Information processing method and roadside device

Abstract

To improve a technique for monitoring vehicles with communication functions.SOLUTION: An information processing method is executed by a computer 10 capable of communicating with one or more terminal devices 20 and one or more roadside devices 30, and includes acquiring location information of the terminal devices 20, detecting that the terminal devices 20 have entered a predetermined geographical range in which the roadside devices 30 are installed based on the acquired location information, and, when it is detected that the terminal devices 20 have entered the geographical range, transmitting indication information indicating a function description of the roadside devices 30 to at least one of the terminal devices 20 and the roadside devices 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing method and a roadside device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a technique for monitoring vehicles having a communication function is known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a notification system that notifies vehicles and pedestrians other than the automated driving vehicle of passage permission and warnings according to the behavior of an automated 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 of the technique for monitoring vehicles having a communication function is desired.

[0005] In view of such circumstances, an object of the present disclosure is to improve the technique for monitoring vehicles having a communication function.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An information processing method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is an information processing method executed by a computer capable of communicating with one or more terminal devices and one or more roadside devices, acquiring position information of the terminal device, detecting that the terminal device has entered a predetermined geographical range where the roadside device is installed based on the acquired position information, When the terminal device detects that it has entered the geographical range, transmission of instruction information for instructing the function description of the roadside device to at least one of the terminal device and the roadside device; including.

Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the technology for monitoring a vehicle having a communication function is improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, parts having the same configuration or function are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the description of this embodiment, redundant descriptions may be omitted or simplified as appropriate for the same parts.

[0010] (Outline of the Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an information processing system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The information processing system 1 includes a server device 10, a terminal device 20, a roadside device 30, and a vehicle 40. The server device 10, the terminal device 20, the roadside device 30, and the vehicle 40 are communicably connected to a network 50 including, for example, a mobile communication network and the Internet.

[0011] Vehicle 40 travels on a road and moves people, objects, etc. Vehicle 40 is, for example, a gasoline vehicle, a battery electric vehicle (BEV), a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), or a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), etc., but is not limited thereto. Vehicle 40 may be any vehicle that can be ridden by a human. Vehicle 40 may be an autonomous vehicle capable of autonomous driving corresponding to any one of levels 1 to 5 defined by, for example, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). In the present embodiment, Vehicle 40 is capable of level 3 or 4 autonomous driving, and a driving assistant can override the driving operation while riding in Vehicle 40 or remotely. The information processing system 1 may include any number of one or more Vehicles 40.

[0012] The roadside device 30 notifies the driver of Vehicle 40, the pedestrian P, etc. of the approach of the pedestrian P and Vehicle 40 located in a blind spot by means of an image, light, voice, etc., and creates a sense of security in the environment in which the autonomous vehicle travels. The roadside device 30 may notify only information related to the autonomous vehicle. The roadside device 30 is installed on the roadside of the road, including, for example, the vicinity of an intersection or a crosswalk. In the present embodiment, the roadside device 30 can acquire the position information of Vehicle 40 and the terminal device 20 from the server device 10, and detect the pedestrian P, Vehicle 40, etc. trying to cross the road from the video of the camera (imaging unit 34). For example, when the roadside device 30 detects a pedestrian P trying to cross the road, it notifies the pedestrian P of the presence or absence of Vehicle 40 approaching itself. When the roadside device 30 detects a pedestrian P trying to cross the road, it notifies the driver or driving assistant of Vehicle 40 that has entered its detection area of the presence of the pedestrian P. The information processing system 1 may include any number of one or more roadside devices 30. The roadside device 30 may be operated by a battery.

[0013] The terminal device 20 is a device held by the pedestrian P, which has an information communication function connected to the network 50 by mobile communication and is configured to be able to execute various information processes and output of information. The terminal device 20 has one or more GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receivers or GPS (Global Positioning System) receivers, etc. (positioning unit 26), and can detect the current position. The terminal device 20 is, for example, a smartphone, a smartwatch, or a wearable terminal, etc. The information processing system 1 may include one or any number of terminal devices 20.

[0014] The server device 10 as the information processing device according to this implementation process is one or a plurality of computers capable of communicating with each other. The server device 10 communicates with each vehicle 40, each roadside device 30, and each terminal device 20, and is used to monitor each vehicle 40. In this embodiment, the server device 10 is used, for example, by an operator of a control center.

[0015] As described above, when the roadside device 30 detects the pedestrian P heading towards the lane of the autonomous vehicle from the camera image, the roadside device 30 notifies the pedestrian P and also notifies the driver assistant of the autonomous vehicle approaching the roadside device 30. Such a roadside device 30 is not generally known, and the pedestrian P who uses the roadside device 30 for the first time may not understand the function of the roadside device 30 and the meaning of the notification. From the perspective of ensuring the safety and improving the convenience of the pedestrian P, it is desirable to make the pedestrian P entering the area where the roadside device 30 is installed aware of the function of the roadside device 30.

[0016] Therefore, the information processing system 1 explains the functions of the roadside device 30 by the terminal device 20 held by the pedestrian P and the roadside device 30, etc., according to the fact that the pedestrian P has entered a certain area, the distance between the pedestrian P and the roadside device 30, and the presence or absence of nearby vehicles 40 and their driving states, etc. Specifically, the server device 10 acquires the position information of the terminal device 20. Based on the acquired position information, the server device 10 detects that the terminal device 20 has entered a predetermined geographical range where the roadside device 30 is installed. When the server device 10 detects that the terminal device 20 has entered the geographical range, the server device 10 transmits instruction information for instructing the function explanation of the roadside device 30 to at least one of the terminal device 20 and the roadside device 30. The terminal device 20 and the roadside device 30 that have received the instruction information from the server device 10 explain the functions of the roadside device 30 to the pedestrian P by means of image display, voice output, etc.

[0017] In this way, when the information processing system 1 detects that the terminal device 20 has entered a predetermined geographical range, the information processing system 1 explains the functions of the roadside device 30 via the terminal device 20 and / or the roadside device 30. Therefore, it is possible to make the pedestrian P who has entered near the roadside device 30 aware of the functions of the roadside device 30, and to ensure the safety and improve the convenience of the pedestrian P.

[0018] Hereinafter, an example in which the number of the server device 10, the terminal device 20, the roadside device 30, and the vehicle 40 is all one will be described, but these numbers are arbitrary. Also, hereinafter, an example in which the pedestrian P is one person and the pedestrian P holds the terminal device 20 will be described, but there may be other pedestrians besides the pedestrian P. There may also be pedestrians who do not hold the terminal device 20.

[0019] (Configuration example of the server device 10) As shown in FIG. 1, the server device 10 includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, and a communication unit 13.

[0020] The control unit 11 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof. 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 11 controls the operation of the entire server device 10.

[0021] The storage unit 12 includes one or more memories. In the present embodiment, the "memory" is, for example, a semiconductor memory, a magnetic memory, an optical memory, or the like, but is not limited thereto. Each memory included in the storage unit 12 may function as, for example, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 12 stores any information used for the operation of the server device 10. For example, the storage unit 12 may store a system program, an application program, and embedded software, etc. The information stored in the storage unit 12 may be updated, for example, with information acquired from the network 50 via the communication unit 13.

[0022] The communication unit 13 includes one or more communication interfaces connected to the network 50. The communication interface corresponds to, for example, a wired LAN (Local Area Network) standard, a wireless LAN standard, or a mobile communication standard, but is not limited thereto and may correspond to any communication standard. The mobile communication standard is, for example, 4G (4th Generation) and 5G (5th Generation), etc. In the present embodiment, the server device 10 communicates with the terminal device 20, the roadside device 30, and the vehicle 40 via the communication unit 13 and the network 50.

[0023] (Configuration example of the terminal device 20) As shown in FIG. 1, the terminal device 20 includes a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, a communication unit 23, an input unit 24, an output unit 25, and a positioning unit 26.

[0024] The control unit 21, the storage unit 22, and the communication unit 23 of the terminal device 20 can be configured in the same manner as the control unit 11, the storage unit 12, and the communication unit 13 of the server device 10, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

[0025] The input unit 24 includes one or more input devices that detect user input. The input device is, for example, a physical key, a capacitive key, a pointing device such as a mouse, a touch screen provided integrally with the display of the output unit 25, or a microphone that receives voice input, but is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the input unit 24 may include an input interface that detects user input via an external input device.

[0026] The output unit 25 includes one or more output devices that output information. The output device is, for example, a display that outputs information as video, or a speaker that outputs information as audio, but is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the output unit 25 may include an output interface that outputs information via an external output device.

[0027] The positioning unit 26 includes a positioning device for measuring the position of the terminal device 20. The positioning device is one or more GNSS receivers or GPS receivers, etc., but is not limited thereto, and may be any sensor.

[0028] (Configuration example of the roadside device 30) As shown in FIG. 1, the roadside device 30 includes a control unit 31, a storage unit 32, a communication unit 33, a photographing unit 34, a notification unit 35, and a positioning unit 36.

[0029] The control unit 31, the storage unit 32, and the communication unit 33 of the roadside device 30 can be configured in the same manner as the control unit 11, the storage unit 12, and the communication unit 13 of the server device 10, and thus detailed descriptions thereof are omitted. The positioning unit 36 of the roadside device 30 can be configured in the same manner as the positioning unit 26 of the terminal device 20, and thus detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

[0030] The imaging unit 34 includes one or more cameras capable of imaging the surrounding scenery. In the present embodiment, the roadside device 30 is installed, for example, near the boundary between the sidewalk and the roadway so that the imaging unit 34 can image a pedestrian P moving from the sidewalk to the roadway.

[0031] The notification unit 35 includes one or more notification devices that notify information to the surrounding pedestrians P. The notification device is, for example, a speaker, an electric bulletin board, or a display, etc., but is not limited thereto, and any notification device may be used.

[0032] (Configuration example of vehicle 40) As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 40 includes a control unit 41, a storage unit 42, a communication unit 43, and a positioning unit 44.

[0033] The control unit 41, the storage unit 42, and the communication unit 43 of the vehicle 40 can be configured in the same manner as the control unit 11, the storage unit 12, and the communication unit 13 of the server device 10, and thus detailed descriptions thereof are omitted. The positioning unit 44 of the vehicle 40 can be configured in the same manner as the positioning unit 26 of the terminal device 20, and thus detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

[0034] (Operation example 1) FIGS. 2 to 4 are flowcharts showing operation examples 1 to 3 of the server device 10 in FIG. 1. The operation of the server device 10 described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4 may correspond to one of the information processing methods. The operations of each step in FIGS. 2 to 4 may be executed based on the control by the control unit 11 of the server device 10.

[0035] In step S1 of FIG. 2, the control unit 11 acquires the position information of the terminal device 20. Specifically, the control unit 11 receives, via the network 50, from the terminal device 20, the position information of the terminal device 20 measured by the positioning unit 26 through the communication unit 13. Note that the control unit 11 may acquire the position information of the terminal device 20 from other devices. For example, the control unit 11 may receive, from the roadside device 30, the position information of the terminal device 20 obtained by the roadside device 30 analyzing the captured image of the imaging unit 34.

[0036] In step S2, the control unit 11 determines whether the terminal device 20 has entered a predetermined geographical range where the roadside device 30 is installed, based on the position information acquired in step S1. Specifically, for the roadside device 30, a geographical range is preset in which, when a pedestrian P enters, the roadside device 30 provides a function explanation to the pedestrian P. This geographical range may be determined by the distance from the roadside device 30, or may be determined according to the terrain around the roadside device 30, the shape of the road, and the degree of congestion, etc. Alternatively, a certain area where an autonomous vehicle travels may be preset in the server device 10 as the geographical range. When the control unit 11 detects that the terminal device 20 has entered such a geographical range (YES in step S2), it proceeds to step S3, and when not (NO in step S2), it returns to step S1 to continue the process.

[0037] In step S3, the control unit 11 transmits, via the communication unit 13, instruction information for instructing a functional description of the roadside device 30 to at least one of the terminal device 20 and the roadside device 30. In response to receiving the instruction information from the server device 10, the terminal device 20 and the roadside device 30 perform a functional description of the roadside device 30 for the pedestrian P. For example, in response to receiving the instruction information from the server device 10, the terminal device 20 may perform an explanation including the functions of the roadside device 30 and the meanings of sounds and displays, etc., by means of image display and voice output from the output unit 25. The terminal device 20 may activate a vibrator during the functional description to arouse the attention of the pedestrian P by vibration. Such processing may be implemented by installing a dedicated application in the terminal device 20 held by the pedestrian P and push-transmitting the instruction information from the server device 10 to the terminal device 20 according to the position of the terminal device 20. Alternatively, in response to receiving the instruction information from the server device 10, the roadside device 30 may perform an explanation of the roadside device 30 by means of image display and voice output from the notification unit 35. After finishing the processing of step S3, the control unit 11 ends the processing of the flowchart in FIG. 2.

[0038] As described above, in response to the terminal device 20 entering a certain area where the roadside device 30 is provided, the server device 10 performs a functional description of the roadside device 30 by at least one of the terminal device 20 and the roadside device 30. Therefore, even if the pedestrian P uses the roadside device 30 for the first time, the pedestrian P can accurately understand the meaning of the information output by the roadside device 30 by means of images and sounds, etc., and it is possible to cultivate a sense of security for the pedestrian P. Note that the server device 10 may use geofencing technology to control the functional description of the roadside device 30 in response to the terminal device 20 entering a specific geographical range.

[0039] (Operation Example 2) Even when the terminal device 20 is within a predetermined geographical range, if the vehicle 40 approaches very close, starting the functional description of the roadside device 30 may direct the attention of the pedestrian P to the functional description, potentially threatening the traffic safety of the pedestrian P. Therefore, when the vehicle 40 is traveling nearby, the server device 10 may not transmit the instruction information even when the terminal device 20 exists within the predetermined geographical range. Such an operation example 2 will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

[0040] In the following example, the range within which the distance from the roadside device 30 is equal to or less than the first distance is set in advance in the server device 10 as the geographical range for performing the functional description. Also, in the following example, the functional description of the roadside device 30 is performed from the terminal device 20.

[0041] In step S11 of FIG. 3, the control unit 11 acquires the position information of the terminal device 20. The control unit 11 may execute step S11 by the same process as step S1 in FIG. 2.

[0042] In step S12, based on the position information acquired in step S11, the control unit 11 determines whether the terminal device 20 has entered the range where the distance from the roadside device 30 is equal to or less than the first distance, which is set as the predetermined geographical range. The first distance may be, for example, a value in the range of about 500 m to several kilometers. If the terminal device 20 has entered the range within the first distance from the roadside device 30 (YES in step S12), the process proceeds to step S13; otherwise (NO in step S12), the process returns to step S11 to continue the processing.

[0043] In step S13, the control unit 11 determines whether a vehicle 40 exists within a range of a third distance or less from the terminal device 20. Here, the control unit 11 may obtain the position information of the vehicle 40, compare it with the position information of the terminal device 20 obtained in step S1, and calculate the distance between the terminal device 20 and the vehicle 40. Specifically, the control unit 11 may receive, via the network 50, the position information of the vehicle 40 measured by the positioning unit 44 from the vehicle 40 by the communication unit 13. Alternatively, the control unit 11 may obtain the position information of the vehicle 40 from another device. For example, the control unit 11 may receive and obtain the position information of the vehicle 40 obtained by analyzing the captured image of the imaging unit 34 of the roadside device 30 from the roadside device 30. The third distance may be, for example, a distance smaller than the first distance. When it is determined that the vehicle 40 exists within a range of a third distance or less from the terminal device 20 (YES in step S13), the control unit 11 returns to step S11 to continue the process, and otherwise (NO in step S13), proceeds to step S14.

[0044] In step S14, the control unit 11 transmits, via the communication unit 13, instruction information for instructing the function description of the roadside device 30 to the terminal device 20. In response to receiving the instruction information from the server device 10, the terminal device 20 performs a function description of the roadside device 30 for the pedestrian P. The terminal device 20 may perform the function description in the same manner as the process described in step S3 of FIG. 2. After finishing the process of step S14, the control unit 11 ends the process of the flowchart in FIG. 3.

[0045] As described above, even when the terminal device 20 enters a certain area where the roadside device 30 is provided, the server device 10 controls not to perform the function description of the roadside device 30 when a vehicle 40 is present nearby, and to perform the function description when the vehicle 40 is not present. Therefore, the server device 10 can make the function of the roadside device 30 known while ensuring the safety of the pedestrian P and creating a sense of security.

[0046] (Operation Example 3) In the operation example 2, an example in which the terminal device 20 explains the functions of the roadside device 30 has been described. However, the roadside device 30 itself may explain the functions of the roadside device 30. However, when the roadside device 30 explains the functions, it is necessary that the video, audio, etc. notified by the notification unit 35 of the roadside device 30 reach the pedestrian P. Therefore, an operation example 3 in which the roadside device 30 explains the functions will be described with reference to FIG. 4 when the distance between the terminal device 20 and the roadside device 30 becomes equal to or less than a second distance smaller than the first distance. In this example, a range in which the distance from the roadside device 30 is equal to or less than the second distance (<the second distance) is set in advance in the server device 10 as a geographical range for explaining the functions.

[0047] In step S21 of FIG. 4, the control unit 11 acquires the position information of the terminal device 20. The control unit 11 may execute step S21 by the same process as step S1 of FIG. 2.

[0048] In step S22, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the terminal device 20 has entered a range in which the distance from the roadside device 30 is equal to or less than the second distance (<the first distance) as a predetermined geographical range based on the position information acquired in step S21. The first distance may be, for example, a value in the range of about 5 m to several hundred m. If the terminal device 20 enters a range within a second distance or less from the roadside device 30 (YES in step S22), the process proceeds to step S23. Otherwise (NO in step S22), the process returns to step S21 and continues.

[0049] In step S23, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the vehicle 40 exists within a range of a third distance or less from the roadside device 30. The third distance to be compared in step S23 may be the same value as the third distance to be compared in step S13 of FIG. 3 or a different value.

[0050] Here, the control unit 11 may acquire the position information of the vehicle 40, compare it with the position information of the roadside device 30, and calculate the distance between the roadside device 30 and the vehicle 40. Specifically, the control unit 11 may receive the position information of the vehicle 40 measured by the positioning unit 44 from the vehicle 40 via the communication unit 13 through the network 50. Alternatively, the control unit 11 may acquire the position information of the vehicle 40 from other devices. For example, the control unit 11 may receive and acquire the position information of the vehicle 40 obtained by analyzing the captured image of the imaging unit 34 of the roadside device 30 from the roadside device 30.

[0051] Alternatively, the control unit 11 may directly acquire the distance between the roadside device 30 and the vehicle 40 by analyzing the captured image in which the vehicle 40 is reflected, which is acquired by the imaging unit 34 of the roadside device 30.

[0052] When it is determined that the vehicle 40 exists within a range of the third distance or less from the roadside device 30 (YES in step S23), the control unit 11 returns to step S21 to continue the process, and when not (NO in step S23), it proceeds to step S24.

[0053] In step S24, the control unit 11 transmits, via the communication unit 13, instruction information for instructing the function description of the roadside device 30 to the roadside device 30. In response to receiving the instruction information from the server device 10, the roadside device 30 performs a function description for the pedestrian P. The roadside device 30 may perform the function description in the same manner as the process described in step S3 of FIG. 2. After finishing the process of step S24, the control unit 11 ends the process of the flowchart of FIG. 3.

[0054] As described above, when the terminal device 20 enters the range where the distance from the roadside device 30 is less than or equal to a second distance smaller than the first distance, the server device 10 causes the roadside device 30 to perform a function explanation. Therefore, the server device 10 can accurately transmit the function explanation to the pedestrian P who holds the terminal device 20. Also, similar to the operation example 2, the server device 10 controls so as not to perform the function explanation of the roadside device 30 when the vehicle 40 exists nearby, and to perform the function explanation when the vehicle 40 does not exist. Therefore, the server device 10 can inform the function of the roadside device 30 while ensuring the safety of the pedestrian P.

[0055] Note that in the example described above with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, when the terminal device 20 exists in a predetermined geographical range, it is determined whether to perform the function explanation of the roadside device 30 based on the distance between the terminal device 20 or the roadside device 30 and the vehicle 40, but the configuration is not limited to this. For example, even when the vehicle 40 exists near the terminal device 20 or the roadside device 30, when the vehicle 40 is stopped, or when it is moving away from the terminal device 20 or the roadside device 30, the server device 10 may cause the roadside device 30 to perform a function explanation. Alternatively, when the vehicle 40 is traveling by autonomous driving along a predetermined route and the route deviates from the position of the terminal device 20 or the roadside device 30, even when the vehicle 40 is moving toward the terminal device 20 at that time, the server device 10 may transmit the instruction information. In this way, when it is confirmed that the safety of the pedestrian P who holds the terminal device 20 is not threatened by the vehicle 40, the server device 10 may cause the terminal device 20 or the like to perform the function explanation of the roadside device 30 regardless of the distance between the terminal device 20 or the roadside device 30 and the vehicle 40.

[0056] Also, in the examples of FIGS. 3 and 4, when the vehicle 40 is approaching, the server device 10 did not provide a functional explanation even when the terminal device 20 was within a predetermined geographical range regardless of the type of the vehicle 40. However, the present invention is not limited to such processing. Generally, compared with a conventional automobile driven by a driver, an autonomous vehicle is difficult to predict its movement as seen from a pedestrian P, and there is a high demand for fostering a sense of security in the pedestrian P. The roadside device 30 provides information related only to autonomous vehicles. Therefore, for example, when the terminal device 20 is within a predetermined geographical range and a vehicle 40 is present nearby, the server device 10 may refrain from providing a functional explanation when the vehicle 40 is performing autonomous driving, but may provide a functional explanation when the vehicle 40 is not performing autonomous driving. In other words, when there is no vehicle 40 performing autonomous driving within a range of a third distance or less from the roadside device 30 or the terminal device 20, the server device 10 may cause the roadside device 30 or the terminal device 20 to provide a functional explanation. In the same spirit, when there is an autonomous vehicle within a predetermined ODD (Operational Design Domain) and there is no autonomous vehicle within a range of a third distance or less from the roadside device 30 or the pedestrian P, the server device 10 may provide a functional explanation. As described above, even when a vehicle 40 is present near the roadside device 30 or the terminal device 20, the server device 10 may provide a functional explanation when the vehicle 40 is not moving in a direction toward the roadside device 30 or the like, and when the operation route deviates from the roadside device 30 or the like.

[0057] Further, the server device 10 may cause another device such as a street display to provide a functional explanation of the roadside device 30, rather than causing the terminal device 20 or the roadside device 30 to provide the functional explanation. The server device 10 may perform control by combining the operation examples 1 to 3 and other processing examples.

[0058] In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the server device 10 mainly causes the terminal device 20, the roadside device 30, etc. to explain the functions of the roadside device 30. However, the configuration is not limited to this. For example, the roadside device 30 may automatically start the function explanation in response to the detection of the pedestrian P. That is, the roadside device 30 may acquire the position information of the pedestrian P, and based on the acquired position information, detect that the pedestrian P has entered a predetermined geographical range where the roadside device 30 is installed. When the roadside device 30 detects that the pedestrian P has entered the geographical range, the roadside device 30 may cause the notification unit 35 to notify the pedestrian P of the function explanation of the roadside device 30.

[0059] Here, the roadside device 30 may acquire the position information of the pedestrian P through short-range wireless communication with the terminal device 20 held by the pedestrian P or communication via a beacon or the like. Alternatively, the roadside device 30 may acquire the position information of the pedestrian P by analyzing an image in which the pedestrian P is reflected, captured by the imaging unit 34. Alternatively, the roadside device 30 may acquire the position information of the terminal device 20 from the server device 10.

[0060] In this way, by enabling the roadside device 30 to autonomously start the function explanation based on the position information of the pedestrian P, it is possible to implement the function explanation of the roadside device 30 and cultivate a sense of security for the pedestrian P even when communication with the server device 10 is difficult.

[0061] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, a plurality of blocks described in the block diagram may be integrated, or one block may be divided. Instead of executing a plurality of steps described in the flowchart in chronological order according to the description, they may be executed in parallel or in a different order according to the processing capabilities of the device that executes each step or as necessary. In addition, modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0062] 1 Information Processing System 10 Server Device 11 Control Unit 12 Memory Unit 13 Communication Unit 20 Terminal Device 21 Control Unit 22 Memory Unit 23 Communication Unit 24 Input Unit 25 Output Unit 26 Positioning Unit 30 Road-Side Unit 31 Control Unit 32 Memory Unit 33 Communication Unit 34 Imaging Unit 35 Notification Unit 36 Positioning Unit 40 Vehicle 41 Control Unit 42 Memory Unit 43 Communication Unit 44 Positioning Unit 50 Network P Pedestrian

Claims

1. An information processing method executed by a computer capable of communicating with one or more terminal devices and one or more roadside devices, comprising: obtaining position information of the terminal device; detecting that the terminal device has entered a predetermined geographical range where the roadside device is installed based on the obtained position information; when detecting that the terminal device has entered the geographical range, transmitting instruction information for instructing a function description of the roadside device to at least one of the terminal device and the roadside device; An information processing method including the above.

2. The information processing method according to Claim 1, wherein when detecting that the terminal device has entered a range where the distance from the roadside device is equal to or less than a first distance as the geographical range, the instruction information is transmitted to the terminal device. An information processing method.

3. The information processing method according to Claim 2, wherein when detecting that the terminal device has entered a range where the distance from the roadside device is equal to or less than a second distance smaller than the first distance as the geographical range, the instruction information is transmitted to the roadside device. An information processing method.

4. The information processing method according to Claim 1, wherein when detecting that the terminal device has entered the geographical range, when there is no vehicle within a range of equal to or less than a third distance from the roadside device and the terminal device, the instruction information is transmitted to at least one of the terminal device and the roadside device. An information processing method.

5. A roadside device comprising a control unit and a notification unit, wherein the control unit obtains position information of a pedestrian, detects that the pedestrian has entered a predetermined geographical range where the roadside device is installed based on the obtained position information, when detecting that the pedestrian has entered the geographical range, causes the notification unit to notify the pedestrian of a function description of the roadside device. A roadside device.

Images