Vehicle-mounted device

Abstract

To provide an ETC on-board unit that can easily identify a communication method with a vehicle with a simple configuration.SOLUTION: An ETC on-board unit 1 mounted on a vehicle 100 and capable of communicating with the vehicle 100 includes: a communication software 2, which is software for communicating with the vehicle 100 and operates according to a startup mode including a communication method and a destination; and a startup table 31 for storing a plurality of different startup modes. At initial startup, the communication software 2 tries to communicate with the vehicle 100 sequentially in the startup mode stored in the startup table 31, stores the startup mode when communication is established, and then communicates with the vehicle 100 in the stored startup mode.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an on-board device that is mounted on a vehicle and communicates with the vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system has been introduced and is now widespread for automatically collecting tolls at toll gates on expressways, parking lots, etc. In this ETC system, an ETC on-board unit (vehicle-mounted device) installed in a vehicle communicates with the vehicle and toll gates to obtain vehicle information and collect tolls.

[0003] On the other hand, vehicles are designed and manufactured to communicate using a predetermined communication method according to the country (destination) in which they are driven, and in order for an ETC on-board unit to communicate with a vehicle, it is necessary to communicate using the vehicle's communication method. For this reason, conventionally, software was created for each vehicle's communication method, and the ETC on-board unit was equipped with software for the communication method of the vehicle in which it was installed, and further, setup was performed using external commands for each destination.

[0004] There is also known a communication device with a communication evaluation function that adjusts for differences in communication protocols to perform communication evaluation without any problems (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This communication device has a built-in communication evaluation unit that performs communication evaluation, and this communication evaluation unit is equipped with multiple transceivers with different communication protocols. Then, communication is attempted by switching each transceiver in order of lowest output voltage, and if communication is established, the communication protocol of that transceiver is determined to be the appropriate communication protocol. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2006-14118 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Conventionally, software must be created for each vehicle's communication method and must be set up for each destination using external commands, which requires time and money. In addition, the communication device in Patent Document 1 must be equipped with multiple transceivers with different communication protocols, which makes the configuration complicated and increases costs.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE An object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle device that is simply configured and capable of easily identifying a communication method with a vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problem, the invention described in claim 1 is a vehicle-mounted device that is mounted on a vehicle and capable of communicating with the vehicle, and is equipped with software for communicating with the vehicle, communication software that operates according to a startup mode including a communication method and a destination, and a startup table that stores a plurality of different startup modes, wherein at the first startup, the communication software attempts to communicate with the vehicle in succession in the startup modes stored in the startup table, and when communication is established, the startup mode is stored, and thereafter the communication software communicates with the vehicle in the stored startup mode.

[0009] The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that, in the vehicle-mounted device described in claim 1, it comprises a first memory unit in which one of the startup modes in the startup table is stored as an initial value, and a second memory unit in which an initial value indicating that communication with the vehicle has not been established is stored, and when the second memory unit stores that communication has not been established, the communication software attempts to communicate with the vehicle in the startup mode stored in the first memory unit, and when communication is not established, the communication software stores the next startup mode in the startup table in the first memory unit and attempts to communicate with the vehicle in the startup mode stored in the first memory unit. This process is repeated until communication is established, and when communication is established, the second memory unit stores that communication with the vehicle has been established, and when the second memory unit stores that communication has been established, the communication software communicates with the vehicle in the startup mode stored in the first memory unit. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the invention described in claim 1, at the first startup, communication with the vehicle is attempted in sequence in each startup mode (communication method and destination) in the startup table, and the communication method with the vehicle, etc. are identified and set up. Moreover, since such startup mode identification and setup are performed automatically in the vehicle-mounted device, even if the vehicle's communication method or destination is unknown (regardless of the vehicle's startup mode), simply mounting the vehicle-mounted device in the vehicle enables proper communication between the vehicle and the vehicle. This makes it possible to easily identify and set up the communication method with the vehicle, etc.

[0011] In addition, after the start-up mode is specified and set up, communication with the vehicle can be performed in the start-up mode that was established, enabling rapid communication. Moreover, the system can be easily configured by simply providing common communication software corresponding to each start-up mode and a start-up table that stores multiple start-up modes.

[0012] According to the invention described in claim 2, when the second storage unit stores that the communication is not established, that is, when communication with the vehicle is attempted in a certain startup mode at the time of the first startup and the communication is established, the establishment is stored in the second storage unit, and this startup mode is stored in the first storage unit. Then, when the second storage unit stores that the communication is established, it is sufficient to communicate with the vehicle in the startup mode of the first storage unit, so that it is possible to easily and reliably identify and set up the communication method with the vehicle. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration relating to identification of a communication method or the like of a vehicle-mounted device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 2 is a schematic diagram showing a hardware configuration of the vehicle-mounted device of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 2 is a schematic diagram showing a software configuration of the vehicle-mounted device of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure for identifying a communication method, etc., performed by the vehicle-mounted device of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on the illustrated embodiment.

[0015] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration relating to the identification of a communication method of an ETC vehicle-mounted unit (vehicle-mounted device) 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 are schematic diagrams showing the hardware and software configurations of the ETC vehicle-mounted unit 1. This ETC vehicle-mounted unit 1 is a device that is mounted on a vehicle 100 in an ETC system and is capable of communicating with the vehicle 100, toll gates, etc., and has the same basic configuration as a ready-made / existing ETC vehicle-mounted unit, but differs in configuration in that it has a function (method identification function) for automatically detecting and setting up the communication method and destination with the vehicle 100. For this reason, this characteristic configuration will be mainly described below.

[0016] First, to explain the communication between the ETC on-board unit 1 and the vehicle 100, a number of communication methods have been standardized according to the destination (the country in which the vehicle is traveling) and the like, and in order to perform proper communication between the ETC on-board unit 1 and the vehicle 100, it is necessary to match the activation mode indicating the communication method and destination between the ETC on-board unit 1 and the vehicle 100. Since the vehicle 100 is designed and manufactured so that it can communicate in a predetermined activation mode, when the ETC on-board unit 1 is mounted on the vehicle 100, it is necessary to match the activation mode of the ETC on-board unit 1 to that of the vehicle 100.

[0017] The ETC vehicle-mounted device 1 mainly comprises communication software 2, a startup table 31, a first memory area (first memory unit) 32, and a second memory area (second memory unit) 33. Here, the startup table 31, the first memory area 32, and the second memory area 33 may be provided in a single storage device, or may be provided in different storage devices.

[0018] The communication software 2 is a software program for communicating with the vehicle 100, and operates according to a start-up mode including a communication method and a destination. In other words, it is common software that supports a plurality of start-up modes, and operates in each start-up mode to be able to communicate with a vehicle 100 in a specific start-up mode. The communication software 2 also operates as described below to automatically set up a communication method and destination with the vehicle 100.

[0019] The start-up table 31 is a table (storage unit) that stores a plurality of different start-up modes. That is, as described above, a plurality of communication methods are standardized, and various destinations exist, and there are a plurality of start-up modes that are combinations of communication methods and destinations. For this reason, these plurality of different start-up modes are stored in advance in the start-up table 31. Specifically, the following start-up modes are stored in the following order:

[0020] Startup mode 1: Communication method = CAN (250 kbps), destination = Japan Startup mode 2: Communication method = CAN (250 kbps), destination = Korea Startup mode 3: Communication method = CAN (250 kbps), destination = USA Startup mode 4: Communication method = CAN (250 kbps), destination = China Startup mode 5: Communication method = CAN (500kbps), destination = Japan ... Startup mode 9: Communication method = FD (1Mbps), destination = Japan ...

[0021] The first memory area 32 is a storage section for storing the start-up mode in which the communications software 2 operates. That is, the start-up mode is stored when the start-up mode is set up as described later, and one of the start-up modes in the start-up table 31, the first start-up mode in this embodiment, is stored as the initial value / default.

[0022] The second memory area 33 is a storage unit that stores whether or not communication has been established between the ETC on-board unit 1 and the vehicle 100. In other words, whether or not communication has been established with the vehicle 100 is stored by the communication software 2 operating in the startup mode stored in the first memory area 32, and is stored when setting up the startup mode, which will be described later. In this second memory area 33, the fact that communication with the vehicle 100 has not been established ("not established" flag) is stored as an initial value / default.

[0023] Next, an explanation will be given of the operation of the communication software 2 to automatically set up the startup mode for communicating with the vehicle 100. The communication software 2 is started when communication is required, that is, every time the vehicle 100 is started, and operates according to the flowchart in FIG.

[0024] First, when the ETC on-board unit 1 is installed in the vehicle 100 and is started for the first time, it attempts to communicate with the vehicle 100 in sequence in the start-up modes (communication method and destination) stored in the start-up table 31, and when communication is established, it stores this start-up mode. Then, at subsequent start-ups, it communicates with the vehicle 100 in the stored start-up mode.

[0025] Specifically, at the first startup, that is, if the "not established" flag is stored in the second memory area 33 ("Y" in step S1), communication with the vehicle 100 is attempted in the startup mode stored in the first memory area 32 (in this case, the first startup mode in the startup table 31) (step S2). As a result, if communication is not established ("N" in step S3), the next startup mode in the startup table 31, that is, the second startup mode, is stored in the first memory area 32 (step S4).

[0026] Next, returning to step S2, communication with the vehicle 100 is attempted in the startup mode stored in the first storage area 32. Furthermore, if communication is not established ("N" in step S3), the third startup mode in the startup table 31 is stored in the first storage area 32 (step S4), and communication with the vehicle 100 is attempted in that startup mode (step S2). Such trial processing is repeated until communication is established.

[0027] If communication is established ("Y" in step S3), the fact that communication with the vehicle 100 has been established ("established" flag) is stored in the second storage area 33 (step S5). Furthermore, communication with the vehicle 100 is continued in the startup mode stored in the first storage area 32 (step S6), and the process ends.

[0028] At subsequent startup, that is, if the "established" flag is stored in the second memory area 33 ("N" in step S1), communication with the vehicle 100 is performed in the startup mode stored in the first memory area 32, that is, the startup mode in which communication was established (step S6).

[0029] In this way, when this ETC vehicle-mounted device 1 is first started, communication with the vehicle 100 is attempted in sequence in each start-up mode (communication method and destination) in the start-up table 31, and the communication method and the like with the vehicle 100 are identified and set up. Moreover, since such identification and setup of the start-up mode is performed automatically in the vehicle-mounted device 1, even if the communication method or destination of the vehicle 100 is unknown (regardless of the start-up mode of the vehicle 100), simply by mounting the vehicle-mounted device 1 on the vehicle 100, the vehicle-mounted device 1 and the vehicle 100 can communicate appropriately. This makes it possible to easily identify and set up the communication method and the like with the vehicle 100.

[0030] After the start mode is specified and set up, communication with the vehicle 100 can be performed in the start mode in which communication has been established, enabling rapid communication. Moreover, the system can be configured simply by providing only common communication software 2 corresponding to each start mode and a start table 31 that stores multiple start modes.

[0031] Furthermore, if an "unestablished" flag is stored in the second memory area 33, that is, if communication with the vehicle 100 is attempted in a certain start-up mode at the time of initial startup and communication is established, an "established" flag is stored in the second memory area 33, and this start-up mode is stored in the first memory area 32. Then, if an "established" flag is stored in the second memory area 33, communication with the vehicle 100 can be performed in the start-up mode in the first memory area 32, making it possible to easily and reliably identify and set up the communication method with the vehicle 100, etc.

[0032] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the specific configuration is not limited to the above embodiment, and even if there are design changes within the scope of the gist of the present invention, the present invention is included. For example, in the above embodiment, the vehicle mounted device is an ETC vehicle mounted device 1, but the present invention can also be applied to other vehicle mounted devices, such as a vehicle mounted device of a car navigation system.

[0033] In the above embodiment, the first memory area 32 and the second memory area 33 are provided, but they are not necessarily provided. For example, the communication software 2 attempts to communicate with the vehicle 100 sequentially while marking (attaching a flag) the start-up modes in the start-up table 31. Then, at the next start-up after communication is established, communication with the vehicle 100 can be performed in the start-up mode marked in the start-up table 31.

[0034] 1. ETC on-board unit (vehicle mounted device) 2. Communications Software 31 Startup Table 32 first memory area (first memory section) 33 Second memory area (second memory section) 100 vehicles

Claims

1. a vehicle-mounted device that is mounted on a vehicle and capable of communicating with the vehicle; a communication software for communicating with the vehicle, the communication software operating in accordance with a start mode including a communication method and a destination; A startup table that stores a plurality of different startup modes; When the communication software is first started, the communication software sequentially attempts to communicate with the vehicle in the start modes stored in the start table, and when communication is established, the start mode is stored. Thereafter, the communication software communicates with the vehicle in the stored start mode. A vehicle-mounted device comprising:

2. a first storage unit in which any one of the start modes in the start table is stored as an initial value; a second storage unit in which an initial value indicating that communication with the vehicle has not been established is stored; If the second storage unit stores that communication has not been established, the communication software attempts to communicate with the vehicle in the startup mode stored in the first storage unit, and if communication is not established, stores the next startup mode in the startup table in the first storage unit and attempts to communicate with the vehicle in the startup mode stored in the first storage unit. This process is repeated until communication is established, and if communication is established, stores in the second storage unit that communication with the vehicle has been established; When the second storage unit stores the established condition, the communication software communicates with the vehicle in the startup mode stored in the first storage unit.

2. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 1 .

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