Remote startup system and center server

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10648441-B2
Application number	US-201815949764-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 10, 2018
Priority date	Apr 12, 2017
Publication date	May 12, 2020
Grant date	May 12, 2020

Abstract

A remote startup system includes a terminal of a user, a center server that is configured to communicate with the terminal, and a vehicle that is configured to communicate with the center server, and starts up an engine of the vehicle according to a startup request transmitted from the terminal to the center server. The remote startup system includes a position information acquisition unit that acquires position information of the vehicle, a time information acquisition unit that acquires time information, and a controller that changes a performance manner of the startup of the engine based on the startup request including whether the startup of the engine is permitted according to the position information of the vehicle and the time information when the startup request is transmitted from the terminal to the center server.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A remote startup system including a terminal of a user, a center server that is configured to communicate with the terminal, and a vehicle that is configured to communicate with the center server, the remote startup system being configured to start up an engine of the vehicle according to a startup request transmitted from the terminal to the center server, the remote startup system comprising:
a position information acquisition unit configured to acquire position information of the vehicle;
a time information acquisition unit configured to acquire time information;
a controller configured to change a performance manner of the startup of the engine based on the startup request including whether the startup of the engine is permitted according to the position information of the vehicle and the time information when the startup request is transmitted from the terminal to the center server; and
a degree-of-permission determination unit configured to determine a degree of permission of idling of the engine at a time when a position of the vehicle and the startup request are transmitted, according to the position information and the time information,
wherein the controller is configured to change the performance manner such that the startup of the engine based on the startup request is less likely to be performed as the degree of permission is lower, and
wherein the controller is configured to perform re-confirmation as to whether or not there is an intention to start up the engine of the vehicle from the user when the degree of permission is higher than a predetermined level.

2. The remote startup system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to change the performance manner such that the startup of the engine based on the startup request is less likely to be performed in a case in which the time information indicates nighttime, as compared with a case in which the time information indicates daytime.

3. The remote startup system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to change the performance manner such that the startup of the engine based on the startup request is less likely to be performed in a case in which the position information indicates a residential area or an indoor area, as compared with a case in which the position information indicates neither the residential area nor the indoor area.

4. The remote startup system according to claim 1 , wherein:
a plurality of vehicles is provided; and
the controller is configured to change the performance manner such that the startup of the engine based on the startup request of one of the vehicles is easily performed as achievement of the startup of the engine based on a startup request of the vehicles in a region corresponding to the position information is higher.

5. A remote startup system including a terminal of a user, a center server that is configured to communicate with the terminal, and a vehicle that is configured to communicate with the center server, the remote startup system being configured to start up an engine of the vehicle according to a startup request transmitted from the terminal to the center server, the remote startup system comprising:
a position information acquisition unit configured to acquire position information of the vehicle;
a time information acquisition unit configured to acquire time information;
a notification unit provided in the terminal, the notification unit being configured to perform notification regarding performance of startup of the engine based on the startup request when the startup request is transmitted from the terminal to the center server; and
a degree-of-permission determination unit configured to determine a degree of permission of idling of the engine at a time when a position of the vehicle and the startup request are transmitted, according to the position information and the time information, and
wherein the notification unit is configured to change content of the notification according to the position information of the vehicle and the time information, and
wherein the notification unit is configured to change content of the notification such that the user is less likely to decide to perform the startup of the engine based on the startup request or decide to continue an idling state after the startup as the degree of permission is lower, and
wherein the notification unit is configured to perform re-confirmation as to whether or not there is an intention to start up the engine of the vehicle from the user when the degree of permission is higher than a predetermined level.

6. The remote startup system according to claim 5 , wherein the notification unit is configured to change content of the notification such that the user is less likely to decide to perform the startup of the engine based on the startup request or decide to continue an idling state after the startup in a case in which the time information indicates nighttime, as compared with a case in which the time information indicates daytime.

7. The remote startup system according to claim 5 , wherein the notification unit is configured to change content of the notification such that the user is less likely to decide to perform the startup of the engine based on the startup request or decide to continue an idling state after the startup in a case in which the position information indicates a residential area or an indoor area, as compared with a case in which the position information indicates neither the residential area nor the indoor area.

8. The remote startup system according to claim 5 , wherein:
a plurality of vehicles is provided; and
the notification unit is configured to change content of the notification such that the user easily decides to perform the startup of the engine based on the startup request of one of the vehicles or decide to continue an idling state after the startup as achievement of the startup of the engine based on a startup request of the vehicles in a region corresponding to the position information is higher.

9. A center server connected to a terminal of a user and a vehicle and configured to communicate with the terminal and the vehicle, the center server being configured to receive a startup request of an engine of the vehicle that is transmitted from the terminal and transmit the startup request to the vehicle to start up the engine, the center server comprising:
a position information acquisition unit configured to acquire position information of the vehicle;
a time information acquisition unit configured to acquire time information;
a controller configured to change a performance manner of the startup of the engine based on the startup request including whether the startup of the engine is permitted according to the position information of the vehicle and the time information when the startup request is received from the terminal; and
a degree-of-permission determination unit configured to determine a degree of permission of idling of the engine at a time when a position of the vehicle and the startup request are transmitted, according to the position information and the time information,
wherein the controller is configured to change the performance manner such that the startup of the engine based on the startup request is less likely to be performed as the degree of permission is lower, and
wherein the controller is configured to perform re-confirmation as to whether or not there is an intention to start up the engine of the vehicle from the user when the degree of permission is higher than a predetermined level.

10. A center server connected to a terminal of a user and a vehicle and configured to communicate with the terminal and the vehicle, t

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Tamane Yasuyuki
• Endo Masato

Classifications

• F02N11/0807 Primary

  Remote means · CPC title

• F02N11/0837

  Environmental conditions thereof, e.g. traffic, weather or road conditions · CPC title

• F02N2200/125

  Information about other vehicles, traffic lights or traffic congestion · CPC title

• F02N2200/123

  Information about vehicle position, e.g. from navigation systems or GPS signals · CPC title

• F02N2300/306

  with external senders or receivers, e.g. receiving signals from traffic lights, other vehicles or base stations · CPC title