Power management systems, methods, and programs for in-vehicle devices

• US 20070176731A1
• Filed: 01/11/2007
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Asai, Hiroyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,843,310 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/3.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

An in vehicle device transfers connection information to a power management device, the connection information indicating whether the in-vehicle device can communicate with the power management device. The in-vehicle device either transfers condition information to the power management device, the condition information indicating that the in-vehicle device is ready for turning off, or sets the in-vehicle device to not communicate with the power management device when a predetermined condition is met, the predetermined condition indicative of an inability of the in-vehicle device to transfer information to the power management device. The power management device requests the connection information from the in-vehicle device and requests the condition information from the in-vehicle device. The power management device determines that the in-vehicle device is ready for turning off when both the connection information and the condition information have been received from the in-vehicle device, or no connection information has been received from the in-vehicle device because the in-vehicle device has been set to not communicate with the power management device.

Claims

1. A power management system, comprising:

an in-vehicle device including an in-vehicle device controller that;

transfers connection information to a power management device, the connection information indicating whether the in-vehicle device can communicate with the power management device; and

transfers condition information to the power management device, the condition information indicating that the in-vehicle device is ready for turning off;

or

sets the in-vehicle device to not communicate with the power management device when a predetermined condition is met, the predetermined condition indicative of an inability of the in-vehicle device to transfer information to the power management device; and

the power management device including a power management controller that;

requests the connection information from the in-vehicle device;

requests the condition information from the in-vehicle device; and

determines that the in-vehicle device is ready for turning off when;

both the connection information and the condition information have been received from the in-vehicle device;

or

no connection information has been received from the in-vehicle device because the in-vehicle device has been set to not communicate with the power management device.

2. The power management system of claim 1, wherein:

either the in-vehicle device controller or the power management controller;

counts a number of program resets executed by the in-vehicle device; and

determines whether a predetermined number of program resets occurs during a predetermined time period; and

the predetermined condition is met when the predetermined number of program resets occurs during the predetermined time period.

3. The power management system of claim 1, wherein:

the power management device further comprises a memory; and

when the power management device receives the connection information from the in-vehicle device, an ID of the in-vehicle device is stored in the memory indicating that the in-vehicle device has an ability to transfer information to the power management device.

4. The power management system of claim 1, wherein the power management controller periodically requests the connection information from the in-vehicle device.

5. The power management system of claim 1, wherein the power management controller:

detects a power-on state of the in-vehicle device; and

when the power-on state is detected, requests the connection information from the in-vehicle device.

6. An in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle that can be turned off on the basis of a request from a power management device, comprising:

a controller that;

transfers connection information to the power management device, the connection information indicating whether the in-vehicle device can communicate with the power management device; and

transfers condition information to the power management device, the condition information indicating that the in-vehicle device is ready for turning off;

or

sets the in-vehicle device to not communicate with the power management device when a predetermined condition is met, the predetermined condition indicative of an inability of the in-vehicle device to transfer information to the power management device

7. The in-vehicle device of claim 6, wherein:

the controller;

counts a number of program resets executed by the in-vehicle device; and

determines whether a predetermined number of program resets occurs during a predetermined time period; and

the predetermined condition is met when the predetermined number of program resets occurs during the predetermined time period.

8. A navigation device comprising the in-vehicle device of claim 6.

9. A power management method, comprising:

requesting connection information from an in-vehicle device, the connection information indicating whether the in-vehicle device can communicate with a power management device;

determining whether a predetermined condition is met, the predetermined condition indicative of an inability of the in-vehicle device to communicate with the power management device; and

if the in-vehicle device can communicate with the power management device, transferring connection information to the power management device;

requesting condition information from the in-vehicle device, the condition information indicating that the in-vehicle device is ready for turning off;

determining that the in-vehicle device is ready for turning off when;

both the connection information and the condition information have been received from the in-vehicle device;

or

no connection information has been received from the in-vehicle device because the predetermined condition is met.

10. The power management method of claim 9, further comprising:

counting a number of program resets executed by the in-vehicle device;

determining whether a predetermined number of program resets occurs during a predetermined time period; and

determining that the predetermined condition is met when the predetermined number of program resets occurs during the predetermined time period.

11. The power management method of claim 9, further comprising:

storing an ID of the in-vehicle device in a memory when the power management device receives the connection information from the in-vehicle device, the stored ID indicating that the in-vehicle device has an ability to transfer information to the power management device.

12. The power management method of claim 9, further comprising periodically requesting the connection information from the in-vehicle device.

13. The power management method of claim 9, further comprising:

detecting a power-on-state of the in-vehicle device; and

when the power-on-state is detected, requesting the connection information from the in-vehicle device.

14. One or more storage mediums storing a set of program instructions executable by one or more data processing devices, the instructions usable to implement the method of claim 9.