JP2001143110A - Toll collection system, toll collection method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To disperse traffic flow to each lane at a tollgate on a toll road. A host computer of the toll collection system collects data of processing results from a plurality of lanes (lanes) installed at a tollgate, and calculates traffic volume and ET at the tollgate.
Calculate the C utilization rate, determine the operating mode of each lane from ETC dedicated, mixed, conventional, and closed based on the calculation result, and keep the equipment of each system provided in each lane usable. Meanwhile, the display of the operation mode of each lane and the actual operation mode are automatically switched.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toll collection system and a toll collection method introduced, for example, on toll roads.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a plurality of lanes (lanes) are installed at entrances of tollgates on toll roads such as expressways.
For example, a vehicle type discriminating device and an automatic ticket issuing machine are installed in each entrance lane of a tollgate, and the vehicle type discriminating device automatically determines the vehicle type of a vehicle entering each lane, and the vehicle type, tollgate number, and approach. The automatic ticket issuance machine automatically issues a toll ticket that records the entrance, month, day, and hour, and the toll gate entrance is unmanned.

On the other hand, in recent years, a system (Electronic T) for paying tolls on toll roads using wireless communication has been proposed.
oll Collection System (ETC system) is being considered.

In this ETC system, an on-board unit having a wireless function mounted with an IC card for storing information of an individual user and an entrance and exit is mounted on a vehicle, and an on-board unit is installed in each of the entrance lanes of a tollgate on a toll road. Roadside devices that exchange information by wireless communication (first vehicle detection device, second vehicle detection device, roadside antenna, circuit breaker, lane control device that controls these devices, etc.)
Are arranged.

[0005] The lane control device wirelessly transmits a data request from a roadside antenna to a vehicle-mounted device mounted on a vehicle when the first vehicle detection device installed on the lane detects that the vehicle has passed. The OBE responds to the received data request
Transmits personal information, entrance information, etc. held internally.

[0006] When the lane controller receives the information from the vehicle-mounted device, it writes the entrance information at the entrance, calculates the toll at the exit, and requests the host computer to withdraw the account. When the vehicle passes through the second vehicle detection device, the lane control device transmits write data such as exit information to the vehicle-mounted device. In this manner, the ETC system enables unmanned collection of tolls for each vehicle.

[0007] In introducing an ETC system on a toll road, it is impossible to mount on-vehicle equipment on all vehicles using the toll road from a certain time, and the existing magnetic card system and the ETC system are mixed. System (mixed system).

If this mixed system is to be introduced into a toll booth, for example, an ETC that allows the vehicle to pass by wireless communication with a vehicle (ETC vehicle) equipped with an on-vehicle device at the exit of the toll booth
A dedicated lane and a conventional toll collection lane (current lane) that collects tolls by receiving magnetic cards and cash in correspondence with the driver of the non-ETC vehicle will be provided.

At present, there is no extra space in the tollgate to add even the current lane, and if an ETC-only lane is provided, the current number of lanes must be reduced accordingly.

[0010]

When the dedicated lane for the ETC and the current lane are separately provided in the space where the toll booth is limited as described above, the penetration rate of the ETC vehicle equipped with the on-vehicle unit is increased.
The traffic rate at the tollgate is greatly affected by the utilization rate.

For example, in a situation where the penetration rate of ETC vehicles is less than 10%, if a lane is installed at a tollgate such that there are four lanes dedicated to ETC and one lane is present, the lane dedicated to ETC is very difficult. Despite the availability, the current lane is expected to experience heavy traffic.

In other words, fixing the number of ETC exclusive lanes and the number of current lanes at the exits of tollgates in various parts of the country without clarifying the penetration rate and utilization rate of ETC is far from optimizing traffic flow. It can be said that there is a situation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and it has been proposed that the traffic change at each tollgate and the ET.
C To secure the optimal vehicle traffic flow in accordance with the traffic conditions specific to the tollgate, such as changes in the utilization rate, to alleviate and eliminate traffic congestion, to efficiently carry out toll collection, Aims to provide a toll collection system and a toll collection method that can improve user convenience.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a toll collection system according to the first aspect of the present invention is provided for a vehicle that enters a tollgate installed on a toll road by using a wireless communication system. Toll collection in which a first vehicle that is automatically collected and a second vehicle that pays a toll by other methods are divided, and each vehicle is collected in a plurality of lanes installed in the tollgate. In the system, calculation means for summing data of the result of toll collection in the plurality of lanes at predetermined time intervals, and calculating a ratio of the first vehicle and the second vehicle using the tollgate, An operation mode change unit that changes the operation mode of each of the plurality of lanes based on the result calculated by the calculation unit, and a lane display that displays an operation mode for each lane changed by the operation mode change unit. Stage and the performed vehicle wireless communication entering the tollgate, the said vehicle and the first vehicle second
Approach vehicle identification means for identifying any one of the vehicle types, and guidance display means for performing a display for guiding the vehicle to a lane in an operation mode adapted to the vehicle type identified by the approach vehicle identification means. It is characterized by doing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toll collection system according to the first aspect, wherein the display switching timing of the lane display means and the guidance display means is changed at the timing of switching the operation mode of each lane. A display control means for performing display control for shifting is provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toll collection system according to the first aspect, wherein the operation mode changing means sets a switching timing of an operation mode of each lane.
The present invention is characterized in that there is provided means for varying the ratio of the number of vehicles entering the tollgate calculated by the calculation means.

A toll collection system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the toll collection system according to the first aspect, wherein the toll collection system is arranged in each lane and operates so that toll collection processing can be performed for the first vehicle and the second vehicle. Device, and means for controlling the device to an operation mode applicable to the vehicle when a vehicle that cannot be applied in the current operation mode of the device enters the lane. And

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toll collection method according to the first aspect, wherein a vehicle entering a tollgate installed on a toll road is combined with a first vehicle which automatically collects a toll by wireless communication and another method. In a toll collection method in which a toll is divided into a second vehicle and a toll is collected in a plurality of lanes installed in the tollgate for each vehicle, a result of the toll collection in the plurality of lanes is obtained. A step of aggregating data for each predetermined time and calculating a ratio of the first vehicle and the second vehicle that use the tollgate, and, based on the calculated result, an operation mode of each of the plurality of lanes. A step of changing, a step of displaying an operation mode for each changed lane, and performing wireless communication with a vehicle entering the tollgate, and connecting the vehicle with the first vehicle and the second vehicle. Identify one of the models And degree, is characterized by a step of performing a display of inducing the vehicle to the lane of the operation mode to accommodate the identified vehicle type.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toll collection method according to the fifth aspect, wherein the lane is switched a predetermined time after the display of the guidance display means is switched at the time of switching the operation mode of each lane. The display of the display means is switched, and thereafter, the operation mode of each lane is switched.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the toll collection method according to the fifth aspect, wherein the operation mode switching timing of each lane is changed according to a ratio of vehicles entering the tollgate. It is characterized by.

The toll collection method of the invention according to claim 8 is the toll collection system according to claim 5, wherein the equipment arranged in each lane is capable of performing a toll collection process on the first vehicle. During operation, when a vehicle that cannot be adapted in the current operation mode enters the lane, the device is controlled to an operation mode applicable to the vehicle.

According to the first and fifth aspects of the present invention, a vehicle entering a tollgate installed on a toll road is divided into a first vehicle which automatically receives a toll by wireless communication and a toll by another method. In order to collect tolls in a plurality of lanes installed at the toll booth for each vehicle, the ratio of the first vehicle and the second vehicle that use the toll booth is calculated as follows. The calculation is performed, and based on the calculation result, the operation mode of each of the plurality of lanes is changed, and the operation mode is displayed for each changed lane. When a vehicle enters the tollgate, the vehicle performs wireless communication with the vehicle, identifies the vehicle as one of the first vehicle and the second vehicle, and Since the display for guiding the vehicle to the lane of the adaptive operation mode is performed, the traffic flow of the vehicle to each lane in the tollgate is leveled, and congestion at the tollgate can be reduced.

According to the second and sixth aspects of the present invention, display control is performed to shift the display switching timing between the lane display means and the guidance display means when the operation mode of each lane is switched. For example, after switching the display of the guidance display means, the display of the lane display means is switched with a delay of a preset time, so that it is possible to avoid a dangerous course change of each vehicle and the safety of vehicle traffic at the tollgate. Can be secured.

According to the third and seventh aspects of the present invention, the switching time of the system operation mode of each lane is changed in accordance with the ratio of vehicles entering the tollgate, so that the traffic flow in the tollgate that changes every moment is changed. It can respond flexibly to changes and reduce congestion at toll booths. According to the fourth and eighth aspects of the present invention, while the devices arranged in each lane are operating in a state in which toll collection processing can be performed for the first vehicle, the vehicle that cannot be adapted in the current operation mode is When the vehicle enters the lane, the equipment is controlled in an operation mode applicable to the vehicle. Therefore, even if the second vehicle enters the lane for processing the first vehicle, or even if the vehicle is the first vehicle, Even when an error occurs during the processing, the backup processing can be performed on these vehicles, and the vehicles entering the lane can be smoothly handled without changing the flow of the vehicles.

[0025]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an interchange on a toll road in which a toll collection system according to one embodiment of the present invention is installed, and FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration of the toll collection system introduced in the interchange of FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an entrance gate device of the toll collection system of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a plan view schematically showing the entrance gate device of FIG. 3, and FIG. Block diagram showing the configuration of the exit gate device,
6 is a plan view schematically showing the exit gate device of FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a vehicle-mounted device mounted on a vehicle, and FIG. 8 shows an internal configuration of an IC card mounted on the vehicle-mounted device of FIG. FIG.

For example, on a toll road such as an expressway, as shown in FIG. 1, an interchange connecting the toll road main line 1 and the general road 3 is provided.

The interchange includes a plurality of entrance lanes divided by a plurality of islands 5a so as to perform an entrance process when a vehicle from the general road 3 enters the toll road main line 1,
A plurality of exit lanes divided by a plurality of islands 5b in order to perform toll payment (toll collection on the system side) when a vehicle from the toll road main line 1 exits to the general road 3, and A tollgate including a management office 7 and the like provided in a space separate from the lane is installed.

As shown in FIG. 2, an entrance gate device 2, which is one configuration of the toll collection system, is installed at each entrance lane of a tollgate. This entrance gate device 2 is E
It is composed of devices of both the TC system and the conventional toll collection system. An exit gate device 4, which is one configuration of the toll collection system, is provided in each exit lane of the tollgate. The exit gate device 4 is composed of devices of both the ETC system and the conventional toll collection system.

That is, each device of the ETC system and the conventional toll collection system is provided in each lane of the entrance and the exit, respectively, and each lane is dedicated to ETC operation, mixed operation of ETC, and conventional toll collection operation. -Closure or the like can be selected as desired. The configuration of each of the entrance gate device 2 and the exit gate device 4 will be described later in detail.

Further, at each entrance and each exit of the tollgate,
A vehicle guidance display device 9 for guiding the vehicle and a notice antenna 13 are provided. Vehicle guidance display device 9
Is composed of a guidance indicator 9a installed above the entrance to each entrance lane and exit lane, and a lane indicator 9b installed above each entrance lane.
The notice antenna 13 is installed so as to radiate radio waves to passing vehicles from above the approach road to the tollgate, and is controlled by a host computer 60 described later, and is equipped with an in-vehicle device among vehicles entering each lane at the entrance. Wireless communication with a vehicle (hereinafter, referred to as an ETC vehicle), and causes the host computer 60 to collect information.

A host computer 60, which is a component of the toll collection system, is installed in the tollgate management office 7. This host computer 60 is also called a management system, collects data (number of ETC vehicles and non-ETC vehicles passing, etc.) from each gate device 2, 4 and collects statistics, and determines vehicles entering each entrance / exit lane or exit lane. The display control of the vehicle guidance display device 9 is performed to efficiently distribute the traffic to each lane of the lane.

That is, the host computer 60 has a statistical function of counting and statistically calculating the above-mentioned changes in traffic volume, changes in the ETC utilization rate, and the like, and also controls the display of a guidance display 9a and a lane display 9b for vehicle guidance to be described later. I do.
The host computer 60 performs processing by selecting various processing number data such as the number of passing vehicles, the number of toll collections, and the number of ETC processings according to the operation mode of the entire system. For example, collected data is processed each time vehicle processing occurs, or collective processing is performed at a specified timing. The host computer 60 automatically performs display switching control based on preset conditions, and can perform manual switching. In this embodiment, each lane has E
Although the example in which the TC system and the conventional toll collection system are provided is described, devices of each system may be mixed only in the switching target lane.

Here, the entrance gate device 2 provided in the entrance lane of the tollgate and the exit gate device 4 provided in the exit lane will be described.

First, the entrance gate device 2 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the entrance gate device 2
Is provided for each lane. The entrance gate device 2 sequentially detects the vehicles 20 that have entered the communication area 18 of the first antenna 8 installed in front of each lane, and detects the vehicle width, tire width, vehicle height, or vehicle width of the vehicle 20. A vehicle type determination device 22 that comprehensively determines the type of the vehicle 20 such as a large vehicle, a normal vehicle, a small vehicle, etc.
When the vehicle type determined by the vehicle type determination device 22 is transmitted, wireless communication is started via the first antenna 8 and an entrance tollgate number or an entrance is provided to the vehicle 20 equipped with the vehicle-mounted device 6 and capable of wireless communication. An entrance lane control device 24 for transmitting information such as the time when the vehicle enters the tollgate, and a vehicle 20 equipped with the vehicle-mounted device 6 are provided at a position before communication with the communication area 18 of the first antenna 8 becomes impossible. A first vehicle detection device 26 that notifies the detected lane 20 to the entrance lane control device 24 as a vehicle that starts from the communication area 18;
For example, a roadside indicator 28 that gives a stop or start instruction to the vehicle 20 by lighting a red signal or a green signal, and a non-ET
Even if the vehicle is a C-car (vehicle without the on-vehicle device 6) or an ETC vehicle (vehicle with the on-vehicle device 6), the vehicle type discrimination device 22 discriminates a vehicle that cannot communicate normally due to interference or the like. A toll ticket issuing machine 30 that automatically magnetically records and prints the vehicle type number of the vehicle, the registration number of the vehicle, the entrance gate number of the entrance tollgate, the date and time of passing through the entrance tollgate, and issues it to the vehicle side; When the vehicle 20 that has successfully completed communication with the first antenna 8 is detected by the second vehicle detector 32, the vehicle 20 communicates with the vehicle-mounted device 6 of the vehicle 22 based on an instruction from the entrance lane control device 24. 34, data exchange is performed, for example, the vehicle 2 determined by the vehicle type determination device 22.
The second antenna 10 for comparing the vehicle type 0 with the vehicle type previously recorded in the vehicle-mounted device 6 received from the vehicle-mounted device 6, and a second antenna 10 for transmitting the comparison result to the vehicle-mounted device 6.
And a third vehicle detector 36 that detects the vehicle 20 that passes through the communication area 34 and departs from the entrance tollgate.

The vehicle type discriminating device 22 detects a vehicle height, a vehicle length, a vehicle length, and the like of a passing vehicle, and detects the vehicle height and the vehicle length.
8 and a tread 4 for detecting the number of shafts connecting the left and right tires of the vehicle 20 by a pressure detection switch buried in a road surface on which the vehicle 20 passes and pressed by tires of the vehicle 20
0, and in order to reliably detect each vehicle entering the toll gate at the entrance, a light-emitting device and a light-receiving device are installed at positions opposite to the gate lane, respectively. It mainly comprises a vehicle separator 42 for detecting a break.

Next, the exit gate device 4 will be described. The exit gate device 4 is provided for each lane of an exit tollgate gate at an interchange on a highway. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the exit gate device 4 sequentially detects the vehicles 20 that have entered the communication area 44 of the third antenna 12 of the exit tollgate.
The vehicle detector 46 is provided in a reception booth 48 where a clerk is present, and is mounted on the vehicle 20 via the third antenna 12 when the vehicle 20 is detected by the fourth vehicle detector 46. Is an ETC vehicle that can communicate with the vehicle 20 by requesting the vehicle 6 to transmit vehicle information and determining whether the vehicle information is received before the vehicle 20 traveling straight ahead is detected by the fifth vehicle detector 50, for example. And an exit lane control device 52 for determining whether the vehicle is a non-ETC vehicle with which communication is not possible and collecting a toll from the vehicle side by a toll collection method corresponding to each of the ETC vehicle and the non-ETC vehicle. A traffic light, a roadside indicator 54 for giving an instruction of stopping or starting to the vehicle 20 by turning on a green light, a vehicle straight-off preventing device 56 for restricting the vehicle 22 from going straight from the exit tollgate to a general road, Through After settlement of the fee, and a sixth vehicle detector 58. of detecting the vehicle 20 starts moving from the entrance toll gate gates.

The exit lane control device 52 controls each device of the ETC system and the conventional toll collection system in an operation mode applicable to a vehicle entering the lane.

Further, in each lane of the exit gate device 4,
As shown in FIG. 5, a collection booth 48 is provided. The toll booth 48 includes a toll ticket processor 61 for processing a toll ticket (magnetic card) possessed by the driver of the non-ETC vehicle, a prepaid card which is a prepaid type magnetic card, and an existing credit card. A card processor 62 for processing a card, and an IC mounted on the vehicle-mounted device 6 of the ETC vehicle
An IC card reader / writer 63 that mounts various IC cards 16 such as a prepaid type and a postpaid type on the card 16 and reads or writes information directly from the IC card 16 without using wireless communication. Receipt issuing machine 64 that issues a receipt that records the toll on the toll road, the date and time of use, or a statement of use of the card to the user.
And an operation panel 65 for displaying information on toll collection to the collection staff and performing an information input operation based on the display contents and the like. The operation panel 65 is a display unit that displays various information such as wireless processing information and operation contents with the vehicle-mounted device 6 and notifies the collection staff, a button for selecting a payment method such as cash, a prepaid card, a credit card, an IC card, and the like. It has a numeric keypad and the like.

Further, the above-described entrance gate device 2 and exit gate device 4 are connected to a host computer 60 as a host device. The host computer 60
The operator of the toll road checks the negative list, which is a list of personal IDs that have determined that the driver of the vehicle has been denied permission to use the toll road due to the background of the misconduct.
Further, the host computer 60 associates the account number of the deposit with the bank of the driver of the vehicle with the ID number of the IC card 16 in advance so that the IC card 16 can be used in a manner similar to a credit card. The entry gate device 2 and the exit gate device 4 are collectively controlled.
Further, the host computer 60 obtains statistics of traffic volume such as the number of vehicles passing through each lane based on the information collected from the entrance gate device 2 and the exit gate device 4, and performs automatic switching control of processing between the ETC lane and the conventional lane. And vehicle guidance display control.

Next, the vehicle-mounted device 6 will be described. The on-board unit (OBU: On Board Unit) 6, as shown in FIG.
An auto-loading / ejecting mechanism 76 for loading the IC card 16 into the card housing 74 and ejecting the IC card 16 from the card housing 74.
An IC card processing unit 82 that processes information read through the interface unit 78 and stores the processing result in a memory 80; Transmitted from the antenna 14 and the vehicle-mounted antenna 1
4 includes a wireless control unit 84 that stores the information received in the memory 80 in the memory 80, a display operation unit 90 that is operated by the user and guides the contents of the operation, and a control unit 86 that controls each unit. I have. The memory 80 stores the vehicle length, vehicle height, number of axes, weight, application, and the like of the vehicle 16 on which the vehicle-mounted device 6 is mounted.
In addition to vehicle information such as features, an ID number for identifying the vehicle-mounted device 6 from other vehicle-mounted devices is recorded in advance.

The display operation section 90 includes an operation section having a key operation section and a take-out button which are operated by the user, a display section having a character display for guiding operation contents, an LED lamp, and the like; And an IC card insertion slot for inserting and removing a card. The display unit displays various kinds of information such as wireless processing information and notifies a user (a driver or the like). The takeout button is a button for performing an operation for taking out the IC card.

As shown in FIG. 8, the IC card 16 has
A flash memory 97 capable of storing and reading information, an interface section 98 for exchanging data with an interface section 78 of the vehicle-mounted device 6, and a CPU 9 for controlling the interface section 98 and the flash memory 97.
9 are provided.

The flash memory 97 stores the user's bank account number, special contract information indicating whether discounted persons can be applied, and billing information such as the expiration date of the contract. Further, an ID number for specifying the IC card 16 is stored in the flash memory 97 in advance.
When the vehicle 20 passes through the entrance tollgate gate, the passing date and time, the gate number for specifying the tollgate gate, the vehicle 2
Passage history information such as a vehicle type of 0 and a card balance is stored in association with the ID number of the IC card 16.

When the IC card 16 is mounted on the vehicle-mounted device 6, the validity of the vehicle-mounted device 6 is confirmed only by exchanging signals with the control unit 86 via the IC card processing unit 82 of the vehicle-mounted device 6. The charging information stored in its own flash memory 97 is sent to the memory 80 of the vehicle-mounted device 6.

The operation of the toll collection system of this embodiment will be described below. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a toll collection operation in an exit lane of a tollgate in the toll collection system.

In this toll collection system, when the vehicle 20 reaches the entrance to the exit lane of the tollgate (S101) and the vehicle-mounted device 6 is mounted on this vehicle 20 (in the case of an ETC vehicle), this ETC vehicle is used. The vehicle-mounted device 6 includes a wireless antenna 14
The host computer 6 via the notice antenna 13
0, and the data of the vehicle-mounted device 6 and the IC card 16 are sent from the vehicle-mounted device 6 to the host computer 60. Thus, the host computer 60 identifies (determines) the vehicle 20 as an ETC vehicle.

The host computer 60 divides the ETC vehicle 20 into a plurality of units so as to disperse the traffic flow based on the data collected and calculated up to now (the calculation results of the traffic volume and the ETC utilization rate). One of the lanes (E
TC dedicated lane or ETC mixed lane)
Is displayed on the guidance display 9a. As a result, the vehicle number * is displayed on the guidance display 9a installed at the top of the selected lane, for example, the ETC exclusive lane.
*** is displayed (S102).

Vehicle number *** of the guidance display 9a
* The driver of the corresponding ETC car who saw the
The ETC car will be advanced to the dedicated lane.

When the ETC vehicle arrives near the ETC exclusive lane, the host computer 60 displays the vehicle number **** or the operation mode of this lane on the lane indicator 9b installed at the top of this lane. Is issued (S103).

As a result, the driver looks at the display contents of the lane indicator 9b at the upper front in the traveling direction, confirms the operation mode of this lane, and then causes the ETC vehicle to enter the ETC exclusive lane. Although the lanes are dedicated to ETC, each lane can perform ETC processing and conventional toll collection processing regardless of the operation mode.

When the ETC vehicle enters the ETC exclusive lane (S104), in this ETC exclusive lane, the exit lane control device 52 of the ETC system transmits a charge for the ETC vehicle entering the lane by wireless communication. A collection process (ETC process) is performed (S105).

If the ETC processing has been completed normally (S10
6), the exit lane control device 52 opens the vehicle straight-line blocking device 56 to urge the vehicle 20 to start (pass) (S1).
07), the host computer 60 sends a notification to the effect that the processing has been normally completed to the host computer 60, and the host computer 60 newly counts (counts) one ETC processing unit (S108).

On the other hand, if a non-ETC vehicle enters the ETC exclusive lane by mistake or an ETC vehicle causes an ETC processing error or the like and the ETC processing ends abnormally (S109), the collection booth installed in the same lane At 48, conventional toll collection processing is performed (S110).

When the toll collection process at the collection booth 48 is completed (S111), the exit lane control device 52 opens the vehicle straight line blocking device 56 to prompt the vehicle to start (pass) (S112). The host computer 60 returns data indicating to which payment means (toll ticket, cash, prepaid card, IC card, etc.) the toll collection was performed.
Instead of counting the number of processed vehicles, the number of processed vehicles by the payment means is counted (accounted) (S11).
3).

Next, the lane operation mode automatic switching operation in this toll collection system will be described. FIG. 10 shows a host computer 60 in this toll collection system.
5 is a flowchart showing a lane operation mode automatic switching operation performed by the user.

In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the host computer 60 totals data each time vehicle processing occurs.

When the data of the number of processed vehicles is received from each lane of the tollgate (S201), the host computer 60 sets a preset time (for example, one hour) before the switching time, for example, from the time. Just going back,
The traffic volume and the ETC utilization rate during that time are calculated (S20).
2). In the calculation, data on the number of processed vehicles such as the number of passing vehicles, the number of vehicles to be charged, and the number of ETCs processed within the set time in each lane are totaled. Note that data transmitted from each lane during the tallying process is sent to the next tallying.

Based on the calculation results of the traffic volume and the ETC utilization rate, the host computer 60 determines the number of lanes dedicated to ETC, the number of lanes mixed with ETC, and if necessary, the lane breakdown such as the number of conventional lanes and closed lanes (S203).

Subsequently, the host computer 60 first switches the display of the guidance display 9a of each lane based on the above determination result (S204), and switches the display of the lane display 9b after a predetermined time delay (S205). And
Switch lane operation mode. At the time of lane switching, in order to ensure the safety of vehicle traffic, after switching the guidance display 9a, the lane display is switched with a delay of a preset time to perform a dangerous course change of each vehicle. To avoid.

After the display is switched, the operation mode of the lane is switched and the toll collection process is started (S206).
Since the data of the fee collection contents at the set time is transmitted from each lane, the host computer 60 records and totals the data (S207). Then, when one hour as the set time elapses and the next switching time comes, the host computer 60 performs the lane automatic switching process again (S2).
08).

The flow of the lane operation mode automatic switching process in the present embodiment is merely an example. For example, the lane automatic switching process may be performed at a preset timing based on past statistical data. The lane automatic switching process based on the can be arbitrarily set. For example, season
The setting of the lane automatic switching process may be performed for each day of the week and time zone.

In the above-described embodiment, the operation mode of each lane is switched every hour. However, if the ratio of ETC vehicles among vehicles entering the toll booth sharply increases,
At that time, the lane may be switched so as to increase the number of ETC dedicated lanes.

As described above, according to the toll collection system of this embodiment, both the ETC system and the conventional toll collection system are provided in each lane such as the entrance lane and the exit lane of the tollgate on the toll road. In operation,
The host computer 60 sums up the data of the processing results from each lane, calculates the traffic volume at the toll booth and the ETC utilization rate, and, based on the calculation result, determines the operation mode of each lane as ETC exclusive, mixed, conventional, or closed. The system automatically switches between the display of the operating mode of each lane and the actual operating mode while keeping the equipment of each system installed in each lane available, so the traffic volume at each tollgate In addition to ensuring optimal vehicle traffic flow according to the traffic conditions specific to the tollgate, such as changes in traffic and ETC usage rates, mitigating and eliminating traffic congestion, and efficiently performing toll collection operations, Ultimately, user convenience can be improved.

The operation mode of each lane is indicated by the guidance indicator 9a installed at the entrance where vehicles flow into the tollgate.
And the lane indicator 9b installed in each lane.
At the time of lane switching, in order to ensure the safety of vehicle traffic, after switching the display of the guidance display 9a, the display of the lane display 9b is switched with a delay of a preset time. The course change can be avoided.

Further, in order to perform appropriate processing, the conventional toll collection system can be operated as a backup even for a lane indicated as an ETC exclusive lane, so that the ETC processing in the ETC exclusive lane is performed. It can respond smoothly to errors and erroneous entry of non-ETC vehicles while keeping the vehicle moving.

[0066]

As described above, according to the first and fifth aspects of the present invention, a vehicle that enters a tollgate installed on a toll road automatically receives a toll by wireless communication. One vehicle is divided into a second vehicle that pays a toll by another method, and the toll gate is used for collecting tolls in a plurality of lanes installed in the toll gate for each vehicle. The ratio of the first vehicle and the second vehicle is calculated, and based on the calculation result, the operation mode of each of the plurality of lanes is changed, and the operation mode is displayed for each changed lane. When a vehicle enters the tollgate, the vehicle performs wireless communication with the vehicle, identifies the vehicle as one of the first vehicle and the second vehicle, and Since the display for guiding the vehicle to the lane of the adaptive operation mode is performed, the traffic flow of the vehicle to each lane in the tollgate is leveled, and congestion at the tollgate can be reduced.

According to the second and sixth aspects of the present invention, display control is performed to shift the display switching timing between the lane display means and the guidance display means at the time of switching the operation mode of each lane.
For example, after switching the display of the guidance display means, the display of the lane display means is switched with a delay of a preset time,
Dangerous route change of each vehicle can be avoided, and vehicle traffic safety at tollgates can be ensured.

According to the third and seventh aspects of the present invention, the switching time of the system operation mode of each lane is changed in accordance with the ratio of vehicles entering the tollgate, so that the traffic in the tollgate changes every moment. It can respond flexibly to changes in the flow and reduce congestion at toll gates. According to the fourth and eighth aspects of the present invention, a vehicle which cannot be adapted in the current operation mode while the devices arranged in each lane are operating in a state where the first vehicle can perform a toll collection process. When the vehicle enters the lane, the devices are controlled in an operation mode applicable to the vehicle. Therefore, when the second vehicle enters the lane for processing the first vehicle, or when the first vehicle is used. Even if an error occurs during the processing, backup processing can be performed on these vehicles, and it is possible to smoothly respond to vehicles entering the lane without changing the flow of the vehicles.

That is, an optimal vehicle traffic flow is secured in accordance with the traffic conditions specific to the tollgate, such as a change in traffic volume and a change in the ETC utilization rate at each tollgate, and the traffic congestion is reduced or eliminated. In addition, the toll collection operation can be performed efficiently, and ultimately the convenience for the user can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state of an interchange on a toll road to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a view schematically showing a toll collection system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an entrance gate device constituting the toll collection system of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view schematically showing the entrance gate device of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an exit gate device constituting the toll collection system of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a plan view schematically showing the exit gate device of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a vehicle-mounted device mounted on a vehicle.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of an IC card mounted on the vehicle-mounted device of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a toll collection operation at a tollgate exit in the toll collection system.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an automatic lane operation mode switching operation of the host computer in the toll collection system.

[Description of Signs] 1 ... Toll road main line, 2 ... Entrance gate device, 3 ... General road, 4 ... Exit gate device, 5a ... Entrance side island, 5
b: Exit side island, 6: Onboard device, 7: Management office,
Reference numeral 9: vehicle guidance display device, 9a: guidance display, 9b: lane display, 12: third antenna, 13: notice antenna, 14: vehicle-mounted antenna, 16: IC card, 48 ...
Collection booth, 52 ... Exit lane control device, 60 ... Host computer.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle that enters a tollgate installed on a toll road is divided into a first vehicle that automatically receives a toll by wireless communication and a second vehicle that pays a toll by any other method. In a toll collection system that separates and collects tolls in a plurality of lanes installed in the tollgate for each vehicle, data of a result of toll collection in the plurality of lanes is aggregated for each predetermined time, Calculating means for calculating a ratio of the first vehicle and the second vehicle that use a tollgate; and an operation mode change for changing an operation mode of each of the plurality of lanes based on a result calculated by the calculation section. Means, lane display means for displaying an operation form for each lane changed by the operation form change means, and wireless communication with the vehicle entering the tollgate, the vehicle and the first vehicle No. Approach vehicle identification means for identifying any one of the vehicle types, and guidance display means for performing a display for guiding the vehicle to a lane in an operation mode adapted to the vehicle type identified by the approach vehicle identification means. A toll collection system characterized by: 2. The toll collection system according to claim 1, further comprising display control means for performing display control to shift display switching timing between said lane display means and said guidance display means at the time of switching the operation mode of each lane. A toll collection system characterized by: 3. The toll collection system according to claim 1, wherein the operation mode changing unit changes the operation mode switching timing of each lane in accordance with the ratio of vehicles entering the tollgate calculated by the calculation unit. Toll collection system, characterized in that the toll collection system is provided with a variable means. 4. The toll collection system according to claim 1, wherein the equipment is arranged in each lane and is operated to enable the toll collection processing for the first vehicle and the second vehicle; Means for controlling the device to an operation mode adaptable to the vehicle when a vehicle that cannot be adapted in the mode enters the lane. 5. A vehicle that enters a tollgate installed on a toll road is divided into a first vehicle that automatically receives a toll by wireless communication and a second vehicle that pays a toll by any other method. In a toll collection method for collecting tolls in a plurality of lanes installed at the tollgate for each vehicle, data of the results of toll collection in the plurality of lanes are aggregated for each predetermined time, Calculating a ratio of the first vehicle and the second vehicle that use a tollgate; changing an operation mode of each of the plurality of lanes based on the calculated result; A step of displaying an operation form for each, a step of performing wireless communication with a vehicle entering the tollgate, and a step of identifying the vehicle as one of the first vehicle and the second vehicle Adapt to the identified car model Toll collection method characterized by a step of performing a display of inducing the vehicle to the lane of the use forms. 6. The toll collection method according to claim 5, wherein at the time of switching the operation mode of each lane, the display of the lane display means is switched after a predetermined time after the display of the guidance display means is switched. A toll collection method characterized by switching lane operation modes. 7. The toll collection method according to claim 5, wherein the switching timing of the operation mode of each lane is changed according to the ratio of vehicles entering the toll booth. 8. The toll collection system according to claim 5, wherein a device arranged in each lane is operated in a state where toll collection processing is possible for the first vehicle, and is adapted in a current operation mode. When an impossible vehicle enters the lane, the device is controlled to an operation mode applicable to the vehicle.