may be executed by one device. In a computer system, it is possible to flexibly change how each function is realized by a hardware configuration (server configuration).

[0108] The present disclosure can also be realized by supplying a computer program that implements the functions described in the above embodiments to a computer and having one or more processors included in the computer read and execute the program. Such a computer program may be provided to the computer by a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium connectable to the system bus of the computer, or may be provided to the computer via a network. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium includes, for example, any type of disk such as a magnetic disk (e.g., a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk drive (HDD), etc.), an optical disk (e.g., a CD-ROM, a DVD disk, a Blu-ray disk, etc.), a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), an EPROM, an EEPROM, a magnetic card, a flash memory, an optical card, and any type of medium suitable for storing electronic instructions.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0109] 1...Distribution Server 2...Delivery Vehicle 3...Receiving Vehicle 4, 80...Relay Vehicle 11...Control Unit 12, 22, 73... Number adjustment unit 13, 23, 42... Content DB 21... Distribution control unit 41... Relay control unit 50... Data collection server 60... Sink vehicle 70... Source vehicle 100... Content distribution system 101, 201... Processor 102, 202... Memory 103, 203... Auxiliary storage device 104... Communication unit 204... Wireless communication unit 205... Vehicle-to-vehicle communication unit 500... Data collection system

Claims

1. Acquiring the total number of a second mobile body that relays a data block between a first mobile body and a predetermined server through device - to - device communication within a predetermined area and through first wireless communication with the predetermined server, and a third mobile body that relays the data block between the first mobile body and the second mobile body through device - to - device communication; When the total number is less than a predetermined threshold, instructing either the second mobile body or the first mobile body to transmit the data block to another mobile body through device - to - device communication to appoint the other mobile body as the third mobile body; A control unit that executes the above; An information processing apparatus comprising the above.

2. The control unit further executes: Determining the predetermined threshold based on at least one of the position, time zone, and traffic volume of the predetermined area. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The control unit Acquires position information from a plurality of mobile bodies located within the predetermined area; Receives a first notification from either the second mobile body or the first mobile body that the other mobile body has been appointed as the third mobile body; Further executes the above, And acquires the total number of the second mobile body and the third mobile body within the predetermined area based on the first notification and the position information of the second mobile body and the third mobile body. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

4. The information processing apparatus is mounted on the second mobile body, The control unit Further executes exchanging a list of data blocks held with one or more other second mobile bodies or one or more of the third mobile bodies through device - to - device communication; Based on the one or more lists obtained by the exchange, estimating the total number of the second mobile body and the third mobile body within the predetermined area for the data block. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

5. Causing a computer to Acquire the total number of a second mobile body that relays a data block between a first mobile body and a predetermined server through device - to - device communication within a predetermined area and through first wireless communication with the predetermined server, and a third mobile body that relays the data block between the first mobile body and the second mobile body through device - to - device communication; When the total number is less than a predetermined threshold value, transmit the data block to either the second moving body or the first moving body through inter-device communication to the other moving body, and instruct the other moving body to appoint the third moving body. A program for causing the execution.

Images