Information processing device, vehicle-mounted device, and information processing method

• US 10,234,867 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2017
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Kawabata, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Frejd, Russell
• Application Number:
  US15/437,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20170269606A1
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0058 responsive to externally generated signalling
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0276 using signals provided by a source external to the vehicle involving a plurality of vehicles G05D1/0287; automatically controlling vehicle speed responsive to externally generated signals B60K31/0058
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0129 for creating historical data or processing based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0141 for traffic information dissemination
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/161 Decentralised systems, e.g. inter-vehicle communication

Abstract

According to an embodiment, an information processing device is communicably connected to a vehicle-mounted device and includes a receiver, a calculator, a vehicle database, and a transmitter. The receiver receives transmission information transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device and containing vehicle identification information, vehicle position information, a flag for indicating presence or absence of alternation of the vehicle-mounted device, and predetermined log data recorded by the vehicle-mounted device. The calculator calculates, based on the received transmission information, a degree of reliability of vehicle having the vehicle-mounted device mounted therein. The vehicle database holds, for each vehicle, the calculated degree of reliability and the vehicle position information. The transmitter refers to the vehicle database to identify a surrounding vehicle of a target vehicle, and transmits, to the vehicle-mounted device of the target vehicle, vehicle reception information containing the degree of reliability calculated for the surrounding vehicle.

Claims

1. An information processing device that is communicably connected to a vehicle-mounted device, the information processing device comprising:

a receiver, implemented in computer hardware, configured to receive transmission information which is transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device and contains at least vehicle identification information, vehicle position information, a flag for indicating presence or absence of alternation of the vehicle-mounted device, and predetermined log data recorded by the vehicle-mounted device;

a calculator, implemented in computer hardware, configured to, based on the received transmission information, calculate a degree of reliability of the vehicle in which the vehicle-mounted device is mounted;

a vehicle database configured to hold, for each vehicle, at least the calculated degree of reliability and the vehicle position information; and

a transmitter, implemented in computer hardware, configured to

refer to the vehicle database to identify a surrounding vehicle of a target vehicle which satisfies a predetermined condition, and

transmit, to the vehicle-mounted device of the target vehicle, vehicle reception information containing the degree of reliability calculated for the surrounding vehicle.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the calculator calculates a first degree of reliability that indicates performance dependent on configuration of the vehicle-mounted device identified based on the vehicle identification information, and

the transmitter transmits, to the vehicle-mounted device of the target vehicle, the vehicle reception information which contains the first degree of reliability calculated for the surrounding vehicle.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the calculator calculates, based on the log data, a second degree of reliability that indicates stability of control performed by the vehicle-mounted device, and

the transmitter transmits, to the vehicle-mounted device of the target vehicle, the vehicle reception information which contains the second degree of reliability calculated for the surrounding vehicle.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein

after the surrounding vehicle of the target vehicle is identified, the calculator calculates, based on the degree of reliability calculated for the target vehicle and the degree of reliability calculated for the surrounding vehicle, a third degree of reliability that indicates stability of control of the surrounding vehicle of the target vehicle, and

the transmitter transmits, to the vehicle-mounted device of the target vehicle, the vehicle reception information which contains the third degree of reliability calculated for the surrounding vehicle.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the log data contains at least one of relative velocity fluctuation data indicating time variation in relative velocity with respect to another vehicle, distance fluctuation data indicating time variation of distance from another vehicle or a lane mark, and sudden brake frequency data indicating the number of times of sudden braking within a predetermined period of time.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein, when the flag indicates that the vehicle-mounted device has been altered, the transmission information further contains device information that enables identification of the type of a device modified due to alteration.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission information further contains device setting information indicating an ON/OFF state of each function of the vehicle-mounted device.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the transmission information further contains path information indicating a path of travel of the vehicle in which the vehicle-mounted device is mounted, and

based on the vehicle position information and the path information of the target vehicle, the transmitter identifies a destination of the vehicle reception information.

9. A vehicle-mounted device that is communicably connected to an information processing device, the vehicle-mounted device comprising:

a transmitter, implemented in computer hardware, configured to transmit, to the information processing device, transmission information which contains at least vehicle identification information, vehicle position information, a flag for indicating presence or absence of alternation of the vehicle-mounted device, and predetermined log data recorded by the vehicle-mounted device; and

a receiver, implemented in computer hardware, configured to receive vehicle reception information containing a degree of reliability of a surrounding vehicle as calculated by the information processing device, wherein

the vehicle-mounted device performs a predetermined operation based on the degree of reliability of the surrounding vehicle.

10. The device according to claim 9, further comprising a display device configured to display a screen in which a vehicle icon representing the surrounding vehicle is superimposed on a map, wherein

based on the degree of reliability of the surrounding vehicle, the display device varies a display format of the vehicle icon in the screen.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein, when the received degree of reliability of the surrounding vehicle is equal to or smaller than a reference value, the display device displays the screen including a warning according to a relative position of the surrounding vehicle with respect to the vehicle in which the vehicle-mounted device is mounted.

12. The device according to claim 9, further comprising a vehicle controller, implemented in computer hardware, configured to control behavior of the vehicle in which the vehicle-mounted device is mounted, based on the received degree of reliability of the surrounding vehicle.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein, when the received degree of reliability of the surrounding vehicle is equal to or smaller than a reference value, the vehicle controller controls the velocity velocity of the vehicle.

14. An information processing method implemented in an information processing device that is communicably connected to a vehicle-mounted device, the method comprising:

receiving transmission information which is transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device and contains at least vehicle identification information, vehicle position information, a flag for indicating presence or absence of alternation of the vehicle-mounted device, and predetermined log data recorded by the vehicle-mounted device;

calculating, based on the received transmission information, a degree of reliability of the vehicle in which the vehicle-mounted device is mounted;

holding, for each vehicle, at least the calculated degree of reliability and the vehicle position information in a vehicle database;

referring to the vehicle database to identify a surrounding vehicle of a target vehicle which satisfies a predetermined condition;

transmitting, to the vehicle-mounted device of the target vehicle, vehicle reception information containing the degree of reliability calculated for the surrounding vehicle.

15. An information processing method implemented in a vehicle-mounted device that is communicably connected to an information processing device, the method comprising:

transmitting, to the information processing device, transmission information which contains at least vehicle identification information, vehicle position information, a flag for indicating presence or absence of alternation of the vehicle-mounted device, and predetermined log data recorded by the vehicle-mounted device;

receiving vehicle reception information containing a degree of reliability of a surrounding vehicle as calculated by the information processing device; and

performing a predetermined operation based on the degree of reliability of the surrounding vehicle.