Support device

Abstract

To enable control of a window in conjunction with a service.SOLUTION: An assistance device is provided, comprising a reception unit for receiving information on a window-opening site corresponding to a predefined service, a notification unit for notifying that a vehicle is approaching the service when the vehicle is within a given range from the window-opening site, and a control unit for providing control to automatically open a window when the vehicle approaches the window-opening site.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a control device that sends a control signal to open a window glass when detecting a driver's drowsiness to open the window glass.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the prior art, it is an opening / closing control caused by the state of the driver inside the vehicle, and the cooperation with external services is not considered.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a support device that enables window control in cooperation with a service.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The support device according to claim 1 includes a reception unit that receives information regarding a window opening point corresponding to a predetermined service, a notification unit that notifies the service of an approach when the vehicle approaches a predetermined range from the window opening point, and a control unit that performs control to automatically open the window when the vehicle approaches the window opening point. The receiving unit acquires vehicle information including the vehicle speed of the vehicle, calculates the timing to reach the window opening point from the driving situation based on the vehicle information, performs the notification of the notification unit according to the timing, and after the notification, the control unit requests the user whether the control is possible or not, and when approval is selected, the control unit performs the control. 。

[0007] The support device according to claim 1 detects the approach of the vehicle to the window opening point corresponding to the service, and performs notification to the service and control of the vehicle window. Thereby, window control in cooperation with the service is enabled. In addition, considering both driving situations, it is possible to confirm with the user whether to provide assistance and open the window at an appropriate timing.

[0012] In addition, the support device is defined in claim 1 of The support device may include a display unit capable of displaying the service location on a map, display the service location on the map, receive information regarding the window opening location by allowing the user to select the service, and display the information regarding the window opening location on the map. This allows the user to select a service on the map.

Advantages of the Invention

[0013] According to the technology of the present disclosure, it is possible to control a window in cooperation with a service.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a support system 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the support system 10 includes a vehicle 102, a user terminal 104, and a service terminal 106, which are connected via a network N. Note that the case where there is one vehicle 102, one user terminal 104, and one service terminal 106 is shown for the sake of illustration. In the support system 10, a plurality of vehicles 102, a plurality of user terminals 104, and a plurality of service terminals 106 managed in the support system 10 are controlled.

[0016] Vehicle 102 is equipped with an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 110 and a window opening / closing mechanism (not shown). The ECU 110 acquires and controls vehicle information regarding the vehicle 10. The window opening / closing mechanism can be automatically controlled by the ECU 110. In the present embodiment, the ECU 110 performs control related to window opening assistance in cooperation with a service (hereinafter simply referred to as window opening assistance). Further, as will be described later with reference to FIG. 2, the ECU 110 is connected to an ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System)-ECU 112 and a GPS device 114. The ADAS-ECU 112 is a mechanism for overall control of an advanced driver assistance system, and includes sensors for detecting vehicle information such as vehicle speed, yaw rate, and driving operation, and an external environment by cameras, radars, etc. The ECU 110 has a function of acquiring various necessary vehicle information from the ADAS-ECU 112 and the GPS device 114 and performing control related to window opening assistance according to the approach to the window opening point. The control related to window opening assistance will be described in the functional configuration of the control of the ECU 110 related to window opening assistance described later. The ECU 110 is an example of the assistance device of the present disclosure.

[0017] In addition, a GPS device 114 mounted on the vehicle 102 is connected to the ECU 110. The GPS device 114 is a device that measures the current position of the vehicle 102. The GPS device 114 includes an antenna (not shown) that receives signals from GPS satellites. The ECU 110 controls a car navigation system, audio, etc. The car navigation system manages position information on a map of a predetermined service described later. The ECU 110 performs control related to window opening assistance using the position information of the vehicle 102 measured by the GPS device 114 and the position information on the map.

[0018] The user terminal 104 is a terminal on which an application related to window opening assistance is installed. Note that an in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle 102 may be used as the user terminal 104.

[0019] The service terminal 106 is a terminal installed in stores, facilities, etc. that provide predetermined services. The predetermined services are, for example, various services corresponding to the delivery of goods through a drive-through window provided in stores and facilities. Note that the service terminal 106 is equipped with an application or function for receiving a window opening assistance notification.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the ECU 110. As shown in FIG. 2, the ECU 110 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a storage 14, an input unit 15, a display unit 16, and a communication interface (I / F) 17. Each component is connected to be communicable with each other via a bus 19. Note that the user terminal 104 and the service terminal 106 can have a hardware configuration similar to that of the ECU 120.

[0021] The CPU 11 is a central processing unit that executes various programs and controls each unit. That is, the CPU 11 reads a program from the ROM 12 or the storage 14 and executes the program using the RAM 13 as a work area. The CPU 11 performs control of the above-described components and various arithmetic processes according to a program stored in the ROM 12 or the storage 14. In the present embodiment, an information processing program is stored in the ROM 12 or the storage 14.

[0022] The ROM 12 stores various programs and various data. The RAM 13 temporarily stores a program or data as a work area. The storage 14 is composed of a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), or a flash memory, and stores various programs including an operating system and various data.

[0023] The input unit 15 includes a keyboard and buttons such as a touch panel method, and is used to perform various inputs.

[0024] The display unit 16 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays various information. The display unit 16 may adopt a touch panel method and function as the input unit 15.

[0025] The communication interface 17 is an interface for communicating with other devices. For example, standards such as Ethernet (registered trademark), FDDI, Wi-Fi (registered trademark), BLE, NFC, and UWB are used.

[0026] When executing the above computer program, the ECU 110 realizes various functions by using the above hardware resources. The functional configuration realized by the ECU 110 will be described. Note that an application related to window opening assistance is installed in the user terminal 104 or an in-vehicle device (not shown), and receives input from the user via the input unit 15.

[0027] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the ECU 110. As shown in FIG. 3, the ECU 110 has, as a functional configuration, a reception unit 120, a notification unit 122, and a control unit 124. Each functional configuration is realized by the CPU 11 reading and executing a computer program stored in the ROM 12 or the storage 14.

[0028] The reception unit 120 receives information regarding a window opening point corresponding to a predetermined service. The information regarding the window opening point is the location information of the service providing point, the type of the service, and the like. The information regarding the window opening point may be received, for example, by an input from a user boarding the vehicle 102 to an application related to window opening assistance.

[0029] The notification unit 122 determines whether the vehicle 102 has approached within a predetermined range from the window opening point corresponding to the service, and when it has approached within the predetermined range, notifies the service terminal 106 corresponding to the service of the approach. The predetermined range can be appropriately determined, for example, as a range of a point predicted to be within several minutes until reaching the window opening point. Also, when the preparation time for providing goods differs for each store and facility, a predetermined range corresponding to the preparation time for each store and facility may be determined.

[0030] The control unit 124 determines whether the vehicle 102 has approached the window opening point, and when the vehicle has approached the window opening point, performs control to automatically open the window. The approach to the window opening point can be appropriately determined, for example, when the vehicle 102 reaches a point several meters to several tens of meters from the window opening point.

[0031] Also, when the control unit 124 determines that the vehicle 102 has approached the window opening point, the notification unit 122 notifies the user of a notice to open the window. After the notification unit 122 notifies the user of the notice to open the window, the control unit 124 performs control to automatically open the window. The notification to the user may be performed by notification via the audio managed by the ECU 110 or notification to the user terminal 104.

[0032] (Flow of control) FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of the support process as the support method executed by the ECU 110 of the present embodiment.

[0033] In step S100, the CPU 11 receives information regarding the window opening point corresponding to a predetermined service.

[0034] In step S102, the CPU 11 determines whether the vehicle 102 has approached within a predetermined range from the window opening point corresponding to the service. If it is determined that it has approached within the predetermined range, the process proceeds to step S104, and if it is determined that it has not approached within the predetermined range, this step is repeated.

[0035] In step S104, the CPU 11 notifies the service terminal 106 corresponding to the service of the approach of the vehicle 102.

[0036] In step S106, the CPU 11 determines whether the vehicle 102 has approached the window opening point. If it is determined that the vehicle has approached, the process proceeds to step S108. If it is determined that the vehicle has not approached, this step is repeated.

[0037] In step S108, the CPU 11 notifies the user of the notice to open the window.

[0038] In step S110, the CPU 11 performs control to automatically open the window.

[0039] As described above, in the support system 100 of the present embodiment, it is possible to control the window in cooperation with the service.

[0040] [Modification Example] The ECU 110 may acquire vehicle information including the vehicle speed of the vehicle from the ADAS - ECU 112 in the reception unit 120, and calculate the timing to reach the window opening point from the driving situation based on the vehicle information. The driving situation is traffic information such as the average vehicle speed, the congestion situation of the road during driving, and traffic jams. The timing is the arrival time of the window opening point predicted from the driving situation. The notification unit 122 performs notification according to the timing. The control unit 124 performs control to open the window according to the timing. The notification according to the timing may be, for example, to perform notification at a time predicted to be several minutes until the arrival of the window opening point by back - calculating from the timing. The control according to the timing may be, for example, to perform notification at a time predicted to be several seconds to several tens of seconds until the arrival of the window opening point by back - calculating from the timing. Note that these notifications and controls are just examples, and the notifications and controls according to the timing may be determined as appropriate.

[0041] Further, after notifying the user of the notice to open the window, the ECU 110 may request the user for permission to control. For the permission to control, for example, selection buttons for permission to control may be displayed on the display unit 16 so that the user can make a selection of permission or non - permission by operating the input unit 15. Also, the ECU 110 may control so that the same display and selection of permission to control can be performed in an application related to window - opening support of the user terminal 104.

[0042] Further, in the control unit 124, the ECU 110 may detect the external environment of the vehicle, and when the external environment is not favorable for opening the window, notify the user and request permission to control. The ECU 110 acquires information from cameras, radars, etc. by the ADAS - ECU 112 to detect the external environment. The case where the external environment is not favorable for opening the window is assumed to be, for example, when the weather is bad weather such as rain, snow, and strong wind.

[0043] Also, the display unit 16 of the vehicle 102 may be enabled to display the service location on the map. The ECU 110 causes the service location to be displayed on the map displayed on the display unit 16, and receives information regarding the window - opening location by allowing the input unit 15 to select a service. The ECU 110 displays information regarding the window - opening location on the map. In this case, regarding the information regarding the window - opening location on the map, the display color or icon format, etc. of the information regarding the window - opening location may be displayed so as to be distinguishable from services that are not the window - opening location. Also, the ECU 110 may change the display of the information regarding the window - opening location on the map when approaching the above - mentioned predetermined range or when approaching the window - opening location.

[0044] Note that, in the above-described embodiment, the various processes executed by the CPU 11 by reading software (program) may be executed by various processors other than the CPU. Examples of the processor in this case include PLDs (Programmable Logic Devices) such as FPGAs (Field-Programmable Gate Arrays) whose circuit configurations can be changed after manufacturing, GPUs (Graphics Processing Units), and dedicated electric circuits such as ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits) which are processors having circuit configurations designed specifically for executing specific processes. Further, each of the above-described processes may be executed by one of these various processors, or may be executed by a combination of two or more processors of the same type or different types (for example, a plurality of FPGAs, a combination of a CPU and an FPGA, etc.). Further, the hardware structure of these various processors is, more specifically, an electric circuit formed by combining circuit elements such as semiconductor elements.

[0045] Also, in the above-described embodiment, the information processing program has been described in a mode where it is pre-stored (installed) in a non-transitory recording medium readable by a computer. For example, the information processing program is pre-stored in the ROM 12 or the storage 14. However, it is not limited to this, and each program may be provided in a form recorded in a non-transitory recording medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disc Read Only Memory), or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory. Further, the information processing program may be in a form downloaded from an external device via a network.

[0046] The flow of the processes described in the above-described embodiment is an example, and unnecessary steps may be deleted, new steps may be added, or the order of the processes may be changed within a range not departing from the gist.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0047] 100 Support system 102 Vehicle 104 User terminal 106 Service terminal 110 ECU (Support device)

Claims

【Claim 1】 A reception unit that receives information regarding a window opening point corresponding to a predetermined service; A notification unit that notifies approaching the service when the vehicle approaches a predetermined range from the window opening point; A control unit that automatically controls the window to open when the vehicle approaches the window opening point; comprising the reception unit acquires vehicle information including the vehicle speed of the vehicle, calculates the timing to reach the window opening point from the driving situation based on the vehicle information, performs the notification of the notification unit according to the timing, and the control unit requests the user whether the control is possible or not after the notification, and performs the control of the control unit when approval is selected. Support device.

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