FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10, rule 13)
“VEHICLE NUMBER DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM,VEHICLE NUMBER DATA PROCESSING METHOD,VEHICLE NUMBER DATA PROCESSING DEVICE,PROGRAM, AND RECORDING MEDIUM”
MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD., of 16-5, Konan 2-
chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8215 Japan.
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it
is to be performed.
2
Description
Title of Invention
VEHICLE NUMBER DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM, VEHICLE NUMBER DATA
PROCESSING METHOD, VEHICLE NUMBER DATA 5 PROCESSING DEVICE,
PROGRAM, AND RECORDING MEDIUM
Technical Field
[0001]
10 The present invention relates to a vehicle number data processing system, a
vehicle number data processing method, a vehicle number data processing device, a
program, and a recording medium. In particular, the present invention relates to a
vehicle number data processing system, a vehicle number data processing method, and a
vehicle number data processing device processing vehicle number data including
15 information regarding a vehicle number of a number plate of a vehicle obtained by
performing optical character recognition on an image, a program causing a computer to
function as the vehicle number data processing device, and a recording medium
recording the program.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-070398, filed
20 March 26, 2012, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Background Art
[0002]
An electronic toll collection system of a toll road is a system in which an
25 integrated circuit (IC) card recording contract information or the like is inserted into
3
on-board equipment mounted on a vehicle, wireless communication is performed
between a roadside antenna installed in a toll gate of a toll road and the on-board
equipment, and payment is made by recording information regarding a toll fare or the
like on both of a toll road computer system connected to the roadside antenna and the IC
5 card.
[0003]
FIG. 14 illustrates an example of a use environment of an electronic toll
collection system 900 of a toll road. A user of the electronic toll collection system 900
needs to mount on-board equipment on a vehicle when using the electronic toll collection
10 system 900. Here, the on-board equipment refers to a wireless device that wirelessly
communicates information necessary to charge a toll fare between the on-board
equipment and each of roadside antennas 930 and 960. The on-board equipment that
processes charging of a toll fare according to a kind of vehicle is mounted on the vehicle.
[0004]
15 In the electronic toll collection system 900, the roadside antenna 930, a camera
940, a sensor 950, and the roadside antenna 960 are installed in order in the same lane.
When a vehicle enters a communication region of the roadside antenna 930 of the lane,
the on-board equipment withdraws a toll fare from a balance of electronic money with
which an integrated circuit (IC) card inserted into the on-board equipment is charged.
20 [0005]
Then, when the vehicle enters a detection area of the sensor 950, the sensor 950
detects, for example, the size of the vehicle and transmits data indicating the size to a
control device 920. When the control device 920 receives the data transmitted from the
sensor 950, the control device 920 specifies, for example, the kind of vehicle based on
25 the size of the vehicle indicated by the data.
4
[0006]
Then, when the vehicle enters a communication region of the roadside antenna
960, the roadside antenna 960 receives data indicating the toll fare withdrawn from the
balance of the electronic money from the on-board equipment and transmits the data to
5 the control device 920.
[0007]
When the control device 920 receives the data transmitted from the roadside
antenna 960, the control device 920 determines whether the withdrawn amount of the toll
fare indicated by the data is correct as the toll fare of the kind of vehicle specified in the
10 above manner. For example, when the on-board equipment mounted on the vehicle is
not on-board equipment according to the kind of vehicle, the toll fare according to the
specified kind of vehicle is not withdrawn. Therefore, the control device 920
determines that the withdrawn amount is not correct as the toll fare. Further, for
example, the control device 920 also determines that the withdrawn amount is not correct
15 as the toll fare when the balance of the electronic money is short or no on-board
equipment is mounted.
[0008]
When the control device 920 determines that the withdrawn amount is not
correct as the toll fare and the rear side of the vehicle is detected by the sensor 950, the
20 camera 940 images the rear side of the vehicle and transmits image data to the control
device 920. Here, a number plate installed on the rear side of the vehicle is pictured in
the image captured by the camera 940. When the control device 920 receives the image
data transmitted from the camera 940, the control device 920 transmits the image data to
a server 910.
25 [0009]
5
When the server 910 receives the image data transmitted from the control device
920, the server 910 performs optical character recognition on the image data to read a
vehicle number displayed on the number plate. In this way, a road service provider can
specify the vehicle number of an illegal vehicle.
5 [0010]
Incidentally, the government of Singapore has examined development and
introduction of an electronic toll collection system using the Global Positioning System
(GPS). In the electronic toll collection system using the GPS, GPS receivers are
mounted on all vehicles and entrance to roads is detected by the GPS receivers for
10 charging. Thus, in the electronic toll collection system using the GPS, it is not
necessary to provide devices that process charging, thereby resulting in reduction in cost.
[0011]
On the other hand, in the electronic toll collection system using the GPS, it is
necessary to separately construct a system that images the number plates of illegal
15 vehicles. However, in the electronic toll collection system using the GPS, illegal
vehicles may not be specified as triggers of the results of the charging processes, as in the
electronic toll collection system illustrated in FIG. 14. For this reason, for the electronic
toll collection system using the GPS, the system that images the number plates of illegal
vehicles is required to image the number plates of all vehicles entering roads.
20 [0012]
Here, when the number plates of all vehicles travelling on a plurality of lanes are
attempted to be imaged, cameras imaging the number plates of the vehicles are installed
to be lined up in the width direction of the road above the road so that neighboring
imaging areas overlap. In this way, by eliminating blind corners between the cameras, a
25 vehicle travelling on a lane is imaged by any camera. Here, a vehicle travelling at a
6
position at which the imaging areas of two neighboring cameras overlap is imaged by the
two cameras.
[0013]
Here, images of the number plates imaged in this way also include images in
which the number plates are not the number plates of illegal 5 vehicles. Thus, a
superordinate system performs a process of determining whether the number plates
pictured in the images are the number plates of the illegal vehicles. Therefore, the
image data captured by the cameras is transmitted to the superordinate system.
[0014]
10 As described above, however, the image data obtained by imaging the number
plate of a predetermined vehicle is repeatedly present in the image data captured by the
cameras in some cases. Accordingly, when all of the image data captured by the
cameras is transmitted to the superordinate system, a network therebetween may be
unnecessarily overloaded. Further, the superordinate system may unnecessarily process
15 the repeated image data indicating the number plate of the predetermined vehicle.
Accordingly, the system using the plurality of cameras is required to process, as one of
data, data indicating the vehicle number of the predetermined vehicle among a plurality
of data indicating vehicle numbers of number plates obtained by performing optical
character recognition on images captured by the cameras.
20 [0015]
Various technologies relevant to such circumstances are known (for example,
see PLT 1). PLT 1 discloses a moving object recognition method of recognizing an
object entering a measurement area, in which imaging regions of a plurality of cameras
are connected, through image processing. In the moving object recognition method, a
25 measurement area is set such that the neighboring imaging regions are set to overlap by
7
only a predetermined width necessary to avoid a recognition error of an object or an
element of the object, and an object recognition process is performed based on images
simultaneously captured by the cameras. Thus, in the moving object recognition
method, the measurement area can be expanded since the imaging regions of the plurality
of cameras are set to overlap by the predetermined width in a movement 5 direction of a
moving object. Thus, it is possible to improve recognition of a fast moving object or
recognition of a plurality of moving objects.
Citation List
10 Patent Literature
[0016]
PLT 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No.
H08-005316
15 Summary of Invention
Technical Problem
[0017]
In the moving object recognition method disclosed in PLT 1, however, complete
vehicle number data is generated by aggregating a plurality of vehicle number data, and
20 some pieces of data indicating the vehicle number of the same vehicle, among a plurality
of data indicating vehicle numbers of number plates obtained by performing optical
character recognition on images imaged by the cameras, are not processed as one piece of
data.
25 Solution to Problem
8
[0018]
To resolve the above-mentioned problem, according to a first aspect of the
present invention, a vehicle number data processing system is provided that processes
vehicle number data including information regarding a vehicle number of a number plate
of a vehicle obtained by performing optical character recognition 5 on an image. The
vehicle number data processing system includes: a plurality of imaging devices which are
installed so that imaging areas of the plurality of imaging devices overlap each other and
which are configured to continuously capture an image of a road; and a vehicle number
data processing device configured to process the vehicle number data. The vehicle
10 number data processing device includes one of a vehicle number data integration unit
configured to reserve one of one piece of vehicle number data and another piece of
vehicle number data along with deleting the other of the one piece of vehicle number
data and the another piece of vehicle number data to thereby integrate the vehicle number
data including information regarding the same vehicle, wherein the one piece of vehicle
15 number data include information regarding a vehicle number obtained by performing the
optical character recognition on an image captured by one of the imaging devices, and
the another piece of vehicle number data include information regarding a vehicle number
obtained by performing the optical character recognition on an image captured by
another of the imaging devices having the imaging area overlapping the imaging area of
20 the one of the imaging devices.
[0019]
The vehicle number data processing device may further include a
same-vehicle-number searching unit configured to retrieve vehicle number data including
the same information as information regarding the vehicle number included in vehicle
25 number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on the image
9
captured by one of the imaging devices, among vehicle number data obtained by
performing the optical character recognition on the images captured by another of the
imaging devices having the imaging area overlapping the imaging area of the one of the
imaging devices. The vehicle number data integration unit may integrate (i) vehicle
number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition 5 on the image
captured by one of the imaging devices and (ii) the vehicle number data retrieved by the
same-vehicle-number searching unit.
[0020]
The vehicle number data processing device may further include an optical
10 character recognition determination unit configured to determine whether a portion
unrecognizable through the optical character recognition is contained in a vehicle number
obtained by performing the optical character recognition on the image captured by one of
the imaging devices. The same-vehicle-number searching unit may retrieve vehicle
number data including the same information as information regarding the vehicle number
15 if the optical character recognition determination unit determines that a portion
unrecognizable through the optical character recognition is not contained in the vehicle
number.
[0021]
The vehicle number data processing device may further include a vehicle
20 number position determination unit configured to determine whether a position of a
vehicle number obtained by performing the optical character recognition on the image
captured by one of the imaging devices in the image is within the imaging area of another
of the imaging devices having the imaging area overlapping the imaging area of the one
of the imaging devices. The optical character recognition determination unit may
25 determine whether a portion unrecognizable through the optical character recognition is
10
contained in the vehicle number if the vehicle number position determination unit
determines that the position of the vehicle number is within the imaging area of another
of the imaging devices having the imaging area overlapping the imaging area of one of
the imaging devices.
5 [0022]
The vehicle number data processing device may further include an integrated
data determination unit configured to determine whether the vehicle number data is the
vehicle number data integrated by the vehicle number data integration unit. The vehicle
number position determination unit may determine whether a position of a vehicle
10 number included in the vehicle number data in the image is within the imaging area of
another of the imaging devices if the integrated data determination unit determines that
the vehicle number data is not the integrated vehicle number data.
[0023]
The vehicle number data processing system may further include a plurality of
15 vehicle number data generation devices installed in one-to-one correspondence with the
imaging devices and configured to generate the vehicle number data by performing the
optical character recognition on images captured by the corresponding imaging devices.
The vehicle number data processing device may further include: a check data reception
unit configured to receive check data used to check soundness of a network from the
20 vehicle number data generation devices; a vehicle number data reception unit configured
to receive the vehicle number data from the vehicle number data generation devices; and
a reception or non-reception determination unit configured to determine, after the vehicle
number data reception unit receives the vehicle number data, whether the check data
reception unit receives the check data. If the reception or non-reception determination
25 unit determines that the check data reception unit receives the check data after the vehicle
11
number data reception unit receives the vehicle number data, the integrated data
determination unit may determine whether the vehicle number data is the vehicle number
data integrated by the vehicle number data integration unit.
[0024]
When the vehicle number data generation device performs the 5 optical character
recognition on an image captured by the corresponding imaging device and generates the
vehicle number data including the information regarding the vehicle number of the
number plate of the vehicle, the vehicle number data generation device may generate the
vehicle number data further including information regarding an initial time and
10 information regarding a final time at which the vehicle is detected by the corresponding
imaging device. The vehicle number data processing device may further include: a
character complementing unit configured to supplement a character of the vehicle
number of a portion unrecognizable through the optical character recognition if the
optical character recognition determination unit determines that the portion
15 unrecognizable through the optical character recognition is contained in the vehicle
number; and a same-period-of-time searching unit configured to retrieve vehicle number
data including the information regarding the initial time or the information regarding the
final time corresponding to a period of time from the initial time to the final time
included in vehicle number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition
20 on the image captured by one of the imaging devices, among vehicle number data
obtained by performing the optical character recognition on images captured by another
of the imaging devices having the imaging area overlapping the imaging area of the one
of the imaging devices, if (i) the optical character recognition determination unit
determines that a portion unrecognizable through the optical character recognition is
25 contained in the vehicle number or (ii) the same-vehicle-number searching unit fails to
12
retrieve e vehicle number data including information regarding the same vehicle number.
The same-vehicle-number searching unit may retrieve vehicle number data including the
same information as information regarding the vehicle number in which the character is
supplemented by the character complementing unit, among the vehicle number data
retrieved by the same-period-5 of-time searching unit.
[0025]
When the vehicle number data generation device performs the optical character
recognition on an image captured by the corresponding imaging device and generates the
vehicle number data including the information regarding the vehicle number of the
10 number plate of the vehicle, the vehicle number data generation device may generate the
vehicle number data further including information regarding a kind of number plate of
the vehicle. The vehicle number data processing device may further include a
same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit configured to retrieve vehicle number data
including the same information as information regarding the kind of number plate
15 included in vehicle number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition
on the image captured by one of the imaging devices, among vehicle number data
obtained by performing the optical character recognition on images captured by another
of the imaging devices having the imaging area overlapping the imaging area of the one
of the imaging devices, if the same-vehicle-number searching unit fails to retrieve
20 vehicle number data including information regarding the same vehicle number among the
vehicle number data retrieved by the same-period-of-time searching unit. If the
same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit retrieves one of vehicle number data, the
vehicle number data integration unit may integrate the retrieved vehicle number data and
vehicle number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on the
25 image captured by one of the imaging devices.
13
[0026]
When the vehicle number data generation device performs the optical character
recognition on an image captured by the corresponding imaging device and generates the
vehicle number data including the information regarding the vehicle number of the
number plate of the vehicle, the vehicle number data generation device 5 may generate the
vehicle number data further including information regarding a vehicle speed of the
vehicle. The vehicle number data processing device may further include a vehicle
speed estimation unit configured to estimate a degree of accordance between the vehicle
speed indicated by information included in vehicle number data obtained by performing
10 the optical character recognition on the image captured by one of the imaging devices
and the vehicle speed indicated by information included in vehicle number data obtained
by performing the optical character recognition on the image captured by another of the
imaging devices having the imaging area overlapping the imaging area of the one of the
imaging devices, if the same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit retrieves the plurality
15 of vehicle number data. The vehicle number data integration unit may integrate the
vehicle number data including information regarding the vehicle speeds of which the
degree of accordance estimated by the vehicle speed estimation unit is high.
[0027]
The vehicle number data processing device may further include a period-of-time
20 estimation unit configured to estimate a degree of accordance between a period of time
from the initial time to the final time indicated by information included in vehicle
number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on the image
captured by one of the imaging devices and a period of time from the initial time to the
final time indicated by information included in vehicle number data obtained by
25 performing the optical character recognition on the image captured by another of the
14
imaging devices having the imaging area overlapping the imaging area of the one of the
imaging devices, if the same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit retrieves the plurality
of vehicle number data. The vehicle number data integration unit may integrate the
vehicle number data including information regarding the times of which the degree of
accordance estimated by the period-of-time estimation 5 unit is high.
[0028]
When the vehicle number data generation device performs the optical character
recognition on an image captured by the corresponding imaging device and generates the
vehicle number data including the information regarding the vehicle number of the
10 number plate of the vehicle, the vehicle number data generation device may generate the
vehicle number data further including information regarding a detection position of the
vehicle, in regard to detection positions of all vehicles detected during a period of time in
which the vehicle is detected by the corresponding imaging device. The vehicle number
data processing device may further include a detection position estimation unit
15 configured to estimate a degree of accordance between the detection position indicated
by information included in vehicle number data obtained by performing the optical
character recognition on the image captured by one of the imaging devices and the
detection position indicated by information included in vehicle number data obtained by
performing the optical character recognition on the image captured by another of the
20 imaging devices having the imaging area overlapping the imaging area of the one of the
imaging devices, if the same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit retrieves the plurality
of vehicle number data. The vehicle number data integration unit may integrate the
vehicle number data including information regarding the detection positions of which the
degree of accordance estimated by the detection position estimation unit is high.
25 [0029]
15
The vehicle number data processing device may further include an imaging time
determination unit configured to determine whether an imaging time of an image which
is being subjected to the optical character recognition by each of the vehicle number data
generation devices is a time prior to a final time at which a vehicle included in vehicle
number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition 5 on an image
captured by one of the imaging devices is detected, if the same-period-of-time searching
unit or the same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit fails to retrieve the vehicle number
data. If the imaging time determination unit determines that the imaging time is not the
time prior to the final time, the vehicle number data integration unit may set vehicle
10 number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on the image
captured by one of the imaging devices as the integrated vehicle number data.
[0030]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, a vehicle number data
processing method is provided for processing vehicle number data including information
15 regarding a vehicle number of a number plate of a vehicle obtained by performing optical
character recognition on an image. The vehicle number data processing method
includes a vehicle number data integration step of reserving one of one piece of vehicle
number data and another piece of vehicle number data along with deleting the other of
the one piece of vehicle number data and the another piece of vehicle number data to
20 thereby integrate the vehicle number data including information regarding the same
vehicle, wherein the one piece of vehicle number data include information regarding a
vehicle number obtained by performing the optical character recognition on an image
captured by one of the imaging devices installed so that imaging areas of a plurality of
the imaging devices overlap each other and configured to continuously capture an image
25 of a road, and the another piece of vehicle number data include information regarding a
16
vehicle number obtained by performing the optical character recognition on an image
captured by another of the imaging devices having the imaging area overlapping the
imaging area of the one of the imaging devices.
[0031]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, 5 a vehicle number data
processing device is to process vehicle number data including information regarding a
vehicle number of a number plate of a vehicle obtained by performing optical character
recognition on an image. The vehicle number data processing device includes a vehicle
number data integration unit configured to reserve one of one piece of vehicle number
10 data and another piece of vehicle number data along with deleting the other of the one
piece of vehicle number data and the another piece of vehicle number data to thereby
integrate the vehicle number data including information regarding the same vehicle,
wherein the one piece of vehicle number data include information regarding a vehicle
number obtained by performing the optical character recognition on an image captured
15 by one of the imaging devices installed so that imaging areas of a plurality of the imaging
devices overlap each other and configured to continuously capture an image of a road,
and the another piece of vehicle number data include information regarding a vehicle
number obtained by performing the optical character recognition on an image captured
by another of the imaging devices having the imaging area overlapping the imaging area
20 of the one of the imaging devices.
[0032]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a program is to cause a
computer to function as a vehicle number data processing device that processes vehicle
number data including information regarding a vehicle number of a number plate of a
25 vehicle obtained by performing optical character recognition on an image. The program
17
causes the computer to function as a vehicle number data integration unit configured to
reserve one of one piece of vehicle number data and another piece of vehicle number data
along with deleting the other of the one piece of vehicle number data and the another
piece of vehicle number data to thereby integrate the vehicle number data including
information regarding the same vehicle, wherein the one piece 5 of vehicle number data
include information regarding a vehicle number obtained by performing the optical
character recognition on an image captured by one of the imaging devices installed so
that imaging areas of a plurality of the imaging devices overlap each other and
configured to continuously capture an image of a road, and the another piece of vehicle
10 number data include information regarding a vehicle number obtained by performing the
optical character recognition on an image captured by another of the imaging devices
having the imaging area overlapping the imaging area of the one of the imaging devices.
[0033]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a recording medium is
15 provided that records a program causing a computer to function as a vehicle number data
processing device that processes vehicle number data including information regarding a
vehicle number of a number plate of a vehicle obtained by performing optical character
recognition on an image. The recording medium records the program causing the
computer to function as a vehicle number data integration unit configured to reserve one
20 of one piece of vehicle number data and another piece of vehicle number data along with
deleting the other of the one piece of vehicle number data and the another piece of
vehicle number data to thereby integrate the vehicle number data including information
regarding the same vehicle, wherein the one piece of vehicle number data include
information regarding a vehicle number obtained by performing the optical character
25 recognition on an image captured by one of the imaging devices installed so that imaging
18
areas of a plurality of the imaging devices overlap each other and configured to
continuously capture an image of a road, and the another piece of vehicle number data
include information regarding a vehicle number obtained by performing the optical
character recognition on an image captured by another of the imaging devices having the
imaging area overlapping the imaging area of the one of 5 the imaging devices.
[0034]
In the overview of the foregoing present invention, not all of the characteristics
necessary for the present invention are enumerated.
Further, sub-combinations of the characteristic groups may serve as the present
10 invention.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0035]
As is apparent from the foregoing description, according to the present invention,
15 some pieces of data indicating the vehicle number of the same vehicle, among a plurality
of data indicating vehicle numbers of number plates obtained by performing optical
character recognition on images imaged by the cameras, can be processed as one piece of
data.
20 Brief Description of Drawings
[0036]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a use environment of a vehicle
number data processing system 100 according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the block configuration of a
25 vehicle number data processing device 110.
19
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in a vehicle
number data storage unit 126 in a table format.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the information stored in the
vehicle number data storage unit 126 in the table format.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the information 5 stored in the
vehicle number data storage unit 126 in the table format.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the information stored in the
vehicle number data storage unit 126 in the table format.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation sequence of the
10 vehicle number data processing device 110 and a vehicle number data generation device
150.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation sequence of the
vehicle number data processing device 110, a camera 130, and the vehicle number data
generation device 150.
15 FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation flow of the vehicle
number data processing device 110.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation flow of the vehicle
number data processing device 110.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation flow of the vehicle
20 number data processing device 110.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation flow of the vehicle
number data processing device 110.
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a
computer 800 configured as the vehicle number data processing device 110 according to
25 the embodiment.
20
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a use environment of an
electronic toll collection system 900 of a toll road.
Description of Embodiments
5 [0037]
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described according to embodiments
of the present invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the present
invention described in the claims. All of the combinations of characteristics described
in the embodiments may not be indispensable to solutions of the present invention.
10 [0038]
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a use environment of a vehicle number data
processing system 100 according to an embodiment. The vehicle number data
processing system 100 is a system that processes vehicle number data. Here, the
vehicle number data refers to data that includes at least information regarding a vehicle
15 number of a number plate of a vehicle obtained by performing optical character
recognition on an image.
[0039]
The vehicle number data processing system 100 includes a vehicle number data
processing device 110, a plurality of cameras 130a to 130d (hereinafter generally referred
20 to as cameras 130), and a plurality of vehicle number data generation devices 150a to
150d (hereinafter generally referred to as vehicle number data generation devices 150).
The camera 130 may be an example of an “imaging device” of the present invention.
[0040]
The vehicle number data processing device 110 is electrically connected to the
25 vehicle number data generation devices 150. The vehicle number data processing
21
devices process vehicle number data.
[0041]
The cameras 130 are installed to be lined up in the width direction in gates G
above a road R10 having a plurality of lanes R11 to R13 so that neighboring imaging
areas overlap. In the embodiment, an imaging area Aa of the camera 5 130a overlaps an
imaging area Ab of the camera 130b. In the embodiment, the imaging area Ab of the
camera 130b overlaps an imaging area Ac of the camera 130c. In the embodiment, the
imaging area Ac of the camera 130c overlaps an imaging area Ad of the camera 130d.
The camera 130 is electrically connected to one vehicle number data generation device
10 150. The cameras 130 image the road R10 continuously while facing obliquely
downward.
[0042]
The vehicle number data generation devices 150 are installed in one-to-one
correspondence with the cameras 130. Each vehicle number data generation device 150
15 is electrically connected to the corresponding camera 130. The vehicle number data
generation device 150 performs the optical character recognition on an image captured
by the corresponding camera 130 and generates vehicle number data including at least
information regarding the vehicle number of the number plate of a vehicle obtained by
performing the optical character recognition on the image. More specifically, when the
20 vehicle number data generation device 150 performs the optical character recognition on
an image captured by the corresponding camera 130 and generates the vehicle number
data including information regarding the vehicle number of the number plate of a vehicle,
the vehicle number data generation device 150 generates vehicle number data including
other information regarding the vehicle in some cases. For example, the vehicle
25 number data generation device 150 generates the vehicle number data further including
22
information regarding the initial time and information regarding the final time obtained
by the corresponding camera 130 detecting the vehicle. The vehicle number data
generation device 150 also generates the vehicle number data further including
information a kind of number plate of the vehicle. The vehicle number data generation
device 150 also generates the vehicle number data further 5 including information
regarding a speed of the vehicle. The vehicle number data generation device 150 also
generates the vehicle number data further including information regarding a detection
position of a vehicle, in regard to detection positions of all of the vehicles at which the
vehicles are detected during a period of time in which the vehicle is detected by the
10 corresponding camera 130.
[0043]
In the embodiment, in order to prevent the description from being complicated, a
configuration in which the vehicle number data processing system 100 includes one
vehicle number data processing device 110 will be described. However, the vehicle
15 number data processing system 100 may include a plurality of vehicle number data
processing devices 110.
[0044]
In the embodiment, a configuration in which the vehicle number data processing
system 100 includes the plurality of vehicle number data generation devices 150
20 corresponding to the plurality of cameras 130 will be described. However, the vehicle
number data processing system 100 may include one vehicle number data generation
device 150 corresponding to a plurality of cameras 130.
[0045]
FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a block configuration of the vehicle number data
25 processing device 110. The vehicle number data processing device 110 includes a
23
vehicle number data reception unit 112, a check data reception unit 111, a reception or
non-reception determination unit 113, an integrated data determination unit 114, a vehicle
number position determination unit 115, an optical character recognition determination
unit 116, a same-vehicle-number searching unit 117, a same-period-of-time searching
unit 119, a character complementing unit 118, a same-kind-of-5 number-plate searching
unit 120, a vehicle speed estimation unit 121, a period-of-time estimation unit 122, a
detection position estimation unit 123, an imaging time determination unit 124, a vehicle
number data integration unit 125, and a vehicle number data storage unit 126. In the
following description, a function and an operation of each constituent element will be
10 described in detail.
[0046]
The vehicle number data reception unit 112 receives vehicle number data from
the vehicle number data generation device 150.
[0047]
15 The check data reception unit 111 receives check data from the vehicle number
data generation device 150. Here, the check data refers to data for checking soundness
of a network between the vehicle number data processing device 110 and the vehicle
number data generation device 150.
[0048]
20 After the vehicle number data reception unit 112 receives the vehicle number
data, the reception or non-reception determination unit 113 determines whether the check
data reception unit receives the check data.
[0049]
The integrated data determination unit 114 determines whether the vehicle
25 number data is vehicle number data after integration of the vehicle number data
24
integration unit 125. More specifically, when the vehicle number data reception unit
112 receives vehicle number data and then the reception or non-reception determination
unit 113 determines that the check data reception unit 111 receives the check data, the
integrated data determination unit 114 determines whether the vehicle number data is
vehicle number data after the integration of the vehicle number data 5 integration unit 125.
[0050]
The vehicle number position determination unit 115 determines whether the
position of a vehicle number obtained by performing the optical character recognition on
an image captured by one camera 130 in the image is within the imaging area of the
10 camera 130 neighboring the one camera 130. More specifically, when the integrated
data determination unit 114 determines that the vehicle number data is not the vehicle
number data integrated by the vehicle number data integration unit 125, the vehicle
number position determination unit 115 determines whether the position of the vehicle
number contained in the vehicle number data in the image is within the imaging area of
15 the neighboring camera 130.
[0051]
The optical character recognition determination unit 116 determines whether a
portion unrecognizable through the optical character recognition is contained in the
vehicle number obtained by performing the optical character recognition on an image
20 captured by one camera 130. More specifically, when the vehicle number position
determination unit 115 determines that the position of the vehicle number is within the
imaging area of the camera 130 neighboring one camera 130, the optical character
recognition determination unit 116 determines whether the portion unrecognizable
through the optical character recognition is contained in the vehicle number.
25 [0052]
25
The same-vehicle-number searching unit 117 searches the vehicle number data
including the same information as information regarding a vehicle number included in
the vehicle number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on an
image captured by one camera 130, among the vehicle number data obtained by
performing the optical character recognition on images captured 5 by the camera 130
neighboring the one camera 130. More specifically, when the optical character
recognition determination unit 116 determines that the portion unrecognizable through
the optical character recognition is not contained in the vehicle number, the
same-vehicle-number searching unit 117 searches the vehicle number data including the
10 same information as the information regarding the vehicle number. Further, the
same-vehicle-number searching unit 117 searches the vehicle number data including the
same information as the information regarding the vehicle number obtained through the
character complementing by the character complementing unit 118 among the vehicle
number data searched by the same-period-of-time searching unit 119.
15 [0053]
When the optical character recognition determination unit 116 determines that
the portion unrecognizable through the optical character recognition is contained in the
vehicle number, the character complementing unit 118 complements a character of the
vehicle number of the portion unrecognizable through the optical character recognition.
20 [0054]
When the optical character recognition determination unit 116 determines that
the portion unrecognizable through the optical character recognition is contained in the
vehicle number or the same-vehicle-number searching unit 117 may not search the
vehicle number data including the information regarding the same vehicle number, the
25 same-period-of-time searching unit 119 searches the vehicle number data including
26
information regarding the initial time or information regarding the final time
corresponding to a period of time from an initial time to a final time included in the
vehicle number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on an
image captured by one camera 130, among the vehicle number data obtained by
performing the optical character recognition on images captured 5 by the camera 130
neighboring the one camera 130.
[0055]
When the same-vehicle-number searching unit 117 may not search the vehicle
number data including the information regarding the same vehicle number among the
10 vehicle number data searched by the same-period-of-time searching unit 119, the
same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit 120 searches the vehicle number data
including the same information as the information regarding the kind of number plate
included in the vehicle number data obtained by performing the optical character
recognition on an image captured by one camera 130, among the vehicle number data
15 obtained by performing the optical character recognition on images captured by the
camera 130 neighboring the one camera 130.
[0056]
When the same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit 120 searches a plurality of
vehicle number data, the vehicle speed estimation unit 121 estimates the degree of
20 accordance between a vehicle speed indicated by information included in the vehicle
number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on an image
captured by one camera 130 and a vehicle speed indicated by information included in the
vehicle number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on an
image captured by the camera 130 neighboring the one camera 130.
25 [0057]
27
When the same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit 120 searches the plurality
of vehicle number data, the period-of-time estimation unit 122 estimates the degree of
accordance between the period of time from the initial time to the final time indicated by
the information included in the vehicle number data obtained by performing the optical
character recognition on an image captured by one camera 130 and 5 the period of time
from the initial time to the final time indicated by the information included in the vehicle
number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on an image
captured by the camera 130 neighboring the one camera 130.
[0058]
10 When the same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit 120 searches the plurality
of vehicle number data, the detection position estimation unit 123 estimates the degree of
accordance between a detection position indicated by information included in the vehicle
number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on an image
captured by one camera 130 and a detection position indicated by information included
15 in the vehicle number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on
an image captured by the camera 130 neighboring the one camera 130.
[0059]
When the same-period-of-time searching unit 119 or the
same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit 120 may not search the vehicle number data,
20 the imaging time determination unit 124 determines whether an imaging time of the
image which is being subjected to the optical character recognition by the vehicle
number data generation device 150 is a time prior to the final time at which the vehicle
included in the vehicle number data obtained by performing the optical character
recognition on an image captured by one camera 130 is detected.
25 [0060]
28
The vehicle number data integration unit 125 integrates the vehicle number data
including the information regarding the predetermined vehicle by reserving one of
vehicle number data along with deleting the other of the vehicle number data between the
vehicle number data including the information regarding the vehicle number obtained by
performing the optical character recognition on an image captured 5 by one camera 130
and the vehicle number data including the information regarding the vehicle number
obtained by performing the optical character recognition on an image captured by the
camera 130 neighboring the one camera 130. More specifically, the vehicle number
data integration unit 125 integrates the vehicle number data obtained by performing the
10 optical character recognition on an image captured by one camera 130 and the vehicle
number data searched by the same-vehicle-number searching unit 117.
When the same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit 120 searches one of vehicle
number data, the vehicle number data integration unit 125 integrates the vehicle number
data searched by the same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit 120 and the vehicle
15 number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on an image
captured by one camera 130. The vehicle number data integration unit 125 also
integrates the vehicle number data including information regarding vehicle speeds of
which the degree of accordance estimated by the vehicle speed estimation unit 121 is
high. The vehicle number data integration unit 125 also integrates the vehicle number
20 data including information regarding times of which the degree of accordance estimated
by the period-of-time estimation unit 122 is high. The vehicle number data integration
unit 125 also integrates the vehicle number data including information regarding the
detection positions of which the degree of accordance estimated by the detection position
estimation unit 123 is high. When the imaging time determination unit 124 determines
25 that the imaging time is not the time prior to the final time, the vehicle number data
29
integration unit 125 also sets the vehicle number data obtained by performing the optical
character recognition on an image captured by one camera 130 as the integrated vehicle
number data.
[0061]
FIGs. 3 to 6 illustrate an example of information 127 5 stored in the vehicle
number data storage unit 126 in a table format. The vehicle number data storage unit
126 stores information regarding a data identifier (ID), an image ID, a vehicle number, an
optical character recognition estimation value, a kind of number plate, the central
position of a vehicle number detection region, the central position of a vehicle detection
10 region, a vehicle detection estimation value, a vehicle speed (km/h), an imaging time
(year/month/day/hour:minute:second), a camera ID, an initial detection time
(year/month/day/hour:minute:second), a final detection time
(year/month/day/hour:minute:second), the number of vehicles, a detection position, and a
check data reception time (year/month/day/hour:minute:second) and information
15 regarding whether the integration is completed (Yes or No) in association therewith.
[0062]
The information regarding a data ID is information used to uniquely identify
each of vehicle number data in the plurality of vehicle number data. More specifically,
the information regarding the data ID is information appended when each piece of
20 information included in the vehicle number data is stored in the vehicle number data
storage unit 126.
[0063]
The information regarding an image ID is information used to uniquely identify
each image among a plurality of images captured by the cameras 130. More specifically,
25 the vehicle number data generation device 150 stores an image in which a vehicle
30
number marked on the number plate is viewed most easily among images in which the
predetermined vehicle is pictured. Here, the image in which the vehicle number marked
on the number plate is viewed most easily refers to, for example, an image in which the
number plate is pictured largest. The information regarding the image ID is information
used to identify the image stored in this way in the vehicle number 5 data generation
device 150.
[0064]
The information regarding the vehicle number is information indicating the
vehicle number of a vehicle pictured in an image. More specifically, the vehicle
10 number data generation device 150 performs the optical character recognition on an
image in which the vehicle number marked on a number plate is pictured more clearly
among images in which the predetermined vehicle is pictured and reads characters of the
vehicle number marked on the number plate. The information regarding the vehicle
number is information which is subjected to the optical character recognition and is read
15 by the vehicle number data generation device 150.
[0065]
The information regarding the optical character recognition estimation value is
information indicating the degree of reliability of the optical character recognition result.
More specifically, the information regarding the optical character recognition estimation
20 value according to the embodiment is expressed by a decimal of which the maximum
value is “1,” a larger numerical value of which indicates a higher degree of reliability of
the optical character recognition result.
[0066]
The information regarding the kind of number plate is information indicating the
25 kind of number plate of a vehicle pictured in an image. More specifically, the
31
information regarding the kind of number plate indicates, for example, a number plate
describing how many wheels a vehicle has and which stages a vehicle number is marked
at.
[0067]
The information regarding the central position of a vehicle 5 number detection
region is information indicating the position of a center point of a region, occupied by a
vehicle number detected in an image subjected to the optical character recognition, in the
image. More specifically, the information regarding the central position of the vehicle
number detection region indicates, for example, a position in an orthogonal coordinate
10 system in which the horizontal direction of an image is set as the X axis and the vertical
direction of the image is set as the Y axis on the assumption that the top left of the image
is a base point.
[0068]
The information regarding the central position of the vehicle detection region is
15 information indicating the position of a center point of a region, occupied by a vehicle
detected in an image subjected to the optical character recognition, in the image. More
specifically, the information regarding the central position of the vehicle detection region
indicates, for example, a position in an orthogonal coordinate system in which the
horizontal direction of an image is set as the X axis and the vertical direction of the
20 image is set as the Y axis on the assumption that the top left of the image is a base point.
[0069]
The information regarding the vehicle detection estimation value is information
indicating the degree of reliability of a detection result obtained by detecting an object
pictured in an image as a vehicle. More specifically, for example, the vehicle number
25 data generation device 150 detects whether an object is a vehicle based on feature points
32
of the object, excluding a road pictured in an image. The information regarding the
vehicle detection estimation value indicates the degree of reliability of the detection
result.
[0070]
The information regarding a vehicle speed (km/h) is information 5 indicating a
speed of a vehicle pictured in an image. More specifically, a vehicle speed is measured
by, for example, a measurement device (not illustrated).
[0071]
The information regarding an imaging time
10 (year/month/day/hour:minute:second) is information indicating a time at which an image
is captured. More specifically, the information regarding an imaging time is
simultaneously recorded in an image file when the camera 130 captures an image.
[0072]
The information regarding a camera ID is information used to uniquely identify
15 each camera 130 among the plurality of cameras 130. More specifically, the vehicle
number data generation device 150 generates vehicle number data including the
information regarding a camera ID indicating the corresponding camera 130.
[0073]
The information regarding an initial detection time
20 (year/month/day/hour:minute:second) is information indicating a time at which a vehicle
pictured in an image is initially detected. More specifically, the camera 130
continuously captures images in which a vehicle is pictured until the vehicle travelling on
the lane R10 enters and passes through the imaging area. The information regarding the
initial detection time (year/month/day/hour:minute:second) indicates an imaging time of
25 the initially captured image among the plurality of images in which the predetermined
33
vehicle is pictured in this way.
[0074]
The information regarding the final detection time
(year/month/day/hour:minute:second) is information indicating a time at which a vehicle
pictured in an image is finally detected. More specifically, the 5 information regarding
the final detection time (year/month/day/hour:minute:second) indicates an imaging time
of the finally captured image among the plurality of images in which the predetermined
vehicle is pictured, as described above.
[0075]
10 The information regarding the number of vehicles is information indicating the
number of all of the vehicles detected by the camera 130 from initial detection of the
vehicles pictured in the images to final detection by the camera 130. More specifically,
for example, the camera 130b according to the embodiment images the imaging area Ab
extending the lanes R11 and R12. Thus, the camera 130b simultaneously images a
15 vehicle travelling on the lane R11 and a vehicle travelling on the lane R12. For
example, when two vehicles have travelled in the imaging area of the lane R12 while the
camera 130b detects a vehicle travelling on the lane R11, the camera 130b accordingly
detects three vehicles while detecting the vehicle travelling on the lane R11.
[0076]
20 The information regarding the detection position is information indicating a
detection position in the width direction of a vehicle pictured in an image identified by
the information regarding the image ID with respect to the detection positions of all of
the vehicles detected by the camera 130 in the width direction until the vehicle pictured
in the image is initially detected and then finally detected by the camera 130. For
25 example, as described above, when two vehicles have travelled in the imaging area of the
34
lane R12 while the camera 130b detects a vehicle travelling on the lane R11, the camera
130b accordingly detects three vehicles while detecting the vehicle travelling on the lane
R11.
At this time, the detection position in the width direction of the vehicle
travelling on the lane R11 is the first vehicle from the left among the 5 three vehicles when
viewed in the movement direction.
[0077]
The information regarding the check data reception time
(year/month/day/hour:minute:second) is information indicating a time at which the
10 vehicle number data processing device 110 finally receives check data from the vehicle
number data generation device 150 when the vehicle number data processing device 110
receives the vehicle number data from the vehicle number data generation device 150.
More specifically, the information regarding the check data reception time
(year/month/day/hour:minute:second) is information for comparison with the latest check
15 data reception time.
[0078]
The information regarding whether the integration is completed (Yes or No) is
information indicating whether the vehicle number data including each piece of
information associated with the information regarding the image ID is the integrated data.
20 More specifically, “Yes” information indicating that the integration is completed
indicates that the vehicle number data is data after the vehicle number data processing
device 110 performs the integration process. On the other hand, “No” information
indicating that the integration is not completed indicates that the vehicle number data is
data before the vehicle number data processing device 110 performs the integration
25 process.
35
[0079]
FIG. 7 illustrates an example of an operation sequence of the vehicle number
data processing device 110 and the vehicle number data generation device 150. In the
description of the operation sequence, processes of transmitting and receiving the check
data will be described in detail. The description of the operation flow 5 will be made with
reference to FIGs. 1 to 6.
[0080]
The vehicle number data generation device 150 transmits the check data to the
vehicle number data processing device 110 (S101). More specifically, for example, the
10 vehicle number data generation device 150 transmits the check data at intervals of a
predetermined time. Here, the check data includes information regarding an imaging
time of an image which is being subjected to the optical character recognition.
[0081]
When the check data reception unit 111 of the vehicle number data processing
15 device 110 receives the check data transmitted from the vehicle number data generation
device 150, the check data reception unit 111 transmits data indicating the reception time
to the vehicle number data reception unit 112 and the reception or non-reception
determination unit 113. Then, the check data reception unit 111 transmits, to the
imaging time determination unit 124, the data indicating the imaging time of the image
20 which is being subjected to the optical character recognition and is included in the check
data transmitted from the vehicle number data generation device 150.
[0082]
In this way, the vehicle number data reception unit 112 and the reception or
non-reception determination unit 113 of the vehicle number data processing device 110
25 can perform the process based on the reception time of the latest check data. Further,
36
the imaging time determination unit 124 of the vehicle number data processing device
110 can perform the process based on the imaging time of the image which is being
subjected to the optical character recognition by the vehicle number data processing
device 110.
5 [0083]
FIG. 8 illustrates an example of an operation sequence of the vehicle number
data processing device 110, the camera 130, and the vehicle number data generation
device 150. In the description of the operation sequence, processes of transmitting and
receiving the vehicle number data will be described in detail. The description of the
10 operation flow will be made with reference to FIGs. 1 to 7.
[0084]
The camera 130 captures a video in the imaging area using semiconductor
elements responding to light, such as charge-coupled devices (CCDs) or complementary
metal oxide semiconductors (CMOSs), (S201) and outputs the video as image data
15 (S202). More specifically, the camera 130 performs imaging at a speed of, for example,
about 20 (images/second).
[0085]
When the vehicle number data generation device 150 receives an input of the
image data output from the camera 130, the vehicle number data generation device 150
20 performs the optical character recognition on the image data and generates the vehicle
number data (S203). More specifically, when no vehicle is pictured in the image, the
vehicle number data generation device 150 destroys the image data. Conversely, when
a vehicle is pictured in the image, the vehicle number data generation device 150 stores
the image data. Here, as described above, the camera 130 performs the imaging at a
25 speed of about 20 (images/second). Thus, the camera 130 continuously outputs the
37
image data in which the predetermined vehicle is pictured. When the vehicle number
data generation device 150 continuously receives inputs of the image data in which the
vehicle is pictured, the vehicle number data generation device 150 deals with the series
of image data as image data in which the predetermined vehicle is pictured. Then, the
vehicle number data generation device 150 performs the optical character 5 recognition on
the image in which the vehicle number marked on the number plate of the vehicle is the
clearest within the series of image data. Then, the vehicle number data generation
device 150 generates the vehicle number data including information regarding the
vehicle number of the number plate of the vehicle obtained through the optical character
10 recognition. At this time, the vehicle number data generation device 150 includes the
information regarding the image ID, the optical character recognition estimation value,
the kind of number plate, the central position of the vehicle number detection region, the
central position of the vehicle detection region, the vehicle detection estimation value,
the vehicle speed (km/h), the imaging time (year/month/day/hour:minute:second), the
15 camera ID, the initial detection time (year/month/day/hour:minute:second), the final
detection time (year/month/day/hour:minute:second), the number of vehicles (vehicles),
and the detection position (vehicle sequence) in the vehicle number data. Then, the
vehicle number data generation device 150 transmits the vehicle number data generated
in this way to the vehicle number data processing device 110 (S204).
20 [0086]
When the vehicle number data reception unit 112 of the vehicle number data
processing device 110 receives the vehicle number data transmitted from the vehicle
number data generation device 150, the vehicle number data reception unit 112 stores the
information included in the vehicle number data and the information regarding the data
25 ID in the vehicle number data storage unit 126 in association therewith (S205). At this
38
time, the vehicle number data reception unit 112 further associates the information
regarding the reception time of the check data indicated by the latest data finally received
from the check data reception unit 111, as described in step S101 of FIG. 7, and stores
this information in the vehicle number data storage unit 126. The vehicle number data
reception unit 112 further associates the “No” information indicating that 5 the integration
is not completed and stores this information in the vehicle number data storage unit 126.
[0087]
Thus, the information illustrated in FIGs. 3 to 6 is stored in the vehicle number
data storage unit 126 of the vehicle number data processing device 110.
10 [0088]
FIGs. 9 to 12 illustrate an example of an operation flow of the vehicle number
data processing device 110. In the description of the operation flow, a process of
integrating the vehicle number data will be described in detail. The description of the
operation flow will be made with reference to FIGs. 1 to 8.
15 [0089]
First, after the vehicle number data reception unit 112 receives the vehicle
number data, the reception or non-reception determination unit 113 of the vehicle number
data processing device 110 determines whether the check data reception unit receives the
check data (S301). More specifically, the vehicle number data processing device 110
20 reads the information regarding a check data reception time
(year/month/day/hour:minute:second) of one of vehicle number data among the
information stored in the vehicle number data storage unit 126. Then, the reception or
non-reception determination unit 113 compares a time indicated by the information with
a reception time of the check data indicated by the latest data finally received from the
25 check data reception unit 111, as described in step S101 of FIG. 7. As a result, when the
39
reception time of the check data indicated by the latest data finally received from the
check data reception unit 111 is the same time as the time indicated by the information
read from the vehicle number data storage unit 126 (S301: No), the reception or
non-reception determination unit 113 waits until a subsequent process.
5 [0090]
Thus, when the latest reception time of the check data is the same time as the
check data reception time associated with the information of the foregoing one of vehicle
number data, the vehicle number data processing device 110 does not perform the
process of the integrating the one of vehicle number data.
10 [0091]
Conversely, when the reception time of the check data indicated by the latest
data finally received from the check data reception unit 111 is a time later than the time
indicated by the information of the foregoing one of vehicle number data read from the
vehicle number data storage unit 126 in step S301 (S301: Yes), the reception or
15 non-reception determination unit 113 transmits the data ID of the one of vehicle number
data to the integrated data determination unit 114.
[0092]
When the integrated data determination unit 114 of the vehicle number data
processing device 110 receives the data ID transmitted from the reception or
20 non-reception determination unit 113, the integrated data determination unit 114
determines whether the foregoing one of vehicle number data identified with the data ID
is the vehicle number data integrated by the vehicle number data integration unit 125
(S302). More specifically, the integrated data determination unit 114 reads the
information regarding whether the integration of the foregoing one of vehicle number
25 data identified with the data ID received from the check data reception unit 111 is
40
completed (Yes or No) among the information stored in the vehicle number data storage
unit 126. When the value indicated by the information is “Yes” (S302: Yes), the
integrated data determination unit 114 waits until a subsequent process.
[0093]
Thus, when the integration of the foregoing one of vehicle 5 number data is
completed, the vehicle number data processing device 110 does not perform the process
of integrating the one of vehicle number data.
[0094]
Conversely, when the value indicated by the information of the foregoing one of
10 vehicle number data read from the vehicle number data storage unit 126 is “No” in step
S302 (S302: No), the integrated data determination unit 114 transmits the data ID of the
one of vehicle number data to the vehicle number position determination unit 115.
[0095]
When the vehicle number position determination unit 115 of the vehicle number
15 data processing device 110 receives the data ID transmitted from the integrated data
determination unit 114, the vehicle number position determination unit 115 determines
whether the position of the vehicle number included in the foregoing one of vehicle
number data identified by the data ID in the image is within the imaging area of the
neighboring camera 130 (S303). More specifically, the vehicle number position
20 determination unit 115 reads the information regarding the central position of the vehicle
number detection region, the central position of the vehicle detection region, and the
camera ID of the foregoing one of vehicle number data identified with the data ID
received from the integrated data determination unit 114 among the information stored in
the vehicle number data storage unit 126. Then, the vehicle number position
25 determination unit 115 determines whether the position of the vehicle number in the
41
image is within the imaging area of the neighboring camera 130 with reference to
information regarding the camera ID and the information regarding the central position
of the vehicle number detection region. For example, the vehicle number position
determination unit 115 stores the setting of the coordinate region which is the imaging
area of the neighboring camera 130 on an orthogonal coordinate 5 system in which the
horizontal direction of an image is set as the X axis and the vertical direction of the
image is set as the Y axis on the assumption that the top left of the image is a base point.
This setting differs for each camera 130 that captures the image. The vehicle number
position determination unit 115 specifies the camera 130 capturing the image for which a
10 vehicle number is subjected to the optical character recognition with reference to the
information regarding the camera ID. Then, the vehicle number position determination
unit 115 determines whether the position of the vehicle number in the image is within the
imaging area of the neighboring camera 130 with reference to the foregoing setting
corresponding to the specified camera 130 and the coordinates of the information
15 regarding the central position of the vehicle number detection region. As a result, when
the vehicle number position determination unit 115 determines that the position of the
vehicle number in the image is not within the imaging area of the neighboring camera
130 (S303: No), the vehicle number position determination unit 115 transmits the data ID
of the foregoing one of vehicle number data to the vehicle number data integration unit
20 125.
[0096]
When the vehicle number data integration unit 125 of the vehicle number data
processing device 110 receives the data ID transmitted from the vehicle number position
determination unit 115, the vehicle number data integration unit 125 sets the foregoing
25 one of vehicle number data identified with the data ID as the integrated vehicle number
42
data (S307). More specifically, the vehicle number data integration unit 125 rewrites
the value of the information regarding whether the integration of the foregoing one of
vehicle number data identified with the data ID received from the vehicle number
position determination unit 115 is completed (Yes or No) from “No” to “Yes” among the
information stored in the vehicle number 5 data storage unit 126.
[0097]
Thus, when the position of the vehicle number detected from the image captured
by the camera 130 is out of the imaging area of the neighboring camera 130, the vehicle
number data processing device 110 sets the vehicle number data including the
10 information regarding the vehicle number as the integrated vehicle number data.
[0098]
Conversely, when the vehicle number position determination unit 115
determines in step S303 that the position of the vehicle number in the image is within the
imaging area of the neighboring camera 130 (S303: Yes), the vehicle number position
15 determination unit 115 transmits the data ID of the foregoing one of vehicle number data
to the optical character recognition determination unit 116.
[0099]
When the optical character recognition of the vehicle number data generation
device 150 fails, the information regarding the central position of the vehicle number
20 detection region is empty. In this case, the vehicle number position determination unit
115 determines whether the position of the vehicle number in the image is within the
imaging area of the neighboring camera 130 with reference to the information regarding
the camera ID and the information regarding the central position of the vehicle detection
region.
25 [0100]
43
When the optical character recognition determination unit 116 of the vehicle
number data processing device 110 receives the data ID transmitted from the vehicle
number position determination unit 115, the optical character recognition determination
unit 116 determines whether a portion unrecognizable through the optical character
recognition is contained in the vehicle number indicated by the 5 information included in
the foregoing one of vehicle number data identified with the data ID (S304). More
specifically, the optical character recognition determination unit 116 reads the
information regarding the vehicle number of the foregoing one of vehicle number data
identified with the data ID received from the vehicle number position determination unit
10 115 among the information stored in the vehicle number data storage unit 126. Then,
the optical character recognition determination unit 116 determines whether a portion
unrecognizable through the optical character recognition is contained in the vehicle
number indicated by the information. For example, when “?” is contained in a character
string of the vehicle number, the optical character recognition determination unit 116
15 determines that the portion unrecognizable through the optical character recognition is
contained in the vehicle number. As a result, when the optical character recognition
determination unit 116 determines that the portion unrecognizable through the optical
character recognition is not contained in the vehicle number (S304: No), the optical
character recognition determination unit 116 transmits the data ID of the foregoing one of
20 vehicle number data to the same-vehicle-number searching unit 117.
[0101]
When the same-vehicle-number searching unit 117 of the vehicle number data
processing device 110 receives the data ID transmitted from the optical character
recognition determination unit 116, the same-vehicle-number searching unit 117 searches
25 the vehicle number data including the same information as the information regarding the
44
vehicle number included in the foregoing one of vehicle number data identified with the
data ID (S305). More specifically, the same-vehicle-number searching unit 117 reads
the information regarding the camera ID and the information regarding the vehicle
number of the foregoing one of vehicle number data identified with the data ID received
from the optical character recognition determination unit 116 among 5 the information
stored in the vehicle number data storage unit 126. Then, the same-vehicle-number
searching unit 117 reads the vehicle number data including the information regarding the
camera ID of the camera 130 neighboring the camera 130 identified with the camera ID
from the information stored in the vehicle number data storage unit 126. Then, the
10 same-vehicle-number searching unit 117 searches the vehicle number data including the
same information as the information regarding the vehicle number included in the
foregoing one of vehicle number data among the read vehicle number data. As a result,
when there is the vehicle number data including the information regarding the same
vehicle number (S306: Yes), the same-vehicle-number searching unit 117 transmits the
15 data ID of the vehicle number data and the data ID of the foregoing one of vehicle
number data to the vehicle number data integration unit 125.
[0102]
When the vehicle number data integration unit 125 receives the two data IDs
transmitted from the same-vehicle-number searching unit 117, the vehicle number data
20 integration unit 125 integrates the two of vehicle number data identified with the data IDs
(S307). More specifically, the vehicle number data integration unit 125 reads
information regarding optical character recognition estimation values of the two of
vehicle number data identified with the data IDs received from the same-vehicle-number
searching unit 117 among the information stored in the vehicle number data storage unit
25 126. Then, the vehicle number data integration unit 125 compares the magnitudes of
45
the values of the information regarding the two optical character recognition estimation
values with each other. Then, the vehicle number data integration unit 125 deletes the
information regarding the smaller optical character recognition estimation value and all
of the other information associated with this information from the vehicle number data
storage unit 126. Then, the vehicle number data integration unit 5 125 rewrites the value
of the information regarding whether the integration is completed (Yes or No), which is
stored in the vehicle number data storage unit 126 in association with the information
regarding the larger optical character recognition estimation value, from “No” to “Yes.”
[0103]
10 Thus, when there are the two of vehicle number data obtained by performing the
optical character recognition on the images captured by the neighboring cameras 130, the
vehicle number data processing device 110 integrates the two of vehicle number data by
deleting the vehicle number data of which the degree of reliability of the optical character
recognition result is lower and reserving the vehicle number data of which the degree of
15 the reliability of the optical character recognition result is higher.
[0104]
Conversely, when the optical character recognition determination unit 116
determines in step S304 that the portion unrecognizable through the optical character
recognition is contained in the vehicle number (S304: Yes), the optical character
20 recognition determination unit 116 transmits the data ID of the foregoing one of vehicle
number data to the character complementing unit 118.
[0105]
When the character complementing unit 118 of the vehicle number data
processing device 110 receives the data ID transmitted from the optical character
25 recognition determination unit 116, the character complementing unit 118 complements a
46
character of the portion unrecognizable through the optical character recognition in the
character string of the vehicle number included in the vehicle number data identified with
the data (S308). More specifically, the character complementing unit 118 reads the
information regarding the vehicle number of the vehicle number data identified with the
data ID received from the optical character recognition determination 5 unit 116 among the
information stored in the vehicle number data storage unit 126. Then, the character
complementing unit 118 complements the character of the portion unrecognizable
through the optical character recognition in the character string of the vehicle number.
For example, the portion unrecognizable through the optical character recognition is
10 supposed to be “?” For example, the character complementing unit 118 complements
the portion unrecognized through the optical character recognition and supposed to be
“?” using a character which is the most plausible with reference to a database or the like
indicating a pattern of the character string of the vehicle number. Then, the character
complementing unit 118 rewrites the information regarding the vehicle number stored in
15 the vehicle number data storage unit 126 to the information regarding the vehicle number
complemented using the character of the portion unrecognizable through the optical
character recognition. Then, the character complementing unit 118 transmits the data
ID of the foregoing one of vehicle number data to the same-period-of-time searching unit
119.
20 [0106]
Conversely, when there is no vehicle number data including the information
regarding the same vehicle number in step S306 (S306: Yes), the same-vehicle-number
searching unit 117 transmits the data ID of the foregoing one of vehicle number data to
the same-period-of-time searching unit 119.
25 [0107]
47
When the same-period-of-time searching unit 119 of the vehicle number data
processing device 110 receives the data ID transmitted from the character complementing
unit 118 or the same-vehicle-number searching unit 117, the same-period-of-time
searching unit 119 searches the vehicle number data including the information regarding
the initial time or the information regarding the final time corresponding 5 to the period of
time from the initial time to the final time included in the foregoing one of vehicle
number data identified with the data ID (S309). More specifically, the
same-period-of-time searching unit 119 reads the information regarding the initial
detection time (year/month/day/hour:minute:second) and the final detection time
10 (year/month/day/hour:minute:second) of the vehicle number data identified by the data
ID received from the character complementing unit 118 or the same-vehicle-number
searching unit 117 among the information stored in the vehicle number data storage unit
126. Then, the same-period-of-time searching unit 119 calculates a period of time from
the time indicated by the information regarding the initial detection time
15 (year/month/day/hour:minute:second) to the time indicated by the information regarding
the final detection time (year/month/day/hour:minute:second). Then, the
same-period-of-time searching unit 119 searches the vehicle number data including
information regarding a time corresponding to the calculated period of time with
reference to the information regarding the initial detection times
20 (year/month/day/hour:minute:second) and the information regarding the final detection
times (year/month/day/hour:minute:second) of the plurality of vehicle number data
stored in the vehicle number data storage unit 126. As a result, when there is one of
vehicle number data or more including the information regarding a time corresponding to
the period of time (S310: Yes), the same-period-of-time searching unit 119 transmits the
25 data ID of each of vehicle number data and the data ID of the foregoing one of vehicle
48
number data to the same-vehicle-number searching unit 117.
[0108]
When the same-vehicle-number searching unit 117 receives the data IDs
transmitted from the same-period-of-time searching unit 119, the same-vehicle-number
searching unit 117 searches the vehicle number data including the 5 same information as
the information regarding the vehicle number included in the foregoing one of vehicle
number data identified with the data ID (S311). More specifically, the
same-vehicle-number searching unit 117 reads the information regarding the vehicle
number of the vehicle number data identified by each of data ID received from the
10 same-period-of-time searching unit 119 among the information stored in the vehicle
number data storage unit 126. Then, the same-vehicle-number searching unit 117
searches the vehicle number data including the same information as the information
regarding the vehicle number of the foregoing one of vehicle number data among the
vehicle number data searched by the same-period-of-time searching unit 119. As a
15 result, when there is the vehicle number data including the information regarding the
same vehicle number (S312: Yes), the same-vehicle-number searching unit 117 transmits
the data ID of the vehicle number data and the data ID of the foregoing one of vehicle
number data to the vehicle number data integration unit 125.
[0109]
20 When the vehicle number data integration unit 125 receives the two data IDs
transmitted from the same-vehicle-number searching unit 117, the vehicle number data
integration unit 125 integrates the two of vehicle number data identified by the data IDs
(S307). More specifically, the vehicle number data integration unit 125 reads the
information regarding the optical character recognition estimation values of the two of
25 vehicle number data identified by the data IDs received from the same-vehicle-number
49
searching unit 117 among the information stored in the vehicle number data storage unit
126. Then, the vehicle number data integration unit 125 compares the magnitudes of
the values of the information regarding the two optical character recognition estimation
values. Then, the vehicle number data integration unit 125 deletes the information
regarding the smaller optical character recognition estimation value 5 and all of the other
information associated with this information from the vehicle number data storage unit
126. Then, the vehicle number data integration unit 125 rewrites the value of the
information regarding whether the integration is completed (Yes or No), which is stored
in the vehicle number data storage unit 126 in association with the information of the
10 larger optical character recognition estimation value, from “No” to “Yes.”
[0110]
Thus, when the portion unrecognizable through the optical character recognition
is contained in the character string of the vehicle number, the vehicle number data
processing device 110 complements the character and then integrates the two of vehicle
15 number data including the information regarding the vehicle present during the same
period of time in the imaging regions of the neighboring cameras 130.
[0111]
Conversely, when there is no vehicle number data including the information
regarding the same vehicle number in step S312 (S312: No), the same-vehicle-number
20 searching unit 117 transmits the data ID of each of vehicle number data searched by the
same-period-of-time searching unit 119 and the data ID of the foregoing one of vehicle
number data to the same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit 120.
[0112]
When the same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit 120 of the vehicle number
25 data processing device 110 receives the data IDs transmitted from the
50
same-vehicle-number searching unit 117, the same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit
120 searches the vehicle number data including the same information as the information
regarding the kind of number plate included in the foregoing one of vehicle number data
identified with the data ID (S313). More specifically, the same-kind-of-number-plate
searching unit 120 reads the information regarding the kind of 5 number plate of the
vehicle number data identified with each data ID received from the same-vehicle-number
searching unit 117 among the information stored in the vehicle number data storage unit
126. Then, the same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit 120 searches the vehicle
number data including the same information as the information regarding the kind of
10 number plate of the foregoing one of vehicle number data among the vehicle number data
searched by the same-period-of-time searching unit 119. As a result, when there is only
one of vehicle number data including the information regarding the same kind of number
plate (S314: Yes  S315: Yes), the same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit 120
transmits the data ID of the vehicle number data and the data ID of the foregoing one of
15 vehicle number data to the vehicle number data integration unit 125.
[0113]
When the vehicle number data integration unit 125 receives the two data IDs
transmitted from the same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit 120, the vehicle number
data integration unit 125 integrates the two of vehicle number data identified by the data
20 IDs (S307). More specifically, the vehicle number data integration unit 125 reads the
information regarding the vehicle number of the two of vehicle number data identified by
the data IDs received from the same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit 120 among the
information stored in the vehicle number data storage unit 126. At this time, when the
information regarding the vehicle number is included only in one of the vehicle number
25 data, the vehicle number data integration unit 125 deletes each piece of information of
51
the vehicle number data not including the information regarding the vehicle number from
the vehicle number data storage unit 126. Then, the vehicle number data integration
unit 125 rewrites the value of the information regarding whether the integration of the
vehicle number data including the information regarding the vehicle number is
completed (Yes or No) from “No” to “Yes.” Conversely, when 5 the information
regarding the vehicle number is not included in any of the two of vehicle number data,
the vehicle number data integration unit 125 reads the information regarding the vehicle
detection estimation values of the two of vehicle number data among the information
stored in the vehicle number data storage unit 126. Then, the vehicle number data
10 integration unit 125 compares the magnitudes of the values of the information regarding
the two vehicle detection estimation values to each other. Then, the vehicle number
data integration unit 125 deletes the information regarding the smaller vehicle detection
estimation value and all of the other information associated with this information from
the vehicle number data storage unit 126. Then, the vehicle number data integration
15 unit 125 rewrites the value of the information regarding whether the integration is
completed (Yes or No), which is stored in the vehicle number data storage unit 126 in
association with the information regarding the larger vehicle detection estimation value,
from “No” to “Yes.”
[0114]
20 Thus, when there is no vehicle number data including the information regarding
the same vehicle number, the vehicle number data processing device 110 integrates the
two of vehicle number data including the information regarding the same kind of number
plate.
[0115]
25 Conversely, when there are the plurality of vehicle number data including the
52
information regarding the same kind of number plate in steps S314 and S315 (S314: Yes
 S315: No), the same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit 120 transmits the data IDs
of the plurality of vehicle number data and the data ID of the foregoing one of vehicle
number data to the vehicle speed estimation unit 121, the period-of-time estimation unit
122, and the detection position 5 estimation unit 123.
[0116]
When the vehicle speed estimation unit 121 of the vehicle number data
processing device 110 receives the data ID transmitted from the
same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit 120, the vehicle speed estimation unit 121
10 estimates the degree of accordance between a vehicle speed indicated by the information
included in the foregoing one of vehicle number data and a vehicle speed indicated by
the information included in each of the plurality of vehicle number data searched by the
same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit 120 (S316). More specifically, the vehicle
speed estimation unit 121 reads the information regarding a vehicle speed (km/h) of the
15 vehicle number data identified by each data ID received from the
same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit 120 among the information stored in the
vehicle number data storage unit 126. Then, the vehicle speed estimation unit 121
estimates the degree of accordance between the value of the information regarding the
vehicle speed (km/h) of the foregoing one of vehicle number data and the value of the
20 information regarding the vehicle speed (km/h) of each of the plurality of vehicle number
data searched by the same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit 120. For example, the
vehicle speed estimation unit 121 estimates, as the degree of accordance between the
vehicle speeds, an overlapping amount of two normal distributions when the normal
distributions for measurement values of the vehicle speeds are assumed using the values
25 of the information regarding the vehicle speeds (km/h) as median values. Then, the
53
vehicle speed estimation unit 121 transmits the data ID of the foregoing one of vehicle
number data, the data IDs of the plurality of vehicle number data searched by the
same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit 120, and the estimation result of the degree of
accordance between the vehicle speeds to the vehicle number data integration unit 125.
5 [0117]
When the period-of-time estimation unit 122 of the vehicle number data
processing device 110 receives the data IDs transmitted from the
same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit 120, the period-of-time estimation unit 122
estimates the degree of accordance between the period of time from the initial detection
10 time to the final detection time of the vehicle indicated by the information included in the
foregoing one of vehicle number data and the period of time from the initial detection
time to the final detection time of the vehicle indicated by the information included in
each of the plurality of vehicle number data searched by the same-kind-of-number-plate
searching unit 120 (S317). More specifically, the period-of-time estimation unit 122
15 reads each piece of information regarding the initial detection time
(year/month/day/hour:minute:second) and the final detection time
(year/month/day/hour:minute:second) of the vehicle number data identified by each data
ID received from the same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit 120 among the
information stored in the vehicle number data storage unit 126. Then, the
20 period-of-time estimation unit 122 estimates the degree of accordance between the period
of time from the time of the information regarding the initial detection time
(year/month/day/hour:minute:second) to the time of the information regarding the final
detection time (year/month/day/hour:minute:second) of the foregoing one of vehicle
number data and the period of time from the time of the information regarding the initial
25 detection time (year/month/day/hour:minute:second) to the time of the information
54
regarding the final detection time (year/month/day/hour:minute:second) of each of the
plurality of vehicle number data searched by the same-kind-of-number-plate searching
unit 120.
Then, the period-of-time estimation unit 122 transmits the data ID of the
foregoing one of vehicle number data, the data IDs of the plurality 5 of vehicle number
data searched by the same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit 120, and the estimation
result of the degree of accordance between the periods of time to the vehicle number data
integration unit 125.
[0118]
10 When the detection position estimation unit 123 of the vehicle number data
processing device 110 receives the data IDs transmitted from the
same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit 120, the detection position estimation unit 123
estimates the degree of accordance between the detection position of the vehicle
indicated by the information included in the foregoing one of vehicle number data and
15 the detection position of the vehicle indicated by the information included in each of the
plurality of vehicle number data searched by the same-kind-of-number-plate searching
unit 120 (S318). More specifically, the detection position estimation unit 123 reads the
information regarding the camera ID, the number of vehicles (vehicles), and the detection
position (vehicle sequence) identified by each data ID received from the
20 same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit 120 among the information stored in the
vehicle number data storage unit 126. Then, referring to the information, the detection
position estimation unit 123 estimates the degree of accordance between the detection
position of the vehicle indicated by the information included in the foregoing one of
vehicle number data and the detection position of the vehicle indicated by the
25 information included in each of the plurality of vehicle number data searched by the
55
same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit 120. For example, a vehicle indicated by the
information included in one of vehicle number data is assumed to be imaged by the
camera 130a. Further, the camera 130a is assumed to detect a sum of two vehicles
including this vehicle during a period of time at which this vehicle is detected.
Furthermore, the camera 130a is assumed to detect this vehicle at the 5 position of the
second vehicle from the left side between the two vehicles when viewed in the movement
direction. In this case, the detection position estimation unit 123 estimates that the
detection position of the vehicle detected at the position of the first vehicle from the left
side by the camera 130b has the highest degree of accordance with the detection position
10 of the vehicle indicated by the information included in the one of vehicle number data.
Then, the detection position estimation unit 123 transmits the data ID of the foregoing
one of vehicle number data, the data IDs of the plurality of vehicle number data searched
by the same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit 120, and the estimation result of the
degree of accordance between the detection positions to the vehicle number data
15 integration unit 125.
[0119]
When the vehicle number data integration unit 125 receives the data IDs and the
estimation results transmitted from the vehicle speed estimation unit 121, the
period-of-time estimation unit 122, and the detection position estimation unit 123, the
20 vehicle number data integration unit 125 integrates the foregoing one of vehicle number
data and the vehicle number data with the highest estimation result obtained by the
vehicle speed estimation unit 121, the period-of-time estimation unit 122, and the
detection position estimation unit 123 (S307). More specifically, the vehicle number
data integration unit 125 specifies the vehicle number data with the comprehensively
25 highest estimation result transmitted from the period-of-time estimation unit 122 and the
56
detection position estimation unit 123. Then, the vehicle number data integration unit
125 integrates this vehicle number data and the foregoing one of vehicle number data.
At this time, when the information regarding the vehicle number is included only in one
of the vehicle number data, the vehicle number data integration unit 125 deletes each
piece of information of the vehicle number data not including the 5 information regarding
the vehicle number from the vehicle number data storage unit 126. Then, the vehicle
number data integration unit 125 rewrites the value of the information regarding whether
the integration of the vehicle number data including the information regarding the vehicle
number is completed (Yes or No) from “No” to “Yes.” Conversely, when the
10 information regarding the vehicle number is not included in any of the two of vehicle
number data, the vehicle number data integration unit 125 reads the information
regarding the vehicle detection estimation values of the two of vehicle number data
among the information stored in the vehicle number data storage unit 126. Then, the
vehicle number data integration unit 125 compares the magnitudes of the values of the
15 information regarding the two vehicle detection estimation values to each other. Then,
the vehicle number data integration unit 125 deletes the information regarding the
smaller vehicle detection estimation value and all of the other information associated
with this information from the vehicle number data storage unit 126. Then, the vehicle
number data integration unit 125 rewrites the value of the information regarding whether
20 the integration is completed (Yes or No), which is stored in the vehicle number data
storage unit 126 in association with the information regarding the larger vehicle detection
estimation value, from “No” to “Yes.”
[0120]
Thus, when there is no vehicle number data including the information regarding
25 the same vehicle number, the vehicle number data processing device 110 estimates the
57
speed of a vehicle which is a target of the information included in the foregoing one of
vehicle number data, the period of time at which the vehicle is detected, and the position
at which the vehicle is detected and integrates the foregoing one of vehicle number data
and the vehicle number data which is the most plausible among the plurality of vehicle
number data including the information regarding the same 5 kind of number plate.
[0121]
Conversely, when there is no vehicle number data in step S310 (S310: No), the
same-period-of-time searching unit 119 transmits the data ID of the foregoing one of
vehicle number data to the imaging time determination unit 124. Likewise, when there
10 is no vehicle number data in step S314 (S314: No), the same-kind-of-number-plate
searching unit 120 transmits the data ID of the foregoing one of vehicle number data to
the imaging time determination unit 124.
[0122]
When the imaging time determination unit 124 of the vehicle number data
15 processing device 110 receives the data ID transmitted from the same-period-of-time
searching unit 119 or the same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit 120, the imaging
time determination unit 124 determines whether an imaging time of an image which is
being subjected to the optical character recognition by each vehicle number data
generation device 150 is a time earlier than the time indicated by the information
20 regarding the final detection time of the vehicle included in the vehicle number data
identified with this data ID (S319). More specifically, the imaging time determination
unit 124 reads the information regarding the final detection time
(year/month/day/hour:minute:second) of the vehicle number data identified with the data
ID received from the same-period-of-time searching unit 119 or the
25 same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit 120 among the information stored in the
58
vehicle number data storage unit 126. Then, the imaging time determination unit 124
compares the final detection time of the vehicle indicated by this information with the
imaging time of the image which is indicated by the data finally received from the check
data reception unit 111 and is being subjected to the optical character recognition. As a
result, when the imaging time of the image which is being subjected 5 to the optical
character recognition is the time earlier than the final detection time of the vehicle (S319:
Yes), the imaging time determination unit 124 waits until a subsequent process.
[0123]
Thus, when there is no vehicle number data including the information which can
10 be integrated with the foregoing one of vehicle number data and there is the image which
is captured at the time earlier than the final detection time of the vehicle indicated by the
information included in the one of vehicle number data and is being subjected to the
optical character recognition, the vehicle number data processing device 110 does not
perform the process of integrating the foregoing one of vehicle number data.
15 [0124]
Conversely, when the imaging time of the image which is being subjected to the
optical character recognition is a time later than the final detection time of the vehicle in
step S319 (S310: No), the imaging time determination unit 124 transmits the data ID of
the foregoing one of vehicle number data to the vehicle number data integration unit 125.
20 [0125]
When the vehicle number data integration unit 125 receives the data ID
transmitted from the imaging time determination unit 124, the vehicle number data
integration unit 125 sets the vehicle number data identified by this data ID as the
integrated vehicle number data (S307). More specifically, the vehicle number data
25 integration unit 125 rewrites the value of the information regarding whether the
59
integration is completed (Yes or No), which is stored in association with the data
received from the imaging time determination unit 124 among the information stored in
the vehicle number data storage unit 126, from “No” to “Yes.”
[0126]
Thus, when there is no vehicle number data including the information 5 which can
be integrated with the foregoing one of vehicle number data and there is no image which
is captured at a time earlier than the final detection time of the vehicle indicated by the
information included in the one of vehicle number data and is being subjected to the
optical character recognition, the vehicle number data processing device 110 sets the one
10 of vehicle number data as the integrated vehicle number data.
[0127]
As described above, the plurality of cameras 130 are installed to be lined up in
the width direction above the road R10 so that the neighboring imaging areas overlap and
continuously image the road while facing obliquely downward. Then, the vehicle
15 number data processing device 110 integrates the vehicle number data including the
information regarding the predetermined vehicle by reserving one of vehicle number data
along with deleting the other of vehicle number data between the vehicle number data
including the information regarding the vehicle number obtained by performing the
optical character recognition on an image captured by one camera 130 and the vehicle
20 number data including the information regarding the vehicle number obtained by
performing the optical character recognition on the image captured by the camera 130
neighboring the one camera 130. Thus, in the vehicle number data processing system
100, of the plurality of data indicating the vehicle numbers of the number plates obtained
by performing the optical character recognition on the images captured by the cameras
25 130, the data indicating the vehicle number of the predetermined vehicle can be
60
processed as one of data.
[0128]
As described above, the vehicle number data processing device 110 searches the
vehicle number data including the same information as information regarding the vehicle
number included in the vehicle number data obtained by performing the 5 optical character
recognition on an image captured by one camera 130, among the vehicle number data
obtained by performing the optical character recognition on images captured by the
camera 130 neighboring the one camera 130. Then, the vehicle number data processing
device 110 integrates the vehicle number data obtained by performing the optical
10 character recognition on an image captured by one camera 130 and the searched vehicle
number data including the information regarding the same vehicle number. Thus, in the
vehicle number data processing system 100, when there is the vehicle number data
including the information regarding the same vehicle number, this vehicle number data
can be integrated.
15 [0129]
As described above, the vehicle number data processing device 110 determines
whether the portion unrecognizable through the optical character recognition is contained
in the vehicle number obtained by performing the optical character recognition on an
image captured by one camera 130. Then, when the portion unrecognizable through the
20 optical character recognition is not contained in the vehicle number, the vehicle number
data processing device 110 searches the vehicle number data including the same
information as the information regarding the vehicle number. Thus, in the vehicle
number data processing system 100, the vehicle number data including the information
regarding the same vehicle number can be searched using the information regarding the
25 vehicle number in which the portion unrecognizable through the optical character
61
recognition is not contained.
[0130]
As described above, the vehicle number data processing device 110 determines
whether the position of the vehicle number obtained by performing the optical character
recognition on an image captured by one camera 130 in the image 5 is within the imaging
area of the camera 130 neighboring the one camera 130. Then, when the position of the
vehicle number in the image is within the imaging area of the camera 130 neighboring
the one camera 130, the vehicle number data processing device 110 determines whether a
portion unrecognizable through the optical character recognition is contained in the
10 vehicle number. Thus, in the vehicle number data processing system 100, when the
vehicle is imaged in the imaging region overlapping the imaging region of the
neighboring camera 130, the vehicle number data obtained by performing the optical
character recognition on the image can be processed as the data to be integrated with the
other vehicle number data.
15 [0131]
As described above, the vehicle number data processing device 110 determines
whether the vehicle number data is the integrated vehicle number data. Then, when the
vehicle number data is not the integrated vehicle number data, the vehicle number data
processing device 110 determines whether the position of the vehicle number included in
20 the vehicle number data in the image is within the imaging area of the neighboring
imaging device. Thus, in the vehicle number data processing system 100, only the
vehicle number data which is not integrated can be processed as the data to be integrated.
[0132]
As described above, the vehicle number data generation devices 150 are
25 installed in the one-to-one correspondence with the cameras 130, perform the optical
62
character recognition on the images captured by the corresponding cameras 130, and
generate the vehicle number data. Then, the vehicle number data processing device 110
receives the check data from the vehicle number data generation devices 150. The
vehicle number data processing device 110 also receives the vehicle number data from
the vehicle number data generation devices 150. Then, the 5 vehicle number data
processing device 110 receives the vehicle number data, and then determines whether to
receive the check data. Then, when the vehicle number data processing device 110
receives the vehicle number data and then receives the check data, the vehicle number
data processing device 110 determines whether the vehicle number data is the integrated
10 vehicle number data. Thus, in the vehicle number data processing system 100, for
example, when reception times of two of vehicle number data regarding the
predetermined vehicle deviate from each other due to deviation between times taken to
perform the optical character recognition or an influence of communication delay or the
like and only one of vehicle number data is received, the vehicle number data can be set
15 to be a target of the integration process as little as possible.
[0133]
As described above, when the vehicle number data generation device 150
performs the optical character recognition on the image captured by the corresponding
camera 130 and generates the vehicle number data including the information regarding
20 the vehicle number of the number plate of the vehicle, the vehicle number data
generation device 150 generates the vehicle number data further including the
information regarding the initial time and the information regarding the final time at
which the vehicle is detected by the corresponding camera 130. When a portion
unrecognizable through the optical character recognition is contained in the vehicle
25 number, the vehicle number data processing device 110 complements a character of the
63
vehicle number of the portion unrecognizable through the optical character recognition.
When the portion unrecognizable through the optical character recognition is contained
in the vehicle number or the vehicle number data including the information regarding the
same vehicle number may not be searched, the vehicle number data processing device
110 searches the vehicle number data including the information regarding 5 the initial time
or the information regarding the final time corresponding to the period of time from the
initial time to the final time included in the vehicle number data obtained by performing
the optical character recognition on an image captured by one camera 130, among the
vehicle number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on images
10 captured by the camera 130 neighboring the one camera 130. Then, the vehicle number
data processing device 110 searches the vehicle number data including the same
information as the information regarding the vehicle number of which the character is
complemented, among the searched vehicle number data including the information
regarding the initial time or the information regarding the final time corresponding to the
15 foregoing period of time. Thus, in the vehicle number data processing system 100, even
when there is the vehicle number containing the portion unrecognizable through the
optical character recognition, the character of the portion unrecognizable through the
optical character recognition can be complemented and the process of integrating the
vehicle number data can be performed.
20 [0134]
As described above, when the vehicle number data generation device 150
performs the optical character recognition on the image captured by the corresponding
camera 130 and generates the vehicle number data including the information regarding
the vehicle number of the number plate of a vehicle, the vehicle number data generation
25 device 150 generates the vehicle number data further including the information regarding
64
the kind of number plate of the vehicle. Then, when the vehicle number data processing
device 110 may not search the vehicle number data including the information regarding
the same vehicle number among the searched vehicle number data, the vehicle number
data processing device 110 searches the vehicle number data including the same
information as the information regarding the kind of number plate included 5 in the vehicle
number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on an image
captured by one camera 130, among the vehicle number data obtained by performing the
optical character recognition on images captured by the camera 130 neighboring the one
camera 130. Then, when the vehicle number data generation device 150 searches one
10 of vehicle number data, the vehicle number data generation device 150 integrates the
vehicle number data and the vehicle number data obtained by performing the optical
character recognition on an image captured by one camera 130. Thus, in the vehicle
number data processing system 100, even when the vehicle number data to which the
information regarding the vehicle number corresponds may not be searched, two of
15 vehicle number data including the information regarding the same kind of number plate
can be integrated.
[0135]
As described above, when the vehicle number data generation device 150
searches the plurality of vehicle number data including the information regarding the
20 same kind of number plate, the vehicle number data generation device 150 estimates the
degree of accordance between the vehicle speed indicated by the information included in
the vehicle number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on an
image captured by one camera 130 and the vehicle speed indicated by the information
included in the vehicle number data obtained by performing the optical character
25 recognition on an image captured by the camera 130 neighboring the one camera 130.
65
Then, the vehicle number data generation device 150 integrates the vehicle number data
including the information regarding the vehicle speeds of which the estimated degree of
accordance is high. Thus, in the vehicle number data processing system 100, even
when the vehicle number data to which the information regarding the vehicle number or
the information regarding the kind of number plate corresponds may not 5 be searched, the
vehicle number data of which the degree of accordance between the information
regarding the vehicle speeds of the vehicle captured by the cameras 130 is high can be
integrated.
[0136]
10 As described above, when the vehicle number data processing device 110
searches the plurality of vehicle number data including the information regarding the
same kind of number plate, the vehicle number data processing device 110 estimates the
degree of accordance between the period of time from the initial detection time to the
final detection time of the vehicle indicated by the information included in the vehicle
15 number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on an image
captured by one camera 130 and the period of time from the initial detection time to the
final detection time of the vehicle indicated by the information included in the vehicle
number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on an image
captured by the camera 130 neighboring the one camera 130. Then, the vehicle number
20 data processing device 110 integrates the vehicle number data including the information
regarding the times of which the estimated degree of accordance is high. Thus, in the
vehicle number data processing system 100, even when the vehicle number data to which
the information regarding the vehicle number or the information regarding the kind of
number plate corresponds may not be searched, the vehicle number data of which the
25 degree of accordance between the periods of time from the time indicated by the
66
information regarding the initial detection time of the vehicle imaged by the camera 130
to the time indicated by the information regarding the final detection time of the vehicle
is high can be integrated.
[0137]
As described above, when the vehicle number data 5 generation device 150
performs the optical character recognition on the image captured by the corresponding
camera 130 and generates the vehicle number data including the information regarding
the vehicle number of the number plate of the vehicle, the vehicle number data
generation device 150 generates the vehicle number data further including the
10 information regarding the detection position of the vehicle with respect to the detection
positions of all of the vehicles detected during the period of time in which the vehicle is
detected by the corresponding camera 130. Then, when the vehicle number data
processing device 110 searches the plurality of vehicle number data including the
information regarding the same kind of number plate, the vehicle number data processing
15 device 110 estimates the degree of accordance between the detection position of the
vehicle indicated by the information included in the vehicle number data obtained by
performing the optical character recognition on an image captured by one camera 130
and the detection position of the vehicle indicated by the information included in the
vehicle number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on an
20 image captured by the camera 130 neighboring the one camera 130. Then, the vehicle
number data processing device 110 integrates the vehicle number data including the
information regarding the detection positions of which the estimated degree of
accordance is high. Thus, in the vehicle number data processing system 100, even
when the vehicle number data to which the information regarding the kind of number
25 plate corresponds may not be searched, the vehicle number data of which the degree of
67
accordance between the information regarding the detection positions of the vehicle
captured by the cameras 130 is high can be integrated.
[0138]
As described above, when the vehicle number data processing device 110 may
not search the vehicle number data including the information regarding 5 the detection time
of the vehicle during the same period of time or the vehicle number data including the
information regarding the same kind of number plate, the vehicle number data processing
device 110 determines whether the imaging time of the image which is being subjected to
the optical character recognition by the vehicle number data generation device 150 is a
10 time earlier than the final time at which the vehicle is detected and which is included in
the vehicle number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on an
image captured by one camera 130. Then, when the imaging time is not the time earlier
than the final time, the vehicle number data processing device 110 sets the vehicle
number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on an image
15 captured by one camera 130 as the integrated vehicle number data. Thus, in the vehicle
number data processing system 100, when the image captured earlier than the final
detection time of the vehicle indicated by the information included in one of vehicle
number data is being subjected to the optical character recognition, the vehicle number
data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on the image can be set as
20 the data which is plausible to be integrated with the foregoing one of vehicle number data
and the process of integrating the foregoing one of vehicle number data can be
postponed.
[0139]
FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a hardware configuration of a computer 800
25 configured as the vehicle number data processing device 110 according to the
68
embodiment. The computer 800 according to the embodiment includes a central
processing unit (CPU) peripheral unit including a CPU 802, a random access memory
(RAM) 803, a graphic controller 804, and a display 805 mutually connected by a host
controller 801, an input/output unit including a communication interface 807, a hard disk
drive 808, and a compact disk read-only memory (CD-5 ROM) drive 809 mutually
connected by an input/output controller 806, and a legacy input/output unit including a
read-only memory (ROM) 810, a flexible disk drive 811, and an input/output chip 812
connected to the input/output controller 806.
[0140]
10 The host controller 801 connects the RAM 803 to the CPU 802 and the graphic
controller 804 accessing the RAM 803 at a high transmission rate. The CPU 802
operates based on programs stored in the ROM 810 and the RAM 803 to control each
unit. The graphic controller 804 acquires image data generated on a frame buffer
provided in the RAM 803 by the CPU 802 or the like and displays the image data on the
15 display 805. Instead, the graphic controller 804 may include a frame buffer storing
image data generated by the CPU 802 or the like therein.
[0141]
The input/output controller 806 connects the host controller 801 to the
communication interface 807, the hard disk drive 808, and the CD-ROM drive 809,
20 which are input/output devices operating at a relatively high speed. The hard disk drive
808 stores programs and data used by the CPU 802 in the computer 800. The CD-ROM
drive 809 reads a program or data from the CD-ROM 892 and supplies the program or
the data to the hard disk drive 808 via the RAM 803.
[0142]
25 The ROM 810, and the flexible disk drive 811 and the input/output chip 812,
69
which are input/output devices operating at a relatively low speed, are connected to the
input/output controller 806. The ROM 810 stores a boot program executed when the
computer 800 is activated and/or stores a program or the like dependent on hardware of
the computer 800. The flexible disk drive 811 reads a program or data from a flexible
disk 893 and supplies the program or the data to the hard disk 5 drive 808 via the RAM
803. The input/output chip 812 connects the flexible disk drive 811 to the input/output
controller 806 and connects various input/output devices to the input/output controller
806 via, for example, a parallel port, a serial port, a keyboard port, and a mouse port.
[0143]
10 A program supplied to the hard disk drive 808 via the RAM 803 is stored in a
recording medium such as the flexible disk 893, the CD-ROM 892, or an integrated
circuit (IC) card to be supplied to a user. The program is read from the recording
medium, is installed on the hard disk drive 808 in the computer 800 via the RAM 803,
and is executed by the CPU 802.
15 [0144]
A program installed on the computer 800 and causing the computer 800 to
function as the vehicle number data processing device 110 causes the computer 800 to
function as the vehicle number data integration unit 125 that integrates the vehicle
number data including the information regarding the predetermined vehicle by reserving
20 one of vehicle number data along with deleting the other of the vehicle number data
between the vehicle number data including the information regarding the vehicle number
obtained by performing the optical character recognition on an image captured by one
camera 130 and the vehicle number data including the information regarding the vehicle
number obtained by performing the optical character recognition on an image captured
25 by the camera 130 neighboring the one camera 130 in step S307.
70
[0145]
The program may cause the computer 800 to function as the
same-vehicle-number searching unit 117 that searches the vehicle number data including
the same information as the information regarding the vehicle number included in the
vehicle number data obtained by performing the optical character 5 recognition on an
image captured by one camera 130 among the vehicle number data obtained by
performing the optical character recognition on images captured by the camera 130
neighboring the one camera 130 in step S306 and to function as the vehicle number data
integration unit 125 that integrates the vehicle number data obtained by performing the
10 optical character recognition on an image captured by one camera 130 and the vehicle
number data searched by the same-vehicle-number searching unit 117 in step S307.
[0146]
The program may cause the computer 800 to function as the optical character
recognition determination unit 116 that determines in step S304 whether a portion
15 unrecognizable through the optical character recognition is contained in the vehicle
number obtained by performing the optical character recognition on an image captured
by one camera 130 and to function as the same-vehicle-number searching unit 117 that
searches the vehicle number data including the same information as the information
regarding the vehicle number in step S305 when the optical character recognition
20 determination unit 116 determines that the portion unrecognizable through the optical
character recognition is not contained in the vehicle number.
[0147]
The program may cause the computer 800 to function as the vehicle number
position determination unit 115 that determines in step S303 whether the position of the
25 vehicle number obtained by performing the optical character recognition on an image
71
captured by one camera 130 in the image is within the imaging area of the camera 130
neighboring the one camera 130 and to function as the optical character recognition
determination unit 116 that determines in step S304 whether a portion unrecognizable
through the optical character recognition is contained in the vehicle number when the
vehicle number position determination unit 115 determines that 5 the position of the
vehicle number is within the imaging area of the camera 130 neighboring the one camera
130.
[0148]
The program may cause the computer 800 to function as the integrated data
10 determination unit 114 that determines in step S302 whether the vehicle number data is
the vehicle number data integrated by the vehicle number data integration unit 125 and to
function as the vehicle number position determination unit 115 that determines in step
S303 whether the position of the vehicle number included in the vehicle number data in
the image is within the imaging area of the neighboring camera 130 when the integrated
15 data determination unit 114 determines that the vehicle number data is not the integrated
vehicle number data.
[0149]
The program may cause the computer 800 to function as the check data
reception unit 111 that receives the check data from the vehicle number data generation
20 device 150 in step S101, to function as the vehicle number data reception unit 112 that
receives the vehicle number data from the vehicle number data generation device 150 in
step S204, to function as the reception or non-reception determination unit 113 that
determines in step S301 whether the check data reception unit 111 receives the check
data after the vehicle number data reception unit 112 receives the vehicle number data,
25 and to function as the integrated data determination unit 114 that determines in step S302
72
whether the vehicle number data is the integrated vehicle number data when the reception
or non-reception determination unit 113 determines that the check data reception unit 111
receives the check data after the vehicle number data reception unit 112 receives the
vehicle number data.
5 [0150]
The program may cause the computer 800 to function as the character
complementing unit 118 that complements the character of the vehicle number of the
portion unrecognizable through the optical character recognition in step S308 when the
optical character recognition determination unit 116 determines that the portion
10 unrecognizable through the optical character recognition is contained in the vehicle
number, to function as the same-period-of-time searching unit 119 that searches the
vehicle number data including the information regarding the initial time or the
information regarding the final time corresponding to the period of time from the initial
time to the final time included in the vehicle number data obtained by performing the
15 optical character recognition on an image captured by one camera 130, among the
vehicle number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on images
captured by the camera 130 neighboring the one camera 130 in step S309 when the
optical character recognition determination unit 116 determines that the portion
unrecognizable through the optical character recognition is contained in the vehicle
20 number or the same-vehicle-number searching unit 117 may not search the vehicle
number data including the information regarding the same vehicle number, and to
function as the same-vehicle-number searching unit 117 that searches the vehicle number
data including the same information as the information regarding the vehicle number in
which the character is complemented by the character complementing unit 118 among
25 the vehicle number data searched by the same-period-of-time searching unit 119 in step
73
S311.
[0151]
The program may cause the computer 800 to function as the
same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit 120 that searches the vehicle number data
including the same information as the information regarding the 5 kind of number plate
included in the vehicle number data obtained by performing the optical character
recognition on an image captured by one camera 130 among the vehicle number data
obtained by performing the optical character recognition on images captured by the
camera 130 neighboring the one camera 130 in step S313 when the same-vehicle-number
10 searching unit 117 may not search the vehicle number data including the information
regarding the same vehicle number among the vehicle number data searched by the
same-period-of-time searching unit 119 and to function as the vehicle number data
integration unit 125 that integrates one of vehicle number data and the vehicle number
data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on an image captured by
15 one camera 130 in step S307 when the same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit 120
searches the one of vehicle number data.
[0152]
The program may cause the computer 800 to function as the vehicle speed
estimation unit 121 that estimates the degree of accordance between the vehicle speed
20 indicated by the information included in the vehicle number data obtained by performing
the optical character recognition on an image captured by one camera 130 and the vehicle
speed indicated by the information included in the vehicle number data obtained by
performing the optical character recognition on an image captured by the camera 130
neighboring the one camera 130 in step S316 when the same-kind-of-number-plate
25 searching unit 120 searches the plurality of vehicle number data and to function as the
74
vehicle number data integration unit 125 that integrates the vehicle number data
including the information regarding the vehicle speeds of which the degree of accordance
estimated by the vehicle speed estimation unit 121 is high in step S307.
[0153]
The program may cause the computer 800 to function as 5 the period-of-time
estimation unit 122 that estimates the degree of accordance between the period of time
from the initial time to the final time indicated by the information included in the vehicle
number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on an image
captured by one camera 130 and the period of time from the initial time to the final time
10 indicated by the information included in the vehicle number data obtained by performing
the optical character recognition on an image captured by the camera 130 neighboring the
one camera 130 in step S317 when the same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit 120
searches the plurality of vehicle number data and to function as the vehicle number data
integration unit 125 that integrates the vehicle number data including the information
15 regarding the time of which the degree of accordance estimated by the period-of-time
estimation unit 122 is high in step S307.
[0154]
The program may cause the computer 800 to function as the detection position
estimation unit 123 that estimates the degree of accordance between the detection
20 position indicated by the information included in the vehicle number data obtained by
performing the optical character recognition on an image captured by one camera 130
and the detection position indicated by the information included in the vehicle number
data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on an image captured by
the camera 130 neighboring the one camera 130 in step S318 when the
25 same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit 120 searches the plurality of vehicle number
75
data and to function as the vehicle number data integration unit 125 that integrates the
vehicle number data including the information regarding the detection positions of which
the degree of accordance estimated by the detection position estimation unit 123 is high
in step S307.
5 [0155]
The program may cause the computer 800 to function as the imaging time
determination unit 124 that determines in step S319 whether the imaging time of the
image on which the optical character recognition is being performed by the vehicle
number data generation device 150 is a time prior to the final time at which the vehicle
10 included in the vehicle number data obtained by performing the optical character
recognition on an image captured by one camera 130 is detected when the
same-period-of-time searching unit 119 or the same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit
120 may not search the vehicle number data and to function as the vehicle number data
integration unit 125 that sets the vehicle number data obtained by performing the optical
15 character recognition on an image captured by one camera 130 as the integrated vehicle
number data in step S307 when the imaging time determination unit 124 determines that
the imaging time is not the time prior to the final time.
[0156]
Information processing described in the program is read by the computer 800 to
20 function as the vehicle number data reception unit 112, the check data reception unit 111,
the reception or non-reception determination unit 113, the integrated data determination
unit 114, the vehicle number position determination unit 115, the optical character
recognition determination unit 116, the same-vehicle-number searching unit 117, the
same-period-of-time searching unit 119, the character complementing unit 118, the
25 same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit 120, the vehicle speed estimation unit 121, the
76
period-of-time estimation unit 122, the detection position estimation unit 123, the
imaging time determination unit 124, the vehicle number data integration unit 125, and
the vehicle number data storage unit 126 which are specific means that cooperate through
software and the above-described various kinds of hardware resources. Calculation or
processing of information according to the use purpose of the 5 computer 800 in the
embodiment is realized by the specific means so that the distinctive vehicle number data
processing device 110 according to the use purpose is constructed.
[0157]
For example, when the computer 800 communicates with an external device or
10 the like, the CPU 802 executes a communication program loaded on the RAM 803 and
instructs the communication interface 807 to perform a communication process based on
processing content described in the communication program. Under the control of the
CPU 802, the communication interface 807 reads transmission data stored in a
transmission buffer region or the like provided on a storage device such as the RAM 803,
15 the hard disk drive 808, the flexible disk 893, or the CD-ROM 892 to transmit the
transmission data to a network or writes reception data received from a network on a
reception buffer region or the like provided on the storage device. Thus, the
communication interface 807 may transmit transmission or reception data to a storage
device in a direct memory access manner or may instead transmit transmission or
20 reception data in such a manner that the CPU 802 reads data from a storage device or the
communication interface 807 of a transmission source and writes the data on a storage
device or the communication interface 807 of a transmission destination.
[0158]
The CPU 802 performs various processes on data on the RAM 803 by reading
25 all or necessary portions of the files, databases, or the like stored in an external storage
77
device such as the hard disk drive 808, the CD-ROM 892, or the flexible disk 893 to the
RAM 803 by direct memory access transmission or the like. Then, the CPU 802 writes
back processed data on the external storage device by the direct memory access
transmission or the like.
5 [0159]
Since the RAM 803 is considered to temporarily retain content of the external
storage device in the process, the RAM 803, the external storage device, and the like are
generally referred to as a memory, a storage unit, a storage device, or the like in the
embodiment. In the embodiment, various kinds of information such as various
10 programs, data, tables, and databases are stored on the storage device and are
information-processing targets. The CPU 802 can retain a part of the RAM 803 in a
cache memory and perform reading and writing on the cache memory. Even in this
form, the cache memory serves some of the functions of the RAM 803. Therefore, in
the embodiment, the cache memory is assumed also to be included in the RAM 803, the
15 memory, and/or the storage device unless distinguished and indicated otherwise.
[0160]
The CPU 802 performs various processes designated by a command string of the
program and including various calculations, processing on information, condition
determination, information search, and substitution described in the embodiment on data
20 read from the RAM 803 and writes back the data to the RAM 803. For example, when
condition determination is performed, the CPU 802 compares various variables indicated
in the embodiment with other variables or constants, determines whether conditions such
as “greater than,” “less than,” “equal to or greater than,” “equal to or less than,” and
“equal to” are satisfied, and performs branching to another command string or calls a
25 subroutine when the conditions are satisfied or not satisfied.
78
[0161]
The CPU 802 can search information stored in files or databases, or the like in a
storage device. For example, when a plurality of entries in which an attribute value of a
first attribute is associated with an attribute value of a second attribute are stored in a
storage device, the CPU 802 can obtain the attribute value of 5 the second attribute
associated with the first attribute satisfying a predetermined condition by searching an
entry to which the attribute value of the first attribute corresponds with a designated
condition among the plurality of entries stored in the storage device and reading the
attribute value of the second attribute stored in the entry.
10 [0162]
The above-described program or module may be stored in an external storage
medium. As the storage medium, an optical recording medium such as a digital
versatile disk (DVD) or a compact disk (CD), a magneto-optical recording medium such
as a magneto-optical disk (MO), a tape medium, or a semiconductor memory such as an
15 IC card can be used in addition to the flexible disk 893 and the CD-ROM 892. A
storage medium such as a hard disk or a RAM provided in a server system connected to a
dedicated communication network or the Internet may be used as the recording medium
and the program may be supplied to the computer 800 via the network.
[0163]
20 The embodiments of the present invention have been described but the technical
scope of the present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments. It should be
apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing embodiments can be modified or
improved in various ways. It is apparent from the description of the claims that the
modified or improved embodiments are included in the technical scope of the present
25 invention.
79
[0164]
It should be noted that orders in which processes of operations, procedures, steps,
and stages are executed in the systems, the methods, the devices, the programs, and the
recording media described in the claims, the present specification, and the drawings can
be realized in any order unless expressions such as “earlier than” 5 and “prior to” are
particularly clarified or the output of a previous process is used in a subsequent process.
Even when operation flows in the claims, the present specification, and the drawings are
described using expressions such as “first” and “next” for convenience, the operation
flows are not necessarily performed in this order.
10
Industrial Applicability
[0165]
According to any aspect of the present invention, it is possible to process vehicle
number data including information regarding vehicle numbers of number plates of
15 vehicles obtained by performing optical character recognition on images.
Reference Signs List
[0166]
100 Vehicle number data processing system
20 110 Vehicle number data processing device
111 Check data reception unit
112 Vehicle number data reception unit
113 Reception or non-reception determination unit
114 Integrated data determination unit
25 115 Vehicle number position determination unit
80
116 Optical character recognition determination unit
117 Same-vehicle-number searching unit
118 Character complementing unit
119 Same-period-of-time searching unit
120 Same-kind-of-number-5 plate searching unit
121 Vehicle speed estimation unit
122 Period-of-time estimation unit
123 Detection position estimation unit
124 Imaging time determination unit
10 125 Vehicle number data integration unit
126 Vehicle number data storage unit
130 Camera
150 Vehicle number data generation device
800 Computer
15 801 Host controller
802 CPU
803 RAM
804 Graphic controller
805 Display
20 806 Input/output controller
807 Communication interface
808 Hard disk drive
809 CD-ROM drive
810 ROM
25 811 Flexible disk drive
81
812 Input/output chip
891 Network communication device
892 CD-ROM
893 Flexible disk
Aa Imaging 5 area of camera 130a
Ab Imaging area of camera 130b
Ac Imaging area of camera 130c
Ad Imaging area of camera 130d
G Gate
10 R10 Road
R11 Lane
R12 Lane
R13 Lane
82
We Claim:
1. A vehicle number data processing system that processes vehicle number data
including information regarding a vehicle number of a number plate of a vehicle obtained
by performing optical character recognition on an image, the 5 vehicle number data
processing system comprising:
a plurality of imaging devices which are installed so that imaging areas of the
plurality of imaging devices overlap each other and which are configured to continuously
capture an image of a road; and
10 a vehicle number data processing device configured to process the vehicle
number data, wherein the vehicle number data processing device includes:
a vehicle number data integration unit configured to reserve one of one piece of
vehicle number data and another piece of vehicle number data along with deleting the
other of the one piece of vehicle number data and the another piece of vehicle number
15 data to thereby integrate the vehicle number data including information regarding the
same vehicle, wherein the one piece of vehicle number data include information
regarding a vehicle number obtained by performing the optical character recognition on
an image captured by one of the imaging devices, and the another piece of vehicle
number data include information regarding a vehicle number obtained by performing the
20 optical character recognition on an image captured by another of the imaging devices
having the imaging area overlapping the imaging area of the one of the imaging devices;
a same-vehicle-number searching unit configured to retrieve vehicle number
data including the same information as information regarding the vehicle number
included in vehicle number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition
25 on the image captured by the one of the imaging devices, among vehicle number data
83
obtained by performing the optical character recognition on the images captured by
another of the imaging devices having the imaging area overlapping the imaging area of
the one of the imaging devices;
an optical character recognition determination unit configured to determine
whether a portion unrecognizable through the optical character recognition 5 is contained
in a vehicle number obtained by performing the optical character recognition on the
image captured by the one of the imaging devices; and
a vehicle number position determination unit configured to determine whether a
position of a vehicle number obtained by performing the optical character recognition on
10 the image captured by the one of the imaging devices in the image is within the imaging
area of another of the imaging devices having the imaging area overlapping the imaging
area of the one of the imaging devices;
wherein the vehicle number data integration unit integrates (i) vehicle number
data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on the image captured by
15 the one of the imaging devices and (ii) the vehicle number data retrieved by the
same-vehicle-number searching unit,
the same-vehicle-number searching unit retrieves vehicle number data including
the same information as information regarding the vehicle number if the optical character
recognition determination unit determines that a portion unrecognizable through the
20 optical character recognition is not contained in the vehicle number, and
the optical character recognition determination unit determines whether a
portion unrecognizable through the optical character recognition is contained in the
vehicle number if the vehicle number position determination unit determines that the
position of the vehicle number is within the imaging area of another of the imaging
25 devices having the imaging area overlapping the imaging area of the one of the imaging
84
devices.
2. The vehicle number data processing system according to Claim 1, wherein the
vehicle number data processing device further includes an integrated data determination
unit configured to determine whether the vehicle number data is the 5 vehicle number data
integrated by the vehicle number data integration unit, and
wherein the vehicle number position determination unit determines whether a
position of a vehicle number included in the vehicle number data in the image is within
the imaging area of another of the imaging devices if the integrated data determination
10 unit determines that the vehicle number data is not the integrated vehicle number data.
3. The vehicle number data processing system according to Claim 2, further
comprising:
a plurality of vehicle number data generation devices installed in one-to-one
15 correspondence with the imaging devices and configured to generate the vehicle number
data by performing the optical character recognition on images captured by the
corresponding imaging devices,
wherein the vehicle number data processing device further includes:
a check data reception unit configured to receive check data used to check
20 soundness of a network from the vehicle number data generation devices;
a vehicle number data reception unit configured to receive the vehicle number
data from the vehicle number data generation devices; and
a reception or non-reception determination unit configured to determine, after
the vehicle number data reception unit receives the vehicle number data, whether the
25 check data reception unit receives the check data, and
85
wherein, if the reception or non-reception determination unit determines that the
check data reception unit receives the check data after the vehicle number data reception
unit receives the vehicle number data, the integrated data determination unit determines
whether the vehicle number data is the vehicle number data integrated by the vehicle
number 5 data integration unit.
4. The vehicle number data processing system according to Claim 3,wherein, when
the vehicle number data generation device performs the optical character recognition on
an image captured by the corresponding imaging device and generates the vehicle
10 number data including the information regarding the vehicle number of the number plate
of the vehicle, the vehicle number data generation device generates the vehicle number
data further including information regarding an initial time and information regarding a
final time at which the vehicle is detected by the corresponding imaging device,
wherein the vehicle number data processing device further includes:
15 a character complementing unit configured to supplement a character of the
vehicle number of a portion unrecognizable through the optical character recognition if
the optical character recognition determination unit determines that the portion
unrecognizable through the optical character recognition is contained in the vehicle
number; and
20 a same-period-of-time searching unit configured to retrieve vehicle number data
including the information regarding the initial time or the information regarding the final
time corresponding to a period of time from the initial time to the final time included in
vehicle number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on the
image captured by the one of the imaging devices, among vehicle number data obtained
25 by performing the optical character recognition on images captured by another of the
86
imaging devices having the imaging area overlapping the imaging area of the one of the
imaging devices, if (i) the optical character recognition determination unit determines
that a portion unrecognizable through the optical character recognition is contained in the
vehicle number or (ii) the same-vehicle-number searching unit fails to retrieve vehicle
number data including information regarding the same 5 vehicle number, and
wherein the same-vehicle-number searching unit retrieves vehicle number data
including the same information as information regarding the vehicle number in which the
character is supplemented by the character complementing unit, among the vehicle
number data retrieved by the same-period-of-time searching unit.
10
5. The vehicle number data processing system according to Claim 4, wherein,
when the vehicle number data generation device performs the optical character
recognition on an image captured by the corresponding imaging device and generates the
vehicle number data including the information regarding the vehicle number of the
15 number plate of the vehicle, the vehicle number data generation devices generates the
vehicle number data further including information regarding a kind of number plate of
the vehicle,
wherein the vehicle number data processing device further includes a
same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit configured to retrieve vehicle number data
20 including the same information as information regarding the kind of number plate
included in vehicle number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition
on the image captured by the one of the imaging devices, among vehicle number data
obtained by performing the optical character recognition on images captured by another
of the imaging devices having the imaging area overlapping the imaging area of the one
25 of the imaging devices, if the same-vehicle-number searching unit fails to retrieve
87
vehicle number data including information regarding the same vehicle number among the
vehicle number data retrieved by the same-period-of-time searching unit, and
wherein, if the same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit retrieves one of
vehicle number data, the vehicle number data integration unit integrates the retrieved
vehicle number data and vehicle number data obtained by 5 performing the optical
character recognition on the image captured by the one of the imaging devices.
6. The vehicle number data processing system according to Claim 5, wherein,
when the vehicle number data generation device performs the optical character
10 recognition on an image captured by the corresponding imaging device and generates the
vehicle number data including the information regarding the vehicle number of the
number plate of the vehicle, the vehicle number data generation devices generates the
vehicle number data further including information regarding a vehicle speed of the
vehicle,
15 wherein the vehicle number data processing device further includes a vehicle
speed estimation unit configured to estimate a degree of accordance between the vehicle
speed indicated by information included in vehicle number data obtained by performing
the optical character recognition on the image captured by the one of the imaging devices
and the vehicle speed indicated by information included in vehicle number data obtained
20 by performing the optical character recognition on the image captured by another of the
imaging devices having the imaging area overlapping the imaging area of the one of the
imaging devices, if the same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit retrieves the plurality
of vehicle number data, and
wherein the vehicle number data integration unit integrates the vehicle number
25 data including information regarding the vehicle speeds of which the degree of
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accordance estimated by the vehicle speed estimation unit is high.
7. The vehicle number data processing system according to Claim 5 or 6, wherein
the vehicle number data processing device further includes a period-of-time estimation
unit configured to estimate a degree of accordance between a period 5 of time from the
initial time to the final time indicated by information included in vehicle number data
obtained by performing the optical character recognition on the image captured by the
one of the imaging devices and a period of time from the initial time to the final time
indicated by information included in vehicle number data obtained by performing the
10 optical character recognition on the image captured by another of the imaging devices
having the imaging area overlapping the imaging area of the one of the imaging devices,
if the same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit retrieves the plurality of vehicle number
data, and
wherein the vehicle number data integration unit integrates the vehicle number
15 data including information regarding the times of which the degree of accordance
estimated by the period-of-time estimation unit is high.
8. The vehicle number data processing system according to any one of Claims 5 to
7, wherein, when the vehicle number data generation device performs the optical
20 character recognition on an image captured by the corresponding imaging device and
generates the vehicle number data including the information regarding the vehicle
number of the number plate of the vehicle, the vehicle number data generation device
generates the vehicle number data further including information regarding a detection
position of the vehicle, in regard to detection positions of all vehicles detected during a
25 period of time in which the vehicle is detected by the corresponding imaging device,
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wherein the vehicle number data processing device further includes a detection
position estimation unit configured to estimate a degree of accordance between the
detection position indicated by information included in vehicle number data obtained by
performing the optical character recognition on the image captured by the one of the
imaging devices and the detection position indicated by information 5 included in vehicle
number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on the image
captured by another of the imaging devices having the imaging area overlapping the
imaging area of the one of the imaging devices, if the same-kind-of-number-plate
searching unit retrieves the plurality of vehicle number data, and
10 wherein the vehicle number data integration unit integrates the vehicle number
data including information regarding the detection positions of which the degree of
accordance estimated by the detection position estimation unit is high.
9. The vehicle number data processing system according to any one of Claims 5 to
15 8, wherein the vehicle number data processing device further includes an imaging time
determination unit configured to determine whether an imaging time of an image which
is being subjected to the optical character recognition by each of the vehicle number data
generation devices is a time prior to a final time at which a vehicle included in vehicle
number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on the image
20 captured by the one of the imaging devices is detected, if the same-period-of-time
searching unit or the same-kind-of-number-plate searching unit fails to retrieve the
vehicle number data, and
wherein, if the imaging time determination unit determines that the imaging time
is not the time prior to the final time, the vehicle number data integration unit sets vehicle
25 number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on the image
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captured by the one of the imaging devices as the integrated vehicle number data.
10. A vehicle number data processing method of processing vehicle number data
including information regarding a vehicle number of a number plate of a vehicle obtained
by performing optical character recognition on an image, the 5 vehicle number data
processing method comprising:
a vehicle number data integration step of reserving one of one piece of vehicle
number data and another piece of vehicle number data along with deleting the other of
the one piece of vehicle number data and the another piece of vehicle number data to
10 thereby integrate the vehicle number data including information regarding the same
vehicle, wherein the one piece of vehicle number data include information regarding a
vehicle number obtained by performing the optical character recognition on an image
captured by one of the imaging devices installed so that imaging areas of a plurality of
the imaging devices overlap each other and configured to continuously capture an image
15 of a road, and the another piece of vehicle number data include information regarding a
vehicle number obtained by performing the optical character recognition on an image
captured by another of the imaging devices having the imaging area overlapping the
imaging area of the one of the imaging devices;
a same-vehicle-number retrieving step of retrieving vehicle number data
20 including the same information as information regarding the vehicle number included in
vehicle number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on the
image captured by the one of the imaging devices, among vehicle number data obtained
by performing the optical character recognition on the images captured by another of the
imaging devices having the imaging area overlapping the imaging area of the one of the
25 imaging devices;
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an optical character recognition determination step of determining whether a
portion unrecognizable through the optical character recognition is contained in a vehicle
number obtained by performing the optical character recognition on the image captured
by the one of the imaging devices; and
a vehicle number position determination step of determining 5 whether a position
of a vehicle number obtained by performing the optical character recognition on the
image captured by the one of the imaging devices in the image is within the imaging area
of another of the imaging devices having the imaging area overlapping the imaging area
of the one of the imaging devices;
10 wherein in the vehicle number data integration step, the vehicle number data
integration unit integrates (i) vehicle number data obtained by performing the optical
character recognition on the image captured by the one of the imaging devices and (ii)
the vehicle number data retrieved by the same-vehicle-number searching unit,
in the same-vehicle-number retrieving step, the same-vehicle-number searching
15 unit retrieves vehicle number data including the same information as information
regarding the vehicle number if the optical character recognition determination unit
determines that a portion unrecognizable through the optical character recognition is not
contained in the vehicle number, and
in the optical character recognition determination step, the optical character
20 recognition determination unit determines whether a portion unrecognizable through the
optical character recognition is contained in the vehicle number if the vehicle number
position determination unit determines that the position of the vehicle number is within
the imaging area of another of the imaging devices having the imaging area overlapping
the imaging area of the one of the imaging devices.
25
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11. A vehicle number data processing device of processing vehicle number data
including information regarding a vehicle number of a number plate of a vehicle obtained
by performing optical character recognition on an image, the vehicle number data
processing device comprising:
a vehicle number data integration unit configured to reserve one 5 of one piece of
vehicle number data and another piece of vehicle number data along with deleting the
other of the one piece of vehicle number data and the another piece of vehicle number
data to thereby integrate the vehicle number data including information regarding the
same vehicle, wherein the one piece of vehicle number data include information
10 regarding a vehicle number obtained by performing the optical character recognition on
an image captured by one of the imaging devices installed so that imaging areas of a
plurality of the imaging devices overlap each other and configured to continuously
capture an image of a road, and the another piece of vehicle number data include
information regarding a vehicle number obtained by performing the optical character
15 recognition on an image captured by another of the imaging devices having the imaging
area overlapping the imaging area of the one of the imaging devices;
a same-vehicle-number searching unit configured to retrieve vehicle number
data including the same information as information regarding the vehicle number
included in vehicle number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition
20 on the image captured by the one of the imaging devices, among vehicle number data
obtained by performing the optical character recognition on the images captured by
another of the imaging devices having the imaging area overlapping the imaging area of
the one of the imaging devices;
an optical character recognition determination unit configured to determine
25 whether a portion unrecognizable through the optical character recognition is contained
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in a vehicle number obtained by performing the optical character recognition on the
image captured by the one of the imaging devices; and
a vehicle number position determination unit configured to determine whether a
position of a vehicle number obtained by performing the optical character recognition on
the image captured by the one of the imaging devices in the image is 5 within the imaging
area of another of the imaging devices having the imaging area overlapping the imaging
area of the one of the imaging devices;
wherein the vehicle number data integration unit integrates (i) vehicle number
data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on the image captured by
10 the one of the imaging devices and (ii) the vehicle number data retrieved by the
same-vehicle-number searching unit,
the same-vehicle-number searching unit retrieves vehicle number data including
the same information as information regarding the vehicle number if the optical character
recognition determination unit determines that a portion unrecognizable through the
15 optical character recognition is not contained in the vehicle number, and
the optical character recognition determination unit determines whether a
portion unrecognizable through the optical character recognition is contained in the
vehicle number if the vehicle number position determination unit determines that the
position of the vehicle number is within the imaging area of another of the imaging
20 devices having the imaging area overlapping the imaging area of the one of the imaging
devices.
12. A program causing a computer to function as a vehicle number data processing
device that processes vehicle number data including information regarding a vehicle
25 number of a number plate of a vehicle obtained by performing optical character
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recognition on an image, the program causing the computer to function as:
a vehicle number data integration unit configured to reserve one of one piece of
vehicle number data and another piece of vehicle number data along with deleting the
other of the one piece of vehicle number data and the another piece of vehicle number
data to thereby integrate the vehicle number data including information 5 regarding the
same vehicle, wherein the one piece of vehicle number data include information
regarding a vehicle number obtained by performing the optical character recognition on
an image captured by one of the imaging devices installed so that imaging areas of a
plurality of the imaging devices overlap each other and configured to continuously
10 capture an image of a road, and the another piece of vehicle number data include
information regarding a vehicle number obtained by performing the optical character
recognition on an image captured by another of the imaging devices having the imaging
area overlapping the imaging area of the one of the imaging devices;
a same-vehicle-number searching unit configured to retrieve vehicle number
15 data including the same information as information regarding the vehicle number
included in vehicle number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition
on the image captured by the one of the imaging devices, among vehicle number data
obtained by performing the optical character recognition on the images captured by
another of the imaging devices having the imaging area overlapping the imaging area of
20 the one of the imaging devices;
an optical character recognition determination unit configured to determine
whether a portion unrecognizable through the optical character recognition is contained
in a vehicle number obtained by performing the optical character recognition on the
image captured by the one of the imaging devices; and
25 a vehicle number position determination unit configured to determine whether a
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position of a vehicle number obtained by performing the optical character recognition on
the image captured by the one of the imaging devices in the image is within the imaging
area of another of the imaging devices having the imaging area overlapping the imaging
area of the one of the imaging devices;
wherein the vehicle number data integration unit integrates 5 (i) vehicle number
data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on the image captured by
the one of the imaging devices and (ii) the vehicle number data retrieved by the
same-vehicle-number searching unit,
the same-vehicle-number searching unit retrieves vehicle number data including
10 the same information as information regarding the vehicle number if the optical character
recognition determination unit determines that a portion unrecognizable through the
optical character recognition is not contained in the vehicle number, and
the optical character recognition determination unit determines whether a
portion unrecognizable through the optical character recognition is contained in the
15 vehicle number if the vehicle number position determination unit determines that the
position of the vehicle number is within the imaging area of another of the imaging
devices having the imaging area overlapping the imaging area of the one of the imaging
devices.
20 13. A recording medium that records a program causing a computer to function as a
vehicle number data processing device that processes vehicle number data including
information regarding a vehicle number of a number plate of a vehicle obtained by
performing optical character recognition on an image, the recording medium that records
the program causing the computer to function as:
25 a vehicle number data integration unit configured to reserve one of one piece of
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vehicle number data and another piece of vehicle number data along with deleting the
other of the one piece of vehicle number data and the another piece of vehicle number
data to thereby integrate the vehicle number data including information regarding the
same vehicle, wherein the one piece of vehicle number data include information
regarding a vehicle number obtained by performing the optical character 5 recognition on
an image captured by one of the imaging devices installed so that imaging areas of a
plurality of the imaging devices overlap each other and configured to continuously
capture an image of a road, and the another piece of vehicle number data include
information regarding a vehicle number obtained by performing the optical character
10 recognition on an image captured by another of the imaging devices having the imaging
area overlapping the imaging area of the one of the imaging devices;
a same-vehicle-number searching unit configured to retrieve vehicle number
data including the same information as information regarding the vehicle number
included in vehicle number data obtained by performing the optical character recognition
15 on the image captured by the one of the imaging devices, among vehicle number data
obtained by performing the optical character recognition on the images captured by
another of the imaging devices having the imaging area overlapping the imaging area of
the one of the imaging devices;
an optical character recognition determination unit configured to determine
20 whether a portion unrecognizable through the optical character recognition is contained
in a vehicle number obtained by performing the optical character recognition on the
image captured by the one of the imaging devices; and
a vehicle number position determination unit configured to determine whether a
position of a vehicle number obtained by performing the optical character recognition on
25 the image captured by the one of the imaging devices in the image is within the imaging
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area of another of the imaging devices having the imaging area overlapping the imaging
area of the one of the imaging devices;
wherein the vehicle number data integration unit integrates (i) vehicle number
data obtained by performing the optical character recognition on the image captured by
the one of the imaging devices and (ii) the vehicle number 5 data retrieved by the
same-vehicle-number searching unit,
the same-vehicle-number searching unit retrieves vehicle number data including
the same information as information regarding the vehicle number if the optical character
recognition determination unit determines that a portion unrecognizable through the
10 optical character recognition is not contained in the vehicle number, and
the optical character recognition determination unit determines whether a
portion unrecognizable through the optical character recognition is contained in the
vehicle number if the vehicle number position determination unit determines that the
position of the vehicle number is within the imaging area of another of the imaging
15 devices having the imaging area overlapping the imaging area of the one of the imaging
devices.