JP2004291804A - System and method for giving service to vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To configure a system which can give various services to general type vehicles. <P>SOLUTION: The system for giving services to the vehicles comprises a hot spot, facilities connected to the hot spot, and vehicles which have detecting means, for detecting conditions of every part, on every part and has a radio terminal capable of radio-communicating with the hot spot on board. The system is configured so as to transmit the information including specified services to the vehicle via the hot spot based on the detected conditions of every part of the vehicle. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a vehicle service providing system in which a facility capable of providing a service to a vehicle according to a state of the vehicle detected using a hot spot provides information including a predetermined service to the vehicle, and The present invention relates to a method for providing a service to a vehicle.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, most of various devices mounted on a vehicle are controlled by a control device having a software program to perform their functions. Accordingly, in recent vehicle maintenance, repair and inspection, etc., software program elements are also important as well as mechanical or electrical elements included in the vehicle. That is, in recent years, maintenance, repair, and inspection of a vehicle are performed by work such as updating a software program included in a control device typified by an Electronic Control Unit (hereinafter, ECU) mounted on the vehicle. Increasingly, vehicle deficiencies discovered at times are improved.
[0003]
Patent Literature 1 proposes a vehicle information collection system and device in which a wireless terminal is mounted on each of general vehicles used by a user to diagnose the general vehicles. According to this system, since the information center can obtain information related to vehicle diagnosis from the wireless terminal mounted on each of the ordinary vehicles, the user does not need to bring his / her vehicle to a vehicle dealer or a vehicle diagnosis center such as a dealer. . Therefore, with such a system, it is possible to save both the side of diagnosing the general vehicle and the side of the user.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-289585 (page 5, FIG. 3)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
One purpose of the system as described in Patent Document 1 is to diagnose specific vehicles and analyze defects included in those vehicles. Therefore, these systems are unlikely to function as a system for improving defects included in a running ordinary vehicle in real time.
[0006]
Further, the service provided to the user in the above-described system is limited to a countermeasure program created by the information center analyzing information collected from a plurality of specific vehicles. Therefore, those who can provide services to general vehicles other than the information center cannot provide each service to general vehicles under such a system. That is, in such a system, for example, various services required during daily traveling cannot be provided to ordinary vehicles. Therefore, in this system, if the vehicle is not defective, the on-board wireless terminal becomes unnecessary.
[0007]
In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle service providing system capable of providing various services to a general vehicle, and a service providing method for a vehicle.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A vehicle service providing system according to one embodiment of the present invention that solves the above problems includes a hot spot that is an access point of wireless communication, a facility that includes a communication terminal capable of communicating with the hot spot, and a state of each unit. A vehicle equipped with a wireless terminal capable of wirelessly communicating with a hot spot while providing a detecting unit for each unit. When the vehicle is located in the wireless communication area of the hot spot, the wireless terminal of the vehicle transmits the detection result by the detecting means provided for each unit to the facility via the hot spot. Then, the facility transmits information including a predetermined service to the wireless terminal via the hot spot based on the received detection result.
[0009]
Further, in the vehicle service providing system, the hot spot in the wireless communication area transmits a request signal for requesting a detection result, and the detecting means provided for each part of the vehicle located in the wireless communication area includes: The detection result is calculated in response to the request signal, and the wireless terminal of the vehicle transmits the calculated detection result to the facility via the hot spot.
[0010]
In the vehicle service providing system, the facility includes a determination unit that determines whether a predetermined service can be provided to the vehicle. When the determination unit determines that the predetermined service can be provided to the vehicle, a signal for confirming whether the predetermined service is required is transmitted to the wireless terminal, and the wireless terminal needs the predetermined service. When the signal indicating this is transmitted, information including the predetermined service is transmitted to the wireless terminal via the hot spot.
[0011]
Further, in the vehicle service providing system, it is preferable that the information including the predetermined service transmitted by the facility includes information for notifying the vehicle of an estimate of the predetermined service. This facility is preferably one of a gas station, a vehicle dealer, and a rest facility on a high-standard highway. In addition, this facility calculates the amount of fuel that can be supplied to the vehicle based on the detection result transmitted from the wireless terminal of the vehicle, and outputs information including an estimate according to the calculated amount of fuel to a hot spot. It is preferable to transmit the information to the wireless terminal of the vehicle via the wireless terminal.
[0012]
Further, a method for providing a service to a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention that solves the above-described problem, when a vehicle capable of wireless communication is located in a wireless communication area of a hot spot that is an access point of wireless communication, Detects the state of each part of the vehicle, transmits the detected result to a facility connected to the hot spot via the hot spot, and based on the received detection result, the facility determines a predetermined state for the vehicle. It is determined whether or not the service can be provided, and when it is determined that the facility can provide the predetermined service to the vehicle, information including the predetermined service is transmitted to the vehicle via the hot spot.
[0013]
Further, in the method for providing a service to a vehicle, when the facility determines that the predetermined service can be provided to the vehicle, the facility transmits a signal for confirming whether the predetermined service is required to the wireless terminal, and the wireless terminal transmits the signal. When a signal indicating that the predetermined service is required is transmitted, information including the predetermined service is transmitted to the wireless terminal via the hot spot.
[0014]
In the method for providing a service to a vehicle, it is preferable that the information including the predetermined service transmitted by the facility includes information for notifying the vehicle of an estimate of the predetermined service. This facility is preferably one of a gas station, a vehicle dealer, and a rest facility on a high-standard highway. In addition, this facility calculates the amount of fuel that can be supplied to the vehicle based on the detection result transmitted from the wireless terminal of the vehicle, and outputs information including an estimate according to the calculated amount of fuel to a hot spot. It is preferable to transmit the information to the wireless terminal of the vehicle via the wireless terminal.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle service providing system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the vehicle service providing system 100 will be described with reference to FIG.
[0016]
The vehicle service providing system 100 includes at least one facility 10, at least one general vehicle 20, and a hot spot 30 connected to the at least one facility 10 by wire. The vehicle service providing system 100 uses, for example, hot spots installed in various facilities to provide, for example, a driver of a general vehicle traveling or parked near a facility where the hot spots are installed. This is a system that notifies the service that the facility can provide. Under the vehicle service providing system 100, there may actually be a plurality of general vehicles, but for simplicity of description, FIG. 1 shows only one general vehicle. For the same reason, only one facility in which a hot spot is installed is shown in FIG.
[0017]
First, the hot spot 30 and the facility 10 provided in the vehicle service providing system 100 of the present embodiment will be described.
[0018]
The hot spot 30 is an access point that emits radio waves according to a general wireless LAN standard such as 2.45 GHz and provides an information providing service by wireless communication to an unspecified number of users. The unspecified large number of users are users located within a predetermined range around the point where the hot spot 30 is installed and having a receiving unit capable of receiving radio waves from the hot spot 30. It is shown that. That is, the hot spot 30 transmits data to users by broadcasting, that is, transmits data to an unspecified number of users located within the predetermined range. Such hot spots are installed in various facilities such as vehicle dealers such as gas stations and dealers, rest facilities on high-standard highways, that is, service areas and parking areas on expressways.
[0019]
The communication unit 32 provided in the hot spot 30 can transmit the above-described radio wave in an area centered on the hot spot 30. Therefore, the hot spot 30 can provide an information providing service by wireless communication to a user located in a wireless communication area which is an area where wireless communication is possible. The wireless communication area of the hot spot 30 is a narrow area of, for example, about several tens of meters.
[0020]
In the wireless communication area described above, the hot spot 30 functions as an access point such as the Internet, and can transmit information unique to the hot spot 30 by a broadcast signal. For example, when a gas station operates the hot spot 30, the gas station can provide an information service unique to the gas station by a broadcast signal.
[0021]
The hot spot 30 is communicably connected to the facility 10 by a wired cable. The facility 10 connected to the hot spot 30 is a facility that operates the hot spot 30, and is, for example, a gas station, a dealer, a service area, or the like. The facility 10 includes a control unit 12 connected to a communication unit 32 provided in the hot spot 30, a server 14, and a ROM 16.
[0022]
The control unit 12 provided in the facility 10 has a function of controlling a communication state in the hot spot 30. The control unit 12 authenticates a specific user to perform an Internet connection service, and performs an operation of the hot spot 30, that is, the facility 10 without performing complicated authentication work. The side controls broadcast for providing information unique to the facility 10 as an information providing service. Here, the specific user indicates a user who has made a contract with a company that provides an Internet connection service via a hot spot.
[0023]
The information unique to the facility 10 is information provided to an unspecified number of users without performing complicated authentication work by a broadcast signal. Therefore, as described above, if the hot spot 30 emits radio waves in accordance with a general wireless LAN standard such as 2.45 GHz, a general vehicle including general-purpose communication devices may be used. When the user enters the wireless communication area, the user can enjoy the information providing service provided by the facility 10 by receiving the broadcast radio wave.
[0024]
The server 14 provided in the facility 10 is a server for the facility 10 to provide information unique to the facility 10 as an information providing service. The server 14 has normal information of the facility 10 which is information unique to the facility 10.
[0025]
The ROM 16 of the facility 10 records information on various vehicles including the types of vehicles. The information recorded in the ROM 16 is used for a service providing process described later.
[0026]
The general vehicle 20 is, for example, a passenger car driven by a general user, and includes a communication unit 22 that can wirelessly communicate with the hot spot 30. The communication unit 22 may have a function of connecting to a network such as the Internet via the hot spot 30 or a function of receiving an information providing service provided by the facility 10 by broadcasting. It may fulfill. The communication unit 22 may be a general-purpose communication device.
[0027]
The communication unit 22 can further transmit a specific signal that the hot spot 30 can receive. The specific signal is a recognition signal for causing the hot spot 30 to recognize various information on the general vehicle 20 including the type of the general vehicle 20. This recognition signal can cause the hot spot 30 to recognize various information on the general vehicle 20 by using a predetermined recognition method. The recognition method used here includes, for example, a method using a specific ID and a password, a method of making a determination based on a communication protocol, and the like, and the general vehicle 20 uses the same or similar recognition method. .
[0028]
The general vehicle 20 includes an ECU 21, a control target device 23, a detection unit 24, an operation unit 25, and a ROM 26 in addition to the communication unit 22 described above. Hereinafter, the general vehicle 20 will be described in more detail.
[0029]
The ECU 21 is a main computer that controls various devices provided in the general vehicle 20. In the present embodiment, the ECU 21 performs a function related to all controls of the communication unit 22, the control target device 23, the detection unit 24, the operation unit 25, and the ROM 26.
[0030]
Further, the control target device 23 indicates various devices provided in the general vehicle 20. The control target device 23 fulfills its function by being controlled by the ECU 21 as described above. Specifically, the control target device 23 indicates various devices such as an engine, a drive system such as an AT and an ACD, a braking system such as an ABS, and a steering system such as a VGS. In addition, the detection unit 24 indicates a sensor that is provided for each control target device 23 and detects the state of each control target device 23. In FIG. 1, only one of these control target devices 23 and one of the detection units 24 are shown for simplification of description.
[0031]
The operation unit 25 is an input / output device that is operated by passengers including the driver of the general vehicle 20. The operation unit 25 has, for example, a display and a speaker as output means, and has, for example, a voice input device and operation switches as input means.
[0032]
In the ROM 26, a check code and a check program are recorded. The check code recorded in the ROM 26 is a check code for executing a check program similarly recorded in the ROM 26. In addition, the check code is a check code for executing a check program for detecting the state of the control target device 23 by the detection unit 24. The check code and the check program are prepared for each control target device 23. When the ECU 21 reads the check code recorded in the ROM 26, a check program corresponding to the read check code is executed, and the state of the controlled device 23 corresponding to the check code is detected.
[0033]
2 and 3 are flowcharts illustrating a service providing process executed by the vehicle service providing system 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing on the facility 10 and the hot spot 30 side executed by the vehicle service providing system 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating processing on the general vehicle 20 side executed by the vehicle service providing system 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The flowcharts of FIGS. 2 and 3 will be described below.
[0034]
The hot spot 30 is usually used to provide a normal information providing service provided by the operator of the hot spot 30, that is, normal information held by the server 14 to a user located in his or her wireless communication area. At the same time as transmitting, a request signal for providing a predetermined service to the user is also transmitted (S1 in FIG. 2). The request signal transmitted at this time is a signal transmitted to a general vehicle located in the wireless communication area, and is controlled by each of the detection units 24 included in the general vehicle. 23 is a signal requesting each detection result. Further, the request signal is a signal transmitted from a hot spot of a trader who installs and operates the hotspot and can provide services to general vehicles. The request signal requests detection results of different items depending on the type of business on the transmission side. For example, when the company that installs and operates the hot spot 30 is a gas station, the transmitted request signal is mainly for requesting a check of the remaining fuel amount and the like. Hereinafter, in this flowchart, description will be made assuming that the facility 10 is a gas station.
[0035]
When the general vehicle 20 enters the wireless communication area of the hot spot 30 and receives this request signal (S11: Y in FIG. 3), the ECU 21 provided in the general vehicle 20 checks out the check codes recorded in the ROM 26. Then, a check code corresponding to the received request signal is read. After reading the check code, a check program corresponding to the check code is executed, and the state of the controlled device 23 corresponding to the check code is detected (S12). Here, a check code corresponding to the detection of the remaining amount of fuel is read, and a check program corresponding thereto is executed, and the remaining amount of fuel of the general vehicle 20 is detected. Then, the general vehicle 20 transmits the detection result to the facility 10 via the hot spot 30 (S13).
[0036]
The signal including the detection result transmitted from the general vehicle 20 is received by the facility 10 via the hot spot 30 (S2 in FIG. 2). Then, the control unit 12 analyzes the received detection result, that is, analyzes the received signal indicating the remaining fuel amount of the general vehicle 20 (S3). At this time, in addition to the received signal indicating the remaining fuel amount of the general vehicle 20, the control unit 12 recognizes various signals including the above-described recognition signals such as the ID and password of the general vehicle 20 and the vehicle type recorded in the ROM 16. The amount of fuel that can be supplied to the general vehicle 20 is calculated with reference to the information on the vehicle.
[0037]
When analyzing the detection result from the general vehicle 20, the control unit 12 determines whether or not the service is required to be provided to the general vehicle 20 based on the detection result or the analysis result (S4). For example, if the remaining fuel amount of the general vehicle 20 is equal to or less than a predetermined amount based on the detection result from the general vehicle 20, it is determined that service provision is necessary (S4: Y). The data is transmitted to the general vehicle 20 via the power supply 30 (S5). Further, when it is determined from the analysis result that the general vehicle 20 can be supplied with a predetermined amount or more of fuel, similarly, it is determined that the service provision is necessary (S4: Y), and the service provision information for notifying that is provided. The data is transmitted to the general vehicle 20 via the hot spot 30 (S5).
[0038]
If the remaining fuel amount of the general vehicle 20 is larger than the predetermined amount based on the detection result from the general vehicle 20, it is determined that the service is not required (S4: N), and this process ends. When it is determined from the analysis result that the general vehicle 20 can be supplied with less fuel than the predetermined amount, similarly, it is determined that service provision is unnecessary (S4: N), and this processing ends.
[0039]
When the general vehicle 20 receives the service providing information from the hot spot 30 (S14 in FIG. 3), a message is displayed on a display unit such as a display of the operation unit 25. The message displayed at this time is based on the received service providing information, and is a message that prompts the facility 10 to provide the general vehicle 20 with the service. The passenger of the general vehicle 20 can reply to this message by operating the operation unit 25. At this time, when the passenger of the general vehicle 20 accepts the service provision from the facility 10 (S15: Y), a signal indicating the service acceptance is transmitted to the facility 10 via the hot spot 30 (S31). When the passenger of the general vehicle 20 refuses to provide the service from the facility 10 (S15: N), a signal indicating the denial of service is transmitted to the facility 10 via the hot spot 30 (S21), and the general vehicle 20 The processing on the side ends. In addition, since the facility 10 is a gas station, when the passenger of the general vehicle 20 accepts the service provision, the items such as the amount, type, and amount of fuel to be refueled by operating the operation unit 25 must be specified in advance. Can also.
[0040]
The signal indicating service acceptance or denial of service transmitted from the general vehicle 20 is received by the facility 10 via the hot spot 30 (S6 in FIG. 2). At this time, if the signal received by the facility 10 is a signal indicating service acceptance (S6: Y), the process proceeds to S7. If the signal received by the facility 10 is a signal indicating denial of service (S6: N), this processing ends.
[0041]
In S7, the facility 10 transmits a signal including the service content that can be provided to the general vehicle 20 via the hot spot 30. The signal including the service content transmitted at this time includes an estimate of the fuel that can be provided to the general vehicle 20. If the passenger of the general vehicle 20 does not specify any items at the time of accepting the service, the signal including the service content includes the estimated amount when the fuel is full. When the passenger of the general vehicle 20 specifies an item when accepting the service, the signal including the service content includes an estimate based on the specified item. For example, when the passenger of the general vehicle 20 specifies the amount of fuel to be refueled when accepting the service, the signal including the service content includes the estimated amount calculated from the specified amount of fuel. When the amount of money to be paid to the facility 10 at the time of accepting the service is designated, the signal including the service content includes the estimated amount of fuel calculated from the designated amount.
[0042]
When the general vehicle 20 receives a signal including the above-described service content from the hot spot 30 (S32 in FIG. 3), a message is displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 25. The message displayed at this time is based on a signal including the received service content, and is a message indicating an estimate regarding fuel. After confirming this message, the passenger of the general vehicle 20 operates the operation unit 25 to transmit a signal indicating service permission for permitting the provision of this service to the facility 10 via the hot spot 30 (S33). The process on the vehicle 20 side ends.
[0043]
Then, when the facility 10 receives the signal indicating the service permission transmitted from the general vehicle 20 via the hot spot 30 (S8 in FIG. 2), the processing on the facility 10 and the hot spot 30 side also ends.
[0044]
According to this embodiment, the user can get an estimate for refuelable fuel without going to a gas station. This minimizes the need for the user to go directly to the gas station. That is, it can be said that this vehicle service providing system is an efficient system for the user.
[0045]
Further, in the vehicle service providing system and method, hot spots installed in various facilities are used. Therefore, the user can enjoy various services from various service providers, not limited to the gas stations, dealers, and service areas described in the present embodiment.
[0046]
The above is the embodiment of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and can be modified in various ranges.
[0047]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the vehicle service providing system and the vehicle service providing method of the present invention are systems using hot spots. In the present system, information including a predetermined service can be transmitted to a vehicle via a hot spot based on the detected state of each part of the vehicle. That is, the present system makes it possible to provide various services to users from various facilities by using hot spots.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle service providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing on a facility and hot spot side executed by the vehicle service providing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating processing on a general vehicle side executed by the vehicle service providing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 facility 20 general vehicle 30 hot spot 100 vehicle service providing system

Claims (12)

Hotspots, which are access points for wireless communication,
A facility comprising a communication terminal capable of communicating with the hot spot,
A vehicle service providing system comprising: a vehicle equipped with a wireless terminal capable of wirelessly communicating with the hot spot while providing a detecting unit for detecting a state of each unit for each unit,
When the vehicle is located in the wireless communication area of the hot spot, the wireless terminal transmits a detection result by a detection unit provided for each unit to the facility via the hot spot,
The vehicle service providing system, wherein the facility transmits information including a predetermined service to the wireless terminal via the hot spot based on the received detection result. Within the wireless communication area, the hot spot emits a request signal requesting the detection result,
Detecting means provided for each section of the vehicle located in the wireless communication area, calculates the detection result in response to the request signal,
The vehicle service providing system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless terminal of the vehicle transmits the calculated detection result to the facility via the hot spot. 3. The vehicle service providing system according to claim 1, wherein the facility includes a determination unit configured to determine whether a predetermined service can be provided to the vehicle. 4. . When the determination unit determines that the predetermined service can be provided to the vehicle, a signal for confirming whether the predetermined service is necessary is transmitted to the wireless terminal,
When a signal indicating that the predetermined service is required is transmitted from the wireless terminal, information including the predetermined service is transmitted to the wireless terminal via the hot spot, The vehicle service providing system according to claim 3, wherein: The information including the predetermined service transmitted by the facility includes information for notifying the vehicle of an estimate of the predetermined service, The information is transmitted to the vehicle. Vehicle service providing system. The vehicle service providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the facility is one of a gas station, a vehicle dealer, and a rest facility on a high-standard highway. The facility calculates an amount of fuel that can be supplied to the vehicle based on the detection result transmitted from the wireless terminal,
The vehicle service providing system according to claim 6, wherein information including an estimate according to the calculated amount of fuel is transmitted to the wireless terminal via the hot spot. When a vehicle capable of wireless communication is located in a wireless communication area of a hot spot that is an access point of wireless communication, the state of each part of the vehicle is detected,
Via the hot spot, transmitting the detected result to a facility connected to the hot spot,
Based on the received detection result, determine whether the facility can provide a predetermined service to the vehicle,
If the facility determines that the predetermined service can be provided to the vehicle, information including the predetermined service is transmitted to the vehicle via the hot spot, Service delivery method. The facility, when it is determined that the predetermined service can be provided to the vehicle, transmits a signal to confirm whether the predetermined service is required to the wireless terminal,
When a signal indicating that the predetermined service is required is transmitted from the wireless terminal, information including the predetermined service is transmitted to the wireless terminal via the hot spot, The method for providing service to a vehicle according to claim 8. 10. The information according to claim 8, wherein the information including the predetermined service transmitted by the facility includes information for notifying the vehicle of an estimate of the predetermined service. 11. How to provide services to vehicles. The service provision to a vehicle according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the facility is any one of a gas station, a vehicle dealer, and a rest facility on a high standard highway. Method. The facility calculates an amount of fuel that can be supplied to the vehicle based on the detection result transmitted from the wireless terminal,
The service providing method for a vehicle according to claim 11, wherein information including an estimate corresponding to the calculated amount of fuel is transmitted to the wireless terminal via the hot spot.

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