JP7049288B2 - Management server and programs - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a management server and a program.

Communication devices that can access wireless networks by cellular communication, WiFi (registered trademark) communication, etc., such as in-vehicle communication devices mounted on electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, are known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The number is increasing.
[Prior Art Document]
[Patent Document]
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-207984

It is desirable to provide technology that can effectively utilize the computational resources of multiple communication devices.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a management server is provided. The management server may include a signal receiving unit that receives a signal indicating that the communication device can participate in the communication device grid computing. The management server may include a state determination unit that determines a state of insufficient processing capacity of each of the plurality of processing devices based on the usage status of each of the computing resources of the plurality of processing devices. The management server may include a response transmitter that sends an instruction to participate in grid computing to a communication device based on a signal when the processing capacity of at least one of the plurality of processing devices is insufficient.

The response transmission unit may transmit the participation instruction including the identification information for identifying the processing device having insufficient processing capacity among the plurality of processing devices to the communication device. The response transmission unit may transmit the participation instruction including the processing capacity information indicating the processing capacity provided to the processing unit having insufficient processing capacity to the communication device. The signal may include processing capacity information indicating the processing capacity that can be provided by the communication device, and the response transmission unit requires a processing device having insufficient processing capacity among the plurality of communication devices. The participation instruction may be transmitted to a communication device having a processing capacity higher than that of the processing capacity to be provided.

The signal receiving unit may receive the signal from the plurality of communication devices, and the management server determines the communication device that is permitted to participate in the grid computing from the plurality of communication devices. The response transmission unit may transmit the participation permission to the communication device determined by the device determination unit. The signal may include processing capacity information indicating the processing capacity that can be provided by the communication device, and the device determination unit gives priority to the communication device having the higher processing capacity among the plurality of communication devices. The communication device instructing to participate in the grid computing may be determined. Among the plurality of communication devices, the device determination unit gives priority to a communication device having a shorter communication distance with a processing device for which processing capacity is provided, and instructs the communication device to participate in the grid computing. May be decided. The signal may include schedule information indicating a period during which the communication device can participate in grid computing, and the device determination unit may include the plurality of schedule information based on the plurality of schedule information included in the plurality of the signals. From the communication device, the communication device instructing to participate in the grid computing may be determined.

The communication device may be an in-vehicle communication device mounted on a vehicle, the signal may include battery level information indicating the remaining amount of the battery of the vehicle, and the device determination unit may include a plurality of the above-mentioned device determination units. Based on the plurality of battery remaining amount information included in the signal, the communication device instructing participation in the grid computing may be determined from the plurality of communication devices.

The communication device may be an in-vehicle communication device mounted on a vehicle, and the signal may include charge state information indicating whether or not the vehicle is in a charge state, and the device determination unit may be plural. Based on the plurality of charge state information included in the above signal, the communication device instructing participation in the grid computing may be determined from the plurality of communication devices.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a program for making a computer function as the management server is provided.

The outline of the above invention does not list all the necessary features of the present invention. A subcombination of these feature groups can also be an invention.

An example of the system 10 is shown schematically. An example of the processing flow by the in-vehicle device 310 is schematically shown. An example of the processing flow by the in-vehicle device 310 is schematically shown. An example of the processing flow by the in-vehicle device 310 is schematically shown. An example of the functional configuration of the in-vehicle device 310 is schematically shown. An example of the processing flow by the management server 100 is shown schematically. An example of the processing flow by the management server 100 is shown schematically. An example of the functional configuration of the management server 100 is shown schematically. An example of the hardware configuration of the computer 1200 that functions as the management server 100 or the in-vehicle device 310 is schematically shown.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the invention within the scope of the claims. Also, not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the means of solving the invention.

FIG. 1 schematically shows an example of the system 10. The system 10 includes a management server 100 and a plurality of communication devices. The communication device according to the present embodiment may continue to operate even after the user operation accompanied by the operation off of the communication device, and may be turned off based on an instruction from the management server 100. The instruction from the management server 100 may be an arbitrary signal predetermined as an instruction to turn off the operation.

FIG. 1 illustrates a plurality of vehicle-mounted devices 310 as a plurality of communication devices. The in-vehicle device 310 is mounted on a vehicle 300 having a battery 302, such as an HV (Hybrid Vehicle), a PHEV / PHV (Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle), and an EV (Electric Vehicle). The in-vehicle device 310 may be mounted on a so-called gasoline vehicle, FCV (Fuel Cell Vehicle), or the like.

The in-vehicle device 310 continues to be in the operating state even after the engine off operation of the vehicle 300 or the power off operation of the vehicle 300 by the user, and the operation is turned off based on the instruction from the management server 100. The engine off operation of the vehicle 300 by the user and the power off operation of the vehicle 300 by the user are examples of the user operation accompanied by the operation off of the in-vehicle device 310.

The in-vehicle device 310 has a wireless communication function and communicates with the management server 100 via the network 20. The in-vehicle device 310 uses a cellular communication method such as a 3G (3rd Generation) communication method, an LTE (Long Term Evolution) communication method, a 5G (5th Generation) communication method, and a communication method after the 6G (6th Generation) communication method. It may have a function. Further, the in-vehicle device 310 may have a wireless communication function based on the WiFi communication method. The network 20 includes a cellular communication network and the Internet. The management server 100 may be located on the Internet or may be located on the cellular communication network.

The management server 100 manages grid computing via the network 20. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the management server 100 may receive a signal (may be referred to as a participation possible signal) indicating that participation in grid computing is possible from the vehicle-mounted device 310. The management server 100 determines the insufficient processing capacity of the plurality of processing devices 200 based on the usage status of the computing resources of the plurality of processing devices 200, and the processing capacity of at least one of the plurality of processing devices 200 is insufficient. If this is the case, an instruction to participate in grid computing may be transmitted to the in-vehicle device 310 as a response to the participation possible signal from the in-vehicle device 310.

The participation instruction may include identification information that identifies the processing apparatus 200 having insufficient processing capacity. The identification information may be any information as long as the processing device 200 can be identified. Examples of the identification information include an ID assigned to each of the plurality of processing devices 200 by the management server 100, an IP address assigned to the processing device 200, and the like.

The in-vehicle device 310 identifies the processing device 200 to be provided with the processing capacity by the identification information included in the participation instruction. Then, the in-vehicle device 310 executes the process according to the instruction from the processing device 200. The process may be referred to as grid process. The in-vehicle device 310 may perform grid processing using the electric power stored in the battery 302.

The in-vehicle device 310 may transmit a participation enable signal to the management server 100 in response to an engine off operation or a power off operation of the vehicle 300 by the user. As a result, the participation enable signal is transmitted to the management server 100 at a timing when it is highly probable that the vehicle 300 will not be used for a while thereafter. For example, when the user parks the vehicle 300 in the parking lot at home and performs an engine off operation or a power off operation, the in-vehicle device 310 transmits a participation enable signal to the management server 100.

Although the in-vehicle device 310 has a relatively high processing capacity, it may not be effectively utilized when the vehicle 300 is not in use. According to the vehicle-mounted device 310 according to the present embodiment, since the participation enable signal is transmitted in response to the situation where the vehicle 300 is not used, the computational resources of the vehicle-mounted device 310 can be effectively utilized.

In the in-vehicle device 310, the vehicle 300 is connected to the charger 30 and is in a charged state after the engine off operation or the power off operation of the vehicle 300 is performed by the user and before a predetermined time elapses. The participation possible signal may be transmitted to the management server 100 on the condition of. As a result, the grid processing can be executed while the electric power is supplied, and for example, it is possible to prevent the battery 302 from running out of electric power during the execution of the grid processing. In an environment where charging starts automatically when the vehicle 300 is parked, such as a parking lot equipped with wireless charging equipment, the vehicle 300 is in a charged state when a user operation is performed. As a condition, the participation possible signal may be transmitted to the management server 100.

FIG. 2 schematically shows an example of the processing flow by the in-vehicle device 310. Here, an example of the flow of processing from the user operation accompanied by the operation off of the in-vehicle device 310 to the operation off of the in-vehicle device 310 will be described. The process shown in FIG. 2 is started in response to the detection of the user operation by the in-vehicle device 310. Each process shown in FIG. 2 is mainly executed by the control unit included in the in-vehicle device 310.

In step 102 (the step may be abbreviated as S) 102, the participation possible signal is transmitted to the management server 100. In S104, it is determined whether or not the participation instruction is received with respect to the participation enable signal transmitted in S102.

If the in-vehicle device 310 does not receive the participation instruction from the management server 100 between the transmission of the participation enable signal and the elapse of a predetermined time, it may be determined that the participation instruction has not been received. Further, when the in-vehicle device 310 receives a signal indicating that participation is unnecessary from the management server 100, it may be determined that the participation instruction has not been received. If the participation instruction is received, the process proceeds to S106, and if not received, the process proceeds to S112.

In S106, grid processing is executed. In S108, it is determined whether or not the grid processing is completed. For example, when the target for providing the processing capacity instructs to end the grid processing, the grid processing ends.

In S110, a result report showing the processing result of the grid processing is transmitted to the management server 100. In S112, the operation is turned off. Then, the process is terminated.

FIG. 3 schematically shows an example of the processing flow by the in-vehicle device 310. Here, an example of the flow of processing from the user operation accompanied by the operation off of the in-vehicle device 310 to the operation off of the in-vehicle device 310 will be described. The process shown in FIG. 3 is started in response to the detection of the user operation by the in-vehicle device 310. Each process shown in FIG. 3 is mainly executed by the control unit included in the in-vehicle device 310.

In S202, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed from the user operation. The predetermined time may be preset or may be set by the user. If the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to S216, and if not, the process proceeds to S204. In S204, it is determined whether or not the vehicle 300 is in a charged state. If it is in the charged state, the process proceeds to S206, and if it is not in the charged state, the process returns to S202.

In S206, the participation possible signal is transmitted to the management server 100. In S208, it is determined whether or not a participation instruction has been received for the participation enable signal transmitted in S206.

If the in-vehicle device 310 does not receive the participation instruction from the management server 100 between the transmission of the participation enable signal and the elapse of a predetermined time, it may be determined that the participation instruction has not been received. Further, when the in-vehicle device 310 receives a signal indicating that participation is unnecessary from the management server 100, it may be determined that the participation instruction has not been received. If the participation instruction is received, the process proceeds to S210, and if not received, the process proceeds to S216.

In S210, grid processing is executed. In S212, it is determined whether or not the grid processing is completed. For example, when the target for providing the processing capacity instructs to end the grid processing, the grid processing ends.

In S214, a result report showing the processing result of the grid processing is transmitted to the management server 100. In S216, the operation is turned off. Then, the process is terminated.

In the process shown in FIG. 3, when the vehicle 300 is in a charged state before a predetermined time has elapsed from the user operation, a participation enable signal is transmitted to the management server 100. As a result, when the user gets off the vehicle 300 after performing the engine off operation or the power off operation of the vehicle 300, inserts the power plug into the vehicle 300, and starts charging the vehicle 300, the participation enable signal is transmitted. Can be done.

FIG. 4 schematically shows an example of the processing flow by the in-vehicle device 310. The process shown in FIG. 4 is started in response to the detection of the user operation by the in-vehicle device 310. Here, the points different from those in FIG. 3 will be mainly described.

In S302, it is determined whether or not the vehicle 300 is in a charged state. If it is in the charged state, the process proceeds to S304, and if it is not in the charged state, the process proceeds to S314. In S304, the participation possible signal is transmitted to the management server 100. In S306, it is determined whether or not the participation instruction is received with respect to the participation enable signal transmitted in S304. If the participation instruction is received, the process proceeds to S308, and if not received, the process proceeds to S314.

In S308, grid processing is executed. In S310, it is determined whether or not the grid processing is completed. In S312, a result report showing the processing result of the grid processing is transmitted to the management server 100. In S314, the operation is turned off. Then, the process is terminated.

FIG. 5 schematically shows an example of the functional configuration of the in-vehicle device 310. The in-vehicle device 310 includes a user operation detection unit 312, a signal processing unit 314, a grid processing execution unit 316, an operation control unit 318, a report transmission unit 320, an information acquisition unit 322, a usage history storage unit 324, and a schedule information acquisition unit 326. Be prepared. It is not essential that the in-vehicle device 310 includes all of these configurations.

The user operation detection unit 312 detects the user operation accompanied by the operation off of the in-vehicle device 310. The user operation detection unit 312 detects, for example, the engine off operation of the vehicle 300 on which the in-vehicle device 310 is mounted. Further, the user operation detection unit 312 detects, for example, a power-off operation of the vehicle 300 on which the in-vehicle device 310 is mounted.

When the user operation is detected by the user operation detection unit 312, the signal processing unit 314 transmits a signal indicating that participation in grid computing is possible to the management server 100. The signal processing unit 314 may transmit a joinable signal to the management server 100 via the network 20 by wireless communication. The signal processing unit 314 may be an example of a signal transmission unit.

The signal processing unit 314 determines whether or not a participation instruction has been received for the transmitted signal that can participate. If the signal processing unit 314 does not receive the participation instruction from the management server 100 between the transmission of the participation enable signal and the elapse of a predetermined time, it may determine that the participation instruction has not been received. .. Further, when the signal processing unit 314 receives a signal indicating that participation is unnecessary from the management server 100, it may determine that the participation instruction has not been received.

The grid processing execution unit 316 executes grid processing in the grid computing participated by the joinable signal transmitted by the signal processing unit 314. The grid processing execution unit 316 provides computational resources such as a CPU and a memory to the processing apparatus 200 identified by the identification information included in the participation instruction transmitted by the management server 100, for example. The grid processing execution unit 316 may execute the processing instructed by the processing apparatus 200 and transmit the processing result to the processing apparatus 200.

The operation control unit 318 indicates that the grid processing by the grid processing execution unit 316 has been completed when the participation enable signal is transmitted to the management server 100 by the signal processing unit 314 and the participation instruction is received from the management server 100. The operation of the in-vehicle device 310 is turned off accordingly. The operation control unit 318 turns off the operation of the in-vehicle device 310 when the participation enable signal is transmitted to the management server 100 by the signal processing unit 314 and the participation instruction is not received.

The report transmission unit 320 transmits a result report showing the processing result of the grid processing by the grid processing execution unit 316 to the management server 100. The result report shows, for example, the contents of the grid processing executed by the in-vehicle device 310. For example, the result report includes at least one of the total time of processing, the amount of data processed, the type of target processing, the amount of CPU used, and the amount of memory used.

For example, the report transmission unit 320 transmits a result report to the management server 100 after the grid processing by the grid processing execution unit 316 is completed and before the operation control unit 318 turns off the operation of the in-vehicle device 310. The report transmission unit 320 may transmit the result report to the management server 100 after the operation of the vehicle-mounted device 310 is turned off by the operation control unit 318 and after the operation of the vehicle-mounted device 310 is turned on.

After participating in the grid computing by the joinable signal transmitted to the management server 100, if the vehicle 300 becomes operable before the grid computing is completed, the grid processing execution unit 316 stops the grid processing. You can do it. The runnable state may be, for example, a state in which the engine of the vehicle 300 is turned on or a state in which the power of the vehicle 300 is turned on. As a result, for example, even though the vehicle 300 has started traveling, the grid processing execution unit 316 continues the grid processing, so that the processing load of the in-vehicle device 310 increases, and the traveling of the vehicle 300 is hindered. It can be prevented from being lost.

Further, after participating in the grid computing by the joinable signal transmitted to the management server 100 and before the grid computing is completed, the vehicle 300 is in a runnable state, and the grid processing execution unit 316 is in the grid. Before stopping the processing, the signal processing unit 314 may send a request for stopping participation in grid computing to the management server 100. As a result, the management server 100 can be notified in advance of the stop of the grid processing, and the management server 100 can be given time to prepare an alternative in-vehicle device 310.

The information acquisition unit 322 acquires various types of information. The information acquisition unit 322 may acquire the information of the vehicle-mounted device 310. The information acquisition unit 322 acquires, for example, the capacity value information of the CPU of the in-vehicle device 310. Further, the information acquisition unit 322 acquires, for example, the capacity value information of the memory of the in-vehicle device 310. Further, the information acquisition unit 322 acquires, for example, processing capacity information indicating the processing capacity that can be provided by the in-vehicle device 310. The processing capacity information may be the capacity value information of the CPU of the in-vehicle device 310. Further, the processing capacity information may be capacity value information of the memory of the in-vehicle device 310. Further, for example, when the in-vehicle device 310 cannot provide all the areas of the memory but can provide only a part of the memory, the processing capacity information is information indicating the area of a part of the memory that can be provided. There may be.

Further, the information acquisition unit 322 may acquire information on the vehicle 300 on which the in-vehicle device 310 is mounted. The information acquisition unit 322 acquires, for example, the battery remaining amount information of the battery 302 of the vehicle 300. Further, the information acquisition unit 322 acquires, for example, charge state information indicating whether or not the vehicle 300 is in a charge state.

The signal processing unit 314 may include the information acquired by the information acquisition unit 322 in the joinable signal and transmit it to the management server 100. The signal processing unit 314 has at least one of the capacity value information of the CPU of the vehicle-mounted device 310, the capacity value information of the memory of the vehicle-mounted device 310, the processing capacity information, the remaining battery level information of the battery 302 of the vehicle 300, and the charging status information. May be included in the participation signal.

The signal processing unit 314 may transmit a participation enable signal to the management server 100 when the vehicle 300 is in a charged state when the user operation is detected by the user operation detection unit 312. Further, the signal processing unit 314 manages the participation possible signal when the vehicle 300 is charged before the lapse of a predetermined time after the user operation is detected by the user operation detection unit 312. You may send it to.

The usage history storage unit 324 stores the usage history of the vehicle 300 on which the in-vehicle device 310 is mounted. The usage history may include information on the period during which the vehicle 300 has been used. The usage history may include information on the period during which the vehicle 300 has not been used.

The schedule information acquisition unit 326 acquires schedule information indicating a period during which the in-vehicle device 310 can participate in grid computing. The schedule information acquisition unit 326 acquires, for example, the schedule information input by the user.

The schedule information acquisition unit 326 may generate schedule information based on the usage history of the vehicle 300 stored in the usage history storage unit 324. The schedule information acquisition unit 326 identifies, for example, a period during which the vehicle 300 is not in use based on the usage history of the vehicle 300, and sets the specified period as a period during which the in-vehicle device 310 can participate in grid computing. Generate information. As a specific example, for example, when the vehicle 300 tends not to be used between 20:00 and 8:00 on weekdays, the schedule information acquisition unit 326 generates schedule information indicating a period from 20:00 to 8:00. The signal processing unit 314 may transmit a participation request including the schedule information acquired by the schedule information acquisition unit 326 to the management server 100.

FIG. 6 schematically shows an example of the processing flow by the management server 100. Here, the flow in which the management server 100 processes the joinable signal received from the in-vehicle device 310 will be described. Each process shown in FIG. 6 is mainly executed by the control unit included in the management server 100.

In S402, the participation enable signal is received from the vehicle-mounted device 310. In S404, it is determined that the processing capacity of the plurality of processing devices 200 is insufficient based on the usage status of the computational resources of the plurality of processing devices 200.

In S406, it is determined whether or not the processing capacity of at least one of the plurality of processing devices 200 is insufficient. If it is determined that there is a shortage, the process proceeds to S408, and if it is determined that there is no shortage, the process proceeds to S410.

In S408, a participation instruction is transmitted to the vehicle-mounted device 310 as a response to the participation enable signal received in S402. In S410, a participation-unnecessary signal is transmitted to the in-vehicle device 310 as a response to the participation-enabled signal received in S402. Then, the process is terminated.

FIG. 7 schematically shows an example of the processing flow by the management server 100. Here, the flow in which the management server 100 processes the joinable signals received from the plurality of in-vehicle devices 310 will be described. Each process shown in FIG. 7 is mainly executed by the control unit included in the management server 100.

In S502, the participation enable signal is received from the vehicle-mounted device 310. In S504, the joinable signal received in S502 is stored. In S506, it is determined whether or not the predetermined time has elapsed. The predetermined time may be set in advance, or may be set by an operator of the management server 100 or the like. If it is determined that the lapse has passed, the process proceeds to S508.

In S508, the insufficient state of the processing capacity of the plurality of processing devices 200 is determined based on the usage status of the computational resources of each of the plurality of processing devices 200. In S510, it is determined whether or not the processing capacity of at least one of the plurality of processing devices 200 is insufficient. If it is determined that there is a shortage, the process proceeds to S512, and if it is determined that there is no shortage, the process proceeds to S516.

In S512, the vehicle-mounted device 310 to be participated in the grid computing is determined from the plurality of vehicle-mounted devices 310 that have transmitted the participation enable signal. In S514, a response is transmitted to the plurality of vehicle-mounted devices 310 that have transmitted the participation enable signal. The vehicle 300 transmits a participation instruction to the vehicle-mounted device 310 determined to participate in grid computing in S512, and transmits a participation unnecessary signal to the other vehicle-mounted devices 310. In S516, the participation unnecessary signal is transmitted to all of the plurality of vehicle-mounted devices 310 that have transmitted the participation enable signal. Then, the process is terminated.

FIG. 8 schematically shows an example of the functional configuration of the management server 100. The management server 100 includes a usage status acquisition unit 102, a signal reception unit 104, a signal storage unit 106, a status determination unit 108, a response transmission unit 110, a device determination unit 112, and a report reception unit 114. It is not always essential that the management server 100 has all of these configurations.

The usage status acquisition unit 102 acquires the usage status of each of the computational resources of the plurality of processing devices 200. The usage status acquisition unit 102 may periodically or intermittently receive the usage status of the computational resources from each of the plurality of processing devices 200. Further, the usage status acquisition unit 102 makes a request to the plurality of processing devices 200 in response to an inquiry from the state determination unit 108, which will be described later, so that the usage status of the computational resources can be obtained from each of the plurality of processing devices 200. May be received.

The signal receiving unit 104 receives a signal capable of participating in grid computing. The signal receiving unit 104 receives, for example, a joinable signal from the vehicle-mounted device 310. The signal storage unit 106 stores the joinable signal received by the signal reception unit 104.

The state determination unit 108 determines the insufficient processing capacity of each of the plurality of processing devices 200 based on the usage status of the computational resources of the plurality of processing devices 200 acquired by the usage status acquisition unit 102. The state determination unit 108 determines that the processing capacity is insufficient, for example, when the CPU usage rate of the processing device 200 is higher than a predetermined threshold value. Further, the state determination unit 108 determines that the processing capacity is insufficient, for example, when the memory usage rate of the processing device 200 is higher than a predetermined threshold value.

As a result of the determination by the state determination unit 108, the response transmission unit 110 sends the in-vehicle device 310 to grid computing as a response to the joinable signal when the processing capacity of at least one of the plurality of processing devices 200 is insufficient. Send the participation instruction of. The response transmission unit 110 may transmit a participation instruction including identification information for identifying the processing device 200 having insufficient processing capacity among the plurality of processing devices 200 to the in-vehicle device 310.

The response transmission unit 110 may transmit a participation instruction including processing capacity information indicating the processing capacity provided to the processing unit 200 having insufficient processing capacity to the in-vehicle device 310. The processing capacity provided to the processing apparatus 200 having insufficient processing capacity may be the processing capacity desired to be provided to the processing apparatus 200. For example, when the response transmission unit 110 desires to provide the processing device 200 with a memory area of 1 GB, the response transmission unit 110 transmits a participation instruction including processing capacity information indicating the memory area of 1 GB to the in-vehicle device 310.

The joinable signal received by the signal receiving unit 104 may include processing capacity information indicating the processing capacity that can be provided by the vehicle-mounted device 310, and the response transmitting unit 110 may include a plurality of vehicle-mounted devices that have transmitted the participateable signal. Of the 310s, the participation instruction may be transmitted to the in-vehicle device 310 having a higher processing capacity that can be provided than the processing capacity required by the processing device 200 having insufficient processing capacity.

The device determination unit 112 refers to a plurality of joinable signals stored in the signal storage unit 106, and instructs the vehicle-mounted device 310 to participate in grid computing from the plurality of vehicle-mounted devices 310 that have transmitted the joinable signals. To decide. The response transmission unit 110 may transmit a participation instruction as a response to the participation enable signal to the vehicle-mounted device 310 determined by the device determination unit 112.

The device determination unit 112 refers to, for example, the processing capacity information indicating the processing capacity that can be provided by the vehicle-mounted device 310 included in the plurality of joinable signals, and the processing capacity that can be provided among the plurality of vehicle-mounted devices 310 can be determined. The higher in-vehicle device 310 is prioritized to determine the communication device instructing participation in grid computing. As a specific example, the device determination unit 112 determines a communication device instructing participation in grid computing in descending order of the processing capacity that can be provided.

The device determination unit 112 gives priority to the vehicle-mounted device 310 having a shorter communication distance with the processing device 200 to be provided with the processing capacity among the plurality of vehicle-mounted devices 310, and instructs the communication to participate in grid computing. The device may be determined. As a specific example, the device determination unit 112 determines a communication device instructing participation in grid computing in ascending order of communication distance. The device determination unit 112 transmits, for example, the identification information of the processing device 200 to be provided with the processing capacity to each of the plurality of vehicle-mounted devices 310, and determines the communication time between the vehicle-mounted device 310 and the processing device 200. It may be measured and received from the in-vehicle device 310 with the communication time as the communication distance.

When the device determination unit 112 includes schedule information in each of the plurality of joinable signals, the device determination unit 112 instructs the vehicle-mounted device 310 to participate in grid computing based on the plurality of schedule information. 310 may be determined. The device determination unit 112 determines, for example, a communication device instructing participation in grid computing by giving priority to an in-vehicle device 310 that can participate in grid computing for a longer period of time. As a specific example, the device determination unit 112 determines a communication device instructing participation in grid computing in descending order of the period in which it can participate in grid computing. Further, the device determination unit 112 gives priority to the in-vehicle device 310 capable of participating in grid computing during the period when the processing device 200, which is the target for providing the processing capacity, desires to provide the processing capacity, and shifts to grid computing. Determine the communication device instructing the participation of.

When each of the plurality of joinable signals includes the battery remaining amount information, the device determination unit 112 communicates instructing the participation in the grid computing from the plurality of in-vehicle devices 310 based on the battery remaining amount information. The device may be determined. The device determination unit 112 determines, for example, a communication device instructing participation in grid computing by giving priority to the vehicle-mounted device 310 of the vehicle 300 having a larger battery level. As a specific example, the device determination unit 112 determines a communication device instructing participation in grid computing in descending order of battery level.

The device determination unit 112 provides a communication device for instructing participation in grid computing from a plurality of in-vehicle devices 310 based on the charge status information when each of the plurality of joinable signals includes charge status information. You may decide. The device determination unit 112 determines, for example, a communication device instructing participation in grid computing from the vehicle-mounted device 310 in which the vehicle 300 is in a charged state among the plurality of vehicle-mounted devices 310.

The device determination unit 112 may determine a communication device instructing participation in grid computing by combining a plurality of the above-mentioned information. For example, the device determination unit 112 combines a plurality of processing capacity information, communication distance with a processing device 200 for which processing capacity is provided, schedule information, battery remaining amount information, and charge status information for grid computing. Determine the communication device to instruct to participate in.

The report receiving unit 114 receives the result report transmitted by the vehicle-mounted device 310. The management server 100 derives, for example, an incentive to be given to the vehicle-mounted device 310 that has transmitted the result report based on the result report received by the report receiving unit 114. For example, the management server 100 derives an incentive that increases as the total time during which processing is executed increases. Further, for example, the management server 100 derives a larger incentive as the amount of processed data increases. Further, for example, the management server 100 derives an incentive that increases as the amount of CPU used and the amount of memory used increases. Further, for example, the management server 100 selects a preset incentive for each type of target processing.

FIG. 9 schematically shows an example of a hardware configuration of a computer 1200 that functions as an in-vehicle device 310 or a management server 100. A program installed on the computer 1200 causes the computer 1200 to function as one or more "parts" of the device according to the embodiment, or causes the computer 1200 to perform an operation associated with the device according to the embodiment or the one or the like. A plurality of "parts" can be executed and / or a computer 1200 can be made to execute a process according to the above embodiment or a stage of the process. Such a program may be run by the CPU 1212 to cause the computer 1200 to perform certain operations associated with some or all of the blocks of the flowcharts and block diagrams described herein.

The computer 1200 according to this embodiment includes a CPU 1212, a RAM 1214, and a graphic controller 1216, which are interconnected by a host controller 1210. The computer 1200 also includes input / output units such as a communication interface 1222, a storage device 1224, a DVD drive 1226, and an IC card drive, which are connected to the host controller 1210 via the input / output controller 1220. The DVD drive 1226 may be a DVD-ROM drive, a DVD-RAM drive, or the like. The storage device 1224 may be a hard disk drive, a solid state drive, or the like. The computer 1200 also includes a legacy input / output unit such as a ROM 1230 and a touch panel, which are connected to the input / output controller 1220 via an input / output chip 1240.

The CPU 1212 operates according to a program stored in the ROM 1230 and the RAM 1214, thereby controlling each unit. The graphic controller 1216 acquires the image data generated by the CPU 1212 in a frame buffer or the like provided in the RAM 1214 or itself so that the image data is displayed on the display device 1218. The computer 1200 may not be equipped with a display device 1218, in which case the graphic controller 1216 causes the image data to be displayed on an external display device.

The communication interface 1222 communicates with other electronic devices via a wireless communication network. The storage device 1224 stores programs and data used by the CPU 1212 in the computer 1200. The DVD drive 1226 reads the program or data from the DVD-ROM 1227 or the like and provides it to the storage device 1224. The IC card drive reads the program and data from the IC card and / or writes the program and data to the IC card.

The ROM 1230 stores in it a boot program or the like executed by the computer 1200 at the time of activation, and / or a program depending on the hardware of the computer 1200. The input / output chip 1240 may also connect various input / output units to the input / output controller 1220 via a USB port or the like.

The program is provided by a computer-readable storage medium such as a DVD-ROM 1227 or an IC card. The program is read from a computer-readable storage medium, installed in a storage device 1224, RAM 1214, or ROM 1230, which is also an example of a computer-readable storage medium, and executed by the CPU 1212. The information processing described in these programs is read by the computer 1200 and provides a link between the program and the various types of hardware resources described above. The device or method may be configured to implement the operation or processing of information in accordance with the use of the computer 1200.

For example, when communication is executed between the computer 1200 and an external device, the CPU 1212 executes a communication program loaded in the RAM 1214, and performs communication processing with respect to the communication interface 1222 based on the processing described in the communication program. You may order. Under the control of the CPU 1212, the communication interface 1222 reads and reads transmission data stored in a transmission buffer area provided in a recording medium such as a RAM 1214, a storage device 1224, a DVD-ROM 1227, or an IC card. The data is transmitted to the network, or the received data received from the network is written to the reception buffer area or the like provided on the recording medium.

Further, the CPU 1212 makes it possible for the RAM 1214 to read all or necessary parts of a file or database stored in an external recording medium such as a storage device 1224, a DVD drive 1226 (DVD-ROM1227), an IC card, etc., on the RAM 1214. Various types of processing may be performed on the data of. The CPU 1212 may then write back the processed data to an external recording medium.

Various types of information such as various types of programs, data, tables, and databases may be stored in recording media and processed. The CPU 1212 describes various types of operations, information processing, conditional judgment, conditional branching, unconditional branching, and information retrieval described in various parts of the present disclosure with respect to the data read from the RAM 1214. Various types of processing may be performed, including / replacement, etc., and the results are written back to the RAM 1214. Further, the CPU 1212 may search for information in a file, database, or the like in the recording medium. For example, when a plurality of entries each having an attribute value of the first attribute associated with the attribute value of the second attribute are stored in the recording medium, the CPU 1212 is the first of the plurality of entries. The attribute value of the attribute of is searched for the entry that matches the specified condition, the attribute value of the second attribute stored in the entry is read, and the attribute value of the second attribute is changed to the first attribute that satisfies the predetermined condition. You may get the attribute value of the associated second attribute.

The program or software module described above may be stored on a computer 1200 or in a computer readable storage medium near the computer 1200. Further, a recording medium such as a hard disk or RAM provided in a dedicated communication network or a server system connected to the Internet can be used as a computer-readable storage medium, whereby the program can be transferred to the computer 1200 via the network. offer.

The blocks in the flowcharts and block diagrams of the above embodiments may represent the stages of the process in which the operation is performed or the "parts" of the device responsible for performing the operation. Specific steps and "parts" are supplied with a dedicated circuit, a programmable circuit supplied with computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium, and / or with computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium. It may be implemented by the processor. Dedicated circuits may include digital and / or analog hardware circuits, and may include integrated circuits (ICs) and / or discrete circuits. Programmable circuits include logical ANDs, logical sums, exclusive logical sums, negative logical products, negative logical sums, and other logical operations, such as, for example, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic arrays (PLAs), and the like. , Flip-flops, registers, and reconfigurable hardware circuits, including memory elements.

The computer readable storage medium may include any tangible device capable of storing instructions executed by the appropriate device, so that the computer readable storage medium having the instructions stored therein may be in a flow chart or block diagram. It will be equipped with a product that contains instructions that can be executed to create means for performing the specified operation. Examples of the computer-readable storage medium may include an electronic storage medium, a magnetic storage medium, an optical storage medium, an electromagnetic storage medium, a semiconductor storage medium, and the like. More specific examples of computer-readable storage media include floppy (registered trademark) disks, diskettes, hard disks, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), and erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory). , Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), Compact Disc Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), Blu-ray® Disc, Memory Stick , Integrated circuit cards and the like may be included.

Computer-readable instructions are assembler instructions, instruction set architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine-dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, or object-oriented programming such as Smalltalk, JAVA®, C ++, etc. Includes either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including languages and traditional procedural programming languages such as the "C" programming language or similar programming languages. good.

Computer-readable instructions are used to generate means for a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or the processor of another programmable data processing device, or a programmable circuit, to perform an operation specified in a flowchart or block diagram. General purpose computers, special purpose computers, or other programmable data processing locally or via a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, etc., to execute such computer-readable instructions. It may be provided to the processor of the device or a programmable circuit. Examples of processors include computer processors, processing units, microprocessors, digital signal processors, controllers, microcontrollers, and the like.

Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes or improvements can be made to the above embodiments. It is clear from the description of the claims that the form with such changes or improvements may be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

The order of execution of each process such as operation, procedure, step, and step in the apparatus, system, program, and method shown in the claims, specification, and drawings is particularly "before" and "prior to". It should be noted that it can be realized in any order unless the output of the previous process is used in the subsequent process. Even if the scope of claims, the specification, and the operation flow in the drawings are explained using "first", "next", etc. for convenience, it means that it is essential to carry out in this order. It's not a thing.

10 system, 20 network, 30 charger, 100 management server, 102 usage status acquisition unit, 104 signal reception unit, 106 signal storage unit, 108 status determination unit, 110 response transmission unit, 112 device determination unit, 114 report reception unit, 200 processing device, 300 vehicle, 302 battery, 310 in-vehicle device, 312 user operation detection unit, 314 signal processing unit, 316 grid processing execution unit, 318 operation control unit, 320 report transmission unit, 322 information acquisition unit, 324 usage history storage Unit, 326 Schedule information acquisition unit, 1200 computer, 1210 host controller, 1212 CPU, 1214 RAM, 1216 graphic controller, 1218 display device, 1220 input / output controller, 1222 communication interface, 1224 storage device, 1226 DVD drive, 1227 DVD-ROM 1230 ROM, 1240 I / O chip

Claims (11)

A signal receiver that receives a signal from the communication device indicating that the communication device can participate in grid computing, and
A state determination unit that determines the insufficient processing capacity of each of the plurality of processing devices based on the usage status of each computational resource of the plurality of processing devices.
A management server including a response transmission unit that transmits an instruction to participate in grid computing to the communication device based on the signal when at least one of the plurality of processing devices has insufficient processing capacity. The management server according to claim 1, wherein the response transmission unit transmits the participation instruction including identification information for identifying a processing device having insufficient processing capacity among the plurality of processing devices to the communication device. The management server according to claim 2, wherein the response transmission unit transmits the participation instruction including the processing capacity information indicating the processing capacity provided to the processing unit having insufficient processing capacity to the communication device. .. The signal includes processing power information indicating the processing power that the communication device can provide.
The response transmission unit transmits the participation instruction to the communication device having a processing capacity higher than that required by the processing device having insufficient processing capacity among the plurality of communication devices. The management server according to claim 3. The signal receiving unit receives the signal from the plurality of communication devices, and receives the signal.
The management server
A device determination unit for determining a communication device instructing participation in the grid computing from the plurality of communication devices is provided.
The management server according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the response transmission unit transmits the participation instruction to the communication device determined by the device determination unit. The signal includes processing power information indicating the processing power that the communication device can provide.
The management according to claim 5, wherein the device determination unit determines a communication device instructing participation in the grid computing by giving priority to the communication device having a higher processing capacity among the plurality of communication devices. server. Among the plurality of communication devices, the device determination unit gives priority to a communication device having a shorter communication distance with a processing device for which processing capacity is provided, and instructs the communication device to participate in the grid computing. The management server according to claim 5 or 6, which determines. The signal includes schedule information indicating how long the communication device can participate in grid computing.
The device determination unit determines a communication device instructing participation in the grid computing from the plurality of communication devices based on the plurality of schedule information included in the plurality of signals, claims 5 to 7. The management server described in any one of the above. The communication device is an in-vehicle communication device mounted on a vehicle.
The signal includes battery level information indicating the remaining battery level of the vehicle.
5. The device determination unit determines a communication device instructing participation in the grid computing from the plurality of communication devices based on the plurality of battery remaining amount information included in the plurality of signals. The management server according to any one of 8 to 8. The communication device is an in-vehicle communication device mounted on a vehicle.
The signal includes charge state information indicating whether or not the vehicle is in a charge state.
The device determination unit determines a communication device instructing participation in the grid computing from the plurality of communication devices based on the plurality of charge state information included in the plurality of signals, according to claim 5. The management server according to any one of 8. A program for operating a computer as a management server according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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