Device setting device, device setting system, device setting method, and program

Abstract

To operate a device with natural usability without giving a sense of incongruity to a user.SOLUTION: A device setting apparatus comprises: an update processing unit which updates operation setting information stored in a first storage unit and related to a plurality of devices regardless of a setting change operation of a user; and a setting change unit which, when a setting change operation for at least partial devices of the plurality of devices is accepted by a receiving unit for accepting operations of the user, changes operation settings of the at least partial devices in accordance with the setting change operation and stores temporary change information based on contents of the setting change operation into a second storage unit. The setting change unit performs processing independently of a state of the update processing unit, and the update processing unit compares the operation setting information with the temporary change information after the completion of update processing and, if the temporary change information is not reflected on the operation setting information, reflects the temporary change information on the operation setting information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a device setting device, a device setting system, a device setting method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, devices such as in-vehicle devices can be individually configured, and the operation setting information is stored in some kind of storage device, and when the device starts operating, the operation setting information is read from the storage device and reflected in the device. In particular, for devices shared by multiple users, the operation setting information for each individual is stored in a storage device, and the operation setting information of a specific user is used (Patent Documents 1 and 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2008-072160 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2003-130649 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the prior art, if for some reason a user were to manually change settings while the operational setting information was being updated, there was a concern that it would be difficult to accurately determine whether the updated information or the manually changed setting information should be the latest, and so the manual setting change operation was sometimes not accepted. In this case, the user may feel uncomfortable.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and one of its objectives is to provide a device setting device, a device setting system, a device setting method, and a program that enable a user to operate a device with a natural feel without feeling uncomfortable. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The device setting device, device setting system, device setting method, and program according to the present invention employ the following configuration. (1): A device setting device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes an identification unit that identifies a user; an update processing unit that is stored in a first memory unit and updates operation setting information for a plurality of devices regardless of a setting change operation by the user; and a setting change unit that, when a setting change operation for at least some of the plurality of devices is accepted by a reception unit that accepts operations by the user, changes the operation settings of the at least some of the devices in accordance with the setting change operation and stores temporary change information based on the content of the setting change operation in a second memory unit, wherein the setting change unit performs processing regardless of the state of the update processing unit, and after the update processing is completed, the update processing unit compares the operation setting information with the temporary change information, and if the temporary change information is not reflected in the operation setting information, reflects the temporary change information in the operation setting information.

[0007] (2) In the above aspect (1), the update processing section updates the operation setting information based on information provided from an external device via a communication device.

[0008] (3): In the above aspect (2), the update processing unit instructs the communication device to send an update request based on the temporary change information to the external device when reflecting the temporary change information in the operation setting information.

[0009] (4): In the above aspect (1) or (2), when the user identified by the identification unit is switched, the update processing unit updates the operation setting information with operation setting information for the new user extracted from an operation setting information group that is stored in a third memory unit and that collects the operation setting information for multiple users.

[0010] (5): A device setting system according to another aspect of the present invention includes the device setting device according to (2) or (3) above, and the external device.

[0011] (6): In another aspect of the present invention, a device setting method includes a device setting device that executes a process of identifying a user, an update process for updating operation setting information for a plurality of devices stored in a first memory unit regardless of a setting change operation by the user, and a setting change process for changing the operation settings of at least some of the plurality of devices in accordance with the setting change operation, when a setting change operation for at least some of the plurality of devices is accepted by a reception unit that accepts the user's operation, and storing temporary change information based on the content of the setting change operation in a second memory unit, wherein the setting change process is performed regardless of the state of the update process, and after the update process is completed, the operation setting information is compared with the temporary change information, and if the temporary change information is not reflected in the operation setting information, the temporary change information is reflected in the operation setting information.

[0012] (7): A program according to another aspect of the present invention causes a processor of a device setting device to execute a process of identifying a user, an update process for updating operation setting information for a plurality of devices stored in a first memory unit regardless of a setting change operation by the user, and a setting change process for, when a setting change operation for at least some of the plurality of devices is accepted by a reception unit that accepts the user's operation, changing the operation settings of the at least some of the devices in accordance with the setting change operation and storing temporary change information based on the content of the setting change operation in a second memory unit, wherein the setting change process is performed regardless of the state of the update process, and the processor further executes a process of comparing the operation setting information with the temporary change information after the update process is completed, and, if the temporary change information is not reflected in the operation setting information, reflecting the temporary change information in the operation setting information. Effect of the Invention

[0013] According to aspects (1) to (7), the device can be operated in a natural manner without giving the user a sense of discomfort. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration and usage environment of a device setting system 1 including a device setting device 100 according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an overview of operation setting information 172A. [Diagram 3] 13 is a time chart showing an example of a processing flow when the processing of the update processing unit 130 and the processing of the setting change unit 140 overlap. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, an embodiment of a device setting device, a device setting system, a device setting method, and a program of the present invention will be described. The device setting device is a device that sets the operation of a device. The device is, for example, a device mounted on a moving object such as a vehicle. In the following description, it is assumed that the device setting device is mounted on a vehicle.

[0016] First Embodiment 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration and usage environment of a device setting system 1 including a device setting device 100 according to the first embodiment. The device setting device 100 is mounted on a vehicle M. The vehicle M is further equipped with a plurality of devices 10#1 to 10#n, an HMI (Human machine Interface) 20, a TCU (Telematics Control Unit) 30, and a key system 40. In addition, the vehicle M may be equipped with general components such as a driving device such as an engine or a motor, a braking device, a steering device, etc., but illustration and description thereof will be omitted.

[0017] Each of the multiple devices 10#1 to 10#n is, for example, a power window, a sunroof, a sunshade, an interior light, a map light, an air conditioning system, a memory seat, a seat heater / cooler, a door lock, a driving mode setting device, a driving assistance device, etc. Each of the multiple devices #1 to 10#n may or may not include an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) that serves as a control entity.

[0018] The power window is, for example, a device that opens and closes the window glass arranged on the driver's seat side, the passenger seat side, and the left and right of the rear seat of the vehicle M, and the opening and closing amount of the window glass in response to the pressing amount and pressing time of the opening and closing switch by the user is set and controlled based on the operation setting information 172A. The sunroof is, for example, a device that opens and closes the glass or iron plate of an opening arranged in the ceiling part of the passenger compartment of the vehicle M, and the opening and closing amount when the glass or iron plate is opened and closed in response to the user's operation is set and controlled based on the operation setting information 172A. The sunshade is, for example, a device that opens and closes a light-shielding part that blocks sunlight entering from the rear window glass part of the vehicle M and the left and right window glass parts of the rear seat, and the opening and closing amount when the light-shielding part is opened and closed in response to the user's operation is set and controlled based on the operation setting information 172A. The interior light and the map light are devices (lighting devices) for illuminating the interior of the vehicle M and the user's hands, and the turning on, turning off, and brightness when turned on are set and controlled based on the operation setting information 172A. The air conditioning system is, for example, a device (air conditioning device) such as an air conditioner, and the temperature and volume of air (wind) sent into the interior of the vehicle M are set and controlled based on the operation setting information 172A. The memory seat is, for example, a device that changes the position of the driver's seat so that the user's desired position (so-called seat position) when driving the vehicle M, such as the position and height of the seat surface and the angle of the backrest, is achieved, and the position of the driver's seat is set and controlled based on the operation setting information 172A. The seat heater / cooler is, for example, a device that adjusts the temperature of the seat on the driver's seat side (which may include the passenger's seat side and the rear seat), and the temperature adjustment function of the seat is set and controlled based on the operation setting information 172A. The door lock is, for example, a device including a security function that operates when a user gets off and leaves the vehicle M, and the operation mode of the security function and the like are set and controlled based on the operation setting information 172A.The driving mode setting device is a device that changes various setting items related to the driving (driving) of the vehicle M, such as an automatic driving mode, a normal driving mode, a sports driving mode, a comfort driving mode, and the like, and the setting items for the driving mode and the driving mode are set and controlled based on the operation setting information 172A. The driving support device 213 is a device that changes various setting items related to a preventive safety function that suppresses a sudden change in the behavior of the vehicle M by combining an ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) function, a TCS (Traction Control System), a skid suppression function, and the like, and a driving support function represented by an ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control System), an LKAS (Lane Keeping Assistance System), and the like, and the setting items for each driving support function are set and controlled based on the operation setting information 172A.

[0019] The HMI 20 is a device or equipment for presenting information to a user (passenger) and accepting operations by the passenger. The HMI 20 includes, for example, a touch panel display device and various switches (for example, a steering switch provided on a steering wheel).

[0020] The TCU 30 is a communication device equipped with a wireless communication module. The TCU 30 includes, for example, a 4G-RF (Radio Frequency) circuit, a 5G-RF circuit, a DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communications)-RF circuit, a GPS circuit, an antenna, a control circuit, and the like. The TCU 30 communicates with the service server 200 via a network NW. The service server 200 is an example of an external device.

[0021] The key system 40 is a system that detects signals from a smart key or FOB key and allows the unlocking of doors and the starting of a drive device. The key system 40 may have a function of identifying the occupant based on the identification information of the key used.

[0022] The device setting device 100 includes, for example, an identifying unit 110, a control unit 120, an update processing unit 130, a setting change unit 140, and a storage unit 170. The storage unit 170 includes, for example, a first storage unit 172 that stores operation setting information 172A, a second storage unit 174 that stores temporary change information 174A, and a third storage unit 176 that stores operation setting information for each user 176A. The components other than the storage unit 170 are realized by, for example, a hardware processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) executing a program (software). Some or all of these components may be realized by hardware (including circuitry) such as an LSI (Large Scale Integration), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or may be realized by cooperation between software and hardware. The program may be stored in advance in a storage device (a storage device having a non-transient storage medium) such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a flash memory, or may be stored in a removable storage medium (non-transient storage medium) such as a DVD or a CD-ROM, and installed by inserting the storage medium into a drive device. The storage unit 170 is realized by a random access memory (RAM), a HDD, a flash memory, or the like.

[0023] The identification unit 110 identifies the user, i.e., an occupant of the vehicle M, more specifically, the driver. In the following description, the user is the driver. The identification unit 110, for example, identifies an occupant identified by the key system 40 as the driver. The identification unit 110 may identify the driver based on an operation performed on the HMI 20, may identify the driver based on biometric information or security information read by an authentication device (not shown), or may identify the driver by analyzing an image captured by a driver monitor camera (not shown).

[0024] The control unit 120 reads out information corresponding to the driver identified by the identification unit 110 from the operation setting information 172A during system guidance of the vehicle M, and performs operation setting of the plurality of devices 10#1-10#n based on the read out information. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an overview of the operation setting information 172A. The operation setting information 172A is operation setting information corresponding to the currently active user. Note that the per-user operation setting information 176A is a collection of operation setting information for each user.

[0025] The update processing unit 130 updates the operation setting information 172A without depending on the driver's setting change operation. The update processing unit 130 performs the update process when, for example, an update program or the like is acquired from the service server 200 via the TCU 30 and it becomes necessary to change the items of the operation setting information 172A according to the update program. In addition, when the driver identified by the identification unit 110 is changed, the update processing unit 130 may update the operation setting information 172A with the operation setting information for the user after the change, which is extracted from the user-specific operation setting information 176A. In addition, the information corresponding to the user-specific operation setting information 176A may not be held by the device setting device 100, but may be held exclusively by the service server 200. The service server 200 stores the setting information DB210A in the storage unit 210. The setting information DB210A is a collection of operation setting information for each vehicle and each user. In this case, the third storage unit 176 may be omitted.

[0026] When the HMI 20 accepts a setting change operation for at least some of the devices 10#1 to 10#n, the setting change unit 140 changes the operation settings of the at least some of the devices in accordance with the setting change operation, regardless of the state of the update processing unit 130, and stores temporary change information based on the contents of the setting change operation as temporary change information 174A in the second storage unit 174. The temporary change information 174A is set for each driver (each user).

[0027] 3 is a time chart showing an example of a process flow when the processes of the update processing unit 130 and the setting change unit 140 overlap. As a premise for the explanation of this figure, it is assumed that the update processing unit 130 performs an update process when the driver identified by the identification unit 110 is changed, and that information equivalent to the user-specific operation setting information 176A is held exclusively by the service server 200.

[0028] First, when the system of the vehicle M starts and the user identified by the identification unit 110 is changed, the update processing unit 130 starts an update process (personal setting reflection process). The update processing unit 130 requests the service server 200 to transmit operation setting information for the current user via the network NW. The update processing unit 130 performs update processing sequentially for each setting item. If a setting change request is made by the user before the update processing is completed, the setting change unit 140 instructs the target device to change the actual operation setting of the device in parallel with the update processing unit 130, and stores the content of the change in the second storage unit 174 as temporary change information 174A.

[0029] When the personal setting reflection process is completed, the update processing unit 130 first compares the operation setting information 172A with the temporary change information 174A, and if there is a difference (updated part) (if the temporary change information 174A is not reflected in the operation setting information 172A), it changes the operation setting information 172A to match the temporary change information 174A, and further requests the service server 200 to change the operation setting information of the user. At this time, if the per-user operation setting information 176A is stored exclusively in the third storage unit 176, the update processing unit 130 changes the operation setting information 172A and the per-user operation setting information 176A for the user. Also, if the per-user operation setting information 176A is stored in the third storage unit 176 and the same information is also stored in the service server 200, the update processing unit 130 changes the operation setting information 172A and the per-user operation setting information 176A for the user, and requests the service server 200 to change the operation setting information of the user.

[0030] By carrying out such processing, it is possible to prevent a period during which a setting change request made by a user is not reflected, and the device can be operated with a natural feel without giving the user a sense of discomfort.

[0031] The above-described embodiment can be expressed as follows. a storage medium for storing computer-readable instructions; a processor coupled to the storage medium; The processor executes the computer-readable instructions to: A process for identifying a user; an update process for updating the operational setting information related to the plurality of devices stored in the first storage unit without depending on a setting change operation by a user; a setting change process for changing operational settings of at least some of the devices in accordance with the setting change operation when a setting change operation for at least some of the devices is accepted by a accepting unit that accepts an operation by the user, and for storing temporary change information based on the content of the setting change operation in a second storage unit; Run The setting change process is performed regardless of the state of the update processing unit, after completing the update process, the processor compares the operational setting information with the temporary change information, and if the temporary change information is not reflected in the operational setting information, causes the temporary change information to be reflected in the operational setting information; Equipment setting device.

[0032] The above describes the form for carrying out the present invention using an embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and various modifications and substitutions can be made within the scope that does not deviate from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1. Device setting system 10 equipment 20 Human Machine Interfaces 30 TCU 40 Key System 100 Equipment setting device 110 Specific section 120 Control section 130 Update processing section 140 Setting change section 170 Storage section 172 1st memory section 172A operation setting information 174 2nd memory section 174A Temporary Change Information 176 Third memory section 176A User specific operation setting information 200 Service Server 210 Storage section 210A device setting DB

Claims

1. An identification unit that identifies a user; an update processing unit that updates the operational setting information related to the plurality of devices, the update processing unit being stored in the first storage unit, regardless of a setting change operation by a user; a setting change unit that, when a setting change operation for at least some of the devices among the plurality of devices is accepted by the accepting unit that accepts an operation by the user, changes operational settings of the at least some of the devices in accordance with the setting change operation and stores temporary change information based on the content of the setting change operation in a second storage unit; Equipped with The setting change unit performs processing regardless of the state of the update processing unit, after the updating process is completed, the update processing unit compares the operation setting information with the temporary change information, and if the temporary change information is not reflected in the operation setting information, causes the temporary change information to be reflected in the operation setting information. Equipment setting device.

2. The update processing unit updates the operation setting information based on information provided from an external device via a communication device.

2. The device setting device according to claim 1.

3. the update processing unit instructs the communication device to transmit an update request based on the temporary change information to the external device when reflecting the temporary change information in the operation setting information.

3. The device setting device according to claim 2.

4. When the user identified by the identification unit is changed, the update processing unit updates the operation setting information with operation setting information for the user after the change, the operation setting information being extracted from an operation setting information group that is stored in a third storage unit and that collects the operation setting information for a plurality of users.

3. The device setting device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The device setting device according to claim 2 or 3, The external device; A device setting system comprising:

6. The device setting device is A process for identifying a user; an update process for updating the operational setting information related to the plurality of devices stored in the first storage unit without depending on a setting change operation by a user; a setting change process for changing operation settings of at least some of the devices in accordance with the setting change operation when a setting change operation is received by a reception unit that receives an operation from the user, and for storing temporary change information based on the content of the setting change operation in a second storage unit; Run The setting change process is performed regardless of the state of the update process, after the updating process is completed, the operation setting information is compared with the temporary change information, and if the temporary change information is not reflected in the operation setting information, the temporary change information is reflected in the operation setting information; How to set up the equipment.

7. The processor of the device setting device A process for identifying a user; an update process for updating the operational setting information related to the plurality of devices stored in the first storage unit without depending on a setting change operation by a user; a setting change process for changing operation settings of at least some of the devices in accordance with the setting change operation when a setting change operation is received by a reception unit that receives an operation from the user, and for storing temporary change information based on the content of the setting change operation in a second storage unit; Run the command, The setting change process is performed regardless of the state of the update process, The processor further comprises: after the update process is completed, the operation setting information is compared with the temporary change information, and if the temporary change information is not reflected in the operation setting information, a process is performed to reflect the temporary change information in the operation setting information; program.

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