Information sharing system, on-vehicle diagnosis terminal, and display terminal

• US 9,135,760 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2014
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NGK Spark PLUG Company Limited (Niterra Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NGK Spark PLUG Company Limited (Niterra Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Tsuzuki, Masashi, Yuasa, Go, Ramirez, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anwari, Maceeh
• Application Number:
  US14/534,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20150134186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 313 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 5/0825 using optical means

Abstract

An information sharing system (1) including a plurality of on-vehicle diagnosis terminals (10) and one or a plurality of display terminals (20) and sharing diagnostic information over wireless communication. The terminals (10, 20) include a first determination unit S7, S8 and a second determination unit S34, S35 configured to determine whether or not predetermined times T1, T2 have passed from stored clock times C1, C2 at which data sets DS are acquired from the any of the other terminals (10, 20). When the predetermined times have passed, new data sets DS are acquired and the storing into an other-vehicle data storing unit 15B and a data storing unit 25A is performed. When the predetermined times have not passed, new wireless communication is established with communication units (13, 23) of the terminals (10, 20) capable of establishing wireless communication.

Claims

1. An information sharing system comprising a plurality of on-vehicle diagnosis terminals, and one or a plurality of display terminals, the on-vehicle diagnosis terminals and the one or the plurality of display terminals comprising a terminal that comprises a communication unit including one of first and second communication units configured to perform peer-to-peer wireless communication,

the on-vehicle diagnosis terminals comprising:

the first communication unit, and a diagnostic information acquiring unit configured to acquire diagnostic information on an electric vehicle equipped with the on-vehicle diagnosis terminal,

the one or the plurality of display terminals comprising;

the second communication unit, and a display configured to display the diagnostic information on the electric vehicles equipped with the on-vehicle diagnosis terminals,

the on-vehicle diagnosis terminals and the one or the plurality of display terminals sharing the diagnostic information on the electric vehicles equipped with the on-vehicle diagnosis terminals over wireless communication among the terminals using the communication units,

wherein the on-vehicle diagnosis terminals comprise;

a first clock unit that keeps a common time that is unified in the information sharing system;

an own-vehicle data storing unit configured to store one or more own-vehicle data sets that each comprise one or more data sets comprising at least a unique identifier that is uniquely assigned to the on-vehicle diagnosis terminal, the diagnostic information acquired by the diagnostic information-acquiring unit of the on-vehicle diagnosis terminal, and an acquisition clock time in the common time at which the diagnostic information is acquired; and

an other-vehicle data storing unit configured to store other-vehicle data sets that comprise the data sets on other electric vehicles that are acquired through the first communication unit of the on-vehicle diagnosis terminal,

wherein the one or the plurality of display terminals comprise;

a second clock unit that keeps the common time; and

a data storing unit configured to store data sets on the electric vehicles that are acquired through the second communication unit of the display terminal,

wherein the on-vehicle diagnosis terminals comprise;

a first communication establishing unit configured to establish peer-to-peer wireless communication with the communication units of the terminals capable of establishing wireless communication with the on-vehicle diagnosis terminal;

a first newly-storing unit configured to make the other-vehicle data storing unit of the on-vehicle diagnosis terminal store new data sets comprising at least a unique identifier that is not stored in the other-vehicle data storing unit of the on-vehicle diagnosis terminal among the data sets stored in first terminals that comprise the terminals with which the wireless communication is established with the on-vehicle diagnosis terminal;

a first renewing and storing unit configured to renew and store the one or more data sets that each comprises at least a unique identifier which is the same as the unique identifier of an other-vehicle data set stored in the other-vehicle data storing unit of the on-vehicle diagnosis terminal, and has a newer acquisition clock time among the data sets stored in the first terminals; and

a first clock time storing unit configured to renew and store, every time a data set stored in each first terminal is stored in the other-vehicle data storing unit of the on-vehicle diagnosis terminal, a first stored clock time in the common time for every first terminal, the first stored clock time being the stored timing,

wherein the one or the plurality of display terminals comprise;

a second communication establishing unit configured to establish peer-to-peer wireless communication with the communication units of the terminals capable of establishing wireless communication with the display terminal;

a second newly-storing unit configured to make the data storing unit of the display terminal store a new data set comprising at least a unique identifier that is not stored in the data storing unit of the display terminal among the data sets stored in second terminals that comprise the terminals with which the wireless communication is established with the display terminal;

a second renewing and storing unit configured to renew and store the data sets that each comprise at least a unique identifier which is the same as the unique identifier of the data set stored in the data storing unit of the display terminal, and has a newer acquisition clock time among the data sets stored in the second terminals; and

a second clock time storing unit configured to renew and store, every time a data set stored in each second terminal is stored in the data storing unit of the display terminal, a second stored clock time in the common time for every second terminal, the second stored clock time being the stored timing,

wherein the on-vehicle diagnosis terminals comprise a first determination unit configured to;

determine, when the peer-to-peer wireless communication is established by the first communication establishing unit, whether or not a first predetermined time has passed from the first stored clock times that are stored in relation to the first terminals with which the wireless communication is established;

perform, when the first predetermined time has passed, the storing into the other-vehicle data storing units using the first newly-storing units and the first renewing and storing units; and

establish, when the first predetermined time has not passed, new wireless communication using the first communication establishing units with the communication units of the terminals capable of establishing wireless communication with the on-vehicle diagnosis terminal, and

wherein the one or the plurality of display terminals comprise a second determination unit configured to;

determine, when the peer-to-peer wireless communication is established by the second communication establishing unit, whether or not a second predetermined time has passed from the second stored clock times that are stored in relation to the second terminals with which the wireless communication is established;

perform, when the second predetermined time has passed, the storing into the data storing units using the second newly-storing units and the second renewing and storing units; and

establish, when the second predetermined time has not passed, new wireless communication using the second communication establishing units with the communication units of the terminals capable of establishing wireless communication with the display terminal.

2. The information sharing system as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the first communication establishing units of the on-vehicle diagnosis terminals comprise a first searching unit configured to search for the communication units of the terminals capable of establishing wireless communication with the first communication establishing unit,

wherein the first communication establishing units of the on-vehicle diagnosis terminals are configured to establish the peer-to-peer wireless communication with the searched communication units of the terminals,

wherein the second communication establishing units of the display terminals comprise a second searching unit configured to search for the communication units of the terminals capable of establishing wireless communication with the second communication establishing unit,

wherein the second communication establishing units of the display terminals are configured to establish the peer-to-peer wireless communication with the searched communication units of the terminals,

wherein the on-vehicle diagnosis terminals is configured to, when it is determined that the first predetermined time has not passed by the first determination units, search for the terminals capable of establishing wireless communication with the on-vehicle diagnosis terminals using the first searching units, and

wherein the one or the plurality of display terminals is configured to, when it is determined that the second predetermined time has not passed by the second determination units, search for the terminals capable of establishing wireless communication with the display terminals using the second searching units.

3. The information sharing system as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the first communication establishing units of the on-vehicle diagnosis terminals comprise:

a first list making unit configured to search for the communication units of the terminals capable of establishing wireless communication with the first communication establishing unit, and to make a first communicable terminal list;

a first choosing unit configured to choose one first chosen terminal from first unestablished terminals with which wireless communication has not yet been established after making the first communicable terminal list among the first communicable terminals cited in the first communicable terminal list; and

a first establishing unit configured to establish the peer-to-peer wireless communication with the communication unit of the chosen first chosen terminal,

wherein the second communication establishing units of the display terminals comprise;

a second list making unit configured to search for the communication units of the terminals capable of establishing wireless communication with the second communication establishing unit, and to make a second communicable terminal list;

a second choosing unit configured to choose one second chosen terminal from second unestablished terminals with which wireless communication has not yet been established after making the second communicable terminal list among the second communicable terminals cited in the second communicable terminal list; and

a second establishing unit configured to establish the peer-to-peer wireless communication with the communication unit of the chosen second chosen terminal,

wherein each of the on-vehicle diagnosis terminals is configured to, when it is determined that the first predetermined time has not passed by the first determination unit, choose one new first chosen terminal from the first unestablished terminals using the first choosing unit, and

wherein each of the one or the plurality of display terminals is configured to, when it is determined that the second predetermined time has not passed by the second determination unit, choose one new second chosen terminal from the second unestablished terminals using the second choosing unit.

4. The information sharing system as claimed in claim 3,

wherein each of the on-vehicle diagnosis terminals is configured to, when it is determined that the first predetermined time has passed by the first determination unit, choose one new first chosen terminal from the first unestablished terminals using the first choosing unit after the storing into the other-vehicle data storing unit is performed, and

wherein each of the one or the plurality of display terminals is configured to, when it is determined that the second predetermined time has passed by the second determination unit, choose one new second chosen terminal from the second unestablished terminals using the second choosing unit after the storing into the data storing unit is performed.

5. The information sharing system as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the one or the plurality of display terminals comprise a plurality of display terminals, and

wherein each of the second communication establishing units of the display terminals establishes wireless communication with any one of the first communication units of the on-vehicle diagnosis terminals and the second communication units of the display terminals.

6. The information sharing system as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the diagnostic information acquiring units of the on-vehicle diagnosis terminals comprise an SOC information-acquiring unit configured to acquire information on a state of charge of a battery mounted on the electric vehicle equipped with the diagnostic information acquiring unit.

7. The information sharing system as claimed in claim 1,

wherein each of the first clock units and the second clock units keeps a local time that is the only time used in the information sharing system as the common time.

8. The information sharing system as claimed in claim 7,

wherein each of the first clock units and the second clock units comprises a counter configured to count up at predetermined time intervals that are unified in the information sharing system, and

wherein each of the first clock units and the second clock units uses, as the local time, count values of counters acquired by starting count from predetermined timings that are unified in the information sharing system.

9. An on-vehicle diagnosis terminal used in an information sharing system comprising a plurality of on-vehicle diagnosis terminals, and one or a plurality of display terminals, the on-vehicle diagnosis terminals and the one or the plurality of display terminals comprising a terminal that comprises a communication unit including one of first and second communication units configured to perform peer-to-peer wireless communication,

the on-vehicle diagnosis terminals comprising:

the first communication unit; and

a diagnostic information acquiring unit configured to acquire diagnostic information on an electric vehicle equipped with the on-vehicle diagnosis terminal,

the one or the plurality of display terminals comprising;

the second communication unit; and

a display configured to display the diagnostic information on the electric vehicles equipped with the on-vehicle diagnosis terminals, and

the on-vehicle diagnosis terminals and the one or the plurality of display terminals sharing the diagnostic information on the electric vehicles equipped with the on-vehicle diagnosis terminals over wireless communication among the terminals using the communication units,

wherein the on-vehicle diagnosis terminal used in the information sharing system comprises;

a first clock unit that keeps common time that is unified in the information sharing system;

an own-vehicle data storing unit configured to store one or more own-vehicle data sets that each comprises one or more data set comprising at least a unique identifier that is uniquely assigned to the on-vehicle diagnosis terminal, the diagnostic information acquired by the diagnostic information-acquiring unit of the on-vehicle diagnosis terminal, and an acquisition clock time in the common time at which the diagnostic information is acquired;

an other-vehicle data storing unit configured to store other-vehicle data sets that comprise the data sets on other electric vehicles that are acquired through the first communication unit of the on-vehicle diagnosis terminal;

a second clock unit that keeps the common time;

a data storing unit configured to store data sets on the electric vehicles that are acquired through the second communication unit of the display terminal;

a first communication establishing unit configured to establish peer-to-peer wireless communication with the communication units of the terminals capable of establishing wireless communication with the on-vehicle diagnosis terminal;

a first newly-storing unit configured to make the other-vehicle data storing unit of the on-vehicle diagnosis terminal store new data sets comprising at least a unique identifier that is not stored in the other-vehicle data storing unit of the on-vehicle diagnosis terminal among the data sets stored in first terminals that comprise the terminals with which the wireless communication is established with the on-vehicle diagnosis terminal;

a first renewing and storing unit configured to renew and store the one or more data sets that each comprises at least a unique identifier which is the same as the unique identifier of an other-vehicle data set stored in the other-vehicle data storing unit of the on-vehicle diagnosis terminal, and has a newer acquisition clock time among the data sets stored in the first terminals;

a first clock time storing unit configured to renew and store, every time the data set stored in each first terminal is stored in the other-vehicle data storing unit of the on-vehicle diagnosis terminal, a first stored clock time in the common time for every first terminal, the first stored clock time being the stored timing;

a second communication establishing unit configured to establish peer-to-peer wireless communication with the communication units of the terminals capable of establishing wireless communication with the display terminal;

a second newly-storing unit configured to make the data storing unit of the display terminal store a new data set comprising at least a unique identifier that is not stored in the data storing unit of the display terminal among the data sets stored in second terminals that comprise the terminals with which the wireless communication is established with the display terminal;

a second renewing and storing unit configured to renew and store the data sets that each comprise at least a unique identifier which is the same as the unique identifier of the data set stored in the data storing unit of the display terminal, and has a newer acquisition clock time among the data sets stored in the second terminals;

a second clock time storing unit configured to renew and store, every time a data set stored in each second terminal is stored in the data storing unit of the display terminal, a second stored clock time in the common time for every second terminal, the second stored clock time being the stored timing;

a first determination unit configured to determine, when the peer-to-peer wireless communication is established by the first communication establishing unit, whether or not a first predetermined time has passed from the first stored clock times that are stored in relation to the first terminals with which the wireless communication is established,

wherein the on-vehicle diagnosis terminal used in the information sharing system performs, when the first predetermined time has passed, the storing into the other-vehicle data storing unit using the first newly-storing unit and the first renewing and storing unit, and

wherein the on-vehicle diagnosis terminal used in the information sharing system establishes, when the first predetermined time has not passed, new wireless communication using the first communication establishing unit with the communication units of the terminals capable of establishing wireless communication with the on-vehicle diagnosis terminal; and

a second determination unit configured to;

determine, when the peer-to-peer wireless communication is established by the second communication establishing unit, whether or not a second predetermined time has passed from the second stored clock times that are stored in relation to the second terminals with which the wireless communication is established,

perform, when the second predetermined time has passed, the storing into the data storing units using the second newly-storing units and the second renewing and storing units, and

establish, when the second predetermined time has not passed, new wireless communication using the second communication establishing units with the communication units of the terminals capable of establishing wireless communication with the display terminal.

10. A display terminal used in an information sharing system comprising a plurality of on-vehicle diagnosis terminals, and one or a plurality of display terminals, the on-vehicle diagnosis terminals and the one or the plurality of display terminals comprising a terminal that comprises a communication unit including one of first and second communication units configured to perform peer-to-peer wireless communication,

wherein the on-vehicle diagnosis terminals comprise:

the first communication unit, and

a diagnostic information acquiring unit configured to acquire diagnostic information on an electric vehicle equipped with the on-vehicle diagnosis terminal;

a first clock unit that keeps common time that is unified in the information sharing system;

an own-vehicle data storing unit configured to store one or more own-vehicle data sets that each comprises a data set comprising a unique identifier that is uniquely assigned to the on-vehicle diagnosis terminal, the diagnostic information acquired by the diagnostic information-acquiring unit of the on-vehicle diagnosis terminal, and an acquisition clock time in the common time at which the diagnostic information is acquired; and

an other-vehicle data storing unit configured to store other-vehicle data sets that comprise the data sets on other electric vehicles that are acquired through the first communication unit of the on-vehicle diagnosis terminal,

wherein the one or the plurality of display terminals comprise the second communication unit, and a display configured to display the diagnostic information on the electric vehicles equipped with the on-vehicle diagnosis terminals,

wherein the on-vehicle diagnosis terminals and the one or the plurality of display terminals sharing the diagnostic information on the electric vehicles equipped with the on-vehicle diagnosis terminals over wireless communication among the terminals using the communication units,

wherein the display terminal used in the information sharing system comprises;

a second clock unit that keeps the common time;

a data storing unit configured to store data sets on the electric vehicles that are acquired through the second communication unit of the display terminal;

a second communication establishing unit configured to establish peer-to-peer wireless communication with the communication units of the terminals capable of establishing wireless communication with the display terminal;

a second newly-storing unit configured to make the data storing unit of the display terminal store one or more new data sets comprising at least a unique identifier that is not stored in the data storing unit of the display terminal among the data sets stored in second terminals that comprise the terminals with which the wireless communication is established with the display terminal;

a second renewing and storing unit configured to renew and store the data sets that each comprises at least a unique identifier which is the same as the unique identifier of the data set stored in the data storing unit of the display terminal, and has the newer acquisition clock time among the data sets stored in the second terminals;

a second clock time storing unit configured to renew and store, every time a data set stored in each second terminal is stored in the data storing unit of the display terminal, a second stored clock time in the common time for every second terminal, the second stored clock time being the stored timing; and

a second determination unit configured to determine, when the peer-to-peer wireless communication is established by the second communication establishing unit, whether or not a second predetermined time has passed from the second stored clock times that are stored in relation to the second terminals with which the wireless communication is established,

wherein the display terminal used in the information sharing system performs, when the second predetermined time has passed, the storing into the data storing unit using the second newly-storing unit and the second renewing and storing unit, and

wherein the display terminal used in the information sharing system establishes, when the second predetermined time has not passed, new wireless communication using the second communication establishing units with the communication units of the terminals capable of establishing wireless communication with the display terminal.