JPH11155026A - Remote control system for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote control system for an automobile by which running cost is reduced and applicable range is extended. SOLUTION: This system uses a PHS terminal 20 as a radio equipment for controlling an automobile 10 from a remote place, and this system has a PHS interface part 11 for providing a control part 18 for controlling an engine 12, various lighting equipment 13, alarm horns 14, an air conditioner 15 and a lock device 16 or the like of the automobile 10 with a function equivalent to the PHS terminal. Thus, the control and state detection of each part can be attained from the PHS terminal owned by an operator. Moreover, it is possible to prevent illegal use by a third person, and to improve safety by making automatic alarming when pranked or stolen.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle remote control system, and more particularly, to a vehicle remote control system using a telephone.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, systems for remotely controlling an automobile using a telephone are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 8-79831, 7-264315 and 4-26.
The one disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 8860 is known. On the other hand, a door lock of a vehicle body is remotely controlled by using an infrared remote controller or a weak radio wave remote controller.

[0003]

The above-mentioned conventional remote control system for an automobile has the following problems. The former remote control using a telephone is charged each time an operation is performed, which is expensive. The latter remote control operation has a very narrow geographical range in which remote operation is possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a remote control system for an automobile capable of increasing the usable range while reducing running costs.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to an internal P installed in an automobile.
While connecting the HS terminal and the internal PHS terminal,
An external PHS terminal and the internal PHS terminal are provided with a vehicle-side control means for controlling the automobile by connection through a PHS network and communication by direct connection. In the invention according to claim 1 configured as described above, the internal PHS terminal is installed in the automobile, and the vehicle body side control means connected to the internal PHS terminal is connected to the external PHS terminal.
It becomes possible to connect to the S terminal. Here, the internal PHS terminal and the external PHS terminal can of course be connected via a PHS network, and a direct connection specific to the PHS terminal is also possible. The side control means controls the vehicle.

[0006] The invention according to claim 2 is based on claim 1.
The internal PHS terminal is configured to periodically change between a connection mode via a PHS network and a connection mode for direct connection, and wait for reception. In the invention according to claim 2 configured as described above, the user does not charge for communication by attempting communication by direct connection if the actual position of the car is close, and via the PHS network if the current position is far. Attempt to communicate. In this case, the internal PHS terminal is P
The connection mode via the HS network and the connection mode for direct connection are periodically changed to wait for reception, and communication is possible in any case.

Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle remote control system according to any one of the first and second aspects, the vehicle-body-side control means includes the external P
The configuration is such that the function of the vehicle is controlled according to a communication command from the HS terminal to the internal PHS terminal. In the invention according to claim 3 configured as described above, a call is transmitted from the external PHS terminal to the internal PHS terminal,
When a communication command is transmitted to the vehicle body side control means after the formation of the communication line, the vehicle body side control means controls functions of the vehicle.

For example, ON / OFF of an engine, ON / OFF of various lighting devices, ON / OFF of horns, ON / OFF of an air conditioner and temperature setting, and a locking device. Control such as ON / OFF. Furthermore, the invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 3.
In the vehicle remote control system described in the above, the vehicle body side control means is configured not to receive a communication command when the vehicle is running when controlling the function of the vehicle according to the communication command.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, if the vehicle body side control means receives a communication command during traveling, the communication command is not received and the function of the vehicle is controlled. do not do. That is, it may not always be preferable to carry out the operation while the vehicle is traveling. Further, according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle remote control system according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the vehicle-side control means includes:
The configuration is such that the state of the vehicle is detected and transmitted according to a communication command from the external PHS terminal to the internal PHS terminal.

[0010] In the invention according to claim 5 configured as described above, when the operator wants to know the condition of the vehicle body, an incoming call is sent from the external PHS terminal to the internal PHS terminal, and the state of the automobile is changed. When a communication command to be detected and transmitted is output, the vehicle body-side control means detects the state of the vehicle according to the communication command, and outputs the internal PH.
The S terminal transmits to the external PHS terminal. For example, ON / OFF of an engine, ON / OFF of various lighting devices, ON / OFF of horns, ON / OFF of an air conditioner and temperature,
The current situation such as ON / OFF of the locking device is detected and transmitted.

Further, according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the remote control system for an automobile according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the vehicle-body-side control means includes the internal PHS.
The terminal is configured to automatically transmit a signal to the external PHS terminal to transmit the state of the vehicle. In the invention according to claim 6 configured as described above, the internal PHS terminal can automatically make an outgoing call to the external PHS terminal on the vehicle body side control means side, and the state of the vehicle is transmitted when necessary. I do.

[0012] For example, if activated by a car theft device or the like, when a mischief or theft occurs, it is notified to an external PHS terminal owned by the operator.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a vehicle remote control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a car 10 has a PHS interface unit 11 having a function as a normal PHS terminal.
The operator has a normal PHS terminal 20, and these can communicate with each other via a general PHS network 30. In addition to being able to communicate with each other via the PHS network 30, a direct connection called a so-called transceiver function is also possible with the PHS terminal.
The former communication mode is called PHS network connection, and the latter communication mode is called direct connection.

On the other hand, the automobile 10 is provided with a mode switching unit 11a for switching the communication mode of the PHS interface unit 11, and the PHS terminal 20 is also provided with a mode switching unit 21 for switching the communication mode similarly. The PHS interface 1
By making the communication modes of the PHS terminal 1 and the PHS terminal 20 coincide with each other, mutual communication becomes possible. On the other hand, an engine 12, various lighting devices 13, a horn 14, an air conditioner 15, and a locking device 16 are provided as essential components of the automobile 10, and a control unit 17 for appropriately controlling these components is connected. The control unit 17 and the PHS interface unit 11 are connected to each other, and control commands received by the PHS interface unit 11 are transmitted to the control unit 1.
7 and the control command generated by the control unit 17 can be transmitted from the PHS interface unit 11 as data.

FIG. 1 shows the mode switching section 1
1a and the mode switching unit 21 set the communication mode of the PHS interface unit 11 and the PHS terminal 20 to P.
Set to HS network connection and send from PHS terminal 20 to P
This shows a state where an incoming call is made to the HS interface unit 11. When the distance between the operator and the car is long, P
If an HS network connection is made, communication becomes possible within the PHS connection area.

In FIG. 2, similarly, the communication mode of the PHS interface unit 11 and the communication mode of the PHS terminal 20 are directly connected by the mode switching unit 11a and the mode switching unit 21, and the PHS terminal 20 transmits a PHS interface signal. This shows a state where an incoming call is made to the unit 11. In this case, the distance between the operator and the car is short, and if direct connection is made, no charge is made because the connection does not pass through the PHS network. In general, the communication mode is usually set by an operator before performing communication. On the other hand, in FIG. 3, a timer 11b is connected to the mode switching unit 11a, and the timer 11b is connected to the mode switching unit 11a.
, An activation signal is transmitted at regular intervals. Then
The mode switching unit 11a switches the communication mode of the PHS interface unit 11 each time the start signal is received. This time is set, for example, every 10 seconds.
When communication is started in the PHS interface unit 11, the communication mode does not change until the communication ends.

In this way, if the car 10 is nearby, the call may be transmitted in the direct connection mode if the operator judges, and if the car 10 is far away, the call may be transmitted in the PHS network connection mode. In any case, since the PHS interface unit 11 switches the communication mode every 10 seconds, the transmission is detected and the reception is possible. In any case, the operator of the PHS terminal 20 has his / her own car 1
By operating the PHS terminal 20 to remotely control the PHS 0, communication with the PHS interface unit 11 is started, and after starting the communication, a predetermined control command is input. This control command is PH
The data is input to the control unit 17 via the S interface unit 11, and the control unit 17 determines the content of the control command.

There are two types of control commands, one corresponding to an operation instruction and the other corresponding to state detection. The former control commands include starting / stopping of an engine 12, ON / OFF of various lighting devices 13, horns and the like. 14, ON / OFF of the air conditioner 15, temperature setting of the air conditioner 15, ON / OFF of the locking device 16, and the like are prepared. When the control command corresponds to these operation instructions, the control unit 17 executes the specified control according to the content of the control command.

On the other hand, when the control command corresponds to the state detection, the control unit 17 detects the status corresponding to the content of the control command and transmits the status to the PHS terminal 20 via the PHS interface unit 11. . That is, the control unit 17 determines the control command, and
Start / stop state, ON / OFF state of various lighting devices 13, temperature setting state of air conditioner 15, ON of lock device 16
A control command indicating a status such as the / OFF state is sent back. Then, the operator receives the control command at the PHS terminal 20 and determines the state of the vehicle 10.

On the other hand, when a predetermined state change occurs in the control unit 17, the PHS interface unit 1
It is also possible to cause the PHS terminal 20 to automatically make an outgoing call via the terminal 1. FIG. 4 shows a state in this case, and the control unit 1
7 is a start / stop state of the engine 12 and O of the locking device 16
When the N / OFF state changes, an automatic transmission is performed. In this case, the control unit 17 may change the mode switching unit 11a to the PHS network connection mode so that the incoming call can be reliably received even when the operator is not nearby. The presence / absence of such automatic transmission and the instruction to switch the communication mode are PHS
What is necessary is just to input the corresponding control command from the terminal 20, and to make the control part 17 determine.

The start / stop state of the engine 12 and the change of the ON / OFF state of the locking device 16 have the effect that, in a practical sense, the possibility of danger of theft or mischief can be notified. As described above, according to the present embodiment, control can be performed from any remote location as long as the PHS can be used by using a PHS terminal without using a dedicated wireless device as in the related art.・ Detection is possible. These controls and detections are performed by the engine 1
2. A function equivalent to a PHS terminal is added to a control unit 17 that controls various lighting devices 13, a horn 14, an air conditioner 15, a locking device 16, and the like, and a PHS terminal 2 possessed by a remote operator.
A method of transmitting / receiving a control command through a PHS network or by directly connecting PHS terminals to each other is adopted.

At the time of controlling the vehicle 10, a predetermined control command is input from the PHS terminal 20 possessed by a remote operator, and the control unit 1 of the vehicle 10 having a function equivalent to the PHS terminal.
7 receives and determines the command, and executes a predetermined control. In addition, the detection of the state of the car 10 is performed by the P
A control command specifying information to be detected is input from the HS terminal 20, and the control unit 17 of the automobile 10 receives and determines the control command, and sends back desired information as a control command. The PHS terminal 20 on the operator side can detect the state of the vehicle 10 by receiving and discriminating the control command.

Further, information that the operator wants to detect is set in the control unit 17 of the vehicle 10 in advance, and when there is a change in the state of the desired information, the control unit 17 of the vehicle 10 automatically performs remote control. A predetermined control command is sent to the PHS terminal 20 of the local operator. As described above, the PHS terminal 20 is used as a wireless device for controlling the automobile 10 from a remote place, and the engine 12, various lighting devices 13, and horns 1 of the automobile 10 are used.
4. The PHS interface unit 11 for providing a function equivalent to a PHS terminal to the control unit 17 for controlling the air conditioner 15, the locking device 16, etc.
From the terminal 20, control and status detection of each of the above units is enabled,
Further, it is possible to prevent the unauthorized use of a third party, and to improve the safety such as alerting a car of mischief or theft.

[0024]

As described above, the present invention provides a remote control system for an automobile that enables remote operation from a long distance by using a telephone, but does not necessarily require charging. it can. According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the direct connection mode is periodically set, the remote operation can be performed without charging for a short distance. In particular, if you set only the direct connection mode,
In the case of a long distance, the call cannot be received via the PHS network, which is convenient.

Further, according to the invention of claim 3,
Similarly, remote control becomes possible. Further, according to the invention according to claim 4, there are some control targets that are not controlled during traveling, and this can be dealt with. Furthermore, according to the invention according to claim 5, when it is desired to know the state of the vehicle body, it is possible to detect from outside. Furthermore, according to the invention of claim 6, since transmission can be made from the automobile side as appropriate, it is suitable when mischief or theft occurs.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram when a control command is transmitted and received in a PHS network connection mode in a vehicle remote control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram when a control command is transmitted and received in a direct connection mode in a remote control system of the vehicle.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a state in which a communication control mode is automatically switched and a reception standby is performed in a vehicle remote control system according to another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram when an automatic transmission is performed from a vehicle side in a vehicle remote control system according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 automobile 11 PHS interface unit 11a mode switching unit 11b timer 12 engine 13 various lighting devices 14 horns 15 air conditioner 16 locking device 17 control unit 20 PHS terminal 21 mode switching unit 30 PHS network

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An internal PHS terminal installed in an automobile and connected to the internal PHS terminal, and the external PHS terminal and the internal PHS terminal control the automobile by connection through a PHS network and communication by direct connection. A remote control system for an automobile, comprising: a vehicle-side control unit. 2. The remote control system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the internal PHS terminal periodically changes a connection mode via a PHS network and a direct connection mode to wait for reception. A remote control system for automobiles. 3. The remote control system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle body side control means controls the vehicle according to a communication command from said external PHS terminal to said internal PHS terminal. A remote control system for a vehicle, which controls functions. 4. The remote control system for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the vehicle body side control means does not accept a communication command when the vehicle is running when controlling the function of the vehicle in response to the communication command. A remote control system for an automobile. 5. The remote control system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle body side control means controls the vehicle according to a communication command from the external PHS terminal to the internal PHS terminal. A remote control system for a vehicle, wherein a state is detected and transmitted. 6. The remote control system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle-body-side control means causes the internal PHS terminal to automatically transmit a signal to the external PHS terminal. A remote control system for a vehicle, characterized by transmitting the status of the vehicle.