Communication method, terminal device, and management server

Abstract

To improve the convenience of a dynamic state management system including a terminal device mounted on a moving object and a management server for managing the dynamic state of the moving object.SOLUTION: Dynamic state information indicating the dynamic state of a vehicle 20 is transmitted from a terminal device 11 to a management server 12 using a line allocated to a cloud SIM server 13. A notification indicating receipt of the dynamic state information and period information specifying a period are transmitted from the management server 12 to the terminal device 11 using the line. The terminal device 11 enables a function of connecting to a mobile broadband line until the period specified by the period information expires.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a communication method executed between a terminal device mounted on a mobile object and a management server that manages the dynamics of the mobile object. The present disclosure also relates to the terminal device and the management server. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a terminal device mounted on a vehicle as an example of a moving body. The terminal device transmits vehicle status information indicating the vehicle status to a server via a communication line. The server manages the vehicle status based on the status information. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2023-017254 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] There is a demand for improving the convenience of a movement management system that includes a terminal device mounted on a moving object and a management server that manages the movement of the moving object. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] One example of an aspect provided by the present disclosure is a communication method executed between a terminal device mounted on a moving object and a management server that manages a dynamic state of the moving object, the method comprising: transmitting status information indicating a status of the moving object from the terminal device to the management server using the line assigned to the line selection device; transmitting a notification indicating that the activity information has been received and period information designating a period from the management server to the terminal device using the line; The terminal device enables a function of connecting to a mobile broadband line until the period specified by the period information expires.

[0006] One example of an aspect provided by the present disclosure is a terminal device mounted on a moving object, A communication interface; A processor; It is equipped with The processor, transmitting status information indicating a status of the moving object from the communication interface to a management server that manages the status of the moving object by using the line assigned to the line selection device; When the communication interface receives a notification indicating that the status information has been received and period information specifying a period from the management server, the communication interface enables a connection function to a mobile broadband line until the period specified by the period information expires.

[0007] One example of an aspect provided by the present disclosure is a management server for managing a movement of a moving object, comprising: a communication interface for receiving status information indicating a status of the mobile object transmitted from a terminal device mounted on the mobile object using the line assigned to the line selection device; a processor that, when the communication interface receives the behavior information, transmits from the communication interface a notification indicating that the behavior information has been received and period information that specifies a period during which the terminal device is to enable a function of connecting to a mobile broadband line; It is equipped with:

[0008] According to the configurations of the above-mentioned embodiments, the terminal device mounted on the mobile object to transmit the status information of the mobile object to be managed to the management server can also be operated as a Wi-Fi router for connecting to a mobile broadband line. This makes it unnecessary to prepare and manage an independent Wi-Fi router for enjoying various services provided through the mobile broadband line within the mobile object. This improves the convenience of the status management system including the terminal device mounted on the mobile object and the management server that manages the status of the mobile object. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 2 illustrates an example of a functional configuration of a movement management system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] 2 illustrates an example of a communication method executed in the movement management system of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 10 illustrates another example of a communication method executed in the movement management system of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] An example of an embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 illustrates a functional configuration of a movement management system 10 according to an embodiment. In the figure, the scale has been appropriately changed so that each illustrated element can be recognized.

[0011] The movement management system 10 includes a terminal device 11. The terminal device 11 is mounted on a vehicle 20 and configured to acquire movement information of the vehicle 20. Examples of the movement information that can be acquired by the terminal device 11 include the location and moving speed of the vehicle 20. The vehicle 20 is an example of a moving body.

[0012] The movement management system 10 includes a management server 12. The management server 12 is configured to be able to communicate with the terminal device 11 through a wireless communication network 30. The wireless communication network 30 complies with wireless communication standards such as LTE (Long Term Evolution) and 5G.

[0013] The management server 12 is configured to receive the status information of the vehicle 20 acquired by the terminal device 11 via the wireless communication network 30 and manage the status of the vehicle 20. Examples of the status of the vehicle 20 that can be managed by the management server 12 include the location and travel speed described above, as well as travel distance and status information. Examples of the status information include the type of road the vehicle 20 is traveling on, the operating state of the vehicle 20 (moving, waiting, resting, etc.), and the estimated time of arrival at the destination.

[0014] The movement management system 10 includes a cloud SIM (Subscriber Identify Module) server 13. The cloud SIM server 13 is configured to be able to communicate with the terminal device 11 through a wireless communication network 30.

[0015] The cloud SIM server 13 holds multiple pieces of SIM information. Each piece of SIM information specifies a line on the wireless communication network 30 that can be used when the terminal device 11 communicates with the management server 12. The cloud SIM server 13 is configured to select one of the multiple pieces of SIM information according to the usage environment of the terminal device 11 and assign it to the terminal device 11. The cloud SIM server 13 is an example of a line selection device.

[0016] The terminal device 11 includes a communication interface 111. The communication interface 111 is a hardware interface used for transmitting and receiving data to and from the management server 12 and the cloud SIM server 13 via the wireless communication network 30.

[0017] The terminal device 11 includes a processor 112, a GPS antenna 113, and an acceleration sensor 114. The processor 112 is configured to acquire information related to the location of the vehicle 20 through the GPS antenna 113. The processor 112 is configured to acquire information related to the moving speed of the vehicle 20 through the acceleration sensor 114. The processor 112 is configured to generate movement information of the vehicle 20 so as to include at least one of information related to the location and information related to the moving speed, and to transmit the movement information from the communication interface 111 to the management server 12.

[0018] The management server 12 includes a communication interface 121. The communication interface 121 is a hardware interface used for transmitting and receiving data to and from the terminal device 11 via the wireless communication network 30.

[0019] The management server 12 includes a processor 122 and a storage 123. The processor 122 is configured to store the status information of the vehicle 20 transmitted from the terminal device 11 in the storage 123 when the status information is received by the communication interface 121. The processor 122 manages the status of the vehicle 20 based on the status information stored in the storage 123.

[0020] The processor 122 generates, as necessary, information related to the movement to be managed based on the movement information accumulated in the storage 123. As an example, the travel distance of the vehicle 20 may be identified based on information related to the location of the vehicle 20 acquired at multiple points in time. As another example, the operating state of the vehicle 20 may be identified based on information related to the travel speed of the vehicle 20.

[0021] The cloud SIM server 13 includes a communication interface 131. The communication interface 131 is a hardware interface used for transmitting and receiving data to and from the terminal device 11 via the wireless communication network 30.

[0022] The processor 112 of the terminal device 11 is configured to transmit a request for allocation of a line required for communication with the management server 12 via the wireless communication network 30 from the communication interface 111 to the cloud SIM server 13. The allocation request is configured to include information for identifying the terminal device 11 and information indicating the location of the terminal device 11.

[0023] The cloud SIM server 13 includes a processor 132. The processor 132 is configured to select an appropriate one of a plurality of SIM information items held in a storage device (not shown) when a line allocation request sent from the terminal device 11 is received by the communication interface 131. The selection is made based on the specifications of the terminal device 11 specified by the identification information included in the allocation request, the communication environment in the location of the terminal device 11, and the like. The processor 132 is configured to transmit the selected SIM information from the communication interface 131 to the terminal device 11.

[0024] When the SIM information transmitted from the cloud SIM server 13 is received by the communication interface 111 of the terminal device 11, the terminal device 11 and the management server 12 are able to exchange data using a line identified by the SIM information.

[0025] An example of the flow of a communication method executed in the movement management system 10 configured as above will be described with reference to FIG.

[0026] The process starts when the terminal device 11 is started (STEP 11). The processor 112 of the terminal device 11 transmits a request for allocating a line to be used for communication with the management server 12 from the communication interface 111 to the cloud SIM server 13 (STEP 12).

[0027] The processor 132 of the cloud SIM server 13 selects one of a plurality of pieces of SIM information appropriate for the terminal device 11 based on the allocation request received by the communication interface 131 (STEP 13).

[0028] The processor 132 transmits the selected SIM information from the communication interface 131 to the terminal device 11 (STEP 14). The line (first line) specified by the SIM information is assigned to the communication between the terminal device 11 and the management server 12.

[0029] The processor 112 of the terminal device 11 starts communication using the first line (STEP 15). The processor 112 transmits the status information of the vehicle 20 from the communication interface 111 to the management server 12 (STEP 16). In the following description, the status information of the vehicle 20 transmitted using the first line is referred to as first status information.

[0030] Even when communication with the management server 12 is not established, the processor 112 can continuously acquire the vehicle 20 status information through the GPS antenna 113 and the acceleration sensor 114, and store the information in a storage device (not shown) in association with acquisition time information. In this case, the status information acquired up to the first time point can be transmitted as the first status information.

[0031] The processor 122 of the management server 12 issues a receipt notification indicating that the first status information of the vehicle 20 has been received by the communication interface 121. In addition, the processor 122 generates period information specifying the length of the validity period. The processor 122 transmits the receipt notification and the period information from the communication interface 121 to the terminal device 11 (STEP 17). The processor 122 executes status management of the vehicle 20 based on the first status information.

[0032] On the other hand, the processor 112 of the terminal device 11 enables a function for connecting to a mobile broadband line (Wi-Fi function) in response to the receipt notification received by the communication interface 111 (STEP 18). As a result, the terminal device 11 also starts operating as a Wi-Fi router. In addition, the processor 112 starts measuring time using an internal timer.

[0033] Next, processor 112 determines whether the valid period specified by the period information received by communication interface 111 has elapsed (STEP 19). The process is repeated until it is determined that the valid period has elapsed (NO in STEP 19).

[0034] Although not shown in the figure, communication using the first line is maintained between the terminal device 11 and the management server 12. The terminal device 11 continuously or periodically transmits first status information of the vehicle 20 to the management server 12. The management server 12 executes status management of the vehicle 20 based on the first status information.

[0035] If it is determined that the valid period has elapsed (YES in STEP 19), the processor 112 disables the Wi-Fi function (STEP 20), causing the terminal device 11 to terminate its operation as a Wi-Fi router.

[0036] Next, the processor 112 ends the communication with the management server 12 using the first line (STEP 21). After that, the processor 112 returns the process to STEP 12. That is, the processor 112 transmits a request for allocating a line to be used for the next communication with the management server 12 from the communication interface 111 to the cloud SIM server 13.

[0037] The processor 132 of the cloud SIM server 13 selects one of a plurality of SIM information appropriate for the terminal device 11 based on the allocation request (STEP 13), and transmits the selected SIM information from the communication interface 131 to the terminal device 11 (STEP 14). The line (second line) specified by the newly selected SIM information is allocated to the communication between the terminal device 11 and the management server 12.

[0038] The processor 112 of the terminal device 11 starts communication using the second line (STEP 15). The processor 112 transmits the status information of the vehicle 20 at least at the second time point from the communication interface 111 to the management server 12 (STEP 16). In the following description, the status information of the vehicle 20 transmitted using the second line is referred to as second status information.

[0039] The processor 122 of the management server 12 issues a receipt notification indicating that the second status information of the vehicle 20 has been received by the communication interface 121. In addition, the processor 122 generates period information specifying the length of the validity period. The processor 122 transmits the receipt notification and the period information from the communication interface 121 to the terminal device 11 (STEP 17). The processor 122 executes status management of the vehicle 20 based on the second status information. Since the subsequent steps are a repetition of the above-mentioned processes, detailed explanations will be omitted.

[0040] According to the configuration of the present embodiment described above, the terminal device 11 mounted on the vehicle 20 for transmitting the status information of the vehicle 20 under management to the management server 12 can also be operated as a Wi-Fi router for connecting to a mobile broadband line. This makes it unnecessary to prepare and manage an independent Wi-Fi router for enjoying various services provided through the mobile broadband line within the vehicle 20. This can improve the convenience of the status management system 10 including the terminal device 11 mounted on the vehicle 20 and the management server 12 for managing the status of the vehicle 20.

[0041] In this embodiment, the line used for wireless communication between the terminal device 11 and the management server 12 is provided by the cloud SIM server 13. Therefore, an appropriate line can be assigned depending on the situation of the vehicle 20 in which the terminal device 11 is mounted. This can increase the redundancy of communication with the management server 12 (robustness of communication establishment state) compared to a case in which a line is assigned fixedly using a SIM card or the like. In addition, since there is no need to store a SIM card or the like in the terminal device 11, it is possible to suppress the complication of the configuration and management related to the terminal device 11.

[0042] The length of the validity period specified by the period information transmitted from the management server 12 to the terminal device 11 may be fixed or variable. Another example of the communication method in the latter case will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Processing elements that are substantially the same as those in the example shown in Fig. 2 are given the same reference numerals, and repeated description will be omitted.

[0043] In this example, the processor 122 of the management server 12 determines whether or not it is necessary to change the validity period based on the status information of the vehicle 20 transmitted from the terminal device 11 (STEP 31). Whether or not it is necessary to change the validity period can be determined based on the contract information specified by the status information of the vehicle 20.

[0044] The user of the vehicle 20 may enter into a contract in advance regarding the period during which the vehicle 20 can connect to the mobile broadband line (one day, three days, one week, one month, unlimited, etc.). The period during which the vehicle 20 can connect is associated with information identifying the vehicle 20 and stored in the storage 123 of the management server 12 as contract information.

[0045] The processor 122 checks whether or not there is contract information for the vehicle 20 identified by the status information transmitted from the terminal device 11. If the contract information exists, period information is generated in which the connectable period specified by the contract information is set as the valid period (STEP 32). If the contract information does not exist, the valid period is set to zero. In this specification, the expression "changing the period" also includes the case where the valid period is set to zero.

[0046] The processor 122 transmits the period information with the changed validity period together with a receipt notification of the behavioral information from the communication interface 121 to the terminal device 11 (STEP 17). If it is determined that the validity period does not need to be changed based on the received behavioral information (NO in STEP 31), the processor 122 transmits the period information designating a predetermined validity period together with a receipt notification of the behavioral information from the communication interface 121 to the terminal device 11 (STEP 17).

[0047] If the period information is transmitted with the expiration date set to zero, it is immediately determined that the validity period has elapsed (YES in STEP 19), and the Wi-Fi function is not enabled. Even in this case, the line assigned by the cloud SIM server 13 is maintained, and communication for dynamic status management is performed between the terminal device 11 and the management server 12.

[0048] With this configuration, a connection function to an appropriate mobile broadband line can be automatically provided according to the contract made by the user of the vehicle 20.

[0049] As illustrated in Fig. 1, the terminal device 11 may be connected to a power source 21 (e.g., an accessory power source) mounted on a vehicle 20. The connection to the power source 21 may be made directly or via another device. In this case, the start of the terminal device 11 (STEP 11) illustrated in Fig. 2 may be triggered by the start of power supply from the power source 21. That is, the terminal device 11 communicates with the cloud SIM server 13 and the management server 12 using the power supplied from the vehicle.

[0050] According to such a configuration, since there is no need to store an internal power source such as a battery in the terminal device 11, it is possible to suppress the complication of the configuration and management of the terminal device 11. This can improve the convenience of the movement management system 10. However, the terminal device 11 may be configured to operate using power supplied by an internal power source.

[0051] The processor 112 of the terminal device 11, the processor 122 of the management server 12, and the processor 132 of the cloud SIM server 13, each having the various functions described above, may be realized by a general-purpose microprocessor that operates in cooperation with a general-purpose memory. Examples of the general-purpose microprocessor include a CPU, an MPU, and a GPU. Examples of the general-purpose memory include a ROM and a RAM. In this case, the ROM may store a computer program that executes the above-mentioned processing. The general-purpose microprocessor specifies at least a part of the program stored on the ROM, expands it on the RAM, and executes the above-mentioned processing in cooperation with the RAM. The computer program may be pre-installed in the general-purpose memory, or may be downloaded from an external server device via a communication network and then installed in the general-purpose memory.

[0052] Each of the processors 112, 122, and 132 may be realized by a dedicated integrated circuit capable of executing the above computer program, such as a microcontroller, an ASIC, or an FPGA. In this case, the above computer program is pre-installed in a storage element included in the dedicated integrated circuit. Each of the processors 112, 122, and 132 may also be realized by a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a dedicated integrated circuit.

[0053] The configurations referred to above are merely examples for facilitating understanding of the present disclosure. Each configuration example may be appropriately modified or combined with other configuration examples within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0054] In the above embodiment, the processor 122 of the terminal device 11 is independent of a communication network that connects a plurality of electronic control units (ECUs) mounted on the vehicle 20. That is, the processor 122 is configured to generate dynamic information of the vehicle 20 independent of the communication network.

[0055] According to such a configuration, the operation of the movement management system 10 can be started without changing the configuration of the communication network installed in the vehicle, so that the convenience of the movement management system 10 can be improved.

[0056] However, the processor 112 of the terminal device 11 may be configured to generate the activity information based on information acquired from an electronic control unit mounted on the vehicle 20. In this case, the activity information can be generated based on more detailed information related to the vehicle 20. Examples of such information include the temperature inside the vehicle cabin (and the temperature inside the cargo hold in the case of a cargo vehicle), the engine temperature, the engine RPM, whether the doors are locked or unlocked, and the operating status of lighting equipment and air conditioning equipment.

[0057] Information regarding the temperature inside the vehicle cabin can also be obtained by incorporating a temperature sensor in the terminal device 11.

[0058] In the above embodiment, the cloud SIM server 13 capable of communicating with the terminal device 11 via the wireless communication network 30 has a function of selecting and allocating an appropriate line to be used for wireless communication between the terminal device 11 and the management server 12 according to the situation in which the terminal device 11 is placed. However, a mobile device that can be carried by the user of the vehicle 20 and can communicate with the terminal device 11 via the wireless communication network 30, or an electronic control unit that can communicate with the terminal device 11 via a communication network mounted on the vehicle 20 may have this function. In this case, the mobile device or the electronic control unit is an example of a line selection device.

[0059] The movement management system 10 according to the present disclosure may be applied to a moving body other than the vehicle 20. Examples of other moving bodies include a train, an airplane, an aircraft, a ship, etc. The moving body may not require a driver.

[0060] The configurations listed below also form part of this disclosure. Item 1: A communication method executed between a terminal device mounted on a moving object and a management server that manages the dynamics of the moving object, comprising: transmitting status information indicating a status of the moving object from the terminal device to the management server using the line assigned to the line selection device; transmitting a notification indicating that the activity information has been received and period information designating a period from the management server to the terminal device using the line; the terminal device enables a function of connecting to a mobile broadband line until the period designated by the period information expires; Communication methods. Item 2: The line selection device is a cloud SIM server. Item 1. The communication method according to item 1. Item 3: the management server refers to contract information based on the activity information, and changes the period based on the contract information; 3. The communication method according to item 1 or 2. Item 4: the terminal device communicates with the line selection device using power supplied from the mobile object; 4. The communication method according to any one of items 1 to 3. Item 5: the terminal device generates the behavior information independently of a communication network that connects the plurality of electronic control units mounted on the moving object. 5. The communication method according to any one of items 1 to 4. Item 6: A terminal device mounted on a moving object, A communication interface; A processor; It is equipped with The processor, transmitting status information indicating a status of the moving object from the communication interface to a management server that manages the status of the moving object by using the line assigned to the line selection device; when the communication interface receives from the management server a notification indicating that the dynamic state information has been received and period information specifying a period, the communication interface enables a function of connecting to a mobile broadband line until the period specified by the period information expires. Terminal device. Item 7: The processor communicates with the line selection device using power supplied from the mobile unit. Item 6. A terminal device according to item 6. Item 8: The processor generates the behavior information independently of a communication network that connects a plurality of electronic control units mounted on the moving object. 8. A terminal device according to item 6 or 7. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 11: terminal device, 111: communication interface, 112: processor, 12: management server, 121: communication interface, 122: processor, 13: cloud SIM server, 20: vehicle

Claims

1. A communication method executed between a terminal device mounted on a moving object and a management server that manages the dynamics of the moving object, comprising: transmitting status information indicating a status of the moving object from the terminal device to the management server using the line assigned to the line selection device; transmitting a notification indicating that the activity information has been received and period information designating a period from the management server to the terminal device using the line; the terminal device enables a function of connecting to a mobile broadband line until the period designated by the period information expires; Communication methods.

2. The line selection device is a cloud SIM server. The communication method according to claim 1 .

3. the management server refers to contract information based on the activity information, and changes the period based on the contract information; The communication method according to claim 1 .

4. the terminal device communicates with the line selection device using power supplied from the mobile object; The communication method according to claim 1 .

5. the terminal device generates the behavior information independently of a communication network that connects the plurality of electronic control units mounted on the moving object. The communication method according to claim 1 .

6. A terminal device mounted on a moving object, A communication interface; A processor; It is equipped with The processor, transmitting status information indicating a status of the moving object from the communication interface to a management server that manages the status of the moving object by using the line assigned to the line selection device; when the communication interface receives from the management server a notification indicating that the dynamic state information has been received and period information specifying a period, the communication interface enables a function of connecting to a mobile broadband line until the period specified by the period information expires. Terminal device.

7. The processor communicates with the line selection device using power supplied from the mobile unit. The terminal device according to claim 6.

8. The processor generates the behavior information independently of a communication network that connects a plurality of electronic control units mounted on the moving object. The terminal device according to claim 6.

9. A management server for managing a dynamic state of a moving object, a communication interface for receiving status information indicating a status of the mobile object transmitted from a terminal device mounted on the mobile object using the line assigned to the line selection device; a processor that, when the communication interface receives the behavior information, transmits from the communication interface a notification indicating that the behavior information has been received and period information that specifies a period during which the terminal device is to enable a function of connecting to a mobile broadband line; Equipped with Management server.

10. The processor refers to contract information based on the activity information, and changes the period based on the contract information. The management server according to claim 9.

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