VEHICLE PERSONALIZED SETTING SYSTEM AND VEHICLE PERSONALIZED SETTING METHOD

Abstract

To provide a vehicle personalization setting system and a vehicle personalization setting method configured to allow a user to use as quickly as possible a personalization setting function of vehicle equipment even if a delay occurs in individual recognition processing.SOLUTION: An external information acquisition unit 4c allows acquisition of subscription purchase status information for each individual stored in the outside, on the basis of a recognized individual. A delay determination unit 3b determines a delay status of recognition of the individual performed by an individual recognition unit 4b. A change setting unit 3c changes acquired content of the subscription purchase status information to be acquired from the outside by the external information acquisition unit 4c according to the delay status of recognition of the individual from the delay determination unit 3b.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle personalization setting system and a vehicle personalization setting method. [Background technology]

[0002] The personalization function is a function that changes the settings of various items in the vehicle for each individual, and manages personalization setting information such as subscriptions to functions used in vehicle equipment (hereinafter abbreviated as "subscriptions"). For example, a vehicle may be equipped with vehicle audio equipment as vehicle equipment, and a subscription service related to music distribution applied to this vehicle audio equipment may be set by the personalization function.

[0003] The personalization function is proposed to change various setting values ​​for each recognized driver after recognizing the driver currently driving. Patent Document 1 can be cited as a document related to the function of setting the expiration date of a function. For example, according to the technology described in Patent Document 1, when a terminal receives an instruction to update the expiration date from a server, it stores the updated expiration date of each function, and enables the terminal, each function of the terminal, and access to content to be activated if the current date and time (current time) is within the expiration date. Patent Document 2 can be cited as a document related to billing processing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2002 / 013028 [Patent Document 2] JP 2004-145480 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] For various reasons, for example, when the accuracy of personal recognition is low and there is a delay in personal recognition, there are cases where the reflection of the personalized setting information is delayed. This can cause inconvenience to the user because it takes time to change settings or activate the personalized setting function.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle personalization setting system and a vehicle personalization setting method that enable a user to use the personalization setting function of a vehicle device as quickly as possible even if personal recognition processing is delayed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to the invention of claim 1, the subject matter is a personalized setting system that sets personalized setting information for at least one vehicle device for each individual recognized by an individual recognition unit. An external information acquisition unit makes it possible to acquire personalized setting information for each individual that is externally stored based on the recognized individual. A delay determination unit determines the delay status of the individual recognition by the individual recognition unit. Here, a setting change unit changes the acquired content of the personalized setting information acquired from outside by the external information acquisition unit according to the delay status of the individual recognition by the delay determination unit.

[0008] According to the invention described in claim 1, the contents of the personalized setting information acquired from outside are changed depending on the delay status of personal recognition. Therefore, even if personal recognition is delayed, the personalized setting information of multiple individuals can be acquired in advance from outside, for example, so that the user can use the personalized setting function of the vehicle equipment as quickly as possible.

[0009] Also, for example, as in the invention described in claim 2, when it is determined that a delay in personal recognition is occurring, the personalized setting information acquired from outside is set to multiple individuals, thereby acquiring personalized setting information for a large number of individuals, and then, when a personal recognition is performed, matching is performed with the multiple individuals acquired from outside to set the personalized setting information for the relevant individual. This allows the user to use the personalized setting function of the vehicle device as quickly as possible, even if there is a delay in personal recognition.

[0010] According to the invention described in claim 3, the external information acquisition unit can acquire personalized setting information of vehicle devices for each individual stored externally based on the recognized individual, and while the recognition unit is recognizing an individual, the externally stored personalized setting information of at least one or more individual vehicle devices is acquired. Therefore, while the individual is being recognized, the personalized setting information can be acquired in parallel.

[0011] When the personal identification unit identifies the user, the user is compared with the user corresponding to the externally acquired personalized setting information, and when the user is identified, the setting unit sets the personalized setting information of the vehicle device for the identified user. This allows the user to use the personalized setting function of the vehicle device as quickly as possible even if the personal identification is delayed.

[0012] According to the invention described in claim 4, when the identification reliability of the individual recognized by the recognition unit is lower than a predetermined level, the setting unit recognizes the individual by a second recognition unit different from the recognition unit, and sets the personalized setting information of the vehicle device for the identified individual. This allows the user to use the personalized setting function of the vehicle device as quickly as possible even if the identification reliability of the individual is low and a delay occurs in the individual recognition. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a personalization setting system according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2]Flowchart 1 outlining the processing inside the vehicle [Diagram 3] Flowchart 2 outlining the processing inside the vehicle [Figure 4] Flowchart 3 outlining the processing contents inside the vehicle [Diagram 5] Flowchart 1 for explaining the process inside the vehicle in the second embodiment [Figure 6] Flowchart 2 outlining the in-vehicle processing [Figure 7] Flowchart 3 outlining the in-vehicle processing [Figure 8] 11 is a flowchart for explaining an outline of processing in a vehicle according to a third embodiment. [Figure 9] 13 is a flowchart for explaining an outline of processing in a vehicle according to a fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a description will be given of several embodiments of the vehicle personalization setting system 1. In each embodiment described below, configurations that perform the same or similar operations are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted as necessary.

[0015] (First embodiment) The first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 4. The vehicle personalization setting system 1 shown in Fig. 1 includes an HCU 3 installed inside a vehicle 2 and an ECU 4 for personal recognition, which are connected via a network, and an external management server 6 installed outside the vehicle 2.

[0016] A user who boards the vehicle 2 carries a mobile terminal 8 such as a smartphone, a tablet, or a notebook computer. The mobile terminal 8 is a terminal that is carried by the user and can be brought into the vehicle cabin, and is equipped with an interface for operation input, a display, etc., and is a terminal capable of various operation inputs and notification processes. The mobile terminal 8 is configured with a microcomputer equipped with a processor, memory, and I / O, and is equipped with a wireless communication unit 8a for wireless communication with the outside-vehicle management server 6, etc. through the communication network 7, and a short-range wireless communication unit 8b for short-range communication with the short-range wireless communication unit 11 by a wireless LAN such as WiFi (registered trademark) or a short-range communication technology such as Bluetooth (registered trademark). This mobile terminal 8 also constitutes the system 1.

[0017] The HCU 3, ECU 4, external management server 6, and mobile terminal 8 inside and outside the vehicle 2 are communicatively connected via a communication network 7, thereby constituting the system 1. The communication network 7 may be a wired communication network, a wireless communication network, or the like.

[0018] A vehicle application program is installed in the memory of the mobile terminal 8, and the mobile terminal 8 executes the vehicle application, allowing the user to issue control commands regarding the vehicle 2 and to obtain information regarding the vehicle 2 from the HCU 3 or ECU 4 on the side of the vehicle 2. At this time, the user can set personalized setting information regarding the vehicle device 30 by operating the mobile terminal 8. The vehicle device 30 referred to here corresponds to, but is not limited to, a vehicle audio device.

[0019] The external management server 6 stores subscription purchase status information in the database 9 as the above-mentioned personalized setting information. For example, when a user inputs subscription purchase status information from the mobile terminal 8 to the external management server 6 via the communication network 7, the external management server 6 inputs the subscription purchase status information, stores it in the database 9, and updates it as needed.

[0020] The database 9 stores subscription purchase status information for each of a large number of users, linked to personal information such as their names and identification numbers. The subscription purchase status information indicates the purchase status of subscription services for each individual, and indicates function purchase information on various functions purchased or rented by the individual, expiration date information indicating the expiration date, etc.

[0021] Examples of subscription services include music distribution subscription services for vehicle audio equipment, video distribution subscription services that can be displayed on the center information, etc. If a user has a mobile terminal 8 such as a smartphone or a personal computer, the user can enter predetermined personal information from the device via the communication network 7 into a form provided by the management provider of a predetermined outside-vehicle management server 6, and by accepting the terms of the contract, a purchase or rental contract for the subscription service can be concluded with a limited period of time between the user and the subscription provider.

[0022] When a user purchases a subscription service or enters into a rental contract for a vehicle device 30 from the mobile terminal 8, subscription purchase status information for the subscription service is linked to the user and registered in the database 9 of the external management server 6 via the communication network 7. The subscription purchase status information is stored in the database 9 as personal identification information, billing information, expiration date information, and the like.

[0023] In this embodiment, this type of personalization function is applied to a subscription function, but is not limited to this, and subscription purchase status information is shown as the personalization setting information according to the present application, but the personalization setting information is not limited to this. For example, the personalization setting information is not limited to information related to subscription services, and can be personalization setting information for each individual inside the vehicle 2, such as temperature setting information for each individual of the air conditioner in the vehicle, and music and television preference information for each individual.

[0024] The ECU 4 for personal recognition is configured with a processor such as an MCU core, a memory unit 4a, an I / O, and a bus connecting these, and executes various processes by executing control programs stored in the memory unit 4a. MPU is an abbreviation for Micro-Processing-Unit. The memory unit 4a indicates a non-transitory tangible storage medium that non-temporarily stores computer-readable programs and data. The non-transitory tangible storage medium is realized by a semiconductor memory or the like.

[0025] The ECU 4 for personal recognition is configured by connecting a detection unit 10, and has a function as a personal recognition unit 4b that identifies an individual who boards the vehicle 2. The detection unit 10 detects the interior and exterior conditions of the vehicle 2, and detects the state of a user who boards the vehicle 2. The detection unit 10 is configured using various sensors and switches, and detects the state of the vehicle 2 or the state of the user using the detection state of the sensors or the switch state as a parameter.

[0026] Examples of the detection unit 10 include a remote sensor that receives door lock / unlock instructions and remote engine start from a smart key or the like, a door lock switch that locks / unlocks the doors, a door lock sensor that operates the door lock switch from inside the vehicle, a door sensor that detects the open / closed state of the vehicle door, a seating sensor that detects whether the user is seated in the vehicle seat, a seat belt sensor that detects whether the user is fastening a seat belt, a seat position sensor that detects the fore-aft position of the vehicle seat, a shift position sensor that detects the shift range, a switch for adjusting the angle of the door mirror, sensors and switches for control lights or auto lights, and a steering sensor that detects whether the steering wheel is being steered by the user.

[0027] Examples of the detection unit 10 include an ignition switch or power switch that starts / stops the engine or controls the electrical system, a vehicle speed sensor that detects the speed of the vehicle 2, an air conditioning switch that indicates the air conditioning interior temperature setting and air supply environment, a parking brake sensor that detects the state of the parking brake, a sensor or electronic throttle sensor for detecting the depression of the accelerator pedal, a pedal stroke sensor or brake pedal position sensor for the brake pedal, a touch panel mounted on the surface of the CID to enable operation of infotainment apps, a front view camera, a side view camera, a corner view camera, a rear view camera, an electronic mirror, a laser radar using LiDaR, and a surrounding monitoring sensor that monitors the surroundings of the vehicle 2 using millimeter wave radar.

[0028] The detection unit 10 can also detect the state of the user by using an occupant monitor. The occupant monitor detects the state of the occupant in the vehicle 2 or the operation state of various operating devices. The occupant monitor includes a camera that detects the state of the occupant in the driver's seat, passenger seat, or rear seat by capturing an image of the occupant using an image sensor, and outputs an image signal. The driver's occupant status monitor is called DSM. DSM is an abbreviation for Driver Status Monitor.

[0029] The ECU 4 for personal recognition is communicatively connected to the HCU 3 and other ECUs (not shown) via a network or the like. This realizes coordinated control of the entire vehicle 2. The ECU 4 is configured to be connectable to an external communication network 7 via the DCM 5. The DCM 5 is an abbreviation for Data Communication Module, and refers to a module for communicating via devices inside and outside the vehicle.

[0030] The ECU 4 executes a program stored in the storage unit 4a to realize a function as an individual recognition unit 4b that recognizes individuals based on the detection information of the detection unit 10. The ECU 4 also executes a program stored in the storage unit 4a to realize a function as an external information acquisition unit 4c that makes it possible to acquire subscription purchase state information for each individual that is externally stored based on the individual recognized by the individual recognition unit 4b.

[0031] The HCU3 also constitutes an ECU for a display operation interface system. HCU is an abbreviation for Human Machine Interface Control Unit. The HCU3 also includes a processor, a memory unit 3a, an I / O, and a bus connecting these, and executes various controls by executing programs stored in the memory unit 3a. The memory unit 3a refers to a non-transitory tangible storage medium that non-temporarily stores computer-readable programs and data. The non-transitory tangible storage medium is realized by a semiconductor memory or the like. A database 13 in which subscription purchase status information is successively updated is constructed in the memory unit 3a.

[0032] The storage unit 3a stores in the database 13 subscription purchase status information of the vehicle device 30 previously set inside the vehicle 2. When the user operates the operation input unit 3e connected to the HCU3 to customize the subscription purchase status information of the vehicle device 30 built into the vehicle 2, the HCU3 inputs the subscription purchase status information, stores it in the database 13 of the storage unit 3a, and updates it as needed.

[0033] The subscription purchase status information stored in the database 9 by the external management server 6 and the subscription purchase status information stored in the database 13 of the storage unit 3a of the HCU 3 inside the vehicle 2 are updated periodically (e.g., every few days, once a month) by communication between the HCU 3 and the external management server 6 via the ECU 4 and DCM 5 when the communication environment is good and communication conditions via the DCM 5 are good. As a result, in this embodiment, a copy of the subscription purchase status information can be held in the database 13 of the storage unit 3a of the HCU 3.

[0034] Furthermore, when the HCU 3 acquires a personal identification result from the personal identification unit 4b from the ECU 4 for personal identification, the HCU 3 uses the result as identification information for selecting subscription purchase state information stored in the storage unit 3a.

[0035] The HCU3 executes a program stored in the storage unit 3a to realize a function as a delay determination unit 3b that determines a delay state of individual recognition by the individual recognition unit 4b. The HCU3 also executes a program stored in the storage unit 3a to realize a function as a change setting unit 3c that changes and sets the acquired contents of subscription purchase state information acquired from the outside by the external information acquisition unit 4c according to the delay state of individual recognition by the delay determination unit 3b.

[0036] When an individual is identified by the individual recognition unit 4b, the HCU 3 compares the individual with the individual corresponding to the subscription purchase status information acquired from the outside, and when the corresponding individual is matched, the HCU 3 realizes a function as a setting unit 3d that sets the subscription purchase status information of the matched individual of the vehicle device 30. A short-range wireless communication unit 11 is connected to the HCU 3, and the short-range wireless communication unit 11 enables communication with the short-range wireless communication unit 8b of the mobile terminal 8.

[0037] The characteristic functions and effects of the present embodiment with respect to the above basic configuration will be described. Fig. 2 shows the flow in normal operation. The HCU 3 executes the process shown in Fig. 2 at a predetermined timing when the subscription purchase status information is reflected in the vehicle device 30. For example, it is desirable to execute the process immediately after starting the vehicle 2 with the power switch.

[0038] When a user turns on an ignition switch or a power switch, the HCU 3, the ECU 4, the DCM 5, etc. are started. After that, the ECU 4 activates the personal recognition function by the personal recognition unit 4b in S1, and recognizes the user seated in the seat of the vehicle 2. When the user is recognized by the function of the personal recognition unit 4b, the ECU 4 acquires the personal recognition result in S2, and repeats this personal recognition process in S2 until the personal recognition result is successfully acquired in S3.

[0039] If the ECU 4 successfully acquires the individual recognition result in S2, it determines YES in S3, and acquires subscription purchase status information from the external management server 6 in S4. Then, if the subscription purchase status information is acquired, the subscription function is activated in S6, making it possible to use the subscription service.

[0040] This allows the user to enjoy various fixed-price services, such as music distribution services, in the vehicle 2. If the subscription purchase status information cannot be acquired from the external management server 6 in S6, the result in S6 is NO, and the process ends without activating the subscription function.

[0041] However, in some cases, such as when the image recognition by the personal recognition unit 4b does not match a pre-registered user, the personal recognition process may be repeated several times in steps S2 and S3. Therefore, it is desirable to improve the process as follows.

[0042] For example, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, it is desirable to have the HCU 3 and ECU 4 carry out the processing load in parallel, change the processing content according to the delay in recognizing an individual, and change the acquisition content of the subscription purchase status information acquired from the external off-vehicle management server 6.

[0043] First, as described above, when a user turns on the ignition switch or the power switch, the HCU 3, the ECU 4, the DCM 5, etc. are started. After that, the ECU 4 activates the personal recognition function by the personal recognition unit 4b in S1, and recognizes the user seated in the seat of the vehicle 2.

[0044] When the user is recognized by the personal recognition unit 4b, the ECU 4 acquires the personal recognition result in S2, and repeats the personal recognition process in S2 until the personal recognition result is successfully acquired in S3. At this time, for example, when the personal recognition unit 4b performs image recognition to verify the user but does not match a pre-registered user, the ECU 4 may repeat the personal recognition process in S2 and S3 many times.

[0045] When it is determined in S3 that the personal recognition result has been successfully acquired, the ECU 4 transmits the personal recognition result to the HCU 3 in S10.

[0046] As shown in Fig. 4, the HCU3 waits for the personal recognition result from the ECU4 in S10, and judges the delay situation of the personal recognition by the personal recognition unit 4b by the function of the delay judgment unit 3b in S11. That is, the HCU3 judges whether the personal recognition result is obtained from the ECU4 faster than a predetermined time. The method of judging whether it is faster than a predetermined time may be to count the time from the start timing if it is immediately after the start of the vehicle 2, or to count the time from the reception timing if the timing of starting execution of the personal recognition process from the ECU4 after the start of the vehicle 2 is transmitted as information. Alternatively, it may be judged whether it is faster than a predetermined time by using another time as a starting point.

[0047] If the HCU3 determines in S11 that the individual authentication result is acquired faster than a predetermined time, it commands the ECU4 to acquire the subscription purchase status information of the individual user in S12. When the ECU4 receives this acquisition command, the ECU4 acquires the subscription purchase status information from the external management server 6 via the DCM 5 by the external information acquisition unit 4c. The ECU4 transfers this subscription purchase status information to the HCU3. The HCU3 waits until it acquires the subscription purchase status information from the ECU4 in S13, and when it acquires the information, it determines YES in S13.

[0048] In S14, the HCU 3 compares the individual associated with the subscription purchase status information with the individual recognition result previously acquired from the ECU 4, and if the comparison result is good, the HCU 3 judges YES in S14 and activates the subscription function in S7. This allows the user to enjoy the subscription service.

[0049] However, when the HCU 3 determines in S11 that the acquisition of the individual authentication result is slower than a predetermined time, it changes the acquisition contents of the subscription purchase state information acquired from the outside by the external information acquisition unit 4c. In this case, it is preferable to command the ECU 4 to acquire the subscription purchase state information of as many multiple users as possible in S15, rather than acquiring the subscription purchase state information of one individual. The reason for this is that since the acquisition of the individual authentication result is delayed, the aim is to acquire the subscription purchase state information of multiple users in advance so that the individual can be matched later and the subscription function can be quickly authenticated.

[0050] When the HCU3 commands the ECU4 to acquire subscription purchase status information of multiple users, the ECU4 acquires the subscription purchase status information of multiple users from the external management server 6. The ECU4 sequentially transfers the subscription purchase status information of the users acquired from the external management server 6 to the HCU3. The HCU3 can then receive the subscription purchase status information of the multiple users in S16. When the HCU3 determines in S16 that it has received an individual recognition result from the ECU4, it compares in S17 the individual linked to the sequentially acquired subscription purchase status information with the individual recognition result determined to have been received in S16.

[0051] If the result of matching the individual is good, the HCU3 judges YES in S17 and activates the subscription function in S7. However, if the result of matching the individual is bad, the HCU3 does not activate the subscription function and uses it by default in S18. In this case, for example, the user cannot receive the subscription service, but can use the vehicle device 30 normally.

[0052] <Summary of this embodiment> According to this embodiment, the amount of subscription purchase status information obtained from outside is changed and set depending on the delay in personal recognition, so that even if personal recognition is delayed, the user can use the subscription function of the vehicle equipment 30 as quickly as possible.

[0053] Furthermore, when it is determined that a delay in personal recognition has occurred, the HCU3 can acquire subscription purchase status information of a large number of individuals in advance by setting the subscription purchase status information acquired from the external vehicle management server 6 as subscription purchase status information of multiple individuals. After that, when an individual is recognized by the individual recognition unit 4b, the HCU3 can compare the individual with the multiple individuals acquired by the external information acquisition unit 4c, and set the subscription purchase status information of the relevant individual from among the multiple individuals. This allows the user to use the subscription function of the vehicle device 30 as quickly as possible even if there is a delay in personal recognition.

[0054] <Modification> In the above-described embodiment, in order to obtain as much subscription purchase status information as possible from the external vehicle management server 6, subscription purchase status information of multiple individuals is obtained in parallel, but it is also possible to obtain subscription purchase status information of at least one individual.

[0055] In other words, if the ECU 4 acquires subscription purchase status information of at least one person from the external management server 6 by the external information acquisition unit 4c while recognizing an individual by the individual recognition unit 4b, the subscription purchase status information can be acquired in parallel while recognizing an individual. This is because even if parallel processing is performed, the processing can be performed quickly.

[0056] In this case as well, when the individual is recognized by the individual recognition unit 4b, it is compared with the individual corresponding to the subscription purchase state information acquired from the outside, and when the corresponding individual is matched, the setting unit 3d sets the subscription purchase state information of the matched individual of the vehicular device 30. This allows the user to use the subscription function of the vehicular device 30 as quickly as possible even if the individual recognition is delayed.

[0057] Second embodiment The second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 5 to 7. For example, although subscription purchase status information can be acquired from the external management server 6, the ECU 4 for personal recognition may have low reliability for identifying a person or may not be able to recognize the person.

[0058] In this embodiment, the HCU3 recognizes an individual by a second recognition unit 3f different from the individual recognition unit 4b when the specific reliability of the individual recognized by the individual recognition unit 4b is lower than a predetermined level, and implements a function as a setting unit 3d that sets subscription purchase status information of the recognized individual's vehicle device 30 from subscription purchase status information acquired by the external information acquisition unit 4c. In the above embodiment, the recognition process of the "second recognition unit 3f" is executed by the HCU3, but the process of the "second recognition unit 3f" may be executed by another vehicle-mounted device, for example, the ECU4.

[0059] As shown in Fig. 5, even if the process of S1 to S3 described in the above embodiment is performed and the recognition result of the individual is successfully acquired, the identification reliability of the individual may be low. For example, the identification reliability of the individual may be indicated as a percentage, and when the ECU 4 compares the image recognition result of the driver's face with the face data of the individual registered in advance by the detection unit 10, the identification reliability changes based on the degree of match. In this case, even if the HCU 3 successfully acquires the recognition result of this individual, if the identification reliability is low, it is preferable to recognize the individual using the second recognition unit 3f.

[0060] As shown in S21 of Fig. 5, when the HCU3 determines that the specific reliability is not lower than a predetermined level, it can evaluate the reliability as high, so it may determine NO in S21 and proceed to activate the subscription function in S7. However, when the HCU3 determines that the specific reliability is lower than a predetermined level in S21 of Fig. 5, it proceeds to activate the subscription function in S7 on the condition that the second recognition unit 3f recognizes an individual and the reliability of the specific recognition level becomes high, as shown in S22 of Fig. 5 and an example in Fig. 6.

[0061] 6, in S23, the HCU 3 causes the user to perform password authentication through the operation input interface, and in S24, determines whether the password matches the password managed in the storage unit 3a. If the password matches, the HCU 3 determines YES in S24, and prompts the processing of two-step authentication with the authentication server 20 connected to the communication network 7.

[0062] The two-step authentication is performed by, for example, prompting the user to input a separate code using an authentication app preinstalled on the mobile terminal 8 or an email address, and the authentication server 20 judges whether the input code is recognized as valid or not. If the authentication server 20 judges the code as valid (OK), it judges YES in S25 and activates the subscription function in S7. Then, the user can use the subscription function of the vehicle device 30.

[0063] Another example of the second recognition unit 3f is shown in Fig. 7. When the HCU3 determines in S21 of Fig. 5 that the specific reliability is lower than a predetermined level, it performs a subscription function activation process in S7 on the condition that the second recognition unit 3f recognizes an individual and the reliability of the specific recognition level becomes high, as shown in S22 of Fig. 5 and an example of Fig. 7.

[0064] As shown in Fig. 7, the HCU3 commands the ECU4 to acquire subscription purchase status information, and acquires the subscription purchase status information from the external management server 6 through the DCM 5. The HCU3 judges whether the information matches the subscription purchase status information managed by the storage unit 3a of the HCU3, which is an in-vehicle device. If the contents match, the HCU3 validates the subscription function in S7 and performs activation processing. The user can then use the subscription function of the vehicle device 30.

[0065] However, if it is determined in S27 that the passwords do not match, the HCU 3 in S23 has the user execute password authentication via the operation input interface, and in S24 determines whether the passwords match the passwords managed in the storage unit 3a. If the passwords match, the HCU 3 determines YES in S24, and prompts the processing of two-step authentication with the authentication server 20 connected to the communication network 7.

[0066] The two-step authentication is performed by, for example, prompting the user to input a separate code using an authentication app pre-installed on the mobile terminal 8 or an email address, and the authentication server 20 judges whether the input code is recognized as correct. If the authentication server 20 judges the code as correct (OK), it judges YES in S25 and activates the subscription function in S7. The user can then use the subscription function of the vehicle device 30. This ensures the accuracy of user authentication.

[0067] However, if the authentication result of the additional personal authentication in S24 and S25 is not good, the HCU 3 does not activate the subscription function and uses it by default in S18. In this case, for example, the user cannot receive the subscription service, but can use the vehicular device 30 normally.

[0068] As described above, according to this embodiment, when the specific reliability of the individual recognized by the individual recognition unit 4b is lower than a predetermined level, the individual is recognized by the second recognition unit 3f separate from the individual recognition unit 4b, and subscription purchase state information of the recognized individual is set. As a result, even if the reliability of the individual authentication by the individual recognition unit 4b is lower than a predetermined level, authentication can be performed with high reliability, and the individual subscription purchase state information regarding the vehicle device 30 can be set. As a result, the user can quickly enjoy the subscription function of the vehicle device 30 to which the subscription service is applied.

[0069] Third embodiment The third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 8. For example, although subscription purchase status information can be acquired from the external management server 6, the ECU 4 for personal recognition may not be able to recognize the individual. If the ECU 4 cannot identify the individual using the personal recognition unit 4b, it may not be possible to identify who the vehicle user is, and the user may not be able to use the subscription service inside the vehicle 2, which is inconvenient.

[0070] Therefore, in this embodiment, instead of the recognition processing of the "second recognition unit 3f" shown in the second embodiment, the second recognition unit 3f realizes a function of acquiring personal information stored and managed in the memory unit 3a of the vehicle-mounted device, in this case the HCU3, and identifying an individual.

[0071] When the user gets into the vehicle 2, the mobile terminal 8 becomes able to communicate information by pairing with the short-range wireless communication unit 11 in the vehicle 2. At this time, the mobile terminal 8 pairs with the short-range wireless communication unit 11 in the vehicle 2 via the short-range wireless communication unit 8b, so that the HCU 3 can obtain the identification information.

[0072] The HCU 3 can store and hold pairing information such as identification information unique to the mobile terminal 8 and user information as identification information in the storage unit 3a. The identification information for identifying the mobile terminal 8 or the user who owns the mobile terminal 8 is associated with the user and stored in the storage unit 3a.

[0073] 8, if the HCU3 determines whether the personal recognition result was successfully acquired in S1 to S3 and determines NO in S3 and repeats the process of acquiring the personal recognition result in S2 if the acquisition is not successful. In this embodiment, the HCU3 considers the case where the HCU3 cannot successfully acquire the personal recognition result even after trying the process of acquiring the personal recognition result a predetermined number of times in S31, and in this case determines YES in S31 and proceeds to the process of S32.

[0074] In S32, the HCU 3 acquires identification information stored and managed on the vehicle-mounted device side, here in the storage unit 3a of the HCU 3. The identification information here indicates identification information unique to the mobile terminal 8 included in the above-mentioned pairing information, identification information of the user who owns the mobile terminal 8, etc.

[0075] When the identification information acquired from the mobile terminal 8 includes a plurality of individuals, the HCU 3 authenticates the person who boarded the vehicle 2 by having the person select a user via the operation input interface in S33. This authentication process can use password authentication or two-step authentication, as described in the above embodiment.

[0076] If the authentication is successful in S34, the HCU 3 determines YES in S34 and activates the subscription function in S35. The user can use the subscription function of the vehicle device 30.

[0077] However, if the authentication is not successful when the person in the vehicle 2 selects a user, the HCU 3 does not activate the subscription function and only permits the use of the vehicular device 30 by default in S18. In this case, for example, the user cannot receive the subscription service but can normally use the vehicular device 30.

[0078] According to this embodiment, the function of the second recognition unit 3f is to obtain the user's identification information managed by the HCU3 installed in the vehicle 2 and recognize the individual, thereby ensuring user authentication and enabling the user to quickly use the subscription function even if the ECU4 for individual recognition cannot recognize the individual.

[0079] (Fourth embodiment) The fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 9. For example, there are cases where the communication environment through the communication network 7 is deteriorated and the DCM 5 cannot communicate with the external management server 6, and the user cannot use the subscription service in the vehicle 2, which is inconvenient for the user.

[0080] Therefore, in this embodiment, the HCU3 functions as a setting unit 3d that reads and sets the individual subscription purchase status information stored in the memory unit 3a in the vehicle 2 until the individual subscription purchase status information stored outside the vehicle 2 is acquired.

[0081] 3 described in the first embodiment, the ECU 4 for personal recognition executes the processes of S1 to S3, and when the ECU 4 successfully acquires the personal recognition result, it judges YES in S3 and transmits this result to the HCU 3. When the HCU 3 receives the personal recognition result transmitted from the ECU 4 in S10a, the HCU 3 waits to acquire subscription purchase status information of the user transmitted from the ECU 4 in S4, as shown in FIG.

[0082] Next, in S41, the HCU3 judges the acquisition status of the subscription purchase state information, and judges whether or not there is a delay compared to normal, in this case, whether or not there is a delay from a predetermined time. The method of judging whether or not there is a delay from a predetermined time may be counting the time from the start timing if it is immediately after the start of the vehicle 2, or counting the time from the reception timing if the timing of starting to acquire the subscription purchase state information from the external management server 6 is transmitted from the ECU 4 after the start of the vehicle 2. Alternatively, it may be judged whether or not there is a delay starting from another time timing.

[0083] If there is no delay in acquiring the subscription purchase status information and the subscription purchase status information can be acquired promptly, the HCU3 judges NO in S41 and executes the process of S14 shown in the above embodiment. In S14, the HCU3 compares the individual linked to the subscription purchase status information with the individual recognition result previously acquired from the ECU4, and if the comparison result is good, judges YES in S14 and activates the subscription function in S7. This allows the user to quickly enjoy the subscription function of the vehicle device 30 to which the subscription service is applied.

[0084] However, if there is a delay in acquiring the subscription purchase state information, the HCU3 judges YES in S41. At this time, the HCU3 judges in S42 whether or not subscription purchase state information matching the individual recognition result is stored and held in the storage unit 3a, and acquires the subscription purchase state information stored in the storage unit 3a of the HCU3. After that, the HCU3 activates the subscription function in S7. This allows the user to quickly enjoy the subscription function of the vehicle device 30.

[0085] If the HCU 3 fails to verify the individual in S14, the HCU 3 does not activate the subscription function and uses default information in S18. In this case, for example, the user cannot receive the subscription service, but can use the vehicle device 30 normally.

[0086] On the other hand, if the subscription purchase status information matching the individual recognition result cannot be obtained from the storage unit 3a in S42, the result is determined as NO in S42, and the process waits until the subscription purchase status information can be obtained from the external vehicle management server 6 via the DCM 5 and the ECU 4 in S44. Then, when the HCU 3 obtains the subscription purchase status information from the ECU 4 in S44, the process proceeds to S14 and repeats the same matching process as described above. If the matching result is good, the subscription function is activated in S7, and if not good, the default information is used in S18, and the subscription function is not used.

[0087] This embodiment can be summarized as follows. In this embodiment, until the subscription purchase status information of an individual stored in the external management server 6 outside the vehicle 2 is acquired, the setting unit 3d acquires and sets the subscription purchase status information of an individual stored in the storage unit 3a in the vehicle 2. This makes it possible to activate the subscription function using the subscription purchase status information of each individual's vehicular device 30 stored in the storage unit 3a.

[0088] This allows the billing information stored in the database 9 of the external management server 6 and the expiration date information stored in the storage unit 3a of the HCU 3 of the vehicle 2 to be used separately, and allows the expiration date information included in the subscription purchase status information stored in the storage unit 3a of the HCU 3 to be effectively utilized. This allows the user to use the subscription function as quickly as possible even if there are cases where the subscription purchase status information cannot be obtained from the external management server 6.

[0089] (Other embodiments) The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be implemented in various modified forms, and can be applied to various embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In the above embodiment, the HCU 3 mainly executes the processes, but some or all of the processes and functions may be executed by another in-vehicle device (e.g., the ECU 4). Conversely, the functions installed in the ECU 4 may be executed by another in-vehicle device (e.g., the HCU 3).

[0090] The techniques of the HCU3 or other ECU4 described in the present disclosure may be implemented by a special-purpose computer provided by configuring a processor and memory programmed to execute one or more functions embodied in a computer program. Alternatively, the techniques of the HCU3 and ECU4 described in the present disclosure may be implemented by a special-purpose computer provided by configuring a processor with one or more dedicated hardware logic circuits. Alternatively, the control device and the techniques described in the present disclosure may be implemented by one or more special-purpose computers configured by a combination of a processor and memory programmed to execute one or more functions and a processor configured with one or more hardware logic circuits. Also, the computer program may be stored in a computer-readable non-transitory tangible recording medium as instructions executed by the computer.

[0091] Although the present disclosure has been described based on the above-described embodiment, it is understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment or structure. The present invention also encompasses various modifications and modifications within the equivalent range. In addition, various combinations and forms, as well as other combinations and forms including one, more, or less than one element, are also within the scope and concept of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] In the drawing, 1 indicates a vehicle personalization setting system, 3 indicates an HCU (on-board device), 3b indicates a delay judgment unit, 3c indicates a change setting unit, 3d indicates a setting unit, 3e indicates an operation input unit, 3f indicates a second recognition unit, 4 indicates an ECU (on-board device), 4b indicates a personal recognition unit, 4c indicates an external information acquisition unit, and 20 indicates an authentication server.

Claims

1. A vehicle personalization setting system that sets personalization setting information for at least one vehicle device for each individual recognized by an individual recognition unit, comprising: an external information acquisition unit (4c) for acquiring personalized setting information for each individual stored externally based on the recognized individual; a delay determination unit (3b) for determining a delay situation for recognizing an individual by the individual recognition unit; a change setting unit (3c) for changing the acquired contents of the personalized setting information acquired from the outside by the external information acquisition unit according to the delay state of the individual recognition by the delay determination unit; A vehicle personalization setting system comprising:

2. When the delay determination unit determines that a delay occurs in the recognition of an individual, the external information acquisition unit acquires personalized setting information of a plurality of individuals stored externally; The vehicle personalization setting system according to claim 1, wherein when an individual is recognized by the personal recognition unit, the recognized individual is compared with a plurality of individuals obtained from outside, and personalization setting information of a corresponding individual from among the plurality of individuals is set.

3. A vehicle personalization setting system that sets personalization setting information for at least one vehicle device for each individual recognized by an individual recognition unit, comprising: an external information acquisition unit (4c) for acquiring personalized setting information of a vehicle device stored externally based on the individual recognized by the individual recognition unit; While the individual recognition unit is recognizing an individual, the external information acquisition unit acquires personalized setting information of at least one individual's vehicle device stored externally, The vehicle personalization setting system is provided with a setting unit (3d) which, when an individual is recognized by the personal recognition unit, compares the individual with the individual corresponding to the personalization setting information acquired from the outside, and when the corresponding individual is matched, sets the personalization setting information of the vehicle equipment of the matched individual.

4. A vehicle personalization setting method for setting personalization setting information of at least one vehicle device (30) for each individual recognized by an individual recognition unit (4b), comprising: The external information acquisition unit (4c) is capable of acquiring personalized setting information for each individual stored externally based on the recognized individual, a step of determining a delay in the recognition of an individual by the individual recognition unit using a delay determination unit (3b); A process of changing and setting the personalized setting information acquired from the outside by the external information acquisition unit according to the delay situation of the individual recognition by the delay determination unit by a change setting unit (3c); A vehicle personalization setting method comprising:

5. A vehicle personalization setting method for setting personalization setting information of at least one vehicle device for each individual recognized by an individual recognition unit (4b), comprising: While identifying an individual by the individual recognition unit (4b), an external information acquisition unit acquires externally stored personalized setting information of at least one individual's vehicle device, When the individual is identified by the individual recognition unit (4b), the individual is compared with the individual corresponding to the personalization setting information acquired from the outside, When the corresponding individual is verified, a setting unit sets personalized setting information for a vehicle device of the verified individual.

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