JP2002319096A - Method, system and device for collecting vehicle information, controller for vehicle, and computer program therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently collect information for exhibiting a traveling characteristic of a vehicle in response to a traveling environment, based on information expressing a condition of the measured vehicle. SOLUTION: An ECU 3 measures the conditions of the vehicle 100 in a plurality of points, stores a measured result time-serially in a condition related to the present position detected based on prescribed coordinates, and analyzes the traveling characteristic of the vehicle 100 in a prescribed traveling condition, based on the measured result. The received prescribed traveling environment and an alalyzed result are stored in a database 203 under the condition where they are correlated, as a collection data to be transmitted to an information center 2, in the information center 2 where a plurality of vehicles 100 are used as information collecting objects.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the field of communication systems for transmitting and receiving various types of information by performing at least wireless communication between a control device mounted on a vehicle and an information center having a server computer and the like. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in the field of automobiles, which are typical vehicles, various types of control devices for supporting the driving operation of a driver are mounted. Japanese Patent No. -184892 proposes a vehicle control device that grasps a road shape ahead by referring to road map information used by a navigation device and controls a shift operation of an automatic transmission according to the road shape. .

[0003]

According to the above-described vehicle control device, the automatic transmission is finely controlled according to the shape of the road ahead, so that the operation burden on the driver can be reduced. However, when such a vehicle control device is realized in various vehicles, even if the road map information referred to is common, the optimal shift operation differs for each vehicle type.
It is not easy to prepare an optimal control map to be referred to by the automatic transmission for all vehicle types.

The above-mentioned problems are not limited to the control map of the automatic transmission. For example, in order to tune various controls of the vehicle such as engine combustion control and vehicle body behavior control to more optimal states, Prior to vehicle development,
In various environments (driving environment, weather, time zone such as day / night, road shape, etc.), various driver's driving operation and vehicle state (driving state, various switch operation state, instrument operation state, etc.) It is necessary to collect widely.

Therefore, the present invention provides a vehicle information collecting method, a vehicle information collecting system, and a vehicle information collecting method for efficiently collecting information representing a traveling characteristic of a vehicle according to a traveling environment based on information representing a measured state of the vehicle. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device, a vehicle control device, and a computer program thereof.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a vehicle information collecting system according to the present invention has the following configuration.

That is, a vehicle information collection system in which a control device mounted on a vehicle to be collected and an information center are communicably connected to each other via at least a wireless communication line. A current position detecting means for detecting the current position of the vehicle based on a predetermined coordinate system, measuring the state of the vehicle at a plurality of points, and associating the measurement result with a current position detected by the current position detecting means. Measuring means for storing the state in time series, and at least one of the control device and the information center, based on the measurement results stored in time series by the measuring means, of the vehicle in a predetermined traveling environment The information center is provided with analysis means for analyzing driving characteristics, and the predetermined driving environment and the analysis result analyzed by the analysis means are provided. A database means for readable storage in an associated state, wherein the predetermined traveling environment is obtained from information items that can be specified from the measurement result or time information, or from road map information based on the predetermined coordinate system. A possible information item, wherein the analysis means includes: coordinate information included in the road map information in order to analyze running characteristics of the vehicle in the predetermined driving environment specified from the road map information or the time information. And selecting a measurement result corresponding to the predetermined traveling environment from among the measurement results stored in chronological order by the measurement unit based on a result of comparing the current position associated with the measurement result with the current position. In addition, the analysis is performed based on the selected measurement result.

In a preferred embodiment, the information center further includes information providing means for providing predetermined information to the control device mounted on the vehicle in response to a request from an occupant of the vehicle. A control unit configured to transmit the measurement results stored in time series by the measurement unit to the information center while accessing the information center to receive information provision by the information provision unit. It is better to further provide. In this case, the information providing means may provide predetermined information to the control device before receiving the measurement result from the control device.

[0009] The above object is also achieved by a vehicle information collecting method corresponding to the vehicle information collecting system having the above-described respective configurations.

[0010] Further, the object is to store a program code for realizing, by a computer, a vehicle information collection device corresponding to an information center, which constitutes a vehicle information collection system having the above-described respective configurations, and stores the program code. Which is achieved by a computer-readable storage medium.

Further, the object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle information collection system having the above-mentioned components, and a program code for instructing an operation of a vehicle control device corresponding to a control device mounted on a vehicle, and a program therefor. The present invention is also achieved by a computer-readable storage medium storing a code.

[0012]

According to the present invention described above, a vehicle information collecting method and a vehicle information collecting method for efficiently collecting information representing the running characteristics of a vehicle according to the running environment based on the information representing the measured vehicle state. Provision of a system, a vehicle information collection device, a vehicle control device, and a computer program thereof is realized.

That is, claim 1, claim 2, claim 11,
According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, information representing the traveling characteristics of various vehicles according to various traveling environments can be collected in an information center (vehicle information collection device), for example, mounted on a vehicle at the time of vehicle development. It can be widely used for improvement and development of control programs of various control devices.

According to the third aspect of the invention, when the occupant of the vehicle receives various services from, for example, the information center, the measurement result is automatically transmitted to the information center without the occupant being conscious. Therefore, the operation burden on the occupant can be reduced.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, various services are provided from the information center prior to the transmission of the measurement result, so that the serviceability to the occupants can be improved.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the number of times of communication can be suppressed, so that the processing load on the information center when a plurality of vehicles are to be collected can be reduced.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the operation burden on the occupant can be reduced.

Further, according to the invention of claim 7, the privacy of the occupant can be protected. According to the invention of claim 8, it is possible to maintain the accuracy of various information to be collected in the information center.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the processing load on the control device on the vehicle side and the amount of information communication can be reduced, and the processing load on the information center side can also be reduced.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the processing load on the control device on the vehicle side can be reduced.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a vehicle information collection system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as an embodiment in which the system is applied to a typical automobile.

[0022]

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a vehicle information collecting system according to a first embodiment.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a vehicle to which information is collected by the present system. The vehicle 100 includes a navigation device 1 having a communication function and a vehicle-side recording control device (drive recorder: hereinafter referred to as an ECU). 3) are mounted so as to communicate with each other.

The navigation device 1 performs wireless communication with a wireless telephone base station 4 provided in the city and is connectable to the Internet 5 via an Internet service provider (ISP) 8. The configuration of the navigation device 1 will be described later.

The ECU 3 includes a CPU 101, a ROM 10
2, a storage medium 1 such as a RAM 103 and a semiconductor memory
The CPU 101 performs a control process described below by executing a control program stored in the ROM 102 or the storage medium 104 while using the RAM 103 as a work area or the like.

That is, the ECU 3 includes a VICS information receiver 6 for receiving road traffic information from the outside, a GPS (global positioning system) sensor, a vehicle speed sensor,
The information (measurement result) obtained from the sensor group 7 such as the inter-vehicle distance sensor, the yaw rate sensor, the acceleration sensor, the steering angle sensor, the throttle opening sensor, the brake pressure sensor, the turn signal switch sensor, and the time information indicate the state of the vehicle. A plurality of records can be stored in the storage medium 104 in a time series in a state where time information (including date information) at the time of measurement is associated as information.

Further, the ECU 3 operates an actuator group (not shown) provided in the vehicle 100 based on the information obtained by the sensor group 7 to control engine control, shift control of the automatic transmission, and anti-lock brake. General operation control such as control is performed.

Reference numeral 2 denotes an information center for collecting vehicle information of a plurality of vehicles 100, a server (server computer) 201 for performing communication processing using the Internet 5, and for managing the collected vehicle information. Host computer 20 for performing various information processing such as analysis
And a driver characteristic database 203 for storing collected vehicle information.

The hardware of each component of the information center 2 may employ a general computer system, and may include a server 201 and a host computer 202.
May be realized by one computer. Similarly, the navigation device 1 and the ECU 3 may be an integrated device.

In the above system configuration, the vehicle 100
Navigation device 1 and information center 2
Is connected via a wireless communication line and / or the Internet 5 to enable two-way communication.

In the present embodiment, as an example, the vehicle 1
Although a communication system including the Internet 5 is adopted between the communication center 00 and the information center 2, the present invention is not limited to this system configuration, and the vehicle 100 and the information center 2 can transmit and receive information at least by wireless communication. Any communication system may be used.

In this embodiment, the vehicles 100 to be collected by the information center 2 are a plurality of vehicles of various vehicle types (vehicle types).
For example, when the user (driver) of the vehicle 100 permits information provision to the information center 2 according to a predetermined procedure, it is registered as an information collection target for the first time.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the internal configuration of the navigation device 1 according to the first embodiment.

In the figure, reference numeral 22 denotes a display such as a liquid crystal display, and 23 denotes an input device including a key switch, various pointing devices, and the like. A ROM 24 stores a boot program and the like. Reference numeral 25 denotes a RAM for temporarily storing various processing results. Reference numeral 26 denotes map information for navigation (road map information) and the Internet 6
And a storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) that stores a browser program that can access to the PC, a program for various control processes described below, and the like. And 27
While connected to the Internet 5 via the telephone base station 4 in the city and the Internet service provider 8, the information center 2 and an external device such as an in-vehicle navigation device with a communication function having the same device configuration as the navigation device 1 are connected. Communication interface for
In the present embodiment, as an example, a mobile phone that can be connected to the navigation device main body as shown in FIG. These components are connected via an internal bus 29,
The U (central processing unit) 21 controls the overall operation of the navigation device and executes a function of transmitting and receiving information to and from the information center 2 according to the software program stored in the storage device 26.

The software program is executed by the CPU 2
In the first embodiment, even if the data pre-burned in the ROM 24 is read out and executed, the data read out from a portable storage medium such as a DVD-ROM or the data obtained from outside through the communication line 30 is stored in the storage device 26. It may be stored as appropriate, read out, and then executed.

Here, the map information stored in the storage device 26 or the reading device included in the navigation device 1 is a general one in which a road map is represented by coordinate values based on a predetermined coordinate system. The coordinate system is the same as the coordinate system of the map information used for managing the vehicle information collected by the host computer 202 of the center 2.

Next, the function of the vehicle information collecting system realized by the above system configuration will be described.

[ECU 3] First, the collection processing and analysis processing of the measurement results performed by the ECU 3 will be described.

In the present embodiment, the ECU 3 uses the EC
The functions of the data processing unit, the data recording unit, and the data communication unit are realized by the control program executed by the CPU 101 of U3. That is, the data processing unit collects the measurement results of the sensor group 7 and the like, and performs a predetermined analysis process based on the measurement results. The data recording unit stores the collected measurement result in the storage medium 104 in a state associated with the time information, and stores the analysis result in the storage medium 1.
04. Then, the data communication unit includes the storage medium 1
At least an analysis result among the measurement result and the analysis result stored in the storage unit 04 is transmitted to the navigation device 1.

FIG. 3 shows the ECU 3 according to the first embodiment.
5 is a flowchart showing a measurement result collecting process and an analyzing process performed by the CPU 101, and shows a processing procedure of a control program executed by a CPU 101.

When it is determined in step S1 that the measurement of the state of the vehicle 100 is necessary (for example, when a predetermined time period has arrived), the data processing unit updates the measurement result output from the sensor group 7 ( Step S2),
The updated measurement result (update data) is stored as detailed data for one record in the detailed data table in the storage medium 104 in a state of being associated with the time information (including the date) (step S3).

FIG. 4 is a diagram exemplifying the configuration of the detailed data table in the first embodiment. In this detailed data table, as shown in FIG. Throttle opening, brake pressure, steering angle, latitude, longitude,
It is composed of measurement results such as altitude and traffic volume acquired by the VICS information receiver 6.

Here, the items of road classification (expressway, general road, curve, etc.) included in the detailed data table are GP
Current position information (latitude, longitude,
This is information obtained by referring to the map information based on the altitude). Further, the weather item included in the detailed data table may be obtained by using the operation state of the wiper switch or the like. These items are appropriately referred to as a predetermined traveling environment in the analysis processing described below.

Next, when it is determined in step S4 that the running characteristics of the vehicle 100 according to the running environment need to be analyzed (for example, when a predetermined time period has arrived), the data recording unit (storage medium 104) A predetermined analysis process is performed by the data processing unit using the detailed data stored in the analysis data (Step S5), and the analysis result (analysis data) is stored in the analysis data table in the storage medium 104.

FIG. 5 is a diagram exemplifying the configuration of the analysis data table in the first embodiment. In this analysis data table, as shown in FIG.
It is composed of analysis results representing various traveling characteristics such as fuel consumption characteristics, acceleration characteristics, and steering characteristics, and traveling environments such as road classification and weather.

That is, the driving environment such as day and night can be specified by the time information of the ECU 3 and the navigation device 1. In addition, the road map information based on the predetermined coordinate system is associated with information indicating an attribute (road classification or landmark) of a point represented by each coordinate value. In the present embodiment, a road that can be acquired from the road map information is used. The classification is also treated as the running environment of the vehicle.

Then, in step S5, in order to analyze the traveling characteristics of the vehicle 100 in the predetermined traveling environment specified from the road map information or the time information, the coordinate values (ie, latitude, longitude, Based on the result of comparing the current position (ie, information on latitude, longitude, altitude, etc.) included in a plurality of records associated with the detailed data table (FIG. 4). From among the above, a measurement result corresponding to a predetermined traveling environment (highway, general road, curve, day, night, etc.) is selected, and an analysis calculation is performed using the selected measurement result. In other words, the data processing unit sets a detailed data table (FIG. 4) with a predetermined driving environment requiring analysis as a key.
The detailed analysis calculation corresponding to various running characteristics (fuel consumption characteristics, acceleration characteristics, steering characteristics, etc.) shown in FIG. 5 is performed by referring to the measurement results stored in.
By such an analysis calculation, the analysis data table stores the traveling characteristics of the vehicle 100 for each predetermined traveling environment.

The driving characteristics stored in the analysis data table include, for example, fuel consumption characteristics: average and standard deviation, etc. deceleration characteristics: deceleration (average and standard deviation, etc.), number of brakes, etc. acceleration characteristics: acceleration (Average and standard deviation, etc.), speed (average and standard deviation, etc.), throttle operation frequency, correction cycle, etc. ・ Steering characteristics: yaw rate (average and standard deviation, etc.), steering times, correction period, etc. ・ Dangerous driving characteristics: There are items such as a sudden deceleration frequency, a sudden steering frequency, an alarm generation frequency (an inter-vehicle alarm, a departure alarm), and the like.

The driving environment in which the above-mentioned driving characteristics should be calculated includes, for example: road type: highway, general road, mountain road, curve; speed classification: high speed, medium speed, low speed (congestion), stop (Idling) ・ Time zone: day, night, morning, evening ・ Weather: fine, rain, cloudy, snow, fog, etc.

If the information transmission process is required in step S7 (for example, when a predetermined time period has arrived), the navigation device 1 is requested to transmit data (step S7).
8) In step S9, when transmission is possible (for example, when identification information indicating that transmission is permitted is received from the navigation device 1), the collected data (measurement result and analysis result) stored in the storage medium 104 by the data communication unit. Is transmitted to the navigation device 1 as information indicating the state of the vehicle 100 and information collected by the vehicle (collected information) (step S10), and unnecessary data (for example, transmission) Deleted collected data, etc.) (step S11).

If it is determined in step S12 that information is to be received from the navigation device 1, necessary information (control command) is received from the navigation device 1 (step S13), and the storage medium 104 is stored in accordance with the received information.
Correct the control program stored in the program (step S
14), and return to step S1.

In the collecting and analyzing processes (FIG. 3) of the measurement results of the ECU 3 described above, in step S7,
Whether or not to transmit information has been determined based on, for example, whether a predetermined time period has elapsed. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, measurement results stored in the storage medium 104 (FIG. 4) And / or when the information amount of the analysis result (FIG. 5) exceeds a predetermined amount; when the ignition key switch is operated in an off state; when the data recording time exceeds B (time); When the number of times becomes C (times) or more (in this case, the number of times of running is a coefficient of the number of times the ignition key switch is turned on), When the number of brakes becomes more than D (times), May be transmitted when, for example, is greater than E (times), or when the traveling distance is greater than or equal to F (Km). According to such a configuration, the number of times of communication can be suppressed, so that the processing load on the information center 2 when a plurality of vehicles are to be collected can be reduced, and the operation load on the occupants can be reduced. be able to.

The above transmission timing may be configured so that the user can set it.

[Navigation Apparatus 1] Next, information transmission / reception processing performed in the navigation apparatus 1 will be described. In the present embodiment, the navigation device 1
Now, according to the control program executed by the CPU 21,
In addition to the general route guidance processing, an information transmission / reception function by the data processing unit is realized. That is, the data processing unit
The collected data (at least the analysis result of the measurement result and the analysis result) received from U3 is transmitted to the information center 2, and a control command is received from the information center 2 as necessary.

Here, the control command received from the information center 2 includes a calculation formula of a driving characteristic to be calculated in the analysis processing and a control program or a control command for specifying a driving environment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an information transmission / reception process performed by the navigation device 1 in the first embodiment, and shows a processing procedure of a control program executed by the CPU 21.

If it is determined in step S21 that there is a transmission request from the ECU 3 (corresponding to step S8 in FIG. 3 described above), the collected data (at least the analysis result out of the measurement result and the analysis result) is transmitted to the information center 2. Is permitted (step S22), and step S23
In the case where the collected data can be transmitted (for example, when the identification information indicating that the data can be received is received from the information center 2), the information transmission is permitted to the ECU 3 (step S24), and the process proceeds to step S25. To receive information such as the analysis data table (FIG. 5) (step S25:
This corresponds to steps S9 and S10 in FIG. 3 described above). Then, the received information is transmitted to the information center 2 via the wireless public telephone line and the Internet 5 (step S26). On the other hand, if it is determined in step S23 that transmission of the collected data is impossible,
The transmission of the collected data by the CU 3 is not permitted (step S27).

Next, when it is determined in step S28 that the information receiving process from the information center 2 is necessary (for example, when predetermined identification information is received from the information center 2), the information is received from the information center 2. (Step S29), it is determined whether the received information is a control command for the ECU 3 (Step S30). If the result of the determination is that it is a control command, the received information is
3 (step S31), and returns to step S21.

[Information Center 2] Next, Information Center 2
The information management process performed in will be described.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the information center 2 according to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the information center 2 collects data (measurement) from the navigation device 1 of the vehicle 100 by the server 201. Receiving at least the analysis result among the result and the analysis result), and transmitting the received collected data to the host computer 202.
In the driver characteristic database 203, the information is readably stored, and a new control command is transmitted to the ECU 3 as necessary.

The host computer 202 stores, as map data based on a coordinate system common to the map information used by the navigation device 1 and information on a plurality of vehicles 100 for which information is to be collected, vehicle type data and user data of those vehicles 100. Can be referenced.

Here, a plurality of vehicles 100 for which information is to be collected
The vehicle type data and user data of the vehicle 100
Are registered when a predetermined procedure is performed to allow the user (driver) to provide information to the information center 2.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an information management process performed by the information center 2 in the first embodiment, and shows a processing procedure of a control program executed by a CPU (not shown) in the host computer 202.

If it is determined in step S51 that collection data needs to be received (for example, a predetermined time period has arrived), it is determined whether reception is possible (step S52). As a result of this determination, when the collected data cannot be received (for example, when transmitting / receiving information to / from another vehicle 100), the navigation of the vehicle 100 requesting the transmission of the collected data to the information center 2 is performed. Inform the device 1 that transmission is impossible (step S5).
6).

On the other hand, if the collected data can be received, information indicating that transmission is permitted is transmitted to the navigation device 1, and the collected data is received and stored in the driver characteristic database 203 (steps S53 to S53). Step S55).

FIG. 9 is a diagram exemplifying the configuration of the driver characteristic database 203 in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, since the analysis process is performed by the ECU 3 of the vehicle 100, the collection stored in the database is performed. The content of the data is the same as the analysis data table described with reference to FIG. 5, but since a plurality of vehicles 100 are to be managed, the received collected data includes user data ( ID) and vehicle type data (vehicle model).

If it is determined in step S57 that the content of the data to be collected from the vehicle 100 (running characteristics, running environment, etc.) needs to be changed, a new control command corresponding to the change is targeted. The data is transmitted to the navigation device 1 of the vehicle 100 (Step S58), and Step S51 is performed.
Return to

Here, the situation in which the content of the data to be collected is changed includes, for example, the administrator of the information center 2,
A request from a developer of a vehicle manufacturer using the driver characteristic database 203 is assumed.

According to the above-described embodiment, information representing the traveling characteristics of the vehicle according to the traveling environment can be efficiently collected based on the information representing the measured state of the vehicle. That is, information representing the traveling characteristics of various vehicles according to various traveling environments can be collected in an information center (vehicle information collection device). It can be widely used for improvement and development.

In the present embodiment described above, the vehicle 100
Since the analysis processing was performed by the ECU 3 on the side, the navigation device 1 was configured to transmit at least the analysis result among the measurement result and the analysis result. However,
Such an analysis process may be performed by the information center 2 in a system configuration. In this case, the ECU 3 may measure the state of the vehicle, store the measurement result, and transmit the measurement result to the information center 2.

In a preferred embodiment, the information center 2
It is preferable to perform various information providing services for each vehicle using the communication system environment described above, instead of only collecting vehicle information. In this case, it is preferable to provide a discount of an insurance fee, a discount of a fee at a sales agent, a service factory, or various stores as a reward for the user of the vehicle 100 that has provided the vehicle information to the information center 2. Further, even if the discount rate is set higher as the frequency of providing the vehicle information to the information center 2 is higher, the convenience is higher for the user.

The vehicle 10 which cooperated in providing the vehicle information
In return for the user No. 0, advice for realizing safer and more efficient driving by referring to collected data on a plurality of users (vehicles) stored in the driver characteristic database 203 (FIG. 10A)
(See FIG. 10 (b)) and a result of comparison with another user who owns the same vehicle type (see FIG. 10 (b)) may be displayed on the display 22 of the navigation 1. In the present embodiment, the navigation device 1 is provided separately. Although the device configuration has a body or an integrated communication interface (mobile phone) 27, the ECU 3 is provided with a separate or integrated communication interface so that information can be transmitted between the ECU 3 and the information center 2 without passing through the navigation device 1. It may be configured to perform transmission and reception.

<Modification 1 of First Embodiment> In the above-described embodiment, the navigation device 1 performs step S
26 (FIG. 6), the processing of transmitting the collected data to the information center 2 was automatically performed unconditionally, but prior to transmission, from the viewpoint of protecting privacy, the vehicle 10
It is preferable that the driver (occupant) of 0 can determine whether transmission is possible. In this case, steps S25 and S26
A processing step may be provided in which the occupant can set whether transmission is possible or not using a man-machine interface such as the display 22 and the input device 23.

FIG. 11 is a diagram exemplifying a man-machine interface capable of setting whether or not information can be transmitted in the first modification of the first embodiment. According to the man-machine interface shown in FIG. The occupant can easily recognize the traveling path (data collection area) in which the collected data to be transmitted to 2 has been measured and the time range (period), and then set whether transmission is possible.

<Modification 2 of First Embodiment> In the above embodiment, the measurement and analysis processing by the ECU 3 and the information transmission and reception processing by the navigation device 1
This is realized by the control program dedicated to the present system shown in FIGS. In this modification, the information center 2 and the vehicle 10 are connected via a wireless public telephone line and the Internet 5.
It is realized by a mobile agent consisting of a software program that can move between 0 and 0.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the function of the mobile agent according to the second modification of the first embodiment.

In the present modification, a mobile agent is a software program that executes a desired process while moving between a plurality of information processing devices connected via a communication line. As shown in (1), a series of operations of moving from the information center 2 to the information collection target vehicle, collecting data in the vehicle, and returning to the information center 2 together with the collected data are sequentially performed on a plurality of vehicles. .

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a mobile agent information collection process according to the second modification of the first embodiment.

When the control designation is set in the information center 2 by the mobile agent (step S6)
1) By referring to the driver characteristic database 203 in accordance with the control command, a vehicle that meets the conditions of the information to be collected is searched for (step S62), and the information collection target vehicle 100 selected by the search is searched.
It moves to (navigation device 1 and ECU3) (step S63).

Next, the control program executed by the ECU 3 of the destination vehicle 100 is modified (updated) according to the control command set by the information center 2 (step S6).
4) Wait until the target data is collected by the ECU 3 (step S65).

When the target data is collected, the mobile agent returns to the information center 2 and checks whether the information center 2 is ready to receive the collected data (step S66). If the result is possible, the vehicle moves to the information collection target vehicle 100 again (step S67). If the navigation device 1 is ready to transmit the collected data in step S68, the mobile agent moves to the information center 2 together with the collected data (step S69).

If such a mobile agent is used, the measurement and analysis processing on the vehicle side can be finely changed as necessary. Can be easily collected from In order to realize such information collection by the mobile agent, for example, when the navigation device 1 and the ECU 3 have an environment that operates as a virtual machine of Java, the information collection is performed by the navigation device 1 being accessed from the information center 2. A configuration in which the control program on the vehicle side is modified (updated) by downloading a Java program for instructing the operation of the process (FIG. 13) is assumed.

<Modification 3 of First Embodiment> In the above embodiment, in the collecting process and the analyzing process of the measurement result of the ECU 3 (FIG. 3), it is determined that the information transmission is necessary in the step S7. Has requested the navigation apparatus 1 to transmit data in step S8, but the measurement results and analysis results stored in the storage medium 104 include incorrect records that should not be used in the information center 2. There are cases. Therefore, in this modification, prior to requesting the navigation device 1 to transmit data in step S8, a comparison is made between a past record stored in the storage medium 104 and a record to be transmitted, and the comparison is performed. Depending on the result,
Determine whether transmission is necessary.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart in which only the portions different from the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 are extracted from the measurement result collection process and the analysis process performed by the ECU 3 in Modification 3 of the first embodiment.

In this case, when it is determined in step S7 that information transmission is necessary, the past record stored in the storage medium 104 is read by the data storage unit (step S71), and the read past record is set to N
It is determined whether the number is equal to or greater than the number (step S72).

Then, in the judgment of step S72,
If there are N or more past records, the reliability of a new record to be transmitted this time is determined based on those past records (step S73), and it can be confirmed that the new record is reliable. If so, step S8
Proceeds to step S if the reliability cannot be confirmed.
Proceed to 12. To determine the reliability in this case, a standard deviation or the like calculated based on a general statistical analysis method may be used for each traveling characteristic such as a deceleration characteristic and an acceleration characteristic.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S72 that the number of past records is smaller than N, an average value is calculated based on the past records, and the average value is compared with the new record to be transmitted this time. It is determined whether or not the difference falls within a predetermined error range D set in advance (step S74). Then, if it is confirmed that there is reliability, the process proceeds to step S8. If the reliability cannot be confirmed, the process proceeds to step S12.

According to the present modification in which such processing is performed, the accuracy (accuracy) of various types of information to be collected by the information center 2 can be maintained.

<Modification 4 of First Embodiment> In the above-described embodiment, in the information management process (FIG. 8) by the information center 2, the vehicle 100 to be collected is not specifically designated. Here, the information center 2 specifies the vehicle 100 to transmit the collected data to the information center 2.

In this case, after the processing in step S58, an adjustment of data items to be stored in the driver characteristic database 203 (FIG. 9) is required before returning to step S51 (for example, information center). 2
It is assumed that there is a request from a manager of the vehicle or a developer of a vehicle manufacturer that uses the driver characteristic database 203). A vehicle from which data of required items should be collected is automatically or manually selected. What is necessary is just to transmit a control command instructing collection of required data items to the selected vehicle.

Conditions for selecting a vehicle for which data is to be collected include a vehicle type, a model year, a user category (eg, age, gender, occupation, driving characteristics, etc.), a driving environment, and the like.

Further, a control command for prohibiting the transmission of the collected data may be transmitted to a vehicle that does not need to collect the data.

According to the present modification for performing such processing, the processing load on the control device of the vehicle 100 (the navigation device 1 and the ECU 3) and the amount of information communication can be reduced, and the processing load on the information center 2 can be reduced. Can also be reduced.

<Modification 5 of First Embodiment> In the above-described embodiment, in the measurement result collection processing and the analysis processing (FIG. 3) by the ECU 3, it is determined whether or not measurement result collection is necessary in step S1. However, in the present modification, when the navigation device 1 is performing route guidance, route guidance information (consisting of a plurality of coordinate values) representing the route guidance route is acquired, and the navigation device 1 performs measurement on a route requiring measurement. Determine if there is. In this case, the determination as to whether or not the route needs to be measured is made based on the above-described Modification 4 based on the road classification (expressway, general road, etc.) as a collected data item required from the information center 2. What is necessary is just to determine in advance whether or not the road classification acquired from the information center 2 matches the road classification associated with the coordinate values forming the route guidance route.

According to the present modification in which such processing is performed, the processing load on the control device of the vehicle 100 (the navigation device 1 and the ECU 3) can be reduced, and the processing load on the information center 2 can also be reduced. .

[0096]

Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment based on the vehicle information collection system according to the first embodiment will be described. In the following description, the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will not be described repeatedly, and the description will focus on the characteristic portions of the present embodiment.

In the first embodiment described above, the collected data is transmitted to the information center 2 at every predetermined time period, for example. In this embodiment, the various information providing services provided by the information center 2 are provided. The collected data is transmitted in response to access to the information center 2 by the occupant of the vehicle 100 to use the information.

[Navigation Apparatus 1] FIG.
10 is a flowchart illustrating an information transmission / reception process performed by the navigation device 1 according to the embodiment, and illustrates a processing procedure of a control program executed by a CPU 21.

As shown in the figure, in step S81,
It is determined whether the driver (occupant) has requested the use of the information providing service from the information center 2, and if not, the collected data is not transmitted. If it is determined in step S81 that there is a request, the request is transmitted to the information center 2 (step S82).

Next, if there is collected data to be transmitted to the ECU 3, the collected data is obtained from the ECU 3, and then transmitted to the information center 2 (steps S83 to S85).

Then, from the information center 2 to step S8
The information requested in step 2 is obtained (step S86), and the information is notified using the display 22 or the like (step S87).

In steps S88 and S89,
The control command obtained from the information center 2 is transmitted to the ECU 3 as necessary, similarly to the steps S30 and S31 in FIG.

[Information Center 2] FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an information management process performed by the information center 2 in the second embodiment, and shows a processing procedure of a control program executed by a CPU (not shown) in the host computer 202. Show.

As shown in the figure, in step S91,
It is determined whether an information providing service is requested by the driver (occupant) of the vehicle 100. If it is determined that the information providing service is requested, a process corresponding to the request is performed (step S92).

If the collected data is received in accordance with steps S83 to S85 of the ECU 3, the received collected data is stored in the driver characteristic database 2.
03 (steps S93 to S95).

In steps S96 and S97,
Like step S57 and step S58 in FIG. 8 described above, a new control command is transmitted to the navigation device 1 as necessary.

In step S98, the requested information content is transmitted to the navigation device 1, and in step S9
Return to 1.

According to the above-described embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained. In addition, when the occupant of the vehicle receives various services from, for example, an information center, the occupant is conscious. Since the measurement result is automatically transmitted to the information center without the need, the operation burden on the occupant can be reduced.

In the above-described second embodiment, the information content requested in step S98 is transmitted. However, the information content may be transmitted prior to the reception of the collected data. According to such a configuration, various services are provided from the information center prior to the transmission of the measurement result, so that the serviceability to the occupant can be improved.

<Modification 1 of Second Embodiment> The second embodiment described above can also be realized by a mobile agent.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a mobile agent information collection process according to the first modification of the second embodiment.

When the mobile agent is designated for control in the information center 2 (step S10)
1) Wait until the information provision service is requested from the information collection target vehicle 100 (step S102), and move to the information collection target vehicle 100 (the navigation device 1 and the ECU 3) in response to the request. (Step S103).

Next, the mobile agent executes a control program executed by the ECU 3 of the destination vehicle 100,
The information is corrected (updated) in accordance with the control command set by the information center 2 (step S104), and the target data is collected by the ECU 3 and the information center 2 waits until an information providing service is requested. (Step S105). Then, in response to the request, the mobile agent moves to the information center 2 together with the collected data (step S106).

According to the present modification in which such processing is performed by the mobile agent, the occupant's operation load can be reduced as in the above-described second embodiment, and the measurement and analysis processing on the vehicle side can be performed. Since the information can be finely changed as needed, the information required in the information center 2 can be easily collected from the vehicle of the target vehicle type.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a vehicle information collection system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a navigation device 1 according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a measurement result collection process and an analysis process performed by an ECU 3 in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a detailed data table according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an analysis data table according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a navigation device 1 according to the first embodiment.
4 is a flowchart showing an information transmission / reception process performed by the user.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the information center 2 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an information management process performed by the information center 2 in the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a driver characteristic database 203 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows a vehicle 1 that has provided vehicle information to an information center 2.
It is a figure which illustrates the guidance displayed on the display 22 of the navigation 1 by the information provision service performed in return for the 00 user.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a man-machine interface capable of setting whether information can be transmitted or not in a first modification of the first embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating functions of a mobile agent according to a second modification of the first embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a mobile agent information collection process according to Modification 2 of the first embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an ECU 3 according to a third modification of the first embodiment.
Of the measurement result collection and analysis performed by
3 is a flowchart in which only portions different from the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an information transmission / reception process performed by the navigation device 1 according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an information management process performed by the information center 2 in the second embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a mobile agent information collection process according to Modification 1 of the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Navigation device, 2: Information center, 4: Telephone base station, 5: Internet, 6: VICS information receiver, 7: Sensor group, 8: Internet service provider, 21, 101: CPU, 22: Display, 23: input device, 24, 102: ROM, 25, 103: RAM, 26: storage device, 27: communication interface, 29: internal bus, 30: communication line, 100: vehicle, 104: storage medium, 201: server computer , 202: host computer,

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hideki Naka 3-1, Shinchi, Fuchu-cho, Aki-gun, Hiroshima Mazda F-term (reference) 5H180 AA01 BB02 BB04 BB05 BB13 BB15 FF04 FF05 FF12 FF13

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle information collection method in a communication system in which a control device mounted on a vehicle to be collected and an information center are communicably connected at least via a wireless communication line. A measurement step of measuring the state of the vehicle at a plurality of points and storing the measurement results in a time series in a state associated with a current position detected based on a predetermined coordinate system; and An analyzing step of analyzing running characteristics of the vehicle in a predetermined driving environment based on a measurement result stored in a time series in the measuring step; And a storage step of storing in a database readable in a state where the analysis results analyzed in the analysis step are associated with each other; The predetermined traveling environment is an information item that can be specified from the measurement result or the time information or an information item that can be obtained from road map information based on the predetermined coordinate system. In order to analyze the traveling characteristics of the vehicle in the predetermined traveling environment specified from the road map information or the time information, the coordinate information included in the road map information and the current Based on the result of the comparison with the position, the measurement result corresponding to the predetermined traveling environment is selected from the measurement results stored in time series in the measurement process, and the analysis is performed based on the selected measurement result. A vehicle information collecting method. 2. A vehicle information collection system in which a control device mounted on a vehicle to be collected and an information center are communicably connected at least via a wireless communication line, wherein the control device includes: The current position of the vehicle is detected based on a predetermined coordinate system.Current position detecting means, and the state of the vehicle is measured at a plurality of points, and the measurement result is associated with the current position detected by the current position detecting means. A measurement unit that stores the state in a time series, and at least one of the control device and the information center is configured to control the vehicle in a predetermined traveling environment based on a measurement result stored in a time series by the measurement unit. The information center includes an analysis unit configured to analyze a traveling characteristic, the predetermined driving environment, and an analysis result analyzed by the analysis unit. A database means for readable storage in an associated state, wherein the predetermined traveling environment is obtained from information items that can be specified from the measurement results or time information, or road map information based on the predetermined coordinate system. A possible information item, wherein the analysis means includes coordinate information included in the road map information in order to analyze a traveling characteristic of the vehicle in the predetermined traveling environment specified from the road map information or the time information. And selecting a measurement result corresponding to the predetermined traveling environment from among the measurement results stored in chronological order by the measurement unit based on a result of comparing the current position associated with the measurement result with the current position. A vehicle information collecting system for performing analysis based on a selected measurement result. 3. The information center further includes information providing means for providing predetermined information to the control device mounted on the vehicle in response to a request from an occupant of the vehicle. The apparatus further comprises control means for transmitting the measurement result and / or the analysis result to the information center when accessing the information center to receive the information provided by the information providing means. The vehicle information collecting system according to claim 2, wherein 4. The information center, wherein the information providing unit provides predetermined information to the control device before receiving the measurement result or the analysis result from the control device. The vehicle information collection system according to claim 3, wherein 5. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to store the measurement result and the current position stored in time series by the measurement unit, or the analysis result when the analysis unit is provided in the control unit. 3. The vehicle information collection system according to claim 2, further comprising control means for transmitting to the information center when an amount of information stored in the information center exceeds a predetermined amount of information. 6. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to transmit the measurement result and the current position stored in time series by the measurement unit, or the analysis result when the analysis unit is provided in the control unit. When the ignition key switch of the vehicle equipped with is turned off,
3. The vehicle information collection system according to claim 2, further comprising control means for transmitting the information to the information center. 7. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to store the measurement result and the current position stored in time series by the measurement unit, or the analysis result when the analysis unit is provided in the control unit, and Prior to sending to
3. The vehicle information collecting system according to claim 2, further comprising control means for confirming whether or not transmission is possible for an occupant, and performing transmission only when transmission is permitted. 8. The control device, wherein the measurement unit is configured to store the measurement result and the current position stored in time series by the measurement unit, or the analysis result when the analysis unit is provided in the control device. Prior to transmitting to the information center, the measurement result in the current control cycle and the validity of the current position associated with the measurement result are based on the measurement result and the current position already stored in time series. 3. The vehicle information collecting system according to claim 2, wherein the transmission is performed only when it is determined that it is appropriate. 9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit includes the analysis unit, wherein the information center is capable of selecting the item of the predetermined traveling environment to be stored in the database unit and selecting the item. Further comprising a selection unit for instructing the analysis unit provided in the control device with the selected item, wherein the analysis unit includes the analysis unit in the driving environment corresponding to only the item specified by the selection unit. 3. The vehicle information collection system according to claim 2, wherein the driving characteristic of the vehicle is analyzed, and the analysis result is transmitted to the information center. 10. At least one of the control device and the information center specifies a traveling path whose traveling characteristics are to be analyzed by the analysis means based on position information of a destination of the vehicle acquired from the vehicle. The control device, wherein the measuring unit stores a measurement result when the vehicle travels on the traveling path specified by the specifying unit in a state in which the measurement result is associated with the current position. Item 4. The vehicle information collection system according to Item 2. 11. Communication means for communicatively connecting the own device via at least a wireless communication line to a control device mounted on the information collection target vehicle, and a current position of the vehicle based on a predetermined coordinate system. Analysis means for receiving a measurement result of the state of the vehicle at the point in a time series in an associated state, and analyzing the traveling characteristics of the vehicle in a predetermined traveling environment based on the received information. The predetermined traveling environment is an information item that can be specified from the measurement result or the time information, or an information item that can be obtained from road map information based on the predetermined coordinate system. In order to analyze the traveling characteristics of the vehicle in the predetermined traveling environment specified from the map information or the time information, coordinate information included in the road map information and the measurement result Selecting a measurement result corresponding to the predetermined driving environment from the received information based on a result of comparing the current position associated with the current position, and performing analysis based on the selected measurement result. A vehicle information collecting device characterized by the above-mentioned. 12. A communication means for communicatively connecting an own device mounted on a vehicle to an information center for collecting information via at least a wireless communication line, and a current position of the vehicle in a predetermined coordinate system. A current position detecting means for detecting based on the current position, a measuring means for measuring the state of the vehicle at a plurality of points, and storing the measurement result in a time series in a state associated with the current position detected by the current position detecting means; Analyzing means for analyzing running characteristics of the vehicle in a predetermined driving environment based on the measurement results stored in time series by the measuring means, and transmitting the analysis result to the information center; The traveling environment is an information item that can be specified from the measurement result or time information, or information that can be obtained from road map information based on the predetermined coordinate system. Eyes, the analysis means, to analyze the driving characteristics of the vehicle in the predetermined driving environment specified from the road map information or the time information, coordinate information included in the road map information, Based on the result of comparison with the current position associated with the measurement result, from among the measurement results stored in chronological order by the measurement means, select a measurement result corresponding to the predetermined traveling environment, and select A control device for a vehicle, which performs an analysis based on a measurement result obtained. 13. A computer program as the vehicle information collection device according to claim 11, wherein the computer program issues an instruction to operate a computer. 14. A computer program for instructing the operation of the vehicle control device according to claim 12.