DE102015215333A1 - Apparatus for loading data from a stationary wireless communication infrastructure while traveling - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a means of locomotion, a device and a method for loading data during an imminent locomotion on a predefined route (2). The method comprises the steps:
Determining a route destination (1),
Determining a route (2) from a starting point (3) to the route destination (1),
- Determining a respective property of each wireless communication infrastructure (4, 5, 6, 7) for a plurality of route sections (21-26) of the route (2) and depending on the characteristics
- Predefine on the respective route sections (21-26) to be loaded components of the data.

Description

The present invention relates to a means of locomotion, an apparatus and a method for loading data during locomotion. In particular, the present invention relates to the best possible up-to-dateness of loaded data with at the same time the greatest possible security of a timely data acquisition.

In-vehicle navigation systems use digital maps to enable the planning of a route and navigation from a starting point and a destination point optimized to specific criteria (time, shortest route, most efficient locomotion, ...). The maps used for this purpose contain both topological information, such as: The history of roads, tracks and buildings, semantic information about certain places (petrol stations, ATMs, parking lots, construction sites, etc.), statistical data (traffic flow etc.) and data that is integrated in real time (current traffic jams, traffic delays, Closures, ...). Most navigation solutions (both vehicle-integrated and portable navigation applications) store much of this information on an internal memory that ships with the particular navigation device. The availability of digital cards is limited by the memory of the devices and often the cards are therefore limited to certain areas delivered (eg Germany, Europe, etc.).

Furthermore, there are now also navigation solutions in the form of apps for smartphones. Some of these apps, like previously mentioned navigation systems, offer the ability to save digital maps by region offline. Other navigation applications do not provide the option of offline storage of maps and require a connection to the Internet for planning to retrieve map material from a server. In addition, there are navigation applications that use a combination of the above methods by allowing the manual storage of some locations, but using their servers via the Internet, as long as map information needed for planning or navigation is not stored in memory. The map data can then be kept in memory for a route for a certain amount of time. Since digital maps should always be up to date for meaningful route guidance, they must be updated at regular intervals. Offline navigation systems that store their entire maps in their memory need to be connected to the Internet (usually using a computer), download updates, and load into their memory. With navigation solutions that work online on map servers, a server-side update of the map material is sufficient.

Vehicles that support highly automated or completely autonomous driving always require up-to-date and highly accurate map material (so-called "HD maps") in order to be able to drive safely and reliably on their own. It should be noted that much larger amounts of data must be stored here than with normal navigation systems. So far, such HD cards are usually stored for individual routes in the memory of the car.

The more maps are stored in digital maps, the more memory a navigation application needs without internet connection. This is especially the case with HD cards, where very large amounts of data are created even in smaller areas. Furthermore, these cards must also be constantly updated to ensure a safe and reliable highly automated or autonomous ride. Both a complete storage of highly accurate map material for entire areas as well as a constant update of the memory content are not practical in pure offline solutions for cases such as precise navigation with HD maps and highly automated or autonomous driving, because on the one hand very a lot of storage space (which is expensive) would be needed, on the other hand, the data would have to get an update at least daily. The advantage of using maps loaded by servers from the Internet as needed is that only the map information that is needed for the next route is buffered in the internal memory. This data can be downloaded, for example, before starting a journey from a stationary WLAN access point or while driving via a mobile (usually costly) Internet connection. When downloading map material via mobile Internet, however, the connectivity is not taken into account in previous systems. In some areas, the availability of mobile Internet is severely limited, or even absent. In the local garage, the vehicle may have access to the home's Wi-Fi network and can quickly and conveniently download data from a data store and / or the Internet instead of using an expensive and slow mobile network. Even in certain locations, such as certain urban areas, free Wi-Fi is available, which can be used. This is particularly relevant when traveling abroad, as mobile Internet may be very expensive due to possibly incurred roaming charges.

However, the availability and type of connectivity in existing card-based systems are not taken into account when planning to download map material. As a result, data may be loaded if only a slow and / or expensive connection to the Internet exists. This results in costs and inconvenience for the customer due to long waiting times.

Highly automated and autonomous vehicles require a large amount of data to travel (partially) autonomously and should therefore consider both the quality and the cost of the connection when planning downloads. It is an object of the present invention to meet the need identified above.

The object identified above is achieved according to the invention by a method for loading data during an imminent locomotion. The movement can take place, for example, on a predefined route, for which in a first step a route destination is determined and in a second step a route is determined from a starting point to the route destination. The determination of the route can be carried out in a conventional manner via user inputs. Alternatively or additionally, experience-based probabilities can be determined as a function of a current date, a current time of day, a current day of the week, a current occupation of the means of locomotion, etc., in order to preselect a most probable route. Moreover, according to the invention, a property of a wireless communication infrastructure is determined on a first route section of the route, and a property of a wireless communication infrastructure is determined on a second route section of the route. The properties stand for a respective suitability of the wireless communication infrastructures for a download and / or upload of data during a driving of the respective route section of the route. For example, the property can be used to describe the maximum, the minimum or the average data throughput to be expected, a spatial extension of corresponding access areas, any resulting connection and / or data volume-related costs, etc. At least for a first wireless communication infrastructure on the route as well as for a second wireless communication infrastructure on the route before using the two wireless communication infrastructures predefined respective components to be loaded data in order to load the data timely and as current as possible while driving. Thus, if it is foreseeable that there will be no internet connection in certain areas on the predefined route, then all the data needed for that route should be loaded before the vehicle enters the connectionless area (even if this results in other data being locally further away are not loaded). It is therefore proposed to explicitly estimate the connectivity along the route when planning a route, and to make a plan for the necessary downloads (eg map updates, multimedia data) based on this estimate. The times for the download of the data or the location points and the respective data packets to be loaded are thereby optimized, for example, for the entire, planned route. Here, both the quality of the connection and the cost of the connection play an important role. As a result, the method according to the invention enables the best possible up-to-dateness of data to be loaded while at the same time providing high data availability.

The dependent claims preferably show the developments of the invention.

The particular characteristic of the wireless communication infrastructures may describe a bandwidth and / or a probable availability and / or a cost estimate for a load of a part of the data to be loaded. The availability may relate, for example, to a spatial extent of the available radio signal. On the basis of this information, a system configured according to the invention can determine, depending on the ego speed, how long the wireless communication infrastructure is available and what data volume can be exchanged with the wireless communication infrastructure. In addition, it can be taken into account that traffic density in the area of the wireless communication infrastructure can influence what bandwidth will be available in the ego vehicle. Corresponding data can therefore be retrieved cataloged by time of day and date and a corresponding entry in the planning of the download according to the invention are taken into account. Such information can also be determined comparatively promptly by vehicles currently traveling on the route section and provided with information technology. The data to be loaded according to the invention can represent map material, for example, which describe, for example, high-resolution data for a driver assistance system engaging in longitudinal and / or transverse guidance. Alternatively or additionally, the data may describe current traffic information and other route-related information (eg, weather conditions, construction sites, traffic flow analysis data, etc.). In addition, the data may describe multimedia data, which serve in particular for the entertainment of the passengers. For example, music and / or video material may be defined by the data.

For example, for two different route sections, a procedure for loading data can be predefined in advance as follows:
First, for a first route section, a first constituent of the data for loading on the first route section is predefined. Subsequently, will for a second route section, a second component of the data is predefined for loading on the second route section. Upon reaching the first route section, the first part of the data is loaded. After completing the loading of the first component of the data and then reaching the second route section, the second component of the data which is predefined for the download on the second route section is automatically loaded. In this way, it can be planned at an early point in time, and in particular before the start of a trip on the predefined route, which components of a data record to be loaded in total are to be loaded on which route section in order to ensure the best possible timeliness of the data and at the same time the greatest possible data availability.

The wireless communication infrastructure can be, for example, a domestic WLAN access point, which the user operates, for example, in his own home or with reach in his own parking facility (eg garage, carport or the like). A WLAN access point located on a route section of the route can also be used as a wireless communication infrastructure in the context of a method according to the invention. Another embodiment of the wireless communication infrastructure is a terrestrial mobile communication infrastructure, which may be configured, for example, as a network node (eNB, transmission tower, cell or the like). Of course, other designated wireless communication infrastructures may be used (eg, "hotspot," "WiFi access point," or the like).

If there are two wireless communication infrastructures along the predefined route, with fundamentally identical suitability of the wireless communication infrastructures, that route section for loading a specific component of the data can be preferably scheduled, which is timely, but later located to ensure the highest possible up-to-dateness of the loaded data. In order to maintain the greatest possible up-to-dateness, minor disadvantages of the wireless communication infrastructure that has been achieved later can also be accepted, provided the timeliness of the data is particularly important for the user or the application.

The determination of the respective property of a respective wireless communication infrastructure can access locally stored information for a plurality of route sections of the route. These may for example be stored in a memory of a vehicle equipped according to the invention and / or a wireless communication terminal of a user. Previously traveled route sections can be cataloged and / or mapped as it were, with information about the characteristics and the usability of the local wireless communication infrastructures being recorded. Corresponding information can also be used from the trips of other users, provided they are made available via the Internet. In this way, a map can provide even tighter and more up-to-date results, and the planning of loading the data can be made even better and more accurate.

If it is established that two different wireless communication infrastructures are used on a predefined route, this can be taken into account in the type of data which is obtained via the first wireless communication infrastructure or the second wireless communication infrastructure. For this purpose, the data to be loaded can be divided into two classes, which describe different rapidly changing circumstances. For example, the first class of circumstances may describe rapidly changing circumstances (eg, ghost rider / accident / lockdown / traffic jam / construction sites, or the like). The second class may tend to describe slower changing circumstances (eg a road course, stationary speed camera positions, etc.). Depending on this classification, it may be predefined, for example at the beginning of the route, that the data relating to the second class of circumstances are loaded via the data infrastructure of a previously traveled route segment and data relating to the first class of circumstances, be loaded via the wireless communication infrastructure of a later to be traveled route section. In particular, the first class of circumstances may exclude the second class of circumstances such that data representing the first class of circumstances is not included in the data set contained in the first route segment to be traveled, while in the one to be traveled later over the wireless communication infrastructure of FIG Route section does not contain data relating to the second class of circumstances.

If a route is planned in the car or a planned route is sent to the car, it preferably calculates an optimal strategy based on an estimated download capacity along the route. For example, if the car has a good and cheap Wi-Fi connection at home, as much data as possible should be loaded from home before the start of a ride. Data that can not be loaded at the beginning of the journey due to its timeliness or lack of free memory should ideally be loaded in areas where a good and cheap connection is available.

Dynamic data such. B. Construction progressions should z. B. be loaded as late as possible to get the most current course of the construction site in the vehicle. However, if the region in front of the construction site does not have good network coverage, the download must be done earlier to provide at least a slightly older geometry in the vehicle.

Especially in highly automated and autonomous vehicles, different types of data can have different categories. Some data is imperative to enable highly automated or autonomous driving, while other data types provide an improved driving experience, but can be dispensed with in an emergency (eg visualization data). In this context too, the estimation of connectivity plays a crucial role. It is important to ensure that high priority data is available at the right time, while medium or lower priority data should be loaded at the right time. An estimate of connectivity along the route is critical to optimizing the download strategy and enabling map data to be loaded at the right time based on their priority and expected connectivity along the route, especially before the journey begins.

For example, future trips that are based on the customer's usual mobility behavior can also be taken into account. In this regard, the disclosure of the DE 10 2007 024 061 directed. In doing so, an estimate can be made from records of previous journeys as to which route will probably lead to which destination next. This is especially useful for habitual journeys or on those routes that the customer is familiar with and therefore usually does not activate route planning. By predicting the next leg, the system can also plan the connectivity of the route and calculate a download strategy. For example, if the estimate says that the customer is very likely to be at work around 7:00 am, map data can be predictively downloaded (ideally in domestic Wi-Fi) and available to the customer as he gets into the car although he has not actively planned a route. For highly automated and (partially) autonomous journeys, this means that the customer can start his highly automated or (partially) autonomous journey without further delay through downloads.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for loading data during an upcoming locomotion is proposed. The device can be designed as part of a driver assistance system. Alternatively or additionally, the device may be configured as part of a portable / mobile user terminal. A wireless communication device is configured to exchange data with a wireless communication infrastructure. A data memory is provided for the local storage of data (eg multimedia data, navigation map material or the like). An evaluation unit is arranged to enable the device to carry out a method according to the first aspect of the invention. For this purpose, the wireless communication device is set up to load data during a movement. The evaluation unit is in turn configured to determine a route destination, to determine a route from a starting point to the route destination and to determine a respective property (eg availability / costs, bandwidth) of a respective wireless communication infrastructure for a plurality of route sections of the route and as a function thereof to predefine the components of the data to be loaded on the respective route sections. The predefining can in particular be carried out before starting the movement on the predefined route, preferably completed. According to a third aspect of the present invention, a means of transportation (eg, a car, a van, a truck, a motorbike, a watercraft, and / or an aircraft) is proposed, which includes a device for loading data during an upcoming locomotion according to the second-mentioned aspect of the invention comprises. In this way, both the device according to the invention and the means of transport according to the invention are set up to realize the features, feature combinations and the resulting advantages in a corresponding manner, so that reference is made to avoid repetition of the above statements.

An optimization strategy according to the invention in each case loads the required information at the right time. This leads to a reduction in the amount of data that has to be loaded overall, since only the information that is really needed for the next journey is loaded. Reducing the amount of data ultimately reduces the cost of mobile Internet and reduces user latency. Furthermore, by such an optimized download strategy, the total amount of data that must be available in the car can be reduced and thereby a smaller off-line memory can be installed in the car, whereby the cost of producing a vehicle according to the invention over the prior art can be significantly reduced.

An optimized download strategy ensures highly automated and autonomous driving in the area of highly automated and autonomous driving, as long as possible and cost-effective, highly automated or autonomous travel, since the data required for such journeys are available at the right time.

The fact that data is priority-based and loaded based on the expected connectivity at the right time, the HD map material in the vehicle is much more current than in download strategy without a predictive consideration of connectivity according to the invention.

In particular, integrating such a download strategy with estimated future routes based on the customer's learned models will provide the customer with a better driving experience, since he will have to wait less often for data required for highly automated or autonomous journeys to be loaded for his next route ,

Further details, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the figures. Show it:

1 an overview of an inventively supported Datenladevorhaben (download scenario);

2 a schematic diagram illustrating components of an embodiment of a device according to the invention; and

3 a flowchart illustrating steps of an embodiment of a method according to the invention for loading data during an upcoming locomotion.

1 shows a car 10 as a means of transport according to the invention, which at a user at home one to a destination 1 leading route 2 calculated. Two alternative routes 2a . 2 B have already been discarded because they have too long paths and less suitable availability of a wireless communication infrastructure. In the house 3 the user is a wireless router 4 arranged as a wireless communication infrastructure, which is a coverage area 41 within which is the parking facility of the car 10 lies. A first route section 21 is therefore basically within the technical signal availability of the WLAN router 4 , A second route section 22 which is located between the supply area 41 of the wireless router 4 and a service area 51 a hotspot 5 conditional on the need for at least those card data, which until entry into the coverage area 51 be needed already within the supply area 41 to load. A third route section 23 and a fourth route section 24 be through the coverage area 51 covered. The fourth route section 24 is also in the supply area 61 a second hotspot 6 as a wireless communication infrastructure. A fifth route section 25 is located exclusively within the supply area 61 , A transmission tower 7 a terrestrial mobile network is building a coverage area 71 on which a sixth route section 26 the predefined route 2 at least be supplied with mobile data. Unless the navigation of the car 10 to the route destination 1 along the route 2 imminent, the route data or while driving on the route 2 to be consumed multimedia data to be loaded aware of the characteristics of the illustrated wireless communication infrastructure. While the availability of the domestic Wi-Fi network is usually inexpensive and the bandwidth is known relatively accurately, the availability of hotspots can 5 . 6 vary greatly depending on the number of current users. In addition, weather conditions and attenuation caused by (temporary) obstacles in the radio link may result in availability and bandwidth being highly dependent on the circumstances of the individual case. The same can apply to the bandwidth that passes through the transmission tower 7 in the form of mobile data. If, however, (eg Internet-based) based on the current route sections 23 . 24 . 25 . 26 driving means announce sufficient data communication security, to ensure the greatest possible up-to-dateness of the loaded data, a download of a first part of the data, which describes a first class of potentially rapidly changing circumstances, on a lying later in the route section 23 . 24 . 25 . 26 while another component of the data represents a second class of slowly changing circumstances already in the first route section 21 or, for example, already on reaching the third route section 23 getting charged. In this way, the shortest possible goal achievement is ensured, while optional advantageous data to increase comfort during the journey as current as possible are loaded on the way.

2 shows components of an embodiment of an inventive device for loading data during a locomotion. An antenna 8th is a symbol of a wireless communication device with an electronic control unit 9 connected as an evaluation unit information technology. The electronic control unit 9 can in a data store 11 Store maps or load map material from them. A feedback to a user can via an information technology with the electronic control unit 9 connected screen 12 as a display unit be issued. On the screen 12 The route and / or preferences for a data download during the route can also be displayed and possibly manipulated by the user.

3 shows steps of an embodiment of a method for loading data during an upcoming trip on a predefined route. In step 100 a route destination is determined, which in step 200 is linked by a route calculation with a predetermined starting point. In step 300 respective characteristics of a respective wireless communication infrastructure are determined for a plurality of route sections of the route. In particular, the availability of a required bandwidth and the expected costs for loading a respective data volume are determined. Depending on these characteristics, components of the data to be loaded are distributed in advance to the respective route sections ("mapping"). Thus, at an early stage, a planning is made as to how the data to be loaded can be made as safe as possible during the course of the journey and still up-to-date in good time. In step 500 a first part of the data predefined for a first route section is loaded during the passage of the first route section. This can be done, for example, using a domestic WLAN network. In step 600 loading of the first part of the data is completed. In step 700 the user reaches a second route section in response to what in step 800 automatically loaded a second component, which was predefined for the second route section.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

aim

2

route

2a, 2b

alternative routes

3

House of the user

4

WLAN router

5, 6

Hotspot

7

Communications tower

8th

antenna

9

electronic control unit

10

car

11

data storage

12

screen

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

route sections

41, 51, 61, 71

coverage areas

100 to 800

steps

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 102007024061 [0019]

Claims (11)

A method of loading data during an upcoming locomotion, comprising the steps of: - determining ( 100 ) of a route destination ( 1 ), - Determine ( 200 ) of a route ( 2 ) from a starting point ( 3 ) to the route destination ( 1 ), - Determine ( 300 ) of a respective property of a respective wireless communication infrastructure ( 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 ) for a plurality of route sections ( 21 - 26 ) of the route ( 2 ) and depending on the properties - predefine ( 400 ) on the respective route sections ( 21 - 26 ) to be loaded components of the data. The method of claim 1, wherein the property of the wireless communication infrastructure ( 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 ) - a bandwidth and / or - a probable availability and / or - a cost estimate for a load of a component of the data to be loaded describes. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the data - Map material, in particular high-resolution data for engaging in longitudinal and / or transverse guidance driver assistance system, and / or - current traffic information and / or - include for consumption while traveling on the route predefined multimedia data. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein determining the route destination to be approached ( 1 ) is determined on the basis of a probability as a function of - a time of day and / or - a date and / or - a previously traveled route. Method according to one of the preceding claims further comprising - loading ( 500 ) of a first, for a first route section ( 21 ) predefined component of the data on the first route section ( 21 ), - finishing ( 600 ) loading the first part of the data, - reaching ( 700 ) of a second route section ( 23 ) and in response to it - automatic loading ( 800 ) of a second, for the second route section ( 23 ) predefined component of the data. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the wireless communication infrastructure ( 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 ) - a domestic WLAN access point or - one on a route section ( 23 ) of the route ( 2 ) located WLAN access point or - is a terrestrial mobile communication infrastructure. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a wireless communication infrastructure ( 6 ) of a later to be traveled route section ( 25 ) for preloading a part of the data against a wireless communication infrastructure ( 5 ) of a previously to be traveled route section ( 23 ) is preferably used, provided that the wireless communication infrastructures ( 5 . 6 ) have comparable properties. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein determining a respective characteristic of a respective wireless communication infrastructure ( 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 ) - comprises reading out properties detected during an identical previously traveled route section and / or - comprising loading data representing the feature over the Internet. Method according to one of the preceding claims further comprising: - determining two classes by the circumstances of the circumstances described, wherein - the first class describes potentially rapidly changing circumstances and - the second class describes slowly changing circumstances, and depending on this classification - predefine one a later to be traveled route section ( 25 ) record to be loaded describing the first class of potentially rapidly changing circumstances, and - predefining a route segment to be traveled earlier ( 23 ) record to be loaded describing the second class of potentially slowly changing circumstances. Device for loading data during an imminent locomotion, comprising - a wireless communication device ( 8th ), - a data memory ( 11 ) and - an evaluation unit ( 9 ), wherein - the wireless communication device ( 8th ) is set up to load data during a movement, - the evaluation unit ( 9 ), - a route destination ( 1 ), - a route ( 2 ) from a starting point ( 3 ) to the route destination ( 1 ), - a respective property of a respective wireless communication infrastructure ( 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 ) for a plurality of route sections ( 21 - 26 ) of the route ( 2 ) and depending on the characteristics - on the respective route sections ( 21 - 26 ) to predefine components of the data to be loaded. Means of transportation ( 10 ) comprising an apparatus according to claim 10.

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