Information processing system, information processing method for information processing system, and program

Abstract

If the content of the first traffic regulation information obtained from images captured by an external camera and the second traffic regulation information obtained from map information differ at the same location, the second traffic regulation information is appropriately processed as a candidate for correction, taking into account the vehicle's driving history. [Solution] An information processing system comprising: a first traffic regulation information acquisition unit that acquires first traffic regulation information from images captured by an external camera of a vehicle; a second traffic regulation information acquisition unit that acquires second traffic regulation information from map information associated with the traffic regulation information and the vehicle's location information on the map; and an information processing unit that, when the contents of the first traffic regulation information and the second traffic regulation information at the same location differ, determines from the vehicle's driving history that the vehicle was driving in compliance with the traffic regulation of the first traffic regulation information, and processes the second traffic regulation information as a candidate for correction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing method of the information processing system, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2017-067464 is known as a technical document related to an information processing system mounted on a vehicle. This publication shows an information processing device that compares a sign on the road imaged by an in-vehicle camera with sign information in road information data and causes a driver to make a selection when the sign on the road imaged by the in-vehicle camera is different from the sign information in the road information data.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the above-described conventional information processing device, every time a misrecognition of a sign on the road imaged by an in-vehicle camera occurs, the driver is made to make a selection, which may cause a burden on the driver.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] One aspect of the present invention is an information processing system for processing information on traffic regulations on a road on which a vehicle is traveling, comprising: a first traffic regulation information acquisition unit that acquires first traffic regulation information, which is information on traffic regulations on a road on which a vehicle is traveling, based on road signs or road markings captured in images taken by an external camera of the vehicle; a second traffic regulation information acquisition unit that acquires second traffic regulation information, which is information on traffic regulations of the same type as the first traffic regulations on the road, based on map information associated with the information on traffic regulations and the vehicle's location information on the map; and an information processing unit that, when the content of the first traffic regulation information and the second traffic regulation information at the same location differs, determines from the vehicle's driving history that the vehicle was driving in compliance with the traffic regulations of the first traffic regulation information, and processes the second traffic regulation information as a candidate for correction.

[0006] According to an information processing system in one aspect of the present invention, when the content of first traffic regulation information and second traffic regulation information at the same location differs, if it is determined from the vehicle's driving history that the vehicle was driving in compliance with the traffic regulations of the first traffic regulation information, the second traffic regulation information is processed as a candidate for correction. This reduces the burden on the user compared to conventional methods that require the user to make a selection, and the second traffic regulation information can be appropriately processed as a candidate for correction based on the vehicle's driving history.

[0007] In an information processing system according to one aspect of the present invention, the first traffic regulation information is first speed limit information, which is speed limit information obtained based on road signs or road markings captured in images taken by an external camera of the vehicle, and the second traffic regulation information is second speed limit information, which is speed limit information obtained based on map information and the vehicle's location information on the map. If the contents of the first speed limit information and the second speed limit information at the same location are different, the information processing unit may process the second speed limit information as a candidate for correction when it determines from the vehicle's driving history that the vehicle was driving in compliance with the speed limit of the first speed limit information. According to this information processing system, when the content of the first speed limit information and the second speed limit information at the same location differ, and the system determines from the vehicle's driving history that the vehicle was driving in compliance with the speed limit of the first speed limit information, the second speed limit information is processed as a candidate for correction. This allows the system to appropriately process the second speed limit information as a candidate for correction, taking into account the vehicle's driving history.

[0008] In an information processing system according to one aspect of the present invention, the first traffic regulation information is first direction restriction information, which is information on direction restrictions obtained based on road signs or road markings captured in images taken by an external camera of the vehicle, and the second traffic regulation information is second direction restriction information, which is information on direction restrictions obtained based on map information and the vehicle's location information on the map. If the contents of the first direction restriction information and the second direction restriction information at the same location are different, the information processing unit may process the second direction restriction information as a candidate for correction when it determines from the vehicle's driving history that the vehicle was driving in compliance with the direction restriction information of the first direction restriction information. According to this information processing system, when the content of the first direction restriction information and the second direction restriction information at the same location differ, and the system determines from the vehicle's driving history that the vehicle was driving in compliance with the direction restriction information of the first direction restriction information, the second direction restriction information can be processed as a candidate for correction. This allows the system to appropriately process the second direction restriction information as a candidate for correction, taking into account the vehicle's driving history.

[0009] In an information processing system according to one aspect of the present invention, the first traffic regulation information is first overtaking prohibition information, which is information on whether overtaking is prohibited, obtained based on road signs or road markings captured in images taken by an external camera of the vehicle, and the second traffic regulation information is second overtaking prohibition information, which is information on whether overtaking is prohibited, obtained based on map information and the vehicle's location information on the map. The information processing unit may process the second overtaking prohibition information as a candidate for modification if, at the location where the vehicle has overtaken, the content of the first overtaking prohibition information indicates that overtaking is permitted and the content of the second overtaking prohibition information indicates that overtaking is prohibited. According to this information processing system, if, at the location where a vehicle has overtaken, the content of the first overtaking prohibition information indicates that overtaking is permitted, but the content of the second overtaking prohibition information indicates that overtaking is prohibited, the second overtaking prohibition information is processed as a candidate for correction. This allows the system to appropriately process the second overtaking prohibition information as a candidate for correction, taking into account the vehicle's driving history.

[0010] In an information processing system according to one aspect of the present invention, when the contents of the first traffic regulation information and the second traffic regulation information at the same location differ, even if the information processing unit determines from the vehicle's driving history that the vehicle was driving in compliance with the traffic regulations of the first traffic regulation information, it does not need to process the second traffic regulation information as a candidate for correction if the number of surrounding vehicles driving around the vehicle in compliance with the traffic regulations of the first traffic regulation information is below a certain threshold. According to this information processing system, when the content of the first traffic regulation information and the second traffic regulation information at the same location differ, even if the vehicle's driving history determines that the vehicle was complying with the traffic regulations of the first traffic regulation information, if the number of surrounding vehicles that are complying with the traffic regulations of the first traffic regulation information is below a certain threshold, the second traffic regulation information will not be processed as a candidate for correction. This prevents inappropriate corrections when the reliability of the first traffic regulation information is low.

[0011] In an information processing system according to one aspect of the present invention, when the contents of the first traffic regulation information and the second traffic regulation information at the same location are different, the information processing unit may prohibit the processing of the modification candidate even if the vehicle is driving in compliance with the traffic regulations of the first traffic regulation information based on the vehicle's driving history, if a pre-set prohibition condition based on the vehicle's driving environment or driving state at that location is met. According to this information processing system, when the content of the first traffic regulation information and the second traffic regulation information at the same location differ, even if the vehicle's driving history indicates that the vehicle is driving in compliance with the traffic regulations of the first traffic regulation information, if a pre-set prohibition condition based on the vehicle's driving environment or driving state at that location is met, processing of the correction candidate can be prohibited. This suppresses the processing of unnecessary correction candidates in situations where the vehicle may be complying with the traffic regulations of the first traffic regulation information unintentionally.

[0012] Another aspect of the present invention is an information processing method for an information processing system that processes information on traffic regulations on a road on which a vehicle is traveling, wherein first traffic regulation information, which is information on traffic regulations on a road on which a vehicle is traveling, is obtained based on road signs or road markings captured in an image taken by an external camera of the vehicle; second traffic regulation information, which is information on traffic regulations of the same type as the first traffic regulation on the road, is obtained based on map information including information on traffic regulations and the vehicle's location information on the map; and if the contents of the first traffic regulation information and the second traffic regulation information are different, and it is determined from the vehicle's driving history that the vehicle was driving in compliance with the traffic regulations of the first traffic regulation information, the second traffic regulation information is processed as a candidate for correction.

[0013] According to an information processing method for an information processing system in another aspect of the present invention, when the content of first traffic regulation information and second traffic regulation information at the same location differs, and the system determines from the vehicle's driving history that the vehicle was driving in compliance with the traffic regulations of the first traffic regulation information, the system processes the second traffic regulation information as a candidate for correction. This reduces the burden on the user compared to conventional methods that require the user to make a selection, and allows for appropriate processing of the second traffic regulation information as a candidate for correction based on the vehicle's driving history.

[0014] A further aspect of the present invention is a program that operates a vehicle's computer as an information processing system for processing information on traffic regulations on a road on which a vehicle is traveling, comprising: a first traffic regulation information acquisition unit that acquires first traffic regulation information, which is information on traffic regulations on a road on which a vehicle is traveling, based on road signs or road markings captured in images taken by an external camera of the vehicle; a second traffic regulation information acquisition unit that acquires second traffic regulation information, which is information on traffic regulations of the same type as the first traffic regulation on the road, based on map information including information on traffic regulations and the vehicle's location information on the map; and an information processing unit that, when the content of the first traffic regulation information and the second traffic regulation information at the same location differs, determines from the vehicle's driving history that the vehicle was driving in compliance with the traffic regulations of the first traffic regulation information, and processes the second traffic regulation information as a candidate for correction.

[0015] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, when the content of the first traffic regulation information and the second traffic regulation information at the same location differ, if the program determines from the vehicle's driving history that the vehicle was driving in compliance with the traffic regulations of the first traffic regulation information, it processes the second traffic regulation information as a candidate for correction. This reduces the burden on the user compared to conventional methods that require the user to make a selection, and allows the program to appropriately process the second traffic regulation information as a candidate for correction based on the vehicle's driving history. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to each aspect of the present invention, when the content of the first traffic control information and the second traffic control information at the same position is different, the second traffic control information can be appropriately processed as a correction candidate based on the driving history of the vehicle.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] [Figure 1] It is a block diagram showing an information processing system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a communication vehicle. [Figure 3] It is a diagram showing an example in which a speed limit sign is reflected in an image captured by an external camera. [Figure 4] It is a diagram showing an example in which a stop sign and a stop line are reflected in an image captured by an external camera. [Figure 5] It is a block diagram showing an example of a server in a data center. [Figure 6] It is a flowchart showing an example of information processing of an information processing system. [Figure 7] It is a flowchart showing an example of information processing when the type of traffic control is a speed limit. [Figure 8] It is a flowchart showing an example of information processing when the type of traffic control is a travel direction restriction. [Figure 9] It is a flowchart showing an example of information processing when the type of traffic control is the presence or absence of overtaking prohibition. [Figure 10] It is a flowchart showing an example of correction candidate determination prohibition processing. [Figure 11] It is a flowchart showing an example of a listing process in a server of a data center.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0019] [Configuration of Information Processing System] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an information processing system 100 according to one embodiment. The information processing system 100 shown in Figure 1 includes a server 50 that is communicatively connected to a plurality of communication vehicles 60 (60A to 60Z) via a communication network N. The information processing system 100 manages traffic regulation information associated with map information based on information collected from the plurality of communication vehicles 60. The number of communication vehicles 60 is not particularly limited, as long as there is one or more.

[0020] The information processing system 100 may have a function to distribute the latest map information and traffic regulation information to the communication vehicle 60. The communication network N is not particularly limited as long as it is a wireless communication network capable of exchanging information. The communication network N may be the Internet, a communication network for mobile terminals, or a communication network for vehicle-to-infrastructure communication.

[0021] Server 50 is, for example, a server located in data center D. Data center D is a facility that processes data related to vehicles. Server 50 does not necessarily have to be located in data center D; it may be located in any facility or mobile device, or it may be a server on the cloud. More details about server 50 will be described later. As will be described later, the information processing system 100 can also be a system that is completed within the vehicle.

[0022] The following explanation will use communication vehicle 60A as an example from among multiple communication vehicles 60. Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of communication vehicle 60A. As shown in Figure 2, communication vehicle 60A is equipped with an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 10. The ECU 10 is an electronic control unit having a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory unit. The memory unit consists of, for example, ROM (Read-Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), and EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory). The ECU 10 realizes various functions by, for example, executing a program stored in the memory unit with the CPU. The ECU 10 may be composed of multiple electronic units.

[0023] The ECU10 is connected to an external camera 1, a navigation system 2, a positioning system 3, an internal sensor 4, a driving history database 5, and a communication module 6.

[0024] External camera 1 is an imaging device that captures images of the external conditions of the communication vehicle 60A. For example, it is installed behind the windshield of the communication vehicle 60A and captures images of the area in front of the communication vehicle 60A. External camera 1 transmits the captured images to the ECU 10.

[0025] Navigation system 2 displays the current location of the communication vehicle 60A and provides route guidance to the destination. Navigation system 2 operates in conjunction with a database that stores map information and a positioning system 3 for determining the current location. The map information includes road location information, road shape information, intersection and junction location information, and structural location information. Based on this information, the system determines the current location of the communication vehicle 60A and calculates the optimal route.

[0026] The navigation system 2 identifies the corresponding location in the map database based on the location information of the communication vehicle 60A obtained from the positioning system 3. This displays the current location of the communication vehicle 60A on the map, providing it visually to the driver or other user. Furthermore, when providing route guidance to a destination, the navigation system 2 calculates the optimal route considering traffic regulations and road conditions, and guides the user accordingly.

[0027] Furthermore, the navigation system 2 also has a function for acquiring traffic regulation information. The map information includes traffic regulation information associated with location information, and based on this, the system acquires traffic regulation information for the road on which the communication vehicle 60A is traveling. The traffic regulation information includes, for example, information such as speed limits and direction restrictions.

[0028] The navigation system 2 can also communicate with an external data center D via the communication module 6 to obtain the latest map information and traffic regulation information. This allows for quick responses to map information updates and changes in traffic regulations, enabling the system to always provide users with the most up-to-date information.

[0029] The positioning system 3 acquires the location information of the communication vehicle 60A using GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) or the like, and transmits it to the ECU 10. The positioning system 3 may also use GPS (Global Positioning System). The positioning system 3 may improve the accuracy of the location information of the communication vehicle 60A using dead reckoning or SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping).

[0030] The internal sensor 4 is a detection device that detects the driving status of the communication vehicle 60A. The internal sensor 4 includes a vehicle speed sensor and a yaw rate sensor. The vehicle speed sensor is a detector that detects the speed of the vehicle. The vehicle speed sensor transmits the detected vehicle speed information to the ECU 10.

[0031] The yaw rate sensor is a detector that detects the yaw rate (rotational angular velocity) around the vertical axis of the vehicle's center of gravity. For example, a gyro sensor can be used as the yaw rate sensor. The yaw rate sensor transmits the detected vehicle yaw rate information to the ECU 10. The internal sensor 4 may include an acceleration sensor or a steering angle sensor.

[0032] The driving history database 5 is a database that stores the past driving history of the communication vehicle 60A. The driving history includes at least the location information of the communication vehicle 60A (location information linked to time). The driving history may also include data on the speed of the communication vehicle 60A, data on the yaw rate or steering angle, and data on acceleration. The driving history may also include guidance data from the navigation system 2. The driving history database 5 may be an SSD (Solid State Drive) or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), or it may be formed in the storage unit of the ECU 10.

[0033] The communication module 6 is a module for sending and receiving information between the communication vehicle 60A and the external data center D. The communication module 6 is connected to the server 50 in the data center D using wireless communication technology. This allows the communication vehicle 60A to obtain the latest map information and traffic regulation information from the data center D. The communication module 6 also plays a role in sending proposed corrections to the traffic regulation information from the communication vehicle 60A to the data center D.

[0034] Next, the functional configuration of the ECU10 will be described. As shown in Figure 2, the ECU10 has a first traffic regulation information acquisition unit 11, a second traffic regulation information acquisition unit 12, and an information processing unit 13.

[0035] The first traffic regulation information acquisition unit 11 acquires first traffic regulation information based on road signs and road markings captured in the image captured by the external camera 1. The first traffic regulation information is information on traffic regulations acquired from the image captured by the external camera 1. Traffic regulations include information on at least one of the following: speed limits, direction restrictions, and no-passing zones. In other words, the first traffic regulation information includes at least one of the following acquired from the image captured by the external camera 1: first speed limit information, first direction restriction information, and first information on whether or not there is a no-passing zone.

[0036] Road signs include various types of road signs such as speed limit signs (maximum speed limit), stop signs, one-way signs, no entry signs, no U-turn signs, no overtaking signs, and pedestrian crossing signs. Road markings include various types of road markings such as stop lines, speed limit markings, no entry markings, no U-turn markings, no right or left turn markings, left turn only markings, right turn only markings, no overtaking markings, and pedestrian crossing markings.

[0037] The first traffic regulation information acquisition unit 11 acquires first traffic regulation information by analyzing road signs and road markings captured by the external camera 1 using image recognition technology. Specifically, the first traffic regulation information acquisition unit 11 performs preprocessing on the image captured by the external camera 1, such as noise reduction, contrast adjustment, and resolution optimization. Next, the first traffic regulation information acquisition unit 11 performs feature point detection on the captured image. In feature point detection, characteristic parts such as edges, corners, and textures in the image are extracted. For example, algorithms such as Canny edge detection and Harris corner detection are used for feature point detection.

[0038] The first traffic regulation information acquisition unit 11 extracts candidate areas for road signs and road markings based on these feature points. The first traffic regulation information acquisition unit 11 uses shape recognition and pattern matching techniques to determine whether a candidate area is actually a road sign or road marking. For example, shape recognition detects the shape of the sign, such as a circle, triangle, or square, and pattern matching recognizes the characters and symbols displayed on the sign.

[0039] Here, Figure 3 shows an example where a road sign RS indicating a speed limit (maximum speed limit) is visible in the image G captured by the external camera 1. The first traffic regulation information acquisition unit 11, for example, in the case of a Japanese road sign RS indicating a speed limit as shown in Figure 3, detects the circular shape and reads the numbers displayed inside it using OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology. The read numbers (40 in the case of Figure 3) are acquired as the first speed limit information.

[0040] Figure 4 shows an example of a stop sign SP and a stop line SL visible in an image G captured by the external camera 1. The first traffic regulation information acquisition unit 11 detects the triangular shape of the Japanese stop sign SP shown in Figure 4 and recognizes the word "STOP" displayed inside it. In the case of the stop line SL shown in Figure 4, the first traffic regulation information acquisition unit 11 recognizes it as a stop road marking SL by using an algorithm to identify line segments in the image for candidate areas on the road surface. Here, the stop sign is treated as speed limit information, but it may also be treated as a type of traffic regulation information.

[0041] The first traffic regulation information acquisition unit 11 may acquire the first traffic regulation information by recognizing a road sign or road marking indicating a traffic regulation that applies to a road section rather than a specific point, and assuming that the traffic regulation applies to the road section until it recognizes a road sign or road marking indicating the end of the application of the traffic regulation. Alternatively, the first traffic regulation information acquisition unit 11 may acquire the first traffic regulation information by recognizing a road sign or road marking indicating a traffic regulation that applies to a road section, and assuming that the traffic regulation applies to the road section for a certain distance from that point. Examples of traffic regulations that apply to a road section include speed limits, one-way streets, no-entry zones, and no-passing zones. Examples of traffic regulations that apply to a specific point include stop signs.

[0042] The method for acquiring the first traffic regulation information is not limited to the above. The first traffic regulation information acquisition unit 11 may acquire the first traffic regulation information from the image captured by the external camera 1 using a machine learning algorithm or a deep learning algorithm.

[0043] The second traffic regulation information acquisition unit 12 acquires second traffic regulation information based on the map information of the navigation system 2 and the location information of the positioning system 3. The second traffic regulation information is traffic regulation information acquired from the map information associated with the traffic regulation information and the location information of the communication vehicle 60A. The second traffic regulation information may include information that there is no traffic regulation associated with the map information at that location.

[0044] The map information of the navigation system 2 includes road locations and traffic regulation information. By comparing this with the location of the communication vehicle 60A obtained from the positioning system 3, a second set of traffic regulation information, which is information about the traffic regulations on the road currently being traveled, is obtained. The second set of traffic regulation information acquisition unit 12 obtains the second set of traffic regulation information from the location information of the communication vehicle 60A, along with information such as speed limits, direction restrictions, and whether or not overtaking is prohibited, which are associated with the map information.

[0045] The information processing unit 13 processes correction candidates based on the first traffic regulation information acquired by the first traffic regulation information acquisition unit 11, the second traffic regulation information acquired by the second traffic regulation information acquisition unit 12, and the driving history of the communication vehicle 60A. Processing correction candidates involves determining whether the second traffic regulation information acquired from the map information is a correction candidate. The processing of the information processing unit 13 will be described in detail below.

[0046] The information processing unit 13 determines whether the content of the first traffic regulation information acquired by the first traffic regulation information acquisition unit 11 and the second traffic regulation information acquired by the second traffic regulation information acquisition unit 12 are different at the same location. The comparison targets are traffic regulations of the same type. The location may be, for example, the location of a road sign or road marking, the vehicle's position when the communication vehicle 60 recognizes the road sign, or any location convenient for the timing of the calculation process. It may also be treated as a road section rather than a specific location.

[0047] The information processing unit 13 performs the above determination for each location where new first traffic regulation information is acquired by the first traffic regulation information acquisition unit 11. The information processing unit 13 may perform the above determination at regular intervals, or it may perform the above determination at intersections, junctions, points where the width changes, or other predetermined locations on the map.

[0048] Specifically, the information processing unit 13 determines whether the content of the first speed limit information and the second speed limit information are different at the same location. The second traffic regulation information, which is compared with the first traffic regulation information, is of the same type.

[0049] The information processing unit 13 determines that the contents of the first and second speed limit information are different if, for example, the first speed limit information is the 40 km / h speed limit information in Figure 3, and the second speed limit information is the 60 km / h speed limit information associated with the map information. The information processing unit 13 also determines that the contents of the first and second speed limit information are different if, for example, the first speed limit information is the stop sign information in Figure 4, and the second speed limit information is the 60 km / h speed limit information associated with the map information (if the stop sign information is not obtained).

[0050] Similarly, the information processing unit 13 may determine whether the contents of the first direction restriction information and the second direction restriction information are different at the same location. For example, if the first direction restriction information is "no right or left turns (only straight ahead allowed)" and the second direction restriction information is "no straight ahead", the information processing unit 13 will determine that the contents of the first direction restriction information and the second direction restriction information are different. The same applies to cases such as "no U-turns" and "no entry on one-way streets".

[0051] Furthermore, the information processing unit 13 may determine whether the content of the first overtaking prohibition information and the second overtaking prohibition information are different at the same location. For example, if the first overtaking prohibition information is "no overtaking prohibited" (overtaking permitted) and the second overtaking prohibition information is "overtaking prohibited," the information processing unit 13 will determine that the content of the first overtaking prohibition information and the second overtaking prohibition information are different.

[0052] If the information processing unit 13 determines that the content of the first traffic regulation information and the second traffic regulation information are different at the same location, it refers to the past driving history recorded in the driving history database 5 of the communication vehicle 60A. The driving history may also be data acquired from the positioning system 3 and internal sensors 4 immediately before (within 1 second).

[0053] The information processing unit 13 determines, based on the driving history of the communication vehicle 60A, whether the communication vehicle 60A is driving in compliance with the first traffic regulation information at a location where the contents of the first traffic regulation information and the second traffic regulation information differ. "The communication vehicle 60A is driving in compliance with the first traffic regulation information" means that the driver of the communication vehicle 60A is driving the communication vehicle 60A with the first traffic regulation information in mind.

[0054] Specifically, the information processing unit 13 determines that if the first speed limit information at a predetermined location is 40 km / h and the second speed limit information is 60 km / h, and the communication vehicle 60A is traveling at or below the first speed limit threshold at that location, the communication vehicle 60A is traveling in compliance with the first speed limit information.

[0055] The first speed limit threshold is a threshold set according to the first speed limit information. If the first speed limit information is 40 km / h, the first speed limit threshold may be 42 km / h, 45 km / h, or 40 km / h. The first speed limit threshold can be any speed around 40 km / h.

[0056] It should be noted that the meaning of speed limits can vary from country to country and region to region. For example, 40 km / h may be the strict upper limit, or it may be a recommended speed. Therefore, thresholds are set appropriately based on the laws and regulations of each country and region. The same applies to traffic regulations other than speed limits. Furthermore, thresholds can be set appropriately by taking into account measurement errors in driving speed.

[0057] The information processing unit 13 may determine if the speed limit of the first speed limit information is higher than the speed limit of the second speed limit information, as this will result in the communication vehicle 60A traveling at or below the speed limit of the first speed limit information by traveling in accordance with the speed limit of the second speed limit information. If the first speed limit information at a predetermined location is 60 km / h and the second speed limit information is 40 km / h, the information processing unit 13 may determine that the communication vehicle 60A is traveling in compliance with the first speed limit information if it is traveling within the speed range corresponding to the first speed limit information at that location. The speed range corresponding to the first speed limit information is, for example, 55 km / h to 65 km / h. The speed range corresponding to the first speed limit information may also be 50 km / h to 62 km / h, as long as it is within a range in which it can be determined that the driver of the communication vehicle 60A is driving with the first speed limit information in mind.

[0058] For example, if the first direction restriction information at a predetermined location is "no turning right or left (only going straight is permitted)" and the second direction restriction information is "no going straight," then when the communication vehicle 60A goes straight at that location, the information processing unit 13 determines that the communication vehicle 60A is driving in compliance with the first direction restriction information. The same applies to cases such as "no U-turns" and "no entry on one-way streets."

[0059] The information processing unit 13 may determine, for example, that if the first information regarding the presence or absence of overtaking restrictions at a predetermined location indicates that overtaking is not prohibited (overtaking is permitted), and the second information regarding the presence or absence of overtaking restrictions indicates that overtaking is prohibited, and the communication vehicle 60A performs an overtake at that location, the communication vehicle 60A is driving in compliance with the first information regarding the presence or absence of overtaking restrictions.

[0060] If the information processing unit 13 determines that the communication vehicle 60A is driving in compliance with the first traffic regulation information at a location where the contents of the first traffic regulation information and the second traffic regulation information differ, it processes the second traffic regulation information as a candidate for correction. The information processing unit 13 sends information that can identify the second traffic regulation information, which is a candidate for correction, to the server 50 in the data center D as candidate correction information.

[0061] Information that can identify the second traffic regulation information includes, for example, location information related to the second traffic regulation information. If each traffic regulation associated with the map information is assigned an ID (identification) number, identification by the ID number is also possible. Information that can identify the second traffic regulation information may also include the second traffic regulation information itself. In addition, the information processing unit 13 may transmit version information of the map information used to acquire the second traffic regulation information to the server 50.

[0062] Furthermore, the information processing unit 13 may transmit the first traffic regulation information to the server 50 as additional information, and may also transmit the driving history of the communication vehicle 60A used to determine the candidate for correction of the second traffic regulation information to the server 50. The information processing unit 13 may also transmit the captured image used to acquire the first traffic regulation information to the server 50.

[0063] The information processing unit 13 may process correction candidates based on the driving conditions of surrounding vehicles, which are other vehicles traveling around the communication vehicle 60A. The driving conditions of surrounding vehicles may be detected by sensors on the communication vehicle 60A, acquired through vehicle-to-vehicle communication, or acquired via an external server such as the server 50.

[0064] Even if the communication vehicle 60A is driving in compliance with the first traffic regulation information at a location where the contents of the first traffic regulation information and the second traffic regulation information differ, if there are a certain number or more surrounding vehicles driving in violation of the traffic regulations of the first traffic regulation information in the vicinity of the location where the vehicle was driving, the information processing unit 13 may decide that the reliability of the first traffic regulation information is not high and may not process the candidate for correction of the second traffic regulation information.

[0065] Specifically, even if the communication vehicle 60A is driving in compliance with the 40 km / h speed limit of the first speed limit information at a location where the contents of the first speed limit information (speed limit of 40 km / h) and the second speed limit information (speed limit of 60 km / h) differ, the information processing unit 13 will not process the candidate for correction of the second speed limit information if there are a certain number or more surrounding vehicles that are driving at around 60 km / h instead of complying with the 40 km / h speed limit of the first speed limit information.

[0066] Furthermore, even if the communication vehicle 60A proceeds straight at a location where the content of the first direction restriction information (no turning right or left) and the second direction restriction information (no going straight) differs, the information processing unit 13 does not need to process the candidate for correction of the second direction restriction information if there are a certain number or more surrounding vehicles that are turning right or left at the same location.

[0067] The fixed number of vehicles may be one, two, or three or more. This number may be changed depending on the type of traffic regulation. The information processing unit 13 may, for example, set the fixed number of vehicles for a traffic regulation that restricts the direction of travel to a smaller value compared to a traffic regulation that restricts speed. Specifically, the fixed number of vehicles for a traffic regulation that restricts speed may be three, and the fixed number of vehicles for a traffic regulation that restricts the direction of travel may be one. This is because it is thought that there are fewer vehicles that make mistakes regarding direction restrictions, such as no right or left turns, compared to vehicles that exceed the speed limit. Similarly, the information processing unit 13 may, for example, set the fixed number of vehicles for a traffic regulation that restricts the direction of travel to a smaller value compared to a traffic regulation that prohibits overtaking.

[0068] Furthermore, even if the communication vehicle 60A is driving in compliance with the first traffic regulation information at a location where the contents of the first and second traffic regulation information differ, the information processing unit 13 may prohibit processing the second traffic regulation information as a candidate for modification if a pre-set prohibition condition is met. The information processing unit 13 determines whether or not the prohibition condition is met based on the driving environment or driving state of the communication vehicle 60A.

[0069] Specifically, if the communication vehicle 60A is in an automated driving state, the information processing unit 13 may determine that the prohibition condition is met and prohibit the processing of the modification candidate, since the driving of the communication vehicle 60A may not depend on the driver's judgment. Automated driving may include driver assistance systems that automatically adjust vehicle speed, such as ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control). Furthermore, even if the communication vehicle 60A is in an automated driving state, the information processing unit 13 may determine that the prohibition condition is not met if the driver is made to select a vehicle speed, direction of travel, or overtake based on traffic regulations.

[0070] Furthermore, the information processing unit 13 may determine that the prohibition condition is met, for example, when the first traffic regulation information is the first speed limit information, and the communication vehicle 60A is traveling through a road construction section, because it is considered that the communication vehicle 60A is slowing down regardless of the traffic regulation. Whether or not the vehicle is traveling through a road construction section may be determined from the image captured by the external camera 1, or the navigation system 2 may obtain this information from a server such as a traffic information center.

[0071] Similarly, the information processing unit 13 may determine that the prohibition condition is met, for example, when the first traffic regulation information is the first speed limit information, and the communication vehicle 60A is turning right or left or driving on a curve, because it is considered that the communication vehicle 60A is decelerating regardless of the traffic regulation. Whether or not the vehicle is turning right or left can be determined, for example, from the operating state of the communication vehicle 60A's turn signal. Whether or not the vehicle is driving on a curve can be determined, for example, from the yaw rate or steering angle of the communication vehicle 60A when the communication vehicle 60A's turn signal is not operating. Whether or not the vehicle is driving on a curve can also be determined from the guidance information of the navigation system 2.

[0072] In addition, if the user of the communication vehicle 60A wishes, the information processing unit 13 may allow the user to choose whether or not to send information identifying the second traffic regulation information that has been determined to be a candidate for correction to the server 50. In that case, only the information permitted by the user will be sent to the server 50.

[0073] The above describes an example of the configuration of communication vehicle 60A with reference to Figure 2, but other communication vehicles 60B to 60Z can have a similar configuration. However, communication vehicles 60B to 60Z do not necessarily have the same configuration as communication vehicle 60A. Communication vehicles 60B to 60Z may only have the function of transmitting correction candidate information, and may include vehicles that only receive map information update information for the navigation system 2.

[0074] Next, we will explain the server 50 of data center D with reference to Figure 5. Figure 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a data center server. In this embodiment shown in Figure 2, data center D is a facility that receives correction candidate information transmitted from communication vehicles 60 (60A to 60Z) and updates map information.

[0075] Server 50 is located within data center D and has various functions for processing proposed corrections to traffic control information. Server 50 includes a processor 51, a storage unit 52, a communication unit 53, and a user interface 54. Server 50 may be composed of multiple servers.

[0076] The processor 51 is the central processing unit of the server 50 and controls the server 50 by running various operating systems. The processor 51 is an arithmetic unit such as a CPU, which includes a control unit, arithmetic unit, registers, etc. The processor 51 integrates the storage unit 52, the communication unit 53, and the user interface 54.

[0077] The memory unit 52 is configured to include at least one of memory and storage. Memory is a recording medium such as ROM or RAM. Storage is a recording medium such as HDD. The communication unit 53 is a communication device for communicating with the communication vehicle 60. The communication unit 53 can use a network device, network controller, network card, etc. The user interface 54 is the input / output unit of the server 50 for users such as administrators. The user interface 54 includes output devices such as a display and speaker, and input devices such as a touch panel.

[0078] Furthermore, the server 50 is connected to the primary storage database 55 and the map information management database 56. The primary storage database 55 is a database that temporarily stores information on correction candidates transmitted from the communication vehicle 60. The map information management database 56 is a database that manages the latest map information to be distributed to the communication vehicle 60. The map information management database 56 also manages traffic regulation information associated with the map information.

[0079] As shown in Figure 2, the processor 51 of the server 50 has a correction necessity determination unit 51a. The correction necessity determination unit 51a determines whether or not to correct the traffic regulation information in the map information management database 56 based on the proposed corrections to the traffic regulations transmitted from the communication vehicle 60 and stored in the primary storage database 55.

[0080] The correction necessity determination unit 51a determines, for example, that correction candidates with the same content are transmitted to the same location on the map from a predetermined number or more of communication vehicles 60, based on the information of the correction candidate (information identifying the second traffic regulation information), that correction of the traffic regulation information in the map information management database 56 is necessary. The predetermined number may be 10, 20, 50, or 100 vehicles. The predetermined number can be any number. In this case, "the same location" may be treated as location information within a certain range or section, and even if there is some overlap, it may be treated as the same location.

[0081] The correction necessity determination unit 51a lists the information of the correction candidates that it has determined need correction as final correction candidates and stores them in the map information management database 56. Administrators working at data center D make a final decision on correcting the traffic regulation information corresponding to the listed correction candidate information and then execute the correction. Alternatively, the correction necessity determination unit 51a may directly correct the traffic regulation information in the map information management database 56.

[0082] [program] The program causes the ECU 10 (computer) to operate as the first traffic regulation information acquisition unit 11, the second traffic regulation information acquisition unit 12, and the information processing unit 13 described above. The program is provided, for example, by a non-temporary recording medium such as ROM or semiconductor memory. The program may also be provided via wireless communication from a network or the like. Furthermore, the program may operate the server 50 as part of the information processing unit 13.

[0083] [Information processing methods for information processing systems] Next, the information processing method of the information processing system 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 6 is a flowchart showing an example of information processing by the information processing system 100.

[0084] As shown in Figure 6, in step S10, the ECU 10 of the information processing system 100 acquires first traffic regulation information from the image captured by the external camera 1 using the first traffic regulation information acquisition unit 11. This first traffic regulation information is acquired based on road signs and road markings, and includes information such as speed limits and stop signs. The first traffic regulation information acquisition unit 11 acquires the first traffic regulation information by, for example, analyzing the image captured by the external camera 1, detecting feature points in the image, and identifying road signs and road markings. After that, the ECU 10 proceeds to step S11.

[0085] In step S11, the ECU 10 acquires second traffic regulation information from the map information of the navigation system 2 using the second traffic regulation information acquisition unit 12. This second traffic regulation information is acquired based on the map information and the location information of the communication vehicle 60A. The second traffic regulation information acquisition unit 12 acquires the second traffic regulation information corresponding to the relevant location from the map information of the navigation system 2. After that, the ECU 10 proceeds to step S12.

[0086] In step S12, the ECU 10 uses the information processing unit 13 to determine whether the content of the first traffic regulation information and the second traffic regulation information at the same location are different. The second traffic regulation information compared with the first traffic regulation information is of the same type. The information processing unit 13 compares the first traffic regulation information and the second traffic regulation information and confirms whether their contents match. If the content of the first traffic regulation information and the second traffic regulation information are different (S12: YES), the ECU 10 proceeds to step S13. If the content of the first traffic regulation information and the second traffic regulation information match (S12: NO), the ECU 10 terminates the current information processing.

[0087] In step S13, the ECU 10 determines, using the information processing unit 13, whether the communication vehicle 60A was driving in compliance with the traffic regulations of the first traffic regulation information at the above location. The information processing unit 13 makes the above determination based on the driving history of the communication vehicle 60A stored in the driving history database 5. If the ECU 10 determines that the communication vehicle 60A was driving in compliance with the traffic regulations of the first traffic regulation information (S13: YES), it proceeds to step S14. If the ECU 10 does not determine that the communication vehicle 60A was driving in compliance with the traffic regulations of the first traffic regulation information (S13: NO), it terminates the current information processing.

[0088] In step S14, the ECU 10 uses the information processing unit 13 to determine whether there are a certain number of surrounding vehicles that are driving in violation of the traffic regulations of the first traffic regulation information at the above location. The driving status of surrounding vehicles may be detected by the sensors of the communication vehicle 60A or obtained by vehicle-to-vehicle communication. If the ECU 10 determines that there are no certain number of surrounding vehicles that are driving in violation of the traffic regulations of the first traffic regulation information (S14: YES), it proceeds to step S15. If the ECU 10 determines that there are a certain number of surrounding vehicles that are driving in violation of the traffic regulations of the first traffic regulation information (S14: NO), it terminates the current information processing. Note that step S14 is not necessarily required.

[0089] In step S15, the ECU 10 sends the second traffic regulation information as a candidate for correction to the server 50 in data center D via the information processing unit 13. The information processing unit 13 may send only the information that identifies the second traffic regulation information, rather than the second traffic regulation information itself, or it may also send the first traffic regulation information, which is highly likely to be the correct traffic regulation. After that, the ECU 10 terminates the current information processing.

[0090] Next, we will explain information processing when the type of traffic regulation is a speed limit. Figure 7 is a flowchart showing an example of information processing when the type of traffic regulation is a speed limit.

[0091] As shown in Figure 7, in step S20, the ECU 10 acquires first speed limit information from the image captured by the external camera 1 using the first traffic regulation information acquisition unit 11. The first traffic regulation information acquisition unit 11 acquires the first speed limit information by, for example, analyzing the image captured by the external camera 1, detecting feature points in the image, and identifying road signs and road markings. After that, the ECU 10 proceeds to step S21.

[0092] In step S21, the ECU 10 obtains second speed limit information from the map information of the navigation system 2 using the second traffic regulation information acquisition unit 12. The second traffic regulation information acquisition unit 12 obtains second speed limit information corresponding to the relevant location from the map information of the navigation system 2. After that, the ECU 10 proceeds to step S22.

[0093] In step S22, the ECU 10 uses the information processing unit 13 to determine whether the contents of the first speed limit information and the second speed limit information at the same location are different. The information processing unit 13 compares the first speed limit information and the second speed limit information and confirms whether their contents match. If the contents of the first speed limit information and the second speed limit information are different (S22: YES), the ECU 10 proceeds to step S23. If the contents of the first speed limit information and the second speed limit information match (S22: NO), the ECU 10 terminates the current information processing.

[0094] In step S23, the ECU 10 uses the information processing unit 13 to determine whether the communication vehicle 60A was driving in compliance with the speed limit of the first speed limit information at the above location. The information processing unit 13 makes the above determination based on the driving history of the communication vehicle 60A stored in the driving history database 5. If the ECU 10 determines that the communication vehicle 60A was driving in compliance with the speed limit of the first speed limit information (S23: YES), it proceeds to step S24. If the ECU 10 does not determine that the communication vehicle 60A was driving in compliance with the speed limit of the first speed limit information (S23: NO), it terminates the current information processing.

[0095] In step S24, the ECU 10 uses the information processing unit 13 to determine whether there are a certain number of surrounding vehicles that are not complying with the speed limit of the first speed limit information at the above location. The driving status of the surrounding vehicles may be detected by the sensors of the communication vehicle 60A or obtained by vehicle-to-vehicle communication. If the ECU 10 determines that there are no certain number of surrounding vehicles that are not complying with the speed limit of the first speed limit information (S24: YES), it proceeds to step S25. If the ECU 10 determines that there are a certain number of surrounding vehicles that are not complying with the speed limit of the first speed limit information (S24: NO), it terminates the current information processing. Note that step S24 is not necessarily required.

[0096] In step S25, the ECU 10 sends the second speed limit information as a candidate for correction to the server 50 in data center D via the information processing unit 13. After that, the ECU 10 terminates the current information processing.

[0097] Next, we will explain information processing when the type of traffic regulation is a direction restriction. Figure 8 is a flowchart showing an example of information processing when the type of traffic regulation is a direction restriction.

[0098] As shown in Figure 8, in step S30, the ECU 10 acquires first direction restriction information from the image captured by the external camera 1 using the first traffic regulation information acquisition unit 11. The first traffic regulation information acquisition unit 11 acquires the first direction restriction information by, for example, analyzing the image captured by the external camera 1, detecting feature points in the image, and identifying road signs and road markings. After that, the ECU 10 proceeds to step S31.

[0099] In step S31, the ECU 10 obtains second direction restriction information from the map information of the navigation system 2 using the second traffic restriction information acquisition unit 12. The second traffic restriction information acquisition unit 12 obtains second direction restriction information corresponding to the relevant location from the map information of the navigation system 2. After that, the ECU 10 proceeds to step S32.

[0100] In step S32, the ECU 10 uses the information processing unit 13 to determine whether the contents of the first direction restriction information and the second direction restriction information at the same location are different. The information processing unit 13 compares the first direction restriction information and the second direction restriction information and confirms whether their contents match. If the contents of the first direction restriction information and the second direction restriction information are different (S32: YES), the ECU 10 proceeds to step S33. If the contents of the first direction restriction information and the second direction restriction information match (S32: NO), the ECU 10 terminates the current information processing.

[0101] In step S33, the ECU 10 determines, using the information processing unit 13, whether the communication vehicle 60A was driving in compliance with the direction restriction information of the first direction restriction information at the above location. The information processing unit 13 makes the above determination based on the driving history of the communication vehicle 60A stored in the driving history database 5. If the ECU 10 determines that the communication vehicle 60A was driving in compliance with the direction restriction information of the first direction restriction information (S33: YES), it proceeds to step S34. If the ECU 10 does not determine that the communication vehicle 60A was driving in compliance with the direction restriction information of the first direction restriction information (S33: NO), it terminates the current information processing.

[0102] In step S34, the ECU 10 uses the information processing unit 13 to determine whether there are a certain number of surrounding vehicles that are driving in violation of the first direction restriction information at the above location. The driving status of surrounding vehicles may be detected by the sensors of the communication vehicle 60A or obtained by vehicle-to-vehicle communication. If the ECU 10 determines that there are no certain number of surrounding vehicles that are driving in violation of the first direction restriction information (S34: YES), it proceeds to step S35. If the ECU 10 determines that there are a certain number of surrounding vehicles that are driving in violation of the first direction restriction information (S34: NO), it terminates the current information processing. Note that step S34 is not necessarily required.

[0103] In step S35, the ECU 10 sends the second direction restriction information as a modification candidate to the server 50 in data center D via the information processing unit 13. After that, the ECU 10 terminates the current information processing.

[0104] Next, we will explain the information processing when the type of traffic regulation is whether or not overtaking is prohibited. Figure 9 is a flowchart showing an example of information processing when the type of traffic regulation is whether or not overtaking is prohibited.

[0105] As shown in Figure 9, in step S40, the ECU 10 acquires first overtaking prohibition information from the image captured by the external camera 1 using the first traffic regulation information acquisition unit 11. The first traffic regulation information acquisition unit 11 acquires the first overtaking prohibition information by, for example, analyzing the image captured by the external camera 1, detecting feature points in the image, and identifying road signs and road markings. After that, the ECU 10 proceeds to step S41.

[0106] In step S41, the ECU 10 obtains second overtaking prohibition information from the map information of the navigation system 2 using the second traffic regulation information acquisition unit 12. The second traffic regulation information acquisition unit 12 obtains second overtaking prohibition information corresponding to the relevant location from the map information of the navigation system 2. After that, the ECU 10 proceeds to step S42.

[0107] In step S42, the ECU 10 uses the information processing unit 13 to determine whether the content of the first overtaking prohibition information indicates that overtaking is permitted at the same location, and whether the content of the second overtaking prohibition information indicates that overtaking is prohibited. If the content of the first overtaking prohibition information indicates that overtaking is permitted and the content of the second overtaking prohibition information indicates that overtaking is prohibited (S42: YES), the ECU 10 proceeds to step S43. If the content of the first overtaking prohibition information indicates that overtaking is not permitted, or if the content of the second overtaking prohibition information indicates that overtaking is not prohibited (S42: NO), the ECU 10 terminates the current information processing.

[0108] In step S43, the ECU 10 determines, using the information processing unit 13, whether or not the communication vehicle 60A overtook at the above location. The information processing unit 13 makes the above determination based on the driving history of the communication vehicle 60A stored in the driving history database 5. If the ECU 10 determines that the communication vehicle 60A overtook (S43: YES), it proceeds to step S44. If the ECU 10 does not determine that the communication vehicle 60A overtook (S43: NO), it terminates the current information processing.

[0109] In step S44, the ECU 10 sends the second overtaking prohibition information as a correction candidate to the server 50 in data center D via the information processing unit 13. After that, the ECU 10 terminates the current information processing.

[0110] Next, we will explain the process for prohibiting the determination of potential correction candidates. Figure 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the process for prohibiting the determination of potential correction candidates. This process is performed, for example, when the information processing shown in Figure 7 is executable. Note that this process is not mandatory.

[0111] As shown in Figure 10, in step S50, the ECU 10 determines whether the prohibition condition has been met based on the driving environment or driving state of the communication vehicle 60A, as determined by the information processing unit 13. The information processing unit 13 determines that the prohibition condition has been met, for example, if the driving state of the communication vehicle 60A is automatic driving. If the ECU 10 determines that the prohibition condition has been met (S50: YES), it proceeds to S51. If the ECU 10 does not determine that the prohibition condition has been met (S50: NO), it proceeds to S52.

[0112] In step S51, the ECU 10 prohibits the processing of correction candidates via the information processing unit 13. While the prohibition condition is met, the information processing unit 13 does not process the correction candidates for the second traffic regulation information. After that, the ECU 10 terminates the current correction candidate prohibition process.

[0113] In step S52, the ECU 10 releases the ban on processing candidate corrections. After that, the ECU 10 terminates the current process of banning candidate corrections. If processing candidate corrections are not prohibited, the process of banning candidate corrections is terminated without further action. The above explanation of the process in Figures 6 to 10 was given using communication vehicle 60A as an example, but communication vehicles 60B to 60Z may also perform similar processing.

[0114] Next, we will describe the processing in server 50 of data center D. Figure 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the listing process in server 50 of data center D. Server 50 may perform the listing process periodically, for example, every day, or it may perform the listing process when the number of transmissions from communication vehicles 60 exceeds a certain number.

[0115] As shown in Figure 11, in step S60, the server 50 determines, using the correction necessity determination unit 51a, whether or not a predetermined number of communication vehicles 60 have sent correction candidates with the same content to the same location on the map. If the server 50 determines that a predetermined number of communication vehicles 60 have sent correction candidates with the same content to the same location on the map (S60: YES), it proceeds to step S61. If the server 50 does not determine that a predetermined number of communication vehicles 60 have sent correction candidates with the same content to the same location on the map (S60: NO), it terminates the current listing process.

[0116] In step S61, server 50 lists the information of the correction candidates that it has determined need correction as final correction candidates and saves them in the map information management database 56. Administrators working at data center D make a final decision on correcting the traffic regulation information corresponding to the listed correction candidate information and then execute the correction. After that, server 50 terminates the current listing process.

[0117] According to the information processing system 100 of this embodiment described above, when the contents of the first traffic regulation information and the second traffic regulation information at the same location differ, if it is determined from the driving history of the communication vehicle 60 that the communication vehicle 60 was driving in compliance with the traffic regulations of the first traffic regulation information, the second traffic regulation information is processed as a candidate for correction. This reduces the burden on the user compared to the conventional method of having the user make a selection, and the second traffic regulation information can be appropriately processed as a candidate for correction based on the driving history of the communication vehicle 60.

[0118] Furthermore, according to the information processing system 100, if the content of the first speed limit information and the second speed limit information at the same location differ, and it is determined from the driving history of the communication vehicle 60 that the communication vehicle 60 was driving in compliance with the speed limit of the first speed limit information, the second speed limit information can be processed as a candidate for correction, thereby appropriately processing the second speed limit information as a candidate for correction, taking into account the driving history of the communication vehicle 60.

[0119] Similarly, according to the information processing system 100, if the contents of the first direction restriction information and the second direction restriction information at the same location are different, and the system determines from the driving history of the communication vehicle 60 that the communication vehicle 60 was driving in compliance with the direction restriction of the first direction restriction information, the system processes the second direction restriction information as a candidate for correction. This allows the system to appropriately process the second direction restriction information as a candidate for correction, taking into account the driving history of the communication vehicle 60.

[0120] Furthermore, according to the information processing system 100, if, at the location where the communication vehicle 60 has overtaken, the content of the first overtaking prohibition information indicates that overtaking is permitted, and the content of the second overtaking prohibition information indicates that overtaking is prohibited, the second overtaking prohibition information is processed as a candidate for correction. This allows the system to appropriately process the second overtaking prohibition information as a candidate for correction, taking into account the driving history of the communication vehicle 60.

[0121] Furthermore, according to the information processing system 100, even if the content of the first traffic regulation information and the second traffic regulation information at the same location differs, and the system determines from the driving history of the communication vehicle 60 that the communication vehicle 60 was complying with the traffic regulations of the first traffic regulation information, if the number of surrounding vehicles that are complying with the traffic regulations of the first traffic regulation information is below a certain threshold, the system will not process the second traffic regulation information as a candidate for correction, thereby suppressing inappropriate corrections when the reliability of the first traffic regulation information is low.

[0122] Furthermore, according to the information processing system 100, when the content of the first traffic regulation information and the second traffic regulation information at the same location differs, even if the communication vehicle 60 is driving in compliance with the traffic regulations of the first traffic regulation information based on the driving history of the communication vehicle 60, if the prohibited conditions set in advance based on the driving environment or driving state of the vehicle at that location are met, the processing of the correction candidate can be prohibited. This suppresses the processing of unnecessary correction candidates in situations where the communication vehicle 60 may be complying with the traffic regulations of the first traffic regulation information regardless of the driver's intention, such as when the communication vehicle 60 is in autonomous driving mode or driving in a road construction zone.

[0123] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. The present invention can be implemented in various forms, starting with the embodiments described above, by making various changes and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

[0124] In the embodiment described above, the processing of correction candidates was performed in the ECU 10 of the communication vehicle 60, but the processing of correction candidates may also be performed in the server 50. For example, the communication vehicle 60 transmits to the server 50 the driving history of locations where the first traffic regulation information and the second traffic regulation information are different, as well as the first traffic regulation information and the second traffic regulation information. The server 50 determines whether the communication vehicle 60 is driving in compliance with the first traffic regulation information, and if it determines that the communication vehicle 60 is driving in compliance with the first traffic regulation information, it counts the second traffic regulation information as a correction candidate. The communication vehicle 60 may also transmit information about surrounding vehicles to the server 50.

[0125] The information processing system 100 may be a system that is completed solely within the communication vehicle 60. In other words, the server 50 may be a separate system. In this case, the configuration for executing the processing of correction candidates in the communication vehicle 60 (such as the ECU 10) corresponds to the information processing system 100.

[0126] Server 50 may collect first traffic regulation information acquired by a communication vehicle 60 that is not equipped with the navigation system 2, as well as the driving history of the communication vehicle 60. In this case, since the second traffic regulation information cannot be acquired, the communication vehicle 60 cannot determine whether the second traffic regulation information needs to be corrected. However, if Server 50 collects first traffic regulation information (e.g., stop signs) from multiple communication vehicles 60, and a large number of driving histories are collected showing that the vehicles are driving in compliance with the first traffic regulation information, it can determine that the reliability of the first traffic regulation information is high. As a result, if the first traffic regulation information (e.g., stop signs) is not linked to the map information in the map information management database 56, Server 50 can reflect the first traffic regulation information in the map information.

[0127] Furthermore, the communication vehicle 60A does not necessarily need to be equipped with the navigation system 2; it only needs to have map information associated with traffic regulation information. In this case, second traffic regulation information can be obtained from the map information. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0128] 1...External camera, 2...Navigation system, 3...Positioning system, 4...Internal sensor, 5...Driving history database, 6...Communication module, 10...ECU, 11...First traffic regulation information acquisition unit, 12...Second traffic regulation information acquisition unit, 13...Information processing unit, 50...Server, 100...Information processing system.

Claims

1. An information processing system that processes information regarding traffic regulations on roads on which vehicles travel, A first traffic regulation information acquisition unit acquires first traffic regulation information, which is information about traffic regulations on the road on which the vehicle is traveling, based on road signs or road markings captured in the image of the vehicle's external camera. A second traffic regulation information acquisition unit acquires second traffic regulation information, which is the same type of traffic regulation information as the first traffic regulation on the road, based on map information associated with traffic regulation information and the map location information of the vehicle. When the contents of the first traffic regulation information and the second traffic regulation information at the same location differ, and the vehicle's driving history determines that the vehicle was driving in compliance with the traffic regulations of the first traffic regulation information, the information processing unit processes the second traffic regulation information as a candidate for correction. An information processing system equipped with the following features.

2. The first traffic regulation information is first speed limit information, which is speed limit information obtained based on road signs or road markings captured in the image of the external camera. The aforementioned second traffic regulation information is second speed limit information, which is speed limit information obtained based on the map information and the location information of the vehicle on the map. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein when the contents of the first speed limit information and the second speed limit information at the same location are different, the information processing unit determines from the vehicle's driving history that the vehicle was driving in compliance with the speed limit of the first speed limit information, and processes the second speed limit information as a candidate for correction.

3. The first traffic regulation information is first direction restriction information, which is information on direction restrictions obtained based on road signs or road markings captured in the image of the external camera. The aforementioned second traffic regulation information is second direction restriction information, which is information on direction restrictions obtained based on the map information and the location information of the vehicle on the map. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein when the contents of the first direction restriction information and the second direction restriction information at the same location differ, the information processing unit determines from the vehicle's driving history that the vehicle was driving in compliance with the direction restriction of the first direction restriction information, and processes the second direction restriction information as a candidate for modification.

4. The first traffic regulation information is the first overtaking prohibition information, which is information on whether or not overtaking is prohibited, obtained based on road signs or road markings captured in the image of the external camera. The aforementioned second traffic regulation information is second overtaking prohibition information, which is information on whether overtaking is prohibited or not, obtained based on the aforementioned map information and the location information of the vehicle on the map. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein, at the position where the vehicle has overtaken, if the content of the first overtaking prohibition information indicates that overtaking is permitted and the content of the second overtaking prohibition information indicates that overtaking is prohibited, the second overtaking prohibition information is processed as a candidate for modification.

5. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein, when the contents of the first traffic regulation information and the second traffic regulation information at the same location differ, even if the information processing unit determines from the vehicle's driving history that the vehicle was driving in compliance with the traffic regulations of the first traffic regulation information, if there are a certain number or more surrounding vehicles driving around the vehicle that are driving in compliance with the traffic regulations of the first traffic regulation information, the information processing unit does not process the second traffic regulation information as a candidate for correction.

6. The information processing unit, in cases where the contents of the first traffic regulation information and the second traffic regulation information at the same location are different, and even if the vehicle is driving in compliance with the traffic regulations of the first traffic regulation information based on the vehicle's driving history, prohibits processing of the modification candidate if a pre-set prohibition condition is met based on the vehicle's driving environment or driving state at that location, according to the information processing unit of claim 1.

7. An information processing method for an information processing system that processes information regarding traffic regulations on roads on which vehicles travel, Based on road signs or road markings captured in the image of the vehicle's external camera, first traffic regulation information, which is information on traffic regulations on the road the vehicle is traveling on, is acquired. Based on map information including information on traffic regulations and the map location information of the vehicle, a second traffic regulation information is obtained, which is the same type of traffic regulation information as the first traffic regulation on the road. An information processing method for an information processing system, wherein, when the contents of the first traffic regulation information and the second traffic regulation information differ, and the system determines from the vehicle's driving history that the vehicle was driving in compliance with the traffic regulations of the first traffic regulation information, the system processes the second traffic regulation information as a candidate for correction.

8. A program that operates the vehicle's computer as an information processing system for processing information regarding traffic regulations on the roads on which the vehicle travels, A first traffic regulation information acquisition unit acquires first traffic regulation information, which is information about traffic regulations on the road on which the vehicle is traveling, based on road signs or road markings captured in the image of the vehicle's external camera. A second traffic regulation information acquisition unit acquires second traffic regulation information, which is the same type of traffic regulation information as the first traffic regulation on the road, based on map information including information on traffic regulations and the map location information of the vehicle, and A program that causes the computer to operate as an information processing unit that processes the second traffic regulation information as a candidate for correction when the content of the first traffic regulation information and the second traffic regulation information at the same location differ, and the program determines from the vehicle's driving history that the vehicle was driving in compliance with the traffic regulations of the first traffic regulation information.

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