Reporting device

Abstract

To improve the technology related to notification devices. [Solution] The notification device, after receiving the start of a notification, acquires current consumption information, radio wave environment information, and communication time information, estimates the remaining battery level based on the current consumption information, radio wave environment information, and communication time information, determines the degree of reduction in communication quality based on the estimated remaining battery level, and includes a control unit that makes a notification with communication quality corresponding to the determined degree.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a reporting device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a reporting device mounted on a vehicle has been known. For example, in Patent Document 1, there is disclosed a device that performs reporting processing using power provided in a backup battery when a collision of a vehicle occurs, wirelessly transmits an image around the vehicle to a reporting center, and prohibits wireless transmission of the image when the remaining battery level of the backup battery becomes less than a predetermined value after the collision occurs.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Even when only voice calls are made without transmitting images, there is a possibility that the remaining battery level will be insufficient when trying to maintain high communication quality.

[0005] In view of such circumstances, an object of the present disclosure is to improve the technology related to a reporting device.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A reporting device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a control unit that, after receiving the start of reporting, acquires consumption current information, radio wave environment information, and communication time information, estimates the remaining battery level based on the consumption current information, the radio wave environment information, and the communication time information, determines the degree of reduction of communication quality based on the estimated remaining battery level, and performs reporting with a communication quality corresponding to the determined degree.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to one embodiment of this disclosure, the technology relating to a notification device is improved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing the system's schematic configuration. [Figure 2] This is a flowchart showing the operation of the notification device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described below.

[0010] Referring to Figure 1, an overview of System 1 according to the embodiment of this disclosure will be described. System 1 comprises a notification device 10 mounted on a vehicle V and a terminal device S provided at a notification center. Each device is connected to a network 20, including, for example, the Internet and a mobile communication network.

[0011] The notification device 10 is a device mounted on the vehicle V. The notification device 10 is for the user to notify a pre-set notification center in the event of an emergency, and may be a computer. The notification device 10 may operate on power from a battery it has built into itself. The notification device 10 may also operate on power supplied from a battery in the vehicle V. The battery in the vehicle V may be the vehicle V's main battery or backup battery. The vehicle V is, for example, an automobile. An automobile includes BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle), HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle), PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle), or FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle), etc. The vehicle V is equipped with a control unit that controls the operation of various parts of the vehicle V. The vehicle V may be equipped with a sensor that detects the remaining battery level of the vehicle V and outputs it to the control unit. The terminal device S is any device used by the person in charge of the notification center. For example, a general-purpose electronic device such as a PC (Personal Computer) or a dedicated electronic device can be used as the terminal device S.

[0012] Network 20 includes the Internet, at least one WAN (wide area network), at least one MAN (metropolitan area network), or a combination thereof. Network 20 may also include at least one wireless network, at least one optical network, or a combination thereof. Wireless networks include, for example, ad hoc networks, cellular networks, wireless LANs, satellite communication networks, or terrestrial microwave networks. "LAN" is an abbreviation for local area network.

[0013] First, an overview of this embodiment will be described, and details will be described later. After receiving the start of a notification, the notification device 10 acquires current consumption information, radio wave environment information, and communication time information, estimates the remaining battery level based on the current consumption information, radio wave environment information, and communication time information, determines the degree of reduction in communication quality based on the estimated remaining battery level, and makes a notification with communication quality corresponding to the determined degree.

[0014] According to this embodiment, the communication quality can be reduced according to the estimated remaining battery level, allowing for the continuation of minimal communication. Therefore, it becomes possible to optimize or extend the time during which rescue operations can be carried out in response to a notification from the notification device 10. Thus, the technology related to the notification device is improved.

[0015] Next, with reference to Figure 1, the configuration of the notification device 10 will be described in detail. The notification device 10 comprises a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a communication unit 13, and an input / output unit 14.

[0016] The control unit 11 includes at least one processor. The processor is a general-purpose processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), or a dedicated processor specialized for a specific process. The control unit 11 controls each part of the notification device 10 and executes processes related to the operation of the notification device 10. The storage unit 12 includes at least one semiconductor memory, etc. The semiconductor memory is, for example, RAM (Random Access Memory) or ROM (Read Only Memory). The storage unit 12 functions as, for example, a main memory or an auxiliary memory. The storage unit 12 stores data used for the operation of the notification device 10 and data obtained by the operation of the notification device 10. The communication unit 13 includes at least one external communication interface. The communication interface may be either a wired communication interface or a wireless communication interface. In the case of wired communication, the communication interface is, for example, a LAN (local area network) or a USB (Universal Serial Bus). In the case of wireless communication, the communication interface is, for example, an interface compatible with mobile communication standards such as 5G, or an interface compatible with short-range wireless communication. The communication unit 13 receives data used for the operation of the notification device 10 and transmits data obtained by the operation of the notification device 10. The input / output unit 14 includes one or more input devices for inputting information and one or more output devices for outputting information. The input devices are, but are not limited to, a microphone, camera, physical keys, capacitive keys, mouse, touch panel, touchscreen, etc. The output devices are, but are not limited to, a speaker or display, etc. The input / output unit 14 may also include an interface for connecting external input or output devices.

[0017] The functions of the notification device 10 are realized by executing the program according to this embodiment on a processor corresponding to the control unit 11. In other words, the functions of the notification device 10 are realized by software. The program causes the computer to perform the operations of the notification device 10, thereby causing the computer to function as the notification device 10. That is, the computer functions as the notification device 10 by performing the operations of the notification device 10 according to the program. In this embodiment, the program can be recorded on a recording medium that can be read by a computer. The recording medium that can be read by a computer includes non-temporary computer-readable media, such as a magnetic recording device or semiconductor memory. Some or all of the functions of the notification device 10 may be realized by a dedicated circuit corresponding to the control unit 11. In other words, some or all of the functions of the notification device 10 may be realized by hardware.

[0018] Referring to Figure 2, the operation of the notification device 10 according to this embodiment will be described. When the control unit 11 of the notification device 10 receives a notification start from the user, the following operations begin. For example, the control unit 11 receives a user input instructing the start of a notification via the input / output unit 14 to receive the start of a notification.

[0019] In S1, the control unit 11 of the notification device 10 acquires current consumption information, radio wave environment information, and communication time information. Any sensor provided by the notification device 10 may be used to acquire the current consumption information, radio wave environment information, and communication time information. The current consumption information includes the current consumption value of the notification device 10. The radio wave environment information includes a value indicating the radio wave conditions in which the communication device 30 is located. The radio wave conditions may be a value obtained by measuring the reference signal reception power or reference signal reception quality, etc. The communication time information includes the communication time and the number of communications. The communication time may be the elapsed time since the notification device 10 received the start of the notification. The number of communications may be the number of round trips of communication between the communication device 30 and the terminal device S of the notification center since the start of the notification was received. The control unit 11 may continuously acquire and record the current consumption information, radio wave environment information, and communication time information until it determines the end of the notification in S6.

[0020] In S2, the control unit 11 estimates the current battery level of the notification device 10 based on the current consumption information, radio wave environment information, and communication time information. The control unit 11 may also estimate the battery level of the vehicle V that supplies power to the notification device 10 as the battery level of the notification device 10. Any method may be used to estimate the battery level. For example, the control unit 11 first converts the current consumption value to a larger value the larger it is, and to a smaller value the smaller it is. The conversion criteria may be freely set in advance and stored in the memory unit 12. The control unit 11 converts the value indicating radio wave conditions to a smaller value the larger it is, i.e., the better the radio wave conditions, and to a larger value the smaller it is, i.e., the worse the radio wave conditions. The conversion criteria may be freely set in advance and stored in the memory unit 12. The control unit 11 may convert at least one of the communication time and the number of communications to a larger value the longer the communication time or the more communications, and to a smaller value the shorter the communication time or the fewer communications. The control unit 11 may, for example, estimate the remaining battery level by subtracting the sum of the current consumption value or converted current consumption value, the converted radio wave condition indicator value, the communication time or converted communication time, and the number of communications or converted number of communications from a reference battery level. The control unit 11 may further convert the remaining value after subtracting the sum based on a predetermined standard and estimate it as the remaining battery level. The predetermined standard may be set in advance and stored in the memory unit 12. The control unit 11 may use the initial battery level of the notification device 10, which has been set in advance and stored in the memory unit 12, as the reference battery level. The control unit 11 may also constantly obtain the battery level of the vehicle V from the vehicle V's control unit and use the battery level immediately before the notification is started as the reference battery level. For example, the control unit 11 may estimate the remaining battery level by subtracting from a reference battery level the value obtained by multiplying the current consumption value or the converted current consumption value by at least one of the communication time and the number of communication cycles, and then further multiplying that value by a value indicating the converted radio wave conditions.

[0021] In S3, the control unit 11 determines the degree of reduction in communication quality based on the estimated remaining battery level, and determines the communication quality corresponding to that degree. The control unit 11 determines a greater degree of reduction in communication quality as the remaining battery level decreases.

[0022] For example, when the estimated remaining battery level is less than the first threshold, the control unit 11 determines a large reduction degree of the communication quality and determines the communication quality to the first quality that maintains only the minimum communication such as text data. When the estimated remaining battery level is greater than or equal to the first threshold and less than the second threshold, the control unit 11 determines the reduction degree of the communication quality to be medium and determines the communication quality to the second quality that maintains at least one of low-quality voice communication and video communication. When the estimated remaining battery level is greater than or equal to the second threshold, the control unit 11 determines a small reduction degree of the communication quality and determines the communication quality to the third quality that maintains at least one of voice communication and video communication with a quality higher than the second quality. The types of communication quality according to the reduction degree are not limited to the above three types and may be freely set.

[0023] In S4, the control unit 11 makes a report with the determined communication quality. Specifically, when the control unit 11 determines the first quality, it receives the input of the user's text data via the input / output unit 14 and transmits it to the terminal device S of the reporting center via the communication unit 13. The control unit 11 also outputs the text data received from the terminal device S via the input / output unit 14. When the control unit 11 determines the second quality, it receives the input of at least one of the user's voice data and video data via the input / output unit 14, and transmits voice data with a bit rate lower than the third quality or video data with a frame rate or resolution lower than the third quality to the terminal device S via the communication unit 13. The control unit 11 converts at least one of the voice data and video data received from the terminal device S into voice data with a bit rate lower than the third quality or video data with a frame rate or resolution lower than the third quality and outputs it via the input / output unit 14. When the control unit 11 determines the third quality, it receives the input of at least one of the user's voice data and video data via the input / output unit 14, and transmits voice data with a bit rate higher than the second quality or video data with a frame rate or resolution higher than the second quality to the terminal device S via the communication unit 13. The control unit 11 converts at least one of the voice data and video data received from the terminal device S into voice data with a bit rate higher than the second quality or video data with a frame rate or resolution higher than the second quality and outputs it via the input / output unit 14.

[0024] In S5, the control unit 11 determines whether to continue the report. For example, when the control unit 11 receives a user input instructing the end of the report via the input / output unit 14, it determines not to continue the report. When the control unit 11 has not received a user input instructing the end of the report, it determines to continue the report. When it determines not to continue the report, the operation of the control unit 11 ends. When it determines to continue the report, the operation of the control unit 11 returns to S1.

[0025] While this disclosure has been described based on the drawings and embodiments, it should be noted that those skilled in the art may make various modifications and alterations based on this disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these modifications and alterations are within the scope of this disclosure. For example, the functions, etc., included in each component or step can be rearranged in a logically consistent manner, and multiple components or steps can be combined into one or divided into two. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0026] 1: System, 10: Notification device, 11: Control unit, 12: Storage unit, 13: Communication unit, 14: Input / Output unit, 20: Network

Claims

[Claim 1] A notification device comprising a control unit that, after receiving a notification start, acquires current consumption information, radio wave environment information, and communication time information, estimates the remaining battery level based on the current consumption information, radio wave environment information, and communication time information, determines the degree of reduction in communication quality based on the estimated remaining battery level, and makes a notification with communication quality corresponding to the determined degree.

Images