JP2008002967A - Driving support system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a driving support system which is convenient and enables a driver to know whether or not his/her vehicle can pass through a travel path in which a parked vehicle exists. <P>SOLUTION: A motor vehicle 1 detects the parked vehicle ahead, acquires a vehicle profile of the parked vehicle, computes latitude and longitude values of the parked vehicle and transmits them as probe data to the driving support server 6. The driving support server 6 stores the probe data, computes a travelable area in consideration of the parked vehicle by using the probe data and transmits information of the travelable area to the motor vehicle 1. The motor vehicle updates a guidance travel route based on the information of the travelable area transmitted from the driving support server 6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an automobile driving support system.

  In recent years, navigation devices that are incorporated in automobiles and serve as driving support systems are rapidly spreading (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In addition, a lot of specific cars are regarded as probes for traffic observation, and information such as actual location information, traffic behavior, and vehicle behavior is collected on a server, which is used for traffic information processing including accurate traffic jam prediction. A traffic information system configured as described above is also known, and a technique for performing more practical route guidance and the like by fusing them with a navigation device has been developed a lot (see, for example, Patent Document 2). ).

JP 2003-90732 A JP 2003-44988 A

  By the way, for example, when a parked vehicle is located in front of the currently running road, there is a problem that the driver cannot know whether the parked vehicle can be safely passed or not, which is inconvenient. It was.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a convenient driving support system in which a driver can know whether or not the own vehicle can pass through a traveling road where a parked vehicle exists.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, a driving support system including an automobile and a server device capable of communicating with the automobile is provided. The automobile includes a detection unit that detects a parked vehicle ahead, an acquisition unit that acquires a vehicle profile of the detected parked vehicle, a calculation unit that calculates latitude and longitude of the parked vehicle, and the acquired vehicle First transmission means for transmitting probe data including the profile and the calculated latitude / longitude information to the server device. The server device includes a probe database that accumulates the probe data transmitted from the automobile, a passable area calculating unit that calculates a passable area in consideration of a parked vehicle using the probe database, and the calculated pass And second transmission means for transmitting information on possible areas to the vehicle. In addition, the automobile further includes an updating unit that updates the guide travel route based on the information on the passable area transmitted from the server device.

  According to such a configuration, it is possible to determine whether or not an automobile can pass through a traveling road where a parked vehicle is present.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the acquisition unit acquires the vehicle profile by performing a character recognition process on the license plate of the parked vehicle detected by the detection unit.

  In a preferred embodiment, the width of the parked vehicle is predicted based on the result of the character recognition process.

  According to such a structure, information, such as the vehicle width of a parked vehicle, can be obtained efficiently.

  As another embodiment, the acquisition unit can acquire the vehicle profile by inter-vehicle communication with the parked vehicle detected by the detection unit.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the server device calculates the margin width of the travel path when the automobile passes by the parked vehicle and the calculated margin width information. Means for transmitting to the automobile, and the automobile further comprises means for determining whether or not the vehicle can pass beside the parked vehicle based on the margin width information transmitted from the server device. It is preferable.

  According to such a configuration, it is possible to efficiently determine whether or not an automobile can pass through a traveling road where a parked vehicle is present.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the convenient driving assistance system which a driver | operator can know whether the own vehicle can pass with respect to the travel path where the parked vehicle exists is provided.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited to the following embodiment, It shows only the specific example advantageous for implementation of this invention. In addition, not all combinations of features described in the following embodiments are essential as the problem solving means of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a driving support system according to the present embodiment.

  The automobile 1 is a vehicle that can receive the driving assistance service provided by the driving assistance system, and is configured to receive a signal from the GPS satellite 3 arranged in outer space and measure the absolute position. At the same time, it is accommodated in the mobile communication network 4 so that mobile radio access can be performed. Furthermore, the automobile 1 can perform inter-vehicle communication with the automobile 2 located in the vicinity thereof. The vehicle-to-vehicle communication in the present embodiment is performed by, for example, narrow-range communication (DSRC: Dedicated Short Range Communication).

  The mobile communication network 4 is configured by, for example, a third generation mobile communication system, and in this embodiment, a W-CDMA (Wide Band-Code Division Multiple Access) system that accommodates carriers of a plurality of different frequencies is applied. To do.

  BS 5 is a base station accommodated in the mobile communication network 4. The automobile 1 is equipped with an in-vehicle device 101 as a mobile station (MS) and is currently located in the service area 51 of the base station 5. The in-vehicle device 101 includes a mobile communication antenna 109 for communicating with the base station 5. Although only one base station is shown in FIG. 1, the mobile communication network 3 can usually accommodate a large number of base stations. Here, for simplicity, one base station 5 is used. Note that only is shown. It should be noted that there can be many cars as mobile stations. That is, the automobile 2 can also be a mobile station by having the same configuration as the automobile 1.

  The automobile 1 functions as a probe car with the configuration described later. The probe data collected in the automobile 1 is sequentially transmitted to the driving support server 6 via the mobile communication network 4. The driving support server 6 collects probe data transmitted from a large number of probe cars typified by the automobile 1, and feeds back driving assistance information useful to each probe car based on the collected results.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the in-vehicle device 101 mounted on the automobile 1.

  As shown in the figure, the in-vehicle device 101 includes a CPU 102 that controls the entire in-vehicle device, a RAM 103 that functions as a main memory and provides a work area for the CPU 102, and a ROM 104 that stores fixed programs such as a boot program and data. First, the following configuration is provided.

  Reference numeral 105 denotes a forward monitoring sensor. The front monitoring sensor 105 includes a pair of left and right CCD cameras 105a and 105b directed to the front of the vehicle, thereby forming a stereo camera system. Note that a CMOS camera or an infrared camera can be used instead of the CCD camera. According to this stereo camera system, other vehicles located in front of the vehicle can be recognized using a known stereo image recognition technique. It is also possible to calculate the traveling speed of the other vehicle based on the difference between the frame images obtained by the stereo camera system and the frame rate, so that the other vehicle is a parked vehicle, or It is possible to determine whether the vehicle is just a preceding vehicle. The front monitoring sensor 105 further includes a millimeter wave radar 105c attached to a front bumper or the like in order to enhance the object detection performance in the vehicle front area. A laser radar sensor or the like may be used instead of the millimeter wave radar.

  Reference numeral 106 denotes a DSRC unit for performing inter-vehicle communication by DSRC with a nearby vehicle (for example, the automobile 2). This communication is performed through the DSRC antenna 107 by, for example, narrow area communication as described above.

  Reference numeral 108 denotes a W-CDMA wireless unit, which wirelessly transmits / receives data to / from the base station 5 via the mobile communication antenna 109 using the W-CDMA system.

  Reference numeral 110 denotes a GPS receiver that receives a signal from the GPS satellite 3 via the GPS antenna 111 and performs demodulation processing. 112 is a vehicle speed sensor for detecting the vehicle speed, and 113 is a gyro for detecting the traveling direction and inclination of the vehicle.

  Reference numeral 114 denotes a speaker that outputs navigation sound and the like. Reference numeral 115 denotes a video memory (VRAM) that expands image data to be displayed, and the image can be displayed on the display 116 by expanding the image data or the like here. Reference numeral 117 denotes an operation unit. Note that the operation unit 117 may be configured as a touch panel disposed on the display 116. Furthermore, it is good also as a structure containing the remote controller for operating the vehicle equipment 101 remotely.

  Reference numeral 118 denotes a hard disk drive (HDD), as shown in the figure, including an OS 119, a navigation program 120 for realizing car navigation, and a probe processing program 121 for realizing probe processing to be described later. A map database (DB) 122 for storing map data used in car navigation is installed.

  The ROM 104 stores an in-vehicle device ID 104a that is given a unique value for each in-vehicle device in order to identify the in-vehicle device.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the driving support server 6.

  As shown in the figure, the driving support server 6 includes a CPU 601 that controls the entire server, a RAM 602 that functions as a main memory and provides a work area for the CPU 601, and a ROM 603 that stores fixed programs such as a boot program and data. First, the following configuration is provided.

  Reference numeral 604 denotes a W-CDMA wireless unit that performs wireless transmission / reception of data in the mobile communication network 4 via the communication antenna 605.

  A hard disk drive (HDD) 606 includes an OS 607, a driving support program 608 for realizing a driving support service, a probe database 609 for storing probe data from a probe car including the automobile 1, as shown in the figure. A travelable map database 610 indicating a travelable map is installed.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the driving support system in the present embodiment. In the figure, the flow in the left column shows the operation of the in-vehicle device 101, and the flow in the right column shows the operation of the driving support server 6. This operation is continuously performed at any time during the execution of the navigation program 120 and the probe processing program 121 and is executed by the CPU 102.

  First, images from the CCD cameras 105a and 105b are read (step S1), and a parked vehicle is detected based on the images (step S2). For example, a parked vehicle is detected by performing stereo image recognition on the image read in step S1.

  When a parked vehicle is detected (step S3, YES), an image of the parked vehicle is read (step S4), and a license plate is cut out therefrom (step S5). Then, character recognition processing is performed on the extracted license plate image (step S6). The license plate generally includes the name of the Land Transport Bureau, vehicle type classification, hiragana, and serial number, so that this information is read. Thereby, the profile of the vehicle recognized as a parked vehicle can be specified. For example, it is possible to predict the approximate vehicle width of the vehicle from the value of the vehicle type classification.

  Next, the latitude / longitude of the parked vehicle is calculated based on the GPS data received by the GPS receiver 110, the detection value of the vehicle speed sensor 112, and the like (step S7). Thereafter, probe data including an in-vehicle device ID (for example, in-vehicle device ID 104a), a time stamp, the latitude / longitude obtained in step S7, and the license plate information obtained in step S6 is created, and this is stored in the driving support server 6. Transmit (step S8).

  When the driving support server 6 receives the probe data, it adds the received probe data to the probe DB 609. FIG. 5 shows an example of the probe DB 609. As described above, since there can be a large number of probe cars as well as the automobile 1, probe data transmitted from each probe car as needed is accumulated in the probe DB 609.

  Next, the driving support server 6 detects a parked vehicle located in front of the automobile 1 (step S10). Note that the processing here is different from the detection processing in step S2 in the automobile 1. In step S2, since the detection is based on image recognition for a stereo image obtained in a short period, it is unclear whether the vehicle detected there is actually parked. On the other hand, in step S10, it is determined whether the vehicle is a parked vehicle from a long-term viewpoint based on the probe DB 609 that accumulates probe data collected from a large number of probe cars. For example, in a case where a predetermined number or more of probe data having the same license plate information and latitude / longitude are stored in the probe DB within a predetermined period (for example, the past 5 minutes for the time stamp of probe data), It can be determined that the vehicle is clearly parked.

  Thus, according to this system, the driving support server 6 can detect a parked vehicle with high accuracy based on the probe data collected from each probe car, and each probe car uses this result. Is possible.

  Next, a passable area is calculated in consideration of the detected parked vehicle (step S11). For example, the following processing is conceptually performed. First, a latitude / longitude map of the parked vehicle detected in step S10 is extracted from the travelable map DB 610, and the parked vehicle and the road are overlapped (see (a) of FIG. 6). Thereafter, the area on the right side from the center line of the road is set as an inaccessible area K1, and the area around the parked vehicle is set as an inaccessible area K2 (see FIG. 6B). The size of K2 may be determined according to the size of the parked vehicle. The size of the parked vehicle can be generally specified from the vehicle type classification of the license plate information recorded in the probe DB 609. Then, the area excluding the inaccessible areas K1 and K2 is defined as the passable area K3 (see (c) of FIG. 6).

  Then, the driving support server 6 transmits the data of the passable area K3 to the automobile 1 (step S12). At this time, for example, a margin width D when passing the side of the parked vehicle is also calculated, and this information may be transmitted to the automobile 1 together.

  When the in-vehicle device 101 of the automobile 1 receives the data of the accessible area from the driving support server 6 (step S13), the on-vehicle apparatus 101 replaces the accessible area based on the map DB 122 with the received accessible area K3 and calculates the travel route R1. (Step S14, see FIG. 6C). Then, the route guidance displayed on the display 116 is updated with the calculated travel route R1 (step S15). At this time, it is preferable to display a message such as “There is a parked vehicle ahead. Pay attention to the driving lane” on the display 116 and / or output a voice from the speaker 114.

  In step S13, when information on the margin width D is also received, the value is compared with the vehicle width of the automobile 1 (for example, stored in advance as a vehicle profile in the ROM 104), and the side of the parked vehicle is compared. Also evaluate whether it can pass. As a result of the evaluation, when it is determined that the automobile 1 cannot pass beside the parked vehicle, the travel route is recalculated by excluding the travel path beside the parked vehicle. At this time, it is preferable to display a message such as “There is a parked vehicle ahead and there is no room to pass next to it. Reroute will start” on the display 116 and / or audio output from the speaker 114. .

(Modification)
In the above-described embodiment, the vehicle profile of the parked vehicle is obtained by the character recognition of the license plate. However, the vehicle profile can be obtained by other means. For example, if a parked vehicle (for example, the car 2 in FIG. 1) can communicate with the car 1 by DSRC, the car 1 uses the DSRC unit 106 to establish DSRC communication and thereby obtain a vehicle profile. You may make it do.

  In the above-described embodiment, the calculation of the passable area in step S11 is performed by the driving support server 6, but step S11 may be configured by the automobile 1.

It is a figure showing the whole driving support system composition concerning an embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the vehicle equipment in embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the driving assistance server in embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the driving assistance system in embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a data structure of probe DB in embodiment. It is a figure which illustrates notionally the travel route calculation process in consideration of the parked vehicle in embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1: Car 3: GPS satellite 4: Mobile communication network 5: Base station 6: Driving support server

Claims (5)

A driving support system including an automobile and a server device capable of communicating with the automobile,
The car is
Detection means for detecting a parked vehicle ahead;
Acquisition means for acquiring a vehicle profile of the detected parked vehicle;
Calculating means for calculating the latitude and longitude of the parked vehicle;
First transmission means for transmitting probe data including the acquired vehicle profile and calculated latitude / longitude information to the server device;
The server device
A probe database for accumulating the probe data transmitted from the automobile;
A traffic area calculating means for calculating a traffic area in consideration of a parked vehicle using the probe database;
Second transmission means for transmitting the calculated information of the accessible area to the vehicle,
The car further includes
A driving support system comprising updating means for updating a guide travel route based on information on the accessible area transmitted from the server device.   The driving support system according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition unit acquires the vehicle profile by performing a character recognition process on the license plate of the parked vehicle detected by the detection unit.   The driving assistance system according to claim 2, wherein a vehicle width of the parked vehicle is predicted based on a result of the character recognition process.   The driving support system according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition unit acquires the vehicle profile through inter-vehicle communication with the parked vehicle detected by the detection unit. The server device
Means for calculating a margin of a travel path when the automobile passes by the parked vehicle;
Means for transmitting the calculated margin width information to the vehicle;
The car is
5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a unit that determines whether or not the vehicle can pass beside the parked vehicle based on the margin width information transmitted from the server device. Driving support system.