Method for providing a navigation map for a journey, preferably an off-road journey, with a motor vehicle in a predetermined area, map provisioning device, server device, and motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for providing a navigation map for off-road driving, wherein a map provisioning device (10) provides map data for the predetermined area (S1); receives an off-road information signal (S2) from an input device via a wireless data communication link (32), which describes location-based, location- and / or driving-related information for a section of terrain in the predetermined area; checks whether location-based, location- and / or driving-related information is already present in the provided map data (S6); if the new information differs from information already described in the map data, it replaces the latter and thereby adapts the map data to the new information (S6), or enters the new information into the map data and thereby adapts it (S6);an output signal describing the adapted map data is generated (S8), and the generated map data signal is transmitted to an output device of at least one motor vehicle (20, 26, 28) (S9). The invention also relates to the map provisioning device (10), a server device (12) with the map provisioning device (10), as well as a motor vehicle (20) and a mobile terminal device (24).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for providing a navigation map for a journey, preferably an off-road journey, with a motor vehicle in a predetermined area, a map provisioning device, a server device with a map provisioning device, and a motor vehicle with a map provisioning device.

[0002] Camping and overlanding is a huge trend worldwide. Many people buy or build robust vehicles to escape everyday life, alone or with their families, and spend time in nature.

[0003] KR 102232927 B1 concerns a system for providing a camping platform based on a comprehensive camping app, and specifically services such as the sale, rental, and storage of used equipment, tent cleaning, and the sale of camping accessories offered at campsites. It is a system for providing a complete camping platform based on a comprehensive camping app, accessible through a single mobile app.

[0004] The article “Top 5 Camping Apps” on https: / / www.siestacampers.com mentions a camping app where you can filter by location, type of camping and facilities, making it easy to find a spot.

[0005] The methods known from the prior art are suitable for the camping and leisure sector, where vehicle drivers usually use infrastructure connected to a road network and which, such as campsites, are listed in common databases. For off-road drivers, i.e., users of off-road vehicles on off-road journeys away from public infrastructure, the methods known from the prior art are not applicable.

[0006] One of the problems underlying the invention is to support a user of a motor vehicle during off-road driving.

[0007] The stated problem is solved in each case by the inventive method and the inventive devices according to the dependent claims. Advantageous embodiments are given by the sub-claims.

[0008] The invention is based on the idea of ​​providing a data processing system with an interface, preferably a neutral data processing system, for users of motor vehicles during off-road driving. This interface allows location-based and / or driver-related data to be entered and then made available to other users on off-road journeys. For a predetermined section of terrain, location-based off-road-relevant information is collected, and a consistency check is performed by comparing the newly collected data with existing data. If the off-road-relevant information changes, the previously stored information can be overwritten by the new information.Preferably, the map provisioning device carrying out the method according to the invention receives information from one or more motor vehicles and / or mobile devices, preferably described by photographs. For example, if it has previously been marked or stored that a bridge has collapsed in a section of terrain, and a user sends a photograph of precisely this section of terrain where the bridge has been rebuilt, the location-based information "collapsed bridge" can be overwritten by the new information "bridge intact again". The location-based information for one or more sections of terrain can be transmitted, for example, in the form of map data to motor vehicles located in this area that have software for this information portal installed or that access a website of the portal.Since location-based traffic information is unavailable, particularly in off-road areas, drivers can quickly and easily obtain information about conditions on the terrain, such as campsites, weather, and local emergencies (e.g., forest fires), without having to conduct time-consuming internet searches at regular intervals. This also makes planning such off-road trips much easier. As a result, obtaining information becomes significantly more convenient and travel, especially in relation to extreme weather events, becomes considerably safer.

[0009] Furthermore, the system can centralize information stored in various sources and keep it up-to-date through input from individual users, such as campers who are currently on site.

[0010] The inventive method for providing a navigation map for off-road driving, i.e., for off-road driving, with a motor vehicle in a predetermined area is carried out by a map provisioning device. Off-road driving, or off-road driving, is understood to mean driving a vehicle in unpaved terrain, i.e., outside of paved roads.

[0011] A card provisioning device is understood to be a device, device component, or device group configured to receive signals, evaluate them, generate control signals, and transmit the control signals to other devices or device components. For this purpose, the card provisioning device may preferably include a receiving module, one or more microprocessors, and / or a transmitting module. The card provisioning device may preferably be designed as a control unit or control chip.

[0012] The map delivery system provides map data for a specific area. This predetermined area could be, for example, terrain defined by its dimensions and / or its geolocation. To provide the map data, the map delivery system can, for example, retrieve it from a data storage device or receive it from a server that provides current map data.

[0013] The map delivery device receives an off-road information signal via a wireless data communication link from an input device that is physically separate from the map delivery device. The received off-road information signal describes location-based, location- and / or driving-related information for a section of terrain within the predetermined area, for example, an image of a collapsed bridge, an image of a flood, or a text message about a forest fire. Preferably, the map delivery device can be a physical component of a server device, for example, a physical internet server or a data cloud, and the input device can be an external device, for example, a mobile device belonging to the user of the vehicle or another vehicle.The wireless data communication link can preferably be other than a near-field communication link, and the method best demonstrates its advantages depending on the distance between the input device and the card delivery device, such that the data communication is not based on near-field communication. Preferred data communication links are explained below.

[0014] The map provisioning device checks whether the provided map data for the terrain section described by the received off-road information signal already contains location-based and / or driving-related information. Preferably, the map provisioning device checks whether such information is already stored in the provided map data for the same terrain section. In other words, the map provisioning device compares the information from the received off-road information signal with the map data to determine whether information is already stored for the terrain section or whether the new information differs from information already recorded in the map data.

[0015] If location-based information relevant to presence and / or driving already exists for the terrain section described by the received off-road information signal, the map provisioning unit compares the received information with the existing information. If the new information differs from the information already present in the map data for the terrain section, the map provisioning unit replaces the existing information with the new information, thereby adapting the map data accordingly. Alternatively, the map data can be adapted by linking the new information to the map data for the terrain section, provided no information is already stored there.

[0016] The map provisioning device generates an output signal describing the adapted map data and transmits this to an output device, preferably a predetermined output device and / or an output device of at least one motor vehicle.

[0017] The advantages discussed above result.

[0018] An output device is understood to be a device, device component, or group of devices designed to output acoustic or visual content. If suitable for outputting acoustic signals, the output device may include a loudspeaker; if suitable for outputting visual signals, it may include a screen. The output device may preferably be designed as a vehicle screen or as the screen of a mobile device, for example, a smartphone, tablet PC, or laptop.

[0019] Preferably, the location-based, location- and / or driving-related information for the terrain section can describe a property of the ground, such as the condition of the soil; a property of infrastructure, particularly drivable infrastructure, such as a bridge; and / or an obstacle on the terrain section. Specifically, the location-based, location- and / or driving-related information for the terrain section can include information about road surface, road width, flooding, weather conditions and / or weather-related impairment of travel or the terrain section, a collapsed bridge, and / or a pothole. In this context, a road is understood to be a path and / or ground surface that is drivable in the terrain.In this context, a "road" is not necessarily a paved path connected to the public road network, but also a track, especially a track in the terrain.

[0020] This information makes a particularly important contribution to the safe planning of off-road driving. These training courses therefore make the process especially safety-relevant and much more efficient.

[0021] A wireless data communication connection can preferably be a mobile network connection and / or an extraterrestrial data communication connection, for example, a satellite connection. These communication connections are particularly reliable in off-road conditions, with satellite connections offering significantly greater geographical coverage for carrying out the procedure. This makes the vehicle independent of vehicle-to-vehicle communication while driving off-road, which is especially important in this area because the likelihood of encountering other vehicles is generally low in off-road terrain.

[0022] The received off-road information signal can preferably be a photo and / or video showing location-based, driving-related information for the terrain section. This is a particularly user-friendly method, as the user can simply take a picture with their mobile phone, for example, and send it to the map delivery system. The user does not need any additional equipment or sensors. Furthermore, the user can easily capture and transmit the information from inside their vehicle.

[0023] In a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the map provisioning device can receive a vehicle identification signal from the motor vehicle receiving the generated map data signal. This vehicle identification signal describes vehicle-specific characteristics of precisely that motor vehicle. The reception of the map data signal by the motor vehicle and the reception of the vehicle identification signal by the map provisioning device can occur in various conceivable sequences. That is, the transmission and reception of the map signal can occur simultaneously with the transmission and reception of the vehicle identification signal, or one of the two signals can be transmitted first.

[0024] The vehicle identification signal can describe, as a vehicle-specific property of this one motor vehicle, preferably shock absorber data, dimensions of the motor vehicle and / or friction coefficients of the motor vehicle (preferably current friction coefficients of the motor vehicle).

[0025] Based on the new location-based information relevant to the vehicle's whereabouts and / or driving, which the map provisioning device receives in the basic configuration of the method according to the invention described above, the map provisioning device checks whether the motor vehicle is suitable for traversing the terrain section based on its vehicle-specific characteristics. For example, if a collapsed bridge leaves only a narrow passage, and the map provisioning device determines, based on the vehicle's dimensions, that the vehicle is too wide for this passage, this can be recorded as a test result.

[0026] In another example, the map provisioning device may determine that the vehicle has poor friction on this section of terrain, and as a test result, determine that the section of terrain is not suitable for driving on under the current conditions due to the poor friction detected by the vehicle.

[0027] The test result is therefore specific to the vehicle and / or the vehicle type.

[0028] In this embodiment, the card provisioning device then generates a test signal describing the test result and transmits the generated test signal to the output device. Preferably, the card provisioning device can transmit the generated test signal only to output devices for motor vehicles of the same vehicle type, or only to the motor vehicle that sent the vehicle-specific characteristics.

[0029] In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, the map provisioning device can receive a driving data signal via the wireless data communication link, which can describe the location-based driving data of the motor vehicle recorded on the terrain section. Preferably, the map provisioning device can receive the driving data signal from the input device or a transmitter device of the motor vehicle.

[0030] The map provisioning device checks whether this driving data meets a predefined vehicle system threshold criterion, which specifies a minimum probability that one or more vehicle systems are unsuitable for driving on the terrain section with the current characteristics. If this driving data meets the predefined vehicle system threshold criterion, the map provisioning device can mark the terrain section with vehicle-specific information related to this test result.

[0031] In the last two described embodiments of the method according to the invention, it is advantageous in each case that off-road driving can be planned and carried out in a vehicle-type-specific manner.

[0032] 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.

[0033] The invention also includes the map provisioning device for the motor vehicle. The map provisioning device can comprise a data processing device or a processor device (processor circuit) configured to carry out an embodiment of the method according to the invention. For this purpose, 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). In particular, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or an NPU (Neural Processing Unit) can be used as the microprocessor. Furthermore, the processor device can comprise program code 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, which has an embodiment of the card provisioning device and / or the storage medium 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 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, assembly code, source code in a programming language (e.g., C), or a program script (e.g., Python). Alternatively, the computer-readable storage medium can be implemented as a signal containing computer-readable data, such as a time-varying voltage signal or a radio signal.

[0036] The above-mentioned problem is also solved by a server device for operation on the Internet, for example a data server, a backend and / or a data cloud, wherein the server device comprises an embodiment of the storage medium according to the invention and / or an embodiment of the card provisioning device according to the invention.

[0037] The above-mentioned problem is also solved by a mobile device, for example a mobile phone, smartphone, laptop or tablet PC, which has an embodiment of the storage medium according to the invention and / or an embodiment of the card provisioning device according to the invention.

[0038] The invention also includes further developments that exhibit features already described in connection with the inventive card provisioning device, the inventive server device, the inventive storage medium, the inventive mobile device, and the inventive motor vehicle. For this reason, the corresponding further developments of the inventive card provisioning device, the inventive server device, the inventive mobile device, and the inventive motor vehicle are not described again here. The invention also includes combinations of the features of the described embodiments.The invention therefore also includes realizations that each have a combination of the features of several of the described embodiments, provided that the embodiments have not been described as mutually exclusive.

[0039] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below. The single figure (“Fig.”) shows a schematic representation of exemplary embodiments of the method and devices according to the invention.

[0040] 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.

[0041] In the figures, identical reference symbols denote functionally equivalent elements.

[0042] The single figure shows a preferred embodiment in which the map provisioning device 10 can be a component of an external server device 12 for operation on the internet. The server device 12 can, for example, be configured as a data cloud or a physical data server. The map provisioning device 10 can, for example, be configured as a control chip or control unit, and preferably comprise at least one microprocessor 14 and / or a data storage device 16. Alternatively or additionally, the server device 12 can comprise a storage medium 18, which can be configured as a conventional data storage device.

[0043] The figure also shows a first motor vehicle 20, which is currently located on a section of terrain 22. The user of the first motor vehicle 20 can, for example, have a mobile terminal device 24 as an input device and use it for the method according to the invention.

[0044] While the first motor vehicle 20 in the example can be designed as a passenger car, another motor vehicle 26 can be designed as an off-road vehicle. A third motor vehicle 28 is shown in the figure as an example to illustrate that the method provides a platform and interface for many motor vehicles 20, 26, 28.

[0045] The variant in which the card provisioning device 10 can be a component of a motor vehicle 20, 26, 28 is not shown in the Fig. for the sake of clarity.

[0046] In the example shown in the figure, the driver of the first vehicle 20 may be driving off-road, away from paved roads, for example, on an adventure trip through the Alps. In the situation shown in the figure, the driver may, for example, encounter a wide, deep pothole 30 at a narrow passage. An alternative obstacle could be, for example, a collapsed bridge, a forest fire, or a flooded depression through which the vehicle 20 must drive, or a very narrow passage. For the first vehicle 20, the exemplary pothole 30 may, for example, be too deep and represent an insurmountable or difficult-to-cross obstacle. The user can record relevant information about the pothole 30 via an input device, for example, an input device in the vehicle 20 or via their mobile phone 24. If they use the mobile device 24, they can preferably take a photograph.For example, if the weather is bad and the user doesn't want to get out of the vehicle, a navigation map can be displayed on a screen, preferably a touchscreen in the vehicle, and the user can use their fingers to mark the route segment and / or set a center point. This allows the user to define the route segment as a terrain feature and, for example, additionally enter information such as "deep pothole" using a keyboard.

[0047] In both cases, the input device transmits the information to the map provisioning unit 10. For the sake of clarity, the example in the figure shows only the case in which the map provisioning unit 10 receives the off-road information signal describing the image of the pothole 30 in S2. Before, simultaneously, or after this, the map provisioning unit 10 can provide map data in S1, for example, by retrieving it from a data storage device.

[0048] Communication with the mobile device 24 takes place via a wireless data communication connection 32, which can preferably be a mobile network connection, or ideally an extraterrestrial data communication connection, for example a satellite connection. The information of the off-road information signal is location-based, meaning it also includes information about the geoposition of the pothole 30.

[0049] Alternatively or additionally, the received off-road information signal can, for example, describe the quality of the road surface, the depth of water that must be driven through, or the width of a road or path. Preferably, the first motor vehicle 20 can also transmit vehicle-specific characteristics, such as vehicle identification data like model, make, and / or technical data. This data can be received by the map provisioning unit 10 in S3 as a vehicle identification signal (S3). Examples of technical data include shock absorber data and / or vehicle dimensions. If friction coefficients of the motor vehicle 20 are transmitted, these can be described by the vehicle identification signal and / or by a separate, optionally transmitted driving data signal.

[0050] If the map provisioning device 10 additionally receives a driving data signal (S4), the corresponding driving data of the vehicle 20 can be checked (S5) to determine whether it meets a predefined vehicle system limit criterion. In the example shown in the figure, the vehicle 28, like the vehicle 20, can be a passenger car that sits low to the ground and cannot pass through the pothole 30. If the vehicle type of the vehicle 28 is also known to the map provisioning device 10, the information about the excessively deep pothole 30 can preferably also be provided on an output device of the vehicle 28, for example, a screen of an infotainment system of the vehicle 28. Additionally or alternatively, feedback can be sent to the vehicle 20 indicating that the vehicle 20 sits too low to pass through the pothole 30 without damage.The motor vehicle 26, which may also be designed as an off-road vehicle, may, however, be suitable for passing through pothole 30. Preferably, the information about pothole 30, including its depth, can be included in the map data adapted in S7, indicating that passing through pothole 30 is not possible for certain types of motor vehicles, such as those of motor vehicles 20 and 28.

[0051] Before the map data is adjusted (S7), a check (S6) is performed. This check determines, for example, that there is no information about pothole 30 for this section of terrain. In this case, the information for pothole 30 is entered, meaning that no older information needs to be updated.

[0052] To display the adapted map data, the map provisioning device 10 generates a corresponding output signal in S8 and transmits this to one or more output devices in S9.

[0053] In the variant already mentioned above, with the vehicle-specific characteristics evaluated by the map provisioning device 10, the map provisioning device 10 can check in S11 whether the vehicle 20 – or another vehicle – is suitable, based on its vehicle-specific characteristics, to traverse the terrain section. In S11, the map provisioning device 10 can then generate a corresponding test signal and transmit it to the output device in S12.

[0054] Preferably, such an evaluation can be accessible to everyone, for example, by linking it to a navigation device or displaying it to navigation devices during route planning. Additionally or alternatively, a personalized evaluation can be provided, in which, for example, vehicle 20 receives a message to vehicle 28 stating "Your vehicle is too wide for this road," which can then be displayed, for example, on a vehicle screen. The evaluation of vehicle data can preferably be demand-driven; for example, when driving in snow, the friction coefficients of vehicle 20 can be transmitted, and then a notification can be sent to other vehicles 20 and 28, such as the message "Vehicle type XYZ has problems in these weather conditions."

[0055] Overall, the examples show how a location-based adventure platform for motor vehicles can be provided 20, 28, 28.

[0056] A central information platform for campers / overlanders, for example, that compiles and provides all relevant information. This can include optional information such as: campsites (managed / free), toilet facilities, supermarkets, weather, normal weather, extreme weather phenomena (e.g., forest fires), road conditions, (im)accessibility, closures, problems (e.g., flooding, rockfalls, collapsed bridges), points of interest, viewpoints, particularly scenic stretches of road, recommended routes, and / or doctors / hospitals.

[0057] Preferred optional data: Weather, normal weather, extreme weather phenomena (for example, forest fires), road conditions, (im)accessibility, closures, problems (for example, flooding, rockfall, collapsed bridges), sights, viewpoints, particularly beautiful sections of the route, and / or recommended routes.

[0058] This platform could draw on freely available information and also gather information from users. For example, campers who discover a flooded road could upload this information as a "post" with the exact location, details, and optionally pictures, thus warning other users. Others could then optionally comment on this discovery and / or ask questions.

[0059] In addition, users can preferably share route suggestions and highlights with each other and create challenges for each other to drive individual sections of the route.

[0060] In a preferred technical implementation, the system can consist of two components: A server device 12, for example a cloud platform, in which the data is stored and managed. This platform handles the location-based entries, manages the users and provides the information to the end devices 24.

[0061] The user's terminal device(s) then have the application networked with the example cloud. This application (the "app") can be installed, for example, on a smartphone or directly in the vehicle 20, 26, 28.

[0062] The user can then preferably request current data for their vehicle position via mobile network or an extraterrestrial network and will receive information about events, such as obstacles (e.g., a pothole 30 on section 22 or a forest fire), in their surroundings, preferably according to their current interests.

[0063] The user also has the option to enter their own events (for example, road problems or a highlight route). To do this, they can create a new location-based event, assign a category, and add further information (for example, pictures, videos). The data is then transmitted, preferably via mobile network or satellite connection.

[0064] In other words, the database can include an interface for users, whereby location-based data relevant to residence and / or driving can be entered via the interface and then made available to other users. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

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

[0000] KR 102232927 B1

[0003]

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