Patent Publication Number: US-2017365168-A1

Title: Recording medium, trigger condition determining method, and trigger condition determining apparatus

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation application of International Application PCT/JP2016/054294, filed on Feb. 15, 2016, which claims priority from a Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-049102 filed on Mar. 12, 2015, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The embodiments discussed herein relate to a recording medium, a trigger condition determining method, and a trigger condition determining apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventionally, there is a system that collects travel information of a vehicle such as the position, speed, acceleration, driving operation, etc. of the vehicle. Further, there is a technique of performing control in a vehicle to prevent an occurrence of a traffic accident, based on collected travel information of the vehicle. For example, notification is given in the vehicle as control in the vehicle. 
     As a prior art, for example, an outcome measuring system automatically acquires for each measure, cost and outcomes for measures related to website operation whereby an outcome obtained by implementing a certain measure and the required cost are calculated. Further, for example, when a user is performing an action according to an action plan and despite awareness, an expected effect is not obtained, a more effective action plan having a same attribute as before a change is selected and provided to the user. For example, refer to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication Nos. 2013-73615 and 2012-128798. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of an embodiment, a non-transitory, computer-readable recording medium stores therein a trigger condition determining program that causes a computer to execute a process including distributing and allocating to plural vehicle groups, a pattern candidate when plural pattern candidates of a trigger condition for control in a vehicle corresponding to driving operation is present, the pattern candidate being each pattern candidate of the plural pattern candidates; evaluating the trigger condition corresponding to the allocated pattern candidate, based on a change in travel information before and after an application of the trigger condition corresponding to the allocated pattern candidate; and setting among plural trigger conditions, a trigger condition having a relatively high evaluation or satisfying a predetermined standard to be a trigger condition that is to be applied in a service provided to the plural vehicle groups. 
     The object and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of an example of a trigger condition determining method according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram depicting an example of an operation support system  200  according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of one example of hardware of a determining apparatus  100 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram depicting an example of the contents of a travel information table  400 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram depicting an example of the contents of a location information table  500 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram depicting an example of the contents of a detection condition master  600 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram depicting an example of the contents of an extraction condition master  700 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram depicting an example of the contents of a pattern master  800 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram depicting an example of the contents of a results information table  900 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a block diagram of an example of hardware of an onboard vehicular apparatus N; 
         FIG. 11  is a block diagram of an example of functional configuration of the determining apparatus  100 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram depicting an example of allocation of pattern candidates of a trigger condition; 
         FIG. 13  is a diagram depicting a flow of trigger condition determination; 
         FIG. 14  is a diagram depicting an example of trigger condition replacement; 
         FIG. 15  is a diagram depicting an example of an output screen; 
         FIG. 16  is a flowchart depicting an example of a procedure of a replacement process; and 
         FIG. 17  is a flowchart depicting an example of a procedure of an exclusion process. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of a trigger condition determining program, a trigger condition determining method, and a trigger condition determining apparatus of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram of an example of the trigger condition determining method according to an embodiment. In  FIG. 1 , a trigger condition determining apparatus  100  is a computer configured to, for example, reduce the burden on a passenger of a vehicle C or avoid congestion, prevent an occurrence of a traffic accident by determining conditions for performing control in the vehicle according to the driving operation of the vehicle C. The vehicle C is, for example, an automobile, a motorcycle, a bicycle, or the like. In the description hereinafter, the trigger condition determining apparatus  100  may be indicated as simply “determining apparatus  100 ”. Further, a condition for performing control in the vehicle C according to the driving operation of the vehicle C may be indicated as a “trigger condition”. 
     Here, it is conceivable that a computing apparatus equipped on the vehicle C performs control in the vehicle C when a trigger condition based on a sudden braking count of another vehicle C is satisfied whereby an occurrence of a traffic accident involving the vehicle may be prevented. For example, the computing apparatus may use, as trigger condition, an instance in which the vehicle C enters a place where the number of times another vehicle C braked suddenly when passing through in the past is equal to or greater than a threshold and when the trigger condition is satisfied, may perform control in the vehicle C. In this case, the computing apparatus, for example, as control in the vehicle C, gives notification in the vehicle C that the vehicle C is passing through a dangerous zone cautioning a passenger of the vehicle C whereby an occurrence of a traffic accident involving the vehicle C may be prevented. 
     However, it is difficult for a manager of the computing apparatus to judge what type of trigger condition configured in the computing apparatus will suppress an occurrence of a traffic accident. For example, it is difficult for the manager of the computing apparatus to judge whether using, as a trigger condition, an instance of the vehicle C entering a place where the number of times another vehicle C braked suddenly when passing through in the past is equal to or greater than a threshold can suppress the occurrence of a traffic accident involving the vehicle C. Therefore, even when the vehicle C has entered a place where giving notification in the vehicle C is desirable to prevent the occurrence of a traffic accident involving the vehicle C, the notification in the vehicle C may not be given and the occurrence of a traffic accident involving the vehicle C may not be prevented. 
     Further, when the vehicle C has entered a place other than a place where giving notification in the vehicle C is desirable, notification in the vehicle C may be given whereby a large number of notifications may be given in the vehicle C. As a result, whenever notification is given, a passenger of the vehicle C may have difficulty knowing whether caution against a traffic accident should be exercised. Further, as a result of a large number of notifications being given in the vehicle C, a passenger of the vehicle C may become accustomed to the notifications in the vehicle C and disregard the notifications in the vehicle C whereby an occurrence of a traffic accident involving the vehicle C may not be prevented. Further, as a result of a large number of notifications being given in the vehicle C, a passenger of the vehicle C may perform driving operations exercising caution against a traffic accident every time a notification is given in the vehicle C whereby the physical or mental burden on a passenger of the vehicle C increases. 
     Further, it is conceivable that the computing apparatus equipped on the vehicle C performs control in the vehicle C when a trigger condition based on a position of another traveling vehicle C is satisfied whereby congestion may be avoided by the vehicle C. For example, the computing apparatus may use, as a trigger condition, an instance in which the vehicle C enters a congested place where a certain number or more other vehicles C are traveling and when the trigger condition is satisfied, may give notification in the vehicle C, of a route bypassing the congested place. Nonetheless, it is difficult for the manager of the computing apparatus to judge what type of trigger condition configured in the computing apparatus may efficiently avoid congestion. Therefore, even when it is desirable for the vehicle C to bypass a congested place, notification of a route bypassing the congested place may not be given whereby the time that it takes for the vehicle C to reach a destination may increase. Further, even when the vehicle C needs not bypass a congested place, notification of a bypass route may be given whereby the time that it takes for the vehicle C to reach the destination may increase. Thus, in the present embodiment, the trigger condition determining method of determining a condition enabling control in the vehicle C to be enabled is described. 
     In the example depicted in  FIG. 1 , the determining apparatus  100  is configured to collect from vehicles C included in plural vehicle groups G 1  to G 3 , travel information R of the vehicles C. The travel information R is, for example, information including the position of the vehicles C, the speed and acceleration of the vehicles C, contents of the driving operation of the vehicles C, etc. 
     Further, the determining apparatus  100  stores patterns P 1  to P 3  as pattern candidates for a trigger condition. A pattern of a trigger condition is expressed as, for example, a combination of a condition of detecting a zone prone to sudden braking and a condition of extracting from the zone prone to sudden braking, a notification place where notification is to be given in the vehicle C. 
     (1) The determining apparatus  100 , during a first period T 1 , collects the travel information R of each of the vehicles C included in the plural vehicle groups G 1  to G 3 . The determining apparatus  100 , for example, during the period T 1 , collects from each of the vehicles C of the plural vehicle groups G 1  to G 3 , the travel information R including the acceleration of the vehicles C of the determining apparatus  100 . 
     (2) The determining apparatus  100 , when the first period T 1  ends, applies each of the patterns P 1  to P 3  to each of the plural vehicle groups G 1  to G 3 . The determining apparatus  100 , for example, when each of the vehicles C included in the vehicle group G 1  satisfies the pattern P 1 , configures the pattern P 1  in the vehicles C included in the vehicle group G 1  or in an onboard vehicular apparatus equipped on the vehicles C so that control is performed in the vehicles of the determining apparatus  100 . As a result, the determining apparatus  100  may prevent an occurrence of a traffic accident involving the vehicles C included in the plural vehicle groups G 1  to G 3 . 
     (3) The determining apparatus  100 , during a second period T 2  subsequent to the first period T 1 , collects the travel information R from each of the vehicles C that are included in the plural vehicle groups G 1  to G 3  and to which the patterns P 1  to P 3  have been applied. The determining apparatus  100 , for example, during the period T 2 , collects from each of the vehicles C included in the plural vehicle groups G 1  to G 3 , the travel information R including the acceleration of the vehicles C of the determining apparatus  100 . 
     (4) The determining apparatus  100  evaluates each of the patterns P 1  to P 3 , based on the travel information R collected at (1) and (3). The determining apparatus  100 , for example, calculates the sudden braking count before and after application of each of the patterns P 1  to P 3 , based on the acceleration of the vehicles C included in the collected travel information R. Sudden braking is, for example, a state in which the acceleration of a vehicle C in a rearward direction of the vehicle C is a threshold or greater. 
     The determining apparatus  100  calculates an evaluation value for each of the patterns P 1  to P 3  so that the evaluation value is higher for a pattern P 1  to P 3  for which the sudden braking count is lower to a greater extent after application of the pattern P 1  to P 3 . The determining apparatus  100  may judge, without calculating an evaluation value, evaluation to be favorable the lower the sudden braking count is. Further, the determining apparatus  100 , after application of a pattern, may calculate an evaluation value of the pattern so that the evaluation value is higher for a lower ratio of the sudden braking count to the number of vehicles traveling. 
     (5) The determining apparatus  100  determines a pattern having a relatively high evaluation or a pattern satisfying a predetermined standard among the patterns P 1  to P 3  as a pattern of a trigger condition to be applied in a service for the plural vehicle groups G 1  to G 3 . The determining apparatus  100 , for example, determines the pattern having the highest evaluation value calculated at (4) to be the pattern of the trigger condition. Further, the determining apparatus  100  may determine, as the pattern of the trigger condition, a pattern having an evaluation value calculated at (4) equal to or higher than a threshold. 
     As a result, the determining apparatus  100  may determine, as a pattern of a trigger condition, a pattern that may reduce the sudden braking count after application, among pattern candidates of a trigger condition. In other words, the determining apparatus  100  may determine, as a pattern of a trigger condition, a pattern that may reduce the sudden braking count and that has a high possibility of preventing an occurrence of a traffic accident. The determining apparatus  100  may apply the determined pattern of a trigger condition to each of the plural vehicle groups G 1  to G 3  and increase the possibility that an occurrence of a traffic accident involving the vehicles C of the plural vehicle groups G 1  to G 3  may be prevented. Further, the determining apparatus  100 , at a place other than a place where giving notification in the vehicles C thereof is desirable to prevent an occurrence of a traffic accident involving the vehicles C thereof, may suppress giving notification in the vehicles C thereof, enabling a reduction in the burden on a passenger of the vehicles C thereof. 
     The determining apparatus  100  may replace among the patterns P 1  to P 3 , a pattern having a relatively low evaluation or a pattern not satisfying a predetermined standard with a new pattern. The determining apparatus  100  may recursively perform processes identical to those at (2) to (5) with respect to the plural patterns including the replaced pattern. As a result, the determining apparatus  100  may search for a pattern having a higher possibility of preventing an occurrence of a traffic accident. 
     Here, although as case has been described in which the determining apparatus  100  determines, as a pattern of a trigger condition, a pattern that among pattern candidates of a trigger condition, reduces the sudden braking count to a greater extent after application than before application, configuration is not limited hereto. For example, the determining apparatus  100  may determine, as a pattern of a trigger condition, a pattern for which the sudden braking count is lowest after application, a pattern for which the sudden braking count is less than a threshold, or the like, among pattern candidates of a trigger condition. 
     Here, although a case has been described in which the determining apparatus  100  extracts a notification place from a zone prone to sudden braking, configuration is not limited hereto. For example, the determining apparatus  100  may extract a notification place from any of a zone prone to rapid acceleration, a zone prone to abrupt steering actions, a zone prone to hazard light use, a zone prone to speeding, and the like. Here, although a case has been described in which the determining apparatus  100  determines a trigger condition for the vehicle C, configuration is not limited hereto. The determining apparatus  100  may determine a trigger condition for a vehicle other than the vehicles C. 
     Here, although a case has been described in which the determining apparatus  100  determines a pattern of a trigger condition having a relatively high evaluation without limiting the type of region, season, period, etc. in which a vehicle included in plural vehicle groups travels, configuration is not limited hereto. For example, the determining apparatus  100  may separately determine a pattern of trigger condition having a relatively high evaluation when applied to plural vehicle groups traveling in an urban area and a pattern of a trigger condition having a relatively high evaluation when applied to plural vehicle groups traveling in a rural area. Similarly, the determining apparatus  100  may determine, for both winter and busy seasons, a pattern of a trigger condition having a relatively high evaluation when applied to plural vehicle groups. Similarly, the determining apparatus  100  may determine, for both before noon and after noon in a single day, a pattern of a trigger condition having a relatively higher evaluation when applied to plural vehicle groups. 
     The determining apparatus  100  may use, as a vehicle group to which a pattern candidate of a trigger condition is to be applied, a vehicle group to which a pattern of a trigger condition has been applied for a predetermined period. As a result, the determining apparatus  100  does not apply a pattern candidate of a trigger condition to a vehicle group to which a pattern of a trigger condition has not been applied and that has a high possibility of preventing an occurrence of an accident irrespective of the pattern of a trigger condition applied. As a result, the determining apparatus  100  may improve the accuracy of verifying whether a pattern candidate of a trigger condition has a high or low possibility of preventing an occurrence of a traffic accident. 
     Here, although a case has been described in which the determining apparatus  100  determines a trigger condition for performing control in the vehicles C whereby an occurrence of a traffic accident may be prevented or the burden on a passenger of the vehicles C may be reduced, configuration is not limited hereto. For example, the determining apparatus  100  may determine a trigger condition for performing control in the vehicles C whereby the efficiency of avoiding congestion may be enhanced. In particular, the determining apparatus  100  evaluates a pattern of a trigger condition based on the time taken for the vehicles C to reach a destination after the pattern of a trigger condition is applied to a vehicle group to determine a pattern of a trigger condition for performing control in the vehicles C. 
     A pattern candidate of a trigger condition may include a pattern whose application to any of the vehicle groups up this time is desirable. In the description hereinafter, a pattern whose application to any of the vehicle groups up to this time may be indicated as a “fixed pattern”. Further, a pattern candidate of a trigger condition may include a pattern subject to verification of whether application to any of the vehicle groups up to this time is desirable. In the description hereinafter, a pattern subject to verification of whether application to any of the vehicle groups this time is desirable may be indicated as a “verification-subject pattern”. 
     An example of an operation support system  200  according to the embodiment and to which the trigger condition determining method depicted in  FIG. 1  is applied is described with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram depicting an example of the operation support system  200  according to the embodiment. In  FIG. 2 , the operation support system  200  includes the determining apparatus  100 , the plural vehicles C, and a client apparatus  201 . The determining apparatus  100 , the plural vehicles C, and the client apparatus  201  are connected by a network  210 . The network  210  is, for example, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), the Internet, etc. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 1 , the determining apparatus  100  may collect the travel information R of the plural vehicles C. The determining apparatus  100  determines a condition for performing control in the vehicles C according to driving operation of the vehicles C, based on the collected travel information R. As a result, the determining apparatus  100  may prevent an occurrence of a traffic accident. 
     The plural vehicles C are each equipped with an onboard vehicular apparatus N. The plural vehicles C may be vehicles owned by different companies and/or organizations. The onboard vehicular apparatus N is a computer configured to detect the travel information R of the vehicle C on which the onboard vehicular apparatus N is equipped. The onboard vehicular apparatus N transmits the detected travel information R to the determining apparatus  100 , via the network  210 . As a result, the onboard vehicular apparatus N may cause the determining apparatus  100  to accumulate the travel information R. Further, the onboard vehicular apparatus N receives a pattern of a trigger condition from the determining apparatus  100 . The onboard vehicular apparatus N performs control in the vehicle C thereof, when the received pattern of a trigger condition is satisfied. As a result, the onboard vehicular apparatus N may prevent an occurrence of a traffic accident. 
     The client apparatus  201  is a computer configured to receive operation input from a user of the client apparatus  201  whereby a pattern candidate of a trigger condition is input to the client apparatus  201 . The client apparatus  201  transmits the input pattern candidate of a trigger condition to the determining apparatus  100 , via the network  210 . As a result, the client apparatus  201  may set the pattern candidate of a trigger condition as a verification-subject pattern in the determining apparatus  100 . Further, the client apparatus  201  receives the pattern of a trigger condition determined by the determining apparatus  100 , via the network  210 . The client apparatus  201  outputs the received pattern of the trigger condition. As a result, the client apparatus  201  may notify the user of the client apparatus  201  of the pattern of the trigger condition. 
     Configuration of the operation support system  200  in this manner provides an operation support service from the manager of the determining apparatus  100  to a manager of the vehicles C. The operation support service is a service for preventing an occurrence of a traffic accident based on the travel information R of the vehicle C and is provided by the determining apparatus  100 . Here, the manager of the determining apparatus  100  may have different contracts with each of the managers of the plural vehicles C. The manager of the determining apparatus  100  may change the contents of the operation support service provided to each of the managers of the plural vehicles C, depending on the contents of the contract with each of the managers of the plural vehicles C. 
     For example, the manager of the determining apparatus  100  may change a trigger condition applied to the vehicle C depending on the contents of the contract. In particular, the manager of the determining apparatus  100  may enter with the manager of the vehicle C, a contract to preferably apply a pattern of a trigger condition having a relatively high possibility of preventing a traffic accident, for an additional fee from the manager of the vehicle C. Further, the manager of the determining apparatus  100  may enter with the manager of the vehicle C, a contract to guarantee application of a pattern of a trigger condition for which improvement is detected, for an additional fee from the manager of the vehicle C. 
     Further, when a trigger condition is satisfied, the manager of the determining apparatus  100  may change whether to give notification in the vehicle C or to perform control of the travel of the vehicle C such as reducing the speed of the vehicle C, depending on the contents of the contract entered. As a result, the manager of the determining apparatus  100  may enter a contract that matches the needs of the manager of the vehicle C. The manager of the determining apparatus  100  may prevent an occurrence of a traffic accident involving the vehicle C according to the needs of the manager of the vehicle C. 
     Here, although a case has been described in which the determining apparatus  100  and the client apparatus  201  are different apparatuses, configuration is not limited hereto. For example, the determining apparatus  100  may be integrated with the client apparatus  201 . Here, although a case has been described in which the client apparatus  201  is a single apparatus, configuration is not limited hereto. For example, two or more of the client apparatuses  201  may be included. 
     An example of hardware of the determining apparatus  100  included in the operation support system  200  depicted in  FIG. 2  is described with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of one example of hardware of the determining apparatus  100 . In  FIG. 3 , the determining apparatus  100  includes a central processing unit (CPU)  301 , read-only memory (ROM)  302 , and random access memory (RAM)  303 . The determining apparatus  100  further includes a disk drive  304 , a disk  305 , an interface (I/F)  306 , an input apparatus  307 , and an output apparatus  308 . 
     The CPU  301 , the ROM  302 , the RAM  303 , the disk drive  304 , the I/F  306 , the input apparatus  307 , and the output apparatus  308  are connected by a bus  300 . The determining apparatus  100  is, for example, a server, notebook-type computer, a desktop computer, or the like. 
     Here, the CPU  301  governs overall control of the determining apparatus  100 . The ROM  302  stores various programs such as a boot program. The RAM  303  is used as work area of the CPU  301 . Further, the RAM  303  stores various types of data obtained by execution of the programs. The RAM  303  may further store various types of tables such as those depicted in  FIGS. 4 to 9  described hereinafter. 
     The disk drive  304 , under the control of the CPU  301 , controls the reading and writing of data with respect to the disk  305 . The disk  305  stores data written thereto under the control of the disk drive  304 . In place of the RAM  303 , the disk  305  may store various tables described hereinafter with reference to  FIGS. 4 to 9 . The disk  305  is, for example, a magnetic disk or an optical disk. 
     The I/F  306  is connected to the network  210  through a communications line and is connected to other apparatuses via the network  210 . The I/F  306  administers an internal interface with the network  210  and controls the input and output of data from an external apparatus. A modem, a LAN adapter, or the like may be adopted as the I/F  306 , for example. 
     The input apparatus  307  is an interface that performs various types of data input by user operation of a keyboard, a touch panel, etc. The input apparatus  307  may be a mouse, a scanner, etc. The output apparatus  308  is an interface that outputs data in response to an instruction of the CPU  301 . The output apparatus  308  is, for example, is a display that displays a cursor, icons, and toolboxes in addition to data such as documents, images, and functional information. The output apparatus  308  may be a printer. 
     The determining apparatus  100  may be configured omitting at least any one of the input apparatus  307  and the output apparatus  308 . The determining apparatus  100  may further include a solid state drive (SSD) and semiconductor memory. The determining apparatus  100  may have a SSD and semiconductor memory in place of the disk drive  304  and the disk  305 . 
     An example of contents of a travel information table  400  is described with reference to  FIG. 4 . The travel information table  400  is implemented by, for example, a storage region such as the ROM  302 , the RAM  303 , the disk  305  depicted in  FIG. 3 , or the like. 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram depicting an example of the contents of the travel information table  400 . As depicted in  FIG. 4 , the travel information table  400  has a date and time field, a latitude field, a longitude field, a speed field, a longitudinal G field, a lateral G field, and a vertical G field associated with a vehicle ID field. The travel information table  400  stores records by a setting of information into the fields for each vehicle C. 
     The vehicle ID field stores identification information of the vehicle C. The date and time field stores date and time information such as a year, month, day, hour, minute, seconds, etc. The latitude field stores a latitude value of a coordinate in a geographic coordinate system corresponding to a position of the vehicle C indicated by the identification information in the vehicle ID field, on the date and time in the date and time field. The longitude field stores a longitude value of a coordinate in a geographic coordinate system corresponding to a position of the vehicle C indicated by the identification information in the vehicle ID field, on the date and time in the date and time field. The speed field stores the speed of the vehicle C indicated by the identification information in the vehicle ID field, on the date and time in the date and time field. The unit of the speed is, for example, km/h. 
     The longitudinal G field stores the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle C indicated by the identification information in the vehicle ID field, on the date and time in the date and time field. The unit of the acceleration is, for example, m/ŝ2. The lateral G field stores the lateral acceleration of the vehicle C indicated by the identification information in the vehicle ID field, on the date and time in the date and time field. The vertical G field stores the vertical acceleration of the vehicle C indicated by the identification information in the vehicle ID field, on the date and time in the date and time field. 
     The travel information table  400  is created by the determining apparatus  100 , based on the travel information R received from the onboard vehicular apparatuses N. The travel information table  400  enables the determining apparatus  100  identify a zone prone to sudden braking. An zone prone to sudden braking identified by the determining apparatus  100  is stored by, for example, a location information table  500  depicted in  FIG. 5  described hereinafter. Further, the travel information table  400  enables the determining apparatus  100  to calculate an evaluation value of a pattern of a trigger condition. 
     An example of contents of the location information table  500  is described with reference to  FIG. 5 . The location information table  500  is implemented by, for example, a storage region such as the ROM  302 , the RAM  303 , the disk  305  depicted in  FIG. 3 , or the like. 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram depicting an example of the contents of the location information table  500 . As depicted in  FIG. 5 , the location information table  500  has a start latitude field, a start longitude field, an end latitude field, an end longitude field, a sudden braking count field, a passing count field, and a frequency field associated with a location number (No.) field. The location information table  500  stores records by a setting of information into the fields for each location having a rectangular shape and a predetermined size. The rectangular shape is, for example, a rectangle 90 m in a latitudinal direction and 75 m in a longitudinal direction. 
     The location No. field stores identification information of location. The start latitude field stores the latitude of a starting point of a rectangular region indicated by the identification information in the location No. field. The starting point is, for example, any one of the vertices of the rectangular region. The start longitude field stores the longitude of the starting point of the rectangular region indicated by the identification information in the location No. field. 
     The end latitude field stores the latitude of an ending point of the rectangular region that is the location indicated by the identification information in the location No. field. The ending point is, for example, the vertex opposing the starting point of the rectangular region, among the vertices of the rectangular region. The end longitude field stores the longitude of the ending point of the rectangular region that is the location indicated by the identification information in the location No. field. 
     The sudden braking count field stores the number of times that the vehicle C braked suddenly in the rectangular region that is the location indicated by the identification information in the location No. field. Sudden braking is a state in which, for example, acceleration in the rearward direction is greater than the value of a deceleration range field of a detection condition master  600  depicted in  FIG. 6  and described hereinafter. The passing count field stores a count of the vehicles C passing through the rectangular region that is the location indicated by the identification information in the location No. field. The frequency field stores a ratio of the sudden braking count of the sudden braking count field to the passing vehicle count in the passing count field. 
     The location information table  500  is created by the determining apparatus  100 , based on the travel information table  400  and the detection condition master  600  in  FIG. 6  described hereinafter. The determining apparatus  100  may create the location information table  500  for each detection condition of the detection condition master  600  in  FIG. 6 . The location information table  500  enables the determining apparatus  100  to identify a notification place where notification is to be given in the vehicle C. A notification place identified by the determining apparatus  100  may be stored by, for example, a notification place information table. 
     The notification place information table is, for example, a table extracted from and storing some of the records of the location information table  500 , based on an extraction condition master  700  depicted in  FIG. 7  and described hereinafter. Contents of the notification place information table are identical to the contents of the location information table  500  and therefore, description thereof is omitted herein. 
     An example of contents of the detection condition master  600  is described with reference to  FIG. 6 . The detection condition master  600  is implemented by, for example, a storage region such as the ROM  302 , the RAM  303 , the disk  305  depicted in  FIG. 3 , or the like. 
       FIG. 6  is a diagram depicting an example of the contents of the detection condition master  600 . As depicted in  FIG. 6 , the detection condition master  600  has an occurrence count field, an occurrence vehicle count field, a collection period field, and the deceleration range field associated with the detection No. field. The detection condition master  600  stores records by a setting of information into the fields for each detection condition for detecting a zone prone to sudden braking. 
     The detection No. field stores identification information of a detection condition. The occurrence count field stores a count that is used as a threshold when a zone prone to sudden braking is detected based on whether the sudden braking count is greater than a threshold. The occurrence vehicle count field stores a value that is used as the threshold when a zone prone to sudden braking is detected based on whether a count of the vehicles C that have braked suddenly is greater than a threshold. The collection period field stores the period of collection of the travel information R used when a zone prone to sudden braking is detected. The deceleration range field stores a value that is used as the threshold when a zone prone to sudden braking is detected based on whether the acceleration of the vehicle C in the rearward direction is exceeds than a threshold. 
     The detection condition master  600  is input to the determining apparatus  100  by the manager of the determining apparatus  100  and created by the determining apparatus  100 . The determining apparatus  100 , for example, when the manager of the determining apparatus  100  inputs a combination of a detection condition expressing a verification-subject pattern and the detection condition, the detection condition is set into the detection condition master  600 . The detection condition master  600  enables the determining apparatus  100  to detect a zone prone to sudden braking. 
     An example of contents of the extraction condition master  700  is described with reference to  FIG. 7 . The extraction condition master  700  is implemented by, for example, a storage region such as the ROM  302 , the RAM  303 , the disk  305  depicted in  FIG. 3 , or the like. 
       FIG. 7  is a diagram depicting an example of the contents of the extraction condition master  700 . As depicted in  FIG. 7 , the extraction condition master  700  has a subject field and a condition field associated with an extraction No. field. The extraction condition master  700  stores records by a setting of information into the fields for each extraction condition for extracting a notification place. 
     The extraction No. field stores identification information of an extraction condition. The subject field stores a name of an element used when a notification place is extracted. “Count” in the subject field represents, for example, the sudden braking count. The condition field stores a condition used when a notification place is extracted based on the element indicated by the name in the subject field. “Top 100 cases according to prefecture” in the condition field indicates, for example, for each prefecture, a condition of extracting as a notification place, locations of the top 100 cases of the element “sudden braking count”. 
     The extraction condition master  700  is input to the determining apparatus  100  by the manager of the determining apparatus  100  and created by the determining apparatus  100 . The determining apparatus  100 , for example, when a combination of an extraction condition and a detection condition expressing a verification-subject pattern are input by the manager of the determining apparatus  100 , sets the extraction condition in the extraction condition master  700 . The extraction condition master  700  enables the determining apparatus  100  to detect a notification place. By a combination of a detection condition of the detection condition master  600  and an extraction condition of the extraction condition master  700 , a pattern of a trigger condition may be expressed. 
     An example of contents of a pattern master  800  is described with reference to  FIG. 8 . The pattern master  800  is implemented by, for example, a storage region such as the ROM  302 , the RAM  303 , the disk  305  depicted in  FIG. 3 , or the like. 
       FIG. 8  is a diagram depicting an example of the contents of the pattern master  800 . As depicted in  FIG. 8 , the pattern master  800  has a season field, a prone area field, a notification field, and an attribute field associated with a prefecture field. The pattern master  800  stores records by a setting of information in the fields for each prefecture. 
     The prefecture field stores a prefecture. The season field stores a season. A busy season is a season when the business of the manager of the vehicle group is busy and is preset. A normal season is a season when the business of the manager of the vehicle group is not busy and is preset. Winter is a period affected by snow. The prone area field stores identification information of a condition used as a detection condition for detecting a zone prone to sudden braking in the prefecture of the prefecture field during the season of the season field. The notification field stores identification information of a condition used as an extraction condition for extracting a notification place in the prefecture of the prefecture field, during the season of the season field. 
     The attribute field stores whether a pattern of a trigger condition that is a combination of the detection condition indicated by the identification information in the prone area field and the extraction condition indicated by the identification information in the notification field is a fixed pattern or a verification-subject pattern. “Fixed” in the attribute field indicates a fixed pattern. “Verification” in the attribute field indicates a verification-subject pattern. 
     The pattern master  800  is created by the determining apparatus  100 . Further, the pattern master  800  is created by a pattern being added by the determining apparatus  100 . The pattern master  800  enables the determining apparatus  100  to identify a fixed pattern and a verification-subject pattern. The pattern master  800  enables different patterns to be associated with locations having different road conditions such as urban areas and rural areas. Further, the pattern master  800  enables different patterns to be associated with seasons having different business states, travel states, road conditions, etc. such as a busy season and winter, which is affected by snow. 
     The pattern master  800  may further have a vehicle type field. The vehicle type field stores the type of the vehicle C. As a result, the pattern master  800  may associate different patterns for vehicles C of different traveling performance such as motorcycles, economy cars, trucks, etc. 
     An example of contents of a results information table  900  is described with reference to  FIG. 9 . The results information table  900  is implemented by, for example, a storage region such as the ROM  302 , the RAM  303  and the disk  305  depicted in  FIG. 3 , or the like. 
       FIG. 9  is a diagram depicting an example of the contents of the results information table  900 . As depicted in  FIG. 9 , the results information table  900  has a prone area field, a notification field, a season field, a sudden braking field, a passage field, and a ratio field associated with a prefecture field. The results information table  900  stores records by a setting of information to the fields for each prefecture. 
     The prefecture field stores a prefecture. The season field stores a season. The prone area field stores identification information of a condition used as a detection condition for detecting a zone prone to sudden braking in the prefecture in the prefecture field during the season in the season field. The notification field stores identification information of a condition used as an extraction condition to extract a notification place in the prefecture in the prefecture field during the season in the season field. 
     The sudden braking field stores a count of sudden braking by vehicles C in the prefecture in the prefecture field during the season in the season field. The passage field stores a count of vehicles C that passed through the prefecture in the prefecture field during the season in the season field. The ratio field stores a ratio of the sudden braking count in the sudden braking field to the count of vehicles C that passed through in the passage field. 
     The results information table  900  is created by the determining apparatus  100  based on the travel information table  400  and the pattern master  800 . The determining apparatus  100  sets the contents of the notification field and the prone area field of the pattern master  800  expressing a pattern into, for example, the prone area field and the notification field of the results information table  900 . Further, based on the travel information table  400 , the determining apparatus  100  extracts and sets into the sudden braking field, the sudden braking count of the vehicles c to which is applied, the pattern expressed by the combination of the notification field and the prone area field in the prefecture in the prefecture field during the season in the season field. 
     Similarly, based on the travel information table  400 , the determining apparatus  100  extracts and sets into the passage field, the count of passing vehicles to which is applied, the pattern expressed by the combination of the notification field and the prone area field in the prefecture in the prefecture field during the season in the season field. Further, the determining apparatus  100  calculates and sets into the ratio field, the ratio of the sudden braking count in the sudden braking field to the count of passing vehicles C in the passage field. The results information table  900  enables the determining apparatus  100  evaluate each pattern. The determining apparatus  100 , for example, gives a higher evaluation to a pattern for which the value of the ratio field is smaller. 
     An example of hardware of the onboard vehicular apparatus N included in the operation support system  200  depicted in  FIG. 2  is described with reference to  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 10  is a block diagram of an example of hardware of the onboard vehicular apparatus N. In  FIG. 10 , the onboard vehicular apparatus N includes a CPU  1001 , a memory  1002 , a disk drive  1003 , and a disk  1004 . The onboard vehicular apparatus N further includes a display  1005 , an input device  1006 , an I/F  1007 , a timer  1008 , a global positioning system (GPS) unit  1009 , an acceleration sensor  101 , and an alarm device  1011 . 
     The components  1001  to  1003 , and  1005  to  1011  are connected by a bus  1000 . The onboard vehicular apparatus N is, for example, a car navigation apparatus, a smartphone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a tablet terminal, or the like. 
     Here, the CPU  1001  governs overall control of the onboard vehicular apparatus N. The memory  1002  includes, for example, ROM, RAM, and flash ROM. In particular, the flash ROM and the ROM store various programs such as a boot program, and the RAM is used as a work area of the CPU  1001 . A program stored in the memory  1002  is loaded onto the CPU  1001  whereby an encoded process is executed by the CPU  1001 . 
     The disk drive  1003 , under the control of the CPU  1001 , controls the reading and writing of data to the disk  1004 . The disk  1004  stores data written thereto under the control of the disk drive  1003 . The disk  1004  may be, for example, a magnetic disk or an optical disk. 
     The display  1005  displays a cursor, icons, and toolboxes in addition to data such as documents, images, function information, and the like. The display  1005  is, for example, a cathode ray tube (CRT), a thin film transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display, a plasma display, or the like. The input device  1006  has keys for inputting various instructions, numerals, and text, and performs input of data. Further, the input device  1006  may be a touch panel type input pad, numeric pad, etc. 
     The I/F  1007  is connected to the network  210  through communications line and is connected to other apparatuses (for example, the determining apparatus  100  depicted in  FIG. 2 ) via the network  210 . The I/F  1007  administers an internal interface with the network  210  and controls the input and output of data from an external apparatus. 
     The timer  1008  measures time such as years, months, days, hours, minutes, seconds, etc. The GPS unit  1009  receives radio waves (GPS signals) from a GPS satellite and outputs position information indicating a position of the onboard vehicular apparatus N (the vehicle C). The position information of the onboard vehicular apparatus N (the vehicle C) is, for example, information identifying one point in a geographic coordinate system such as latitude/longitude, altitude, etc. 
     The acceleration sensor  1010  detects acceleration in 3 axial directions including a longitudinal direction, a lateral direction, and a vertical direction of the onboard vehicular apparatus N (the vehicle C). The acceleration sensor  1010 , for example, detects longitudinal acceleration as a negative value when a force in a rearward direction is placed in the vehicle C and detects longitudinal acceleration as a positive value when a force in a forward direction is placed in the vehicle C. Further, the acceleration sensor  1010  detects vertical acceleration as a positive value when the vehicle C is moving in an upward direction and detects vertical acceleration as a negative value when the vehicle C is moving in a downward direction. Further, the acceleration sensor  1010  detects lateral acceleration as positive value when the vehicle C is moving in a rightward direction and detects lateral acceleration as negative value when the vehicle C is moving in a leftward direction. Correspondence of positive/negative values and the direction of acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor  1010  may differ from the examples described above. 
     The alarm device  1011  performs control in the vehicle C according to the driving operation, when the vehicle C satisfies a trigger condition. The alarm device  1011 , for example, gives a message in the vehicle C when the vehicle C satisfies a trigger condition. The alarm device  1011  may control the driving operation in the vehicle C, when the vehicle C satisfies a trigger condition. 
     The onboard vehicular apparatus N may be configured omitting, for example, the timer  1008 , the GPS unit  1009 , and the acceleration sensor  1010 . In this case, the onboard vehicular apparatus N may obtain, for example, the position, date, acceleration of the vehicle C, etc. from a sensor equipped on the vehicle C. Further, the onboard vehicular apparatus N may further have a SSD and semiconductor memory. Further, the onboard vehicular apparatus N may have a SSD and semiconductor memory in place of the disk drive  1003  and the disk  1004 . 
     An example of hardware of the client apparatus  201  is, for example, identical to the example of hardware of the determining apparatus  100 . Therefore, description of an example of hardware of the client apparatus  201  is omitted herein. The client apparatus  201  is, for example, notebook-type computer, a desktop computer, or the like. 
     An example of functional configuration of the determining apparatus  100  is described with reference to  FIG. 11 . 
       FIG. 11  is a block diagram of an example of functional configuration of the determining apparatus  100 . The determining apparatus  100  includes an obtaining unit  1101 , an allocating unit  1102 , an evaluating unit  1103 , a determining unit  1104 , a setting unit  1105 , and an output unit  1106  as functions constituting a control unit. 
     The obtaining unit  1101  obtains the travel information R of each vehicle C included in plural vehicle groups. The obtaining unit  1101 , for example, obtains information such as driving operation contents of the vehicle C, the speed and acceleration of the vehicle C, and the position of the vehicle C as the travel information R of the vehicle C, from the onboard vehicular apparatus N equipped on each vehicle C included in the plural vehicle groups. As a result, the obtaining unit  1101  may obtain the travel information R used in evaluating a pattern of a trigger condition. 
     The obtaining unit  1101  may obtain a verification-subject pattern as a pattern candidate of a trigger condition. The obtaining unit  1101 , for example, receives from the client apparatus  201 , a combination of an extraction condition and a detection condition expressing a verification-subject pattern. As a result, the obtaining unit  1101  may output a verification-subject pattern to the allocating unit  1102 . 
     The obtaining unit  1101  is implemented by, for example, executing on the CPU  301 , a program stored a storage apparatus such as the ROM  302 , the RAM  303 , the disk  305  depicted in  FIG. 3 , or the like, or may be implemented by the I/F  306 . The obtained travel information R, for example, is stored to a storage region such as the RAM  303 , the disk  305 , or the like. 
     The allocating unit  1102 , when plural pattern candidates of a trigger condition are present, distributes and allocates each of the pattern candidates to plural vehicle groups. A trigger condition is a condition for performing control in a vehicle C according to the driving operation. A trigger condition, for example, is a condition identifying a dangerous driving-operation occurring point. A dangerous driving-operation occurring point, for example, is a zone prone to sudden braking, a zone prone to rapid acceleration, a zone prone to abrupt steering actions, a zone prone to hazard light use, a zone prone to door opening and closing, and the like. Further, a trigger condition may be a condition identifying a distance to a dangerous driving-operation occurring point. 
     Control in a vehicle C according to the driving operation is control to urge a passenger of the vehicle C to perform a driving operation to prevent an occurrence of a traffic accident involving the vehicle C, avoid congestion, or reduce the burden of a passenger of the vehicle C. Control in the vehicle C, for example, is notification given in the vehicle C. Further, control in the vehicle C may be control of the travel of the vehicle C such as reducing the speed of the vehicle C. A pattern candidate of a trigger condition may be a fixed pattern or may be a verification-subject pattern obtained by the obtaining unit  1101 . 
     The allocating unit  1102 , for example, when there are plural patterns to be pattern candidates of a trigger condition, allocates each of the patterns to each of the plural vehicle groups during a predetermined test period. In particular, when the patterns P 1  to P 3  are to be pattern candidates of a trigger condition, the allocating unit  1102  allocates each of the patterns P 1  to P 3  to each of the plural vehicle groups G 1  to G 3  for two weeks. As a result, the allocating unit  1102  allocates the patterns to the vehicle groups, enabling verification of whether an occurrence of a traffic accident involving a vehicle group allocated a pattern could be prevented. 
     Further, the allocating unit  1102 , for example, may allocate plural patterns to one vehicle group, for plural sub-periods into which the predetermined test period is divided. In particular, when the patterns P 1  to P 5  are to be pattern candidates of a trigger condition, the allocating unit  1102  allocates to the vehicle group G 1 , the pattern P 1  for 7 days, the pattern P 2  for 5 days, and the pattern P 5  for 2 days. As a result, of the plural vehicle groups, when a vehicle group for which a traffic accident is relatively likely to occur and a vehicle group for which a traffic accident is relatively unlikely to occur are present, the allocating unit  1102  may suppress decreases in the accuracy of verification. 
     After application of each of the trigger conditions and after the predetermined test period elapses, the allocating unit  1102  returns the applied trigger condition to the trigger condition before the application of each of the trigger conditions. After the predetermined test period elapses from the application of each of the pattern candidates of a trigger condition, the allocating unit  1102 , for example, returns the trigger condition to be applied to each of the plural vehicle groups to the trigger condition used before the application of the pattern candidates of a trigger condition. As a result, from a verification-subject pattern under verification of the possibility of preventing an occurrence of a traffic accident, the allocating unit  1102  may return the pattern of a trigger condition to be applied to a vehicle group to the originally applied pattern having a high possibility of preventing an occurrence of a traffic accident. Therefore, the allocating unit  1102  may enhance the safety of the vehicle group. 
     The allocating unit  1102  is implemented by, for example, executing on the CPU  301 , a program stored in a storage apparatus such as the ROM  302 , the RAM  303 , the disk  305  depicted in  FIG. 3 , or the like, or may be implemented by the I/F  306 . Allocation results, for example, are stored to a storage region such as the RAM  303 , the disk  305 , or the like. 
     Based on a change in the travel information R before application and after application of a trigger condition corresponding to each of the pattern candidates applied by the allocating unit  1102 , the evaluating unit  1103  evaluates a trigger condition corresponding to each of the pattern candidates allocated by the allocating unit  1102 . Based on the travel information R obtained by the obtaining unit  1101 , the evaluating unit  1103 , for example, evaluates each of the patterns P 1  to P 3  allocated by the allocating unit  1102 . 
     In particular, the evaluating unit  1103  calculates for each of the patterns P 1  to P 3 , a sudden braking count before and after application based on the acceleration of the vehicles C included in the travel information R. The determining apparatus  100  calculates an evaluation value for each of the patterns P 1  to P 3  so that the evaluation value of the patterns P 1  to P 3  is higher, the lower the sudden braking count is after application of the pattern P 1  to P 3 . 
     Further, the evaluating unit  1103  may use the sudden braking count itself as an evaluation value. In this case, the lower the evaluation value is, the better the evaluation is. Hereinafter, a case is described in which the evaluating unit  1103  calculates an evaluation value to be higher, the lower the sudden braking count is. As a result, the evaluating unit  1103  may obtain an index of whether each of the plural patterns has a high or low possibility of preventing an occurrence of a traffic accident. 
     The evaluating unit  1103 , for example, is implemented by executing on the CPU  301 , a program stored in a storage apparatus such as the ROM  302 , the RAM  303 , the disk  305  depicted in  FIG. 3 , or the like, or by the I/F  306 . Evaluation results, for example, are stored to a storage region such as the RAM  303 , the disk  305 , or the like. 
     The determining unit  1104  determines, as a trigger condition to be applied in a service provided to the plural vehicle groups among the plural trigger conditions, a trigger condition having a relatively high evaluation or satisfying a predetermined standard. A service provided to the plural vehicle groups is a service to prevent an occurrence of a traffic accident involving the plural vehicle groups. 
     The determining unit  1104 , for example, determines the pattern having the highest evaluation value calculated by the evaluating unit  1103  to be the pattern of a trigger condition in a service provided to the plural vehicle groups. Further, the determining unit  1104  may determine a pattern for which the evaluation value calculated by the evaluating unit  1103  is a threshold or higher to be the pattern of a trigger condition in a service provided to the plural vehicle groups. As a result, the determining unit  1104  may determine among pattern candidates for a trigger condition, a pattern having a high possibility of preventing an occurrence of a traffic accident to be the pattern of a trigger condition to be applied in a service provided to the plural vehicle groups. 
     The determining unit  1104  determines among the plural trigger conditions, a trigger condition having a relatively low evaluation or not satisfying a predetermined standard, to be a trigger condition that is not to be applied in a service provided to the plural vehicle groups. The determining unit  1104 , for example, determines the pattern having the lowest evaluation calculated by the evaluating unit  1103  to be a pattern of a trigger condition that is not to be applied in a service provided to the plural vehicle groups. Further, the determining unit  1104  may determine a pattern for which the evaluation value calculated by the evaluating unit  1103  is lower than a threshold to be a pattern of a trigger condition that is not to be applied in a service provided to the plural vehicle groups. As a result, the determining unit  1104  may determine among the pattern candidates of a trigger condition, a pattern having a low possibility of preventing an occurrence of a traffic accident to be a pattern of a trigger condition that is not to be applied in a service provided to the plural vehicle groups. 
     The determining unit  1104 , for example, is implemented by executing on the CPU  301 , a program stored in a storage apparatus such as the ROM  302 , the RAM  303 , the disk  305  depicted in  FIG. 3 , or the like, or by the I/F  306 . Determination results, for example, are stored to a storage region such as the RAM  303 , the disk  305 , or the like. 
     The setting unit  1105  applies to a vehicle group to which a service is provided under a predetermined contract, a trigger condition among plural trigger conditions and obtained by travel data that improved after application to another vehicle group as compared to before application. The predetermined contract, for example, is a contract to preferentially apply a pattern of a trigger condition having a relatively high possibility of preventing a traffic accident. In particular, the predetermined contract is a contract entered by a payment of an additional fee when a contract to provide an operation support service to a vehicle group is entered. 
     The setting unit  1105 , for example, applies to the vehicle group, the pattern that has the highest evaluation value calculated by the evaluating unit  1103  among plural patterns including a fixed pattern and a verification-subject pattern and that is determined by the determining unit  1104  to be a pattern of a trigger condition to be applied in a service. As a result, the setting unit  1105  may change the contents of the operation support service provided to the manager of the vehicle group, depending on the contents of the contract entered with the manager of the vehicle group. The setting unit  1105  may further increase the possibility of preventing a traffic accident involving the vehicle group according to the needs of the manager with whom the predetermined contract is entered. 
     The setting unit  1105  applies to the vehicle group to which a service is to be provided under a contract to which a first contract is applied, a trigger condition that is selected from a trigger condition group to replace the current trigger condition and for which improvement is detected before and after application. The first contract, for example, is a contract to preferentially apply a pattern of a trigger condition having a relatively high possibility of preventing an occurrence of a traffic accident. In particular, the first contract is a contract entered by a payment of an additional fee when a contract to provide an operation support service to a vehicle group is entered. 
     The setting unit  1105 , for example, applies to the vehicle group, the pattern that has the highest evaluation value calculated by the evaluating unit  1103  among verification-subject patterns and is determined by the determining unit  1104  to be a pattern of a trigger condition applied in a service. As a result, the setting unit  1105  may change the contents of the operation support service provided to the manager of the vehicle group, depending on the contents of the contract entered with the manager of the vehicle group. The setting unit  1105  may further increase the possibility of preventing a traffic accident involving the vehicle group according to the needs of the manager with whom the predetermined contract is entered. 
     The setting unit  1105  applies a trigger condition selected from among predetermined trigger conditions to a vehicle group to which a service is to be provided under a contract to which a second contract is not applied. The second contract, for example, is a contract to guarantee application of a trigger condition for which improvement has been detected. The setting unit  1105 , for example, applies a verification-subject pattern obtained by the obtaining unit  1101  to a vehicle group to which a service is to be provided under a contract to which a second contract is not applied. As a result, the setting unit  1105  may allocate to a vehicle group, a verification-subject pattern that has not been verified in terms of having a high or low possibility of preventing an occurrence of a traffic accident. 
     The setting unit  1105 , for example, is implemented by executing on the CPU  301 , a program stored in a storage apparatus such as the ROM  302 , the RAM  303 , the disk  305  depicted in  FIG. 3 , or the like, or by the I/F  306 . 
     The output unit  1106  outputs a pattern of a trigger condition. The output unit  1106 , for example, displays on a display that is the output apparatus  308  or prints out at a printer that is the output apparatus  308 , the pattern of a trigger condition determined by the determining unit  1104  as a pattern of a trigger condition to be applied in a service provided to plural vehicle groups. Further, the output unit  1106  may transmit to the client apparatus  201  via the I/F  306 , the trigger condition determined by the determining unit  1104  as a pattern of a trigger condition to be applied in a service provided to plural vehicle groups the determining unit  1104 . 
     Further, the output unit  1106  may store to the RAM  303 , the disk  305 , or the like, the trigger condition determined, by the determining unit  1104 , as a pattern of a trigger condition to be applied in a service provided to plural vehicle groups. As a result, the output unit  1106  may notify the manager of the determining apparatus  100  or the manager of the client apparatus  201  of the pattern of a trigger condition determined by the determining unit  1104 . 
     An example of determination of a trigger condition by the determining apparatus  100  is described with reference to  FIGS. 12 to 15 . First, description is given using  FIG. 12 . 
       FIG. 12  is a diagram depicting an example of allocation of pattern candidates of a trigger condition. In the example depicted in  FIG. 12 , the determining apparatus  100  allocates each pattern among plural patterns that are pattern candidates to 40,000 units of the vehicle C. Here, the 40,000 units of the vehicle C are separated into the plural vehicle groups G 1  to G 4  of 10,000 units each. 
     The determining apparatus  100  stores the patterns P 1  to P 5  as pattern candidates of a trigger condition. The patterns P 1  to P 4  are patterns that have been allocated to at least any one of the plural vehicle groups. In other words, the patterns P 1  to P 4  are fixed patterns. The pattern P 5  is a pattern that is newly generated this time and that has not been allocated to any of the plural vehicle groups. In other words, the pattern P 5  is a verification-subject pattern. 
     The determining apparatus  100  allocates each of the patterns P 1  to P 5  to each of the plural vehicle groups G 1  to G 4  for a predetermined test period. In  FIG. 12 , the test period is 2 weeks. The determining apparatus  100 , for example, when allocating the patterns P 1  to P 5  to one of the plural vehicle groups G 1  to G 4 , may divide the 2-week test period into plural sub-periods and allocate a different pattern for each sub-period. As a result, the determining apparatus  100  may suppress a decrease in the accuracy of verification when, among the plural vehicle groups, a vehicle group more prone to traffic accidents and/or a groups less prone to traffic accidents is present. 
     Further, the determining apparatus  100 , when allocating the patterns P 1  to P 5  to any of the plural vehicle groups G 1  to G 4 , may set the sub-period during which the pattern P 5 , which is to be verified, is allocated to be shorter than a sub-period during which another pattern is allocated. As a result, the determining apparatus  100  may shorten the period during which a verification-subject pattern that has not been verified in terms of having a high or low possibility of preventing an occurrence of a traffic accident is allocated to a vehicle group and thereby may suppress the occurrence of a traffic accident involving the vehicle group during the test period. 
     In particular, the determining apparatus  100  allocates the pattern P 1  to the vehicle group G 1  for the first 2-days of the test period, allocates the pattern P 5  for the next 2 days, again allocates the pattern P 1  for the next 5 days, and allocates the pattern P 2  for the next 5 days. The determining apparatus  100 , similarly, allocates the patterns P 1  to P 5  to the vehicle groups G 2  to G 4 . 
     The determining apparatus  100 , when the test period ends, may return the pattern that is to be applied to the vehicle groups G 1  to G 4  to the pattern allocated to each of the vehicle groups G 1  to G 5  before the start of the test period. Next, description is given using  FIG. 13 . 
       FIG. 13  is a diagram depicting a flow of trigger condition determination. In the example depicted in  FIG. 13 , the determining apparatus  100  has allocated a fixed pattern and a newly generated verification-subject pattern to plural vehicle groups during a test period. 
     (11) The determining apparatus  100  receives the travel information R from the onboard vehicular apparatus N equipped on each of the vehicles C included in each of the plural vehicle groups. The determining apparatus  100 , for example, receives the travel information R from the vehicles C each time the travel information R is generated by the vehicles C. Further, the determining apparatus  100  may collectively receive the travel information R generated for a certain time period by the vehicle C. The determining apparatus  100  updates the travel information table  400  based on the received travel information R. 
     (12) The determining apparatus  100  refers to the travel information table  400  and the detection condition master  600  to calculate for each location having a rectangular shape and predetermined size, a count of the vehicles C passing through the location and a count of the vehicles C that have braked suddenly in the location. The determining apparatus  100 , for example, calculates for each location having a rectangular shape and predetermined size, a count of the vehicles C passing through the location, based on travel information collected for past periods corresponding to the period in the collection period field. 
     Further, for example, based on the travel information collected for past periods corresponding to the period in the collection period field, the determining apparatus  100  calculates as the sudden braking count, a count of instances in which acceleration in the rearward direction exceeds the value in the deceleration range field. The determining apparatus  100  updates the location information table  500  based on the calculated count of the passing vehicles C and count of the vehicles C that brake suddenly. 
     (13) The determining apparatus  100  refers to the detection condition master  600  and the extraction condition master  700  to extract a notification place from the location information table  500 . The determining apparatus  100 , for example, for each combination of a detection condition of the detection condition master  600  and extraction condition of the extraction condition master  700 , extracts as a notification place, a zone prone to sudden braking satisfying the combination of the detection condition and the extraction condition. In particular, the determining apparatus  100 , for each extraction condition, refers to a record satisfying the extraction condition among the records of the location information table  500  to update a notification place information table. 
     (14) The determining apparatus  100  refers to the notification place information table and the pattern master  800  to identify a notification place where notification in the vehicle C is to be performed in a pattern applied to each of the plural vehicle groups. 
     (15) The determining apparatus  100  transmits the notification place identified for each of the plural vehicle groups to the onboard vehicular apparatus N equipped on each of the vehicles C included in each of the plural vehicle groups. As a result, the onboard vehicular apparatus N may detect a place where notification in the vehicle C is to be given in a pattern applied to the vehicle C. The onboard vehicular apparatus N may give notification in the vehicle C, when the vehicle C enters a place where notification is to be given in the vehicle C. 
     Here, the determining apparatus  100  may recursively perform the processes at (11) to (15) for each specific period. As a result, the determining apparatus  100  may cope with instances in which a zone prone to sudden braking or a notification place has changed due to a change in road conditions, the passenger in the vehicle C becoming accustomed to notifications in the vehicle C, and the like. The determining apparatus  100  may extract and transmit the newest notification place to the onboard vehicular apparatus N. As a result, the onboard vehicular apparatus N may give notification in the vehicle C when the newest notification place is entered. 
     (16) The determining apparatus  100  refers to the travel information table  400  and the pattern master  800  to calculate for each prefecture, a count of the vehicles C passing and a count of the vehicles C braking suddenly corresponding to each of the patterns during each of the seasons. The determining apparatus  100  updates the results information table  900  based on the calculated sudden braking count, passed vehicle count, and ratio of the sudden braking count to the passed vehicle count. 
     (17) The determining apparatus  100  refers to the results information table  900  to select each of the fixed patterns and judge whether among the verification-subject patterns, a verification-subject pattern is present for which evaluation is better than that of the selected fixed pattern. Here, a better evaluation is a value in the ratio field of the results information table  900  being smaller. Here, when a verification-subject pattern having a better evaluation value is present, the determining apparatus  100  selects the verification-subject pattern for which the evaluation value is better. 
     The determining apparatus  100  resets, as a verification-subject pattern, the selected fixed pattern stored in the pattern master  800 . Further, the determining apparatus  100  resets, as a fixed pattern, the selected verification-subject pattern stored in the pattern master  800 . As a result, the determining apparatus  100  interchanges a fixed pattern and a verification-subject pattern and may set, as a fixed pattern, a pattern having a high possibility of preventing an occurrence of a traffic accident. 
     Further, the determining apparatus  100  may refer to the results information table  900  to select the pattern having the worst evaluation value of the fixed patterns and the verification-subject patterns. Here, the worst evaluation is the largest value in the ratio field of the results information table  900 . The determining apparatus  100  deletes from the pattern master  800 , the record corresponding to the selected pattern having the worst evaluation. Here, the determining apparatus  100  may receive a newly generated verification-subject pattern from the user of the determining apparatus  100  or from the client apparatus  201 . The determining apparatus  100  may add to the pattern master  800 , a record corresponding to the newly generated verification-subject pattern in place of the deleted record corresponding to the selected pattern. As a result, the determining apparatus  100  may verify whether a newly generated verification-subject pattern has a high or low possibility of preventing an occurrence of a traffic accident. 
     Here, the determining apparatus  100  may recursively perform the processes at (16) and (17) for each specific period. As a result, the determining apparatus  100  may cope with instances in which a high or low possibility of a pattern preventing an occurrence of a traffic accident changes due to a change in road conditions, the passenger in the vehicle C becoming accustomed to notifications in the vehicle C, and the like. In particular, the possibility of preventing an occurrence of a traffic accident may begin to decrease due to a passenger of a vehicle C becoming, over the course of time, accustomed to notifications in the vehicle C to which a pattern having a high possibility of preventing a traffic accident is applied. 
     In this case as well, the determining apparatus  100  may include the currently applied fixed pattern and verify whether the possibility of preventing an occurrence of a traffic accidently is high or low for each specific period. Therefore, when a verification-subject pattern has a higher possibility of preventing an occurrence of a traffic accident than a fixed pattern whose possibility of preventing an occurrence of a traffic accident has started to decrease, the determining apparatus  100  may replace the fixed pattern and again improve the possibility of preventing an occurrence of a traffic accident. 
     (18) The determining apparatus  100  transmits the contents of the pattern master  800  to the client apparatus  201 . The client apparatus  201  displays the contents of the pattern master  800 . As a result, the user of the client apparatus  201  may know the pattern of a trigger condition applied to the vehicle C in each of the prefectures. Next, description using  FIG. 14  is given. 
       FIG. 14  is a diagram depicting an example of trigger condition replacement. In  FIG. 14 , (21) the determining apparatus  100  selects from records  901  to  909  corresponding to the prefecture “Hokkaido” stored in the results information table  900 , the record  901  of a fixed pattern. 
     (22) The determining apparatus  100  compares the ratio in the record  901  and the ratio of each of the records  904 ,  907  of a verification-subject pattern that is stored in the results information table  900  and corresponds to the same season “busy season” for the same prefecture “Hokkaido” as the record  901 . 
     (23) The determining apparatus  100 , based on the results of the comparison, selects the record  904  of a verification-subject pattern for which the ratio is lower than that of the record  901  of the fixed pattern and for which the evaluation is better. 
     (24) The determining apparatus  100  sets the fixed pattern corresponding to the record  901  of the pattern master  800 , as a verification-subject pattern. Further, the determining apparatus  100  sets the verification-subject pattern corresponding to the record  904  of the pattern master  800 , as a fixed pattern. As a result, the determining apparatus  100  may interchange a fixed pattern and a verification-subject pattern to set a pattern having a higher possibility of preventing an occurrence of a traffic accident, as a fixed pattern. Next, description is given using  FIG. 15 . 
       FIG. 15  is a diagram depicting an example of an output screen. In  FIG. 15 , the determining apparatus  100  transmits the contents of the pattern master  800  to the client apparatus  201 . The client apparatus  201  refers to the contents of the pattern master  800  and displays a screen representing a fixed pattern applied to each of the prefectures. In the example depicted in  FIG. 15 , the client apparatus  201  refers to the contents of the pattern master  800  and among fixed patterns applied to each of the prefectures, displays a screen representing what the detection condition is. 
     As a result, the user of the client apparatus  201  may know the fixed pattern applied to each of the prefectures. The user of the client apparatus  201 , for example, may know for which season and in which region, a pattern of what type of trigger condition is effective in preventing an occurrence of a traffic accident. The user of the client apparatus  201  may newly generate a verification-subject pattern having a possibility of being effective in preventing an occurrence of a traffic accident, may determine what type of pattern to apply for which season and in which region, etc. When a pattern effective in preventing an occurrence of a traffic accident in Hokkaido in the winter is present, the user of the client apparatus  201 , for example, may use the pattern for Nagano in the winter, or the like. 
     An example of a procedure of a replacement process executed by the determining apparatus  100  is described with reference to  FIG. 16 . 
       FIG. 16  is a flowchart depicting an example of a procedure of a replacement process. In  FIG. 16 , the determining apparatus  100  reads patterns from the pattern master  800  and sets the patterns in the results information table  900  (step S 1601 ). 
     Next, the determining apparatus  100  selects a pattern from the results information table  900  (step S 1602 ). The determining apparatus  100  reads the travel information R of the travel information table  400  corresponding to the selected pattern (step S 1603 ). 
     Next, the determining apparatus  100 , based on the read travel information R, calculates an evaluation of the selected pattern of the results information table  900  (step S 1604 ). The determining apparatus  100  determines whether all of the patterns have been selected (step S 1605 ). When a pattern has yet to be selected (step S 1605 : NO), the determining apparatus  100  returns to step S 1602 . 
     On the other hand, when all of the patterns have been selected (step S 1605 : YES), the determining apparatus  100 , when a pattern having a worse evaluation than a pattern for comparison is among the fixed patterns of the results information table  900 , replaces the pattern with a verification-subject pattern (step S 1606 ). The determining apparatus  100  ends the procedure of the replacement process. As a result, the determining apparatus  100  may interchange a fixed pattern and a verification-subject pattern to set a pattern having a high possibility of preventing an occurrence of a traffic accident, as a fixed pattern. 
     An example of a procedure of an exclusion process is described with reference to  FIG. 17 . 
       FIG. 17  is a flowchart depicting an example of a procedure of an exclusion process. In  FIG. 17 , the determining apparatus  100  reads the results information table  900  (step S 1701 ). Next, the determining apparatus  100  refers to the results information table  900  to identify a worst pattern having the worst evaluation and excludes the record corresponding to the worst pattern from the pattern master  800  (step S 1702 ). 
     The determining apparatus  100  adds a verification-subject pattern to the pattern master  800  (step S 1703 ). The determining apparatus  100  ends the exclusion process. As a result, the determining apparatus  100  may prevent the worst pattern having a low possibility of preventing an occurrence of a traffic accident from being applied to a vehicle group and thus, may enhance the safety of the vehicle group. Further, the determining apparatus  100  may verify whether a newly generated verification-subject pattern has a high or low possibility of preventing an occurrence of a traffic accident. 
     As described, the determining apparatus  100  enables each pattern candidate of a trigger condition to be distributed and allocated to plural vehicle groups. The determining apparatus  100  enables a trigger condition corresponding to each allocated pattern candidate to be evaluated based on a change in the travel information R before and after application of the trigger condition corresponding to the allocated pattern candidate. The determining apparatus  100  enables a trigger condition having a relatively high evaluation or satisfying a predetermined standard among plural trigger conditions to be set as a trigger condition to be applied in a service provided to the plural vehicle groups, among the plural trigger conditions. As a result, the determining apparatus  100  may determine a condition enabling effective control in the vehicle C. The determining apparatus  100  may determine as a pattern of a trigger condition among pattern candidates of trigger condition, for example, a pattern having a high possibility of preventing a traffic accident after application. The determining apparatus  100  may apply the determined pattern of a trigger condition to a vehicle group, enabling the possibility of preventing a traffic accident to be increased. 
     Further, the determining apparatus  100  enables use of a condition identifying a dangerous driving-operation occurring point, as a trigger condition. As a result, when the vehicle C enters a dangerous driving-operation occurring point, the determining apparatus  100  may be set to perform control in the vehicle C. The determining apparatus  100  may prevent an occurrence of a traffic accident at a dangerous driving-operation occurring point. 
     The determining apparatus  100  enables use of a condition identifying a distance to a dangerous driving-operation occurring point, as a trigger condition. As a result, when the distance to a dangerous driving-operation occurring point is a certain distance or less, the determining apparatus  100  may be set to perform control in the vehicle C. The determining apparatus  100  may prevent an occurrence of a traffic accident at a dangerous driving-operation occurring point. The determining apparatus  100  may prevent an occurrence of a traffic accident in, for example, a zone prone to sudden braking, a zone prone to rapid acceleration, a zone prone to abrupt steering actions, etc. 
     The determining apparatus  100  enables use of notification in the vehicle C as control in a vehicle C according to the driving operation. As a result, the determining apparatus  100  may perform notification in the vehicle C traveling in a notification place to prevent an occurrence of a traffic accident. 
     After application of each of the trigger conditions, when the predetermined test period elapses, the determining apparatus  100  may return the trigger condition for the vehicle group to the trigger condition before the test. As a result, the determining apparatus  100  the pattern of a trigger condition to be applied to a vehicle group may be returned from a verification-subject pattern subject to verification of the possibility of preventing an occurrence of a traffic accident to the originally applied pattern having a high possibility of preventing an occurrence of a traffic accident. Therefore, the determining apparatus  100  may enhance the safety of the vehicle group. 
     The determining apparatus  100  enables a trigger condition not satisfying a predetermined standard or having a relatively low evaluation among plural trigger conditions to be set as a trigger condition that is not to be applied in a service to plural vehicle groups. As a result, the determining apparatus  100  may prevent a worst pattern having a low possibility of preventing an occurrence of a traffic accident from being applied to a vehicle group, enabling the safety of the vehicle groups to be enhanced. 
     The determining apparatus  100  enables a trigger condition that is among plural trigger conditions and obtained by travel data that after application to another vehicle group improved as compared to before application to be applied to a vehicle group to which a service is to be provided under a predetermined contract. As a result, the determining apparatus  100  may change the contents of an operation support service to be provided to the manager of a vehicle group, depending on the contents of the contract entered with the manager of the vehicle group. The determining apparatus  100  may increase the possibility of preventing a traffic accident involving the vehicle group according to the needs of the manager with whom a predetermined contract is entered. 
     The determining apparatus  100  enables a trigger condition that is selected from a trigger condition group to replace the current trigger condition and for which improvement is detected before and after application first contract to be applied to the vehicle group to which a service is to be provided under a contract to which a first contract is applied. As a result, the determining apparatus  100  may change the contents of an operation support service to be provided to the manager of a vehicle group, depending on the contents of the contract entered with the manager of the vehicle group. The determining apparatus  100  may increase the possibility of preventing a traffic accident involving the vehicle group according to the needs of the manager with whom a predetermined contract is entered. 
     The determining apparatus  100  enables a trigger condition selected from among predetermined trigger conditions to be applied a vehicle group to which a service is to be provided under a contract to which a second contract is not applied. As a result, the determining apparatus  100  may allocate to a vehicle group, a verification-subject pattern that has not been verified in terms of having a high or low possibility of preventing an occurrence of a traffic accident. 
     Here, conventionally, it is conceivable that a computing apparatus extracts for each vehicle C, a notification place from among places passed the vehicle C and gives notification in the vehicle C when the vehicle C passes the notification place. However, in this case, when the number of the vehicles C is enormous, the amount of processing for extracting notification places also becomes enormous, increasing the load on the computing apparatus. Further, the computing apparatus cannot extract a notification place for places that the vehicle C has not yet passed and therefore, an occurrence of a traffic accident may not be prevented. 
     On the other hand, the determining apparatus  100  according to the present embodiment may determine a pattern of a trigger condition having a high possibility of preventing an occurrence of a traffic accident, based on the travel information R of the plural vehicles C. Therefore, even for a place that a certain vehicle C has not passed before, the determining apparatus  100  may perform notification in the vehicle C when the place is one that other vehicle C has passed, enabling an occurrence of a traffic accident to be prevented. 
     The trigger condition determining method described in the present embodiment may be implemented by executing a prepared program on a computer such as a personal computer and a workstation. A trigger condition determining program is stored on a non-transitory, computer-readable recording medium such as a hard disk, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, an MO, and a DVD, read out from the computer-readable medium, and executed by the computer. The trigger condition determining program may be distributed through a network such as the Internet. 
     Nonetheless, with the convention techniques described above, it is difficult to judge what type of place and in what situation, control in a vehicle is to be performed so that, for example, an occurrence of a traffic accident is suppressed and the burden on a passenger of a vehicle may be reduced by preventing excess notification. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, an effect is achieved in that a condition may be determined that enables control in a vehicle to be effectively performed. 
     All examples and conditional language provided herein are intended for pedagogical purposes of aiding the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to further the art, and are not to be construed as limitations to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority and inferiority of the invention. Although one or more embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.