JP6669416B2 - Electronic equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device to which a portable terminal having a data communication function can be connected, and more particularly to a method for downloading data via the portable terminal.

  The navigation device can update map data using a tethering function with a smartphone (mobile phone) connected to Wi-Fi (registered trademark). For the convenience of the map data, it is desirable to use the latest map data, and it is necessary to periodically update the map data.

  On the other hand, when relatively large amounts of data such as map data are downloaded to the navigation device using the tethering function, it is necessary to consider restrictions on communication charges and communication capacity of the mobile phone. This is because, if a communication fee is charged in proportion to the amount of communication, or if there is a limit on the communication capacity on a daily or monthly basis, if the limit is exceeded, the communication speed will be limited. is there. To avoid this, Patent Literature 1 sets a limit on the communication fee in advance and prohibits access to an external server when communication exceeding the limit occurs. A data communication processing device for retrieving information from storage means is disclosed.

JP 2011-155575 A

  In updating the map data, there is a method of updating the data of the difference from the previous update, but even in the case of the update of the difference, the update data includes large data exceeding, for example, 1 GB. Also, if map data is downloaded at a stretch using the tethering function, the communication capacity may quickly reach the upper limit of the communication capacity depending on the contract plan of the mobile phone without knowing the user, and the communication speed may be limited. For example, the difference update data of a nationwide map is, for example, about 1 GB, and it takes about 30 minutes to download it using LTE (25 Mbps), but it takes about 70 minutes to download it using a 3G line (3 Mbps). I will.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves such a conventional problem. In a case where a communication capacity is limited in data communication using a tethering function, an electronic control for controlling data download so as not to exceed the communication capacity limit. It is intended to provide a device.

  An electronic device according to the present invention can use a data communication function of a mobile terminal, and downloads via a mobile terminal a first obtaining unit that obtains a limit amount related to a restriction on a communication amount of the mobile terminal. Second obtaining means for obtaining the amount of data download, determining means for determining whether or not to separately download data based on the limited amount and the amount of download, And download means for performing divided download within a range not exceeding the limit based on the determination means and the determination means.

  Preferably, when the limit amount is determined in units of one day, even if it is determined that the download is divided, if the download start time is a certain time before the date, the download unit may perform the division by the determination unit. Regardless of the download amount, download up to the limit amount. Preferably, the determination unit determines again whether to perform the divided download after downloading up to the limit amount. Preferably, when the download start time is not a fixed time before the date, the download unit downloads according to the divided download amount determined by the determination unit. Preferably, when the limit amount is determined on a monthly basis, even if it is determined not to perform split download, if the download start time is the beginning of the month, the split download is determined by the determining means, and the download means is determined by the download means. Split download is performed. Preferably, when the download start time is not the beginning of the month, the download means performs the download without division. Preferably, when the download start time is immediately before the cut-off date, and the download unit splits and crosses the cut-off date, the download unit downloads without division. Preferably, when the download start time is not immediately before the closing date, after the divided download is performed by the download unit, the determination unit determines again whether to perform the divided download.

  According to the present invention, since the data is divided and downloaded based on the communication limit of the connected portable terminal, it is possible to prevent the communication limit from being exceeded by a large-capacity communication that is not intended by the user. It is possible to perform communication according to the contract plan of the user's mobile terminal.

It is a figure showing composition of an in-vehicle communication system concerning an example of the present invention. It is a figure showing composition of an in-vehicle device concerning an example of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a download control program according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing the example of composition of the personal digital assistant concerning the example of the present invention. It is a figure showing the functional composition of the acquisition program of a personal digital assistant. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a server according to an embodiment of the present invention. 5 is an operation flow when downloading map data in the in-vehicle communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure explaining operation of each part of an in-vehicle communication system concerning a 1st example of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a download control program according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 9 is an operation flow when map data is downloaded in the in-vehicle communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The electronic device of the present invention can be an in-vehicle device fixedly mounted on a moving body such as an automobile, a portable terminal brought into the vehicle, or the like. The electronic device of the present invention is a computer device, preferably equipped with a navigation function, a map display function, and the like, but other functions, such as a function of reproducing audio / video data, a function of receiving television / radio broadcasting, It may have a function of integrally executing application software.

  The portable terminal connected to the electronic device is a portable terminal such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a notebook personal computer, and has a telephone function via a public telephone line or IP communication. (Registered trademark) or other wired communication. In addition, it is possible to access the Internet or the like to exchange data with an external server.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle-mounted communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The in-vehicle communication system 1 includes an in-vehicle device 10, a mobile terminal 20, and a server 30. The in-vehicle device 10 and the portable terminal 20 can mutually transmit and receive data by wireless communication 40 such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark). In addition, the mobile terminal 20 can access the server 30 via a public wireless line or the Internet line 50, can transmit and receive data to and from the server 30, and can acquire data stored in the server 30. In the in-vehicle communication system 1 according to the present embodiment, the in-vehicle device 10 downloads map data necessary for the navigation function from the server 30 via the mobile terminal 20.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the vehicle-mounted device 10. The in-vehicle device 10 includes an input unit 100, a position information calculation unit 110, a navigation unit 120, a display unit 130, a sound output unit 140, a communication unit 150, a storage unit 160, and a control unit 170.

  The input unit 100 receives an instruction from a user using an input key device, a voice input recognition device, a touch panel, or the like, and provides the instruction to the control unit 170. The position information calculation unit 110 calculates the current position of the vehicle based on a GPS signal transmitted from a GPS satellite and an output from a sensor such as a gyro sensor. The navigation unit 120 searches for a route from the current location calculated by the position information calculation unit 110 to the destination, for example, and guides the searched route. The navigation unit 120 causes the display unit 130 to display a road map based on the map data read from the storage unit 160, for example. The display unit 130 displays, for example, road map data generated by the navigation unit 120, and displays a menu screen and the like. The voice output unit 140 provides voice guidance on the route to the destination.

  The communication unit 150 enables data transmission / reception with an external device. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a wireless communication 40 is established with the mobile terminal 20, or a wired connection such as a USB cable is established.

  The storage unit 160 stores application software and programs executed by the control unit 170, map data required by the navigation unit 120, and the like. The map data includes version information, and it is possible to identify whether or not the data is the latest by comparing with the version information of the map data stored in the server 30. If the map data of the in-vehicle device 10 is not the latest, the map data is updated.

  In a preferred embodiment, the control unit 170 is configured by a microcontroller or the like including a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and the ROM or the RAM can store various programs for controlling the operation of each unit of the vehicle-mounted device 10. In the present embodiment, the control unit 170 executes a download control program 200 for downloading update data of map data. The download control program 200 enables divided download of map data based on the communication contract plan of the mobile terminal 20.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the download control program according to the first embodiment. The download control program 200 includes a contract plan information acquisition unit 210, a current total communication amount acquisition unit 220, a remaining communication capacity calculation unit 230, a division determination unit 240, a divided download amount determination unit 250, a start time determination unit 260, and a date span determination unit 270. , A download reservation unit 280, and a download control unit 290. The download control program 200 is executed when the map data is automatically updated or when the user manually updates the map data.

  The contract plan information acquisition unit 210 acquires contract plan information of the mobile terminal 20 with which the user has contracted with a communication company or the like. The contract plan information includes, for example, a communication limit amount per day, a communication limit amount per month, a communication restriction fee per day, a communication restriction fee per month, and the like. The contract plan information may be stored in advance in the storage unit 160 and acquired. Alternatively, if the mobile terminal 20 has the contract plan information, the contract plan information may be acquired from the portable terminal 20. Alternatively, the mobile terminal 20 may access a site or the like having user information in response to a request from the in-vehicle device 10 and acquire it from there, or may acquire it by user input.

  The current total communication amount acquisition unit 220 acquires information on the total communication amount used by the mobile terminal 20 up to the present. The information is, for example, the total communication amount for one day of the acquisition date, the total communication amount for one month of the acquisition month, and the like. As with the acquisition of the contract plan information, the communication total amount information can be acquired by any of acquisition via the mobile terminal 20, acquisition directly performed by the in-vehicle device 10, and acquisition from the mobile phone 20. It is.

  The remaining communication capacity calculation unit 230 calculates the remaining communication capacity until the communication limit is reached, based on the contract plan information obtained by the contract plan information obtaining unit 210 and the total communication amount obtained by the current total communication amount obtaining unit 220. In the first embodiment, the remaining communication capacity for that day (per day) is calculated based on the communication restriction amount for one day and the total communication amount used until the start of downloading. For example, if the daily communication limit is 100 MB / day and 50 MB of communication has already been performed by the time of downloading, the remaining communication capacity is 50 MB.

  The division determination unit 240 obtains the download capacity of the map data to be updated from the server 30, and compares the download capacity to be updated with the remaining communication capacity to determine whether to perform the split download. Specifically, if the download capacity of the map data to be updated exceeds the remaining communication capacity of the day, it is determined that the map data is divided and downloaded. If the download capacity is equal to or less than the remaining communication capacity, no division is performed. It is determined to download all at once. For example, when the download capacity of the map data to be updated is 1 GB (1000 MB) and the remaining communication capacity is 50 MB, it is determined that the download is divided. The map data to be updated is preferably a difference. When the division determination unit 240 checks the download amount of the map data, the download capacity of the difference between the version information of the map data held by the in-vehicle device 10 and the latest version is determined. Confirm.

  The divided download amount determination unit 250 determines the amount of download to be divided when the division determination unit 240 determines to perform divided download. In one example, 1 / N of the remaining communication capacity calculated by the remaining communication capacity calculation unit 230 is determined as the divided download amount. For example, if the remaining communication capacity is 50 MB and N = 2, the divided download amount is 25 MB. The value of N may be a predetermined value or a value set by the user from the input unit 100. Further, the value of N may be dynamically changed according to the size of the remaining communication capacity. For example, N = 2 when the remaining communication capacity is 30 MB or less, and N = 3 when the remaining communication capacity exceeds 30 MB.

  The start time determination unit 260 determines whether or not the start time at which the update of the map data is started by the update program 200 is n hours before the date is straddled. That is, it is determined whether or not the download start time is n hours before 0:00 of the next day. The value of n is an arbitrary value, and the value of n may be changed by the user. The download start time may be, for example, the system date and time when the update program was executed, or when updating the map data periodically, the start time is stored in the storage unit 160 in advance. You may memorize and use this.

  The date span determination unit 270 determines whether or not the date has been straddled after the divided download performed after the start time determination unit 260 has determined that it is n hours before the straddle of the date. If the date is straddling, it is considered that the communication restriction has been reset, and thus the information on the total amount of communication is acquired again by the current total communication amount acquiring unit 220.

  The download reservation unit 280 determines whether or not the start time determination unit 260 has completed split download after determining that the current time is not n hours before the date straddling, or if the date straddling determination unit 270 determines that the date does not straddle. , Book the next download. The next download reservation is, for example, a reservation for downloading the next day, and the download control program 200 is executed again on the next day (after 0:00). Alternatively, the download control program 200 may be executed again after a certain time has elapsed. The reservation data by the download reservation unit 280 is stored in, for example, the storage unit 160, and the in-vehicle device 10 starts the download control program 200 when the reservation data is stored, for example, when the portable terminal 20 is connected. Can be

  The download control unit 290 requests update data of the map data via the mobile terminal 20 and divides and downloads the update data from the server 30 according to the request, or downloads the update data collectively without division. For example, when the start time determination unit 260 determines that the start time is n hours before straddling the date, the download control unit 290 determines the remaining communication instead of the value determined by the divided download amount determination unit 250. Divided download is performed for the remaining communication capacity calculated by the capacity calculation unit 230. This is because the communication limit per day is reset if the date is straddled, so even if downloading is performed until the remaining communication capacity is full, the effect on the user (the effect such as the communication limit being applied) ) Is extremely small. On the other hand, if the time is not n hours before the straddle, the divided download is performed according to the value determined by the divided download amount determining unit 250. This is because there is a strong possibility that the user will perform communication for another purpose after the divided download.

  If the division determination unit 240 determines that the download is performed without division, the download control unit 290 downloads the map data to be updated at once.

  FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the mobile terminal 20. The mobile terminal 20 includes a communication unit 400, an input unit 410, a display unit 420, an audio output unit 430, a storage unit 440, and a control unit 450. However, this is a typical configuration example, and the mobile terminal 20 may include functions other than those described above.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the communication unit 400 establishes the wireless communication 40 with the in-vehicle device 10 and establishes the wireless communication with the server 30 through the public line 50 or the like. That is, the mobile terminal 20 serves as a relay device for connecting the in-vehicle device 10 and the server 30 and provides a tethering function. When data communication using a public wireless line such as 3G, 4G, or LTE is performed, the communication unit 400 holds the usage amount of the data communication and responds to the usage amount request from the vehicle-mounted device 10. You can send usage. The communication unit 400 corresponds to communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), Wi-Fi (registered trademark), WiMax, 3G, 4G, and LTE. The storage unit 440 can store a program for executing a function unique to the mobile terminal 20, an application program downloaded from an external server, and the like.

  In a preferred embodiment, the control unit 450 includes a microcontroller including a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The ROM or the RAM can store various programs for controlling the operation of each unit of the mobile terminal 20. In the present embodiment, the control unit 450 accesses the server 30 in response to a request from the in-vehicle device 10 and executes the acquisition program 500 for acquiring map data.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of the acquisition program 500. The acquisition program 500 includes a request reception unit 510, a map data acquisition unit 520, and a map data transmission unit 530. The request receiving unit 510 receives a request for the mobile terminal 20 from the vehicle-mounted device 10. For example, when the in-vehicle device 10 updates the map data, the request receiving unit 510 receives a request from the server 30 to acquire the map data. The map data acquisition unit 520 accesses the server 30 via the communication unit 400 in response to the request from the request reception unit 510, and acquires the latest map data. The map data transmission unit 530 transmits the map data acquired by the map data acquisition unit 520 to the in-vehicle device 10 via the communication unit 400.

  FIG. 6 shows the configuration of the server 30. The server 30 includes a communication unit 600, a storage unit 610, and a control unit 620. However, this is a typical configuration example, and the server 30 may include functions other than those described above.

  The communication unit 600 enables communication with the mobile terminal 20 via the public wireless line 50 or the Internet line. The storage unit 610 stores a program for executing a function unique to the server 30, map data that can be provided to the vehicle-mounted device 10, and the like. The map data is appropriately updated to the latest map data by another system (not shown) or an administrator.

  When there is a request for updating the map data from the in-vehicle device 10, the control unit 620 provides the in-vehicle device 10 with the updated map data in response to the request. Preferably, the request for updating the map data includes version information of the map data held by the vehicle-mounted device 10, and the control unit 620 determines whether the map data of the vehicle-mounted device 10 is the latest map data, If it is not the latest map data, the map data for updating to the latest map data is transmitted. The map data to be updated is a difference between the currently held map data and the latest map data.

  Next, an operation when the in-vehicle device 10 downloads map data necessary for updating in the in-vehicle notification system of the present embodiment will be described. The first embodiment is a download operation when the communication volume per day is limited.

  When it is determined in the in-vehicle device 10 that the map data needs to be updated, the download control program 200 is executed. First, the contract plan information acquisition unit 210 acquires information on the contract plan of the mobile terminal 20 (S100). This information includes the limit value of the communication amount per day. Next, the present total communication amount acquisition unit 220 acquires the present total communication amount of the present day (S102). The remaining communication capacity calculation unit 230 calculates the remaining communication capacity of one day from the limit value of the communication capacity per day and the total communication capacity already used today. The division determination unit 240 determines whether to perform divided download based on the remaining communication capacity of one day (S104). Specifically, if the download amount exceeds the remaining communication capacity, it is determined that the download is divided, and if not, it is determined that the download is not performed. That is, when the communication limit value for one day is not reached even when all the map data relating to the update is downloaded, the download control unit 290 downloads the map data all at once without division (S108), and the download is completed.

  When the download amount exceeds the remaining communication capacity, that is, when it is determined that the download is divided, the divided download amount determining unit 250 determines the divided download amount of the map data (S106). Next, the start time determination unit 260 determines whether or not the download start time is immediately before straddling a date (S110). If the download start time is immediately before straddling the date, that is, within n hours before straddling the date, the map data is downloaded to the remaining communication capacity calculated by the remaining communication capacity calculation unit 230 (S112). By this download, re-determination by the division determination unit 240 is performed, that is, when the download of all the map data has been completed, the download ends (S1). Therefore, it is determined that divided download is necessary (S116).

  On the other hand, if the start time of the download is not immediately before straddling the date (S110), the divided download is performed with the capacity determined by the divided download amount determination unit 250 in S106 (S114). With this download, re-determination is performed by the division determination unit 240, that is, when the download of all the map data has been completed, the download ends, otherwise, there is undownloaded map data. It is determined that the divided download is necessary (S118).

  If it is determined in step S118 that divided download is necessary, the next download is reserved by the download reservation unit 280 (S122), and the download is temporarily stopped (S124). If it is determined in S116 that the divided download is necessary, the date span determination unit 270 determines whether or not the date is straddled (S120). Is reserved (S122), and the download is temporarily stopped (S124). If it is determined that the date is straddling, the communication limit per day is reset, and the process from S102 is executed.

Next, the operation flow illustrated in FIG. 7 will be described using specific numerical values.
・ Download amount for updating map data: 1 GB (1000 MB)
-Contract plan of the mobile terminal 20: 100 MB / day per day-Total amount of communication already used: 50 MB
Download start time: 11:55 pm These pieces of information are obtained by the contract plan information obtaining unit 210, the current total communication amount obtaining unit 220, and the start time determining unit 260.

  The remaining communication capacity calculation unit 230 calculates 100 MB−50 = 50 MB as the remaining communication capacity. In the determination in step S104, the division determination unit 240 determines that division download is necessary because the amount of download (1000 MB)> the remaining communication capacity (50 MB). Since the remaining communication capacity is 50 MB, the divided download amount determination unit 250 determines the divided download amount within a range not exceeding this. For example, 25 MB which is half of the remaining communication capacity is allocated to the divided download (N = 2).

  The start time determination unit 260 determines whether or not the start time is one hour before (for example, n = 1). In this example, since it is 11:55 pm, it is determined that one hour before the date is straddled. I do. In this case, the download control unit 290 downloads the full limit of 50 MB per day, as shown in step S112, regardless of the determination of the divided download amount determination unit 250. Due to this download, a download amount of 1000 MB−50 MB = 950 MB remains. Therefore, in steps S116 and S118, the division determination unit 240 determines that the division download is necessary. If the date is straddled by the download up to the limit amount in step S112, the processing from step S102 is performed. If the date is not straddled, the next download is reserved. FIG. 8 shows an example of the overall operation of the in-vehicle notification system when the download is performed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when downloading data using the tethering function of the mobile terminal, it is possible to perform divided download so as not to reach the upper limit of the communication limit of the contract plan. Unintended large-capacity communication can be prevented from automatically occurring. In addition, the user's contract plan can perform communication according to the user's contract plan from different viewpoints.

  Although the division determination unit 240 determines whether the download capacity exceeds the remaining communication amount, another determination criterion may be used. For example, if the download capacity is equal to or greater than a certain percentage of the remaining traffic (e.g., twice or more), it may be determined that the download is necessary by dividing.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, the download based on the communication limit per day has been described. However, the second embodiment relates to the download when the communication amount per month is limited. FIG. 9 shows a functional configuration of a download control program according to the second embodiment. The components having the same functions as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  The contract plan information acquisition unit 210 acquires information on the communication limit amount of the mobile terminal 20 per month. The total communication amount acquisition unit 220 acquires the total communication amount already used in the current month from the mobile terminal 20. For example, if the download starts on August 8, the total amount of communication used from August 1 to August 7 is acquired. Alternatively, in addition to the communication amount from August 1 to August 7, the total communication amount including the amount used on August 8 may be obtained.

  First, the remaining communication capacity calculation unit 230 estimates the total communication usage amount for one month based on the total communication amount acquired by the current total communication amount acquisition unit 220. The estimation method is, for example, when the total communication amount for seven days from August 1 to 7 is acquired, the average usage amount per day is calculated, and the communication usage per month is calculated by the average usage amount × the number of days. Estimate total usage. Alternatively, as another estimation method, the past record of the use for a certain period is stored, and the average use amount per day or the average use amount per month is statistically calculated therefrom, and the total communication use per month is calculated. The amount may be estimated. Further, the remaining communication capacity calculation unit 230 may calculate the estimated remaining communication capacity for one month by subtracting the estimated total communication usage for one month from the limited amount of the contract plan.

  The division determination unit 240 compares the monthly communication limit amount of the contract plan with the total communication usage amount per month and map data download amount estimated by the total usage amount estimation unit 235, It is determined whether or not the communication limit is exceeded. If the monthly communication limit is exceeded, the division determination unit 240 determines that division download is necessary.

  The divided download amount determination unit 250 determines the download amount for the divided download. The divided download amount determination unit 250 determines the amount of download per day so that the sum of the estimated total communication usage for one month and the amount of download per day × the number of remaining days does not exceed the communication limit of the contract plan. To determine.

  The start time determination unit 260 determines whether the download start time is performed at the beginning of the month. The period at the beginning of the month is arbitrary and can be set as appropriate. Furthermore, the start time determination unit 260 determines whether or not the download date and time is immediately before the date on which the one-month communication restriction is reset (generally, the last day of the month; hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a closing date). The term “immediately before” means, for example, one hour before, two hours before, one day before, two days before, three days before, etc. on the deadline, and the definition immediately before can be changed as appropriate. The cutoff date determination unit 270A determines whether the cutoff date is crossed when the download control unit 290 performs the divided download.

  Next, the download operation according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flow of FIG. First, the contract plan information obtaining unit 210 obtains the contract plan information of the mobile terminal 20 (S200), and the total communication amount obtaining unit 220 obtains the total communication amount already used in the current month (S202). Next, the remaining communication capacity calculation unit 230 estimates the total communication usage per month, and the division determination unit 240 determines whether the estimated total usage and the download amount exceed the communication limit amount of the contract plan. It is determined whether or not it is (S204). If it exceeds, the division determination unit 240 determines that division download is necessary. If not, the division determination unit 240 determines that the divided download is not necessary. Next, if the start time determination unit 260 determines that the start time of the download is not the beginning of the month (S206), the download control is performed. Batch download without division is performed by the unit 290 (S208), and the download is completed (S1). Note that, even when the total communication usage of the current month cannot be calculated, batch download without division may be performed to complete the download (S1).

  When it is determined that the divided download is necessary (S204) or when the download is determined to be the beginning of the month (S206), the divided download amount per day is determined by the divided download amount determination unit 250 (S210). Next, the start time determination unit 260 determines whether or not it is immediately before the closing date (S212). If it is not immediately before the closing date, the divided download is performed according to the download amount determined by the download control unit 290 (S218). . When all the map data has been downloaded (S220), the download is completed (S1). If there is remaining download capacity, the next download is reserved by the download reservation unit 280 (S222), and the download is temporarily stopped (S224). Then, the process from step S200 is continued on another day.

  When it is determined that the start time is immediately before the closing date (S212), the divided download is performed according to the download amount determined by the download control unit 290 (S219), and then the closing date is determined by the closing date determining unit 270A. If it is determined that there is no data (S214), the download control unit 290 performs a batch download without division (S216). Since the download is immediately before the closing date, even if the communication speed is restricted, the user's data usage during the current month is limited, and the effect of this is considered to be small. On the other hand, if the cutoff date is straddled, the user is likely to use data during the current month, so the download is temporarily stopped here (S224), and the process from step S200 is continued. Note that if the cutoff date is struck, the next download may be reserved (S222), and then the download may be temporarily stopped.

Next, the operation flow shown in FIG. 10 will be described using specific numerical values.
・ Download amount for updating map data: 1 GB (1000 MB)
-Contract plan for the mobile terminal 20: 2000MB / month / month-Total amount of communication already used: 900MB
・ Estimated total usage per month: 700MB
Download start time: one week before the closing date These pieces of information are obtained by the contract plan information obtaining unit 210, the current total communication amount obtaining unit 220, and the start time determining unit 260.

  The remaining communication capacity calculation unit 230 calculates the average usage amount per day since the total used communication amount is 900 MB. For example, since it is 900 MB for 23 days, the average daily usage is about 39 MB / day, so the estimated total user usage per month is 39 × 31 ≒ 1200 MB. The division determination unit 240 determines that the expected total usage amount of 1200 MB + the download amount of 1000 MB is larger than the contract plan of 2000 MB, and thus the download amount and the expected total usage amount exceed the contract plan in step 204 (S204), so the division download is necessary. Is determined.

  Next, the divided download amount determination unit 250 determines the download amount per day so as not to exceed the communication limit amount of the contract plan. Since the estimated total usage is 1200 MB, the remaining total usage for one month is about 800 MB. The divided download amount determination unit 250 determines, for example, 800 MB / 7 days ≒ 114 MB / day. Of course, since this is the maximum value, a smaller download amount may be used.

  Since the start of the download is one week before the closing date, the start time determining unit 260 determines that the closing date does not cross (S212). The download control unit 290 downloads the value determined by the divided download amount determination unit 250, that is, 114 MB. Even if the divided download is performed, the division determination unit 240 determines that the divided download is necessary because there is a remaining download amount of 1000 MB-114M = 886 MB, and reserves the next download.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, even when the contract plan imposes the communication limit on a monthly basis, the divided download per day is performed so as not to exceed the communication limit. In addition, it is possible to prevent a large-volume download that the user does not intend, and to comply with the communication limit of the contract plan.

  As described above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, but the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims. Changes are possible.

1: In-vehicle communication system 10: In-vehicle device 20: Portable terminal 30: Server 40: Wireless communication 50: Public wireless line 200: Download control program 210: Contract plan information acquisition unit 220: Current communication total amount acquisition unit 230: Remaining communication capacity calculation Unit 240: division determination unit 250: division download amount determination unit 260: start time determination unit 270: date step determination unit 270A: month step determination unit 280: download reservation unit 290: download control unit

Claims (9)

An electronic device capable of utilizing a data communication function using a tethering function of a mobile terminal,
Connection means for connecting the mobile terminal to the electronic device to use the tethering function of the mobile terminal,
Calculating means for calculating the remaining communication capacity of the mobile terminal by subtracting the total communication amount used by the mobile terminal from the communication capacity limit per predetermined period defined by the contract plan information of the mobile terminal,
Acquisition means for acquiring a download amount of data to be downloaded via the mobile terminal;
Comparing the remaining communication capacity and the download amount, and when the download amount exceeds the remaining communication capacity, determines that the data is divided and downloaded, and when the download amount does not exceed the remaining communication capacity. Determining means for determining to download the data at once without division,
A determining unit that determines a divided download amount obtained by dividing the remaining communication capacity within a range not exceeding the remaining communication capacity, when it is determined that the download is divided and performed by the determination unit;
If it is determined based on the determination unit and the determination unit that the download is performed collectively without division by the determination unit, the download of the data is completed by downloading the data collectively, and the determination unit determines When it is determined that the data is to be divided and downloaded, the data is downloaded in accordance with the divided download amount determined by the determination unit, and the next download is performed after a predetermined time has elapsed for the remaining data that has not been downloaded. Download means for scheduling downloads,
An electronic device having: When the limit of the communication capacity according to the contract plan information of the mobile terminal is determined in units of one day, even if the determination unit determines to download in a divided manner, even if the download start time is a predetermined time before the date, 2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the download unit downloads up to the remaining communication capacity regardless of the divided download amount determined by the determination unit. The determination means determines whether or not data to be downloaded is still remaining after downloading to the remaining communication capacity, and when it is determined that data to be downloaded remains , the next download is performed for the remaining data. The electronic device according to claim 2 , wherein the download is reserved as described above, and when there is no remaining download, it is determined that the download is completed. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein, when the download start time is not a predetermined time before the straddling of the date, the download unit downloads according to the divided download amount determined by the determination unit. If the limit amount of the communication capacity according to the contract plan information of the mobile terminal is determined on a monthly basis, even if the determination unit determines that the download is not divided, if the download start time is at the beginning of the month, The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the determining unit determines a divided download amount, and the download unit performs the divided download. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein when the download start time is not the beginning of the month, the download unit performs the download in a batch without division. 6. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein, if the download start time is immediately before the cut-off date and the download unit does not cross the cut-off date when the divided download is performed, the download unit downloads without further division. When the download start time is not immediately before the closing date, the determination unit determines whether or not data to be downloaded still remains after the divisional download is performed by the download unit and determines that the data remains to be downloaded. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the download is reserved so that the next download is executed for the remaining data, and when there is no remaining data, the download is determined to be completed. 9. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes a navigation function, and data to be downloaded is map data.

Images