Method for establishing communication between two vehicles and corresponding communication system

Abstract

There is provided a method for establishing communication between a parked first vehicle (2) equipped with a first telecommunication device (3) configured to communicate with a first mobile communication device (6) and a second vehicle (4) in proximity to the first vehicle (2) equipped with a second telecommunication device (5) configured to communicate with a second mobile communication device (6). The second telecommunication device (5) is configured to communicate with a second mobile communication device (7), the method comprising:-a step of detecting, by the second vehicle, a potential obstruction situation, and then-a step of authorizing, by the second telecommunication device (5), a communication establishment between the first mobile communication device (6) and the second mobile communication device through a dedicated telematics mobile application. A communication system (1) adapted to implement said method is also provided.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of telecommunications and in particular to the field of communication between vehicles or between owners of vehicles.

[0002] More precisely, the present invention relates to a method for establishing a communication between two vehicles and to a communication system configured to implement said method. BACKGROUND

[0003] It is a common situation for a vehicle to be obstructed by another vehicle. In particular, in a busy parking lot or in narrow streets of big cities, a driver can not find a suitable space for his vehicle and can park the vehicle in a way that obstructs another vehicle that is already parked.

[0004] The driver can then leave his phone number in a visible place so that the driver of the obstructed vehicle can call him at the appropriate time. However, exposing such personal information to the public view raises obvious confidentiality issues.

[0005] There exist other solutions in which the parked vehicle alerts the second vehicle. However, this requires the parked vehicle to keep a constant observation of its surroundings, thus reducing its battery level. Moreover, the alert emitted by the parked vehicle is irrelevant if the driver of the parked vehicle does not intend to drive his car soon.

[0006] There is therefore a need to establish a confidential and relevant communication between the drivers of two vehicles. SUMMARY

[0007] The present invention provides a solution to the above-mentioned problem.

[0008] According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for establishing a communication between a first vehicle that has been parked and a second vehicle that is in proximity of the first vehicle, for example during the parking process, the first vehicle being equipped with a first telecommunication device configured to communicate with a first mobile communication device, the second vehicle being equipped with a second telecommunication device configured to communicate with a second mobile communication device, the method comprising:

[0009] - a step of detecting, by the second vehicle, a potential obstruction situation, for example in which the distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle is below a predetermined value, and then

[0010] - a step of authorizing, by the second telecommunication device, the establishment of a communication between the first mobile communication device and the second mobile communication device through a dedicated telematics mobile application.

[0011] Thanks to the application, the first vehicle, which has been parked, does not have to provide a continuous monitoring of its environment in order to detect a potential obstruction situation. This advantageously allows to save battery power. Moreover, the communication between the two mobile communication devices avoids the public sharing of personal information such as phone numbers.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the detecting step comprises displaying on a display unit of the second vehicle a message related to the potential obstruction situation and a confirmation by an occupant of the second vehicle of the occurrence of the obstruction situation through the display unit, said confirmation triggering the authorizing step.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the method further comprises a step of sending by the second telecommunication device to the first telecommunication device an obstruction alert.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the method further comprises a step of sending by the first telecommunication device to the first mobile communication device an obstruction notification after having received the obstruction alert.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the method comprises a step of detecting by the first vehicle the obstruction situation, the sending step of the obstruction notification being performed only when the first vehicle detects a distance below a predetermined value.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the method comprises a step of detecting by the second vehicle the end of the obstruction situation, for example in case the distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle returns above a predetermined value, said step of detecting the end of the obstruction triggering the step of cancelling the authorization to establish said communication.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the method comprises a step of sending by the second telematics control unit to the first telecommunication mobile device an obstruction end alert upon detecting the end of the obstruction situation.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the method comprises a step of establishing by the first mobile communication device an authorized communication protocol with the second mobile communication device.

[0019] According to one embodiment, in the authorized communication between the first mobile communication device and the second mobile communication device, the first mobile communication device and the second mobile communication device respectively only communicate with the first telecommunication device and only with the second telecommunication device, each telecommunication device sending information from the respective mobile communication device to the other telecommunication device.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the method comprises a step of sending by the second telecommunication device to the first telecommunication device an obstruction removal notification after the end of the obstruction situation.

[0021] According to another aspect of the application, there is provided a communication system comprising a first vehicle equipped with a first telecommunication device configured to communicate with a first mobile communication device, and a second vehicle equipped with a second telecommunication device configured to communicate with a second mobile communication device, said system being configured to implement a method according to the application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0022] The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings will make clear what the application consists of and how it is implemented. The application is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings. Thus, it will be understood that where reference signs are mentioned in the claims, the inclusion of these signs is only for the sake of enhancing the intelligibility of the claims and in no way limits the scope of the claims.

[0023] In the drawings:

[0024] - Figure 1 A communication system according to the application is shown,

[0025] - Figure 2 A diagram illustrating a method according to an embodiment of the application is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] As Figure 1 A communication system according to an embodiment of the application, shown schematically in Fig. 1 and designated generally by the reference sign 1, comprises a first vehicle 2 equipped with a first telecommunication device 3, a second vehicle 4 equipped with a second telecommunication device 5, a first mobile communication device 6, a second mobile communication device 7 and a telecommunication network 8.

[0027] Here, the first vehicle 2 and the second vehicle 4 are motor vehicles, and in particular in this example are cars. They are thermal, electric or hybrid vehicles, and comprise at least one electric battery configured to power an internal electronic network of the vehicle. Said internal electronic network comprises the telecommunication devices 3 and 5, sensors, such as proximity sensors (cameras, radars, ultrasonic sensors, lidar sensors...), display units and electronic control units. The electronic control units comprise for example a processor, a memory and input / output ports to communicate with the elements of the internal network, and can control one or more functions of the vehicle. The internal electronic network can comprise a plurality of electronic control units, only one of which is mentioned here for the sake of simplicity.

[0028] Here, the telecommunication equipment of each vehicle 2, 4 comprises a plurality of modules and circuits configured to establish communication channels, such as V2V communication channels (Vehicle to Vehicle, for direct communication with other vehicles), V2X communication (Vehicle to Everything, for direct communication with road infrastructure and other vehicles), NFC communication channels (Near Field Communication) and radio frequency communication. For example, each telecommunication equipment 3, 5 is equipped with a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) comprising personal information about the vehicle owner and allowing access to telecommunication networks, for example cellular networks such as GSM networks (Global System for Mobile Communications) and / or Internet networks. For example, each of the telecommunication equipment 3, 5 is a Telematics Control Unit (TCU).

[0029] The first vehicle 2 is owned by a first owner and driven by a first driver. The second vehicle 4 is owned by a second owner and driven by a second driver. For simplicity purposes, it is considered here that, for each of the vehicles 2, 4, the driver is the owner.

[0030] Here, the mobile communication devices 6, 7 are configured to run a telematics mobile application (or telematics software). The telematics software allows the owner of the car to access information provided by the internal network of the vehicle (for example door locks, fuel level, mileage, location...). In particular, the mobile communication devices 6, 7 obtain these data by communicating with the telecommunication equipment 3, 5.

[0031] For example, the mobile communication devices 6, 7 are smartphones.

[0032] Here, the telecommunication network 8 is a cellular network, for example a GSM, 3G, 4G or 5G network.

[0033] Here, the telematics mobile application does not allow establishing a communication between the first mobile communication device 6 and the second mobile communication device 7 through the telecommunication network 8 directly, as it would imply sharing personal information (for example, phone numbers) between the two mobile telecommunication devices 6, 7.

[0034] However, the communication system 1 is configured so that it is possible to establish a communication channel between the two mobile communication devices 6, 7 through the telecommunication network 8 and through the telecommunication equipment 3, 5 using the telematics mobile application.

[0035] By default, the first telecommunication equipment 3 is authorized to establish a communication channel with the first mobile communication device 6 (via the telecommunication network 8), the second telecommunication equipment 5 is authorized to establish a communication channel with the second mobile communication device 7 (via the telecommunication network), and the first telecommunication equipment 3 and the second telecommunication equipment 5 are authorized to establish a direct communication channel between each other (for example, V2V communication). Since none of the mobile communication devices 6, 7 owns the contact information of the other mobile communication device 6, 7, it is not possible to carry out a traditional cellular communication between them.

[0036] In the configuration of the communication system 1 illustrated, the first vehicle 2 is parked in a dedicated parking space. Obstacles block the right and left sides of the first vehicle 2 (e.g. other cars 9) and its back (e.g. a wall 10). The first vehicle 2 is stationary, engine off and without any occupant. For example, the electronic control unit of the first vehicle can be in a low consumption standby mode, in which all electronic modules of the first vehicle are off, except a monitoring module configured to listen to any event (received signal, e.g. an unlock signal from the vehicle key, a signal from another vehicle or from a telematics mobile application...) and to wake up the electronic control unit if needed. The monitoring module can cooperate with sensors of the vehicle and / or with a telecommunication device.

[0037] The second vehicle 4 is approaching the first vehicle 2. Here, the second vehicle 4 is in the process of parking. The engine of the second vehicle 4 is running and it is at least occupied by a second driver, who intends to park the second vehicle 4 in front of the first vehicle 2 in this case. In doing so, he will block the way of the first vehicle 2. This situation can cause problems if the first driver wishes to leave the parking space before the second vehicle leaves.

[0038] The communication system 1 according to the application, for example as described above, is particularly suitable for solving this situation by establishing a confidential and secure communication between the two drivers.

[0039] In a first step E1 of the method, the second vehicle 4 detects an obstruction situation. For example, the obstruction situation occurs when the distance between the first vehicle 2 and the second vehicle 4 is below a predetermined value (e.g. two meters). The obstruction situation can be detected thanks to one or more proximity sensors of the second vehicle 4.

[0040] Then, in a second step E2, the electronic control unit warns the second driver of the obstruction situation. For example, the electronic control unit displays a text message on a display unit of the second vehicle 4. The control unit also offers the second driver the opportunity to authorize the driver of the first vehicle to contact him through a telematics mobile application. The text message is for example: "You are blocking a car. Do you want to offer the car owner the possibility to contact you?"

[0041] If the second driver does not want to be contacted by the first driver, for example if he judges that the second vehicle 4 does not obstruct the way of the first vehicle 2, or if he intends to stay in front of the first vehicle for a short time, he answers the text message negatively, for example by pressing the "no" button on the display unit. Then the process ends. The process also ends if the obstruction situation ends before the second driver provides an answer to the text message (for example here, if the distance between the first vehicle 2 and the second vehicle rises above a predetermined value).

[0042] If the second driver wants to be contacted by the first driver, he answers the text message positively, for example by pressing the "yes" button on the display unit.

[0043] Then (step E3), the second telecommunication device 5 sends an obstruction alert to the first telecommunication device 3. The obstruction alert is detected by the monitoring module of the first vehicle 2, which wakes up the electronic control unit from its standby mode. Then, the first vehicle 2 continues to check the occurrence of the obstruction situation (step E4), for example by measuring the distance between the first vehicle 2 and the second vehicle 4 with its own proximity sensor.

[0044] If the first vehicle 2 does not detect the obstruction situation, then the process ends. If the first vehicle detects the obstruction situation, then (step E5) the first telecommunication device 3 sends an obstruction notification to the first mobile communication device 6 through the telecommunication network 8. Here, the obstruction notification is provided to the first owner through the telematics mobile application and has the opportunity to contact the second owner.

[0045] Then, (step E6), a communication between the first mobile communication device 6 and the second mobile communication device 7 can be established. For example, the communication is a text message communication, a voice communication or a video conference communication. The establishment of the communication between the two mobile communication devices 6, 7 is such that all data and information sent by a mobile communication device to the other mobile communication device passes through the communication channel between the telecommunication devices 3, 5 (for example, the V2V communication channel), the telecommunication devices 3, 5 thus acting as intermediaries. Moreover, in the present case, the communication is an end-to-end encrypted communication.

[0046] For example, if the first mobile communication device 6 sends a message to the second mobile communication device 7 via the telematics mobile application, the message is first sent to the first telecommunication device 3, for example through the telecommunication network 8. Then, the first telecommunication device 3 sends the message to the second telecommunication device 5, for example through the V2V communication protocol. Finally, the second telecommunication device 5 sends the message to the second mobile communication device 7.

[0047] If the second owner wants to answer the message, he sends his response via the telematics mobile application through the second mobile communication device 7. The response is first sent to the second telecommunication device 5, for example through the telecommunication network 8. Then, the second telecommunication device 5 sends the response to the first telecommunication device 3, for example through the V2V communication protocol. Finally, the first telecommunication device 3 sends the response to the first mobile communication device 6.

[0048] In other words, in this example, the communication between the two mobile communication devices 6, 7 can be seen as a communication between telecommunication devices 3, 5 remotely controlled by the mobile telecommunication devices 6, 7.

[0049] It is not excluded that during said communication, the two owners agree to further directly communicate through the mobile network. For example, during the communication established at step E6, one of the exchanged messages contains a network link, also called URL (Uniform Resource Locator). For example, the network link is a network link to a Voice over IP (VoIP) service provided by the telematics mobile application. For example, the network link is sent by the first owner via the first mobile communication device (and via the telecommunication device), or the first telecommunication device 3 directly transmits the network link to the first mobile communication device 6. By following the network link, the two owners can directly establish a communication through the telecommunication network with the second mobile communication device 7, for example here an IP voice communication.

[0050] In this example, at any time after the sending of the blocking alert by the second telecommunication device 5 to the first telecommunication device 3, if the blocking situation ends, for example here if the distance between the first vehicle 2 and the second vehicle 4 rises above the predetermined distance, the second telecommunication device 5 sends a blocking end alert to the first telecommunication device 3, then the first telecommunication device 3 sends a blocking end notification to the first mobile communication device 6.

[0051] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above in connection with Figure 1 and Figure 2 .

[0052] For example, although the vehicles described above are cars, the invention is compatible with any vehicle, for example trucks, motorcycles, buses, etc. Moreover, the invention is compatible between different types of vehicles, for example a car and a truck, or a bus and a motorcycle.

[0053] Moreover, the mobile communication devices according to the invention are not limited to smartphones, and can be for example laptops, tablets, smartwatches, etc. The two mobile communication devices involved in the method according to the invention can be of different types, for example a smartphone and a laptop.

[0054] The above has described an obstruction situation corresponding to a distance between two vehicles below a threshold predetermined value. The invention is not limited to this definition and is compatible with each definition implying a possibility (risk) of a vehicle obstructing the road of another vehicle. For example, the definition of an obstruction situation can imply a plurality of minimum distances, information on the vehicles (for example dimensions, transmitted via V2V communication) and / or defined by processing images from the vehicle cameras.

Claims

1. A method for establishing communication between a first vehicle (2) that is already parked and a second vehicle (4) that is approaching the first vehicle (2), the first vehicle (2) being equipped with a first telecommunications device (3) configured to communicate with a first mobile communication device (6), and the second vehicle (4) being equipped with a second telecommunications device (5) configured to communicate with a second mobile communication device (7), the method comprising: -The step of detecting potential obstructions by the second vehicle (4), then, - The step of authorizing the establishment of communication between the first mobile communication device (6) and the second mobile communication device (7) by the second telecommunications device (5) through a dedicated telematics mobile application.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The detection steps include displaying a message related to the potential obstruction on a display unit of the second vehicle (4) and confirmation of the occurrence of the obstruction by the occupants of the second vehicle (4) through the display unit, the confirmation triggering an authorization step.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2 further includes the step of sending an obstruction alarm from the second telecommunications device (5) to the first telecommunications device (3).

4. The method according to claim 3 further includes the step of sending an obstruction notification from the first telecommunications device (3) to the first mobile communication device (6) after receiving the obstruction alarm.

5. The method according to claim 4, comprising the step of the first vehicle (2) detecting the obstruction, and the step of sending an obstruction notification only when the first vehicle (2) detects that the distance is below a predetermined value.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising the step of the second vehicle (4) detecting the end of the obstruction, the step of detecting the end of the obstruction triggering the step of canceling the authorization to establish the communication.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6 further includes the step of establishing an authorized communication protocol between the first mobile communication device (6) and the second mobile communication device (7).

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, In authorized communication between the first mobile communication device (6) and the second mobile communication device (7), the first mobile communication device (6) and the second mobile communication device (7) communicate only with the first telecommunication device (3) and only with the second telecommunication device (5), respectively, and each telecommunication device (3, 5) transmits information from the corresponding mobile communication device (6, 7) to the other telecommunication device (3, 5).

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising the step of sending a blockage removal notification from the second telecommunications device (5) to the first telecommunications device after the obstruction ends.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein, The obstruction occurs when the distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle is less than a predetermined value.

11. A communication system comprising a first vehicle (2) equipped with a first telecommunications device (3) configured to communicate with a first mobile communication device (6), and a second vehicle (4) equipped with a second telecommunications device (5) configured to communicate with a second mobile communication device (7), the system (1) being configured to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

Images