DE102022001573A1 - Method for logging a route taken by a motor vehicle using a logbook system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for logging a route taken by a motor vehicle (10) using a logbook system, with the steps: - determining an interruption in a position signal using a position detection device (14) of the logbook system; - determining a current position (P1) of the motor vehicle (10) at the break;- checking a potential break structure in a predetermined radius around the one current position (P1);if there is a break structure in the radius, then interpolating the journey between the current position (P1) and a further position (P2) in the logbook system , at which a position signal is received again; or if there is no break structure, then entering an end of journey in the logbook system at the current position (P1).

Description

The invention relates to a method for logging a route taken by a motor vehicle using a logbook system according to the preamble of patent claim 1 and an electronic computing device.

One problem with automated creation of logbooks is recognizing the start and end in dead spots where there is no connectivity or connection to a global positioning system (GPS signal). A logbook backend, in this case a program running on a server for the logbook system, relies on continuous reporting of vehicle data, which means that disconnections are detected and, if necessary, the end of a journey is logged. Such disconnections occur in particular in tunnels, tunnel constructions or underground rooms, since there is no GPS reception and/or no mobile phone reception available in such areas. These disconnections result in an incorrect end of journey being logged, since no more vehicle signals are received for a predetermined period of time. This has negative effects on the correctness of the route and thus on the quality of the logbook system, since the journey ends at a tunnel start, although the journey continues. Another negative factor is that a second journey starts at the end of the tunnel and a third negative effect is that gaps that have arisen for the length of the tunnel must then be entered manually by a user. This applies in particular to logbooks in which data is sent directly from the vehicle via a communication module. Current geographic information systems normally contain information about all tunnel sections, which means that this information can be used to fill in the gaps.

That's it DE 10 2007 024 692 A1 already disclosed a method and a device for determining a distance traveled by a motor vehicle. The method and the device comprise at least one GPS receiver and an evaluation unit, the GPS receiver determining location data with a measuring frequency and delivering it to the evaluation unit, and a distance covered being calculated in the evaluation unit from the distance between two locations and also being integrated. In addition, the evaluation unit evaluates how many satellite signals are detected, with the location data being evaluated in three dimensions in the case of a reception length with several satellites and the location data being evaluated in two dimensions in the case of a reception length with fewer satellites.

This can lead to measurement errors in electronic logbook systems, especially if the motor vehicle is at least temporarily unable to receive a GPS signal or mobile phone signal, for example in a tunnel.

The object of the invention is to further develop a method for logging a route taken by a motor vehicle using a logbook system in such a way that a route is precisely documented and measurement errors are avoided.

This object is achieved using a method with the features of patent claim 1 and using an electronic device. Advantageous refinements of the method according to the invention are to be regarded as advantageous embodiments of the electronic computing device according to the invention, the means of the electronic device being used by carrying out the method steps.

One aspect of the invention relates to a method for logging a route taken by a motor vehicle using a logbook system. In particular, this method has a large number of method steps, with an interruption of a position signal being determined in a first method step by means of a position detection device of the logbook system. In a second method step, a current position of the motor vehicle during the interruption is determined. In a third method step, a potential interruption structure is checked in a predetermined area around the current position. If there is an interruption structure in the radius, then the trip is interpolated between the current position and a further position in the logbook system, at which a position signal is received again, and if there is no interruption structure, then an end of the trip is entered in the logbook system at the current position.

In other words, a method for logging one or more routes of the motor vehicle is provided, in which data about the route of the motor vehicle from a global positioning system (GPS) or other global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) is obtained using a position detection device, in particular with a GPS receiver. received wirelessly and transmitted electronically to a coupled electronic computing device for evaluation of the data. In particular, during an interruption in a connection between the position detection device and the global positioning system, a distance between two positions in the route of the motor vehicle should be evaluated and be logged. This means that when the connection is interrupted, the method steps according to the invention are initiated or started and carried out in order to avoid possible gaps in the route.

When determining the interruption of the position signal by means of the position detection device, in particular with the global positioning system (GPS), a first timeout or a period of time is first started, which issues a command after it has expired, and if a connection is established again during the timeout, reception is continued of the data is performed. If the connection fails during the timeout or after the end of the timeout, a command to carry out a logging of a potential end of journey at a first position of the motor vehicle is carried out at the exact time of the end of the first timeout.

When determining the current position of the motor vehicle during the interruption, the current position of the motor vehicle is logged with the time at which the first timeout ended and is stored for further method steps and further processing of the data. This current position of the motor vehicle thus also indicates the current and first location of the motor vehicle, with the current position being to be regarded as digital information on the actual location of the motor vehicle.

In order to check a potential break structure in a predetermined radius around the current position, an if query is started, in which a geographic information system is used to query whether such a break structure is actually noted or exists in this radius.

If there is an interruption structure in the vicinity, then the journey between the current position and a further position at which a position signal is received again is interpolated in the logbook system. That is, calculated and/or stored data is inserted into the route, filling in the gaps. This completes the route.

For this purpose, for example, the search for a tunnel is started within a predetermined search radius. This means that the geographic information system looks for a possible tunnel on the route in a radius of the current position and thus in the radius of the first location of the motor vehicle, in which the motor vehicle is located during the connection interruption.

When a tunnel is found, the end of a journey is logged with a marker and with tunnel data. A second timeout is then started, during which the connection between the position detection device and the global positioning system (GPS) is checked. If connection failures persist, starting the second timeout is repeated.

When a connection is established, a second location of the motor vehicle and thus a further position at the end of the second timeout are recorded using the position detection device and the global positioning system (GPS). The journey between the positions is then interpolated, with a first route between the first location and the second location also being calculated using the electronic computing device. The first route is then compared with a second route of the searched and found tunnel stored in the geographic information system, with the route of the motor vehicle being logged without interruption if the first route and the second route match, in particular taking into account a specified tolerance. On the other hand, if the first route and the second route deviate, the route taken by the motor vehicle is marked as completed at the time the first timeout ends.

If the search for the tunnel fails, the end of the journey is logged directly.

If there is no interruption structure, then an end of journey is entered in the logbook system at the current position. Further process steps can still be added here in order to further develop the subject matter of the invention. The electronic computing device is designed to carry out all method steps. Finally, when a connection is established again between the position detection device and the global positioning system (GPS), the start of a new route for the motor vehicle is logged.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the logging is stored in an electronic computing device. This means that the routes or the logbook system and all the data it contains are stored in the electronic computing device on the motor vehicle or in a memory provided for this purpose. This makes it possible that the data is not lost and can accordingly be removed from the electronic computing device at a later point in time, for example during a vehicle inspection.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the initiation or execution of the method is started partially automatically if the connection between the position detection device and the global positioning system (GPS) is interrupted. This means that the connection is restarted again and again, so that no further gaps are entered as such in the logbook system, even outside of tunnels. The continuous search for a connection thus enables continuous logging of the route taken by the motor vehicle.

A further embodiment of the invention has also proven to be advantageous, in which the logging is transmitted to a cloud system by means of a data transmission device arranged on the electronic computing device. The transmission of all data to a cloud system makes it possible for the vehicle's route to be monitored by an external system, which means that security systems and location systems record the vehicle's route.

Finally, a further embodiment of the invention provides for the logging to be encrypted using the electronic computing device. Due to data protection, it is possible to encrypt the route of the motor vehicle in such a way that only the user or the owner or authorized persons with the associated authorization levels receive information on the data route of the motor vehicle. This means that undesired third parties cannot receive any data and undesirably log the routes taken by the motor vehicle.

A further aspect of the invention relates to an electronic computing device with circuits and a digital memory and with an assigned position detection device and with an assigned data transmission device for carrying out a method according to the invention.

In other words, a method can be implemented in which the vehicle or the motor vehicle drives into a tunnel and since it usually detects no connection and no GPS reception there, the logbook backend logs a potential end of the journey after a previously specified timeout. With the last GPS position, a tunnel search is now carried out in the geographic information system with a previously specified search radius. If no tunnel is found here, the end of the journey is documented in the logbook backend. However, if a tunnel is found, the end of the trip is marked as a possible tunnel in the logbook backend and the possible tunnel ends are determined. The logbook backend then receives a vehicle signal with GPS coordinates again after a predetermined period of time or after the timeout, so this is compared with the determined end of the tunnel in the geographic information system. if the GPS coordinates are determined within a previously defined radius around the end of a tunnel, the journey marked with a possible tunnel is continued without interrupting the logbook entry. If the GPS coordinates are not within a previously defined radius around the end of a tunnel, then this is the end of the journey marked with a possible tunnel and a new journey is started at the coordinate. If the specified period of time is exceeded, an end of the journey is also specified. This means that tunnel journeys are no longer recorded as gaps in the logbook. The invention results in the following advantages through the use of geographic information systems with tunnel information: The check for tunnels does not result in any tax-relevant gaps that the user has to correct manually.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the following description of a preferred exemplary embodiment and from the drawing. The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description and the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of the figures and shown alone in the single figure can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own, without going beyond the scope of the invention to leave.

The only figure shows a schematic image diagram for representing a method according to the invention for logging a route taken by a motor vehicle using a logbook system.

The only figure shows an image diagram for representing a method according to the invention for logging a route taken by a motor vehicle 10 using a logbook system. A position detection device 12 (GPS receiver) is used to wirelessly receive data about the route taken by motor vehicle 10 from a global positioning system 14 (GPS) and to transmit it to an electronically coupled electronic computing device 16 for evaluation of the data, with a distance between two locations S1, S2 is evaluated and logged in the route of the motor vehicle 10. If a connection between the position detection device 12 and the global positioning system 14 is interrupted several method steps initiated/performed by means of the electronic computing device 16 . Such an interruption occurs in particular when the motor vehicle 10 drives into a tunnel 13 . A current position P1 of the motor vehicle 10 indicates the current and first location S1 of the motor vehicle, this current position P1 being to be regarded as digital information on the actual location S1 of the motor vehicle 10 . This also applies to a further position P2 of the motor vehicle 10, which is to be regarded as digital information on the second location S2 of the motor vehicle 10.

A first method step carries out a first timeout T1 during the interruption of the connection, with a continuation of the reception of the data being carried out when a connection is established again between the position detection device 12 and the global positioning system 14, and in the event of a connection failure, a command to carry out a logging of a potential end of the journey and a first location S1 or a current position P1 of motor vehicle 10 at the end of the first timeout T1. A search, in particular a perimeter search, is then started with a predetermined search radius, in particular a tunnel 13 being searched for on the route in a perimeter of the first location S1 using a geographic information system 18 stored in the electronic computing device 16. If the search for the tunnel 13 fails, the end of the journey is logged and if a tunnel 13 is found, the end of the journey is logged with a marker and with data from the tunnel 13 and a second timeout T2 is carried out, during which the connection between the position detection device 12 and the global positioning system 14 is initiated. In this case, if the connection fails, the implementation of the second timeout T2 is repeated or, if a connection is established, reception of a second location S2 or the further position P2 of motor vehicle 10 at the end of the second timeout T2 is initiated by means of position detection device 12 and global positioning system 14.

A further method step carries out a calculation of a first route between the first location S1 and the second location S2 using the electronic computing device 16 . The first route is then compared with a second route, stored in geographic information system 18, of the searched tunnel 13 within the specified search radius using the electronic computing device 16, with the route of the motor vehicle 10 without a interruption is logged. If the first route and the second routes deviate, the route taken by the motor vehicle 10 is marked as completed at the time when the first timeout T1 ends. Finally, when a connection is established again between the position detection device 12 and the global positioning system 14, the start of a new route for the motor vehicle 10 is logged.

In other words, several steps are carried out using the method for logging a route taken by a motor vehicle 10 using the logbook system. First, an interruption in the position signal is determined by means of the position detection device 14 of the logbook system, and then a current position P1 of the motor vehicle 10 is determined during the interruption. A potential break structure is then checked in a predetermined radius around the current position P1. If there is an interruption structure in the vicinity, then the trip between the current position P1 and the further position P2 is interpolated in the logbook system, at which point a position signal is received again. If there is no interruption structure, then an end of journey is entered in the logbook system at the current position P1. In this case, the current position P1 is the first location and the further position P2 is the second location.

Furthermore, the electronic computing device 16 is shown with circuits and a digital memory as well as an assigned position detection device 12 and with an assigned data transmission device 20 for carrying out the method. In this case, the logging is stored and encrypted in the electronic computing device 16 . The initiation/implementation of the method is started at least partially automatically when the connection between the position detection device 12 and the global positioning system 14 is interrupted. In addition, the logging is transmitted to a cloud system 22 by means of a data transmission device 20 arranged on the electronic computing device 16 .

Reference List

10

motor vehicle

12

position detection device

14

positioning system

16

electronic computing device

18

geographic information system

20

data transmission facility

22

cloud system

T1

first timeout

T2

second timeout

S1

first location

S2

second location

P1

actual position

p2

further position

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

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

Patent Literature Cited

• DE 102007024692 A1 [0003]

Claims (6)

Method for logging a route taken by a motor vehicle (10) using a logbook system, with the steps: - Determining an interruption of a position signal by means of a position detection device (14) of the logbook system; - Determining a current position (P1) of the motor vehicle (10) during the interruption; - checking a potential break structure in a predetermined radius around the current position (P1); if there is a disruption structure in the perimeter, then interpolating the journey between the current position (P1) and a further position (P2) in the logbook system at which a position signal is again received; or if there is no break structure, then entering an end of journey in the logbook system at the current position (P1). procedure after claim 1 , characterized in that the logging is stored in an electronic computing device (16). procedure after claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the initiation/implementation of the method is started partially automatically when the connection between the position detection device (14) and the global position determination system (14) is interrupted. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the logging is transmitted to a cloud system (22) by means of a data transmission device (20) arranged on the electronic computing device (16). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that logging is encrypted using the electronic computing device (16). Electronic computing device (16) with circuits and a digital memory, as well as with an assigned position detection device (12) and with an assigned data transmission device (20) for carrying out a method according to claim 1 until 5 .

Images