Vehicle-function control method and vehicle-function control system

Abstract

A vehicle-function control system (1) controls a function installed in a vehicle (2) by using a processor (10), and the processor (10) sets a trial deadline until when a user can use an unpurchased new function installed in the vehicle (2) for free and displays the new function on a screen of a predetermined terminal in a mode different from an existing function for which the trial deadline is not set.

Description

Vehicle function control method and vehicle function control system

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle function control method and a vehicle function control system.

[0002] The vehicle arbitration system described in Patent Document 1 arbitrates multiple requests generated by applications in order to add applications and expand functions in a vehicle.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-162110

[0004] However, simply adding applications and expanding functions does not motivate users to purchase paid functions.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle function control method and a vehicle function control system that can motivate a user to purchase a paid function.

[0006] The present invention solves the above problem by displaying new functions that have not yet been purchased and have a trial period set on the screen of a specified terminal in a manner different from that of existing functions that do not have a trial period set.

[0007] The present invention has the effect of providing a user with an incentive to purchase a paid function.

[0008] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle function control system according to the present embodiment; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a display mode of information that the vehicle function control system shown in FIG. 1 outputs to a terminal until a trial deadline for a new function has elapsed; FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a display mode of information that the vehicle function control system shown in FIG. 1 outputs to a terminal after the trial deadline for a new function has elapsed; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display mode of information that the vehicle function control system shown in FIG. 1 outputs to a terminal after the trial deadline for a new function has elapsed and before the vehicle has finished moving; FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a display mode of information that the vehicle function control system shown in FIG. 1 outputs to a terminal after the trial deadline for a new function has elapsed and the vehicle has finished moving; and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the steps of a vehicle function control method executed by the vehicle function control system shown in FIG. 1.

[0009] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. A vehicle function control system 1 shown in Fig. 1 is provided in a vehicle 2. The vehicle 2 is capable of communicating with a server 5 via the Internet 4. The vehicle function control system 1 is also capable of communicating with a mobile terminal 3 carried by a user of the vehicle 2 via a known communication means. The vehicle 2 also has an in-vehicle terminal 21.

[0010] The server 5 constitutes a cloud system that controls the installed functions. The functions that can be installed in the vehicle 2 are the initial functions and extended functions of applications that the user of the vehicle 2 can purchase online. The server 5 can communicate with the vehicle 2 and the mobile terminal carried by the user of the vehicle 2 via the Internet 4. The server 5 has a software management unit 11, a billing management unit 12, a customer management unit 13, a driving data storage 14, and a usage analysis unit 15. The software management unit 11 controls the distribution of functions as software. The billing management unit 12 manages payments when a user purchases a function. The customer management unit 13 manages customer information (user information) in association with the vehicle 2. The driving data storage 14 stores and manages driving data, etc. of the vehicle 2. The usage analysis unit 15 uses AI to analyze the usage status of the vehicle 2 based on the driving data, etc. of the vehicle 2.

[0011] The vehicle function control system 1 of the vehicle 2 also has a function setting unit 101 and an information output unit 102. The function setting unit 101 controls the settings of the functions installed in the vehicle 2. The information output unit 102 outputs information related to the functions installed in the vehicle 2 to the in-vehicle terminal 21 of the vehicle 2 and / or the user's mobile terminal 3.

[0012] The function setting unit 101 sets a trial period for a new function that has been installed in the vehicle 2 but has not yet been purchased, during which the user can use the new function free of charge. That is, the function setting unit 101 sets the new function so that the user can use the new function free of charge until the trial period for the new function. Furthermore, the function setting unit 101 restricts some or all of the new function after the trial period has elapsed and while the new function has not yet been purchased. Furthermore, if the user purchases a new function after the new function has been restricted, the function setting unit 101 cancels the restriction on the new function and enables the previous setting content that was set before the new function was restricted. Furthermore, the function setting unit 101 maintains the installed state of the new function for a predetermined period after the trial period has elapsed and while the new function has not yet been purchased.

[0013] Furthermore, the function setting unit 101 may set the new function so that, if the trial period expires while the vehicle 2 is moving, the user can use the new function free of charge until the vehicle 2's movement ends. The function setting unit 101 determines that the vehicle 2 is moving when the main switch of the vehicle 2 is ON. The function setting unit 101 may also determine that the period from when the vehicle 2 leaves home until when the vehicle 2 returns home is a period during which the vehicle 2 is moving. Note that "on the move" also includes the user of the vehicle 2 being on a trip. That is, the function setting unit 101 may set the new function so that, if the trial period expires while the user of the vehicle 2 is traveling, the user can use the new function free of charge until the trip ends. The function setting unit 101 determines that the period from when the vehicle 2 leaves home until when the user returns home, via a point farther than a predetermined distance traveled daily (e.g., the distance from the user's home to their workplace), is a period during which the vehicle 2 is traveling.

[0014] Furthermore, the information output unit 102 displays the new function on the screen of the in-vehicle terminal 21 and / or the user's mobile terminal 3 in a manner different from that of an existing function for which no trial period is set. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 2, the information output unit 102 displays text information A indicating the trial period (in the example shown in Fig. 2, "2 days remaining") in the upper right corner of a new function icon 51 indicating a new function on the screen 21a of the in-vehicle terminal 21. On the other hand, the text information A is not displayed in the upper right corner of an existing function icon 52 indicating an existing function for which no trial period is set. Furthermore, in the example shown in Fig. 2, the information output unit 102 also displays text information B indicating the trial period (in the example shown in Fig. 2, "There are apps that will end during this trip") in the lower left corner of the screen 21a.

[0015] Furthermore, after the trial period for the new function has expired and the new function has not yet been purchased, the information output unit 102 displays information on the screen indicating that the new function has been restricted. Specifically, in the example shown in Fig. 3, after the trial period for the new function has expired, the information output unit 102 displays text information C saying "Purchase Required" on the upper right of the new function icon 51 indicating the new function that has not yet been purchased on the screen 21a of the in-vehicle terminal 21. The text information C is information indicating that some or all of the new function will be restricted until the new function is purchased.

[0016] 2 and 3 on the screen of the user's mobile terminal 3. In addition to text information, the information output unit 102 may also make the new function icon 51 and the existing function icon 52 different colors, or may cause only the new function icon 51 to flash. In addition to visual information, the information output unit 102 may also output audio information to the in-vehicle terminal 21 or the mobile terminal 3.

[0017] 4, if the trial period for the new function has expired while the vehicle 2 is moving (traveling), the information output unit 102 displays information D on the screen of the in-vehicle terminal 21, indicating that the new function can be used free of charge until the end of the movement (travel). The information output unit 102 may also display information D on the screen of the mobile terminal 3.

[0018] Also, as shown in FIG. 5 , when the vehicle 2 is not moving and the trial period for the new function has elapsed, the information output unit 102 displays information E on the screen of the in-vehicle terminal 21, indicating that the new function has been restricted. In the example shown in FIG. 5 , all of the new functions have been restricted, so the information output unit 102 outputs text information saying "Function has been disabled" as information E indicating that the new function has been restricted. On the other hand, when only part of the new function has been restricted, the information output unit 102 may specifically display the contents of the restricted function on the screen. Also, the information output unit 102 may display information E on the screen of the mobile terminal 3.

[0019] Furthermore, the information output unit 102 determines whether the user is planning a trip based on the route search history of the in-vehicle terminal 21 or the mobile terminal 3. When the user is planning a trip, the information output unit 102 may display on the screen information indicating functions that are useful during the trip, among the new functions. For example, when the user is planning a trip, the information output unit 102 outputs information recommending the use of a new map function to the in-vehicle terminal 21 or the mobile terminal 3. Note that the information output unit 102 may determine whether the user is planning a trip based on a planned driving route set via the in-vehicle terminal 21 or the mobile terminal 3.

[0020] In addition, after the new function has been downloaded to the vehicle 2, the information output unit 102 may output information to the terminal to confirm whether or not the user will use the new function that has not yet been purchased (for example, text information such as "This function is free during the trial period. Would you like to use it?").

[0021] Furthermore, when a first user who does not have the authority to purchase a function inputs a purchase request for a new function to the in-vehicle terminal 21 or the mobile terminal 3, the information output unit 102 may display the purchase request on the screen of the in-vehicle terminal 21 or the mobile terminal 3 at the timing when a second user who has the authority to purchase the function views the screen of the in-vehicle terminal 21 or the mobile terminal 3. For example, if the first user uses a new function that has not yet been purchased while driving the vehicle 2 and likes the new function, the first user inputs a purchase request for the new function to the in-vehicle terminal 21 or the mobile terminal 3. As a result, the vehicle function control system 1 receives the purchase request for the new function from the in-vehicle terminal 21 or the mobile terminal 3 and outputs information indicating the purchase request to the screen of the in-vehicle terminal 21 at the timing when the second user gets into the vehicle 2. Furthermore, the vehicle function control system 1 may display the purchase request for the new function on the screen of the mobile terminal 3 at the timing when the second user uses the mobile terminal 3. Note that the presence or absence of the authority to purchase a function is linked to the ID of each user.

[0022] Next, the procedure of the vehicle function control method executed by the processor 10 of the vehicle function control system 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 6. First, in step S1, the processor 10 determines whether or not there is a new function that has not yet been purchased among the functions installed in the vehicle 2.

[0023] If it is determined in step S1 that "there is no new function," the processing ends. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1 that "there is a new function," the function setting unit 101 sets a trial period for the new function in step S2. Note that a trial period may be set in advance for the new function. Then, in step S3, the processor 10 determines whether the trial period has elapsed.

[0024] If it is determined in step S3 that "the trial period has not expired," the processor 10 determines in step S4 whether the trial period is within one week. If it is determined in step S4 that "the period until the trial period is longer than one week," the information output unit 102 displays on the screen of the terminal (the in-vehicle terminal 21 and / or the mobile terminal 3) in step S5 that the new function should be continued. Then, after executing the process of step S5, the processor 10 repeats the determination process of step S4. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S4 that "the trial period is within one week," the information output unit 102 displays on the screen of the terminal (the in-vehicle terminal 21 and / or the mobile terminal 3) in step S6 information indicating that the trial period is about to expire. Then, after executing the process of step S6, the processor 10 repeats the determination process of step S3.

[0025] If it is determined in step S3 that the trial period has expired, the processor 10 determines in step S7 whether the vehicle 2 is moving.

[0026] If it is determined in step S7 that "the vehicle 2 is moving," then in step S8, the function setting unit 101 extends the trial period, and the information output unit 102 displays information indicating that the trial period has been extended on the screen of the terminal (the in-vehicle terminal 21 and / or the mobile terminal 3). After executing the process of step S8, the processor 10 repeats the determination process of step S7.

[0027] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S8 that the vehicle 2 is not moving, the function setting unit 101 restricts some or all of the new functions in step S9. Then, in step S10, the information output unit 102 displays information indicating that the trial period has expired on the screen of the terminal (the in-vehicle terminal 21 and / or the mobile terminal 3).

[0028] Next, in step S11, the processor 10 determines whether a new function has been purchased. If it is determined in step S11 that a new function has not been purchased, the processing ends. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S11 that a new function has been purchased, the function setting unit 101 releases the restriction on the new function in step S12.

[0029] As described above, the vehicle function control system 1 according to this embodiment sets a trial period for a new, unpurchased function installed in the vehicle 2, during which the user can use the new function free of charge, and displays the new function on the screen of a predetermined terminal (the in-vehicle terminal 21 and / or the mobile terminal 3) in a manner different from that of an existing function for which no trial period is set. This allows the user to recognize that the new function can be used free of charge for a limited period, and therefore the vehicle function control system 1 can motivate the user to purchase the new function for which a fee is charged.

[0030] Furthermore, after the trial period has expired and the new function has not yet been purchased, the vehicle function control system 1 restricts some or all of the new function and displays information indicating that the new function has been restricted on the screen of the terminal. This allows the user to recognize that the new function will be restricted until the new function is purchased, and the vehicle function control system 1 can motivate the user to purchase the new paid function even after the trial period has expired.

[0031] Furthermore, if the user purchases a new function after the new function has been restricted, the vehicle function control system 1 cancels the restriction on the new function and validates the previous settings that were set before the restriction on the new function. This allows the vehicle function control system 1 to save the user the trouble of having to redo the settings for the new function after the restriction on the new function has been released.

[0032] Furthermore, if the trial period expires while the vehicle 2 is moving, the vehicle function control system 1 sets the new function so that the user can use the new function free of charge until the vehicle's movement ends. This prevents the new function from suddenly becoming unavailable while the vehicle 2 is moving. This allows the user to try out the new function without stress.

[0033] Furthermore, the vehicle function control system 1 determines that the vehicle 2 is moving when the main switch of the vehicle 2 is in the ON state. This allows the vehicle function control system 1 to specifically determine whether the vehicle 2 is moving or not.

[0034] Furthermore, the vehicle function control system 1 determines that the period from when the vehicle 2 leaves home until when the vehicle 2 returns home is a period during which the vehicle 2 is moving. This allows the vehicle function control system 1 to specifically determine whether the vehicle 2 is moving. Furthermore, even when the user is traveling in the vehicle 2, the vehicle function control system 1 can determine that the vehicle 2 is moving, thereby preventing a situation in which the new function suddenly becomes unavailable during the trip.

[0035] Furthermore, the vehicle function control system 1 determines whether the user is planning a trip based on the route search history of the terminal or the planned driving route set via the terminal, and if the user is planning a trip, displays information indicating functions that are useful during the trip among the new functions on the screen of the terminal. In this way, the vehicle function control system 1 can introduce new functions that are useful to the user who is planning to go on a trip in advance and motivate the user to purchase the new functions.

[0036] Furthermore, after the new function is downloaded to the vehicle 2, the vehicle function control system 1 outputs information to the terminal to confirm whether the user intends to use the new function that has not yet been purchased. This allows a user who wishes to try out the new function to use it immediately without needing to wait for downloading.

[0037] Furthermore, the vehicle function control system 1 maintains the installed state of the new function for a predetermined period after the trial period has expired, as long as the new function has not yet been purchased. This allows a user who has purchased the new function after the trial period has expired to immediately use the new function without needing to wait for download.

[0038] Furthermore, when a first user who does not have the authority to purchase a function inputs a purchase request for a new function into a terminal, the vehicle function control system 1 displays the purchase request on the screen at the timing when a second user who has the authority to purchase the function views the screen. In this way, when a user who does not have the authority to purchase the new function likes the new function, the vehicle function control system 1 can encourage other users who have the authority to purchase the new function for a fee.

[0039] Furthermore, the vehicle function control system 1 displays information indicating the trial period of the new function on the screen of the terminal, thereby enabling the user to recognize the timing of the end of the trial period of the new function.

[0040] The vehicle function control system 1 is not limited to this embodiment, and may be provided in a server 5 .

[0041] In the above description, the in-vehicle terminal 21 and the portable terminal 3 constitute predetermined terminals for displaying information related to functions.

[0042] 1... Vehicle function control system 10... Processor 101... Function setting unit 102... Information output unit 2... Vehicle 21... In-vehicle terminal (terminal) 3... Mobile terminal (terminal)

Claims

1. A vehicle function control method that uses a processor to control functions installed in a vehicle, The aforementioned processor, A trial period is set for the unpurchased new features installed in the aforementioned vehicle, during which the user can use them for free. The aforementioned new function is displayed on the screen of a designated terminal in a manner different from that of existing functions for which no trial period is set. Based on the route search history of the terminal or the planned travel route set via the terminal, it is determined whether the user is planning a trip. A vehicle function control method that, when the user is planning a trip, displays on the screen information indicating a function among the new functions that would be useful during the trip.

2. A vehicle function control method that uses a processor to control functions installed in a vehicle, The aforementioned processor, A trial period is set for the unpurchased new features installed in the aforementioned vehicle, during which the user can use them for free. The aforementioned new function is displayed on the screen of a designated terminal in a manner different from that of existing functions for which no trial period is set. A vehicle function control method in which, when a first user who does not have the authority to purchase the aforementioned function enters a purchase request for the new function into the terminal, the purchase request is displayed on the screen at the time when a second user who has the authority to purchase the function views the screen.

3. The aforementioned processor, After the trial period has expired and the new features have not been purchased, some or all of the new features will be restricted. The vehicle function control method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein information indicating that the aforementioned new function has been restricted is displayed on the screen.

4. The aforementioned processor, The vehicle function control method according to claim 3, wherein if the user purchases the new function after the new function has been restricted, the restriction on the new function is lifted and the previously set settings that were set before the restriction on the new function are activated.

5. The aforementioned processor, If the trial period expires while the vehicle is in motion, the vehicle function control method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising setting the new function so that the user can use the new function free of charge until the vehicle's movement is completed.

6. The aforementioned processor, The vehicle function control method according to claim 5, wherein it is determined that the vehicle is in motion when the main switch of the vehicle is in the ON state.

7. The aforementioned processor, The vehicle function control method according to claim 5, wherein the period from when the vehicle leaves home until it returns home is determined to be the period during which the vehicle is in motion.

8. The aforementioned processor, Based on the route search history of the terminal or the planned travel route set via the terminal, it is determined whether the user is planning a trip. The vehicle function control method according to claim 2, wherein when the user is planning a trip, information indicating a function useful during the trip from among the new functions is displayed on the screen.

9. The aforementioned processor, The vehicle function control method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein after the new function has been downloaded to the vehicle, information is output to the terminal confirming whether or not the user will use the new function that has not yet been purchased.

10. The aforementioned processor, The vehicle function control method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, after the expiration of the trial period and while the new function has not been purchased, the installed state of the new function is maintained for a predetermined period.

11. The aforementioned processor, The vehicle function control method according to claim 1, wherein when a first user who does not have the authority to purchase the aforementioned function enters a purchase request for the new function into the terminal, the purchase request is displayed on the screen at the time when a second user who has the authority to purchase the function views the screen.

12. The vehicle function control method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the processor displays information indicating the trial period for the new function on the screen.

13. A vehicle function control system that controls functions installed in a vehicle, A function setting unit that sets a trial period for which the user can use new, unpurchased functions installed in the aforementioned vehicle for free, The system includes an information output unit that displays the aforementioned new function on the screen of a predetermined terminal in a manner different from that of existing functions for which no trial period has been set, The aforementioned information output unit is Based on the route search history of the terminal or the planned travel route set via the terminal, it is determined whether the user is planning a trip. A vehicle function control system that, when the user is planning a trip, displays on the screen information indicating a function among the new functions that would be useful during the trip.

14. A vehicle function control system for controlling functions installed in a vehicle, A function setting unit that sets a trial period for which the user can use new, unpurchased functions installed in the aforementioned vehicle for free, The system includes an information output unit that displays the aforementioned new function on the screen of a predetermined terminal in a manner different from that of existing functions for which no trial period has been set, The information output unit is a vehicle function control system that, when a first user who does not have the authority to purchase the function enters a purchase request for the new function into the terminal, displays the purchase request on the screen at the time when a second user who has the authority to purchase the function views the screen.