JP2003212100A - Method and device for providing information, and computer program thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To speedily and rationally respond to a user's request for services by giving options of determining a time necessary for maintenance and selecting a service base when the user needs the maintenance of a user's own commodity. <P>SOLUTION: The device is a user's terminal (on-vehicle model) used by a user (passenger). If some troubles occur in a user's vehicle, the user can grasp information on a present location, the expected time of arrival, the expected time of completion of the maintenance, the expected time of arrival at an original destination, etc., based on each service station existing around the present location, and can select a desired service station by a user's own intention among the service stations around the present location. <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 the field of an information providing device for providing information to an information terminal owned by a user online via a communication line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a technique for acquiring various information from an external server or the like to a personal computer by utilizing a communication environment such as the Internet has been widely used. A technique has been proposed for performing navigation such as route guidance between an on-vehicle navigation device having a communication function communicably connected in a communication environment and an information center.

[0003]

According to the above-mentioned conventional navigation device, various useful information can be acquired during the movement to the destination, and the movement can be performed efficiently.

Further, in recent navigation devices, when a vehicle fails, the driver is notified of the location of a service base near the vehicle (for example, a sales agency having a service department or a gas station). It is possible and convenient.

However, it is difficult for the driver to judge whether or not the notified service base is most suitable for dealing with a failure occurring in the own vehicle, and whether or not the vehicle is actually brought into the service base, Alternatively, it cannot be easily grasped unless contact is made using a telephone or the like.

In addition, the vehicle is brought to the service base,
It is generally unknown what the actual degree of failure of the vehicle is until it is confirmed by professional personnel. For this reason, the driver cannot immediately know the information such as the types of parts required for repair, the availability of those parts, the required time, etc., and if the parts where the vehicle is brought in do not have the necessary parts in stock. It will take more time before the actual repair work is started.

Therefore, in the present invention, when maintenance is required for a product owned by a user, the user is provided with a time determination factor required for the maintenance and a choice of service bases to realize a prompt and rational response. Information provision method,
An object is to provide an information providing device and a computer program thereof.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, an information providing method according to the present invention is characterized by the following configuration.

[0009] That is, in response to a request from an information terminal connected through a communication line, an information providing method of providing information to a user of the information terminal from an information providing apparatus, and searching for a service base. In response to receiving a signal requesting from the information terminal, a specific step of identifying the maintenance content required for the product owned by the user of the information terminal, and the maintenance content identified in the identifying step. On the other hand, the expected work required time required for each service base to respond, and the location information of those service bases, the information acquisition step of acquiring the information providing device, and the information acquisition step, The user based on the expected work required time at each service base, location information of the service bases, and current location information of the information terminal. The total required time required to complete the correspondence regarding the maintenance content is calculated for each of the service bases by the information providing device, and the total time required is acquired in the information acquisition process. And an information providing step of providing the information terminal with the location information of each service point and the total required time calculated individually in the calculation step for each service point from the information providing device. To do.

In a preferred embodiment, when the information about the next action schedule originally planned by the user is received from the information terminal, the calculation step is based on the information and the total required time. After the user completes the correspondence to the maintenance content, it is judged whether the action schedule can be performed as originally planned. In the information providing step, in addition to the location information and the total required time, Then, the result of the permission / prohibition determination is provided to the information terminal.

In this case, the total required time includes the first expected arrival time required for the user to reach the service base from the current position, the expected work required time, and the maintenance content at the service base. It is preferable that at least the second expected arrival time required until the vehicle arrives at the destination for carrying out the action schedule after the completion of the above action.

More preferably, in the calculation step, at the time of calculating the first and second expected arrival times, at least road traffic information on an expected route from the current position to the service base and from the service base to the The road traffic information on the expected route to the destination may be referred to.

Further, for example, when it is received that the user cannot bring the owned merchandise to each of the service bases, in order to calculate the total required time in the calculation step, each of the service bases can be calculated. It is preferable that the expected required time expected to be required for the carry-on agency work of the owned product is included.

Further, for example, in the above-mentioned calculation step,
The total required time may include a reservation waiting time until the maintenance content is executed at each service base.

The same object can also be achieved by an information providing device corresponding to the information providing method having the above-mentioned configurations.

Further, the same object is also achieved by a program code for realizing a computer by means of the information providing method and the corresponding device having the above-mentioned configurations, and a computer-readable storage medium storing the program code. To be achieved.

[0017]

According to the present invention described above, when maintenance is required for a product owned by a user, the user is provided with a time-based judgment factor required for the maintenance and a choice of service bases, which enables quick and rationalization. The information providing method, the information providing apparatus, and the computer program therefor that realize various measures are realized.

That is, according to the inventions of claims 1 and 7, when the user needs maintenance for the owned product, the user can locate each service base from the information center before actually receiving the maintenance. Since the position information and the total required time calculated individually for each of the service bases can be recognized, the user considers, for example, the expected arrival time at the current original destination, etc.
It is possible to select a desired service base by one's own will. Thus, according to the present invention, when maintenance is required for a product owned by the user, the user is provided with a time determination factor required for the maintenance and a choice of service bases to realize a prompt and rational response. can do.

According to the second aspect of the invention, for example, the action determined by using the first and second expected arrival times and the total required time (claim 3) including at least the expected work required time. Since the result of the approval / disapproval of the schedule can be obtained from the information center, the user, when the maintenance of the owned product is necessary, prior to actually receiving the maintenance, the user can take the next action plan even if the maintenance is received. The service base that can be realized as originally planned (that is, the time and place as scheduled) can be easily determined by oneself, and the user can be provided with a convenient and rational option. .

Further, according to the invention of claim 4, in the above-mentioned claim 2 and claim 3, when calculating the first and second expected arrival times, traffic congestion, accidents, traffic restrictions, etc. on the expected route Since the traffic information is reflected, it is possible to improve the accuracy of the decision of whether or not the user's action plan is decided by the information center, which is highly convenient.

Further, according to the invention of claim 5, the expected required time required for the carry-in agency operation of the owned merchandise is taken into consideration. Even when work is required, a realistic response can be realized.

Further, according to the invention of claim 6, when the maintenance of the owned product is required, the user makes a reservation until the maintenance of the owned product is actually received before the maintenance is actually received. It is possible to grasp the total time required considering waiting time,
The user can be provided with a highly convenient and rational option.

[0023]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, an information providing system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as an embodiment applied to a case where a product owned by a user is a vehicle (automobile) as an example.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the information providing system in this embodiment. Also, FIG.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of an information providing system according to this embodiment.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the information center 2
Is an information processing device such as a server computer having a communication function, and the CPU 21 of the information center 2 stores information in the memory (storage medium) 24. By executing various software programs such as general communication processing, a communication interface (I / F) 23, a communication line such as the Internet 5 is referred to while appropriately referring to the map information 22 and the database 25. Through this, data communication is performed with an external device and information is provided to the user terminal 1 used by the user.

The database (DB) 25 has a plurality of service bases (for example, a sales agent (dealer having a service facility) as a candidate site that can be provided to the user terminal 1 by the information providing process according to the present embodiment. ), Gas stations, etc.) is stored.

More specifically, the information items stored in the database 25 in association with each service base include, for example: information on the stock status of various replacement parts, various maintenance that can be provided (fault repair, Information on the reservation status for various consumable items, inspection, etc.) ・ Information on the availability of transfer service of maintenance target vehicles using wrecker vehicles ・ Information on location, contact information, name, etc. ・ Available There is information on standard expected cost (standard estimated amount) and standard expected repair time for each type of maintenance, information on the replacement record (statistics of replacement frequency) of various replacement parts, and so on.

The map information 22 is stored in the database 25.
Is wide-area map information including the locations of a plurality of service bases stored in, and is based on at least a predetermined coordinate system common to the map information 15 of the user terminal 1.

The user terminal 1 is an information processing device used by an occupant (driver or the like) of the vehicle 101 capable of receiving the information providing service by the present system.
1 has a general navigation function as an in-vehicle device in the state of being mounted on the information center 2 and the information center 2 and the service base terminal via the communication interface 18, the base station 4, and the wired and wireless communication lines such as the Internet 5. 3 can perform data communication with

More specifically, the user terminal 1 is a software (software) having a general navigation function, which is stored in the memory (storage medium) 12 and guides a route to a destination desired by the user. The user terminal 1 operates the switch 13 by the user, the current position positioning sensor 17 for GPS (Global Positioning System), etc. Current position information and map information 15 detected by
A map image of the vicinity of the vehicle 101 is displayed on the display 14 based on the map information and the like around the present position read out from the above, and when a destination desired by the user is set, the destination up to that destination is set. Route guidance.

Further, the user terminal 1 is a general one that can perform information acquisition processing (details will be described later) according to the present embodiment, which is stored in the memory (storage medium) 12, and Internet communication. It has a software (software program) of a communication protocol, an internet browser function and a mail function of transmitting and receiving data via the internet 5 according to the software, and a general software group for drawing a browser,
By appropriately executing these software by the CPU 11, the user terminal 1 is a so-called server, via a communication line such as the Internet 5 in a state where the user terminal 1 is connected (logged in) to the information center 2. The client environment is configured, and in that state, various information is provided from the information center 2. Further, the user terminal 1 can perform data communication with the service base terminal 3 by using the above mail function or the like.

Although the user terminal 1 is described as an on-vehicle device in this embodiment as an example, the user terminal 1 may be an information terminal (eg, PDA, mobile phone, etc.) that can be carried by the user. In that case, It is necessary to have a current position measurement sensor or a current position detection function corresponding to it.

The service base terminal 3 is an information processing device arranged in each service base, and is a general information processing device (information) such as a personal computer having a communication function, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a mobile phone. Terminal).

The CPU 31 of the service base terminal 3 appropriately executes the Internet browser function and the mail function stored in the memory 35, and the general software group for drawing the browser, so that the switch 32 by the person in charge of the service base is switched. Depending on the operation state of the user terminal 1 or the information center 2 via the communication interface 34.
Etc., and transmits / receives an electronic mail, and displays necessary images on the display 33.

Further, the service base terminal 3 can place an order for the maintenance parts required at the own service base online to the maintenance parts ordering center (not shown) through the communication line or the dedicated line. it can.

It should be noted that any of the present general information processing devices can be adopted as the user terminal 1, the information center 2, and the service base terminal 3 described above, and the communication means themselves in these devices can also be generally used. Since a typical configuration can be adopted, detailed description of this embodiment will be omitted.

Hereinafter, the specific operation of providing information regarding service bases by the present system will be described with reference to the user terminal 1,
The individual operations of the information center 2 and the service base terminal 3 will be described.

In the following description, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the service base repairs the failure.
The services provided at the service bases are not limited to the breakdown repair, but widely include various maintenance such as replacement and inspection of various consumables (various parts and liquids).

<User Terminal 1> FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an information acquisition process of the user terminal (vehicle-mounted device) 1 in this embodiment, and shows an operation procedure of a software program executed by the CPU 11 of the user terminal 1.

In the figure, step S1 and step S
2: When the occupant (user) performs a predetermined operation of the switch 13 to detect a remote failure diagnosis execution request using the information center 2 in step S1, the remote failure diagnosis is performed in step S2. Processing is performed.

That is, in step S2, the vehicle 10 is sent together with a request signal for requesting execution of remote fault diagnosis.
The detection information (detection result) of the various sensors 16 provided in 1 and the information such as the operating states of the various actuators are automatically transmitted to the information center 2.

At this time, the information center 2 uses the information received from the user terminal 1 to execute the predetermined remote failure diagnosis processing software, thereby executing the failure diagnosis of the vehicle 101.

FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of a screen displayed on the display of the vehicle when the remote failure diagnosis is being carried out in this embodiment. The information center 2 is in an online state as necessary when executing the failure diagnosis,
Further detection information required for failure diagnosis is requested to the user terminal 1. Then, the diagnosis result by the information center 2 is transmitted to the user terminal 1.

According to the remote fault diagnosis, the user does not have to judge the parts that need to be replaced by himself, which is highly convenient and can grasp the status of the fault that has occurred before bringing the vehicle 101 to the service base. Therefore, for the user,
Reasonable measures can be taken by the service bases that actually perform the work.

The configuration of the subsystem for performing the remote failure diagnosis between the vehicle 101 and the information center 2 is not limited to the above-mentioned configuration, and the subsystem of the information center 2 and the vehicle 101 (user terminal 1) is not limited thereto. A method of using an agent, which is a software program for executing a desired process while moving between the communication lines, is also conceivable.

By using such an agent, the contents of the failure diagnosis on the vehicle side can be finely changed as needed, so that the information required by the information center 2 can be easily collected from the service target vehicle 101. can do. In order to realize such information collection by the mobile agent, for example, the user terminal 1 uses Java
When the environment for operating as the virtual machine of a is provided, it is assumed that the information center 2 downloads the Java program that gives the operation instruction of the remote failure diagnosis processing to the user terminal 1 that is accessing.

The failure diagnosis in step S2 is not limited to the remote failure diagnosis using the information center 2. If the failure diagnosis software is prepared in advance on the vehicle side, the software can be used. The user terminal 1 itself may perform the failure diagnosis by executing.

Further, in the processing configuration of steps S1 and S2 described above, the failure diagnosis processing is performed in response to the user's request. May be automatically performed in a predetermined cycle regardless of the user's operation, and as a result, if any failure is detected, information about the failure may be notified.

Step S3, Step S4: Step S
As a result of the diagnosis in item 2, some failure is detected in the own vehicle (vehicle 10
If it is determined in step S3 that the failure has occurred in 1), information regarding the failure that has occurred is displayed on the display 1.
4 is displayed.

FIG. 8 is a view exemplifying a screen for notifying the result of the remote failure diagnosis displayed on the display on the vehicle side in this embodiment.

The display screen shown in FIG. 8 shows, as a result of the failure diagnosis, the details of the failure occurring in the vehicle 101, the required repair details, and the replacement parts expected to be necessary for the repair. , And information items such as the standard time required for the repair are displayed.

Step S5, Step S6: By operating a software button (hereinafter simply referred to as "button") 55 on the failure diagnosis result screen displayed on the display 14 as shown in FIG. When it is determined in step S5 that the request for setting the search condition of the base is made, a search condition setting request signal is transmitted to the information center 2 in step S6, and in response to the transmission of the signal. The search condition setting screen shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the display 14 based on the information received from the information center 2.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the search condition setting screen displayed on the display of the vehicle when a request for setting the search condition of the service location is made in this embodiment.

On the screen shown in the figure, the conditions for retrieving service bases are: vehicle 10 detected by current position measurement sensor 17;
The address of the current location specified by using the current position information of No. 1 and the map information 15, and the user's desired purpose set as the destination for route guidance in the user terminal 1 functioning as the vehicle-mounted device of the navigation device. The destination is the desired arrival time to the desired destination (in this example, "15:00"), the desire to respond by the tow truck is set, and below that, The failure content, repair content, and replacement parts displayed in FIG. 8 are displayed.

On the search condition setting screen (FIG. 9), the user operates the button 57 to set the desired point on the display 14 even if the original destination is not set. It can be newly set as the original destination on the displayed map screen.

When the user does not have a destination to which he / she should go (that is, when the original destination is not set) and he / she wants to receive service such as repair immediately. Further, by operating the button 58 on the search condition setting screen (FIG. 9), the repair place (service base) where the earliest service can be received based on the current position is automatically set as the original destination. Is set.

Steps S7 and S8: When the operation of the button 56 is detected in step S7 after setting the search conditions on the search condition setting screen (FIG. 9), in step S8, a service base search request signal is sent. And vehicle 1
The current position information of 01 is transmitted to the information center 2.
Here, the user requests the service location search request signal from FIG.
Contains information about the search conditions set on the screen.

Further, in the case of the apparatus configuration in which the failure diagnosis in step S2 is not the remote failure diagnosis using the information center 2 but the vehicle side independent failure diagnosis, step S8
Then, in addition to the service location search request signal and the current position information, the information center 2 is further provided with various sensors 16
Detection information (preferably the failure content detected by the vehicle,
Repair details and replacement parts are sent.

Step S9: Using the various information received from the information center 2 and the map information 15, the vehicle 101
The map screen around the current position of is displayed on the display 14 as the search result of the service base.

FIG. 3 is a diagram exemplifying a search result screen of the service base displayed on the display on the vehicle side in the present embodiment. In this search result screen, step S8 is displayed.
Based on the information transmitted in, the information on the service base obtained as a result of the search by the information center 2 is displayed.

That is, in the display example shown in FIG. 3, a service base satisfying the search condition previously set by the user using the search condition setting screen (FIG. 9) and the failure content of the vehicle 101. , Two service bases around the current position of the vehicle 101 are displayed, and in the vicinity of the symbols representing the respective service bases, based on the various information received from the information center 2 in step S9: Expected arrival time when moving to a different service base, ・ Estimated repair completion time when the fault that occurred is repaired, ・ Estimated arrival time at the original destination, ・ Occurrence The estimated cost of repair, which is expected if the breakdown is repaired, is displayed.

According to the service base search result screen (FIG. 3), when the user selects a desired service base, the estimated arrival time calculated individually for each service base,
It is easy to grasp the expected repair completion time, user friendly, and highly convenient.

Further, according to the search result screen of the service base (FIG. 3), the user can consider the estimated cost for replacing the replacement target component based on the displayed estimated repair cost for each service base. , User friendly and highly convenient.

Further, in the display example shown in FIG. 3, in the display area 51, the original destination (the destination desired by the user set in the user terminal 1 for route guidance) displayed in FIG. 8 is displayed. The desired arrival time at the destination, the details of the failure, the content of the repair, and the replacement parts are displayed, and if the content of the failure may affect the running performance, the user is warned that the repair should be performed early. Guidance is displayed.

However, in the above search result screen (FIG. 3), a fault diagnosis (for example, a simple fault diagnosis) is performed by the vehicle 101 (user terminal 1) alone in step S2, and the various sensors 16 are detected in step S8. In the case of the device configuration in which the detection information is transmitted for the first time, thereafter, the detection information received by the information center 2 can be used for detailed failure diagnosis, and in that case, it is displayed in this display area 51. Unlike the content of the failure diagnosis result displayed in FIG. 8, the content of the item to be described depends on the result of the detailed failure diagnosis in the information center 2.

Step S10: The user selects Step S9
With reference to the display items on the search result screen (FIG. 3) displayed on the display 14, the desired service base can be selected. In this step, for example, when the symbol of the desired service base is selected and operated by the user on the display 14, a repair reservation is made to the desired service base through the information center 2 or directly. For example, a predetermined signal or an electronic mail in a predetermined format is transmitted, and then the process returns to step S1. At this time, the user makes contact with the person in charge of the desired service base by using an appropriate means such as telephone or electronic mail, and the vehicle 10 is connected to the service base.
You actually bring 1 or wait for the arrival of the tow truck.

<Information Center 2> FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the information providing processing of the information center 2 in this embodiment, and shows the operating procedure of the software program executed by the CPU 21 of the information center 2.

In the figure, steps S21 to S23: steps S21 to S23 are processes corresponding to step S2 in the information acquisition process (FIG. 4) of the user terminal 1 described above.

First, in step S21, a request signal is sent from a target vehicle requiring some maintenance among a plurality of user terminals 1 (vehicles 101) capable of receiving the information providing service by the information center 2. When the detection information of the vehicle is received, the remote failure diagnosis is executed as described above.

If it is determined in step S22 that some failure has occurred in the target vehicle as a result of the remote failure diagnosis in step S21, step S2
3, in order to inform the user (occupant) of the target vehicle of the detected failure content, the content of the failure occurring in the vehicle 101 is provided to the corresponding user terminal 1 as information regarding the result of the remote failure diagnosis. The information center 2 sends information such as the content of required repair, replacement parts expected to be necessary for the repair, and standard time required for the repair.

Step S24: This step is a process corresponding to step S6 in the information acquisition process (FIG. 4) of the user terminal 1 described above, and when the search condition setting request signal for the service base is received from the target vehicle. In order to display the search condition setting screen (FIG. 9) on the user terminal 1 of the target vehicle, the information on the screen is sent from the information center 2.

Steps S25 and S26: Steps S25 and S26 are the same as those of the user terminal 1 described above.
This is a process corresponding to step S8 in the information acquisition process (FIG. 4).

That is, in response to the fact that the service location search request signal (including the desired items) and the current position information of the target vehicle have been received from the target vehicle in step S25, the map information is displayed in step S26. The present position of the target vehicle is specified by referring to 22. Further, when the detection information of the various sensors 16 of the target vehicle is received for the first time together with the information, the replacement information is specified using the detection information.

On the other hand, if it is not detected in step S25 that the service location search request signal (including the request) and the current position information of the target vehicle are received from the target vehicle, the process proceeds to step S29.

Step S27: Service bases around the current position of the target vehicle specified in step S26 are searched by referring to the database 25. At that time, the request conditions previously set by the user using the search condition setting screen (FIG. 9) are reflected in the search conditions.

Then, in step S27, from the individual service base terminals 3 corresponding to the service bases extracted by the search, the stock status of the replacement parts required for the target vehicle specified in step S26, The reservation waiting status regarding the trouble repair contents (maintenance contents) corresponding to the replacement part, the standard estimated amount of money and the required time for responding to the trouble repair contents are acquired.

Here, in the above-mentioned step S27, in order to always provide the user with the latest information regarding the service base, in response to the reception of the search condition setting request signal of the service base being detected in step S25, it is turned on. It is configured to be executed at an event.

However, the processing configuration is not limited to this, and information collection of various information items in the database 25 described with reference to FIG. 1 is performed for a plurality of service base terminals 3 that can use this system. , The information providing process is performed at a predetermined cycle regardless of the execution timing, and at the time of executing step S27, on-event information collection for the service base terminal 3 extracted by the search is not performed, and necessary items are provided. The information content may be acquired by referring to the database 25. In this case, since the necessary information has already been prepared in the information center 2, the information center 2 receives the search request signal of the service base from the user terminal 1 and then the user terminal 1
It is possible to shorten the time required to provide information to

Even when the information is collected in the database 25 at a predetermined cycle, the above-mentioned step S2 is performed.
As shown in 7, information may be collected from the service base terminal 3 required at the on-event.

Step S28: Expected arrival time when moving from the current position of the vehicle 101 to the service base (first expected arrival time), and expected repair completion time when repairing the occurring failure. , And the expected time of arrival at the original destination (second expected time of arrival) are calculated for individual service bases around the current position of the target vehicle specified in step S26.

That is, in step S28, the first predicted arrival time at the service base is the traffic such as traffic jam, accident, traffic regulation, etc. on the predicted route set between the current position of the target vehicle and the service base. In consideration of the information, the current time is used as a reference and is calculated according to the procedure for calculating the required travel time between two points, which is adopted in a general navigation function.

Furthermore, when the user has set a condition that the user wishes to use the tow truck, the operating condition of the tow truck at the target service base is further reflected. That is, in this case, at the first expected arrival time, the vehicle 101 is brought in to the target service location using the wrecker vehicle (from picking up the vehicle 101 at the current position to completion of transportation to the service location). The expected time required is set.

The estimated repair completion time is the standard work required time corresponding to the replacement part specified in step S26, based on the first estimated arrival time at the service base calculated as described above. It is calculated based on the operating status (reservation waiting status, business hours, etc.) at the service base.

The second expected arrival time to the original destination is the traffic information such as traffic jam, accident, traffic regulation, etc. on the expected route set between the location of the service base and the original destination. In consideration of the above, based on the estimated repair completion time calculated as described above, it is calculated according to the procedure for calculating the required travel time between two points, which is adopted in a general navigation function.

In the present embodiment, as described above, when calculating the first and second expected arrival times, congestion on the expected route,
Since traffic information such as accidents and traffic regulations is reflected, it is possible to improve the accuracy of whether or not the information center determines whether or not the user's action plan is possible, which is highly convenient.

Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, when calculating the expected repair completion time, it is possible to grasp the total required time in consideration of the reservation waiting time until actually receiving the maintenance, which is convenient. A high and reasonable option can be given to the user.

Here, in other words, the above-mentioned expected arrival time at the destination is based on the time (current time) when the vehicle 101 (user terminal 1) requests the service base search at the current position. Is the total time required to move from the current position of the vehicle 101 to the desired service base, receive repairs at that location, and then arrive at the original destination, and the first expected arrival time from the current time. , The estimated repair completion time, and the total elapsed time until the second expected arrival time arrives.

Step S29: Among the service bases around the current position of the target vehicle, the expected arrival time to the original destination calculated for those service bases is
A service base that is later than a predetermined time from the desired arrival time at the destination (“15:00” in the example of FIG. 8) preset by the user for the navigation function at the user terminal 1 and later. Are eliminated.

At this time, the information center 2 changes the predetermined time in inverse proportion to each service base according to the distance between the current position of the vehicle 101 and the service base (that is, the distance is long). Adjust the setting of the predetermined time to be shorter). As a result, the farther the service base is from the current position of the vehicle 101, the more the service base is automatically excluded in step S29. Therefore, the number of service base options given to the user on the search result screen (FIG. 3) is limited. However, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of an unfavorable situation in which the user drives the target vehicle for a long time (long distance) with some failure still occurring.

Step S30: This step is a process corresponding to step S9 in the information acquisition process of the user terminal 1 (FIG. 4) described above, and the service terminal search result screen (FIG. 3) is displayed on the user terminal 1 of the target vehicle. In order to display, the location information of the target service base, the first expected arrival time, the expected repair completion time, and the original purpose are targeted for the individual service bases that remain as options in the adjustment of the service bases in step S29. The second expected arrival time at the ground, the repair content, the estimated price thereof, and the replacement part are transmitted to the user terminal 1 of the target vehicle. At this time, if the number of service bases remaining as options is, for example, larger than a desired predetermined number preset by the user, the predetermined number is selected from the current position of the target vehicle (vehicle 101) of the user. Just do it.

If the user terminal 1 has a device configuration in which the map information cannot be referred to, it is not possible to generate a map image in the own device. Therefore, in step S30, the information center 2 displays a search result screen (see FIG. An image in a predetermined data format corresponding to 3) is generated, and the image data is also transmitted to the user terminal 1 together with the various information obtained in step S27.

<Service Base Terminal 3> FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the information processing of the service base terminal 3 in the present embodiment, and represents the operation procedure of the software program executed by the CPU 31 of the service base terminal 3.

In the figure, step S41: This step is the information providing process of the information center 2 described above (FIG. 5).
This is the process corresponding to step S27 in step S27, and in response to a request from the information center 2, the stock status of the replacement parts required for the target vehicle and the reservation waiting status regarding the breakdown repair content (maintenance content) corresponding to the replacement parts. , Information such as a standard estimated amount of money and required time for responding to the details of the failure repair is transmitted. Each service base terminal 3 repeats at least the process of step S41 at a predetermined cycle.

According to the present embodiment described above, when some failure occurs in the vehicle 101, the component to be replaced is automatically specified, and when the maintenance such as the replacement is required for the user, Is a service base search result screen displayed by the information received from the information center 2 prior to actually receiving the maintenance (FIG. 3).
With this, it is possible to easily grasp the location of each service base, the estimated arrival time calculated individually for each service base, the estimated repair completion time, the content of the repair and the estimated amount thereof, and information such as replacement parts. Therefore, when maintenance is required for the vehicle 101, the user can perform the next action schedule as originally scheduled (that is, at the scheduled time or before the maintenance is actually received). A service base that can be realized in a place) can be easily determined by oneself, and a highly convenient and rational option can be given to the user.

That is, according to the present embodiment, when the vehicle 101, which is a product owned by the user, requires maintenance,
It is possible to provide the user with a time determination factor required for the maintenance and a choice of service bases to realize a prompt and rational response.

The present invention described by taking the above-described embodiment as an example can realize the functions of the flowcharts referred to in the description for the user terminal 1, the information center 2, and the service base terminal 3 described above. This is accomplished by supplying the computer program and then reading it into the CPU of the device and executing it. Further, the computer program supplied into the device may be stored in a readable / writable memory or a storage device such as a hard disk device.

Further, in the above-mentioned case, the method of supplying the computer program to each of the devices is a method of installing the computer program in the device through various recording media such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk or the Internet. A general procedure can be adopted at present, such as a method of downloading from the outside via a communication line. In such a case, the present invention provides
It is composed of a program code or a storage medium.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an information providing system in this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an overall outline of an information providing system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram exemplifying a search result screen of service bases displayed on the display on the vehicle side in the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an information acquisition process of a user terminal (vehicle-mounted device) 1 in this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an information providing process of the information center 2 in this embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing information processing of the service base terminal 3 in this embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram exemplifying a screen displayed on the display on the vehicle side during remote failure diagnosis in the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed on a display on the vehicle side for notifying a result of remote failure diagnosis in the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram exemplifying a search condition setting screen displayed on the display of the vehicle when a request for setting service condition search conditions is made in the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols] 1: user terminal (vehicle-mounted device), 2: Information center, 3: Service base terminal, 4: base station, 5: Internet, 11, 21, 31: CPU, 12, 24, 35: memory, 13, 32: switch, 14, 33: Display, 15,22: Map information, 16: sensor group, 17: Current position measurement sensor, 18, 23, 34: communication interface, 25: Database, 101: vehicle,

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G06F 17/60 326 G06F 17/60 326 ZEC ZEC G08G 1/13 G08G 1/13 (72) Inventor Akida Keiki, 3-1, Shinchi, Fuchu-cho, Aki-gun, Hiroshima Prefecture (72) Inventor Aimi Fujitani 3-1, Shinchi, Fuchu-cho, Aki-gun, Hiroshima Prefecture F-term (reference) 3D026 BA22 BA27 BA29 5B075 ND20 PQ02 PQ32 5H180 AA01 BB05 CC12 EE02 EE10 FF05 FF12 FF22 FF27 FF35 FF40

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An information providing method for providing information to a user of the information terminal from an information providing device in response to a request from the information terminal connected via a communication line, and searching for a service base. In response to receiving a signal requesting from the information terminal, a specific step of specifying the maintenance content required for the product owned by the user of the information terminal, and the maintenance content specified in the specific step. On the other hand, the expected work required time required for each service base to deal with, and the location information of the service bases, the information acquisition step of acquiring the information providing device, and the information acquisition step acquired in the information acquisition step, Based on the estimated required work time at each service base, the location information of the service bases, and the current location information of the information terminal, the user Note: The total required time required to complete the maintenance regarding the maintenance content is calculated individually by each of the service bases by the information providing device, and by the information acquisition step. And an information providing step of providing from the information providing device to the information terminal the location information of each service location and the total required time calculated individually in the computing step for each service location. Information provision method. 2. When the information about the next action schedule that the user originally planned is received from the information terminal,
In the calculation step, based on the information and the total required time, it is determined whether or not the action schedule can be performed as originally planned after the user completes the correspondence to the maintenance content, The information providing method according to claim 1, wherein, in the information providing step, a result of the availability determination is provided to the information terminal in addition to the location information and the total required time. 3. The first total time required for the user to arrive from the current position to the service base
Expected arrival time, the expected work required time, and at least the second expected arrival time required to arrive at the destination for carrying out the action schedule after completion of the response to the maintenance content at the service base. The information providing method according to claim 2, wherein: 4. In the calculating step, at the time of calculating the first and second expected arrival times, at least road traffic information on an expected route from the current position to the service base, and from the service base to the destination. 4. The information providing method according to claim 3, wherein the road traffic information on the predicted route up to is referred to. 5. When it is received that the user cannot bring the owned merchandise to each of the service bases, the calculation of the total required time in the calculation step is performed by each of the service bases. The information providing method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an expected required time expected to be required for the carry-on agency business of the owned product is included. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the calculation step, the total required time includes a reservation waiting time until the maintenance content is executed at each of the service bases. The information providing method described in 2. 7. An information providing device for providing information to a user of the information terminal in response to a request from the information terminal connected via a communication line, and a signal for requesting a search for a service base is provided. Upon receipt from the information terminal, a specifying unit that specifies the maintenance content required for the product owned by the user of the information terminal, and each service base for the maintenance content specified by the specifying unit Expected work required time to respond, information acquisition means for obtaining the location information of those service bases, the expected work required time at each of the service bases obtained by the information acquisition means, those services Based on the location information of the base and the current location information of the information terminal, the user can confirm the maintenance content. The total required time required to complete the response is calculated in the information providing device individually for each of the service bases, and the service bases of the service bases acquired by the information acquisition means are calculated. An information providing device comprising: location information and information providing means for providing the information terminal with the total required time calculated individually by the computing means for each of the service locations. 8. A computer program, which gives the information providing method according to any one of claims 1 to 6 an operation instruction that can be realized by a computer having a communication function. 9. A computer program as the information providing apparatus according to claim 7, which gives instructions to operate a computer having a communication function.