In-vehicle system, detailed warning lamp information notification system, and server system

• US 7,750,795 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2005
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Nagata, Asako
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mahase, Pameshanand
• Application Number:
  US11/662,039
• Publication Number:
  US 20080316009A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,666 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/161 Explanation of functions, e.g. instructions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 1/18 Indicating or safety devices concerning lubricant level F01M11/06, F01M11/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

When a warning lamp 20a on the meter panel lights up in an in-vehicle system 1, the description of the content of warning and coping strategies about the lighted warning lamp are displayed on a display device 13. Thus, a user can be swiftly informed of the description of the content of warning and coping strategies. This can make it unnecessary for the user to spend time and effort looking for a service manual and opening the service manual and searching for appropriate pages, and can enhance user-friendliness.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle system that is mounted in a vehicle and is so constructed that one warning lamp from a plurality of warning lamps on a meter panel lights up or flashes in correspondence with an occurrence of an anomaly in the vehicle, comprising:

means for displaying information;

means for notifying the occurrence of the anomaly, the notifying means including the displaying means;

means for controlling the notifying means to provide detailed warning lamp information about the one warning lamp when the one warning lamp on the meter panel lights up or flashes; and

first means for communicating with an operator system or a dealer system through a network;

wherein

the displaying means displays a warning icon and a help icon that identify a cause of the anomaly or a device associated with the anomaly;

the controlling means causes the displaying means to display the detailed warning lamp information about the one warning lamp when the warning icon displayed on the displaying means is operated by a user as a first predetermined operation; and

the controlling means causes the first communicating means to establish a communication line between the first communicating means and the operator system or the dealer system when the help icon displayed on the displaying means is operated by the user as a second predetermined operation.

2. The in-vehicle system according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for storing detailed warning lamp information about the warning lamps on the meter panel, wherein

when the one warning lamp on the meter panel lights up or flashes, the controlling means reads detailed warning lamp information stored in the storing means, and thereby causes the notifying means to provide detailed warning lamp information about the one warning lamp.

3. The in-vehicle system according to claim 1, comprising:

second means for communicating with a server system in possession of detailed warning lamp information about the warning lamps on the meter panel through a network, wherein

when the one warning lamp on the meter panel lights up or flashes, the controlling means causes the second communicating means to establish a communication line between the second communicating means and the server system, causes the second communicating means to receive detailed warning lamp information from the server system, and thereby causes the notifying means to provide the detailed warning lamp information about the one warning lamp.

4. The in-vehicle system according to claim 1, wherein

the controlling means causes the displaying means to display the detailed warning lamp information through the use of a hyperlink function.

5. The in-vehicle system according to claim 1, wherein

the controlling means causes the displaying means to display the detailed warning lamp information through the use of an interaction function.

6. The in-vehicle system according to claim 1, wherein

when the one warning lamp on the meter panel lights up or flashes, the controlling means causes the notifying means to provide the detailed warning lamp information about the lighted or flashing warning lamp and further determines whether or not an emergency stop is required, and, when the controlling means detects that the emergency stop is required, causes the notifying means to notify of the necessity for making the emergency stop.

7. The in-vehicle system according to claim 6, wherein:

when the controlling means detects that the emergency stop is required, the controlling means causes an automobile navigation system to carry out route search with a safe place where the emergency stop can be made as the destination and to provide route guidance to the safe place.

8. The in-vehicle system according to claim 6, wherein

when the controlling means detects that an operation for making the emergency stop has not been performed by the user, the controlling means carries out processing to prompt the user to perform an operation for making the emergency stop.

9. The in-vehicle system according to claim 1, wherein

the controlling means possesses history information on a state of the vehicle, and, when the one warning lamp on the meter panel lights up or flashes, causes the notifying means to also provide detailed warning lamp information about the lighted or flashing warning lamp, and further causes the notifying means to provide the history information on the state of the vehicle.