JP2006347307A - On-vehicle information terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an on-vehicle information terminal capable of attaining higher reliability than a conventional on-vehicle information terminal. <P>SOLUTION: This on-vehicle information terminal 1, equipped with a processor executing a plurality of programs, includes a flash memory 4 for storing a minimum program required to function at least the on-vehicle information terminal 1 among the plurality of programs and a hard disk 5 other programs except those stored in the flash memory 4 among the plurality of programs. Storage of the minimum program required to function the on-vehicle information terminal 1 in the flash memory 4 resistant to vibration, heat and the like enables the on-vehicle information terminal 1 to function even if the hard disk 5 is not available. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle information terminal that controls an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle.

As a conventional in-vehicle information terminal, a program is duplicated and stored in two hard disks respectively. When one hard disk fails and cannot be used, the other hard disk is used to increase reliability. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-49487 A

  However, the conventional in-vehicle information terminal stores a program in a hard disk that is vulnerable to vibration and heat, and thus has a problem that reliability cannot be sufficiently improved.

  The present invention has been made to solve the conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle information terminal that can be more reliable than a conventional in-vehicle information terminal.

  The in-vehicle information terminal according to the present invention is a non-volatile storage that stores at least a minimum program necessary for causing the in-vehicle information terminal to function among the plurality of programs in the in-vehicle information terminal including a processor that executes the plurality of programs. And a hard disk for storing other programs excluding those stored in the nonvolatile memory among the plurality of programs.

  With this configuration, the in-vehicle information terminal according to the present invention can be used when the hard disk cannot be used by storing the minimum program necessary for causing the in-vehicle information terminal to function in a nonvolatile memory that is resistant to vibration and heat. Even if it exists, since it functions, reliability can be improved rather than the conventional vehicle-mounted information terminal.

  The processor determines whether the ambient temperature is within the guaranteed operating temperature range of the hard disk, whether commands can be exchanged with the hard disk, and whether data can be read from the hard disk. It may be determined whether or not the hard disk is available based on at least one condition.

  With this configuration, the in-vehicle information terminal of the present invention can determine whether or not the hard disk can be used before accessing the hard disk.

  Further, the nonvolatile memory further stores a small-capacity program whose capacity is suppressed with respect to at least one program stored in the hard disk, and the processor, when the hard disk is available, When the program is executed and the hard disk is not available, the small-capacity program corresponding to the program may be executed.

  With this configuration, the in-vehicle information terminal of the present invention can cause the processor to execute more programs while reducing the storage capacity required for the nonvolatile memory even when the hard disk cannot be used.

  Here, the small-capacity program may include a program in which the corresponding program is compressed, or may include a program in which the color depth of the image information included in the corresponding program is limited.

  Further, the processor may duplicate each setting information of the plurality of programs and store them in the hard disk and the nonvolatile memory, respectively.

  With this configuration, the in-vehicle information terminal of the present invention stores the program setting information in the nonvolatile memory together with the hard disk, thereby preventing the program setting information from being lost when the hard disk becomes unavailable. Can do.

  Further, each time the processor changes the setting information, the processor updates the setting information stored in the hard disk, and the setting information stored in the non-volatile memory is updated before the in-vehicle information terminal stops. You may make it update.

  With this configuration, the in-vehicle information terminal of the present invention can reduce the number of times data is written to the nonvolatile memory having a limited number of times of writing, and can extend the life of the nonvolatile memory.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can provide an in-vehicle information terminal having an effect that the reliability can be improved as compared with the conventional in-vehicle information terminal.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which a CPU (Central Processing Unit) is used as a processor constituting the in-vehicle information terminal according to the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 shows an in-vehicle information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The in-vehicle information terminal 1 includes a CPU 2, an SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) 3, a flash memory 4 that is a nonvolatile memory, a hard disk 5, and a drawing LSI (Large Scale Integration) 6. Connected to the display 7.

  The CPU 2 reads the program stored in the flash memory 4 and the hard disk 5 into the SDRAM 3 and executes the program read into the SDRAM 3, thereby performing display control on the display 7, etc. It is designed to control the equipment.

  FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram for explaining programs and data stored in the SDRAM 3, the flash memory 4 and the hard disk 5.

  The flash memory 4 stores at least a minimum program (hereinafter simply referred to as “essential program”) necessary for causing the in-vehicle information terminal 1 to function.

  Here, the essential programs include a boot loader, an OS (Operating System), and main application programs (hereinafter simply referred to as “main programs”).

  Further, the main program includes a device driver and a vehicle control program that are executed when the CPU 2 controls each in-vehicle device such as display control for the display 7.

  Here, the vehicle control program includes a lighting management function of each light such as a headlight and a room light, a door mirror position setting function, a vehicle speed sensitive automatic door lock function, an easy entry function, a rear window blind management function, and a trunk opening. Includes a program for causing the CPU 2 to realize an angle limiting function, a towing prevention alarm management function, an air conditioner adjustment function, a seat position and posture change function, and the like. The easy entry function refers to a function that adjusts the position and posture of the steering wheel and seat when the driver sits on the seat.

  The hard disk 5 includes a navigation program for causing the CPU 2 to execute a navigation function, map data referred to by the CPU 2 executing the navigation program, a communication program for performing communication via the Internet, and the like. It stores programs and data that can be executed only when they are available.

  Here, programs that can be executed only when the hard disk 5 can be used, except for those stored in the flash memory 4, such as navigation programs and communication programs, are collectively referred to as “HD use option programs”.

  The hard disk 5 stores programs that can be executed even when the hard disk 5 cannot be used, such as a mailer program for sending and receiving mail via the Internet and a user interface program.

  Here, programs that can be executed even when the hard disk 5 cannot be used, except for those stored in the flash memory 4, such as mailer programs and user interface programs, are collectively referred to as “HD unnecessary option programs”. That's it. In addition, the HD use option program and the HD unnecessary option program are hereinafter collectively referred to as “option program”.

  On the other hand, the flash memory 4 stores a “small capacity program” in which the capacity of each HD unnecessary option program is suppressed.

  Here, the small-capacity program may include a compressed HD unnecessary option program, or may include a limited color depth of image information included in the HD unnecessary option program.

  Further, in the flash memory 4 and the hard disk 5, information set by the CPU 2 executing each program described above and setting information including information necessary for the CPU 2 to execute each program are duplicated and stored. Has been.

  The operation of the in-vehicle information terminal 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 are flowcharts for explaining the activation operation of the in-vehicle information terminal 1.

  In FIG. 3, first, when the in-vehicle information terminal 1 is activated by turning on the accessory power supply (S1), the CPU 2 activates the boot loader stored in the flash memory 4 (S2).

  The CPU 2 executing the boot loader determines whether or not the hard disk 5 is usable (S3). Here, the CPU 2 determines whether or not the ambient temperature measured by a temperature sensor (not shown) provided in the vehicle is within the operation guaranteed temperature range of the hard disk 5 and whether or not commands can be exchanged with the hard disk 5. Then, it is determined whether or not the hard disk 5 is usable based on at least one of the conditions on whether or not data can be read from the hard disk 5.

  Next, when determining that the hard disk 5 is usable, the CPU 2 sets the HD valid flag indicating whether the hard disk 5 is usable or not and stores it in the SDRAM 3 (S4). On the other hand, when determining that the hard disk 5 is not usable, the CPU 2 sets the HD valid flag to OFF and stores it in the SDRAM 3 (S5).

  Next, the CPU 2 reads the OS stored in the flash memory 4 into the SDRAM 3 and activates the OS read into the SDRAM 3 (S6). Here, the CPU 2 that executes the OS reads each main program stored in the flash memory 4 into the SDRAM 3 and activates each main program read into the SDRAM 3 (S7).

  In FIG. 4, when the HD valid flag is set to ON (S8), the CPU 2 that executes the OS indicates whether or not the hard disk 5 was available when the in-vehicle information terminal 1 was last activated. The HD previous valid flag is read from the flash memory 4.

  When the HD previous valid flag is set to OFF (S9), the CPU 2 copies the setting information stored in the flash memory 4 to the hard disk 5 (S10), and the HD previous valid stored in the flash memory 4 is stored. The flag is set to ON (S11).

  When the HD previous valid flag is set to ON (S9) or after the CPU 2 sets the HD previous valid flag to ON (S11), the CPU 2 sets the hard disk before the start of each program is completed. The setting information stored in 5 is read into the SDRAM 3 (S12).

  Next, the CPU 2 reads each option program stored in the hard disk 5 into the SDRAM 3 and activates each option program read into the SDRAM 3 (S13).

  On the other hand, when the hard disk 5 is not usable, that is, when the HD valid flag is set to OFF (S8), the CPU 2 stores the program in the flash memory 4 prior to completion of the activation of each program. The set information is read into the SDRAM 3 (S14).

  Next, the CPU 2 reads each small capacity program stored in the hard disk 5 into the SDRAM 3 and activates each small capacity program read into the SDRAM 3 (S15).

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the setting information storage operation for each program when the hard disk 5 is available.

  First, every time the setting information is changed (S21), the CPU 2 that executes the program updates the setting information stored in the hard disk 5 (S22).

  Here, when the operation of the in-vehicle information terminal 1 is instructed by turning off the accessory power source (S23), the CPU 2 copies the setting information stored in the hard disk 5 to the flash memory 4 (S24).

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the setting information storage operation of each program when the hard disk 5 is not available.

  When the operation stop of the in-vehicle information terminal 1 is instructed by turning off the accessory power source (S31), the CPU 2 stores the setting information changed from the time of activation to the present in the flash memory 4. The set information thus updated is updated (S32), and the HD previous valid flag stored in the flash memory 4 is set to OFF (S33).

  As described above, when the hard disk 5 is not available, the in-vehicle information terminal 1 does not update the setting information stored in the flash memory 4 every time the setting information is changed, and starts up until it stops. By updating the setting information stored in the flash memory 4 at once with the changed setting information, the number of data writes to the flash memory 4 with a limited number of writes can be reduced.

  Such an in-vehicle information terminal 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention stores a minimum program necessary for causing the in-vehicle information terminal 1 to function in the flash memory 4 resistant to vibration, heat, etc. Since it functions even when it becomes unavailable, reliability can be improved compared to conventional in-vehicle information terminals.

  In the present embodiment, the flash memory 4 has been described as storing an essential program and a small-capacity program. However, in the present invention, music stored in a hands-free function of a mobile phone or a CD (Compact Disc) is reproduced. A small-capacity program for causing the CPU 2 to execute functions and the like may be further stored according to the storage capacity of the flash memory 4.

  In the present embodiment, the description of the storage destination of the accompanying information accompanying each program such as a library or data is omitted, but the storage destination of the accompanying information is the same as the storage destination of each program described above. It is determined depending on whether or not each accompanying information is the minimum necessary to make the in-vehicle information terminal function, whether or not it is a capacity that can be stored in the flash memory 4, and the like.

  As described above, the in-vehicle information terminal according to the present invention has an effect that the reliability can be improved as compared with the conventional in-vehicle information terminal. For example, as the in-vehicle information terminal that controls the in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle. Useful.

The block diagram of the vehicle-mounted information terminal in one embodiment of this invention The conceptual diagram for demonstrating the program and data which are memorize | stored in SDRAM, a hard disk, and flash memory which comprise the vehicle-mounted information terminal in one embodiment of this invention The flowchart for demonstrating the starting operation | movement of the vehicle-mounted information terminal in one embodiment of this invention Flow diagram following FIG. The flowchart for demonstrating the 1st setting information storage operation | movement of the vehicle-mounted information terminal in one embodiment of this invention The flowchart for demonstrating the 2nd setting information storage operation | movement of the vehicle-mounted information terminal in one embodiment of this invention

Explanation of symbols

1 In-vehicle information terminal 2 CPU
3 SDRAM
4 Flash memory 5 Hard disk 6 Drawing LSI
7 Display

Claims (7)

In an in-vehicle information terminal equipped with a processor that executes a plurality of programs,
A non-volatile memory for storing at least a minimum program necessary for causing the in-vehicle information terminal to function among the plurality of programs;
An in-vehicle information terminal comprising: a hard disk for storing other programs of the plurality of programs excluding those stored in the nonvolatile memory. The processor includes: whether or not the ambient temperature is within the guaranteed operating temperature range of the hard disk, whether or not commands can be exchanged with the hard disk, and whether or not data can be read from the hard disk. The in-vehicle information terminal according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether or not the hard disk is usable based on at least one condition. The nonvolatile memory further stores a small-capacity program whose capacity is suppressed with respect to at least one program stored in the hard disk,
The processor executes the program stored in the hard disk when the hard disk is available, and executes the small capacity program corresponding to the program when the hard disk is not available. The in-vehicle information terminal according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the above-mentioned. The in-vehicle information terminal according to claim 3, wherein the small-capacity program includes a compressed corresponding program. The in-vehicle information terminal according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the small-capacity program includes a program in which a color depth of image information included in the corresponding program is limited. The in-vehicle information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the processor stores each setting information of the plurality of programs in a duplicated manner in the hard disk and the nonvolatile memory, respectively. The processor updates the setting information stored in the hard disk every time the setting information is changed, and updates the setting information stored in the non-volatile memory before the in-vehicle information terminal stops. The in-vehicle information terminal according to claim 6.

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