Car control system and vehicle remote control system

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

P-0001[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle control system and a vehicle remote control system capable of controlling predetermined operation portions, which execute door lock ON/OFF, parking brake ON/OFF, engine ON/OFF, etc., by the remote operation instructed by a mobile phone via a communication module equipped to the vehicle side.

P-0002[0002] From viewpoints of improvement in drivability and theft prevention, various sensors are installed on doors, a brake, a room light, an engine, etc. of the vehicle. The system for displaying condition of these sensors on a meter panel or for informing the contracted security company of the vehicle location at the time of burglary is put into practical use. In this manner, the drivability can be improved by displaying signals of various sensors on the meter panel, or an emergency measure against the vehicle theft can be taken by linking the sensor information to the system of the security company via the radio.

P-0003[0003] However, unless the driver sits on the driver's seat, the sensor information is merely displayed on the meter panel, there is no effect for the condition check, and the drivability is limited. In the system that needs a separate contract with a security company to prevent the theft, not only a special device for that purpose must be equipped to an inside of the vehicle but also merely the condition of the vehicle at the time of occurrence of the theft can be understood, and thus it is impossible to know the condition of the vehicle at any time.

P-0004[0004] As the system capable of controlling remotely controlled objects in the vehicle from the outside, there is the keyless entry system. According to this system, it is within point-blank range away from the vehicle by about several meters that the remote control can be executed limitedly. Thus, it is impossible to operate such system at a remote place.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

P-0005[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle control system and a vehicle remote control system that are capable of grasping and remotely controlling the condition of the vehicle at any time at a remote place by linking sensor portions and a control portion in a vehicle to a mobile phone.

P-0006[0006] In order to solve the aforesaid object, the invention is characterized by having the following arrangement.

P-0007[0007] (1) A vehicle control system comprising:

P-0008[0008] a communication module which communicates with a mobile phone in response to a call issued from the mobile phone;

P-0009[0009] an operation control portion which controls a predetermined operation portion of a vehicle;

P-0010[0010] a sensor portion which detects information concerning condition of the operation portion; and

P-0011[0011] a controller which transmits the information through the communication module to the mobile phone when the controller receives the call from the mobile phone and ID of the mobile phone is authenticated,

P-0012[0012] wherein when the controller receives command from the mobile phone, the controller instructs the operation control potion to execute a control corresponding to the command, and transmits, to the mobile phone, the information concerning condition of the operation portion, which is controlled by the operation control portion according to the command, detected by the sensor portion.

P-0013[0013] (2) The vehicle control system according to (1), wherein

P-0014[0014] the predetermined operation portion includes an image sensor for capturing a peripheral image of the vehicle, and

P-0015[0015] the controller instructs the image sensor to capture the peripheral image of the vehicle and transmits the captured peripheral image based on the command from the mobile phone.

P-0016[0016] (3) The vehicle control system according to (2) further comprising a vehicle navigation system which measures position of the vehicle and displays information concerning the position of the vehicle and peripheral road information,

P-0017[0017] wherein the controller transmits, to the mobile phone, the information concerning the position of the vehicle measured by the vehicle navigation system and the peripheral image captured by the image sensor.

P-0018[0018] (4) The vehicle control system according to (1), wherein

P-0019[0019] the predetermined operation portion includes an image sensor for capturing a peripheral image of the vehicle and a security sensor for detecting an abnormal state of the vehicle, and

P-0020[0020] the controller automatically transmits, to the mobile phone, the information representing the detected abnormal state and the peripheral image captured by the image sensor when the security sensor detects the abnormal state of the vehicle.

P-0021[0021] (5) The vehicle control system according to (1), wherein the operation portion includes at least one of engine, air conditioner, door lock, parking brake, light, interior light, image sensor and security sensor.

P-0022[0022] (6) A remote-control system for vehicle including a vehicle control system and a mobile phone, the vehicle remote control system comprising:

P-0023[0023] the vehicle control system including:

P-0024[0024] a communication module which communicates with the mobile phone in response to a cal issued from the mobile phone,

P-0025[0025] a operation control portion which controls a predetermined operation portion of the vehicle,

P-0026[0026] a sensor portion which detects information concerning condition of the operation portion, and

P-0027[0027] a controller which transmits the information through the communication module to the mobile phone when the controller receives the call from the mobile phone and ID of the mobile phone is authenticated, wherein when the controller receives command from the mobile phone, the controller instructs the operation control potion to execute a control corresponding to the command, and transmits, to the mobile phone, the information concerning condition of the operation portion, which is controlled by the operation control portion according to the command, detected by the sensor portion; and

P-0028[0028] the mobile phone including:

P-0029[0029] a input portion which inputs the command to control the predetermined operation portion of the vehicle, and

P-0030[0030] a display portion which displays the information concerning the condition of the operation portion which is controlled by the operation control portion according to the command, which received from the vehicle control system.

P-0031[0031] (7) A vehicle control system comprising:

P-0032[0032] a communication module which communicates with a mobile phone in response to a call issued from the mobile phone;

P-0033[0033] a sensor portion which is installed on a vehicle detects information concerning vehicle condition; and

P-0034[0034] a controller which transmits the information detected by the sensor portion through the communication module to the mobile phone when the controller receives the call from the mobile phone and ID of the mobile phone is authenticated.

P-0035[0035] (8) The vehicle control system according to (7), wherein the sensor portion includes

P-0036[0036] the predetermined operation portion includes a security sensor for detecting an abnormal state of the vehicle, and

P-0037[0037] the controller transmits, to the mobile phone, the information representing the detected abnormal state when the security sensor detects the abnormal state of the vehicle.

P-0038[0038] (9) The vehicle control system according to (7), wherein the sensor portion detects the condition of at least one of engine, air conditioner, door lock, parking brake, light, interior light, image sensor, security sensor, gasoline and battery.

P-0039[0039] (10) A method of controlling a vehicle control system which includes a communication module for communicating with a mobile phone, an operation control portion for controlling a predetermined operation portion of a vehicle, a sensor portion for detecting information concerning condition of the operation portion and a controller for transmitting the information through the communication module, the method comprising the steps of:

P-0040[0040] communicating with the mobile phone when the communication module receives a call issued from the mobile phone;

P-0041[0041] transmitting the information by the controller through the communication module to the mobile phone when ID of the mobile phone is authenticated; and

P-0042[0042] instructing, when the controller receives command from the mobile phone, the operation control portion to execute a control corresponding to the command, and transmitting, to the mobile phone, the information concerning condition of the operation portion, which is controlled by the operation control portion according to the command, detected by the sensor portion.

P-0043[0043] (11) A method of controlling a vehicle control system comprising:

P-0044[0044] establishing communication between a vehicle and a mobile phone in response to a call issued from the mobile phone; and

P-0045[0045] transmitting information concerning vehicle condition to the mobile phone when ID of the mobile phone is authenticated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

P-0046[0046]FIG. 1 is a configurative view of a vehicle remote-control system as a first embodiment of the present invention.

P-0047[0047]FIG. 2 is a configurative view of a mobile phone.

P-0048[0048]FIG. 3 is a configurative view of an image sensor control portion.

P-0049[0049]FIG. 4 is a view showing a correlation table between remote control commands and command codes.

P-0050[0050]FIG. 5 is a configurative view of a hardware of a remote-control command decoder.

P-0051[0051]FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of display in the mobile phone.

P-0052[0052]FIG. 7 is a view showing another example of display in the mobile phone.

P-0053[0053]FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an initializing operation of the vehicle remote control system.

P-0054[0054]FIGS. 9A to <b>9</b>D are sequential views of a display screen of the mobile phone when the vehicle remote control system is started.

P-0055[0055]FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation of the vehicle remote control system.

P-0056[0056]FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation of the vehicle remote control system.

P-0057[0057]FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an operation of the vehicle remote control system.

P-0058[0058]FIG. 13 is a configurative view of a system of another embodiment of the present invention.

P-0059[0059]FIG. 14 is a configurative view of the mobile phone.

P-0060[0060]FIG. 15 is a configurative view of the vehicle remote-control system.

P-0061[0061]FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an overall operation of the same system.

P-0062[0062]FIG. 17 is a view showing an example of display in the mobile phone.

P-0063[0063]FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an overall operation of still another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

P-0064[0064] A vehicle remote control system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail hereinafter.

P-0065[0065]FIG. 1 is a configurative view of a remote-control system on the vehicle side (hereinafter refer to vehicle remote-control system).

P-0066[0066] To a controller <b>1</b> are connected a mobile phone communication module <b>2</b> for communicating with a mobile phone in response to the call issued from the mobile phone; a remote-control portion <b>3</b> for controlling predetermined operation portions of the vehicle such as an air conditioner, door locks, a parking brake, a light, etc. as controlled objects; an image sensor control portion <b>4</b> for picking up an image around the vehicle; and a sensor portion <b>5</b> for sensing conditions of various controlled objects of the vehicle such as an air-conditioner sensor, door lock sensors, a parking brake sensor, etc. The remote-control portion <b>3</b> and the image sensor control portion <b>4</b> correspond to a control portion in the present invention. In this case, a signal being sensed by the sensor portion <b>5</b> is decoded by a sensor decoder <b>6</b> and then input into the controller <b>1</b>. A control program and a decode program, which decodes remote control commands being supplied from the mobile phone side, are stored in a ROM <b>7</b> that is connected to the controller <b>1</b>. An ID used to execute ID authentication of the mobile phone, a mobile phone number, sensor data, surrounding image, etc. are stored in a RAM <b>8</b>. More particularly, ID (in the embodiment, ID=4806) is stored in an area M<b>1</b>, the mobile phone number is stored in an area M<b>2</b>, data from engine, air-conditioner, door lock, parking brake, light, room light, security, and image sensors are stored in areas M<b>3</b> to M<b>1</b> respectively, and a surrounding image picked up by the image sensor control portion <b>4</b> is stored in an area M<b>11</b>. In this case, “1” of the sensor data stored in M<b>3</b> to M<b>10</b> indicates ON and “0” indicates OFF. The security sensor in the sensor portion <b>5</b> is constructed by a sensor that senses whether or not the inserted electronic key, for example, can be authenticated.

P-0067[0067] When the mobile phone communication module <b>2</b> senses the call issued from the mobile phone, the controller <b>1</b> decides whether or not the subsequent ID coincides with the ID stored in M<b>1</b>. Then, if they coincide with each other, the controller <b>1</b> executes the control in response to the remote control command being transmitted subsequently from the mobile phone. As described later, the controller <b>1</b> transmits the sensor data stored in M<b>3</b> to M<b>10</b> to the mobile phone, receives the remote-control command issued from the mobile phone, and outputs a control signal to the remote-control portion <b>3</b>. After the control made by the remote-control portion <b>3</b> is ended, the controller <b>1</b> updates the sensor data stored in M<b>3</b> to M<b>10</b> to reflect the ON/OFF control and then transmits the updated sensor data to the mobile phone. The sensor data are displayed on the LCD display panel <b>11</b><i>c. </i>

P-0068[0068]FIG. 2 is a configurative view of the mobile phone.

P-0069[0069] In this mobile phone, a mobile phone function block <b>11</b>, an F-memory (or memory card) <b>12</b> and a RAM <b>13</b> are connected to a controller <b>10</b>. The mobile phone function block <b>11</b> includes a mobile phone communication module <b>11</b><i>a</i>, a keyboard <b>11</b><i>b </i>and an LCD display panel <b>11</b><i>c</i>. The mobile phone function block <b>11</b> has a function that executes the data communication between the mobile phone communication module <b>2</b> and this block by phone-calling the vehicle remote-control system in FIG. 1, in addition to the function as the normal mobile phone. The key board <b>11</b><i>b </i>is used to input the phone number and the commands, and the LCD display panel <b>11</b><i>c </i>is used to display various messages and respective sensor data from the sensor portion <b>5</b> in FIG. 1.

P-0070[0070] A stored control program, operation icon data, remote control command data, etc. are stored in the flash memory <b>12</b>. In RAM <b>13</b>, the data transmitted from the area M<b>3</b> to the area M<b>11</b> in FIG. 1 are stored in an area M<b>23</b> to an area M<b>31</b>, icon data of the vehicle are stored in an area M<b>20</b>, the ID is stored in an area M<b>21</b>, and the phone number of the vehicle remote-control system is stored in an area M<b>22</b>.

P-0071[0071] When the remote control is executed by calling the vehicle remote-control system, at first the ID is input via the key board <b>11</b><i>b</i>. Then, when the ID authentication is executed on the vehicle remote-control system side, the sensor data stored in M<b>3</b> to M<b>10</b> in the vehicle remote-control system are transmitted to M<b>23</b> to M<b>30</b> in the mobile phone. At this time, the icon data as well as ON/OFF conditions of respective sensors are displayed on the LCD display panel <b>11</b><i>c</i>. The operator sets ON/OFFs of the controlled objects such as air conditioner, door lock, etc. according to this display, then converts these settings into the command data as the remote control command, and then transmits the data to the vehicle remote-control system side. When the vehicle remote-control system receives the command data, such system drives the remote-control portion <b>3</b> in response to such data to execute ON/OFF-control of the predetermined controlled object. The sensor data stored in M<b>3</b> to M<b>10</b> are updated at this time. The updated sensor data are transmitted once again to the mobile phone. Such sensor data are displayed on the LCD display panel <b>11</b><i>c. </i>

P-0072[0072] Therefore, when the owner of the mobile phone executes a predetermined operation applied to the controlled object of the vehicle on the LCD display panel <b>11</b><i>c</i>, the remote control is executed based on this operation. Then, the result of the remote control is displayed on the LCD display panel <b>11</b><i>c. </i>

P-0073[0073] Accordingly, the remote control of respective controlled objects in the vehicle remote-control system can be executed from the mobile phone side. In this case, when the image sensor is set to ON, the surrounding image round the vehicle, which is picked up by the image sensor control portion <b>4</b>, is stored in M<b>11</b> of the vehicle remote-control system. Then, this surrounding image is transmitted to M<b>31</b> in the mobile phone. This surrounding image is displayed on the LCD display panel <b>11</b><i>c. </i>

P-0074[0074]FIG. 3 is a configurative view of the image sensor control portion <b>4</b>. An image sensor <b>40</b> is installed on an appropriate position in the vehicle, and can pick up the image round the vehicle via the vehicle window. This image sensor <b>40</b> can be rotated/driven by a vertical-direction drive motor <b>41</b> in the vertical direction and also can be rotated/driven by a horizontal-direction drive motor <b>41</b> in the horizontal direction. The imaging direction of the image sensor <b>40</b> can be set in any direction by controlling two motors <b>41</b>, <b>42</b>. A motor control circuit <b>43</b> controls the motors <b>41</b>, <b>42</b>. The image data picked up by the image sensor <b>40</b> is encoded (compressed) by an image data encoder <b>44</b>, and then transferred to the controller <b>1</b>. In this case, if the image sensor <b>40</b> is constructed to sense the moving picture, the image data is encoded by the compression technology such as MPEG2, etc., for example. If the image picked up by the image sensor <b>40</b> is the still picture, such image is encoded into JPEG image, or the like.

P-0075[0075]FIG. 4 shows correlations between the remote control commands and the command codes. In an example shown in FIG. 4, the command code consists of 4 bits, and 1 bit is used to turn ON/OFF and to drive the image sensor by a predetermined angle in upward/downward/leftward/rightward directions. Therefore, when the command is transmitted to the vehicle remote-control system side from the mobile phone, the command code (4 bits)+the command content (1 bit) are transmitted.

P-0076[0076] The command code and the command content are decoded by a remote-control command decoder in the ROM <b>7</b> and converted into a predetermined signal, and then transferred to the remote-control portion <b>3</b>. In this case, this remote-control command decoder can be constructed by a hardware. FIG. 5 shows an example of the remote-control command decoder when such command decoder is formed of the hardware.

P-0077[0077] More particularly, the command code transferred from the controller <b>1</b> is decoded by a command decoder <b>20</b>. The decoded output is input into a T-type flip-flop <b>21</b> to form each control signal. This control signal and the 1-bit command content are output to the remote-control portion <b>3</b>. Then, the remote-control portion <b>3</b> controls the corresponding controlled object based on the data. For example, if the remote-control command code is “0001” and the command content is “1”, the engine is turned ON. If the command content is “0”, the engine is turned OFF.

P-0078[0078]FIG. 6 shows displayed states and a part of the keyboard on the LCD display panel <b>11</b><i>c </i>of the mobile phone. FIG. 6 is an example of display when respective controlled objects of the vehicle are to be remotely controlled from the mobile phone side.

P-0079[0079] A vehicle icon stored in M<b>20</b> and various sensor positions positioned on this icon respectively are displayed on the LCD display panel <b>11</b><i>c</i>. The sensor positions that are to be selected on the screen can be changed by operating cursor keys <b>30</b> on the key board <b>11</b><i>b</i>. The ON/OFF-state of the selected sensor position can be decided by operating an ON/OFF set button <b>31</b>. This ON/OFF set button <b>31</b> executes a toggle operation, and switches ON/OFF of the selected sensor alternatively in answer to the operation of the button.

P-0080[0080]FIG. 7 shows the state that the image picked up by the image sensor <b>40</b> is displayed on the LCD display panel <b>11</b><i>c </i>of the mobile phone. This mode is executed when a predetermined operation is executed in the mobile phone. In this mode, the cursor keys <b>30</b> on the keyboard <b>11</b><i>b </i>are used to issue rotation-angle increase/decrease commands in upward/downward/leftward/rightward directions of the image sensor <b>40</b>. The image sensor <b>40</b> is rotated by a predetermined angle in the direction, which corresponds to the concerned key, every time when each of the cursor keys <b>30</b> is pushed once. In other words, the screen is shifted by a predetermined distance in the direction that corresponds to the concerned key. In this mode, a button <b>31</b> positioned in the center of the cursor keys functions as a shutter button. The image data that is being displayed when the shutter button <b>31</b> is pushed (in the case of the moving picture, the image data that is obtained by converting the moving picture into the still picture when the shutter button is pushed) is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM <b>13</b> by operating this shutter button <b>31</b>.

P-0081[0081] Particular operations of the mobile phone and the vehicle remote-control system will be explained with reference to FIG. 8 and subsequent drawings hereunder.

P-0082[0082]FIG. 8 shows an initializing operation of the vehicle remote-control system by the mobile phone. The initializing operation is an operation of setting/registering the ID to the vehicle remote-control system side to make it possible for the vehicle remote-control system to authenticate the ID of the mobile phone.

P-0083[0083] When an application program (car remote control system) of the vehicle remote control system is started by the mobile phone, a display screen in FIG. 9A appears and then a display screen in FIG. 9B appears. At this time, in ST<b>1</b>, the user of the mobile phone makes a call to the vehicle phone of own vehicle. As shown in FIG. 2, the phone number of own vehicle is stored in the phone number column of the vehicle remote-control system in M<b>22</b>. Then, a button B<b>1</b> is clicked in the display state in FIG. 9B. Then, the screen is shifted to an A screen in FIG. 9C, and thus a mode in which the initial ID and own station mobile phone number are input is set. In other words, an initial ID inputting mode is set in ST<b>2</b>, and then the initial ID and the mobile phone number of own station are input in ST<b>3</b>. In this example, the initial ID is 4806 and the mobile phone number of own vehicle is 090-1234-0000. Then, the initial ID and the mobile phone number are transmitted to own vehicle (ST<b>4</b>). In the vehicle remote-control system of own vehicle, the transmitted initial ID is registered in the M<b>1</b> and the mobile phone number is registered in the M<b>2</b> (ST<b>5</b>). With the above processes, the initializing operation is ended.

P-0084[0084] In this case, it is desired that, before the initial ID is registered, it should be checked in the initializing operation by any approach whether or not the owner of the mobile phone is the valid person.

P-0085[0085]FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an overall operation of the system when the vehicle remote control system is started after the initial ID is set.

P-0086[0086] At first, in ST<b>10</b>, the vehicle remote control system is started on the LCD display panel <b>11</b><i>c </i>of the mobile phone. According to the start of the system, the mobile phone communication module <b>11</b><i>a </i>of the mobile phone calls automatically the vehicle remote-control system and makes a connection thereto. At this time, the screen of the LCD display panel <b>11</b><i>c </i>is shifted to the display condition in FIG. 9B. When a button B<b>2</b> is clicked at this stage, the screen is shifted to an ID input screen in FIG. 9D. Then, the operator inputs the ID onto the display screen (ST<b>11</b>). Then, the mobile phone communication module <b>11</b><i>a </i>transmits the input ID to the vehicle remote-control system (ST<b>12</b>). Then, in the vehicle remote-control system, the ID authentication is executed to check whether or not the received ID coincides with the ID stored in M<b>1</b> (ST<b>13</b>). If the ID authentication is OK, the sensor data at that time are stored in M<b>3</b> to M<b>10</b> (ST<b>14</b>). Then, the sensor data stored in M<b>3</b> to M<b>10</b> are transmitted to the mobile phone via the mobile phone communication module <b>2</b> (ST<b>15</b>). Then, the mobile phone receives the sensor data (ST<b>16</b>), and then stores the data in M<b>23</b> to M<b>30</b> (ST<b>17</b>). Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the states of the sensors are displayed on the LCD display panel <b>11</b><i>c </i>of the mobile phone (ST<b>18</b>).

P-0087[0087] In addition, in FIG. 11, the user's operation made by the cursor keys <b>30</b> is sensed (ST<b>20</b>). The set operation made by the ON/OFF setting button <b>31</b> is sensed (ST<b>21</b>). Respective sensors are provided to correspond to the controlled objects. Thus, the sensor, i.e., the controlled object corresponding to the sensor position can be selected by operating the cursor keys <b>30</b>. The selected controlled object is highlight-displayed. For example, in FIG. 6, the door lock is selected as the controlled object. The ON/OFF setting button <b>31</b> is used to set the ON/OFF-state of the selected controlled object. The ON/OFF setting button <b>31</b> sets ON/OFF of the selected controlled object by its toggle operation, and sets ON and OFF alternatively.

P-0088[0088] Then, the remote-control command data of the controlled object, which is set to ON or OFF by the ON/OFF setting button <b>31</b>, is transmitted to the vehicle remote-control system (ST<b>22</b>). Then, the vehicle remote-control system receives the remote-control command data (ST<b>23</b>). Then, the data is decoded by the remote-control command decoder (ST<b>24</b>). The control signal is generated and output to the remote-control portion <b>3</b> (ST<b>25</b>). Thus, the remote-control portion <b>3</b> sets the concerned controlled object to its ON or OFF state. Then, the sensor portion <b>5</b> sets the sensor data in M<b>3</b> to M<b>10</b> (ST<b>26</b>). Then, the sensor data stored in M<b>3</b> to M<b>10</b> are transmitted to the mobile phone (ST<b>27</b>). Then, the mobile phone receives the sensor data (ST<b>28</b>). Then, the display shown in FIG. 6 appears again on the LCD display panel <b>11</b><i>c </i>(ST<b>29</b>).

P-0089[0089] With the above, first the user checks states of respective controlled objects of own vehicle on the LCD display panel <b>11</b><i>c </i>of the mobile phone based on the sensor data, and then sets the state of the desired controlled object into its ON or OFF state by using the cursor keys <b>30</b> and the ON/OFF setting button <b>31</b>. Then, when the control operation is applied to the controlled object on the vehicle side, the updated sensor data is displayed again on the LCD display panel <b>11</b><i>c</i>. As a result, the user can execute the remote control of the controlled objects in own vehicle by using the mobile phone.

P-0090[0090] Other Embodiment 1

P-0091[0091] In this other embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle navigation system is provided to the vehicle remote-control system. The current location data (latitude, longitude data) of own vehicle, which are acquired by the vehicle navigation system, as well as the surrounding image, which is picked up by the image sensor, are transmitted to the mobile phone, and then the current location of own vehicle as well as the peripheral map is displayed in the mobile phone, and also the image that is picked up by the image sensor <b>40</b> at this time is displayed by the screen switching operation. Since an electronic compass is provided to the vehicle remote-control system, the direction along which the vehicle is now directed (own vehicle azimuth angle) is also transmitted to the mobile phone, and thus the display direction of own vehicle to be displayed is set. In this case, a location information center is provided separately to get the peripheral map, and a GPS function is installed into the mobile phone. In the location information center, the peripheral map data containing the current location of own vehicle and the current location of the mobile phone is prepared based on the current location data of own vehicle and the current location data of the mobile phone, and then this data is transmitted to the mobile phone. In this case, when the image sensor is selected in above ST<b>20</b> and then this image sensor is set to its ON-state by the ON/OFF setting button <b>31</b>, an operation shown in FIG. 12 is carried out. More particularly, the image sensor <b>40</b> is turned ON and the movement control of the imaging direction is executed in response to the operation of the cursor key (ST<b>40</b>). Thus, the image data being picked up by the image sensor <b>40</b> is stored in M<b>11</b> of the vehicle remote-control system (ST<b>41</b>). Then, this data in M<b>11</b> is transmitted to the mobile phone (ST<b>42</b>). The received image data is stored in M<b>31</b> of the mobile phone (ST<b>43</b>). This image data is displayed as shown in FIG. 7 (ST<b>44</b>) Then, if the screen is shifted by the operation of the cursor key in the display state in FIG. 7 (ST<b>45</b>), the process goes back to ST<b>40</b> and similar operations are executed subsequently.

P-0092[0092]FIG. 13 is a configurative view of the system according to the embodiment of the present invention. A vehicle navigation system <b>31</b> and a vehicle remote-control system <b>32</b> are provided to the vehicle, and a line control station <b>33</b> is connected to a location information center <b>35</b> via the Internet <b>34</b>. The location information center <b>35</b> has a map data base <b>35</b><i>a</i>. In the present embodiment, the GPS system is built in the mobile phone <b>30</b>, and thus the mobile phone by itself can perform the azimuth angle measurement.

P-0093[0093] According to the above configuration, if the mobile phone <b>30</b> selects a peripheral map display mode of own vehicle, not only the peripheral map containing own location and the location of own vehicle can be displayed on the LCD display panel of the mobile phone <b>30</b> but also the surrounding image of own vehicle can be displayed by switching the display.

P-0094[0094]FIG. 14 is a configurative view of the mobile phone employed in this embodiment. A difference from the configuration shown in FIG. 2 resides in that a GPS module <b>14</b> and an electronic compass module <b>15</b> are provided and areas M<b>32</b> to M<b>36</b> are newly set in the RAM <b>13</b>. The GPS module <b>14</b> by itself can perform the azimuth angle measurement, and transfers latitude and longitude data (current location data) to a controller <b>10</b>. The electronic compass module <b>15</b> measures an azimuth to which the mobile phone is directed, i.e., an azimuth along which the owner (user) of the mobile phone walks, and then outputs this azimuth to the controller <b>10</b> as azimuth angle data. Own latitude data and own longitude data being measured by the GPS module <b>14</b> are stored in M<b>32</b> of the RAM <b>13</b>, and own azimuth angle data being measured by the electronic compass module <b>15</b> is stored in M<b>33</b>. Also, own vehicle latitude data and own vehicle longitude data being measured by the vehicle navigation system of own vehicle are stored in M<b>34</b>, and also own vehicle azimuth angle data being measured by the electronic compass module <b>15</b> that is provided to the vehicle remote-control system is stored in M<b>35</b>. The peripheral map data that is received from the location information center <b>35</b> is stored in M<b>36</b>.

P-0095[0095]FIG. 15 is a configurative view of the vehicle remote-control system. A difference from the vehicle remote-control system shown in FIG. 15 is that an electronic compass module <b>9</b> is provided thereto, areas M<b>12</b> to M<b>13</b> are newly provided in the RAM <b>8</b>, and a vehicle navigation system <b>31</b> is connected to the control bus. Own vehicle latitude data and own vehicle longitude data measured by the vehicle navigation system <b>31</b> are stored in M<b>12</b>, and own vehicle azimuth angle being measured by the electronic compass module <b>9</b> is stored in M<b>13</b>.

P-0096[0096] Next, an operation of the vehicle remote control system in the present embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. 16 hereunder.

P-0097[0097] At first, the mobile phone <b>30</b> starts the vehicle remote control system on the display screen in FIG. 9A. When this vehicle remote control system is started, the vehicle remote-control system <b>32</b> is automatically called (ST<b>50</b>). Then, the ID authentication is executed (ST<b>51</b>) Then, the sensor data is transmitted to the mobile phone <b>30</b> from the vehicle remote-control system <b>32</b>, and then the display shown in FIG. 6 appears on the LCD display panel of the mobile phone (ST<b>52</b>). At this time, unless the peripheral map display mode of own vehicle is selected by the predetermined key operation of the mobile phone, such mobile phone is set to the normal mode and then the operation shown in FIG. 11 is executed. Then, if the peripheral map display mode of own vehicle is selected (ST<b>53</b>), processes in ST<b>54</b> and subsequent steps are executed.

P-0098[0098] In the peripheral map display mode of own vehicle, at first current location data (latitude data, longitude data) of own vehicle and the azimuth angle data of own vehicle are transmitted to the mobile phone (ST<b>54</b>). That is, the data stored in M<b>12</b>, M<b>13</b> are transmitted to the mobile phone. Then, the connection destination of the mobile phone is switched automatically from the vehicle remote-control system <b>32</b> to the location information center <b>35</b> (ST<b>55</b>). Then, the mobile phone <b>30</b> transmits the current location data of own vehicle and the azimuth angle data of own vehicle, which are received in above ST<b>54</b>, and own current location data and own azimuth angle data, which are measure by the GPS module <b>14</b> and the electronic compass module <b>15</b> respectively, to the location information center <b>35</b> (ST<b>56</b>). Such location information center <b>35</b>, when received these data, prepares the peripheral map data, in which the locations of own vehicle and the user are contained, based on the map data base <b>35</b><i>a</i>, and then transmits such map data to the mobile phone <b>30</b>. Then, the mobile phone <b>30</b> receives the peripheral map data (ST<b>57</b>). Then, such data is displayed on the LCD display panel (ST<b>58</b>). FIG. 17 shows an example of the display. In FIG. 17, Q denotes an icon of own vehicle, and P denotes own icon. In this manner, the location information center <b>35</b> prepares the peripheral map data having a reduced scale rate, at which own vehicle location and the location of the user can be seen simultaneously without the scroll of the screen, and then transmits such data to the mobile phone <b>30</b>. For this reason, the user can grasp not only the location of own vehicle but also the relationship between the locations of own vehicle and the user by snatching a glance at this peripheral map data. In this case, in the displaying operation, an angle to which the icon Q of own vehicle is directed is decided based on the azimuth angle data of own vehicle, and the direction of an arrow P′ that is displayed to overlap with own icon P is decided based on own azimuth angle data.

P-0099[0099] Then, it is decided whether or not the current display content should be switched to the surrounding image (ST<b>59</b>). In this decision, it is decided whether or not a particular key of the mobile phone is operated. Then, the process goes to ST<b>60</b> if the particular key is operated, and the process goes back to ST<b>53</b> if the particular key is not operated. In ST<b>60</b>, the connection destination is switched from the location information center <b>35</b> to the vehicle remote-control system <b>32</b> (ST<b>60</b>). Then, the surrounding image is received from the vehicle remote-control system <b>32</b> (ST<b>61</b>). That is, the surrounding image stored in M<b>11</b> is received. Then, the surrounding image is displayed on the LCD display panel <b>11</b><i>c </i>(FIG. 7) (ST<b>62</b>). Then, the process goes back to ST<b>59</b> unless the display mode is ended by the particular key, while the process goes back to ST<b>53</b> if the display mode is ended (ST<b>63</b>).

P-0100[0100] In this case, the mobile phone <b>30</b> may transmit the GPS data being measured by the GPS module <b>14</b> to the location information center <b>35</b> as it is, and then the azimuth angle measurement of the mobile phone <b>30</b> may be executed in the location information center <b>35</b> based on the GPS data. In this case, the azimuth angle measurement can be executed according to the D-GPS system, which employs the location information center <b>35</b> as the base station, and thus the azimuth angle measurement of the mobile phone <b>30</b> can be executed with high precision. Also, at least the vehicle navigation system may be connected to the vehicle remote-control system, and the electronic compass module <b>9</b> is not always needed. If this module is not provided, merely the azimuth of own vehicle is not displayed in the mobile phone.

P-0101[0101] Other Embodiment 2

P-0102[0102] In the above embodiments, the remote-control or the display of the surrounding image, etc. may be executed at a remote place by calling the vehicle remote-control system <b>32</b> from the mobile phone <b>30</b>. However, when the abnormal condition is caused, the surrounding image maybe transmitted to the mobile phone from the vehicle remote-control system side by calling automatically the mobile phone in response to the security sensor that senses the theft of own vehicle. In other words, as shown in FIG. 18, if the security sensor sensed an accident in the vehicle remote-control system <b>32</b> (ST<b>70</b>). Then, the mobile phone is called automatically (ST<b>71</b>). Then, the alarm is issued on the mobile phone side (ST<b>72</b>). Also, the surrounding image being picked up by the image sensor <b>40</b> (see FIG. 3) is transmitted to the mobile phone (ST<b>73</b>) Then, this image is displayed on the LCD display panel <b>11</b><i>c </i>(ST<b>74</b>).

P-0103[0103] Other Embodiment 3

P-0104[0104] In the above embodiments, the remote control may be executed at a remote place by calling the vehicle remote-control system from the mobile phone. But merely the display shown in FIG. 6 may be given by transmitting the sensor data to the mobile phone. Unless the remote control from the remote place is executed, the maintenance condition and the trouble condition of own vehicle can be confirmed by displaying the condition of own vehicle on the mobile phone. In this case, the sensor portion may be constructed by various sensors containing a gasoline sensor, an oil sensor, a battery sensor, etc., which sense various conditions in the vehicle. According to the above configuration, because sensed information of respective sensors are transmitted to the mobile phone and displayed thereon, the maintenance condition, etc. of own vehicle can be checked at the remote place.

P-0105[0105] Also, ST<b>73</b> and ST<b>74</b> may be omitted from FIG. 18. In this case, if the mobile phone is called in ST<b>71</b> to cause the mobile phone side to issue the alarm therefrom, the owner of the mobile phone can distinguish such alarm differently from the normal phone call, and therefore such owner can respond to such alarm at once.

P-0106[0106] According to the present invention, since the mobile phone is utilized, the condition of the vehicle can be checked at the remote location that is away from own vehicle, and also the controlled objects can be set into the desired states by the remote operation even if the user forgot the light OFF, the door lock, etc. at the time of parking. In addition, since the ID authentication is required as the condition to execute this remote operation, the security is increased and this system is excellent in the theft prevention.

P-0107[0107] Also, since the abnormality is informed of the mobile phone when the security sensor informs the accident and also several images being picked up by the image sensor are automatically transmitted, the theft can be suppressed. Also, since the surrounding image is automatically transmitted, the user can take quickly the countermeasure even when the vehicle is stolen.