Information processing device

Abstract

To detect a change in vehicle condition with the passage of time.SOLUTION: An information processing device 2 can communicate with a management device 8 and includes a control unit. The control unit executes operation including a step of obtaining an image of a meter of a vehicle from a camera 1 constantly or at intervals of random time periods, a step of analyzing the image to determine the condition of the vehicle, and a step of transmitting the determination result to the management device 8.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a server that determines whether a rented vehicle has been returned with a full tank is known (for example, Patent Document 1). Specifically, the server determines whether the amount of fuel at the time of return is equal to or greater than the amount of fuel before the vehicle was driven off (whether the vehicle was returned with a full tank) based on a first fuel meter image taken of the fuel meter before the vehicle was driven off and a second fuel meter image taken of the fuel meter at the time of the vehicle's return. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-096780 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The background art described above only compares two points in time, that is, before the vehicle is set out and when the vehicle is returned, and is therefore unable to detect any transition in the vehicle state between those points in time.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an information processing device that can detect a transition in a vehicle state over time. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An information processing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: An information processing device capable of communicating with a management device, the information processing device including a control unit, acquiring images of a vehicle meter from a camera at regular or random time intervals; analyzing the images to determine a state of the vehicle; transmitting a determination result to the management device; Perform an action including: [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to detect a transition of a vehicle state over time. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an information processing system. [Figure 2] 1 is an image of a vehicle meter. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] 1 is a schematic diagram of an information processing system according to this embodiment. The information processing system includes a camera 1, an information processing device 2, a mobile communication unit 3, a mobile antenna 4, a GPS antenna 5, a power supply 6, a ground 7, and a management device 8, all of which are capable of communicating with each other via a wireless or wired network. The network may be, for example, an in-vehicle network, a mobile communication network, or the Internet.

[0010] 1, for ease of explanation, one camera 1, one information processing device 2, one mobile communication unit 3, one mobile antenna 4, one GPS antenna 5, one power supply 6, one ground 7, and one management device 8 are shown. However, the number of cameras 1, information processing devices 2, one mobile communication unit 3, one mobile antenna 4, one GPS antenna 5, one power supply 6, one ground 7, and one management device 8 is not limited to this. For example, the processing executed by the information processing device 2 of this embodiment may be executed by multiple information processing devices 2 that are distributed.

[0011] At least one of the camera 1, the mobile communication unit 3, the mobile antenna 4, the GPS antenna 5, and the power supply 6 may be separate from the information processing device 2 or may be built into the information processing device 2.

[0012] The camera 1 is installed inside the vehicle. The camera 1 captures an image of the entire meter of the vehicle at regular or random (undefined) intervals and transmits the image to the information processing device 2.

[0013] The information processing device 2 includes a control unit and a storage unit. The components of the information processing device 2 are connected to each other so that they can communicate with each other via, for example, a dedicated line. The information processing device 2 may be, for example, a smartphone.

[0014] The control unit may include, for example, one or more general-purpose processors including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit). The control unit may include one or more dedicated processors specialized for specific processing. Instead of including a processor, the control unit may include one or more dedicated circuits. The dedicated circuits may be, for example, an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) or an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). The control unit may include an ECU (Electronic Control Unit). The control unit transmits and receives any information via the mobile communication unit 3.

[0015] The storage unit may include, but is not limited to, for example, a semiconductor memory, a magnetic memory, an optical memory, or a combination of at least two of these. The semiconductor memory may be, for example, a RAM or a ROM. The RAM may be, for example, an SRAM or a DRAM. The ROM may be, for example, an EEPROM. The storage unit may function as, for example, a main storage unit, an auxiliary storage unit, or a cache memory. The storage unit may store information resulting from analysis or processing by the control unit. The storage unit may store various information related to the operation or control of the information processing device 2. The storage unit may store system programs, application programs, embedded software, etc. The storage unit may be provided outside the information processing device 2 and may be accessed by the information processing device 2.

[0016] The information processing device 2 has the following functions. Processing functions for images captured by the camera 1 or GPS information acquired from the GPS antenna 5 Data exchange function with management device 8 A function for managing the start and end of a vehicle in which the information processing device 2 is installed

[0017] The mobile communication unit 3 includes a communication module compatible with one or more wired or wireless LAN (Local Area Network) standards for connecting to a network. The mobile communication unit 3 may include a module compatible with one or more mobile communication standards including LTE (Long Term Evolution), 4G (4th Generation), or 5G (5th Generation). The communication unit may include a communication module compatible with one or more short-range communication standards or specifications including Bluetooth (registered trademark), AirDrop (registered trademark), IrDA, ZigBee (registered trademark), FeliCa (registered trademark), or RFID. The mobile communication unit 3 transmits and receives any information via the network.

[0018] The mobile communication unit 3 executes data communication with the outside of the vehicle. The mobile communication unit 3 may be built in the information processing device 2 or may be separate from the information processing device 2.

[0019] The mobile antenna 4 is a device that receives and transmits radio waves for mobile communication.

[0020] The GPS antenna 5 is a device for receiving GPS signals, which are an example of location information signals.

[0021] The power supply 6 is a power source that drives the information processing device 2. The power supply 6 may be obtained from the vehicle's power supply.

[0022] Ground 7 is the ground for earth connection.

[0023] The management device 8 is installed in a management center outside the vehicle. The management device 8 is a computer such as a server that belongs to a cloud computing system or other computing system. The management device 8 is a destination of the data collected by the information processing device 2.

[0024] The flow of the information processing device 2 will be described in detail below.

[0025] In step S1, the information processing device 2 starts its operation when it detects that the vehicle in which the information processing device 2 is installed has been started (for example, that the ACC has been turned on).

[0026] In step S2, the camera 1 installed inside the vehicle captures images of the vehicle meter at regular or random time intervals and transmits them to the information processing device 2. The meter image may be either a still image or a video image. An example of a meter image is shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, the details of the meter are omitted. The details of the meter may be arbitrary.

[0027] In step S3, the information processing device 2 analyzes the image and determines the vehicle state. The vehicle state includes at least one of the following, for example: Presence of defined warning symbols Mileage Door status Engine condition, etc.

[0028] In step S4, the information processing device 2 transmits the determination result of the vehicle state to the management device 8 at one of the following times. Fixed or random time intervals When the presence of a warning mark is detected -Twice, at startup and shutdown (IG OFF)

[0029] Additionally or alternatively, in step 4, at least one of the following data may be transmitted to the management device 8: Meter image data Current GPS location data Number of satellites acquired Acceleration data -Estimated distance traveled since launch Voltage data

[0030] When the meter image is transmitted to the management device 8, the meter image may be analyzed in detail by the management device 8.

[0031] In step S5, the management device 8 notifies the user of the management device 8 of the acquired vehicle condition information by displaying it on the screen or by voice, so that the information can be used for vehicle maintenance or the like.

[0032] In step S6, the information processing device 2 transmits the vehicle state information to the management device 8 when the ACC of the vehicle is turned off, and then ends the operation.

[0033] Additionally or alternatively, the predefined warning mark may be modified by a user of the management device 8. When the warning mark is modified, the management device 8 transmits new warning data to the information processing device 2.

[0034] Additionally or alternatively, the management device 8 may notify the driver of the vehicle of the acquired vehicle status information or data via a car navigation system or the vehicle driver's smartphone.

[0035] According to this embodiment, the information processing device 2 performs operations including acquiring images of the vehicle meter from the camera 1 at regular or random time intervals, analyzing the images to determine the vehicle state, and transmitting the determination result to the management device 8. With this configuration, the information processing device 2 can detect changes in the vehicle state over time. The information processing device 2 transmits the vehicle state determination result to the management center, so the management device 8 can remotely grasp the vehicle state. The information processing device 2 can grasp and notify changes in the vehicle state even in older vehicles that do not have communication functions.

[0036] Although the present disclosure will be described based on various drawings and examples, it should be noted that those skilled in the art may make various modifications and alterations based on the present disclosure. Other modifications are possible within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the functions included in each means or step may be rearranged so as not to cause logical inconsistencies, and multiple means or steps may be combined or divided into one.

[0037] For example, in the above embodiment, a program that executes all or part of the functions or processes of the information processing device 2 can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Computer-readable recording media include non-transitory computer-readable media, such as magnetic recording devices, optical discs, magneto-optical recording media, or semiconductor memories. The program can be distributed, for example, by selling, transferring, or lending a portable recording medium, such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) or CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), on which the program is recorded. The program can also be distributed by storing the program in the storage of a server and transmitting the program from the server to another computer. The program can also be provided as a program product. The present disclosure can also be realized as a program executable by a processor.

[0038] A computer temporarily stores a program recorded on a portable recording medium or transferred from a server in its main storage device. The computer then reads the program stored in the main storage device using a processor and executes processing in accordance with the read program. The computer may also read the program directly from a portable recording medium and execute processing in accordance with the program. The computer may also execute processing in accordance with the received program each time a program is transferred from a server to the computer. Processing may also be executed through a so-called ASP-type service that achieves its functions simply by issuing execution instructions and obtaining results, without transferring the program from the server to the computer. "ASP" is an abbreviation for application service provider. Programs include information used for processing by a computer that is equivalent to a program. For example, data that does not directly instruct a computer but has properties that define computer processing falls under the category of "equivalent to a program." [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 2. Information processing equipment

Claims

[Claim 1] An information processing device capable of communicating with a management device, the information processing device including a control unit, acquiring images of a vehicle meter from a camera at regular or random time intervals; analyzing the image to determine the vehicle status displayed on the meter; transmitting a determination result to the management device; Performing an action including The vehicle status is information to be used for maintenance of the vehicle in the management device, and includes at least one of the presence of a defined warning mark, mileage, door status, and engine status.

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