System mounted on a vehicle, vehicle, diagnosis information collecting device and navigation device

• US 7,813,852 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2007
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Kato, Hiromitsu, Sakamoto, Toshiyuki, Aizono, Takeiki, Shimura, Akitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US11/779,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20080021607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/32, 701/33, 701/35, 701/36, 340/425.5, 340/438, 340/439
• US Class Current: 701/35
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

In a navigation system integrated with a diagnostic device, an arithmetic and control unit for diagnostic communication makes an inquiry to electronic control units, such as an engine control unit, a transmission control unit and a brake control unit connected a CAN, about data which is used for the diagnosis of trouble causes based on setting information stored in a memory through diagnostic communication. An arithmetic and control unit for navigation system receives messages responding to the inquiry to sift through the data to be collected based on the setting information in the memory and stores the collected information in a hard disk drive device. The setting information is updated by making an inquiry to an external center via a mobile communication network.

Claims

1. A vehicle-mounted system connected to a control system network in a vehicle, comprising:

a diagnostic communication circuit for collecting diagnostic information from electronic control units in the vehicle via said control system network;

a collection circuit, provided as a separately operational circuit from said diagnostic communication circuit, for collecting information flowing in said control system network;

a storage circuit for storing the information collected by said collection circuit; and

a shared storage circuit accessed from both said diagnostic communication circuit and said collection circuit, for storing setting information which is shared by said diagnostic communication circuit and said collection circuit in order to perform said diagnostic information and said information collection.

2. The vehicle-mounted system connected to the control system network in a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said setting information comprises at least one of an identifier of the setting information, a transmission ID, a reception ID, an ID for identifying the means for obtaining diagnostic information, a period during which diagnostic communication is performed, an importance level of the information to be collected, and a trigger evaluation condition as an attribute.

3. The vehicle-mounted system connected to the control system network in a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said setting information comprising:

a circuit for communicating with an external center;

a circuit for reading said setting information from said shared storage circuit;

a circuit for detecting an event that communication with said center has been established;

a circuit for making an inquiry to said center about the identifier of said setting information;

a circuit for receiving a message authenticating that it is latest from said center when the identifier of said setting information is latest; and

a circuit for receiving the latest said setting information from said center for updating when the identifier of said setting information is not latest.

4. The vehicle-mounted system connected to the control system network in a vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein said diagnostic communication circuit makes a request to said electronic control units for said diagnostic information based on said setting information in said shared storage circuit via said control system network, and

wherein said collection circuit selects said diagnostic information, which is requested to said electronic control units from said diagnostic communication circuit based on said setting information in said shared storage circuit, out of the information received via said control system network.

5. The vehicle-mounted system connected to the control system network in a vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein said diagnostic communication circuit has at least one of an excellent heat resistant property, a high vibration resistance, an excellent earthquake resistant property and a long life compared with said collection circuit.

6. The vehicle-mounted system connected to a control system network in a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the collection circuit is arranged to receive information from the control system network without any transmission of information toward the control system network.

7. The vehicle-mounted system connected to the control system network in a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the circuit for communicating with the external center performing such communicating without passing through the control system network.

8. A vehicle-mounted system connected to a control system network in a vehicle, comprising:

a diagnostic communication circuit for performing diagnostic communication for collecting diagnostic information from the electronic control units in the vehicle via said control system network;

a storage medium managed by said diagnostic communication circuit;

a collection circuit, provided as a separately operational circuit from said diagnostic communication circuit, for collecting the information flowing in said control system network;

a shared storage circuit accessed from both said diagnostic communication circuit and said collection circuit, for storing the information collected by said collection circuit, and for storing setting information which is shared by said diagnostic communication circuit and said collection circuit in order to perform said diagnostic information and said information collection

a circuit for making an inquiry to said diagnostic communication circuit about the identifier of said setting information stored in said storage circuit;

a circuit for comparing the inquired identifier of said setting information with the identifier of another setting information stored in said storage medium; and

a circuit for, when said comparison indicates that said setting information is updated, transmitting the updated setting information to said collection circuit.

9. The vehicle-mounted system connected to the control system network in a vehicle according to claim 8,

wherein said setting information comprises at least one of an identifier of the setting information, a transmission ID, a reception ID, an ID for identifying the means for obtaining diagnostic information, a period during which diagnostic communication is performed, an importance level of the information to be collected, and a trigger evaluation condition as an attribute.

10. The vehicle-mounted system connected to the control system network in a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said collection circuit comprising:

a circuit for communicating with an external center;

a circuit for reading said setting information from said storage circuit;

a circuit for detecting an event that communication with said center has been established;

a circuit for making an inquiry to said center about the identifier of said setting information;

a circuit for receiving a message authenticating that it is latest from said center when the identifier of said setting information is latest; and

a circuit for receiving the latest said setting information from said center for updating when the identifier of said setting information is not latest.

11. The vehicle-mounted system connected to the control system network in a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said collection circuit comprising:

a circuit for receiving data having an identifier within a range specified by said setting information out of the data flowing in said control system network;

a circuit for temporarily recording the identifier of said data as a first value;

a circuit for temporarily recording the identifier of the data received within a time limit as a second value;

a circuit for determining the identity of said first value and said second value;

a circuit for increasing a counter value when said values are different; and

a circuit for setting the first value to the transmission ID of said setting information and setting the second value to the reception ID when said counter value reaches a specified value or more.

12. The vehicle-mounted system connected to the control system network in a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said collection circuit comprising:

a circuit for determining whether the data having the same identifier as said transmission ID in said setting information, out of the data flowing in said control system network, is received within a time limit;

a circuit for increasing a counter value when said data is received within the time limit; and

a circuit for eliminating a record including said transmission ID from said setting information when said counter value reaches the specified value or more.

13. The vehicle-mounted system connected to the control system network in a vehicle according to claim 8,

wherein said diagnostic communication circuit comprises a circuit for transmitting a copy of the collected information, which is stored in said shared storage circuit or said storage medium, to said collection circuit, and

wherein said collection circuit comprises a circuit for storing received said copy in said storage circuit.

14. The vehicle-mounted system connected to the control system network in a vehicle according to claim 8,

wherein said diagnostic communication circuit comprises a circuit for transmitting a trigger establishment notification message when said trigger evaluation condition set by said setting information has been established.

15. The vehicle-mounted system connected to the control system network in a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said information collection circuit comprising:

a circuit for receiving said trigger establishment notification message; and

a circuit for using the reception of said trigger establishment notification message as a trigger to store the information collected prior to and subsequent to said trigger.

16. The vehicle-mounted system connected to the control system network in a vehicle according to claim 8,

wherein said diagnostic communication circuit makes a request to said electronic control units for said diagnostic information based on said setting information in said storage medium via said control system network, and

wherein said collection circuit selects said diagnostic information which is requested to said electronic units from said diagnostic communication circuit, out of the information received via said control system network, based on said setting information in said storage circuit.

17. The vehicle-mounted system connected to the control system network in a vehicle according to claim 8,

wherein said diagnostic communication circuit has at least one of an excellent heat resistant property, a high vibration resistance, an excellent earthquake resistant property and a long life compared with said collection circuit.

18. The vehicle-mounted system connected to a control system network in a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the collection circuit is arranged to receive information from the control system network without any transmission of information toward the control system network.

19. A vehicle-mounted system connected to a network for transmitting information between the electronic control units for controlling the vehicle, comprising:

a communication device for communicating with the exterior of a vehicle;

a storage device;

a first arithmetic and control device connected to said communication device, said storage device and said network, for collecting information flowing in said network;

a second arithmetic and control device, provided as a separately operational circuit from said first arithmetic and control device, and connected to said network, for collecting diagnostic information from electronic control units in the vehicle via said network; and

a memory that is connected to said first arithmetic and control device and said second arithmetic and control device, and can be accessed from said first arithmetic and control device and said second arithmetic and control device,

wherein said memory stores setting information for obtaining predetermined information from said electronic control units;

wherein said second arithmetic and control device makes a request to said electronic control units for said predetermined information based on said setting information in said memory via said network; and

wherein said first arithmetic and control device receives said predetermined information from said electronic control units based on said setting information in said memory via said network, and stores said predetermined information in said storage device.

20. The vehicle-mounted system connected to the network for transmitting information between the electronic control units for controlling a vehicle according to claim 19,

wherein said first arithmetic and control device, when communicating with an external device via said communication device, requests said external device to update said setting information, and updates said setting information in said memory by the setting information received from said external device.

21. The vehicle-mounted system connected to the network for transmitting information between the electronic control units for controlling a vehicle according to claim 19,

wherein said second arithmetic and control device makes a request to said electronic control units for said predetermined information by transmitting a request message including a transmission identifier corresponding to said predetermined information in said setting information via said network, and

wherein said first arithmetic and control device receives said predetermined information from said electronic control units via said network by selecting and receiving a reply message including a reception identifier corresponding to said predetermined information in said setting information in said memory.

22. The vehicle-mounted system connected to the network for transmitting information between the electronic control units for controlling the vehicle according to claim 19,

wherein said predetermined information in said storage device is used for diagnosing said vehicle.

23. The vehicle-mounted system connected to a control system network in a vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the first arithmetic and control device is arranged to receive information from the network without any transmission of information toward the network.

24. A vehicle that comprises a vehicle-mounted system connected to a network for transmitting information between electronic control units for controlling the vehicle, comprising:

a communication device for communicating with the exterior of a vehicle;

a storage device;

a first arithmetic and control device connected to said communication device, said storage device and said network, for collecting information flowing in said network;

a second arithmetic and control device, provided as a separately operational circuit from said first arithmetic and control device, and connected to said network, for collecting diagnostic information from electronic control units in the vehicle via said network; and

a memory that is connected to said first arithmetic and control device and said second arithmetic and control device, and can be accessed from said first arithmetic and control device and said second arithmetic and control device,

wherein said memory stores setting information for obtaining predetermined information from said electronic control units;

wherein said second arithmetic and control device makes a request to said electronic control units for said predetermined information based on said setting information in said memory via said network; and

wherein said first arithmetic and control device receives said predetermined information from said electronic control units based on said setting information in said memory via said network, and stores said predetermined information in said storage device;

where the vehicle further comprises said electronic control units and said network.

25. The vehicle according to claim 24, wherein the first arithmetic and control device is arranged to receive information from the network without any transmission of information toward the network.

26. A diagnostic information collection device connected to a network for transmitting the information between the electronic control units for controlling a vehicle, comprising:

a processing device for collecting information flowing in said network;

an interface for connecting said processing device to said network; and

an interface for connecting said processing device to a memory,

wherein an arithmetic and control device, which is connected to a communication device for communicating with the exterior of the vehicle and to a storage, is connected to said network for collecting diagnostic information from electronic control units in the vehicle via said control system network, where said arithmetic and control device is provided as a separately operational circuit from said processing device;

wherein said arithmetic and control device is connected to said memory;

wherein setting information for obtaining predetermined information from said electronic control units is connected to said memory;

wherein said processing device makes a request to said electronic control units for said predetermined information based on said setting information in said memory via said network; and

wherein said arithmetic and control device receives said predetermined information from said electronic control units based on said setting information in said memory via said network to store said predetermined information in said storage device.

27. The diagnostic information collection device according to claim 26, wherein the processing device is arranged to receive information from the network without any transmission of information toward the network.

28. A navigation system connected to a network for transmitting information between the electronic control units for controlling a vehicle, comprising:

a processing device for collecting information flowing in said network;

a communication device for communicating with the exterior of a vehicle;

a storage device;

an interface for connecting said processing device to said network; and

an interface for connecting said processing device to a memory,

wherein setting information for obtaining predetermined information from said electronic control units is stored in said memory;

wherein an arithmetic and control device is connected to said memory and makes an request to said electronic control units for said predetermined information based on said setting information in said memory via said network, where said arithmetic and control device is provided as a separately operational circuit from said processing device; and

wherein said processing device receives said predetermined information from said electronic control units based on said setting information in said memory via said network, and stores said predetermined information in said storage device.

29. The navigation system according to claim 28, wherein the processing device is arranged to receive information from the network without any transmission of information toward the network.