Procedure, vehicle and system for providing driving services

Abstract

System (100) for providing ride services to users by means of a plurality of vehicles (110) driven by a corresponding plurality of drivers, wherein the ride service is performed by a driver of a vehicle (110) as a journey of the vehicle (110) with at least one user of the ride service, wherein the system (100) is configured for a journey with a driver of a vehicle (110) and with a user, - To determine sensor data relating to the driver and / or the user, which were recorded during the journey of the vehicle (110) by at least one occupant sensor (112, 113) of the vehicle (110), - to recognize, based on sensor data, which one or more emotions the driver and / or user displayed during the journey, - To determine driving data relating to a driving condition of the vehicle (110) during the journey, - to correlate the driving data with the detected one or more emotions of the driver and / or user in order to create an assessment of the driver and / or user, and - to provide the driver and / or user rating for the journey as support for selecting a driver and / or user for a subsequent ride service.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method, a vehicle and a system that make it possible to increase the quality and comfort of driving services.

[0002] There are various providers of ride-hailing services that allow users to be transported in vehicles. A ride-hailing service can be provided through a system that manages a list of vehicles (with their respective drivers) offering the service. This list of vehicles can be generated based on a user's desired route.

[0003] The user can access the list of vehicles via a user interface (e.g., an app on the user's device) to select a vehicle for a trip. The selected vehicle can then be booked, and a meeting point can be arranged where the user can board the vehicle and be transported along the desired route.

[0004] A driver typically has the option of offering a ride to a requesting user. In doing so, the driver may consider user ratings based on previous trips. Similarly, the user can select a vehicle or driver based on ratings from previous trips.

[0005] The ratings created by users and / or drivers are typically subjective, not very informative and / or distorted, which makes the selection of a suitable driver and / or user for a ride service difficult and unreliable.

[0006] US 2013 / 0066688 A1 describes a method for monitoring the driver of a vehicle based on sensor data. Based on this sensor data, the driver's comfort and / or safety level can be determined. US 2017 / 0193819 A1 describes a method for providing information about a driver's driving behavior. US 2013 / 0054090 A1 describes a method for detecting emotions while driving a vehicle.

[0007] This document addresses the technical task of increasing the quality and validity of assessments related to transportation services, in particular to improve the comfort and quality of transportation services.

[0008] The problem is solved by each of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are described, inter alia, in the dependent claims. It should be noted that additional features of a claim dependent on an independent claim, without the features of the independent claim itself or only in combination with a subset of the features of the independent claim, can constitute a separate invention independent of the combination of all features of the independent claim, which can be made the subject of an independent claim, a divisional application, or a subsequent application. This applies equally to technical teachings described in the description, which can constitute an invention independent of the features of the independent claims.

[0009] According to one aspect, a system for providing ride-hailing services to users is described, using a large number of vehicles driven by a corresponding number of drivers. A ride-hailing service can be a journey undertaken by a driver of a vehicle (along a specific route) with at least one user of the service. The driver can be considered the provider of the ride-hailing service, and the user the customer requesting the service.

[0010] The system can be trained to match and coordinate requests for ride services from users with offers of ride services from drivers. Individual rides can thus be brokered as ride services.

[0011] The system is designed to collect sensor data relating to the driver and / or user during a journey with a vehicle driver and a user (i.e., during a provided ride service). This data is captured by at least one occupant sensor (e.g., a camera) in the vehicle. The sensor data may include camera images. It may also reveal the behavior, particularly emotions, of the user and / or driver during the journey. For example, the sensor data may include a video of the user and / or driver during the journey, from which one or more emotions of the driver and / or user can be detected.

[0012] The system is further designed to automatically recognize, based on sensor data, which one or more emotions the driver and / or user has displayed during the journey. In particular, the sensor data can be used to determine the temporal progression of at least one emotion of the driver and / or user during the journey. Examples of emotions include fear, stress, joy, and / or anger.

[0013] The system is further configured to generate an assessment of the driver and / or user based on sensor data for the trip and to provide this assessment as support for selecting a driver and / or user for a subsequent ride service (i.e., for a follow-up trip). The assessment of the driver and / or user is based on the one or more emotions detected by the driver and / or user during the trip. In particular, the assessment of the driver and / or user can be determined based on the temporal progression of at least one emotion.

[0014] The system can therefore automatically generate ratings for individual trips (i.e., for individual ride services). These ratings can be influenced by the emotions of the drivers or users during the individual trips (automatically determined based on sensor data). By providing automatically generated ratings, drivers and users of ride services can be enabled to plan rides in a convenient and reliable manner.

[0015] The system can be configured to generate an average rating for the driver and / or user based on sensor data from a large number of trips. Considering a large number of trips can further improve the basis for selecting ride services.

[0016] The system is designed to collect driving data related to the vehicle's driving condition during the journey (for which an evaluation is to be generated). This driving data can include the vehicle's speed and / or acceleration (especially the temporal profile of speed and / or acceleration). The driving data is correlated with sensor data from the occupant sensor and / or with the detected emotions of the driver and / or user during the journey to generate the driver's and / or user's evaluation of the trip. Considering the driving data further enhances the accuracy of the generated evaluations.

[0017] The system can be configured to generate a driver rating based on sensor data relating to the user. Alternatively or additionally, the system can be configured to generate a user rating based on sensor data relating to the driver. In particular, the one or more emotions detected by the user can be used to evaluate the driver (or vice versa). This allows for a particularly reliable and precise automated rating.

[0018] The system can include or be an external unit (e.g., a server). The system can be configured to receive sensor data from a vehicle's occupant sensor and / or derived data for a journey from the vehicle. Alternatively or additionally, the system can be configured to provide user and / or driver ratings via a user device (e.g., a smartphone).

[0019] According to another aspect, a (motor) vehicle (in particular a passenger car, truck, bus, or motorcycle) is described for providing a ride service. The vehicle includes at least one occupant sensor (in particular a camera) configured to collect sensor data relating to the driver and / or the user while the vehicle is in motion. Furthermore, the vehicle includes a control unit configured to use the sensor data to generate an assessment of the driver and / or user for the ride and to provide this assessment as an aid in selecting the driver and / or user for a subsequent ride service.

[0020] According to another aspect, a method for providing ride-hailing services to users is described, using a large number of vehicles driven by a corresponding number of drivers. A ride-hailing service can be provided by a driver of a vehicle, transporting at least one user of the service.

[0021] The process involves, for a journey with a driver and a passenger, the collection of sensor data relating to the driver and / or passenger, recorded by at least one occupant sensor in the vehicle during the journey. Furthermore, the process involves creating an assessment of the driver and / or passenger based on this sensor data. The process also includes providing this assessment to assist in selecting a driver and / or passenger for a subsequent ride service.

[0022] Another aspect described is a software (SW) program. The SW program can be configured to run on a processor and thereby execute the procedure described in this document.

[0023] Another aspect describes a storage medium. This storage medium can include a software program configured to run on a processor and thereby execute the procedure described in this document.

[0024] The invention will now be described in more detail using exemplary embodiments. Fig. 1a an exemplary system for providing a transport service; Fig. 1b an exemplary user interface for a ride-hailing system on a user device; and Fig. 2. A flowchart of an exemplary procedure for determining evaluation information in relation to a transportation service.

[0025] As stated at the outset, this document deals with increasing the comfort and / or quality of transportation services. In this context, it shows Fig. 1a An exemplary system 100 with a vehicle 110, which can be used to provide a transportation service. Within the scope of the transportation service, the vehicle 110 can be driven by a driver. One or more users can be transported in the interior 115 of the vehicle 110. The driver can be considered the provider of the transportation service, and the one or more users can be considered the users of the transportation service.

[0026] System 100 comprises a central unit 101, which is configured to manage a list of vehicles 110 and / or drivers capable of providing ride services. System 100 also includes user devices 120 (e.g., smartphones) belonging to potential users of ride services. The vehicles 110 and / or the user devices 120 of System 100 are typically connected to the central unit 101 via a (wireless) communication link 102.

[0027] A user can submit a request for a ride service to the central unit 101 via a user device 120 (e.g., by specifying the desired route and / or the desired time for the trip). The central unit 101 can then generate a list of available vehicles 110 and / or drivers capable of providing the ride service. The user can then select a vehicle 110 from this list to use the ride service. The user's selection can be based on (historical) ratings of the drivers of the available vehicles 110.

[0028] In particular, a driver and / or a user may be able to submit a rating of the other person, the service provided, and / or the vehicle used after a ride. The rating submitted by one person regarding another is typically subjective and may be influenced by the knowledge that they themselves are also being rated by the other person. These ratings are often biased and therefore unsuitable for selecting a suitable driver or user for a ride service.

[0029] A vehicle 110 of system 100 can include one or more occupant sensors 112, 113 configured to collect sensor data relating to one or more occupants of the vehicle 110. Example occupant sensors 112, 113 are cameras. The vehicle 110 can include an occupant sensor 112 configured to collect sensor data relating to the driver of the vehicle 110. Furthermore, the vehicle 110 can include an occupant sensor 113 configured to collect sensor data relating to a user of the ride service provided by the vehicle 110.

[0030] A device (e.g., a computing unit) 111 of the vehicle 110 can be configured to determine evaluation information regarding the assessment of the journey based on the sensor data of an occupant sensor 112, 113, which are acquired during a journey of the vehicle 110. In particular, based on the sensor data of an occupant sensor 112, 113, it can be determined for a specific occupant of the vehicle 110, • the mood of the passenger during the journey; • what emotions the occupant exhibits during the journey; • the mood of the occupant during the journey; • how the inmate's emotions and / or mood change over time; and / or • how the occupant behaves during the journey.

[0031] The device 111 can further be configured to acquire driving data from one or more vehicle sensors 116 during travel. This driving data can, for example, display the vehicle's speed 110 during travel and / or its longitudinal and / or lateral acceleration. The driving data can be taken into account, together with the sensor data from an occupant sensor 112, 113, when determining the evaluation information. In this way, a correlation can be established between an occupant's emotions and the vehicle's driving style, thereby increasing the accuracy of the automatically determined evaluation information.

[0032] As evaluation information for assessing the driver of vehicle 110, the sensor data from one or more occupant sensors 113 can be evaluated for the one or more users of the ride service. For example, the emotions of the one or more users can be determined and evaluated to create a rating for the driver. Similarly, the sensor data from an occupant sensor 112 can be evaluated for the driver of vehicle 110 to assess a user.

[0033] The sensor data from one or more occupant sensors 112, 113 and / or the driving data from one or more vehicle sensors 116, or data derived therefrom (e.g. the evaluation information), can be sent by a communication unit 114 of the vehicle 110 via a (wireless) communication link 102 to the central unit 101.

[0034] The central unit 101 can be trained to evaluate the data for a large number of journeys in order to create and provide an (average) rating for a driver and / or for a user.

[0035] Fig. Figure 1b shows an example user interface 125 of the system 100 on the screen of a user device 120. The user interface 125 can display general information 121 about a trip already completed by the user. Furthermore, the temporal progression 123 of an emotional parameter (e.g., stress level, pulse rate, etc.) can be displayed. Additionally, a (possibly abstracted) rating 122 (e.g., in the form of 1 to 5 stars) can be displayed. This rating 122 may be generated automatically based on sensor data and / or driving data recorded during the trip. The driver's rating 122 for a trip may depend on one or more of the user's emotions during the trip.

[0036] Thus, on-demand emotion recognition can be used to capture and record the mood and / or disposition of a driver and / or a user of a ride service or journey. Based on this, a profile can then be created for the driver and / or the user.

[0037] The profiles of a driver and / or user, determined based on emotion recognition, can be used by the user to select a driver for a ride based on mood and / or disposition. For example, the user can check whether the driver is calm, talkative, funny, moody, etc. The driver who best matches the user's current mood can then be selected.

[0038] Based on a user's recorded emotions during a journey, a driver evaluation can be generated. Emotion recognition (based on sensor data from an occupant sensor 113, 114) can, for example, detect and record the user's stress or anxiety during the journey. This can provide insight into whether the driver exhibits a dangerous or aggressive driving style. This information can then be automatically incorporated into the driver evaluation.

[0039] Fig.Figure 2 shows a flowchart of a (possibly computer-implemented) procedure 200 for providing ride-hailing services to users by means of a multitude of vehicles 110, driven by a corresponding multitude of drivers. The procedure 200 can be executed by the central unit 101 of the system 100 described in this document. As a ride-hailing service, a driver of a vehicle 110 (from the multitude of vehicles 110) can carry out a ride in the vehicle 110 with at least one user of the ride-hailing service.

[0040] Method 200 comprises, for a (specific) journey with a (specific) driver of a (specific) vehicle 110 and with (at least) one (specific) user, the determination 201 of sensor data relating to the (specific) driver and / or the (specific) user. The sensor data were recorded during the journey of the vehicle 110 by at least one occupant sensor 112, 113 of the vehicle 110 (e.g., by means of a camera).

[0041] Procedure 200 further includes the creation, based on sensor data, of an assessment of the (specific) driver and / or the (specific) user for the journey. For this purpose, one or more emotions of the (specific) driver and / or the (specific) user can be detected during the journey based on the sensor data. The assessment for the driver or user can then be created based on the one or more detected emotions of the user or the driver (i.e., the respective other person).

[0042] The procedure 200 also includes providing 203 the evaluation as support for the selection of a driver and / or a user for a subsequent driving service (e.g. via the user interface of an application device 120 of a user and / or a driver).

[0043] The measures described in this document enable an objective, automated evaluation of providers and / or users of ride-hailing services. This can improve the quality and / or comfort of ride-hailing services (particularly due to the fact that evaluations can be generated automatically). Furthermore, it allows for the selection of a provider and / or user of a ride-hailing service based on their current mood and / or state of mind.

Claims

[1] System (100) for providing ride-hailing services to users by means of a plurality of vehicles (110) driven by a corresponding plurality of drivers, wherein the ride-hailing service is performed by a driver of a vehicle (110) as a journey of the vehicle (110) with at least one user of the ride-hailing service, wherein the system (100) is configured for a journey with a driver of a vehicle (110) and with a user, - To determine sensor data relating to the driver and / or the user, which were recorded during the journey of the vehicle (110) by at least one occupant sensor (112, 113) of the vehicle (110), - to recognize, based on sensor data, which one or more emotions the driver and / or user displayed during the journey, - To determine driving data relating to a driving condition of the vehicle (110) during the journey, - to correlate the driving data with the detected one or more emotions of the driver and / or user in order to create an assessment of the driver and / or user, and - to provide the driver and / or user rating for the journey as support for selecting a driver and / or user for a subsequent ride service. [2] System (100) according to claim 1, wherein the system (100) is configured, - to determine, based on the sensor data, a temporal progression (123) of at least one emotion of the driver and / or user during the journey, and - to determine the assessment of the driver and / or user based on the temporal progression (123) of at least one emotion. [3] System (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more emotions include: fear, stress, joy, and / or anger. [4] System (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the driving data includes a driving speed and / or an acceleration of the vehicle (110). [5] System (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system (100) is configured, - to create an assessment for the driver based on the sensor data relating to the user, and / or - to create an evaluation for the user based on the sensor data relating to the driver. [6] System (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system (100) is configured, - to receive the sensor data from the occupant sensor (112, 113) and / or derived data from the vehicle (110), and / or - to provide the assessment via a user device (120) of a user and / or a driver. [7] System (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the system (100) is configured to generate an averaged rating for the driver and / or user based on the sensor data for a large number of journeys. [8] Vehicle (110) for providing a transport service, wherein the transport service is carried out by a driver of the vehicle (110) by a journey of the vehicle (110) with at least one user of the transport service, the vehicle (110) comprising, - at least one occupant sensor (112, 113) configured to record sensor data relating to the driver and / or user during a journey of the vehicle (110), and - a control unit (111) that is set up, - to recognize, based on sensor data relating to the driver and / or user, which one or more emotions the driver and / or user has shown during the journey, - To determine driving data relating to a driving condition of the vehicle (110) during the journey, - to correlate the driving data with the detected one or more emotions of the driver and / or user in order to create an assessment of the driver and / or user, and - to provide the driver and / or user rating for the trip as support for selecting the driver and / or user for a subsequent ride service. [9] Method (200) for providing ride-hailing services to users by means of a plurality of vehicles (110) driven by a corresponding plurality of drivers, wherein the ride-hailing service is performed by a driver of a vehicle (110) as a journey of the vehicle (110) with at least one user of the ride-hailing service, wherein the method (200) comprises, for a journey with a driver of a vehicle (110) and with a user, - Determining (201) sensor data relating to the driver and / or the user, which were recorded during the journey of the vehicle (110) by at least one occupant sensor (112, 113) of the vehicle (110), - Recognizing, based on sensor data, which one or more emotions the driver and / or user has shown during the journey, - Determining driving data relating to a driving condition of the vehicle (110) during the journey, - Correlating the driving data with the detected one or more emotions of the driver and / or user to create an assessment of the driver and / or user, and - Providing (203) the assessment to assist in the selection of a driver and / or user for a subsequent transport service.

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