Vehicle Speed Limit Recognition With Category-Based Rule Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems fail to accurately acquire and apply traffic rules, such as speed limits, to vehicles based on their category, as speed limit signs often do not specify applicable categories, leading to incomplete information for drivers and vehicle control systems.

Innovation Solution

An information processing system and speed limit acquiring apparatus that utilize an in-vehicle camera to recognize speed limit signs, a conversion table to match posted speed limits with prescribed limits for specific vehicle categories, and a notification system to inform users or control vehicle speed based on the applicable speed limit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a speed limit sign is recognized without considering vehicle category, then the speed limit information can be acquired simply, but the accuracy of applying the correct speed limit to the specific vehicle is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidspeed limit accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a conversion table as an intermediary component that maps posted speed limits to prescribed speed limits for different vehicle categories. This table acts as a mediator between the general speed limit sign and the specific vehicle type, enabling accurate speed limit determination without complex real-time analysis of sign details for each vehicle category

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent pre-establishes conversion tables that contain prescribed speed limits for various vehicle categories before runtime. This preliminary preparation allows the system to quickly and accurately determine applicable speed limits by simple table lookup, avoiding the need for complex real-time analysis while ensuring accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If traffic rules are applied universally to all vehicles, then the system operation is simplified, but the reliability of traffic rule compliance for specific vehicle categories deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem operationVSAvoidtraffic rule compliance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing different speed limit information tailored to specific vehicle categories. Instead of a universal approach, the system determines the vehicle's category and retrieves the appropriate prescribed speed limit from the conversion table, ensuring each vehicle receives locally appropriate traffic rules

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of speed limit values based on vehicle category. The conversion table stores different speed limit parameters for different vehicle types, and the system dynamically selects and applies the appropriate parameter set based on the detected vehicle category, ensuring reliable compliance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4418231A1Information processing system and speed limit acquiring apparatus
Publication Date: 2024.08.21 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4418231A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4418231A1 patent drawingFigure 2(A)~2(B)
  • EP4418231A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An information processing system (400) is applied to a vehicle (1). The information processing system (400) includes: one or more processors configured to acquire information on a posted traffic rule that is a traffic rule indicated by a traffic sign installed on a road where the vehicle (1) travels, acquire information on a first traffic rule applied to the vehicle (1), based on the posted traffic rule and a first vehicle category that is a vehicle category of the vehicle (1), and notify a user of the vehicle (1) of the first traffic rule or control travelling of the vehicle (1) based on the first traffic rule.