JP4600795B2 - Vehicle remote diagnosis method, vehicle remote diagnosis system, vehicle control device, vehicle remote diagnosis device, and computer program - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of failure diagnosis for diagnosing a vehicle such as an automobile.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in the field of automobiles, which are representative vehicles, a failure diagnosis apparatus for diagnosing various failures and malfunctions occurring in the automobile has been proposed. For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-316177, There has been proposed a fault diagnosis device that is connected to a vehicle and diagnoses an engine, an automatic transmission, and the like.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional failure diagnosis apparatus, since it is generally performed at a service factory for a vehicle in which a failure or the like has actually occurred, the service staff must accurately grasp the failure that has occurred. In addition to listening to events occurring from the user of the vehicle, for example, the vehicle must be driven by itself as necessary with the failure diagnosis device connected, which requires a lot of time.
[0004]
In addition, since a failure that actually occurs in a vehicle may occur only under specific driving conditions (for example, road shape or driving operation), the vehicle that the service staff has entrusted with the user during a limited period of time. In some cases, the event heard from the user cannot be confirmed even if the test run is performed.
[0005]
Therefore, the present invention efficiently acquires information necessary for vehicle diagnosis and performs a vehicle remote diagnosis method, vehicle remote diagnosis system, vehicle control device, and vehicle remote diagnosis that perform accurate diagnosis based on the acquired information. Equipment and computer programs Of For the purpose of provision.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a vehicle remote diagnosis system according to the present invention is characterized by the following configuration.
[0007]
That is, a vehicle remote diagnosis system in which a control device mounted on a vehicle to be remotely diagnosed and an information center are connected so as to be capable of bidirectional communication at least via a wireless communication line,
The control device transmits the current position of the vehicle and a diagnosis request to the information center, receives at least travel route information from the information center in response to the transmission of the diagnosis request, and includes the travel route information. In response, the vehicle comprises a self-diagnosis means for transmitting the vehicle state detected when the vehicle has traveled to the information center,
The information center determines a travel mode necessary for remote diagnosis of the vehicle according to the diagnosis request received from the control device, and determines the travel mode determined, the current position of the vehicle received from the control device, and Based on the travel route determination means for transmitting the travel route information determined based on surrounding road map information to the vehicle, and the vehicle state received from the control device in response to transmission of the travel route information, Remote diagnosis means for performing a remote diagnosis of the vehicle is provided.
[0008]
In a preferred embodiment, the control device includes navigation means for notifying a driver of the vehicle of a travel route on which the vehicle should travel based on the current position of the vehicle, road map information, and the travel route information. And good.
[0009]
Preferably, the control device includes auxiliary diagnostic means for diagnosing a predetermined item based on a state of a road on which the vehicle has traveled and a vehicle state detected during travel, regardless of whether or not the diagnosis is requested by a driver. Alternatively, the control device may further include a diagnosis request for the diagnosis item other than the predetermined item by the auxiliary diagnosis unit to the driver of the vehicle and a diagnosis request regarding the notified diagnosis item to the information center. It is preferable to provide a man-machine interface that can set whether to transmit or not.
[0010]
Also, for example, in the control device, the self-diagnosis means can set a required time required for the vehicle to travel according to the travel route information, and the driver of the vehicle can set the required required time. Sending the diagnostic request containing information representing to the information center;
In the information center, the remote diagnosis means may determine the travel route information so as to remotely diagnose only diagnostic items that can be diagnosed by traveling within the required time received from the control device.
[0011]
Further, for example, in the information center, the remote diagnosis means transmits a diagnosis program corresponding to the travel mode to the vehicle instead of performing a remote diagnosis of the vehicle,
In the control device, the self-diagnosis means executes self-diagnosis based on a vehicle state detected when the vehicle travels according to the travel route information by executing the diagnostic program received from the information center. It is good to do.
[0012]
Further, for example, in the information center, the remote diagnosis means specifies or estimates a portion of the vehicle that requires maintenance based on the result of the remote diagnosis, and information on a service factory that can cope with the cost required for the maintenance. May be transmitted to the vehicle.
[0013]
The object is to provide a vehicle remote diagnosis method corresponding to a vehicle remote diagnosis system having the above-described configurations, a vehicle remote diagnosis device corresponding to an information center in the vehicle remote diagnosis system having the above-described configurations, and To realize a vehicle control device corresponding to the vehicle-side control device in the system Computer· Program Mu, And its Computer· Program Mu Is also achieved by a computer-readable storage medium in which is stored.
[0014]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, a vehicle remote diagnosis method, a vehicle remote diagnosis system, a vehicle control device, and a vehicle that efficiently acquire information necessary for vehicle diagnosis and perform accurate diagnosis based on the acquired information. Remote diagnosis device and computer program Of Provision is realized.
[0015]
That is, according to the invention of claim 1, claim 2, claim 10 and claim 11, as the vehicle to be diagnosed travels along the travel route necessary for diagnosis, The vehicle state detected at the time of traveling can be acquired, and efficient remote diagnosis can be performed.
[0016]
Further, according to the invention of claim 3, it is possible to efficiently support the operation of the driver driving the vehicle according to the travel route information received from the information center.
[0017]
Moreover, according to the invention of claim 4, various diagnoses can be realized, and an early response in the service factory can be realized.
[0018]
According to the invention of claim 5, an optimal diagnosis can be realized according to the convenience of the driver of the vehicle to be diagnosed.
[0019]
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to eliminate the influence associated with the driving operation of the driver of the vehicle that is the object of diagnosis, so that the accuracy of the diagnosis result in the information center can be improved.
[0020]
According to the invention of claim 7, when a failure occurs in a vehicle to be diagnosed, a diagnostic program is acquired at that time, and at the time of traveling for diagnosis, the vehicle is diagnosed. Therefore, the program stored in the control device on the vehicle side can be minimized.
[0021]
Further, according to the invention of claim 8, the driver of the vehicle can recognize the state of failure or the like occurring in his vehicle and the cost for dealing with it before bringing it into the service factory. Improves.
[0022]
According to the invention of claim 9, it is possible to realize a remote diagnosis that respects the driver's intention.
[0023]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a vehicle remote diagnosis system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as an embodiment in which the vehicle remote diagnosis system is applied to an automobile which is a typical vehicle.
[0024]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a vehicle remote diagnosis system according to the present embodiment.
[0025]
In the figure, 100 is a vehicle to be diagnosed by the present system, and a navigation device 1 having a communication function and a vehicle control device (ECU) 3 are mounted on the vehicle 100 so as to communicate with each other.
[0026]
The navigation device 1 performs wireless communication with a wireless telephone base station 4 provided in the city, and can be connected to the Internet 5 through an Internet service provider (ISP) 7. The vehicle control device 3 is provided with various general control functions such as engine control, automatic transmission shift control, and anti-lock brake control using a sensor group and an actuator group (not shown) provided in the vehicle 100. .
[0027]
Reference numeral 2 denotes an information center that performs remote diagnosis of a plurality of vehicles to be diagnosed, and can be connected to the Internet 5.
[0028]
Reference numeral 6 denotes a plurality of service factories (sales agents) under the control of this system, and can be connected to the Internet 5 via, for example, the ISP 7.
[0029]
In the system configuration described above, the navigation device 1, the information center 2, and the service factory 6 are connected via a wireless communication line and / or the Internet 5 so that bidirectional communication is possible.
[0030]
[Navigation device 1]
Here, the device configuration of the navigation device 1 will be described.
[0031]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the internal configuration of the navigation device 1 with a communication function according to this embodiment.
[0032]
In the figure, 22 is a display such as a liquid crystal display, and 23 is an input device comprising a key switch and various pointing devices. A ROM 24 stores a boot program and the like. Reference numeral 25 denotes a RAM that temporarily stores various processing results. Reference numeral 26 denotes a storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) that stores map information for navigation, a browser program that can access the Internet 5, a program that transmits and receives electronic mail, and the like. A communication interface 27 communicates with the information center 2, the service factory 6, and the like while being connected to the Internet 5 through the wireless telephone base station 4 and the Internet service provider 7 in the city. Reference numeral 28 denotes a GPS unit that detects the current position based on a GPS (Global Positioning System) signal received from the outside. Each of these components is connected via an internal bus 29, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21 controls the overall operation of the navigation device, a wireless communication line, and the like according to a software program stored in a storage device 26. A data transmission / reception function using the Internet 5 is executed.
[0033]
Such a software program can be read from a portable storage medium such as a DVD-ROM or acquired from the outside via the communication line 30 even if it is executed after the CPU 21 reads what was previously burned into the ROM 24. Those may be stored in the storage device 26 as appropriate and read out before execution.
[0034]
The map information stored in the storage device 26 or the reading device may be general information in which information such as a road map is represented by coordinate values based on a predetermined coordinate system.
[0035]
In the present embodiment, the CPU 21 of the navigation device 1 detects and operates the detection results and operations of the sensors and actuators of the vehicle 100 detected or operated by each control module such as engine control by the vehicle control device 3 as information representing the vehicle state. You can refer to the results.
[0036]
[Information Center 2]
Next, the apparatus configuration of the information center 2 will be described. The hardware of the information center 2 is a general server computer and includes a plurality of databases described below.
[0037]
Vehicle information database: Identification information (ID), vehicle type (model), user information, etc. are associated with each other and registered in advance for a plurality of vehicles to be subjected to remote diagnosis by this system.
[0038]
-Parts information database: Information on the types of parts that make up the vehicle and the units (modules) that are predetermined functional units consisting of these parts for each vehicle type (model) Registered in advance. More specifically, as information registered in the component information database, for example, if the component is a rubber product such as a bush, information indicating the secular change in elastic characteristics, and an engine mount using the component・ Information indicating changes in the vibration characteristics of the unit is assumed. Further, for example, in the case of engine oil as a regular replacement part, information indicating a change in viscosity characteristics over time, information indicating a change in rotational resistance of an engine using the oil, and the like are assumed.
[0039]
Diagnosis program database: A plurality of types of software modules executed in the information center 2 or the navigation device 1 for diagnosing predetermined diagnosis items are stored.
[0040]
Driving skill information database: With respect to a plurality of vehicles to be subjected to remote diagnosis by this system, information related to the driving skill of a user (driver) of the vehicle is registered in advance. This information may be configured so that the user himself / herself registers information by self-reporting from each user, or may be configured to be acquired from the vehicle side every time a remote diagnosis is performed.
[0041]
Diagnosis history database: Stores information such as past diagnosis histories, failure histories, repair histories, and service factories (sales agents) in charge of repair for a plurality of vehicles that are targets of remote diagnosis by this system. Therefore, in the present embodiment, in order to make the diagnosis history database effective, in each service factory 6, when a vehicle to be subjected to remote diagnosis by this system is brought in and some measure is taken, that vehicle Information on the diagnosis result, failure location, repair contents (replacement parts), etc. is transmitted to the information center 2 via the Internet 5. Since the information center 2 registers these pieces of information received from the service factory 6 in the diagnosis history database, the diagnosis history database stores the latest information of a plurality of vehicles that are targets of remote diagnosis by this system. .
[0042]
Map information database: Map information based on the same standard as the navigation device 1 mounted on each vehicle that is a target of remote diagnosis by this system is stored.
[0043]
In this embodiment, as an example of the telecommunication line, the wireless communication line and the Internet 5 are used for two-way communication between the navigation apparatus 1, the information center 2, and the service factory 6. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The navigation device 1 and the information center 2 need only be capable of two-way communication via at least a wireless communication line, and the information center 2 and the service factory 6 may be connected via a dedicated line.
[0044]
[Remote diagnosis function]
Next, the remote diagnosis function realized in the system configuration described above will be described in detail.
[0045]
First, the main concept of the vehicle remote diagnosis function in this system will be described with reference to FIG.
[0046]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation transition at the time of remote diagnosis by the vehicle remote diagnosis system according to the present embodiment.
[0047]
As shown in the figure, the vehicle remote diagnosis in this system is roughly divided into four steps, ie, first to fourth steps.
[0048]
First step (request for execution of failure diagnosis): in response to a predetermined operation being input by the driver of the vehicle to the navigation device 1 mounted on the vehicle 100 to be remotely diagnosed (see FIG. 5) The navigation device 1 and the information center 2 are connected to each other via a wireless communication line and the Internet 5 so that bidirectional communication is possible. Then, the navigation device 1 transmits to the information center 2 the current position of the vehicle 100 detected using the GPS unit 28 and the like, and a diagnosis request indicating that a remote diagnosis is desired.
[0049]
The remote diagnosis described below may be performed periodically, but in this embodiment, the driver can make a request at a desired timing as needed to respect the driver's intention.
[0050]
Second step (presentation of a failure diagnosis travel route): The information center 2 determines a travel mode necessary for remote diagnosis according to the diagnosis request received from the navigation device 1, and also determines the travel mode determined by the navigation device 1. A travel route that the vehicle 100 needs to travel in order to realize the travel mode is determined based on the current location received from the vehicle and the road map information around the current location read from the map information database. The information center 2 then displays information indicating the determined diagnostic travel route (travel route information) and information indicating diagnosis contents diagnosed when the vehicle 100 actually travels along the travel route (in FIG. 3, failure diagnosis). Item information) is transmitted to the navigation device 1.
[0051]
Here, the traveling mode refers to various traveling modes that need to be executed in the vehicle 100 in order to perform a remote diagnosis. For example, a state in which the vehicle travels on an uphill while frequently using steering steering, an automatic transmission Is a collective term for various driving modes such as a state where the vehicle travels in an urban area where the gear shifts repeatedly.
[0052]
The diagnostic travel route determined by the information center 2 includes the coordinate values of the current position where the vehicle 100 is located, and information including the coordinate values of a plurality of points on the surrounding road. A road shape that can cause the vehicle 100 to generate various driving states is included as a driving mode required for remote diagnosis by actually driving on a road around the current position.
[0053]
The navigation device 1 displays a map image including the travel route and the diagnostic contents in the travel route based on the travel route information and the failure diagnosis item information received from the information center 2 and the map information of the corresponding peripheral area on the display 22. (See FIG. 11).
[0054]
In the second step, a diagnostic program corresponding to the travel mode determined by the information center 2 may be transmitted to the navigation device 1 (details will be described later).
Third process (guidance of diagnosis travel route / transmission of vehicle state): The navigation apparatus 1 displays a map image on the display 22 based on the travel route information received from the information center 2 and the map information of the corresponding surrounding area. By doing so (sound may be used), the driver of the vehicle 100 is guided to actually travel along the diagnostic travel route. A general procedure may be adopted for the navigation function itself that performs route guidance.
[0055]
Then, the navigation device 1 provides driving support to the driver by the navigation function as described above so that the vehicle 100 travels while efficiently tracing the diagnostic travel route, and the vehicle 100 travels along the diagnostic travel route. At this time, the detection results and operation results of the sensors and actuators of the vehicle 100 are acquired from the vehicle control device 3 as data representing the vehicle state, and the acquired data is transmitted to the information center 2.
[0056]
At this time, the navigation device 1 may not only transmit the acquired data to the information center 2 but also make a diagnosis by itself according to a diagnostic program received from the information center 2 and transmit the diagnosis result to the information center 2, for example. .
[0057]
Note that the third step may be repeated a plurality of times as the vehicle 100 completes traveling on the diagnostic travel route. That is, when the information center 2 performs a remote diagnosis based on data representing the vehicle state acquired from the navigation device 1 when traveling on a certain diagnostic travel route (first diagnostic travel route), the diagnosis result If it is determined that another type of diagnosis is necessary, the other diagnostic travel route (second diagnostic travel route) and failure diagnosis item information are transmitted to the vehicle 100. Then, the navigation device 1 performs route guidance and vehicle state transmission based on these newly received information.
[0058]
When the information center 2 receives data representing the vehicle state and / or the self-diagnosis result during the traveling of the diagnostic travel route from the navigation device 1, the information center 2 refers to the received data and various information stored in the databases. Thus, remote diagnosis of the vehicle 100 is performed. The diagnosis result includes information indicating a part that is specified or estimated to require maintenance in the vehicle, information on a service factory that can cope with the cost required for the maintenance, and the like.
[0059]
Fourth step (presentation of failure diagnosis result): The information center 2 transmits the diagnosis result to the vehicle. In the navigation apparatus 1, the received diagnosis result is displayed on the display 22 (see FIG. 17).
[0060]
Next, the four steps described above will be described individually.
[0061]
<First step>
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control process for the navigation device 1 to request the information center 2 to perform a failure diagnosis, and shows a processing procedure of a control program executed by the CPU 21 of the navigation device 1.
[0062]
FIG. 5 is a diagram exemplifying a navigation screen before a remote diagnosis request on the display 22. A remote diagnosis (failure diagnosis) by the information center 2 is performed on the map screen including a symbol representing the current position of the vehicle 100. Symbols that can be requested by the driver (occupant) are displayed.
[0063]
When a predetermined operation for selecting a failure diagnosis symbol is input on the navigation screen shown in FIG. 5 (step S1), the navigation device sets a communication line to the information center 2 by the communication interface 27 as a wireless communication line and the Internet. 5, the current position of the vehicle 100 detected using the GPS unit 28 and the like, and a diagnosis request indicating that remote diagnosis is desired are transmitted to the information center 2 (step S2).
[0064]
At this time, the navigation device 1 transmits a personal number (user ID) and a vehicle number (vehicle ID) together with the current position and the diagnosis request to identify the vehicle 100 as a remote diagnosis target.
[0065]
In the above-described step 1, in the navigation device 1, when a predetermined item is diagnosed on a daily basis at a predetermined time period regardless of whether or not a diagnosis is requested by the driver, the navigation apparatus 1 does not use the navigation screen shown in FIG. A symbol for notifying a diagnosis item excluded from daily diagnosis is arranged as shown in FIG. 6A, and when the symbol is selected, the symbol is notified as shown in FIG. 6B. Also good.
[0066]
In addition, in the navigation device 1, according to the fact that a failure diagnosis symbol is selected in step S1, as shown in FIG. , A symbol that can exclude the diagnostic contents of a predetermined item that is routinely performed in a predetermined time period is displayed, and information including the selected diagnostic contents is transmitted to the information center 2 in step S2 as a diagnostic request. You may do it. In this case, the information center 2 can perform remote diagnosis on diagnostic items according to the driver's request, realize various diagnoses, and realize early response at the service factory.
[0067]
Further, in the navigation device 1, in accordance with selection of a failure diagnosis symbol in step S1, the selection items (all failure diagnosis implementations), which are described above with reference to FIG. (Excluding daily diagnosis), as shown in FIG. 8, the time required to travel on the diagnostic travel route is displayed with a symbol that can be set by the driver of the vehicle 100 to represent the set required time. The information may be transmitted to the information center 2 as a diagnosis request in step S2. In this case, the information center 2 determines a diagnostic travel route so as to remotely diagnose only diagnostic items that can be diagnosed by traveling within the required time received from the navigation device 1. Thereby, the optimal diagnosis can be realized according to the convenience of the driver of the vehicle to be diagnosed (the time that the driver can use for remote diagnosis).
[0068]
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a procedure for setting the driving skill of the driver in the navigation device 1 when a diagnosis request is input in step S1 of FIG. 4A. In this case, a symbol for failure diagnosis is selected. When a predetermined operation is input, the driver's driving skill is described after the selection items (all failure diagnosis execution, daily diagnosis excluded) that the driver can select the diagnosis items as described above with reference to FIG. Multiple levels of selection items are displayed. The navigation device 1 transmits information representing the driving skill selected by the driver from the displayed selection items of a plurality of levels to the information center 2 together with the diagnosis request.
[0069]
<Second step>
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a control process until the information center 2 determines a diagnostic travel route and failure diagnosis item information and transmits them to the navigation device 1. A CPU not shown in the server computer of the information center 2 The processing procedure of the control program executed by is shown.
[0070]
When the information center 2 receives the current position and the diagnosis request from the navigation device 1 (step S51), the vehicle information database, the parts information database, and the diagnosis history database are used with the vehicle number (vehicle ID) received together with the information as a key. The diagnostic items necessary for the vehicle are selected by referring to (Step S52, Step S53).
[0071]
Further, the information center 2 refers to the driving skill information database using the personal number (user ID) received from the navigation device 1 as a key, and selects a diagnostic item necessary for the vehicle (step S54).
[0072]
Note that the driving skill of the driver may be obtained from the navigation device 1 together with the current position as described above with reference to FIG.
[0073]
Then, the information center 2 determines a travel mode necessary for remotely diagnosing the diagnostic item selected in steps S51 to S54, and determines the travel mode determined, the current position received from the navigation device 1, and the map information. Based on the road map information around the current position read from the database, a diagnosis travel route is determined, travel route information representing the determined diagnosis travel route, and when the vehicle 100 actually travels on the travel route. Information indicating the diagnosis contents to be diagnosed (failure diagnosis item information in FIG. 3) is transmitted to the navigation device 1 (step S55).
[0074]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a control process until the navigation device 1 displays a failure diagnosis travel route according to the travel route information and the failure diagnosis item information received from the information center 2, and is executed by the CPU 21 of the navigation device 1. The processing procedure of the control program is shown.
[0075]
In the figure, when the navigation device 1 receives the travel route information and the failure diagnosis item information of the diagnosis travel route from the information center 2 (step S5), the navigation device 1 responds to the received information and the diagnosis travel route. Based on the map information of the surrounding area to be displayed, a map image including the diagnostic travel route and the diagnostic content in the travel route is displayed on the display 22 (step S6).
[0076]
In step S5, when necessary, a diagnostic program (program module) is received together with a diagnostic travel route, etc., and the diagnostic program is executed by the CPU 21 to perform self-diagnosis, and when self-diagnosis is completed. It is preferable that the diagnostic program is appropriately deleted. According to such a configuration, the program stored in the control device on the vehicle side can be suppressed to the minimum, and there is no troublesome version management of the program.
[0077]
As a more specific configuration in the above case, for example, when the navigation apparatus 1 includes an environment that operates as a Java virtual machine, a diagnostic program described as a Java program is transferred from the information center 2 to the navigation apparatus 1. A configuration for downloading is assumed.
[0078]
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed on the display 22 by the navigation device 1 in the second step, and shows details of the display processing in step S6.
[0079]
When the navigation device 1 receives the travel route information of the diagnosis travel route and the failure diagnosis item information from the information center 2 in step S5, first, the map image including the travel route for diagnosis as shown in FIG. Is displayed on the display 22. From this map image, a sub-screen (FIG. 11 (b) to FIG. 11 (d)) including a failure diagnosis item diagnosed when traveling on the diagnostic travel route in accordance with a driver's selection operation and an explanation thereof. Can be deployed. The driver can grasp the contents of the remote diagnosis to be performed in advance by performing the expansion operation on these screens.
[0080]
Here, it is also assumed that the diagnostic travel route presented from the information center 2 in step S5 includes a route that is not accepted by the driver of the vehicle 100 (for example, sudden traffic congestion, construction, etc.). In that case, what is necessary is just to comprise so that the driver of the diagnostic driving route can be edited on the map image containing the diagnostic driving route presented from the information center 2.
[0081]
FIG. 12 is a diagram exemplifying screen development for explaining the editing function of the diagnostic travel route.
[0082]
When the navigation device 1 receives the travel route information of the diagnosis travel route and the failure diagnosis item information from the information center 2 in step S5, first, the map image including the travel route for diagnosis as shown in FIG. Is displayed on the display 22. In this map image, when the driver selects a symbol representing editing and performs an operation of selecting a part of the diagnostic traveling route being displayed, as shown in FIG. Is displayed. At this time, for example, if the selection operation of the partial route is continued for a predetermined time (several seconds), a new menu screen is displayed as shown in FIG. 12C, and deletion is selected in this menu. The navigation device 1 transmits information indicating that the partial route has been deleted to the information center 2. Then, the information center 2 determines a new diagnostic travel route based on the received information, and the navigation device 1 displays the new diagnostic travel route on the display 22 as shown in FIG. .
[0083]
In addition, in the menu screen shown in FIG. 12C, it is possible to select that items diagnosed in the partial route are directly performed at the service factory without performing remote diagnosis by the information center 2. Also in this case, information on the selection operation is transmitted to the information center 2. Then, the information center 2 determines a new diagnostic travel route based on the received information, and the navigation device 1 displays the new diagnostic travel route on the display 22 as shown in FIG. .
[0084]
<Third step>
In the second step, when an understanding of the diagnostic travel route by the driver and the diagnostic items by the travel is obtained, remote diagnosis by the navigation device 1 and the information center 2 is started.
[0085]
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a control process of the navigation device 1 during the remote diagnosis, and shows a processing procedure of a control program executed by the CPU 21 of the navigation device 1.
[0086]
In the figure, the navigation apparatus 1 displays a map image on the display 22 based on the travel route information received from the information center 2 and the map information of the corresponding surrounding area (sound may be used), so that the vehicle 100 drivers are guided to actually travel on the diagnostic travel route (step S11).
[0087]
When the vehicle 100 starts traveling on the diagnostic travel route in response to the route guidance in step S11, the navigation device 1 detects the current position by the GPS unit 28, and also detects the detection results and operation results of the sensors and actuators of the vehicle 100. And it acquires from the vehicle control apparatus 3 as data showing a vehicle state, and transmits the acquired data to the information center 2 (step S12).
[0088]
A series of processes of step S11 and step S12 are repeated until the traveling of the diagnostic travel route is completed. When the travel of the diagnostic travel route is completed and the completion of the failure diagnosis (remote diagnosis) is confirmed in step S13, the navigation device 1 proceeds to a failure diagnosis result presentation process (FIG. 15) described later.
[0089]
In step S12, when a diagnostic program (program module) is received together with the diagnostic travel route in step S5 (FIG. 10) described above, the CPU 21 executes the diagnostic program to perform self-diagnosis. And the diagnosis result may be transmitted to the information center 2. In addition to the diagnosis result, the diagnosis program itself may be transmitted to the information center 2.
[0090]
In order to reduce the amount of data received before the start of remote diagnosis in step S5 (FIG. 10), when the vehicle 100 is actually traveling in steps S11 and S12, What is necessary is just to comprise so that the diagnostic program corresponding to the some driving | running | working route | route may be transmitted from the information center 2 sequentially.
[0091]
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a control process of the information center 2 during the remote diagnosis, and shows a processing procedure of a control program executed by a CPU (not shown) in the server computer of the information center 2.
[0092]
In the figure, in response to step S12 of FIG. 13 described above, when the vehicle state (or diagnosis result) is received from the navigation device 1 (step S61), the information center 2 stores the received information in each of the above databases. The remote diagnosis of the vehicle 100 is performed by referring to the various information (failure history etc.) (step S62).
[0093]
In the diagnosis in step S62, the driving skill of the driver may be considered. The driving skill of a driver has a general tendency corresponding to the driving skill and age. In addition, a diagnosis result obtained by executing an analysis program generally depends on a distribution state of a plurality of measurement data (samples) used for the diagnosis. Therefore, when analyzing the predetermined item, the information center 2 uses the driving skill of the driver of the vehicle to be diagnosed to determine the noise included in the measurement data (vehicle state) received from the navigation device 1, and from the measurement data It is preferable to improve the accuracy of the analysis result by eliminating the elements accompanying the driving operation of the driver.
[0094]
In addition, the diagnosis result in step S62 includes information indicating a part that is specified or estimated to require maintenance in the vehicle, information on a service factory that can handle the approximate cost required for the maintenance, and the like. In addition, the diagnosis result may include an expected time for preparing the specified or estimated site. Thus, the driver of the vehicle can recognize the state of a failure or the like occurring in his / her vehicle and the cost for dealing with it before bringing it into the service factory, thereby improving convenience.
[0095]
When the navigation apparatus 1 performs a self-diagnosis, the information center 2 may perform an analysis process with a large processing load as necessary using the received diagnosis result.
[0096]
<4th process>
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a failure diagnosis result presentation process of the navigation device 1 and shows a processing procedure of a control program executed by the CPU 21 of the navigation device 1.
[0097]
In the figure, when the navigation apparatus 1 receives a diagnosis result from the information center 2 (step S21), the navigation apparatus 1 displays the diagnosis result on the display 22 (step S22).
[0098]
FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a failure diagnosis result. In step S22, first, the received diagnosis result is displayed in a digest. When it is reported on this display screen that there is any problem (injector failure in the figure), a sub-screen that displays the detailed contents of the problem by the driver selection operation, or an option for dealing with the problem It is possible to expand the screen to a sub-screen that displays
[0099]
When the driver selects any option on the displayed sub-screen (step S23), information representing the selected option is transmitted to the information center 2 (step S24).
[0100]
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a process of presenting a failure diagnosis result of the information center 2, and shows a processing procedure of a control program executed by a CPU (not shown) in the server computer of the information center 2.
[0101]
In the figure, the information center 2 transmits the above diagnosis result to the navigation device 1 of the vehicle 100 (step S65). When an option for coping with the diagnosis result is received from the navigation device 1 in response to transmission of the diagnosis result (step S66), processing for coping is performed (step S67). That is, in step S67, for example, it is preferable to arrange a service factory that can respond.
This arrangement may be made, for example, via the Internet 5 by e-mail including the identification number of the vehicle 100 and the user whose failure has been identified or estimated and the diagnosis result.
[0102]
Further, when the driver requests the service factory to arrange in accordance with the diagnosis result displayed on the navigation device 1 as described above, the cost of vehicle maintenance at the service factory is compared with the case of general carry-in. Discounting is suitable for the user.
[0103]
When the driver requests the service factory to arrange according to the diagnosis result displayed on the navigation device 1 as described above, the travel route information to the service factory is further navigated from the information center 2 or the service factory. By transmitting to the apparatus 1, the convenience of the user is further improved.
[0104]
Further, when the communication line between the navigation device 1 and the information center 2 is charged, the navigation device 1 starts the information center in the first step in consideration of the driver's cost burden during the above-described remote diagnosis. When the remote diagnosis is requested for the remote diagnosis, it is preferable to add a process for making the subsequent communication cost a burden on the information center 2 side.
[0105]
Thus, according to this embodiment mentioned above, the vehicle state detected at the time of driving | running | working is acquired as information required for the diagnosis of a vehicle, when the vehicle which is a diagnosis object drive | works the driving | running route required for a diagnosis. And effective remote diagnosis can be performed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a vehicle remote diagnosis system according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the navigation device with a communication function 1 according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation transition at the time of remote diagnosis by the vehicle remote diagnosis system according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control process for the navigation apparatus 1 to make an information center 2 request for performing a failure diagnosis.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a navigation screen before a remote diagnosis request on the display 22;
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating screen transition when a diagnostic item is selected by a driver in the navigation device 1 prior to remote diagnosis.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a procedure for setting a driving skill of a driver in the navigation device.
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining screen transitions when a required time is selected by the driver in the navigation device 1 prior to remote diagnosis.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a control process until the information center 2 determines a diagnostic travel route and failure diagnosis item information and transmits them to the navigation device 1;
10 is a flowchart showing a control process until the navigation device 1 displays a failure diagnosis travel route according to the travel route information and failure diagnosis item information received from the information center 2. FIG.
FIG. 11 is a diagram exemplifying a screen displayed on the display 22 by the navigation device 1 in the second step.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating screen development for explaining a diagnostic travel route editing function;
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing control processing of the navigation device 1 during remote diagnosis.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing control processing of the information center 2 during remote diagnosis.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a failure diagnosis result presentation process of the navigation device 1;
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing processing for presenting a failure diagnosis result of the information center 2;
FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a failure diagnosis result.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: Navigation device,
2: Information center,
4: Telephone base station,
5: Internet,
6: Service factory,
7: Internet service provider,
21: CPU,
22: Display
23: input device,
24: ROM,
25: RAM,
26: storage device,
27: Communication interface,
28: GPS unit,
29: Internal bus,
30: communication line,
100: vehicle,

Claims (13)

A connection step of connecting the control device mounted on the vehicle to be remotely diagnosed and the information center at least via a wireless communication line so that bidirectional communication is possible;
The control device transmits a current position of the vehicle and a diagnosis request to the information center, and the information center determines a travel mode necessary for the remote diagnosis of the vehicle according to the received diagnosis request. A travel route determination step of transmitting the travel mode information determined based on the determined travel mode, the current position of the vehicle received from the control device and road map information around the vehicle, to the vehicle;
A self-diagnosis step of receiving at least the travel route information from the information center in the control device and transmitting a vehicle state detected when the vehicle travels according to the travel route information to the information center;
A remote diagnosis step of performing a remote diagnosis of the vehicle at the information center based on the vehicle state received from the control device;
A vehicle remote diagnosis method characterized by comprising: A vehicle remote diagnosis system in which a control device mounted on a remote diagnosis target vehicle and an information center are connected so as to be capable of bidirectional communication at least via a wireless communication line,
The control device includes:
The current position of the vehicle and a diagnosis request are transmitted to the information center, and at least travel route information is received from the information center in response to the transmission of the diagnosis request, and the vehicle is in response to the travel route information. Self-diagnosis means for transmitting the vehicle state detected when traveling to the information center,
The information center
The travel mode necessary for the remote diagnosis of the vehicle is determined in response to the diagnosis request received from the control device, and the determined travel mode, the current position of the vehicle received from the control device, and road map information around it. Travel route determination means for transmitting the travel route information determined based on the vehicle to the vehicle;
A remote diagnosis system for a vehicle, comprising: remote diagnosis means for performing a remote diagnosis of the vehicle based on the vehicle state received from the control device in response to transmission of the travel route information. The control device includes:
The vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising navigation means for notifying a driver of the vehicle of a travel route on which the vehicle should travel based on the current position of the vehicle, road map information, and the travel route information. Remote diagnostic system. Further, auxiliary diagnostic means for diagnosing a predetermined item based on the state of the road on which the vehicle has traveled and the vehicle state detected during travel, regardless of whether the driver has requested the diagnosis, Prepare for the information center,
The control device is capable of notifying the driver of the vehicle of diagnostic items other than the predetermined item by the auxiliary diagnostic means, and setting whether or not to transmit a diagnostic request regarding the notified diagnostic item to the information center. 4. The vehicle remote diagnosis system according to claim 2, further comprising a man-machine interface. In the control device,
The self-diagnosis means is configured so that the driver of the vehicle can set a time required for the vehicle to travel according to the travel route information and includes the information indicating the set required time. , Send to the information center,
In the information center,
3. The vehicle route according to claim 2, wherein the remote diagnosis unit determines the travel route information so as to remotely diagnose only a diagnostic item that can be diagnosed by traveling within a required time received from the control device. Remote diagnostic system. In the information center,
The remote diagnosis means determines the travel route information based on the driving skill of the driver of the vehicle in addition to the travel mode, the current position and road map information around the current position. The vehicle remote diagnosis system described. In the information center,
The remote diagnosis means, instead of performing a remote diagnosis of the vehicle, transmits a diagnosis program corresponding to the travel mode to the vehicle,
In the control device,
The self-diagnosis means performs self-diagnosis based on a vehicle state detected when the vehicle travels according to the travel route information by executing the diagnostic program received from the information center. The remote diagnosis system for a vehicle according to claim 2. In the information center,
The remote diagnosis means specifies or estimates a portion of the vehicle that requires maintenance based on the result of the remote diagnosis, and transmits information on a service factory that can handle the cost required for the maintenance to the vehicle. The vehicle remote diagnosis system according to claim 2. In the control device,
The self-diagnosis means is capable of selecting a diagnosis content by the driver of the vehicle, and transmits the diagnosis request including information representing the selected diagnosis content to the information center at a desired timing. The vehicle remote diagnosis system according to claim 8. A vehicle control device mounted on a vehicle for remote diagnosis,
A communication means for connecting the control device to the information center via at least a wireless communication line so as to enable two-way communication;
The current position of the vehicle and a diagnosis request are transmitted to the information center, and at least travel route information is received from the information center in response to the transmission of the diagnosis request, and the vehicle is in response to the travel route information. A vehicle control apparatus comprising self-diagnosis means for transmitting a vehicle state detected when traveling to the information center. A communication means for connecting the own device through a wireless communication line at least to a control device mounted on a vehicle to be remotely diagnosed so as to enable bidirectional communication;
The travel mode necessary for the remote diagnosis of the vehicle is determined according to the diagnosis request received from the control device, and the determined travel mode, the current position of the vehicle received from the control device, and road map information around the vehicle are received. Travel route determination means for transmitting the travel route information determined based on the vehicle,
Remote diagnosis means for performing a remote diagnosis of the vehicle based on a vehicle state received from the control device in response to transmission of the travel route information;
A vehicle remote diagnosis device comprising: Computer program, characterized in that the operation instruction of the vehicle control device according to claim 10 is described. The vehicular remote diagnostic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the computer program characterized by forming an instruction to implement in a computer.

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