Method and device for recording a service requirement for a motor vehicle as well as motor vehicle

Abstract

Method for detecting a service requirement on a motor vehicle (100), comprising: - detecting a service requirement on a motor vehicle (100) by means of detection means of the motor vehicle; - detecting a user terminal device (20) in the vicinity (3) of the motor vehicle (100) by means of wireless communication means between the motor vehicle (100) and the user terminal device (20); - detecting a service readiness on the user terminal device (20); and - providing the service requirement on the user terminal device (20) based on the service readiness.

Description

The present invention relates to a method and a device for detecting a service requirement for a motor vehicle and to a motor vehicle with such a device. It is currently known that a user of a motor vehicle can communicate with it and activate or deactivate certain functions. Maintenance intervals can also be displayed to the user in an app. However, there is a lack of interaction possibilities between the motor vehicle and people other than the user, especially for simple services. A car-sharing system is known from publication DE 10 2017 111 603 A1. Publication US 2020 / 0 065 776 A1 discloses a method and system for digitally tracking and managing an automotive repair process. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and an improved device for detecting a service requirement in a motor vehicle, as well as an improved motor vehicle. This task is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous further developments are specified in the dependent claims. According to a first aspect, a procedure for recording a service requirement for a motor vehicle is specified. The method according to the invention comprises the steps of detecting a service requirement at a motor vehicle, detecting a user terminal device in the vicinity of the motor vehicle, detecting a service readiness at the user terminal device, and providing the service requirement at the user terminal device based on the service readiness. The method according to the invention serves in particular to enable the motor vehicle to communicate with external third parties and to draw their attention to a need for services. As a first step, the service requirements for a motor vehicle are recorded. In this case, a service requirement specifically concerns a need for a service that an external person can perform or fulfill independently, without any connection to the motor vehicle. The service, which can also be described as a service or assistance, is a service that can be performed with few or no tools and / or without detailed knowledge of the vehicle and, in particular, the vehicle type. Specifically, in this context, "service" does not refer to a task that typically requires a specialist and / or a workshop, but rather one that can be performed with just a few simple steps. The service in question is, in particular, a service that can or should be performed while the vehicle is stationary, with the engine switched off and / or with the doors locked. Such a service could, for example, involve removing dirt from the exterior of the vehicle, i.e., performing a cleaning. For instance, a window, mirror, headlight, and / or exterior camera might be dirty or obscured by grime, thus impairing the vehicle's visibility and / or functionality. Alternatively or additionally, such a service may include folding in or out a movable attachment. For example, an exterior mirror, an antenna, and / or a windshield wiper may have been intentionally or unintentionally moved or folded in or out by a third party and thus adjusted in such a way that a function of the motor vehicle is impaired, especially since a driver only notices it after starting to drive and then has to stop again. Alternatively or additionally, such a service can include the removal of leaves or debris. For example, leaves or debris may have accumulated unintentionally or intentionally on the windshield, air vents, or in the exhaust system, which also impairs visibility and / or the vehicle's function. This need is met by suitable detection devices, such as indoor and outdoor cameras and / or other sensors of the vehicle. In a further step, a user device is detected in the vicinity of the vehicle. The user terminal device is a portable and / or mobile device, such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet and / or a wearable. Alternatively or additionally, the user terminal device is a control unit and / or an infotainment system of a motor vehicle belonging to the user, which is different from the motor vehicle that suffered the breakdown. The user device is specifically assigned to a user who is not the driver, owner or user of the motor vehicle in question, but rather a user device belonging to a user or third party uninvolved in the motor vehicle. The proximity of a user device to a motor vehicle is determined via suitable wireless communication between the vehicle and the user device. For example, proximity to the vehicle can be determined through short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth, UWB (ultra-wideband), Car2X (especially Car2Phone), NFC, WiFi, cellular networks, and / or other suitable wireless communication protocols. Additionally or alternatively, coordinates can be acquired using one or more GPS sensors to determine the proximity of the user device to the vehicle. In this context, "nearby" means less than 1000 m, less than 500 m, less than 100 m, less than 50 m, less than 10 m and / or less than 5 m from the motor vehicle. In a further step, service readiness is recorded on the user's terminal device. In this context, a willingness to provide a service encompasses, in particular, the fundamental or general willingness of the user of the user device to perform a service on another person's motor vehicle. This applies especially in contrast to the type of service described later, which further specifies a service. This service readiness can be pre-defined or specified by the user of the end device. It can be stored either on the end device itself or in a remote data center, from where it is retrieved when the user is nearby. Alternatively or additionally, the availability of services can also be queried in each individual case, for example when approaching the vehicle that requires service, for example by a display on the user's terminal device, as will be described later. In a further step, the service requirement is provided to the user's terminal device based on the service readiness. The service requirement and, if applicable, further information such as instructions or directions for action, as well as the type, make, model, color, location, direction of travel and / or license plate of the motor vehicle, are sent to the user's terminal device via the communication protocols described above and displayed there, for example on a screen of the user's terminal device. Service requests and further information can also be transmitted to the user's device via a remote data center. For example, the vehicle itself transmits its specific service requirements and initial further information directly to the user's device and also to the remote data center, which in turn transmits additional information to the user's device. Alternatively or additionally, the user's device can also retrieve this further information independently from a remote data center. In addition, further information can also be transmitted from the user of the user terminal device to the motor vehicle, such as appearance, age, gender, clothing, location and / or direction of travel of the user, also via the communication protocols described above. In particular, both the user of the user's device and the driver, owner, and / or user of the vehicle in question are registered in a shared app and / or portal and have given their consent to participate. For example, several users from the same vehicle brand, manufacturer, group, or fleet participate in the portal and offer their services to each other. In particular, such a portal can also allow for the creation of a profile for each participant, the declaration or agreement of disclaimers of liability for damages incurred during the provision of the service, and the storage of further settings and / or preferences, as will be described in more detail later. The present invention enables the mediation of service requests for motor vehicles with third parties. The shared use of a portal facilitates a mutual, free exchange of services. Furthermore, it allows for the exchange of security-relevant information between individual participants, thereby fostering greater trust in the services provided. According to further training, the procedure also includes capturing user input on the user's terminal device, indicating whether a user accepts or rejects the service, and, if the user rejects the service, capturing data from another user terminal device near the vehicle. In particular, according to this training, the service requirement or the specific service can be displayed on the user's terminal device, whereupon the user of the terminal device can either accept or reject it, for example by voice or touch input on the terminal device. Acceptance here does not yet include the actual fulfillment of the service, but merely the user's signaled willingness to accept or fulfill this service, regardless of the success. If the user accepts this service, they can proceed with fulfilling it. If the user declines the service, for example, because they don't have time or don't want to perform it, the system can search for another nearby user device—that is, another user who has indicated their availability for the service—and then forward this service request to them. This training will make it possible to reach multiple users for the service in order to complete it. According to further training, the procedure also includes rewarding the user based on the user's acceptance of the service. In this context, rewards can include, in particular, the collection of points within the portal or app. These points can then be redeemed later for services, for example. However, rewards can also include financial or monetary compensation, such as small amounts like cents or fractions of cents. Again, the reward could take the form of credits in other apps or portals. It goes without saying that, conversely, refusing the service is also recorded and may lead to a penalty. This again concerns only the fundamental acceptance (or non-acceptance) of the service, which is independent of the actual fulfillment or completion and represents the first of at least two possible reward levels. This training encourages and rewards outsiders to provide services. According to further training, the procedure also includes recording whether the service has been fulfilled by a user of the user's terminal device, and rewarding the user based on the fact that the service has been fulfilled. This is therefore the second stage of the reward, which will now be described in detail. The second stage can offer the same level of reward as the previously described first stage, or it can be higher or lower, depending particularly on the success of the task. Whether or not the service has been fulfilled can be determined using the same methods that were used to determine the service requirement, or using different methods. In particular, the degree or level of fulfillment can be determined, for example, as a percentage or a decimal, and the user can be rewarded accordingly. Additionally or alternatively, the driver, owner, or user of the vehicle on which the service was performed can also submit a rating, especially on the aforementioned portal, which can then be used to determine a reward. This further training encourages and rewards outsiders to provide services and to complete them satisfactorily. According to further training, rewarding involves unlocking a function of a motor vehicle belonging to the user of the user's terminal device. A function might include, for example, a comfort feature or a service, particularly a drive power, which could also be implemented in the user's vehicle as so-called usage-based payment. This allows functions or a range of functions to be used more extensively if the user has previously used and / or fulfilled a service on other vehicles one or more times. This training establishes a direct link to the service provider's own vehicle and provides an immediately perceptible, vehicle-related reward. According to further training, rewarding involves giving preferential treatment to the user in future service needs. In particular, as previously described, the user participates in the portal both as a motor vehicle user and as a user of a user terminal device; he can therefore both accept and fulfill services as well as receive them. In this training course, users who have already accepted and / or fulfilled a service on other motor vehicles one or more times are prioritized over other service users when they have their own service needs, for example because their service needs are displayed to other users first or at all. This further training particularly strengthens the sense of community and promotes mutual support. According to further training, the service requirement includes a type of service, and the assessment of service readiness includes the assessment of a readiness to fulfill this type of service. For example, the service requirement includes a type of service which, as previously described, can be subdivided into cleaning, moving a movable attachment, and removing leaves or waste. Users can thus indicate or set their willingness to perform certain types of services in the portal. For example, they can specify that they are willing to fold or unfold movable attachments, but not to clean anything or remove trash or leaves. This willingness can then be used to provide the user only with services that he is also in principle willing to fulfill, whereby the possibility of accepting or rejecting these services may remain unaffected. Alternatively, this willingness can also be used to provide the user with services for which he has not signaled a willingness, but further down or with a delay compared to those for which he has signaled a willingness to perform. This also allows for a third reward level or a weighting of the first and / or second reward levels. For example, the user can be rewarded more if they accept and / or fulfill a service for which they have not indicated a general willingness, they can be rewarded less if they accept and / or fulfill a service for which they have indicated a general willingness, and / or they can be penalized if they do not accept and / or fulfill a service for which they have indicated a general willingness. This further training enables a particularly precise differentiation of the services to be provided. This leads to greater acceptance and fulfillment. For use cases or application situations that may arise during the procedure and are not explicitly described here, it may be provided that, according to the procedure, an error message and / or a request for user feedback is issued and / or a default setting and / or a predetermined initial state is set. According to a further aspect, a device is specified. The device may include a data processing device or a processor unit configured to carry out an embodiment of the method according to the invention. The processor device can comprise 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 include program code configured to execute the embodiment of the method according to the invention when carried out by the processor device. The program code can be stored in a data memory of the processor device. The processor device can, for example, be based on at least one circuit board and / or on at least one SoC (System on Chip). According to another aspect, a motor vehicle is specified that includes such a device. The motor vehicle according to the invention is preferably designed as a motor vehicle, in particular as a passenger car or truck, or as a passenger bus or motorcycle. As a further solution, the invention also includes a computer-readable storage medium comprising program code which, when executed by a computer or a computer network, causes it to execute an embodiment of the method according to the invention. The storage medium can be provided at least partially as a non-volatile data storage medium (e.g., as flash memory and / or as an SSD - solid state drive) and / or at least partially as a volatile data storage medium (e.g., as RAM - random access memory). The storage medium can be located within the computer or computer network. However, the storage medium can also be operated, for example, as an app store server and / or cloud server on the internet. The computer or computer network can provide a processor circuit with, for example, at least one microprocessor.The program code can be provided as binary code and / or as assembly code and / or as source code of a programming language (e.g. C) and / or as a program script (e.g. Python). The invention also includes combinations of the features of the described embodiments. The invention therefore also includes realizations that each exhibit a combination of the features of several of the described embodiments, provided that the embodiments have not been described as mutually exclusive. Regarding the embodiments of the device, the motor vehicle and the storage medium, as well as the associated advantages, reference is made to the previously described embodiments of the method and the advantages thereof. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below. Figure 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a method and a device for detecting a service requirement for a motor vehicle. The exemplary embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the invention. In these exemplary embodiments, the described components each represent individual features of the invention, which can be considered independently of one another and each further develops the invention independently. Therefore, the disclosure is intended to include combinations of features of the embodiments other than those shown. Furthermore, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by further features of the invention already described. Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a method and a device 10 for detecting a service requirement for a motor vehicle 100. The device 10 is encompassed by the motor vehicle 100 and configured to perform the method steps described below. The device 10 is designed to detect a service requirement on the motor vehicle 100, to detect a user terminal 20 of a user 2 in the vicinity 3 of the motor vehicle 100, to detect a service readiness on the user terminal 20 and to provide the previously determined service requirement on the user terminal 20 based on the service readiness. The service requirement includes a type of service, and the recording of a service readiness includes recording a readiness by the user to fulfill this type of service. The device 10 is further designed to detect user input at the user terminal device 20, whether the user 2 accepts or rejects the service, and, if the user 2 rejects the service, to detect another user terminal device in the vicinity 3 of the motor vehicle 100. The device 10 is also designed to reward user 2 based on user 2 accepting the service. The device 10 is also designed to detect whether the service has been performed by a user 2 of the user terminal device 20 and to reward the user 2 based on the fact that the service has been performed. The reward includes both unlocking a function of a vehicle belonging to user 2 and giving preference to user 2 in future service needs. Overall, the examples show how a short-range radio communication-based notification function can be provided for community-based services in connection with motor vehicles. In particular, the described embodiments provide examples of how a mutual exchange of services can be enabled with high user trust.

Claims

Method for detecting a service requirement on a motor vehicle (100), comprising: - detecting a service requirement on a motor vehicle (100) by means of detection means of the motor vehicle; - detecting a user terminal device (20) in the vicinity (3) of the motor vehicle (100) by means of wireless communication means between the motor vehicle (100) and the user terminal device (20); - detecting a service readiness on the user terminal device (20); and - providing the service requirement on the user terminal device (20) based on the service readiness. Method according to claim 1, further comprising: - capturing a user input at the user terminal device (20) as to whether a user (2) accepts or rejects the service; and if the user (2) rejects the service: capturing a further user terminal device in the vicinity (3) of the motor vehicle (100). Method according to claim 2, further comprising: - Rewarding the user (2) based on the user (2) accepting the service. Method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising: - Determining whether the service has been performed by a user (2) of the user terminal device (20); and - Rewarding the user (2) based on the fact that the service has been performed. Method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the rewarding comprises unlocking a function of a motor vehicle of the user (2). Method according to claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the rewarding includes giving preference to the user (2) in a future service requirement. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the service requirement comprises a type of service and wherein the detection of a service readiness comprises a detection of a readiness to provide that type of service. Device (10) configured to perform a method according to one of the preceding claims. Motor vehicle (100) comprising a device according to claim 8 .

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