4.6 Internet Connection

ITS Introduction Guide

Shift from Legacy Systems to Smartway

4.6 Internet Connection

Road users can utilize Internet connection to obtain various kinds of information, including road traffic, tourism, and vicinity information, while seated in their cars at parking facilities. For example, they may modify their travel plans in view of the information they acquire, or search for more details on new regional information that they have obtained. Entertainment services, such as downloadable music files, or updated car navigation maps, could also be deployed from the standpoint of expanding business opportunities for private entrepreneurs.

From the perspective of safe driving, the Internet connection is designed to provide information to stopped vehicles in car parks, etc. Information on roads (road restrictions due to work, weather conditions, or traffic), rest areas, and the vicinity (local tourist attractions, regional information) is sent on demand over an intranet from the road managers' information server to the onboard equipment of stopped vehicles. In addition, a mechanism to allow Internet connections has been introduced so that drivers can obtain many different kinds of information.

Figure 37. Concept of Internet Connection

Rest Area

Providing information to stopped vehicles

Road traffic information

Tourist information

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Table 13. Applications of Internet connection

Application Description

Providing information to stopped vehicles

Drivers can connect to an intranet established by road managers using an Internet protocol. The intranet offers interactive provision of various types of content, including information on traffic, service areas, and the vicinity. Drivers can also surf the web by connecting to the Internet by way of this intranet. Information services specific to the current operation locations also can be provided.

System configuration

The diagram below shows the overall system configuration for a series of services related to Internet connection. The proxy server and Internet system configuration allows surfing the web via an Internet connection.

Figure 38. Concept of System Configuration for Internet Connection

Vehicle

Roadside

Center

Other entities

ITS on-board units

Basic API and common security functions Car navigation functions

Road-vehicle

Car navigation functions

DSRC roadside radio equipment Road-vehicle Push-type data transmission server Internet Proxy server Content server communications functions

Basic API and common security functions

ITS Introduction Guide

Shift from Legacy Systems to Smartway

4.7 Bus Location

With bus location, vehicle ID, location, and other data from transit vehicles (buses) is collected at a center, and information on bus operation is offered to potential bus passengers via Internet or other media. Specifically, data, including bus location (GPS data) and vehicle number, is collected by a center using mobile phones and the like. The potential passengers are provided with real-time information, such as bus operations or the approach of a bus to a bus stop, by means of mobile phones, the Internet, information terminals, or other devices. Like probe data from ordinary vehicles, data on bus operations collected for this service also can be used for a variety of other services, such as for preparing road traffic information.

Figure 39. Concept of Bus Location System

Bus location information

Clicking on a map

GPS satellite

Bus location

server _{waiting time,} Location, and other

In household (website)

Mobile phone

Bus stop

_{Information terminal}

longitude, and vehicle number

VICS

I'm glad I don't have to spend time waiting for the bus anymore.

Bus location information

Clicking on a map

GPS satellite

Bus location

server _{waiting time,} Location, and other

In household (website)

Mobile phone

Bus stop

_{Information terminal}

longitude, and vehicle number

VICS

I'm glad I don't have to spend time waiting for the bus anymore.

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System configuration

The general system configuration of a bus location system is as follows. Mobile phones and other devices are used to transmit data from the buses to a center. The data is gathered and analyzed at the center, and then sent over the Internet to household computers, mobile phones (email), information terminals, and the like.

Figure 40. System Configuration of Bus Location System

home Center

Internet

e-mail

ITS Introduction Guide

Shift from Legacy Systems to Smartway

4.8 Various Other Applications

A variety of other ITS services are now being studied and considered for development based on Japan's cooperative vehicle-highway system platform.

(1) Vehicle diagnostic applications

Sensors installed in vehicles, such as various types of oil monitors and battery monitors, will be used to collect data concerning a vehicle so that drivers can determine the condition of their vehicles. This data could also be sent to dealerships or other businesses to promote better vehicle maintenance.

(2) Drive-through establishments

This service will allow drivers to view menus, place orders, and issue payments from inside a stopped or parked vehicle at fast food restaurants, gas stations, and the like, using DSRC or other media. For example, establishing DSRC in a parking facility will make it possible to deploy new services from existing parking facilities.

Figure 41. Automatic Settlement at Gas Stations

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(3) Entry/exit control and payment on ferries, etc.

This service will use DSRC on ferries for entry/exit control of vehicles. This will enable drivers to pay the ferry fee from inside their vehicles.

Figure 42. Simplified Entry/Exit Control on Ferries

ITS Introduction Guide

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DITOR

Hiroshi Makino

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

2-1-3 Kasumigaseki Chiyoda-ku Tokyo, 100-8918 Japan

S

upporting entities

K. Kishi

Chodai, Co. Ltd.

2-1-3 Higashi-tabata, Kita-ku Tokyo, 1140013 Japan K. Imamura

Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc.

2-3-6 Otemachi Chiyoda-ku Tokyo, 100-8141 Japan Y. Miyasaka

Highway Industry Development Org.

7-17-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, 104-0045 Tokyo Japan

Comments about this compendium should be sent to HIDO via email, phone, fax, or mail c/o Y. Miyasaka.

Y. Miyasaka

Highway Industry Development Organization 7-17-1 Sumitomo Fudosan Building 2F Tsukiji, Chuo-ku Tokyo, 104-0045 Japan Phone: 81 3 3545 6631

Fax: 81 3 3545 2144