Vehicle management system

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a vehicle management system that controls activation and stopping of a vehicle owned by a user, by a command from a management server, and includes a relay capable of being turned on by an external turn-on permission instruction, thereby improving a security function. [Solution] A vehicle management system comprises: a management server that manages an activation state of a vehicle and provides instructions to activate or stop the vehicle; a GPS receiver that is installed in the vehicle; and an in-vehicle device that is installed in the vehicle, transmits the activation state and location information of the vehicle to the management server, and controls activation and stopping of the vehicle. The in-vehicle device controls a relay that switches activation and stopping of a drive device of the vehicle. The management server determines, on the basis of the activation information and location information of the vehicle transmitted from the in-vehicle device, whether or not it is permissible to activate or stop the vehicle, and then transmits a vehicle activation command or stop command to the in-vehicle device. Then, the in-vehicle device transmits a signal for setting or resetting the relay to the relay.

Description

Vehicle Management System

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle management system, and more particularly to a vehicle management system that enables control of the start and stop of vehicles owned by users based on commands from a management server.

[0002] A large number of systems for controlling vehicles with various ingenious features have been used, and safe and highly reliable vehicle control systems with a wide variety of functions have been developed and are in use. A vehicle control system is a system that enables external control of the start and stop of a vehicle such as an automobile driven by a user, and enables safe external control of the start and stop of the vehicle when the user is forced to stop operation of the vehicle due to various circumstances.

[0003] An example of technology related to such a vehicle management system is disclosed in Published Patent Application No. 2018 / 235275. This publication discloses technology related to an on-board device for locking and unlocking the doors of vehicles used for car rentals and car sharing, which includes a communication means for receiving locking and unlocking commands from a user terminal directly or via a server, and at least one internal relay connected to wiring between the vehicle's door key switch and door lock actuator, and the internal relay controls at least one external relay to drive the door lock actuator and lock and unlock the door.

[0004] This technology does indeed make it possible to construct a device that can lock and unlock vehicle doors without going through the vehicle's ECU or CAN, but there are security issues with the relay itself, and there is a major problem in that it is possible to easily control the relay through unauthorized operation to lock and unlock the doors, so it cannot be said to be a sufficient technology from a security perspective.

[0005] Systems that control the start and stop of vehicles based on commands from a management server must be able to prevent unauthorized use from the standpoints of reliability, safety, and crime prevention.Therefore, there has been a demand for the development of a vehicle management system that allows users to control the start and stop of their vehicles based on commands from the management server, and that is equipped with relays that are configured to be energized when they receive an external command to allow power to be applied.

[0006] Special publication 2018 / 235275 publication

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a vehicle management system that, in particular, enables the start and stop of vehicles owned by users to be controlled by commands from a management server, and has a relay structure that allows it to be energized upon receiving an external instruction to allow power to be applied, thereby improving security functions.

[0008] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the vehicle management system of the present invention is a vehicle management system for managing the startup status of a vehicle from a remote location, and comprises a management server that manages the startup status of the vehicle and gives instructions to start and stop the vehicle, a GPS receiver installed in the vehicle, and a vehicle-mounted device that is installed in the vehicle and sends the startup status and location information of the vehicle to the management server and controls the startup and stopping of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle-mounted device controls a relay that switches the startup and stopping of the vehicle's drive device, and the management server determines whether to start or stop the vehicle based on the startup information and location information of the vehicle sent from the vehicle-mounted device, and then sends a start command or stop command for the vehicle to the vehicle-mounted device, and the vehicle-mounted device then sends a signal to the relay to perform set or reset processing of the relay.

[0009] The relay also includes an electromagnetic unit having an electromagnet, a contact unit that brings a movable contact and a fixed contact into contact with or separates them as current flows through the electromagnet, a control unit that receives the signal, analyzes the received signal, and determines whether or not current should be passed through the electromagnetic unit based on the analysis results, and a power supply switching unit that selects or switches between power to the electromagnetic unit or power to the contact unit and supplies power to the control unit.

[0010] The control unit also includes a receiving unit for receiving the signal from the vehicle-mounted device, and the receiving unit receives and analyzes the power supply permission signal from the vehicle-mounted device to determine whether or not to supply power to the electromagnetic unit, and then supplies power to the electromagnetic unit. The power supply switching unit is configured to be connected to both a terminal on the electromagnetic unit side and a terminal on the contact unit side, and to ensure power supply for the control unit, when there is no current between the terminals on the electromagnetic unit side, the power switching unit obtains power from the terminal on the contact unit side and supplies power to the control unit for performing the control function, and when there is current between the terminals on the electromagnetic unit side, the power switching unit obtains power from the terminal on the electromagnetic unit side and supplies power to the control unit for performing the control function.

[0011] The electromagnetic unit has a latching structure including a set coil and a reset coil, and is configured such that energization of the electromagnetic unit is ensured by energizing the set coil to bring the contact units into contact, and energization of the reset coil is released to separate the contact units. The electromagnetic unit also has a latching structure that controls energization / de-energization of the electromagnetic unit by reversing polarity, thereby controlling the contact units into contact / separation.

[0012] The management server is further configured to include a user database that registers and holds information related to the user of the vehicle, the user database including storage location information of the vehicle, and upon acquiring information that the vehicle has been parked for a predetermined period of time within a predetermined range from the storage location registered in the storage location information, determine whether to start or stop the vehicle and transmit a start command or stop command for the vehicle to the vehicle-mounted device. Furthermore, the management server is configured to, upon the occurrence of a disaster, acquire location information of the vehicle and, upon acquiring information that the vehicle is located in a predetermined disaster area, release the control of the relay by the vehicle-mounted device.

[0013] The relay is configured to include a measuring means for measuring a resistance value of each device connected to the vehicle, and when the relay detects that the resistance value is outside a predetermined range, to transmit an alert signal to the vehicle-mounted device, and the vehicle-mounted device transmits alert information to the management server. The vehicle management system is configured to include a mobile communication terminal capable of communicating with the vehicle-mounted device, and a selecting means for selectively switching between communication between the management server and the vehicle-mounted device and communication between the mobile communication terminal and the vehicle-mounted device.

[0014] Furthermore, when the mobile communication terminal approaches the vehicle, it transmits a command to start the vehicle to the vehicle-mounted device, and the vehicle-mounted device transmits a signal to the relay to perform a set process of the relay, and when the mobile communication terminal moves away from the vehicle, it transmits a command to stop the vehicle to the vehicle-mounted device, and the vehicle-mounted device transmits a signal to the relay to perform a reset process of the relay. Furthermore, the vehicle-mounted device is equipped with an acceleration sensor, and when the acceleration sensor detects acceleration exceeding a predetermined value, the vehicle-mounted device transmits a signal to the relay to perform a reset process of the relay.

[0015] The management server is further configured to include a theft detection means for detecting that the vehicle has been stopped for a certain period of time from the GPS information of the vehicle received from the vehicle-mounted device, and then transmitting a vehicle stop command and an alert command to the vehicle-mounted device when information from the vehicle-mounted device cannot be obtained within a predetermined period of time. Furthermore, the vehicle-mounted device detects whether or not power is being supplied to the electromagnet of the relay, and transmits the detection result to the management server, and the management server determines whether or not the vehicle can be stopped based on whether or not power is being supplied to the electromagnet, and transmits a vehicle stop command to the vehicle-mounted device.

[0016] The present invention has the configuration described above in detail, and therefore has the following advantages. 1. Because the management server is configured to control the vehicle-mounted device mounted on a vehicle equipped with a GPS receiver, it is possible to control the vehicle-mounted device while checking the vehicle's location information and switch between starting and stopping the vehicle's drive system. 2. Because a control unit is provided in the relay mounted on the vehicle, it is possible to ensure security by controlling whether or not electricity is passed through the electromagnetic unit. In addition, because a power supply switching unit is provided, it is possible to switch the power supply of the control unit between the electromagnetic unit side and the contact unit side, making it possible to reliably secure power for the control unit.

[0017] 3. Because the control unit of the relay is configured to include a receiving unit, it is possible for the control unit to control the flow of electricity to the relay after receiving a power-on permission signal from the server via the vehicle onboard device, making it possible to ensure security by operating the relay by receiving a legitimate signal. 4. Because the electromagnetic part of the relay is configured to include a set coil and a reset coil, latching is possible, eliminating the need to constantly energize the electromagnetic part, and enabling highly stable relay control by eliminating power loss or power shortage.

[0018] 5. The polarity of the electromagnetic part of the relay is reversed to control contact / separation with the contact part, making it possible to perform latching, eliminating the need to constantly energize the electromagnetic part and enabling highly stable relay control by eliminating power loss or power shortage. 6. The management server is configured to hold storage location information for each vehicle, making it possible to obtain the vehicle's storage location information and current location information and then issue a start or stop command to the vehicle.

[0019] 7. When a disaster occurs, the management server acquires the vehicle's location information, and when it confirms that the vehicle is in the disaster area, it emergency releases the control of the relay, making it possible to avoid a situation where the vehicle cannot be used when a disaster occurs. 8. The relay is equipped with a measuring means for measuring the resistance value of each device connected to the vehicle, making it possible to detect abnormalities such as vehicle theft from the resistance value and issue an alert.

[0020] 9. Because the vehicle management system is configured to include a mobile communication terminal, it is possible to access the vehicle-mounted device from the mobile communication terminal, and it is possible to issue vehicle start or stop commands using the mobile communication terminal even in environments where communication is not possible. 10. Because the system is configured to switch between vehicle start and stop commands depending on the distance between the mobile communication terminal and the vehicle-mounted device, it is possible to easily issue vehicle start and stop commands simply by holding the mobile communication terminal, making it possible to ensure a higher level of security.

[0021] 11. The vehicle-mounted device is configured to include an acceleration sensor, which makes it possible to detect vehicle accidents and send a command to stop the vehicle to prevent vehicle fires, etc. 12. The management server is configured to include a theft detection means, which makes it possible to detect vehicle theft using GPS information and information from the vehicle-mounted device. 13. The management server is configured to send a command to stop the vehicle based on whether or not power is being supplied to the electromagnet, which makes it possible to detect when the vehicle has stopped and safely perform the vehicle stopping process.

[0022] A vehicle management system according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. Fig. 1 is a conceptual diagram of the vehicle management system according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a relay, Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram showing the mechanism of the power supply switching operation of the relay, and Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram of a relay using a latching structure.

[0023] As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle management system 1 of the present invention is a system that comprises a management server 100, a vehicle-mounted device 200, and a relay 300, and manages the startup status of a vehicle 10 from a remote location. It enables the startup and shutdown of the vehicle 10 owned by the user to be controlled by commands from the management server 100, and is a vehicle management system that has improved security functions by including a relay 300 that has a structure that allows it to be energized upon receiving an external instruction to allow it to be energized.

[0024] In this embodiment, the vehicle 10 is mainly composed of a passenger car, but it may also include any type of vehicle, such as a motorcycle, truck, or bus, and may also include heavy machinery.

[0025] The management server 100 is a server that manages the activation status of the vehicle 10 and issues instructions to activate and shut down the vehicle 10. As shown in FIG. 1 , the management server 100 is installed in a location remote from the vehicle 10 and is connected to the vehicle 10 via a network. The management server 100 may be configured as a single server, or may be configured as a group of multiple servers with distributed processing. Note that communication between the management server 100 and the vehicle 10 is performed using a public line. In this embodiment, Sigfox (registered trademark) is used, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0026] The GPS receiver G is a device that receives signals from GPS satellites and is capable of determining its own position information (latitude and longitude), and is installed in the vehicle 10 in this embodiment.

[0027] The vehicle-mounted device 200 is a component installed in the vehicle 10, and has a function of transmitting the activation status and location information of the vehicle 10 to the management server 100. The current location information of the vehicle 10 is acquired by the GPS receiver G, and then the vehicle-mounted device 200 (described later) transmits the information to the management server 100. The vehicle-mounted device 200 also has a function of controlling the activation and shutdown of the vehicle 10 based on commands transmitted from the management server 100 or the like.

[0028] More specifically, the vehicle-mounted device 200 is configured to control a relay 300 that switches between starting and stopping a drive device (not shown) of the vehicle 10. By switching between setting and resetting the relay 300, it is possible to easily control the starting and stopping of the vehicle 10.

[0029] The management server 100 is configured to determine whether to start or stop the vehicle 10 based on the start information and location information of the vehicle 10 transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device 200. When a start / stop process is required for the vehicle 10, the safety of the vehicle 10 must be ensured when the process is performed. For example, if a stop process is performed while the vehicle 10 is in operation (moving), there is a risk of an accident occurring. The management server 100 is configured to determine safety and, if it is confirmed to be safe, transmit a start command BC or a stop command SC for the vehicle 10 to the vehicle-mounted device 200.

[0030] Thereafter, the vehicle-mounted device 200 that receives the start command BC or the stop command SC of the vehicle 10 transmits a signal S to the relay 300 to perform a set process or a reset process of the relay 300. With this configuration, it is possible to control the vehicle-mounted device 200 while checking the position information of the vehicle 10, and safely switch between starting and stopping the drive device of the vehicle 10.

[0031] Next, a description will be given of the relay 300 mounted on the vehicle 10. The relay 300 is composed of an electromagnetic unit 310, a contact unit 320, a control unit 330, and a power supply switching unit 340, and is a relay with a security function that can switch between energized and de-energized states of the contact unit 320 by controlling the energization of the electromagnetic unit 310 based on a signal S from the vehicle-mounted device 200.

[0032] 2, in this embodiment, the electromagnetic unit 310 includes an electromagnet 312 having a coil. When a current flows between terminals (terminals A and B) on the electromagnetic unit 310 side, the electromagnet 312 provided between the terminals generates a magnetic force.

[0033] 2, the contact unit 320 is a member for supplying power to various electronic components of the vehicle 10, and in this embodiment, includes a movable contact 322 and a fixed contact 324. When a magnetic force is generated by energizing the electromagnet 312 of the electromagnetic unit 310, the movable contact 322 comes into contact with the fixed contact 324, thereby energizing the terminals (terminals C and D) on the contact unit 320 side, and power is supplied to the various electronic components of the vehicle 10. When the power supply to the electromagnetic unit 310 is cut off, the contact between the movable contact 322 and the fixed contact 324 is released, the power supply between terminals C and D is cut off, and the power supply to the various electronic components of the vehicle 10 is stopped.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 2 , the relay 300 includes a control unit 330. The control unit 330 is a component for controlling the flow of electricity between the terminals (terminals A and B) on the electromagnetic unit 310 side. In this embodiment, the control unit 330 receives a signal S from the vehicle-mounted device 200 and analyzes the signal S. The control unit 330 analyzes whether the received signal S is an authenticatable signal, and if it is, starts the flow of electricity between the terminals (terminals A and B) on the electromagnetic unit 310 side. As a result, the movable contact 322 contacts the fixed contact 324, and electricity flows between the terminals (terminals C and D) on the contact unit 320 side, enabling the flow of electricity to various electronic components of the vehicle 10. In other words, the vehicle 10 including the relay 300 can be started and stopped externally by authenticating the signal S, thereby maintaining security.

[0035] 2, the relay 300 further includes a power supply switching unit 340. The power supply switching unit 340 is a member for ensuring power supply for the control unit 330, and in this embodiment, the power supply switching unit 340 is configured to select or switch between power to the electromagnetic unit 310 (power applied between terminals on the electromagnetic unit 310 side) and power to the contact unit 320 (power applied between terminals on the contact unit 320 side) as the power supply for the control unit 330, and supply power as the power supply for the control unit 330.

[0036] 2, in this embodiment, the control unit 330 is configured to include a receiving unit 332. The receiving unit 332 is a member for receiving a signal S emitted from the vehicle-mounted device 200. The receiving unit 332 receives and analyzes the power supply permission signal from the vehicle-mounted device 200 to determine whether or not to supply power to the electromagnetic unit 310. When the power supply permission signal from the vehicle-mounted device 200 is authenticated, the control unit 330 controls the electromagnetic unit 310 to supply power.

[0037] In this embodiment, the control unit 330 and the vehicle-mounted device 200 are connected via wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) encrypted communication or Wi-Fi, but this is not limited to this, and it is of course also possible to connect them directly via a cord or the like.

[0038] 2 and 3, in this embodiment, the power supply switching unit 340 is connected to both the terminals (terminals A and B) on the electromagnetic unit 310 side and the terminals (terminals C and D) on the contact unit 320 side. When no current is conducted between the terminals (terminals A and B) on the electromagnetic unit 310 side, the power supply switching unit 340 obtains power from the terminals on the contact unit 320 side and supplies the power to the control unit 330 for performing its control functions. This power is weak and does not have a significant effect on the various electronic components of the vehicle 10 that use the relay 300.

[0039] When electricity is flowing between the terminals (terminals A and B) on the electromagnetic unit 310 side, it becomes impossible to obtain power from the terminals on the contact unit 320 side. Therefore, the power supply switching unit 340 obtains power from the terminals on the electromagnetic unit 310 side, thereby supplying power to the control unit 330 to perform its control function.

[0040] This configuration makes it possible to select or switch the power source for the control unit 330 between the electromagnetic unit 310 side and the contact unit 320 side, thereby making it possible to reliably secure the power source for the control unit 330.

[0041] 4, in this embodiment, the relay 300 can be configured to have a latching structure using a set coil 314 and a reset coil 316. When current is applied to the set coil 314, the electromagnetic part 310 is energized to bring the contact parts 320 into contact, and when current is applied to the reset coil 316, the electromagnetic part 310 is de-energized to separate the contact parts 320.

[0042] In this configuration, in this embodiment, the drive power for the relay 300 is obtained from the contact unit 320 side, and the control unit 330 controls the energization of the set coil 314 and the reset coil 316 .

[0043] In this embodiment, when current is applied to the electromagnetic portion 310, the contact portion 320 is short-circuited, and when various electronic components of the connected vehicle 10 are operating, it is not possible to obtain drive power from the contact portion 320. In this case, as shown in Fig. 4, by utilizing a latching structure, even when drive power cannot be obtained from the contact portion 320, it is possible to obtain power and ensure the operation power of the relay 300, such as for control by the control portion 330.

[0044] In another embodiment, the electromagnetic part 310 can be configured to have a latching structure that controls contact / separation with the contact part 320 by reversing the polarity to energize / de-energize the electromagnetic part 310.

[0045] With the above configuration, there is no need to constantly supply power to the electromagnetic unit 310, and it is possible to avoid unauthorized power loss to various electronic components of the vehicle 10 due to power loss on the electromagnetic unit 310 side, and power shortages due to power usage on the electromagnetic unit 310 side, and it is therefore possible to provide a relay 300 that is highly safe and convenient for controlling the start and stop of the vehicle 10.

[0046] By using a latching structure, even if it becomes impossible to separate the contacts 320 due to a loss of power, the control unit 330 can control the separation of the contacts 320.

[0047] By configuring the relay 300 as described above, it is possible to prevent fraud, such as starting the vehicle 10 while the vehicle 10 is in the process of stopping, and it is possible to provide a vehicle management system 1 with high security.

[0048] In this embodiment, the management server 100 is configured to include a user database 110. The user database 110 is a database that registers and stores information related to users who own, rent, or lease the vehicle 10, and the information related to the user includes storage location information P of the vehicle 10.

[0049] The management server 100 acquires information indicating that the vehicle 10 has been parked for a predetermined period of time within a predetermined range from a storage location registered in the storage location information P. This makes it possible to determine whether the vehicle 10 is running or stopped. After that, the management server 100 determines whether the vehicle 10 can be started or stopped based on the acquired information, and then transmits a start command BC or a stop command SC for the vehicle 10 to the vehicle-mounted device 200. This makes it possible to avoid a situation in which the vehicle 10 is stopped and a dangerous situation occurs, for example, when the vehicle 10 is running or stopped at a traffic light, and makes it possible to safely issue the start command BC or the stop command SC for the vehicle 10.

[0050] Furthermore, when the management server 100 imposes a function restriction on the start command BC or the stop command SC of the vehicle 10, the management server 100 can be configured to automatically issue the start command BC or the stop command SC of the vehicle 10 when it is confirmed that the vehicle is present (parked) within a predetermined range from a pre-registered vehicle storage location P for a predetermined period of time. Note that the user can also specify a date and time to make a reservation. In this case, the function restriction status related to the start command BC or the stop command SC of the vehicle 10 can be constantly acquired from the vehicle-mounted device 200.

[0051] The management server 100 can be configured to acquire location information of the vehicle 10 in the event of a disaster and detect whether the vehicle 10 is located in a predetermined disaster area. If it acquires information that the vehicle 10 is located in the predetermined disaster area, the management server 10 is configured to release the control of the relay 300 by the vehicle-mounted device 200. This makes it possible to release the stop command SC for the vehicle 10 that cannot be moved due to the issuance of the stop command SC in the event of a disaster, thereby preventing a dangerous situation in which the vehicle 10 cannot be used in the event of a disaster.

[0052] The relay 300 may be configured to include a measuring means 350. The measuring means 350 is a device that measures the resistance value of each device, such as an electronic component, connected to the vehicle 10. The measured resistance value is transmitted to the vehicle-mounted device 200 as numerical data. When the measuring means 350 detects that the resistance value is outside a predetermined range, it transmits an alert signal to the vehicle-mounted device 200, and the vehicle-mounted device 200 transmits alert information to the management server 100. This configuration makes it possible to detect abnormalities, such as theft of the vehicle 10, from the resistance value, and to quickly obtain information about the abnormal state of the vehicle 10, thereby reducing the risk of damage, theft, or the like to the vehicle 10.

[0053] In this embodiment, the measuring means 350 is configured to be provided in the relay 300, but this is not limitative and the measuring means 350 may be configured to be provided in the vehicle-mounted device 200.

[0054] 1, the vehicle management system 1 can be configured to include a mobile communication terminal 400. The mobile communication terminal 400 is a small, portable terminal held by a user that can communicate with the vehicle-mounted device 200. In this embodiment, a smartphone or a small tablet computer is used as the mobile communication terminal 400, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, any suitable device that is portable and capable of communication, such as a smart key for the vehicle 10, can be selected and used.

[0055] The vehicle management system 1 may also be configured to include a selection means 500. The selection means 500 is a means for selectively switching between communication between the management server 100 and the vehicle-mounted device 200 and communication between the mobile communication terminal 400 and the vehicle-mounted device 200. Normally, the vehicle-mounted device 200 is configured to communicate with the management server 100. However, if the vehicle 10 is located in a location where communication is not possible, the management server 100 may be unable to transmit a start command BC or a stop command SC for the vehicle 10. In this case, the selection means 500 switches communication, enabling the vehicle-mounted device 200 to communicate with the mobile communication terminal 400. This enables the mobile communication terminal 400 to transmit a start command BC or a stop command SC for the vehicle 10 to the vehicle-mounted device 200 instead of the management server 100. This makes it possible to manage the operation of the vehicle 10 even in an environment where communication is not possible.

[0056] As another embodiment of the vehicle management system 1 according to the present invention, the mobile communication terminal 400 of the vehicle management system 1 can be configured to transmit a start command BC for the vehicle 10 to the vehicle-mounted device 200 when approaching the vehicle 10, and the vehicle-mounted device 200 transmits a signal for performing a set process of the relay 300 to the relay 300. Conversely, when moving away from the vehicle 10, the mobile communication terminal 400 can be configured to transmit a stop command SC for the vehicle 10 to the vehicle-mounted device 200, and the vehicle-mounted device 200 transmits a signal for performing a reset process of the relay 300 to the relay 300.

[0057] This configuration makes it possible to switch the transmission of the start command BC and stop command SC of the vehicle 10 depending on the distance between the mobile communication terminal 400 and the vehicle-mounted device 200, and simply by holding the mobile communication terminal 400, it becomes possible to easily transmit the start command BC and stop command SC of the vehicle 10, making it possible to ensure a higher level of security.

[0058] In another embodiment of the vehicle management system 1 according to the present invention, the vehicle-mounted device 200 may be configured to include an acceleration sensor 210. The acceleration sensor 210 is a component that detects the acceleration of an object. In this embodiment, when the acceleration sensor 210 detects acceleration exceeding a predetermined value, the vehicle-mounted device 200 transmits a signal to the relay 300 to perform a reset process for the relay 300. This configuration makes it possible to detect an accident involving the vehicle 10 even from a remote location, and to quickly transmit a stop command SC for the vehicle 10 to prevent a fire or the like in the vehicle 10 resulting from the accident, thereby preventing major damage.

[0059] The management server 100 can be configured to include a theft detection means 120. The theft detection means 120 is a means for detecting that the vehicle 10 has been stopped for a certain period of time from the GPS information of the vehicle 10 received from the vehicle-mounted device 200, and then transmitting a stop command SC and an alert command AC for the vehicle 10 to the vehicle-mounted device 200 when information from the vehicle-mounted device 200 cannot be obtained within a predetermined period of time. With this configuration, it is possible to detect theft of the vehicle 10 from the GPS information and information from the vehicle-mounted device 200.

[0060] In this embodiment, the vehicle-mounted device 200 is configured to be configured wirelessly from a smartphone, tablet, PC, or the like using encrypted communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark). This configuration increases the flexibility of the installation location and reduces the risk of hacking. Furthermore, the vehicle-mounted device 200 can be installed in a location where it is difficult to remove, which makes it possible to prevent the user of the vehicle 10 from maliciously removing the vehicle-mounted device 200.

[0061] Furthermore, as a safety measure, if a malfunction occurs in the vehicle-mounted device 200, the vehicle-mounted device 200 can be configured to notify the management server 100 of the details of the malfunction using a public line and not to transmit any restriction on the functions of the vehicle 10 (start command BC or stop command SC of the vehicle 10). This makes it possible to avoid the engine of the vehicle 10 stopping while the vehicle 10 is running and the inability to lock the doors using the vehicle-mounted device 200.

[0062] In this embodiment, the vehicle-mounted device 200 has a function of detecting whether or not power is being supplied to the electromagnet 312 of the relay 300. After detecting whether or not power is being supplied, the vehicle-mounted device 200 transmits the detection result to the management server 100.

[0063] The management server 100 determines whether to start or stop the vehicle 10 based on whether power is being supplied to the electromagnet 312. In this embodiment, if it is determined that power is not being supplied to the electromagnet 312, the management server 100 is configured to transmit a stop command SC for the vehicle 10 to the vehicle-mounted device 200. This configuration makes it possible to detect the stop of the vehicle and safely perform the vehicle stop process.

[0064] Conceptual diagram of a vehicle management system according to the present invention. Conceptual diagram of a relay. Circuit diagram showing the mechanism of power supply switching operation of a relay. Circuit diagram of a relay using a latching structure.

[0065] 1 Vehicle management system G GPS receiver S Signal P Storage location information AC Alert command BC Start command SC Stop command 10 Vehicle 100 Management server 110 User database 120 Theft detection means 200 Vehicle-mounted device 210 Acceleration sensor 300 Relay 310 Electromagnetic part 312 Electromagnet 314 Set coil 316 Reset coil 320 Contact part 322 Movable contact 324 Fixed contact 330 Control part 332 Receiving part 340 Power supply switching part 350 Measuring means 400 Portable communication terminal 500 Selection means

Claims

1. A vehicle management system (1) for managing the startup status of a vehicle from a remote location, comprises a management server (100) for managing the startup status of the vehicle (10) and giving instructions for starting and stopping the vehicle, a GPS receiver (G) installed in the vehicle (10), and a vehicle-mounted device (200) installed in the vehicle (10) for transmitting the startup status and position information of the vehicle to the management server (100) and controlling the startup and stop of the vehicle. The vehicle-mounted device (200) controls a relay (300) for switching the startup and stop of the drive device of the vehicle (10). Based on the startup information and position information of the vehicle (10) transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device (200), the management server (100) determines whether the vehicle (10) can be started or stopped, and then transmits a startup command (BC) or a stop command (SC) for the vehicle (10) to the vehicle-mounted device (200). After that, the management server (100) transmits a signal (S) for the vehicle-mounted device (200) to perform a set process or a reset process on the relay (300) to the relay (300). The relay (300) includes an electromagnetic part (310) having an electromagnet (312), a contact part (320) for contacting or separating a movable contact (322) and a fixed contact (324) with the energization of the electromagnet (312), a control part (330) for receiving the signal (S), analyzing the received signal (S), and determining whether the electromagnet (310) can be energized based on the analysis result, and a power supply switching part (340) for selecting or switching either the power for the electromagnetic part (310) or the power for the contact part (320) to supply power to the control part (330). The control part (330) includes a receiving part (332) for receiving the signal (S) from the vehicle-mounted device (200). The receiving part (332) of the vehicle-mounted device (200) receives and analyzes an energization permission signal, determines whether the electromagnet (310) can be energized, and then energizes the electromagnet (310). The power supply switching unit (340) is configured to be connected to both the terminal on the electromagnetic unit (310) side and the terminal on the contact unit (320) side. To ensure the power supply for the control unit (330), when there is no power supply between the terminals on the electromagnetic unit (310) side, it obtains power from the terminals on the contact unit (320) side and supplies power for the control unit (330) to exert its control function. When there is power supply between the terminals on the electromagnetic unit (310) side, it obtains power from the terminals on the electromagnetic unit (310) side and supplies power for the control unit (330) to exert its control function. A vehicle management system characterized by this.

2. A vehicle management system (1) for managing the startup status of a vehicle from a remote location is composed of a management server (100) that manages the startup status of the vehicle (10) and gives instructions for starting and stopping the vehicle, a GPS receiver (G) installed in the vehicle (10), and a vehicle-mounted device (200) installed in the vehicle (10) that transmits the startup status and position information of the vehicle to the management server (100) and controls the startup and stop of the vehicle. The vehicle-mounted device (200) controls a relay (300) that switches the startup and stop of the drive device of the vehicle (10). Based on the startup information and position information of the vehicle (10) transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device (200), the management server (100) determines whether the vehicle (10) can be started or stopped, and then transmits a startup command (BC) or a stop command (SC) for the vehicle (10) to the vehicle-mounted device (200). After that, the management server (100) transmits a signal (S) for the vehicle-mounted device (200) to perform a set process or a reset process on the relay (300) to the relay (300). The relay (300) includes an electromagnetic unit (310) having an electromagnet (312), a contact unit (320) that makes the movable contact (322) and the fixed contact (324) contact or separate with the energization of the electromagnet (312), a control unit (330) that receives the signal (S), analyzes the received signal (S), and determines whether the electromagnet (310) can be energized based on the analysis result, and a power supply switching unit (340) that selects or switches either the power for the electromagnetic unit (310) or the power for the contact unit (320) to supply power to the control unit (330). The electromagnetic unit (310) has a latching structure including a set coil (314) and a reset coil (316). When the set coil (314) is energized, the electromagnetic unit (310) is energized to bring the contact unit (320) into contact, and when the reset coil (316) is energized, the energization of the electromagnetic unit (310) is released to separate the contact unit (320). A vehicle management system characterized by this.

3. The management server (100) includes a user database (110) for registering and holding information related to the user of the vehicle (10), and the user database (110) includes storage location information (P) of the vehicle (10). After the management server (100) obtains that the vehicle (10) has stopped within a predetermined range from the storage location registered in the storage location information (P) for a predetermined time, it determines whether the vehicle (10) can be started or stopped, and transmits a start command (BC) or a stop command (SC) for the vehicle (10) to the vehicle-mounted device (200). The vehicle management system according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by this.

4. During a disaster, the management server (100) obtains the position information of the vehicle (10), and after obtaining that the vehicle is located in a predetermined disaster occurrence area, releases the control of the relay (300) by the vehicle-mounted device (200). The vehicle management system according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by this.

5. The relay (300) includes a measuring means (350) for measuring the resistance value of each device connected to the vehicle (10). When it detects that the resistance value is out of a predetermined range, it transmits an alert signal to the vehicle-mounted device (200), and the vehicle-mounted device (200) transmits alert information to the management server (100). The vehicle management system according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by this.

6. The vehicle management system (1) includes a mobile communication terminal (400) capable of communicating with the vehicle-mounted device (200). It is provided with a selection means (500) for selectively switching either the communication between the management server (100) and the vehicle-mounted device (200) or the communication between the mobile communication terminal (400) and the vehicle-mounted device (200). The vehicle management system according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by this.

7. When the mobile communication terminal (400) approaches the vehicle (10), it transmits a start command (BC) of the vehicle (10) to the vehicle-mounted device (200), and then transmits a signal for the vehicle-mounted device (200) to perform the setting process of the relay (300) to the relay (300). When leaving the vehicle (10), it transmits a stop command (SC) of the vehicle (10) to the vehicle-mounted device (200), and then transmits a signal for the vehicle-mounted device (200) to perform the reset process of the relay (300) to the relay (300). The vehicle management system according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that.

8. The vehicle-mounted device (200) is provided with an acceleration sensor (210). When the acceleration sensor (210) detects an acceleration exceeding a predetermined value, the vehicle-mounted device (200) transmits a signal for performing the reset process of the relay (300) to the relay (300). The vehicle management system according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that.

9. After detecting from the GPS information (G) of the vehicle (10) received from the vehicle-mounted device (200) that the vehicle has been stopped for a certain period of time, when the management server (100) cannot obtain information from the vehicle-mounted device (200) within a predetermined time, it is provided with a theft detection means (120) for transmitting a stop command (SC) and an alert command (AC) of the vehicle (10) to the vehicle-mounted device (200). The vehicle management system according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that.

10. The vehicle-mounted device (200) detects the presence or absence of power supply to the electromagnet (312) of the relay (300), and transmits the detection result to the management server (100). The management server (100) determines the stoppability of the vehicle (10) from the presence or absence of power supply to the electromagnet (312), and transmits a stop command (SC) of the vehicle (10) to the vehicle-mounted device (200). The vehicle management system according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that.