EP1271448B1 - Method for a tachograph of a vehicle using a radio communication system - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for recording tachograph data of a vehicle with the preamble features of claim 1 and a tachograph or a communication system for carrying out such a method.

For recording operating data or accident data of moving objects, such as aircraft, motor vehicles or trains, tachographs or accident data loggers are well known. In the DE 197 20 348 A1 An apparatus for optical recording of the vehicle environment is described, in which an optical pickup device is activated by means of a proximity sensor whenever the proximity sensor detects the penetration of an object into the vicinity of the vehicle surroundings. The recorded data is stored in a memory which is installed in the vehicle. As a result, an accident data recorder is trained.

This system has serious disadvantages in that images taken by a camera or image sequences are only stored within the vehicle. In the event of an accident involving a driver's escape, it is necessary for the collision partner to establish such a system that the vehicle's mark of sufficient quality is recorded on one of the images. However, this is only the case when the receiving camera is directed towards the other vehicle so that its license plate can be recorded. Another problem with such systems is that the saved data is stored within the receiving vehicle. As a data manipulation can not be completely ruled out, such data are therefore only conditionally usable as evidence.

Generally, a system is known by the term telematics, which allows the exchange of information between motor vehicles. The data exchange between two vehicles or a vehicle and a stationary station takes place via a radio interface. Telematics will increasingly become a component of automotive equipment. Vehicle drivers can receive general or safety-related information during a car trip, for example, about road conditions, traffic jams or city maps of the current destination. Furthermore, the transmission of other relevant for the driver information is possible. In addition to entertainment (entertainment) is therefore in particular the so-called infotainment, so the supply of current information, important.

DE 350 9966 discloses a method for recording the driving course and driving behavior of land vehicles.

DE 433 8556 discloses a device in a vehicle for recording travel route information.

Out WO 98/15922 A a navigation system is known, which stores data about the states of motion of a motor vehicle, for example in a motor vehicle's internal travel or accident data recorder.

Out US-A-6 049 295 An on-board device is known that exchanges data with a roadside device via wireless communication.

Out EP-A-0 782 118 For example, a navigation system is known which informs the driver of the vehicle about the next action, depending on whether or not he correctly follows the proposed route.

From Patent Abstracts of Japan, Vol. 2000, No. 03, JP 11 351895 A a vehicle navigation system is known which stores traffic control information in a specific storage medium.

Out " Inter-Vehicle Communication: Technical Issues on Vehicle Control Application ", IEEE Communications Magazine, Oct. 1996, pages 90-93 For example, a communication system that controls a vehicle to vehicle communication is known.

The object of the invention is to improve a method and a device for recording tachograph data or driving parameters of a vehicle.

This object is achieved by a method for recording tachograph data of a vehicle by means of a radio communication system according to the features of patent claim 1 or by a tachograph or a radio communication system for carrying out such a method having the features of claims 9 and 10, respectively.

The transmission of tachograph data of a vehicle via a radio interface to a storage device separate from the vehicle offers particular advantages in the case of an accident proof in the event of an accident. The stored data can not be destroyed by the accident itself, such as a tachograph sheet of paper in a fire caused by the accident, nor can the Tachograph data in the external memory to be subsequently manipulated.

In addition to the ability to read the tachograph at any time and to reconstruct the accident cause in insurance in an accident, there is also the possibility of this data of the tachograph z. B. in court to use as evidence.

In particular, in the case of pile - ups in the fog or in the case of black ice with a large number of participants, such tachograph data is a valuable aid for clarifying the course of the accident. Data of ideally all or a large number of all vehicles involved in the accident are stored in a memory with corresponding temporally comparable occurrence data of the data of further vehicles.

In addition to the advantages of such a method, the corresponding advantages also tachograph and memory and the other necessary facilities or a communication system for performing such a method.

Advantageous embodiments are the subject of dependent claims.

Advantageously, the relevant data for the tachograph not only transmitted via a radio interface to another device, but also stored in a remote memory. Such a remote memory can be arranged both in a stationary station along a route of a vehicle and in a more distant central computer of a communication network or a foreign network connected to the stationary station.

Since not at each place appropriate stationary receiving and storage stations are available, offers in particular the ability to transfer the tachograph data via the radio interface to other vehicles and save there. As a result, the data are stored in vehicles not involved in an accident or in vehicles involved in an accident and are therefore available as not directly accessible to the driver and thus not forfeitable data before. Even in the event of a vehicle fire or mechanical damage to the storage medium, there is the advantage that the tachograph data is stored not only in the own tachograph memory but also in another foreign vehicle memory.

Expediently, the data is exchanged via a radio interface of a cellular radio communication system, for example in accordance with the GSM standard or the UMTS, a radio data network, for example in accordance with the Hiper-LAN standard, or a radio ad hoc network. In the case of the latter, the possibility of transmission advantageously also exists in more remote regions, in which cellular or regional radio networks are not provided or are provided only with insufficient coverage.

As relevant for tachograph data in addition to usual data such as speed and acceleration data advantageously also instantaneous location or position data can be stored, which can be determined for example by means of GPS. The data of several vehicles involved in an accident, when the location data are known, allow direct conclusions to be drawn about relative speeds and the like. Conveniently, acoustic and / or optical data can be recorded and recorded, as well as data from various other sensor devices for determining the respective instantaneous distance to other objects.

The data acquisition takes place during vehicle operation, which of course also includes parking in a parking lot compared to the stand in a workshop.

It is also advantageous to transmit data via the interface for remote storage, which allow identification of the vehicle or the driver. Such data, which were transmitted from an accident-prone vehicle shortly before or after an accident on a free route or unobserved in a parking lot to an external memory, can be used later to determine the involved in the accident and volatile vehicle or driver.

In order to limit the amount of data to be stored to a reasonable extent, the data is advantageously cyclically overwritten or deleted. In the case of an accident, such a record of the last cyclic sequence is automatically saved or at least not overwritten or not deleted.

Advantageously, the recording of the data can be activated or saved even after the transmission or the failure of a security signal. The transmission of such a backup signal is particularly important in a remote recording to prevent overwriting the data after an accident. Conversely, a backup signal can be transmitted continuously to cause storage of the data, after the elimination of the backup signal by, for example, an accident further data storage and in particular further data overwriting or data deletion is automatically stopped.

Fig. 1

mehrere Fahrzeuge, die miteinander Kommunizieren und

Fig. 2

schematisch einzelne Einrichtungen der kommunizierenden Fahrzeuge und Vorrichtungen.

An embodiment will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1

several vehicles communicating with each other and

Fig. 2

schematically individual devices of the communicating vehicles and devices.

How out Fig. 1 can be seen, a plurality of vehicles A1, A2, A3 mobile stations MS1, MS2, MS3, which allow communication via radio interfaces V1, V2 with each other. Also possible is the communication of the mobile stations MS2 with fixed stations BS via corresponding radio interfaces VB.

Such stationary stations BS can be completely independent stations of a so-called ad-hoc network, but can also form radio stations of a network. In addition to the use of an ad hoc network, the use of a radio communication system is also possible, for example in accordance with the GSM or UMTS standard (GSM: Global System for Mobile Communication; UMTS: Universal Mobile Telecommunication System). As radio communication networks and radio-based data networks (W-LAN: Wireless Local Area Network) can be used. In particular, it is also possible to use other communication systems, for example the Internet IP.

The data exchange between the individual stations MS1, MS2, MS3, BS can take place via circuit-switched or packet-oriented connections. In particular, the exchange of information via, for example, text messages SMS (Short Message System) is possible. Also useful are the technical possibilities, which are provided by utilizing radio-based application protocols (WAP: Wireless Application Protocol) in the cellular radio communication systems to z. B. on a specific Internet address (URL) to access current road condition reports.

The use of ad hoc networks offers particular advantages if, for example, after an accident, the following traffic or the surrounding traffic should be informed of this accident to allow other drivers a timely braking. While in cellular mobile radio systems each have a complex line structure between two participants must be in order to subsequently transmit information from one participant to one or more other participants can offer ad hoc networks the possibility of direct information transfer to other participants or stations in the transmission area , Instead of transmitting over a variety of network devices, the information on ad-hoc networks can be more or less directly exchanged between the stations involved. This allows in particular faster reactions of subsequent vehicles to a preceding accident. In particular, a transmission over several intermediate stations is possible.

To perform a method for recording ride parameters, one or more memory devices M are provided throughout the system. In these driving-relevant parameters of one or more vehicles A1, A2, A3 are stored. This makes it possible to read out the recorded data at a later time in order to be able to determine, for example, an accident cause or an accident causer. If the storage takes place at a location or secure storage SM which can not be accessed by the parties involved, the data can advantageously also be used as evidence in court.

How out Fig. 2 can be seen, in a first vehicle A1 advantageously a mobile station MS1 with a control device C for controlling the data exchange and the radio interface and with a memory M for storing operating parameters for radio operation. The connection of controller C and memory M can be done via a direct connection or a bus BUS. advantageously, Other devices can also be connected to such a bus, such as a switch for activating the horn L of the vehicle, which enables activation of the system when the horn is actuated, a camera P for recording individual or subsequent images and a multiplicity of sensor devices S. On the one hand, such sensor devices S can be devices for determining and detecting parameters, for example the distance to surrounding objects, or for triggering an action, for example acceleration sensors or the like, to detect an accident and corresponding instructions for starting a transmission of data or a fixed storage of To trigger data. In addition to images, recordable parameters are, in particular, distances to other objects or vehicles, the speed or acceleration of one's own vehicle as well as relative speeds or relative accelerations with respect to other objects. For example, sounds can also be recorded in order to subsequently detect acoustic warning signals that have been emitted by the vehicle driver or that may even have been overheard.

To determine the vehicle position or other movement and location-relevant data, GPS devices (GPS: Global Positioning System) can be provided in the vehicle and connected to the in-vehicle communication system. The distance to another vehicle can be done either by corresponding distance sensors with, for example, sonar function or by the exchange of position data between two vehicles via the radio interface V1 and V2 between them.

Corresponding devices are advantageously located in each vehicle but are not required in every vehicle for the simplest embodiment. In addition to the data transmission between different vehicles with the mobile stations MS1, MS2 or MS3 via the radio interfaces V1 or V2 is also a data exchange to stationary stations BS via corresponding radio interfaces VB possible. In the simplest case, such fixed stations BS can consist of a pure receiving device, a control device C and a memory device M.

In addition to operating parameters for this stationary station BS, data transmitted to this stationary station BS can advantageously also be stored in the memory device M. This gives the possibility that a vehicle A2 transmits the data acquired by it via the mobile station MS2 provided in the vehicle A2 and the radio interface VB to the stationary station BS, in order to have the data stored there. While the storage of the various data determined by the vehicle devices L, P, S within the vehicle in the vehicle memory M is advantageous, such external storage in the memory M of the base station or stationary station BS offers the advantage that this data is provided by the vehicle driver can not be manipulated at a later date and can therefore be used for evidence purposes.

Advantageously, transmitters for active data exchange with passing vehicles and sensor devices S or camera devices P can also be arranged at the fixed station BS in order to enable the detection of data of various kinds even at such stations.

Advantageously, such a stationary station also has an interface to a data network with further such stations or the Internet IP. As a result, stationary station BS can be used, on the one hand, for the general supply of general information to passing vehicles and, on the other hand, also for forwarding data which the stationary station has received from vehicles to a central device within the network IP. In particular, in the area of such a network IP can also be a secure Memory SM may be set up in the general traffic-related data for preserving evidence or for preparing various statistics can be stored.

The data exchange between two vehicles can advantageously be optionally controlled as a function of current operating conditions. Thus, a frequent exchange of data between two vehicles A1-A2; A2-A3 or between vehicles A2 and stationary stations BS, when the distance between two vehicles or a vehicle and a fixed object decreases below certain thresholds. Furthermore, the information exchange can also be increased if the speed of the vehicle is above certain threshold values or an excessively negative acceleration at z. B. a full braking is detected.

It is particularly advantageous to exchange vehicle-specific data in order to be able to store an identity number of the own vehicle or of other vehicles possibly involved in an accident with the stored values. Such identifying data may be, for example, a registered identification number, the official license plate or an access number of the mobile station MS1, MS2, MS3, e.g. For example, their assigned IP address. In the event of an accident not only technically relevant data can be reconstructed but also associated vehicle data. Alternatively or additionally, identification data relating to the vehicle driver can also be stored. Corresponding personal data can be provided by using a personal key in conjunction with a corresponding reader, an input of a codeword via a keyboard or an input by means of a magnetic card reader.

In addition to the transmission of data collected in the vehicle via the mobile station MS1 - MS3, data can also be transmitted via any other interface, eg. As infrared interface or cable-bound interface, are read out of the vehicle-based communication system.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the data recorded in a vehicle is buffered cyclically in its memory M and is transmitted to an external memory via the radio interface only in the case of a predetermined event. As an initiating event, for example, an accident detected by acceleration sensors or an undershot minimum distance to another object can be defined.

According to an alternative embodiment, however, it can also be stipulated that the data is continuously transmitted to an external memory M, SM and stored there and cyclically erased or overwritten. The latter solution ensures that a transmission can still be carried out adequately even in the event of a serious accident with failure of the mobile station MS1 - MS3.

In order to enable a backup of data stored in the external device even in a merely critical driving situation or to prevent the deletion or overwriting of such data, a corresponding trigger signal can be transmitted to the external device, for example, a fixed storage in the last Seconds recorded data. Such a trigger signal can be carried out either by a targeted command of the driver via a corresponding signaling button or automatically detected in certain critical driving situations signals of an acceleration sensor or the like.

Also possible are variants with detection devices of various kinds, with even the communication system or the communication device being set up as such can. For example, relative distances can also be determined without additional detection devices, eg via time-offset measurements (timing advance measurements).

Vehicles in the above sense are largely moving objects, especially motor vehicles, trucks, aircraft to paragliders, rail vehicles and watercraft, as well as engine-independent vehicles such as bicycles and the like.

Claims (12)

1. Method for recording tachograph data of a vehicle (A1 A2; A3), in which tachograph data which has been recorded by a vehicle is transmitted via a radio interface (V1; V2; VB) of a radio-enabled device (MS1; MS2, MS3) of the vehicle (A1 A2; A3) to a memory device (M; SM) situated externally in respect of the vehicle and stored there for later processing as required,
   characterised in that

   - the tachograph data recorded in the external memory device (M; SM) is cyclically overwritten or deleted,

   - permanent storage of the cyclic sequence of tachograph data last stored in the external memory device (M; SM) is initiated and thus a cyclic overwriting or deleting of the sequence is prevented, as soon as the external memory device (M; SM) receives an appropriate trigger signal from the vehicle (A1 A2; A3).
2. Method according to claim 1, in which
   the said trigger signal is sent as a result of an explicit command of the vehicle driver.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, in which
   a memory (M) of another vehicle (A1 A3) is used as the external memory device.
4. Method according to a preceding claim, in which current location data, speed data, distance data, acceleration data acoustic and/or optical data is recorded and stored as tachograph data.
5. Method according to a preceding claim, in which identification data which identifies the vehicle and/or vehicle driver is transmitted and stored as tachograph data.
6. Method according to a preceding claim, in which a radio interface (V1, V2, VB) of a cellular radio communication system a radio data network or an ad-hoc radio network is used as the radio interface.
7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the said trigger signal is created and sent automatically if a critical driving situation is established.
8. Method according to claim 7, in which
   the presence of a critical driving situation is established if a critical acceleration or a critical distance is recorded.
9. Tachograph with

   - a memory (M; SM) for storing tachograph data of vehicles (A1 A2; A3),

   - a radio interface access to a radio interface (V1; V2; VB) for receiving the tachograph data from at least one vehicle which is moving or is located independently of the location of the memory (M; SM), wherein

   a) the tachograph cyclically overwrites or deletes the tachograph data recorded for a vehicle and

   b) the tachograph initiates a permanent storage for the cyclic sequence of tachograph data last recorded in the memory (M; SM) and thus prevents a cyclic overwriting or deletion of the sequence as soon as it receives a corresponding trigger signal from the vehicle (A1 A2; A3).
10. Communication system for recording tachograph data with

    - at least one vehicle (A1 A2; A3), having a radio communication device (MS1; MS2; MS3) and a recording device (L; P; S; GPS) for recording tachograph data,

    - at least one further radio communication device (MS1;...; BS) which can communicate with the radio communication device of the vehicle via a radio interface (V1; V2; VB) and is spatially separated from the vehicle,

    - at least one memory device (M; SM) for storing the recorded data,

    wherein the memory device (M; SM) is spatially separated from the at least one vehicle and has a memory for tachograph data which is transmitted via the radio interface (V1; V2; VB) from the vehicle to the memory device,
    characterised in that

    - the memory device (M; SM) cyclically overwrites or deletes the tachograph data recorded for a vehicle and

    - the memory device (M; SM) initiates a permanent storage for the cyclic sequence of tachograph data last recorded in the memory (M; SM) and thus prevents a cyclic overwriting or deletion of the sequence as soon as it receives a corresponding trigger signal from the vehicle (A1; A2; A3).
11. Vehicle device of a vehicle which executes a method according to claim 1, with

    - at least one recording device (L; P; S; GPS) for recording tachograph data,

    - a radio communication device (MS1; MS2; MS3, via which the recorded tachograph data is sent to a memory device (M; SM) which is spatially separated from the vehicle,

    characterised in that
    the vehicle device, on establishing a critical driving situation, sends a trigger signal to the said memory device (M; SM).
12. Vehicle device of a vehicle according to claim 11,
    characterised in that
    a critical driving situation is established with the aid of an acceleration sensor.

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