Area management device and area management method

Abstract

To provide a toll processing system, a central device, and an exit tollgate device that can easily implement toll processing, such as toll collection based on various toll systems according to routes, even in large toll road networks.SOLUTION: According to an embodiment, a toll processing system comprises an area management device, an entrance toll booth device, an exit toll booth device, a route device, and a barrier device. The barrier device has a barrier control unit that, when communicating with a vehicle passing through a barrier, transmits area crossing information indicating that the vehicle has moved through the area to both or at least one of the area management device in the area of origin and the area management device in the area of destination. When the area management device receives the area crossing information indicating the vehicle that has moved through the area from the barrier device, the area management device has a central control unit that takes over taking-over information indicating a route taken by the vehicle or a variable amount according to the route with the area management device in an adjacent area.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention comprises: Area management device and area management method Regarding. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, ETC systems that collect tolls through wireless communication with on-board devices installed in vehicles have become widespread on toll roads such as expressways. In addition, various services have been proposed for toll roads with the aim of promoting use or easing congestion. For example, services that offer discounts on tolls depending on the route the vehicle travels and the date and time have been proposed. On the other hand, road networks such as expressways are connected on a national scale, and the areas are expanding with the addition of new routes, making the routes more complex. For this reason, it is becoming difficult to manage information such as the routes traveled by each vehicle and to process tolls that correspond to various toll systems.

[0003] Conventionally, one method for managing the routes that vehicles have taken on expressways is to write route information to a storage medium (such as an ETC card set in an on-board unit) installed in the vehicle. However, with the current ETC system, it is difficult to store nationwide route information in the storage area of ​​an ETC card. Also, while it is technically possible to expand the storage area of ​​an ETC card, this is not realistic due to the high migration costs.

[0004] As another method, it is technically possible to calculate the route traveled by one vehicle by aggregating route information including GPS information collected by multiple information collection devices installed at various points on the road called ITS spots. However, the process of handling multiple route information for multiple vehicles traveling on a road collectively, or identifying the route for each vehicle by processing such as map matching of GPS information that actually has errors, takes a lot of processing time, and it is actually difficult to identify the route of each vehicle in time for toll settlement at the exit toll gate. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-151969 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] As described above, conventional toll processing systems have the problem that it is difficult to manage the routes actually traveled for each vehicle in a large-scale toll road network, calculate the toll for each vehicle according to the route, and perform processes such as toll collection. The present invention is intended to solve the above problems, and makes it possible to easily realize fee collection and other fee processing using a variety of fee systems according to routes, even in a large-scale toll road network. Area management device and area management method The purpose is to provide. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to an embodiment, an area management device is provided for each area to process tolls on a toll road divided into a plurality of areas. The area management device has an equipment communication unit, an inter-area communication unit, and a control unit. The device communication unit communicates with a checkpoint device that detects a vehicle passing through a checkpoint provided between the own area and an adjacent area adjacent to the own area. The inter-area communication unit communicates with an area management device of the adjacent area. When the control unit receives area crossing information indicating the vehicle from the checkpoint device when the vehicle moves from the adjacent area to the own area, the control unit transmits a handover request to the area management device of the adjacent area from which the vehicle is to move, and when the control unit receives a request for handover information about the vehicle from the area management device of the adjacent area to which the vehicle is to move when the vehicle moves from the own area to the adjacent area, the control unit transmits handover information indicating a route traveled by the vehicle or a variable amount according to the route to the area management device of the destination area. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining the fee processing system according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a control system for each device in the fee processing system according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a basic table according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a variable charge table according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of operation of the fee processing system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the area management device in the fee processing system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the checkpoint device in the fee processing system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the exit toll booth device in the toll processing system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of operation of a fee processing system according to a first modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of operation of a fee processing system according to a second modification of the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the area management device in the fee processing system according to the second modification of the first embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a control system of each device in the fee processing system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of operation of the fee processing system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the area management device in the fee processing system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the exit toll gate device in the toll processing system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of operation of a fee processing system according to a first modified example of the second embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of operation of a fee processing system according to a second modification of the second embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the area management device in the fee processing system according to the second modification of the second embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a control system of each device in the fee processing system according to the third embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of operation of the fee processing system according to the third embodiment. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the area management device in the fee processing system according to the third embodiment. [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the exit toll gate device in the toll processing system according to the third embodiment. [Figure 23] FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an example of operation of a fee processing system according to a first modified example of the third embodiment. [Figure 24] FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of operation of a fee processing system according to a second modification of the third embodiment. [Diagram 25] FIG. 25 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the area management device in the fee processing system according to the second modified example of the third embodiment. [Figure 26] FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an example of operation of the fee processing system according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 27] FIG. 27 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the area management device in the fee processing system according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 28] FIG. 28 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the checkpoint device in the fee processing system according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 29] FIG. 29 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the exit toll gate device in the toll processing system according to the fourth embodiment. [Diagram 30] FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating an example of operation of a fee processing system according to a first modified example of the fourth embodiment. [Diagram 31] FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating an example of operation of a fee processing system according to a second modified example of the fourth embodiment. [Diagram 32]FIG. 32 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the area management device in the fee processing system according to the second modified example of the fourth embodiment. [Diagram 33] FIG. 33 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the exit toll gate device in the toll processing system according to the second modified example of the fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. First, an overview of the fee processing system according to each embodiment will be described. Toll roads to which the toll processing system is applied have the basic principle that the same toll is charged for the same starting and ending points (same entrance and exit). Furthermore, various measures such as congestion countermeasures are implemented to reduce (or add to) the toll (toll) for vehicles that meet certain conditions, such as preset routes (sections) that vary the toll (toll fee), or the date and time of passage. For example, as a measure to reduce congestion, a variable amount (discount amount or additional amount, etc.) for each route is set according to the degree of congestion for each route on the toll road.

[0010] When implementing variable charging based on route, section, or transit time as described above, the toll table on which the toll is calculated becomes complex and huge, so there are limitations to its operation. For this reason, in the toll processing system according to each embodiment, one toll road network that is the subject of toll processing is divided into multiple areas, information such as route is managed for each area, and a toll that varies depending on the route, etc. is calculated when exiting the toll road network. The multiple areas may not only be areas divided for each road operator that manages the toll road, but may also be a toll road network (one toll road) of one road operator that is divided into multiple areas.

[0011] In this embodiment, each area is provided with an area management device, which is a central device that performs processing related to toll calculation. The toll is calculated by combining a basic charging table for determining the basic toll determined by the correspondence between the entrance toll gate and the exit toll gate, and a variable charging table that specifies the discount amount (or surcharge amount) determined by the date and time of passage and the route. Hereinafter, as first to fourth embodiments, embodiments for implementing a fee processing system including an area management device provided for each area will be described.

[0012] (First embodiment) The first embodiment is an embodiment in which both the basic charging table and the variable charging table are held in the area management device. First, an embodiment in which the variable charge table differs for each area will be described. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining the outline of a charge processing system according to the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the toll processing system according to the embodiment manages one toll road network by dividing it into multiple areas A and B. In the configuration example shown in Fig. 1, the toll processing system includes multiple area management devices 1 (1A, 1B), entrance toll booth equipment 2, exit toll booth equipment 3, route equipment 4, and checkpoint equipment 5.

[0013] An area management device 1 is provided for each area. The area management device 1 is a central device (server device) that communicates with roadside devices installed at various locations on the toll road, such as an entrance toll gate device 2, an exit toll gate device 3, a route device 4, and a checkpoint device 5. 1, the toll processing system has an area management device 1A corresponding to area A as a first area, and an area management device 1B corresponding to area B as a second area. Area management device 1A manages route information traveled by each vehicle in area A and variable fees according to the route, while area management device 1B manages route information traveled by each vehicle in area B and variable fees according to the route.

[0014] A toll booth (IC) is provided in each of areas A and B. Each toll booth (IC) has an entrance toll booth and an exit toll booth. However, an IC may be an entrance-only IC that functions only as an entrance toll booth, or an exit-only IC that functions only as an exit toll booth. The entrance toll booth and the exit toll booth are provided with lanes designed for vehicles to travel in predetermined directions (entrance direction and exit direction), for example. Vehicles equipped with an onboard unit S into which an IC card (ETC card) C for payment is inserted pass through the lanes.

[0015] An entrance toll booth equipment 2 is installed at the entrance toll booth, and an exit toll booth equipment 3 is installed at the exit toll booth. The entrance toll booth equipment 2 and the exit toll booth equipment 3 communicate via wireless communication with an on-board unit S mounted on a vehicle passing through the lane. The entrance toll booth equipment 2 is a device that performs entrance processing (entry processing) for vehicles entering the toll road. The exit toll booth equipment 3 is a device that performs exit processing (exit processing) for vehicles exiting the toll road.

[0016] The route device 4 is disposed at various locations within each area of ​​the toll road in order to detect the route that the vehicle has traveled. The route device 4 detects vehicles traveling a specific route by detecting vehicles passing through a predetermined position on the toll road. For example, the route device 4 detects vehicles passing through a predetermined route (passage detection point) provided on the toll road by wirelessly communicating with an on-board device S mounted on the vehicle passing the route. In addition, the route device 4 obtains identification information indicating a vehicle that has passed through the predetermined route, the passing date and time, etc., by wireless communication with the on-board device S. Specific examples of the route device 4 include a road-to-vehicle communication device using DSRC, a route FF (free flow), etc.

[0017] The checkpoint device 5 is installed at a connection point between multiple areas (hereinafter referred to as a checkpoint) and detects vehicles passing through this checkpoint. In the configuration example shown in FIG. 1, the checkpoint device 5 is installed so as to detect vehicles passing through a location (checkpoint) connecting area A and area B on a toll road. For example, the checkpoint device 5 communicates by wireless communication with an on-board device S mounted on a vehicle passing through the checkpoint between area A and area B. The checkpoint device 5 detects vehicles moving between areas and the date and time of passage by wireless communication with the on-board device S. Specific examples of the checkpoint device 5 include a road-to-vehicle communication device using DSRC, a checkpoint FF, etc.

[0018] Each area management device 1A (1B) has a function of communicating with an area management device 1B (1A) in an adjacent area. Each area management device 1A (1B) also communicates with an entrance toll gate device 2, an exit toll gate device 3, and a route device 4 in the corresponding area A (B) to obtain entry information, exit information, and passing route information. The area management device 1A (1B) also has a function of communicating with a checkpoint device 5 that detects vehicles passing through the checkpoint.

[0019] Next, the configuration of a control system in each device constituting the fee processing system according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a control system for the area management device 1 (1A, 1B), entrance toll gate equipment 2, exit toll gate equipment 3, route equipment 4 and checkpoint equipment 5 in the toll processing system according to the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 2, the area management device 1 has a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a device communication unit 13, and an inter-area communication unit 14. The area management device 1 is configured, for example, by a general-purpose server device. Note that, although the example shown in Fig. 2 shows the configuration of the area management device 1A, the area management devices in other areas (area management device 1B in area B) are also assumed to have the same configuration as the area management device 1A.

[0020] The control unit 11 is a control unit that controls and processes data in the area management device 1. The control unit 11 has a CPU, a memory, an interface, and the like. The CPU is a processor that executes a program to realize various processing functions. The CPU is connected to each part constituting the area management device 1 via an interface, and the like. The memory includes various types of memory such as a non-volatile memory that stores the program executed by the CPU, a volatile memory that temporarily holds data, and a rewritable non-volatile memory that saves setting data, and the like. In other words, the control unit 11 controls each part and processes data by the CPU executing the program stored in the memory.

[0021] The memory unit 12 includes a storage medium such as an in-memory that allows high-speed reading and writing. The memory unit 12 may be configured with a large-capacity storage device such as an HDD or SSD. The memory unit 12 stores various data related to the toll processing system. For example, the memory unit 12 stores information collected from the entrance toll gate equipment 2, the exit toll gate equipment 3, the route equipment 4, the checkpoint equipment 5, and other area management devices 1. The memory unit 12 also stores the information acquired from each device in association with the vehicle's identification information (card ID, on-board device ID).

[0022] In the first embodiment, the storage unit 12 includes a basic table T1 and a variable charging table T2A. The basic table T1 is a storage area for storing information indicating tolls (basic tolls) corresponding to entrances and exits in the toll road network. The basic table T1 stores information indicating the basic tolls that are the same for the same departure and arrival for each combination of entrances and exits in the entire toll road.

[0023] The variable charge table T2A is a storage area for storing information indicating a charge amount (variable amount, discount amount) that varies depending on conditions such as each route in area A or a route and a passing time. In the first embodiment, each area management device 1A, 1B is equipped with an area-specific variable charge table T1A, T1B provided for each area. For example, the variable charge table T2A stores a variable amount that is applied to each route depending on the congestion status or expected congestion status of each route in area A. In addition, the setting information for the congestion level of each route or the variable amount depending on the congestion level may be determined from information collected from each route device, may be obtained from an external server, or may be manually entered from a connected terminal device.

[0024] The device communication unit 13 is a communication interface for communicating with external devices. In this embodiment, the device communication unit 13 is an interface for communicating with the entrance toll gate device 2, the exit toll gate device 3, the route device 4, and the checkpoint device 5. The device communication unit 13 may include multiple types of communication interfaces corresponding to various devices. The inter-area communication unit 14 is a communication interface for communicating with area management devices in other areas. In this embodiment, the inter-area communication unit 14 is configured to communicate with area management devices provided in adjacent areas to which roads are connected via checkpoints.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 2, the entrance toll booth equipment 2 has a control unit 21, a higher-level communication unit 22, a vehicle communication unit 23, a departure controller 24, a roadside display 25, and the like. The control unit 21 is a control unit that controls the entire entrance toll booth equipment 2 and processes data. The control unit 21 has a CPU, memory, an interface, etc. The CPU is a processor that realizes various processing functions by executing programs. The CPU is connected to each part that constitutes the entrance toll booth equipment 2 via an interface, etc. The memory includes various types of memory such as a non-volatile memory that stores the programs executed by the CPU, a volatile memory that temporarily holds data, and a rewritable non-volatile memory that saves setting data, etc.

[0026] The upper communication unit 22 is a communication interface for communicating with the area management device 1 as a higher-level device. The upper communication unit 22 may communicate with the area management device 1 by wireless communication, or may communicate with the area management device 1 via a communication line. The vehicle communication unit 23 is an interface that wirelessly communicates with the vehicle-mounted unit S mounted on the vehicle. The vehicle communication unit 23 wirelessly communicates with the vehicle-mounted unit S mounted on a vehicle (a vehicle attempting to enter) approaching the entrance toll gate equipment 2 at the entrance toll gate. The vehicle communication unit 23 acquires information such as the card ID of the ETC card C, the vehicle-mounted unit ID, and vehicle model information indicating the vehicle model from the vehicle-mounted unit S with which it wirelessly communicates.

[0027] The departure controller 24 controls the entry of vehicles into the toll road from the entrance toll gate. The departure controller 24 controls the opening and closing of a departure control bar provided on the lane at the entrance toll gate. For example, when the departure controller 24 temporarily stops the vehicle or when the departure controller 24 does not allow the vehicle to pass (enter), the departure controller 24 closes the departure control bar to prevent the vehicle from passing. When the departure controller 24 permits the vehicle to pass (enter), the departure controller 24 opens the departure control bar to allow the vehicle to pass. Note that the departure controller 24 may not be provided with a departure bar in order to prioritize mitigating congestion at the toll gate.

[0028] The roadside display 25 displays information such as guidance to passengers in vehicles passing through the entrance toll gate. The roadside display 25 is installed facing vehicles passing through the lane of the entrance toll gate.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, the exit toll booth device 3 includes a control unit 31, a higher-level communication unit 32, a vehicle communication unit 33, a departure controller 34, and a roadside display 35. The control unit 31 is a control unit that controls the entire exit toll booth equipment 3 and processes data. The control unit 31 has a CPU, memory, an interface, etc. The CPU is a processor that realizes various processing functions by executing programs. The CPU is connected to each component that constitutes the exit toll booth equipment 3 via an interface, etc. The memory includes various types of memory such as a non-volatile memory that stores the programs executed by the CPU, a volatile memory that temporarily holds data, and a rewritable non-volatile memory that saves setting data, etc.

[0030] The upper communication unit 32 is a communication interface for communicating with the area management device 1 as a higher-level device. The upper communication unit 32 may perform wireless communication, or may perform communication via a communication line. The vehicle communication unit 33 is an interface that wirelessly communicates with an on-board device mounted on a vehicle. The vehicle communication unit 33 wirelessly communicates with an on-board device mounted on a vehicle (a vehicle that is about to exit) approaching the exit toll gate device 3 at the exit toll gate. The vehicle communication unit 33 acquires information such as the card ID of the ETC card, the on-board device ID, and vehicle model information indicating the vehicle model from the on-board device with which it wirelessly communicates.

[0031] The departure controller 34 controls the exit of the vehicle at the exit toll gate. The departure controller 34 controls the opening and closing of a departure control bar provided in the lane at the exit toll gate. For example, when the departure controller 34 needs to stop the vehicle temporarily or when it needs to prohibit the vehicle from exiting, it closes the departure control bar to prevent the vehicle from passing (exiting). In addition, when it needs to permit the vehicle to pass (exit), the departure controller 34 opens the departure control bar to permit the vehicle to pass. Note that it is also possible not to provide a departure bar, giving priority to easing congestion at the exit toll gate. The roadside display 35 displays information such as guidance to passengers in vehicles passing through the exit toll gate. The roadside display 35 is installed facing vehicles passing through the lane of the exit toll gate.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 2, the route device 4 includes a control unit 41, an upper communication unit 42, a vehicle communication unit 43, and the like. The control unit 41 is a control unit that controls the entire route device 4 and processes data. The control unit 41 has a CPU, a memory, an interface, and the like. The CPU is a processor that realizes various processing functions by executing programs. The CPU is connected to each component that constitutes the route device 4 via an interface, etc. The memory includes various types of memory such as a nonvolatile memory that stores programs executed by the CPU, a volatile memory that temporarily holds data, and a rewritable nonvolatile memory that saves setting data, etc.

[0033] The upper communication unit 42 is a communication interface for communicating with the area management device 1 as a higher-level device. The upper communication unit 42 may communicate with the area management device 1 by wireless communication, or may communicate with the area management device 1 via a communication line. The vehicle communication unit 43 is an interface that wirelessly communicates with the vehicle-mounted unit S mounted on the vehicle. The vehicle communication unit 43 wirelessly communicates with the vehicle-mounted unit S mounted on the vehicle passing through the location where the route device 4 is installed. The vehicle communication unit 43 wirelessly communicates with the vehicle-mounted unit S mounted on the vehicle to obtain information such as the card ID of the ETC card C set in the vehicle-mounted unit S, the vehicle-mounted unit ID, and vehicle model information indicating the vehicle model. However, the route device 4 may be any device capable of acquiring information that can identify a vehicle that has passed through a specific route (section) and the date and time of passing, and the vehicle communication unit 43 may be replaced with a device capable of detecting information indicating a vehicle that has passed through a specific route and the date and time of passing, etc.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 2, the checkpoint device 5 includes a control unit 51, a higher-level communication unit 52, a vehicle communication unit 53, and the like. The control unit 51 is a control unit that controls the entire checkpoint device 5 and processes data. The control unit 51 has a CPU, a memory, an interface, etc. The CPU is a processor that realizes various processing functions by executing programs. The CPU is connected to each part that constitutes the checkpoint device 5 via an interface, etc. The memory includes various types of memory such as a nonvolatile memory that stores the programs executed by the CPU, a volatile memory that temporarily holds data, and a rewritable nonvolatile memory that saves setting data, etc.

[0035] The upper communication unit 52 is a communication interface for communicating with the area management devices 1A and 1B in the adjacent areas in which the checkpoint equipment 5 is installed. The upper communication unit 52 may communicate with the adjacent area management devices 1A and 1B by wireless communication, or may communicate with the area management devices 1A and 1B via a communication line. The vehicle communication unit 53 is an interface that wirelessly communicates with the on-board unit S mounted on a vehicle passing through the checkpoint. The vehicle communication unit 53 wirelessly communicates with the on-board unit S mounted on a vehicle passing through the location where the checkpoint equipment 5 is installed. The vehicle communication unit 53 wirelessly communicates with the on-board unit S mounted on the vehicle to obtain information such as the card ID of the ETC card C set in the on-board unit S, the on-board unit ID, and vehicle model information indicating the vehicle model.

[0036] Next, a configuration example of the basic table T1 and the variable charging table T2 (T2A, T2B) used for fee calculation according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the base table T1. The configuration example shown in Fig. 3 shows an example in which basic tables T1a, T1b, and T1c are provided for each vehicle type, such as large, medium, and normal vehicles. In basic table T1 shown in Fig. 3, one toll is shown for each combination of entrance and exit. In the first embodiment, basic table T1 stores the base toll for each combination from entrance to exit not only within an area but for the entire toll road. The exit toll booth device 3 (or area management device 1) refers to basic table T1 according to the vehicle type to determine the toll (base toll) corresponding to the combination of entrance and exit.

[0037] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the variable charge table T2 (T2A, T2B). The variable charge table T2 shown in Fig. 4 indicates a variable amount set for each condition associated with a variable ID. In the variable charge table T2, the condition associated with a variable ID may be a condition determined by time or vehicle type. The variable charge table T2 is updated as appropriate according to the congestion status or congestion forecast for each route. In the first embodiment, the variable charge table T2 is area-specific variable charge tables T2A, T2B that store a variable amount for each route within an area. Therefore, in the first embodiment, the area management devices 1A, 1B refer to the area-specific variable charge tables T2A, T2B that store a variable amount for each route within areas A, B to determine a variable amount according to the route traveled, etc.

[0038] The variable charge table T2 may be provided for each vehicle type. However, by setting the vehicle type (conditions including the vehicle type) as a condition in the variable charge table T2, it is not necessary to provide a variable charge table for each vehicle type, and it is possible to determine the variable amount for each vehicle type with one variable charge table, thereby reducing the amount of data in the entire variable charge table corresponding to all vehicle types.

[0039] In the configuration example shown in FIG. 4, the variable charge table T2 stores conditions and variable amounts in association with variable IDs. The variable ID is identification information assigned for each condition that sets a variable amount for a fee. The variable ID can be any unique information, such as a number, a character string, or a combination of a character string and a number. In the example shown in Figure 4, the variable ID is assigned unique numbers in sequence starting from the initial value "0001".

[0040] The condition is information indicating a condition under which the variable amount is applied. The condition can be determined from the passing route information. However, the condition may be determined by a combination of the passing route information, the entry information, the exit information, and the like. For example, the condition is set to be passing through a route that can be detected by the route device 4. The condition may also include the time when the vehicle passes. In the example shown in Fig. 4, the condition for the variable ID "0001" is that the vehicle passes route a, and the condition for the variable ID "0002" is that the vehicle passes route b between 17:00 and 19:00.

[0041] The fluctuation amount is information that indicates the amount by which the fee should be changed. In the example shown in FIG. 4, when the fluctuation ID satisfies the condition of "0001", the fluctuation amount is -100 yen (a reduction of 100 yen), and when the fluctuation ID satisfies the condition of "0002", the fluctuation amount is -200 yen (a reduction of 200 yen). Note that the fluctuation amount is not limited to an amount by which the fee is reduced, but may also be an amount by which the fee is increased. Also, it may be possible to set a discount rate or a surcharge rate as the fluctuation amount.

[0042] Next, information that the area management devices 1A and 1B in each area acquire from each device in the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of operation of the fee processing system according to the first embodiment. The example shown in Fig. 5 shows a schematic example of information that each area management device 1A, 1B of the toll processing system according to the first embodiment acquires from each roadside device. The example shown in Fig. 5 shows a case where a vehicle enters from an entrance toll gate "IC: A" of area A, passes through route a in area A, a checkpoint, and route c in area B, and then exits from an exit toll gate "IC: C" in area B.

[0043] First, when a vehicle passes through an entrance toll gate, the entrance toll gate equipment 2 communicates with the on-board unit S mounted on the vehicle entering the entrance toll gate, and creates entry information indicating that the vehicle has entered based on information acquired from the on-board unit S. The entrance toll gate equipment 2 transmits the created entry information to the area management device 1. In the example shown in Fig. 5, the entrance toll gate equipment 2a at the entrance toll gate "IC:A" communicates with the on-board unit S mounted on the entering vehicle, and acquires information regarding the entering vehicle. The entrance toll booth equipment 2a creates entrance information Data1 based on information acquired from the vehicle-mounted device S, and transmits the created entrance information Data1 to the area management device 1A of area A. In the example shown in Fig. 5, the entrance information Data1 includes a card ID, a vehicle-mounted device ID, an entrance IC, an entrance date and time, and a vehicle type.

[0044] The card ID is identification information of the ETC card C that is set in the vehicle-mounted unit S installed in the vehicle. The ETC card C is a card used for payment of fees. If a valid ETC card C is properly set in the on-board unit S, the entrance toll gate equipment 2 acquires a card ID from the vehicle and allows the vehicle to enter. The on-board unit ID is identification information for the on-board unit S mounted on the vehicle. The entrance IC is information indicating the entrance (entrance toll gate) through which the vehicle entered. The entry date and time is information indicating the date and time when the entrance was passed. The vehicle type is information indicating the vehicle type of the vehicle entering. However, since the card ID and on-board unit ID are identification information for identifying the vehicle to be charged, if the vehicle to be charged can be identified, either the card ID or the on-board unit ID may be omitted.

[0045] Meanwhile, each area management device 1 acquires entrance information from the entrance toll booth equipment 2 of each entrance toll booth in its assigned area (own area) as needed. In the example shown in Fig. 5, the area management device 1A acquires (receives) the entrance information Data1 configured as described above from the entrance toll booth equipment 2a of the entrance toll booth "IC:A". The area management device 1A stores information such as the entrance IC, the entry date and time, and the vehicle type included in the acquired entrance information Data1 in the storage unit 12 in association with identification information such as the card ID and the vehicle-mounted device ID of the entrance information Data1.

[0046] Next, when the route device 4 detects a passing vehicle, the route device 4 creates passed route information indicating that the vehicle has passed, and transmits the created passed route information to the area management device 1 of its own area. In the example shown in Fig. 5, the route device 4a communicates with an in-vehicle device S mounted on a vehicle passing through route a in area A, and acquires information on the passing vehicle. The route device 4a creates passed route information Data2 based on information acquired from the vehicle-mounted device S, and transmits the created passed route information Data2 to the area management device 1A of area A. As a result, the area management device 1A acquires passed route information Data2 indicating that the vehicle has passed through route a from the route device 4. In the example shown in Fig. 5, the passed route information Data2 is information including a card ID, a vehicle-mounted device ID, route information, passing date and time, vehicle type, etc.

[0047] The card ID and the vehicle-mounted device ID are identification information for identifying a vehicle that has passed through route a, and correspond to the card ID and the vehicle-mounted device ID of the entry information, etc. However, if the vehicle that has passed through route a can be identified, either the card ID or the vehicle-mounted device ID may be omitted. The route in the passed route information Data2 is information indicating that the route (passage detection point) passed by the vehicle is route a. The passing date and time in the passed route information Data2 is information indicating the date and time when the vehicle passed through the passing detection point for detecting the passage of route a. The vehicle type in the passed route information Data2 is information indicating the vehicle type of the vehicle that passed through route a. However, the vehicle type does not have to be included in the passing detection information.

[0048] 5, the area management device 1A acquires (receives) passed route information Data2 from the route device 4a when the vehicle passes through route a. When the passed route information Data2 is acquired from the route device 4a, the area management device 1A allocates a variable amount (discount amount) according to route a from the variable charging table T2A for area A. When the variable amount according to route a is allocated, the area management device 1A stores (or updates) the allocated variable amount in the storage unit 12 as a cumulative variable amount associated with the identification information (card ID or vehicle-mounted device ID) of the vehicle. The area management device may allocate the variable amount at the timing of receiving area crossing information or at the timing of receiving exit information.

[0049] Next, when the vehicle passes through the checkpoint where the checkpoint device 5 is installed, the checkpoint device 5 creates area crossing information indicating that the vehicle has passed through the checkpoint, and transmits the created area crossing information to the area management device 1A. The area crossing information is information indicating that the vehicle has passed through the checkpoint and moved to an adjacent area. In the example shown in Fig. 5, the checkpoint device 5 transmits area crossing information Data3 indicating that the vehicle has moved from area A to area B to the area management device 1A.

[0050] That is, the checkpoint device 5 communicates with an on-board device S mounted on a vehicle passing through the checkpoint, and acquires information on the vehicle passing through the checkpoint. The checkpoint device 5 creates area crossing information (checkpoint passing information) Data3 based on the information acquired from the on-board device S, and transmits the created area crossing information Data3 to the area management device 1A in area A. As a result, the area management device 1A acquires from the checkpoint device 5 the area crossing information Data3 indicating a vehicle that has passed through the checkpoint and moved from area A to area B.

[0051] In the example shown in FIG. 5, the cross-area information Data3 is information including a card ID, an in-vehicle device ID, checkpoint information, the passing date and time, and the vehicle type. The card ID and the on-board device ID are identification information for identifying a vehicle that has passed through a checkpoint, and correspond to the card ID and the on-board device ID included in the entry information and the passing route information. However, if the vehicle that has passed through the checkpoint can be identified, either the card ID or the on-board device ID may be omitted. The checkpoint information is information indicating the checkpoint that the vehicle has passed through. For example, the checkpoint information is information that identifies the checkpoint equipment 5 installed at the checkpoint. The checkpoint information may also be information indicating the area through which the vehicle travels after passing through the checkpoint. The passing date and time in the area crossing information Data3 is information indicating the date and time when the vehicle passed through the checkpoint. The vehicle type is information indicating the vehicle type of the vehicle that passed through the checkpoint. However, the vehicle type does not have to be included in the area crossing information. In addition, the checkpoint device 5 may transmit the area crossing information Data3 to the area management device 1B of the destination area B, or may transmit it to both the area management device 1A of the source area A and the area management device 1B of the destination area B.

[0052] The area management device 1A acquires (receives) area crossing information Data3 from the checkpoint device 5 installed at the checkpoint, and creates handover information Data4 for handing over information related to the fluctuation amount for the vehicle that has passed through the checkpoint to the area management device 1B in the destination area B. After creating the handover information Data4, the area management device 1A transmits the handover information to the area management device 1B in the area B, which is the destination of the vehicle.

[0053] The handover information Data4 may be transmitted from the source area management device in response to a request from the destination area management device. For example, if the checkpoint device 5 transmits the area crossing information Data3 to the destination area management device 1B, the area management device 1B can request the handover information from the area management device 1A in the source area A and obtain the area crossing information Data3 from the area management device 1A.

[0054] The handover information Data4 is information transmitted from the area management device 1A that manages the area from which the vehicle is moved to the area management device 1B that manages the area to which the vehicle is moved. The handover information Data4 is information on the fluctuation amount for the vehicle that has moved between areas, and is information for handing over information held by the area management device 1A to the area management device 1B. In the first embodiment, the handover information Data4 includes information indicating an entrance and information indicating a cumulative fluctuation amount obtained by adding up the fluctuation amounts corresponding to all routes traveled from the entrance to the checkpoint.

[0055] For example, in the first embodiment, the handover information Data4 is information including a card ID, a vehicle-mounted device ID, admission information, an accumulated change amount, and a vehicle type. The card ID and on-board device ID are identification information for identifying a vehicle that has crossed a checkpoint and moved from area A to area B. If a vehicle that has crossed a checkpoint and moved between areas can be identified, either the card ID or the on-board device ID may be omitted. The entry information is information indicating the entrance through which the vehicle entered the toll road. The accumulated change amount is the accumulated change amount according to the entire route traveled from the entrance to the checkpoint. The vehicle type is information indicating the vehicle type of the vehicle that has crossed a checkpoint and moved from area A to area B. However, the vehicle type does not have to be included in the area crossing information.

[0056] After the vehicle enters area B from the checkpoint, the passage of each route of the vehicle is detected by each route device 4 in area B. When the route device 4 in area B detects the vehicle passing at a passage detection point corresponding to each route, it creates passed route information indicating that the vehicle has passed, and transmits the created passed route information to area management device 1B. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the area management device 1B acquires passed route information Data5 from the route device 4c when the vehicle passes through a route c in the area B.

[0057] 5, the route device 4c communicates with an on-board device S mounted on a vehicle passing through route c, and acquires information on the passing vehicle. The route device 4c creates passed route information Data5 based on the information acquired from the on-board device S, and transmits the created passed route information Data5 to the area management device 1B of area B. The passed route information Data5 has a format (configuration) similar to that of the passed route information Data2 described above, and is information including a card ID, an on-board device ID, route information, passing date and time, and vehicle type.

[0058] When the area management device 1B receives the passing route information Data5 of the vehicle that moved from area A to area B, the area management device 1B stores the passing route information Data5 in association with the handover information Data4 acquired from the area management device 1A. This allows the area management device 1B in area B (destination area) to manage the accumulated fluctuation amount for the vehicle passing through area B based on the accumulated fluctuation amount before moving to area B, which is included in the handover information Data4, and the fluctuation amount according to the route passed within area B.

[0059] Next, when the vehicle enters the exit toll gate, the exit toll gate equipment 3 communicates with the vehicle-mounted device S mounted on the vehicle to obtain information about the vehicle and create exit information. The exit toll gate equipment 3 transmits the created exit information to the area management device. In the first embodiment, the exit toll gate device 3 acquires information indicating the toll to be charged to an exiting vehicle from the area management device in response to the exit information. That is, when the area management device 1 receives the exit information from the exit toll gate device 3, it calculates the toll to be charged to the vehicle and transmits billing amount information indicating the calculated toll to the exit toll gate device 3.

[0060] In the example shown in FIG. 5, the exit toll gate device 3c at the exit toll gate "IC:C" creates exit information Data6 regarding an exiting vehicle and transmits the exit information Data6 to the area management device 1B in area B. The area management device 1B acquires the exit information Data6 from the exit toll gate device 3c, creates billing amount information Data7 corresponding to the exit information Data6, and returns the billing amount information Data7 to the exit toll gate device 3c.

[0061] In the example shown in FIG. 5, the exit information Data6 is information including a card ID, an on-board device ID, an exit IC, the date and time of exit, and the vehicle type. The card ID and the on-board device ID are identification information for identifying a vehicle that has entered the exit toll gate and is subject to charging. However, if the vehicle that is subject to charging can be identified, either the card ID or the on-board device ID may be omitted. The exit IC is information indicating the exit toll gate (exit) where the vehicle entered. The date and time of exit is information indicating the date and time when the vehicle entered the exit toll gate. The vehicle type is information indicating the vehicle type. However, the exit information does not have to include the vehicle type.

[0062] Furthermore, the billing amount information Data7 includes the card ID, the vehicle-mounted device ID, and the toll. The card ID and the vehicle-mounted device ID are identification information for identifying the vehicle that is the subject of the charge and is identified in the entry information Data6. However, if the vehicle can be identified, either the card ID or the vehicle-mounted device ID may be omitted. The toll is the amount billed to the user according to all the routes that the vehicle has traveled on the toll road.

[0063] When the area management device 1B receives the exit information, it identifies the entry information corresponding to the vehicle of the received exit information and calculates the basic fee based on the basic table T1 from the combination of the entrance and exit. Furthermore, the area management device 1B identifies the accumulated fluctuation amount according to all routes in all areas that the vehicle of the received exit information has passed through on the toll road, and calculates the toll by applying the accumulated fluctuation amount to the basic fee. The area management device 1B creates billing amount information Data7 indicating the calculated toll, and transmits the created billing amount information Data7 to the exit toll gate device 3 which is the source of the exit information. As a result, the exit toll gate device 3 at the exit toll gate executes the exit process for the vehicle based on the toll included in the billing amount information Data7 acquired from the area management device 1B.

[0064] Next, a description will be given of the operation of each device in the fee processing system according to the first embodiment. First, a description will be given of the operation of the area management device 1 in the fee processing system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the area management device 1 in the fee processing system according to the first embodiment. As described above, in the first embodiment, each area management device 1 receives, at any time, within its area, entry information from the entrance toll booth device 2, passing route information from the route device 4, area crossing information from the checkpoint device 5, and exit information from the exit toll booth device 3. In addition, the area management device 1 receives handover information including information indicating the accumulated fluctuation amount for a vehicle that has passed through the checkpoint and moved into its own area from the area management device of the source area.

[0065] That is, when the entrance information from the entrance toll gate equipment 2 is received by the equipment communication unit 13 (ST11, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 stores the entrance information in the memory unit 12 (ST12). The entrance information received from the entrance toll gate equipment 2 is stored in the memory unit 12 as information associated with the card ID or the vehicle-mounted device ID so that it can be searched by the card ID or the vehicle-mounted device ID.

[0066] When the device communication unit 13 receives passed route information from the route device 4 (ST13, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 identifies the route that the vehicle passed from the received passed route information, and deducts the variable fee set for the passed route from the variable charging table T2A (T2B) of the area (ST14). However, the process of ST14 may be executed after the process of ST16 or ST21 described later, instead of executing it every time passed route information is received. If a fluctuation amount is set for the traveled route, the control unit 11 calculates the accumulated fluctuation amount for the vehicle, and stores (or updates) the calculated accumulated fluctuation amount in the storage unit 12 (ST15).

[0067] For example, the control unit 11 searches the storage unit 12 for the accumulated fluctuation amount of the vehicle based on the vehicle identification information (card ID or on-board device ID) included in the passed route information. If the accumulated fluctuation amount has been stored in the storage unit 12, the control unit 11 adds a fluctuation amount according to the route passed to the accumulated fluctuation amount to update the accumulated fluctuation amount. Furthermore, if the accumulated fluctuation amount up to that point has not been stored in the storage unit 12, the control unit 11 stores the fluctuation amount according to the traveled route as the accumulated fluctuation amount in association with the identification information of the vehicle. Note that, if a fluctuation amount has not been set for the traveled route indicated by the received traveled route information, the control unit 11 may omit the process of ST15.

[0068] Furthermore, when area crossing information from the checkpoint device 5 is received via the device communication unit 13 (ST16, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 creates handover information for handing over to the next area information relating to the fluctuation amount for the vehicle identified by the identification information included in the received area crossing information (ST16). As described above, in the first embodiment, the handover information is information relating to the fluctuation amount that includes the entry information of the vehicle and the accumulated fluctuation amount up to now, including the fluctuation amount according to the route passed within the own area, as information relating to the fluctuation amount.

[0069] That is, the control unit 11 searches the storage unit 12 for the entry information of the vehicle and the accumulated fluctuation amount for the vehicle based on the vehicle identification information (card ID or vehicle-mounted device ID) included in the area crossing information. If the accumulated fluctuation amount for the vehicle is stored in the storage unit 12, the control unit 11 creates handover information including the vehicle identification information, entry information, and accumulated fluctuation amount. Furthermore, the control unit 11 identifies the area management device in charge of the destination area based on the area crossing information, and transmits the created handover information to the area management device of the destination area (ST18).

[0070] Furthermore, when handover information is received from an area management device in another area (ST19, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 stores the entrance information and the accumulated fluctuation amount included in the received handover information in the storage unit 12 in association with the vehicle identification information (ST20). As a result, the control unit 11 stores the entrance information and the accumulated fluctuation amount including the fluctuation amount according to the route passed in the source area in the storage unit 12 as information that can be searched for by the identification information such as the card ID or the vehicle-mounted device ID.

[0071] In addition, when exit information is received from the exit toll booth equipment 3 by the equipment communication unit 13 (ST21, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 searches the memory unit 12 for the entry information and accumulated change amount of the vehicle identified by the identification information included in the exit information in order to calculate the toll based on the received exit information (ST22).

[0072] When the control unit 11 identifies the entry information of the vehicle whose identification information is included in the exit information, it deducts from the basic table T1 the basic fee corresponding to the combination of the entrance indicated by the identified entry information and the exit indicated by the received exit information (ST23). The basic table T1 shows the basic tolls for all combinations of entrances and exits on a toll road. This allows the control unit 11 to easily determine the basic toll that is not dependent on the route by using the basic table T1 to find the basic toll for the combination of entrances and exits.

[0073] When the control unit 11 specifies the accumulated fluctuation amount for the vehicle with the identification information included in the entry information, the control unit 11 calculates the total amount (toll) by applying the specified accumulated fluctuation amount to the basic fee (ST24). The accumulated fluctuation amount is the sum of the fluctuation amounts calculated by the area management devices 1A, 1B of each area, which are calculated based on the route taken in each area from the variable charging tables T2A, T2B. That is, in the first embodiment, the accumulated fluctuation amount calculated by the area management device of each area is handed over to the area management device of the destination area. This allows the area management device of the exit toll gate area to easily determine the accumulated fluctuation amount obtained by accumulating all the fluctuation amounts, including those of the routes taken in other areas, and also allows the toll fee based on the basic fee and the accumulated fluctuation amount to be quickly determined.

[0074] When the toll based on the basic fee and the accumulated fluctuation amount is determined, the control unit 11 creates billing amount information indicating the toll to be charged to the vehicle whose identification information is included in the received exit information, and transmits the created billing amount information to the exit toll gate device 3, which is the source of the exit information (ST25). This allows the area management device in the area of ​​the exit toll gate to easily determine the accumulated fluctuation amount obtained by accumulating all fluctuation amounts, including those of the routes passed through other areas. The area management device can also quickly determine the toll based on the basic fee and the accumulated fluctuation amount allocated from the basic table, and provide the determined toll to the exit toll gate device.

[0075] Through the above processing, the area management device manages the entrance information and accumulated fluctuation amount according to the route within its area, and provides handover information indicating the entrance information and accumulated fluctuation amount to the area management device of the area to which the vehicle is moving in accordance with area crossing information from the checkpoint equipment. Furthermore, the area management device identifies the entry information and accumulated fluctuation amount of the exiting vehicle in accordance with the exit information from the exit toll gate equipment, and provides the exit toll gate equipment with a toll fee calculated by applying the accumulated fluctuation amount to the basic fee determined from the combination of the entrance and exit.

[0076] Next, the operation of the checkpoint device 5 in the fee processing system according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the checkpoint device 5 in the fee processing system according to the first embodiment. The checkpoint device 5 is installed so as to detect a vehicle passing through a checkpoint provided on a route connecting a first area and a second area (e.g., area A and area B). When the control unit 51 of the checkpoint device 5 detects a vehicle passing through the checkpoint (ST31, YES), the control unit 51 executes communication with the vehicle-mounted device S mounted on the vehicle passing through the checkpoint via the vehicle communication unit 53 (ST32).

[0077] When communication with an in-vehicle device S mounted on a vehicle passing through a checkpoint is established by the vehicle communication unit 53, the control unit 51 acquires information necessary for the area crossing information from the in-vehicle device S. When acquiring the information from the in-vehicle device S, the control unit 51 creates the area crossing information based on the information acquired from the in-vehicle device S (ST33). For example, the control unit 51 acquires a card ID, an in-vehicle device ID, and the like from the in-vehicle device S with which it communicates via the vehicle communication unit 53, and creates the area crossing information as shown in FIG.

[0078] When the control unit 51 creates area crossing information based on the information acquired from the on-board device S of the vehicle passing through the checkpoint, the control unit 51 transmits the created area crossing information to the area management device 1 (ST34). Here, the control unit 51 transmits the created area crossing information to the area management device 1 of the source area. However, the checkpoint device 5 may transmit the area crossing information to the area management device 1 of the destination area, or may transmit the area crossing information to both the area management device of the source area and the area management device of the destination area.

[0079] Next, the operation of the exit toll booth device 3 in the toll processing system according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the exit toll gate device 3 in the toll processing system according to the first embodiment. When the control unit 31 of the exit toll gate equipment 3 detects a vehicle entering the exit toll gate (ST51), it starts communication with the vehicle-mounted unit S mounted on the vehicle via the vehicle communication unit 33. Next, when communication with the vehicle-mounted unit S is established, the control unit 31 acquires various information related to the vehicle through communication with the vehicle-mounted unit S (ST52). For example, in the first embodiment, the control unit 31 acquires information such as identification information such as a card ID and a vehicle-mounted unit ID, and information indicating the vehicle model from the vehicle-mounted unit S.

[0080] When the control unit 31 acquires the identification information (card ID, on-board device ID) for identifying the vehicle from the on-board device S, it creates exit information including the acquired identification information and transmits the created exit information to the area management device 1 of the area including the exit toll gate (ST53). After transmitting the exit information to the area management device 1, the control unit 31 waits to receive billing amount information indicating the toll fee for the vehicle from the area management device 1.

[0081] When the control unit 31 receives the billing amount information indicating the toll from the area management device 1, the control unit 31 displays the toll indicated by the acquired billing amount information on the roadside display 35 (ST55). Then, the departure controller 34 permits the vehicle to exit (ST56). Here, the control unit 31 may write the exit information to the ETC card C set in the on-board unit S mounted on the vehicle. When the toll is confirmed and the vehicle is permitted to exit, the control unit 31 performs a process to settle the confirmed toll with the ETC card C, and ends the exit process for the vehicle.

[0082] As described above, according to the first embodiment, each area management device 1 is provided with an area-specific variable charge table indicating a variable amount according to the route based on the congestion level of each route in the area it is responsible for, and a basic table indicating a basic fee according to a combination of entrance and exit, and each time it receives passed route information from the route equipment, it deducts a variable amount according to the route from the area-specific variable charge table and manages the accumulated variable amount for each vehicle. When a vehicle moves to another area, the area management device of the source area transmits entry information of the moved vehicle and handover information indicating the accumulated fluctuation amount for the vehicle to the destination area management device. The destination area management device updates the accumulated fluctuation amount by adding a fluctuation amount according to the route taken within its own area to the accumulated fluctuation amount inherited from the source area management device. Furthermore, each area management device 1 calculates the toll by applying the accumulated fluctuation amount to the basic fee retrieved from the basic table in accordance with the exit information from the exit toll gate equipment, and transmits the calculated toll to the exit toll gate equipment.

[0083] Furthermore, the process of deducting the variable amount according to the route from the area-specific variable charge table is not limited to the form in which the area management device executes it each time it receives the passed route information from the route device. The area management device may accumulate the passed route information from the route device and execute the process of deducting the variable amount according to each route collectively when the vehicle moves to another area or exits.

[0084] According to the toll processing system of the first embodiment described above, the area management device of each area can inherit the accumulated fluctuation amount between them and calculate the toll by applying the accumulated fluctuation amount including the fluctuation amount within the area itself, and this makes it possible to smoothly process tolls by applying the fluctuation amount according to the route that is set based on the congestion level of each route on large-scale toll roads spanning a vast area. In addition, each area management device of the fee processing system according to the first embodiment can efficiently allocate variable amounts by maintaining a variable charging table for each area that shows the variable amounts for routes within the area, thereby speeding up processing. Furthermore, in the toll processing system of the first embodiment, each area management device sends and receives the cumulative change in amount of vehicles that have moved between areas, so there is no need to transfer large amounts of data between areas, which reduces the amount of communication data and reduces the communication load between areas.

[0085] (First Modification of the First Embodiment) In the first embodiment described above, the variable charge table provided in each area management device was a variable charge table for each area, but the area management device may also have a common variable charge table showing the variable amount for each route on the entire toll road (all areas).

[0086] The first variant of the first embodiment will be described in which the variable charging table provided in the area management device in the fee processing system according to the above-described first embodiment is replaced with a common variable charging table corresponding to all areas.

[0087] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of operation of a fee processing system according to a first modified example of the first embodiment. As shown in Figure 9, the fee processing system according to the first variant of the first embodiment has a configuration in which the variable charging tables T2A, T2B provided in each area management device in the fee processing system according to the first embodiment as shown in Figures 2 to 5 described above are replaced with a common variable charging table T2 corresponding to all areas. For this reason, as the first modified example of the first embodiment, detailed explanations of the configuration other than the variable charge table will be omitted. Also, the processing performed by each area management device 1 (1A, 1B) can be realized by the same processing as in the first embodiment described above, except that the table for allocating the variable amount is the common variable charge table T2, so detailed explanations will be omitted.

[0088] 9, the common variable charge table T2 is a table showing the variable charges set for each route in all areas. Because the common variable charge table T2 stores the variable charges for all routes in all areas, it has a larger amount of data than the area-specific variable charge tables T2A and T2B, but it does not need to be created or updated for each area, and it allows for centralized management of variable charges for all routes on the entire toll road.

[0089] (Second Modification of the First Embodiment) In the first modification of the first embodiment described above, each area management device updates the accumulated change amount and passes the accumulated change amount to the area management device of the destination area. Each area management device may accumulate route information indicating the route taken and pass the route information to the area management device of the destination area.

[0090] As a second variant of the first embodiment, a fee processing system according to the first embodiment described above in which the area management device transmits route information, instead of the accumulated change amount, to the area management device in the destination area will be described.

[0091] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of operation of a fee processing system according to a second modification of the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 10, the fee processing system according to the second modified example of the first embodiment has a configuration in which the variable charge table is replaced with a common variable charge table T2 corresponding to all areas in the configuration shown in Fig. 2 to Fig. 5. The common variable charge table T2 was explained in the first modified example of the first embodiment, so a detailed explanation of the configuration will be omitted in the second modified example of the first embodiment.

[0092] In the example shown in FIG. 10, the area management device 1A stores in the storage unit 12 information acquired from each device within the area. For example, when the area management device 1A receives entrance information from the entrance toll gate device 2a of the entrance toll gate at "IC: A", it stores the entrance information including the entrance, entry date and time, vehicle type, etc. in association with the vehicle identification information in the storage unit 12. When the area management device 1A receives passed route information from the route device 4a, it stores the route information such as the route, passing date and time, and vehicle type in association with the vehicle identification information in the storage unit 12. When the area management device 1A receives the area crossing information from the checkpoint equipment 5, it extracts from the storage unit 12 the entrance information and all the route information corresponding to the vehicle identification information included in the received area crossing information. The area management device 1A transmits handover information Data4' including the entry information and the entire route information corresponding to the vehicle identification information to the area management device 1B in the destination area B.

[0093] The area management device 1B stores the entry information and all route information included in the handover information from the area management device 1A in the storage unit 12 in association with the vehicle identification information. When the area management device 1B receives passed route information from the route device 4c, it stores route information such as the route, passing date and time, and vehicle type in association with the vehicle identification information in the storage unit 12. When the area management device 1B receives exit information from the exit toll booth device 3c, it extracts from the storage unit 12 the entry information and all route information (the entire route to the previous area and the entire route in its own area) that corresponds to the vehicle identification information included in the received exit information. The area management device 1B retrieves the basic fee based on the exit information and the entrance information from the basic table T1, and retrieves the variable amount according to all the route information from the common variable charging table T2. The area management device 1B calculates the toll based on the basic fee and all the variable amounts, and transmits the calculated toll to the exit toll booth device 3c.

[0094] Next, the operation of the area management device 1 in the fee processing system according to the second modified example of the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the area management device 1 in the fee processing system according to the second modified example of the first embodiment. As described above, in the second modified example of the first embodiment, each area management device 1 receives, at any time, entry information from the entrance toll booth device 2 within the area, passing route information from the route device 4, area crossing information from the checkpoint device 5, and exit information from the exit toll booth device 3. In addition, the area management device 1 receives handover information including information indicating all routes that the vehicle has traveled up to now from the area management device of the source area, as information regarding the change in amount related to the vehicle that has passed through the checkpoint and moved into the area.

[0095] That is, when entry information is received from the entrance toll booth equipment 2 (ST171, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 stores the entry information in the memory unit 12 (ST172). The control unit 11 stores information such as the entrance, entry date and time, and vehicle type as entry information in the memory unit 12 in association with vehicle identification information such as the card ID and the vehicle-mounted device ID so that the entry information received from the entrance toll booth equipment 2 can be searched for by vehicle identification information such as the card ID and the vehicle-mounted device ID.

[0096] When passing route information is received from the route device 4 (ST173, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 stores the received passing route information in the storage unit 12 (ST174). The control unit 11 stores information such as the route, passing date and time, and vehicle type as route information in the storage unit 12 in association with vehicle identification information such as a card ID and an on-board device ID so that the passing route information received from the route device 4 can be searched by vehicle identification information such as a card ID and an on-board device ID. The control unit 11 may also store the route information in the storage unit 12 in association with entry information that matches the vehicle identification information in the passing route information.

[0097] Furthermore, when area crossing information is received from the checkpoint equipment 5 (ST175, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 creates handover information for handing over all previous route information of the vehicle identified by the identification information included in the received area crossing information to the next area (ST176). As described above, in the second variant of the first embodiment, the handover information is information that notifies (hands over) the area management device in the destination area of ​​the entry information for the vehicle and all route information indicating all routes that have been traversed so far.

[0098] The control unit 11 searches the storage unit 12 for the entry information of the vehicle and all of the route information of the vehicle based on the vehicle identification information (card ID or on-board device ID) included in the area crossing information. When the entry information and all of the route information of the vehicle are extracted, the control unit 11 creates handover information including the vehicle identification information, the entry information, and all of the route information. The control unit 11 identifies the area management device in charge of the destination area based on the area crossing information, and transmits the created handover information to the area management device of the destination area (ST177).

[0099] In addition, when handover information is received from an area management device of another area (ST178, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 stores the entry information indicating the entrance and the total route information indicating all routes contained in the received handover information in the memory unit 12 in correspondence with the vehicle identification information (ST179).

[0100] Also, when exit information is received from the exit toll booth equipment 3 by the equipment communication unit 13 (ST180, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 searches for entry information and all route information identified by the vehicle identification information contained in the exit information received in the memory unit 12 (ST181).

[0101] When the entry information of the vehicle whose identification information is included in the exit information is identified, the control unit 11 retrieves from the basic table T1 the basic fee corresponding to the combination of the entrance indicated by the identified entry information and the exit indicated by the received exit information (ST182). Furthermore, when the control unit 11 identifies all the route information of the vehicle whose identification information is included in the exit information, it deducts the variable amount according to each identified route from the common variable charge table T2 (ST183). After calculating the basic toll and the variable amounts according to all the routes taken, the control unit 11 calculates the total amount (toll) by applying all the identified variable amounts to the basic toll (ST184).

[0102] When the toll based on the basic fee and the variable amount according to the entire route is determined, the control unit 11 creates billing amount information indicating the toll to be charged to the vehicle whose identification information is included in the exit information, and transmits the created billing amount information to the exit toll booth device 3 that is the sender of the exit information (ST185). According to the above process, the area management device collects information from each device in the area it is responsible for, and holds route information such as the route traveled by the vehicle within the area. When the area management device receives area crossing information from the checkpoint device, it provides handover information indicating the entry information of the vehicle moving to another area and the entire route information so far to the area management device of the destination area. The area management device of the destination area holds all the route information included in the handover information, and further holds route information showing the route that the vehicle has taken within its own area. When the area management device receives the exit information from the exit toll gate device, it identifies the entry information of the exiting vehicle and all the route information, and provides the exit toll gate device with a toll fee that applies a variable amount according to the route to the basic fee determined from the combination of the entrance and exit.

[0103] In the toll processing system according to the second modification of the first embodiment, the checkpoint device 5 may perform the same processing as that shown in Fig. 7 described as the first embodiment, and the exit toll booth device 3 may perform the same processing as that shown in Fig. 8 described in the first embodiment. Therefore, detailed description of the processing of the checkpoint device 5 and the exit toll booth device 3 in the toll processing system according to the second modification of the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0104] As described above, according to the second variant of the first embodiment, the area management device has a common variable charging table showing the variable amount for each route in all areas and a basic table showing the basic fee, and transmits entry information and all route information regarding a vehicle moving from its own area to another area as handover information to the destination area management device. Furthermore, the area management device determines a variable amount for the entire route to the previous area and for all routes in the area according to the exit information from the exit toll gate equipment, and transmits the toll fee calculated by applying the variable amounts for all routes to the basic fee to the exit toll gate equipment.

[0105] As a result, in the toll processing system related to the second variant of the first embodiment, the area management device in each area can hand over route information indicating all routes that a vehicle has taken up to that point after passing through a checkpoint to the area management device at the destination, so that even on large-scale toll roads spanning vast areas, management of route information traveled by vehicles can be reliably carried out, and tolls can be smoothly processed by applying a variable amount according to the route that is set based on the congestion level of each route, etc.

[0106] Second embodiment In the first embodiment, the area management device, which takes over information between areas, manages the basic table and the variable charge table, and calculates the toll by applying a variable amount according to the vehicle's traffic conditions.

[0107] In contrast, in the second embodiment, the basic charging table is managed by the exit toll gate, the variable charging table is managed by the area management device, and the exit toll gate equipment calculates the toll based on information from the area management device.

[0108] The toll processing system according to the second embodiment is realized by various devices as shown in Fig. 1, as in the first embodiment. However, the toll processing system according to the second embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in the information transmitted and received between the devices. Also, in the toll processing system according to the second embodiment, the processing contents performed by the area management device and the exit toll booth device differ from those of the first embodiment, so the devices that need to be equipped with the basic table and the devices that need to be equipped with the variable charging table differ from those of the first embodiment.

[0109] The second embodiment will be described in detail below. FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a control system for the area management device 1, entrance toll gate device 2, exit toll gate device 3, route device 4 and checkpoint device 5 in the toll processing system according to the second embodiment. The configuration example shown in Fig. 12 differs from the configuration example shown in Fig. 2 described in the first embodiment in that the exit toll booth device 3 has a storage unit 36 ​​including a basic table T1, and the area management device does not need to have a basic table. The rest of the configuration is the same as the configuration shown in Fig. 2 described in the first embodiment, so detailed description will be omitted. Furthermore, the contents of the basic table T1 may be the same as that shown in FIG. 3 described in the first embodiment, and the contents of the variable charging table T2 (T2A, T2B) may be the same as that shown in FIG. 4 described in the first embodiment, so detailed explanations will be omitted.

[0110] Next, information that the area management devices 1A and 1B in each area acquire from each device in the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of operation of the fee processing system according to the second embodiment. Figure 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a vehicle entering area A at the entrance toll gate "IC:A", passing through route a in area A, a checkpoint, and route c in area B, before exiting at the exit toll gate "IC:C" in area B, similar to the example shown in Figure 5.

[0111] First, the entrance toll gate equipment 2a communicates with the on-board unit S mounted on the vehicle entering the entrance toll gate "IC: A" and confirms that a valid ETC card C is properly set in the on-board unit. When the entrance toll gate equipment 2a confirms that a valid ETC card C is properly set in the on-board unit S, it writes information indicating the entrance and the entry date and time into the memory area E of the ETC card C and permits the entry of the vehicle.

[0112] However, the entrance toll gate equipment 2 may transmit entrance information Data21 having the same content as the entrance information Data1 shown in Fig. 5 to the area management device 1A. For example, when entrance information is included in the conditions for setting the variable amount, the entrance toll gate equipment 2 transmits entrance information Data21 created based on information acquired from the vehicle-mounted device S through communication with the vehicle-mounted device S to the area management device 1A. In this case, the area management device 1A stores the entrance information Data21 acquired from the entrance toll gate equipment 2a in the memory unit 12.

[0113] Next, when a vehicle that has entered through the entrance toll gate "IC: A" passes through route a in area A, route device 4a creates passed route information Data22 indicating that the vehicle has passed through route a, and transmits the created passed route information Data22 to area management device 1A. This passed route information Data22 may be configured with the same content as the passed route information Data2 shown in FIG. When the area management device 1A acquires (receives) passed route information Data22 from a route device 4a installed on route a, it deducts a variable amount (discount amount) according to route a from a variable charging table T2A for area A. When the variable amount according to route a is deducted, the area management device 1A stores (or updates) the deducted variable amount in the storage unit 12 as a cumulative variable amount associated with the identification information (card ID or vehicle-mounted device ID) of the vehicle. In addition, the area management device may deduct the variable amount not each time it receives passing route information, but may also perform the deductible at the time it receives area crossing information or at the time it receives exit information.

[0114] Next, when a vehicle that has passed through route a passes through a checkpoint, the checkpoint device 5 communicates with an on-board device S mounted on the vehicle that passes through the checkpoint, and acquires information about the vehicle that passes through the checkpoint. The checkpoint device 5 creates area crossing information Data23 based on the information acquired from the on-board device S, and transmits the created area crossing information Data23 to the area management device 1A of area A. Here, the area crossing information Data23 is information indicating that the vehicle has passed through the checkpoint and moved to an adjacent area, and may be configured with the same content as the area crossing information Data3 shown in FIG. In addition, the checkpoint device 5 may transmit the area crossing information Data23 to the area management device 1B of the destination area B, or may transmit it to both the area management device 1A of the source area A and the area management device 1B of the destination area B.

[0115] When the area management device 1A acquires (receives) the area crossing information Data23 from the checkpoint equipment 5, it creates handover information Data24 for handing over information regarding the fluctuation in amount for the vehicle that has passed through the checkpoint to the area management device 1B in the destination area B. In the second embodiment, the handover information Data24 may be information including vehicle identification information (card ID, vehicle-mounted device ID) and the accumulated change amount. In the second embodiment, entrance information indicating the entrance is written to the ETC card C set in the vehicle-mounted device S mounted on the vehicle, so the handover information Data24 does not need to include the entrance information. When the handover information Data24 is created, the area management device 1A transmits the handover information Data24 to the area management device 1B in the area B to which the vehicle is to be moved.

[0116] Next, when a vehicle that has entered area B from the checkpoint passes through route c, route device 4c communicates with in-vehicle devices S of vehicles passing through each route c, and creates passed route information Data25 indicating that the vehicle has passed through route c. Route device 4c transmits the created passed route information Data25 to area management device 1B. Passed route information Data25 may have the same format (configuration) as the passed route information Data22 described above.

[0117] When the area management device 1B receives the route information Data25 of the vehicle that moved from area A to area B, it updates the accumulated variable amount for the vehicle by allocating the variable amount according to the route c that was passed from the variable charging table T2B. This allows the area management device 1B in area B (destination area) to manage the accumulated variable amount for the vehicle passing through area B based on the accumulated variable amount before moving to area B, which is included in the handover information Data24, and the variable amount according to the route passed within area B.

[0118] Next, when the vehicle enters the exit toll gate "IC:C", the exit toll gate equipment 3c communicates with the onboard unit S installed in the vehicle to obtain information about the vehicle and creates exit information Data26 to request the accumulated fluctuation amount for the vehicle. In the second embodiment, the area management device 1 does not calculate the basic fee or the toll based on the basic table. Therefore, the exit information Data26 may be information including identification information of the exiting vehicle, and may omit information such as information indicating the exit and information indicating the date and time of exit. However, the exit information Data 26 may have the same content as the exit information Data 6 shown in Fig. 5. For example, when the conditions for setting the variable amount include the exit information, the exit toll booth device 3 may transmit the exit information Data 26 created based on information acquired from the vehicle-mounted device S through communication with the vehicle-mounted device S to the area management device 1A.

[0119] When the area management device 1B acquires the exit information Data26 from the exit toll gate device 3c, it searches for the accumulated fluctuation amount for the vehicle stored in the memory unit 12, and creates accumulated fluctuation amount information Data27 indicating the accumulated fluctuation amount for the vehicle. The accumulated change amount information Data27 is information indicating an accumulated change amount associated with vehicle identification information (card ID, vehicle-mounted device ID). The area management device 1B returns the created accumulated change amount information Data27 to the exit toll gate device 3c which is the source of the exit information Data26.

[0120] Meanwhile, the exit toll gate equipment 3 acquires entry information indicating the entrance of the vehicle recorded in the memory area E of the ETC card C by communicating with the on-board unit S of the exiting vehicle, and deducts the basic fee from the basic table T1 based on the combination of the entrance and exit acquired from the on-board unit S. Furthermore, the exit toll gate equipment 3 calculates the toll by applying the accumulated fluctuation amount indicated by the accumulated fluctuation amount information Data27 received from the area management device 1B to the basic fee allocated from the basic table T1. As a result, the exit toll gate device 3 at the exit toll gate executes an exit process for the vehicle based on the calculated toll. In this exit process, the exit toll gate device 3 writes information indicating the exit and the exit date and time into the memory area E of the ETC card C set in the on-board device S, and permits the vehicle to exit.

[0121] Next, a description will be given of the operation of each device in the fee processing system according to the second embodiment. First, a description will be given of the operation of the area management device 1 in the fee processing system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the area management device 1 in the fee processing system according to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, each area management device 1 acquires passed route information from a route device 4 in the area, allocates a fluctuation amount according to the route in its own area, and manages it as an accumulated fluctuation amount for each vehicle. Also, the area management device 1 acquires handover information including an accumulated fluctuation amount for a vehicle that has passed through a checkpoint and moved into its own area from the area management device of the moving source area.

[0122] That is, when entry information is received from the entrance toll booth equipment 2 (ST211, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 stores the entry information in the memory unit 12 (ST212). However, if the area management device is not required to manage the entry information, the processes of ST211 and ST212 may be omitted. For example, if the information included in the entry information is not used as a condition for the variable amount, the processes of ST211 and ST212 may be omitted.

[0123] When passing route information is received from the route device 4 (ST213, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 identifies the route that the vehicle passed from the received passing route information, and deducts the variable fee set for the passed route from the variable charging table T2 of the area (ST214). However, the process of ST214 may be executed all at once after the process of ST216 or ST221 described later, instead of executing it every time passing route information is received. If a fluctuation amount is set for the traveled route, the control unit 11 calculates the accumulated fluctuation amount for the vehicle, and stores (updates) the calculated accumulated fluctuation amount in the storage unit 12 (ST215).

[0124] For example, the control unit 11 searches the storage unit 12 for the accumulated fluctuation amount for the vehicle based on the vehicle identification information (card ID or vehicle-mounted device ID) included in the passing route information. If the accumulated fluctuation amount for the vehicle is stored in the storage unit 12, the control unit 11 adds the fluctuation amount according to the route traveled to the accumulated fluctuation amount, and updates the accumulated fluctuation amount. Furthermore, if the accumulated fluctuation amount is not stored in the storage unit 12, the control unit 11 stores the fluctuation amount according to the traveled route as the accumulated fluctuation amount in association with the identification information of the vehicle. Note that, if a fluctuation amount is not set for the traveled route indicated by the received traveled route information, the control unit 11 omits the process of ST215.

[0125] Furthermore, when area crossing information is received from the checkpoint equipment 5 (ST216, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 creates handover information for handing over to the next area information related to the fluctuation amount for the vehicle identified by the identification information included in the received area crossing information (ST216). As described above, in the second embodiment, the handover information is information for notifying (handing over) to the next area the accumulated fluctuation amount up to that point, including the fluctuation amount according to the route taken within the own area.

[0126] The control unit 11 searches the storage unit 12 for the entry information of the vehicle and the accumulated change in the amount of the vehicle up to now based on the vehicle identification information (card ID or vehicle-mounted device ID) included in the area crossing information. If the accumulated fluctuation amount for the vehicle up to that point is stored in the storage unit 12, the control unit 11 creates handover information including the identification information and the accumulated fluctuation amount for the vehicle. The control unit 11 identifies the area management device in charge of the destination area based on the area crossing information, and transmits the created handover information to the area management device of the destination area (ST218). In addition, when handover information is received from an area management device of another area (ST219, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 stores the accumulated fluctuation amount included in the received handover information in the memory unit 12 in correspondence with the vehicle identification information (ST220).

[0127] Also, when exit information is received from the exit toll booth equipment 3 (ST221, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 searches the memory unit 12 for the accumulated change in the amount of the vehicle identified by the identification information included in the exit information (ST222). When the control unit 11 specifies the accumulated change amount for the vehicle with the identification information included in the entry information, the control unit 11 creates accumulated change amount information in which the specified accumulated change amount is associated with the identification information of the vehicle included in the entry information (ST224). Then, the created accumulated change amount information is transmitted to the exit toll gate equipment 3 which is the transmission source of the exit information (ST225). As a result, the area management device in the area of ​​the exit toll gate can provide the exit toll gate equipment 3 in the area with the accumulated change amount which is the total of all the change amounts including all the routes passed up to the previous area.

[0128] The checkpoint device 5 in the fee processing system according to the second embodiment may perform the same operation as the checkpoint device described in the first embodiment as shown in Fig. 7. Therefore, in the second embodiment, a detailed description of the operation of the checkpoint device 5 will be omitted.

[0129] Next, the operation of the exit toll booth device 3 in the toll processing system according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the exit toll gate device 3 in the toll processing system according to the second embodiment. When the control unit 31 of the exit toll gate equipment 3 detects a vehicle entering the exit toll gate (ST251), it starts communication with the vehicle-mounted unit S mounted on the vehicle via the vehicle communication unit 33. When communication with the vehicle-mounted unit S is established, the control unit 31 acquires various information related to the vehicle through communication with the vehicle-mounted unit S (ST252). For example, in the second embodiment, the control unit 31 acquires information such as identification information such as a card ID and a vehicle-mounted unit ID, information indicating the vehicle type, and entry information from the vehicle-mounted unit S.

[0130] When the control unit 31 acquires identification information (card ID, vehicle-mounted device ID) for identifying the vehicle from the vehicle-mounted device S, it creates exit information including the identification information acquired from the vehicle-mounted device S as information requesting the accumulated fluctuation amount for the vehicle, and transmits the created exit information to the area management device 1 in its own area (ST253).

[0131] Furthermore, the control unit 31 identifies the entrance based on the entrance information acquired from the vehicle-mounted device S (ST254), and identifies the vehicle type based on the information indicating the vehicle type acquired from the vehicle-mounted device S (ST255). Then, when the entrance and the vehicle type are specified by the information from the vehicle-mounted device S, the control unit 31 allocates the basic fee according to the combination of the entrance and exit from the basic table T1 corresponding to the vehicle type (ST256).

[0132] Furthermore, after transmitting the exit information to the area management device 1, the control unit 31 receives cumulative fluctuation amount information indicating the cumulative fluctuation amount from the area management device 1 (ST257), and calculates the total amount obtained by applying the cumulative fluctuation amount indicated by the received cumulative fluctuation amount information to the basic fee as the toll to be levied on the vehicle (ST258). When the toll is calculated, the control unit 31 displays the calculated toll on the roadside display 35 (ST259), and allows the departure controller 34 to allow the vehicle to exit (ST260). Furthermore, the control unit 31 writes the exit information into the ETC card C set in the vehicle-mounted unit S of the vehicle (ST261), and ends the exit process for the vehicle.

[0133] As described above, according to the second embodiment, each area management device 1 is provided with an area-specific variable charge table that indicates a variable amount according to the route based on the congestion level of each route in its own area, and deducts a variable amount according to the route taken within its own area from the area-specific variable charge table to manage the accumulated variable amount for the vehicle. When a vehicle moves to another area, the area management device of the source area transmits handover information indicating the accumulated fluctuation amount for the moved vehicle to the destination area management device. The destination area management device updates the accumulated fluctuation amount by adding a fluctuation amount according to the travel route within its own area to the accumulated fluctuation amount acquired from the source area management device. Furthermore, each area management device 1 transmits the accumulated fluctuation amount to the exit toll booth equipment according to the exit information. As a result, the exit toll booth equipment is provided with a basic table showing the basic fee according to the combination of entrance and exit, and calculates the toll by applying the accumulated fluctuation amount obtained from the area management device to the basic fee allocated from this basic table.

[0134] As a result, in the toll processing system of the second embodiment, the area management device in each area can manage the cumulative fluctuation amount by adding the fluctuation amount according to the route within its own area while inheriting the fluctuation amount in other areas, and can efficiently manage the fluctuation amount according to the route that is set based on the congestion level of each route on large-scale toll roads spanning a vast area. In addition, the fee processing system of the second embodiment can efficiently allocate variable amounts by having each area management device hold a variable charging table for each area that shows the variable amounts for routes within its own area, thereby speeding up processing. Furthermore, in the toll processing system of the second embodiment, each area management device transmits and receives the cumulative change in amount of vehicles that have moved between areas, so there is no need to transfer large amounts of data between areas, which reduces the amount of communication data and reduces the communication load between areas.

[0135] (First modified example of the second embodiment) In the second embodiment described above, the variable charge table provided in each area management device is a variable charge table for each area. However, the area management device variable charge table may be a common variable charge table showing the variable amount for each route on the entire toll road (all areas).

[0136] Here, as a first variant of the second embodiment, we will explain a system in which the variable charging table provided in the area management device in the fee processing system according to the second embodiment described above is replaced with a common variable charging table corresponding to all areas.

[0137] FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of operation of a fee processing system according to a first modified example of the second embodiment. As shown in Fig. 16, the fee processing system according to the first modified example of the second embodiment has a configuration in which the variable charge table provided in each area management device in the fee processing system according to the second embodiment having the configuration shown in Fig. 13 above is replaced with a common variable charge table T2 corresponding to all areas. The variable charge table T2 common to all areas may be the one explained in the first modified example of the first embodiment above, and the processing performed by each area management device 1 (1A, 1B) can be realized by the same processing as in the second embodiment above, except that the table from which each area management device allocates the variable amount is the common variable charge table T2.

[0138] In the configuration shown in Figure 16, the common variable charging table T2 stores variable charges for all routes in all areas, so it has a larger amount of data than the area-specific variable charging tables T2A, T2B. However, there is no need to create or update it for each area, and variable charges for all routes on the entire toll road can be managed in a centralized manner.

[0139] (Second Modification of the Second Embodiment) In the first modification of the second embodiment described above, each area management device updates the fluctuation amount according to the route taken in its own area as the accumulated fluctuation amount, and passes the accumulated fluctuation amount to the area management device of the destination area. However, each area management device may accumulate route information indicating the route taken, and pass the route information to the area management device of the destination area.

[0140] As a second variant of the second embodiment, a fee processing system according to the second embodiment described above will be described in which the area management device transmits route information, rather than the accumulated change amount, to the area management device in the destination area.

[0141] FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of operation of a fee processing system according to a second modification of the second embodiment. As shown in Figure 17, the fee processing system according to the second variant of the second embodiment is realized by replacing the variable charging table in the configuration shown in Figure 13 described above with a common variable charging table T2 corresponding to all areas.

[0142] 17, the area management device 1A stores in the storage unit 12 the route information acquired from the route device 4a in the area A. The area management device 1A may also store in the storage unit 12 the entry information from the entrance toll booth device 2a as one piece of route information indicating the conditions for identifying the fluctuation amount. When the area management device 1A receives area crossing information from the checkpoint equipment 5, it extracts from the memory unit 12 all route information corresponding to the vehicle identification information contained in the received area crossing information, and transmits handover information Data24' including all the route information to the area management device 1B in the destination area B.

[0143] The area management device 1B associates all route information (all route information up to the previous area) included in the handover information from the area management device 1A with the vehicle identification information and stores it in the storage unit 12. When the area management device 1B receives passed route information from the route device 4c in the area B, it stores it in the storage unit 12 as route information in its own area. When the area management device 1B receives the exit information from the exit toll gate device 3c, it extracts all route information (all routes to the previous area and all routes in the own area) corresponding to the vehicle identification information included in the received exit information from the storage unit 12. The area management device 1B allocates the variable amount corresponding to all the extracted route information from the variable charging table T2. The area management device 1B calculates the sum of all the variable amounts, and transmits information indicating the calculated sum of the variable amounts to the exit toll gate device 3c.

[0144] Next, the operation of the area management device 1 in the fee processing system according to the second modification of the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 18 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the area management device 1 in the fee processing system according to the second modification of the second embodiment. In a second modified example of the second embodiment, each area management device 1 receives, at any time, entry information from an entrance toll booth device 2 within the area, passing route information from a route device 4, area crossing information from a checkpoint device 5, and exit information from an exit toll booth device 3. In addition, the area management device 1 receives handover information including information indicating all routes traveled by a vehicle that has passed through a checkpoint and moved into the area from the area management device of the source area.

[0145] When entry information is received from the entrance toll booth equipment 2 (ST271, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 stores the entry information in the storage unit 12 (ST272). However, in cases where the information included in the entry information is not used as a condition for the variable amount, the area management device 1 may omit the processes of ST271 and ST272.

[0146] When passing route information is received from the route device 4 (ST273, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 stores the received passing route information in the storage unit 12 (ST274). The control unit 11 stores information such as the route, passing date and time, and vehicle type associated with vehicle identification information such as the card ID and the vehicle-mounted device ID as route information in the storage unit 12 so that the passing route information received from the route device 4 can be searched for by vehicle identification information such as the card ID and the vehicle-mounted device ID.

[0147] In addition, when area crossing information is received from the checkpoint equipment 5 (ST275, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 creates handover information for handing over all route information related to the vehicle identified by the identification information included in the received area crossing information to the next area (ST276). The control unit 11 searches the storage unit 12 for all of the vehicle's previous route information based on the vehicle's identification information (card ID or vehicle-mounted device ID) included in the area crossing information. After extracting all of the route information, the control unit 11 creates handover information including the vehicle's identification information and all of the extracted route information. Furthermore, the control unit 11 identifies the area management device in charge of the destination area based on the area crossing information, and transmits the created handover information to the area management device of the destination area (ST277). Furthermore, when handover information is received from an area management device in another area (ST278, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 stores all route information to the previous area contained in the received handover information in the memory unit 12 in correspondence with the vehicle identification information (ST279).

[0148] Also, when exit information is received from the exit toll booth equipment 3 (ST280, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 searches the memory unit 12 for all route information for the vehicle identified by the identification information included in the received exit information (ST281). When all the route information has been extracted, the control unit 11 deducts the variable charges corresponding to all the extracted routes from the variable charge table T2 (ST282). After estimating the fluctuation amounts for all the routes, the control unit 11 calculates the sum of all the identified fluctuation amounts (ST283), and creates total fluctuation amount information (accumulated fluctuation amount) indicating the sum of the calculated fluctuation amounts (ST284). Then, the total change amount information thus created is transmitted to the exit toll gate device 3 which is the source of the exit information (ST285). This allows the area management device to provide the exit toll booth equipment with information indicating the total amount of fluctuations in all areas and for all routes for an exiting vehicle in accordance with the exit information.

[0149] In the toll processing system according to the second modification of the second embodiment, the checkpoint equipment 5 may perform the same processing as that shown in Fig. 7 described above as the first embodiment, and the exit toll booth equipment 3 may perform the same processing as that shown in Fig. 15 described above as the second embodiment. Therefore, as the second modification of the second embodiment, detailed explanations of the processing of the checkpoint equipment 5 and the exit toll booth equipment 3 will be omitted.

[0150] As described above, according to the second modification of the second embodiment, the area management device accumulates route information indicating the route passed within its own area, and provides handover information indicating all route information up to that point to the area management device of the destination area in response to area crossing information from the checkpoint device. The area management device of the destination area holds all route information included in the handover information, and further holds route information indicating the route passed by the vehicle within its own area. The area management device, in response to the exit information, deducts from a common variable charging table the variable amounts corresponding to all routes in all areas based on all route information of the exiting vehicle, and provides information indicating the total of the variable amounts corresponding to all routes to the exit toll booth equipment.

[0151] As a result, in the toll processing system related to the second variant of the second embodiment, all route information up to the vehicle's own area can be handed over to the destination area management device, and all route information traveled by the vehicle can be reliably managed even on large toll roads spanning vast areas, making it possible to smoothly process tolls by applying a variable amount according to the route that is set based on the congestion level of each route, etc.

[0152] Third embodiment In the third embodiment, both the basic charging table and the variable charging table are managed by the exit toll gate, and further, the route information is managed by the area management device.

[0153] In the third embodiment, each area management device accumulates route information within its own area, and when a vehicle moves to another area, it provides the accumulated change amount based on all route information within its own area to the destination area management device, and when a vehicle exits its own area, it provides all route information within its own area and the accumulated change amount up to the previous area to the exit toll booth equipment responsible for calculating the toll fee.

[0154] The fee processing system according to the third embodiment, like the first embodiment, is realized by various devices as shown in Fig. 1. However, the fee processing system according to the third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the processes performed by each device, and therefore the devices that need to be equipped with the basic table and the devices that need to be equipped with the variable charging table differ from the first embodiment.

[0155] The fee processing system according to the third embodiment will be described in detail below. FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a control system for the area management device 1, entrance toll gate device 2, exit toll gate device 3, route device 4 and checkpoint device 5 in the toll processing system according to the third embodiment. The configuration of the toll processing system according to the third embodiment shown in Fig. 19 differs from the configuration example shown in Fig. 2 described in the first embodiment in that the exit toll booth device 3 further includes a memory unit 36 ​​having a basic table T1 and variable charging tables T2A, T2B for its own area. Also, the configuration shown in Fig. 19 differs from the configuration example shown in Fig. 2 in that each area management device 1A, 1B includes area-specific variable charging tables T2A, T2B and does not need to include a basic table T1.

[0156] The fee processing system according to the third embodiment shown in Fig. 19 can be realized with the same configuration as that shown in Fig. 2 explained in the first embodiment except for the above, so detailed explanations will be omitted. Also, the contents of the basic table T1 may be the configuration shown in Fig. 3 explained in the first embodiment, and the contents of the variable charging tables T2A and T2B may be the configuration shown in Fig. 4 explained in the first embodiment, so detailed explanations will be omitted.

[0157] Next, information that the area management devices 1A and 1B in each area acquire from each device in the third embodiment will be described. FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of operation of the fee processing system according to the third embodiment. Figure 20 is a schematic diagram illustrating a vehicle entering area A at the entrance toll gate "IC:A", passing through route a in area A, a checkpoint, and route c in area B, before exiting at the exit toll gate "IC:C" in area B, similar to the example shown in Figure 5.

[0158] First, the entrance toll gate equipment 2a communicates with the on-board unit S mounted on the vehicle entering the entrance toll gate "IC: A" and confirms that a valid ETC card C is properly set in the on-board unit. When the entrance toll gate equipment 2a confirms that a valid ETC card C is properly set in the on-board unit S, it writes information indicating the entrance and the entry date and time into the memory area E of the ETC card C and permits the entry of the vehicle.

[0159] However, the entrance toll gate equipment 2a may transmit to the area management device 1A entrance information Data31 having the same content as the entrance information Data1 shown in Fig. 5. For example, when the condition for setting the variable amount includes information on the entrance information, the entrance toll gate equipment 2a transmits to the area management device 1A entrance information Data31 created based on information acquired from the vehicle-mounted device S through communication with the vehicle-mounted device S. In this case, the area management device 1A may store in the memory unit 12 the entrance information Data31 acquired from the entrance toll gate equipment 2a.

[0160] Next, when a vehicle that has entered through the entrance toll gate "IC: A" passes through route a in area A, route device 4a creates passed route information Data32 indicating that the vehicle has passed through route a, and transmits the created passed route information Data32 to area management device 1A. Passed route information Data32 may be configured with the same content as passed route information Data2 shown in FIG. The area management device 1A stores the passed route information Data32 received from the route device 4a in the storage unit 12. For example, the area management device 1A accumulates the received passed route information Data32 in the storage unit 12 as route information organized for each vehicle identification information.

[0161] Next, when a vehicle that has passed through route a passes through a checkpoint, the checkpoint equipment 5 creates area crossing information Data33 based on information obtained from the on-board unit S by communicating with the on-board unit S mounted on the vehicle passing through the checkpoint, and transmits the created area crossing information Data33 to the area management device 1A of area A. Here, the area crossing information Data33 is information indicating that the area has passed through a checkpoint and moved to an adjacent area, and may be configured with the same content as the area crossing information Data3 shown in Fig. 5. The checkpoint device 5 may transmit the area crossing information Data33 to the area management device 1B of the destination area B, or may transmit the area crossing information Data33 to both the area management device 1A of the source area A and the area management device 1B of the destination area B.

[0162] When the area management device 1A acquires (receives) the cross-area information Data33 from the checkpoint equipment 5, it creates handover information Data34 for handing over information indicating the accumulated fluctuation amount for the vehicle passing through the checkpoint to the area management device 1B in the destination area B. For example, the area management device 1A extracts all route information of the vehicle in area A (its own area) from the storage unit 12 based on the identification information of the vehicle passing through the checkpoint, retrieves the fluctuation amounts for all routes in area A from the variable charging table T2A for area A, and calculates the total value of the fluctuation amounts for all routes as the accumulated fluctuation amount.

[0163] In the third embodiment, since entry information indicating the entrance is written to the ETC card C set in the vehicle-mounted device S mounted on the vehicle, the handover information Data34 does not need to include the entry information, and may include vehicle identification information (card ID, vehicle-mounted device ID) and the accumulated fluctuation amount. Also, when the accumulated fluctuation amount from the own area to the previous area is stored in the memory unit 12, the area management device 1A calculates the accumulated fluctuation amount up to the own area by adding the total value of the fluctuation amount in the own area to the accumulated fluctuation amount up to the previous area.

[0164] When the area management device 1A calculates the accumulated change amount, the area management device 1A creates handover information Data 34 including the calculated accumulated change amount up to its own area and the identification information of the vehicle (card ID or vehicle-mounted device ID). When the handover information Data 34 is created, the area management device 1A transmits the handover information Data 34 to the area management device 1B in area B, which is the destination of the vehicle. As a result, the area management device 1B of the destination stores in the storage unit 12 the accumulated change amount included in the handover information Data34 from the area management device 1B of the source as the accumulated change amount up to the previous area.

[0165] Next, when a vehicle that has entered area B from the checkpoint passes through route c, route device 4c communicates with in-vehicle devices S of vehicles passing through each route c, and creates passed route information Data35 indicating that the vehicle has passed through route c. Route device 4c transmits the created passed route information Data35 to area management device 1B. Passed route information Data35 may have the same format (configuration) as the passed route information Data32 described above.

[0166] When the area management device 1B receives the passing route information Data35, the area management device 1B stores the passing route information Data35 as route information in area B (own area) in the storage unit 12. As a result, the area management device 1B stores in the storage unit 12 all route information in the own area and the accumulated change amount up to the previous area.

[0167] Next, when the vehicle enters the exit toll gate "IC:C", the exit toll gate equipment 3c communicates with the onboard unit S installed in the vehicle to obtain information about the vehicle, and creates exit information Data36 to request the accumulated fluctuation amount for the vehicle and all route information for the vehicle's area. However, in the third embodiment, the area management device 1 does not calculate the basic fee or the toll based on the basic table. Therefore, the exit information Data36 may be information that simply requests the accumulated change amount up to the previous area for the exiting vehicle and the entire route information in the own area, and may be information that includes the identification information of the exiting vehicle.

[0168] The exit information Data 36 may have the same content as the exit information Data 6 shown in Fig. 5. For example, when the condition for setting the variable amount includes the information on the exit information, the exit toll booth device 3 may transmit the exit information Data 36 created based on the information acquired from the vehicle-mounted device S through communication with the vehicle-mounted device S to the area management device 1A.

[0169] When the area management device 1B acquires the exit information Data36 from the exit toll booth equipment 3c, it searches the accumulated change amount for the vehicle up to the previous area and the entire route information for the own area stored in the memory unit 12, and creates related information Data37 of the change amount including the accumulated change amount for the vehicle up to the previous area and the entire route information for the own area. The fluctuation amount related information Data37 is information indicating the accumulated fluctuation amount and all route information associated with the vehicle identification information (card ID, vehicle-mounted device ID). The area management device 1B returns the created fluctuation amount related information Data37 to the exit toll booth device 3c that is the source of the exit information Data36.

[0170] Meanwhile, the exit toll booth equipment 3c obtains information indicating the entrance of the exiting vehicle that is recorded on the ETC card C by communicating with the onboard unit S of the exiting vehicle, and deducts the basic toll from the basic table T1 based on the combination of entrance and exit obtained from the onboard unit S. Furthermore, the exit tollgate equipment 3c deducts the variable charges for all routes within area B from the variable charging table T2B for area B based on all route information for area B included in the variable charge related information Data37 received from the area management device 1B. The exit tollgate equipment 3c calculates the total of the variable charges for all routes in area B and the total of the accumulated variable charges up to the previous area. The exit toll gate device 3c calculates the toll by applying the total variable amount to the basic fee allocated from the basic table T1. The exit toll gate device 3c at the exit toll gate then executes the exit process for the vehicle based on the calculated toll. In this exit process, the exit toll gate device 3c writes information indicating the exit and the exit date and time into the memory area E of the ETC card C set in the on-board device S mounted on the exiting vehicle.

[0171] Next, a description will be given of the operation of each device in the fee processing system according to the third embodiment. A description will be given of the operation of the area management device 1 in the fee processing system according to the third embodiment. FIG. 21 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the area management device 1 in the fee processing system according to the third embodiment. When entry information from the entrance toll gate equipment 2 is received by the equipment communication unit 13 (ST311, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 stores the entry information in the memory unit 12 (ST312). Here, the entrance toll gate equipment 2 performs a process of writing information indicating the entrance and entry date and time in the memory area E of the ETC card C set in the on-board unit S mounted on the entering vehicle. However, if the area management device is not required to manage the entry information, the processes of ST311 and ST312 may be omitted. Furthermore, when passing route information is received from the route device 4 (ST313, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 stores the received passing route information in the storage unit 12 (ST314).

[0172] Furthermore, when area crossing information is received from the checkpoint equipment 5 (ST315, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 searches the memory unit 12 for all route information in the vehicle's own area identified by the identification information included in the received area crossing information, and deducts the variable amounts for all routes in the own area from the area-specific variable charging table T2A (T2B) (ST316). Then, when the fluctuation amounts for all the routes in the own area have been calculated, the control unit 11 calculates the sum of the fluctuation amounts as the accumulated fluctuation amount (ST317).

[0173] Here, if the accumulated fluctuation amount for the vehicle up to the previous area is stored in the memory unit 12, the control unit 11 calculates the accumulated fluctuation amount up to the own area by adding the total of the fluctuation amounts for all routes in the own area to the accumulated fluctuation amount up to the previous area. Also, if the accumulated fluctuation amount for the vehicle up to the previous area is not stored in the memory unit 12, the control unit 11 sets the total of the fluctuation amounts for all routes in the own area as the accumulated fluctuation amount up to the own area.

[0174] When the accumulated fluctuation amount up to the own area is calculated, the control unit 11 creates handover information for carrying over the accumulated fluctuation amount up to the own area to the next area (ST318). For example, the control unit 11 creates handover information indicating the accumulated fluctuation amount up to the own area associated with the vehicle identification information (card ID or vehicle-mounted device ID) included in the area crossing information. The control unit 11 identifies the area management device in charge of the destination area based on the area crossing information, and transmits the created handover information to the area management device of the destination area (ST319). Also, when handover information is received from an area management device of another area (ST320, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 stores the accumulated change amount up to the previous area included in the received handover information in the storage unit 12 in association with the vehicle identification information (ST321). In this case, the control unit 11 stores the accumulated change amount up to the previous area, and then accumulates the route information of the vehicle in its own area in the storage unit 12.

[0175] Also, when exit information is received from the exit toll booth equipment 3 (ST322, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 searches the memory unit 12 for the cumulative change amount up to the previous area for the vehicle identified by the identification information included in the exit information and all route information within its own area (ST323). When the control unit 11 specifies the accumulated amount of change up to the previous area for the vehicle of the identification information included in the exit information and the entire route information of the own area, it creates information related to the amount of change indicating the specified accumulated amount of change up to the previous area and the entire route information of the own area (ST324), and transmits the created information related to the amount of change to the exit toll gate equipment 3 which is the sender of the exit information (ST325). This allows the area management device of the exit toll gate area to provide the exit toll gate equipment 3 with the accumulated amount of change up to the previous area and the entire route information in the own area. Based on information from the area management device 1, the exit toll booth equipment 3 executes an exit process including a process of writing information indicating the exit and the date and time of exit into a memory area E of an ETC card C set in an onboard device S mounted on an exiting vehicle.

[0176] The checkpoint device 5 in the fee processing system according to the third embodiment may perform the same operation as the checkpoint device described in the first embodiment as shown in Fig. 7. Therefore, in the third embodiment, a detailed description of the operation of the checkpoint device 5 will be omitted.

[0177] Next, the operation of the exit toll booth device 3 in the toll processing system according to the third embodiment will be described. FIG. 22 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the exit toll booth device 3 in the toll processing system according to the third embodiment. When the control unit 31 of the exit toll gate equipment 3 detects a vehicle entering the exit toll gate (ST351), it starts communication with the vehicle-mounted unit S mounted on the vehicle via the vehicle communication unit 33. When communication with the vehicle-mounted unit S is established, the control unit 31 acquires various information related to the vehicle through communication with the vehicle-mounted unit S (ST352). For example, in the third embodiment, the control unit 31 acquires information such as identification information such as a card ID and a vehicle-mounted unit ID, information indicating the vehicle type, and entry information from the vehicle-mounted unit S.

[0178] When the control unit 31 acquires identification information (card ID, vehicle-mounted device ID) for identifying the vehicle from the vehicle-mounted device S, it creates exit information including the identification information acquired from the vehicle-mounted device S as information requesting information related to the fluctuation amount for the vehicle (the cumulative fluctuation amount up to the previous area and all route information for the own area), and transmits the created exit information to the area management device 1 of the own area (ST353).

[0179] Furthermore, the control unit 31 identifies the entrance based on the entrance information acquired from the vehicle-mounted device S (ST354), and identifies the vehicle type based on the information indicating the vehicle type acquired from the vehicle-mounted device S (ST355). When the entrance and vehicle type for the vehicle in question are specified, the control unit 31 allocates the basic fee according to the combination of the entrance and exit from the basic table T1 corresponding to the vehicle type in question (ST356).

[0180] When the control unit 31 receives information related to the variable amount from the area management device 1 that transmitted the exit information, it deducts the variable amount for all routes in its own area from the variable charging table T2A (T2B) based on the all-route information of its own area received from the area management device 1 (ST357). When the fluctuation amounts for all the routes in the own area have been allocated, the control unit 31 calculates the accumulated fluctuation amount for all areas by adding the total of the fluctuation amounts for all the routes in the own area to the accumulated fluctuation amount up to the previous area (ST358).

[0181] After calculating the accumulated fluctuation amount for all areas, the control unit 31 applies the calculated accumulated fluctuation amount for all areas to the basic fee to calculate the total amount as the toll to be levied on the vehicle (ST359). When the toll is calculated, the control unit 31 displays the calculated toll on the roadside display 35 (ST360), and allows the vehicle to exit by the departure controller 34 (ST361). Furthermore, the control unit 31 writes the exit information into the ETC card C set in the vehicle-mounted unit S of the vehicle (ST362), and ends the exit process for the vehicle.

[0182] As described above, according to the third embodiment, the area management device has an area-specific variable charging table, and accumulates route information within its own area. When a vehicle moves to another area, the area management device of the area from which the vehicle moves transmits to the area management device of the destination area a cumulative change amount including a change amount corresponding to the entire route in the own area based on the entire route information in the own area. The destination area management device holds the accumulated change amount from the source area management device to the previous area, and also holds route information in its own area. Furthermore, each area management device 1 transmits the accumulated change amount up to the previous area and all route information in its own area to the exit toll gate device in response to the exit information. The exit toll booth equipment is equipped with a basic table and a variable charging table for each area, and calculates the total of the variable amounts for all routes in the area by adding the variable amount for all routes in the area to the accumulated variable amount up to the pre-allocation area, and calculates the toll by applying the total of the variable amounts for all routes in the area to the basic charge based on the combination of entrance and exit.

[0183] As a result, in the toll processing system of the third embodiment, the area management device in each area takes over the accumulated fluctuation amount from other areas to the previous area, and can provide the accumulated fluctuation amount up to the previous area and all route information in its own area to the exit toll booth equipment, making it possible to efficiently process fluctuation amounts according to routes that are set based on factors such as the congestion level of each route on large-scale toll roads spanning vast areas. Furthermore, in the toll processing system according to the third embodiment, each area management device transmits and receives the cumulative fluctuations in the amount of vehicles that have moved between areas, eliminating the need to transfer large amounts of data between areas, reducing the amount of communication data and easing the communication load between areas.

[0184] (First modified example of the third embodiment) In the above-mentioned third embodiment, each area management device and each exit toll gate device has an area-specific variable charge table corresponding to their own area. However, the variable charge table provided in each area management device and each exit toll gate device may be a common variable charge table showing the variable amount for each route of the entire toll road (all areas).

[0185] Here, as a first variant of the third embodiment, we will explain a fee processing system according to the third embodiment described above in which the variable charging table provided in the area management device is replaced with a common variable charging table corresponding to all areas.

[0186] FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of operation of a fee processing system according to a first modified example of the third embodiment. As shown in Fig. 23, the fee processing system according to the first modified example of the third embodiment has a configuration in which the area-specific variable charge tables T2A, T2B provided in each area management device and each exit toll booth device in the fee processing system according to the third embodiment having the configuration shown in Fig. 20 above are replaced with a common variable charge table T2 corresponding to all areas. The variable charge table T2 common to all areas may be the one described in the first modified example of the first embodiment above, and the processing performed by each area management device 1 (1A, 1B) can be realized by the same processing as in the third embodiment described above, except that the table from which each area management device allocates the variable amount is the common variable charge table T2.

[0187] According to the configuration shown in FIG. 23, the common variable charge table T2 stores variable charges for all routes in all areas, and therefore has a larger amount of data than the area-specific variable charge tables T2A, T2B. However, there is no need to create or update it for each area, and variable charges for all routes on the entire toll road can be managed in a centralized manner.

[0188] (Second modified example of the third embodiment) In the first variant of the third embodiment described above, each area management device accumulates route information indicating the route taken within its own area, and when a vehicle passes through a checkpoint and moves to another area, the accumulated fluctuation amount, which includes the total amount of fluctuation amounts for all routes taken by the vehicle within its own area, is handed over to the area management device of the destination area. However, each area management device may transfer all route information indicating all routes traversed in its own area to the area management device of the destination area, which eliminates the need for the area management device to have a variable charging table.

[0189] As a second variant of the third embodiment, a fee processing system according to the third embodiment described above will be described in which the area management device transmits route information, rather than the accumulated change amount, to the area management device in the destination area.

[0190] FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of operation of a fee processing system according to a second modified example of the third embodiment. As shown in Figure 24, the fee processing system relating to the second variant of the third embodiment is realized by replacing the variable charging table in the configuration shown in Figure 20 described above with a common variable charging table T2 corresponding to all areas.

[0191] In the example shown in FIG. 24, the area management device 1A stores in the storage unit 12 passed route information Data32 acquired from a route device 4a in area A. Moreover, the area management device 1A may also store in the storage unit 12 the entrance information Data31 from the entrance toll booth device 2a as one piece of route information indicating the condition for identifying the fluctuation amount. When the area management device 1A receives area crossing information Data33 from the checkpoint equipment 5, it extracts from the memory unit 12 all route information corresponding to the vehicle identification information contained in the received area crossing information Data33, and transmits handover information Data34' including all the route information to the area management device 1B in the destination area B.

[0192] The area management device 1B stores in the storage unit 12 all route information (all route information up to the previous area) included in the handover information Data34' from the area management device 1A in association with the vehicle identification information. When the area management device 1B receives the passing route information Data35 from the route device 4c in the area B, the area management device 1B stores the information in the storage unit 12 as route information in its own area. When the area management device 1B receives the exit information Data36 from the exit toll booth equipment 3c, it extracts from the memory unit 12 all route information (the entire route to the previous area and the entire route within the own area) corresponding to the vehicle identification information contained in the received exit information Data36. The area management device 1B transmits the variable amount related information Data37' including all the extracted route information for all the areas to the exit toll gate device 3c. As a result, the exit toll gate device 3c allocates the variable amounts for all the route information from the variable charging table T2, and applies the sum of the variable amounts to the basic charge allocated from the basic table to calculate the toll.

[0193] Next, the operation of the area management device 1 in the fee processing system according to the second modified example of the third embodiment will be described. FIG. 25 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the area management device 1 in the fee processing system according to the second modified example of the third embodiment. In the second variant of the third embodiment, each area management device 1 receives entry information from the entrance toll booth equipment 2 within the area, passing route information from the route equipment 4, area crossing information from the checkpoint equipment 5, and exit information from the exit toll booth equipment 3 at any time. The area management device 1 also receives handover information from the area management device of the source area, the handover information including information indicating all routes traveled by a vehicle that has passed through a checkpoint and moved into the area.

[0194] When the entrance information is received from the entrance toll gate equipment 2 (ST371, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 stores the entrance information in the memory unit 12 (ST372). However, in cases where the information included in the entrance information is not used as a condition for the variable amount, the area management device 1 does not need to acquire the entrance information from the entrance toll gate equipment 2. When passing route information has been received from the route device 4 (ST373, YES), the control section 11 of the area management device 1 stores the received passing route information in the storage section 12 (ST374).

[0195] Also, when area crossing information is received from the checkpoint equipment 5 (ST375, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 creates handover information for handing over all route information related to the vehicle identified by the identification information included in the received area crossing information to the next area (ST376). The control unit 11 extracts all of the vehicle's previous route information from the memory unit 12 based on the vehicle's identification information included in the area crossing information, and creates handover information including all of the extracted route information and the vehicle's identification information (ST376). Furthermore, the control section 11 specifies the area management device in charge of the destination area based on the area crossing information, and transmits the created handover information to the area management device of the destination area (ST377). In addition, when handover information is received from an area management device in another area (ST378, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 stores all route information to the previous area contained in the received handover information in the memory unit 12 in correspondence with the vehicle identification information (ST379).

[0196] Also, when exit information is received from the exit toll booth equipment 3 (ST380, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 searches the memory unit 12 for all route information for the vehicle identified by the identification information included in the received exit information (ST381). When all the route information has been extracted, the control section 11 creates information related to the fluctuation amount including all the extracted route information (ST382). The control unit 11 transmits information related to the change amount including all the created route information to the exit toll gate equipment 3 which is the source of the exit information (ST383). This allows the area management device to provide the exit toll gate equipment 3 with information including all the route information of all areas that the vehicle has passed through.

[0197] In addition, in the toll processing system related to the second variant of the third embodiment, the checkpoint equipment 5 may perform processing similar to the processing shown in FIG. 7 described above as the first embodiment, and the exit toll booth equipment 3 may perform a flow similar to the processing shown in FIG. 22 described above, by calculating the sum of the variable amounts corresponding to all routes in all areas (accumulated variable amount) by deducting from a common variable charging table T2 the variable amounts corresponding to all routes based on all route information contained in the variable amount related information received from the area management device, and then calculating the toll by applying the sum of the variable amounts corresponding to all routes in all areas to the basic fee allocated from the basic table T1.

[0198] As described above, according to the second modification of the third embodiment, the area management device accumulates passing route information collected from route devices in its own area. When the area management device receives area crossing information from a checkpoint device, it transmits all route information up to its own area as handover information to the destination area management device. When the area management device receives exit information from an exit toll gate device, it transmits information indicating all routes in all areas, including all routes up to the previous area and all routes in its own area, to the exit toll gate device.

[0199] As a result, in the toll processing system related to the second variant of the third embodiment, all route information up to the vehicle's own area can be handed over to the destination area management device, and all route information traveled by the vehicle can be reliably managed even on large toll roads spanning vast areas, making it possible to smoothly process tolls by applying a variable amount according to the route that is set based on the congestion level of each route, etc.

[0200] (Fourth embodiment) The fourth embodiment is an embodiment in which both the basic charge table and the variable charge table are managed by the exit toll gate, and further, entry information and route information are stored and managed in the ETC card.

[0201] When moving between areas, the area management device obtains all route information within its own area that was written to the memory of the ETC card via the checkpoint device, and provides the accumulated change amount according to the all route information within its own area to the area management device of the destination. Furthermore, when exiting, the area management device provides the exit toll gate device with the accumulated change amount up to the previous area that was inherited from the area management device of the area from which the user moved.

[0202] The fee processing system according to the fourth embodiment will be described in detail below. The fee processing system of the fourth embodiment is realized by various devices such as those shown in FIG. 1 described in the first embodiment, and each device has a configuration such as that shown in FIG. 19 described in the third embodiment. That is, as shown in FIG. 19, the toll processing system of the fourth embodiment is configured such that the exit toll booth equipment 3 has a memory unit 36 ​​that has a basic table T1 and a variable charging table T2A (T2B) for its own area, and each area management device 1A, 1B has a variable charging table T2A, T2B for each area.

[0203] FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of operation of the fee processing system according to the fourth embodiment. Figure 26 is a schematic diagram illustrating a vehicle entering area A at the entrance toll gate "IC:A", passing through route a in area A, a checkpoint, and route c in area B, before exiting at the exit toll gate "IC:C" in area B, similar to the example shown in Figure 5.

[0204] The entrance toll gate equipment 2a communicates with an on-board unit S mounted on a vehicle entering the entrance toll gate "IC:A", and when it confirms that a valid ETC card C is properly set in the on-board unit S, it secures a memory area E in the memory of the ETC card C, writes entry information indicating the entrance and entry date and time into the memory area E, and permits the entry of the vehicle.

[0205] Next, when a vehicle entering through the entrance toll gate "IC: A" passes through route a in area A, the route device 4a communicates with the on-board unit S mounted on the vehicle, and writes route information indicating that route a has been passed in a memory area E in an ETC card C set in the on-board unit S. The route information written in the memory area E of the ETC card C is, for example, information indicating the route that has been passed and the date and time of passing.

[0206] Next, when the vehicle that has passed through route a passes through a checkpoint, the checkpoint equipment 5 communicates with the vehicle-mounted device S mounted on the vehicle that passes through the checkpoint, and acquires all route information recorded in the memory of the ETC card C from the vehicle-mounted device S. The checkpoint equipment 5 creates area crossing information Data43 including all acquired route information, information indicating passing through the checkpoint, and vehicle identification information, and transmits the created area crossing information Data43 to the area management device 1A of area A. The checkpoint equipment 5 may also acquire entrance information recorded in the memory of the ETC card C from the vehicle-mounted device, and create area crossing information including the acquired entrance information.

[0207] When the area management device 1A receives the area crossing information Data 43 from the checkpoint equipment 5, it creates handover information Data 44 for handing over the accumulated fluctuation amount for the vehicle passing through the checkpoint to the area management device 1B in the destination area B. For example, the area management device 1A retrieves the fluctuation amounts for all route information in area A (own area) of the vehicle contained in the received cross-area information 43 from the variable charging table T2A for area A, and calculates the total value of the fluctuation amounts according to all routes in area A as the accumulated fluctuation amount. Note that here, if the accumulated fluctuation amount from an area earlier than area A (the accumulated fluctuation amount up to the previous area) has been carried over, the area management device 1A calculates the accumulated fluctuation amount by adding the total of the fluctuation amounts according to all routes in area A to the accumulated fluctuation amount up to the previous area.

[0208] When the area management device 1A calculates the accumulated change amount, the area management device 1A creates handover information Data 44 including the calculated accumulated change amount up to its own area and the identification information of the vehicle (card ID or vehicle-mounted device ID). When the area management device 1A acquires cross-area information including the entrance information, the area management device 1A may create handover information including the entrance information. When the area management device 1A creates the handover information Data 44, it transmits the handover information Data 44 to the area management device 1B of the area B to which the vehicle is to be moved. As a result, the area management device 1B of the destination stores the accumulated fluctuation amount included in the handover information Data 44 from the area management device 1A of the source as the accumulated fluctuation amount up to the previous area.

[0209] In addition, after the checkpoint equipment 5 acquires all route information for the area from which the vehicle is moving that is recorded in the memory area E of the ETC card C from the vehicle-mounted unit S (or after transmitting the area crossing information Data43 to the area management device 1A of area A), it deletes all route information for the area from which the vehicle is moving (all recorded route information) from the memory area E of the ETC card C. This is to secure the storage area for route information in the storage area E of the ETC card C by deleting the records of all route information in the source area. The example shown in Fig. 26 shows a state in which the checkpoint device 5 has deleted the route information in the source area.

[0210] Next, when a vehicle that has entered area B from the checkpoint passes through route c, route device 4c communicates with onboard devices S of the vehicles passing through each route c, and writes route information indicating that the vehicle has passed through route c in area B in memory area E of ETC card C.

[0211] Next, when the vehicle enters the exit toll gate "IC:C", the exit toll gate equipment 3c acquires the identification information of the vehicle by communicating with the onboard unit S installed in the vehicle, and requests the accumulated change amount up to the previous area corresponding to the identification information of the vehicle from the area management device 1B. In response to a request from the exit toll booth device 3c, the area management device 1B searches the storage unit 12 for the accumulated change amount up to the previous area for the identification information of the vehicle. If there is an accumulated change amount up to the previous area, the area management device 1B transmits a response as information on the change amount for the vehicle, including information indicating the accumulated change amount up to the previous area, to the exit toll gate device 3c. If there is no accumulated change amount up to the previous area corresponding to the requested vehicle identification information, the area management device 1B may transmit a response to the exit toll gate indicating that there is no accumulated change amount for the vehicle.

[0212] In addition, the exit toll booth equipment 3c acquires information indicating the entrance of the exiting vehicle recorded on the ETC card C by communicating with the onboard unit S of the exiting vehicle, and deducts the basic toll from the basic table T1 based on the combination of entrance and exit acquired from the onboard unit S. The exit toll gate device 3c also allocates the fluctuation amount corresponding to all routes in its own area from the variable charging table T2B based on all route information in its own area acquired from the vehicle-mounted device S, and calculates the total fluctuation amount in its own area. Furthermore, when the exit toll gate device 3c receives the accumulated fluctuation amount up to the previous area from the area management device 1B, it calculates the total fluctuation amount by adding the total fluctuation amount in its own area and the accumulated fluctuation amount up to the previous area. The exit toll gate device 3c calculates the toll by applying the total fluctuation amount to the basic charge allocated from the basic table T1. As a result, the exit toll gate equipment 3c at the exit toll gate executes exit processing for the vehicle based on the calculated toll, writes exit information indicating the entrance and exit date and time to the memory area E of the ETC card C set in the onboard unit S, and permits the vehicle to exit.

[0213] Next, a description will be given of the operation of each device in the fee processing system according to the fourth embodiment. First, a description will be given of the operation of the area management device 1 in the fee processing system according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 27 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the area management device 1 in the fee processing system according to the fourth embodiment. As described above, the area management device 1 of the toll processing system according to the fourth embodiment receives cross-area information including all route information indicating all routes taken within the area by a vehicle moving from the checkpoint equipment 5 to another area (ST411). Here, when area crossing information is received from the checkpoint equipment 5 (ST411, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 deducts the variable amount according to the route for all route information included in the received area crossing information from the variable charging table T2A (T2B) for its own area (ST412). After accumulating the fluctuation amounts for all the passing routes in the own area, the control unit 11 calculates the sum of the fluctuation amounts as the accumulated fluctuation amount (ST413).

[0214] Here, if the accumulated fluctuation amount for the vehicle up to the previous area is stored in the memory unit 12, the control unit 11 calculates the accumulated fluctuation amount up to the own area by adding the total of the fluctuation amounts for all routes in the own area to the accumulated fluctuation amount up to the previous area. If the accumulated fluctuation amount for the vehicle up to the previous area is not stored in the memory unit 12, the control unit 11 sets the total of the fluctuation amounts for all routes in the own area as the accumulated fluctuation amount up to the own area.

[0215] When the accumulated amount of change up to the own area is calculated, the control unit 11 creates handover information for handing over the accumulated amount of change up to the own area to the next area (ST414). When the control unit 11 creates handover information indicating the accumulated fluctuation amount up to the own area, the control unit 11 identifies the area management device in charge of the destination area based on the area crossing information, and transmits the created handover information to the area management device of the destination area (ST415). Also, when handover information is received from an area management device in another area (ST416, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 stores the cumulative change amount up to the previous area contained in the received handover information in the memory unit 12 in correspondence with the vehicle identification information (ST417).

[0216] Also, when a request for the accumulated change amount up to the previous area is received from the exit toll booth equipment 3 (ST418, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 searches the memory unit 12 for the accumulated change amount up to the previous area for the specified vehicle (ST419). When the accumulated change amount for the vehicle up to the previous area is searched for, the control unit 11 creates accumulated change amount information as response information indicating the accumulated change amount up to the previous area as the search result (ST420). Then, the created accumulated change amount information is transmitted to the exit toll gate equipment 3 (ST421). This allows the area management device in the exit toll gate area to provide the accumulated change amount up to the previous area to the exit toll gate equipment 3 in its own area.

[0217] Next, the operation of the checkpoint device 5 in the fee processing system according to the fourth embodiment will be described. FIG. 22 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the exit toll booth device 3 in the toll processing system according to the third embodiment. When the control unit 51 of the checkpoint equipment 5 detects a vehicle passing through the checkpoint (ST431, YES), the vehicle communication unit 53 executes communication with the vehicle-mounted device S mounted on the vehicle passing through the checkpoint (ST432).

[0218] When communication is established with the vehicle-mounted unit S mounted on the vehicle passing through the checkpoint by the vehicle communication unit 53, the control unit 51 acquires all route information within its own area stored in the ETC card C from the vehicle-mounted unit S. When acquiring all route information within the own area from the vehicle-mounted device S, the control unit 51 creates cross-area information including all route information within the own area acquired from the vehicle-mounted device S (ST433). In the fourth embodiment, for example, the control unit 51 creates cross-area information including vehicle identification information (card ID, vehicle-mounted device ID), information indicating the checkpoint to be passed, information indicating the destination area, all route information within the own area (source area), and the like. Here, if entrance information is also acquired from the vehicle-mounted device S, the control unit 51 may create cross-area information including the entrance information.

[0219] When the area crossing information is created, the control unit 51 transmits the created area crossing information to the area management device 1 of the source area (ST434). However, the checkpoint device 5 may transmit the area crossing information to the area management device 1 of the destination area, or may transmit the area crossing information to both the area management device of the source area and the area management device of the destination area.

[0220] In addition, after acquiring route information within the area from which the vehicle is moving that is stored in the ETC card C from the vehicle-mounted unit S of the vehicle passing through the checkpoint, the control unit 51 performs a process of clearing all route information within the area from which the vehicle is moving that is stored in the ETC card C set in the vehicle-mounted unit S (ST435). This frees up the area for storing route information in the ETC card C set in the on-board unit S of the vehicle passing through the checkpoint, allowing route information for the destination area to be written in. As a result, even an ETC card C with a small storage capacity can reliably record route information.

[0221] Next, the operation of the exit toll booth device 3 in the toll processing system according to the fourth embodiment will be described. FIG. 29 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the exit toll gate device 3 in the toll processing system according to the fourth embodiment. When the control unit 31 of the exit toll gate equipment 3 detects a vehicle entering the exit toll gate (ST451), it starts communication with the vehicle-mounted unit S mounted on the vehicle via the vehicle communication unit 33. When communication with the vehicle-mounted unit S is established, the control unit 31 acquires various information related to the vehicle through communication with the vehicle-mounted unit S (ST452). For example, in the fourth embodiment, the control unit 31 acquires information such as identification information such as a card ID and a vehicle-mounted unit ID, information indicating the vehicle type, and entry information from the vehicle-mounted unit S.

[0222] When the control unit 31 acquires the identification information (card ID, vehicle-mounted device ID) for identifying the vehicle from the vehicle-mounted device S, it requests the area management device 1 in its own area for the accumulated change amount for the vehicle up to the previous area (ST453).

[0223] Furthermore, the control unit 31 identifies the entrance based on the entrance information acquired from the vehicle-mounted device S (ST454), and identifies the vehicle type based on the information indicating the vehicle type acquired from the vehicle-mounted device S (ST455). When the entrance and vehicle type for the vehicle in question are specified, the control unit 31 allocates the basic fee according to the combination of the entrance and exit from the basic table T1 corresponding to the vehicle type in question (ST456). Furthermore, the control unit 31 deducts the variable charges for all the routes in the own area from the own area variable charging table T2A (T2B) based on all the route information in the own area acquired from the vehicle-mounted device S (ST457).

[0224] Furthermore, after requesting the accumulated change amount from the area management device 1, the control unit 31 acquires response information indicating the accumulated change amount up to the previous area from the area management device 1, and calculates the accumulated change amount for all areas by adding the accumulated change amount up to the previous area acquired from the area management device 1 to the sum of the change amounts in the own area (ST458).

[0225] After calculating the accumulated fluctuation amount for all areas, the control unit 31 applies the calculated accumulated fluctuation amount for all areas to the basic fee to calculate the total amount as the toll to be levied on the vehicle (ST459). When the toll is calculated, the control unit 31 displays the calculated toll on the roadside display 35 (ST460), and allows the vehicle to exit by the departure controller 34 (ST461). Furthermore, the control unit 31 writes the exit information into the ETC card C set in the vehicle-mounted unit S of the vehicle (ST462), and ends the exit process for the vehicle.

[0226] As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the ETC card set in the vehicle's onboard unit stores entry information and route information, and the checkpoint equipment acquires all route information within its own area recorded on the ETC card set in the onboard unit of the vehicle passing through the checkpoint, transmits area crossing information including all route information within its own area to the area management device, and deletes all route information within its own area recorded on the ETC card. When each area management device 1 receives area crossing information including route information within its own area from the checkpoint device, it calculates the accumulated fluctuation amount by allocating a fluctuation amount according to the route passed within its own area from the area-specific variable charging table T2, and transmits handover information including the accumulated fluctuation amount to the destination area management device. Furthermore, in response to a request from the exit toll booth device in its own area, each area management device 1 provides the exit toll booth device with response information indicating the accumulated fluctuation amount up to the previous area. The exit toll booth device calculates the total of the fluctuation amounts according to all routes in all areas, which is calculated by allocating a fluctuation amount according to all routes in its own area based on all route information of its own area obtained from the on-board device and adding it to the accumulated fluctuation amount up to the previous area. The exit toll booth device calculates the toll by applying the calculated fluctuation amount to the basic charge allocated by the basic table.

[0227] As a result, in the toll processing system of the fourth embodiment, the area management device in each area can hand over the fluctuation amount in its own area to the area management device in the destination area, making it possible to efficiently process fluctuation amounts according to routes that are set based on factors such as the congestion level of each route on large-scale toll roads spanning vast areas. Furthermore, in the toll processing system according to the fourth embodiment, each area management device transmits and receives the cumulative fluctuations in the amount of vehicles that have moved between areas, eliminating the need to transfer large amounts of data between areas, reducing the amount of communication data and easing the communication load between areas.

[0228] (First modified example of the fourth embodiment) In the above-mentioned fourth embodiment, the area management device and the exit toll booth device are provided with area-specific variable charge tables corresponding to their own areas. However, the variable charge tables provided in the area management device and the exit toll booth device may be a common variable charge table showing the variable amount for each route of the entire toll road (all areas).

[0229] The first variant of the fourth embodiment is a system in which the variable charging tables provided in the area management device and each exit toll booth equipment in the toll processing system according to the fourth embodiment described above are replaced with a common variable charging table corresponding to all areas.

[0230] FIG. 30 is a schematic diagram showing an example of operation of a fee processing system according to a first modified example of the fourth embodiment. As shown in Figure 30, the fee processing system related to the first variant of the fourth embodiment has a configuration in which the variable charging tables provided in each area management device and each exit toll booth device in the fee processing system configured as shown in Figure 20 described above are replaced with a common variable charging table T2 corresponding to all areas. The variable charge table T2 common to all areas may be the one described in the first variant of the first embodiment above, and the processing performed by each area management device 1 (1A, 1B) can be realized in a similar manner to that of the fourth embodiment described above, except that the table from which each area management device allocates the variable amount is the common variable charge table T2.

[0231] According to the configuration shown in FIG. 30, the common variable charging table T2 stores variable charges for all routes in all areas, and therefore has a larger amount of data than the area-specific variable charging tables T2A, T2B. However, there is no need to create or update it for each area, and variable charges for all routes on the entire toll road can be managed in a centralized manner.

[0232] (Second modified example of the fourth embodiment) In the first modified example of the fourth embodiment described above, each area management device is configured to hand over the total amount of fluctuations in its own area based on all route information acquired from the checkpoint device when the vehicle passes through the checkpoint to the area management device of the destination area as the accumulated fluctuation amount. However, each area management device may also hand over all route information indicating the passing route in its own area acquired from the checkpoint device to the area management device of the destination area. In the second variant of the fourth embodiment, a fee processing system according to the above-described fourth embodiment will be described in which the area management device transfers all route information to its own area, rather than the accumulated fluctuation amount, to the area management device of the destination area.

[0233] FIG. 31 is a diagram showing an example of operation of a fee processing system according to a second modified example of the fourth embodiment. As shown in Figure 31, the toll processing system related to the second variant of the fourth embodiment is realized in a configuration in which the variable charging table provided in the exit toll booth equipment in the configuration shown in Figure 20 described above is replaced with a common variable charging table T2 corresponding to all areas, and further, each area management device does not require a variable charging table.

[0234] In the example shown in Fig. 31, first, the entrance toll booth equipment 2a writes entry information indicating the entrance and entry date and time into the storage area E of the memory in the ETC card C set in the on-board unit S of the entering vehicle, and permits the entry of the vehicle. Next, the route equipment 4a writes route information indicating the passage of route a into the storage area E of the ETC card C set in the on-board unit S of the vehicle passing along route a.

[0235] Next, the checkpoint device 5 acquires all route information in the area from which the vehicle is moving from the ETC card C set in the on-board device S of the vehicle passing through the checkpoint. The checkpoint device 5 transmits area crossing information Data43 including all acquired route information, information indicating passing through the checkpoint, and vehicle identification information to the area management device 1A in area A. The area management device 1A creates handover information Data44' including all route information in area A (its own area) contained in the area-crossing information Data43 received from the checkpoint equipment 5 and the vehicle's identification information (card ID or vehicle-mounted device ID), and transmits the handover information Data44 to the area management device 1B in area B, the destination of the vehicle. As a result, the destination area management device 1B stores all the route information included in the handover information Data 44 from the source area management device 1A as all the route information up to the previous area.

[0236] In addition, after the checkpoint equipment 5 acquires all route information recorded in the memory area E of the ETC card C from the vehicle-mounted unit S, it deletes the route information for the area from which the vehicle moved (all recorded route information) from the memory area E of the ETC card C.

[0237] Next, the route device 4c writes information indicating that the route c has been passed and information indicating the passing date and time into the memory area E of the ETC card C set in the on-board unit S of the vehicle passing through each route c. Next, the exit toll booth device 3c communicates with the on-board unit S mounted on the vehicle, and requests all route information up to the previous area corresponding to the vehicle from the area management device 1B. In response to a request from the exit toll gate equipment 3c, the area management device 1B extracts from the memory unit 12 all route information to the previous area for the vehicle's identification information, and transmits a response to the exit toll gate equipment 3c including information Data46' indicating all route information to the previous area.

[0238] As a result, the exit toll booth equipment 3c obtains all route information for area B recorded on the ETC card C from the vehicle's on-board device S, and obtains all route information up to the previous area from the area management device 1B, thereby obtaining all route information for all areas for the vehicle. As a result, the exit toll booth equipment 3c calculates the toll to be levied on the vehicle by allocating the variable amount for all route information for all areas from the variable charge table T2 and applying the sum of the variable amounts for all areas to the basic charge allocated from the basic table.

[0239] Next, the operation of the area management device 1 in the fee processing system according to the second modified example of the fourth embodiment will be described. FIG. 32 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the area management device 1 in the fee processing system according to the second modified example of the fourth embodiment. When cross-area information is received from the checkpoint device 5 (ST471, YES), the control section 11 of the area management device 1 creates handover information including all route information included in the received cross-area information (ST472). Then, the control unit 11 transmits the created handover information to the area management device of the destination area (ST473). However, if the route information to the previous area for the vehicle is stored in the storage unit 12, the control unit 11 creates handover information including the entire route information to the own area, which is made up of the entire route information in the own area and the entire route information to the previous area, and transmits the handover information to the area management device of the destination area.

[0240] Furthermore, when handover information is received from an area management device in another area (ST474, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 stores all route information to the previous area contained in the received handover information in the memory unit 12 in correspondence with the vehicle identification information (ST475).

[0241] Also, when a request for route information from the exit toll booth equipment 3 to the previous area is received (ST476, YES), the control unit 11 of the area management device 1 searches the memory unit 12 for all route information to the previous area for the vehicle with the specified identification information (ST477). Then, response information indicating all route information up to the previous area obtained as the search result is created (ST478), and the created response information is transmitted to the exit toll gate equipment 3 (ST479). As a result, the area management device in the exit toll gate area can provide all route information up to the previous area to the exit toll gate equipment 3 in its own area.

[0242] Next, the operation of the exit toll booth device 3 in the toll processing system according to the second modified example of the fourth embodiment will be described. FIG. 33 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the exit toll gate device 3 in the toll processing system according to the second modified example of the fourth embodiment. When the control unit 31 of the exit toll gate equipment 3 detects a vehicle entering the exit toll gate (ST481), it communicates with the on-board unit S mounted on the vehicle via the vehicle communication unit 33 and acquires various information related to the vehicle (ST482). For example, the control unit 31 acquires information from the on-board unit S such as identification information such as a card ID and on-board unit ID, information indicating the vehicle type, entry information, and all route information for the area.

[0243] When the control unit 31 acquires the identification information (card ID, vehicle-mounted device ID) for identifying the vehicle from the vehicle-mounted device S, it requests the area management device 1 in its own area for all route information for the vehicle up to the previous area (ST483).

[0244] Furthermore, the control unit 31 identifies the entrance based on the entrance information acquired from the vehicle-mounted device S (ST484), and identifies the vehicle type based on the information indicating the vehicle type acquired from the vehicle-mounted device S (ST485). Then, when the entrance and vehicle type for the vehicle are specified, the control unit 31 deducts the basic fee according to the combination of the entrance and exit from the basic table T1 corresponding to the vehicle type (ST486).

[0245] Furthermore, when the control unit 31 acquires all route information from the area management device 1 to the previous area, the control unit 31 deducts the variable amount for all passing routes in all areas from the common variable charging table T2 based on all route information within its own area acquired from the vehicle-mounted device S and all route information to the previous area acquired from the area management device 1 (ST487).

[0246] Control unit 31 calculates the total of the variable charges for all routes in all areas that have been allocated from common variable charge table T2 (ST488). Then, it applies the total of the variable charges for all areas to the basic charge to calculate the toll to be levied on the vehicle (ST489). When the toll is calculated, the control unit 31 displays the calculated toll on the roadside display 35 (ST490), and allows the vehicle to exit by the departure controller 34 (ST491). Furthermore, the control unit 31 writes the exit information into the ETC card C set in the vehicle-mounted unit S of the vehicle (ST492), and ends the exit process for the vehicle.

[0247] As described above, according to the second modification of the fourth embodiment, the area management device acquires all route devices in its own area included in the area crossing information from the checkpoint device, and transmits handover information indicating all route information to its own area to the destination area management device. When the destination area management device receives a request for all route information to the previous area, it transmits information indicating the all route to the previous area to the exit toll booth device. The exit toll booth equipment calculates the toll by allocating a variable amount according to the entire route in all areas based on the entire route information up to the previous area obtained from the area management device and the entire route information for the own area obtained from the ETC card set in the vehicle unit.

[0248] As a result, in the toll processing system according to the second modification of the fourth embodiment, all route information up to the area of ​​the vehicle can be handed over to the area management device of the destination area. Therefore, even if the toll road is large-scale and extends over a vast area, all route information traveled by the vehicle can be reliably managed, and tolls can be smoothly processed by applying a variable amount according to the route that is set based on the congestion level of each route.

[0249] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims. The following is an appended summary of the contents of the claims as originally filed. [1] A toll processing system for processing tolls on a toll road divided into a plurality of areas, comprising: an area management device provided corresponding to the area of ​​the toll road; an entrance toll booth device for carrying out entry processing to the toll road; an exit toll booth device for carrying out exit processing from the toll road; A route device for detecting a route taken by a vehicle on the toll road; A checkpoint device for detecting vehicles passing through a checkpoint that is a boundary between other areas; Equipped with The checkpoint device is A vehicle communication unit that communicates with an on-board device mounted on a vehicle passing through the checkpoint; a central communication unit that communicates with the area management device; a checkpoint control unit that, when communicating with a vehicle passing through the checkpoint, transmits area crossing information indicating that the vehicle has moved between areas to both or at least one of an area management device of a movement source area and an area management device of a movement destination area; The area management device includes: an inter-area communication unit that communicates with an area management device in another area; a device communication unit that communicates with an entrance toll gate device in the area that the area management device corresponds to, an exit toll gate device in the area, a route device in the area, and a checkpoint device provided at a connection portion between the area and another area adjacent to the area; and a central control unit that, when receiving area crossing information indicating a vehicle that has moved between areas from the checkpoint device or an area management device in an adjacent area, transfers transfer information indicating a route traveled by the vehicle or a change in amount according to the route between the area management device in the adjacent area and the area management device in the adjacent area. The exit toll booth equipment includes: a communication unit that communicates with an area management device provided in an area where an exit toll gate is located, among the area management devices provided in each of the areas of the toll road; a vehicle communication unit that communicates with an on-board device mounted on a vehicle when the vehicle enters the exit toll gate; an exit control unit that performs an exit process for the vehicle based on information about the vehicle communicated by the vehicle communication unit, handover information from an area management device corresponding to the area from which the vehicle moved if the vehicle has moved from another area to the own area, and a route traveled by the vehicle within the own area; Fee processing system. [2] the area management device has a basic table set according to the correspondence between at least entrances and exits, and a variable charge table indicating a variable amount set for each route, The central control unit of the area management device If the vehicle has moved from another area to its own area, the area management device of the own area updates information about the vehicle based on handover information from an area management device corresponding to the area from which the vehicle moved and the route traveled by the vehicle within the own area; When a request is received from the exit toll booth equipment, transmitting the updated information about the vehicle and information about the charge based on the basic table and the variable charge table to the exit toll booth equipment; the exit toll booth device requests information regarding the toll of the vehicle communicated by the vehicle communication unit from an area management device of the own area, and performs an exit process for the vehicle based on the information acquired from the area management device; [1] A fee processing system according to the present invention. [3] the variable charge table is a variable charge table indicating a variable amount set for a route in the own area among variable charge tables set for each area of ​​the toll road, The central control unit of the area management device a variable charge amount corresponding to a route traveled by the vehicle within the own area is deducted from the variable charge table, and handover information indicating a cumulative variable charge amount including a total of variable charges corresponding to all routes traveled within the own area by the vehicle moving from the own area to another area is transmitted to an area management device of the destination area; receiving handover information on a vehicle entering said own area from an area management device of the source area, and providing to the exit toll booth equipment within said area information indicating a toll applied to a basic fee according to a combination of the entrance and exit of said vehicle, said total of a variable amount obtained by adding a variable amount allocated from said variable charging table for all routes traveled by said vehicle within said own area to a cumulative variable amount included in said handover information obtained from the area management device of the source area in response to a request from an exit toll booth equipment within said area; [2] A fee processing system as described in the above. [4] the variable charge table is a common variable charge table indicating variable charges set for routes on the entire toll road, The central control unit of the area management device a variable charge amount corresponding to a route traveled by the vehicle within the own area is deducted from the common variable charging table, and handover information indicating a cumulative variable charge amount including a total of variable charges corresponding to all routes traveled within the own area by the vehicle moving from the own area to another area is transmitted to an area management device of the destination area; receiving handover information on a vehicle entering said own area from an area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved, and providing to the exit toll booth equipment in said own area information indicating a toll obtained by adding a cumulative fluctuation amount included in the handover information acquired from the area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved in response to a request from the exit toll booth equipment in said own area and a fluctuation amount allocated from said common variable charging table for the route traveled by said vehicle within said own area to the total of the fluctuation amount applied to a basic charge according to the combination of the entrance and exit of said vehicle; [2] A fee processing system as described in the above. [5] the variable charge table is a common variable charge table indicating variable charges set for routes on the entire toll road, The central control unit of the area management device Transmitting handover information including all route information indicating all routes traveled within the own area by a vehicle moving from the own area to another area to an area management device of a destination area; receiving handover information on the vehicle entering said own area from an area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved, and providing to the exit toll booth device information indicating a toll obtained by applying to the exit toll booth device, to a basic charge according to a combination of the entrance and exit of the vehicle, the sum of variable amounts allocated from said common variable charging table for all routes indicated in the handover information obtained from the area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved in response to a request from the exit toll booth device in said own area and all routes traveled by the vehicle in said own area; [2] A fee processing system as described in the above. [6] the area management device has a variable charge table indicating a variable amount set for a route, the exit toll booth device has a basic charging table set according to at least the correspondence between the entrance and the exit, The central control unit of the area management device If the vehicle has moved from another area to its own area, the area management device of the own area updates information about the vehicle based on handover information from an area management device corresponding to the area from which the vehicle moved and the route traveled by the vehicle within the own area; When a request is received from the exit toll booth equipment, the updated information about the vehicle and the information about the variable charge based on the variable charge table are transmitted to the exit toll booth equipment; the exit toll booth device requests information regarding the change in the toll amount for the vehicle communicated by the vehicle communication unit from the area management device of the own area, and performs an exit process for the vehicle based on the information regarding the change in the toll amount acquired from the area management device and a basic table; [1] A fee processing system according to the present invention. [7] the variable charge table is a variable charge table indicating a variable amount set for a route in the own area among variable charge tables set for each area of ​​the toll road, The central control unit of the area management device a variable charge amount corresponding to a route traveled by the vehicle within the own area is deducted from the variable charge table, and handover information indicating a cumulative variable charge amount including a total of variable charges corresponding to all routes traveled within the own area by the vehicle moving from the own area to another area is transmitted to an area management device of the destination area; receiving handover information on the vehicle entering said own area from an area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved, and providing to the exit toll booth equipment in said area information indicating a total of a fluctuation amount obtained by adding a fluctuation amount set aside from said variable charging table for all routes traveled by the vehicle within said own area to a cumulative fluctuation amount included in said handover information acquired from the area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved in response to a request from the exit toll booth equipment in said area; [6] A fee processing system as described in the above. [8] the variable charge table is a common variable charge table indicating variable charges set for routes on the entire toll road, The central control unit of the area management device a variable charge amount corresponding to a route traveled by the vehicle within the own area is deducted from the common variable charging table, and handover information indicating a cumulative variable charge amount including a total of variable charges corresponding to all routes traveled within the own area by the vehicle moving from the own area to another area is transmitted to an area management device of the destination area; receiving handover information relating to a vehicle entering said own area from an area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved, and providing to the exit toll booth equipment in said own area information indicating a total of a fluctuation amount obtained by adding a fluctuation amount allocated from said common variable charging table for all routes traveled by the vehicle within said own area to a cumulative fluctuation amount included in the handover information acquired from the area management device of said area from which the vehicle moved in response to a request from the exit toll booth equipment in said own area; [6] A fee processing system as described in the above. [9] the variable charge table is a common variable charge table indicating variable charges set for routes on the entire toll road, The central control unit of the area management device Transmitting handover information including all route information indicating all routes traveled within the own area by a vehicle moving from the own area to another area to an area management device of a destination area; receiving handover information regarding a vehicle entering said own area from an area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved, and providing, in response to a request from an exit toll booth device in said own area, information indicating a total of variable amounts allocated from said common variable charging table for all routes indicated by the handover information acquired from the area management device of said area from which the vehicle moved and for all routes traveled by said vehicle in said own area, to said exit toll booth device; [6] A fee processing system as described in the above.

[10] the exit toll booth device has a basic charging table set according to at least the correspondence between the entrance and the exit, and a variable charging table indicating a variable amount set for a route, The central control unit of the area management device If the vehicle has moved from another area to its own area, the area management device of the own area updates information about the vehicle based on handover information from an area management device corresponding to the area from which the vehicle moved and the route traveled by the vehicle within the own area; the exit toll booth device performs an exit process for the vehicle based on the information acquired from the area management device and a basic table; [1] A fee processing system according to the present invention.

[11] the variable charge table is a variable charge table indicating a variable amount set for a route in the own area among variable charge tables set for each area of ​​the toll road, The central control unit of the area management device a variable charge amount corresponding to a route traveled by the vehicle within the own area is deducted from the variable charge table, and handover information indicating a cumulative variable charge amount including a total of variable charges corresponding to all routes traveled within the own area by the vehicle moving from the own area to another area is transmitted to an area management device of the destination area; A toll processing system as described in

[10] , which receives handover information regarding a vehicle entering its own area from an area management device of the source area, and provides to the exit toll booth equipment in response to a request from the exit toll booth equipment in the area, information including a cumulative change amount contained in the handover information obtained from the area management device of the source area and all route information indicating all routes traveled by the vehicle within its own area.

[12] the variable charge table is a common variable charge table indicating variable charges set for routes on the entire toll road, The central control unit of the area management device a variable charge amount corresponding to a route traveled by the vehicle within the own area is deducted from the common variable charging table, and handover information indicating a cumulative variable charge amount including a total of variable charges corresponding to all routes traveled within the own area by the vehicle moving from the own area to another area is transmitted to an area management device of the destination area; receiving handover information relating to the vehicle entering said own area from an area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved, and providing, in response to a request from an exit toll booth device in said own area, information including an accumulated fluctuation amount included in the handover information acquired from the area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved and all route information showing all routes traveled by the vehicle within said own area to said exit toll booth device;

[10] A fee processing system as described above.

[13] The central control unit of the area management device Transmitting handover information including all route information indicating all routes traveled within the own area by a vehicle moving from the own area to another area to an area management device of a destination area; receiving handover information regarding a vehicle entering said own area from an area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved, and providing, in response to a request from an exit toll booth device in said own area, information indicating all routes indicated by the handover information acquired from the area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved and all routes traveled by the vehicle in said own area to said exit toll booth device;

[10] A fee processing system as described above.

[14] the variable charge table is a variable charge table indicating a variable amount set for a route in the own area among variable charge tables set for each area of ​​the toll road, The central control unit of the area management device receiving area crossing information including information indicating all routes traveled within the own area by a vehicle moving from the own area to another area from the checkpoint device, deducting from the variable charging table a variable amount corresponding to the routes traveled by the vehicle within the own area, and transmitting handover information indicating a cumulative variable amount including a sum of variable amounts corresponding to all routes traveled by the vehicle within the own area to an area management device of the destination area; receiving handover information regarding a vehicle entering said own area from an area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved, and providing information indicating an accumulated change amount included in the handover information acquired from the area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved in response to a request from an exit toll booth device in said area to said exit toll booth device;

[10] A fee processing system as described above.

[15] the variable charge table is a common variable charge table indicating variable charges set for routes on the entire toll road, The central control unit of the area management device receiving area crossing information including information indicating all routes traveled within the own area by a vehicle moving from the own area to another area from the checkpoint device, deducting from the common variable charging table a variable amount corresponding to the routes traveled by the vehicle within the own area, and transmitting handover information indicating a cumulative variable amount including a sum of variable amounts corresponding to all routes traveled by the vehicle within the own area to an area management device of the destination area; receiving handover information regarding a vehicle entering said own area from an area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved, and providing information indicating an accumulated change amount included in the handover information acquired from the area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved in response to a request from an exit toll booth device in said own area to said exit toll booth device;

[10] A fee processing system as described above.

[16] The central control unit of the area management device receiving area crossing information including information indicating all routes traveled within the own area by a vehicle moving from the own area to another area from the checkpoint device, and transmitting handover information including all route information indicating all routes traveled by the vehicle within the own area to an area management device of a destination area; receiving handover information relating to a vehicle entering said own area from an area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved, and providing information indicating the entire route included in the handover information acquired from the area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved to the exit toll gate device in response to a request from the exit toll gate device in said own area;

[10] A fee processing system as described above.

[17] An area management device is provided for each of a plurality of areas in order to process tolls on a toll road divided into a plurality of areas, the area management device comprising: a device communication unit that communicates with an exit toll gate device in a toll gate area that corresponds to the area management device, and with a checkpoint device that detects vehicles passing through a checkpoint provided between the area management device and an adjacent area adjacent to the area management device; an inter-area communication unit that communicates with an area management device of the adjacent area; When receiving area crossing information indicating a vehicle that has moved from the own area to the adjacent area from the checkpoint device, transmitting handover information indicating a route traveled by the vehicle or a change in amount according to the route to an area management device of the destination area, a control unit that creates response information to be provided to the exit toll gate device in response to a request from an exit toll gate device in the area based on handover information acquired from an area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved and a route traveled by the vehicle in the area, and transmits the created response information to the exit toll gate device; An area management device having the above configuration.

[18] the area management device has a basic table set according to the correspondence between at least entrances and exits, and a variable charge table indicating a variable amount set for each route, The central control unit of the area management device If the vehicle has moved from another area to its own area, the area management device of the own area updates information about the vehicle based on handover information from an area management device corresponding to the area from which the vehicle moved and the route traveled by the vehicle within the own area; when receiving a request from the exit toll booth equipment, transmitting the updated information about the vehicle and information about the charge based on the basic table and the variable charge table to the exit toll booth equipment;

[17] The area management device according to the present invention.

[19] the variable charge table is a variable charge table indicating a variable amount set for a route in the own area among variable charge tables set for each area of ​​the toll road, The control unit is a variable charge amount corresponding to a route traveled by the vehicle within the own area is deducted from the variable charge table, and handover information indicating a cumulative variable charge amount including a total of variable charges corresponding to all routes traveled within the own area by the vehicle moving from the own area to another area is transmitted to an area management device of the destination area; receiving handover information on a vehicle entering said own area from an area management device of the source area, and providing to the exit toll booth equipment within said area information indicating a toll applied to a basic fee according to a combination of the entrance and exit of said vehicle, said total of a variable amount obtained by adding a variable amount allocated from said variable charging table for all routes traveled by said vehicle within said own area to a cumulative variable amount included in said handover information obtained from the area management device of the source area in response to a request from an exit toll booth equipment within said area;

[18] The area management device according to

[18] .

[20] the variable charge table is a common variable charge table indicating variable charges set for routes on the entire toll road, The control unit is a variable charge amount corresponding to a route traveled by the vehicle within the own area is deducted from the common variable charging table, and handover information indicating a cumulative variable charge amount including a total of variable charges corresponding to all routes traveled within the own area by the vehicle moving from the own area to another area is transmitted to an area management device of the destination area; receiving handover information on a vehicle entering said own area from an area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved, and providing, in response to a request from an exit toll booth device in said own area, information indicating a toll obtained by applying to the exit toll booth device, the total of a variable amount obtained by adding a variable amount allocated from said common variable charging table for a route traveled by said vehicle within said own area to a cumulative variable amount included in the handover information obtained from the area management device of said area from which the vehicle moved, to a basic fee according to a combination of an entrance and an exit of said vehicle;

[18] The area management device according to

[18] . [twenty one] the variable charge table is a common variable charge table indicating variable charges set for routes on the entire toll road, The control unit is Transmitting handover information including all route information indicating all routes traveled within the own area by a vehicle moving from the own area to another area to an area management device of a destination area; receiving handover information on the vehicle entering said own area from an area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved, and providing to the exit toll booth device information indicating a toll obtained by applying to the exit toll booth device, to a basic charge according to a combination of the entrance and exit of the vehicle, the sum of variable amounts allocated from said common variable charging table for all routes indicated in the handover information obtained from the area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved in response to a request from the exit toll booth device in said own area and all routes traveled by the vehicle in said own area;

[18] The area management device according to

[18] . [twenty two] the area management device has a variable charge table indicating a variable amount set for a route, The central control unit of the area management device If the vehicle has moved from another area to its own area, the area management device of the own area updates information about the vehicle based on handover information from an area management device corresponding to the area from which the vehicle moved and the route traveled by the vehicle within the own area; when receiving a request from the exit toll booth equipment, transmitting the updated information about the vehicle and the information about the variable charge amount based on the variable charge table to the exit toll booth equipment;

[17] The area management device according to the present invention. [twenty three] the variable charge table is a variable charge table indicating a variable amount set for a route in the own area among variable charge tables set for each area of ​​the toll road, The control unit is a variable charge amount corresponding to a route traveled by the vehicle within the own area is deducted from the variable charge table, and handover information indicating a cumulative variable charge amount including a total of variable charges corresponding to all routes traveled within the own area by the vehicle moving from the own area to another area is transmitted to an area management device of the destination area; receiving handover information on the vehicle entering said own area from an area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved, and providing to the exit toll booth equipment in said area information indicating a total of a fluctuation amount obtained by adding a fluctuation amount set aside from said variable charging table for all routes traveled by the vehicle within said own area to a cumulative fluctuation amount included in said handover information acquired from the area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved in response to a request from the exit toll booth equipment in said area;

[22] An area management device according to the present invention. [twenty four] the variable charge table is a common variable charge table indicating variable charges set for routes on the entire toll road, The control unit is a variable charge amount corresponding to a route traveled by the vehicle within the own area is deducted from the common variable charging table, and handover information indicating a cumulative variable charge amount including a total of variable charges corresponding to all routes traveled within the own area by the vehicle moving from the own area to another area is transmitted to an area management device of the destination area; receiving handover information relating to a vehicle entering said own area from an area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved, and providing to the exit toll booth equipment in said own area information indicating a total of a fluctuation amount obtained by adding a fluctuation amount allocated from said common variable charging table for all routes traveled by the vehicle within said own area to a cumulative fluctuation amount included in the handover information acquired from the area management device of said area from which the vehicle moved in response to a request from the exit toll booth equipment in said own area;

[22] An area management device according to the present invention. [twenty five] the variable charge table is a common variable charge table indicating variable charges set for routes on the entire toll road, The control unit is Transmitting handover information including all route information indicating all routes traveled within the own area by a vehicle moving from the own area to another area to an area management device of a destination area; receiving handover information regarding a vehicle entering said own area from an area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved, and providing, in response to a request from an exit toll booth device in said own area, information indicating a total of variable amounts allocated from said common variable charging table for all routes indicated by the handover information acquired from the area management device of said area from which the vehicle moved and for all routes traveled by said vehicle in said own area, to said exit toll booth device;

[22] An area management device according to the present invention.

[26] The central control unit of the area management device If the vehicle has moved from another area to its own area, the area management device of the own area updates information about the vehicle based on handover information from an area management device corresponding to the area from which the vehicle moved and the route traveled by the vehicle within its own area, and distributes the information to the exit toll booth equipment within the area.

[17] The area management device according to the present invention.

[27] a variable charge table indicating a variable amount set for a route in the local area, a variable charge amount corresponding to a route traveled by the vehicle within the own area is deducted from the variable charge table, and handover information indicating a cumulative variable charge amount including a total of variable charges corresponding to all routes traveled within the own area by the vehicle moving from the own area to another area is transmitted to an area management device of the destination area; The area management device described in

[26] receives handover information regarding a vehicle entering its own area from an area management device of the source area, and provides to the exit toll booth equipment in response to a request from the exit toll booth equipment in the area, information including a cumulative change amount contained in the handover information obtained from the area management device of the source area and all route information indicating all routes traveled by the vehicle within its own area.

[28] a common variable charge table indicating a variable charge set for each route on the entire toll road; The control unit is a variable charge amount corresponding to a route traveled by the vehicle within the own area is deducted from the common variable charging table, and handover information indicating a cumulative variable charge amount including a total of variable charges corresponding to all routes traveled within the own area by the vehicle moving from the own area to another area is transmitted to an area management device of the destination area; receiving handover information relating to the vehicle entering said own area from an area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved, and providing, in response to a request from an exit toll booth device in said own area, information including an accumulated fluctuation amount included in the handover information acquired from the area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved and all route information showing all routes traveled by the vehicle within said own area to said exit toll booth device;

[26] An area management device according to the present invention.

[29] The control unit is Transmitting handover information including all route information indicating all routes traveled within the own area by a vehicle moving from the own area to another area to an area management device of a destination area; receiving handover information regarding a vehicle entering said own area from an area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved, and providing, in response to a request from an exit toll booth device in said own area, information indicating all routes indicated by the handover information acquired from the area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved and all routes traveled by the vehicle in said own area to said exit toll booth device;

[26] An area management device according to the present invention.

[30] a variable charge table indicating a variable amount set for a route in the local area, receiving area crossing information including information indicating all routes traveled within the own area by a vehicle moving from the own area to another area from the checkpoint device, deducting from the variable charging table a variable amount corresponding to the routes traveled by the vehicle within the own area, and transmitting handover information indicating a cumulative variable amount including a sum of variable amounts corresponding to all routes traveled by the vehicle within the own area to an area management device of the destination area; receiving handover information regarding a vehicle entering said own area from an area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved, and providing information indicating an accumulated change amount included in the handover information acquired from the area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved in response to a request from an exit toll booth device in said area to said exit toll booth device;

[26] An area management device according to the present invention.

[31] a common variable charge table indicating a variable charge set for each route on the entire toll road; The control unit is receiving area crossing information including information indicating all routes traveled within the own area by a vehicle moving from the own area to another area from the checkpoint device, deducting from the common variable charging table a variable amount corresponding to the routes traveled by the vehicle within the own area, and transmitting handover information indicating a cumulative variable amount including a sum of variable amounts corresponding to all routes traveled by the vehicle within the own area to an area management device of a destination area; receiving handover information regarding a vehicle entering said own area from an area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved, and providing information indicating an accumulated change amount included in the handover information acquired from the area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved in response to a request from an exit toll booth device in said own area to said exit toll booth device;

[26] An area management device according to the present invention.

[32] The control unit is receiving area crossing information including information indicating all routes traveled within the own area by a vehicle moving from the own area to another area from the checkpoint device, and transmitting handover information including all route information indicating all routes traveled by the vehicle within the own area to an area management device of a destination area; receiving handover information relating to a vehicle entering said own area from an area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved, and providing information indicating the entire route included in the handover information acquired from the area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved to the exit toll gate device in response to a request from the exit toll gate device in said own area;

[26] An area management device according to the present invention.

[33] A checkpoint device used in a toll processing system for processing tolls on a toll road divided into a plurality of areas, comprising: a vehicle communication unit that communicates with an on-board device mounted on a vehicle passing through a checkpoint that is a boundary between a first area on the toll road and a second area adjacent to the first area; a central communication unit that communicates with both or at least one of a first area management device corresponding to the first area and a second area management device corresponding to the second area; a control unit that transmits area crossing information including information indicating the vehicle that has moved from the first area to the second area to both or at least one of the first area management device and the second area management device when communicating with a vehicle that moves through the checkpoint from the first area to the second area by the vehicle communication unit; A checkpoint device having the following features:

[34] The control unit transmits area crossing information including identification information of a vehicle that has moved from the first area to the second area to both or at least one of the first area management device and the second area management device. The checkpoint device described in

[33] .

[35] the control unit transmits area crossing information including identification information of a vehicle that has moved from the first area to the second area and information indicating all routes traveled by the vehicle in the first area to both or at least one of the first area management device and the second area management device; The checkpoint device described in

[33] .

[36] An exit toll booth device used in a toll processing system that processes tolls on a toll road divided into a plurality of areas, and that performs vehicle exit processing at an exit toll booth, a communication unit configured to communicate with an area management device provided in an area in which the exit toll gate is located, among the area management devices provided in each of the areas of the toll road; A vehicle communication unit that communicates with an on-board device mounted on a vehicle that enters the exit toll gate; a control unit that requests information about the vehicle communicated by the vehicle communication unit from the area management device of the own area, and if the vehicle has moved from another area to the own area, the area management device of the own area acquires response information created from handover information from an area management device corresponding to the area from which the vehicle moved and a route traveled by the vehicle within the own area, and performs exit processing for the vehicle based on the acquired response information; Exit toll booth equipment having

[37] the control unit acquires information indicating a toll to be charged to the vehicle from an area management device of the own area, and performs an exit process for the vehicle based on the acquired toll.

[36] Exit toll booth equipment as described in

[36] .

[38] Further, a basic table showing basic fees corresponding to combinations of entrances and exits in the entire toll road is provided, the control unit deducts from a basic table a basic fee corresponding to a combination of an entrance and an exit of the vehicle acquired from the in-vehicle device by the vehicle communication unit, acquires information indicating a total of a variable amount for the vehicle from an area management device of the own area, and performs an exit process for the vehicle based on a toll calculated by applying the variable amount to the basic fee.

[36] Exit toll booth equipment as described in

[36] .

[39] The toll road control system further includes a basic table showing basic tolls corresponding to combinations of entrances and exits in the entire toll road, and a variable charge table showing variable amounts set for routes in the toll road control area, the control unit allocates from a basic table a basic fee corresponding to a combination of an entrance and an exit of the vehicle acquired from the on-board device by the vehicle communication unit, acquires information including an accumulated change amount for the vehicle to the source area and all route information indicating all routes in the own area from an area management device of the own area, and performs an exit process for the vehicle based on a toll calculated by adding the accumulated change amount to the source area and the change amount allocated from the variable charge table for all routes traveled within the own area to the basic fee.

[36] Exit toll booth equipment as described in

[36] .

[40] Furthermore, a basic table showing basic tolls corresponding to combinations of entrances and exits in the entire toll road; a variable charge table indicating a variable amount set for a route in the local area, the control unit deducts from a basic table a basic fee corresponding to a combination of an entrance and an exit of the vehicle obtained from the in-vehicle device by the vehicle communication unit, obtains an accumulated change amount for the vehicle up to the area from which the vehicle moved from an area management device of the own area, obtains all route information indicating all routes in the own area from the in-vehicle device by the vehicle communication unit, and performs exit processing for the vehicle based on a toll calculated by adding the accumulated change amount up to the area from which the vehicle moved and the change amount deducted from the variable charging table for all routes traveled within the own area to the basic fee to obtain a total of the change amounts in all areas.

[36] Exit toll booth equipment as described in

[36] . [Explanation of symbols]

[0250] 1 (1A, 1B)...area management device, 2...entrance toll booth equipment, 3...exit toll booth equipment, 4...route equipment, 5...checkpoint equipment, 11...control unit, 12...storage unit, 13...equipment communication unit, 14...inter-area communication unit, 31...control unit, 32...host communication unit, 33...vehicle communication unit, 34...start controller, 35...roadside display, 36...storage unit, 41...control unit, 42...host communication unit, 42...host communication unit, 43...vehicle communication unit, 43...information, 51...control unit, 52...host communication unit, 53...vehicle communication unit, C...ETC card, S...onboard unit, T1 (T1a, T1b, T1c)...basic table, T2A, T2B, T2...variable charging table

Claims

1. An area management device provided for each area in order to process tolls on a toll road divided into a plurality of areas, comprising: a device communication unit that communicates with a checkpoint device that detects a vehicle passing through a checkpoint provided between the area of ​​interest and an adjacent area adjacent to the area of ​​interest; an inter-area communication unit that communicates with an area management device of the adjacent area; a control unit which, when receiving area crossing information indicating the vehicle from the checkpoint device when the vehicle moves from the adjacent area to the own area, transmits a handover request to the area management device of the adjacent area from which the vehicle will move, and when receiving a request for handover information about the vehicle from the area management device of the adjacent area to which the vehicle will move when the vehicle moves from the own area to the adjacent area, transmits handover information indicating the route traveled by the vehicle or a variable amount corresponding to the route to the area management device of the destination area; An area management device having the above configuration.

2. The control unit of the area management device further Transmitting handover information acquired from the area management device of the area from which the user moves to an exit toll booth device in the user's own area; The area management device according to claim 1 .

3. The control unit of the area management device Transmitting handover information acquired from an area management device of the source area to the exit toll gate equipment in response to a request from the exit toll gate equipment in the area; The area management device according to claim 1 .

4. The control unit of the area management device creating response information to be provided to the exit toll gate equipment in response to a request from an exit toll gate equipment within the area, based on handover information acquired from the area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved and the route traveled by the vehicle within the area, and transmitting the created response information to the exit toll gate equipment; The area management device according to claim 1 .

5. The area management device has a basic table set according to at least the correspondence between entrances and exits, and a variable charge table indicating a variable amount set for a route, The central control unit of the area management device If the vehicle has moved from another area to its own area, the area management device of the own area updates information about the vehicle based on handover information from an area management device corresponding to the area from which the vehicle moved and the route traveled by the vehicle within the own area; when receiving a request from the exit toll booth equipment, transmitting the updated information about the vehicle and information about the charge based on the basic table and the variable charge table to the exit toll booth equipment; The area management device according to claim 2 .

6. The variable charge table is a variable charge table indicating a variable amount set for a route in the own area among variable charge tables set for each area of ​​the toll road, The control unit is a variable charge amount corresponding to a route traveled by the vehicle within the own area is deducted from the variable charge table, and handover information indicating a cumulative variable charge amount including a total of variable charges corresponding to all routes traveled within the own area by the vehicle moving from the own area to another area is transmitted to an area management device of the destination area; receiving handover information on a vehicle entering said own area from an area management device of the source area, and providing to the exit toll booth equipment within said area information indicating a toll applied to a basic fee according to a combination of the entrance and exit of said vehicle, said total of a variable amount obtained by adding a variable amount allocated from said variable charging table for all routes traveled by said vehicle within said own area to a cumulative variable amount included in said handover information obtained from the area management device of the source area in response to a request from an exit toll booth equipment within said area; The area management device according to claim 5 .

7. The variable charge table is a common variable charge table indicating a variable amount set for a route on the entire toll road, The control unit is a variable charge amount corresponding to a route traveled by the vehicle within the own area is deducted from the common variable charging table, and handover information indicating a cumulative variable charge amount including a total of variable charges corresponding to all routes traveled within the own area by the vehicle moving from the own area to another area is transmitted to an area management device of the destination area; receiving handover information on a vehicle entering said own area from an area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved, and providing, in response to a request from an exit toll booth device in said own area, information indicating a toll obtained by applying to the exit toll booth device, the total of a variable amount obtained by adding a variable amount allocated from said common variable charging table for a route traveled by said vehicle within said own area to a cumulative variable amount included in the handover information obtained from the area management device of said area from which the vehicle moved, to a basic fee according to a combination of an entrance and an exit of said vehicle; The area management device according to claim 5 .

8. The variable charge table is a common variable charge table indicating a variable amount set for a route on the entire toll road, The control unit is Transmitting handover information including all route information indicating all routes traveled within the own area by a vehicle moving from the own area to another area to an area management device of a destination area; receiving handover information on the vehicle entering said own area from an area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved, and providing to the exit toll booth device information indicating a toll obtained by applying to the exit toll booth device, to a basic charge according to a combination of the entrance and exit of the vehicle, the sum of variable amounts allocated from said common variable charging table for all routes indicated in the handover information obtained from the area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved in response to a request from the exit toll booth device in said own area and all routes traveled by the vehicle in said own area; The area management device according to claim 5 .

9. The area management device has a variable charge table indicating a variable amount set for a route, The central control unit of the area management device If the vehicle has moved from another area to its own area, the area management device of the own area updates information about the vehicle based on handover information from an area management device corresponding to the area from which the vehicle moved and the route traveled by the vehicle within the own area; when receiving a request from the exit toll booth equipment, transmitting the updated information about the vehicle and the information about the variable charge amount based on the variable charge table to the exit toll booth equipment; The area management device according to claim 2 .

10. The variable charge table is a variable charge table indicating a variable amount set for a route in the own area among variable charge tables set for each area of ​​the toll road, The control unit is a variable charge amount corresponding to a route traveled by the vehicle within the own area is deducted from the variable charge table, and handover information indicating a cumulative variable charge amount including a total of variable charges corresponding to all routes traveled within the own area by the vehicle moving from the own area to another area is transmitted to an area management device of the destination area; receiving handover information on the vehicle entering said own area from an area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved, and providing to the exit toll booth equipment in said area information indicating a total of a fluctuation amount obtained by adding a fluctuation amount set aside from said variable charging table for all routes traveled by the vehicle within said own area to a cumulative fluctuation amount included in said handover information acquired from the area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved in response to a request from the exit toll booth equipment in said area; The area management device according to claim 9 .

11. The variable charge table is a common variable charge table indicating a variable amount set for a route on the entire toll road, The control unit is a variable charge amount corresponding to a route traveled by the vehicle within the own area is deducted from the common variable charging table, and handover information indicating a cumulative variable charge amount including a total of variable charges corresponding to all routes traveled within the own area by the vehicle moving from the own area to another area is transmitted to an area management device of the destination area; receiving handover information relating to a vehicle entering said own area from an area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved, and providing to the exit toll booth equipment in said own area information indicating a total of a fluctuation amount obtained by adding a fluctuation amount allocated from said common variable charging table for all routes traveled by the vehicle within said own area to a cumulative fluctuation amount included in the handover information acquired from the area management device of said area from which the vehicle moved in response to a request from the exit toll booth equipment in said own area; The area management device according to claim 9 .

12. The variable charge table is a common variable charge table indicating a variable amount set for a route on the entire toll road, The control unit is Transmitting handover information including all route information indicating all routes traveled within the own area by a vehicle moving from the own area to another area to an area management device of a destination area; receiving handover information regarding a vehicle entering said own area from an area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved, and providing, in response to a request from an exit toll booth device in said own area, information indicating a total of variable amounts allocated from said common variable charging table for all routes indicated by the handover information acquired from the area management device of said area from which the vehicle moved and for all routes traveled by said vehicle in said own area, to said exit toll booth device; The area management device according to claim 9 .

13. The central control unit of the area management device If the vehicle has moved from another area to its own area, route information of the vehicle within its own area is stored, and the area management device of the own area updates the information about the vehicle based on handover information from an area management device corresponding to the area from which the vehicle moved and the route traveled by the vehicle within its own area, and distributes the information about the vehicle to the exit toll booth equipment within the area. The area management device according to claim 2 .

14. A variable charge table indicating a variable amount set for a route in the local area, a variable charge amount corresponding to a route traveled by the vehicle within the own area is deducted from the variable charge table, and handover information indicating a cumulative variable charge amount including a total of variable charges corresponding to all routes traveled within the own area by the vehicle moving from the own area to another area is transmitted to an area management device of the destination area; The area management device according to claim 13, which receives handover information regarding a vehicle entering its own area from an area management device of the source area, and provides to the exit toll booth equipment in response to a request from the exit toll booth equipment in the area, information including a cumulative change amount contained in the handover information acquired from the area management device of the source area and all route information indicating all routes traveled by the vehicle within its own area.

15. A common variable charge table showing variable charges set for routes on the entire toll road, The control unit is a variable charge amount corresponding to a route traveled by the vehicle within the own area is deducted from the common variable charging table, and handover information indicating a cumulative variable charge amount including a total of variable charges corresponding to all routes traveled within the own area by the vehicle moving from the own area to another area is transmitted to an area management device of the destination area; receiving handover information relating to the vehicle entering said own area from an area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved, and providing, in response to a request from an exit toll booth device in said own area, information including an accumulated fluctuation amount included in the handover information acquired from the area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved and all route information showing all routes traveled by the vehicle within said own area to said exit toll booth device; The area management device according to claim 13.

16. The control unit: Transmitting handover information including all route information indicating all routes traveled within the own area by a vehicle moving from the own area to another area to an area management device of a destination area; receiving handover information regarding a vehicle entering said own area from an area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved, and providing, in response to a request from an exit toll booth device in said own area, information indicating all routes indicated by the handover information acquired from the area management device of the area from which the vehicle moved and all routes traveled by the vehicle in said own area to said exit toll booth device; The area management device according to claim 13.

17. The control unit: receiving from the checkpoint device area crossing information including information indicating a route traveled by a vehicle moving from the own area to another area, the information being received by the checkpoint device and written on an ETC card; The area management device according to claim 2 .

18. A variable charge table indicating a variable amount set for a route in the local area, When a request for handover information for a vehicle moving from its own area to another area is received from the destination area management device, the vehicle deducts from the variable charging table a variable amount corresponding to a route traveled by the vehicle within its own area, and transmits handover information indicating a cumulative variable amount including a sum of variable amounts corresponding to all routes traveled by the vehicle within its own area to the area management device of the destination area; When receiving information written on an ETC card relating to a vehicle entering its own area from the checkpoint equipment, it requests handover information from the area management device of the source area, and when receiving the handover information from the area management device of the source area, it provides information indicating an accumulated change amount included in the handover information acquired from the area management device of the source area in response to a request from an exit toll gate equipment in the area to the exit toll gate equipment. The area management device according to claim 17.

19. A common variable charge table showing variable charges set for routes on the entire toll road, The control unit is when receiving a request for handover information for a vehicle moving from its own area to another area from the destination area management device, the area management device deducts from the common variable charging table a variable amount corresponding to a route traveled by the vehicle within its own area, and transmits handover information indicating a cumulative variable amount including a sum of variable amounts corresponding to all routes traveled by the vehicle within its own area to the area management device of the destination area; When receiving information written on an ETC card relating to a vehicle entering its own area from the checkpoint equipment, it requests handover information from the area management device of the source area, and when receiving handover information from the area management device of the source area, it provides information indicating an accumulated change amount included in the handover information acquired from the area management device of the source area in response to a request from an exit toll gate equipment in its own area to the exit toll gate equipment. The area management device according to claim 17.

20. The control unit: When a request for handover information regarding a vehicle moving from the own area to another area is received from the destination area management device, the handover information including all route information indicating all routes traveled by the vehicle within the own area is transmitted to the area management device of the destination area; When receiving information written on an ETC card relating to a vehicle entering its own area from the checkpoint equipment, it requests handover information from the area management device of the source area, and when receiving handover information from the area management device of the source area, it provides information indicating the entire route included in the handover information acquired from the area management device of the source area in response to a request from an exit toll gate equipment in its own area to the exit toll gate equipment. The area management device according to claim 17.

21. An area management method for processing tolls on a toll road divided into a plurality of areas, using an area management device provided for each of the areas, comprising: The device communication unit communicates with a checkpoint device that detects a vehicle passing through a checkpoint provided between the area to which the vehicle belongs and an adjacent area adjacent to the area to which the vehicle belongs; an inter-area communication unit that communicates with an area management device of the adjacent area; a control unit that, when receiving area crossing information indicating the vehicle from the checkpoint device when the vehicle moves from the adjacent area to the own area, transmits a handover request to an area management device of the adjacent area from which the vehicle is to move; when the control unit receives a request for handover information about the vehicle from an area management device of the adjacent area to which the vehicle is to move when the vehicle moves from the own area to the adjacent area, the control unit transmits handover information indicating a route traveled by the vehicle or a variable amount according to the route to the area management device of the destination area; Area management methods.

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