Information processing apparatus

Abstract

To provide a technique for controlling air conditioning of a vehicle according to the position and desire of a user.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus includes a control unit. The control unit detects whether a user is approaching a vehicle or not, and when detecting that the user is approaching the vehicle, instructs the vehicle to perform remote air conditioning. The control unit also acquires restricted area information related to a restricted area in which remote air conditioning in the vehicle is restricted, determines whether the vehicle is present or not in the restricted area indicated by the restricted area information, and controls execution of remote air conditioning due to approach of the user to the vehicle when determining that the vehicle is present in the restricted area.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 proposes a remote air conditioning start system that includes a user location information acquisition unit that acquires location information of a mobile device, a vehicle location information acquisition unit that acquires location information of a vehicle, and controls an air conditioning device, including start timing based on a start request, based on the location information of the mobile device and the location information of the vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-122838 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] One of the objectives of the present disclosure is to provide a technique for controlling the air conditioning of a vehicle according to the location and desires of a user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The information processing device of the present disclosure includes a control unit. The control unit is configured to detect whether a user is approaching a vehicle and, if the control unit detects that the user is approaching the vehicle, instruct the vehicle to perform remote air conditioning. The control unit is also configured to acquire restricted area information regarding a restricted area in which remote air conditioning in the vehicle is restricted, determine whether the vehicle is located within the restricted area indicated by the restricted area information, and, if it is determined that the vehicle is located within the restricted area, inhibit the execution of the remote air conditioning when the user approaches the vehicle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present disclosure, the air conditioning of a vehicle can be controlled according to the location and desires of a user. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an example of a situation to which the present disclosure is applied. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a vehicle and a user terminal. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the server and the information server. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of information processing according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of information processing by the server. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Conventionally, systems have been proposed that acquire location information of a mobile device and a vehicle, and control an air conditioner according to the relative positions of the mobile device and the vehicle. The remote air conditioner start system of Patent Document 1 includes a user location information acquisition unit that acquires location information of the mobile device, a vehicle location information acquisition unit that acquires location information of the vehicle, and controls the air conditioner, including the start timing based on a start request, based on the location information of the mobile device and the vehicle. This allows remote air conditioning to be performed before the user uses the vehicle, making the interior space comfortable. However, the present inventor has found that these conventional methods have the following problems. For example, In the system described in Patent Document 1, there is a possibility that remote air conditioning will be performed in response to the approach of a user even in a situation where remote air conditioning is not desired. Therefore, there is a demand for a system that can suppress the performance of remote air conditioning when the user approaches a vehicle and does not want it to be performed.

[0009] In contrast, the device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure includes a control unit that detects whether a user is approaching the vehicle, and if the control unit detects that a user is approaching the vehicle, instructs the vehicle to perform remote air conditioning (hereinafter referred to as remote air conditioning).

[0010] The control unit acquires restricted area information regarding a restricted area in which remote air conditioning in the vehicle is restricted, and detects whether the vehicle is present within the restricted area. An example of a restricted area is an area in which remote air conditioning is restricted while the vehicle is idling while stopped. For example, a user can set whether or not they wish to suppress remote air conditioning according to the restricted area using a user terminal described below. The restricted area may be a geofence that is set arbitrarily. If it is determined that the vehicle is present within the restricted area, the control unit suppresses the execution of remote air conditioning. Suppressing the execution of remote air conditioning can also be considered as stopping (omitting) the execution of remote air conditioning. According to the present disclosure, the air conditioning of a vehicle can be controlled according to the user's location and wishes.

[0011] In the information processing device, detecting whether a user is approaching a vehicle may be performed by determining whether an estimated amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted by remote air conditioning while the user is moving from the user's current location to the vehicle's location is less than a threshold. The information processing device, for example, calculates the distance from the user's current location to the vehicle's location. The information processing device acquires information related to a threshold for CO2 emissions by remote air conditioning (hereinafter referred to as CO2 emissions). The information processing device compares the calculated estimated CO2 emissions with the acquired emission threshold, and can determine that the user is approaching the vehicle when it determines that the estimated emissions are less than the emission threshold. According to the present disclosure, the air conditioning in the vehicle can be adjusted to a state suitable for the user according to the vehicle's location and the user's location, while taking into account the CO2 emissions by the remote air conditioning.

[0012] In the information processing device, detecting whether a user is approaching a vehicle may be performed by determining whether the distance from the user's current location to the vehicle's location is less than a distance threshold corresponding to the amount of CO2 emitted by remote air conditioning while the user is traveling from the user's current location to the vehicle's location. The information processing device, for example, calculates the distance from the user's current location to the vehicle's location. The information processing device acquires information related to the distance threshold corresponding to the amount of CO2 emitted by remote air conditioning set by the user. The information processing device compares the calculated distance with the distance threshold related to the acquired information, and may determine that the user is approaching the vehicle when determining that the calculated distance is less than the threshold. According to the present disclosure, the air conditioning in the vehicle can be adjusted to a state suitable for the user according to the vehicle's location and the user's location, while taking into account the amount of CO2 emitted by remote air conditioning.

[0013] In the information processing device, detecting whether a user is approaching a vehicle may be performed by determining whether the location of a user terminal carried by the user is within a predetermined range from the location of the vehicle. For example, a threshold value for the distance between the vehicle and the user relating to the predetermined range is stored in advance in the information processing device. The distance threshold value may be set by the user in the user terminal described below. The control unit may use the distance threshold value stored in the information processing device or the distance threshold value received from the user terminal to detect that the user is approaching the vehicle when the distance between the location of the vehicle and the location of the user terminal is less than the distance threshold value. Then, when it is detected that the user is approaching the vehicle, remote air conditioning may be started. Thus, according to the present disclosure, the air conditioning in the vehicle can be adjusted to a temperature suitable for the user depending on the location of the vehicle and the location of the user. It can be in this state.

[0014] In the information processing device, detecting whether a user is approaching a vehicle may be performed by determining whether a user terminal carried by the user and an in-vehicle terminal mounted in the vehicle are capable of communication. For example, when a user carrying a user terminal approaches the in-vehicle terminal, it may be detected that the user terminal and the in-vehicle terminal are capable of communication via short-range wireless communication. In response to this detection, it may be determined that the user is approaching the vehicle. According to the present disclosure, the air conditioning in the vehicle can be adjusted to a state suitable for the user depending on the communication state between the user terminal and the in-vehicle terminal.

[0015] [1 Application example] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an example of a scenario to which the present disclosure is applied. The information processing system 1 is a system for processing information relating to a server 10, a vehicle 20, a user terminal 30, and an information server 40. The vehicle 20 is a vehicle used by a user 36. The user 36 possesses a user terminal 30. The server 10 processes information relating to the vehicle 20, the user terminal 30, and the information server 40. The information server 40 manages information relating to a restricted area 50, which will be described later. In the example of FIG. 1, the vehicle 20 moves from a departure point into the restricted area 50 and stops there. The user 36 gets off the vehicle 20, visits a visited location 60, and then moves to the location where the vehicle 20 is stopped. The server 10 performs information processing in response to the user 36 moving from the visited location 60 toward the vehicle 20.

[0016] In the information processing system 1, a server 10, a vehicle 20, a user terminal 30, and an information server 40 are interconnected by a network N. The network N may be, for example, a Wide Area Network (WAN), which is a global public communication network such as the Internet, or a mobile phone. A telephone communication network such as the above may also be employed.

[0017] [2 Configuration Examples] FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating the hardware configuration and functional configuration of each of the vehicle 20 and the user terminal 30. As shown in FIG.

[0018] (vehicle) The vehicle 20 is exemplified by a vehicle driven by a driver. The vehicle 20 may be an autonomous vehicle. The vehicle 20 may be an engine vehicle or an electric vehicle (including a hybrid vehicle). The vehicle 20 includes an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) 21, an air conditioner 22, a local The vehicle 20 is equipped with a distance communication device 23 and a communication device 24. The vehicle 20 is equipped with a Global Positioning System (GPS). The vehicles 20 may be equipped with a PS receiver. In the vehicle 20, communication can be performed between vehicles using a predetermined in-vehicle communication standard. The predetermined in-vehicle communication standard is a Controller Area Network (CAN) standard. Examples include a Local Interconnect Network (CAN) or a Local Interconnect Network (LIN).

[0019] The ECU 21 is a computer for controlling various devices mounted on the vehicle 20. The ECU 21 includes a processor 210 and a storage unit 215. The ECU 21 may include a clock for measuring time and duration.

[0020] The processor 210 is, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) or a digital signal processor (DSP). The processor 210 includes, as functional units, a position information acquisition unit 2 11, an output unit 212, an air conditioning information acquisition unit 213, and an air conditioning command unit 214.

[0021] The processor 210 operates as a location information acquisition unit 211 and acquires location information of the vehicle 20 at a predetermined period. The location information acquisition unit 211 can acquire location information of the vehicle 20 detected by a GPS receiver. The location information acquisition unit 211 may receive location information of the user terminal 30 from the user terminal 30 via the network N.

[0022] The processor 210 operates as an output unit 212 and may transmit the acquired position information of the vehicle 20 to the server 10 via the network N. When the position information acquisition unit 211 receives position information of the user terminal 30 from the user terminal 30, the output unit 212 may transmit the received position information of the user terminal 30 to the server 10 via the network N. The output unit 212 may transmit to the server 10 via the network N the amount of CO2 emissions per unit time (hereinafter referred to as unit emission amount) according to the vehicle model of the vehicle 20 when remote air conditioning, which will be described later, is performed.

[0023] The processor 210 operates as an air conditioning information acquisition unit 213 and receives commands (hereinafter also referred to as control commands) related to the control of the air conditioner 22, which are sent from the server 10. An example of the received command is a command to start or stop the operation of the air conditioner 22. The received command may also be information to change at least one of the set temperature and air volume set in the air conditioner 22. The air conditioning information acquisition unit 213 passes the received control command to the air conditioning command unit 214.

[0024] The processor 210 operates as an air conditioning command unit 214, receives control commands passed from the air conditioning information acquisition unit 213, and controls the operation of the air conditioner 22 according to the contents of the control command. If the control command indicates that the air conditioner 22 should be started, the air conditioning command unit 214 starts the air conditioner 22. If the control command indicates that the air conditioner 22 should be stopped, the air conditioning command unit 214 stops the air conditioner 22.

[0025] The storage unit 215 includes a main storage unit and an auxiliary storage unit. The main storage unit is, for example, a random access memory (RAM). The auxiliary storage unit is, for example, a read only memory (ROM), a hard disk drive (HDD), or a flash memory. The auxiliary storage unit is, for example, a removable The removable medium may include a medium (portable recording medium), such as a USB memory, an SD card, or a disc recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD disc, or a Blu-ray disc.

[0026] The auxiliary memory stores an operating system (OS), various programs, various information tables, etc. The processor 210 loads the programs stored in the auxiliary memory into the main memory and executes them, thereby realizing the information processing of this embodiment. Some or all of the functions of the ECU 21 can be realized by hardware circuits such as an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) or a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). The ECU 21 does not need to be realized by a single physical configuration, but may be composed of multiple computers working together. The auxiliary memory can store, for example, a unit emission amount according to the vehicle model of the vehicle 20 when remote air conditioning is performed.

[0027] The air conditioner 22 is a device that performs air conditioning such as heating and cooling in the vehicle 20. The air conditioner 22 can start or stop operation based on a control command received from the server 10. In other words, the air conditioner 22 performs remote air conditioning in response to the control command.

[0028] The short-range communication device 23 connects the vehicle 20 to a device outside the vehicle via short-range wireless communication. For example, the short-range communication device 23 connects the vehicle 20 to a user terminal 30 that is present within a predetermined range from the vehicle 20. Examples of short-range wireless communication include Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), and the like. trademark), and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) (registered trademark).

[0029] The communication device 24 connects the vehicle 20 to the network N. The communication device 24 communicates with the network N using a predetermined wireless communication standard such as 4th Generation (4G) or Long Term Evolution (LTE). It communicates with the server 10 and the user terminal 30 via the network N.

[0030] (user terminal) The user terminal 30 is a terminal carried by a user 36. The user 36 is a person who uses the vehicle 20 to visit the destination 60. Examples of the user terminal 30 include a smartphone, a tablet computer, a personal computer, and a wearable device. The user terminal 30 may include an electronic key for the vehicle 20.

[0031] The user terminal 30 includes an input / output device 31, a processor 32, a memory unit 33, a short-range communication device 34, and a communication device 35. The user terminal 30 may include a GPS receiver. The user terminal 30 may also include a clock that measures time and duration.

[0032] The input / output device 31 accepts information input by the user 36. An example of the information input by the user 36 is remote air conditioning setting information (hereinafter referred to as user setting information) set by the user 36. An example of the user setting information is information regarding the start and suppression of remote air conditioning. The user setting information may be the average walking speed of the user 36. An example of the information regarding the start of remote air conditioning is information regarding whether or not the user wishes to start remote air conditioning in a given case (hereinafter referred to as air conditioning start information). The air conditioning start information may include information regarding the type of air conditioning, including heating and cooling, as well as information regarding the set temperature and air volume when executing remote air conditioning. The air conditioning start information may be (A) a CO2 emission threshold, (B) a distance threshold between the vehicle 20 and the user terminal 30 corresponding to the CO2 emission amount, and (C) a distance threshold indicating a predetermined range from the position of the vehicle 20, which are imposed on whether or not remote air conditioning can be started. As an example of (A), the user 36 may input an arbitrary CO2 emission threshold into the input / output device 31 as a setting for remote air conditioning. As an example of (B), when the user 36 sets up remote air conditioning on the user terminal 30, information categorized by CO2 emissions as "(1) high emissions: 300 meters, (2) standard emissions: 200 meters, (3) low emissions: 100 meters" is output to the input / output device 31. The user 36 can select (input) any of the categorized information (1) to (3). As an example of (C), the user 36 can input 200 meters into the input / output device 31 as a distance threshold indicating a predetermined range from the position of the vehicle 20.

[0033] The information regarding the suppression of remote air conditioning is, for example, information regarding whether or not the suppression of remote air conditioning is desired when the vehicle 20 is in the restricted area 50.

[0034] The input / output device 31 can output predetermined information. An example of the predetermined information is a notification to suppress remote air conditioning (hereinafter referred to as a suppression notification) that the user terminal 30 receives from the server 10 via the network N. The predetermined information may also be a notification to execute remote air conditioning of the vehicle 20 (hereinafter referred to as an execution notification).

[0035] The processor 32 is, for example, a CPU or a DSP. The processor 32 includes a user information acquisition unit 321, a user information output unit 322, an air conditioning information acquisition unit 323, and an air conditioning information output unit 324 as functional units.

[0036] The processor 32 operates as a user information acquisition unit 321 and can acquire user setting information input by the user 36 to the input / output device 31. The user information acquisition unit 321 can acquire, as the location information of the user terminal 30, moment-by-moment location information of the user terminal 30 detected by the GPS receiver of the user terminal 30.

[0037] The processor 32 operates as a user information output unit 322, and transmits the user setting information to the server 10 via the network N. The user information output unit 322 may transmit the location information of the user terminal 30 to the server 10.

[0038] The processor 32 operates as an air conditioning information acquisition unit 323 and receives information related to remote air conditioning transmitted from the server 10 via the network N. The information to be sent includes, for example, a notification to perform or suppress remote air conditioning in the vehicle 20.

[0039] The processor 32 operates as an air conditioning information output unit 324 and outputs information related to remote air conditioning received from the server 10 to the input / output device 31. Examples of the information output to the input / output device 31 include the execution notification and suppression notification received by the air conditioning information acquisition unit 323.

[0040] The memory unit 33 includes a main memory unit and an auxiliary memory unit. The main memory unit and the auxiliary memory unit of the memory unit 33 have the same functions as the main memory unit and the auxiliary memory unit of the memory unit 215. The memory unit 33 stores, for example, as air conditioning start information, information regarding a CO2 emission threshold for whether remote air conditioning can be started and a distance threshold between the vehicle 20 and the user terminal 30 corresponding to the CO2 emission amount.

[0041] The short-range communication device 34 connects the user terminal 30 to an external device, for example, the short-range communication device 23 of the vehicle 20, via short-range wireless communication. The short-range communication device 34 has the same functions as the short-range communication device 23.

[0042] The communication device 35 connects the user terminal 30 to the network N. The communication device 35 has the same functions as the communication device 24.

[0043] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of the hardware configuration and functional configuration of each of the server 10 and the information server 40. As shown in FIG.

[0044] (server) The server 10 includes a processor 11, a storage unit 12, and a communication unit 13. In this embodiment, the server 10 is an example of an "information processing device."

[0045] The processor 11 is, for example, a CPU or a DSP. The processor 11 includes, as functional units, an area information acquisition unit 111, a user information acquisition unit 112, a vehicle information acquisition unit 113, an approach determination unit 114, an air-conditioning suppression determination unit 115, and an output unit 116. In this embodiment, the processor 11 is an example of a "control unit."

[0046] The processor 11 operates as an area information acquisition unit 111, and receives restricted area information regarding the restricted area 50 from the information server 40 via the network N. The area information acquisition unit 111 may store the received restricted area information in the storage unit 12.

[0047] The processor 11 operates as a user information acquisition unit 112 and receives information about the user 36 from the user terminal 30 via the network N. Examples of the information received by the user information acquisition unit 112 include user setting information about remote air conditioning, location information of the user terminal 30, and the average walking speed of the user 36. The user information acquisition unit 112 may store the received information in the storage unit 12.

[0048] The processor 11 operates as a vehicle information acquisition unit 113 and receives information about the vehicle 20 from the vehicle 20 via the network N. The information about the vehicle 20 includes, for example, location information of the vehicle 20 and a unit amount of CO2 emission according to the vehicle model of the vehicle 20 when remote air conditioning is performed.

[0049] The processor 11 operates as an approach determination unit 114 and determines whether or not the user 36 is approaching the vehicle 20. The approach determination unit 114 determines whether or not the user 36 is approaching the vehicle 20 by, for example, any of the following methods.

[0050] Method 1: The approach determination unit 114 determines whether the estimated amount of CO2 emitted by remote air conditioning while the user 36 moves from the current location of the user 36 to the location of the vehicle 20 is less than a threshold. For example, the approach determination unit 114 calculates the distance between the location indicated by the location information of the vehicle 20 received by the vehicle information acquisition unit 113 and the location indicated by the location information of the user terminal 30 received by the user information acquisition unit 112 using a known method. The approach determination unit 114 calculates the time it takes for the user 36 to move from the current location of the user 36 to the location of the vehicle 20 (hereinafter referred to as travel time) by dividing the calculated distance by the average walking speed of the user 36 (e.g., speed per minute). The approach determination unit 114 multiplies the calculated travel time by the acquired unit emission amount when remote air conditioning is performed to calculate the estimated emission amount. The approach determination unit 114 compares the calculated estimated emission amount with the CO2 emission threshold related to the user setting information received by the user information acquisition unit 112. When it is determined that the expected emission amount is less than the threshold, the approach determination unit 114 may determine that the user 36 is approaching the vehicle 20 .

[0051] The vehicle information acquisition unit 113 may receive the unit emission amount of the vehicle 20 from a server that manages the unit emission amount of each vehicle type of the vehicle 20. In this case, the approach determination unit 114 may refer to the unit emission amount of the vehicle 20 that the vehicle information acquisition unit 113 has received from the server.

[0052] The approach determination unit 114 can refer to the threshold for CO2 emissions due to remote air conditioning, which is set by the user 36 and received by the user information acquisition unit 112 from the user terminal 30, and the average walking speed of the user 36.

[0053] Method 2: The approach determination unit 114 determines whether the distance from the current location of the user 36 to the location of the vehicle 20 is less than a distance threshold corresponding to the amount of CO2 emitted by remote air conditioning while the user 36 moves from the current location of the user 36 to the location of the vehicle 20. The approach determination unit 114 calculates the distance between the location of the vehicle 20 and the location of the user terminal 30 in a manner similar to method 1. The approach determination unit 114 compares the calculated distance with a distance threshold between the vehicle 20 and the user terminal 30 corresponding to the amount of CO2 emissions related to the user setting information received by the user information acquisition unit 112. Then, when it is determined that the calculated distance is less than the threshold, the approach determination unit 114 can determine that the user 36 is approaching the vehicle 20.

[0054] When determining whether or not the user 36 is approaching the vehicle 20 using method 1 or 2, the processing by the air-conditioning suppression determination unit 115, which will be described later, may be omitted. In other words, when it is determined by method 1 or 2 that the user 36 is approaching the vehicle 20, the output unit 116, which will be described later, may generate a control command to start remote air-conditioning of the vehicle 20 and transmit the generated control command to the vehicle 20 via the network N.

[0055] Method 3: The approach determination unit 114 determines whether the position of the user terminal 30 is within a predetermined range from the position of the vehicle 20. For example, the approach determination unit 114 calculates the distance between the position of the vehicle 20 and the position of the user terminal 30 in a manner similar to method 1. In the user setting information received by the user information acquisition unit 112, a distance threshold indicating the predetermined range from the position of the vehicle 20 is set to, for example, 200 meters. In this case, when the calculated distance is determined to be less than 200 meters, the approach determination unit 114 can determine that the user 36 is approaching the vehicle 20.

[0056] Alternatively, the vehicle 20 may have a camera capable of capturing images outside the vehicle. In this case, the user information acquisition unit 112 acquires data of an image of a person present outside the vehicle captured by the camera. The approach determination unit 114 may analyze the acquired data using a known method, identify the user 36, and estimate the distance between the vehicle 20 and the identified user 36. When it is determined that the estimated distance is less than a distance threshold indicating a predetermined range from the position of the vehicle 20, the approach determination unit 114 determines that the vehicle 20 is approaching the user 36. It may be determined that the user 36 approaches 20 .

[0057] Alternatively, the processor 210 of the vehicle 20 or the processor 32 of the user terminal 30 may acquire information regarding the strength of communication between the short-range communicator 23 of the vehicle 20 and the short-range communicator 34 of the user terminal 30. The processor 210 or the processor 32 may acquire information regarding the elapsed time since the user terminal 30 entered an area in which communication with the vehicle 20 is possible. The processor 210 or the processor 32 transmits at least one of the acquired information regarding the strength of communication and the elapsed time to the server 10 via the network N. The vehicle information acquisition unit 113 or the user information acquisition unit 112 of the server 10 may receive the transmitted information regarding the strength of communication and the transmitted information regarding the elapsed time, respectively. The approach determination unit 114 may estimate the distance between the vehicle 20 and the user terminal 30 using a known method based on the received information. Then, when it is determined that the estimated distance is less than a distance threshold indicating a predetermined range from the position of the vehicle 20, the approach determination unit 114 may determine that the user 36 is approaching the vehicle 20.

[0058] Method 4: The approach determination unit 114 determines whether the user terminal 30 (including the electronic key of the vehicle 20) and the vehicle 20 are capable of communicating with each other. For example, the user 36 may move toward the vehicle 20, and the short-range communication device 23, which is an in-vehicle terminal, may become capable of communicating with the short-range communication device 34 of the user terminal 30. In this case, the processor 210 of the vehicle 20 or the processor 32 of the user terminal 30 acquires information indicating that communication is now possible. The processor 210 or the processor 32 transmits the information indicating that communication is now possible to the server 10 via the network N. The vehicle information acquisition unit 113 or the user information acquisition unit 112 associated with the server 10 receives the information indicating that communication is now possible. The approach determination unit 114 may determine that the user 36 is approaching the vehicle 20 when referring to the received information indicating that communication is now possible.

[0059] The processor 11 operates as the air-conditioning suppression determination unit 115 and determines whether the vehicle 20 is located within the restricted area 50 of the remote air-conditioning. The air-conditioning suppression determination unit 115, for example, compares the location indicated by the location information of the vehicle 20 received by the vehicle information acquisition unit 113 with the restricted area information received by the area information acquisition unit 111. If the location of the vehicle 20 is located within the restricted area 50, the air-conditioning suppression determination unit 115 determines that the vehicle 20 is located within the restricted area 50. Note that the restricted area information may include data on the accumulated amount of CO2 on a local government basis (e.g., prefecture, city, town, or village basis). In this case, the air-conditioning suppression determination unit 115 may determine whether the accumulated amount indicated in the data on the accumulated amount of CO2 exceeds a predetermined threshold. The predetermined threshold may be set by the user 36 as user setting information. If the accumulated amount related to the parked position of the vehicle 20 exceeds the predetermined threshold, the air-conditioning suppression determination unit 115 may determine that the vehicle 20 is located within the restricted area 50.

[0060] The processor 11 operates as the output unit 116 and outputs predetermined information. For example, when the approach determination unit 114 determines that the user 36 is approaching the vehicle 20 and determines that the vehicle 20 is not present in the restricted area 50, the output unit 116 generates a control command to start remote air-conditioning of the vehicle 20. The output unit 116 transmits the generated control command to the vehicle 20 via the network N. In this case, the output unit 116 may generate a notification that the control command has been sent to the vehicle 20 and transmit the notification to the user terminal 30 via the network N. Furthermore, when the approach determination unit 114 determines that the user 36 is approaching the vehicle 20 and determines that the vehicle 20 is present in the restricted area 50, the output unit 116 may generate a suppression notification to suppress the remote air-conditioning of the vehicle 20. "Suppressing remote air-conditioning" can also be interpreted as entering a stop mode that stops the execution of the remote air-conditioning, or omitting the execution of the remote air-conditioning. The output unit 116 may transmit the generated suppression notice to the user terminal 30 via the network N.

[0061] The storage unit 12 includes a main storage unit and an auxiliary storage unit. The units are similar to the main memory unit and auxiliary memory unit of the memory unit 215.

[0062] The communication unit 13 connects the server 10 to the network N. The communication unit 13 has the same function as the communication device 24.

[0063] (information server) The information server 40 includes a processor 41 , a storage unit 42 , and a communication unit 43 .

[0064] The processor 41 is, for example, a CPU or a DSP. The processor 41 includes an output unit 411 as a functional unit.

[0065] The processor 41 operates as an output unit 411 and transmits the restricted area information to the server 10 via the network N.

[0066] The storage unit 42 includes a main storage unit and an auxiliary storage unit. The main storage unit and the auxiliary storage unit of the storage unit 42 are similar to the main storage unit and the auxiliary storage unit of the storage unit 215.

[0067] The storage unit 42 has an area information database (Database (DB)) 421. The area information DB 421 stores restricted area information. The restricted area information is specified by ordinance of a local government (for example, a prefecture, city, ward, town, or village), and is exemplified by information relating to a restricted area 50 in which operation of the engine (operation of the air conditioner 22) while the vehicle 20 is stopped is restricted. The restricted area information may be data relating to the accumulated amount of CO2 for each local government. The restricted area information may also be information relating to a geofence arbitrarily set by the user 36.

[0068] The communication unit 43 connects the information server 40 to the network N. The communication unit 43 has the same function as the communication device 24.

[0069] [3 Processing flow] FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of information processing according to this embodiment.

[0070] The information server 40 transmits the restricted area information to the server 10 via the network N (step S1). The server 10 receives the restricted area information transmitted from the information server 40 via the network N and stores it in the memory unit 12 of the server 10 (step S2). The user terminal 30 transmits user setting information for remote air conditioning to the server 10 (step S3). The vehicle 20 transmits location information of the vehicle 20 when it is stopped to the server 10 (step S4). The user terminal 30 transmits location information of the user terminal 30 to the server 10 (step S5). Note that the order of the processes of steps S1 and S2, step S3, step S4, and step S5 does not matter.

[0071] When the server 10 detects that the vehicle 20 and the user 36 are approaching each other, the server 10 makes an activation determination to activate the remote air conditioning (step S6). The server 10 acquires the stored restricted area information from the storage unit 12 (step S7). When the server 10 determines that the vehicle 20 is located within the restricted area 50 related to the acquired restricted area information and the parked location of the vehicle 20, the server 10 makes a suppression determination to suppress the execution of the remote air conditioning (step S8). Based on the suppression determination, the server 10 transmits a notification to the user terminal 30 via the network N to suppress the remote air conditioning (step S9). Then, the remote air conditioning is no longer performed in the vehicle 20 (step S10). Thus, according to this embodiment, the air conditioning of the vehicle 20 can be controlled according to the location and wishes of the user 36.

[0072] [4 Example of operation] 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure relating to control by the server 10, which is an example of an information processing device according to this embodiment. The following processing procedure is an example of a control method executed by a computer associated with the server 10.

[0073] The processor 11 included in the server 10 operates as an area information acquisition unit 111 and receives the restricted area information transmitted from the information server 40 via the network N (step S101). The area information acquisition unit 111 stores the received restricted area information in the storage unit 12 (step S102).

[0074] The processor 11 operates as the user information acquisition unit 112 and receives user setting information for remote air conditioning transmitted from the user terminal 30 (step S103). The user setting information includes information input by the user 36 as to whether or not the user desires the remote air conditioning function in the vehicle 20, and information as to whether or not the user desires to suppress the remote air conditioning when the vehicle 20 is located within the restricted area 50.

[0075] The processor 11 operates as the vehicle information acquisition unit 113 and receives the location information of the vehicle 20 transmitted from the vehicle 20 (step S104).

[0076] The user information acquisition unit 112 receives the location information of the user terminal 30 transmitted from the user terminal 30 (step S105). Note that the processing of steps S101 and S102, step S103, step S104, and step S105 can be performed in any order.

[0077] The processor 11 operates as an approach determination unit 114 and determines whether the user 36 is approaching the vehicle 20 based on the received user setting information, the position information of the vehicle 20, and the position information of the user terminal 30 (step S106). If the determination is negative (NO in step S106), the processor 11 ends the processing. If the determination is positive (YES in step S106), the processing proceeds to step S107.

[0078] In step S107, the area information acquisition unit 111 acquires the stored restricted area information from the storage unit 12.

[0079] The processor 11 operates as the air-conditioning suppression determination unit 115 and determines whether the vehicle 20 is present in the restricted area 50 related to the acquired restricted area information, based on the location indicated by the location information of the vehicle 20 (step S108). If the determination is negative (NO in step S108), the process proceeds to step S109. If the determination is positive (YES in step S108), the process proceeds to step S110.

[0080] In step S109, the processor 11 operates as the output unit 116 and generates a command to execute remote air conditioning. The output unit 116 transmits the generated command to execute remote air conditioning to the vehicle 20, and the processor 11 ends the processing. The output unit 116 may generate a notification that remote air conditioning will be executed and transmit it to the user terminal 30 via the network N.

[0081] In step S110, the output unit 116 generates a remote air conditioning suppression notification. The output unit 116 transmits the generated suppression notification to the user terminal 30 via the network N, and the processor 11 ends the processing.

[0082] Thus, according to this embodiment, even if it is determined that the user 36 is approaching the vehicle 20, if it is determined that the vehicle 20 is within the restricted area 50, the remote air conditioning in the vehicle 20 is suppressed in accordance with the desires of the user 36. Therefore, the air conditioning in the vehicle 20 can be controlled in accordance with the location and desires of the user 36.

[0083] [5 Variations] In the present embodiment, the processor 11 of the server 10 receives restricted area information from the information server 40, receives user setting information and location information of the user terminal 30 from the user terminal 30, and receives location information of the vehicle 20 from the vehicle 20, and executes information processing. This is not a limitation, and the processor 210 of the ECU 21 in the vehicle 20 may have functional units similar to those of the processor 11 of the present embodiment and execute information processing similar to that of the processor 11. Furthermore, the information processing may be shared between the server 10 and the vehicle 20. For example, the server 10 collects restricted area information, user setting information, and location information of the user terminal 30, and transmits the collected information to the vehicle 20 via the network N. The vehicle 20 may then receive the transmitted information via the network N, and the processor 210 may perform processing such as determining whether or not to execute remote air conditioning.

[0084] (Other embodiments) Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail above, the above description is merely an example of the present disclosure in every respect. It goes without saying that various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0085] 1. Information Processing System 10. Server, 20. Vehicle, 30. User terminal, 40. Information server 11, 210, 32, 41... Processor, 12, 215, 33, 42... Memory unit, 13, 43... Communication unit, 23, 34... Near-field communication device, 24, 35... Communication device 21··ECU, 22··Air conditioning unit, 36··User, N··Network

Claims

1. An information processing device including a control unit, The control unit Detecting whether a user is approaching the vehicle; and When it is detected that the user is approaching the vehicle, instructing the vehicle to perform remote air conditioning; configured to run The control unit acquiring restricted area information regarding a restricted area in which remote air conditioning in the vehicle is restricted; determining whether the vehicle is present within the restricted area indicated by the restricted area information; and When it is determined that the vehicle is present within the restricted area, execution of the remote air conditioning when the user approaches the vehicle is suppressed. configured to further perform Information processing device.

2. Detecting whether the user is approaching the vehicle includes detecting the amount of CO emitted by the remote air conditioning system while the user is moving from the current location of the user to the location of the vehicle. ２ determining whether the expected emissions of The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. Detecting whether the user is approaching the vehicle is based on a distance from the current location of the user to the location of the vehicle, and a CO 2 amount emitted by the remote air conditioning system during the user's movement from the current location of the user to the location of the vehicle. ２ and determining whether the distance is less than a threshold value according to the amount of emissions. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

4. detecting whether the user is approaching the vehicle by determining whether a location of a user terminal carried by the user is within a predetermined range from a location of the vehicle; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

5. Detecting whether the user is approaching the vehicle is configured by determining whether a user terminal carried by the user and an in-vehicle terminal mounted on the vehicle are capable of communicating with each other. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

Images