Roadside unit

Abstract

To improve technology related to a roadside unit available for monitoring a vehicle having a telecommunication function.SOLUTION: A roadside unit 20 comprises a notification section 23 and a control section 25. The control section 25 determines an operating state of the roadside unit 20, and performs a notification process for a person to be notified according to the determined operating state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a roadside device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, technologies for monitoring vehicles having a communication function are known. Patent Document 1 discloses a notification system that performs notifications such as passage permission and alert to vehicles and pedestrians other than the autonomous driving vehicle according to the behavior of the autonomous driving vehicle scheduled to pass through a predetermined traffic area.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Improvement in technologies related to roadside devices that can be used for monitoring vehicles having a communication function is desired.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure made in view of such circumstances is to improve technologies related to roadside devices that can be used for monitoring vehicles having a communication function.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The roadside device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a notification unit and a control unit, wherein the control unit determines an operating state of the roadside device and executes a notification process for a notification target person according to the determined operating state.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, technologies related to roadside devices that can be used for monitoring vehicles having a communication function are improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an example of the configuration of an information processing system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The information processing system 1 includes a vehicle 10, a roadside device 20, and an information processing device 30. The vehicle 10, the roadside device 20, and the information processing device 30 are communicably connected to a network 40 including, for example, a mobile communication network and the Internet.

[0011] The vehicle 10 includes, for example, a gasoline vehicle, a battery electric vehicle (BEV), a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), and a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), but is not limited thereto. The vehicle 10 may include any other vehicle that can be ridden by a human.

[0012] The vehicle 10 may include an autonomous vehicle capable of autonomous driving at levels 1 to 5 defined by, for example, the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers). For example, the vehicle 10 is capable of level 3 or 4 autonomous driving, and a driving assistant can override the driving operation while riding in or remotely from the vehicle 10. The information processing system 1 may have one or any number of vehicles 10.

[0013] The roadside device 20 is installed, for example, near an intersection or a crosswalk. The roadside device 20 can detect a pedestrian attempting to cross a lane based on an image from a camera mounted on the roadside device 20 itself. For the roadside device 20, a detection area is preset around the device itself, for example. When the roadside device 20 detects a pedestrian attempting to cross a lane, it notifies the pedestrian of the presence or absence of the vehicle 10 (for example, the vehicle 10 approaching the device itself) that has entered the detection area of the device. When the roadside device 20 detects a pedestrian attempting to cross a lane, it notifies the driver or driving assistant of the vehicle 10 that has entered the detection area of the device of the presence of the pedestrian. The information processing system 1 may have one or any number of roadside devices 20.

[0014] The information processing device 30 includes any general-purpose electronic devices such as a PC (Personal Computer), a tablet PC, a smartphone, and a smartwatch used by a notification target person described later. Without being limited to these, the information processing device 30 may include one or a plurality of server devices capable of communicating with each other, or may include other electronic devices dedicated to the information processing system 1. The information processing system 1 may have one or any number of information processing devices 30.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the vehicle 10 in FIG. 1. The vehicle 10 has a communication unit 11, a sensor unit 12, a storage unit 13, an output unit 14, and a control unit 15.

[0016] The communication unit 11 includes one or more communication interfaces connected to the network 40. The communication interface corresponds to, for example, mobile communication standards such as 4G (4th Generation) and 5G (5th Generation) or wireless LAN (Local Area Network) standards, but is not limited thereto and may correspond to any other communication standard.

[0017] The sensor unit 12 includes one or more sensors used for controlling the vehicle 10. The sensors include, for example, a position sensor corresponding to GPS (Global Positioning System), a geomagnetic sensor, a speed sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a gyro sensor, but are not limited thereto and may include any other sensors.

[0018] The storage unit 13 includes one or more memories. In the present disclosure, the "memory" is, for example, a semiconductor memory, a magnetic memory, or an optical memory, but is not limited thereto. Each memory included in the storage unit 13 may function as, for example, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 13 stores any information used for the operation of the vehicle 10. For example, the storage unit 13 may store a system program, an application program, and embedded software. The information stored in the storage unit 13 may be updated, for example, with information acquired from the network 40 via the communication unit 11.

[0019] The output unit 14 includes one or more output devices that output information to passengers including the driver or a driving assistant in the vehicle interior of the vehicle 10. The output devices include a display that visually outputs information as an image, a speaker that audibly outputs information as sound, and a vibrator that tactilely outputs information as vibration. In the present disclosure, the "display" includes, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and an organic EL (Electro Luminescent) display. The output device may constitute a part of a car navigation device.

[0020] The control unit 15 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof. In the present disclosure, the "processor" is, for example, a general-purpose processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or a dedicated processor specialized for specific processing, but is not limited thereto. The "programmable circuit" is, for example, an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), but is not limited thereto. The "dedicated circuit" is, for example, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), but is not limited thereto. The control unit 15 is communicably connected to each component constituting the vehicle 10 and controls the operation of the entire vehicle 10.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the roadside device 20 in FIG. 1. The roadside device 20 includes a communication unit 21, a photographing unit 22, a notification unit 23, a storage unit 24, and a control unit 25.

[0022] The communication unit 21 includes one or more communication interfaces connected to the network 40. The communication interface corresponds to, for example, a mobile communication standard or a wireless LAN standard, but is not limited thereto, and may correspond to any other communication standard.

[0023] The photographing unit 22 includes one or more cameras capable of photographing the scenery around the roadside device 20. The roadside device 20 may be installed near the boundary between the sidewalk and the roadway so that, for example, a pedestrian moving from the sidewalk to the roadway can be photographed by the photographing unit 22.

[0024] The notification unit 23 includes one or more notification devices that output information and notify surrounding pedestrians and the like. The notification devices include an electronic bulletin board, a lamp, and a display that visually output information as an image, a speaker that aurally outputs information as sound, and a vibrator that tactilely outputs information as vibration. The notification unit 23 is not limited thereto and may include any other notification device.

[0025] The storage unit 24 includes one or more memories. Each memory included in the storage unit 24 may function as, for example, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 24 stores any information used for the operation of the roadside device 20. For example, the storage unit 24 may store a system program, an application program, and embedded software, etc. The information stored in the storage unit 24 may be updated with information obtained from the network 40 via the communication unit 21, for example.

[0026] The control unit 25 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof. The control unit 25 is communicably connected to each component constituting the roadside device 20 and controls the operation of the entire roadside device 20.

[0027] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the information processing apparatus 30 in FIG. 1. The information processing apparatus 30 includes a communication unit 31, an output unit 32, an input unit 33, a storage unit 34, and a control unit 35.

[0028] The communication unit 31 includes one or more communication interfaces for connecting to the network 40. The communication interface corresponds to, for example, a mobile communication standard, a wired LAN standard, or a wireless LAN standard, but is not limited thereto and may correspond to any other communication standard.

[0029] The output unit 32 includes one or more output devices that output information and provide it to the user of the information processing apparatus 30. The output device includes a display that visually outputs information as an image, a speaker that auditorily outputs information as sound, and a vibrator that tactilely outputs information as vibration, etc. The output unit 32 is not limited thereto and may include any other output device.

[0030] The input unit 33 includes one or more input devices that detect user input and obtain input information based on the user's operations. The input devices include physical keys, capacitive keys, pointing devices such as a mouse, a touch screen provided integrally with the display of the output unit 32, an imaging module such as a camera, and a microphone that accepts voice input. The input unit 33 is not limited to these and may include any other input device.

[0031] The storage unit 34 includes one or more memories. Each memory included in the storage unit 34 may function as, for example, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 34 stores any information used for the operation of the information processing apparatus 30. For example, the storage unit 34 may store a system program, an application program, and embedded software. The information stored in the storage unit 34 may be updated with information obtained from the network 40 via the communication unit 31, for example.

[0032] The control unit 35 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof. The control unit 35 is communicably connected to each component constituting the information processing apparatus 30 and controls the operation of the entire information processing apparatus 30.

[0033] FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of an information processing method executed by the information processing system 1 of FIG. 1. With reference to FIG. 5, the operation of the roadside device 20 according to an embodiment will be mainly described, and an overview of the operation of the entire information processing system 1 will be given.

[0034] In step S100, the control unit 25 of the roadside device 20 determines the operating state of the roadside device 20. In the present disclosure, the "operating state" includes at least any one of a stopped state, a restart state, a startup state, a battery state, a communication state, a component state, and an arrangement state. The "component state" includes at least either a first state in which a component is faulty or a second state in which the component is likely to enter the first state. "Components" include, for example, a battery, a camera included in the imaging unit 22, and a display, a speaker, and a vibrator included in the notification unit 23. The control unit 25 of the roadside device 20 may determine the first state or the second state based on any conventional technology.

[0035] The control unit 25 of the roadside device 20 executes a notification process for the notification target person according to the operating state determined in step S100. In the present disclosure, the "notification target person" includes at least any one of pedestrians around the roadside device 20, drivers and driving assistants of the vehicle 10 traveling in the detection area of the roadside device 20, and operators of the control center. In the present disclosure, the notification target person may also be a user of the information processing device 30. The "notification process" includes a process for notifying the notification target person of the operating state or for prompting the notification target person to take necessary measures for the roadside device 20 according to the operating state. The "process" includes a first output process in which visual information is output from the notification unit 23 itself, a second output process in which auditory information is output from the notification unit 23 itself, a first communication process using the communication unit 21 for outputting at least one of visual information and auditory information from the information processing device 30 of the notification target person, and a second communication process using the communication unit 21 for outputting at least one of visual information and auditory information from the vehicle 10, including at least any one of them.

[0036] In step S101, the control unit 25 of the roadside device 20 executes, for example, a first output process by the notification unit 23 for the notification target person according to the operating state determined in step S100.

[0037] In step S102, the control unit 25 of the roadside device 20 causes the notification unit 23 to execute a second output process for the notification target person according to the operation state determined in step S100, for example.

[0038] In step S103, the control unit 25 of the roadside device 20 causes the communication unit 21 to execute a first communication process in order to output at least one of visual information and auditory information from the information processing device 30 to the notification target person according to the operation state determined in step S100, for example.

[0039] In step S104, the control unit 35 of the information processing device 30 outputs at least one of visual information and auditory information from the output unit 32 to the user of the information processing device 30 as the notification target person based on the information received from the roadside device 20 via the communication unit 31 in step S103.

[0040] In step S105, the control unit 25 of the roadside device 20 causes the communication unit 21 to execute a second communication process in order to output at least one of visual information and auditory information from the vehicle 10 to the driver or driving assistant of the vehicle 10 included in the notification target person according to the operation state determined in step S100, for example.

[0041] In step S106, the control unit 15 of the vehicle 10 outputs at least one of visual information and auditory information from the output unit 14 to the driver or driving assistant as the notification target person based on the information received from the roadside device 20 via the communication unit 11 in step S105.

[0042] FIG. 6 is an external schematic view showing an example of the configuration of the roadside device 20 in FIG. 1. In FIG. 6(A), a configuration having a lamp 231 is shown as an example of the notification unit 23. In FIG. 6(B), a configuration having an electric bulletin board 232 is shown as another example of the notification unit 23. With reference to FIG. 6, a specific example of the operation by the roadside device 20 in FIG. 1 will be mainly described.

[0043] For example, consider when the operating state is a stop state, a restart state, or a startup state. The control unit 25 of the roadside device 20 may execute the first output process by turning on or flashing the lamp 231 included in the notification unit 23 so that pedestrians around the roadside device 20 can be visually recognized. For example, the control unit 25 may turn on the lamp 231 when the roadside device 20 is in the startup state. Similarly, the control unit 25 may execute the first output process by text display on the electronic bulletin board 232 included in the notification unit 23 or image display on the display. For example, the control unit 25 may execute a display process such as "The system will restart" when the roadside device 20 is in the restart state.

[0044] In addition, the control unit 25 of the roadside device 20 may execute the second output process by outputting sound from the speaker 233 included in the notification unit 23 so that it can be heard by pedestrians around the roadside device 20. For example, the control unit 25 may execute a sound output process such as "The system will restart" when the roadside device 20 is in the restart state.

[0045] The control unit 25 of the roadside device 20 may execute the first communication process using the communication unit 21 to cause the information processing device 30 used by the notification target person to execute the same processes as the first output process and the second output process using the notification unit 23 of the roadside device 20. For example, the control unit 25 may execute the first communication process to notify the notification target person of the operating state of the roadside device 20 by the output unit 32 of the information processing device 30.

[0046] The control unit 25 of the roadside device 20 may execute the second communication process using the communication unit 21 to cause the vehicle 10 in which the driver or the driving assistant is riding to execute the same processes as the first output process and the second output process using the notification unit 23 of the roadside device 20. For example, the control unit 25 may execute the second communication process to notify the driver or the driving assistant of the operating state of the roadside device 20 by the output unit 14 of the vehicle 10.

[0047] The same applies when the operating state is the battery state. The control unit 25 of the roadside device 20 may notify the person to be notified of the fact that the remaining battery level has fallen below the threshold value, the remaining battery level at that time, etc. by means of the first output process, the second output process, the first communication process, the second communication process, etc. In addition, the control unit 25 may notify the person to be notified of a notice such as "Please replace the battery", and prompt the person to be notified to take necessary measures for the roadside device 20 according to the operating state of the roadside device 20.

[0048] The same applies when the operating state is the communication state. The control unit 25 of the roadside device 20 may notify the person to be notified of the occurrence of a communication failure, etc. by means of the first output process, the second output process, the first communication process, the second communication process, etc. In addition, the control unit 25 may notify the person to be notified of a notice such as "Please recover the communication failure", and prompt the person to be notified to take necessary measures for the roadside device 20 according to the operating state of the roadside device 20.

[0049] The same applies when the operating state is the operating state of the component. The control unit 25 of the roadside device 20 may notify the person to be notified of the fact that the component has failed and the high possibility that the component has failed and has fallen into a situation where it cannot operate normally, etc. by means of the first output process, the second output process, the first communication process, the second communication process, etc. For example, the control unit 25 may determine that the camera of the imaging unit 22 has failed when the feature points from the reference image are completely different or the image is completely dark. In addition, the control unit 25 may notify the person to be notified of a notice such as "Please replace the component", and prompt the person to be notified to take necessary measures for the roadside device 20 according to the operating state of the roadside device 20.

[0050] The same applies when the operating state is the arrangement state of the roadside device 20. The control unit 25 of the roadside device 20 may notify the person to be notified, such as that the arrangement of the roadside device 20 deviates from the reference arrangement within the threshold, by means of the first output process, the second output process, the first communication process, the second communication process, and the like. For example, the control unit 25 may determine the deviation of the arrangement of the roadside device 20 itself from image information from the camera of the photographing unit 22 and the like. For example, the control unit 25 may also determine the deviation of the arrangement of the roadside device 20 itself based on GPS information from sensors built in the roadside device 20.

[0051] In addition, the control unit 25 may notify the person to be notified with a notice such as "Please return to the reference arrangement", and prompt the person to be notified to take necessary measures for the roadside device 20 according to the operating state of the roadside device 20. In addition, the control unit 25 may notify the person to be notified with a notice such as "The arrangement of the roadside device 20 deviates beyond the threshold and it is necessary for the administrator of the roadside device 20 to perform a correction operation to the reference arrangement", and prompt the person to be notified to take necessary measures for the roadside device 20 according to the operating state of the roadside device 20.

[0052] The control unit 25 of the roadside device 20 may determine the presence or absence of pedestrians and the vehicle 10 around the roadside device 20 based on an image from the camera of the photographing unit 22. When the control unit 25 determines that neither pedestrians nor the vehicle 10 exists around the roadside device 20, the notification process may not be executed. The control unit 25 may execute the notification process only when pedestrians and the vehicle 10 and the like are detected by image recognition based on an image from the camera of the photographing unit 22.

[0053] According to the roadside device 20 according to the above-described embodiment, the technology related to the roadside device 20 that can be used for monitoring the vehicle 10 having a communication function is improved. The roadside device 20 can determine its own operating state by itself and execute appropriate notification processing according to the operating state. The roadside device 20 can also appropriately determine the specific method of the notification processing and the notification target according to the operating state of the roadside device 20. The notification target who has received the notification based on the notification processing related to the operating state of the roadside device 20 can also accurately determine the operating state of the roadside device 20 or take necessary measures for the roadside device 20 according to the operating state.

[0054] Although the present disclosure has been described based on the drawings and examples, it should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and alterations based on the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these modifications and alterations are included in the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the functions included in each configuration or each step, etc., can be rearranged so as not to be logically contradictory, and a plurality of configurations or steps, etc., can be combined into one or divided.

[0055] For example, a configuration that enables a general-purpose electronic device such as a smartphone or a computer to function as the roadside device 20 according to the above-described embodiment is also possible. Specifically, a program describing the processing content for realizing each function of the roadside device 20 according to an embodiment is stored in the memory of the electronic device, and the program is read out and executed by the processor of the electronic device. Therefore, the present disclosure can also be realized as a program executable by a processor.

[0056] Alternatively, the present disclosure can also be realized as a non-temporary computer-readable medium storing a program executable by one or more processors to cause each function to be executed in the roadside device 20 according to an embodiment. It should be understood that these are also included in the scope of the present disclosure.

[0057] For example, at least some of the processing operations executed in the roadside device 20 in the above-described embodiment may be executed in at least one of the vehicle 10 and the information processing device 30. At least some of the processing operations executed in each of the vehicle 10 and the information processing device 30 may be executed in the roadside device 20.

[0058] In the above embodiment, the roadside device 20 may be used for providing Mobility as a Service (MaaS), which is a service that utilizes mobility. The above-described processing procedure described in the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 5 may be executed when providing a service (MaaS) using the roadside device 20. In this case, the information processing method according to the above-described processing procedure is an example of a method for providing a service (MaaS) using the roadside device 20.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0059] 1 Information processing system 10 Vehicle 11 Communication unit 12 Sensor unit 13 Storage unit 14 Output unit 15 Control unit 20 Roadside device 21 Communication unit 22 Imaging unit 23 Notification unit 231 Lamp 232 Electronic display board 233 Speaker 24 Storage unit 25 Control unit 30 Information processing device 31 Communication unit 32 Output unit 33 Input unit 34 Storage unit 35 Control unit 40 Network

Claims

1. A roadside device comprising a notification unit and a control unit, wherein the control unit determines an operating state of the roadside device and executes a notification process for a notification target according to the determined operating state. Roadside device.

2. The roadside device according to Claim 1, wherein the operating state includes at least any one of a stopped state, a restarting state, a starting state, a battery state, a communication state, a component state, and an arrangement state. Roadside device.

3. The roadside device according to Claim 2, wherein the component state includes at least any one of a first state in which the component is faulty and a second state in which there is a high possibility of falling into the first state. Roadside device.

4. The roadside device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the notification process includes a process for notifying the notification target of the operating state or a process for prompting the notification target to take necessary measures for the roadside device according to the operating state. Roadside device.

5. The roadside device according to Claim 4, wherein the process includes at least any one of a first output process for outputting visual information from the notification unit itself, a second output process for outputting auditory information from the notification unit itself, and a communication process for causing at least one of the visual information and the auditory information to be output from an information processing device of the notification target. Roadside device.

6. A Maas (Mobility as a Service) providing method using the roadside device according to Claim 1.

Images