DE102021201117A1 - Method and device for transmitting status information - Google Patents

Abstract

In the method according to the invention for transmitting status information from a vehicle (27) to another road user (28) in the vehicle environment, transmission of a message with status information (26) is activated if an input from a vehicle occupant to activate the transmission is detected (2). or automatic activation is carried out (2) if a requirement for automatic transmission of the message is met. Status information (26) is generated (3). A message with the generated status information (26) is sent (4) from the vehicle (27) to other road users (28) in the vehicle environment.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for transmitting status information from a vehicle to another road user in the vicinity of the vehicle. The present invention further relates to a corresponding device.

In road traffic, it can be helpful to indicate the characteristics of the occupants of a vehicle or the purpose of the trip or the driving order for other road users to adjust to the associated driving style of the other vehicle and the potentially resulting dangerous situations and, if necessary, to adapt their own behavior in road traffic. For this it is known that status information is displayed in the form of signs or stickers on the vehicle.

For example, driving school vehicles in Germany are usually identified by a sign on the car roof, front or back with the inscription "Fahrschule" on a white background. In this way, other road users are made aware of the training status of the current driver. In addition, advertising for the driving school can be made with a label on the driving school vehicle.

It is also known to provide safety markings in the form of red and white stripes for work vehicles, such as vehicles used for the construction, maintenance or cleaning of roads and street facilities or for refuse collection, if these work vehicles can claim special rights.

In addition, dangerous goods in Germany must be marked on the transport vehicle in accordance with the Dangerous Goods Ordinance on Roads by means of so-called warning signs, dangerous goods signs or dangerous goods stickers. In this case, warning signs with standardized dimensions are arranged on the front and rear of the vehicle, optionally supplemented by further warning signs on the side. In this case, the warning signs have an inscription, in particular numerical codes, for identifying the dangerous goods.

Despite their simple and universal applicability, the use of such signs or stickers also has disadvantages. They require a direct line of sight and may be unrecognizable, for example due to dirt.

A method for transmitting a message between people who are each in a different vehicle, where the sender has no prior knowledge of the identity of the recipient is in the U.S. 2017/0180304 A1 describe. The sender logs into a web-enabled database service using a phone or handheld computer and sends a message to that service with the recipient's vehicle registration number or other information that enables vehicle identification. Based on this, the service identifies the vehicle and sends the message to the recipient or saves it for later transmission if real-time communication is not available.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved method for exchanging information that can be used in particular to identify characteristics of the occupants of a vehicle or the driving purpose or driving order of a vehicle for other road users in the vehicle environment, as well as a corresponding device.

This object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1 and by a device according to claim 9. Preferred developments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

In the method according to the invention for transmitting status information from a vehicle to another road user in the vehicle environment, transmission of a message with status information is activated if an input from a vehicle occupant to activate the transmission is detected or automatic activation is carried out if a prerequisite for a automatic transmission of the message is fulfilled. Status information is generated. A message with the generated status information is sent from the vehicle to other road users in the vehicle's vicinity.

This ensures that status information about a vehicle is available to other road users in the vehicle's vicinity and can be automatically recognized, in particular, by networked vehicles. This is possible at any time, in contrast to signs or stickers, which cannot be seen if they are heavily soiled or have poor visibility, such as fog or if they are covered by other vehicles. Based on the status information, other road users can adjust their driving style, for example to avoid critical traffic situations and accidents.

The status information preferably relates to at least one characteristic of an occupant of the vehicle, a load of the vehicle or the vehicle itself.

Advantageously, the message with the status information generated is sent to other road users in the vehicle's vicinity until an input to deactivate the transmission of the message is detected or automatic deactivation takes place since the requirement for automatic activation is no longer met.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the driver must be identified before the start of the journey, with the status information being generated as a function of the identification and sent from the start of the journey.

This ensures that the status information is generated appropriately for the driver currently in the vehicle and is immediately available and can be sent when the vehicle starts driving.

Furthermore, the current position of the vehicle can be determined and the status information can be generated depending on the current position.

In particular, in addition to the current position of the vehicle, a stored history of past journeys or the route guidance of the current journey can be evaluated for the generation of the status information.

Likewise, an indication of the activation of the transmission of the message with the status information is advantageously output in the vehicle.

Furthermore, the message with the status information is received and evaluated by a third-party vehicle, with advantageously based on the evaluated status information automatically issuing a message or in the case of partially or fully autonomous driving, an automatic adjustment of a driving maneuver is carried out.

• - eine zentrale Steuereinheit, welche ausgestaltet ist, eine Übermittlung einer Nachricht mit einer Statusinformation zu aktivieren, wenn eine Eingabe eines Fahrzeuginsassen zur Aktivierung der Übermittlung erfasst wird oder eine automatische Aktivierung durchzuführen, falls eine Voraussetzung für eine automatische Übermittlung der Nachricht erfüllt ist und basierend darauf eine Statusinformation zu generieren;
• - eine Sendeeinheit, welche eine Nachricht mit der generierten Statusinformation von dem Fahrzeug an andere Verkehrsteilnehmer im Fahrzeugumfeld sendet.

Accordingly, an inventive device for transmitting status information from a vehicle to another road user in the vehicle environment

• - A central control unit, which is configured to activate a transmission of a message with status information when an input from a vehicle occupant to activate the transmission is detected, or to carry out an automatic activation if a prerequisite for automatic transmission of the message is met and based thereon generate status information;
• - A transmission unit, which sends a message with the generated status information from the vehicle to other road users in the vehicle environment.

• - eine Eingabeeinheit zur Erfassung einer Nutzereingabe zur Aktivierung und Deaktivierung einer Übermittlung der Nachricht;
• - eine Ausgabeeinheit zur Ausgabe von einem Hinweis auf die Aktivierung der Übermittlung der Nachricht mit der Statusinformation;
• - eine Positionseinheit zur Ermittlung der aktuellen Position des Fahrzeugs;
• - eine Authentifizierungseinheit zur Identifizierung des Fahrers.

The device according to the invention preferably additionally comprises one or more of the following components:

• - an input unit for detecting a user input for activating and deactivating a transmission of the message;
• - an output unit for outputting an indication of the activation of the transmission of the message with the status information;
• - a position unit for determining the current position of the vehicle;
• - an authentication unit to identify the driver.

In particular, the method according to the invention or the device according to the invention can be used in a vehicle.

• 1 zeigt schematisch ein Ablaufdiagramm eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens zum Übermitteln einer Statusinformation;
• 2 zeigt schematisch ein Blockschaltbild einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung; und
• 3 zeigt ein Beispiel für eine Verkehrssituation, bei dem eine Statusinformation von einem Eigenfahrzeug an ein Fremdfahrzeug gesendet und dort ausgegeben wird.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and claims in conjunction with the figures.

• 1 schematically shows a flowchart of a method according to the invention for transmitting status information;
• 2 schematically shows a block diagram of a device according to the invention; and
• 3 shows an example of a traffic situation in which status information is sent from the driver's vehicle to another vehicle and is output there.

For a better understanding of the principles of the present invention, embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to these embodiments and that the features described can also be combined or modified without departing from the protective scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

1 shows schematically the basic steps for the method according to the invention for the transmission of status information from one's own vehicle to other road users, which may in particular be other vehicles in the vehicle environment. The method can be started, for example, when the driver or, in the case of an autonomously driving vehicle, any vehicle occupants who are to be seated in their own vehicle or the engine of their own vehicle is to be started to start the journey.

According to an optional first method step 1, the driver of the driver's vehicle can first be identified. Whether an identification is carried out depends on the content of the status information or the specific application. This driver identification can take place in particular before the start of the journey, with different authentication methods being able to be used.

A driver can be recognized, for example, by means of a token or RFID key carried by the respective driver or by reading out a data record that is stored digitally on the driver's license or another piece of identification paper. Likewise, an authentication can also be carried out, for example, by the driver entering his name via an HMI of the vehicle, biometric properties of the driver are checked or the identity is determined by evaluating a mobile radio device that is carried along.

In certain applications, as described below, it can also be provided that such an identification of the driver must take place before the start of the journey.

In method step 2, the transmission of a message with status information to other road users in the vicinity of the vehicle is activated. For this purpose, in particular an input from the driver or another vehicle occupant can be recorded for activation. This input can be made, for example, by means of a graphical user interface on which operating elements for activating, and later also deactivating, the transmission are displayed. It can then be operated using assigned manual operating elements or, in the case of a touch screen, by simply tapping on the operating element displayed. Likewise, the transmission can also be activated by voice input. It is also possible to provide a separate manual control element for this, independently of a graphical user interface. Instead, however, automatic activation can also take place in certain use cases if a predefined requirement for transmission of the message is met.

The status information is then generated in a method step 3, this relating to at least one property of an occupant of the vehicle, a load of the vehicle or the vehicle itself. Various exemplary embodiments of this are also specified below.

In a method step 4, a message with the generated status information is sent from a transmission unit of the vehicle to other road users in the vehicle's vicinity. The status information is transmitted from the driver's own vehicle to the other road users in the vehicle's vicinity using wireless communication technology, which is generally known as Car2X communication when communicating with the environment ("x") or as Car2Car communication when neighboring vehicles communicate with each other.

The message with the generated status information is sent continuously, for example as a cyclical message at intervals of a few seconds, to other road users in the vehicle's vicinity. This transmission of the status information continues until an input to deactivate the transmission is detected, automatic deactivation takes place if the prerequisite for the previous automatic activation is no longer met or the driver's own vehicle has been parked by the vehicle occupant after the journey has ended.

In the case of another road user, for example a third-party vehicle in the vicinity of the vehicle, the message with the status information is received in a method step 5 . In method step 6, the status information received is then evaluated and it is determined whether and in what form it is used at the receiving end. Here it can also be checked, if necessary, whether the status information is relevant for the receiving road user, for example based on a transmitted direction and/or position information or a time stamp.

In a method step 7, based on the evaluated status information, a note can then be automatically output to the other road user or the other vehicle, for example by displaying a warning symbol or suitable plain text on a display. Instead or in addition, a corresponding warning can be played back acoustically via a loudspeaker. In the case of partially or fully autonomous driving operation of a third-party vehicle, the received status information can be forwarded to an assistance system, which, depending on the status information, optionally carries out an automatic adjustment of a driving maneuver. For example, the distance to the driver's own vehicle can be increased or ensured that a certain minimum distance is not undercut. To warn the vehicle occupants of the other vehicle, a corresponding message can be issued to the vehicle occupants.

2 shows a schematic block diagram of a device 20 according to the invention, which can be integrated in particular in a vehicle. However, it is also possible to provide these as a retrofit solution.

The device has a central control unit 21 which generates or selects the respective message and activates or deactivates the transmission of the message as a function of a user input or carries out automatic activation or deactivation. For this purpose, the central control unit 21 is connected to further components.

The central control unit 21 is connected to an input/output unit 22, by means of which the user inputs for activating and deactivating the generation of status information and the transmission of a message with this status information can be recorded. Furthermore, the input/output unit 22 can be used to control the user inputs and in particular the successful activation. This can be, for example, a display designed as a touchscreen, which is arranged in the dashboard or a center console. Likewise, however, a voice input or voice output can also take place by means of the input/output unit 22 .

Furthermore, the central control unit 21 is connected to an authentication unit 24, by means of which the optional identification of the driver described above can be carried out.

Furthermore, the central control unit 21 is connected to a position unit 25, which can be part of a navigation system (not shown). The central control unit 21 can use the position unit 25 to evaluate information about the current position of the vehicle, possibly also in relation to the destination of a route specified by the user, and, depending on the application, take this into account when generating the status information.

Furthermore, the central control unit 21 is connected to a transmission unit 23, which allows wireless communication with the outside world of the vehicle in the form of Car2X communication, in particular Car2Car communication. In this case, the transmission unit 23 enables data transmission with at least one or also a plurality of different radio transmission methods. In this way, the transmission can take place in particular in accordance with a WLAN standard for vehicles, for example the WLANp standard. Since the range is limited to a few hundred meters in this case, it is ensured that only a limited number of messages with status information from different vehicles are received at any given time. In this case, the status information can also be received if there is no mobile network. Instead or in addition, however, components for transmission according to a mobile radio standard such as LTE or 5G can also be present. The above-described transmission of a message with status information 26 to other road users, such as in particular other third-party vehicles in the vicinity of the driver's vehicle, takes place via the transmission unit.

3 illustrates a first exemplary embodiment based on a traffic situation in which the method according to the invention for transmitting status information 26 to another vehicle 28 in the vehicle environment of the driver's vehicle 27 can advantageously be used. The traffic situation shown is only to be understood as an example.

The driver's vehicle 27 and the third-party vehicle 28 are located at an intersection where, due to the lack of traffic lights and traffic signs, the usual right-before-left right-of-way rule applies, so that in the example shown, the driver's vehicle 27 usually gives way to the third-party vehicle 28 coming from the right should give way.

In this example, there is a doctor in the own vehicle 27 who is traveling to an emergency operation in his private car. Although in Germany, for example, only the vehicles of an emergency service are expressly exempt from the provisions of the road traffic regulations, a private vehicle used by a doctor for an emergency operation is not. However, in individual cases, violations of the rules, such as violating a red light, driving on a one-way street and parking where no stopping or parking is permitted, can be justified if this does not endanger anyone else.

With the device 20 according to the invention, status information “doctor on duty” is now generated and transmitted to other road users with the transmission unit 23 . In this way, sending out the status information "Doctor on duty" enables the doctor to warn other road users and thus rule out a hazard, even though the private car is not equipped with blue lights and a siren. In the example shown the status information is received in third-party vehicle 28 with a receiving unit 29 and evaluated by a central control unit 30 located there.

A corresponding warning is then automatically issued to the driver of other vehicle 28 in order to prompt the driver of other vehicle 28 to give up his right of way at the intersection and thus enable the doctor to pass the intersection as quickly as possible. In the example shown, the reproduction takes place acoustically by means of a loudspeaker 31 of other vehicle 28 . However, a driving maneuver can also be carried out or adapted automatically with a driver assistance system 32 .

The status information "doctor on duty" can be transmitted while driving to the scene, but can also continue to be sent when the vehicle is stationary at the scene, for example if the mission requires that parking is prohibited.

In a further development, provision can be made for a forced connection to a digital driver card or a data record stored digitally on the driver's license. The driver of his own vehicle must then always identify himself with his driver card or driver's license before starting his journey. The "Doctor on duty" function is only activated for him if certain characteristics are stored, in this example that the driver's license holder is a doctor.

For additional explanation of the invention, further exemplary embodiments are specified below, in which these third-party vehicles are informed by transmission of a message with status information to networked third-party vehicles.

Similar to the above-described “doctor on duty” exemplary embodiment, other road users cannot be warned by flashing blue lights and sirens during other mission trips, such as firefighters, especially volunteer fire brigades, who are on the road to an mission in their private car. In this case, such a warning can be given by sending out a message "Firefighter on duty", whereby the warning can also be given here both while driving and when the vehicle is stationary, for example when parking is prohibited.

In a further exemplary embodiment, a driver of a vehicle can inform other road users that he is currently driving slowly by transmitting a “cautious driving mode” message. Reasons for this can lie, for example, in the boundary conditions of charge transport. For example, fragile or explosive goods can be transported. Another reason may be that the driver or another occupant has to be transported particularly carefully due to illness.

The invention can also be used advantageously for other types of medical transport, for example the transport of blood supplies or donor organs or also deliveries of medicines. In these cases, the transport is often time-critical. Other road users can be informed of this with a corresponding message, for example "Urgent medicines", "Urgent pharmaceutical delivery" or "Urgent medical transport".

Likewise, the transmission of a "Driving school" or "Beginner/accompanied driving" message can be used to draw attention to a driver of a vehicle who, due to nervousness or uncertainties in operating the vehicle or finding his way in traffic, requires increased attention or patience from the networked third-party vehicles . Similar to the “doctor on duty” embodiment described above, it can be provided that the driver has to identify himself with his driver’s license before each journey and that the transmission of the status information “beginner/accompanied driving” is automatically activated for a young driver or novice driver and cannot be switched off while driving.

However, the transmitted status information can also relate to a current position of the vehicle. For example, with a message “not local” other road users can be informed that the driver of the ego vehicle may not be familiar with the area and may therefore be driving slowly, braking spontaneously or turning off. Whether a driver is local and knows the local conditions or not can be determined in particular on the basis of the current GPS position of the vehicle. For this purpose, for example, a history of previous trips stored in a navigation system or a navigation application can be used. A concrete example makes it clear: A vehicle is usually located in Hamburg, so it is “local” or “native” there. On a first trip in Berlin, the vehicle is "not local". However, if the driver drives the vehicle to Berlin every week, the vehicle can also become “local” there. It is also possible to compare the current GPS coordinates with locations such as home or work if these are stored in the vehicle.

The status information “Not local” initially relates generally to the driver's vehicle itself. However, if driver recognition is also provided in the driver's vehicle, so that it is known which persons are traveling in which vehicle, the status information can also be related to the respective driver.

Similarly, the status information "driver just before the destination" or "driver on the last mile" can be used to indicate to other road users that the driver is just before his destination and is therefore possibly driving slowly, braking spontaneously or turning off. The information as to whether a driver is close to the destination can be taken from the route guidance of the navigation system of the driver's vehicle.

With the status information "Driver enjoys the view" or "Scenic Driving" in English, other road users can be informed that the driver of their own vehicle would like to enjoy the view on the current route or would like to enable their occupants to do so. This function can be used in particular on scenic routes that at the same time often require special attention, such as coastal roads or mountain switchbacks. The fact that such a route is currently available can be inferred, for example, from the map material of a navigation system or a navigation application in connection with the current position of the driver's vehicle.

A further exemplary embodiment is in connection with promotional trips by the driver's own vehicle. In some countries, for example, it is common for vehicles with billboards to drive slowly through city districts. These vehicles can specifically point out your driving order and the resulting slow driving style with a corresponding status information "mobile advertising".

Likewise, for vehicles traveling in groups, such as military convoys, heavy transport or even a motorbike group driving in a convoy, it can be important to ensure safety to prevent other road users from cutting between the members of their convoy. With status information "convoy driving" all participants in a convoy can identify themselves as members of this convoy to other road users so that they can react accordingly.

In addition to the status information, it can also be provided that the message also contains a current indication of the direction and/or position of the driver's vehicle determined from GPS data. This can be used by the other vehicles on the receiving side in order to determine there the direction in which the own vehicle is located, seen from the respective other vehicle, and thus to be able to react to the own vehicle in a more targeted manner.

Reference List

1

Process step for identifying the driver

2

Process step for recording a user input / automatic activation

3

Method step for generating status information

4

Method step for sending a message with status information

5

Method step for receiving a message with status information

6

Method step for evaluating status information

7

Procedural step for issuing a message/adapting a driving manoeuvre

20

device according to the invention

21, 30

Central control unit

22

input/output unit

23

transmitter unit

24

authentication unit

25

position unit

26

Message with status information

27

own vehicle

28

foreign vehicle

29

receiving unit

31

output unit

32

driver assistance system

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• US 2017/0180304 A1 [0007]

Claims (10)

A method for transmitting status information from a vehicle (27) to another road user (28) in the vehicle environment, in which - Transmission of a message with status information (26) is activated when an input from a vehicle occupant to activate the transmission is detected (2) or automatic activation is carried out (2) if a prerequisite for automatic transmission of the message is met; - Status information (26) is generated (3); and - A message with the generated status information (26) is sent from the vehicle (27) to other road users (28) in the vehicle environment (4). procedure after claim 1 , wherein the status information relates to at least one characteristic of an occupant of the vehicle, a load of the vehicle, or the vehicle itself. procedure after claim 1 or 2 , the message with the generated status information being sent to other road users in the vehicle environment (4) until an input to deactivate the transmission of the message is detected or automatic deactivation takes place since the prerequisite for automatic activation is no longer met. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the driver must be identified before the start of the journey (1) and the status information is generated (3) as a function of the identification and sent (4) from the start of the journey. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the current position of the vehicle is determined and the status information is generated (3) as a function of the current position. procedure after claim 5 In addition to the current position of the vehicle, a stored history of past journeys or the route guidance of the current journey is evaluated for the generation of the status information. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an indication of the activation of the transmission of the message with the status information is output in the vehicle. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the message with the status information is received (5) and evaluated (6) by another vehicle and, based on the evaluated status information, a message is automatically issued (7) or, in the case of partially or fully autonomous driving, a automatic adjustment of a driving maneuver is carried out (7). Device for transmitting status information from a vehicle (27) to another road user (28) in the vehicle environment - A central control unit (21), which is designed to activate transmission of a message with status information when an input from a vehicle occupant to activate the transmission is detected, or to carry out automatic activation if a prerequisite for automatic transmission of the message is met and generate status information based thereon; - A transmission unit (23) which sends a message with the generated status information (26) from the vehicle (27) to other road users (28) in the vehicle environment. device after claim 9 , wherein this additionally comprises one or more of the following components: - an input unit (22) for detecting a user input for activating and deactivating a transmission of the message; - An output unit (22) for outputting an indication of the activation of the transmission of the message with the status information; - A position unit (25) for determining the current position of the vehicle; - an authentication unit (24) for identifying the driver.

Images