Device for event-controlled automatic activation of at least one vehicle function system of a vehicle
Patent Information
- Application Number
- DE102012208728
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2012-05-24
- Publication Date
- 2025-10-02
- Estimated Expiration
- 2032-05-24
Smart Images

Figure 00000000_0000_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a device for event-controlled automatic activation of at least one vehicle function system of a motor vehicle.
[0002] Modern vehicles include a multitude of vehicle functions that can be activated and / or deactivated and / or adjusted by a vehicle user using buttons, switches or rotary controls in the vehicle cockpit and / or using menu selection points in a central processing unit of the vehicle, also called the head unit, for example turning on the lights, changing the radio station and so on.
[0003] DE 10 2010 003 251 A1 discloses a method for adjusting at least one variable function of a vehicle. The method comprises the following steps: recording values of at least one manipulated variable of the at least one function and values of at least one input variable; establishing at least one rule for adjusting at least one associated manipulated variable as a function of at least one associated input variable based on the values recorded for this at least one function; and controlling at least one function based on the associated at least one rule. The control unit is configured to derive at least one rule from values of at least one input variable and values of at least one manipulated variable of a function of a vehicle that can be changed by a vehicle occupant and to control the at least one function based on the associated at least one rule.
[0004] DE 10 2010 009 759 A1 describes a method for configuring a vehicle control unit. A configuration file is transmitted to the control unit, which specifies an action based on an input variable available in the vehicle. The control unit executes the action if the rule is met. The rule can be created using an application on a computer without a permanent connection to the vehicle or via an interaction interface of the vehicle.
[0005] DE 10 2010 028 996 A1 also describes a method for configuring a vehicle control unit. In this method, instructions to transmit specific data to the vehicle can be transmitted via a computer network provided by the vehicle manufacturer. Corresponding instructions for controlling the vehicle can also be transmitted. The computer network can also provide means for authorization or authentication in this regard.
[0006] The object underlying the invention is to provide a device for event-controlled automatic activation and / or deactivation and / or adjustment of at least one vehicle function system of a vehicle, which device enables a flexible extension of an automatic activation and / or deactivation and / or adjustment of the at least one vehicle function system.
[0007] The problem is solved by the features of the independent patent claim. Advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims.
[0008] The invention is characterized by a device for the event-controlled automatic activation and / or deactivation and / or adjustment of at least one vehicle functional system of a vehicle. The device can be coupled in terms of control technology to a predetermined set of vehicle functional systems of the vehicle. The device is designed to monitor acquired data for a predetermined set of input variables. The device has an operating interface by means of which a vehicle user can select at least one of the input variables from at least a subset of the predetermined set of input variables and can specify at least one input value and / or input value curve for this purpose. By means of the operating interface, the vehicle user can select at least one of the vehicle functional systems from at least a subset of the predetermined set of vehicle functional systems.Using the user interface, the vehicle user can specify a rule that includes at least one condition for a selectable input variable and that relates a selectable vehicle function system to the selectable input variable. The device is further configured to determine a vehicle function-specific rule depending on a rule specified by the user interface and depending on a vehicle function system selected by the user interface, as well as depending on an input variable selected by the user interface and at least one specified input value and / or input value curve associated with the input variable. The device is further configured to store the vehicle function-specific rule in a backend database of the vehicle manufacturer.The device is further configured to control the vehicle function system depending on the vehicle function-specific rule and detection data for the at least one selected input variable. Furthermore, the device is configured to activate and / or deactivate and / or adjust the vehicle function system depending on at least one predetermined safety rule. The device is also configured such that the event-driven automatic activation and / or deactivation and / or adjustment takes place depending on data provided via an online communication connection. Furthermore, the device is configured to receive these vehicle function-specific rules from a backend database of a vehicle manufacturer, in which the vehicle function-specific rules are stored, via a communication connection.Furthermore, the device is designed such that the execution of all or a selected set of vehicle function-specific rules is only possible after prior automatic online communication connection and online legitimation by the vehicle manufacturer.
[0009] Advantageously, this enables automated vehicle function execution based on rules specified by the vehicle user. The input variables and the vehicle function systems can be selected by the vehicle user from a large number of input variables or vehicle function systems. Advantageously, the input variables can be related to the vehicle function systems in a vehicle-specific manner. The execution of the respective vehicle function can be event-driven, i.e., executed automatically when a specific condition is met. The respective vehicle function system can, for example, include seat heating and / or a radio and / or an infotainment system and / or a comfort function system and an energy-saving function system.
[0010] In an advantageous embodiment, the condition represents an activation condition, and the device is configured to activate and / or deactivate the vehicle function system depending on the vehicle function-specific rule and the at least one selected input variable. This allows the vehicle user to specify the rule very easily.
[0011] In a further advantageous embodiment, the condition represents a setting condition. Using the operating device, the vehicle user can select at least one predefined manipulated variable command for a predefined vehicle function system from at least a subset of the predefined set of manipulated variable commands for the vehicle function systems. The device is designed to determine the vehicle function-specific rule depending on a manipulated variable command for the vehicle function system selected using the operating interface, and to set the vehicle function system depending on the vehicle function-specific rule and the at least one input variable. This enables the rule to be specified very easily by the vehicle user. Advantageously, this makes it possible to automate settings for the vehicle function, so that a driver does not have to manually adjust the vehicle function while driving.
[0012] In a further advantageous embodiment, the device is designed to detect an operating state of a vehicle and to activate and / or adjust the vehicle function system depending on the detected operating state. This can advantageously contribute to enabling safe, in particular roadworthy, operation of the vehicle.
[0013] In a further advantageous embodiment, the device is designed to activate and / or deactivate and / or adjust the vehicle function system depending on at least one predefined release rule for the vehicle function system and / or a predefined authorization of the vehicle user. This can advantageously contribute to enabling safe, in particular roadworthy, operation of the vehicle. A respective execution of the vehicle function can be permitted or disallowed depending on an evaluation of interactions between different vehicle systems.
[0014] In a further advantageous embodiment, the device is designed to activate and / or deactivate and / or adjust the vehicle function system depending on one or more predetermined further activation conditions, wherein the respective further activation condition can be classified as fulfilled depending on a predetermined manual actuation of a predetermined control element. This can advantageously contribute to enabling safe, in particular roadworthy, operation of the vehicle.
[0015] In a further advantageous embodiment, the device is designed to assign a vehicle user identifier to a vehicle function-specific rule and to activate and / or deactivate and / or adjust the vehicle function system depending on the vehicle user identifier and the recognition of the vehicle user in the vehicle. This can advantageously be used to execute the vehicle function-specific rules in relation to the vehicle user. The vehicle user can be identified, for example, using a vehicle key identifier and / or image recognition.
[0016] In a further advantageous embodiment, the set of vehicle functional systems of the vehicle to which the device can be coupled for control purposes includes at least one functional system located outside the vehicle. This functional system can, in particular, be a vehicle-relevant and / or vehicle-related functional system. Such a functional system located outside the vehicle can, for example, include an automated garage door opening system and / or a charging station for electric vehicles. The device and the functional system can be coupled for control purposes via a predetermined online communication connection.
[0017] In a further advantageous embodiment, the device is designed to record a sequence of activations and / or deactivations and / or settings carried out by a vehicle user for predefined vehicle function systems depending on a predefined recording activation condition and to determine the vehicle function-specific rule depending on the rule predefined by means of the user interface and the recorded sequence of activations and / or deactivations and / or settings carried out by the vehicle user as well as depending on the at least one input variable selected by means of the user interface and at least one predefined input value and / or input value curve associated with the input variable.This advantageously makes it possible to link a sequence of vehicle functions with a rule so that, for example, when the vehicle is put into operation at a specified time and / or at a specified location and / or at a specified outside temperature, several vehicle functions are automatically set.
[0018] Embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the schematic drawing.
[0019] It shows: Fig. 1 an embodiment of a vehicle system.
[0020] Fig.1 shows a vehicle system 1. The vehicle comprises a central control device 10, which includes a user interface 40 and, for example, a computing unit 20 and a memory unit 30. The central control device 10 can also be referred to as a device for the event-driven automatic activation and / or deactivation and / or adjustment of at least one vehicle functional system. Furthermore, the vehicle system 1 comprises, for example, a plurality of vehicle functional systems.
[0021] The central control device 10 is control-linked to a predetermined set of vehicle functional systems of the vehicle. The predetermined set of vehicle functional systems can, for example, include vehicle functional systems that can be directly or indirectly activated and / or deactivated and / or adjusted by a vehicle user by manually actuating a predetermined control element arranged in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. For this purpose, the central control device 10 can, for example, be signal-linked to vehicle-function-specific control devices 50a and / or signal-linked directly to predetermined actuators 50b that are assigned to the respective vehicle functional system. For example, the central control device 10 can be control-linked to an electric window lifter of a driver's door.
[0022] The central control device 10 is configured to monitor acquired data for a predetermined set of input variables. For this purpose, the central control device 10 is, for example, signal-coupled to predetermined sensor units 60 of the vehicle. The signal-coupled connection can be established, for example, via a predetermined vehicle data bus. The sensor units 60 are each configured, for example, to detect an operating variable and / or an environmental variable of the vehicle. The respective operating variables and environmental variables form the set of predetermined input variables for the central control device 10.The predetermined set of input variables can thus include, for example: a current speed of the vehicle and / or a current position of the vehicle and / or a current operating state of an evening light and / or an operating variable of a driver's side window lift and / or a current ignition state and / or a current engine state (engine on or off), and / or a current operating state of the vehicle (vehicle moving, vehicle stationary, vehicle asleep) and / or a time and / or a date and so on.
[0023] The central control device 10 can, for example, be signal-coupled to a communication unit 70, which is configured to receive data on further predetermined input variables from at least one vehicle-external device. Such an input variable can, for example, represent the length of a traffic jam on a predetermined route section and / or a weather forecast.
[0024] The central control device 10 can be permanently arranged in the vehicle. Alternatively, the central control device 10 can comprise a mobile computing device and / or a stationary computing device external to the vehicle, which can be suitably coupled to the other components of the vehicle system 50a, 50b, 60, 70 via control technology and / or signaling technology.
[0025] For example, it can be provided that the central control device 10 can be coupled to the other components of the vehicle system 50a, 50b, 60, 70 via a wireless connection, for example a WLAN connection and / or Bluetooth connection.
[0026] The central control device 10 can, for example, be configured to send diagnostic communication commands to the vehicle function-specific control devices 50a and / or to the actuators 50b, for example, according to a UDS (Unified Diagnostic Service) protocol. This has the advantage that the vehicle function-specific control devices 50a and / or the actuators 50b can be controlled directly with such a diagnostic communication command. Determining and generating a control signal, which represents, for example, an emulation of a button position, is not required.
[0027] The central control device 10 can, for example, comprise a mobile terminal and / or a smartphone and / or a central processing unit of the vehicle, also called a head unit.
[0028] The memory unit 30 of the central control device 10 can, for example, have a program memory associated with the computing unit 20. The memory unit 30 can also comprise a data memory for storing the vehicle function-specific rules. Alternatively or additionally, the vehicle function-specific rules can be stored in a database, for example, in a backend database of a vehicle manufacturer. The vehicle function-specific rules can then be made available to the central control device 10 as needed via a suitable communication connection.
[0029] The operating interface 40 of the central control device is assigned, for example, a predefined operating device 45. The operating interface 40 can alternatively also comprise the operating device 45. The operating interface 40 is designed to forward predefined control signals, which represent respective inputs from a user, to the computing unit 20. The operating device 45 can, for example, comprise a smartphone and / or a computer and / or a central processing unit of the vehicle (head unit). The operating device 45 can, for example, comprise a graphical user interface.
[0030] Using the user interface 40, a vehicle user can select at least one of the input variables from at least a subset of the predefined set of input variables and specify at least one input value and / or input value curve for this purpose. Using the user interface 40, the vehicle user can select at least one of the vehicle functional systems from at least a subset of the predefined set of vehicle functional systems. Furthermore, the vehicle user can specify a rule that includes at least one condition for a selectable input variable and that relates a selectable vehicle functional system to the selectable input variable.
[0031] The central control device 10 is configured to determine a vehicle function-specific rule based on a rule specified by means of the user interface 40 and based on a vehicle function system selected by means of the user interface 40, as well as based on an input variable selected by means of the user interface 40 and at least one specified input value and / or input value curve associated with the input variable. The central control device 10 is further configured to control the vehicle function system based on the vehicle function-specific rule and the acquisition data for the at least one input variable.
[0032] The central control device 10 can, for example, be designed to generate suitable control signals and / or actuating signals for the respective vehicle function-specific control units 50a or actuators 50b, depending on the respective vehicle function-specific rule and the detection data for the at least one input variable, and to send them to the respective vehicle function-specific control units 50a or actuators 50b.
[0033] The determination and monitoring of the vehicle function-specific rule as well as the control of the vehicle function systems can be carried out, for example, by means of the computing unit 20 of the central control device. The determined vehicle function-specific rules can be stored, for example, in the memory unit 30.
[0034] Below are several examples of the rules that can be specified by a vehicle user and / or selected from a given set of rules, where STATUS is equivalent to the input variable and STATUS VALUE to the input value: - IF <status>GRÖSSER <statuswert>THEN EXECUTION <steuerbefehl> - IF <status>SMALLER <statuswert>THEN EXECUTION <steuerbefehl> - IF <status>BETWEEN <statuswert>AND <statuswert>THEN EXECUTION <steuerbefehl> - IF <status>BETWEEN <statuswert>AND <statuswert>THEN EXECUTION <steuerbefehl> - IF <status>IS <statuswert>THEN EXECUTION <steuerbefehl> - IF <status>IS NOT <statuswert>THEN EXECUTION <steuerbefehl>>.
[0035] The following logical links can be used to specify the rules: - AND - OR - NOT.
[0036] In particular, the central control device 10 can be configured to control the execution of a plurality of functions instead of executing a single command upon the occurrence of the control condition. Furthermore, the rules can comprise logical rule sets that represent complex Boolean logic.
[0037] The event-driven automatic activation and / or deactivation and / or adjustment of at least one vehicle function system can also be carried out in such a way that functions implemented across various components in the vehicle can be accessed and specifically influenced. For example, it can be provided that a windshield wiper system is not automatically activated when the vehicle enters a car wash. This requires, for example, that a rain sensor measurement signal is suppressed when it is detected that the vehicle is entering a car wash.
[0038] In a first exemplary embodiment, the set of selectable input variables comprises, for example, at least one first input variable representative of a time of day and a second input variable representative of a date. The set of selectable vehicle function systems comprises, for example, at least one first vehicle function system that has the function of switching on a low beam.
[0039] For example, a first sensor unit in the vehicle provides the input variables "DATE" and "TIME," and a vehicle-function-specific control unit of the lighting system provides the control command "Dipped beam ON" via the WLAN=>TCP / IP=>HTTP interface. A vehicle-function-specific rule stored on a smartphone could therefore be, for example: "(IF <datum>BETWEEN NOVEMBER AND FEBRUARY) AND (IF <uhrzeit>BETWEEN 4 PM and 8 AM) THEN COMMAND<Abblendlicht AN> >".
[0040] In a second embodiment, for example, a second sensor unit provides the input variables "GPS POSITION_LENGTH," "GPS POSITION_LAT.," and "SPEED," and a vehicle-function-specific control device for the window lifts provides the control command "WINDOW LIFT_DRIVER_DOWN" via a head unit-internal software interface. A vehicle-function-specific rule stored by the vehicle user in the head unit via the operating interface 40 for automatically opening the driver's window every morning at the parking garage barrier could then be: "(IF<GPS-POSITION_LÄNGE> IS between 35.3456° and 35.3457°) AND (IF GPS-POSITION_LATITUDE IS between 90.7345° and 90.7356°) AND (SPEED IS 0) THEN COMMAND<FENSTERHEBER_FAHRER_RUNTER> >".
[0041] Other examples would be lowering the sun blinds in the evening, changing radio stations in areas with poor radio reception, and so on.
[0042] The event-driven automatic activation and / or deactivation and / or setting may be dependent on measurement data collected by on-board vehicle measuring devices and / or dependent on data provided by a backend system and / or via an online communication connection.
[0043] In this case, it may be provided that the vehicle user can specify the respective input variables, the vehicle function system(s), and the rule. Alternatively or additionally, it may be provided that a vehicle user uses the vehicle function-specific rules that have been stored by other vehicle users in a database and / or another suitable storage device for use by other persons.
[0044] For example, it may be provided that a statistical evaluation is performed to determine how frequently such a vehicle-function-specific rule has been downloaded and / or an evaluation of the rules provided in the database is performed. This means that statistical usage data, for example, individual user data of the vehicle user and / or statistical data from a group of users, can also be used to create and specify the vehicle-function-specific rules.
[0045] Furthermore, it can be provided, for example, that a vehicle user can send his vehicle function-specific rules to other vehicle users and / or receive other vehicle function-specific rules and / or adapt and / or expand and / or individualize the vehicle function-specific rules via an online communication connection and / or a backend system.
[0046] Monitoring or checking the vehicle function-specific rules can, for example, be carried out automatically, for example once at the beginning of each trip and / or once at the end of each trip and / or permanently when a vehicle engine is running, and / or cyclically, for example every hour when the vehicle is in a sleeping operating state.
[0047] Alternatively or additionally, the monitoring of the vehicle function-specific rules can be carried out, for example, depending on a manual specification by the vehicle user, for example, it can be carried out once after a manual specification has been made or, for example, once during a current journey or at specified time intervals after a manual specification has been made by the vehicle user.
[0048] The central control device 10 can further be configured to detect an operating state of a vehicle and to activate and / or adjust the vehicle function system depending on the detected operating state. For example, for safety reasons, it can be provided that a certain vehicle function may not be executed in a given operating state of the vehicle, for example, opening the convertible top if the vehicle is traveling at a speed greater than 45 km / h. Even if the condition of the determined vehicle function-specific rule is met, the vehicle function is not executed in this case.
[0049] The central control device 10 can, for example, be designed to activate and / or deactivate and / or adjust the vehicle function system depending on at least one predetermined safety rule and / or predetermined release rules for the vehicle function system and / or a predetermined legitimation of the vehicle user.
[0050] Furthermore, it can be provided that the execution of the specific vehicle function-specific rule only takes place if it has been released by a vehicle manufacturer of the vehicle, i.e. if it fulfills a predetermined release condition.
[0051] Furthermore, it can be stipulated that the execution of all or a selected set of vehicle function-specific rules is only possible after prior automatic online communication / online authentication by the vehicle manufacturer. Thus, certain rules can be subsequently blocked by the vehicle manufacturer.
[0052] The central control device 10 can, for example, be designed to activate and / or deactivate and / or adjust the vehicle function system depending on one or more predetermined further activation conditions, wherein the respective further activation conditions can be classified as fulfilled depending on a predetermined manual actuation of a predetermined control element. For example, it can be provided that an execution of a certain vehicle function-specific rule only occurs if the vehicle user explicitly approves this, for example by actuating a predetermined button and / or by a predetermined voice input. For example, it can also be provided that an execution of a certain vehicle function-specific rule only occurs if the vehicle user holds the button in a predetermined position for the entire execution time of the vehicle function. Otherwise, execution is interrupted. List of reference symbols 1 vehicle system 10 central control device 20 computing units 30 storage units 40 User interface 45 Operating device 50a vehicle function system-specific control unit 50 Actuator of a vehicle function 60 sensor unit 70 Communication unit< / uhrzeit> < / datum> < / steuerbefehl> < / statuswert> < / status> < / steuerbefehl> < / statuswert> < / status> < / steuerbefehl> < / statuswert> < / statuswert> < / status> < / steuerbefehl> < / statuswert> < / statuswert> < / status> < / steuerbefehl> < / statuswert> < / status> < / steuerbefehl> < / statuswert> < / status>
Claims
[1] Device for event-controlled automatic activation and / or deactivation and / or adjustment of at least one vehicle function system of a vehicle, wherein the device - can be linked to a given number of vehicle functional systems in terms of control technology, - is designed to monitor acquired data for a given set of input variables, - an operating interface (40) by means of which a vehicle user can select at least one of the input variables from at least a subset of the predetermined set of input variables and can specify at least one input value and / or input value curve for this purpose, and by means of which the vehicle user can select at least one of the vehicle function systems from at least a subset of the predetermined set of vehicle function systems, and by means of which the vehicle user can specify a rule that comprises at least one condition for a selectable input variable and that relates a selectable vehicle function system to the selectable input variable, - is trained, - - to determine a vehicle function-specific rule depending on a rule specified by means of the operating interface (40) and depending on a vehicle function system selected by means of the operating interface (40) and depending on an input variable selected by means of the operating interface (40) and at least one specified input value and / or input value curve associated with the input variable and to store the vehicle function-specific rule in a backend database of the vehicle manufacturer, and - - to control the vehicle function system depending on the vehicle function-specific rule and acquisition data for at least one selected input variable, - is designed to activate and / or deactivate and / or adjust the vehicle function system depending on at least one specified safety rule, - is designed so that the event-driven automatic activation and / or deactivation and / or setting is carried out depending on data provided via an online communication connection - is set up to receive these vehicle function-specific rules from the vehicle manufacturer's backend database, in which the vehicle function-specific rules are stored, via a communication connection, and -- that the execution of all or a selected set of vehicle function-specific rules is only possible after prior automatic online communication connection and online authentication by the vehicle manufacturer. [2] Device according to claim 1, wherein the condition represents an activation condition and the device is designed to activate and / or deactivate the vehicle function system depending on the vehicle function-specific rule and the detection data for the at least one selected input variable. [3] Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein - the condition represents a setting condition, - the vehicle user can select at least one predetermined manipulated variable command for a predetermined vehicle functional system from at least a subset of a predetermined set of manipulated variable commands for the vehicle functional systems by means of the operating interface (40), - the device is designed to determine the vehicle function-specific rule depending on a manipulated variable command for the vehicle function system selected by means of the operating interface (40), - to adjust the vehicle function system depending on the vehicle function-specific rule and at least one input variable. [4] Device according to one of the preceding claims, which is designed to detect an operating state of a vehicle and to activate and / or adjust the vehicle function system depending on the detected operating state. [5] Device according to one of the preceding claims, which is designed to activate and / or deactivate and / or adjust the vehicle function system depending on at least one predetermined authorization of the vehicle user. [6] Device according to one of the preceding claims, which is designed to activate and / or deactivate and / or adjust the vehicle function system depending on one or more predetermined further activation conditions, wherein the respective further activation conditions can be classified as fulfilled depending on a predetermined manual actuation of a predetermined operating element. [7] Device according to one of the preceding claims, which is designed to assign a vehicle user identification to a vehicle function-specific rule and to activate and / or deactivate and / or adjust the vehicle function system depending on the vehicle user identification and a recognition of the vehicle user in the vehicle. [8] Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the set of vehicle functional systems of the vehicle to which the device can be coupled for control purposes comprises at least one functional system which is arranged outside the vehicle. [9] Device according to one of the preceding claims, which is designed - depending on a given recording activation condition, to record a sequence of activations and / or deactivations and / or settings carried out by a vehicle user for given vehicle functional systems and - to determine the vehicle function-specific rule depending on the rule specified by means of the operating interface (40) and the recorded sequence of the activations and / or deactivations and / or settings carried out by the vehicle user and depending on the at least one input variable selected by means of the operating interface (40) and at least one predetermined input value and / or input value curve associated with the input variable.
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