Information processing device

Abstract

To provide an information processing device for notifying a user that the user has forgotten to operate a vehicle.SOLUTION: In a system including a server device 10, a terminal device 20, and a vehicle 30, the server device 10, which is an information processing device, comprises a controlling unit 13. When a vehicle has been stopped for more than a predetermined time and a predetermined appliance of a vehicle is under a predetermined condition, the controlling unit executes a notification process to notify the user of the vehicle that the user has forgotten an operation for the predetermined appliance. When the predetermined condition is satisfied by the predetermined appliance based on the user's remote operation history for the predetermined appliance, the controlling unit does not execute the notification process even if the predetermined appliance in the vehicle is under the predetermined condition for a predetermined time or more after the vehicle has been stopped.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, when a user forgets an operation of a vehicle such as locking a door, there is a known technique for notifying the user that the vehicle operation has been forgotten. In such a technique, when the position of the vehicle is a predetermined location, there is a known technique for not notifying the user that the vehicle operation has been forgotten. For example, in Patent Document 1, when a predetermined state of a predetermined in-vehicle device continues for a predetermined time, if the vehicle user or the position of the vehicle at that time is a predetermined location, notification to a mobile terminal that the predetermined in-vehicle device is in a left-alone state is prohibited.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] There is room for improvement in the conventional technique for notifying a user that a vehicle operation has been forgotten. For example, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, the user is required to register the above-mentioned predetermined location in advance. Therefore, it takes time and effort for the user.

[0005] In view of this point, an object of the present disclosure is to improve the technique for notifying a user that a vehicle operation has been forgotten.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An information processing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a control unit. The control unit performs a notification process to notify the user of the vehicle that they have forgotten to operate the predetermined equipment if the predetermined equipment of the vehicle has been in a predetermined state for a predetermined time or longer since the vehicle stopped. The control unit does not perform the notification process if the predetermined equipment of the vehicle has been in a predetermined state for a predetermined time or longer since the vehicle stopped, but the predetermined conditions based on the user's remote operation history of the predetermined equipment are met. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one embodiment of this disclosure, it is possible to improve the technology for notifying a user that they have forgotten to operate the vehicle. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This block diagram shows a schematic configuration of a system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation procedure of the information processing device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments relating to this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0010] As shown in Figure 1, System 1 includes a server device 10, a terminal device 20, and a vehicle 30. System 1 may include multiple terminal devices 20 and multiple vehicles 30.

[0011] The server device 10, the terminal device 20, and the vehicle 30 can communicate with each other via network 2. Network 2 may be any network, including mobile communication networks and the Internet.

[0012] The server device 10 is, for example, an information processing device. The server device 10 is composed of, for example, one or a plurality of computers that can communicate with each other.

[0013] The terminal device 20 is, for example, an information processing device. The terminal device 20 is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet device, or a personal computer (PC). The user of the terminal device 20 is also the user of the vehicle 30. If the user forgets to operate a designated device on the vehicle 30 and gets off the vehicle 30, a notification indicating that the user has forgotten to operate a designated device on the vehicle 30 is sent to the terminal device 20. Even if the user forgets to operate a designated device and gets off the vehicle 30, they can operate the terminal device 20 and remotely operate the designated device via the server device 10. The designated device is, for example, the doors, windows, or hazard lights of the vehicle 30. However, the designated device is not limited to these. The designated device may be any device on the vehicle 30. Furthermore, remote operation of the designated device is, for example, locking or unlocking the doors of the vehicle 30, opening or closing the windows of the vehicle 30, or turning off the hazard lights of the vehicle 30. However, remote operation of the designated device is not limited to these. Remote operation of the designated equipment may be any operation.

[0014] Vehicle 30 may be any type of automobile. Vehicle 30 comprises an electronic control unit 31 and an on-board device 40. The electronic control unit 31 is the ECU (Electronic Control Unit) of vehicle 30. The electronic control unit 31 controls various functions of vehicle 30. Figure 1 shows a vehicle 30 equipped with one electronic control unit 31. However, vehicle 30 may be equipped with multiple electronic control units 31. The on-board device 40 is, for example, a navigation system.

[0015] (Server configuration) The server device 10 comprises a communication unit 11, a storage unit 12, and a control unit 13.

[0016] The communication unit 11 is configured to include at least one communication module that is connectable to the network 2. The communication module is, for example, a communication module compliant with a standard such as a wired LAN (Local Area Network) or a wireless LAN. The communication unit 11 is connected to the network 2 via a wired LAN or a wireless LAN by the communication module.

[0017] The storage unit 12 is configured to include at least one semiconductor memory, at least one magnetic memory, at least one optical memory, or a combination of at least two of these. The storage unit 12 may function as a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. Data used for the operation of the server device 10 and data obtained by the operation of the server device 10 are stored in the storage unit 12.

[0018] The control unit 13 is configured to include at least one processor, at least one dedicated circuit, or a combination of these. The processor is, 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 specific processing. The control unit 13 executes processes related to the operation of the server device 10 while controlling each part of the server device 10.

[0019] (Configuration of the terminal device) The terminal device 20 includes a communication unit 21, a positioning unit 22, an input unit 23, an output unit 24, a storage unit 25, and a control unit 26.

[0020] The communication unit 21 is configured to include at least one communication module that is connectable to the network 2. The communication module is, for example, a communication module compliant with a mobile communication standard such as LTE (Long Term Evolution), 4G (4th Generation), or 5G (5th Generation).

[0021] The positioning unit 22 can acquire the position information of the terminal device 20. The positioning unit 22 is configured to include at least one receiving module corresponding to a satellite positioning system. The receiving module is, for example, a receiving module corresponding to GPS (Global Positioning System).

[0022] The input unit 23 can receive an input from the user. The input unit 23 is configured to include at least one input interface capable of receiving an input from the user. The input interface is, for example, a physical key, a capacitance key, a pointing device, a touch screen provided integrally with the display, or a microphone, etc.

[0023] The output unit 24 can output data. The output unit 24 is configured to include at least one output interface capable of outputting data. The output interface is, for example, a display or a speaker, etc. The display is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display, etc.

[0024] The hardware configuration of the storage unit 25 may be the same as or similar to that of the storage unit 12. In the storage unit 25, data used for the operation of the terminal device 20 and data obtained by the operation of the terminal device 20 are stored.

[0025] The hardware configuration of the control unit 26 may be the same as or similar to that of the storage unit 12. The control unit 26 executes processes related to the operation of the terminal device 20 while controlling each part of the terminal device 20.

[0026] (Configuration of the vehicle-mounted device) The vehicle-mounted device 40 includes a communication unit 41, a positioning unit 42, a storage unit 43, and a control unit 44.

[0027] The communication unit 41 comprises at least one communication module that can be connected to the network 2. The hardware configuration of the communication unit 41 may be the same as or similar to that of the communication unit 21.

[0028] The positioning unit 42 can acquire location information of the vehicle 30. The hardware configuration of the positioning unit 42 may be the same as or similar to that of the positioning unit 22.

[0029] The hardware configuration of the memory unit 43 may be the same as or similar to that of the memory unit 12. The memory unit 43 stores data used for the operation of the in-vehicle device 40 and data obtained from the operation of the in-vehicle device 40.

[0030] The hardware configuration of the control unit 44 may be the same as or similar to that of the control unit 13. The control unit 44 controls each part of the in-vehicle device 40 and performs processing related to the operation of the in-vehicle device 40.

[0031] The control unit 44 can detect a predetermined device in a predetermined state after the vehicle 30 has stopped by communicating with the electronic control unit 31. The predetermined device in a predetermined state is, for example, the unlocked doors of the vehicle 30, the open windows of the vehicle 30, or the flashing hazard lights of the vehicle 30. If the predetermined device of the vehicle 30 remains in the predetermined state for a predetermined time or longer after the vehicle 30 has stopped, the control unit 44 acquires the location information of the vehicle 30 using the positioning unit 42. The predetermined time may be set based on the time it takes for a user to return to the vehicle 30 after getting out of the vehicle 30 and realizing they have forgotten to operate the predetermined device. The predetermined time is, for example, 5 to 10 minutes. When the control unit 44 acquires the location information of the vehicle 30, it transmits the location information of the vehicle 30 and a detection signal to the server device 10 via the network 2 using the communication unit 41. The detection signal is a signal indicating that a predetermined device has been detected in a predetermined state for a predetermined time or longer after the vehicle 30 has stopped.

[0032] (System operation) Figure 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation procedure for the server device 10 shown in Figure 1.

[0033] In step S1, the control unit 13 determines whether the communication unit 11 has received location information and a detection signal from the vehicle 30 via the network 2. By receiving the detection signal from the vehicle 30, the control unit 13 can detect that a predetermined device on the vehicle 30 has been in a predetermined state for a predetermined time or longer since the vehicle 30 stopped. If the control unit 13 determines that it has received location information and a detection signal from the vehicle 30 (step S1: YES), it proceeds to step S2. If the control unit 13 does not determine that it has received location information and a detection signal from the vehicle 30 (step S1: NO), it repeats the process of step S1.

[0034] In step S2, the control unit 13 transmits a request signal to the terminal device 20 via the network 2 using the communication unit 41, requesting the user's location information.

[0035] When the process in step S2 is executed, the control unit 26 of the terminal device 20 receives a request signal from the vehicle 30 via the network 2 using the communication unit 21. Upon receiving the request signal, the control unit 26 acquires the location information of the terminal device 20 using the positioning unit 22. The control unit 26 then transmits the acquired location information of the terminal device 20 as the user's location information to the vehicle 30 via the network 2 using the communication unit 21.

[0036] In step S3, the control unit 13 receives user location information from the terminal device 20 via the network 2 using the communication unit 11.

[0037] In step S4, the control unit 13 determines whether the user's position is outside a predetermined range from the vehicle 30. The predetermined range may be set assuming a range from which the user can quickly return to the vehicle 30 if they remember that they have forgotten to operate a predetermined device after getting off the vehicle 30. Alternatively, the predetermined range may be set assuming a range from which the user's position and the vehicle 30's position can be considered to be at the same location. If the control unit 13 determines that the user's position is outside the predetermined range from the vehicle 30 (step S4: YES), it proceeds to step S5. If the control unit 13 does not determine that the user's position is outside the predetermined range from the vehicle 30 (step S4: NO), it terminates the process as shown in Figure 2 without executing the notification process in step S6 described later.

[0038] In step S5, the control unit 13 determines whether predetermined conditions are met. The predetermined conditions are based on the user's remote operation history for a predetermined device that was detected to be in a predetermined state by receiving a detection signal in step S1. The predetermined conditions may be set for each type of predetermined device. By setting predetermined conditions for each type of predetermined device, the vehicle 30 may include predetermined devices for which the notification process in step S6 described later is performed, and predetermined devices for which the notification process in step S6 described later is not performed. If the control unit 13 receives multiple detection signals in step S1, it may perform the processing from step S5 onward for each detection signal.

[0039] As an example, the predetermined condition may be that the predetermined device detected to be in a predetermined state by receiving a detection signal in the processing of step S1 is a specific device. The specific device may be a device for which the notification process of step S6 described below has been executed more than a predetermined number of times in the past because the device has been in a predetermined state for a predetermined time or longer after the vehicle 30 has stopped, but no remote operation has been performed on that device. The predetermined number of times may be set with consideration for the convenience of the user. For example, the predetermined number of times may be 3 times. The specific device may also be a device for which the notification process of step S6 described below has been executed more than a predetermined number of times in a row in the past or more times within a set period because the device has been in a predetermined state as described above, but no remote operation has been performed on that device. The set period may be set with consideration for the convenience of the user. For example, the set period may be 1 month. Here, there is always a user who intentionally turns on the hazard lights of the vehicle 30 when parking the vehicle 30 on the street. Such users will not remotely turn off the hazard lights of the vehicle 30, even if a notification is sent to the terminal device 20 indicating that they have forgotten to turn off the hazard lights of the vehicle 30 through the notification process in step S6 described below. Rather, such users may find it annoying if such a notification is sent to the terminal device 20 when they are intentionally flashing the hazard lights. In this embodiment, the possibility of such users feeling annoyed can be reduced by making the predetermined condition a predetermined device that is in a predetermined state.

[0040] As another example, the predetermined condition may be that the location of vehicle 30 is a specific location. The specific location may be a location where, in the past, when vehicle 30 has been parked at that location a predetermined number of times or more, the notification process of step S6 described later was executed on a predetermined device that was detected to be in a predetermined state by receiving a detection signal in the most recent step S1 process, but no remote operation was performed on that predetermined device. The predetermined number of times may be set with consideration for the user's convenience. For example, the predetermined number of times is 3. The specific location may also be a location where, in the past, when vehicle 30 has been parked at that location a predetermined number of times or more consecutively or within a set period, the notification process of step S6 described later was executed, but no remote operation was performed on the predetermined device. The set period may be set with consideration for the user's convenience. For example, the set period is 1 month. Here, there is a user who always intentionally leaves the doors of vehicle 30 unlocked when parking vehicle 30 in a garage at home. Such users will not remotely lock the doors of vehicle 30 even if a notification is sent to the terminal device 20 indicating that they have forgotten to lock the doors. Rather, such users may find it annoying if they intentionally leave the doors of vehicle 30 unlocked when such a notification is sent to the terminal device 20. Also, when parking vehicle 30 in a home parking lot, some users intentionally leave the windows of vehicle 30 open. Such users will not remotely close the windows of vehicle 30 even if a notification is sent to the terminal device 20 indicating that they have forgotten to close the windows. Rather, such users may find it annoying if they intentionally leave the windows of vehicle 30 open when such a notification is sent to the terminal device 20. Furthermore, when parking vehicle 30 on the street in a specific location, some users intentionally leave the hazard lights of vehicle 30 on. Such users will not remotely turn off the hazard lights of vehicle 30, even if a notification is sent to the terminal device 20 indicating that they have forgotten to turn off the hazard lights of vehicle 30.Rather, such users may find it annoying if they intentionally flash their hazard lights and receive such a notification on the terminal device 20. By making the predetermined condition that the vehicle 30 is located in a specific place, the possibility of such users feeling annoyed can be reduced.

[0041] If the control unit 13 determines that the predetermined conditions are met (step S5: YES), it terminates the process as shown in Figure 2 without executing the notification process in step S6 described later. If the control unit 13 determines that the predetermined conditions are not met (step S5: NO), it proceeds to the process in step S6.

[0042] In step S6, the control unit 13 performs a notification process to inform the user of the vehicle 30 that they have forgotten to operate a predetermined device. In this embodiment, the control unit 13 sends a notification to the terminal device 20 via the network 2 using the communication unit 11, indicating that the user has forgotten to operate a predetermined device.

[0043] When the process in step S6 is executed, the control unit 26 of the terminal device 20 receives a notification from the vehicle 30 via the network 2, via the communication unit 21, indicating that the user has forgotten to operate a predetermined device. Upon receiving this notification, the control unit 26 causes the output unit 24 to output a notification indicating that the user has forgotten to operate a predetermined device. This notification output from the output unit 24 allows the user to realize that they have forgotten to operate a predetermined device. If the user operates the predetermined device remotely, they input an input instructing remote operation to the input unit 23. Upon receiving the input instructing remote operation from the input unit 23, the control unit 26 transmits an instruction signal instructing remote operation of the predetermined device to the server device 10 via the network 2, via the communication unit 21. However, if the user has not forgotten to operate the predetermined device, but has intentionally set the predetermined device to a predetermined state, they do not input an input instructing remote operation to the input unit 23.

[0044] In step S7, the control unit 13 determines whether or not it has received an instruction signal from the terminal device 20 via the network 2 using the communication unit 11. If the control unit 13 determines that it has received an instruction signal (step S7: YES), it proceeds to step S8. If the control unit 13 does not determine that it has received an instruction signal (step S7: NO), it terminates the process as shown in Figure 2.

[0045] In step S8, the control unit 13 performs remote operation of the vehicle 30. In this embodiment, the control unit 13 transmits control signals for operating predetermined equipment on the vehicle 30 to the vehicle 30 via the network 2 using the communication unit 11.

[0046] When the process in step S8 is executed, in the vehicle-mounted device 40 of the vehicle 30, the control unit 44 receives a control signal from the server device 10 via the network 2 using the communication unit 41. Upon receiving the control signal, the control unit 44 operates a predetermined device according to the control signal. The control unit 44 communicates with the electronic control unit 31, thereby allowing the electronic control unit 31 to operate the predetermined device.

[0047] In the server device 10 according to this embodiment, the control unit 13 does not perform notification processing even if a predetermined device on the vehicle 30 remains in a predetermined state for a predetermined time or longer after the vehicle 30 has stopped, if predetermined conditions based on the user's remote operation history for the device are met. Because the predetermined conditions are based on the user's remote operation history for the device, the user does not need to pre-register conditions such as locations where notification processing should not be performed. This configuration improves user convenience. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the technology for notifying the user that they have forgotten to operate the vehicle 30 can be improved.

[0048] While this disclosure has been described based on the drawings and embodiments, it should be noted that those skilled in the art may make various modifications and alterations based on this disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these modifications and alterations are within the scope of this disclosure. For example, the functions, etc., included in each component or step can be rearranged in a logically consistent manner, and multiple components or steps can be combined into one or divided into two.

[0049] For example, in the embodiment described above, the server device 10, as an information processing device, was described as executing the processes from step S1 to step S8. However, the information processing device that executes the processes from step S1 to step S8 is not limited to the server device 10. Any information processing device may execute the processes from step S1 to step S8. As another example, a terminal device 20, as an information processing device, may execute the processes from step S1 to step S8. In this case, in the terminal device 20, the control unit 26 may, instead of executing the processes in steps S2 and S3, acquire the location information of the terminal device 20 as the user's location information using the positioning unit 22. As yet another example, an in-vehicle device 40, as an information processing device, may execute the processes from step S1 to step S8. In this case, in the in-vehicle device 40, the control unit 46 may, instead of step S1, determine whether there is a predetermined device that has been in a predetermined state for a predetermined time or longer since the vehicle 30 stopped. The control unit 46 may determine whether there is a predetermined device that has been in a predetermined state for a predetermined time or longer since the vehicle 30 stopped by communicating with the electronic control unit 31. If the control unit 46 determines that there is a predetermined device that has been in a predetermined state for a predetermined time or longer since the vehicle 30 stopped, it may proceed to the process in step S2. On the other hand, if the control unit 46 does not determine that there is a predetermined device that has been in a predetermined state for a predetermined time or longer since the vehicle 30 stopped, it may determine again whether or not there is a predetermined device that has been in a predetermined state for a predetermined time or longer since the vehicle 30 stopped. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 1: System, 2: Network, 10: Server device, 11: Communication unit, 12: Memory unit, 13: Control unit, 20: Terminal device, 21: Communication unit, 22: Positioning unit, 23: Input unit, 24: Output unit, 25: Memory unit, 26: Control unit, 30: Vehicle, 31: Electronic control unit, 40: In-vehicle device, 41: Communication unit, 42: Positioning unit, 43: Memory unit, 44: Control unit

Claims

1. The vehicle is equipped with a control unit that, if a predetermined device of the vehicle remains in a predetermined state for a predetermined time or longer after the vehicle has stopped, executes a notification process to inform the user of the vehicle that they have forgotten to operate the predetermined device. Even if the vehicle's predetermined equipment remains in a predetermined state for a predetermined time or longer after the vehicle has stopped, the control unit will not execute the notification process if it satisfies predetermined conditions based on the user's remote operation history of the predetermined equipment. The aforementioned predetermined condition is that the aforementioned predetermined equipment is a specific piece of equipment. The aforementioned specific device is an information processing device in which the notification process has been performed a predetermined number of times or more in the past, but remote operation has not been performed on that device.

2. A control unit that, when a predetermined device of the vehicle remains in a predetermined state for a predetermined time or longer after the vehicle has stopped, performs a notification process to notify the user of the vehicle that they have forgotten to operate the predetermined device, Even if the vehicle's predetermined equipment remains in a predetermined state for a predetermined time or longer after the vehicle has stopped, the control unit will not execute the notification process if it satisfies predetermined conditions based on the user's remote operation history of the predetermined equipment. The aforementioned predetermined condition is that the vehicle's location is a specific location. The aforementioned specific location is an information processing device where, in the past, the notification process was executed when the vehicle was parked at that location more than a predetermined number of times, but remote operation to the predetermined device was not performed.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined device is a door, window, or hazard lamp of the vehicle.

4. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit determines whether the predetermined conditions are met if the predetermined equipment of the vehicle remains in a predetermined state for a predetermined time or longer after the vehicle has stopped, and the location of the vehicle's user is outside a predetermined range from the vehicle's location.

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