JP2011108181A - Vehicle information providing system and vehicle information providing method - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a vehicle information distribution system in which each business operator can easily acquire information on each vehicle existing in the route of another business operator, and vehicle operation management can be executed efficiently.
In a vehicle information distribution system, a server 3 connected via a communication network 2 to a system 1 of each business operator that monitors vehicle operation information in the route of each business operator is a system 1 of each business operator. Vehicle information relating to vehicles existing in the route of each business operator is collected, the vehicle information collected from the system 1 of each business operator is stored in the vehicle information database 34, and each business operator stored in the distribution setting database 35 The vehicle information to be distributed to each business operator is determined according to the contract contents, and the vehicle information determined to be distributed to each business operator based on this determination is searched from the vehicle information database 34, and the search result by this search The vehicle information obtained as is distributed to each business operator.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle information providing system and a vehicle information providing method for transmitting information related to each vehicle between a plurality of business operators performing mutual straight line driving on a plurality of business operators in, for example, a railway.

  In recent years, the operation of performing direct direct operation of vehicles has been activated among a plurality of railway operators. When mutual direct driving of vehicles is carried out, there is an increasing need to transmit and share various information among those operators. In particular, information indicating the current position of a vehicle (vehicle with management responsibility) owned by each business operator is particularly important information for smooth vehicle operation management or vehicle safety management. However, at present, the actual situation is that a mechanism and a service for providing each vehicle's position information to each other are not realized between the operators performing mutual direct operation.

  Conventionally, each business operator such as railways has developed and introduced devices and systems in accordance with individual requirements for their own problems. However, as mutual direct operation with other companies 'routes increases, their vehicles often enter other companies' routes that cannot be managed by their own systems. In such an operation situation, for example, when a timetable disruption occurs, a situation occurs in which each vehicle cannot be operated according to the original operation plan. In such a case, for example, the number of cases in which maintenance work that is subject to limited restrictions such as forensic inspection of vehicles that must be performed during the day is not performed smoothly increases.

  When such a situation occurs, each railroad company makes an artificial inquiry by telephone or facsimile to the partner company where the on-site personnel carry out mutual direct operation to locate their vehicle. There is a reality that it is implemented. However, each company has different internal rules and business routines. For this reason, when searching for the company's vehicles, on the front line of the site, individual routines are provided for each company or each maintenance area of the site, and necessary information such as the location information of the vehicle is collected by customary human activities. This is the current situation. In such a current situation, it is desired to transmit vehicle position information and the like to each other between operators performing mutual direct operation.

  However, as described above, each business operator designs and develops a system for managing the position of the vehicle and the like with unique specifications. Therefore, at present, it is not easy to mutually provide information with other companies' systems. In addition, it is expected that it takes a lot of cost to construct and operate a system that mutually provides information with other companies' systems, and that efficient operation is not easy. Under such circumstances, at present, it is difficult to easily construct or efficiently operate a system that mutually provides information with other companies' systems.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technical proposal for transmitting information between systems of a plurality of business operators. Patent Document 1 proposes that maintenance information on railway vehicles is handled as data, and information or services contracted to a designated part of a railway company when a contract event occurs is provided. However, since the position information of the vehicle on the route of each company is information managed by each company's system, even if Patent Document 1 is applied, a system that transmits the position information of the vehicle cannot be easily constructed. .

JP 2002-329020 A

  According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle information distribution system and a vehicle information distribution method in which each business operator can acquire information related to a vehicle existing on the route of another business operator and vehicle operation management can be efficiently performed. The purpose is to provide.

  The vehicle information distribution system as one aspect of the present invention includes a server connected via a communication network to a system of each business operator that monitors vehicle operation information in the route of each business operator. Information collecting means for collecting vehicle information relating to vehicles existing in each operator's route from the operator's system, a vehicle information database for storing vehicle information collected by the information collecting means, and contract contents with each operator Storage means for storing information indicating the vehicle, determination means for determining vehicle information to be distributed to each business operator according to the contract contents with each business operator stored in the storage device, and each business by the determination means Search means that searches the vehicle information database for vehicle information that is determined to be distributed to the operator, and vehicle information obtained as a search result by the search means is distributed to each operator. And a delivery means for.

  The vehicle information distribution method according to one aspect of the present invention is used in a vehicle information distribution system having a server connected via a communication network to a system of each business operator that monitors vehicle operation information in the route of each business operator. The vehicle information on the vehicles existing in each operator's route is collected from each operator's system, the vehicle information collected from each operator's system is stored in the vehicle information database, and stored in the storage device. The vehicle information to be distributed to each business operator is determined according to the contract contents with each stored business operator, and the vehicle information determined to be distributed to each business operator based on this determination is retrieved from the vehicle information database. The vehicle information obtained as a search result by this search is distributed to each business operator.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, a vehicle information distribution system and a vehicle information distribution in which each business operator can acquire information about a vehicle existing on the route of another business operator, and the operation management of the vehicle can be executed efficiently. Can provide a method.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of a vehicle position information providing system.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration example of a vehicle position information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle position information providing system according to the present embodiment is configured such that a vehicle management system 1 of a plurality of operators is connected to an operating company server 3 via a wide area communication network 2. .

  Each company needs to manage the operation status of each vehicle on its own route. In order to manage the vehicles in such a route, the business operator has built a vehicle management system in their local network. Moreover, the route of each business operator may be mutually connected between different business operators. For this reason, each operator's vehicle may travel on the route of another operator. In such a case, each business operator's vehicle management system manages information related to vehicles (all vehicles including vehicles of other business operators) that are present on the routes of each business operator.

  In the configuration example illustrated in FIG. 1, an operation mode is illustrated in which railway companies (operators) of Company A, Company B, Company C, and Company D are performing mutual direct operation of trains (vehicles). In such an operation mode, each railway company has built a vehicle management system for managing information related to vehicles existing in its own route in its own local network. For example, the rolling stock management system of each railway company acquires the identification information of passing vehicles from the vehicle information acquisition device installed at various locations in the company's route via its own local network, so that the position of each vehicle in the company's route Is managing.

  FIG. 1 schematically shows a configuration example of a vehicle management system of company A as a configuration example of a vehicle management system of each railway company. That is, in the configuration example shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle management system of each railway company includes a plurality of vehicle information acquisition apparatuses 11 (11a, 11b, 11c,...), An in-house server 12 and a monitor in the local network of each railway company. The terminal 13 is connected.

  The vehicle information acquisition apparatus 11 is installed in each place in the company's route. Each vehicle information acquisition device 11 acquires information from a vehicle passing through an installation location on a route. The information acquired from the vehicle includes at least identification information such as a composition number of the vehicle. For example, the vehicle information acquisition device 11 acquires information such as vehicle identification information, destination information, and vehicle type from a vehicle that passes through the installation location. The vehicle information acquisition apparatus 11 transmits the information acquired from the passing vehicle together with the identification information of the apparatus (or information indicating the installation position of the apparatus) to the in-house server 12.

  The in-house server 12 includes a computer having a control unit, a storage unit, and various interfaces. In the in-house server 12, the control unit includes a CPU and various controllers. The control unit implements various processing functions by executing programs stored in the storage unit. The storage unit is configured by a storage device such as a ROM, a RAM, and an HDD. The various interfaces include a communication interface for connecting to the in-house local network, a communication interface for communicating with the operating company server 3 via the wide area communication network, and an interface for connecting to the terminal 13. .

  The in-house server 12 manages information related to each vehicle in the company's route. For example, the in-house server 12 manages information related to each vehicle on the company route based on information acquired from the vehicle information acquisition device 11 installed in each place in the company's route. The in-house server 12 performs identification and position determination of each vehicle existing in the company route based on information acquired from each vehicle information acquisition device 11. That is, the in-house server 12 manages vehicle information including vehicle identification information and vehicle position information as information about each vehicle existing in the company route. As the vehicle identification information, it is determined from which company the vehicle belongs to, based on the composition number (identification number) of the passing vehicle acquired from the vehicle information acquisition device 11. Further, the position of the vehicle is determined based on the installation position of the vehicle information acquisition device 11.

  The in-house server 12 uploads the vehicle information specified based on the information acquired from each vehicle information acquisition device 11 to the operating company server 3 as the vehicle information of the vehicle existing in the company's route. Conversely, the in-house server 12 can also download information about the vehicles on the routes of other companies from the operating company server 3. For example, the in-house server 12 receives, from the operating company server 3, information related to its own vehicle that exists on the route of another company within the scope of the contract with the operating company, and displays it on the display device (not shown) of the terminal 13. It is possible. Information received by the internal server 12 from the operating company server 3 (information distributed to the internal server 12 by the operating company server 3) will be described in detail later.

  The terminal 13 is connected to the in-house server 12 and is installed in an in-house office room or management room. The terminal 13 is configured by a computer having a control unit, a storage unit, various interfaces, an operation unit, and a display unit, for example. The terminal 13 is used by an operator or manager in the office to input operation instructions and to display (monitor) information indicating the operation status of each vehicle.

  Next, the system in the operating company will be described.

  The operating company is a company that operates a system that provides information on vehicles to each company. The management company may be in any management form as long as each business can receive the service. In this embodiment, the operating company is operated by a third party independent of each business operator, and each company receives a service (providing information) from the operating company with a contract according to their needs. Assume that.

  The operating company operates a system including the operating company server 3 and the terminal 4. The operating company server 3 collects vehicle information from the systems of each company via the wide area communication network 2 and selectively distributes the vehicle information collected from each company to each company. The terminal 4 is used for an operator or an administrator of the operating company to input an operation instruction or to display (monitor) information managed by the operating company server 3. For example, setting of information to be distributed to each company (setting of contract contents with each company) may be input by the terminal 4.

  The operating company server 3 includes a control unit 31, a memory 32, a communication unit 33, a vehicle information database 34, and a distribution setting database 35. For example, the operating company server 3 is configured by a computer. The control unit 31 includes a CPU and various controllers. The control unit 31 implements various processing functions by executing programs stored in the memory 32. The memory 32 includes a storage device such as a ROM, a RAM, and a nonvolatile memory. The communication unit 33 is an interface for communicating with the server 12 of each company via the wide area communication network 2.

The vehicle information database 34 and the distribution setting database 35 are provided in a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk drive. The vehicle information database 34 and the distribution setting database 35 may be provided in an external device that can communicate with the operating company server 3.
The vehicle information database 34 functions as a storage unit that stores vehicle information. The vehicle information database 34 stores vehicle information collected from the system 1 of each company. The vehicle information database 34 stores at least vehicle identification information and position information of the vehicle in association with each other. Further, in the vehicle information database 34, in addition to the vehicle identification information (for example, the vehicle number (organization number) and the name of the company to which the vehicle belongs) and the current position of the vehicle, the type of the vehicle, and Information such as the destination of the vehicle may also be stored.

  The distribution setting database 35 functions as a storage device that stores distribution settings. The distribution setting database 35 stores information indicating the setting contents of information distributed to each company. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that information to be distributed to the system of each company is determined according to the contents of the contract with each company. Therefore, the distribution setting database 35 may store the contract contents with each company for specifying information to be distributed to each company.

Next, functions of the operating company server 3 will be described.
The operating company server 3 has an information collecting function for collecting vehicle information from each company's system (server), a judgment function for judging information to be delivered to each company based on information stored in the delivery setting database 35, and a judgment. It has a search function that searches the vehicle information database 34 for information that is determined to be distributed by the function, and a distribution function that distributes the search results to the systems (servers) of each company. These functions are realized when the control unit 31 executes a program stored in the memory 32.

  The information collection function is a function of collecting vehicle information managed by the vehicle management system 1 of each company and recording the collected vehicle information in the vehicle information database 34. The vehicle information may be appropriately supplied from each company's server 12 or may be appropriately requested from each company's server. For example, the information collection function may collect vehicle information from the server 12 of each company periodically. In this case, the information collection function may update the vehicle information database 34 with the vehicle information collected periodically. The information collecting function may collect only the updated vehicle information every time the vehicle information is updated in the vehicle management system 1 of each company. In this case, the information collecting function may update only the vehicle information updated in the vehicle information database 34.

  The determination function determines information to be distributed to the distribution destination based on the distribution setting stored in the distribution setting database 35. The distribution setting database 35 stores distribution setting information indicating information to be distributed, a distribution destination, distribution timing, and the like. In this case, the determination function determines information to be distributed based on the distribution setting information stored in the distribution setting database 35. However, in this embodiment, the information to be distributed to the systems (servers) of each company is set according to the contents of the contract with each company. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is assumed that information indicating the contract contents of each company is stored in the distribution setting database 35 as distribution setting information.

  The search function is a function for searching the vehicle information database 34 for information determined to be distributed. Information to be distributed is determined based on distribution setting information (contract contents) stored in the distribution setting database 35 by a determination function. Therefore, the search function searches the vehicle information database 34 for information determined to be distributed by the determination function.

The distribution function is a function for distributing vehicle information as a search result obtained by the search function to the vehicle management system of each company (in-house server of each company). The distribution function sets a distribution destination based on information indicating the distribution destination stored in the distribution setting database 35. For example, the server 12 of each company or the terminal 13 installed in the office of each company is set as the delivery destination.
The distribution function distributes vehicle information as a search result by the search function to each distribution destination at a distribution timing stored in the distribution setting database 35. For example, the timing for distributing vehicle information may be every certain time, every time an update is performed, or every distribution request of a distribution destination.

Next, an example of distribution of vehicle information according to contract contents will be described.
In this embodiment, the information to be distributed and the timing to distribute are determined according to the contents of the contract with each company. When the system is actually operated, an operation mode in which a usage fee is charged according to contract contents (that is, information to be distributed and distribution timing) is assumed.

For example, in the contract between the operating company and each company, the following timing can be set as the timing for distributing vehicle information.
(1) Constant distribution As constant distribution, vehicle information is always provided. For example, it is assumed that the vehicle information is always distributed every certain time or whenever the vehicle information is updated. In addition, it is good also as constant delivery for the content of the contract which can refer vehicle information as many times as needed at a fixed usage fee.
For example, when the contract content with the company A is to constantly distribute vehicle information of the vehicles owned by the company A, the operating company server 3 uses the search function to search for the vehicles of the company A in the vehicle information database 34 at regular intervals. Vehicle information is extracted, and the extracted information is distributed by a distribution function. Further, as a constant distribution to the company A, the vehicle information of the company A is monitored in the vehicle information database 34 by the search function, and the vehicle information of the company A is distributed by the distribution function every time the vehicle information of the company A is updated. You may do it.

(2) Timing limited distribution As timing limited distribution, vehicle information is provided only at a specific timing. For example, when a vehicle information distribution request is received from a contract company, a specific event (such as a train delay) occurs, or distribution of vehicle information only during a preset time is defined as timing-limited distribution.
For example, in the contract content in which vehicle information is distributed in response to a distribution request from a contract company, the operating company server 3 searches for information requested for distribution by a search function and distributes the search result by the distribution function. In this case, the operating company may charge a fee according to the actually distributed information (information amount or type of information) to the contracting company that has requested the distribution of information.

Further, in the contract between the operating company and each company, the following information can be set as the contents of information to be distributed.
(A) Distribution of all vehicle information For distribution of all vehicle information, vehicle information of all vehicles owned by the contract company is provided to the contract company. If there is an agreement of each company, a contract for providing all vehicle information stored in the vehicle information database 34 may be made possible. For example, for the company A that has contracted to distribute all vehicle information, the operating company server 3 extracts the vehicle information of the vehicle of the company A in the vehicle information database 34 by the search function, and extracts the extracted information. Deliver with the delivery function.

(B) Distribution of specific vehicle information As distribution of specific vehicle information, only specific vehicle information is provided. For example, as specific vehicle information, vehicle information of a vehicle specified by a contract company or vehicle information of a vehicle in which a specific event (such as a train delay) has occurred is distributed. For example, in the contract contents for distributing vehicle information of a vehicle designated from the contract company as needed, the operating company server 3 retrieves the vehicle information of the designated vehicle by the retrieval function and distributes the search result by the distribution function.

(C) Distribution of incidental information As distribution of incidental information, vehicle information obtained by adding other information to vehicle identification information and position information is provided. As additional information (accompanying information) other than the vehicle identification information and position information, for example, vehicle type information of the vehicle that can be acquired by the vehicle information acquisition device 11, destination information, and the like can be considered. In this case, the vehicle information database 34 stores the accompanying information as described above together with the vehicle identification information and the position information.

  As described above, the server (operating company server) of the vehicle information providing system determines the timing for distributing the vehicle information and the information to be distributed according to the contract contents with the contract company (railway company). Yes. In such an operation form, the operating company can easily calculate the usage fee according to the amount or type of vehicle information to be distributed to each railway company, and can easily perform a charging service according to the contract contents or usage results. Can be realized. As a result, vehicle information provision that can easily realize a billing service according to the usage amount without significantly changing the existing vehicle management system at each railway company or incurring operating costs by a specific railway company Can provide a system.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle management system of each provider, 2 ... Wide area communication network, 3 ... Management company server, 11 (11a, 11b, 11c, ...) ... Vehicle information acquisition apparatus, 12 ... In-house server, 31 ... Control part, 32 ... Memory 33 ... Communication unit 34 ... Vehicle information database 35 ... Delivery setting database

Claims (7)

A vehicle information distribution system having a server connected via a communication network to a system of each business operator that monitors vehicle operation information in the route of each business operator,
Information collecting means for collecting vehicle information on vehicles existing in each operator's route from each operator's system;
A vehicle information database for storing vehicle information collected by the information collecting means;
Storage means for storing information indicating contract details with each business operator;
Determining means for determining vehicle information to be distributed to each operator according to the contract contents with each operator stored in the storage means;
Search means for searching the vehicle information database for vehicle information determined to be distributed to each operator by the determination means;
Distribution means for distributing vehicle information obtained as a search result by the search means to each operator;
A vehicle information distribution system comprising: The determination means determines the timing for distributing vehicle information according to the contract contents, and determines the vehicle information to be distributed at regular intervals for a business operator that always distributes vehicle information.
The vehicle information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein: The determination means determines the timing of distributing vehicle information according to contract details, and determines the vehicle information to be distributed every time the vehicle information database is updated for a business operator that constantly distributes vehicle information.
The vehicle information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein: The determination means determines the timing for distributing the vehicle information according to the contract contents, and the business operator that distributes the vehicle information at a limited timing should be distributed to the business operator only when distribution of the vehicle information is requested. Determine vehicle information,
The vehicle information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein: The search means extracts vehicle information related to vehicles owned by each operator,
The delivery means delivers vehicle information related to vehicles owned by each business operator extracted by the search means to each business operator.
The vehicle information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein: The search means extracts vehicle information related to a vehicle specified by a certain operator,
The distribution means distributes the vehicle information extracted by the search means to the business operator.
The vehicle information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein: A vehicle information distribution method used in a vehicle information distribution system having a server connected via a communication network to a system of each business operator that monitors vehicle operation information in the route of each business operator,
Collect vehicle information about vehicles on each operator's route from each operator's system,
Store vehicle information collected from each operator's system in the vehicle information database,
Determine the vehicle information to be distributed to each company according to the contract contents with each company stored in the storage device,
Search the vehicle information database for vehicle information determined to be distributed to each operator by this determination,
Distribute vehicle information obtained as a result of this search to each operator.
The vehicle information delivery method characterized by the above-mentioned.

Images