Traffic information distribution system and traffic information system, traffic information distribution program, and traffic information distribution method

• US 9,024,785 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2012
• Issued: 05/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Kubota, Tomoki, Sugiura, Hiroaki, Takahara, Masatoshi, Mochizuki, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US13/712,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20130162448A1
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 340901-905, 340/933, 340/935, 340/425.5, 340/436
• US Class Current: 340/905
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/056 with provision for distinguishing direction of travel
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/164 Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles

Abstract

Systems, methods, and programs distribute traffic information including information on a wrong-way vehicle traveling in a wrong-way direction opposite to a designated travel direction of a road. The systems, methods, and programs distributes the traffic information to the target vehicle, determine a reporting range of the wrong-way vehicle information based on a wrong-way vehicle position. When an end-point distance is equal to or larger than a predetermined reference distance, the systems, methods, and programs set a wrong-way section as the reporting range. When the end-point distance is less than the reference distance, the systems, methods, and programs set the wrong-way section and at least one road section which is adjacent to the wrong-way section as the reporting range. When the target vehicle is in the reporting range, the systems, methods, and programs send the traffic information including the wrong-way vehicle information to the target vehicle.

Claims

1. A traffic information distribution system that distributes, to a target vehicle, traffic information including information on a wrong-way vehicle traveling in a wrong-way direction opposite to a designated travel direction of a road, the system comprising:

a controller that;

distributes the traffic information to the target vehicle, the target vehicle being a different vehicle than the wrong-way vehicle;

determines a reporting range of the wrong-way vehicle information based on a wrong-way vehicle position, each section of the road being set between two adjacent branch points on the road, a wrong-way section being the road section in which the wrong-way vehicle is present;

when an end-point distance is equal to or larger than a predetermined reference distance, sets the wrong-way section as the reporting range, the end-point distance being a distance between an end point located on the wrong-way direction side of the wrong-way section and the wrong-way vehicle position;

when the end-point distance is less than the reference distance, sets the wrong-way section and at least one road section which is adjacent to the wrong-way section in the wrong-way direction as the reporting range; and

when the target vehicle is in the reporting range, sends the traffic information including the wrong-way vehicle information to the target vehicle.

2. The traffic information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein:

each of the road sections is set between two adjacent branch points on a traveling lane of a highway; and

each of the branch points is a branch point between the traveling lane and a connection road between the traveling lane and a highway facility including at least an interchange.

3. The traffic information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the controller:

receives, from the target vehicle, distribution request information requesting distribution of the traffic information;

receives information on a position where the target vehicle is present; and

when it is determined, based on the target vehicle position information, that the target vehicle is present in the reporting range, sends the wrong-way vehicle information to the target vehicle in response to the distribution request information.

4. A traffic information system, comprising:

the traffic information distribution system according to claim 1; and

a traffic information receiving system that is mounted on the target vehicle and receives the wrong-way vehicle information, the wrong-way vehicle information including information on the wrong-way vehicle position, the traffic information receiving system comprising a second controller that;

successively locates the position where the target vehicle is present;

updates the target vehicle position information; and

when it is determined based on the information on the wrong-way vehicle position and the target vehicle position information that the wrong-way vehicle position is located in a travel direction of the target vehicle, sends a caution for an occupant of the target vehicle based on the wrong-way vehicle information.

5. A traffic information system, comprising:

the traffic information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the controller sends the traffic information including both the wrong-way vehicle information and reporting range information indicating the reporting range of the wrong-way vehicle information; and

a traffic information receiving system comprising a second controller that;

successively locates the position where the target vehicle is present;

updates the target vehicle position information; and

when it is determined based on the target vehicle position information that the target vehicle is present in the reporting range, sends a caution for an occupant of the target vehicle based on the wrong-way vehicle information.

6. The traffic information system according to claim 5, wherein:

the controller sends the wrong-way vehicle information including information on the wrong-way vehicle position; and

when it is determined based on the information on the wrong-way vehicle position and the target vehicle position information that the wrong-way vehicle position is located in a travel direction of the target vehicle, the second controller sends the caution based on the wrong-way vehicle information.

7. A traffic information distribution method for distributing, to a target vehicle, traffic information including information on a wrong-way vehicle traveling in a wrong-way direction opposite to a designated travel direction of a road, the method comprising:

distributing the traffic information to the target vehicle, the target vehicle being a different vehicle than the wrong-way vehicle;

determining a reporting range of the wrong-way vehicle information based on a wrong-way vehicle position, each section of the road being set between two adjacent branch points on the road, a wrong-way section being the road section in which the wrong-way vehicle is present;

when an end-point distance is equal to or larger than a predetermined reference distance, setting the wrong-way section as the reporting range, the end-point distance being a distance between an end point located on the wrong-way direction side of the wrong-way section and the wrong-way vehicle position;

when the end-point distance is less than the reference distance, setting the wrong-way section and at least one road section which is adjacent to the wrong-way section in the wrong-way direction as the reporting range; and

when the target vehicle is in the reporting range, sending the traffic information including the wrong-way vehicle information to the target vehicle.

8. The traffic information distribution method according to claim 7, wherein:

each of the road sections is set between two adjacent branch points on a traveling lane of a highway; and

each of the branch points is a branch point between the traveling lane and a connection road between the traveling lane and a highway facility including at least an interchange.

9. The traffic information distribution method according to claim 7, further comprising:

receiving, from the target vehicle, distribution request information requesting distribution of the traffic information;

receiving information on a position where the target vehicle is present; and

when it is determined, based on the target vehicle position information, that the target vehicle is present in the reporting range, sending the wrong-way vehicle information to the target vehicle in response to the distribution request information.

10. The traffic information distribution method according to claim 7, wherein:

the wrong-way vehicle information includes information on the wrong-way vehicle position; and

the method further comprises;

successively locating the position where the target vehicle is present;

updating the target vehicle position information; and

when it is determined based on the information on the wrong-way vehicle position and the target vehicle position information that the wrong-way vehicle position is located in a travel direction of the target vehicle, sending a caution for an occupant of the target vehicle based on the wrong-way vehicle information.

11. The traffic information distribution method according to claim 7, further comprising:

sending the traffic information including both the wrong-way vehicle information and reporting range information indicating the reporting range of the wrong-way vehicle information;

successively locating the position where the target vehicle is present;

updating the target vehicle position information; and

when it is determined based on the target vehicle position information that the target vehicle is present in the reporting range, sending a caution for an occupant of the target vehicle based on the wrong-way vehicle information.

12. The traffic information system according to claim 11, further comprising

sending the wrong-way vehicle information including information on the wrong-way vehicle position;

and

when it is determined based on the information on the wrong-way vehicle position and the target vehicle position information that the wrong-way vehicle position is located in a travel direction of the target vehicle, sending the caution based on the wrong-way vehicle information.

13. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer-executable traffic information distribution program usable to distribute, to a target vehicle, traffic information including information on a wrong-way vehicle traveling in a wrong-way direction opposite to a designated travel direction of a road, the program comprising:

instructions for distributing the traffic information to the target vehicle, the target vehicle being a different vehicle than the wrong-way vehicle;

instructions for determining a reporting range of the wrong-way vehicle information based on a wrong-way vehicle position, each section of the road being set between two adjacent branch points on the road, a wrong-way section being the road section in which the wrong-way vehicle is present;

instructions for, when an end-point distance is equal to or larger than a predetermined reference distance, setting the wrong-way section as the reporting range, the end-point distance being a distance between an end point located on the wrong-way direction side of the wrong-way section and the wrong-way vehicle position;

instructions for, when the end-point distance is less than the reference distance, setting the wrong-way section and at least one road section which is adjacent to the wrong-way section in the wrong-way direction as the reporting range; and

instructions for, when the target vehicle is in the reporting range, sending the traffic information including the wrong-way vehicle information to the target vehicle.