JP7523902B2 - Information processing device and fault diagnosis system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing device and a fault diagnosis system that store records of vehicle diagnostic result data.

Conventionally, a method for diagnosing a vehicle is known in which a diagnostic device is connected to the vehicle's electronic control unit to perform various diagnoses. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an electronic control unit that monitors the vehicle control state, accumulates monitoring data including at least one of control input data and execution content data when a preset monitoring precondition is met, and transmits the monitoring data to an external device when a data transmission request is received from the external device.

The electronic control unit described in Patent Document 1 is connected to a relay device that transmits and receives data between multiple electronic control units, and a vehicle diagnostic tool (external device) is connected to the relay device so that an operator can diagnose the vehicle and store the resulting monitoring data. In addition, when the electronic control unit receives a transmission request from a cloud or the like, it transmits the monitoring data to the cloud or the like.

JP 2019-38331 A

In conventional vehicle diagnostic systems that connect an on-board electronic control unit to an external device, vehicle manufacturers provide specific dealers or repair shops with diagnostic programs that are suited to their individual vehicles. In such diagnostic programs, the relationship between the input for diagnosis and the output for that input is defined as a specification. However, when using diagnostic programs provided by vehicle manufacturers, manufacturers can only obtain diagnostic result data related to their own vehicles, and the scope of use of the diagnostic results is limited.

Meanwhile, at repair shops other than the above-mentioned specific dealers or repair shops, vehicle diagnoses are performed using diagnostic programs created by companies other than the vehicle manufacturer, which are designed to diagnose vehicles from multiple manufacturers. However, these diagnostic programs are created independently by companies using diagnostic programs provided by the vehicle manufacturer as a reference, and it is not possible to guarantee that they will operate in the same way as diagnostic programs provided by the manufacturer.

On the other hand, if it were possible to collect diagnostic program specifications from each manufacturer and create a diagnostic program that could be used to diagnose vehicles from a variety of manufacturers, it would be possible to guarantee that the diagnostic program would operate in the same way as the manufacturer-supplied diagnostic program, and it would be possible to accumulate diagnostic result data using the information from that diagnostic program regardless of the manufacturer. In that case, it is expected that the scope of use of the diagnostic result data will also be broadened, since various diagnostic result data that is not limited to a particular manufacturer will be accumulated.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and provides an information processing device and a fault diagnosis system that can extract and output diagnostic result data obtained by executing information from a diagnostic program that is guaranteed to operate equivalently to diagnostic programs provided by various manufacturers, in response to a user's request.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing device that accumulates vehicle diagnostic result data and provides the diagnostic result data in response to a user request, the information processing device comprising: a program storage unit that stores information on at least one diagnostic program that can be used to diagnose vehicles of multiple manufacturers; a diagnostic result storage unit that stores the diagnostic result data obtained by executing the diagnostic program information, in association with at least information for identifying the vehicle model and information on the devices installed in the vehicle; and a diagnostic result output processing unit that extracts and outputs the stored diagnostic result data according to a classification selected by the user.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fault diagnosis system including an information processing device that accumulates data on vehicle diagnostic results and provides the diagnostic result data in response to a user request, the fault diagnosis system including a diagnostic device connected to a control system of a vehicle to be diagnosed and controlling execution of the diagnosis, the information processing device including a program storage unit that stores information on at least one diagnostic program that can be used to diagnose vehicles of multiple manufacturers, a diagnostic result collection processing unit that transmits the diagnostic program information to the control system via the diagnostic device and receives diagnostic result data obtained based on the diagnostic program information via the diagnostic device, a diagnostic result storage unit that stores the received diagnostic result data in association with at least information for identifying the model of the vehicle to be diagnosed and information on the equipment installed in the vehicle to be diagnosed, and a diagnostic result output processing unit that extracts and outputs the stored diagnostic result data according to a classification selected by the user.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fault diagnosis system including an information processing device that accumulates data on vehicle diagnostic results and provides the diagnostic result data in response to a user request, the fault diagnosis system including a communication unit for performing two-way communication between the information processing device and a vehicle control system, the information processing device including a program storage unit that stores information on at least one diagnostic program that can be used to diagnose vehicles of multiple manufacturers, a diagnostic result collection processing unit that transmits the diagnostic program information to the control system via the communication unit and receives diagnostic result data obtained based on the diagnostic program information via the communication unit, a diagnostic result storage unit that stores the received diagnostic result data in association with at least information for identifying the model of the vehicle to be diagnosed and information on the equipment installed in the vehicle to be diagnosed, and a diagnostic result output processing unit that extracts and outputs the stored diagnostic result data according to a classification selected by the user.

As described above, according to the present invention, diagnostic result data obtained by executing information from a diagnostic program that is guaranteed to operate in the same manner as diagnostic programs provided by various manufacturers can be extracted and output at the user's request.

1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a vehicle fault diagnosis system according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the fault diagnosis system according to the embodiment; FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory diagram of diagnostic result data stored in a diagnostic result storage unit. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process for collecting data of a diagnosis result by an information processing device. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process for outputting data of a diagnosis result by an information processing device. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a fault diagnosis system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. Note that in this specification and drawings, components having substantially the same functional configuration are designated by the same reference numerals to avoid redundant description.

<<First embodiment>>
<1. Example of overall configuration of fault diagnosis system>
First, an example of the overall configuration of a fault diagnosis system 100 to which an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention can be applied will be described. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of the fault diagnosis system 100 according to the present embodiment.

The fault diagnosis system 100 includes a management server 10 and diagnostic devices 63a, 63b...63n (hereinafter collectively referred to as diagnostic devices 63 unless otherwise specified). In this embodiment, the management server 10 functions as an information processing device according to the present invention. The diagnostic devices 63a, 63b...63n are connected to vehicles 61a, 61b...61n (hereinafter collectively referred to as vehicles 61 unless otherwise specified) to be diagnosed and used primarily at vehicle sales companies or repair shops (hereinafter collectively referred to as "repair shops 60"). The management server 10 and the diagnostic devices 63 are configured to be able to communicate with each other via a communication network 5, such as mobile communication or Wi-Fi. The communication network 5 may be either a wireless or wired communication network.

The management server 10 stores information about diagnostic programs used in fault diagnosis, and provides the diagnostic program information to the diagnostic equipment 63. The diagnostic programs include at least one diagnostic program that can be used to diagnose vehicles from multiple manufacturers. It is preferable that the diagnostic programs used to diagnose vehicles from each manufacturer are created based on specifications provided by each manufacturer, for example. Such a diagnostic program guarantees diagnostic results based on the input signals set by the manufacturer at the time of diagnosis and the output signals obtained in response to the input signals, improving the reliability of the diagnostic results.

The diagnostic equipment 63 used in the repair shop 60 acquires information on a diagnostic program suitable for the vehicle 61 to be diagnosed from the management server 10, and executes diagnostic processing of the vehicle 61 according to the operations defined in the diagnostic program. The diagnostic equipment 63 also provides the management server 10 with data on the diagnostic results obtained by executing the diagnostic processing. The management server 10 accumulates the data on the diagnostic results provided by the diagnostic equipment 63.

The management server 10 is configured to be able to communicate with terminals 53a, 53b...53n (hereinafter collectively referred to as user terminals 53 when no distinction is required) used by companies, organizations, etc. 51a, 51b...51n (hereinafter collectively referred to as "users 51") that wish to receive diagnostic result data, via the communication network 5. The communication network connecting the user terminals 53 and the management server 10 may be a common network with the communication network 5 connecting the repair shop 50 and the management server 10, or may be a different network. The management server 10 extracts the accumulated diagnostic result data according to a classification corresponding to a request from the user terminal 53, and outputs it to the user terminal 53.

In the fault diagnosis system 100 according to this embodiment, the user terminal 53 and the management server 10 are connected via a communication network 5, whereby requests are sent from the user terminal 53 to the management server 10, and diagnostic result data is sent from the management server 10 to the user terminal 53. However, some or all of these requests and the transmission of diagnostic result data do not have to be performed via the communication network 5. For example, the user 51 may transmit a request to the administrator of the management server 10 to classify the diagnostic result data by means of a written document or e-mail. The administrator of the management server 10 may also provide the user 51 with a storage medium on which the extracted diagnostic result data is stored, or provide the extracted diagnostic result data by e-mail, etc.

2. Example of vehicle diagnosis configuration
Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the management server 10 and the diagnostic device 63 of the fault diagnosis system 100. Fig. 2 shows only one diagnostic device 63 and one user terminal 53 among the multiple diagnostic devices 63 and user terminals 53 connected to the management server 10.

(Diagnostic Equipment)
The diagnostic device 63 includes a first communication unit 71, a second communication unit 73, a diagnostic control unit 75, and a storage unit 77. The diagnostic device 63 also includes an input unit (not shown) that receives input operations from a diagnostic operator, and a display unit (not shown) that displays a diagnostic guide, an operation screen, a progress status, etc. Although the diagnostic device 63 is shown as one device in Fig. 2, the diagnostic device 63 may be configured such that multiple devices are capable of communicating with each other.

The first communication unit 71 is an interface for communicating with the management server 10 via the communication network 5. The first communication unit 71 is configured with an interface for wireless communication or wired communication that is compatible with the communication method of the communication network 5. The communication network 5 may be, for example, mobile communication, the Internet such as Wi-Fi, or a dedicated line.

The second communication unit 73 is an interface for communicating with the control system 67 of the vehicle 61 to be diagnosed. The control system 67 of the vehicle 61 includes devices such as a plurality of ECUs (Electronic Control Units) and sensors that are communicatively connected via, for example, a Controller Area Network (CAN) and a Local Inter Net (LIN). The diagnostic device 63 is connected to, for example, a gateway ECU provided in the control system 67, and the second communication unit 73 is configured to be able to communicate with the control system 67 via the gateway ECU. The second communication unit 73 is configured, for example, by an interface that is compatible with the CAN protocol.

The storage unit 77 stores information such as diagnostic programs or parameters used in diagnosis. The storage unit 77 includes at least one of a storage element such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a ROM (Read Only Memory), or a storage medium such as a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a CD (Compact Disc), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), an SSD (Solid State Drive), a USB (Universal Serial Bus) flash, or a storage device.

The diagnostic control unit 75 is configured with a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) and an electric circuit. A part or all of the diagnostic control unit 75 may be configured with updatable firmware or the like, or may be a program module executed by commands from the CPU or the like.

The diagnosis control unit 75 acquires information on a diagnostic program that can be used to diagnose the vehicle 61 to be diagnosed from the management server 10. For example, the diagnosis control unit 75 transmits to the management server 10 the vehicle identification ID received when the diagnostic equipment 63 is connected to the control system 67 of the vehicle 61, and acquires the diagnostic program information transmitted from the management server 10. The diagnosis control unit 75 may transmit information on the vehicle 61 to be diagnosed to the management server 10 based on the input contents of the diagnostic operator, and acquire the corresponding diagnostic program information.

Based on the acquired diagnostic program information, the diagnostic control unit 75 may display a diagnostic operation screen or guide on the display unit and start execution of the diagnosis, or may temporarily store the acquired diagnostic program information in the storage unit 77. The diagnostic operator diagnoses the vehicle 61 according to the diagnostic program information acquired by the diagnostic device 63. The diagnosis of the vehicle 61 includes various diagnoses, such as whether the voltage value of each device provided in the control system 67 is within an appropriate range, whether an appropriate output is being produced when a specified command signal is input, and whether there is a record indicating an abnormal signal. The contents of these diagnoses are conventionally known, and therefore a detailed explanation will be omitted.

The diagnostic result data is stored so that the diagnostic operator or repair operator can refer to it later. The diagnostic control unit 75 may store the diagnostic result data in the storage unit 77 while the diagnosis is being performed, or may transmit it to the management server 10. The diagnostic result data includes at least information for identifying the model of the vehicle 61 and information on the equipment installed in the vehicle 61. The information for identifying the model of the vehicle 61 may include, for example, any of the following information: the country of manufacture, manufacturer, model, year of manufacture, grade, type of control system, and version of the control system of the vehicle 61. Furthermore, the information on the equipment installed in the vehicle 61 may include, for example, information on the type or specifications of sensors installed in the vehicle.

The diagnosis control unit 75 transmits diagnostic result data, including at least information for identifying the model of the vehicle 61 and information on the equipment installed in the vehicle 61, to the management server 10 during the execution of the diagnosis or at an appropriate time after the diagnosis is completed.

(Management Server)
The management server 10 includes a communication unit 11, a control unit 13, a program storage unit 14, and a diagnosis result storage unit 15. The communication unit 11 is an interface for communicating with the diagnostic device 63 and the user terminal 53 via the communication network 5. The communication unit 11 is configured with an interface for wireless communication or wired communication that is compatible with the communication method of the communication network 5. When the communication network between the user terminal 53 and the management server 10 is different from the communication network 5 between the diagnostic device 63 and the management server 10, the communication unit 11 may include multiple communication interfaces.

The program storage unit 14 and the diagnostic result storage unit 15 include at least one of a storage element such as a RAM or a ROM, or a storage medium such as a HDD, a CD, a DVD, an SSD, a USB flash, or a storage device. The program storage unit 14 and the diagnostic result storage unit 15 may be configured as a single storage unit or as separate storage units.

The program storage unit 14 stores information on at least one diagnostic program that can be used to diagnose vehicles from multiple manufacturers. For example, information on multiple diagnostic programs designed to specifications determined according to the vehicle 61 to be diagnosed for each manufacturer is stored. In addition, the diagnostic program information is constructed by defining the relationship between the input signal input to the control system of the vehicle 61 during diagnosis and the diagnostic result based on the output signal when the input signal is input, for example, for each vehicle type or system.

The diagnostic result storage unit 15 stores the diagnostic result data transmitted from the diagnostic equipment 63. The stored diagnostic result data is stored in association with at least information for identifying the model of the vehicle 61 to be diagnosed and information on the equipment such as sensors mounted on the vehicle 61 to be diagnosed.

In addition, the management server 10 has a memory unit (not shown) that stores information about the programs executed by the control unit 13.

The control unit 13 is configured with a processor such as a CPU or MPU and an electric circuit. A part or all of the control unit 13 may be configured with updatable firmware or the like, or may be a program module executed by instructions from a CPU or the like. The control unit 13 includes a diagnostic result collection processing unit 21 and a diagnostic result output processing unit 23. For example, the diagnostic result collection processing unit 21 and the diagnostic result output processing unit 23 may be functions realized by the execution of a program by a processor such as a CPU.

The diagnostic result collection processing unit 21 has a function of executing a process of providing the diagnostic program information stored in the program storage unit 14 to the diagnostic device 63, and a process of storing diagnostic result data transmitted from the diagnostic device 63 in the diagnostic result storage unit 15. For example, the diagnostic result collection processing unit 21 selects diagnostic program information applicable to the vehicle 61 to be diagnosed based on the vehicle identification ID transmitted from the diagnostic device 63, and transmits it to the diagnostic device 63. Alternatively, the diagnostic result collection processing unit 21 selects diagnostic program information applicable to the vehicle 61 based on information of the vehicle 61 to be diagnosed that is set by a diagnostic operator or the like and transmitted from the diagnostic device 63, and transmits it to the diagnostic device 63.

The diagnostic result collection processing unit 21 also stores in the diagnostic result storage unit 15 the data of the diagnostic result executed using the information of the diagnostic program transmitted from the diagnostic device 63. As described above, the diagnostic result data includes at least information for identifying the model of the vehicle 61 and information on the equipment installed in the vehicle 61, and the diagnostic result data is stored in association with the information for identifying the model of the vehicle 61 and the information on the equipment installed in the vehicle 61.

Figure 3 is a diagram for explaining the diagnostic result data stored in the diagnostic result storage unit 15. In the example shown in Figure 3, the diagnostic result data sent from the diagnostic device 63 is stored in association with information such as the country of manufacture (CON), manufacturer (MKR), vehicle model (VEH), year (YER), grade (GRD), control system (SYT), control system version (VER), in-vehicle device specifications (DEV), etc. Although omitted in Figure 3, the diagnostic result data is stored in association with the above information, such as information on fault records, information on specified detection values obtained during diagnosis, and information entered into the diagnostic program by the diagnostic operator.

The diagnostic result output processing unit 23 extracts and outputs the diagnostic result data stored in the diagnostic result storage unit 15 according to the classification selected by the user. In this embodiment, when a data output request is made, for example, from the user terminal 53, the diagnostic result output processing unit 23 determines the classification selected by the user, and extracts and outputs the diagnostic result data according to that determination. For example, the user can request the output of diagnostic result data by specifying one or more combinations of information for identifying the model of the vehicle 61 and information on the equipment installed in the vehicle 61, such as requesting the output of failure data for a specific model of vehicle manufactured in a specific year.

However, some diagnostic result data should be widely used by the general public, while other data is not suitable for disclosure to anyone other than a specific manufacturer. For example, it may not be desirable for diagnostic result data on a vehicle 61 manufactured by a specific manufacturer or diagnostic result data on in-vehicle equipment manufactured by a specific manufacturer to be provided to competitors other than that manufacturer. For this reason, it is necessary to make it possible to output diagnostic result data while ensuring security, depending on the entity that will use the diagnostic result data.

In contrast, in the fault diagnosis system 100 according to this embodiment, the information when requesting the output of diagnosis result data from the user terminal 53 includes the user's identification information. If the classification selected by the user includes an item that can identify the manufacturer of the vehicle 61 or the manufacturer of the on-board equipment installed in the vehicle 61, the diagnosis result output processing unit 23 of the management server 10 permits or restricts the output of the extraction results according to the user's identification information.

Specifically, if the classification selected by the user includes an item that can identify the manufacturer of the vehicle 61 or the in-vehicle device, and if the identification information of the user who requested the output of the diagnostic result data is identification information related to that manufacturer, the diagnostic result output processing unit 23 extracts and outputs the diagnostic result data in accordance with the request. On the other hand, if the classification selected by the user includes an item that can identify the manufacturer of the vehicle 61 or the in-vehicle device, and if the identification information of the user who requested the output of the diagnostic result data is identification information not related to that manufacturer, the diagnostic result output processing unit 23 does not output the diagnostic result data. In this case, the diagnostic result output processing unit 23 transmits information to the user terminal 53 notifying that output of the diagnostic result data is not permitted.

This makes it possible to prevent information that is disadvantageous to a specific manufacturer from being sent to other manufacturers. On the other hand, it is expected that statistical data such as failure information that does not specify a manufacturer will be utilized not only by manufacturers but also by various companies and organizations, which will contribute to the development of vehicles and in-vehicle equipment. Furthermore, manufacturers of specific vehicles and specific in-vehicle equipment will be able to receive diagnostic result data obtained not only from a specific dealer or repair shop to which they provided a diagnostic program, but also from other repair shops, etc. Therefore, they will be able to utilize more diagnostic result data for the development of their own vehicles, etc.

The data output by the diagnostic result output processing unit 23 and transmitted to the user terminal 53 may be in the form of, for example, a list of diagnostic result data, or in the form of statistical data shown by bar graphs or pie charts, or may include data in both of these formats.

<3. Example of management server operation>
Next, an example of the operation of the management server 10 as the information processing device according to this embodiment will be described.

(Collection and processing of diagnostic result data)
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a diagnostic result data collection process executed by the diagnostic result collection processing unit 21 of the management server 10.

The diagnostic result collection processing unit 21 acquires the vehicle identification ID transmitted from the diagnostic device 63 (step S11). Next, the diagnostic result collection processing unit 21 selects information of a diagnostic program applicable to the vehicle 61 to be diagnosed based on the vehicle identification ID, and transmits the information to the diagnostic device 63 (step S13). For example, the information of at least one or more diagnostic programs stored in the program storage unit 14 of the management server 10 is set with an applicable vehicle identification ID, and the diagnostic result collection processing unit 21 selects information of a diagnostic program corresponding to the acquired vehicle identification ID, and transmits the information to the diagnostic device 63.

Next, the diagnostic result collection processing unit 21 receives diagnostic result data obtained as a result of the diagnosis being performed in the diagnostic device 63 using the diagnostic program information (step S15). Next, the diagnostic result collection processing unit 21 links the received diagnostic result data to information for identifying the model of the vehicle 61 to be diagnosed and information on the equipment installed in the vehicle 61 to be diagnosed, and stores the data in the diagnostic result storage unit 15 (step S17).

The diagnostic result collection processing unit 21 may provide diagnostic program information (step S13), receive diagnostic result data (step S15), and store diagnostic result data (step S17) sequentially or repeatedly. In other words, after completing the provision of diagnostic program information to the diagnostic device 63, the diagnostic result collection processing unit 21 may wait until the execution of diagnosis is completed in the diagnostic device 63, and receive all diagnostic result data together and store it in the diagnostic result storage unit 15. Alternatively, the diagnostic result collection processing unit 21 may provide diagnostic program information sequentially while storing the diagnostic result data returned each time in the diagnostic result storage unit 15.

(Extraction and output process of diagnostic result data)
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a process for extracting and outputting diagnostic result data, which is executed by the diagnostic result output processing unit 23 of the management server 10 .

The diagnostic result output processing unit 23 receives a request for output of diagnostic result data transmitted from the user terminal 53 (step S21). Next, the diagnostic result output processing unit 23 determines whether the classification of the output data in the request includes an item that can identify the vehicle manufacturer (step S23). For example, if the classification of the request for output of diagnostic result data includes items that can identify the vehicle, such as the vehicle manufacturer, vehicle model, and control system, the diagnostic result output processing unit 23 makes an affirmative (yes) judgment.

If the classification of the output data in the request includes an item that can identify the vehicle manufacturer (S23/Yes), the diagnostic result output processing unit 23 determines whether the identification information of the user requesting the diagnostic result data is identification information related to the vehicle manufacturer identified by the specified item (step S25). If the identification information of the user requesting the diagnostic result data is not identification information related to the vehicle manufacturer identified by the specified item (S25/No), the diagnostic result output processing unit 23 notifies the user terminal 53 that output of the diagnostic result data is not permitted (step S35).

On the other hand, if the classification of the output data in the request does not include an item that can identify the manufacturer of the vehicle (S23/No), the diagnostic result output processing unit 23 determines whether the classification of the output data in the request includes an item that can identify the manufacturer of the in-vehicle device (step S27). Also, if the identification information of the user requesting the diagnostic result data is identification information related to the manufacturer of the vehicle identified by the specified item (S25/Yes), the diagnostic result output processing unit 23 similarly determines whether the classification of the output data in the request includes an item that can identify the manufacturer of the in-vehicle device (step S27). For example, if the classification of the request for output of the diagnostic result data includes items that are linked to the identification of the in-vehicle device, such as the manufacturer, product number, and specific specifications of the in-vehicle device, the diagnostic result output processing unit 23 makes an affirmative (yes) judgment.

If the classification of the output data in the request includes an item that can identify the manufacturer of the in-vehicle device (S27/Yes), the diagnostic result output processing unit 23 determines whether the identification information of the user requesting the diagnostic result data is identification information related to the manufacturer of the in-vehicle device identified by the specified item (step S29). If the identification information of the user requesting the diagnostic result data is not identification information related to the manufacturer of the in-vehicle device identified by the specified item (S29/No), the diagnostic result output processing unit 23 notifies the user terminal 53 that output of the diagnostic result data is not permitted (step S35).

On the other hand, if the classification of the output data in the request does not include an item that can identify the manufacturer of the in-vehicle device (S27/No), the diagnostic result output processing unit 23 extracts the diagnostic result data from the diagnostic result data stored in the diagnostic result storage unit 15 according to the classification selected by the user (step S31). Also, if the identification information of the user requesting the diagnostic result data is identification information related to the manufacturer of the in-vehicle device identified by the specified item (S29/Yes), the diagnostic result output processing unit 23 similarly extracts the diagnostic result data from the diagnostic result data stored in the diagnostic result storage unit 15 according to the classification selected by the user (step S31).

Next, the diagnostic result output processing unit 23 transmits the extracted diagnostic result data to the user terminal 53 in a format according to the user's request (step S33). For example, information in a table format list categorized by the user's selection may be transmitted to the user terminal 53. In addition, together with the list or separately from the list, information on statistical data that has been processed into bar graphs, pie charts, etc. may be transmitted to the user terminal 53.

As described above, the management server (information processing device) 10 according to this embodiment is equipped with a program storage unit 14 that stores information on at least one diagnostic program that can be used to diagnose multiple manufacturers, and can provide diagnostic program information to the diagnostic equipment 63 in the repair shop 60 regardless of the manufacturer of the vehicle 61.

The management server 10 also receives data on diagnostic results executed using the provided diagnostic program information, and stores the data in the diagnostic result storage unit 15 in association with at least information for identifying the model of the vehicle 61 to be diagnosed and information on the equipment installed in the vehicle 61 to be diagnosed. The diagnostic result output processing unit 23 then extracts and outputs diagnostic result data from the stored diagnostic result data in response to a user request. Therefore, diagnostic result data for all vehicles, regardless of manufacturer, can be collected and extracted and output according to any selection.

In addition, in the management server 10 according to this embodiment, the program storage unit 14 stores information about diagnostic programs created based on the specifications of each manufacturer. Therefore, regardless of the vehicle or manufacturer, operation equivalent to that of the diagnostic program provided by the manufacturer is guaranteed, and the reliability of the diagnostic results is guaranteed.

In addition, in the management server 10 according to this embodiment, if the classification selected by the user includes an item that can identify the manufacturer of the vehicle 61 or the on-board equipment, and if the identification information of the user who requested the output of the diagnostic result data is identification information that is not related to that manufacturer, the diagnostic result output processing unit 23 is configured not to output the diagnostic result data. This makes it possible to prevent information that is disadvantageous to a specific manufacturer from being sent to other manufacturers.

On the other hand, if the classification selected by the user includes an item that can identify the manufacturer of the vehicle 61 or the on-board equipment, and if the identification information of the user who requested the output of the diagnostic result data is an identification number associated with that manufacturer, the diagnostic result data such as failure information will be sent only to that manufacturer, which is expected to contribute to the development of the vehicle or on-board equipment. Furthermore, the manufacturer will be able to receive diagnostic result data obtained not only from the specific dealer or repair shop to which it provided a diagnostic program, but also from other repair shops, etc. Therefore, it will be possible to utilize more diagnostic result data for the development of its own vehicles, etc.

In addition, the management server 10 according to this embodiment may provide diagnostic result data that does not identify the vehicle or vehicle manufacturer, or the in-vehicle equipment or the manufacturer of the in-vehicle equipment, to a user who is not the manufacturer of the vehicle 61 or the in-vehicle equipment. In this case, it is expected that the data will be utilized in various situations, such as development, quality control, and marketing, by various companies and organizations, such as vehicle parts retailers and industry management organizations.

<<Second embodiment>>
Next, a fault diagnosis system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the fault diagnosis system described in the first embodiment, data on the diagnosis result of the vehicle 61 is transmitted from the control system 67 of the vehicle 61 to the management server 10 via the diagnostic equipment 63. In contrast, in the fault diagnosis system according to this embodiment, diagnostic program information and data on the diagnosis result of the vehicle 61 are transmitted between the management server 10 and the control system 67 of the vehicle 61 without passing through the diagnostic equipment. Below, differences from the fault diagnosis system according to the first embodiment will be mainly described.

In the fault diagnosis system 100A according to this embodiment, the diagnostic device 63 sends a command to the management server 10 to execute the desired diagnosis, and the management server 10 sends diagnostic program information to the control system 67 of the vehicle 61 and receives diagnostic result data from the control system 67 of the vehicle 61 without going through the diagnostic device.

Figure 6 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the fault diagnosis system 100A according to this embodiment. In this embodiment, the diagnostic device 83 includes a communication unit 85, a diagnostic control unit 87, and a storage unit 89. The diagnostic device 83 is connected to the communication network 5 via a repeater 91 such as a router. The control system 67 of the vehicle 61 is connected to the communication network 5 via the communication unit 81 and the repeater 91. The communication means between the repeater 91 and the diagnostic device 83 or the communication unit 81 may be a wired communication means or a wireless communication means such as Wi-Fi.

The communication unit 81 is an interface for two-way communication between the control system 67 of the vehicle 61 to be diagnosed and the management server 10. The communication unit 81 has the function of converting signals transmitted from the repeater 91 into signals compatible with the communication method of the control system 67, and also converting signals transmitted from the control system 67 into signals compatible with the communication method of the repeater 91. The communication unit 81 is configured with an interface for wireless communication or wired communication.

The communication unit 85 of the diagnostic device 83 is an interface for communicating with the management server 10 via the repeater 91. The communication unit 85 is configured with an interface for wireless communication or wired communication. The diagnostic control unit 87 is configured with a processor such as a CPU or MPU and an electric circuit. A part or all of the diagnostic control unit 87 may be configured with updatable firmware or the like, or may be a program module executed by instructions from a CPU or the like. The memory unit 89 includes at least one of a memory element such as a RAM or ROM, or a memory medium such as a HDD, CD, DVD, SSD, USB flash, or storage device.

In this embodiment, the diagnostic control unit 87 transmits a command to start diagnosis to the management server 10 along with information on the vehicle 61 to be diagnosed, such as the vehicle identification ID, in accordance with the operation of the diagnostic worker. As a result, the diagnostic result collection processing unit 21 of the management server 10 transmits diagnostic program information to the control system 67 of the vehicle 61 and acquires diagnostic result data without going through the diagnostic device 83. In this case, the diagnostic device 83 may acquire the progress of the diagnosis or the data on the diagnostic result and display it on the display unit. In addition, at least a part of the progress of the diagnosis or the data on the diagnostic result may be stored in the memory unit 89. As a result, even if the management server 10 performs a diagnosis while sending and receiving information without going through the diagnostic device 83, the diagnostic worker can monitor the progress of the diagnosis, etc.

In the fault diagnosis system 100A according to this embodiment, the management server 10 can be configured in the same manner as the management server 10 according to the first embodiment, except that the management server 10 transmits some or all of the diagnostic program information to the control system 67 of the vehicle 61 without going through the diagnostic equipment 83, and obtains the diagnostic result data from the control system 67.

In the fault diagnosis system 100A according to this embodiment, even if the diagnostic operator who operates the diagnostic equipment 83 is not actually present at the repair shop or other location where the vehicle 61 is located, the diagnostic operator can remotely diagnose the vehicle 61 and accumulate the diagnostic result data in the management server 10. Also, although one vehicle 61 is illustrated in FIG. 6, if the control systems 67 of multiple vehicles are connected via the repeater 91, the diagnostic operator can remotely diagnose multiple vehicles and accumulate the diagnostic result data in the management server 10.

In the fault diagnosis system 100A according to this embodiment, if the vehicle 61 is equipped with a communication unit 81, the repeater 91 may be omitted. In this case, the diagnostic device 83 may be linked to the vehicle 61 capable of managing the execution of the diagnosis, and the vehicle 61 to be diagnosed may be identified. Alternatively, when the diagnostic device 83 starts the execution of the diagnosis, it may transmit information identifying the vehicle 61 to be diagnosed to the management server 10.

In addition, in the fault diagnosis system 100A according to this embodiment, the diagnostic device 83 may be used in the same manner as the diagnostic device 63 in the fault diagnosis system 100 according to the first embodiment. In this case, for example, the diagnosis control unit 87 transmits information about the vehicle 61 to be diagnosed to the management server 10, or causes the control system 67 of the vehicle 61 to transmit a vehicle identification ID to the management server 10. In addition, the diagnosis control unit 87 acquires information about the diagnostic program transmitted from the management server 10.

The diagnostic operator then performs a diagnosis of the vehicle 61 based on the diagnostic program information acquired by the diagnostic device 83. The diagnostic result data is transmitted from the control system 67 of the vehicle 61 to the management server 10 without passing through the diagnostic device 83. The diagnostic result data transmitted to the management server 10 may also be transmitted to the diagnostic device 83 and displayed on the display unit. The diagnostic control unit 87 may display a diagnostic operation screen or guide on the display unit based on the acquired diagnostic program information, and may temporarily store the acquired diagnostic program information in the memory unit 89.

The fault diagnosis system 100A according to this embodiment, in addition to the effects obtained by the fault diagnosis system 100 according to the first embodiment, can perform a diagnosis of the vehicle 61 and accumulate the data of the diagnosis results in the management server 10 even if the diagnostic operator is located at any location away from the vehicle 61.

The above describes in detail preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings, but the present invention is not limited to such examples. It is clear that a person with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains can conceive of various modified or revised examples within the scope of the technical ideas described in the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Information processing device (management server), 14 Program storage unit, 15 Diagnostic result storage unit, 21 Diagnostic result collection processing unit, 23 Diagnostic result output processing unit, 51 User, 53 User terminal, 60 Repair shop, 61 Vehicle, 63 Diagnostic equipment, 81 Communication unit, 83 Diagnostic equipment, 91 Repeater

Claims (8)

An information processing device (10) that accumulates data on a diagnosis result of a vehicle and provides the data on the diagnosis result in response to a request from a user,
a program storage unit (14) for storing information on a plurality of diagnostic programs designed to predetermined specifications for each manufacturer and each type of vehicle;
a diagnostic result storage unit (15) that transmits information on any of the diagnostic programs applicable to a vehicle to be diagnosed to a diagnostic device (63) or a control system (67) of the vehicle, receives diagnostic result data acquired by the diagnostic device (63) or the control system (67) executing the diagnostic program, and stores at least information for identifying the model of the vehicle to be diagnosed and information on devices mounted on the vehicle to be diagnosed in association with the data;
a diagnostic result output processing unit (23) for extracting and outputting the stored diagnostic result data in accordance with the classification selected by the user;
23. An information processing apparatus comprising: The diagnostic result output processing unit (23)
acquiring information on a classification selected by the user together with identification information of the user;
When the classification selected by the user includes an item capable of identifying a vehicle manufacturer, output of the extraction result is permitted or restricted according to identification information of the user.
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, The diagnostic result output processing unit (23)
permitting output of the extraction result when the user's identification information is identification information associated with the manufacturer of the vehicle selected by the user in an item capable of identifying the manufacturer of the vehicle;
3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2. The diagnostic result output processing unit (23)
acquiring information on a classification selected by the user together with identification information of the user;
When the classification selected by the user includes an item capable of identifying a manufacturer of the device installed in the vehicle, output of the extraction result is permitted or restricted according to identification information of the user.
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, The diagnostic result output processing unit (23)
permitting output of the extraction result when the user's identification information is identification information associated with a manufacturer of the device installed in the vehicle selected by the user, in an item capable of identifying the manufacturer of the device;
3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2. The information of the diagnostic program is stored in and used by a diagnostic device (63) connected to the vehicle to be diagnosed;
The diagnostic result storage unit (15) stores data of the diagnostic result obtained by the diagnostic device (63) executing the diagnostic program.
6. The information processing device according to claim 1, A fault diagnosis system (100) including an information processing device (10) that accumulates data on diagnostic results of a vehicle and provides the data on the diagnostic results in response to a user request,
A diagnostic device (63) is connected to a control system (67) of a vehicle (61) to be diagnosed and controls execution of a diagnostic program,
The information processing device (10)
a program storage unit (14) for storing information on a plurality of diagnostic programs designed to predetermined specifications for each manufacturer and each type of vehicle;
a diagnostic result collection processing unit (21) that transmits information on any one of the diagnostic programs applicable to a vehicle to be diagnosed to the diagnostic device (63) and receives, via the diagnostic device (63), diagnostic result data acquired by the diagnostic device (63) executing the diagnostic program;
a diagnostic result storage unit (15) that stores the received diagnostic result data in association with at least information for identifying the model of the vehicle to be diagnosed and information on devices mounted on the vehicle to be diagnosed;
a diagnostic result output processing unit (23) for extracting and outputting the stored diagnostic result data in accordance with the classification selected by the user;
A fault diagnosis system comprising: A fault diagnosis system (100A) including an information processing device (10) that accumulates data on diagnostic results of a vehicle (61) and provides the data on the diagnostic results in response to a user request,
A diagnostic device (63) connected to the information processing device (10) and configured to transmit a signal to the information processing device (10) to start a diagnosis of at least the vehicle (61);
a communication unit (81) for performing two-way communication between the information processing device (10) and a control system (67) of the vehicle (61),
The information processing device (10)
a program storage unit (14) for storing information on a plurality of diagnostic programs designed to predetermined specifications for each manufacturer and each type of vehicle;
a diagnostic result collection processing unit (21) that transmits information on any one of the diagnostic programs applicable to a vehicle to be diagnosed to the control system (67) via the communication unit (81) and receives diagnostic result data acquired by the control system (67) executing the diagnostic program via the communication unit (81);
a diagnostic result storage unit (15) that stores the received diagnostic result data in association with at least information for identifying the model of the vehicle to be diagnosed and information on devices mounted on the vehicle to be diagnosed;
a diagnostic result output processing unit (23) for extracting and outputting the stored diagnostic result data in accordance with the classification selected by the user;
A fault diagnosis system comprising:

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