Patent Publication Number: US-2022237955-A1

Title: Inspection assistance program, inspection assistance system, and inspection assistance apparatus control method

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to an inspection assistance program, an inspection assistance system, and a method for controlling an inspection assistance apparatus, in which the inspection assistance program, the inspection assistance system, and the inspection assistance apparatus assist inspection of a vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A user of a commercial vehicle such as a truck needs to perform a pre-operation inspection. A vehicle inspection assistance apparatus that displays an input screen for inputting an inspection result of a pre-operation inspection is known (for example, Patent Literature 1). 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     Patent Literature 1: JP-A-2007-118887 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     Depending on an inspection item of the pre-operation inspection, an instrument such as a light may be used. In the invention described in Patent Literature 1, it is necessary to prepare an instrument for performing inspection of such an inspection item. 
     The present disclosure has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an inspection assistance program, an inspection assistance system, and a method for controlling an inspection assistance apparatus that can facilitate inspection of an inspection item that requires an instrument. 
     Solution to Problem 
     An inspection assistance program according to a first aspect of the present disclosure is an inspection assistance program for assisting inspection of a vehicle, the inspection assistance program causing a computer to function as: a display control unit configured to cause a display unit to display a selection screen for selecting one to-be-performed inspection item from a plurality of inspection items; and a device control unit configured to cause a device that is provided in the computer and that is associated with the to-be-performed inspection item selected on the selection screen to operate. 
     When inspection of a liquid amount of a battery of the vehicle is selected as the to-be-performed inspection item on the selection screen, the device control unit may cause a light to be turned on as the device associated with the to-be-performed inspection item. The device control unit may cause an image-capturing device configured to generate an image to be activated as the device associated with the to-be-performed inspection item. 
     The inspection assistance program may further cause the computer to function as a transmission unit configured to transmit the image generated by the image-capturing device to an external apparatus related to the inspection in association with the to-be-performed inspection item. 
     An inspection assistance system according to a second aspect of the present disclosure is an inspection assistance system for assisting inspection of a vehicle, the inspection assistance system including: an inspection assistance apparatus; and a management apparatus for managing the inspection, in which the inspection assistance apparatus includes a display unit configured to display a selection screen for selecting one to-be-performed inspection item from a plurality of inspection items, and in which the management apparatus includes a display control unit configured to cause the display unit to display the selection screen, and a device control unit configured to cause a device of the inspection assistance apparatus associated with the to-be-performed inspection item selected on the selection screen to operate. 
     A control method according to a third aspect of the present disclosure is a method for controlling an inspection assistance apparatus for assisting inspection of a vehicle, the control method including: by the inspection assistance apparatus, causing a display unit to display a selection screen for selecting one to-be-performed inspection item from a plurality of inspection items; and causing the inspection assistance apparatus to output a signal for operating a device associated with the to-be-performed inspection item selected on the selection screen. 
     A storage medium according to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure is a computer-readable storage medium that stores an inspection assistance program readable by a computer for assisting inspection of a vehicle, and when the program is executed by the computer, the program causes a display unit of the inspection assistance apparatus to display a selection screen for selecting one to-be-performed inspection item from a plurality of inspection items, and causes a device that is provided in the computer and that is associated with the to-be-performed inspection item selected on the selection screen to operate. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     According to the present disclosure, it is possible to achieve an effect of facilitating inspection of an inspection item that requires an instrument. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram showing a configuration of an inspection assistance system of an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram showing a screen displayed by an inspection assistance apparatus immediately after an inspection application is activated. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram showing a configuration of the inspection assistance apparatus. 
         FIG. 5A  is a diagram showing an example of a screen caused to be displayed by a display control unit. 
         FIG. 5B  is a diagram showing an example of a screen caused to be displayed by the display control unit. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram showing an example of a screen caused to be displayed by the display control unit. 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram showing an example in which a device control unit causes a device to operate. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram showing an example in which the device control unit causes the device to operate. 
         FIG. 9  is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of an operation of a device by the inspection assistance apparatus. 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram showing a configuration of another inspection assistance system. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     [Outline of Inspection Assistance System] 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram showing a configuration of an inspection assistance system S of the present embodiment. The inspection assistance system S includes an inspection assistance apparatus  2  for assisting inspection of a vehicle  1  and an external apparatus  3  related to the inspection of the vehicle  1 . The vehicle  1  is a commercial vehicle, and is, for example, a truck. The inspection assistance apparatus  2  is an apparatus managed by a business operator who inspects the vehicle  1 , and is, for example, an information terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet. 
     When an inspection application software (hereinafter, referred to as “inspection application”) is activated, the inspection assistance apparatus  2  displays an inspection item and an inspection method in a pre-operation inspection of the vehicle  1  on a display. The inspection assistance apparatus  2  receives an operation of a user U who inputs an inspection result. 
     The inspection assistance apparatus  2  communicates with the vehicle  1  by wireless communication via an in-vehicle wireless device mounted on the vehicle  1 . For example, the inspection assistance apparatus  2  communicates with the vehicle  1  by Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark). The inspection assistance apparatus  2  transmits information for changing a state of equipment of the vehicle  1  to the vehicle  1  by, for example, wireless communication. 
     The inspection assistance apparatus  2  may capture an image of a state of the vehicle  1  for some inspection items. The inspection assistance apparatus  2  transmits a captured image of the state of the vehicle  1 , an inspection result of the vehicle  1 , and the like to the external apparatus  3  via a network N. The external apparatus  3  is connected to the inspection assistance apparatus  2  via the network N. The external apparatus  3  acquires the captured image of the state of the vehicle  1 , the inspection result of the vehicle  1 , and the like from the inspection assistance apparatus  2 . 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram showing a screen displayed by the inspection assistance apparatus  2  immediately after the inspection application is activated. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the inspection assistance apparatus  2  first displays a screen for selecting the vehicle  1  that is to be subjected to the pre-operation inspection. In an example of  FIG. 2 , an operation key for selecting a vehicle with vehicle registration information of “Shinagawa XXX I YYY” and an operation key for selecting a vehicle with vehicle registration information of “Shinagawa XXX II ZZZ” are displayed. The vehicle registration information is information for identifying a vehicle. The vehicle registration information is registered in advance by an administrator of the inspection assistance system S. 
     When an operation for selecting the vehicle  1  is performed in the screen of  FIG. 2 , an inspection item necessary for the selected vehicle  1  is displayed. A user U performs inspection corresponding to the displayed inspection item, and inputs an inspection result to the inspection assistance apparatus  2 . Details of a mode in which the inspection assistance apparatus  2  displays an inspection item will be described later. 
     [Configuration of Vehicle] 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram showing a configuration of the vehicle  1 . The vehicle  1  includes an in-vehicle wireless device  11 , various lamps  12 , various sensors  13 , and an electronic control unit (ECU)  14 . The ECU  14  includes a storage unit  141  and a control unit  142 . 
     The in-vehicle wireless device  11  is a device for communicating with the inspection assistance apparatus  2  by wireless communication. The in-vehicle wireless device  11  transmits information notified from the control unit  142  to the inspection assistance apparatus  2 . Further, the in-vehicle wireless device  11  notifies the control unit  142  of information received from the inspection assistance apparatus  2 . The in-vehicle wireless device  1 I may transmit the information notified from the control unit  142  to an apparatus other than the inspection assistance apparatus  2  (for example, a server). 
     The various lamps  12  include, for example, a brake lamp, a backlight, and the like. The various sensors  13  include, for example, a sensor for detecting depression of a brake pedal, a sensor for detecting that gear is put into reverse, and the like. 
     The ECU  14  is a control device for electronically controlling units of the vehicle  1  by a computer. The storage unit  141  is configured with, for example, a read only memory (ROM) and a random access memory (RAM). The storage unit  141  stores various programs and various types of data for causing the control unit  142  to function. 
     The control unit  142  controls each unit of the vehicle  1  by executing a program stored in the storage unit  141 . For example, the control unit  142  turns on or turns off the various lamps  12  based on information received from the inspection assistance apparatus  2  via the in-vehicle wireless device  11 . 
     [Configuration of Inspection Assistance Apparatus] 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram showing a configuration of the inspection assistance apparatus  2 . The inspection assistance apparatus  2  includes a communication unit  21 , a light  22 , an image-capturing device  23 , a touch panel  24 , a display unit  25 , a storage unit  26 , and a control unit  27 . 
     The communication unit  21  is a communication module for communicating with the vehicle  1 . The light  22  radiates light. The image-capturing device  23  is a camera that generates an image. The touch panel  24  detects a touch operation on the display unit  25 . The display unit  25  is a display for displaying an image. The storage unit  26  is configured with, for example, a ROM and a RAM. 
     The control unit  27  is, for example, a central processing unit (CPU). The control unit  27  functions as an operation reception unit  271 , a display control unit  272 , a device control unit  273 , and a communication control unit  274  by executing a program stored in the storage unit  26 . The operation reception unit  271  receives an operation input to the touch panel  24 . For example, the operation reception unit  271  receives an input of an inspection result of each of a plurality of inspection items. 
     The display control unit  272  causes the display unit  25  to display a selection screen for selecting one inspection item from the plurality of inspection items. Hereinafter, the selected inspection item is referred to as a to-be-performed inspection item.  FIGS. 5A, 5B , and  6  are diagrams showing examples of screens caused to be displayed by the display control unit  272 .  FIGS. 5A and 5B  are diagrams showing examples of the selection screen. The selection screen of  FIG. 5A  includes a plurality of inspection items. 
     It is assumed that all of the plurality of inspection items displayed in  FIG. 5A  have already been performed. A check mark indicating that inspection has been performed is attached to a rectangular display field in an upper left portion of each inspection item. 
     When receiving an operation of tapping a vicinity of a right end of the selection screen of  FIG. 5A , the display control unit  272  causes the selection screen of  FIG. 5B  to be displayed. No inspection of the plurality of inspection items displayed in  FIG. 5B  has been performed. Therefore, no check mark indicating that the inspection has been performed is attached to the rectangular display field in the upper left portion of each inspection item. 
     A plurality of “perform inspection” keys are arranged on the selection screen. The “perform inspection” key is for selecting a corresponding inspection item. For example, when the operation reception unit  271  receives an operation of selecting a first inspection item “inspection of liquid amount of battery” from a top in  FIG. 5B , the display control unit  272  causes an execution screen shown in  FIG. 6  to be displayed. 
       FIG. 6  is a diagram showing an example of the execution screen caused to be displayed by the display control unit  272 . In an example of  FIG. 6 , an execution screen for executing inspection of the inspection item “inspection of liquid amount of battery” is shown. The display control unit  272  causes, an “OK” key for receiving an input indicating that the liquid amount of the battery is appropriate and an “NG” key for receiving an input indicating that the liquid amount of the battery is not appropriate, to be displayed on the execution screen. 
     [Activation of Device] 
     The device control unit  273  causes a device provided in the inspection assistance apparatus  2  to operate during the pre-operation inspection. The device is, for example, the light  22 . In the inspection of the battery liquid amount, when a battery container is opaque, there is a problem that it is difficult to check a liquid level. In the related art, measures such as checking the liquid level by shaking the vehicle  1  to vibrate the liquid level have been devised, but it has been difficult to shake a large vehicle or the like. When the light of the light  22  is radiated, a position of the liquid level is relatively easily checked. 
     In the storage unit  26 , an inspection item and an identification ID of a device of the inspection assistance apparatus  2  useful for inspection of the inspection item are stored in association with each other. The device control unit  273  refers to the storage unit  26  and identifies a device of an identification ID associated with a to-be-performed inspection item selected on the selection screen. The device control unit  273  causes the identified device to operate. 
     For example, in the example of  FIG. 6 , when the to-be-performed inspection item “inspection of liquid amount of battery” is selected on the selection screen, the device control unit  273  causes the light  22  to be turned on as a device associated with the to-be-performed inspection item. Regarding the inspection item “inspection of liquid amount of battery”, the device control unit  273  causes the light  22  to be turned on at a timing at which the operation reception unit  271  receives an operation of selecting the “perform inspection” key. With such a configuration, the user U can omit an operation of activating a device such as the light  22 . Therefore, the device control unit  273  can facilitate the inspection of the inspection item that requires an instrument. 
     Among the inspection items, there is an item in which it is necessary to keep an image showing a state of the vehicle  1  during inspection. For example, regarding some inspection items, the user U of the vehicle  1  may capture an image of a state of the vehicle  1  and transmit the image to the external apparatus  3  ( FIG. 1 ), and may receive advice from an administrator who manages the vehicle  1  regarding an inspection method or a determination criterion for presence or absence of an abnormality. Further, the user U may also capture an image of the state of the vehicle  1  during inspection by the image-capturing device  23  and keep the image as a material for proving that the inspection has been performed. For this purpose, the device control unit  273  may cause the image-capturing device  23  that generates the image to be activated as a device associated with some to-be-performed inspection items. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  are diagrams showing an example in which the device control unit  273  causes the device to operate. A selection screen shown in  FIG. 7  includes an inspection item “inspection of position of liquid level of fan drive oil” and an inspection item “inspection of leakage of fan drive oil”. The fan drive oil is used for a clutch that controls a rotational speed of an engine cooling fan. 
     When the operation reception unit  271  receives an operation of selecting the “perform inspection” key corresponding to the inspection item “inspection of position of liquid level of fan drive oil”, the execution screen of  FIG. 8  is displayed. The inspection item “inspection of position of liquid level of fan drive oil” is stored in the storage unit  26  in association with the image-capturing device  23 . Therefore, the device control unit  273  activates the image-capturing device  23  at a timing at which the operation reception unit  271  receives the operation of selecting the “perform inspection” key. 
       FIG. 8  shows an execution screen for executing inspection of the inspection item “inspection of position of liquid level of fan drive oil”. The execution screen includes a “record image” key for capturing an image by the image-capturing device  23 . When the operation reception unit  271  receives an operation of selecting the “record image” key, a preview screen that displays a range within which an image is captured by the image-capturing device  23  is displayed. In a state where the preview screen is displayed, an image can be captured by the image-capturing device  23 . Since it takes a relatively long time to activate the image-capturing device  23 , the device control unit  273  causes the image-capturing device  23  to activate at a stage before the preview screen is displayed, so that it is possible to shorten time before image-capturing is performed. 
     The communication control unit  274  communicates with the external apparatus  3  for managing inspection of the vehicle  1  via the communication unit  21 . For example, the communication control unit  274  transmits an image generated by the image-capturing device  23 , a to-be-performed inspection item, an inspection result received by the operation reception unit  271 , a date and time when inspection is performed, and vehicle registration information of the vehicle  1  to be inspected to the external apparatus  3  in association with one another. 
     The external apparatus  3  stores the image generated by the image-capturing device  23 , the to-be-performed inspection item, the inspection result, the date and time when the inspection is performed, and the vehicle registration information in association with one another. Since the external apparatus  3  stores the image generated by the image-capturing device  23  as history information, the administrator of the inspection assistance system S can refer to the image when advice or the like is given to the user regarding the inspection method, the determination criterion, or the like of the pre-operation inspection. 
     [Processing Procedure of Operation of Device by Inspection Assistance Apparatus] 
       FIG. 9  is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of an operation of a device by the inspection assistance apparatus  2 . The processing procedure is started when the operation reception unit  271  receives an operation of instructing a display of a selection screen. 
     First, the display control unit  272  causes the selection screen to be displayed (S 101 ). Next, the device control unit  273  determines whether the operation reception unit  271  has received an operation of selecting one to-be-performed inspection item from the plurality of inspection items displayed on the selection screen (S 102 ). When determining that the operation reception unit  271  has received the operation of selecting the to-be-performed inspection item (YES in S 102 ), the device control unit  273  determines whether there is a device associated with the selected to-be-performed inspection item in the storage unit  26  (S 103 ). 
     When there is the device associated with the selected to-be-performed inspection item in the storage unit  26  (YES in S 103 ), the device control unit  273  causes the device to operate (S 104 ). The display control unit  272  causes a performing screen for performing the selected to-be-performed inspection item to be displayed (S 105 ), and ends the processing. 
     When determining that the operation reception unit  271  has not received the operation of selecting one to-be-performed inspection item in the determination of S 102  (NO in S 102 ), the device control unit  273  repeats the determination of S 102 . When determining that there is no device associated with the selected to-be-performed inspection item in the storage unit  26  in the determination of S 103  (NO in S 103 ), the device control unit  273  proceeds to a processing of S 105  without causing the device to operate. 
     [Effects of Present Disclosure] 
     According to the present embodiment, the device control unit  273  causes the device that is provided in the inspection assistance apparatus  2  and that is associated with the to-be-performed inspection item selected on the selection screen to operate. With such a configuration, since the device is operated in conjunction with the selection of the to-be-performed inspection item, the user U can omit an operation for operating the device. Therefore, the device control unit  273  can facilitate the inspection of the inspection item that requires the device. 
     [Modification of Inspection Assistance System] 
     In the present embodiment, an example in which the display control unit  272  and the device control unit  273  of  FIG. 4  are installed in the inspection assistance apparatus  2  has been described. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the display control unit  272  and the device control unit  273  may be installed in an apparatus different from the inspection assistance apparatus  2 . 
       FIG. 10  is a diagram showing a configuration of another inspection assistance system S. The inspection assistance system S of  FIG. 10  includes the inspection assistance apparatus  2  for assisting inspection of the vehicle  1 , the external apparatus  3  related to the inspection of the vehicle  1 , and a management apparatus  100  for managing the inspection. The management apparatus  100  is connected to the inspection assistance apparatus  2  via the network N. The management apparatus  100  may be a single server or a cloud server configured with a plurality of servers. 
     The management apparatus  100  includes a display control unit and a device control unit. Since the display control unit and the device control unit are respectively similar to the display control unit  272  and the device control unit  273  of  FIG. 4 , description thereof will be omitted. The management apparatus  100  may be the same server as that of the external apparatus  3 . 
     Although the present disclosure has been described above using the embodiment, the technical scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiment, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the gist of the present disclosure. For example, all or some of the apparatuses can be functionally or physically distributed or integrated in any unit. Further, a new embodiment generated by any combination of a plurality of embodiments is also included in the embodiment of the present disclosure. Effects of the new embodiment generated by the combination include effects of the original embodiment. 
     The present application is based on a Japanese Patent Application filed on Jun. 13, 2019 (Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-110525), and contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     An inspection assistance program, an inspection assistance system, and a method for controlling an inspection assistance apparatus according to the present disclosure can facilitate inspection of an inspection item that requires an instrument. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
         
           
               1 : vehicle 
               2 : inspection assistance apparatus 
               3 : external apparatus 
               11 : in-vehicle wireless device 
               12 : various lamps 
               13 : various sensors 
               14 : ECU 
               21 : communication unit 
               22 : light 
               23 : image-capturing device 
               24 : touch panel 
               25 : display unit 
               26 : storage unit 
               27 : control unit 
               100 : management apparatus 
               141 : storage unit 
               142 : control unit 
               271 : operation reception unit 
               272 : display control unit 
               273 : device control unit 
               274 : communication control unit