Driving operation diagnostic apparatus and method for diagnosing driving operation

• US 20100305814A1
• Filed: 05/25/2010
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Ichikawa, Daiki
• Granted Patent: US 8,781,740 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/35
• 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 storing 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;

a determination unit configured to determine 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; and

a driving operation diagnostic unit configured to diagnose 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.

2. The driving operation diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a period of the one trip included in the predetermined period is longer than a period of the one trip excluded from the predetermined period.

3. The driving operation diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a distance of the one trip included in the predetermined period is longer than a distance of the one trip excluded the predetermined period.

4. The driving operation diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one trip starts in the predetermined period.

5. The driving operation diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined period is one of one day, one week, one month, and one year,

the driving operation diagnostic apparatus further comprising:

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

a setting unit configured to set the predetermined 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

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

wherein the vehicle includes a navigation device,

the driving operation diagnostic apparatus further comprising:

a selected trip receiving unit configured to receive 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 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.

10. 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 period, as the driving operation of the driver in the predetermined period.

11. 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 period, as the driving operation of the driver in the predetermined period.

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

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 period, the one trip being partially included in the predetermined period; and

diagnosing a driving operation of a driver in the predetermined period according to the traveling history information item determined to be assigned to the predetermined period.

13. A computer readable medium comprising instructions executed by a computer, the instructions including the method according to claim 12.