METHOD FOR ENCOURAGING THE LEARNING OF AT LEAST ONE FUNCTION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE THAT EXPERIENCES AT LEAST ONE FUNCTION

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for enabling the learning of at least one function of a motor vehicle having at least one function, wherein the method (1) comprises the following steps: - Detect whether a user of the motor vehicle is familiar with at least one function (2); and - If it is detected that the user is not familiar with at least one function, the motor vehicle shall be transferred to an operating mode which is designed to enable the user to learn at least one function (3).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for enabling the learning of at least one function of a motor vehicle having at least one function, with which method an excessive demand on users of the motor vehicle can be avoided and a function of a motor vehicle can be learned at an early stage in order to avoid safety-critical situations when driving the motor vehicle.

[0002] Motor vehicles typically feature a variety of controllable functions or driver assistance systems. A controllable function is defined as a way to control or regulate a component of the motor vehicle or a function of the component, or a driver assistance system, i.e., an additional electronic device in motor vehicles designed to support a driver or user of the motor vehicle in various driving situations.

[0003] The number of functions and driver assistance systems installed in conventional motor vehicles is constantly increasing, which can lead to users or drivers being overwhelmed, even leading to operating errors and thus safety risks when driving the vehicle. There are also sometimes significant differences between the functions and driver assistance systems provided by different manufacturers. Furthermore, prior testing of individual functions is often not possible, as many of these functions can only be activated while driving and not when stationary.

[0004] From the document DE 10 2020 202 291 A1 a method for raising awareness and training drivers of a vehicle with at least one vehicle assistance system is known, wherein a driver training system is provided and activated in a vehicle, and wherein the driver training system can display virtual objects to a driver and actively intervene in the movement sequence of the vehicle during a training program, and wherein a selected training program is triggered in a user-defined manner.

[0005] The object of embodiments of the invention is to provide a method with which excessive demands on users of the motor vehicle can be avoided and a function of a motor vehicle can be learned at an early stage.

[0006] This problem is solved by the subject matter of the subordinate claims. Further advantageous developments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the invention, this object is achieved by a method for enabling learning of at least one function of a motor vehicle having at least one function, wherein the method comprises detecting whether a user of the motor vehicle is familiar with the at least one function and, if it is detected that the user is not familiar with the at least one function, transferring the motor vehicle to an operating mode which is designed to enable learning of the operation of the at least one function.

[0008] An operating mode is understood to be a type of operation of a motor vehicle, whereby individual operating modes can differ, for example, in terms of driving style, based on settings of parameters and / or available functions.

[0009] An operating mode configured to enable learning of the at least one function is understood here as an operating mode explicitly designed or configured to familiarize a user or driver of the motor vehicle with the at least one function. In this case, the operating mode configured to enable learning of the at least one function can enable a user, for example, to activate a corresponding training program.

[0010] This provides a method that prevents excessive demands on motor vehicle users and allows them to learn a motor vehicle's functions early on. In particular, safety risks when driving a motor vehicle can be avoided by allowing functions to be learned early on and not having to be tested in an emergency.

[0011] The step of detecting whether a user is familiar with the at least one function may include checking whether the user is a new occupant.

[0012] A new user is understood to be a user who has never operated or driven the motor vehicle before.

[0013] Especially with new users, it can be assumed that they are not yet familiar with the functions of the motor vehicle, so these should be learned first in order to avoid subsequent safety risks when driving the motor vehicle as far as possible.

[0014] In addition, the step of detecting whether the user is familiar with the at least one function may include checking whether the user is overwhelmed with the operation of the at least one function and / or repeatedly uses it incorrectly.

[0015] Repeatedly incorrect use of the function means that a user has used it incorrectly or incorrectly more than a specified number of times within a specified time frame.

[0016] Overexertion and repeated incorrect operation are usually a sure sign that a user or driver is not yet familiar with the corresponding function and that this should first be learned in order to avoid safety risks when driving the motor vehicle as far as possible.

[0017] In one embodiment, the step of transferring the motor vehicle into an operating mode which is designed to enable learning of the at least one function further comprises temporarily reducing a range of functions of the motor vehicle.

[0018] A range of functions is understood to mean a scope or number of available, controllable or currently executable functions.

[0019] The fact that the range of functions is temporarily reduced also means that the range of functions is reduced for a certain predetermined period of time, or at least until it is detected that the correspondingly classified user has mastered or learned the reduced range of functions and there is no longer any excessive demand and / or incorrect operation.

[0020] The advantage of temporarily reducing the range of functions is that the user or driver can initially concentrate on the important or essential, particularly safety-relevant, functions and learn them in order to avoid safety risks when driving the motor vehicle as far as possible.

[0021] In a further embodiment, the step of transferring the motor vehicle into an operating mode which is designed to enable learning of the at least one function comprises activating a training mode, wherein the training mode is designed such that the at least one function can be tried out while stationary.

[0022] A training mode is understood to mean an operating mode specifically set up for training the at least one function or specifically for learning how to operate the at least one function.

[0023] The fact that the training mode is designed so that the at least one function can be tried out while the vehicle is stationary means that an environment is provided while the vehicle is stationary in which the user can try out the at least one function, in particular a simulation and / or environment which simulates situations in which the at least one function can be helpful or used as realistically as possible.

[0024] This gives a user or driver the opportunity to learn a specific function even when stationary, without this resulting in safety risks when driving the vehicle.

[0025] Activating the training mode may involve activating a basic mode and / or an expert mode.

[0026] A basic mode is understood to be a training mode in which a simple, slimmed-down scope of operation can be learned, or basic knowledge of the corresponding function can be acquired, in particular without the operation of the function requiring expert knowledge.

[0027] An expert mode also includes a training mode in which all details, i.e. the corresponding function, are learned completely, although expert knowledge may be required to operate or precisely adjust the function.

[0028] The training mode or training, i.e. learning the corresponding function, can thus be specifically adapted to the needs or wishes of the respective user or driver and / or potential safety risks.

[0029] It is also possible to activate the expert mode only after successfully completing the basic mode. This is particularly advantageous when certain specifications need to be set, for example, for rental cars, and / or when it is necessary to first ensure that the user is familiar with the basic functions.

[0030] However, the fact that Expert Mode is only activated after Basic Mode has been successfully completed is only one possible implementation. Rather, Basic Mode and Expert Mode can also be provided simultaneously, allowing a user to choose whether they want to learn the function in Basic Mode or Expert Mode.

[0031] Furthermore, activating the training mode may also include activating a virtual reality environment or an augmented reality environment in which the at least one function can be learned.

[0032] Virtual reality is understood to be a real-time computer-generated interactive environment that enables the representation and simultaneous perception of an apparent reality and its physical properties.

[0033] Augmented reality is also understood as a computer-aided extension of the perception of reality.

[0034] This has the advantage that individual situations, especially safety-critical situations when driving a motor vehicle, can be recreated very accurately or very realistically and the user's behavior in such situations can be trained accordingly.

[0035] A further embodiment of the invention also provides a control device for enabling learning of an operation of at least one function of a motor vehicle having at least one function, wherein the control device is designed to carry out a method described above for enabling learning of an operation of at least one function of a motor vehicle having at least one function.

[0036] Thus, a control unit is specified that is designed to execute a method that prevents excessive demands on motor vehicle users and allows them to learn a motor vehicle function early on. In particular, safety risks when driving a motor vehicle can be avoided by allowing functions to be learned early on and not having to be tested in an emergency.

[0037] A further embodiment of the invention also provides a motor vehicle which has such a control device.

[0038] Such a motor vehicle has the advantage of having a control unit configured to execute a method that prevents excessive demands on motor vehicle users and allows them to learn a motor vehicle's functions early on. In particular, safety risks when driving a motor vehicle can be avoided by allowing functions to be learned early on and not having to be tested in an emergency.

[0039] A further embodiment of the invention also provides a computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out a method described above for enabling learning of an operation of at least one function of a motor vehicle having at least one function according to one of the claims.

[0040] Such a computer program has the advantage of being designed to execute a procedure that prevents excessive demands on motor vehicle users and allows them to learn a motor vehicle's functions early on. In particular, safety risks when driving a motor vehicle can be avoided by learning functions early on and not having to wait until an emergency occurs.

[0041] In summary, it can be stated that the present invention provides a method for enabling the learning of at least one function of a motor vehicle having at least one function, with which method an excessive demand on users of the motor vehicle can be avoided and a function of a motor vehicle can be learned at an early stage in order to avoid safety risks when driving the motor vehicle.

[0042] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the attached figures. Fig. 1 shows a flowchart of a method for enabling learning of at least one function of a motor vehicle having at least one function according to embodiments of the invention; Fig. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of a control unit for enabling learning of at least one function of a motor vehicle having at least one function according to embodiments of the invention.

[0043] Fig. 1 shows a flowchart of a method for enabling learning of at least one function of a motor vehicle 1 having at least one function according to embodiments of the invention.

[0044] Motor vehicles typically feature a variety of controllable functions or driver assistance systems. A controllable function is defined as a way to control or regulate a component of the motor vehicle or a function of the component, or a driver assistance system, i.e., an additional electronic device in motor vehicles designed to support a driver or user of the motor vehicle in various driving situations.

[0045] The number of functions and driver assistance systems installed in conventional motor vehicles is constantly increasing, which can lead to users or drivers being overwhelmed, even leading to incorrect operation and thus safety risks when driving the vehicle. There are also sometimes significant differences between the functions and driver assistance systems provided by different manufacturers. Furthermore, prior testing of individual functions is often not possible, as many of these functions can only be activated while driving and not when stationary.

[0046] Fig. 1 shows a method 1 which comprises a step 2 of detecting whether a user of the motor vehicle is familiar with the at least one function and, if it is detected that the user is not familiar with the at least one function, a step 3 of transferring the motor vehicle into an operating mode which is designed to enable learning of the operation of the at least one function.

[0047] Fig. Figure 1 thus shows a method 1 that can be used to prevent excessive demands on motor vehicle users and to learn a motor vehicle function early on. In particular, safety risks when driving a motor vehicle can be avoided by learning functions early on and not having to test them in an emergency.

[0048] The at least one function can be, for example, a driver assistance system integrated into a motor vehicle and / or a charging function of an electric car and / or a windshield wiper control and / or a function of an infotainment system.

[0049] How Fig. 1 shows, step 2 of detecting whether a user of the motor vehicle is familiar with the at least one function is furthermore carried out repeatedly if it is detected that the user is familiar with the at least one function and, for example, there are no repeated incorrect operations.

[0050] According to the embodiments of the Fig. 1, step 2 of detecting whether a user is familiar with the at least one function comprises checking whether the user is a new occupant.

[0051] Checking whether the user is a new occupant can be done, for example, based on user input and / or data collected by a biometric sensor and comparing the collected data with stored data.

[0052] According to the embodiments of the Fig. 1, step 2 of detecting whether the user is familiar with the at least one function further comprises checking whether the user is overwhelmed with the operation of the at least one function and / or repeatedly operates it incorrectly.

[0053] Checking whether the user is overwhelmed by the operation of at least one function and / or repeatedly uses it incorrectly can be done, for example, based on user inputs and / or data captured by an optical sensor, such as a video camera. Furthermore, the user's aggression or frustration level can also be determined based on data captured by optical sensors and / or acoustic sensors, such as a microphone.

[0054] According to the embodiments of the Fig. 1 For example, it is recognized that a user is using a function incorrectly if it is recorded that the same user uses the function incorrectly at least three times within a week.

[0055] Step 3 of transferring the motor vehicle to an operating mode designed to enable learning of the at least one function further comprises temporarily reducing the range of functions of the motor vehicle. The temporary reduction of the range of functions can occur automatically, for example. Furthermore, the temporary reduction of the range of functions can also occur, for example, in response to a manual user input, which occurs, for example, in response to a corresponding suggestion.

[0056] The range of functions can be temporarily reduced, for example, if it is detected that a user is a new passenger or a new user or a first-time user of the vehicle. Furthermore, the range of functions can also be temporarily reduced, for example, if a user is a novice driver and / or if requirements specified by a vehicle owner are met.

[0057] In addition, step 3 of transferring the motor vehicle into an operating mode which is designed to enable learning of the at least one function also comprises activating a training mode, wherein the training mode is designed such that the at least one function can be tried out while stationary.

[0058] The training mode can be activated, for example, when it is detected that a user is a new occupant or a new user or first-time user of the vehicle.

[0059] In this case, if it is known which model or which motor vehicle the user has previously driven, only the new, unknown range of functions can be made available to the user in training mode, i.e. a delta mode can be activated in order not to overload the user with information and distract them from road traffic.

[0060] According to the scope of execution of the Fig. 1, the training mode comprises a basic mode and an expert mode, or activating the training mode comprises activating a basic mode and an expert mode.

[0061] It is possible for the basic mode and the expert mode to be provided simultaneously, whereby the user can choose whether to use the basic mode or the expert mode. It is also conceivable that a different mode can be selected for each function. Furthermore, based on detection results or previous executions and / or operations of the corresponding function, a suggestion can also be made automatically to execute the basic mode or the expert mode, for example, based on corresponding specifications, which may originate, for example, from a motor vehicle manufacturer, a vehicle owner, or an operator of a corresponding vehicle fleet.

[0062] The expert mode can only be activated or unlocked after the basic mode has been successfully completed.

[0063] For example, the basic mode was successfully completed after a corresponding training program had been successfully completed.

[0064] In addition, activating the training mode involves activating a virtual reality environment in which at least one function can be learned.

[0065] According to the embodiments of the Fig. 1 the user’s perception or sensation can be further enhanced by wearing virtual reality glasses.

[0066] Furthermore, the training mode can also include displaying or visualizing a corresponding training program on another display of the motor vehicle, for example a panoramic display and / or head-up display.

[0067] In particular, the user may be offered a suggestion to carry out a corresponding training program, for example in the form of a pop-up notification.

[0068] In addition, the corresponding motor vehicle can also be designed in such a way that a function is only released or activated when a user can prove that he is familiar with it, for example by successfully completing a corresponding training program.

[0069] Fig. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of a control unit for enabling learning of at least one function of a motor vehicle 10 having at least one function according to embodiments of the invention.

[0070] How Fig. 2 shows, the control unit 10 has a detection unit 11 which is designed to detect whether a user of the motor vehicle is familiar with the at least one function, and a transfer unit 12 which is designed to transfer the motor vehicle into an operating mode which is designed to enable learning of the at least one function if it is detected in the detection unit 11 that the user is not familiar with the at least one function.

[0071] The detection unit can be implemented, for example, based on code stored in a memory and executable by a processor. The transfer unit can also be implemented, for example, based on code stored in a memory and executable by a processor and / or corresponding actuators.

[0072] According to the embodiments of the Fig. 2, the detection unit 11 is designed to check whether the user is a new occupant.

[0073] According to the embodiments of the Fig. 2, the detection unit 11 is also designed to check whether the user is overwhelmed with the operation of the at least one function and / or repeatedly operates it incorrectly.

[0074] The detection unit 11 can, for example, be designed to process corresponding sensor data.

[0075] The illustrated transfer unit 12 is also designed to temporarily reduce the range of functions of the motor vehicle.

[0076] The illustrated transfer unit 12 is also designed to activate a training mode, wherein the training mode is designed such that the at least one function can be tried out while stationary.

[0077] According to the embodiments of the Fig.2, activating the training mode in turn involves activating a basic mode and / or an expert mode.

[0078] The transfer unit 12 is particularly designed to activate the expert mode after the basic mode has been successfully completed.

[0079] In addition, activating the training mode in turn involves activating a virtual reality environment in which at least one function can be learned.

[0080] The control unit 10 shown is further designed to carry out a method described above for enabling learning of at least one function of a motor vehicle having at least one function. List of reference symbols 1 procedure 2 process step 3 Process step 10 Control unit 11 Detection unit 12 transfer unit QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2020 202 291 A1

[0004]

Claims

[1] Method for enabling learning of at least one function of a motor vehicle having at least one function, the method (1) comprising the following steps: - detecting whether a user of the motor vehicle is familiar with the at least one function (2); and - If it is detected that the user is not familiar with the at least one function, transferring the motor vehicle into an operating mode which is designed to enable learning of the at least one function (3). [2] The method (1) of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting whether a user is familiar with the at least one function (2) comprises checking whether the user is a new occupant. [3] Method (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of detecting whether the user is familiar with the at least one function (2) comprises checking whether the user is overwhelmed with the operation of the at least one function and / or repeatedly operates it incorrectly. [4] Method (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the step of transferring the motor vehicle into an operating mode which is designed to enable learning of the at least one function (3) comprises temporarily reducing a range of functions of the motor vehicle. [5] Method (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the step of transferring the motor vehicle into an operating mode which is designed to enable learning of the at least one function (3) comprises activating a training mode, wherein the training mode is designed such that the at least one function can be tried out while stationary. [6] Method (1) according to claim 5, wherein activating the training mode comprises activating a basic mode and / or an expert mode. [7] Method (1) according to claim 6, wherein the expert mode is activated after the basic mode has been successfully completed. [8] Method (1) according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein activating the training mode comprises activating a virtual reality environment or an augmented reality environment in which the at least one function can be learned. [9] Control device for enabling learning of an operation of at least one function of a motor vehicle having at least one function, wherein the control device (10) is designed to carry out a method for enabling learning of an operation of at least one function of a motor vehicle having at least one function according to one of claims 1 to 8. [10] Motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle comprises a control device according to claim 9. [11] Computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out a method for enabling learning of an operation of at least one function of a motor vehicle having at least one function according to one of claims 1 to 8

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