Traffic information system

• US 5,699,056 A
• Filed: 12/28/1995
• Issued: 12/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Omron Automotive Electronics Company Limited (Nidec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Yoshida, Masato
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US08/580,192
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 340/905, 340/995, 364/436, 364/437, 364/438
• US Class Current: 340/905
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9316 combined with communication equipment with other vehicles or with base stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9322 using additional data, e.g. driver condition, road state or weather data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93275 in the bumper area
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9329 cooperating with reflectors or transponders
• 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 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

Disclosed is a traffic information system high in the ability to collect information. An on-vehicle apparatus is carried on a vehicle, to collect traffic information such as traffic jam information, accident information and weather information. The on-vehicle apparatus comprises a car navigation system, where position information is sensed, and information relating to a traffic jam, an accident and weather are manually entered or are automatically sensed. The on-vehicle apparatus further comprises a laser radar, where the number of vehicles, the speeds of vehicles, and the shapes of vehicles are sensed, and traffic jam information and accident information are created based thereon. Various information collected by the vehicle are transmitted to a center via a repeater. Information processed by the center are transmitted to vehicles again.

Claims

1. A traffic information system comprising:

an individual information collecting apparatus, which is to be used on a vehicle, for collecting individual information including information relating to traffic; and

a center apparatus for creating synthesis information relating to a region within a predetermined range on the basis of the individual information transmitted from said individual information collecting apparatus,

wherein said individual information collecting apparatus comprises;

position sensing means for measuring at least a position to produce position data,

manual information entering means for manually entering environmental information to be transmitted to said center apparatus, said environmental information representing environmental circumstances,

a first transmitter for transmitting a signal representing individual information including the position data produced by said position sensing means and the environmental information entered by said manual information entering means,

a first receiver for receiving a signal representing the synthesis information transmitted from said center apparatus, and

a reporting device for reporting the synthesis information received by said first receiver, and

wherein said center apparatus comprises;

a second receiver for receiving the signal representing the individual information transmitted from said first transmitter in said individual information collecting apparatus,

information processing means for creating the synthesis information relating to said region within said predetermined range on the basis of said individual information received by said second receiver, and

second transmitting means for transmitting a signal representing the synthesis information created by said information processing means to said individual information collecting apparatus.

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

said individual information collecting apparatus comprises clocking means for measuring time,

time data obtained by said clocking means being included in the individual information transmitted by said first transmitter.

3. The traffic information system according to claim 2, wherein

said individual information collecting apparatus further comprises a storage device for storing an identification code of one of said individual information collecting apparatus and the vehicle carrying the individual information collecting apparatus,

said first transmitter in said individual information collecting apparatus transmits at least the position data, the time data and the identification code at least twice at a predetermined time interval, and transmits, in response to entry of the environmental information from said manual information entering means, the entered information and at least the identification code, and

said information processing means in said center apparatus judges the traveling direction of the vehicle carrying said individual information collecting apparatus on the basis of the position data, the time data and the identification code which are received at least twice.

4. The traffic information system according to claim 1, wherein

information relating to at least one of an accident, a traffic jam and weather is entered by said manual information entering means in said individual information collecting apparatus.

39. The traffic information system according to claim 1, further comprising

a repeater for repeating communication between said individual information collecting apparatus and said center apparatus.

47. The traffic information system according to claim 1, wherein

said first receiver and said reporting device are provided in a large-sized reporting apparatus installed in the vicinity of the road instead of being provided in said individual information collecting apparatus, and

said second transmitting means transmits said synthesis information to said large-sized reporting apparatus.

51. The traffic information system according to claim 3, wherein

said center apparatus further comprises

means for storing for each identification code the number of times of receiving of said individual information transmitted from said individual information collecting apparatus having the identification code, and

means for outputting data relating to the identification code corresponding to the number of times of receiving which reached a predetermined value.

5. An information collecting apparatus, used in a traffic information system comprising said information collecting apparatus, which is to be used on a vehicle, for collecting individual information including information relating to traffic and a center apparatus for creating synthesis information relating to a region within a predetermined range on the basis of the individual information transmitted from said information collecting apparatus, said information collecting apparatus comprising:

position sensing means for measuring at least a position to produce position data;

manual information entering means for manually entering environmental information to be transmitted to said center apparatus, said environmental information representing environmental circumstances; and

a first transmitter for transmitting a signal representing individual information including the position data produced by said position sensing means, an identification code relating to said information collecting apparatus, and the environmental information entered by said manual information entering means.

6. The information collecting apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising clocking means for measuring time,

time data obtained by said clocking means being included in the individual information transmitted by said first transmitter.

7. The information collecting apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising

a first receiver for receiving a signal representing synthesis information transmitted from said center apparatus, and

a reporting device for reporting the synthesis information received by said first receiver.

8. The information collecting apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a car navigation system,

the car navigation system comprising at least said position sensing means and said manual information entering means.

43. A vehicle carrying the information collecting apparatus according to claim 5.

9. A traffic information system comprising an individual information collecting apparatus, which is to be used on a vehicle, for collecting individual information relating to the travel of the vehicle and a center apparatus for creating traffic information in a region within a predetermined range on the basis of the individual information transmitted from said individual information collecting apparatus, wherein

said individual information collecting apparatus comprises

position sensing means for measuring at least a position to produce position data,

a storage device for storing an identification code of said individual information collecting apparatus or the vehicle carrying the individual information collecting apparatus,

a first transmitter for transmitting individual information including the position data produced by said position sensing means and the identification code stored in said storage device at least twice at a predetermined time interval,

a first receiver for receiving the traffic information transmitted from said center apparatus, and

a reporting device for reporting the traffic information received by said first receiver, and

said center apparatus comprises

a second receiver for receiving the individual information transmitted from said first transmitter in said individual information collecting apparatus,

information processing means for creating the traffic information in a region within a predetermined range on the basis of the individual information received at least twice by said second receiver, and

second transmitting means for transmitting the traffic information created by said information processing means to said individual information collecting apparatus.

10. The traffic information system according to claim 9, wherein

said individual information collecting apparatus comprises clocking means for measuring time,

time data obtained by said clocking means being included in said individual information transmitted by said first transmitter.

11. The traffic information system according to claim 9, wherein

the traffic information created by said information processing means in said center apparatus is traffic jam information.

12. The traffic information system according to claim 11, wherein

said traffic jam information includes the presence or absence of a traffic jam and the degree thereof.

13. The traffic information system according to claim 9, wherein

said individual information collecting apparatus comprises vehicle speed sensing means for sensing the traveling speed of the vehicle carrying the individual information collecting apparatus, and

said first transmitter transmits data representing the traveling speed sensed by said vehicle speed sensing means to said center apparatus.

40. The traffic information system according to claim 9, further comprising

a repeater for repeating communication between said individual information collecting apparatus and said center apparatus.

48. The traffic information system according to claim 9, wherein

said first receiver and said reporting device are provided in a large-sized reporting apparatus installed in the vicinity of the road instead of being provided in said individual information collecting apparatus, and

said second transmitting means transmits said synthesis information to said large-sized reporting apparatus.

52. The traffic information system according to claim 9, wherein

said center apparatus further comprises

means for storing for each identification code the number of times of receiving of said individual information transmitted from said individual information collecting apparatus having the identification code, and

means for outputting data relating to the identification code corresponding to the number of times of receiving which reached a predetermined value.

14. An information collecting apparatus, used in a traffic information system comprising said information collecting apparatus, which is to be used on a vehicle, for collecting individual information relating to the travel of the vehicle and a center apparatus for creating traffic information in a region within a predetermined range on the basis of the individual information transmitted from said information collecting apparatus, comprising:

position sensing means for measuring at least a position to produce position data;

a storage device for storing an identification code of said information collecting apparatus or the vehicle carrying the information collecting apparatus; and

a first transmitter for transmitting individual information including the position data produced by said position sensing means and the identification code stored in said storage device at least twice at a predetermined time interval.

15. The information collecting apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising clocking means for measuring time,

time data obtained by said clocking means being included in the individual information transmitted by said first transmitter.

16. The information collecting apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising

a first receiver for receiving the traffic information transmitted from said center apparatus, and

a reporting device for reporting the traffic information received by said first receiver.

44. A vehicle carrying the information collecting apparatus according to claim 14.

17. A traffic information system comprising an individual information collecting apparatus, which is to be used on a vehicle, for collecting individual information including information relating to traffic and a center apparatus for creating synthesis information relating to a region within a predetermined range on the basis of the individual information transmitted from said individual information collecting apparatus, wherein

said individual information collecting apparatus comprises

position sensing means for measuring at least a position to produce position data,

a radar for projecting an electromagnetic wave into a predetermined range, receiving its reflected wave, and creating environmental information representing environmental circumstances of said vehicle on the basis of a received wave signal,

a first transmitter for transmitting individual information including the position data produced by said position sensing means and the environmental information created by said radar,

a first receiver for receiving the synthesis information transmitted from said center apparatus, and

a reporting device for reporting the synthesis information received by said first receiver, and

said center apparatus comprises

a second receiver for receiving said individual information transmitted from said first transmitter in said individual information collecting apparatus,

information processing means for creating the synthesis information relating to a region within a predetermined range on the basis of said individual information received by said second receiver, and

second transmitting means for transmitting the synthesis information created by said information processing means to said individual information collecting apparatus.

18. The traffic information system according to claim 17, wherein

said individual information collecting apparatus comprises clocking means for measuring time,

time data obtained by said clocking means being included in the individual information transmitted by said first transmitter.

19. The traffic information system according to claim 17, wherein

the environmental information created by said radar is at least one of the position, the shape, the direction of movement, and the speed of an object to be sensed existing in the vicinity of said vehicle, the number of vehicles, the distance between vehicles, and the shape of a road.

20. The traffic information system according to claim 17, wherein

said individual information collecting apparatus further comprises traffic information creating means for creating traffic information on the basis of the environmental information created by said radar, and

said first transmitter transmits the traffic information created by said traffic information creating means to said center apparatus.

21. The traffic information system according to claim 17, wherein

said individual information collecting apparatus further comprises vehicle speed sensing means for sensing the speed of said vehicle.

41. The traffic information system according to claim 17, further comprising

a repeater for repeating communication between said individual information collecting apparatus and said center apparatus.

49. The traffic information system according to claim 17, wherein

said first receiver and said reporting device are provided in a large-sized reporting apparatus installed in the vicinity of the road instead of being provided in said individual information collecting apparatus, and

said second transmitting means transmits said synthesis information to said large-sized reporting apparatus.

53. The traffic information system according to claim 17, wherein

said center apparatus further comprises

means for storing for each identification code the number of times of receiving of said individual information transmitted from said individual information collecting apparatus having the identification code, and

means for outputting data relating to the identification code corresponding to the number of times of receiving which reached a predetermined value.

22. An information collecting apparatus, used in a traffic information system comprising said information collecting apparatus, which is to be used on a vehicle, for collecting individual information including information relating to traffic and a center apparatus for creating synthesis information relating to a region within a predetermined range on the basis of the individual information transmitted from said information collecting apparatus, comprising:

position sensing means for measuring at least a position to produce position data;

a radar for projecting an electromagnetic wave into a predetermined range, receiving its reflected wave, and creating environmental information representing environmental circumstances of said vehicle on the basis of a received wave signal; and

a first transmitter for transmitting individual information including the position data produced by said position sensing means and the environmental information created by said radar.

23. The information collecting apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising clocking means for measuring time,

time data obtained by said clocking means being included in the individual information transmitted by said first transmitter.

24. The information collecting apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising

a first receiver for receiving the synthesis information transmitted from said center apparatus, and

a reporting device for reporting the synthesis information received by said first receiver.

25. The information collecting apparatus according to claim 22, wherein

the environmental information created by said radar is at least one of the position, the shape, the direction of movement, and the speed of an object to be sensed existing in the vicinity of said vehicle, the number of vehicles, the distance between vehicles, and the shape of a road.

26. The information collecting apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising traffic information creating means for creating traffic information on the basis of the environmental information created by said radar,

said first transmitter transmitting the traffic information created by said traffic information creating means to said center apparatus.

27. The information collecting apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising

vehicle speed sensing means for sensing the speed of said vehicle.

45. A vehicle carrying the information collecting apparatus according to claim 22.

28. A traffic information system comprising an individual information collecting apparatus, which is to be used on a vehicle, for collecting individual information, including information relating to traffic, and a center apparatus for creating synthesis information relating to a region within a predetermined range on the basis of the individual information transmitted from said individual information collecting apparatus, wherein said individual information collecting apparatus comprises:

position sensing means for measuring at least a position to produce position data,

a sensor for sensing information representing natural environmental circumstances, including one of a road surface circumstance and a weather circumstance, based on a physical amount sensed from outside said vehicle,

a first transmitter for transmitting individual information including the position data produced by said position sensing means and the information sensed by said sensor,

a first receiver for receiving the synthesis information transmitted from said center apparatus, and

a reporting device for reporting the synthesis information received by said first receiver, and wherein

said center apparatus comprises;

a second receiver for receiving said individual information transmitted from said first transmitter in said individual information collecting apparatus,

information processing means for creating the synthesis information relating to said region within said predetermined range on the basis of said individual information received by said second receiver, and

second transmitting means for transmitting the synthesis information created by said information processing means to said individual information collecting apparatus.

29. The traffic information system according to claim 28, wherein

said individual information collecting apparatus comprises clocking means,

time data obtained by said clocking means being included in said individual information transmitted by said first transmitter.

30. The traffic information system according to claim 28, wherein

said sensor is at least one of a sensor for sensing traffic information and a sensor for sensing weather information.

31. The traffic information system according to claim 28, wherein

said sensor is at least one of a sensor for sensing accident information, a sensor for sensing traffic jam information, and a sensor for sensing weather information.

32. The traffic information system according to claim 28, wherein

said sensor is at least one of a laser radar, a road surface condition discriminator and a rainfall sensor.

42. The traffic information system according to claim 28, further comprising

a repeater for repeating communication between said individual information collecting apparatus and said center apparatus.

50. The traffic information system according to claims 28, wherein

said first receiver and said reporting device are provided in a large-sized reporting apparatus installed in the vicinity of the road instead of being provided in said individual information collecting apparatus, and

said second transmitting means transmits said synthesis information to said large-sized reporting apparatus.

54. The traffic information system according to claim 28, wherein

said center apparatus further comprises

means for storing for each identification code the number of times of receiving of said individual information transmitted from said individual information collecting apparatus having the identification code, and

means for outputting data relating to the identification code corresponding to the number of times of receiving which reached a predetermined value.

33. An information collecting apparatus, used in a traffic information system comprising said information collecting apparatus, which is to be used on a vehicle, for collecting individual information, including information relating to traffic, and a center apparatus for creating synthesis information relating to a region within a predetermined range on the basis of the individual information transmitted from said information collecting apparatus, said information collecting apparatus comprising:

position sensing means for measuring at least a position to produce position data;

a sensor for sensing information representing natural environmental circumstances, including one of a road surface circumstance and a weather circumstance, based on a physical amount sensed from outside the vehicle; and

a first transmitter for transmitting individual information including the position data produced by said position sensing means, an identification code relating to said information collecting apparatus, and the information sensed by said sensor.

34. The information collecting apparatus according to claim 33, further comprising clocking means for measuring time,

time data obtained by said clocking means being included in the individual information transmitted by said first transmitter.

35. The information collecting apparatus according to claim 33, further comprising

a first receiver for receiving the synthesis information transmitted from said center apparatus, and

a reporting device for reporting the synthesis information received by said first receiver.

36. The information collecting apparatus according to claim 33, wherein

said sensor is at least one of a sensor for sensing traffic information and a sensor for sensing weather information.

37. The information collecting apparatus according to claim 33, wherein

said sensor is at least one of a sensor for sensing accident information, a sensor for sensing traffic jam information and a sensor for sensing weather information.

38. The information collecting apparatus according to claim 33, wherein

said sensor is at least one of a laser radar, a road surface condition discriminator and a rainfall sensor.

46. A vehicle carrying the information collecting apparatus according to claim 33.

55. A traffic information system comprising an individual information collecting apparatus, which is to be used on a vehicle, for collecting and transmitting individual information relating to traffic including an identification code of the vehicle carrying the individual information collecting apparatus and a center apparatus for creating synthesis information on the basis of the individual information transmitted from said individual information collecting apparatus, wherein

said center apparatus comprises

means for storing for each identification code the number of times of receiving of said individual information transmitted from said individual information collecting apparatus having the identification code, and

means for outputting data relating to the identification code corresponding to the number of times of receiving which reached a predetermined value.

56. A method for collecting and synthesizing traffic information, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an individual information collecting apparatus, suitable for use on a vehicle;

(b) storing an identification code corresponding to said individual information collecting apparatus;

(c) manually entering environmental information into said individual information collection apparatus;

(d) transmitting information, including environmental information and said identification code, to a center apparatus;

(e) creating traffic information, using said center apparatus, on the basis of the transmitted information; and

(f) transmitting the traffic information to said individual information collecting apparatus for reporting the traffic information.