Traffic Information Distribution Method, Traffic Information Distribution Apparatus and In-Vehicle Terminal

• US 20080183375A1
• Filed: 01/25/2008
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xanavi Informatics Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Xanavi Informatics Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kumagai, Masatoshi, Takahashi, Hirotaka, Yamane, Kenichiro, Fujiwara, Junsuke, OKUDE, Mariko
• Granted Patent: US 8,700,293 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station

Abstract

Disclosed is a traffic information distribution apparatus 1 including date-time information in traffic information acquired by the traffic information acquire unit 12 or generated by the traffic information prediction unit, and accumulates the traffic information in the traffic information DB 13. When the traffic information distribution apparatus 1 receives distribution request information transmitted from the in-vehicle terminal 5, based on date-time information of reference traffic information held by the in-vehicle terminal 5 included in the distribution request information, the traffic information distribution apparatus 1 retrieves traffic information including the same date-time information as the date-time information of the reference traffic information from the traffic information DB 13. Then, difference traffic information generation unit 18 generates difference traffic information between the retrieved traffic information and traffic information to be distributed, and the traffic information distribution apparatus 1 distributes the generated difference traffic information to the in-vehicle terminal 5.

Claims

1. A traffic information distribution method implemented in a computer which acquires or generates traffic information on a road traffic situation and distributes the traffic information individually to each of in-vehicle terminals equipped with vehicles, the method allowing the computer to perform the steps comprising:

a traffic information accumulation step of, at the time when the computer acquires or generates the traffic information, including predetermined identification information in the traffic information and accumulating in a storage device the traffic information which includes the predetermined identification information;

a distribution request information reception step of receiving distribution request information transmitted from the in-vehicle terminal and containing identification information which is included in reference traffic information the in-vehicle terminal holds at the time when the in-vehicle terminal transmits the distribution request information;

a difference traffic information generation step of generating difference traffic information between the traffic information stored in the storage device and having a same identification information as the identification information included in the reference traffic information contained in the received distribution request information and the traffic information which is to be distributed at the time when the difference traffic information is generated; and

a traffic information distribution step of distributing the generated difference traffic information to the in-vehicle terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, further allowing the computer to perform a distribution mode setting step of:

calculating a divergence degree between the traffic information stored in the storage device and having the same identification information as the identification information included in the reference traffic information contained in the received distribution request information and the traffic information which is to be distributed, and setting a difference information distribution mode if the divergence degree is less than a predetermined value, and setting an entire information distribution mode if the divergence degree is larger than or equal to the predetermined value, wherein

at the distribution mode setting step, the computer;

distributes the difference traffic information generated at the difference traffic information generation step to the in-vehicle terminal when the difference information distribution mode is set; and

distributes entire information of the traffic information to be distributed to the in-vehicle terminal when the entire information distribution mode is set.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the identification information included in the traffic information at the traffic information accumulation step is date-time information indicating a date and time the traffic information pertains to, and the method allows the computer to perform a date-time information comparing step of:

before the computer performs the distribution mode setting step, comparing the date-time information contained in the distribution request information received at the distribution request information reception step and the date-time information of latest traffic information among all the traffic information accumulated in the storage device, wherein

at the distribution mode setting step, the computer sets the entire information distribution mode regardless of the divergence degree if a time interval of the two pieces of the date-time information which are compared is larger than or equal to a predetermined time interval.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the computer calculates a statistics of real-time traffic information acquired at a predetermined time interval by a date and a time zone, and further comprises a statistical traffic information accumulation unit for accumulating the statistics, and wherein

at the distribution mode setting step, the computer varies the predetermined time interval which is a reference time interval to be compared with the time interval of the two pieces of the date-time information, depending on a traffic volume-time change rate of a date and a time zone indicated by the two pieces of the date-time information and accumulated in the statistical traffic information accumulation unit.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the traffic information the computer acquires or generates and stores in the storage device is any one of real-time traffic information on roads in a predetermined area which has been acquired by the computer, traffic statistic information generated by statistically processing the real-time traffic information or predicted traffic information generated by processing the statistical traffic information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein

at the traffic information accumulation step, the computer configures the identification information included in the traffic information to include at least one of type information of the traffic information, the date-time information indicating a date and time the traffic information pertains to, and attribution information of a date and time the traffic information pertains to.

7. A traffic information distribution method implemented in a computer which distributes predicted traffic information regarding a road traffic situation individually to each of in-vehicle terminals equipped with vehicles, the computer comprising a predicted traffic information accumulation unit for accumulating at least a group of a plurality of pieces of the predicted traffic information, each piece of which pertains to a different time that belongs to a same time-line, the method allowing the computer to perform the steps comprising:

a distribution request information reception step of receiving from the in-vehicle terminal distribution request information which requests the computer to distribute the predicted traffic information;

a reference information selection step of selecting one of the plurality of pieces of the predicted traffic information, each piece of which pertains to a different time that belongs to the same time-line, as reference traffic information, when the received distribution request information contains a distribution request for requesting the plurality of pieces of the predicted traffic information, each piece of which pertains to a different time that belongs to a same time-line;

a difference traffic information generation step of generating difference traffic information between the predicted traffic information which is not selected as the reference traffic information and the reference traffic information;

a traffic information distribution step of distributing entire information of the predicted traffic information selected as the reference traffic information and the difference traffic information between the reference traffic information and the predicted traffic information not selected as the reference traffic information to the in-vehicle terminal.

8. A traffic information distribution method implemented in a computer which distributes real-time traffic information on a road traffic situation at once to in-vehicle terminals equipped with vehicles, the method allowing the computer to perform the steps comprising:

a real-time traffic information acquiring step of acquiring the real-time traffic information at a predetermined interval;

a reference traffic information selection step of selecting the real-time traffic information acquired at the predetermined interval at the real-time traffic information acquiring step as a reference traffic information once in a predetermined times the real-time traffic information is acquired;

a difference information generation step of generating difference traffic information between the real-time traffic information which is not selected as the reference traffic information among the real-time traffic information which has been acquired at the real-time traffic information acquiring step and latest reference traffic information;

a traffic information distribution step of distributing entire information of the real-time traffic information selected as the reference traffic information and the difference traffic information between the reference traffic information and the real-time traffic information which is not selected as the reference traffic information to the in-vehicle terminals.

9. A traffic information distribution method implemented in a computer which distributes predicted traffic information regarding a road traffic situation at once to in-vehicle terminals equipped with vehicles, the computer comprising a predicted traffic information accumulation unit for accumulating at least a group of a plurality of pieces of the predicted traffic information, each piece of which pertains to a different time that belongs to a same time-line, the method allowing the computer to perform the steps comprising:

a reference traffic information selection step of selecting a piece of the plurality of pieces of the predicted traffic information pertaining to the different time as reference traffic information;

a difference traffic information generation step of generating difference traffic between the predicted traffic information which is not selected as the reference traffic information and the reference traffic information;

a traffic information distribution step of distributing entire information of the predicted traffic information which is selected as the reference traffic information and the difference traffic information of the predicted traffic information which is not selected as the reference traffic information to the in-vehicle terminals.

10. A traffic information distribution apparatus which acquires or generates traffic information on a road traffic situation and distributes the traffic information individually to each of in-vehicle terminals equipped with vehicles, the apparatus comprising:

a traffic information accumulation unit for including predetermined identification information in the traffic information and accumulating in a storage device the traffic information which includes the identification information when the traffic information distribution apparatus acquires or generates the traffic information;

a distribution request information reception unit for receiving distribution request information transmitted from the in-vehicle terminal and contains identification information included in reference traffic information the in-vehicle terminal holds at the time when the in-vehicle terminal transmits the distribution request information;

a difference traffic information generation unit for generating difference traffic information between the traffic information stored in the storage device and having a same identification information as the identification information included in the reference traffic information contained in the received distribution request information and the traffic information which is to be distributed at the time when the difference traffic information is generated; and

a traffic information distribution unit for distributing the generated difference traffic information to the in-vehicle terminal.

11. The traffic information distribution apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a distribution mode setting unit for calculating a divergence degree between the traffic information stored in the storage device and having the same identification information as the identification information of the reference traffic information contained in the received distribution request information and the traffic information to be distributed, and setting a difference information distribution mode if the divergence degree is less than a predetermined value, and setting an entire information distribution mode if the divergence degree is larger than or equal to the predetermined value, wherein

the traffic information distribution unit;

distributes the difference traffic information generated by the difference traffic information generation unit when the difference information distribution mode is set by the distribution mode setting unit, and

distributes entire information of the traffic information to be distributed when the entire information distribution mode is set by the distribution mode setting unit.

12. The traffic information distribution apparatus of claim 11, wherein the identification information included in the traffic information is date-time information indicating a date and time the traffic information pertains to, and the traffic information distribution apparatus comprises:

a date-time information comparing unit for comparing the date-time information contained in the distribution request information received by the distribution request information reception unit with the date-time information included in latest traffic information among all the traffic information accumulated in the storage device, and wherein

the traffic information distribution unit sets the entire information distribution mode regardless of the divergence degree if a time interval of the two pieces of date-time information which are compared is larger than or equal to a predetermined time interval.

13. The traffic information distribution apparatus of claim 12, wherein the traffic information distribution apparatus:

takes a statistics of real-time traffic information acquired at a predetermined time interval by a date and a time zone, and

comprises a statistical traffic information accumulation unit for accumulating the statistics, and wherein

the distribution mode setting unit varies the predetermined time interval which is a reference time interval to be compared with the time interval of the two pieces of the date-time information depending on a traffic volume-time change rate of a date and a time zone indicated by the two pieces of the date-time information that is accumulated in the statistical traffic information accumulation unit.

14. The traffic information distribution apparatus of claim 10, wherein the traffic information accumulated in the traffic information accumulation unit is any one of real-time traffic information on roads in a predetermined area which has been acquired by the traffic information distribution apparatus, traffic statistic information generated by statistically processing the real-time traffic information or predicted traffic information generated by processing the statistical traffic information.

15. The traffic information distribution apparatus of claim 10, wherein the traffic information distribution apparatus configures the identification information included in the traffic information to include at least one of type information of the traffic information, the date-time information of the traffic information, and attribution information of a date and time the traffic information pertains to.

16. A traffic information distribution apparatus which distributes predicted traffic information regarding a road traffic situation individually to each of in-vehicle terminals equipped with vehicles, comprising:

a predicted traffic information accumulation unit for accumulating at least a group of a plurality of pieces of the predicted traffic information each of which pertains to a different time that belongs to a same time-line;

a distribution request information reception unit for receiving from the in-vehicle terminal distribution request information which requests the traffic information distribution apparatus to distribute the predicted traffic information;

a reference traffic information selection unit for selecting as reference traffic information one of the plurality of pieces of the predicted traffic information each of which pertains to a different time that belongs to the same time-line, when the received distribution request information contains a distribution request for requesting the plurality of pieces of the predicted traffic information each of which pertains to a different time that belongs to the same time-line;

a difference traffic information generation unit for generating difference traffic information between the reference traffic information and the predicted traffic information which is not selected as the reference traffic information;

a traffic information distribution unit for distributing entire information of the predicted traffic information selected as the reference traffic information and the difference traffic information of the predicted traffic information which is not selected as the reference traffic information.

17. A traffic information distribution apparatus which distributes real-time traffic information on a road traffic situation at once to in-vehicle terminals equipped with vehicles, comprising:

a real-time traffic information acquiring unit for acquiring the real-time traffic information at a predetermined interval;

a reference traffic information selection unit for selecting as reference traffic information the real-time traffic information acquired by the real-time traffic information acquiring unit at the predetermined interval once in a predetermined times the real-time traffic information is acquired;

a difference traffic information generation unit for generating difference traffic information between latest reference traffic information and the real-time traffic information which is not selected as the reference traffic information among the acquired real-time traffic information;

a traffic information distribution unit for distributing entire information of the real-time traffic information selected as the reference traffic information to the in-vehicle terminals, and distributing the difference traffic information between the latest reference traffic information and the real-time traffic information which is not selected as the reference traffic information to the in-vehicle terminals.

18. A traffic information distribution apparatus which distributes predicted traffic information regarding a road traffic situation at once to in-vehicle terminals equipped with vehicles, comprising:

a predicted traffic information accumulation unit for accumulating at least a group of a plurality of pieces of the predicted traffic information each piece of which pertains to a different time that belongs to a same time-line,

a reference traffic information selection unit for selecting one piece of the plurality of pieces of the predicted traffic information each piece of which pertains to the different time that belongs to the same time-line;

a difference traffic information generation unit for generating difference traffic information between the predicted traffic information which is not selected as the reference traffic information and the reference traffic information;

a traffic information distribution unit for distributing entire information of the predicted traffic information selected as the reference traffic information to the in-vehicle terminals and the difference traffic information between the reference traffic information and the predicted traffic information not selected as the reference traffic information to the in-vehicle terminals.

19. An in-vehicle terminal which is linked to a traffic information distribution apparatus for distributing traffic information, comprising:

a reference traffic information reception unit for receiving as reference traffic information entire information of the traffic information that the traffic information distribution apparatus acquires or generates and includes a predetermined identification information;

a traffic information storage unit for storing the received reference traffic information;

a distribution request information transmission unit for configuring a distribution request which requests the traffic information distribution apparatus to distribute the traffic information to include identification information of the reference traffic information stored in the traffic information storage unit, and transmitting the distribution request information;

a difference traffic information reception unit for receiving difference traffic information from the reference traffic information distributed from the traffic information distribution apparatus in response to the transmitted distribution request information;

a traffic information reproduction unit for reproducing the traffic information on the basis of the received difference traffic information and the reference traffic information stored in the traffic information storage unit.

20. The in-vehicle terminal of claim 19, further comprising a distribution mode specifying information setting unit for setting the distribution request information to include distribution mode specifying information which specifies a distribution mode used when the traffic information distribution unit distributes the traffic information.

21. The in-vehicle terminal of claim 20, further comprising a traffic information distribution cancel unit for canceling distribution of the traffic information when the in-vehicle terminal transmits the distribution request information containing the distribution mode specifying information to the traffic information distribution apparatus, and receives from the traffic information distribution apparatus a notification that the traffic information will be distributed in the distribution mode different from the distribution mode specified by the traffic information specifying information.