DE102012025035A1 - Interface converter for vehicle, has non-automotive interface and automotive wireless local area network-interface, and environment-monitoring system for shifting interface converter in operating mode - Google Patents

Abstract

The interface converter (SK) has a non-automotive interface and an automotive Wireless local area network-interface. An environment-monitoring system is provided to shift the interface converter in an operating mode in the presence of specific monitoring results and to shift the interface converter in another operating mode in the absence of specific monitoring results. The interface converter automatically establishes a data connection to the vehicle (Fi) under specific boundary conditions or establishes a data connection to the mobile or fixed station. An independent claim is included for a method for transmitting data between a vehicle and a mobile or fixed station.

Description

The present invention relates to an interface converter having a nonautomotive interface. The interface converter can be arranged and operated in a vehicle and optionally also be part of a vehicle. Alternatively, the interface converter may be located at a fixed location, such as in or at an intersection, traffic light, street lighting, beacon, guardrail, bridge, tunnel, parking pillar, garage, office building, or residential building. The interface converter can be part of a router.

Moreover, the invention relates to a vehicle. The vehicle may be a motor vehicle (for example, passenger cars, trucks, buses), a trailer, a rail vehicle, a watercraft or an aircraft.

Moreover, the invention relates to a method for transmitting data between a vehicle and a mobile or fixed station, the method comprising the following step: providing a vehicle with an automotive WLAN interface (WLAN = Wireless Local Area Network).

The use of communication units such as smartphones, personal computers is a matter of course nowadays. In some vehicles, communication from a smart phone or personal computer (connected to a fixed or mobile network) via a public network to a vehicle is possible. Conversely, from some vehicles (for example, from an on-board telephone), a public network may communicate with a station (eg, a smartphone, a personal computer, or a server) that is connected in a fixed or mobile network.

Although the known method has the advantage that a communication is basically possible between arbitrary stations, the method has the disadvantage that for this connections must be used over a public network, which are often (especially in a stay abroad) expensive, too small a bandwidth have a too high error rate and / or have a latency that is often too large for time-critical applications. In addition, the known method necessarily requires the expense (cost, weight) for an interface of the vehicle to a public mobile network.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of communicating a vehicle with a public network station (eg, smartphone, personal computer, or server) that is less expensive, and / or that provides greater bandwidth, allows for a lower error rate and / or a smaller delay time (latency) than known communication solutions.

This object is achieved by an interface converter according to claim 1, by a vehicle according to claim 9 and a method according to claim 10. Advantageous developments of the present invention are specified in the subclaims.

According to the invention, an interface converter with a nonautomotive interface has an automotive WLAN interface.

Because the interface converter has an automotive WLAN interface, local access to certain vehicle functions can be provided locally to vehicle users and services via radio via a public network. On this basis, a local radio query of vehicle data such as storage place, tank level, oil level, wiper water level, tire pressure, indoor temperature, outside temperature, setting of the air conditioning, number of people in the vehicle, daily mileage, logbook, diagnostics and maintenance data supported (for example by smartphone app) become. Alternatively or additionally, it is thus possible (for example by means of a smartphone app) to influence certain functions in the vehicle. For example, an air conditioning or auxiliary heating can be set or a destination or a route can be entered into a navigation system of a vehicle via this transmission path.

With respect to the vehicle, the object is achieved in that the vehicle comprises an interface converter according to the invention.

With regard to the method for transmitting data, the object is achieved in that the method also comprises the following steps: provision of an interface converter according to the invention and use of the interface converter for transferring data between the vehicle and the mobile or fixed station.

A further development provides that the interface converter comprises an environment-monitoring system that is prepared to place the interface converter in the presence of specific monitoring results in a first operating mode. As a result, power consumption of the interface converter can be reduced to a minimum in those times in which no interface to the interface converter Input data to be converted. Alternatively or additionally, a further development provides to put the interface converter in the absence of the specific monitoring results in a second operating mode. As a result, the interface converter can be activated, for example, if it is to perform a data transmission for special tasks, if the absence of the determined monitoring results indicates an emergency situation or a malfunction of the vehicle.

It can be advantageous if the interface converter is prepared to automatically establish a data connection to the vehicle under certain boundary conditions and / or that the interface converter is prepared to automatically establish a data connection to a mobile or stationary station under certain boundary conditions. As a result, monitoring and maintenance tasks (such as data and / or software updates in the vehicle or transmission of vehicle data to a home office or logbook data to a fleet management) can be performed efficiently.

For some applications, it is expedient if the interface converter is prepared to automatically perform a first query on an automotive device via the automotive WLAN interface. In this way, the interface converter can be used to retrieve data from the vehicle in the presence of certain environmental conditions or regularly, for example once a week, and to provide a server on the Internet or a server in a corporate network. Alternatively or additionally, the interface converter may be prepared to automatically perform a second query at a mobile or fixed station. Thus, for example, the interface converter may collect and provide data from mobile or fixed entities preparatory to one or more vehicles so that the data (eg, updated software, media content, or map data) can be retrieved from the vehicle (s) without delay.

It is also advantageous if the interface converter is prepared to evaluate a result of the first and / or the second query and to initiate a follow-up action depending on the evaluation via the WLAN interface and / or the nonautomotive interface. As a result, the interface converter can also be used for at least partially autonomous execution of complex tasks. Alternatively or additionally, evaluation results dependent follow-up usually also has the advantage of reducing resource loading (eg, reducing power consumption or reducing the use of limited radio channel capacities or processing capacities).

It is particularly preferred if the interface converter comprises a data memory and the interface converter is prepared to evaluate results of the first and / or second query and / or to store results of the evaluation of the first query and / or results of the evaluation of the second query in the data memory. This improves usability of the interface converter by allowing the interfaces to the vehicle and the stationary or mobile station to be operated with time offset or alternately.

A further advantageous development consists in that the interface converter is prepared to act as a server with respect to a vehicle which is connected to the interface converter on the automotive WLAN interface and / or that the interface converter is prepared for this, in relation to the mobile or opposite the stationary station to act as a server. This makes it possible to prepare the interface converter for performing complex functions. For example, it is conceivable that such an interface converter performs complex vehicle diagnostic functions, vehicle fleet management or parking space management or the distribution of local information offers, for example, on an event site (such as fairgrounds, sports grounds).

In particular, it is preferred if the interface converter has a wired interface, a mobile radio interface, a non-automatic WLAN interface, an infrared interface, a laser interface and / or a Bluetooth interface. As a result, proven interface technologies can be used in conjunction with the interface converter SK.

The present invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Showing:

1 schematically various data sources and / or data sinks that are connected to an interface converter radio or wired to allow communication with a vehicle via an automotive radio interface,

2 schematically various data sources and / or data sinks, which are connected via a communication network to an interface converter wireless or wired, to off a remote area to allow communication with a vehicle via an automotive radio interface and

3 schematically a flow of a method for transferring data between a vehicle and a mobile and / or fixed station.

The embodiments described in more detail below represent preferred embodiments of the present invention.

The 1 shows four data sources Di and / or data sinks Di, which are connected to an interface converter SK. In principle, the connection of a data source Di and / or data sink Di to the interface converter SK can take place according to any interface standard. The interface converter SK can, for example, have a wired interface SSd, a mobile radio interface SSm, a nonautomotive WLAN interface SSn, an infrared interface SSi, a laser interface and / or a Bluetooth interface SSb.

The interface converter SK comprises at least one automotive WLAN interface SSp for communication with at least one vehicle Fi. The automotive WLAN interface SSp is typically an interface to the WLAN standard IEEE 802.11p , The standard is referred to below as pWLAN. The frequency band for pWLAN is reserved for ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems) to minimize interference between automotive and non-automotive applications and / or to reduce the likelihood of such interference.

The interface converter SK comprises a controller ST (for example a microcontroller with firmware), which converts data packets of the nonautomotive data sources Di into data packets for the automotive interface standard. Alternatively or additionally, the controller converts data packets of the automotive interface SSp into data packets for one or more nonautomotive data sinks Di. In each of the two cases, the controller ST depending on the interface technologies used and the state of the networks used in each case at least two individual received data packets in a summarize shared data packet to be shared. Alternatively or additionally, in each of the two cases it is also possible for the controller ST to split a data packet into at least two data packets depending on the interface technologies used and the state of the networks used.

A first data source Di and / or data sink Di are connected to an interface converter SK via an interface SSn by means of a nonautomotive WLAN protocol. The non-automatic WLAN protocol typically targets at least one of the following WLAN standards: IEEE 802.11a . IEEE 802.11b . IEEE 802.11g . IEEE 802.11n , Additionally or alternatively, the first data source Di and / or data sink Di can be connected to the interface converter SK via an interface SSb according to a Bluetooth protocol (for example for hands-free purposes and / or for the exchange of telephone directories and / or address data).

A second data source Di and / or data sink Di is connected to the interface converter SK via a mobile radio system (for example via a GSM network (Global System for Mobile Communications) and / or via a UMTS network (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) and / or via digital trunked radio network and / or via a satellite system for mobile subscribers). For example, the mobile radio system may be a second (2G), third (3G), fourth (4G), or other system generation system.

A third data source Di and / or data sink Di is connected to the interface converter SK via a wired connection SSd. For this purpose, a LAN interface state (for example, an Ethernet standard) is typically used (LAN = Local Area Network).

A fourth data source Di and / or data sink Di is connected via a connection SSi to the interface converter SK, which has a transmission section IR with an infrared transmission. It is conceivable, for example, a preparatory remote input of an air conditioner or parking heater setting (for example, for setting a timer or a temperature) or of driving target data (from home or office) by means of a remote control FB TV TV in a navigation system of a parked vehicle Fi (for example save the time for input of target data before departure on the following day).

The respective data source Di and / or data sink Di is typically a smartphone, a PC, a notebook, a television set TV, a charging station, a parking lot control, a building control, a server of a service provider or a data processing system of a company. The service of the service provider may be, for example, a mapping service, a reservation service for another means of transport (for example, train, plane, ship or accommodation), a border service, a moutain service Be a media service, a social networking service, a security service, a workshop service, breakdown service or ambulance service.

The interface converter SK is preferably transparent from the point of view of the respective application in the vehicle Fi and / or from the perspective of the respective application in the nonautomotive area. This means that the interface converter SK (apart from the delay time due to the interface conversion) has no influence on the data connection from or to the vehicle Fi, which is perceptible by the respective data source Di and / or data sink Di.

One option provides that the interface converter SK comprises or is connected to an environment monitoring system KS, RS. The interface converter SK can be prepared to put itself in the presence of certain monitoring results in a first mode of operation. Alternatively or additionally, the interface converter SK can also be prepared to put in a second operating mode in the absence of certain monitoring results.

For example, the interface converter SK can include a camera system KS and / or a radar system RS or an interface SSü to such a system. It can thus be achieved that the interface converter SK is woken up from an energy-saving operating mode only under certain circumstances (for example, when another vehicle Fi 'approaches). Optionally, it may also be provided that the waking is triggered by another vehicle Fi 'only if the other vehicle Fi' belongs to a certain previously registered or otherwise defined quantity of vehicles (for example, to a set of vehicles having one or more the feature may be, for example, a member of an ambulance service or a breakdown assistance organization). A further development provides that the monitoring can send data both in the direction of the automotive interface SSp and in the direction of the data sink Di. As a result, for example, at the same time information to the data sink Di (for example, a server or user) to be sent while the vehicle Fi are stopped.

Another option provides that the interface converter SK is prepared to automatically establish a data connection to the vehicle Fi under certain boundary conditions. Alternatively or additionally, the interface converter SK can be prepared to automatically establish a data connection to a mobile or fixed station Di under certain boundary conditions. For example, it can be provided that the interface converter SK exchanges information with a nonautomotive communication system (for example with a private WLAN system) as soon as the vehicle Fi is in the radio coverage area of the private WLAN system without any person starting this process. For example, a state of charge of the vehicle Fi may be transmitted in the background, so that the information about the state of charge is available immediately upon request of a user.

A preferred development provides that the interface converter SK is prepared to automatically perform a first query on a vehicle-specific device in a vehicle Fi via the automotive WLAN interface SSp. A further development provides that the interface converter SK is prepared to automatically perform a second query at a mobile or stationary station Di.

There are applications in which it is particularly advantageous if the above-described environmental monitoring is combined with the automatic first and / or second query. By way of example, when a vehicle Fi is detected at its home parking space (for example in a garage or carport), it can automatically start updating or synchronizing data (for example music files, calendar data and / or travel books) stored on a server Di, PC or smartphone are.

It is expedient if the interface converter SK is prepared to evaluate a result of the first and / or the second query and, depending on the evaluation, a follow-up action via the automotive WLAN interface SSp and / or the nonautomotive interface SSb, SSd, SSi, SSm To initiate SSn.

It is also preferred if the interface converter SK comprises a data memory SP and the interface converter SK is prepared to evaluate results of the first and / or second query and / or results of the evaluation of the first query and / or results of the evaluation of the second query in the data memory Save SP.

It is advantageous if the interface converter SK is prepared to act as a server with respect to a vehicle Fi, which is connected to the automotive WLAN interface SSp to the interface converter SK. It also has advantages when the interface converter SK is prepared to act as a server to the mobile station or to the fixed station Di. If the interface converter SK acts as a server, it can exercise a central role in the implementation of cross-system services.

The 2 shows a development of the communication arrangement of 1 , In this case, the various data sources Di and / or data sinks Di are connected via a communication network KN to the interface converter SK radio- or wired to allow communication from a greater distance with a vehicle Fi via an automotive radio interface SSp. It is also possible to prepare an interface converter SK in such a way that a first subset of the connections (corresponding to the concept of the 1 ) is directly connected to the interface converter SK and another part of the connections (according to the concept of 2 ) is indirectly connected to the interface converter SK via a communication network KN.

The 3 shows a method 100 for transmitting data between a vehicle Fi and a mobile Di or fixed Di station. The procedure 100 includes the following steps: In a first step 110 A vehicle Fi is provided with an automotive WLAN interface SSp. In a second step 120 an interface converter SK is provided which has both an automotive WLAN interface SSp and at least one of the nonautomotive interfaces SSb, SSd, SSi, SSm, SSn. In a third step 130 For example, the interface converter SK is used to transfer data between the vehicle Fi and the mobile or stationary station Di.

• – Auslesen eines Fehlerspeichers (beispielsweise in einer Werkstatt);
• – Aktualisieren von Karten (beispielsweise mittels Smartphone);
• – Downloaden eines Musik-Datenstroms ins Fahrzeug Fi;
• – Durchführen von Softwareupdates (beispielsweise in einer Werkstatt);
• – Überwachen und Durchführen eines (pilotierten) Garagenparkens;
• – Überwachen eines drahtlosen Ladens eines Elektrofahrzeugs Fi.

Applications that can build on the present invention include:

• - reading a fault memory (for example in a workshop);
• - update maps (for example by smartphone);
• Downloading a music data stream to the vehicle Fi;
• - Performing software updates (for example in a workshop);
• - monitoring and performing a (piloted) garage parking;
• - Monitoring a wireless charging of an electric vehicle Fi.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been 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.

Cited non-patent literature

• WLAN standard IEEE 802.11p [0025]
• WLAN standards: IEEE 802.11a [0027]
• IEEE 802.11b [0027]
• IEEE 802.11g [0027]
• IEEE 802.11n [0027]

Claims (10)

Interface converter (SK) with a non-automatic interface (SSb, SSd, SSi, SSm, SSn), characterized in that the interface converter (SK) has an automotive WLAN interface (SSp). Interface converter (SK) according to claim 1, characterized in that the interface converter (SK) comprises an environment monitoring system (KS, RS), which is prepared to put the interface converter (SK) in the presence of certain monitoring results in a first operating mode and / or is prepared to put the interface converter (SK) in a second operating mode in the absence of certain monitoring results. Interface converter (SK) according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the interface converter (SK) is prepared to under certain circumstances automatically establish a data connection to the vehicle (Fi) and / or that the interface converter (SK) is prepared for it to automatically establish a data connection to a mobile or fixed station (Di) under certain boundary conditions. Interface converter (SK) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the interface converter (SK) is prepared to carry out automatically a first interrogation with an on-board device via the automotive WLAN interface (SSp) and / or that the interface converter (SK) SK) is prepared to automatically perform a second query at a mobile or fixed station (Di). Interface converter (SK) according to claim 4, characterized in that the interface converter (SK) is prepared to evaluate a result of the first and / or the second query and depending on the evaluation via the WLAN interface (SSp) and / or the nonautomotive Interface (SSb, SSd, SSi, SSm, SSn) to prompt a follow-up. Interface converter (SK) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the interface converter (SK) comprises a data memory (SP) and the interface converter (SK) is prepared to evaluate results of the first and / or second query and / or results of the evaluation store the first query and / or results of the evaluation of the second query in the data memory (SP). Interface converter (SK) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the interface converter (SK) is prepared to a vehicle (Fi), which is connected by means of the automotive WLAN interface (SSp) to the interface converter (SK) to act as a server and / or that the interface converter (SK) is prepared to act as a server to the mobile station or to the fixed station (Di). Interface converter (SK) according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the interface converter (SK) has a wired interface (SSd), a mobile radio interface (SSm), a non-automatic WLAN interface (SSn), an infrared interface (SSi), a Laser interface and / or a Bluetooth interface (SSb). Vehicle (Fi), characterized in that the vehicle (Fi) comprises an interface converter (SK) according to one of claims 1 to. 8 Procedure ( 100 ) for transferring data between a vehicle (Fi) and a mobile or fixed station (Di), the method ( 100 ) comprises the following step: - providing ( 110 ) of a vehicle (Fi) with an automotive WLAN interface (SSp); characterized in that the method ( 100 ) includes the following steps: - providing ( 120 ) of an interface converter (SK) according to one of claims 1 to 8; and - benefits ( 130 ) of the interface converter (SK) for transferring data between the vehicle (Fi) and the mobile or stationary station (Di).

Images