Patent Publication Number: US-2020302700-A1

Title: Transit range evaluation device, transit range evaluation system, transit range evaluation method, and program

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to a transit range evaluation device, a transit range evaluation system, a transit range evaluation method, and a program. 
     This application claims priority based on JP 2016-073573 filed in Japan on Mar. 31, 2016, of which the contents are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In a toll collection system for toll roads, it is desired for vehicles traveling on toll roads to be reliably discriminated to prevent a charging process from being performed on a wrong vehicle. For this reason, in Electronic Toll Collection System (ETC) (trade name, also referred to as Automatic Toll Collection System), a tollgate is separated into single lanes so that communication can be reliably made with each individual vehicle. 
     Patent Document 1 discloses a technique of collecting a uniform toll at an entrance tollgate and reducing or additionally collecting the toll by adopting a free flow method at an exit tollgate. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Document 
     Patent Document 1: JP 2005-085046 A 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Problem to be Solved by the Invention 
     When a tollgate is separated into single lanes (with a relatively narrow width), vehicles passing through the tollgate are required to travel at a speed lower than a toll road speed from the perspective of securing safety. In this way, when a tollgate separated into single lanes is disposed, traffic capacity of a road around the tollgate may be reduced, causing smooth passage to be hindered. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a transit range evaluation device, a transit range evaluation system, a transit range evaluation method, and a program, capable of specifying a transit range on a main road traveled by each vehicle, without disposing a tollgate separated into single lanes at an entrance or an exit of a main road. 
     Solution to Problem 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention, a transit range evaluation device  200  includes an acquisition unit  201  configured to acquire vehicle identification information for identifying a vehicle C from an identification information reading device  100  disposed in individual detection areas of a main road R 1  to be monitored, the detection areas being partitioned at connection points P connecting the main road and branch roads R 2 , R 3 , a detection information recording unit  207  configured to record detection information in a detection information storage unit  206 , wherein vehicle identification information, a detection time of the vehicle identification information, and the detection area in which the vehicle identification information is detected, are associated with the detection information, and a range specification unit  209  configured to specify a transit range on the main road in which the vehicle indicated by the vehicle identification information traveled, based on the detection information recorded in the detection information storage unit. 
     This thereby enables the transit range evaluation device to specify the transit range on the main road in which the vehicle traveled, based on information obtainable from the identification information reading device disposed on a main road. Also, since there is no need to dispose a tollgate separated into single lanes at an exit or entrance of a main road, reduction of traffic capacity of the main road at an exit or entrance may be suppressed. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a transit range evaluation device of the first aspect, in a case where a vehicle identification information is not acquired again before a predetermined amount of time passes after a time in which the vehicle identification information has been last acquired, the range specification unit is configured to specify, out of the connection points, one adjacent a downstream side of the detection area in which the vehicle identification information has been last acquired, as an exit side end of the transit range of the vehicle indicated by the vehicle identification information. 
     This thereby enables the transit range evaluation device to specify the exit side end of the transit range, based on the information obtainable from the identification information reading device disposed in a detection area. 
     According to a third aspect of the present invention, in a transit range evaluation device of the first or second aspect, in a case where a vehicle identification information is not acquired within a predetermined amount of time after a time in which the vehicle identification information has been acquired, the range specification unit is configured to specify, out of the connection points, one adjacent an upstream side of the detection area in which the vehicle identification information has been acquired, as an entry side end of the transit range of the vehicle indicated by the vehicle identification information. 
     This thereby enables the transit range evaluation device to specify the respective transit range of a vehicle, even if the vehicle enters the main road multiple number of times in a short period of time. 
     According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in a transit range evaluation device of any of the first to third aspects, in a case where a first detection area in which a vehicle identification information is acquired and a second detection area in which the vehicle identification information has been detected immediately prior to a detection of the vehicle identification information in the first detection area are not adjacent to each other, the range specification unit is configured to specify, out of the connection points, one adjacent the upstream side of the first detection area as an entry side end of a first transit range of the vehicle indicated by the vehicle identification information, and to specify, out of the connection points, one adjacent the downstream side of the second detection area as an exit side end of a second transit range of the vehicle indicated by the vehicle identification information. 
     This thereby enables the transit range evaluation device to specify the entry side end of the transit range, based on the information obtainable from the identification information reading device disposed in a detection area. 
     According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a transit range evaluation device of any of the first to fourth aspects further includes an auxiliary acquisition unit  212  configured to acquire vehicle identification information from an identification information reading device disposed in the branch road, and in a case where a vehicle identification information is acquired by the auxiliary acquisition unit, the range specification unit is configured to specify the connection point connected to the branch road in which the vehicle identification information is acquired, as an end of the transit range of the vehicle indicated by the vehicle identification information. 
     This thereby enables the transit range evaluation device to quickly specify the end of a transit range. 
     According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a transit range evaluation device of any of the first to fifth aspects further includes a reception unit  213  configured to receive, from a mobile terminal possessed by a user, transit information that is information relating to travel on the main road by a vehicle used by the user, wherein the range specification unit is configured to specify the transit range based on the transit information received by the reception unit and the detection information recorded in the detection information storage unit. 
     In this way, the transit range evaluation device specifies the transit range based on information obtainable from a mobile terminal in addition to the information obtainable from an identification information reading device. This enables the transit range evaluation device to more reliably specify the transit range. 
     According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in a transit range evaluation device of the sixth aspect, the transit information includes information indicating the detection area or the branch road traveled by a vehicle used by the user. 
     This thereby enables the transit range evaluation device to more reliably specify the transit range. 
     According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in a transit range evaluation device of the sixth or seventh aspect, the transit information includes information indicating that a vehicle used by the user exited from the main road, and the range specification unit is configured to specify the transit range based on the detection information recorded in the detection information storage unit, the detection information being recorded prior to a time of reception of the transit information indicating an exit from the main road. 
     This thereby enables the transit range evaluation device to quickly specify the transit range. 
     According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, a transit range evaluation device of any of the first to eight aspects, further includes a toll calculation unit  210  configured to calculate a toll to be charged to the vehicle based on the transit range specified by the range specification unit. 
     This thereby enables the transit range evaluation device to calculate the traffic of each vehicle accurately. 
     According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, a transit range evaluation system  1  includes an identification information reading device  100  disposed in individual detection areas of a main road to be monitored, the detection areas being partitioned at connection points connecting the main road and branch roads, and a transit range evaluation device  200  of any of the first to ninth aspects. 
     According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, a transit range evaluation method includes an acquisition step (S 202 ) of acquiring vehicle identification information for identifying a vehicle from an identification information reading device disposed in individual detection areas of a main road to be monitored, the detection areas being partitioned at connection points connecting the main road and branch roads, a recording step (S 104 ) of recording detection information in a detection information storage unit, wherein vehicle identification information, a detection time of the vehicle identification information, and the detection area in which the vehicle identification information is detected, are associated with the detection information, and range specification steps (S 106 , S 109 , S 112 , S 204 ) of specifying the transit range on the main road in which the vehicle indicated by the vehicle identification information traveled, based on the detection information recorded in the detection information storage unit. 
     According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, a program causes a computer ( 900 ) to function as, an acquisition unit configured to acquire vehicle identification information for identifying a vehicle from an identification information reading device disposed in individual detection areas of a main road to be monitored, the detection areas being partitioned at connection points connecting the main road and branch roads, a detection information recording unit configured to record detection information in a detection information storage unit, wherein a vehicle identification information, a detection time of the vehicle identification information, and the detection area in which the vehicle identification information is detected, are associated with the detection information, and a range specification unit configured to specify the transit range on the main road in which the vehicle indicated by the vehicle identification information traveled, based on the detection information recorded in the detection information storage unit. 
     Advantageous Effect of Invention 
     According to at least one aspect of the aspects described above, a transit range evaluation device is capable of specifying a transit range on a main road traveled by each vehicle, without disposing a tollgate separated into single lanes at an entrance or an exit of the main road. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a toll collection system according to a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a toll collecting device according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating entry end specification processing by the toll collecting device according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating exit end specification processing by the toll collecting device according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a charging process by the toll collecting device according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a toll collection system according to a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a toll collecting device according to the second embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating a process of specifying entry and exit by the toll collecting device according to the second embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a toll collecting device according to a third embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a flowchart illustrating a process of receiving transit information by the toll collecting device according to the third embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic block diagram illustrating a computer configuration according to at least one of the embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     First Embodiment 
     A detailed description of embodiments of the toll collection system according to the first embodiment will follow with reference to the drawings. 
     Overall Configuration 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of the toll collection system according to the first embodiment. The toll collection system  1  according to the first embodiment is a system that charges a toll to a vehicle C that travels a main road R 1  which is a toll road. The toll collection system  1  is an example of a transit range evaluation system. An entrance road R 2  serving as an entrance to the main road R 1  and an exit road R 3  serving as an exit from the main road R 1  are connected to the main road R 1 . The entrance road R 2  and the exit road R 3  are examples of branch roads connected to the main road R 1 . Hereinafter, a portion of the main road R 1  connected to at least one of the entrance road R 2  and the exit road R 3  is referred to as a connection point P. The connection point P is not limited to a mathematical point having no area and length but may be a point having a certain area or length. Also, of the main road R 1 , an area partitioned by the connection points P is referred to as a detection area A. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the toll collection system  1  includes an identification information reading device  100  and a toll collecting device  200 . 
     The identification information reading device  100  is provided in each detection area A. In one detection area A, one or more identification information reading devices  100  are provided. The identification information reading device  100  reads, from the vehicle C that travels the detection area A, a vehicle ID (vehicle identification information) identifying the vehicle C. Examples of the identification information reading device  100  include a license plate recognition device that reads the vehicle ID displayed on a license plate of the vehicle C and an antenna that reads the vehicle ID from an onboard unit mounted on the vehicle C. Examples of the vehicle IDs include license plate information, onboard unit management numbers unique to each onboard unit, a vehicle identification number, and the like. In each detection area A, a sufficient number of identification information reading devices  100  are provided so as to satisfy required accuracy. 
     A toll collecting device  200  acquires the vehicle ID from the identification information reading device  100  and charges the toll corresponding to the transit range on the main road R 1  to each vehicle C based on the acquired vehicle ID. The toll collecting device  200  is an example of a transit range evaluation device. The toll collecting device  200  is disposed at a remote place. 
     Functional Configuration 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the toll collecting device according to the first embodiment. 
     The toll collecting device  200  includes an acquisition unit  201 , a charge information storage unit  202 , an unregistered vehicle determination unit  203 , an unregistered vehicle storage unit  204 , an unregistered vehicle recording unit  205 , a detection information storage unit  206 , a detection information recording unit  207 , a range storage unit  208 , a range specification unit  209 , a toll calculation unit  210 , and a charge processing unit  211 . 
     The acquisition unit  201  acquires, from the identification information reading device  100 , the vehicle ID read by the identification information reading device  100 . 
     The charge information storage unit  202  stores the vehicle ID of the vehicle C and the payment method of the toll associated with each other for each vehicle C. Examples of payment methods include an account number, a credit card number, and a billing address. 
     The unregistered vehicle determination unit  203  determines whether the vehicle ID acquired by the acquisition unit  201  is stored in the charge information storage unit  202 . 
     The unregistered vehicle storage unit  204  stores the vehicle ID of a vehicle C for which the payment method is not recorded in the charge information storage unit  202  in order for an administrator to identify a vehicle C which has not paid the toll. 
     The unregistered vehicle recording unit  205  records the vehicle ID in the unregistered vehicle storage unit  204  when it is determined by the unregistered vehicle determination unit  203  that the vehicle ID is not stored in the charge information storage unit  202 . 
     The detection information storage unit  206  stores detection information in which the vehicle ID, the area ID which is the identification information of the detection area A in which the vehicle ID is detected, and a time in which the vehicle ID is read are associated with each other. 
     Each time the acquisition unit  201  acquires the vehicle ID, the detection information recording unit  207  associates the vehicle ID, the area ID of the detection area A disposed with the identification information reading device  100  from which the vehicle ID was acquired, and the time in which the vehicle ID was read, with each other, and records them in the unregistered vehicle storage unit  204 . 
     The range specification unit  209  specifies the transit range of the vehicle C based on the detection information stored in the detection information storage unit  206 . 
     The range storage unit  208  stores an entry side end and an exit side end of the transit range specified by the range specification unit  209  for each vehicle C. 
     The toll calculation unit  210  calculates the toll based on the transit range specified by the range specification unit  209 . The toll calculation unit  210  calculates the toll, for example, in accordance with a table in which transit ranges and tolls are associated. 
     For each vehicle C that traveled the main road R 1 , the charge processing unit  211  charges the toll calculated by the toll calculation unit  210 , according to the payment method stored in the charge information storage unit  202  associated with the vehicle ID of the vehicle C. 
     Process Flow of Toll Collecting Device 
     Here, operation of the toll collecting device  200  will be described. Each time the toll collecting device  200  reads the vehicle ID from the identification information reading device  100 , the toll collecting device  200  executes the following entry end specification processing. 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating the entry end specification processing by the toll collecting device according to the first embodiment. 
     When the identification information reading device  100  reads the vehicle ID, the acquisition unit  201  of the toll collecting device  200  acquires the vehicle ID from the identification information reading device  100  (step S 101 ). Next, the unregistered vehicle determination unit  203  determines whether the vehicle ID acquired by the acquisition unit  201  is stored in the charge information storage unit  202  (step S 102 ). When the acquired vehicle ID is not stored in the charge information storage unit  202  (step S 102 : NO), the unregistered vehicle recording unit  205  records the acquired vehicle ID in the unregistered vehicle storage unit  204  (step S 103 ), associating it with the area ID of the detection area A disposed with the identification information reading device  100  that reads the vehicle ID and the detection time, and ends the entry end specification processing. This thereby enables the administrator to specify, by checking the information stored in the unregistered vehicle storage unit  204  later, a vehicle C that traveled the main road R 1  without paying the toll. 
     On the other hand, when the acquired vehicle ID is stored in the charge information storage unit  202  (step S 102 : YES), the detection information recording unit  207  records the detection information regarding the acquired vehicle ID in the detection information storage unit  206  (Step S 104 ). More specifically, the detection information recording unit  207  records the acquired vehicle ID in the detection information storage unit  206 , associating it with the area ID of the detection area A disposed with the identification information reading device  100  that reads the vehicle ID and the detection time. Next, the range specification unit  209  determines whether detection information regarding the same vehicle ID was stored in the storage unit  206  (step S 105 ) within a predetermined timeout period (24 hours, for example) prior to a detection time of the detection information recorded by the detection information recording unit  207 . The detection information regarding the same vehicle ID recorded by the detection information recording unit  207  within the timeout period prior to the detection time is hereinafter referred to as immediately preceding detection information. 
     When no immediately preceding detection information is stored in the detection information storage unit  206  (step S 105 : NO), the range specification unit  209  specifies the entry side end of the transit range of the vehicle C (a vehicle specified by the vehicle ID, a vehicle pertaining to the vehicle ID) indicated by the vehicle ID of the detection information recorded in step S 104  (step S 106 ). More specifically, the range specification unit  209  specifies a connecting point P adjacent an upstream side of the detection area A indicated by the area ID of the detection information recorded in step S 104 , as the entry side end of the transit range of the vehicle C indicated by the vehicle ID of the detection information. Then, the range specification unit  209  records in the range storage unit  208  a connection point ID, which is identification information of the connection point P, as the entry side end of the transit range (step S 107 ), associating the connection point ID with the vehicle ID, and ends the entry end specification processing. As described above, in a case where other detection information pertaining to the same vehicle ID as the detection information recorded in step S 104  was recorded before the timeout period prior to the detection time of the detection information recorded in step S 104 , the range specification unit  209  specifies the entry side end of the transit range. This is because, in step S 203  to be described later, when the detection information pertaining to the vehicle ID stored in the detection information storage unit  206  is not detected within the timeout period, the vehicle indicated by the vehicle ID is treated as having exited. 
     Conversely, when immediately preceding detection information is stored in the detection information storage unit  206  (step S 105 : YES), the range specification unit  209  determines whether the detection area A indicated by the area ID of the immediately preceding detection information having a latest detection time among the immediately preceding detection information is an area adjacent to the detection area A indicated by the area ID of the detection information recorded in step S 104  (step S 108 ). Here, two detection areas A being adjacent means that there is only one connection point P between the two detection areas A. 
     When the detection area A pertaining to the immediately preceding detection information is adjacent to the detection area A pertaining to the detection information recorded in step S 104  (step S 108 : YES), the toll collecting device  200  ends the entry end specification processing. In this way, when the immediately preceding detection information is stored in the detection information storage unit  206 , the toll collecting device  200  does not specify the entry side end in step S 106  in the entry end specification processing. This is because the entry end has already been specified in the entry end specification processing performed by the toll collecting device  200  before a current entry end specification processing. In other words, the entry side end of the transit range of the vehicle C for which the immediately preceding detection information is stored in the detection information storage unit  206  is one specified in the entry end specification processing previously performed. 
     On the other hand, when the detection area A pertaining to the immediately preceding detection information is not adjacent to the detection area A pertaining to the detection information recorded in step S 104  (step S 108 : NO), the range specification unit  209  specifies the connection point P adjacent a downstream side of the detection area A indicated by the area ID of the immediately preceding detection information, as the exit side end of the transit range (hereinafter referred to as the “previous transit range”) of the vehicle C indicated by the vehicle ID of the immediately preceding detection information (step S 109 ). As described above, at this time, in the range storage unit  208 , a connection point ID indicating the entry side end of the previous transit range of the vehicle C is recorded in the entry end specification processing that was performed previously. The range specification unit  209  records in the range storage unit  208  the connection point ID, which is the identification information of the connection point P specified in step S 108 , as the exit side end of the previous transit range (step S 110 ), associated with the vehicle ID. As a result, the range storage unit  208  stores the connection point ID indicating the entry side end and the connection point ID indicating the exit side end of the previous transit range associated with a certain vehicle ID. Next, the toll collecting device  200  performs charge processing to be described later based on a specified previous transit range (step S 111 ). This thereby enables the toll collecting device  200  to charge for each transit range, even in the case where the vehicle C enters the main road R 1  a plurality of times within a short period of time. 
     Further, the range specification unit  209  specifies the connection point P adjacent the upstream side of the detection area A indicated by the area ID of the detection information recorded in step S 104  as the entry side end of the transit range of the vehicle C indicated by the vehicle ID of the detection information (hereinafter, referred to as the “current transit range”) (step S 112 ). In other words, in a case where the detection area A indicated by the area ID of the immediately preceding detection information is not adjacent to the detection area A indicated by the area ID of the detection information recorded in step S 104 , the toll collecting device  200  regards that the vehicle C has traveled two different transit ranges (the previous transit range and the current transit range). In other words, the toll collecting device  200  regards that the vehicle C, after exiting from the main road R 1  at the connection point adjacent the detection area A indicated by the area ID of the immediately preceding detection information, entered the main road R 1  from the connection point adjacent the detection area A indicated by the area ID of the detection information recorded in step S 104 . Then, the range specification unit  209  records in the range storage unit  208  the connection point ID, which is the identification information of the connection point P specified in step S 110 , associated with the vehicle ID as the entry side end of the current transit range (step S 113 ), and ends the entry end specification processing. 
     The entry end specification processing described above enables the toll collecting device  200  to specify the entry side end of the transit range of the vehicle C. 
     Also, the toll collecting device  200  executes an exit end specification processing described below every time when a certain period of time (for example, one hour) elapses. 
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating an exit end specification processing by the toll collecting device according to the first embodiment. 
     When the toll collecting device  200  starts the exit end specification processing, the range specification unit  209  selects the vehicle IDs stored in the detection information storage unit  206  one by one, and executes processes from step S 202  to step S 206  (Step S 201 ) described below. 
     First, the range specification unit  209  extracts the detection information associated with the selected vehicle ID and having the latest detection time among the detection information stored in the detection information storage unit  206  (step S 202 ). Next, the range specification unit  209  determines whether the detection time of the extracted detection information is within the predetermined timeout period (for example, 24 hours) prior to the current time (step S 203 ). In other words, the range specification unit  209  determines whether the same vehicle IDs within the timeout period have been detected. 
     When the detection time of the detection information extracted in step S 202  is not within the predetermined timeout period prior to the current time (step S 203 : NO), the range specification unit  209  specifies the connection point P adjacent the downstream side of the detection area A indicated by the area ID of the detection information, as the exit side end of the transit range of the vehicle C indicated by the vehicle ID of the detection information (step S 204 ). At this time, in the range storage unit  208 , the connection point ID indicating the entry side end of the transit range of the vehicle C is recorded by the process of the above-described step S 106 . The range specification unit  209  records in the range storage unit  208  the connection point ID of the specified connection point P, as the exit side end of the transit range, associated with the vehicle ID (step S 205 ). As a result, the range storage unit  208  stores the connection point ID indicating the entry side end of the transit range and the connection point ID indicating the exit side end associated with a certain vehicle ID. Next, the toll collecting device  200  performs charge processing (to be described later) based on the specified transit range (step S 206 ). 
     On the other hand, when the detection time of the detection information extracted in step S 202  is within a predetermined timeout period prior to the current time (step S 202 : YES), no determination of exit is made. 
     The above-described exit end specification processing enables the toll collecting device  200  to specify the exit side end of the transit range of the vehicle C. 
     Next, a process flow of charge processing by the toll collecting device  200  will be described. 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a charging process by the toll collecting device according to the first embodiment. 
     When the connection point ID indicating the entry side end and the connection point ID indicating the exit side end of the transit range of a certain vehicle C are recorded in the range storage unit  208 , the toll calculation unit  210  calculates the toll for travel on the road R 1  by the vehicle C based on the transit range stored in the range storage unit  208  (step S 301 ). Specifically, the toll calculation unit  210  calculates the toll according to a table in which the transit ranges and the tolls are associated. The charge processing unit  211  identifies the vehicle ID associated with the transit range in the range storage unit  208  (step S 302 ). Next, the charge processing unit  211  charges the toll calculated by the toll calculation unit  210  according to the payment method stored in the charge information storage unit  202  associated with the specified vehicle ID (step S 303 ). Then, the charge processing unit  211  deletes the transit range information for which charging has been completed from the range storage unit  208  (step S 304 ). 
     Operational Effects 
     As described above, according to the present embodiment, the toll collecting device  200  determines the transit range that the vehicle C traveled based on the vehicle ID acquired from the identification information reading device  100  provided in each detection area A of the main road R 1 . This enables the toll collecting device  200  according to the present embodiment to specify the transit range on the main road R 1  of each vehicle C without dividing the entry or exit of the main road R 1  into a single lane. 
     Even in a known toll collection system, there is a possibility that recognition accuracy of the vehicles can be improved without dividing the tollgate into single lanes, by providing many vehicle recognition devices at the tollgate. However, space of the tollgate is limited, and when the space of the tollgate is narrow, it is difficult to provide many vehicle recognition devices. By contrast, the main road R 1  has a larger space than the exit road R 3  and the entrance road R 2 . Therefore, a sufficient number of identification information reading devices  100  can be disposed in the detection area A in order to secure required recognition accuracy of the vehicle C. 
     Second Embodiment 
     A detailed description of embodiments of the toll collection system according to the second embodiment will follow with reference to the drawings. 
     Overall Configuration 
       FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a toll collection system according to the second embodiment. The toll collection system  1  according to the second embodiment further includes an auxiliary reading device  300  in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment. 
     The auxiliary reading device  300  is provided in the entrance road R 2  and the exit road R 3 . The auxiliary reading device  300  reads from the vehicle C that travels the entrance road R 2  or the exit road R 3  the vehicle ID to identify the vehicle C. Examples of the auxiliary reading device  300  include a license plate recognition device that reads the vehicle ID displayed on the license plate of the vehicle C and an antenna that reads the vehicle ID from the onboard unit mounted on the vehicle C. Since the entrance road R 2  and the exit road R 3  are narrower than the main road R 1 , the accuracy of reading the vehicle ID by the auxiliary reading device  300  may be lower than the reading accuracy of the identification information reading device  100 . 
     Functional Configuration 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the toll collecting device according to the second embodiment. 
     In addition to the configuration of the first embodiment, the toll collecting device  200  further includes an auxiliary acquisition unit  212 . 
     The auxiliary acquisition unit  212  obtains, from the auxiliary reading device  300 , the vehicle ID read by the auxiliary reading device  300 . 
     Process Flow of Toll Collecting Device 
     In addition to the processing according to the first embodiment, the toll collecting device  200  according to the second embodiment performs the following entry and exit specification processing each time the auxiliary reading device  300  reads the vehicle ID. 
       FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating a process of specifying entry and exit by the toll collecting device according to the second embodiment. 
     When the auxiliary reading device  300  reads the vehicle ID, the auxiliary acquisition unit  212  of the toll collecting device  200  acquires the vehicle ID from the auxiliary reading device  300  (step S 401 ). Next, the range specification unit  209  determines whether the branch road on which the auxiliary reading device  300  that has read the vehicle ID is provided is the entrance road R 2  (step S 402 ). When the auxiliary reading device  300  that has read the vehicle ID is provided on the entrance road R 2  (step S 402 : YES), the range specification unit  209  specifies the connecting point P that connects to the branch road provided with the auxiliary reading device  300  that has read the vehicle ID acquired in step S 401  as the entry side end of the transit range of the vehicle C indicated by the vehicle ID (step S 403 ). Then, the range specification unit  209  records in the range storage unit  208  the connection point ID, which is the identification information of the connection point P, as the entry side end of the transit range, associating the connection point ID with the vehicle ID (step S 404 ), and completes the end specification process. 
     On the other hand, when the auxiliary reading device  300  that has read the vehicle ID is provided on the exit road R 3  (step S 402 : NO), the range specification unit  209  specifies the connecting point P that connects to the branch road provided with the auxiliary reading device  300  that has read the vehicle ID acquired in step S 401  as the exit side end of the transit range of the vehicle C indicated by the vehicle ID (step S 405 ). Then, the range specification unit  209  records in the range storage unit  208  the connection point ID, which is the identification information of the connection point P, as the exit side end of the transit range associated with the vehicle ID (step S 406 ). As a result, the range storage unit  208  stores the connection point ID indicating the entry side end of the transit range and the connection point ID indicating the exit side end associated with a certain vehicle ID. Next, the toll collecting device  200  performs the above-described charging process based on the specified transit range (step S 407 ), and completes the end specifying process. 
     Operational Effects 
     As described above, when the toll collecting device  200  according to the second embodiment acquires the vehicle ID from the auxiliary reading device  300  provided on the branch road, the toll collecting device  200  according to the second embodiment specifies the connection point P that connects to the branch road as the end of the transit range of the vehicle C. This thereby enables the toll collecting device  200  to quickly specify entry and exit of the vehicle C to and from the main road R 1  without waiting for a lapse of the timeout period as in the case of the first embodiment. 
     Even in a case where the auxiliary reading device  300  fails to read the vehicle ID, the transit range of the vehicle C can be reliably specified by the toll collecting device  200  executing the above-described entry end specification processing ( FIG. 3 ) and the exit end specification processing ( FIG. 4 ). 
     Third Embodiment 
     A detailed description of embodiments of the toll collection system according to the third embodiment will follow with reference to the drawings. The toll collection system  1  according to the third embodiment specifies the transit range of the vehicle C based on the information received from a mobile terminal (not illustrated) owned by the user of the vehicle C in addition to the vehicle ID read by the identification information reading device  100 . The toll collection system  1  according to the third embodiment has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment. 
     Functional Configuration 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the toll collecting device according to the third embodiment. 
     In addition to the configuration of the first embodiment, the toll collecting device  200  further includes a reception unit  213 . 
     The reception unit  213  receives transit information that is information on the travel on the main road R 1  from a mobile terminal (not illustrated) possessed by the user of the vehicle C. Specifically, the transit information is the area ID of the detection area A traveled by the vehicle C, and exit information indicating that the vehicle C exited from the main road R 1 . 
     The mobile terminal identifies a position where the vehicle C is present based on NSS (Navigation Satellite System) or identification information of radio communication, specifies the detection area A being traveled based on the position, and determines whether the vehicle C exited from the main road R 1 . Examples of NSS include GPS (Global Positioning System), Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), and the like. Examples of the identification information by wireless communication include identification information of a partner device of Bluetooth (trade name) communication, a beacon signal transmitted from an access point of wireless LAN (Local Access Network) communication, and the like. 
     Further, the charge information storage unit  202  of the toll collecting device  200  stores the terminal ID, which is the identification information of the mobile terminal, in addition to and associated with the vehicle ID and the payment method. 
     Process Flow of Toll Collecting Device 
     In addition to the operation of the first embodiment, the toll collecting device  200  according to the third embodiment executes the following transit information reception processing every time the mobile terminal transmits the transit information. 
       FIG. 10  is a flowchart illustrating a process of receiving transit information by the toll collecting device according to the third embodiment. 
     When the mobile terminal transmits the transit information, the reception unit  213  of the toll collecting device  200  acquires the transit information from the mobile terminal (step S 501 ). Next, the reception unit  213  determines whether the received transit information indicates the area ID of the detection area A where the vehicle C is traveling or indicates the exit information (step S 502 ). When the received transit information indicates the area ID (step S 502 : YES), the detection information recording unit  207  records the detection information in the detection information storage unit  206  based on the acquired transit information (step S 503 ). Specifically, the detection information recording unit  207  reads from the charge information storage unit  202  the vehicle ID associated with the terminal ID of the mobile terminal of a recipient of the received transit information, and records the read vehicle ID in the detection information storage unit  206 , associating the vehicle ID with the area ID indicated by the transit information and the time of reception. 
     Next, the range specification unit  209  determines whether the immediately preceding detection information is stored in the detection information storage unit  206  (step S 504 ). 
     When the immediately preceding detection information is not stored in the detection information storage unit  206  (step S 504 : NO), the range specification unit  209  specifies the entry side end of the transit range of the vehicle C indicated by the vehicle ID of the detection information recorded in step S 503  (step S 505 ). Specifically, the range specification unit  209  specifies the connecting point P adjacent the upstream side of the detection area A indicated by the area ID of the detection information recorded in step S 503  as the entry side end of the travel area of the vehicle C indicated by the vehicle ID of the detection information. Then, the range specification unit  209  records in the range storage unit  208  the connection point ID, which is the identification information of the connection point P, as the entry side end of the transit range, associating the connection point ID with the vehicle ID (step S 506 ), and ends the transit information reception processing. 
     Conversely, when immediately preceding detection information is stored in the detection information storage unit  206  (step S 504 : YES), the range specification unit  209  determines whether the detection area A indicated by the area ID of the immediately preceding detection information having the latest detection time among the immediately preceding detection information is an area adjacent to the detection area A indicated by the area ID of the detection information recorded in step S 503  (step S 507 ). 
     When the detection area A pertaining to the immediately preceding detection information is adjacent to the detection area A pertaining to the detection information recorded in step S 503  (step S 507 : YES), the toll collecting device  200  ends the entry end specification processing. 
     On the other hand, when the detection area A pertaining to the immediately preceding detection information is not adjacent to the detection area A pertaining to the detection information recorded in step S 503  (step S 507 : NO), the range specification unit  209  specifies the connection point P adjacent the downstream side of the detection area A indicated by the area ID of the immediately preceding detection information, as the exit side end of the transit range (the previous transit range) of the vehicle C indicated by the vehicle ID of the immediately preceding detection information (step S 508 ). The range specification unit  209  records in the range storage unit  208  the connection point ID, which is the identification information of the connection point P specified in step S 507 , as the exit side end of the previous transit range, associated with the vehicle ID (step S 509 ). Next, the toll collecting device  200  performs charge processing to be described later based on the specified previous transit range (step S 510 ). 
     Further, the range specification unit  209  specifies the connecting point P adjacent the upstream side of the detection area A indicated by the area ID of the detection information recorded in step S 503 , as the entry side end of the transit range of the vehicle C indicated by the vehicle ID of the detection information (the current transit range) (step S 511 ). Then, the range specification unit  209  records in the range storage unit  208  the connection point ID, which is the identification information of the connection point P specified in step S 509 , associated with the vehicle ID as the entry side end of the current transit range (step S 512 ), and ends the entry end specification processing. 
     On the other hand, when the transit information received in step S 501  indicates the exit information (step S 502 : NO), the range specification unit  209  identifies the vehicle ID recorded in the charge information storage unit  202  associated with the terminal ID of the mobile terminal of the sender of the transit information (step S 513 ). Next, the range specification unit  209  extracts the detection information having the latest detection time among the detection information pertaining to the identified vehicle ID. Next, the range specification unit  209  specifies the connection point P adjacent the downstream side of the detection area A indicated by the area ID of the extracted detection information as the exit side end of the transit range of the vehicle C indicated by the vehicle ID (Step S 514 ). Then, the range specification unit  209  records in the range storage unit  208  the connection point ID, which is the identification information of the connection point P, as the exit side end of the transit range associated with the vehicle ID (step S 515 ). Then, the toll collecting device  200  performs the above-described charge processing based on the specified transit range (step S 516 ), and ends the transit information reception processing. 
     Operational Effects 
     In this way, according to the present embodiment, the toll collecting device  200  receives the transit information regarding the travel on the main road R 1  by the vehicle C from the mobile terminal owned by the user, and specifies the transit range of the vehicle C based on the transit information and the detection information. This thereby enables the recognition accuracy of the vehicle C by the toll collecting device  200  to be improved. 
     Specifically, the mobile terminal is able to complement a function of the identification information reading device  100  due to the transit information including the area ID of the detection area in which the vehicle C used by the user travels. In addition, the toll collecting device  200  is able to identify the exit of the vehicle C from the main road R 1  without waiting for the lapse of the timeout period as in the case of the first embodiment, due to the transit information including the exit information indicating that the vehicle C used by the user exited from the main road R 1 . 
     In other embodiments, identification information of the entrance road R 2  or the exit road R 3  traveled by the vehicle C used by the user may be included in the transit information. In this case, similarly to the second embodiment, the identification information reading device  100  is able to identify the entry to or exit from the main road R 1  of the vehicle C without waiting for the lapse of the time-out period. 
     Modified Example 
     Although an embodiment has been described in detail with reference to the drawings, specific configurations are not limited to those described above, and various design changes and the like can be made. 
     For example, in the above-described embodiments, a case where the transit range evaluation device is disposed in the toll collecting device  200  has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, it may be mounted, for example, in another device such as a traffic volume measuring device that measures the traffic in each detection area A of the main road R 1 . 
     Further, in the above-described embodiments, information in which the vehicle ID, the area ID, and the detection time are associated with each other is recorded in the unregistered vehicle storage unit  204  as the unregistered vehicle information, but it is not limited thereto. 
     For example, the toll collecting device  200  according to other embodiments may record as evidence an image captured by a camera which is one of the identification information reading devices  100 , in the unregistered vehicle storage unit  204  associating the captured image with the vehicle ID. 
     Further, in the above-described embodiments, it is necessary to register a charging method in the charge information storage unit  202  in advance to travel on the main road R 1 , but the present invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, for example, when an administrator of the main road R 1  can use information for specifying a vehicle ID and an individual, the main road R 1  may be used without a registration in the charge information storage unit  202 . In this case, there is no need for the toll collecting device  200  to determine the unregistered vehicle. 
     Computer Configuration 
       FIG. 11  is a schematic block diagram illustrating a computer configuration according to at least one of the embodiments. 
     A computer  900  includes a CPU  901 , a main storage device  902 , an auxiliary storage device  903 , and an interface  904 . 
     The toll collecting device  200  described above is implemented in the computer  900 . The operations of the respective processing units described above are stored in the auxiliary storage device  903  in the form of a program. The CPU  901  reads the program from the auxiliary storage device  903 , develops the program in the main storage device  902 , and executes the above processes according to the program. Further, the CPU  901  secures a storage area corresponding to each of the above-described storage units in the main storage device  902  according to the program. 
     In at least one embodiment, the auxiliary storage device  903  is an example of a non-transitory tangible medium. Other examples of the non-transitory tangible medium include a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, a Compact Disc Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), a Digital Versatile Disc Read Only Memory (DVD-ROM), Semiconductor memory, and the like connected via the interface  904 . Also, if this program is distributed to the computer  900  via a communication line, the computer  900  that receives the distribution may develop the program on the main storage device  902  and execute the above-described processes. 
     Also, the program may be a program for realizing part of the functions described above. 
     In addition, the program may be a so-called differential file (differential program) that realizes the above-described functions in combination with other programs already stored in the auxiliary storage device  903 . 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     According to at least one aspect of the aspects described above, a transit range evaluation device is capable of specifying a transit range on a main road traveled by each vehicle, without disposing a tollgate separated into single lanes at an entrance or an exit of the main road. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       1  Toll collection system
 
 100  Identification information reading device
 
 200  Toll collecting device
 
 201  Acquisition unit
 
 202  Charge information storage unit
 
 203  Unregistered vehicle determination unit
 
 204  Unregistered vehicle storage unit
 
 205  Unregistered vehicle recording unit
 
 206  Detection information storage unit
 
 207  Detection information recording unit
 
 208  Range storage unit
 
 209  Range specification unit
 
 210  Toll calculation unit
 
 211  Charge processing unit
 
R 1  Main road
 
     C Vehicle 
     R 2  Entrance road
 
R 3  Exit road
 
P Connection point
 
A Detection area