We Claim:
[Claim 1] A priority calculation device comprising:
an associating unit to associate area identification information for identifying each
of a plurality of monitoring areas with collected data obtained within each of the plurality
5 of monitoring areas;
a converting unit to convert a set of a plurality of the collected data associated with
the identical area identification information into traffic flow information indicating a
traffic situation for each of the plurality of monitoring areas as a unit; and
a calculating unit to calculate a priority for allocating a communication resource for
10 each of the plurality of monitoring areas by using the traffic flow information.
[Claim 2] The priority calculation device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a storing unit to store the traffic flow information converted by the converting unit;
an aggregating unit to aggregate the traffic flow information stored in the storing
15 unit for each of time slots; and
a selecting unit to select the aggregated traffic flow information when a discrepancy
between the traffic flow information aggregated by the aggregating unit and current traffic
flow information converted by the converting unit is small, and to select the current traffic
flow information when the discrepancy is large,
20 wherein the calculating unit uses the traffic flow information selected by the
selecting unit.
[Claim 3] The priority calculation device according to in claim 1, wherein the calculating
unit uses the traffic flow information to calculate an indicator that includes at least one of
25 a communication band congestion level of an infrastructure sensor, a degree of necessity
for traffic reconciliation, and a likelihood of a traffic accident occurring, for each of the
plurality of monitoring areas, and to calculate the priority in such a manner that the higher
the indicator, the higher the priority.
30 [Claim 4] The priority calculation device according to claim 3, further comprising:
a learning unit to learn a model for clustering the traffic flow information into one
of a plurality of groups in accordance with similarity; and
an input unit to accept an input of associated information indicating correspondence
between the groups and values of the indicators,
35 wherein the calculating unit uses the model to identify a group into which the traffic
flow information should be clustered and also uses the associated information to
determine the value of the indicator corresponding to the clustered group, thereby
calculating the indicator.

[Claim 5] The priority calculation device according to claim 3, further comprising:
a storing unit to store in advance road map information showing a road map and a
traffic plan being a plan for transportation in each of the plurality of monitoring areas;
and
5 an integrating unit to generate panoramic view information associating the road
map information and the traffic plan with the traffic flow information,
wherein the calculating unit uses the panoramic view information to calculate the
indicator.
10 [Claim 6] The priority calculation device according to claim 1, further comprising a
display unit to collect and display contents of inputs and outputs in each of the units
included in the priority calculation device and contents of reading and writing of
information stored in a storing unit.
15 [Claim 7] A priority calculation method to be used by a priority calculation device having
an associating unit, a converting unit, and a calculating unit,
wherein the associating unit associates area identification information for
identifying each of a plurality of monitoring areas with collected data obtained within
each of the plurality of monitoring areas;
20 the converting unit converts a set of a plurality of the collected data associated
with the identical area identification information into traffic flow information indicating
a traffic situation for each of the plurality of monitoring areas as a unit; and
the calculating unit calculates a priority for allocating a communication
resource for each of the plurality of monitoring areas by using the traffic flow information.
25
[Claim 8] A priority calculation program causing a computer to execute processes of:
associating area identification information for identifying each of a plurality of
monitoring areas with collected data obtained within each of the plurality of monitoring
areas;
30 converting a set of a plurality of the collected data associated with the identical area
identification information into traffic flow information indicating a traffic situation for
each of the plurality of monitoring areas as a unit; and
calculating a priority for allocating a communication resource for each of the
plurality of monitoring areas by using the traffic flow information.