Server device, vehicle control device, and communication device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018301034-A1
Application number	US-201816015448-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 22, 2018
Priority date	Dec 23, 2015
Publication date	Oct 18, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A server device according to one embodiment performs communication with a plurality of vehicles through a network, the server device comprising a processor. The processor is configured to: if the plurality of vehicles include a first vehicle traveling by automatic driving and a second vehicle traveling by manual driving, acquire driving information of the second vehicle, assign, to the first vehicle, a road area to which the first vehicle should travel by the automatic driving, based on the driving information, so that contact between the first vehicle and the second vehicle does not occur.

First claim

1 . A server device performing communication with a plurality of vehicles through a network, the server device comprising a processor, wherein
the processor is configured to: if the plurality of vehicles include a first vehicle traveling by automatic driving and a second vehicle traveling by manual driving, acquire driving information of the second vehicle, and assign, to the first vehicle, a road area to which the first vehicle should travel by the automatic driving, based on the driving information, so that contact between the first vehicle and the second vehicle does not occur.

2 . The server device according to claim 1 , wherein
the driving information includes at least one of a position, a speed, acceleration, an actual steering angle, and a vehicle body direction of the second vehicle.

3 . The server device according to claim 1 , wherein
the processor is further configured to determine whether to permit the manual driving to the second vehicle, and if the processor determines that the manual driving is not permitted, the processor is further configured to instruct automatic driving to the second vehicle.

4 . The server device according to claim 3 , wherein,
if charging is made for the manual driving, the processor is further configured to inquire of another server device which manages the charging whether it is possible to permit the manual driving to the second vehicle.

5 . The server device according to claim 3 , wherein
the processor is further configured to inquire of another server device which manages registration information about a driver of the second vehicle whether it is possible to permit the manual driving to the second vehicle, and the registration information includes information about at least one of driving qualification and insurance.

6 . The server device according to claim 3 , wherein
the processor is further configured to acquire physical information about a physical condition of a driver of the second vehicle from the second vehicle, and the processor is further configured to determine whether to permit the manual driving to the second vehicle, based on the physical information.

7 . The server device according to claim 3 , wherein
the processor is further configured to perform processing for securing a communication resource necessary for communication associated with the manual driving in a base station, and if securing the communication resource is impossible, the processor is further configured to determine that the manual driving is not permitted to the second vehicle.

8 . The server device according to claim 3 , wherein
the processor is further configured to determine whether the second vehicle exists in a danger zone, based on weather information about weather and/or the driving information, and if the processor determines that the second vehicle exists in the danger zone, the processor is further configured to determine that the manual driving is not permitted to the second vehicle.

9 . The server device according to claim 3 , wherein,
if the first vehicle is an emergency vehicle, the processor determines whether the second vehicle exists in the vicinity of the first vehicle, based on the road area assigned to the first vehicle and the driving information, and if the processor determines that the second vehicle exists in the vicinity of the first vehicle, the processor is further configured to determine that the manual driving is not permitted to the second vehicle.

10 . The server device according to claim 3 , wherein
the processor is further configured to determine whether an oncoming vehicle exists in a travelable area of the second vehicle, and if the processor determines that the oncoming vehicle exists in the travelable area, the processor is further configured to determine that the manual driving is not permitted to the second vehicle.

11 . The server device according to claim 3 , wherein
the processor is further configured to estimate synchronization accuracy corresponding to a position of the second vehicle, based on the position of the second vehicle, and if the processor determines that the synchronization accuracy is low, the processor is further configured to determine that the manual driving is not permitted to the second vehicle.

12 . The server device according to claim 1 , wherein
the processor is further configured to assign, to the second vehicle, a road area that permits traveling by the manual driving, and the processor is further configured to assign, to the first vehicle, a road area outside the road area assigned to the second vehicle.

13 . The server device according to claim 1 , wherein,
if an image output unit is provided on the line of sight of a driver of the second vehicle, the processor is further configured to notify the second vehicle of information for causing the image output unit to display an image corresponding to a visual recognition unnecessary area that the driver of the second vehicle does not need to visually recognize.

14 . The server device according to claim 13 , wherein
the visual recognition unnecessary area is another vehicle that exists in front of the second vehicle, and the image is a substitute image captured by the other vehicle.

15 . The server device according to claim 13 , wherein
the visual recognition unnecessary area is a space on a road area where the traveling of the second vehicle is not permitted, and the image is a mask image for hiding the space.

16 . The server device according to claim 15 , wherein
the processor is further configured to change a method of displaying the mask image according to a speed of the second vehicle.

17 . A vehicle control device provided in a vehicle and controlling the vehicle, the vehicle control device comprising:
a communication unit configured to perform communication with a server device through a network; a processor configured to notify the server device of driving information of the vehicle if the vehicle travels by manual driving; and the processor is further configured to restrict traveling by the manual driving, based on an instruction from the server device.

18 . The vehicle control device according to claim 17 , wherein,
if the manual driving is permitted from the server device, the processor is further configured to the vehicle to travel by the manual driving, and if an instruction is issued from the server device to perform automatic driving, the processor is further configured to control the vehicle to travel by the automatic driving.

19 . The vehicle control device according to claim 17 , wherein
the processor is further configured to notify the server device of physical information about a physical condition of a driver of the vehicle.

20 . The vehicle control device according to claim 17 , further comprising
an image output unit configured to display an image on the line of sight of a driver of the vehicle, wherein the processor is further configured to perform processing of causing the image output unit to display an image corresponding to a visual recognition unnecessary area that the driver of the vehicle does not need to visually recognize, based on information from the server device.

21 . A communication device provided for a vehicle, the communication device comprising:
a communication unit configured to perform communication with a server device through a network, wherein, if the vehicle travels by the manual driving, the communication unit is further

Assignees

• Kyocera Corp

Inventors

• Morita Kugo

Classifications

• G08G1/096775

  where the origin of the information is a central station · CPC title

• G08G1/096725

  where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control · CPC title

• G08G1/096791

  where the origin of the information is another vehicle · CPC title

• G08G1/164 Primary

  Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles · CPC title

• G08G1/166

  for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes · CPC title