server

Abstract

To reduce the work time required to create user setting information that reflects user preferences.SOLUTION: A server 30 includes a storage device 310 and a processing device 320. The storage device 310 is configured to store user setting information 335 which is setting information for each instrument 101 of multiple vehicles 10 associated with a user U. The processing device 320 is configured to execute recording processing and transmission processing. A vehicle 10-1 includes a storage unit 130 which stores local setting information 132 set in the vehicle 10-1 with respect to the instrument 101 of the vehicle 10-1. The recording processing includes processing of recording the local setting information 132 as the user setting information 335 in the storage device 310 in response to a request RQ1 from the user U. The transmission processing includes processing of transmitting the recorded user setting information 335 to a vehicle 10-2 in response to a request RQ2 from the vehicle 10-2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a server.

Background Art

[0002] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2020-158003 (Patent Document 1) discloses a vehicle setting inheritance system. This system learns user characteristic information (setting information) in a first vehicle and inherits the learned characteristic information to a second vehicle which is another vehicle.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Connected technologies related to vehicles have attracted attention. According to such technologies, a server communicates with a plurality of vehicles and exchanges various information with each vehicle.

[0005] Each vehicle may include various devices such as an audio device, a car navigation device, or an air conditioner. There is a known technology of recording information on user settings (user setting information) of such devices on a server and the server transmitting (distributing) this information to a vehicle in response to a request. The user setting information recorded on the server preferably reflects the user's preferences, but it may take a lot of time to create such user setting information. <ocke]]

[0006] This disclosure has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a server for reducing the time required to create user setting information that reflects the user's preferences.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The server of this disclosure communicates with a plurality of vehicles, including a first vehicle and a second vehicle. The server comprises a storage device and a processing device. The storage device is configured to store user configuration information, which is the configuration information of each of the plurality of vehicles, associated with the user of the first vehicle. The processing device is configured to perform recording and transmission processing. The first vehicle includes a storage unit that stores local configuration information set in the first vehicle for the equipment of the first vehicle. The recording process includes the process of recording the local configuration information as user configuration information in the storage device in response to a first request from the user. The transmission process includes the process of transmitting the recorded user configuration information to the second vehicle in response to a second request from the second vehicle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to this disclosure, the time required to create user preferences information that reflects user preferences can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This diagram illustrates the overall configuration of an information processing system, including a server. [Figure 2] This diagram illustrates the data structure of user configuration information and local configuration information. [Figure 3] This flowchart illustrates the processes performed by the server. [Figure 4] This is a diagram illustrating the process according to Modification Example 1. [Figure 5] This diagram illustrates a screen displayed on an HMI (Human Machine Interface) device. [Figure 6] This flowchart illustrates the processes performed by the server. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The same or corresponding parts in the drawings will be denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions will not be repeated. Each of the embodiments and its modifications may be combined with one another as appropriate.

[0011] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of an information processing system including a server according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to Figure 1, the information processing system 1 comprises a mobile terminal 5, a plurality of vehicles 10, and a server 30.

[0012] Mobile terminal 5 is, for example, a smartphone and is operated by user U. Mobile terminal 5 displays various screens on its display, performs short-range communication with vehicle 10, and communicates wirelessly with server 30. Mobile terminal 5 stores user U's ID (Identification) information and mobile terminal 5's ID information. User U uses mobile terminal 5 to apply to server 30 to create their own account by entering personal identification information such as a password into mobile terminal 5. Mobile terminal 5 transmits personal identification information to server 30. Server 30 verifies the legitimacy of user U according to the personal identification information and, after successful verification, allows user U to create an account. As a result, user U can create their own account and log in to that account.

[0013] Multiple vehicles 10 include vehicles 10-1, 10-2, and 10-3. Vehicle 10-1 is owned and regularly used by user U. Vehicle 10-1 may be shared by user U and their family (not shown). Vehicle 10-2 is, for example, a rental car and is intended for use by user U. Vehicle 10-3 is, for example, a rental car that has been used by user U in the past. In this example, vehicles 10-1, 10-2, and 10-3 are assumed to be of the same type.

[0014] Each vehicle 10 includes equipment 100, a memory unit 130, a communication unit 155, and an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 170.

[0015] The device category 100 includes a plurality of devices 101. The plurality of devices 101 includes an audio device 102, an air conditioner 104, a seat adjustment device 106, and an HMI device 110.

[0016] The audio device 102 plays various sounds. The air conditioner 104 adjusts the temperature inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle 10. The seat adjustment device 106 adjusts the position of the seat of the vehicle 10.

[0017] The HMI device 110 is, for example, a touch screen, which receives various user operations and displays various screens. The HMI device 110 can perform a car navigation (car navi) function for guiding the user U by displaying the position of the destination of the vehicle 10 on a map image. The above user operations include operations for setting at least one of the set volume of the audio device 102, the set position of the favorite point of the car navi function of the vehicle 10, the set position of the destination of the car navi function of the vehicle 10, the set temperature of the air conditioner 104, and the set position of the seat of the vehicle 10.

[0018] The storage unit 130 stores local setting information 132. The local setting information 132 is information locally set in the vehicle 10 for the devices 101 of the vehicle 10, and includes information indicating the results of the above various setting operations. For example, the local setting information 132 includes at least one of information indicating the set volume of the audio device 102 of the vehicle - 10, information indicating the set position of the favorite point of the car navi function of the vehicle - 10, information indicating the history of the set position of the destination of the car navi function of the vehicle - 10, information indicating the set temperature of the air conditioner 104 of the vehicle - 10, and information indicating the set position of the seat of the vehicle - 10.

[0019] The communication unit 155 performs wireless communication with the server 30 or short-range communication with the mobile terminal 5. The ECU 170 controls each device 101 and the communication unit 155.

[0020] The modes of each vehicle 10 include the user mode. The user mode is the mode in which the user U is authenticated (identified) in the vehicle 10. In order to set the mode of the vehicle 10 to the user mode, it is necessary to create an account for the user U and register the user U as a registered user of the vehicle 10.

[0021] The user U performs an operation to register himself / herself as a registered user using the HMI device 110. In response to this operation, the HMI device 110 displays a QR (Quick Response) code (registered trademark) on its screen. After the user U logs in to his / her account using the mobile terminal 5, the user U causes the mobile terminal 5 to scan the QR code. In response to the scanning of the QR code, the mobile terminal 5 transmits a request RQ1 to the server 30. The request RQ1 is a signal that requests the server 30 to register the user U as a registered user of the vehicle 10, and includes the ID information of the user U and the ID information of the vehicle 10.

[0022] In response to the reception of the request RQ1, the server 30 transmits an access token to the vehicle 10 identified by the ID information of the vehicle 10. When the ECU 170 of this vehicle 10 receives the token through the communication unit 155, two-way communication between the vehicle 10 and the server 30 becomes possible, and the vehicle 10 is synchronized with the server 30. Then, the user U is registered in the vehicle 10, and the fact that the user U has become a registered user of the vehicle 10 is notified from the vehicle 10 to the server 30. After that, the user U is managed by the server 30 as a registered user of the vehicle 10. The fact that the user U has become a registered user is also notified to the user U through the screen display of the HMI device 110. Up to n users can be registered in each vehicle 10 (in this example, n = 3). A vehicle 10 in which the user U is already registered is also referred to as a "user-registered vehicle".

[0023] The user mode is set when the user U is authenticated by the ECU 170 in the user-registered vehicle. The authentication of the user U is achieved, for example, based on the ID information of the user U transmitted from the mobile terminal 5 to the user-registered vehicle through short-range communication.

[0024] When user U's authentication is successful, the user-registered vehicle sends request RQ2 to server 30, thereby allowing it to obtain user configuration information 335 (described later) from server 30. Request RQ2 includes user U's ID information and the user-registered vehicle's ID information.

[0025] The modes of vehicle 10-1 further include guest mode. Guest mode is a mode in which user U is not authenticated (identified) in vehicle 10-1. Guest mode can be set even if user U is not authenticated because user U has not created an account or because user U does not have a mobile device 5 with them when using vehicle 10. Guest mode may be set to use common settings for users when vehicle 10-1 is shared by user U and their family. A user using vehicle 10-1 in guest mode is also referred to as a "guest user". In this example, the guest user is user U or their family. The mode of vehicle 10-1 is set using the HMI device 110 of vehicle 10-1.

[0026] The server 30 includes a communication device 305, a storage device 310, and a processing device 320. The communication device 305 is configured to communicate with multiple vehicles 10.

[0027] The storage device 310 includes ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory) (neither of which are shown). The ROM stores various programs. The storage device 310 also stores user configuration information 335. The user configuration information 335 is the configuration information for the equipment 101 of each vehicle 10, associated with user U (more specifically, user U's account).

[0028] The processing unit 320 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The CPU performs various arithmetic operations by executing programs stored in ROM. The processing unit 320 can transmit user setting information 335 to the vehicle 10 via the communication device 305.

[0029] After receiving user setting information 335, the ECU 170 controls each device 101 according to the user setting information 335. As a result, the user U's settings for each device 101 (for example, the volume setting for the audio device 102, the setting location of favorite spots, the history of setting locations for destinations, the setting temperature for the air conditioner 104, or the setting position of the seat) are automatically reproduced in the vehicle 10.

[0030] Server 30 uses the user configuration information 335 in this manner to provide user U with a service that automatically reproduces user U's settings in each vehicle 10. This service is also referred to as the "user configuration reproduction service."

[0031] Figure 2 illustrates the data structure of user configuration information 335 and local configuration information 132. Referring to Figure 2, the storage device 310 of the server 30 includes a user configuration database 330. The user configuration database 330 includes user configuration information 335 and 336.

[0032] Each of the user setting information entries 335 and 336 is associated with the corresponding user's account and includes user ID information 340, vehicle ID information 342, audio setting information 343, set temperature information 344, seat position information 345, favorite location information 347, and usage count information 349.

[0033] User ID information 340 is used to identify the corresponding user for each of the user setting information 335 and 336. For user setting information 335, the corresponding user is user U. Vehicle ID information 342 is used to identify the user-registered vehicle of the corresponding user. For user setting information 335, the user-registered vehicle is, for example, vehicle 10-1.

[0034] Audio setting information 343 indicates the set volume of the audio device 102 associated with the user. Set temperature information 344 indicates the set temperature of the air conditioner 104 associated with the user. Seat position information 345 indicates the seat position associated with the user. Favorite location information 347 indicates the favorite location associated with the user. Audio setting information 343, set temperature information 344, seat position information 345, and favorite location information 347 are also referred to as setting information 348. Setting information 348 indicates the setting information for each device 101.

[0035] The usage count information 349 indicates the number of times the corresponding user has used the user setting reproduction service. This count is, for example, the number of times the server 30 has received request RQ2. In this embodiment, this count is zero (i.e., user U has never used the user setting reproduction service), and user U is not a registered user of vehicle 10 other than vehicle 10-1.

[0036] Each of the user setting information 335,336 may further include information (not shown) indicating the history of destination location settings associated with the corresponding user.

[0037] The storage unit 130 of vehicle 10-1 includes a user setting area 140 and a guest setting area 150. The user setting area 140 includes areas 232, 233, and 234 for storing user setting information for n registered users (in this example, n=3).

[0038] The guest settings area 150 stores the guest settings information 160. The guest settings information 160 is the setting information for the equipment 101 of the vehicle 10-1 while the vehicle 10-1 is in guest mode. The guest settings information 160 is set by the guest user using the HMI device 110 and is included in the local settings information 132.

[0039] The guest settings information 160 includes audio settings information 143, set temperature information 144, seat position information 145, and favorite location information 147. The audio settings information 143 indicates the set volume of the audio equipment 102 of vehicle 10-1 as set by the guest user. The set temperature information 144 indicates the set temperature of the air conditioner 104 of vehicle 10-1 as set by the guest user. The seat position information 145 indicates the seat position as set by the guest user. The favorite location information 147 indicates the favorite location of vehicle 10-1 as set by the guest user.

[0040] While it is preferable for user configuration information 335 to reflect user U's preferences, creating such user configuration information 335 can be time-consuming.

[0041] For example, user U can customize the settings of equipment 101 in vehicle 10-1 as they like, and record the information of the customized settings as user setting information 335 on the server 30. As a result, even if user U uses a different vehicle than vehicle 10-1 (vehicle 10-2 in this example), the server 30 will send the user setting information 335 to vehicle 10-2 in response to request RQ2 (Figure 1). Consequently, the preferred user settings can be automatically reproduced in vehicle 10-2 as well.

[0042] If user U wishes to record new user configuration information 335 on server 30, default configuration information pre-prepared on server 30 may be used as the initial user configuration information 335. However, the default configuration information may not reflect user U's preferences. In this case, user U needs to modify the default configuration information (for example, using HMI device 110 or mobile terminal 5) to create user configuration information 335 that reflects their preferences. As a result, a lot of work time is spent.

[0043] A server 30 (specifically, a processing unit 320) according to this embodiment is configured to perform the recording process described below in order to address such problems. The recording process corresponds to the process of recording the local configuration information 132 of vehicle 10-1 as user configuration information 335 in the storage device 310 of the server 30 in response to a request RQ1 from user U (in this example, when registering the user of vehicle 10-1). Specifically, this process is the process of recording a copy of the local configuration information 132 as configuration information 348 of the user configuration information 335.

[0044] Server 30 is further configured to perform transmission processing. Transmission processing corresponds to sending user configuration information 335 recorded in storage device 310 to vehicle 10-2 in response to request RQ2 from vehicle 10-2 (in this example, after user authentication of vehicle 10-2 is completed).

[0045] If user U (and their family) has used vehicle 10-1 for a long period of time under the vehicle's local settings without creating an account, the local settings information 132 may better reflect user U's preferences than the default settings information mentioned above. In this case, the local settings information 132 is more suitable as user settings information 335 than the default initial settings information.

[0046] According to the recording process, local configuration information 132 is automatically recorded in the server 30 as user configuration information 335. As a result, user U's preferences are reflected in the user configuration information 335 from the beginning. Therefore, after user U creates their account and becomes a registered user of vehicle 10-1, user U does not necessarily need to change the default configuration information as the initial user configuration information 335 in order to record user configuration information 335 that reflects their preferences on the server 30. As a result, such work time can be reduced (preferably made unnecessary). Furthermore, according to the transmission process, the user configuration information 335 recorded in the server 30 as described above is transmitted to vehicle 10-2. As a result, the user settings that reflect user U's preferences can be automatically reproduced (transferred to vehicle 10-2) in vehicle 10-2. Thus, the convenience for user U can be improved.

[0047] In this embodiment, the local configuration information 132 is the guest configuration information 160. When vehicle 10-1 is shared by multiple people, such as the user and their family, the guest mode of vehicle 10-1 may be used frequently. Therefore, the guest configuration information 160 is likely to already reflect the preferences of user U. In this example, the guest configuration information 160 is recorded in the server 30 as user configuration information 335, and this user configuration information 335 is sent to vehicle 10-2. This allows the guest configuration of vehicle 10-1 to be automatically reproduced (inherited) in vehicle 10-2.

[0048] Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating the processing performed by the server 30 (more specifically, the processing unit 320) according to the embodiment. This flowchart starts when the server 30 receives request RQ1 during user registration of vehicle 10-1. Hereafter, steps will be abbreviated as "S".

[0049] Referring to Figure 3, the server 30 obtains local configuration information 132 (guest configuration information 160) from the storage unit 130 of vehicle 10-1 (first vehicle) (S120). The server 30 records the local configuration information 132 as user configuration information 335 in the storage device 310 (S130).

[0050] Server 30 determines whether or not it has received request RQ2 (S135). If Server 30 has not yet received request RQ2 (NO in S135), it repeats this determination process until it receives request RQ2.

[0051] When server 30 receives request RQ2 (YES in S135), it reads user configuration information 335 from user configuration DB 330 according to the ID information of user U included in request RQ2 and the user ID information 340 in user configuration DB 330 (S140). In this example, user configuration information 335 is the one recorded in S130 based on local configuration information 132. Server 30 transmits the read user configuration information 335 to vehicle 10-2 (second vehicle) (S150).

[0052] As described above, according to this embodiment, the guest settings of vehicle 10-1 can be automatically reproduced in vehicle 10-2.

[0053] [Example 1] In this embodiment, the number of uses (Z1) shown by the usage count information 349 (Figure 2) is zero (i.e., user U has never used the user setting reproduction service), and user U is not a registered user of vehicle 10 other than vehicle 10-1. In this modified example 1, the above number of uses is not zero (i.e., user U has used the user setting reproduction service before), and user U is already a registered user of vehicle 10 other than vehicle 10-1.

[0054] This modified version 1 is the same as the embodiment in that the server 30 is configured to record local configuration information 132 as user configuration information 335 in the storage device 310. On the other hand, this modified version 1 differs from the embodiment in that the server 30 (more specifically, the storage device 310) stores past configuration information as user configuration information 335 that was recorded before the local configuration information 132 was recorded.

[0055] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the processing of server 30 according to this modified example 1. Referring to Figure 4, past configuration information 180 is contained in user configuration DB 330. In this example, the number of uses (Z3) indicated by the usage count information 349 is non-zero, and user U is already a registered user of vehicle 10 other than vehicle 10-1 (for example, vehicle 10-3).

[0056] When registering a user of vehicle 10-1, it is preferable that suitable user setting information 335 is recorded in the server 30. Past setting information 180 is thought to reflect the user U's preferences when the user U previously used vehicle 10-3. On the other hand, as described in the above embodiment, local setting information 132 of vehicle 10-1 may also be suitable as user setting information 335. The question is whether local setting information 132 or past setting information 180 is more suitable for user U.

[0057] The server 30 according to Modification 1 is configured to perform query processing and decision processing in addition to recording processing and transmission processing.

[0058] The query process corresponds to the process of inquiring with user U about whether to determine (select) local configuration information 132 or past configuration information 180 as user configuration information 335. More specifically, the query process corresponds to the process of sending a query signal to vehicle 10 (e.g., vehicle 10-1) to make such a query.

[0059] The decision process corresponds to the process of determining either the local configuration information 132 or the past configuration information 180 as the user configuration information 335, according to the result of the query process. For example, if the query results in user U indicating that they prefer the local configuration information 132 to the past configuration information 180, the local configuration information 132 is determined as the user configuration information 335. The local configuration information 132 then overwrites the past configuration information 180 and is recorded as the user configuration information 335 (see Figure 4). On the other hand, if user U indicates that they prefer the past configuration information 180 to the local configuration information 132, the past configuration information 180 is determined as the user configuration information 335. The past configuration information 180 is then maintained as the user configuration information 335, and the local configuration information 132 is not used as the user configuration information 335. After user U's response, the user configuration information 335 can be sent from the server 30 to the user-registered vehicle, regardless of whether user U uses vehicle 10-1 or 10-3 (both of which are user-registered vehicles).

[0060] According to the query processing and decision processing, it is determined, depending on the user's preference, whether the local configuration information 132 or the past configuration information 180 should be determined as the user configuration information 335 after the query processing. This makes it possible to make the user configuration information 335 more suitable.

[0061] Figure 5 illustrates a screen displayed on the HMI device 110 during query processing. Referring to Figure 5, screen 405 is displayed in response to the receipt of a query signal from the server 30 and includes a message 410 and buttons 415 and 420.

[0062] Message 410 asks user U whether they prefer past configuration information 180 to local configuration information 132. Button 415 is operated if user U gives a first response, indicating that they prefer past configuration information 180 to local configuration information 132. When button 415 is operated, ECU 170 sends a first response signal indicating the first response to server 30 via communication unit 155. Button 420 is operated if user U gives a second response, indicating that they prefer local configuration information 132 to past configuration information 180. When button 420 is operated, ECU 170 sends a second response signal indicating the second response to server 30 via communication unit 155.

[0063] In this example, the server 30 sends an inquiry signal to the vehicle 10-1, but it may also send it to the mobile terminal 5. In this case, screen 405 is displayed on the mobile terminal 5's display. The mobile terminal 5 sends either a first operation signal or a second operation signal to the server 30 depending on which of buttons 415 or 420 is operated.

[0064] Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating the processing performed by the server 30 (specifically, the processing unit 320) according to this modified example 1. This flowchart differs from the flowchart of the embodiment (Figure 3) in that steps S105, S110, S115, S117, and S119 are added, but is otherwise the same as the flowchart in Figure 3.

[0065] Referring to Figure 6, the server 30 determines whether or not there is past configuration information 180 (S105). Specifically, the server 30 determines the user ID information 340 that corresponds to (for example, matches) the user ID information included in the request RQ1, and determines whether or not the number of uses indicated by the usage count information 349 associated with that user ID information 340 is non-zero.

[0066] If there is no past setting information 180, that is, if the number of uses is zero (NO in S105), the process proceeds to S119. If there is past setting information 180, that is, if the number of uses is not zero (YES in S105), the process proceeds to S110.

[0067] Server 30 executes the query processing, specifically by sending a query signal to vehicle 10-1 (S110), and then switches the processing according to the result of the query processing (S115).

[0068] If, as a result of the query processing, user U responds that they prefer the past configuration information 180, that is, if server 30 receives the first response signal, the process proceeds to S117. Server 30 determines (maintains) the past configuration information 180 as user configuration information 335 (S117).

[0069] If user U responds that they prefer local configuration information 132, that is, if server 30 receives a second response signal, the process proceeds to S119. Server 30 determines that local configuration information 132 is user configuration information 335 (S119). Server 30 retrieves local configuration information 132 from the storage unit 130 of vehicle 10-1 (S120), and then records local configuration information 132 as user configuration information 335 (S130). S130 corresponds to the process of overwriting past configuration information 180 with local configuration information 132 if server 30 receives a second response signal. After S117 or S130, the process proceeds to S135, S140, and S150.

[0070] According to this modified example 1, the user setting information 335 can be made more suitable.

[0071] [Differentiation 2] In the embodiment and its modified example 1, the local setting information 132 (guest setting information 160) is assumed to be acquired by the server 30 when the vehicle 10 is registered as a user, but it may also be acquired by the server 30 after user registration.

[0072] For example, user U may want to record the aforementioned default settings information as user settings information 335 when registering as a user, and then overwrite the default settings information with local settings information 132 and record it as user settings information 335.

[0073] In this modified example 2, the HMI device 110 is configured to display a button (not shown) that receives a user operation instructing the recording of local configuration information 132. When this button is operated, the ECU 170 can send a request to the server 30 to record the local configuration information 132 as user configuration information 335 (in other words, to overwrite the default configuration information with the local configuration information 132). In response to this request, the server 30 retrieves the local configuration information 132 from the storage unit 130 and performs the recording process. In this case, the request sent from the ECU 170 to the server 30 as described above corresponds to an example of the "first request" in this disclosure. Thus, the "first request" may be sent to the server 30 either during user registration or after user registration, as long as it is a signal requesting that the local configuration information 132 be recorded in the storage device 310 as user configuration information 335.

[0074] According to this modified example 2, user U can record local configuration information 132 on the server 30 at any time after user registration.

[0075] [Difference 3] The memory unit 130 may also store an index value indicating the frequency of guest mode usage. This index value is, for example, the number of items in the guest setting information 160. The number of items is the number of types of information included in the guest setting information 160, such as audio setting information 143, set temperature information 144, seat position information 145, and favorite location information 147. The index value may be the number of favorite locations indicated in the favorite location information 147, or it may be a value indicating the cumulative length of time that guest mode has been set in vehicle 10-1.

[0076] The server 30 (specifically, the processing unit 320) may, upon user registration, retrieve an index value from the storage unit 130 in response to request RQ1, and execute recording processing if the index value is higher than a threshold. The threshold is stored, for example, in the storage device 310.

[0077] A higher index value indicates a higher probability that user U has used guest mode more frequently. In this case, guest setting information 160 is considered particularly suitable as user setting information 335. On the other hand, if user U has not used guest mode very frequently, for example, the default setting information on server 30 may be more suitable as user setting information 335 than guest setting information 160. With the above configuration, if there is a high probability that user U has used the guest mode of vehicle 10-1 frequently, guest setting information 160 is recorded as user setting information 335. This makes it possible to appropriately determine user setting information 335 according to the frequency of guest mode use.

[0078] [Other variations] Request RQ1 is intended to be sent from the mobile terminal 5 to the server 30, but it may also be sent from the vehicle 10-1 (ECU 170) to the server 30. Request RQ2 is intended to be sent from the vehicle 10-1 to the server 30, but it may also be sent from the mobile terminal 5 to the server 30.

[0079] User authentication for vehicle 10 may be performed using short-range communication between user U's smart key (not shown) and vehicle 10, or using a digital key.

[0080] Vehicle 10-1 does not necessarily have a guest mode. In this case as well, the local configuration information 132 of vehicle 10-1 is the same as the guest configuration information 160 in that it is shared configuration information set locally in vehicle 10-1 for the equipment 101 of vehicle 10-1. Therefore, each of the recording process, transmission process, inquiry process, and decision process is applicable even to the case where vehicle 10-1 does not have a guest mode.

[0081] Server 30 may synchronize with the storage unit 130 and obtain local configuration information 132 (guest configuration information 160) from the storage unit 130 when user U alights from vehicle 10 (e.g., vehicle 10-1) or at predetermined intervals (e.g., every 30 minutes). In this case, server 30 updates user configuration information 335 according to the obtained local configuration information 132. This ensures that even if user U changes the local configuration information 132 while using vehicle 10-1, the latest local configuration information 132 is recorded as user configuration information 335. As a result, when user U next uses a registered vehicle, they can start using that vehicle with user configurations that reflect user U's latest preferences.

[0082] In this embodiment, the vehicle type of vehicle 10-1 is assumed to be the same as that of vehicle 10-2, but they may be different. If the seat position information 345 is set based on the vehicle type of vehicle 10-1, then when user setting information 335 including this seat position information 345 is transmitted to vehicle 10-2, the seat position indicated by the seat position information 345 may not necessarily be suitable as the seat position of vehicle 10-2. In this case, the server 30 may use a map representing the correspondence between the seat positions of vehicle 10-1 and vehicle 10-2 to optimize (fine-tune) the seat position information 345 to suit vehicle 10-2, and then transmit information indicating the optimized seat position to vehicle 10-2. [Industrial applicability]

[0083] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are intended to be included. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] 1 information processing system, 10 vehicles, 30 servers, 100 equipment, 130 memory units, 305 communication devices, 310 memory devices, 320 processing units.

Claims

1. A server that communicates with multiple vehicles, including the first vehicle and the second vehicle, A storage device configured to store user setting information, which includes setting information for each of the multiple vehicles, associated with the user of the first vehicle, It comprises a processing unit configured to perform recording and transmission processing, The first vehicle includes a storage unit that stores local setting information set in the first vehicle for the equipment of the first vehicle. The recording process includes recording the local setting information as user setting information in the storage device in response to a first request from the user. The transmission process includes transmitting the recorded user setting information to the second vehicle in response to a second request from the second vehicle. The modes of the first vehicle include a user mode in which the user is authenticated in the first vehicle and a guest mode in which the user is not authenticated in the first vehicle. The server includes guest configuration information, which is the configuration information of the equipment in the first vehicle, modified from the default configuration information of the equipment in the first vehicle during the guest mode.

2. The storage device stores past setting information as user setting information that was recorded before the recording of the guest setting information. The processing unit is configured to further perform query processing and decision processing, The aforementioned query process includes a process for inquiring the user about whether to determine whether to use the guest settings information or the past settings information as the user settings information. The server according to claim 1, wherein the determination process includes determining either the guest configuration information or the past configuration information as the user configuration information according to the result of the query process.

3. The user setting information further includes the user identification information and the first vehicle identification information, wherein the user identification information and the first vehicle identification information are associated with the setting information of the user setting information. The first request includes the user's identification information and the first vehicle's identification information, The recording process includes a process of acquiring the guest setting information from the storage unit of the first vehicle in response to the first request, and recording the guest setting information as the setting information of the user setting information, associated with the user identification information and the identification information of the first vehicle of the user setting information. The memory unit further stores an index value indicating the frequency of use of the guest mode. The server according to claim 1, wherein the processing device performs the recording process when the index value is higher than a threshold value.

4. The server according to claim 1, wherein the guest setting information includes at least one of the following: information indicating the set volume of the audio equipment of the first vehicle; information indicating the set location of the favorite spot of the first vehicle; information indicating the history of the set location of the destination of the first vehicle; information indicating the set temperature of the air conditioner of the first vehicle; and information indicating the set position of the seat of the first vehicle.

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