JP2008146331A - Vehicle information collecting system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information collecting technique which updates an operational target in executing an agent program for every probe car, and efficiently collects information about each vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: An information providing vehicle 10, which sends to an information collecting center 20 vehicle information collected in accordance with a predetermined operational target file 8A, has an agent part 8 for collecting vehicle information in accordance with the operational target file, and a database 7 for storing the vehicle information, and updates the operational target file according to the vehicle information stored in the database 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information collection technique for collecting information for each vehicle.

Conventionally, there is an information collection technique in which a probe car executes information collection according to an agent program and provides the collected information to a center for each probe car (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).
JP 2003-050786 A JP 2006-031422 A

  However, in Patent Document 1, information is collected by autonomously moving an agent program between probe cars, and the agent program is not executed with different operation targets for each probe car. There is a problem that information such as a failure that occurs due to a difference in the driving environment cannot be collected, and highly accurate information cannot be collected for each vehicle.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to realize an information collection technique capable of updating an operation target when executing an agent program for each probe car and efficiently collecting information for each vehicle. is there.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, in the first embodiment according to the present invention, an information collecting system for vehicles comprising an information providing vehicle and an information collecting center for receiving vehicle information from the information providing vehicle. The information providing vehicle includes agent means for collecting vehicle information to be transmitted to the information collection center according to a predetermined operation target file, and information transmission means for transmitting the vehicle information to the information collection center. The information collection center includes storage means for storing the vehicle information in a database, update means for updating the operation target file based on the vehicle information stored in the database, and the updated operation target Transmitting means for transmitting the file to the information providing vehicle.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information providing vehicle for transmitting vehicle information collected according to a predetermined operation target file to an information collection center, and agent means for collecting the vehicle information according to the operation target file; , Storage means for storing the vehicle information in a database, and update means for updating the operation target file based on the vehicle information stored in the database.

  According to these embodiments, the operation target when executing the agent program for each probe car can be updated, and information for each vehicle can be efficiently collected.

  In the second embodiment, the operation target file is updated for each information providing vehicle. According to this aspect, it is possible to efficiently collect information according to the situation of each vehicle.

  In the third mode, the operation target file is transmitted from the information collection center in response to an update request from the information providing vehicle. This mode is effective when the operation target file cannot be updated on the vehicle side due to a failure or the like.

  In the fourth mode, the operation target file is transmitted from the information collection center in response to an update instruction from the information collection center. According to this aspect, it is possible to reduce the calculation processing load when the operation target file is updated on the vehicle side.

  In the fifth embodiment, the operation target file is updated on the information providing vehicle side based on the vehicle information. According to this aspect, the communication processing load can be reduced as compared with the case where the operation target file is updated on the center side.

  In the sixth embodiment, the vehicle information includes any of position information, running state information, and communication state of the information providing vehicle. According to this embodiment, it is possible to analyze a failure state or the like for each vehicle.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the conditions at the time of executing an agent program for every probe car based on vehicle information can be updated, and the information for every vehicle can be collected efficiently.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  The embodiment described below is an example as means for realizing the present invention, and the present invention can be applied to a modified or modified embodiment described below without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  In addition, a computer program corresponding to the control of the embodiment described later and a storage medium storing the computer program are supplied to a computer mounted on the vehicle, and the computer reads the program code stored in the storage medium. You may make it perform.

[System configuration]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle information collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the system includes a probe car 10 as an information providing vehicle and an information collection center 20 that receives probe data collected by the probe car 10 via wireless communication.

  The probe car 10 detects a communication state with the communication control unit 1 that performs wireless communication with the information collection center 20 via road-to-vehicle communication means such as a wireless LAN, a mobile phone, and a DSRC (narrow band wireless communication system). A communication state detection unit 2, a vehicle position detection unit 3 that detects current position information by GPS or the like, a traveling state detection unit 4 that detects vehicle speed, etc., a failure detection unit 5 that performs predetermined failure diagnosis, and each of these detections Collecting vehicle information by monitoring the vehicle state according to the agent program, the environment state detection unit 6 that detects the environmental state of the vehicle in response to the detection results of the units 2 to 5, the database (DB) 7 that registers the environmental state of the vehicle, and the agent program And an agent unit 8 that performs.

  The agent unit 8 refers to the preset operation target setting information 8A, searches the database 7 accordingly, extracts necessary information, and sends it to the information collection center 20 as probe data via the communication control unit 1. Send at the right time.

  The operation target setting information referred to when the agent unit 8 executes the agent program is defined by, for example, XML (extensible Markup Language). The agent unit 8 can update the operation target setting file as necessary.

  The information collection center 20 has a server function, and a database 21 for registering probe data received from the probe car 10, and whether or not the operation target setting information for each probe car needs to be updated based on the data registered in the database 21. An agent update service unit 22 that performs the above determination and update file creation, a communication control unit 23 that transmits an update file and an update instruction to the probe car 10, and a data processing unit 24 that performs statistical processing and the like on the probe data.

  For updating the operation target setting information, a method of requesting a setting file update service from the agent unit 8 of each vehicle to the information collection center 20, and a method of instructing the file update service from the information collection center 20 to the agent unit 8 of each vehicle. There is a method of directly transmitting the operation target setting file from the information collection center 20 and updating the file on each vehicle side.

  A plurality of files can be set as the operation target setting file 8A so as to be able to cope with, for example, a case where the operation target is changed for a limited time or an emergency operation instruction is desired.

  In addition, the plurality of operation target setting files 8A can be hierarchized or associated with each other. In this case, management information defining attributes of each operation target setting file is attached.

  The agent program itself can also be rewritten from the information collection center 20 via wireless communication in accordance with defect correction, version upgrade, function change or addition.

[Update operation target setting file]
The operation target setting file may be updated autonomously on the probe car 10 side or a file transmitted from the information collection center 20 may be updated.

  A situation where it is effective to update autonomously on the probe car 10 side will be exemplified below.

  (1) A case where the operation target setting file when the agent unit 8 executes the failure diagnosis program is dynamically changed according to the environmental state of the vehicle.

  (2) The battery voltage level drop rate starts to change beyond the normal range, but the voltage level increases the frequency of collecting vehicle control system operation monitor items in a transient situation that has not yet reached the warning judgment level. If you want.

  (3) When the power load level of the vehicle is monitored and it is desired to change the monitor item of the vehicle control system according to the load level.

  (4) When communication means such as mobile communication, DSRC, and wireless LAN can be selected and used, and when it is desired to optimize the communication data item and the communication data size according to the currently available communication speed.

  Moreover, the situation where it is effective for the information collection center 20 to update the operation target setting file of the vehicle will be exemplified below.

  (5) The probe data is statistically processed by the information collection center 20, and classified by vehicle type, production time, travel region, travel mode (average travel speed, engine load level, monthly average travel distance), total travel distance, ignition Analyzing changes in failure mode, deterioration monitor items, etc. by number of cycles, etc., the deterioration monitor data fluctuates toward an abnormal value under a specific condition, or the specific failure mode increases. When it is determined that the vehicle is in a tendency, etc., in order to execute a dedicated diagnosis for the corresponding vehicle, the past system behavior data collected and accumulated by the vehicle is extracted, or the vehicle of the corresponding vehicle group is selected from the deterioration monitor item. If you want to add a data item to be collected for a limited time until a specific time in the future, when the time when a problem occurs will be predicted.

[Specific example of action target setting file]
FIG. 2 illustrates a definition file when the agent unit for each probe car autonomously changes the operation target setting file in accordance with the environmental state of the vehicle.

  The following contents are set in the definition file shown in FIG.

・ Directly collect information ・ Select communication media prioritizes one with high communication speed ・ Battery voltage as monitoring item ・ Normally level 3 items are collected. Added Level 2 item when judged to be in a transient state. When the warning level is exceeded, an item of level 1 is added. FIG. 3 illustrates a definition file when the agent unit for each probe car autonomously changes a plurality of operation target setting files according to the environmental state of the vehicle. ing.

  In FIG. 3, when there are a plurality of operation target setting files, a management file (config.xml) in which related information among each file, priority order, validity period and the like are defined is attached.

  First, the agent unit 8 configures the config. The operation target setting file to be referred to is recognized by referring to xml, and the operation is started.

  When adding or changing the operation target setting information from the information collection center 20, the operation target setting file to be added and the contents of the management file (config.xml) are changed according to the file.

  The change history of the operation target setting file is history. It is recorded in xml and the change history can be confirmed from the outside.

  FIG. 4 shows the configuration of FIG. The contents of xml are illustrated.

  In FIG. 4, there are three operation target setting files to be referred to by the agent unit 8, and task-A is executed once with the highest priority. task-B is a normal execution target and is valid until December 31, 2010. task-C indicates that it is executed only once a month.

  5 to 7 illustrate the contents of tasks-A, B, and C in FIG. 3, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. The operation target setting information of xml is the content that collects and transmits the diagnostic code, vehicle speed, outside air temperature, and accelerator position data for 10 seconds before the occurrence of the event when the failure diagnosis code 0 event occurs with the highest priority. .

  As shown in FIG. If there is a DSRC communication spot during traveling, the xml operation target setting information has the content of transmitting all the vehicle position, vehicle speed, acceleration, and fuel injection amount accumulated in the DB 7.

  As shown in FIG. The operation target setting information of xml is config. It is set to be executed once a month in xml, and is executed only when the travel distance exceeds 100 km from the previous time. The data transmission cycle is set to be determined by the agent according to the radio wave condition, and the transmission data is also specified in items 1 to 3 and also includes items for which the agent has determined abnormality.

[Operation target setting file update flow]
FIG. 8 shows an update flow of the operation target setting file in response to an update request from the probe car to the information collection center.

  In FIG. 8, in the probe car 10, for example, the information collection center 20 is inquired whether or not the operation target setting file has been updated at a rate of once / day (S1). If there is an update (S3), the information collection center 20 requests an update service (S5), receives an update file (S7), and updates (S9).

  FIG. 9 shows an update flow of the operation target setting file in response to an update instruction from the information collection center to the probe car.

  In FIG. 9, the probe car 10 receives an operation target setting file update instruction from the information collection center 20 (S11), receives an update file (S13), and updates (S15).

  FIG. 10 shows an update flow of the operation target setting file by the probe car.

  In FIG. 10, in the probe car 10, the current communication state is detected by the communication state detection unit 2 (S21). If the communication speed is higher than the threshold value, the continuous transmission mode is set (S23). The mode is set (S25). Here, in the continuous transmission mode, the amount of communication is large, and continuous data is transmitted every unit time. In the event transmission mode, the amount of communication is small, and data is transmitted when a predetermined event occurs such as when the brake switch is turned on or when a warning lamp is lit.

  Next, referring to the environmental state of the vehicle stored in the DB 7, the level of the data is classified according to the fluctuation range and the degree of urgency every predetermined period (S27), and grouped for each level (S29).

  Next, an operation target setting file corresponding to the level is extracted (S31) and updated (S33).

  FIG. 11 shows a probe information transmission flow from the probe car to the information collection center.

  In FIG. 11, in the probe car 10, the agent unit 8 reads the operation target setting file and sets the operation target (S41). Next, a transmission mode such as a wireless LAN or a cellular phone is set. Here, priority is given to a communication mode that is good and a communication speed is high (S43).

  Next, the environmental state of the vehicle is monitored according to the operation target setting information (S45), and if a transmission start condition is established with the information collection center 20 (S47), until a transmission end condition is established (S51). ), Probe data is transmitted (S49).

  FIG. 12 shows an update flow of the operation target setting file in the probe car according to the update instruction of the information collection center.

  In the probe car 10 shown in FIG. 12A, the agent unit 8 monitors the state of the vehicle according to the set operation target (S61), and transmits the probe data to the information collection center 20 at a predetermined timing (S63). ).

  Next, when an operation target setting file update instruction is received from the information collection center 20 (S65), the operation target setting file update process described in FIG. 8 is executed (S67), and the processes from S63 to S67 are performed. Is repeatedly executed until the ignition switch (IG) is turned off (S69).

  The information collection center 20 shown in FIG. 12B refers to the probe data stored in the database (S71), and statistically analyzes the data for each probe car (S73). Next, analysis by vehicle type, model, manufacturing time, cumulative mileage, area of use, IG cycle, it is determined whether there is a specific tendency (warning information, fluctuation data, deterioration status, etc.) (S75), the specific tendency If there is (S77), items and conditions necessary for the detailed diagnosis are selected (S79). Then, it is converted into an operation target setting file for the agent program (S81), and an operation target setting file update instruction is transmitted to the agent part of the probe car having the corresponding attribute (S83).

[Correspondence between claims and description]
In the first and seventh aspects, the information providing vehicle is exemplified as the probe car 10, the agent means as the agent section 8, and the information transmitting means as the communication control section 1. Further, the information collection center is exemplified as the information collection center 20, the storage means is exemplified as the database 21, the update means is exemplified as the agent update service unit 22, and the transmission means is exemplified as the communication control unit 23.

  Claims 2 and 3 are illustrated in FIG. 8 as an update flow of the operation target setting file in response to an update request from each probe car to the information collection center.

  Claim 4 is illustrated in FIG. 9 as an update flow of the operation target setting file in response to an update instruction from the information collection center to the probe car.

  Claim 5 is illustrated in FIG. 10 as an update flow of the operation target setting file by the probe car.

  The sixth aspect is exemplified as the vehicle position, the running state, and the communication state detected by the detecting units 2, 3, and 4.

  In addition, each said means is not limited to the structure mentioned above, What kind of structure and form may be sufficient if it has each above-mentioned function.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the vehicle information collection system of embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which illustrates the definition file at the time of the agent part for every probe car autonomously changing an operation target setting file according to the environmental state of a vehicle. It is a figure which illustrates the definition file at the time of the agent part for every probe car autonomously changing several action target setting files according to the environmental state of a vehicle. FIG. 3 config. It is a figure which illustrates the contents of xml. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating contents of tasks-A, B, and C in FIG. 3, respectively. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating contents of tasks-A, B, and C in FIG. 3, respectively. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating contents of tasks-A, B, and C in FIG. 3, respectively. It is a figure which shows the update flow of the operation target setting file by the update request | requirement from a probe car to an information collection center. It is a figure which shows the update flow of the operation target setting file by the update instruction | indication from an information collection center to a probe car. It is a figure which shows the update flow of the operation target setting file by a probe car. It is a flowchart which shows the message transmission process which does not use the message transmission button by the driving assistance system for vehicles of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the update flow of the operation target setting file in a probe car by the update instruction | indication of an information collection center.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Communication control part 2 Communication state detection part 3 Vehicle position detection part 4 Running state detection part 5 Failure detection part 6 Environmental state detection part 7 Database 8 Agent part 8A Operation target setting file 10 Probe car 20 Information collection center 21 Database 22 Agent update Service unit 23 Communication control unit 24 Data processing unit

Claims (7)

An information collecting system for a vehicle comprising an information providing vehicle and an information collecting center for receiving vehicle information from the information providing vehicle,
The information providing vehicle is:
Agent means for collecting vehicle information to be transmitted to the information collection center according to a predetermined operation target file;
Information transmitting means for transmitting the vehicle information to the information collection center,
The information collection center
Storage means for storing the vehicle information in a database;
Updating means for updating the operation target file based on vehicle information stored in the database;
Transmitting means for transmitting the updated operation target file to the information providing vehicle.   2. The vehicle information collection system according to claim 1, wherein the operation target file is updated for each of the information providing vehicles.   The vehicle information collection system according to claim 1, wherein the operation target file is transmitted from the information collection center in response to an update request from the information providing vehicle.   The vehicle information collection system according to claim 1, wherein the operation target file is transmitted from the information collection center in response to an update instruction from the information collection center.   The vehicle information collection system according to claim 1, wherein the operation target file is updated on the information providing vehicle side based on the vehicle information.   The vehicle information collection system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the vehicle information includes any one of position information, running state information, and communication state of the information providing vehicle. An information providing vehicle for transmitting vehicle information collected according to a predetermined operation target file to an information collection center,
Agent means for collecting the vehicle information according to the operation target file;
Storage means for storing the vehicle information in a database;
An information providing vehicle comprising: update means for updating the operation target file based on vehicle information stored in the database.

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