JP2003030703A - Camera apparatus and accounting system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an accounting system capable of detecting and recognizing a vehicle with high accuracy without increasing installing spaces and costs of accounting points. SOLUTION: The accounting system capable of detecting and recognizing the vehicles with high accuracy without increasing installing spaces and the costs of the accounting points is constituted by installing camera apparatuses 11 at many places in an accounting area sectioned by the accounting points by installing cameras 14 at a traffic light 12 and an electric pole 13 in the accounting area and drastically enhancing specification rate uncharged and erroneously charged vehicles 1 by collating image information photographed by the cameras 14 with accounting information.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera device for carrying out charging processing of tolls, etc., as well as a vehicle which enters a target area which is a specific area of entry restriction or a vehicle which travels on a toll road. The present invention relates to a billing system for carrying out billing processing such as toll charges.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, traffic congestion has become chronic with the increase of traffic volume in large cities and the like, and traffic congestion causes deterioration of economic efficiency and environmental deterioration due to exhaust gas.
Under such circumstances, it has been considered to reduce the traffic congestion by charging the vehicles that enter the area where traffic is congested to suppress the vehicles that enter the area. Charges to vehicles entering the target area, which is a specific area where entry is restricted, are performed by wireless communication between the roadside device and the vehicle-mounted device on the vehicle side at the boundary line (charging point) that divides the target area. Various charging systems have been studied that charge by electronic means without stopping.

As a charging system for charging by electronic means, a non-stop charge collection (Electronic Toll Col
lection (ETC) system is also in practical use. The ETC system performs wireless communication between a roadside antenna installed at a toll gate (billing point) and an on-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle and storing vehicle information, and the vehicle is received by a receiving means based on the wireless communication information. It is designed to collect toll charges.

[0004]

In the charging system which has been put into practical use at present, a vehicle detecting means is provided for backup of charging by wireless communication and the like, and when a vehicle is detected by the vehicle detecting means, a license plate Equipped with a camera to shoot numbers. Then, when charging by wireless communication is not normally carried out, processing such as identifying the vehicle from the photographed license plate number and charging a fee is performed. However, in this case, it is necessary to equip the charging point with vehicle detection means other than the camera, which causes a problem in terms of installation space and cost. In addition, since the camera takes only one shot, when the shooting is not successful, the state is not charged, and it is difficult to secure sufficient vehicle detection accuracy and recognition accuracy.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a camera device capable of highly accurately detecting a vehicle and recognizing a license plate without increasing the installation space or cost of a charging point.

Further, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a charging system capable of highly accurately detecting a vehicle and recognizing a license plate without increasing the installation space and cost of the charging point. .

[0007]

A camera device of the present invention for achieving the above object is characterized in that cameras for photographing a vehicle and sending image information to a charging processing means are installed at a large number of points in a charging area. And

Further, the camera device of the present invention for achieving the above object is characterized in that a plurality of cameras for photographing a vehicle and sending image information to a billing processing means are installed at billing points by changing respective angles. To do.

A billing system of the present invention for attaining the above object is a billing system in which a billing processing means charges a vehicle that has entered a billing area. The feature is that the cameras to send are installed in many places in the billing area.

Further, the cameras at a large number of points are characterized by being installed in existing structures. Also,
The multiple cameras are characterized in that a plurality of cameras are installed at different angles. Further, it is characterized in that a large number of cameras are installed movably. Further, the number of cameras installed at each of the multiple locations is changed according to the traffic volume on the road.

Further, the billing system of the present invention for achieving the above object is a billing system in which a billing processing means carries out billing for a vehicle that has entered a billing area. It is characterized by being installed.

The billing processing means is provided with a function of collating the input image information with billing information at the billing point to identify an uncharged vehicle. In addition, the billing processing means is provided with a function of matching the input image information with billing information at a billing point to identify a vehicle for which the bill is wrongly billed.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration of a charging point of a charging system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are schematic diagrams of a camera device installed in a charging area. The configuration is shown. The illustrated billing device is applied to a billing system capable of performing a billing process such as a toll on a vehicle that enters a target area which is a specific area and is subject to entry restriction. The charging system can also be applied to other charging systems, such as an ETC system that performs wireless communication with a vehicle at the entrance of a toll road in a uniform toll section to identify the vehicle and perform a charging process. However, it can be applied even to toll roads with uneven toll sections.

The charging system of the present embodiment is a charging system in which a road is partitioned into a target area (specific area) of entry restriction, and the vehicle 1 is charged from the entry side entering the specific area. As shown in FIG. 1, for example, a vehicle 1
Means for obtaining position information from the control station 4 of the mobile phone operator by receiving the radio wave transmitted from the existing mobile phone (PHS) 2 mounted on the Is used to determine the entry of the vehicle 1 into the specific area through communication between the mobile phone 2 and the wireless base station 3 located at the charging point of the specific area. In this case, the information of the specific area is sent from the road administrator 5 side to the control station 4 of the mobile phone operator.

In addition to the mobile phone (PHS) 2 generally called as a mobile phone, it is also possible to use a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone or a personal computer having a built-in PHS. By determining the entry of the vehicle 1 into the specific area by using the infrastructure of the existing mobile phone operator, an antenna is installed at the charging point or dedicated to the vehicle 1 to determine the entry into the specific area. There is no need to install the in-vehicle device.

When the entry of the vehicle 1 into the specific area is determined, the entered vehicle 1 is identified (arbitrarily identified by pre-registering, etc.), and the control station 4 of the mobile phone operator as a billing processing means. Predetermined charging processing (for the driver) is executed for the vehicle 1 specified by sending information to the road administrator 5, for example. For the charging process, various methods such as charging from a registered financial institution account and charging by billing are applied. It is also possible to perform wireless communication for billing at the billing point and perform billing by a prepaid system using an IC card or the like under the control of the road administrator 5.

The above-mentioned example of the determination of the entry of the vehicle 1 into the specific area is an example, and the determination of the entry of the vehicle 1 into the specific area is made by wireless communication with the roadside antenna and the vehicle-mounted device.
It is also possible to perform billing at the same time, and the billing system of the present invention uses the mobile phone 2 to drive the vehicle 1 into a specific area
It is not limited to the system that determines the entry of the vehicle.

The camera devices shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 are installed at a large number of points within the charging area partitioned by the charging points shown in FIG. The number of the license plate of the vehicle 1 is photographed by the camera device, and the photographed image is sent to the road manager 5 as a billing processing means via a dedicated cable or the like. In the server of the road administrator 5, the sent image information is collated with the billing information at the billing point.
For example, billing information at billing points is stored in the server of the road administrator 5 for several hours to one day, and the vehicle confirmed by the image information sent is compared with the stored billed vehicle. The image information and the billing information at the billing points are collated by, for example, deleting the matched one, and the uncharged vehicle 1 is specified (a function for specifying the uncharged vehicle).

Further, in the case where the specific area is a system which charges only when the vehicle has entered once, it is considered that the charging is erroneously carried out when the vehicle has entered a plurality of times. In such a case, the server of the road administrator 5 collates the sent image information with the billing information at the billing point, and the vehicle 1 of the wrong billing is performed.
Is specified (the function to specify the vehicle for mischarge). Furthermore,
The image information taken by the camera device can be used as a backup, for example, when the record of the billing information is lost.

As described above, by installing the camera device at a large number of places in the specific area and comparing the image information captured by the camera device with the billing information, the identification rate of the uncharged and erroneous vehicles 1 is significantly increased. Therefore, vehicle detection and license plate recognition can be performed with high accuracy.

The camera device will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

The camera device 11 shown in FIG. 2 is a device in which a camera 14 is attached to a traffic light 12 and a telephone pole 13 which are existing structures. The camera 14 is a wired road administrator 5
Image information (number of license plate) taken by the camera 14 is sent to the server of the road manager 5. Then, the camera devices 11 are installed at many places in the charging area. Traffic light 12 which is an existing structure
Since the camera 14 is attached to the telephone pole 13 or the telephone pole 13, the camera device 11 can be installed without adding a structure, and vehicle detection and license plate recognition can be comprehensively performed within the charging area.

In the camera device 21 shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of (four in the illustrated example) cameras 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d are attached to a dedicated support column 23 at four locations, and four cameras 22a, 22b are provided. ,
22c and 22d are mounted at different angles, that is, at different angles in the longitudinal direction of the road. The four cameras 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d are connected to the server of the road administrator 5 by wire, and the image information taken by the four cameras 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d is sent to the server of the road administrator 5. . Then, the camera devices 21 are installed at many places in the charging area. Four cameras 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d with different angles
Due to the fact that even if the inter-vehicle distance is shortened due to traffic congestion of vehicle 1, the number of the license plate of vehicle 1 can be taken with any one of the four cameras 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d. Therefore, the accuracy of vehicle detection and license plate recognition can be improved.

The camera 14 and the cameras 22a, 22b, 22c, 22
Although d has been described as an example of being connected to the server of the road administrator 5 by wire, it goes without saying that the output of the camera can be wirelessly transmitted to the server.

The camera device 21 shown in FIG. 3 can be provided at a charging point in the charging area. By providing the charging point, it is possible to perform charging by the image in addition to the charging by communication, and it is possible to increase the charging rate at the charging point.

In the camera device 26 shown in FIG. 4, a camera 28 is attached to a moving vehicle 27, and the moving vehicle 27 moves to a desired place to take an image of the license plate number of the vehicle 1. The moving vehicle 27 is provided with an antenna 29, and the image information captured by the camera 28 is stored in the antenna 29.
It is sent to the server of the road manager 5 wirelessly via.
Then, the moving vehicle 27 moves all over the charging area. Since the moving vehicle 27 is provided with the camera 28, the camera 28 can be installed in an unannounced manner at any place in the billing area, and the position of the fixed camera is generally disseminated, and a vehicle that illegally escapes shooting appears. Can be suppressed.

As the charging system, the camera devices 11, 21, and 26 shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 can be installed in an appropriate combination. For example, the camera device 11 is installed at a large intersection, the camera device 21 is installed at a place where traffic is heavy, and the camera device 26 is installed at a place where traffic is light or a road where a specific flow occurs. be able to. By properly combining the camera devices 11, 21, and 26, it is possible to provide a charging system that maximizes the advantages of each.

It is also possible to change the number of cameras according to the traffic volume. In other words, it is possible to install a camera device consisting of multiple cameras in a place with a high traffic volume such as a main road, and a camera device with a single camera in a place with a low traffic volume such as a residential area. It is possible.
As a result, it is possible to install cameras efficiently according to the degree of congestion.

[0029]

According to the camera device of the present invention, the cameras for photographing the vehicle and sending the image information to the billing processing means are installed in a large number of places in the billing area, so that the chances of contact with the vehicle in the billing area are increased. However, the accuracy of vehicle detection and license plate recognition can be improved. As a result, it becomes possible to suppress uncharging and erroneous charging when carrying out the charging processing of the toll and the like.

Further, in the camera device of the present invention, a plurality of cameras for photographing the vehicle and sending the image information to the billing processing means are installed at the billing points at different angles, so that there is a chance of contact with the vehicle at the billing points. Therefore, the accuracy of vehicle detection and license plate recognition can be improved.
As a result, it is possible to improve the billing rate when carrying out billing processing such as toll charges at billing points, and it is possible to reliably photograph the vehicle even if the inter-vehicle distance becomes short due to traffic congestion.

The billing system of the present invention is a billing system in which billing processing means bills a vehicle that has entered the billing area. In the billing area, a camera that photographs the vehicle and sends image information to the billing processing means. Since it is installed at a large number of places, the chances of contact with the vehicle within the charging area are increased, and the accuracy of vehicle detection and license plate recognition can be improved. As a result, it becomes possible to suppress uncharging and erroneous charging when carrying out the charging processing of the toll and the like.

Further, since a large number of cameras are installed in existing structures respectively, camera devices can be installed without adding structures, and vehicle detection and numbering are comprehensively performed within the charging area. Plate recognition is possible.

Further, since the plurality of cameras are installed at different angles, the cameras can be reliably photographed even if the inter-vehicle distance becomes short due to traffic congestion, and vehicle detection and numbering are performed. The accuracy of plate recognition can be improved.

Further, since a large number of cameras are movably installed, it is possible to install the cameras randomly in any place within the billing area, and the fixed camera position is generally disseminated and illegal. It is possible to prevent the appearance of a vehicle that escapes shooting.

Since the number of cameras installed at each of the multiple locations is changed according to the traffic volume on the road, it is possible to install the cameras efficiently according to the degree of congestion.

The billing system of the present invention is a billing system in which a billing processing means charges a vehicle that has entered a billing area, because a plurality of cameras are installed at different angles at the billing point. It is possible to improve the billing rate when carrying out billing processing of tolls, etc., and it is possible to reliably photograph the vehicle even if the inter-vehicle distance becomes short due to traffic congestion.

Further, since the billing processing means has a function of identifying the uncharged vehicle by collating the inputted image information with the billing information at the billing point, the identification rate of the uncharged vehicle is determined. It is possible to greatly improve the vehicle detection, the vehicle detection and the license plate recognition can be performed with high accuracy, and it is possible to reduce the number of uncharged vehicles.

Further, the billing processing means is provided with a function of identifying the erroneously billed vehicle by collating the inputted image information with the billing information at the billing point. It is possible to significantly improve the vehicle detection, the vehicle detection and the license plate recognition can be performed with high accuracy, and it is possible to reduce the number of vehicles that are charged incorrectly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram at a charging point of a charging system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a camera device installed in a charging area.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a camera device installed in a charging area.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a camera device installed in a charging area.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 vehicle 2 Mobile phones (PHS) 3 wireless base stations 4 control station 5 road operators 11,21,26 Camera device 12 traffic lights 13 utility pole 14,22,28 cameras 27 moving vehicles 29 antenna

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A camera apparatus, wherein cameras for photographing a vehicle and sending image information to a billing processing means are installed at a large number of locations within a billing area. 2. A camera device characterized in that a plurality of cameras for photographing a vehicle and sending image information to a billing processing means are installed at billing points with different angles. 3. A charging system for charging a vehicle entering a charging area by a charging processing means,
A charging system characterized in that cameras are installed at a large number of points within a charging area to photograph a vehicle and send image information to a charging processing means. 4. The billing system according to claim 3, wherein the cameras at a large number of places are installed in existing structures. 5. The charging system according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of cameras are installed at different angles, respectively. 6. The billing system according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of cameras are movably installed. 7. The charging system according to claim 3, wherein the number of cameras installed at each of the multiple locations is changed according to the traffic volume on the road. 8. A charging system for charging a vehicle entering a charging area by a charging processing means,
A billing system characterized by multiple cameras installed at different billing points at different angles. 9. The billing processing means according to claim 3, wherein the billing processing unit collates the input image information with billing information at a billing point to identify an unbilled vehicle. A charging system characterized by being equipped with. 10. The charging processing means according to claim 3, wherein the charging processing means collates the input image information with the charging information at the charging point to identify a vehicle with an incorrect charging. A charging system characterized by being equipped with.