Control device and control method

Abstract

To improve a technology to temporarily store data collected by vehicles.SOLUTION: A control device 20 is provided with a control unit 23 that upon accepting a designation of data to be collected by a vehicle 10 and a designation of one or more parameters to be monitored among multiple types of parameters included in the data, collects data at predetermined time intervals, sets a priority for deleting the collected data and when the change in the value of one or more parameters is detected, lowers the priority for deleting the data at the time when a change in the value is detected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a control device and a control method. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there are known techniques for temporarily storing data collected by a vehicle. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a system in which a server receives data collected by a vehicle. Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a concept for setting a priority for temporarily storing data to be transmitted from a vehicle to a collection center. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-046971 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-002040 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When a vehicle moves out of communication range, it is no longer able to transmit collected data to the server. In such a case, the vehicle temporarily stores the data that could not be transmitted in a storage area. When the total amount of stored data reaches the upper limit of the physical storage area, the vehicle deletes the data, starting with the oldest data. However, there was a problem in that important data contained in the old data was deleted.

[0005] Therefore, there was room for improvement in the technology for temporarily storing data collected by vehicles.

[0006] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present disclosure is to improve the technology for temporarily storing data collected by a vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A control device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is a control device that sets a priority for deleting data, and upon receiving a designation of data collected by a vehicle and a designation of one or more parameters to be monitored from among multiple types of parameters included in the data, collects the data at predetermined time intervals, sets a priority for deleting the collected data, and includes a control unit that, upon detecting a change in the value of the one or more parameters, lowers the priority for deleting the data at the time the change in value was detected.

[0008] A control method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is a control method executed by a control device that sets a priority for deleting data, and includes the steps of: accepting a designation of data collected by a vehicle and a designation of one or more parameters to be monitored from among multiple types of parameters included in the data; collecting the data at predetermined time intervals; setting a priority for deleting the collected data; and, when a change in the value of the one or more parameters is detected, lowering the priority for deleting the data at the time the change in value is detected. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a technique for temporarily storing data collected by a vehicle is improved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control device. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of priority setting for deleting temporarily stored data. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a method for changing the priority of deleting data. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described.

[0012] (Outline of the embodiment) An overview of a system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The system 1 includes a vehicle 10, a control device 20, and a data management device 30. The vehicle 10 and the control device 20 are communicably connected to the data management device 30 via a network 2 including, for example, the Internet and a mobile communication network.

[0013] The vehicle 10 is, for example, an automobile, but is not limited to this and may be any vehicle. The automobile may be, but is not limited to, a gasoline-powered vehicle, a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle), a HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle), a PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle), or a FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle). The number of vehicles 10 included in the system 1 may be determined arbitrarily.

[0014] The control device 20 is, for example, a computer having a communication function. The control device 20 is provided in the vehicle 10. The control device 20 is configured to be able to communicate with the data management device 30 via the network 2.

[0015] The data management device 30 requests the control device 20 provided in the vehicle 10 to collect data, and receives the data collected by the vehicle 10 via the control device 20 and the network 2. The data management device 30 is, for example, a dedicated computer configured to function as a server, a general-purpose personal computer, or a cloud computing system. The data management device 30 is configured to be able to communicate with the control device 20 via the network 2. The data management device 30 may also be configured to be able to communicate with the vehicle 10.

[0016] First, an overview of this embodiment will be described, and details will be described later. When the control device 20 receives designation of data collected by the vehicle 10 and designation of one or more parameters to be monitored from among multiple types of parameters included in the data, the control device 20 collects the designated data at predetermined time intervals, sets a priority for deleting the collected data, and when a change is detected in the value of one or more designated parameters, the control device 20 lowers the priority for deleting the data at the time when the change in the value was detected.

[0017] In this manner, according to this embodiment, when a change in the value of a parameter to be monitored is detected, the priority of deleting the data at the time the change in value was detected is lowered. Therefore, even if the total amount of temporarily stored data reaches the upper limit of the physical storage area, the probability of data at the time the change in value was detected being deleted is reduced, thereby improving the technology for temporarily storing data collected by a vehicle.

[0018] Next, each component of the system 1 will be described in detail.

[0019] (Vehicle configuration) As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle 10 includes a communication unit 11, a positioning unit 12, a measurement unit 13, a storage unit 14, and a control unit 15.

[0020] The communication unit 11 includes one or more communication interfaces connected to the network 2. The communication interfaces are compatible with communication standards such as, but not limited to, 4G (4th Generation), 5G (5th Generation), or CAN (Controller Area Network). In this embodiment, the vehicle 10 communicates with the data management device 30 via the communication unit 11 and the network 2. Furthermore, the communication unit 11 is connected to a communication unit 21 of the control device 20 via a wired or wireless connection so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0021] The positioning unit 12 includes one or more receivers that acquire location information of the vehicle 10. Specifically, the positioning unit 12 includes, for example, a receiver compatible with GPS, but is not limited to this and may include a receiver compatible with any satellite positioning system. In addition, the acquired location information can be used to monitor whether the vehicle 10 has been stolen.

[0022] The measurement unit 13 includes one or more devices that monitor the vehicle state, such as whether or not there is a malfunction. Specifically, the one or more devices are a pressure sensor, an exhaust gas sensor, an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, a millimeter-wave radar, an infrared radar, a camera, or the like, and measure and collect data inside and outside the vehicle 10.

[0023] The storage unit 14 includes one or more memories. The memories may be, for example, semiconductor memories, magnetic memories, or optical memories, but are not limited to these. Each memory included in the storage unit 14 may function as, for example, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 14 stores any information used in the operation of the vehicle 10. For example, the storage unit 14 may store a system program, an application program, or embedded software. The information stored in the storage unit 14 may be updatable with information obtained from the network 2 via the communication unit 11, for example.

[0024] The control unit 15 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof. The processor may be, for example, a general-purpose processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or a dedicated processor specialized for a specific process, but is not limited to these. The programmable circuit may be, for example, but is not limited to, an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array). The dedicated circuit may be, for example, but is not limited to, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). The control unit 15 controls the overall operation of the vehicle 10.

[0025] (Control device configuration) As shown in FIG. 1, the control device 20 includes a communication unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a control unit .

[0026] The communication unit 21 includes one or more communication interfaces connected to the network 2. The communication interfaces are compatible with communication standards such as 4G (4th Generation), 5G (5th Generation), or CAN (Controller Area Network), but are not limited to these and may be compatible with any communication standard. In this embodiment, the control device 20 communicates with the data management device 30 via the communication unit 21 and the network 2. Furthermore, the communication unit 21 is connected to the communication unit 11 of the vehicle 10 so as to be able to communicate with each other via a wired or wireless connection.

[0027] The storage unit 22 includes one or more memories. Each memory included in the storage unit 22 may function as, for example, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 22 stores any information used in the operation of the control device 20. For example, the storage unit 22 may store a system program, an application program, a database, data and parameters collected by the vehicle 10, etc. The information stored in the storage unit 22 may be updatable with information obtained from the network 2 via the communication unit 21, for example.

[0028] The control unit 23 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof. The control unit 23 controls the overall operation of the control device 20.

[0029] (Configuration of data management device) As shown in FIG. 1, the data management device 30 includes a communication unit 31, a storage unit 32, and a control unit 33.

[0030] The communication unit 31 includes one or more communication interfaces connected to the network 2. The communication interfaces are compatible with communication standards such as 4G (4th Generation), 5G (5th Generation), or CAN (Controller Area Network), but are not limited to these and may be compatible with any communication standard. In this embodiment, the data management device 30 communicates with the vehicle 10 and the control device 20 via the communication unit 31 and the network 2.

[0031] The storage unit 32 includes one or more memories. Each memory included in the storage unit 32 may function as, for example, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 32 stores any information used in the operation of the data management device 30. For example, the storage unit 32 may store a system program, an application program, a database, data and parameters received from the control device 20, etc. The information stored in the storage unit 32 may be updatable with information obtained from the network 2 via the communication unit 31, for example.

[0032] The control unit 33 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof. The control unit 33 controls the overall operation of the data management device 30.

[0033] (Control device operation flow) The operation of the control device 20 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. This operation relates to setting the priority for deleting data.

[0034] Step S101: The communication unit 21 receives a designation of data collected by the vehicle 10 and a designation of one or more parameters to be monitored from among a plurality of types of parameters included in the data.

[0035] The vehicle 10 is capable of collecting various data (e.g., CAN data). The data collected by the vehicle 10 includes multiple types of parameters. The types and number of parameters included vary depending on the data. In this embodiment, an example will be described in which data including five types of parameters indicating time, location, whether or not there is a malfunction, speed, and whether or not there is theft is specified as a collection target, and a parameter indicating whether or not there is a malfunction or whether or not there is theft is specified as a monitoring target among the five types of parameters. However, the data specified as a collection target and the parameters specified as monitoring targets are not limited to this example. For example, an operator or a vehicle user may be able to arbitrarily specify parameters.

[0036] The data management device 30 specifies data to be collected by the vehicle 10, including multiple types of parameters, and also specifies one or more parameters to be monitored from the multiple types of parameters, and requests the control device 20 to collect the data. The communication unit 21 accepts the specification from the data management device 30 and transmits the specification to the control unit 23. In order to identify the one or more parameters to be monitored, the control unit 23 may, for example, assign an identification setting value to a parameter indicating the presence or absence of a malfunction or a parameter indicating the presence or absence of theft.

[0037] Step S102: The control unit 23 collects the data specified in S101 at predetermined time intervals.

[0038] The control unit 23 causes the vehicle 10 to collect data including multiple types of parameters at predetermined time intervals and receives the collected data from the vehicle 10. Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of setting a priority for deleting temporarily stored data. In the example of Fig. 3, the vehicle 10 collects data X including parameters indicating the presence or absence of a malfunction and the speed, which correspond to multiple types of parameters, at one-minute intervals and transmits the data to the control device 20.

[0039] The control unit 15 of the vehicle 10 causes the positioning unit 12, which has a receiver compatible with GPS, to measure parameters such as the location or whether or not the vehicle has been stolen, and causes the measurement unit 13, which has various sensors, to measure whether or not there is a malfunction or the vehicle's speed, and collects data including one or more of the measured parameters and transmits it to the communication unit 21 of the control device 20.

[0040] Step S103: The storage unit 22 stores the collected data in a storage area at predetermined time intervals.

[0041] The storage unit 22 of the control device 20 temporarily stores the data collected by the vehicle 10 in the format shown in FIG. 3, for example.

[0042] Step S104: The control unit 23 sets a priority for deleting collected data.

[0043] 3, data X including parameters indicating the presence or absence of a fault and speed is measured at one-minute intervals from 19:30 to 19:34. In step S104, the "priority for deleting data X" is set higher the older the data is and lower the newer the data is. However, if this is left as is, a problem will occur in which, if the data (old data) from 19:29 and 19:30 is important data, the important data will be deleted.

[0044] Steps S105-S106: When the control unit 23 detects a change in the value of one or more parameters to be monitored, it lowers the priority of deleting data at the time when the change in value was detected.

[0045] As described above, the data collected by the vehicle 10 includes, for example, five types of parameters indicating "time," "location," "presence or absence of malfunction," "speed," or "presence or absence of theft." Assume that "presence or absence of malfunction" is a parameter to be monitored. The control unit 23 monitors changes in the value of the parameter to be monitored. As described above, the parameter to be monitored may be assigned a set value for identification. For example, the control unit 23 sets a flag of "0" if the data collected from the vehicle 10 is normal, and sets a flag of "1" if an abnormal value indicating a malfunction is detected. Here, for example, if the value of the parameter changes from 0 to 0 to 0 to 1 to 1, the data at the time when the value changed is determined to be important data for investigating the cause of the data change, and the "deletion priority" is lowered.

[0046] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a method for changing the priority of deleting data. In FIG. 4, a parameter indicating "presence or absence of a fault" is assumed to be specified as a parameter to be monitored. Also, in FIG. 4, the smaller the number appended after "priority," the higher the priority of deleting data. For example, priority 1 is the highest priority for deleting data, and priority 6 is the lowest priority for deleting data. As shown in FIG. 4, the value of the parameter indicating "presence or absence of a fault" changes from 0 to 1 at 19:30 and from 1 to 0 at 19:33. Therefore, the "priority of deleting" of data X at 19:30 is lowered from priority 2 to 5, and the "priority of deleting" of data X at 19:33 is lowered from priority 5 to 6.

[0047] By lowering the "priority to be deleted" of data X at the time the value changed, the probability that the data at the time the value changed will be maintained increases. This makes it possible to determine why a device that had been malfunctioning for a long time returned to normal (1 → 1 → 1 → 1 → 0). Note that parameters that indicate "speed" that were not specified as monitoring targets will be ignored even if their values ​​change (the "priority to be deleted" will not be lowered).

[0048] Steps S107-S108: When the total amount of data temporarily stored in the storage area of ​​the storage unit 22 reaches the upper limit of the physical capacity of the storage area, the control unit 23 deletes data in descending order of priority.

[0049] 3 and 4, if the storage area of ​​the storage unit 22 has a physical capacity for storing only four pieces of data X, two pieces of data X need to be deleted. In the example shown in Fig. 3, the pieces of data X at 19:29 and 19:30 are deleted regardless of the importance of the data. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 4, if the priority for deleting data is changed, the probability that the data at 19:30 and 19:33, whose values ​​have changed, will be maintained increases.

[0050] Step S109: When the control unit 23 enters a range where it can communicate with the data management device 30, it transmits all of the data temporarily stored in the storage area to the data management device 30 via the communication unit 21 and the network 2.

[0051] The data management device 30 receives the data collected by the vehicle 10 and requested from the control device 20 via the communication unit 21 of the control device 20 and the network 2. The control unit 33 of the data management device 30 stores the received data in the memory unit 32 and uses it for investigating the cause of a failure, etc.

[0052] Step S110: The control unit 23 deletes all of the transmitted data from the storage area of ​​the storage unit 22.

[0053] After transmitting the temporarily stored data to the data management device 30, the control unit 23 empties the storage area of ​​the storage unit 22 and ensures a physical capacity for temporarily storing new data collected by the vehicle 10.

[0054] Step S111: The control unit 23 determines whether or not to continue data collection. If data collection is to be continued, the process returns to step S102, and if data collection is to be ended, the process ends.

[0055] As described above, when the control device 20 of this embodiment receives a specification of data to be collected by the vehicle 10 and a specification of one or more parameters to be monitored from among the multiple types of parameters included in the data, it collects the specified data at a predetermined time interval, sets a priority for deleting the collected data, and when a change is detected in the value of one or more of the specified parameters, it lowers the priority for deleting the data at the time the change in value was detected.

[0056] According to this configuration, when a change in the value of a monitored parameter is detected, the priority of deleting the data at the time the change in value was detected is lowered. Therefore, even if the total amount of temporarily stored data reaches the upper limit of the physical storage area, the probability of data at the time the change in value was detected being deleted is reduced, thereby improving the technology for temporarily storing data collected by vehicles.

[0057] Although the present disclosure has been described based on the drawings and examples, it should be noted that those skilled in the art may make various modifications and alterations based on the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these modifications and alterations are included in the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the functions included in each component or step can be rearranged so as not to be logically inconsistent, and multiple components or steps can be combined or divided into one.

[0058] For example, in the above-described embodiment, an embodiment is also possible in which the configuration and operation of control device 20 are distributed among multiple computers that can communicate with each other. Also, for example, an embodiment is also possible in which some or all of the components of control device 20 are provided in vehicle 10. For example, a communication unit 11, a storage unit 14, a control unit 15, etc. provided in vehicle 10 may include some or all of the components of control device 20. For example, if communication unit 11 of vehicle 10 has the function of communication unit 21 of control device 20, communication unit 11 of vehicle 10 may receive, from data management device 30, designation of data to be collected and designation of one or more parameters to be monitored, and transmit the collected data to control device 20.

[0059] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, for example, a configuration may be adopted in which a user who feels that their vehicle is not working properly answers a questionnaire from an automobile manufacturer, and the data management device 30 specifies the data to be collected and the predetermined parameters to be monitored. With such a configuration, the data management device 30 analyzes the cause of the malfunction of the vehicle 10. The user can obtain the results of the analysis of the cause of the malfunction of the vehicle 10 from the data management device 30 and take necessary measures, such as repairs.

[0060] Also, an embodiment is possible in which, for example, a general-purpose computer functions as the control device 20 according to the above-described embodiment. Specifically, a program describing the processing content for realizing each function of the control device 20 according to the above-described embodiment is stored in the memory of the general-purpose computer, and the program is read and executed by a processor. Therefore, the present disclosure can also be realized as a program executable by a processor, or a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing the program. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 1 System 2 Network 10 vehicles 11 Communications Department 12 Positioning unit 13 Measurement section 14 Storage section 15 Control Unit 20 Control device 21 Communications Department 22 Memory section 23 Control Unit 30 Data management device 31 Communications Department 32 Storage section 33 Control Unit

Claims

1. A control device that sets a priority for deleting data, Specifying data to be collected by a vehicle and specifying multiple types of parameters included in the data When the specification of one or more parameters to be monitored is received, the data is converted into a predetermined The data is collected at time intervals, and a priority for deleting the collected data is set. When a change in the parameter value is detected, the data at the time the change in value was detected is deleted. a control unit for lowering the priority of the The data includes multiple types of parameters such as time, location, whether there is a malfunction, speed, and theft. It includes five types of parameters that indicate whether or not there is a problem, and a parameter that indicates whether or not there is a malfunction or whether or not there is theft. A control device, wherein a parameter indicating absence is designated as the parameter to be monitored.

2. a storage unit having a storage area for storing the collected data at the predetermined time intervals; Preparation, The control unit is configured to: The control device according to claim 1 , wherein when the data is deleted, the data is deleted in descending order of priority.

3. When the control unit enters a range where it can communicate with the data management device, All of the data is transmitted to the data management device, and the transmitted data is stored in the storage area.

3. The control device of claim 2, wherein all of the data is deleted.

4. A control method executed by a control device that sets a priority for deleting data, Specifying data to be collected by a vehicle and specifying multiple types of parameters included in the data and accepting a designation of one or more parameters to be monitored; collecting said data at predetermined time intervals; setting a priority for deleting the collected data; When a change in the value of one or more of the parameters is detected, lowering the priority of deleting said data in the Including, The data includes multiple types of parameters such as time, location, whether there is a malfunction, speed, and theft. It includes five types of parameters that indicate whether or not there is a problem, and a parameter that indicates whether or not there is a malfunction or whether or not there is theft. A control method in which a parameter indicating absence is designated as the parameter to be monitored.

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