JP2007015505A - Device and system vehicle remote operation - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device and a system for vehicle remote operation capable of achieving remote operation in accordance with respective vehicle equipment. <P>SOLUTION: This vehicle remote operation system, capable of making a vehicle perform requested operations in accordance with a remote operation request from a vehicle user, includes: an operation performing means which on-vehicle equipment installed on each of vehicles performs vehicle operations in accordance with operation commands from the remote operation device; a monitor for monitoring the mounting and demounting of the on-vehicle equipment such as so-called options; a transmitter for transmitting monitoring results by the monitor to the remote operation device on a regular basis; and a presentation means for presenting the latest operational items of the vehicle to the vehicle user on the basis of the monitoring results by the monitor which the remote operation device receives from the transmitter. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention generally relates to a vehicle remote operation device that causes a vehicle to perform a requested operation in response to a remote operation request from a vehicle user, and more particularly to a vehicle remote operation that realizes a remote operation according to the equipment of each individual vehicle. The present invention relates to an apparatus and a system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an apparatus (center) or system that causes a vehicle to execute an operation requested in response to a remote operation request from a vehicle user is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

The apparatus / system disclosed in Patent Literature 1 allows a user to remotely perform vehicle operations such as closing a window and turning off a hazard lamp using a mobile phone.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-86418

  By the way, about so-called optional devices (such as sunroofs, navigation systems, horns (which differ in tone from normal ones), etc.) that can be selectively installed by vehicle users, such as manufacturer options and dealer options, The equipment can be different for each individual vehicle even if it is the same model / model.

  Unless the vehicle remote control device (center) knows what optional devices are installed in each vehicle, the optional devices cannot be remotely operated.

  For example, if the remote operation target vehicle is equipped with a sunroof but the center does not know that, the center cannot include, for example, a sunroof opening / closing operation in the remote operation menu presented to the vehicle user. Even though the vehicle has a sunroof, the vehicle user cannot remotely operate the sunroof.

  On the contrary, if the remote operation menu including operations of all optional devices that the center can conceivably present to any vehicle user, each vehicle user cannot actually operate because the vehicle is not actually equipped. Even the operation menu for the device can be presented, which is confusing.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and a main object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle remote control device and system that realizes remote control according to the equipment of each vehicle.

  In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention is a vehicle remote control device that causes a vehicle to execute an operation requested in response to a remote operation request from a vehicle user, and mounting and dismounting an in-vehicle device in the vehicle. This is a vehicle remote control device having monitoring means for monitoring and presenting means for presenting the latest operation items that can be operated on the vehicle to the vehicle user based on a monitoring result by the monitoring means.

  In this first aspect, the in-vehicle device whose attachment / detachment is monitored by the monitoring means is, for example, a so-called optional device that can be attached (or removed in some cases) at the request of the vehicle user.

  According to this first aspect, even if an in-vehicle device is newly attached to or removed from the remote operation target vehicle, the vehicle remote operation device can always grasp the latest in-vehicle equipment. The vehicle-mounted device attached to the vehicle can be quickly remote-controlled, and the vehicle-mounted device removed from the vehicle is not presented to the vehicle user as an operation item that can be remotely operated.

  In this first aspect, the vehicle remote control device detects a failure of the vehicle-mounted device in the vehicle from the viewpoint of prompting the vehicle user to repair the vehicle-mounted device that has not been removed but cannot be remotely operated. It is preferable that the presenting means presents to the vehicle user information related to the failure of the in-vehicle device detected by the detecting means, together with the latest operation items operable in the vehicle.

  In order to achieve the above object, a second aspect of the present invention is a vehicle remote operation system that causes a vehicle to perform an operation requested in response to a remote operation request from a vehicle user, the vehicle having an in-vehicle device. The vehicle-mounted device includes an operation execution means for executing the operation of the vehicle in accordance with an operation command from the vehicle remote control device, a monitoring means for monitoring attachment / detachment of the on-vehicle equipment in the vehicle, and a monitoring result by the monitoring means. Transmitting means for transmitting to the vehicle remote control device (for example, periodically), and the vehicle remote control device transmits the vehicle to the vehicle user based on the monitoring result received from the transmission means by the monitoring means. It is a vehicle remote control system which has a presentation means which presents the latest operation item which can be operated in.

  In this second aspect, the in-vehicle device whose attachment / detachment is monitored by the monitoring means is, for example, a so-called optional device that can be attached (or removed in some cases) at the request of the vehicle user.

  According to this second aspect, even if an in-vehicle device is newly attached to or removed from the remotely operated vehicle, the vehicle remote control device can always grasp the latest in-vehicle equipment. The vehicle-mounted device attached to the vehicle can be quickly remote-controlled, and the vehicle-mounted device removed from the vehicle is not presented to the vehicle user as an operation item that can be remotely operated.

  In this second aspect, from the viewpoint of prompting the vehicle user to repair an in-vehicle device that is not removed but cannot be remotely operated, the in-vehicle device detects that the in-vehicle device has failed in the vehicle. Means for transmitting the information on the failure of the in-vehicle device detected by the detecting means to the vehicle remote control device together with the monitoring result, and the presenting means can be operated in the vehicle. It is preferable to present the vehicle user with information on the failure of the in-vehicle device detected by the detection means together with the latest operation items.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the vehicle remote control apparatus and system which implement | achieve remote control according to the equipment of each vehicle can be provided.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The basic concept of the vehicle remote control system, the main hardware configuration, the operating principle, the basic control method, and the like are known to those skilled in the art and will not be described in detail.

  Hereinafter, a vehicle remote control system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the vehicle remote control system 100 according to the present embodiment, the center (vehicle remote control device) appropriately grasps the optional equipment installation status of each vehicle that is the target of remote control, so that the remote control for the optional equipment is appropriately performed. It is something that can be executed.

  First, the outline of the whole system is demonstrated using FIG. 1 about the vehicle remote control which concerns on a present Example.

  A vehicle remote control system 100 according to the present embodiment includes an in-vehicle device 102 mounted on a vehicle 101 to be remotely operated, and a communication station managed and operated by, for example, a vehicle manufacturer, an automobile retail store, or a specialist. And a user communication terminal 104 held by a vehicle user (owner).

  The vehicle user causes the vehicle 101 to execute a predetermined operation through the center 103 using the communication terminal 104. In principle, this remote operation is not allowed unless the vehicle 101 is in an ignition-off state.

  The in-vehicle device 102 of the vehicle 101 that is the target of remote operation periodically notifies the center 103 of the optional equipment installed in the vehicle 101.

  Receiving the notification, the center 103 stores and updates the optional equipment equipment status of each vehicle 101.

  The vehicle user can transmit a remote operation command to the center 103 using the communication terminal 104. This is performed on the Web page after accessing the Web page provided by the center 103 using the user communication terminal 104 and performing user authentication.

  When the center 103 receives a remote operation request from the vehicle user, the center 103 instructs the vehicle 101 to execute the operation. The vehicle 101 that has received the instruction automatically executes the operation.

  When the operation is completed, the vehicle 101 reports to the center 103 to that effect. When the center 103 receives a report of the operation completion from the vehicle 101, the center 103 sends a notification to the vehicle user's communication terminal 104 that the remote operation is completed in the form of an e-mail.

  Hereinafter, the configuration and processing flow of the vehicle remote control system according to the present embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the in-vehicle device 102 mounted on each vehicle 101 in the information providing system 100 according to the present embodiment.

  The in-vehicle device 102 includes a wireless communication device 201 for communicating with the center 103, and a control master ECU 202 that controls various in-vehicle devices in accordance with control commands received from the center 103 through the wireless communication device 201.

  The control master ECU 202 is connected to various in-vehicle equipment ECUs (controlled ECUs) 203 including optional devices via an in-vehicle LAN 204. The control master ECU 202 may be a dedicated one, or may be shared with an ECU of another in-vehicle system (for example, an ECU of a navigation system).

  When an operation command is received from the center 103 by the wireless communication device 201, the control master ECU 202 controls one or more ECUs 203 corresponding to the operation to execute the operation.

  In addition, the control master ECU 202 monitors, for example, a known polling method, in particular, whether the ECU 203 of various optional devices is physically connected to the in-vehicle LAN 204, and always grasps the status of optional device installation of the vehicle 101. Suppose you are.

  In other words, when a new optional device is attached to the vehicle 101, the control master ECU 202 confirms that the optional device is newly attached to the vehicle 101 by connecting the ECU 203 of the optional device to the in-vehicle LAN 204. In contrast, when the ECU 203 of an optional device disappears from the in-vehicle LAN 204, the optional device recognizes that the vehicle 101 has been removed.

  The control master ECU 202 grasps the installation status of the optional equipment that may vary depending on the vehicle from the connection status of the ECU 203, and the optional equipment installation status together with the vehicle ID (for example, the vehicle number or the equipment ID of the wireless communication device 201). Reports to the center 103 periodically through the wireless communication apparatus 201. By adopting a mechanism for periodically transmitting from the in-vehicle device 102 to the center 103, a mechanism for making an inquiry from the center 103 to the in-vehicle device 102 becomes unnecessary.

  In addition, if the optional equipment installation status is reported using dedicated frame bits, the system can be standardized and can be easily applied to various types of vehicles.

  Furthermore, the control master ECU 202 may store and hold the same optional device equipment status information transmitted to the center 103 itself.

  With such a mechanism, the center 103 can quickly grasp the latest optional equipment installation status of the vehicle 101.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the center (vehicle remote operation device) 103 that causes the vehicle 101 (the in-vehicle device 102) to execute the requested operation in response to a request from the vehicle user.

  The center 103 includes a transmission / reception unit 301 for transmitting / receiving information to / from the in-vehicle device 102 and a control unit 302 for controlling each unit of the center 103.

  The center 102 further includes a storage unit 303 that can store and hold predetermined data in the form of a database. The storage unit 303 may be an arbitrary storage medium. It is assumed that data related to the on-vehicle device type for each vehicle type / vehicle type is registered in advance in the storage unit 303 from the vehicle manufacturer or vehicle dealer. Further, in the storage unit 303, for each individual vehicle, the presence / absence / type of a manufacturer option installed from a vehicle manufacturer and / or the presence / absence / type of a dealer option installed from a vehicle dealer are registered in advance. It is assumed that At this time, if the option device ID is made common among vehicle manufacturers, the same mechanism can be easily shared by a plurality of vehicle manufacturers.

  The center 103 further includes an Internet server function unit 304 that can provide a web page accessible by a vehicle user using the communication terminal 104 and can transmit an e-mail to the user communication terminal 104.

  When the transmission / reception unit 301 receives the optional equipment installation status from the in-vehicle device 102 of each vehicle 101, the control unit 302 stores the information in the storage unit 303 in association with the ID of the transmission source vehicle 101. If there is old data, it is updated with the latest data.

  As a result, the storage unit 303 stores and holds information on the latest optional equipment installation status of each vehicle 101 (what optional equipment is installed in which vehicle).

  When receiving a request for remote operation of the vehicle 101 through the communication terminal 104 from the vehicle user, the Internet server function unit 304 accesses the storage unit 303 and refers to the optional device installed in the vehicle 101. Then, in addition to standard remote operation items such as door lock and window glass opening / closing, operation items related to operation of optional equipment installed in the vehicle 101 are presented to the vehicle user as operable items.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the user communication terminal 104 used by the vehicle user to perform remote operation. In this embodiment, the user communication terminal 104 is, for example, a mobile phone that can be connected to the Internet. Alternatively, as an alternative, it may be a computer terminal such as a PDA or notebook PC, or a fixed terminal such as a desktop PC.

  The user communication terminal 104 receives an e-mail from the Internet server function unit 304 of the center 103, and connects the Internet connection unit 401 for accessing a Web page provided by the Internet server function unit 304 and each unit of the user communication terminal 104. And a control unit 402 for controlling.

  The user communication terminal 104 further includes a user input unit 403 for the vehicle user to input an arbitrary character string to the communication terminal 104 and to select / determine menu items.

  The user communication terminal 104 further includes a display unit 404 that visually presents the received e-mail and the accessed web page to the user. In the present embodiment, the display unit 404 includes, for example, a small LCD (liquid crystal display). Alternatively, as an alternative example, the user input unit 403 and the display unit 404 may be integrated and realized as a touch panel.

  Next, the flow of processing of the vehicle remote control system in the present embodiment in which each device has such a configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of processing of the remote control system according to the present embodiment.

  The in-vehicle device 102 of the remote operation target vehicle 101 periodically reports to the center 103 about the optional equipment equipment status of the host vehicle (S501).

  On the center 103 side, when the optional equipment installation status is received from the vehicle 101, the information is written in the storage unit 303 and the database is updated (S502). At this time, if the center 103 is information indicating that the optional device having the optional device information from the vehicle 101 has been removed, whether the optional device is really removed from the in-vehicle device 102 or the optional device is faulty. It is preferable to query whether a physical connection has occurred but has occurred.

  In this case, the in-vehicle device 102 that has received the inquiry determines whether it is a failure or removal by, for example, inquiring the past operation history of the target option device from the control master ECU of the body-based in-vehicle LAN. Report to 103.

  Transmission of option device information from the vehicle 101 to the center 103 is periodically performed thereafter, and the database of the center 103 is kept up-to-date.

  In this way, in the state where the center 103 knows the latest optional equipment installation status of each vehicle 101, the vehicle user provides a Web for remote operation request provided by the Internet server function unit 304 of the center 103 from the communication terminal 104. When the page is accessed (S503), the Internet server function unit 304 detects a vehicle-mounted device that can be operated in the target vehicle 101 from the database stored and held in the storage unit 303, and can perform remote operation that can be performed on the vehicle 101 Items are presented to the vehicle user without excess or deficiency (S504).

  Examples of such Web page display screens are shown in FIGS. Here, as an example, it is assumed that a sunroof is mounted as an optional device in the remotely operated vehicle 101. FIG. 6 shows an example of the case where this sunroof device is operating normally. In addition to the standard operation item of “opening the window glass” (that is, common to all vehicles), The operation item according to the optional equipment installation status of the vehicle 101 is also presented as “open”. The execution button is always displayed regardless of the scroll position, and the vehicle user selects any desired operation and presses (selects / clicks) the execution button, whereby the selected operation item is sent to the center 103. Can be requested.

  7 and 8 are display examples when it is determined that the installed optional device has failed. Viewpoint that it is preferable not only to make the item non-displayed but not remotely controlled for optional equipment that has not been removed from the vehicle 101 but cannot be remotely operated, and that it is preferable to prompt repair. As shown in FIG. 7, a failure information column is provided separately from the operable items to explicitly notify the vehicle user, or the item display is reversed so that it cannot be selected as shown in FIG. 8. In this way, the vehicle user is notified implicitly.

  When the operation item is selected by the vehicle user who desires remote operation in this way and the execution of the operation is requested (S505), the center 103 uses the transmission / reception unit 301 to transmit the vehicle 101 (the in-vehicle device 102). An operation command is transmitted to (S506).

  Next, when the operation command is received on the vehicle 101 side, the control master ECU 202 instructs the corresponding ECU 204 to execute the operation (S507).

  When the operation is completed, the control master ECU 202 transmits an operation completion notification to the center 103 through the wireless communication device 201 (S508).

  Next, on the center 103 side, when the operation completion notification from the vehicle 101 is received by the transmission / reception unit 301, the control unit 302 instructs the Internet server function unit 304 to complete the remote operation requested by the vehicle user. A completion notification mail for informing the user is generated and transmitted to the user communication terminal 104 (S509).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the latest optional equipment installation status is constantly uploaded from the vehicle 101 to the center 103, and the center 103 knows what optional equipment each vehicle 101 is equipped with. Therefore, the center 103 can present the operation items that can be remotely operated including the optional devices to the vehicle user who intends to perform the remote operation without any deficiency. Appropriate remote control according to the situation is realized.

  The present invention can be used for a vehicle remote control system. The appearance, weight, size, running performance, etc. of the vehicle to be remotely operated are not questioned.

1 is a schematic view of an entire vehicle remote control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the vehicle-mounted apparatus which concerns on one Example of this invention mounted in the vehicle for remote operation. It is a schematic block diagram of the center (vehicle remote control apparatus) which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the communication terminal which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the flow of a process in the vehicle remote control system which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen display of the web page for remote control requests concerning one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows another example of the screen display of the web page for remote operation requests concerning one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows another example of the screen display of the web page for remote operation requests concerning one Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Vehicle remote control system 101 Vehicle 102 In-vehicle apparatus 103 Center (communication station)
104 User communication terminal 201 Wireless communication device 202 Control master ECU
203 Controlled ECU
204 In-vehicle LAN
301 Transmission / Reception Unit 302 Control Unit 303 Storage Unit 304 Internet Server Function Unit 401 Internet Connection Unit 402 Control Unit 403 User Input Unit 404 Display Unit

Claims (7)

A vehicle remote control device that causes a vehicle to execute a requested operation in response to a remote operation request from a vehicle user,
Monitoring means for monitoring attachment and detachment of the in-vehicle device in the vehicle;
A vehicle remote control device comprising: presenting means for presenting the latest operation items that can be operated on the vehicle to the vehicle user based on a monitoring result by the monitoring means. The vehicle remote control device according to claim 1,
A vehicle remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the in-vehicle device is an optional device. The vehicle remote control device according to claim 1 or 2,
It further comprises detection means for detecting a failure of the in-vehicle device in the vehicle,
The presenting means presents, to the vehicle user, information related to the failure of the in-vehicle device detected by the detecting means together with the latest operation item operable in the vehicle. A vehicle remote operation system for causing a vehicle to execute an operation requested in response to a remote operation request from a vehicle user,
The vehicle has an in-vehicle device,
The in-vehicle device is
Operation execution means for executing the operation of the vehicle according to an operation command from the vehicle remote control device;
Monitoring means for monitoring attachment and detachment of the in-vehicle device in the vehicle;
Transmission means for transmitting the monitoring result by the monitoring means to the vehicle remote control device,
The vehicle remote control device is:
A vehicle remote control system comprising: a presenting unit that presents the latest operation items that can be operated on the vehicle to the vehicle user based on a monitoring result received by the monitoring unit from the transmission unit. The vehicle remote control system according to claim 4,
The vehicle remote operation system, wherein the transmission means periodically transmits the monitoring result to the vehicle remote operation device. The vehicle remote control system according to claim 4 or 5,
A vehicle remote control system, wherein the in-vehicle device is an optional device. The vehicle remote control system according to any one of claims 4 to 6,
The in-vehicle device further includes a detecting means for detecting a failure of the in-vehicle device in the vehicle,
The transmission means transmits information related to the failure of the in-vehicle device detected by the detection means together with the monitoring result to the vehicle remote control device,
The presenting means presents, to the vehicle user, information related to the failure of the in-vehicle device detected by the detecting means, together with the latest operation items operable in the vehicle.

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