Providing a route in a motor vehicle's navigation system

Abstract

Method for providing an initial route in a navigation system of a first motor vehicle to the driver of the first motor vehicle, characterized by the following steps: a) Transmission of at least the location of the first motor vehicle and a first destination to an external server computer, b) Calculation and selection of an initial route from a plurality of possible routes to the first destination by the vehicle-external server computer, c) Consideration of traffic data for the first route and for the majority of possible routes from the vehicle-external server computer when selecting the first route to the first destination by the vehicle-external server computer, d) Transmission of the first route and an initial part of the traffic data considered by the external server computer, relating to the first route, from the external server computer to the vehicle's navigation system, e) Check by the vehicle's navigation system whether, in addition to the first part of the traffic data received from the vehicle's external server computer and considered by the vehicle's external server computer, which relates to the first route, further second traffic data is available in the vehicle or navigation system, which also relates to the first route but was transmitted to the first vehicle via an external online traffic information service, preferably via mobile network, and / or via an external radio transmitter broadcasting traffic information. f) Providing the initial route and the first part of the traffic data received from the vehicle's external server computer and considered by the navigation system, and (g) at least temporarily blocking the provision of the further second traffic data, which also relate to the first route but were transmitted to the first motor vehicle via the vehicle-external online traffic information service, preferably via mobile network, and / or via the vehicle-external radio transmitter, by the navigation system, if the check has shown that it is present in the motor vehicle or navigation system.

Description

[0001] The invention particularly relates to a method for providing a first travel route in a navigation system of a first motor vehicle for the driver of the first motor vehicle.

[0002] In known methods for providing a route in a navigation system for a motor vehicle, at least the location of the motor vehicle and a first destination of the route are transmitted to a server computer external to the vehicle. Using relevant, known algorithms, the server computer external to the vehicle calculates and selects a route, e.g., based on certain predefined route criteria, from a plurality of possible routes to the first destination. When calculating and selecting the first route, the server computer external to the vehicle takes into account traffic data for the first route and for the plurality of possible routes when selecting the first route to the first destination.

[0003] The calculated first route, selected taking the traffic data into account, is transmitted from the vehicle-external server computer to the vehicle's navigation system. Furthermore, a first portion of the traffic data taken into account by the vehicle-external server computer when selecting the first route is also transmitted to the vehicle's navigation system.

[0004] With this known method, the situation often arises that the first route transmitted by the vehicle-external server computer and other traffic data relating to the first route, other than the first part of the traffic data considered by the vehicle-external server computer, are provided to the driver by the navigation system. This unnecessarily confuses the driver, who may naturally wonder why the navigation system is suggesting a route that leads through a traffic jam.

[0005] EP 1 387 145 A1 describes that a first travel route and related traffic data are transmitted by a vehicle-external server computer to a navigation system of a vehicle and are made available by the navigation system to a driver of the vehicle.

[0006] EP 2 080 179 B1 mentions that traffic data can be output either continuously or at time intervals.

[0007] EP 0 715 289 B1 relates to a conventional motor vehicle with a navigation system.

[0008] US 2012 / 0209524 A1 concerns waypoints occurring along a route.

[0009] DE 101 08 994 A1 concerns a method for selecting traffic data.

[0010] US 2008 / 0040031 A1 concerns the determination of travel routes using traffic data.

[0011] Finally, DE 102 18 636 A1 concerns the change of a previously calculated route in the event of a deterioration in the traffic situation.

[0012] The object of the present invention is, in particular, to provide a method for providing a route in a navigation system of a motor vehicle, which avoids confusion and thus distraction of the driver of the motor vehicle.

[0013] The object of the invention is achieved in particular by a method having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention are the subject of the dependent method claims.

[0014] Furthermore, the invention proposes an advantageous navigation system for a motor vehicle which uses the method according to the invention and carries out at least steps e) to g) of the method according to the invention, as well as a motor vehicle provided with the navigation system.

[0015] The method according to the invention for providing a first travel route in a navigation system of a first motor vehicle for the driver of the first motor vehicle comprises the following steps. a) At least the location of the first motor vehicle and a first destination of the first motor vehicle are transmitted to a server computer external to the vehicle. b) The vehicle-external server computer carries out usual calculations to calculate a plurality of possible routes to the first destination, in particular on the basis of predetermined route criteria, and selects a (favorable) first route from the plurality of possible routes. c) When calculating the majority of possible routes and selecting the first route from the majority of possible routes, the server computer external to the vehicle takes into account traffic data for the first route and the majority of possible routes when selecting the first route to the first destination. d) The first route and a first part of the traffic data taken into account by the server computer external to the vehicle and relating to the first route are transmitted from the server computer external to the vehicle to the navigation system of the motor vehicle. e) The navigation system of the motor vehicle carries out a check to determine whether, in addition to the first part of the traffic data taken into account by the server computer external to the vehicle and relating to the first route, there are further second traffic data in the vehicle or in the navigation system which also relate to the first route but which were transmitted to the motor vehicle via an online traffic information service external to the vehicle, preferably via mobile radio, and / or via a radio transmitter external to the vehicle which broadcasts traffic information. f) According to the invention, the navigation system provides the first route and the first part of the traffic data taken into account by the vehicle-external server computer, received by the vehicle-external server computer. g) According to the invention, the provision of any additional second traffic data that may be present and also relate to the first route is further blocked at least temporarily. The at least temporary blocking of the provision of the second traffic data is carried out by the navigation system if the check has revealed their presence in the vehicle or in the navigation system.

[0016] The method according to the invention ensures that second traffic data already present in the vehicle for the first route provided by the navigation system are not also provided by the navigation system and confuse the driver of the motor vehicle because the provided first route does not match the second traffic data that may also be provided and are also present in the vehicle. The invention therefore ensures that the traffic data transmitted by the vehicle-external server computer for the first route, also transmitted by the vehicle-external server computer, are provided together and thus appropriately, so that the route information provided to the driver by the navigation system, consisting of the route and traffic data for the route, is plausible for the driver.Confusion and thus distraction of the driver is advantageously prevented by the measures of the method according to the invention.

[0017] In one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the possibly confusing second traffic data, which also relate to the first route, are deleted as part of the blocking process.

[0018] This may be a suitable blocking option if it is clear that this second traffic data will not be used later or is unlikely to be used later.

[0019] The measures of this exemplary embodiment can be particularly advantageous if the navigation system of the motor vehicle can not only provide routes calculated externally to the vehicle, but can alternatively or additionally provide routes and traffic information or traffic data for the route, which it can provide itself or internally to the vehicle, in particular using road maps etc. stored in the vehicle.

[0020] In one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that after a predetermined time and / or a predetermined distance traveled by the first motor vehicle on the first route, an updated first route and / or an updated first part of the traffic data taken into account by the vehicle-external server computer, which relate to the updated first route, is transmitted from the vehicle-external server computer to the navigation system of the motor vehicle.

[0021] The measures of this embodiment enable the navigation system of the first motor vehicle to provide a first route that is always up-to-date and corresponds to the specific traffic situation.

[0022] Alternatively or additionally, one embodiment of the invention provides that the blocking of the provision of further second traffic data, in particular of updated second traffic data which also relate to the first route, and in particular together with the first route, in particular by the navigation system, is lifted after a predetermined time and / or after a predetermined distance traveled by the first motor vehicle on the first route.

[0023] These measures can be particularly advantageous if the driver of the motor vehicle deviates from the first route provided and at least partially or temporarily selects a route other than the transmitted and provided first route, because then second traffic data already available in the motor vehicle can be used in an advantageous manner.

[0024] An advantageous development of the method according to the invention provides that the provision of the first portion of the traffic data transmitted by the vehicle-external server computer is blocked. This blocking is preferably carried out by the navigation system.

[0025] The advantage of this is that, in the event of the driver deviating from the transmitted first route, potentially confusing traffic data from the first part of the traffic data transmitted by the vehicle's external server computer is blocked. The driver will then not be distracted by such potentially inaccurate and thus misleading traffic data when deviating from the first route.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the invention, the provision of the first part of the traffic data transmitted by the vehicle-external server computer is blocked after a predetermined time and / or after a predetermined distance traveled by the first motor vehicle.

[0027] These optional measures according to the invention can prevent driver confusion, particularly due to outdated traffic data.

[0028] In one embodiment of the invention, the blocking occurs when the transmission of an updated first part of the traffic data relating to the first route, which is to be transmitted from the vehicle-external server computer to the first motor vehicle or navigation system, fails.

[0029] The transmission can be initiated by both the vehicle-external server computer and the vehicle's navigation system, e.g. because a certain period of time has elapsed since the last transmission of traffic data, a predetermined distance has been covered by the vehicle in the meantime, or because the driver has deviated from the first route provided in the meantime.

[0030] Even in these cases, the situation may arise that the traffic data still available for the first route provided is out of date and may confuse the driver when it is provided by the navigation system, thus distracting him from his driving task.

[0031] The described devices and system components are controlled, in particular, by computer programs and may also comprise other, conventional elements of computers and digital control devices, such as a microprocessor, volatile and non-volatile memory, interfaces, etc. The invention may also be implemented, in whole or in part, in the form of a computer program product that, when loaded and executed on a computer, fully or partially effects a process according to the invention. It may, for example, be provided in the form of a data carrier such as a CD / DVD or in the form of one or more files on a server from which the computer program can be downloaded.

Claims

[1] Method for providing a first route in a navigation system of a first motor vehicle for the driver of the first motor vehicle, characterized by the following steps: a) transmission of at least the location of the first motor vehicle and a first destination to a server computer external to the vehicle, b) Calculation and selection of a first route from a plurality of possible routes to the first destination by the vehicle-external server computer, c) taking into account traffic data for the first route and for the majority of possible routes from the vehicle-external server computer when selecting the first route to the first destination by the vehicle-external server computer, d) transmission of the first route and a first part of the traffic data taken into account by the server computer external to the vehicle, which relate to the first route, from the server computer external to the vehicle to the navigation system of the motor vehicle, e) Checking by the navigation system of the motor vehicle whether, in addition to the first part of the traffic data taken into account by the server computer external to the vehicle and relating to the first route, further second traffic data are present in the motor vehicle or navigation system which also relate to the first route, but which were transmitted to the first motor vehicle via an online traffic information service external to the vehicle, preferably via mobile radio, and / or via an external radio transmitter which broadcasts traffic information, f) providing the first route and the first part of the traffic data taken into account by the vehicle-external server computer by the navigation system, and g) at least temporarily blocking the provision of the further second traffic data, which also relate to the first route but were transmitted to the first motor vehicle via the vehicle-external online traffic information service, preferably via mobile radio, and / or via the vehicle-external radio transmitter, by the navigation system if the check has revealed their presence in the motor vehicle or navigation system. [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by that the additional second traffic data, which also concern the first route, are deleted as part of the blocking. [3] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that - after a predetermined time and / or - after a predetermined distance has been travelled by the first motor vehicle on the first route, an updated first route and / or an updated first part of the traffic data taken into account by the vehicle-external server computer, which relate to the updated first route, is transmitted from the vehicle-external server computer to the navigation system of the motor vehicle. [4] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that if the driver of the motor vehicle deviates from the transmitted and provided first route, the blocking of the provision of further second traffic data, in particular updated second traffic data, which also relate to the first route, in particular by the navigation system, - after a predetermined time and / or - is cancelled after a predetermined distance has been covered by the first motor vehicle on the first route. [5] Method according to claim 4, characterized by that if the driver of the motor vehicle deviates from the transmitted and provided first route, the provision of the first part of the traffic data transmitted by the vehicle-external server computer is blocked, in particular by the navigation system. [6] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the provision of the first part of the traffic data transmitted by the vehicle-external server computer - after a predetermined time and / or - is blocked after a predetermined distance has been travelled by the first motor vehicle. [7] Method according to claim 6, characterized bythat the blocking of the provision of the first part of the traffic data occurs if the transmission of an updated first part of the traffic data relating to the first route, which is to be transmitted from the vehicle-external server computer to the first motor vehicle or navigation system, fails. [8] Navigation system for a motor vehicle, characterized by that the navigation system - is involved in the execution of one or more steps of a method according to one of the preceding claims and - carries out at least steps e), f) and g) of the method according to claim 1. [9] Motor vehicle, characterized by that the motor vehicle - comprises a navigation system according to claim 8 and - is involved in the execution of one or more steps of a method according to one of claims 1 to 7.