JP2003212099A - Vehicle inspection system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently provide information for diagnosing a driving manner and for checking components in vehicle maintenance work. <P>SOLUTION: Information on a vehicle obtained by a variety of on-vehicle units 2 is transmitted to a ground center GC via a portable terminal 6 such as a cellular phone which is carried at all times. The information on the vehicle is transmitted directly to the ground center GC from the portable terminal 6 through a telephone communication network without using a local base such as a gas station. The ground center GC transmits information on the driving manner or habit, etc., as statistical data to the vehicle, an automobile dealer, a garage, an automobile inspection center, an automotive parts manufacturer, etc., to be effectively utilized. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle inspection system for transmitting vehicle information collected in a vehicle to a predetermined ground station center and accumulating and processing the vehicle information at the ground station center to obtain statistical data. Regarding

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, JP-A-11-110689.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication (hereinafter referred to as “conventional example”), there is disclosed a technique of collecting vehicle information on a driving condition and a monitoring portion in a vehicle and transmitting the vehicle information to a base station such as a gas station. Specifically, vehicle information is collected by an in-vehicle terminal equipped with a sensor and a telemeter, and this vehicle information is transmitted from the vehicle to a maintenance center via a base station. As the vehicle information at this time, data relating to the usage frequency of the parts is applied.

In the case of this conventional example, in the vehicle and the base station,
The maintenance information can be calculated based on the vehicle information, and the driver can be informed of the driving guidance to promote proper driving.

Further, by directly transferring the vehicle information from the base station to the maintenance center, it is possible to analyze detailed vehicle information, prepare for maintenance, and perform proper maintenance.

Further, by remotely managing the vehicle information and the maintenance information, it is possible to preliminarily examine a vehicle repair method and prevent vehicle breakdown.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the above-mentioned conventional example,
Since it is necessary to collect vehicle information with an in-vehicle terminal equipped with a sensor and a telemeter, it is necessary to newly install an in-vehicle terminal equipped with such a sensor and a telemeter for the purpose of collecting vehicle information.

Further, in the above-mentioned conventional example, since the information is sent from the vehicle to the maintenance center via the base station, a base station is required in addition to the vehicle and the maintenance center.

Further, in the above-mentioned conventional example, although there is data relating to the frequency of use of the parts, there is no information relating to the traveling position or the traveling locus, detailed information on the strength of how the brake is applied, the speed at which the steering wheel is turned, etc. So, the actual driving situation (run
We cannot provide quantitative data corresponding to bends and stops. Therefore, it is not possible to provide more detailed information (driving method, habit, etc.), only information related to vehicle inspection and maintenance.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle inspection system capable of efficiently providing information for diagnosing a driving method and for checking parts during vehicle inspection.

[0010]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems,
The invention according to claim 1 is a vehicle inspection system for transmitting vehicle information collected in a vehicle to a predetermined ground station center, accumulating and processing the vehicle information at the ground station center to obtain statistical data. An in-vehicle unit, a vehicle information collecting unit that collects the vehicle information obtained by the in-vehicle unit, and the vehicle information that is collected by the vehicle information collecting unit by radio waves and externally. And a mobile terminal for transmitting the vehicle information output from the wireless communication unit to the ground station center through an external telephone network.

The invention according to claim 2 is the vehicle inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the statistics transmitted from the ground station center into the vehicle through the mobile terminal and the wireless communication unit. The statistical data receiving section for receiving the statistical data and the display section for displaying the statistical data received by the statistical data receiving section.

A third aspect of the present invention is the vehicle inspection system according to the first or second aspect, in which an operator sends the vehicle information to the wireless communication unit through the mobile terminal to the ground station. The vehicle is further provided with an operation unit for performing an instruction operation to transmit to the center.

The invention according to claim 4 is the vehicle inspection system according to claim 2, wherein the ground station center is
The statistical data is transmitted to at least one of an automobile dealer, a maintenance shop, a vehicle inspection site, and an automobile parts manufacturer.

The invention according to claim 5 is the vehicle inspection system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the vehicle information is the current position of the vehicle, identification information of the vehicle, and a brake pedal. It includes at least one of the number of times of opening, the history of opening and closing of doors, windows and trunks, the vehicle speed, how to turn the steering wheel (steering), and the number of times of using various communication services.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is the vehicle inspection system according to any of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the ground station center is concerned with how to drive and the habit of the driver. The vehicle information is accumulated and processed so as to quantitatively grasp the contents related to the usage of the vehicle.

The invention according to claim 7 is the vehicle inspection system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the ground station center causes the type of the vehicle information and the type of the statistical data. A version upgrade program for changing the above is held in each vehicle so that it can be downloaded.

The invention according to claim 8 is the vehicle inspection system according to claim 4, wherein the ground station center is
At least one of the car dealer, the maintenance shop, the vehicle inspection site, and the automobile parts manufacturer is used as a data provider, and profit is obtained as a membership contract cost or a data provision cost with the data provider. is there.

[0018]

1 is a diagram showing a vehicle inspection system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this vehicle inspection system, as shown in FIG. 1, various vehicle information such as information for diagnosing a driving method and information for checking parts at the time of vehicle inspection are collected, and transmitted to the ground station center GC for transmission on the ground. After the vehicle information is accumulated and processed by the station center GC, the processed vehicle information is provided to the driver, the automobile dealer 11, the maintenance shop 12, the vehicle inspection site 13, the automobile parts manufacturer 14, and the like.

Specifically, this vehicle inspection system includes various vehicle-mounted units 2 connected to the vehicle-mounted LAN 1 such as brakes, wipers, power windows, engine controllers and navigation systems, and various vehicle-mounted units 2 connected to the vehicle-mounted LAN 1. The vehicle information collection unit 3 that collects various types of vehicle information obtained in 1., the operation unit 4 for the operator to operate, and the vehicle information collected by the vehicle information collection unit 3 by the operation of the operation unit 4 wirelessly. A radio communication unit 5 that outputs radio waves and receives radio waves from the outside, and a mobile terminal (for example, a mobile phone) 6 that mediates radio communication of the vehicle information output from the radio communication unit 5 to the outside.
Then, the vehicle information sent via the mobile terminal 6 is received, accumulated and processed, and the processed vehicle information is used as a driver, a car dealer 11, a maintenance shop 12, a vehicle inspection station 13
And the ground station center GC provided as statistical data to the automobile parts manufacturer 14 and the like, and this ground station center GC
The mobile terminal 6 is provided with a statistical data receiving unit 7 for receiving the statistical data and a display unit 8 such as a liquid crystal panel for displaying the statistical data received by the statistical data receiving unit 7.

Here, the various on-vehicle units 2, the vehicle information collecting section 3, the operating section 4, the wireless communication section 5, the statistical data receiving section 7 and the display section 8 are mounted in a vehicle such as an automobile.

The vehicle-mounted LAN 1 is, for example, a CAN (Controll
er Area Network) communication between the various vehicle-mounted units 2 and the vehicle information collection unit 3 is performed.

The vehicle information collecting unit 3 includes a ROM and a RAM.
It is operated by a predetermined software program in a general CPU to which the above are connected, and is installed in an instrument panel where various kinds of vehicle information are collected. The vehicle information collected by the vehicle information collection unit 3 includes the current position of the vehicle obtained from the car navigation system in the various vehicle-mounted units 2, identification information (ID) of the vehicle, the number of times the brake is stepped on, doors, windows, and There are a history of opening / closing of the trunk, a vehicle speed, how to turn a steering wheel (steering), the number of times of using VICS and ETC (various communication services), and the like.

The operation unit 4 is installed in the instrument panel of the automobile, and transmits vehicle information to the wireless communication unit 5.
Further, a predetermined push button switch for instructing transmission to the ground station center GC through the mobile terminal 6 is installed.

The wireless communication section 5 applies a wireless interface such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or infrared communication (Irda) to mutually communicate with the mobile terminal 6.

The mobile terminal 6 communicates by, for example, the TDMA method by the PDC method, etc., and from the base station to the general telephone network (not shown) through a mobile communication switch and a mobile gateway switch via a mobile terminal network. The connection is made, and the ground station center GC is connected via this telephone network to perform mutual communication.

The ground station center GC is provided with a computer system having a communication function capable of transmitting and receiving various information to and from the mobile terminal 6 on the vehicle side, a dealer, a maintenance shop, a vehicle inspection site, a parts manufacturer, and the like. Based on the vehicle information obtained from each vehicle through the mobile terminal 6, after quantitatively grasping the contents related to the driving method, the habit of the driver, and the usage of the vehicle, the quantitatively grasped result Can be transmitted as statistical data to the mobile terminal 6 on the vehicle side, the dealer, the maintenance shop, the vehicle inspection site, and the parts manufacturer. This ground station center GC is adapted to earn a profit by a member contract cost with a data providing destination and a data providing cost.

The operation of the vehicle inspection system will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

<Collecting Vehicle Information> First, in step S01, the vehicle information gathering unit 3 uses the brakes, wipers,
From various vehicle-mounted units 2 connected to the vehicle-mounted LAN 1 such as a power window, an engine controller, and a navigation system, the current position of the vehicle, vehicle identification information (ID), the number of times the brake is stepped on, the opening / closing history of doors, windows and trunks, Various vehicle information such as vehicle speed, steering wheel (steering) method, VICS and ETC usage frequency, etc. is collected. The type of vehicle information is defined by a software program stored in advance in a ROM or the like, and each of these vehicle information is transmitted to the ground station center GC as in step S03 described later. , The data of the transmission frequency is added.

In the next step S02, it is determined whether or not the driver or the like has operated the operation unit 4 in the instrument panel. When the operation unit 4 is operated, the process proceeds to the next step S03, and the vehicle information is wirelessly transmitted from the wireless communication unit 5 to the mobile terminal 6. Then, the vehicle information is transferred from the mobile terminal 6 to the ground station center GC.
Send to. At this time, data of the transmission frequency is added to each vehicle information and stored in a predetermined storage means such as a flash ROM.

<Accumulation and Processing of Vehicle Information at Ground Station Center> In step S04, at the ground station center GC,
The vehicle information transmitted from the mobile terminal 6 is stored separately for each vehicle identified by its ID, and each information is processed to quantitatively grasp how to drive each vehicle and how the vehicle is used. I do. When processing this information, for example,
Prepare the following statistical data.

[Contents Related to Driving Method and Driver's Peculiarity] (1) Number of Steps on the Brake per Distance (Number / Km)
Quantify your habits. For example, the vehicle information transmitted in step S03 is compared with preset statistical values such as average value and standard deviation, and the deviation between the number of times the driver steps on the brake per distance and the average value is compared. Etc. to obtain a quantitative understanding.

(2) The habit of the driver's accelerator and brake depression strength is determined, and compared with a statistical value to obtain a deviation from a predetermined average value and the like to quantitatively grasp.

(3) The correlation between the angular speed at which the driver turns the steering wheel and the traveling speed is obtained, compared with the statistical value prepared in advance, and quantitatively grasped by the deviation from the average value.

[Contents Related to Vehicle Usage] (4) Quantitatively grasp the number of times the parts have been used. For example, the number of ignition / ON, the number of times of opening / closing windows, doors, trunks, etc.
Quantify the number of times the wiper is used, the number of times the brake is used, etc.

(5) Quantitatively grasp how various communication services are used. Specifically, the number of times the VICS is used and the number of times the ETC is used are quantitatively grasped.

(6) The types of roads (general roads, expressways, mountain roads, etc.) for which the above (1) to (5) have been performed are grasped and recorded.

(7) Grasp and record the location where the driver suddenly brakes and the road on which the vehicle is meandering.

These statistical data are not only subjected to relative comparison with a general average value which is initially set in advance, but also relative comparison with an individual average accumulated for each driver, and the respective comparison results are shown. Quantify as statistical data.

<Provision of Accumulated and Processed Statistical Data to Vehicle> In step S05, the statistical data of (1) to (7) is transmitted to the vehicle. In this case, for example, the ground station center GC transmits statistical data to the mobile terminal 6, and the statistical data is transmitted to the wireless communication unit 5 through the mobile terminal 6. At this time, the statistical data given to the wireless communication unit 5 is displayed on the screen of the display unit 8 based on a predetermined device in the operation unit 4 such as a driver. As the display contents,
For example, "the number of times you press the brake is XX% higher than the average",
"Sudden braking, accelerator is △△% more than average",
For example, "How to cut the handle is XX% faster than average". The driver can look at the information about the displayed statistical data and use it as a basis for determining, for example, whether or not the current driving method is higher than usual, for example, whether or not the driving is rough today. Become.

<Providing Statistical Data to Dealer, Repair Shop, and Vehicle Inspection Site> In step S06, the above-mentioned statistical data (1) to (7) from the ground station center GC is sent to the dealer through the Internet. Send.
Here, as the information transmitted to the dealer, for example,
The number of times each component is used (ignition / ON, window, door, trunk, wiper, brake, etc.) and the number of times VICS and ETC are used. Dealers can use these statistical data as marketing policy materials. In addition, even when the car is replaced by another, it is possible to arrange a car that adapts according to the habits of each driver.

When the vehicle is to be serviced or inspected, in step S06, the statistical data (1) to (7) are transmitted to the maintenance factory or the vehicle inspection station via the Internet. Here, as the information transmitted to the garage or the vehicle inspection site, there are, for example, data on the use of broken parts and data on the reduction of consumable parts. As a result, it is possible to focus on maintenance and inspection according to the habit of the driver.

<Providing Statistical Data to Automobile Parts Manufacturer> When it is necessary to replace parts at a dealer or a repair shop, broken parts or consumable parts may be handed over to the parts manufacturer. In this case, in step S07, the statistical data is transmitted to the automobile parts manufacturer via the Internet or the like. For parts manufacturers, (1)-
It becomes possible to select a part suitable for the habit of each driver while referring to the data of (7).

<Upgrading the function of the instrument panel unit> In such a vehicle inspection system, the version of the instrument panel unit is changed from the ground station center GC to the instrument panel unit of each vehicle, if necessary. Send up program to upgrade instrument panel unit function. By upgrading, the types of data sent to the ground station center GC can be increased, and the contents displayed on the instrument panel unit can be changed.

As described above, the vehicle information collecting section 3 is installed in the instrument panel unit where various kinds of vehicle information are collected, and the vehicle information collected by the vehicle information collecting section 3 is transmitted to the ground station center GC. Also, the statistical data is accumulated and processed at the ground station center GC to increase the added value as statistical data related to driving methods and habits. 1
Since it can be used for various purposes at 1, the maintenance shop 12, the vehicle inspection station 13, and the parts manufacturer 14, a very convenient vehicle inspection system can be provided.

Further, since the portable terminal 6 which the driver or the like always possesses can be used as it is, a dedicated in-vehicle terminal or a dedicated communication device is unnecessary. In particular, the same mobile terminal 6 is used not only while riding in the vehicle but also when walking, for example.
It is possible to effectively utilize the same statistical data, for example, by making it possible to display the statistical data even on the display screen of the mobile terminal 6.

Further, the vehicle information collected in each vehicle is directly transmitted to the ground station center GC through the portable terminal 6, and the ground station center GC aggregates and stores and processes the vehicle information to generate statistical data. Therefore, as compared with the case where the vehicle information is transmitted from the vehicle to the maintenance center via the base station such as a gas station, the base stations scattered in each region such as the gas station are unnecessary.

In the above embodiment, a mobile phone is taken as an example of the mobile terminal 6, but in addition, for example, P
DA or the like may be used.

[0048]

According to the invention described in claim 1, since the portable terminal which the driver or the like usually carries is used as means for transmitting the vehicle information to the ground station center, a dedicated communication is performed. Vehicle information can be sent to the ground station center without using equipment. Further, since the vehicle information is directly transmitted from the mobile terminal to the ground station center through the telephone network without passing through the base stations in each region such as a gas station, the base stations in various places are unnecessary.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the statistical data accumulated and processed at the ground station center is displayed on the display unit in the vehicle, so that, for example, the driver's driving is performed. The driver can easily recognize the manner, habit, and the like. In this case, as the vehicle information, as in claim 5, the current position of the vehicle, the vehicle identification information, the number of times the brake is stepped on, the opening / closing history of the door, the window and the trunk, the vehicle speed, the steering wheel (steering) method. , And the number of times of using various communication services.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the operator can operate the operation unit to instruct the wireless communication unit to transmit the vehicle information to the ground station center through the portable terminal. It is convenient to send vehicle information with.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the statistical data is transmitted to at least one of an automobile dealer, a maintenance shop, a vehicle inspection site and an automobile parts manufacturer. It is convenient because it can provide extremely meaningful statistical data. In this case, as the vehicle information, as in claim 5, the current position of the vehicle,
It may be the identification information of the vehicle, the number of times the brake is stepped on, the opening / closing history of the door, the window and the trunk, the vehicle speed, how to turn the steering wheel (steering), and the number of times of using various communication services.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, when it is necessary to change the type of vehicle information or the type of statistical data, a version upgrade program for changing them is sent from the ground station center to each vehicle. It can be provided easily and conveniently.

According to the invention as set forth in claim 8, for the management and operation of the ground station center, the cost is collected from the data supply destination of the statistical data, so that there is no direct cost burden on each vehicle. Can provide a vehicle inspection system that is convenient for operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a vehicle inspection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the vehicle inspection system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 Various in-vehicle units 3 Vehicle information collection section 4 operation part 5 Wireless communication section 6 mobile terminals 7 Statistical data receiver 8 Display 10 driver 11 dealers 11 car dealers 12 maintenance factory 14 parts manufacturers GC Ground Station Center

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Hirohisa Degawa             1-7-10 Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi             Auto Network Technical Laboratory Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 3D026 BA02 BA22 BA28 BA29

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle inspection system for transmitting vehicle information collected in a vehicle to a predetermined ground station center, and accumulating and processing the vehicle information at the ground station center to obtain statistical data. An in-vehicle unit, a vehicle information collection unit that collects the vehicle information obtained by the in-vehicle unit, a wireless radio wave from the outside while outputting the vehicle information collected by the vehicle information collection unit as a wireless radio wave A vehicle inspection system, comprising: a wireless communication unit that receives the vehicle information; and a mobile terminal that transmits the vehicle information output from the wireless communication unit to the ground station center through an external telephone network. 2. The vehicle inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the statistical data is received in the vehicle from the ground station center via the mobile terminal and the wireless communication unit. The vehicle inspection system further comprising a data receiving unit and a display unit that displays the statistical data received by the statistical data receiving unit. 3. The vehicle inspection system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an operator instructs the wireless communication unit to transmit the vehicle information to the ground station center through the mobile terminal. The vehicle inspection system further comprising an operation unit for operating the inside of the vehicle. 4. The vehicle inspection system according to claim 2, wherein the ground station center transmits the statistical data to at least one of an automobile dealer, a maintenance shop, a vehicle inspection site, and an automobile parts manufacturer. A vehicle inspection system characterized by: 5. The vehicle inspection system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the vehicle information is the current position of the vehicle, vehicle identification information, the number of times the brake is stepped on, a door, a window, and A vehicle inspection system including at least one of a trunk opening / closing history, a vehicle speed, a steering wheel (steering) method, and a number of times of using various communication services. 6. The vehicle inspection system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the ground station center has contents relating to a way of driving and a habit of a driver and / or a way of using the vehicle. A vehicle inspection system characterized by accumulating and processing the vehicle information so as to quantitatively grasp the content relating to the vehicle. 7. The vehicle inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the ground station center upgrades the type of the vehicle information and the type of the statistical data. A vehicle inspection system, characterized in that the program is held in a downloadable manner in each of the vehicles. 8. The vehicle inspection system according to claim 4, wherein the ground station center provides at least one of the vehicle dealer, the maintenance shop, the vehicle inspection station, and the automobile parts manufacturer as a data providing destination. The vehicle inspection system is characterized by earning profit as a member contract cost or a data providing cost with the data providing destination.