Operation information management system for work machine

Abstract

The present invention improves communication efficiency for managing operation information in a work machine. This operation information management system (100) for a work machine (10) comprises: an information processing device (1) that acquires a plurality of pieces of operation information (14) output to a first network (8) established in a work machine and causes a storage device (2) to store the acquired pieces of information; and a communication control device (3) that transmits the operation information stored in the storage device to a management device (5). The communication control device generates time band information (17) indicating a prescribed time band, associates the time band information with a plurality of pieces of the operation information, read from the storage device, corresponding to the prescribed time band, and transmits the associated time band information and the plurality of pieces of operation information to the management device.

Description

Machine operation information management system

[0001] The present invention relates to a work machine operation information management system that manages operation information of at least one of a work machine and an electronic device mounted on the work machine.

[0002] For example, there is a technology for collecting operation information of a work machine disclosed in Patent Document 1. The data collection device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is connected to an in-vehicle network of the work machine, and includes a first acquisition unit that acquires data on a group basis, such as operation information of the work machine or electronic device, output from an electronic device mounted on the work machine to the in-vehicle network, a second acquisition unit that separates the group-based data acquired by the first acquisition unit into individual-based data and acquires the data, and an input / output unit that outputs the group-based data acquired by the first acquisition unit and the individual-based data acquired by the second acquisition unit to the outside.

[0003] Japanese Patent Publication "Patent No. 6148159"

[0004] Conventionally, in order to make use of operation information of a work machine, the operation information is transmitted from a data collection device to a management device such as a server and managed (stored) by the management device. In this case, in order to reduce the number of communications, multiple pieces of operation information are transmitted from the data collection device to the server in bulk. Furthermore, in order to ensure the reliability and management of the operation information, each piece of operation information is associated with time information, such as a timestamp indicating the date and time when the existence of the operation information was confirmed, and these multiple pieces of operation information and multiple pieces of time information are transmitted from the data collection device to the server. However, in this case, the amount of data transmitted from the data collection device to the management device is large, which poses problems such as longer communication times and higher communication costs, making this method inefficient.

[0005] In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to improve communication efficiency for managing operation information in a work machine.

[0006] The technical means of the present invention for solving the above technical problems is characterized by the following points.

[0007] The work machine operation information management system of the present invention comprises an information processing device that acquires multiple pieces of operation information output to a first network constructed in the work machine and stores them in a storage device, and a communication control device that transmits the operation information stored in the storage device to a management device, wherein the communication control device generates time zone information indicating a specified time period, associates the time zone information with multiple pieces of operation information corresponding to the specified time period read from the storage device, and transmits the associated time zone information and multiple pieces of operation information to the management device.

[0008] In one aspect of the present invention, the communication control device may generate the time zone information for each of the specified time zones, associate multiple pieces of operation information with the time zone information, and transmit the associated time zone information and multiple pieces of operation information to the management device.

[0009] In addition, in one aspect of the present invention, the information processing device acquires the operation information of at least one of the work machine and the electronic device output to the first network from an electronic device mounted on the work machine, associates the operation information with time information indicating the time when the existence of the operation information was confirmed, and stores the associated operation information in the storage device, and the communication control device may transmit the associated time zone information and multiple pieces of operation information to the management device via a second network external to the work machine.

[0010] In addition, in one aspect of the present invention, the communication control device may generate lower-level time information indicating a time that is included in the specified time period but is not indicated by the specified time period based on the time information corresponding to each of the multiple pieces of operation information for the specified time period, associate the lower-level time information with each of the corresponding multiple pieces of operation information, and transmit the corresponding time period information, the multiple pieces of operation information, and the lower-level time information to the management device.

[0011] In addition, in one aspect of the present invention, the work machine operation information management system may include one or more electronic devices, and at least one of the electronic devices and the information processing device may generate the time information and associate it with the operation information.

[0012] In addition, in one aspect of the present invention, the communication control device may set the specified time period in accordance with an event that occurs on the work machine, generate the time period information indicating the specified time period, read out from the storage device multiple pieces of operation information corresponding to the specified time period related to the event, associate them with the time period information, and transmit the associated time period information and multiple pieces of operation information to the management device.

[0013] Furthermore, in one aspect of the present invention, the work machine operation information management system includes a management device that is provided outside the work machine and has a database constructed thereon, and the management device receives the time zone information, multiple pieces of operation information, and multiple pieces of lower-level time information that are transmitted in a correlated state by the communication control device, stores at least multiple pieces of operation information in the database, and restores the time information of each of the correlated pieces of operation information based on the correlated time zone information and multiple pieces of lower-level time information.

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the communication efficiency for managing operation information of a work machine.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a work machine operation information management system. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a plurality of records stored in a storage device. FIG. 3 is a data configuration diagram of a timestamp. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a work machine operation information management system. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a message transmitted from a communication control device to a management device. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing another example of the operation of a work machine operation information management system. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example of a message transmitted from a communication control device to a management device. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a message stored in the database of the management device. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a message read out from the database of the management device. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing another example of the operation of a work machine operation information management system.

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. For convenience, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or corresponding components.

[0017] 1 is a configuration diagram of a work machine operation information management system 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The work machine operation information management system (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as the "operation information management system") 100 comprises an information processing device 1, a storage device 2, a communication control device 3, an electronic device 4, and a management device 5. The information processing device 1, the storage device 2, the communication control device 3, and the electronic device 4 are mounted on a work machine 10. The management device 5 is provided outside the work machine 10.

[0018] The work machine 10 is a drivable work vehicle, such as an agricultural machine such as a tractor, rice transplanter, or combine harvester, or a construction machine such as an excavator. In this embodiment, the information processing device 1, the storage device 2, and the communication control device 3 are mounted on the work machine 10, but as another example, the information processing device 1, the storage device 2, and the communication control device 3 may not be mounted on the work machine 10, or may be detachable from the work machine 10. The management device 5 is, for example, a cloud server existing in a cloud environment. As another example, the management device 5 may be an on-premises physical server installed in a specified facility.

[0019] An in-vehicle network 8, such as a controller area network (CAN), a local interconnect network (LIN), or FlexRay, is configured in the work machine 10. The in-vehicle network 8 is an example of a "first network" in the present invention. An information processing device 1 and an electronic device 4 are connected to the in-vehicle network 8. The storage device 2 and the communication control device 3 may also be connected to the in-vehicle network 8.

[0020] The electronic device 4 is an electrical component of the work machine 10 and is composed of at least one of, for example, a sensor, a switch, and an ECU (Electronic Control Unit). As another example, the electronic device 4 may be composed of an MPU (Micro Processor Unit) or a GUI (Graphical User Interface). The ECU and MPU include a CPU and memory. The electronic device 4 outputs records including operation information of at least one of the work machine 10, the electronic device 4 itself, and other electronic devices 4 to the in-vehicle network 8 as needed. Note that, although multiple electronic devices 4 are mounted on the work machine 10 in the example of FIG. 1 , it is sufficient that the work machine 10 is equipped with one or more electronic devices 4 that output records.

[0021] The information processing device 1 is composed of, for example, an ECU, and controls the operation of the work machine 10 to travel and perform work. As another example, the information processing device 1 may be composed of an MPU or a computer. The information processing device 1 may also be composed of a fixed terminal device or a portable terminal device such as a tablet device. The information processing device 1 is the main controller of the work machine 10, and includes a CPU, memory, etc. The information processing device 1 acquires (receives) multiple records (operation information) output from the electronic device 4 to the in-vehicle network 8.

[0022] The storage device 2 is composed of a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory. The storage device 2 pre-stores software programs and data for controlling the operation of the work machine 10. The storage device 2 also stores a plurality of records acquired by the information processing device 1.

[0023] The communication control device 3 is configured, for example, by a DCU (Domain Control Unit) and includes a CPU, memory, an input / output interface, etc. As another example, the communication control device 3 may be configured by an ECU or a computer, etc. Furthermore, the communication control device 3 may be configured by a fixed or portable terminal device. The communication control device 3 wirelessly communicates with the management device 5 via the input / output interface through a public network 9 established outside the work machine 10. Furthermore, the communication control device 3 transmits the operation information stored in the storage device 2 to the management device 5 via the public network 9.

[0024] The public network 9 includes the Internet and a mobile phone communication network (reference numerals omitted). The public network 9 is an example of a "second network" in the present invention. As another example, the communication control device 3 and the management device 5 may communicate with each other via at least one of Wi-Fi (registered trademark) and a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) that conforms to the IEEE 802.11 series of communication standards.

[0025] A database 6 is constructed in the management device 5. Information regarding the work plan, work content, work location, etc. of the work machine 10 is stored in the database 6. The management device 5 also receives records including operation information of at least one of the work machine 10 and the electronic device 4 from the communication control device 3 via the public network 9 and manages the received operation information by storing it in the database 6. The management device 5 can be accessed not only by the communication control device 3 but also by a terminal device external to the work machine 10 (hereinafter referred to as an "external terminal device"). The external terminal device receives various information stored in the database 6 of the management device 5 and uses the information.

[0026] 2 is a diagram showing a plurality of records 14 stored in the storage device 2 by the information processing device 1. Each record 14 includes operation information of at least one of the work machine 10 and the electronic device 4. The operation information of the work machine 10 includes, for example, work machine information such as the vehicle speed, position, operating state, work situation, and driving situation of the work machine 10.

[0027] The operation information of at least one of the work machine 10 and the electronic device 4 may also include the rotation speed of a prime mover such as an engine or electric motor provided in the work machine 10, the remaining amount of fuel, the remaining power amount of the battery, the operating state of the work device (implement or attachment), the operating state of the hydraulic equipment, etc. Furthermore, the operation information of at least one of the work machine 10 and the electronic device 4 may also include the oil pressure and temperature of the hydraulic oil that operates the hydraulic equipment of the work machine 10, the operating state of the cooling device that cools the hydraulic equipment, etc., the temperature of the cooling water that cools the electrical equipment, etc., images captured by a camera, detection results of the object sensor, and information on electrical equipment such as the presence or absence of errors in each part.

[0028] The electronic device 4 generates records 14 at predetermined timing or at predetermined intervals and outputs the records 14 to the in-vehicle network 8. The information processing device 1 collects the records 14 by acquiring the records 14 output to the in-vehicle network 8 as needed and storing the records 14 in a predetermined storage area of ​​the storage device 2 as needed. That is, the storage device 2 stores a plurality of records 14.

[0029] Each record 14 stored in the storage device 2 is associated with a timestamp 15 consisting of multiple bytes of data that indicates, using a multi-digit number, the date and time when the existence of the record 14 was confirmed. For example, if the electronic device 4 has a processor, the processor may determine the date and time when the record 14 was generated or the date and time immediately before the record 14 was output as the date and time when the existence of the record 14 was confirmed. The processor may then generate a timestamp 15 that indicates the determined date and time, associate the timestamp 15 with the record 14, and output the record 14 and the timestamp 15 to the in-vehicle network 8.

[0030] Alternatively, the information processing device 1 may determine the date and time when the information processing device 1 acquires the record 14 as the date and time when the existence of the record 14 is confirmed. Then, the information processing device 1 may generate a timestamp 15 indicating the determined date and time, associate the timestamp 15 with the record 14, and store the record 14 and the timestamp 15 in the storage device 2.

[0031] The operation information management system 100 includes an electronic device 4 or an information processing device 1 having a processor that generates a timestamp 15 as described above and associates the timestamp 15 with a record 14. The timestamp 15 is an example of the "time information" of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 3 is a data structure diagram of the timestamp 15. The timestamp 15 is composed of multi-byte data that indicates, as a multi-digit number, the date and time when the existence of the record 14 associated with the timestamp 15 was confirmed. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the timestamp 15 is 5-byte (40-bit) data that indicates the "year," "month," "day," "hour," "minute," "second," and "fractional second" units when the existence of the record 14 was confirmed. The smallest unit of fractional seconds indicated by the timestamp 15 is 10 milliseconds. For example, a counter that measures time in 10-millisecond increments is provided in the electronic device 4 or the information processing device 1, and the count value of the counter when the existence of the record 14 was confirmed is indicated in the timestamp 15.

[0033] More specifically, the timestamp 15 represents UNIX time in 10-millisecond increments as a binary number. That is, the timestamp 15 uses the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) of "January 1, 1970, 00:00:00:00 milliseconds" as a reference point, converts the elapsed time from this reference point into a 41-digit binary number, and then omits the lowest digit to represent the 40-digit number.

[0034] For example, the 40-digit (40-bit) number (binary number) of timestamp 15 shown in Figure 3, "1100000101000010101000011111101101000000", when converted to UNIX (registered trademark) time (decimal number) after adding a "0" to the omitted last digit, becomes "1660093200000", and when further converted to date and time, becomes "August 10, 2022, 10:00:00:00 ms." For example, after another "10 milliseconds" have passed, at "August 10, 2022, 10:00:00:010 milliseconds," the UNIX (registered trademark) time (decimal) will be "1660093200010," and the time indicated by the timestamp 15 (binary number) will be "1100000101000010101000011111101101000101."

[0035] Of the 5 bytes of data in timestamp 15, the data in the 1st to 7th bits of the 1st byte from the lowest side (right side in Figure 3) indicates a value equivalent to "milliseconds." The data in the 7th and 8th bits of the 1st byte from the lowest side and the 1st to 5th bits of the 2nd byte from the lowest side indicate a value equivalent to "seconds." The data in the 5th to 8th bits of the 2nd byte from the lowest side and the 1st to 3rd bits of the 3rd byte from the lowest side indicate a value equivalent to "minutes." The data in the 3rd to 8th bits of the 3rd byte from the lowest side and the 1st bit of the 4th byte from the lowest side indicate a value equivalent to "hours." The data in the 1st to 4th bits of the 4th byte from the lowest side indicate a value equivalent to "day." The data in the 4th to 8th bits of the 4th byte from the lowest side indicate a value equivalent to "month."

[0036] The data in the eighth bit of the fourth byte from the least significant side of timestamp 15 and the first to eighth bits of the fifth byte from the least significant side indicate a value corresponding to the "year." Of these, the data in the eight bits of the fifth byte from the least significant side of timestamp 15 is incremented (increased) every time a predetermined period (approximately 497 days, more specifically, approximately 497 days + 15 minutes) has elapsed.

[0037] That is, the eight bits of data in the first byte from the most significant side of the timestamp 15 (left side in FIG. 3 ) are not incremented (counted up) and show a constant value if the elapsed time is less than approximately 497 days. The data in the first to fourth bytes from the least significant side of the timestamp 15 can be incremented even if the elapsed time is less than approximately 497 days. The interval or cycle (e.g., one second) at which the information processing device 1 acquires the record 14 from the electronic device 4 is shorter than the predetermined period at which the data in the first and second bytes from the most significant side of the timestamp 15 is incremented.

[0038] The communication control device 3 reads out, from the plurality of records 14 (operation information of the work machine 10 or the electronic device 4) stored in the storage device 2, a plurality of records 14 associated with timestamps 15 (time information) indicating times falling within a predetermined time period (for example, 10 minutes). The communication control device 3 also generates time period information indicating the predetermined time period based on the plurality of timestamps 15 associated with the plurality of records 14. The communication control device 3 then associates the plurality of records 14 for the predetermined time period read from the storage device 2 with the time period information, generates a message including the associated time period information and the plurality of records 14, and transmits the message to the management device 5.

[0039] As described above, the communication control device 3 transmits time zone information and a plurality of records 14 associated with each predetermined time zone (for example, 10 minutes) to the management device 5. The time interval (transmission period, for example, 10 minutes) at which the communication control device 3 transmits a message to the management device 5 is longer than the time interval (acquisition period, for example, 1 second) at which the information processing device 1 acquires the records 14, and is shorter than the predetermined period at which 1 byte and 2 bytes of data are incremented from the upper side of the timestamp 15.

[0040] Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the operation information management system 100. Each process in Fig. 4 is executed by a CPU provided in the information processing device 1 and the communication control device 3 according to a software program stored in the internal memory or the storage device 2. The same applies to each process in the flowcharts in Figs. 6 and 11 described below.

[0041] When the information processing device 1 acquires the record 14 output from the electronic device 4 to the in-vehicle network 8 (S1 in FIG. 4 ), it stores the record 14 in a predetermined storage area of ​​the storage device 2 (S2). At this time, the information processing device 1 associates the timestamp 15 corresponding to the record 14 with the record 14 and stores it in the storage device 2. The acquisition process (S1) and storage process (S2) of the record 14 are repeatedly executed by the information processing device 1.

[0042] The communication control device 3 waits for a predetermined transmission condition to be met for transmitting a message to the management device 5. The transmission condition includes the passage of a predetermined time (e.g., 10 minutes) since the information processing device 1 and the communication control device 3 were started or since the last time a message was transmitted. In addition to this, the transmission condition may include at least one of the following, for example: the number of records 14 acquired or stored by the information processing device 1 has reached a predetermined number; a predetermined event that occurred in the work machine 10 has ended; and a signal requesting transmission of a message has been received from the management device 5.

[0043] Furthermore, events that occur in the work machine 10 may include the start of operation of the work machine 10, the stop of operation, the execution of a predetermined operation during operation, the start of work by the work machine 10, the end of work, the execution of a predetermined operation during work, and the occurrence of an error in the work machine 10 or in equipment of the work machine 10 (including electrical equipment such as the electronic device 4). The above-mentioned transmission conditions are examples and are not limiting.

[0044] 4 are repeatedly executed, a plurality of records 14 are stored in a predetermined storage area of ​​the storage device 2, as shown in Fig. 2. Each record 14 stored in the storage device 2 is associated with a timestamp 15.

[0045] When the transmission condition is met (S3: YES in FIG. 4), the communication control device 3 reads out a plurality of records 14 (operation information) for a predetermined time period from the storage device 2 (S4). In detail, the communication control device 3 specifies, as the predetermined time period, a time period from when the information processing device 1 and the communication control device 3 are started up or when the previous message was sent until a predetermined time has elapsed, and reads out a plurality of records 14 each associated with a plurality of timestamps 15 indicating times included in the time period.

[0046] Next, the communication control device 3 generates time zone information 17 ( FIG. 5 ) indicating a predetermined time zone, and associates multiple records 14 for the predetermined time zone with the time zone information 17 (S5). At this time, for example, if the predetermined time zone is from "March 26, 2022, 10:00" to "March 26, 2022, 10:10," the communication control device 3 may generate time zone information 17 indicating this "year," "month," "day," "hour," and "minute," or may generate time zone information 17 indicating "year," "month," "day," "hour," "minute," "second," and "millisecond," such as from "March 26, 2022, 10:00:00:00 milliseconds" to "March 26, 2022, 10:10:00:999 milliseconds."

[0047] Then, the communication control device 3 creates a message 16 including time zone information 17 and multiple records 14 associated with it, as shown in Figure 5 (S6 in Figure 4), and sends the message 16 to the management device 5 via the public network 9 (S7).

[0048] 5 , the communication control device 3 adds time period information 17 to the beginning of the message 16. Furthermore, as described above, the communication control device 3 includes multiple records 14 for a specific time period in the message 16, but does not include time stamps 15 corresponding to each of the multiple records 14 in the message 16. As another example, the communication control device 3 may include, in the message 16, information indicating the order in which the existence of the multiple records 14 included in the message 16 was confirmed.

[0049] The communication control device 3 may also associate lower-level time information 18 with multiple records 14, as shown in Fig. 7. More specifically, as shown in Fig. 6, the communication control device 3 generates time period information 17 indicating a predetermined time period, associates multiple records 14 for the predetermined time period with the time period information 17 (S5), and then references multiple time stamps 15 corresponding to the multiple records 14. The communication control device 3 then generates lower-level time information 18 indicating a time that is included in the predetermined time period but is not indicated by the time period information 17, based on the multiple time stamps 15, and associates the lower-level time information 18 with the multiple records 14 (S8).

[0050] For example, assume that the predetermined time period is from "March 26, 2022, 10:00" to "March 26, 2022, 10:10," and the times indicated by multiple timestamps 15 corresponding to multiple records 14 for the predetermined time period are "March 26, 2022, 10:01:11:011 milliseconds," "March 26, 2022, 10:03:40:555 milliseconds," ..., "March 26, 2022, 10:09:32:711 milliseconds," etc. In this case, for example, the communication control device 3 generates each piece of lower-level time information 18 so as to indicate the times "01 minute 11 seconds 011 milliseconds," "03 minutes 40 seconds 555 milliseconds," ..., "09 minutes 32 seconds 711 milliseconds," which are the times obtained by omitting the common higher-level time information "March 26, 2022, 10:00" from the multiple timestamps 15. The data capacity of such lower-level time information 18 is smaller than the data capacity of the time stamp 15 and the data capacity of the time zone information 17 .

[0051] Then, the communication control device 3 creates a message 19 including the associated time zone information 17, multiple records 14, and multiple lower-level time information 18 (S9 in Figure 6), and sends the message 19 to the management device 5 (S7).

[0052] Note that the value of the unit of "hour" may vary, such as when the specified time period is "March 26, 2022, 1:55 PM" to "March 26, 2022, 2:05 PM" and the times indicated by the multiple timestamps 15 corresponding to the multiple records 14 for the specified time period are "March 26, 2022, 1:57 PM, 10:001 PM," "March 26, 2022, 2:01 PM, 34:554 PM," ..., "March 26, 2022, 2:04 PM, 56:998 PM." In this case, the communication control device 3 may generate each piece of lower-level time information 18 so as to indicate the times "1:57 PM, 10:001 PM," "2:01 PM, 34:554 PM," ..., "2:04 PM, 56:998 PM," each of which omits the common higher-level time information "March 26, 2022" from the multiple timestamps 15.

[0053] After a certain period of time has elapsed since the messages 16 and 19 were sent, or when the communication control device 3 receives an answer signal from the management device 5 indicating that the messages 16 and 19 have been received, the information processing device 1 (or the communication control device 3) deletes the record 14 identical to the record 14 contained in the sent messages 16 and 19 from a designated storage area of ​​the storage device 2.

[0054] As described above, the communication control device 3 includes multiple records 14 in messages 16 and 19 for each predetermined time period and transmits the messages to the management device 5. Note that the communication control device 3 may use a predetermined storage area in its internal memory as a counter (timer) to monitor (measure) the passage of the predetermined time period.

[0055] The communication control device 3 divides, for example, the messages 16 and 19 into multiple packets and transmits the multiple packets to the management device 5 via the public network 9. The management device 5 receives the multiple packets of the messages 16 and 19 via the public network 9, combines the multiple packets to restore the messages 16 and 19, and stores the messages 16 and 19 in the database 6. In other words, the management device 5 manages multiple records 14 (operation information) based on the time zone information 17 included in the messages 16 and 19.

[0056] In addition, when the management device 5 receives a message 19, it may restore timestamps 15 corresponding to each of the multiple records 14 included in the message 19 based on the time zone information 17 and multiple lower-level time information 18 included in the message 19.

[0057] More specifically, for example, when the management device 5 receives a message 19 ( FIG. 7 ) transmitted from the communication control device 3, it reads the time zone information 17 and the plurality of lower-level time information 18 included in the message 19. Next, the management device 5 restores timestamps 15 corresponding to each of the plurality of records 14 included in the received message 19 based on the read time zone information 17 and the plurality of lower-level time information 18. At this time, the management device 5 may, for example, combine the time zone information 17 with the plurality of lower-level time information 18 to restore the corresponding timestamps 15.

[0058] 8 , the management device 5 stores the message 19, which includes multiple records 14 each associated with the restored timestamp 15, in the database 6. The management device 5 may delete the time period information 17 from the message 19. That is, the management device 5 manages the multiple records 14 (operation information) included in the message 19 based on the restored timestamp 15.

[0059] As another example, the management device 5 may break up the message 19 into a group and store in the database 6 a plurality of records 14 each associated with the restored timestamp 15 .

[0060] In addition, when storing the message 19 in the database 6, the management device 5 may not restore the timestamp 15, but when reading the record 14 contained in the message 19 stored in the database 6, the management device 5 may restore the timestamp 15 corresponding to the record 14.

[0061] More specifically, for example, when the management device 5 receives a message 19 transmitted from the communication control device 3, the management device 5 stores the message 19 as is in the database 6. That is, as shown in Fig. 9, the management device 5 stores the message 19 in the database 6 in which time period information 17, a plurality of records 14, and a plurality of lower-level time information 18 are associated with each other.

[0062] Thereafter, when the management device 5 reads at least one record 14 from the database 6, it reads the time zone information 17 and the plurality of lower-level time information 18 associated with the record 14. Next, the management device 5 restores the time stamp 15 corresponding to the record 14 read from the database 6 based on the read time zone information 17 and the plurality of lower-level time information 18.

[0063] 10, the management device 5 associates the restored timestamp 15 with the read record 14 and outputs it to, for example, an external terminal device (which may be the communication control device 3 of the work machine 10). That is, when the management device 5 outputs the record 14 stored in the database 6 to the outside, it restores the timestamp 15 corresponding to the record 14.

[0064] As another example, when the management device 5 reads a message 19 containing multiple records 14 from the database 6, it may restore timestamps 15 corresponding to each of the multiple records 14 contained in the message 19 and associate the timestamps 15 with the multiple records 14.

[0065] In the embodiment described above, when the transmission condition is met, the communication control device 3 includes all of the multiple records 14 associated with the timestamps 15 corresponding to a predetermined time period in messages 16, 19 and transmits the messages to the management device 5. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In addition, the communication control device 3 may include multiple records 14 related to the same event that occurred in the work machine 10 in messages 16, 19 and transmit the messages to the management device 5.

[0066] 11 is a flowchart showing another example of the operation of the operation information management system 100. After the information processing device 1 executes steps S1 and S2, if the communication control device 3 determines that the transmission condition is met because, for example, a predetermined event that occurred in the work machine 10 has ended (S3: YES), the communication control device 3 sets a predetermined time period corresponding to the event (S10). At this time, the communication control device 3 may set a predetermined time period for each event. Alternatively, the communication control device 3 may set the time from the start to the end of the event as the predetermined time period. Alternatively, the communication control device 3 may set the time from the start to the end of the event, divided into predetermined intervals, as the predetermined time period.

[0067] Next, the communication control device 3 reads out a plurality of records 14 relating to a predetermined event from a plurality of records 14 for a predetermined time period stored in the storage device 2 (S11). Next, the communication control device 3 generates time period information 17 indicating the predetermined time period, and associates the read-out plurality of records 14 relating to the predetermined event with the time period information 17 (S12). Then, the communication control device 3 creates a message 16 including the time period information 17 and the plurality of records 14 associated therewith (S6), and transmits the message 16 to the management device 5 (S7).

[0068] As another example, instead of processing S6 in Fig. 11 , the communication control device 3 may generate lower-level time information 18 based on a plurality of timestamps 15 corresponding to a plurality of records 14, as in processing S8 in Fig. 6 , and associate the lower-level time information 18 with the plurality of records 14. Then, as in processing S9 in Fig. 6 , the communication control device 3 may create a message 19 including the associated time period information 17, the plurality of records 14, and the plurality of lower-level time information 18, and transmit the message 19 to the management device 5 (S7).

[0069] In the above-described embodiment, an example was shown in which the reference point of the timestamp 15 was set to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), but the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, for example, the release date and time of the work machine 10 or the date and time of the first event occurring on the work machine 10 may be set as the reference point, and the number of milliseconds elapsed from the reference point may be indicated in the timestamp 15. Note that these are only examples of the date and time indicated by the timestamp 15, and the date and time indicated by the "timestamp" and "time information" in the present invention are not limited to the above.

[0070] In the above-described embodiment, an example has been shown in which one each of the information processing device 1, the storage device 2, and the communication control device 3 is provided in the operation information management system 100, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of at least one of the information processing device 1, the storage device 2, and the communication control device 3 may be provided in the operation information management system 100. Also, a plurality of at least one of the management device 5 and the work machine 10 may be provided in the operation information management system 100. In this case, identification information of the work machine 10 or the electronic device 4 that generated the record 14 and identification information of the communication control device 3 that generated the messages 16 and 19 may be included in the messages 16 and 19 and transmitted to the corresponding management device 5.

[0071] In the above-described embodiment, an example has been shown in which the information processing device 1 mounted on the work machine 10 acquires (receives) the record 14 from the electronic device 4 mounted on the work machine 10 via the in-vehicle network 8 established on the work machine 10, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, instead of or in addition to the in-vehicle network 8, the information processing device 1 may acquire the record 14 from the electronic device 4 via an external network established outside the work machine 10.

[0072] In the above-described embodiment, an example has been shown in which the communication control device 3 transmits the messages 16 and 19 to the management device 5 via the public network 9, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, instead of or in addition to the public network 9, the communication control device 3 may transfer the messages 16 and 19 to the management device 5 via an external network established outside the work machine 10.

[0073] In addition, the above-mentioned external network may include, for example, a narrow area network such as a wireless or wired LAN (Local Area Network), a wide area network such as a WAN (World Area Network), a MAN (Metropolitan Area Network), a VPN (Virtual Private Network), an Ethernet, an intranet, or the Internet, or a public communication network such as a mobile phone communication network.

[0074] In the above-described embodiment, an example was shown in which the information processing device 1 and the communication control device 3 were configured separately, but the information processing device 1 and the communication control device 3 may be configured as the same computer, etc. Furthermore, the numerical values ​​exemplified as the acquisition period of the record 14 by the information processing device 1, the transmission period of the messages 16 and 19 by the communication control device 3, and the predetermined time period are merely examples and are not limiting.

[0075] The work machine operation information management system 100 of the present embodiment described above has the following configuration and produces the following effects.

[0076] (Item 1) The work machine operation information management system 100 includes an information processing device 1 that acquires multiple pieces of operation information (records 14) output to a first network (on-board network) 8 constructed in the work machine 10 and stores them in a storage device 2, and a communication control device 3 that transmits the operation information stored in the storage device 2 to a management device 5. The communication control device 3 generates time zone information 17 that indicates a predetermined time zone, associates multiple pieces of operation information corresponding to the predetermined time zone read from the storage device 2 with the time zone information 17, and transmits the associated time zone information 17 and the multiple pieces of operation information to the management device 5.

[0077] According to the configuration of item 1 above, multiple pieces of operation information for a specific time period on the work machine 10 are associated with time period information 17 indicating the specific time period and transmitted from the communication control device 3 to the management device 5. Therefore, compared to a case where each piece of operation information is associated with time information such as a timestamp and the multiple pieces of operation information and time information are transmitted to the management device 5, the amount of data transmitted from the communication control device 3 to the management device 5 is reduced, communication time is shortened, and communication costs can be kept low. This makes it possible to improve communication efficiency for managing operation information on the work machine 10. Furthermore, the management device 5 can manage multiple pieces of operation information based on the time period information 17.

[0078] (Item 2) In the work machine operation information management system 100 described in Item 1 above, the communication control device 3 generates time zone information 17 for each specified time zone, associates multiple pieces of operation information with the time zone information 17, and transmits the associated time zone information 17 and multiple pieces of operation information to the management device 5.

[0079] The configuration of item 2 above makes it possible to associate multiple pieces of operation information for the work machine 10 with time period information 17 for each predetermined time period and transmit them to the management device 5. Furthermore, the management device 5 can collectively receive multiple pieces of operation information for the work machine 10 for each predetermined time period and manage them in the database 6 or the like.

[0080] (Item 3) In the work machine operation information management system 100 described in Item 2 above, the information processing device 1 acquires operation information of at least one of the work machine 10 and the electronic device 4 output from the electronic device 4 mounted on the work machine 10 to the first network 8, associates the operation information with time information (timestamp) 15 indicating the time when the existence of the operation information was confirmed, and stores the associated operation information in the storage device 2, and the communication control device 3 transmits the associated time zone information 17 and multiple pieces of operation information to the management device 5 via a second network (public network) 9 external to the work machine 10.

[0081] With the configuration of the above item 3, the communication control device 3 can reliably read out multiple pieces of operation information corresponding to a specified time period by referring to the time information 15 associated with the operation information of at least one of the work machine 10 and the electronic device 4 stored in the storage device 2, and can associate the multiple pieces of operation information with the time period information 17 and reliably transmit them to the management device 5 via the second network 9.

[0082] (Item 4) In the work machine operation information management system 100 described in Item 3 above, the communication control device 3 generates lower-level time information 18 indicating a time that is included in a specified time period but is not indicated by the time period information, based on time information 15 corresponding to each of multiple pieces of operation information for the specified time period, associates the lower-level time information 18 with each of the corresponding multiple pieces of operation information, and transmits the corresponding time period information 17, the multiple pieces of operation information, and the lower-level time information 18 to the management device 5.

[0083] With the configuration of item 4 above, multiple pieces of operation information for a specific time period on the work machine 10 are associated with common time period information 17 that indicates the specific time period, and lower-level time information 18, which has a smaller data capacity than the time information (time stamp) 15 corresponding to each of the multiple pieces of operation information, is associated with each of the corresponding multiple pieces of operation information, and these associated time period information 17, multiple pieces of operation information, and lower-level time information 18 are transmitted from the communication control device 3 to the management device 5. Therefore, compared to when each piece of operation information is associated with a time stamp 15 and transmitted to the management device 5, the data capacity transmitted from the communication control device 3 to the management device 5 is reduced, communication time is shortened, and communication costs can be kept low. Furthermore, the management device 5 can identify the dates and times when the existence of multiple pieces of operation information was confirmed from the time period information 17 and the lower-level time information 18, and manage the multiple pieces of operation information based on these dates and times.

[0084] (Item 5) In the work machine operation information management system 100 described in item 3 or 4 above, the work machine 10 operation information management system 100 includes one or more electronic devices 4, and at least one of the electronic devices 4 and the information processing device 1 generates time information 15 and associates it with the operation information.

[0085] With the configuration of the above item 5, time information 15 indicating the date and time when the existence of operation information in the work machine 10 was confirmed can be generated by at least one of the electronic device 4 and the information processing device 1, and the time information 15 can be reliably associated with the operation information.

[0086] (Item 6) In the work machine operation information management system 100 described in any one of items 1 to 5 above, the communication control device 3 sets a predetermined time period in accordance with an event that has occurred on the work machine 10, generates time period information 17 indicating the predetermined time period, reads out from the storage device 2 multiple pieces of operation information corresponding to the predetermined time period related to the event, associates them with the time period information 17, and transmits the associated time period information 17 and the multiple pieces of operation information to the management device 5.

[0087] The configuration of item 6 above allows multiple pieces of operation information for predetermined time periods corresponding to events that have occurred on the work machine 10 to be transmitted collectively from the information processing device 1 to the management device 5 in a state in which the pieces of operation information are associated with time period information 17 that indicates the predetermined time period, thereby improving communication efficiency. Furthermore, multiple pieces of operation information for predetermined time periods corresponding to events that have occurred on the work machine 10 can be collectively managed by the management device 5.

[0088] (Item 7) In the work machine operation information management system 100 described in Item 4 above, the operation information management system 100 for the work machine 10 includes a management device 5 that is provided outside the work machine 10 and in which a database 6 is constructed, and the management device 5 receives time zone information 17, multiple pieces of operation information, and multiple pieces of lower-level time information 18 that are transmitted in a correlated state by the communication control device 3, stores at least the multiple pieces of operation information in the database 6, and restores the time information 15 of the correlated multiple pieces of operation information based on the correlated time zone information 17 and the multiple pieces of lower-level time information 18.

[0089] With the configuration of item 7 above, the management device 5 restores time information (time stamp) 15 specific to each of the multiple pieces of operation information, so that the management device 5 or an external terminal device that receives the operation information from the management device 5 can handle the operation information based on the corresponding time information 15, thereby improving the reliability of the operation information.

[0090] (Item 8) In the work machine operation information management system 100 described in any one of items 1 to 7 above, the first network 8 is an in-vehicle network constructed in the work machine 10, which is a drivable work vehicle, and the second network 9 is a public network including the Internet.

[0091] With the configuration of item 8 above, the information processing device 1 can collect multiple records 14 including operation information of the work machine 10 or the electronic device 4 via the in-vehicle network 8 in a short time and at low cost, and store them in the storage device 2. Furthermore, the communication control device 3 associates the multiple records 14 stored in the storage device 2 with time period information 17 (and lower-level time information 18) according to a predetermined time period, creates messages 16, 19 including these, and transmits the messages 16, 19 to the management device 5 via the public network 9. This makes it possible to shorten the communication time during public communication of the messages 16, 19, keep communication costs low, and improve communication efficiency.

[0092] Although the present invention has been described above, the embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0093] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Information processing device 2 Storage device 3 Communication control device 4 Electronic device 5 Management device 8 In-vehicle network (first network) 9 Public network (second network) 10 Work machine 14 Record (operation information) 15 Time stamp (time information) 17 Time zone information 18 Lower-level time information 100 Work machine operation information management system

Claims

1. A work machine operation information management system comprising: an information processing device that acquires multiple pieces of operation information output to a first network established in a work machine and stores it in a storage device; and a communication control device that transmits the operation information stored in the storage device to a management device, wherein the communication control device generates time zone information indicating a specified time period, associates the time zone information with multiple pieces of operation information corresponding to the specified time period read from the storage device, and transmits the associated time zone information and multiple pieces of operation information to the management device.

2. A work machine operation information management system as described in claim 1, wherein the communication control device generates the time zone information for each of the specified time zones, associates multiple pieces of operation information with the time zone information, and transmits the associated time zone information and multiple pieces of operation information to the management device.

3. A work machine operation information management system as described in claim 2, wherein the information processing device acquires the operation information of at least one of the work machine and the electronic device output from an electronic device mounted on the work machine to the first network, associates the operation information with time information indicating the time when the existence of the operation information was confirmed, and stores the associated operation information in the storage device, and the communication control device transmits the associated time zone information and multiple pieces of operation information to the management device via a second network external to the work machine.

4. A work machine operation information management system as described in claim 3, wherein the communication control device generates lower-level time information indicating times that are included in the specified time period but are not indicated by the time period information based on the time information corresponding to each of the multiple pieces of operation information for the specified time period, associates the lower-level time information with each of the corresponding multiple pieces of operation information, and transmits the corresponding time period information, the multiple pieces of operation information, and the lower-level time information to the management device.

5. A work machine operation information management system as described in claim 3 or 4, comprising one or more electronic devices, wherein at least one of the electronic devices and the information processing device generates the time information and associates it with the operation information.

6. A work machine operation information management system as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the communication control device sets the specified time period in accordance with an event that occurs in the work machine, generates the time period information indicating the specified time period, reads out from the storage device a plurality of pieces of operation information corresponding to the specified time period related to the event, associates them with the time period information, and transmits the associated time period information and the plurality of pieces of operation information to the management device.

7. A work machine operation information management system as described in claim 4, comprising the management device provided outside the work machine and having a database constructed therein, wherein the management device receives the time zone information, multiple pieces of operation information, and multiple pieces of lower-level time information transmitted in a correlated state by the communication control device, stores at least multiple pieces of operation information in the database, and restores the time information of each of the correlated pieces of operation information based on the correlated time zone information and multiple pieces of lower-level time information.

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