RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a National Phase of International Application No. PCT/JP2018/026106 filed Jul. 10, 2018.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a vehicle remote control system for use in services that provide a vehicle equipped with a communication module with a remote control function.

BACKGROUND

In the conventional automobile distribution and leasing industry, people have been unable to obtain vehicles without passing strict finance credit screening. Nowadays, a service has been proposed to users who have the ability to pay but fail to pass a conventional credit screening. This service eliminates credit screening but provides a vehicle and, if the charge (for example, monthly fee) is not paid within a predetermined time limit, remotely stops the vehicle and specifies the position of the vehicle for vehicle retrieval.

An example of a system for implementing such a service is disclosed in Patent Literature 1, in which a vehicle is equipped with a vehicle-mounted device with a remote control function, and this vehicle-mounted device is connected to a network so that a server remotely controls the vehicle or a server acquires information on the vehicle. Such a vehicle connected to a network is called a “connected car”. In this system, if the user does not pay the charge within a predetermined time limit, or if theft of the vehicle is detected, the starting of the vehicle is restricted under an instruction from the server.

Patent Literature 2 discloses a remote control system for auto loan and auto lease, in which a relay switch device is controlled such that the starting of the engine of a target vehicle is disabled when the loan payment or the lease fee is not settled, and the relay switch device is also controlled such that a lock state is entered to disable the starting of the engine when the transmission/reception antenna or the GPS antenna is removed.

Patent Literature 3 to Patent Literature 5 disclose techniques for performing control such that the starting of a vehicle is disabled by remote operation in anti-theft devices.

Patent Literature 3 discloses an antitheft system for construction machines using a satellite, in which at a point in time when a construction machine is found stolen, a stop signal is transmitted from a personal computer terminal of the manager of the construction machine to a satellite communication unit of the construction machine through a satellite, whereby the construction machine at a remote location is controlled such that the starting of the engine is disabled, or the engine is stopped, or the hydraulic operation of the machine is disabled. In addition, even if an illegal intruder succeeds in starting the engine by directly connecting the battery with the engine starter motor using a cable, the control that disables the hydraulic operation of each pilot valve prevents the construction machine from being operated.

Patent Literature 4 discloses a vehicle remote operation system in which a request signal is transmitted from a mobile phone to a communication ECU of the vehicle through a radio base station, and a remote ECU that receives the request signal from the communication ECU disables the use of a specific one of the devices mounted on the vehicle, whereby effective measures against theft can be taken even when the key of the vehicle is stolen. In this system, the remote ECU is connected to ECUs such as a door lock ECU, an immobilizer ECU, and a smart ECU through a vehicle LAN.

Patent Literature 5 discloses a vehicle antitheft system in which when a theft alarm signal is transmitted from a mobile phone to an antitheft control circuit on the vehicle through an antitheft service center, the antitheft control circuit supplies an engine restart-prohibiting command to an engine control circuit, under the condition that the vehicle speed is “0”, and sets the engine to a restarting-disabled state.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: WO2016/167350A1

Patent Literature 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2014-146120

Patent Literature 3: Japanese Patent No. 3597772

Patent Literature 4: Japanese Patent No. 4534455

Patent Literature 5: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-59812

SUMMARY

Technical Problem

According to Patent Literature 1, the ECU/VCU is usually directly connected with the operation system, whereas the MCCS, which is a vehicle-mounted device, is inserted between the ECU/VCU and the operation system, so that the MCCS intervenes in information control of the ECU/VCU and controls the operation system. The insertion of the MCCS between the ECU/VCU and the operation system, however, requires a substantial modification to the existing wiring. Moreover, the reliability of the MCCS and its wiring directly affects the control of the operation system. The MCCS and its wiring therefore have more design restrictions. In addition, Patent Literature 1 has not fully considered the safety in a case where a command to disable starting of the engine is received while the vehicle is running or during starting of the engine.

Patent Literature 2 does not consider the safety in a case where a command to disable starting of the engine is received while the vehicle is running or during starting of the engine. The provision of Article 46 of Road Transport Vehicle Act requires that when a starting state of a vehicle is controlled, vehicle remote control should not be performed on a public road and vehicle remote control should be performed in a state in which a vehicle is parked or stopped.

Patent Literature 3 to Patent Literature 5 do not consider the restarting from the vehicle operation-prohibited state. Moreover, Patent Literature 3 and Patent Literature 4 do not discuss the safety of a case where a signal to prohibit operation is received while the vehicle is running or during starting of the engine. In Patent Literature 5, the operation is prohibited under the condition that the vehicle speed is “0”. However, the operation-prohibited state may be entered on the road while the vehicle is running, which may hinder the other traffic.

In view of the problems in Patent Literature 1 to Patent Literature 5, the applicant of the subject application has examined vehicle-mounted devices for the vehicle remote control system and their connection to vehicles as well as a variety of conditions for safely controlling a starting state of a vehicle and found that a starting state of a vehicle can be safely controlled by utilizing data communication modules (hereinafter referred to as “DCM”), which have recently been mounted on more vehicles, and using information acquired by a variety of vehicle-mounted ECUs through a DCM as a communication module. This finding has led to completion of a vehicle remote control system according to embodiments of the present invention.

More specifically, an object of embodiments of the present invention is to provide a vehicle remote control system capable of controlling the starting state of a vehicle, in which a communication module such as a DCM is connected to an ECU on a vehicle through a vehicle-mounted communication network to acquire a variety of vehicle information, and the acquired vehicle information can be used for appropriately controlling a starting state of the vehicle: vehicle remote control is not performed on a public road, and vehicle remote control is performed in a state in which the vehicle is stopped or parked.

Solution to Problem

The object of embodiments of the present invention can be achieved by the following configuration. More specifically, a vehicle remote control system according to a first aspect of the present invention includes:

a communication module configured to communicate with an ECU of a vehicle and acquire vehicle information on the vehicle; 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 includes

vehicle information acquisition means for acquiring the vehicle information from the communication module, and

remote control instruction means for computing the starting state control command using the vehicle information acquired by the vehicle information acquisition means and outputting the starting state control command to the communication module.

A 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 condition (a) and condition (b) is satisfied, and the conditions (a) and (b) are as follows:

(a) based on vehicle information from a vehicle-mounted sensor in the vehicle acquired through a vehicle-mounted network, (1) it is determined that the vehicle is stopped, or (2) it is determined that the vehicle is not stopped on a public road, and

based on position information from a vehicle-mounted GPS in the vehicle, (3) the vehicle is stopped at a predetermined parking area;

(b) based on the vehicle information from the vehicle-mounted sensor in the vehicle acquired through the vehicle-mounted network, (1) it is determined that the vehicle is stopped, and

based on the position information from the vehicle-mounted GPS in the vehicle, (2) it is determined that the vehicle is not stopped on a public road, or (3) it is determined that the vehicle is stopped at a predetermined parking area.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle remote control system of the first aspect, the condition (1) at least includes:

(1-1) a door of the vehicle being locked;

(1-2) the vehicle carrying no passengers;

(1-3) a parking brake of the vehicle being at a parking position;

(1-4) an in-vehicle camera in the vehicle not detecting a person; or

(1-5) a human detection sensor in the vehicle not detecting a person.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle remote control system of the first or second aspect, the condition (2) at least includes:

as the condition (a), (2-1) the vehicle-mounted sensor in the vehicle not detecting a predetermined road lane; or

as the condition (b), (2-2) the position information on the vehicle indicating that the vehicle is not stopped on a public road on a map.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle remote control system of any one of the first to third aspects, the condition (3) at least includes:

(3-1) position information on the vehicle indicating that the vehicle is stopped at a predetermined parking area on a map; or

(3-2) GeoFense indicating that the vehicle is stopped at a predetermined parking area.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle remote control system of any one of the first to fourth aspects, at least some of the conditions for switching between the starting-disabled state and the starting-enabled state of the vehicle are determined by the remote control instruction means.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle remote control system of any one of the first to fourth aspects, at least some of the conditions for switching between the starting-disabled state and the starting-enabled state of the vehicle are determined by the communication module.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle remote control system of any one of the first to sixth aspects, the server is able to communicate with at least one of a manager terminal, a financial system, and a user terminal.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle remote control system of any one of the first to seventh aspects, the communication module is further configured to receive the starting state control command through the user terminal or an IC card.

A communication module according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is configured to communicate with an ECU of a vehicle to acquire vehicle information on the vehicle and transmit the vehicle information to 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.

A 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 condition (a) and condition (b) is satisfied, and the conditions (a) and (b) are as follows:

(a) based on vehicle information from a vehicle-mounted sensor in the vehicle acquired through a vehicle-mounted network, (1) it is determined the vehicle is stopped, or (2) it is determined that the vehicle is not stopped on a public road, and

based on position information from a vehicle-mounted GPS in the vehicle, (3) the vehicle is stopped at a predetermined parking area;

(b) based on the vehicle information from the vehicle-mounted sensor in the vehicle acquired through the vehicle-mounted network, (1) it is determined that the vehicle is stopped, and

based on the position information from the vehicle-mounted GPS in the vehicle, (2) it is determined that the vehicle is not stopped on a public road, or (3) it is determined that the vehicle is stopped at a predetermined parking area.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the communication module of the ninth aspect, the condition (1) at least includes:

(1-1) a door of the vehicle being locked;

(1-2) the vehicle carrying no passengers;

(1-3) a parking brake of the vehicle being at a parking position;

(1-4) an in-vehicle camera in the vehicle not detecting a person; or

(1-5) a human detection sensor in the vehicle not detecting a person.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the communication module of the ninth or tenth aspect, the condition (2) at least includes:

as the condition (a), (2-1) the vehicle-mounted sensor in the vehicle not detecting a predetermined road lane; or

as the condition (b), (2-2) the position information on the vehicle indicating that the vehicle is not stopped on a public road on a map.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the communication module of the ninth to eleventh aspects, the condition (3) at least includes:

(3-1) position information on the vehicle indicating that the vehicle is stopped at a predetermined parking area on a map; or

(3-2) GeoFense indicating that the vehicle is stopped at a predetermined parking area.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the communication module of any one of the ninth to twelfth aspects, at least some of the conditions for switching between the starting-disabled state and the starting-enabled state of the vehicle are determined by the server.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the communication module of any one of the ninth to twelfth aspects, at least some of the conditions for switching between the starting-disabled state and the starting-enabled state of the vehicle are determined by the communication module.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the communication module of any one of the ninth to fourteenth aspects, the communication module is further configured to receive the starting state control command through a user terminal or an IC card.

A vehicle according to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention includes the communication module of any one of the ninth to fifteenth aspects.

A server according to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention is configured to compute a starting state control command for switching between a starting-disabled state and a starting-enabled state of a vehicle based on vehicle information on the vehicle received from a communication module. The server includes:

vehicle information acquisition means for acquiring the vehicle information from the communication module; and

remote control instruction means for computing the starting state control command using the vehicle information acquired by the vehicle information acquisition means and outputting the starting state control command to the communication module.

A 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 condition (a) and condition (b) is satisfied, and the conditions (a) and (b) are as follows:

(a) based on vehicle information from a vehicle-mounted sensor in the vehicle acquired through a vehicle-mounted network, (1) it is determined that the vehicle is stopped, or (2) it is determined that the vehicle is not stopped on a public road, and

based on position information from a vehicle-mounted GPS in the vehicle, (3) the vehicle is stopped at a predetermined parking area;

(b) based on the vehicle information from the vehicle-mounted sensor in the vehicle acquired through the vehicle-mounted network, (1) it is determined that the vehicle is stopped, and

based on the position information from the vehicle-mounted GPS in the vehicle, (2) it is determined that the vehicle is not stopped on a public road, or (3) it is determined that the vehicle is stopped at a predetermined parking area.

According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in the server of the seventeenth aspect, the condition (1) at least includes:

(1-1) a door of the vehicle being locked;

(1-2) the vehicle carrying no passengers;

(1-3) a parking brake of the vehicle being at a parking position;

(1-4) an in-vehicle camera in the vehicle not detecting a person; or

(1-5) a human detection sensor in the vehicle not detecting a person.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the server of the seventeenth or eighteenth aspect, the condition (2) at least includes:

as the condition (a), (2-1) the vehicle-mounted sensor in the vehicle not detecting a predetermined road lane; or

as the condition (b), (2-2) the position information on the vehicle indicating that the vehicle is not stopped on a public road on a map.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, in the server of any one of the seventeenth to nineteenth aspects, the condition (3) at least includes:

(3-1) position information on the vehicle indicating that the vehicle is stopped at a predetermined parking area on a map; or

(3-2) GeoFense indicating that the vehicle is stopped at a predetermined parking area.

According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, in the server of any one of the seventeenth to twentieth aspects, at least some of the conditions for switching between the starting-disabled state and the starting-enabled state of the vehicle are determined by the remote control instruction means.

According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, in the server of any one of the seventeenth to twentieth aspects, at least some of the conditions for switching between the starting-disabled state and the starting-enabled state of the vehicle are determined by the communication module.

According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, in the server of any one of the seventeenth to twenty-second aspects, the server is able to communicate with at least one of a manager terminal, a financial system, and a user terminal.

According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, in the server of any one of the seventeenth to twenty-third aspects, the starting state control command is capable of being input into the communication module through a user terminal or an IC card.

A vehicle remote control method according to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention computes a starting state control command for switching between a starting-disabled state and a starting-enabled state of a vehicle based on vehicle information on the vehicle received from a communication module.

The method includes:

vehicle information acquisition means for acquiring the vehicle information from the communication module; and

remote control instruction means for computing the starting state control command using the vehicle information acquired by the vehicle information acquisition means and outputting the starting state control command to the communication module.

A 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 condition (a) and condition (b) is satisfied, and the conditions (a) and (b) are as follows:

(a) based on vehicle information from a vehicle-mounted sensor in the vehicle acquired through a vehicle-mounted network, (1) it is determined that the vehicle is stopped, or (2) it is determined that the vehicle is not stopped on a public road, and

based on position information from a vehicle-mounted GPS in the vehicle, (3) the vehicle is stopped at a predetermined parking area;

(b) based on the vehicle information from the vehicle-mounted sensor in the vehicle acquired through the vehicle-mounted network, (1) it is determined that the vehicle is stopped, and

based on the position information from the vehicle-mounted GPS in the vehicle, (2) it is determined that the vehicle is not stopped on a public road, or (3) it is determined that the vehicle is stopped at a predetermined parking area.

According to a twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle remote control method of the twenty-fifth aspect, the condition (1) at least includes:

(1-1) a door of the vehicle being locked;

(1-2) the vehicle carrying no passengers;

(1-3) a parking brake of the vehicle being at a parking position;

(1-4) an in-vehicle camera in the vehicle not detecting a person; or

(1-5) a human detection sensor in the vehicle not detecting a person.

According to a twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle remote control method of the twenty-fifth or twenty-sixth aspect, the condition (2) at least includes:

as the condition (a), (2-1) the vehicle-mounted sensor in the vehicle not detecting a predetermined road lane; or

as the condition (b), (2-2) the position information on the vehicle indicating that the vehicle is not stopped on a public road on a map.

According to a twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention, the vehicle remote control method of any one of the twenty-fifth to twenty-seventh aspects, the condition (3) at least includes:

(3-1) position information on the vehicle indicating that the vehicle is stopped at a predetermined parking area on a map; or (3-2) GeoFense indicating that the vehicle is stopped at a predetermined parking area.

According to a twenty-ninth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle remote control method of any one of the twenty-fifth to twenty-eighth aspects, at least some of the conditions for switching between the starting-disabled state and the starting-enabled state of the vehicle are determined by the remote control instruction means.

According to a thirtieth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle remote control method of any one of the twenty-fifth to twenty-eighth aspects, at least some of the conditions for switching between the starting-disabled state and the starting-enabled state of the vehicle are determined by the communication module.

According to a thirty-first aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle remote control method of any one of the twenty-fifth to thirtieth aspects, the method further includes means for communicating with at least one of a manager terminal, a financial system, and a user terminal.

According to a thirty-second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle remote control method of any one of the twenty-fifth to thirty-first aspects, the communication module is further configured to receive a starting state control command through a user terminal or an IC card.

A vehicle remote control program according to a thirty-third aspect of the present invention causes a computer to execute the means in the vehicle remote control method of any one of the twenty-fifth to thirty-second aspects.

A storage medium according to a thirty-fourth aspect of the present invention stores therein the vehicle remote control program of the thirty-third aspect.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

In the vehicle remote control system according to the first aspect, the communication module is connected to the ECU on the vehicle through a vehicle-mounted communication network to acquire a variety of vehicle information, and the acquired vehicle information can be used for appropriately controlling a starting state of the vehicle: vehicle remote control is not performed on a public road, and vehicle remote control is performed in a state in which the vehicle is stopped or parked. Thus, the vehicle remote control system capable of controlling the starting state of the vehicle can be provided. As a specific condition, in addition to that power of the vehicle being off, at least one of condition (a) and condition (b) is satisfied, and the conditions (a) and (b) are as follows:

(a) based on vehicle information from a vehicle-mounted sensor in the vehicle acquired through the vehicle-mounted network, (1) it is determined that the vehicle is stopped, or (2) it is determined that the vehicle is not stopped on a public road, and

based on position information from a vehicle-mounted GPS in the vehicle, (3) the vehicle is stopped at a predetermined parking area;

(b) based on the vehicle information from the vehicle-mounted sensor in the vehicle acquired through the vehicle-mounted network, (1) it is determined that the vehicle is stopped, and

based on the position information from the vehicle-mounted GPS in the vehicle, (2) it is determined that the vehicle is not stopped on a public road, or (3) it is determined that the vehicle is stopped at a predetermined parking area.

In the vehicle remote control system according to the second aspect, the condition (1) can be set as appropriate.

In the vehicle remote control system according to the third aspect, the condition (2) can be set as appropriate.

In the vehicle remote control system according to the fourth aspect, the condition (3) can be set as appropriate.

In the vehicle remote control system according to the fifth aspect, at least some of the conditions for switching between the starting-disabled state and the starting-enabled state of the vehicle can be determined by the remote control instruction means. The condition for switching between the starting-disabled state and the starting-enabled state of the vehicle is determined in consideration of the vehicle information received from the communication module, in addition to information obtained by the server, so that an appropriate condition determination can be made. The condition determination may be entirely performed on the server side. In this case, the computation load on the communication module side can be reduced. Alternatively, the condition determination may be partially performed on the server side and the remaining condition determination may be performed on the communication module side.

In the vehicle remote control system according to the sixth aspect, at least some of the conditions for switching between the starting-disabled state and the starting-enabled state of the vehicle can be determined by the communication module. The communication module determines the condition for switching between the starting-disabled state and the starting-enabled state of the vehicle in consideration of information obtained from the ECU or the navigation system, so that an appropriate condition determination can be made. The condition determination may be entirely performed on the communication module side. In this case, on the server side, the starting state control command is output to the communication module side in accordance with the payment status, and on the communication module side, the conditions that vehicle remote control is not performed on a public road and that vehicle remote control is performed in a state in which the vehicle is parked or stopped are determined. This configuration can reduce the computation load and the vehicle monitoring load on the server side. Alternatively, the condition determination may be partially performed on the communication module side and the remaining condition determination may be performed on the server side.

In the vehicle remote control system according to the seventh aspect, the server can communicate with at least one of a manager terminal, a financial system, and a user terminal. The manager can monitor and manage the vehicle remote control system appropriately using the manager terminal. The server can communicate, for example, with the financial system to grasp the payment status of the vehicle usage fee by the user of the vehicle, as appropriate. Since the server can communicate with the user terminal, the server can provide the user with notification as to switching between the starting-disabled state and the starting-enabled state of the vehicle, warning about the payment status, and a variety of information about the vehicle.

In the vehicle remote control system according to the eighth aspect, the starting state control command can be input to the communication module through a wireless communication network as well as a user terminal or an IC card, so that locking and unlocking of a door lock and vehicle starting control can be performed with convenient means for the user. This configuration can provide a vehicle remote control system convenient for the user.

The communication module according to the ninth aspect can connect to the ECU on the vehicle through a vehicle-mounted communication network to acquire a variety of vehicle information and can appropriately control a starting state of the vehicle using the acquired vehicle information: vehicle remote control is not performed on a public road, and vehicle remote control is performed in a state in which the vehicle is parked or stopped. Thus, the communication module capable of controlling the starting state of the vehicle can be provided. As a specific condition, in addition to that power of the vehicle being off, at least one of condition (a) and condition (b) is satisfied, and the conditions (a) and (b) are as follows:

(a) based on vehicle information from a vehicle-mounted sensor in the vehicle acquired through the vehicle-mounted network, (1) it is determined that the vehicle is stopped, or (2) it is determined that the vehicle is not stopped on a public road, and

based on position information from a vehicle-mounted GPS in the vehicle, (3) the vehicle is stopped at a predetermined parking area;

(b) based on the vehicle information from the vehicle-mounted sensor in the vehicle acquired through the vehicle-mounted network, (1) it is determined that the vehicle is stopped, and

based on position information from the vehicle-mounted GPS in the vehicle, (2) it is determined that the vehicle is not stopped on a public road, or (3) it is determined that the vehicle is stopped at a predetermined parking area.

In the communication module according to the tenth aspect, the condition (1) can be set as appropriate.

In the communication module according to the eleventh aspect, the condition (2) can be set as appropriate.

In the communication module according to the twelfth aspect, the condition (3) can be set as appropriate.

In the communication module according to the thirteenth aspect, at least some of the conditions for switching between the starting-disabled state and the starting-enabled state of the vehicle can be determined by the server. The condition for switching between the starting-disabled state and the starting-enabled state of the vehicle is determined in consideration of the vehicle information received from the communication module, in addition to information obtained by the server, so that an appropriate condition determination can be made. The condition determination may be entirely performed on the server side. In this case, the computation load on the communication module side can be reduced. Alternatively, the condition determination may be partially performed on the server side and the remaining condition determination may be performed on the communication module side.

In the communication module according to the fourteenth aspect, at least some of the conditions for switching between the starting-disabled state and the starting-enabled state of the vehicle can be determined by the communication module. The communication module determines the condition for switching between the starting-disabled state and the starting-enabled state of the vehicle in consideration of information obtained from the ECU or the navigation system, so that an appropriate condition determination can be made. The condition determination may be entirely performed on the communication module side. In this case, on the server side, the starting state control command is output to the communication module side in accordance with the payment status, and on the communication module side, the conditions that vehicle remote control is not performed on a public road and that vehicle remote control is performed in a state in which the vehicle is parked or stopped are determined. This configuration can reduce the computation load and the vehicle monitoring load on the server side. Alternatively, the condition determination may be partially performed on the communication module side and the remaining condition determination may be performed on the server side.

In the communication module according to the fifteenth aspect, the starting state control command can be input through a wireless communication network as well as a user terminal or an IC card, so that locking and unlocking of a door lock and vehicle starting control can be performed with convenient means for the user. This configuration can provide a communication module convenient for the user.

The vehicle according to the sixteenth aspect achieves the same effect as the communication module of any one of the ninth to fourteenth aspects.

In the server according to the seventeenth aspect, the communication module is connected to the ECU on the vehicle through a vehicle-mounted communication network to acquire a variety of vehicle information, and the acquired vehicle information can be used for appropriately controlling a starting state of the vehicle: vehicle remote control is not performed on a public road, and vehicle remote control is performed in a state in which the vehicle is parked or stopped. Thus, the server capable of controlling the starting state of the vehicle can be provided. As a specific condition, in addition to that power of the vehicle being off, at least one of condition (a) and condition (b) is satisfied, and the conditions (a) and (b) are as follows:

(a) based on vehicle information from the vehicle-mounted sensor in the vehicle acquired through a vehicle-mounted network, (1) it is determined that the vehicle is stopped, or (2) it is determined that the vehicle is not stopped on a public road, and

based on position information from a vehicle-mounted GPS in the vehicle, (3) the vehicle is stopped at a predetermined parking area;

(b) based on the vehicle information from the vehicle-mounted sensor in the vehicle acquired through the vehicle-mounted network, (1) it is determined that the vehicle is stopped, and

based on the position information from the vehicle-mounted GPS in the vehicle, (2) it is determined that the vehicle is not stopped on a public road, or (3) it is determined that the vehicle is stopped at a predetermined parking area.

In the server according to the eighteenth aspect, the condition (1) can be set as appropriate.

In the server according to the nineteenth aspect, the condition (2) can be set as appropriate.

In the server according to the twentieth aspect, the condition (3) can be set as appropriate.

In the server according to the twenty-first aspect, at least some of the conditions for switching between the starting-disabled state and the starting-enabled state of the vehicle can be determined by the remote control instruction means. The condition for switching between the starting-disabled state and the starting-enabled state of the vehicle is determined in consideration of the vehicle information received from the communication module, in addition to information obtained by the server, so that an appropriate condition determination can be made. The condition determination may be entirely performed on the server side. In this case, the computation load on the communication module side can be reduced. Alternatively, the condition determination may be partially performed on the server side and the remaining condition determination may be performed on the communication module side.

In the server according to the twenty-second aspect, at least some of the conditions for switching between the starting-disabled state and the starting-enabled state of the vehicle can be determined by the communication module. The communication module determines the condition for switching between the starting-disabled state and the starting-enabled state of the vehicle in consideration of information obtained from the ECU or the navigation system, so that an appropriate condition determination can be made. The condition determination may be entirely performed on the communication module side. In this case, on the server side, the starting state control command is output to the communication module side in accordance with the payment status, and on the communication module side, the conditions that vehicle remote control is not performed on a public road and that vehicle remote control is performed in a state in which the vehicle is parked or stopped are determined. This configuration can reduce the computation load and the vehicle monitoring load on the server side. Alternatively, the condition determination may be partially performed on the communication module side and the remaining condition determination may be performed on the server side.

The server according to the twenty-third aspect can communicate with at least one of a manager terminal, a financial system, and a user terminal. The manager can monitor and manage the vehicle remote control system appropriately using the manager terminal. The server can communicate, for example, with the financial system to grasp the payment status of the vehicle usage fee by the user of the vehicle, as appropriate. Since the server can communicate with the user terminal, the server can provide the user with notification as to switching between the starting-disabled state and the starting-enabled state of the vehicle, warning about the payment status, and a variety of information about the vehicle.

In the server according to the twenty-fourth aspect, the starting state control command can be input to the communication module through a wireless communication network as well as a user terminal or an IC card, so that locking and unlocking of the door lock and vehicle starting control can be performed with convenient means for the user. This configuration can provide a server convenient for the user.

In the vehicle remote control method according to the twenty-fifth aspect, the communication module is connected to the ECU on the vehicle through a vehicle-mounted communication network to acquire a variety of vehicle information, and the acquired vehicle information can be used for appropriately controlling a starting state of the vehicle: vehicle remote control is not performed on a public road, and vehicle remote control is performed in a state in which the vehicle is parked or stopped. Thus, the vehicle remote control method capable of controlling the starting state of the vehicle can be provided. As a specific condition, in addition to that power of the vehicle being off, at least one of condition (a) and condition (b) is satisfied, and the conditions (a) and (b) are as follows:

(a) based on vehicle information from a vehicle-mounted sensor in the vehicle acquired through the vehicle-mounted network, (1) it is determined that the vehicle is stopped, or (2) it is determined that the vehicle is not stopped on a public road, and

based on position information from a vehicle-mounted GPS in the vehicle, (3) the vehicle is stopped at a predetermined parking area;

(b) based on the vehicle information from the vehicle-mounted sensor in the vehicle acquired through the vehicle-mounted network, (1) it is determined that the vehicle is stopped, and

based on the position information from the vehicle-mounted GPS in the vehicle, (2) it is determined that the vehicle is not stopped on a public road, or (3) it is determined that the vehicle is stopped at a predetermined parking are.

In the vehicle remote control method according to the twenty-sixth aspect, the condition (1) can be set as appropriate.

In the vehicle remote control method according to the twenty-seventh aspect, the condition (2) can be set as appropriate.

In the vehicle remote control method according to the twenty-eighth aspect, the condition (3) can be set as appropriate.

In the vehicle remote control method according to the twenty-ninth aspect, at least some of the conditions for switching between the starting-disabled state and the starting-enabled state of the vehicle can be determined by the remote control instruction means. The condition for switching between the starting-disabled state and the starting-enabled state of the vehicle is determined in consideration of the vehicle information received from the communication module, in addition to information obtained by the server, so that an appropriate condition determination can be made. The condition determination may be entirely performed on the server side. In this case, the computation load on the communication module side can be reduced. Alternatively, the condition determination may be partially performed on the server side and the remaining condition determination may be performed on the communication module side.

In the vehicle remote control method according to the thirtieth aspect, at least some of the conditions for switching between the starting-disabled state and the starting-enabled state of the vehicle can be determined by the communication module. The communication module determines the condition for switching between the starting-disabled state and the starting-enabled state of the vehicle in consideration of information obtained from the ECU or the navigation system, so that an appropriate condition determination can be made. The condition determination may be entirely performed on the communication module side. In this case, on the server side, the starting state control command is output to the communication module side in accordance with the payment status, and on the communication module side, the conditions that vehicle remote control is not performed on a public road and that vehicle remote control is performed in a state in which the vehicle is parked or stopped are determined. This configuration can reduce the computation load and the vehicle monitoring load on the server side. Alternatively, the condition determination may be partially performed on the communication module side and the remaining condition determination may be performed on the server side.

In the vehicle remote control method according to the thirty-first aspect, the server can communicate with at least one of a manager terminal, a financial system, and a user terminal. The manager can monitor and manage the vehicle remote control system appropriately using the manager terminal. The server can communicate, for example, with the financial system to grasp the payment status of the vehicle usage fee by the user of the vehicle, as appropriate. Since the server can communicate with the user terminal, the server can provide the user with notification as to switching between the starting-disabled state and the starting-enabled state of the vehicle, warning about the payment status, and a variety of information about the vehicle.

In the vehicle remote control method according to the thirty-second aspect, the starting state control command can be input to the communication module through a wireless communication network as well as a user terminal or an IC card, so that locking and unlocking of the door lock and vehicle starting control can be performed with convenient means for the user. This configuration can provide a vehicle remote control method convenient for the user.

The vehicle remote control program according to the thirty-third aspect achieves the same effect as the vehicle remote control method of the twenty-fifth to thirty-second aspects.

The storage medium according to the thirty-fourth aspect stores therein the vehicle remote control program of the thirty-third aspect.

