JP-2026075220-A - Communication systems and in-vehicle devices

Abstract

[Challenge] To appropriately utilize multiple communication lines. [Solution] A communication system comprising one or more in-vehicle devices capable of using multiple communication lines, and a server device 3, wherein the server device 3 transmits reference data to the in-vehicle device indicating criteria for selecting a communication line from among the multiple communication lines to be used by the in-vehicle device for communication with the outside of the vehicle, based on the source of the data to be sent and received and the amount of data transmitted, and the in-vehicle device selects a communication line to be used for communication with the outside of the vehicle based on the received reference data. [Selection Diagram] Figure 5

Inventors

• 竹岡 航司
• 金子 直矢

Assignees

• トヨタ自動車株式会社

Dates

Publication Date

20260508

Application Date

20241022

Claims (5)

1. A communication system comprising one or more in-vehicle devices capable of using multiple communication lines, and a server device, The server device is From among the multiple communication lines, the in-vehicle device is instructed to select a communication line to be used for communication with the outside of the vehicle, based on the source of the data to be transmitted and received and the amount of data transmitted. Criterion data indicating this selection is transmitted to the in-vehicle device. The in-vehicle device selects a communication line to be used for communication with the outside of the vehicle based on the received reference data. Communication system.
2. The multiple communication lines include at least a first communication line contracted by the manufacturer of the vehicle equipped with the in-vehicle device and a second communication line contracted by the user of the vehicle. The communication system according to claim 1.
3. The server device is The system generates reference data indicating that the second communication line should be prioritized until the amount of data transmitted through the second communication line reaches a predetermined amount of data. The communication system according to claim 2.
4. The server device is When the amount of data transmitted on the second communication line reaches a predetermined amount, the in-vehicle device generates reference data indicating that system data related to the vehicle's operation will be transmitted and received on the first communication line, and user data not related to the vehicle's operation will be transmitted and received on the second communication line. The communication system according to claim 2.
5. An in-vehicle device that can utilize multiple communication lines, The system receives reference data from a designated server device, which serves as a criterion for selecting the communication line to be used for communication with the outside of the vehicle from among the multiple communication lines, based on the source of the data to be sent and received and the amount of data transmitted. Based on the aforementioned standard data, the communication line to be used for communication with the outside of the vehicle is selected, Having a control unit that performs the following: In-vehicle device.

Description

This disclosure relates to a communication system. In communication devices, there is a technology that utilizes multiple communication profiles. Regarding this, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a communication device comprising a profile area for storing profiles used to utilize the lines of a mobile network operator, and an application area for storing an application for tamper detection, wherein the profile area and the application area, where multiple profiles are stored, are separated. Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-180105 A schematic diagram of the vehicle communication network according to the first embodiment.A diagram illustrating the components of the DCM according to the first embodiment.A diagram illustrating the components of a communication device according to the first embodiment.A diagram illustrating the components of a server device according to the first embodiment.A sequence diagram of the processes performed by the communication system according to the first embodiment.A flowchart of the process performed by the DCM included in the communication system according to the second embodiment. (overview) In recent years, the connectivity of automobiles has advanced, and the number of vehicles equipped with communication devices has increased. These in-vehicle communication devices can, for example, communicate with server devices (such as application servers) via cellular communication networks, enabling the provision of various services to vehicle occupants. Typical in-vehicle communication devices incorporate communication modules conforming to specific standards and SIM cards for connecting to specific carrier networks, enabling communication on the carrier network compatible with that SIM card. However, if a wireless communication device is only available on one carrier network, a communication failure on that network will result in a loss of communication. Therefore, there is a technology that allows a vehicle user to authenticate a separate SIM card connected to their own contracted carrier network, and then connect to a server device (such as an application server) providing services to the connected car via communication through that separate carrier network. If an in-vehicle communication device supports multiple SIM cards and can communicate via multiple carrier networks, it is desirable to appropriately utilize the multiple carrier networks according to predetermined conditions. The communication system described in this disclosure solves the aforementioned problem. A communication system relating to one aspect of this disclosure is: A communication system comprising one or more in-vehicle devices capable of using multiple communication lines, and a server device, wherein the server device transmits reference data to the in-vehicle device indicating criteria for the in-vehicle device to select a communication line from the multiple communication lines to be used by the in-vehicle device for communication with the outside of the vehicle, based on the source of the data to be transmitted and received and the amount of data transmitted, and the in-vehicle device selects a communication line to be used for communication with the outside of the vehicle based on the received reference data. Reference data refers to information that indicates the criteria for selecting the communication line to be used for actual communication from among the multiple communication lines available to the in-vehicle device. The server device transmits reference data to the in-vehicle device, which indicates the criteria for selecting the communication line to be used for communication with the outside of the vehicle. Based on the reference data received from the server device, the in-vehicle device selects the communication line to be used for communication with the outside of the vehicle. Reference data is a set of criteria used to select the communication line to be used based on the source of the data being sent and received and the amount of data being transmitted. This makes it possible, for example, to use different lines for important data and other data, or to use different lines depending on whether the amount of data being transmitted exceeds a predetermined limit. This configuration allows for the appropriate use of multiple communication lines depending on the data source and data volume. Furthermore, the multiple communication lines may include at least a first communication line contracted by the manufacturer of the vehicle equipped with the in-vehicle device, and a second communication line contracted by the user of the vehicle. Furthermore, the server device may generate reference data indicating that it will prioritize selecting the second communication line until the amount of data transmitted through the second communication line reaches a predetermined amount. This allows the server device related to this disclosure to fully utilize the surplus data traffic on the communica