JP2017037638A - Probe information generation program, probe information generation method, probe information generation system, and probe information group - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a probe information generation program for generating probe information to generate traffic information while protecting the privacy of a driver.SOLUTION: A probe information generation program allows a computer to function as: a probe information acquisition section for acquiring first probe information including at least a vehicle position and information of time when the vehicle passes the position; a passage time determination section for determining time when a vehicle passes a link end point neighborhood position being the position inside an area including a link end point and the neighborhood of the link end point on the basis of road data including at least the position information of the link end point, and also the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition section; and a probe information generation section for generating second probe information on the basis of a link end point neighborhood position and the time determined by the passage time determination section.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a probe information creation program, a probe information creation method, a probe information creation system, and a probe information group. More specifically, the present invention relates to a probe information creation program for creating probe information based on probe information provided by a vehicle, a probe information creation method and a probe information creation system, and a probe information group including the created probe information.

  Conventionally, a system that generates traffic information useful for driving a vehicle such as travel time information based on probe information collected from a vehicle traveling on a road and provides the generated traffic information to a driver has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-241987

  However, the time-series probe information indicates not only traffic information such as travel time information and traffic jam section information but also information related to personal driving characteristics such as vehicle acceleration, deceleration, steering, etc., by indicating the travel trajectory of the vehicle. be able to. For this reason, there is a problem from the viewpoint of protecting the privacy of the driver.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides a probe information creation program and the like for creating probe information for generating traffic information while protecting driver privacy. With the goal.

  (1) In order to achieve the above object, a probe information creation program according to an embodiment of the present invention obtains first probe information including at least information on a position of a vehicle and time passing through the position. A position in an area including the link end point and the vicinity of the link end point based on the acquisition unit, road data including at least information on the position of the link end point, and the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit The second probe information is generated based on the passage time determination unit that determines the time when the vehicle passes through the position near the link end point, and the time determined by the position near the link end point and the passage time determination unit. The computer is caused to function as a probe information creating unit.

  (11) A probe information creation program according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a probe information acquisition unit that acquires first probe information including at least information on a position of a vehicle and a time of passing the position, and the probe A travel time for calculating a travel time indicating a time required for one or more of the vehicles to travel the processing target link based on the first probe information of the at least one or more of the vehicles acquired by the information acquisition unit. A calculation unit; a number acquisition unit for acquiring the number of vehicles traveling on the processing target link at a predetermined time; the travel time calculated by the travel time calculation unit; and the number of vehicles acquired by the number acquisition unit. Based on the above, the computer is caused to function as a probe information creating unit that creates the second probe information.

  (12) A probe information creation program according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a probe information acquisition unit that acquires first probe information including at least information on a position of a vehicle and time passing through the position, and the probe Based on the first probe information acquired by the information acquisition unit, a travel time calculation unit that calculates a travel time indicating the time required for the vehicle to travel the link, and based on the distance of the link and the travel time The computer functions as a probe information creation unit that creates second probe information at a predetermined interval, and the probe information creation unit includes the second probe information at the most upstream of the first link and the upstream of the first link. The second probe information is created such that the interval between the second probe information and the second probe information downstream of the second link is the predetermined interval.

  (13) A probe information creation program according to another embodiment of the present invention acquires, for each of a plurality of vehicles, first probe information including at least information on a position of the vehicle and a time passing through the position. Travel time calculation for calculating a travel time indicating a time required for the vehicle to travel the link based on the probe information acquisition unit and the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit for each vehicle. The first probe information is normalized for each vehicle using a representative travel time based on the travel time of the plurality of vehicles and the plurality of vehicles, and the position within the area including the link end point and the vicinity of the link end point The computer functions as a probe information normalization unit that creates second probe information in which the time at which the vehicle passes through a position near a link end point is unified. To.

  (17) A probe information creation program according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a probe information acquisition unit that acquires first probe information including at least information on a position of a vehicle and time passing through the position; The computer is caused to function as a probe information creating unit that creates second probe information at a predetermined interval based on traffic information related to traveling of the vehicle and the first probe information.

  (19) A probe information creation method according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a step of obtaining first probe information including at least information on a position of a vehicle and a time passing through the position, and a position of a link end point. Based on the road data including at least information and the first probe information acquired in the acquiring step, the link end point and a position in the vicinity of the link end point that is in the area including the vicinity of the link end point are determined as the vehicle. And a step of creating second probe information based on the position near the link end point and the time determined in the determining step.

  (20) In the probe information creation method according to another embodiment of the present invention, in the step of acquiring the first probe information including at least information on the position of the vehicle and the time passing through the position, and in the acquiring step Calculating a travel time indicating a time required for one or more of the vehicles to travel the processing target link based on the acquired first probe information of the one or more of the vehicles; and a predetermined time The second step is based on the step of acquiring the number of vehicles traveling on the processing target link, the travel time calculated in the calculating step, and the number of vehicles acquired in the acquiring step. Creating the probe information of

  (21) In the probe information creation method according to another embodiment of the present invention, in the step of acquiring the first probe information including at least information on the position of the vehicle and the time passing through the position, and in the acquiring step Based on the acquired first probe information, a step of calculating a travel time indicating a time required for the vehicle to travel on the link; a distance at the predetermined interval based on the distance of the link and the travel time; The second probe information on the most upstream side of the first link and the second most downstream side of the second link continuous upstream of the first link. The second probe information is created such that the interval between the first probe information and the probe information becomes the predetermined interval.

  (22) A probe information creation method according to another embodiment of the present invention acquires, for each of a plurality of vehicles, first probe information including at least information on a position of the vehicle and time passing through the position. Calculating a travel time indicating a time required for the vehicle to travel on the link based on the first probe information acquired in the acquiring step for each vehicle, and Using the representative travel time based on the travel time of the vehicle to create second probe information by normalizing the first probe information for each vehicle.

  (23) A probe information creation method according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a step of acquiring first probe information including at least information on a position of a vehicle and a time passing through the position; And generating second probe information at a predetermined interval based on traffic information relating to traveling and the first probe information.

  (24) A probe information generation system according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a probe information acquisition unit that acquires first probe information including at least information on a position of a vehicle and a time passing through the position, and a link end point The link end point vicinity position that is a position in the area including the link end point and the vicinity of the link end point based on the road data including at least the position information and the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit A passage time determination unit that determines a time at which the vehicle passes, a probe information generation unit that generates second probe information based on the position near the link end point and the time determined by the passage time determination unit; Is provided.

  (25) A probe information generation system according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a probe information acquisition unit that acquires first probe information including at least information on a position of a vehicle and a time passing through the position, and the probe A travel time for calculating a travel time indicating a time required for one or more of the vehicles to travel the processing target link based on the first probe information of the at least one or more of the vehicles acquired by the information acquisition unit. A calculation unit; a number acquisition unit for acquiring the number of vehicles traveling on the processing target link at a predetermined time; the travel time calculated by the travel time calculation unit; and the number of vehicles acquired by the number acquisition unit. And a probe information creation unit for creating second probe information.

  (26) A probe information generation system according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a probe information acquisition unit that acquires first probe information including at least information on a position of a vehicle and a time of passing the position, and the probe Based on the first probe information acquired by the information acquisition unit, a travel time calculation unit that calculates a travel time indicating the time required for the vehicle to travel the link, and based on the distance of the link and the travel time A probe information creation unit that creates second probe information at a predetermined interval, and the probe information creation unit is continuous upstream of the second probe information on the most upstream side of the first link and upstream of the first link. The second probe information is created such that the interval between the second link information on the most downstream side of the second link and the second link information is the predetermined interval.

  (27) A probe information creation system according to another embodiment of the present invention acquires, for each of a plurality of vehicles, first probe information including at least information on a position of the vehicle and time passing through the position. Travel time calculation for calculating a travel time indicating a time required for the vehicle to travel the link based on the probe information acquisition unit and the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit for each vehicle. And a probe information normalization unit that creates second probe information by normalizing the first probe information for each vehicle using a representative travel time based on the travel time of the plurality of vehicles. With.

  (28) A probe information generation system according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a probe information acquisition unit that acquires first probe information including at least information on a position of a vehicle and a time passing through the position, and on a link. A probe information creating unit that creates second probe information at predetermined intervals based on the traffic information relating to the traveling of the vehicle and the first probe information.

  (29) A probe information group according to another embodiment of the present invention is a probe information group composed of a plurality of probe information indicating a travel locus of at least one vehicle traveling on at least one link, Each probe information includes at least a position of the vehicle and a time passing through the position, and the position of the vehicle among the plurality of probe information is a position in an area including a link end point and the vicinity of the link end point. The ratio of the probe information that is near the end point is equal to or greater than the first predetermined value.

  According to the present invention, probe information for generating traffic information can be created while protecting a driver's privacy.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the traffic information provision system which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a probe information creation device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the format of the 1st probe information collected from the probe terminal of a vehicle. It is a figure which shows an example of a road map. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the probe information creation apparatus according to Embodiment 1. It is a figure for demonstrating passage time determination processing (S2 of FIG. 5). It is a figure which shows an example of the format of the 2nd probe information which the probe information preparation part produced. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the probe information production apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the probe information creation apparatus according to Embodiment 2. It is a figure for demonstrating passage position determination processing (S5 of FIG. 9). 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the probe information creation device according to Embodiment 3. It is a figure for demonstrating passage time determination processing (S8 of FIG. 11). 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by a probe information creation device according to Embodiment 4. It is a figure for demonstrating passage time determination processing (S11 of FIG. 13). It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the probe information creation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 5. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by a probe information creation device according to Embodiment 5. It is a figure for demonstrating a congestion area determination process (S14 of FIG. 16). It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the probe information creation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 6. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by a probe information creation device according to Embodiment 6. It is a figure for demonstrating a travel time calculation process (S18 of FIG. 19). FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a probe information creation device according to an eighth embodiment. 20 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by a probe information creation device according to Embodiment 8. It is a figure for demonstrating the production | generation process of the 2nd probe information of a predetermined time interval. It is a figure for demonstrating the preparation process of the 2nd probe information of a predetermined distance space | interval. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the probe information creation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 9. FIG. FIG. 23 is a diagram for describing processing executed by a probe information creation device according to Embodiment 9. 20 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the probe information creation device according to Embodiment 9. It is a figure which shows the information of the driving speed of the vehicle as traffic information. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of preparation of the 2nd probe information of a predetermined distance space | interval (for example, 100m space | interval). It is a figure for demonstrating the example of preparation of the 2nd probe information of a predetermined time interval (for example, 5 second interval). It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process which the probe information production apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 10 performs.

  First, embodiments of the present invention will be listed and described.

  (1) A probe information creation program according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a probe information acquisition unit that acquires first probe information including at least information on a position of a vehicle and time passing through the position, and a position of a link end point Based on the road data including at least the above information and the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit, the link end point vicinity position that is a position in the area including the link end point and the vicinity of the link end point is A computer as a probe information creation unit that creates second probe information based on a passage time determination unit that determines a time at which the vehicle passes, a position near the link end point, and the time determined by the passage time determination unit Make it work.

  According to this configuration, the second probe information is created based on the position near the link end point and the time when the vehicle passes through the position near the link end point. That is, the second probe information can be created by excluding the first probe information including information on the position of the link other than the position near the link end point. Therefore, the second probe information created by the probe information creation unit can be used for generating traffic information such as travel time information, but it is difficult to use it for specifying individual driving characteristics. For this reason, probe information for generating traffic information can be created while protecting the privacy of the driver.

  (2) Moreover, the probe information creation unit may include the link end point vicinity position and the time determined by the passage time determination unit as the second probe information.

  According to this configuration, the second probe information is created based on the position near the link end point and the time when the vehicle passes through the position near the link end point. Thereby, 2nd probe information can be produced except the 1st probe information containing the information on the position in the middle of a link other than the position near a link end point.

  (3) Further, the probe information creation program is further configured to be based on the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit with a time when the vehicle passes the position near the link end point as a reference time. The computer functions as a passage position determination unit that determines a position at which the vehicle passes at a time interval, and the probe information creation unit further includes the time of the predetermined time interval and the passage position determination unit from the reference time. Third probe information may be created based on the determined position.

  When the travel time information is generated only from the second probe information including the position near the link end point, there is a possibility that the travel time information of the link different from the link of interest is generated due to the map matching failure. . However, according to this configuration, the third probe information indicating the traveling locus of the vehicle at a predetermined time interval can be created, so that the probe information between the link end points can be interpolated. For this reason, the success rate of map matching can be raised and travel time information can be calculated | required correctly. Further, since the third probe information is information at a predetermined time interval and is thinned out in time, the privacy of the driver can be protected.

  (4) Further, the probe information creation unit selects, from the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit, probe information including time information closest to the time of the predetermined time interval from the reference time. By doing so, the third probe information may be created.

  According to this configuration, the third probe information is created by selecting the probe information from the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit. For this reason, compared with the case where 3rd probe information is newly produced, the processing amount required for 3rd probe information creation can be reduced.

  (5) Further, the passage time determination unit further determines the position of the predetermined distance interval with the position near the link end point as a reference position based on the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit. Is determined based on the position of the predetermined distance interval from the reference position and the time when the vehicle passes the position determined by the passage time determination unit. Third probe information may be created.

  When the travel time information is generated only from the second probe information including the position near the link end point, there is a possibility that the travel time information of the link different from the link of interest is generated due to the map matching failure. . However, according to this configuration, it is possible to create the third probe information indicating the traveling locus of the vehicle at a predetermined distance interval, and therefore it is possible to interpolate the probe information between the link end points. For this reason, the success rate of map matching can be raised and travel time information can be calculated | required correctly. In addition, since the third probe information is information of a predetermined distance interval and is information thinned out in distance, the privacy of the driver can be protected.

  (6) In addition, the probe information creation unit selects, from the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit, probe information including information on a position closest to the position of the predetermined distance interval from the reference position. By doing so, the third probe information may be created.

  According to this configuration, the third probe information is created by selecting the probe information from the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit. For this reason, compared with the case where 3rd probe information is newly produced, the processing amount required for 3rd probe information creation can be reduced.

  (7) Moreover, the road data further includes information on the position of the feature point on the link, and the passage time determination unit is further based on the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit, The time when the vehicle passes the position of the feature point is determined, and the probe information creation unit further passes the position of the feature point determined by the position of the feature point and the passage time determination unit. The third probe information may be created based on the time.

  When the travel time information is generated only from the second probe information including the position near the link end point, there is a possibility that the travel time information of the link different from the link of interest is generated due to the map matching failure. . However, according to this configuration, an inflection point that indicates a road corner, a gradient change point that indicates a location where the road gradient changes, or a road type change point that indicates a location where the road type changes, such as a tunnel entrance or exit, etc. The third probe information including the position information of the feature points is created. Therefore, probe information between link end points can be interpolated. For this reason, the success rate of map matching can be raised and travel time information can be calculated | required correctly. In addition, since the third probe information is information on feature points and is thinned out in distance, the privacy of the driver can be protected.

  (8) Further, the probe information creation unit selects probe information including information on a position closest to the position of the feature point from the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit. Third probe information may be created.

  According to this configuration, the third probe information is created by selecting the probe information from the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit. For this reason, compared with the case where 3rd probe information is newly produced, the processing amount required for 3rd probe information creation can be reduced.

  (9) In addition, the probe information creation unit creates link information for a predetermined link that is a link that satisfies a predetermined condition, excluding at least one link end point vicinity position of two link end point vicinity positions. Also good.

  For example, an intra-intersection link whose end points are an intersection inflow portion and an intersection outflow portion has a short distance. For links with such short distances, even if link information is created excluding at least one of the two link end point vicinity positions, the probe information relating to the link end point vicinity position of the other link is known. If so, it may be possible to generate travel time information. Thereby, since creation of link information unnecessary for generating travel time information can be suppressed, probe information necessary for generating travel time information can be generated while protecting the privacy of the driver.

  (10) The probe information creation program further causes the computer to function as a traffic jam section determining unit that determines a traffic jam section on a link based on the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit. The passage time determination unit further determines a time at which the vehicle passes through the end point position of the congestion section including the vicinity of the end point of the congestion section based on the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit. The probe information creation unit further creates third probe information based on the end point position of the congestion section and the time of passing the end point position of the congestion section determined by the passage time determination unit May be.

  According to this configuration, the third probe information is created based on the end point position of the traffic jam section and the time when the vehicle passes the end point position. Thereby, the 3rd probe information which the probe information creation part created can be used also for generation of traffic jam section information. In addition, since the 3rd probe information which concerns on the end point position of a traffic congestion area is created, the 3rd probe information can be created except the 1st probe information including the information on the position in the middle of a traffic congestion area. . Therefore, the second probe information and the third probe information created by the probe information creation unit can be used for generating traffic information such as travel time information and traffic jam section information, but for specifying individual driving characteristics. It is difficult to use. Therefore, it is possible to create probe information for generating travel time information and traffic jam section information while protecting the driver's privacy.

  (11) A probe information creation program according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a probe information acquisition unit that acquires first probe information including at least information on a position of a vehicle and a time of passing the position, and the probe A travel time for calculating a travel time indicating a time required for one or more of the vehicles to travel the processing target link based on the first probe information of the at least one or more of the vehicles acquired by the information acquisition unit. A calculation unit; a number acquisition unit for acquiring the number of vehicles traveling on the processing target link at a predetermined time; the travel time calculated by the travel time calculation unit; and the number of vehicles acquired by the number acquisition unit. Based on the above, the computer is caused to function as a probe information creating unit that creates the second probe information.

  According to this configuration, the travel time is temporarily calculated based on the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit, and virtual second probe information is created based on the calculated travel time. By using the generated virtual second probe information, another processing apparatus can calculate a travel time that is the same as or similar to that calculated by the travel time calculation unit. Further, it is possible to virtually create second probe information that cannot generate traffic information other than travel time information. For this reason, probe information for generating traffic information can be created while protecting the privacy of the driver.

  (12) A probe information creation program according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a probe information acquisition unit that acquires first probe information including at least information on a position of a vehicle and time passing through the position, and the probe Based on the first probe information acquired by the information acquisition unit, a travel time calculation unit that calculates a travel time indicating the time required for the vehicle to travel the link, and based on the distance of the link and the travel time The computer functions as a probe information creation unit that creates second probe information at a predetermined interval, and the probe information creation unit includes the second probe information at the most upstream of the first link and the upstream of the first link. The second probe information is created such that the interval between the second probe information and the second probe information downstream of the second link is the predetermined interval.

  According to this configuration, the second probe information at a predetermined interval is created based on the link distance and the travel time of the link. That is, the second probe information is created except for the first probe information including information on positions that are not at predetermined distance intervals or times that are not at predetermined time intervals. Therefore, the second probe information created by the probe information creation unit can be used for generating traffic information such as travel time information, but it is difficult to use it for specifying individual driving characteristics. For this reason, probe information for generating traffic information can be created while protecting the privacy of the driver. Even when the links are continuous, the second probe information indicating the traveling locus of the vehicle at a predetermined interval is created. Therefore, second probe information that can be processed by a processing apparatus that can handle only probe information at a predetermined interval can be created.

  (13) A probe information creation program according to another embodiment of the present invention acquires, for each of a plurality of vehicles, first probe information including at least information on a position of the vehicle and a time passing through the position. Travel time calculation for calculating a travel time indicating a time required for the vehicle to travel the link based on the probe information acquisition unit and the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit for each vehicle. The first probe information is normalized for each vehicle using a representative travel time based on the travel time of the plurality of vehicles and the plurality of vehicles, and the position within the area including the link end point and the vicinity of the link end point The computer functions as a probe information normalization unit that creates second probe information in which the time at which the vehicle passes through a position near a link end point is unified. To.

  According to this configuration, by normalizing the first probe information of a plurality of vehicles using the representative travel time, the second probe information in which the travel time is normalized can be obtained for each vehicle. Thus, since the travel time of the second probe information is normalized, probe information for generating traffic information can be created while protecting the privacy of the driver.

  (14) Further, the above-described probe information creation program further extracts, from the second probe information, information on the position of the vehicle and the time passing through the position at a predetermined interval. The computer may function as a probe information creation unit that creates probe information.

  A third probe in which travel time is normalized and the amount of data is reduced by creating third probe information including information on a position at a predetermined interval or time at a predetermined interval from the second probe information. Information can be created.

  (15) Further, the probe information creation unit may include the first information of the plurality of vehicles so that the information on the same vehicle is not included in a predetermined number of pieces of information included in the third probe information. The third probe information may be created by extracting the information from the two probe information at the predetermined interval.

  According to this configuration, the third probe information can be created by uniformly extracting information from a plurality of vehicles. As a result, the privacy protection of the driver can be further strengthened.

  (16) Further, the probe information normalization unit, for each vehicle, divides the representative travel time based on a distance related to the position included in the first probe information, thereby determining the position. You may determine the time to pass.

  For example, when the first probe information of the vehicle that decelerates from the upstream to the downstream of the link and the first probe information of the vehicle that accelerates from the upstream to the downstream of the link are included, without normalization, When the first probe information is merged, when the passage time is traced from the upstream to the downstream of the link, there may be a problem that the time goes back to the past. However, according to this configuration, it is possible to normalize the first probe information on the assumption that each vehicle is traveling at a constant speed. For this reason, it is possible to create the third probe information from the second probe information of a plurality of vehicles without causing a problem of the passage time.

  (17) A probe information creation program according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a probe information acquisition unit that acquires first probe information including at least information on a position of a vehicle and time passing through the position; The computer is caused to function as a probe information creating unit that creates second probe information at a predetermined interval based on traffic information related to traveling of the vehicle and the first probe information.

  According to this configuration, the second probe information can be created by converting the first probe information so as to match the traffic information. For example, when traffic information indicating that the vehicle is frequently decelerating in the middle of the link is statistically obtained, second probe information that decelerates when passing through the location is created. be able to. Thereby, probe information according to past statistical information can be created, and highly reliable probe information can be created.

  (18) Further, the above-described probe information creation program further calculates a travel time indicating a time required for the vehicle to travel the link based on the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit. A travel time calculation unit that performs a computer function as a probe information normalization unit that normalizes the first probe information based on the travel time, and the probe information creation unit is normalized with the traffic information. Based on the first probe information, the second probe information at the predetermined interval is created.

  According to this configuration, the first probe information is normalized based on the travel time. For this reason, even if it is a case where the 1st probe information is acquired from a plurality of vehicles, the 2nd probe information can be created after arranging travel time.

  (19) A probe information creation method according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a step of obtaining first probe information including at least information on a position of a vehicle and a time passing through the position, and a position of a link end point. Based on the road data including at least information and the first probe information acquired in the acquiring step, the link end point and a position in the vicinity of the link end point that is in the area including the vicinity of the link end point are determined as the vehicle. And a step of creating second probe information based on the position near the link end point and the time determined in the determining step.

  This configuration includes steps corresponding to each processing unit of the probe information creation program shown in (1). For this reason, there can exist the same operation and effect as the probe information creation program shown in (1).

  (20) In the probe information creation method according to another embodiment of the present invention, in the step of acquiring the first probe information including at least information on the position of the vehicle and the time passing through the position, and in the acquiring step Calculating a travel time indicating a time required for one or more of the vehicles to travel the processing target link based on the acquired first probe information of the one or more of the vehicles; and a predetermined time The second step is based on the step of acquiring the number of vehicles traveling on the processing target link, the travel time calculated in the calculating step, and the number of vehicles acquired in the acquiring step. Creating the probe information of

  This configuration includes steps corresponding to each processing unit of the probe information creation program shown in (11). For this reason, the same operation and effect as the probe information creation program shown in (11) can be produced.

  (21) In the probe information creation method according to another embodiment of the present invention, in the step of acquiring the first probe information including at least information on the position of the vehicle and the time passing through the position, and in the acquiring step Based on the acquired first probe information, a step of calculating a travel time indicating a time required for the vehicle to travel on the link; a distance at the predetermined interval based on the distance of the link and the travel time; The second probe information on the most upstream side of the first link and the second most downstream side of the second link continuous upstream of the first link. The second probe information is created such that the interval between the first probe information and the probe information becomes the predetermined interval.

  This configuration has, as a configuration, steps corresponding to each processing unit of the probe information creation program shown in (12). For this reason, the same operation and effect as the probe information creation program shown in (12) can be obtained.

  (22) A probe information creation method according to another embodiment of the present invention acquires, for each of a plurality of vehicles, first probe information including at least information on a position of the vehicle and time passing through the position. Calculating a travel time indicating a time required for the vehicle to travel on the link based on the first probe information acquired in the acquiring step for each vehicle, and Using the representative travel time based on the travel time of the vehicle to create second probe information by normalizing the first probe information for each vehicle.

  This configuration has, as a configuration, steps corresponding to each processing unit of the probe information creation program shown in (13). For this reason, the same operation and effect as the probe information creation program shown in (13) can be produced.

  (23) A probe information creation method according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a step of acquiring first probe information including at least information on a position of a vehicle and a time passing through the position; And generating second probe information at a predetermined interval based on traffic information relating to traveling and the first probe information.

  This configuration includes steps corresponding to each processing unit of the probe information creation program shown in (17). For this reason, the same operation and effect as the probe information creation program shown in (17) can be produced.

  (24) A probe information generation system according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a probe information acquisition unit that acquires first probe information including at least information on a position of a vehicle and a time passing through the position, and a link end point The link end point vicinity position that is a position in the area including the link end point and the vicinity of the link end point based on the road data including at least the position information and the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit A passage time determination unit that determines a time at which the vehicle passes, a probe information generation unit that generates second probe information based on the position near the link end point and the time determined by the passage time determination unit; Is provided.

  This configuration has the same configuration as the probe information creation program shown in (1). For this reason, there can exist the same operation and effect as the probe information creation program shown in (1).

  (25) A probe information generation system according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a probe information acquisition unit that acquires first probe information including at least information on a position of a vehicle and a time passing through the position, and the probe A travel time for calculating a travel time indicating a time required for one or more of the vehicles to travel the processing target link based on the first probe information of the at least one or more of the vehicles acquired by the information acquisition unit. A calculation unit; a number acquisition unit for acquiring the number of vehicles traveling on the processing target link at a predetermined time; the travel time calculated by the travel time calculation unit; and the number of vehicles acquired by the number acquisition unit. And a probe information creation unit for creating second probe information.

  This configuration has the same configuration as the probe information creation program shown in (11). For this reason, the same operation and effect as the probe information creation program shown in (11) can be produced.

  (26) A probe information generation system according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a probe information acquisition unit that acquires first probe information including at least information on a position of a vehicle and a time of passing the position, and the probe Based on the first probe information acquired by the information acquisition unit, a travel time calculation unit that calculates a travel time indicating the time required for the vehicle to travel the link, and based on the distance of the link and the travel time A probe information creation unit that creates second probe information at a predetermined interval, and the probe information creation unit is continuous upstream of the second probe information on the most upstream side of the first link and upstream of the first link. The second probe information is created such that the interval between the second link information on the most downstream side of the second link and the second link information is the predetermined interval.

  This configuration has the same configuration as the probe information creation program shown in (12). For this reason, the same operation and effect as the probe information creation program shown in (12) can be obtained.

  (27) A probe information creation system according to another embodiment of the present invention acquires, for each of a plurality of vehicles, first probe information including at least information on a position of the vehicle and time passing through the position. Travel time calculation for calculating a travel time indicating a time required for the vehicle to travel the link based on the probe information acquisition unit and the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit for each vehicle. And a probe information normalization unit that creates second probe information by normalizing the first probe information for each vehicle using a representative travel time based on the travel time of the plurality of vehicles. With.

  This configuration has the same configuration as the probe information creation program shown in (13). For this reason, the same operation and effect as the probe information creation program shown in (13) can be produced.

  (28) A probe information generation system according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a probe information acquisition unit that acquires first probe information including at least information on a position of a vehicle and a time passing through the position, and on a link. A probe information creating unit that creates second probe information at predetermined intervals based on the traffic information relating to the traveling of the vehicle and the first probe information.

  This configuration has the same configuration as the probe information creation program shown in (17). For this reason, the same operation and effect as the probe information creation program shown in (17) can be produced.

  (29) A probe information group according to another embodiment of the present invention is a probe information group composed of a plurality of probe information indicating a travel locus of at least one vehicle traveling on at least one link, Each probe information includes at least a position of the vehicle and a time passing through the position, and the position of the vehicle among the plurality of probe information is a position in an area including a link end point and the vicinity of the link end point. The ratio of the probe information that is near the end point is equal to or greater than the first predetermined value.

  According to this configuration, of the plurality of probe information constituting the probe information group, the probe information having a ratio equal to or greater than the first predetermined value includes information on the position near the link end point. By setting the first predetermined value to a large value, most of the probe information included in the probe information group becomes probe information near the link end point. For this reason, this probe information group can be used for generating traffic information such as travel time information, but it is difficult to use it for specifying individual driving characteristics. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a probe information group for generating traffic information while protecting the driver's privacy.

  (30) In addition, a ratio of probe information in which the position of the vehicle is a position in a traffic jam section among the plurality of probe information may be equal to or greater than a second predetermined value.

  According to this configuration, the probe information having a ratio equal to or greater than the second predetermined value among the plurality of probe information constituting the probe information group includes the position information in the traffic jam section. By setting the second predetermined value to a large value, most of the probe information included in the probe information group becomes vehicle probe information at a position near the link end point or a position in a traffic jam section. For this reason, this probe information group can be used for generating traffic information such as travel time information and traffic jam section information, but it is difficult to use for specifying individual driving characteristics. Therefore, it is possible to provide a probe information group for generating travel time information and traffic jam section information while protecting the driver's privacy.

[Details of the embodiment of the present invention]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Each of the embodiments described below shows a preferred specific example of the present invention. Numerical values, shapes, components, arrangement positions and connection forms of components, steps, order of steps, and the like shown in the following embodiments are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the present invention. The invention is specified by the claims. Therefore, among the constituent elements in the following embodiments, constituent elements that are not described in the independent claims indicating the highest concept of the present invention are not necessarily required to achieve the object of the present invention. It will be described as constituting a preferred form.
In addition, you may combine arbitrarily at least one part of embodiment described below.

(Embodiment 1)
[1-1. Overall configuration of traffic information provision system]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the traffic information providing system according to the first embodiment.

  The traffic information providing system 100 is a system that acquires first probe information indicating a movement locus of the vehicle 6 from a probe terminal mounted on the vehicle 6 and provides traffic information such as travel time information to the vehicle 6. . The traffic information provision system 100 includes a probe information collection server 1, a probe information creation device 2, and a traffic information provision device 3 that are connected to each other via a network 4 such as the Internet.

  The probe information collection server 1 collects first probe information including information on the position of the vehicle 6 and the time passing through the position from probe terminals mounted on the plurality of vehicles 6 traveling on the road. That is, the probe terminal of the vehicle 6 performs wireless communication with the wireless base station 5 connected to the network 4, and sends the first probe information to the probe information collection server 1 via the wireless base station 5 and the network 4. Send. The probe information collection server 1 receives the first probe information. The probe information collection server 1 transmits the first probe information collected from the plurality of vehicles 6 to the probe information creation device 2. The probe information collection server 1 may transmit the first probe information to the probe information creation device 2 at a predetermined time interval, or when a predetermined number of first probe information is collected. Then, the first probe information may be transmitted to the probe information creation device 2.

  The probe information creation device 2 receives the first probe information from the probe information collection server 1. The probe information creation device 2 creates new second probe information that protects the privacy of the driver based on the received first probe information, and transmits the created second probe information to the traffic information providing device 3. To do. Details of the second probe information creation processing by the probe information creation device 2 will be described later.

  The traffic information providing device 3 receives the first probe information from the probe information creation device 2, and generates traffic information such as travel time information using the received first probe information. The traffic information providing apparatus 3 transmits the generated traffic information to a car navigation system mounted on the vehicle 6 or a smartphone owned by the driver of the vehicle 6 via the network 4 and the wireless base station 5. Car navigation system software or car navigation system software executed by a smartphone can search a route to a destination based on the received traffic information or provide traffic information to the driver.

[1-2. Configuration of Probe Information Creation Device 2]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the probe information creation device 2 according to the first embodiment.

  The probe information creation device 2 includes a communication I / F (interface) unit 21, a probe information acquisition unit 22, a probe information storage unit 23, a road data storage unit 24, a passage time determination unit 25, and a probe information creation unit. 26 and a probe information providing unit 27.

  The communication I / F unit 21 is a communication interface that is connected to the network 4 and transmits / receives data to / from the probe information collection server 1 and the traffic information providing device 3 via the network 4, and is a LAN (Local Area Network) adapter. Etc.

  The probe information acquisition unit 22 acquires first probe information from the probe information collection server 1 via the communication I / F unit 21. The probe information acquisition unit 22 writes the acquired first probe information in the probe information storage unit 23.

  The probe information storage unit 23 is a storage device that stores the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit 22, and includes a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or the like.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a format of first probe information collected from the probe terminal of the vehicle 6. The probe terminal of the vehicle 6 acquires the first probe information at a predetermined time interval (for example, every 30 seconds) or a predetermined distance interval (for example, every 100 m). The first probe information includes vehicle ID information, position information, time information, direction information, and fuel consumption information.

  The vehicle ID information is information for identifying the vehicle 6 or the probe terminal of the vehicle 6. The position information is information indicating the traveling position of the vehicle 6 by latitude and longitude. The time information is information indicating the time when the position information is acquired. The direction information is information indicating the traveling direction of the vehicle 6. The fuel consumption information is information indicating the fuel consumption of the vehicle 6.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the road data storage unit 24 is a storage device that stores road data including at least position information of link end points (for example, intersections), and is configured by an HDD or the like. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a road map. The road map shows links L1 to L24 and intersections C1 to C4. A link generally refers to a road section between two adjacent intersections. However, in the case of a wide intersection or the like, an intra-intersection link with an intersection inflow portion and an intersection outflow portion serving as a link end point is an aspect of the link. It may be provided as. For example, the link L2 is a link having the intersection C1 and the intersection C2 as link end points. The link having the intersection C1 and the intersection C2 as a link end point includes a link L5 in addition to the link L2. Link L5 is the opposite lane road of link L2. Thus, even on the same road, the links are distinguished by the traveling direction.

  The passage time determination unit 25 reads the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit 22 from the probe information storage unit 23. Based on the road data stored in the road data storage unit 24 and the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit 22, the passage time determination unit 25 determines the link end point of the processing target link and the vicinity of the link end point. The time at which the vehicle 6 passes through the position near the link end point, which is a position within the included area, is determined. Here, the vicinity of the link end point indicates a range that can be viewed with the link end point, for example, a range within 10 m from the link end point. The reason why the passage time determination unit 25 determines the passage time in the vicinity of the link end point instead of the link end point is because the first probe information at the time of passing through the link end point cannot be obtained. This is because the passage time of the link end point position may not be determined. In the road map shown in FIG. 4, it is assumed that the vehicle 6 travels in the order of the link L1, the link L2, and the link L3. A position where the first probe information of the vehicle 6 is acquired (hereinafter referred to as “probe position”) is indicated by a circle. That is, the probe position 7 indicates the travel locus of the vehicle 6. When the processing target link is the link L2, the passage time determination unit 25 determines the position near the link end point of the link L2, that is, the time when the vehicle 6 passes through the intersection C1 and the intersection C2. A method of determining the passage time near the link end point will be described later. The processing target links may be all the links included in the road data, or may be some predetermined links.

  The probe information creation unit 26 creates second probe information based on the position near the link end point of the processing target link and the time when the vehicle 6 passes the position near the link end point determined by the passage time determination unit 25. In the above-described example, the probe information creation unit 26 creates the second probe information including information on the position of the intersection C1, which is the position in the vicinity of one link end point of the link L2, and the time when the vehicle 6 passes through the intersection C1. To do. In addition, the probe information creation unit 26 creates second probe information including information on the position of the intersection C2, which is the position near the other link end point of the link L2, and the time when the vehicle 6 passes through the intersection C2. The probe information creation unit 26 writes the created second probe information in the probe information storage unit 23.

  The probe information providing unit 27 reads the second probe information created by the probe information creating unit 26 from the probe information storage unit 23 and provides the read second probe information via the communication I / F unit 21 with traffic information. Provided to the device 3.

[1-3. Processing flow of probe information creation apparatus 2]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the probe information creation device 2 according to the first embodiment. The probe information creation device 2 repeatedly executes the process shown in FIG. 5 for each collection of first probe information indicating a series of movement trajectories of each vehicle 6.

  The probe information acquisition unit 22 acquires the first probe information collected by the probe terminal mounted on the vehicle 6 from the probe information collection server 1 via the communication I / F unit 21 (S1). The probe information acquisition unit 22 writes the acquired first probe information in the probe information storage unit 23.

  The passage time determination unit 25 reads the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit 22 from the probe information storage unit 23. The passage time determination unit 25 is based on the road data stored in the road data storage unit 24, and the link end point includes the vicinity of the link end point of the processing target link from the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit 22. The time when the vehicle 6 passes through the nearby position is determined (S2).

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the passage time determination process (S2 in FIG. 5). In FIG. 6A, the probe position 7 obtained when the vehicle 6 passes through the link L1, the link L2, and the link L3 is indicated by a white circle, and the position near the link end point of each link, that is, the position of the intersection is indicated by a black circle. Show. The passing time of the vehicle 6 at the probe position 7 is shown in a rectangular frame. For example, the passage times of the probe position 7A and the probe position 7B, which are the probe positions 7 before and after the intersection C1, are “10:05:25” and “10:05:30”, respectively. As shown in FIG. 6B, the ratio of the distance from the probe position 7A to the intersection C1 and the distance from the probe position 7B to the intersection C1 is 2: 3. For this reason, the passage time determination unit 25 divides the passage time (5 seconds) between the probe position 7A and the probe position 7B by the ratio of the distance, thereby setting the passage time of the intersection C1 to “10:05:27. Is determined. FIG. 6C shows the passing time of each intersection position obtained in this way. Needless to say, when the time of passing through the position near the link end point is known from the first probe information, it is not necessary to perform such processing. Further, a position including the vicinity of the link end point (for example, within 5 m from the link end point) may be set as the link end point vicinity position.

  The probe information creation unit 26 creates second probe information based on the position near the link end point of the processing target link and the time when the vehicle 6 passes the position near the link end point determined by the passage time determination unit 25. For example, the probe information creation unit 26 creates second probe information including information on the position of the intersection and the passage time of the intersection indicated in a rectangular frame for each intersection indicated by a black circle in FIG. (S3). The probe information creation unit 26 writes the created second probe information in the probe information storage unit 23.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the format of the second probe information created by the probe information creation unit 26. The second probe information includes vehicle ID information, position information, and time information. Compared with the first probe information collected from the probe terminal of the vehicle 6 shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 7 does not have the direction information and the fuel consumption information. This is because such information is not necessary for the generation of travel time information, and is not necessary from the viewpoint of privacy protection.

  The probe information providing unit 27 reads out the second probe information created by the probe information creating unit 26 from the probe information storage unit 23 and provides it to the traffic information providing device 3 via the communication I / F unit 21 (S4).

[1-4. Effects of Embodiment 1]
According to the first embodiment, the second probe information is created based on the position near the link end point and the time when the vehicle passes through the position near the link end point. That is, the second probe information can be created by excluding the first probe information including information on the position of the link other than the position near the link end point. Therefore, the second probe information created by the probe information creation unit 26 can be used to generate traffic information such as travel time information, but is difficult to use to specify individual driving characteristics. Therefore, it is possible to create probe information for generating travel time information while protecting the driver's privacy.

  In the first embodiment, the second probe information of the positions near the two link end points is created for each link, but at least one of the two link end point adjacent positions is excluded for the predetermined link. Thus, the second link information may be created. For example, a link having a distance between positions near the link end points less than a predetermined threshold (for example, less than 50 m) may be set as the predetermined link. Moreover, it is good also considering the link in an intersection as a predetermined link. An intra-intersection link whose end points are the inflow portion and the outflow portion of the intersection has a short distance between the end points. For such a short link, even if link information is created by removing at least one of the two link end point vicinity positions, the second probe related to the link end point vicinity position of the other link. Travel time information may be generated if the information is known. As a result, it is possible to suppress the creation of link information that is unnecessary for generating travel time information, and thus creating second probe information necessary for generating travel time information while protecting the privacy of the driver. Can do.

  When one of the two link end point vicinity positions is excluded, the position of the link end point vicinity that appears first is left except for the position near the link end point that appears later in the travel of the vehicle 6. Also good. For example, when one of the intersections C1 and C2 shown in FIG. 6C is excluded, the second probe information for the intersection C1 may be created after the intersection C2 is removed and the intersection C1 is left. Good.

  Also, instead of creating the second probe information near the link end point in units of links, the second probe information in the vicinity of the link end point is created in units of virtual links by regarding a plurality of links as one virtual link. May be. For example, the three links shown in FIG. 6C are regarded as one virtual link, and the second probe information (“10:05:10” and “10:06:02”) near the link end point of the virtual link. The second probe information (probe information of “10:05:27” and “10:05:42”) at the midpoint of the virtual link may not be created. The definition of the link may be different between the probe information creation device 2 and the traffic information providing device 3. For example, the probe information creation device 2 may define a link between intersections, while the traffic information providing device 3 may ignore a small intersection and define a link between main intersections. In such a case, by providing the second probe information in units of virtual links, second probe information necessary for generating travel time information in units of links defined by the traffic information providing device 3 is provided. be able to. Moreover, the generation of travel time information in units of sublinks smaller than the link defined by the traffic information providing device 3 can be suppressed.

(Embodiment 2)
In the first embodiment, the second probe information including the position near the link end point and the time when the vehicle 6 passes through the position is created. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, third probe information including a position in the middle of the link and a time when the vehicle 6 passes through the position is created.

  The configuration of the traffic information providing system 100 according to Embodiment 2 is as shown in FIG. However, in the second embodiment, the configuration of the probe information creation device 2 is partially different from the first embodiment. In the following description, detailed description of the same parts as those in the first embodiment will not be repeated.

[2-1. Configuration of Probe Information Creation Device 2]
FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the probe information creation device 2 according to the second embodiment.

  The probe information creation apparatus 2 further includes a passage position determination unit 28 in the configuration of the probe information creation apparatus 2 according to Embodiment 1 shown in FIG.

  The passage position determination unit 28 uses the time when the vehicle 6 passes through the position near the link end point of the processing target link as a reference time, and determines the position at which the vehicle 6 passes at each predetermined time interval from the reference time as the probe information acquisition unit 22 Is determined based on the acquired first probe information. Thereby, the position in the middle of the processing target link is sequentially determined.

  The probe information creation unit 26 creates second probe information in the vicinity of the link end point of the processing target link, as in the first embodiment. In addition, the probe information creation unit 26 creates the third probe information based on the predetermined time from the reference time and the position determined by the passage position determination unit 28. Accordingly, probe information is created not only at the link end point of the processing target link but also at a position in the middle of the processing target link.

[2-2. Processing flow of probe information creation apparatus 2]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the probe information creation apparatus 2 according to the second embodiment. The probe information creation device 2 repeatedly executes the process shown in FIG. 9 for each collection of first probe information indicating a series of movement trajectories of each vehicle 6.

  The processing in steps S1 to S3 is the same as that in the first embodiment. Through the processing up to step S3, the second probe information at the position near the link end point of the processing target link is created.

Next, the passage position determination unit 28 uses the time when the vehicle 6 passes the position near the link end point of the processing target link as a reference time, and determines the position at which the vehicle 6 passes at each predetermined time interval from the reference time as probe information. Determination is made based on the first probe information acquired by the acquisition unit 22 (S5).
FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the passage position determination process (S5 in FIG. 9).

  The link to be processed is a link L8, and the link end points of the link L8, that is, the positions of the intersections C3 and C4 are indicated by black circles. The probe position is indicated by a white circle. As shown in FIG. 10 (a), the passage times at the probe positions of the intersections C3 and C4 are obtained as “10:00:00” and “10:10:00” by the processes of steps S1 to S3, respectively. It shall be. As shown in FIG. 10B, the passing position determination unit 28 sets “10:00:00”, which is the earlier of the two passing times, as the reference time, and “10:01:00”. , Based on the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit 22, the position at which the vehicle 6 passes at a time of every minute (hereinafter, “predetermined time interval”) such as “10:02:00”. To decide. When the first probe information including the information of the predetermined interval time is stored in the probe information storage unit 23, the passage position determination unit 28 reads the probe information from the probe information storage unit 23 to thereby determine the passage position. To decide.

  When the first probe information at the predetermined interval time is not stored in the probe information storage unit 23, the passage position determination unit 28 includes the first information including the closest time information before and after the predetermined interval time. Are read from the probe information storage unit 23. The passage position determination unit 28 divides the distance between the probe positions of the two read first probe information by the ratio of the time from the predetermined interval time of the two first probe information, so that the vehicle 6 Determine the position to pass. For example, as shown in FIG. 10C, as the first probe information before and after the predetermined interval time “10:03:00”, the passage times are “10:02:57” and “10:03: It is assumed that the first probe information “02” is read from the probe information storage unit 23. The former probe position is 7E, and the latter probe position is 7F. The ratio of the time from the passage time of the probe position 7E to the predetermined interval time and the time from the passage time of the probe position 7F to the predetermined interval time is 3: 2. For this reason, the passing position determination unit 28 determines the passing position of the vehicle 6 at a predetermined interval time by appropriately dividing the distance between the probe position 7E and the probe position 7F by the ratio of time. The passage position determination unit 28 may refer to the road data stored in the road data storage unit 24 when determining the distance between the probe position 7E and the probe position 7F and the passage position. . Thereby, a distance and a passage position can be calculated accurately.

  If the first probe information at the predetermined interval time is not stored in the probe information storage unit 23, the passage position determination unit 28 obtains the first probe information including the information at the time closest to the predetermined interval time. The passage position may be determined by selecting and reading from the probe information storage unit 23. That is, the probe information creation unit 26 creates the third probe information by selecting the probe information including the information of the time closest to the predetermined interval time from the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit 22. can do. Thereby, compared with the case where 3rd probe information is newly created, the processing amount required for probe information creation can be reduced.

  The probe information creation unit 26 creates third probe information based on the predetermined interval time and the passing position of the vehicle 6 at the predetermined interval time (S6). For example, the probe information creation unit 26 obtains information on a predetermined interval time at a position in the middle of the link L8 excluding the intersections C3 and C4 in FIG. 10B and a passing position of the vehicle 6 indicated by a white circle at the predetermined interval time. The third probe information including is created. The probe information creation unit 26 writes the created third probe information in the probe information storage unit 23.

  The probe information provision unit 27 reads out the second probe information and the third probe information created by the probe information creation unit 26 in the processes of steps S3 and S6 from the probe information storage unit 23, and causes the communication I / F unit 21 to Via the traffic information providing apparatus 3 (S7). Thereby, probe information at the position near the link end point of the processing target link and the position in the middle of the processing target link is provided.

[2-3. Effects of Embodiment 2]
According to the second embodiment, since the third probe information indicating the travel locus of the vehicle 6 at a predetermined time interval can be created, the probe information between the link end points can be interpolated. When the travel time information is generated only from the second probe information including the position near the link end point, there is a possibility that the travel time information of the link different from the link of interest is generated due to the map matching failure. . However, according to this configuration, since the probe information between the link end points is interpolated, the success rate of map matching can be increased, and travel time information can be accurately obtained. Further, since the third probe information is information at a predetermined time interval and is thinned out in time, the privacy of the driver can be protected.

(Embodiment 3)
In the third embodiment, similarly to the second embodiment, third probe information including a position in the middle of the link and a time when the vehicle 6 passes through the position is created. However, the probe information creation method is different from that of the second embodiment.

  The configuration of the traffic information providing system 100 according to Embodiment 3 is as shown in FIG. In the following description, detailed description of the same parts as those in the above-described embodiment will not be repeated. The same applies to the fourth and subsequent embodiments.

[3-1. Configuration of Probe Information Creation Device 2]
The configuration of the probe information creation device 2 is as shown in FIG. However, a part of the configuration is different from that of the first embodiment.

  That is, the passage time determination unit 25 determines the time when the vehicle 6 passes the position near the link end point of the processing target link, as in the first embodiment. In addition, the passage time determination unit 25 uses the position near the link end point as a reference position, and the first probe information obtained by the probe information acquisition unit 22 at the time when the vehicle 6 passes each position at a predetermined distance from the reference position. Determine based on. Thereby, the passage time of the position in the middle of the processing target link is sequentially determined.

  The probe information creation unit 26 creates second probe information in the vicinity of the link end point of the processing target link, as in the first embodiment. In addition, the probe information creation unit 26 creates third probe information based on the position at a predetermined distance from the reference position and the time when the vehicle 6 passes the position determined by the passage time determination unit 25. . Accordingly, probe information is created not only at the link end point of the processing target link but also at a position in the middle of the processing target link.

[3-2. Processing flow of probe information creation apparatus 2]
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the probe information creation device 2 according to the third embodiment. The probe information creation device 2 repeatedly executes the process shown in FIG. 11 for each collection of first probe information indicating a series of movement trajectories of each vehicle 6.

  The processing in steps S1 to S3 is the same as that in the first embodiment. Through the processing up to step S3, the second probe information at the position near the link end point of the processing target link is created.

Next, the passage time determination unit 25 uses the position near the link end point of the processing target link as a reference position, and the probe information acquisition unit 22 acquires the time at which the vehicle 6 passes through each position at a predetermined distance from the reference position. 1 is determined based on the probe information (S8).
FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the passage time determination process (S8 in FIG. 11).

  The link to be processed is a link L8, and the link end points of the link L8, that is, the positions of the intersections C3 and C4 are indicated by black circles. The probe position is indicated by a white circle. As shown in FIG. 12 (a), the passage times at the probe positions of the intersections C3 and C4 are obtained as “10:00:00” and “10:10:00” by the processing of steps S1 to S3, respectively. It shall be. As shown in FIG. 12B, the passage time determination unit uses the position of the intersection C3 where the vehicle 6 has passed at “10:00:00”, which is the earlier passage time of the two passage times, as a reference position. 25, based on the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit 22, the time when the vehicle 6 passes through a position every 100 m (hereinafter referred to as “predetermined position”). When the first probe information including the information on the predetermined interval position is stored in the probe information storage unit 23, the passage time determination unit 25 reads the probe information from the probe information storage unit 23 to thereby determine the passage time. To decide. The predetermined interval position can be accurately obtained by referring to the road data stored in the road data storage unit 24.

  When the first probe information at the predetermined interval position is not stored in the probe information storage unit 23, the passage time determination unit 25 includes the first position information including the closest position information in the range before and after the predetermined interval position. Are read from the probe information storage unit 23. The passage time determination unit 25 divides the passage time between the probe positions of the two read first probe information by the ratio of the distance from the predetermined interval position of the two first probe information, so that the vehicle 6 Is determined to pass through the predetermined interval position. The process of determining the passage time by the proportional process based on the distance ratio is as described with reference to FIG.

  When the first probe information at the predetermined interval position is not stored in the probe information storage unit 23, the passage time determination unit 25 obtains the first probe information including the position information closest to the predetermined interval position. The passage time may be determined by selecting and reading from the probe information storage unit 23. That is, the probe information creation unit 26 creates the third probe information by selecting the probe information including the position information closest to the predetermined interval position from the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit 22. can do. Thereby, compared with the case where 3rd probe information is newly created, the processing amount required for probe information creation can be reduced.

  The probe information creation unit 26 creates third probe information based on the predetermined interval position and the time when the vehicle 6 passes the predetermined interval position (S9). For example, the probe information creation unit 26 includes third information including information on a predetermined interval position indicated by a white circle at a position in the middle of the link L8 excluding the intersections C3 and C4 in FIG. 12B and the passage time of the predetermined interval position. Create probe information for. The probe information creation unit 26 writes the created third probe information in the probe information storage unit 23.

  The probe information providing unit 27 reads the second probe information and the third probe information created by the probe information creating unit 26 in the processes of steps S3 and S9 from the probe information storage unit 23, and causes the communication I / F unit 21 to Via the traffic information providing apparatus 3 (S10). Thereby, probe information at the position near the link end point of the processing target link and the position in the middle of the processing target link is provided.

[3-3. Effects of Embodiment 3]
According to the third embodiment, since the third probe information indicating the traveling locus of the vehicle 6 at a predetermined distance interval can be created, the probe information between the link end points can be interpolated. When the travel time information is generated only from the second probe information including the position near the link end point, there is a possibility that the travel time information of the link different from the link of interest is generated due to the map matching failure. . However, according to this configuration, since the probe information between the link end points is interpolated, the success rate of map matching can be increased, and travel time information can be accurately obtained. In addition, since the third probe information is information of a predetermined distance interval and is information thinned out in distance, the privacy of the driver can be protected.

(Embodiment 4)
In the fourth embodiment, similar to the second and third embodiments, third probe information including a position in the middle of the link and a time when the vehicle 6 passes through the position is created. However, the probe information creation method is different from the second and third embodiments.

  The configuration of the traffic information providing system 100 according to Embodiment 4 is as shown in FIG.

[4-1. Configuration of Probe Information Creation Device 2]
The configuration of the probe information creation device 2 is as shown in FIG. However, a part of the configuration is different from that of the first embodiment.

  That is, the road data stored in the road data storage unit 24 includes at least link end point position information as in the first embodiment. In addition, the road data of the fourth embodiment further includes information on the position of the feature point on the link. Feature points include, for example, inflection points that indicate the corners of roads, gradient change points that indicate locations where the road gradient changes, or road type change points that indicate locations where the road type changes, such as tunnel entrances or exits. It is. In addition, the road type change point includes a portion where the road type is converted, such as an entrance or an exit of an expressway.

  Similar to the first embodiment, the passage time determination unit 25 determines the time at which the vehicle 6 passes the position near the link end point of the processing target link. In addition, the passage time determination unit 25 is the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit 22 at the time when the vehicle 6 passes the position of the feature point indicated by the road data stored in the road data storage unit 24. Determine based on. Thereby, the passage time of the position in the middle of the processing target link is sequentially determined.

  The probe information creation unit 26 creates second probe information in the vicinity of the link end point of the processing target link, as in the first embodiment. In addition, the probe information creation unit 26 creates third probe information based on the position of the feature point and the time when the vehicle 6 passes the position of the feature point determined by the passage time determination unit 25. Accordingly, probe information is created not only at the link end point of the processing target link but also at a position in the middle of the processing target link.

[4-2. Processing flow of probe information creation apparatus 2]
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the probe information creation device 2 according to the fourth embodiment. The probe information creation device 2 repeatedly executes the process shown in FIG. 13 for each collection of first probe information indicating a series of movement trajectories of each vehicle 6.

  The processing in steps S1 to S3 is the same as that in the first embodiment. Through the processing up to step S3, the second probe information at the position near the link end point of the processing target link is created.

  Next, the passage time determination unit 25 is the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit 22 when the vehicle 6 passes the position of the feature point indicated by the road data stored in the road data storage unit 24. (S11).

  FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the passage time determination process (S11 in FIG. 13).

  The link to be processed is a link L9, and the link end points of the link L9, that is, the positions of the intersections C5 and C6 are indicated by black circles. The probe position is indicated by a white circle. As shown in FIG. 14 (a), the passage times at the probe positions of the intersections C5 and C6 are obtained as “11:03:00” and “11:13:06” by the processing of steps S1 to S3, respectively. It shall be. As illustrated in FIG. 14B, the passage time determination unit 25 determines the time at which the vehicle 6 passes through the feature point position based on the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit 22. When the first probe information including the feature point position information is stored in the probe information storage unit 23, the passage time determination unit 25 reads the probe information from the probe information storage unit 23 to thereby determine the passage time. To decide.

  When the first probe information of the feature point position is not stored in the probe information storage unit 23, the passage time determination unit 25 includes the first position information including the closest position information in the range before and after the feature point position. Are read from the probe information storage unit 23. The passage time determination unit 25 divides the passage time between the probe positions of the two read first probe information by the ratio of the distance from the feature point position of the two first probe information, so that the vehicle 6 Determines the time at which passes the feature point position. The process of determining the passage time by the proportional process based on the distance ratio is as described with reference to FIG.

  When the first probe information of the feature point position is not stored in the probe information storage unit 23, the passage time determination unit 25 obtains the first probe information including the position information closest to the feature point position. The passage time may be determined by selecting and reading from the probe information storage unit 23. That is, the probe information creation unit 26 selects the third probe information by selecting the probe information including the position information closest to the position of the feature point from the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit 22. Can be created. Thereby, compared with the case where 3rd probe information is newly created, the processing amount required for probe information creation can be reduced.

  The probe information creation unit 26 creates third probe information based on the feature point position and the time when the vehicle 6 passes through the feature point position (S12). For example, the probe information creation unit 26 creates third probe information including information on the feature point position 41 in FIG. 14B and the passage time “11:05:25” of the feature point position 41. The probe information creation unit 26 creates third probe information including information on the feature point position 42 and the passage time “11:07:32” of the feature point position 42. Further, the probe information creation unit 26 creates third probe information including information on the feature point position 43 and the passage time “11:10:11” of the feature point position 43. The probe information creation unit 26 writes the created third probe information in the probe information storage unit 23.

  The probe information provision unit 27 reads out the second probe information and the third probe information created by the probe information creation unit 26 in the processes of steps S3 and S12 from the probe information storage unit 23, and causes the communication I / F unit 21 to Via the traffic information providing apparatus 3 (S13). Thereby, probe information at the position near the link end point of the processing target link and the position in the middle of the processing target link is provided.

[4-3. Effects of Embodiment 4]
According to the fourth embodiment, an inflection point that indicates a corner of a road, a gradient change point that indicates a location where the road gradient changes, or a road type change point that indicates a location where the road type changes, such as a tunnel entrance or exit. The third probe information including the position information of the feature points is created. When the travel time information is generated only from the second probe information including the position near the link end point, there is a possibility that the travel time information of the link different from the link of interest is generated due to the map matching failure. . However, according to this configuration, since the probe information between the link end points is interpolated, the success rate of map matching can be increased, and travel time information can be accurately obtained. In addition, since the third probe information is information on feature points and is thinned out in distance, the privacy of the driver can be protected.

(Embodiment 5)
In Embodiment 1, the 2nd probe information in the position near a link end point which can be used for generation of travel time information was created. In the fifth embodiment, the third probe information that can be used to generate the traffic jam section information of the vehicle 6 is further created.

  The configuration of the traffic information providing system 100 according to Embodiment 5 is as shown in FIG. However, in the fifth embodiment, the configuration of the probe information creation device 2 is partially different from that of the first embodiment.

[5-1. Configuration of Probe Information Creation Device 2]
FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the probe information creation device 2 according to the fifth embodiment.

  The probe information creation device 2 further includes a traffic jam section determination unit 29 in the configuration of the probe information creation device 2 shown in FIG.

  The traffic jam section determination unit 29 determines a traffic jam section on the link based on the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit 22. That is, the traffic jam section determining unit 29 calculates the traveling speed of the vehicle 6 based on the position of the vehicle 6 at two or more points and the passing time of the position from the movement locus of the vehicle 6 indicated by the first probe information. . The traffic jam section determining unit 29 determines that a section having a traveling speed equal to or less than a predetermined speed threshold is a traffic jam section if the section is continuous for a predetermined distance or more.

  Similar to the first embodiment, the passage time determination unit 25 determines the time at which the vehicle 6 passes the position near the link end point of the processing target link. In addition, the passage time determination unit 25 determines the time at which the vehicle 6 passes through the end point position of the congestion section including the vicinity of the end point of the congestion section determined by the congestion section determination unit 29.

  The probe information creation unit 26 creates second probe information in the vicinity of the link end point of the processing target link, as in the first embodiment. In addition, the probe information creation unit 26 determines the third position based on the end point position of the traffic jam section determined by the traffic jam section determination unit 29 and the time when the end point position of the traffic jam section determined by the passage time determination unit 25 passes. Create probe information. Accordingly, probe information is created not only at the link end point of the processing target link but also at a position in the middle of the processing target link.

[5-2. Processing flow of probe information creation apparatus 2]
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the probe information creation device 2 according to the fifth embodiment. The probe information creation device 2 repeatedly executes the process shown in FIG. 16 for each collection of first probe information indicating a series of movement trajectories of each vehicle 6.

  The processing in steps S1 to S3 is the same as that in the first embodiment. Through the processing up to step S3, the second probe information at the position near the link end point of the processing target link is created.

  Next, the traffic jam section determination unit 29 determines a traffic jam section on the link based on the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit 22 (S14).

  FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining the congestion section determination process (S14 in FIG. 16).

  The processing target link is a link L10, and the link end points of the link L10, that is, the positions of the intersections C7 and C8 are indicated by black circles. The probe position is also shown. FIG. 17A shows the probe position of the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit 22. For example, the traffic jam section determination unit 29 calculates the moving speed between the probe positions from the distance between adjacent probe positions and the time required to move between the probe positions. The traffic congestion section determining unit 29 determines that a section having a calculated moving speed equal to or less than a predetermined speed threshold (for example, 10 km / h) is a traffic congestion section if the section is continuous for a predetermined distance (for example, 100 m). Thereby, for example, a section between the probe position 51 and the probe position 54 is determined as a traffic jam section.

  With reference to FIG. 16, the passage time determination unit 25 determines the time when the vehicle 6 passes through the end point position of the traffic jam section including the vicinity of the end point of the traffic jam section determined by the traffic jam section determination unit 29 (S15). For example, as illustrated in FIG. 17A, the passage time determination unit 25 determines the time indicated by the first probe information of the probe positions 51 and 54 at both ends of the traffic congestion section determined by the traffic congestion section determination unit 29 as the traffic congestion section. Is determined as the passage time of the end point position. In the case where the end point position of the traffic jam section is different from the probe positions 51 and 54, by dividing the passage time between the probe positions before and after the end point position by the ratio of the distance between the probe positions, You may determine the passage time of an end point position. Moreover, the passage time determination unit 25 may determine a passage time at a position in the middle of the traffic jam section. For example, the passage time determination unit 25 selects the first probe information in the congestion section at a fixed number of intervals, and sets the passage time of the first probe information at the selected probe positions 52 and 53 at a position in the middle of the congestion section. The passage time may be determined.

  The probe information creation unit 26 creates third probe information based on the end point position of the traffic jam section and the time when the vehicle 6 passes through the end point position (S16). Referring to FIG. 17B, for example, the probe information creation unit 26 creates third probe information including information on the probe position 51 and the time when the vehicle 6 passes through the probe position 51. In addition, the probe information creation unit 26 creates third probe information including information on the probe position 54 and the time at which the vehicle 6 passes through the probe position 54. Note that the probe information creation unit 26 may similarly create third probe information for the probe positions 52 and 53 that are midway in the traffic jam section. The probe information creation unit 26 writes the created third probe information in the probe information storage unit 23.

  The probe information providing unit 27 reads the second probe information and the third probe information created by the probe information creating unit 26 in the processes of steps S3 and S16 from the probe information storage unit 23, and causes the communication I / F unit 21 to Via the traffic information providing apparatus 3 (S17). Thereby, the probe information in the position near the link end point of the processing target link and the end point position of the traffic jam section included in the processing target link is provided.

[5-3. Effects of Embodiment 5]
According to the fifth embodiment, the third probe information is created based on the end point position of the traffic jam section and the time when the vehicle 6 passes through the end point position. Thereby, the 3rd probe information which probe information creation part 26 created can be used also for generation of traffic jam section information. In addition, since the 3rd probe information which concerns on the end point position of a traffic congestion area is created, the 3rd probe information can be created except the 1st probe information including the information on the position in the middle of a traffic congestion area. . Therefore, the second probe information and the third probe information created by the probe information creation unit 26 can be used to generate traffic information such as travel time information and traffic jam section information. Is difficult to use. Therefore, it is possible to create probe information for generating travel time information and traffic jam section information while protecting the driver's privacy.

  In addition, as shown in FIG.17 (b), you may produce 3rd probe information about the probe positions 52 and 53 in the middle of a traffic congestion area.

  Further, only the third probe information of the traffic jam section may be created without creating the second probe information near the link end point. This is effective when providing only the probe information necessary for generating a traffic jam section to the traffic information providing apparatus 3.

(Embodiment 6)
In the sixth embodiment, the travel time information is once calculated from the first probe information of at least one vehicle 6, and the second probe information is created based on the calculated travel time information.

  The configuration of the traffic information providing system 100 according to Embodiment 6 is as shown in FIG.

[6-1. Configuration of Probe Information Creation Device 2]
FIG. 18 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the probe information creation device 2 according to the sixth embodiment.

The probe information creation apparatus 2 further includes a travel time calculation unit 30 and a number acquisition unit 31 in the configuration of the probe information creation apparatus 2 illustrated in FIG. 15.

  The travel time calculation unit 30 calculates a travel time indicating the time required for the vehicle 6 to travel the processing target link based on the first probe information of at least one vehicle 6 acquired by the probe information acquisition unit 22. calculate. Specifically, the travel time calculation unit 30 is a first probe of the vehicle 6 that travels on the processing target link at a predetermined time (for example, 10:00 to 10:10:00) that is a processing target. Information is acquired from the probe information storage unit 23. The travel time calculation unit 30 calculates the travel time of the processing target link for each vehicle 6 based on the acquired first probe information. The travel time calculation unit 30 calculates a travel time representative of the calculated travel time (hereinafter referred to as “representative travel time”). For example, the travel time calculation unit 30 calculates the average of the calculated travel times as the representative travel time. Instead of the average travel time, a statistical value such as the mode value, minimum value, maximum value, or median value of the travel time may be used as the representative travel time.

  The number acquisition unit 31 acquires the number of vehicles 6 traveling on the processing target link during the predetermined time based on the first probe information stored in the probe information storage unit 23. This number is equal to the number of travel times calculated by the travel time calculation unit 30.

  The traffic jam section determination unit 29 determines a traffic jam section based on the first probe information of at least one vehicle 6 acquired by the probe information acquisition unit 22. Specifically, the traffic jam section determination unit 29 acquires, from the probe information storage unit 23, the first probe information of the vehicle 6 that travels the processing target link for the predetermined time. The travel time calculation unit 30 determines a traffic jam section in the processing target link for each vehicle 6 based on the acquired first probe information. The method for determining the traffic jam section is the same as in the fifth embodiment. The traffic jam section determination unit 29 determines a traffic jam section (hereinafter referred to as “representative traffic jam section”) having the average position as an endpoint position by calculating an average position of the end point positions of the determined traffic jam section.

  The probe information creation unit 26 creates second probe information based on the travel time calculated by the travel time calculation unit 30 and the number of vehicles 6 acquired by the number acquisition unit 31. That is, the probe information creation unit 26 creates a second set of probe information such that the transit time between the link end points of the processing target link becomes the representative travel time, and the number of sets obtained by the number acquisition unit 31 is the vehicle 6. A duplicate of the second set of probe information is created so as to be the same as the number of. The probe information creating unit 26 may include probe information for generating the representative traffic jam section determined by the traffic jam section determining unit 29 in the set.

[6-2. Processing flow of probe information creation apparatus 2]
FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the probe information creation device 2 according to the sixth embodiment.

  The processing in step S1 is the same as that in the first embodiment. First probe information is acquired from the probe information collection server 1 in the process of step S <b> 1 and stored in the probe information storage unit 23.

  Next, the travel time calculation unit 30 indicates the time required for the vehicle 6 to travel the processing target link based on the first probe information of at least one vehicle 6 acquired by the probe information acquisition unit 22. Travel time is calculated (S18).

  FIG. 20 is a diagram for explaining the travel time calculation process (S18 in FIG. 19).

  The link to be processed is a link L11, and the link end points of the link L11, that is, the positions of the intersections C9 and C10 are indicated by black circles. The probe position is indicated by a white circle. The travel time calculation unit 30 acquires, from the probe information storage unit 23, the first probe information of the vehicle 6 traveling on the link L11 at a predetermined time (for example, 10:00 to 10:10:00). Here, it is assumed that the first set of probe information of the three vehicles 6 shown in FIGS. 20 (a) to 20 (c) has been acquired. The travel time calculation unit 30 calculates the travel time of the link L11 for each of the three sets of first probe information. That is, the travel time from the intersection C9 to the intersection C10 is calculated for each vehicle 6. The passing time of the vehicle 6 at the intersection C9 and the intersection C10 is calculated by the method shown in the first embodiment. For example, it is assumed that the travel times of the three vehicles 6 are calculated as 170 seconds, 180 seconds, and 190 seconds. As shown in FIG. 20D, the travel time calculation unit 30 calculates an average time of these travel times of 180 seconds as the representative travel time.

  The traffic jam section determination unit 29 determines a traffic jam section based on the first probe information of at least one vehicle 6 acquired by the probe information acquisition unit 22 (S19). For example, the traffic jam section determining unit 29 determines the traffic jam section from each of the first probe information sets of the three vehicles 6 shown in FIGS. 20 (a) to 20 (c). The traffic jam section determining unit 29 determines a representative traffic jam section having the average position as an end point position by calculating an average position for each of the determined end point positions of the three traffic jam sections. FIG. 20 (d) shows an example of a representative traffic jam section.

  The probe information creation unit 26 creates second probe information based on the representative travel time calculated in step S18 and the representative congestion section calculated in step S19 (S20). FIG. 20 (e) is a diagram showing an example of the created second probe information. The second probe information at the intersection C9 and the intersection C10 and the second probe information at the probe positions 61 and 62 at both end points of the representative congestion section are shown. 2 probe information is created. In addition, as shown in FIG.20 (e), you may produce the 2nd probe information in the probe positions 63 and 64 in the middle of a traffic congestion area. Although the passage time at the intersection C9 in FIG. 20 (e) can be arbitrarily set, here the passage time at the intersection C9 calculated from the second set of probe information shown in FIG. 20 (a) is set. To do. Further, the passing time of the intersection C10 in FIG. 20E is a time obtained by adding 180 seconds, which is the representative travel time, to the passing time of the intersection C9 in FIG. The passage times of the probe positions 61 to 64 are, for example, from the passage time of the intersection C9 in FIG. 20E to the position corresponding to the probe positions 61 to 64 from the passage time of the intersection C9 in FIG. The travel time is added to each time. The probe information creation unit 26 writes the created second probe information in the probe information storage unit 23.

  Based on the first probe information stored in the probe information storage unit 23, the number-of-units acquisition unit 31 acquires the number of vehicles 6 traveling on the processing target link during the predetermined time (S21). This number is equal to the number of travel times calculated by the travel time calculation unit 30, that is, the number of sets of first probe information shown in FIGS. 20 (a) to 20 (c).

  The probe information creation unit 26 duplicates the second set of probe information created in step S20 and creates the same number of second probe information sets as the number of vehicles 6 obtained in step S21 (S22). . That is, the probe information creation unit 26 duplicates two sets of the second probe information shown in FIG. 20 (e), so that a total of three second information shown in FIGS. 20 (e) to 20 (g) are obtained. Create a set of probe information. The probe information creation unit 26 also uses the same method as that shown in FIG. 20E for the second set of probe information shown in FIGS. 20F and 20G, respectively. ) And the first probe information set in FIG. 20C, the passing time of each intersection and each probe position is set. The probe information creation unit 26 writes the created second probe information in the probe information storage unit 23.

  The probe information providing unit 27 reads the second probe information created by the probe information creating unit 26 in the processing of steps S20 and S22 from the probe information storage unit 23, and the traffic information providing device via the communication I / F unit 21 3 (S23). Thereby, the 2nd probe information which traffic information providing device 3 can generate travel time information and traffic jam section information can be created.

[6-3. Effects of Embodiment 6]
According to the sixth embodiment, the travel time is temporarily calculated based on the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit 22, and the probe information creation unit 26 is a virtual second based on the calculated travel time. Create probe information for. By using the generated virtual second probe information, other processing devices such as the traffic information providing device 3 can calculate the same or similar travel time as calculated by the travel time calculation unit 30. it can. Further, it is possible to virtually create second probe information that cannot generate traffic information other than travel time information. Therefore, it is possible to create probe information for generating travel time information while protecting the driver's privacy.

  In addition, the traffic jam section determination unit 29 temporarily calculates the traffic jam section, and the probe information creation unit 26 creates virtual second probe information based on the calculated traffic jam section. By using the created second probe information, other processing devices such as the traffic information providing device 3 can determine a traffic congestion section that is the same as or similar to that determined by the traffic congestion section determination unit 29. Further, it is possible to virtually create second probe information that cannot generate travel time information and traffic information other than the traffic jam section. For this reason, the second probe information for generating travel time information and traffic jam section information can be created while protecting the privacy of the driver. However, the generation of the second probe information for generating the traffic jam section information is not essential, and only the second probe information for generating the travel time information may be generated. In this case, in the configuration of the probe information creation device 2 shown in FIG.

  Further, when the mounting rate of the probe terminal of the vehicle 6 traveling on the processing target link is known in advance, the number acquisition unit 31 acquires the number of vehicles 6 traveling on the processing target link in consideration of the mounting rate. May be. For example, it is assumed that the number of vehicles 6 acquired by the number acquisition unit 31 based on the first probe information is four, and the mounting rate of the probe terminal is 40%. In this case, the number of vehicles 6 when it is assumed that the probe terminal mounting rate is 100% may be the number of vehicles 6 acquired by the number acquisition unit 31. That is, the number of vehicles 6 is 10. The probe terminal mounting rate can be obtained, for example, by calculating the ratio of the number of vehicles 6 that have acquired the first probe information to the number of vehicles 6 sensed by the image-type vehicle sensor. it can.

(Embodiment 7)
In the seventh embodiment, the probe information group created in the first to sixth embodiments will be described.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 6C, the probe information group created in the first embodiment includes only probe information at the intersection position, that is, the position near the link end point.

  Further, the probe information group created in the second to fourth embodiments includes the probe information in the vicinity of the link end point and the link information as shown in FIGS. 10 (b), 12 (b) and 14 (b). A pair with probe information at an intermediate position.

  Further, the probe information group created in the fifth and sixth embodiments includes the probe information in the vicinity of the link end point and the traffic information in the traffic jam section, as shown in FIGS. 17 (b) and 20 (e) to (g). It is a pair with the probe information at the position.

  For this reason, in the probe information group created in the first to sixth embodiments, the probe information having a ratio equal to or greater than the first predetermined value can be probe information including position information of the position near the link end point. The first predetermined value is a numerical value that can be adjusted by the probe information creation method, and may be 40%, for example.

  Further, in the probe information group created in the second to sixth embodiments, the probe information having a ratio equal to or greater than the second predetermined value can be probe information including position information in the traffic jam section. The second predetermined value varies depending on the occurrence frequency of traffic jams, the probe information creation method, and the like, but can be set to 20%, for example.

  According to the seventh embodiment, among a plurality of pieces of probe information constituting the probe information group, probe information having a ratio equal to or greater than the first predetermined value includes information on the position near the link end point. By setting the first predetermined value to a large value, most of the probe information included in the probe information group becomes probe information near the link end point. For this reason, this probe information group can be used for generating traffic information such as travel time information, but it is difficult to use it for specifying individual driving characteristics. Therefore, it is possible to provide a probe information group for generating travel time information while protecting the driver's privacy.

  Furthermore, of a plurality of pieces of probe information constituting the probe information group, the probe information having a ratio equal to or greater than the second predetermined value includes information on the position in the traffic jam section. By setting the second predetermined value to a large value, most of the probe information included in the probe information group becomes vehicle probe information at a position near the link end point or a position in a traffic jam section. For this reason, this probe information group can be used for generating traffic information such as travel time information and traffic jam section information, but it is difficult to use for specifying individual driving characteristics. Therefore, it is possible to provide a probe information group for generating travel time information and traffic jam section information while protecting the driver's privacy.

  In the probe information group, the probe information having a ratio equal to or greater than the second predetermined value is probe information including position information in the traffic jam section. However, the probe information includes information on the position near the link end point from the probe information group. Of the information excluding information, the probe information having a ratio equal to or greater than the second predetermined value may be probe information including position information in the traffic jam section. Even with such a configuration, the same effects as described above can be obtained.

(Embodiment 8)
In the first embodiment, the second probe information including the position near the link end point and the time when the vehicle 6 passes through the position is created. In contrast, the eighth embodiment does not necessarily include the position near the link end point and the time when the vehicle 6 passes the position, but includes the position in the middle of the link and the time when the vehicle 6 passes the position. Second probe information is created.
The configuration of the traffic information providing system 100 according to Embodiment 8 is as shown in FIG.

[8-1. Configuration of Probe Information Creation Device 2]
FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the probe information creation device 2 according to the eighth embodiment.

  21 includes a travel time calculation unit 30 instead of the road data storage unit 24 and the passage time determination unit 25 in the configuration of the probe information generation device 2 illustrated in FIG.

  The travel time calculation unit 30 calculates a travel time indicating the time required for the vehicle 6 to travel the link based on the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit 22. For example, as described in the first embodiment, the travel time calculation unit 30 determines the position near the link end point and the passing time of the vehicle 6 at the position from the first probe information for each of the upstream side and the downstream side of the link. Is calculated. The travel time calculation unit 30 calculates the difference between the calculated passage times as the travel time.

  The probe information creation unit 26 creates second probe information at a predetermined interval (a predetermined time interval or a predetermined distance interval) based on the link distance and the travel time. The second probe information may not include the link end point position of each link. That is, the probe information creation unit 26 determines that the interval between the second probe information on the most upstream side of the first link and the second probe information on the most downstream side of the second link continuous upstream of the first link is a predetermined interval. The second probe information is created so that A specific example of the second probe information will be described later.

[8-2. Processing flow of probe information creation apparatus 2]
FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the probe information creation device 2.

  The processing in step S1 is the same as that in the first embodiment. First probe information is acquired from the probe information collection server 1 in the process of step S <b> 1 and stored in the probe information storage unit 23.

The travel time calculation unit 30 calculates the travel time of the vehicle 6 for each link (S18).
The probe information creation unit 26 creates second probe information at a predetermined interval based on the link distance and the link travel time, and stores the created second probe information in the probe information storage unit 23 (S31). .

  First, a method of creating second probe information at a predetermined time interval as a predetermined interval will be described. FIG. 23 is a diagram for explaining a process of creating second probe information at predetermined time intervals.

  Links A, B and C are continuously arranged from the upstream, and their travel times are 17 seconds, 15 seconds and 20 seconds, respectively.

  In addition, the passage time of the link A near the link end point is calculated as 10:05:10 and 10:05:27. This passage time is the time obtained when the travel time calculation unit 30 calculates the travel time. Similarly, the passage time of the link B near the link end point is calculated as 10:05:27 and 10:05:42, and the passage time of the link C near the link end point is 10:05:42 and It is calculated as 10:06:02.

  The probe information creation unit 26 creates, for example, second probe information with a passage time of the vehicle 6 of 5 seconds. The probe information creation unit 26 calculates a passing position (probe position indicated by a white circle) of the vehicle 6 at intervals of 5 seconds, starting from the link end point position (intersection C0) on the upstream side of the link A. The passing position of the vehicle 6 is calculated by dividing the link distance by time. For example, when the distance of the link A is 230 m, the distance traveled by the vehicle 6 in 5 seconds can be calculated as 230 (m) × 5 (s) / 17 (s) = 67.6 (m). it can.

  The travel time from the most downstream probe position 71 of the link A to the position near the link end point of the link A (intersection C1) is 2 seconds. For this reason, the most upstream probe position 72 of the link B is a passing position 3 seconds after the vehicle 6 passes the intersection C1. For example, when the distance and travel time of the link B are 260 m and 15 seconds, respectively, the distance from the intersection C1 to the probe position 72 is 260 (m) × 3 (s) / 15 (s) = 52 (m ) And can be calculated. Thereafter, the second probe information is created at intervals of 5 seconds. Thereby, the second probe information at intervals of 5 seconds is created in the continuous links A to C.

  Next, a method for creating second probe information having a predetermined distance interval as the predetermined interval will be described. FIG. 24 is a diagram for explaining a process of creating second probe information at a predetermined distance interval.

  The links A to C, the passage time of the link end point position of each link, the distance of each link, and the travel time are the same as those shown in FIG.

  The probe information creation unit 26 creates, for example, second probe information whose passing positions of the vehicle 6 are 100 m apart. The probe information creating unit 26 determines the probe positions (white circle positions) from the link A to the link C at intervals of 100 m from the link end point position (intersection C0) on the upstream side of the link A as a starting point. The distance of link A is 230 m. For this reason, the distance from the probe position 73 on the most downstream side of the link A to the position near the link end point of the link A (intersection C1) is 30 m. Therefore, the most upstream probe position 74 of the link B is provided at a position 70 m from the intersection C1.

  The probe information creation unit 26 calculates the passage time of each probe position by dividing the travel time of each link by the travel distance of the vehicle 6 to the probe position. For example, the travel time of the probe A is 17 seconds. Therefore, the movement time from the position near the link end point on the upstream side of the link A to the probe position 75 is 17 (s) × 100 (m) / 230 (m) = 7 (s). Therefore, the passage time of the probe position 75 is calculated as 10:05:17 which is 7 seconds after the passage time 10:05:10 of the position near the link end point.

  Since the probe position 74 is 70 m from the intersection C1, the travel time from the intersection C1 to the probe position 74 is calculated as 15 (s) × 70 (m) / 260 (m) = 4 (s). . For this reason, the passage time of the probe position 74 is calculated as 10:05:31 which is 4 seconds after the passage time 10:05:27 of the intersection C1.

  Referring to FIG. 22 again, the probe information providing unit 27 reads the second probe information created by the probe information creating unit 26 in the process of step S31 from the probe information storage unit 23, and causes the communication I / F unit 21 to Via the traffic information providing apparatus 3 (S23).

[8-3. Effects of Embodiment 8]
According to the eighth embodiment, the second probe information at a predetermined interval is created based on the link distance and the travel time of the link. That is, the second probe information is created except for the first probe information including information on positions that are not at predetermined distance intervals or times that are not at predetermined time intervals. Therefore, the second probe information created by the probe information creation unit 26 can be used to generate traffic information such as travel time information, but is difficult to use to specify individual driving characteristics. For this reason, probe information for generating traffic information can be created while protecting the privacy of the driver. Even when the links are continuous, the second probe information indicating the travel locus of the vehicle 6 at a predetermined interval is created. Therefore, second probe information that can be processed by a processing apparatus that can handle only probe information at a predetermined interval can be created.

The probe information creation device 2 according to Embodiment 8
A probe information acquisition unit for acquiring first probe information including at least information on a position of the vehicle and a time passing through the position;
A link end point that is a position in an area including the link end point and the vicinity of the link end point based on road data including at least information on the position of the link end point and the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquiring unit A travel time indicating a time required for the vehicle to travel the link is determined based on the position near the link end point and the time determined by the passage time determination unit. A travel time calculation unit to calculate,
A probe information creating unit that creates second probe information at a predetermined interval based on the position near the link end point, the time when the vehicle passes through the position near the link end point, the distance of the link, and the travel time;
The probe information creating unit is configured such that an interval between the second probe information on the most upstream side of the first link and the second probe information on the most downstream side of the second link continuing upstream of the first link is the predetermined interval. As described above, the probe information creating apparatus 2 for creating the second probe information can also be configured.

(Embodiment 9)
In the ninth embodiment, the representative travel time representing the travel time of each vehicle 6 is calculated from the first probe information of the plurality of vehicles 6, and the second probe information is created based on the representative travel time.
The configuration of the traffic information providing system 100 according to Embodiment 9 is as shown in FIG.

[9-1. Configuration of Probe Information Creation Device 2]
FIG. 25 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the probe information creation device 2 according to the ninth embodiment.

  The probe information creation device 2 shown in FIG. 25 further includes a probe information normalization unit 32 in the configuration of the probe information creation device 2 shown in FIG.

  The travel time calculation unit 30 calculates the travel time required for the vehicle to travel the link based on the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit 22 for each of the plurality of vehicles.

  The probe information normalization unit 32 normalizes the first probe information for each vehicle using the representative travel time based on the travel times of a plurality of vehicles. For example, an average value of travel times of a plurality of vehicles can be set as the representative travel time. The representative travel time may be another statistical value such as a median value, a mode value, a maximum value, or a minimum value of travel times of a plurality of vehicles. FIG. 26 is a diagram for explaining processing executed by the probe information creation device 2 according to the ninth embodiment. For example, (a) to (c) in FIG. 26 indicate the probe positions of the first probe information of the vehicles A to C with respect to the same link L31 by circles, blind spots, and triangles, respectively. The travel times of the links L31 of the vehicles A to C are 30 seconds, 40 seconds, and 20 seconds, respectively. For this reason, the probe information normalization unit 32 calculates the average travel time of the vehicles A to C as 30 seconds as the representative travel time.

  The probe information normalization unit 32 determines the representative travel time for each vehicle based on the distance (the distance from the link end point position to the position included in the first probe information) related to the position included in the first probe information. By appropriately allocating, the time to pass through the position is determined. That is, the probe information normalization unit 32 normalizes the passage time at each probe position so that the travel time of the first probe information of each vehicle is equal to the representative travel time of 30 seconds. For example, as shown in FIG. 26B, the passing time of the intersection C9 of the vehicle B is 10:10:00, and the passing time of the probe position is 10:10:15. The probe information normalization unit 32 uses the value 11 seconds calculated by multiplying the movement time 15 seconds from the intersection C9 to the probe position 76 by 30 seconds / 40 seconds as a new movement time from the intersection C9 to the probe position 76. And Thereby, the passage time of the probe position 76 is corrected to 10:10:11. By performing such correction for all probe positions, the travel time of the links A to C can be set to 30 seconds.

  In addition, the probe information normalization unit 32 shifts the passage times of the probe positions so that the passage times of the positions near the link end points (intersection C9) are the same in the vehicles A to C, and aggregates them. 2 Create probe information. Thus, for example, as shown in FIG. 26 (d), the second time normalized so that the passing time of the intersection C9 is 10:15:00 and the passing time of the intersection is 10:15:30. Probe information is created.

  The probe information creating unit 26 extracts the information on the position of the vehicle 6 and the time passing through the position at a predetermined interval (predetermined distance interval or predetermined time interval) from the second probe information. Create probe information.

  An example of creating third probe information at a predetermined distance interval (for example, an interval of 100 m) will be described. As shown in (e) of FIG. 26, the probe information creation unit 26 selects the probe information having the position information closest to the position 100 m from the intersection C9 from the second probe information. That is, the probe information of the probe positions 81 to 83 surrounded by the broken line is selected. However, the probe information of the probe positions 82 and 83 is the probe information of the same vehicle A. Thus, in order to prevent the probe information of the same vehicle from being continuously selected, the probe information creation unit 26 selects the probe information of the next closest probe position 84 without selecting the probe information of the probe position 83. To do. Thereby, the third probe information as shown in FIG. 26E is created. The probe information creation unit 26 selects the second probe information by selecting the second probe information so that the information on the same vehicle is not included in the predetermined number of pieces of the third probe information. Information may be created. For example, when the predetermined number is three, the probe information of the vehicle A and the vehicle B cannot be selected after the probe information of the vehicle A and the probe information of the vehicle B are continuously selected. Probe information of the vehicle (vehicle C in this case) must be selected.

  Next, an example of creating third probe information at a predetermined time interval (for example, every 10 seconds) will be described. As shown in (g) of FIG. 26, the probe information creation unit 26 calculates a position where the vehicle 6 passes every 10 seconds from the passage time 10:15:00 of the intersection C9. The position can be easily calculated from the distance of the link L31 and the representative travel time, assuming that the vehicle 6 performs a uniform motion.

  As shown in (g) of FIG. 26, the probe information providing unit 27 selects probe information having position information closest to the calculated passing position from the second probe information. That is, the probe information at the probe positions 85 to 88 surrounded by the broken line is selected. At this time, the probe information of the same vehicle may not be continuously selected as in the case of selecting the probe information at a predetermined distance interval. Thereby, the third probe information as shown in (h) of FIG. 26 is created.

[9-2. Processing flow of probe information creation apparatus 2]
FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the probe information creation apparatus 2.

  The processing in step S1 is the same as that in the first embodiment. First probe information is acquired from the probe information collection server 1 in the process of step S <b> 1 and stored in the probe information storage unit 23.

  The travel time calculation unit 30 calculates the travel time of the vehicle 6 for each link (S18). The travel time calculation method is as described in the eighth embodiment.

  The probe information normalization unit 32 creates second probe information by normalizing the first probe information of a plurality of vehicles (S32). For example, the second probe information shown in (d) of FIG. 26 is created from the first probe information shown in (a) to (c) of FIG.

  The probe information creation unit 26 creates third probe information by extracting information on the position of the vehicle and time passing through the position from the second probe information at a predetermined interval, and a probe information storage unit 23 (S33). For example, the third probe information at a predetermined distance interval as shown in FIG. 26 (f) or the third probe information at a predetermined time interval as shown in FIG. 26 (h) is created.

  The probe information providing unit 27 reads the third probe information created by the probe information creating unit 26 in the process of step S33 from the probe information storage unit 23, and sends it to the traffic information providing device 3 via the communication I / F unit 21. Provide (S23). At this time, if the third probe information is created from the first probe information of the N vehicles 6, the third probe information is copied, and the N pieces of third probe information are traffic information providing devices. 3 may be provided.

[9-3. Effects of Embodiment 9 etc.]
According to the ninth embodiment, by normalizing the first probe information of a plurality of vehicles using the representative travel time, the second probe information with the travel time normalized can be obtained for each vehicle. it can. Thus, since the travel time of the second probe information is normalized, probe information for generating traffic information can be created while protecting the privacy of the driver. In addition, travel time is normalized from the first probe information of a plurality of vehicles by creating third probe information including information on positions at predetermined intervals or time at predetermined intervals from the second probe information. The third probe information can be created. For this reason, probe information for generating traffic information can be created while protecting the privacy of the driver. In addition, the data amount of the third probe information can be reduced.

  Further, the third probe information is generated so that the second probe information of the same vehicle is not included in the predetermined number of pieces of the third probe information. For this reason, the third probe information can be created by uniformly extracting information from a plurality of vehicles. As a result, the privacy protection of the driver can be further strengthened.

  Also, for example, normalization is not performed when the first probe information of a vehicle that decelerates from the upstream to the downstream of the link and the first probe information of the vehicle that accelerates from the upstream to the downstream of the link are included. In addition, when the first probe information is merged, when the passage time is traced from the upstream to the downstream of the link, there may be a problem that the time goes back to the past. However, the probe information normalization unit 32 can normalize the first probe information on the assumption that each vehicle is traveling at a constant speed. For this reason, it is possible to create the third probe information from the second probe information of a plurality of vehicles without causing a problem of the passage time.

(Embodiment 10)
In the tenth embodiment, probe information is created based on traffic information related to the traveling of the vehicle on the link, such as information on the traveling speed of the vehicle on the link.
The configuration of traffic information providing system 100 according to Embodiment 10 is as shown in FIG.

[10-1. Configuration of Probe Information Creation Device 2]
The configuration of the probe information creation device 2 according to Embodiment 10 is the same as that shown in FIG. However, the processing contents of each processing unit are partially different.

  The travel time calculation unit 30 calculates the travel time of the vehicle link based on the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit 22.

  The probe information normalization unit 32 normalizes the first probe information based on the travel time calculated by the travel time calculation unit 30. The normalization process is the same as that shown in the ninth embodiment. That is, when the travel time calculation unit 30 calculates the travel time for each of the plurality of vehicles, the probe information normalization unit 32 uses the representative travel times of the plurality of vehicles to represent the travel time for each vehicle. The first probe information is normalized so as to be equal to the travel time.

  The probe information creation unit 26 creates second probe information at a predetermined interval based on traffic information related to vehicle travel on the link and the first probe information normalized by the probe information normalization unit 32. .

  FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating information on the traveling speed of the vehicle as traffic information. FIG. 28 shows statistical information on the traveling speed of a vehicle in a certain link. The horizontal axis indicates the distance from the link end point, and the vertical axis indicates the traveling speed of the vehicle at the position of the distance. FIG. 28 shows, for example, an average value of past traveling speeds of the vehicle in the same time zone of the same day type (weekday, holiday, etc.) as the present day. That is, FIG. 28 shows the traveling speed of the vehicle that decelerates in the middle of the link and then accelerates. It is assumed that a plurality of such statistical information is prepared for each day type or time zone. The statistical information may be stored in the probe information storage unit 23.

  FIG. 29 is a diagram for describing a creation example of second probe information at a predetermined distance interval (for example, an interval of 100 m). FIG. 29A is a diagram similar to FIG. 28, and shows information on the traveling speed of the vehicle on the link L41 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 29B, the probe information creation unit 26 sets probe positions 91 to 94 at intervals of 100 m on the link L41 with reference to the intersection C11 that is the link end point of the link L41. The probe information creation unit 26 calculates the passing time of the vehicle 6 at each probe position based on the traveling speed information. For example, the travel time of 100 m can be calculated by integrating the travel time of the minute distance section. Thereby, the probe information creation part 26 can produce | generate the probe information of the predetermined distance space | interval when the vehicle 6 drive | worked with the driving speed according to the information of driving speed.

  FIG. 30 is a diagram for explaining an example of creating second probe information at a predetermined time interval (for example, every 5 seconds). FIG. 30A is a diagram similar to FIG. 28, and shows information on the traveling speed of the vehicle on the link L41 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 30B, the probe information creation unit 26 determines a probe position through which the vehicle 6 passes at intervals of 5 seconds with reference to an intersection C11 that is a link end point of the link L41. For example, the travel distance for 5 seconds can be calculated by integrating the travel distance for a minute time. As an example, as shown in FIG. 30 (b), the traveling distance for 5 seconds from the time of passing through the intersection C11 is 120 m. Thereby, the probe information creation part 26 can produce | generate the probe information of the predetermined distance space | interval when the vehicle 6 drive | worked with the driving speed according to the information of driving speed.

[10-2. Processing flow of probe information creation apparatus 2]
FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the probe information creation apparatus 2.

  The processing in step S1 is the same as that in the first embodiment. First probe information is acquired from the probe information collection server 1 in the process of step S <b> 1 and stored in the probe information storage unit 23.

  The travel time calculation unit 30 calculates the travel time of the vehicle 6 for each link (S18). The travel time calculation method is as described in the eighth embodiment.

  The probe information normalization unit 32 normalizes the first probe information of a plurality of vehicles (S32).

  The probe information creating unit 26 is based on the traffic information related to the traveling of the vehicle on the link and the first probe information normalized by the probe information normalizing unit 32, and has a predetermined interval (predetermined distance interval or predetermined time interval). The second probe information is created, and the created second probe information is written in the probe information storage unit 23 (S34).

  The probe information providing unit 27 reads the second probe information created by the probe information creating unit 26 in the process of step S33 from the probe information storage unit 23, and sends it to the traffic information providing device 3 via the communication I / F unit 21. Provide (S23).

[10-3. Effects of Embodiment 10]
According to the tenth embodiment, the second probe information can be created by converting the first probe information so as to match the traffic information. For example, when traffic information indicating that the vehicle is frequently decelerating in the middle of the link is statistically obtained, third probe information that decelerates when passing through the location is created. be able to. Thereby, probe information according to past statistical information can be created, and highly reliable probe information can be created.

  Note that when the second probe information is created only from the first probe information of one vehicle 6, normalization processing is not necessarily required. For this reason, in such a case, the travel time calculation unit 30 and the probe information normalization unit 32 may not be provided.

[7. Addendum]
The traffic information providing system 100 including the probe information creation device 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

  For example, although the probe information creation device 2 is composed of one device, each device is composed of a plurality of devices, and the probe information creation device 2 is configured as a probe information creation system. Good. The devices constituting the probe information creation system may be connected to each other via a wide area network such as the Internet and may be distributed.

  Each of the above devices may be specifically configured as a computer system including a microprocessor, a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk drive, a display unit, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like. A computer program is stored in the RAM or hard disk drive. Each device achieves its functions by the microprocessor operating according to the computer program. Here, the computer program is configured by combining a plurality of instruction codes indicating instructions for the computer in order to achieve a predetermined function.

  Furthermore, some or all of the constituent elements constituting each of the above-described devices may be configured by a single system LSI (Large Scale Integration). The system LSI is an ultra-multifunctional LSI manufactured by integrating a plurality of components on a single chip, and specifically, a computer system including a microprocessor, ROM, RAM, and the like. . A computer program is stored in the RAM. The system LSI achieves its functions by the microprocessor operating according to the computer program.

  Further, the present invention may be the method described above. Further, the present invention may be a computer program that realizes these methods by a computer, or may be a digital signal composed of a computer program.

  Furthermore, the present invention relates to a non-transitory recording medium that can read the computer program or the digital signal, such as a hard disk drive, CD-ROM, DVD, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, BD (Blu-ray ( (Registered trademark) Disc), or recorded in a semiconductor memory or the like. Further, the digital signal may be recorded on these non-temporary recording media.

  In the present invention, the computer program or the digital signal may be transmitted via an electric communication line, a wireless or wired communication line, a network represented by the Internet, a data broadcast, or the like.

  Further, by recording the program or the digital signal on the non-temporary recording medium and transferring it, or transferring the program or the digital signal via the network or the like, another independent computer It may be implemented by the system.

Each step included in the program may be executed by a plurality of computers.
Furthermore, the above embodiment and the above modification examples may be combined.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the meanings described above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Probe information collection server 2 Probe information production apparatus 3 Traffic information provision apparatus 4 Network 5 Wireless base station 6 Vehicle 21 Communication I / F part 22 Probe information acquisition part 23 Probe information storage part 24 Road data storage part 25 Passing time determination part 26 Probe information creation unit 27 Probe information provision unit 28 Passing position determination unit 29 Congested section determination unit 30 Travel time calculation unit 31 Number acquisition unit 32 Probe information normalization unit 100 Traffic information provision system

Claims (30)

A probe information acquisition unit for acquiring first probe information including at least information on a position of the vehicle and a time passing through the position;
A link end point that is a position in an area including the link end point and the vicinity of the link end point based on road data including at least information on the position of the link end point and the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquiring unit A passage time determination unit for determining a time at which the vehicle passes through a nearby position;
A probe information creation program for causing a computer to function as a probe information creation unit that creates second probe information based on the position near the link end point and the time determined by the passage time determination unit. The probe information creation program according to claim 1, wherein the probe information creation unit creates probe information including the position near the link end point and the time determined by the passage time determination unit as the second probe information. The probe information creation program further includes:
Based on the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit, a position at which the vehicle passes at a predetermined time interval with a time at which the vehicle passes through the position near the link end point as a reference time is determined. Let the computer function as the passage position determination unit,
The probe information creation unit further creates third probe information based on the time of the predetermined time interval from the reference time and the position determined by the passage position determination unit. Probe information creation program described in 1. The probe information creation unit selects, from the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit, probe information including information on the time closest to the time of the predetermined time interval from the reference time, The probe information creation program according to claim 3 which creates the 3rd probe information. The passage time determination unit further determines a time at which the vehicle passes a position at a predetermined distance interval with the position near the link end point as a reference position based on the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit. Decide
The probe information creation unit further creates third probe information based on the position of the predetermined distance interval from the reference position and the time when the vehicle passes through the position determined by the passage time determination unit. The probe information creation program according to claim 1 or 2. The probe information creation unit selects, from the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit, probe information including information on a position closest to the position of the predetermined distance interval from the reference position, The probe information creation program according to claim 5 which creates the 3rd probe information. The road data further includes information on the position of the feature point on the link,
The passage time determination unit further determines a time at which the vehicle passes the position of the feature point based on the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit,
The probe information creation unit further creates third probe information based on the position of the feature point and the time when the vehicle passes the position of the feature point determined by the passage time determination unit. The probe information creation program according to claim 1 or 2. The probe information creation unit selects the probe information including information on the position closest to the position of the feature point from the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit, thereby the third probe information. The program for creating probe information according to claim 7. The probe information creation unit creates link information for a predetermined link that is a link satisfying a predetermined condition, excluding at least one link end point vicinity position of two link end point vicinity positions. 9. The probe information creation program according to any one of items 8. The probe information creation program further includes:
Based on the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit, causing the computer to function as a traffic jam section determining unit that determines a traffic jam section on a link,
The passage time determination unit further determines a time at which the vehicle passes through the end point position of the congestion section including the vicinity of the end point of the congestion section based on the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit. Decide
The probe information creation unit further creates third probe information based on the end point position of the traffic jam section and the time of passing through the end point position of the traffic jam section determined by the passage time determination unit. The probe information creation program according to claim 1 or 2. A probe information acquisition unit for acquiring first probe information including at least information on a position of the vehicle and a time passing through the position;
Based on the first probe information of the at least one vehicle acquired by the probe information acquisition unit, a travel time indicating a time required for the one or more vehicles to travel the processing target link is calculated. A travel time calculator,
A number acquisition unit for acquiring the number of the vehicles traveling on the processing target link at a predetermined time;
Based on the travel time calculated by the travel time calculation unit and the number of vehicles acquired by the number acquisition unit, the computer is caused to function as a probe information generation unit that generates second probe information. Probe information creation program. A probe information acquisition unit for acquiring first probe information including at least information on a position of the vehicle and a time passing through the position;
Based on the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit, a travel time calculation unit that calculates a travel time indicating the time required for the vehicle to travel the link;
Based on the distance of the link and the travel time, the computer functions as a probe information creation unit that creates second probe information at predetermined intervals,
The probe information creating unit is configured such that an interval between the second probe information on the most upstream side of the first link and the second probe information on the most downstream side of the second link continuing upstream of the first link is the predetermined interval. A probe information creation program for creating the second probe information. For each of the plurality of vehicles, a probe information acquisition unit that acquires first probe information including at least information on a position of the vehicle and a time passing through the position;
For each vehicle, a travel time calculation unit that calculates a travel time indicating the time required for the vehicle to travel the link based on the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit;
Using the representative travel time based on the travel time of the plurality of vehicles, the first probe information is normalized for each vehicle, and the link end point is a position in the area including the link end point and the vicinity of the link end point. A probe information creation program for causing a computer to function as a probe information normalization unit that creates second probe information in which the time at which the vehicle passes through a nearby position is unified. further,
In order to cause the computer to function as a probe information creation unit that creates third probe information by extracting information on the position of the vehicle and time passing through the position from the second probe information at predetermined intervals. The probe information creation program according to claim 13. The probe information creation unit includes the second probe information of the plurality of vehicles so that the information on the same vehicle is not included in a predetermined number of pieces of information included in the third probe information. The probe information creation program according to claim 14, wherein the third probe information is created by extracting the information from the inside at the predetermined interval. The probe information normalization unit determines the time for passing through the position by dividing the representative travel time for each vehicle based on the distance related to the position included in the first probe information. The probe information creation program according to any one of claims 13 to 15. A probe information acquisition unit for acquiring first probe information including at least information on a position of the vehicle and a time passing through the position;
A probe information creation program for causing a computer to function as a probe information creation unit that creates second probe information at predetermined intervals based on traffic information related to vehicle travel on a link and the first probe information . further,
Based on the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit, a travel time calculation unit that calculates a travel time indicating the time required for the vehicle to travel the link;
Based on the travel time, function a computer as a probe information normalization unit that normalizes the first probe information,
The probe information creation program according to claim 17, wherein the probe information creation unit creates the second probe information at the predetermined interval based on the traffic information and the normalized first probe information. Obtaining first probe information including at least information on a position of the vehicle and a time passing through the position;
Based on the road data including at least information on the position of the link end point and the first probe information acquired in the acquiring step, the link end point is a position in the area including the link end point and the vicinity of the link end point. Determining a time at which the vehicle passes through a nearby position;
Creating a second probe information based on the position near the link end point and the time determined in the determining step. Obtaining first probe information including at least information on a position of the vehicle and a time passing through the position;
Based on the first probe information of the at least one vehicle acquired in the acquiring step, a travel time indicating a time required for the one or more vehicles to travel the processing target link is calculated. Steps,
Obtaining the number of the vehicles traveling on the processing target link at a predetermined time;
A probe information creating method comprising: creating second probe information based on the travel time calculated in the calculating step and the number of vehicles acquired in the acquiring step. Obtaining first probe information including at least information on a position of the vehicle and a time passing through the position;
Calculating a travel time indicating a time required for the vehicle to travel a link based on the first probe information acquired in the acquiring step;
Generating second probe information at predetermined intervals based on the distance of the link and the travel time;
In the creating step, an interval between the second probe information on the most upstream side of the first link and the second probe information on the most downstream side of the second link continuing upstream of the first link becomes the predetermined interval. As described above, the probe information creating method for creating the second probe information. For each of the plurality of vehicles, obtaining first probe information including at least information on a position of the vehicle and a time passing through the position;
For each vehicle, based on the first probe information acquired in the acquiring step, calculating a travel time indicating a time required for the vehicle to travel the link;
Using the representative travel time based on the travel time of the plurality of vehicles to create the second probe information by normalizing the first probe information for each vehicle. . Obtaining first probe information including at least information on a position of the vehicle and a time passing through the position;
A method for creating probe information, comprising: creating second probe information at a predetermined interval based on traffic information relating to vehicle travel on a link and the first probe information. A probe information acquisition unit for acquiring first probe information including at least information on a position of the vehicle and a time passing through the position;
A link end point that is a position in an area including the link end point and the vicinity of the link end point based on road data including at least information on the position of the link end point and the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquiring unit A passage time determination unit for determining a time at which the vehicle passes through a nearby position;
A probe information creation system comprising: a probe information creation unit that creates second probe information based on the position near the link end point and the time determined by the passage time determination unit. A probe information acquisition unit for acquiring first probe information including at least information on a position of the vehicle and a time passing through the position;
Based on the first probe information of the at least one vehicle acquired by the probe information acquisition unit, a travel time indicating a time required for the one or more vehicles to travel the processing target link is calculated. A travel time calculator,
A number acquisition unit for acquiring the number of the vehicles traveling on the processing target link at a predetermined time;
A probe information creation system comprising: a probe information creation unit that creates second probe information based on the travel time calculated by the travel time calculation unit and the number of vehicles acquired by the number acquisition unit. A probe information acquisition unit for acquiring first probe information including at least information on a position of the vehicle and a time passing through the position;
Based on the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit, a travel time calculation unit that calculates a travel time indicating the time required for the vehicle to travel the link;
A probe information creating unit that creates second probe information at a predetermined interval based on the distance of the link and the travel time;
The probe information creating unit is configured such that an interval between the second probe information on the most upstream side of the first link and the second probe information on the most downstream side of the second link continuing upstream of the first link is the predetermined interval. The probe information creation system that creates the second probe information. For each of the plurality of vehicles, a probe information acquisition unit that acquires first probe information including at least information on a position of the vehicle and a time passing through the position;
For each vehicle, a travel time calculation unit that calculates a travel time indicating the time required for the vehicle to travel the link based on the first probe information acquired by the probe information acquisition unit;
A probe information normalization unit that creates second probe information by normalizing the first probe information for each vehicle using a representative travel time based on the travel time of the plurality of vehicles. Probe information creation system. A probe information acquisition unit for acquiring first probe information including at least information on a position of the vehicle and a time passing through the position;
A probe information creation system comprising: a probe information creation unit that creates second probe information at a predetermined interval based on traffic information related to vehicle travel on a link and the first probe information. A probe information group including a plurality of probe information indicating a travel locus of at least one vehicle traveling on at least one link,
Each probe information includes at least a position of the vehicle and a time passing through the position,
Of the plurality of probe information, the ratio of the probe information that is the position near the link end point that is the position in the area including the link end point and the vicinity of the link end point is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value group. 30. The probe information group according to claim 29, wherein a ratio of probe information in which the position of the vehicle is a position in a traffic jam section among the plurality of probe information is equal to or greater than a second predetermined value.