Patent Description:
Patent Literature <NUM> discloses a system for performing wireless communication between a work machine and a portable terminal. This system establishes wireless communication between an access point device provided on the work machine and the portable terminal. A network name (SSID) is set in the access point device. When a user designates an SSID on the portable terminal, the wireless communication between the access point device corresponding to this SSID and the portable terminal can be established.

<CIT> discloses a system and apparatus for advertising vehicle information using network names includes a wireless transceiver removably attached to the data port of a vehicle. The transceiver creates a wireless network having a unique name. The transceiver advertises vehicle specific information as part of the wireless network name. The transceiver communicates the network name to an app running on a wireless user computing device. A plurality of unique network names may be collected by the app and stored for use in researching additional information about each vehicle having such a transceiver mounted thereon.

In the system of Patent Literature <NUM>, the user of the portable terminal needs to know the SSID of the access point device provided in the target work machine. If the user does not know the SSID, the wireless communication between the work machine and the portable terminal cannot be established and the system cannot be used.

In general, a character string that identifies the access point device itself is set in the SSID. Therefore, the SSID cannot specify the work machine provided with the access point device. Therefore, it is difficult for the user to know which SSID should be selected for wireless communication with a target work machine, especially when there are a plurality of work machines.

An object of the invention is to provide a wireless communication device, a work vehicle, and a wireless communication system for the work vehicle, which can easily set the wireless communication between the work vehicle and the portable terminal.

According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a wireless communication device according to independent claim <NUM>. According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a work vehicle according to independent claim <NUM>. According to a third aspect, the present invention provides a wireless communication system according to independent claim <NUM>. Further aspects of the present invention are set forth in the dependent claims, the drawings and the following description.

According to the invention, it is possible to provide a wireless communication device, a work vehicle, and a wireless communication system for the work vehicle, which can easily set wireless communication between the work vehicle and a portable terminal.

Next, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a wireless communication system A according to a first embodiment of the invention is a system for performing wireless communication between a work vehicle <NUM> and a portable terminal <NUM>. The work vehicle <NUM> includes mobile cranes, aerial work vehicles, and land-rail vehicles. In examples which are not according to the invention, examples of the work vehicle <NUM> include construction machines such as hydraulic excavators.

First, the configuration of the work vehicle <NUM> will be described.

The work vehicle <NUM> has an onboard network <NUM>. The number of onboard networks <NUM> of the work vehicle <NUM> is not particularly limited and may be one or plural. Further, portions of the work vehicle <NUM> other than the elements of the wireless communication device <NUM> described later may be regarded as an example of the work vehicle main body.

Various onboard devices mounted on the work vehicle <NUM> are connected to the onboard network <NUM>. The onboard network <NUM> is configured by communication lines that connect a plurality of onboard devices to each other. The communication protocol of the onboard network <NUM> is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include Controller Area Network (CAN), Local Interconnect Network (LIN), and Flex Ray.

The onboard devices connected to the onboard network <NUM> include a control unit <NUM>, an operation unit <NUM>, and a display unit <NUM>. Other onboard devices include various sensors.

The control unit <NUM> is an onboard computer including a CPU and a memory. The control unit <NUM> has a function of controlling a device mounted on the work vehicle <NUM>. The number of control units <NUM> is not limited to one. A plurality of control units <NUM> may be provided for each function. Examples of the control units <NUM> include a control unit that controls a crane device of a mobile crane, a control unit that controls an engine for in-vehicle driving of the mobile crane, and a control unit of an overload prevention device.

The operation unit <NUM> is a switch, a lever, a pedal, or the like used to operate a device or the like mounted on the work vehicle <NUM>. The operation unit <NUM> is provided in a driver's cab or the like of the work vehicle <NUM>. The number of operation units <NUM> is not particularly limited, and may be one or plural. Examples of the operation unit <NUM> include a lever used to operate the crane device, an accelerator pedal used to operate the vehicle running, a brake pedal, and a vehicle system switch. The vehicle system switches include a suspension level setting switch, a drive changeover switch, and a steering mode changeover switch.

The display unit <NUM> is configured by a liquid crystal display or the like. The display unit <NUM> is provided in the driver's cab of the work vehicle <NUM> or the like. The number of the display unit <NUM> is not particularly limited, and may be one or plural. Examples of the display unit <NUM> include a display of an overload prevention device and a combination meter for running a vehicle.

The operation unit <NUM> is connected to the control unit <NUM> via the onboard network <NUM>. When a worker operates the operation unit <NUM>, a specific operation signal is output from the operation unit <NUM> to the onboard network <NUM>. The operation signal is input to the control unit <NUM> via the onboard network <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> controls devices and the like mounted on the work vehicle <NUM> based on the operation signal. As a result, a worker can operate the work vehicle <NUM> using the operation unit <NUM>.

The display unit <NUM> is connected to the control unit <NUM> via the onboard network <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> outputs an information signal indicating various information of the work vehicle <NUM> to the onboard network <NUM>. The information signal is input to the display unit <NUM> via the onboard network <NUM>. The display unit <NUM> displays various information of the work vehicle <NUM> based on the information signal. Thereby, the worker can grasp the state of the work vehicle <NUM> through the display unit <NUM>.

In this way, the plurality of onboard devices connected to the onboard network <NUM> exchange signals with each other to perform various controls and processes. Here, the signal transmitted/received via the onboard network <NUM> is called an "in-vehicle signal". The in-vehicle signal includes the above-mentioned operation signal, information signal, and other signals.

A work vehicle information control unit <NUM> is connected to the onboard network <NUM>. The work vehicle information control unit <NUM> is an onboard computer including a CPU and a memory. The work vehicle information control unit <NUM> has at least a function of transmitting a work vehicle identification character string described later. The work vehicle information control unit <NUM> may have only this function, or may have other functions in addition to this function. The control unit <NUM> may have a function as the work vehicle information control unit <NUM>.

The work vehicle information control unit <NUM> stores a work vehicle identification character string in advance. Here, the "work vehicle identification character string" is a character string used to identify the work vehicle <NUM>. The work vehicle identification character string corresponds to an example of identification information. Examples of the work vehicle identification character string include the production number, product name, product type, specification number, vehicle identification number (VIN), customer number, and registration number of the work vehicle <NUM>. Here, the production number is a unique number (serial number) given when the work vehicle <NUM> is manufactured. The product name is a name that identifies the model of the work vehicle <NUM>. The product type is a symbol given to products having the same structure, device, performance and the like. The specification number is a symbol assigned to each group by grouping products by performance. The vehicle identification number (VIN) is a unique number assigned to the vehicle of the work vehicle <NUM>. The customer number is a number arbitrarily set by the customer for the work vehicle <NUM>. The registration number is the license plate number of the work vehicle <NUM>.

Next, the configuration of the wireless communication device <NUM> provided in the work vehicle <NUM> will be described.

The wireless communication device <NUM> is connected to the onboard network <NUM> of the work vehicle <NUM>. When the work vehicle <NUM> has a plurality of onboard networks <NUM>, the wireless communication device <NUM> may be connected to a plurality of the onboard networks <NUM>. Further, it is not necessary to connect the wireless communication device <NUM> to all the onboard networks <NUM> of the work vehicle <NUM>. The wireless communication device <NUM> may be connected to a part of the plurality of onboard networks <NUM> included in the work vehicle <NUM>.

The wireless communication device <NUM> is physically removable from the onboard network <NUM> and is connected to the onboard network <NUM> only when necessary. The wireless communication device <NUM> has a connector. The wireless communication device <NUM> is attached/detached by connecting/disconnecting the connector on the wireless communication device <NUM> side and the connector on the onboard network <NUM> side. In an example which is not according to the invention, the wireless communication device <NUM> may be made non-detachable and may always be connected to the onboard network <NUM>. That is, the wireless communication device <NUM> may be incorporated in the work vehicle <NUM>.

As a power line for supplying power to the wireless communication device <NUM>, for example, an accessory line of the work vehicle <NUM> can be used. Then, the power of the battery mounted on the work vehicle <NUM> is supplied to the wireless communication device <NUM> by a key operation for starting the engine.

The wireless communication device <NUM> includes a signal processing unit <NUM> and a communication control unit <NUM>. Each of the signal processing unit <NUM> and the communication control unit <NUM> may be configured by hardware such as an electronic circuit, or a part of the functions thereof may be configured by software.

The signal processing unit <NUM> is connected to the onboard network <NUM>. The signal processing unit <NUM> transmits/receives signals to/from various onboard devices (the control unit <NUM>, the operation unit <NUM>, the display unit <NUM>, and the work vehicle information control unit <NUM>) via the onboard network <NUM>.

The communication control unit <NUM> controls wireless communication with the portable terminal <NUM>. The communication control unit <NUM> has a function as an access point in a wireless Local Area Network (LAN). In the communication control unit <NUM>, a network name (SSID: Service Set Identifier) used for wireless communication, an encryption key (network key), and the like are set.

By establishing communication between the communication control unit <NUM> and the portable terminal <NUM>, the wireless communication device <NUM> and the portable terminal <NUM> are wirelessly connected. Hereinafter, the network established between the wireless communication device <NUM> and the portable terminal <NUM> is referred to as a wireless network <NUM>.

The communication control unit <NUM> transmits and receives signals to and from the portable terminal <NUM>. At this time, the communication control unit <NUM> performs conversion processing between the communication protocol of the onboard network <NUM> and the communication protocol of the wireless network <NUM>.

For example, the communication control unit <NUM> transmits the in-vehicle signal acquired by the signal processing unit <NUM> from the onboard network <NUM> to the portable terminal <NUM>. Further, the communication control unit <NUM> outputs the signal received from the portable terminal <NUM> to the onboard network <NUM> via the signal processing unit <NUM>.

Next, the configuration of the portable terminal <NUM> will be described.

The portable terminal <NUM> is a general-purpose computer including a CPU and a memory. The portable terminal <NUM> has a wireless communication function. The portable terminal <NUM> is, for example, a personal computer, a tablet terminal, or a high-performance mobile phone (smartphone). The portable terminal <NUM> can be arranged outside the driver's cab of the work vehicle <NUM>. The portable terminal <NUM> has a display unit <NUM>. The display unit <NUM> is a liquid crystal display or the like.

An application using wireless communication with the work vehicle <NUM> is installed in the portable terminal <NUM>. An example of this type of application is a display application that displays information about the work vehicle <NUM> based on the received in-vehicle signal. Information on the work vehicle <NUM> is displayed on the display unit <NUM>. Further, an operation application for remotely operating the work vehicle <NUM> may be installed on the portable terminal <NUM>. The worker can operate the work vehicle <NUM> remotely by operating the portable terminal <NUM> and executing the operation application.

Next, the operation of the wireless communication system A will be described.

The wireless communication system A has a feature that a work vehicle identification character string is used as a network name used for wireless communication with the portable terminal <NUM>. The details will be described below based on the flowchart illustrated in <FIG>.

First, the power source of the wireless communication device <NUM> is turned on. For example, the power of the battery mounted on the work vehicle <NUM> is supplied to the wireless communication device <NUM> by a key operation for starting the engine of the work vehicle <NUM>. After that, the wireless communication device <NUM> executes a network name setting process.

In the communication control unit <NUM>, whether to automatically set the network name is set in advance. This setting can be changed (selected) by a worker using a switch provided in the wireless communication device <NUM> or other selection means. When the worker wants to use the work vehicle identification character string as the network name, the automatic setting is set to ON (also referred to as the first mode of the wireless communication device <NUM>). On the other hand, when the worker wants to use the network name defined independently (in other words, second character string data preset in the wireless communication device <NUM>), the automatic setting is set to OFF (also referred to as a second mode of the wireless communication device <NUM>).

In other words, the wireless communication device <NUM> uses the character string (also referred to as first character string data) generated based on the work vehicle identification character string acquired from the work vehicle information control unit <NUM> as the network name in the first mode, and a second mode in which a character string (also referred to as second character string data) preset in the wireless communication device <NUM> is used as a network name. The wireless communication device <NUM> has a selection unit (not illustrated) capable of selecting the first mode and the second mode. The wireless communication device <NUM> may be configured to have only the first mode. In this case, the wireless communication device <NUM> does not have to have the selection unit.

Further, the wireless communication device <NUM> may automatically switch between the first mode and the second mode. Specifically, the wireless communication device <NUM> may automatically change from the first mode to the second mode when the work vehicle identification character string cannot be received from the work vehicle <NUM> (specifically, the work vehicle information control unit <NUM>). When such a configuration is adopted, the above selection unit may be omitted.

The first character string data may be, as an example, data of only the work vehicle identification character string acquired from the work vehicle information control unit <NUM>, data of a character string obtained by adding other character strings to the work vehicle identification character string acquired from the work vehicle information control unit <NUM>, or data of a character string obtained by subtracting a part of a character string from the work vehicle identification character string acquired from the work vehicle information control unit <NUM>. The communication control unit <NUM> confirms ON/OFF of the automatic setting (Step S11).

When the automatic setting is OFF (No in Step S11), the wireless communication device <NUM> ends the network name setting process. In this case, the communication control unit <NUM> uses a preset network name for wireless communication.

When the automatic setting is ON (Yes in Step S11), the signal processing unit <NUM> transmits a request signal to the work vehicle information control unit <NUM> via the onboard network <NUM> (Step S12). Here, the request signal is a signal requesting the work vehicle information control unit <NUM> to transmit the work vehicle identification character string. The signal processing unit <NUM> corresponds to an example of an acquisition unit.

Before acquiring the work vehicle identification character string, the wireless communication device <NUM> transmits a request signal for requesting the transmission of the work vehicle identification character string to the work vehicle information control unit <NUM>. The work vehicle information control unit <NUM> receives the request signal from the wireless communication device <NUM>. In this case, the work vehicle information control unit <NUM> transmits the stored work vehicle identification character string (also referred to as a response signal) to the wireless communication device <NUM> via the onboard network <NUM>. Then, the signal processing unit <NUM> receives the work vehicle identification character string from the work vehicle information control unit <NUM> (Step S13). In this way, the wireless communication device <NUM> acquires the work vehicle identification character string from the work vehicle information control unit <NUM> via the onboard network <NUM>.

The signal processing unit <NUM> inputs the received work vehicle identification character string to the communication control unit <NUM>. The communication control unit <NUM> generates a new network name based on the input work vehicle identification character string (Step S14). As an example, the new network name may be a character string including a work vehicle identification character string. The new network name may be the work vehicle identification character string itself, or may be the work vehicle identification character string to which another character string is added. Alternatively, the new network name may be a character string obtained by removing a part of the character string from the work vehicle identification character string. Further, the new network name may be a character string generated based on the work vehicle identification character string so that the worker can more easily identify the work vehicle. The communication control unit <NUM> may be regarded as an example of the generation unit.

Next, the communication control unit <NUM> compares the generated new network name with the currently set network name (Step S15). For example, when the wireless communication device <NUM> is connected to the onboard network <NUM> and then the power source of the wireless communication device <NUM> is turned on for the first time, the two network names do not match. After connecting the wireless communication device <NUM> to the onboard network <NUM>, when the power source of the wireless communication device <NUM> is turned on for the second time or later, both network names match.

When the new network name and the currently set network name match (Yes in Step S15), the wireless communication device <NUM> ends the network name setting process.

When the new network name and the currently set network name do not match (No in Step S15), the communication control unit <NUM> sets the new network name (a character string including the work vehicle identification character string) as the network name (Step S16). The communication control unit <NUM> may be regarded as an example of the setting unit.

After the network name setting process described above, the wireless communication device <NUM> and the portable terminal <NUM> are in a state where wireless communication can be established using the network name set in the wireless communication device <NUM>. This wireless communication is established, for example, in the following procedure.

The communication control unit <NUM> periodically broadcasts a beacon. The beacon includes various information necessary for establishing wireless communication such as a network name. The portable terminal <NUM> scans radio waves and receives the beacon. The portable terminal <NUM> acquires the network name from the received beacon and displays it on the display unit <NUM>. Here, when receiving a plurality of types of beacons (beacons transmitted from a plurality of access points), the portable terminal <NUM> displays a plurality of network names on the display unit <NUM>.

When the user of the portable terminal <NUM> specifies one network name, the portable terminal <NUM> transmits a probe request to the communication control unit <NUM> corresponding to the network name. The communication control unit <NUM> that has received the probe request transmits a probe response to the portable terminal <NUM>. As a result, wireless communication is established between the communication control unit <NUM> and the portable terminal <NUM>.

Here, the network name of the wireless communication device <NUM> includes the work vehicle identification character string. Generally, the user of the portable terminal <NUM> knows the work vehicle identification character string, that is, the production number of the work vehicle <NUM> and the like. Therefore, the user can determine the network to be connected from the work vehicle identification character string even if the user does not particularly store the network name. Further, the work vehicle <NUM> may have, for example, a production number, and a name plate (not illustrated) on which a product type and the like are described. Such a name plate may be provided at a position such as an outer surface of the vehicle body that is easily visible to the user. The work vehicle identification character string used for the network name of the wireless communication device <NUM> is preferably a character string relating to the information described on the name plate.

Further, since the work vehicle identification character string is a character string that identifies the work vehicle <NUM>, the user can specify the work vehicle <NUM> corresponding to the network name from the network name. When there are a plurality of work vehicles <NUM> on the work site, a plurality of network names are displayed on the display unit <NUM> of the portable terminal <NUM>. Even in this case, the correspondence between the network name and the work vehicle <NUM> is clear, and the user can easily understand the network name corresponding to the target work vehicle <NUM>. Therefore, setting of wireless communication between the work vehicle <NUM> and the portable terminal <NUM> is easy.

The wireless communication device <NUM> can be attached to and detached from the work vehicle <NUM>, and may be remounted on another work vehicle <NUM>. Such a wireless communication device <NUM> may be a wireless unit that can be attached to and detached from the work vehicle <NUM> via a connector (not illustrated). In the case of such a wireless communication device <NUM> that can be attached to and detached from the work vehicle <NUM>, the network name of the wireless communication device <NUM> is automatically changed to the generated character string (in other words, the first character string data) based on the work vehicle identification character string of the work vehicle <NUM> in which the wireless communication device <NUM> is newly installed. Therefore, the correspondence between the network name of the wireless communication device <NUM> and the work vehicle <NUM> can be maintained even if the worker does not perform a special operation.

The wireless communication device <NUM> according to this embodiment can also be used by connecting to a work vehicle that does not support the first mode of the wireless communication device <NUM>. In this case, the wireless communication device <NUM> may be used in the second mode in which a network name preset in the wireless communication device <NUM> is used.

When the wireless communication device <NUM> does not receive the response signal after a predetermined time has passed from the transmission of the request signal, the network name preset in the wireless communication device <NUM> may be used as the network name for wireless communication. If such a configuration is adopted, the wireless communication device <NUM> according to this embodiment can be used by connecting to a work vehicle that does not support the first mode.

After wireless communication is established between the work vehicle <NUM> and the portable terminal <NUM>, various processes can be performed using this wireless communication. For example, the wireless communication device <NUM> transmits an in-vehicle signal flowing through the onboard network <NUM> to the portable terminal <NUM>. The portable terminal <NUM> displays information on the work vehicle <NUM> based on the in-vehicle signal. Then, the portable terminal <NUM> can confirm the information of the work vehicle <NUM>. The portable terminal <NUM> can be used as an alternative to the display unit <NUM>.

Further, when the user operates the portable terminal <NUM>, the operation signal is transmitted from the portable terminal <NUM>. The wireless communication device <NUM> outputs the operation signal to the onboard network <NUM>. The onboard device connected to the onboard network <NUM> performs processing based on the operation signal. The work vehicle <NUM> can be remotely controlled using the portable terminal <NUM>. The portable terminal <NUM> can be used as an alternative to the operation unit <NUM>.

Next, a wireless communication system according to the second embodiment of the invention will be described. The configuration of the wireless communication system of this embodiment is the same as that of the wireless communication system A of the first embodiment, and therefore the description thereof is omitted (see <FIG>).

The network name setting process executed by the wireless communication device <NUM> of this embodiment will be described based on the flowchart illustrated in <FIG>.

First, the communication control unit <NUM> confirms ON/OFF of the automatic setting (Step S21). When the automatic setting is OFF, the wireless communication device <NUM> ends the network name setting process. In this case, the communication control unit <NUM> uses a preset network name for wireless communication.

When the automatic setting is ON, the signal processing unit <NUM> acquires the work vehicle identification character string from the work vehicle information control unit <NUM> of the onboard network <NUM> (Step S22). In the case of this embodiment, the work vehicle information control unit <NUM> periodically outputs the work vehicle identification character string to the onboard network <NUM>. That is, the signal processing unit <NUM> acquires the work vehicle identification character string periodically output from the work vehicle information control unit <NUM>. Further, the wireless communication device <NUM> may set the character string preset in the wireless communication device <NUM> (in other words, the second character string data) as the network name used for wireless communication when the work vehicle identification character string cannot be acquired after a predetermined time has elapsed since the power source of the wireless communication device <NUM> has turned on.

In this embodiment, the signal processing unit <NUM> does not need to send a request signal to the work vehicle information control unit <NUM>. Further, the work vehicle information control unit <NUM> does not need to perform the processing based on the request signal. Therefore, even if the communication of the onboard network <NUM> is one-way communication from the work vehicle information control unit <NUM> to the signal processing unit <NUM>, the signal processing unit <NUM> can acquire the work vehicle identification character string.

Claim 1:
A wireless communication device (<NUM>) comprising:
a communication control unit (<NUM>) that is configured to wirelessly connect a work vehicle (<NUM>), which is any one of mobile cranes, aerial work vehicles, and land-rail vehicles, and a portable terminal (<NUM>);
an acquisition unit (<NUM>) that is connected to an onboard network (<NUM>) of the work vehicle (<NUM>) and is configured to acquire work vehicle identification information for identifying the work vehicle (<NUM>) from the work vehicle (<NUM>);
a generation unit (<NUM>) that is configured to generate first character string data based on the work vehicle identification information; and
a setting unit (<NUM>) that is configured to set the generated first character string data to the communication control unit (<NUM>) as a network name;
a storage unit that is configured to store second character string data for identifying the wireless communication device (<NUM>); and
a selection unit that is configured to select a first mode in which the generated first character string data is set to the communication control unit (<NUM>) as the network name, and a second mode in which the stored second character string data is set to the communication control unit (<NUM>) as the network name,
wherein the setting unit is configured to set the generated first character string data to the communication control unit (<NUM>) as the network name when the first mode is selected in the selection unit, and to set the stored second character string data to the communication control unit (<NUM>) as the network name when the second mode is selected in the selection unit,
the wireless communication device (<NUM>) is a wireless unit detachably connected to the work vehicle (<NUM>) via a connector; and
after wireless communication between the work vehicle (<NUM>) and the portable terminal (<NUM>) has been established using the network name set in the wireless communication device (<NUM>), the wireless communication device (<NUM>) is configured to output an operation signal received from the portable terminal (<NUM>) to the onboard network (<NUM>), wherein the operation signal is a signal for remotely controlling the work vehicle (<NUM>).