Information Processing Apparatus and System

Abstract

To provide a communication processing apparatus or the like capable of changing an updating cycle of a traffic digital twin based on information about a provision of service.SOLUTION: An information processing device for building-out a traffic digital twin that is time-synchronized with a real space over a virtual space based on data received from a plurality of devices, comprises an acquiring section that acquires information about a provision of service from an application, a setting section that sets an updating cycle for updating the traffic digital twin based on the information acquired by the acquiring section, and a communicating section that receives data from a plurality of devices according to the updating cycle set by the setting section.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing device that communicates with a plurality of vehicles and the like.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a system in which a server provided on the cloud receives digital data (vehicle data) describing the state and behavior of vehicles from a plurality of vehicles, and updates a traffic digital twin constructed in the server based on the received vehicle data.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In order to improve the completion degree (accuracy) of the traffic digital twin, it is necessary to shorten the period of receiving data from devices such as vehicles (increase the reception frequency) and update the traffic digital twin earlier. However, if only the update period of the traffic digital twin is simply shortened, there is a risk that the provision of services using the traffic digital twin will be affected due to the compression of the communication bandwidth and the increase in communication volume between the device and the server.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a communication processing device and the like that can change the update period of the traffic digital twin based on information related to the provision of services.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above problems, one aspect of the disclosed technology is an information processing apparatus that constructs a traffic digital twin synchronized with the real space and time on a virtual space based on data received from a plurality of devices, the information processing apparatus including: an acquisition unit that acquires information regarding service provision from an application; a setting unit that sets an update period for updating the traffic digital twin based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit; and a communication unit that receives data from a plurality of devices according to the update period set by the setting unit.

Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the information processing apparatus of the present disclosure and the like, based on the information regarding service provision, the reception period of data from a plurality of devices and the update period of the traffic digital twin are dynamically changed. Thereby, it is possible to suppress compression of the communication bandwidth between the communication processing apparatus and the device and an increase in communication volume, and to avoid interruption of service provision to the device by the application.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] The information processing apparatus of the present disclosure changes the period for collecting data from the device and the period for updating the traffic digital twin in order to ensure the degree of completion of the traffic digital twin necessary for realizing the service provided by the application to the device. Thereby, interruption of service provision to the device by the application is avoided. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0010] <Embodiment> [Configuration] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a system 10 including an information processing apparatus 100, an application server 200, and a plurality of devices 300 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In this system 10, the information processing apparatus 100, the application server 200, and the plurality of devices 300 are connected to be mutually communicable.

[0011] (1) Device The plurality of devices 300 are mobility devices such as vehicles or IoT devices that execute communication with the information processing apparatus 100 and the application server 200. The number of devices 300 that can communicate with the information processing apparatus 100 and / or the application server 200 is not limited to the number shown in FIG. 1. One or more of the plurality of devices 300 can receive a predetermined service provided by an application (App) implemented on the application server 200 by requesting the application server 200.

[0012] Also, the plurality of devices 300 can provide information regarding their own states and data necessary for constructing a traffic digital twin 160, which will be described later, in the information processing apparatus 100. The period during which the plurality of devices 300 provide information and data is based on a request (instruction) from the information processing apparatus 100. The data regarding the state of the device itself includes data such as the position, speed, and moving direction of the device 300. The data necessary for constructing the traffic digital twin 160 includes data regarding dynamic objects (mobility, people, etc.) and static objects (obstacles, falling objects, etc.) existing around the device 300. For acquiring these data, various sensors (not shown) mounted on the vehicle can be used.

[0013] (2) Application Server The application server 200 is configured to communicate with a plurality of devices 300 and provide a predetermined service (function or value) to at least one of the plurality of devices 300. This application server 200 implements one or more applications (Apps) necessary to realize the provision of services. Examples of services realized by the application include, for example, for the mobile device 300, services such as remotely controlling movement (running, stopping, turning) and notifying surrounding information (hazard notification / situation notification). Various services with different requirements (expected values) required by the traffic digital twin 160 can be exemplified.

[0014] In addition, the application server 200 communicates with the information processing device 100 and transmits information regarding the provision of services by the application (App) to the information processing device 100. The information regarding the provision of services is typically information regarding the range of the degree of completion (controllable range) of the traffic digital twin 160 that can be controlled by the application. More specifically, as information regarding the provision of services, the range of the degree of completion of the traffic digital twin 160 that enables remote control (hereinafter referred to as "external control") from outside the device 300, the range of the degree of completion of the traffic digital twin 160 that enables a hazard notification (hereinafter referred to as "behavior change opportunity") that triggers a change in the behavior of the user of the device 300, and the range of the degree of completion of the traffic digital twin 160 that enables notification of the status of the device 300 to the user of the device 300 (hereinafter referred to as "status information") can be exemplified.

[0015] In this embodiment, the application server 200 is described as a configuration separate from the information processing device 100, but it may be a configuration included in the information processing device 100.

[0016] (3) Information Processing Device The information processing apparatus 100 is configured to perform control necessary to realize the provision of services by the application server 200 to the device 300. The information processing apparatus 100 includes a communication unit 110, an acquisition unit 120, a setting unit 130, a generation / updating unit 140, a determination unit 150, and a traffic digital twin 160. This information processing apparatus 100 can be configured, for example, on the cloud (such as a cloud server).

[0017] The traffic digital twin 160 is a virtual world (virtual space) that reproduces the real world (real space) where a plurality of devices 300 exist on a cloud computer in time synchronization with the real world. The traffic digital twin 160 is generated based on data such as current and past device state data acquired (collected) from a plurality of devices 300. In this traffic digital twin 160, all objects (dynamic objects, static objects, etc.) and traffic situations (such as construction) on the moving path at places where various devices participating in the system 10 including a plurality of devices 300 can move (such as roads) are replicated. Examples of the information included in the data for generating the traffic digital twin 160 include device information (such as VIN), information on the traffic of other devices (including bicycles, pedestrians, etc.), map information, time information (timestamp), position information (GPS latitude / longitude), and trajectory information (such as moving speed, direction of movement, etc.) which is the moving trajectory. Also, in this traffic digital twin 160, during a period when data cannot be acquired (data non-acquisition period) from a plurality of devices 300, the virtual world during the data non-acquisition period is estimated based on future values predicted from the acquired data.

[0018] The determination unit 150 determines the degree of completion of the traffic digital twin 160. Typically, a value ranging from 0% to 100% is assigned as the degree of completion of this traffic digital twin 160. The determination unit 150 can determine, for example, according to the ratio of the virtual world reproduced as the traffic digital twin 160 on the cloud by the generation and update unit 140 to the real world where a plurality of devices 300 exist. Further, the determination unit 150 determines whether or not the determined degree of completion of the traffic digital twin 160 has reached a predetermined target value. The predetermined target value can be set based on information regarding the provision of the service.

[0019] The communication unit 110 executes communication with the application server 200 and a plurality of devices 300. Then, the communication unit 110 receives data including information regarding the state of the device 300 (such as position, speed, moving direction, etc.) and information related to the generation of the traffic digital twin 160 (such as information regarding the surroundings of the device 300 and information related to communication quality, etc.) from the plurality of devices 300. Also, the communication unit 110 transmits a data transmission cycle determined according to the update cycle of the traffic digital twin 160 set by the setting unit 130 to the plurality of devices 300.

[0020] The acquisition unit 120 acquires information regarding the provision of the service from the application server 200 via the communication unit 110. The information regarding the provision of the service is, for example, information such as the above-mentioned external control information, behavior modification information, and situation information. Also, the acquisition unit 120 acquires the degree of completion of the traffic digital twin 160 generated (and updated) by the generation and update unit 140.

[0021] The setting unit 130 sets the update cycle of the traffic digital twin 160 performed by the generation and update unit 140 based on the information regarding the provision of the service acquired by the acquisition unit 120 and the degree of completion of the traffic digital twin 160. An example of the method for setting the update cycle performed by this setting unit 130 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an update cycle table held by the information processing apparatus 100.

[0022] The update cycle table illustrated in FIG. 2 defines, for each element forming the traffic digital twin 160, the target cycle for updating the information of the traffic digital twin 160 based on the actual data from a plurality of devices 300 in order to achieve the degree of completion of the traffic digital twin 160 according to the degree of completion of the traffic digital twin 160. The elements constituting the traffic digital twin 160 are defined by division according to dynamic objects (mobility), dynamic objects (persons), static objects (obstacles / falling objects), construction works, and road maps. Further, the degree of completion of the traffic digital twin 160 is defined by division into "less than 30%", "30% or more and less than 60%", "60% or more and less than 80%", and "80% or more".

[0023] In this update cycle table, for example, when it is desired to maintain the traffic digital twin 160 at a degree of completion of "80% or more", it is shown that frequent updates are desirable for the dynamic object information (mobility) that can change in a short time at a cycle of 10 milliseconds to 100 milliseconds. On the other hand, it is shown that updates at a cycle of 5 days to 10 days are sufficient for the road map information that does not change in a short time in the situation. Further, in the update cycle table, for example, when the traffic digital twin 160 may have a degree of completion of "30% or more and less than 60%", it is shown that the cycle of information update for each element may be extended as compared with the cycles in the degrees of completion of "60% or more and less than 80%" and "80% or more".

[0024] In this embodiment, for the external control, behavior modification instructions, and situation information, which are information regarding the provision of services transmitted by the application server 200 to the information processing apparatus 100, the range (or lower limit value) of the completion degree of the traffic digital twin 160 necessary to realize the service provision for the device 300 is preset respectively. In the example of FIG. 2, for the external control that controls the device 300, "80% or more" is required as the completion degree of the traffic digital twin 160. For the behavior modification instructions that do not control the device 300 but are likely to affect the device 300, "60% or more" is required as the completion degree of the traffic digital twin 160. For the situation information that neither controls the device 300 nor is likely to have an impact, "30% or more" is required as the completion degree of the traffic digital twin 160.

[0025] The setting unit 130 refers to the above update cycle table and sets the update cycle of the traffic digital twin 160 according to the following rules based on the information regarding the provision of services notified from the application server 200 and the completion degree of the traffic digital twin 160. For example, when receiving the external control information as the information regarding the provision of services from the application (App) of the application server 200, since the completion degree of the traffic digital twin 160 necessary for the service provision of the external control is "80% or more", the setting unit 130 sets the update cycle of the traffic digital twin 160 to any cycle between 10 milliseconds and 100 milliseconds. Also, for example, when receiving the behavior modification instruction information from the first application of the application server 200 and the situation information from the second application, the setting unit 130 selects the information of the first application that requires a higher completion degree of the traffic digital twin 160 among these pieces of information (mediation function), and sets the update cycle of the traffic digital twin 160 to any cycle between 10 milliseconds and 1 second corresponding to the completion degree of the traffic digital twin 160 necessary for the service provision of the behavior modification instructions, which is "60% or more".

[0026] In the above example, the update cycle of the traffic digital twin 160 is described as setting one update cycle for all elements (dynamic objects (mobility), dynamic objects (persons), static objects (obstacles / falling objects), construction work, and road maps) that make up the traffic digital twin 160. However, the update cycle of the traffic digital twin 160 may be set for each element that makes up the traffic digital twin 160. In the case of the example where external control information is received from the above application (App), the update cycle for the dynamic object information (mobility) on the traffic digital twin 160 is set in the range of 10 milliseconds to 100 milliseconds, the update cycle for the dynamic object information (persons) is set in the range of 100 milliseconds to 1 second, the update cycle for the static object information (obstacles / falling objects) is set in the range of 10 seconds to 1 minute, the update cycle for the construction work information is set in the range of 12 hours to 1 day, and the update cycle for the road map information is set in the range of 5 days to 10 days.

[0027] Based on the update cycle of the traffic digital twin 160 set in this way, the setting unit 130 determines the period at which the information processing device 100 wants to collect data including information regarding the state of the device 300 and information related to the generation of the traffic digital twin 160 from a plurality of devices 300, that is, the period for requesting the transmission of data from the plurality of devices 300 to the information processing device 100, and transmits it as the data transmission cycle to the plurality of devices 300. The data transmission cycle of the plurality of devices 300 may be the same as the update cycle of the traffic digital twin 160, or may be shorter than the update cycle of the traffic digital twin 160. For example, even if the update cycle for the dynamic object information (persons) is set to 1 second, a data transmission cycle of 100 milliseconds may be transmitted to the plurality of devices 300.

[0028] The generation and update unit 140 generates the traffic digital twin 160 based on data including information regarding the states of the plurality of devices 300 received from the devices 300 via the communication unit 110 and information related to the generation of the traffic digital twin 160. Further, the generation and update unit 140 updates the generated traffic digital twin 160 according to the update period set by the setting unit 130. The traffic digital twin 160 may be generated at all times, or may be generated only while any one of the applications (Apps) of the application server 200 is running (while the service is being provided to the devices 300).

[0029] A part or all of the configuration of the information processing apparatus 100 described above can typically be configured as a unit including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a readable and writable storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD). This unit realizes the various functions described above by the CPU executing the program read from the storage device using the RAM as a working area.

[0030] [Control] Next, with further reference to FIG. 3, the processing executed by the information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the processing procedure of the update period control of the traffic digital twin 160 executed by the information processing apparatus 100. The update period control of the traffic digital twin 160 illustrated in FIG. 3 starts when the traffic digital twin 160 is generated (started) and is repeatedly executed until the generation of the traffic digital twin 160 is no longer necessary (the start is terminated).

[0031] (Step S301) The acquisition unit 120 of the information processing apparatus 100 determines whether it has acquired the controllable range of a service as information regarding service provision from one or more applications (Apps) of the application server 200. The controllable range of the service is the external control, behavior modification coercion, situation information, etc. described above. When the acquisition unit 120 has acquired the controllable range of the service from the application (step S301, yes), the process proceeds to step S302.

[0032] (Step S302) The setting unit 130 of the information processing apparatus 100 sets the update cycle of the traffic digital twin 160 based on the controllable range of the service acquired by the acquisition unit 120 and the degree of completion of the traffic digital twin 160. The setting of the update cycle is performed according to the rules described above. Note that if only the controllable range of the service that allows a long update cycle is notified from the application (App) while a short update cycle has already been set, the short update cycle setting may be continued as it is, or a new long update cycle may be set. In the former case, a further improvement in the degree of completion of the traffic digital twin 160 can be expected, and in the latter case, the communication resources (communication bandwidth, communication cost) between the information processing apparatus 100 and the device 300 can be effectively utilized. When the update cycle of the traffic digital twin 160 is set by the setting unit 130, the process proceeds to step S303.

[0033] (Step S303) The setting unit 130 of the information processing apparatus 100 determines the cycle for collecting data from the device 300 based on the set update cycle of the traffic digital twin 160, and transmits this determined cycle as the data transmission cycle to a plurality of devices 300. The plurality of devices 300 that are the destinations of the data transmission cycle are all the devices 300 connected to (participating in) the system 10. When the data transmission cycle is transmitted to the plurality of devices 300 by the setting unit 130, the process proceeds to step S304.

[0034] (Step S304) The generation and update unit 140 of the information processing apparatus 100 updates the traffic digital twin 160 according to an update cycle using data including information on the states of the plurality of devices 300 received from the plurality of devices 300 and information related to the generation of the traffic digital twin 160. As for the update method of the traffic digital twin 160, well-known techniques can be applied. When the traffic digital twin 160 is updated according to the update cycle using the data received from the plurality of devices 300 by the generation and update unit 140, the process proceeds to step S305.

[0035] (Step S305) The determination unit 150 of the information processing apparatus 100 determines the degree of completion of the traffic digital twin 160 updated by the generation and update unit 140, and determines whether or not the determined degree of completion has reached a predetermined target value. This determination is made to determine whether or not the degree of completion of the traffic digital twin 160 is changing according to the update cycle of the new traffic digital twin 160 set based on the controllable range of the service. For example, when the update cycle of the traffic digital twin 160 is set based on a notification of external control from the application server 200, the target value can be set to a value of 80% or more. Note that reaching the target value includes both the case where the degree of completion of the traffic digital twin 160 rises to reach the target value and the case where the degree of completion of the traffic digital twin 160 falls to reach the target value.

[0036] When the determination unit 150 determines that the degree of completion of the traffic digital twin 160 has reached the target value (step S305, yes), the process proceeds to step S301. On the other hand, when the determination unit 150 determines that the degree of completion of the traffic digital twin 160 has not yet reached the target value (step S305, no), the process proceeds to step S306.

[0037] (Step S306) The setting unit 130 of the information processing apparatus 100 resets the update cycle of the currently set traffic digital twin 160. The update cycle is reset so as to be controlled in a direction in which the degree of completion of the traffic digital twin 160 approaches the target value. Specifically, if the degree of completion of the current traffic digital twin 160 is smaller than the target value, it is reset in a direction to shorten the update cycle of the traffic digital twin 160, and if the degree of completion of the current traffic digital twin 160 is larger than the target value, it is reset in a direction to lengthen the update cycle of the traffic digital twin 160. When the update cycle of the traffic digital twin 160 is reset by the setting unit 130, the process proceeds to step S305.

[0038] By repeating the setting of the update cycle of the traffic digital twin 160 in this way, it is possible to create a traffic digital twin 160 with a degree of completion suitable for the service that the application intends to provide.

[0039] <Function and Effect> As described above, according to the information processing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, based on the information regarding the provision of the service transmitted from the application server 200, the update cycle of the traffic digital twin 160 is dynamically changed so that a traffic digital twin 160 capable of appropriately executing the control for the application to provide the service to the device 300 can be created. Further, based on the update cycle of the traffic digital twin 160, the cycle of data collected by the information processing apparatus 100 from a plurality of devices 300 is changed.

[0040] By this process, the degree of completion of the traffic digital twin 160 can be made optimal for the service that the application wants to realize, and it is possible to avoid the occurrence of events such as the inability to provide the service to the device 300 by the application or the interruption of the service. Further, it is possible to suppress the compression of the communication band between the information processing apparatus 100 and the device 300 and the increase in the communication volume.

[0041] As described above, one embodiment of the present disclosure has been explained. However, the present disclosure can be regarded not only as an information processing apparatus, but also as a method executed by an information processing apparatus including a processor and a memory, a program for executing this method, a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium storing the program, and a system including an information processing apparatus and a device such as a vehicle.

Industrial Applicability

[0042] The information processing apparatus of the present disclosure is useful when it is desired to suitably control the update cycle of the traffic digital twin constructed on the cloud according to the content of the service provided to the device.

Explanation of Signs

[0043] 10 System 100 Information Processing Apparatus 110 Communication Unit 120 Acquisition Unit 130 Setting Unit 140 Generation and Update Unit 150 Judgment Unit 160 Traffic Digital Twin 200 Application Server 300 Device

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus for constructing a traffic digital twin synchronized with the real space in time on a virtual space based on data received from a plurality of devices, comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires information regarding the provision of a service from an application; a setting unit that sets an update period for updating the traffic digital twin based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit; a communication unit that receives the data from the plurality of devices according to the update period set by the setting unit. The information processing apparatus is provided with the above components.

2. An update unit that updates the traffic digital twin based on the data received from the plurality of devices; and a determination unit that determines the degree of completion of the traffic digital twin. The information processing apparatus further includes the above components. The setting unit sets the update period based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit and the degree of completion of the traffic digital twin determined by the determination unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 is provided with the above components.

3. After updating the traffic digital twin based on the current data received from the plurality of devices, the update unit corrects the traffic digital twin using future values predicted from the current data until the next data is received. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 is provided with the above components.

4. The information includes information regarding the range of the degree of completion of the traffic digital twin in which the application can provide the service. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3 is provided with the above components.

5. The information regarding the provision of the service includes information regarding at least any one of the range of the degree of completion of the traffic digital twin that can be controlled from outside the device, the range of the degree of completion of the traffic digital twin that can trigger a danger notification for a change in the behavior of the user of the device, and the range of the degree of completion of the traffic digital twin that can notify the situation to the user of the device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4 is provided with the above components.

6. The period is determined for each element forming the traffic digital twin. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is provided with the above components.

7. A system comprising a plurality of devices and an information processing apparatus for constructing a traffic digital twin synchronized with the real space in time on a virtual space based on data received from the plurality of devices, wherein the information processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit that acquires a notification regarding the provision of a service from an application; A setting unit that sets an update cycle for updating the traffic digital twin based on the notification acquired by the acquisition unit; A communication unit that receives the data from the plurality of devices according to the update cycle set by the setting unit, the system comprising.

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