Assistance system to support a driver of a motor vehicle

Abstract

Assistance system (1) for supporting a driver of a motor vehicle, in particular a truck or a bus, comprising: - a navigation system, - a functional device (10) for detecting whether the motor vehicle (F) at least potentially wishes to cross a national border (L), - a provision device (30) for providing at least one country-specific information item to the driver, preferably when the detection indicates that the motor vehicle (F) at least potentially wishes to cross a national border (L), characterized in that - the assistance system (1) has a determination device (40) for determining the remaining country-specific permissible driving time while the motor vehicle is driving, - the country-specific information includes a checklist of documents to be carried, whereby the country-specific information includes information on the country (ZL) behind the national border (L) and information on the country (SL) before the national border (L), - the assistance system (1) has a determination device (40) for determining potential parking spaces ahead as a function of the remaining country-specific permissible driving time and as a function of a route suggested by the navigation system and for transmitting corresponding information to the provision device (30), and - the navigation system uses a targeted country query from the driver before the start of the journey to conclude that the vehicle at least potentially intends to cross the national border (L).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an assistance system for supporting a driver of a motor vehicle, preferably a truck or a bus.

[0002] Regarding the state of the art, reference should first be made to the documents US 2012 / 0072109 A1 and DE 103 43 941 A1.

[0003] Document US 2012 / 0072109 A1 discloses a navigation system integrated into a material handling vehicle and used by an operator, the system comprising: a plurality of display devices, each having a screen; a positioning component operable to determine the current position of the material handling vehicle; and a memory operable to store one or more modules. The memory includes transportation preferences of the vehicle operator, which include time periods available for operation of the material handling vehicle, and material transportation requirements, which include a material transportation destination.

[0004] Document DE 103 43 941 A1 describes a method for outputting traffic rules and a driver information device provided for this purpose, whereby a crossing of a national border or an impending crossing of a national border from a first to a second country is determined. The traffic rules that differ between the first and second countries are output, allowing a driver to adapt their driving behavior to the traffic rules applicable from the border onward.

[0005] Trucks and buses are usually equipped with driver assistance systems, particularly navigation devices. Conventional navigation systems enable cross-border route planning using satellite- or radio-based positioning and geoinformation, for example, but do not take into account country-specific traffic regulations and rules. In practice, this can lead to massive disruptions, for example, when trucks or buses are forced to stop because the permissible total vehicle weight or the permitted driving time has been exceeded.

[0006] An object of the invention is to provide an improved assistance system for supporting a driver of a motor vehicle.

[0007] This problem can be solved with the features of the independent claims. Advantageous further developments can be found in the dependent claims and the following description.

[0008] The invention provides an assistance system for supporting a driver of a motor vehicle, preferably a commercial vehicle, such as a truck or a bus.

[0009] The assistance system according to the invention comprises the features of claim 1.

[0010] The assistance system comprises a functional device for detecting whether the motor vehicle at least potentially wishes to cross a national border, in particular a state border, and a provision device for providing at least one piece of country-specific information to the driver, e.g., if the detection indicates that the motor vehicle at least potentially wishes to cross the national border.

[0011] The assistance system comprises a navigation system, e.g., embodied by a navigation device. The provision device comprises, e.g., a display and / or a loudspeaker. The display of the provision device can, e.g., be part of the navigation device, the central display of the motor vehicle, or the telematics system of the motor vehicle.

[0012] In particular, the navigation system enables the position of the motor vehicle, e.g., satellite-based (e.g., GPS-based; GPS: Global Positioning System) or radio-based. Likewise, the navigation system enables cross-border route planning and / or the determination of the current distance of the motor vehicle from a national border using geoinformation (e.g., maps, road maps, city maps, topology maps, etc.).

[0013] Within the scope of the invention, the feature “may possibly cross and / or potentially wants to cross” preferably includes one or more of the following situations: a predefined distance of the motor vehicle from a national border, a position of the motor vehicle close to the border determined, for example, by means of the navigation system, cross-border route planning determined by means of the navigation system and / or a targeted country query, for example, before the start of the journey, before potentially crossing a national border or during a route comparison carried out by the driver, etc.

[0014] The country-specific information preferably includes one or more traffic-related rules or regulations, e.g., road traffic laws.

[0015] The country-specific information includes a (e.g. virtual) checklist of country-specific required documents and optional items to be carried.

[0016] The country-specific information may also include one or more maximum permissible speeds, maximum permissible vehicle weights and / or permissible driving and / or rest times.

[0017] The assistance system also includes a device for determining the remaining country-specific permissible driving time.

[0018] The determination device can also be used by the navigation system to determine potential parking spaces in the vicinity of the motor vehicle based on the remaining country-specific permissible driving time and to expediently transmit corresponding information to the provision device. The determination device is designed by the navigation system to determine potential parking spaces in the vicinity of the motor vehicle based on the remaining country-specific permissible driving time and based on a route suggested by the navigation system and to expediently transmit corresponding information to the provision device.

[0019] The navigation system may further include a fleet management system.

[0020] It is possible that the assistance system is designed for integration into a navigation device, a central instrument (e.g. a display unit, a display, etc.) and / or a portable, e.g. mobile radio-based communication device (e.g. a mobile phone).

[0021] It should also be mentioned that the country-specific information expediently includes at least information about the country behind the national border (e.g. a destination country) and / or at least information about the country before the national border (e.g. a starting country).

[0022] The invention is not limited to an assistance system, but also encompasses an operating method for an assistance system, preferably comprising a navigation system, for supporting a driver of a motor vehicle as described herein, preferably a commercial vehicle such as a truck or a bus. The operating method comprises detecting whether the motor vehicle is crossing, possibly will cross, or at least potentially intends to cross a national border, and providing country-specific information to the driver, e.g., if the detection suggests that the motor vehicle is crossing, possibly will cross, or at least potentially intends to cross the national border. The operating method is preferably carried out with an assistance system as described herein.Further features of the operating method result from the functional and structural description of the assistance system according to the invention.

[0023] The invention further encompasses a computer program that, when executed by a processor or data processing unit, causes the operating method as described herein to be carried out. The invention further encompasses a computer program product comprising such a computer program.

[0024] The preferred embodiments of the invention described above can be combined with one another as desired. Other advantageous developments of the invention are disclosed in the subclaims or emerge from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures. Fig. 1 shows a highly schematic view of a part of an assistance system according to an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of a cross-border route for a motor vehicle, Fig. 3 shows a flowchart of an operating method according to an embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 4 shows a flowchart according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0025] The embodiments of the invention described with reference to the figures partially correspond, with similar or identical parts being provided with the same reference numerals, and for their explanation reference is also made to the description of other embodiments or figures in order to avoid repetition.

[0026] Fig. Figure 1 shows a highly schematic view of part of an assistance system 1 for supporting a driver of a motor vehicle, in particular a truck or a bus. The assistance system 1 is part of a navigation system and is used in particular to support a Fig. 2 schematically shows the cross-border route. Fig. 2 a motor vehicle F, a national border L and a cross-border route R determined by the navigation system from a departure or starting country SL to a destination country ZL. Fig. The dotted rectangle shown in Figure 2 schematically indicates a predefined area B close to the national border.

[0027] With reference to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 describes the structure and function of the assistance system 1 below.

[0028] The assistance system 1 comprises a functional device 10, a storage device 20, a provision device 30 and a determination unit 40, which are expediently operatively connected to one another.

[0029] The navigation system comprised by the assistance system 1 can be designed essentially according to the prior art and initially enable a determination of the position of the motor vehicle F and a route planning to a specific destination in a conventional manner.

[0030] The functional device 10 serves to detect whether the motor vehicle F crosses the national border L, which is possible using the position determination of the navigation system. Likewise, the position determination of the navigation system can be used to detect whether the motor vehicle F is in the area B close to the national border, from which it can be concluded that the motor vehicle F at least possibly intends to cross the national border L. Furthermore, it can be concluded, for example, based on a cross-border route planned in advance using the navigation system or based on a specific country query from the driver (e.g. before the start of the journey or shortly before the national border L), that the motor vehicle F at least potentially intends to cross the national border L.

[0031] The storage device 20 contains information specific to the starting country SL and specific to the destination country ZL for the driver, in particular traffic-related rules and regulations (e.g. road traffic laws), a checklist of country-specific documents and items to be carried, permissible maximum speeds, permissible total vehicle weights, permissible driving times, permissible rest periods, etc.

[0032] The provision device 30, e.g., a display and / or a loudspeaker, serves to provide the country-specific information from the storage device 20 to the driver.

[0033] The assistance system 1 can, for example, be used in such a way that, from a predefined distance to the national border L or when the national border L is actually crossed into the destination country ZL, the destination country-specific information is made available to the driver quasi-automatically by means of the provision device 30.

[0034] The assistance system 1 can also be used, for example, in such a way that the driver enters a destination country or a destination location into the navigation system before starting the journey and the assistance system 1 then provides the driver with destination-specific information if a cross-border route has been determined.

[0035] The assistance system 1 can also provide the country-specific information under other conditions, e.g., simply upon request, such as before the start of the journey, shortly before the national border L, or as part of a route comparison performed by the driver. The assistance system 1 can thus be used not only to obtain information about a country beyond a national border L (destination country ZL), but also to obtain information about a country before the national border L (starting country SL).

[0036] If the motor vehicle F potentially crosses several national borders, country-specific information can be provided not only for the destination country, but also for the country(ies) through which it passes.

[0037] The determination unit 40, e.g., a processor, a computing unit, etc., serves to determine the remaining country-specific permissible driving time and, e.g., to determine potential parking spaces in the vicinity of the motor vehicle F depending on the remaining country-specific permissible driving time and to transmit corresponding information to the provision device 30.

[0038] Fig. 3 shows a flowchart of an operating method according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0039] In step S1.1, a driver enters a cross-border destination or destination country ZL into the navigation system. Alternatively, in step S1.2, a specific country query can be sent to the assistance system 1 to obtain country-specific information. Steps S1.1 and S1.2 can occur, for example, before the start of the journey or before potentially crossing the national border L.

[0040] In a step S2, country-specific information is retrieved from the storage device 20.

[0041] In a step S3, the country-specific information is then communicated to the driver by means of the provision device 30.

[0042] Fig. 4 shows a flowchart of an operating method according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0043] In a step S10, the navigation system detects an approach of the motor vehicle F to the national border L or a position of the motor vehicle F in the area B near the border.

[0044] In a step S11, country-specific information about the country behind the national border L is then retrieved from the storage device 20.

[0045] In an optional step S12, after crossing the national border L, potential parking spaces that can be reached within the permitted driving time are determined by means of the navigation system and the determination unit 40 depending on the country-specific permissible driving time stored in the storage device 20.

[0046] In a step S13, the results of steps S11 and S12 are communicated to the driver by means of the provision device 30.

[0047] The invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above. Rather, numerous variants and modifications are possible that also utilize the inventive concept and therefore fall within the scope of protection. Furthermore, the invention also claims protection for the subject matter and features of the subclaims, independent of the referenced features and claims.

Claims

[1] Assistance system (1) for supporting a driver of a motor vehicle, in particular a lorry or a bus, comprising: - a navigation system, - a functional device (10) for detecting whether the motor vehicle (F) at least potentially wishes to cross a national border (L), - a provision device (30) for providing at least one country-specific information to the driver, preferably if the detection indicates that the motor vehicle (F) at least potentially wishes to cross a national border (L), characterized by , that - the assistance system (1) has a determination device (40) for determining the remaining country-specific permissible driving time while the motor vehicle is driving, - the country-specific information includes a checklist of documents to be carried, whereby the country-specific information includes information on the country (ZL) behind the national border (L) and information on the country (SL) before the national border (L), - the assistance system (1) has a determination device (40) for determining potential parking spaces ahead as a function of the remaining country-specific permissible driving time and as a function of a route suggested by the navigation system and for transmitting corresponding information to the provision device (30), and - the navigation system uses a targeted country query from the driver before the start of the journey to conclude that the vehicle at least potentially intends to cross the national border (L). [2] Assistance system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the country-specific information comprises one or more traffic-related rules or regulations. [3] Assistance system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the country-specific information comprises a checklist of items to be carried. [4] Assistance system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the country-specific information comprises one or more permissible maximum speeds. [5] Assistance system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the country-specific information comprises one or more permissible total vehicle weights. [6] Assistance system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the country-specific information comprises one or more permissible driving and / or rest times. [7] Assistance system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a determination device (40) for determining potential parking spaces in the vicinity of the motor vehicle (F) as a function of the remaining country-specific permissible driving time and for transmitting corresponding information to the provision device (30). [8] Assistance system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the assistance system (1) comprises a fleet management system. [9] Assistance system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the assistance system (1) is designed for integration into a navigation device, a central instrument and / or a portable, mobile radio-based communication device. [10] Operating method for an assistance system (1), preferably comprising a navigation system, for assisting a driver of a motor vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, preferably a bus or a lorry, with the following steps: - Determine (S1.1, S1.2, S10) whether the motor vehicle will possibly cross a national border (L) or at least potentially wants to cross it, and - Providing (S3, S13) at least one country-specific information item to the driver, preferably if the detection suggests that the motor vehicle (F) may cross a national border (L) or at least potentially wants to cross it. [11] A computer program which, when executed by a processor or data processing unit, causes the operating method according to claim 10 to be carried out. [12] A computer program product comprising a computer program according to claim 11.

Images