Method and system for managing remote service standby time for networked vehicles

Abstract

The present application relates to a method and system for managing remote service standby time of a connected car. A method for managing remote service standby time of a connected car includes notifying a client terminal of the need to end a remote service standby mode by a connected car service (CCS) center providing a remote service on a connected car, setting a remote service standby mode through a CCS application installed in the client terminal, checking whether it is time to start ending the remote service standby mode according to the setting of the remote service standby mode by a CCS terminal installed in the connected car, and requesting, when it is time to start ending the remote service standby mode, the CCS terminal to turn off a modem installed in the connected car, and the remote service standby time of the connected car can be effectively managed.

Description

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0000953, filed on January 5, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0003] This disclosure relates to a connected car service, and more particularly to a method and system for managing the standby time of a connected car remote service. Background Technology

[0004] A connected car is a vehicle that connects to information and communication technologies and can provide internet services, mobile services, etc. External devices can remotely and wirelessly connect to a connected car to start or stop its engine or operate its heater or navigation system, and can access communication networks to provide email, multimedia streaming, social networking services, etc.

[0005] To this end, a modem installed in the customer terminal is used to connect the connected car to a customer terminal, such as a smartphone or a connected car service server, via a communication network.

[0006] However, for remote services, the modem needs to always be in standby mode, which leads to concerns about running out of battery power.

[0007] When a customer exits the modem's standby mode, they will be unable to use remote services. If a customer is suddenly absent for an extended period without exiting the modem's standby mode, they cannot prevent the battery from draining. In other words, customers have limitations in directly managing their modem.

[0008] The description in the related technical description section helps to understand the background of this disclosure. Therefore, this section may include matters other than prior art known to those skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains. Summary of the Invention

[0009] This disclosure addresses the aforementioned problems. The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a method and system for effectively managing the remote service standby time of connected vehicles.

[0010] In one aspect, this disclosure provides a method for managing the remote service standby time of a connected vehicle. The method includes the following steps: setting a remote service standby mode on a Connected Vehicle Service (CCS) terminal installed in the connected vehicle; the CCS terminal checking, according to the setting of the remote service standby mode, whether the end time for initiating the remote service standby mode has arrived; and when the end time for initiating the remote service standby mode has arrived, the CCS terminal requesting the shutdown of the modem installed in the connected vehicle.

[0011] The method may also include the following steps: ending the remote service standby time of the connected vehicle by requesting the modem to be turned off; checking whether it is time to start the remote service standby mode according to the remote service standby mode setting; when it is time to start the remote service standby mode, the CCS terminal requests to wake up the modem.

[0012] The method may further include the following steps: information about setting the remote service standby mode stored by the CCS terminal during the step of setting the remote service standby mode; the CCS terminal sending information about the remote service standby mode time of the modem and the status information of the connected vehicle to the CCS center that provides remote services to the connected vehicle; and when the end time of starting the remote service standby mode has arrived, the CCS terminal sending information about the end of the remote service standby mode and the latest status information of the connected vehicle to the CCS center.

[0013] The method may further include the following steps: after the CCS terminal sends information about ending the remote service standby mode and the latest status information about the connected vehicle to the CCS center, and before the CCS terminal requests the modem to be turned off, the CCS terminal sends information about ending the remote service standby mode to the client terminal, which is the terminal of the customer using the connected vehicle.

[0014] The method may further include the following steps: the CCS terminal sends information about the execution of the remote service standby mode of the connected vehicle by requesting to wake up the modem and the latest status information of the connected vehicle to the CCS center; and after sending the information about the execution of the remote service standby mode and the latest status information of the connected vehicle, the CCS terminal sends the information about the execution of the remote service standby mode to the client terminal.

[0015] Another aspect of this disclosure provides a method for managing remote service standby time for connected vehicles, the method comprising the steps of: a Connected Vehicle Service (CCS) center providing remote service to a connected vehicle notifying a customer terminal that it needs to end the remote service standby mode, the customer terminal being a terminal of a customer using the connected vehicle; and when the remote service standby mode is set via a CCS application installed on the customer terminal, the CCS center sending information about the settings of the remote service standby mode to the CCS terminal installed in the connected vehicle.

[0016] The method may also include the following steps: the CCS center receives information from the CCS terminal regarding changes in the remote service standby mode based on the settings of the remote service standby mode.

[0017] The method may further include the following steps: checking whether information has been registered, stored in the database (DB) of the CCS center, and used to infer that the connected vehicle has been unused for an extended period. When the check indicates that the information used to infer that the connected vehicle has been unused for an extended period has been registered, the method proceeds to notify the client terminal that the remote service standby mode needs to be terminated.

[0018] The method may also include a step where the CCS center checks whether the client terminal is roaming. If the check indicates that the client terminal is roaming, a step is performed to notify the client terminal that it needs to end the remote service standby mode.

[0019] The method may also include a step whereby the CCS center checks whether the Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) of the client terminal has been changed to a foreign USIM. If the check indicates that the client terminal's USIM has been changed to a foreign USIM, a step is performed to notify the client terminal that it needs to terminate the remote service standby mode.

[0020] The method may further include the following steps: the CCS center checks via a CCS terminal whether the connected vehicle has been inactive for an extended period since its engine was turned off. If the check indicates that the connected vehicle has been inactive for an extended period since its engine was turned off, the client terminal is notified to terminate the remote service standby mode.

[0021] The method may further include the following steps: the CCS center checks, via the CCS terminal and the client terminal, whether the distance between the connected vehicle and the client terminal is a predetermined distance or greater after the connected vehicle's engine is turned off. When the check result indicates that the distance between the connected vehicle and the client terminal is a predetermined distance or greater, the client terminal is notified to terminate the remote service standby mode.

[0022] The method may further include the following steps: the CCS center checks, via the CCS terminal and the client terminal, whether the location of the client terminal is at a predetermined distance or greater than a specific location set by the client after the engine of the connected car is turned off. When the check result indicates that the location of the client terminal is at a predetermined distance or greater than the specific location, the step of notifying the client terminal that the remote service standby mode needs to be terminated is executed.

[0023] Another aspect of this disclosure provides a system for managing remote service standby time in connected vehicles. The system includes: a connected vehicle equipped with a Connected Vehicle Service (CCS) terminal; a CCS center configured to provide remote services to the connected vehicle; and a client terminal having a CCS application installed therein and interacting with the CCS center, the client terminal being a terminal belonging to a user of the connected vehicle. The CCS center notifies the client terminal that the remote service standby mode needs to be terminated. When the time has elapsed to initiate the termination of the remote service standby mode according to the settings of the remote service standby mode, these settings are entered via the CCS application, and the CCS terminal requests the modem installed in the connected vehicle to be turned off.

[0024] In this system, once the remote service standby time of the connected car has ended by turning off the modem, the CCS terminal can request to wake up the modem when the time has come to start the remote service standby mode according to the settings of the remote service standby mode.

[0025] In this system, when the time has elapsed for the remote service standby mode to be activated, the CCS terminal can send a message to the client terminal indicating that the remote service standby mode has ended. Conversely, when the time has elapsed for the remote service standby mode to be activated, the CCS terminal can send information about the activation of the remote service standby mode to the client terminal.

[0026] In this system, the CCS center can check whether information has been registered. This information is stored in the CCS center's database (DB) and used to infer that the connected car has not been used for an extended period. When the check indicates that the information used to infer that the connected car has not been used for an extended period has been registered, the CCS center can notify the client terminal to terminate the remote service standby mode.

[0027] In this system, the CCS center can check whether the client terminal is roaming. When the check indicates that the client terminal is roaming, the CCS center can notify the client terminal that it needs to end the remote service standby mode.

[0028] In this system, the CCS center can use the CCS terminal to check whether the connected car has been inactive for an extended period since its engine was turned off. If the check indicates that the connected car has not been used for an extended period since its engine was turned off, the CCS center can notify the client terminal to terminate the remote service standby mode.

[0029] In this system, the CCS center can check, via the CCS terminal and the client terminal, whether the location of the client terminal is at a predetermined distance or greater than a specific location set by the customer after the engine of the connected car is turned off. When the check result indicates that the location of the client terminal is at a predetermined distance or greater than a specific location, the CCS center can notify the client terminal that it needs to terminate the remote service standby mode.

[0030] Methods and systems for managing remote service standby time for connected vehicles allow customers to use the modem's standby time in segments at desired times, thereby effectively utilizing limited battery resources for connected vehicles, increasing availability and facilitating connected vehicle management. Attached Figure Description

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic view of a system for managing remote service standby time of a connected vehicle according to the present disclosure.

[0032] Figure 2A , Figure 2B , Figure 3A and Figure 3B This is a flowchart of a method for managing remote service standby time of a connected vehicle according to this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0033] By referring to the accompanying drawings illustrating embodiments of the present disclosure and the contents shown in the drawings, one should fully understand the present disclosure, its operational advantages, and the objectives achieved by performing the present disclosure.

[0034] In describing embodiments of this disclosure, descriptions of well-known techniques that may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of this disclosure or repetitive descriptions have been shortened or omitted.

[0035] Figure 1 This is a schematic view of a system for managing remote service standby time of a connected vehicle according to the present disclosure. Figure 2A , Figure 2B , Figure 3A and Figure 3B This is a flowchart illustrating a method for managing remote service standby time of a connected vehicle according to the present disclosure.

[0036] In the following text, see references Figures 1 to 3B Methods and systems for managing remote service standby time of connected vehicles according to embodiments of the present disclosure are described.

[0037] This disclosure relates to a method and system for managing the remote service standby time of a modem for a connected vehicle, the modem having a connected vehicle service (CCS) terminal installed therein and connectable to a communication network.

[0038] The CCS terminal includes a CCS controller and a modem, and connects to the CCS center (server) that provides CCS via a communication network using the modem, and controls the connected car using the CCS controller.

[0039] When set to remote service standby mode, the modem can perform connection functions under the control of the CCS center. This disclosure provides a method and system for managing such remote service standby time.

[0040] The CCS center consists of a server and a database (DB). Specific programs (such as CCS applications) used to perform CCS management functions are loaded onto client terminals. Client terminals can be personal computers (PCs), smartphones, or tablets, which can communicate with the CCS center via a communication network.

[0041] First, the CCS center checks information regarding whether the connected car has been unused for an extended period (S11). The CCS center checks this information using the database stored in the CCS center. The CCS center receives the latest status information about the connected car from the connected car, stores the received information in the database, and updates the database.

[0042] Through the CCS application's interface, customers can input information about their schedules or connected cars via their terminals. This input can be sent to the CCS center and stored in a database.

[0043] Therefore, checking information about whether a connected car has been unused for an extended period involves checking whether this information has been registered, whether it is stored in the database at the CCS center (e.g., recorded in a calendar event), and whether it is used to infer that the connected car has been unused for a long time. Information used to infer that a connected car has been unused for a long time can include keywords such as "foreign," "business trip," "travel," "unused car," "airplane," and "train."

[0044] Then, the CCS center checks whether the client terminal is roaming (S12).

[0045] In other words, the CCS center checks whether a client terminal is currently roaming by using information sent by the client terminal.

[0046] The CCS center checks whether the Universal Subscriber Identification Module (USIM) of the customer terminal has been changed to a foreign USIM (S13). In other words, the CCS center checks whether a foreign USIM is currently installed in the customer terminal based on the information sent by the customer terminal. The results of the checks in steps S12 and S13 indicate that since he / she is currently abroad, the customer is unlikely to use the connected car for an extended period of time.

[0047] The CCS center checks whether the connected car has been inactive for an extended period (S14). This is to check whether the connected car has been inactive for an extended period since its engine was turned off, by checking the connected car's status information. The period of inactivity can be, for example, three days or longer, which can be set directly by the customer through the CCS application.

[0048] The CCS center checks the distance between the connected vehicle and the client terminal (S15). This involves checking, using information about the connected vehicle's status and the client terminal, whether the location / distance between the connected vehicle and the client terminal since the connected vehicle's engine was turned off is at or beyond a predetermined distance. For example, the predetermined distance could be set to 100 km.

[0049] The CCS center checks the location of the customer terminal (S16). This involves checking, using information about the connected vehicle's status and the customer terminal, whether the customer terminal's location / distance after the connected vehicle's engine is turned off is a predetermined distance or further than a specific location (such as a location registered in the connected vehicle's navigation system, or a location the customer frequently visits). Examples of specific locations could include "my home," "office," etc., and the predetermined distance could be set, for example, 100 km.

[0050] The checks in steps S11-S16 correspond to the checks used to determine whether the connected vehicle has been unused for an extended period. When the results of the checks in steps S11-S16 indicate that the connected vehicle has been unused for an extended period, the CCS center notifies the client terminal that it needs to terminate the remote service standby mode (S21). For ease of explanation, steps S11-S16 have been described sequentially. However, the order of the steps is not limited to this, and step S21 is executed only when any one of steps S11-S16 is satisfied.

[0051] A message used to notify users that remote service standby mode needs to be terminated could be something like, "Do you want to terminate remote service standby mode?".

[0052] Then, when the customer wants to end the remote service standby mode according to the notification in step S21 (Yes), the customer can set the remote service standby mode through the CCS application (S22). The remote service standby mode can be set to "Immediately start the end of the remote service standby mode", and can be set by the customer entering the "scheduled time to end the remote service standby mode" or the "time to start the remote service standby mode". When the customer does not want to end the remote service standby mode, the remote service standby mode will remain.

[0053] According to the settings in step S22, both the client terminal and the CCS terminal store information about the remote service standby mode settings (scheduled time or start time) (S23). The CCS terminal sends the connected vehicle's status information to the CCS center, including information about the modem's remote service standby mode time, battery status, modem standby time, and fuel level (S24). The CCS center updates the database based on the latest status information of the connected vehicle (S25).

[0054] Next, the CCS terminal checks whether the end time for initiating the remote service standby mode has arrived (S31). In other words, the CCS terminal checks whether the preset time for the end of the remote service standby mode has arrived. When the check result indicates that the time has arrived, the CCS terminal ends the remote service standby mode and sends the status information about the connected vehicle to the CCS center (S32). The CCS center updates the database with the end of the remote service standby mode and updates the latest status information about the connected vehicle (S41).

[0055] Then, the CCS center notifies the client terminal that the remote service standby mode has ended and the remote service is unavailable (S33).

[0056] Then, the CCS terminal requests to shut down the modem (S34). In other words, the CCS terminal requests to shut down the modem via the controller (microcomputer) to end the remote service standby mode. Therefore, the modem's remote service standby time ends, and remote service becomes unavailable.

[0057] After the remote service standby time described above ends, the CCS terminal checks whether it is time to start the remote service standby mode (S35). This is to check whether the previously set time to start the remote service standby mode has arrived, and to check for requests such as "Start remote service standby mode immediately", which can be made directly by the customer through the CCS application.

[0058] When the check indicates that it is time to activate the remote service standby mode, the CCS terminal requests to wake up the modem (S36). In other words, in order to execute the remote service standby mode, the CCS terminal requests to wake up the modem via the controller (microcomputer). Therefore, the modem's remote service standby time is activated, and remote service becomes available.

[0059] Next, the CCS terminal sends information about the remote service standby mode and the connected vehicle's status information to the CCS center (S37). The CCS center updates the database based on the information about the remote service standby mode and the connected vehicle's status information (S42).

[0060] Then, the CCS center notifies the client terminal that it has entered remote service standby mode and that remote service is available (S38).

[0061] As described above, this disclosure can manage remote service standby time so that when it is inferred that the connected vehicle has not been used for an extended period, the remote service standby mode can be terminated and restarted via user settings. This protects the connected vehicle's battery and provides convenience for the user.

[0062] As described above, although this disclosure has been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to this disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. Therefore, examples of such changes or modifications should be construed as falling within the claims of this disclosure, and the scope of this disclosure should be interpreted based on the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for managing the remote service standby time of a connected car, the method comprising the following steps: The connected vehicle service center that provides remote services to the connected vehicle notifies the customer terminal that it needs to end the remote service standby mode. The customer terminal is the terminal of the customer using the connected vehicle. When the remote service standby mode is set via the connected car service application installed in the customer terminal, the connected car service center sends information about the setting of the remote service standby mode to the connected car service terminal installed in the connected car; and The necessity of ending the remote service standby mode is determined by the connected car service center, and is not affected by setting the end of the remote service standby mode through the connected car service application.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the following steps: The connected car service center receives information from the connected car service terminal regarding a change in the remote service standby mode based on the settings of the remote service standby mode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, The necessity of determining the end of the remote service standby mode includes, The inspection information is stored in the database of the connected car service center and used to infer that the connected car has not been used for a long time; When the information is used to infer that the connected car has not been used for an extended period, it is determined that the remote service standby mode needs to be terminated. return Includes the following steps: Specifically, when the information is used to infer that the connected vehicle has not been used for a long time, the step of notifying the client terminal that the remote service standby mode needs to be terminated is executed.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, The necessity of determining the end of the remote service standby mode includes, The connected car service center checks the roaming status of the customer terminal; When the client terminal is roaming, it is determined that the remote service standby mode needs to be terminated. return Includes the following steps: Specifically, when the client terminal is roaming, the step of notifying the client terminal that it needs to end the remote service standby mode is executed.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, The necessity of determining the end of the remote service standby mode includes, The connected car service center checks whether the universal subscriber identification module of the customer terminal has been changed to a foreign universal subscriber identification module. When the universal subscriber identification module of the client terminal has been changed to a foreign universal subscriber identification module, it is determined that the remote service standby mode needs to be terminated. return Includes the following steps: Specifically, when the universal subscriber identification module of the client terminal has been changed to the foreign universal subscriber identification module, the step of notifying the client terminal that the remote service standby mode needs to be terminated is executed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein, The necessity of determining the end of the remote service standby mode includes, The connected car service center checks the period of inactivity of the connected car since its engine was turned off via the connected car service terminal. If the connected vehicle has not been used for an extended period since its engine was turned off, it is determined that the remote service standby mode needs to be terminated. return Includes the following steps: Specifically, when the connected vehicle has not been used for an extended period since its engine was turned off, the step of notifying the client terminal that the remote service standby mode needs to be terminated is executed.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein, The necessity of determining the end of the remote service standby mode includes, The connected car service center checks the distance between the connected car and the customer terminal after the engine of the connected car is turned off, through the connected car service terminal and the customer terminal. When the distance between the connected vehicle and the client terminal is a predetermined distance or greater, it is determined that the remote service standby mode needs to be terminated. return Includes the following steps: Specifically, when the distance between the connected vehicle and the client terminal is the predetermined distance or a greater distance, the step of notifying the client terminal that the remote service standby mode needs to be terminated is executed.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein, The necessity of determining the end of the remote service standby mode includes, The connected car service center checks the location of the customer terminal after the engine of the connected car is turned off through the connected car service terminal and the customer terminal; When the location of the client terminal is at a predetermined distance or greater than the specific location set by the client, it is determined that the remote service standby mode needs to be terminated. return Includes the following steps: Specifically, when the location of the client terminal is at a predetermined distance or greater than the specific location, the step of notifying the client terminal that the remote service standby mode needs to be terminated is executed.

9. A system for managing the remote service standby time of a connected vehicle, the system comprising: A connected car, wherein a connected car service terminal is installed in the connected car; A connected car service center is configured to provide remote services to the connected car. as well as A client terminal, having a connected car service application installed therein and interacting with the connected car service center, the client terminal being the terminal of a customer using the connected car. The connected car service center notifies the customer terminal that it needs to end the remote service standby mode, and When the time has come for the end of the remote service standby mode as set by the remote service standby mode, the settings are entered through the connected car service application, and the connected car service terminal requests the modem installed in the connected car to be turned off. Since the remote service standby time of the connected vehicle ended by turning off the modem, when the time has come to activate the remote service standby mode according to the settings of the remote service standby mode, the connected vehicle service terminal requests to wake up the modem. The necessity of ending the remote service standby mode is determined by the connected car service center, and is not affected by setting the end of the remote service standby mode through the connected car service application.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein, When the time has elapsed for the remote service standby mode to end, the connected car service terminal sends a message to the client terminal regarding the end of the remote service standby mode, and When the time has come to activate the remote service standby mode, the connected car service terminal will send information about activating the remote service standby mode to the client terminal.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein, The inspection information from the connected car service center is stored in the connected car service center's database and used to infer that the connected car has not been used for a long time. When the information is used to infer that the connected car has not been used for an extended period, the connected car service center determines that the remote service standby mode needs to be terminated. When the information is used to infer that the connected car has not been used for a long time, the connected car service center notifies the customer terminal that the remote service standby mode needs to be terminated.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein, The connected car service center checks the roaming status of the customer terminal. When the client terminal is roaming, the connected car service center determines that it needs to terminate the remote service standby mode, and When the customer terminal is roaming, the connected car service center notifies the customer terminal that it needs to end the remote service standby mode.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein, The connected car service center uses the connected car service terminal to check the period of inactivity of the connected car since its engine was turned off. When the connected vehicle has not been used for an extended period since its engine was turned off, the connected vehicle service center determines that the remote service standby mode needs to be terminated. When the connected vehicle has not been used for an extended period since its engine was turned off, the connected vehicle service center notifies the customer terminal that the remote service standby mode needs to be terminated.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein, The connected car service center checks the location of the customer terminal after the connected car's engine is turned off through the connected car service terminal and the customer terminal. When the location of the customer terminal is at a predetermined distance or greater than the specific location set by the customer, the connected car service center determines that the remote service standby mode needs to be terminated. When the location of the customer terminal is at a predetermined distance or greater than the specific location, the connected car service center notifies the customer terminal that it needs to end the remote service standby mode.

Images