Data collecting device, method, computer program, and data collecting system for collecting data

1 . A data collecting device comprising:

a memory configured to store information indicating a collection target region of probe data representing a predetermined feature on or around a road; and

at least one processor configured to:

detect the predetermined feature in an area around a vehicle during travel of the vehicle from an image representing the area around the vehicle generated by a camera mounted on the vehicle,

generate the probe data; based on the detected predetermined feature,

store the generated probe data in the memory, and

transmit, upon or after entry of the vehicle into the collection target region, the probe data generated in the collection target region and an additional section traveled by the vehicle immediately before the entry or immediately after an exit of the vehicle from the collection target region as well as the image generated during travel of the vehicle in the collection target region to a server via a communication device mounted on the vehicle,

wherein when the additional section is a section traveled by the vehicle immediately before the entry, the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine a total number of the detected predetermined features while reversely tracing a route traveled by the vehicle from an entry position of the vehicle into the collection target region, and

set the route from a position at which the total number reaches a predetermined number to the entry position as the additional section; or

when the additional section is a section traveled by the vehicle immediately after the exit, the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine a total number of the detected predetermined features along a route traveled by the vehicle from an exit position of the vehicle from the collection target region, and

set the route from the exit position to a position at which the total number reaches the predetermined number as the additional section.

2 . The data collecting device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to generate suitability data indicating suitability of the vehicle or environment around the vehicle for collecting the probe data, and store the generated suitability data in the memory, wherein

in response to entry of the vehicle into the collection target region, the at least one processor is further configured to transmit the suitability data generated during travel of the vehicle in the additional section and the suitability data generated during travel of the vehicle in the collection target region to the server via the communication device, and

only when a collection instruction is received from the server via the communication device, the at least one processor is further configured to transmit the probe data generated in the collection target region and the additional section as well as the image generated during travel of the vehicle in the collection target region to the server via the communication device.

3 . The data collecting device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to set a length of the additional section to a length received from the server via the communication device.

4 . The data collecting device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine a first number of features detected in a first section traveled by the vehicle immediately before the entry into the collection target region and a second number of features detected in a second section traveled by the vehicle immediately after an exit from the collection target region, and sets at least one of the first section and the second section as the additional section, based on the first number and the second number.

5 . The data collecting device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to set a section specified by the server via the communication device as the additional section, the specified section being a first section traveled by the vehicle immediately before the entry into the collection target region or a second section traveled by the vehicle immediately after an exit from the collection target region.

6 . A method for collecting data, comprising:

detecting a predetermined feature on or around a road in an area around a vehicle during travel of the vehicle from an image representing the area around the vehicle generated by a camera mounted on the vehicle;

generating probe data representing the detected predetermined feature;

storing the generated probe data in a memory; and

transmitting, upon or after entry of the vehicle into a collection target region of the probe data, the probe data generated in the collection target region and an additional section traveled by the vehicle immediately before the entry or immediately after an exit of the vehicle from the collection target region as well as the image generated during travel of the vehicle in the collection target region to a server via a communication device mounted on the vehicle,

wherein when the additional section is a section traveled by the vehicle immediately before the entry, the method further comprises:

determining a total number of the detected predetermined features while reversely tracing a route traveled by the vehicle from an entry position of the vehicle into the collection target region, and

setting the route from a position at which the total number reaches a predetermined number to the entry position as the additional section; or

when the additional section is a section traveled by the vehicle immediately after the exit, the method further comprises:

determining a total number of the detected predetermined features along a route traveled by the vehicle from an exit position of the vehicle from the collection target region, and

setting the route from the exit position to a position at which the total number reaches the predetermined number as the additional section.

7 . A non-transitory recording medium that stores a computer program for collecting data, the computer program causing at least one processor mounted on a vehicle to execute a process comprising:

detecting a predetermined feature on or around a road in an area around the vehicle during travel of the vehicle from an image representing the area around the vehicle generated by a camera mounted on the vehicle;

generating probe data representing the detected predetermined feature;

storing the generated probe data in a memory; and

transmitting, upon or after entry of the vehicle into a collection target region of the probe data, the probe data generated in the collection target region and an additional section traveled by the vehicle immediately before the entry or immediately after an exit of the vehicle from the collection target region as well as the image generated during travel of the vehicle in the collection target region to a server via a communication device mounted on the vehicle,

wherein when the additional section is a section traveled by the vehicle immediately before the entry, the process further comprises:

determining a total number of the detected predetermined features while reversely tracing a route traveled by the vehicle from an entry position of the vehicle into the collection target region, and

setting the route from a position at which the total number reaches a predetermined number to the entry position as the additional section; or

when the additional section is a section traveled by the vehicle immediately after the exit, the process further comprises:

determining a total number of the detected predetermined features along a route traveled by the vehicle from an exit position of the vehicle from the collection target region, and

setting the route from the exit position to a position at which the total number reaches the predetermined number as the additional section.

8 . A data collecting system comprising a data collecting device and a server communicably connected to the data collecting device,

the data collecting device being mounted on a vehicle and comprising:

a memory configured to store information indicating a collection target region of probe data representing a predetermined feature on or around a road; and

at least one processor configured to:

detect the predetermined feature in an area around the vehicle during travel of the vehicle from an image representing the area around the vehicle generated by a camera mounted on the vehicle,

generate the probe data; based on the detected predetermined feature,

store the generated probe data in the memory, and

transmit, upon or after entry of the vehicle into the collection target region, the probe data generated in the collection target region and an additional section traveled by the vehicle immediately before the entry or immediately after an exit of the vehicle from the collection target region as well as the image generated during travel of the vehicle in the collection target region to the server via a communication device mounted on the vehicle,

wherein when the additional section is a section traveled by the vehicle immediately before the entry, the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine a total number of the detected predetermined features while reversely tracing a route traveled by the vehicle from an entry position of the vehicle into the collection target region, and

set the route from a position at which the total number reaches a predetermined number to the entry position as the additional section; or

when the additional section is a section traveled by the vehicle immediately after the exit, the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine a total number of the detected predetermined features along a route traveled by the vehicle from an exit position of the vehicle from the collection target region, and

set the route from the exit position to a position at which the total number reaches the predetermined number as the additional section.