JP7718288B2 - Information processing device - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to an information processing device.

Conventionally, there is known a server that determines whether a rented vehicle has been returned with a full tank (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Specifically, the server determines whether the amount of fuel at the time of return is equal to or greater than the amount of fuel before the vehicle was driven off (whether the vehicle was returned with a full tank) based on a first fuel meter image taken of the fuel meter before the vehicle was driven off and a second fuel meter image taken of the fuel meter at the time the vehicle was returned.

Patent Publication No. 2021-096780

The above background art only compares two points in time: before the vehicle is driven off and when it is returned, and is therefore unable to detect changes in the vehicle's condition between them.

The purpose of this disclosure, made in light of these circumstances, is to provide an information processing device that can detect changes in vehicle status over time.

An information processing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes:
An information processing device capable of communicating with a management device, the information processing device including a control unit, the control unit
acquiring images of a vehicle meter from a camera at regular or random time intervals;
analyzing the images to determine a state of the vehicle;
transmitting a determination result to the management device;
Perform an action including:

An information processing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure can detect changes in vehicle status over time.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an information processing system. 1 is an image of a vehicle meter.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an information processing system according to this embodiment. The information processing system includes a camera 1, an information processing device 2, a mobile communication unit 3, a mobile antenna 4, a GPS antenna 5, a power supply 6, a ground 7, and a management device 8, all of which are capable of communicating with each other via a wireless or wired network. The network may be, for example, an in-vehicle network, a mobile communication network, or the Internet.

For ease of explanation, FIG. 1 shows one each of camera 1, information processing device 2, mobile communication unit 3, mobile antenna 4, GPS antenna 5, power supply 6, ground 7, and management device 8. However, the number of cameras 1, information processing devices 2, mobile communication units 3, mobile antenna 4, GPS antenna 5, power supply 6, ground 7, and management device 8 is not limited to this. For example, the processing performed by the information processing device 2 of this embodiment may be performed by multiple information processing devices 2 in distributed locations.

At least one of the camera 1, mobile communication unit 3, mobile antenna 4, GPS antenna 5, and power supply 6 may be separate from the information processing device 2 or may be built into the information processing device 2.

Camera 1 is installed inside the vehicle. Camera 1 captures an image of the vehicle's entire meter at regular or random (undefined) intervals and transmits the image to information processing device 2.

The information processing device 2 includes a control unit and a memory unit. The components of the information processing device 2 are communicatively connected to each other, for example, via a dedicated line. The information processing device 2 may be, for example, a smartphone.

The control unit may include, for example, one or more general-purpose processors, including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit). The control unit may also include one or more dedicated processors specialized for specific processing. Instead of including a processor, the control unit may also include one or more dedicated circuits. The dedicated circuits may be, for example, an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) or an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). The control unit may also include an ECU (Electronic Control Unit). The control unit sends and receives any information via the mobile communication unit 3.

The storage unit may include, but is not limited to, semiconductor memory, magnetic memory, optical memory, or a combination of at least two of these. The semiconductor memory may be, for example, RAM or ROM. The RAM may be, for example, SRAM or DRAM. The ROM may be, for example, EEPROM. The storage unit may function as, for example, a main storage unit, an auxiliary storage unit, or a cache memory. The storage unit may store information resulting from analysis or processing by the control unit. The storage unit may store various information related to the operation or control of the information processing device 2. The storage unit may store system programs, application programs, embedded software, etc. The storage unit may be provided external to the information processing device 2 and may be accessed by the information processing device 2.

The information processing device 2 has the following functions.
- Processing function of images captured by the camera 1 or GPS information acquired from the GPS antenna 5, etc. - Data exchange function with the management device 8 - Management function of start-up and shutdown of the vehicle in which the information processing device 2 is installed

The mobile communication unit 3 includes a communication module compatible with one or more wired or wireless LAN (Local Area Network) standards for connecting to a network. The mobile communication unit 3 may include a module compatible with one or more mobile communication standards, including LTE (Long Term Evolution), 4G (4th Generation), or 5G (5th Generation). The communication unit may include a communication module compatible with one or more short-range communication standards or specifications, including Bluetooth (registered trademark), AirDrop (registered trademark), IrDA, ZigBee (registered trademark), Felica (registered trademark), or RFID. The mobile communication unit 3 transmits and receives any information via the network.

The mobile communication unit 3 performs data communication with the outside of the vehicle. The mobile communication unit 3 may be built into the information processing device 2 or may be separate from the information processing device 2.

The mobile antenna 4 is a device that acquires and transmits radio waves for mobile communication.

The GPS antenna 5 is a device for receiving GPS signals. GPS signals are an example of location information signals.

The power supply 6 is a power source that drives the information processing device 2. The power supply 6 may be obtained from the vehicle's power supply.

Ground 7 is the ground for earth connection.

The management device 8 is installed in a management center or the like outside the vehicle. The management device 8 is a computer such as a server belonging to a cloud computing system or other computing system. The management device 8 is the destination of the data collected by the information processing device 2.

The flow by information processing device 2 is explained in detail below.

In step S1, the information processing device 2 begins operation when it detects that the vehicle in which the information processing device 2 is installed has been started (for example, the ACC has been turned on).

In step S2, the camera 1 installed inside the vehicle captures images of the vehicle's meter at regular or random time intervals and transmits them to the information processing device 2. The meter image may be either a still image or a video. An example of a meter image is shown in Figure 2. In Figure 2, details of the meter are omitted. The details of the meter may be arbitrary.

In step S3, the information processing device 2 analyzes the image and determines the vehicle state. The vehicle state includes at least one of the following, for example:
- Presence of predefined warning marks - Mileage - Door status - Engine status, etc.

In step S4, the information processing device 2 transmits the determination result of the vehicle state to the management device 8 at one of the following times.
- Fixed or random time intervals - When the presence of a warning mark is detected - Twice at startup and shutdown (IG OFF)

Additionally or alternatively, in step 4, at least one of the following data may be transmitted to the management device 8:
- Meter image data - Current GPS position data - Number of captured satellites data - Acceleration data - Estimated distance traveled since startup data - Voltage data

When the meter image is sent to the management device 8, the meter image may be analyzed in detail by the management device 8.

In step S5, the management device 8 notifies the user of the management device 8 by screen display or audio so that the acquired vehicle condition information can be used for vehicle maintenance, etc.

In step S6, the information processing device 2 transmits vehicle status information to the management device 8 when the vehicle's ACC is OFF, and then ends operation.

Additionally or alternatively, the predefined warning mark can be modified by a user of the management device 8. When the warning mark is modified, the management device 8 sends new warning data to the information processing device 2.

As an additional or alternative example, the management device 8 may notify the vehicle driver of the acquired vehicle status information or data via a car navigation system or the vehicle driver's smartphone.

According to this embodiment, the information processing device 2 performs operations including acquiring images of the vehicle's meters from the camera 1 at regular or random time intervals, analyzing the images to determine the vehicle's state, and transmitting the determination results to the management device 8. This configuration allows the information processing device 2 to detect changes in the vehicle's state over time. The information processing device 2 transmits the vehicle state determination results to the management center, allowing the management device 8 to remotely grasp the vehicle's state. The information processing device 2 can grasp and notify changes in the vehicle's state even in older vehicles that do not have communication capabilities.

While this disclosure will be described based on various drawings and examples, please note that those skilled in the art may make various modifications and alterations based on this disclosure. Other changes are possible without departing from the spirit of this disclosure. For example, the functions included in each means or step may be rearranged so as not to cause logical inconsistencies, and multiple means or steps may be combined into one or divided.

For example, in the above embodiment, a program that executes all or part of the functions or processes of the information processing device 2 can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Computer-readable recording media include non-transitory computer-readable media, such as magnetic recording devices, optical discs, magneto-optical recording media, or semiconductor memories. The program can be distributed, for example, by selling, transferring, or lending a portable recording medium, such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) or CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), on which the program is recorded. The program can also be distributed by storing the program in the storage of any server and transmitting the program from any server to another computer. The program may also be provided as a program product. The present disclosure can also be realized as a program executable by a processor.

A computer temporarily stores a program recorded on a portable recording medium or transferred from a server in its main storage device. The computer then reads the program stored in its main storage device using its processor, which then executes processing in accordance with the read program. The computer may also read the program directly from the portable recording medium and execute processing in accordance with the program. The computer may also execute processing in accordance with the received program each time a program is transferred from the server to the computer. Processing may also be executed using a so-called ASP-type service that achieves functionality by issuing execution instructions and obtaining results without transferring the program from the server to the computer. "ASP" is an abbreviation for application service provider. Programs include information used for processing by a computer that is equivalent to a program. For example, data that is not a direct instruction to a computer but has properties that specify computer processing falls under the category of "equivalent to a program."

2. Information processing equipment

Claims (1)

An information processing device capable of communicating with a management device, the information processing device including a control unit,
acquiring images of a vehicle meter from a camera at regular or random time intervals;
analyzing the image to determine the vehicle status displayed on the meter;
transmitting a determination result to the management device;
Performing an action including
The vehicle status is information to be used for maintenance of the vehicle in the management device, and includes at least one of the presence of a defined warning mark, mileage, door status, and engine status .