Car control system and vehicle remote control system

Sensor data of respective controlled objects of a vehicle are collected by calling a vehicle remote-control system provided to the vehicle via a mobile phone, and then these data are displayed on an LCD display panel 11c of the mobile phone. In this state, the controlled object to be remotely controlled is selected by operating a cursor (30) and an ON/OFF setting button (31), and then its ON or OFF state is set. At this time, the remote-control command data are transmitted to the vehicle remote-control system from the mobile phone to set the corresponding controlled object. The condition is transmitted once again to the mobile phone as the sensor data, and is displayed on the LCD display panel (11c).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a vehicle control system and a vehicle remote control system capable of controlling predetermined operation portions, which execute door lock ON/OFF, parking brake ON/OFF, engine ON/OFF, etc., by the remote operation instructed by a mobile phone via a communication module equipped to the vehicle side.

From viewpoints of improvement in drivability and theft prevention, various sensors are installed on doors, a brake, a room light, an engine, etc. of the vehicle. The system for displaying condition of these sensors on a meter panel or for informing the contracted security company of the vehicle location at the time of burglary is put into practical use. In this manner, the drivability can be improved by displaying signals of various sensors on the meter panel, or an emergency measure against the vehicle theft can be taken by linking the sensor information to the system of the security company via the radio.

However, unless the driver sits on the driver's seat, the sensor information is merely displayed on the meter panel, there is no effect for the condition check, and the drivability is limited. In the system that needs a separate contract with a security company to prevent the theft, not only a special device for that purpose must be equipped to an inside of the vehicle but also merely the condition of the vehicle at the time of occurrence of the theft can be understood, and thus it is impossible to know the condition of the vehicle at any time.

As the system capable of controlling remotely controlled objects in the vehicle from the outside, there is the keyless entry system. According to this system, it is within point-blank range away from the vehicle by about several meters that the remote control can be executed limitedly. Thus, it is impossible to operate such system at a remote place.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle control system and a vehicle remote control system that are capable of grasping and remotely controlling the condition of the vehicle at any time at a remote place by linking sensor portions and a control portion in a vehicle to a mobile phone.

In order to solve the aforesaid object, the invention is characterized by having the following arrangement.(1) A vehicle control system comprising:

a communication module which communicates with a mobile phone in response to a call issued from the mobile phone;

an operation control portion which controls a predetermined operation portion of a vehicle;

a sensor portion which detects information concerning condition of the operation portion; and

a controller which transmits the information through the communication module to the mobile phone when the controller receives the call from the mobile phone and ID of the mobile phone is authenticated,

wherein when the controller receives command from the mobile phone, the controller instructs the operation control potion to execute a control corresponding to the command, and transmits, to the mobile phone, the information concerning condition of the operation portion, which is controlled by the operation control portion according to the command, detected by the sensor portion.(2) The vehicle control system according to (1), wherein

the predetermined operation portion includes an image sensor for capturing a peripheral image of the vehicle, and

the controller instructs the image sensor to capture the peripheral image of the vehicle and transmits the captured peripheral image based on the command from the mobile phone.(3) The vehicle control system according to (2) further comprising a vehicle navigation system which measures position of the vehicle and displays information concerning the position of the vehicle and peripheral road information,

wherein the controller transmits, to the mobile phone, the information concerning the position of the vehicle measured by the vehicle navigation system and the peripheral image captured by the image sensor.(4) The vehicle control system according to (1), wherein

the predetermined operation portion includes an image sensor for capturing a peripheral image of the vehicle and a security sensor for detecting an abnormal state of the vehicle, and

the controller automatically transmits, to the mobile phone, the information representing the detected abnormal state and the peripheral image captured by the image sensor when the security sensor detects the abnormal state of the vehicle.(5) The vehicle control system according to (1), wherein the operation portion includes at least one of engine, air conditioner, door lock, parking brake, light, interior light, image sensor and security sensor.(6) A remote-control system for vehicle including a vehicle control system and a mobile phone, the vehicle remote control system comprising:

the vehicle control system including:a communication module which communicates with the mobile phone in response to a cal issued from the mobile phone,a operation control portion which controls a predetermined operation portion of the vehicle,a sensor portion which detects information concerning condition of the operation portion, anda controller which transmits the information through the communication module to the mobile phone when the controller receives the call from the mobile phone and ID of the mobile phone is authenticated, wherein when the controller receives command from the mobile phone, the controller instructs the operation control potion to execute a control corresponding to the command, and transmits, to the mobile phone, the information concerning condition of the operation portion, which is controlled by the operation control portion according to the command, detected by the sensor portion; and

the mobile phone including:a input portion which inputs the command to control the predetermined operation portion of the vehicle, anda display portion which displays the information concerning the condition of the operation portion which is controlled by the operation control portion according to the command, which received from the vehicle control system.(7) A vehicle control system comprising:

a communication module which communicates with a mobile phone in response to a call issued from the mobile phone;

a sensor portion which is installed on a vehicle detects information concerning vehicle condition; and

a controller which transmits the information detected by the sensor portion through the communication module to the mobile phone when the controller receives the call from the mobile phone and ID of the mobile phone is authenticated.(8) The vehicle control system according to (7), wherein the sensor portion includes

the predetermined operation portion includes a security sensor for detecting an abnormal state of the vehicle, and

the controller transmits, to the mobile phone, the information representing the detected abnormal state when the security sensor detects the abnormal state of the vehicle.(9) The vehicle control system according to (7), wherein the sensor portion detects the condition of at least one of engine, air conditioner, door lock, parking brake, light, interior light, image sensor, security sensor, gasoline and battery.(10) A method of controlling a vehicle control system which includes a communication module for communicating with a mobile phone, an operation control portion for controlling a predetermined operation portion of a vehicle, a sensor portion for detecting information concerning condition of the operation portion and a controller for transmitting the information through the communication module, the method comprising the steps of:

communicating with the mobile phone when the communication module receives a call issued from the mobile phone;

transmitting the information by the controller through the communication module to the mobile phone when ID of the mobile phone is authenticated; and

instructing, when the controller receives command from the mobile phone, the operation control portion to execute a control corresponding to the command, and transmitting, to the mobile phone, the information concerning condition of the operation portion, which is controlled by the operation control portion according to the command, detected by the sensor portion.(11) A method of controlling a vehicle control system comprising:

establishing communication between a vehicle and a mobile phone in response to a call issued from the mobile phone; and

transmitting information concerning vehicle condition to the mobile phone when ID of the mobile phone is authenticated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A vehicle remote control system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail hereinafter.

FIG. 1is a configurative view of a remote-control system on the vehicle side (hereinafter refer to vehicle remote-control system).

To a controller1are connected a mobile phone communication module2for communicating with a mobile phone in response to the call issued from the mobile phone; a remote-control portion3for controlling predetermined operation portions of the vehicle such as an air conditioner, door locks, a parking brake, a light, etc. as controlled objects; an image sensor control portion4for picking up an image around the vehicle; and a sensor portion5for sensing conditions of various controlled objects of the vehicle such as an air-conditioner sensor, door lock sensors, a parking brake sensor, etc. The remote-control portion3and the image sensor control portion4correspond to a control portion in the present invention. In this case, a signal being sensed by the sensor portion5is decoded by a sensor decoder6and then input into the controller1. A control program and a decode program, which decodes remote control commands being supplied from the mobile phone side, are stored in a ROM7that is connected to the controller1. An ID used to execute ID authentication of the mobile phone, a mobile phone number, sensor data, surrounding image, etc. are stored in a RAM8. More particularly, ID (in the embodiment, ID=4806) is stored in an area M1, the mobile phone number is stored in an area M2, data from engine, air-conditioner, door lock, parking brake, light, room light, security, and image sensors are stored in areas M3to M10respectively, and a surrounding image picked up by the image sensor control portion4is stored in an area M11. In this case, “1” of the sensor data stored in M3to M10indicates ON and “0” indicates OFF. The security sensor in the sensor portion5is constructed by a sensor that senses whether or not the inserted electronic key, for example, can be authenticated.

When the mobile phone communication module2senses the call issued from the mobile phone, the controller1decides whether or not the subsequent ID coincides with the ID stored in M1. Then, if they coincide with each other, the controller1executes the control in response to the remote control command being transmitted subsequently from the mobile phone. As described later, the controller1transmits the sensor data stored in M3to M10to the mobile phone, receives the remote-control command issued from the mobile phone, and outputs a control signal to the remote-control portion3. After the control made by the remote-control portion3is ended, the controller1updates the sensor data stored in M3to M10to reflect the ON/OFF control and then transmits the updated sensor data to the mobile phone. The sensor data are displayed on the LCD display panel11c.

FIG. 2is a configurative view of the mobile phone.

In this mobile phone, a mobile phone function block11, an F-memory (or memory card)12and a RAM13are connected to a controller10. The mobile phone function block11includes a mobile phone communication module11a, a keyboard11band an LCD display panel11c. The mobile phone function block11has a function that executes the data communication between the mobile phone communication module2and this block by phone-calling the vehicle remote-control system inFIG. 1, in addition to the function as the normal mobile phone. The key board11bis used to input the phone number and the commands, and the LCD display panel11cis used to display various messages and respective sensor data from the sensor portion5in FIG.1.

A stored control program, operation icon data, remote control command data, etc. are stored in the flash memory12. In RAM13, the data transmitted from the area M3to the area M11inFIG. 1are stored in an area M23to an area M31, icon data of the vehicle are stored in an area M20, the ID is stored in an area M21, and the phone number of the vehicle remote-control system is stored in an area M22.

When the remote control is executed by calling the vehicle remote-control system, at first the ID is input via the key board11b. Then, when the ID authentication is executed on the vehicle remote-control system side, the sensor data stored in M3to M10in the vehicle remote-control system are transmitted to M23to M30in the mobile phone. At this time, the icon data as well as ON/OFF conditions of respective sensors are displayed on the LCD display panel11c. The operator sets ON/OFFs of the controlled objects such as air conditioner, door lock, etc. according to this display, then converts these settings into the command data as the remote control command, and then transmits the data to the vehicle remote-control system side. When the vehicle remote-control system receives the command data, such system drives the remote-control portion3in response to such data to execute ON/OFF-control of the predetermined controlled object. The sensor data stored in M3to M10are updated at this time. The updated sensor data are transmitted once again to the mobile phone. Such sensor data are displayed on the LCD display panel11c.

Therefore, when the owner of the mobile phone executes a predetermined operation applied to the controlled object of the vehicle on the LCD display panel11c, the remote control is executed based on this operation. Then, the result of the remote control is displayed on the LCD display panel11c.

Accordingly, the remote control of respective controlled objects in the vehicle remote-control system can be executed from the mobile phone side. In this case, when the image sensor is set to ON, the surrounding image round the vehicle, which is picked up by the image sensor control portion4, is stored in M11of the vehicle remote-control system. Then, this surrounding image is transmitted to M31in the mobile phone. This surrounding image is displayed on the LCD display panel11c.

FIG. 3is a configurative view of the image sensor control portion4. An image sensor40is installed on an appropriate position in the vehicle, and can pick up the image round the vehicle via the vehicle window. This image sensor40can be rotated/driven by a vertical-direction drive motor41in the vertical direction and also can be rotated/driven by a horizontal-direction drive motor41in the horizontal direction. The imaging direction of the image sensor40can be set in any direction by controlling two motors41,42. A motor control circuit43controls the motors41,42. The image data picked up by the image sensor40is encoded (compressed) by an image data encoder44, and then transferred to the controller1. In this case, if the image sensor40is constructed to sense the moving picture, the image data is encoded by the compression technology such as MPEG2, etc., for example. If the image picked up by the image sensor40is the still picture, such image is encoded into JPEG image, or the like.

FIG. 4shows correlations between the remote control commands and the command codes. In an example shown inFIG. 4, the command code consists of 4 bits, and 1 bit is used to turn ON/OFF and to drive the image sensor by a predetermined angle in upward/downward/leftward/rightward directions. Therefore, when the command is transmitted to the vehicle remote-control system side from the mobile phone, the command code (4 bits)+the command content (1 bit) are transmitted.

The command code and the command content are decoded by a remote-control command decoder in the ROM7and converted into a predetermined signal, and then transferred to the remote-control portion3. In this case, this remote-control command decoder can be constructed by a hardware.FIG. 5shows an example of the remote-control command decoder when such command decoder is formed of the hardware.

More particularly, the command code transferred from the controller1is decoded by a command decoder20. The decoded output is input into a T-type flip-flop21to form each control signal. This control signal and the 1-bit command content are output to the remote-control portion3. Then, the remote-control portion3controls the corresponding controlled object based on the data. For example, if the remote-control command code is “0001” and the command content is “1”, the engine is turned ON. If the command content is “0”, the engine is turned OFF.

FIG. 6shows displayed states and a part of the keyboard on the LCD display panel11cof the mobile phone.FIG. 6is an example of display when respective controlled objects of the vehicle are to be remotely controlled from the mobile phone side.

A vehicle icon stored in M20and various sensor positions positioned on this icon respectively are displayed on the LCD display panel11c. The sensor positions that are to be selected on the screen can be changed by operating cursor keys30on the key board11b. The ON/OFF-state of the selected sensor position can be decided by operating an ON/OFF set button31. This ON/OFF set button31executes a toggle operation, and switches ON/OFF of the selected sensor alternatively in answer to the operation of the button.

FIG. 7shows the state that the image picked up by the image sensor40is displayed on the LCD display panel11cof the mobile phone. This mode is executed when a predetermined operation is executed in the mobile phone. In this mode, the cursor keys30on the keyboard11bare used to issue rotation-angle increase/decrease commands in upward/downward/leftward/rightward directions of the image sensor40. The image sensor40is rotated by a predetermined angle in the direction, which corresponds to the concerned key, every time when each of the cursor keys30is pushed once. In other words, the screen is shifted by a predetermined distance in the direction that corresponds to the concerned key. In this mode, a button31positioned in the center of the cursor keys functions as a shutter button. The image data that is being displayed when the shutter button31is pushed (in the case of the moving picture, the image data that is obtained by converting the moving picture into the still picture when the shutter button is pushed) is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM13by operating this shutter button31.

Particular operations of the mobile phone and the vehicle remote-control system will be explained with reference to FIG.8and subsequent drawings hereunder.

FIG. 8shows an initializing operation of the vehicle remote-control system by the mobile phone. The initializing operation is an operation of setting/registering the ID to the vehicle remote-control system side to make it possible for the vehicle remote-control system to authenticate the ID of the mobile phone.

When an application program (car remote control system) of the vehicle remote control system is started by the mobile phone, a display screen inFIG. 9Aappears and then a display screen inFIG. 9Bappears. At this time, in ST1, the user of the mobile phone makes a call to the vehicle phone of own vehicle. As shown inFIG. 2, the phone number of own vehicle is stored in the phone number column of the vehicle remote-control system in M22. Then, a button B1is clicked in the display state in FIG.9B. Then, the screen is shifted to an A screen inFIG. 9C, and thus a mode in which the initial ID and own station mobile phone number are input is set. In other words, an initial ID inputting mode is set in ST2, and then the initial ID and the mobile phone number of own station are input in ST3. In this example, the initial ID is 4806 and the mobile phone number of own vehicle is 090-1234-0000. Then, the initial ID and the mobile phone number are transmitted to own vehicle (ST4). In the vehicle remote-control system of own vehicle, the transmitted initial ID is registered in the M1and the mobile phone number is registered in the M2(ST5). With the above processes, the initializing operation is ended.

In this case, it is desired that, before the initial ID is registered, it should be checked in the initializing operation by any approach whether or not the owner of the mobile phone is the valid person.

FIG. 10is a flowchart showing an overall operation of the system when the vehicle remote control system is started after the initial ID is set.

At first, in ST10, the vehicle remote control system is started on the LCD display panel11cof the mobile phone. According to the start of the system, the mobile phone communication module11aof the mobile phone calls automatically the vehicle remote-control system and makes a connection thereto. At this time, the screen of the LCD display panel11cis shifted to the display condition in FIG.9B. When a button B2is clicked at this stage, the screen is shifted to an ID input screen in FIG.9D. Then, the operator inputs the ID onto the display screen (ST11). Then, the mobile phone communication module11atransmits the input ID to the vehicle remote-control system (ST12). Then, in the vehicle remote-control system, the ID authentication is executed to check whether or not the received ID coincides with the ID stored in M1(ST13). If the ID authentication is OK, the sensor data at that time are stored in M3to M10(ST14). Then, the sensor data stored in M3to M10are transmitted to the mobile phone via the mobile phone communication module2(ST15). Then, the mobile phone receives the sensor data (ST16), and then stores the data in M23to M30(ST17). Then, as shown inFIG. 6, the states of the sensors are displayed on the LCD display panel11cof the mobile phone (ST18).

In addition, inFIG. 11, the user's operation made by the cursor keys30is sensed (ST20). The set operation made by the ON/OFF setting button31is sensed (ST21). Respective sensors are provided to correspond to the controlled objects. Thus, the sensor, i.e., the controlled object corresponding to the sensor position can be selected by operating the cursor keys30. The selected controlled object is highlight-displayed. For example, inFIG. 6, the door lock is selected as the controlled object. The ON/OFF setting button31is used to set the ON/OFF-state of the selected controlled object. The ON/OFF setting button31sets ON/OFF of the selected controlled object by its toggle operation, and sets ON and OFF alternatively.

Then, the remote-control command data of the controlled object, which is set to ON or OFF by the ON/OFF setting button31, is transmitted to the vehicle remote-control system (ST22). Then, the vehicle remote-control system receives the remote-control command data (ST23). Then, the data is decoded by the remote-control command decoder (ST24). The control signal is generated and output to the remote-control portion3(ST25). Thus, the remote-control portion3sets the concerned controlled object to its ON or OFF state. Then, the sensor portion5sets the sensor data in M3to M10(ST26). Then, the sensor data stored in M3to M10are transmitted to the mobile phone (ST27). Then, the mobile phone receives the sensor data (ST28). Then, the display shown inFIG. 6appears again on the LCD display panel11c(ST29).

With the above, first the user checks states of respective controlled objects of own vehicle on the LCD display panel11cof the mobile phone based on the sensor data, and then sets the state of the desired controlled object into its ON or OFF state by using the cursor keys30and the ON/OFF setting button31. Then, when the control operation is applied to the controlled object on the vehicle side, the updated sensor data is displayed again on the LCD display panel11c. As a result, the user can execute the remote control of the controlled objects in own vehicle by using the mobile phone.

Other Embodiment 1

In this other embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle navigation system is provided to the vehicle remote-control system. The current location data (latitude, longitude data) of own vehicle, which are acquired by the vehicle navigation system, as well as the surrounding image, which is picked up by the image sensor, are transmitted to the mobile phone, and then the current location of own vehicle as well as the peripheral map is displayed in the mobile phone, and also the image that is picked up by the image sensor40at this time is displayed by the screen switching operation. Since an electronic compass is provided to the vehicle remote-control system, the direction along which the vehicle is now directed (own vehicle azimuth angle) is also transmitted to the mobile phone, and thus the display direction of own vehicle to be displayed is set. In this case, a location information center is provided separately to get the peripheral map, and a GPS function is installed into the mobile phone. In the location information center, the peripheral map data containing the current location of own vehicle and the current location of the mobile phone is prepared based on the current location data of own vehicle and the current location data of the mobile phone, and then this data is transmitted to the mobile phone. In this case, when the image sensor is selected in above ST20and then this image sensor is set to its ON-state by the ON/OFF setting button31, an operation shown inFIG. 12is carried out. More particularly, the image sensor40is turned ON and the movement control of the imaging direction is executed in response to the operation of the cursor key (ST40). Thus, the image data being picked up by the image sensor40is stored in M11of the vehicle remote-control system (ST41). Then, this data in M11is transmitted to the mobile phone (ST42). The received image data is stored in M31of the mobile phone (ST43). This image data is displayed as shown inFIG. 7(ST44) Then, if the screen is shifted by the operation of the cursor key in the display state inFIG. 7(ST45), the process goes back to ST40and similar operations are executed subsequently.

FIG. 13is a configurative view of the system according to the embodiment of the present invention. A vehicle navigation system31and a vehicle remote-control system32are provided to the vehicle, and a line control station33is connected to a location information center35via the Internet34. The location information center35has a map data base35a. In the present embodiment, the GPS system is built in the mobile phone30, and thus the mobile phone by itself can perform the azimuth angle measurement.

According to the above configuration, if the mobile phone30selects a peripheral map display mode of own vehicle, not only the peripheral map containing own location and the location of own vehicle can be displayed on the LCD display panel of the mobile phone30but also the surrounding image of own vehicle can be displayed by switching the display.

FIG. 14is a configurative view of the mobile phone employed in this embodiment. A difference from the configuration shown inFIG. 2resides in that a GPS module14and an electronic compass module15are provided and areas M32to M36are newly set in the RAM13. The GPS module14by itself can perform the azimuth angle measurement, and transfers latitude and longitude data (current location data) to a controller10. The electronic compass module15measures an azimuth to which the mobile phone is directed, i.e., an azimuth along which the owner (user) of the mobile phone walks, and then outputs this azimuth to the controller10as azimuth angle data. Own latitude data and own longitude data being measured by the GPS module14are stored in M32of the RAM13, and own azimuth angle data being measured by the electronic compass module15is stored in M33. Also, own vehicle latitude data and own vehicle longitude data being measured by the vehicle navigation system of own vehicle are stored in M34, and also own vehicle azimuth angle data being measured by the electronic compass module15that is provided to the vehicle remote-control system is stored in M35. The peripheral map data that is received from the location information center35is stored in M36.

FIG. 15is a configurative view of the vehicle remote-control system. A difference from the vehicle remote-control system shown inFIG. 15is that an electronic compass module9is provided thereto, areas M12to M13are newly provided in the RAM8, and a vehicle navigation system31is connected to the control bus. Own vehicle latitude data and own vehicle longitude data measured by the vehicle navigation system31are stored in M12, and own vehicle azimuth angle being measured by the electronic compass module9is stored in M13.

Next, an operation of the vehicle remote control system in the present embodiment will be explained with reference toFIG. 16hereunder.

At first, the mobile phone30starts the vehicle remote control system on the display screen in FIG.9A. When this vehicle remote control system is started, the vehicle remote-control system32is automatically called (ST50). Then, the ID authentication is executed (ST51) Then, the sensor data is transmitted to the mobile phone30from the vehicle remote-control system32, and then the display shown inFIG. 6appears on the LCD display panel of the mobile phone (ST52). At this time, unless the peripheral map display mode of own vehicle is selected by the predetermined key operation of the mobile phone, such mobile phone is set to the normal mode and then the operation shown inFIG. 11is executed. Then, if the peripheral map display mode of own vehicle is selected (ST53), processes in ST54and subsequent steps are executed.

In the peripheral map display mode of own vehicle, at first current location data (latitude data, longitude data) of own vehicle and the azimuth angle data of own vehicle are transmitted to the mobile phone (ST54). That is, the data stored in M12, M13are transmitted to the mobile phone. Then, the connection destination of the mobile phone is switched automatically from the vehicle remote-control system32to the location information center35(ST55). Then, the mobile phone30transmits the current location data of own vehicle and the azimuth angle data of own vehicle, which are received in above ST54, and own current location data and own azimuth angle data, which are measure by the GPS module14and the electronic compass module15respectively, to the location information center35(ST56). Such location information center35, when received these data, prepares the peripheral map data, in which the locations of own vehicle and the user are contained, based on the map data base35a, and then transmits such map data to the mobile phone30. Then, the mobile phone30receives the peripheral map data (ST57). Then, such data is displayed on the LCD display panel (ST58).FIG. 17shows an example of the display. InFIG. 17, Q denotes an icon of own vehicle, and P denotes own icon. In this manner, the location information center35prepares the peripheral map data having a reduced scale rate, at which own vehicle location and the location of the user can be seen simultaneously without the scroll of the screen, and then transmits such data to the mobile phone30. For this reason, the user can grasp not only the location of own vehicle but also the relationship between the locations of own vehicle and the user by snatching a glance at this peripheral map data. In this case, in the displaying operation, an angle to which the icon Q of own vehicle is directed is decided based on the azimuth angle data of own vehicle, and the direction of an arrow P′ that is displayed to overlap with own icon P is decided based on own azimuth angle data.

Then, it is decided whether or not the current display content should be switched to the surrounding image (ST59). In this decision, it is decided whether or not a particular key of the mobile phone is operated. Then, the process goes to ST60if the particular key is operated, and the process goes back to ST53if the particular key is not operated. In ST60, the connection destination is switched from the location information center35to the vehicle remote-control system32(ST60). Then, the surrounding image is received from the vehicle remote-control system32(ST61). That is, the surrounding image stored in M11is received. Then, the surrounding image is displayed on the LCD display panel11c(FIG. 7) (ST62). Then, the process goes back to ST59unless the display mode is ended by the particular key, while the process goes back to ST53if the display mode is ended (ST63).

In this case, the mobile phone30may transmit the GPS data being measured by the GPS module14to the location information center35as it is, and then the azimuth angle measurement of the mobile phone30may be executed in the location information center35based on the GPS data. In this case, the azimuth angle measurement can be executed according to the D-GPS system, which employs the location information center35as the base station, and thus the azimuth angle measurement of the mobile phone30can be executed with high precision. Also, at least the vehicle navigation system may be connected to the vehicle remote-control system, and the electronic compass module9is not always needed. If this module is not provided, merely the azimuth of own vehicle is not displayed in the mobile phone.

Other Embodiment 2

In the above embodiments, the remote-control or the display of the surrounding image, etc. may be executed at a remote place by calling the vehicle remote-control system32from the mobile phone30. However, when the abnormal condition is caused, the surrounding image maybe transmitted to the mobile phone from the vehicle remote-control system side by calling automatically the mobile phone in response to the security sensor that senses the theft of own vehicle. In other words, as shown inFIG. 18, if the security sensor sensed an accident in the vehicle remote-control system32(ST70). Then, the mobile phone is called automatically (ST71). Then, the alarm is issued on the mobile phone side (ST72). Also, the surrounding image being picked up by the image sensor40(seeFIG. 3) is transmitted to the mobile phone (ST73) Then, this image is displayed on the LCD display panel11c(ST74).

Other Embodiment 3

In the above embodiments, the remote control may be executed at a remote place by calling the vehicle remote-control system from the mobile phone. But merely the display shown inFIG. 6may be given by transmitting the sensor data to the mobile phone. Unless the remote control from the remote place is executed, the maintenance condition and the trouble condition of own vehicle can be confirmed by displaying the condition of own vehicle on the mobile phone. In this case, the sensor portion may be constructed by various sensors containing a gasoline sensor, an oil sensor, a battery sensor, etc., which sense various conditions in the vehicle. According to the above configuration, because sensed information of respective sensors are transmitted to the mobile phone and displayed thereon, the maintenance condition, etc. of own vehicle can be checked at the remote place.

Also, ST73and ST74may be omitted from FIG.18. In this case, if the mobile phone is called in ST71to cause the mobile phone side to issue the alarm therefrom, the owner of the mobile phone can distinguish such alarm differently from the normal phone call, and therefore such owner can respond to such alarm at once.

According to the present invention, since the mobile phone is utilized, the condition of the vehicle can be checked at the remote location that is away from own vehicle, and also the controlled objects can be set into the desired states by the remote operation even if the user forgot the light OFF, the door lock, etc. at the time of parking. In addition, since the ID authentication is required as the condition to execute this remote operation, the security is increased and this system is excellent in the theft prevention.

Also, since the abnormality is informed of the mobile phone when the security sensor informs the accident and also several images being picked up by the image sensor are automatically transmitted, the theft can be suppressed. Also, since the surrounding image is automatically transmitted, the user can take quickly the countermeasure even when the vehicle is stolen.