Monitor system, central monitor apparatus, on-vehicle monitor apparatus, monitor method, monitor program, computer-readable recording medium containing the same

Abstract

A monitoring system which can monitor a plurality of vehicles (1) includes vibration sensing units (15) each sensing a vibration of the associated vehicle (1), a sensed time specifying unit (20b) which specifies an instant at which the vibration of the vehicle (1) is sensed by the vibration sensing unit, and an abnormality determining unit (20a) which determines, when a vibration of one of the vehicles (1) is sensed by the associated vibration sensing unit (15), whether the vibration is caused by preparations for theft with respect to the vehicle (1) or the vibration is caused by environmental influences on the vehicle (1). The abnormality determining unit (20a) carries out the determination on ground of sensing results obtained by the vibration sensing units (15) of the respective vehicles (1) and a result of specification carried out by the sensed time specifying unit (20b). With this, a possibility of incorrectly identifying a vibration not being attributed to preparations for theft as a vibration attributed to preparations for theft.

Description

[0001] This Application is a Divisional of application Ser. No. 10 / 487,812 filed Jul. 29, 2004, which is a national stage of PCT / JP02 / 08393 filed Aug. 20, 2002, which claims priority from Japanese patent application 2001-256954 filed Aug. 27, 2001. The entire content of the aforementioned applications are incorporated herein by referenceTECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present invention relates to a monitoring system, central monitoring apparatus, and on-board monitoring apparatus for monitoring a vehicle to sense the occurrence of an abnormality concerning the vehicle. BACKGROUND ART [0003] Monitoring systems (antitheft systems) for monitoring a vehicle to prevent theft have been developed to this day. Such a monitoring system is, for instance, arranged in such a manner that, a vibration sensor is attached to a vehicle, and when vibration of the vehicle is sensed, it is assumed that someone is preparing theft (preparations for theft), so that a warning such as blowing a horn is performed...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] According to this, when one of the vehicles (i.e. a target vehicle) senses a vibration, it is determined whether the vibration is caused by preparations for theft vis-à-vis the target vehicle or the vibration of the vibration is caused by environmental influences on the target vehicle, on ground of sensing results of vibrations of the other vehicles and sensed instants at which the vibrations are sensed (abnormality determination). As a result of this, it is determined that the vibration is caused by environmental influences on the target vehicle when a plurality of the vehicles sense vibrations at about the same time, while it is determined that the vibration is caused by preparations for theft vis-à-vis the target vehicle when none of the other vehicles has not sensed a vibration. On this account, it is possible to reduce the possibility of incorrectly identifying a vibration not being attributed to preparations for theft as a vibration attributed to preparations for theft.

[0014] When vehicles being monitored are in a relatively narrow area, abnormalities can be correctly identified without taking the positions of the vehicles into consideration. This is because vibrations of these vehicles in a narrow area, which are caused by, for instance, an earthquake, occur in much the same way. In the meantime, when the vehicles being monitored are spread in a relatively wide area, it is preferable that the identification of abnormalities is carried out taking the positions of the vehicles into consideration. For instance, when the vibration sensed by the target vehicle is caused by an earthquake, a vehicle geographically distant from the target vehicle may not sense vibration. This is because, if the identification of abnormalities is carried out on ground of the number of the vehicles sensed vibrations and without taking the positions of the vehicles into consideration, an abnormality may be mistakenly identified. The arrangement above makes it possible to reduce such a possibility of mistake and thus increase the credibility of the abnormality determination.

[0015] There is also a case that vehicles vibrate due to a local vibration caused by reasons such as construction works. In this case, only the vehicles in a narrow area sense vibrations. In the arrangement above, the positions of the vehicles are taken into consideration so that it is possible to reduce the possibility that a vibration of a vehicle due to a local vibration is mistakenly identified as a vibration caused by preparations for theft.

[0021] According to this arrangement, the abnormality handling is controlled in accordance with the result of the abnormality determination, so that an unnecessary abnormality handling such as warning can be avoided on occasion when, for instance, no preparations for theft have been done.

[0023] According to this arrangement, when there is a possibility that a vehicle vibrates due to environmental influences on the vehicle, the occurrence of the vibration is reported to outside institutions. This report can be effectively utilized by the institutions.

[0026] As is the case with the above-mentioned monitoring system, the central monitoring apparatus and the on-board monitoring apparatus can also reduce the possibility of incorrectly identifying a vibration not being attributed to preparations for theft as a vibration attributed to preparations for theft.

Problems solved by technology

This is because, if the identification of abnormalities is carried out on ground of the number of the vehicles sensed vibrations and without taking the positions of the vehicles into consideration, an abnormality may be mistakenly identified.

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