JP2001199289A - Vehicular control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the inconveniences of requiring a special transmitter in a conventional method, and being billed corresponding to the charge for a telephone call and being influenced by a radio wave situation of a communications network in a method conducting an operation through a mobile body communication network using a portable terminal. SOLUTION: This vehicular control system directly remote controls a vehicle from a portable terminal connectable to a mobile body communication network through communication path different from the mobile body communication network. The vehicular control system comprises a vehicle control device equipped in a vehicular interior, a radio communication device receiving a control signal of the vehicle control device, and the portable terminal capable of connecting to the mobile body communication network. A signal corresponding to the movement of the vehicle is sent by radio waves or infrared radiation directly connecting between the portable terminal and the radio communication device equipped in the vehicular interior. The signal is directly received by the radio communication device of the vehicle to automatically control the movement of the vehicle according to the signal. Therefore, a user does not have to carry a special sending terminal, is not billed corresponding to the charge for a telephone call, and not influenced by an influence of a radio wave state of the mobile body communication network.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a remote control system for a vehicle such as an automobile.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an ignition key of an automobile has a built-in device for transmitting infrared rays or weak radio waves, and has a function of outputting a door lock opening / closing code, or outputs a door lock opening / closing code by infrared rays or weak radio waves. 2. Description of the Related Art A keyless entry system is widely used, which can remotely control the opening and closing of a door lock of an automobile or the like within a range of several meters to several tens of meters by a dedicated transmitter capable of performing the operation. Similarly, a remote control starter (hereinafter, referred to as a remote control starter) system capable of remotely controlling the start of an engine of an automobile or the like has become widespread. In the above-described keyless entry system or remote control starter system, the number of functions that can be remotely controlled by each transmitter or the like is limited to one. That is, the transmitter of the keyless entry system outputs only the opening / closing code for opening / closing the door lock of the vehicle, and the transmitter of the remote control starter system outputs only the starting code for starting the engine of the vehicle. Has been. Therefore, for example, when a vehicle is provided with a plurality of remote control functions, a dedicated transmitter or the like is required for each. In order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle control system that can remotely control various operations of a vehicle such as an automobile with a simple system that does not require a dedicated transmitter or the like. There has been proposed a method of remotely controlling a vehicle via a mobile communication network by using a mobile terminal (such as a PHS or a mobile phone) having a communication function via a mobile communication network as a control signal transmitting / receiving device. . Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-326869 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
No. 322457. These are a mobile terminal having a communication function via a mobile communication network (such as a PHS mobile phone), a communication device mounted on a vehicle and connected to the mobile terminal via at least the mobile communication network, The vehicle control device includes a vehicle control unit that controls various operations of the vehicle in accordance with the operation information received by the communication unit. According to such a conventional technique, a portable terminal (PH)
(S, mobile phone, etc.) via a connectable mobile communication network to control various operations of the vehicle from outside the vehicle, thereby realizing a system that does not require a dedicated transmitter.

However, in the above prior art, a mobile communication network is used as a communication medium, and a procedure for making a telephone call when controlling a vehicle is indispensable. There is a problem that the mobile communication network cannot be used in a radio wave state where the mobile communication network is not maintained. Therefore, the present invention can control various operations of a vehicle such as an automobile from outside the vehicle without requiring a dedicated transmitter, and can solve the above-described problems caused by using a mobile communication network. It is an object to provide a vehicle control system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a portable terminal which can be connected to an existing telephone line such as a mobile communication network without connecting to a telephone line such as a mobile communication network. The mobile terminal can directly control the vehicle side, and the mobile terminal directs a specific signal determined by the user to the receiving device in the vehicle without passing through a telephone line such as a mobile communication network or a node. A transmitting device capable of transmitting infrared light; a receiving device capable of receiving operation information (control signal) corresponding to the signal on the vehicle side; and a vehicle control device for starting operation of the vehicle in response to the signal Are provided. According to the present invention, various operations of a vehicle can be controlled from a portable terminal having a function of connecting to an existing telephone line without passing through the existing telephone line. Therefore, in addition to the advantage that a dedicated transmitter is not required as compared to a conventional vehicle remote control system using a mobile communication network, the influence of the radio wave condition of the mobile communication network which does not receive a charge equivalent to a call charge. You can enjoy the advantage of not receiving.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an internal configuration of the portable terminal 1 which is an element of the system shown in FIG. In FIG. 1, a mobile terminal 1 controls, for example, an engine 11 of an automobile 7 by communication (wireless communication) 12 not passing through a mobile communication network. As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile terminal 1 includes a wireless communication unit 101 that performs wireless communication via an antenna 102, a base station 3 or an exchange 4 of a mobile communication network 6 such as a PHS or a mobile phone system, and a general wired telephone. 2 communication (communication via mobile communication network 13 = “normal communication”) and communication between the vehicle 7 that does not go through these (communication 12 without mobile communication network). )
And a control unit 100 that performs both controls. Here, the latter communication corresponds to communication used for controlling various operations of the automobile 7 (communication for operating the automobile). Here, a state in which normal communication is performed is referred to as “normal mode”, and a state in which communication for vehicle operation is performed is referred to as “vehicle operation mode”. The mobile terminal 1 is configured to switch between a normal mode and an operation mode as needed by the user, and the control unit 100 controls and performs logic processing for terminal control and user interface processing including mode switching.
The portable terminal 1 has a switching button 106 for outputting a switching request signal to the control unit 100.
The wireless communication unit 101 of the portable terminal 1 has two wireless communication units corresponding to two types of communication (normal communication and communication for operating a vehicle) having different frequencies and transmission speeds via an antenna 102. Each is connected to the normal communication wireless communication unit 10
11 and a car operation wireless communication unit 1012. In each case, the data to be transmitted input from the control unit 100 is modulated into a radio signal corresponding to each communication standard and transmitted (amplified and output in the air), and conversely, the data is demodulated from the received radio signal and controlled. Output to the unit 100. Further, the mobile terminal 1
Normal mobile terminals (such as a mobile phone or PHS) such as an antenna 102, a memory 103, a display unit 104, an operation unit (key buttons and dials) 105, a transmission unit 107, a reception unit 108, and a ring tone generator 109 for generating a ring tone. Terminal). Next, the internal configuration of the automobile 7 (around the vehicle control device), which is one element of the system shown in FIG. 1, will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, a receiving device 8 is a characteristic part of the present invention. The receiving device 8 receives a signal for operating a vehicle transmitted from the portable terminal 1 through the communication 12 without passing through the mobile communication network via the antenna 72 and demodulates the signal. I do. The receiving device 8 is connected to the vehicle control device 9 and outputs demodulated data to the vehicle control device 9. Here, the content of the data output to the vehicle control device 9 is a code (for example, a character string or a numeric string) for requesting control of various devices (eg, the engine 11) of the automobile. The vehicle control device 9 is connected to a controller (for example, the engine starter 10), and a code (for example, an engine 11) for requesting control of various devices (for example, the engine 11) stored in the memory 71 connected to the vehicle control device 9. When a code that matches a character string or a number string is received, a controller (eg, engine starter 10 in the case of engine 11) corresponding to the code is controlled. Next, the operation of the present system configured as described above will be described. Car by remote control
An example in which the engine 11 of the (passenger car) 7 is started will be described. In the present invention, the mobile terminal 1 includes a base station 3 or an exchange 4 of a mobile communication network 6 such as a PHS or a mobile phone system, and a general exchange 5 of a general wired telephone 2 if the normal mode is set. It is assumed that communication 13 (normal communication) can be performed via a mobile communication network. The flow of processing in the normal mode will be described next, taking the case of receiving a call and talking. When an incoming call arrives at the portable terminal 1, communication 1 via the mobile communication network by the antenna 102 is performed.
3 receives a wireless signal (radio wave), demodulates the signal by a normal communication wireless communication unit 1011, and outputs data to the control unit 100. The control unit 100 signals the detection of the incoming call by emitting a ring tone from the ring tone generator 109 or the like. When the user presses an incoming call button (not shown) and responds to the signal, data such as voice can be transmitted. This is no different from a general mobile phone or PHS terminal communication mechanism. When remote control of the car 7 is desired from the mobile terminal 1, the mobile terminal 1
Is switched from the normal mode to the vehicle operation mode. For this purpose, the user depresses the switching button 106. Then, a switching request signal is output to the control unit 100. The control unit 100 to which the switching request signal has been input starts a mode switching program that implements the logic of the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 and starts mode switching. This program outputs a request for stopping standby reception to the normal communication wireless communication unit 1011 in step 403 as shown in FIG. 4, and in step 404, transmits a connection request for vehicle operation communication to the vehicle operation wireless communication. Output to the unit 1012. Upon receiving the request, the normal communication wireless communication unit 1011 disconnects the communication 13 (normal communication) via the mobile communication network 6, and the vehicle operation wireless communication unit 1012 disconnects the receiving device 8 mounted on the vehicle 7. Communication 1 that does not pass through the mobile communication network 6
2 is set and both are connected. In this state, the mode switching to the vehicle operation mode is completed, and the character information from the display unit 104 of the mobile terminal 1
The user is notified to that effect. The user confirms that the connection state has been established, and in order to start the engine 11 of the vehicle 7, the code (numerals or characters) stored in the memory 71 already connected to the vehicle control device 9 in the vehicle 7. The same code as the symbol string composed of characters and the like is input from the operation unit (key buttons or dial) 105 of the mobile terminal 1.
The control unit 100 converts the input code into a corresponding signal, and the vehicle operating wireless communication unit 1012 transmits the code from the antenna 102 using the communication 12 that does not pass through the already connected mobile communication network 6. That is, without passing through the base station 3 or the exchange 4 of the mobile communication network 6 such as a PHS or a mobile phone system, or the general exchange 5 of the general wired telephone 2, the P
The code input from the HS or the mobile phone is transmitted. The transmitted signal is received by the receiving device 8 in the automobile 7, then restored to a corresponding code, and transmitted to the vehicle control device 9. The vehicle control device 9 compares the transmitted codes stored in the memory 71 with the codes corresponding to the operations of the various vehicles. If the transmitted code matches the code corresponding to the engine start, the vehicle control device 9
Transmits a control signal for starting the engine to the engine starter 10. Then, the engine starter 10 is started, the engine 11 is started, and the engine 11 enters an idling state. Note that, in the above embodiment, the vehicle control device 9 is provided only when it is certain that the received control signal is a specific terminal or a specific sender in order to prevent an operation or an erroneous operation from a malicious person. An authentication function for performing an operation corresponding to the signal may be provided. In this case, for example, a form in which the vehicle control device 9 activates a password authentication program that implements the logic of the flowchart shown in FIG. This program is executed in step 50 as shown in FIG.
At 6, the engine start control signal is sent to the engine starter 10.
In step 502 and step 503, the vehicle controller 9 waits for the password to be received from the portable terminal before transmitting the password to the portable terminal, and compares the received password in step 504 and step 505 with the regular password stored in the memory 71. Then, only when the two coincide, the vehicle control device 9 transmits a control signal for starting the engine to the engine starter 10 in step 506. Communication 12 for connecting portable terminal 1 and automobile 7 without passing through a mobile communication network in the above-described embodiment, and transmitting device used therefor
(Vehicle operation wireless communication unit 1012) and receiving device 8 may conform to a wireless communication standard that does not use a mobile communication network as a communication medium, such as well-known Bluetooth (Bluetooth). Bluetooth is a standard for wireless communication in the 2.45 GHz band that is available worldwide without a wireless license and is based on small wireless transceivers covering up to 100 meters. The overall data rate is currently 1 Mbps, up to 2 Mbps in the next version, and up to 721 Kbps transfer rate with one-to-one connection. With a Bluetooth-compliant port, various devices such as mobile phones, portable PCs, and peripheral devices can be connected. Here, only Bluetooth is described as an example of the wireless communication standard, but the standard applied to the present invention is not limited to Bluetooth, and even if it is another standard, it does not use a telephone line as a communication medium. It can be applied as long as it does not deviate from the communication standard. Further, a dedicated transceiver circuit may be used. In the above embodiment, the control operation is described as starting the engine of an automobile (passenger car), but the vehicle to be controlled may be a vehicle other than the automobile (passenger car). In addition, the operation to be controlled may be an operation in which the traveling vehicle changes the traveling direction, a lock / unlock of a key, and an operation of a device such as an air conditioner, a radio, and a car navigation mounted on the vehicle. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be variously modified and implemented without departing from the gist thereof. Further, in the above embodiment, it is assumed that codes corresponding to various operations of the vehicle are referred to or executed by the vehicle control device 9 in a state where the codes are stored in the memory 71 connected to the vehicle control device 9. As shown, such a code is CD-
An external storage medium such as a ROM or a floppy disk, or a storage medium including a semiconductor memory such as a flash EEPROM may be used by reading and using it. It may be stored in a storage medium. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be variously modified and implemented without departing from the gist thereof.

According to the present invention, various operations of a vehicle such as an automobile can be controlled from outside the vehicle, and a telephone line is not used, with a simple configuration that does not require a dedicated transmitter or the like. Can send a control signal to the control target,
Compared to systems using conventional mobile communication networks, there are advantages such as not being charged for call charges, being not affected by the radio wave condition of the mobile communication network, and being able to operate safely from a short distance that can be seen. You can enjoy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a system showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a portable terminal.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a reception function in an automobile.

FIG. 4 is a processing flow of a mode switching program.

FIG. 5 is a processing flow of a password authentication program.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Portable terminal, 2 ... General wired telephone, 3 ... Base station, 4 ... Switching office, 5 ... General switching office, 6 ... Mobile communication network, 7 ... Car, 8 ... Receiving device, 9 ... Vehicle control device, 10 ... Engine starter, 11 ... Engine, 12 ... Communication not via mobile communication network, 13 ... Communication via mobile communication network, 71
.. Memory, 72 antenna, 100 control unit, 101 wireless communication unit, 1011 normal wireless communication unit for communication, 1012
... Wireless communication unit for vehicle operation, 102 ... Antenna, 103 ...
Memory, 104 display unit, 105 operating unit, 106 switching button, 107 transmitter, 108 receiver, 109
Ringtone generator.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04Q 9/00 301 H04B 7/26 H (72) Inventor Michihiro Asanuma 216 Totsuka-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture F-term (Reference) 2E250 AA21 BB08 DD01 FF24 FF36 HH01 JJ03 LL00 LL01 TT03 3G093 BA26 CA01 EB00 EC01 5K048 AA04 BA42 CA08 DA01 DB01 DC01 EA11 EB02 FB08 HA01 HA01 HA13 HA13 AA34 BB04 EE02 FF02 5K101 KK11 LL12

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle control device mounted in a vehicle, a wireless communication device for receiving a control signal of the vehicle control device, and a portable terminal connectable to a mobile communication network, and transmitted from the portable terminal. A vehicle control system for controlling a vehicle via a wireless communication device in the vehicle with a signal, wherein the mobile terminal directly communicates with the wireless communication device mounted in the vehicle by wireless radio waves or infrared communication. A vehicle control system for transmitting a signal corresponding to an operation of a vehicle, receiving the signal directly by a wireless communication device of the vehicle, and automatically controlling an operation of the vehicle according to the signal. . 2. A vehicle control device mounted in a vehicle, a wireless communication device for receiving a control signal of the vehicle control device, and a mobile terminal connectable to a mobile communication network, wherein the mobile terminal is a mobile communication device. Means for setting up a communication line for transmission and reception to and from a wireless base station of a network, and a radio signal different from radio waves of the communication line or an infrared signal to output the signal to and from the wireless communication device mounted in the vehicle. A vehicle control system for controlling a vehicle via a wireless communication device in the vehicle with a signal transmitted from the mobile terminal, the vehicle control system comprising: In the control area directly formed with the wireless communication device, a signal corresponding to the operation of the vehicle is transmitted from the portable terminal by radio waves or infrared rays, and the signal is directly transmitted by the wireless communication device of the vehicle. Receiving The vehicle control system, characterized by automatically controlling the operation of the vehicle in response to the signal. 3. The vehicle remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle control device performs an operation corresponding to a signal transmitted from the mobile terminal before performing an operation corresponding to the signal transmitted from the portable terminal.
It has an authentication function that compares the password transmitted from the mobile terminal or the identifier that can identify the sender or the transmitting terminal with the registered regular password or identifier, and performs the above operation only when both match. A control system for a vehicle, comprising: