JP4103402B2 - Vehicle operation management device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a vehicle operation in which a positioning device using GPS is mounted on a vehicle, and the operation of the vehicle is managed in the management center device by performing communication using a wireless transmission path between the vehicle and the management center device. It relates to a management device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, positioning devices using a GPS (Global Positioning System) that can identify a reception position by receiving radio signals from a plurality of GPS satellites are known. Has been used. Vehicle operation management devices are equipped with this type of positioning device and terminal device in vehicles (mainly transportation vehicles such as trucks and buses), and the position information detected by each vehicle using the positioning device is received from the terminal device of each vehicle. The data is transmitted to the management center device through a wireless transmission path, and the vehicle operation can be managed by knowing the position of the vehicle by the management center device.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional vehicle operation management device, when terminal devices having different data formats of communication data transmitted from the terminal device to the management center device coexist, processing cannot be performed by the same management center device. . Therefore, when a plurality of types of terminal devices having different data formats are mixed, it is necessary to install a management center device for each data format, resulting in an increase in capital investment. In addition, there is a problem that it is necessary to confirm whether or not transmission of communication data is normally performed to the management center device corresponding to each terminal device.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above reasons, and an object thereof is to provide a vehicle operation management device capable of managing data transmitted from terminal devices having different data formats in one management center device. There is.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In order to achieve the above object, the first aspect of the present invention is such that positioning means for positioning the current position of the vehicle using GPS and identification information of the terminal device are registered in advance in the terminal device mounted on the vehicle. There is provided identification information registration means and communication means for transmitting data including the current position of the vehicle obtained by the positioning means to the management center device through a wireless transmission path, and the data transmitted from each terminal device of each vehicle is classified for each identification information. The management means is provided in the management center device, and a version number corresponding to the difference in the data format of the communication data transmitted from the terminal device is added to the header portion or data portion of the communication data. Acquired by reading communication data transmitted from the terminal device in a data format corresponding to the version number added to the communication data.The terminal device is provided with a card interface that can exchange data with the memory card, and the memory card is written with the version number of the terminal device to which the memory card is connected, The terminal device has a function of writing data to the memory card and a function of writing a version number that defines the meaning of the data part in the communication data to the memory card, and the management means is a terminal device written to the memory card For transmitting data from the terminal device to the management center device and a function for interpreting the data portion according to a version number that defines the meaning of the data portion, and transmitting the data portion to the management center device As data, in addition to the current position of the vehicle, a vehicle speed sensor that detects the moving speed of the vehicle and the open / closed state of the vehicle door Characterized in that it contains information detected by the output for door sensor. In the invention of claim 1, the terminalA version number corresponding to the difference in data format of communication data transmitted from the device is added to the header portion or data portion of the communication data, and the management means adds the communication data transmitted from the terminal device to the communication data. Since the data is read and acquired in the data format corresponding to the version number, communication data from terminal devices with different data formats can be managed by one management center device.In addition to the current position of the vehicle, the data transmitted from the terminal device to the management center device includes information detected by a vehicle speed sensor that detects the moving speed of the vehicle and a door sensor that detects the open / closed state of the vehicle door. Therefore, it is possible to manage not only the position of the vehicle but also the history of output data of the vehicle speed sensor and the door sensor.
[0006]
  In the invention of claim 1, the endThe terminal device is provided with a card interface that allows data to be exchanged with the memory card, and the version number of the terminal device to which the memory card is connected is written in the memory card. It has a function to write data to the card, and the management means has a function to transmit the data of the terminal device written in the memory card from the terminal device to the management center device. Thus, the data written in the memory card can be grasped by one management center device.
[0007]
  In the invention of claim 1, the endThe terminal device has a function of writing a version number that defines the meaning of the data portion in the communication data to the memory card, and the management means interprets the data portion according to the version number that defines the meaning of the data portion. Therefore, even if the data format of the communication data stored in the memory card and transmitted from the terminal device is the same, the management center device assigns the meaning of the data portion according to the version number that defines the meaning of the data portion. Can be interpreted.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  (Reference Example 1)
  Of this reference exampleAs shown in FIG. 1, a terminal device 1 mounted on a vehicle in a vehicle operation management device includes a GPS antenna 11 that receives a radio signal from a satellite, and the radio signal received by the GPS antenna 11 is a positioning device ( Position information of the vehicle is obtained by being input to the GPS engine 12 that realizes the positioning means). From the terminal device 1 to the management center device 3, not only the position of the vehicle but also a sensor (for example, a vehicle speed sensor that detects the moving speed of the vehicle, a door sensor that detects the open / closed state of the vehicle door, etc.) 22 detects the vehicle. Various information is also transmitted. The terminal device 1 is provided with a microcomputer (hereinafter abbreviated as “microcomputer”) 10, and the position information detected by the GPS engine 12 and the output data of the sensor 22 are written into the storage device 13 made of a semiconductor memory through the microcomputer 10. . The output data of the sensor 22 is taken into the microcomputer 10 via the sensor interface 16. The terminal device 1 is also provided with an external interface 17 that can exchange data with the PDA 23 that is a portable information terminal.
[0009]
  Various data stored in the storage device 13 are read out and transmitted to the management center device 3 when there is a request from the management center device 3. That is, the vehicle position information and the output data of the sensor 22 are transmitted to the management center device 3 in response to a request from the management center device 3. Here, a wireless device (for example, a mobile phone) 20 is connected to the microcomputer 10 of the terminal device 1 via a wireless control unit (for example, a modem) 14, and vehicle position information and sensor 22 output data are wirelessly transmitted. A signal is sent from the vehicle side and transmitted to the management center device 3. In addition,In this reference exampleThe wireless control unit 14 and the wireless device 20 constitute communication means.
[0010]
The management center device 3 is provided with a wireless device (for example, a mobile phone) 31 and a wireless control unit (for example, a modem) 32 in order to receive a wireless signal transmitted from the wireless device 20. Data to be output is input to the management computer 30. The management computer 30 is realized by a personal computer equipped with appropriate software.
[0011]
As can be seen from the above description, a wireless transmission path is used for communication between the moving body that is a vehicle and the management center device 3, but it is extremely difficult to install equipment throughout the moving range of the vehicle. However, instead of using a dedicated wireless line, an existing telephone line may be used.
[0012]
By the way, the terminal device 1 can exchange data between the microcomputer 10 and the IC card 21 via the card interface 15. In addition to writing the current position (position information) of the vehicle and the output data of the sensor 22 to the IC card 21, identification information of the terminal device 1 (identification information relating to the vehicle, the driver of the vehicle, etc.) is written in advance. Information can be read out. That is, the IC card 21 functions as identification information registration means. Here, an IC card having a sufficiently larger storage capacity than the storage device 13 is used. The microcomputer 10 periodically transfers the contents of the storage device 13 to the IC card 21 through the card interface 16.
[0013]
A program for operating the microcomputer 10 is written in the storage device 13, and the output data from the GPS engine 12 and the sensor 22 is preprocessed by the microcomputer 10 and then transmitted to the management center device 3. The processing amount of the management computer 30 is reduced. That is, the microcomputer 10 functions as preprocessing means.
[0014]
The management computer 30 of the management center device 3 is provided with an ID code master (not shown) using a mass storage device (such as a hard disk), and is associated with detailed vehicle information using the above identification information as a key. The management computer 30 also includes storage means for sequentially storing data from the vehicle, and the management computer 30 and the ID code master constitute management means.
[0015]
Next, an operation procedure between the terminal device 1 and the management center device 3 mounted on the vehicle will be described. The terminal device 1 periodically measures the current position of the vehicle, and the current position of the vehicle obtained by the GPS antenna 11 and the GPS engine 12 is input to the microcomputer 10. In the microcomputer 10, when the current position (GPS data) of the vehicle is obtained by the GPS engine 12, next, output data of the sensor 22 at that time is taken. Here, when there is a data transmission request from the management center apparatus 3 and the identification information is transmitted by a radio signal, the management information is collated with the identification information written in advance on the IC card 21. If the identification information transmitted from the management center device 3 matches the identification information written in the IC card 21, data from the GPS engine 12 and the sensor 22 is preprocessed and data corresponding to the purpose of driving the vehicle, etc. It is processed into a shape. The processed data is not immediately transmitted to the management center device 3, but is temporarily stored in the storage device 13 in a waiting state for transmission.
[0016]
When the data is stored in the storage device 13, the microcomputer 10 starts a built-in timer. When the data temporarily stored in the storage device 13 is not transmitted to the management center device 3 within the time limit by the timer, the storage capacity of the storage device 13 is confirmed, and whether or not there is room to store the next generated data. Is confirmed. If the storage capacity is sufficient, the process returns to the step for obtaining the GPS data described above. However, when the storage capacity is not sufficient, the management center apparatus 3 is requested to transmit data. When the management center device 3 responds to this request and can transmit data to the management center device 3, the transmitted data stored in the storage device 13 is deleted. When data cannot be transmitted to the management center device 3, the data is transferred from the storage device 13 to the IC card 21. That is, even when data is not transmitted to the management center device 3, if the IC card 21 is taken out after the vehicle has returned and connected to the management computer 30 of the management center device 3, the position of the vehicle and the output of the sensor 22 at each time The time change of data can be recorded in the management computer 30.
[0017]
  On the other hand, the management center device 3 calls the terminal device 1 of each vehicle as necessary. When the terminal device 1 mounted on the target vehicle has identification information, the identification information is read from the ID code master. As described above, the collation process with the identification information registered in the IC card 21 of the terminal device 1 is performed. If the wireless transmission path is normal, various data are transmitted from the vehicle terminal device 1 after the verification process, and therefore, the data is registered in the management file for each driver set in the storage means provided in the management computer 30. That is, by reading the management file, the vehicle position at each time and the history of the output data of the sensor 22 can be seen, and the operation management for each driver becomes possible. In addition,In this reference exampleThe IC card 21 constitutes a memory card.
[0018]
  By the way, when the terminal device 1 performs wireless communication with the management center device 3, the terminal device 1 uses a dedicated communication protocol of the terminal device 1, and is transmitted from the terminal device 1 to the management center device 3. The communication data has a data format as shown in FIG. That is, the communication data transmitted from the terminal device 1 is divided from the top in the order of the header area, the data area, and the checksum area for detecting transmission errors. As shown in FIG. 3, the data area stores a protocol ID for identifying the type of communication, the version number (Ver number) of the communication protocol of the terminal device 1, the capacity of the data section, and data in order from the top. . Here, the protocol ID is, for example, when the terminal device 1 communicates the contents of the storage device 13 to the management center device 3 periodically (every regular time). This is used to identify the type of communication such as “1” when in the sleep mode in which the activation of spontaneous communication is stopped and “2” when in the regular communication mode in which communication is performed at regular intervals. In addition,In this reference exampleThe version number of the communication protocol is added to the data area (data part), but the version number may be added to the header area (header part). In short, a version number may be added to the header portion or data portion of communication data transmitted from the terminal device 1 to the management center device 3.
[0019]
On the other hand, the management computer 30 of the management center device 3 is hierarchized as shown in FIG. 4, and receives communication data (raw data) transmitted from the terminal device 1 by the communication raw data unit 41, The communication data received by the data unit 41 is transmitted to the upper communication driver 42. When the communication driver 42 reads the communication data and transmits the data included in the communication data to the upper application layer 43, the communication driver 42 corresponds to the application software corresponding to the version number included in the communication data (in the illustrated example, application software). Data is transmitted to software 1 or application software 2). Then, the data can be displayed on the monitor display of the management computer 30 by the application software to which the data is transmitted from the communication driver 42.
[0020]
  ButOf this reference exampleIn the vehicle operation management device, a version number corresponding to the data format difference of communication data transmitted from the terminal device 1 to the management center device 3 is added to the data portion of the communication data. Since the communication data transmitted from 1 is read and acquired in a data format corresponding to the version number added to the communication data, communication data from the terminal device 1 having a different data format is received by one management center device 3. It becomes possible to manage.
[0021]
  (Reference Example 2)
  Of this reference exampleBasic configuration of vehicle operation management deviceIs Reference Example 1The main difference is that data written from the terminal device 1 to the IC card 21 as a memory card (data acquired by the terminal device 1) is transmitted from the terminal device 1 to the management center device 3. The communication data at this time has a data format as shown in FIG. That is, the communication data stores the card type, version number (Ver number), data 1 and data 2 in order from the top. The version number in the data format shown in FIG. 5 is written in advance by a memory card control driver 52 (see FIG. 6) described later, and a different version number is written for each data format of the communication protocol of the terminal device 1. Yes. In other words, the IC card 21 has a different version number for each data format of the communication protocol of the connected terminal device 1.
[0022]
  by the way,In this reference example, Reference Example 1The management computer 30 described in FIG. 6 is hierarchized as shown in FIG. 6, the communication data (raw data) transmitted from the terminal device 1 is received by the memory card raw data unit 51, and the memory card raw data unit 51 is received. The received communication data is transmitted to the upper memory card control driver 52. When the memory card control driver 52 reads the communication data and transmits the data included in the communication data to the upper application layer 53, the application software corresponding to the version number included in the communication data (in the illustrated example) Data is transmitted to the application software 1 or the application software 2). Then, data can be displayed on the monitor display of the management computer 30 by application software to which data is transmitted from the memory card control driver 52.
[0023]
  ButOf this reference exampleIn the vehicle operation management device, the version number of the communication protocol of the terminal device 1 is written in the IC card 21 connected to the terminal device 1 via the card interface 15, and the terminal device 1 is in the IC card 21. Terminal having a different data format since the management means has a function of transmitting the data of the terminal device 1 written in the IC card 21 from the terminal device 1 to the management center device 3. The data generated in the apparatus 1 and written in the IC card 21 can be grasped by one management center apparatus 3.
[0024]
  (Execution formstate)
  Basic configuration of the vehicle operation management device of this embodimentIs Reference Example 1The main difference is that data written from the terminal device 1 to the IC card 21 as a memory card (data acquired by the terminal device 1) is transmitted from the terminal device 1 to the management center device 3. The communication data at that time has a data format as shown in FIG. That is, in the communication data, the card type, version number (Ver number), version number (Ver number) written by the terminal device 1, data 1, and data 2 are stored in order from the top.
[0025]
The version number (hereinafter referred to as the first version number) stored next to the card type in the data format shown in FIG. 7 is written in advance by a memory card control driver 52 (see FIG. 8) described later, and the next version The number (hereinafter referred to as the second version number) is written in advance in the terminal device 1. Here, the first version number is a number corresponding to the difference in the data format of the communication protocol of the terminal device 1, and the second version number is the data part of the communication data transmitted from the terminal device 1 to the management center device 3. It is a number that defines the meaning. That is, the first version number is different between the terminal devices 1 having different data formats, and the second version number is different between the terminal devices 1 having different data meanings. Here, for example, in the terminal device 1 (hereinafter referred to as the terminal device A) mounted in a certain vehicle, a temperature sensor is connected to the sensor interface 16 as a sensor 22 to change the meaning of the data. Communication data transmitted from the terminal device A when a sensor other than the temperature sensor is connected to the sensor interface 16 as the sensor 22 in the terminal device 1 (hereinafter referred to as the terminal device B) mounted in the vehicle. This is because the output data of the sensor 22 included in the data and the output data of the sensor 22 included in the communication data transmitted from the terminal device B are distinguished from each other in the meaning of the data.
[0026]
  By the way, in this embodiment,Reference example 18 is hierarchized as shown in FIG. 8, and the memory card raw data unit 51 receives the communication data (raw data) transmitted from the terminal device 1, and the memory card raw data unit 51 The received communication data is transmitted to the upper memory card control driver 52. When the memory card control driver 52 reads the communication data and transmits the data included in the communication data to the upper application layer 53, the application software corresponding to the first version number included in the communication data (see FIG. In the example shown, data is transmitted to the application software 1 or the application software 2) as data designated by the second version number. The data can be displayed on the monitor display of the management computer 30 by the application software to which the data is transmitted from the memory card control driver 52. Here, in the application software, data from the memory card control driver 52 is identified as temperature data. That is, even if the data format of the communication protocol is the same between the terminal device A and the terminal device B, the management center device 3 can interpret the meaning of the data by the second version number.
[0027]
Thus, in the vehicle operation management device of this embodiment, the terminal device 1 has a function of writing the version number that defines the meaning of the data part in the communication data into the IC card 21, and the management means of the management center device 3 Since it has a function of interpreting the data part according to the version number that defines the meaning of the data part, even if the data format of the communication data stored in the IC card 21 and transmitted from the terminal device 1 is the same, the management center The device 3 can interpret the meaning of the data portion according to the version number that defines the meaning of the data portion.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
  According to the first aspect of the present invention, positioning means for positioning the current position of the vehicle using GPS on a terminal device mounted on the vehicle, identification information registration means in which identification information of the terminal device is registered in advance, and positioning means Communication means for transmitting data including the current position of the vehicle determined by the above to the management center device through a wireless transmission path, and managing means for classifying and recording the data transmitted from each terminal device of each vehicle for each identification information Is provided in the management center device, and a version number corresponding to the difference in the data format of the communication data transmitted from the terminal device is added to the header or data portion of the communication data, and the management means transmits the communication transmitted from the terminal device. Data is acquired by reading in the data format corresponding to the version number added to the communication data.The terminal device is provided with a card interface that can exchange data with the memory card, and the memory card is written with the version number of the terminal device to which the memory card is connected, The terminal device has a function of writing data to the memory card and a function of writing a version number that defines the meaning of the data part in the communication data to the memory card, and the management means is a terminal device written to the memory card For transmitting data from the terminal device to the management center device and a function for interpreting the data portion according to a version number that defines the meaning of the data portion, and transmitting the data portion to the management center device As data, in addition to the current position of the vehicle, a vehicle speed sensor that detects the moving speed of the vehicle and the open / closed state of the vehicle door It contains information detected by the output for door sensor. In the invention of claim 1, the terminalA version number corresponding to the difference in data format of communication data transmitted from the device is added to the header portion or data portion of the communication data, and the management means adds the communication data transmitted from the terminal device to the communication data. Therefore, communication data from terminal devices with different data formats can be managed by a single management center device.In addition to the current position of the vehicle, the data transmitted from the terminal device to the management center device includes information detected by a vehicle speed sensor for detecting the moving speed of the vehicle and a door sensor for detecting the open / closed state of the vehicle door. Therefore, it is possible to manage not only the position of the vehicle but also the history of output data of the vehicle speed sensor and the door sensor.
[0029]
  In the invention of claim 1, the endThe terminal device is provided with a card interface that allows data to be exchanged with the memory card, and the version number of the terminal device to which the memory card is connected is written in the memory card. It has a function to write data to the card, and the management means has a function to transmit the data of the terminal device written in the memory card from the terminal device to the management center device. Thus, the data written in the memory card can be grasped by one management center device.
[0030]
  In the invention of claim 1, the endThe terminal device has a function of writing a version number that defines the meaning of the data portion in the communication data to the memory card, and the management means interprets the data portion according to the version number that defines the meaning of the data portion. Therefore, even if the data format of the communication data stored in the memory card and transmitted from the terminal device is the same, the management center device assigns the meaning of the data portion according to the version number that defines the meaning of the data portion. It is possible to interpret.
[Brief description of the drawings]
[Figure 1]Reference example 1FIG.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a data format of communication data transmitted from the terminal device to the management center device in the same as above.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a data format of communication data transmitted from the terminal device to the management center device.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a main part of the management computer according to the above.
[Figure 5]Reference example 2It is explanatory drawing of the data format of the data read from IC card in.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a main part of the management computer according to the above.
FIG. 7 Implementation formStateIt is explanatory drawing of the data format of the data read from IC in O.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a main part of the management computer according to the above.
[Explanation of symbols]
  1 Terminal device
  3 Management center device
  10 Microcomputer
  11 GPS antenna
  12 GPS engine
  13 Storage device
  14 Radio control unit
  15 Card interface
  20 wireless devices
  22 sensors
  21 IC card
  30 Management computer
  31 Radio equipment
  32 Radio control unit

Claims (1)

Positioning means for positioning the current position of the vehicle using GPS on the terminal device mounted on the vehicle, identification information registering means in which identification information of the terminal device is registered in advance, and the current position of the vehicle obtained by the positioning means Communication means for transmitting data including data to the management center device through a wireless transmission path, and providing management means for classifying and recording data transmitted from each terminal device of each vehicle for each identification information in the management center device, A version number corresponding to the data format difference of the communication data transmitted from the terminal device is added to the header or data portion of the communication data, and the management means adds the communication data transmitted from the terminal device to the communication data. It is intended to obtain by reading in the data format corresponding to the version number that is, the terminal device with the memory card A card interface that enables data transfer is provided, and the memory card is written with the version number of the terminal device to which the memory card is connected. A function of writing a version number that prescribes the meaning of the data part in the data to the memory card, and the management means transmits the data of the terminal device written in the memory card from the terminal device to the management center device; And a function of interpreting the data portion in accordance with a version number that defines the meaning of the data portion, and in addition to the current position of the vehicle as data to be transmitted from the terminal device to the management center device, the moving speed of the vehicle Vehicle speed sensor that detects the vehicle, including information detected by the door sensor that detects the open / closed state of the vehicle door Vehicle operation control apparatus according to claim Rukoto.

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