Patent ID: 12195024

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which specific embodiments of the disclosure are shown. As those have ordinary skill in the art should realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure.

In order to clarify the present disclosure, parts that are not related to the description have been omitted. Also, the same elements or equivalents are referred to with the same reference numerals throughout the specification.

Throughout this specification and the claims that follow, when it is described that an element is “coupled” to another element, the element may be “directly coupled” to the other element or “indirectly coupled” to the other element through a third element. In addition, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word “comprise”, and variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, should be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements. When a component, device, element, or the like of the present disclosure is described as having a purpose or performing an operation, function, or the like, the component, device, or element should be considered herein as being “configured to” meet that purpose or to perform that operation or function. Further, the controller described herein may include a processor programmed to perform the noted operations, functions, or the like.

Hereinafter, a method and system for providing a connected car service according to an embodiment of the present disclosure are described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG.1schematically illustrates the connected car service system according to an embodiment. For the sake of convenience of description,FIG.1illustrates an example that one connected car terminal1is coupled to a connected car server3and one vehicle controller/terminal5is coupled to the connected car terminal1. However, it should be understood that this is merely an example, and at least one connected car terminal1may be coupled to the connected car server3, and at least one vehicle controller/terminal5may be coupled to each connected car terminal1.

As shown inFIG.1, in a system for providing the connected car service according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the connected car terminal1is installed on the vehicle and may communicate with the vehicle controller/terminal5in the vehicle. In addition, the connected car terminal1may communicate with the connected car server3or a user terminal4through a communication network2provided by a communication company. For example, the connected car terminal1may communicate with the connected car server3through a wireless network.

The connected car terminal1may collect, in cooperation with the vehicle controller/terminal5, position information and state information (e.g., parked, running, occupant information, door opened/closed) of the vehicle, road information of the road on which the vehicle is currently running, and the like. When having collected the position information and state information of the vehicle, the road information of the road on which the vehicle is running, and the like, the connected car terminal1may transfer them to the connected car server3.

The connected car terminal1manages, by a table, a list of services/functions applied to the vehicle installed with the connected car terminal1, i.e., available at the vehicle, and may provide the list of services/functions applied to the vehicle to the connected car server3through the communication network2. For this purpose, the connected car terminal1may check, in cooperation with the vehicle controller/terminal5, whether each vehicle controller/terminal5is installed, and services/functions of the connected car service applied to the vehicle installed with the connected car terminal1. When additionally installed on the vehicle or when a new service/function for the connected car service is added by a software update, the vehicle controller/terminal5may transfer information on the newly added service/function to the connected car terminal1, In addition, the connected car terminal1may obtain, in cooperation with the vehicle controller/terminal5in the corresponding vehicle, the connected car service usage status, i.e., information on user's usage status with respect to services/functions provided by the connected car service.

Table 1 below shows an example of the list of services/functions that the connected car terminal1transfers to the connected car server3.

TABLE 1service/functionactivation/deactivationusage statusaActivatedUsedbActivatedUsedcActivatedUnuseddActivatedUnusedeActivatedUsedfActivatedUsedzActivatedUseda+Newly added, ActivatedUsedc+Newly added, ActivatedUsedxNewly added,UnusedSeparate Activation requiredyNewly added, ActivatedUsedtNewly added, ActivatedUsed

Referring to table 1, when transferring the list of services/functions available at the vehicle to the connected car server3, the connected car terminal1may transmit by additionally including information on whether each service/function is newly added, activated or not, and usage status. The connected car server3may communicate with the connected car terminal1, the user terminal4, or a contents providing server6, through the communication network2.

The connected car server3may provide information received from the contents providing server6to each connected car terminal1based on the vehicle position. For this purpose, the connected car server3may include a contents providing component34.

The contents providing component34may transfer contents such as weather information, traffic information, disaster information, news information, and the like provided from the contents providing server6to each connected car terminal1. At this time, the contents providing component34receives position information of the corresponding vehicle from each connected car terminal1, and based on such, may provide information provided from the contents providing server6to each connected car terminal1.

The connected car server3may manage services/functions that may be provided by each connected car terminal1, based on vehicle type, platform and version (hardware version or software version) of each connected car terminal1or the vehicle controller/terminal5, user's subscribed fee plan of each connected car terminal1, and the like. For this purpose, the connected car server3may further include a service/function information database31, a fee plan information database32, a customer information database33, and a service manager component35.

The service/function information database31may separately store and manage the list of services/functions available in the connected car service for each vehicle type, platform, or version (terminal version or software version).

The fee plan information database32may separately store and manage the list of services/functions available in the connected car service for each fee plan.

By using each connected car terminal1, the customer information database33may store and manage customer information of user provided with the connected car service for each customer. The customer information stored in the customer information database33may include demographic information (demographic information such as age, gender, marital status, address, and the like, and the like) of each user who subscribed to the connected car service, vehicle information (vehicle model information, passenger/SUV classification information, displacement information, model year information, engine type information, and the like), each user's subscribed fee plan information, and the like. In addition, the customer information stored in the customer information database33may include data received from the connected car terminal1of each user, such as for example, the list of services/functions applied to the corresponding vehicle, the position information and state information of the vehicle, road information of the road on which the vehicle is currently running, and the like.

The service manager component35receives the list of services/functions applied to the vehicle installed with a corresponding terminal from each connected car terminal1and may store it in the customer information database33. The service manager component35compares the service/function list received from each connected car terminal1with the service/function lists stored in the service/function information database31. When an item in the service/function list received from the connected car terminal does not exist in the list of the corresponding vehicle type, platform, or version (terminal version or software version), the corresponding item may be added to the service/function list of the corresponding vehicle type, platform, or version (terminal version or software version).

Among services/functions constituting the connected car service, there may be items of which usage is limited according to vehicle type, platform, version (terminal version or software version), user's subscribed fee plan, and the like. Therefore, the service manager component35checks the vehicle type, platform, version (terminal version or software version), user's subscribed fee plan information, and the like corresponding to the connected car terminal1from the customer information database33. Based on such, the service manager component35can identify services/functions that may be activated, among the services/functions applied to the vehicle of the connected car terminal1. The service manager component35may set, to an activated state, at least one service/function identified as capable of being activated among the services/functions applied to the connected car terminal1. In addition, the service manager component35may provide activated state information of respective services/functions to the connected car terminal1and the user terminal4of the user who uses it.

The connected car service application (APP)41of the user terminal4that received such may automatically activate and provide only menu items of services/functions available through a corresponding connected car terminal1among the entire menu items. In addition, the connected car terminal1may automatically activate the service/function set to the activated state by the connected car server3, among the services/functions applied to the vehicle of the connected car terminal1.

The connected car server3may induce usage of an unused service/function, through a big data analysis for the service/function usage status of each connected car terminal1. For this purpose, the connected car server3may further include a big data analyzer component36, i.e., a data analyzer component capable of handling large amounts of data.

The big data analyzer component36may collect the connected car service usage status information, the position information and state information of the vehicle, the road information of the road on which the vehicle is running, and the like, from each connected car terminal1or the user terminal4, and may store them in the customer information database33. The big data analyzer component36may perform the big data analysis using such collected information.

With reference to the big data analysis result for information (the position information and state information of the vehicle, the road information of the road on which the vehicle is running, service usage status information, and the like) collected from each connected car terminal1or the user terminal4, and information (for example, weather information, disaster information, and the like) provided from the contents providing server6, the big data analyzer component36may identify a currently unused service/function among the services/functions of the connected car service that may be used by the user. The big data analyzer component36may estimate an optimal guiding time point of usage guidance information for the unused service/function.

Through the big data analysis for information collected from each connected car terminal1or the user terminal4, the big data analyzer component36may identify a service/function that is in a deactivated state, or unused while in the activated state, among the services/functions that may be used by the user through the connected car terminal1.

Through the big data analysis for the customer information stored in the customer information database33, the big data analyzer component36may obtain usage pattern (for example, frequently used time point, surrounding environment information during usage, and the like) of users who use the corresponding service/function, for each service/function. In addition, the big data analyzer component36performs a big data analysis, in which the vehicle information collected through the connected car terminal1or the user terminal4of each user and vehicle surrounding environment information are compared with usage pattern information of users for each service/function, and similarity thereof is analyzed. The information of the vehicle may include, for example, position information, state information, and the like of the vehicle. The vehicle surrounding environment information may include, for example, weather information, disaster information, traffic information, and the like, provided from the contents providing server6. Based on a result of such analysis, the big data analyzer component36may derive a required time point or an optimal use time point of a corresponding service/function, with respect to each service/function that is unused by a corresponding user. In addition, based on the required time point or optimal use time point, or the like, of each service/function derived as such, the big data analyzer component36may derive the optimal guiding time point that is optimal for guiding, to the corresponding user, the service/function that is unused by the user.

With respect to a service/function that is in the activated state but unused, or that is available but deactivated in each connected car terminal1or the user terminal4, as described above, the big data analyzer component36may provide usage guidance information that induces usage to the corresponding connected car terminal1or the user terminal4, at the optimal guiding time point obtained by the big data analysis. Here, usage guidance information is transferred to the connected car terminal1or the user terminal4in the form of a text message, a push message, and the like, and may include information on the corresponding service/function and guide information on a using method. In addition, when separate subscription or function activation is required for the corresponding service/function to be activated, the usage guidance information may further include guide information on a subscription method or an activation method. In addition, the usage guidance information may further include link information that is linked to an execution menu for the corresponding service/function, an activation menu for the corresponding service/function, or a subscription menu to use the corresponding service/function, and the like.

Upon receiving the above-described the usage guidance information from the connected car server3, the user terminal4or the connected car terminal1may display it on a screen. Therefore, the user who found the service/function that is not used by the user may use the corresponding service/function, or may use the service after activation according to the guided activation method when the activation is required for the function/service.

FIG.2schematically illustrates a method for providing the connected car service according to an embodiment. The method for providing the connected car service ofFIG.2may be performed by the system described above with reference toFIG.1.

Referring toFIG.2, at step S10, the vehicle controller/terminal5providing the connected car service may transfer, to the corresponding connected car terminal1, vehicle information (the position information and state information of the vehicle, the road information of the road on which the vehicle is running, and the like) of the corresponding vehicle, or information on services/functions applied to the corresponding vehicle.

At the step S10, when the vehicle controller/terminal5is newly installed to a vehicle, or when services/functions supported by the vehicle controller/terminal5are changed due to a software update, the vehicle controller/terminal5may transmit information on newly added or changed services/functions to the connected car terminal1.

At step S11, the connected car terminal1collects vehicle information or information on services/functions applied to the vehicle from the vehicle controller/terminal5, and based on such, generates a corresponding service/function list applied to vehicle. At step S12, the connected car terminal1may transfer the vehicle information collected from the vehicle controller/terminal5as well as the service/function list applied to vehicle to the connected car server3.

At the step S11, the connected car terminal1initially transfers a list for all services/functions applied to the vehicle to the connected car server3. Thereafter, the connected car terminal1may transfer only a list of services/functions that are updated or newly added to the vehicle, to the connected car server3.

After receiving the vehicle information of the corresponding vehicle as well as the corresponding service/function list applied to vehicle from the connected car terminal1, the connected car server3may store them in the customer information database33.

At step S13, based on the service/function list received from the connected car terminal and fee plan information corresponding to corresponding user's subscribed fee plan, the connected car server3may set services/functions available for the corresponding user to the activated state.

In addition, at steps S14and S15, the connected car server3may transfer the activated service/function list to the corresponding connected car terminal1and the user terminal4of the user who uses it.

At the step S13, the connected car server3checks the vehicle type, platform, version (terminal version or software version), user's subscribed fee plan information corresponding to each connected car terminal1, from the customer information database33, and based on such, may identify services/functions that may be automatically activated, among the services/functions applied to the vehicle of each connected car terminal1. In addition, the connected car server3may set, to the activated state, at least one service/function identified as capable of automatic activation among the services/functions applied to the connected car terminal1.

Thereafter, upon receiving the list of activated services/functions from the connected car server3, the user terminal4may set, at step S16, based on such, among entire menu items provided through the connected car service APP41, only menu items corresponding to the activated service/function to the activated state, and provide the service to the user.

At step S17, the connected car terminal1may automatically activate at least one service/function based on the list received from the connected car server3. Subsequently, at step318, the connected car terminal1periodically obtains usage status information on respective services/functions in cooperation with the vehicle controller/terminal5and may provide the obtained usage status information to the connected car server3.

At step S19, the connected car server3that has received it checks whether an unused service/function exists among services/functions available at the connected car terminal1. At step S20, when the unused service/function exists, the connected car server3may estimate the optimal guiding time point of the usage guidance information with respect to the corresponding service/function through the big data analysis.

At the step S19, the connected car server3may identify a service/function that is in the activated state but unused, or that is in the deactivated state through the big data analysis for information collected from each connected car terminal1or the user terminal4, among the services/functions that may be used by the user through the connected car terminal1.

At the step S20, through the big data analysis for the customer information stored in the customer information database33, the connected car server3may obtain usage pattern (for example, frequently used time point, surrounding environment information during usage, and the like) of users who use the corresponding service/function, for each service/function. In addition, the connected car server3compares information (position information, state information, and the like of the vehicle) collected through the connected car terminal1or the user terminal4as well as vehicle surrounding environment information (weather information, disaster information, traffic information, and the like, provided from the contents providing server6) with usage pattern information of users for each service/function. The connected car server3may derive, based on the comparison result, the optimal guiding time point for each service/function that is unused.

Thereafter, the optimal guiding time point derived through the step S19is reached at step S21, the connected car server3may provide, at step S22, the usage guidance information for inducing usage of the unused service/function to the user terminal4.

At step S23, the user terminal4may display the received usage guidance information on a display through the connected car service APP41. Therefore, the user who found the service/function that is not used by the user may use the corresponding service/function, or may use the service after activation according to the guided activation method when the activation is required for the function/service.

Hereinafter, an example of providing the connected car service in the connected car service system according to an embodiment is described in detail.

During an initial set up, the connected car terminal1generates, in cooperation with the vehicle controller/terminal5in the vehicle, a list of services/functions applicable in the vehicle installed with the connected car terminal1as shown in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2Applied or notActivated or notservice/function(On/Off)(On/Off)sosOnOffvehicle diagnosisOnOffremote startOnOffremote door openingOnOff

Referring to the above Table 2, the vehicle installed with the connected car terminal1is applied with services/functions of “sos”, “vehicle diagnosis”, “remote start”, and “remote door opening” as the connected car service functions, and these services/functions are in the deactivated state at the time of initial set up. When the service/function list applied to vehicle of the connected car terminal1is generated, the connected car terminal1transfers it to the connected car server3. Then, the connected car server3checks the vehicle type, platform, version, subscription fee plan, and the like corresponding to the connected car terminal1from the customer information database33. In addition, the connected car server3checks, based on the vehicle type, platform, version, user's subscribed fee plan, and the like corresponding to the connected car terminal1, a service/function list that may be activated at the connected car terminal1. Based on such, the connected car server3sets to be activated or not the services/functions included in the service/function list received from the connected car terminal1. For example, when all the services/functions of “sos”, “vehicle diagnosis”, “remote start”, and “remote door opening” may be used, the connected car server3may set all the services/functions of “sos”, “vehicle diagnosis”, “remote start”, and “remote door opening”, to the activated state, as shown in Table 3 below.

TABLE 3Applied or notActivated or notservice/function(On/Off)(On/Off)sosOnOnvehicle diagnosisOnOnremote startOnOnremote door openingOnOn

When the activation setting for each service/function is completed, the connected car server3transfers information on the activated service/function to the connected car terminal1and the user terminal4, as described above. Then, the connected car terminal1switches corresponding service/function to the activated state, based on the received activation information. Subsequently, since services/functions of “svm-based vehicle surrounding image check” and “rear seat passenger notification” are newly applied to the vehicle due to a software update of the vehicle controller/terminal5or the connected car terminal1, the connected car terminal1transfers a service/function list updated in consideration of the newly added services/functions, as shown in Table 4 below.

TABLE 4Applied or notActivated or notservice/function(on/off)(on/off)sosOnOnvehicle diagnosisOnOnremote startOnOnremote door openingOnOnsvm-based vehicleOn (newly added)Offsurrounding image checkrear seat passengerOn (newly added)Offnotification

At this time, the services/functions of “svm-based vehicle surrounding image check” and “rear seat passenger notification” are not yet set to be activated. Upon receiving the updated service/function list from the connected car terminal1, the connected car server3checks services/functions that may be activated for the vehicle type, platform, version, and subscription fee plan corresponding to the connected car terminal1. Based on such, the connected car server3sets to be activated or not the newly added services/functions. For example, as shown in Table 5 below, while the newly added service/function of “svm-based vehicle surrounding image check” may be activated, the service/function of “rear seat passenger notification” may not be set to the activated state because the customer's separate consent, activation processing, or subscription to the fee plan is required.

TABLE 5Applied or notActivated or notservice/function(on/off)(on/off)sosOnOnvehicle diagnosisOnOnremote startOnOnremote door openingOnOnsvm-based vehicleOn (newly added)Onsurrounding image checkrear seat passengerOn (newly added)Offnotification

When activation setting for the newly added service/function is completed, as described above, the connected car server3transfers information on the activated service/function to the connected car terminal1and the user terminal4. Then, the connected car terminal1updates the activation state with respect to the newly added service/function, based on the received activation information. In other words, the connected car terminal1switches the service/function of “svm-based vehicle surrounding image check” among the newly added services/functions to the activated state and maintains the deactivated state of the service/function of “rear seat passenger notification”. Thereafter, the connected car terminal1identifies the usage status of services/functions applied to the vehicle of the connected car terminal1and generates the identified usage status information as Table 6 below, to transfer it to the connected car server3.

TABLE 6Applied or notActivated or notUsed orservice/function(on/off)(on/off)unusedsosOnOnUsedvehicle diagnosisOnOnUsedremote startOnOnUsedremote door openingOnOnUsedsvm-based vehicleOnOnUnusedsurrounding image checkrear seat passengerOnOffUnusednotification

Upon receiving the usage status information of the services/functions from the connected car terminal1, the connected car server3may recognize that the services/functions of “svm-based vehicle surrounding image check” and “rear seat passenger notification” are currently unused. Accordingly, in connection with the service/function of “svm-based vehicle surrounding image check” that is in the activated state but unused, the connected car server3may transfer the usage guidance information for guiding a using method of the service/function of “svm-based vehicle surrounding image check” to the user terminal4. In addition, in connection with the service/function of “rear seat passenger notification” that is not yet activated, the connected car server3may transfer the usage guidance information for guiding a consent method, an activation processing method, or a fee plan subscription method, and the like, required for the activation, to the user terminal4. At this time, through the big data analysis with respect to a usage pattern of the service/function of “svm-based vehicle surrounding image check” and the service/function of “rear seat passenger notification” of other users who use the service/function of “svm-based vehicle surrounding image check” and the service/function of “rear seat passenger notification”, and through the vehicle information (position information, state information, and the like of the vehicle) and surrounding environment information (weather information, disaster information, traffic information, and the like, provided from the contents providing server6) of the vehicle applied with the connected car terminal1, the connected car server3may determine a transfer time point for a usage guidance information related to the service/function of “svm-based vehicle surrounding image check” and the service/function of “rear seat passenger notification”. In other words, through the big data analysis, the connected car server3checks time point at which the service/function of “svm-based vehicle surrounding image check” and the service/function of “rear seat passenger notification” are required, available, or the like, and based on such, may derive an optimal guiding time point. For example, since the service/function of “svm-based vehicle surrounding image check” is frequently used for a user to find a vehicle position where the vehicle is parked, the connected car server3may determine, based on a parked state of the vehicle installed with the connected car terminal1, the time point for providing the usage guidance information with respect to the service/function of “svm-based vehicle surrounding image check”. For another example, since the service/function of “rear seat passenger notification” is mainly used in hot weather, or when a person/pet is in the rear seat of a vehicle, the connected car server3may determine, based on weather information around the vehicle installed with the connected car terminal1, vehicle state information (whether a passenger exists), and the like, the time point for providing the usage guidance information with respect to the service/function of “rear seat passenger notification”.

According an embodiment described above, based on the corresponding vehicle type, platform, version, subscription fee plan, and the like, the connected car service system automatically activates functions that may be automatically activated, among the connected car services/functions applied to a vehicle. Thus, convenience of a user who uses the connected car service system may be improved. In addition, with respect to a sevice/function that is unused by the user, a time point required for the user, a time point at which the service/function becomes available, and the like are estimated through the big data analysis, and the usage guidance information for inducing usage of the user is provided. Therefore, the service usage rate of the user may be increased by reducing unused services/functions that are caused because the user does not fully understand the connected car service system.

The method for providing the connected car service according to an embodiment may be executed through software. When executed with software, the components of the present disclosure are code segments that execute the necessary work. Program or code segments may be stored in a processor-readable medium or transmitted by a computer data signal combined with a carrier in a transmission medium or communication network.

The computer-readable medium includes all types of recording devices that store data that may be read by a computer system. Examples of computer-readable recording devices include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, DVD_ROM, DVD_RAM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, hard disk, optical data storage, and the like. In addition, the computer-readable medium may be distributed to computer devices connected to one another through a network, such that computer-readable codes may be stored and executed in a distributed manner.

The drawings referenced herein and the detailed description of the described embodiments are merely examples of the present disclosure, which are used only for the purpose of describing the present disclosure. The described embodiments are not used for limiting the meaning or the range of the present disclosure described in claims. Therefore, those of ordinary skill in the art may easily select and replace from this. In addition, a person of ordinary skill in the art may omit some of the constituent elements described in this specification without degradation of performance or may add a constituent element to improve performance. In addition, a person of ordinary skill in the art may change the sequence of the method steps described in this specification according to the process environment or equipment. Therefore, the range of the present disclosure should be determined not by the described embodiment, but by the claims and their equivalents.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS

1: connected car terminal2: communication network3: connected car server4: user terminal5: vehicle controller/terminal31: service/function information database32: fee plan information database33: customer information database34: contents providing component35: service manager component36: big data analyzer component41: the connected car service APP