JP7697241B2 - Information processing device - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to an information processing device.

A technology is known in which a terminal device for email distribution is provided at the dealership, an in-vehicle terminal is provided in the user's car, and information, including notification emails, is exchanged between the two via an information center (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-073045 A

The purpose of this disclosure is to provide technology that allows users to more easily use telematics services.

One aspect of the present disclosure is
Obtaining information related to a request to start using the service from a first terminal, the information including information identifying a vehicle and information identifying a user who uses the service;
executing a process of starting the use of the service, triggered by the start of the vehicle after acquiring information related to a request to start using the service from the first terminal;
The information processing device is provided with a control unit that executes the above.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is an information processing method in which a computer executes the processing in the above-mentioned information processing device, a program for causing a computer to execute the information processing method, or a storage medium that non-temporarily stores the program.

This disclosure allows users to more easily use telematics services.

1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a system according to an embodiment. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a vehicle, a dealer terminal, and a server that constitute a system according to an embodiment. FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a server. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a table configuration of vehicle information stored in a vehicle information DB. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a vehicle. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a dealer terminal. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing the overall processing of the system. 13 is a flowchart of a start-of-use process executed by a server. 11 is a flowchart of a process in which a server provides a telematics service to a user.

An information processing device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a control unit that executes the following: acquiring information about a request to start using a service from a first terminal, the information including information identifying a vehicle and information identifying a user who uses the service; and, after acquiring the information about the request to start using the service from the first terminal, executing a process to start using the service in response to the start of the vehicle as a trigger.

By acquiring information that identifies a vehicle and information that identifies a user who uses a service in a linked state, it is possible to identify, for example, the user who is the owner of the vehicle. Furthermore, it is possible to identify a user who uses a service in the vehicle. The service is, for example, a telematics service.

The information regarding the request to start using the service includes information required for the user to perform initial settings to use the service. The first terminal is a terminal other than an in-vehicle terminal, and may be, for example, a terminal used by an employee at a vehicle dealership, or may be a terminal that is not brought into the vehicle.

The control unit then executes a process to start using the service when the vehicle is started as a trigger. Starting the vehicle includes the vehicle transitioning to a state in which it can be driven and the start of the supply of power to the devices in the vehicle. Examples of the vehicle being started include when a user possessing an electronic key presses the vehicle start switch, when a user possessing an electronic key gets into the vehicle, or when the ignition switch or accessory switch is turned on by a physical key. In such cases, the control unit executes a process to start using the service without the user having to perform any operation to start using the service. This allows the user to use the service without having to operate the terminal themselves.

The following describes embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to the drawings. The configurations of the following embodiments are examples, and the present disclosure is not limited to the configurations of the embodiments. In addition, the following embodiments can be combined as much as possible.

First Embodiment
1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a system 1 according to this embodiment. The system 1 is a system in which a user can use a telematics service (hereinafter, simply referred to as a service) by registering for use at a dealer terminal 20 when purchasing a vehicle 10, without the user having to go through a procedure for using the service when the vehicle 10 is started for the first time or each time the vehicle 10 is started. When the vehicle 10 is purchased, information about the user and information about the vehicle 10 are linked at the dealer terminal 20, and the information is transmitted to a server 30.

Here, conventionally, a user would sign a contract for a vehicle and a service at a dealership, the dealership would link the user to the vehicle, and when starting to use the service, the user would carry out the start-up procedure in the vehicle themselves. This required the user to start using the service on a terminal inside the vehicle, and two processes had to be carried out by the dealership and the user. On the other hand, in the system 1 according to the present disclosure, a single process at the dealership allows the user to use the service.

In the example of FIG. 1, the system 1 includes a vehicle 10, a dealer terminal 20, and a server 30. The dealer terminal 20 is a terminal used by, for example, an employee at a dealer of the vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 is owned by a user. The vehicle 10, the dealer terminal 20, and the server 30 are connected to each other by a network N1. The network N1 is, for example, a global public communication network such as the Internet, and may be a WAN (Wide Area Network) or other communication network. The network N1 may also include a telephone communication network such as a mobile phone, or a wireless communication network such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark).

The hardware configuration of the vehicle 10, the dealer terminal 20, and the server 30 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the vehicle 10, the dealer terminal 20, and the server 30 that constitute the system 1 according to this embodiment.

The server 30 has a typical computer configuration. The server 30 provides services to the user in the vehicle 10. The server 30 has a processor 301, a main memory unit 302, an auxiliary memory unit 303, and a communication unit 304. These are interconnected by a bus. The processor 301 corresponds to the control unit according to the present disclosure.

The processor 301 is a central processing unit (CPU) or a digital signal processor (DSP), etc. The processor 301 controls the server 30 and performs various information processing operations. The main memory unit 302 is a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), etc. The auxiliary memory unit 303 is an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), a hard disk drive (HDD), a removable medium, etc.
The auxiliary storage unit 303 stores an operating system (OS), various programs, various tables, and the like. The processor 301 loads the programs stored in the auxiliary storage unit 303 into the working area of the main storage unit 302 and executes them, and each component unit, etc. is controlled through the execution of the programs. This allows the server 30 to realize a function that meets a predetermined purpose. The main storage unit 302 and the auxiliary storage unit 303 are computer-readable recording media. The server 30 may be a single computer or a combination of multiple computers. The information stored in the auxiliary storage unit 303 may be stored in the main storage unit 302. The information stored in the main storage unit 302 may be stored in the auxiliary storage unit 303.

The communication unit 304 is a means for communicating with the vehicle 10 and the dealer terminal 20 via the network N1. The communication unit 304 is, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) interface board and a wireless communication circuit for wireless communication. The LAN interface board and the wireless communication circuit are connected to the network N1.

Next, the dealer terminal 20 will be described. The dealer terminal 20 is a small computer such as a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet terminal, a personal information terminal, a wearable computer (such as a smart watch), or a personal computer (Personal Computer, PC). The dealer terminal 20 is an example of a first terminal according to the present disclosure. The dealer terminal 20 has a processor 201, a main memory unit 202, an auxiliary memory unit 203, an input unit 204, an output unit 205, and a communication unit 206. These are connected to each other by a bus. The processor 201, the main memory unit 202, the auxiliary memory unit 203, and the communication unit 206 are similar to the processor 301, the main memory unit 302, the auxiliary memory unit 303, and the communication unit 304 of the server 30, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

The input unit 204 is a means for accepting input operations performed by employees, and is, for example, a touch panel, a mouse, a keyboard, a microphone, etc. The output unit 205 is a means for presenting information to employees, and is, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), an electroluminescence (EL) panel, a speaker, a lamp, etc. The input unit 204 and the output unit 205 may be configured as a single touch panel display.

Next, the vehicle 10 will be described. The vehicle 10 includes a processor 101, a main memory unit 102,
The retail store terminal 20 includes an auxiliary memory unit 103, a touch panel 104, a speaker 105, and a communication unit 106. These are connected to each other via a bus. The processor 101, the main memory unit 102, the auxiliary memory unit 103, and the communication unit 106 are similar to the processor 201, the main memory unit 202, the auxiliary memory unit 203, and the communication unit 206 of the retail store terminal 20, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

The touch panel 104 is a means for accepting an input operation performed by a user and a means for presenting information to the user. The touch panel 104 may include, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an EL (Electroluminescence) panel.
The speaker 105 is a device that outputs sound inside the vehicle.

Next, the functions of the server 30 will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the functional configuration of the server 30. The server 30 includes a control unit 31 and a vehicle information DB 32 as functional components. The processor 301 of the server 30 executes the processing of the control unit 31 by a computer program on the main memory unit 302. Note that part of the processing of the control unit 31 may be executed by another computer connected to the network N1.

The vehicle information DB 32 is constructed by a database management system (DBMS) program executed by the processor 301 managing the data stored in the auxiliary storage unit 303. The vehicle information DB 32 is, for example, a relational database.

The control unit 31 receives a start-of-use request from the dealer terminal 20. The start-of-use request is a request to start using the service. The start-of-use request includes information for identifying the dealer (dealer ID), information about the vehicle 10, and information about the user. When the control unit 31 receives the start-of-use request, it executes a start-of-use process. In the start-of-use process, the information about the user is linked to information about the vehicle 10 and stored in the vehicle information DB 32.

Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a table configuration of vehicle information stored in the vehicle information DB 32. The vehicle information table has fields for vehicle ID, user ID, dealer ID, and contract content. Information for identifying the vehicle 10 (vehicle ID) is input into the vehicle ID field. Information for identifying the user (user ID) is input into the user ID field. Information for identifying the dealer (dealer ID) is input into the dealer ID field. Information that allows the user to determine the content to which the user has contracted is input into the contract content field. Examples of content include content that provides a weather forecast by voice, news by voice, displays an Internet browser on the touch panel 104, or enables a call with an operator. A content contract can be made at the dealer when purchasing the vehicle 10, or the user can add content from a menu screen displayed on the touch panel 104 afterwards.

Furthermore, the control unit 31 transmits an opening command to the vehicle 10 in the use start process. The opening command is a command for the vehicle 10 to perform a process for enabling communication between the vehicle 10 and the server 30. For example, application software for enabling the vehicle 10 to use a service is transmitted and installed in the vehicle 10. Alternatively, the control unit 31 may transmit a command to unlock application software that is stored in the auxiliary storage unit 103 of the vehicle 10 but is locked from execution. The application software executed in the vehicle 10 establishes communication with the server 30 when the vehicle 10 is started, for example. Then, the control unit 31 receives start information from the vehicle 10. The start information is information indicating that the vehicle 10 has started, and includes, for example, a vehicle ID. Upon receiving the start information, the control unit 31 performs a use start determination. The use start determination is a determination as to whether or not the content is available, and is performed based on the contract content stored in the vehicle information DB 32.

Based on the contract content stored in the vehicle information DB 32, the control unit 31 transmits information for displaying the contract content on the touch panel 104 of the vehicle 10. Thereafter, when the control unit 31 receives a request to use the content (content use request) from the vehicle 10, it transmits information corresponding to the content to the vehicle 10.

Next, the functions of the vehicle 10 will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the functional configuration of the vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 includes a control unit 11 as a functional component. The processor 101 of the vehicle 10 executes the processing of the control unit 11 according to a computer program stored in the main memory unit 102.

When the control unit 11 receives an opening command from the server 30, it installs, for example, application software included in the opening command. This application software establishes communication with the server 30 every time the vehicle 10 is started. Thus, the control unit 11 communicates with the server 30 every time the vehicle 10 is started. Note that starting the vehicle 10 includes at least a state in which content is available, and includes going into a so-called accessory mode (a mode in which the vehicle 10 cannot be driven but power is supplied to various devices). Alternatively, starting the vehicle 10 may include a so-called ignition switch being turned ON. As a further alternative, the vehicle 10 may be considered to have started when the user presses the start switch of the vehicle 10.

After starting the vehicle 10, the control unit 11 receives information about the contracted content (which may be available content) from the server 30. Based on this information, the control unit 11 displays a menu screen of the available content on the touch panel 104. On this menu screen, touch buttons corresponding to the available content are displayed. When the user touches this touch button, the control unit 11 transmits a request to use that content to the server 30. The control unit 11 provides the user with information sent from the server 30 in response to the request. For example, when the user taps the weather forecast touch button on the menu screen, information about the weather forecast is sent from the server 30 to the vehicle 10. In the vehicle 10, for example, the control unit 11 plays the weather forecast by voice from the speaker 105.

Next, the functions of the retail store terminal 20 will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the functional configuration of the retail store terminal 20. The retail store terminal 20 includes a control unit 21 as a functional component. The processor 201 of the retail store terminal 20 executes the processing of the control unit 21 according to a computer program stored in the main memory unit 202.

When an employee of the dealer inputs user information corresponding to the vehicle 10, the dealer terminal 20 links the user to the vehicle 10. Then, information about the vehicle 10 and information about the user are transmitted to the server 30. A vehicle ID is input to the dealer terminal 20 as information about the vehicle 10. In addition, a name, address, telephone number, email address, content to be contracted, credit card number, password, or PIN code may be input to the dealer terminal 20 as information about the user. At this time, a user ID may also be issued to the user. An email address may be used as the user ID.

Next, the overall processing of the system 1 will be described. Fig. 7 is a sequence diagram showing the overall processing of the system 1. When a dealer employee inputs information about the user and information about the vehicle 10 to the input unit 204 of the dealer terminal 20, the dealer terminal 20 acquires the user information and vehicle information (S10). Then, the dealer terminal 20 acquires the user information and vehicle information.
0, and a usage start request is sent together with this information to the server 30 (S11). The usage start request includes information indicating that usage of the content is to be started.

The server 30 that has received the usage start request executes a usage start process (S12). In the usage start process, information related to the contract content corresponding to the vehicle 10 is stored in the vehicle information DB 32. In addition, in the usage start process, an opening command is sent from the server 30 to the vehicle 10 (S13). In the vehicle 10 that has received this opening command, for example, application software is installed, and the vehicle 10 becomes capable of communicating with the server 30.

When the user starts the vehicle 10, for example by pressing a start switch (S14), startup information is transmitted from the vehicle 10 to the server 30 (S15). The startup information is information indicating that the vehicle 10 has been started, and is linked to the vehicle ID. The server 30 that has received the startup information performs a usage start determination (S16). That is, the startup of the vehicle 10 is used as a trigger to execute a process to start using the service. In the usage start determination, it is determined whether or not the service may be provided to the vehicle 10. The server 30 determines whether or not the service may be provided to the vehicle 10 based on the information in the vehicle information DB 32, and if it is determined that the service may be provided, it transmits information regarding available content (S17).

When the vehicle 10 receives information about available content, the available content is displayed in a menu on the touch panel 104 (S18). When the user taps a touch button of a content displayed in the menu, a request to use the content corresponding to the tapped button is sent from the vehicle 10 to the server 30 (S19). The server 30 sends information corresponding to the requested content to the vehicle 10 (S20). The server 30 may obtain this information corresponding to the content from another server that provides information corresponding to the content. Then, a service corresponding to the content is provided in the vehicle 10 (S21).

Next, the processing in the server 30 will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the usage start processing executed by the server 30. The processing shown in FIG. 8 is repeatedly executed at predetermined time intervals in the server 30.

In step S101, the control unit 31 determines whether or not a usage start request has been received from the retailer terminal 20. If the determination in step S101 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S102, and if the determination is negative, the routine is terminated.

In step S102, the control unit 31 determines whether the user and vehicle 10 related to the usage start request can be registered. For example, the control unit 31 determines whether the usage start request was sent from the authorized dealer terminal 20. At this time, the control unit 31 compares the dealer ID included in the usage start request with the dealer ID stored in the auxiliary storage unit 303. If the user wishes to use paid content, the control unit 31 accesses the server of a credit card company, for example, to authenticate the credit card. If the credit card authentication is successful, the control unit 31 determines that the vehicle 10 can be registered. It may also determine whether the vehicle 10 is an authorized vehicle. For example, if the vehicle 10 is registered as a stolen vehicle, the control unit 31 determines that the vehicle 10 cannot be registered. If the determination in step S102 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S103, and if the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step S105.

In step S103, the control unit 31 stores the information included in the usage start request in the vehicle information DB 32. Then, in step S104, the control unit 31 transmits an open command to the vehicle 10. The open command is, for example, information instructing the vehicle 10 to open a line for transmitting and receiving information related to the content. Meanwhile, in step S105, the control unit 31 transmits registration impossible information to the dealer terminal 20. The registration impossible information is information indicating that the content cannot be used by the corresponding user or vehicle 10. When the registration impossible information is received by the dealer terminal 20, the output unit 205 of the dealer terminal 20 displays, for example, an image indicating that registration is impossible.

Next, FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the process by which the server 30 provides a telematics service to a user. The process shown in FIG. 9 is repeatedly executed at predetermined time intervals by the server 30.

In step S201, the control unit 31 determines whether or not startup information has been received from the vehicle 10. If the determination in step S201 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S202, and if the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step S204. In step S202, the control unit 31 performs a usage start determination. The usage start determination is to determine the content available to the vehicle 10. Available content is content available to the user and is content for which the user has subscribed. Since the available content is stored in the vehicle information DB 32, the control unit 31 reads the information from the vehicle information DB 32. In step S203, the control unit 31 transmits the available content to the vehicle 10.

In step S204, the control unit 31 determines whether or not a content usage request has been received from the vehicle 10. The content usage request is a request to use the content that the user tapped on the touch panel 104 of the vehicle 10. If the determination in step S204 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S205, and if the determination is negative, the routine is terminated. In step S205, the control unit 31 transmits information related to the requested content to the vehicle 10. For example, if a weather forecast is requested, voice data or image data related to the weather is transmitted to the vehicle 10.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the procedure for using the telematics service is completed at the dealer terminal 20, so the user can use the telematics service without having to go through the procedure to start using the telematics service in the vehicle 10. This allows the user to use the telematics service more easily.

<Other embodiments>
The above-described embodiment is merely an example, and the present disclosure can be modified and implemented as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

The processes and means described in this disclosure can be freely combined and implemented as long as no technical contradictions arise.

In addition, the processes described as being performed by one device may be shared and executed by multiple devices. Or, the processes described as being performed by different devices may be executed by one device. In a computer system, the hardware configuration (server configuration) by which each function is realized can be flexibly changed. For example, the vehicle 10 may have some or all of the functions of the dealer terminal 20.

The present disclosure can also be realized by supplying a computer program implementing the functions described in the above embodiments to a computer, and having one or more processors of the computer read and execute the program. Such a computer program may be provided to the computer by a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium connectable to the system bus of the computer, or may be provided to the computer via a network. Non-transitory computer-readable storage media include, for example, any type of disk, such as a magnetic disk (floppy disk, hard disk drive (HDD), etc.), an optical disk (CD-ROM, DVD disk, Blu-ray disk, etc.), a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), an EPROM, an EEPROM, a magnetic card, a flash memory, an optical card, and any type of medium suitable for storing electronic instructions.

Reference Signs List 1 System 10 Vehicle 20 Dealer terminal 30 Server 301 Processor 302 Main memory unit 303 Auxiliary memory unit 304 Communication unit

Claims (1)

An information processing device including a storage unit and a control unit,
the storage unit stores information for identifying a vehicle, information for identifying a user who uses a telematics service, information for identifying a dealer of the vehicle, and content information regarding content to which the user has a contract, in association with one another;
The control unit is
receiving a request to start using the telematics service from a dealer terminal used at the dealer, the request including information in which information identifying the vehicle, information identifying the user, and information identifying the dealer are mutually associated;
determining whether the request was sent from a dealer terminal used at an authorized dealer, based on information identifying the dealer included in the received request and the stored information identifying the dealer;
when it is determined that the request has been transmitted from a dealer terminal used in an authorized dealer, transmitting to the vehicle an opening command instructing the vehicle to open a line for transmitting and receiving the content information;
receiving activation information indicating that the vehicle has been activated, the activation information including information identifying the vehicle as information indicating that the content has become available from the vehicle that has received the transmitted opening command;
transmitting, to the vehicle, the content information that is stored in the storage unit and that is associated with the information that identifies the vehicle and the information that identifies the user, which are included in the request, using the reception of the activation information from the vehicle that has received the opening command as a trigger;
Run
The content information is information for displaying the content to which the user has subscribed on a touch panel of the vehicle.
Information processing device.

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