WO2009087026A1

WO2009087026A1 - Method and apparatus for establishing a connection to a network based on the expected time of stay in the area of said network

Info

Publication number: WO2009087026A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/067715
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ronald Hain; Herbert Meier; Birgit Reussenzehn; Franz Stadler; Alexander Stege
Original assignee: Continental Automotive Gmbh
Priority date: 2008-01-09
Filing date: 2008-12-17
Publication date: 2009-07-16
Also published as: DE102008003639B4; DE102008003639A1

Abstract

In order to operate a communication system, a position (POS) of a motor vehicle (2) is determined in which a communication device of the communication system is located. A velocity (VEL) of the motor vehicle (2) is determined. A direction (DIR) in which the motor vehicle (2) is driving is determined. At least one first geographic network coverage (26) of a first external network is determined. A time duration (DUR) is determined as a function of the determined position (POS), the determined direction (DIR), the determined velocity (VEL) and the determined first geographical network coverage (26), during which the motor vehicle (2) is expected to be located in a geographical area that is included in the first geographical network coverage (2). An automatic decision is made as a function of the determined time duration (DUR) as to whether a network connection will be established to the first external network.

Description

Description:

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONNECTING TO A NETWORK ON THE BASIS OF ANTICIPATED STORAGE TIME IN THE AREA OF THIS NETWORK

The invention relates to a method and a device for operating a communication system. The communication system comprises a communication device which is arranged in a motor vehicle.

A network provider offers a wireless network to allow mobile devices to communicate over the wireless network. The mobile terminals may also be referred to as communication devices. The network is based, for example, on GSM, UMTS, WLAN, GPRS and / or

HSDPA. Each network has a geographic coverage that is representative of which geographic areas can be communicated over the appropriate network. However, the networks regularly do not have closed network coverage, so there are geographic areas where communication over one or more networks is not possible. One of the mobile terminals then has to establish a network connection to another network if it reaches a geographical area where the network with which it is currently communicating is not available.

Furthermore, a change of the network may also be desired by a user of the mobile terminal if, for example, another network provides a higher data transmission rate than the network over which the mobile terminal is currently communicating.

The object underlying the invention is to provide a method and a device for operating a communication system. Onssystems in a motor vehicle, which contribute to a comfortable communication with the communication system.

The object is solved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the subclaims.

The invention is characterized by a method for operating a communication system. A position of a

Motor vehicle is determined in which a communication device of the communication system is arranged. A speed of the motor vehicle and a direction in which the motor vehicle travels are determined. At least a first geographical network coverage of a first external network is determined. Depending on the determined position, the determined direction, the determined speed and the determined first geographic network coverage, a period of time is determined during which the motor vehicle is likely to be located in a geographic area encompassed by the first geographic network coverage. Depending on the determined time period, it is automatically decided whether a network connection is established from the communication device to the first external network.

This helps to make the network connection to the first external network unnecessary. This is particularly advantageous if the first external network is only available for an insufficient length of time. In this case, before establishing the network connection to the first external network, there may already be a network connection to a second external network. Alternatively, the network connection to be established to the first external network can be be the first established network connection. The communication system may include only the communication device. Alternatively, the communication system may additionally include an external device. For example, the communication system may include an external server, and the communication device may communicate with the server via one of the external networks. The external device can then contribute to operating the communication system, in particular the communication device in the motor vehicle. For example, one, two or more steps of the method for operating the communication system can be processed by the external device, on which corresponding algorithms are then stored.

In an advantageous embodiment, it is automatically decided that the network connection is established to the first external network when the determined time period is greater than a predetermined minimum period of time. This simply helps to avoid unnecessarily setting up the network connection to the first external network, since a too short stay within the geographic area does not allow a given amount of data to be transmitted.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the minimum period of time is predetermined as a function of a data transmission rate of the first external network. This simply adds to the fact that the network connection is not unnecessarily set up, because at a relatively low data transmission rate, a greater time is required to transmit a given amount of data than at a high data transmission rate. In a further advantageous embodiment, the minimum period of time is specified as a function of a data quantity that is likely to be transmitted. This simply helps to ensure that the network connection is not unnecessarily set up, since a large amount of data also requires a large minimum time to transfer the data volume.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the costs that are incurred if the network connection to the first external network is established, and depending on the costs determined, it is automatically decided whether the network connection is established to the first external network. This allows the connection to the first external network to be established automatically only if, for example, the communication device currently communicates via a second external network in which the costs incurred for the network connection are lower than in the first external network ,

The costs incurred in establishing the network connection to the first external network include the cost of establishing the network connection and / or the cost of the time the network connection is in existence and / or the costs incurred by the given data - to send and / or receive quantity over the first external network.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the route is determined, which follows the motor vehicle. Depending on the route determined, it is automatically decided whether the network connection to the first external network is established. The determination of the route can help to determine the time duration during which the motor vehicle in the geographical see area is located, to determine very precisely. This is particularly effective in preventing the unnecessary establishment of the network connection.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the route is determined via a navigation device of the motor vehicle. This contributes to the route being particularly precise and / or easily ascertainable. The navigation device may comprise the communication device or be comprised by the communication device. Alternatively, the communication device can communicate with the navigation device of the motor vehicle.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the route is determined by the route is estimated depending on the determined speed and depending on the determined direction using an electronic road map. This makes it possible to determine the route if the route in the navigation device is unknown or if there is no navigation device with which the communication device can communicate. The estimation of the route can also be carried out, for example, by the external device, for example the server. For this purpose, the communication device sends, for example, the position, the speed and / or the direction of the motor vehicle to the external device and receives the estimated route in response to the request for the decision to set up the network connection.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings.

Show it: FIG. 1 shows a communication system,

FIG. 2 a detail of a road map with network covers,

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a program for operating the communication system.

Elements of the same construction or function are identified across the figures with the same reference numerals.

A communication system (FIG. 1) comprises a communication device which is arranged in a motor vehicle 2. In addition, the communication system may comprise an external device, for example a server, via which the communication device in the motor vehicle 2 communicates via the Internet 6, for example. Alternatively, the communication system may be formed exclusively by the communication device in the motor vehicle 2.

The communication device of the motor vehicle 2 comprises, for example, a navigation device 8, a position determination device 10, a sensor system 12 and / or a computing unit 14. Furthermore, the communication device comprises a communication unit 16.

The sensor system 12 includes, for example, a speed detection device and / or one or more acceleration sensors. The navigation device 8 can also be embodied on the server 4, in which case the communication device of the motor vehicle 2 preferably regularly has a position POS (FIG. 3) of the motor vehicle 2 via the Internet 6 sends to the server 4 and the server 4 returns a response to the communication device, based on a driver of the motor vehicle 2 can find the way to be traveled.

The server 4 comprises, for example, a network coverage map 18, a route determination unit 20 and / or a road map 22. Alternatively, the network coverage map and / or the route determination unit 20 and / or the road map 22 may be included by the communication device of the motor vehicle 2.

The communication device of the motor vehicle 2 can communicate via a network of a network provider, for example GSM, GPRS, UMTS, HSDPA and / or WLAN with the Internet or an external device, for example the server 4 or a mobile telephone. For this purpose, the motor vehicle 2 must be located in a geographical area which is covered by a network coverage of the corresponding network.

For example, the motor vehicle 2 may travel on a first, second, third, or fourth road 30, 32, 34, 36 (FIG. 2) or may be in a geographic area defined by a first geographic network coverage 26 and / or a second geographic network coverage 28 is covered. Further, the motor vehicle 2 may move on one of the roads outside the net covers.

If, for example, the motor vehicle 2 is at a current position POS (FIG. 3) and moves in a direction DIR characterized by a first position vector 40, the motor vehicle 2 can not establish a network connection to a network since it is in an area without network coverage, in which thus no communication with a network is possible. The position POS can preferably be determined with the position determining device 10. The communication device then recognizes that the motor vehicle 2 is moving in the geographic area covered by the first geographic network coverage 26. Depending on whether the motor vehicle 2 continues to move in accordance with a second position vector 42 or according to a third position vector 44, which are representative of the then current position POS of the motor vehicle 2 and the corresponding directions DIR, the communication device preferably decides in addition depending on one transmitted data amount DAT_AM and a speed VEL of the motor vehicle 2, whether the network connection is to be established to the first network. For example, the communication device decides not to establish the network connection if the motor vehicle 2 follows the second position vector 44 and the speed VEL and / or the data amount DAT AM are particularly high, since a duration DUR during which the motor vehicle 2 is within the first geographical Network Cover 26 is not sufficient to completely transmit the data to be transmitted. In addition, the communication device can, for example, determine a data transmission rate DAT RATE that is possible with the first network and additionally incorporate the result into the decision process such that, in the case of a short duration of stay within the first network, the network connection is established only if the data transmission rate DAT_RATE is particularly high is high.

In contrast, the communication device, for example, independent of the speed VEL, the amount of data DAT_AM or the data transfer rate DAT_RATE establish the network connection, if the motor vehicle 2 the first location vector 42 follows, since the duration DUR is likely to be sufficient to completely transfer even large amounts of data.

If the motor vehicle 2 is still outside the first network coverage 26, then the decision-making process of establishing or not establishing the network connection can also be postponed until it is clear to which location vector the motor vehicle 2 is following.

In contrast, in the transition from the second network coverage 28 to the first network coverage 26, when the motor vehicle 2 travels, for example, at a position POS in a direction DIR indicated by a fourth location vector 46, the network connection to the network will be at any rate Network constructed with the first network coverage, since it is clear that the motor vehicle 2 moves out of the geographical area of the second network coverage 28 out into the geographical area of the first network coverage. In an overlapping area of the two network covers, it can be decided whether the network connection to the first network should be established as early as possible or as late as possible, for example, depending on which of the two networks allows the greater data transmission rate DAT_RATE. If, for example, the first network has a greater data transmission rate DAT_RATE than the second network, it is preferable to switch to the first network as early as possible and if the first network has a lower data transmission rate DAT_RATE, it is possible, for example, to switch to the first network as late as possible.

On a storage medium of the communication system, in particular the communication device and / or the external direction, preferably a method for operating the communication system is stored (Figure 3). The method for operating the communication system can be stored and / or processed exclusively on the communication device of the motor vehicle 2. Alternatively, almost any number of elements of the program can be stored on the server 4 and / or processed by the server 4. In the extreme case, for example, only the current position POS of the motor vehicle 2 can be sent from the motor vehicle 2 to the server 4 together with a request as to whether the network connection to the first network 26 should be established. The server can then determine, depending on the position POS, the speed VEL and the direction DIR of the motor vehicle, make the decision as to whether the network connection should be established, and send the result back to the communication device. Alternatively, only individual steps of the program can be outsourced to the server 4, processed and / or stored.

The program is preferably started in a step S1, for example when starting the communication device. If necessary, variables are initialized in step S1.

In a step S2, it is checked by means of a network query NET whether a network, for example, the first and / or the second network are currently available. If the condition of step S2 is satisfied, the processing is continued in a step S3. If the condition of step S2 is not fulfilled, the processing is continued in a step S1. In a step S3, the data transmission rate DAT_RATE can be determined, which is preferably possible at most with the corresponding available network. Alternatively or additionally, the costs KOST that are incurred if the connection to the corresponding network is set up can be determined. In this case, the costs include COST connection establishment costs and / or costs COST, which depend on a duration of the network connection and / or on a data volume to be transmitted.

In a step S4, it is checked whether the data transmission rate DAT_RATE and / or the cost KOST are smaller than a respective threshold value THD.

The steps S3 and S4 can be processed by the communication device of the motor vehicle 2. Alternatively, a corresponding request can be sent to the server 4, which then sends back a corresponding response to the communication device.

In a step S5, a speed VEL of the motor vehicle is determined, for example by means of the speed sensor.

In a step S6, the position POS of the motor vehicle and / or the direction DIR in which the motor vehicle 2 moves are determined, for example by means of the position determination device 10.

In a step S7, the network coverage of the corresponding network will be determined by means of a network coverage query NET_COV. To do this, a corresponding network coverage card can be found the communication device of the motor vehicle 2 or stored on a storage medium of the server 4.

In a step S8, a route ROUTE can be determined, which follows the motor vehicle 2. If the motor vehicle 2 and / or the server 4 have the navigation device 8, then the route ROUTE, if the route ROUTE is stored therein, can be easily queried. Alternatively, a route estimation algorithm can be stored on the communication device and / or the server 4, by means of which the route ROUTE can be estimated. For example, in the absence of a branch, it is clear that the motor vehicle 2 continues to travel on the fourth road 36 if the motor vehicle 2 is currently moving in accordance with the fourth position vector 46. Moreover, the route estimation algorithm may record driving behavior of the driver of the motor vehicle 2 and determine probabilities representative of whether the driver is following a particular route ROUTE or not.

In a step S9, the duration DUR is determined during which the motor vehicle 2 is expected to move within the network coverage of the corresponding network, preferably depending on the speed VEL, the direction DIR, the position POS, the result of the network coverage query NET_COV and / or the determined ones, if any Route ROUTE.

In a step S10, a minimum time duration DUR_MIN can be determined, for example, as a function of the data transmission rate DAT_RATE and / or the data volume DAT_AM to be transmitted. Alternatively, the minimum duration DUR MIN can be specified. In a step Sil, it is checked whether the determined duration DUR is greater than the minimum duration DUR MIN. If the condition of the step Sil is satisfied, the processing is continued in a step S12. If the condition of the step Sil is not satisfied, the processing is continued again in the step S2.

In a step S12, the network connection to the corresponding network is established by means of a change instruction CHANGE.

In a step S13, the program can be ended. Preferably, however, the program is executed regularly during the operation of the communication device.

The purpose of the program is not to switch unnecessarily from the second to the first network or to establish the network connection to the first network at all. This is particularly advantageous when the motor vehicle moves along a route ROUTE, in which often the

Change net covers. Then, for example, it might be less favorable to switch to a network with a higher data transmission rate DAT RATE over and over again, in which case the transmission is interrupted again and again, as further communicating with a network with a data rate DAT RATE relatively lower.

Claims

Claims:

1. A method for operating a communication system, in which - a position (POS) of a motor vehicle (2) is determined, in which a communication device of the communication system is arranged, a speed (VEL) of the motor vehicle (2) is determined, - a direction ( DIR) is determined, in which the motor vehicle (2) drives, at least a first geographic network coverage (26) of a first external network is determined, depending on the determined position (POS), depending on the determined direction (DIR), the determined speed (VEL) and the determined first geographic network coverage (26), a period (DUR) is determined during which the motor vehicle (2) is expected to be located in a geographical area covered by the first geographic network coverage (2), depending on the determined duration (DUR) is automatically decided whether a network connection from the communication device to the first external en network is built.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein it is automatically decided that the network connection is established to the first external network when the determined period of time (DUR) is greater than a predetermined minimum period of time (DUR MIN).

3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the minimum period of time (DUR_MIN) depending on a data transmission rate (DAT RATE) of the first external network is specified.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the minimum period of time (DUR MIN) depends on a visibly transmitted amount of data (DAT AM).

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which costs (KOST) are determined, which are incurred if the network connection is established to the first external network, and in which, depending on the cost (KOST) is automatically decided whether the network connection to the first external network is established.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which a route (ROUTE) is determined, which follows the motor vehicle (2), and is automatically determined depending on the determined route (ROUTE), whether the network connection to the first external network is built.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the route (ROUTE) via a navigation device (8) of the motor vehicle (2) is determined.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the route (ROUTE) is determined by the route (ROUTE) depending on the determined speed (VEL) and depending on the determined direction (DIR) using an electronic road map (22) is estimated.

9. A device for operating a communication system, wherein the device is designed to determine a position (POS) of a motor vehicle (2) in which a communication device of the communication system is arranged, a speed (VEL) of the motor vehicle (2) determine to determine a direction (DIR) into which the motor vehicle (2) drives to determine at least a first geographic network coverage (26) of a first external network, depending on the determined position (POS), depending on the determined direction (DIR), the determined speed (VEL) and the determined first geographic network coverage (26) to determine a period of time (DUR) during which the motor vehicle (2) is expected in a geographic area encompassed by the first geographic network coverage (26), depending on the determined duration (DUR), to automatically decide whether to establish a network connection from the communication facility to the first external network (26).