Method for operating a location-dependent function in a motor vehicle

Abstract

Method for operating a location-dependent function in a motor vehicle (1), wherein the location-dependent function is triggered not only upon reaching exactly one predetermined coordinate describing a location (13) for which the location-dependent function is intended, but also when a predetermined geographical area and / or a predetermined path has been reached, comprising: - Determining (S1) position information (12) that describes a position of the motor vehicle (1) using a position determination device (11); - Check (S2) whether the location (13) for which the location-dependent function in the motor vehicle (1) is intended is located in the vicinity of the position, taking into account the determined position information (12); - if the location (13) is in the vicinity, determine (S3) a location boundary (14) for the location (13), whereby the location-dependent function can be triggered automatically as soon as the motor vehicle (1) reaches the determined location boundary (14); and - Display (S4) of a function symbol (9) and a location boundary symbol (10) representing the determined location boundary (14) by means of a head-up display (3) of the motor vehicle (1), wherein, from the perspective of a viewer of the head-up display (3), the function symbol (9) is displayed at the specified location (13) of the location-dependent function and the location boundary symbol (10) is displayed at the determined location boundary (14); characterized in that a width (15) of the displayed location boundary symbol (10) depends on an accuracy with which the position determination device (11) determines the position information (12).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for operating a location-dependent function in a motor vehicle and to a motor vehicle for carrying out such a method.

[0002] A motor vehicle may have a location-dependent function that is automatically triggered whenever it is determined that the motor vehicle is located at a location linked to the location-dependent function. Such a location-dependent function is typically triggered not only upon reaching a specific coordinate that describes the location for which the location-dependent function is intended, but also, for example, upon reaching a predefined geographical area, which may be referred to as a geofence area, and / or a predefined path. The location-dependent function is therefore typically not automatically activated at a specific location, but at any location within the geographical area and / or along the path.The reason for this is, for example, that determining the position of the motor vehicle is only possible with a determination error greater than zero, so that when linking the function to the point location, it is possible that the function is not triggered at all due to the determination error, even though the motor vehicle has reached the location.

[0003] Furthermore, it can be provided that the location-dependent function is visualized for a user of the motor vehicle, for example, by means of a display on a screen device in the vehicle. The screen device is preferably a head-up display. This should enable the user to understand when the location-dependent function is expected to be automatically triggered.

[0004] US 2020 / 0 132 482 A1 shows the generation of an optimized parking search route based on prioritized routes within a geofence area. For this purpose, the geofence area is arranged around a specific location, and at least one route within the geofence area is calculated and provided.

[0005] The generic US 2018 / 0 299 272 A1 describes determining information concerning a nearby location that may be familiar to a user in order to inform the user about a current location within an area.

[0006] EP 3 863 310 A1 describes a method for obtaining geofence information that at least partially describes a desired geofence. Confidence information is also obtained that describes a desired confidence level for triggering the desired geofence. If the desired geofence and the desired confidence level are incompatible, this is reported, and a countermeasure is implemented.

[0007] It is the object of the invention to provide a solution by means of which a user can understand when an automatic triggering of a location-dependent function is to be expected.

[0008] The problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims.

[0009] A first aspect of the invention relates to a method for operating a location-dependent function in a motor vehicle. The location-dependent function is triggered not only upon reaching a specific predetermined coordinate that describes a location for which the location-dependent function is intended, but also upon reaching a predetermined geographical area and / or a predetermined path. The location-dependent function is, for example, activating or deactivating an air conditioning system, in particular a subfunction of the air conditioning system, such as a heating function of the air conditioning system. The location-dependent function can, for example, have been learned based on user behavior.

[0010] The method comprises determining position information that describes a position of the motor vehicle. The position information describes the current position of the motor vehicle. The position of the motor vehicle is preferably described by a coordinate of the position. The position information is determined by means of a position-determining device. This can be a component of the motor vehicle and / or integrated into a component of the motor vehicle, such as a navigation system. The determination of the position information can be based, for example, on data from a global navigation satellite system (GNSS), such as the global positioning system (GPS). It is also possible for the position-determining device to be comprised of a mobile terminal that is currently positioned in the motor vehicle.Alternative or additional designs of the positioning device are possible.

[0011] The method comprises checking whether, according to the position information, there is a location in the vicinity of the position for which the location-dependent function in the motor vehicle is intended. The check is carried out taking into account the determined position information. The location is preferably described by means of a coordinate and corresponds to the location at which the location-dependent function should definitely be triggered automatically. The environment is fixed. The environment is delimited, for example, by a boundary that runs in a circle around the motor vehicle, in particular within a radius of 1 meter, 5 meters, 10 meters, 20 meters, 50 meters, 100 meters, 200 meters, 500 meters, 1 kilometer, 2 kilometers, 5 kilometers or in particular 10 kilometers.The environment taken into account during the check may depend on a detection range of an environment detection device of the motor vehicle, such as a front camera, a side camera, a rear camera, a radar device, an ultrasonic sensor and / or a LIDAR device of the motor vehicle.

[0012] If the location is in the surrounding area, a location boundary is determined for the location. The location boundary is in particular located at least in front of the location in the direction of travel. The location-dependent function can be triggered automatically as soon as the motor vehicle reaches the determined location boundary. The location boundary can be designed as the boundary of a so-called geofence area around the location for which the location-dependent function of the motor vehicle is intended. Furthermore, the location boundary can describe a spatial limitation of a path along which the location is positioned. The location boundary is preferably located between the current position of the motor vehicle and the location in the surrounding area for which the location-dependent function in the motor vehicle is intended. On the way from the current position to the location, the motor vehicle must therefore preferably pass the location boundary.

[0013] The location-dependent function of the motor vehicle is automatically triggered whenever the motor vehicle is on the town boundary and / or between the town boundary and the specified location. The distance between the town boundary and the location can be dependent on the location-dependent function. Furthermore, it can be provided that the distance depends on the accuracy of the positioning device, i.e., on a determination error of the position information. The distance can be, for example, 5 meters, 10 meters, 20 meters, 50 meters, or in particular 100 meters. Alternative values, in particular values ​​between the specified values, for the distance between the location and the town boundary are possible.

[0014] Due to the determination error of the position information, which can be up to several meters, for example, it is sensible to define a spatially extended area as the location linked to the location-dependent function, whereby this area is delimited by the location boundary. As soon as the motor vehicle has reached the area within the location boundary or it is determined that it is within the location boundary, the location-dependent function is triggered at any time. This prevents the function from being reliably triggered if, for example, due to the determination error of the position information, the location is deemed not to have been reached even though the motor vehicle has actually passed it, because in the extended area it is reliably detected that the motor vehicle has reached the extended area or is located within it.The determination error may, for example, depend on GNSS coverage at the position of the vehicle.

[0015] The method comprises displaying a function symbol and a location boundary symbol representing the determined location boundary using a head-up display of the motor vehicle. Viewed from the perspective of a viewer of the head-up display, the function symbol is displayed at the predetermined location of the location-dependent function and the location boundary symbol is displayed at the determined location boundary. The viewer of the head-up display is preferably a driver of the motor vehicle. Depending on the positioning of the head-up display in the motor vehicle, the viewer can alternatively or additionally be a front passenger and / or another occupant of the motor vehicle. The head-up display is preferably arranged above a steering wheel of the motor vehicle in a lower region of the windshield in a vertical direction. Alternatively or additionally, the head-up display can be arranged in an area of ​​the center console and / or at another location in the motor vehicle interior.The head-up display, for example, enables a view of the actual surroundings of the vehicle, so that, for example, a section of road ahead of the vehicle can be seen by looking at the head-up display. In addition to the view of the actual surroundings, at least two augmented representations are shown on the head-up display. These are the function symbol and the location boundary symbol. The two symbols have different designs. The location boundary symbol can be displayed as a line, for example. The function symbol is, for example, a flag marking the location or a representation of the path with a starting point and / or an end point.

[0016] The method provides that a width of the displayed location boundary symbol depends on the accuracy with which the position determination device determines the position information. A thickness of the location boundary symbol, for example of the line, thus depends on how accurately the position of the motor vehicle can be determined. If this is detected with low accuracy, the location boundary symbol is preferably displayed wide, whereas with a comparatively higher accuracy of the position information it is displayed with a comparatively smaller width and thus narrow. Alternatively, the relationship between width and accuracy can be reversed, i.e. the width can be small with low accuracy and comparatively larger with higher accuracy.This makes it clear to the viewer how accurately their current position relative to the location and the location boundary could be determined, allowing a relatively wide transition area through the area marked by the location boundary symbol in the surrounding area, where triggering of the vehicle function can already be provided. Alternatively or in addition to the line design, the location boundary symbol can be implemented with a color gradient area that extends across the width. In particular, the location boundary symbol can be designed in a different color than, for example, an area between the location boundary and the location and / or the function symbol.Due to the dependence of the width of the location boundary symbol on the accuracy of the position determination device and thus on the determination error of the position information, the observer and thus a user of the motor vehicle can always understand when an automatic triggering of a location-dependent function is to be expected, since he is already informed of possible delays due to the accuracy through the width of the location boundary symbol.

[0017] The invention also includes embodiments which provide additional advantages.

[0018] One embodiment provides that a display position at which the function symbol and / or the location boundary symbol is displayed on the head-up display is determined by applying a display position determination criterion to camera information from a front camera of the motor vehicle. Thus, it is first mathematically determined where exactly the function symbol and / or the location boundary symbol are to be displayed so that, viewed from the perspective of the viewer of the head-up display, they are displayed at the predetermined location or at the determined location boundary. The front camera of the motor vehicle is arranged, for example, on a rear wall of a mount for an interior mirror of the motor vehicle, which faces a vertically upper region of the windshield of the motor vehicle.A difference in perspective between the viewer looking at the head-up display and the front camera is thus predetermined and taken into account by the display position determination criterion. The display position determination criterion is an algorithm and / or at least a rule whose execution calculates and thus determines the display position. This ensures that the location of the function symbol and / or the location boundary symbol is chosen in a particularly clear and logical manner for the viewer.

[0019] A further embodiment provides that the display position determination criterion is based on machine learning methods, in particular on a multi-layer artificial neural network. Artificial intelligence methods can thus be used to reliably position the function symbol and / or the location boundary symbol, in particular depending on the actual current environment described by the camera information. The display position determination criterion has thus been previously trained, for example, to determine the display position based on the camera information. It can therefore, for example, recognize and consider at least one road as an object in the environment. The multi-layer artificial neural network can alternatively be referred to as a deep neural network.Alternatively, or in addition to the multilayer artificial neural network, a support vector machine can be used. Ultimately, the positioning of the function symbol and / or the location boundary symbol can be achieved with particularly high reliability, as a specifically trained criterion is provided for this purpose.

[0020] According to an additional embodiment, it is provided that by applying the display position determination criterion, at least one road on which the motor vehicle is traveling is detected. The function symbol is displayed in the middle of the road, in particular in a lane on which the motor vehicle is traveling. It is therefore provided that the function symbol marks a location that the motor vehicle can actually reach. This ensures that the function symbol is not displayed, for example, on the side of the road and / or at least partially next to the road, which could suggest to the viewer that they cannot reach the location linked to the location-dependent function if they continue on the road they are currently traveling on.The function symbol is thus positioned on the road the vehicle is traveling on, making it particularly easy for the viewer to follow their current route. This results in a particularly convenient display of the function symbol on the head-up display.

[0021] A further embodiment comprises the location being a center point of a geographical area. The geographical area can be referred to as a geofence area. A center point of the geofence area is therefore selected as the location for which the location-dependent function of the motor vehicle is intended. Alternatively or additionally, the location can be a starting point of a path and / or an end point of the path. If, for example, no geographical area is provided, but only a path, for example on a specific road, its beginning and end can be marked using a respective function symbol, for example. The location therefore does not have to be an area that is round or spread out in some other way around a center point, but can be designed as a straight line, for example.For example, if a flag is displayed as a function symbol, it is displayed either at the center of the geographical area and thus at the center of the geofence, and / or at the start and / or end point of the path. This is a particularly clear marker of the location where the location-dependent function should definitely be triggered.

[0022] In addition, one embodiment provides that the location boundary symbol visualizes a boundary of the geographical area if the location is the center of the geographical area. Thus, a boundary running around the center of the geographical area is preferably displayed as the location boundary symbol, i.e., for example, a circular, oval, or polygonal symbol. Alternatively or additionally, the location boundary symbol is a boundary of the path if the location is the starting point and / or the end point of the path. In the case of the path, for example, a location boundary symbol can be arranged as a line on two opposite sides of the path. The path is thus lined on both sides by the location boundary symbol, for example parallel to its longitudinal direction. The length of the respective location boundary symbol is then, for example, at least as long as the path.If, for example, the path runs along the middle of a road, location boundary symbols can be provided on both sides of the road, for example as a respective line, so that the function is triggered even if the motor vehicle is traveling on a trajectory that does not intersect and / or touch the path itself. Preferably, the boundary is arranged such that it is at least partially positioned in the direction of travel in front of the center point and / or the start and / or end point of the path. Thus, the boundary of the geofence and / or the boundary of the path is visually displayed to make it clear to the observer when they are likely to enter or be in the area for which the location-dependent function is intended.

[0023] Furthermore, one embodiment provides that the location-dependent function is a comfort function and / or a driving function of the motor vehicle. The comfort function relates, for example, to an air conditioning system of the motor vehicle, so that, for example, a specific temperature and / or a strength of the air flow generated by the air conditioning system can be automatically controlled depending on the location. Alternatively or additionally, an automatic location-dependent locking and / or unlocking function for a door of the motor vehicle can be provided as a location-dependent function.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the function symbol is different for each function. For example, the function symbol for a location-dependent function relating to the air conditioning system can be a symbol indicating the air conditioning system, such as a snowflake, and / or a thermometer. In a simple embodiment, the function symbol can be a flag that has a different color depending on the function. The user can thus conveniently see which location-dependent function is likely to be automatically activated after crossing the displayed location boundary.

[0025] The location-dependent function is specified, for example, by the user of the motor vehicle, i.e., the viewer of the head-up display. The location-dependent function can be manually selected or specified, for example, by operating an actuating device such as a touch-sensitive screen, a knob, a switch, a rotary push-button, and / or a button in the motor vehicle.

[0026] It is preferably provided that the location-dependent function, the function symbol, and / or the display position depend on the actual viewer and thus on the current user of the motor vehicle. For this purpose, it can be determined, for example, using an interior camera, a user-specific key, and / or a manual query, whether the current user can be assigned to a specific user profile. The location-dependent function and / or the desired function symbol can be stored in the user profile, for example. The user profile can be stored in the motor vehicle and / or provided by an external computing device.

[0027] For use cases or application situations that may arise during the method and which are not explicitly described here, it may be provided that, in accordance with the method, an error message and / or a request to enter user feedback is issued and / or a default setting and / or a predetermined initial state is set.

[0028] The method steps described so far are preferably carried out in the motor vehicle itself. For this purpose, the motor vehicle can have a control device. The control device is designed, for example, to determine the position information based on data from the position-determining device, perform the check, determine the location boundary, and control the head-up display to display the function symbol and the location boundary symbol.

[0029] The control device can have a data processing device or a processor device that is configured to carry out an embodiment of the method according to the invention. For this purpose, the processor device can have at least one microprocessor and / or at least one microcontroller and / or at least one FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and / or at least one DSP (Digital Signal Processor). Furthermore, the processor device can have program code that is configured to carry out the embodiment of the method according to the invention when executed by the processor device. The program code can be stored in a data memory of the processor device. The processor circuit of the processor device can, for example, have at least one circuit board and / or at least one SoC (System on Chip).

[0030] A further aspect of the invention relates to a motor vehicle configured to carry out the method described above. The motor vehicle according to the invention is preferably configured as a motor vehicle, in particular as a passenger car or truck, or as a passenger bus or motorcycle.

[0031] The invention also includes further developments of the motor vehicle according to the invention that have features already described in connection with the further developments of the method according to the invention. For this reason, the corresponding further developments are not described again here.

[0032] As a further solution, the invention also encompasses a computer-readable storage medium comprising program code which, when executed by a processor circuit of a computer or computer network, causes the processor circuit or computer network to carry out an embodiment of the method according to the invention. The storage medium can, for example, be provided at least partially as a non-volatile data memory (e.g. as a flash memory and / or as an SSD - solid state drive) and / or at least partially as a volatile data memory (e.g. as a RAM - random access memory). The storage medium can be arranged in the processor circuit in its data memory. However, the storage medium can also be operated, for example, as a so-called app store server on the Internet. The computer or computer network can provide a processor circuit with at least one microprocessor.The program code can be provided as binary code or assembly code and / or as source code of a programming language (e.g., C) and / or as a program script (e.g., Python). The computer or computer network is, for example, the control device of the motor vehicle.

[0033] The invention also encompasses combinations of the features of the described embodiments. The invention therefore also encompasses implementations that each comprise a combination of the features of several of the described embodiments, unless the embodiments are described as mutually exclusive.

[0034] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below. Shown are: Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an interior of a motor vehicle with a view of a surrounding area; and Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of a signal flow graph of a method for operating a location-dependent function in the motor vehicle.

[0035] The exemplary embodiments explained below are preferred embodiments of the invention. In the exemplary embodiments, the described components of the embodiments each represent individual features of the invention that can be considered independently of one another, each of which also develops the invention independently of one another. Therefore, the disclosure is intended to encompass combinations of the features of the embodiments other than those shown. Furthermore, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by further features of the invention already described.

[0036] In the figures, the same reference symbols designate elements with the same function.

[0037] In Fig. 1 shows a sketch of a part of a motor vehicle 1, from which the surroundings of the motor vehicle 1 in a front area of ​​the motor vehicle 1 can be seen through a windshield 2 of the motor vehicle 1. The motor vehicle 1 has a head-up display 3, which is arranged behind a steering wheel and thus within the field of vision of, for example, a driver 7 of the motor vehicle 1. The head-up display 3 can have a so-called combiner as a projection surface, as sketched here by way of example. Alternatively or additionally, the projection surface can be a partial area of ​​the windshield 2 (not sketched here).

[0038] In the surroundings of the motor vehicle 1 there is a road 4 on which the motor vehicle 1 is traveling. The driver 7 can see the road 4 at least partially through the head-up display 3. The motor vehicle 1 has an interior mirror 5, in the holder of which a front camera 6 is arranged, which is designed to capture the surroundings of the motor vehicle 1 in the front area, that is to say at least the road 4. For this purpose, the front camera 6 is directed towards the windshield 2 and thus towards the surroundings of the motor vehicle 1. An alternative or additional positioning of the front camera 6 is possible.

[0039] The motor vehicle 1 has a control device 8, which is, for example, a computing device and thus a computer. It is further outlined by way of example that a function symbol 9 and a town boundary symbol 10, which here is a wide line arranged in the direction of travel between the motor vehicle 1 and the function symbol 9, can be displayed on the head-up display 3.

[0040] The motor vehicle 1 has a positioning device 11, by means of which a current position of the motor vehicle 1 can be determined. The positioning device 11 is based, for example, on a global navigation satellite system (GNSS), in particular a global positioning system (GPS). Alternative or additional embodiments of the positioning device 11 are conceivable. The key feature here is that the current position of the motor vehicle 1 can be determined by means of this device. The positioning device 11 can be comprised of a mobile terminal positioned in the motor vehicle 1. The mobile terminal is, for example, a smartphone and / or tablet.

[0041] In Fig.Figure 2 outlines a method for operating a location-dependent function in motor vehicle 1. The location-dependent function can be a comfort function and / or a driving function of motor vehicle 1.

[0042] In a method step S1, position information 12 is determined by means of the position-determining device 11, which describes the position of the motor vehicle 1 at a current time. In a method step S2, a check is performed to determine whether a location 13 for which a location-dependent function is provided in the motor vehicle 1 is located in the vicinity of the position. The check is performed taking into account the determined position information 12. It is therefore determined whether or not such a location 13 is provided for the position according to the determined position information 12. The environment that is checked is, for example, a field of vision of the driver 7 in the front area of ​​the motor vehicle 1 and / or a detection range of the front camera 6.

[0043] If location 13 is located in the vicinity, a location boundary 14 for location 13 is determined in a method step S3. The location boundary 14 is located, for example, at least in the direction of travel in front of location 13. The location-dependent function can be triggered automatically as soon as the motor vehicle 1 has reached or passed the determined location boundary 14.

[0044] In a method step S4, the function symbol 9 and the location boundary symbol 10 representing the determined location boundary 14 are displayed by means of the head-up display 3. From the perspective of the driver 7 and thus a viewer of the head-up display 3, the function symbol 9 is displayed at the specified location 13 of the location-dependent function and the location boundary symbol 10 is displayed at the determined location boundary 14.

[0045] Two different examples are sketched one above the other in process step S4. In the upper example, function symbol 9 is located at location 13 of the center point of a geographical area. The location boundary symbol 10 then describes or visualizes the boundary of this geographical area. The center point of the geographical area is sketched here as function symbol 9, which has the shape of a flag. The geographical area can be referred to as a geofence area.

[0046] The example below outlines the case in which the location boundary symbol 10 represents the boundary of a path if the location 13 is a starting point of the path and / or an end point of the path. Two flags are therefore outlined here as possible examples of function symbols 9, which symbolize the starting point and the end point of the path. Two location boundaries 14 are marked to the side of the path, which run along the path but at a distance from it. It can be provided that the location boundary symbols 10 are always arranged at least partially in the direction of travel between the current position of the vehicle and the location 13, i.e. are longer than the path. The location boundaries 14 can, for example, laterally delimit a lane or the entire road 4 on which the path runs.

[0047] It can be provided that the function symbol 9 is different for each location-dependent function of the motor vehicle 1. In the case of, for example, an air conditioning system that is affected by the location-dependent function, a symbol representing the air conditioning system can be displayed instead of the flags sketched here as an example. Various other symbols are conceivable analogously.

[0048] A width 15 of the displayed location boundary symbol 10 depends on the accuracy with which the position-determining device 11 determines the position information 12. The accuracy can be quantified by a determination error of the position information 12. For example, it can be provided that the width 15 is larger if the position-determining device 11 can only detect the position information 12 with a low accuracy, or vice versa. Here, the width 15 is relatively thick, for example, since it is assumed that the position-determining device 11 only has an accuracy of one to two meters for determining the position information 12. If the accuracy is higher or lower, the width 15 can be selected to be larger or smaller.

[0049] It can be provided that, in a method step S5, camera information 16 is captured by means of the front camera 6 of the motor vehicle 1, which, for example, describes the road 4 and thus the surroundings of the motor vehicle 1 in the front area. In a method step S6, a display position determination criterion 17 is applied to the determined camera information 16, thereby determining a display position 18 at which the function symbol 9 and / or the location boundary symbol 10 are displayed on the head-up display 3. The display position determination criterion 17 is based in particular on machine learning methods, in particular on a multi-layer artificial neural network. Alternatively or additionally, it can be based, for example, on a support vector machine.By applying the display position determination criterion 17, at least the road 4 on which the motor vehicle 1 is traveling is recognized and the function symbol 9 is displayed in the middle of this road 4, in particular on the lane or a lane on which the motor vehicle 1 is traveling on the road 4.

[0050] It can further be provided that the location-dependent function is automatically determined in the motor vehicle 1. For this purpose, each time a specific function is manually activated in the motor vehicle 1, this activation as well as the current position information 12 of the motor vehicle 1 are stored. For the position information 12 acquired during manual activation, for example, an averaged position information 12 is determined. A new location-dependent function is then automatically created and stored for the averaged position information 12 as the location 13.

[0051] The described method steps, with the exception of capturing the camera information 16 and determining the position information 12, are preferably performed directly by the control device 8. It can further be provided that the position-determining device 11 and / or the front camera 6 transmit their raw data to the control device 8 so that the latter can evaluate the position information 12 or the camera information 16, respectively. The control device 8 can control the position-determining device 11 and / or the front camera 6. At least the head-up display 3 is controlled by the control device 8.

[0052] Overall, the examples show a representation of geofence- and path-based functions of a digital assistant in the head-up display 3 of the motor vehicle 1. Geofence-based intelligent functions of the digital assistant enable the automated activation of vehicle functions, such as the air conditioning, based on customer behavior. When driving through the spatially extended geofence area, the vehicle function is automatically activated. This is a location-dependent function. Alternatively or additionally, trip-based intelligent functions of the digital assistant can be enabled, so that the automatic activation of vehicle functions, such as the air conditioning, can be learned based on customer behavior. For example, a path along a road is learned.When driving along the spatially selected path, the vehicle function is activated, i.e. as soon as, for example, motor vehicle 1 is located between the starting point and the end point of the path.

[0053] The geofence of the automated function is displayed in the head-up display 3 using augmented reality. Therefore, the center of the geofence is represented, for example, by a flag, i.e., by the function symbol 9. The boundary of the geofence is indicated by the location boundary symbol 10. The uncertainty regarding the positioning signal (position information 12) of the motor vehicle 1 is represented by fluid boundaries of the geofence, i.e., by the dependence of the width 15 of the location boundary symbol 10 on the accuracy of the positioning device 11.

[0054] The path of the automated function is also displayed in the head-up display 3 using augmented reality. The start and end points of the path are represented by the flag and thus by the function symbol 9. The boundary of the path is indicated by the location boundary symbol 10. The uncertainty regarding the positioning signals (position information 12) of the motor vehicle 1 is also represented by fluid boundaries of the path, i.e., by the width 15 of this boundary as the location boundary symbol 10.

Claims

[1] Method for operating a location-dependent function in a motor vehicle (1), wherein the location-dependent function is triggered not only when exactly one predetermined coordinate is reached, which describes a location (13) for which the location-dependent function is intended, but already when a predetermined geographical area and / or a predetermined path has been reached, comprising: - determining (S1) position information (12) describing a position of the motor vehicle (1) by means of a position determining device (11); - checking (S2) whether the location (13) for which the location-dependent function in the motor vehicle (1) is intended is located in an environment of the position, taking into account the determined position information (12); - if the location (13) is located in the surrounding area, determining (S3) a location boundary (14) for the location (13), wherein the location-dependent function can be triggered automatically as soon as the motor vehicle (1) reaches the determined location boundary (14); and - displaying (S4) a function symbol (9) and a location boundary symbol (10) representing the determined location boundary (14) by means of a head-up display (3) of the motor vehicle (1), wherein, viewed from a perspective of a viewer of the head-up display (3), the function symbol (9) is displayed at the predetermined location (13) of the location-dependent function and the location boundary symbol (10) is displayed at the determined location boundary (14); characterized by that a width (15) of the displayed location boundary symbol (10) depends on an accuracy with which the position determining device (11) determines the position information (12). [2] Method according to claim 1, wherein a display position (18) at which the function symbol (9) and / or the location boundary symbol (10) is displayed on the head-up display (3) is determined (S5, S6) by applying a display position determination criterion (17) to camera information (16) of a front camera (6) of the motor vehicle (1). [3] Method according to claim 2, wherein the display position determination criterion (17) is based on machine learning methods, in particular on a multi-layer artificial neural network. [4] Method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein by applying the display position determination criterion (17) at least one road (4) on which the motor vehicle (1) is traveling is recognized and the function symbol (9) is displayed in the middle of the road (4), in particular in a lane on which the motor vehicle (1) is traveling on the road (4). [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the location (13) is a center point of the geographical area and / or a starting point of the path and / or an end point of the path. [6] Method according to claim 5, wherein the location boundary symbol (10) visualizes a boundary of the geographical area if the location (13) is the center of the geographical area, and / or a boundary of the path if the location (13) is the starting point and / or the end point. [7] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the location-dependent function is a comfort function and / or a driving function of the motor vehicle (1). [8] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the function symbol (9) is different for each location-dependent function. [9] Motor vehicle (1) designed to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims.

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