Method for positioning a user equipment in a sub-zone of a main zone defined with respect to a vehicle

Abstract

A method for positioning a user device (20) in sub-zones (SZ1, SZ2) of a primary zone (ZP) defined with respect to a vehicle (10), in particular comprising detecting the user device (20) in a first sub-zone (SZ1), positioning the user device (20) in the first sub-zone (SZ1), maintaining the positioning of the user device (20) in the first sub-zone (SZ1) as long as the user device (20) is detected in the first sub-zone (SZ1), detecting the user device (20) in a second sub-zone (SZ2), and positioning the user device (20) in the second sub-zone (SZ2) when the user device (20) is detected only in the second sub-zone (SZ2).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the automotive field and more particularly to a method for positioning a user device with respect to a vehicle. BACKGROUND

[0002] In motor vehicles, it is known practice to determine the position of a user device, for example a tag or a smartphone, outside the vehicle so that a user welcome function can be activated, or indeed the position of a user device, for example a tag or a smartphone, inside the vehicle so that the drive system can be activated and the engine started.

[0003] In a known manner, this position is determined on the basis of transceivers installed in the vehicle, on the body or in the passenger compartment, for example six or eight in number. To this end, the user device first transmits a polling message in so-called polling mode. Next, on reception, each transceiver responds by transmitting a request signal comprising its identifier to the user device, which responds to each transceiver by transmitting a dedicated response signal comprising the identifier of said transceiver. Generally, the transceivers each transmit their request signal in turn, and consequently the user device also transmits its response signal to each in turn.

[0004] On reception of the response signal comprising its identifier, each transceiver calculates the total time of flight of the request signal and the response signal, or in other cases determines the power of the received response signal, so as to determine the distance between said transceiver and the user device. An electronic control unit on the vehicle then uses the distances calculated by each transceiver to estimate the position of the user device, for example via triangulation or any other suitable method.

[0005] In most existing solutions, the signals are transmitted in the low frequency or LF band, below 300 kHz, or in other cases at radio frequency or RF frequencies of the order of 433 MHz. At these frequencies, the signals hardly bounce off objects, for example large metal objects, and in particular pass through the human body. The request and response signals are therefore deflected very little.

[0006] However, as the automotive industry adopts new technologies with their development, one of the current trends is to use signals in higher frequency bands, in particular in the ultra-wide band (UWB) between 6 GHz and 10 GHz, so as to improve the positioning accuracy, thus making it possible to trigger more functions and more personalized functions.

[0007] These high frequency signals are more easily reflected by objects and the human body. The reflected signals will follow longer paths, which will cause errors in the distance calculation and thus in the positioning of the user device, which is a major drawback in cases where the user device is detected as being positioned outside a zone that must be found in order to trigger certain functions, such as for example a function to welcome the user of the vehicle, and especially between two zones, the result being that the function is not triggered whereas it is actually in one of these zones, or actually when it is detected as being simultaneously positioned in two zones, the vehicle then being unable to determine which functions it must activate.

[0008] There is therefore a need for a solution that can at least partially overcome these drawbacks. SUMMARY

[0009] To this end, a first subject of the application is a method for positioning a user device in a sub-zone of a main zone defined with respect to a vehicle, said vehicle comprising a plurality of transceivers and an electronic control unit configured to determine the position of said user device on the basis of signals transmitted by said user device and received by said transceivers, said method comprising the following steps implemented by said vehicle:

[0010] a. periodically determining the position of the user device on the basis of signals transmitted by the user device and received by the transceivers,

[0011] b. detecting the user device in a first sub-zone,

[0012] c. positioning the user device in said first sub-zone,

[0013] d. as long as said user device is detected in said first sub-zone, maintaining the positioning of said user device in said first sub-zone,

[0014] e. detecting the user device in a second sub-zone,

[0015] f. positioning the user device in said second sub-zone when the user device is detected only in said second sub-zone.

[0016] By the term "detecting", it is meant determining the position of the user device in one of the sub-zones. The sub-zones can be separate or partially overlapping. By the term "positioning", it is meant determining the status of the user device with respect to its position in the sub-zone or in the main zone.

[0017] The method according to the application allows the user device to be positioned in one of the sub-zones so as to prevent the positioning from switching to a sub-zone in which the user device is not or to prevent a back-and-forth switching between two sub-zones. Thus, when the position of the user device is false or indeterminate, for example when one of the positioning signals is reflected and modified by an obstacle, the position of the user device is maintained in the sub-zone in which it was previously located.

[0018] According to one aspect of the application, when the user device is detected in one of the sub-zones but outside the main zone, the user device is detected as being positioned outside any of the sub-zones.

[0019] Preferably, the positioning of the user device in the first sub-zone causes at least a first function of the vehicle to be triggered.

[0020] Likewise preferably, the positioning of the user device in the second sub-zone causes at least a second function of the vehicle to be triggered.

[0021] In one embodiment, the main zone corresponds to a passenger compartment of the vehicle and the sub-zones correspond to different seats of the passenger compartment.

[0022] In another embodiment, the main zone corresponds to a peripheral zone located around the vehicle and preferably to a peripheral zone that coincides with the outer contour of the vehicle.

[0023] In this case, the sub-zones can advantageously be used to locate the user of the user device in the context of providing parking assistance or personalizing the welcome according to the place where the user is found around the vehicle.

[0024] The application also relates to a computer program product, characterized in that it comprises a set of program code instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, configure the one or more processors to implement the method as described above.

[0025] The application also relates to an electronic control module for a motor vehicle, the vehicle comprising a plurality of transceivers, the electronic control module being configured to:

[0026] a. - periodically determine the position of a user device based on signals transmitted by the user device and received by the transceivers,

[0027] b. - detect the user device in a first sub-zone,

[0028] c. - position the user device in the first sub-zone,

[0029] d. - as long as the user device is detected in the first sub-zone, maintain the user device positioned in the first sub-zone,

[0030] e. - detecting said user equipment in a second sub-zone,

[0031] f. - positioning said user equipment in said second sub-zone when said user equipment is detected only in said second sub-zone.

[0032] The application also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a plurality of transceivers and an electronic control unit as described above.

[0033] The application also relates to a system comprising a vehicle as described above and a user equipment, said user equipment being configured to:

[0034] a. - transmitting a request signal, for example periodically,

[0035] b. - receiving response signals transmitted one after the other by the transceivers,

[0036] c. - transmitting a positioning signal to each transceiver, said positioning signal comprising an identifier of said transceiver. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0037] Other characteristics and advantages of the application will become more clearly apparent on reading the following description. This description is purely illustrative and should be read in conjunction with the attached drawings in which:

[0038] Figure 1 one embodiment of a system according to the application is schematically represented;

[0039] Figure 2 one embodiment of a method according to the application is schematically represented;

[0040] Figure 3 one embodiment of a system according to the application is schematically represented; Figure 2 in the step of transmitting a request signal by the user equipment in the embodiment of

[0041] Figure 4 one embodiment of a system according to the application is schematically represented; Figure 2 in the step of receiving response signals transmitted by the transceivers by the user equipment in the embodiment of

[0042] Figure 5 one embodiment of a system according to the application is schematically represented; Figure 2 in the step of transmitting a positioning signal by the user equipment in the embodiment of

[0043] Figure 6 one embodiment of a system according to the application is schematically represented;

[0044] Figure 7 one embodiment of a system according to the application is schematically represented;

[0045] Figure 8 one embodiment of a system according to the application is schematically represented;Figure 7 a variant of

[0046] Figure 9 a second example of a main zone and sub-zones is schematically illustrated Figure 7 a variant of

[0047] Figure 10 a second example of a main zone and sub-zones is schematically illustrated

[0048] Figure 11 a second example of a main zone and sub-zones is schematically illustrated Figure 8 a variant of

[0049] Figure 12 a second example of a main zone and sub-zones is schematically illustrated Figure 8 a variant of DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] Figure 1 An example of a system 1 according to the application is shown.

[0051] System 1

[0052] The system 1 comprises a vehicle 10 and a user device 20.

[0053] Vehicle 10

[0054] The vehicle 10 comprises a plurality of transceivers 110 and an electronic control unit 120. In this example, the vehicle 10 comprises six transceivers 110: four external transceivers 110 mounted outside the passenger compartment 11 (for example on the body of the vehicle or inside the body of the vehicle), and two internal transceivers 110 mounted inside the passenger compartment 11, this not limiting the scope of the application. In particular, in another embodiment, the vehicle 10 can comprise more or less than six transceivers 110, but preferably comprises at least three transceivers so that the position of the user device 20 can be determined via triangulation.

[0055] To implement the application, a main zone ZP is defined in and / or around the vehicle 10. This main zone ZP is associated with a plurality of sub-zones SZ1,... SZn, where n is a natural integer.

[0056] Transceiver 110

[0057] Each transceiver 110 is configured to send, on command from the electronic control unit 120, a request signal SREQ to the user device 20, said request signal SREQ comprising an identifier of said transceiver 110.

[0058] Each transceiver 110 is configured to receive a response signal SREP sent by the user device 20 in response to the request signal SREQ, each response signal comprising an identifier of the user device 20 and an identifier of said transceiver 110.

[0059] Each transceiver 110 is configured to transmit the received response signal SREP to the electronic control unit 120.

[0060] Preferably, each transceiver 110 is configured to transmit and receive signals in the UWB frequency band (UWB is the acronym for Ultra-Wide Band) comprised between 6 and 10 GHz.

[0061] Electronic control unit 120

[0062] The electronic control unit 120 is configured to control each transceiver 110 to transmit a request signal SREQ to the user device 20, said request signal SREQ comprising an identifier of the transceiver 110 transmitting the request signal.

[0063] The electronic control unit 120 is configured to calculate the distance of the user device 20 with respect to each transceiver 110 based on the response signals SREP transmitted by the user device 20 and received by each transceiver 110, each response signal comprising an identifier of the user device 20 and an identifier of said transceiver 110.

[0064] The electronic control unit 120 is configured to calculate the position of the user device 20 based on the received response signals. The position of the user device 20 can be determined by the electronic control unit 120 in a manner known per se and for example via triangulation by using neural networks or any other suitable known method using the time of flight of the request signals SREQ and the response signals SREP or the power of the response signals SREP.

[0065] The electronic control unit 120 is configured to detect the user device in a first sub-zone of the main zone.

[0066] The electronic control unit 120 is configured to locate the user device in said first sub-zone.

[0067] The electronic control unit 120 is configured to keep locating the user device in said first sub-zone as long as the user device is detected in the first sub-zone.

[0068] The electronic control unit 120 is configured to detect the user device in a second sub-zone of the main zone.

[0069] The electronic control unit 120 is configured to locate the user device in said second sub-zone when the user device is detected only in said second sub-zone.

[0070] The electronic control unit 120 comprises a processor (not shown) able to implement a set of instructions allowing to perform these functions.

[0071] Examples of embodiments

[0072] Now refer to Figures 2 to 9 and two examples ( Figures 7 to 12 This describes one embodiment of the invention. Figures 7 to 9 In the example, the black dot represents the location of user equipment 20 in the first sub-band SZ1, while the white dot represents the location of user equipment 20 in the second sub-band SZ2.

[0073] The prerequisite is that user equipment 20 is located in the primary zone ZP. (Reference) Figure 3 User equipment 20, for example, periodically sends a request signal SREQ, including the identifier of user equipment 20, to transceiver 110, which receives the request signal in step E1 and sends it to electronic control unit 120.

[0074] refer to Figure 4 The electronic control unit 120 commands each transceiver 110 to send a response signal SREP to the user equipment 20 in an interleaved (or continuous) manner. The user equipment 20 receives the response signal in step E2. The response signal SREP includes the identifier of the transceiver 110 that sent the response signal and the identifier of the user equipment 20, in order to prove to the user equipment 20 that it had indeed previously received the request signal SREQ.

[0075] User equipment 20 receives response signals SREP sent by transceiver 110 one after another, and then in step E3, as follows: Figure 5 As shown, a positioning signal SLOC is sent to each transceiver 110, the positioning signal SLOC including the identifier of the transceiver 110. Therefore, each transceiver 110 receives the positioning signal SLOC including its own identifier, and then sends the positioning signal SLOC to the electronic control unit 120 in step E4.

[0076] refer to Figure 6 In step E5, the electronic control unit 120 determines the distances d10, d20, d30, d40, d50, d60 of the user equipment 20 relative to each transceiver 110 based on the positioning signal SLOC received by each transceiver 110. The identifier of each transceiver 110 allows the electronic control unit 120 to associate each received positioning signal SLOC and thus each determined distance d10, d20, d30, d40, d50, d60 with one and only one transceiver 110 for each transceiver 110.

[0077] Then, in step E6, the electronic control unit 120 uses the determined distances d10, d20, d30, d40, d50, d60, for example, via triangulation or any other suitable method, to determine the position of the user equipment 20.

[0078] Steps E1 to E6 determining the position of the user device 20 are performed periodically, for example every 10 or 100 ms, so that the electronic control unit 120 can determine the position of the user device 20 in real time.

[0079] When the position of the user device 20 is located in a black spot, for example in the first sub-zone SZ1 ( Figure 7 The electronic control unit 20 detects the user device 20 in the first sub-zone SZ1 and then, in step E7, positions the user device 20 in said first sub-zone SZ1. By the term "detecting the user device 20 in a sub-zone", it is meant that the position of the user device 20 is determined to be located within the perimeter delimiting said sub-zone. By the term "positioning the user device 20 in a sub-zone", it is meant that the electronic control unit 120 establishes the positioning status of the user device 20 as being associated with the first sub-zone SZ1.

[0080] Preferably, when the user device 20 is positioned in said first sub-zone SZ1, one or more vehicle functions associated with the first sub-zone SZ1 are triggered. For example, when the first sub-zone SZ1 corresponds to the driver's seat, the electronic control unit 120 can adjust the driver's seat or adjust the driver's side air conditioning, or indeed prepare the start of the engine of the vehicle 10 or any other suitable function.

[0081] In step E8, as long as the user device 20 is detected in said first sub-zone SZ1, the electronic control unit 120 keeps the user device 20 positioned in the first sub-zone SZ1.

[0082] Next, in step E9, when the user moves the user device 20 to the second sub-zone SZ2, after the electronic control unit 120 determines that the position of the user device 20 is located within said second sub-zone SZ2, said electronic control unit 120 detects that the user device 20 is located in this second sub-zone SZ2.

[0083] When the user device 20 is only detected in the second sub-zone and no longer in the first sub-zone SZ1 ( Figure 7When the user equipment 20 is detected in the first sub-band SZ1 (as indicated by the white dot in the first sub-band SZ1), the electronic control unit 120 then positions the user equipment 20 in the second sub-band SZ2. In other words, as long as the user equipment 20 is still detected in the first sub-band SZ1 and even if the electronic control unit 120 simultaneously detects the user equipment 20 in the second sub-band SZ2, the electronic control unit 120 maintains the user equipment 20 positioned in the first sub-band SZ1, and only changes the detection positioning when the user equipment 20 is no longer detected anywhere outside the second sub-band SZ2, in order to prevent the user equipment 20 from being simultaneously positioned in both sub-bands, even if they partially overlap. Similarly, when the user equipment 20 is between the first sub-band SZ1 and the second sub-band SZ2, it remains positioned in the first sub-band (as indicated by the white dot in the first sub-band SZ1). Figure 7 The case where the black dot is located between the first sub-band SZ1 and the second sub-band SZ2.

[0084] Preferably, when the user equipment is located in the second sub-zone SZ2, one or more vehicle functions associated with the second sub-zone SZ2 are triggered. For example, when the second sub-zone SZ2 corresponds to the front passenger seat next to the driver, the electronic control unit 120 may adjust the front passenger seat, adjust the passenger-side air conditioning, or actually adjust the vehicle's audio equipment (vehicle audio, speakers, etc.).

[0085] In the first example ( Figures 7 to 9 In the main zone, the passenger compartment of vehicle 10 is defined as a main zone, and the sub-zones are defined as individual seats in the passenger compartment, so that, for example, internal functions of vehicle 10 associated with each seat can be triggered.

[0086] exist Figure 7 In the example, all subbands SZ1, SZ2, SZ3, and SZ4 are separate and located within the main subband ZP. User equipment 20 follows path t through the first subband SZ1 and then through the second subband SZ2. When user equipment 20 is physically in the first subband SZ1, it is initially located in the first subband SZ1 (black dot). When user equipment 20 is physically located between the first subband SZ1 and the second subband SZ2 (black dot), it is still located in the first subband SZ1. When user equipment 20 is physically located in the second subband SZ2 and only in the second subband SZ2, it is finally located in the second subband SZ2 (white dot).

[0087] exist Figure 8In the example of Fig. 2, all sub-zones SZ1, SZ2, SZ3, SZ4 are separate and located inside the main zone ZP. However, the first sub-zone SZ1 and the second sub-zone SZ2 overlap. The user device 20 follows the path t through the first sub-zone SZ1 and then through the second sub-zone SZ2. When the user device 20 is physically located in the first sub-zone SZ1, it is first located in the first sub-zone SZ1 (black dot). When the user device 20 is physically located in the first sub-zone SZ1 and in the second sub-zone SZ2 (black dot in the overlapping zone), it is still located in the first sub-zone SZ1. When the user device 20 is physically in the second sub-zone SZ2 and only in said second sub-zone SZ2, it is last located in said second sub-zone SZ2 (white dot).

[0088] In the example of Fig. 3, Figure 9 In the example of Fig. 2, all sub-zones SZ1, SZ2, SZ3, SZ4 are separate and located inside the main zone ZP. However, the first sub-zone SZ1 and the second sub-zone SZ2 overlap. The user device 20 follows the path t through the first sub-zone SZ1 and then through the second sub-zone SZ2. When the user device 20 is physically located in the first sub-zone SZ1, it is first located in the first sub-zone SZ1 (black dot). When the user device 20 is physically located in the first sub-zone SZ1 and in the second sub-zone SZ2 (black dot in the overlapping zone), it is still located in the first sub-zone SZ1. When the user device 20 is physically in the second sub-zone SZ2 and only in said second sub-zone SZ2, it is last located in said second sub-zone SZ2 (white dot).

[0089] In the second example (Fig. 4), Figures 10 to 12 , the main zone ZP is located at the boundary of the vehicle 10 so that the sub-zones SZ1,..., SZ12 can be used to locate the user of the user device 20 in the context of providing parking assistance or personalizing the welcome according to the place where the user is found around the vehicle 10.

[0090] In the example of Fig. 3, Figure 10 In the example of Fig. 3, Figure 11 In the example of Fig. 3, Figure 12 In the example of Fig. 3,

[0091] The main zones and sub-zones used in the two examples above, and especially their dimensions, number and arrangement, are by no means limiting the scope of the application, which can be applied to any type of main zones and sub-zones, especially in order to adapt them to the function to be triggered.

Claims

1. A method for locating a user device (20) in a sub-zone (SZ1, SZ2) of a main zone (ZP) defined with respect to a vehicle (10), the vehicle (10) comprising a plurality of transceivers (110) and an electronic control unit (120) configured to determine the position of the user device (20) based on signals transmitted by the user device (20) and received by the transceivers (110), the method comprising the following steps implemented by the vehicle (10): - periodically determining the position of the user device (20) based on signals transmitted by the user device (20) and received by the transceivers (110), - detecting the user device (20) in a first sub-zone (SZ1), - locating the user device (20) in the first sub-zone (SZ1), - as long as the user device (20) is detected in the first sub-zone (SZ1), keeping the user device (20) located in the first sub-zone (SZ1), - detecting the user device (20) in a second sub-zone (SZ2), - when the user device is detected simultaneously in both the first and second sub-zones, or when the user device is detected between the first and second sub-zones, keeping the user device (20) located in the first sub-zone (SZ1), - when the user device (20) is detected only in the second sub-zone (SZ2), locating the user device (20) in the second sub-zone (SZ2).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The location of the user device (20) in the first sub-zone (SZ1) causes at least a first function of the vehicle (10) to be triggered.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The location of the user device (20) in the second sub-zone (SZ2) causes at least a second function of the vehicle (10) to be triggered.

4. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The main zone (ZP) corresponds to a passenger compartment of the vehicle (10) and the sub-zones correspond to different seats of the passenger compartment.

5. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The main zone (ZP) corresponds to a peripheral zone located around the vehicle (10).

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, The sub-zones are used to locate a user of the user device (20) in the context of providing parking assistance or personalizing a welcome according to the location of the user found around the vehicle (10).

7. A computer program product, characterised in that, It comprises a set of program code instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, configure the one or more processors to implement the method according to any one of claims 1-6.

8. An electronic control unit (120) for a motor vehicle (10), the vehicle (10) comprising a plurality of transceivers (110), the electronic control unit (120) comprising a processor configured to: - periodically determine the position of a user device (20) based on signals transmitted by the user device (20) and received by the transceivers (110), - detect the user device (20) in a first sub-zone (SZ1), - locate the user device (20) in the first sub-zone (SZ1), - as long as the user device (20) is detected in the first sub-zone (SZ1), keep the user device (20) located in the first sub-zone (SZ1), - detect the user device (20) in a second sub-zone (SZ2), - when the user device is detected simultaneously in both the first and second sub-zones, or when the user device is detected between the first and second sub-zones, keep the user device (20) located in the first sub-zone (SZ1), - when the user device (20) is detected only in the second sub-zone (SZ2), locate the user device (20) in the second sub-zone (SZ2). - positioning the user equipment (20) in the first sub-zone (SZ1), - as long as the user equipment (20) is detected in the first sub-zone (SZ1), maintaining the positioning of the user equipment (20) in the first sub-zone (SZ1), - detecting the user equipment (20) in a second sub-zone (SZ2), - when the user equipment is detected simultaneously in both the first sub-zone and the second sub-zone, or when the user equipment is detected between the first sub-zone and the second sub-zone, maintaining the positioning of the user equipment in the first sub-zone, - when the user equipment (20) is detected only in the second sub-zone (SZ2), positioning the user equipment (20) in the second sub-zone (SZ2).

9. Motor vehicle (10) comprising a plurality of transceivers (110) and an electronic control unit (120) according to claim 8.

10. System (1) comprising a vehicle (10) according to claim 9 and a user equipment (20), the user equipment (20) being configured to: - periodically send a request signal (SREQ), - receive response signals (SREP) sent one after the other by the transceivers (110), - send a positioning signal (SLOC) to each transceiver (110), the positioning signal (SLOC) comprising an identifier of the transceiver (110).

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