JP3636668B2 - Application service providing method for vehicle and portal server thereof - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an application service providing method for a vehicle and a portal server for the same, which can use an application service on a network from inside the vehicle even when the vehicle is running without guaranteeing the line state by applying an agent to the vehicle. .
[0002]
[Prior art]
With the rapid increase in the Internet population, the number of providers providing such services has also increased, and users can now obtain the necessary information immediately.
Recently, ASPs (Application Service Providers) that provide various applications as services on the Internet have attracted attention, and it is possible to enjoy all work or information with just a web browser without installing software on the client. It was. In the future, all applications tend to move to services on the Internet.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, with the advancement of electronics of vehicles such as car navigation, the application on the network could not be used in a vehicle where the line quality is not guaranteed during traveling. Therefore, as a matter of course, it has not been possible to monitor the state of the vehicle over the network or provide an information service for individuals targeting in-vehicle users. For the same reason, information sharing between vehicles and information transmission / reception were impossible.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is equipped with an in-vehicle computer or a portable terminal or a portable information terminal that can be connected to a vehicle via a network, and by introducing an agent system, the line state is guaranteed. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a vehicle application service providing method and its portal server that can realize a personal portal for users in the vehicle even in a running car and can use applications on the network. To do.
In addition, a vehicle application service providing method that aggregates running vehicles into a set of units determined by arbitrary conditions and enables mutual information transmission / reception and information sharing to drivers in the set, and its Another object is to provide a portal server.
[0021]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and the invention according to claim 1 is a plurality of vehicles assembled into a set of units determined in advance according to an arbitrary condition. Used in a vehicle application service providing system comprising a plurality of vehicles capable of wireless communication with a computer, a portable terminal or a portable information terminal, and a portal server connected to the plurality of vehicles via a wireless network. User interface means for periodically acquiring and storing user information including position information of the vehicle via the in-vehicle computer, the portable terminal or the portable information terminal of the assembled vehicle, the portal server And receives a request from one of the plurality of vehicles and stores the request in the user interface means. An agent execution management means for determining a destination vehicle of the agent based on the user information and sending the agent to the vehicle; and a server interface means for receiving a processing result by the agent. It is a portal server that provides information services for vehicles.
Further, the invention described in claim 2 is a method for providing an application service for a vehicle of the portal server, the invention of claim 3 is a program of a computer constituting the portal server, and the invention of claim 4 records the program. The computer-readable recording medium.
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram cited for explaining a service model for realizing the application service providing method for a vehicle in the present invention.
[0023]
In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes an in-vehicle computer or an in-vehicle system on which a portable terminal or a portable information terminal is mounted. Specifically, a network communication function and sensors arranged in each part of the vehicle, or a GPS (Global Positioning System) : Global positioning system), a computer system with vehicle position information monitoring function and client agent function.
Here, the network communication function refers to a function for transmitting / receiving data to / from a portal site via a network, and the vehicle position information monitoring function refers to a function for providing vehicle current position information using GPS information. The client agent function refers to a function for transmitting user request information and various vehicle information to the portal server 20 via the networks 40 and 50.
The in-vehicle system 10 is assembled into a set of units determined in advance according to an arbitrary condition, and mutual information transmission / reception and information sharing are possible with respect to drivers in the set.
[0024]
Reference numeral 20 denotes a server computer (hereinafter referred to as portal server 20) possessed by a personal portal site targeting in-vehicle users, and provides a service in which services of a plurality of ASPs 30 described later are integrated. The portal server 20 first accepts an access from the user via the in-vehicle system 10, generates a service menu corresponding to the user information, and presents the service menu.
Reference numeral 30 denotes a server computer (hereinafter referred to as an ASP server) possessed by a plurality of ASP providers that provide users with various services such as music distribution services, various reservation services, payment services, and traffic information services. The in-vehicle system 10 and the portal server 20 are connected via a wireless local area network (LAN) 40, and the portal server 20 and the ASP server 30 are connected via the Internet 50.
[0025]
In the connection form described above, the in-vehicle system 10 logs in to the personal dedicated portal site (portal server 20) of the authenticated user via the network 40, and a general portal or contract set in advance in the personal dedicated portal site. A combination of ASP30 (music distribution company, restaurant, settlement organization, traffic information, etc. information provider) is used to construct an optimum use environment for the user. With this system, the service provider can always provide a service with confirmation of the identity of the person.
[0026]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the function of the internal configuration of the portal server 20 shown in FIG.
Each block shown below is specifically composed of a peripheral LSI including a CPU and a memory, and the functions of the block are realized by the CPU sequentially reading and executing a program recorded in the memory.
The portal server 20 includes a portal function unit 201, an engine control unit 202, a message reception unit 203, a server agent function unit 204, and a database (DB) 205.
[0027]
The portal function unit 201 receives a request from the user, starts agent processing, and exchanges information with the user. The engine control unit 202 accumulates user information, preference information, service history, and the like in the database 205 and has a function of supporting customized service provision for each user. Here, the portal function unit 201, the engine control unit 202, and the database 205 are integrated to serve as user interface means.
The message receiving unit 203 has a function of starting a specific process via an agent based on an event (message) from the ASP server 30.
The server agent function unit 204 has a function of receiving a request from a user and performing actual processing on behalf of the user. The server agent function unit 204 further includes an agent activation unit 241 and an agent transfer unit 242. The agent activation unit 241 has a function of activating an agent according to a scenario defined by user information, and the agent transfer unit 242 searches for a service on the network in order to determine the destination of the agent, A function of sending the agent to the application server.
Here, the message receiving unit 203 is a server interface unit, and the server agent function unit 204 is an agent execution management unit.
[0028]
The portal server 20 according to the present invention includes an application service provided by an ASP triggered by a user action, an ASP delivering only necessary information using user information, and peer-to-peer (between users). ) Realizes three types of information transmission / reception or information sharing.
Hereinafter, these three modes of implementation will be described with reference to the respective event flows shown in FIGS.
[0029]
FIG. 3 exemplifies a service for distributing music as BGM while the vehicle is running in response to a user action, and shows respective processing sequences in the in-vehicle system 10, the portal server 20, and the ASP server 30 (music distribution). Yes.
[0030]
In FIG. 3, the user first accesses the in-vehicle system 10, and the in-vehicle system 10 that has received this requests the portal server 20 for a service (step S31). The portal server 20 receives this via the firefly function unit 201 and requests the in-vehicle system 10 for state information including user information and vehicle position information. In the in-vehicle system 10, the requested information is transmitted to the portal server 20, and the portal server 20 accesses the received various information and the database 205 under the control of the engine control unit 202 to acquire user preference information. The agent is activated (steps S32, S33, S35). At this time, the portal server 20 assembles a search condition based on the user information and user information registered in the database 205 in advance under the control of the server agent function unit 204, and sends an agent to the corresponding ASP server 30 on the network 50. To send a job template (step S34).
[0031]
In generating a job template, for example, consideration may be given to selecting an optimal song according to a scene change (from a mountain to the sea, from a general road to a highway) or according to the morning and evening time zone. . At this time, a GIS (geographic information) server that operates as a proxy of the music distribution server can also be used. In this way, the agent is sent to the ASP server 30 (step S36).
Then, the agent searches for a music distribution service on the network (step S37), and returns the result to the portal server 20 (step S38). Next, the portal server 20 receives the return agent and activates the media player of the in-vehicle system 10 (steps S39 and S40). As a result, in the in-vehicle system 10, the media player starts its operation, and can receive the desired music stream from the ASP server 30 and enjoy the distributed music (steps S41 and S42).
[0032]
Here, the behavior of the agent will be briefly described. The agent behavior is defined by the scenario description. According to the scenario defined here, the job template given at the time of agent generation is analyzed, and a service on the network is searched to determine a physical destination. Then, the destination of the agent is determined, and desired processing is executed by sending the agent itself to the destination.
The agent is software that moves on the networks 40 and 50, collects necessary information according to the contents defined in the scenario, and independently performs various processes. First, an agent is activated in the portal server 20 and steps such as scenario analysis, service search, move destination determination, and move are performed. The agent is activated by the agent activation unit 241, and each procedure from scenario analysis to movement is performed by the agent transfer unit 242.
Specifically, after starting the agent, the job template given at the time of agent generation is analyzed, and the processing to be performed next is determined. Then, a service on the network is searched to determine the physical destination of the agent, and the agent itself is sent to the ASP 30 that manages the computer determined here.
[0033]
In the ASP server 30 to which the agent has been sent, the following steps are executed: process execution, scenario analysis, service search, destination determination, and movement.
Specifically, the process described in the scenario is executed on the ASP server 30, and thereafter, the above operation starting from the scenario analysis is repeated. Here, the destination of the agent is the music distribution server, and after executing the process, scenario analysis is performed, the result is notified to the portal server 20, and there is no next process analyzed by the portal server 20. In this case, the result is notified.
[0034]
As another service example, a reservation agent service will be described. The reservation agent service is a service in which the agent assumes information retrieval and reservation such as a restaurant based on the set destination information, current position information, and user preference information while the vehicle is running. Not only restaurants, but search items for product and service information can be provided on the network. The behavior of the agent is the same as that of the music distribution service.
[0035]
The flow of processing will be briefly described. First, the program is activated on the in-vehicle system 10 side. The activation timing may be a manual operation by the user, or may be automatically activated on the system side according to time. Next, the user inputs conditions necessary for search reservation in the in-vehicle system 10. Here, the portal server 20 receives the request, acquires the user position information and preference information via the engine unit 202, and activates the agent. The agent searches for a service on the network and executes a process according to a given condition. Then, the result is notified to the portal server 20. The portal server 20 further transmits the information to the in-vehicle system 10 and ends the process.
[0036]
A payment agent service will be described as another service example. The payment agent service is a service that performs a billing process necessary when the music distribution / reservation service described above is executed.
The flow of processing will be briefly described. First, the user inputs a purchase request to the in-vehicle system 10. Here, the portal server 20 activates an agent for settlement processing, and the agent performs settlement processing by searching for a settlement service on the network in accordance with given conditions. Then, the result is notified to the portal server 20. Finally, the portal server 20 transmits information to the in-vehicle system 10 and ends the process.
In this case, the behavior of the agent is the same as the music distribution / reservation service.
[0037]
Next, a mode in which the ASP delivers only necessary information using the user information will be described. FIG. 4 shows the event flow (respective processing sequences in the in-vehicle system 10, the portal server 20, and the ASP server 30 (traffic portal, ITS / VICS)).
Here, the case where it applies to a traffic information system is illustrated and it becomes possible to notify a required vehicle only about necessary road information regarding traffic jam etc. according to the present position and destination setting of a vehicle. In this case, as an ASP, a system for providing road information such as ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems) / VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System) and the traffic information provided by the above are provided to the portal server 20 of the present invention. A traffic portal server that acts as a proxy is used.
[0038]
In FIG. 4, when the user gets on the vehicle, it is automatically detected via a sensor or the like, and the in-vehicle system 10 is activated to specify a destination or the like. The in-vehicle system 10 periodically transmits setting information such as the position information of the own vehicle and the destination to the portal server 20 (step S45). Here, the portal server 20 accumulates the position information received from the in-vehicle system 10 in the database 205 (step S46).
[0039]
On the other hand, the traffic portal receives traffic information from ITS / VICS via FM radio waves or the like (step S52), and transmits a message corresponding to the content to the portal server 20 (step S47). ITS / VICS notifies information only when there is a change once every few minutes. The portal server 20 receives the message, generates a thread for performing a process defined according to the message content, and starts the process (steps S48 and S49). Specifically, a vehicle that is considered to be located in the vicinity of the relevant place is searched from the database 205, and road information such as traffic congestion is transmitted only to the vehicle (steps S50 and S51). Here, transmission is performed according to HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) or UDP (User Datagram Protocol).
Although only traffic information is shown, other applications such as vehicle health check and diagnosis by connecting to a dealer ASP are conceivable.
[0040]
Finally, the event flow (respective processing sequences in the user, the in-vehicle system 10, and the portal server 20) shown in FIG. 5 is shown for a mode in which information is transmitted / received or information is shared between peer-to-peer (between users). .
Here, the traveling vehicles are assembled into a set of units determined by arbitrary conditions, allowing mutual information transmission / reception and information sharing to the drivers in the set, and the vehicle is also an ASP. It realizes behaviors such as providing information.
[0041]
In FIG. 5, when the user gets on the vehicle, first, the in-vehicle system 10 is activated and the destination is designated (step S55). Each vehicle system 1 0 periodically transmits the position information and the setting information of the destination, etc. of the vehicle to the portal server 20 (step S56). As a result, the portal server 20 stores the position information received from the in-vehicle system 10 in the database 205 (step S57).
[0042]
For example, assume that the user of the vehicle A transmits an information acquisition / transmission request to the portal server 20 under the above-described environment (step S58). Upon receiving this, the portal server 20 determines the destination of the agent based on the position information stored in the database 205 or the pre-designated aggregation information (steps S59 to S61), and sends the agent to the vehicle B as the destination. Transmit (step S62). Next, processing by the agent is executed by the vehicle B to which the agent is transmitted and the mobile phone or portable information terminal installed in the vehicle (step S63), and the result is notified to the portal server 20 (step S64).
[0043]
For example, the above-mentioned vehicle can also provide information as an ASP. For example, an agent is sent to a vehicle traveling in front of the same road, and the following vehicle actually receives the weather and road conditions that the vehicle is experiencing. It is conceivable to use for applications that share information between vehicles belonging to the same assembly when driving with a plurality of vehicles.
[0044]
As described above, the present invention is an in-vehicle vehicle in which an in-vehicle computer or a portable terminal or a portable information terminal that can be connected to a network is mounted on a vehicle and a line state is not guaranteed by introducing an agent system. Even in this case, a personal portal can be realized for in-car users and applications on the network can be used. In addition, by introducing an agent, the vehicle itself can also become an ASP. At this time, the traveling vehicles are assembled into a set of units determined by arbitrary conditions, and mutual information is transmitted to the drivers in the set. Transmission and reception and information sharing can be enabled.
[0045]
2, the functions of the portal function unit 201, the engine control unit 202, the message reception unit 203, the server agent function unit 204, the agent activation unit 241, and the agent transfer unit 242 of the firefly server 20 are realized. The program for recording is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, the program recorded on the recording medium is read by a computer constituting the portal server 20, and the computer sequentially reads and executes the program. Thus, an application service providing system in which the present invention is implemented is constructed. The computer system here includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices.
[0046]
Further, the “computer system” includes a homepage providing environment (or display environment) if a WWW system is used.
The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a portable medium such as a floppy disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, or a CD-ROM, and a storage device such as a hard disk built in the computer system. Further, the “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a volatile memory (RAM) in a computer system that becomes a server or a client when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In addition, those holding programs for a certain period of time are also included.
[0047]
The program may be transmitted from a computer system storing the program in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the “transmission medium” for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line.
The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Furthermore, what can implement | achieve the function mentioned above in combination with the program already recorded on the computer system, and what is called a difference file (difference program) may be sufficient.
[0048]
The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes design and the like within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention.
[0050]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a vehicle itself by introducing the agent can also realize the function as the ASP, in this case, the information exchange by the vehicle between the traveling, the sharing of information becomes possible. By using the agent, it is not necessary to continuously connect the line until the agent is activated and the processing result is returned after the request is sent. Therefore, various application services can be used even while the vehicle is running without depending on the line state. Can be provided or enjoyed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram cited for explaining a service model for realizing a vehicle application service providing method according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an expanded function of the internal configuration of the portal server shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is an event flow quoted for explaining the operation of an embodiment of the portal server in the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an event flow cited to explain the operation of another embodiment of the portal server in the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an event flow quoted for explaining the operation of still another embodiment of the portal server in the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... In-vehicle system, 20 ... Portal server, 30 ... ASP server, 40 (50) ... Network, 201 ... Portal function part, 202 ... Engine control part, 203 ... Message receiving part, 204 ... Server agent function part, 205 ... Database (DB), 241... Agent activation unit, 242... Agent transfer unit

Claims (4)

A plurality of vehicles assembled in an aggregate of units determined in advance according to an arbitrary condition, wherein the plurality of vehicles are equipped with an in-vehicle computer, a portable terminal, or a portable information terminal and capable of wireless communication; and the plurality of vehicles The portal server used in a vehicle application service providing system comprising a vehicle and a portal server connected via a wireless network,
User interface means for periodically acquiring and storing user information including position information of the vehicle via the in-vehicle computer or portable terminal or portable information terminal of each assembled vehicle;
Receiving the one car tanks or al request of the plurality of vehicles based on said user information stored in user interface means and determining a destination vehicle of the agent, the agent execution management feeding the agent with respect to the vehicle Means,
A server interface means for receiving the processing result by the agent,
A portal server for providing an information service for vehicles by an agent characterized by comprising: A plurality of vehicles assembled in an aggregate of units determined in advance according to an arbitrary condition, wherein the plurality of vehicles are equipped with an in-vehicle computer, a portable terminal, or a portable information terminal and capable of wireless communication; and the plurality of vehicles Vehicle application service providing method of the portal server in a vehicle application service providing system comprising a vehicle and a portal server connected via a wireless network,
Via the in-vehicle computer or portable terminal or portable information terminal of each assembled vehicle, user information including the position information of the vehicle is periodically acquired and accumulated,
Wherein receiving a plurality of one car tanks or al request of the vehicle, it determines a destination vehicle of the agent based on the user information or the set of information stored in the user interface unit, the agent with respect to the vehicle Send
A method for providing an application service for a vehicle, comprising receiving a processing result by the agent. A plurality of vehicles assembled in an aggregate of units determined in advance according to an arbitrary condition, wherein the plurality of vehicles are equipped with an in-vehicle computer, a portable terminal, or a portable information terminal and capable of wireless communication; and the plurality of vehicles Vehicle application service providing system comprising a vehicle and a portal server connected via a wireless network,
In the computer constituting the portal server,
A procedure for periodically acquiring and storing user information including position information of the vehicle via an in-vehicle computer or a portable terminal or a portable information terminal of each assembled vehicle,
Wherein receiving a plurality of one car tanks or al request of the vehicle, it determines a destination vehicle of the agent based on the user information or the set of information stored in the user interface unit, the agent with respect to the vehicle The procedure of sending
Receiving a processing result by the agent;
A program for running A plurality of vehicles assembled in an aggregate of units determined in advance according to an arbitrary condition, wherein the plurality of vehicles are equipped with an in-vehicle computer, a portable terminal, or a portable information terminal and capable of wireless communication; and the plurality of vehicles Vehicle application service providing system comprising a vehicle and a portal server connected via a wireless network,
In the computer constituting the portal server,
A procedure for periodically acquiring and storing user information including position information of the vehicle via an in-vehicle computer or a portable terminal or a portable information terminal of each assembled vehicle,
Wherein receiving a plurality of one car tanks or al request of the vehicle, it determines a destination vehicle of the agent based on the user information or the set of information stored in the user interface unit, the agent with respect to the vehicle The procedure of sending
Receiving a processing result by the agent;
The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the program for performing this.

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