JP4434084B2 - Remote control device and remote control system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote operation device, a remote operation system, a portable information terminal, and an information center that can remotely operate a vehicle device.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a parking state monitoring device that activates a predetermined vehicle device by remote control is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-102939 A

However, in the above-described conventional parking state monitoring device, when the operation of a predetermined vehicle device fails, the user is at a position away from the vehicle, so it is difficult to grasp the cause and situation of the failure. It becomes difficult to promptly cope with a failure. The present invention is for solving such a problem, and a main object is to promptly cope with a failure of a remote operation of a vehicle device.

In order to achieve the above object, one embodiment of the present invention provides:
A remote operation device for operating a vehicle device based on a predetermined operation signal transmitted from a portable information terminal via an information center,
When the operation of the vehicle device fails, the remote operation device is configured to notify the portable information terminal via the information center of at least one of the cause of the failure and a coping method for the failure. It is.

  In this aspect, the information center may not be interposed between the portable information terminal and the remote control device.

  According to this one aspect, when the operation of the vehicle device fails, at least one of the cause of the failure and the coping method for the failure is notified to the portable information terminal via the information center. Thereby, even when the operation of the vehicle device fails, the user can quickly cope with the failure by the notified failure cause or the coping method.

  In this aspect, the cause of the failure includes, for example, that a predetermined operation prohibition condition is satisfied.

  A coping method in this case is, for example, a state where a predetermined operation prohibition condition is not satisfied.

  In this aspect, when the operation of the vehicle device that establishes the predetermined operation prohibition condition is repeated a predetermined number of times or more, a predetermined message may be notified to the portable information terminal via the information center.

  For example, if the content of the predetermined message is advice that does not satisfy the predetermined operation prohibition condition, the user can quickly resolve the failure of the remote operation of the vehicle device based on this message.

  In this one aspect, the cause of the failure includes, for example, that the vehicle is out of a radio wave range that cannot receive a radio wave transmitted from the portable information terminal via the information center.

  It should be noted that a situation where it is difficult to receive radio waves may be included outside the radio wave range where the radio waves cannot be received.

  In this aspect, link information for retransmitting the predetermined operation signal from the portable information terminal may be attached to the cause of the failure.

  The user can easily retransmit a predetermined operation signal simply by instructing link information such as the URL on the operation screen of the portable information terminal.

  In this aspect, it is preferable that the predetermined operation signal is transmitted a plurality of times from the portable information terminal via the information center.

  For example, when a vehicle in a situation where it is difficult to receive radio waves is out of the radio wave range, by transmitting a predetermined operation signal a plurality of times, the predetermined operation signal can be received and the vehicle device can be operated.

  In this aspect, when the vehicle is out of a radio wave range where the predetermined operation signal transmitted from the portable information terminal via the information center cannot be received, the predetermined operation signal is received. The antenna may be moved.

  Accordingly, a predetermined operation signal is received by the vehicle antenna, and the cause of the failure of the operation of the vehicle device can be solved.

  In this aspect, when the vehicle is out of a radio wave range where the predetermined operation signal transmitted from the portable information terminal via the information center cannot be received, the vehicle is configured to receive the predetermined operation signal. It may be moved.

  Thereby, the predetermined operation signal is received by the antenna of the vehicle, and the cause of the failure of the operation of the vehicle device can be solved.

  In this aspect, the cause of the failure includes, for example, a vehicle failure. Further, the repair information related to the vehicle failure may be notified to the portable information terminal via the information center.

  Repair information related to a vehicle failure includes a failure location, a repair method for the vehicle failure, information on a vehicle dealer that can be repaired, information on a call center that supports the user, and the like. Based on this repair information, the user can quickly cope with a vehicle failure.

  In this aspect, it is preferable that the vehicle malfunction is automatically repaired and the operation of the vehicle device is performed again. This improves the convenience for the user.

  In this aspect, when the repair for the vehicle failure is impossible, an alternative countermeasure may be taken.

  By executing this alternative measure, it can be expected to obtain substantially the same effect as the operation of the failed vehicle device.

  In this aspect, the failure information related to the vehicle failure may be notified to a predetermined place such as a vehicle store that can be repaired.

  For example, when failure information such as a failure location is notified to the vehicle dealer, the vehicle dealer can promptly deal with the vehicle failure.

  In this aspect, the cause of the failure includes, for example, an information center failure. Further, the return time of the information center may be notified to the portable information terminal via the information center.

  When the cause of the failure is a malfunction of the information center, the user can operate the vehicle equipment with reference to the return time at which the malfunction of the information center is solved and the normal state is restored.

  In this aspect, the portable information terminal may be notified via the information center that the cause of the failure when the operation of the vehicle device fails is unknown.

  In this case, you may notify to the said portable information terminal via the said information center so that operation of the said vehicle apparatus may be performed again.

  This re-operation may enable operation of the vehicle equipment. In addition, it is possible to make the user check whether an erroneous operation has been performed.

  In this one aspect, when the operation of the vehicle device fails due to a plurality of types of the failure, the cause of the failure is transmitted to the portable information terminal via the information center based on a predetermined notification priority. You may be notified.

  The user can appropriately deal with the cause of the failure based on the predetermined notification priority.

  In this case, the predetermined notification priority may be set based on the degree of difficulty with which the cause of the failure is improved.

  For example, the user may be notified of the causes of all failures in descending order of difficulty, or the user may be notified of only one cause of failure with the highest difficulty. Thereby, the user can arrange the cause of the failure based on the notified cause of the failure and efficiently deal with the cause.

  In this aspect, weather information in the vicinity of the vehicle may be notified to the portable information terminal.

  For example, the user can appropriately operate the vehicle device based on the notified weather information.

  In this aspect, it is preferable to notify the portable information terminal of a handling method corresponding to the weather information.

  The user can operate the vehicle device appropriately according to the weather information based on the notified countermeasure.

In order to achieve the above object, one embodiment of the present invention provides:
A portable information terminal that transmits a predetermined operation signal;
A remote operation system for remotely operating a vehicle device based on the predetermined operation signal transmitted from the portable information terminal via an information center,
When the operation of the vehicle device fails, the remote control device notifies the portable information terminal of at least one of the cause of the failure and a countermeasure for the failure via the information center. May be a remote control system.

In order to achieve the above object, one embodiment of the present invention provides:
A portable information terminal that transmits a predetermined operation signal via an information center and remotely operates a vehicle device,
When the operation of the vehicle device fails, the mobile information terminal may receive at least one of the cause of the failure and a countermeasure for the failure from the information center.

In order to achieve the above object, one embodiment of the present invention provides:
An information center for remotely operating a vehicle device based on a predetermined operation signal transmitted from a portable information terminal,
The information center may be characterized in that when the operation of the vehicle device fails, at least one of the cause of the failure and a coping method for the failure is notified to the portable information terminal.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it can respond rapidly with respect to failure of the remote control of a vehicle apparatus.

  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 device, portable information terminal, information center, main hardware configuration, operating principle, basic control method, and the like are known to those skilled in the art, and detailed description thereof is omitted. To do.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a remote operation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The remote operation system 1 of the present embodiment includes a remote operation device 3 mounted on a vehicle, a mobile phone carried by an authorized user such as a driver or owner of the vehicle, a personal computer (PC), a PDA And a personal digital assistant 5 such as (Personal Digital Assistants). An information center 7 for managing information is interposed between the remote control device 3 and the portable information terminal 5. The information center 7 can be communicatively connected to a server of a dealer or vehicle manufacturer that performs vehicle repair.

  The remote control system 1 according to the present embodiment is a vehicle device (for example, blinking / extinguishing of a turn signal lamp, etc.) that can be directly operated by the user in the vehicle after the user gets out of the vehicle or before getting on the vehicle. By transmitting a predetermined operation signal to the remote operation device 3 from the portable information terminal 5 possessed by the user via the information center 7 to lock / unlock the vehicle door, open / close the power window, etc. Drive operation.

  Further, the remote operation system 1 appropriately carries the operation result (failure, normal completion) of the remote drive operation and information (failure information, etc.) incidental to the operation result from the vehicle device via the information center 7 as appropriate. Information is sent to the information terminal 5, vehicle manufacturer, vehicle dealer, and the like.

  Hereinafter, direct operation of the above-described vehicle device by the user in the vehicle is referred to as local operation (including wireless operation by wireless communication between the vehicle and the vehicle key). In the remote operation system 1 of the present embodiment, remote operation via the information center 7 is referred to as remote operation.

  The remote operation device 3 includes a data communication module (hereinafter referred to as DCM) 3a capable of performing wireless communication with the information center 7 through a predetermined communication network. A master electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as a master ECU) mainly composed of a computer is connected to the DCM 3a via a communication line. The DCM 3a has a data communication antenna 3b, and has a function of transmitting various information of the remote control device 3 from the data communication antenna 3b to the information center 7 via the communication network. The DCM 3a has a function of receiving various information transmitted from the information center 7 via the communication network by the data communication antenna 3b.

  The master ECU 3c operates according to a software program stored in advance in a storage device such as a ROM, and exchanges transmission data and reception data with the DCM 3a. The master ECU 3c has a storage device that stores identification information including the telephone number of the host vehicle, the telephone number of the information center 7, and the like. The master ECU 3c has a memory that temporarily stores transmission data to be supplied to the DCM 3a and reception data supplied from the DCM 3a. Further, the master ECU 3c has a monitor capable of displaying information from an in-vehicle car navigation device, an audio device, an outside air temperature sensor, a traveling state detection device, and the like, and performing touch panel input.

  The remote control device 3 includes a plurality of slave ECUs that are connected to the master ECU 3c described above. These slave ECUs are units that control vehicle equipment that can be locally operated by the user. The master ECU 3c causes each slave ECU to execute a predetermined process (specifically, a process for requesting a remote operation such as locking / unlocking of a vehicle door or opening / closing of a power window). Furthermore, the master ECU 3c can receive remote operation results transmitted from each slave ECU, vehicle data attached to the remote operation results, failure information, and the like.

  As the slave ECU, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, there are a door ECU 3d, a body ECU 3e, and the like that are connected to the master ECU 3c via a body bus. The master ECU 3c, the door ECU 3d, and the body ECU 3e can perform multiplex communication with each other using a body bus.

  The door ECU 3d locks (locks) and unlocks (unlocks) the lock position of the vehicle door when the vehicle key is inserted into the key cylinder and operated by the user or when an operation signal is received from the master ECU 3c. ). Further, when a user operates an open / close switch provided in the vehicle interior or when a remote operation request is made from the master ECU 3c, control is performed to open and close the power window of the vehicle door.

  The body ECU 3e can detect an intrusion sensor such as a camera that captures the interior of a vehicle, a detection sensor that detects an object using radio waves, ultrasonic waves, infrared rays, or a load sensor that detects a load applied to a vehicle seat. It can be switched between a state and an impossible state, and the presence / absence of a person in the passenger compartment is detected based on an output signal of the intrusion sensor during a drive command to the intrusion sensor.

  When the body ECU 3e should detect the presence or absence of the vehicle key in the vehicle interior under the condition that the vehicle key comparison is permitted by the setting operation of the vehicle occupant, the vehicle occupant is directed from the vehicle interior transmitter toward the vehicle interior. A request signal for requesting a response from the vehicle key carried by the vehicle is transmitted. The body ECU 3e detects the presence / absence of the vehicle key in the passenger compartment based on the presence / absence of reception by the receiver of the response signal transmitted by the vehicle key in response to the request signal.

  The master ECU 3c receives from the DCM 3a that the remote operation of the vehicle equipment (for example, door lock / unlock, turn signal lamp on / off, power window open / close, engine start / stop, etc.) is requested from the information center 7. When notified, it is determined whether or not an operation prohibition condition for disabling remote operation is satisfied.

  The master ECU 3c instructs the slave ECUs 3d and 3e, which are responsible for the remote operation of the vehicle equipment, to perform the remote operation via the body bus only when the operation prohibition condition is not satisfied by the requested remote operation. When the slave ECUs 3d and 3e receive the operation signal for the remote operation of the vehicle equipment supplied from the master ECU 3c, the slave ECUs 3d and 3e execute the remote operation.

  The portable information terminal 5 operates according to a software program stored in advance in a storage device such as a ROM. The mobile information terminal 5 includes a vehicle telephone number corresponding to the mobile information terminal 5 and identification information including the e-mail address and telephone number of the mobile information terminal 5, the telephone number of the information center 7, the telephone number of the call center, etc. Has a storage device. The portable information terminal 5 can perform wireless communication with the information center 7 through a communication network. Further, the portable information terminal 5 has a function of transmitting its own information to the information center 7 via the communication network and a function of receiving information transmitted from the information center 7 via the communication network.

  The portable information terminal 5 has an input / output unit that is manually input by the user and that performs audio output and display output toward the user. The portable information terminal 5 has a web browser, and can obtain information provided by the information center 7, for example, a web screen for requesting remote operation of a vehicle device. The portable information terminal 5 can browse files and data stored in an external web server via a communication network by an input operation to the input / output unit, and transmits contents input to the input / output unit to the web server. Is possible.

  The information center 7 includes a host computer capable of high-speed calculation, identification information of authorized users of vehicles using the information center 7, portable information terminals 5, vehicle dealers (dealers), e-mail addresses and telephone numbers of vehicle manufacturers. And a large-capacity database for storing customer information such as identification information and telephone numbers of the vehicle (remote control device 3).

  The information center 7 operates according to a software program stored in advance in a storage device such as a ROM. The information center 7 can perform wireless communication with the remote control device 3 and the portable information terminal 5 through a communication network. Further, the information center 7 transmits its own information to the remote operation device 3 and the portable information terminal 5 via the communication network, and information transmitted from the remote operation device 3 and the portable information terminal 5 via the communication network. It has a function to receive. The information center 7 can provide the mobile information terminal 5 with a web screen for requesting remote operation of various vehicle devices.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the remote control system 1 of the present embodiment will be described. In this remote operation system 1, the remote operation device 3, the portable information terminal 5, and the information center 7 each have a program for realizing the following functions in a ROM or the like, and operate according to the program. These programs can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD, a DVD, or a hard disk.

  In the remote operation system 1 according to the present embodiment, the user is notified of a turn signal, particularly at a position away from the vehicle, either spontaneously or when the operation of the vehicle device is notified from the information center 7 via the portable information terminal 5. When the lamp blinks or turns off (execution of the car finder function), the vehicle door power is used to lock or unlock the vehicle door to prevent theft or forget to operate, or to prevent theft or forget to operate. When it is desired to close the window from the open state, the web browser is started by operating the input / output unit of the portable information terminal 5. The information center 7 stores a format for requesting a remote operation necessary for driving a vehicle device remotely by operating the portable information terminal 5.

  When a predetermined operation is performed by the user with the web browser activated, the portable information terminal 5 establishes a communication connection with the information center 7 via the communication network according to the operation, and requests a remote operation of the information center 7. The information center 7 is requested to provide a web screen. When the information center 7 receives a request from the portable information terminal 5, the information center 7 provides the portable information terminal 5 with a web screen for requesting a remote operation in accordance with the request.

  This web screen is provided with a remote operation item that can be remotely controlled by operating the portable information terminal 5. The portable information terminal 5 confirms which remote operation of the vehicle device is desired by the user based on the presence or absence of a check in a check box provided for each remote control item that can be remotely controlled. When the mobile information terminal 5 makes a transmission request in a state where any of the above check boxes is checked by an operation by the user, the information center 7 indicates that the remote operation of the vehicle device corresponding to the check is requested. A remote operation request instruction is transmitted to the information center 7 for notification to the information center 7.

  When the information center 7 receives a remote operation request instruction transmitted from the portable information terminal 5 after providing the portable information terminal 5 with a web screen for requesting a remote operation, the remote operation target on which the remote operation is to be performed / Specify the type of vehicle equipment. Then, the information center 7 returns an acceptance confirmation signal indicating that the remote operation request for the specified vehicle device has been accepted to the portable information terminal 5.

  In addition, the information center 7 establishes communication connection with the vehicle remote control device 3 corresponding to the portable information terminal 5 via a communication network. Further, the information center 7 transmits a remote operation request instruction indicating that a remote operation of a specific vehicle device is requested by an operation of the portable information terminal 5 to the remote operation device 3.

  When the remote operation device 3 receives the remote operation request instruction transmitted from the information center 7, the remote operation device 3 identifies the vehicle device that is the remote operation target / type to be subjected to the remote operation. The remote operation device 3 returns an acceptance confirmation signal indicating that the remote operation request for the specified vehicle device has been accepted to the information center 7.

  The master ECU 3c of the remote operation device 3 receives the remote operation request instruction from the information center 7, and specifies the vehicle device to be remotely operated. Next, the master ECU 3c performs a process of determining whether or not an operation prohibition condition that disables the remote operation is satisfied for the vehicle device for which the remote operation is actually requested.

  As one specific processing content, a table that defines combinations of vehicle equipment and slave ECUs 3d and 3e that are necessary for confirming whether or not an operation prohibition condition that disables remote operation of the vehicle equipment is satisfied. Thus, the slave ECUs 3d and 3e corresponding to the vehicle equipment for which the remote operation is requested are extracted. The master ECU 3c transmits an operation prohibition condition request signal for requesting transmission of information regarding the operation prohibition condition to the extracted slave ECUs 3d and 3e.

  For example, as the above operation prohibition conditions, (1) vehicle reception time (reception time when the remote operation device 3 receives a remote operation request instruction transmitted from the information center 7) is center reception time (information center 7 is portable information) (The reception time when the remote operation request instruction transmitted from the terminal 5 is received) is not delayed for a predetermined time (for example, 10 minutes), (2) the vehicle is not in operation from the state of the ignition switch or accessory switch, 3) Local operation is not performed after or at approximately the same time as the center reception time or vehicle reception time, (4) conflicting remote operation requests are not received substantially simultaneously, and (5) requested. When the remote operation is a door lock, there are also no people in the vehicle interior, no vehicle keys in the vehicle interior, vehicle doors (6) When the requested remote operation is window closed, all vehicle doors are closed and any power window is not open. It is not closed. (7) When the requested remote operation is lighting or flashing of a lamp, the lamp is actually turned off.

  When the slave ECUs 3d and 3e receive the operation prohibition condition request signal from the master ECU 3c, the slave ECUs 3d and 3e confirm the state of the requested operation prohibition condition and return the confirmation result to the master ECU 3c.

  For example, when the body ECU 3e receives the operation prohibition condition request signal regarding the door lock from the master ECU 3c, the body ECU 3e uses the intrusion sensor to confirm that there is no person in the vehicle compartment and that there is no vehicle key in the vehicle compartment. The result is returned to the master ECU 3c.

  The master ECU 3c receives a result notification of information regarding the operation prohibition condition from all the slave ECUs 3d and 3e corresponding to the vehicle device for which the remote operation is requested, and determines whether or not the operation prohibition condition is satisfied.

  When the operation prohibition condition is not satisfied in the vehicle device for which the remote operation is requested, a signal (operation that requests the slave ECUs 3d and 3e that drive the vehicle device that the vehicle device should be operated remotely. Send instructions). On the other hand, when the operation prohibition condition is satisfied, the remote operation of the vehicle device is prohibited and the operation instruction signal is not transmitted to the slave ECUs 3d and 3e.

  When the slave ECUs 3d and 3e receive the operation instruction from the master ECU 3c, the slave ECUs 3d and 3e perform processing for executing a remote operation of the corresponding vehicle device. For example, when receiving an operation instruction signal for door lock from the master ECU 3c, the door ECU 3d performs an operation for switching all vehicle doors from the unlocked state to the locked state. Further, when the door ECU 3d receives the operation instruction signal for closing the window from the master ECU 3c, the door ECU 3d operates the power windows of all the vehicle doors from the open state to the closed state.

  After the slave ECUs 3d and 3e perform processing for executing the remote operation of the vehicle equipment, the slave ECUs 3d and 3e determine whether or not the remote operation has been normally completed to obtain an operation result, and the remote operation has been normally completed. If not, the cause of the malfunction (failure) (for example, a vehicle failure or a window closed drive stop caused by an object being caught between the window and the vehicle body when the remote operation is window closed) Safety considerations) and the state of the vehicle equipment before and after the execution of the remote operation process, and when the cause is a vehicle failure, the failure location (eg ECU failure, motor failure, overheating, sensor failure, etc.) and failure Diagnostic code indicating the location and the command raw data at the time of failure (digital data consisting of a combination of “0” and “1”) To identify the data), and the like. Then, the operation result of the remote operation is notified to the master ECU 3c, and when the operation result is a failure of the remote operation, the cause and further information such as a failure location and a diagnosis are notified to the master ECU 3c.

  After the master ECU 3c identifies the vehicle device to be remotely operated, whether the remote operation of the vehicle device has been normally completed by combining the presence / absence of the operation prohibition condition and the information notified from the slave ECUs 3d and 3e described above. Determine whether or not. Further, when the remote operation is not normally completed, incidental information such as the cause of the failure (including the establishment of the operation prohibition condition) and the failure location is specified.

  The remote operation device 3 communicates with the information center 7 via a communication network, and notifies the information center 7 of the operation result related to the specified remote operation from the DCM 3a.

  The information center 7 specifies the vehicle device to be remotely operated, and then information such as the presence / absence of an acceptance confirmation signal transmitted from the remote operation device 3 and the operation result to be notified, and the remote operation of the remote operation device 3 It is determined whether or not the remote operation of the vehicle equipment has been normally completed by summing up the time from the operation instruction to receiving the notification of the operation result from the remote operation device 3. Furthermore, when the remote operation is not normally completed, the information center 7 specifies incidental information such as the cause of the failure and the failure location.

  By the way, a user who operates the portable information terminal 5 and requests a remote operation of the vehicle device often performs the operation from a position away from the vehicle. According to the type and the like and the remote operation request, it is necessary to inform whether the remote operation of the vehicle device has been executed and completed or has failed. Further, when the remote operation fails, if the user is also notified of the cause of the failure and a countermeasure, the user can quickly deal with the cause of the failure.

  Therefore, in the remote operation system 1 according to the present embodiment, for example, the operation type of the vehicle device in which the remote operation is performed, the completion / non-completion of the remote operation, various event times, the operation information such as the cause of the malfunction of the vehicle device, and the vehicle The incidental information such as a failure location at the time of failure is notified to a user, a dealer (dealer), a vehicle manufacturer, or the like.

  The information center 7 transmits an e-mail to the portable information terminal 5 to notify the user of information including the operation result of the remote operation of the vehicle equipment. When the remote operation is normally completed, as shown in FIG. 2A, the e-mail describes, for example, that the remote operation has been normally completed 101 and the content 102 of the remote operation. Note that link information 103 such as a URL for canceling the contents of the remote operation may be attached to the e-mail in consideration of user convenience.

  On the other hand, when the remote operation fails, the information center 7 identifies the cause of the failure and notifies the user's portable information terminal 5 according to the cause of the failure.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing flow when the remote operation of the vehicle device fails.

  As shown in FIG. 3, for example, when a predetermined operation signal is transmitted from the portable information terminal 5 and a remote operation is executed (S100), the master ECU 3c performs normal remote operation based on information from the slave ECUs 3d and 3e. It is determined whether or not the process has been completed (S110).

  When the master ECU 3c determines that the remote operation has been normally completed, as described above, the master ECU 3c indicates that the remote operation has been normally completed 101, the operation content 102, etc. via the DCM 3a and the information center 7, as the user's mobile information. The terminal 5 is notified (S120).

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the remote operation has failed, the master ECU 3c determines whether the cause of the failure is a vehicle failure (S130).

  When the master ECU 3c determines that the failure cause is a vehicle failure, the master ECU 3c notifies the user of the failure cause and a countermeasure for solving the failure to the user's portable information terminal 5 via the DCM 3a and the information center 7. (S140). Further, the master ECU 3c notifies the mobile information terminal 5 of the user via the DCM 3a and the information center 7 of the telephone number of the vehicle dealer capable of repairing the fault and the map information to the dealer (S150).

  On the other hand, when the master ECU 3c determines that the cause of failure is other than a vehicle failure (for example, establishment of an operation prohibition condition, access failure, etc.), the failure cause and the next countermeasure are handled by the user via the DCM 3a and the information center 7. The mobile information terminal 5 is notified (S160). Further, the master ECU 3c retries the same remote operation and determines whether or not the cause of the failure has been solved (S170).

  When the master ECU 3c determines that the cause of the failure is not resolved, the master ECU 3c notifies the user's portable information terminal 5 of further countermeasures, contact information of the call center, etc. via the DCM 3a and the information center 7 (S180). On the other hand, when the master ECU 3c determines that the cause of the failure is not solved, as described above, the master ECU 3c notifies the user's portable information terminal 5 that the remote operation has been normally completed via the DCM 3a and the information center 7 ( S120).

  Next, the cause of the remote operation failure for the vehicle equipment and the coping method will be described in detail.

  First, (a) a case where a remote operation fails due to an access failure between the information center 7 and the remote control device 3 will be described.

  The information center 7 receives an instruction for requesting remote operation of the vehicle device from the user's portable information terminal 5 and transmits the request instruction to the remote control device 3 within a predetermined time immediately after the transmission. When the reception confirmation signal from the remote operation device 3 is not received, and when the reception confirmation signal is received but the information about the operation result of the remote operation from the remote operation device 3 is not received, the remote operation of the vehicle device has failed. It is determined that the cause of the failure is an access failure between the information center 7 and the remote control device 3.

  For example, when the remote control device 3 of the vehicle is outside the radio wave range where the radio wave from the information center 7 cannot be received, or when it is difficult for the remote control device 3 of the vehicle to receive the radio wave from the information center 7, the above-described poor access Occurs.

  The information center 7 transmits an e-mail to the portable information terminal 5 so as to notify the user of the operation information. For example, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), an e-mail message indicating that the communication connection with the vehicle has failed, the vehicle is out of the radio wave range (or that the radio wave condition is bad), etc. is sent to the user's portable information terminal 5. May be sent. Note that link information 104 such as a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) for performing the same remote operation may be attached to the e-mail. The user can easily retry the same remote operation by instructing to click the link information 104 on the e-mail. When the radio wave condition is poor, the information center 7 and the vehicle may be able to establish a communication connection by retrying the remote operation.

  Next, (b) a case where the remote operation fails when the operation prohibition condition is satisfied will be described.

  When an operation prohibition condition is satisfied in performing remote operation of the vehicle device in the remote operation device 3 (for example, when the vehicle door is open when the remote operation is a door lock), the master ECU 3c of the remote operation device 3 Without immediately instructing the slave ECUs 3d and 3e to perform the operation of the remote operation of the vehicle equipment, it is immediately determined that the remote operation of the vehicle equipment has failed, and the cause of the failure is established as an operation prohibition condition (for example, The vehicle door is open). Then, the remote operation device 3 notifies the information center 7 of the operation result related to the remote operation from the DCM 3a.

  When the information center 7 receives the operation result or the like notified from the remote control device 3, the information center 7 determines that the remote operation of the vehicle device has failed, and the cause of the failure is, for example, an operation for opening the vehicle door. It is determined that the prohibition condition is met.

  The information center 7 is an e-mail including the above-mentioned operation information, that the remote operation is not accepted by the vehicle, that the cause of the non-acceptance is the establishment of the operation prohibition condition, and a countermeasure for the operation prohibition condition not being established. Is transmitted to the portable information terminal 5 of the user. For example, when the door is open and the door lock is operated remotely, "Please perform the door lock remote operation when the door is closed". An e-mail to that effect may be transmitted to the portable information terminal 5 of the user.

  Further, in the remote operation performed by the same user (the portable information terminal 5 having the same identification information), if the same operation prohibition condition is satisfied a predetermined number of times or more, it is considered that the user repeats the same operation mistake. In this case, one-point advice for preventing the operation mistake may be described in the above-described e-mail, or link information such as a URL for displaying the advice may be attached. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the remote operation in which the operation prohibition condition is satisfied by the user from being repeated.

  Next, (c) a case where the remote operation fails due to a vehicle failure will be described.

  Even if the master ECU 3c of the remote operation device 3 supplies the slave ECUs 3d and 3e with operation instructions for remote operation of the vehicle equipment, the remote operation fails due to vehicle failure (for example, failure of the ECU, the operating motor, etc.). The slave ECUs 3d and 3e store the failure location, the diagnostic code indicating the failure location, command raw data, the state of the vehicle equipment before and after the remote operation request, and the like, indicating that the remote operation of the vehicle equipment has failed. In addition to notifying the master ECU 3c, the master ECU 3c is notified of the cause of the failure being a vehicle failure, diagnostic information regarding the failure location, and the like.

  When the master ECU 3c receives the above notification from the slave ECUs 3d and 3e, the master ECU 3c determines that the remote operation of the vehicle device has failed, and identifies all accompanying information such as the cause of failure, failure location, and diag code. Then, the remote operation device 3 notifies the information center 7 of the operation result related to the remote operation from the DCM 3a. When the information center 7 receives the operation result or the like notified from the remote operation device 3, the information center 7 determines that the remote operation of the vehicle device has failed. Further, the information center 7 determines that the cause of the failure is a vehicle failure and specifies other incidental information.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2C, the information center 7 performs operations such as the fact that the vehicle operation has not been normally completed 105, the operation content 106, the cause of failure (or link information 106 for displaying the cause of failure), and the like. An electronic mail including information and incidental information such as a failure location (not shown) is transmitted to the user's portable information terminal 5.

  The e-mail sent to the user may describe the failure location and repair method (detailed procedure, etc.) according to the level of the vehicle failure, and map information to a store capable of repairing the vehicle failure. In addition, contact information such as a telephone number and an e-mail address of the dealer may be described. In addition, the user may be notified of an e-mail that has been explained using figures, animations, etc. so that the failure location and failure situation can be easily understood.

  Furthermore, when the number of days and cost required for repairing a vehicle failure can be predicted, this information may be notified to the user by e-mail, or the telephone number of the call center that supports the user may be notified. Further, at the same time as the e-mail is transmitted to the user's portable information terminal 5, the above-mentioned operation information and incidental information such as the failure location are notified to the store that repairs the vehicle failure by e-mail or the like. May be. As a result, the dealer can prepare the vehicle for repair and invite the store in advance.

  In addition, immediately after the e-mail transmission to the portable information terminal 5 of the user, when a plurality of vehicle failures are collected, or when a transmission request is received from the vehicle manufacturer, a diagnosis code indicating the vehicle failure location is included. An email may be sent to notify the vehicle manufacturer of all of the information. For vehicle manufacturers who manufacture vehicles, it is convenient to perform subsequent vehicle analysis if they can know the diagnostic code and command raw data at the time of vehicle failure.

  Next, (d) a case where the remote operation fails due to a cause other than the vehicle failure will be described.

  After the master ECU 3c of the remote operation device 3 supplies the slave ECUs 3d and 3e with an operation instruction for remote operation of the vehicle equipment, the vehicle malfunction ( For example, a mechanism that prevents the object from being caught between the window and the vehicle body when the remote operation is closed is activated, and the information center 7 side When the remote operation fails due to a problem or the like, the slave ECUs 3d and 3e notify the master ECU 3c that the remote operation of the vehicle equipment has failed, and the master indicates that the cause of the failure is a factor other than the vehicle failure. The ECU 3c is notified.

  When the master ECU 3c receives the above notification from the slave ECUs 3d and 3e, the master ECU 3c determines that the remote operation of the vehicle device has failed, and identifies the cause of the failure as a factor other than the vehicle failure. Then, the remote operation device 3 notifies the information center 7 of the operation result related to the remote operation from the DCM 3a. When the information center 7 receives the above-described operation result from the remote control device 3, the information center 7 determines that the remote operation of the vehicle device has failed, and determines the cause of the failure as, for example, a problem on the information center 7 side. Then, the information center 7 transmits an e-mail to the portable information terminal 5 so as to notify the user of the operation information. In this case, e-mails with contents such as, for example, that the remote operation has failed, or a solution for the failure (if the failure occurred due to a problem on the information center 7 side, the return time at which the information center 7 returns to a normal state) are sent to the user. It transmits to the portable information terminal 5. Accordingly, for example, the user can perform a remote operation with the return time of the information center 7 as a guideline, and thus it is possible to eliminate useless retry operations.

  Next, (e) a case where the cause of failure in remote operation is unknown will be described.

  When the master ECU 3c receives notification from the slave ECUs 3d and 3e that the remote operation of the vehicle device has failed and determines that the remote operation of the vehicle device has failed, the cause of the failure may not be specified. In this case, the information center 7 may transmit to the user's portable information terminal 5 an e-mail indicating that the cause of the operation failure is unknown or that the same remote operation is performed again. Further, when the remote operation is repeated a predetermined number of times or more and the cause of the operation failure is unknown, the telephone number of the call center may be notified to the user's portable information terminal 5 by e-mail. It should be noted that link information for automatically retrying when an instruction operation is performed on the screen of the portable information terminal 5 such as a click may be attached to the e-mail prompting the same operation again.

  Furthermore, when the remote operation fails due to the combination of the above-described failure causes (a) to (e), all the corresponding failure causes may be notified to the user's portable information terminal 5, and the failure cause notification priority is given. Depending on the degree, any number of failure causes (for example, one with the highest notification priority) among the failure causes (a) to (e) may be notified to the mobile information terminal 5 of the user. Good. Note that the notification priority of the cause of failure of the remote operation may be set so that the notification priority becomes higher as the difficulty level for improving the cause of failure becomes higher when the remote operation is retried. As a result, the user can recognize the cause of failure that has a high notification priority and is difficult to improve, and can efficiently deal with the cause of failure.

  For example, the cause of failure due to (b) when the operation prohibition condition is satisfied because the vehicle door described above is in the open state, and the cause of failure due to (a) when the vehicle is out of the radio wave range and access is poor. Compare notification priorities. When the vehicle door is in the open state (b), if the vehicle door is closed as described above, the operation prohibition condition is not established, and the cause of the failure of the remote operation is easily eliminated. On the other hand, when the vehicle is outside the radio wave range (a), it is necessary to move the vehicle to the radio wave range. Therefore, since the failure cause in the case of poor access (a) can be more difficult to improve the failure cause than the failure cause in the case where the operation prohibition condition is satisfied (b), the notification priority Is set high. Thus, based on the difficulty level of the cause of failure, for example, due to vehicle failure (c), due to poor access (a), when operation prohibition conditions are satisfied (b), in other cases (d) or (e ) May be set so that the difficulty level becomes lower. In this setting, when there is a cause of failure both when the operation prohibition condition is satisfied (b) and when due to vehicle failure (c), the operation information and incidental information corresponding to only when (c) is due to vehicle failure The described electronic mail may be transmitted to the user's portable information terminal 5.

  As described above, in the remote operation system 1 according to the present embodiment, every time a remote operation request for a vehicle device is made, the operation result such as normal operation end or operation failure, the cause of failure in the case of operation failure, and the coping method The incidental information such as the failure location is transmitted from the remote operation device 3 to the information center 7. Furthermore, such information is notified from the information center 7 to the user's portable information terminal 5 or to a store or vehicle manufacturer at an appropriate timing. Thereby, for example, the user who requests the remote operation of the vehicle device can know the cause of the failure when the requested remote operation result of the vehicle device is unsuccessful, the coping method, and the like. Therefore, the user can quickly cope with the failure of the remote operation.

  In addition, when the failure of the remote operation of the vehicle equipment is caused by a vehicle failure, the vehicle dealer is informed of the failure cause and the state of the vehicle equipment before and after the remote operation request. Therefore, it is possible to promptly analyze / understand a specific vehicle failure location.

  In the remote operation system 1 of the present embodiment, the user operates the portable information terminal 5 to make a remote operation request from the portable information terminal 5 to the remote operation device 3 via the information center 7. The mounted vehicle equipment is operated remotely. For this reason, the user can drive the vehicle device by operating the portable information terminal 5 at a place away from the vehicle even if the user is not on the vehicle. As a result, the vehicle device can be remotely transferred to a desired state.

  As mentioned above, although the best mode for carrying out the present invention has been described using one embodiment, the present invention is not limited to such one embodiment, and within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention, Various modifications and substitutions can be made to the above-described embodiment.

  For example, in the above embodiment, as an example of the remote operation of the vehicle equipment, the turn signal lamp is turned on / off, the vehicle door is locked / unlocked, the power window is opened and closed, and the engine is started / stopped. In addition, the user can manually open and close the slide roof, trunk, back door, etc., remotely turn on / off the air conditioner, and turn on / off the headlamp, fog lamp, small lamp, room lamp, etc. It may be a target of operation.

  In the above embodiment, when the master ECU 3c identifies the cause of the remote operation failure as the above-mentioned access failure (a), the vehicle data communication antenna 3b can receive a radio wave from the information center 7, for example, a movable type. The data communication antenna 3b may be moved vertically and horizontally. Further, the vehicle may be moved in the front-rear direction or the like so that the vehicle data communication antenna 3b can receive radio waves from the information center 7. When the vehicle moves, a safe distance from the obstacle is secured based on the distance from the obstacle around the vehicle detected by a distance detection sensor such as a clearance sonar (ultrasonic sensor). Furthermore, when the master ECU 3c determines that the access failure that caused the failure of the remote operation has been improved by the movement of the data communication antenna 3b or the movement of the vehicle, the same remote operation may be performed again. .

  In the above embodiment, when the master ECU 3c identifies the cause of the remote operation failure as the vehicle failure (c) described above, the failure location that caused the failure may be automatically repaired. Furthermore, the master ECU 3c may re-execute the same remote operation after repairing the failed part.

  Note that when the master ECU 3c determines that the above-described failure location cannot be repaired, an alternative measure may be taken. For example, if the cause of remote operation failure is a power window failure (drive motor failure, etc.) and the window does not close, as an alternative measure, close the movable curtain corresponding to the window. Also good.

  Moreover, the cause of the failure of the remote operation is a failure of the vehicle door locking device (a failure of the drive motor, etc.), and the vehicle door may not be locked. In this case, as an alternative countermeasure, when the master ECU 3c cannot receive the identification signal transmitted from the smart key or the portable information terminal 5 and determines that the vehicle door is opened, an alarm sound (horn, audio) Or a warning light (headlight, hazard light, indoor light, etc.) may be turned on / flashing. Thereby, crime prevention improves.

  Furthermore, the cause of failure in remote operation is a vehicle side roof failure (such as a drive motor failure), and the side roof may not close. In this case, as an alternative measure, the master ECU 3c may increase the vehicle height so as to prevent unauthorized intrusion by performing vehicle height control of the vehicle suspension or the like.

  In the above embodiment, the master ECU 3c may notify the user's portable information terminal 5 of weather information around the vehicle. Moreover, you may make it notify the predetermined proposal according to the said weather information with the weather information. For example, if the weather information is rain, snow, etc., you may make a suggestion such as “Do you want to close the vehicle window?”. When a raindrop is detected by a raindrop sensor, etc. The structure which closes may be sufficient. Note that the master ECU 3c, for example, image information from the camera (image of road surface, operation image of wiper device of other vehicle), detected load from load sensor, road-to-vehicle communication such as ETC, or vehicle between other vehicles. The weather around the vehicle is determined based on the information acquired by the inter-vehicle communication.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for a vehicle remote control system that can remotely control vehicle equipment.

It is a block diagram of the remote control system which is one Example of this invention. (A) It is a figure which shows an example of the content of the email notified with respect to a user, when remote operation is completed normally. (B) It is a figure which shows an example of the content of the email notified with respect to a user when remote operation fails by access failure. (C) It is a figure which shows an example of the content of the email notified with respect to a user when remote operation fails by vehicle failure. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the processing flow when the remote operation of vehicle equipment fails.

Explanation of symbols

1 Remote operation system 3 Remote operation device 3a DCM
3b Data communication antenna 3c Master ECU
3d door ECU
3e Body ECU
5 Mobile information terminal 7 Information center

Claims (22)

Based on a predetermined operation signal transmitted from the portable information terminal via the information center, a remote control device for operating the vehicle equipment,
When the operation of the vehicle equipment has failed, at least one of causes and remedy against the failure of the failure, and notifies via the information center to the portable information terminal,
Causes of the failure include vehicle failure,
When the cause of the failure is a vehicle failure, the vehicle failure is automatically repaired, and the operation of the vehicle device is executed again .
Remote control device. The remote control device according to claim 1,
The cause of the failure includes that a predetermined operation prohibition condition is satisfied. The remote control device according to claim 2,
A remote operation device that notifies a predetermined message to the portable information terminal via the information center when an operation of the vehicle device that establishes the predetermined operation prohibition condition is repeated a predetermined number of times or more. The remote control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The cause of the failure includes that the vehicle is out of a radio wave range that cannot receive a radio wave transmitted from the portable information terminal via the information center. The remote control device according to claim 4,
A remote operation device characterized in that link information for retransmitting the predetermined operation signal from the portable information terminal is attached to the cause of the failure. The remote control device according to claim 4 or 5,
The remote operation device, wherein the predetermined operation signal is transmitted a plurality of times from the portable information terminal via the information center. The remote control device according to any one of claims 4 to 6,
Moving the antenna of the vehicle so that the predetermined operation signal is received when the vehicle is out of a radio wave range where the predetermined operation signal transmitted from the portable information terminal via the information center cannot be received. Remote control device characterized by. The remote control device according to any one of claims 4 to 7,
When the vehicle is out of a radio wave range where the predetermined operation signal transmitted from the portable information terminal via the information center cannot be received, the vehicle is moved so that the predetermined operation signal is received. Remote control device. The remote control device according to claim 1 ,
A remote control device for notifying repair information regarding the vehicle failure to the portable information terminal via the information center. The remote control device according to claim 1 ,
A remote control device characterized in that an alternative countermeasure is taken when the repair for the vehicle failure is impossible. The remote control device according to claim 1 ,
A remote control device for notifying failure information regarding a vehicle failure to a predetermined location. The remote control device according to claim 1 ,
The remote operation device characterized in that the cause of the failure includes a malfunction of the information center. The remote control device according to claim 12 , comprising:
A remote operation device for notifying the portable information terminal of the return time of the information center via the information center. The remote control device according to claim 1 ,
A remote operation device that notifies the portable information terminal via the information center that the cause of the failure when the operation of the vehicle device has failed is unknown. The remote control device according to claim 14 ,
A remote control device for notifying the portable information terminal via the information center so as to perform the operation of the vehicle equipment again. The remote control device according to claim 1 ,
When the operation of the vehicle device fails due to a plurality of types of failure, the cause of the failure is notified to the portable information terminal via the information center based on a predetermined notification priority. Remote control device. The remote control device according to claim 16 , comprising:
The predetermined operation priority is set based on a difficulty level in which the cause of the failure is improved. The remote control device according to claim 1 ,
A remote control device for notifying weather information in the vicinity of the vehicle to the portable information terminal via the information center. The remote control device according to claim 18 , comprising:
A remote operation device that notifies the portable information terminal of a countermeasure according to the weather information via the information center. A remote operation device for operating a vehicle device based on a predetermined operation signal transmitted from a portable information terminal via an information center,
When the operation of the vehicle equipment has failed, at least one of the cause of the failure and a countermeasure for the failure is notified to the portable information terminal via the information center,
When the vehicle is out of a radio wave range where the predetermined operation signal transmitted from the portable information terminal via the information center cannot be received, the vehicle is moved so that the predetermined operation signal is received. And
Remote control device. A portable information terminal that transmits a predetermined operation signal;
A remote operation system for remotely operating a vehicle device based on the predetermined operation signal transmitted from the portable information terminal via an information center,
When the operation of the vehicle device fails, the remote control device notifies the portable information terminal via the information center of at least one of the cause of the failure and a coping method for the failure,
Causes of the failure include vehicle failure,
When the cause of the failure is a vehicle failure, the vehicle failure is automatically repaired, and the operation of the vehicle device is executed again .
Remote control system.   A portable information terminal that transmits a predetermined operation signal;
  A remote operation system for remotely operating a vehicle device based on the predetermined operation signal transmitted from the portable information terminal via an information center,
  When the operation of the vehicle device fails, the remote control device notifies the portable information terminal via the information center of at least one of the cause of the failure and a coping method for the failure,
  When the vehicle is out of a radio wave range where the predetermined operation signal transmitted from the portable information terminal via the information center cannot be received, the vehicle is moved so that the predetermined operation signal is received. And
  Remote control system.

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