Control device for controlling in-vehicle unit

• US 20070273492A1
• Filed: 02/27/2007
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Hara, Tetsuya, Hara, Kosuke, Iwasaki, Hirotoshi, Sakashita, Motoyasu
• Granted Patent: US 7,683,767 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/06 Improving the dynamic response of the control system, e.g. improving the speed of regulation or avoiding hunting or overshoot

Abstract

A vehicular control device includes (i) situation detection units that detect situation of the vehicle, occupants, or a surrounding area; (ii) a storage unit for storing a model representing association between variables indicating the situation and variables indicating presence or absence of operation needs for each in-vehicle unit, (iii) an inference execution unit that determines presence or absence of the operation needs for each in-vehicle unit using the stored model; (iv) a control unit that controls each in-vehicle unit based on a result of determination by the inference execution unit; (v) an operation detection unit that detects the operation of each in-vehicle unit; and (vi) a model learning unit that learns the stored model using the detected situation when the operation of each in-vehicle unit is detected by the operation detection unit, and an event involving the presence of operation needs for the in-vehicle unit.

Claims

1. A control device for controlling in-vehicle units in a vehicle, the control device comprising:

a situation detection unit that detects a situation of at least one of (i) the vehicle, (ii) an occupant, and (iii) a surrounding area;

an in-vehicle unit operation model storage unit for storing, with respect to each in-vehicle unit of the in-vehicle units, a model that represents association between a variable indicating the situation and a variable indicating presence or absence of operation needs for the each in-vehicle unit as an in-vehicle unit operation model;

an inference execution unit that sets the situation detected by the situation detection unit for the variable indicating the situation in the in-vehicle unit operation model with respect to the each in-vehicle unit read from the in-vehicle unit operation model storage unit, and determines presence or absence of operation needs for the each in-vehicle unit;

an in-vehicle unit control unit that controls an operation of the each in-vehicle unit based on a result of determining by the inference execution unit;

an operation detection unit that detects an operation of the each in-vehicle unit; and

a model learning unit that learns the in-vehicle unit operation model stored in the in-vehicle unit operation model storage unit by using (i) a situation detected by the situation detection unit when the operation of the each in-vehicle unit is detected by the operation detection unit, and (ii) an event involving the presence of operation needs for the each in-vehicle unit.

2. The control device of claim 1, further comprising:

a driver attribute storage unit for storing an attribute of a driver of the vehicle, wherein

the in-vehicle unit operation model storage unit further stores, with respect to the each in-vehicle unit, a model that represents association between a variable indicating the attribute, the variable indicating the situation, and the variable indicating presence or absence of operation needs for the each in-vehicle unit as the in-vehicle unit operation model,

the inference execution unit further sets the attribute read from the driver attribute storage unit for the variable indicating the attribute in the in-vehicle unit operation model before determining presence or absence of operation needs, and

the model learning unit learns the in-vehicle unit operation model by further using the attribute read from the driver attribute storage unit.

3. The control device of claim 1, further comprising:

an operation inquiry unit that, when the presence of operation needs is determined by the inference execution unit, inquires of a driver of the vehicle whether or not the each in-vehicle unit is allowed to be operated, wherein when permission to operate the each in-vehicle unit is inputted in response to an inquiry from the operation inquiry unit, the each in-vehicle unit is operated.

4. The control device of claim 3, wherein

the operation inquiry unit outputs a variable indicating the situation that contributes most to the operation needs in determining by the inference execution unit, as a reason for determining presence of operation needs for the each in-vehicle unit.

5. The control device of claim 3, wherein

the operation inquiry unit changes a mode in which an inquiring message is outputted according to a magnitude of the presence of operation needs determined by the inference execution unit.

6. The control device of claim 3, wherein

the operation inquiry unit changes a mode in which an inquiring message is outputted according to a factor of certainty of the presence of operation needs determined by the inference execution unit.

7. The control device of claim 3, wherein

the inference execution unit determines the presence or absence of operation needs for the each in-vehicle unit based on a result of an inquiry about whether or not the operation of the each in-vehicle unit is allowed by the driver, and

the in-vehicle unit operation model stored in the model storage unit is learned using the determined presence or absence of operation needs.

8. The control device of claim 1, wherein

when the in-vehicle unit control unit operates the each in-vehicle unit based on the result of determining by the inference execution unit and the operation of the each in-vehicle unit is thereafter stopped by a driver of the vehicle within a predetermined time, the model learning unit learns the in-vehicle unit operation model stored in the in-vehicle unit operation model storage unit using an event involving the absence of operation needs.

9. The control device of claim 1, further comprising:

an operation infeasible situation storage unit for storing information indicating a situation in which operation is infeasible with respect to the each in-vehicle unit, wherein

the situation in which operation is infeasible with respect to the each in-vehicle unit is read from the operation infeasible situation storage unit before the each in-vehicle unit is operated,

whether or not the situation detected by the situation detection unit agrees with the situation read from the operation infeasible situation storage unit is determined, and

the each in-vehicle unit is operated when it is determined that the detected situation does not agree with the situation read from the operation infeasible situation storage unit.

10. The control device of claim 1, wherein

when the in-vehicle unit control unit operates the each in-vehicle unit, it notifies a driver of the vehicle that the each in-vehicle unit is to be operated.

11. The control device of claim 1, further comprising:

an in-vehicle unit operation model display unit for displaying the in-vehicle unit operation model stored in the in-vehicle unit operation model storage unit as a display model, in which the variable indicating the situation and the variable indicating the presence or absence of operation needs for the each in-vehicle unit are taken as nodes, and the association therebetween is indicated as a directed link that connects the nodes.

12. The control device of claim 11, further comprising:

an in-vehicle unit operation model modification unit for deleting a node, add a new node, or modify a directed link, with respect to the display model on the in-vehicle unit operation model display unit, wherein an in-vehicle unit operation model modified by the in-vehicle unit operation model modification unit is stored in the in-vehicle unit operation model storage unit.

13. The control device of claim 1, further comprising:

a purpose of use storage unit for storing a purpose of use of the each in-vehicle unit; and

a needs model storage unit for storing, with respect to each of needs, a needs model that represents association between the variable indicating the situation and a variable indicating the each of needs, wherein the inference execution unit sets the situation detected by the situation detection unit for the variable indicating the situation in the needs model read from the needs model storage unit and determines presence or absence of needs in the situation, and

when a magnitude of the presence of needs determined by the inference execution unit is larger than a predetermined threshold value, the in-vehicle unit control unit refers to a purpose of use of the each in-vehicle unit stored in the purpose of use storage unit and selects an in-vehicle unit utilized to meet the presence of needs, and controls an operation of the selected in-vehicle unit.

14. The control device of claim 1, further comprising:

a priority determination model storage unit for storing a model that represents association between variables indicating operation needs for at least two in-vehicle units and variables indicating priorities of the at least two in-vehicle units, as a priority determination model, wherein

when the inference execution unit determines, using the in-vehicle unit operation model, that there are operation needs for at least two in-vehicle units, the inference execution unit sets the operation needs for the at least two in-vehicle units for the priority determination model read from the priority determination model storage unit to thereby determine priorities of the at least two in-vehicle units, and

the in-vehicle unit control unit controls an operation of an in-vehicle unit having a high priority of the at least two in-vehicle units.

15. The control device of claim 14, further comprising:

a priority determination model display unit for displaying the priority determination model stored in the priority determination model storage unit as a display model, in which the variables indicating the operation needs for the at least two in-vehicle units and the variables indicating the priorities of the at least two in-vehicle units are taken as nodes, and the association therebetween is indicated as a directed link that connects these nodes.

16. The control device of claim 15, further comprising:

a priority determination model modification unit for deleting a node, add a new node, or modify a directed link, with respect to the display model displayed on the priority determination model display unit, wherein

a priority determination model modified by the priority determination model modification unit is stored in the priority determination model storage unit.

17. The control device of claim 14, further comprising:

an operation inquiry unit that inquires of a driver of the vehicle whether or not the at least two in-vehicle units are allowed to be operated in order of priority based on the priorities determined by the inference execution unit, wherein

when permission to operate a certain in-vehicle unit of the at least two in-vehicle units is inputted in response to an inquiry from the operation inquiry unit, the certain in-vehicle unit is operated.

18. The control device of claim 14, further comprising:

at least one electronic control unit (ECU) for controlling at least one in-vehicle unit; and

a center ECU that controls the ECU in a centralized manner, wherein

computation of operation needs for the at least one in-vehicle unit based on the in-vehicle unit operation model is carried out with the ECU, and

computation of priorities based on the priority determination model is carried out with the center ECU.

19. The control device of claim 18, wherein

the center ECU is an ECU built in an automobile navigation system or a head-up display.

20. The control device of claim 1, further comprising:

a service execution model storage unit for storing a service execution model, which represents association between the variable indicating the situation and a variable indicating presence or absence of execution needs for service in which operations of at least two in-vehicle units often simultaneously carried out are grouped as a service, wherein

the inference execution unit sets the situation detected by the situation detection unit for the variable indicating the situation in the service execution model read from the service execution model storage unit, and determines presence or absence of execution needs for the service, and

the in-vehicle unit control unit controls the operations of the at least two in-vehicle units included in the service based on a result of determining by the inference execution unit.

21. The control device of claim 20, further comprising:

an operating history storage unit for storing in association with each other (i) an operating history of the each in-vehicle unit and (ii) a situation detected when the each in-vehicle unit is operated; and

a model generation, unit configured to search for a combination of operations of in-vehicle units carried out in a similar situation from among the operating histories stored in the operating history storage unit, to group the retrieved combination of the operations of the at least two in-vehicle units as one service, and to generate a service execution model that represents the association between the variable indicating the situation and the variable indicating the presence of execution needs for the service.

22. The control device of claim 1, further comprising:

a driver attribute transmission unit for transmitting information on an attribute of a driver of the vehicle to a management center having attribute-specific in-vehicle unit operation models with respect to each attribute of driver; and

a model reception unit for receiving from the management center an attribute-specific in-vehicle unit operation model corresponding to the attribute of the driver included in the transmitted information.

23. The control device of claim 1, further comprising:

a position information transmission unit for transmitting information on a position of the vehicle to a management center having region-specific in-vehicle unit operation models with respect to each region; and

a model reception unit for receiving from the management center a region-specific in-vehicle unit operation model corresponding to the region containing the position identified by the transmitted information.

24. A control device for controlling in-vehicle units in a vehicle, the control device comprising:

a situation detection unit that detects a situation of at least one of (i) the vehicle, (ii) an occupant, and (iii) a surrounding area;

an in-vehicle unit operation model storage unit for storing, with respect to each in-vehicle unit of the in-vehicle units, a model that represents association between a variable indicating the situation and variables indicating presence or absence of operation needs for the each in-vehicle unit as an in-vehicle unit operation model;

an inference execution unit that sets the situation detected by the situation detection unit for the variable indicating the situation in the in-vehicle unit operation model read from the in-vehicle unit operation model storage unit, and determines presence or absence of operation needs for the each in-vehicle unit;

an in-vehicle unit control unit that controls an operation of the each in-vehicle unit based on a result of determining by the inference execution unit; and

a model learning unit that periodically learns the in-vehicle unit operation model stored in the in-vehicle unit operation model storage unit using (i) the situation detected by the situation detection unit and (ii) an event in which the each in-vehicle unit is operated or not.

25. A control device for controlling in-vehicle units in a vehicle, the control device comprising:

a situation detection unit that detects a situation of at least one of (i) the vehicle, (ii) an occupant, and (iii) a surrounding area;

an in-vehicle unit operation model storage unit for storing, with respect to each in-vehicle unit of the in-vehicle units, a model that represents association between a variable indicating the situation and a variable indicating presence or absence of operation needs for the each in-vehicle unit as an in-vehicle unit operation model;

an inference execution unit that sets the situation detected by the situation detection unit for the variable indicating the situation in the in-vehicle unit operation model read from the in-vehicle unit operation model storage unit, and determines presence or absence of operation needs for the each in-vehicle unit;

an in-vehicle unit control unit that controls an operation of the each in-vehicle unit based on a result of determining by the inference execution unit; and

a model learning unit that learns the in-vehicle unit operation model stored in the in-vehicle unit operation model storage unit using (i) a situation detected when the situation detected by the situation detection unit becomes a predetermined state and (ii) an event in which the each in-vehicle unit is operated or not.

26. A control device for controlling in-vehicle units in a vehicle, the control device comprising:

a situation detection unit that detects a situation of at least one of (i) the vehicle, (ii) an occupant, and (iii) a surrounding area;

a history storage unit for sequentially storing the situation detected by the situation detection unit and whether or not an in-vehicle unit is operated when the situation is detected, as history data;

a history retrieval unit that retrieves history data indicating a situation most similar to the situation detected by the situation detection unit from the history storage unit; and

an in-vehicle unit control unit that controls an operation of an in-vehicle unit to agree with whether or not the in-vehicle is operated, described in the history data retrieved by the history retrieval unit.

27. A control device for controlling in-vehicle units in a vehicle, the control device comprising:

a situation detection unit that detects a situation of at least one of (i) the vehicle, (ii) an occupant, and (iii) a surrounding area;

a history storage unit for sequentially storing the situation detected by the situation detection unit and whether or not an in-vehicle unit is operated when the situation is detected, as history data;

a computational expression storage unit for storing a computational expression for obtaining a piece of comparison data from (i) recentness of the history data to be compared and (ii) a degree of similarity with the situation detected by the situation detection unit;

a history selection unit that reads the computational expression stored in the computational expression storage unit, obtains comparison data using the read computational expression with respect to each piece of history data stored in the history storage unit, and selects one piece of history data using the obtained comparison data; and

an in-vehicle unit control unit that controls an operation of an in-vehicle unit to agree with whether or not the in-vehicle unit is operated, described in the history data selected by the history selection unit.

28. A control device for controlling in-vehicle units in a vehicle, the control device comprising:

a driver attribute storage unit for storing an attribute of a driver of the vehicle;

a situation detection unit that detects a situation of at least one of (i) the vehicle, (ii) an occupant, and (iii) a surrounding area;

an in-vehicle unit operation model storage unit for storing, with respect to each in-vehicle unit of the in-vehicle units, a model that represents association between a variable indicating the attribute, a variable indicating the situation, and a variable indicating presence or absence of operation needs for the each in-vehicle unit as an in-vehicle unit operation model;

an inference execution unit that

sets (i) the attribute read from the driver attribute storage unit for the variable indicating the attribute in the in-vehicle unit operation model with respect to the each in-vehicle unit read from the in-vehicle unit operation model storage unit and (ii) the situation detected by the situation detection unit for the variable indicating the situation in the in-vehicle unit operation model with respect to the each in-vehicle unit read from the in-vehicle unit operation model storage unit, and

determines presence or absence of operation needs for the each in-vehicle unit;

an in-vehicle unit control unit that controls an operation of the each in-vehicle unit based on a result of determining by the inference execution unit;

an operation detection unit that detects an operation of the each in-vehicle unit; and

a model learning unit that learns the in-vehicle unit operation model stored in the in-vehicle unit operation model storage unit by using (i) the attribute read from the driver attribute storage unit, (ii) a situation detected by the situation detection unit when the operation of the each in-vehicle unit is detected by the operation detection unit, and (iii) an event involving the presence of operation needs for the each in-vehicle unit.

29. A method for controlling in-vehicle units in a vehicle by using an in-vehicle unit operation model storage unit for storing, with respect to each in-vehicle unit, a model that represents association between a variable indicating a situation of at least one of the vehicle, an occupant, and a surrounding area and a variable indicating presence or absence of operation needs for the each in-vehicle unit as an in-vehicle unit operation model,

the method comprising:

a situation detection step of detecting the situation;

an inference execution step of setting the situation detected at the situation detection step for the variable indicating the situation in the in-vehicle unit operation model read from the in-vehicle unit operation model storage unit and determining presence or absence of operation needs for the each in-vehicle unit;

an in-vehicle unit control step of controlling an operation of the each in-vehicle unit based on a result determined at the inference execution step;

an operation detection step of detecting an operation of the each in-vehicle unit; and

a model learning step of learning the in-vehicle unit operation model stored in the in-vehicle unit operation model storage unit using (i) the situation detected when the operation of the each in-vehicle unit is detected at the operation detection step and (ii) an event involving the presence of operation needs for the in-vehicle unit, to thereby update the in-vehicle unit operation model.

30. A computer program product in a computer-readable medium for use in controlling in-vehicle units in a vehicle, the product comprising:

(a) instructions for assigning an in-vehicle unit operation model storage area for storing, with respect to each in-vehicle unit, a model that represents association between a variable indicating a situation of at least one of the vehicle, an occupant, and a surrounding area and a variable indicating presence or absence of operation needs for the each in-vehicle unit as an in-vehicle unit operation model;

(b) instructions for detecting the situation;

(c) instructions for setting a situation detected at the situation detection instruction for the variable indicating the situation in the in-vehicle unit operation model read from the in-vehicle unit operation model storage area and determining presence or absence of operation needs for the each in-vehicle unit;

(d) instructions for controlling an operation of the each in-vehicle unit based on a result determined at instructions (c);

(e) instructions for detecting an operation of the each in-vehicle unit; and

(f) instructions for learning the in-vehicle unit operation model stored in the in-vehicle unit operation model storage area using (i) the situation detected when the operation of the each in-vehicle unit is detected at instructions (e) and (ii) an event involving the presence of operation needs for the in-vehicle unit, to thereby update the in-vehicle unit operation model.