Procedure and system for entering changes in driver activity into vehicle tachographs

Abstract

Method for entering changes in driver activity into a vehicle tachograph (110), comprising step (S2) of responding to a change in activity by recording the change in the tachograph (110), characterized by step (S1) at the time of the change in driver activity of using a remote control (120) which includes a means (130) for indicating a change in activity near the driver in order to draw the driver's attention to the need to record the change in activity in the tachograph.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to a method for inputting changes in driver activity into vehicle tachographs according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention relates to a system for inputting changes in driver activity into vehicle tachographs according to the preamble of claim 5. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle. The invention also relates to a computer program and a computer program product. General state of the art

[0002] Trucks driven by professional drivers are equipped with tachographs that record the driver's various activities, such as driving, resting, and other tasks. The length of continuous driving time, required breaks, and other regulations are all governed by law. Data on these activities is stored in the tachograph and can be reviewed during vehicle inspections. Violations result in substantial fines. The fact that drivers must remember to record every change in activity is a burden. On journeys with numerous breaks, it may be easier to forget to record a change in activity.

[0003] Document DE 41 29 148 A1 discloses an electronic logbook as a vehicle accessory which ensures the actual keeping of a logbook by means of acoustic and / or optical signals at the start of the journey, intermediate stops and the end of the journey (reminder to keep the logbook at every important moment) and by means of extensive automatic data recording either by means of connections with measuring instruments present in the vehicle or by means of additional required electronic devices.

[0004] Further state of the art is specified in the documents US 2012 / 0 233 081 A1, DE 11 2013 004 171 T5 and US 4 805 722 A. Object of the invention

[0005] One object of the present invention is to propose a method for entering changes in driver activity into vehicle tachographs, which facilitates the recording of the driver's activity changes.

[0006] One object of the present invention is to propose a system for entering changes in driver activity into vehicle tachographs, which facilitates the recording of the driver's activity changes. Brief description of the invention

[0007] These and other tasks specified in the description set forth below are achieved by a method, a system, a motor vehicle, a computer program, and a computer program product of the type described in the introduction, which have the features specified in the characterizing parts of the accompanying independent claims 1, 5, 9, 10, and 11. Preferred embodiments of the method and the system are defined in the accompanying dependent claims 2 to 4 and 6 to 8.

[0008] The invention solves the problems with a method for entering changes in driver activity into vehicle tachographs, which includes the step of reacting to each change in activity by recording the change in the tachograph, wherein at the time of the change in driver activity is the step of a remote control alerting the driver to record the change in activity in the tachograph.

[0009] This reduces the risk of the driver forgetting to record changes in activity, thus facilitating these changes. The driver's workload is also reduced by being reminded of upcoming activity change recordings. The remote control can be any suitable device, such as a remote control for the vehicle or a mobile phone, e.g., a smartphone.

[0010] In one embodiment, the method includes the step of recording changes in activity via remote control. Recording changes in activity is thus further facilitated by the fact that the driver can record them from a certain distance from the vehicle, e.g., when taking a break or returning to activities other than driving.

[0011] In one embodiment, the method includes the step of activating the remote control to alert the driver to the need for recording when locking the vehicle. Drawing the driver's attention to the change in activity when locking the vehicle is a simple way to reduce the risk of forgetting to record the change in activity. The recording of the change in activity can advantageously be done using the remote control.

[0012] In one embodiment, the method includes the step of activating the remote control to alert the driver to the need for recording based on their location relative to the vehicle's driver's seat. Drawing the driver's attention to the change in activity when they are away from the driver's seat is a simple way to reduce the risk of forgetting to record the change. The driver's location relative to the driver's seat can be identified using any suitable positioning device, such as GPS or RFID (radio frequency identification). The positioning device is preferably integrated into the remote control. In this respect, it is sufficient for the driver to leave the driver's seat, which may result in them leaving the vehicle, but also allows them to remain in the vehicle to rest, for example.in a sleeping berth in the vehicle cabin. Recording the change in activity can be advantageously done using the remote control.

[0013] The invention solves the problems with a system for entering changes in driver activity into vehicle tachographs, comprising means for reacting to each change in activity by recording the change in the tachograph, and comprising means to cause a remote control to alert the driver at the time of the change in driver activity to the need to record the change in activity in the tachograph.

[0014] This reduces the risk of the driver forgetting to record changes in activity, thus facilitating these changes. The driver's workload is also reduced, as they are reminded of upcoming activity change recordings. The remote control can be any suitable device, such as a remote control for the vehicle or a mobile phone, e.g., a smartphone.

[0015] In one embodiment, the system includes means for recording changes in activity via remote control. Recording these changes is further facilitated by the fact that the driver can record them from a certain distance from the vehicle, for example, when taking a break or returning to tasks other than driving.

[0016] In one embodiment, the system includes means for activating the remote control to alert the driver to the need to record the locking mechanism in order to lock the vehicle. Drawing the driver's attention to the change in activity when locking the vehicle is a simple way to reduce the risk of forgetting to record this change. The recording of this change in activity can advantageously be done using the remote control.

[0017] The system includes means for activating the remote control to inform the driver of the need to record their position relative to the vehicle's driver's seat. The driver's position relative to the driver's seat can be identified using any suitable positioning device, such as GPS or RFID (radio frequency identification). The positioning device is preferably integrated into the remote control. In this respect, it is sufficient for the driver to leave the driver's seat, which may involve leaving the vehicle, but also allows them to remain in the vehicle to rest, for example, in a sleeping berth in the vehicle cabin. Recording the change in activity can advantageously be done via the remote control. Description of the drawings

[0018] The present invention will be better understood by reading the detailed description below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used for similar elements in the various views. The drawings show: Fig. 1 schematically a motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 schematically a system for entering changes in driver activity into vehicle tachographs according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 schematically a block diagram of a method for entering changes in driver activity into vehicle tachographs according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 4 schematically a computer according to an embodiment of the present invention. Description of the embodiments

[0019] The term "connection" here refers to a communication connection, which can be a physical connection, e.g. an optoelectronic communication line, or a non-physical connection, such as a wireless connection, e.g. a radio connection or a high-frequency connection.

[0020] Fig. Figure 1 schematically depicts a motor vehicle 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle is an example of a commercial vehicle, such as a truck. The vehicle is equipped with a system I for inputting changes in driver activity into vehicle tachographs according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Fig. Figure 2 schematically depicts a system I for entering changes in driver activity into vehicle tachographs according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] System I includes an electronic control unit 100 to regulate the input of changes in driver activity into the vehicle's tachograph 110.

[0023] System I also includes a tachograph 110 to record various activities of the vehicle's driver, e.g. driving, resting and other work.

[0024] System I includes a remote control 120 to draw the driver's attention to the need to record each change of activity in the tachograph.

[0025] System I comprises means 130 for indicating a change in activity, in order to draw the driver's attention to the need to record the change in activity in the tachograph 110. The means for indicating a change in activity is part of the remote control 120. It can take the form of any suitable indication device to draw the driver's attention to the need to record the change in activity in the tachograph. In one embodiment, the means for indicating a change in activity comprises a display to attract the driver's attention visually by means of text / a symbol message, flashing, or the like, and / or an alarm unit to attract the driver's attention audibly, and / or a vibration unit to attract his attention in this way.

[0026] System I comprises means 140 for activating a change of activity in order to activate the remote control 120 in order to draw the driver's attention to the need to record the changes of activity in the tachograph 110. In one embodiment, the remote control includes the means 140 for activating a change of activity.

[0027] In one embodiment, the means 140 for activating a change of activity comprises a vehicle locking device 142, which is suitable for reacting to the locking of the vehicle by activating the remote control 120 in order to draw the driver's attention to the need to record the change of activity in the tachograph. In another embodiment, the remote control comprises the vehicle locking device 142.

[0028] In one variant, the means 140 for activating a change of activity includes a means 144 for determining the driver's position in order to determine the driver's location relative to the driver's seat of the vehicle and to react to situations in which the driver's location differs from the driver's seat by activating the remote control 120 to draw the driver's attention to the need to record the change of activity in the tachograph. The identification of the driver's location relative to the driver's seat can be achieved by using any suitable positioning means, such as GPS or RFID (radio frequency identification). The positioning means is preferably integrated into the remote control. In this respect, it is sufficient for the driver to leave the driver's seat, which may result in the driver leaving the vehicle, but also allows for the possibility that the driver remains in the vehicle to rest, e.g.For example, in a sleeping berth of the vehicle cabin. In one embodiment, the remote control includes the means 144 for determining the driver's position.

[0029] System I includes means 150 for recording activity changes, in order to record activity changes in the tachograph 110. The remote control 120 includes the means for recording activity changes, so that the recording of activity changes can be carried out via the remote control.

[0030] The electronic control unit 100 is connected to the remote control 120 via signal technology.

[0031] The electronic control unit 100 is connected via a signal connection 30 to the means 130 for indicating a change of activity, which enables it to send a signal to the means for indicating a change of activity, representing the data for indicating a change of activity, in order to draw the driver's attention to the need to record the change of activity.

[0032] The electronic control unit 100 is connected via a signal connection 40 to the means 140 for activating a change of activity, which enables it to receive a signal from the means activating a change of activity, representing the data for activating a change of activity, in order to activate the remote control 120 to draw the driver's attention to the need to record the change of activity.

[0033] The electronic control unit 100 is connected to the locking device 142 via a connection 42, which enables it to receive a signal from the locking device representing the locking data for locking the vehicle in order to activate the remote control 120 in order to draw the driver's attention to the need to record the change of activity.

[0034] The electronic control unit 100 is connected to the means 144 for determining the driver position via a connection 44, which enables it to receive a signal from the means for determining the driver position, which represents the driver position data about the location of the driver in relation to the driving position of the vehicle, in order to activate the remote control 120 to draw the driver's attention to the need to record the change of activity.

[0035] The electronic control unit 100 is connected to the means 150 for recording activity changes via a connection 50, which enables it to receive a signal from the means for recording activity changes, which represents the data for activating activity changes in order to record the activity change.

[0036] The electronic control unit 100 is connected to the tachograph 110 via a connection 10, which enables it to send a signal to the tachograph representing recording data in order to record the change in activity.

[0037] The electronic control unit 100 is suitable for processing the data for activating activity changes from the means 130 for indicating an activity change and for using it as a basis for sending activity change indication data to the means for indicating an activity change of the remote control 120, so that the driver's attention is drawn to an upcoming activity change.

[0038] In one variant, the electronic control unit 100 is suitable for processing the locking data from the locking device 142 and using it as a basis for sending activity change indication data to the device 130 to indicate an activity change of the remote control 120, so that the driver's attention is drawn to an upcoming activity change.

[0039] In one variant, the locking device 142, as mentioned previously, is part of the remote control 120, allowing the driver to lock the vehicle with the remote control, which thus functions as a vehicle key. Locking via device 130, used to indicate a change of activity, reminds the driver of this change. In another variant, the locking device is located in a unit separate from the remote control, for example, in a separate vehicle key.

[0040] In one variant, the electronic control unit 100 is connected to the locking mechanism 160 of the vehicle, i.e., to the locking mechanism linked to the vehicle doors, via a connection 60a, which enables it to receive a signal from the locking mechanism representing locking data.

[0041] In one variant, the electronic control unit 100 is connected to the locking mechanism 160 of the vehicle via a connection 60b, which enables it to send a signal to the locking mechanism that represents locking data for locking the vehicle.

[0042] In a variant not shown, the locking mechanism is directly connected to the locking device 142 via signaling.

[0043] In one variant, the electronic control unit is suitable for processing the driver position data from the device 144 to determine the driver position and using it as a basis for sending activity change indication data to the device 130 to indicate an activity change of the remote control, so that the driver's attention is drawn to an upcoming activity change.

[0044] The electronic control unit 100 is suitable for processing activity change activation data from the means for recording activity changes, i.e. instructions from the driver via the remote control 120 to record an activity change, whereupon the electronic control unit is suitable for sending recording data to the tachograph 110 to record the activity change.

[0045] Fig. Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram of a method for entering changes in driver activity into vehicle tachographs according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] In one embodiment, the method for entering changes in driver activity into vehicle tachographs comprises a first step S1 in which, at the time of a change in activity by the driver, a remote control draws his attention to the need to record the change in activity in the tachograph.

[0047] In one embodiment, the method for entering changes in driver activity into vehicle tachographs comprises a second step S2 in which the change is recorded in the tachograph at the time of a change in activity.

[0048] Fig. Figure 4 is a diagram of an embodiment of a device 500. The control unit 100, which refers to Fig.As described in Section 2, one embodiment may comprise the device 500. The device 500 comprises a non-volatile memory 520, a data processing unit 510, and a read / write memory 550. The non-volatile memory 520 has a first memory element 530 in which a computer program, e.g., an operating system, is stored to control the function of the device 500. The device 500 further comprises a bus controller, a serial communication port, I / O means, an A / D converter, a unit for inputting and transmitting time and date, an event counter, and an interrupt controller (not shown). The non-volatile memory 520 also has a second memory element 540.

[0049] A proposed computer program P comprises routines for entering changes in driver activity into a tachograph according to the novel method. The program includes routines to respond to changes in driver activity by causing a remote control to draw the driver's attention to the need to record the change in activity in the tachograph. The program includes routines for recording a change in activity in the tachograph at the time of the change. The program can be stored in an executable form or in compressed form in a memory 560 and / or in a read / write memory 550.

[0050] When the data processing unit 510 is described as performing a particular function, this means that it is executing a certain part of the program stored in memory 560, or a certain part of the memory stored in read / write memory 550.

[0051] The data processing device 510 can communicate with a data port 599 via a data bus 515. The non-volatile memory 520 is intended for communication with the data processing unit 510 via a data bus 512. The separate memory 560 is intended for communication with the data processing unit via a data bus 511. The read / write memory 550 is configured to communicate with the data processing unit via a data bus 514. Connections linked, for example, to the control unit 100 can be connected to the data port 599.

[0052] When data is received at data port 599, it is temporarily stored in the second memory element 540. Once received input data has been temporarily stored, the data processing unit 510 is ready to execute the code as previously described. The signals received at the data port can be used by the device 500 to cause a remote control, at the moment of a change in driving activity, to draw the driver's attention to the need to record the change in the tachograph. The signals received at the data port can be used by the device 500 to react to the change in driving activity by recording the change in the tachograph.

[0053] Parts of the procedures described here can be executed by the device 500 using the data processing unit 510, which executes the program stored in the memory 560 or the read / write memory 550. When the device 500 executes the program, the procedures described here are carried out.

[0054] The above description of preferred embodiments of the present invention is provided for illustrative purposes only. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the described variants. Numerous modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described to explain the fundamentals of the invention and its practical applications as clearly as possible, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to understand the invention in various embodiments and with the various modifications suitable for specific uses.

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