US006127947A
`6,127,947
`(11) Patent Number:
`p15
`United States Patent
`Uchida et al.
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Oct. 3, 2000
`
`
`[54] VEHICLE INFORMATION
`COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND VEHICLE
`INFORMATION COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
`
`[75]
`
`.
`+L
`‘do.
`Wy
`:
`.
`Inventors: Toshihiro Uchida; Hiroshi Honda;
`Akihiro Tanaka; Kazunori Sakai;
`Norimasa Hiramatsu,all of Aichi-ken,
`Japan
`
`[73] Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisa,
`Toyota, Japan
`
`[21] Appl. No.:
`
`09/297,963
`
`[22]
`
`[86]
`
`PCT Filed:
`
`Nov. 13, 1997
`
`PCT No.:
`
`PCT/JP97/04147
`
`§ 371 Date:
`
`Jul. 12, 1999
`
`§ 102(e) Date:
`
`Jul. 12, 1999
`
`[87]
`
`PCT Pub. No.: WO98/21077
`
`PCT Pub. Date: May 22, 1998
`
`9/1998) Doyle wc eetereeees 340/439
`5,815,071
`
`we 340/439
`5,844,473 12/1998 Kaman.....
`5,848,064 12/1998 Cowan oo...
`cceceeceeeseeseeneees 370/338
`
`....
`. 340/323 R
`5,867,089
`2/1999 Zyburt et al.
`
`
`.......
`seveereeee 701/24
`5,908,454
`6/1999 Zyburt et al.
`6,029,508
`2/2000 Schoenbeck et al.
`csssssseeseeeen 73/116
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`0 383 593
`8/1990
`2-99439
`4/1990
`5-195859
`8/1993
`6-219187
`8/1994
`8/1994
`6-229767
`9/1994
`6-266997
`6-297983 10/1994
`7-223516
`8/1995
`3-203770
`9/1995
`8-95488
`4/1996
`
`.
`
`European Pat. Off.
`Japan .
`Japan .
`Japan .
`Japan .
`Japan .
`Japan .
`Japan .
`Japan .
`Japan .
`
`Primary Examiner—Benjamin C. Lee
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Burms, Doane, Swecker &
`Mathis, LLP
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`[30]
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Nov. 13, 1996
`Nov. 25, 1996
`
`[IP]
`[JP]
`
`ssecsssssesssssseesesssesesessseee 8-302164
`appar
`Japan cssseecsssssssssssetessessssseeeees 8-313908
`
`[SU] Want, C0 eee ceccsseeecssneeessseeessneceeseessanes B60Q 1/00
`[52] U.S. Ch.eee 340/999; 340/439; 340/539;
`701/24; 455/420
`[58] Field of Search 2... 340/639, 539,
`340/531, 999; 73/116; 701/24; 770/338;
`455/420; 702/122
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`A vehicle onboard device having characteristics capable of
`being changed communicates with a vehicle to set a char-
`acteristic value to an optimum value. Parameters for setting
`conditions of an electronic device are called out of an
`E*PROM 14, of the vehicle 10, and are transmitted to a
`technology center 40 via a dealer 20,, and an information
`center 30,. Each dealer 20,, the information center 30,, and
`the technology center 40 accumulate the parameters. The
`technology center 40 can collect the parameters of numerous
`vehicles and characteristic values for electronic control of
`each of the vehicles and can calculate newest and optimum
`parameters. The technology center 40 transmits this newest
`and optimum vehicle information to the vehicle 10, and
`each vehicle updates the parameters thereof to these newest
`4,853,850
`8/1989 Krass, Jr. et ale co.cc esesseees 701/35
`and optimum parameters. Accordingly, the parametersof the
`
`5,278,759 1/1994 Berra et ab. ccceceeecoe cneeeee 7FOU/1
`
`vehicle are set as the newest parameters.
`8/1995) Parrillo .cescsesssssessssseseeeeeee 455/420
`5,442,553
`
`
`5,499,181 3/1996 Smith oeeeeeeeeeneceeeeeeee 455/456
`
`13 Claims, 15 Drawing Sheets
`5,513,107
`4/1996 Gormley... cece eeneees 701/48
`
`|
`
`62
`
`| | |
`
`on
`
`| | |
`
`|
`53S
`.
`
`12A TLLUMINANCE
`
`(Fa
`
`
`66/71 SUSPENSION|| CONVECTION |
`
`
`
`| REET °
`ve
`
`ce]
`WIPER
`: —J
`
`Jo
`148
`MEMORY
`iy (E°PROM) i
`
`52A
`
`54A
`
`58A
`
`BOA
`
`|
`
`i | | | | i
`
`METER
`
`'_[
`70
`
`|‘
`
`METER
`|
`724 |_DISPLAY
`._{
`AIR
`7 4—(|CONDITIONER
`Mercedes EX 1034
`|
`U.S. Patent No. 11,208,029
`
`754-| DOOR Lock||
`
`Mercedes EX1034
`U.S. Patent No. 11,208,029
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 3, 2000
`
`Sheet 1 of 15
`
`6,127,947
`
`FIG.
`
`1
`
`261
`
`361
`
`46
`
`10}i,
`
`202
`
`(G
`
`eS |
`
`Ld
`
`10k
`
`=, (|
`
`(G
`
`=a | |
`
`Ld
`
`Uae
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 3, 2000
`
`Sheet 2 of 15
`
`6,127,947
`
`FAS
`
`Ips
`
`Ndd
`
`109
`
`Iv|_|now|—O19Sy,r]WV|P|
`TONWNIWNTTI;Ip9
`
`coDil
`
`Ig¢
`
`Sk
`
`SSANYWH
`
`le}
`
`YOSNAS
`
`129
`
`199
`
`Ig9
`
`OL
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 3, 2000
`
`Sheet 3 of 15
`
`6,127,947
`
`FIG. 3
`
`PROCESSING IN VEHICLE ECU
`
`N
`
`N
`
`START
`
`JOO
`
`IS HARNESS
`CONNECTED ?
`
`Y
`
`02>
`
`104
`
`pata OUTPUT
`REQUEST MADE
`Y
`READ DATA
`
`106—~—,
`
`TRANSMIT DATA
`
`08.
`
`FRITE
`
`v
`
`109
`
`RECEIVE DATA
`
`REQUEST MADE ?
`
`
`WRITE DATA TO E°PROM
`
`110
`
`12
`
`IS HARNESS
`DISCONNECTED
`
`Y
`
`N
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 3, 2000
`
`Sheet 4 of 15
`
`6,127,947
`
`FIG. 4
`
`PROCESSING BY DEALERaSSee
`
`START
`
`200
`
`IS CONNECTOR
`CONNECTED ?
`
`N
`
`Y
`202
`OUTPUT OF DATA OUTPUT
`REQUEST SIGNAL
`
`204
`
`RECEIVE VEHICLE DATA
`FROM MOUNTED ECU
`
`206|ACCUMULATE DATA
`
`208_|TRANSMIT DATA
`
`210
`
`DATA
`RECEIVING REQUEST
`MADE ?
`
`Y
`
`212
`
`N
`
`ACCUMULATE
`RECEIVED DATA
`
`TRANSMIT VEHICLE DATA
`WRITE REQUEST AND DATA
`TO_ MOUNTED ECU
`
`IS CONNECTOR
`DISCONNECTED ?
`
`Y
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 3, 2000
`
`Sheet 5 of 15
`
`6,127,947
`
`FIG.
`
`9
`
`PROCESSING AT INFORMATION CENTER
`
`START
`
`300~,
`
`COMMUNICATION
`REQUEST MADE
`
`N
`
`Y
`READ VEHICLE DATA
`302— FROM DEALER
`
`304—|
`
`ACCUMULATE DATA
`
`306—|
`
`TRANSMIT DATA
`
`308
`
`DATA RECEIVED ?
`N
`
`5 10
`Y
`ACCUMULATE
`RECEIVED DATA
`
`TRANSMIT DATA WRITE
`REQUEST AND DATA TO
`DEALER
`
`314 cyCOMMUNICATION
`
`TERMINATED 2
`
`312
`
`Y
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 3, 2000
`
`Sheet 6 of 15
`
`6,127,947
`
`FIG.
`
`6
`
`PROCESSING IN TECHNICAL CENTER
`
`START
`
`400
`
`COMMUNICATION
`REQUEST MADE ?
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`aeCOMMUNICATION
`
`
`Y
`READ VEHICLE DATA FROME
`INFORMATION CENTER
`
`aoe
`
`ACCUMULATE DATA
`
`STATISTIC PROCESSING
`
`}-406
`
`408
`
`CHANGED PORTION
`EXISTS ?
`
`N
`
`TRANSMIT VEHICLE DATA
`RECEIVING REQUEST AND
`DATA TO PERTINENT
`INFORMATION CENTER
`
`TERMINATED ?
`
`Y
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 3, 2000
`
`Sheet 7 of 15
`
`6,127,947
`
`WOTwood
`
` HelDeldel
`HACTETGOWNE)"SSHTHEIM3%
`
`
`
`OIdNYJaz
`
`!43
`
`Ocl
`
`(NOTLYOIAWN)0a
`
`VICHWILTOW
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 3, 2000
`
`Sheet 8 of 15
`
`6,127,947
`
`FIG.
`
`8
`
`INTERRUPTION PROCESSING EXECUTED
`AT REGULAR PREDETERMINED TIMES
`
`
`
` 500_—{_SELECT BCU
`
` 506
` 008
`
`502-1
`
`VEHICLE INFORMATION
`ENQUIRY (MEMORY)
`
`504
`
`IS
`VEHICLE INFORMATION
`CHANGED ?
`
`ADD TO BACKUP DATA
`REQUESTING BACKUP
`
`ARE ALL ECUS
`COMPLETED ?
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 3, 2000
`
`Sheet 9 of 15
`
`6,127,947
`
`FIG.
`
`9
`
`PROCESSING EXECUTED IN ECU
`
`START
`
`LOG~IN PROCEDURE
`COMPLETED ?
`
`Y.
`
`
`INFORMATION REQUEST
`
`TRANSMITTED ?
`
`514
`Y
`
`RECEIVE REQUESTED
`INFORMATION
`
`
` 516
`IS REQUESTED
`
`INFORMATION INPUT
`OTARTED ?
`
` Y
`
`
`
`S18
`
`START BACKUP DATA
`TRANSMISSION
`
`
` IS REQUESTED
`INFORMATION RECEPTION
`
`COMPLETED ?
`
`
`
`Y
`524
` CONTINUE BACKUP
`
`
`TERMINATE BACKUP
`DATA TRANSMISSION
`
`(HOLD INFORMATION TO
`
`
`CONTINUE NEXT TIME)
`
`DATA TRANSMISSION
`
`END
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 3, 2000
`
`Sheet 10 of 15
`
`6,127,947
`
`FIG. 10
`
`PROCESSING IN TECHNICAL CENTER
`
`340
` IS LOG-IN
`
`
`PROCEDURE COMPLETED ?
`
`
`
`
` 542 1S INFORMATION
`
`REQUEST RECEIVED ?
`
`
`544
`v
`START REQUESTED
`INFORMATION TRANSMISSION
`
`DATA TRANSMISSION
`
`548
`
`START BACKUP DATA RECEPTION
`
`550
`
`546 IS BACKUP
`REQUESTED ?
`
`
`
`IS TRANSMISSION
`COMPLETED 2
`Y
`
`oe"
`
`902
`
`N
`
`IS BACKUP
`DATA RECEIVED ?
`
`CONTINUE BACKUP
`DATA RECEPTION
`5g
`
`
`
`I$ BACKUP
`DATA RECEIVED ?
`y
`TERMINATE REQUESTED
`
`INFORMATION TRANSMISSION]
`(HOLD INFORMATION TO
`CONTINUE NEXT TIME)
`
`
`
`
`END
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 3, 2000
`
`Sheet 11 of 15
`
`6,127,947
`
`VNGS
`
`uggsacsVes|_|_||
`
`Cc
`
`FkOSI
`
`A
`
`Nvyb¥YOLUptUSL
`
`aviaeltVrivel
`
`
`
`AYOWHNAYOWINXYOWANAYOWAN
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 3, 2000
`
`Sheet 12 of 15
`
`6,127,947
`
`VZ2s
`
`Vol
`
`
`
`YOSNHS
`
`
`NOILOYNNOD
`SchAcih<(daqaSUW)OL
`|NOISNadsnsKy99
`MONVNIWATTI
`¥O01Yooar
`RWiasId|}~2zz
`|WidIM=|89
`WaLaW7
`
`
`
`VrsNW
`
`
`
`V9SJINOULOATY
`
`Vel
`
`L
`
`SHOTAIG
`
`Dov
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 3, 2000
`
`Sheet 13 of 15
`
`6,127,947
`
`FIG.
`
`183
`
`INITIAL PROCESSING
`
`IN ECU
`
`BATTERY CONNECTION
`
`602
`
`READ MEMORY
`
`604
`
`606
`
`
`
`
`
`
` START OF
`ECU'S OWN EPROM
`UNWRITTEN ?
`N
`Y
`COMMUNICATE WITH THE OTHER ECUSK
`612
`
`N
`
`608
`
`ARE DATA
`PREFERABLE ?
`610
`y
`
`
`
`N
`DO THE
`OTHER ECUS HOLD
`DATA ?
`OUTPUT OF
`= Y
`WARING SIGNAL
`618
`D
`616
`PLURALITY OF ECUS
`620
`
`
`HOLD DATA ?
`INSTRUCT WRITING
`lgoq
`READ DATA OF
`Y
`OF VEHICLE
`
`
`READ DATA OF||SPECTFICATION
`PERTINENT ECU
`USING EXTERTOR
`
`
`
`T
`THREE
`A
`OF OWN ECU
`
`N
`
`|-~6!4
`
`ETC.
`
`CONFIRM WRITING
`ERIOD AND
`WRITE NEW DATA
`TO OWN ECU
`
`Y
`
`JUDGE DATA OF THE OTHER
`ECUS BY MAJORITY AND WRITE
`THIS DATA TO OWN ECU
`
`OWN ECU~~—OS2
`Y
`WRITING PRESENT ?
`
`OUTPUT DATA OF OWN
`
`
`
` ECU (BACKUP REQUEST)
`
`
`
`
`OK FROM
`THE OTHER ECUS ?
`
`
` REQUEST MADE
`
`
`FROM THE OTHER ECUS ?
`
`
`
`END
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 3, 2000
`
`Sheet 14 of 15
`
`6,127,947
`
`FIG. 14
`
`TOOL PROCESSING IN ECU
`
`START
`
`
`
`
`IS REQUEST
`SIGNAL RECEIVED ?
`
`Y
`
`644
`WRITING REQUEST ?
`
`N
`
`Y
`
`652
`
`646
`
`READ DATA
`
`READ CHARACTERISTIC
`VALUES FROM MEMORY
`
`648~
`
`e80
`
`WRITE READ
`DATA TO MEMORY
`
`OUTPUT DATA
`
`BACKUP
`
`PROCESSING
`
`|
`
`END
`
`654
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 3, 2000
`
`Sheet 15 of 15
`
`6,127,947
`
`FIG. 15
`
`PROCESSING OF ADJUSTER
`
`START
`
`TURN ON POWER
`
`660
`
`OUTPUT READING
`REQUEST SIGNAL
`
`6
`
`62
`
`READ/DISPLAY DATA
`FROM CONNECTED ECU
`
`6
`
`64
`
`DETERMINE CHANGED DATA
`(CHARACTERISTIC VALUES)
`
`666
`
`OUTPUT WRITE
`REQUEST SIGNAL
`
`6
`
`68
`
`OUTPUT DATA
`(CHARACTERISTIC VALUES)
`
`670
`
`

`

`6,127,947
`
`1
`VEHICLE INFORMATION
`COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND VEHICLE
`INFORMATION COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`The present invention relates to a vehicle information
`communication device and a vehicle information commu-
`nication system, and particularly relates to a vehicle infor-
`mation communication device and a vehicle information
`communication system communicating information with a
`vehicle when characteristics of a vehicle onboard device
`which characteristics are capable of being changed are
`changed intentionally by a user, or by geographicalfactors,
`etc.
`
`BACKGROUND ART
`
`In recent years, a plurality of electronic control units
`(hereinafter, called ECUs) have been mounted in a vehicle.
`This plurality of ECUsare connected to each other by a bus
`so that a local area network (hereinafter, called a LAN)is
`constructed. Data can be communicated between these
`ECUs.
`
`Eachofthe plurality of ECUs controls the characteristics
`of a vehicle onboard device. Characteristic values for deter-
`mining the characteristics of the vehicle onboard devices
`governed by of each ECU is stored in that ECUs. For
`example, when the vehicle onboard device is a headlamp,
`there is an ECU for controlling a turning-on operation in
`which the headlamp is automatically turned on when the
`vehicle enters a tunnel and is also automatically turned on in
`the evening,etc. In this case, the headlampis turned on when
`illuminance from an illuminance sensor is less than a
`predetermined value. This automatic turning-on time, Le.,
`the predetermined illuminance value can beset as a different
`value in depending on the user and the local area.
`Accordingly,
`there are cases in which a change in the
`predetermined illuminance value is required.
`Ageneral control system for an automobile is proposed as
`a system capable of changing the control parameter program
`of each of the ECUs mounted in such a vehicle in accor-
`dance with a user’s taste (see Japanese Patent Application
`Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 6-219187). In this technique, a char-
`acteristic value for electronic control of the vehicle is
`obtained by a controller and is sent to a service center and
`the analyzed results of the characteristic value can be shown
`to a driver. Further, it is possible to maintain and check the
`characteristic value as to whether or not there is a problem
`with the characteristic value proper to the vehicle.
`However, in the conventional system, the characteristic
`values of the individual vehicle can be maintained and
`checked, but characteristics arising from the intentions of the
`user of from the local geography can be automatically
`reflected. Further, the characteristic values of the individual
`vehicle can be maintained and checked, but characteristics
`arising from the intentions of the user or from the local
`geography cannot be reflected. Furthermore, the character-
`istic values must be finely adjusted for each individual
`vehicle. For example, changes in the characteristics arising
`from the tastes of many users and the characteristic values
`of
`a particular vehicle are continually changing.
`Accordingly, the user’s intentions, etc. cannot be reflected
`by only simply maintaining and checking the characteristic
`values.
`
`there is a case in which the vehicle onboard
`Further,
`device is replaced with a new deviceor other parts dueto the
`
`2
`characteristic values of the ECU governing the new vehicle
`onboard device are different or are unrecorded. Accordingly,
`it
`is necessary to set at least the pertinent characteristic
`values every time the vehicle onboard device is replaced
`with a new device or other parts.
`However, in the conventional system, the characteristic
`values for electronic control of the vehicle are obtained and
`are maintained and checked in accordance with the sugges-
`tion of the analyzed results of the service center.
`Accordingly, it is necessary to perform a complicated opera-
`tion in which the characteristics of all vehicle onboard
`devices are obtained and the pertinent characteristic values
`in the maintenance and checking are set to suitable values
`every time a vehicle onboard device is replaced with a new
`device or with another part.
`Further, there are now vehicles capable of being equipped
`with controllers such as a telephone system, a navigation
`system, a TV system,etc., and information according to the
`tastes of the main user, e.g. the driver, may be recorded to
`each of these controllers. This information may consist of
`personal information such as a rest of telephone numbers,
`address data, a list of recorded locations relating to desti-
`nations of the navigation system, etc. set by an individual.
`This personal
`information is not as widely used as the
`control information, but there is a desire for temporarily and
`reliably holding this personal information.
`However, in the conventional system, the characteristic
`value of the individual vehicle can be maintained and
`checked, but no non-general use information such as per-
`sonal information can be held.
`
`In consideration of the above facts, an object of the
`present invention is to provide a vehicle information com-
`munication device and a vehicle information communica-
`tion system capable of communicating with a vehicle to set
`a characteristic value of a vehicle onboard device capable of
`changing the characteristics to their optimum values.
`Further, in addition to the above object, another object of
`the present invention is to provide a vehicle information
`communication device and a vehicle information commu-
`nication system capable of simply setting the characteristics
`of the vehicle onboard device capable of changing the
`characteristics.
`
`DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
`
`To achieve the above objects, a vehicle information
`communication device in the invention described in claim 1
`comprises control means for a vehicle which is mounted in
`the vehicle and is connected to a vehicle onboard device
`having characteristics capable of being changed, and which
`stores characteristic values for determining the characteris-
`tics of the vehicle onboard device and controls the charac-
`teristics of the vehicle onboard device using, these charac-
`teristic values; and communication control means which can
`be connected to said control means for a vehicle, and which
`stores characteristic values for determining characteristics of
`said vehicle onboard device, including previously predeter-
`mined characteristic values of said control means for a
`vehicle, and also reads characteristic values stored in said
`control meansfor a vehicle and obtains stored characteristic
`values corresponding to the read characteristic values, and
`updates characteristic values stored in said control meansfor
`a vehicle to said obtained characteristic values.
`In the vehicle information communication device
`
`described in claim 1, the invention described in claim 2 is
`characterized in that said communication control means
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`

`

`6,127,947
`
`3
`information including previously determined characteristic
`values of said control means for a vehicle and reads char-
`acteristic values stored in said control meansfor a vehicle as
`vehicle information and obtains accumulated vehicle infor-
`mation corresponding to read vehicle information, and
`updates characteristic values stored in said control means for
`a vehicle with characteristic values included in the obtained
`vehicle information.
`In the vehicle information communication device
`described in claim 2, the invention described in claim 3 is
`characterized in that said communication control means
`comprises accumulating means for accumulating the vehicle
`information including previously determined characteristic
`values of said control means for a vehicle; and communi-
`cation control means which is connected to said control
`means for a vehicle and said accumulating means and reads
`the characteristic values stored in said control means for a
`vehicle as vehicle information and obtains the vehicle infor-
`mation accumulated in said accumulating means and which
`corresponds to read vehicle information, and updates char-
`acteristic values stored in said control meansfor a vehicle to
`characteristic values included in the obtained vehicle infor-
`mation.
`In the vehicle information communication device
`described in claim 2 or 3, the invention described in claim
`4 is characterized in that said control meansfor a vehicle is
`connected via a local area network for a vehicle to a plurality
`of vehicle onboard devices each of whose characteristics are
`capable of being altered, and stores each characteristic value
`for determining each of the characteristics of said plurality
`of vehicle onboard devices, and controls the characteristics
`of each ofsaid plurality of vehicle onboard devices by each
`characteristic value.
`In the vehicle information communication device
`described in any oneof claims2 to 4, the invention described
`in claim 5 is characterized in that said accumulating means
`accumulates vehicle information calculated on the basis of
`information of a plurality of vehicles read by said commu-
`nication control means.
`In the vehicle information communication device
`
`described in claim 1, the invention described in claim 6 is
`characterized in that said communication control means is
`provided externally of said vehicle and can be connected to
`said control meansfor a vehicle by wireless communication
`and comprises receiving meansfor receiving said informa-
`tion by said communication control means from said control
`meansfor a vehicle, and transmitting means for transmitting
`said information to said control means for a vehicle; and,
`when information including characteristic values is trans-
`mitted and received between said control means for a
`
`vehicle and said communication control means, said receiv-
`ing means and said transmitting means simultaneously per-
`form at least one portion of the reception of said information
`in said receiving means and the transmission of said infor-
`mation in said transmitting means.
`In the vehicle information communication device
`described in claim 6, the invention described in claim 7 is
`characterized in that said communication control means
`receives request information requested from a vehicle from
`said control means for a vehicle, and transmits response
`information expressing a response to said request informa-
`tion from said communication control meansto said control
`meansfor a vehicle.
`In the vehicle information communication device
`described in claim 6 or 7, the invention described in claim
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`4
`is connected to said control meansfor a vehicle by wireless
`communication using a mobile wireless telephonecircuit.
`In the vehicle information communication device
`described in claim 1, the invention described in claim 9 is
`characterized in that said control means for a vehicle com-
`prises a plurality of device control means each controlling
`characteristics for determining characteristics of each
`vehicle onboard device governed by each device control
`means, and each device control means stores characteristic
`values for determining characteristics of said vehicle
`onboard devices as main characteristic values in memory
`means, and the memory meansis capable of storing char-
`acteristic values for determining characteristics of another
`vehicle onboard device as subcharacteristic values, and
`controls characteristics of a governed vehicle onboard
`device on the basis of the main characteristic value stored in
`the memory means; and said communication control means
`comprises register meansfor storing characteristic values of
`the governed vehicle onboard devices in each of the memory
`means of said device control means as the main character-
`istic values and storing main characteristic values other than
`the main characteristic values to be stored in at least one of
`said memory meansin this memory means as subcharacter-
`istic values; and update means which obtains the main
`characteristic values and the subcharacteristic values stored
`in each of the memory meansofsaid device control means,
`and calculates the main characteristic values of the device
`control means relative to the obtained subcharacteristic
`values on the basis of the obtained subcharacteristic values
`and the main characteristic values stored in the memory
`means of the device control meansrelative to these sub-
`characteristic values, and updates the main characteristic
`values of the memory meansof said device control meansto
`the calculated main characteristic values.
`In the vehicle information communication device
`
`described in claim 9, the invention described in claim 10 is
`characterized in that the vehicle information communication
`device further comprises changing means for changing main
`characteristic values stored in said memory means wherein,
`when the main characteristic values are changed by said
`changing means, said register means stores in main charac-
`teristic values in the memory meansapart from the memory
`means having the changed main characteristic values as the
`subcharacteristic values.
`In the vehicle information communication device
`
`described in claim 9 or 10, the invention described in claim
`11 is characterized in that the plurality of device control
`means of said control means for a vehicle are connected to
`each other by a local area network for a vehicle.
`The invention described in claim 12 resides in a vehicle
`information communication system characterized in that
`information is communicated between control meansfor a
`vehicle for controlling characteristics of a vehicle onboard
`device mounted in the vehicle using of characteristic values
`for determining the characteristics of the vehicle onboard
`device and characteristic value memory means provided
`externally of said vehicle and storing said characteristic
`values, wherein: characteristic values for determining the
`characteristics of said vehicle onboard device,
`including
`previously determined characteristic values of said control
`means for a vehicle are stored in said characteristic value
`memory means;
`the characteristic values stored in said
`control means for a vehicle are read;
`the characteristic
`values corresponding to the read characteristic values and
`stored in said characteristic values memory means are
`obtained; and the characteristic values stored in said control
`means for a vehicle are updated to said obtained character-
`
`

`

`6,127,947
`
`5
`The invention described in claim 13 resides in a vehicle
`information communication system characterized in that
`information is communicated between control meansfor a
`vehicle for controlling characteristics of a vehicle onboard
`device mounted in the vehicle using characteristic values for
`determining the characteristics of the vehicle onboard device
`and characteristic value memory means provided externally
`of said vehicle and storing said characteristic values,
`wherein the vehicle information communication system
`simultaneously performs at least one portion of each of
`processing for receiving information including said charac-
`teristic values from said control means for a vehicle con-
`nected by wireless communication, and processingfortrans-
`mitting information including said characteristic values to
`said control means for a vehicle connected by wireless
`communication.
`The invention described in claim 14 resides in a vehicle
`information communication system characterized in that
`information is communicated between control means for a
`vehicle for controlling characteristics of a vehicle onboard
`device mounted in the vehicle using characteristic values for
`determiningthe characteristics of the vehicle onboard device
`and characteristic value memory meansprovided externally
`of said vehicle and storing said characteristic values,
`wherein: said control means for a vehicle comprises a
`plurality of device control means each controlling charac-
`teristics for determining the characteristics of each vehicle
`onboard device governed by the device control means and
`each device control means stores characteristic values for
`determining the characteristics of said vehicle onboard
`device as main characteristic values, and has memory means
`capable of storing characteristic values for determining
`characteristics of another vehicle onboard device as sub-
`characteristic values, and controls the characteristics of the
`governed vehicle onboard device on the basis of the main
`characteristic values stored in the memory means; said
`control meansfor a vehicle stores the characteristic values of
`the governed vehicle onboard device in each of the memory
`means of said device control means as main characteristic
`
`values, and stores main characteristic values other than the
`main characteristic values to be stored in at least one of said
`memory means in this memory means as subcharacteristic
`values; and said control meansfor a vehicle obtains the main
`characteristic values and the subcharacteristic values stored
`in each of the memory meansofsaid device control means,
`and calculates the main characteristic values of the device
`control means relative to the obtained subcharacteristic
`values on the basis of the obtained subcharacteristic values
`and the main characteristic values stored in the memory
`means of the device control meansrelative to these sub-
`characteristic values, and updates the calculated main char-
`acteristic value to the main characteristic values of the
`memory means of said device control means.
`In the invention of claim 1, the control means for the
`vehicle controls the characteristics of a vehicle onboard
`device mounted in the vehicle by the stored characteristic
`values. Vehicle onboard devices include interior electric
`mounted devices such as a headlamp device, etc., chassis
`devices such as a suspension device, etc. Guiding devices
`such as a communication device, a navigation system, etc.
`capable of changing characteristic values of a telephone and
`the like provided within the vehicle can be adopted as a
`vehicle onboard device. The characteristic values of these
`communication devices may consist of a telephone directory
`for storing dial numbers determined in advance and regis-
`tered by a user, sound volumes at
`the time of
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`6
`guiding device may consist of display ranges of destinations
`and map information, etc. This control meansfor the vehicle
`can be connected to the communication control means. This
`communication control meansstores the characteristic val-
`ues for determining the characteristics of the vehicle
`onboard device including the previously determined char-
`acteristic values of the control means for the vehicle. The
`communication control means reads the characteristic val-
`ues stored in the control means for the vehicle and obtains
`the stored characteristic values corresponding to the read
`characteristic values. The communication control means
`also updates the characteristic values stored in the control
`means for the vehicle to the obtained characteristic values.
`
`Thus, the characteristic values stored in the control means
`for the vehicle are read and the corresponding characteristic
`values are obtained and updated so that the characteristic
`values stored in the control means for the vehicle can be
`updated to optimum characteristic values and the character-
`istic values of the control means for the vehicle can be
`adjusted to the best state.
`the
`In the invention of claim 2, as mentioned above,
`control means for the vehicle controls the characteristics of
`the vehicle onboard device such as a interior electric
`mounted device such as a headlamp device, etc. mounted in
`the vehicle, a chassis device, etc. such as a suspension
`device, etc. by the stored characteristic values. There is an
`ECUfor performing control governing each of these vehicle
`onboard devices in this control means for the vehicle. This
`control means for a vehicle is connected to the communi-
`cation control means. This communication control means
`can be connected to accumulating means for accumulating
`vehicle information including the previously determined
`characteristic values of the control meansfor a vehicle. The
`accumulating means consists of a technology center and a
`central processing center for collecting various kinds of
`technical information, etc. In the vehicle information, the
`type of vehicle having the characteristic values can be set as
`attribute information with respect to the characteristic val-
`ues,
`
`It is possible to treat the characteristic values in accor-
`dance with the type of car by adding the type of car to the
`vehicle information even when the characteristic values are
`different for each type of car. The communication control
`means reads the characteristic values stored in the control
`meansfor the vehicle as vehicle information and obtains the
`vehicle information accumulated in the accumulating means
`and corresponding to the read vehicle information. The
`vehicle information can be read when the characteristics of
`the vehicle onboard device are adjusted by a dealer, etc.
`The communication control means also updates the char-
`acteristic values stored in the control means for the vehicle
`to characteristic values included in the obtained vehicle
`information. The communication control means consists of
`a controller of a dealer, an automobile inspection place, etc.
`able to be connected to the vehicle and able to be also
`connected to the technology center, etc. by a telephone
`circuit etc. Thus,
`the characteristic values stored in the
`control meansfor the vehicle are read and the corresponding
`vehicle information is obtained and the characteristic values
`are updated so that the characteristic values stored in the
`control means for the vehicle can be updated to optimum
`characteristic values and the characteristic values of the
`control meansfor a vehicle can be adjusted to the beststate.
`In the invention of claim 3, the communication control
`meansis connected to the control meansfor the vehicle and
`the accumulating means. The communication control means
`
`

`

`6,127,947
`
`7
`the vehicle as vehicle information and obtains the vehicle
`information accumulated in the accumulating means and
`corresponding to the read vehicle information. The commu-
`nication control means then updates the characteristic value
`stored to the control means for the vehicle to a characteristic
`value included in the obtained vehicle information. Thus, the
`characteristic value stored to the control means for the
`vehicle is read and the corresponding vehicle information
`accumulated in the accumulating means is obtained and the
`characteristic value is updated. Accordingly, the character-
`istic value stored to the control meansfor the vehicle can be
`updated to an optimum characteristic value and the charac-
`teristic value of the control means for the vehicle can be
`adjusted to a best state.
`There are a plurality of vehicle onboard devices con-
`nected to each other by a local area network for the vehicle
`within the vehicle and constructed such that operations of
`the respective vehicle onboard devices are generalized and
`managed within the vehicle. In this case, there is a case in
`whichthe characteristic value is stored together when char-
`acteristics of the individual vehicle onboard devices are
`changed. Therefore, as described in claim 4, if said control
`meansfor the vehicle is connected to the plurality of vehicle
`onboard devices capable of respectively changing charac-
`teristics by the local area network for the vehicle and each
`characteristic value for determining the characteristics of
`each of said plurality of vehicle onboard devices is stored
`and the characteristics of each of said plurality of vehicle
`onboard devices are controlled by this each characteristic
`value, the characteristic value corresponding to each of the
`plurality of vehicle onboard devices can be requested and
`managed together.
`is
`it
`treating many vehicles,
`In a vehicle dealer for
`possible to collect many characteristic values for electronic
`control of electronic devices mounted to each vehicle. T