Vehicle management system and method using ECU

• US 8,014,915 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2007
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sungkyunkwan University Foundation For Corporate Collaboration (SungKyunKwan University)
• Original Assignee: Sungkyunkwan University Foundation For Corporate Collaboration (SungKyunKwan University)
• Inventors: Jeon, Jae Wook, Lee, Sang Won, Seo, Suk Hyun, Park, Ji Hwan
• Primary Examiner(s): Beamer, Temica M
• Application Number:
  US11/675,061
• Publication Number:
  US 20080037504A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,665 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/426.14, 340/426.16, 340/426.28, 701/33, 701/36, 701/44, 701/45, 701/29, 455/569.2, 455/556.1, 455/557
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/64 Hybrid switching systems

Abstract

Disclosed is a vehicle management system using a wireless network system the system comprising, a WCDMA service unit having a specified ID and obtaining access to a network wirelessly, an ECU system associated with the WCDMA service module for controlling all kinds of interfaces in a vehicle, a service provider for providing various services when the WCDMA service module is connected to the wireless network, and a user having the services through non-wireless or wireless communication inside or outside of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle management system using a wireless network system, the system comprising:

a wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) service module installed in a vehicle, having a specified ID, and obtaining access to a network wirelessly;

an electric control unit (ECU) system associated with the WCDMA service module, interfacing various devices, sensors and units in the vehicle, controlling and obtaining information from the devices, sensors and units according to a user'"'"'s instructions;

a service provider for storing vehicle information received from the ECU system through the WCDMA service module and providing various kinds of services to the vehicle according to a user'"'"'s demands;

a vehicle information database connected to the service provider for storing vehicle information received from the ECU system; and

a content database connected to the service provider for storing contents to be provided for a vehicle user,

wherein the vehicle management system obtains access to the wireless network through the WCDMA service module and provides vehicle information from the ECU system to the service provider according to a user'"'"'s instructions, and wherein the service provider provides a necessary services to the corresponding vehicle automatically or according to a user'"'"'s demands based on the vehicle information, so that the ECU system controls the devices, sensors and units using the service received from the service provider.

2. The vehicle management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user controls the vehicle through the WCDMA service module using the wireless terminal.

3. The vehicle management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user sets a necessary service in advance based on the vehicle information and provides the service provider with the preset service, and the service provider provides the corresponding vehicle with the preset service when the units of the corresponding vehicle are turned on.

4. The vehicle management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the WCDMA service module comprises:

a WCDMA communication unit used for obtaining access to the network wirelessly in a WCDMA communication way; and

a gateway for connecting the WCDMA communication module to the ECU system so that the WCDMA communication module communicates with the ECU system.

5. The vehicle management system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the gateway comprises a controller area network (CAN) network communication protocol supporting module for connecting the WCDMA service module to the ECU system supporting a CAN network communication protocol and a media oriented system transport (MOST) network communication protocol supporting module for connecting the WCDMA service module to the ECU system supporting a MOST network communication protocol.

6. The vehicle management system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the ECU system comprises a CAN communication unit for analyzing the CAN network communication protocol.

7. The vehicle management system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the ECU system comprises a MOST communication unit for analyzing the MOST network communication protocol.

8. A vehicle management method using a wireless network system, the method comprising:

connecting a wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) service module, which is installed in a vehicle and has a specified ID, to an electric control unit (ECU) unit so that the WCDMA service module communicates with the ECU unit;

obtaining access to a network wirelessly through the WCDMA service module;

controlling various devices, sensors and units of the vehicle and providing a service provider through the WCDMA service module with information on the devices, sensors and units;

storing vehicle information, received from the ECU unit through the WCDMA service module, in a vehicle information database;

providing the corresponding vehicle with necessary services by a service provider based on corresponding vehicle information stored in the vehicle information database and content information stored in the content database; and

controlling the devices, sensors and units of the vehicle by means of the ECU unit based on the services received from the service provider.

9. The vehicle management method as claimed in claim 8, comprising the step in which a user controls the vehicle through the WCDMA service module using the wireless terminal.

10. The vehicle management method as claimed in claim 8, comprising the step in which the user sets a necessary service in advance based on the vehicle information and provides the service provider with the preset service, and the service provider provides the corresponding vehicle with the preset service when the units of the corresponding vehicle are turned on.