Method for enabling unlocking of a door of a vehicle

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method (100) for enabling unlocking of a door (2) of a vehicle (1), the method (100) comprising:-receiving a signal indicative of an intention of a person to open the door (2) from outside the vehicle (1),-providing an indication (14) of an input device (12) inside the vehicle (1) upon receiving the signal, the input device (12) being configured to be operable by an occupant inside the vehicle (1), and the input device (12) is configured to unlock the vehicle door (2) based on an operation of the occupant. The disclosure also relates to a corresponding computer program product (6), a system (7) and a vehicle (1).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method for enabling unlocking a door of a vehicle, a computer program product, a system and a vehicle. Background Art

[0002] When using a vehicle, there are situations where the experience of unlocking the vehicle door is not ideal, or at least not as good as it should be. This situation may be, for example, when the driver of the vehicle is picking up one or more people, for example from a train station. In this case, the driver may have arrived before the meeting time arranged with the person and is waiting for them to arrive. While waiting, the driver may be busy, for example, by using his smartphone, and not observe when the person actually arrives at the vehicle.

[0003] Once the person reaches the vehicle, he may try to enter the vehicle using the exterior door handle of one of the passenger doors of the driver's vehicle. However, as a security measure, these doors may be locked. After the driver recognizes that the person he is waiting for is trying to enter the vehicle, the driver usually has different options to unlock the doors. For example, the driver can unlock all doors using a central unlocking device, for example in the form of a button, from the interior of the vehicle or on his car key. Alternatively, he can manually unlock the doors using the door handles from the interior of the vehicle. Summary of the invention

[0004] The inventors have found that in situations like the one described above, the driver may be surprised that the outer door handle is pulled when hearing a sound corresponding to the outer door handle being pulled. Especially when the driver is distracted, for example using his smartphone, this situation may make the driver nervous for a short time. Even after he sees the person he is waiting for and therefore knows that it is not a stranger who is trying to enter the vehicle, the tense moment may continue. This is because the driver usually wants to react quickly and unlock the corresponding door, but the inventors have found that he may not know how to react in the best way.

[0005] Although many vehicles have a central unlocking device to unlock the door, it has further been found that in situations like the above, many drivers often tend to follow a rather intuitive but physically uncomfortable way of manually opening the door via the door handle inside the vehicle, rather than using the central unlocking device. This is because the driver may need to lean over the front passenger's seat. To do this, he may even need to unbuckle his seatbelt before being able to reach the door handle of the vehicle door.

[0006] This may be because the driver may not know where the central unlocking devices are located, for example, because he does not use them regularly. As another example, this may happen if the vehicle is a rental vehicle that the driver is not very familiar with.

[0007] The experience involved in unlocking a car door can also be psychologically unpleasant, as the tense moment lasts at least until the driver unlocks the door. Both the physical and psychological discomfort make the experience seem cumbersome and not as seamless as one would like.

[0008] The subject matter of the present disclosure at least partially solves or alleviates this problem.

[0009] According to a first aspect, there is provided a method for enabling unlocking of a door of a vehicle, the method comprising:

[0010] - receiving a signal indicative of a person's intention to open a door from outside the vehicle,

[0011] - providing an indication of an input device in the interior of the vehicle upon receiving the signal, the input device being configured to be operable by an occupant of the interior of the vehicle, and the input device being configured to unlock the vehicle door based on the occupant's operation.

[0012] Therefore, when the method is used, the intention of a person to open the door is recognized by receiving a signal indicating the intention of the person to open the door, and in response to the recognition, an indication of an input device is specifically provided inside the vehicle. An occupant inside the vehicle (e.g., a driver) can access the input device to operate so that the door whose intention of the person to open the door has been recognized is opened.

[0013] By providing an indication of the input device upon receiving a signal or in other words, in response to receiving a signal, the focus of an occupant of the vehicle (e.g., the driver) or multiple occupants inside the vehicle is directed to the input device, and the occupant or occupants are guided to the best way to unlock the door. This makes the unlocking process of the door in situations like the above very smooth and seamless. Specifically, the driver or any occupant inside the vehicle is relieved from the pressure of having to open the door as quickly as possible, and they do not feel physically uncomfortable.

[0014] According to the method, only an indication of the input device may be provided. This means that it is not necessary to also provide the input device. Instead, the input device may already exist, for example a physical central unlocking device, for example in the form of a button. For example, the indication may include text and / or illustrations of how and / or where to operate the input device. For example, the illustration may show a vehicle control part with several control buttons, one of which is a central unlocking button. The central unlocking button may be highlighted in the illustration graphically and / or by a text describing it as a central unlocking button. Furthermore, the text may contain a description of the location of the central unlocking button, for example, the central unlocking button is located on the door, on your left, close to the handle.

[0015] The method may be at least partially implemented by a computer, which means that one, more or all steps of the method may be implemented by a computer. In addition, the method may be implemented in software or hardware, or in software and hardware. In addition, the method may be performed by computer program instructions running on a device providing data processing functions. Such a data processing device may be a suitable computing device, such as an electronic control module, etc., which may also be a distributed computer system. The data processing device or the computer may include one or more of a processor, a memory, a data interface, etc., respectively.

[0016] In one example, an indication of an input device may be provided together with the input device. In this case, the input device is arranged inside the vehicle when the signal is received. This means that the input device is provided specifically for the situation when the signal is received, and the input device may be different from and in addition to any other input device that already existed before the signal was received, such as a central unlocking button or an interior handle of a door, either physically or digitally implemented. Such an indication of an input device may be a text, a picture or a general description indicating that when the input device is operated, in particular interacted with, a door or doors will be unlocked. Alternatively, only the input devices themselves may be provided without their indications.

[0017] Providing the input device ensures a particularly seamless and smooth process of unlocking the vehicle door, since the driver may not even need to be prompted with the best way to unlock the vehicle door, but the input device is provided specifically for him inside the vehicle. This allows the input device to be provided very prominently to the driver or an occupant of the vehicle, which may include a visual, audible and / or vibratory provision of the input device. In particular, the input device may be arranged within the reach of the driver of the vehicle or within the range of the driver's seat, so that the driver or the front passenger may operate the input device seamlessly and without any physical discomfort in order to unlock the vehicle door.

[0018] Furthermore, it is also possible to provide an indication of an input device independently of the signal reception, i.e. an already existing input device, such as a physical button, and to provide an input device upon signal reception, i.e. an additional input device to the already existing input device. In this case, the driver or passenger may know where the already existing input device is located, such as a physical central unlocking button, and for the specific case of receiving a signal, an additional input device, such as a digital or software-implemented input device, is still provided and at the disposal of the driver or passenger to make the unlocking process smooth and easy.

[0019] According to one example, the indication of the input device and / or the input device can be provided on a display of the vehicle. The display can in particular be an internal display of the vehicle. For example, the display can be associated with an infotainment system of the vehicle, on which further information or functions can be displayed, such as GPS navigation functions, map information, air climate control information and control functions, radio, etc. The advantage of providing the indication of the input device and / or providing the input device on the display is that the display, in particular the display of the infotainment system, is easily accessible and is a point of interest for the driver, so that the input device can be operated easily and in a fast manner to unlock the door.

[0020] According to one example, the input device may be configured to be operable by a touch interaction of the occupant with the display. Thus, the display may be configured as a touch display. This makes operating the input device particularly easy and intuitive.

[0021] According to one example, the input means may be configured as a single button on the display. Thus, the button may be digital or software-implemented. This has the advantage that no further stress is caused by providing different buttons when an occupant, in particular the driver, may be in an already tense situation when hearing a sound corresponding to an external door handle of the vehicle being pulled or when he sees a person whom he wants to allow access to the vehicle.

[0022] According to one example, the input device may be configured to be used only for unlocking the doors. In particular, there may be only a single unlock button on the display as an input device that is provided upon receiving a signal. This has the further advantage that by providing different options to the occupant in an already tense situation, for example by providing an unlock button and a lock button, no further tension is caused. In particular, it has been found that occupants, in particular drivers, may make wrong decisions when they are given different options in a tense situation. Furthermore, such options may increase the tension level. Thus, when only the option of unlocking the doors via the input device is provided, the tension level is kept to a minimum and the occupant only has to decide whether he wants to allow outsiders to enter the vehicle and, if so, operate the input device or not operate it.

[0023] According to one example, a single button can be indicated as a door unlocking operation on the display. This increases the safety of the occupant operating the button.

[0024] According to one example, the method may further include:

[0025] If the input device is not operated by the occupant, the input device expires so that the input device cannot be operated.

[0026] The advantage of this is that when the occupant decides not to unlock the door, the input device can be removed so that the occupant does not accidentally unlock the door afterwards. In addition, in the case where the input device is provided on a display, the display can be used at least partially or completely for other functions and / or information provided thereon. The failure of the input device on the display can be implemented as the removal of the input device or the failure of its operability, for example, by graying out the button to which the input device can be configured. The failure can be triggered by an event or action of the occupant, in particular the driver. For example, the event can correspond to the driving of the vehicle. The action can correspond to the interaction of the driver with the vehicle, such as an infotainment system, a navigation system or a similar system, for example by operating a button or touching another area on the display that is different from the area of ​​the input device on the display.

[0027] In one example, the input device may be configured to fail when the input device is not operated by the occupant within a predetermined time period after the input device is provided. Thus, an alternative or additional trigger to the aforementioned trigger may be provided for failure of the input device. The time period may be predetermined in the range of 1 to 10 seconds, in particular for example in the range of 2 to 6 seconds. For example, the time period may be 2 seconds. Thus, when the time period expires, the input device fails and is no longer operable.

[0028] In one example, the signal may indicate an interaction of a person with an external handle of a vehicle door. For example, the vehicle (particularly a vehicle door or an external handle) may include a recognition unit, such as a recognition unit in the form of a sensor, which recognizes when the external handle is operated, such as pulled, when the external handle is a physically pullable handle. Such a recognition unit may generate a signal, which may be forwarded to a system of the vehicle, such as a control unit, which may receive the signal and execute the method of the present disclosure. Alternatively or additionally, the interaction may be an approach of a person toward the vehicle (particularly a vehicle door), which may be recognized by a detection device of the vehicle, such as one or more cameras, sensors or the like.

[0029] In one example, the input device can be configured to unlock one or more passenger doors, storage compartment doors and / or luggage compartment doors. Thus, the input device can be configured to unlock different numbers and / or types of doors. Here, a door is generally understood to be any door in a broad sense that provides access to the interior of the vehicle, which may be, for example, an interior passenger space, a storage compartment or a luggage compartment. The storage compartment may be a front storage compartment (frunk, a front storage compartment as opposed to a conventional storage compartment at the rear of the vehicle), in particular in battery electric vehicles, and therefore, similar to a storage compartment, provides the possibility of placing luggage and other items inside. Thus, advantageously, the input device is able to grant the person access to the storage compartment and / or the front storage compartment.

[0030] In one example, the input device may be configured such that the occupant may select one or more doors to be opened from a plurality of doors of the vehicle by operating the input device, in particular interacting with the input device.

[0031] In one example, the input device may be configured to unlock only one or more doors that have received a signal indicating an intent to open the one or more doors from outside the vehicle. In an alternative example, the input device may be configured to unlock multiple or all doors of the vehicle. This configuration of the input device may be preset. The preset may be based on a user selection in a corresponding settings menu of the vehicle, where different configurations may be selected.

[0032] In one example, the method may further include:

[0033] - after receiving the signal, displaying a further indication inside the vehicle indicating the door or doors that have received the signal indicating the person's intention to open the door or doors.

[0034] The occupant can thus quickly identify where to look to identify the person trying to enter the vehicle. If the person is trying to access the glove compartment door, for example, it may take the occupant some time to discover this because he needs to look in the mirror or turn his head. Further instructions guide him where to look, making the unlocking process smoother.

[0035] According to a second aspect, a computer program product is provided, comprising instructions for causing a computer to perform the method of the present disclosure when the program is executed by the computer.

[0036] For example, the computer program product may be a computer program or a product comprising the computer program, wherein the product may be a computer-readable medium such as a data storage medium.

[0037] According to a third aspect, a system comprising means for performing the method of the present disclosure is provided.

[0038] For example, the system may include a computer or computing device to execute the instructions of the computer program product of the present disclosure. In addition, the system may include a computer program product as a computer-readable medium. Therefore, the storage medium can provide instructions to be executed to the computer.

[0039] According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a vehicle configured for performing the method of the present disclosure.

[0040] The vehicle may include the computer program product and / or system of the present disclosure. For example, the system may be implemented as a control unit of the vehicle, the control unit including the computer program product or at least configured to receive instructions from the computer program product.

[0041] It should be noted that the above examples can be combined with each other, regardless of the aspects involved. Thus, the method can be combined with structural features, and likewise, the system and the vehicle can be combined with the features described above with respect to the method.

[0042] These and other aspects of the disclosure will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] Examples of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the following drawings.

[0044] Figure 1 A diagram showing a method of the present disclosure is shown;

[0045] Figure 2 A diagram showing a vehicle of the present disclosure is shown;

[0046] Figure 3 Shows Figure 2 Illustration of a display in a vehicle;

[0047] Figure 4 Shows Figure 2 Yet another illustration of a display in a vehicle of;

[0048] Figure 5 Shows Figure 2 Yet another illustration of a display in a vehicle of;

[0049] Figure 6 Shows Figure 2 Yet another illustration of a display in a vehicle of; and

[0050] Figure 7 Shows Figure 2 Yet another illustration of a display in a vehicle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] The accompanying drawings are merely schematic representations and are only used to illustrate examples of the present disclosure. Elements of the same, equivalent or similar type are in principle provided with the same reference numerals. Some reference numerals are provided with numbers separated by dots from the reference numerals in order to distinguish elements of the same, equivalent or similar type, thereby enhancing the intelligibility of the present disclosure.

[0052] Figure 1 A device for enabling unlocking or unlocking a door 2 of a vehicle 1 is shown (see Figure 2) includes steps 101, 102, 104, 106, 108, 109, 110. Enabling unlocking does not necessarily require a step of unlocking the vehicle door 2; on the contrary, the method 100 for unlocking the vehicle door 2 includes an unlocking step, which is referred to here by the reference numeral 110. The steps 101, 102, 104, 106, 108, 109, 110 are described in a possible but non-limiting order of execution. The method 100 can also include a different order of steps 101, 102, 104, 106, 108, 109, 110, and the method 100 does not necessarily require all steps 101, 102, 104, 106, 108, 109, 110 described here.

[0053] Figure 2 shows a configuration for executing Figure 1 The method 100 is a vehicle 1. The vehicle 1 comprises several doors 2 and external handles 3 associated with these doors for opening the doors. The doors 2 can be locked, for example, by a preset in a central locking system of the vehicle 1, which can include a central locking device (e.g., a button) to lock and unlock the doors 2. The locking of the doors 2 can be performed by preset, for example, when the vehicle 1 starts to drive or is in a parking state, in order to increase the safety of the occupants of the vehicle 1 by preventing outsiders from being able to enter the vehicle 1 without the permission of the occupants (in particular, the driver of the vehicle 1).

[0054] In this example, four vehicle doors 2 are configured as passenger doors 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, one vehicle door 2 is configured as a trunk vehicle door 2.5, and another vehicle door 2 is configured as a boot vehicle door 2.6. The vehicle 1 also includes a display 4, which may be from an infotainment system; and a system 5, which includes a controller for executing Figure 1 The method 100 of the present invention is a device, wherein the system 5 can be, for example, a control unit. The device of the system 5 is a computer program product 6 and a computer 7, or in other words, a computer device or a data processing device for processing data from the computer program product 6, which can be, for example, a data storage medium.

[0055] For step 101 of method 100, Figure 2 A person outside the vehicle 1 attempts to open a door 2 of the vehicle 1. For example, the person may attempt to open Figure 2 The door 2.3 in the figure may correspond to the front passenger door, while the door 2.1 may correspond to the driver's door. Here, the driver is understood to be an occupant who is similar to other occupants of the interior of the vehicle 1 but sits in the driver's seat to drive the vehicle 1. For example, in step 101, the person may pull the outer handle 3 of the door 2.3.

[0056] Thus, in step 101 of method 100 a signal is generated, in particular by vehicle 1, for example external handle 3 or system 5 or another control unit, which indicates the person's intention to open door 2.3 from outside vehicle 1 by pulling external handle 3 of door 2.3.

[0057] In step 102 of method 100 , the signal is received by or on vehicle 1 , in particular by system 5 .

[0058] In step 104 of the method 100, once the signal is received in step 102, an input device 12 is provided by the vehicle 1, in particular by the system 5 and / or the display 4, in the interior of the vehicle 1. The input device 12 is configured to be operable by an occupant of the interior of the vehicle 1. In addition, the input device 12 is configured to unlock one or more of the doors 2 of the vehicle 1 based on the operation of one or more occupants of the vehicle 1 (e.g., the driver of the vehicle 1).

[0059] exist Figure 3 In FIG, step 104 is shown on the display 4. Specifically, the input device 12 is provided as a single button on the display 4, which is configured to unlock only one or more doors 2, in particular doors 2.3 whose exterior handles 3 are pulled by a person outside the vehicle 1.

[0060] Figure 3 It is shown how an input device 12 is displayed on a graphical user interface 10 (GUI) of a display 4. The GUI may also display further functions and / or information in addition to the input device 12. However, these further functions and / or information may be pushed into the background behind the input device 12, for example by graying them out or removing them when the input device 12 is displayed.

[0061] In addition, in this example, step 104 also provides an indication 14 of the input device 12. The indication 14 may be text indicating the effect of operating the input device 12, such as "unlock one door" or "unlock multiple doors". Specifically, the operation of the input device 12 may be through touch interaction, wherein the display 4 may be configured as a touch display, that is, a display that receives input through touch.

[0062] In step 108 of method 100, the input device 12 may be disabled. In this case, the input device 12 can no longer be operated. The disablement may occur if the input device 12 is not operated by the occupant within a predetermined period of time (e.g., 2 seconds) after the input device 12 is displayed on the display 4.

[0063] exist Figure 4Step 108 is shown in , showing how the input device 12 no longer appears on the GUI 10 .

[0064] As an additional step 106 of method 100, Figure 5 As shown, a further indication may be provided in the interior of the vehicle 1, in particular on the display 4. This further indication may be displayed upon receipt of the signal and indicates that the door 2.3, in this example, has received a signal indicating the person's intention to open the door.

[0065] exist Figure 5 In the example of a GUI 10 of a display 4 of FIG. 1 , a vehicle representation 18 is shown for this purpose, which shows all doors 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6 in a further indication 16. In this example of a further indication 16, the representation of the passenger door 2.3 includes a highlight 19 showing one or more occupants inside the vehicle 1 that the outer handle 3 of the front passenger door 2.3 has been pulled.

[0066] In step 109 , if the input device 12 has not failed, but one of the occupants of the vehicle 1 (eg, the driver) has operated the input device 12 by pressing a corresponding button displayed on the display 4 , an unlocking control command is generated.

[0067] The unlock control command may be forwarded by the system 5 to a corresponding control unit for unlocking the vehicle door 2.3, or executed by the system 5 itself, for example. As a result, the vehicle door 2.3 is unlocked in step 110 of the method 100 when the unlock control command is executed.

[0068] exist Figure 6 and Figure 7 2 shows an alternative solution for enabling control of one or more occupants of vehicle 1 to open door 2 when input device 12 is operated.

[0069] exist Figure 6 In the embodiment of the present invention, there are two input devices 12.1, 12.2, with indications 14.1, 14.2 respectively. One of these input devices 12.1, 12.2 can be configured to open only the door 2 that has been identified as intended by the person to open by virtue of receiving a signal indicating that the person has opened the door 2 from the outside of the vehicle 1, for example by pulling its outside handle 3. The other of the input devices 12.1, 12.2 can be configured to open all doors 2 or at least all passenger doors 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4. Alternatively, the other of the input devices 12.1, 12.2 can be configured to open the storage compartment door 2.5 and / or the luggage compartment door 2.6, or another input device 12 can be provided on the display 4, in particular on its GUI 10, to provide such a configuration.

[0070] exist Figure 7 In the embodiment, there is an input device 12.7 configured to open all vehicle doors 2 or at least all passenger doors 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4. Additionally or alternatively, as Figure 7 As shown, for each one or more of the doors 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, there may be a separate input device 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6. Indications 14.2 may be used for all of the separate input devices 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6 and include a description to the occupant that when any of the doors 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6 is selected in the vehicle representation 18, the corresponding door 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6 will be unlocked. For intuitive operability or interaction with the occupants of the vehicle 1, Figure 7 The input devices 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6 are embedded as buttons in the vehicle representation 18, in particular so that the input devices 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6 correspond in position to the positions of the individual doors 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6 in the vehicle representation 18.

[0071] As used herein, when referring to a list of one or more entities, the phrase "at least one" should be understood to refer to at least one entity selected from any one or more entities in the list of entities, but does not necessarily include at least one of each entity specifically listed in the list of entities, and does not exclude any combination of entities in the list of entities. This limitation also allows that in addition to the entities specifically specified in the list of entities to which the term "at least one" refers, other entities may optionally exist, whether or not they are related to the specifically specified entities. Thus, as a non-limiting example, "at least one of A and B" (or, equivalently, "at least one of A or B", or, equivalently, "at least one of A and / or B") may refer to at least one (optionally including more than one), A but not B (and optionally including entities other than B) in one example; at least one, optionally including more than one, B but not A (and optionally including entities other than A) in another example; at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other entities) in yet another example. In other words, the phrases "at least one," "one or more," and "and / or" are open-ended expressions that have both conjunctions and disjunctions in play. For example, each of the expressions "at least one of A, B, and C," "at least one of A, B, or C," "one or more of A, B, and C," "one or more of A, B, or C," and "A, B, and / or C" may represent A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, A, B, and C together, and any of the above optionally in combination with at least one other entity.

[0072] By studying the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims, those skilled in the art will be able to understand and implement other variations of the disclosed examples when implementing the required disclosure. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the infinitive "one" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may implement the functions of several items or steps recited in the claims. The fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not in itself indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. The computer program may be stored / distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or solid-state medium provided with or as part of other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms, such as via the Internet or other wired or wireless telecommunications systems. Any reference signs in the claims should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the claims.

[0073] List of reference numerals

[0074] 1 Vehicle

[0075] 2 doors

[0076] 2.1-2.4 Passenger door

[0077] 2.5 Storage box door

[0078] 2.6 Luggage compartment door

[0079] 3External handles

[0080] 4 Displays

[0081] 5. System

[0082] 6Computer program products

[0083] 7. Computer

[0084] 10 Graphical User Interface

[0085] 12 Input devices

[0086] 14 Instructions

[0087] 16 Further Instructions

[0088] 18 Vehicle Display

[0089] 19 Highlight

[0090] 100 Methods

[0091] Steps 101-110

Claims

1. A method (100) for enabling unlocking of a door (2) of a vehicle (1), the method (100) comprising: - receiving a signal indicating a person's intention to open the door (2) from outside the vehicle (1), - providing an indication (14) of an input device (12) inside the vehicle (1) upon receipt of the signal, the input device (12) being configured to be operable by an occupant inside the vehicle (1), and the input device (12) being configured to unlock the vehicle door (2) based on the occupant's operation.

2. The method (100) of claim 1, the indication (14) of the input device (12) being provided together with the input device (12).

3. The method (100) according to claim 2, the indication (14) of the input device (12) and / or the input device (12) being provided on a display (4) of the vehicle (1).

4. The method (100) of claim 3, wherein the input device (12) is configured to be operable by an occupant through touch interaction with the display (4).

5. The method (100) of claim 3 or 4, the input device (12) being configured as a single button on the display (4).

6. The method (100) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, the input device (12) being configured to only unlock the vehicle door (2).

7. The method (100) according to any one of claims 2 to 6, further comprising: If the input device (12) is not operated by the occupant, the input device (12) is disabled so that the input device (12) cannot be operated.

8. The method (100) of claim 7, wherein the input device (12) is configured to terminate when the input device (12) is not operated by the occupant within a predetermined period of time after the input device (12) is provided.

9. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, the signal being indicative of an interaction of the person with an exterior handle (3) of the vehicle door (2).

10. The method (100) according to any of the preceding claims, the input device (12) being configured to unlock one or more passenger doors (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4), a storage compartment door (2.5) and / or a luggage compartment door (2.6).

11. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, The input device (12) is configured to unlock only the door (2) or doors (2) for which a signal indicating an intention to open the door (2) or doors (2) from outside the vehicle (1) has been received, or The input device (12) is configured to unlock a plurality of or all doors (2) of the vehicle (1).

12. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: - when the signal is received, displaying a further indication (16) inside the vehicle (1), the further indication (16) indicating the door (2) or doors (2) for which a signal indicating a person's intention to open the door (2) or doors (2) has been received.

13. A computer program product (6) comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer (7), cause the computer (7) to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. A system (5) comprising means for performing the method (100) of any one of claims 1 to 12.

15. A vehicle (1) configured to perform the method (100) of any one of claims 1 to 12.

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