Information processing system

• US 7,515,302 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2004
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Furuta, Seiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Douglas Q
• Application Number:
  US10/941,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20050075759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,664 Days
• Field of Search: 358/3.06, 715/769, 713/185, 701/1
• US Class Current: 358/3.06
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D

Abstract

An information processing system includes a management device mounted on a vehicle, and a terminal device outside the vehicle. The management device performs as follows: obtaining as identification information of a user a user ID and a password from the terminal device; selecting, based on the identification information obtained, a display target of items and device information to be preferentially displayed on a display device of the terminal display; collecting device information corresponding to the display target from devices (e.g., door ECU) in the vehicle; and generating system information storing information relating to the items selected and the device information collected. The management device then causes, by sending the system information generated to the terminal device, the terminal device to hierarchically display the display target in a tree form on the display device of the terminal device.

Claims

1. An information processing system for displaying, on a display device, device operation state information including information indicating an operation state with respect to at least one of a plurality of in-vehicle devices mounted on a vehicle, the information processing system comprising:

an identification information obtaining unit that obtains identification information of a user;

an information selecting unit that selects a display target that is to be displayed on the display device based on the identification information of the user obtained;

an information collecting unit that collects, from the vehicle, device operation state information corresponding to the display target selected;

a display controlling unit that causes the display device to hierarchically display the device operation state information collected, by hierarchically classifying the device information collected;

a selection determining unit that determines whether a device operation state information item of a plurality of device operation state information items included in the device operation state information displayed is selected, based on manipulation information generated by a manipulating unit that is manipulated by the user and then generates the manipulation information; and

a device activating unit that causes, when a certain device operation state information item of the plurality of device operation state information items is determined to be selected, a certain in-vehicle device corresponding to the certain device operation state information item selected to execute a certain process,

the plurality of in-vehicle devices including an in-vehicle device included in at least one of a power train system, a body system, and a safety system, and an information system including an audio device.

2. The information processing system of claim 1,

wherein the collecting unit is constructed to obtain a result from executing the certain process by the certain in-vehicle device, and

wherein, when the collecting unit obtains the result from executing the certain process by the certain in-vehicle device, the display controlling unit causes the display device to display a device operation state information item indicating contents of the result obtained by replacing the certain device operation state information item that is previously displayed.

3. The information processing system of claim 1, further comprising:

a switch information storing unit that stores switch information for switching processes executed by at least the certain in-vehicle device, according to the user,

wherein the device activating unit causes, based on the switch information stored in the switch information storing unit and the identification information of the user that is obtained by the identification information obtaining unit, the certain in-vehicle device to execute a process corresponding to the user.

4. The information processing system of claim 1, further comprising:

a data storing unit that stores data that is to be processed by at least the certain in-vehicle device; and

a symbol displaying unit that displays a symbol indicating the data stored by the data storing unit,

wherein the manipulating unit includes a user interface enabling, on a screen of the display device, a drag-and-drop manipulation for the symbol displayed,

wherein, when the symbol displayed is dragged and dropped, via the user interface manipulated by the user, on a display region of the certain device operation state information item displayed on the screen, the selection determining unit determines that the certain device operation state information item is selected,

wherein, when it is determined that the certain device operation state information item is selected by the selection determining unit, the device activating unit causes the certain in-vehicle device to execute, by providing the data corresponding to the symbol dropped, the certain process using the data corresponding to the symbol dropped.

5. The information processing system of claim 4,

wherein the in-vehicle devices include at least a given in-vehicle device that manages data stored in an in-vehicle storing unit provided within the vehicle, and

wherein, when the certain in-vehicle device corresponds to the given in-vehicle device that manages data, the device activating unit causes the certain in-vehicle device to execute, by providing the data corresponding to the symbol dropped, storing of the data that is provided in the in-vehicle storing unit.

6. The information processing system of claim 1, further comprising:

a permission determining unit that determines whether the user is permitted to cause the certain in-vehicle device to execute the certain process; and

a prohibiting unit that prohibits, when the user is determined to be not permitted, the certain in-vehicle device from executing the certain process.

8. The information processing system of claim 1, wherein

the power train system includes at least one of electronic control units relating to traveling of the vehicle.

9. The information processing system of claim 1, wherein

the body system includes at least one of at least one of electronic control units relating to an air-conditioner and a door.

10. The information processing system of claim 1, wherein

the safety system includes at least one of at least one of electronic control units for aiming at safety of the vehicle and anti-theft.

11. The information processing system of claim 1, wherein

the information system further includes at least one of a navigation device, a display device, a user interface, a database device, a wireless communications device, and a management device.

7. An in-vehicle device information displaying method for a user who has a display device where device operation state information with respect to at least one of a plurality of in-vehicle devices mounted on a vehicle is displayed,

the in-vehicle device information displaying method comprising steps of:

obtaining identification information of a user;

selecting a display target that is to be displayed on the display device based on the identification information of the user obtained;

collecting, from the vehicle, device operation state information corresponding to the display target selected; and

causing the display device to hierarchically display the device operation state information collected, by hierarchically classifying the device operation state information collected;

determining whether a device operation state information item of a plurality of device operation state information items included in the device operation state information displayed is selected, based on manipulation information generated by a manipulating unit that is manipulated by the user and then generates the manipulation information; and

causing, when a certain device operation state information item of the plurality of device operation state information items is determined to be selected, a certain in-vehicle device corresponding to the certain device operation state information item selected to execute a certain process,

the plurality of in-vehicle devices including an in-vehicle device included in at least one of a power train system, a body system, a safety system, and an information system including an audio device.