Method, control device and motor vehicle for coordinating a fleet resource of a vehicle fleet

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for coordinating a fleet resource (8) of a vehicle fleet (100), wherein motor vehicles (19) of the vehicle fleet (100) comprise at least one functionality (20) that is provided to a user (1) in their motor vehicle (19) used as a user vehicle (10), thereby occupying at least a portion of the fleet resource (8). Meanwhile, it is checked whether a predetermined shutdown criterion (6) is met, and upon detection of a fulfilled shutdown criterion (6), the at least one functionality (20) in the user vehicle (10) is automatically deactivated (25), thereby releasing (24) the corresponding fleet resource (8) for another of the motor vehicles (19).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for coordinating a fleet resource of a vehicle fleet, wherein motor vehicles of the vehicle fleet comprise at least one functionality that is provided to a user in his motor vehicle used as a user vehicle and thereby the fleet resource is at least partially occupied.

[0002] Using an activation data set, at least one such functionality can be activated, thereby enabling operation of this functionality and / or resulting control. Consequently, an activation data set provides a user with authorization to use and / or operate a functionality.

[0003] Activation data records can be limited or conditional, for example if only a limited number of instances of the functionality may be in operation at the same time in order to keep the total of required resources, in particular fleet resources (for example, the total of generated noise emissions and / or the total of consumed energy and / or the total of used transmission bandwidth / processor power and / or the total of transferred and / or occupied data volumes and / or the total of simultaneously operated instances), which results for all executed instances together, below a respective threshold. If, for example, all instances of the functionality use a common central server, its fleet resources (e.g., transmission bandwidth and / or processor power and / or storage space) must not be overused by too many simultaneously operated instances of the functionality.

[0004] If the total required fleet resources reaches the threshold, no further instances of the at least one functionality may be launched. This control is particularly difficult if the at least one functionality can be launched at different locations on different mobile devices, for example, in different vehicles within a fleet that fall under the joint responsibility of an owner, such as a rental car company, who must keep the total below the threshold.

[0005] One possible safeguard would be to equip only enough vehicles with the functionality so that the operation of all these instances or copies does not consume more fleet resources than are available. However, this would be inefficient if the case of all instances being operated simultaneously rarely occurs anyway.

[0006] US 2017 / 0 193 715 A1 describes a diagnostic device used outside a vehicle for maintenance. The diagnostic device's software is designed so that specialized diagnostic support for specific brands or brands can be purchased for a specific period of use or number of uses.

[0007] US 2017 / 0 178 659 A1 discloses communication between an external vehicle aid, such as a drone, that supports a user in a navigation task. This customer-specific support is enabled by purchasing the support for one-time, multiple, or unlimited use. The support is enabled when the corresponding UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) is available in the area.

[0008] US 9,300,414 B1 discloses a method of a satellite radio provider that subcontracts its receiver unit to OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) for installation in their radio receivers. To receive content with the radio receiver, the satellite radio provider controls and offers the decryption of the signal, similar to pay TV, for example.

[0009] A disadvantage of the current state of the art is that it doesn't allow for the coordination of a fleet resource within a vehicle fleet. This means that a fleet resource cannot be allocated across a vehicle fleet.

[0010] DE 10 2013 221 960 A1 describes a method for the personal use of a motor vehicle.

[0011] DE 10 2014 019 250 A1 describes a system for activating a vehicle function of a motor vehicle.

[0012] DE 10 2011 118 234 A1 discloses a method and system for releasing a technical device.

[0013] DE 10 2017 222 287 A1 discloses a method for operating a drive device of a motor vehicle.

[0014] DE 10 2022 109 637 A1 discloses a method for operating a control device for a motor vehicle.

[0015] DE 10 2019 211 347 A1 discloses a method for data transmission between a motor vehicle and a mobile radio network.

[0016] The invention is based on the object of protecting functionalities in several motor vehicles together against overuse of a total available fleet resource.

[0017] The problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Advantageous developments of the invention are described by the dependent patent claims, the following description, and the figure.

[0018] The invention provides a method for coordinating or adapting a fleet resource of a vehicle fleet. Motor vehicles of the vehicle fleet comprise at least one functionality that is made available to a user in their motor vehicle to be used as the user vehicle. "Providing" here means that the at least one functionality is active or used and / or can at least be activated by the user at any time, e.g., via a selection menu. As a result, the fleet resource is at least partially occupied, blocked, or utilized, e.g., to a value of 1 to 8 percent in percentage points, while a check is carried out to determine whether a predetermined deactivation criterion is met. If a deactivation criterion is detected as being met, the at least one functionality in the user vehicle is deactivated independently or automatically, and the corresponding fleet resource is released for another of the motor vehicles.In other words, when the deactivation criterion is met, the at least one functionality can be deactivated, so that the corresponding fleet resource used by the functionality is saved for the motor vehicle and made available or released for another motor vehicle in which at least one functionality is to be activated. Suitable methods for such verification and / or detection and / or transmission can be derived from the prior art by those skilled in the art.

[0019] According to one aspect of the invention, the at least one functionality refers to voice control. Additionally or alternatively, a rearview camera system and / or an ECO mode and / or an automatic start-stop system are provided.

[0020] According to a further aspect of the invention, the at least one functionality is activated via an activation data set of activation data. Activation data denotes the plural of an activation data set. The activation data is quantified by a data counter, wherein the data counter quantifies the number of all unused activation data sets and decrements at least one variable related to the number of activation data sets if an activation data set is sent to a user vehicle and / or increments it if an activation data set is received. The number of unused activation data sets can thus be determined at any time via the data counter. The person skilled in the art can use an appropriately programmed processor and / or clock generator and / or middleware for this purpose.An activation data record can also be referred to as a usage right, as it grants a user permission to use and / or operate one or more functionalities. An activation data record can also permit and / or provide a number of uses of at least one functionality. In other words, an activation data record can be configured so that at least one functionality can be used, for example, only once, one to ten times, or unlimitedly.

[0021] A fulfilled shutdown criterion can mean that a predefined threshold has been reached depending on a usage period, i.e., a time interval, and / or the amount of data transmitted and / or used. This allows operating costs and / or energy consumption and / or resource consumption to be distributed across the vehicle fleet. This can be particularly useful for vehicle interior experiences generated by at least one functionality and that should not be provided in every vehicle at the same time, because, for example, the owner of the vehicle fleet may only use a fleet resource used by the functionalities during operation up to a predefined threshold.

[0022] "Fleet resource" can refer to a time interval for using the functionality and / or a bandwidth and / or storage space to be provided and / or a maximum number of instances. When using a functionality, such as a navigation function, the fleet resource, in particular a bandwidth and / or storage space, is at least partially occupied or used.

[0023] The invention also includes further developments which result in additional advantages.

[0024] According to a further development, it is provided that a number of uses of the at least one functionality is contained within the respective activation data record and that the activation data record is used for the n-fold use of the at least one functionality, but is updated after each decrementing use. For example, the "navigation" functionality can contain a number of uses, e.g. 3 or 3 to 9. The number of uses can, for example, be acquired by the user or be preset. A "use" refers to the one-time use or utilization of at least one functionality. Thus, an additional data counter implemented in the user vehicle or in another motor vehicle can be provided, which quantifies the number of uses in the respective user vehicle or motor vehicle.The advantage here is that an activation data record can additionally restrict at least one functionality in a non-binary manner. This allows the coordination of a fleet resource to be flexibly configured or adjusted.

[0025] According to a further development, the shutdown criterion includes a predefined time interval for a period of use. The period of use can be, for example, one hour, one week, or one or more months. Thus, at least one functionality is deactivated when the predefined time interval has expired.

[0026] A further development provides that the shutdown criterion includes a predetermined amount of transmitted data. The transmitted data volume can be, for example, internet data and / or mobile data. In other words, the shutdown criterion includes a threshold value depending on the amount of transmitted data. This can be implemented by the data counter, e.g., comprising a state-of-the-art network monitoring tool.

[0027] A further development provides that the shutdown criterion comprises a predetermined amount of occupied data. This means that when a certain storage capacity intended for the at least one functionality is reached, the shutdown criterion triggers deactivation of the at least one functionality. This can, for example, prevent server overload and / or network overload and / or memory overload of a vehicle system of the motor vehicle. Additionally or alternatively, it can be provided that the vehicle systems of the motor vehicles use a shared server, which is to be protected from server overload.

[0028] A further development provides that the shutdown criterion contains a predefined number of uses of the at least one functionality. The shutdown criterion can, for example, include automatically deactivating the at least one functionality after the third to tenth use of the functionality. This can prevent potential damage or malfunctions that could occur if the functionality is used excessively. Furthermore, it can be used to coordinate fleet resources accordingly and / or to prevent wear and tear, for example, on the vehicle's systems.

[0029] A further development stipulates that the number of functionalities that are simultaneously active is, for example, greater than 1 and less than the number of motor vehicles. For example, if there are 100 motor vehicles, only 50 activation data sets for voice control are acquired or provided from the activation data, since it is expected that, for example, a maximum of 40 users will use this functionality simultaneously. Therefore, if an activation data set is no longer required because the user has terminated at least one functionality and / or no longer uses and / or has returned their user vehicle, the activation data set can be sent back to the data counter and / or made available to other users who wish to use at least one functionality.

[0030] A further development provides that the fleet resource aims to provide bandwidth and / or storage space. This can support a data traffic and / or storage requirement of a system and / or functionality.

[0031] A further development provides that the at least one functionality refers to a software-based and / or hardware-based control and / or a function for a navigation system and / or smartphone integration for coupling to an infotainment system. Additionally or alternatively, an infotainment system and / or a sport mode can be provided.

[0032] 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.

[0033] The invention also includes a control device for the motor vehicle. 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). In particular, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphical Processing Unit), or an NPU (Neural Processing Unit) can be used as the microprocessor. 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 device can be based, for example, on at least one circuit board and / or on at least one SoC (System on Chip).

[0034] 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.

[0035] As a further solution, the invention also encompasses a computer-readable storage medium comprising program code which, when executed by a computer or computer network, causes the computer to carry out an embodiment of the method according to the invention. The storage medium can 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 computer or computer network. However, the storage medium can also be operated on the Internet, for example, as a so-called app store server and / or cloud server. The computer or computer network can provide a processor circuit with, for example, at least one microprocessor.The program code may 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).

[0036] 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.

[0037] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below. Shown are: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

[0038] 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.

[0039] In the figures, the same reference symbols designate elements with the same function.

[0040] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

[0041] To coordinate a fleet resource 8 of a vehicle fleet 100, motor vehicles 19 of the vehicle fleet 100 can comprise at least one functionality 20 that is provided to a user 1 in their motor vehicle 19 used as the user vehicle 10, whereby the fleet resource 8, in particular a bandwidth 14 and / or a storage space 16, is at least partially occupied. During this time, a check can be carried out to determine whether a predefined shutdown criterion 6 is met, and upon detection of a fulfilled shutdown criterion 6, the at least one functionality 20 in the user vehicle 10 can be automatically deactivated 25 and a release 24 can be effected for the previously used portion of the fleet resource 8 for another of the motor vehicles 19. The shutdown criterion 6 can be, for example, a time interval 21 and / or a transmitted data volume 22 and / or an occupied data volume 23.

[0042] As already described, activation data 13 can be described and / or referred to as usage rights, since they provide a user 1 with authorization to use at least one functionality 20 in their motor vehicle 19 to be used as the user vehicle 10. A usage right or an activation data record 7 of the activation data 13 can contain a number of uses for the at least one functionality 20. Thus, the usage right can be restricted as follows: on the one hand, limited in time, i.e., containing a predetermined time interval 21 for a usage period, or unlimited, and on the other hand, the number of uses can be limited or unlimited.

[0043] Thus, the combination of unlimited / unlimited, unlimited / limited, limited / unlimited, and limited / limited can be used for a time- / usage-dependent use of the at least one functionality 20. The first restriction that applies can prevent the use or application of the at least one functionality 20.

[0044] The restriction based on the number of uses can be managed in a backend system 3 of the user vehicle 10 and / or a motor vehicle 19. Each use can be synchronized with the backend system 3 for documentation.

[0045] For each functionality 20, a deactivation criterion 6 can be established or defined, from which point onward the at least one functionality 20 is considered used or consumed. Furthermore, an activation data record 7 can be taken from a data counter 5, which manages the activation data 13, and provided for the at least one functionality 20. The data counter 5 can be provided outside the vehicle fleet 100.

[0046] To implement the method, a system can consist of a vehicle system and a backend system 3.

[0047] The vehicle system can then consist of the subcomponents "transmitter / receiver unit," "central management unit," and, if applicable, "decentralized authorization unit." These subcomponents can, but do not have to, be distributed across separate components.

[0048] The backend system 3 can then consist of the subcomponents “sending / receiving unit” and “processing unit”.

[0049] The system itself can be protected against tampering using state-of-the-art technology and all internal communication can be cryptographically encrypted.

[0050] The contribution of a right of use for a functionality 20 can completely replace an existing right of use.

[0051] Whether a functionality 20 is offered in the vehicle system can be up to the associated controller, ie whether a functionality 20 is secured by a right of use or not.

[0052] If functionality or function 20 is not secured, then it can always be offered in the vehicle system, and all subsequent steps are obsolete. In other words, it can be stipulated that not every functionality 20 requires a usage right. However, if a usage right is necessary, the following steps can be performed.

[0053] In a first step, the function 20 in the vehicle system can query the “decentralized authorization unit” or the backend system 3 and receive as information that a right of use for at least one functionality 20 in the user vehicle 10 exists or not (deactivated right of use or no right of use).

[0054] If there is no active right of use, then it can be provided that at least one function 20 is not offered for use to the user 1 of the vehicle system.

[0055] The “decentralized authorization unit” can additionally know the type of restriction, i.e. without restriction, with time restriction and / or usage-dependent restriction.

[0056] A function 20 can check whether a (suitable) right of use exists, e.g. whether a (right of use) with at least one use as an active activation of the use exists.

[0057] A function 20 with a usage right implements a new communication with the "decentralized authorization unit" or the backend system 3 and passes a trigger to count a usage of at least one function 20 if accidental usage is excluded. For example, within the context of a navigation function, entering a route destination might not yet count as usage, but starting the route guidance might. Or active route guidance, for example, might only begin after 1 minute. This can be determined by the function 20 itself and will not be considered further here.

[0058] If a usage right is limited to a number of uses, the data counter 5 or another data counter located in the user vehicle 10 or motor vehicle 19 can be evaluated, and the number of uses can be decreased or decremented 12. For this purpose, the "decentralized authorization unit" in the vehicle system can transfer the information about the use to the "central administration unit" in the vehicle system. This can generate usage information to the backend system 3 and send it via the respective "transmitting and receiving units." In the backend system 3, the use can be registered via the "processing unit" and deducted accordingly from a number of uses.

[0059] An updated usage right with the new number of uses can then be generated by the “processing unit” and sent via the respective “sending and receiving units”.

[0060] In the vehicle system, this can be forwarded as a data packet by the "centralized administrative work" to the "decentralized authorization unit" for further use. This allows function 20 to be provided with an updated usage right, reduced by one use.

[0061] In principle, it can be checked whether the vehicle timestamp is within the time frame of the right of use.

[0062] To ensure that a usage quota cannot be used indefinitely, it may be possible to acquire both a usage-dependent and a time-limited usage right.

[0063] If a usage right 7 can be used, a check is performed to determine whether the vehicle system is within the time-dependent scope of the usage right. Only then can the authorization for use be transmitted to function 20. This means that if both a time-based and a usage-based restriction are specified in the usage right, the usage-based restriction can be checked first, and if a time-based restriction also exists, this can also be checked.

[0064] Overall, the examples show how a procedure for the use of restricted usage rights for functions can be provided. List of reference symbols 1 user 3 Backend system 5 data counters 6 Switch-off criterion 7 Activation data record 8 Fleet Resource 10 user vehicles 11 incremented 12 decremented 13 Activation data 14 Bandwidth 16 storage spaces 19 Motor vehicle 20 Functionality 21 time interval 22 transferred data volume 23 used data volume 24 Release 25 deactivated 100 vehicle fleet

Claims

[1] Method for coordinating a fleet resource (8) of a vehicle fleet (100), wherein one or more motor vehicles (19) of the vehicle fleet (100) comprise at least one functionality (20) which is provided to a user (1) in his motor vehicle (19) used as a user vehicle (10), whereby the fleet resource (8) is at least partially occupied, wherein it is checked during this time whether a predetermined switch-off criterion (6) is met, and upon detection of a met switch-off criterion (6), the at least one functionality (20) in the user vehicle (10) is automatically deactivated (25) and thus a release (24) of the corresponding fleet resource (8) for another of the motor vehicles (19) is effected, wherein a) upon reaching a specific storage capacity (16) provided for the at least one functionality (20), the switch-off criterion (6) causes the at least one functionality (20) to be deactivated, wherein the at least one functionality (20) provides voice control and / or a rear view camera system and / or an eco mode and / or an automatic start-stop system and / or an adjustable rear wing, and / or b) the at least one functionality (20) is activated and thus provided via an activation data record (7) of activation data (13), wherein only a limited number of instances of the functionality (20) may be in operation at the same time in order to keep a sum of required fleet resources, which results for all executed instances together, below a respective threshold value, and for this purpose the activation data records (7) are quantified by a data counter (5), wherein the data counter (5) quantifies the number of all unused activation data records (7) and at least one variable relating to the number of activation data records (7) is decremented (12) if an activation data record (7) is sent to a user vehicle (10) and / or incremented (11) if an activation data record (7) is received. [2] Method according to claim 1, aspect b), wherein a number of uses of the at least one functionality (20) is contained within the respective activation data record (7) and the activation data record (7) is used for n-times use of the at least one functionality (20), but is updated after each decrementing use. [3] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the switch-off criterion (6) comprises a predetermined time interval (21) for a period of use. [4] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the switch-off criterion (6) comprises a predetermined transmitted data volume (22). [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the switch-off criterion (6) comprises a predetermined occupied data volume (23). [6] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the switch-off criterion (6) contains a predetermined number of uses of the at least one functionality (20). [7] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the number of functionalities (20) that are active simultaneously is greater than or equal to 1 and less than the number of motor vehicles (19). [8] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the fleet resource (8) aims to provide a bandwidth (14) and / or a storage space (16). [9] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one functionality (20) provides a software-side and / or hardware-side control and / or a function for a navigation system and / or a smartphone integration for coupling to an infotainment system, and / or an infotainment system and / or a sport mode. [10] Control device comprising a processor device comprising program instructions which, when executed by the processor device, cause it to carry out a method according to any one of the preceding claims. [11] Motor vehicle (19) comprising a control device according to claim 10.

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