Vehicle remote control system, communication module, vehicle, server, vehicle remote control method, vehicle remote control program, and storage medium

Abstract

A vehicle remote control system includes a communication module configured to communicate with an ECU of a vehicle and acquire vehicle information, and a server configured to compute a starting state control command for switching between a starting-disabled state and a starting-enabled state of the vehicle based on the vehicle information received from the communication module. The server computes the starting state control command and outputs the starting state control command to the communication module. The condition for switching between the starting-disabled state and the starting-enabled state of the vehicle by the communication module is that, in addition to that power of the vehicle being off, at least one of the followings is satisfied: (1) the vehicle is stopped; (2) the vehicle is not stopped on a public road; and (3) the vehicle is stopped at a predetermined parking area.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A communication module mounted on a vehicle, wherein
 the communication module is connected to an ECU of the vehicle via a vehicle-mounted network, and   the communication module:
 receive a starting state control command from a server, 
 switch a starting state of the vehicle between a starting-disable state and a starting-enabled state by transmitting a control command to the ECU based on the starting state control command, and 
 switch the starting state of the vehicle to the starting-enabled state without receiving the starting state control command corresponding to the starting-enabled state, when determining that a communication with the server has failed and when determining that the starting state of the vehicle is the starting-disable state. 
   
     
     
         2 . The communication module according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the communication module determines that the communication has failed when the communication fails to be established a predetermined number of times in succession.   
     
     
         3 . A server, wherein
 the server:
 transmits a starting state control command for instructing to switch a starting state of a vehicle from a starting-disable state to a starting-enabled state to a communication module mounted on the vehicle, when determining that a user has not made a payment to leasing or loan of the vehicle based on information from a financial system, and 
 transmits the starting state control command for instructing to switch the starting state of the vehicle which is the starting-disable state to the starting-enabled state to the communication module, when the user has made the payment to leasing or loan of the vehicle based on the information. 
   
     
     
         4 . The server according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the server:
 acquires vehicle information and position information of the vehicle from the communication module; 
 computing the starting state control command using the vehicle information, and 
 determines to switch the starting state of the vehicle,
 when determining that a power of the vehicle is off based on the vehicle information, determining that the vehicle is stopped based on the vehicle information, and determining that the vehicle is not stopped on a public road based on the vehicle information or the position information; or 
 when determining that power of the vehicle is off based on the vehicle information, determining that the vehicle is stopped based on the vehicle information, and determining that the vehicle is stopped at a predetermined parking area based on the position information. 
 
   
     
     
         5 . A communication module mounted on a vehicle, wherein
 the communication module is connected to an ECU of the vehicle via a vehicle-mounted network, and   the communication module:
 receives, from a server, information which is received from a financial system, 
 switches a starting state of the vehicle from a starting-enable state to a starting-disabled state by transmitting a control command to the ECU, when determining that a user has not made a payment to leasing or loan of the vehicle based on the information, and 
 switches the starting state of the vehicle which is the starting-disable state to the starting-enabled state by transmitting the control command to the ECU, when the user has made the payment to leasing or loan of the vehicle based on the information. 
   
     
     
         6 . The communication module according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the communication module:
 acquires vehicle information of the vehicle detected by a vehicle-mounted sensor connected to the ECU; 
 acquires position information of the vehicle acquired by a vehicle-mounted GPS connected to the ECU 
 determines to switch the starting state of the vehicle,
 when determining that a power of the vehicle is off based on the vehicle information, determining that the vehicle is stopped based on the vehicle information, and determining that the vehicle is not stopped on a public road based on the vehicle information or the position information; or 
 when determining that power of the vehicle is off based on the vehicle information, determining that the vehicle is stopped based on the vehicle information, and determining that the vehicle is stopped at a predetermined parking area based on the position information.