Communications system, vehicle information communicating apparatus, and indoor information processing apparatus

• US 7,737,829 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2006
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Godo Kaisha IP Bridge 1 (IP Bridge, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Nishiyama, Tamotsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland; Donnie L
• Application Number:
  US11/792,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20080055058A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,565 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/30 Preventing theft during charging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/547 via DC power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/548 the power on the line being DC arrangements for feeding power H04L12/10; extracting feeding power from signals H04L25/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

There are provided a communications system between a vehicle, a home and a center, a vehicle information communicating apparatus and an indoor information processing apparatus which imposes no limitation on communicating time enables bulk communication. The communications system comprises an on-board server and DSRC on-board equipment which are installed on the vehicle 10 and includes a DSRC base station 23 residing outside the vehicle which can communicate with the DSRC on-board equipment and a PC or a home server 22 residing indoors which is connected to the DSRC base station 23, the communication system having a detection apparatus installed on the vehicle and/or an indoor detection apparatus for detecting the state of the vehicle 10 and a communication activating apparatus for activating the communication of information between the on-board server and the PC or the home server 22 using the detection result of either or both of the detection apparatus.

Claims

1. A communications system comprising:

a primary information processing unit installed on a vehicle and a primary communications unit connected to the primary information processing unit;

a secondary communications unit outside the vehicle which can communicate with the primary communications unit and a secondary information processing unit residing indoors which is connected to the secondary communications unit;

a detection device located at a predetermined position outside the vehicle and configured to detect whether the vehicle resides at the predetermined position; and

a communication activating device configured to start up the communication of information between the primary information processing unit and the secondary information processing unit by utilizing communicating means between the primary communications unit and the secondary communications unit according to a detection result of the detection device,

wherein the detection device detects whether the vehicle resides at the predetermined position based on the detection of a physical or an electrical connection or based on the detection of the vehicle'"'"'s access to the predetermined position optically.

2. A communications system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the primary information processing unit and the primary communications unit are connected to each other by means of an in-vehicle LAN.

3. A communications system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the secondary information processing unit and the secondary communications unit are connected to each other by means of an indoor network.

4. A communications system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the communicating means communicates by means of any of DSRC, wireless LAN, optical LAN, Bluetooth, mobile phone and PLC.

5. A communications system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the detection of the physical or the electrical connection includes detection of at least the insertion of a plug of a PLC.

6. A communications system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising authenticating means for authenticating that an ID of the vehicle is a predetermined ID.

7. A communications system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the detection device detects whether the vehicle resides at the predetermined position based on the detection of the physical or the electrical connection.

8. A communications system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the detection device detects whether the vehicle resides at the predetermined position based on the detection of the vehicle'"'"'s access to the predetermined position optically.

9. A communications system comprising:

a primary information processing unit installed on a vehicle and a primary communications unit connected to the primary information processing unit;

a secondary communications unit outside the vehicle which can communicate with the primary communications unit and a secondary information processing unit residing indoors which is connected to the secondary communications unit;

a tertiary information processing unit residing inside an information center which can communicate with the secondary information processing unit by utilizing a fixed communication network;

a detection device located at a predetermined position outside the vehicle and configured to detect whether the vehicle resides at the predetermined position; and

a communication activating device configured to start up the communication of information between the primary information processing unit and the secondary information processing unit by utilizing communicating means between the primary communications unit and the secondary communications unit according to a detection result of the detection device, wherein;

the communication of information between the primary information processing unit or the secondary information processing unit and the tertiary information processing unit is implemented,

the communication of information between the primary information processing unit and the secondary information processing unit includes communication of information between the primary information processing unit and the secondary information processing unit that an abnormality has been detected by a security sensor of the vehicle, and

the detection device detects whether the vehicle resides at the predetermined position based on the detection of a physical or an electrical connection or based on the detection of the vehicle'"'"'s access to the predetermined position optically.

10. A communications system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the primary information processing unit and the primary communications unit are connected to each other by means of an in-vehicle LAN.

11. A communications system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the secondary information processing unit and the secondary communications unit are connected to each other by means of an indoor network.

12. A communications system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the communicating means communicates by means of any of DSRC, wireless LAN, optical LAN, Bluetooth, mobile phone and PLC.

13. A communications system comprising:

a primary information processing unit installed on a vehicle and a primary communications unit connected to the primary information processing unit;

a secondary communications unit outside the vehicle which can communicate with the primary communications unit and a secondary information processing unit residing indoors which is connected to the secondary communications unit;

a receiver unit residing indoors which is connected to the secondary information processing unit;

a transmitter unit which can distribute information to the receiver unit and a tertiary information processing unit residing inside an information center which can communicate with the transmitter unit;

a detection device located at a predetermined position outside the vehicle and configured to detect whether the vehicle resides at the predetermined position; and

a communication activating device configured to start up the communication of information between the primary information processing unit and the secondary information processing unit by utilizing communicating means between the primary communications unit and the secondary communications unit according to a detection result of the detection device, wherein;

the distribution of information from the tertiary information processing unit to the primary information processing unit or the secondary information processing unit is by utilizing distribution means between the transmitter unit and the receiver unit,

the communication of information between the primary information processing unit and the secondary information processing unit includes communication of information between the primary information processing unit and the secondary information processing unit that an abnormality has been detected by a security sensor of the vehicle, and

the detection device detects whether the vehicle resides at the predetermined position based on the detection of a physical or an electrical connection or based on the detection of the vehicle'"'"'s access to the predetermined position optically.

14. A communications system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the primary information processing unit and the primary communications unit are connected to each other by means of an in-vehicle LAN.

15. A communications system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the secondary information processing unit, the secondary communications unit and the receiver unit are connected to one another by means of an indoor network.

16. A communications system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the communicating means communicates by means of any of DSRC, wireless LAN, optical LAN, Bluetooth, mobile phone and PLC.

17. A communications system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the distribution means implements the distribution of information by means of any of broadcasting via satellite, terrestrial broadcasting, CATV or interne.

18. A communications system as set forth in claim 13, wherein a communication between the tertiary information processing unit and the transmitter unit is implemented by means of a fixed communication network.

19. A communications system comprising:

a primary information processing unit installed on a vehicle and a primary communications unit connected to the primary information processing unit;

a secondary communications unit outside the vehicle which can communicate with the primary communications unit and a secondary information processing unit residing indoors which is connected to the secondary communications unit;

an on-board equipment installed on the vehicle which is connected to the primary information processing unit;

one or a plurality of quaternary information processing units which can communicate with a tertiary information processing unit;

primary to quaternary storage units for storing information collected, processed or distributed by the primary to quaternary information processing units, respectively;

a detection device located at a predetermined position outside the vehicle and configured to detect whether the vehicle resides at the predetermined position; and

a communication activating device configured to start up the communication of information between the primary information processing unit and the secondary information processing unit by utilizing communicating means between the primary communications unit and the secondary communications unit according to a detection result of the detection device, wherein;

the communication of information between the primary information processing unit and the secondary information processing unit by way of the primary storage unit, the communication of information between the secondary information processing unit and the tertiary information processing unit by way of the secondary storage unit and the communication of information between the tertiary information processing unit and the quaternary information processing unit by way of the tertiary storage means are implemented sequentially, and a one-way or two-way communication and processing of information between the on-board equipment and the quaternary information processing unit is implemented,

the communication of information between the primary information processing unit and the secondary information processing unit includes communication of information between the primary information processing unit and the secondary information processing unit that an abnormality has been detected by a security sensor of the vehicle, and

the detection device detects whether the vehicle resides at the predetermined position based on the detection of a physical or an electrical connection or based on the detection of the vehicle'"'"'s access to the predetermined position optically.

20. A communications system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the on-board equipment is the primary information processing unit itself.

21. A communications system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the on-board equipment, the primary information processing unit and the primary communications unit are connected to one another by means of an in-vehicle LAN.

22. A communications system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the secondary information processing unit and the secondary communications unit are connected to each other by means of an indoor network.

23. A communications system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the communicating means communicates by means of any of DSRC, wireless LAN, optical LAN, Bluetooth, mobile phone and PLC.

24. A communications system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the tertiary information processing unit and the quaternary information processing unit are connected to each other by means of a fixed communication network.

25. A vehicle information communicating apparatus comprising:

a primary information processing unit installed on a vehicle and a primary communications unit which can communicate with a secondary communications unit outside the vehicle and which is connected to the primary information processing unit;

a detection device located at a predetermined position outside the vehicle and configured to detect whether the vehicle resides at the predetermined position; and

a communication activating device configured to start up the communication of information between the primary information processing unit and equipment residing outside the vehicle by utilizing communicating means between the primary communications unit and the secondary communications unit according to a detection result of the detection device,

wherein the detection device detects that the vehicle resides at the predetermined position based on the detection of a physical or an electrical connection or based on the detection of the vehicle'"'"'s access to the predetermined position optically.

26. A vehicle information communicating apparatus as set forth in claim 25, wherein the primary information processing unit and the primary communications unit are connected to each other by means of an in-vehicle LAN.

27. A vehicle information communicating apparatus as set forth in claim 25, wherein the communicating means communicates by means of any of DSRC, wireless LAN, optical LAN, Bluetooth, mobile phone and PLC.

28. A vehicle information communicating apparatus as set forth in claim 25, wherein the detection of the physical or the electrical connection includes at least detection of the insertion of a plug of a PLC.

29. A vehicle information communicating apparatus as set forth in claim 25, further comprising authenticating means for authenticating that an ID of the vehicle is a predetermined ID.

30. An indoor information processing apparatus comprising:

a secondary information processing unit residing indoors for controlling a secondary communications unit outside a vehicle which can communicate with a primary communications unit connected to an on-board equipment;

a detection device located at a predetermined position outside the vehicle and configured to determine whether the vehicle resides at the predetermined position; and

a control device configured to control the secondary communications unit such that a communication between the primary communications unit and the secondary communications unit is started up according to a detection result of the detection device by utilizing communicating means between the primary communications unit and the secondary communications unit,

wherein the detection device detects whether the vehicle resides at the predetermined position based on the detection of a physical or an electrical connection or based on the detection of the vehicle'"'"'s access to the predetermined position optically.

31. An indoor information processing system as set forth in claim 30, wherein the secondary information processing unit and the secondary communications unit are connected to each other by means of an indoor network.

32. An indoor information processing apparatus as set forth in claim 30, wherein the communicating means communicates by means of any of DSRC, wireless LAN, optical LAN, Bluetooth, mobile phone and PLC.

33. An indoor information processing apparatus as set forth in claim 30, wherein the detection of the physical or the electrical connection includes at least detection of the insertion of a plug of a PLC.

34. An indoor information processing apparatus as set forth in claim 30, further comprising authenticating means for authenticating that an ID of the vehicle is a predetermined ID.

35. A communications system comprising:

a primary information processing unit installed on a vehicle and a primary communications unit connected to the primary information processing unit;

a secondary communications unit outside the vehicle which can communicate with the primary communications unit and a secondary information processing unit residing indoors which is connected to the secondary communications unit;

an insertion detection device configured to detect an insertion of a plug of a Power Line Communication (“

PLC”

) into the vehicle; and

a communication activating device configured to start up the communication of information between the primary information processing unit and the secondary information processing unit by utilizing communicating means between the primary communications unit and the secondary communications unit according to a detection result of the insertion detection device.

36. A communications system as set forth in claim 35, wherein the primary information processing unit and the primary communications unit are connected to each other by means of an in-vehicle LAN.

37. A communications system as set forth in claim 35, wherein the secondary information processing unit and the secondary communications unit are connected to each other by means of an indoor network.

38. A communications system as set forth in claim 35, wherein the communicating means communicates by means of PLC.

39. A communications system as set forth in claim 35, further comprising authenticating means for authenticating that an ID of the vehicle is a predetermined ID.