Electronic control device, control system, control method, and computer program product

An electronic control device, which is mounted on a vehicle, comprising:

• at least one transceiver configured to perform a communication with a communication device;
• and
• a controller configured to switch between two of multiple modes including a first mode, a second mode, and a third mode, thereby operating in one of the multiple modes,
• wherein
• the controller:
• operates in the first mode to perform a process associated with the communication in a case where the communication is being performed with the communication device by the at least one transceiver;
• switches to the second mode in a case where no communication is performed in the first mode;
• switches to the third mode in a case where a state in which no communication is performed in the second mode continues for a predetermined period of time;
• and
• stops at least a part of the process associated with the communication in the third mode, and
• the at least one transceiver:
• switches between two of multiple states including a normal state in which a predetermined function of the at least one transceiver is in an operation state and a sleep state in which the predetermined function of the at least one transceiver is in a stopped state, thereby operating in one of the multiple states;
• repeatedly transmits, in the normal state, a detection signal to the communication device for detecting whether the communication device is in a communication disabled state in which the communication is disabled;
• and
• stops transmission of the detection signal and then switches to the sleep state in a case where the controller is operating in the third mode.

A computer-implemented method of controlling an electronic control device, the electronic control device including a controller and at least one transceiver configured to perform a communication with a communication device, the method comprising:

• switching the controller between two of multiple modes including a first mode, a second mode, and a third mode, thereby operating the controller in one of the multiple modes;
• and
• switching the at least one transceiver between two of multiple states including a normal state in which a predetermined function of the at least one transceiver is in an operation state and a sleep state in which the predetermined function of the at least one transceiver is in a stopped state, thereby operating the at least one transceiver in one of the multiple states,
• wherein
• the controller operating in one of the multiple modes includes:
• operating in the first mode to perform a process associated with the communication in a case where the communication is being performed with the communication device by the at least one transceiver;
• switching to the second mode in a case where no communication is performed in the first mode;
• switching to the third mode in a case where a state in which no communication is performed in the second mode continues for a predetermined period of time;
• and
• stopping at least a part of the process associated with the communication in the third mode, and
• the at least one transceiver operating in one of the multiple states includes switching to the sleep state in a case where the at least one transceiver detects a communication disabled state, in which the communication with the communication device is disabled, in a state where the controller is operating in the third mode.

A computer program product stored in a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium, the computer program product comprising instructions for controlling a computer included in an electronic control device to execute a process, the electronic control device further including at least one transceiver configured to perform a communication with a communication device, the at least one transceiver switching between two of multiple states including a normal state in which a predetermined function of the at least one transceiver is in an operation state and a sleep state in which the predetermined function of the at least one transceiver is in a stopped state, thereby operating in one of the multiple states,

• the instructions comprising:
• switching between two of multiple modes including a first mode, a second mode, and a third mode, thereby operating in one of the multiple modes, wherein the operating in one of the multiple modes includes
• operating in the first mode to perform a process associated with the communication in a case where the communication is being performed with the communication device by the at least one transceiver,
• switching to the second mode in a case where no communication is performed in the first mode, and
• switching to the third mode in a case where a state in which no communication is performed in the second mode continues for a predetermined period of time;
• and
• stopping at least a part of the process associated with the communication and requesting the at least one transceiver to switch to the sleep state in a case where a communication disabled state, in which the communication with the communication device is disabled, is detected by the at least one transceiver in the third mode.