JP2005044311A - Method and system for diagnosing vehicle, vehicle and center - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for diagnosing a vehicle and its apparatus for reducing a frequency of notification necessary for a user. <P>SOLUTION: A vehicle 10 transmits alarm lamp lighting information, vehicle ID information and user identification information to a center 20 when determining an occurrence of abnormality. The center 20 transmits the received the alarm lamp lighting information to a vehicle dealer computer 30 at a dealer. The center 20 acquires information about dealing with the abnormality transmitted from the dealer and creates abnormality notification to transmit it to the vehicle 10. At this time, the center 20 determines whether the transmission of the abnormality notification is the first one or not, or a prescribed period has elapsed or not. Depending on this determination, if it is the first one or the prescribed period has elapsed, the center 20 transmits the abnormality notification to the vehicle 10. In contrast, on the basis of this determination, if it is not the first one or the prescribed period has not elapsed, the center 20 prohibits the transmission of the abnormality notification to the vehicle 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle diagnosis method, a vehicle diagnosis system, and an apparatus for diagnosing an abnormality occurring in a vehicle.

Conventionally, for example, as shown in the following patent document, a vehicle diagnosis system is known. The vehicle diagnosis system includes a self-diagnosis device that diagnoses a failure in the vehicle. When a failure is detected by the self-diagnosis device, a diagnosis result is transmitted to the center. The center estimates the cause of the failure on the basis of the transmitted diagnosis result, and transmits a coping method corresponding to the estimated cause of the failure to the vehicle.
JP 62-94443 A

  In the conventional vehicle diagnosis system, when a failure occurs in the vehicle, the self-diagnosed diagnosis result is transmitted to the center. Then, the center transmits a coping method to the vehicle based on the diagnosis result. In this case, if the same failure frequently occurs in the vehicle, the coping method having the same content may be transmitted many times from the center. In this case, the user of the vehicle needs to confirm the coping method of the same content many times and is complicated. Further, when different failures occur frequently, different countermeasures are transmitted from the center. In this case, the user needs to confirm the countermeasures sequentially, which is troublesome.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle diagnosis method and apparatus for reducing the number of notifications necessary for the user.

  The present invention is configured such that the vehicle and the center are communicably connected to each other, the vehicle transmits information related to the failure of the vehicle to the center, and the center transmits information related to the failure transmitted from the vehicle. It is an object of the present invention to improve a vehicle diagnosis method and method for diagnosing a failure occurring in the vehicle.

  The feature of the present invention is as follows. The vehicle determines whether or not a failure has occurred in a device mounted on the vehicle, and when determining that a failure has occurred by the determination, the vehicle transmits failure information indicating that the failure has occurred to the center (see FIG. Step S13 of the flowchart shown in FIG. The center receives the failure information transmitted from the vehicle, creates failure handling information representing a response to the failure represented by the received failure information, and sets the failure information transmitted from the vehicle within a predetermined period. It is determined whether or not a plurality of pieces of failure information have been received within the predetermined period based on the determination, and the countermeasure information related to each piece of failure information received within the predetermined period is comprehensively included. Transmit (Step C10 to Step C15 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 4). In this case, if the center determines that a plurality of pieces of failure information have been received within the predetermined period, the countermeasure information related to each piece of failure information received within the predetermined period may be transmitted together.

  According to these, the user does not receive the handling information many times within a predetermined period (for example, one week), and does not need to confirm the handling information sequentially. For this reason, the user is not confused by the received countermeasure information, which is preferable.

  Another feature of the present invention is as follows. The vehicle determines whether or not a failure has occurred in a device mounted on the vehicle. If the vehicle determines that a failure has occurred according to the determination, the vehicle transmits failure information indicating that the failure has occurred to the center. The center determines whether or not a plurality of substantially the same failure information is received within a predetermined period from the vehicle, and the plurality of substantially the same failure information is received within the predetermined period based on the determination. If it is determined that there is, the transmission of the failure handling information representing the handling of the failure represented by the received failure information to the vehicle is prohibited.

  Another feature of the present invention is as follows. The vehicle determines whether or not a failure has occurred in a device mounted on the vehicle, and when determining that a failure has occurred by the determination, the vehicle transmits failure information indicating that the failure has occurred to the center (see FIG. Step S13 of the flowchart shown in FIG. The center receives failure information transmitted from the vehicle, creates failure handling information representing a response to the failure represented by the received failure information, and has the same failure information as the failure information transmitted from the vehicle If it is determined that a plurality of the same failure information is received within the predetermined period based on the determination, the time when the previously prepared failure handling information is transmitted is confirmed. If the predetermined period has passed after the transmission of the previous troubleshooting information, the prepared troubleshooting information is transmitted (as shown in steps C10 to C15 and FIG. 5 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 4). flowchart).

  According to this, the user does not receive the same countermeasure information within a predetermined period (for example, one week), and does not need to confirm the countermeasure information sequentially. For this reason, the user is not confused by the received countermeasure information, which is preferable.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram schematically showing a vehicle diagnosis system according to the present embodiment. This vehicle diagnosis system includes a vehicle 10, a center 20 that can communicate with the vehicle 10, a vehicle store computer 30 installed in a store that sells and repairs the vehicle, a personal computer 40 that can be used by the user, and a mobile phone. And an information terminal device 50. The vehicle 10 and the portable information terminal device 50 are configured to be able to wirelessly communicate with a relay station 70 connected to a network 60 (for example, the Internet). The center 20, the vehicle dealer computer 30 and the personal computer 40 are connected to a network 60.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle 10 searches for a route to a destination set for the user, and displays a navigation ECU 11 that comprehensively controls a navigation device that guides the searched route by display or voice. I have. The navigation ECU 11 is a computer having a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like as main components, and an input device 12, a display device 13, and a communication device 14 are connected to the navigation ECU 11.

  The input device 12 includes an operation switch provided in the vicinity of the display device 13, a panel touch switch that is incorporated in the display device 13 and detects a touch operation on the display panel, and inputs a user instruction. Then, the input device 12 outputs information corresponding to the instruction input by the user. The display device 13 is composed of a liquid crystal display or the like, and displays characters, figures and the like on a display panel based on various supplied information.

  The communication device 14 is attached to the vehicle 10 so as not to be removable, and enables communication with the center 20 via the relay station 70. The communication device 14 is given identification information (hereinafter referred to as MAC (Media Access Control) address information) for identifying the device 14 when the device 14 is manufactured, and is assigned to the vehicle 10. ID information (for example, chassis number information indicating a chassis number assigned at the time of manufacture, a registration number assigned by the Land Transport Bureau, etc.) is stored in advance. Further, by contracting with the center 20, the user name, user ID information and user password (hereinafter collectively referred to as user specifying information) used for communication with the center 20, and mail address information are stored in advance. ing. The communication device 14 is connected to an antenna 14a that performs radio communication with the relay station 70.

  A gateway ECU 15 is communicably connected to the navigation ECU 11 via a network (for example, a LAN (Local Area Network)) built in the vehicle 10. The gateway ECU 15 is a computer whose main components are a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The gateway ECU 15 is connected to the engine ECU 16, the meter ECU 17, the door ECU 18, the body ECU 19, and the like via a network built in the vehicle 10 so as to be able to communicate with each other. Each of these ECUs 16, 17, 18, and 19 is also a computer having a CPU, ROM, and RAM as main components. The vehicle 10 is equipped with a large number of ECUs in addition to the ECUs 16, 17, 18, and 19. In the present specification, the ECUs 16, 17, 18, and 19 will be described as examples. .

  The gateway ECU 15 comprehensively controls various data shared between the ECUs 16, 17, 18, 19 and the flow of control signals for controlling the cooperation of the ECUs 16, 17, 18, 19. Further, the gateway ECU 15 supplies warning light lighting information indicating a warning light lighting request outputted when an abnormality occurs in each device that controls the operation of each ECU 18, 19 to the meter ECU 17, and also each ECU 16, 17. , 18 and 19, the flow of failure information (diagnosis information: hereinafter, also simply referred to as “diagnosis information”) representing the detailed matters of the abnormality that has occurred is comprehensively controlled.

  The engine ECU 16 controls the operation of the engine based on data and signals detected by various sensors (for example, an engine speed sensor, a battery voltage sensor, etc.) attached to an engine and auxiliary equipment (not shown). The meter ECU 17 controls display of various information on a meter device (not shown) based on data and signals detected by various sensors (for example, a vehicle speed sensor and a water temperature sensor). Further, the meter ECU 17 controls the lighting of the plurality of warning lights 17a based on the warning light information output from the engine ECU 16 and the warning light lighting information output from the ECUs 18 and 19 via the gateway ECU 15 to the user. Notify abnormalities.

  The door ECU 18 is attached to a door lock device (not shown) and controls the operation of the door lock device based on data and signals detected by various sensors (for example, a remote control open / close detection sensor and a door lock sensor). The body ECU 19 controls turning on / off of the lamp based on signals input from various switches (for example, a light control switch, a door courtesy lamp switch, etc.) attached to a vehicle body (not shown).

  The control of each of the ECUs 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 is diverse, and is not limited to these controls. Further, the specific processing programs and specific control methods of the ECUs 16, 17, 18, and 19 are not directly related to the present invention, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the center 20 includes a control device 21, a storage device 22, and a communication device 23 that are communicably connected to each other. The control device 21 is composed of a computer whose main components are a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and comprehensively controls the operation of the center 20. The storage device 22 includes a storage medium such as a hard disk and a drive device for the storage medium, and stores various programs and various data. The communication device 23 is wired to the network 60 and performs wired communication with the vehicle store computer 30 and the personal computer 40 that can be used by the user, and wirelessly communicates with the vehicle 10 and the portable information terminal device 50 via the relay station 70. Communication is possible.

  In the center 20, a user information database 24, an abnormality handling database 25, a store information database 26, and a history information database 27 are constructed. Each of these databases 24, 25, 26, 27 is connected to a network (for example, a LAN) constructed in the center 20 and is accessible from the control device 21.

  The user information database 24 includes vehicle ID information of the vehicle 10, MAC address information and mail address information attached to the communication device 14 of the vehicle 10, dealer identification information indicating a dealer where the vehicle 10 is sold, and user identification. Information is stored in association with each other. Further, the user information database 24 is prepared for access from the personal computer 40 or the portable information terminal device 50, and MAC address information of these devices 40, 50 and mail addresses used by these devices 40, 50 for communication with the center 20. Information and user identification information are stored in association with each other.

  As will be described later, the abnormality handling database 25 provides a base of a handling method sentence notified by the user of the vehicle 10 (hereinafter referred to as a default sentence) for each abnormality content represented by warning light lighting information transmitted from the vehicle 10. I remember it. For example, for the warning lamp lighting information that indicates a system error, there is a possibility that an error has occurred in the system system. Please check in. "

  The dealer information database 26 stores in advance, for each dealer, the business day and business hours of each dealer (hereinafter, the information of each dealer is referred to as dealer information). This dealer information can be updated by accessing the center 20 using the vehicle dealer computer 30. In addition, the store information database 26 can store in advance the time for transmitting an abnormality notification described later to the user. Here, the center 20 can present various services corresponding to the business days and business hours of the dealer to the user of the vehicle 10 based on the information stored in the dealer information database 26. The presentation of this service is, for example, information for displaying on the display device 13 a button for making a call to a store that can be stored based on the business day and business hours of the store if the vehicle 10 is a store service. For example, an e-mail or the like) is transmitted and presented.

  As will be described later, the history information database 27 stores the lighting history of warning lights transmitted from the vehicle 10 and the countermeasures corresponding to the warning lights that are lit in association with the vehicle ID information and the user identification information.

  The vehicle store computer 30 includes CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like as main components, and includes an input device, a display device, a control device, a storage device, and a communication device. The vehicle dealer computer 30 is operated by a person in charge of the dealer and can access the center 20. Various information (such as abnormality handling information and dealer information) is transmitted to the center 20, and various information is sent from the center 20. (Warning lamp lighting information, failure information, etc.) are received. Further, the person in charge of the store can search and acquire all information (for example, the history information database 26) of the center 20 by accessing the center 20 using the store computer 30. It is. Here, in the storage device of the vehicle store computer 30, vehicle ID information of a vehicle sold at the store and customer information such as the name of the user of the vehicle are stored in association with each other.

  The personal computer 40 that can be used by the user also includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like as main components, and includes an input device, a display device, a control device, a storage device, and a communication device. The personal computer 40 is operated by a user and can access the center 20, and acquires warning light information and a coping method thereof from the history information database 27 of the center 20.

  The portable information terminal device 50 also includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like as main components, and includes an input device, a display device, a control device, a storage device, and a communication device. And the portable information terminal device 50 is comprised compactly in order to enable a user to carry. In addition, the communication device of the portable information terminal device 50 is also provided with an antenna 54a that enables wireless communication with the relay station 70. In addition, the portable information terminal device 50 is operated by a user and can access the center 20, and acquires warning light information and a coping method thereof from the history information database 27 of the center 20. Here, as the portable information terminal device 50, a mobile phone, a portable personal computer having a communication function, a portable electronic notebook (personal digital assistant (PDA)), or the like can be adopted.

  In the vehicle diagnostic system configured as described above, the communication between the communication device 14, the center 20, the vehicle store computer 30, the personal computer 40, and the portable information terminal device 50 of the vehicle 10 uses the antennas 14a and 54a and the relay station 70. The communication is performed wirelessly or wired via the network 60, but none of these communications is performed in a normal manner and has characteristics. Therefore, in the following description, when simply referred to as reception, transmission, etc., it is assumed that an appropriate method of communication is adopted for these.

  Next, the operation of the vehicle diagnostic system configured as described above will be described in detail below. When an ignition switch (not shown) is turned on by the user of the vehicle 10, the ECUs 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 mounted on the vehicle 10 control the operations of the devices. Then, the navigation ECU 11, the gateway ECU 15 and the meter ECU 17 cooperate to repeatedly execute the abnormality information transmission notification program shown in FIG. 4 every predetermined short time. The abnormality information transmission notification program is started in step S10, and in step S11, the meter ECU 17 determines whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the vehicle 10. This determination will be described in detail by exemplifying a case where an abnormality has occurred in the engine.

  The engine ECU 16 controls the operating state of the engine based on output signals from various sensors attached to the engine or accessories. In a state where the engine is operating, for example, when the signal indicating the engine speed output from the speed sensor is an abnormal speed, the engine ECU 16 warns the meter ECU 17 that the engine is abnormal. Warning lamp lighting information is output so that the lamp is lit. The door ECU 18 and the body ECU 19 output warning light lighting information to the meter ECU 17 via the gateway ECU 15.

  Thus, the meter ECU 17 recognizes that an abnormality has occurred in the vehicle 10 by acquiring the warning lamp lighting information output by the engine ECU 16. Accordingly, if the meter ECU 17 acquires the warning lamp lighting information, an abnormality has occurred in the vehicle 10, so that the determination is “Yes” in step S11, and the process proceeds to step S12. On the other hand, if the meter ECU 17 has not acquired the warning lamp lighting information, since no abnormality has occurred in the vehicle 10, the determination is “No” in step S11, the process proceeds to step S24, and the abnormality information transmission notification program is executed. The execution of is temporarily terminated.

  In step S12, the meter ECU 17 controls lighting of the warning lamp 17a corresponding to the warning lamp lighting information acquired in step S11. Thereby, the user can recognize that abnormality has occurred in the vehicle 10.

  Regarding the lighting of this warning light, it is also possible to do as follows. That is, meter ECU17 acquires the information (bit data) regarding lighting of the warning lamp output from each ECU16,18,19, and memorize | stores it in RAM. Then, the meter ECU 17 compares the bit data stored in the RAM with the bit data output from each ECU 16, 18, and 19 again, and turns on the corresponding warning lamp if the bit content has changed. . This also makes it possible to turn on the warning lamp very easily.

  Further, the meter ECU 17 supplies the acquired warning lamp lighting information to the navigation ECU 11 via the gateway ECU 15. The navigation ECU 11 acquires the supplied warning light lighting information and supplies the acquired warning light lighting information to the display device 13. When acquiring the supplied warning light information, the display device 13 displays a message indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the vehicle 10 on the liquid crystal screen, as shown in FIG. When a predetermined time elapses after the message is displayed, the display device 13 erases the message and displays a warning icon 13a indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the engine on the liquid crystal screen as shown in FIG. 9B. Then, the user continues to be notified that an abnormality has occurred.

  After the warning light lighting process in step S12, the navigation ECU 11 transmits warning light lighting information, vehicle ID information, and user ID information to the center 20 using the communication device 14 in step S13. More specifically, the navigation ECU 11 supplies the warning light lighting information acquired in step S12 to the communication device 14, and transmits the vehicle ID information and the user specifying information together with the warning light lighting information. To instruct. The communication device 14 acquires warning light lighting information and transmits warning light lighting information, vehicle ID information, and user identification information to the center 20. At this time, the communication device 14 also transmits the MAC address information given to itself to the center 20 together.

  In the center 20, the control device 21 receives the warning lamp lighting information, the vehicle ID information, the user identification information, and the MAC address information of the communication device 14 transmitted by the transmission process in step S13 in step C10. Each information is temporarily stored in a RAM (not shown), and the process proceeds to Step C11.

  In step C11, the control device 21 transmits the warning lamp lighting information temporarily stored in the RAM in step C10 to the vehicle store computer 30. This transmission process will be described in detail. The control device 21 acquires the vehicle ID information and the user specifying information temporarily stored in the RAM in Step C10, and searches the user information database 24 based on the acquired information. Then, the control device 21 acquires store information stored in association with the vehicle ID information and the user specifying information. As described above, when acquiring the dealer information, the control device 21 communicates the warning lamp lighting information and the vehicle ID information to the dealer (specifically, the vehicle dealer computer 30) represented by the dealer information. It transmits via the device 23 and the network 60.

  In the dealer, the vehicle dealer computer 30 receives the warning lamp lighting information and the vehicle ID information transmitted from the center 20 by the transmission process in step C11 in step D10, and temporarily stores them in a RAM (not shown). To do. Here, when the vehicle dealer computer 30 receives the warning lamp lighting information and the vehicle ID information from the center 20, the vehicle dealer computer 30 receives a message indicating that such information has been received on a display screen of a display device (not shown), for example, “warning lamp lighting”. "The information has been received." Is displayed, and the person in charge at the store or the engineer (hereinafter referred to as person in charge) is notified. In this way, when the message is displayed, the person in charge or the like operates the vehicle dealer computer 30 to provide abnormality handling information to be transmitted to the vehicle 10 for the abnormality content represented by the lit warning light. decide.

  This abnormality handling information will be described. The abnormality handling information is created for each store. That is, the person in charge of the dealer operates the vehicle dealer computer 30 and accesses the abnormality handling database 25 of the center 20 in advance. Then, the default sentence stored in the abnormality handling database 25 is acquired. The person in charge or the like adds necessary items (for example, greeting texts) to the default text acquired from the center 20 and creates abnormality handling information unique to the dealer. Specifically, using the default sentence described above, the default sentence “There may be a problem with the system system. We are sorry for the inconvenience, but we will perform an inspection to get you on safely. "Please enter the store." As a necessary item, for example, "Thank you very much for your kindness. Thank you very much." Remember. It goes without saying that this abnormality handling information is created for each abnormality content.

  Then, when the person in charge or the like receives the warning light lighting information in step D10, the person in charge selects the optimum abnormality handling information from the abnormality handling information stored in the storage device for the warning light lighting information. To decide. In addition, the person in charge at the store refers to the customer information stored in the storage device of the vehicle store computer 30, so that the abnormality notification created by the “abnormality notification creation routine” process of the center 20 described later can be used. The handling of the name of the user to be attached can be selected.

  That is, when the abnormality notification is transmitted to the vehicle 10, the vehicle 10 is traveling and the abnormality notification may be read out by voice output. In this case, the reading of the user's name may not be uniquely determined (various readings may exist), and there is a possibility that the user will feel uncomfortable by outputting the voice by reading different from the original. For this reason, the person in charge or the like selects whether or not to read out the name of the user attached to the transmitted abnormality notification when determining abnormality handling information. The selection information indicating the selection by the person in charge or the like is added to the determined abnormality handling information. Note that the person in charge or the like can also specify the time at which the abnormality notification is transmitted for the abnormality handling information. Thereby, the center 20 can also transmit an abnormality notification at a designated time.

  As described above, when the optimum abnormality handling information is determined by the person in charge or the like, the vehicle dealer computer 30 transmits the abnormality handling information determined via the network 60 to the center 20 in step D11.

  In the center 20, the control device 21 receives the abnormality handling information transmitted from the vehicle store computer 30 by the transmission process of the step D11 in step C12, and temporarily stores it in a RAM (not shown). Proceed to C13. In step C13, the control device 21 correlates the warning lamp lighting information received in step C10, the abnormality handling information received in step C12, and the date and time when the warning lamp lighting information was received with each other, and a history information database 27.

  After the storage process of step C13, the control device 21 proceeds to step C14 and executes an “abnormality notification creation routine”. As shown in FIG. 5, the “abnormality notification creation routine” is started at step C100. In step C101, the control device 21 determines whether or not the same warning lamp is turned on for the first time. That is, the control device 21 searches the warning light lighting information stored in the history information database 27 using the warning light lighting information received in step C10. As a result of this search, if the same warning lamp lighting information is not stored in the history information database 27, the warning lamp lighting is the first time, so the control device 21 determines “Yes” and proceeds to step C103.

  On the other hand, if the same warning lamp lighting information is stored by searching the history information database 27, the warning lamp is not turned on for the first time, so the control device 21 determines “No” and proceeds to step C102. In step C102, the control device 21 determines whether or not the currently received warning lamp lighting information has passed a predetermined period (for example, 7 days) since the previous warning lamp lighting information was received. Specifically, the control device 21 compares the reception date / time of the warning lamp lighting information received this time with the reception date / time of the warning lamp lighting information received last time stored in the history information database 27, and the predetermined period is It is determined whether or not it has elapsed.

  If it is determined that the predetermined period has elapsed, the control device 21 determines “Yes” and proceeds to step C103. On the other hand, if the predetermined period has not elapsed, the control device 21 determines “No”, proceeds to step C107, and ends the execution of the “abnormality notification creation routine”.

  As described above, it is possible to prevent frequent notifications of the same content from being transmitted to the vehicle 10 by determining whether or not the reception interval of the warning lamp lighting information has passed a predetermined period. it can. As a result, the user does not frequently receive abnormality notifications having the same content, and the user can be prevented from being confused.

  In step C103, the control device 21 creates an abnormality notification (e-mail) to be transmitted to the vehicle 10. The creation of this abnormality notification will be specifically described. The control device 21 uses a preset abnormality notification format (for example, HTML format, XML format, etc.) to create a predetermined format of abnormality notification. That is, the control device 21 acquires the user specifying information temporarily stored in the RAM and searches the user information database 24 using the user specifying information. Then, among the user identification information stored in the user information database 24, the user identification information that matches the user identification information temporarily stored in the RAM is searched and extracted, and associated with the extracted user identification information. Get memorized mail address information.

  Next, the control device 21 acquires the abnormality handling information received from the vehicle store computer 30 and temporarily stored in the RAM in step C12. Then, the control device 21 incorporates information indicating the name of the user included in the user identification information and abnormality handling information in the abnormality notification format format. Thereby, when an abnormality notification is transmitted to the vehicle 10 and displayed, the user's name can be displayed on the abnormality notification. As described above, when the control device 21 creates the abnormality notification, the control device 21 proceeds to Step C104.

  Here, the warning lamp lighting information transmitted from the vehicle 10 is not limited to one, and different warning lamp lighting information may be transmitted. In this case, the control device 21 classifies the warning light lighting information in advance (for example, maintenance warning light lighting information and system abnormal warning light lighting information). Then, according to the following rules, abnormality notifications for a plurality of warning lamp lighting information are collectively created.

  That is, when a plurality of maintenance-type warning light lighting information is received, the warning light lighting information is collected into maintenance warning information, and an abnormality notification is automatically created for the maintenance warning information. At this time, since the control device 21 has received the abnormality handling information for each warning lamp lighting information from the vehicle store computer 30, it creates an abnormality notification in which all the abnormality handling information is described.

  In addition, when a plurality of system abnormal system warning light lighting information is received, the warning light lighting information is collectively used as system warning information, and an abnormality notification is automatically created for the system warning information. Also in this case, since the control device 21 has received the abnormality handling information for each warning light lighting information from the vehicle store computer 30, it creates an abnormality notification in which all the abnormality handling information is described.

  On the other hand, when the maintenance warning light lighting information and the system abnormal warning light lighting information are received, the control device 21 collects the warning light lighting information as system warning information. This is because the warning light lighting information of the system abnormal system has a greater influence on the running of the vehicle. And the control apparatus 21 produces the abnormality notification with respect to this system warning information automatically. At this time, the control device 21 has received the abnormality handling information for the warning light lighting information of the system abnormality system from the vehicle dealer computer 30 of the dealer. For this reason, all of the abnormality handling information is described, and an abnormality notification is created by describing a situation in which an abnormality has occurred based on maintenance-related warning lamp lighting information.

  As described above, the number of warning notifications transmitted to the vehicle 10 can be reduced by combining a plurality of warning lamp lighting information into one abnormality notification. Thereby, the communication cost can be reduced, and the confusion about the abnormality notification of the user can be prevented.

  Next, in step C104, the control device 21 determines whether or not the user's name incorporated in the abnormality notification created in step C103 is set to be read out. In other words, the control device 21 detects selection information as to whether or not to read out the user's name, which is added to the abnormality handling information by the person in charge at the store. If the control device 21 is selected to read out the user's name based on the detected selection information, the control device 21 determines “Yes” and proceeds to step C105.

  In step C105, the control device 21 sets so as to read out the name of the user incorporated in the abnormality notification created in step C103. Here, in the present embodiment, since the abnormality notification is created in the XML format or the HTML format, the name of the user can be read out when it is transmitted to the vehicle 10 as it is and outputted as a voice. Therefore, when the abnormality notification is created in such a format, the setting process in step S105 may be a process that does not change the abnormality notification setting in detail. Then, after the process of step C105, the process proceeds to step C107, and the execution of the “abnormality notification creation routine” is terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is selected at step C104 not to read out the user's name based on the detected selection information, the control device 21 determines “No” and proceeds to step C106. In step C106, the control device 21 performs setting so as not to read out the name of the user incorporated in the abnormality notification created in step C103. Explaining this setting, since the abnormality notification is created in the XML format or the HTML format, a predetermined command (for example, \\ user name \\, etc.) is applied to the description portion corresponding to the user's name. The user name is set not to be read out. Then, after the setting process in step C106, the process proceeds to step C107, and the execution of the “abnormality notification creation routine” is terminated.

  Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 4 again, after the execution of the “abnormality notification creation routine” in step C14, the process proceeds to step C15. In step C15, the control device 21 transmits the abnormality notification created in step C14 to the vehicle 10. That is, the control device 21 transmits an abnormality notification to the vehicle 10 via the relay station 70 connected to the communication device 23 and the network 60. In this transmission, the control device 21 can also confirm and transmit the time for transmitting the abnormality notification stored and set in the store information database 26. In this case, the control device 21 transmits an abnormality notification to the vehicle 10 according to the set transmission time. Thereby, for example, if the user designates the abnormality notification transmission time in advance in the store, the abnormality notification can be received at the designated time, and thus the user can preferably receive the abnormality notification.

  In the vehicle 10, the communication device 14 receives the abnormality notification transmitted by the transmission process of step C15 in step S14, and supplies the received abnormality notification to the navigation ECU 11. When the navigation ECU 11 acquires the abnormality notification from the communication device 14, the navigation ECU 11 notifies the user of the acquired abnormality notification in step S15. Specifically, the navigation ECU 11 supplies the acquired abnormality notification to the display device 13 and instructs the liquid crystal display to display the abnormality notification. In accordance with the instruction, the display device 13 displays on the liquid crystal display that the abnormality notification has been acquired, as shown in FIG. Then, when confirmation of the abnormality notification is instructed by the user's touch operation, the display device 13 displays the abnormality notification supplied from the navigation ECU 11 as shown in FIG. Thereby, the user can confirm the content of the abnormality that has occurred in the vehicle 10 and the coping method. In this case, the name of the user is displayed in the displayed abnormality notification.

  By the way, the touch operation of the display device 13 can be performed only when the vehicle 10 is stopped. Therefore, when the user touches the liquid crystal display while the vehicle 10 is traveling, a message indicating that the operation cannot be performed while traveling is displayed as shown in FIG. Thus, when the vehicle 10 is traveling, the user can instruct to output the content of the abnormality notification by using a voice recognition device (not shown). Also by this, the user can confirm the content of the abnormality notification. In this case, if the user's name incorporated in the abnormality notification is set to be read out, the user's name is output as a voice. On the other hand, if the user's name is set not to be read out, the user's name is not output as a voice.

  After the notification process in step S15, in step S16, the navigation ECU 11 determines whether or not the reservation button 13b shown in FIG. 10B has been touched by the user. In this case as well, it goes without saying that the user cannot touch the reservation button 13b unless the vehicle 10 is stopped. The reservation button 13b is a button for reserving a date and time when the vehicle 10 is stored in a store in order to repair an abnormality that has occurred in the vehicle 10. When the reservation button 13b is touched, the navigation ECU 11 determines “Yes” and proceeds to step S17.

  On the other hand, in step S16, if the reservation button 13b is not touched within a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) by the user, the navigation ECU 11 determines “No”, proceeds to step S24, and transmits abnormality information. The execution of the notification program is temporarily terminated.

  By the way, when the abnormality information transmission notification program ends in this way, failure information (diag information) described later is not transmitted to the center 20 and the store. For this reason, for example, an instruction (command) for transmitting failure information (diag information) is incorporated into an operation button (for example, a “return” button or a “forward” button) provided in an advertisement transmitted by the center 20 as needed. As a result, it is also possible to execute the processing after step S20 of the abnormality information transmission program described later due to the user touching the operation button.

  However, when the failure information (diagnostic information) is transmitted by incorporating a command into the operation button, the following conditions must be satisfied in order to suppress useless communication. That is, a. The center 20 has transmitted the current abnormality notification within, for example, four weeks from the previous abnormality notification, and before the transmission of the current abnormality notification, for example, within two weeks, the same warning lamp lighting information as the current abnormality notification. Is received from the vehicle 10, b. The center 20 needs to satisfy that, for example, four weeks or more have elapsed since the failure information (diagnostic information) related to the warning lamp lighting information has been received.

  Condition a. The same warning lamp lighting information is frequently transmitted to the center 20, and the center 20 repeatedly transmits an abnormality notification (with an interval of 7 days or more secured as described above) It is a condition for specifying. Condition b. The center 20 has received failure information (diag information) related to the same warning lamp lighting information in the past, but specifies a state in which the failure information (diag information) is outdated as a predetermined period has elapsed. It is a condition for. In this case, the condition b. Thus, the vehicle 10 does not transmit the failure information (diagnostic information) to the center 20 before the predetermined period (four weeks) elapses after the failure information (diagnostic information) is transmitted to the center 20.

  The above conditions a. And condition b. If established, the control device 21 of the center 20 incorporates a command into an advertisement or the like and transmits it to the vehicle 10. And navigation ECU11 and gateway ECU15 will perform the process after step S20 mentioned later, if an operation button is touch-operated by the user. Thereby, even if the reservation button 12b is not touch-operated by the user, the center 20 and the store can acquire failure information (diagnostic information) necessary for repair. In this case as well, it goes without saying that the user's touch operation can be performed only when the vehicle 10 is stopped.

  In step S <b> 17, the navigation ECU 11 supplies reservation information indicating that the reservation button 13 b has been touched to the communication device 14 and instructs the center 20 to transmit the reservation information. The communication device 14 transmits the reservation information to the center 20 according to the instruction. In transmitting the reservation information, the communication device 14 transmits its own MAC address information together with the reservation information.

  In the center 20, the control device 21 receives the reservation information and the MAC address information transmitted by the transmission process of the step S17 in step C16, and temporarily stores these information in the RAM. Then, the control device 21 uses the MAC address information temporarily stored in the RAM, and the MAC address information that matches the MAC address information stored in the RAM among the MAC address information stored in the user information database 24. Search and extract. Then, store specific information stored in association with the extracted MAC address information is acquired.

  Next, the control device 21 searches the store information database 26 using the acquired store specifying information, and acquires the store information of the store specified by the store specifying information. As a result, the control device 21 confirms the business day and business hours of the dealer and transmits reservation information to the vehicle dealer computer 30.

  Here, the control device 21 receives the current location information of the vehicle 10 from, for example, the navigation ECU 11 of the vehicle 10 when the reservation is not possible by checking the business day and business hours of the dealer, and the current location information It is also possible to present to the user the stores near the current location represented. Further, the control device 21 can search the store information database 26, transmit the store information that can be reserved to the vehicle 10, and present it to the user.

  In the vehicle store computer 30, in step D12, the reservation information transmitted by the transmission process in step C16 is acquired, and the warehousing reservation is registered, and the process proceeds to step D13. In step D <b> 13, the vehicle dealer computer 30 transmits to the center 20 a registration completion notification indicating that the warehousing registration has been completed to the user.

  In the center 20, the control device 21 receives the registration completion notification and the failure information transmission request transmitted from the vehicle store computer 30 by the transmission process of step D13 in step C17, and proceeds to step C18. In step C18, the control device 21 sends a failure information transmission request to the vehicle 10 so as to transmit the received registration completion notification and detailed information on the abnormality currently occurring in the vehicle 10, that is, failure information (diag information). Send.

  In the vehicle 10, the communication device 14 receives the registration completion notification and the failure information transmission request transmitted by the transmission process of step C 18 in step S 18, and supplies the received information to the navigation ECU 11.

  In step S19, the navigation ECU 11 supplies the display device 13 with the registration completion notice supplied in step S18. The display device 13 displays the supplied registration completion notification on the liquid crystal display. Thereby, the user can confirm that the warehousing reservation of the vehicle 10 is completed.

  In step S20, the navigation ECU 11 determines whether or not the vehicle 10 is stopped using various data output from the ECUs 16, 17, 18, and 19 via the gateway ECU 15. And navigation ECU11 repeatedly performs the determination process of step S20 until it determines with the vehicle 10 stopping. Then, if the vehicle 10 is stopped, the navigation ECU 11 determines “Yes” and proceeds to step S21.

  In step S21, the navigation ECU 11 and the gateway ECU 15 cooperate to execute the “failure information collection routine” shown in FIG. This “failure information collection routine” is a routine for collecting failure information (diagnostic information). Since the diagnosis information is output from the ECUs 16, 17, 18, and 19 mounted on the vehicle 10, if the routine is executed while the vehicle is running, the ECUs 16, 17, 18, and 19 may be burdened. is there. For this reason, the “failure information collection routine” is executed when the vehicle 10 is stopped.

  The execution of this “failure information collection routine” is started in step N10. In step N11, the navigation ECU 11 sends a warning light to the gateway ECU 15 based on the failure information transmission request received in step S18. Request to output failure information related to lighting information.

  Gateway ECU15 acquires the output request | requirement supplied from navigation ECU11 by the process of the said step N11 in step G10, and progresses to step G11. In step G11, the gateway ECU 15 provides diagnostic information to the ECU in which an abnormality related to the warning lamp lighting information has occurred among the ECUs 16, 17, 18, and 19 via the network built in the vehicle. The output request signal is output so as to be output. The diagnosis information includes detection values of various sensors, operation state data of each device controlled by the ECU, and the like, and is stored in a RAM (not shown) of each ECU 16, 17, 18, 19. .

  Here, the navigation ECU 11 and the gateway ECU 15 cooperate to confirm whether or not the failure information transmission request transmitted from the center 20 is accidentally changed to another command (command) by communication. This is to prevent useless operations due to other commands. Further, when another command transmitted from the center 20 is accidentally changed to a failure information transmission request by communication, the gateway ECU 15 does not output a request signal to each of the ECUs 16, 17, 18, and 19.

  In step G12, the gateway ECU 15 acquires diagnosis information. That is, of the ECUs 16, 17, 18, and 19, the ECU in which an abnormality relating to the warning lamp lighting information has occurred outputs the diagnostic information stored in its own RAM to the gateway ECU 15 via the network. . Then, the gateway ECU 15 acquires the output diagnosis information and proceeds to step G13.

  In step G13, the gateway ECU 15 determines whether or not the data capacity of the diagnostic information acquired in step G12 is greater than or equal to a predetermined information amount. This is because the diagnosis information is detection values and operating state data of various sensors as described above. For example, when abnormality occurs in a plurality of devices, the data capacity of the diagnosis information to be acquired is large. This is because it may be enormous. In this way, there is a possibility that the network becomes saturated by diagnosing a huge amount of data on the network constructed in the vehicle 10. Further, when transmitting diag information with such a large data capacity to the center 20 and the store, communication time and communication cost also increase. In particular, an increase in communication time may cause a failure in communication between the other vehicle and the center 20. Here, the predetermined information amount is an information amount determined in consideration of communication time and communication cost. When making this determination, the gateway ECU 15 is in a state where the output diagnostic information is buffered in its own RAM.

  If the data volume of the diagnosis information is greater than or equal to the predetermined information amount, the gateway ECU 15 determines “Yes” and proceeds to step G14. In step G14, the gateway ECU 15 divides the acquired diagnostic information for each predetermined amount of information, and outputs the divided diagnostic information to the navigation ECU 11 for each divided diagnostic information.

  On the other hand, if the acquired diagnostic information is less than the predetermined information amount in step G13, the gateway ECU 15 proceeds to step G15. In step G15, the gateway ECU 15 outputs the acquired diagnosis information to the navigation ECU 11. In the navigation ECU 11, in step N12, the diagnosis information output in step G14 or step G15 is acquired. At this time, the navigation ECU 11 can acquire the diagnosis information from the gateway ECU 15 for a predetermined time (for example, about 10 seconds). According to this, it is possible to prevent the diag information having an enormous amount of data from being distributed on the network constructed in the vehicle 10, and to effectively prevent the network from becoming saturated. Moreover, since the data volume of the diagnostic information acquired by the navigation ECU 11 is restricted, it is possible to reduce the communication time and communication cost when transmitting to the center 20 and the store. And navigation ECU11 complete | finishes execution of a "failure information collection routine" in step N13.

  Here, when a vehicle enters a dealer, a failure information acquisition device (diag tool) is connected to a network built in the vehicle, and diagnosis information may be collected by the failure information acquisition device. is there. At this time, the output request signal output from the failure information acquisition device to each ECU 16, 17, 18, 19 is the same as the output request signal output from the gateway ECU 15 (or the failure information transmission request transmitted from the center 20). is there. Therefore, each ECU 16, 17, 18, 19 outputs diagnostic information stored in its own RAM to the network.

  However, since the gateway ECU 15 can distinguish between the output request signal output by itself and the output request signal output by the failure information acquisition device, the diagnosis information output to the network when the failure information acquisition device is connected. Is not supplied to the navigation ECU 11. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the diagnosis information from being erroneously transmitted to the center 20 and the store from the vehicle that has entered the store, and it is possible to eliminate useless communication.

  It should be noted that such prevention of erroneous transmission of diagnostic information can also be implemented as follows. That is, the gateway ECU 15 prevents erroneous transmission of diagnostic information output from each ECU (for example, the engine ECU 16) connected to the control system network (CAN) in the network constructed in the vehicle 10. On the other hand, among the networks constructed in the vehicle 10, the navigation ECU 11 prevents the diagnosis information output from each ECU (for example, the door ECU 18) connected to the body network (BEAN) from being erroneously transmitted. In this way, the navigation ECU 11 and the gateway ECU 15 can be implemented so as to prevent erroneous transmission of diagnostic information.

  Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 4 again, after step S21, in step S22, the navigation ECU 11 supplies the acquired diagnosis information to the communication device 14, and the communication device 14 transmits the diagnosis information to the center 20. At this time, when the diagnosis information is divided, the navigation ECU 11 supplies the information to the communication device 14 one by one, and the communication device 14 transmits the information to the center 20 one by one in the order of supply. In this transmission, the communication device 14 also transmits vehicle ID information together with the diagnosis information.

  Here, when the failure information acquisition device described above is connected, if the gateway ECU 15 has a failure and a large amount of diagnostic information is transmitted to the center 20, the center 20 displays the diagnostic information. It is supposed not to receive. That is, the center 20 can determine whether or not the diagnosis information is transmitted based on the failure information transmission request transmitted by itself. When the diagnosis information is transmitted due to the failure of the gateway ECU 15, the center 20 separately transmits a command for stopping the transmission to the navigation ECU 11. Thereby, useless communication does not occur between the vehicle 10 and the center 20.

  In the center 20, the control device 21 receives the failure information (diagnostic information) transmitted by the transmission process of step S22 in step C19. In step C20, the control device 21 transmits failure information (diagnostic information) to the vehicle store computer 30 that has transmitted the registration completion notification.

  In the vehicle store computer 30, in step D14, the failure information (diagnostic information) transmitted by the transmission process in step C20 is received, and the process proceeds to step D15. In step D15, more detailed abnormality handling information than the abnormality handling information transmitted in step D11 is transmitted based on the received failure information (diag information). In other words, the person in charge or the like can accurately grasp the details of the abnormality currently occurring in the vehicle 10 by analyzing the received failure information (diagnostic information) in detail.

  For this reason, the person in charge or the like can individually cope with the cause of the abnormality occurring in the vehicle 10 as compared with the case where the warning lamp lighting information is acquired. Therefore, the person in charge or the like takes a detailed countermeasure until the vehicle 10 is received, for example, “The engine water temperature is high. The vehicle stops at a safe place and the transport vehicle arrives. Create a detailed error handling method such as "Please wait in a safe place" or "Since the abnormality that occurred has no problem in driving, please go to the store where you have just moved and reserved the store." To do. Then, the vehicle store computer 30 transmits detailed abnormality handling information representing a detailed abnormality handling method created by the person in charge or the like to the center 20 and ends the execution of the “abnormality information transmission notification program” in step D16. To do.

  In the center 20, the control device 21 receives the detailed abnormality handling information transmitted by the transmission process of step D15 in step C21. And the control apparatus 21 searches the user information database 24 using the vehicle ID information received in the said step C19, and acquires a user's mail address information. Thereby, the control apparatus 21 transmits the received detailed abnormality handling information to the vehicle 10 using the acquired mail address information. Then, in step C22, the control device 21 ends the execution of the “abnormal information transmission notification program”.

  In the vehicle 10, the communication device 14 receives the detailed abnormality handling information transmitted by the transmission process of step C <b> 21 in step S <b> 23 and supplies it to the navigation ECU 11. The navigation ECU 11 acquires the supplied detailed abnormality handling information. Then, the navigation ECU 11 supplies the acquired detailed abnormality handling information to the display device 13. The display device 13 notifies the user of the supplied detailed abnormality handling information by displaying or outputting the information on the liquid crystal display in the same manner as the notification in step S15. Thus, when informing the user, the navigation ECU 11 proceeds to step S24 and ends the execution of the “abnormal information transmission notification program”.

  The vehicle diagnosis system described above communicates with each other between the vehicle 10 and the center 20, so that the vehicle 10 transmits warning lamp lighting information and failure information (diagnostic information) indicating the abnormality that has occurred. An abnormality notification based on the abnormality handling information is transmitted. For this reason, it is necessary to diagnose whether the communication between the vehicle 10 and the center 20 is normal at a predetermined frequency. The communication diagnosis will be described below.

  This communication diagnosis is performed by executing the “communication abnormality diagnosis program” shown in FIG. 7 at a predetermined frequency. The execution of the “communication abnormality diagnosis program” is started in step C150. In step C151, the control device 21 of the center 20 determines a predetermined command (hereinafter referred to as this command) for diagnosing the communication state. Request command) is transmitted to the vehicle 10.

  In the vehicle 10, the communication device 14 receives the request command transmitted by the transmission process of step C151 in step S150, and supplies the received request command to the navigation ECU 11. The navigation ECU 11 acquires the supplied request command and supplies the acquired request command to the gateway ECU 15. The navigation ECU 11 and the gateway ECU 15 to which the request command is supplied cooperate with each other to execute a “response command status determination routine” in step S152.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the “response command status determination routine” is started in step S200. In step S201, the navigation ECU 11 and the gateway ECU 15 respond to the request command with the ECUs 16, 17 respectively. , 18 and 19 respond normally, and it is determined whether or not a response is normally returned to the center 20. If each device and each ECU mounted on the vehicle 10 are responding normally and responding normally to the request command, the navigation ECU 11 and the gateway ECU 15 both determine “Yes” and step S202. Proceed to

  In step S202, the navigation ECU 11 and the gateway ECU 15 store status information “$ 00” in the RAM of the navigation ECU 11 indicating that each device and ECU are responding normally, that is, no abnormality has occurred, In S209, execution of the “response command status determination routine” is terminated. On the other hand, if an abnormality has occurred in each device or each ECU and the request command has not been returned normally, the navigation ECU 11 or the gateway ECU 15 both determines “No” and proceeds to step S203.

  In step S203, the navigation ECU 11 determines whether the request command has been recognized. That is, if the request command itself transmitted from the center 20 is information that cannot be recognized by the navigation ECU 11 (undefined information), the navigation ECU 11 determines “Yes” and proceeds to step S204. In step S204, the navigation ECU 11 stores status information “$ FF” indicating that the request command cannot be recognized in the RAM, and ends the “response command status determination routine” in step S209. On the other hand, if the request command is recognizable information, the navigation ECU 11 determines “Yes” and proceeds to step S205.

  In step S205, the gateway ECU 15 supplies a request command to each of the ECUs 16, 17, 18, and 19 and determines whether or not there is a response or whether or not there is a timeout even if there is a response. If there is no response from each of the ECUs 16, 17, 18, and 19 or if a time-out occurs, the gateway ECU 15 determines “Yes” and proceeds to step S206. In step S206, the gateway ECU 15 outputs status information "$ FE" indicating that an abnormality has occurred in each ECU 16, 17, 18, 19 to the navigation ECU 11, and in step S209, "response command status determination" The execution of “routine” is terminated. On the other hand, if there is a response from each ECU 16, 17, 18, 19 or if there is no timeout, the gateway ECU 15 determines “No” and proceeds to step S207.

  In step S207, the navigation ECU 11 determines whether the gateway ECU 15 is responding to the request command. That is, if the gateway ECU 15 does not exist or is not connected to the network in the vehicle 10 and does not respond to the request command, the navigation ECU 11 determines “Yes” and proceeds to step S208. In step S208, the navigation ECU 11 stores status information “$ FD” indicating that the gateway ECU 15 does not exist or is not connected in the RAM, and ends the execution of the “response command status determination routine” in step S209. To do. On the other hand, the navigation ECU 11 determines “Yes” when the gateway ECU 15 exists or is connected. In this case, since the status information is not output, the navigation ECU 11 and the gateway ECU 15 again execute the processes after step S201 and repeatedly until the status information is output.

  Returning again to the flowchart of FIG. 7, after the processing of step S <b> 151, in step S <b> 152, the navigation ECU 11 supplies the acquired status information to the communication device 14 and instructs the center 20 to transmit the status information. The communication device 14 transmits status information to the center 20 in accordance with the instruction.

  In the center 20, the control device 21 receives the status information transmitted by the transmission process of step S152 in step C152, temporarily stores it in the RAM, and proceeds to step C153. As described above, the control device 21 of the center 20 receives the status information from the vehicle 10 so as to be able to grasp whether or not an abnormality has occurred in communication. It is possible to grasp whether or not this has occurred.

  In step C153, the control device 21 determines whether or not status information “$ FE”, that is, status information indicating that an abnormality has occurred in each of the ECUs 16, 17, 18, and 19 has been received. If this status information has not been received, the control device 21 determines “No”, proceeds to step C156, and ends the execution of the “communication abnormality diagnosis program”. On the other hand, if status information “$ FE” has been received, the control device 21 determines “Yes” and proceeds to step C154.

  In step C154, the control device 21 determines which of the ECUs 16, 17, 18, and 19 has an abnormality, or a connection path between the ECUs (hereinafter, this connection path is referred to as a destination bus). In order to confirm whether or not an abnormality has occurred, the vehicle 10 is requested to transmit failure information. Here, when the failure information transmission request is made, the destination information of each ECU 16, 17, 18, 19 is added and transmitted.

  In the vehicle 10, the communication device 14 receives the failure information transmission request transmitted by the transmission processing in step C <b> 154 in step S <b> 153, and supplies it to the navigation ECU 11. The navigation ECU 11 acquires the supplied failure information transmission request and supplies it to the gateway ECU 15.

  In step S154, the gateway ECU 15 outputs a failure information output request to each of the ECUs 16, 17, 18, 19 using the destination information given to the failure information transmission request acquired in step S153. To do. If there is at least a response from each ECU 16, 17, 18, 19 in response to this output request, gateway ECU 15 determines “Yes” because the other communication to the destination bus is normal, and proceeds to step S155. . In step S155, the gateway ECU 15 outputs failure information indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the response function in each of the ECUs 16, 17, 18, 19 to the navigation ECU 11. The navigation ECU 11 acquires the output failure information and supplies the failure information to the communication device 14. The communication device 14 transmits the supplied failure information to the center 20.

  On the other hand, if there is no response from each of the ECUs 16, 17, 18, and 19 in step S154, the gateway ECU 15 determines “No” because the destination bus has an abnormality, and proceeds to step S156. In step S156, the gateway ECU 15 outputs failure information indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the destination bus to the navigation ECU 11. The navigation ECU 11 acquires the output failure information and supplies the failure information to the communication device 14. The communication device 14 transmits the supplied failure information to the center 20.

  In the center 20, the control device 21 receives the failure information transmitted in step S155 or step S156 in step C155. Thereby, the control apparatus 21 can confirm which ECU has abnormality among each ECU16,17,18,19, or whether abnormality has generate | occur | produced in the destination bus | bath between each ECU. . Then, the process proceeds to step S156, and the execution of the “communication abnormality diagnosis program” is terminated.

  Further, in the vehicle diagnostic system described above, the user can check the warning lamp lighting information and the abnormality notification transmitted from the center 20 by the display or audio output of the display device 13 mounted on the vehicle 10. In addition to this, it is also possible to check the warning lamp lighting information and the abnormality notification using the personal computer 40 or the portable information terminal device 50 that can be used by the user.

  That is, the user operates the personal computer 40 or the portable information terminal device 50 to access the center 20 via the network 60. More specifically, the user inputs the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the center 20 notified in advance, the user ID information, and the user password by using the input device of the personal computer 40 or the portable information terminal device 50. .

  Thereby, the personal computer 40 or the portable information terminal device 50 accesses the center 20 based on the input URL. When the personal computer 40 or the portable information terminal device 50 accesses in this way, the control device 21 of the center 20 authenticates the user based on the transmitted user ID information and user password. That is, the control device 21 authenticates the user by using the user information database 24 and comparing the user identification information stored in advance in the database 24 with the transmitted user ID information and user password. . And if the control apparatus 21 authenticates a user, it will transmit initial screen information with respect to the personal computer 40 or the portable information terminal device 50 which is accessing. When transmitting the initial screen information, the control device 21 transmits vehicle ID information (for example, a registration number) stored in advance in the user information database 24 in the initial screen information.

  As described above, when the initial screen information is transmitted from the center 20, the initial screen is displayed on the display device of the personal computer 40 or the portable information terminal device 50 as shown in FIG. When the user selects (clicks) the “My Car Diary” button A on this initial screen, this selection information is transmitted to the center 20. When receiving the transmitted selection information, the control device 21 of the center 20 uses the vehicle ID information, and among the history information stored in the history information database 27, the vehicle ID information that matches the vehicle ID information The history information stored in association is extracted. The control device 21 transmits the personal car diary screen information automatically created by incorporating the extracted history information into a predetermined format to the personal computer 40 or the portable information terminal device 50.

  In the personal computer 40 or the portable information terminal device 50, when the personal car diary screen information transmitted from the center 20 is received, the display screen is changed from the initial screen, and the personal car diary screen is displayed as shown in FIG. As a result, the user can use the personal computer 40 or the portable information terminal device 50 to confirm the day when the abnormality occurred in the vehicle 10, the content of the warning light lit, and the guidance thereof.

  Further, the user can acquire the store information of the store by accessing the center 20 using the personal computer 40 or the portable information terminal device 50. That is, the user can access the store information database 26 by accessing the center 20 from the personal computer 40 or the portable information terminal device 50. Thereby, the user can acquire store information, that is, business days and business hours when necessary, which is preferable.

  Moreover, since store information is acquired according to a user's operation, leakage of personal information can also be prevented. That is, for example, when the store information is unilaterally transmitted from the store, the store needs to acquire personal information such as the user's e-mail address and telephone number. Since the user and the store communicate with each other, there is no need for the store to acquire personal information. Therefore, there is no need to share personal information unnecessarily, and personal information is ensured.

  As can be understood from the above description, according to the present embodiment, the vehicle 10 transmits warning light lighting information to the center 20, so that no burden is imposed on the communication line. For this reason, the center 20 can grasp whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the vehicle 10 in real time. Therefore, an immediate response can be performed to the user. Further, after transmitting the warning light lighting information, the vehicle 10 collects and transmits failure information (diagnostic information) relating to the abnormality that has occurred. Thereby, since the center 20 can confirm the details of the abnormality in more detail, the center 20 can perform a more appropriate response to the user.

  Moreover, since the center 20 transmits an abnormality notification for the occurrence of an abnormality based on the warning lamp lighting information, the user can easily take an appropriate measure against the occurrence of the abnormality. Further, since the center 20 transmits detailed abnormality handling information for the abnormality that has occurred based on the failure information (diag information), the user can appropriately deal with the abnormality that has occurred.

  In addition, since abnormality handling information and detailed abnormality handling information are created by a person in charge at a store or the like, it is possible to include a professional opinion on the abnormality that has occurred. For this reason, the user can take a more appropriate countermeasure. In addition, since the person in charge or the like can analyze the content of the abnormality, it is possible to individually cope with the cause of the abnormality that has occurred, and this also allows the user to take a more appropriate countermeasure. Further, by transmitting failure information, that is, diagnostic information from the vehicle 10, the dealer can accurately grasp the abnormality content. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately deal with the user.

  Further, the center 20 can acquire failure information (diagnostic information) from the vehicle 10 when necessary. Further, the center 20 can transmit the acquired failure information (diagnostic information) to the vehicle store computer 30. For this reason, the center 20 can transmit detailed abnormality handling information created at the store to the user at an appropriate timing.

  Further, the vehicle 10 collects failure information (diagnostic information) when the vehicle is stopped. For this reason, in particular, there is no need to increase the burden on the ECUs 16, 17, 18, and 19 that control the functions related to the functions necessary for traveling of the vehicle 10, that is, “run, stop, and turn”. It is possible to drive the vehicle.

  In addition, when the reservation button 12b incorporated in the abnormality notification is operated by the user, the collection of failure information (diag information) can be started. For this reason, the user's intention can be directly or indirectly reflected in the determination of whether or not to transmit the failure information (diag information), which is preferable.

  Further, the history of warning lamp lighting can be confirmed using the personal computer 40 or the portable information terminal device 50. Thereby, even if the user does not get on the vehicle 10, for example, by using a mobile phone or the like, an abnormality occurring in the vehicle 10 can be confirmed. In addition, a person other than the user can check a failure occurring in the vehicle 10 using a mobile phone or the like. Thereby, for example, when the warning light 17a of the vehicle 10 is turned off immediately after being turned on, and the user does not recognize the occurrence of the abnormality, a person other than the user may notify the user of the occurrence of the abnormality. it can.

  In the above embodiment, the center 20 and the vehicle dealer computer 30 installed at the dealer communicate with each other, and send an abnormality notification to the vehicle 10 based on the abnormality handling information transmitted from the vehicle dealer computer 30. Was carried out as follows. Instead, it is also possible to create abnormality handling information at the center 20 and transmit an abnormality notification. In this case, abnormality handling information is stored in the center 20 in advance, and the control device 21 of the center 20 uses the stored abnormality handling information based on the warning lamp lighting information and the failure information (diag information). Choose appropriately. Then, the control device 21 creates an abnormality notification using the selected abnormality handling information and transmits it to the vehicle. This is also preferable because the same effect as in the above embodiment can be obtained.

1 is a schematic block diagram showing an entire vehicle 10 diagnostic system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the outline of the vehicle of FIG. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the outline of the center of FIG. It is a flowchart of the abnormality information transmission notification program executed in the vehicle, center and retailer personal computer of FIG. It is a flowchart of the abnormality notification preparation routine performed in the center of FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a failure information collection routine executed by a navigation ECU and a gateway ECU mounted on the vehicle of FIG. It is a flowchart of the communication abnormality diagnosis program performed in the vehicle and center of FIG. It is a flowchart of the response command status determination routine performed with the vehicle of FIG. (A), (b) is a figure for demonstrating the display screen of a display apparatus when abnormality generate | occur | produces in a vehicle. (A), (b), (c) is a figure for demonstrating the display screen of a display apparatus when a vehicle receives an abnormality notification. It is a figure for demonstrating the initial screen when accessing a center by the portable information terminal device of FIG. 1, or a personal computer. It is a figure for accessing a center by the portable information terminal device or personal computer of FIG. 1, and displaying the screen which displayed the warning lamp lighting history.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Vehicle, 11 ... Navigation ECU, 12 ... Input device, 13 ... Display device, 14 ... Communication device, 15 ... Gateway ECU, 16 ... Engine ECU, 17 ... Meter ECU, 17a ... Warning light, 18 ... Door ECU, 19 ... body ECU, 20 ... center, 21 ... control device, 22 ... storage device, 23 ... communication device, 24 ... user information database, 25 ... abnormality handling database, 26 ... store information database, 27 ... history information database, 30 ... Vehicle dealer computer, 40 ... personal computer, 50 ... personal digital assistant, 60 ... network, 70 ... relay station

Claims (9)

The vehicle and the center are communicably connected to each other, the vehicle transmits information about the failure of the vehicle to the center, and the center is generated in the vehicle based on the information about the failure transmitted from the vehicle. In a vehicle diagnosis method for diagnosing a malfunction that has occurred,
Vehicle
Determine whether a failure has occurred in the equipment installed in the vehicle,
If it is determined that a failure has occurred by the determination, failure information indicating that the failure has occurred is sent to the center,
The center
Receiving failure information transmitted from the vehicle,
Create failure handling information that represents the handling of the failure represented by the received failure information,
Determining whether a plurality of failure information transmitted from the vehicle has been received within a predetermined period,
If it is determined by the determination that a plurality of pieces of failure information are received within a predetermined period, the countermeasure information related to each piece of failure information received within the predetermined period is comprehensively transmitted. Vehicle diagnostic method. The center
2. The vehicle diagnosis method according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined that a plurality of pieces of failure information are received within the predetermined period, the countermeasure information related to each piece of failure information received within the predetermined period is collectively transmitted. . The vehicle and the center are communicably connected to each other, the vehicle transmits information about the failure of the vehicle to the center, and the center is generated in the vehicle based on the information about the failure transmitted from the vehicle. In a vehicle diagnosis method for diagnosing a malfunction that has occurred,
Vehicle
Determine whether a failure has occurred in the equipment installed in the vehicle,
If it is determined that a failure has occurred by the determination, failure information indicating that the failure has occurred is sent to the center,
The center
Determining whether a plurality of substantially the same failure information is received within a predetermined period from the vehicle;
If it is determined by the determination that a plurality of pieces of substantially the same failure information are received within a predetermined period, transmission of failure handling information representing handling of the failure represented by the received failure information to the vehicle is prohibited. Vehicle diagnosis method. The vehicle and the center are communicably connected to each other, the vehicle transmits information about the failure of the vehicle to the center, and the center is generated in the vehicle based on the information about the failure transmitted from the vehicle. In a vehicle diagnosis method for diagnosing a malfunction that has occurred,
Vehicle
Determine whether a failure has occurred in the equipment installed in the vehicle,
If it is determined that a failure has occurred by the determination, failure information indicating that the failure has occurred is sent to the center,
The center
Receiving failure information transmitted from the vehicle,
Create failure handling information that represents the handling of the failure represented by the received failure information,
Determining whether a plurality of pieces of failure information substantially the same as the failure information transmitted from the vehicle has been received within a predetermined period,
If it is determined by the determination that a plurality of substantially the same failure information is received within a predetermined period, the time when the previously prepared failure handling information was transmitted is confirmed,
The vehicle diagnosis method according to claim 1, wherein if the predetermined period has elapsed after the transmission of the previous troubleshooting information, the created troubleshooting information is transmitted by the confirmation. The vehicle and the center are communicably connected to each other, the vehicle transmits information on the failure of the vehicle to the center, and the center is generated in the vehicle based on the information on the failure transmitted from the vehicle. In a vehicle diagnosis system for diagnosing a malfunction,
Vehicle
A failure detection means for detecting a failure that has occurred in a device mounted on the vehicle;
Failure information output means for acquiring and outputting failure information representing a failure detected by the failure detection means;
Failure notification means for acquiring the failure information output by the failure information output means and notifying the user of the failure information;
Vehicle communication means for transmitting the failure information output by the failure information output means and the failure detailed information collected by the failure information collection means to the center and receiving information related to the failure occurring in the device from the center;
Display means for displaying information related to the failure received by the vehicle communication means;
The center
Center communication means for receiving the failure information transmitted from the vehicle and transmitting information related to the failure represented by the received failure information to the vehicle;
Based on the failure information received by the center communication means, failure content confirmation means for confirming the content of the failure,
Coping information creation means for creating coping information representing coping with the contents of the fault confirmed by the fault content confirmation means;
A reception number confirmation means for confirming the reception number of failure information received by the center communication means;
Transmission time confirmation means for confirming the transmission time of the countermeasure information created by the countermeasure information creation means;
A vehicle diagnostic system comprising storage means for accumulating and storing at least failure information of failure information or failure detailed information received by the center communication means. The vehicle failure detection means comprises:
The vehicle diagnosis system according to claim 5, wherein the vehicle diagnosis system is a warning light lighting device mounted on a vehicle. In a vehicle in which a failure that has occurred is diagnosed by transmitting predetermined information to the outside,
A failure detection means for detecting a failure that has occurred in the mounted device;
Failure information output means for acquiring and outputting failure information representing a failure detected by the failure detection means;
Failure information collection means for collecting detailed failure information representing detailed matters related to the failure detected by the failure detection means; Failure for acquiring failure information output by the failure information output means and notifying the failure information to the user Notification means;
Communication means for transmitting the failure information output by the failure information output means and the failure detailed information collected by the failure information collection means to the outside and receiving information related to the failure occurring in the device from the outside;
A vehicle comprising display means for displaying information related to a failure received by the communication means. The vehicle failure detection means comprises:
The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the vehicle is a warning light lighting device mounted on the vehicle. In the center that receives predetermined information from the vehicle and diagnoses the failure that has occurred in the vehicle,
Receiving means for receiving failure information representing a failure occurring in the vehicle from the vehicle;
Storage means for storing and storing failure information received by the receiving means;
Based on the failure information received by the receiving means, failure content confirmation means for confirming the content of the failure,
Information indicating the countermeasure against the content of the failure confirmed by the failure content confirming means, and a countermeasure information creating means for creating the countermeasure information to be provided to the vehicle;
Reception frequency confirmation means for confirming the reception frequency of failure information substantially the same as the failure information received by the reception means;
When it is confirmed by the reception number confirmation means that a plurality of the substantially same failure information has been received, is the provision time of the countermeasure information created by the countermeasure information creation means last time within a predetermined period set in advance? A provision time confirmation means to confirm whether or not,
A center comprising: a transmission means for transmitting the handling information created by the handling information creation means to the vehicle if the provision time confirmed by the provision time confirmation means is not within the predetermined period.

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