Navigation of vehicle during journey including transportation of vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for navigating a vehicle to a trip destination using a satellite-assisted navigation program, the trip to the trip destination comprising a vehicle transport of the vehicle. The method comprises the steps of: storing vehicle data about the vehicle and user data about a user of the navigation program in the navigation program; inputting the travel destination into a navigation program; determining a route to the trip destination, the route having a route portion through which the vehicle transport of the vehicle is to pass; determining an expected arrival time of the vehicle arriving at the departure place of the vehicle transportation; finding out possible vehicle transportations of the vehicle after an expected arrival time for passing through the route portion by means of a navigation program, and providing a user with a selection likelihood in order to select one of the found possible vehicle transportations; one of the found possible vehicle transportations is selected by the user and the selected vehicle transportation is subscribed by a navigation program.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for navigating a vehicle to a trip destination using a satellite-assisted navigation program, wherein the trip to the trip destination includes vehicular transportation of the vehicle. Background Art

[0002] A navigation program is a computer program that calculates a route for a vehicle from a starting location to a destination. The navigation program is executed, for example, on the vehicle's control unit or on a mobile device used by the navigation program user. The destination is typically specified by the navigation program user. The starting location can also be specified by the user. Alternatively, the starting location can be, for example, the vehicle's current location. Satellite-assisted navigation programs are those that use navigation satellite systems, such as GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, or Galileo, to determine the vehicle's location.

[0003] Furthermore, the navigation program can be configured to output route-based destination guidance to the user. "Destination guidance" refers to the process of guiding the user along a route. During the destination guidance process, destination guidance instructions are output to the user. The destination guidance instructions can be output to the user visually and / or audibly. Visual destination guidance instructions typically include a representation of the route or a route portion of the route on a display unit. Furthermore, the visual destination guidance instructions can, for example, include arrow symbols indicating the direction of travel, in particular a change in the direction of travel, and / or a pop-up window indicating an upcoming driving maneuver. Voice destination guidance instructions are often output as voice messages via a speaker unit. A typical voice destination guidance instruction is, for example, "turn left in 200 meters."

[0004] A route may include a portion of the route that requires vehicle transportation. In vehicle transportation, the vehicle is transported, for example, by ship or rail. Vehicle transportation may be necessary to reach the trip destination, or it may shorten the journey to the trip destination. For example, if the vehicle is a car, the route's starting point is on land, and the trip destination is on an island with no bridges or tunnels for vehicles to travel from the mainland, vehicle transportation may be necessary to reach the trip destination. For example, if reaching the trip destination without vehicle transportation would require significant detours and / or a considerable amount of time, vehicle transportation may be provided to shorten the journey to the trip destination.

[0005] Vehicle transportation typically requires a fee and is often tied to specific times when the vehicle is available. Furthermore, vehicle transportation may require a reservation. Therefore, executing a trip that includes vehicle transportation typically requires more preparation and planning than would be required for a trip without vehicle transportation. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The object on which the present invention is based is to provide an improved method for navigating a vehicle to a journey destination using a satellite-assisted navigation program.

[0007] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method for navigating a vehicle to a journey destination using a satellite-assisted navigation program, wherein the journey to the journey destination includes vehicle transportation of the vehicle, the method comprising the following steps: - storing vehicle data about the vehicle and user data about the user of the navigation program in the navigation program, - The user enters the travel destination into the navigation program, - determining a route to the trip destination by means of a navigation program, the route having a portion of the route to be traversed by the vehicle transportation of the vehicle, - determining an expected arrival time of the vehicle at the departure point of the vehicle transport by means of the navigation program, - finding possible vehicle transports of the vehicle for traveling along the route section after the expected arrival time by means of the navigation program, and offering the user an option to select one of the found possible vehicle transports, - a user selects one of the found possible vehicle transports, and - a navigation program books the selected vehicle transport using the stored vehicle data and / or user data.

[0008] A navigation program is, for example, a so-called app (application program) and is executed, for example, by a vehicle control unit or by a mobile terminal device, such as a smartphone or tablet, of a user of the navigation program. In the method of the present invention, the navigation program provides the user with convenience functions when the route determined for the vehicle to the trip destination includes a portion of the route through which the vehicle will be transported. These convenience functions include: the navigation program determining the vehicle's expected arrival time at the departure point for the transport; the navigation program identifying possible transport options for the vehicle that will traverse the route portion after the expected arrival time; and providing the user with the option to select one of the identified possible transport options. This relieves the user from having to identify possible and timely transport options themselves or from having to call up another application, i.e., another computer program (different from the navigation program). Another convenience function is for the navigation program to book the transport selected by the user, thus also relieving the user of the burden of booking the transport.

[0009] In an embodiment of the present invention, determining a route for a portion of a route to be traversed by a vehicle transport having a vehicle to a trip destination includes the following steps: - finding a plurality of possible routes to the destination of the trip by means of a navigation program, wherein at least one of the routes has a route portion along which the vehicle is to be transported by vehicle, - providing the user with the option of choosing one of the possible routes by means of a navigation program, - A route is selected by the user, the route having a route portion through which the vehicle transportation of the vehicle is to be traversed.

[0010] This embodiment of the present invention relates to a situation where there are multiple possible routes to a travel destination, and a navigation program identifies these multiple possible routes, wherein at least one of these routes includes a route portion that requires vehicle transportation, but other routes are also possible to reach the travel destination without vehicle transportation. In this situation, the navigation program offers the user of the navigation program the opportunity to select one of the identified routes. If the user selects a route that includes a route portion that requires vehicle transportation, the navigation program provides the user with the aforementioned convenience features for the selected route. Therefore, this embodiment of the present invention can be summarized as follows:

[0011] A method for navigating a vehicle to a trip destination using a satellite-assisted navigation program, wherein the trip to the trip destination includes vehicular transportation of the vehicle, the method comprising the following steps: - storing vehicle data about the vehicle and user data about the user of the navigation program in the navigation program, - The user enters the travel destination into the navigation program, - determining a plurality of possible routes to the destination of the trip by means of a navigation program, wherein at least one of the routes has a route portion along which the vehicle is to be transported by vehicle, - providing the user with the option of choosing one of the possible routes by means of a navigation program, - A route is selected by the user, and if the selected route has a route portion through which the vehicle transportation of the vehicle is to be traversed: - determining the expected arrival time of the vehicle at the departure point for vehicle transportation, for the chosen route, using a navigation program, - finding, by means of the navigation program, possible vehicle transports of the vehicle after the expected arrival time for the route portion passing through the selected route and offering the user the option of selecting one of the found possible vehicle transports, - a user selects one of the found possible vehicle transports, and - a navigation program books the selected vehicle transport using the stored vehicle data and / or user data.

[0012] In another embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle is transported by ship or rail vehicle during vehicle transportation. Ships, such as ferries, or rail vehicles, such as trains configured to transport both vehicles and passengers, are commonly used for vehicle transportation. Therefore, the present invention is particularly directed to vehicle transportation performed by ship or rail vehicle.

[0013] In another embodiment of the present invention, the selected vehicle transportation reservation includes a reservation for the vehicle transportation. This embodiment of the present invention takes into account that vehicle transportation often requires reserving a transportation location for the vehicle, or that reserving a transportation location for the vehicle is advisable, for example, due to capacity constraints and / or relatively low travel of the vehicle performing the vehicle transportation. Reserving a transportation location for the vehicle via the navigation program also reduces the burden on the user to perform such reservations.

[0014] In another embodiment of the present invention, the user data includes payment data of the user of the navigation program, and the booking of the selected vehicle transportation includes payment of the vehicle transportation. Thus, the navigation program also reduces the burden of paying for vehicle transportation for the user.

[0015] In another embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle data includes the vehicle type, the maximum mass and / or dimensions of the vehicle, and / or information about the vehicle's trailer. This embodiment of the present invention takes into account that vehicle transportation may be associated with specific conditions regarding the vehicle type, mass, dimensions, and / or trailer. Therefore, some or all of the aforementioned vehicle data may be useful or even necessary for determining a route involving vehicle transportation, identifying possible vehicle transportations, and / or booking selected vehicle transportation.

[0016] In another embodiment of the present invention, the navigation program only identifies possible transports for the vehicle that begin at least a buffer period stored in the navigation program after the vehicle's expected arrival time at the vehicle's departure point. For example, the navigation program provides the user of the navigation program with the ability to specify and / or modify the buffer period. This embodiment of the present invention accounts for the possibility that the vehicle's actual arrival time at the vehicle's departure point may differ from the expected arrival time determined by the navigation program. This buffer period reduces the risk that the vehicle may miss the selected transport due to a delay in arriving at the vehicle's departure point.

[0017] In another embodiment of the present invention, a navigation program checks whether the vehicle's expected arrival time at the vehicle transport's departure point has changed. If the expected arrival time is delayed by a delay period, the navigation program notifies the user via a delay message. The delay period may, for example, be the time period between the vehicle's expected arrival time at the vehicle transport's departure point and the expected start of the selected vehicle transport. Alternatively, the delay period may coincide with the buffer period. By notifying the user of the impending delay in arriving at the vehicle transport's departure point, the user can take countermeasures to the delay, such as increasing driving speed, shortening or omitting planned stops, and / or rerouting to the vehicle transport's departure point.

[0018] In another embodiment of the present invention, if a vehicle's arrival at the departure point of the vehicle transportation is delayed by the delay period, the navigation program checks whether the vehicle transportation can be rescheduled to a later date. If so, the navigation program proposes the rescheduling to the user. If the user accepts the proposed rescheduling, the navigation program performs the rescheduling. Rescheduling the vehicle transportation, for example, includes reserving the modified vehicle transportation. Therefore, in this embodiment of the present invention, if the vehicle's arrival at the departure point of the vehicle transportation is expected to be delayed, the navigation program rescheduling the vehicle transportation to a later date is performed, provided that such a rescheduling is possible and confirmed by the user.

[0019] In another embodiment of the present invention, when providing the user with the option to select one of the identified possible vehicle transports, the navigation program also provides the user with transportation information for each identified possible vehicle transport. The transportation information for the identified possible vehicle transports may include, for example, the cost and / or the expected start and / or duration of the possible vehicle transport. The transportation information for the identified possible vehicle transports may include, for example, the cost and / or the expected start and / or duration of the possible vehicle transport. Thus, the user is provided with criteria based on which the user can select one of the multiple possible vehicle transports. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] In the following, embodiments of the present invention are explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 shows a flow chart of an embodiment of a method according to the present invention, Figure 2 The area and route the vehicle takes to reach the trip destination are shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Figure 1A flow chart 100 shows an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention for navigating a vehicle to a travel destination using a satellite-assisted navigation program, the method comprising method steps 101 to 112 , wherein the journey to the travel destination includes vehicle transportation of the vehicle.

[0022] In a first method step 101, vehicle data related to the vehicle and user data related to the user of the navigation program are stored in the navigation program. The vehicle data may include, for example, the vehicle type, the vehicle's maximum mass and / or dimensions, and / or information about the vehicle's trailer. The user data may include, for example, payment data of the user of the navigation program. First method step 101 need not be performed every time the navigation program is called. For example, in first method step 101, the vehicle data and user data may be stored in a user profile, which the navigation program uses each time the user calls the navigation program.

[0023] In a second method step 102 , the user enters the travel destination into the navigation program. After the second method step 102 , a third method step 103 is performed.

[0024] In a third method step 103 , a route to the travel destination is determined by the navigation program, which route has a route portion along which the vehicle is to be transported.

[0025] The navigation program may first determine multiple possible routes to the trip destination, at least one of which includes a portion of the route along which the vehicle is to be transported. In this case, the navigation program provides the user with the option of selecting one of these possible routes. For example, these possible routes may be displayed to the user in the form of a selection menu on a display unit. The user then selects one of these routes. It will be assumed below that the user has selected a route that includes a portion of the route along which the vehicle is to be transported, and that subsequent method steps 104 to 112 relate to this route.

[0026] Figure 2 An example of an area 200 where a destination 201 of a vehicle 202 is located is shown. In this area 200, there is a lake 203 between the vehicle 202 and the destination 201. In this example, the navigation program first determines two routes 204 and 205 for the vehicle 202 to the destination 201. The first route 204 has a route portion 206 through which the vehicle 202 is to be transported. Figure 2denoted by a dashed line. On route section 206, vehicle 202 is transported across lake 203, for example, by a vessel, such as a ferry, from a starting point 207 for the vehicle transport. Alternatively, vehicle 202 is transported on route section 206, for example, by a rail vehicle traveling back and forth on a bridge over lake 203 or through a tunnel beneath lake 203. Second route 205 to trip destination 201 bypasses lake 203 but is significantly longer than first route 204.

[0027] After the third method step 103, a fourth method step 104 is performed. In the following, when describing the method steps 104 to 112, reference is made to Figure 2 , which does not mean to be limited to Figure 2 The example shown in .

[0028] In a fourth method step 104, the expected arrival time of the vehicle 202 at the departure point 207 for the vehicle transport is determined by means of a navigation program. After the fourth method step 104, a fifth method step 105 is performed.

[0029] In a fifth method step 105, the navigation program determines possible transportation options for vehicle 200 that are to travel through route portion 206 after the expected arrival time. The navigation program may provide the user with the ability to define or modify a buffer period between the departure point and the start of the transportation. Furthermore, the navigation program provides the user with the option to select one of the identified possible modes of transportation, taking the buffer period into account. These possible modes of transportation are displayed to the user, for example, in the form of a selection menu on a display unit. When providing the option to select one of the identified possible modes of transportation, the navigation program also provides the user with transportation information for each identified possible mode of transportation. This transportation information for each identified possible mode of transportation may include, for example, the cost and / or the expected start and / or duration of the possible mode of transportation. Following fifth method step 105, a sixth method step 106 is executed.

[0030] In a sixth method step 106 , one of the detected possible vehicle transports is selected by the user. After the sixth method step 106 , a seventh method step 107 is performed.

[0031] In a seventh method step 107, the navigation program uses the stored vehicle data and / or user data to book the selected vehicle transportation. Booking the selected vehicle transportation may include reserving and / or paying for the selected vehicle transportation. If vehicle transportation has already been booked for vehicle 202 and the vehicle transportation can be rescheduled and confirmed by the user (see method steps 110 and 112), the vehicle transportation is rescheduled in seventh method step 107. After seventh method step 107, eighth method step 108 is executed.

[0032] In an eighth method step 108, the navigation program checks whether the expected arrival time of vehicle 202 at the departure point 207 for the vehicle transport is delayed by a delay period. This delay period is, for example, the time period between the expected arrival time of vehicle 202 at the departure point for the vehicle transport and the expected start of the selected vehicle transport. The navigation program preferably checks the expected arrival time of vehicle 202 at the departure point for the vehicle transport at regular intervals or occasionally upon receipt of a new traffic jam report related to the current travel route. In this case, eighth method step 108 is repeated. Otherwise, ninth method step 109 is executed after eighth method step 108.

[0033] In a ninth method step 109, the navigation program informs the user of the delay period by means of a delay message regarding the expected delay at the departure point 207 of the vehicle transport. After the ninth method step 109, a tenth method step 110 is performed.

[0034] In a tenth method step 110, the navigation program checks whether it is possible to reschedule the vehicle transport for vehicle 202 to a later date. If it is not possible to reschedule the vehicle transport to a later date, an eleventh method step 111 is executed after the tenth method step 110. Otherwise, a twelfth method step 112 is executed after the tenth method step 110.

[0035] In an eleventh method step 111, the navigation program informs the user that the vehicle transport cannot be rebooked for a later date. This information is output to the user by the navigation program, for example, in the form of a visual and / or audible message. Furthermore, in this eleventh method step 111, the navigation program asks the user whether they wish to determine a new route to the trip destination 201. For example, the user is provided with the option to confirm or deny this inquiry via a selection menu displayed on a display unit. If the user denies this inquiry, after this eleventh method step 111, for example, after a waiting period specified in the navigation program, the eighth processing method step 108 is executed again. Otherwise, after this eleventh method step 111, the twelfth method step 112 is executed.

[0036] In a twelfth method step 112, the navigation program asks the user whether the navigation program wants to reschedule the vehicle transportation. For example, the user is given the option to confirm or deny this inquiry via a selection menu displayed on a display unit. If the user denies this inquiry, after twelfth method step 112, for example, after a waiting time specified in the navigation program, eighth method step 108 is executed again. Otherwise, after twelfth method step 112, fifth method step 105 is executed again, now with the expected arrival time of vehicle 202 at departure point 207 for the vehicle transportation changed relative to the previously calculated arrival time based on the expected delay of vehicle 202 in arriving at departure point 207 for the vehicle transportation. Reference Signs List 100 Flowchart Method steps 101 to 112 200 Area 201 Trip Destination 202 vehicles 203 Lakes 204 First Route 205 Second Route 206 Route section for vehicle transport 207 Departure place of vehicle transportation

Claims

1. A method for navigating a vehicle (202) to a trip destination (201) using a satellite-assisted navigation program, wherein: The trip to the trip destination (201) includes vehicle transportation of the vehicle (202), the method comprising the following steps: - storing vehicle data about the vehicle (202) and user data about a user of the vehicle in a navigation program, - the user inputs the trip destination (201) into the navigation program, - determining a route (204) to the trip destination (201) by means of a navigation program, wherein the route has a route portion (206) through which the vehicle (202) is to be transported, - determining, by means of a navigation program, the expected arrival time of said vehicle (202) at the departure point (207) for said vehicle transport, - using the stored vehicle data and / or user data via the navigation program to book vehicle transportation after the expected arrival time.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein Determining a route (204) to the trip destination (201) includes the following steps: - determining a plurality of possible routes (204, 205) to the trip destination (201) by means of a navigation program, wherein at least one route (204) has a route portion (206) along which the vehicle (202) is to be transported, - providing the user with the option of selecting one of the possible routes (204, 205) by means of a navigation program, - A route (204) is selected by a user, the route having a route portion (206) through which the vehicle (202) is to be transported.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: Booking a vehicle for transportation after the stated expected arrival time involves the following steps: - finding, by means of a navigation program, possible vehicle transportations of the vehicle (202) for passing through the route portion (206) after the expected arrival time and offering the user a selection option to select one of the found possible vehicle transportations, - The user selects one of the possible vehicle transports found.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The vehicle (202) is transported by a ship or a rail vehicle in the vehicle transportation.

5. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The booking of the selected vehicle transportation includes a reservation of the vehicle transportation.

6. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The booking of the selected vehicle transportation includes payment for the vehicle transportation, and the user data includes payment data of the user.

7. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The vehicle data includes vehicle type, maximum mass and / or dimensions of the vehicle (202) and / or information about a trailer of the vehicle (202).

8. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The navigation program detects as possible vehicle transports for the vehicle (202) only those vehicle transports that begin at least a buffer period stored in the navigation program after the expected arrival time of the vehicle (202) at the departure point (207) for the vehicle transport.

9. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The navigation program checks whether the expected arrival time of the vehicle (202) at the departure point (207) of the vehicle transportation has changed, and if the expected arrival time is delayed by a delay period, the navigation program notifies the user through a delay message.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein: In the event that the vehicle (202) arrives late at the departure point (207) of the vehicle transportation, a navigation program is proposed to reschedule the vehicle transportation to a later date, and if the user accepts the rescheduling proposal, the navigation program performs the rescheduling.

11. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: When the user is provided with the option to select one of the detected possible vehicle transports, the navigation program also provides the user with transport information about each detected possible vehicle transport.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein The transportation information regarding the detected possible vehicle transportation includes the cost and / or expected start and / or duration of the possible vehicle transportation.

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