Onboard device and method of transmitting probe data

1. An onboard device mounted in a vehicle, the onboard device comprising:

a storage device storing probe data;

a processor and a memory configured to

set priorities depending on a classification of probe data, and

make a first acquisition determination whether first probe data among the probe data has been acquired by the processor and the memory,

a priority of the first probe data being higher than a priority of second probe data among the probe data; and

a communication interface configured to transmit, prior to transmitting the second probe data, the first probe data to a data center via a first communication line among a plurality of communication lines when the processor and the memory determine that the first probe data has been acquired by the processor and the memory, wherein

the processor and the memory are configured to determine whether there is an accessible access point of a second communication line among the plurality of communication lines other than the first communication line,

the communication interface is configured to

connect to the access point of the second communication line when the processor and the memory determine that there is an accessible access point of the second communication line, and

transmit the second probe data to the data center via the second communication line,

the processor and the memory are configured to

make a stop determination whether the vehicle has stopped subsequent to the communication interface transmitting the second probe data;

repeat the first acquisition determination when the processor and the memory determine that the vehicle has stopped, and

the plurality of communication lines includes a mobile phone line, a wireless local area network (LAN), and a wired LAN.

2. The onboard device according to claim 1 , wherein

the communication interface is configured to transmit the probe data to the data center such that the first probe data reaches the data center earlier than the second probe data.

3. The onboard device according to claim 2 , wherein

the communication interface is configured to select the first communication line and the second communication line from the plurality of communication lines in order to transmit the probe data such that the first probe data reaches the data center earlier than the second probe data.

4. The onboard device according to claim 1 , wherein

the processor and the memory are configured to

make a second acquisition determination whether the second probe data has been acquired by the processor and the memory, a priority of third probe data among the probe data being lower than the priority of the second probe data; and

the communication interface is configured to transmit, prior to transmitting the third probe data, the second probe data to the data center when the processor and the memory determine that the second probe data has been acquired by the processor and the memory and the processor and the memory determine that there is an accessible access point of the second communication line.

5. A method of transmitting probe data carried out by an onboard device mounted in a vehicle, the method comprising:

setting priorities depending on classifications of probe data;

making a first acquisition determination whether first probe data among the probe data has been acquired by a processor and a memory of the onboard device, a priority of the first probe data being higher than a priority of second probe data among the probe data;

prior to transmitting the second probe data, transmitting the first probe data to a data center via a first communication line among a plurality of communication lines when it is determined that the first probe data has been acquired by the processor and the memory;

determining whether there is an accessible access point of a second communication line among the plurality of communication lines other than the first communication line;

connecting to the access point of the second communication line when it is determined that there is an accessible access point of the second communication line;

transmitting the second probe data to the data center via the second communication line;

making a stop determination whether the vehicle has stopped subsequent to transmitting the second probe data; and

repeating the first acquisition determination when it is determined that the vehicle has stopped,

wherein the plurality of communication lines includes a mobile phone line, a wireless local area network (LAN), and a wired LAN.

6. The onboard device according to claim 1 , wherein

the first communication line is the mobile phone line, and

the second communication line is the wireless LAN or the wired LAN.

7. The onboard device according to claim 4 , wherein

the processor and the memory are configured to determine whether there is an accessible access point of a third communication line among the plurality of communication lines other than the first communication line and the second communication line, and

the communication interface is configured to

connect to the access point of the third communication line when the processor and the memory determine that there is an accessible access point of the third communication line, and

transmit the third probe data to the data center via the third communication line.

8. The onboard device according to claim 7 , wherein

the first communication line is the mobile phone line,

the second communication line is the wireless LAN, and

the third communication line is the wired LAN.

9. The method according to claim 5 , wherein

the first communication line is the mobile phone line, and

the second communication line is the wireless LAN or the wired LAN.

10. The onboard device according to claim 7 , wherein

the processor and the memory are configured to make the stop determination subsequent to transmitting both the first probe data and the second probe data.