DE102015013467A1 - Traffic light assistance system and operating method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

A traffic light assistance system (14) comprises a radio interface (15) for receiving traffic light phase information from a traffic light system and an evaluation unit (17) for specifying a driving recommendation for approaching the traffic light system based on the received traffic light phase information and for outputting the driving recommendation to a display screen (18). The evaluation unit (17) is set up to output a separate indication via a whistleblower (19) when a demand-controlled change of the traffic light phase information is detected.

Description

The present invention relates to a traffic light assistance system for installation in a vehicle, which serves to facilitate the passage of a traffic light, in particular by generating a driving recommendation, which, if it is followed, leads to the vehicle reaching the traffic light at a time the passing of the traffic light is allowed.

Out DE 10 2008 060 869 A1 is such a traffic light assistance system known that receives from a traffic light phase information, namely the remaining until a change of the traffic light phase remaining time, and calculated from this phase remaining time a speed that should drive the vehicle to reach the traffic light at a time at which the passing of the traffic light is allowed.

Traffic lights often work with so-called fixed-time controls, that is, they have timely known switching times from one signal phase to another. Increasingly, however, demand-controlled systems are used which, for example, make adjustments to the signal program on the basis of the traffic situation (traffic flow in certain directions, backwater, signal requesters at traffic light-controlled pedestrian crossings, signal requesters at traffic light-controlled bicyclist transitions). In addition, there are types of vehicles such as ambulances, police or fire brigade vehicles, as well as public transport, which take precedence over other vehicles and are capable of prompting a change in their operation if needed as they approach such a traffic light system, such that the privileged vehicle can pass the traffic light system with minimal delay.

If such a preferential vehicle changes the operation of the traffic light system (or if such a change is triggered by the traffic situation as described above), this results in a driving recommendation of a traffic light assistance system which has been calculated on the basis of traffic light phase information transmitted before the change the change is very likely to be incorrect. If, at the beginning of the approach to a traffic light, a driver notices and follows the driving recommendation calculated by the driver assistance system for this traffic light, there is a considerable possibility that, if due to demand control an expected phase change of the traffic light fails or a phase change occurs unexpectedly, the Speed of the vehicle is not adjusted to move the vehicle in the situation situation in the intersection situation. For example, it may no longer be possible to bring the vehicle to a stop in time before the traffic light by a surprising for the driver change the traffic light phase from GREEN to RED due to too high speed, or it will no longer be possible a recalculated recommendation of the traffic light Assistance system as a driver. However, if a driver finds out that if he trusts the driving recommendations of his traffic light assistance system, he endangers himself and others, then he will judge the traffic light assistance system as unusable and no longer use it.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a traffic light assistance system that ensures a high degree of reliability even on a demand-controlled traffic light system.

The object is achieved according to a first embodiment of the invention, in which in a traffic light assistance system with a radio interface for receiving traffic signal phase information from a traffic light system and an evaluation unit for setting a driving recommendation for approaching the traffic light system based on the received traffic light phase information and for issuing the driving recommendation Evaluation unit is further configured to issue a separate notice upon detection of a demand-driven change in traffic signal phase information.

Such a separate note should have a higher degree of conspicuity for the driver than the original driving recommendation. While it is sufficient in the original driving recommendation, if it is perceptible by the driver's active attention, as this, when he approaches a traffic lights, for example, will actively look at a display instrument on which the driving recommendation is displayed, the separate note should also be perceived passive attention, for example in the form of an acoustic indication or an optical indication, which is displayed by means of a head-up display or the like in the driver's field of vision, if this, as expected when approaching a traffic light, the traffic light or the Looks between the vehicle or traffic light lying driving route. This ensures that the driver, in case of need, acknowledges in good time that the previously given driving recommendation may no longer be trusted.

In such a case, the driver may again look at the display instrument to check whether there is an updated driving recommendation, or he may, in the same way as if the traffic light assistance system were not present, drive on sight. If the traffic light assistance system can not recommend a speed with which the vehicle reaches the traffic light at GREEN - or because there is no current traffic light phase information with which this speed is calculated or because the calculated speed is higher than allowed or inappropriately low, the driving recommendation of the traffic light assistance system may also be limited to the indication to drive on view and to consider the intersection environment carefully.

If the vehicle is equipped with a control unit which is able to steer the vehicle automatically without driver intervention in certain traffic situations, such as when driving in a convoy, then such a control unit can also use the driving recommendation given by the traffic light assistance system according to the invention passing traffic lights without stopping, or to optimize the stopping process with respect to traffic flow and energy efficiency aspects. If such a control unit receives the separate indication of a demand control of the traffic light ahead, then it should expediently switch to a driver-controlled operating mode in order to allow the driver to pass the traffic light system correctly.

The recognition of a demand control by the traffic light assistance system can be based on the fact that the traffic light system transmits traffic signal phase information several times, at regular times, during the same operating phase. If there is no demand control, the difference between the phase remaining times indicated in the traffic light phase information should correspond to the time interval in which the traffic light phase information has been sent. If this is not the case - what z. B. in a graphical application of these remaining times is to be recognized as a jump - then this suggests that a short-term change in the planned phase sequence of the traffic light system has been triggered by demand control. In this case, the separate note must be issued.

As a rule, on-demand traffic lights are located at intersections with a plurality of driveways, which result from roads from different directions approaching the intersection, and paths that lead from the same direction to the intersection running in different directions across the intersection can. In the traffic light phase information, which emits a traffic light system at such an intersection, phase residual times for the different travel routes should be included. When these different phase residual times are extracted from the traffic light phase information by the traffic light assistance system, an on-demand change should preferably be recognized when, for any of these travel routes, the difference between the remaining phase times of the traffic light phase information is different from the time interval between the traffic signal phase information. Thus, if necessary, the separate hint can already be issued when the traffic light system has only updated the remaining phase times for a part of the travel paths in response to a demand control. Even if later it should turn out that the remaining phase times are not changed at all for the route on which the vehicle approaches the traffic light, and it is still possible to pass the traffic light system on the basis of the previously given driving recommendation, the driver is warned by the hint that that when crossing the intersection he has to expect traffic from an unfamiliar direction.

The traffic light assistance system should include a user interface for receiving the driving recommendation and the notification from the evaluation unit and for implementing the driving recommendations of the notification in a form perceptible by the driver. In the case of the driving recommendation, a display instrument or a display panel on a screen can serve this purpose; for the indication, as already mentioned above, an acoustic output or an output by a head-up display (or another technology for conveying information in the driver's primary field of view) is preferred.

The user interface may be configured to cancel the driving recommendation only if an on-demand change of the phase remaining time relates to the route on which the vehicle is moving. Thus, if, for example, the driving recommendation is continuously visible on a display instrument, this can remain so even after the separate indication has been issued, as long as the phase remaining time for the travel path of the vehicle does not change. Thus, the driver is warned by the separate note, but can simultaneously recognize that the warning has no effect on the previously obtained driving recommendation.

Conveniently, the separate indication in the case that an on-demand change of the phase remaining time relates to all travel paths is distinguishable from the case where the demand-driven change relates only to a part of the travel paths and in particular not to the travel path of the vehicle. If an on-demand change concerns only a part of the routes, it can be considered to be due to a public transport vehicle leaving a previously known route taken into account when changing the remaining phase times; a change that affects all routes, however, will be more likely to go back to an emergency vehicle, which is not known in advance, which road it will take at the intersection and therefore all eligible routes must be kept free.

The evaluation unit can be set up after recognition of a demand-controlled Change to issue an updated driving recommendation. This will normally be based on the phase residual times of the most recent traffic light phase information.

• a) Empfangen von erster Ampelphaseninformation von einer Ampelanlage,
• b) Festlegen einer ersten Fahrempfehlung zur Annäherung an die Ampelanlage auf Grundlage der empfangenen ersten Ampelphaseninformation,
• c) Anzeigen der ersten Fahrempfehlung,
• d) Empfangen von zweiter Ampelphaseninformation von der Ampelanlage,
• f) Erkennen einer bedarfsgesteuerten Änderung durch Vergleichen der ersten und der zweiten Ampelphaseninformation,
• g) Anzeigen eines Hinweises auf die bedarfsgesteuerte Änderung.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the object is achieved by a method for operating a traffic light assistance system with the following steps:

• a) receiving first traffic light phase information from a traffic light installation,
• b) determining a first driving recommendation for approaching the traffic light system on the basis of the received first traffic light phase information,
• c) displaying the first driving recommendation,
• d) receiving second traffic light phase information from the traffic light system,
• f) detecting an on-demand change by comparing the first and second traffic light phase information,
• g) display an indication of the demand-driven change.

Based on the second traffic signal phase information, it is expedient to determine a second driving recommendation in a step e). This is helpful to the driver, whether or not there is demand control.

In order to detect an on-demand change, a phase residual time is extracted from the first and second traffic signal phase information, and an on-demand change is detected when the time interval between the traffic signal phase information is smaller than the phase remaining time of the first traffic signal phase information, that is, between the first and second traffic signals second phase-of-phase information is not likely to have undergone a phase change, and yet the difference between the remaining phase times is different from the time interval between the traffic-light phase information.

If a plurality of travel paths leads via an intersection protected by the traffic light system, phase remainders from the traffic light phase information should be able to be removed for each of these multiple travel paths. When extracted from the traffic light phase information, the indication that the traffic light system is on-demand can be output when an on-demand change is detected based on remaining phase times of any of these travel routes.

The demand control of the traffic light system can by the traffic situation (traffic flow, backwater, signal request to traffic-controlled pedestrian crossings, signal request to traffic-controlled cyclist crossings) or by preferential vehicles such. B. buses, trams or special purpose vehicles are triggered. Without limiting the generality, the principle of the invention will be illustrated below using the example of preferred vehicles.

The driving recommendations generated by the traffic light phase assistance system can either be forwarded to the driver via a suitable man-machine interface or be used by an automated driving system.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. Show it:

1 a plan view of a road intersection illustrating an application situation of the traffic light assist system according to the invention;

2 a block diagram of the traffic light assistance system;

3 Phase residual times of a driveway over the intersection of 1 as a function of time;

4 a flowchart of a working method of the traffic light assistance system; and

5 exemplary expenditure of a display instrument of a vehicle according to the invention.

1 shows in a map-like representation of an intersection 1 , on the streets 2 to 5 meet. The streets 2 . 4 have turning lanes 21 . 2r . 4l . 4r , The access roads to the junction 1 are secured by traffic lights by a common control computer 7 be coordinated and with 6 _x , where x stands for the road or turn lane for which the traffic light in question applies. The control computer 7 has a radio interface 8th on the one hand to receive demand requests from one of the intersection 1 approaching, privileged vehicle 9 on the other hand, to broadcast traffic signal phase information as well as information about intersection status, restrictions, topography of the intersection, etc, that of any intersection 1 approaching vehicles 9 . 10 can be received.

1 shows a traffic situation, on the one hand on the road 2 a vehicle 10 equipped with a traffic light assistance system according to the invention and on the roadside 3 a privileged vehicle 9 the intersection 1 approaches.

The traffic light assistance system 14 of the vehicle 10 is in 2 shown as a block diagram. It includes a radio interface 15 for receiving the traffic light phase information from the control computer 7 , a positioning device 16 for detecting the position of the vehicle 10 relative to the intersection 1 , an evaluation unit 17 , a display screen 18 and a whistleblower 19 , The positioning device 16 may comprise a receiver for satellite navigation signals, such as GPS signals, by means of which the absolute geographical position of the vehicle 10 calculated and the deviation from the transmitted together with the traffic light phase information geographical position of the intersection 1 is calculated, it is preferably in the positioning device to a known per se vehicle navigation system. The evaluation unit 17 is also equipped with a speedometer 20 connected to the distance of the vehicle 10 from the intersection 1 and the speed of the train 10 the remaining time until reaching the intersection 1 to calculate.

The display screen 18 can be a multifunction display on the dashboard of the vehicle 10 be, preferably only when approaching a traffic light system as part of the traffic light assistance system 14 is used and at other times fulfills other display tasks. The whistleblower 19 In particular, it may be a speaker or a head-up display capable of producing a conspicuous light signal to the windshield of the vehicle 10 to project (or another optical technology for conveying information in the primary field of vision of the driver) and so in the field of vision of the driver.

The traffic light phase information that the vehicle 10 from the control computer 7 at a given time specifies a phase remaining time until the next change in the light signal for each traffic light 6 at the crossroads 1 , These must be the traffic light assistance system 14 the for the vehicle 10 extract relevant. With the help of the positioning device 16 identifies the evaluation unit 17 that street, here the street 2 on which the vehicle is 10 the intersection 1 approaches. In the case shown here are the vehicle 10 three driveways over the intersection 1 available in 1 are each shown as dotted lines, a driveway 11 in a left turn on the road 3 leads, a driveway 12 who is the crossroads 1 straight ahead, and a driveway 13 that's right in the street 5 leads. Just before the intersection 1 Shares the road 2 in the two tracks 2l . 2r each with its own traffic light 6 _2l , 6 _{2r is} assigned so that the driveway 11 walk across the street 6 _2l and the routes 12 . 13 walk across the street 6 _2r lead. When the vehicle 10 on in 1 is not yet apparent which of the driveways 11 . 12 . 13 the driver intends to follow and which of the traffic lights 6 _2l , 6 _2r consequently for the vehicle 10 is relevant. In this case, the traffic light assistance system extracts 14 from the traffic light phase information phase remaining times for both traffic lights in question 6 _2l , 6 _2r and only then gives a calculated from these remaining phase times driving recommendation on the display screen 18 to the driver if this driving recommendation is independent of the lane chosen later 2l or 2r make sure the traffic light 6 _2l , 6 _{2r of} the relevant lane 2l . 2r when reaching the intersection 1 indicates green.

As soon as information is available that enables the traffic light assistance system to predict which of the two traffic lights 6 for the vehicle 10 is relevant, the traffic light assistance system can be limited to extracting the remaining phase time only this traffic light and to use for the calculation of a driving recommendation. Such a prediction can be made at the latest when the vehicle 10 in one of the lanes 2l . 2r has arranged and this from the positioning 16 is recognized, but possibly earlier, when the driver a turn signal 21 sets to indicate which of the two lanes it will follow.

The vehicle 10 can additionally with a control unit 26 equipped in the place of the driver, taking into account the surrounding traffic, the vehicle 10 to a pre-programmed destination directs. When using such a control unit 26 is the driveway that the vehicle 10 through the intersection 1 take long before approaching the intersection 1 known, so that the traffic light assistance system 14 itself as soon as it enters the radio range of the control computer 7 can restrict from the outset, from the received traffic light phase information, the phase remainder of exactly this traffic light 6 to extract that lies on the driveway.

As in 2 showed the control unit 26 two inputs parallel to the display screen 18 the driving recommendation and parallel to the whistleblower 19 Receive the notice of the evaluation unit to a demand control. As long as there is no indication of demand control, the control unit can operate in an automated mode and use the driving recommendation to drive the vehicle 10 without stopping over the intersection. However, if the notice comes in, then the control unit ends 26 the automated mode and outputs a signal indicating that the driver is in control of the vehicle 10 must take over.

3 shows the phase residual times of one of the traffic light assistance system 14 monitored traffic light, z. B. the traffic light 6 _2r , as a function of time t. You can see a sawtooth function, which is at every phase change of the traffic light 6 abruptly increases to the planned duration of the phase just started, in order to then normally go to 0 continuously. So is located approximately in the 3 example shown the traffic light 6 at time t = 0 just before End of a green phase. At time t1, this end is reached, the phase remainder jumps from 0 to a low value corresponding to the duration of a subsequent yellow phase; if this too has expired at time t2, then the phase remaining time jumps to a high value corresponding to the duration of the following red phase. A small triangle following from the time t3 corresponds to the duration of a red-yellow phase, and from t4 the traffic light is green again.

At time t5, a red phase begins again, but instead of continuously intercepting from t2 to t3 as before, the phase remainder at time t6 makes an unexpected jump up in the middle of the red phase. If such a jump occurs without the phase remainder having previously reached 0, it can be assumed that no change in phase has taken place and that the cause is a demand control, here by the preferential vehicle 9 , that's the intersection 1 at a time and at such a speed that it approaches without a change in the traffic light phases before entering the intersection 1 would have to stop. By the control computer 7 at time t6 for the vehicle 10 he extends the red phase, he can turn the traffic light 6 ₃ until the arrival of the privileged vehicle 9 keep green there and so the vehicle 9 give the opportunity, the intersection 1 without stopping to cross.

Accordingly recognizes the traffic light assistance system of the vehicle 10 in the fact that between two traffic light phase information transmitted successively, before and after the time t6, the phase remaining time has not decreased in accordance with the time interval between the respective traffic light phase information, an on-demand intervention in the operation of the traffic lights 6 ,

An example of a working method of the traffic light assistance system based thereon 14 is based on the flowchart of 4 explained. It is assumed that the vehicle 10 in the course of a red phase, ie between times t5 and t6 of 3 , the crossing 1 approaches. In step S1, the radio interface receives 15 the traffic light assistance system 14 a traffic light phase information from the control computer 7 , Using data from the positioning device 16 decides the evaluation unit 17 on which the to the intersection 1 leading roads 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 the vehicle 10 is located, what traffic lights or traffic lights 6 for the vehicle 10 are relevant and how big the distance of the vehicle 10 from the intersection 1 is. Based on these data, a driving recommendation for the vehicle is made in step S2 10 calculated. In the case considered here, that the vehicle 10 the intersection 1 approaching in a red phase, the driving recommendation has the form of a maximum speed, which should not be exceeded, so when arriving at the traffic light 6 whose red phase is just over. The driving recommendation will be on the display screen as in 5 represented, for example in the form of a speed limit sign 22 whose numerical value corresponds to the maximum speed not to be exceeded.

In step S3, new traffic light phase information is received, and again for the vehicle 10 relevant phase residual time extracted from it. If the difference between the remaining phase times obtained in step S1 and step S3 corresponds to the time interval between the transmission time points of the traffic light phase information, then obviously no demand control has taken place, in which case the process branches from step S4 back to S2 to the issued driving recommendation, if necessary update based on the most recent phase remainder derived in step S3. If the driver has followed the driving recommendation, the value of the recommended speed will generally not change; otherwise, an adaptation of the driving recommendation may take place.

However, if it is determined in step S4 that the phase residual duration is longer in the most recent traffic light phase information than in the second youngest, but at the same time the second remaining traffic light phase information has been longer than the time interval between the traffic signal phase information, then the increase in phase residual duration must be due to demand control. In this case, the control unit gives 16 a reference to this via the whistleblower 19 to warn the driver that the driving recommendation he may have recently taken note of is no longer valid (S5).

At the same time, a corresponding warning message 23 (please refer 4 ) on the display screen 18 the previously indicated speed limit sign 22 replace. To the conspicuousness of the warning 23 for example, it can be displayed flashing, whereas the speed limit sign 22 for better readability is continuously displayed.

On the basis of the changed phase residual duration, in turn, a driving recommendation can be calculated and in step S6 on the display screen 18 output, for example in the form of another speed limit sign 24 whose displayed speed value will be lower than that of the plate due to the extended phase residual duration 22 ,

Subsequently, the method can return to step S4, so that optionally also Further demand controls occurring during the same traffic light phase can be recognized and taken into account.

The procedure of 4 can be varied in different ways. So z. B. be provided the possibility that the privileged vehicle 9 the traffic light operation stops completely and only by a second radio message to the control computer at a previously unknown time again releases, so that no phase remaining times can be specified before receiving this second radio message. In this case, by a deviating acoustic signal of the whistleblower 19 and / or by continuously displaying the warning 23 be noted that no updated driving recommendation can be given.

The further can, for example, while calculating a driving recommendation in step S2 or S6 exclusively on a phase residual duration of that traffic light 6 _2r based on which the vehicle 10 A decision as to whether demand control exists is based on the monitoring of any phase remainder times included in the traffic light phase information. For example, it can be ensured that the traffic light assistance system can already recognize demand control when the control computer 7 this has not been considered in the remaining phase of all traffic lights; it is sufficient that he has started with the rescheduling of the traffic light operation and has changed the phase remaining time of a single traffic light.

This is particularly useful if the privileged vehicle 9 a police vehicle, fire brigade o. The like. Is, whose track at the intersection 1 is not known in advance and therefore can not be taken into account when redefining the phase residual times.

Is it the privileged vehicle 9 however, it is a public transport line vehicle that is known in advance to be on the intersection 1 a certain route 25 follow, z. B. in the street 2 turn off, then the demand control by the vehicle 9 for the traffic lights 6 at the lanes 2l . 2r remain without effects, so that although a demand control is present, the calculated before the demand control driving recommendation for the vehicle 10 remains valid. In such a case, although by the whistleblower 19 be pointed to the demand control, but at the same time remains the speed limit sign 22 on the display screen 18 continuously visible to give the driver the certainty that the corresponding driving recommendation continues to apply.

According to another development, it can be provided that the reference of the whistleblower 19 is different, depending on whether a demand control for all traffic lights of a traffic light phase information or only for individual of them is determined. If only individual traffic lights are involved, it can be assumed that the demand control was triggered by a line vehicle that will move on the intersection at normal speed; If all traffic lights are affected, then it is likely to be an emergency vehicle, in which case the hint should be more urgent, eg. B. with an increased volume or with a different tone sequence, or if the whistleblower 19 operates with optical signals, with higher light intensity than in the former case done.

It should be understood that the foregoing detailed description and drawings, while indicating certain exemplary embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Various modifications of the described embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the following claims and their equivalence range. In particular, this description and the figures also show features of the embodiments which are not mentioned in the claims. Such features may also occur in combinations other than those specifically disclosed herein. Therefore, the fact that several such features are mentioned in the same sentence or in a different type of textual context does not justify the conclusion that they can occur only in the specific combination disclosed; instead, it is generally to be assumed that it is also possible to omit or modify individual ones of several such features, provided this does not call into question the functionality of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

crossing

2

Street

3

Street

4

Street

5

Street

6

traffic light

7

tax calculator

8th

Radio interface

9

Preferred vehicle

10

vehicle

11

roadway

12

roadway

13

roadway

14

Ampelossistenzsystem

15

Radio interface

16

positioning

17

evaluation unit

18

display screen

19

whistleblower

20

velocity meter

21

indicator

22

Speed limit sign

23

warning

24

Speed limit sign

25

roadway

26

control unit

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 patent literature

• DE 102008060869 A1 [0002]

Claims (12)

Traffic light assistance system ( 14 ) with a radio interface ( 15 ) for receiving traffic light phase information from a traffic light system ( 6 . 7 ) and an evaluation unit ( 17 ) for setting a driving recommendation for approaching the traffic light system ( 6 . 7 ) based on the received traffic light phase information and for outputting the driving recommendation, which is set to output a separate message when recognizing an on-demand change of the traffic light phase information. Traffic light assistance system according to Claim 1, in which the evaluation unit ( 17 ) is arranged to extract a phase remaining time from consecutive traffic light phase information of the traffic light system and to detect an on-demand change if the difference between the remaining phase times of the traffic light phase information is different from the time interval between the traffic light phase information. Traffic light assistance system according to Claim 1, in which the evaluation unit ( 17 ) is set up, from a traffic light phase information phase remaining times for various about one with the traffic light system ( 6 . 7 ) secured crossing ( 1 ) leading routes ( 11 . 12 . 13 ) and to recognize a demand-driven change, if for any of these routes ( 11 . 12 . 13 ) the difference between the phase residual times of the traffic light phase information is different from the time interval between the traffic signal phase information. Traffic light assistance system according to one of the preceding claims, having a user interface ( 18 . 19 ) for receiving the driving recommendation and the hint from the evaluation unit ( 17 ) and to implement the driving recommendation and the hint in a perceptible by a driver form. Traffic light assist system according to claim 4, as far as dependent on claim 3, wherein the user interface ( 18 . 19 ) is set up to terminate the output of the driving recommendation only if an on-demand change of the phase remaining time relates to the travel path on which the vehicle ( 10 ) emotional. Traffic light assist system according to claim 4, when related to claim 3, or claim 5, wherein the separate indication in the case that an on-demand change of the phase residual time affects all travel paths, is distinguishable from the case that the demand-driven change only a part of the routes concerns. Traffic light assistance system according to claim 4, insofar as referred back to claim 3, or according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the evaluation unit is arranged to issue an updated driving recommendation after detection of a demand-driven change. Vehicle with a traffic light assistance system according to one of the preceding claims and a control unit ( 26 ), which supports an automated and a driver-controlled operating mode and is set to change from the automated to the driver-controlled operating mode upon receipt of the separate instruction. Method for operating a traffic light assistance system with the steps: a) receiving first traffic light phase information from a traffic light installation (S1), b) determining a first driving recommendation for approaching the traffic light system on the basis of the received first traffic light phase information (S2), c) displaying the first driving recommendation (S2), d) receiving second traffic light phase information from the traffic light system (S3), f) detecting a demand-driven change by comparing the first and second traffic light phase information (S4), g) display an indication of the demand-driven change. The method of claim 9 with the step e) determining a second driving recommendation for approaching the traffic light system based on the received second traffic signal phase information (S2). A method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein in step f) it is checked whether there is an on-demand change of the traffic signal phase information by extracting a phase residual time from the first and second traffic signal phase information and an indication is recognized when the time interval between the traffic signal phase information becomes smaller is different than the phase remaining time of the first traffic signal phase information and the difference between the remaining phase times is different from the time interval between the traffic signal phase information. The method of claim 11, wherein the phase residual times for different over a secured with the traffic light crossing routes from the traffic light phase information is extracted and an indication is issued that the traffic light system is demand-controlled, if an on-demand change is detected on the basis of remaining phase times of any of these routes.

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