Add-on information conversion device

Abstract

An information conversion device (1) converts installation information used in an installation control device (2) that controls an installation body, and outputs the converted information to a vehicle body control device (3) that controls a vehicle body connected to the installation body, and has an installation information acquisition section (121) that acquires installation information from the installation control device (2), the installation information including control information for controlling the installation body and installation-side identification information that identifies the control information, and an installation information conversion section (122) that converts the installation-side identification information included in the installation information acquired by the installation information acquisition section (121) to vehicle-body-side identification information associated with the installation-side identification information, according to a conversion rule that associates the vehicle-body-side identification information used in the vehicle body control device (3) with the installation-side identification information.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a technology for transmitting and receiving information between a vehicle body and an add-on body of a vehicle. BACKGROUND

[0002] Patent Literature 1 discloses a technology for transmitting add-on information output from an add-on control device installed on an add-on body to a vehicle body control device installed on a vehicle body.

[0003] PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

[0004] PATENT LITERATURE

[0005] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-023574 SUMMARY

[0006] PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0007] The add-on information output from the add-on body includes control information for controlling the add-on body and identification information for identifying the control information. At this time, if the identification information for identifying the control information used in the add-on control device and the identification information for identifying the control information used in the vehicle body control device compete with each other, the vehicle body control device cannot correctly process the control information.

[0008] The present disclosure focuses on these points, and aims to correctly process the control information.

[0009] MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM

[0010] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an add-on information conversion device that converts add-on information used in an add-on control device that controls an add-on body to be output to a vehicle body control device that controls a vehicle body connected to the add-on body, and the add-on information conversion device includes: an add-on information acquisition section that acquires the add-on information from the add-on control device, the add-on information including control information for controlling the add-on body and add-on side identification information for identifying the control information; and an add-on information conversion section that converts the add-on side identification information included in the add-on information acquired by the add-on information acquisition section to vehicle body side identification information associated with the add-on side identification information according to a conversion rule in which the vehicle body side identification information used in the vehicle body control device is associated with the add-on side identification information.

[0011] The add-on information conversion device can further include a storage section that stores a conversion table as the conversion rule in which the vehicle body side identification information is associated with the add-on side identification information, wherein the add-on information conversion section can convert the add-on side identification information to the vehicle body side identification information by referring to the conversion table stored in the storage section.

[0012] The add-on information conversion section can convert the add-on side identification information into the vehicle body side identification information without converting the control information, and the add-on information conversion device can further include an output control section that outputs the converted add-on information to the vehicle body control device, in which the add-on side identification information has been converted into the vehicle body side identification information by the add-on information conversion section and the control information has not been converted, so that the storage section of the vehicle body control device stores the converted add-on information.

[0013] The add-on information acquisition section can further acquire a transmission instruction for transmitting the add-on information to an external device, and if the transmission instruction is acquired together with the add-on information, the output control section can cause the converted add-on information to be transmitted to the external device, in which the add-on side identification information has been converted into the vehicle body side identification information by the add-on information conversion section and the control information has not been converted.

[0014] The add-on information acquisition section can further acquire a transmission instruction for transmitting the add-on information to an external device, and if the transmission instruction is acquired together with the add-on information, the output control section can cause the converted add-on information to be transmitted to the external device, in which the add-on side identification information has been converted into the vehicle body side identification information by the add-on information conversion section and the control information has not been converted.

[0015] The add-on information acquisition section can acquire the control information represented by at least one of a binary number and a hexadecimal number.

[0016] The storage section can store a conversion table as the conversion rule, in which the vehicle body side identification information is associated with the add-on side identification information, and

[0017] The add-on information acquisition section can acquire a new conversion table and update the conversion table stored in the storage section to the acquired new conversion table.

[0018] Effects of the Invention

[0019] According to the present disclosure, information can be correctly processed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 is a diagram for explaining an outline of an information transmission system according to an embodiment.

[0021] Figure 2 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of an add-on information conversion device according to an embodiment.

[0022] Figure 3 schematically shows a conversion table.

[0023] Figure 4It is a diagram used to illustrate the installation information.

[0024] Figure 5 This is a diagram illustrating the process of converting installation information into transformed installation information.

[0025] Figure 6 This is a diagram used to illustrate the sending of instructions.

[0026] Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow performed by an information conversion device. Detailed Implementation

[0027] Overview of Information Transmission System S

[0028] Figure 1 This is a diagram illustrating an overview of the information transmission system S according to an embodiment. The information transmission system S includes a vehicle V, a vehicle body server 4, and an aftermarket server 5. The vehicle body server 4 is a server managed by the operator of the vehicle body B that manufactures the vehicle V. The aftermarket server 5 is a server managed by the operator of the aftermarket assembly A. The vehicle V and the vehicle body server 4 are connected to each other in a communicable manner. Furthermore, the vehicle body server 4 and the aftermarket server 5 are connected to each other in a communicable manner. The information transmission system S sends information about the vehicle body B to the vehicle body server 4. Additionally, the information transmission system S sends information about the aftermarket assembly A to the aftermarket server 5 via the vehicle body server 4.

[0029] Vehicle V includes a mounting body A and a vehicle body B connected to the mounting body A. For example, vehicle V may be a dump truck, concrete mixer truck, tanker truck, refrigerated truck, aerial work platform truck, campervan, fire truck, or ambulance. Mounting body A is equipped with various devices for operating mounting body A and sensors for detecting the status of these devices. For example, if mounting body A is an aerial work platform truck, it is equipped with a lift for raising and lowering the work platform, on which the operator rides during operation, and sensors for detecting the status of the lift (e.g., hydraulic pressure in the cylinders). Furthermore, mounting body A is equipped with a mounting control device 2, which controls the various devices installed within mounting body A.

[0030] Vehicle B is equipped with a vehicle control device 3 for controlling vehicle B. The vehicle control device 3 includes a storage unit ( Figure 2 The storage unit 31 and the transmission unit (in the middle) Figure 2 The transmission unit 32 is included in the transmission unit 32. The storage unit 31 stores information for controlling the vehicle body B. The storage unit 31 includes a storage medium, such as a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), and a hard disk. The storage unit 31 stores vehicle body information, including control information for controlling the vehicle body B and vehicle-side identification information for identifying the control information.

[0031] The transmission section 32 is a wireless communication module that transmits at least either of information about the vehicle body B and information about the add-on body A to the vehicle body server 4. For example, the transmission section 32 can transmit the information to the vehicle body server 4 using a mobile phone network. For example, the mobile phone network is a fourth-generation mobile communication system or a fifth-generation mobile communication system. The transmission section 32 can transmit the information to the vehicle body server 4 using Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0032] The add-on control device 2 outputs the add-on information, which includes the control information for controlling the add-on body A and the add-on side identification information for identifying the control information, to the vehicle body B. At this time, if the add-on side identification information used in the add-on control device 2 and the vehicle body side identification information used in the vehicle body control device 3 compete with each other, the vehicle body control device 3 cannot correctly process the control information included in the add-on information. That is, if the same identification information is used in the add-on side identification information and the vehicle body side identification information, the vehicle body control device 3 can process the control information about the add-on body A as the control information about the vehicle body B.

[0033] Here, the vehicle V is equipped with the add-on information conversion device 1 that converts the add-on identification information and outputs the converted add-on identification information to the vehicle body control device 3. The add-on information conversion device 1 converts the add-on side identification information into the vehicle body side identification information so that the add-on side identification information and the vehicle body side identification information do not compete with each other. Therefore, since the add-on side identification information and the vehicle body side identification information do not compete with each other, the vehicle body control device 3 can correctly process the add-on information.

[0034] <Configuration of the add-on information conversion device 1 according to an embodiment of the present application>

[0035] Figure 2 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the add-on information conversion device 1 according to an embodiment of the present application. The add-on information conversion device 1 includes a storage section 11 and a control section 12. The storage section 11 includes a storage medium such as a ROM, a RAM, and a hard disk. The storage section 11 stores a program executed by the control section 12.

[0036] Further, the storage section 11 stores a conversion rule in which the vehicle body side identification information used in the vehicle body control device 3 is associated with the add-on side identification information. For example, the storage section 11 stores a conversion table as the conversion rule in which the vehicle body side identification information is associated with the add-on side identification information. Figure 3 The conversion table R is schematically shown. As shown in Figure 3 the add-on side identification information and the vehicle body side identification information are associated with each other in a one-to-one manner. For example, the vehicle body side identification information

[11] is associated with the add-on side identification information

[01] .

[0037] The control section 12 is a computing resource including a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU). By executing a program stored in the storage section 11, the control section 12 functions as an add-on information acquisition section 121, an add-on information conversion section 122, and an output control section 123.

[0038] The add-on information acquisition section 121 acquires add-on information from the add-on control device 2, which includes control information for controlling the add-on body A and add-on side identification information for identifying the control information. Figure 4 is a diagram for explaining the add-on information Dr. The add-on control device 2 outputs a plurality of pieces of add-on information Dr (add-on information Dr1 and add-on information Dr2). Alternatively, the add-on control device 2 can output one piece of add-on information Dr or three or more pieces of add-on information Dr.

[0039] The add-on information Dr includes add-on side identification information AID and control information CI. Each of the add-on side identification information AID and the control information CI is digital data represented by 0 and 1. It should be noted that the add-on control device 2 outputs a plurality of pieces of add-on information Dr at predetermined time intervals. For example, the predetermined time interval is 30 milliseconds. The add-on information acquisition section 121 acquires the add-on information Dr output by the add-on control device 2 in order.

[0040] The add-on information acquisition section 121 can acquire the add-on information Dr at a time interval longer than the time interval at which the add-on control device 2 outputs the add-on information Dr. For example, the add-on information acquisition section 121 acquires the add-on information Dr output from the add-on control device 2 after 100 milliseconds (longer than 30 milliseconds) have elapsed since the add-on information Dr was acquired. Specifically, the add-on information acquisition section 121 discards the add-on information Dr output from the add-on control device 2 before 100 milliseconds have elapsed since the add-on information Dr was acquired. For this reason, the add-on information acquisition section 121 can reduce the processing load by preventing more information than necessary from being acquired.

[0041] The control information CI is information for controlling the add-on body A, such as the oil pressure of an oil cylinder, the operating state of various devices installed in the add-on body A, or a failure code used when various devices have failed. The control information CI can include the name of the add-on manufacturer, the model or type of the add-on body, the product serial number of the add-on body, and the like.

[0042] It should be noted that the add-on information acquisition section 121 can acquire the control information CI without knowing the details of the control information CI. In other words, the add-on information acquisition section 121 acquires the control information CI as numerical data represented by binary numbers of 0 and 1, without acquiring the details of the information indicated by the acquired numerical data. Alternatively, the control information CI can be represented not only by binary numbers, but also by hexadecimal numbers. For this reason, for example, another user cannot grasp the meaning of the value of the control information CI. Therefore, the user who manages the add-on server 5 can keep the contents of the control information CI secret from other users.

[0043] The add-on information conversion section 122 converts the add-on information Dr into converted add-on information. For example, the add-on information conversion section 122 converts the add-on side identification information AID included in the add-on information Dr into the vehicle body side identification information BID associated with the add-on side identification information AID. Specifically, the add-on information conversion section 122 converts the add-on side identification information AID into the vehicle body side identification information BID according to a predetermined conversion rule. More specifically, first, the add-on information conversion section 122 refers to the conversion table R stored in the storage section 11, and specifies the vehicle body side identification information BID associated with the acquired add-on side identification information AID. Then, the add-on information conversion section 122 converts the acquired add-on side identification information AID into the specified vehicle body side identification information BID. It should be noted that the add-on information conversion section 122 converts the add-on side identification information AID included in the add-on information Dr into the vehicle body side identification information BID, but does not convert the control information CI.

[0044] Figure 5 is a diagram for illustrating a process of converting the add-on information Dr into converted add-on information Dc. As shown in Figure 5 the add-on information conversion section 122 converts the add-on side identification information AID

[01] included in the add-on information Dr1 into the vehicle body side identification information BID

[11] by referring to the conversion table R. In addition, the add-on information conversion section 122 does not convert the control information CI1 [1100101] included in the add-on information Dr1. In this way, the add-on information conversion section 122 converts the add-on information Dr1 into converted add-on information Dc1. Similarly, the add-on information conversion section 122 converts the add-on side identification information AID

[02] included in the add-on information Dr2 into the vehicle body side identification information BID

[12] , and converts the add-on information Dr2 into converted add-on information Dc2, without converting the control information CI2 [0110000].

[0045] It should be noted that the data length of the add-on information Dr is not limited to the above, and can be appropriately set. That is, the length of the add-on side identification information AID and the length of the control information CI can be appropriately set in consideration of the specifications of the add-on control device 2.

[0046] The output control section 123 outputs the converted add-on information Dc obtained by converting the add-on information Dr with the add-on information conversion section 122 to the vehicle body control device 3. Specifically, the output control section 123 outputs the converted add-on information Dc to the vehicle body control device 3, in which the add-on side identification information AID included in the add-on information Dr has been converted to the vehicle body side identification information BID, and the control information CI has not been converted. More specifically, the output control section 123 outputs the converted add-on information Dc to the vehicle body control device 3, so that the storage section 31 of the vehicle body control device 3 stores the converted add-on information Dc. After acquiring the converted add-on information Dc, the vehicle body control device 3 stores the converted add-on information Dc in the storage section 31 of the vehicle body control device 3. The add-on information conversion device 1 converts the identification information in this way. For this reason, the vehicle body control device 3 can correctly store the converted add-on information Dc together with the vehicle body information in the storage section 31 of the vehicle body control device 3, while preventing a race of the identification information.

[0047] Further, the output control section 123 can cause the converted add-on information Dc to be transmitted to an external device. For example, the output control section 123 causes the converted add-on information Dc to be transmitted to at least one of the vehicle body server 4 and the add-on server 5 as external devices, through the transmission section 32 of the vehicle body control device 3. In this case, the add-on control device 2 outputs a transmission instruction to transmit the add-on information Dr to the external device, and the add-on information acquisition section 121 further acquires the transmission instruction.

[0048] Figure 6 is a diagram for explaining the transmission instruction TR. The add-on control device 2 outputs the transmission instruction TR together with the add-on information Dr. For example, the transmission instruction TR includes transmission identification information TID for identifying the transmission instruction TR and instruction information SI indicating whether or not to transmit the add-on information Dr. The transmission identification information TID is set in advance, and

[90] is set as the transmission identification information TID in the present embodiment. Further, in the present embodiment, the instruction information SI indicates that the add-on information Dr is not to be transmitted if the instruction information SI is

[00] , and indicates that the add-on information Dr is to be transmitted if the instruction information SI is

[01] .

[0049] The installation information acquisition unit 121 acquires the transmission command TR output by the installation control device 2. If the installation information acquisition unit 121 acquires the transmission command TR which includes instruction information

[01] indicating that installation information Dr should be transmitted, the installation information acquisition unit 121 notifies the output control unit 123 of the instruction to transmit the installation information Dr1 acquired together with the transmission command TR. Then, after receiving the instruction to transmit the installation information Dr1 from the installation information acquisition unit 121, the output control unit 123 transmits the converted installation information Dc to the installation server 5 through the transmission unit 32 of the vehicle control device 3 and the vehicle server 4.

[0050] In this way, the output control unit 123 can send the converted installation information Dc to the installation server 5 when the installation control device 2 has already output the transmission command TR. Therefore, by causing the installation control device 2 to output the transmission command TR at a predetermined time, the output control unit 123 can send the converted installation information Dc to the installation server 5 at a predetermined time. Therefore, if the installation body A malfunctions or one of its components needs to be replaced, the output control unit 123 can immediately send the converted installation information Dc to the installation server 5 without storing the converted installation information Dc in the vehicle body control device 3.

[0051] <Processing flow performed by the added information conversion device 1>

[0052] Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing flow performed by the installation information conversion device 1. First, the installation information acquisition unit 121 acquires installation information Dr from the installation control device 2 (S1). For example, the installation information acquisition unit 121 acquires the installation information Dr from the installation control device 2 at a time interval (100 milliseconds) longer than the time interval (30 milliseconds) at which the installation control device 2 outputs the installation information Dr.

[0053] Next, the installation information conversion unit 122 converts the installation information Dr into the converted installation information Dc according to the conversion rules stored in the storage unit 11 (S2). Specifically, the installation information conversion unit 122 converts the installation-side identification information AID into the vehicle-side identification information BID by referring to the conversion table R stored in the storage unit 11.

[0054] Subsequently, the output control section 123 determines whether or not to transmit the converted add-on information Dc converted by the add-on information conversion section 122 to the add-on server 5 (S3). Specifically, if the instruction information SI included in the transmission instruction TR indicates that the add-on information Dr is to be transmitted (YES in S3), the output control section 123 determines that the add-on information Dr is to be transmitted to the add-on server 5. Then, the output control section 123 transmits the converted add-on information Dc to the add-on server 5 (S4). For example, the output control section 123 transmits the converted add-on information Dc to the add-on server 5 through the transmission section 32 of the vehicle body control device 3 and the vehicle body server 4.

[0055] Even if it is instructed to transmit the add-on information Dr, the output control section 123 can cause the storage section 31 of the vehicle body control device 3 to store the converted add-on information Dc. That is, if the instruction information SI included in the transmission instruction TR indicates that the add-on information Dr is to be transmitted, the output control section 123 causes the converted add-on information Dc to be transmitted to the add-on server 5, and causes the storage section 31 of the vehicle body control device 3 to store the converted add-on information Dc.

[0056] If the instruction information SI included in the transmission instruction TR indicates that the add-on information Dr is not to be transmitted (NO in S3), the output control section 123 determines not to transmit the add-on information Dr to the add-on server 5. In this case, the output control section 123 outputs the converted add-on information Dc to the vehicle body control device 3, thereby causing the storage section 31 of the vehicle body control device 3 to store the converted add-on information Dc (S5).

[0057] <Modification>

[0058] The conversion table R as the conversion rule can be rewritable. For example, the add-on information acquisition section 121 acquires a new conversion table R from the add-on server 5 through the vehicle body server 4 and the vehicle body control device 3. Then, the add-on information acquisition section 121 updates the conversion table R stored in the storage section 11 of the add-on information conversion device 1 to the acquired new conversion table R. For this reason, the operator who manufactures the add-on A can appropriately rewrite the conversion rule.

[0059] <Effects of the Add-On Information Conversion Device 1 According to the Embodiments of the Invention>

[0060] As described above, the add-on information conversion device 1 acquires the add-on information Dr from the add-on control device 2, which includes the control information CI for controlling the add-on body A and the add-on side identification information AID for identifying the control information CI. Then, the add-on information conversion device 1 converts the add-on side identification information AID included in the acquired add-on information Dr to the vehicle body side identification information BID associated with the add-on side identification information AID according to a conversion rule in which the vehicle body side identification information BID used in the vehicle body control device 3 is associated with the add-on side identification information AID. In this way, the add-on information conversion device 1 can appropriately convert the add-on side identification information AID to the vehicle body side identification information BID so that the add-on side identification information AID and the vehicle body side identification information BID do not compete with each other. As a result, the vehicle body control device 3 can correctly process the control information CI included in the add-on information Dr obtained from the add-on control device 2 and can correctly store the control information CI for controlling the add-on body A in the storage section 31 of the vehicle body control device 3.

[0061] The present disclosure has been described on the basis of the example embodiments. The technical scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the scope explained by the above embodiments. Various changes and modifications are possible within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, all or a part of the device can be configured with any functionally or physically dispersed or integrated units. In addition, new example embodiments resulting from any combination of the above described example embodiments are included in the example embodiments. In addition, the effects of the new example embodiments resulting from the combination are also encompassed by the effects of the original example embodiments.

[0062] Explanation of Reference Signs

[0063] 1 add-on information conversion device

[0064] 11 storage section

[0065] 12 control section

[0066] 121 add-on information acquisition section

[0067] 122 add-on information conversion section

[0068] 123 output control section

[0069] 2 add-on control device

[0070] 3 vehicle body control device

[0071] 31 storage section

[0072] 32 transmission section

[0073] 4 vehicle body server

[0074] 5 add-on server

Claims

1. An add-on information conversion device that converts add-on information used in an add-on control device that controls an add-on body, and outputs the converted add-on information to a vehicle body control device that controls a vehicle body to which the add-on body is connected, the add-on information conversion device comprising: an add-on information acquisition section that acquires the add-on information from the add-on control device, the add-on information including control information for controlling the add-on body and add-on side identification information for identifying the control information; an add-on information conversion section that converts the add-on side identification information included in the add-on information acquired by the add-on information acquisition section to vehicle body side identification information that corresponds one-to-one to the add-on side identification information acquired by the add-on information acquisition section without converting the control information, in a conversion rule in which vehicle body side identification information used in the vehicle body control device is associated one-to-one with the add-on side identification information; and an output control section that outputs the converted add-on information to the vehicle body control device to cause a storage section of the vehicle body control device to store the converted add-on information in which the add-on side identification information has been converted to the vehicle body side identification information by the add-on information conversion section without the control information being converted, the add-on information acquisition section acquires from the add-on control device: a) control information for controlling a to-be-controlled device provided on the add-on body and including control information indicating a state of the to-be-controlled device, b) the add-on information, and c) instruction information indicating whether or not the add-on information is to be transmitted to an external device managed by an operator who manufactures the add-on body, and if the instruction information does not indicate that the add-on information is to be transmitted to the external device, the output control section outputs the converted add-on information to the vehicle body control device and causes the storage section of the vehicle body control device to store the converted add-on information in which the add-on side identification information has been converted to the vehicle body side identification information, and if the instruction information indicates that the add-on information is to be transmitted to the external device, the output control section transmits the converted add-on information to the external device without causing the converted add-on information to be stored in the storage section of the vehicle body control device.

2. The add-on information conversion device according to claim 1, further comprising: a storage section that stores a conversion table as the conversion rule in which the vehicle body side identification information is associated with the add-on side identification information, wherein the add-on information conversion section converts the add-on side identification information to the vehicle body side identification information by referring to the conversion table stored in the storage section.

3. The add-on information conversion device according to claim 1, wherein the add-on information acquisition section further acquires a transmission instruction along with the add-on information, the transmission instruction being for transmitting the add-on information to an external device, and the output control section transmits the converted add-on information to the external device without causing the converted add-on information to be stored in the storage section of the vehicle body control device if the transmission instruction indicates that the add-on information is to be transmitted to the external device. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ If the add-on information acquisition section acquires the transmission instruction, the output control section causes the converted add-on information to be transmitted to the external device by the vehicle body control device, in which the add-on side identification information has been converted to the vehicle body side identification information by the add-on information conversion section, and the control information has not been converted.

4. The add-on information conversion device according to claim 1, wherein The add-on information acquisition section further acquires a transmission instruction for transmitting the add-on information to an external device, and If the transmission instruction is acquired together with the add-on information, the output control section causes the converted add-on information to be transmitted to the external device without storing the converted add-on information in a storage section of the vehicle body control device, and if only the add-on information is acquired, the output control section causes the converted add-on information to be stored in the storage section of the vehicle body control device.

5. The add-on information conversion device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The add-on information acquisition section acquires control information represented by at least one of a binary number and a hexadecimal number.

6. The add-on information conversion device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The storage section stores a conversion table as the conversion rule, in which the vehicle body side identification information is associated with the add-on side identification information, and The add-on information acquisition section acquires a new conversion table and updates the conversion table stored in the storage section to the acquired new conversion table.

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