Driving operation diagnostic apparatus and method for diagnosing driving operation

• US 8,781,740 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2010
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Ichikawa, Daiki
• Primary Examiner(s): Jabr, Fadey
• Assistant Examiner(s): INGRAM, THOMAS P
• Application Number:
  US12/801,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20100305814A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,512 Days
• Field of Search: 701/123, 701/527, 701/538, 701/32.1, 701/32.4, 701/201
• US Class Current: 701/527
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

A storing unit stores traveling history information items on a vehicle, the traveling history information items being respectively associated with trips each being a segment from a start of a driving operation to an end of the driving operation. A determination unit determines whether to assign one of the traveling history information items, which is stored in the storing unit and associated with one trip, to a predetermined period, the one trip being partially included in the predetermined period. A driving operation diagnostic unit diagnoses a driving operation of a driver in the predetermined period according to the traveling history information item determined by the determination unit to be assigned to the predetermined period.

Claims

1. A driving operation diagnostic apparatus comprising:

a storage unit configured to store traveling history information items on a vehicle, the traveling history information items being respectively associated with trips each being a segment from a start of a driving operation to an end of the driving operation; and

a processor, the processor being configured to

determine, in a determination unit, whether to assign one of the traveling history information items, which is stored in the storage unit and associated with one trip, to a predetermined time period, the one trip being partially included in the predetermined time period;

determine, in the determination unit, whether a travel period of the one trip included in the predetermined time period is longer than a travel period of the one trip excluded from the predetermined time period;

diagnose, in a driving operation diagnostic unit, a driving operation of a driver in the predetermined time period according to the traveling history information item determined by the determination unit to be assigned to the predetermined time period, wherein the one trip is determined to be assigned to the predetermined time period when the travel period of the one trip included in the predetermined time period is determined to be longer than the travel period of the one trip excluded from the predetermined time period; and

determine the one trip to not be assigned to the predetermined time period, when the travel period of the one trip included in the predetermined time period is determined to not be longer than the travel period of the one trip excluded from the predetermined time period.

2. The driving operation diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the predetermined time period is one of one day, one week, one month, and one year,

the driving operation diagnostic apparatus is further configured to:

receive, in a selected time unit receiving unit, an input of the one of one day, one week, one month, and one year, which is selected by a user as the predetermined time period; and

set, in a setting unit, the predetermined time period to the one of one day, one week, one month, and one year, according to the input received by the selected time unit receiving unit.

3. The driving operation diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes a navigation device, and wherein the one trip being a segment from a start of a driving operation of the vehicle to a point in which the vehicle arrives at a destination, which is set by the navigation device.

4. The driving operation diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one trip is a segment from a first point, in which an ignition switch of the vehicle is activated, to a second point, in which the ignition switch is deactivated.

5. The driving operation diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one trip is a segment from a first point, in which the vehicle is supplied with energy, to a second point, in which the vehicle is supplied with energy subsequent to the first point.

6. The driving operation diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the vehicle includes a navigation device,

the driving operation diagnostic apparatus is further configured to:

receive, in a selected trip receiving unit, an input of one of a first trip, a second trip, and a third trip, which is selected by a user,

wherein the first trip is a segment from a point, in which the vehicle departs from a start point, to a point, in which the vehicle arrives at a destination, the start point and the destination being set by the navigation device,

wherein the second trip is a segment from a point, in which an ignition switch of the vehicle is activated, to a point, in which the ignition switch is deactivated,

wherein the third trip is a segment from a point, in which the vehicle is supplied with energy, to a point, in which the vehicle is subsequently supplied with energy,

wherein the driving operation diagnostic unit is further configured to diagnose a driving operation of a driver in the predetermined time period according to the traveling history information item in the one of the first trip, the second trip, and the third trip, an input of the one of the first trip, the second trip, and the third trip being received by the selected trip receiving unit.

7. The driving operation diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving operation diagnostic unit is further configured to diagnose an efficiency of an energy consumption of the vehicle in the predetermined time period, as the driving operation of the driver in the predetermined time period.

8. The driving operation diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving operation diagnostic unit is further configured to diagnose a safety of a driving operation of a driver in the predetermined time period, as the driving operation of the driver in the predetermined time period.

9. The driving operation diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to

separate the one trip into a start period in which the one trip starts and an end period in which the one trip ends by a transition from one day to a next day;

determine whether the start period is shorter than the end period; and

assign all data of the one trip as data of the end period which corresponds to the predetermined time period, when the processor determines that the start period is shorter than the end period.

10. A method for diagnosing a driving operation, the method comprising:

storing, by a processor, traveling history information items on a vehicle, the traveling history information items being respectively associated with trips each being a segment from a start of a driving operation to an end of the driving operation;

determining, by the processor, whether to assign one of the stored traveling history information items, which is associated with one trip, to a predetermined time period, the one trip being partially included in the predetermined time period;

determining, by the processor, whether a travel period of the one trip included in the predetermined time period is longer than a travel period of the one trip excluded from the predetermined time period;

diagnosing, by the processor, a driving operation of a driver in the predetermined time period according to the traveling history information item determined to be assigned to the predetermined time period, wherein the one trip is determined to be assigned to the predetermined time period when the travel period of the one trip included in the predetermined time period is determined to be longer than the travel period of the one trip excluded from the predetermined time period; and

determining, by the processor, the one trip to not be assigned to the predetermined time period, when the travel period of the one trip included in the predetermined time period is determined to not be longer than the travel period of the one trip excluded from the predetermined time period.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising

separating, by the processor, the one trip into a start period in which the one trip starts and an end period in which the one trip ends by a transition from one day to a next day;

determining, by the processor, whether the start period is shorter than the end period; and

assigning, by the processor, all data of the one trip as data of the end period which corresponds to the predetermined time period, when the processor determines that the start period is shorter than the end period.

12. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions executed by a computer, the instructions including:

storing traveling history information items on a vehicle, the traveling history information items being respectively associated with trips each being a segment from a start of a driving operation to an end of the driving operation;

determining whether to assign one of the stored traveling history information items, which is associated with one trip, to a predetermined time period, the one trip being partially included in the predetermined time period;

determining whether a travel period of the one trip included in the predetermined time period is longer than a travel period of the one trip excluded from the predetermined time period;

diagnosing a driving operation of a driver in the predetermined time period according to the traveling history information item determined to be assigned to the predetermined time period, wherein the one trip is determined to be assigned to the predetermined time period when the travel period of the one trip included in the predetermined time period is determined to be longer than the travel period of the one trip excluded from the predetermined time period; and

determining the one trip to not be assigned to the predetermined time period, when the travel period of the one rip included in the predetermined time period is determined to not be longer than the travel period of the one trip excluded from the predetermined time period.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 12, the instructions further including

separating, by the processor, the one trip into a start period in which the one trip starts and an end period in which the one trip ends by a transition from one day to a next day;

determining, by the processor, whether the start period is shorter than the end period; and

assigning, by the processor, all data of the one trip as data of the end period which corresponds to the predetermined time period, when the processor determines that the start period is shorter than the end period.

14. A driving operation diagnostic apparatus comprising:

a storage unit configured to store traveling history information items on a vehicle, the traveling history information items being respectively associated with trips each being a segment from a start of a driving operation to an end of the driving operation; and

a processor, the processor being configured to

determine, in a determination unit, whether to assign one of the traveling history information items, which is stored in the storage unit and associated with one trip, to a predetermined time period, the one trip being partially included in the predetermined time period;

determine, in the determination unit, whether a distance of the one trip included in the predetermined time period is longer than a distance of the one trip excluded from the predetermined time period;

diagnose, in a driving operation diagnostic unit, a driving operation of a driver in the predetermined time period according to the traveling history information item determined by the determination unit to be assigned to the predetermined time period, wherein the one trip is determined to be assigned to the predetermined time period when the distance of the one trip included in the predetermined time period is determined to be longer than the distance of the one trip excluded from the predetermined time period; and

determine the one trip to not be assigned to the predetermined time period, when the distance of the one trip included in the predetermined time period is determined to not be longer than the distance of the one trip excluded from the predetermined time period.

15. The driving operation diagnostic apparatus according to claim 14,

wherein the predetermined time period is one of one day, one week, one month, and one year,

the driving operation diagnostic apparatus is further configured to:

receive, in a selected time unit receiving unit, an input of the one of one day, one week, one month, and one year, which is selected by a user as the predetermined time period; and

set, in a setting unit, the predetermined time period to the one of one day, one week, one month, and one year, according to the input received by the selected time unit receiving unit.

16. The driving operation diagnostic apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the vehicle includes a navigation device, and wherein the one trip being a segment from a start of a driving operation of the vehicle to a point in which the vehicle arrives at a destination, which is set by the navigation device.

17. The driving operation diagnostic apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the one trip is a segment from a first point, in which an ignition switch of the vehicle is activated, to a second point, in which the ignition switch is deactivated.

18. The driving operation diagnostic apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the one trip is a segment from a first point, in which the vehicle is supplied with energy, to a second point, in which the vehicle is supplied with energy subsequent to the first point.

19. The driving operation diagnostic apparatus according to claim 14,

wherein the vehicle includes a navigation device,

the driving operation diagnostic apparatus is further configured to:

receive, in a selected trip receiving unit, an input of one of a first trip, a second trip, and a third trip, which is selected by a user,

wherein the first trip is a segment from a point, in which the vehicle departs from a start point, to a point, in which the vehicle arrives at a destination, the start point and the destination being set by the navigation device,

wherein the second trip is a segment from a point, in which an ignition switch of the vehicle is activated, to a point, in which the ignition switch is deactivated,

wherein the third trip is a segment from a point, in which the vehicle is supplied with energy, to a point, in which the vehicle is subsequently supplied with energy,

wherein the driving operation diagnostic unit is further configured to diagnose a driving operation of a driver in the predetermined time period according to the traveling history information item in the one of the first trip, the second trip, and the third trip, an input of the one of the first trip, the second trip, and the third trip being received by the selected trip receiving unit.

20. The driving operation diagnostic apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the driving operation diagnostic unit is further configured to diagnose an efficiency of an energy consumption of the vehicle in the predetermined time period, as the driving operation of the driver in the predetermined time period.

21. The driving operation diagnostic apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the driving operation diagnostic unit is further configured to diagnose a safety of a driving operation of a driver in the predetermined time period, as the driving operation of the driver in the predetermined time period.

22. The driving operation diagnostic apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to

separate the one trip into a start period in which the one trip starts and an end period in which the one trip ends by a transition from one day to a next day;

determine whether a distance in the start period is shorter than a distance in the end period; and

assign all data of the one trip as data of the end period which corresponds to the predetermined time period, when the processor determines that distance in the start period is shorter than the distance in the end period.

23. A method for diagnosing a driving operation, the method comprising:

storing, by a processor, traveling history information items on a vehicle, the traveling history information items being respectively associated with trips each being a segment from a start of a driving operation to an end of the driving operation;

determining, by the processor, whether to assign one of the stored traveling history information items, which is associated with one trip, to a predetermined time period, the one trip being partially included in the predetermined time period;

determining, by the processor, whether a distance of the one trip included in the predetermined time period is longer than a distance of the one trip excluded from the predetermined time period;

diagnosing, by the processor, a driving operation of a driver in the predetermined time period according to the traveling history information item determined to be assigned to the predetermined time period, wherein the one trip is determined to be assigned to the predetermined time period when the distance of the one trip included in the predetermined time period is determined to be longer than the distance of the one trip excluded from the predetermined time period; and

determining, by the processor, the one trip to not be assigned to the predetermined time period, when the distance of the one trip included in the predetermined time period is determined to not be longer than the distance of the one trip excluded from the predetermined time period.

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising

separating, by the processor, the one trip into a start period in which the one trip starts and an end period in which the one trip ends by a transition from one day to a next day;

determining, by the processor, whether a distance in the start period is shorter than a distance in the end period; and

assigning, by the processor, all data of the one trip as data of the end period which corresponds to the predetermined time period, when the processor determines that the distance in the start period is shorter than the distance in the end period.

25. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions executed by a computer, the instructions including:

storing traveling history information items on a vehicle, the traveling history information items being respectively associated with trips each being a segment from a start of a driving operation to an end of the driving operation;

determining whether to assign one of the stored traveling history information items, which is associated with one trip, to a predetermined time period, the one trip being partially included in the predetermined time period;

determining whether a distance of the one trip included in the predetermined time period is longer than a distance of the one trip excluded from the predetermined time period;

diagnosing a driving operation of a driver in the predetermined time period according to the traveling history information item determined to be assigned to the predetermined time period, wherein the one trip is determined to be assigned to the predetermined time period when the distance of the one trip included in the predetermined time period is determined to be longer than the distance of the one trip excluded from the predetermined time period; and

determining the one trip to not be assigned to the predetermined time period, when the distance of the one trip included in the predetermined time period is determined to not be longer than the distance of the one trip excluded from the predetermined time period.

26. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 25, the instructions further including

separating, by the processor, the one trip into a start period in which the one trip starts and an end period in which the one trip ends by a transition from one day to a next day;

determining, by the processor, whether a distance in the start period is shorter than a distance in the end period; and

assigning, by the processor, all data of the one trip as data of the end period which corresponds to the predetermined time period, when the processor determines that the distance in the start period is shorter than the distance in the end period.