Drive recorder system

Abstract

To provide a drive recorder system that does not allow a user to set or change its operation but allows only an administrator at a management center to change operation setting information on a drive recorder.SOLUTION: There is provided a drive recorder system 10 including: an image pickup device 14 that picks up an image of the surrounding of a vehicle 12; a recording device 16 that records the image picked up by the image pickup device; a control device 18 that controls operations of the image pickup device and the recording device; and a communication module that exchanges information with a management center 32 through wireless communication. The control device 18 is configured to store in a storage device 22 operation setting information on the image pickup device and the recording device so as not to allow a user to make a change and control the operations of the image pickup device and the recording device based on the operation setting information stored in the storage device, and further configured to update the operation setting information stored in the storage device only with information provided from the management center 32 via the communication module.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a drive recorder system for vehicles such as automobiles.

Background Art

[0002] A drive recorder including an imaging device that images the surroundings of a vehicle, a recording device that records an image captured by the imaging device, and a control device that controls the imaging device and the recording device is well known. For example, Patent Document 1 below describes a drive recorder configured to operate based on setting information read from an SD card.

[0003] In business entities such as the transportation industry and the delivery industry, a drive recorder may be used for the administrator of commercial vehicles and company vehicles in use to grasp and confirm the driving status, operation status, etc. of the vehicle by employees. According to the drive recorder, the driving status of the vehicle can be confirmed by playing back the recording information at the required date and time.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0005] 〔Problems to be Solved by the Invention〕 In a conventional drive recorder, the operation of the drive recorder, such as turning on and off recording and recording, can be set and changed by the user. Therefore, due to a user's incorrect operation or malicious operation, recording and recording may not be performed, or recording information and recording information may be deleted, and it may not be possible to grasp and confirm the driving status, operation status, etc. of the vehicle.

[0006] The present invention provides an improved drive recorder system in which a user of the drive recorder cannot set or change its operation, and the operation setting information of the drive recorder can be changed only by an administrator of the management center.

[0007] According to the present invention, there is provided an imaging device (camera 14) that images the surroundings of a vehicle (12), a recording device (16) that records an image imaged by the imaging device, A storage device (22) that stores operation setting information of an imaging device and a recording device, and based on the operation setting information stored in the storage device a control device (DR·ECU 18) that controls the operations of the imaging device and the recording device, and a communication module (28) that exchanges information with a management center (32) by wireless communication, and a drive recorder system (10) including the same is provided.

[0008] Control device (DR·ECU 18) stores operation setting information that cannot be changed by the user in a storage device (22), u dong and updates the operation setting information stored in the storage device only based on information provided through the communication module from the management center When it is determined that communication with the management center (32) can be performed via the communication module (28), Management center ta ka (S60), shi and is configured as such. When it is determined that communication with the management center cannot be performed via the communication module, the operations of the imaging device and the recording device are controlled based on default operation setting information pre-stored in the storage device.

[0009] When it is determined that communication with the management center can be performed via the communication module, With the above configuration, the operations of the imaging device and the recording device are controlled based on the operation setting information stored in the storage device so that they cannot be changed by the user. The operation setting information stored in the storage device is updated only based on information provided through the communication module from the management center. Therefore, since the operation setting information is not changed by the user, recording is not performed due to a user's incorrect operation or malicious operation, and recording information is not deleted, and the driving status, driving situation, etc. of the vehicle can be surely grasped and confirmed based on the recording information. Furthermore, according to the above configuration, when it is determined that communication with the management center cannot be performed via the communication module, the operations of the imaging device and the recording device are controlled based on default operation setting information pre-stored in the storage device. Therefore, the imaging device and the recording device will not stop operating due to the inability to communicate with the management center.

[0010] ​In the above description, for the purpose of facilitating the understanding of the present invention, the names and / or reference numerals used in the embodiments described later are attached in parentheses to the configurations of the inventions corresponding to the embodiments. However, each component of the present invention is not limited to the components of the embodiments corresponding to the names and / or reference numerals attached in parentheses. Other objects, other features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will be easily understood from the description of the embodiments of the present invention described with reference to the following drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, a drive recorder system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, a drive recorder system 10 according to an embodiment is applied to a vehicle 12, and the vehicle 12 may be a commercial vehicle capable of autonomous driving, for example, a vehicle used in businesses such as transportation and delivery. The drive recorder system 10 includes a camera 14, a recording device 16, and a drive recorder ECU 18. The camera 14 functions as an imaging device that images the surroundings of the vehicle 12, and the recording device 16 records the images (videos) imaged by the camera 14. The drive recorder ECU 18 functions as a control device that controls at least the operations of the camera 14 and the recording device 16. The drive recorder ECU is sometimes referred to as a DR·ECU as needed.

[0014] The DR·ECU 18 is an electronic control unit (Electronic Control Unit) having a microcomputer as its main component. The microcomputer includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a non-volatile memory, an interface, and the like. The CPU is adapted to realize a predetermined function by executing instructions (programs, routines) stored in the ROM.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the recording device 16 and the DR·ECU 18 are built into the drive recorder main body 20. The drive recorder main body 20 includes a storage device 22 that stores at least the operation setting information of the camera 14 and the recording device 16. The DR·ECU 18 controls the operations of at least the camera 14 and the recording device 16 based on the operation setting information stored in the storage device 22. Note that the operation setting information stored in the storage device 22 cannot be changed or deleted by the user operating the drive recorder main body 20.

[0016] In FIG. 1, only one camera 14 is shown, but it may include a plurality of cameras such as a front camera that images the front of the vehicle 12 and a rear camera that images the rear of the vehicle 12. Further, the camera 14 may be adapted to image the periphery of the vehicle 12 over 360°.

[0017] In the embodiment, the recording device 16 is a recording device built into the drive recorder main body 20, for example, a non-volatile memory of a microcomputer, but it may be an external recording device such as an SD (trademark) card, or may include both a built-in recording device and an external recording device. Note that the recording device built into the drive recorder main body 20 By the user is also unable to rewrite or erase the recorded images by operating the drive recorder main body 20 or the like.

[0018] The drive recorder main body 20 is connected to the multimedia device 24. The multimedia device 24 includes a navigation device 26 with a built-in GPS (Global Positioning System) device, a display, a speaker, a microphone (not shown), and the like. Images captured by the camera 14 and recorded by the recording device 16 may be displayed on the display, and the images and sounds recorded by the recording device 16 may be reproduced by the display and the speaker as needed.

[0019] A communication module 28 is connected to the multimedia device 24, and the communication module 28 is adapted to exchange information with the management center 32 via the network 30 by wireless communication. The communication module 28 is connected to the drive recorder main body 20 via the multimedia device 24 and constitutes a part of the drive recorder system 10 together with the camera 14, the recording device 16, and the drive recorder ECU 18.

[0020] The management center 32 includes a control device 34 and a storage device 36. The control device 34 manages the operation setting information of the cameras 14, microphones, and recording devices 16 of a plurality of vehicles including the vehicle 12 under its jurisdiction. As shown in FIG. 3, the storage device 36 stores management information such as ID numbers, driver code numbers, flag Fb, operation setting information, etc. for each vehicle, and image and audio information recorded and uploaded to the recording device of the drive recorder main body of each vehicle. Note that the flag Fb is a flag indicating the presence or absence of update of the operation setting information stored in the storage device 36, which will be described in detail later.

[0021] A terminal device 38 operated by an administrator is connected to the management center 32. The administrator can maintain the management information for each vehicle or all vehicles collectively by operating the terminal device 38 to update it by addition, deletion, modification, etc. Note that the image and audio information may be automatically deleted after a preset storage period has elapsed.

[0022] The DR·ECU 18 stores an operation setting information control program corresponding to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, and the CPU executes operation setting information control according to the program. As will be described in detail later, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, the CPU performs wireless communication with the management center 32 via the multimedia device 24, the communication module 28, and the network 30. When the operation setting information for the host vehicle is updated, the CPU downloads the updated operation setting information and stores it in the storage device 22 by overwriting. Therefore, when the operation setting information is updated, the operations of the camera 14, the microphone, and the recording device 16 are controlled based on the updated operation setting information stored in the storage device 22.

[0023] <Operation Setting Information Control Routine> The operation setting information control according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 starts when the ignition switch (IGSW), which is not shown in FIG. 1, is turned on, and is repeatedly executed by the CPU of the DR·ECU 18 at predetermined intervals. In the following description, the operation setting information control is referred to as this control. At the start of this control, the flag Fa is initialized to 0. Further, even when the IGSW is turned off, this control is continued by maintaining the power supply to the DR·ECU 18 for a predetermined holding time.

[0024] First, in step S10, the CPU determines whether information can be exchanged with the management center 32 by wireless communication. When the CPU makes an affirmative determination, it advances this control to step S40, and when it makes a negative determination, it advances this control to step S20.

[0025] In step S20, the CPU determines whether the flag Fa is 1, that is, whether the operation setting information has been downloaded from the management center 32 and stored in the storage device 22. When the CPU makes an affirmative determination, it advances this control to step S80, and when it makes a negative determination, it advances this control to step S30.

[0026] In step S30, the CPU sets the operation setting information of the camera 14 and the recording device 16 to default information. The default information may be, for example, the following setting information. Capture images and record sounds using the front camera and the rear camera Record the captured images and recorded sounds in the built-in recording device 16 When the IGSW is off, do not capture images or record sounds

[0027] In step S40, the CPU transmits the ID number of the host vehicle 12 to the management center 32 by wireless communication, and requests the transmission of a flag Fb indicating whether there is an update to the operation setting information stored in the storage device 36 for the transmitted ID number. A flag Fb of 0 indicates that the operation setting information has not been updated, and a flag Fb of 1 indicates that the operation setting information has been updated.

[0028] In step S50, the CPU determines whether the operation setting information for the host vehicle 12 has been updated by determining whether the flag Fb is 1. When the CPU makes a negative determination, it advances this control to step S80, and when it makes an affirmative determination, it advances this control to step S60.

[0029] In step S60, the CPU downloads the updated operation setting information stored in the storage device 36 by wireless communication and stores it in the storage device 22 built into the drive recorder main body 20. The CPU of the DR·ECU 18 controls the operations of the camera 14, the microphone, and the recording device 16 based on the updated operation setting information stored in the storage device 22.

[0030] Note that when the updated operation setting information stored in the storage device 36 is downloaded, the control device 34 of the management center 32 resets the flag Fb of the vehicle to 0. Further, when the operation setting information is updated by being changed, for example, by the administrator of the management center 32 to "capture images even at night when the IGSW is off", the flag Fb is set to 1 by the control device 34.

[0031] In step S70, the CPU sets the flag Fa to 1. As described above, the fact that the flag Fa is 1 means that the operation setting information has been downloaded and stored in the storage device 22.

[0032] In step S80, the CPU determines whether a predetermined time (positive constant) has elapsed since the start of this control or since the images and sounds were uploaded in the subsequent step S90 last time. When the CPU makes a negative determination, it advances this control to step S100, and when it makes a positive determination, it advances this control to step S90.

[0033] In step S90, the CPU uploads the images and sounds recorded in the recording device 16 and not yet uploaded to the management center 32 by wireless communication. The uploaded images and sounds are stored in the storage device 36.

[0034] In step S100, the CPU determines whether the IGSW has turned off. When the CPU makes a negative determination, it temporarily ends this control, and when it makes a positive determination, it advances this control to step S110.

[0035] In step S110, if there are images and sounds recorded in the recording device 16 and not yet uploaded, the CPU uploads those images and sounds to the management center 32 by wireless communication.

[0036] In step S120, the CPU resets the flag Fa to 0, and then ends this control. Note that step S120 may be omitted.

[0037] As can be understood from the above description, according to the embodiment, the operations of the camera 14, the microphone, and the recording device 16 are controlled based on the operation setting information stored in the storage device 22 so that they cannot be changed by the user. When it is determined that communication with the management center 24 can be performed via the communication module 28,The operation setting information stored in the memory device 22 is updated only by the information provided from the management center 24 via the communication module 28. Therefore, since the operation setting information is not changed by the user, recording and / or voice recording are not performed due to a user's incorrect operation or malicious operation, and the recorded information and voice-recorded information are not deleted. Accordingly, it is possible to surely grasp and confirm the driving status, operation status, etc. of the vehicle based on the recorded information and voice-recorded information.

[0038] In particular, according to the embodiment, when it is not possible to communicate with the management center 32 (S10) and the operation setting information has not been downloaded (S20), the operation setting information is set to default information. Therefore, the camera 14, the microphone, and the recording device 16 do not stop operating due to the inability to communicate with the management center 24.

[0039] Also, according to the embodiment, the operation setting information is downloaded only when the operation setting information of the own vehicle has been updated. Therefore, for example, compared with the case where the operation setting information is downloaded periodically even if the operation setting information has not been updated, communication costs can be reduced.

[0040] In the above, the present invention has been described in detail for specific embodiments, but it is obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention.

[0041] For example, in steps S80 and S90, images and voices that have not yet been uploaded are uploaded to the management center 32 every time a predetermined time has elapsed. However, the uploading of the images and voices to the management center 32 may be performed in any manner known in the art, and further, the uploading of the images and voices may not be performed.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0042] 10…Drive recorder system, 12…Vehicle, 14…Camera, 16…Recording device, 18…Drive recorder ECU (DR·ECU), 22…Recording device, 28…Communication module, 32…Management center, 36…Memory device

Claims

【Claim 1】 In a drive recorder system including an imaging device that images the surroundings of a vehicle, a recording device that records an image captured by the imaging device, a storage device that stores operation setting information of the imaging device and the recording device, a control device that controls the operations of the imaging device and the recording device based on the operation setting information stored in the storage device, and a communication module that exchanges information with a management center through wireless communication, the control device stores the operation setting information in the storage device so that it cannot be changed by the user, and when it is determined that communication with the management center can be performed through the communication module, updates the operation setting information stored in the storage device only with information provided from the management center through the communication module, and when it is determined that communication with the management center cannot be performed through the communication module, is configured to control the operations of the imaging device and the recording device based on default operation setting information pre-stored in the storage device. A drive recorder system.

Images