Vehicle control device, control method for vehicle control device, computer program, and storage medium

Abstract

To provide a technique of controlling the operation of an on-vehicle accessory in accordance with environment around an own vehicle and its stop position.SOLUTION: A vehicle control device mounted on a vehicle includes information acquisition means for acquiring peripheral information on the vehicle, and a control unit for controlling the operation of at least one vehicle accessory mounted on the vehicle based on the peripheral information. The at least one vehicle accessory includes a storage unit for an article. The control unit controls the operation of the storage unit by controlling at least one of an opening / closing mechanism for changing an opening / closing state of the storage unit and a lock mechanism for locking the storage unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle control device for controlling the operation of vehicle accessories, a control method for a vehicle control device, a computer program, and a storage medium. [Background technology]

[0002] A technique has been proposed for changing the security level depending on the brightness around the vehicle (Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-9615 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Although Patent Document 1 changes the security level depending on the brightness around the vehicle, it does not disclose technology for controlling the operation of on-board equipment depending on the environment around the vehicle or the parking position, and there is room for improvement in the vehicle's response when users get in and out.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention provides a technique for controlling the operation of on-board equipment depending on the environment around the vehicle and the position where the vehicle is parked. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to the present invention, there is provided a vehicle control device mounted on a vehicle, comprising: a communication unit that communicates with a mobile terminal; a control unit that acquires peripheral information of the vehicle from the information processing device through communication between the mobile terminal and the information processing device on a network via the communication unit from the mobile terminal, and controls operation of at least one vehicle accessory provided in the vehicle based on the peripheral information; Equipped with the at least one vehicle accessory includes an item storage compartment; The control unit controls the operation of the storage unit by controlling at least one of an opening / closing mechanism that can transition the opening / closing state of the storage unit between an open state and a closed state, and a locking mechanism that can switch the storage unit between a locked state and an unlocked state, based on the peripheral information. death , When the vehicle is parked, the control unit acquires peripheral information of the vehicle, When the vehicle is parked, at least the stand of the vehicle is activated. , a vehicle control device is provided.

[0007] According to the present invention, there is also provided a control method for a vehicle control device mounted on a vehicle, comprising: a control step of acquiring peripheral information of the vehicle from the information processing device through communication between the mobile terminal and the information processing device on a network from the mobile terminal via a communication unit of the vehicle control device, and controlling the operation of at least one vehicle accessory provided in the vehicle based on the peripheral information; Including, the at least one vehicle accessory includes an item storage compartment; In the control step, the operation of the storage unit is controlled by controlling at least one of an opening / closing mechanism that can transition the opening / closing state of the storage unit between an open state and a closed state and a locking mechanism that can switch the storage unit between a locked state and an unlocked state based on the peripheral information. death , When the vehicle is parked, the control unit acquires peripheral information of the vehicle, When the vehicle is parked, at least the stand of the vehicle is activated. A control method for a vehicle control device is provided. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technique for controlling the operation of on-vehicle equipment depending on the environment around the vehicle and the position where the vehicle is parked. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] (A) is an overview diagram of the vehicle system, and (B) is a block diagram of the information processing device. [Figure 2] 1A is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of a mobile terminal 4, FIG. 1B is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of an information acquisition unit 46, and FIG. 1C is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of a vehicle 5. [Figure 3] 1 is a diagram showing an example of an external configuration of a saddle-ride type vehicle. [Figure 4] 6 is a flowchart showing an example process flow for controlling the operation of accessories of a vehicle 5 based on information acquired from a mobile terminal 4. [Figure 5] 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the process of S415 in the flowchart of FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the process of S416 in the flowchart of FIG. 4. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an exemplary configuration of a setting screen. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart showing an example process flow for controlling the operation of vehicle accessories based on detection of parking of the vehicle 5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention as claimed, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the invention. Two or more of the features described in the embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. Furthermore, the same reference numerals are used for the same or similar components, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0011] <System configuration> FIG. 1(A) is a schematic diagram of a vehicle control system 1. In the vehicle control system 1, a mobile terminal 4 and a vehicle 5 control the operation of accessories of the vehicle 5 based on information acquired from an information processing device 2 via a communication network and information acquired by the information processing device 2 itself. The information processing device 2 is communicatively connected to a mobile terminal 4 associated with the vehicle 5 or the vehicle 5 itself via a communication network such as the Internet, and functions as an information providing server (also simply referred to as a server). Although FIG. 1(A) shows one vehicle, multiple vehicles 5 and mobile terminals 4 can be individually connected to the information processing device 2 via the communication network.

[0012] The mobile terminal 4 is an external terminal of the vehicle 5, such as a smartphone, and is capable of communicating with the information processing device 2 via a communication network and with the vehicle 5 via short-range wireless communication. In this embodiment, the user 3 can hold the mobile terminal 4 or attach it to the vehicle 5, and the mobile terminal 4 is associated with the vehicle 5. A predetermined application is installed on the mobile terminal 4, and the mobile terminal 4 can execute processing corresponding to this embodiment, such as specifying in advance the storage compartment to be subject to opening / closing control. The vehicle 5 can obtain information for controlling its operation (weather information, location information, etc.) from the mobile terminal 4.

[0013] In this embodiment, the vehicle 5 will be described as an example of a saddle-ride type vehicle (motorcycle), and the user 3 is a rider who operates the vehicle 5. The vehicle 5 refers to a saddle-ride type vehicle as well as a vehicle that is moved by human operation and in which the vehicle body, including the driver's seat, is exposed to the outside and is directly affected by weather. The vehicle 5 also has a vehicle control device 5A for controlling the operation of the vehicle 5. The vehicle control device 5A includes a wireless device capable of communicating with the information processing device 2 and the mobile terminal 4, a drive unit that controls the drive system of the vehicle 5, an electrical unit that controls the operation of vehicle accessories, a processing unit that controls the display of a display that displays map information for route guidance, and the like. The configurations of the mobile terminal 4 and the vehicle 5 necessary for implementing the invention according to this embodiment will be described later with reference to FIG. 2.

[0014] 1(B) is a block diagram of the information processing device 2. The information processing device 2 includes a processing unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a communication I / F (interface) unit 23. The processing unit 21 is a processor typified by a CPU, and executes programs stored in the storage unit 22. The storage unit 22 is a storage device such as a RAM, a ROM, or a hard disk. The communication I / F unit 23 includes a wired or wireless communication interface capable of communicating with the mobile terminal 4 and the control unit 50 via a communication network.

[0015] The memory unit 22 stores various data in addition to the programs executed by the processing unit 21. In the example of Fig. 1(B), a database (DB) 221 is shown as an example of data stored in the memory unit 22. The DB 221 stores current weather information for each region in Japan, and when a request for weather information specifying location information is received from the mobile terminal 4 or vehicle 5, the information processing device 2 can return weather information for the region corresponding to the specified location information to the mobile terminal 4 or the like.

[0016] <Example of functional configuration of mobile terminal 4 and vehicle 5> 2 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the mobile terminal 4 and the saddle riding type vehicle 5. In both cases, the configuration mainly related to the description of this embodiment is shown.

[0017] First, an example of the functional configuration of the mobile terminal 4 will be described with reference to FIG. 2(A). The mobile terminal 4 shown in FIG. 2(A) includes a control unit 41, a storage unit 42, a communication unit 43, a display unit 44, an operation unit 45, and an information acquisition unit 46. The control unit 41 is a processor typified by a CPU, and executes programs stored in the storage unit 42. The storage unit 42 is a storage device such as a RAM or a ROM. The programs stored in the storage unit 42 include application programs for executing processes corresponding to the present embodiment, as well as application programs for using predetermined services such as route guidance services. The application programs may be downloaded from a server such as the information processing device 2, or may be distributed on a storage medium such as a USB memory.

[0018] The communication unit 43 includes a wireless communication device capable of communicating with the information processing device 2 via a communication network. The communication unit 43 also includes a short-range wireless communication device capable of short-range wireless communication with the vehicle 5 using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) or the like. The mobile phone 4 can provide the vehicle 5 with weather information acquired from the information processing device 2, location information acquired by the mobile phone 4, and the like via this short-range wireless communication. The display unit 44 is an electronic image display device with an input function, such as a touch panel display. The operation unit 45 is a user interface for receiving input from a user, such as a button or touch panel. The information acquisition unit 46 acquires various pieces of information about the vehicle's surroundings (hereinafter referred to as surrounding information) to be used for operational control in the vehicle. An exemplary configuration of the information acquisition unit 46 is shown in FIG. 2(B), for example.

[0019] Next, an example of the functional configuration of the information acquisition unit 46 will be described with reference to FIG. 2(B). The information acquisition unit 46 shown in FIG. 2(B) includes an imaging unit 46a, a time information acquisition unit 46b, a location information acquisition unit 46c, an illuminance sensor 46d, and a weather information acquisition unit 46e. The imaging unit 46a is a camera equipped with an optical system such as a lens and an imaging sensor, and is capable of capturing images. The time information acquisition unit 46b acquires current time information from an NTP (Network Time Protocol) server via a communication network. The location information acquisition unit 46c includes, for example, a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) sensor and detects the current location of the mobile terminal 4. The illuminance sensor 46d can detect the illuminance around the mobile phone 4. The weather information acquisition unit 46e acquires weather information for the current location based on the location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit 46c from a server that provides weather information via a communication network.

[0020] 2(C), an example of the functional configuration of a vehicle control device 5A for controlling the operation of the vehicle 5 will be described. The vehicle control device 5A includes a control unit 50, an operation unit 51, a first opening / closing mechanism 52, a second opening / closing mechanism 53, a stand sensor 54, a drive unit 55, a display unit 5, a first locking mechanism 57, a second locking mechanism 58, an alarm unit 59, and a communication unit 60.

[0021] The control unit 50 is composed of a processor represented by a CPU and storage devices such as RAM and ROM, and executes programs stored in the storage devices to control the operation of each of the functional blocks 51 to 60. The programs stored in the storage devices include programs for communicating information with the mobile terminal 4 and the information processing device 2. The operation unit 51 is a user interface such as a button or touch panel for receiving input from the user.

[0022] The first opening / closing mechanism 52 and the second opening / closing mechanism 53 are mechanisms for controlling the opening and closing of accessories arranged in the vehicle 5. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the accessories are storage compartments configured to store items. The first opening / closing mechanism 52 is a mechanism for controlling the opening and closing of, for example, a storage compartment under a seat (hereinafter simply referred to as a seat box), and can transition the seat box between an open state and a closed state in accordance with instructions from the control unit 50. The second opening / closing mechanism 53 is a mechanism for controlling the opening and closing of, for example, a storage compartment other than the seat box (hereinafter simply referred to as a luggage box), and can transition the luggage box between an open state and a closed state in accordance with instructions from the control unit 50. Each opening / closing mechanism is configured to include a motor, a hydraulic cylinder, a mechanical structure linked thereto, and the like.

[0023] The storage compartments arranged in the vehicle 5 include a first type of storage compartment that is configured so that the interior can be accessed by opening and closing a lid, and so that items can be stored therein. There are also second type storage compartments that are configured so that the interior cannot be accessed in a closed state when stored, and so that the interior can be accessed and items can be stored therein when the storage state is released, for example, by the storage compartment being popped out or pulled out.

[0024] The stand sensor 54 is a sensor that detects the state of a stand provided in the vehicle. The stand sensor 54 determines whether the stand is in a parked state or not, and notifies the control unit 50 of the determination result, for example, as ON if the stand is in a parked state, or OFF if the stand is not in a parked state. In this embodiment, the vehicle 5 can have, as stands, a main stand for standing the vehicle 5 in a state parallel to a vertical plane (upright state), and a side stand for standing the vehicle 5 in a state inclined relative to the vertical plane.

[0025] The drive unit 55 is configured to include rear wheels as drive wheels, a battery as a drive power source, a motor (drive source) that drives the rear wheels, a drive support unit that supports the motor, etc., and controls the running of the vehicle by communicating with the control unit 50. The display unit 56 is a display for displaying predetermined information.

[0026] The first locking mechanism 57 is a locking mechanism for locking the seat box, for example, to prohibit the seat box from being opened or closed, and can switch between a locked state and an unlocked state according to instructions from the control unit 50. When the first opening / closing mechanism 52 is in the locked state, it cannot open the seat box, but when it is in the unlocked state, it can open the seat box.

[0027] The second locking mechanism 58 is a locking mechanism for locking the luggage box, for example, to prohibit the luggage box from being opened or closed, and can switch between a locked state and an unlocked state according to instructions from the control unit 50. In the locked state, the second opening / closing mechanism 53 cannot open the luggage box, but in the unlocked state, the luggage box can be opened.

[0028] The alarm unit 59 is a mechanism that issues an alarm to the outside, and in this embodiment, there are three methods for issuing an alarm: by outputting a predetermined sound from the vehicle 5, by vibrating the vehicle 5, or by sending an alarm email to the mobile terminal 4. The communication unit 60 includes a wireless communication device that can communicate with the information processing device 2 via a communication network. The communication unit 60 also includes a short-range wireless communication device that can perform short-range wireless communication with the mobile terminal 4 using BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) or the like.

[0029] The vehicle 5 may further include an information acquisition unit 46. As described above, the information acquisition unit 46 may be included in the mobile terminal 4, but the vehicle 5 itself may also include the information acquisition unit 46. The configuration described with reference to FIG. 2 describes the configurations of the mobile terminal 4 and the vehicle 5 to the extent necessary for the explanation of this embodiment, and the configurations of the mobile terminal 4 and the vehicle 5 are not limited to the above elements.

[0030] In the following description of this embodiment, an example will be mainly described in which the mobile terminal 4 associated with the vehicle 5 functions as a terminal that communicates with the information processing device 2 to acquire information, but the vehicle 5 may be equipped with the functions of the mobile terminal 4 so that the vehicle itself functions in the same way as the mobile terminal 4, and communication occurs between the vehicle 5 and the information processing device 2 to execute processing. Furthermore, when there are mobile terminals 4 associated with multiple vehicles 5, the mobile terminals 4 and the vehicles 5 may coexist as devices that function as terminals. For example, for one vehicle 5, the mobile terminal 4 functions as a terminal that communicates with the information processing device 2, while for another vehicle 5, the vehicle itself can function as a terminal that communicates with the information processing device 2.

[0031] <Overview of saddle-type vehicle> FIG. 3 shows an exemplary external view of the left side of a vehicle 5 according to an embodiment. The vehicle 5 is a touring-type saddle-ride motorcycle suitable for long-distance travel. However, the present invention is applicable to various types of saddle-ride vehicles, including other types of motorcycles, and is also applicable to vehicles powered by internal combustion engines and electric vehicles powered by motors. The vehicle 5 has a front seat 301 on which a user 3 sits. A luggage box, shown in an area 302 surrounded by a dotted line, is located below the front seat 301. The front seat 301 is configured to be able to open and close as a lid for the luggage box 302. With the front seat 301 open, the luggage box 302 can accommodate two helmets, helmet 303a and helmet 303b. The luggage box 302 may also have space for storing tools, instruction manuals, maintenance notes, and other documents in addition to the helmets. The vehicle 5 further includes a luggage box 304, which can be opened and closed using a drawer.

[0032] In relation to the configuration in FIG. 2 , for example, the luggage box 302 under the front seat 301 can be configured as a first storage section, and the first opening / closing mechanism 52 and the first locking mechanism 57 can be arranged therein. This allows the locked state of the front seat 301 to be controlled by the first locking mechanism 57, and furthermore, the opening and closing of the front seat 301 when unlocked can be controlled by the first opening / closing mechanism 52. Also, for example, the luggage box 303 can be configured as a second storage section, and the second opening / closing mechanism 53 and the second locking mechanism 58 can be arranged therein. This allows the locked state of the luggage box 303 to be controlled by the second locking mechanism 58, and furthermore, the opening and closing of the luggage box 303 when unlocked can be controlled by the second opening / closing mechanism 53. Also, the number and type of luggage boxes are not limited to those shown in FIG. 3 , and other types, such as a trunk type at the rear of the vehicle body or a saddlebag type on the side of the rear of the vehicle body, can be adopted.

[0033] A main stand 311 and a side stand 312 are arranged on the bottom side of the vehicle 5. The main stand 311 is a stand for raising the vehicle 5 in a state parallel to a vertical plane (upright state). The main stand 311 can be configured as a center stand, and the vehicle 5 is upright when the main stand 311 is raised. A stand sensor 54 for the main stand is arranged on the main stand 311, and the control unit 50 can determine whether the main stand 311 is in an activated state based on an output signal from the stand sensor 54.

[0034] The side stand 312 is a stand for raising the vehicle 5 in a state inclined relative to a vertical plane, and the vehicle 5 is inclined relative to a vertical plane when the side stand 312 is raised. A side stand sensor 54 for the side stand is disposed on the side stand 312, and the control unit 50 can determine whether the side stand 312 is in an activated state based on an output signal from the stand sensor 54.

[0035] <Example of processing for controlling the operation of equipment on vehicle 5> FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a process for controlling the operation of the vehicle 5 based on communication between the mobile terminal 4 and the vehicle 5.

[0036] First, in S401, the control unit 41 of the mobile terminal 4 transmits a startup request for the vehicle control device 5A of the vehicle 5 to the vehicle 5 via the communication unit 43. Note that it is assumed that BLE pairing has been completed between the mobile terminal 4 and the vehicle 5, with the mobile terminal 4 as the central and the vehicle 5 as the peripheral, and the control unit 50 of the vehicle 5 stores registration information related to the mobile terminal 4. At this time, the vehicle control device 5A can enable a function for receiving and processing requests from the mobile terminal 4, while putting other unnecessary functions into a sleep state to reduce power consumption. Note that if the information acquisition unit 46 is arranged on the vehicle 5 side, S401 can be a startup request transmitted from a key (smart key or smart card key) configured to be capable of short-range communication with the vehicle 5.

[0037] On the vehicle side, when the control unit 50 detects that the communication unit 60 has received the activation request from the mobile terminal 4 in S411, the process proceeds to S412. The control unit 50 performs an authentication process based on the above registration information to determine whether the mobile terminal 4 is a terminal paired with the vehicle 5. If the authentication is successful, the process proceeds to S413, and the control unit 50 transmits an information request to the mobile terminal 4 via the communication unit 60. If the authentication fails, that is, if the mobile terminal 4 that has transmitted the activation request is not a mobile terminal registered in the vehicle 5, no subsequent process is performed.

[0038] In S402, when the control unit 41 of the mobile terminal 4 detects that it has received the information request from the vehicle 5, the process proceeds to S403. The control unit 41 controls the position information acquisition unit 46c to acquire the information on the current position. In subsequent S404, the control unit 41 controls the weather information acquisition unit 46e to acquire the weather information. In subsequent S405, the control unit 50 transmits the position information and the weather information acquired above to the vehicle 5 via the communication unit 60.

[0039] On the vehicle 5 side, when the control unit 50 detects the reception of the information transmitted from the mobile terminal 4 in S414, the process proceeds to S415, and the control unit 50 executes a determination process. Then, in subsequent S416, the control unit 50 controls the operation of the equipment of the vehicle 5 according to the result of the determination process.

[0040] <Detailed example of the determination process in S415> Next, the determination process in S415 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5. The control unit 50 determines the current location based on the location information received from the mobile terminal 4. Specifically, it determines whether the current location corresponds to the registered home address or a location other than the home address that the user 3 has previously registered. The location can be registered by the user 3 inputting an address or a location name, or based on history information in a navigation system installed in the vehicle 5 or the mobile terminal 4. The address and location set as "home" in the navigation system can also be acquired and used as the home location. When registering the location, the user may additionally register information indicating whether the registered location is a location that is less susceptible to weather (weather impact information), or the information may be set based on map information, etc. The weather impact information indicates that the location is less susceptible to weather impact with "no (negative)," "NO," or "absent," and indicates that the location is affected by weather with "affirmative (affirmative)," "YES," or "apparent."

[0041] If the current location corresponds to a home address, the process proceeds to S505 based on a "YES" determination in S502. If the current location is not a home address but corresponds to a registered location, the process proceeds to S505 based on a "YES" determination in S503. On the other hand, if the current location is not a home address or does not correspond to a registered location, the process proceeds to S504 based on a "NO" determination in S503. In S504, the control unit 50 sets the determination result to "determination result 3" and proceeds to S508.

[0042] In S505, the control unit 50 determines the weather at the current location based on the weather information received from the mobile terminal 4. If the weather is rainy, the control unit 50 judges "YES" in S505 and proceeds to S507. Note that rain also includes snow and sleet. If the weather information includes wind speed information and the wind speed indicates a certain value or higher, the control unit 50 can judge "YES" in S505. On the other hand, if the weather is not rainy (including sunny and cloudy), the control unit 50 judges "NO" in S505 and proceeds to S506. In S506, the control unit 50 sets the judgment result as "judgment result 1," and in S507, the control unit 50 sets the judgment result as "judgment result 2," and proceeds to S508. In S508, the control unit 50 outputs the judgment result set in either S504, S506, or S507.

[0043] In the flowchart of FIG. 5, even if the location is determined to be the user's home in S502, the weather information is determined in S505. However, the home parking lot may be located in a place that is less affected by weather (for example, an indoor parking lot). In such cases, the determination of the weather information may be skipped and the determination result may be set to 1. Also, even if the location is determined to be a registered location in S503, if the location is an indoor parking lot such as a supermarket parking lot or a multi-story parking lot, the determination in S505 may be skipped and the determination result may be set to 1. In this way, even if the weather is rainy, if the vehicle is parked in a parking location that is not affected by the weather, the determination result may be set to 1 based solely on the parking location, preventing erroneous determinations, and the storage unit may be automatically unlocked and opened. As described above, when registering a location, information on whether the registered location is less affected by weather (weather influence information) may be set arbitrarily by the user or may be obtained from map information. For example, if the home parking lot of user 3 is set to a location that is less susceptible to weather influence, the control unit 50 stores this information in an internal storage device as weather influence presence / absence information, and after the determination in S502 is "YES," it refers to the contents of the weather influence presence / absence information, and if it is set to "NO," it skips S505 and proceeds to S506. On the other hand, if it is set to "YES," it determines the weather information in S505. Similar processing can be performed for other registered locations.

[0044] <Detailed Example of Operation Control Processing in S416> Next, referring to FIG. 6, the details of the processing in S416 will be described. Based on the determination result in S415, the control unit 50 controls the operations of the first opening / closing mechanism 52, the second opening / closing mechanism 53, the first locking mechanism 57, and the second locking mechanism 58.

[0045] The control unit 50 determines whether the result of the determination process in S414 is "Determination Result 1" in S601. If it is "Determination Result 1" (i.e., "YES" in S601), the process proceeds to S602. If the determination result is not "Determination Result 1" (i.e., "NO" in S601), in S603, it is determined whether the determination result is "Determination Result 2". If it is "Determination Result 2" (i.e., "YES" in S603), the process proceeds to S604. On the other hand, if it is not "Determination Result 2", that is, if it is "Determination Result 3" (i.e., "NO" in S603), the process proceeds to S605.

[0046] When the process proceeds to S602, since the place where the vehicle 5 is parked is the user's home or a place previously registered by the user 3 and the weather is not rain or the like, in the startup operation of the vehicle 5, the control unit 50 releases each locking mechanism (such control is referred to as "automatic lock release") and drives each opening / closing mechanism to open each storage unit (such control is referred to as "automatic open").

[0047] When the process proceeds to S602, although the place where the vehicle 5 is parked is the user's home or a place previously registered by the user 3, but the weather is rain or the like, in the startup operation of the vehicle 5, the control unit 50 releases the locked state by each locking mechanism, but does not drive each opening / closing mechanism and keeps the seat and the luggage box in the closed state. In this case, since rain will blow in if the seat or the luggage box is opened, the seat and the luggage box can be opened manually.

[0048] If the processing proceeds to S605, the location where the vehicle 5 is parked is other than the user's home or a location previously registered by the user 3, and therefore, from the standpoint of security, the control unit 50 will not unlock any locking mechanisms when the vehicle 5 is started, regardless of the weather.

[0049] In the above description, when unlocking the locking mechanisms in the processing of S602 and S604, all locking mechanisms are unlocked, and when the first opening / closing mechanism 52 and the second opening / closing mechanism 53 are operated to open the seat in S602, all opening / closing mechanisms are operated. However, for example, when a helmet is stored in the seat box, it is normally required to open the seat, but when no helmet is stored, it may not be necessary to open the seat. Alternatively, if the seat is opened when no helmet is stored, the user 3 will have to perform an operation to close the seat, which is unnecessary, and this increases the burden on the user 3.

[0050] Therefore, a detection mechanism may be provided to detect whether an item is present in a storage section equipped with an opening / closing mechanism, and only the storage section in which an item is present may be opened. Specifically, if vehicle 5 is equipped with three storage sections and a helmet is stored in only one storage section and the other storage sections are not in use, only the storage section in which it has been confirmed that the helmet is stored may be unlocked and opened, and the other storage sections may be kept locked.

[0051] Alternatively, the user 3 may be able to specify in advance which boxes should be automatically unlocked and opened. For example, the seat box storing a helmet may be set to an open state, but other luggage boxes may be unlocked but not opened, or may not be automatically unlocked. By setting in this way, only the necessary storage sections can be unlocked and opened, further improving convenience for the user 3.

[0052] When the user 3 sets whether or not to enable automatic unlocking, etc., the user 3 can input settings for each storage compartment by displaying a setting screen such as that shown in Fig. 7 on the display unit 44 of the mobile terminal 4 or the display unit 56 of the vehicle 5. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen 700 displayed on the mobile terminal 4 or the like, and the user 3 can input settings for the items displayed on the screen 700.

[0053] In FIG. 7, settings can be input for the seat box and luggage boxes 1 and 2. For the seat box, both the automatic unlock setting and the automatic open setting are ON as the first setting 701. In this case, for the seat box, the operation of the locking mechanism and the opening / closing mechanism can be controlled directly based on the determination result in the processing of S415. Next, for the luggage box 1, only the automatic unlock setting is ON as the second setting 702, so for this luggage box 1, only the locking mechanism can be unlocked and the opening / closing mechanism cannot be operated. Therefore, for the luggage box 1, even if the determination result is determination result 1 in the processing of S415, only the operation of the locking mechanism is controlled to unlock it, and the opening / closing mechanism cannot be operated. In other words, the processing of S604 corresponding to determination result 2 is executed. Furthermore, for the luggage box 2, both the automatic unlock setting and the automatic open setting are OFF as the third setting 703, so neither the lock nor the automatic opening is performed for this luggage box 2. That is, in the process of S415, even if the determination result is determination result 1 or determination result 2, the process of S605 is executed.

[0054] Although Figure 7 explains the input items using only text information, it is also possible to show, for example, a schematic diagram of the exterior of the vehicle 5 and indicate the positions of the seat box and luggage boxes 1 and 2 in the vehicle 5, making it easier to identify which storage area is located.

[0055] In the above description, the automatic unlocking and automatic opening of each storage compartment are controlled with reference to location information and weather information, but the information that can be referenced is not limited to these. For example, time information obtained by the time information acquisition unit 46b and ambient illuminance information obtained by the image capture unit 46a and illuminance sensor 46d may also be referenced. For example, during the daytime (from sunrise to sunset) when the area around the vehicle 5 is bright, determination result 1 or determination result 2 may be accepted, while during the nighttime (from sunset to sunrise) when the area around the vehicle 5 is dark, determination result 3 may be accepted.

[0056] Regarding illuminance standards, the "Guidelines for Promoting Safe and Secure Urban Development" established by the National Police Agency states that an average illuminance of 50 lux or more allows the face and behavior of a person 10 meters away to be clearly identified and their identity to be known, 20 lux allows the face and behavior of a person 10 meters away to be identified and their identity to be known, 5 lux or more allows the outline of a person's face (eyes, nose, mouth) to be seen 4 meters away, and 3 lux or more allows the behavior and posture of a person 4 meters away to be seen. Therefore, when the ambient illuminance obtained by the imaging unit 46a or the illuminance sensor 46d is, for example, 5 lux or more, control may be performed to allow judgment result 1 or judgment result 2. 5 lux is merely an example of a threshold value, and 10, 20, or 50 lux may also be used.

[0057] Either the illuminance or the time information may be used, or both may be used together. For example, when illuminance information is used, if the area around the vehicle 5 is bright regardless of the time of day (even at night, there are bright places due to street lights, etc., and for example, the average illuminance is 10 lux or more), control can be performed to allow judgment result 1 or judgment result 2. Furthermore, when control is changed depending on the time of day, the user 3 can be allowed to arbitrarily set the time period during which judgment result 1 and judgment result 2 are allowed.

[0058] As described above, in this embodiment, when the vehicle 5 is started using the mobile terminal 4, the storage compartment provided in the vehicle 5 can be automatically unlocked and the storage compartment can be automatically opened based on information about the surroundings of the vehicle 5. As a result, for example, if a helmet is stored in the storage compartment under the seat, under certain conditions, the seat box automatically opens simultaneously with the start of the vehicle 5, allowing the user 3 to immediately remove the helmet, thereby improving convenience for the user 3. On the other hand, under conditions such as when it is raining, the storage compartment can be only unlocked but not automatically opened, thereby preventing rain from blowing into the storage compartment due to automatic opening. Furthermore, when the vehicle 5 is started at a location other than the pre-registered location, unnecessary unlocking and automatic opening are not performed, thereby improving security.

[0059] [Embodiment 2] In the above-described embodiment, the case where automatic unlocking and automatic opening of the storage compartment are controlled when the vehicle control device 5A of the vehicle 5 is started by the mobile terminal 4 is described. In contrast, in the present embodiment, the case where automatic unlocking and automatic opening are controlled when the vehicle 5 is stopped is described. The system configuration and the configuration of each device in this embodiment are the same as those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0060] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of processing corresponding to this embodiment. FIG. 8 is a modified example of the flowchart of FIG. 4, and the same reference numerals are used to designate processing that is the same as the processing in FIG. 4. First, in S801, the control unit 50 of the vehicle 5 determines whether the vehicle 5 is parked. Whether the vehicle 5 is parked can be determined, for example, by determining whether the operation of the drive unit 55 is stopped and whether the main stand or the side stand is activated using the stand sensor 54. The control unit 50 determines that the vehicle is in a parked state when the operation of the drive unit 55 is stopped, i.e., when the engine is stopped and the main stand or the side stand is activated, and determines that the vehicle is not in a parked state when the engine is not stopped or when neither the main stand nor the side stand is activated.

[0061] If the control unit 50 determines that the vehicle is not in a parked state, it does not perform any further processing. On the other hand, if it determines that the vehicle is in a parked state, the processing proceeds to S413. The processing from this point onward is the same as the processing in the flowchart of FIG. 4 with the corresponding reference numbers, and therefore will not be described further. Regarding the processing of S416, when the seat box is opened based on the result of determination result 1, the seat box can be opened in response to detection that the user 3 has exited the vehicle. For example, the communication unit 60 of the vehicle 5 may detect that the user 3 has exited the vehicle when it is no longer able to perform short-range wireless communication with the mobile terminal 4 held by the user 3. Alternatively, a weight sensor may be provided on the seat, and it may be determined that the user 3 has exited the vehicle based on a detection signal from the sensor. Furthermore, when the vehicle is parked, the seat box may be controlled so as to only unlock, but not automatically open.

[0062] As described above, in this embodiment, when the vehicle 5 is parked, the locked state of the storage compartment provided in the vehicle 5 can be automatically released and the storage compartment can be operated to automatically open based on information about the surroundings of the vehicle 5. As a result, when attempting to store a helmet in the storage compartment under the seat, for example, under certain conditions, the seat box automatically opens in response to parking of the vehicle 5, allowing the helmet to be stored immediately, thereby improving convenience for the user 3. On the other hand, under conditions such as when it is raining, the storage compartment can be only unlocked and not automatically opened, thereby preventing rain from blowing into the storage compartment due to automatic opening.

[0063] <Summary of the embodiment> The above-described embodiments disclose at least the following vehicle control device, control method for a vehicle control device, computer program, or storage medium.

[0064] 1. The vehicle control device (for example, 5A) of the above embodiment is A vehicle control device (e.g., 5A) mounted on a vehicle (e.g., 5), An information acquisition means (e.g., 60 or 46) for acquiring information about the surroundings of the vehicle; A control unit (e.g., 50) that controls the operation of at least one vehicle accessory provided in the vehicle based on the peripheral information; Equipped with the at least one vehicle accessory includes an item storage compartment (e.g., 302, 304); The control unit controls the operation of the storage unit by controlling at least one of an opening / closing mechanism (e.g., 52, 53) that changes the open / closed state of the storage unit and a locking mechanism (e.g., 57, 58) that locks the storage unit.

[0065] According to this embodiment, the operation of vehicle accessories such as a storage unit for storing items can be controlled based on information about the surroundings of the vehicle.

[0066] 2. The vehicle control device of the above embodiment (for example, 5A) The surrounding area information includes location information of a parking position of the vehicle and weather information, The control unit (e.g., 50) Based on the location information and the weather information, the operation of at least one of the opening / closing mechanism and the locking mechanism is controlled (for example, S416).

[0067] According to this embodiment, by controlling the operation of the vehicle's equipment based on surrounding information such as the location information of the vehicle's parking position and weather information, it is possible to achieve control that is more tailored to the user's needs and situation.

[0068] 3. The vehicle control device of the above embodiment (for example, 5A) When the location information is information of a location registered in advance by the user of the vehicle, the control unit controls the operation of at least one of the opening / closing mechanism and the locking mechanism (for example, S416).

[0069] According to this embodiment, when the parking location is a location that has been registered in advance by the user, the vehicle's storage compartment is automatically unlocked or the storage compartment is automatically set to an open state, thereby improving user convenience.

[0070] 4. The vehicle control device of the above embodiment (for example, 5A) The control unit controls the opening and closing mechanisms (e.g., 52, 53) and the locking mechanisms (e.g., 57, 58). If the vehicle's parking location is the pre-registered location (e.g., "YES" in S502, S503) and the weather information indicates a specified weather condition (e.g., "YES" in S505), the control unit controls the locking mechanism to unlock the lid and maintains the operating state of the opening / closing mechanism (e.g., S507, S604).

[0071] According to this embodiment, when the parking location is a location that has been registered in advance and the weather is a specified weather condition such as rainy, the lock on the vehicle's storage compartment is automatically released and the storage compartment is closed, thereby preventing rain from blowing into the storage compartment and improving user convenience.

[0072] 5. The vehicle control device of the above embodiment (for example, 5A) The information on the pre-registered location includes weather influence information indicating whether or not the location may be affected by weather, and if the weather influence information indicates no, the control unit omits the weather information and controls the operation of at least one of the opening / closing mechanism or the locking mechanism based on the location information.

[0073] According to this embodiment, if the vehicle is parked in a location that is not affected by weather, such as an indoor parking lot, the operation of the vehicle storage section can be controlled based on location information, regardless of weather information.

[0074] 6. The vehicle control device of the above embodiment (for example, 5A) The surrounding information further includes at least one of illuminance information around the vehicle and time information (e.g., 46d, 46b). The control unit controls the operation of at least one of the opening / closing mechanism or the locking mechanism, regardless of the position information, when the illuminance around the vehicle is below a predetermined illuminance or when the time indicated by the time information is within a predetermined time period, and maintains the storage unit in a closed state.

[0075] According to this embodiment, even when the vehicle arrives at a designated home, if the illumination around the vehicle is low or during certain hours, the vehicle's storage compartment can be locked, thereby further improving security.

[0076] 7. The vehicle control device of the above embodiment (for example, 5A) When the vehicle is parked, the information acquisition means acquires information about the surroundings of the vehicle (for example, S801, S413, S414).

[0077] According to this embodiment, when a vehicle is parked, information about the vehicle's surroundings is acquired, and the operation of the vehicle's equipment is controlled based on the acquired information about the surroundings, thereby improving user convenience while preventing the vehicle's equipment from operating unexpectedly while driving.

[0078] 8. The vehicle control device of the above embodiment (for example, 5A) When the vehicle is parked, at least the vehicle's stand is activated (eg, 54).

[0079] According to this embodiment, information about the vehicle's surroundings is obtained based on the activation status of the vehicle's stand, and the operation of the vehicle's equipment is controlled based on the obtained surrounding information, thereby allowing the vehicle's equipment to operate in a way that reflects the user's parking intentions.

[0080] 9. The vehicle control device of the above embodiment (for example, 5A) The control unit receives a setting as to whether or not the control based on the peripheral information by the control unit is permitted for the accommodation unit (for example, FIG. 7 ); The settings include: a first setting (e.g., 701) that allows control of both the locking mechanism and the opening / closing mechanism; a second setting (e.g., 702) that allows control of the locking mechanism but does not allow control of the opening / closing mechanism; A third setting (e.g., 703) and

[0081] According to this embodiment, it is possible to individually set whether or not to control the locking mechanism and opening / closing mechanism for the storage unit, thereby improving convenience while taking into account surrounding information or the user's intentions.

[0082] 10. The vehicle control device of the above embodiment (for example, 5A) The control unit controls at least one of the locking mechanism and the opening / closing mechanism when an article is stored in the storage unit.

[0083] According to this embodiment, when an item is stored in the storage section, the locking mechanism and opening / closing mechanism of the storage section are controlled, thereby preventing the item from being left behind and increasing convenience.

[0084] 11. The vehicle in which the vehicle control device (for example, 5A) of the above embodiment is installed is It is a saddle-type vehicle (Figure 3).

[0085] According to this embodiment, the operation of accessories such as a luggage box under the seat of a saddle-type vehicle, which is difficult to cover with a frame skeleton or the like, can be controlled while reflecting the user's intentions.

[0086] 12. The control method (e.g., FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 8) of the vehicle control device (e.g., 5A) of the above embodiment is an information acquisition step (e.g., S414) of acquiring information about the surroundings of the vehicle; A control step (e.g., S415, S416) of controlling the operation of at least one vehicle accessory provided in the vehicle based on the peripheral information; Including, the at least one vehicle accessory includes an item storage compartment (e.g., 302, 304); In the control step, the operation of the storage unit is controlled by controlling at least one of an opening / closing mechanism that changes the open / closed state of the storage unit and a locking mechanism that locks the storage unit (for example, S602, S604 S605).

[0087] 13. The computer program of the above embodiment The computer is caused to function as each of the means of the vehicle control device described in any one of 1 to 11 above.

[0088] 14. The storage medium of the above embodiment is A computer-readable storage medium storing the computer program described in 13 above.

[0089] According to the embodiments 12 to 14, for example, the operation of a vehicle accessory such as a storage unit for storing items can be controlled based on information about the surroundings of the vehicle.

[0090] Although the embodiments of the invention have been described above, the invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0091] 2 Information processing device, 4 Mobile terminal, 5 Vehicle

Claims

1. A vehicle control device mounted on a vehicle, a communication unit that communicates with a mobile terminal; a control unit that acquires peripheral information of the vehicle from the information processing device through communication between the mobile terminal and the information processing device on a network from the mobile terminal via the communication unit, and controls an operation of at least one vehicle accessory provided in the vehicle based on the peripheral information; Equipped with the at least one vehicle accessory includes an item storage compartment; the control unit controls the operation of the storage unit by controlling at least one of an opening / closing mechanism that can transition the opening / closing state of the storage unit between an open state and a closed state, and a locking mechanism that can switch the storage unit between a locked state and an unlocked state, based on the peripheral information; When the vehicle is parked, the control unit acquires peripheral information of the vehicle, A vehicle control device, wherein at least a stand of the vehicle is in an activated state when the vehicle is parked.

2. A vehicle control device mounted on a vehicle, a communication unit that communicates with a mobile terminal; a control unit that acquires peripheral information of the vehicle from the information processing device through communication between the mobile terminal and the information processing device on a network from the mobile terminal via the communication unit, and controls an operation of at least one vehicle accessory provided in the vehicle based on the peripheral information; Equipped with the at least one vehicle accessory includes an item storage compartment; the control unit controls the operation of the storage unit by controlling at least one of an opening / closing mechanism that can transition the open / closed state of the storage unit between an open state and a closed state and a locking mechanism that can switch the storage unit between a locked state and an unlocked state, based on location information of a parking position of the vehicle and weather information included in the surrounding information; The surrounding information further includes at least one of illuminance information around the vehicle and time information, The control unit controls the operation of at least one of the opening / closing mechanism or the locking mechanism to maintain the storage unit in a closed state, regardless of the position information, when the illuminance around the vehicle is below a predetermined illuminance or when the time indicated by the time information is within a predetermined time period.

3. The peripheral information is location information of the parking position of the vehicle and weather information; The control unit The vehicle control device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a control unit configured to control an operation of at least one of the opening / closing mechanism and the locking mechanism based on the location information and the weather information.

4. The vehicle control device according to claim 3 , wherein the control unit controls the operation of at least one of the opening / closing mechanism and the locking mechanism when the location information is information of a location registered in advance by a user of the vehicle.

5. The control unit controls the opening / closing mechanism and the locking mechanism.

5. The vehicle control device according to claim 4, wherein when the parking position of the vehicle is the pre-registered position and the weather information indicates a predetermined weather, the control unit controls the locking mechanism to unlock the lid portion and maintains the operating state of the opening / closing mechanism.

6. 6. The vehicle control device according to claim 4, wherein the information on the pre-registered location includes weather influence information indicating whether the location may be affected by weather, and if the weather influence information indicates no weather influence, the control unit omits the weather information and controls the operation of at least one of the opening / closing mechanism or the locking mechanism based on the location information.

7. The surrounding information further includes at least one of illuminance information around the vehicle and time information, 7. The vehicle control device according to claim 3, wherein the control unit controls the operation of at least one of the opening / closing mechanism or the locking mechanism to maintain the storage unit in a closed state, regardless of the position information, when at least one of the illuminance around the vehicle is equal to or lower than a predetermined illuminance and the time indicated by the time information is within a predetermined time period.

8. the control unit receives a setting as to whether or not to allow the control of the accommodation unit based on the peripheral information by the control unit; The settings include: a first setting that allows control of both the locking mechanism and the opening / closing mechanism; a second setting that allows control of the locking mechanism and does not allow control of the opening / closing mechanism; a third setting that does not allow control of either the locking mechanism or the opening / closing mechanism; The vehicle control device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

9. The control unit The vehicle control device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a control unit configured to control at least one of the locking mechanism and the opening / closing mechanism when an article is stored in the storage unit.

10. The vehicle control device according to claim 2 , wherein the control unit acquires information about the surroundings of the vehicle when the vehicle is parked.

11. The vehicle control device according to claim 10, wherein at least a stand of the vehicle is in an activated state when the vehicle is parked.

12. The vehicle control device according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is a saddle-ride type vehicle.

13. A control method for a vehicle control device mounted on a vehicle, comprising: a control step of acquiring peripheral information of the vehicle from an information processing device via a communication unit of the vehicle control device through communication between the mobile terminal and the information processing device on a network, and controlling the operation of at least one vehicle accessory provided in the vehicle based on the peripheral information; Including, the at least one vehicle accessory includes an item storage compartment; In the control step, the operation of the storage unit is controlled by controlling at least one of an opening / closing mechanism that can transition the opening / closing state of the storage unit between an open state and a closed state, and a locking mechanism that can switch the storage unit between a locked state and an unlocked state, based on the peripheral information; When the vehicle is parked, the control step acquires information about the surroundings of the vehicle, A control method for a vehicle control device, wherein when the vehicle is parked, at least a stand of the vehicle is in an activated state.

14. A control method for a vehicle control device mounted on a vehicle, comprising: a control step of acquiring peripheral information of the vehicle from an information processing device via a communication unit of the vehicle control device through communication between the mobile terminal and the information processing device on a network, and controlling the operation of at least one vehicle accessory provided in the vehicle based on the peripheral information; Including, the at least one vehicle accessory includes an item storage compartment; In the control step, the operation of the storage unit is controlled by controlling at least one of an opening / closing mechanism that can transition the open / closed state of the storage unit between an open state and a closed state and a locking mechanism that can switch the storage unit between a locked state and an unlocked state, based on location information of the parking position of the vehicle and weather information included in the surrounding information, The surrounding information further includes at least one of illuminance information around the vehicle and time information, A control method for a vehicle control device, wherein in the control process, when the illuminance around the vehicle is below a predetermined illuminance or when the time indicated by the time information is within a predetermined time period, the operation of at least one of the opening / closing mechanism or the locking mechanism is controlled, regardless of the position information, and the storage section is maintained in a closed state.

15. A computer program for causing a computer to function as each of the means of the vehicle control device according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

16. A computer-readable storage medium storing the computer program according to claim 15.

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