Vehicular reporting system

• US 6,791,456 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2002
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Nakayama, Kengo, Mochizuki, Yoshifumi
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US10/046,815
• Publication Number:
  US 20020093419A1
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 340/988, 340/989, 340/991, 340/992, 340/993, 340/995.1, 340/902, 340/905, 340/426.3, 340/572.5, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/286.01, 340/10.1, 340/10.6, 340/999, 340/429, 342/457, 342/458, 342/463
• US Class Current: 340/429
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data

Abstract

To make it possible to take appropriate action promptly in response to a report from a vehicle of an abnormality such as a theft, an accident, or a failure. A terminal apparatus is included in vehicles to transmit an abnormality report and thereby providing a notification of the occurrence of an abnormality to a control apparatus. The terminal apparatus includes abnormality information C from an abnormality detecting sensor, identifying information A of the vehicle, attribute information D for indicating attributes of the vehicle itself, and position information D of the vehicle. The control apparatus can thereby detect the occurrence of the abnormality of the vehicle, identify the vehicle having the abnormality, identify the attributes of the vehicle having the abnormality, and identify the location where the abnormality has occurred. It is thus possible to take appropriate action promptly such as sending an appropriate report and sending an appropriate request to a maintenance service.

Claims

1. A vehicular reporting system comprising:

a terminal apparatus included in a vehicle; and

a control apparatus for receiving a report transmitted by radio from said terminal apparatus;

wherein said terminal apparatus transmits the report by radio, the report is obtained by associating identifying information for uniquely identifying the vehicle, the identifying information being stored in memory means, attribute information for indicating attributes of the vehicle itself, the attribute information being stored in the memory means, and position information for indicating a current position of the vehicle,

wherein the terminal apparatus includes a vibration detecting sensor for outputting a signal when a vibration exceeding a certain magnitude occurs in the vehicle when a vehicle ignition key is removed, or a rotation detecting sensor for outputting a signal when a rotation of a wheel exceeding a certain distance occurs in the vehicle when the vehicle ignition key is removed.

2. The vehicular reporting system according to claim 1, wherein the memory means provided in said terminal apparatus for storing the attribute information outputs the attribute information stored therein in response to access from outside, and updates the attribute information with update attribute information inputted from outside.

3. The vehicular reporting system according to claim 2, wherein the memory means provided in said terminal apparatus for storing the attribute information is updated with update attribute information inputted at the time of vehicle inspection work.

4. The vehicular reporting system according to claim 1, wherein the memory means provided in said terminal apparatus for storing the attribute information is updated with update attribute information inputted at the time of vehicle inspection work.

5. A vehicular reporting system comprising:

a terminal apparatus included in a vehicle; and

a control apparatus for receiving an abnormality report transmitted by radio from said terminal apparatus;

wherein said terminal apparatus transmits the abnormality report by radio, the abnormality report is obtained by associating with each other abnormality information from abnormality detecting means included in the vehicle, identifying information for uniquely identifying the vehicle, the identifying information being stored in memory means, attribute information for indicating attributes of the vehicle itself, the attribute information being stored in the memory means, and position information for indicating a current position of the vehicle,

wherein the terminal apparatus transmits information includes a vibration detecting sensor for outputting a signal when a vibration exceeding a certain magnitude occurs in the vehicle when a vehicle ignition key is removed, or a rotation detecting sensor for outputting a signal when a rotation of a wheel exceeding a certain distance occurs in the vehicle when the vehicle ignition key is removed.

6. A vehicular reporting system comprising:

a terminal apparatus included in a vehicle;

a control apparatus for receiving an abnormality report transmitted by radio from said terminal apparatus; and

a plurality of base station apparatus for providing radio communication service to said terminal apparatus;

wherein said terminal apparatus transmits the abnormality report by radio, the abnormality report being obtained by associating abnormality information from abnormality detecting means included in the vehicle, identifying information for uniquely identifying the vehicle, the identifying information being stored in memory means, and attribute information for indicating attributes of the vehicle itself, the attribute information being stored in the memory means; and

said control apparatus obtains position information of the transmitter of the abnormality report, the position information being obtained by determining which of the base station apparatus has a service area where the transmitter is located on the basis of the identifying information included in the received abnormality report,

wherein the terminal apparatus includes a vibration detecting sensor for outputting a signal when a vibration exceeding a certain magnitude occurs in the vehicle when a vehicle ignition key is removed, or a rotation detecting sensor for outputting a signal when a rotation of a wheel exceeding a certain distance occurs in the vehicle when the vehicle ignition key is removed.

7. A vehicular reporting system comprising:

a terminal apparatus included in a vehicle; and

a control apparatus for receiving an abnormality report transmitted by radio from said terminal apparatus;

wherein said terminal apparatus transmits the abnormality report by radio, the abnormality report being obtained by associating abnormality information from abnormality detecting means included in the vehicle, identifying information for uniquely identifying the vehicle, the identifying information being stored in memory means, and position information for indicating a current position of the vehicle; and

said control apparatus obtains attribute information of the transmitter of the abnormality report from a database storing the attribute information of the vehicle itself on the basis of the identifying information included in the received abnormality report,

wherein, upon failure of a vehicle part, the terminal apparatus transmits information indicating the failed vehicle part to a maintenance service center wherein, the terminal apparatus includes a vibration detecting sensor for outputting a signal when a vibration exceeding a certain magnitude occurs in the vehicle when a vehicle ignition key is removed, or a rotation detecting sensor for outputting a signal when a rotation of a wheel exceeding a certain distance occurs in the vehicle when the vehicle ignition key is removed.

8. A vehicular reporting system comprising:

a terminal apparatus included in a vehicle;

a control apparatus for receiving an abnormality report transmitted by radio from said terminal apparatus; and

a plurality of base station apparatus for providing radio communication service to said terminal apparatus;

wherein said terminal apparatus transmits the abnormality report by radio, the abnormality report being obtained by associating with each other abnormality information from abnormality detecting means included in the vehicle and identifying information for uniquely identifying the vehicle, the identifying information being stored in memory means; and

said control apparatus obtains position information of the transmitter of the abnormality report, the position information being obtained by determining which of the base station apparatus has a service area where the transmitter is located on the basis of the identifying information included in the received abnormality report, and has a function of obtaining attribute information of the transmitter of the abnormality report from a database storing the attribute information of the vehicle itself on the basis of the identifying information included in the received abnormality report,

wherein the terminal apparatus includes a vibration detecting sensor for outputting a signal when a vibration exceeding a certain magnitude occurs in the vehicle when a vehicle ignition key is removed, or a rotation detecting sensor for outputting a signal when a rotation of a wheel exceeding a certain distance occurs in the vehicle when the vehicle ignition key is removed.

9. A terminal apparatus included in a vehicle for transmitting information,

wherein said terminal apparatus transmits a report by radio, the report being obtained by associating identifying information for uniquely identifying the vehicle, the identifying information being stored in memory means, attribute information for indicating attributes of the vehicle itself, the attribute information being stored in the memory means, and position information for indicating a current position of the vehicle,

wherein the terminal apparatus includes a vibration detecting sensor for outputting a signal when a vibration exceeding a certain magnitude occurs in the vehicle when a vehicle ignition key is removed, or a rotation detecting sensor for outputting a signal when a rotation of a wheel exceeding a certain distance occurs in the vehicle when the vehicle ignition key is removed.

10. The terminal apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the memory means for storing the attribute information outputs the attribute information stored therein in response to access from outside, and updates the attribute information with update attribute information inputted from outside.

11. The terminal apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the memory means for storing the attribute information is updated with update attribute information inputted at the time of vehicle inspection work.

12. The terminal apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the memory means for storing the attribute information is updated with update attribute information inputted at the time of vehicle inspection work.

13. A terminal apparatus included in a vehicle for reporting an abnormality occurring in the vehicle,

wherein said terminal apparatus transmits an abnormality report by radio, the abnormality report being obtained by associating abnormality information from abnormality detecting means included in the vehicle, identifying information for uniquely identifying the vehicle, the identifying information being stored in memory means, attribute information for indicating attributes of the vehicle itself, the attribute information being stored in the memory means, and position information for indicating a current position of the vehicle,

wherein the terminal apparatus includes a vibration detecting sensor for outputting a signal when a vibration exceeding a certain magnitude occurs in the vehicle when a vehicle ignition key is removed, or a rotation detecting sensor for outputting a signal when a rotation of a wheel exceeding a certain distance occurs in the vehicle when the vehicle ignition key is removed in the vehicle when the vehicle ignition key is removed.

14. A terminal apparatus included in a vehicle for reporting an abnormality occurring in the vehicle, and using communication service provided by a radio communication system having a plurality of base station apparatus,

wherein said terminal apparatus transmits an abnormality report by radio, the abnormality report being obtained by associating abnormality information from abnormality detecting means included in the vehicle, identifying information for uniquely identifying the vehicle, the identifying information being stored in memory means, and attribute information for indicating attributes of the vehicle itself, the attribute information being stored in the memory means, and the abnormality report being transmitted by radio for reception by a control apparatus having a function of obtaining position information of the transmitter of the abnormality report, the position information being obtained by determining which of the base station apparatus has a service area where the transmitter is located on the basis of the identifying information included in the abnormality report,

wherein the terminal apparatus includes a vibration detecting sensor for outputting a signal when a vibration exceeding a certain magnitude occurs in the vehicle when a vehicle ignition key is removed, or a rotation detecting sensor for outputting a signal when a rotation of a wheel exceeding a certain distance occurs in the vehicle when the vehicle ignition key is removed.

15. A terminal apparatus included in a vehicle for reporting an abnormality occurring in the vehicle,

wherein said terminal apparatus transmits an abnormality report by radio, the abnormality report being obtained by associating abnormality information from abnormality detecting means included in the vehicle, identifying information for uniquely identifying the vehicle, the identifying information being stored in memory means, and position information for indicating a current position of the vehicle, and the abnormality report being transmitted by radio for reception by a control apparatus having a function of obtaining attribute information of the transmitter of the abnormality report from a database storing the attribute information of the vehicle itself on the basis of the identifying information included in the abnormality report,

wherein, the terminal apparatus includes a vibration detecting sensor for outputting a signal when a vibration exceeding a certain magnitude occurs in the vehicle when a vehicle ignition key is removed, or a rotation detecting sensor for outputting a signal when a rotation of a wheel exceeding a certain distance occurs in the vehicle when the vehicle ignition key is removed.

16. A terminal apparatus included in a vehicle for reporting an abnormality occurring in the vehicle, and using a communication service provided by a radio communication system having a plurality of base station apparatus,

wherein said terminal apparatus transmits an abnormality report by radio, the abnormality report being obtained by associating abnormality information from abnormality detecting means included in the vehicle and identifying information for uniquely identifying the vehicle, the identifying information being stored in memory means, and the abnormality report being transmitted by radio for reception by a control apparatus having a function of obtaining position information of the transmitter of the abnormality report, the position information being obtained by determining which of the base station apparatus has a service area where the transmitter is located on the basis of the identifying information included in the received abnormality report, and having a function of obtaining attribute information of the transmitter of the abnormality report from a database storing the attribute information of the vehicle itself on the basis of the identifying information included in the received abnormality report,

wherein the terminal apparatus includes a vibration detecting sensor for outputting a signal when a vibration exceeding a certain magnitude occurs in the vehicle when a vehicle ignition key is removed, or a rotation detecting sensor for outputting a signal when a rotation of a wheel exceeding a certain distance occurs in the vehicle when the vehicle ignition key is removed.

17. A method of processing a vehicle report, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a report transmitted from a vehicle and an image transmitted from a camera by radio; and

converting the received report into perceptible information for identifying the vehicle, for providing attributes of the vehicle itself, and for providing a current position of the vehicle,

wherein the terminal apparatus includes a vibration detecting sensor for outputting a signal when a vibration exceeding a certain magnitude occurs in the vehicle when a vehicle ignition key is removed, or a rotation detecting sensor for outputting a signal when a rotation of a wheel exceeding a certain distance occurs in the vehicle when the vehicle ignition key is removed.

18. A method of processing a vehicle report, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving an abnormality report transmitted by radio in response to an abnormality detected by abnormality detecting means of a vehicle; and

converting the received abnormality report into perceptible information for providing a nature of the abnormality occurring in the vehicle, identifying the vehicle, for providing attributes of the vehicle itself, and for providing a current position of the vehicle,

wherein the abnormality report includes information indicating a vibration exceeding a certain magnitude occurs in the vehicle when a vehicle ignition key is removed, or indicating a rotation of a wheel when the vehicle has exceeded a certain distance when the vehicle ignition key is removed.