Vehicle-mounted devices

Abstract

To support a creation of information about a function to be provided by a setup mounted on a vehicle.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus comprises a control unit that executes the steps of: acquiring, from a vehicle, setup information indicative of a setup mounted on the vehicle; identifying a function to be provided to the user by the vehicle, based on information representative of a combination of a previously-determined function to be provided on the vehicle and a setup to be used to provide the function and the acquired setup information; and transmitting the information indicative of the identified function to the vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus and an in-vehicle apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 proposes an information providing system that provides information to an in-vehicle apparatus using wireless communication. The information providing system has a communication station that holds control information regarding the operation of in-vehicle apparatuses different for each vehicle type of the mounted vehicle. The in-vehicle apparatus transmits the ID of the in-vehicle apparatus and the vehicle type of the mounted vehicle to the communication station, and the communication station transmits the control information corresponding to the vehicle type received from the in-vehicle apparatus to the in-vehicle apparatus ID.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] ] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a technique for assisting in creating information regarding functions that can be provided by equipment mounted on a vehicle.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The information processing apparatus according to the present disclosure acquires equipment information indicating equipment mounted on the vehicle from the vehicle, identifies functions that the vehicle can provide to a user based on information representing a combination of functions that can be provided in the vehicle and the equipment used to provide the functions, which is predetermined, and the acquired equipment information, transmits information indicating the identified functions to the vehicle, and includes a control unit that executes the above.

[0006] The in-vehicle devices relating to other aspects of this disclosure are: The system collects information regarding the presence or absence of equipment installed in the vehicle from multiple electronic control devices installed in the vehicle, and transmits equipment information indicating the equipment installed in the vehicle to a predetermined server. Obtaining individual vehicle information from the predetermined server, which indicates the functions that can be performed on the vehicle, determined according to the equipment information; Based on the aforementioned individual vehicle information, the equipment installed on the vehicle is controlled. It includes a control unit that performs the following actions. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] This disclosure provides technology to assist in creating information about the functions that can be provided by equipment installed in a vehicle. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows an example of the system configuration. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic sequence diagram illustrating an example of a process performed by the system. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows an example of an equipment information table. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows an example of a standard table. [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows an example of a correspondence table. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows an example of an individual vehicle table. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The information processing device includes a control unit that performs the following actions: acquiring equipment information from a vehicle indicating the equipment installed in the vehicle; identifying a predetermined combination of functions that can be provided by the vehicle and the equipment used to provide those functions, and based on the acquired equipment information, identifying a function that the vehicle can provide to a user; and transmitting information indicating the identified function to the vehicle.

[0010] The information processing device is, for example, a server device connected to a communication network. The server device may be multiple devices operating in cooperation, or it may be a so-called cloud server. The information processing device also holds information representing combinations of functions that can be provided by the vehicle and the equipment used to provide those functions. This information representing combinations can be implemented, for example, as a database table or as a program including predetermined conversion logic. The functions may be made possible by multiple pieces of equipment. The functions may also be services that the vehicle can receive via a network. In this way, the functions (services) that can be provided by the equipment installed in the vehicle can be automatically identified, and it becomes possible to support the creation of information related to those functions.

[0011] Furthermore, an in-vehicle device relating to another aspect of this disclosure includes a control unit that collects information from a plurality of electronic control units mounted on the vehicle regarding the presence or absence of equipment mounted on the vehicle, transmits equipment information indicating the equipment mounted on the vehicle to a predetermined server, obtains individual vehicle information from the predetermined server indicating the functions that can be provided by the vehicle, determined according to the equipment information, and controls the equipment mounted on the vehicle based on the individual vehicle information.

[0012] In-vehicle devices include, for example, in-vehicle communication devices with communication modules and ECUs (Electronic Control Units) that control communication, and which communicate with other computers via a communication network. This is possible. The in-vehicle device may be directly connected to, for example, a base station of a mobile communication network, or may be connected to the communication network using a communication device possessed by a user (driver or passenger) of the vehicle as an access point. The in-vehicle device can also communicate with an electronic control device mounted on the vehicle to recognize the equipment mounted on the vehicle. The electronic control device is, for example, an ECU or a controller for controlling equipment provided in the vehicle. In addition, functions that can be provided in the host vehicle may be executable by a plurality of pieces of equipment. The function may also be a service received through cooperation operations of the vehicle and a server, etc. by the vehicle communicating with, for example, the server via a network. By doing so, functions (services) that can be provided by equipment mounted on the vehicle can be automatically specified on the server side, and creation of information regarding the functions can be assisted.

[0013] Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described based on the drawings. Dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements of components described in this embodiment, configurations of the system, data used in processing, etc. are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present disclosure only to these unless otherwise specified.

[0014] <First Embodiment> (Configuration) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the system according to this embodiment. The system 100 includes a server 1 and a vehicle 2 connected via a network N1. The network N1 is, for example, a data communication network connected to the Internet, and the server 1 and the vehicle 2 can communicate based on a predetermined protocol. The server 1 may also be a plurality of devices operating in cooperation, or may be a so-called cloud server. Also, a plurality of vehicles 2 may exist. The server 1 and the vehicle 2 can communicate based on a predetermined protocol. The server 1 may also be a plurality of devices operating in cooperation, or may be a so-called cloud server. Also, a plurality of vehicles 2 may exist.

[0015] Server 1 is, for example, a server device in a center that manages vehicles. Server 1 stores service information that indicates the functions (services) that can be provided to a vehicle model. The service information indicates the functions that can be provided to a vehicle model based on the standard equipment and optional equipment that can be installed on the vehicle model. The vehicle model may also include, for example, the vehicle type, and may further identify information such as the vehicle grade and generation information indicating minor changes. Server 1 then obtains equipment information from vehicle 2, for example, at the time of vehicle manufacturing, indicating the equipment installed in the individual vehicle, and creates individual vehicle information that indicates the functions that can be provided to the vehicle according to the equipment installed in the individual vehicle. Vehicle 2 is equipped with a processor (control unit) 21 that can identify the equipment installed in vehicle 2 by communicating with an electronic control unit 24 installed in vehicle 2. The processor 21 also transmits equipment information indicating the equipment installed in the vehicle to Server 1. Vehicle 2 also obtains the individual vehicle information described above from Server 1 and controls the equipment installed in vehicle 2 based on the individual vehicle information.

[0016] Server 1 is a server device that manages vehicle 2. Server 1 comprises a processor 11, a storage device 12, and a communication interface (I / F) 13. The processor 11 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), and A Such as SIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) and FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). The processor 11 executes the processes described in this embodiment by reading and executing the programs stored in the storage device 12. In the example of FIG. 1, functional blocks are shown within the processor 11. That is, the processor 11 functions as an information collection unit 111 and an individual setting unit 112. The information collection unit 111 acquires information indicating the equipment mounted on the vehicle 2 from the vehicle 2 via the network N1. The individual setting unit 112 creates individual vehicle information indicating the functions that can be provided in the vehicle 2 according to the equipment of the vehicle 2, and transmits it to the vehicle 2 via the network N1.

[0017] The storage device 12 includes a main storage device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), and an auxiliary storage device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), HDD (Hard Disk Drive), SSD (Solid State Drive) or flash memory. Note that the auxiliary storage device may include a removable medium. Here, the removable medium is, for example, a USB memory, an SD card, or a disk recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD disk, or a Blu-ray (registered trademark). The storage device 12 stores programs for executing the processes according to this embodiment and data used in the processes.

[0018] The communication I / F 23 is a network interface controller for connecting the server 1 to the network N1. The communication I / F 23 operates according to, for example, the communication standard of a wired LAN and connects the server 1 to the network N1.

[0019] Vehicle 2 is equipped with a processor (control unit) 21, a storage device 22, a communication interface (I / F) 23, and an electronic control unit 24, and is connected to Server 1 via the communication I / F 23 and network N1. The processor 21, storage device 22, and communication I / F 23 may be components mounted on a single in-vehicle device 20, or at least some of these components may be implemented not as a single module, but distributed across multiple in-vehicle devices, etc.

[0020] The processor 21 is, for example, a CPU, a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an ASIC, an FPGA, etc. The processor 21 executes the process described in this embodiment by reading and executing a program stored in the memory device 22. In the example in Figure 1, the processor The system 21 displays functional blocks. Specifically, the processor 21 functions as an existence / non-existence unit 211 and a function provision unit 212. The existence / non-existence unit 211 receives predetermined data from the electronic control unit 24 and can recognize that the equipment controlled by the electronic control unit 24 is installed. The function provision unit 212 obtains individual information from the server 1 indicating the functions that can be provided in the individual vehicle 2, and controls the equipment installed in the vehicle 2 based on the individual information.

[0021] The storage device 22 includes a main memory such as RAM, and an auxiliary storage device such as ROM, HDD, SSD, or flash memory. The auxiliary storage device may also include removable media (portable recording media). Here, removable media is, for example, a USB memory, an SD card, or a disk recording medium such as a CD-ROM, DVD disc, or Blu-ray® disc. The storage device 22 stores a program that executes the processing according to this embodiment, and data used in the processing.

[0022] Communication I / F23 is an interface for connecting vehicle 2 or an in-vehicle device installed in vehicle 2 to network N1. Communication I / F23 may connect vehicle 2 or the in-vehicle device directly to network N1 using a predetermined wireless communication standard such as 4G (4th Generation Mobile Communication System) or 5G (5th Generation Mobile Communication System), or it may connect to network N1 via other communication equipment that functions as an access point. Other communication equipment may be, for example, communication equipment owned by the user of vehicle 2, in which case communication I / F23 connects to other communication equipment using a communication standard such as wireless LAN (Local Area Network) or Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0023] Furthermore, the electronic control unit 24 electronically controls various modules such as the engine, transmission, brakes, airbags, lane keeping system, adaptive cruise control system, door locks and other remote control systems, as well as the car stereo. O is a controller that controls electrical equipment such as air conditioners. Vehicle 2 is equipped with multiple electronic control devices 24.

[0024] The above configuration is connected via signal lines and communicates according to in-vehicle communication standards such as CAN (Controller Area Network) and LIN (Local Interconnect Network).

[0025] (process) Figure 2 is a schematic sequence diagram showing an example of the processing performed by system 100. System 100's vehicle 2 presence / absence confirmation unit 211 requests a list of equipment that can be installed on vehicle 2 from server 1 via communication I / F 23 and network N1 (Figure 2: S1). The request may also include information indicating the model of vehicle 2. Server 1's processor 11 then transmits the list of equipment that can be installed on vehicle 2 and has vehicle 2 download it (Figure 2: S2).

[0026] Figure 3 shows an example of an equipment information table pre-stored in Server 1. The equipment information table is assumed to be created in advance and stored in the storage device 12 of Server 1. The equipment information table maintains the correspondence between vehicle models and installable equipment and includes the attributes "Model" and "Equipment". The "Model" field registers identification information that can identify the vehicle type, for example. The identification information registered in the "Model" field may also include information that can further identify the vehicle's grade or generation information indicating minor changes. The "Equipment" attribute includes attributes that indicate specific equipment such as "Driver's side power window" and "Passenger side power window". The "Equipment" field also registers information indicating whether or not the equipment can be installed. In the example in Figure 3, the flag indicating whether or not it can be installed is 1 or 0. It is represented by two values. In S2 of Figure 2, the information gathering unit 111 of the server 1 extracts, for example, the installable equipment corresponding to the model of the vehicle 2 from the equipment information table, and transmits the extracted list of equipment to the vehicle 2 via the communication I / F 13 and network N1.

[0027] The vehicle 2 presence / absence confirmation unit 211 then queries the multiple electronic control devices 24 equipped in the vehicle 2 for their presence or absence (Figure 2: S3). Meanwhile, the electronic control devices 24 respond to the processor 21 with information indicating the equipment they control (Figure 2: S4). Each electronic control device 24 transmits data indicating the equipment it controls to the processor 21 if such equipment exists. In S3 and S4, for example, existing liveness monitoring may be used to perform active or passive monitoring. For example, the query in S3 may be omitted, and information indicating the equipment controlled by each electronic control device 24 may be transmitted to the processor 21 continuously after power is supplied to each electronic control device 24 or while each electronic control device 24 is operating. Note that if one electronic control device 24 controls multiple pieces of equipment, such as when one ECU controls multiple sets of power windows and door locks, one electronic control device 24 may transmit information about multiple pieces of equipment.

[0028] Furthermore, the vehicle 2 presence / absence confirmation unit 211 creates equipment information, which is a list of equipment installed on vehicle 2 (Figure 2: S5). In this step, for example, a list showing the equipment installed on vehicle 2 (the own vehicle) is created from the list downloaded in S2, based on the information transmitted in S4. That is, equipment information can be created by removing equipment not installed on vehicle 2 from the list. Then, the vehicle 2 presence / absence confirmation unit 211 transmits the equipment information created in S5 via the communication I / F 23 and network N1 (Figure 2: S6). Meanwhile, the server 1's information collection unit 111 receives the equipment information and stores it in the storage device 12.

[0029] Furthermore, the individual configuration unit 112 of server 1 creates information indicating the functions that can be provided for each of the vehicles 2 based on the equipment information received in S6 (Figure 2: S7).

[0030] Figure 4 shows an example of a standard table (service information) that shows the functions (services) that can be provided for a vehicle model. The standard table is also assumed to be created in advance and stored in the storage device 12 of server 1. The standard table includes the attributes "model" and "function (service)". The information registered in the "model" field is the same as the information registered in the "model" field in Figure 3, and for example, identification information that can identify the vehicle model is registered. The identification information registered in the "model" field may also include generation information that further identifies the vehicle's grade or minor changes. The "function (service)" attribute further includes attributes that indicate specific functions of the vehicle, such as "telematics" and "remote warning". The "function (service)" field also registers information indicating whether or not it can be provided. In the example in Figure 4, the flag indicating whether or not it can be provided is represented by a binary value of 1 or 0. In S7 of Figure 2, for example, among the functions that can generally be provided by the model corresponding to vehicle 2 shown in Figure 4, the functions that can be provided by the individual vehicle 2 according to the equipment installed on vehicle 2 are extracted.

[0031] Figure 5 shows an example of a correspondence table that shows the relationship between a function (service) and the equipment necessary to provide that function. The correspondence table is assumed to have been created in advance and stored in the storage device 12 of Server 1. The correspondence table includes attributes for "function (service)" and "equipment". The "function (service)" field registers information indicating the specific functions of the vehicle, such as "telematics" and "remote warning". The "equipment" field registers information indicating the equipment necessary to provide each function. Note that the correspondence does not have to be one-to-one; multiple pieces of equipment necessary to realize a single function may be registered in association with that function. For example, a power window to be controlled and a smart key for remote operation. If the above conditions are met, it may be determined that remote operation is possible. Alternatively, instead of a correspondence table, a program including logic for determining whether the vehicle 2 is equipped with the necessary equipment to provide the function may be executed. The correspondence table and the program including the logic described above are examples of information representing combinations of functions that a vehicle can provide and the equipment used to provide those functions. Furthermore, the functions are not limited to those realized solely by the equipment that the vehicle 2 is equipped with, but may also be services that the vehicle 2 can receive by connecting to the server 1 via the network N1, such as remote control provided by the server 1 via the network N1. In S7 of Figure 2, the individual setting unit 112 extracts functions that can be provided by the equipment included in the equipment information received in S6 from among the functions that the vehicle 2 is capable of providing in the standard table. The individual setting unit 112 then stores a list of functions that the vehicle 2 can provide in the storage device 12 in association with the identification information of the vehicle 2.

[0032] Figure 6 shows an example of an individual vehicle table that shows the functions available for each vehicle 2. The individual vehicle table includes the attributes "Vehicle ID" and "Function (Service)". The "Vehicle ID" field contains identification information to uniquely identify vehicle 2. The "Function (Service)" attribute includes attributes that indicate the specific functions of the vehicle, such as "Telematics" and "Remote Warning". The information registered in the "Function (Service)" field is the same as the information registered in the "Function (Service)" field in Figure 4, and it registers information indicating whether or not each function can be provided. In the example in Figure 6, the flag indicating availability is represented by a binary value of 1 or 0. In S7 of Figure 2, information corresponding to, for example, one record in Figure 6 is created as "Individual Information".

[0033] Then, the individual configuration unit 112 of server 1 transmits the individual information created in S7 to vehicle 2 via communication I / F 13 and network N1 (Figure 2: S8). Meanwhile, the function provision unit 212 of vehicle 2 acquires the individual information via communication I / F 23 and stores it in the storage device 22. The processes shown from S1 to S9 in Figure 2 are executed, for example, when purchasing a new car, after optional equipment has been installed at the manufacturer's factory.

[0034] Furthermore, for example, after delivery to the buyer, the function-providing unit 212 of the vehicle 2 controls the vehicle 2 according to the individual information stored in the storage device 22 (Figure 2: S10). For example, the function-providing unit 212 controls each of the electronic control devices 24 to provide a predetermined function based on the individual information.

[0035] Furthermore, after delivery to the purchaser, the processor 11 of server 1 may also execute processing based on the individual vehicle table in Figure 6. That is, the processor 11 of server 1 may cooperate with the processor 11 of vehicle 2 via network N1 to provide predetermined functions. For example, when the processor 11 of server 1 receives a predetermined request via network N1 from a predetermined program installed on a mobile terminal such as a smartphone owned by the user of vehicle 2, it may perform some kind of remote control of vehicle 2. Also, when the processor 11 of server 1 receives a predetermined communication from the processor 21 of vehicle 2 via network N1, it may send some kind of notification to the mobile terminal owned by the user of vehicle 2. In addition, when a new version of the software or firmware that operates the equipment is provided, the individual vehicle table may be used to identify the vehicle 2 equipped with the equipment that is subject to update. Furthermore, individual information may be provided to the computer of the automobile dealer.

[0036] (effect) According to this embodiment, the processor 21 of the vehicle 2 collects information on the equipment installed in the vehicle 2 from the electronic control unit 24, and the server 1 processes the information according to the equipment of each individual vehicle 2. The system can automatically identify the functions that can be provided. In other words, it can assist in creating information about the functions that can be provided by the equipment installed on vehicle 2. Therefore, compared to the case where an operator manually inputs individual equipment information according to the optional equipment installed on vehicle 2, the man-hours required to register individual equipment information can be reduced. The functions that can be provided to vehicle 2 may be those that are provided without communication on vehicle 2, or they may be services provided by the equipment installed on vehicle 2 or the processor 21 working in cooperation with server 1 or a mobile device owned by the user of vehicle 2. In the latter case, server 1 can more accurately manage services according to the equipment of vehicle 2, and the cooperation becomes smoother.

[0037] <Second Embodiment> The processes described above may be performed continuously, not just when a new car is purchased. For example, the vehicle 2 existence confirmation unit 211 executes processes S3 and S4 in Figure 2 each time power is supplied from the battery or each predetermined period of time has elapsed. Also, if a change in equipment installed on vehicle 2 is detected in S5, equipment information for the difference or all of the equipment is sent to server 1 in S6. Meanwhile, the individual setting unit 112 of server 1 creates individual information based on the changed equipment in S7, and sends the individual information based on the changed equipment to vehicle 2 in S8. Then, the function provision unit 212 of vehicle 2 updates the individual information stored in the storage device 22 and controls the equipment of vehicle 2 based on the new individual information.

[0038] According to this embodiment, even if equipment is added or changed after the fact, workers can receive appropriate services without having to perform any operations related to the equipment change. For example, if a vibration sensor is added to a vehicle 2 that is already equipped with an in-vehicle communication device, the processor 11 of the server 1 detects that a remote warning function can be provided to the vehicle 2 based on the correspondence table shown in Figure 5, and, for example, works in cooperation with the server 1 to execute a predetermined remote warning process.

[0039] <Other Embodiments> The embodiments described above are merely examples, and this disclosure may be modified as appropriate without departing from its essence. Furthermore, the processes and means described in this disclosure can be freely combined and implemented as long as no technical inconsistencies arise.

[0040] The storage device 22 of vehicle 2 does not necessarily have the equipment information shown in Figure 3 or the standard table shown in Figure 4. In this case, the existence / non-existence confirmation unit 211 of vehicle 2 omits steps S1 and S2 in Figure 2 and creates equipment information indicating the equipment installed in vehicle 2 based on information obtained from the electronic control unit 24 installed in vehicle 2. On the other hand, if a list of equipment that can be installed in vehicle 2 is transmitted in step S2 of Figure 2, equipment information can be created in vehicle 2 by removing equipment that is not installed from the list.

[0041] Furthermore, a process described as being performed by a single device may be divided and executed by multiple devices. Conversely, a process described as being performed by different devices may be executed by a single device. In a computer system, the hardware configuration (server configuration) by which each function is implemented can be flexibly changed.

[0042] Furthermore, the data structure of the tables shown in Figures 3 to 6 is just an example, and the information may be normalized and stored in multiple tables as appropriate, or denormalized and stored in a single table. Also, the information registered in the illustrated tables is just an example; for example, information indicating equipment and functions may be specific product numbers of the equipment or more detailed identification information of the functions.

[0043] The present disclosure can also be realized by supplying a computer program implementing the functions described in the embodiments above to a computer, and having one or more processors in the computer read and execute the program. Such a computer program may be provided to the computer by a non-temporary computer-readable storage medium that can be connected to the computer's system bus, or it may be provided to the computer via a network. The non-temporary computer-readable storage medium includes any type of disk, such as magnetic disks (floppy disks, hard disk drives (HDDs), etc.), optical disks (CD-ROMs, DVDs, Blu-ray discs, etc.), read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), EPROM, EEPROM, magnetic cards, flash memory, or optical cards, and any other type of medium suitable for storing electronic instructions. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0044] 100: System, 1: Server, 11: Processor, 111: Information gathering unit, 112: Individual setting unit, 12: Storage device, 13: Communication I / F, 2: Vehicle, 20: In-vehicle device, 21: Processor, 211: Existence / non-existence confirmation unit, 212: Function provision unit, 22: Storage device, 23: Communication I / F, 24: Electronic control unit, N1: Network

Claims

[Claim 1] The system collects information regarding the presence or absence of equipment installed in the vehicle from multiple electronic control devices installed in the vehicle, and transmits equipment information indicating the equipment installed in the vehicle to a predetermined server. Obtaining individual vehicle information from the predetermined server, which indicates the functions that can be provided by the vehicle, determined according to the equipment information; Based on the aforementioned individual vehicle information, the equipment installed on the vehicle is controlled. An in-vehicle device equipped with a control unit that performs the following actions.

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