Remote startup system, center server, vehicle, and remote startup method

A remote startup system includes a terminal, a center server configured to communicate with the terminal and receive a startup request from the terminal, and a vehicle on which a driving device is mounted, the vehicle being configured to communicate with the center server, receive the startup request from the center server, and start up the driving device. At least one of the center server and the vehicle includes a stop unit configured to stop the driving device of the vehicle when communication between the terminal and the center server or between the center server and the vehicle is disrupted in a case where the driving device is started up based on the startup request and being operated.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-108783 filed on May 31, 2017 including the specification, drawings and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a remote startup system, a center server, a vehicle, and a remote startup method.

2. Description of Related Art

A center type remote startup system that starts up a driving device such as an engine or an electric compressor (an electric motor) for air conditioning mounted on a vehicle in response to a startup request transmitted from a portable communication terminal device carried by a user to a vehicle remotely located via a center server has been known (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2013-238184 (JP 2013-238184 A)).

SUMMARY

However, in the center type remote startup system, when communication is disrupted between a communication terminal (hereinafter referred to as a “terminal”) and a center server or between the center server and the vehicle, a user cannot perform a remote operation of the vehicle via the center server. Therefore, the user who uses the terminal at a place relatively distant from the vehicle is likely to be unable to stop the driving device described above in a case where the user desires to stop the driving device of the vehicle when communication is disrupted while the driving device is started up and operated based on a startup request for the driving device (hereinafter referred to as a “startup request”).

The present disclosure provides a center type remote startup system, a center server, a vehicle, and a remote startup method capable of safely stopping a driving device of a vehicle even when an operation of stopping the driving device of the vehicle cannot be performed from a terminal due to communication disruption while the driving device is being started up based on a startup request and being operated.

A first aspect of the present disclosure relates to a remote startup system including: a terminal; a center server configured to communicate with the terminal and receive a startup request from the terminal; and a vehicle on which a driving device is mounted, the vehicle being configured to communicate with the center server, receive the startup request from the center server, and start up the driving device. At least one of the center server and the vehicle includes a stop unit configured to stop the driving device of the vehicle when communication between the terminal and the center server or between the center server and the vehicle is disrupted in a case where the driving device is started up based on the startup request and being operated.

According to the first aspect of the present disclosure, the driving device is automatically stopped when communication between the terminal and the center server or between the center server and the vehicle is disrupted in a case where the driving device is started up based on the startup request and being operated. Therefore, it is possible to safely stop the driving device even when an operation of stopping the driving device of the vehicle cannot be performed from the terminal due to communication disruption while the driving device is being started up based on the startup request and being operated.

In the remote startup system according to the first aspect of the present disclosure, at least one of the center server and the vehicle may include a communication availability determination unit configured to determine whether or not communication is available between the terminal and the center server or between the center server and the vehicle. In a case where the stop unit is provided in the center server, the communication availability determination unit may be provided in the center server, the communication availability determination unit configured to transmit periodically a request signal to the terminal, and determine whether or not communication is available between the terminal and the center server based on the presence or absence of a reply from the terminal in response to the request signal. In a case where the stop unit is provided in the vehicle, the communication availability determination unit may be provided in the vehicle, the communication availability determination unit configured to transmit a request signal to the center server, and determine whether or not communication is available between the center server and the vehicle based on the presence or absence of a reply from the center server in response to the request signal.

According to the first aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to specifically determine whether or not communication is available between the terminal and the center server or between the center server and the vehicle by periodically transmitting the request signal requesting the reply from the center server to the terminal or from the vehicle to the center server.

In the remote startup system according to the first aspect of the present disclosure, the stop unit may be configured to determine whether or not to stop the driving device of the vehicle based on a determination result of the communication availability determination unit as to whether or not communication is available between the terminal and the center server or between the center server and the vehicle.

According to the first aspect of the present disclosure, in a case where a determination is made that communication is not available according to the determination as to the communication availability through periodic transmission of the request signal, it is possible to determine that the communication has been disrupted and stop the driving device of the vehicle.

In the remote startup system according to the first aspect of the present disclosure, the stop unit may be configured to stop the driving device of the vehicle in a case where the stop unit determines that the communication between the terminal and the center server or between the center server and the vehicle is disrupted based on a determination result of the communication availability determination unit and an elapsed time of the disruption of the communication has exceeded a predetermined threshold value.

According to the first aspect of the present disclosure, since the driving device is stopped after a certain time has elapsed from the disruption of the communication, a situation in which the driving device is stopped can be avoided, for example, in a case where the communication is temporarily disrupted and immediately restored.

In the remote startup system according to the first aspect of the present disclosure, the vehicle may include a controller configured to start up the driving device. The controller may be configured to permit startup of the driving device based on a command other than the startup request even in a case where the communication between the terminal and the center server or between the center server and the vehicle is disrupted.

According to the first aspect of the present disclosure, even in a case where the driving device is stopped due to occurrence of communication disruption, when the user goes near the vehicle, the engine of the vehicle can be started up using a command other than the startup request transmitted from the terminal, such as an ON operation of an ignition switch of the vehicle or a command from a remote control engine starter that directly transmits a command to the vehicle.

In the remote startup system according to the first aspect of the present disclosure, at least one of the center server and the vehicle may include a stop notification transmission unit configured to transmit a notification indicating that the driving device is stopped to the terminal when communication between the terminal and the center server or between the center server and the vehicle is restored in a case where the driving device is stopped by the stop unit.

According to the first aspect of the present disclosure, when the driving device has been stopped due to the communication disruption, the fact that the driving device has actually been stopped is transmitted from the center server or the vehicle to the terminal according to restoration of the communication. Accordingly, a user can confirm that the driving device has actually been stopped according to, for example, the notification displayed on a display of the terminal.

A second aspect of the present disclosure relates to a center server communicatably connected to a terminal and a vehicle, the center server being configured to receive a startup request that is transmitted from the terminal and start up a driving device mounted on the vehicle based on the startup request. The center server includes a stop unit configured to transmit a stop request to the vehicle and stop the driving device of the vehicle when communication between the terminal and the center server is disrupted in a case where the driving device is started up based on the startup request and being operated.

A third aspect of the present disclosure relates to a vehicle communicatably connected to a center server that is communicatable with a terminal, the vehicle being configured to start up a driving device mounted on the vehicle in response to a predetermined transmission signal from the center server based on a startup request transmitted from the terminal to the center server. The vehicle includes a stop unit configured to stop the driving device of the vehicle when communication between the center server and the vehicle is disrupted in a case where the driving device is started up based on the startup request and being operated.

A fourth aspect of the present disclosure relates to a remote startup method that is executed by a remote startup system including a terminal, a center server communicatable with the terminal, and a vehicle communicatable with the center server, the remote startup system being configured to start up a driving device mounted on the vehicle in response to a startup request transmitted from the terminal to the center server. The remote startup method includes stopping the driving device of the vehicle when communication between the terminal and the center server or between the center server and the vehicle is disrupted in a case where the driving device is started up based on the startup request and being operated.

According to the aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a center type remote startup system, a center server, a vehicle, and a remote startup method capable of safely stopping a driving device even when an operation of stopping the driving device of the vehicle cannot be performed from a terminal due to communication disruption while the driving device is started up and operated based on a startup request.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment

Configuration of Remote Startup System

First, a configuration of a remote startup system1according to the embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 4.

FIG. 1is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of the remote startup system1according to the embodiment.FIG. 2is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a vehicle2(an air conditioner ECU20and an engine ECU40) according to the embodiment.FIG. 3is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a center server100(a processing device120) according to the embodiment.FIG. 4is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a terminal200(a processing device220) according to the embodiment.

The remote startup system1includes the vehicle2, the center server100, and the terminal200carried by a user, and starts up an engine30and an air conditioning device10of the vehicle2to be described below according to a startup request that is transmitted from the terminal200to the center server100.

The center server100provides a service for starting up the engine30and the air conditioning device10(hereinafter referred to as a “remote startup service”) in response to a startup request that is transmitted from a user terminal, for a plurality of vehicles. The vehicle2representatively indicates one of a plurality of vehicles that is a target of the center server100.

The vehicle2includes an air conditioning device10, the air conditioner electronic control unit (ECU)20, a room temperature sensor21, an outside air temperature sensor22, the engine30, the engine ECU40, and a data communication module (DCM)90.

The air conditioning device10adjusts, for example, a temperature in the cabin of the vehicle2. The air conditioning device10includes, for example, a refrigeration cycle including an evaporator (not illustrated) and a compressor (not illustrated) that is driven by the engine30, and a heater (not illustrated) using coolant of the engine30as a heat source. Under the control of the air conditioner ECU20(the air conditioning controller201to be described below), the air conditioning device10adjusts the temperature of air sent out from an air outlet by appropriately setting a ratio of air cooled by passing through the evaporator (cold air) to air warmed using the coolant of the engine30as a heat source (hot air) in a changeable manner. The air conditioning device10has a defroster mode, and removes frost that is generated on the outside of a windshield of the vehicle2or fog generated on the cabin-side of the windshield of the vehicle2by sending air having a relatively low humidity and a relatively high temperature along the windshield of the vehicle2from the air outlet corresponding to the defroster mode.

The room temperature sensor21is provided in the cabin of the vehicle2, such as the inside of an instrument panel (not illustrated), and detects a temperature in the cabin of the vehicle (room temperature of the vehicle). The room temperature sensor21is communicatably connected to the air conditioner ECU20via a one-to-one communication line or the like, and a detection signal corresponding to the detected room temperature of the vehicle is input to the air conditioner ECU20.

The outside air temperature sensor22is provided on an outside of the vehicle2such as a front end portion of an engine compartment provided in a front portion of the vehicle2(a portion into which outside air is introduced), that is, on the back side of a front grille of the vehicle2, and detects a temperature of the outside (outside air temperature) of the vehicle2. The outside air temperature sensor22is communicatably connected to the air conditioner ECU20via a one-to-one communication line or the like, and a detection signal corresponding to the detected outdoor air temperature is input to the air conditioner ECU20.

The air conditioner ECU20is an electronic control unit that performs various controls regarding the air conditioning device10. The function of the air conditioner ECU20may be realized by any hardware, any software, or a combination thereof. The air conditioner ECU20may be mainly configured of, for example, a microcomputer including a central processing unit (CPU), a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), an auxiliary storage device, an input-output interface (I/O), and the like. Hereinafter, the same applies to the engine ECU40. The air conditioner ECU20includes, for example, an air conditioning controller201as a functional unit that is realized by executing one or more programs stored in a ROM, an auxiliary storage device, or the like on the CPU.

The air conditioning controller201controls an operation of the air conditioning device10according to a set state of a set temperature, a mode (a plurality of air outlet modes according to a combination of the air outlets or defroster mode), and the like. Specifically, the air conditioning controller201controls the operation of the air conditioning device10, for example, so that the room temperature of the vehicle becomes the set temperature, based on a detected value of the room temperature sensor21, the outside air temperature sensor22, and the like. The air conditioning controller201starts up the air conditioning device10according to an air conditioning startup request from a remote operation assistance controller402to be described below and controls the operation of the air conditioning device10according to setting content included in the air conditioning startup request.

Various ECUs including the air conditioner ECU20and the engine ECU40, and the DCM90are communicatably connected to each other over an in-vehicle network based on a communication protocol of a controller area network (CAN) or the like.

The engine30(an example of a driving device) is a driving force source of the vehicle2, and is a driving force source of the air conditioning device10, specifically, the compressor in the refrigeration cycle of the air conditioning device10. The engine30is operated by burning gasoline, light oil, or the like supplied from a fuel tank (not illustrated) via a fuel pump (not illustrated) in a cylinder under the control of the engine ECU40. The engine30, specifically, various actuators (a fuel injection device that injects fuel, an ignition device that ignites gasoline injected into the cylinder, an electric motor for changing an opening and closing timing of an intake or exhaust valve, or the like) assembled in the engine30are communicatably connected to the engine ECU40via a one-to-one communication line or the like, and are operated according to a control command transmitted from the engine ECU40.

The engine ECU40is an electronic control unit that performs various control processes of the engine30including a starter (not illustrated). The engine ECU40includes, for example, an engine controller401, a remote operation assistance controller402, and a communication availability determination unit403as functional units that are realized by executing one or more programs stored in a ROM, an auxiliary storage device, or the like.

The engine controller401(an example of a controller) performs operation control of the engine30according to an operation state by a driver of the vehicle2(for example, an accelerator operation amount or a selected gear shift stage of a transmission (not illustrated)), an environmental state of surroundings of the vehicle2(for example, an outside air temperature), or the like. For example, when an ignition switch (IG switch) is turned ON (IG-ON) or when an engine startup request is input from the outside, the engine controller401starts up the engine30. Specifically, the engine controller401switches a relay (not illustrated) for energizing a starter to a connected state to drive the starter, and appropriately controls a fuel injection device and an ignition device according to cranking by the starter to start up the engine30.

Even when the engine30is emergently stopped according to the engine stop request from the remote operation assistance controller402to be described below due to the communication disruption between the vehicle2and the center server100, the engine controller401starts up the engine30, for example, when an engine startup request based on a command other than the startup request from the terminal200is received. The engine startup request based on the command other than the startup request from the terminal200includes, for example, an engine startup request based on an ON operation of an ignition switch (an IG-ON operation) according to pressing of a power switch or an operation of a key inserted into a key cylinder, or an engine startup request based on a command from a remote control engine starter connected directly communicatably to the vehicle2.

According to a startup request that is received from the terminal200via the center server100, the remote operation assistance controller402transmits an engine startup request and an air conditioning startup request to the engine controller401and the air conditioning controller201, respectively, to start up the engine30and the air conditioning device10. When a predetermined end condition is satisfied after the engine30and the air conditioning device10are started up, the remote operation assistance controller402transmits an engine stop request and an air conditioning stop request to the engine controller401and the air conditioning controller201, respectively, to stop the engine30and the air conditioning device10. For example, when a set operation time included in the startup request or defined in advance has elapsed from the startup of the engine30and the air conditioning device10as an end condition, the remote operation assistance controller402may stop the engine30and the air conditioning device10. For example, when the room temperature of the vehicle has been determined to have reached a set temperature included in the startup request or defined in advance after the startup of the engine30and the air conditioning device10as an end condition, the remote operation assistance controller402may stop the engine30and the air conditioning device10. For example, when a signal indicating that an operation for stopping the engine30and the air conditioning device10is executed has been received from the terminal200via the center server100by the DCM90as an end condition, the remote operation assistance controller402may stop the engine30and the air conditioning device10.

When the engine30and the air conditioning device10are started up based on the startup request from the terminal200and being operated, the remote operation assistance controller402(an example of a stop unit) determines a communication state between the vehicle2and the center server100based on the determination result of the communication availability determination unit403. When the remote operation assistance controller402determines that the communication between the vehicle2and the center server100has been disrupted, the remote operation assistance controller402transmits an engine stop request and an air conditioning stop request to the engine controller401and the air conditioner ECU20to emergently stop the engine30and the air conditioning device10. Accordingly, even when the communication between the vehicle2and the center server100is disrupted and a remote operation of the vehicle2cannot be performed from the terminal200via the center server100, it is possible to safely stop the engine30.

The function of the remote operation assistance controller402may be provided in the air conditioner ECU20or may be provided in another ECU that can communicate with the air conditioner ECU20and the engine ECU40via an in-vehicle network based on a communication protocol such as a CAN.

The communication availability determination unit403determines whether or not the communication is available between the vehicle2and the center server100via the DCM90. For example, the communication availability determination unit403transmits a response request signal to the center server100via the DCM90, and determines whether or not the communication with the center server100is available according to whether or not a response signal from the center server100is received by the DCM90in response to the response request signal.

The function of the communication availability determination unit403may be provided in the air conditioner ECU20or may be provided in another ECU that can communicate with the air conditioner ECU20and the engine ECU40via an in-vehicle network based on a communication protocol such as a CAN.

The DCM90is, for example, a communication device that bidirectionally communicates with the center server100over a predetermined communication network NW1including a mobile phone network including a plurality of base stations as ends, an Internet network, or the like (hereinafter, the sample applies to a communication network NW2). As described above, the DCM90is mutually communicatably connected to various ECUs such as the air conditioner ECU20and the engine ECU40over an in-vehicle network such as a CAN.

The center server100is interposed between the vehicle2and the terminal200of the user, and performs control regarding a remote operation of the vehicle2using the terminal200by the user, specifically, control regarding the startup of the engine30of the vehicle2based on a remote operation from the terminal200. The center server100includes a communication device110and a processing device120.

The communication device110is a device that bidirectionally communicates with the vehicle2(specifically, the DCM90) and the terminal200over the communication networks NW1and NW2under the control of the processing device120(specifically, the communication processing unit1201).

The processing device120executes various control processes in the center server100. The function of the processing device120may be realized by any hardware, any software, or a combination thereof. For example, the processing device120may be mainly configured of one or a plurality of server computers each including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an auxiliary storage device, an I/O, and the like. The processing device120includes, for example, a communication processing unit1201, a remote operation controller1202, and a response signal transmission unit1203, as functional units that are realized by executing one or more programs stored in the ROM or the auxiliary storage device on the CPU.

The communication processing unit1201controls the communication device110to transmit and receive various signals (control signals, information signals, or the like) to and from the vehicle2and the terminal200.

The remote operation controller1202performs control regarding the startup of the engine30and the air conditioning device10based on the startup request received from the terminal200by the communication processing unit1201. For example, when the startup request from the terminal200is received by the communication processing unit1201, the remote operation controller1202transmits the startup request to the vehicle2via the communication processing unit1201and starts the engine30and the air conditioning device10.

In a case where the response request signal from the vehicle2is received by the communication processing unit1201, the response signal transmission unit1203transmits a predetermined response signal to the vehicle2via the communication processing unit1201.

The terminal200, for example, transmits the startup request for the engine30according to a predetermined operation input from the user to perform a remote operation regarding the startup of the vehicle2. The terminal200is, for example, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal carried by a user of the vehicle2. The terminal200may be a stationary terminal carried by the user of the vehicle2, such as a desktop type computer terminal. The terminal200includes a communication device210, a processing device220, and a touch panel display (hereinafter simply referred to as a “display”)240.

The communication device210is a device that performs bidirectional communication with the center server100over the communication network NW2under the control of the processing device220(specifically, a communication processing unit2201to be described below) and is, for example, a Long Term Evolution (LTE) module.

The processing device220performs various control processes in the terminal200. The processing device220may be mainly configured of, for example, a computer including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an auxiliary storage device, an I/O, and the like. The processing device220includes, for example, a communication processing unit2201, a display controller2202, and a remote operation unit2203, as functional units that are realized by executing one or more programs stored in the ROM, the auxiliary storage device, or the like on the CPU.

The communication processing unit2201controls the communication device210and transmits and receives various signals to and from the center server100.

The remote operation unit2203executes various processes regarding a remote operation of the engine30and the air conditioning device10according to a predetermined operation of the user with respect to a predetermined GUI displayed on the display240by the display controller2202. A function of the remote operation unit2203becomes available, for example, by activating a predetermined application program (hereinafter referred to as “remote operation application”) installed in the terminal200(the processing device220) according to a predetermined operation of the user.

For example, the remote operation unit2203transmits various signals regarding the remote operation of the vehicle2including a startup request for requesting the startup of the engine30and the air conditioning device10to the center server100via the communication processing unit2201according to a predetermined operation of the user with respect to various GUIs displayed on the display240due to the startup of the remote operation application. Accordingly, a startup request transmitted to the center server100is received by the center server100, the startup request is transmitted to the vehicle2under control of the center server100(specifically, the remote operation controller1202), and the engine30and the air conditioning device10are started up. Further, the user can set various settings when operating the air conditioning device10on a predetermined GUI, and the remote operation unit2203transmits various signals such as a startup request including the various settings to the center server100. Accordingly, in the vehicle2, control of the air conditioning device10based on the setting content (for example, a set temperature as a requested value of the room temperature of the vehicle by the user, or a set operation time as a requested value of an operation time of the air conditioning device10by the user) is performed.

Detailed Operation of Remote Startup System

A specific operation of the remote startup system1according to the embodiment will be described with reference toFIG. 5AandFIG. 5B.

FIG. 5AandFIG. 5Bare sequence diagrams schematically illustrating an example and another example of the operation of the remote startup system1according to the embodiment. Specifically,FIG. 5Ais a sequence diagram illustrating a specific example of the operation of the remote startup system1in a case where a communication state between the vehicle2and the center server100is normal.FIG. 5Bis a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the remote startup system1in a case where the communication between the vehicle2and the center server100is disrupted.

Referring toFIG. 5A, in step S502, the remote operation unit2203of the terminal200transmits a startup request including various setting content (a set temperature, a set operation time, or the like) according to a predetermined operation with respect to the GUI by the user to the center server100via the communication processing unit2201.

In step S504, when the startup request from the terminal200is received by the communication processing unit1201, the remote operation controller1202of the center server100transfers the startup request to the vehicle2via the communication processing unit1201.

In step S506, when the startup request from the center server100is received by the DCM90, the remote operation assistance controller402of the vehicle2sends an engine startup request and an air conditioning startup request to the engine controller401and the air conditioner ECU20to start up the engine30and the air conditioning device10.

In step S508, the remote operation assistance controller402of the vehicle2transmits a startup notification of the startup of the engine30and the air conditioning device10to the center server100via the DCM90.

In step S510, when the startup notification from the vehicle2is received by the communication processing unit1201, the remote operation controller1202of the center server100transfers the startup notification to the terminal200via the communication processing unit1201.

In step S512, the communication availability determination unit403of the vehicle2periodically transmits a response request signal to the center server100via the DCM90during the operation of the engine30and the air conditioning device10after the startup of the engine30and the air conditioning device10based on the startup request. Hereinafter, a step of transmitting a response request signal at each time, that is, an i-th (i is an integer equal to or greater than 1) response request signal is referred to as step S512-i.

In step S514, when the response request signal from the vehicle2is received by the communication processing unit1201, the response signal transmission unit1203of the center server100replies the vehicle2with a response signal via the communication processing unit1201. Hereinafter, a step of replying with the response signal corresponding to the step of transmitting the i-th response request signal will be referred to as step S514-i.

In step S516, the communication availability determination unit403of the vehicle2determines a communication availability state between the vehicle2and the center server100according to whether or not the response signal is received by the DCM90within a predetermined time from the transmission of the response request signal. Hereinafter, the communication availability determination step corresponding to the step of transmitting the i-th response request signal is referred to as step S516-i.

In this example, the response signal is replied from the center server100to the vehicle2in response to all of the response request signals transmitted from the vehicle2to the center server100at each time of steps S512-1to S512-N (N is an integer equal to or greater than 2) (steps S514-1to S514-N). Therefore, the communication availability determination unit403of the vehicle2determines that communication is available between the vehicle2and the center server100in all of steps S516-1to S516-N.

In step S518, when the end condition is satisfied, the remote operation assistance controller402of the vehicle2transmits an engine stop request and an air conditioning stop request to the engine controller401and the air conditioner ECU20to stop the engine30and the air conditioning device10(normal stop).

In step S520, the remote operation assistance controller402of the vehicle2transmits a stop notification indicating the stop of the engine30and the air conditioning device10to the center server100via the DCM90.

In step S522, when the stop notification is received from the vehicle2via the communication processing unit1201, the remote operation controller1202of the center server100transfers the stop notification to the terminal200via the communication processing unit1201.

On the other hand, referring toFIG. 5B, in this example, the response signal is not replied from the center server100to the vehicle2with respect to the response request signal transmitted from the vehicle2to the center server100at each time of steps S512-M to S512-L (M and L are integers equal to or greater than 2 and satisfying a relationship of M<L). Therefore, the communication availability determination unit403of the vehicle2determines that communication between the vehicle2and the center server100is disabled, that is, communication is disrupted at each time of steps S516-M to S516-L.

In step S524, since an elapsed time from the communication disruption between the vehicle2and the center server100exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the remote operation assistance controller402of the vehicle2determines that communication between the vehicle2and the center server100has been disrupted. The predetermined threshold value is appropriately defined as a value for discriminating between a temporary communication disruption state and a communication disruption continued to a certain extent.

In step S526, the remote operation assistance controller402of the vehicle2transmits an engine stop request and an air conditioning stop request to the engine controller401and the air conditioner ECU20to emergently stop the engine30and the air conditioning device10.

In step S528, the communication availability determination unit403of the vehicle2periodically transmits the response request signal to the center server100via the DCM90and confirms whether or not the communication has been restored during a predetermined period of time after the engine30and the air conditioning device10are emergently stopped. Hereinafter, the step of transmitting a response request signal at each time, that is, the j-th (j is an integer equal to or greater than 1) response request signal is referred to as step S528-j.

In step S530, when the response request signal from the vehicle2is received by the communication processing unit1201, the response signal transmission unit1203of the center server100replies the vehicle2with the response signal via the communication processing unit1201. Hereinafter, the step of replying with the response signal corresponding to the step of transmitting the j-th response request signal is referred to as step S530-j.

In step S532, the communication availability determination unit403of the vehicle2determines a communication availability state between the vehicle2and the center server100according to whether or not the response signal is received by the DCM90within a predetermined time from the transmission of the response request signal. Hereinafter, the communication availability determination step corresponding to the step of transmitting the j-th response request signal is referred to as step S532-j.

In this example, a response signal is replied from the center server100to the vehicle2in response to the response request signal transmitted from the vehicle2to the center server100in step S528-J (J is an integer equal to or greater than 2) (step S530-J). Therefore, in step S532-J, the communication availability determination unit403of the vehicle2determines that the communication is available between the vehicle2and the center server100, that is, the communication has been restored.

In step S534, the remote operation assistance controller402of the vehicle2transmits a notification indicating the emergency stop of the engine30and the air conditioning device10(emergency stop notification) to the center server100via the DCM90(an example of a stop notification transmission unit) according to the restoration of the communication. Accordingly, it is possible for the center server100to recognize that the engine30and the air conditioning device10have been stopped according to the communication disruption between the vehicle2and the center server100.

In step S536, when the emergency stop notification from the vehicle2is received by the communication processing unit1201, the remote operation controller1202of the center server100transfers the emergency stop notification to the terminal200via the communication processing unit1201. Accordingly, the user of the terminal200can recognize that the engine30and the air conditioning device10have been stopped according to the communication disruption between the vehicle2and the center server100.

Operation

As described above, in the embodiment, in a case where the engine30is started up based on the startup request and being operated, the remote operation assistance controller402of the vehicle2stops the engine30when the communication between the center server100and the vehicle2is disrupted.

Accordingly, in a case where the engine30is started up based on the startup request and being operated, the engine30is automatically stopped when the communication between the center server100and the vehicle2is disrupted. Therefore, even in a case where an operation for stopping the engine30of the vehicle2from the terminal200cannot be performed due to the communication disruption while the engine30is being started up based on the startup request and being operated, the engine30can be safely stopped.

In the embodiment, the communication availability determination unit403of the vehicle2transmits the response request signal to the center server100, and determines whether or not communication is available between the center server100and the vehicle2based on the presence or absence of a reply (response signal) from the center server100in response to the response request signal.

Accordingly, it is possible to specifically determine whether or not communication is available between the center server100and the vehicle2by periodically transmitting a request signal requesting the reply from the vehicle2to the center server100.

In the embodiment, the remote operation assistance controller402of the vehicle2determines whether or not to stop the engine30according to a result of determining whether the communication is available between the center server100and the vehicle2in the communication availability determination unit403of the vehicle2.

Accordingly, in a case where a determination is made that communication is not available according to the determination as to the communication availability through periodic transmission of the response request signal, a determination is made that the communication has been disrupted, and the engine30can be stopped.

In the embodiment, in a case where the remote operation assistance controller402of the vehicle2determines that the communication between the center server100and the vehicle2has been disrupted based on the determination result of the communication availability determination unit403of the vehicle2and an elapsed time of the disruption of the communication has exceeded a predetermined threshold value, the engine30may be stopped.

Accordingly, since the engine30is stopped after a certain time has elapsed from the disruption of the communication, a situation in which the engine30is stopped can be avoided, for example, in a case where the communication is temporarily disrupted and immediately restored.

In the embodiment, even when the communication between the center server100and the vehicle2is disrupted, the engine controller401of the vehicle2permits the startup of the engine30based on a command other than the startup request from the terminal200.

Accordingly, even in a case where the engine30is stopped due to the occurrence of communication disruption, when the user goes near the vehicle2, the engine30can be started up using a command other than the startup request transmitted from the terminal200, such as an ON operation of the ignition switch of the vehicle2or a command from a remote control engine starter that directly transmits a command to the vehicle2.

In the embodiment, in a case where the engine30is emergently stopped, and then, when the communication between the center server100and the vehicle2is restored, the remote operation assistance controller402of the vehicle2transmits a notification indicating the stop of the engine30(emergency stop notification) toward the terminal200via the DCM90, that is, to the center server100with the terminal200as a destination.

Accordingly, when the engine30has been stopped due to the communication disruption, the fact that the engine30has actually been stopped is transmitted from the vehicle2to the terminal200via the center server100according to the restoration of the communication. Accordingly, the user can confirm that the engine30has actually been stopped according to, for example, the notification displayed on the display240of the terminal200.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment will be described.

A remote startup system1according to this embodiment is different from that according to the first embodiment in that a function of emergently stopping the engine30and the air conditioning device10(one function of the remote operation assistance controller402) is provided in the center server100. The remote startup system1according to the second embodiment is different from that according to the first embodiment in that the function of the communication availability determination unit403is provided in the center server100to determine the communication availability state between the terminal200and the center server100. Hereinafter, the same or corresponding configurations as those of the first embodiment are denoted with the same reference numerals, and different portions will be mainly described.

Configuration of Remote Startup System

First, the configuration of the remote startup system1according to the second embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS. 6 to 8.

FIG. 6is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a vehicle2(an air conditioner ECU20and an engine ECU40) according to the embodiment.FIG. 7is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a center server100(a processing device120) according to the embodiment.FIG. 8is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a terminal200(a processing device220) according to the embodiment.

An overall configuration of the remote startup system1according to the embodiment is illustrated inFIG. 1.

The vehicle2includes an air conditioning device10, an air conditioner ECU20, a room temperature sensor21, an outside air temperature sensor22, an engine30, an engine ECU40, and a DCM90, as in the first embodiment.

The engine ECU40includes, for example, an engine controller401and a remote operation assistance controller402as functional units that are realized by executing one or more programs stored in a ROM, an auxiliary storage device, or the like.

When the engine30and the air conditioning device10are started up based on the startup request from the terminal200and being operated, the remote operation assistance controller402transmits an engine stop request and an air conditioning stop request to the engine controller401and the air conditioner ECU20to emergently stop the engine30and the air conditioning device10in response to the emergency stop request received from the center server100by the DCM90.

The center server100includes a communication device110and a processing device120, as in the first embodiment.

The processing device120includes, for example, a communication processing unit1201, a remote operation controller1202, and a communication availability determination unit1204as functional units that are realized by executing one or more programs stored in a ROM or an auxiliary storage device on a CPU.

The communication availability determination unit1204determines whether or not communication is available between the center server100and the terminal200. For example, the communication availability determination unit1204transmits a response request signal to the terminal200via the communication processing unit1201, and determines whether or not the communication with the terminal200can be performed according to whether or not a response signal from the terminal200is received by the communication processing unit1201in response to the response request signal.

When the engine30and the air conditioning device10are started up based on the startup request from the terminal200and being operated, the remote operation controller1202(an example of a stop unit) determines a communication state between the center server100and the terminal200based on a determination result of the communication availability determination unit1204. When the remote operation controller1202determines that the communication between the center server100and the terminal200has been disrupted, the remote operation controller1202transmits an emergency stop request to the vehicle2via the communication processing unit1201. Accordingly, even when the communication between the center server100and the terminal200is disrupted and the remote operation of the vehicle2cannot be performed from the terminal200via the center server100, the engine30can be safely stopped.

The terminal200includes a communication device210, a processing device220, and a display240, as in the first embodiment.

The processing device220includes, for example, a communication processing unit2201, a display controller2202, a remote operation unit2203, and a response signal transmission unit2204as functional units that are realized by executing one or more programs stored in a ROM, an auxiliary storage device, or the like on a CPU.

When a response request signal from the center server100is received by the communication processing unit2201, the response signal transmission unit2204replies a predetermined response signal to the center server100via the communication processing unit2201.

Detailed Operation of Remote Startup System1

A specific operation of the remote startup system1according to the embodiment will be described with reference toFIG. 9AandFIG. 9B.

FIG. 9AandFIG. 9Bare sequence diagrams schematically illustrating an example and another example of the operation of the remote startup system1according to the embodiment. Specifically,FIG. 9Ais a sequence diagram illustrating a specific example of the operation of the remote startup system1in a case where the communication state between the center server100and the terminal200is normal.FIG. 9Bis a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the remote startup system1in a case where the communication between the center server100and the terminal200has been disrupted.

Since Steps S902to S910inFIG. 9AandFIG. 9Bare the same as steps S502to S510inFIG. 5AandFIG. 5Bin the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

In step S912, the communication availability determination unit1204of the center server100periodically transmits the response request signal to the terminal200via the communication processing unit1201during an operation of the engine30and the air conditioning device10after the startup of the engine30and the air conditioning device10based on the startup request, specifically, between the reception of the startup notification from the vehicle2by the communication processing unit1201and the reception of the stop notification. Hereinafter, the step of transmitting a response request signal at each time, that is, a k-th (k is an integer equal to or greater than 1) is referred to as step S912-k.

In step S914, when the response request signal from the center server100is received by the communication processing unit2201, the response signal transmission unit2204of the terminal200replies the center server100with a response signal via the communication processing unit2201. Hereinafter, a step of replying a response signal corresponding to the step of transmitting a k-th response request signal is referred to as step S914-k.

In step S916, the communication availability determination unit1204of the center server100determines a communication availability state between the center server100and the terminal200according to whether or not the response signal is received by the communication processing unit1201within a predetermined time from the transmission of the response request signal. Hereinafter, a communication availability determination step corresponding to the step of transmitting a k-th response request signal is referred to as step S916-k.

In this example, a response signal is replied from the terminal200to the center server100in response to all of the response request signals transmitted from the center server100to the terminal200at each time of steps S912-1to S912-N(N is an integer equal to or greater than 2) (steps S914-1to S914-N). Therefore, the communication availability determination unit1204of the center server100determines that communication is available between the center server100and the terminal200in all of steps S916-1to S916-N.

In step S918, when the end condition is satisfied, the remote operation assistance controller402of the vehicle2transmits an engine stop request and an air conditioning stop request to the engine controller401and the air conditioner ECU20to stop the engine30and the air conditioning device10(normal stop).

In step S920, the remote operation assistance controller402of the vehicle2transmits a stop notification indicating the stop of the engine30and the air conditioning device10to the center server100via the DCM90.

In step S922, when the stop notification is received from the vehicle2via the communication processing unit1201, the remote operation controller1202of the center server100transfers the stop notification to the terminal200via the communication processing unit1201.

On the other hand, referring toFIG. 9B, in this example, the response signal is not replied from the terminal200to the center server100in response to the response request signal transmitted from the center server100to the terminal200at each time of steps S912-M to S912-L (M and L are integers equal to or greater than 2 and satisfying a relationship of M<L). Therefore, at each time of steps S916-M to S916-L, the communication availability determination unit1204of the center server100determines that communication is not available between the center server100and the terminal200is disabled, that is, the communication is disrupted.

In step S924, the remote operation controller1202of the center server100determines that the communication between the center server100and the terminal200is disrupted since the elapsed time from the communication disruption between the center server100and the terminal200has exceeded a predetermined threshold value. The predetermined threshold value is appropriately defined, as in the first embodiment.

In step S926, the remote operation controller1202of the center server100transmits an emergency stop request for emergency stop of the engine30and the air conditioning device10to the vehicle2via the communication processing unit1201.

In step S928, when the emergency stop request from the center server100is received by the DCM90, the remote operation assistance controller402of the vehicle2transmits an engine stop request and an air conditioning stop request to the engine controller401and the air conditioner ECU20to emergently stop the engine30and the air conditioning device10.

In step S930, the remote operation assistance controller402of the vehicle2transmits a notification indicating the emergency stop of the engine30and the air conditioning device10(emergency stop notification) to the center server100via the DCM90. Accordingly, it is possible for the center server100to recognize that the engine30and the air conditioning device10have been stopped according to the communication disruption between the center server100and the terminal200.

In step S932, the communication availability determination unit1204of the center server100periodically transmits the response request signal to the terminal200via the communication processing unit1201to confirm whether or not the communication has been restored, during a predetermined period of time after the emergency stop of the engine30and the air conditioning device10, specifically, after the emergency stop notification has been received by the communication processing unit1201. Hereinafter, the step of transmitting the response request signal at each time, that is, the m-th (m is an integer equal to or greater than 1) response request signal is referred to as step S932-m.

In step S934, when the response request signal from the center server100is received by the communication processing unit2201, the response signal transmission unit2204of the terminal200replies the center server100with the response signal via the communication processing unit2201. Hereinafter, the step of replying the response signal corresponding to the step of transmitting the m-th response request signal is referred to as step S934-m.

In step S936, the communication availability determination unit1204of the center server100determines a communication availability state between the center server100and the terminal200according to whether or not the response signal from the terminal200is received by the communication processing unit1201within a predetermined time from the transmission of the response request signal. Hereinafter, the communication availability determination step corresponding to the step of transmitting the m-th response request signal is referred to as step S936-m.

In this example, the response signal is replied from the terminal200to the center server100in response to the response request signal transmitted from the center server100to the terminal200in step S932-J (J is an integer equal to or greater than 2) (step S934-J). Therefore, in step S936-J, the communication availability determination unit1204of the center server100determines that the communication is available between the center server100and the terminal200, that is, the communication has been restored.

In step S938, the remote operation controller1202of the center server100transmits an emergency stop notification to the terminal200via the communication processing unit1201(an example of a stop notification transmission unit) according to the communication restoration. Accordingly, the user of the terminal200can recognize that the engine30and the air conditioning device10have been stopped according to the communication disruption between the center server100and the terminal200.

Operation

As described above, in the embodiment, in a case where the engine30and the air conditioning device10are started up based on the startup request and being operated, the remote operation controller1202of the center server100stops the engine30when communication between the terminal200and the center server100has been disrupted.

Accordingly, in a case where the engine30and the air conditioning device10are started up based on the startup request and being operated, the engine30is automatically stopped when the communication between the terminal200and the center server100has been disrupted. Therefore, even in a case where the operation of stopping the engine30of the vehicle2cannot be performed from the terminal200due to the communication disruption while the engine30and the air conditioning device10are being started up based on the startup request and being operated, it is possible to safely stop the engine30.

In the embodiment, the communication availability determination unit1204of the center server100periodically transmits the response request signal to the terminal200, and determines whether or not the communication is available between the terminal200and the center server100based on presence or absence of a reply (a response signal) from the terminal200in response to the response request signal.

Thus, by periodically transmitting the response request signal for requesting the reply from the center server100to the terminal200, it is possible to specifically determine whether or not the communication is available between the terminal200and the center server100.

In the embodiment, the remote operation controller1202of the center server100determines whether or not the engine30is to be stopped based on a determination result of the communication availability determination unit1204of the center server100as to whether or not the communication is available between the terminal200and the center server100.

Accordingly, when a determination is made that communication is unavailable between the terminal200and the center server100according to the communication availability determination due to periodic transmission of the response request signal, a determination is made that the communication has been disrupted and the engine30can be stopped.

In the embodiment, the remote operation controller1202of the center server100may stop the engine30in a case where the remote operation controller1202of the center server100has determined that the communication between the terminal200and the center server100has been disrupted based on the determination result of the communication availability determination unit1204of the center server100and the elapsed time from the disruption of the communication has exceeded the predetermined threshold value.

Accordingly, since the engine30is stopped after a certain time has elapsed from the disruption of the communication, a situation in which the engine30is stopped can be avoided, for example, in a case where the communication is temporarily disrupted and immediately restored.

In the embodiment, the remote operation controller1202of the center server100transmits a notification indicating that the engine30has been stopped to the terminal200via the communication processing unit1201in a case where the engine30has emergently been stopped and then when the communication between the terminal200and the center server100has been restored.

Thus, since the fact that the engine30has actually been stopped is transmitted from the center server100to the terminal200according to the restoration of communication in a case where the engine30has been stopped due to the communication disruption, the user can confirm that the engine30has actually been stopped from, for example, the notification displayed on the display240of the terminal200.

Although the modes for carrying out the present disclosure has been described in detail above, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and various modifications and changes can be made.

For example, although the engine30serving as the driving device that drives the air conditioning device10(the compressor) is a startup target in the embodiments described above, another driving device may be the startup target. For example, in a case where the vehicle2is an electric vehicle, an electric compressor, specifically, an electric motor (another example of the driving device) built into the electric compressor may be the startup target.