JP2009230575A - Backup system, onboard backup system, and onboard device - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a backup system capable of preferentially backing up important data by selecting data to be backed up according to the reliability of a communicable communication path.
In a backup system that includes an in-vehicle device 200 and a server connected by a plurality of communication means so that data communication is possible via a network, and stores usage data used in the in-vehicle device in the server, the in-vehicle device is A first storage unit that stores usage data for each priority; a second storage unit that associates and stores types and priorities of a plurality of communication units; and a detection unit 203 that detects communicable communication units; Backup processing means 204 for transmitting the usage data of the priority associated with the type of the communication means to the server by the communication means detected by the detection means, and the server stores the usage data received from the in-vehicle device. A backup system comprising means.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a backup system having a plurality of communication means, an in-vehicle backup system connectable to a plurality of storage media, and an in-vehicle apparatus connectable to a plurality of communication means.

  Conventionally, various methods related to a backup system for restoring vehicle data have been proposed. For example, in Patent Document 1, when transmitting backed up data to a vehicle in a two-way communication system between a vehicle and a server, it is optimal according to the data capacity or the data transfer speed from among a plurality of communication lines. A technique for performing data communication by selecting an appropriate communication line is disclosed.

Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for adjusting the timing of data restoration in accordance with the urgency of unusable data in a data restoration system that restores unusable data.
Japanese Patent No. 3159204 Japanese Patent No. 3389842

  However, in Patent Document 1, it is not assumed that the communication line cannot be connected, and the communication line is determined on the server side based on the amount of data to be transmitted. There may be situations where you cannot connect. When this restoration technique is applied to the data to be backed up, the communication line is determined based on the capacity of the data to be backed up, and the determined data is backed up. The importance of the data to be backed up and the communication line The reliability of is not considered.

  Moreover, in the said patent document 2, only the timing to restore | restore is changed according to the urgency of the data to restore | restore, and the timing of backup and the content of the data to back up are not determined.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a backup system capable of preferentially backing up important data by selecting data to be backed up according to the reliability of communicable communication means, An object is to provide an in-vehicle backup system and an in-vehicle device.

  A backup system according to an aspect of the present invention includes an in-vehicle device and a server that are connected to be able to perform data communication via a network by a plurality of communication units, and stores usage data used in the in-vehicle device in the server. In the backup system, the in-vehicle device includes: a first storage unit that stores the usage data for each priority; a second storage unit that stores the types of the plurality of communication units and the priority in association; Of the communication means, and a backup means for transmitting the usage data of the priority associated with the type of the communication means to the server by the detection means for detecting the communicable communication means and the communication means detected by the detection means Processing means, and the server comprises storage means for storing usage data received from the in-vehicle device.

  Further, the in-vehicle device may include an authentication unit that authenticates a user to the server, and when the user is authenticated by the authentication unit, the usage data of the user may be received from the server.

  In addition, the backup processing unit uses a priority lower than the priority of the usage data that has been transmitted when the transmission of the usage data is completed and no other communication unit is detected by the detection unit. Data may be sent.

  An in-vehicle backup system according to another aspect of the present invention includes an in-vehicle device connected to be communicable with data and a plurality of storage media, and stores in-vehicle backup data used in the in-vehicle device in the plurality of storage media. In the system, the first storage unit that stores the usage data for each priority, the second storage unit that stores the types of the plurality of storage media in association with the priorities, and the plurality of storage media, Detection means for detecting a storage medium connected to the in-vehicle device, and backup processing means for storing usage data of priority associated with the type of the storage medium for the storage medium detected by the detection means. The storage medium stores usage data by the backup processing means.

  In addition, the backup processing unit may store the use data having a high priority in the storage medium when there are a plurality of priorities corresponding to the types of the storage medium detected by the detection unit.

  A vehicle-mounted device according to another aspect of the present invention is a first vehicle that stores usage data used by the vehicle-mounted device for each priority in a vehicle-mounted device connected by a plurality of communication means so that data communication is possible via a network. Storage means, second storage means for storing the types of the plurality of communication means and the priority levels in association with each other, detection means for detecting communication means capable of communication among the plurality of communication means, and detection means Backup processing means for transmitting the usage data with the priority associated with the type of the communication means by the detected communication means.

  According to the present invention, important data can be preferentially backed up by selecting data to be backed up according to the reliability of communicable communication means.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  A backup system according to an embodiment of the present invention has a system configuration as shown in FIG. 1, for example. FIG. 1 is a schematic system configuration diagram of a backup system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The backup system 100 according to the first embodiment includes an in-vehicle device 101, communication units 102 to 104, and a data server 105. The in-vehicle device 101 stores data used by a user in a car navigation system, connects to a network via a communication unit, and transmits the stored data to the data server 105. Details of the in-vehicle device 101 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The communication units 102 to 104 connect the in-vehicle device 101 and the data server 105 via a network to enable data communication. Such communication means 102 to 104 may be either wired or wireless.

  The data server 105 stores data received from the in-vehicle device 101 via a communication unit connected to the network. Further, the data server 105 reads stored data in response to a read request from the in-vehicle device 101.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the main functional configuration of the in-vehicle device 200. The in-vehicle device 200 includes a car navigation 201, a storage unit 202, a detection unit 203, and a backup processing unit 204, and includes a mobile phone 205 as a communication unit, a DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communication) device 206, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network). ) It can be connected to the device 207.

  The car navigation system 201 is an electronic device that guides a user about a current position and a travel route to a destination. In the car navigation 201, user-desired data is set by a touch panel or remote control operation.

  Here, data related to the car navigation 201 set by the user or used by the user is referred to as usage data. In addition, the car navigation 201 stores usage data in the storage unit 202.

  The storage unit 202 stores a data management table and a communication unit management table, and stores data managed in the table. Specifically, the storage means 202 is a storage medium such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or a main memory. Although the storage unit 202 and the car navigation 201 are configured separately, the car navigation 201 may include the storage unit 202 therein.

  The data management table and the communication means management table will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data management table. As shown in FIG. 3, the data management table stores usage data for each data priority.

  In the example of FIG. 3, address book, telephone number, etc. are stored in L1, which has the highest priority, and destination information, etc., is stored in L2, which has the next highest priority. Stores travel record information, date information, and the like.

  Here, although the priority levels are divided into three levels L1 to L3, two or four levels may be set as appropriate. In addition, the prioritization of usage data may be set by the user or may already be set.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the communication means management table. As shown in FIG. 4, in the communication means management table, communication means are assigned for each priority. Here, it is assumed that the communication means is the mobile phone 205, the DSRC device 206, and the wireless LAN 207 shown in FIG.

  In the example shown in FIG. 4, the mobile phone 205 is assigned to the priority L1. This is because the mobile phone 205 is expensive and slow in speed, but has a wide range of use, and can be used stably while moving, so communication reliability is high.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the DSRC device 206 is assigned to the priority L2. This is because the DSRC device 206 can be used more narrowly than the mobile phone 205 and wider than the wireless LAN 207.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the wireless LAN device 207 is assigned to the priority L3. This is because the wireless LAN 207 is inexpensive and fast, but the usable range is extremely narrow and the reliability is low.

  Note that the priority and the communication means may be assigned by the user, or the in-vehicle device 200 ranks the communication reliability from the viewpoint of the range of use, the communication speed, etc., and the reliability ranking of the communication means. Allocation may be performed based on

  Also, here, three types of communication means, such as the mobile phone 205, the DSRC device 206, and the wireless LAN 207, have been exemplified. However, the communication means is not limited to this, and other communication means may be used. There may be two types, four types, or any type.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the detection unit 203 detects which of the communication units is the mobile phone 205, the DSRC device 206, and the wireless LAN device 207, and sets the type of the detected communication unit to the backup processing unit 204. Output. Further, the detection means 203 may detect one or more.

  When the backup processing unit 204 includes a counter 208 and acquires the type of the communication unit detected by the detection unit 203, the backup processing unit 204 sets the detected communication unit type based on the communication unit management table stored in the storage unit 202. Read the corresponding priority. Next, the backup processing unit 204 reads the usage data from the read priority based on the data management table, and transmits the read usage data to the data server 105 via the communication unit detected by the detection unit 203. .

  Note that the backup processing unit 204 uses the counter 208 to determine whether to back up usage data. The counter 208 counts the elapsed time from the previous backup for each priority. Alternatively, the amount of data added after the previous backup may be counted. The backup processing means 204 performs backup if the counter 208 exceeds a predetermined value.

  In the above description, the detection unit 203 and the backup processing unit 204 have different configurations, but may be combined into one configuration.

  Data management of the data server 105 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data management table stored in the data server 105. As shown in FIG. 5, the usage data is stored in descending order of priority.

  Thus, when restoring data, it is possible to restore the usage data from the higher priority data by restoring from the higher-level usage data. The data server 105 may manage usage data for each priority as shown in FIG.

  Here, the mobile phone 205, the DSRC device 206, and the wireless LAN 207 as communication means will be briefly described. The mobile phone 205 can perform stable communication from a stationary state (communication speed: several Mbps) to a high-speed movement (communication speed: several hundred kbps), and data communication is performed using the mobile phone 205 owned by the user. Is possible.

  In addition, as a feature of the mobile phone 205, most users possess it, so that communication is possible anytime and anywhere, and the communication device used for transmission / reception of backup data is highly reliable.

  The DSRC device 206 is a device capable of two-way wireless communication used for ETC (Electronic Toll Collection System) and the like. DSRC is not so wide as several meters to several hundred meters, but if it is limited to a specific spot like ETC, high-speed communication of several Mbps is possible.

  The wireless LAN device 207 is a device that can perform data communication via a LAN by wireless communication. The wireless LAN has a communication speed of 11 Mbps or more, but a communication error may occur due to radio wave interference with other electric devices. Therefore, the wireless LAN device 207 is considered to have lower communication reliability than a mobile phone or the like.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the backup processing of the backup system according to the first embodiment. In step 601, it is determined whether the detection means 203 has detected an available communication means.

  When the determination result in step 601 is YES, the process proceeds to step 602, and the backup processing unit 204 refers to the counter 208. Progressing to step 603 following step 602, the backup processing unit 204 determines whether or not the referenced counter 208 is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

  If the counter 208 indicates the elapsed time since the previous backup, the predetermined value is a time such as 3 days or 1 week. If the counter 208 indicates the amount of data added from the previous backup, the predetermined value is a storage capacity such as several megabytes. Note that the setting of the predetermined value can be changed as appropriate.

  If the decision result in the step 603 is YES, the process proceeds to a step 604, where the backup processing means 204 reads the usage data of the priority corresponding to the type of the communication means detected by the detection means 203 from the storage means 202, and the communication means To the data server 105. Next, the backup is completed when the data server 105 stores the usage data received from the in-vehicle device 100.

  Proceeding to step 605 following step 604, the backup processing unit 204 updates the counter 208. When the counter 208 indicates the elapsed time from the previous data backup and the amount of added data, the counter 208 is reset to 0.

  When the determination result of step 601 is NO, when the determination result of step 603 is NO, or when the process of step 605 is completed, the process returns to the determination process of step 601.

  As described above, according to the backup system in the first embodiment, important data can be preferentially backed up by selecting data to be backed up according to the reliability of available communication means. This is because important data is communicated to a communication means with high communication reliability such as a wide usable range.

  In addition, by detecting available communication means and causing the detected communication means to perform data communication, it is possible to back up data having an appropriate priority suitable for the communication means.

  A backup system according to the second embodiment will be described. The backup system according to the second embodiment is a system in which personal authentication means is further provided to the configuration according to the first embodiment, and user usage data for which personal authentication has been completed is read from the data server 105 and restored to the in-vehicle device.

  In the second embodiment, when an unspecified number of users use one vehicle for car rental or car sharing, it is assumed that the information set by the user in the car navigation system or the information used by the user is restored for each user. is doing.

  FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram illustrating the main functional configuration of the in-vehicle device according to the second embodiment. The in-vehicle device 700 includes a personal authentication unit 701, a car navigation 201, a detection unit 203, a backup processing unit 702, and a storage unit 703. 7 having the same functions as those shown in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2, and the description thereof is omitted.

  The personal authentication unit 701 receives the user ID and password, and outputs the input information to a server having the data server 105. Here, personal authentication is performed on the server side.

  In addition, personal authentication may be performed using a smart key, an IC card, or the like. In the second embodiment, personal authentication is performed on the server side. However, personal authentication may be performed on the in-vehicle device side, and the authenticated personal information may be transmitted to the server.

  Further, the personal authentication unit 701 outputs the authenticated personal information to the backup processing unit 702 and the storage unit 703 when the authentication is completed.

  The backup processing unit 702 acquires usage data from the data server 105 based on the authenticated personal information, and stores the acquired usage data in the storage unit 703. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a data management table for each user stored in the data server 105. As shown in FIG. 8, in the second embodiment, a data management table is stored for each user. However, as shown in FIG.

  The storage unit 703 stores a data management table as shown in FIG. 3 for each user, and the stored usage data is read or written by the backup processing unit 702.

  For example, assume that Mr. A is authenticated by the personal authentication means 701. The backup processing means 702 reads Mr. A's usage data from the data server 105 and restores it to the data management table for Mr. A stored in the storage means 703.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining restoration processing in the second embodiment. In step 901, it is determined whether the detection means 203 has detected a communicable communication means. If the determination result in step 901 is YES, the process proceeds to step 902, where the personal authentication unit 701 performs personal authentication by outputting the input information or the acquired information to the server.

  Proceeding to step 903 following step 902, the personal authentication unit 701 determines whether the personal authentication has succeeded on the server side.

  If the determination result in step 903 is YES, the process advances to step 904, and the backup processing unit 702 determines whether or not the data management table of the authenticated user exists in the data server 105.

  If the decision result in the step 904 is YES, the process proceeds to a step 905, where the backup processing means 702 reads the authenticated user usage data from the data server 105, writes it in the storage means 703, and restores the data.

  Thus, by using the usage data stored in the storage unit 703 by the car navigation 201, it is possible to restore the previously used data for each user.

  The backup process is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, but differs in that backup is performed for each authenticated user.

  As described above, according to the backup system in the second embodiment, the setting information such as the car navigation system is backed up and restored for each user. Therefore, when the same user uses the vehicle again, it is possible to restore the usage data from the previous use. So convenience is improved.

  Further, by adopting a configuration in which the priority can be changed for each user to be used and the association between the priority and the communication means can be changed, a flexible backup system can be provided.

[Modification]
As a modification of the first embodiment and the second embodiment, a configuration will be described in which usage data with the next priority is backed up when usage data with a certain priority is completed.

  When the backup processing unit 204 reads all the usage data with a certain priority and determines that the backup has been completed, it reads the usage data with the next highest priority and sends the read usage data to the data server 105. Make a backup.

  Thus, when the backup of the usage data with the priority corresponding to the type of the detected communication means is completed, the usage data with the next highest priority can be backed up, and the communication means can be used effectively. .

  In the first, second, or modified examples, the communication unit is configured separately from the in-vehicle device, but some communication units may be incorporated in the in-vehicle device. Further, data communication between the communication means and the in-vehicle device when the communication means and the in-vehicle device have different configurations may be either wired or wireless. At this time, if it is confirmed that the data communication between the communication means and the in-vehicle device is established, the data communication becomes more reliable when the detection means starts detection.

  An in-vehicle backup system in Embodiment 3 will be described. The in-vehicle backup system according to the third embodiment selects usage data to be backed up according to the connected storage medium.

  FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram illustrating the main functional configuration of the in-vehicle device according to the third embodiment. The in-vehicle apparatus 1000 includes a car navigation 201, a storage unit 1001, a detection unit 1002, and a backup processing unit 1003, and can be connected to a storage medium such as a smart card (IC card) 1004, a mobile phone 1005, and a digital media player 1006. is there. 10 that have the same functions as those shown in FIG. 2 are given the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2 and their descriptions are omitted.

  The storage unit 1001 stores a data management table and a storage medium management table. Since the data management table is the same as in FIG. 3, the storage medium management table will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the storage medium management table. As shown in FIG. 11, the storage medium management table stores the priority of usage data to be backed up for each storage medium.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 11, the usage data with the priority L1 is backed up to the smart card 1004. The smart card 1004 is inexpensive and can be carried by one person, but since the storage capacity is small, the smart card 1004 is used for backing up L1 usage data having a high priority.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 11, the usage data of the priorities L1 and L2 is backed up in the mobile phone 1005. Although the mobile phone 1005 is frequently brought into the vehicle, since the storage capacity is intermediate between the smart card 1004 and the digital media player 1006, the mobile phone 1005 is used for backup of usage data of the priorities L1 and L2.

  In the example shown in FIG. 11, the usage data of all the priorities L1 to L3 are backed up in the digital media player 1006. The digital media player 1006 is not owned by everyone, but has a large storage capacity, and is therefore suitable for backup of all usage data of the priorities L1 to L3.

  Needless to say, the storage medium is not limited to these three types, and the priority can be appropriately changed.

  Returning to FIG. 10, the detection unit 1002 detects which storage medium is a smart card 1004, a mobile phone 1005, or a digital media player 1006, and the type of the detected storage medium is a backup processing unit. To 1003.

  The backup processing unit 1003 reads the usage data having the priority corresponding to the detected type of the storage medium from the storage medium 1001 and stores the read usage data in the detected storage medium.

  When there are a plurality of priorities corresponding to the detected storage medium types, backup is performed in order from the use data with the highest priority. Thus, important data can be backed up preferentially.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining the backup processing in the third embodiment. In the steps shown in FIG. 12, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 6 are assigned to the same processes as those in FIG.

  In step 1201, the detection unit 1002 detects which storage medium is connected. In step 1202, the backup processing unit 1003 reads the usage data with the priority corresponding to the type of storage medium detected by the detection unit 1002 from the storage unit 1001.

  Next, the backup processing unit 1003 stores the read usage data in the detected storage medium. The storage medium performs backup by storing usage data.

  As described above, according to the in-vehicle backup system according to the third embodiment, only optimum data can be backed up by selecting the usage data to be backed up according to the characteristics and storage capacity of the connected storage medium.

  In addition, important data is assigned to a plurality of storage media so that it is backed up preferentially and the reliability of the system is improved.

  A case in which the detection unit 1002 detects connection with an unknown storage medium will be described below.

  The detection unit 1002 acquires the storage capacity of the connected unknown storage medium, and outputs the acquired storage capacity to the backup processing unit 1003. The backup processing unit 1003 identifies a storage medium having a storage capacity closest to the acquired storage capacity among the storage media stored in the storage unit 1001, and uses the usage data with the priority corresponding to the identified storage medium. Store in an unknown storage medium. At this time, the storage means management table stores the storage capacity of the storage means together with the type of the storage means.

  As a result, the utilization data can be reliably backed up even for an unknown storage medium, and the reliability of the system is further improved.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and other than the above-described modifications within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims. In addition, various modifications and changes can be made.

The figure which shows the system configuration | structure of the backup system which concerns on this invention. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a main functional configuration of the in-vehicle device according to the first embodiment. The figure which shows an example of a data management table. The figure which shows an example of a communication means management table. The figure which shows an example of the data management table of a server. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a backup process in the first embodiment. The functional block diagram which shows the main function structures of the vehicle-mounted apparatus in Example 2. FIG. The figure which shows an example of the data management table of a server. 9 is a flowchart for explaining restoration processing in the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram illustrating a main functional configuration of an in-vehicle device according to a third embodiment. The figure which shows an example of a storage medium management table. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a backup process in the third embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

100 Backup system 101, 200, 700, 1000 In-vehicle device 102, 103, 104 Communication means 105 Data server 201 Car navigation system 202, 703, 1001 Storage means 203, 1002 Detection means 204, 702, 1003 Backup processing means 205, 1005 Mobile phone 206 DSRC device 207 Wireless LAN device 701 Personal authentication means 1004 Smart card 1006 Digital media player

Claims (6)

In a backup system that includes an in-vehicle device and a server that are connected to be able to perform data communication via a network by a plurality of communication means, and stores usage data used in the in-vehicle device in the server,
The in-vehicle device is
First storage means for storing the usage data for each priority;
Second storage means for storing the types of the plurality of communication means and the priorities in association with each other;
A detecting means for detecting a communicable communication means among the plurality of communication means;
Backup processing means for transmitting the usage data of the priority associated with the type of the communication means to the server by the communication means detected by the detection means;
The server
A backup system comprising storage means for storing usage data received from the in-vehicle device. The in-vehicle device is
Comprising authentication means for authenticating a user to the server;
The backup system according to claim 1, wherein when the user is authenticated by the authentication unit, usage data of the user is received from the server and restored. The backup processing means includes
The transmission of usage data having a lower priority than the priority of usage data for which transmission has been completed is transmitted when the transmission of the usage data is completed and no other communication unit is detected by the detection unit. 2. The backup system according to 2. In-vehicle backup system comprising an in-vehicle device and a plurality of storage media connected so as to be capable of data communication, and storing usage data used in the in-vehicle device in the plurality of storage media,
The in-vehicle device is
First storage means for storing the usage data for each priority;
Second storage means for storing the types of the plurality of storage media and the priorities in association with each other;
Detecting means for detecting a storage medium connected to the in-vehicle device among the plurality of storage media;
Backup processing means for storing, in the storage medium, priority usage data associated with the type of the storage medium for the storage medium detected by the detection means,
The storage medium is an in-vehicle backup system in which the usage data is stored by the backup processing means. The backup processing means includes
The in-vehicle backup system according to claim 4, wherein when there are a plurality of priorities corresponding to the types of storage medium detected by the detection means, the usage data having a high priority is stored in the storage medium. In an in-vehicle device connected to be able to perform data communication via a network by a plurality of communication means,
First storage means for storing usage data used in the in-vehicle device for each priority;
Second storage means for storing the types of the plurality of communication means and the priorities in association with each other;
A detecting means for detecting a communicable communication means among the plurality of communication means;
A vehicle-mounted device comprising backup processing means for transmitting usage data with a priority associated with the type of the communication means by the communication means detected by the detection means.

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