Method and system for determining a start time before the start of a journey by a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for determining a start period 130 until the start of a journey of a motor vehicle 2, starting from a starting point 132, to reaching a destination 134 up to a target time.To reliably determine the start time 130, the invention proposes that the method comprises the following steps: Determining 136 the starting location 132; Determining 138 a travel distance between the starting location 132 and the destination 134; Determining 140 a direction of travel from the starting location 132 to the destination 134; Determining 142 a remaining time span between the destination time and a current time, taking into account the direction of travel; Determining 144 a travel time span from the starting location 132 to the destination 134, taking into account the travel distance and at least one driver work time trigger 146; Determining the start time 130, taking into account the determined remaining time span and the determined travel time span; Setting the determined start time 130 as the determined start time 130.Furthermore, the invention relates to a system 1 for determining a start period 130 until the start of a journey of a motor vehicle 2, wherein the system 1 comprises the motor vehicle 2 with a vehicle device 4 and a data processing infrastructure facility 10.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for determining a starting time until the start of a journey of a motor vehicle, starting from a starting location, reaching a destination, and reaching a destination time. Furthermore, the invention relates to a system for determining a starting time until the start of a journey of a motor vehicle, starting from a starting location, reaching a destination, and reaching a destination time, using the motor vehicle having an on-board device and a data-processing infrastructure device.

[0002] Methods and systems for motor vehicles, particularly commercial vehicles, are known, which allow determining the times at which a particular motor vehicle and its cargo are expected to arrive at a designated destination, particularly in freight transport. Navigation systems with navigation devices in motor vehicles are used, for example, for such known methods and systems.

[0003] In addition, tachographs, also known as trip recorders or tachographs, are also known. These are each installed as an on-board device in a respective motor vehicle and are used to record and store, among other things, driver driving data, such as driving and rest times of a driver of the motor vehicle, as well as vehicle-related data based on legal regulations.

[0004] Tachographs that feature a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receiver are also known. With such a tachograph, it is possible to determine and store the position of the motor vehicle in which the tachograph is installed, as well as the position of the driver driving the vehicle and the vehicle's cargo, using GNSS data and time stamps. A GNSS receiver is a device that can be used to determine a vehicle's own position based on received satellite signals. Furthermore, it is known to exchange data between tachographs installed in a motor vehicle and a central computer located outside the vehicle.

[0005] A disadvantage of the known methods and systems is that, although they can determine a possible, estimated time of arrival at the start of a journey, they cannot, for example, give a driver of the motor vehicle or a dispatcher of a freight forwarding company using the motor vehicle any indication of a start time for the start of a journey of a motor vehicle in order to reach a destination on time.

[0006] The object of the invention is to provide a method of the type mentioned above that enables a reliable determination of a starting time until the start of a journey of the motor vehicle in order to reach a destination on time. Furthermore, the invention is based on the object of creating a corresponding system for determining a starting time.

[0007] The first-mentioned object is achieved according to the invention with a method of the type mentioned at the outset, wherein the method further comprises the following steps: determining the starting location; determining a travel distance between the starting location and the destination; determining a direction of travel of the journey from the starting location to the destination; determining a remaining time period between the destination time and a current time, taking into account the direction of travel; determining a travel time period from the starting location to the destination, taking into account the travel distance and at least one driver working time trigger; determining the start deadline, taking into account the determined remaining time period and the determined travel time period; setting the determined start deadline as the determined start deadline.

[0008] A particular advantage of the method according to the invention is that it does not determine an estimated time of arrival at the destination, but rather that the method can reliably specify a start deadline within which the journey must begin in order to reach the destination, i.e., the destination, at a predetermined time and taking dynamic factors into account. The start deadline can, for example, be a period of time, i.e., a time span within which the departure must take place, or a time by which the departure must take place. The start is, in particular, the latest—i.e., the latest possible—start of the journey in order to reach the destination in time.

[0009] The motor vehicle is, in particular, a commercial vehicle, for example, a truck or a bus, and the starting location can preferably be an actual location where the motor vehicle is currently located. This is, in particular, a location of the motor vehicle. The destination is, in particular, a predetermined destination, and the destination time is, in particular, a predetermined destination time. The destination time is preferably the latest, i.e., the latest desired or required, time by which the motor vehicle and its cargo should or must have arrived at the destination.

[0010] When determining the starting location, the current location of the motor vehicle is preferably determined. It is also conceivable that the current location of a driver assigned to the motor vehicle is determined, for example, if the starting location is determined using the driver's mobile device, such as a smartphone. The current time is preferably the actual time. The current time indicates the earliest possible start time for the journey. Determining the travel distance can, for example, take into account a route from the starting location to the destination determined in advance, for example, using a navigation system.

[0011] Determining the direction of travel and taking this into account when calculating the remaining time also makes it possible to take into account border crossings required on the journey from the starting point to the destination. Such border crossings typically impact the travel time from the starting point to the destination, as they potentially pose a risk of delays. Furthermore, such border crossings regularly require compliance with regulations associated with border crossings, particularly those related to time, such as observing a specified maximum stay in a destination country entered after the border crossing.

[0012] The driver working time trigger taken into account when determining the travel time period can, for example, mean taking into account required driver break times. The start time is determined by the final determination of the start time, taking into account the determined remaining time period and the determined travel time period. Setting the determined start time period as the specific start time period therefore means, in particular, that the value of the start time period has been determined in the process. For example, the value of the start time period can be a number of hours, for example, 19 hours.

[0013] Advantageous further developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

[0014] According to an advantageous development of the invention, the start deadline is determined taking into account at least one date trigger. Thus, in this development, in addition to considering the remaining time period and the travel time period, the date trigger, which, for example, indicates a period during which the motor vehicle may not be moved, is also taken into account. In this way, the accuracy of determining the start deadline can be further increased.

[0015] According to another advantageous development of the invention, the remaining time period is determined taking into account a border trigger and / or a time trigger. The border trigger can, for example, be the crossing of an interstate border, in particular in a specific direction, preferably the specific direction of travel. A time trigger can, for example, be a predicted waiting time at the interstate border. In general, crossing a border or border crossing in the context of the invention regularly means crossing a border between two countries, more precisely two states, where "state" in the context of the invention can mean, for example, a nation state or, for example, a federal state of a federation. State thus means, in particular, sovereign territory.

[0016] It is particularly advantageous if, according to a further development of the invention, the remaining time period is limited to a specific number of days when a border trigger is present depending on the direction of travel and, in particular, when a time trigger is present simultaneously. This makes it possible, in a simple and reliable manner, to take into account, for example, restrictions on cabotage, i.e., the provision of transport services in a country by a foreign transport company. The border trigger present depending on the direction of travel can, for example, be a border crossing in a specific direction, for example from one country of stationing, i.e., for example, a business location, of the motor vehicle into another country in which a transport service is provided.

[0017] According to another advantageous development of the invention, the travel time is determined taking into account a traffic situation influencing factor that indicates the traffic situation on the intended route of the motor vehicle to the destination. The traffic situation influencing factor can, for example, be a measure of the traffic situation prevailing on the intended route, thereby achieving a particularly high degree of accuracy in determining the departure time.

[0018] To further increase the accuracy of the method according to the invention and, in particular, to enable particularly timely dynamic adjustment of the start time to the prevailing conditions, according to another advantageous development of the invention, the start time is determined repeatedly after a specific period of time until the start of the journey. Preferably, the recurring determination of the start time is performed continuously.

[0019] The second object mentioned above is achieved according to the invention with a system of the type mentioned at the outset, wherein the vehicle device is further designed to determine a location of the motor vehicle and to transmit the location to the infrastructure facility; wherein the infrastructure facility is designed to determine a travel distance between the location as the starting point of the journey and the destination, to determine a remaining time period between the destination time and a current time taking into account a direction of travel of the journey from the starting point to the destination, to determine a travel time period from the starting point to the destination taking into account the travel distance and at least one driver working time trigger, to determine a start deadline taking into account the determined remaining time period and the determined travel time period;and wherein the infrastructure device is configured to transmit the determined start time to the vehicle device as a specific start time. The system according to the invention is particularly suitable for carrying out a method described above.

[0020] The vehicle device can, in particular, be a vehicle-mounted device. The infrastructure device can be, for example, a backend or, for example, a server network, or even a single server or central computer. The vehicle device has, for example, a GNSS unit for determining the location, in particular a starting point of a journey, of the motor vehicle using satellite signals. Furthermore, the vehicle device can, for example, have an input unit, by means of which, for example, a destination of a journey can be entered into the vehicle device. The vehicle device is preferably designed such that it can transmit the destination to the infrastructure device.

[0021] Furthermore, the on-board device is preferably configured to transmit the driver working time trigger to the infrastructure facility. The infrastructure facility is particularly configured to determine the start time taking into account the determined remaining time period and the determined travel time period, as well as, if necessary, at least one additional date trigger. The start time determined by the infrastructure facility is the specific start time. Once the start time has been determined, the determined start time is set, preferably by the infrastructure facility, as the specific start time.

[0022] For example, one could imagine the on-board device being a toll device or a telematics device. However, an advantageous development of the invention provides for the on-board device to be a tachograph. It is particularly advantageous in this case that a driver working time trigger, such as one or more legally prescribed and observable driver break times, is usually already present in the tachograph. The tachograph can also be referred to as a tachograph or trip recorder, and is known in Europe, for example, as an EU control device.

[0023] It is conceivable, for example, that the start deadline is displayed in the vehicle cockpit of the motor vehicle, for example, on a central screen. According to an advantageous development of the invention, however, the on-board device has a display for displaying the start deadline transmitted by the infrastructure facility. Thus, the start deadline determined by the infrastructure facility and transmitted to the on-board device can be displayed directly by the on-board device. The display can, in particular, be an optical and / or acoustic display. For example, the display is a display, such as a liquid crystal display.

[0024] The invention also includes embodiments of the system according to the invention for determining a starting time until the start of a journey of a motor vehicle, which has features as already described in connection with embodiments of the method according to the invention for determining a starting time, and vice versa. For this reason, the corresponding embodiments of the system according to the invention or the method according to the invention are not described again.

[0025] The invention also includes the combination of the features of the described forms and embodiments.

[0026] Embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below with reference to the sketchy and schematic representations in the drawing.

[0027] They show: Fig. 1 in a functional environment an embodiment of a system for determining a start time until the start of a journey of a motor vehicle and Fig. 2 variants in a schedule for determining a start time until the start of a journey of a motor vehicle.

[0028] Corresponding elements are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures. The individual figures each show and illustrate individual features of exemplary embodiments of the invention and therefore do not necessarily depict the invention as a whole with all its features.

[0029] Fig. Figure 1 shows a system 1 for determining a starting time for a journey of a motor vehicle 2 to reach a destination by a target time. The journey of the motor vehicle 2 starts at a starting point and ends at the destination.

[0030] In the illustrated embodiment, motor vehicle 2 is a commercial vehicle, specifically a truck. Motor vehicle 2 has a vehicle device 4, which here is a vehicle-mounted device and is designed as a tachograph. The vehicle device 4 is thus a tachograph installed in the motor vehicle 2. The vehicle device 4 has a display 6 configured as a display. It also has a GNSS receiver 8.

[0031] The on-board device 4 is configured to determine a location of the motor vehicle 2 and transmit the location to a data processing infrastructure device 10 of the system 1. The system 1 thus comprises the motor vehicle 2 with the on-board device 4 and the data processing infrastructure device 10. The infrastructure device 10 can be, for example, a backend, a server, or a server network.

[0032] In the present exemplary embodiment, the vehicle device 4 can determine the location of the motor vehicle 2 using the GNSS receiver 8 and with the aid of satellite signals 12 from a satellite system 14 comprising a plurality of satellites 14', 14'', 14'''. The satellite system 14 is a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) such as GPS, Galileo, Beidou, or GLONASS. The vehicle device 4 is configured to determine the position of the vehicle device 4 and thus also of the motor vehicle 2 from the received satellite signals 12. The position is the location of the motor vehicle 2.

[0033] To transmit the determined location of the motor vehicle 2 to the infrastructure facility 10, the vehicle device 4 is connected to a transmission device 16, or (not shown here) the vehicle device 4 has the transmission device 16. The transmission device 16 can be arranged within a housing of the vehicle device 4 and be a component of the vehicle device 4, or it can - as in Fig. 1 - be arranged outside the housing of the vehicle device 4.

[0034] The infrastructure device 10 is configured to determine a travel distance between the location of the motor vehicle 2 and an intended destination of the journey of the motor vehicle 2. A starting location of the journey preferably corresponds to the location of the motor vehicle 2. The infrastructure device 10 is configured to set the location of the motor vehicle 2 determined by the vehicle device 4 as the starting location of the journey.

[0035] Furthermore, the infrastructure facility 10 is configured to determine a remaining time period between a target time by which the motor vehicle 2 should or must have reached the destination and a current time, taking into account a direction of travel of the motor vehicle 2 from the starting point to the destination. Furthermore, the infrastructure facility 10 is configured to determine a travel time period from the starting point to the destination, taking into account the travel distance and at least one driver work time trigger, which, for example, indicates required driver break times and may have been transmitted from the on-board device 4 to the infrastructure facility 10.Furthermore, the infrastructure facility 10 is configured to determine a starting time until the motor vehicle's journey begins, from the starting point until it reaches the destination, up to the destination time, taking into account the determined remaining time period and the determined travel time period. Furthermore, the infrastructure facility 10 is configured to transmit the determined starting time period as a specific starting time period to the vehicle device 4. The infrastructure facility 10 can also be configured to transmit the specific starting time period to a mobile data receiving device 21, for example, a smartphone, for example, a smartphone of a driver 22 of the motor vehicle 2.

[0036] The transmission device 16 can be, for example, a transmitter or a transceiver, and in addition to the on-board device 4, it can also be connected to other devices arranged in the motor vehicle 2 and transmit information to and / or from these devices. The transmission device 16 of the on-board device 4 can be configured to, on the one hand, send information, for example, the location of the motor vehicle, from the on-board device 4 to the infrastructure device 10 and, on the other hand, to receive information, for example, the determined and thus specified start time, from the infrastructure device 10 and forward it to the on-board device 4.

[0037] A transport operator 18, for example, a freight forwarding company using the motor vehicle 2, has access to the infrastructure facility 10 and can thus, for example, specify the destination and the destination time for the intended journey of the motor vehicle 2 in the infrastructure facility 10 to determine the start time. A supervisory authority 20, for example, a supervisory authority, can either access the infrastructure facility 10 directly for control purposes, or such access can be obtained via the transport operator 18's access to the infrastructure facility 10.

[0038] Fig. 2 shows a flow chart for different variants of a method for determining a start time 130 until the start of a journey of a motor vehicle 2 (cf. Fig. 1), starting from a starting location 132, to reaching a destination 134 by a target time. The method comprises determining 136 the starting location, wherein the starting location in this exemplary embodiment is the current vehicle position, in particular the current location of the motor vehicle 2. A route 156 of the journey from the starting location 132 to the destination 134 is predetermined. It can be determined, for example, by a navigation system of the motor vehicle 2 or by a transport operator 18 (cf. Fig. 1) be determined in advance.

[0039] The method further includes determining 138 a travel distance between the starting location 132 and the destination 134, as well as determining 140 a direction of travel from the starting location to the destination. Determining 138 the travel distance may, in particular, take into account the travel route 156, so that the length of the travel route 156 may indicate the travel distance.

[0040] Furthermore, the method includes determining 142 a remaining time period between the destination time and a current time, taking into account the direction of travel. Furthermore, the method includes determining 144 a travel time period from the starting location 132 to the destination 134, taking into account the travel distance and at least one driver work time trigger 146, which, for example, triggers legally required driver break times of a driver 22 (cf. Fig. 1) of motor vehicle 2.

[0041] Taking into account the determined remaining time period and the determined travel time period, the start deadline 130 is determined 148. With the determination 148, the start deadline 130 is determined, and the determined start deadline 130 is set 149 as determined. The start deadline can be determined 148 taking into account at least one date trigger 150, which, for example, specifies a time period during which the motor vehicle 2 may not be moved. In principle, the start deadline 130 can be determined repeatedly after a specific time period until the start of the journey of the motor vehicle 2.

[0042] The determination 142 of the remaining time period can, for example, be carried out taking into account a border trigger 152, which may also have been taken into account when determining 138 the travel distance, and / or a time trigger 154, which, for example, indicates a predicted waiting time at an interstate border to be crossed. Furthermore, a time specification 155 can be taken into account when determining 142 the remaining time period. Thus, for example, cabotage can be taken into account. For example, depending on the legal requirement, cabotage journeys may be limited in time, for example, to three days, and depending on the legal requirement, only a certain number of cabotage journeys may be carried out within a certain period, for example, three cabotage journeys within seven days.A cabotage journey can, for example, be entered into the on-board device 4 by the driver 22 and transmitted from the on-board device 4 to the infrastructure facility 10, or, for example, a cabotage journey can be communicated to the infrastructure facility 10 by a dispatcher of the transport operator 18 or by means of electronic freight documents for consideration when determining the start deadline 130.

[0043] When determining 142 the remaining time period, a remaining time until the target time is calculated. The remaining time period is, in particular, the time period between the target time, which can be based in particular on a time specification, and the current time.

[0044] If a border trigger 152 is present depending on the direction of travel and if a time trigger 154 is present, the remaining time period can be limited to a specific number of days. Such a specific number of days can, for example, be specified as the time limit 155. The border trigger 152 indicates, for example, a requirement to cross an interstate border on the journey of the motor vehicle 2 from the starting point 132 to the destination 134. Thus, the border trigger 152 can indicate that the time limit 155 is applied for determining 142 the remaining time period. For example, the time limit 155 can be a legislative restriction for cabotage.

[0045] The method can further provide that the determination 144 of the travel time period takes into account a traffic situation on the intended route 156 of the motor vehicle 2 to the destination 134 Traffic situation influence factor 158. Furthermore, the determination 144 of the travel time period can be carried out taking into account a declaration 160 or another, particularly administrative, instruction. The declaration 160 can, for example, be used for a posting of driver 22 (cf. Fig. 1) may be necessary and indicate, for example, for what period the driver 22 is to be or may be working in which country in order to drive the motor vehicle 2 there.

[0046] Overall, the exemplary embodiments show how a method and a system 1 for determining a start time until the start of a journey of a motor vehicle 2, starting from a starting location, until reaching a destination up to a destination time, can be designed and configured. Such a method and such a system enable both the driver 22 of the vehicle and the transport operator 18 to comply with legal requirements in a simplified manner with the aid of modern technologies. This is associated with a reduction in potential risks for both the transport operator 18 and the driver 22, for example, the fear of sanctions from the supervisory authority 20 due to unintentional errors. Furthermore, further automation of routine tasks and an increase in efficiency in the processing of transport orders using the motor vehicle 2 are enabled.Furthermore, the planning security for the transport operator 18 can be increased when posting employees, such as the driver 22, and / or vehicles, such as the motor vehicle 2.

Claims

[1] Method for determining a start time (130) until a journey of a motor vehicle (2) starts from a starting location (132) until reaching a destination (134) until a destination time, the method comprising the following steps: - Determining (136) the starting location (132); - determining (138) a travel distance between the starting location (132) and the destination location (134); - determining (140) a direction of travel of the journey from the starting location (132) to the destination location (134); - determining (142) a remaining time period between the target time and a current time, taking into account the direction of travel; - determining (144) a travel time period from the starting location (132) to the destination (134) taking into account the travel distance and at least one driver working time trigger (146); - determining (148) the start time (130) taking into account the determined remaining time period and the determined travel time period; - Setting the determined start deadline (130) as the specific start deadline (130). [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by that the determination (148) of the start deadline (130) takes place taking into account at least one date trigger (150). [3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the determination (142) of the remaining time period takes place taking into account a limit trigger (152) and / or a time trigger (154). [4] Method according to claim 3, characterized by that when the limit trigger (152) is present, depending on the direction of travel and when the time trigger (154) is present, the remaining time period is limited to a certain number of days. [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the determination (144) of the travel time period takes place taking into account a traffic situation influencing factor (158) indicating a traffic situation on an intended route (156) of the motor vehicle (2) to the destination (134). [6] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the determination of the start deadline (130) takes place repeatedly after a certain period of time until the start of the journey. [7] System for determining a start time (130) until a journey of a motor vehicle (2) starts from a starting location (132) until reaching a destination (134) until a destination time, in particular a system for carrying out a method according to one of the preceding claims, with the motor vehicle (2) having a vehicle device (4) and with a data processing infrastructure device (10), - wherein the vehicle device (4) is designed to determine a location of the motor vehicle (2) and to transmit the location to the infrastructure facility (10); - wherein the infrastructure facility (10) is designed to determine a travel distance between the location as the starting point (132) of the journey and the destination (134), to determine a remaining time period between the destination time and a current time taking into account a direction of travel of the journey from the starting point (132) to the destination (134), to determine a travel time period from the starting point (132) to the destination (134) taking into account the travel distance and at least one driver working time trigger (146), to determine a start deadline (130) taking into account the determined remaining time period and the determined travel time period; - and wherein the infrastructure device (10) is designed to transmit the determined start time (130) as a specific start time (130) to the vehicle device (4). [8] System according to claim 7, characterized by that the on-board unit (4) is a tachograph. [9] System according to claim 7 or 8, characterized by that the vehicle device (4) has a display means (6) for displaying the start deadline (130) transmitted by the infrastructure facility (10).

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