JP7804447B2 - System for providing additional functions for a work machine, method for providing additional functions for a work machine, and program for providing additional functions for a work machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a system for providing additional functions to a work machine, a method for providing additional functions to a work machine, and a program for providing additional functions to a work machine.

In recent years, construction site work machines have become increasingly ICT (Information and Communication Technology), and by adding optional functions to their work machines, users can receive a variety of services.

Patent Document 1 discloses technology that makes it possible to easily select components such as standard parts and optional parts based on the required specifications entered by the customer when selling a work machine such as a forklift.

JP 2012-181682 A

At construction sites, the functions required for hydraulic excavators and other work machines (hereinafter referred to as "construction machinery") vary depending on the construction process. Therefore, construction machinery equipped with the necessary functions is prepared in advance for each construction process. However, depending on the construction process, some functions may only be needed temporarily, while others may never be needed. Therefore, preparing construction machinery with numerous functions to anticipate these situations would be cost-effective. Therefore, it is preferable to be able to use the necessary functions when needed. To achieve this, it is necessary to set necessary functions as options on construction machinery, or to disable unnecessary functions from construction machinery. To achieve this, construction site supervisors, system implementers and ordering personnel of users who own construction machinery (collectively referred to as "users") must be able to check the setting status of optional functions for each construction machinery at the construction site and each user's own construction machinery in order to set or disable optional functions. They must also be able to check whether the optional functions they plan to set on their own construction machinery can be set. In other words, the above-mentioned confirmation process is required as part of the process for setting optional functions.

The present invention provides technology that allows users to easily check a list of machines they own that can be configured with optional features selected by the user.

The system for providing additional functions for a work machine of the present invention comprises a memory unit that associates and stores information about users who own work machines, information about work machines owned by the users, and information about optional functions that can be set on the work machines; a selection unit that selects optional functions in accordance with selection input from authenticated users; an extraction unit that extracts information about work machines owned by the authenticated users that can be set with the optional functions selected by the selection unit based on the information stored in the memory unit; and a display control unit that outputs the information about the work machines extracted by the extraction unit to a display device.

This invention allows users to easily check a list of machines they own that can be configured with optional features selected by the users themselves.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a provision system according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing each data structure stored in the provision system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a hardware block diagram of a computing device of the provision system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a system login screen output to an output device by the provision system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an optional function selection screen output to an output device by the provision system of the first embodiment. 10 is a diagram showing an optional function setting/cancellation screen output to an output device by the provision system of the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process executed by the provision system according to the first embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process executed by the provision system according to the first embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process executed by the provision system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an optional function setting/cancellation screen output to an output device by the provision system of the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an optional function call screen output to an output device by the provision system of the third embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an optional function setting confirmation screen output to an output device by the provision system of the fourth embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It goes without saying that the components (including steps, etc.) in the following embodiments are not necessarily essential unless specifically stated otherwise or considered to be clearly essential in principle.

Example 1
The construction machine additional function providing system 100 according to the first embodiment (hereinafter, abbreviated as the providing system 100 as appropriate) is a providing system that provides a user (such as a system implementer, site supervisor, or ordering officer at a client company) with information on a list of machines, such as construction machines, owned by the user and capable of setting optional functions selected by the user. The user may be an individual user, or may be a company or group to which the individual belongs. Furthermore, the providing system 100 according to the first embodiment may provide a user with information on a list of machines, such as construction machines owned by the user and placed at a construction site, capable of setting optional functions selected by the user.

Each block shown in FIG. 1 is a functional block indicating a function possessed by the provision system 100. As shown in FIG. 1, the provision system 100 according to Example 1 is communicatively connected to an input device 200 and an output device 300. The input device 200 is, for example, a keyboard or a mouse. The output device 300 is, for example, a display device (monitor). The input device 200 and the output device 300 may be separate devices, or may be a single device (for example, a tablet, smartphone, laptop, etc.) that includes the input device 200 and the output device 300.

The provision system 100 is, for example, a system that is deployed and operated in a cloud on the Internet. The provision system 100 may also be on-premise. The provision system 100 may be communicatively connected to construction machinery at a construction site and collect and manage information sent from the construction machinery. Optional functions set in construction machinery are software services such as web apps provided to the construction machinery. Specifically, these are software services such as web apps that allow work information for construction machinery such as hydraulic excavators to be checked from the web, and web apps that allow machine status information for construction machinery such as hydraulic excavators to be checked from the web. The software services provided to construction machinery may also be native apps executed on the construction machinery. Construction machinery includes excavators, wheel loaders, trucks, road machinery, etc.

As shown in FIG. 1, the provision system 100 includes a user company memory unit 101, a model-specific configurable option memory unit (hereinafter abbreviated as option memory unit) 102, a user company-owned machine status memory unit (hereinafter abbreviated as status memory unit) 103, a user company determination unit (hereinafter abbreviated as company determination unit) 110, an optional function selection operation determination unit (hereinafter abbreviated as selection operation determination unit) 120, an optional function setting/cancellation unit 130, an option-configurable user company-owned machine extraction unit (hereinafter abbreviated as extraction unit) 140, and a display control unit 150.

The user company memory unit 101 stores information about the company to which the user belongs. As shown in Figure 2(a), the user company memory unit 101 stores a data structure 104 in which a user name corresponds to the company to which the user belongs. The option memory unit 102 stores information about optional functions that can be set for each construction machinery model. As shown in Figure 2(b), the option memory unit 102 stores a data structure 105 in which a construction machinery model name corresponds to one or more optional functions that can be set. In the example of Figure 2(b), a construction machinery with model name "333" can be set with optional functions α and γ, but cannot be set with optional function β. The status memory unit 103 stores various information about owned construction machinery for each company. As shown in Figure 2(c), the status memory unit 103 stores a data structure 106 in which a company to which the user belongs, a machine number (an identification number for each construction machinery), a model name, and the setting status of optional functions correspond to each other. In the example shown in Figure 2(c), model number "222-11111" owned by company "A" indicates that optional function α is currently set, but optional functions β and γ are not yet set.

Returning to Figure 1, the company determination unit 110 references the user company memory unit 101 to determine the company to which the logged-in user (hereinafter referred to as the authenticated user, as appropriate) belongs. The selection operation determination unit 120 determines whether the authenticated user has selected and input an optional function, and identifies the selected optional function. The optional function setting/cancellation unit 130 sets or cancels an optional function in accordance with the authenticated user's operation to set or cancel an optional function. The extraction unit 140 extracts a list of machines owned by the authenticated user's company that can be set with the selected optional function, based on the information in the option memory unit 102 and status memory unit 103 and the information on the authenticated user's company determined by the company determination unit 110. The display control unit 150 outputs the extracted information to the output device 300.

As shown in FIG. 3, the provision system 100 includes a computing device 160, which is a computer system. This computing device 160 has a processor 310, a communication interface (hereinafter, interface will be abbreviated as I/F) 320, a main memory device 330, an auxiliary memory device 340, an input/output I/F 350, and a bus 360 that communicatively connects the above-mentioned units.

Processor 310 is a central processing unit that controls the operation of each part of provision system 100. Processor 310 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), DSP (Digital Signal Processor), ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), etc. Processor 310 deploys programs stored in auxiliary storage device 340 in an executable manner in the working area of main storage device 330. Main storage device 330 stores programs executed by processor 310, data processed by the processor, etc. Main storage device 330 is, for example, flash memory, RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), etc. Auxiliary storage device 340 stores various programs and various data. The auxiliary storage device 340 stores, for example, an OS (Operating System), various programs, various tables, etc. The auxiliary storage device 340 may be a silicon disk including non-volatile semiconductor memory (flash memory, EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM)), a solid state drive device, a hard disk (HDD, Hard Disk Drive) device, etc.

The auxiliary storage device 340 stores a work machine additional function provision program that causes the processor 310 to execute each step of the work machine additional function provision method for optional functions shown in Figures 7 to 9, which will be described below. The processor 310 functions as the affiliated company determination unit 110, selection operation determination unit 120, optional function setting/cancellation unit 130, extraction unit 140, and display control unit 150 described above by expanding and executing the program stored in the auxiliary storage device 340 in the work area of the main storage device 330. The auxiliary storage device 340 stores the data structure 104 stored in the user affiliated company memory unit 101, the data structure 105 stored in the option memory unit 102, and the data structure 106 stored in the status memory unit 103. The communication I/F 320 is also communicatively connected to the input device 200 and output device 300 via a network.

The provision system 100 provides various screens to the output device 300. The provision system 100 functions as a web server and outputs screen data composed of HTML data and the like to the web browser of the output device 300. The web browser of the output device 300 displays, for example, a system login screen 400, an optional function selection screen 500, and an optional function setting/cancellation screen 600, which will be described later.

The system login screen 400 shown in Figure 4 is a screen used by a user to log in to the provision system 100. To log in to the provision system 100, a user enters an ID such as an email address and a password. The ID and password entered on the system login screen 400 are sent to the provision system 100. The provision system 100 then performs user authentication using an authentication server such as an LDAP server. The provision system 100 may also be equipped with an authentication server that performs user authentication.

The optional function selection screen 500 shown in Figure 5 is a screen that displays a list of optional functions (e.g., web apps) that can be provided to the authenticated user. In Figure 5, software A to C, which are apps for excavators, are displayed as selectable optional functions.

The optional function setting/cancellation screen 600 shown in Figure 6 displays a list of machines owned by the company to which the authenticated user who logged in via the screen of Figure 4 belongs, for which the optional function selected on the screen of Figure 5 can be set or canceled. Table 610 ("Machines Under Contract" in the figure) displayed at the top of the screen of Figure 6 includes a list of machines for which the selected optional function is already set. This table 610 associates machines (shown as "machine number" in the figure) for which the selected optional function is already set, with the model name and the billing address for the usage fees, etc., for the set optional function. Table 610 also includes one or more buttons 601 for canceling the optional function set on the machine (cancelling the optional function). Table 620 ("Machines Not Under Contract" in the figure) displayed at the bottom of the screen of Figure 6 includes a list of machines for which the selected optional function has not yet been set. This table 620 associates machines (shown as "machine number" in the figure) for which the selected optional function can be set but has not yet been set with the model name. Table 620 also includes one or more buttons 602 for setting optional features on the machine (subscribing for optional features).

The authority to set and cancel optional functions may be set according to the user's role. User names and roles are associated and stored in advance, and the ID entered on the system login screen 400 is used to determine whether the role has the authority to set or cancel optional functions. Buttons 601 and 602 may be displayed on the optional function setting/cancellation screen 600 only for authenticated users with a role that has the authority to set or cancel optional functions, and it may be possible to set or cancel optional functions using button 602 and button 601, respectively.

In Figure 6, buttons 601 and 602 for setting or canceling optional functions are displayed in tables 610 and 620, respectively, but at least one of buttons 601 and 602 does not have to be displayed. In other words, the optional function setting/cancellation screen 600 only needs to display a list of machines owned by the authenticated user that can be set to the selected optional function.

Next, with reference to the flowcharts in Figures 7 to 9, we will explain in detail the process of setting an optional function on a machine owned by an authenticated user, or canceling an optional function set on a machine owned by an authenticated user.

The processes in the flowcharts of Figures 7 to 9 are executed by the computer system of the provision system 100 shown in Figure 3. First, with reference to Figure 7, the process from displaying the system login screen 400 to displaying the optional function selection screen 500 will be described.

In response to a request from the output device 300, the provision system 100 transmits screen data related to the system login screen 400 to the output device 300. The output device 300 displays the system login screen 400 in accordance with the received screen data. The user uses an input device 200, such as a keyboard, to input an ID (e.g., email address) and password as login data into the system login screen 400. The provision system 100 then acquires the ID and password input into the system login screen 400 from the output device 300 (S700).

The provision system 100 determines the company to which the authenticated user belongs based on the input login data (S701). The provision system 100 determines the company to which the authenticated user belongs based on the ID acquired in S700 and the username stored in the user company storage unit 101. If the user belongs to a pre-registered company, the provision system 100 outputs the company information (S702) and outputs screen data related to the optional function selection screen 500 so that the optional function selection screen 500 is displayed on the output device 300 (S703). On the other hand, if the user does not belong to any of the pre-registered companies, the provision system 100 outputs screen data related to a login error screen so that a login error screen is displayed on the output device 300 (S703).

Next, referring to Figure 8, the processing from displaying the optional function selection screen 500 to displaying the optional function setting/cancellation screen 600 will be described.

The optional function selection screen 500 displayed on the output device 300 includes a list of optional functions that can be provided to the authenticated user. The authenticated user selects the optional function they wish to set from the list of optional functions on the optional function selection screen 500 using an input device 200 such as a keyboard. The provision system 100 acquires information related to the optional function selected on the optional function selection screen 500 from the output device 300 (S800). The provision system 100 determines whether the authenticated user has selected and input an optional function, and identifies the selected optional function (S801).

If any optional function is selected (clicked), the provision system 100 extracts the target machine (S802). Then, the provision system 100 outputs screen data related to the optional function setting/cancellation screen 600 so that the optional function setting/cancellation screen 600 is displayed on the output device 300 (S803). If no optional function is selected (clicked) by the authenticated user, the optional function selection screen 500 continues to be displayed on the output device 300.

The machine targeted by S802 is a machine owned by the company to which the authenticated user belongs, and is a machine on which the selected optional function can be configured.

Next, referring to Figure 9, we will explain the process from when the optional function setting/cancellation screen 600 is displayed until the authenticated user changes the setting to set or cancel optional functions.

The optional function setting/cancellation screen 600 displays a list of machines owned by the authenticated user's company that can be set with the optional function selected by the authenticated user on the optional function selection screen 500. The optional function setting/cancellation screen 600 also displays machines on which optional functions have already been set and a button 601 for canceling the optional functions set on those machines, as well as machines on which optional functions have not been set and a button 602 for setting the optional function on those machines. The authenticated user uses the input device 200, such as a keyboard, to select (click) the buttons 601 and 602 displayed on the optional function setting/cancellation screen 600 to set or cancel optional functions.

The optional function setting/cancellation screen 600 has been described as an example of setting or canceling optional functions for each machine, but it is also possible to set optional functions for multiple machines at once, or to cancel optional functions set for multiple machines at once.

Furthermore, in Example 1, when an optional function is set or canceled by operating buttons 601 and 602, a pre-set user may be notified of the setting or cancellation of the optional function by email or the like.

The provision system 100 acquires information related to operations to set/cancel optional functions (S900). Based on the acquired information, the provision system 100 determines whether a change operation to set an optional function on a machine owned by the authenticated user's company or a change operation to cancel an optional function already set on the machine has been performed (S901). If a change operation to set an optional function or a change operation to cancel an optional function has been performed, the provision system 100 stores information related to the change operation in the status storage unit 103 as a setting change process (S902). Next, the provision system 100 outputs screen data related to the function setting/cancellation screen 600 after the setting change to the output device 300 so that the updated optional function setting/cancellation screen 600 after the setting change is displayed on the output device 300 (S903). Note that if no change operation is performed by the authenticated user, the optional function setting/cancellation screen 600 continues to be displayed on the output device 300.

(Effects of Example 1)
The work machine additional function provision system 100 is equipped with the user company memory unit 101, so that the company determination unit 110 can determine the company to which the logged-in authenticated user belongs. Furthermore, the provision system 100 is equipped with the option memory unit 102 and the status memory unit 103, so that it is possible to extract a list of machines owned by the company to which the optional function selected by the authenticated user can be set, and output this to the output device 300. With this configuration, the user can easily check which machines owned by the authenticated user can be set with the selected optional function.

By equipping the provision system 100 with the optional function setting/cancellation unit 130, users can set the required optional functions on the machine in a timely manner according to the construction process. In addition, as the construction process progresses, optional functions that are no longer needed can be timely canceled from the machine. By setting and canceling optional functions according to the construction process, it is possible to set optional functions only when necessary, allowing users to enjoy optional function services at a low cost.

In addition, the extraction unit 140 in Example 1 can extract a list of machines owned by the authenticated user's company that already have the optional function selected by the authenticated user set. This allows the display control unit 150 to display this list extracted by the extraction unit 140 on the output device 300. As a result, the user can view not only a list of machines on which the selected optional function can be set, but also a list of machines on which the optional function is already set.

In addition, the optional function setting/cancellation unit 130 in Example 1 can cancel the setting of optional functions for a machine selected by the authenticated user from the list of machines for which optional functions have already been set, extracted by the extraction unit 140. This makes it possible to reduce the costs required for optional functions by canceling the setting of optional functions that are no longer needed as the construction process progresses.

Example 2
The system for providing additional functions for a work machine according to Example 2 provides the user with information on a list of machines, such as work machines owned by an authenticated user, on which optional functions selected by the authenticated user can be set, as well as a list of machines on which optional functions can be set by attaching a specific terminal (e.g., an industrial computer) to the work machine.

Figure 10 shows a screen displayed on an output device by the provision system of Example 2. Optional function setting/cancellation screen 1000 includes tables 610 and 620, similar to optional function setting/cancellation screen 600. Optional function setting/cancellation screen 1000 of Example 2 includes table 1030, which lists machines for which optional functions can be set by installing a specific terminal. Table 1030 associates machines for which the selected optional function can be set by installing a specific terminal but has not yet been set (shown as "machine number" in the figure) with model names. Machines for which optional functions can be set by installing a specific terminal are stored in advance in state storage unit 103.

(Effects of Example 2)
The display control unit of the system for providing an additional function for a work machine in Example 2 can output to the display device a list of machines for which optional functions can be set by attaching a specific terminal. This allows the user to check the list of machines for which optional functions can be set under special conditions, distinguishing them from other machines.

Example 3
11 is a diagram showing an optional function call screen output to an output device by the provision system of Example 3. The work machine additional function provision system according to Example 3 provides an optional function call screen 1100 for executing an optional function that has already been set to the output device 300. The optional function call screen 1100 can be called up, for example, from a hamburger button 1101 in the upper left of the screen. On the optional function call screen 1100, optional functions that have already been set and are available (contracted for) are displayed without being grayed out, and optional functions that have not been set (uncontracted for) are displayed grayed out. Available optional functions (for example, web apps) can be called up from the optional function call screen 1100.

(Effects of Example 3)
The work machine additional function providing system of Example 3 can output an optional function call screen 1100 for executing a set optional function to the output device 300. An authenticated user can execute a set optional function (e.g., a web application) from the optional function call screen 1100 only if the optional function is set. This allows the authenticated user to enjoy the services of the optional function only if the optional function is set. Furthermore, the optional function call screen 1100 displays executable optional functions and inexecutable optional functions in a distinguished manner so that the authenticated user can easily understand which optional functions are executable and which are not executable.

Example 4
The system for providing additional functions for a work machine according to the fourth embodiment provides the user with a list of machines such as construction machines owned by an authenticated user, along with optional functions that can be set.

Figure 12 shows a screen displayed on an output device by the provision system of Example 4. The optional function setting confirmation screen 1200 includes a table 1201 that lists machines owned by the authenticated user and associates them with configurable optional functions. This table 1201 associates, for each machine owned by the authenticated user's company, optional functions that have already been set ("setting" in the figure), optional functions that can be set ("not set" in the figure), and optional functions that cannot be set ("not set" in the figure).

(Effects of Example 4)
The work machine additional function provision system of Example 4 outputs to the output device 300 an optional function setting confirmation screen 1200 including a table 1201 in which a list of machines owned by the authenticated user is associated with settable optional functions. This allows the user to check the settable optional functions for each owned machine on the optional function setting confirmation screen 1200. The user can also check the optional functions that have already been set for each owned machine on the optional function setting confirmation screen 1200. Furthermore, the user can check the optional functions that cannot be set for each owned machine on the optional function setting confirmation screen 1200.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described examples and includes various modifications. The above-described examples have been described in detail to clearly explain the present invention, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to those having all of the described configurations.

It is also possible to replace part of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment, or to add the configuration of one embodiment to the configuration of another embodiment. It is also possible to add, delete, or replace part of the configuration of each embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment.

In Examples 1 to 4, optional functions for work machines have been described, but the functions may also be optional functions for machines other than work machines (for example, automobiles, personal computers, smartphones, tablets, analytical devices, air conditioners, printing devices, etc.). In other words, the provision system may output to an output device a list of machines other than work machines owned by the user that can be configured with optional functions.

In addition, in Examples 1 to 4, examples have been described in which information about machines owned by a user is provided, but the system may also provide information about machines located at a construction site, regardless of whether the machine is owned by the user. In other words, the provision system may output to an output device a list of machines located at a construction site that can be configured with the selected optional function.

100: Provisioning system, 101: User company memory unit, 102: Model-specific configurable option memory unit, 103: User company-specific machine status memory unit (memory unit), 110: User company determination unit, 120: Optional function selection operation determination unit (selection unit), 130: Optional function setting/cancellation unit (setting unit), 140: Option-configurable user company-specific machine extraction unit (extraction unit), 150: Display control unit

Claims (6)

a storage unit that stores information about users who own work machines, information about the work machines owned by the users, and information about optional functions that can be set on the work machines, in association with each other;
a selection unit that selects the optional function in accordance with a selection input from an authenticated user of the users;
an extraction unit that extracts, based on the information stored in the storage unit, information on work machines owned by the authenticated user that can be set with the optional function selected by the selection unit;
a display control unit that outputs the information about the work machine extracted by the extraction unit to a display device;
Equipped with
the storage unit stores information about optional functions that can be set for the work machine and optional functions that cannot be set for the work machine, for each model name of the work machine;
the storage unit stores information about optional functions that have been set for the work machine for each actual machine identifier of the work machine,
the storage unit stores an identifier of the actual work machine owned by a company to which the authenticated user belongs in association with an identifier of the company to which the authenticated user belongs,
the extraction unit extracts, based on the information stored in the storage unit, information on optional functions that have already been set for the work machines owned by the company to which the authenticated user belongs, and information on optional functions that have not been set but can be set;
The display control unit outputs, to the display device, information about optional functions that have been set for the work machines owned by the company to which the authenticated user belongs, and optional functions that have not been set but can be set, which information has been extracted by the extraction unit.
A system for providing additional functions to a work machine. The system for providing additional functions to a work machine according to claim 1, further comprising a setting unit that sets the optional function on a work machine selected by the authenticated user from the information on the work machine extracted by the extraction unit. the extraction unit extracts, based on the information stored in the storage unit, information on work machines owned by the authenticated user and on which the optional function selected by the selection unit has already been set;
2. The system for providing an additional function to a work machine according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit outputs to the display device information about work machines on which the optional functions extracted by the extraction unit have already been set. The system for providing additional functions to a work machine according to claim 3, further comprising a setting cancellation unit that cancels the setting of the optional function of a work machine selected by a user from the information on work machines for which the optional function has already been set and extracted by the extraction unit. The system for providing additional functions for a work machine described in claim 1, characterized in that the optional function can be executed only when the optional function is set. The system for providing additional functions for a work machine described in claim 1, characterized in that the display control unit outputs information to the display device that associates the work machine owned by the authenticated user with optional functions that can be set on the work machine.