Traffic congestion forecast information providing device and traffic congestion forecast information providing method

Abstract

To provide information for a user to easily change a travel plan in order to avoid traffic congestion.SOLUTION: A congestion prediction information providing device of an embodiment comprises: an acquisition unit that acquires information on a predicted travel speed, which is a travel speed predicted for each future time for each section of a road on which a vehicle travels; a required time calculation unit that calculates a required time for the vehicle to travel based on the information on the predicted travel speed for each time period for each section; a travel condition prediction unit that predicts a travel condition for indicating a section in which the vehicle departing from a departure place will travel at each time in the future, based on the required time, and a departure place, a destination, a departure time, or an arrival time, which is specified by a user device used by a user of the vehicle; and a display control unit that transmits to the user device information for displaying an image on which the travel condition predicted by the travel condition prediction unit is superimposed on a heat map screen with different display colors and / or patterns according to the predicted travel speed for each section on a plane with future time and section as two axes.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a traffic congestion forecast information providing device and a traffic congestion forecast information providing method. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, drivers of vehicles traveling on roads such as expressways generally wish to avoid being caught in traffic jams as much as possible. If drivers could obtain traffic jam forecast information, they would be able to select routes and travel times that would avoid traffic jams as much as possible. This would ultimately lead to the mitigation and prevention of traffic jams.

[0003] Related prior art includes, for example, a technology for displaying predicted congestion length information on a route map, a technology for providing detour information for routes where congestion is predicted, and a technology for providing recommended routes based on the vehicle's current location. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-135827 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-200490 [Patent Document 3] Special Publication No. 2009-529186 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-185232 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, while conventional technology can provide recommended routes based on the vehicle's current location as described above, it is unable to provide information that allows users to easily change their driving plans to avoid traffic jams, for example.

[0006] Therefore, an embodiment of the present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a traffic congestion prediction information providing device and a traffic congestion prediction information providing method that can provide information to enable users to easily change their driving plans to avoid traffic congestion. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The congestion prediction information providing device of the embodiment includes an acquisition unit that acquires information on predicted driving speeds, which are driving speeds predicted for each future time period for each section of a road on which a vehicle travels; a required time calculation unit that calculates the required time for the vehicle to travel for each time period for each section based on the information on the predicted driving speed; a driving condition prediction unit that predicts driving conditions indicating the sections along which a vehicle departing from a departure point will travel for each future time period based on the required time period and a departure point, destination, departure time, or arrival time specified by a user device used by a vehicle user; and a display control unit that transmits information to the user device for displaying an image in which the driving conditions predicted by the driving condition prediction unit are superimposed on a heat map screen in which the display color and / or pattern differ depending on the predicted driving speed for each time period for each section on a plane having future time and the section as two axes. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a road in the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram that schematically shows the overall configuration of the road management system of the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a selection screen according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a first heat map screen according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a second heat map screen when taking a rest time in the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing performed by the traffic congestion prediction information providing device of the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a third heat map screen displayed by specifying an arrival time in a modification of the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically illustrating a fourth example of a heat map screen in which a resting place and an arrival time at the resting place are specified and displayed in another modification of the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the process performed by the traffic congestion prediction information providing device according to the modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a route map screen according to the second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a selection screen according to the second embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the processing performed by the traffic congestion prediction information providing device of the second embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the process performed by the traffic congestion prediction information providing device according to the modified example of the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments (first to third embodiments and each modified example) of the congestion prediction information providing device and congestion prediction information providing method of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the configurations of the embodiments described below, and the actions and results (effects) brought about by the configurations, are examples, and the present invention is not limited to the contents described below.

[0010] (First embodiment) First, with reference to FIG. 1, a road R in the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a road R in the first embodiment. The road R is, for example, a highway. The road R is divided into sections #1, #2, #3, ... as management units. A vehicle detector 1 (details will be described later) is installed in each section. In the following, the reference symbol for the road R will be omitted and the road will be referred to as "road."

[0011] Next, the overall configuration of the road management system S of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic diagram of the overall configuration of a road management system S according to the first embodiment. The road management system S includes a vehicle detector 1, a weather data management device 2, a traffic control device 3, a large display device 4, an information terminal device 5, a congestion forecast information providing device 6, and a VICS (registered trademark) (Vehicle Information and Communication System) 7.

[0012] Vehicle detectors 1 (see Figure 1) are installed on the roadside of expressways, with multiple detectors installed as needed, to collect information (traffic condition data) such as traffic volume (vehicles / hour), average speed (km / h), and occupancy (%). The vehicle detectors 1 transmit the collected traffic condition data to a traffic control device 3. The CCTV camera 10 is installed on the roadside of a highway and captures images of vehicles and the like that are traveling on the highway.

[0013] The weather data management device 2 is a computer system that manages weather data (for example, temperature data, humidity data, sunny / cloudy / rainy / snowy data, etc.) collected by various sensors, and transmits the weather data to the traffic control device 3.

[0014] The traffic control device 3 is a computer system installed in a traffic control center that comprehensively monitors and manages the actual traffic conditions on the roads under control. The traffic control device 3 receives traffic condition data from the vehicle detectors 1 and weather data from the weather data management device 2.

[0015] The traffic control device 3 includes a congestion determination unit 31, a required time creation processing unit 32, and a traveling speed prediction unit 33. The congestion determination unit 31 determines whether a traffic jam occurs for each section based on the traffic condition data.

[0016] The required time creation processing unit 32 creates (calculates) the required time for a traveling vehicle for each section based on the traffic condition data. The driving speed prediction unit 33 predicts the driving speed for each section at each future time interval (for example, every 5 minutes, every 30 minutes, etc., etc.) based on traffic condition data, weather data, learning models, etc., and outputs information on the predicted driving speed.

[0017] The traffic control device 3 transmits congestion determination results and information on required travel time (hereinafter also collectively referred to as "traffic information") to the large display device 4, the information terminal device 5, the congestion prediction information providing device 6, the VICS 7, and the like.

[0018] The large display device 4 is installed in the traffic control center and displays traffic information for each section of each of a plurality of routes.

[0019] The information terminal device 5 is, for example, a road information board, a highway telephone, a highway information terminal, or the like.

[0020] The road information board is installed, for example, on the shoulder of a road including a target road section or above the road in a state spanning the road, and displays traffic information mainly in text.

[0021] Highway telephones are voice information providers that provide traffic information as voice information via public lines. Highway telephones provide traffic information as voice information when road users (hereinafter also referred to as "users") call from their mobile phones or public or dedicated telephones installed at service areas and parking areas.

[0022] A highway information terminal is an information providing device installed at rest areas, parking areas, etc., and displays a wide range of traffic information, centered on rest areas and parking areas, in accordance with the operations of road users, and provides related audio information.

[0023] The VICS 7 transmits traffic information to a car navigation system 8 (user device) via a communication device such as a roadside antenna. The car navigation system 8 is installed in a vehicle in which a road user rides, and acquires traffic information about surrounding roads based on the vehicle's position identified by a GPS (Global Positioning System), and provides the traffic information to the road user.

[0024] The traffic congestion prediction information providing device 6 is a computer device and may be installed either inside or outside the traffic control sensor. The traffic congestion prediction information providing device 6 includes a processing unit 61, a storage unit 62, an input unit 63, a display unit 64, and a communication unit 65.

[0025] The processing unit 61 includes, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a read-only memory (ROM), and a random access memory (RAM), and executes various processes.

[0026] The CPU comprehensively controls the operation of the traffic congestion prediction information providing device 6. The ROM is a storage medium for storing various programs and data. The RAM is a storage medium for temporarily storing various programs and rewriting various data.

[0027] The MPU uses the RAM as a work area to execute programs stored in the ROM, storage unit 62, etc. Details of the processing unit 61 will be described later.

[0028] The storage unit 62 is a storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD), and stores various types of information. The storage unit 62 stores, for example, the operating program of the processing unit 61, various types of data used by the processing unit 61 for calculations, various calculation results by the processing unit 61, etc.

[0029] Specifically, for example, the memory unit 62 stores road information such as road sections, number of lanes, locations of interchanges and SA / PAs, as well as information on predicted driving speeds received from the traffic control device 3.

[0030] The input unit 63 is an input device that accepts user operations on the traffic congestion prediction information providing device 6, and is, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, or the like.

[0031] The display unit 64 is, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic electroluminescence (EL) display, or the like.

[0032] The communication unit 65 is a communication interface for communicating with external devices (such as the traffic control device 3 and the user terminal 9).

[0033] The processing unit 61 includes, as functional components, an acquisition unit 611, a required time calculation unit 612, a driving situation prediction unit 613, a search unit 614, and a display control unit 615.

[0034] The acquisition unit 611 acquires various information from external devices. For example, the acquisition unit 611 acquires, from the traffic control device 3, information on predicted travel speeds, which are travel speeds predicted for each future time period for each section of a road on which a vehicle travels.

[0035] The required time calculation unit 612 calculates the estimated required time for the vehicle to travel for each time period for each section based on the information on the estimated travel speed. Specifically, the required time calculation unit 612 calculates the estimated required time for each time period for each section by dividing the distance of the section by the estimated travel speed.

[0036] The driving situation prediction unit 613 predicts a driving situation indicating a section along which a vehicle departing from a departure point will travel at each future time, based on the predicted required time, and the departure point (e.g., current location), destination, departure time, or arrival time specified by the user terminal 9 used by the vehicle user. For example, the driving situation prediction unit 613 predicts a driving situation indicating a section along which a vehicle departing from a departure point at a departure time will travel at each future time, based on the predicted required time, and the departure point, destination, and departure time specified by the user terminal 9.

[0037] The user terminal 9 is, for example, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet device, or the like, and has an application 91 installed. The application 91 is software that enables the user to accept designated inputs such as a departure point, a destination, and a departure time (or arrival time) and transmit them to the congestion prediction information providing device 6, and to display the screens shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 based on information received from the congestion prediction information providing device 6. The user terminal 9 also has a self-location positioning function using GPS or the like, and can transmit the positioning result to the congestion prediction information providing device 6 as the current location.

[0038] If there is a congested section in the section included in the driving situation, the search unit 614 searches for an SA / PA where the driver can take a rest to avoid the congestion.

[0039] The display control unit 615 transmits information to the user terminal 9 for displaying an image in which the driving situation and an image recommending the SA / PA searched for by the search unit 614 are superimposed on a heat map screen in which the display color and / or pattern vary according to the predicted driving speed for each time period for each section on a plane having future time and sections as its two axes. Also, for example, the display control unit 615 uses a color that is more eye-catching for sections on the heat map screen where the predicted driving speed is slower. Also, for example, the display control unit 615 superimposes information on the predicted driving speed for each time period for each section on the heat map screen.

[0040] FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a selection screen according to the first embodiment. The user uses a selection screen on the user terminal 9 as shown in Figure 3 to select the departure point (departure interchange) (e.g., A-IC (Figure 4)), destination (arrival interchange) (e.g., G-IC (Figure 4)), and departure or arrival time, and input the times. Here, when selecting the departure time, the current time may be displayed as the default time. Also, the departure point may be displayed by default as the closest interchange from the current location. Also, the destination may be displayed by default as the closest interchange automatically when the destination is specified on the map screen, or the terminal interchange of the target route may be displayed by default. When the user has finished entering all the information, they press the "OK" button. To cancel, they press the "Cancel" button.

[0041] First, a case where the departure time is designated out of the departure time and the arrival time will be described. Here, a first example of a heat map screen will be described with reference to Fig. 4. This first example of a heat map screen is displayed on the user terminal 9.

[0042] Fig. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a first heat map screen in the first embodiment. In Fig. 4, the vertical axis indicates the location of the road, and from the bottom, the locations are shown as A-IC (interchange), B-PA, C-JCT (junction), D-SA, E-JCT, F-PA, and G-IC.

[0043] The horizontal axis indicates time. Numerical values ​​other than time in the diagram indicate the predicted driving speed for each road section. Here, as for the background color of the predicted driving speed, in order to make the display of the congestion points stand out, the background color of the section where the predicted driving speed is slow (in other words, the section where the congestion is severe) is a background color of a highly conspicuous warm color (for example, red), and the background color of the section where the speed is fast (in other words, the section where the congestion is not severe) is a background color of a less conspicuous cool color (for example, blue). For example, the background colors may be divided into red, yellow, green, etc., in descending order of the degree of congestion. Here, the background colors are in three stages, but are not limited to this and may be in four or more stages.

[0044] In the heat map screen examples in Figures 4, 5, 7, and 8 below, black circles indicate the location / time set by the user as the default on the selection screen (Figure 3), while white circles (white circles with black circles) indicate the location / time of changes entered by the user on the heat map screen.

[0045] In Figure 4, the black circle indicates the departure time (12:00) and departure point (A-IC) selected on the selection screen shown in Figure 3. An arrow indicating the driving status extends from this black circle to the upper right. The slope of this arrow allows you to see at a glance the magnitude of the predicted driving speed. The slope of the arrow also represents the slope according to the predicted driving speed for each section. In this example, if you depart A-IC at 12:00, the predicted travel time to arrive at G-IC is approximately one and a half hours. The arrows may be displayed as solid or broken lines corresponding to the predicted travel speed, or may be differentiated by color (for example, red, yellow, green, etc., indicating the greatest degree of congestion).

[0046] In this example, if you depart from A-IC at 12:00, it is predicted that the area will become congested and jammed after passing D-SA, so it is recommended that you adjust your time (take a lunch break) at D-SA to avoid the jam.

[0047] Here, you can change the departure time by tapping on the heat map screen. Figure 4 shows the case where the departure point remains A-IC, but the departure time has been changed from 12:00 to 13:00. The departure time of 13:00, which is specified by tapping on the heat map screen, is displayed as a white circle. Then, arrows corresponding to the predicted driving speed for each section are displayed from the white circle A-IC at 13:00.

[0048] Therefore, if the departure time from A-IC is changed to 13:00, the estimated travel time to G-IC will be approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. In this way, the user can use the user terminal 9 to grasp at a glance how the estimated travel time will change when the departure time is changed.

[0049] Next, a case where a rest period is taken to avoid traffic congestion will be described. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a second heat map screen when taking a rest time in the first embodiment. At this time, the user inputs the rest location (SA or PA) where the user wants to take a rest and the departure time after the rest by tapping on the heat map screen of the user terminal 9.

[0050] Then, based on the rest location and departure time from the rest location specified by the user terminal 9, the driving condition prediction unit 613 predicts the driving conditions indicating the section along which the vehicle departing from the rest location at the departure time from the rest location will travel at each future time.Specific examples are described below.

[0051] In Figure 5, we assume that the driver takes a break at D-SA and departs from D-SA at 13:45. The D-SA specified by tapping at 13:45 is shown as a white circle. In this example, after departing D-SA, we can see that although there is some congestion, the driver arrives at the destination, G-IC, without getting caught in any major traffic jams.

[0052] In this way, by tapping on the heat map screen, you can change your departure time or set rest stops and departure times for those stops, and the system will predict driving conditions based on those settings and display them as additional arrows. This makes it easy to create driving plans that avoid traffic jams.

[0053] Note that, although the above screen displays and the like have been described using the user terminal 9, a car navigation system 8 may be used instead. When the user terminal 9 is used, the congestion prediction information providing device 6 and the user terminal 9 transmit and receive information via the Internet, for example. When the car navigation system 8 is used, the congestion prediction information providing device 6 and the car navigation system 8 transmit and receive information with the traffic control device 3 via VICS 7, for example.

[0054] Next, the operation of the traffic congestion prediction information providing device 6 and the like according to the embodiment will be described.

[0055] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing performed by the traffic congestion prediction information providing device 6 of the first embodiment. First, in step S1, the acquisition unit 611 acquires, from the traffic control device 3, predicted travel speed information for each future time period for each section.

[0056] Next, in step S2, the display control unit 615 reflects the predicted traveling speed information in the heat map information.

[0057] Next, in step S3, the acquisition unit 611 acquires from the user terminal 9 information on the departure place, destination, and departure time specified by the user.

[0058] Next, in step S4, the required time calculation unit 612 calculates a predicted required time for each section from the departure point to the destination. Furthermore, the driving condition prediction unit 613 predicts a driving condition indicating sections along which the vehicle departing from the departure point will travel at each future time. Furthermore, if there is a congested section in the section included in the driving condition, the search unit 614 searches for a rest area / parking area where the vehicle can take a break to avoid the congestion.

[0059] Next, in step S5, the display control unit 615 transmits information to the user terminal 9 for reflecting the driving conditions in the heat map information and displaying an image (FIGS. 4 and 5) in which the driving conditions and the recommended SA / PA images are superimposed on the heat map screen. In response to this, the user terminal 9 displays the images shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 using the application 91 and also using operational input information from the user.

[0060] Next, in step S6, the processing unit 61 determines whether or not the departure point, destination, or departure time has been changed by the user terminal 9, and if Yes, the process returns to step S4, and if No, the process proceeds to step S7.

[0061] In step S7, the processing unit 61 determines whether or not the predicted traveling speed information for each section has been updated (periodically updated or manually updated), and if Yes, returns to step S1, and if No, ends the processing.

[0062] As described above, according to the road management system S of the first embodiment, the traffic congestion prediction information providing device 6 transmits information for displaying the screens shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 to the user terminal 9. In other words, the traffic congestion prediction information providing device 6 can provide information that enables the user to easily change their driving plan to avoid traffic congestion.

[0063] Specifically, for example, the traffic congestion prediction information providing device 6 transmits information to the user terminal 9 for displaying, on a heat map screen, an image superimposed with, in addition to the driving situation, an image recommending rest areas (SA / PA) where to take a break to avoid traffic congestion if there is a congested section in the section included in the driving situation. In other words, the traffic congestion prediction information providing device 6 can provide information regarding road congestion predictions, including time adjustments at SA / PA, for each driver.

[0064] Generally, when congestion forecast information is provided to drivers, they will try to avoid congestion, which will disperse traffic flow and prevent congestion from occurring. Traffic flow dispersion in this case comes in two forms: spatial dispersion (changing driving routes) and temporal dispersion (changing departure times or adjusting time by taking a break at SA / PA along the way).

[0065] According to the road management system S of this embodiment, the driver can easily and accurately consider changing the departure time by using, for example, a screen such as that shown in Fig. 4 on the user terminal 9. Furthermore, the driver can easily and accurately consider adjusting the time by taking a break at an SA / PA along the way by using, for example, a screen such as that shown in Fig. 5 on the user terminal 9. This will ultimately lead to a more time-dispersed view of the entire expressway, contributing to the suppression and reduction of congestion.

[0066] (Modification of the first embodiment) Next, as a modification of the first embodiment, a case where the arrival time is specified on the selection screen (FIG. 3) will be described. 7 is a diagram showing a schematic example of a third heat map screen displayed by specifying an arrival time in a modified example of the first embodiment. Explanations of matters similar to those explained in FIG. 4 will be omitted as appropriate.

[0067] The driving situation prediction unit 613 predicts the departure time from the departure point required to arrive at the destination at the specified arrival time from the driving situation indicating the section along which the vehicle departing from the departure point will travel for each future time, based on the departure point, destination, and arrival time specified by the user terminal 9. A specific example will be described below.

[0068] The user specifies the desired destination and arrival time on the selection screen in Figure 3. Figure 7 shows the case where the arrival time is specified as 13:30. In this case, 13:30 at G-IC is displayed as a black circle.

[0069] If we start from 13:30 at G-IC and display the arrows on the heat map screen with slopes corresponding to the speed for each section, the departure time from A-IC, the starting point, will be 12:00. Therefore, the estimated travel time from A-IC to G-IC is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

[0070] Let's say the user taps the heat map screen and specifies 14:15 as the arrival time to avoid traffic jams. A white circle is displayed at G-1C at 14:15. Next, if arrows with slopes corresponding to the speed for each section on the heat map screen are displayed starting from G-1C at 14:15, the departure time from A-IC, the starting point, will be approximately 13:00. The predicted travel time in this case is approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes.

[0071] By changing the arrival time in this way, the estimated travel time from A-IC to G-IC is reduced from approximately 1 hour 30 minutes to approximately 1 hour 20 minutes. In this way, the user can use the user terminal 9 to grasp at a glance how the estimated travel time will change when the arrival time is changed.

[0072] Next, a fourth example of a heat map screen will be described in the modified example of the first embodiment, in which a rest area (SA or PA) is specified after specifying the arrival time at the destination. FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically illustrating a fourth example of a heat map screen in which a resting place and an arrival time at the resting place are specified and displayed in another modification of the first embodiment.

[0073] The driving situation prediction unit 613 predicts the departure time from the departure point required to arrive at the specified rest point at the arrival time from the driving situation indicating the section along which the vehicle departing from the departure point will travel for each future time, based on the rest point and the arrival time at the rest point specified by the user terminal 9. A specific example will be described below.

[0074] In Figure 8, let's assume that you first specify G-IC as your destination on the selection screen (Figure 3) and 14:15 as your arrival time. Then, a black circle will appear at G-IC at 14:15, and as you follow the arrows on the heat map screen, which slope according to the speed for each section, the departure time from A-IC, your starting point, will be 12:45. The estimated travel time in this case is approximately one and a half hours.

[0075] Looking at this heat map screen, the user decides to take a break at D-SA to avoid traffic jams, and taps the new arrival time (12:30 in this case) at the rest area D-SA on the heat map screen. This causes a white circle to appear at D-SA at 12:30. Then, by displaying arrows with slopes corresponding to the speed for each section on the heat map screen from D-SA at 12:30 toward A-IC, the departure time from A-IC, the departure point, becomes 12:00. In this example, it can be seen that although there is some congestion in the latter half of the journey from A-IC to D-SA and from D-SA, where the user departs after the break, to G-IC, the user will arrive at the destination G-IC without getting caught in any major traffic jams.

[0076] In this way, after specifying an arrival time and displaying the driving situation on the heat map screen, by tapping the rest stop and the new arrival time at the rest stop on the heat map screen, the new driving situation will be predicted and displayed as an additional arrow. This makes it easy to create a driving plan that avoids traffic jams.

[0077] Next, with reference to FIG. 9, a process performed by the traffic congestion prediction information providing device 6 according to the modified example of the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing performed by the traffic congestion prediction information providing device 6 according to the modified example of the first embodiment.

[0078] First, in step S1, the acquisition unit 611 acquires, from the traffic control device 3, predicted travel speed information for each future time period for each section.

[0079] Next, in step S2, the display control unit 615 reflects the predicted traveling speed information in the heat map information.

[0080] Next, in step S31, the acquisition unit 611 acquires from the user terminal 9 information on the departure point, destination, and arrival time specified by the user.

[0081] Next, in step S41, the required time calculation unit 612 calculates a predicted required time for each section from the departure point to the destination. Furthermore, the driving condition prediction unit 613 predicts a driving condition indicating sections along which a vehicle departing from the departure point at a departure time calculated by working backward from the arrival time will travel in the future. Furthermore, if a section included in the driving condition includes a congested section, the search unit 614 searches for a rest area / PA where the vehicle can take a break to avoid the congestion.

[0082] Next, in step S5, the display control unit 615 transmits information to the user terminal 9 for reflecting the driving conditions in the heat map information and displaying an image (FIGS. 7 and 8) in which the driving conditions and the recommended SA / PA images are superimposed on the heat map screen. In response to this, the user terminal 9 displays the images shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 using the application 91 and also using operational input information from the user.

[0083] Next, in step S61, the processing unit 61 determines whether or not the departure point, destination, or arrival time has been changed by the user terminal 9, and if Yes, the process returns to step S41, and if No, the process proceeds to step S7.

[0084] In step S7, the processing unit 61 determines whether or not the predicted traveling speed information for each section has been updated (periodically updated or manually updated), and if Yes, returns to step S1, and if No, ends the processing.

[0085] As described above, the road management system S according to the modified example of the first embodiment has the following advantages in addition to the advantages of the first embodiment: First, the user can change (additionally display) the arrival time by specifying (by tapping the screen, etc.) the desired arrival time on the heat map screen as shown in Fig. 7, and can grasp at a glance how the estimated travel time will change in that case.

[0086] In addition, the user can change (additionally display) the driving plan by specifying (by tapping the screen, etc.) the rest area (SA or PA) where they will take a break and the new arrival time at the rest area on the heat map screen as shown in Figure 8, and can grasp at a glance how the estimated travel time will change in that case. This makes it easy to create a driving plan that can avoid traffic jams.

[0087] (Second embodiment) Next, a second embodiment will be described. Explanations of matters similar to those in the first embodiment will be omitted as appropriate. In the first embodiment, a route without branches such as junctions is assumed. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, a case will be described in which multiple routes are candidates for the road from the departure point to the destination due to branches such as junctions. In this case, it is first necessary to select a route.

[0088] Here, FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a route map screen in the second embodiment. Fig. 11 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a selection screen according to the second embodiment. Using the screen of the user terminal 9 as shown in Fig. 11, the user inputs information necessary for route selection, such as the departure time or arrival time (for example, the default is the current time as the departure time, which can be changed by selection or input), the departure point (the default is the current location), the destination, and intermediate points (optional).

[0089] Specifically, the starting point may be, for example, the current location information obtained from the GPS by default, or the starting point may be input directly on the heat map screen.

[0090] As a result, as shown in FIG. 10, the predicted travel time and congestion level between multiple junctions are displayed on the route map. For example, if the departure point is I-JCT and the destination is N-JCT, two possible routes are via L-JCT or P-JCT. Then, the predicted travel time between each junction (reference numerals 101 to 104) is displayed according to the departure time. This makes it possible to provide reference information for route selection. Note that while FIG. 10 shows the predicted travel time between each junction, this is not limiting and the predicted travel time for each route from the departure point to the destination may also be displayed. If you want to change the route points based on this display, return to the previous screen and change the route points using the screen shown in FIG. 11.

[0091] 2 calculates the predicted travel time for a vehicle for each route (or between junctions). The display control unit 615 then transmits to the user terminal 9 information for displaying an image in which the predicted travel time for each route is superimposed on a route map, and, when a route is selected, information for displaying an image in which the travel status for the selected route is superimposed on a heat map screen.

[0092] FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the processing performed by the traffic congestion prediction information providing device 6 of the second embodiment. First, in step S11, the acquisition unit 611 acquires, from the traffic control device 3, predicted travel speed information for each future time period for each section.

[0093] Next, in step S12, the required time calculation unit 612 calculates the estimated required time for the vehicle to travel for each section and for each time period based on the estimated travel speed information.

[0094] Next, in step S13, the acquisition unit 611 acquires from the user terminal 9 information on the departure place, destination, and departure time specified by the user.

[0095] Next, in step S14, the required time calculation unit 612 calculates the estimated required time for each route from the departure point to the destination.

[0096] Next, in step S15, the display control unit 615 transmits information for reflecting the predicted required time for each route in the route map information and displaying an image ( FIG. 10 ) showing the predicted required time for each route (or each junction) on the route map to the user terminal 9. In response to this, the user terminal 9 displays such an image ( FIG. 10 ) using the application 91.

[0097] Next, in step S16, the processing unit 61 determines whether or not there has been a change in the departure point, destination, or departure time, and if Yes, the process returns to step S14, and if No, the process proceeds to step S17.

[0098] In step S17, the processing unit 61 determines whether the predicted traveling speed information for each section has been updated (periodically updated or manually updated), and if Yes, returns to step S11, and if No, ends the processing.

[0099] When the user selects one of the routes while the user terminal 9 is displaying a screen such as that shown in FIG. 10, the user terminal 9 switches the screen and displays a heat map screen such as that shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 for that route.

[0100] As described above, according to the road management system S of the second embodiment, when there are multiple routes from the departure point to the destination, the user terminal 9 first displays a screen showing the predicted travel time for each route on a route map as shown in Fig. 10. After that, when a route is selected, a heat map screen for that route as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is displayed. The congestion prediction information providing device 6 transmits (provides) to the user terminal 9 the information required for displaying these screens.

[0101] As a result, even when there are multiple routes from a departure point to a destination, the driver can first select a route on the screen of Figure 10 using the user terminal 9, and then easily and accurately consider changing the departure time or adjusting the time by taking a break at an SA / PA along the way on the screens of Figures 4 and 5. This will ultimately lead to the dispersion of travel time on the entire expressway, contributing to the suppression and reduction of congestion.

[0102] (Modification of the second embodiment) In the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, when there are multiple routes, the arrival time may be specified and the departure time may be displayed. As a modification of the second embodiment, a case where an arrival time is specified when multiple routes exist will be described below.

[0103] FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the process performed by the traffic congestion prediction information providing device 6 according to the modified example of the second embodiment. First, in step S11, the acquisition unit 611 acquires, from the traffic control device 3, predicted travel speed information for each future time period for each section.

[0104] Next, in step S12, the required time calculation unit 612 calculates the estimated required time for the vehicle to travel for each section and for each time period based on the estimated travel speed information.

[0105] Next, in step S131, the acquisition unit 611 acquires, from the user terminal 9, information on the departure point, destination, and arrival time specified by the user.

[0106] Next, in step S141, the required time calculation unit 612 calculates a predicted required time for each route from the departure point to the destination. Furthermore, the driving condition prediction unit 613 predicts a driving condition indicating sections along which a vehicle departing from the departure point at a departure time calculated by working backward from the arrival time will travel in the future. Furthermore, if a section included in the driving condition includes a congested section, the search unit 614 searches for a rest area / PA where the vehicle can take a break to avoid the congestion.

[0107] Next, in step S15, the display control unit 615 transmits information for reflecting the predicted required time for each route in the route map information and displaying an image ( FIG. 10 ) showing the predicted required time for each route (or each junction) on the route map to the user terminal 9. In response to this, the user terminal 9 displays such an image ( FIG. 10 ) using the application 91.

[0108] Next, in step S161, the processing unit 61 determines whether or not there has been a change in the departure point, destination, or arrival time, and if Yes, the process returns to step S141, and if No, the process proceeds to step S17.

[0109] In step S17, the processing unit 61 determines whether the predicted traveling speed information for each section has been updated (periodically updated or manually updated), and if Yes, returns to step S11, and if No, ends the processing.

[0110] When the user selects one of the routes while the user terminal 9 is displaying a screen such as that shown in FIG. 10, the user terminal 9 switches the screen and displays a heat map screen such as that shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 for that route.

[0111] As described above, the road management system S of the modified example of the second embodiment has the following effect in addition to the effect of the second embodiment: The user can change (additionally display) the arrival time by specifying (by tapping the screen, etc.) the desired arrival time on the selection screen as shown in Fig. 11, and can grasp at a glance how the estimated travel time will roughly change in that case.

[0112] (Third embodiment) Next, a third embodiment will be described. Explanations of matters similar to those in the first embodiment will be omitted as appropriate. In the first embodiment, the user specified the changed departure time when changing the departure time, or the time of re-departure when taking a break at an SA / PA along the way. In the third embodiment, these specifications are automated.

[0113] The driving situation prediction unit 613 of the traffic congestion forecast information providing device 6 in Fig. 2 calculates traffic congestion avoidance driving schedule information, including the departure time and rest periods at SA / PA, as traffic congestion avoidance driving schedule information that minimizes the time spent in traffic or the estimated time required to reach the destination after the current time, based on the estimated travel time for each section, the departure point, and the destination. The user may specify the rest periods at SA / PA separately. The display control unit 615 then transmits information to the user terminal 9 for displaying an image in which the traffic congestion avoidance driving schedule information is superimposed on the heat map screen.

[0114] As described above, according to the road management system S of the third embodiment, the traffic congestion prediction information providing device 6 calculates, based on the departure point and destination, traffic congestion avoidance driving plan information including the departure time and rest times at SA / PA as traffic congestion avoidance driving plan information that will result in the shortest time spent in traffic or the shortest predicted time required to reach the destination from the current time onwards, and transmits this traffic congestion avoidance driving plan information to and displays it on the user terminal 9. This allows the user to easily create a driving plan that will result in the shortest time spent in traffic or the shortest predicted time required to reach the destination.

[0115] The program executed by the CPU of the traffic congestion forecast information providing device 6 of this embodiment may be configured to be provided by being recorded in an installable or executable format on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk).

[0116] Furthermore, the program may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. Also, the program executed in this embodiment may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

[0117] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above-described embodiments and modifications are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The above-described embodiments can be implemented in various forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The above-described embodiments and modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the inventions and their equivalents as set forth in the claims.

[0118] For example, the target roads are not limited to expressways, but may also be toll roads other than expressways or free general roads.

[0119] Furthermore, in the screen examples of FIGS. 4, 5, 7, and 8, the predicted traveling speed is displayed in the background, but this is not limitative and it does not have to be displayed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0120] 1...vehicle detector, 2...weather data management device, 3...traffic control device, 4...large display device, 5...information terminal device, 6...congestion prediction information providing device, 7...VICS, 8...car navigation system, 9...user terminal, 10...CCTV camera, 31...congestion determination unit, 32...travel time creation processing unit, 33...travel speed prediction unit, 61...processing unit, 62...storage unit, 63...input unit, 64...display unit, 65...communication unit, 611...acquisition unit, 612...travel time calculation unit, 613...traveling situation prediction unit, 614...search unit, 615...display control unit, C...vehicle, R...road, S...road management system

Claims

1. an acquisition unit that acquires information on predicted travel speeds, which are travel speeds predicted for each future time period for each section that is set as a management unit for a road on which a vehicle travels and is divided at least by rest areas on the road; a required time calculation unit that calculates a required time for the vehicle to travel for each of the time periods for each of the sections based on the information on the predicted travel speed; a driving situation prediction unit that predicts a driving situation indicating a section along which a vehicle departing from the departure point will travel for each future time period, based on the required time and a departure point, destination, departure time, or arrival time specified by a user device used by a vehicle user; a display control unit that transmits information to the user device for displaying an image in which the driving situation predicted by the driving situation prediction unit is superimposed on a heat map screen in which a display color and / or a pattern are varied according to the predicted driving speed for each time period for each section on a plane having future time and the section as two axes; and A traffic congestion forecast information providing device comprising:

2. the display control unit displays a portion of the heat map screen where the predicted traveling speed is slower in a more eye-catching color. The traffic congestion forecast information providing device according to claim 1.

3. the display control unit superimposes information of the predicted traveling speed for each time period for each section on the heat map screen. The traffic congestion forecast information providing device according to claim 1.

4. the travel situation prediction unit predicts the travel situation indicating a section along which a vehicle departing from the departure point at the departure time will travel for each future time, based on the departure point, the destination, and the departure time specified by the user device; The traffic congestion forecast information providing device according to claim 1.

5. the driving situation prediction unit predicts the driving situation indicating a section along which a vehicle departing from the rest place will travel for each future time period at the departure time from the rest place, based on a rest place and a departure time from the rest place specified by the user device. The traffic congestion forecast information providing device according to claim 4.

6. the travel situation prediction unit predicts a departure time from the departure point required to arrive at the destination at the specified arrival time, from the travel situation indicating a section along which a vehicle departing from the departure point will travel for each future time, based on the departure point, the destination, and the arrival time specified by the user device; The traffic congestion forecast information providing device according to claim 1.

7. the travel situation prediction unit predicts a departure time from the departure point required to arrive at the rest place at the designated arrival time from the travel situation indicating a section along which a vehicle departing from the departure point will travel for each future time, based on a rest place designated by the user device and an arrival time at the rest place; The traffic congestion forecast information providing device according to claim 6.

8. When there are multiple routes as roads from the departure point to the destination, the required time calculation unit calculates a required time for vehicle travel for each of the routes, the display control unit transmits to the user device information for displaying an image in which the required time for each of the routes is superimposed on a route map, and, when any of the routes is selected, information for displaying an image in which the driving situation is superimposed on the heat map screen for the selected route. The traffic congestion forecast information providing device according to claim 1.

9. the driving situation prediction unit calculates, based on the required time, the departure point, and the destination, the congestion avoidance driving schedule information including a departure time and a rest time at a service area / parking area as congestion avoidance driving schedule information that will result in the shortest time the vehicle will be caught in congestion after the current time; The display control unit transmits information to the user device for displaying an image in which the congestion avoidance driving schedule information is superimposed on the heat map screen. The traffic congestion forecast information providing device according to claim 1.

10. An acquisition step in which an acquisition unit acquires information on predicted driving speeds, which are sections set as management units for a road on which a vehicle travels, and which are divided at least by rest areas on the road, and which are predicted driving speeds for each future time period for each section; a required time calculation step in which a required time calculation unit calculates a required time for the vehicle to travel for each of the time periods for each of the sections based on information about the predicted travel speed; a driving situation prediction step in which a driving situation prediction unit predicts a driving situation indicating a section along which the vehicle departing from the departure point will travel for each future time, based on the required time and a departure point, a destination, a departure time, or an arrival time specified by a user device used by the vehicle user; a display control step in which a display control unit transmits to the user device information for displaying an image in which the driving situation predicted in the driving situation prediction step is superimposed on a heat map screen in which a display color and / or a pattern are varied according to the predicted driving speed for each time period for each section on a plane having future time and the section as two axes; A method for providing traffic congestion forecast information, including:

Images