Data Collection Interface for Vehicle Communication Management

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional data collection systems face difficulties in allowing users to easily set parameters for information collection while also recognizing the communication amount, making it challenging to manage data collection efficiently.

Innovation Solution

A data collection apparatus equipped with a collection unit, reception unit, and providing unit that collects data from vehicular devices, receives specified communication amounts, and provides a user interface to guide users in setting data collection conditions to ensure the communication amount remains within the specified limits, allowing users to easily set parameters while monitoring the communication amount.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a user connects a terminal to a center apparatus and specifies upload conditions through a user interface, then flexible information collection suitable for different situations is achieved, but the user has difficulty recognizing the communication amount and cannot set parameters easily

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexible information collectionVSAvoidparameter setting ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides real-time feedback to the user by displaying the estimated communication amount when parameters are set. The center apparatus calculates the communication amount based on the selected vehicles and upload conditions, then presents this information back to the user through the terminal, enabling informed parameter setting while maintaining flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The center apparatus acts as an intermediary between the user and the data collection process. It receives user-specified conditions, automatically calculates the resulting communication amount, and presents both the conditions and their impact to the user, simplifying the parameter setting process while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a user connects a terminal to a center apparatus and specifies upload conditions through a user interface, then flexible information collection suitable for different situations is achieved, but the user has difficulty recognizing the communication amount

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexible information collectionVSAvoidcommunication amount recognition

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides real-time feedback to the user by displaying the estimated communication amount when parameters are set. The center apparatus calculates the communication amount based on the selected vehicles and upload conditions, then presents this information back to the user through the terminal, enabling informed parameter setting while maintaining flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The center apparatus performs preliminary calculation of the communication amount before the user finalizes the parameter settings. This advance computation allows the user to see the communication impact of their selections and adjust parameters accordingly, preventing information loss about communication costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If data is collected from multiple vehicles with detailed parameters, then comprehensive road information is obtained, but the communication amount increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroad information qualityVSAvoidcommunication amount

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system allows users to set upload conditions that collect data from multiple vehicles with detailed parameters when necessary for comprehensive road information, but provides the flexibility to limit the scope (select fewer vehicles or reduce parameter detail) when communication amount becomes excessive. The user can adjust the level of data collection based on the displayed communication estimate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables users to modify parameters such as the number of target vehicles, data collection frequency, and upload conditions to balance road information quality with communication amount. The center apparatus recalculates and displays the communication amount when parameters are changed, allowing users to optimize the trade-off between data comprehensiveness and communication cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11189109B2Data collection device, data collection system, and data collection method

Publication Date: 2021.11.30 DENSO TEN LTD

AI summary

A data collection apparatus includes: a collection unit which collects data relating to respective vehicles from vehicular devices installed in the respective vehicles; a reception unit which receives a prescribed communication amount specified; and a providing unit which provides a user interface that provides guidance on manipulations for specifying a data collection condition so that a communication amount of data collected by the collection unit falls within the specified communication amount.