In-vehicle terminal, information processing method, and vehicle

The in-vehicle terminal in the vehicle remote service system addresses the issue of impaired user convenience by executing different processes based on short-range wireless communication with the user terminal during remote operations, resulting in improved response times and user experience.

JP7694459B2Active Publication Date: 2025-06-18TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2022083765
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2022-05-23
Publication Date
2025-06-18
Estimated Expiration
2042-05-23

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing vehicle remote service systems do not adequately differentiate between scenarios where the user is near the vehicle and where they are not, leading to impaired user convenience due to inconsistent processing during remote operations.

Method used

An in-vehicle terminal that executes different processes based on the establishment of short-range wireless communication with a user terminal when a specific event occurs, such as receiving a signal for remote operation or switching the ignition off, allowing for optimized remote service operations.

Benefits of technology

This approach enhances user convenience by allowing for faster and more appropriate responses to remote operations, reducing unnecessary notifications, and improving the overall user experience.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Patent Text Reader

Abstract

To provide a technology that can improve convenience for a vehicle user.SOLUTION: An in-vehicle terminal according to the present disclosure executes processing related to remote service of a vehicle. When a first event related to the remote service occurs, in the in-vehicle terminal, a control unit determines whether short-range wireless communication between the vehicle and a user terminal has been established. When it is determined that short-range wireless communication between the vehicle and the user terminal has been established, the control unit executes first processing. When it is determined that short-range wireless communication between the vehicle and the user terminal has not been established, the control unit executes second processing that is different from the first processing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a technique for prohibiting remote operation of a vehicle when a user is located near the vehicle outside the vehicle compartment or inside the vehicle compartment (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a technique capable of improving the convenience of a user of a vehicle.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The present disclosure can be regarded as an in-vehicle terminal that executes processing related to a remote service of a vehicle. In that case, the in-vehicle terminal may be provided with a control unit that, for example, executes a first process if short-range wireless communication is established between the vehicle and a user terminal when a first event occurs, and executes a second process different from the first process if short-range wireless communication is not established between the vehicle and the user terminal when the first event occurs.

[0006] The present disclosure can also be regarded as an information processing method related to a remote service of a vehicle. In that case, the information processing method is, for example, a computer mounted on the vehicle, When the first event occurs, determining whether short-range wireless communication is established between the vehicle and the user terminal; When it is determined that short-range wireless communication is established between the vehicle and the user terminal, executing a first process; When short-range wireless communication is not established between the vehicle and the user terminal, executing a second process different from the first process; It may be configured to include the above.

[0007] The present disclosure can also be regarded as a program for causing a computer mounted on a vehicle to execute the above-described information processing method, or a non-transitory storage medium storing the program.

[0008] Further, the present disclosure can also be regarded as a vehicle. In that case, the vehicle may include, for example, a first communication device that performs short-range wireless communication with a user terminal, and an in-vehicle terminal that performs processing related to the vehicle's remote service. The above-described in-vehicle terminal determines whether short-range wireless communication is established between the first communication device and the user terminal when the first event occurs, and executes a first process when it is determined that short-range wireless communication is established between the first communication device and the user terminal, and executes a second process different from the first process when short-range wireless communication is not established between the first communication device and the user terminal. It may be configured to include a control unit that executes the above.

Advantages of the Invention

[0009] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a technology capable of improving the convenience of vehicle users.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] In recent years, technologies for providing remote services for vehicles to users through application programs installed on user terminals such as smartphones have become widespread. In remote services, users can, for example, operate the vehicle from a location away from the vehicle or check the state of the vehicle from a location away from the vehicle through the application program of the user terminal. By the way, when the same processing is performed on the vehicle side whether the user is near the vehicle or away from the vehicle when an event related to the remote service occurs, the convenience of the user may be impaired.

[0012] In contrast, the in-vehicle terminal according to the present disclosure is mounted on a vehicle and executes processing related to remote services. Specifically, when short-range wireless communication is established between the vehicle and the user terminal when a first event occurs, the control unit of the in-vehicle terminal executes the first processing. Further, when short-range wireless communication is not established between the vehicle and the user terminal when a first event occurs, the control unit of the in-vehicle terminal executes a second processing different from the first processing.

[0013] The "first event" referred to here is an event that triggers the control unit of the in-vehicle terminal to execute processing related to remote services. The first event is, for example, the in-vehicle terminal receiving a signal requesting a remote operation of the vehicle, or the ignition switch of the vehicle being switched from on to off, etc.

[0014] The "short-range wireless communication" referred to here is wireless communication that is established when the user terminal is located within a range of several meters (for example, about 1 meter to 3 meters) from the vehicle, and is not established when the user terminal is located within the range. In other words, the "short-range wireless communication" referred to here is wireless communication that is established when the user carrying the user terminal is located within a range where the vehicle can be visually observed, and is not established when the user carrying the user terminal is located outside the range. As such short-range wireless communication, for example, wireless communication conforming to the Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy standard (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "BLE") can be used.

[0015] According to the in-vehicle terminal of the present disclosure, when a first event related to remote services occurs, different processes are executed depending on whether short-range wireless communication is established between the vehicle and the user terminal or not. That is, the processing executed by the in-vehicle terminal when a first event occurs can be made different depending on whether the user is located within the range where the vehicle can be visually observed or outside the range. This makes it possible to improve the convenience for the user.

[0016] The first event in the present disclosure may be that the in-vehicle terminal receives a signal requesting remote operation of the vehicle. In that case, as a first process, the control unit of the in-vehicle terminal according to the present disclosure may execute a process of determining whether a first condition is satisfied, and a process of accepting a remote operation when it is determined that the first condition is satisfied. Further, as a second process, the control unit of the in-vehicle terminal according to the present disclosure may execute a process of accepting a remote operation without determining whether the first condition is satisfied.

[0017] The "first condition" mentioned here is a condition for operating the target device of the remote operation without failure. Such a first condition is, for example, (1) the first sensor for detecting the smart key present in the vehicle interior does not detect the smart key, (2) the second sensor for detecting that the vehicle bonnet is open does not detect that the bonnet is open, or (3) the third sensor for detecting a moving body (e.g., a person, etc.) entering the vehicle interior does not detect the moving body, etc.

[0018] The condition of (1) above is, for example, a condition for confirming that the smart key has not been left inside the vehicle when the corresponding remote operation involves locking the door. The condition of (2) above is, for example, a condition for confirming that the user or the like is not opening the bonnet for work when the corresponding remote operation involves starting the engine. The condition of (3) above is, for example, a condition for confirming that no moving body that may be pinched by the window has entered the vehicle interior when the corresponding remote operation is a window closing operation. Note that the first condition is not limited to the conditions (1) to (3) described above, and any condition for operating the target device of the remote operation without failure may be used.

[0019] In addition, the "processing for receiving a remote operation" as mentioned here is, for example, a process in which the control unit transmits a signal requesting an operation corresponding to the remote operation to a first ECU (Electronic Control Unit) mounted on the vehicle. The first ECU controls in-vehicle devices that perform operations corresponding to the remote operation. It is an ECU for controlling in-vehicle devices that perform operations corresponding to the remote operation.

[0020] When short-range wireless communication between the vehicle and the user terminal is established, it can be estimated that the user is located within the visible range of the vehicle. In such a case, the user can visually confirm whether the above-described first condition is satisfied. Therefore, when short-range wireless communication between the vehicle and the user terminal is established, there is little need for the vehicle side to determine whether the first condition is satisfied. Thus, in the in-vehicle terminal according to the present disclosure, when short-range wireless communication between the vehicle and the user terminal is established, the control unit accepts the remote operation without determining whether the first condition is satisfied. As a result, when the user is located within the visible range of the vehicle, the response delay of the remote operation can be shortened compared to the case where the user is located outside the visible range of the vehicle. Consequently, the convenience for the user can be enhanced.

[0021] Note that the first event in the present disclosure may be that the ignition switch is switched from on to off. In that case, as a first process, the control unit of the in-vehicle terminal according to the present disclosure may execute a process of determining whether the state of the vehicle is in the first state, and when it is determined that the state of the vehicle is in the first state, a process of transmitting a signal indicating the first state to the user terminal through an external server device (hereinafter, may also be referred to as "accidental notification process"). Further, as a second process, the control unit of the in-vehicle terminal according to the present disclosure may execute a process of transmitting a signal indicating the state of the vehicle to the user terminal in real time through the server device.

[0022] The "first state" mentioned here is, for example, the state of a vehicle that is not suitable for parking. Such a first state is, for example, (4) the state where the vehicle door is not locked, (5) the state where the vehicle lighting device is not turned off, (6) the state where the vehicle window is not closed, or (7) the state where the vehicle hazard lamp is not turned off, etc.

[0023] By the way, after the ignition switch of the vehicle is switched from on to off, a situation may occur where the user takes a break inside or near the vehicle, either indoors or outdoors. Also, after the ignition switch of the vehicle is switched from on to off, a situation may occur where the user performs operations such as car washing or inspection. In these situations, the state where the door is not locked, the lighting device is not turned off, the window is not closed, or the hazard lamp is not turned off, etc., is likely to be due to the user's intention. In such a case, if a notification process is accidentally executed, the user may feel annoyed.

[0024] On the other hand, in the in-vehicle terminal according to the present disclosure, when the ignition switch is switched from on to off, if short-range wireless communication between the vehicle and the user terminal is established, the control unit executes a process of transmitting a signal indicating the state of the vehicle to the user terminal in real time without accidentally executing a notification process. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the user from feeling annoyed. As a result, the convenience of the user can be improved.

[0025] The in-vehicle terminal according to the present disclosure may further include a storage device that stores information for identifying a user terminal. Accordingly, the control unit may acquire identification information of a first device with which short-range wireless communication is established with the vehicle, determine whether the first device is the user terminal based on the information stored in the storage device and the identification information of the first device, determine that short-range wireless communication is established between the vehicle and the user terminal when it is determined that the first device is the user terminal, and determine that short-range wireless communication is not established between the vehicle and the user terminal when it is determined that the first device is not the user terminal. Thereby, it is possible to determine whether short-range wireless communication is established between the vehicle and the user terminal.

[0026] Another aspect of the present disclosure is a vehicle including a first communication device that performs short-range wireless communication with a user terminal and an in-vehicle terminal that performs processing related to a remote service of the vehicle. In that case, when a first event occurs, the control unit of the in-vehicle terminal determines whether short-range wireless communication is established between the first communication device and the user terminal. When it is determined that short-range wireless communication is established between the first communication device and the user terminal, the control unit of the in-vehicle terminal executes a first process. When short-range wireless communication is not established between the first communication device and the user terminal, the control unit of the in-vehicle terminal executes a second process different from the first process. Thereby, the convenience of the user can be enhanced.

[0027] Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The configurations of the following embodiments are examples, and the present disclosure is not limited to the configurations of the embodiments.

[0028] <Embodiment 1> A first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. In this embodiment, an example in which the in-vehicle terminal according to the present disclosure is applied to a remote system will be described. The remote system is a system for providing a remote service of a vehicle to a user of the vehicle.

[0029] (Overall Configuration of the System) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of a remote system to which the information processing apparatus according to the present disclosure is applied. The remote system in the present embodiment includes an in-vehicle terminal 300 mounted on the vehicle 10, a user terminal 400 used by a first user, and a server device 500 installed outside the vehicle 10. In the example shown in FIG. 1, only one vehicle 10 and one user terminal 400 are illustrated, but under the management of the server device 500, a plurality of vehicles 10 and a plurality of user terminals 400 corresponding to each of the plurality of vehicles 10 may be included.

[0030] The vehicle 10 in the present embodiment is a PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) or a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) including a battery that can be charged by an external power source. In addition to the in-vehicle terminal 300, the vehicle 10 is equipped with an ECU 100, a sensor 600, and a BT device 200.

[0031] The ECU 100 is a computer for controlling various devices mounted on the vehicle 10. The ECU 100 includes, for example, a plurality of ECUs such as a body ECU 101, an air conditioner ECU 102, a charging ECU 103, and a multimedia ECU 104 as shown in FIG. 2. The body ECU 101, the air conditioner ECU 102, the charging ECU 103, and the multimedia ECU 104 are interconnected via an in-vehicle network. The in-vehicle network is a network based on a standard such as CAN (Controller Area Network), LIN (Local Interconnect Network), or FlexRay.

[0032] The body ECU 101 controls a door lock actuator, a power window actuator, a hazard lamp, and lighting devices (such as headlights, small lights, and turn signal lamps, etc.). The air conditioner ECU 102 controls the air conditioner. The charging ECU 103 controls the charging of the battery by an external power source. The multimedia ECU 104 controls multimedia devices such as a navigation system or a display audio. These body ECU 101, air conditioner ECU 102, charging ECU 103, and multimedia ECU 104 are examples of the "first ECU" according to the present disclosure.

[0033] In the example shown in FIG. 2, a part of the ECU related to the remote operation described later is extracted and illustrated, but the ECU for controlling the prime mover, the ECU for controlling the braking device, and the ECU for controlling the advanced safety system, etc. are also included in the ECU 100. Further, the vehicle 10 to which the present disclosure is applicable is not limited to PHEV and BEV, and may be an internal combustion engine vehicle, an HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle), a BEV equipped with an internal combustion engine for power generation, or an FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle). Accordingly, the types of ECUs included in the ECU 100 may differ from the example shown in FIG. 2.

[0034] The sensor 600 detects the states of various devices mounted on the vehicle 10. The sensor 600 includes, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, a key sensor 601, a bonnet sensor 602, an intrusion sensor 603, a window sensor 604, a door lock sensor 605, a light sensor 606, and a hazard sensor 607, etc. The key sensor 601, the bonnet sensor 602, the intrusion sensor 603, the window sensor 604, the door lock sensor 605, the light sensor 606, and the hazard sensor 607 are connected to the ECU 100 via an in-vehicle network.

[0035] The key sensor 601 emits radio waves in the low frequency (hereinafter referred to as "LF") band It is used to detect the smart key (electronic key) present inside the vehicle 10. The bonnet sensor 602 detects the opening and closing of the bonnet hood of the vehicle 10. The intrusion sensor 603 detects a moving object (such as a person) that has intruded into the interior of the vehicle 10. The window sensor 604 detects the opening and closing position of the window of the vehicle 10. The door lock sensor 605 detects the position of the door lock mechanism of the vehicle 10 (lock position / unlock position). The light sensor 606 detects the position of the light switch of the vehicle 10 (the position where the headlight and small light are on / the position where only the small light is on / the position where the headlight and small light are off). The hazard sensor 607 detects the position of the hazard switch of the vehicle 10 (the position where the hazard light is on / the position where the hazard light is off).

[0036] In the example shown in FIG. 3, a part of the sensors related to the remote operation described later is extracted and illustrated, but sensors related to the control of the prime mover, sensors related to the control of the braking device, and sensors related to the control of the advanced safety system, etc. may also be mounted on the vehicle 10.

[0037] The BT device 200 performs short-range wireless communication conforming to the BLE standard (hereinafter, may also be referred to as "BT communication") with a device located within a predetermined distance (for example, about 1 meter to 3 meters) from the vehicle 10 (including the interior of the vehicle 10). The BT device 200 may be a BLE-compatible interface mounted on an in-vehicle multimedia device (for example, a navigation system or a display audio, etc.). The BT device 200 is connected to the ECU 100 through the in-vehicle network.

[0038] The in-vehicle terminal 300 is mounted on the vehicle 10 and connected to the server device 500 via an external network (network N1 described later). Further, the in-vehicle terminal 300 is connected to the ECU 100 via the above-described in-vehicle network. When the in-vehicle terminal 300 receives a first signal (a signal requesting a remote operation of the vehicle 10) transmitted from the server device 500, it has a function of transmitting a second signal (a signal requesting an operation corresponding to the remote operation) to the ECU 100 via the in-vehicle network. At that time, the in-vehicle terminal 300 identifies the ECU 100 that controls the device to be remotely operated (the device that realizes the operation corresponding to the remote operation), and transmits the second signal to the identified ECU 100.

[0039] In addition to the above-described functions, the in-vehicle terminal 300 in the present embodiment has a function of switching the process executed when receiving the first signal according to whether the BT communication between the user terminal 400 and the BT device 200 is established. Specifically, when receiving the first signal, the in-vehicle terminal 300 determines whether the BT communication between the user terminal 400 and the BT device 200 is established. When the BT communication between the user terminal 400 and the BT device 200 is established if not standing If it is determined that the communication is established, the in-vehicle terminal 300 first determines whether the reception condition (first condition) of the remote operation is satisfied. If it is determined that the first condition is satisfied, the in-vehicle terminal 300 accepts the remote operation (transmits the second signal to the ECU 100). On the other hand, if it is determined that the first condition is not satisfied, the in-vehicle terminal 300 does not accept the remote operation (does not transmit the second signal to the ECU 100). Also, when it is determined that the BT communication between the user terminal 400 and the BT device 200 is established, the in-vehicle terminal 300 accepts the remote operation without determining whether the first condition is satisfied.

[0040] The user terminal 400 is a portable computer used by a user (the first user) who has the ownership or right of use of the vehicle 10. The user terminal 400 has functions such as presenting a remote operation menu to the first user, receiving a remote operation selected by the first user, and transmitting a signal (the first signal) requesting the remote operation selected by the first user to the server device 500. The remote operation menu includes, for example, a door locking operation of the vehicle 10, a door unlocking operation of the vehicle 10, a window opening operation of the vehicle 10, a window closing operation of the vehicle 10, an air conditioner operation, an air conditioner stop operation, a headlight / small light turning-off operation, a hazard lamp lighting operation, a hazard lamp turning-off operation, a siren sounding operation, a battery charging start operation, and a battery charging stop operation, etc. The first signal also includes information (operation ID) for identifying the remote operation selected by the first user and information (terminal ID) for identifying the user terminal 400.

[0041] The server device 500 is a computer installed outside the vehicle 10 and provides a remote service for the first user of the vehicle 10. When the server device 500 receives the first signal transmitted from the user terminal 400, it has functions such as identifying the vehicle 10 associated with the user terminal 400 and transmitting the first signal to the in-vehicle terminal 300 of the identified vehicle 10. The identification of the vehicle 10 associated with the user terminal 400 is performed based on the terminal ID included in the first signal.

[0042] (Hardware Configuration of Remote System) Here, hardware configuration examples of each of the in-vehicle terminal 300, the user terminal 400, and the server device 500 included in the remote system will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing hardware configuration examples of each of the in-vehicle terminal 300, the user terminal 400, and the server device 500 included in the remote system.

[0043] ​The in-vehicle terminal 300 is a computer mounted on the vehicle 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the in-vehicle terminal 300 in the present embodiment includes a processor 301, a main memory unit 302, an auxiliary storage unit 303, an in-vehicle communication unit 304, an out-vehicle communication unit 305, and the like. Note that in FIG. 4, only the hardware components related to remote operation among the hardware components of the in-vehicle terminal 300 are extracted and shown, and hardware components other than the hardware components shown in FIG. 4 (for example, hardware components for providing multimedia services to the passengers of the vehicle 10, and hardware components for performing processing related to emergency reporting, etc.) may be included in the in-vehicle terminal 300.

[0044] The processor 301 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). The processor 301 controls the in-vehicle terminal 300 by performing various arithmetic processes.

[0045] The main memory unit 302 is configured to include semiconductor memories such as, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory). The main memory unit 302 provides a storage area and a work area for loading the program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 303. Further, the main memory unit 302 is used as a buffer for arithmetic processing by the processor 301.

[0046] The auxiliary storage unit 303 is, for example, an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM) or an H DD (Hard Disk Drive). The auxiliary storage unit 303 is a removable medium, that is, a rewritable It can include a removable recording medium. The removable medium is, for example, a disk recording medium such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, a CD (Compact Disc), or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc). The auxiliary storage unit 303 stores various programs and data used by the processor 301 when executing each program.

[0047] The programs stored in the auxiliary storage unit 303 include, in addition to the OS (Operating System), an application program (hereinafter, may also be referred to as the "first application program") for causing the processor 301 to execute processes related to remote services. The data stored in the auxiliary storage unit 303 includes the terminal ID of the user terminal 400.

[0048] Note that part or all of the information stored in the auxiliary storage unit 303 may be stored in the main storage unit 302. Also, part of the information stored in the main storage unit 302 may be stored in the auxiliary storage unit 303.

[0049] The in-vehicle communication unit 304 is an interface for connecting the in-vehicle terminal 300 to the in-vehicle network. In this embodiment, the in-vehicle communication unit 304 communicates with the ECU 100 through the in-vehicle network.

[0050] The out-of-vehicle communication unit 305 is an interface for connecting the in-vehicle terminal 300 to the out-of-vehicle network N1. The out-of-vehicle communication unit 305 connects to the network N1 by, for example, a mobile communication method such as LTE (Long Term Evolution), LTE-Advanced, 5G (5th Generation), and 6G (6th Generation), or a wireless communication method such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark). In this embodiment, the out-of-vehicle communication unit 305 communicates with the server device 500 through the network N1. TE-Advanced, 5G (5th Generation), and 6G (6th Generation) and other mobile communication methods, or a wireless communication method such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark) to connect to the network N1. In this embodiment, the out-of-vehicle communication unit 305 communicates with the server device 500 through the network N1.

[0051] In the in-vehicle terminal 300 configured as described above, when the vehicle external communication unit 305 receives the first signal transmitted from the server device 500, the processor 301 loads the first application program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 303 into the main storage unit 302 and executes it. The processor 301 executes processing related to remote operation through the execution of the first application program. The processing related to remote operation executed by the processor 301 will be described later.

[0052] Note that the series of processes executed by the in-vehicle terminal 300 can be executed by hardware, but can also be executed by software. Further, the hardware configuration of the in-vehicle terminal 300 is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 4, and components may be appropriately omitted, replaced, or added.

[0053] Next, the user terminal 400 is a computer used by the first user. The user terminal 400 is, for example, a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet terminal, a wearable computer (such as a smartwatch), or a personal computer, etc. The user terminal 400 in the present embodiment includes, as shown in FIG. 4, a processor 401, a main storage unit 402, an auxiliary storage unit 403, an input / output unit 404, a communication unit 405, and a short-range communication unit 406, etc. Note that in FIG. 4, only the hardware components related to the processing related to remote operation among the hardware components of the user terminal 400 are extracted and shown, and hardware components other than the hardware components shown in FIG. 4 (for example, hardware components for acquiring the current position of the user terminal 400, and hardware components for outputting sound, etc.) may be included in the user terminal 400.

[0054] The processor 401, main memory 402, and auxiliary storage 403 of the user terminal 400 are the same as those of the in-vehicle terminal 300, namely the processor 301, main memory 302, and auxiliary storage 303, respectively, and thus their descriptions are omitted. However, the programs stored in the auxiliary storage 403 of the user terminal 400 include, in addition to the OS, an application program (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "second application program") for causing the processor 401 to execute processing related to remote services.

[0055] The input / output unit 404 receives the input operations performed by the first user and presents information to the first user. The input / output unit 404 includes, for example, a touch panel display and its control circuit. In the present embodiment, the input / output unit 404 causes the touch panel display to display a menu screen of a plurality of application programs (including the second application program) installed in the user terminal 400, and receives a selection operation of an application program by the first user. When the second application program is selected by the first user, the input / output unit 404 causes the touch panel display to display a menu screen for remote operations and receives a selection operation of a remote operation by the first user.

[0056] The communication unit 405 is an interface for connecting the user terminal 400 to the network N1 by wire or wirelessly. In the present embodiment, the communication unit 405 communicates with the server device 500 through the network N1. The communication unit 405 is, for example, a NIC (Network Interface Card), an optical communication circuit, or a wireless communication circuit, etc.

[0057] The short-range communication unit 406 is an interface for performing BT communication with the in-vehicle terminal 300. The short-range communication unit 406 of the present embodiment communicates with the BT device 200 of the in-vehicle terminal 300 using wireless communication conforming to the BLE standard.

[0058] In the user terminal 400 configured as described above, when the first user performs an operation of selecting the second application program on the menu screen of the application program displayed on the touch panel display of the input / output unit 404, the processor 401 loads the second application program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 403 into the main storage unit 402 and executes it. When the second application program is launched, the processor 401 causes a screen including a button for calling the menu screen of the remote operation to be displayed on the touch panel display of the input / output unit 404. When the button for calling the menu screen of the remote operation on the screen is operated by the first user, the processor 401 causes the menu screen of the remote operation to be displayed on the touch panel display of the input / output unit 404.

[0059] When the menu screen of the remote operation is displayed on the touch panel display of the input / output unit 404 and the first user performs an operation of selecting a desired remote operation, the processor 401 transmits a first signal including the operation ID of the selected remote operation and the terminal ID to the server device 500 through the communication unit 405.

[0060] Note that the series of processes executed in the user terminal 400 can be executed by hardware or can also be executed by software. Further, the hardware configuration of the user terminal 400 is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 4, and components may be omitted, replaced, or added as appropriate.

[0061] Next, the server device 500 is a computer installed outside the vehicle 10. The server device 500 of the present embodiment is operated, for example, by the manufacturer of the vehicle 10 or a company commissioned by the manufacturer of the vehicle 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the server device 500 includes a processor 501, a main storage unit 502, an auxiliary storage unit 503, a communication unit 504, and the like. In FIG. 4, among the hardware components of the server device 500, only the hardware components that perform processing related to remote operation are extracted and shown, and hardware components other than the hardware components shown in FIG. 4 (for example, hardware components for providing services other than remote operation, etc.) may be included in the server device 500.

[0062] The processor 501, the main storage unit 502, the auxiliary storage unit 503, and the communication unit 504 of the server device 500 are the same as those of the processor 401, the main storage unit 402, the auxiliary storage unit 403, and the communication unit 405 of the user terminal 400, respectively, so their descriptions are omitted. However, the program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 503 of the server device 500 includes, in addition to the OS, a program for causing the processor 501 to execute processing related to remote services. The data stored in the auxiliary storage unit 503 of the server device 500 includes data for associating the user terminal 400 with the vehicle 10. The data for associating the user terminal 400 with the vehicle 10 is, for example, data for associating the terminal ID of the user terminal 400 with the identification information (vehicle ID) of the vehicle 10.

[0063] In the server device 500 configured as described above, when the communication unit 504 receives the first signal transmitted from the user terminal 400, based on the terminal ID included in the first signal and the data stored in the auxiliary storage unit 503, the vehicle 10 associated with the user terminal 400 is identified. The server device 500 transmits the first signal to the in-vehicle terminal 300 of the identified vehicle 10 through the communication unit 504.

[0064] Note that the series of processes executed by the server device 500 can be executed by hardware or by software. Also, the hardware configuration of the server device 500 is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 4, and components may be omitted, replaced, or added as appropriate.

[0065] (Functional Configuration of In-Vehicle Terminal) Here, an example of the functional configuration of the in-vehicle terminal 300 in the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the in-vehicle terminal 300 in the present embodiment. The in-vehicle terminal 300 in the present embodiment includes a determination unit F310 and a control unit F320 as its functional components. The determination unit F310 and the control unit F320 are achieved by the processor 301 of the in-vehicle terminal 300 loading and executing a first application program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 303 into the main storage unit 302. Note that the processor 301 that realizes the determination unit F310 and the control unit F320 corresponds to the "control unit" of the "in-vehicle terminal" according to the present disclosure.

[0066] The determination unit F310 determines whether the BT communication between the user terminal 400 and the BT device 200 is established, triggered by the in-vehicle communication unit 305 receiving the first signal transmitted from the server device 500. Specifically, the determination unit F310 communicates with the multimedia ECU 104 through the in-vehicle communication unit 304 to obtain the identification information (ID) of the device (the first device) with which the BT communication with the BT device 200 is established. The determination unit F310 collates the ID of the first device with the terminal ID (the terminal ID of the user terminal 400 used by the first user) stored in the auxiliary storage unit 303. When the ID of the first device matches the terminal ID of the user terminal 400, the determination unit F310 determines that the BT communication between the user terminal 400 and the BT device 200 is established. On the other hand, when the ID of the first device does not match the terminal ID of the user terminal 400, the determination unit F310 determines that the BT communication between the user terminal 400 and the BT device 200 is not established. In addition, when there is no device with which the BT communication with the BT device 200 is established, the determination unit F310 determines that the BT communication between the user terminal 400 and the BT device 200 is not established. The determination result by the determination unit F310 is passed to the control unit F320 together with the first signal.

[0067] The control unit F320 executes different processes according to the determination result by the determination unit F310. In the present embodiment, when the determination unit F310 determines that the BT communication between the user terminal 400 and the BT device 200 is not established, the control unit F320 determines whether the first condition is satisfied. The first condition is a condition for operating the device to be remotely operated without trouble. Such first conditions include, for example, (1) the smart key does not exist in the vehicle 10 interior, (2) the bonnet of the vehicle 10 is closed, or (3) no moving body (e.g., a person, etc.) has entered the vehicle 10 interior, etc.

[0068] The condition in (1) above is a condition for confirming that the smart key of the vehicle 10 has not been left inside the vehicle. The condition in (1) above can be used as the first condition when the remote operation is a door locking operation of the vehicle 10. Whether the condition in (1) above is satisfied is determined based on the detection signal of the key sensor 601. The detection signal of the key sensor 601 is acquired by the processor 301 of the in-vehicle terminal 300 communicating with the body ECU 101 through the in-vehicle communication unit 304.

[0069] The condition in (2) above is a condition for confirming that the user or the like is not opening the bonnet and working. The condition in (2) above can be used as the first condition when the remote operation is an operation of starting the engine or an operation of operating the air conditioner. Whether the condition in (2) above is satisfied is determined based on the detection signal of the bonnet sensor 602. The detection signal of the bonnet sensor 602 is acquired by the processor 301 of the in-vehicle terminal 300 communicating with the body ECU 101 through the in-vehicle communication unit 304. The condition in (3) above is a condition for confirming that a moving object that may be pinched in the window has not entered the interior of the vehicle 10. The condition in (3) above can be used as the first condition when the window of the vehicle 10 is being closed. Whether the condition in (3) above is satisfied is determined based on the detection signal of the intrusion sensor 603. The detection signal of the intrusion sensor 603 is acquired by the processor 301 of the in-vehicle terminal 300 communicating with the body ECU 101 through the in-vehicle communication unit 304.

[0070] If it is determined that the first condition as described above is satisfied, the control unit F320 accepts the remote operation. Specifically, the control unit F320 identifies the ECU 100 that controls the target device of the remote operation based on the operation ID included in the first signal. The control unit F320 transmits a second signal to the identified ECU 100 through the in-vehicle communication unit 304. The second signal is a signal that requests an operation corresponding to the remote operation.

[0071] ​

[0072] When it is determined that the first condition as described above is not satisfied, the control unit F320 does not accept a remote operation. In this case, the control unit F320 does not transmit the second signal to the ECU100.

[0073] Also, when the determination unit F310 determines that the BT communication between the user terminal 400 and the BT device 200 is established, the control unit F320 accepts a remote operation without determining whether the first condition is satisfied. That is, when the determination unit F310 determines that the BT communication between the user terminal 400 and the BT device 200 is established, the control unit F320 immediately transmits the second signal to the ECU100 that controls the target device of the remote operation. This is because when the BT communication between the user terminal 400 and the BT device 200 is established, the first user is located inside or outside the vehicle 10 near the vehicle 10, and the first user can visually confirm whether the first condition as described above is satisfied.

[0074] Note that any one or a part of the determination unit F310 and the control unit F320 may be implemented by a hardware circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). Further, the functional components of the server device 500 are not limited to the example shown in FIG. 5, and components may be appropriately omitted, replaced, or added.

[0075] (Flow of processing) Next, the flow of processing related to the remote operation in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence of processing executed by each component of the remote system and the ECU100 of the vehicle 10. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing routine executed by the in-vehicle terminal 300 in S15 in FIG. 6.

[0076] In FIG. 6, in the user terminal 400, when the user performs an operation of selecting a desired remote operation while the input / output unit 404 is displaying a menu screen for remote operations on the touch panel display, the processor 401 accepts the remote operation selected by the user (S11).

[0077] When the processor 401 of the user terminal 400 accepts the remote operation selected by the user, the processor 401 transmits a first signal including the operation ID of the remote operation selected by the user and the terminal ID of the user terminal 400 to the server device 500 through the communication unit 405 (S12).

[0078] When the communication unit 504 of the server device 500 receives the first signal, the processor 501 of the server device 500 identifies the vehicle 10 associated with the user terminal 400 based on the terminal ID included in the first signal and the data stored in the auxiliary storage unit 503 (S13). When the vehicle 10 associated with the user terminal 400 is identified, the processor 501 of the server device 500 transmits the first signal to the in-vehicle terminal 300 of the identified vehicle 10 through the communication unit 504 (S14).

[0079] In the in-vehicle terminal 300 of the vehicle 10 associated with the user terminal 400, when the out-vehicle communication unit 305 receives the first signal, the processor 301 executes remote processing (S15). In the remote processing, the processor 301 determines whether the BT communication between the user terminal 400 and the BT device 200 is established. When it is determined that the BT communication between the user terminal 400 and the BT device 200 is established, the processor 301 transmits a second signal to the ECU 100 through the out-vehicle communication unit 305 (S16). Note that when it is determined that the BT communication between the user terminal 400 and the BT device 200 is not established, the processor 301 transmits the second signal to the ECU 100 through the out-vehicle communication unit 305 only when the first condition is satisfied. The details of the remote processing will be described in the description of FIG. 7 below.

[0080] Upon receiving the second signal, the ECU 100 controls the target device of the remote operation according to the second signal (S17).

[0081] Next, the details of the remote process (the process of S15 in FIG. 6) executed by the in-vehicle terminal 300 will be described with reference to FIG. 7. The processing routine shown in FIG. 7 is executed triggered by the in-vehicle terminal 300 receiving the first signal transmitted from the server device 500. Although the execution entity of the processing routine shown in FIG. 7 is the processor 301 of the in-vehicle terminal 300, here, the functional components of the in-vehicle terminal 300 will be used as the execution entity for the description.

[0082] In FIG. 7, when the out-vehicle communication unit 305 of the in-vehicle terminal 300 receives the first signal transmitted from the server device 500 (step S101), the determination unit F310 determines whether there is a device (the first device) with which the BT communication is established with the BT device 200 by communicating with the multimedia ECU 104 through the in-vehicle communication unit 304 (step S102). If there is a first device with which the BT communication is established with the BT device 200 (positive determination in step S102), the process of step S103 is executed.

[0083] In step S103, the determination unit F310 obtains the ID of the first device by communicating with the multimedia ECU 104 through the in-vehicle communication unit 304. After the determination unit F310 finishes executing the process of step S103, it executes the process of step S104.

[0084] In step S104, the determination unit F310 determines whether the first device is the user terminal 400 of the first user. Specifically, the determination unit F310 collates the ID acquired in step S103 with the terminal ID stored in the auxiliary storage unit 303 (the terminal ID of the user terminal 400 used by the first user). When the ID of the first device matches the terminal ID of the user terminal 400 (positive determination in step S104), it means that the BT communication between the user terminal 400 and the BT device 200 is established. In that case, the determination unit F310 passes information indicating that the BT communication between the user terminal 400 and the BT device 200 is established, and the first signal, to the control unit F320. The control unit F320 executes the process of S105 triggered by receiving the information from the determination unit F310.

[0085] In step S105, the control unit F320 accepts a remote operation without determining whether the first condition is satisfied. Specifically, the control unit F320 identifies the ECU100 that controls the device to be remotely operated based on the operation ID included in the first signal. The control unit F320 transmits a second signal to the identified ECU100 through the in-vehicle communication unit 304. The second signal is a signal that requests an operation corresponding to the remote operation.

[0086] Also, when it is determined in step S102 that there is no first device with which the BT communication with the BT device 200 is established (negative determination in step S102), and when it is determined in step S104 that the ID of the first device does not match the terminal ID of the user terminal 400 (negative determination in step S104), it means that the BT communication between the user terminal 400 and the BT device 200 is not established. In that case, the determination unit F310 passes information indicating that the BT communication between the user terminal 400 and the BT device 200 is not established, and the first signal, to the control unit F320. The control unit F320 executes the process of step S106 triggered by receiving the information from the determination unit F310.

[0087] In step S106, the control unit F320 determines whether the first condition is satisfied. Specifically, the control unit F320 first identifies the operation to be the target of the remote operation based on the operation ID included in the first signal.

[0088] When the operation to be the target of the remote operation is the door locking operation, the control unit F320 uses the condition (1) described above (the smart key does not exist in the interior of the vehicle 10) as the first condition. In that case, the control unit F320 communicates with the body ECU 101 through the in-vehicle communication unit 304 to acquire the detection signal of the key sensor 601. The control unit F320 determines whether the smart key exists in the interior of the vehicle 10 based on the detection signal of the key sensor 601. When the smart key does not exist in the interior of the vehicle 10, the control unit F320 determines that the first condition is satisfied (positive determination in step S106). On the other hand, when the smart key exists in the interior of the vehicle 10, the control unit F320 determines that the first condition is not satisfied (negative determination in step S106).

[0089] When the operation to be the target of the remote operation is the operation to activate the air conditioner, the control unit F320 uses the condition (2) described above (the bonnet of the vehicle 10 is closed) as the first condition. In that case, the control unit F320 communicates with the body ECU 101 through the in-vehicle communication unit 304 to acquire the detection signal of the bonnet sensor 602. The control unit F320 determines whether the bonnet of the vehicle 10 is closed based on the detection signal of the bonnet sensor 602. When the bonnet of the vehicle 10 is closed, the control unit F320 determines that the first condition is satisfied (positive determination in step S106). On the other hand, when the bonnet of the vehicle 10 is open, the control unit F320 determines that the first condition is not satisfied (negative determination in step S106).

[0090] When the operation to be remotely controlled is the window closing operation of the vehicle 10, the control unit F320 uses the condition in the above-mentioned (3) (no moving body has invaded the interior of the vehicle 10) as the first condition. In that case, the control unit F320 communicates with the body ECU 101 through the in-vehicle communication unit 304 to acquire the detection signal of the intrusion sensor 603. The control unit F320 determines whether a moving body has invaded the interior of the vehicle 10 based on the detection signal of the intrusion sensor 603. When no moving body has invaded the interior of the vehicle 10, the control unit F320 determines that the first condition is satisfied (positive determination in step S106). On the other hand, when a moving body has invaded the interior of the vehicle 10, the control unit F320 determines that the first condition is not satisfied (negative determination in step S106).

[0091] When it is determined that the above-mentioned first condition is satisfied (positive determination in step S106), the control unit F320 executes the process of step S105. Also, when it is determined that the above-mentioned first condition is not satisfied (negative determination in step S106), the control unit F320 terminates the execution of this processing routine without accepting the remote operation.

[0092] According to the above-described embodiment, when the in-vehicle terminal 300 receives the first signal, if the BT communication between the user terminal 400 and the BT device 200 is established, the in-vehicle terminal 300 accepts the remote operation without determining whether the first condition is satisfied. That is, when the in-vehicle terminal 300 receives the first signal, if the first user is located within the visible range of the vehicle 10, the remote operation is immediately accepted without performing the process of determining whether the first condition is satisfied. Thereby, the response delay time from when the first user performs a remote operation on the user terminal 400 until the target device of the remote operation actually operates can be suppressed to be short.

[0093] Also, when the in-vehicle terminal 300 receives the first signal, if the BT communication between the user terminal 400 and the BT device 200 is not established, the in-vehicle terminal 300 executes a process of determining whether the first condition is satisfied, and accepts a remote operation only when the first condition is satisfied. That is, when the in-vehicle terminal 300 receives the first signal, if the first user is located outside the visible range of the vehicle 10, the remote operation is accepted only when the first condition is satisfied. Thereby, an operation that is the target of the remote operation can be performed safely.

[0094] Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when the first user performs a remote operation through the user terminal 400, the in-vehicle terminal 300 can execute different processes according to whether the first user is near the vehicle 10, so that the convenience of the first user can be improved.

[0095] Note that, in the present embodiment, the event in which the in-vehicle terminal 300 receives the first signal transmitted from the server device 500 corresponds to the "first event" according to the present disclosure. The key sensor 601 in the present embodiment corresponds to the "first sensor" according to the present disclosure. The bonnet sensor 602 in the present embodiment corresponds to the "second sensor" according to the present disclosure. The intrusion sensor 603 in the present embodiment corresponds to the "third sensor" according to the present disclosure. The auxiliary storage unit 303 of the in-vehicle terminal 300 in the present embodiment corresponds to the "storage device" according to the present disclosure.

[0096] <Embodiment 2> In the above-described first embodiment, an example in which the "first event" according to the present disclosure is an event in which the in-vehicle terminal 300 receives the first signal transmitted from the server device 500 has been described. In contrast, in the present embodiment, an example in which the "first event" according to the present disclosure is an event in which the ignition switch of the vehicle 10 is switched from on to off will be described.

[0097] In the remote service, when an event occurs in which the ignition switch of the vehicle 10 is switched from on to off, if the state of the vehicle 10 is not suitable for parking (the first state), the in-vehicle terminal 300 performs a process (careless notification process) of transmitting a careless notification signal to the user terminal 400 through the server device 500.

[0098] The "first state" mentioned here is, for example, (4) the state where the doors of the vehicle are not locked, (5) the state where the lighting devices (headlights and / or small lights) of the vehicle are not turned off, (6) the state where the windows of the vehicle are not closed, or (7) the state where the hazard lamps of the vehicle are not turned off, etc. Also, the "careless notification signal" is a signal including information indicating that the vehicle 10 is in the first state. This is a signal including information indicating that the vehicle 10 is in the first state.

[0099] The first user who receives the careless notification signal through the user terminal 400 can return to the vehicle 10 or perform, by remote operation, a door locking operation, a lighting device turning-off operation, a hazard lamp turning-off operation, and a window closing operation.

[0100] By the way, after the ignition switch of the vehicle 10 is switched from on to off, the first user may rest inside or outside the vehicle 10 near the vehicle. Also, after the ignition switch of the vehicle 10 is switched from on to off, the first user may perform operations such as car washing or inspection in the vicinity of the vehicle 10 inside or outside the vehicle 10. In these cases, it is highly likely that the first user intentionally sets the state of the vehicle 10 to the first state. In such a case, if a careless notification signal is transmitted to the user terminal 400, the first user may feel annoyed.

[0101] Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the ignition switch of the vehicle 10 is switched from on to off, if the BT communication between the user terminal 400 and the BT device 200 is established, the in-vehicle terminal 300 executes a process different from the inadvertent notification process. In the present embodiment, the in-vehicle terminal 300 performs a process (hereinafter, may also be referred to as "real-time distribution process") of transmitting a signal indicating the state of the vehicle 10 to the user terminal 400 in real time through the server device 500. In the present embodiment, the real-time distribution process continues until the BT communication between the user terminal 400 and the BT device 200 is terminated.

[0102] When the ignition switch of the vehicle 10 is switched from on to off, the determination as to whether the BT communication between the user terminal 400 and the BT device 200 is established is made by the determination unit F310 of the in-vehicle terminal 300. The determination procedure at that time is the same as that of the first embodiment described above.

[0103] The determination result by the determination unit F310 is passed from the determination unit F310 to the control unit F320 together with information indicating that the ignition switch has been switched from on to off. In that case, the control unit F320 executes either the inadvertent notification process or the real-time distribution process according to the determination result of the determination unit F310.

[0104] (Flow of processing) Here, the processing flow performed by the in-vehicle terminal 300 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing routine executed by the in-vehicle terminal 300 triggered by the ignition switch of the vehicle 10 being switched from on to off. Here, similar to FIG. 7 of the first embodiment described above, the description will be made with the functional components of the in-vehicle terminal 300 as the execution subject.

[0105] In FIG. 8, when an operation (IG off) to switch the ignition switch of the vehicle 10 from on to off is performed by the first user (step S201), the determination unit F310 of the in-vehicle terminal 300 executes the processes of steps S202 - S204. The processes of steps S202 - S204 are the same as steps S102 - 104 in FIG. 7 described above, respectively.

[0106] When a positive determination is made in steps S202 and S204 (when BT communication between the user terminal 400 and the BT device 200 is established), the control unit F320 executes the process of step S205. In step S205, the control unit F320 executes a process (real-time distribution process) of transmitting a third signal to the user terminal 400 through the server device 500.

[0107] In the real-time distribution process, the control unit F320 collects information indicating the state of the vehicle 10 at the current time by communicating with the ECU 100 through the in-vehicle communication unit 304. Information indicating the state of the vehicle 10 at the current time includes, for example, information indicating whether the smart key is inside the vehicle 10, information indicating locking / unlocking of the doors, information indicating lighting / extinguishing of the lighting device, information indicating lighting / extinguishing of the hazard lamp, and information indicating whether the window is open, etc.

[0108] The control unit F320 generates a third signal including the collected information, the vehicle ID, and a command to output the collected information to the input / output unit 404 of the user terminal 400. The control unit F320 transmits the generated third signal to the server device 500 through the out-vehicle communication unit 305.

[0109] In the server device 500 that has received the third signal, the processor 501 identifies the user terminal 400 associated with the vehicle 10 based on the vehicle ID included in the third signal. The processor 501 of the server device 500 transmits the third signal to the user terminal 400 through the communication unit 504.

[0110] In the user terminal 400 that has received the third signal, the processor 301 causes the touch panel of the input / output unit 404 to display the information included in the third signal (information indicating the real-time state of the vehicle 10).

[0111] When the control unit F320 finishes executing the process of S205, the determination unit F310 executes the processes after S202 again.

[0112] Also, when a negative determination is made in step S202 and when a negative determination is made in step S204, the control unit F320 executes the process of step S206. In step S206, the control unit F320 determines whether the vehicle 10 is in the first state. Specifically, the control unit F320 determines whether at least one of the above (4)-(7) conditions is satisfied by communicating with the ECU 100 through the in-vehicle communication unit 304. When at least one of the above (4)-(7) conditions is satisfied (positive determination in step S206), the control unit F320 executes the process of step S207.

[0113] In step S207, the control unit F320 executes a process of transmitting a fourth signal to the server device 500 (a careless notification process). Specifically, the control unit F320 generates a fourth signal including information indicating that the vehicle 10 is in the first state, the vehicle ID, and a command to cause the input / output unit 404 of the user terminal 400 to output the information indicating that the vehicle 10 is in the first state. The control unit F320 transmits the generated fourth signal to the server device 500 through the out-vehicle communication unit 305.

[0114] In the server device 500 that has received the fourth signal, the processor 501 identifies the user terminal 400 associated with the vehicle 10 based on the vehicle ID included in the fourth signal. The processor 501 of the server device 500 transmits the fourth signal to the user terminal 400 through the communication unit 504.

[0115] In the user terminal 400 that has received the fourth signal, the processor 301 causes the touch panel of the input / output unit 404 to display the information included in the fourth signal (information indicating that the vehicle 10 is in the first state).

[0116] When the control unit F320 finishes executing the process of step S207, the execution of this processing routine ends. Also, in step S206, if none of (4) to (7) described above are satisfied (negative determination in step S206), the process of step S207 is not executed and the execution of this processing routine ends.

[0117] According to the above-described embodiment, after the ignition switch is switched from on to off and until the first user leaves the vehicle 10 (until the first user moves outside the range where BT communication between the user terminal 400 and the BT device 200 is established), the inadvertent notification to the user terminal 400 is stopped. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the user from feeling annoyance. As a result, the convenience for the user can be improved.

[0118] <Others> The above-described embodiments are merely examples, and the present disclosure can be appropriately modified and implemented without departing from the gist thereof. Also, the processes and configurations described in the present disclosure can be freely combined and implemented as long as no technical contradiction occurs. Further, the process described as being performed by one device may be shared and executed by a plurality of devices. Also, the process described as being performed by different devices may be executed by one device. In a computer system, it is possible to flexibly change how each function is realized in terms of hardware configuration.

[0119] In addition, the present disclosure can also be realized by supplying a computer program that implements the functions described in the above embodiments to a computer, and causing one or more processors included in the computer to read and execute the program. Such a computer program may be provided to the computer by a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium connectable to the system bus of the computer, or may be provided to the computer via a network. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium is a recording medium that stores information such as data and programs by means of electrical, magnetic, optical, mechanical, or chemical actions and can be read by a computer or the like. Such non-transitory computer-readable storage media are, for example, any type of disk such as a magnetic disk (e.g., a floppy (registered trademark) disk or an HDD) or an optical disk (e.g., a CD-ROM, a DVD disk, or a Blu-ray disk). The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium may also be a medium such as a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), an EPROM, an EEPROM, a magnetic card, a flash memory, an optical card, or an SSD (Solid State Drive). may also be

Description of Reference Numerals

[0120] 10 Vehicle 100 ECU 200 BT Device 300 In-vehicle Terminal 301 Processor F310 Determination Unit F320 Control Unit 302 Main Memory Unit 303 Auxiliary Storage Unit 304 In-vehicle Communication Unit 305 Out-of-vehicle Communication Unit 400 User Terminal 500 Server Device 600 Sensor 601 Key Sensor 602 Bonnet Sensor 603 Intrusion Sensor 604 Window Sensor 605 Door lock sensor 606 Light sensor 607 Hazard sensor

Claims

1. An in-vehicle terminal that executes processing related to a remote service of a vehicle, receiving, from a user terminal via an out-vehicle server, a first signal that is a signal requesting a remote operation selected by the user of the vehicle; determining, in response to receiving the first signal, whether short-range wireless communication is established between the vehicle and the user terminal; executing a first process in response to determining that short-range wireless communication is not established between the vehicle and the user terminal; executing a second process different from the first process in response to determining that short-range wireless communication is established between the vehicle and the user terminal; comprising a control unit that executes the above; The first process includes determining whether a first condition, which is a condition for safely performing the remote operation, is satisfied, and when it is determined that the first condition is satisfied, transmitting a second signal, which is a signal requesting an operation according to the first signal, to a first ECU (Electronic Control Unit) mounted on the vehicle. The second process is a process of transmitting the second signal to the first ECU without determining whether the first condition is satisfied. In-vehicle terminal.

2. The first signal includes an operation ID that is information for identifying a remote operation selected by the user, transmitting the second signal to the first ECU includes identifying the first ECU from among one or more ECUs mounted on the vehicle according to the operation ID, and transmitting the second signal to the identified first ECU. The in-vehicle terminal according to Claim 1.

3. The first condition includes that a first sensor for detecting a smart key present in the vehicle interior does not detect the smart key. The in-vehicle terminal according to Claim 1.

4. The first condition includes that a second sensor for detecting that the hood of the vehicle is open does not detect that the hood is open. The in-vehicle terminal according to claim 1.

5. The first condition includes that a third sensor for detecting a moving body that has entered the interior of the vehicle does not detect a moving body. The in-vehicle terminal according to claim 1.

6. An in-vehicle terminal that executes processing related to a remote service of a vehicle, determining whether short-range wireless communication between the vehicle and a user terminal is established in response to the ignition switch of the vehicle being switched from on to off; executing a first process in response to a determination that the short-range wireless communication between the vehicle and the user terminal is not established; executing a second process different from the first process in response to a determination that the short-range wireless communication between the vehicle and the user terminal is established; comprising a control unit that performs: The first process includes a process of determining whether the state of the vehicle is in a first state not suitable for parking, and a process of transmitting a signal indicating the first state to the user terminal through an external server device when it is determined that the state of the vehicle is in the first state. The second process is a process of transmitting a signal indicating the state of the vehicle to the user terminal in real time through the server device. In-vehicle terminal.

7. The first state is a state in which the doors of the vehicle are not locked. The in-vehicle terminal according to claim 6.

8. The first state is a state in which the lighting device of the vehicle is not turned off. The in-vehicle terminal according to claim 6.

9. The first state is a state in which the window of the vehicle is not closed. The in-vehicle terminal according to claim 6.

10. The first state is a state in which the hazard lamp of the vehicle is not turned off. The in-vehicle terminal according to claim 6.

11. An information processing method related to a vehicle remote service, a computer mounted on the vehicle, receiving, via an out-vehicle server, a first signal that is a signal requesting a remote operation selected by the user of the vehicle from a user terminal; determining, in response to receiving the first signal, whether short-range wireless communication is established between the vehicle and the user terminal; executing a first process in response to a determination that short-range wireless communication is not established between the vehicle and the user terminal; executing a second process different from the first process in response to a determination that short-range wireless communication is established between the vehicle and the user terminal; including The first process includes: determining whether a first condition, which is a condition for safely performing the remote operation, is satisfied; and when it is determined that the first condition is satisfied, transmitting, to a first ECU (Electronic Control Unit) mounted on the vehicle, a second signal that is a signal requesting an operation according to the first signal. The second process is a process of transmitting the second signal to the first ECU without determining whether the first condition is satisfied. Information processing method.

12. The first signal includes an operation ID, which is information for identifying a remote operation selected by the user. Sending the second signal to the first ECU includes identifying the first ECU from among one or more ECUs mounted on the vehicle according to the operation ID, and sending the second signal to the identified first ECU. The information processing method according to claim 11.

13. An information processing method related to a vehicle remote service, wherein a computer mounted on the vehicle determines whether short-range wireless communication between the vehicle and a user terminal is established when the ignition switch of the vehicle is switched from on to off; performs a first process when it is determined that short-range wireless communication between the vehicle and the user terminal is not established; performs a second process different from the first process when it is determined that short-range wireless communication between the vehicle and the user terminal is established; including The first process includes determining whether the vehicle state is in a first state not suitable for parking, and when it is determined that the vehicle state is in the first state, transmitting a signal indicating the first state to the user terminal through an external server device; The second process is a process of transmitting a signal indicating the state of the vehicle to the user terminal in real time through the server device. Information processing method.

14. A first communication device that performs short-range wireless communication with a user terminal, An in-vehicle terminal that performs processing related to a vehicle remote service, A vehicle comprising wherein the in-vehicle terminal receives, from a user terminal via an external server, a first signal that is a signal requesting a remote operation selected by a user of the vehicle; determines whether short-range wireless communication between the vehicle and the user terminal is established in response to receiving the first signal; Executing a first process in response to a determination that short-range wireless communication between the vehicle and the user terminal has not been established; Executing a second process different from the first process in response to a determination that short-range wireless communication between the vehicle and the user terminal has been established; A control unit that executes the above; The first process includes determining whether a first condition, which is a condition for safely performing the remote operation, is satisfied, and when it is determined that the first condition is satisfied, transmitting a second signal, which is a signal for requesting an operation according to the first signal, to a first ECU (Electronic Control Unit) mounted on the vehicle. The second process is a process of transmitting the second signal to the first ECU without determining whether the first condition is satisfied. Vehicle.

15. A vehicle comprising a first communication device that performs short-range wireless communication with a user terminal; An in-vehicle terminal that performs processing related to a remote service of the vehicle; The in-vehicle terminal is configured to: Determine whether short-range wireless communication between the vehicle and the user terminal has been established in response to the ignition switch of the vehicle being switched from on to off; Execute a first process in response to a determination that short-range wireless communication between the vehicle and the user terminal has not been established; Execute a second process different from the first process in response to a determination that short-range wireless communication between the vehicle and the user terminal has been established; The first process includes determining whether the vehicle state is in a first state that is not suitable for parking, and when it is determined that the vehicle state is in the first state, transmitting a signal indicating the first state to the user terminal through an external server device. A control unit that executes the above; The second process is a process of transmitting, in real time, a signal indicating the state of the vehicle through the server device. Vehicle.

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