In-vehicle device, mobile terminal, information management device and information communication system

#1. Field of the Invention

#The invention relates to a technique for updating software modules respectively embedded in an in-vehicle device and a mobile terminal that are connected so as to be able to cooperate with each other.

#2. Description of Related Art

#Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals denote like elements, and wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a schematize view of an information communication system according to an embodiment of the invention;

#FIG. 2 is a flowchart for executing a first updating process of a system software module of an in-vehicle device by the information communication system;

#Hereinafter, an information communication system according to the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The information communication system is a system for carrying out information communication between an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle and a mobile terminal that a user is allowed to carry.

#An information communication system 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes an in-vehicle device 200, a mobile terminal 300, an information management device 400, and communication lines 510, 520, 530 as component elements. The in-vehicle device 200 is mounted on a vehicle 100. In the information communication system 10, a further component element may be added to the above-described component elements as needed. The vehicle 100 that includes the in-vehicle device 200 may be configured as one component element of the information communication system 10. The information communication system 10 functions as an “information communication system” of the invention.

#The in-vehicle device 200 includes a control unit 210, a GPS unit (simply referred to as “GPS” where appropriate) 220, an information storage unit 230, a display unit 240, a first communication unit 250 and a second communication unit 260 as component elements. In the in-vehicle device 200, a further component element may be added to the above-described component elements as needed.