JP7451062B2 - In-vehicle device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an in-vehicle device that transmits vehicle data to the outside via wireless communication via a mobile communication terminal.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, there is a system that collects driving data of a vehicle by transmitting the driving data of the vehicle from an in-vehicle device to an external server. For example, in the system described in Patent Document 1, an in-vehicle device uses the operating state of the accelerator pedal, the operating state of the brake pedal, the traveling direction of the vehicle, the state of the ignition switch, and the GPS signal transmitted by a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite. The system accumulates travel data such as the current location of the vehicle and transmits the travel data to an external server. The in-vehicle device also receives data generated from the travel data from an external server, and determines whether the road on which the vehicle is traveling is a regular road based on the generated data.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-191802

By the way, as in Patent Document 1, in a communication system that transmits vehicle-related data to the outside, a configuration in which the data is transmitted to an external server via a mobile communication terminal connected to an in-vehicle device is also conceivable. However, with this configuration, data regarding the vehicle may not be transmitted to the external server from the time the vehicle is powered on until the vehicle becomes capable of communicating with the mobile communication terminal.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is an in-vehicle device capable of transmitting vehicle-related data to the outside via a mobile communication terminal, which transmits data to the outside immediately after the vehicle is powered on. The purpose is to make it possible.

In order to achieve the above object, an in-vehicle device according to the present invention receives data transmitted from an electronic control device, and transmits the received data to an external device by wireless communication via a communicably connected mobile communication terminal. In the in-vehicle device, the in-vehicle device has a memory that stores the received data received from the electronic control device, and the in-vehicle device has a memory that stores the received data received from the electronic control device, and the in-vehicle device transmits data from the time when the power of the vehicle is turned on until the time when it becomes possible to communicate with the mobile communication terminal. The received data during the period is accumulated and stored in the memory, and when communication with the mobile communication terminal becomes possible, the accumulated received data is transmitted to the outside via the mobile communication terminal , and the data is stored in the memory. If the storage amount of the received data reaches the upper limit of the memory capacity after the power is turned on and before the mobile communication terminal becomes able to communicate with the in-vehicle device, the power of the vehicle is turned on. The received data from the time when the predetermined time has elapsed is retained, but the received data after the predetermined time overwrites the old received data stored in the memory with the new received data. ( Claim 1)

Further, the in-vehicle device may store time information together with the received data (Claim 2 ).

According to the invention according to claim 1, data (transmitted data from the electronic control unit) during a period when the behavior of the vehicle fluctuates rapidly, from when the vehicle is powered on until the vehicle becomes capable of communicating with a mobile communication terminal, is transmitted. It can be sent externally via a mobile communication terminal. This allows external parties to utilize the data for that period for analysis, etc. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to provide the in-vehicle device with a communication function with the outside, it is possible to reduce the cost of the in-vehicle device. Moreover, without using an expensive large-capacity memory, it is possible to preserve data from a period when the vehicle's behavior fluctuates sharply and the latest received data, even though the memory capacity of the on-vehicle device is limited.

According to the invention according to claim 2 , time information can be added to the received data, and the attributes of the data can be determined, such as whether the received data is data from a period when the behavior of the vehicle is drastically fluctuating, or whether it is the latest data. can do.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicle communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the flow of data communication of the on-vehicle device. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of how data is stored in a memory of an on-vehicle device.

A vehicle communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Note that FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a vehicle communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the flow of data communication in the vehicle-mounted device, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing how data is stored in the memory of the vehicle-mounted device. It is a figure showing an example.

(Electrical configuration of vehicle)
A vehicle communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention is a wireless communication system that transmits various data acquired from a vehicle 1 to an external server 8 via a mobile communication terminal device 7. 2, a plurality of ECUs (ECU_A3, ECU_B4, ECU_C5) that perform various controls of the vehicle 1, a mobile communication terminal device 7, and an external server 8.

Vehicle 1 is an automobile that uses an engine as a driving source. The power from the engine is transmitted to the left and right drive wheels via the transmission. The transmission may be a continuously variable transmission, a stepped automatic transmission, or a manual transmission. Further, it may be an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle that uses an electric motor as a driving source.

Each ECU (ECU_A3, ECU_B4, ECU_C5: equivalent to the "electronic control unit" of the present invention) is configured to include a microcomputer, and includes a CPU that executes various control programs and a memory that stores control programs and necessary data. etc. are built-in. Further, each ECU (ECU_A3, ECU_B4, ECU_C5) and the on-vehicle device 2 are connected to a bus 6 so as to be able to perform two-way communication with each other using a CAN (Controller Area Network) communication protocol.

Examples of each ECU (ECU_A3, ECU_B4, ECU_C5) include a body ECU that controls the operation of in-vehicle electrical components such as the doors and turn signals of the vehicle 1, and a forward recognition means such as a stereo camera (which detects targets around the vehicle). A camera ECU that calculates the distance and relative speed to obstacles (targets) and determines the possibility of collision with the obstacles based on images from external world recognition means), and an engine that controls engine output. Examples include an ECU, a VSC-ECU that performs brake control, and an EFI-ECU that controls the throttle opening/closing degree of the engine and the amount of fuel injected by a fuel injector.

The various ECUs (ECU_A3, ECU_B4, ECU_C5) can specify information from the vehicle speed sensor, accelerator opening sensor, and steering angle sensor used for control, information regarding the time when the ignition switch was turned on, and engine water temperature. It is configured to be able to acquire various information such as information via CAN communication.

The on-vehicle device 2 (equivalent to the "on-vehicle device" of the present invention) acquires various data (equivalent to "received data" of the present invention) from various ECUs (ECU_A3, ECU_B4, ECU_C5), and reads the data in these data. It is configured to be able to transmit specific data (a plurality of data) from the mobile communication terminal device 7 to the external server 8 and to receive information transmitted from the external server 8 via the mobile communication terminal device 7. It includes a CPU 2a, a memory 2b, and a transmitting/receiving circuit 2c.

The CPU 2a executes various control programs and also performs transmission control when transmitting various data acquired from various ECUs (ECU_A3, ECU_B4, ECU_C5) from the transmitting/receiving circuit 2c to the external server 8 via the mobile communication terminal device 7. conduct. The memory 2b also includes a ROM section that stores a control program executed by the CPU 2a, and a RAM section that temporarily stores data acquired from each ECU (ECU_A3, ECU_B4, ECU_C5).

The data (upload data) transmitted from the on-vehicle device 2 to the external server 8 via the mobile communication terminal device 7 includes, for example, data indicating the position of the vehicle 1 when the ignition switch is turned OFF, and remaining gasoline data. , engine water temperature data, remaining battery power data, time required for the remaining battery power to satisfy the idling stop permission conditions, outside temperature data, data indicating the locked state of vehicle 1's doors, wiper state (high speed or low speed), speed, etc.), vehicle speed data, failure data, accelerator pedal operation status, brake pedal operation status, ON/OFF status of various switches, analysis data, ABS operation status, various control status of vehicle 1, seat belt wearing status. There is presence or absence. Note that the on-vehicle device 2 can calculate the battery remaining amount data based on, for example, the battery current value detected by any of the ECUs (ECU_A3, ECU_B4, ECU_C5).

Further, in this embodiment, the vehicle-mounted device 2 is equipped with a GPS (Global Positioning System) antenna, and time information can be acquired from the antenna. Note that these data are just examples, and other data acquired from each ECU (ECU_A3, ECU_B4, ECU_C5) may also be transmitted.

Furthermore, the data sent from the on-vehicle device 2 to the external server 8 via the mobile communication terminal device 7 may be sent at fixed intervals (for example, 90 second intervals) depending on the type, or when a predetermined condition is met. There are some that are sent each time.

Note that the data acquired by the in-vehicle device 2 from each ECU (ECU_A3, ECU_B4, ECU_C5) is stored, for example, in a transmission buffer of the transmission/reception circuit 2c, and transmitted to the external server 8 (mobile communication terminal device 7).

The vehicle-mounted device 2 can be, for example, a so-called display audio device, a navigation device, or the like mounted on the vehicle 1.

The mobile communication terminal device 7 (corresponding to the "mobile communication terminal" of the present invention) is, for example, a mobile communication terminal having a communication function such as a smartphone. Connect via communication, etc. Further, the vehicle-mounted device 2 communicates with the vehicle-mounted device 2 by, for example, short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark). Note that the mobile communication terminal device 7 and the vehicle-mounted device 2 may communicate with each other through a wired connection using a USB or the like.

Once the pairing setting is performed between the mobile communication terminal device 7 and the vehicle-mounted device 2, if both are powered on and the distance between the two is within a certain communication range, they will be automatically connected. Therefore, when the power of the vehicle 1 is OFF, power is not supplied to the on-vehicle device 2, and communication with the mobile communication terminal device 7 is not possible. Furthermore, even if power is started to be supplied to the on-vehicle device 2, communication with the mobile communication terminal device 7 may not be possible until the startup of each application installed on the on-vehicle device 2 is completed and the automatic connection process described below is completed. be.

When the ignition switch is switched from OFF to ON, power is supplied to the vehicle 1, and accordingly, power is also supplied to the on-vehicle device 2. When power is supplied to the on-vehicle device 2, automatic connection processing is performed between the on-vehicle device 2 and the mobile communication terminal device 7, and when the process is completed, communication between the on-vehicle device 2 and the mobile communication terminal device 7 is performed. becomes possible. That is, even if power is supplied to the vehicle 1, communication between the on-vehicle device 2 and the mobile communication terminal device 7 is not immediately enabled, but communication between the two becomes possible after the automatic connection process is completed.

When the in-vehicle device 2 is supplied with power as the ignition switch is turned on, a startup process is started, and when the process is completed, it starts acquiring various data from each ECU (ECU_A3, ECU_B4, ECU_C5). The CPU 2a stores data acquired from the time when the in-vehicle device 2 is powered on and starts booting until the automatic connection process with the mobile communication terminal device 7 is completed in a data storage area provided in the memory 2b. . That is, the completion of starting of each ECU is earlier than the time until the completion of starting of the on-vehicle device 2 and the completion of the automatic connection process.

A predetermined capacity is set for the data storage area. Therefore, if it takes a long time to complete the automatic connection process with the mobile communication terminal device 7 after the in-vehicle device 2 is powered on, the amount of data acquired from each ECU (ECU_A3, ECU_B4, ECU_C5) will be reduced. is assumed to exceed a predetermined capacity. Therefore, the CPU 2a rewrites old data with new data for data exceeding the predetermined capacity. However, while all data for a specified period of time (for example, 10 seconds) after the on-vehicle device 2 is started is stored and retained in the data storage area of the memory 2b, data after the specified period of time is stored in the remaining data storage area. Overwrite old data with new data in the remaining area.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the CPU 2a operates from the time when it starts booting due to power supply until a specified time (for example, the time until the automatic connection process is completed, which has been determined experimentally in advance). During this time, all data acquired from each ECU (ECU_A3, ECU_B4, ECU_C5) is stored in the data storage area (FIG. 3(a)). Note that the capacity of the data storage area is set to a value that is sufficiently larger than the total amount of data acquired during the specified time.

The CPU 2a continues to store the data acquired from each ECU (ECU_A3, ECU_B4, ECU_C5) even after a specified time has elapsed since the start of startup by power supply until the upper limit of the data storage area is reached (Fig. 3 (b)).

After reaching the upper limit of the data storage area, the remaining capacity is used to overwrite the data with the latest data, while leaving the data stored during the period from the start of startup by power supply until a specified time elapses. For example, if the CPU 2a reaches the upper limit of the data storage area with the X+100th data, the next acquired X+101st data overwrites the part where the X+1st data is stored (Figure 3(c)) ). Furthermore, regarding the X+102nd data, the portion where the X+2nd data is stored is overwritten. After that, the CPU 2a similarly overwrites the old data with new data until the process of automatically connecting the in-vehicle device 2 to the mobile communication terminal device 7 is completed.

Here, the CPU 2a causes each piece of data to be stored in the data storage area to be stored in association with the time at which the data was acquired together with specifiable time information. This allows you to determine whether the data stored in the data storage area was stored during the period from when the in-vehicle unit 2 started booting up due to power supply until a specified time elapsed, or whether it is the latest data after that. It is possible to distinguish.

In this case, the CPU 2a, for example, stores the address range of data stored up to a specified time after power supply starts, and stores and stores subsequent data within the remaining address range. All you have to do is overwrite it.

When power is supplied to the on-vehicle device 2 and the automatic connection process between the on-vehicle device 2 and the mobile communication terminal device 7 is completed, the CPU 2a stores data from the on-vehicle device 2 to the mobile communication terminal device 7 in the data storage area of the memory 2b. Controls the transmission of the data being sent. At this time, if the amount of data stored in the data storage area exceeds the amount of data that can be transmitted at one time, the data is divided and transmitted.

The external server 8 accumulates and stores data from the on-vehicle device 2, and includes a CPU 8a, a memory 8b, and a transmitting/receiving circuit 8c. The CPU 8a controls the transmission of accumulated data to the outside of the external server 8. It also generates various service information based on data from the on-vehicle device 2, and controls transmission of the generated various service information to users. Note that the CPU 8a may transmit the accumulated data (or service information) to the mobile communication terminal device 7 in response to a request signal from the mobile communication terminal device 7.

The memory 8b includes a ROM section that stores a control program for the CPU 8a, and a RAM section that stores data from the on-vehicle device 2 and temporarily stores generated service information.

The CPU 8a processes necessary data among various data transmitted from the on-vehicle device 2 (mobile communication terminal device 7) to generate service information. For example, the service information includes a variety of big data such as parking position information of the vehicle 1, fuel efficiency information, information on vehicle failures, information on when it is time to change the engine oil, and detection status of various sensors of the vehicle 1 used by the manufacturer. There is service information. Note that these pieces of information are just examples, and various service information desired by the user may be generated.

The memory 8b stores various data uploaded from the on-vehicle device 2 (mobile communication terminal device 7). Thereby, various data uploaded from the on-vehicle device 2 (mobile communication terminal device 7) are accumulated and stored in the memory 8b.

(Flow from starting the onboard device to uploading data)
Next, the flow from when the in-vehicle device 2 is activated until the data acquired from each ECU (ECU_A3, ECU_B4, ECU_C5) is uploaded to the external server 8 will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

When the ignition switch of the vehicle 1 is turned on, power supply to the on-vehicle device 2 is started, and a startup process by the CPU 2a is started. When the startup process is completed, the in-vehicle device 2 (CPU 2a) is in a state where it can acquire various data from each ECU (ECU_A3, ECU_B4, ECU_C5).

When the in-vehicle device 2 (CPU 2a) acquires various data from each ECU (ECU_A3, ECU_B4, ECU_C5) via CAN communication, it checks whether the automatic connection process with the mobile communication terminal device 7 has been completed. judge.

Here, if the CPU 2a determines that the automatic connection process with the mobile communication terminal device 7 has not been completed, the CPU 2a transmits various data acquired from each ECU (ECU_A3, ECU_B4, ECU_C5) to the transmitter/receiver circuit 2c. The data is stored in the data storage area of the memory 2b without being sent to the buffer. In other words, even if the CPU 2a completes the startup process and acquires various data from each ECU (ECU_A3, ECU_B4, ECU_C5), the CPU 2a does not operate the external server 8 (mobile The data is accumulated and stored in the data storage area of the memory 2b without being transmitted to the communication terminal device 7).

If the CPU 2a determines that the automatic connection process with the mobile communication terminal device 7 has been completed, the CPU 2a sends various data stored in the data storage area of the memory 2b to the transmission buffer of the transmission/reception circuit 2c, and transmits the data to the external server 8. Send (upload) to. Note that if the amount of data stored in the data storage area exceeds the data capacity that can be transmitted at one time, the CPU 2a divides the data and transmits (uploads) the data to the external server 8. Furthermore, when the CPU 2a acquires data from each ECU (ECU_A3, ECU_B4, ECU_C5) after the transmission of the data stored in the data storage area is completed, the CPU 2a does not store the data in the data storage area of the memory 2b. Then, the data is sent to the transmission buffer of the transmission/reception circuit 2c, and transmitted (uploaded) to the external server 8.

When the ignition switch is turned off, the power supply to the vehicle 1 and the on-vehicle device 2 is interrupted, and the functions of the on-vehicle device 2 are stopped. At this time, the connection with the mobile communication terminal device 7 is also canceled, so when the ignition switch is turned on again, each Various data acquired from the ECUs (ECU_A3, ECU_B4, ECU_C5) are accumulated and stored in the data storage area of the memory 2b.

Therefore, according to the embodiment described above, data (each ECU (ECU_A3, ECU_B4 , ECU_C5) to the external server 8 after communication becomes possible. Immediately after the power of the vehicle 1 is turned on, there is a period when the behavior of the vehicle 1 fluctuates rapidly, so the control data accumulated during this period can be used to analyze the cause of problems with the vehicle 1, such as analyzing the cause of when the engine is difficult to start. It can be used for various analyzes such as failure analysis.

In addition, by uploading to the external server 8 via the mobile communication terminal device 7, such as a smartphone, which is originally equipped with a communication function, there is no need to provide a communication function on the in-vehicle device 2 side, and the cost of the in-vehicle device 2 is reduced. It is possible to reduce the amount of

In addition, data from each ECU (ECU_A3, ECU_B4, ECU_C5) accumulated between the time when the in-vehicle device 2 is started up and the time when it becomes possible to communicate with the mobile communication terminal device 7 is stored in the data storage area of the memory 2b. If the capacity is exceeded, the remaining capacity is used to overwrite the latest data, while leaving the data stored between the start of power supply and the specified time elapsed. Thereby, without using an expensive large-capacity memory, it is possible to preserve data immediately after power supply, where the behavior of the vehicle 1 changes drastically, as well as the latest data.

In addition, various data acquired from each ECU (ECU_A3, ECU_B4, ECU_C5) are linked to time information and stored in the data storage area of the memory 2b. It is possible to determine the attributes of the data, such as whether the data was stored before a specified time elapsed or whether it is the latest data.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, in the embodiment described above, the time information is acquired from the GPS antenna provided in the on-vehicle device 2, but it may also be acquired from another source, such as from one of the ECUs (ECU_A3, ECU_B4, ECU_C5). You can do it like this. Alternatively, the time set by the user of the vehicle 1 may be employed as the time information.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the data to be sent to the external server 8 is acquired from each ECU (ECU_A3, ECU_B4, ECU_C5), but the in-vehicle device 2 is There may also be data to be obtained directly.

Further, the above-described embodiments can be applied not only to gasoline cars but also to electric cars, hybrid cars, and self-driving cars.

2: In-vehicle device (in-vehicle device)
2b: Memory 3-5: ECU_A, ECU_B, ECU_C (electronic control unit)
7: Mobile communication terminal device (mobile communication terminal)

Claims (2)

An in-vehicle device that receives data transmitted from an electronic control device and transmits the received data to the outside via wireless communication via a communicably connected mobile communication terminal,
The in-vehicle device includes:
comprising a memory for storing received data received from the electronic control device;
The received data from when the vehicle is powered on until the vehicle becomes capable of communicating with the mobile communication terminal is accumulated and stored in the memory, and when the vehicle becomes capable of communicating with the mobile communication terminal, the received data is stored in the memory. transmitting the accumulated received data to the outside via the mobile communication terminal ;
If the storage amount of the received data reaches the upper limit of the memory capacity after the vehicle is powered on and before the mobile communication terminal becomes able to communicate with the in-vehicle device, the vehicle The received data from when the power is turned on until a predetermined time elapses is left, and the received data after the predetermined time replaces the old received data stored in the memory with the new received data. overwrite and memorize
An in-vehicle device characterized by: The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle-mounted device stores time information together with the received data.

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