Patent Publication Number: US-2021170832-A1

Title: Vehicle, information processing apparatus, and information processing method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-221305 filed on Dec. 6, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference including the specification, drawings and abstract. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The disclosure relates to a vehicle, an information processing apparatus, and an information processing method. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     In the related art, there is known a device that decides whether to switch the mode of an air conditioning device of a vehicle from an outside air introduction mode to an inside air circulation mode based on a smell map and vehicle position information (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-206110 (JP 2005-206110 A)). 
     SUMMARY 
     A smell in a vehicle cabin influences the comfortableness of the vehicle cabin. It is desired to reduce a smell in the vehicle cabin in order to improve the comfortableness of the vehicle cabin. 
     The disclosure provides a vehicle, an information processing apparatus, and an information processing method with which it is possible to promote reduction of a smell in a vehicle cabin. 
     A first aspect of the disclosure relates to a vehicle including a vehicle cabin, a filter, a sensor, and a control device. The filter is configured to allow air blown toward the vehicle cabin to pass through the filter while adsorbing at least a portion of a substance contained in the air. The sensor is configured to detect the state of the air passing through the filter. The control device is configured to output information relating to maintenance of the filter based on the result of detection performed by the sensor. 
     A second aspect of the disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus including a controller. The controller is communicably connected to a vehicle including a vehicle cabin. The controller outputs information relating to the state of the vehicle based on the result of detection about the state of air passing through a filter, the filter adsorbing at least a portion of a substance contained in air blown toward the vehicle cabin. 
     A third aspect of the disclosure relates to an information processing method including outputting information relating to the state of a vehicle based on the result of detection about the state of air passing through a filter by a controller communicably connected to the vehicle including a vehicle cabin, the filter adsorbing at least a portion of a substance contained in air blown toward the vehicle cabin. 
     With the vehicle, the information processing apparatus, and the information processing method according to the aspects of the disclosure, it is possible to promote reduction of a smell in a vehicle cabin. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like signs denote like elements, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an information processing system according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of an air conditioning device; 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure of an information processing method according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure of processing the result of detection performed by a sensor; 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for determination on the necessity of maintenance of a filter that is made through analysis of the state of a vehicle; 
       and 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for calculation of the evaluated value of the vehicle that is made through analysis of the state of the vehicle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Occupants including the driver a vehicle  20  (refer to  FIG. 1 ) or a passenger may feel unpleasant sensing a smell in the vehicle  20 . Reduction of a smell in the vehicle  20  results in an improvement in comfortableness for an occupant and an improvement in value of the vehicle  20 . A smell in the vehicle  20  can be reduced by means of maintenance of the vehicle  20 . Providing information relating to a smell in the vehicle  20  may cause or motivate the owner of the vehicle  20  to perform maintenance of the vehicle  20 . 
     Configuration Example of Information Processing System  1   
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , an information processing system  1  according to an embodiment includes a server  10  and the vehicle  20 . The server  10  and the vehicle  20  are connected to each other via a network  40  such that the server  10  and the vehicle  20  can communicate with each other. The number of servers  10  and the number of vehicles  20  are not limited to one and may be two or more. The server  10  may also be referred to as an information processing apparatus. The server  10  may include one server apparatus or a plurality of server apparatuses that can communicate with each other. 
     Configuration Example of Server  10   
     The server  10  includes a server controller  12  and a server communication unit  14 . The server controller  12  may also be simply referred to as a controller. The server controller  12  may include one or more processors. The “processors” in the present embodiment are general-purpose processors, dedicated processors dedicated to a specific process, or the like. However, the processors are not limited thereto. The server controller  12  may include one or more dedicated circuits. The dedicated circuits may include, for example, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The server controller  12  may include the dedicated circuit instead of the processor and may include the dedicated circuit in addition to the processor. The server communication unit  14  may include a communication module and may communicate with the vehicle  20  via the network  40 . The server  10  may further include a storage unit. The storage unit is a semiconductor memory, a magnetic memory, an optical memory, or the like. However, the storage unit is not limited thereto. The storage unit may function as a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory, for example. The storage unit may include an electromagnetic storage medium such as a magnetic disk. The storage unit stores any information used to operate the server  10 . For example, the storage unit may store a system program, an application program, or the like. 
     Configuration Example of Vehicle  20   
     The vehicle  20  includes a control device  22 , a communication device  24 , and a notification device  28 . The control device  22 , the communication device  24 , and the notification device  28  are connected to each other such that the control device  22 , the communication device  24 , and the notification device  28  can communicate with each other via a vehicle-mounted network such as a controller area network (CAN) or a dedicated line. 
     The control device  22  controls each component included in the vehicle  20 . The control device  22  may include one or more processors. The control device  22  may include one or more dedicated circuits instead of the processor and may include one or more dedicated circuits in addition to the processor. The control device  22  may further include a storage unit. 
     The communication device  24  is connected to the server  10  such that the communication device  24  can communicate with the server  10  via the network  40 . The communication device  24  may be, for example, a vehicle-mounted communication device. The communication device  24  may include a communication module connected to the network  40 . The communication module may include a communication module conforming to mobile communication standards such as the 4th Generation (4G) and the 5th Generation (5G) and is not limited thereto. 
     The notification device  28  notifies the driver of the vehicle  20  of information. The notification device  28  may notify the driver of the information in the form of visual information such as an image, a text, or a figure. In this case, the notification device  28  may be composed of using a display device. The display device may include a light emitting device such as a light emission diode (LED). The display device may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), for example. The display device may be an organic electro-luminescence (EL) display or an inorganic EL display. The display device may be a plasma display panel (PDP). The display device is not limited to the displays described above and other various types of displays may also be adopted. 
     The notification device  28  may notify the driver of the information in the form of auditory information such as a voice. In this case, the notification device  28  may be composed of a device that outputs a sound like a speaker. The notification device  28  is not limited to examples as above and may be composed of other various types of devices. 
     The vehicle  20  may further include a position information acquisition device, which is not essential. The position information acquisition device may be connected to the control device  22  or the communication device  24  such that the position information acquisition device and the control device  22  or the communication device  24  can communicate with each other via a vehicle-mounted network such as a controller area network (CAN) or a dedicated line. The position information acquisition device acquires position information of the vehicle  20 . The position information acquisition device may include a receiver compatible with a satellite positioning system. The receiver compatible with the satellite positioning system may include, for example, a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. The vehicle  20  can acquire position information of the vehicle  20  itself by using the position information acquisition device. The vehicle  20  may output the position information of the vehicle  20  itself to the server  10 . 
     The vehicle  20  further includes an air conditioning device  30 . The air conditioning device  30  may be configured to circulate air in a vehicle cabin  26  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) of the vehicle  20  by sucking in and blowing the air in the vehicle cabin  26 . The air conditioning device  30  may be configured to introduce air from the outside of the vehicle cabin  26  by sucking in air on the outside of the vehicle cabin  26  and blowing the air to the inside of the vehicle cabin  26 . The air conditioning device  30  may be configured to blow, to the vehicle cabin  26 , air sucked in from the outside or the inside of the vehicle cabin  26  after controlling the temperature or humidity of the air such that the temperature or humidity reaches a target value. Air that the air conditioning device  30  blows toward the vehicle cabin  26  will be also referred to as blown air. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the air conditioning device  30  includes an inside air suction path  31  through which air is sucked in from the vehicle cabin  26  and an air blowing path  38  through which air is blown toward the vehicle cabin  26 . The air conditioning device  30  includes a blower fan  35  between the inside air suction path  31  and the air blowing path  38 . The blower fan  35  sucks in air from the inside air suction path  31  side and sends the air toward the air blowing path  38 . 
     The air conditioning device  30  includes a filter  34 . The filter  34  adsorbs at least a portion of a substance contained in air passing through the filter  34 . The substance contained in the air passing through the filter  34  may contain gas or fine particles. The filter  34  may be, for example, a non-woven fabric sheet containing activated carbon particles. The activated carbon particles may adsorb the gas contained in the air passing through the filter  34 . Non-woven fabric may capture the fine particles contained in the air passing through the filter  34 . 
     The filter  34  is positioned on a side where the blower fan  35  sucks in air. The blower fan  35  sucks in air passing through the filter  34  and sends the air toward the air blowing path  38 . In other words, the blower fan  35  sends air filtered by the filter  34  toward the air blowing path  38 . 
     The filter  34  releases a substance adsorbed by the filter  34  in some cases. The more substance the filter  34  adsorbs, the greater the amount of substance released from the filter  34  may be. In a case where the amount of substance released from the filter  34  is greater than a predetermined amount, it can be said that the filter  34  has deteriorated and thus is in a state where the filter  34  needs to be subject to maintenance. The predetermined amount may correspond to the same amount as the amount of substance released in a case where substance adsorption and substance release at the filter  34  are in equilibrium. The predetermined amount may correspond to an amount obtained by multiplying, by a predetermined percentage, the amount of substance released in a case where substance adsorption and substance release at the filter  34  are in equilibrium. The predetermined percentage may be, 80% or the like. However, the predetermined fraction is not limited thereto and may be various values. 
     The air conditioning device  30  may include an evaporator  36  and a heater  37 . The evaporator  36  and the heater  37  are positioned between the blower fan  35  and the air blowing path  38 . Air that the blower fan  35  sends toward the air blowing path  38  passes through the evaporator  36  and the heater  37 . The evaporator  36  cools air passing through the evaporator  36 . The air cooled by the evaporator  36  causes dew condensation in some cases. Water generated due to the dew condensation is discharged by the evaporator  36 . The heater  37  heats air passing through the heater  37 . The air conditioning device  30  can control the temperature and humidity of air that is to be blown to the vehicle cabin  26  through the air blowing path  38 , by controlling the evaporator  36  and the heater  37 . 
     The air conditioning device  30  may include an outside air suction path  32  that joins the inside air suction path  31  in front of the filter  34 . The outside air suction path  32  is configured such that air can be sucked in from the outside of the vehicle cabin  26 . The air conditioning device  30  may include a flap  33  at a position where the outside air suction path  32  joins the inside air suction path  31 . The flap  33  can transition into any of a state of closing the inside air suction path  31  and a state of closing the outside air suction path  32 . The air conditioning device  30  causes the blower fan  35  to suck in air from the outside of the vehicle cabin  26 , that is, outside air, with the flap  33  transitioning into the state of closing the inside air suction path  31 . In this case, the air conditioning device  30  is operated in an outside air introduction mode. The air conditioning device  30  causes the blower fan  35  to suck in air from the inside of the vehicle cabin  26 , that is, inside air, with the flap  33  transitioning into the state of closing the outside air suction path  32 . In this case, the air conditioning device  30  is operated in an inside air circulation mode. That is, the air conditioning device  30  is configured to be able to switch between the outside air introduction mode and the inside air circulation mode by controlling the state of the flap  33 . 
     The air conditioning device  30  is connected to the control device  22  such that the air conditioning device  30  and the control device  22  can communicate with each other via a vehicle-mounted network such as a controller area network (CAN) or a dedicated line. The control device  22  can control the state of blown air by controlling the air conditioning device  30 . The control device  22  may change the amount of air blown from the air conditioning device  30  to the vehicle cabin  26 , that is, an air volume. The control device  22  may set a control target for the state of blown air blown by the air conditioning device  30 . The control target may include a target value of the temperature or humidity of the blown air, for example. 
     Air in the vehicle cabin  26  or blown air may contain fine particles or gas contained in cigarette smoke generated due to smoking in the vehicle cabin  26 , for example. Air in the vehicle cabin  26  or blown air may contain gas released from the body of an occupant of the vehicle cabin  26 , for example. The occupant may sense a smell when the occupant breathes in gas contained in air in the vehicle cabin  26  or blown air or breathes in fine particles adsorbed by the gas. Gas that a person can sense as a smell may contain a molecule having an ammonia group, an aromatic molecule, or the like. Gas or fine particles that a person can sense as a smell, that is, gas or fine particles that cause a person to sense a smell will also be referred to as a smell causing substance. 
     Since the filter  34  adsorbs at least a portion of fine particles or gas contained in air passing through the filter  34 , the concentration of fine particles or gas contained in blown air can be reduced. Since the concentration of the fine particles or the gas contained in the blown air is reduced, the concentration of fine particles or gas contained in air in the vehicle cabin  26  may be reduced. Fine particles or gas adsorbed by the filter  34  may be released from the filter  34  at a predetermined percentage. For example, the fine particles may be separated and released from a non-woven fabric fiber. The gas may be released from activated carbon by being vaporized or volatilized. The higher the temperature of air passing through the filter  34  is, the more easily the gas adsorbed by the activated carbon is vaporized or volatilized. 
     In other words, a smell causing substance such as fine particles or gas is adsorbed by the filter  34 . The smell causing substance may also be adsorbed by an interior furnishing such as a seat or a cover positioned in the vehicle cabin  26 . The smell causing substance may also be adsorbed by a fiber included in the interior furnishing. 
     The vehicle  20  further includes a sensor  50 . The sensor  50  is positioned at the air blowing path  38 . Since the sensor  50  is positioned at the air blowing path  38 , the sensor  50  can detect the state of blown air blown from the air conditioning device  30  to the vehicle cabin  26 . The sensor  50  may measure the temperature or humidity of air as the state of the blown air. The sensor  50  may detect a substance contained in air as the state of the blown air. The sensor  50  may measure the concentration of a substance contained in air as the state of the blown air. The sensor  50  may measure the concentration of fine particles or gas contained in the blown air as the state of the blown air. 
     The sensor  50  is connected to the control device  22  such that the sensor  50  and the control device  22  can communicate with each other via a vehicle-mounted network such as a controller area network (CAN) or a dedicated line. The sensor  50  outputs the result of detection to the control device  22 . The control device  22  acquires the result of detection about the state of blown air that is performed by the sensor  50 . The control device  22  may output the result of detection performed by the sensor  50  to the server  10 . The server controller  12  of the server  10  may acquire, from the control device  22 , the result of detection about the state of blown air performed by the sensor  50 . 
     Operation Example of Information Processing Apparatus 
     The server controller  12  of the server  10  (information processing apparatus) may perform an information processing method including a procedure as in a flowchart shown in  FIG. 3 , for example. The information processing method may be realized as an information processing program executed by a processor of the server controller  12  or the like. The information processing program may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The processor of the server controller  12  or the like may read and execute the information processing program stored in the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. 
     The server controller  12  acquires the result of detection performed by the sensor  50  from the vehicle  20  (step S 1 ). Specifically, the server controller  12  may acquire the concentration of fine particles contained in blown air or the concentration of a smell causing substance contained in the blown air. The server controller  12  may acquire the temperature or humidity of the blown air. 
     The server controller  12  processes the result of the detection performed by the sensor  50  (step S 2 ). Specifically, the server controller  12  may perform a procedure as in a flowchart shown in  FIG. 4  in a procedure in step S 2 . 
     The server controller  12  determines whether the operation mode of the air conditioning device  30  is the inside air circulation mode or the outside air introduction mode (step S 11  in  FIG. 4 ). The server controller  12  may acquire information relating to the operation mode of the air conditioning device  30  from the control device  22  of the vehicle  20  for the determination. 
     In a case where the operation mode of the air conditioning device  30  is the inside air circulation mode, the server controller  12  proceeds to a procedure in step S 12 . In a case where the operation mode of the air conditioning device  30  is the outside air introduction mode, the server controller  12  proceeds to a procedure in step S 14 . 
     In a case where the operation mode of the air conditioning device  30  is the inside air circulation mode (step S 11 : inside air circulation), the server controller  12  determines whether a time for which the air conditioning device  30  has continued inside air circulation is equal to or longer than a predetermined time (step S 12 ). In a case where the time for which the inside air circulation has been continued is equal to or longer than the predetermined time (step S 12 : YES), the server controller  12  terminates the procedure as in the flowchart shown in  FIG. 4  and returns to a procedure in step S 3  in the flowchart shown in  FIG. 3 . That is, the server controller  12  may not perform processing with respect to the result of the detection performed by the sensor  50  in a case where the operation mode of the air conditioning device  30  is the inside air circulation mode over a time equal to or longer than the predetermined time. 
     In a case where the time for which the inside air circulation has been continued is shorter than the predetermined time, that is, in a case where the time for which the inside air circulation has been continued is not equal to or longer than the predetermined time (step S 12 : NO), the server controller  12  revises the result of the detection performed by the sensor  50  (step S 13 ). The filter  34  cannot immediately adsorb all of fine particles or smell causing substances contained in air inside the vehicle cabin  26  after the air conditioning device  30  starts to be operated in the inside air circulation mode. The concentration of a substance contained in blown air may be gradually decreased as a time for which the air conditioning device  30  is operated in the inside air circulation mode becomes longer and the concentration may converge on a predetermined concentration. In a case where the concentration of a substance is acquired as the result of detection performed by the sensor  50 , the server controller  12  may revise the result of the detection performed by the sensor  50  by estimating a predetermined concentration on which the concentration of the substance converges. After the procedure in step S 13 , the server controller  12  terminates the procedure as in the flowchart shown in  FIG. 4  and returns to the procedure in step S 3  in the flowchart shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     In a case where the operation mode of the air conditioning device  30  is the outside air introduction mode (step S 11 : outside air introduction), the server controller  12  acquires information relating to a traveling area of the vehicle  20  (step S 14 ). The traveling area of the vehicle  20  corresponds to a predetermined area including the current position of the vehicle  20 . Specifically, the server controller  12  may acquire the state of air in the predetermined area as the information relating to the traveling area of the vehicle  20 . The state of the air in the predetermined area may include the concentration of gas or fine particles contained in smoke generated due to open burning or fire, for example. The state of the air in the predetermined area may include the concentration of gas or fine particles contained in scattering substances such as yellow sand or pollen, for example. The state of the air in the predetermined area may include, for example, the concentration of a smell causing substance containing gas or fine particles flowing out from various facilities including an industrial facility such as a factory, an agricultural facility such as a farm, and a livestock production facility such as a cowshed, a chicken house, and a piggery. 
     The server controller  12  revises the result of the detection performed by the sensor  50  (step S 15 ). Specifically, in a case where the concentration of a smell causing substance such as fine particles or gas contained in blown air is acquired as the result of detection performed by the sensor  50 , the server controller  12  may subtract the concentration of the smell causing substance such as the fine particles or the gas contained in air in the predetermined area from the measured value of the concentration of the smell causing substance such as the fine particles or the gas contained in the blown air. That is, the server controller  12  may regard the state of the air in the predetermined area as background data for the result of the detection performed by the sensor  50  and offset the result of the detection performed by the sensor  50 . The server controller  12  may subtract a concentration, which is obtained by multiplying the concentration of the smell causing substance such as the fine particles or the gas contained in the air in the predetermined area by a predetermined coefficient, from the measured value of the concentration of the smell causing substance such as the fine particles or the gas contained in the blown air. That is, the server controller  12  may regard a value obtained by converting a value indicating the state of the air in the predetermined area with the predetermined coefficient as background data for the result of the detection performed by the sensor  50  and offset the result of the detection performed by the sensor  50 . The predetermined coefficient may be set based on the specifications of the filter  34 . After the procedure in step S 15 , the server controller  12  terminates the procedure as in the flowchart shown in  FIG. 4  and returns to the procedure in step S 3  in the flowchart shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The above-described procedure in each step in the flowchart shown in  FIG. 4  may be appropriately omitted and may be performed in a different order. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 3 , the server controller  12  analyzes the state of the vehicle  20  (step S 3 ). Specifically, the server controller  12  may perform a procedure as in a flowchart shown in  FIG. 5  or  FIG. 6  in the procedure in step S 3 . 
     Hereinafter, an example where the server controller  12  performs the procedure shown in  FIG. 5  as the procedure in step S 3  in  FIG. 3  will be described. Referring to  FIG. 5 , the server controller  12  sets a standard for determination on the state of the filter  34  based on the result of the detection performed by the sensor  50  (step S 21 ). The standard for the determination on the state of the filter  34  may also be referred to as a filter determination standard. The filter determination standard is used by the server controller  12  to determine whether the filter  34  has been deteriorated and is in a state where the filter  34  needs to be subject to maintenance. Specifically, the server controller  12  may set, as the filter determination standard, a concentration threshold value that is to be compared with the concentration of the smell causing substance such as the fine particles or the gas contained in the blown air. The concentration threshold value may be set to a concentration at which the smell causing substance such as the fine particles or the gas contained in the blown air causes a predetermined influence on a person in the vehicle cabin  26 . Examples of a state where the smell causing substance causes the predetermined influence may include a state where more than a predetermined percentage of persons entering the vehicle cabin  26  sense a smell. The predetermined percentage may be set to 50% or the like. However, the predetermined fraction is not limited thereto and may be set to various values. 
     The server controller  12  may set the filter determination standard based on the temperature of the blown air. Specifically, the higher the temperature of the blown air is, the higher the concentration threshold value may be set. This is because there is a substance that becomes more likely to be released from the filter  34  as the temperature of the blown air becomes higher. In addition, the higher the temperature of the blown air is, the higher the room temperature of the vehicle cabin  26  may be. This is because the higher the room temperature of the vehicle cabin  26  is, the more a part of a substance adsorbed by an interior furnishing in the vehicle cabin  26  becomes likely to be released from the interior furnishing. 
     The server controller  12  may set the concentration threshold value based on whether the operation mode of the air conditioning device  30  is the outside air introduction mode or the inside air circulation mode. The server controller  12  may set the concentration threshold value based on a time for which the inside air circulation has been continued in a case where the air conditioning device  30  has continued the inside air circulation for a time shorter than the predetermined time. 
     The server controller  12  determines whether or not the result of the detection performed by the sensor  50  satisfies the filter determination standard (step S 22 ). Specifically, the server controller  12  may determine whether or not the concentration of a substance contained in the blown air is equal to or greater than the concentration threshold value. In a case where the concentration of the substance contained in the blown air is equal to or greater than the concentration threshold value, the server controller  12  may determine that the filter determination standard is satisfied. In a case where the concentration of the substance contained in the blown air is smaller than the concentration threshold value, the server controller  12  may determine that the filter determination standard is not satisfied. 
     In a case where the filter determination standard is not satisfied (step S 22 : NO), the server controller  12  terminates the procedure as in the flowchart shown in  FIG. 5  and returns to a procedure in step S 4  in the flowchart shown in  FIG. 3 . In a case where the filter determination standard is satisfied (step S 22 : YES), the server controller  12  determines that the filter  34  is in a state where the filter  34  needs to be subject to maintenance and generates information relating to maintenance of the filter  34  (step S 23 ). The information relating to maintenance of the filter  34  may also be referred to as maintenance information. The maintenance information may include content promoting replacement of the filter  34 . The maintenance information may include content promoting cleaning of the filter  34  with an agent or gas having a deodorizing effect or an antibacterial effect. The maintenance information may include information specifying a recommended time for replacement or cleaning of the filter  34 . After the procedure in step S 23 , the server controller  12  terminates the procedure as in the flowchart shown in  FIG. 5  and returns to the procedure in step S 4  in the flowchart shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The above-described procedure in each step in the flowchart shown in  FIG. 5  may be appropriately omitted and may be performed in a different order. 
     Hereinafter, an example where the server controller  12  performs the procedure shown in  FIG. 6  as the procedure in step S 3  in  FIG. 3  will be described. Referring to  FIG. 6 , the server controller  12  estimates the amount of substance in the vehicle cabin  26  based on the result of the detection performed by the sensor  50  (step S 31 ). The substance in the vehicle cabin  26  may include a substance in air in the vehicle cabin  26 . The substance in the vehicle cabin  26  may include a substance that is adsorbed by an interior furnishing such as a seat or a cover in the vehicle cabin  26  and may be released into air. The substance in air in the vehicle cabin  26  or the substance that may be released into air may include a smell causing substance. Specifically, the server controller  12  may estimate the amount of substance in the vehicle cabin  26  based on the concentration of the substance contained in the blown air as the result of the detection performed by the sensor  50 . The server controller  12  may calculate a value obtained by multiplying the concentration of a predetermined substance contained in blown air by a predetermined coefficient as an estimated value of the amount of predetermined substance that may be released into air in the vehicle cabin  26 . The predetermined coefficient may be set based on the specifications of the filter  34 . The server controller  12  may estimate the range of values that the concentration of the smell causing substance in the vehicle cabin  26  may reach. 
     The server controller  12  calculates the evaluated value of the vehicle  20  (step S 32 ). The evaluated value of the vehicle  20  may include an appraisal price at the time of sale or trade-in of the vehicle  20 . The appraisal price of the vehicle  20  is determined based on various parameters such as the year of the vehicle  20 . The evaluated value of the vehicle  20  may be used as one of parameters used to determine the appraisal price. The server controller  12  may calculate the evaluated value of the vehicle  20  as a coefficient by which the appraisal price of the vehicle  20  determined based on other parameters is to be multiplied. It will be assumed that the higher the evaluated value of the vehicle  20  is, the higher the appraisal price of the vehicle  20  is. 
     The server controller  12  may calculate the evaluated value of the vehicle  20  based on the estimated value of the amount of substance in the vehicle cabin  26 . The server controller  12  may calculate the evaluated value of the vehicle  20  based on the estimated value of the amount of substance in the vehicle cabin  26  that may be released into air. The server controller  12  may calculate the evaluated value of the vehicle  20  based on the estimated value of the amount of smell causing substance contained in air in the vehicle cabin  26  or the amount of smell causing substance that may be released into air. The greater the estimated value of the amount of smell causing substance contained in air in the vehicle cabin  26  or the amount of smell causing substance that may be released into air is, the lower the evaluated value of the vehicle  20  calculated by the server controller  12  may be. The greater an upper limit that the concentration of a smell causing substance in the vehicle cabin  26  may reach is, the lower the evaluated value of the vehicle  20  calculated by the server controller  12  may be. 
     After the procedure in step S 32 , the server controller  12  terminates the procedure as in the flowchart shown in  FIG. 6  and returns to the procedure in step S 4  in the flowchart shown in  FIG. 3 . The above-described procedure in each step in the flowchart shown in  FIG. 6  may be appropriately omitted and may be performed in a different order. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 3 , the server controller  12  outputs information relating to the state of the vehicle  20  (step S 4 ). The information relating to the state of the vehicle  20  may also be referred to as vehicle state information. As described above, the vehicle state information may include the maintenance information of the filter  34  of the vehicle  20  and may include the evaluated value of the vehicle  20 . 
     The server controller  12  may output the vehicle state information to the vehicle  20 . In a case where the maintenance information of the filter  34  is acquired as the vehicle state information, the control device  22  of the vehicle  20  may notify an occupant such as the driver of the vehicle  20 , the owner of the vehicle  20 , or the like of the maintenance information by means of the notification device  28 . The occupant, the owner, or the like of the vehicle  20  may perform replacement or cleaning of the filter  34  based on the maintenance information. The occupant, the owner, or the like of the vehicle  20  may perform cleaning such as a deodorizing treatment or an antibacterial treatment on an interior furnishing in the vehicle cabin  26  based on the maintenance information. 
     In a case where the evaluated value of the vehicle  20  is acquired as the vehicle state information, the control device  22  of the vehicle  20  may notify an occupant such as the driver of the vehicle  20 , the owner of the vehicle  20 , or the like of the evaluated value of the vehicle  20  by means of the notification device  28 . The occupant, the owner, or the like of the vehicle  20  may perform replacement or cleaning of the filter  34  or perform cleaning such as a deodorizing treatment or an antibacterial treatment on an interior furnishing in the vehicle cabin  26  based on the evaluated value of the vehicle  20 . In a case where the evaluated value of the vehicle  20  is low, the occupant, the owner, or the like of the vehicle  20  may perform maintenance of the filter  34  or an interior furnishing in the vehicle cabin  26  to make the evaluated value higher. 
     The server controller  12  may output the vehicle state information to another terminal. The server controller  12  may output the vehicle state information to a terminal that manages maintenance of the vehicle  20 , for example. The terminal that manages maintenance of the vehicle  20  may be installed in a repair shop such as a dealer. In the repair shop such as a dealer, maintenance of the filter  34  or an interior furnishing of the vehicle cabin  26  may be suggested to the owner of the vehicle  20  based on the vehicle state information. The server controller  12  may output the vehicle state information to a terminal that manages the appraisal price of the vehicle  20 , for example. The terminal that manages the appraisal price of the vehicle  20  may be installed in a store such as a new car store and a used car store. The terminal that manages the appraisal price of the vehicle  20  may calculate a price at the time of trade-in or purchase of the vehicle  20  based on the vehicle state information. The store may present the trade-in price or purchase price of the vehicle  20  to the owner of the vehicle  20  based on the price calculated by the terminal. 
     After the procedure in step S 4 , the server controller  12  terminates the procedure as in the flowchart shown in  FIG. 3 . The above-described procedure in each step in the flowchart shown in  FIG. 3  may be appropriately omitted and may be performed in a different order. 
     The procedures in the flowcharts shown in  FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6  may be performed by the control device  22  of the vehicle  20 . A procedure for sending information to the vehicle  20  or acquiring information from the vehicle  20  from among the procedures may be performed as internal processing in the vehicle  20 . 
     As described above, the vehicle  20  or the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment can provide information relating to a smell in the vehicle cabin  26  as information relating to the state of the vehicle  20  by performing each step shown as the information processing method. The information relating to the smell may include the maintenance information of the filter  34  and may include the evaluated value of the vehicle  20  based on the smell in the vehicle cabin  26 . Since the vehicle  20  or the information processing apparatus provide the information relating to the smell, the occupant, the owner, or the like of the vehicle  20  is caused or motivated to perform maintenance of the vehicle  20 . As a result, reduction of a smell in the vehicle cabin  26  may be promoted. 
     The embodiment of the disclosure has been described based on the drawings and examples. However, it should be noted that various changes or modifications can be easily made by those skilled in the art based on the disclosure. Accordingly, those changes or modifications should be construed as being included within the scope of the disclosure. For example, the functions or the like included in each means or each step can be rearranged without logical inconsistency, and a plurality of means or steps can be combined with each other or be divided.