Unauthorized vehicle detection system, central management server, program, and unauthorized vehicle detection method

Abstract

To provide an unauthorized vehicle detection system that can detect an unauthorized vehicle which temporarily lifts up an axle while driving through a tollgate.SOLUTION: An unauthorized vehicle detection system comprises: a first identification information acquisition unit that acquires identification information of a vehicle entering a toll road from an entrance tollgate; a first axle information detection unit that detects axle information of the vehicle entering the toll road from the entrance tollgate; a second identification information acquisition unit that acquires identification information of a passing vehicle which passes through a passage detection point on the toll road; a second axle information detection unit that detects the axle information of the passing vehicle; and an unauthorized vehicle detection unit that detects an approaching vehicle and a passing vehicle whose identification information matches but whose axle information does not match as an unauthorized vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an unauthorized vehicle detection system, a management central server, a program, and an unauthorized vehicle detection method. [Background technology]

[0002] On toll roads, vehicle types are identified based on the vehicle's external size, number of axles, etc., and tolls are calculated for each vehicle type. Patent Document 1 describes a technology for detecting the exact number of axles for vehicles with lift axle mechanisms by identifying whether the axles are lifted up. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-124814 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, there are cases where vehicles are fraudulently downgraded by temporarily lifting up the axles only when passing through a toll gate, making it appear as though the number of axles is reduced. In conventional technology, because the determination of whether a vehicle is lifted up is performed only at the toll gate, it is not possible to detect whether a vehicle that passes through a toll gate with its axles lifted up is committing such fraud.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a fraudulent vehicle detection system, a management central server, a program, and a fraudulent vehicle detection method that can detect fraudulent vehicles that travel with their axles temporarily lifted at toll booths. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a fraud detection system includes a first identification information acquisition unit that acquires identification information of an entering vehicle entering a toll road from an entrance toll booth, a first axle information detection unit that detects axle information of the entering vehicle, a second identification information acquisition unit that acquires identification information of a passing vehicle passing a passage detection point on the toll road, a second axle information detection unit that detects the axle information of the passing vehicle, and a fraudulent vehicle detection unit that detects entering vehicles and passing vehicles whose identification information matches but whose axle information does not match as fraudulent vehicles.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the management central server includes an entering vehicle information acquisition unit that acquires entering vehicle information including identification information and axle information of entering vehicles entering a toll road from entrance toll collection equipment installed at the entrance toll gate; a second axle information detection unit that acquires identification information and data of passing vehicles passing through a passing detection point from a passing detection device installed at a passing detection point of the toll road and from an image server that accumulates data that can detect the shape of passing vehicles passing through the passing detection point, and detects the axle information of the passing vehicles based on the acquired data; and an illegal vehicle detection unit that detects entering vehicles and passing vehicles whose identification information matches but whose axle information does not match as illegal vehicles.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the program causes a management central server to perform the following steps: acquiring entering vehicle information, including identification information and axle information, of an entering vehicle entering a toll road from an entrance toll collection facility installed at an entrance toll booth; acquiring identification information and data of a passing vehicle passing through a passing detection point from a passing detection device installed at a passing detection point on the toll road and from an image server that accumulates data capable of detecting the shape of a passing vehicle passing through the passing detection point, and detecting the axle information of the passing vehicle based on the acquired data; and detecting entering vehicles and passing vehicles whose identification information matches but whose axle information does not match as unauthorized vehicles.

[0009] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a fraud detection method includes steps of acquiring identification information of an entering vehicle entering a toll road from an entrance toll booth, detecting axle information of the entering vehicle, acquiring identification information of a passing vehicle passing a passage detection point on the toll road, detecting the axle information of the passing vehicle, and detecting as fraudulent vehicles entering and passing vehicles whose identification information matches but whose axle information does not match. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the above aspect, it is possible to detect illegal vehicles that travel with their axles temporarily lifted at toll booths. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a fraud detection system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of an entrance toll collection facility according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a passage detection device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of an exit toll collection facility according to a first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a management central server according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an example of processing of the fraud detection system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] 5 is a diagram showing an example of entering vehicle information and exiting vehicle information according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a computer according to a first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] First Embodiment Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0013] (Overall configuration of the fraud detection system) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of a fraud detection system according to a first embodiment. The fraud detection system 1 is a system for detecting fraudulent vehicles that have engaged in fraudulent driving on a toll road R. In this embodiment, in particular, it detects fraudulent vehicles that have a lift axle mechanism and have temporarily lifted up their axles while driving at a toll booth. As shown in FIG. 1, the fraud detection system 1 includes an entrance toll collection facility 2, a passage detection device 3, an exit toll collection facility 4, a management central server 5, and an image server 6.

[0014] The entrance toll collection equipment 2 installed at the entrance toll gate T1 and the exit toll collection equipment 4 installed at the exit toll gate T2 are equipment that constitute, for example, an electronic toll collection system (ETC system: Electronic Toll Collection System (registered trademark), also called an "automatic toll collection system"). The entrance toll collection equipment 2 identifies the type of vehicle entering the toll road R from the entrance toll gate T1 and records this information on an on-board device or a toll ticket along with information about the entrance toll gate T1 that the entering vehicle passed through. The exit toll collection equipment 4 reads the information recorded on the on-board device or a toll ticket of an exiting vehicle exiting the toll road R from the exit toll gate T2, and collects a toll based on the mileage and type of vehicle of the exiting vehicle.

[0015] The passage detection device 3 is provided at each of a plurality of passage detection points P1 and P2 on the toll road R, and detects passing vehicles that have passed through the passage detection points P1 and P2. The travel route of each vehicle can be identified based on the passage detection point at which the vehicle is detected. In this embodiment, based on the information detected by the passage detection device 3, it is also detected whether the axles of vehicles passing through each passage detection point are lifted up.

[0016] The management central server 5 detects unauthorized vehicles that have their axles lifted only at toll booths based on information acquired from the entrance toll collection equipment 2, the passage detection device 3, and the exit toll collection equipment 4.

[0017] The image server 6 stores image data captured by each device.

[0018] (Functional configuration of entrance toll collection equipment) 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the entrance toll collection facility according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the entrance toll collection facility 2 includes a vehicle type identification device 20, a communication antenna 21, and a lane server 22.

[0019] The vehicle type discrimination device 20 discriminates the vehicle type of a vehicle entering the toll road R from the entrance toll gate T1. The vehicle type discrimination device 20 has a vehicle detector 201, a license plate (NP) reader 202, and an axle information detection unit 203.

[0020] The vehicle detector 201 is installed on the roadside of the lane at the entrance toll gate T1. The vehicle detector 201 is a laser scanner that scans a laser beam in a vertical plane parallel to the width of the lane to detect the presence or absence of an entering vehicle. The vehicle detector 201 of this embodiment is a so-called reflective vehicle detector, and measures the distance to the irradiation position of the laser beam based on the time from emitting the laser beam to receiving the reflected light. The vehicle detector 201 stores in advance a reference distance when no vehicle is present, and outputs a signal indicating that the presence of an entering vehicle has been detected when a distance less than the reference distance is measured.

[0021] The NP reader 202 photographs the entering vehicle when the entering vehicle is detected by the vehicle detector 201, and reads the license plate information (NP information) of the entering vehicle from the photographed image. The image photographed by the NP reader 202 is stored in the image server 6.

[0022] The axle information detection unit 203 detects axle information of the approaching vehicle. The axle information includes at least one of the number of axles of the approaching vehicle and information indicating whether or not the axles are lifted up.

[0023] The vehicle type discrimination device 20 discriminates the vehicle type of the entering vehicle based on the NP information and the number of axles. Note that the vehicle type discrimination device 20 may also discriminate the vehicle type by further using the vehicle height and vehicle length of the entering vehicle that can be detected from the time series of scan data of the vehicle detector 201.

[0024] The communication antenna 21 performs wireless communication with an on-board device mounted on an approaching vehicle, and transmits and receives various information necessary for toll collection.

[0025] The lane server 22 transmits the entrance information, including the vehicle type identified by the vehicle type identification device 20, the identification information (toll gate ID) of the entrance toll gate T1, the time of passage, etc., to the on-board device of the entering vehicle via the communication antenna 21 for recording. Note that if the entering vehicle is not equipped with an on-board device, the lane server 22 may cause a ticket issuing machine (not shown) in the entrance toll collection facility 2 to issue a ticket on which the entrance information is recorded.

[0026] The lane server 22 also has an entering vehicle information transmitter 221. The entering vehicle information transmitter 221 transmits entering vehicle information including the identification information of the entering vehicle, the axle information of the entering vehicle, the toll booth ID of the entrance toll booth T1, the passing time of the entering vehicle, etc. to the management central server 5. In this embodiment, the identification information of the entering vehicle is the NP information read by the NP reader 202. In other embodiments, the entering vehicle information transmitter 221 may obtain identification information such as an on-board device ID pre-recorded in the on-board device via the communication antenna 21, and include this in the entering vehicle information as the identification information of the entering vehicle.

[0027] (Functional configuration of the passage detection device) 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the passage detection device according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the passage detection device 3 includes an NP reader 31, a tire detection sensor 32, a communication antenna 33, and a data transmitter 34.

[0028] The NP reader 31 is installed on the roadside of or above the toll road R, constantly photographs passing vehicles passing through the passage detection point, and reads the NP information of the passing vehicles from the photographed images. The images photographed by the NP reader 31 are stored in the image server 6.

[0029] The tire detection sensor 32 is, for example, a video camera, a laser scanner, or an infrared camera, and acquires data (images or scan data) that can detect the tires of passing vehicles. The data acquired by the tire detection sensor 32 is stored in the image server 6.

[0030] The communication antenna 33 performs wireless communication with the on-board devices mounted on passing vehicles to transmit and receive various information necessary for toll collection. For example, the communication antenna 33 may acquire identification information such as an on-board device ID pre-recorded in the on-board devices of passing vehicles as vehicle identification information.

[0031] The data transmission unit 34 transmits the identification information of the passing vehicle, the position information of the passing detection point, the traveling direction of the passing vehicle, the passing time, etc. to the management central server 5. Note that if only NP information is used as the identification information of the vehicle, the communication antenna 33 may be omitted.

[0032] (Functional configuration of exit toll collection equipment) 4 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the exit toll collection system according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the exit toll collection facility 4 includes a vehicle type identification device 40, a communication antenna 41, a lane server 42, and a display device 43.

[0033] The vehicle type discrimination device 40 discriminates the vehicle type of an exiting vehicle that exits the toll road R from the exit toll gate T2. The vehicle type discrimination device 40 has a vehicle detector 401, an NP reader 402, and an axle information detection unit 403. The functional configuration of the vehicle type discrimination device 40 is the same as that of the vehicle type discrimination device 20 of the entrance toll collection facility 2.

[0034] The communication antenna 41 performs wireless communication with an on-board device mounted on the exiting vehicle, and transmits and receives various information necessary for toll collection.

[0035] The lane server 42 includes a billing processor 421, a warning processor 422, and an exiting vehicle information transmitter 423.

[0036] The charging processing unit 421, for example, acquires entrance information recorded in the on-board unit of the exiting vehicle via the communication antenna 41, and collects a toll from the exiting vehicle according to the vehicle type and mileage based on the vehicle type and information on the entrance toll gate T1 included in the entrance information. The lane server 42 may also acquire identification information, such as an on-board unit ID, pre-recorded in the on-board unit as vehicle identification information. If the exiting vehicle does not have an on-board unit, the charging processing unit 421 may cause an automatic toll collection machine (not shown) in the exit toll collection facility 4 to collect the toll. The automatic toll collection machine collects the toll from the exiting vehicle based on the entrance information recorded on the toll ticket.

[0037] The warning unit 422 warns the exiting vehicle that an irregular number of axles (unauthorized lift-up) has been detected when the identification information of the exiting vehicle matches the identification information included in the notice of the arrival of an irregular vehicle notified from the management central server 5, which will be described later. The identification information of the entering vehicle is the NP information read by the NP reading device 402, or the on-board device ID obtained from the on-board device via the communication antenna 41, etc.

[0038] The exiting vehicle information transmitting unit 423 transmits to the management central server 5 exiting vehicle information including the identification information of the exiting vehicle, the axle information of the exiting vehicle, the toll gate ID of the exit toll gate T2, the passing time of the exiting vehicle, etc.

[0039] The display device 43 is a roadside display (electronic bulletin board) that displays tolls, notices, etc. to passengers of exiting vehicles. In this embodiment, the display device 43 displays the warning output by the warning unit 422, the vehicle type and toll, etc. that have been corrected by the monitor.

[0040] (Functional configuration of the management central server) Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the management central server according to the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 5, the management central server 5 has an entering vehicle information acquisition unit 51, an exiting vehicle information acquisition unit 52, an axle information detection unit 53, an unauthorized vehicle detection unit 54, a recording unit 55, a prediction unit 56, and a notification unit 57.

[0041] The entering vehicle information acquisition unit 51 acquires entering vehicle information from the entrance toll collection facility 2.

[0042] The exiting vehicle information acquisition unit 52 acquires the exiting vehicle information from the exit toll collection facility 4.

[0043] When the axle information detection unit 53 receives the NP information of a passing vehicle, the position of the passing detection point, the passing time, etc. from the passing detection device 3, it acquires image data (or scan data) captured by the NP reading device 31 or the tire detection sensor 32 at the passing time at the passing detection point from the image server 6. Furthermore, the axle information detection unit 53 detects the axle information of the passing vehicle based on the acquired image data.

[0044] The unauthorized vehicle detection unit 54 detects, as unauthorized vehicles, entering and passing vehicles whose identification information matches but whose axle information does not match.

[0045] The recording unit 55 creates and records unauthorized vehicle information including entering vehicle information, passing vehicle information, and exiting vehicle information of the detected unauthorized vehicle. The recording unit 55 may also obtain from the image server 6 images of the unauthorized vehicle taken at each point at the same time as the vehicle passes through the entrance toll gate T1, the passing detection point, and the exit toll gate T2, and include the images in the unauthorized vehicle information as evidence of the unauthorized lift-up.

[0046] When a fraudulent vehicle is detected, the prediction unit 56 predicts the exit toll gate where the fraudulent vehicle will arrive and the arrival time at the exit toll gate based on the position of the passing detection point and the passing time when the fraudulent vehicle passed through the passing detection point.

[0047] The notification unit 57 notifies the predicted exit toll gate of an arrival notice including the identification information of the fraudulent vehicle and the predicted arrival time.

[0048] (Fraud detection system processing flow) 6 is a sequence diagram showing an example of processing by the fraud detection system according to the first embodiment. Here, the flow of processing by the fraud detection system will be described with reference to FIG.

[0049] First, the axle information detection unit 203 of the entrance toll collection facility 2 detects the axle information of the entering vehicle (step S101). The axle information includes at least one of whether the axles are lifted up and the number of axles.

[0050] For example, the axle information detection unit 203 detects the shape of the side of the entering vehicle (particularly the shape of the tires) from the time series of scan data from the vehicle detector 201. If a tire is detected at a position vertically higher than the other tires, or if the tire is not deformed by being pressed against the road surface (it remains circular), the axle information detection unit 203 determines that the axle of this tire is lifted up. Alternatively, the axle information detection unit 203 may detect the value obtained by subtracting the number of lifted up tires from the number of detected tires as the number of axles of the entering vehicle.

[0051] The axle information detection unit 203 may determine whether or not a tire has lifted up using various known techniques other than those described above. For example, a tire that has been lifted up will have a lower temperature than a tire that has not been lifted up (that is, a tire that is rotating on the ground). The axle information detection unit 203 may have an infrared camera that captures an image of an area including the tires of the approaching vehicle in order to determine whether or not a tire has lifted up from the tire temperature. The axle information detection unit 203 detects the tires of the approaching vehicle from the image captured by the infrared camera, and if any tire has a lower temperature than the other tires, it determines that the axle of that tire is lifted up.

[0052] Furthermore, a lifted tire is stationary and does not rotate. Therefore, the axle information detection unit 203 may have a camera that captures video of the tires of the approaching vehicle, and when a tire that is not rotating is detected from the captured video, it may determine that the axle of this tire is lifted.

[0053] Furthermore, the axle information detection unit 203 may have a sound-collecting microphone that captures the sound of the tires coming into contact with the road surface. For example, the road surface may be provided with irregularities so that noise is generated when the tires come into contact with the irregularities. The axle information detection unit 203 may identify the number of axles of the approaching vehicle based on the number of times that noise is detected when the tires pass over the irregularities in the road surface.

[0054] Furthermore, the NP reader 202 of the entrance toll collection facility 2 acquires the NP information of the entering vehicle (step S102). Note that the order of the processes in steps S101 and S102 may be reversed, or they may be executed simultaneously.

[0055] Next, the entering vehicle information transmitter 221 of the entrance toll collection facility 2 transmits the entering vehicle information to the management central server 5 (step S103). Figure 7 is a diagram showing an example of entering vehicle information and exiting vehicle information according to the first embodiment. As shown in Figure 7, the entering vehicle information includes the NP information of the entering vehicle, the toll gate ID and passing time of the entrance toll gate T1 that the entering vehicle passed through, and axle information (number of axles, whether or not the vehicle is lifted up).

[0056] Also, suppose that a vehicle that entered the toll road R from the entrance toll gate T1 passes through the passage detection point P1. Then, the NP reader 31 of the passage detection device 3 acquires the NP information of this passing vehicle (step S104). The data transmitter 34 transmits information including the NP information of the passing vehicle, the position information of the passage detection point P1, the passing time, and the traveling direction of the passing vehicle to the management central server 5 (step S105).

[0057] Next, when the axle information detection unit 53 of the management central server 5 acquires the NP information etc. of the passing vehicle from the passage detection device 3, it acquires from the image server 6 image data (or scan data) captured by the NP reading device 31 or the tire detection sensor 32 at the time the passing vehicle passes at the passage detection point P1. The axle information detection unit 53 also detects the axle information of the passing vehicle based on the acquired image data (step S106). The method of detecting the axle information is the same as that of the axle information detection unit 203 of the entrance toll collection facility 2 (processing of step S101).

[0058] Next, the unauthorized vehicle detection unit 54 of the management central server 5 extracts, from the entering vehicle information collected from the entrance toll collection facility 2, entering vehicle information having the same NP information as the passing vehicle, and determines whether the axle information matches (step S107). For example, when the identification information is NP information, the unauthorized vehicle detection unit 54 determines that the identification information matches if the matching rate of the NP information of the entering vehicle and the passing vehicle is equal to or greater than a threshold. Furthermore, the unauthorized vehicle detection unit 54 determines that the axle information of the entering vehicle and the passing vehicle does not match if the number of axles included in the axle information or whether or not the vehicle is lifted up differs.

[0059] If the fraudulent vehicle detection unit 54 determines that the axle information does not match (step S107; YES), it determines that the entering vehicle and the passing vehicle are fraudulent vehicles that passed through the entrance toll gate T1 by lifting up their axles (to make it appear that there are fewer axles).Then, the recording unit 55 of the management central server 5 generates and records fraudulent vehicle information including the entering vehicle information and the passing vehicle information (step S108).The recording unit 55 may also obtain, from the image server 6, image data (or scan data) taken when passing through the entrance toll gate T1 and the passing detection point P1, and include this in the fraudulent vehicle information as evidence of the fraudulent lifting up.

[0060] Next, the prediction unit 56 of the management central server 5 predicts the exit toll gate T2 where the fraudulent vehicle may arrive and its arrival time based on the position, traveling direction, and passing time of the passage detection point P1 received from the passage detection device 3 (step S109). For example, the prediction unit 56 references toll gate data for the toll road R and extracts the exit toll gate T2 that is downstream in the traveling direction from the passage detection point P1. The prediction unit 56 also predicts the arrival time of the fraudulent vehicle at the exit toll gate T2 based on the distance between the passage detection point P1 and the extracted exit toll gate T2 and the passing time of the passage detection point P1. For example, the toll gate data includes data such as the distance from each passage detection point P1 to each exit toll gate T2 and the average required time, and the prediction unit 56 may predict the arrival time based on this toll gate data.

[0061] Furthermore, the notification unit 57 of the management central server 5 notifies the exit toll gate T2 predicted by the prediction unit 56 of the NP information of the unauthorized vehicle and an arrival notice including the predicted arrival time (step S110).

[0062] The exit toll collection facility 4 stores the arrival notice received from the management central server 5. Then, assume that an unauthorized vehicle that passed through the passage detection point P1 arrives at the exit toll gate T2 as an exiting vehicle. At this time, the axle information detection unit 403 of the exit toll collection facility 4 detects the axle information of the exiting vehicle (step S111). Also, the NP reading device 402 of the exit toll collection facility 4 acquires the NP information of the exiting vehicle (step S112). Note that the order of the processes of steps S111 to S112 may be reversed or may be executed simultaneously.

[0063] Next, the warning unit 422 of the exit toll collection facility 4 determines that an unauthorized vehicle has arrived if the NP information of the exiting vehicle matches the NP information included in the unauthorized vehicle arrival notice notified from the management central server 5 (step S113; YES). In this case, the warning unit 422 warns the exiting vehicle that an unauthorized number of axles (unauthorized lift-up) has been detected (step S114). This warning is displayed on the display device 43 and presented to the occupants of the unauthorized vehicle. The warning unit 422 may also close a bar on a departure controller (not shown) of the exit toll collection facility 4 to prohibit the unauthorized vehicle from exiting. In this case, for example, a supervisor performing remote monitoring may correct (upgrade) the vehicle type to that of a vehicle that is not lifted up and recalculate the toll, and then open the bar to allow the unauthorized vehicle to exit once the corrected toll is paid. Alternatively, the supervisor may report the unauthorized vehicle to a law enforcement agency while the unauthorized vehicle is parked.

[0064] If the NP information of the exiting vehicle does not match the NP information of the unauthorized vehicle (step S114; NO), no warning process is performed.

[0065] In addition, the exiting vehicle information transmitting unit 423 of the exit toll collection facility 4 transmits the exiting vehicle information to the management central server 5 (step S115). As shown in Fig. 7, the exiting vehicle information includes the NP information of the exiting vehicle, the toll gate ID and passing time of the exit toll gate T2 through which the exiting vehicle passed, and axle information (number of axles, whether or not the vehicle is lifted up).

[0066] If the NP information included in the exiting vehicle information matches the NP information of the fraudulent vehicle recorded in the fraudulent vehicle information, the recording unit 55 of the management central server 5 may add the exiting vehicle information to this fraudulent vehicle information and update it (step S116). For example, the notification unit 57 of the management central server 5 may notify a monitor or the operator of the toll road R when the number of times fraudulent activity has been detected for the same vehicle exceeds a predetermined number. The monitor or the like may take action such as mailing a document warning the owner of the notified fraudulent vehicle about the fraudulent lift-up or a bill for the missing toll, or reporting the incident to a law enforcement agency.

[0067] Furthermore, when an unauthorized vehicle exits the exit toll gate T2 (when the exiting vehicle information is acquired), the notification unit 57 of the management central server 5 may notify the exit toll collection equipment 4 to delete the notice of the arrival of the unauthorized vehicle. Furthermore, when the notification unit 57 detects that an unauthorized vehicle has passed through the next passage detection point (when the NP information, etc. is acquired from the passage detection device 3), the notification unit 57 may notify the exit toll collection equipment 4 of the exit toll gate upstream of this passage detection point to delete the notice of the arrival of the unauthorized vehicle. Furthermore, each exit toll collection equipment 4 may automatically delete the notice of arrival if the unauthorized vehicle does not arrive even after a predetermined time has passed since the predicted arrival time.

[0068] (Action and effect) As described above, the fraud detection system 1 according to this embodiment comprises the entrance toll collection facility 2, the passage detection device 3, and the management central server 5. The entrance toll collection facility 2 comprises a first identification information acquisition unit (NP reader 202 or communication antenna 21) that acquires identification information of entering vehicles entering the toll road from the entrance toll gate T1, and a first axle information detection unit 203 that detects axle information of entering vehicles entering the toll road from the entrance toll gate. The passage detection device 3 comprises a second identification information acquisition unit (NP reader 31 or communication antenna 33) that acquires identification information of passing vehicles passing through a passage detection point on the toll road R. The management central server 5 comprises a second axle information detection unit 53 that detects axle information of passing vehicles, and a fraudulent vehicle detection unit 54 that detects entering vehicles and passing vehicles with matching identification information but inconsistent axle information as fraudulent vehicles.

[0069] In this way, the fraud detection system 1 can detect fraudulent vehicles, for example, that pass through the entrance toll gate T1 with their axles lifted and then travel on the toll road R with their axles released.

[0070] In addition, the fraud detection system 1 (management central server 5) further includes a prediction unit 56 that, when a fraudulent vehicle is detected, predicts the exit toll gate where the fraudulent vehicle will arrive and the arrival time at the exit toll gate based on the location of the passing detection point and the passing time when the fraudulent vehicle passed through the passing detection point, and a notification unit 57 that notifies the predicted exit toll gate of an arrival notice including identification information of the fraudulent vehicle.

[0071] In this way, the fraud detection system 1 can notify the exit toll gate of the identification information of the fraudulent vehicle before the fraudulent vehicle exits from the exit toll gate T2. This allows the fraudulent vehicle to be discovered at the exit toll gate T2, and an inspector can take action such as issuing a warning or reporting the fraudulent vehicle.

[0072] The fraud detection system 1 also includes an exit toll collection facility 4. The exit toll collection facility 4 includes a third identification information acquisition unit (NP reader 402 or communication antenna 41) that acquires identification information of an exiting vehicle that exits the toll road R from the exit toll gate T2, and a warning unit 422 that warns the exiting vehicle that fraud in the number of axles has been detected if the identification information of the exiting vehicle matches the identification information included in the notice of the arrival of the fraudulent vehicle.

[0073] In this way, when an illegal vehicle arrives at the exit toll gate T2, a warning is given that an illegal lift-up has been detected, making it possible to prevent future illegal acts.

[0074] The exit toll collection facility 4 further includes a third axle information detection unit 403 that detects axle information of exiting vehicles. The unauthorized vehicle detection unit 54 of the management central server 5 detects, as unauthorized vehicles, entering vehicles, passing vehicles, and exiting vehicles whose identification information matches but whose axle information does not match.

[0075] In this way, the fraud detection system 1 can perform back-end processing to collectively detect fraudulent vehicles from data accumulated at predetermined times. For example, by performing back-end processing during times of low traffic volume, the processing load of each device during times of high traffic volume can be reduced, and the impact on the processing speed of other processes such as toll collection processing can be suppressed.

[0076] <Other embodiments> Although one embodiment has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to the above, and various design modifications are possible. That is, in other embodiments, the order of the above-described processes may be changed as appropriate. Furthermore, some processes may be executed in parallel.

[0077] In the above-described embodiment, the management central server 5 detects unauthorized vehicles in real time each time a vehicle is detected at a passing detection point and issues a warning to the exit toll gate in advance of the arrival of the unauthorized vehicle. In another embodiment, the unauthorized vehicle detection unit 54 of the management central server 5 may accumulate information on entering vehicles, NP information on passing vehicles, and information on exiting vehicles, and perform downstream processing to collectively detect unauthorized vehicles from the accumulated data at predetermined intervals (e.g., daily). In this case, the unauthorized vehicle detection unit 54 detects a vehicle as unauthorized if, for vehicles linked by the same NP information, at least one of the axle information detected at the entrance toll gate T1, the passing detection point, and the exit toll gate T2 does not match the other axle information. An inspector or the like may take action, such as mailing a document warning the owner of the unauthorized vehicle about the unauthorized lifting or a bill for the missing toll, or reporting the incident to a law enforcement agency. The notification unit 57 of the management central server 5 may also notify each exit toll collection facility 4 of the unauthorized vehicle's NP information. The warning unit 422 of the exit toll collection facility 4 may then issue a warning the next time the unauthorized vehicle arrives at the exit toll gate T2.

[0078] <Computer configuration> FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a computer according to the first embodiment. The computer 900 includes a processor 901, a main storage device 902, an auxiliary storage device 903, and an interface 904. The above-mentioned devices (the vehicle type identification device 20, the lane server 22, the passage detection device 3, the vehicle type identification device 40, the lane server 42, and the management central server 5) are implemented in the computer 900. The operations of the above-mentioned processing units are stored in the auxiliary storage device 903 in the form of a program. The processor 901 reads the program from the auxiliary storage device 903, loads it into the main storage device 902, and executes the above-mentioned processing in accordance with the program. The processor 901 also allocates a storage area in the main storage device 902 to be used in the above-mentioned processing in accordance with the program.

[0079] The program may be for realizing some of the functions to be performed by the computer 900. For example, the program may be combined with other programs already stored in the auxiliary storage device 903 or other programs implemented in other devices to perform the functions. In other embodiments, the computer may include a custom LSI (Large Scale Integrated Circuit) such as a PLD (Programmable Logic Device) in addition to or instead of the above configuration. Examples of PLDs include PAL (Programmable Array Logic), GAL (Generic Array Logic), CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device), and FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). In this case, some or all of the functions realized by the processor may be realized by the integrated circuit.

[0080] Examples of the auxiliary storage device 903 include a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disc read-only memory (DVD-ROM), and a semiconductor memory. The auxiliary storage device 903 may be an internal medium directly connected to the bus of the computer 900, or an external medium (external storage device 910) connected to the computer 900 via the interface 904 or a communication line. Furthermore, when this program is distributed to the computer 900 via a communication line, the computer 900 that receives the program may load the program into the main storage device 902 and execute the above-described processing. In at least one embodiment, the auxiliary storage device 903 is a non-transitory tangible storage medium.

[0081] <Additional Notes> The above-described embodiment can be understood, for example, as follows.

[0082] (1) According to the first aspect, the fraud detection system 1 includes a first identification information acquisition unit 202, 21 that acquires identification information of an entering vehicle entering a toll road from the entrance toll gate T1, a first axle information detection unit 203 that detects axle information of an entering vehicle entering a toll road R from the entrance toll gate T1, a second identification information acquisition unit 31, 33 that acquires identification information of a passing vehicle passing through a passage detection point on the toll road R, a second axle information detection unit 53 that detects axle information of the passing vehicle, and a fraudulent vehicle detection unit 54 that detects entering vehicles and passing vehicles whose identification information matches but whose axle information does not match as fraudulent vehicles.

[0083] In this way, the fraud detection system 1 can detect fraudulent vehicles, for example, that pass through the entrance toll gate T1 with their axles lifted and then travel on the toll road R with their axles released.

[0084] (2) According to the second aspect, the fraud detection system 1 according to the first aspect further includes a prediction unit 56 that, when a fraudulent vehicle is detected, predicts the exit toll gate T2 where the fraudulent vehicle will arrive and the arrival time at the exit toll gate T2 based on the location of the passing detection point and the passing time when the fraudulent vehicle passed through the passing detection point, and a notification unit 57 that notifies the predicted exit toll gate T2 of an arrival notice including identification information of the fraudulent vehicle.

[0085] In this way, the fraud detection system 1 can notify the exit toll gate of the identification information of the fraudulent vehicle before the fraudulent vehicle exits from the exit toll gate T2. This allows the fraudulent vehicle to be discovered at the exit toll gate T2, and an inspector can take action such as issuing a warning or reporting the fraudulent vehicle.

[0086] (3) According to the third aspect, the fraud detection system 1 according to the second aspect further includes a third identification information acquisition unit 402, 41 that acquires identification information of an exiting vehicle exiting the toll road R from the exit toll gate T2, and a warning unit 422 that warns the exiting vehicle that fraud in the number of axles has been detected if the identification information of the exiting vehicle matches the identification information included in the notice of the arrival of the fraudulent vehicle.

[0087] In this way, when an illegal vehicle arrives at the exit toll gate T2, a warning is given that an illegal lift-up has been detected, making it possible to prevent future illegal acts.

[0088] (4) According to the fourth aspect, the fraud detection system 1 according to the first aspect further includes a third identification information acquisition unit 402, 41 that acquires identification information of an exiting vehicle exiting the toll road R from the exit toll gate T2, and a third axle information detection unit 403 that detects axle information of the exiting vehicle, and the fraudulent vehicle detection unit 54 detects as fraudulent vehicles entering, passing, and exiting vehicles whose identification information matches but whose axle information does not match.

[0089] In this way, the fraud detection system 1 can perform back-end processing to collectively detect fraudulent vehicles from data accumulated at predetermined times. For example, by performing back-end processing during times of low traffic volume, the processing load of each device during times of high traffic volume can be reduced, and the impact on the processing speed of other processes such as toll collection processing can be suppressed.

[0090] (5) According to the fifth aspect, the management central server 5 includes an entering vehicle information acquisition unit 51 that acquires entering vehicle information including identification information and axle information of entering vehicles entering the toll road R from the entrance toll collection equipment 2 installed at the entrance toll gate T1, a second axle information detection unit 53 that acquires identification information and data of passing vehicles passing through the passing detection point from the passing detection device 3 installed at the passing detection point of the toll road R and from the image server 6 that accumulates data that can detect the shape of passing vehicles passing through the passing detection point, and detects the axle information of the passing vehicle based on the acquired data, and an illegal vehicle detection unit 54 that detects entering vehicles and passing vehicles whose identification information matches but whose axle information does not match as illegal vehicles.

[0091] (6) According to the sixth aspect, the program causes the management central server 5 to execute the following steps: acquiring entering vehicle information, including identification information and axle information, of an entering vehicle entering the toll road R from the entrance toll collection equipment 2 installed at the entrance toll gate T1; acquiring identification information and data of passing vehicles passing through the passing detection point from the passing detection device 3 installed at the passing detection point of the toll road R and from the image server 6 that accumulates data capable of detecting the shape of passing vehicles passing through the passing detection point, and detecting the axle information of the passing vehicle based on the acquired data; and detecting entering vehicles and passing vehicles whose identification information matches but whose axle information does not match as unauthorized vehicles.

[0092] (7) According to the seventh aspect, the fraud detection method includes the steps of acquiring identification information of an entering vehicle entering a toll road from an entrance toll booth T1, detecting axle information of the entering vehicle entering a toll road R from an entrance toll booth T1, acquiring identification information of a passing vehicle passing a passage detection point on the toll road R, detecting the axle information of the passing vehicle, and detecting as fraudulent vehicles entering and passing vehicles whose identification information matches but whose axle information does not match. [Explanation of symbols]

[0093] 1. Fraud detection system 2 Entrance toll collection equipment 20 Vehicle type identification device 201 Vehicle detector 202 License plate (NP) reader (first identification information acquisition unit) 203 Axle information detection unit (first axle information detection unit) 21 Communication antenna (first identification information acquisition unit) 22 Lane Server 221 Entering vehicle information transmission unit 3 Passage detection device 31 NP reader (second identification information acquisition unit) 31 Second identification information acquisition unit 32 Tire detection sensor 33 Communication antenna (second identification information acquisition unit) 34 Data transmission unit 4 Exit toll collection equipment 40 Vehicle type identification device 401 Vehicle detector 402 License plate (NP) reader (third identification information acquisition unit) 403 Axle information detection unit (third axle information detection unit) 41 Communication antenna (third identification information acquisition unit) 42 Lane Server 421 Billing Processing Unit 422 Warning section 423 Exiting vehicle information transmission unit 43 Display device 5. Management central server 51 Approaching vehicle information acquisition unit 52 Exiting vehicle information acquisition unit 53 Axle information detection unit (second axle information detection unit) 54 Illegal Vehicle Detection Unit 55 Recording section 56 Prediction Department 57 Notification Department 6 Image Server

Claims

1. a first identification information acquisition unit that acquires identification information of an entering vehicle that enters the toll road from the entrance toll gate; a first axle information detection unit that detects axle information of the approaching vehicle; a second identification information acquisition unit that acquires identification information of a passing vehicle that passes through a passage detection point on the toll road; a second axle information detection unit that detects axle information of the passing vehicle; an unauthorized vehicle detection unit that detects, as unauthorized vehicles, entering vehicles and passing vehicles whose identification information matches but whose axle information does not match; An unauthorized vehicle detection system comprising:

2. a prediction unit that, when an unauthorized vehicle is detected, predicts an exit toll gate at which the unauthorized vehicle will arrive and its arrival time at the exit toll gate based on the position of the passage detection point and the passage time at which the unauthorized vehicle passed through the passage detection point; a notification unit that notifies the predicted exit toll gate of an arrival notice including identification information of the fraudulent vehicle; The unauthorized vehicle detection system of claim 1 further comprising:

3. a third identification information acquisition unit that acquires identification information of an exiting vehicle that exits the toll road from an exit toll gate; a warning unit that warns the exiting vehicle that an irregularity in the number of axles has been detected when the identification information of the exiting vehicle matches the identification information included in the notice of arrival of the irregular vehicle; The unauthorized vehicle detection system of claim 2 further comprising:

4. a third identification information acquisition unit that acquires identification information of an exiting vehicle that exits the toll road from an exit toll gate; a third axle information detection unit that detects axle information of the exiting vehicle; Further preparation, the unauthorized vehicle detection unit detects, as unauthorized vehicles, entering vehicles, passing vehicles, and exiting vehicles whose identification information matches but whose axle information does not match; The unauthorized vehicle detection system of claim 1 .

5. an entering vehicle information acquisition unit that acquires entering vehicle information including identification information and axle information of an entering vehicle entering a toll road from an entrance toll collection facility installed at an entrance toll gate; a second axle information detection unit that acquires identification information and data of passing vehicles passing through the passage detection point from a passage detection device installed at the passage detection point of the toll road and from an image server that stores data that can detect the shape of passing vehicles passing through the passage detection point, and detects axle information of the passing vehicles based on the acquired data; an unauthorized vehicle detection unit that detects, as unauthorized vehicles, entering vehicles and passing vehicles whose identification information matches but whose axle information does not match; A management central server comprising:

6. acquiring, from an entrance toll collection facility installed at an entrance toll booth, entering vehicle information including identification information and axle information of an entering vehicle entering a toll road; acquiring identification information and data of a passing vehicle passing through the passage detection point from a passage detection device installed at the passage detection point of the toll road and from an image server storing data capable of detecting the shape of a passing vehicle passing through the passage detection point, and detecting axle information of the passing vehicle based on the acquired data; detecting, as unauthorized vehicles, entering and passing vehicles whose identification information matches but whose axle information does not match; A program that runs on a central management server.

7. acquiring identification information of an entering vehicle entering the toll road from an entrance toll booth; Detecting axle information of the approaching vehicle; acquiring identification information of a passing vehicle passing through a passage detection point on the toll road; detecting axle information of the passing vehicle; detecting, as unauthorized vehicles, entering and passing vehicles whose identification information matches but whose axle information does not match; The method for detecting an unauthorized vehicle includes:

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