In-vehicle device, method, computer program, driving assistance server, and driving assistance method

A method for causing an in-vehicle device to operate, the method comprising:

• performing, by a computer, driving support for a vehicle by using support information received from an external server through a wireless communication device;
• performing, by the computer and in response to having received a distribution request for support information from another in-vehicle device, a determination as to whether or not the computer is to operate as a substitute for the external server;
• and
• transmitting, by the computer and when the determination as to whether or not the computer is to operate as the substitute for the external server is positive, support information, usable by the computer, to the other in-vehicle device through the wireless communication device.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a computer program for causing a computer connected to a wireless communication device to perform a method, the method comprising:

• performing driving support for a vehicle by using support information received from an external server through a wireless communication device;
• performing, in response to having received a distribution request for support information from another in-vehicle device, a determination as to whether or not the computer is to operate as a substitute for the external server;
• and
• transmitting, when the determination as to whether or not the computer is to operate as the substitute for the external server is positive, support information, usable by the computer, to the other in-vehicle device through the wireless communication device.

A driving support server configured to create support information for supporting driving in a management region and transmit the support information to vehicles in the management region, the driving support server comprising:

• processing circuitry configured to:
• receive sensor data from a sensor that detects a traffic state of the management region;
• create the support information;
• collect vehicle information regarding the vehicles present in the management region;
• create a substitute server vehicle list that is a list of vehicles capable of operating as a substitute server for the driving support server;
• add the substitute server vehicle list to the support information;
• and
• transmit the support information including the substitute server vehicle list to the vehicles.

A driving support method performed in a driving support system including a driving support server configured to create support information for supporting driving in a management region and transmit the support information to vehicles in the management region, the driving support method comprising:

• receiving, by a computer, sensor data from a sensor that detects a traffic state of the management region;
• creating, by the computer, the support information;
• collecting, by the computer, vehicle information regarding vehicles present in the management region;
• creating, by the computer, a substitute server vehicle list being a list of vehicles capable of operating as a substitute server for the driving support server;
• adding, by the computer, the substitute server vehicle list to the support information;
• and
• transmitting the support information including the substitute server vehicle list to the vehicles.